Yoga and Ayurveda

Let’s Spring out of Winter!

We are all anxious to leave winter behind.  Well, most of us.  My son, Nathan who is a snowboarder says that this year’s snowboarding has been one of the best years he has had in a long time. 

For the rest of us, let’s begin to leave winter and enter spring.  It is the end of March officially past the March 20^th spring date and nearing Earth day in April.  Yes, spring is here. 

If we look at our bodies as a garden we must prepare, plant, nourish and harvest.  So, let’s prepare.

Our bodies take on a dormant state in the winter.  It is cold, wet, heavy and less mobile.  So what do we do in the winter, we tend to stay in more, withdraw, eat and sleep more.  We put on more layers.  In the spring we must shed those layers. 

Spring is a time to lighten up.  If, in fact, we do not begin to shed and lighten we will cause havoc within our lives.

Here is what I suggest.

1.     Begin by looking at your diet.  Eat lighter foods, such as salads adding fresh peas as soon as they begin to harvest.  Less meats and more vegetables.  Less can and frozen and more fresh.

2.    Bring awareness to your breath-work when practicing yoga.  Add sequences that flow, using your breath to make your practice a meditation in motion. (sun salutations work great)

3.    Full inhales and full exhales to get rid of any extra mucus, phlegm and open those lungs to the fresh air that spring brings to us.  This type of breathing creates an inner heat.  It is different than the outer heat (sweat).  Inner heat will create warm, calmness and actually a feeling of lightness.  This type of tapas (inner heat) will detox your inner body as well.  Breath long and slow…and full. 

4.    Come out of hibernation (you bear) and emerge as a butterfly.  Get rid of the heaviness feeling and feel light, clean, and full of energy.

5.    Time to stop snacking.  You just don’t need it anymore.  Winter is over.

6.    Get creative.  Go and have some fun.  Spend time for renewal and growth.  Turn off your electronics/technologies for a time during the day and find peace.

Transforming from Winter to Spring is not easy for many of us.  I hope this guided awareness can help with the change and move you forward into our spring season.

Namaste

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Janine is a Yoga Instructor and Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, practicing from her home studio in Massachusetts and Ogunquit, Maine. Janine's work includes recovery from illness, trauma and stresses caused by everyday living.   She teaches and coaches from her home studio (the yoga room), Groton Wellness spa in Groton, MA, Cancer Care Center of York County, Compass Rose Yoga and York Hospital's Wellness Center as well as your own home environment.
 Janine's yoga practice has tremendous therapeutic effect on your body. Not only does it work your physical body, it works on better breathing, vitality, concentration, healing and relaxation.   As an Ayurveda and Yoga Wellness Counselor, she will provide guidance on ayurvedic and yogic lifestyle change to bring about greater health and harmony.            Call for more information   207-251-9577

Janine Robichaud

turn your life upside down

Modified Headstand




Headstands that every body can do. 

The benefits of a headstand are so spectacular that everyone should be able to share in the glory.  Well, yes, you can. 

First, let me touch upon some of the benefits and please share with us if you have experienced some of these benefits or some that I haven't mentioned here.

Benefits include:

nervous system

reverses the effects of gravity

      increase mental alertness

     increases circulation

    relieves stress and strain

Avoid this pose:

high blood pressure

detached retina, glaucoma

hiatal hernia

neck injuries

menstruating

pregnant

Headstand or Shirshasana
When you come into a modified headstand pose, you let go of the fear.  With practice you will become steady, sure and confident.  There should be no strain anywhere.  Keep it safe, slow and come out of it whenever you are unsure or feeling unsafe.  Do not stay in the pose or continue the pose if you feel pain or discomfort.  Work on the foundation, learning the correct arm, head and shoulder position. 

Here's How
1.  Place a folded blanket at the top of your sticky mat.
2.  Begin in Child's pose.  Already your heart is above your head, gaining the benefits of blood flow, relaxation and tension release. Child's pose alleviates head, neck and shoulder pain as well. 
3.  Interlock your fingers, and bring your forearms and hands to the floor. (on the blanket)
4.  Form a triangular shape with your hands and elbows, place your head on the floor. (hands cupping the head)
5.  Lift your pelvis off the floor, bringing your weight onto your arms and head.

Stop here feeling the benefits of this pose so far then if you want to go a bit deeper

6.  Bring yourself into a modified Downward-Facing Dog. Breathe!
7.  Rest in Child's pose



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janine is a Yoga Instructor and Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, practicing from her home studio in Massachusetts and Ogunquit, Maine. Janine's work includes recovery from illness, trauma and stresses caused by everyday living.   She teaches and coaches from her home studio (the yoga room), Groton Wellness spa in Groton, MA, Cancer Care Center of York County, Compass Rose Yoga and York Hospital's Wellness Center as well as your own home environment.
 Janine's yoga practice has tremendous therapeutic effect on your body. Not only does it work your physical body, it works on better breathing, vitality, concentration, healing and relaxation.   As an Ayurveda and Yoga Wellness Counselor, she will provide guidance on ayurvedic and yogic lifestyle change to bring about greater health and harmony.            Call for more information   207-251-9577