Finding Balance

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Finding Balance
Delaney Puhek


With sweat dripping down my face, feeling frustrated and slipping on my mat the forearm balance has always been a struggle for me in my yoga practice. Through years of practice, with good intention I learned forearm balance, or pincha mayurasana. Not by force, or strain but through repetition and awareness. After failing this pose countless times I’ve learned that by engaging my core to counter the flexibility of my lower back, and controlling my momentum while kicking my feet up I can finally find a balance, I can finally hold pincha mayurasana.

IMG_0453Though, these few set of steps toward balancing in this pose might not be standard for everyone, this is because everyone has a different body type.

Krishnamacharya taught “ It is not that the person needs to accommodate him – or herself to yoga, but rather the yoga practice must be tailored to fit each person.”

Often we think the opposite, that we should fit a certain mold to become a certain way, taking specific and standard steps to get there. Society often sets us up for disappointment in this way, constantly feeding us the idea that we need to look, act, feel and be different or better to achieve a certain goal. Whatever it may be, there always seems to be a desire to achieve from the outside to fit into a certain structure or category.

On my journey to become a Yoga Teacher and Nutrition Consultant, I’ve experienced the ebbs and flows of different diet and lifestyle choices brought on my stigma and image. I understand what its like to try a vegan diet and need animal sources of protein and I’ve sweat through a Bikram class waiting for the bliss that I never found.

In the same way not all of us experience yoga asana the same way. Not all of us should have the same diet or contain the same nutritional status. Just how you might find different instruction to forearm balance than me, if that pose is even in your personal practice at all. Each of us contains our own biochemical individuality, making each experience, whether it is a yoga class or a meal, different.

What is so beautiful about the human anatomy and digestive system is that it contains everything we need to know for vibrant and sustained energy and longevity as long as we treat ourselves properly and as long as we listen. The human anatomy is so intelligent, it contains the tools to recover from anything, with proper support. That is one of the most important things I’ve learned in my studies and ties directly with a Yoga practice.

Yoga teaches us to listen to our bodies, and to connect with ourselves on a deeper level. It asks us to practice with good intention, and with mindfulness. We can constantly take this practice off of our mats and into the real world, as a tool applying this intuitive interconnection to our relationships, our workplace and especially our dinner table. The act of taking care of the self is found with profound yet simple steps of nourishment, by eating SOUL foods (seasonal, organic, unrefined, local) and finding that deeper intuitive connection through yoga asana and meditation.

It is said:

“You cannot love, care or serve anyone else until you love, care and serve yourself wholly and truthfully”

This falls true on so many levels. Yoga and nutrition are two ways I’ve learned to consistently care for myself and through that care; I’ve been able to serve others. I don’t hope to display a diet plan or certain image for others to follow, but rather to simply teach people to tune in and listen to themselves and the intelligence of their own bodies to know what is best for their needs. To express that change is only necessary if it is called upon by disease and not by force.

It’s my pleasure to be hosting four free classes this summer at pleasure point yoga on the connection of yoga and nutrition, nutrition especially relating to overall health and wellbeing as completion of my nutrition program studies. I couldn’t be more grateful to Aimee for the beautiful space I get to teach in every week and to bring something I’m so passionate about in similar and different ways to this space.

Here is a healing and rejuvenating Citrus Breeze Tonic perfect for a cleansing and detoxifying transition into spring full of antioxidants, fiber and allergy defenses.

Ingredients

 

  • ½ cup fresh lemon verbena leaves
  • 2 cups filtered water
  • 2 medium oranges
  • 1 medium ruby grapefruit
  • ½ cup frozen grapes
  • ¼ cup fresh cranberries
  • 1 tsp ground chia or flax seeds
  • 1 tsp raw local honey

 

Method

 

  • In a saucepan, combine water and lemon verbena leaves and bring to a strong simmer. Lower heat and simmer gently for 15 mins. Drain and cool.
  • Juice oranges and grapefruit and place in blender.
  • Add frozen grapes, cranberries, lemon verbena tea, ground chia or flax seeds and honey. Blend until smooth.

 

 

 

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