Merry Namaste Christmas

Wishing you a very, very, joyful Christmas. 

Best wishes

Namaste

Science without religion

Words of Wisdom

Nadi Shodan

Nadi Shodan Pranayama

Pranayama breathing techniques offer many benefits. Nadi Shodan also known as Alternate nostril breathing is a nice pranayama to learn. It is a very effective breathing technique which can be used to clear the energy centres within the body. This pranayama also helps move the flow of energy/chi through the subtle energy channels of the body, known as meridians.

Nadi Shodan breathing helps balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain and at the same time exercises the left and right lungs, helping to clear obstructions in both sides of the airways. You might become aware of this when transitioning from pranayama breathing to normal breathing.

Nadi Shodan breathing practice helps to get us going, wakes us up, gives us more mental energy so that we are more focused and alert. At the same time the body is able to remain calm and relaxed. Maintaining a condition of relaxation is always an advantage, our lives are so stressful we often feel run down and exhausted, so relaxation is good and recommended by physicians as a viable way of getting rid of stress.  

Nadi Shodan is a quick and simple practice. It revitalises, helps us to concentrate and think more clearly. We feel centred and better equipped to deal with any problems we may encounter during the day.This is such an easy practice, even the most time poor person should endeavour to find 5 minutes during the day to experience the benefits.  

If you would like to learn how to practice Nadi Shodan pranayama you are welcome to contact us at YMSA Yoga Meditation Studio Palm Beach. Leave us a comment below, along with your details. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Namaste

Yoga Meditation - Holistic yoga | No dig garden / potatoes part 3

Water generously but do not flood the area. In a couple of weeks, the tops will emerge through the straw. As they grow, keep topping them up with the enriched straw blend, making sure the young potatoes don't get exposed to sunlight. This can turn them green and make them slightly toxic.

When the potatoes flower, they are getting close to maturity. This will take about 14 - 16 weeks. When the plants have died off and gone dry and brown, it is time to pull back the mulched straw to reveal an abundant crop of large healthy potatoes. You will find a clean crop of potatoes with no dirt on them, and very little rinsing will be required before preparation in the kitchen.

Good luck, have fun and may your harvest be bountiful.

Holistic yoga Meditation - holistic yoga | No dig garden / potatoes part 2

You can either take up the top layer of grass (which is what we did in our small no dig garden). Or just cover the earth with a thick layer of old newspapers, cardboard or both to prevent weed growth from occurring.

Note: Using newspapers may mean your crop is not truly organic. (Because of the ink). Again, the choice is yours, or just use a thicker layer of straw instead.

Spread a layer of composted material over the top of the newspaper or straw. Old dry lawn clippings or more straw can be used. Sprinkle a layer of worm castings in if you have some on hand. Place your potatoes or pieces of potatoes with eyes, directly onto the thick straw padding. Use crop straw or another straw which is cheap and readily available. Pull it apart and shake over the potatoes to protect them from light. One to two feet of straw is an ideal depth.

Visit us again for holistic yoga | No dig garden / potatoes part 3

Holistic Yoga Meditation - holistic yoga | No dig garden / potatoes part 1

How To No Dig Potatoes

It's very easy to grow potatoes the no dig, organic way. They are a great source of vitamins, minerals and iron.

Just like most fruits and veggies a lot of the goodness lies just beneath the surface of the skin, so try to keep some of the potato skin intact when preparing to cook.

Let's get growing!

When I was a kid my parents always had a huge organic garden with every veggie growing in it that you can imagine. We were always getting busted for eating the peas off the vine. My parents had a brick shed which housed many different varieties of seed potatoes as well as a slew of other root veggies from the previous seasons crop.

Nowadays of course you might find that situation out woop woop somewhere but us city folks will have to purchase some seed potatoes from a nursery. You can use potatoes from the supermarket, but seed potatoes will bring better yields. You can 'chit' them first (allowing them to start to grow) simply by placing them in a sunny spot, before planting.

Visit us again for the second part of holistic yoga | no dig garden / potatoes

Holistic Yoga - Growing Potatoes in Containers Final Part 5

Some good potato varieties for growing in containers:

• All Blue - This is an heirloom potato that is blue inside and is absolutely stunning when cooked.

• Yukon Gold - This is a smaller variety of potato with golden flesh, and a rich, buttery flavor.

• Red Pontiac - This is a red-skinned variety that grows well in containers.

• Fingerling - There are several varieties of small, finger-shaped potatoes that grow well in containers.

This is the last Part of our series of posts on Growing Potatoes in Containers.
Excerpts thanks to Container Gardening Tips.

Holistic Yoga - Growing Potatoes in Containers Part 4

It is important to keep potatoes well watered on a very regular basis. If you allow the potatoes to get too dry, then add a lot of water, then let them dry again, you will end up with disfigured potatoes that look lumpy and will have a very poor texture when cooked. Remember to keep them watered consistently.

The first potatoes will be ready to harvest in around two months. If the plants start to flower, it's time to start harvesting. Some varieties won't make flowers at all, so don't count on this to happen, but if you do see flowers, you know it's definitely time.

To harvest potatoes, simply dig around in the soil with your hands, feeling the size of each potato you encounter. If it is the size you want, pull it up. Otherwise, leave it alone and it will continue to grow. Each plant should produce about 2 to 4 pounds of potatoes, depending on the variety.

Visit us again for the last installment of Growing Potatoes in Containers 5

Holistic Yoga - Growing Potatoes in Containers Part 3

I recommend using 20 gallon plastic garbage cans or large plastic storage tubs to grow potatoes in. You can also use very large pots or buckets, but garbage cans and storage tubs can be covered to store the soil in for the next year. Simply take your plastic garbage can or tub and drill several holes in the bottom for drainage. Then fill the container about one third full with your potting soil mix.

Put your potato sprouts on top of the soil, spaced approximately 6 inches apart, and at least 4 inches away from the sides of the container. Then cover the sprouts with about two inches of potting soil. When the plants reach about 6 inches in height, add another two or three inches of potting mix, covering the lower leaves of the plants. Every time the plants reach a height of six inches above the soil, add another two to three inches of soil. When the soil reaches about 1 to 2 inches from the top of the container, you can stop adding soil, but mound the soil up around the base of each plant.

Come back and visit us for Part 4 of Growing Potatoes in Containers

Holistic Yoga - Growing Potatoes in Containers Part 2

Seed potatoes are not actually seeds. Potatoes do not have seeds. They are actually specially grown miniature tubers that have been grown in controlled conditions to minimize the chance of disease. You should try to buy certified disease-free seed potatoes when possible.

Seed potatoes should be presprouted. Simply place the seed potatoes in a shallow tray and put the tray into a warm, sunny spot. Then spray them with some water or liquid seaweed. It should be about two weeks before sprouts form. When they are about an inch tall, you can plant them.

In order to get the best yield from your potato plants, you need to make sure that the stems grow to a good length. Hilling is traditionally used to aid in elongating the stems. In hilling, you plant your potato sprouts in a trench, gradually filling the trench with more soil as the stems grow. You can easily do this in your containers.

Visit us again for Part 3 of Growing Potatoes in Containers

Holistic Yoga - Growing Potatoes in Containers

Growing Potatoes In Containers

Growing potatoes in containers may not make a lot of sense unless you want to grow varieties that are hard to find or are particularly expensive. Growing your standard russet potatoes or giant baking potatoes is probably going to be a waste of space, although it might be fun. But if you are like me, you want to make the most efficient use of the space you have available.

Potatoes reproduce through the eyes on potatoes. You've no doubt seen these sprouts on potatoes that have been sitting for too long in your cupboards. The eyes shoot out sprouts, and when you plant these sprouts, you can grow potatoes.

It is NOT recommended that you do this, however. Potatoes that are found in supermarkets are typically treated with chemicals to inhibit sprouting. They do not typically grow very well when planted, and might poison the soil if you try to grow something else in it later. You should grow your potatoes from what is known as seed potatoes.

Visit us again for the part 2 of Growing potatoes in containers

Nadi Shodan Breathing

(Remember to Breathe)

So what is helping you feel and live better? The answer is life force. Almost all styles of hatha yoga and pranayama increase the flow of prana, or life force, in your body.

Namaste

Yoga meditation - Holistic yoga quote Lord Bhudda

"Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life."

Lord Bhudda

Holistic Yoga Meditation - Yoga relaxation video

Yoga Meditation - Wise too late Benjamin Franklin

Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.

Benjamin Franklin

Yoga Meditation - Ancient Vedic Quote Lord Krishna Bhagavad Gita

I dwelling in their hearts destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the
darkness born of ignorance.

Lord Krishna Bhagavad Gita

Holistic Yoga Meditation - Are we the material body? What do the scientists say?

Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body, rather than a body with a soul.

Holistic Yoga Meditation - We are the soul

You don't have a soul, you are the soul. You... have a body.

Yoga Meditation - Group Meditation to Music Gauranga

Group Meditation to music is a great way to finish a yoga session

Yoga Meditation Mantras - Enables one to see the eternal spark of life in each living being regardless of body.

"Live and let live"

... Anon

Holistic Yoga Meditation - Arthritis Aid

There are a great many people who are in the unfortunate position of having to live with painful aches and pains caused by severely damaged or inflamed joints. For some people it is a discomfort, and that is bad enough, but for others arthritis can turn them into a virtual cripples. Arthritis has been something that has affected people throughout history since prehistoric times, but it is only recently that we have begun to understand it.

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Arthritis is a joint disease that can cause problems in any area of the body where two or more bones intersect. The arthritis itself can affect the joint in a number of different ways, targeting different areas such as the synovium, the muscles tendons or the cartilage. Cartilage is the soft protective material that protects the ends of the joints from rubbing against each other and the entire joint is encased in a type of capsule that is lined with the tissue synovium.

Holistic Yoga And Meditation - Yoga noise sleep machine

Yoga... Where Do I Start?

The best place to start is with a yoga class, where a teacher can show you how to adapt poses using props and help you learn proper technique for the postures.

The good news is that yoga classes have never been more widely available. You'll find them at small studios, health clubs and gyms. The hard part is finding a class that's just right for you. Studios that are dedicated to yoga also foster a more dedicated practice. The same students return to class week after week, and instructors usually follow a particular discipline of yoga. Some classes are aimed at beginners.

Sleep Mate Sound Conditioner product produces the sounds of nature and surround you with an environment of "conditioned" sound. Are loud neighbors, your spouse's snoring or other irritating noises keeping you awake at night? This is no longer a problem when you have this noise sleep machine. These sleep machine devices employ the latest technology to create soothing, natural sounds that effectively mask out unwanted noise that may interfere with your ability to sleep, relax, meditate or concentrate on work or studies. The sound from this sound sleep machine is continuous and pleasant, and works like a balm to soothe and relax. Sound conditioners create a consistent, smooth sound of rushing air. The tone and volume of the sound of this sleep aid are controlled by simply rotating the "cap" and "collar" of the housing. This white noise machine sound effectively masks unwanted noises and creates a sense of calm, making it easier to concentrate, relax and/or sleep.

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Holistic Yoga philosopy - Work on the plank in your own eye

"When sitting quietly,

reflect upon your own faults,

when speaking with friends

do not discuss the rights and

wrongs of others."

... Anon

Yoga Meditation 4221 Holistic Yoga Yoga For Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term which we use to describe 100's of diseases that effect the joint areas of the body. Whenever there is a problem involving inflammation around the joints and associated pain in movement we refer to it as arthritis even though there may be multiple causes that can lead to this. The other common name that is used in the same broad fashion is rheumatism.

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Because it affects so many people arthritis is a very public problem and is discussed openly and frequently. Roughly one in every seven in western countries like America is thought to have arthritis in some form. Relieving the pain of Arthritis is a primary concern for all people suffering from it. Some people take medication, but others have found relief from the pain in exercises performed at a gentle pace and intensity. Yoga is the perfect example of this type of exercise.