desire

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for.-Epicurus

Storm Lake Tree Pose

Sunday we traveled to Storm Lake Iowa for a graduation. As you can tell from the name of the town the weather gets pretty crazy along the shore of the lake. My husband spotted this little gravel "pier" and thought it would be cool to photograph my tree pose at the end of it.

So here it is the best tree pose I can do in 45 mile an hour winds, barefoot (on gravel), on the end of a pier. I think the best part of it is my beautiful Kula shirt.

Love
MO

stepping through

namaste kula,
happy monday, memorial day, vacation yoga day.
Yes that's right, vacation yoga was the theme for today, let it flow.
gina was feeling extra generous today, got the thighs burning good. during an extra long pray twist a fun thing happened. thighs are burning, lets share this with some other muscles. push back thru your heel maybe that will help ease the pain. it did some but not for long. ok try something else, focus on letting go, let it flow. it worked, all of the sudden it happened, the burn was gone and my muscle came alive. i could feel every muscle in my leg bursting with energy. now that's what i call a vacation.
After lunch a nice summer storm was moving in. I love the sound of rolling thunder and gentle rain. so, feeling motivated from my wonderful morning practice i opened my windows and sat. looking out into my back yard listening to all the sounds i went into the clearest emptiest meditations ever. Thank you to the Kula for creating an environment and support for making these things possible. We are one Om Namah Shivaya, mike

Kula Reunion - How About June 11?

Namaste yogis!

How about Sunday, June 11th for a kula reunion? That will be 3 weeks since our cleanse and immersion ended, an auspicious time to check in with each other.

I am free to get together either in the morning or the afternoon that day. The only time slot the studio is occupied on that day is 3:00 - 3:45 for Kids Yoga. Please let me know what, if anything, works for you on that day.

I look forward to all being together again :)

Love,
Gina

Good, Good Vibrations

Thanks, Gina, for the photo. I love that it documents the boundless energy we were feeling that day! It will hold not only a sacred space in my heart, but also on my altar. On those days when it seems the experience and joy has faded, all I need to do is look at the smiles on each of the beautiful members of the kula. May we continue to support and remember each other.

Falling Off The Wagon

During what is turning out to be a bit of a challenging week for us human beings (my dogs are unaffected), are you feeling lethargic, pathetic and dismal which is leading you back to the carb cupboard, the drive-thru, the Cheez-It aisle?

If you're falling off the wagon and have gone back to processed foods, coffee, mammal meat, chocolate or any other old habit, have you noticed any change in how you feel?

I believe that witnessing the subtle, or not so subtle, changes in how we feel with regards to what we put in our bodies is an important part of incorporating healthier habits. Let's pull back the curtain and really see how this stuff makes us feel as opposed to how we felt on our focused diet. In our pre-cleanse and immersion haze, we might not have noticed. Now we're wide awake and if we put our minds to it, we can notice the difference.

If you have something to share, please do!

Now that you've finished the immersion and cleanse...what are you gonna do now??

...I'm going to Disney World! Yup - just me, my family and oh - tens of thousands of other people crazy enough to make that trip! I KNOW it's extremely hot & humid down there. And I KNOW that the crowds are sometimes unbearable. And yes, even when I'm sure that I will scream if I hear "It's a Small World" one more time...there is something about that place that draws us back time and time again. In fact this will be our 14th trip. I get a kick out of seeing my son Ben (who's almost 14) practically turn himself inside out with excitement before we get there. And probably even more so watching my husband John do the same!!

I'm realizing how short and precious our time here is. I want to spend this time not only learning to be the person I was truly born to be, but also fully embracing every moment I have to spend with the people I love. Even if that means driving all the way to Florida...over Memorial weekend, to do it. ;)

I will miss my kula cousins over the next week! You will certainly be in my heart as always.
Meditation is portable, thank goodness! I have a feeling I might really need it when I'm having a meltdown because I can't find a veggie burger anywhere...or I'm missing my yoga practice...or I want to push a little kid out of the way to get my picture taken with Mickey. Just kidding about that last part.

Peace my friends,
Leslie

Go out on a date

Oh yeah baby! The organic coconut date rolls are back in stock at Nature's Pantry...

yum num yum num mmmm

Bye Mikey Mike

I will now only refer to you as Beautiful Form, Fore Arm Balance Mike. Man you were awesome today, and the fact that you had no attachment or aversion to the pose is why it seemed as though you had been doing it for the past 10 years. Thanks for leading by example and not letting the "little i" take over.

The Power of the Past

At this point I know some of us are feeling the pull of old habits, and I don't necessarily mean the eating and drinking kind. It may very well be that we've kicked the coffee habit or learned to be mindful of what we're putting in our mouths, when and how much. Wonderful! But this is just a step on our path of mindfulness, not the "destination".

Through this process we've learned the power of habits in terms of our bodies and our food. We've seen how the mind has needs that are usually unrelated to what the body actually needs. This awakening has given us the ability to see that we're able to make choices about food and not be ruled by our perceived "needs" and our mind's habit patterns.

Food gave us a simplistic way to learn this. Applying it to the rest of life is the hard part. Just as our mind has habits about food, so too does it have "thinking" habits and patterns. One example is the response to a load of work that presents itself suddenly. Our habit pattern, cultivated over many years of stressing, is to get panicky, angry, resentful, nervous, distracted, overwhelmed and pessimistic. After a week of bliss, it may feel like a dark cloud floated over. I neglected all of my studio work, besides teaching, for all of last week. Sunday I had graduation obligations so Monday was Day 1 for getting back on track, and it was A LOT. Like an unwelcomed acquaintance dropping in for a sleep-over, I felt that habitual response to "too much" wash over me. I immediately felt exhausted, grouchy and pitiful. Then in that unbalanced and unproductive state of mind, of course I decided to tackle some questions about my business and focus on the parts of it that aren't working. When we're in that state of mind, we almost seem to seek out people, subjects, projects, etc that will FEED that state of mind, rather than change it. And this tends to lead to dark thoughts of, Who cares? Why bother, you can't win anyway...oh forget it...

I try SO hard to remind myself that just as this negative thought pattern was created, so too can a new thought pattern be created. It's just a matter of practice. Stopping the flow of the old first, noticing it, see what it does to us. Give it to the kula. Remind yourself that habits aren't created for us by someone else, they started in our minds which we've learned by cleansing that we can have control over, we can change, we are not in a permanent state. In the same way that I can control whether or not I eat a block of cheese for lunch instead of a salad, I can control whether I am defeated by dramatic, dark thoughts or see them for what they really are (a rotten old thought habit) and set about the hard work of changing them which I know to be absolutely possible, not easy, but possible. Nothing is permanent, including these thought habits.

Everything is workable. One thing is for sure, we'll be stuck in a cycle of darkness forever unless we decide to do something to change ourselves. We can't let ourselves be fooled into thinking some external event will change us. It's all inside...

Love and HOPE!
Gina

Bring back that loving feeling

I dont' know what has come over me, but today I woke up in the foulest mood I can ever recall! It was so bad in fact, that my husband suggested an exorcism. I sat & meditated (or attempted to at any rate) and was astounded at all the emotions I was experiencing just in that moment! There was anger, fear, sadness, frustration - not a warm fuzzy to be found!
I'm thinking that since I had such a profound experience last week, and my little heart has been closed off for so long - that I've lost my equilibrium.
Are any of you experiencing anything like that? Bless your heart if you are ;)
I'll keep you posted,
Leslie

Why do people do this???

Okay so I have a very supportive husband and I really love him, he was a great cleanse supporter. We also have some friends that are very dear to us and Saturday night they called and we all had babysitters so we decided to go for a drink. No big deal I thought I can totally handle this and still continue my cleanse. Well after about two hours at the bar I realized that I was actually ruining my cleanse by simply being around these people. They smoke, not my husband but our friends and I tried several times letting my husband know that it was getting late and we needed to leave. Drunk people are very hard to convince however and we stayed much later than expected.

Last night we had a family gathering to say good bye to my older brother who is moving to Pennsylvania. Again with the smoking, my beautiful sister in law has smoked for years and quit and then started back up again. She recently quit for four months and now has started again, oh yeah she blamed me for letting my little boy see her smoke again (he is very anti smoking, no doubt a product of my ranting and raving of the dangers). Anyhow I really am not sure where I am going with this except for the fact that I can't really live in a cleanse bubble, and that makes me sad. I talked to two of my brothers last night about the cleanse and boy did the excuses come quickly. I will to continue to show them the benefits not only physically but mentally, and maybe they will join me some day.

I miss you all and I am so happy and filled with joy about our week together.

Much Love
MO

congratulations to all you mountain climbers

“The greatest mountain you will ever climb, is the small incline at the start of your journey” - Judith Conroy

surrender,move forward to a new level

NAMASTE,
The master has mastered Nature; not in the sense of conquering it, but of becoming it. In surrendering, in giving up all concepts, judgements and desires, her mind has grown naturally compassionate. Tao Te Ching.... translated by Stephen Mitchell

Now as to the more direct application. To conquer a sin (desire, judgement, etc.), let heart and mind rest, not on the sin, but on the contrary vitue. Let the sin be forced out by positive growth in the true direction, not by direct opposition. Turn away from sin and go forward courageously, constructively, creatively, in well-doing. In this way the whole nature will gradually be drawn up to the higher level, on which the sin does not even exist. the conquest of a sin is a matter of growth and evolution, rather than of opposition.
We have all moved to a higher level, growing our souls, feeding our sipirts, we are all one.
Love and Light, Mike

The First Thing I Ate Not On The Cleanse Food List Was...

In the spirit of maintaining our honest, open and unconditionally loving connection with one another, I thought it would be fun to share the first thing we ate (or drank) that was not on the cleanse food list...

Without attachment (but with a little smile) this morning I had my beloved honey in my cup of tea.

And you?

With Deepest Gratitude from Laura

Hello Beautiful Kula!
Thank you all so much for your inspiring words and powerful presence at the studio this week. For me, the cleanse was a success on so many levels. It is amazing how much we have all experienced emotionally as well as mentally.
I found out that I COULD live without Diet Coke and chocolate. Who knew? When we started, I was sure by this time this week I would be in a coma-like state since I had suffered from headaches in the past without a certain amount of caffeine. The great thing is, I haven’t really missed either one and I don’t see myself going back to those old habits—not immediately anyway. The only thing I didn’t care for was drinking the colon cleanser but even it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Practicing with all of you was my favorite thing about the week. Since I have a day job, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to be there for the all the morning sessions. So I picked Friday to take the first half the day off to come to the cleanse class and stay for the regular class. Coming to the night classes were great (they always are) but being there Friday morning was absolutely wonderful! I love sitting in a quiet meditation with several people in a space that is so beautiful. I find that to be more powerful than doing it alone in a quiet room. Just listening to all of those who shared their stories of what they were experiencing was moving. I was so happy I could be there to be part of that session. This morning (Saturday) was also a very moving practice. It was truly sensational! I have to thank all of you for your presence and energy. Being in the midst of you gave me a great energy and an overwhelming sense of great happiness. This week has been a wonderful experience for me thanks to all of you. Our cleanse may be over for now but our kula lives on!
Peace and Love to you all~~
Namaste!
Laura

It's 7:30 a.m. and I miss my kula!! Love to you all!

Every morning with my beloved coffee, I am in the habit of reading the newspaper, but only the important stuff like the comics, movie reviews and overnight earthshaping celebrity gossip, all the while loudly insisting that I HAVE NO TIME TO MEDITATE!!! Since Monday I have not looked at the paper because of morning yoga(although I have several times had a half cup of coffee.) I have also noticed a lower tolerance to TV. I t seems our intention to clean up our diet, because of our spiritual context, has spread to the junk I feed my mind. Even more than the food choices, I hope, I mean I RESOLVE to be more mindful of how I feed my mind and I plan to ride the strength of the week with the kula into next week by meditating instead of my usual morning routine. Thank you again, Gina and kula!

This morning during class I had this rush that overwhelmed me. And all of a sudden I felt those whopping tears of joy start welling up as I stood in downward facing dog...no small feat, mind you. I think it might have been the Van Morrison song Gina played coupled with the feelings I was having by being in the room with everyone.
I can honestly say that the feelings I had this morning can only compare to two other profound experiences I've had, when my husband, Rich, was in the hospital 11 years ago after surviving a spinal cord injury and then last year when he was in the hospital after having survived cardiac arrest. I realized this morning that a year ago today is when the cardiac arrest happened. And a year ago is when I finally decided that I was not going to take another day for granted.
I just finished getting caught up on all of the entries in the blog and just whenI thought my heart was stretched as wide as it would go......I found out it could go wider.
And my humility deeper.
thank you so much, everyone, for showing me I've been wrong about Blue Springs all along.
Namaste, peace and love to you all, brave hearts.
love, deb

A Post from Chuck...The Inner/Outer Teacher

Once again, I am pleased to present a post from a kula member...

The Inner/Outer Teacher

I believe in my heart of hearts that I was guided to this group by a higher power. Many years ago, I started to realize that intuition existed. Also, if recognized and listened to, it would guide me down a path towards enlightenment. And somehow, eventually, I might cease to stumble down those same dirt roads I seem to travel time and time again. It has taken years to notice the subtle little clues my Inner Teacher offers me. Still, more often than not, I don't even recognize the clue until after the fact, then in retrospect, the light shines thru and I am reminded, once again, that my life (and those lives affected by mine) could have (and should have) benefited from the insight that was offered.

My week was originally planned for all evening classes. Then, curiously but powerfully, I was guided to the Thursday morning class, (the thought was received at 6:25 a.m.). Then, the Friday morning class somehow fell nicely into my schedule. Within the balance (or possibly the imbalance) of juggling and struggling with life this past week, my spirit has received many gifts. Gina's teachings and the Kula's influence have cleansed and refreshed my body, my mind, my heart and my soul. This new light shines brighter than ever.

Thank you my new friends,
Chuck

Om Namah Shivaya

"Om Nah-mah Shee-vigh-yah" (the vigh part rhymes with high)

The heart of the mantra Om Namah Shivaya is often interpreted as "Om, I bow to the Highest Self". It is considered to be an important mantra because of its power to inspire us to spiritual realization, supression of the little "i" and realization of the big "I". Om is the primordial sound, Namah is to honor or bow and Shivaya denotes Divine Consciousness.

Om Namah Shivaya!

Love,
gIna

A Post from Lindsay...

I'm honored to post this for our yogini friend Lindsay...

The past year of my life has been such a challenge. My family and I moved to Blue Springs from Los Angeles for my sister and brother in law to raise their kids and for my mother to retire, and for me...just to be with them. My mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer only months after we settled in here in Blue Springs. After a brave but short battle, my mother passed away in January. For the past four months Blue Springs has been for me a prison of horrible memories...until now. It will sound completely crazy but in the studio this week I have had to hold back tears of joy because as I seek strength throughout our practice, I feel the presence of my mother so strongly. I even pictured her dancing with me this morning in order to help me overcome all of that silly self consciousness that I struggle with. It totally helped and it felt AWESOME. It is so hard to rationalize, because like Gina had said I don't like to sound "new agey" but it's as if this week has given me clarity that there is still life around me and there is still a relationship between my mother and I, just in a different way. More than anything I have realized that it is not only my mother's presence that I feel so strongly in that room every morning, it is the strength, character and love that all of you are so kind to share. Like I have seen expressed so much in the blog and in class, I too wish that this moment (cleansing) could go on forever. I would like to express my gratitude to all of our teachers and to each of you for your kindness. It is true that you never know what affect you have on someone by just being yourself. Thank you all, Lindsay

A Lifetime Memory

When I am an old woman sitting in a wheelchair in the corner, with green jello dribbling down my chin, on many occasions the source of the mysterious smile on my face will be the memory of this morning with all of you.

The collective joy in that room could have powered the Earth if only we knew how to harness it. But maybe that's the point--we can't harness it, capture it in a bottle like a firefly, or make it last forever. I can, however, be and remain boundlessly grateful to have experienced it and grateful to each of you who participated in the exhuberant expression of our true and Divine natures.

In times of doubt to come, when I wonder who I am and why I'm here, I hope to call to mind this morning and remember that I am, always, a child of God, made for that kind of pure joy.

Humbly,
Jerri

Raising the Vibration

This morning was one of the most incredible mornings I have ever experienced. Looking around the room during the first song and seeing all of these glowing faces was so fantastic. What a beautiful group of people (in every way, inside and out) to be sharing this experience with. One of the thoughts that has kept coming up for me is raising the vibration. This morning as some of you were sharing about people that challenge you, I was thinking of another aspect than lettting your big I shine through as opposed to your little i. Along with that you can send that person Love, whether through prayer or just Loving thoughts and intention. This is raising the vibration of your Self, your household, your world, and the universe. The other aspect of this is to send Love to your Self at the same time. One time my sister suggested that during a meditation I say to myself "I love myself"... I thought that's ridiculous, I can't say that. That shows exactly that I really needed to do it. I do it sometimes, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but I can still try. You are all precious people, and sharing this week with you has been more than I could have ever asked for. At this point, I wish I could be in the present moment forever. Love & Light, Lara

When I finish this blog post, I'll...

I've struggled much throughout my life with living in the present moment...often because what was happening was unpleasant. I learned from an early age to tell myself stories, to live in my mind and dream big dreams of the future, of a coming hero who would right all the wrongs in my world. I also learned to rewrite the past -- to say in my mind all the cutting, witty words I should have said to defend myself (read: win) in a conflict, to psychoanalyze those who hurt me and make myself right, to be stronger, sassier, less afraid.

I became really competent -- at pretty much everything. And I did a lot! Then came cancer, a true shock for I had lived the lifestyle that all the research says should protect you. At first I just saw it as another injustice, another unfair hand dealt to me...My friends and I began to talk about how we would travel the journey of healing from this disease together, and I decided to take a sabbatical.

The super-competent (I've been called Superwoman in the past, and I don't take it as a compliment anymore) me would have tried to work through it all and keep the same old routine. But I decided that I needed to concentrate wholly on healing -- and that would take time and focus. So, I've been on a sabbatical since my first surgery, January 31.

And when I stopped long enough to pay attention to my life, I realized that there were many days I left my home before 7 a.m. and didn't return until 10 p.m. I realized that I didn't live at my home, just stopped in to bathe, eat (but not savor) an occasional meal, and sleep. I've realized that I have a compulsion to be DOING at all times -- and during my first round of chemotherapy, finally learned to allow myself to sit and stare out the window (because that's all I could muster). And the world didn't stop. In fact, I enjoyed it. I finally started living each moment for myself -- and I don't mean that in a selfish way, but in the way that says, "hey, maybe right now I'm not changing the world or doing something that will impress everyone, but that tree on my back porch is lovely, and I'm going to sit and watch it sway in the breeze...and that will be enough, in fact, that will be beautiful." Sometimes it seems trite to say, but I feel like cancer has been a great teacher for me.

Eknath Easwaran says it better than I can: "Most of us live very little in the present. If we could watch our thoughts, we would be surprised to see how much time we spend in the past or future -- or simply daydreaming, out of time altogether. Very seldom can we say we are fully present in the present moment. Yet now is the only time there is. The present is all we have. If we feel we don't have enough time, the first thing to do is not throw it away. Instead of ceding it to the past and future, we can take steps to give our undivided interest to here and now. Attention flowing to the past is not energy used; it is energy wasted. The same is true of the future: looking forward to things, worrying about what might happen, fantasizing about dreams coming true is energy drained away. When the mind stays in the present, all this vitality comes back to us."

"If we feel we don't have enough time, the first thing to do is not throw it away"...those are no longer just words for me, they have a visceral reality that they never had before. And I am grateful to be sharing my precious, precious time with Gina and the rest of this kula.

What a Difference a Year Makes

I just wanted to say that my time with the "cleanse kula" has helped me tremendously through a difficult time I am having in my life right now. You see, last year on May 18th I was pregnant, I was 6 months pregnant with a baby that I knew was going to die. We found out at our routine 19 week sonogram that our little baby girl I was carrying had Turner Syndrome with severe complications. Unheard of, maybe they're wrong something like this couldn't happen to me. I have a sweet 2 year old little boy and a wonderful husband this should not be happening to me. It was and it did.........

On May 28th Mara Hope's body was born into the world, her spirit had already passed. For the short time she was with me she taught me a life time, I could either turn away from life and the things I love or I could face the fact that life goes on and make every moment count.

I attended my first class at kansas siddhi yoga on my due date August 23rd, I had always wanted to try yoga and this hard horrible experience strangely enough gave me the courage to do it. Every time I think that there is something I can't do I think back to my time with Mara and what she taught me about myself.

I still struggle every day and thank all of the inspirational people I am fortunate to come in contact with. I thank all of you for being so open with your hearts and helping me to reveal as well.
Much Love to All
MO

Technical Difficulties Solved

Gina, in her usual generous way, mentioned my "minor technical difficulties" regarding my posting. The technical problem was I couldn't figure out for the life of me how to do this! Thank you, my dear friend Anita, for taking care of me along with everyone else you nurture!

Not only am I learning how to overcome my fear of "wheel," I'm learning how to blog!

The Insights Just Keep Coming

Hello friends!
I had a very profound insight a little while ago and wanted to share it. (Feel free to skim because this might be long!) Gina knows this about me, but I'm not sure the rest of you do. I have been struggling with a very negative body image, especially as my body ages and changes. You might say that I have been deeply invested in the "small i" for a long time. Just being comfortable in my own skin has been a struggle.

So, this morning in class - we're doing the partner work and I have a man (who is not my husband) KNEELING ON MY BUTT!!...I don't think twice about it! It wasn't until I got home today that I realized how un-self conscious I was and what a huge thing that is for me. That was a humorous realization mind you, but then I realized it goes even deeper. When I was 23, I was assaulted during an armed robbery and was hit from behind with a shotgun. While that was a long time ago, I still have severe trust and intimacy issues as a result. Therapy helped me work through the immediate stuff like nightmares, etc. But all these years later, I realized that my body still suffers from the trauma.

I have no doubt that my yoga practice has helped bring me to a place where I am able to dare to open up and trust. It is in the collective energy of our kula that we are healing one another and I certainly felt that healing energy today. From the bottom of my (newly opened) heart, I thank you and I love you all.
Leslie

Practical Question

I noticed that eggs are listed as a protein. For tomorrow, when we are adding protein into our diet, are eggs part of the cleanse?
Thanks,
Allison

My pride and joy

In case I haven't expressed it clearly enough, I wanted to make absolutely sure that each and every one of you know how incredibly proud I am of you for the committment you've made to this cleanse and immersion process. For most of us this was difficult to arrange and a herculean effort to maintain in the midst of juggling the 108 things we have going on at the same time. In witnessing yourself stay steady and committed while life, old habits and temptation continue to swirl around you (something you may have doubted your ability to do), I believe you have taken Hanuman*-like leaps on your spiritual path.

I am completely floored by the cohesiveness of our kula and the strength and inspiration we're finding for and from each other.

Bravo sweet yogis, bravo. We have done something extraordinary and in harvesting the fruits of our labors we can share our bounty with others. We are making a change in the world, starting with ourselves.

We are the ones we've been waiting for.
- The Elders, Hopi Nation

Love to you, Gina

*Hanuman is a Hindu deity that epitomizes courage and strength who leapt across the ocean to demonstrate his devotion to God. While non-Hindus might find it odd to worship "a monkey", for Hindus, the idea is to worship the astoundingly righteous attributes represented by Hanuman that even most humans find hard to practice, such as devotion and virtuousness.

Spring "Fever" Blossoms

Monday evening the Spring bug got the best of me. After teaching my class, I became very ill: light-headed, nauseous, head-splitting headache. So ill that I couldn't make the 10 minute drive home without pulling over on the side of the road. The rest of the evening was spent in bed. At first I felt like a wimp! But what good would that do? I began searching for the deeper layer of meaning in this set back. I remembered something I read in the Immersion handout about the toxins entering the bloodstream too quickly may result in a variety of unwanted symptoms as those I'd experienced. Although this was related to eating fruits, I had to face a harsh reality. I had to admit to myself the drastic disaster I was creating by my food choices. A diet with so little nutrients is bound to have it's way! And so it has, but not without a positive shift in concsciousness.

I began to ask "why?" I don't eat what's best for my being. Afterall, I feed my children veggies and fruits and the right amount protien. These little beings are my greatest teachers; amazing with their own internal guide to what is good for them. I've often watched Abby (age 4) choose an apple over a cookie or help herself to raw veggies to feed her snack time. When she chooses sweets, she knows her limits--interesting! When she's tired, she takes a rest break. Hmmm. When do we grow out of this?

I believe the answer to my own question is a complex mixture of: missing out on the cooking gene at birth--teased for following a cookbook instead of instinct; a lifetime of comforting my emotions with sugar-infested food, happy, sad, angry etc...; and a weak will. So now that I know this, I will press on. Although my cleanse experience was interrupted by my Springtime bug, I do not feel defeated. I feel awakened to seeking a higher path of healthy eating. I do need help though, and all suggestions are welcome ie: cookbooks, recipes, mantras.

I wish each of you a fantastic journey in the competion of your cleanse.
Love & Encouragement to all,
Anita Bailey

P.S. I have not taken another sip of coffee!!!

A Note From Clara

Minor technical difficulties are preventing Clara from posting this so I'm doing it for her...

I so wanted to share today but a huge lump in my throat and tears welling in my eyes told me to keep quiet at that time.

Hearing Gina and Ashley talking about the temporal nature of our body brought my mind to my dear Dad, who passed from this earthly realm only six weeks ago. Dad was 86 years old and the last year was a difficult one for him and all of his loved ones watching. This once vibrant Montana cowboy just grew weaker and sicker. His body was giving out. I knew he did not wish to ever be kept alive through “extraordinary” means; however, when the doctor told us it was time to make a decision, reality set in. The family – including my 88year old mother – looked to me, his only daughter, to make that dreadful decision and, thankfully, everyone backed me completely.

It was hard to think of not having my daddy anymore. But the decision was not so hard to make because, as was said today, this was not Dad. This was a temporary body that was giving out. My Dad is his spirit and it remains with all of us who loved him in every lovely memory.

My years of reading Buddha’s teachings and attempting to understand the Yoga Sutras brought me through this ordeal with relative confidence. Perhaps I was even preparing myself without knowing it. I do know I am forever amazed at the wonder of each and every day and who/what comes along our path. That includes getting to know all of you, our kula.

Namaste,
Clara

Brown rice with equanimity (do you get that in the seasoning aisle?)

While enjoying my brown rice today (but not enjoying it TOO much, Gina) I was looking at this thing I found on the website www.worldprayers.org and thought I'd share it. " Do everything with a mind that lets go.Do not expect any praise or reward. If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go alot, you will have alot of peace. If you let go completely, you will know complete peace and freedom. Your struggles with the world will have come to an end." insight meditation - achaan chah

Eating (and Living) with Intention

Going into the cleanse, I thought I'd count the hours until we could eat grains and nuts. Then, like many of you, I was not hungry yesterday and had little trouble sticking to my intentions. This morning I was not at all sure whether or not I'd add grains today.

As it turned out, I fixed a small bowl of brown rice with tomatoes and avocado just a bit ago. The sunshine filling my tiny deck called to me, so I ate out there surrounded by plants and flowers. I savoured each mouthful and chewed much longer than I ordinarily would, absolutely struck by the glory of this simple food.

In stripping away unnecessary (and some positively harmful) food, I found value and true joy in simple, healthy food and can't help wondering if it's possible to do the same thing with more of life. I'm pretty sure it is and pretty sure that more time for yoga and more time shared with all of you--the coolest cleanse kula ever--is the path to it.

Blessings,
jerri

ps--to all you "yoga twigs:" Please know I say that with great admiration and appreciation for the inspiration you offer.

Who wants chocolate?

Listening to Gina talk about attachment this morning before meditation, I couldn't help but recall learning about the five obstacles on the path of yoga-- the kleshas. They are avidya, asmita, raga, dvesa, and abhinivesa. Avidya means ignorance, and it is the root of all the other obstacles. Ignorance manifests when we mistake the impure for the pure, the temporal for the eternal, pleasure for pain, and non-self for Self. Asmita is ego -- mistaking the little "i" for the big "I". Raga is attachment and dvesa is aversion. Abhinivesa is clinging to life.

Throughout the day today, I've been mulling over the manifestations of ignorance -- particularly mistaking the temporal for the eternal. One of the most temporary things we experience is the body. Yet, for many of us, the body becomes our identity. We wash it and feed it and exercise it and dress it up and make it up. Industries are built around the cult of the body. Yet it is clear that the body is not who we are -- we are the internal witness, the deep Self, the Atman. My body may be missing the occasional piece of chocolate right now, but my deep Self is not. My body may want some peanut butter, but my deep Self doesn't need it. My body is temporal, my deep Self is eternal. Why focus all my attention and time and energy on that which is temporary and ignore that which is eternal? This is what I must remember when we are finished with this immersion and cleanse...That the part of me I want to nourish and cultivate, my deep Self, is not nourished by caffeine and sugar and all the other fleeting pleasures, but by asana and meditation and long walks in nature and joyful connection with others of like heart.

"Occasionally all of us stumble across the truth, but most of the time we pick ourselves up and walk on as if nothing happened." Churchill

Cake . . .You want me to serve cake?!

I can't believe I was at a "Welcome to the Firm" cake reception this afternoon, (which to avoid the temptation I contemplated not even attending), but to be supportive I show up a few minutes late, and I hear, "last one to arrive can cut the cake." Hmmmm that would be me! I look sternly at my boss as if to say, HELLO, do you not remember what I am doing this week? It was so sad, it wasn't just cake, but Costco cake with chocolate filling in the center and thick rich icing. Obviously I was being tempted and cutting that cake was where I was meant to be.

I did so well though . . .I didn't lick the icing or anything . . .Yeah!!! I know it sounds simple, but I am learning to acknowledge and applaud the small victories. Yesterday, I couldn't drink (or so I thought) the dandelion extract without adding a teaspoon of sugar - - today, I reflected on Gina's discussion before our meditation, and I drank my tea without sugar. The steps and sacrifices are small, so very small, but I hope to build on them each day.

I am looking forward to experiencing the rest of the immersion and cleanse. Gina, I thank you for your inspiration, words of wisdom and challenges you offer us each morning.
Many blessings to each of you - - bjhl

A Matter of Perspective

Adopting a entirely different set of daily rituals allows us to see our "normal" routine in a new light. In a sense, we are forced to actually experience every minute of the day rather than just repeat our normal routine.

I have heard many of us noting how much time we have spent thinking about food or our physical condition as it relates to food. This mindfulness reveals how much of the normal day we pass through on autopilot.

This mindfulness also sounds just like what we are supposed to do when practicing yoga—be aware of our physical and mental sensations. Just as in yoga, we need to calmly observe what is going on without being drawn into the emotional response it sparks.

I'm sure we have all discovered how attached we are to our "normal" routine. Why do we suffer when it is changed? Is the attachment physical or mental? I think we would all agree that it is largely mental.

Once we realize that it is the mind that is attached the routine, and merely because it is familiar, creating a new routine is simply a matter of choice and time. Having made the choice, we can face the challenge with renewed motivation and overcome any obstacles we or others place on our path.

For me at least, this perspective has allowed me to view the challenges created by the Immersion and Cleanse in a new light:

Confronting the mental challenges it creates is just as important as achieving the physical benefits it offers.

The Truth

I love Leslie's poem. When I was reading it I thought it was something already written by someone for this occasion and then I realized it was a Leslie original.
To be brutally honest, I do not feel at all poetic right now. This morning in yoga class I was feeling so good, light as a feather. I thought, this is a breeze. By 3 pm, my a__ was dragging. I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. (some of it could do with staying up late last nite shop vacuuming a flooded kitchen and laundry room from a sewer back-up. Is that symbolic or what!) By early evening I had developed a headache, felt flu-like and decided I couldn't push anymore and lay down and took a nap. I'm sure the headache was from lack of caffeine. I also thought I would miss a cold beer in the evening but I don't even feel like one. I'm surprised I'm as hungry as I am. Here comes "Debby Downer".... The hunger makes me realize I haven't really honored the hungry in the world who can't go back to eating what they wish after 6 days. And really how much hunger can consume my energy level and focus!
It also makes me so much more aware of everything. This will be the last time I say thank you, Gina, for giving us the opportunity to have this experience and share it together. It really does help to know that others may be breezing through this..I think it's called humility!

An Ode To Bread

How sad I felt this morning
when I could not eat some toast.
All warm with peanut butter,
the way I love it most.
Or again today at lunch
when I needed something quick.
My old friend wheat bread was off limits.
I think I may be sick!
Could it be that I'm addicted
to all things whole grain?
Rosemary Olive Oil Triscuits...
it's not easy to refrain!
I know it's just a week,
and I won't die from wheat withdrawal
But it isn't easy letting go,
I'm only human after all!

To drink or not to drink?

How are the caffeine addicts doing today? Be honest...

Days 1 & 2 Meal Ideas

Here are some of my ideas for the first two days of the cleanse, fruits and veggies only. Please let's all help each other out and post some suggested easy meals...

Breakfast - hash browns with avocado (you already have the hash browns recipe)

Morning snack - bowl of cut up fruit (strawberries, asian pear, bananas, blueberries)

Lunch - Tomato/Potato/Roasted Red Pepper soup and cucumber salad
The tomato soup is made by sauteeing onion, garlic and a chopped up potato (or two or three depending on size and how much soup you're making) over medium heat until the potatos are half cooked. Add a can of organic whole peeled tomatoes (Muir Glen Brand at HyVee or NP) and some roasted red peppers. You can roast and peel these yourself or buy them in a bottle, usually in the condiments aisle. Add herbs like fresh basil and salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes or so, season to taste. When done, let cool slightly and whiz in a food processor or blender until smooth. Serve with chopped up cucumbers seasoned with salt, pepper and dill.

Afternoon snack - raw carrots and celery or another bowl of fruit

Dinner - Big salad with tomatoes and avocados. Stir fry of garlic, green beans, red bell peppers and water chestnuts (canned, in the asian foods section).

Dessert - raw apple or baked apples or pears with cinnamon or ginger

Don't forget your probiotic and colon cleanser in the morning!

Don't forget to breathe!

Ready or not

I hope those of you with "the bug" are feeling better. I know something's going around because other people outside of the yoga community are coming down with "stuff". Gina, I really hope you are rebounding. Becky,
I'm glad you tried blogging because it was nice knowing you felt as awkward as I did. I have been so lucky this weekend. I have a foster son who has been having his ups and downs over the years and an "adopted neice" who lives out of town. Both of them decided to come around and spend the weekend with Rich and me. We've been eating more than ever (they both love to eat and being in their 20's, love the idea of coming up with meals and cooking them) so I've totally blow the prep period over the weekend. On top of that, i've drunk Michelob Ultra (my choice of beer) and eaten dark chocolate, t-bone steak, pancakes, sausage, biscuits & gravy and BLT's.
I wondered why this happened this weekend when I was so determined to be a "good girl". I decided it's ok. I won't beat myself up over it. It is a rare opportunity for me to have these adult kids with us this weekend to celebrate Mother's Day. They have shared their love and poured their attention on Rich and me, so I'm feeling even stronger and more mentally ready to start the cleanse. I figure sometimes I just have to let things go and enjoy the moment. You're right, gina, the cleanse is already a learning process before we've even started. And I agree that Laura is amazing. She had alot of people wanting her attention last Thursday nite and she handled it with the grace and calm that has become her trademark. We are so lucky to have both of you. Thank you for all you do.

Mother of 4 wonders...can I do this?

Okay...since yesterday I'm really having strong doubts that I can do this. Why? Well, I forgot that I have other commitments besides myself, like taking Abby to preschool by 9 a.m. and teaching a class in the evening, both of which prevent me from my yoga cleanse in the a.m. and or p.m. Battling a springtime virus myself and playing nurse to little boy Nicholas with a 5-day fever; expecting my first grandchild to debut anytime now, in which I am commited to coaching her way out into the world, has left me in a heightened state of alert and feeling less energetic than normal. My refrigerator is partially ready, however, my pantry is not. I don't have the will or stamina to shop right now. On the upside--yes, there is an upside--my icky and aching throat leave less desire for all those sweets I love so much. Water is the only thing that sooths it! So in the midst of feeling depleted before I can even begin, I'm grateful for the ugly little virus. I will continue searching for my intention because I seem to have lost my way.
Oh, and my husband just walked in with a Mother's Day cake!

Sticking together can only make this better...
...With much Love,
Anita

Probiotic!

Hi everyone,

It looks to me like some of you are missing the probiotic that should be in your cleanse kit, they are refrigerated and in our excitement and haste we may have forgotten to add it to your kit when you picked it up. Please check, it's a glass bottle and says Probiotic on it.

Email me today if you didn't receive yours so I can get it to you, thank you!!

Love,
Gina

chocolate chip on my shoulder

I've let myself get kinda stuck in rebellion mode about shrinking my food cravings. i.e dark coffee and dark chocolate. I think I'm using it as a way to keep from fully participating in the whole process and the community. I thought if I confessed I might be able to move out of withholding and into connection with my desire to be part of this. I also don't know how to blog so maybe this will disappear into cyberspace and I can remain in hiding until I find a teenager to show me how this works.

Stamp out hunger

I noticed that tomorrow is the annual postal carriers "stamp out hunger" food drive. If you haven’t finished cleaning out your cupboards (I’m only part way done myself), today might be a wonderful opportunity to both prepare for the cleanse and help somebody else. Just leave your bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox tomorrow!

Love,
Allison

The Wisdom Within

The cleanse has a deeper meaning for me, trying to let the mindfulness about what I'm eating stimulate mindfulness of other things I think or do that may not be most beneficial.

Wednesday I started to feel all the tell-tale symptoms of a cold coming on. A weird sensation in my lungs, a slightly raw feeling in the throat, dizziness and just a little too much mucus (too much information?). So I immediately started with my Oscillococcinum which is a homeopathic cold/flu treatment from France. What I find fascinating is that increased mindfulness has got me noticing the actual feeling of my body fighting the evil virus. It hasn't surrendered into a full-blown cold but they are battling head to head pushing each other back and forward, back and forward and I can really feel who's winning at any given time!

So I worked all day yesterday noticing the waxing and waning. With an Intro to Yoga on Saturday, Mother's Day on Sunday and this little thing called an immersion and cleanse next week (and the 7 classes I'm adding to my regular schedule), I knew the wisest, most yogic thing to do was lay low and ask for help. But I have an old stand-by habit of "never say die!". You see, I believe I can will myself to do anything necessary. And it usually works. But at what cost? How many times have I already willed myself to "get 'er done" and suffered the consequences?

I came home from LA an empty shell but I willed myself to immediately begin the build-out of Kansas Siddhi Yoga and spent the next 6 months further emptying my empty tank. So when I opened, I was beyond empty, completely drained and it took a full year for me to feel like I had prana, life force, enough to share.

So I've been there, done that, on a big scale, like the studio build-out and on a small scale at least once a month or so, run myself ragged, over-extend myself and then have nothing left to give. How many times do I have to do it to learn that in the end it doesn't work?

So last night I "forced" myself to do what my higher self knew was right, surrender and ask for help. But boy, it wasn't easy. Just ask Laura how pathetic my wishy-washy reaching out to her to help teach my classes was. I kept asking, "Are you sure?" and what I really meant was "Am I sure?". And no I wasn't sure but the wisdom within kept saying, "rest, heal, let this body focus on the fight with the virus, it's just one night." Sounds convincing. But, old habits die hard and even at 9pm, bundled up in bed I was still questioning what I already knew deep down was the right thing. I felt guilty about putting myself above my classes and my responsibility, even when in the long run, I knew I would have more to offer if I took a little time to restore and replenish.

So could you ever call a cold a blessing? A Buddhist would say yes, a cold may feel "bad" but it's workable, there is something to be learned from it. It gave me a clear opportunity to witness an old habit and inner wisdom battle it out. I don't feel "all better" this morning but I feel a little wiser and a little more confident that I can survive the inner battles that will ensue as wisdom begins to take over.

Love to you all,
Gina

PS - May we all have the blessing of a good friend like Laura to patiently wait and hold our hands as we grow. I love you and thank you my dear, sweet friend for always being there for me!

I Can See Clearly Now The Rain Is Gone

Hi all,

I just want to make sure it's clear what the cleanse is about in terms of your physical body. We are giving the body "a break" of sorts so that it can take better care of itself. In a nutshell, when we ingest complex foods (especially proteins) and crappy foods (need I elaborate?) our bodies have to work hard on those things. Then when it's done with that stuff, we eat again and it goes back to work. Along the way, stuff builds up in our intestines, toxins get buried deep but because of our incessant eating cycle, our body can't get to a "deep cleaning".

Sound familiar? This is like deep cleaning your house, which you never have time to do, right? You keep your house reasonably clean so it doesn't fall apart but there is stuff on the top shelves, under the cushions and in the cracks and crevices that needs to be deep cleaned but it doesn't seem to be causing a problem so we put it off and off and off... Our bodies know exactly how that feels because with continuous eating, it doesn't have time either. So this cleanse is a way to focus our diet to allow the body to do some of that deep, spring cleaning. Since we can't all take the week off and go on retreat, we need to eat something. Our focused diet will allow us to both function in our daily lives AND give our bodies the opportunity to get some deeper work done.

So, the packet contains the foods you can eat for the week and these foods were specifically chosen because they will allow your body to work on the deep cleaning it needs. Dairy products and proteins require way too much "attention" from our bodies for it to get spring cleaning done. Stick to the packet!

I have definitely overlooked little spices and maybe some vegetables (like okra, for example) but I definitely didn't miss big categories like meat or dairy or pasta or bread. If they're not on there, it's not necessarily because they're bad foods you should never eat, it's because they aren't supportive of your body's cleansing process.

Think of it this way, eating foods that don't help the cleansing process, like dairy, wheat and chicken for example, is like your mother (or mother-in-law) coming to your house to supervise your spring cleaning. IT DOES NOT FACILITATE DEEP, PRODUCTIVE WORK :)

Love,
G

Is it just me...

...or is anyone else worried about the um, consequences of taking a colon cleanser right before yoga practice?! My imagination has gone wild with all sorts of things that could happen. Not a pleasant topic to think about - but it's on my mind! Hoping that this truly is a GENTLE colon cleanser! :) And also, I noticed the instructions on the probiotic state to take on a full stomach. Is it okay to take first thing then?
Hope you're all doing well!

help

Ok, I'm feeling a little irreverent for two reasons: (1) I feel like I'm "hogging the blogging" and (2) I didn't start taking the prep week more seriously. I just got thru re-reading your notes, Gina, and I apologize for not
taking it more seriously starting last Thursday. I have cut back on coffee. I'm down to 1/2 cup a day.
Luckily I don't like fast food or pre-packaged food enough so I haven't eaten any since last Thursday.
But I haven't switched to soy milk, which I love. And now my questions to you dear YoGina, and others,
we can't drink any kind of milk? Soy milk or rice milk? I love milk and will miss it dearly. Also you had
chicken listed on prep week but I don't see it on regular list. So are the protein sources fish, beans, tofu and greens? And no chicken? I do know there are great recipes on internet for tofu because I've used several of them. In fact, I guess everyone knows if you google a certain word with "vegetarian recipe", for instance yogurt recipes or asparagus recipes or talapia recipe, etc., you can get some good ideas to add to all of Gina's great suggestions. I'm curious about the nuts too. Any raw nuts? Much gracias.

What can we eat?

Hi Everybody,
I have a few questions on where (if at all) these foods come into our diet. I’ve tried to classify them.

Nuts/Seeds:
Peanuts (I know peanuts are not nuts but this is my best classification guess)
Pecans

Proteins:
Soy sauce
Tempeh (my guess is no)

Condiments/spices
Nutmeg
Mustard
Mustard Seeds and/or powder
Vinegar
Vanilla (I’m assuming only whole vanilla beans because vanilla extract has alcohol in it)

Thanks,
Allison

I work best under pressure

Hi Everyone.
I'm going out today to shop for next week. I've got two separate lists, one for myself and one for my husband, Rich, and company coming this weekend. I thought I would gradually work into this, like Gina suggested, but I find I'm very much a procrastinator. It's the "rebel" in me. Even though I haven't overdone, I've eaten more sweets then usual this week. And this weekend, I know I'm not going to stick with cutting back because we have a little weekend improptu party with out-of-town friends. Not good for cleansing. I may be kidding myself but I do think I'll be ready to kick in Monday morning. The one thing I know since signing up for this is that I've been even more aware of everything I'm thinking, eating, drinking, etc. And I'm trying to guess what kind of reactions I'll have when I start the cleanse. I'm expecting a headache, grouchiness, lack of energy, mood swings, frustration, self-criticism. But I'm hoping it will be temporary.
I don't know if any of you watch Saturday Night Live. But there's a skit I hate called Debbie Downer (I don't like the actress). Anyway, I told Rich that I said I mentioned the little starving girl in Sudan with the vulture standing over her at the kick-off meeting for the cleanse and he called me "Debbie Downer". It's true, it's a downer to think about, but thinking about it gives me strength because whatever I'm giving up FOR ONE WEEK is so minor compared to someone who has nothing to give up. I'm really serious when I say that little girl is going to give me strength...along with all of you. Namaste. And I promise, no more downer bloggging from me!

Emails from Kula Members

I've been receiving some emails from you that I think would really benefit us all. So, with permission I am posting them here...

Hello my friend,
You are not alone in your struggles to commit to the prep. I am with you sister!Being a fitness enthusiast for years never impacted my eating habits. Why? The exercise always took care of it. But I have always felt a desire to change this part of my life. The mind is huge when anticipating the thought of being "deprived". Perhaps we should choose to think of being "replenished" with a higher level of wellness by letting go of "old habits".(I liked how you stated that.)

I must confess that since thinking about the week of the cleanse, I've made the poorest of food choices. I've eaten 21/2 donuts, something I haven't eaten in months; I overdosed on coffee one day (even drinking a cup in the evening); and my sweet tooth has greatly intensified! Last night my husband restocked the kitchen with items I never choose to bring home because they are too tempting. (No, I haven't discussed the process with him since he's been out of town.) But, I believe it's my mind set. I DO have a choice no matter what is in my pantry.

Let's work together and reset our thinking about this, knowing we can rise above the craving and make the best choice for the greater good.

Loving wishes for success on this journey,
AB

____


The preparation is going well and for the most part, seems like a habit I can continue post-cleanse (except for coffee :)
One of the things I have noticed is that whenever I am preparing food for the kids, I mindlessly pop a bit of it in my mouth. This will be one of my challenges during the next week. Each week, I prepare a menu for the family and we pretty much stick to it. It is very helpful for the busy-life because I can use it to be sure I have shopped for everything I need. So, I am doing the same for next week. I have written down what I would like to eat each day (for this one I have even put in breakfast, lunch and snack items)while referring to the food list and this will cut way down on the 'looking in the fridge for something to eat' danger. That can of ready-spread frosting may be looking me in the face but I know I have something else yummy planned so I can just walk away.
BG

Joining The Blogsite: Sharing Your Words

Hi kula!
I hope you're finding your way through the preparation period. I think we're all struggling one way or another, with weaning off foods and beverages or getting into class this week and some are battling little spring bugs and allergies.
I can't stress enough the importance of taking refuge in your immersion and cleanse kula! Part of the reason we have failed to stick to things in the past is because we isolate ourselves in the process. "If I cheat or fail, nobody will know and I won't look like a failure/loser." But we inevitably realize that the only person who knows (ourselves) is the only person whose opinion matters and that "looking" like a failure or loser is not nearly so bad as feeling like one inside. And we're left feeling dejected and incapable in private.
I really believe that part of this cleanse is eliminating old habits, like this isolationism. If doing this alone hasn't worked, why not try doing it together? Don't assume that if you don't have something "important" to say or a special quote to share that you should just sit by silently riding along the perimeter of the cleanse kula. Something is going on with each and every one of us right now! We're experiencing successes and failures and questions and misgivings and thoughts all the time. Our success as a group will depend on all of us contributing and coming together, regardless of how mundane you think your own experience is. Cleanse yourself of the long-held belief that your thoughts and feelings don't really matter or aren't important enough to share.
Can we at least give this a try? For those of you that feel shy or really private or really doubt the value of your words, please go into the "discomfort zone" similar to that which we find in our yogasana practice on the mat and work with it. Discipline yourself to hold steady, breathe and share.
If you didn't receive the invitation to join the blogsite via email on Monday, please email me and let me know. If you did but are having technical difficulties posting (but not reading), let me know. Worst case scenario, you can email me your posts and I will post them for you. I'd really love to hear from every person in our cleanse kula at least once!

Love and gratitude to you all,
Gina

Kneading Toxins Out

If possible, consider scheduling a massage for some time next week. Massages are a great way to release toxins from deep in your body tissues and this will be supportive of your cleanse process. It may also help with tired muscles from your yoga immersion practice!

If you've never received a massage or don't have a massage therapist you regularly go to, I go to a Kansas Siddhi yogini, Patti Holsey, at Tranquil Moments just down the street from the studio (803 Main Street). I checked with her on Monday and she still had some availability for next week. Let her know you're part of the Immersion & Cleanse kula. 228-7555

If getting a massage from a pro isn't an option for you right now, consider trading massages with a friend or loved one or ask for one in support of your cleanse. And if that's not an option, let me show you how a tennis ball can be an effective deep tissue releaser. The upside to tennis balls is that they are happy to massage you any time, night or day!

Challenging Relatives

Is anyone else finding that others in their life are not supporting the cleanse?

The day after I told my mom about the cleanse, she baked me a coffee cake. Other friends and family members have brought me cake, doughnuts, biscuits, and so forth in the past few days.

They mean well, I'm sure. To them, this whole idea is a little nuts, and they want to make sure I don't get sick from it.

Oh, now that I think of it, that's really funny. . . . Maybe a sense of humor is the only way to handle this. But if any of you have had this experience and have a better way of responding--without getting derailed and without offending loved ones--I'd love to hear about it.

Of all of Gina's terrific ideas, this blog may be one of the best.

Love and support to you all
j

Good for the Body, Good for the Soul

One of my favorite drinks used to be coca-cola. When I was a teenager (many moons ago!), I loved the new innovation called the Big Gulp. I could buy one of those in the morning and suck on it at school all day long -- no need for food, just the sweet delight of a coke. As I got more into health and nutrition, I realized that coke supported neither, so I tried to quit. And I succeeded. Then fell off the wagon. Then succeeded. Then fell off the wagon. Then discovered diet drinks. Then discovered the truth about artificial sweeteners. Then quit, fell off the wagon -- you get the picture.

I love a product called Yogi Tea. I don't know if it is available at Nature's Pantry, but I know you can get it at Wild Oats or Whole Foods. Here's what I love about it -- 1) Great flavors that are decaffeinated and work well either hot or cold (I am a fan of the cold drinks being all pitta, you see); 2) Each tea bag carries at the end of its string, a little flap of paper that has, on one side, a saying to inspire the yogi in me...I've even saved some of my favorites -- "Live light, travel light, spread light, be the light." "When you know that all is light, you are enlightened."

Some of my favorite flavors are the Egyptian Licorice, Lemon Ginger, Green Tea Super Anti-Oxidant, Classic India Spice, and, for those cool nights when I want a treat, Vanilla Hazelnut (add a bit of soy or rice milk and you've got a treat!).

Where am I?

I'm not sure if I've reached the place to leave a comment on the blog or not which may be a good metaphor for how I'm approaching this cleansing. With dogged determination, but with no clear sense of what exactly I'm doing, or where exactly I'm going. If this gets on the site, I'll at least feel I have taken my first step (even if it's tiny) on the journey and will just keep stumbling along. I'm looking forward to bumping into others in the dark!

faith

When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.-Edward Teller

Feed The Machine

So far today the "don't let yourself get hungry" approach is working marvelously, I highly recommend it. Every 2 hours or so, have a snack or your meal if it's mealtime. When I'm not ravenous, a strawberry and yogurt smoothie sounds delicious and adequate! This is really bringing to light my bad habit of waiting until I'm out of control hungry to eat. This I can work with! My energy level has felt steadier these last 2 days rather than having the peaks and valleys I'm used to. I think we just get "good" at dealing with discomfort instead of doing something to change. Yeah, cleanse!

I think the same goes for thirst. Michelle had some concerns about not being able to drink ice cold beverages during the cleanse (because your body is more efficient at cleansing when it's not having to warm up what you're ingesting). I personally find when I feel like I'm "dying" of thirst is when I really want something cold and refreshing. But if you drink tepid water or tea throughout the day *before* you get thirsty, perhaps not having ice will feel more workable. And remind yourself, it's just a week. And another thing you can remind yourself of is that we're pretty much the only country on earth that puts ice in our drinks so maybe we've got this wrong all along?! And one more practical tip about tepid beverages - only drink out of a glass and not plastic cups. Glass makes even room temp or just cool beverages seem more refreshing - plastic seems to require ice.

courage to change

.....be present
Courage To Change

To Seek Unknown Potential

it takes great courage and inner strength to change from what is known and comfortable to something which is new and fresh. That which is unknown often contains our greatest potential. To seek our potential by risking change is the path of true greatness. Such action brings great favor and untold blesings.

Getting Too Hungry To Think Straight

This whole weekend I struggled with even starting the prep period for one major reason...I kept letting myself get REALLY hungry before I decided to eat something. By that time, nothing will satisfy my ravenous *mind* except for something like a humungous Chipotle burrito. Green salad? Bah! Me need sour cream, extra cheese and mo' rice!

So after falling prey to my inner caveman more than once over the last couple of days, I am determined to not let myself actually get hungry and just eat according to the cleanse diet on a continuous schedule all day. This means actually thinking about and caring about yourself ALL DAY. So for those of you who struggle to give yourselves a thought during your busy workday, this will be a major part of your "cleansing" rotten, old habit patterns.

Have plenty of snack options around that are appropriate for each of the 3 cleanse periods so you can eat enough to not get caveman hungry.

Unga bunga,
Gina

Morning Classes / Colon Cleanser

A great question...if you are attending the 7-9am classes, when should you take your probiotic and colon cleanser. And, should you eat before the 7am class?

This is really going to be a matter of personal preference. You might just see what works better for you by trying both ways. To be clear...on days 1 & 2 of the cleanse, we are only taking the morning dose of the probiotic and colon cleanser and not the one at bedtime like we will on days 3-6.

I am going to take them both upon rising, eat some fruit and come to practice from 7-9. We will start with meditation/prayer, follow with pranayama (yoga of breath) and then our asana (posture) practice. So you'll have a little time to digest and see what happens.

Alternatively, you can just have a glass of water with lemon upon rising, come home and take your probiotic and colon cleanser and in 20-30 minutes have breakfast and continue on with your day.

Either way is fine, as long as you feel good with it. Try taking them and eating fruit before class and see how you feel. If that doesn't work for you, try it the other way.

Caffeine

Something I was unclear on in the booklet is caffeine. On the list of foods for the cleanse you'll see "Green Tea" under beverages. Green tea does have caffeine in it. The general idea is that during the prep period, caffeinated soda and coffee drinkers wean themselves from coffee to less coffee to black tea to green tea. Then to non-caffeinated herbal tea for the duration of the cleanse.

BUT, in honor of the fact that we are not stashed away at a lovely retreat center in the Berkshire mountains (...sigh...) for the duration of this cleanse where we can care for and possibly restrain someone in the thralls of caffeine deprivation, I put green tea on the list as approved for the cleanse. Much of our caffeine addiction is mental but some of it is indeed chemical and if your body reacts strongly to caffeine deprivation (hopefully you know who you are and are busy weaning yourself to avoid this) I want you to be able to function so left green tea on there. Ideally you will drink it "in case of emergency" because you probably don't want to feel slave to a steaming paper cup anyway and this will be a great chance to break with this old habit.

So, in a nutshell...green tea is on the list as approved in case of emergency. It's up to you to be honest about that. I don't want this cleanse to hurt you, I want it to help so be wise.

Doing Your Shopping

One thing I forgot to mention...Nature's Pantry is closed on Sundays. So try not to put off your cleanse week shopping for Sunday in case you need to go to Nature's Pantry. It's also a smart idea to take 30 minutes or so to map out the meals for your first day or two ahead of time so you're not hungry as hell and struggling to think of something to make.

You do not need to buy the probiotic, colon cleanser and dandelion root tincture. These, and more, will be in your cleanse kits which will be in this week. I'll let you know as soon as it's all here and ready for you at the studio.

I had a question about non-fat/low-fat variations of foods. You can eat anything you like that's called "non-fat" or "low-fat" during the prep week but during the cleanse we're not thinking about fat except in the context of eating good fat and giving our bodies fat, like avocado and olive oil, when we're feeling *really* hungry. We're eating all natural foods during the cleanse week so we are really not eating things that are in boxes or cans anyway. If unsure, just ask!

If you want to know about a food item that's not on the list, please just ask me! You can ask here on the blogsite so everyone can learn from it or email/call me.

True Confessions...

How many of you have started thinking this is going to be WAAAY harder than you thought? And how many of you have started thinking this is going to be a piece of cake? This is where we need to come together my friends! If you've started having doubts or struggles (see my email where I outlined how many times I have "re-started" the prep period since our meeting on Thursday night) please come to this blogsite to post them. Unload them onto the kula so as a collective we can work on it and help each other. And if you've started feeling strong about the challenge, please come to this blogsite to see how you can help!

Remember the lyrics from the immortal Simon & Garfunkel! "Your time has come to shine...All your dreams are on their way...See how they shine...If you need a friend...I’m sailing right behind...Like a bridge over troubled water...I will ease your mind."

I know this "coming together" is new for most of us and you may feel like you've already retreated a bit since Thursday night, taking on the burden of concern and failure alone, like usual. Please make this cleanse a "true" cleanse in that you cleanse yourself of isolating habits and put your thoughts and feelings out there, good and bad, for us to come together on. Nobody is judging and nobody will think you are stupid.

Love and support,
Gina

Coming Together For A Fresh Start

Hello Friends!

I invite and encourage you to use this space to share your thoughts, feelings, concerns and trepidations here in this blogspace created especially to support our Yoga Immersion and Cleanse week together.

Reach out whenever you'd like to give or receive, we are all here for each other!

Much love and support,
Gina