African Americans and Yoga

When I look around me, I see many people embarking on the journey of yoga.  Yoga is a great way to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and stay fit.  In the back of mind however, always remains the thought "how come more African Americans do not practice yoga"?  In our African American culture many times we confuse yoga with religion, and indeed yoga can be a spiritual experience practiced by some religions, but yoga in and of itself is not a religion.  The work yoga comes from the Sankrit meaning to yoke, to unite, to join. 

Yoga truly helps the individual to unite the mind, body and spirit together in ways that increase overall mindfulness and well being.  When many people think of yoga, they think of India, but actually yoga was practiced in Ancient  Egypt, North East Africa  as well, it was called Kemetic yoga and was practiced for about 10,000 years. Kemet means black, or black land and was called this because of the early inundation of the Nile River which caused the rich silt to overflow its banks.

  According to the Kemetic yoga association:  There is universal consciousness that is beyond the scope of the normal realm of consciousness, or individual reality of people. Hence, the practice of yoga is a personality integration method that allows human beings to bind their individual transitory reality with the universal consciousness. The universal consciousness is stable and unchanging, unmoving, therefore, it is the substantial reality while human beings are existing in transitory phenomenon. When this process is accomplished one can say that they have experienced the way things really are or have experienced reality; universal consciousness.

Yoga is the practice of binding individual consciousness with universal consciousness. This individual reality that you are experiencing is actually only a small reflection of your true nature and yoga is the practice of how to achieve the knowledge of one's abiding and immortal aspect.

 

I enjoy teaching yoga, and sharing it with others.  I hope that everyone who reads this post, will at least explore yoga in some detail and allow it to bring peace, clarity and healing.  Watch my short yoga video below!  Enjoy.

 

 

 

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRvBt-IYoVU

Morning Elixir

Try this powerful juice combination for a great morning elixir!
I use my Nutri Bullet. I chop up a whole carrot, add fresh Watercress leaves and fill will fresh apple juice (not from concentrate) Watercress health benefits arise from its potent mix of essential nutrients such as proteins, folates, panthothenic acid, and minerals such as copper, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. Additionally, watercress provides ample traces of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K, along with vitamin B complex such as thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and so on.

 Health benefits of watercress greens to individuals on a weight loss diet become even more important when you consider that this is a low sodium, low fat option. Carrots are perhaps best known for their rich supply of the antioxidant nutrient that was actually named for them: beta-carotene. However, these delicious root vegetables are the source not only of beta-carotene, but also of a wide variety of antioxidants and other health-supporting nutrients. The areas of antioxidant benefits, cardiovascular benefits, and anti-cancer benefits are the best-researched areas of health research with respect to dietary intake of carrots. mixed with apple juice you have a super drink to start your day! Enjoy

Make It a Mindful Day

Peace of mind, joy and contentment are all difficult to come by in today's harried world. We are often inundated with appointments, responsibilities and an abundance of mental chatter. Many people do not know what it feels like to just be. Busy people often long for the freedom that accompanies inner peace, but they just don't know how to slow down, relax and listen to the small still voice inside. If you are one of those people who have heard how yoga can help you relax but still have not tried it, I invite you to explore.

 Yoga really will help ease your mind and soothe your body so that the connection to inner peace can be re-established. In practicing yoga, you will truly feel like that tree planted by the rivers of water firmly rooted and not moved by every negative wind that blows.  Today, take the time to reflect, to just be, take the time to slowly enjoy your breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Make time for a small break in the middle of your day just to reflect.  The importance of how powerful these mindful moments can be are often underestimated.  Studies show that over 80% of all doctors visits are stress related.  Stress can cause serious help problems if left unchecked, and often we remain unaware of stress effects until it is too late.  The good news is that we are often in control of how we react to the very stressful moments that arise in our daily lives.  For your own wellness, take the time for you and make it a mindful day.