YOGASPIRITUS
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Healing Reiki
    • Yoga Practices
    • FAQs
    • Private Sessions >
      • Yoga as Therapy
      • Private Yoga Classes
      • Restorative Yoga
      • Meditation
    • Group Classes >
      • Schedule
      • Gentle Hatha Yoga
      • Gentle Chair Yoga
      • Slow Down to Move Well
    • Free Guided Meditations >
      • Body Scan for Chronic Stress and Pain
      • Entering into Stillness - Pause Between Breaths Meditation
      • Calm the Body, Calm the Mind - Body Awareness and Alternate Nostril Breathing Visualizataion
      • Meditation for Self-Compassion - Metta Bhavana (Loving-Kindness)
      • Increase Happiness - Gratitude Meditation
  • Pricing
    • Pricing - Private Sessions and Classes
  • Meditation Courses
  • Blog & Resources
    • e-Books
    • Recommended Yoga Books
    • Simple Yoga Practices
    • Resources >
      • Podcasts
      • Videos >
        • Chronic Pain
        • Spondylitis
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Healing Reiki
    • Yoga Practices
    • FAQs
    • Private Sessions >
      • Yoga as Therapy
      • Private Yoga Classes
      • Restorative Yoga
      • Meditation
    • Group Classes >
      • Schedule
      • Gentle Hatha Yoga
      • Gentle Chair Yoga
      • Slow Down to Move Well
    • Free Guided Meditations >
      • Body Scan for Chronic Stress and Pain
      • Entering into Stillness - Pause Between Breaths Meditation
      • Calm the Body, Calm the Mind - Body Awareness and Alternate Nostril Breathing Visualizataion
      • Meditation for Self-Compassion - Metta Bhavana (Loving-Kindness)
      • Increase Happiness - Gratitude Meditation
  • Pricing
    • Pricing - Private Sessions and Classes
  • Meditation Courses
  • Blog & Resources
    • e-Books
    • Recommended Yoga Books
    • Simple Yoga Practices
    • Resources >
      • Podcasts
      • Videos >
        • Chronic Pain
        • Spondylitis
  • Testimonials
  • Contact




 

Stoke Your Inner Fire

9/14/2017

0 Comments

 

A Strong Core and Healthy Gut to Power You Through Life

“ You are the one who tends your inner fire, so keep it burning bright."
~ Myra Lewin

Have you ever had digestive troubles? A better question might be, is there anyone who hasn't? I know too many people who have chronically poor digestion. Poor digestion can cover a lot of ailments - diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, bloating, and an intolerable feeling of fullness in the belly, to name just a few.

There are roughly the same number of bacteria in your gut as you have cells in your body (it was believed that there were 10 times as many bacteria, but this number has recently been called into question - see here). Whatever the number, that's a lot of bacteria! And we need good bacteria in the gut for proper gut functioning. Many diseases begin as a result of poor digestion. Researchers are now studying whether poor gut bacteria has an effect on diseases such as Crohn's disease, a painful inflammatory disease of the bowel - see here.


The gut has been called the "second brain." We've all experienced "butterflies in the stomach," a physiological response to an emotion, usually fear or excitement. Technically, the gut is known as the enteric nervous system, and there are more than twice as many neurons lining the gut - between 200 million to 600 million of them! - as there are in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). The enteric nervous system plays a huge role not only in digestion, but also our emotions, our immune response, and how we respond to stress. The neurotransmitter serotonin is thought to regulate anxiety, happiness and mood. People with depression often have low levels of serotonin. And more than 90% of  serotonin is found in the gut.

Decades ago, I earned a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, and  learned many things that have helped to keep me healthy over the years. And as I've practised and studied yoga, I've learned a lot more. Ayurveda, Yoga's sister science, is thousands of years old. A key concept in Ayurveda is that of "agni" or "fire." By stoking our digestive fire, the process of digestion and elimination stays healthy. The state of our agni, or digestive fire in the gut, will determine how much nutrition we draw out of the food we eat.

So Western science is now catching up with Ayurveda as we understand more and more the importance of the gut in the maintenance of health - everything from the absorption of essential nutrients to boosting the immune system to maintaining balanced moods.

Keeping the digestion healthy, and the belly and core strong and supple is thus vitally important for health. There are many practices in yoga that help to maintain and sustain a strong and vibrant digestive system, including pranayama (breath practices) and asana (yoga poses). And of course, what you put in your mouth matters.

If you'd like to boost your energy and stoke your inner fire for better digestion and health, join me and Milka Milicevic, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, on Sunday, November 12, 2017 from 1 pm to 4 pm for our "Stoke Your Inner Fire" workshop. Here's a taste of what you'll discover and enjoy:
  • Boost your energy and metabolism with Core-Strengthening Yoga and Pranayama
  • Balance and strengthen your digestive system with Healing Aromatherapy
  • Tap into your body’s healing powers with Restorative Yoga
  • Find calmness and clarity with a Guided Meditation
  • Discover the Fire Chakra (Manipura), its vital connection to your digestion and willpower, and practices to strengthen it
  • Learn key practices for heightening your willpower (hint: willpower is like a muscle, and gets stronger with practice)
  • Learn how to improve digestion for optimal health, helpful tips to beat cravings, and enjoy a fascinating and informative taste-training session
  • Savour delicious (and healthy) plant-based snacks.

Space is limited, so register soon! I look forward to seeing you there.

Here's a short 10-minute meditation  I made to help you move towards calmness and healing.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Get Wellness Tips

    Blog

    Author

    Donna offers a holistic perspective on the relationship and healing of physical and emotional pain.

    Categories

    All
    A Strong Core And Healthy Gut
    Balancing Steadiness And Ease
    Breath By Breath
    Core Stability
    Creating A Sustainable Home Practice
    Enjoying Gratitude
    Evolving Through The Chakras
    Finding Your Inner Voice
    Gaining Clarity
    Getting Grounded For Health
    Healing Persistent Pain
    Healing The Heart
    How To Have More Energy
    How Yoga Can Help You
    Keys To A Therapeutic Yoga Practice
    Less Is More
    Mindfulness
    Motion Is Lotion
    Physical And Emotional Pain
    Practise What You Want To Strengthen
    Reflections On Healing - The Placebo Effect
    Resolution Or Intention
    Rest Relax Restore
    The Relaxation Response
    The Value Of Resilience
    Training Your Willpower
    Where There's A Will There's A Way
    Yoga Is For Everybody

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2015