Melina Meza

Get To Know Your Fats

2011-11-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

Get to know and befriend fat this fall and winter!

Here's a great place to start:

http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/know-your-fats-introduction

Natural Remedies for the Cold and Flu Season

2011-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

During my recent visit to Austin, I had the privilege of taking several classes with Craig Williams. Craig is among many other things an Oriental Medicine Doctor and Ayurvedic Practitioner who offers a wide range of classes and workshops related to physical, mental, and spiritual health. Here are a few takeaways from his recent class Natural Solutions For the Cold and Flu Seasons:

Prevention: Protect Yourself From The Common Cold

· Decrease or eliminate sugar and alcohol for the winter

· Frequently wash your hands with warm soapy water

· Consume Probiotics to maintain GI health (70-80% of your immune system lives here)

· Use essential oils in diffuser, ceramic lamp rings, shower tablets, or rooms sprays (examples include tea tree, eucalyptus, and/or lavender) to clean the air you breath

· Take Epsom salt baths with essential oils

· Sleep a lot

Herbal Remedies For Cold Prevention Or Immune Boosting: (Check with your healthcare practitioner if any are contraindicated for you.)

· Echinacea + Elderberry (at onset of cold – read labels for dosage) *best in syrup form

· Osho Root + Reishi (great if you often have regular upper respiratory issues)

· American Ginseng (if you have deficient Qi)

· Andrographis (gargle to clear a sore throat)

· Chyavanprash (Ayurvedic formula to boost the immune system and body)

· Triphala (Ayurvedic formula to promote elimination and digestive track health)

A Few Food Recommendations:

· Steamed broccoli

· Dandelion greens

· Kale

· Other dark green leafy vegetables

· Onions sautéed with ghee (tonic food – contains butyric acid that promotes large intestine health)

· Gogi berries

· Garlic

· Spices: cumin, coriander, turmeric, and fennel

Autumn Inspiration

2011-10-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

Autumn is a special time in Ayurveda. It’s considered a joint season; just like in this vulnerable part of the body, during the autumn season it is easy to injure oneself. If you are not careful, you could become vulnerable or risk injuring your body by moving too quickly, doing too much, catching a common cold (through exposing your skin to the cold, dry, windy air) and depleting your immune system by not sleeping enough or through skipping meals. To ensure good health in fall, consider “oil + heat” as two of your new best friends. Give yourself regular sesame oil massages before you shower to protect your skin from wind and cold air. Heat yourself with warm showers, hot tea, baths, and soups.

At the turn of each season, ask yourself these simple questions, which will help you see the relationship that exists between your health and the natural world. Keep track of your answers in a journal so you can look back and reflect upon the difference or similarity in perspectives and challenges for each season.

What changes are going on outside in Nature?

· How does this season make me feel?

· What are the challenges I face?

· What brings me joy during this season?

· What diet or lifestyle routines do I want to change?

· Am I getting the right amount of sleep?

· What yoga or exercise routine feels the best to me?

Put a comma—envisioning a momentary pause—after each season no matter where you live. Your body can benefit from experiencing and adapting to new environments, exercise routines, and foods; it will grow stronger, be more resilient, and keep you in touch with the cycles of nature. The yogis believe that you are one with Nature, and that in order for you to bloom, you need diversity.

From: Art of Sequencing Volume Two - Seasonal Vinyasa

Interview

2011-08-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun interview I had with Rise Up Radio Show today:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/riseupradioshow/2011/08/23/vinyasa-yoga-tips-and-tools

Vinyasa Yoga Tips and Tools 08/23 by Rise Up Radio | Blog Talk Radio

2011-08-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

Vinyasa Yoga Tips and Tools 08/23 by Rise Up Radio | Blog Talk Radio

YAM Camp - Promo Video

2011-08-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

Pitta Balancing by Melina Meza

2011-08-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

Summer is a pitta season, and as such, fire and water elements will be more predominant, and most people will feel the heat, sweat more, and seek refuge in cool water to help regulate their internal furnace. Relaxing is one of the best ways to decrease pitta’s hot, ambitious nature and prevent your elements from going out of balance in the first place. It’s best to take it easy, do less, and take frequent deep breaths in a hammock under the shade of your favorite tree.

In the Western culture, there is a tendency to try to be consistently productive all year round, without exception. On an intuitive level, most people know that taking downtime in the summer feels right because everybody needs and deserves a break. In the West, the work environment and ethics are aligned with the pitta elements and create a world for enthusiastic people to strive for perfection and power, reflecting the “like increases like” Ayurvedic sutra.

But when the Pitta elements are out of balance in your lifestyle or in your body, what you notice is often a feeling of being burned out, dried up, tired, and angry. You carry along companions like regret, especially if others around you are having fun. When it’s hot, bright, and perhaps dry or humid outside, it’s best not to take on too much responsibility or overplan your free time; rather, leave some time to be spontaneous and let yourself go with the flow.

Ideally, all these practices should be followed, but if the list seems overwhelming, choose just a few that resonate with you and commit to them for the whole season.

· Wake up before the sunrise at 5:30 to 6:00 a.m. (do your best!) and greet the day with gratitude for another opportunity to celebrate life.

· Wash your face, brush your teeth, scrape your tongue, do a neti pot, and lubricate your nostrils with oil or ghee.

· Drink hot lemon water with a little salt in the morning to stimulate elimination.

· Meditate for 5 to 30 minutes (on water, loving kindness, or blue sky).

· Do your aerobic exercises while it’s cool outside, balancing your exercise with restorative asanas.

· Perform abhyanga, a full-body self-massage, which calms the nervous system and hydrates the skin. In the summer, apply coconut oil (leave the oil on for 10 to 30 minutes) and then take a warm shower, which will open your pores and allow the oil to be absorbed into your skin.

· If possible, eat all your meals outside in the fresh air.

· Summer is the time to stay cool. Avoid overheating by eating salads and foods that are cooling (like cucumber and watermelon), sweet (like fresh fruit), and sattvic (like mung beans and basmati rice); drink lassis, a blend of yogurt and water mixed with fruit and/or Indian spices or salt. A small amount of chili or spice can promote sweating, which helps you cool down. Too much heat will create pitta irritation such as heartburn, diarrhea, or a skin rash.

· Do your cooking and meal planning in the morning when the kitchen is cool.

· Never skip a meal, especially if you relate to the Pitta dosha and are in the summer season. To avoid low blood sugar moments that fuel Pitta’s impatient, irritable nature, keep a stash of healthy snacks like energy bars, nuts, fresh fruit, seaweed strips, or coconut water around at all times.

From: Art of Sequencing - Volume Two - Seasonal Vinyasa by Melina Meza

Michael Pollan gives a plant's-eye view | Video on TED.com

2011-07-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

Michael Pollan gives a plant's-eye view | Video on TED.com

Everyone...meet Michael, if you don't know him...add him to your summer reading list please!

Graham Hill: Why I'm a weekday vegetarian | Video on TED.com

2011-07-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Graham Hill: Why I'm a weekday vegetarian | Video on TED.com

Great approach to a big problem! Ready to join the club?

Reflections from Vasant Lad's Lecture 6/4/2011

2011-06-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

Wise words from Dr. Vasant Lad around spiritual healing....it begins with:
the grace of a teacher, knowing what events to record from your life and what to let go, make your mind liquid not rigid, live your life without ego, and accept yourself as who you are. There you go...now you can all be healed. Have a great life, i know you will.

Yamas of Eating

2011-06-01T11:35:00.001-07:00

There are numerous opportunities for the Yamas to support your current wellness and nutritional aspirations. The Yamas create a wheel of ethics that includes kindness, honesty, refrain from stealing, moderation, and non-hoarding. Following these five principles will help ensure that your life is filled with healthy relationships, including the one with yourself, others, and the natural world around you.

The Yamas prepare you to see that how you treat the outer world reflects how you treat your inner world. It is through conscious application of the Yamas that you will learn to see that compassion is your birthright, trust begins with yourself, healthy boundaries make healthy relationships, and balance is not as bad as it sounds. They allow you to work with what gifts you have been given rather than what you perceive you are missing.

Although the Yamas are all interrelated and work together, if one stands out more than the others, consider spending some time deepening your relationship with that one principle. Applying the Yamas to your diet, yoga practice, and wellness lifestyle activities can be very rewarding and effective.

· Ahimsa - Non-violence, reducing harm in thoughts, actions, and speech

Application: Enjoying a vegetarian diet; having your food be raised organically and in a cruelty-free manner as well as locally produced; prayer; and mindfulness

· Satya - Truth, honesty

Application: Asking the questions like: “Am I hungry or bored” or “Am I eating to distract myself” or “Is this good for me?”

· Asteya - Non-stealing

Application: Not taking the food from another’s plate; eating enough each day to avoid robbing the body of nutrients

· Brahmacharya- Appropriate use of one’s vital energy

Application: Moderation; understanding the impact of eating too much or too little food

· Aparigraha - Non-possessiveness

Application: Learning to say “no” at a buffet line; ceasing eating when you no longer have hunger

YAMAS - Food for Thought

2011-05-25T10:19:00.001-07:00

Here are a few examples of how to weave the yoga philosophy into your lifestyle and diet.

Ahimsa- Non-violence, reducing harm in thoughts, actions, and speech_____________

Example: Vegetarian, organic, cruelty-free, locally produced, prayer, and mindfulness

Satya- Truth, honesty______________________________________________________

Example: Asking the questions like: “Am I hungry or bored”, “Am I eating to distract myself”, “Is this good for me?”

Asteya- Non-stealing______________________________________________________

Example: Not taking the food from another’s plate or eating enough each day to not rob the body of nutrients

Brahmacharya- Appropriate use of one’s vital energy

Example: Moderation and learning what too much and too little food will do to you.

Aparigraha- Non-possessiveness_____________________________________________

Example: Learning to say “no” at a buffet line, stop eating when you no longer have hunger.

www.melinameza.com

Everyday Ayurveda

2011-04-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

From Art of Sequencing – Volume Two – Seasonal Vinyasa

“Ayurveda is a Nature-based medical system centered on the conviction that physicians don’t heal the patient, Nature heals the patient. Ayurvedic physicians learn to tap into the ancient texts, recall wisdom passed down from their teachers’ teachers, cultivate a strong connection to their intuition, and experiment with plants, herbs, and foods before using them as medicine or suggesting them to others. Nothing in the natural world is labeled as good or bad in the world of Ayurveda, everything has the potential to be medicinal in the right dosage, and one person’s medicine is another person’s poison.

The philosophy of Ayurveda acknowledges each person as a soul, a one-of-a-kind expression of the divine. It is also believed that from the moment you are conceived, your unchanging Prakriti (yogic version of fixed DNA) is established. Despite the fact that we are all unique beings, we are each composed of the same maha bhutas (five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth). The elements will be arranged differently for each person, depending upon unique conditions like the physical health and well-being of your mother when you were conceived, and the karmas you’ve carried over from past lives into this life.

The more familiar you are with your Prakriti, the more you can prepare yourself for the physical and mental health issues that typically affect people with your constitution. For example, if your constitution is composed predominantly of ether and air, you would typically see health issues related to anxiety, nerve disorders, joint issues, or constipation. Knowing these strengths and weaknesses based on the elements, you might consider drinking less caffeine, consuming less sugar, eating more fiber, and booking regular massages to ward off the typical imbalances related to ether and air.

Prakritis with strong affiliation to fire and water will often experience heat-related imbalances such as skin rashes, diarrhea, digestive disorders, or high blood pressure. To help manage the fire and water elements, you might consider decreasing hot and spicy foods, meditating, and avoiding being outside in the hottest part of the day.

Earth- and water-based constitutions often discover swelling, depression, excess mucus, or challenges managing their weight and metabolism with a base Prakriti rooted in the heavy, wet elements. Often proper diet, nutrition, and exercise will keep the earth- and water-based constitutions healthy. Knowing your Prakriti and your physical and mental patterns—something you can learn by a consultation with an Ayurvedic practitioner—might inspire you to cultivate a more holistic lifestyle, one connected to Nature and her five elements.”

To read the more, order your copy today: www.melinameza.com

2010 Spring Vinyasa Class with Melina Meza from 8 Limbs Yoga Centers: www.youtube.com

Asato Ma Sat Gamaya Lead me from the unreal to the real,

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya From darkness to light,

Mrityor Ma Amritham Gamaya From death to immortality.

Yoga Class on Modifications

2011-04-11T16:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a sample of a class I taught at Breitenbush Hot Springs called Sequencing for Level 1, 2, 3. I hope this comes in handy when considering your asana class.

Learn more about sequencing and yoga philosophy on my next retreat or workshop:
www.melinameza.com

I need your vote!

2011-03-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

Please vote me and this beautiful photo onto the cover of Yoga Journal Magazine! All you need to do is click the link below:

http://talentsearch.yogajournal.com/view/1676
"One vote, per day, per entry will be counted - multiple votes per day will be disqualified and removed."

Thanks for your support!

It's Spring!

2011-03-21T05:56:00.001-07:00

The yogis and nutritionist both agree that it is never too late, or too early, to consider sequencing your life today for a healthier tomorrow. I think of sequencing as both an art form and a science that anyone can master. All you need is sincere focus and attention from the beginning to the end of your vision, and trust in your body’s innate wisdom to guide you through the beautiful moment-to-moment discovery of presence—of the now—which leads to the spontaneous, blissful experience we call yoga.

I believe the more you practice adapting to new routines and seasonally breaking the momentum of habits before they become addictions, the stronger, healthier, and more open you become as a person. Instead of your world feeling boxed in by your routine, the seasonal changes help you widen your gaze so you experience more in life, seeing new potentials and possibilities in your work, family, diet, adventures, and exercise routines that connect to the revolving world around you.

In the end, the practice of yoga—on the mat and off the mat—is really all about practice. Practice will lead you to your truth, to the essence of who you are.

Here are just a few of the spring practices from my new book, Art of Sequencing – Volume Two, to weave into your day, week, or monthly routines:

Drink hot lemon water with a little salt in the morning to stimulate elimination.

· Meditate for 5 to 30 minutes (on melting glaciers, the image of vibrant green plant life, or new intentions).

· Exercise outdoors or do a vigorous yoga practice to break a sweat every day, with no exception. In addition to physical workouts, a steam sauna or hot tub can help release toxins.

· Try an elimination diet for two weeks (see appendix).

· In general, spring is the time to decrease heavy, oily, cold, fat-rich foods such as meat, seafood, poultry, dairy products, and foods cooked in oil. Increase your intake of foods that are bitter (like arugula), spicy (like radish), and astringent (like grapefruit) to promote cleansing of the liver, digestive organs, and blood.

· With “spring fever” in the air, it’s a great time to start new projects, take classes, plant seeds, and travel, while the energy is there for the taking.

· Practice inversions to turn your world and organs upside down. Think of your body like a jug of orange juice. If it sits in one position—upright—for too long, the pulp ends up settling to the bottom of the container. The yogis believe the same thing happens in our bodies, particularly in the organs. The pulp in this case is undigested, inorganic matter that we ingest through the air we breathe or food we eat. By flipping your body upside down, you create a gentle cleanse, where toxins or waste products get pulled by gravity from deep inside your tissues towards the center of the body. With sufficient hydration and exercise, these toxins can move out through the skin (via perspiration), exhaled breaths, urination, and bowel movements.

Read more about seasonal practices in the Art of Sequencing - Volume Two

Early Spring Seasonal Vinyasa

2011-03-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

In traditional Chinese medicine, the passing of winter is seen as a great time to start sending some extra love and attention to the liver and gallbladder, organs that tend to get overloaded with extra socializing, large meals, decreased exercise, inadequate rest, and other behaviors typically associated with that time of the year. These two organs are extremely beneficial: they filter toxins from the external environment and the food that we eat; aid in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat, and protein; break down fats in the body; and, on a more bio-energetic level, process emotions like anger.

Breaking habits—something that both spring and cleansing call us to do—is not easy, but it can be done. I have found it incredibly useful in my practice to do regular habit checks to see if the habit is driving my life, or vice versa. Since changing old patterns and habits can often lead to feelings of frustration or irritation, I find it best to spend a little more time alone when cleansing; if possible, I like to go on a retreat and let others support me. The more time and energy you can devote to your spring intentions up front, the higher your success rate.

For starters, try incorporating an inversion into your daily routine (Examples: Headstand, Handstand, Downward Dog, Standing Forward Folds, Shoulderstand).

Here is one asana tip from my recent book, Art of Sequencing - Volume Two:

• Inversions to turn your world and organs upside down. Think of your body like a jug of orange juice. If it sits in one position—upright—for too long, the pulp ends up settling to the bottom of the container. The yogis believe the same thing happens in our bodies, particularly in the organs. The pulp in this case is undigested, inorganic matter that we ingest through the air we breathe or food we eat. By flipping your body upside down, you create a gentle cleanse, where toxins or waste products get pulled by gravity from deep inside your tissues towards the center of the body. With sufficient hydration and exercise, these toxins can move out through the skin (via perspiration), exhaled breaths, urination, and bowel movements.

If you are looking for Spring retreats, check out: www.melinameza.com

Spring Ayurveda

2011-03-03T10:04:00.000-08:00

Within the art of Ayurveda, there will never be one remedy or one sequence that brings everyone or their dosha back into alignment. The response to every inquiry about your health should be “It depends,” as my teacher, Dr. Robert Svoboda, was so fond of saying. The mantra of “It depends” teaches you to see the interconnectedness between you and your lifestyle, how changing one facet of your routine will affect another. It’s a friendly reminder that humans in general are complex, and it’s wise to look at or diagnose the body/mind/soul from many angles.

To start early spring cleaning, consider adding the following pranayama practices from Art of Sequencing – Volume Two, to your daily routine:

· Kapala bhati—also known as “skull shining”—to reduce weight gain, bring heat to the chest, and to promote strong agni and mental alertness. (Do not do this if you are menstruating. Menstruation is considered a natural cleanse for women.)

· Agni sara, to prevent stagnation in the organs and promote blood circulation. From a standing position, separate your feet hip-distance apart, and bend your knees while resting your hands on the lower part of your thighs. Exhale completely to create Mula bandha (root lock) and Uddiyana bandha (upward flying, diaphragmic lift). After your exhale, quickly pull your pelvic floor muscles inward and upward towards your diaphragm until you feel your deep core muscles. Keep holding your breath while your diaphragm, abdominal organs, and pelvic floor pulse quickly back and forth away from your spine. Relax all of your muscles before you take your next breath.

www.melinameza.com

Early Spring Cleaning:

2011-02-27T08:17:00.000-08:00

"Be like Michaelangelo and remove the unnecessary "marble" to expose the statue within. Take away distractions and impediments to find the "current of your life." Marc Lesser

Kicking the Winter Blues!

2011-02-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

In Ayurveda, winter is the season associated with Kapha and all the imbalances associated with the earth and water elements. The Kapha qualities outside can make you feel heavy and lethargic and/or pull you towards foods that promote weight gain or the use of recreational drugs or alcohol to cope with depression, stress and the winter blues. The following tips from my new book, “Art of Sequencing – Volume 2” will help to balance Kapha, creating a more calming and grounding presence during the winter.

One of the ways you can prevent slipping into the winter blues is to be become more mindful about what you are eating when you are eating. This helps avoid overeating, which can lead to depression. Eating when you are not hungry is one of the easiest ways to dampen your agni (digestive fire) and put on extra weight, a special challenge during this time of year when many people reduce their level of invigorating outdoor exercise due to rain, ice, and snow.

What if you let eating become part of your meditation practice? When you eat, simply focus on eating-nothing more, not your emails or processing thoughts of the day, etc. Learn to savor how your food tastes and smells, pay attention to how well your body digests it, and tune into how much you need to satisfy your hunger.

Here are a few ways to begin:

Choose one place to eat each meal, free of clutter and distractions.
Slow down when you're eating, putting your fork, spoon, sandwich or burrito down in between bites.
Stop eating when you no longer have hunger.
Chew your food until it becomes liquid to promote the first stage of digestion, which begins in your mouth.
Avoid eating when feeling emotional or stressed out.
Eat well-balanced meals with sufficient protein and fat to minimize hunger between meals.

In regards to your asana practice, consider incorporating the following postures to help ward off typical Kapha imbalances by raising your core temperature, enhancing your metabolism and increasing your circulation and spirit.

Sun Salutations or rhythmic, Hatha yoga postures to promote circulation and emotional well being.
A vinyasa flow practice that incorporates asanas like Plank, Caturanga Dandasana (lowered plank), Bhujangasana (cobra), or Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (up dog) in between forward bends and backbends.
Forward bends with flowing transitions into backbends to keep your spine supple.
Inversions and arm balances to promote blood flow throughout the whole body, invigorate the brain and reduce dullness.
Twists to reduce inflammation around the organs, minimize weight gain and promote digestion, which can get sluggish or overtaxed in winter.

Art of Sequencing - Volume Two (now available!)
Art of Sequencing - Volume Two includes over 450 new asana photos, twenty five unique asana sequences for beginners, intermediate, or advanced students, a brief overview of yoga history, the stages of life, and a full section devoted to Seasonal Vinyasa classes and Ayurvedic routines.

Melina Meza, BS Nutrition, 500-RYT
Melina has been exploring the art and science of yoga and nutrition for 20 years. She combines her knowledge of Hatha Yoga, Ayurveda, whole foods nutrition, and healthy lifestyle promotion into a unique style called Seasonal Vinyasa.

What is Seasonal Vinyasa - Yoga for the Seasons?
Seasonal Vinyasa describes an artistic style of sequencing asana and seasonal daily rituals. The main inspiration for Seasonal Vinyasa comes from the Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda traditions, two complementary sciences that promote health in body, mind, and spirit. While inspiring the self-knowledge to adjust your day-to-day choices and align with what is occurring outside in nature, Seasonal Vinyasa emphasizes the teachings of the yogis—that there is no separation between humans and nature.

February 2011 E-Newsletter

2011-02-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Seasonal-Vinyasa-Yoga-News--Art-of-Sequencing-Volume-Two--New-Winter-Videos--Workshops-and-more.html?soid=1101324786017&aid=s7PdhHocMjw

Ekhart Tolle Quote:

2011-01-11T08:52:00.001-08:00

This caught my eye today...

"If you can be absolutely comfortable with not knowing who you are, then what’s left is who you are—the being behind the human. A field of pure potentiality rather than something that is already defined. Give up defining yourself—to yourself and to others. You won’t die—you’ll come to life."
Ekhart Tolle

I think its great practice.

Kriya Yoga in Action

2011-01-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

Incorporating Kriya Yoga into your New Year’s resolutions, seasonal practices, or lifestyle goals:

1. Tapas: Decide what you want to change. Set an intention, one that will create a positive change in your life. Create a plan for action.

2. Svadhyaya: Discover who you are moment-by-moment, in the midst of change. How do you respond to change, cravings, old patterns?

3. Isvara-pranidhana: Let go of your attachments and expectations, be present to “what is”. Seek the place where your heart-mind is at peace, in that place you will find your inner teacher.

Kriya Yoga Practice in Action
Example: New Year’s Resolutions
Each new calendar year inspires new possibilities. It’s never too late to improve your health.
1. One habit I wish to break is______________________________________________________.
2. I notice I respond this way when I crave the object I am eliminating_________________________________________________________________________.
3. When I leave room to let go of my old habits, I can see the new opportunities and experiences such as___________________________________________________________.

Example: Seasonal Experiments
Try making seasonal adjustments to align with nature and the five elements.
1. During the winter season, I am going eliminate__________________________________.
2. I feel or notice more/less________________________________________without__________________________.
3. Now that I know how_____________________affects my body, I will/will not include this back into life once the season is over.

Example: 2-Week Habit Check
Is the habit driving me? Or am I driving the habit?
1. I am letting go of________________________________for 2-weeks.
2. I crave? My energy level is more/less stable? I am more/less emotional without__________________________________ in my life?
3. On the 15th day when I tried__________________________ I felt better/worse? Now that I know____________________helps me maintain my health, I will keep doing it! Now that I know___________________made me feel less healthy, I may keep going with the experiment!

Winter Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga Retreat in Mexico

2011-01-04T06:46:00.001-08:00

“I do believe it is important to get ample amounts of sleep, rest, meditation, and retreat space in the winter. After all, most of the natural world becomes dormant during this season. Since it’s not possible for most of us to crawl into a cave and sleep for three months, take whatever quiet space you can and sit in the cave of the heart, meditate, and reflect as often as possible on your spiritual nature, nurturing your sacred being. The more imbalanced you get at this point, the harder it is to get back on track in the springtime. Discover what inspires you to stay healthy!” From the Art of Sequencing – Volume Two Seasonal Vinyasa

Join me from January 22-29, 2011 at Haramara Retreat Center near Sayulita, Mexico!

While reveling in the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean in one of Haramara’s yoga pavillon’s, we will practice asana sequences that increase core temperature, circulation, metabolism, and your spirit! We will also engage in mini-workshops to learn ancient philosophies that can be woven into today’s lifestyle and alignment principles to strengthen the body’s inherent tendencies toward seasonal imbalances. We’ll enjoy creative time together near the beach to awaken the muse, and also get to
enjoy silence while resting in the “cave of the heart.”

Included in the retreat:
Accommodations, three delicious meals a day, daily guided meditation, Seasonal Vinyasa yoga classes, and mini-workshops.

Mention my blog and receive a $100 discount off the room of your choice.
Single: $2,600
Double: $1,850
Triple: $1,725
Casa Grande (sleeps 6 women): $1,475

Read more: www.melinameza.com
Register with 8 Limbs Yoga Centers: 206-325-8221

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

Namaste,
Ready to start your new year on the right track? If so, please join me at my first workshop of the year this Saturday in Houston:

Kriya Yoga and Winter Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga with Melina Meza
at Cura Yoga, Houston, Texas

Saturday, January 8, 2011
1:00 – 4:00PM
Register with www.curayoga.com or 713-839-9642.

This workshop presents the profound ways in which you can incorporate many aspects of the yogic path into your daily life. Students will journey into the ancient Indian yogic philosophies, ethics, and physical practices discovering a deeper knowledge of their own body and mind. In an accessible and approachable format, this workshop and practice aims to teach students how to achieve lasting personal transformation via such practices as Kriya (the yoga of transformation) from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and Seasonal Vinyasa yoga insights that connect you to the rhythms of nature and foster a sense of gratitude and interconnectedness.

Read more or register: www.curayoga.com or 713-839-9642
Pre-order your copy of Art of Sequencing - Volume Two Seasonal Vinyasa and receive free shipping!

Art of Sequencing - Volume Two Seasonal Vinyasa

2010-12-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

"At some point, one reaches a personal tipping point and begins making new resolutions, maybe just once a year, to break out of the old habits and try to reclaim their personal power. If your pattern is to make annual New Year’s resolutions (and then promptly forget about them), I suggest you try a year of seasonal resolutions—biweekly or bimonthly experiments that will give you a reasonable window of time to witness the subtle and gross effects of your labor, as well as more than one chance every 365 days to initiate change."

To read more about making seasonal changes, pre-order your copy of my upcoming book, Art of Sequencing - Volume Two Seasonal Vinyasa, today and receive free shipping!
www.melinameza.com

Pre-Order Your Copy of Art of Sequencing - Volume Two Seasonal Vinyasa

2010-12-15T16:18:00.000-08:00

Namaste,
I am pleased to announce that my second book, Art of Sequencing - Volume Two Seasonal Vinyasa is on its way to the printing press. Order today and receive free shipping within the continental United States. You can expect to receive the book by the end of January, just in time to kick off your seasonal resolutions.

If you enjoyed the Art of Sequencing – Volume One, you will love the second volume, which is filled with new ideas on how to support you in enriching your experience of life by staying healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

$32.95 Pre-Order – Free Shipping

Art of Sequencing - Volume Two Seasonal Vinyasa introduces you to Ayurvedic daily routines, seasonal rituals, nutrition and mindfulness, and a broad range of practical Western lifestyle tips to help the modern yogi or health-minded individual reduce dis-ease and nurture a state of wellness. These are complemented by extensive yoga asana sections including twenty-five of my class sequences, applicable for all levels of skill and ability. To give context to these modern wellness offerings the book takes you on a journey into India's history and culture and explores Eastern philosophy. This thoughtful and insightful book celebrates the art and science of yoga as a way to rediscover the body’s innate wisdom and the vitality that comes from living in balance from season to season.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter One: Roots of Yoga
Chapter Two: Seasons of Life
Chapter Three: Kriya Yoga
Chapter Four: Nutrition and Mindfulness
Chapter Five: An Introduction to Ayurveda
Chapter Six: Nature and the Four Seasons
Chapter Seven: Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga
Chapter Eight: Popular Asana Requests
Chapter Nine: Yoga at the Wall
About Melina Meza
Index of Sun Salutes and Modifications
Appendix: Recipes
Glossary

Book Details:
The book includes over 450 asana photos and twenty-five unique asana sequences for beginners, intermediate, or advanced students and teachers. Art of Sequencing-Volume Two Seasonal Vinyasa is spiral bound, allowing for easy use during practice.

$32.95 Pre-Order – Free Shipping

Winter and Ayurveda Part 3

2010-12-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

Winter is Nature’s time to hibernate and retreat. It’s an active resting phase, an important cycle to honor in order to replenish one’s self after the summer heat and fall harvest. In the winter when wet, dark, and cold qualities increase externally, they also increase internally, because “like increases like.”

In Ayurveda, winter is the season associated with Kapha and all the imbalances associated with the earth and water elements. No matter what your Prakriti (individual constitution) is, seasons will have an effect upon your dosha.

The Kapha qualities outside can make you feel heavy and lethargic and/or pull you towards foods that promote weight gain or the use of recreational drugs and alcohol to cope with depression, stress, and the winter blues; here we again see the precept “like increases like.” It’s not easy to break out of this cycle, but it is possible.

Here are a few ways to maintain health in the winter:
•If you want to decrease Kapha, minimize sweet, sour, and salty foods and increase foods that are pungent (like ginger), bitter (like coffee and turmeric root), and astringent (like chickpeas and goldenseal) to ensure good digestive fire.
•Wear bright colors like red and orange if you live in cold, dark climates and struggle with depression.
•Reduce your commitments. One way to do this is to practice saying “no” to invitations when your gut tells you to. This practice helps you build healthy boundaries with yourself and often leaves you with quiet time to be alone.
•Eat your biggest meal in the middle of the day (e.g., at lunchtime), which is Pitta time, when your solar energy and digestive juices are most active.
•Have a light dinner (soups are great for this meal). Eating a large meal before bedtime can interfere with sleep as well as contribute to weight gain.

To learn more about this, stay tuned for my upcoming book, Art of Sequencing - Volume Two which will be available for purchase in January 2011.
www.melinameza.com

Seasonal Vinyasa - Winter and Ayurveda Part 2

2010-11-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

Winter and Ayurveda
Elements = Earth + Water
•Earth qualities: stable, rigid, grounding
•Water qualities: fluid, cooling, calming, graceful

Since we are part of Nature, you too have the opportunity to be graceful and let the seasons flow without clinging or grasping. It’s natural to have preferences for certain seasons, times of year that resonate with your core elements and make us feel more like ourselves. And yet, developing equanimity and contentment with all seasons—regardless of dosha, or where you live—is essential to well-being. This is where the art of sequencing can be instrumental and serve of great benefit. Here are a few suggestions to start weaving into your winter daily ritual:

•Wake up at 6:00-7:00am (the yogic version of sleeping in) and greet the day with gratitude for another opportunity to celebrate life.
•Wash your face, brush your teeth, scrape your tongue, do a neti pot, and lubricate your nostrils with oil or ghee.
•Drink hot lemon water with a little sea salt in the morning to stimulate elimination.
•Meditate 5-30 minutes (on snow, candle flame in the cave of the heart, or image of the sun).
•Do your active, warming asanas, Sun Salutations, inversions, and balance poses to promote circulation, or go outside, or to the gym, for a 20 minutes (minimum) cardiovascular workout.
•Sit in front of a light box if you struggle with seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.).
•Exfoliate your skin and improve circulation with a gentle dry brush rub before showering.
•Perform abhyanga, a full-body self-massage, which calms the nervous system and hydrates the skin. In the winter, apply sesame oil (leave the oil on for 10-30 minutes) and then take a hot shower, which will open your pores and allow the oil to be absorbed into your skin.
•Enjoy a warm breakfast in a quiet space.

Stay tuned for more ideas to grow your daily ritual next month.
Read more or register for the Winter Seasonal Vinyasa Retreat at Haramara in Mexico, January 22-29, 2011.

Seasonal Vinyasa - Winter and Ayurveda

2010-11-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

The Kapha qualities outside can make you feel heavy and lethargic and/or pull you towards foods that promote weight gain or the use of recreational drugs and alcohol to cope with depression, stress, and the winter blues; here we again see the precept “like increases like.” It’s not easy to break out of this cycle but it is possible.

If the Kapha elements go out of balance in the winter, consider using the “opposites decrease” sutra. How will you know if your elements are off balance? You will know if your Kapha imbalance is too extreme when it prevents you from leaving the house after you’ve filled your freezer with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and rented multiple HBO series! If you find yourself in this situation (or even a milder version), consider finding a way to get up and exercise every day, no exception! It can be a home yoga practice, a gym work out, or a brisk walk or run, or a snow adventure such as snowshoeing, skiing, or sledding—whatever it takes to get the earth and water elements moving.

Need some inspiration to practice: Yoga for the Seasons DVD is $9.99!
www.melinameza.com

Thanksgiving - Nutrition and Mindfulness

2010-11-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

From your own experience with yoga, you are probably well aware of the tremendous impact that an asana practice can have on your body. Like yoga, food creates specific alchemical changes in your body and has the power to both nourish and transform your unique being. Food has the magical power to become the foundation the body. It can build or reduce your physical weight and shape, depending on the amount of calories you consume. Different foods can stimulate or calm the adrenal glands, speed up the mind and heart rate, or cleanse the colon and gastrointestinal tract.

Now that it's Thanksgiving, you might wonder,“How will I know what the right amount of food to consume or yoga to practice is”? One way to think about your nutrition and yoga choices is in terms of sustainability, which means eat and practice just the right amount to fuel your svadharma (life’s purpose), so you can share your gifts, hear your calling, and do work in this life that comes from your heart. With too much food in your belly it’s easy to loose motivation and with not enough food, it’s hard to maintain focus or stamina to get through one the day, let alone answer your heart’s calling. Alternately, not enough asana will make the body slow, stiff, and sluggish. By learning to sequence mindfulness into your Thanksgiving ritual, you will discover a sustainable middle path, which encourages smooth rolling transitions from one activity to the next, and requires less fuel, calories, or muscular effort. At the end of the holiday, you are left with a feeling of santosha (contentment. Good luck everyone.

melinameza.com

Yoga Musings by Melina

2010-11-16T14:03:00.000-08:00

"If you visualize a life in harmony with nature, there is a strong chance that not only will a bond form but you will be able to harness some of those powers to help you realize your desires. By acting in accord with nature (i.e. spending time outside, sitting in meditation, floating or swimming in the sea, watching the sunset, or stargazing), you will tap into the very universe itself. Here your instincts will guide you back to yoga, or union, with any divided parts of yourself, making way for the free flow of ideas, happiness, and bliss that is your birthright."

From her upcoming book, Art of Sequencing - Volume Two - Seasonal Vinyasa!

www.melinameza.com

FALL DAILY RITUAL from the Art of Sequencing - Volume Two (available late 2010)

2010-11-03T11:09:00.001-07:00

Ideally, all these practices can be followed, but if the list seems overwhelming, choose a few practices that resonate with you and commit to them for up to three months.

• Try to stick to a daily routine in the fall, scheduling in more down time than usual to prevent Vata imbalances.
• Wake up at 5:00-6:00 am (do your best!) and greet the day with gratitude for another opportunity to celebrate life.
• Wash your face, brush your teeth, scrape your tongue, do a neti pot, and lubricate your nostrils with oil or ghee.
• Drink hot lemon water with a little salt in the morning to stimulate elimination.
• Meditate (on grounding imagery, like a stone or a mountain).
• Do slow, warming, rhythmic movement or asana practices to set the pace for the day. Moving slowly and consciously in your asana practice will also help stabilize your mind and make it easier to stay focused throughout the day.
• Perform abhyanga with warm sesame oil. Leave the oil on your skin for 10-30 minutes to help nourish and protect your skin from drying out; follow with a warm shower.
• Homemade soups are good dietary mainstays during this season, as they are both hot and liquid, the opposite of Vata, which is cold and dry. In your soups or stews include copious amounts of root vegetables and hearty grains to keep the essence of the earth down in your belly. In general, prepare warm, moist foods for every meal while you are in the fall.
• Sit down to eat at regular times throughout the day; the more routine your meal times are the better. Practicing eating as a meditation, chewing your food until it’s liquid, and putting the utensil down between bites are just a few simple ways to ensure good digestion and strong agni.
• Increase your enjoyment of foods that are sweet (like rice, milk, and dates), sour (like yogurt and fermented foods), and salty (like sea kelp) as they help calm down and nurture Vata.
• Avoid starting too many new projects that pull your energy in multiple directions! Remember fall is a time to wrap up projects and prepare for winter hibernation.
• Aim for bedtime before 10:00 pm and get a full eight hours of sleep each night.

GENERAL ASANA TIPS FOR THE FALL
Incorporate more of the following into your practice:
• A routine where the time of day and length of your practice is consistent. It can be helpful to build your routine by writing down your committed yoga and exercise time slots on a weekly calendar.
• Yoga poses that allow you to incorporate the bandhas to guide prana deep into your body, which then prepares you for: pratyahara (the moment your sense organs no longer seek nourishment from the external environment), dharana (concentration), and dhyana (steady concentration or meditation).
• Steady, slow, mindful Sun Salutations to increase circulation of blood through your muscles and organs as well as standing poses, squats, twists, bridge pose, supported back bends, and inversions to clear the lungs and maintain heat in your core.
• Practice seated poses that allow the breath to move freely into the lower abdomen and pelvic floor, the parts of the body ruled by Vata.
• Take long savasanas to stabilize Vata. Cover yourself with a blanket to stay warm, use an eye pillow to soothe the eyes, and drape a sandbag or two over your thighs or ankles to promote the downward movement of prana deep into the bones of your legs. The extra weight of the sandbags reinforces the idea of staying present and can be useful for anyone at anytime who struggles with staying present in savasana.

Visit www.melinameza.com for Melina Meza products

New Fall Yin Video!!!

2010-11-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Fall Yin Video with My Yoga Online

My Monthly Newsletter

2010-10-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

November Newsletter

New Fall Vinyasa Video!!!

2010-10-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

Visit:
My Yoga Online website:
http://www.myyogaonline.com/videos/yoga/fall-seasonal-vinyasa-flow

Fall Insights with Melina Meza

2010-10-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

After collaborating with Benjamin and Tamara at Esalen, I’m inspired to share with you some highlights from the workshops, so you too can be reflecting on what we found to be powerful tools that can highlight the interconnectedness between your yoga practice, spirit, and nature.

Questions from Tamara’s deepening your intuition class:
1.In this past year, where have your grown? In this coming year, what part of yourself do you wish to grow?

2.In the past year, how have you come into better health? In the coming year, where would you like to be more health conscious?

3.In the past year, what part of your body or mind healed? In the coming year, what would you like to heal?

A few tips from Benjamin’s ethics of permaculture class:
(Benjamin will be guest teaching at the Seattle Tilth in November)
•Earth Care. People Care. Fair share
•Work with nature (use gravity, native species sun, wind, etc.)
•The problem is an opportunity
•Make the least change for the greatest possible effect
•The yield of the system is theoretically unlimited
•Everything is connected

The Mahabhutas:
•Earth: Deepen your connection to the earth element with long savasanas and visualizing your prana moving from the bones of your feet up to your head.

•Water: Notice your relationship to water as your belly and organs rise and fall in the body.

•Fire: Feed your inner digestive fire by dropping your attention to the solar plexus. Healthy fire maintains digestion of food into nutrients.

•Air: Tune into your lungs as they expand and contract with deep inhalations and exhalations.

•Ether: Allow your physical and mental boundaries to soften. Notice what it feels like to drop fully into your space. Feel the mutually beneficial relationship between you and everything around you.

www.melinameza.com

Yoga Journal Review of Yoga for the Seasons DVD

2010-09-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

"Melina Meza, co-director of the teacher training program at Seattle's 8 Limbs Yoga Centers, has what I consider to be the three important "I" qualities: She is intelligent, insightful, and inspiring. The premise behind her DVD series, Yoga for the Seasons, is that the content and pacing of our daily yoga practice should be tailored to the energetic quality of the time of year.

This DVD presents her full practice: an 8-minute instruction on engaging the bandhas; a 4-minute tutorial that shows the basics of foot placement, pose form and self adjustments; a 45-minute vinyasa sequence; and a 9-minute agni (sacred fire) practice, which is essentially and abdominal-strengthening sequence.

Well conceived and well executed as this sequence is, I'm not convinced it would be any less beneficial if practiced in winter, spring, or summer. Except for the agni practice, which will give many students a run for their money, this sequence is recommended for all moderately experienced students...no matter what the season."
-Richard Rosen

( : Yeah!
To order your copy, visit my website: melinameza.com

back care practice

2010-09-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

PITTA: PREVENTING AGGRAVATION

2010-08-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

In general, when you are on the cusp of a new season, your whole being becomes vulnerable to aggravation. How well you balanced the predominate elements in the previous season contributes to how much aggravation will prevail. As we leave the pitta season in August and notice any lingering eye or skin dryness, dehydration, diminished appetite, skin rashes, inconsistent bowel movements, or trouble with blood circulation, it’s best to do some preventative cleansing to nourish and prepare our selves before the fall season is in full swing.

To eliminate dryness and rekindle your spark, consider treating yourself to a shirodhara treatment, where warm herbal oil is poured rhythmically onto the center of your forehead to promote flow and relaxation throughout your entire body. These are offered at Ayurvedic clinics and some day spas.

If you suffer from any digestive imbalances, consider taking triphala for six weeks to clear the lower digestive tract so it can work more efficiently.

Gentle cleansing for the blood and skin includes ingesting bitter herbs such dandelion leaves, burdock root, and turmeric in teas or in powder form mixed with some ghee. Each of these ingredients is helpful in pulling toxins from the blood.

**The yoga postures Tadaka Mudra (supine uddiyana bandha), Prasarita Padottanasana (wide leg forward bend), Sirsasana (head stand), Balasana (child’s pose), Pascimottanasana (seated forward bend), Ardha Matsyendrasana (seated twist) are a few of my favorite poses to practice every day at the tail end of summer.

*Please note these are general ideas to promote wellness. For specific health advice, consult with your health care practitioner of choice!

**You can find all these postures within my Art of Sequencing - Volume One book on my website: www.melinameza.com

To prevent pitta aggravation, enjoy this delicious soup!
Coconut Milk Soup
From Secrets of Healing by Maya Tiwari

4 cups water
1 cup coconut milk
½ tsp rock salt
6 fresh neem (curry) leaves
1 TBS ghee
1 c grated fresh coconut
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp minced ginger

Bring water to a boil in a heavy soup pot. Add the coconut milk, salt, and neem leaves. Heat the ghee in a cast-iron skillet over low heat and add the grated coconut, stirring occasionally until the coconut turns slightly brown. Add to the
seeds for a few minutes until they begin to crackle. Next, grind the seeds to a fine powder and add to the soup, along with the ginger. Cover and simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

Makes 2 servings

Note: Vata types may add ½ teaspoon of tamarind paste to the soup when adding the spices.

Summer Yin Practice with Melina Meza

2010-07-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Dropping into the restorative aspect of a yoga practice during the summertime is one way to encourage you to let go of “trying” to do the pose a certain way, and simply let yourself be guided intuitively into the right shape or position, in order to relax and breathe.

In the summer, which is a Yang time of year from the Taoist perspective, we fill up on solar energy and recharge our internal batteries, while giving a little extra care to specific organs that may be working overtime. In the summer, we guide attention to the heart, small intestines, stomach, and spleen, which work together in many ways to promote efficient blood circulation, temperature regulation, digestion, and hormone secretion; they also function symbiotically to absorb nutrients through what we bring into our body through food and the senses.

Find a comfortable place to rest on your back before drawing your knees close to your belly. Take a few moments to close your eyes, relax and unwind, before starting the summer yin/restorative practice.

This sequence I am suggesting is yin, in that it promote easy, slow, quiet, movement that allows you to visualize and feel where your qi/prana or attention are at all times. With practice, your mind and breath together to move qi/prana into specific places deep in your body such as the ligaments, connective issue, or organs.

With the extra heat and longer days, it is easy to dry up, get angry, irritated, or exhausted, if work and play are not in balance. So, why not take time to complement what’s going on outside in nature by partaking in relaxed, slow, cooling movement and maintaining a playful attitude. Consider closing your eyes during the practice to avoid being competitive with others or yourself, and instead move from your intuition; allow yourself to listen from within, to grow and mature during this season of abundance.

Asana Sequence
•Savasana with a bolster under your spine: pause and relax after each exhale
•Supine twist with bent knees
•Balasana (Child’s pose) with forehead resting on hands
•“Reaching under the bed” pose
•Mandukasana (wide knee child’s pose with chest on the floor or bolster)
•Sphinx
•Virasana
•Ardha Matsyendrasana (mellow version)
•Sukhasana (meditation seat)

You can download this practice or Summer Seasonal Vinyasa Flow at My Yoga Online!

Summer Seasonal Vinyasa Class with Melina

2010-07-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

It's summer in the northwest! Time to celebrate, play, eat piles of fruit, swim, be outdoors, and cultivate your intuition in yoga practice by closing your eyes and moving from within. This week in class we've been working on doing our familiar poses with eyes closed, it's been super relaxing and grounds you deeply into the moment, not to mention your being. Give it a try! There are still a few spaces left to join me for the summer retreat at Breitenbush Hot Springs, OR. Call 206-325-1511 to reserve your space.

Pranayama lying on your back with a bolster supporting your spine, hold a comfortable amount after exhale
Tadaka Mudra
Supta Padangusthasana (hamstrings, balance, twist series)
Supta Baddha Konasana w/hands holding head curling up into abdominal curls
Rock and roll on your spine
Cat/Cow with knee to face on exhale, inhale leg lifts look up
Downward shifting back and forth into plank
Forward bend
Elevator squats
Flow 1: beginning with side arch, forward bend, step back to plank, salabhasana with legs opening and closing, up dog, downward dog, high lunge with arms raised, bring feet together for chair with arms up by ears, tadasana. second side.
Flow 2: Twisting chair, caturanga, up dog, downward dog, warrior 1, lean forward into warrior 3 variation "airplane", step up to the top of the mat, second side.
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana
Prasarita Padottanasana with hand in reverse prayer
Standing neutral
Turn to one direction: Pyramid pose, twisting triange, other side
Turn to one direction: High lunge, revolved half moon
Samakonasana, wide leg splits
Plank
Vasistasana with variations
Childs pose
Headstand
Virasana
Ustrasana with one arm up, one down
Supta Virasana
Pigeon with bolster support
Dandasana
Roll back down to floor
Bride or Shoulderstand
Neutral
Closing ideas....
Cover eyes in savasana ( :

Enjoy. In just a week or two, my new video series with My Yoga Online friends will be available to download. Stay tuned for details. www.melinameza.com

Seasonal Vinyasa Summer Practice #1 with Melina Meza

2010-06-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Solstice Everyone,
Today will be the longest gray day of the year! Hopefully you are being productive, enjoying good health, and spirits. In case you need a little inspiration to practice today, here is what's happening in class. You can find this practice in my new book coming out this fall, The Art of Sequencing - Volume Two!!!

1. Virasana - (visualize the sun up above the clouds)
2. Virasana - grab a strap, reach your arms up holding the strap, open your chest
3. Virasana - gomukasana arms
4. Bharadvajasana
5. Get to your hands and knees, drop your chest down by your thumbs, flow into Cobra, Up Dog, and finish in Child's pose with your arms out in front of you. Repeat many times.
6. Down dog into a lunge. Raise arms up by ears, squeeze arms by head, twist hands around one another
7. Down dog to Uttansana
8 Squat (cover eyes)
9. Tadasana
10. Surya Namaskar A with your eyes closed (repeat many times) move intuitively
11. Surya Namaskar B variation: Utkatasana, Uttanasana, High Lunge with arms reaching forward by ears, bend arms to open chest, drop hands...Vasisthasana, Down dog, Uttanasana, Utkatasana, Tadasana (repeat many times)
12. Vrksasana
13. Bound 1/2 lotus forward bend
14. Pada Hastasana
15. Prasarita Padottanasana variations, add handstands if you wish ( :
16. Down dog
17. Child's pose
18. Sirsasana
19. Rabbit or Child's pose
20 Spinx (like cobra but chill)
21. Bhekasana
22. Supta Virasana
23. Down dog
24. Krauncasana
25. Dandasana
26. Sarvangasana or Setu Bandha
27. Prep for Yoga Nidrasana
28. Whatever you like....

If you can't figure this out...come to class or on retreat where we will be going further into detail with these poses.

Light and love,
Melina

www.melinameza.com

Seize the Summer: Ayurvedic tips about keeping cool and staying balanced during the summer months

2010-06-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

In the world of Ayurveda, we are now in the summer season (June-August), which means whenever summer arrives in your geographical location, you will have a stronger relationship with the elements fire and water for three months. Ayurveda views the physical body, along with everything in the Universe, as being composed of the five primary elements; earth, water, fire, air, and ether or empty space. These elements are expressed in the physical body as qualities of stability/support (earth), feeling/fluidity (water), heat and metabolism (fire), respiration and circulation (air), and space and lightness (ether).

When the fire and water element are out of balance, it creates a dosha called Pitta. In Sanskrit, dosha means, “that which spoils or causes decay” as they are not only the forces which produce and sustain the body in their normal condition but those which, when out of balance, serve to destroy it. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each element can help you make daily choices that reinforce health and wellness for the season. As my teacher Scott Blossom said, “It is important to work in a way that “feels right” but also consciously cultivates complementary traits, such as grounding and stillness for the air type, or coolness and relaxation for the fire type in order to strike a balance.”

To help create balance, consider one of the classic Ayurvedic sutras that says, “like increases like and opposites balance.” This ancient wisdom can be extremely helpful when creating your daily rituals around the seasons.

Asana Advice for the Pitta Season
• Let each asana practice be soft, intuitive, forgiving, creative, and emphasize surrendering in order to prevent overheating.
• Perform all asana or sports in a way that is non-competitive, nurturing, and playful! Practice vigorous sports or asana in the early morning.
• Incorporate counter-balancing postures for poses that create heat such as Sun Salutations, balance poses, strong backbends, etc.
• Practice with your eyes closed.
• Emphasize a cooling breathing pattering during practice where the exhalation is longer than inhalation. Holding the breath out after exhaling has a powerful effect to concentrate the mind, which stabilizes your agni, purified essence of fire.
• Practice shitali or left-nostril breathing after asana.
• Try the Metta, Loving Kindness meditation to release anger.

Summer Foods
• Never miss a meal, especially if you are have a Pitta constitution!
• Eat cooling, sweet, bitter and astringent foods (coconut, cucumber, watermelon, all the fresh fruit in season, steamed greens, multicolored salads, watercress, endives, mung beans, basmati rice) and avoid spicy and fried foods.
• Drink cumin, coriander, fennel and rose hot tea. Cilantro, cucumber, and mint are great additions to water for a refreshing beverage that will cool you down.
• Eat few dairy products and meats (unless you are doing intense physical activity)…they are too yang!

If your digestive fire is weak, try this for a week or two until your digestive fire improves: Cook together equal parts of: brown rice, lentils, and sun flower seeds. Eat 1-2 cups daily for 2 weeks. This will also improve body heat.

Daily Routine
• Give yourself a full body massage before showering. Coconut oil is best.
• Enjoy the rose, sandalwood, jasmine or lavender essential oils to relax the senses.
• Wear light colored clothing, loose cotton, linen and silk (ex. White, blue, green) so air can circulate between your clothes and your skin.
• Do inside cooking early morning in the morning before it gets hot.
• Spend time in Nature, swim, retreat, and enjoy the moonlight.

Visit: www.melinameza.com for summer You Tube videos and upcoming yoga retreats.

Overview of Robert, Scott, & Claudia Workshop at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers

2010-06-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

I’ve officially unpacked from an incredible month traveling around CA, TX, and WA, following Dr. Robert Svoboda, Scott Blossom, and Claudia Welch around on Robert’s farewell tour before he retires from public speaking.

For those of you that were unable to attend the workshop at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in Seattle, here is a brief overview of what was covered:

Dr. Robert Svoboda:
• “Wherever your attention goes, your prana follows.”
• “Attention is good, being attentive is a good habit. Thinking is good, but thinking is a bad habit.”
• “Westerners are always trying to change their destinies before finding out what they are…first find out what they are before trying to change them!”
• “Prana provides continuity for the organism, prana is purposeful vs. vata, which is not continuous, not stable.”
• Remain calm and relaxed. Don’t freak out when there is a crisis, freak out at another time where there is no crisis.”

Dr. Scott Blossom:
• “The seat of prana is in your pelvis, it will help keep your legs strong and flexibile.”
• “The main downward force is gravity, the bones are the tissue response to gravity.”
• “Find stability in your asana or else you’ll have to meditate on the pain.”
• “Get your attention working, not your mind. Listen to the signals coming from your bones.”
• “Move as if all parts of the body are connected to the other parts. When you move to the right, keep your attention on the left, etc.
• “Keep the bones as your “drsiti”, emphasize the whole over the parts...don't over emphasize the “do-er” let your prana guide you. “
• “Let your practice be a communion with the force that gives rise to all of nature.”
• “Yoga is telling you, you know how to move, to trust yourself. When the body releases tension in yoga, the analogy to that is when the mind releases “mis-trust.”

Dr. Claudia Welch:
• “Focus doesn’t take active effort, it just takes focus. It’s more about surrender than effort.”
• “As your focus moves down, it creates space for prana to BE.”
• “Annamaya kosha follows whatever the pranamaya kosha is doing which follows whatever the manomaya kosha is doing.”
• “Whenever you release “crud” in the body, release it, don’t try to name it, put it in a box, or conatin it…let it go!”
• “The more we remember something, the less accurate it is. Each time we recall a memory, we build a new protein chain in the brain, which creates a “glump, or clump”. So each time we re-create a memory, the less accurate it is.”
•“Don’t become anything!” The second you become something, you arrange your prana that will get enforced whenever we are in front of more prana. When you become something, you can "un-become it", which is so much more painful than becoming it."

Upcoming Seasonal Vinyasa Retreats:
7/30-8/2 Breitenbush Hot Springs, OR with Melina Meza and Tamara Newmoon
9/19-924 Esalen, CA with Melina Meza, Tamara Newmoon, & Benjamin Fahrer
More details: http://www.melinameza.com/YogaRetreats.html

Ayurvedic Cooking Article By Eve Tai

2010-05-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here's an article from a dear friend/student...and delicious recipe at the end from Sutra recipe in Seattle!

Ayurveda leads us to food that's right for each of us
Cooking according to the ancient principles of Ayurveda helps us keep healthy by emphasizing the foods we need at the time we need them.
By Eve M. Tai

SEATTLE WINTERS are never easy on anyone, but for me, fall is the hardest season of all. My whole body seems to dry up; air bloats my belly. I feel wired. Spacey.

Years ago I mentioned these symptoms to my yoga teacher, Melina Meza, at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in Seattle. "It's vata season," she said, nodding with understanding.

Vata, it turns out, is the Sanskrit word for wind or air. From the yogic perspective, vata is the most active — often overly so — in the fall. It makes sense. Fall is the season when the winds kick up and leaves wither.

To remedy my dry, airy symptoms, Meza suggested balancing them by eating foods with opposite qualities. Drawing upon Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, Meza advised cooking soups (wet) and root vegetables (grounded). Yams, carrots and potatoes soon entered my diet. My body rebounded within days.

Considered the sister practice to yoga, Ayurveda means "science of life." Its holistic approach seeks to optimize health before maladies arise. Food is considered medicine. Ayurveda calls for fresh, in-season produce, grains and meats because these foods harbor the most vitality.

This may not be news to locavore/slow food/Michael Pollan devotees. But Ayurveda elaborates on this practical wisdom — calling for specific foods and preparations that target your dosha, or general constitution. Chef Colin Patterson of Sutra, a vegetarian restaurant in Wallingford, finds Ayurveda attractive for this reason. "Food is very personal," he says. "Everyone has different needs."

According to Ayurveda, each of us tends to be governed mainly by one of three doshas and its corresponding natural element: kapha (earth), pitta (fire) or vata (air). Depending on your dosha, you would eat more of certain foods and flavorings, dial down others. General principles, however, apply to most of us each season. As we shift from spring to summer, Ayurveda advises cutting back on heavy and oily foods in favor of spicy, bitter and astringent foods. The latter helps move out the stagnation gathered over winter. For late spring, Meza suggests strawberries, raspberries, pears, lemons and grapefruit, along with asparagus, arugula, radicchio, celery, collard and mustard greens, radishes and sprouts.

"Nature provides us with the food we need when we need it," she says.

Although Sutra does not wear the Ayurveda mantle, the restaurant follows many of the same ideas. "We don't just pay attention to taste, but to the energetic effects food has on the body," says Amber Tande, Patterson's wife and business partner. She cites serving something fatty, perhaps a nut cheese, and following it with something fermented — say, pickled fiddlehead fern — to help break down that cheese.

Patterson echoes Meza's — and yoga's — assertion that ultimately the student becomes his or her own teacher. "Ayurveda gets you started with a road map," he observes. "After that, you find your own way."

Eve Tai is a freelance writer and student of yoga. John Lok is a Seattle Times staff photographer.

Lentil, Carrot & Wild Mushroom Cake

Serves 4 to 6

For the cake

¼ cup loose smoked black tea

1 cup black Beluga lentils

Salt to taste

4 to 6 medium tricolor carrots

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 cups wild foraged mushrooms*

For the sauce

4 to 6 sunchokes

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

¼ medium onion, diced

¼ pound fresh stinging nettles (available at farmers markets)**

2 cups vegetable stock

1 tablespoon chopped thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

1. To make the cake. Steep tea for 5 minutes in 4 cups filtered boiling water. Strain and bring tea back to a boil. Add lentils, cover and lower heat to simmer. Cook 30 minutes, then add salt. Cook another 10 minutes until lentils are soft. Strain and set aside.

2. Coat carrots in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Arrange on a sheet pan and roast in the oven at 350 degrees 30 minutes until soft. Cool, then cut into cubes.

3. Sauté mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of olive oil on high heat for 2 to 5 minutes until tender. Set aside.

4. Combine lentils, carrots and mushrooms in a large bowl; add salt to taste. Spoon and gently press mixture into 4 to 6 ring molds on an oiled baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees until heated through.

1. To make the sauce. Coat sunchokes in 2 tablespoons oil and roast on sheet pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Turn every 10 minutes until tender and lightly caramelized. Remove from oven and set aside.

Sauté onion in 1 tablespoon oil in large pan for 5 minutes until lightly caramelized. Add nettles and stock. Cover and cook for 5 minutes until nettles are dark green. Add sunchokes, then simmer for 10 minutes. Add more stock as needed.

Remove mixture from pan and purée in blender. Strain through cheesecloth. Return purée to pan. Add thyme and season to taste. To serve, spoon the sauce on a plate and top with cake.

— Sutra restaurant

* Use cultivated mushrooms when wild are unavailable.

** Handle fresh nettles with tongs. Cooking eliminates their sting.

The Five Elements

2010-04-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

What's been on my mind teaching this week?
Answer: The five elements!

Earth: stability (great place to start any practice)
Water: emotion and feeling (drops us into the feminine receptive space)
Fire: transformation and digestion (what are you growing? transforming?)
Air: listening (to breath, this breath)
Space: expanding into witnessing consciousness (observe what is happening, become less reactive, more aware)

Try this theme using the elements and apply to the following postures at your own pace.

Siddhasana - meditation seat
Siddhasana - side bend *(pg. 54)
Extended Balasana - child's pose with arms reaching forward, then to the r/l
Gomukasana Prep for legs - continue into Aparighasana legs + reaching under the bed arms
Uttanasana
Uddiyana bandha
Kapalabhati in Horse/straddle pose
Prasarita Padottanasana E (pg. 99)
Virabhdrasana 2 - into reverse warrior into Utthita Parsakonasana (pg. 43) - repeat
Prasaritta Padottasana in between
Sun Salutes:
Plank, side plank variation, up dog, down dog, lift one leg, open hip, lunge
Twisting chair, uttanasana, caturanga, up dog, down dog, flip dog, and end with warrior 1
Eagle variations
Eka pada galavasana - arm balance variation like eagle
Down dog
Sirsansa prep or full head stand
Ardha Maystendrasana - full bind
Gomukasana
Dandasana
Abdominal work to center
Bridge with neck movement
Happy baby
Mysore style ending...enjoy!

*Pages in Art of Sequencing book: www.melinameza.com

After the Cleanse: Right here. Right now.

2010-04-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

I’ve been deeply inspired in my daily life by the very first sutra in the classic text called Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The arrangement in which the sutras are placed is related to their significance, so the very first word in the first yoga sutra is central to understanding what Westerners call “yoga.” The whole sutra is atha yoga anusasanam. Atha is translated as now, also referred to as the moment-to-moment transition. This simple word, atha, echoes the basic wisdom often forgotten in today’s society, that in order to feel whole and connected, you must be present. Right here, right now. But, where do we spend most of our life? Somewhere in between the past and future.

I once heard a riddle that asked, “If you had a treasure to hide, where would you hide it?” The answer is, “in the present moment.” What would happen if we started weaving this wisdom from the Yoga Sutra into our daily life and eating? Would our health improve? I believe it would. This first step is perhaps the most important step on this journey because it brings your attention to what you are doing in the moment, no matter what you are doing. How can you ever understand or feel the benefit of a well prepared meal, restorative or vigorous yoga practice, healthy relationships, parenting, working, or whatever you do in life, if you are always distracted with emails and text messaging or if you are busy fantasizing about some time other than right now?

One translation of the word “mindfulness” means to pay attention or take care in every thing you do. Mindfulness and atha have a lot in common, they both remind us that now is the prime time to pay attention to life and take nothing for granted, they both graciously steer the waxing and waning mind towards one goal, one task versus many. After all, can your energy really go more than one place at a time?
Mindfulness or atha can be used as a “mantra” to be repeated throughout the day in various activities such as yoga, meditation, walking, cooking, paying the bills, or listening to a friend. Repeating this mantra throughout your day will help remind you to stay present and awake, right here and now. What would it be like to wake up to each moment’s sensual offerings and accept that moment as enough?

Mindful eating
What if eating became a part of your meditation practice? Whether you eat three square meals a day or numerous smaller meals, eating food is something every human must do to survive. To maintain healthy tissues and organs, it’s essential to eat the right foods everyday. Because we all need to eat so regularly, it’s a great place to consider sequencing in mindfulness and atha into your daily routine. Enjoy how your food tastes, smells, how well it digests, and how much you need to satisfy your hunger.

In the western culture, people are not fully conscious of the fact that they are eating; instead we are busy driving, typing at the computer, watching the TV or a movie, reading the paper or discussing politics or the latest Facebook events while hanging out with friends. Each of these scenarios requires a certain amount of energy output--energy that is pulled away from the digestive and metabolic functions occurring within. There is a classic saying, “Where your mind goes, your energy will follow.” So, why not focus on eating when eating, to prepare your digestive organs to process the nutrients?

If we were to apply mindfulness to eating, we would start by choosing a special, clean place to eat each meal, free of clutter and distractions. I believe it is valuable to choose a specific comfortable seat just for eating (like you do for meditation) other than your couch, desk, bed, or car because it promotes conscious eating. This also prevents overeating. Consider the classic conditioned behavior patterns described in Pavlov’s experiment. His research proves just how easily you can train yourself to get hungry every time you approach your desk, couch, or car, if that is where you most commonly eat. Conscious, mindful eating promotes efficient digestion and metabolism, so you’ll have more energy at the end of the day, week, and year to do your life’s work. When you take the same seat over and over again to eat, you’ll remember that eating is a ritual for nourishment rather than a reward or comfort tool.

By eating in a quiet seat, you also give your body the opportunity to stop vibrating from the day, calm the sense organs, indulge in a few deep breaths, and drop into a moment of appreciation for the delicious food you are about to consume. The food you eat, after all, will soon become you, so it would be wise to be attentive to your new guests and pray for a speedy, harmonious transformation in the walls of your GI tract.

Learn more about yoga, nutrition, and Ayurveda in one of Melina's upcoming workshops or retreats:
www.melinameza.com

Spring: Elimination = Illumination

2010-03-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Starting with the birth of the new season, it’s time to look at what your body will naturally crave in order to thrive in the springtime. How about trying a cleanse? Spring is one of the best times to consider changing your daily routine as kapha (water/earth-based) season releases into pitta (fire/water-based) season. The key for supreme health during the spring transition is the slow, gradual, sustainable release of any or all excess accumulation of kapha in the body in the form of weight, mucous, or phlegm by detoxifying the body and mind with an elimination diet.

Step 1: Elimination Diet
Here is an example of an elimination diet, to help you weed out the typical allergy-creating or addictive foods (keep in mind that each day builds upon the other):

*Begin each day with the Morning Master Cleanse Drink or Liver Flush
Day 1 & 2 No caffeine, sugar, alcohol (fruit in small amounts are okay)
Day 3 & 4 No wheat, dairy and processed foods
Day 5 & 6 No animal products
Day 7 & 8 Organic whole foods diet with vegetables, grains, legumes
Day 9-11 Mono-diet of Kitcheri (mung bean and rice dish)
Day 12 & 13 Organic whole foods diet with vegetables, grains, legumes
Day 14: Practice moderation and eat lots of spicy (radish), bitter (arugula), and astringent (grapefruit) foods while decreasing the heavy, oily foods from winter.

By the end of the two weeks, I hope you feel illuminated by your elimination diet!

Step 2: Asana to Promote Liver and Gallbladder Health
When it comes to your asana practice, the inner and outer legs correlate to the meridian lines that feed into the liver (inner legs) and gallbladder (outer legs). It’s a great time to deepen your relationship to poses such as pigeon, eagle, wide leg forward bends, and cow face, just to name a few of the poses that help you connect to and activate the liver and gallbladder meridians.
Watch my Seasonal Vinyasa Spring Flow, Spring Yin practice for more inspiration.

Recipe:
Master Cleanse Morning Drink
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice
1 or 2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
1/10 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 ounces spring water

Drink liberally (from 6-12 glasses/day) throughout the day.
Liver Flush
1-2 Lemons
1 tablespoon cold-pressed olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
4 ounces spring water

Squeeze the lemons and add the rest of the ingredients to the juice. Bled 30 seconds and drink.

Stay tuned for more seasonal vinyasa tips on my website: www.melinameza.com

Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga - Early Spring with Melina Meza

2010-03-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings!
I know the weather can really be hit or miss these days, but there is enough proof around in nature to confirm that spring is really close, close enough to consider shifting your yoga practice to compliment the season.

Over the winter we have been doing yoga classes that emphasize Sun Salutations to promote circulation, extra twists to strengthen metabolic fire, and dynamic forward and backbends to tonify the kidneys and urinary bladder, which are the organs that regulate water in the body as well as our emotions.

Now that the winter has passed and spring is near, it's time to start sending some T.L.C. to the liver and gallbladder, which may have been working overtime during the winter with diets heavy in fat, protein, caffeine, alcohol or sugar. Interesting that the springtime is about cleansing the liver and gallbladder, which do many helpful things for our health including: filtering toxins from the external environment and food, aiding in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, helping to break down fats in the body, and processing our anger. These are exactly the organs that tend to get overloaded in the winter with extra socializing, large meals, decreased exercise, not enough rest, and other behaviors typically associated with the winter months.

It makes sense that many of us are drawn to the idea of cleansing and purging this time of year—it’s time to lighten our load. Spring is really a time to THRIVE and it’s difficult to thrive if you feel weighted down by your inner or outer world. In order to feel your best, perhaps a little cleanse is in order to get rid of any winter weight, clutter, or material possessions that keep you in the past or limit your freedom in the moment?

Now is the time to decrease heavy, oily, cold, fat foods, and increase spicy, bitter, and astringent foods to promote wellness such as arugula, mustard greens, kale, strawberries, blueberries, and sprouts. Sprouts and early dark green vegetables are a great way to increase your vitamin, nutrient and chlorophyll intake. Sprouts are even known to be a natural blood cleanser. In general, eat light, eat local.

When it comes to your asana practice, the inner legs and outer leg lines correlate to the meridian lines that feed into the liver (inner legs) and gallbladder (outer legs). It’s a great time to deepen your relationship to poses such as Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (pigeon), Garudasana (eagle), Prasaritta Padottanasana (wide leg forward bends), Gardasana (cow face), as these poses help you to connect to and activate the liver and gallbladder meridians.

Example of a yin/restorative class for the Spring:
Lying on your back:
Supta Baddha Konasana, Happy Baby Pose, Wide Leg Splits (while supported by the floor), Easy Twist with bent legs, “Thread the Needle”
On the knees or seated:
Wide Leg Child’s Pose, Spinx, Pigeon, Ardha Matysendrasana, Gomukasana, Upavista Konasana, Padmasana

Example of a Spring Vinyasa Yoga class for the Spring:
Supta Baddha Konasana, Happy Baby Pose, Wide Leg Split, Supta Padangusthasana (standard and twist), Abdominal work with Twists, Abdominal work with legs in Garudasana, Lion’s Breath, Fire Hydrant, Spinal Rolls, Uddiyana Bandha, Agni Sara, Sun Salutes with Salabhasana, Squats, Surya Namaskar B, Garudasana, Prasaritta Padottanasana Series, Sirsasana, Bakasana, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (pigeon), Gomukasana, Double Pigeon, Pursvottanasana, Mayurasana (peacock), Bharadvajasana, Maha Mudra, Janu Sirsasana, Setu Bandha, Halasana with Padmasana…finishing poses.

You can find more inspiration for home practice or sequencing ideas for teaching in my book or DVD located on my website: www.melinameza.com

Last Winter Vinyasa Class with Melina

2010-03-04T09:25:00.001-08:00

Starting next week I will launch into Spring Vinyasa classes! I hope to see you at 8 Limbs or in Hawaii for the kick off. In the meantime, here is my last winter vinyasa class, I will hopefully make a You Tube video out of this one soon, as it's a great outline to follow for those days where you feel sluggish and need to wake up!

Last Winter Sequence:
Supported Pranayama with a bolster under your back.
Tadaka Mudra (*pg. 43 A.O.S.)
Bridge Flow (reach arms over head with spine on the ground, lift up to bridge on exhale)
Upper belly crunch (pg. 18)
Easy Twist (without letting your legs touch the ground)
Leg Lifts (pg. 31)
Navasana
Lolasana
Knee to Nose (pg. 20)
Down Dog - Plank (repeat back and forth)
Vajrasana (pg. 49)
Uttanasana
Uddiyana Bandha
Straddle/Horse with Kapala Bhati breath (repeat)
Flow 1:
Tadasana, side bend, tippie toe twist(pg. 14), Uttanasana, Plank, Cobra, Down Down (three breaths), Uttanasana, Tadasana (repeat several times)
Flow 2:
Parsva Utkatasana (revolved chair), Caturanga, Up Dog, Down Dog, Warrior One, Caturanga, Down Dog (hold 3 breaths)
Garduasana (eagle) Flow in and out
Warrior 2 (sink in and out 3 times), hold
Reverse Warrior 2 turns to Wide leg twist (pg. 99), side splits - other side!
Down Dog facing top of mat
Headstand
Virasana
Mayurasana
Dhanurasana - take 10 breaths to complete the pose
Table Top - make circles with hips and shoulders
Ardha Matsyendrasana (twist)
Baddha Konasana
Supta Padangusthasana - lift head to knee variation
Happy Baby Pose
Anything else????
Savasana (:

Om.

*Art of Sequencing- Volume One can be purchased on my website:
www.melinameza.com

Preparing for Spring Transformations?

2010-02-21T21:04:00.001-08:00

In Art of Wellness, my next book, I outline how to incorporate yogic principals and practices into your daily life. Just as the asanas strengthen our bodies and quiet our minds, there are a number of other practices in yoga that help us create positive and lasting change in our lives and prevent unnecessary suffering. For instance the yogic process of transformation, known as Kriya yoga, involves three fundamental steps; tapas, translated as intention, enthusiasm, or passion, svadhyaya, described as self-awareness or examination; and finally isvara pranidhana, or the faith beyond belief. These fundamental concepts of intention, self-awareness, and faith, beyond belief, are the central principals of Kriya and the backbone from which all life experimentation, and true change, begins. When you follow these steps, no matter what issue you are trying to work through, you will see the patterns in your life that create suffering.

To help bring the Kriya path to life, I often advise students to find something they are passionate about changing and then decide to work on that for a two-week period of time. Perhaps you want to lose weight and improve your health and have determined that sugar is a culprit. I then will ask you to commit to eliminating it from your diet for just two weeks. Once you have found something you are enthusiastic about changing you can then move on to the next step of svadhyaya. During this phase, you must pay attention to the changes in your mood, relationships, behavior, eating habits, and body functions. Journal, illustrate, or make art to document your observations. If you decided to eliminate sugar from your diet, then notice how much energy it takes to shift out of a habitual pattern. Notice what happens in your body and mind. What changes do you see in your life and what impact does this change have in those around you. Notice if you’re losing weight by stepping on the scale or trying on those tight jeans. Are you less moody or emotional? Are you experiencing withdrawal symptoms? Once you get through this experiment phase, you will know for certain how powerful sugar is, and will have arrived at the third step, isvara pranidhana; first-hand experience which leads to faith beyond belief. You will know first-hand what a powerful drug sugar is and by going through withdrawal, you will understand how it contributes to weight gain, mood swings, or A.D.D. Kriya’s three-step process is a tried and true practice for creating successful and sustained changes.

Our current transition on the west coast between Winter and Spring is one of the best transit times to consider doing a two week long elimination experiment to prepare for deeper Spring cleansing in just a few weeks! Stay tuned for more cleansing ideas to come.

If you are interested in learning more about Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga for the Spring, please join me in Hawaii, March 20-27, 2010 at Kalani Oceanside Retreat Center! You can read more or register on my website:

www.melinameza.com

Namaste,

Melina

Winter Sequence - Valentine's Week "Feel the Love"

2010-02-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

Namaste Yogi Friends,
Before I drive away to Mazama for the Yoga & Ski retreat, I wanted to leave you with a new yoga sequence for the week. I hope you feeling the love for your practice, life, and the ever changing nature surrounding you. Happy Valentine's Day (in advance). xxxxoxo m

2/8/2010
Standing meditation (5-10 minutes)
Joint rotations
Horse (straddle seat) - flow to one side for High Runner's Lunge, then twist
Prasaritta Padottanasana (in between sides) head toward side splits
Downward Dog - flow with raising a leg on inhale, exhale bring knee to your nose
Shalabhasana variation - lift right arm and left leg, turn head, other side
Child's pose with toes tucked under
Uttanasana
Tadasana
Surya Namaskar B with Revolved Chair pose and long Warrior One holds
Triangle pose with neck release/chest opener (p. 41)
Ardha Chandrasana w/block under hand, grab back foot variation
Downward Dog - Flip your dog
Plank
Bekasana (frog) or Ardha Dhaurasana (1/2 wheel) or both!
Child's Pose
Headstand
Dandasana
Maricyasana (bind arms around bent front leg) into Vasisthasana flow then Dandasana
Pacimottanasana
Purvottanasana (reverse table top)
Navasana - end up on your back
Bridge variations
Supta Padangusthasana with straight legs, head toward a twist
Happy Baby Pose
Releasing poses....Savasana

I'll be working on a few more You Tube Videos this weekend, stay tuned for asana sequences. More creative sequences can be found in my book, Art of Sequencing or Fall Vinyasa DVD.
www.melinameza.com

Top 10 Winter Vinyasa Tips

2010-01-26T09:16:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Winter Vinyasa Tips
1. Adjust your day-to-day choices to align with what is occurring outside in nature.
2. Figure out your dosha to increase your awareness of physical and mental strengths/challenges during this season.
3. Daily ritual begins with getting up early and looking in the mirror to monitor your health.
4. Adjust daily routine based on how your skin, tongue, and eyes appear in the morning!
5. Eat your big meal in the middle of day (healthy high fat and oily foods).
6. Take a hot bath or shower to unwind and decrease stress vs. drinking wine or eating sugar.
7. Keep strong "jatharagni" by eating only when you are hungry.
8. Keep stong "pranagni" by doing yoga asanas and deep breathing.
9. Keep strong "managni" by meditating and spending time in nature away from artificial stimulation.
10. Awaken your "hridaya", spiritual heart with fire ceremonies and chanting or singing.

Namaste,
Melina Meza

Winter Vinyasa - Asana Practice with Melina Meza

2010-01-26T08:55:00.000-08:00

Here's what I'm teaching this week:
Virasana
Virasana with shoulder openers (pg. 19 A.O.S. book)
Virasana with Gomukasana arms
Vajrasana
Balasana
Cat/Cow into with Lion's breath!
Down Dog to Uttanasana
Uddiyana Bandha and Kapala bhati
Prasaritta Padottanasana - regular
Prasaritta Padottansana E (pg. 38)
Surya Namaskar A variation: with low lunge and twist
Surya Namaskar B variation: twisting chair, warrior one, lunge with head at ankle (pg. 37)
Garudasana - repeat a few times
Prasaritta Padottansana with deep twist
Down Dog - Vinyasa to stay warm
Dhanurasana with strap (pg. 59)
Balasana - child's pose
Sirsasana - headstand
Ardha Matysasana - Purvottanasana with bent legs after both sides
Marichyasana B (pg. 53) - Purvottanasana with straight legs after both sides
Pascimottansana
Navasana
Halasana
Matsyasana
Savasana - brief
Sukkhasana - Right nostril breathing

Enjoy!

If you don't have your copy of Art of Sequencing, you can purchase it on my website by clicking the link:
www.melinameza.com

Seasonal Vinyasa - Winter You Tube Videos 1 & 2

2010-01-18T15:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad5Xfi2Z34M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDzY2_NG_YQ

Winter sequences in general should be rhythmic, warming, and invigorating. Try to find the right tempo to practice these suggested postures to increase your metabolism and circulation. What I offer in this You Tube video is a fast-forward version of poses I teach in classes. This does not reflect the whole class, just some winter friendly poses I'm currently teaching. Have fun! Filmed at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers, Seattle, on a sunny day!

Tapas - Part One with Melina Meza

2010-01-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

Tapas: To cook or transform; heat; passion; to glow; the creative incubation phase; enthusiasm; asceticism.

Part One: Tapas is Step One in Kriya Yoga
Tapas is found in both the three-fold process of Kriya yoga and the Niyamas. Consider tapas as a catalyst or spark to initiate, as well as maintain, the energy for creativity, new beginnings, physical, emotional, and mental transformations; or alternately, as the electrical juice to overcome habits that are no longer beneficial.

Tapas in the Modern World
Living in harmony with nature means you embrace the changing world around you in all its seasons, ages, and states, including suffering and destruction, as well as, joy and renewal. If you are willing to truly embrace all the phases of life, then tapas will be a warm nudge to help you stoke the fire of inspiration and engage in the world as a dynamic participant rather than a static bystander. This first step of Kriya requires energy in the form of intention, enthusiasm, commitment, or passion. These act as catalysts to propel your creative endeavor—whether your wellness plan, art project, vegetable garden, or yoga practice—forward. This passion fires the creative muse in you to dream up endless possibilities. It’s the energy that inspires the farmer to envision a bountiful harvest, a parent to trust they are doing their best, and a yogi to organically detach from worldly desires.

Working with Tapas
Everyone needs a different amount of time, inspiration, incentive, pressure, and heat to prepare for the creative incubation phase. Start by accepting what stage of life (student, householder, retirement, or renunciate) you are in. While keeping in mind the particular demands of your life, look at any undesirable behavioral patterns, habits, or attachments you have and consider removing just one to help you change, enhance, or grow into a more conscious being. What is currently occupying your life energy (getting through college, raising children, planning your retirement), which part of yourself is likely to go out of balance (i.e., diet, spending habits, travel), and consider whether you have any goals on the horizon for the near future (graduation, exercising three times a week, buying a new car, or taking a vacation). This is where the “heat” and passion come into support your intention and keep you on track and motivated.

In my teaching experience, I’ve noticed the student must be truly enthusiastic about constructing change in their life or else nothing new will manifest. With that said, whatever lifestyle change you are willing to consider right now, make sure it is within reason and that you can accomplish it with very little discipline or support. It’s important that you succeed in your first experiments in order to build tapas for the more stubborn habits and behavior patterns down the road. For example if you wanted to add mediation to your daily practice, you would try and sit for five minutes a day rather than for twenty minutes. After successfully sitting for five minutes a day for two weeks, increase your time to ten minutes a day. Pay attention to the things you resist, they may be your most potent teachers.

At its root, Kriya yoga will help you find the insight and strength to compassionately reign in your mind and your energy from the objects or habits that have taken away or reduced your sense of power or happiness.

Next week: Part Two or read the whole article now: http://www.melinameza.com/Yoga_Articles.html

Seasonal Vinyasa - Winter Asana Sequence

2010-01-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

Here's what we will be working on this week in my class...
1. Gayatri Mantra
2. Supported pranayama - Samavrtti (even breath ratio)
3. Neck and Chest move (p. 18 in Art of Sequencing book)
4. Abdominal crunches
5. Supta Padangustasana & Twist
6. Cakravakasana with lion breath
7. Down dog and Uttanasana on tippie toes
8. Uddiyana bandha
9. Squat
10. Straddle/Horse with Kapala Bhati breathing
11. Wide squat
12. Prasaritta Padottanasana
13. Surya Namaskar A with Salabhasana variation (p. 68 in Art of Sequencing)
14. Surya Namaskar B with revolved chair pose and high lunges
15. Parvottanasana - Parvritta Trikonasana - Prasaritta Padottansana variation - repeat
16. Handstand
17. Haunmanasana
18. Ustrasana
19. Tiryan Mukhaikapada Pascimottanasana - Purvottanasana variation w/ front knee down
20. Balansa or Mayurasana
21. Urdhva Dhanurasana Prep or full pose
22. Halasana
23. Sarvangasana
24. Closing poses....depends on the day!
Hope to see you in class. You can reference more of these poses in my book, Art of Sequencing, plus 34 additional classes to inspire your teaching or home practice.
www.melinameza.com/Yoga_Books.html

Rumi and Esalen

2010-01-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

"Keep walking, though there's no place to get to. Don't try to see through the distance. That's not for human begins. Move within, but don't move the way fear makes you move." Rumi

I'll be teaching my first yoga retreat at Esalen in Big Sur, California, September 19-24, 2010. It's a dream come true, the place is amazing. I hope you can join me and special friends Tamara Newmoon and Benjamin Fahrer. More details coming soon...

Melina Meza Retreats:
www.melinameza.com

Seasonal Vinyasa - Winter & Kapha

2009-12-30T15:49:00.000-08:00

One of the main sutras in Ayurveda is "like increase like". During the winter (kapha season), when it is cold, damp, and dark outside, it is easy to feel heavy, lethargic, or depressed, like increase like. To help decrease kapha accumulation in your body, it is wise to keep your body moving, avoid naps, or over eating to minimize weight gain, depression, and the common cold.

This week I've been teaching the following sequence to help move away from the kapha conditions and toward vata (air, wind) to promote better circulation.

Part of class:
Supported pranayama with bolster (hold breath after inhale)
Tadaka Mudra
Supta Padangusthasana
Abdominal work
Navasana
Cat/Cow to Downdog doing lion breath
Uttanasana on your tippie toes
Wide leg squats
Sun Salutes A and B (with twisting chair)
Warrior 2, Side Angle with arms bind
Prasarita Padottanasana
Handstand
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana
Hanumanasana (low lunge prep)
Mayurasana
Forward Bends....

If you don't know what these poses are...consider investing in my book called, Art of Sequencing as a reference! Stay tuned for more Winter suggestions next week.
www.melinameza

Seasonal Vinyasa - Winter and New Year

2009-12-28T14:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!
If your life got thrown off balance during the holidays with social events, late nights, extreme weather conditions, or work commitments, its best to jump back into your normal routine as quickly as possible, before the new year! I'll be teaching my regular Monday-Wednesday schedule in Seattle, I hope to see you in class.

To help promote cleansing post-new year, here are a few ideas to get started:

1. Eat Kichadi (mung bean and rice dish) for a one to three days to give your digestive track a rest and strengthen your inner "agni" or digestive potential.

2. Take Triphala for six weeks, twice a day. Triphala is designed to promote your body's natural cleansing process. It's made up of three Indian herbal fruits: harada, amla, and behada.

3. Register for one of my winter sequencing classes at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers 206-325-8221 (January 23) or Twist Vinyasa in Edmonds 425-778-YOGA (January 24)

For more asana inspiration check out my Art of Sequencing book or Yoga for the Seasons DVD:
www.melinameza.com

Winter Solstice!

2009-12-21T07:51:00.000-08:00

"It's like a bright light shining in a dark room.
When you see bright light you see the darkness around it at the same time, and the more darkness you see, that much brighter the light becomes

May the darkness of today allow us to see the brilliance more clearly".

Happy Solstice,
Melina

Winter Remedies - Melina Meza

2009-12-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

What can you do to stay healthy during the winter?
1. Increase your physical exercise
2. Stay hydrated with warm beverages
3. Add omega-3 rich foods to your diet
4. Rub sesame oil on your body before showering
5. Avoid foaming soaps - they dry out your skin
6. Apply honey to your face, leave on 10 minutes, rinse with warm water
7. Meditate, take time for reflection
8. Practice visualization exercises, draw from your inner muse
9. Moderation with sugar, alcohol, and coffee
10. Sleep like a bear - retreat

Yoga Retreats for 2010:
www.melinameza.com

Seasonal Vinyasa - Winter!

2009-12-10T08:23:00.000-08:00

With temperatures well below 30 degrees in Seattle, it's time to start the winter sequencing. Keep in mind that the winter flow is to help raise your core temperature and increase circulation, not to exhaust you! For starters, consider adding a strong vinyasa component to your practice to warm you up and lift your spirits, back bends to stimulate the kidneys, forward bends to stimulate the bladder, and breath retention after inhale to warm the lungs.

In classes this week here is what I will be emphasizing:
Supported pranayama with a bolster under the ribs. Lace your fingers together to hold your head our use a blanket.
Roll to the side with a bolster under the ribs, lateral bend
Supta Baddha Konasana with fingers laced around the back of the head, flow into abdominal crunch
Setu Bandha (bridge) in/out with arm movements
Navasana, roll back and forth on spine
Balance on all fours with R leg, L arm lifted, exhale pull both toward navel, round spine- repeat
Uttanasana (forward bend) to Utkatasana (chair)
Squats

Surya Namaskar (sun salutes): with raised leg in Uttanasana, step back to high lunge, plank with one leg lifted, Bhujangasana (cobra), plank, Down dog with one leg lifted, high lunge second side

Natarajasana Prep (dancing shiva)

Trikonasana (triangle) with lateral/neck focus, arm movements over head
Ardha Chandrasana (half moon) with back bend option
Prasaritta Padottanasana (wide leg forward bend)

Ustrasana Prep (camel)
Supta Virasana (reclined heros)
Sirsasana (head stand)
Balasana (childs)
Baddha Konasana (cobblers)
Upavista Konasana (seated wide leg forward bend)
Pascimottansana flow rolling back to the floor, abdominal work
Thread the Needle with head turned to the side
Gentle Halasana (plough)
Anything else?

Stay tuned for more Seasonal Vinyasa tips. My DVD, Yoga for the Seasons, can be purchased on my website for more asana support during the holidays.

www.melinameza.com

Late Fall Vinyasa at Haramara Retreat Center, Mexico

2009-11-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

Please enjoy this section of a fall vinyasa class I filmed at Haramara Retreat center in Mexico. It would be great to include after a warm up that prepares for the hip openers, arm balances, and inversions. As fall is rapidly turning into winter (at least in the Seattle) it is time to add more inversions and arm balances to stoke our inner fires!

Fall-Seasonal Vinyasa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTpi-KSCOL0

Late Fall Vinyasa

2009-11-18T08:18:00.000-08:00

Yes we are still in the fall season...but is anyone noticing a desire for more heat, back bending, twisting, and inversions to balance from the dampness and the lack of light? Here is what I am doing to compliment the external environment:

1. Standing meditation
2. Uddiyana bandha
3. Kapala bhati breathing in Horse/Straddle
4. Prasaritta Padottansana variations w/twists
5. More Horse/Straddle and variations
6. Tadasana into a flow with side bend
7. Uttanasana
8. Plank - to - Vasisthasana (both sides)
9. Bhujangasana (cobra)
10. Urdva Mukha Svanasana (up dog)
11. Adho Mukha Svanasana (down dog)
12. Drop down to your knees, Vajrasana (both sides)
13. All fours
14. Adho Mukha Svanasana- Uttanasana - Tadasana
15. Parsva Utkatasana (revolved chair) - Step back twisting lunge- Step back up
16. Parsva Bakasana (side crane)
17. Malasana
18. Bakasana or Sirsasana II (tripod headstand)
19. Uttanasana - Tadasana (repeat other side)
20. Adho Mukha Svanasana - Plank - Dhanurasana - Parsva Dhanurasana
21. Gomukasana (original and modern version)
22. Supine...fill in the blank!

Have fun...if you need more support, check out my DVD, Yoga for the Seasons.
http://www.melinameza.com/Yoga_Products.html

Fall - Seasonal Vinyasa at Breitenbush Hot Springs

2009-11-09T22:03:00.000-08:00

You Tube Video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kmWzEdflng

Join me in a spontaneous, short fall yoga sequence, surrounded by a luscious forest, in the heavenly Sanctuary at Breitenbush Hot Springs, 11/8/09. The full practice would include holding the postures for at least five breaths, three rounds of Surya Namaskar A & B, Mayurasana, Bharadvajasana, Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana, and Baddha Konasana before relaxation and meditation. More fall yoga sequences can be found on my DVD, Yoga for the Seasons, to help manage your Vata (ungrounded energy) all year round!
http://www.melinameza.com/Yoga_Products.html

Next year I will be leading yoga retreats with 8 Limbs Yoga Centers at Breitenbush Hot Springs in April and July of 2010! More information is available on my website:
www.melinameza.com

Enjoy!

Healthy Agni 101

2009-10-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS AGNI?
The yogis have a saying that a person is as old as their agni. A person’s relationship to the fire element is essential for efficient digestion, visual perception, body temperature regulation, clear complexion, courage, happiness, mental lucidity, affection, assimilation, absorption of food, processing of thought, and life experience’s.

As you can see, there are many ways in which agni functions within the body, mind, and spirit. During the fall and winter, be extra mindful of how you feed your agni to ward off the typical imbalances such as achy joints, insomnia, anxiety, mental instability, and the common cold.

Indicators associated with healthy agni:
• No discomfort (bloating, belching, indigestion, constipation) in the body after eating
• Normal skin color for your constitution
• The stomach fluctuates between the sensations “full” and “empty”
• Fecal matter is excreted at the habitual time of day forthe individual and is of the proper consistency (like a ripe banana)
• After eating there is no desire for food
• Plenty of laughter as laughter reflects good agni
• Fearlessness and confidence in personal relationships
• A person feels whole and content

If you are NOT dealing with healthy agni, considering looking for any of these culprits in your daily routine:

• Too much water before or after meals
• Poor food combining
• Ignoring the natural urges of the body to eliminate
• Lack of sleep
• Excessive sexual activity
• Mental disturbances
• Not enough attention to eating when eating

Asana Sequence to promote Agni (not limited to these poses, just some ideas to get you started):
• Virasana (hero)
• Mayurasana (peacock) Prep (elbows pressurize lower belly, relax lower back)
• Cat/Cow into Downward Dog - apply Uddiyana bandha
• Uttanasana (forward bend) - Utkatasana (chair) Flow
• Tadasana (mountain) - Tippie Toe Twist
• Straddle/Horse Pose - Kapala Bhati (kriya: bright skull)
• Prasaritta Padottanasana (wide leg forward bend) – basic + twist
• Utthita Trikonasana (triangle)
• Parsvottansana (pyramid) - Parivrtta Trikonasana (revolved triangle)
• Surya Namaskar A & B
• Pasasana (noose)
• Malasana (garland)
• Bharadvajasana (twist) – Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana (revolved knee twist)
• Upavista Konasana
• Navasana
• Supta Padangusthasana – Lift head to knee – Supine Twist
• Apanasana (knees to chest)
• Savasana

You can also find an Agni Stoking practice on my DVD, Yoga for the Seasons - Fall Vinyasa. To order your copy visit: www.melinameza.com

Fall Dinacharya - The Art of Daily Ritual

2009-10-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

Everyday is the art of sequencing. Upon waking, you have the opportunity to organize and focus your life’s energy into numerous priorities or responsibilities at either a sustainable rate or at a racehorse pace. If you choose the moderate path to live by each day, every action will unfold into the next, and life will appear seamless and connected. In comparison, a day on the racehorse track will contain many disjointed, scattered, brief, caffeinated sprints from one activity to the next, which demands a tremendous amount of fuel followed by intense rest. The high and low spikes will eventually wear a person down or “dry them up”, as we say in Ayurveda, the sister science to Yoga.

The ancient yogis taught their students how to live with the natural cycles of the day, season, and life. If you manage your prana (life essence) on a daily basis with thoughtful consideration, you’ll begin to notice strong and healthy ojas, (juicy body tissue) which governs your hormones, autoimmune system and brainpower. Those who choose to disrespect appropriate energy use over the course of their life cycles will look in the mirror at age 50 and “get the face you deserve” as Ayurvedic doctor Robert Svoboda said upon turning 50! It is never too late or too early to consider sequencing your life events today for a healthier tomorrow.

To help you sequence today for a healthier tomorrow, there is a beautiful word in Sanskrit called Dinacharya, which describes the art of daily rituals. Dinacharya teaches us how to merge our personal routines with the natural cycles of the sun, moon, and earth. In the Fall, pay close attention to the elements, Air and Space (Vata dosha). You may notice symptoms such as; restlessness, instability, dry skin, constipation, aggravation in the nervous system, insomnia, and anxiety, as they increase in the body and mind. A few simple ways to prevent the Vata imbalances are to create a weekly or monthly routines that help stabilize your mind, body, and spirit.

Here is an example of a basic template for Dinacharya: (fill in the blank and follow your routine)

Your wake up time (aim for 5-6am)

Yoga Practice (slow rhythmic movement, standing poses, pranayama, and meditation)

Sesame oil massage before a hot shower

Breakfast (choose a time, then eat your warm food sitting down)

Work

Lunch (choose a time, eat warm food away from your computer)

Work-Creative Time

Supper (choose a time, eat light warm foods like soup)

Free time to relax and nourish yourself

Bedtime (aim for 10pm)

The body likes routine. Experiment with your dinacharya for at least two weeks. Keep me posted with any questions. If you need yoga asana support, try my DVD, Yoga for the Seasons - Fall Vinyasa, for inspiration.

www.melinameza.com

Ayurvedic Advice for Fall

2009-10-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

“Air, fire, water are the 3 principles most fundamental to life. They appear in the body as Vata, Pitta, Kapha. They represent the cosmic urges to movement, transformation, and stability.”– Ayurvedic Sutra

The fall season in Ayurveda is associated with the dosha – uneven energy pattern – called Vata, which promotes movement. As essential as Vata is to our well-being and life, it can become chaotic during the months September-December, when Nature is in an unstable place, transitioning from hot (light) to cold (dark).

Within each season, unique gifts unfold as Nature transforms with the five elements. We too will thrive when we discover how to live harmoniously with Nature. We can do this by adapting our physical practices, mediations, food choices, and lifestyle to complement the seasonal changes.

A few tips on how to manage your Vata (Air + Space element):

• Stay hydrated with warm non-caffeinated beverages.

• Get eight hours of sleep on a regular basis.

• Eat soup, often.

• Practice yoga poses that are stabilizing for your body/mind/spirit. Extra TLC should be given to your legs, colon, lungs, and bones, where Vata can be in excess or depleted. (View my DVD*, “Yoga for the Seasons – Fall Vinyasa” for a full asana practice devoted to stabilizing Vata.)

• To protect your skin from the dryness of Fall, apply sesame oil over your whole body before showering. The massage enhances circulation, add nutrients, and act as an extra layer of skin to protect you from the drying nature of wind.

• Take time to meditate and retreat.

If you are interested in learning more about seasonal practices for Fall, join me at 8 Limbs Wedgwood, Saturday, Oct. 10th, 12:30-4:30pm. Mention this blog post to get the early registration rate. I will also bring my Ayurvedic knowledge to the Thanksgiving Week Yoga Retreat at Haramara Retreat Center.
*Yoga for the Seasons – Fall Vinyasa DVD can be purchased on my website, www.melinameza.com.

Back to School Reading - Brief History of Yoga

2009-10-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

With Teacher Training 2009/2010 just around the corner, I thought perhaps you might all enjoy reading a what our teacher training students will be reading...a brief history of yoga. The full article can be found on my website by clicking the link below.

Enjoy!

Yoga (yo-ga): Union, to yoke, to balance, to harmonize, India’s spirituality, any of a group of related Hindu disciplines that promote the unity of the individual with a supreme being through a system of postures and rituals

Once upon a time on the subcontinent of India, there existed wise, immortal beings called rishis (seers). They lived for thousands of years in various states of meditation while observing the dynamic interplay between nature, time, cosmos, and spirit (God). These divine beings, living near the Himalayan mountains and communicating in a sacred language called Sanskrit, are said to have released the jewels of yoga into the world.
The solitary aim of yoga at this time in history was to experience self-realization, or moksha (liberation) of the individual soul. Attaining the state of moksha is like reaching the pinnacle of one’s physical manifested life. Moksha is that stage when a human being is able to cut across all the shackles of the mind and gain liberation from the cycles of birth and death forever.

The secret, esoteric lessons of yoga were transmitted by the rishis to the revered teachers known as gurus (literally translated as “destroyer of darkness”). The gurus then passed along this divine insight to a few fortunate disciples throughout life-long relationships. To this day there are still traditional relationships where the guru transmits the wisdom of yoga to students who, in turn, become integrated into his family for life.

Full Article:
http://www.melinameza.com/Yoga_Articles.html

Fall Sequencing - Theme: Joints, Bones, and Empty Space

2009-09-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a practice to release tension in your joints, bring energy (heat) to your legs, and clear out your lungs...try this out.

Virasana
Toe Crunch (page 14)
Malasana (squat)
Ardha Uttanasana
"Shadow Yoga" joint rotations
Uddiyana Bandha from standing
Kapala bhati breath in Straddle (page 16)
Prasaritta Padottanasana
Add lateral bend in Prasaritta Padottanasana
Surya Namaskar A with a block between upper thighs (repeat 3-5 times)
Surya Namaskar B with twisting chair (repeat 3-5 times)
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana 1 & 2 (page 81)
Tadasana
Uttanasana
Parighasana
Ustrasana
Supta Virasana
Supta Padangusthasana + supine twist
Apanasana
Savasana

(Reference my Art of Sequencing Book for any unfamiliar asana names)
www.melinameza.com

Equinox Flow Yoga Class

2009-09-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a fun detoxifying yoga class...try out this fun series I just taught to celebrate the Equinox!

The MAJOR emphasis is on creating an even four second inhale, pause , exhale, pause.

Seated Warm up:
Cross-legged meditation seat, continuous OMMMMM...at least eight, arm circles to open the ribs and lungs, and a seated lateral stretch.
Hands and Knees Series: Child's pose, hands and knees (table top), lower chest between thumbs, cobra, then back to child's pose. Eventually transition from Downward dog to Uttanasana to Tadasana.

Flow #1 repeat 4 times:
Tadasana, Uttanasana, Plank, Cobra, Downwarddog, Downward dog with right leg up, swing forward low lunge with arms up, switch legs, step to the top of the mat, Uttanasana, Tadasana.
Flow #2 repeat 4 times: Surya Namaskar B
Flow #3 repeat 4 times:
Same flow as #1 but add a twist to the low lunge...breathe a whole round of the breath in the low twisting lunge before releasing!
Flow #4 repeat 4 times:
Surya Namaskar B with Parsva Utkatasana (twisting chair) and twist after Warrior I, keep your back heel on the floor if possible.

Follow with a wide leg forward bend series (prasarita padottansana), Headstand, Ardha Matysendrasana, Setu Bandha (bridge), Sarvangasana (shoulder stand), abdominal work, Savasana.

Meditate.

~May others benefit from your detoxifying practice!

2009-09-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy my first of many mini-yoga classes via You Tube. This particular class is a mini-restorative asana practice to maintain healthy lungs and digestive fire throughout the fall season. I recommend holding the poses up to five minutes each once you get comfortable with the flow. In addition to the physical practice, breath work (alternate nostril or ujjayi) and chanting can also be powerful tools to keep you grounded, should you find yourself drifting off into space during this Vata season.

http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=FTKNblQOYos

Yoga for the Seasons - Fall Vinyasa DVD

2009-09-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Combining Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda, the Fall Vinyasa DVD includes creative asana practices and insightful instruction to prepare you for the fall season. The emphasis in the Fall DVD is devoted to managing two of the five elements, Air and Space, those that make up Vata. Vata is one of the three doshas – or energy patterns – in Ayurveda, which is the sister health science to Hatha Yoga. Vata naturally increases in the fall months, September through November, which means its helpful to embrace physical practices that compliment the Vata elements, Air and Space, with grounding, stabilizing, warming, flow sequences and daily routines.

"I hope you will enjoy my offering and touch, smell, hear, taste, and feel the unique gifts unfolding in nature from month to month." ~Melina Meza