Yoga – Adena Rose Ayurveda

I traveled to Racine, Wisconsin recently to complete my professional level training in Maya Abdominal Therapy. Wisconsin was more exciting than it might sound – the training was held at Racine College campus, which is a 150 year old college built on the shore of Lake Michigan. The sun rises early and bright!

I had not been sure who I would meet there – this training is not open only to massage therapists, but any ‘professional’ – midwives, nurses, obstetricians, psychiatrists, young women, older women, hippies? And it was a beautiful blend of them all, and I felt that I was exactly in the right place at the right time, just like when I landed in school to study Ayurveda.

We spent the first night clearing our classroom and our sleeping spaces with burning copal, an incense from Belize, and a tree sap much like Frankincense. We also set the fire alarm off, exciting the caretaker to our witch-y ways.

s722302215273625824_p23_i1_w1066 — Copal

Continue reading Removing your Obstacles to Healing

Most-likely, not many of us will be setting our beaver traps this evening, as the name of the November moon suggests, but there are other ways we might acknowledge tonight’s bold light. The moon is of one of the closest celestial objects to the Earth, and I believe it pays to bring awareness to this being. Its mass literally affects the water on our planet, it attracts our oceans, moving incredible weight of water. If the moon can affect something as powerful as the ocean, we’d be arrogant to say it does not affect our tiny bodies.

Full Beaver Moon - Some rights reserved by Fujoshi — Full Beaver Moon – Some rights reserved by Fujoshi

Each month feel the effect of the full moon, waking up with a mild madness, always glad when I remember it’s a full moon, that there’s a reason for my feeling ‘off.’ I’m sure many of you know what I mean – and some of you might feel it more strongly than others. Sometimes all I need is that awareness to ground myself, but certain practices can help direct that energy, or prana – into more positive or even useful direction. These practices can be especially helpful if you’re feeling particularly affected. Below I’ll discuss a few Ayurvedic perspectives on the full moon (there are many!), and offer some ways to cultivate awareness of this day.

Continue reading Full Beaver Moon