Yoga for now, forever

It would seem to me that the younger generation is burdened with a great deal of overly negative press which. We are not all raging binge-drinkers partying until early morning, unconcerned with how our future will turn out.

However, perhaps I am talking for the minority here. I don’t drink, don’t smoke and physically can’t swear. Not many people know teenagers like this, myself included. Then again, not many teenagers were practising yoga in their bedroom from the age of 13. Indeed, while everyone else was downing shots, I was concerned with getting down into my downward dog.

I came to yoga at a time of considerable weakness, when I felt lost and out of control. Though allowances are made for emotional torment and friendship struggles through the teenage years, there is little spiritual guidance provided at the time when I believe it is most needed. In directing my focus to my yoga practice at this time of my life, I found a distraction from any negativity, a companion in times of solitude and space when everything closed in around me. My practice guided me through my academic career; through the months spent studying. I would cherish the opportunity to dive into king pigeon, breathing into my tight hip flexors caused by the hours of sitting stationary at a desk. In moments of fear, too – during that university interview or that French speaking exam – I could inhale and expand my chest with breath, filling myself with the confidence and love needed to see me safely through.

So now, as I make plans to train as a yoga teacher in the New Year, I come to realise that yoga has become an innate part of me, and I wouldn’t want to live my life without its teachings and philosophies.

Breathing Colours

The study of meditation invariably brings us aware of the fact that we live our lives energised by shallow and inconspicuous breaths. We don’t even notice this life force entering and leaving our body, and sometimes we can live our entire life without giving it thought.
When we find ourselves in unfamiliar and often challenging circumstances, our breath shortens as the chest tightens. I find there is a certain irony that it is at these moments when we need the breath to be at it’s deepest, to allow us to keep calm. However, the body is of course designed with primal instincts to save our lives.
Therefore we have to work consciously in order to gain the calmness from our breath that is so essential at such times.
For me, I find that I can find myself slipping into moments of complete mindlessness. Where I know that my actions aren’t benefitting my mind or my body, yet Idon’t think about the consequences until I feel them after. This may come in the form of eating food which does not contribute to keeping me in optimal health, or spending time idling and procrastinating when I have sometime important to get done.
Here I must stress the importance of relaxation time. But really, if the things which are essential can be completed, then the time for oneself would be increased maybe even ten fold than if I were to indulge and hum and har – then end up with no spare time at all.
So back to the point, if one can learn to be mindful in moments of weakness then we’ll be able to gain perspective. This is then the key to being able to prioritise and make time for the important things – i.e. what you like to do in your spare time.

So how to find this clarity?
There are a gazillion self help books, DVDs, programmes out there. But I find that these are too intense. I think the best thing is to find a technique to gain mindfulness and then repeat this so you come to associate it with moments of peace.

I would recommend the app Headspace which offers a ten day free trial. It was created by a guy called Andy who previously spent time as a monk before returning to the West. I like the simple techniques he uses and it’s for from the image of sitting bound in lotus pose for hours on end. He acknowledges that the the mind continues to wander when we meditate and he helps you to embrace this.

In addition, I recently tried a lovely meditation which I read in Yoga Magazine which calls for visualisation of colours on the inhale and exhale.

In a seated position, relax and come to focus on the breath.

After a few grounding breaths, inhale whilst picturing the colour red. Then exhale visualising the colour violet. Repeat five times.

Then reverse and picture violet on the inhale and red on the exhale.

Next inhale picturing the colour orange and exhale picture the colour indigo. Again repeat five times then reverse.

Now inhale with yellow and exhale with sky blue. Repeat five times then reverse.

Finally inhale and exhale seeing the colour green.

Let go of this practice and let your breath rebalance as you bring your awareness back to your body and your surroundings.

Now employ this during sticky situations – admittedly best when alone – and find yourself in better control, with more balance.

Oxfam Loving

Everywhere we go, we are confronted with rattling collection buckets and pleading posters. It can be tricky to decide where your loyalties lie: with the donkey sanctuary or the fight against cancer? When we have to watch our money, who is it going to be that manages to persuade you to part with it.

Essentially charities have become nothing less than a hughstreet business: employing different means of playing with your emotions, your conscience to receive your donations.

However, that is simply the way it is in this world of competition to be top dog. I am in no way against supporting charities. They have to do what they have to do in order to have the funds for caring and sharing, bringing a better life to all those at whom the charity supports. I merely think it is interesting to observe how everything works in this wild world.

So back to it, charities can be amazing, and I myself have started supporting Oxfam. Back in the summer I volunteered as a steward at Reading Festival over the August bank holiday. It was absolutely one of the best experiences of my life. It offered me the chance to meet such incredible people, to gain an insight into festival psychology – very funny to observe from afar – and to have a wonderful festival weekend – admittedly dressed as an orange highlighter.

Moreover, I was exposed to the workings of Oxfam, and honestly believe that it is one of the greatest charities.

So why is that?

Well Oxfam started out in 1942 as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (hence the name, Oxfam), working to ensure a supply of provisions for civilians in a WW2 scarred world. Since then it has become a global name, providing those in need with unwavering support.

In addition, I think their campaigns for a sustainable environment are hugely commendable, for it is not just war-torn countries that need help – we need to prevent disasters by ensuring the stability of our environment for future generations.

Since Reading, I have also volunteered as a part of the ‘cheer team’ at the Palace to Palace half marathon in London’s parks. This too was such a brilliant opportunity; not necessarily for me in terms of meeting people, but rather because of the effect our cheering was having on the runners: it gave them such a spur on, a reason to smile even whilst being 11 miles into the race.

So next up for me is running to support Oxfam. I’ve always been a runner, though I have never completed a sponsored distance, so it’ll be an exciting time.

And for everyone else out there confused about how to employ their time, I can wholeheartedly say that Oxfam is such a worthwhile charity and with so many means to supporting them, it is undoubtable that you will have fun in doing so.

Thai Gingery Noodles

I've been chasing satisfaction with a raw vegan pasta/noodles dish. They just never turned out decent: either the noodles themselves were too thick, or the sauce too watery or tangy or intense or blah.

But I think I'm slowly getting there. For one thing, I realised I had a thinner setting on my spiraliser which has enabled me to make perfect noodles (step one). And now I think I've found a tasty and creamy sauce - whilst being low fat and raw vegan.

Often to make a nice creamy or alfredo sauce for raw pasta, you have to use soaked nuts (not always raw), avocado or tahini - as was the case with the recipe by which I was inspired. However, I prefer not to have these overt fats at lunchtime (which is when I was making this dish). I somehow managed to find a perfect compromise, though.

This recipe makes use of corn to give creaminess - an ingredient which is just so useful for so many things. I've only discovered it recently, but it now features in all my salad dressings and salad cups.

As with all raw vegan recipes, the quantities of ingredients can be played around with and adjusted without any disastrous consequences. Just one of the amazing things about eating this way. 

I made quite a small portion, so if it were to be a main meal for supper, or to serve multiple people, simply ramp up the amount of ingredients. And enjoy.

Recipe

1 courgette

1 large carrot

1 cup of organic corn*

1 inch chunk of ginger, peeled

1 largish spring onion

Sesame seeds

*Organic corn can be hard to find, especially here in England. So now that it's Winter, out of season, I buy frozen organic corn and let it thaw before using.

Spiralise the courgette and carrot, then set aside. (I like to use a thin setting to make nice thin noodles.)

Put the corn, chopped ginger and chopped spring onion into a high-speed blender (Vitamix loving) and blend until nice n smooth.

Then simply pour the sauce over the noodles and massage in. To serve, sprinkle with sesame seeds and maybe some chopped coriander and tomatoes? I don't know, you could add pretty much anything you want. Admittedly I stopped at the sesame seeds, though only because we don't really have any food in the house at the mo...

Also you could eat these noodles in lettuce cups. That would be epic. I love lettuce cups.

The Light of Day

I suppose you could say that this blog has been a long time coming. Then again you could also argue that it has sprung up out of an afternoon of French grammar procrastination. (Okay yes, it's the latter.)

Well I've been writing a blog for over a year now, but it's been updated rather sporadically, and has focused on quite a broad range of things. Not saying that's a bad thing, because within such spectrum were posts about New York, working in France, poetry, mindfulness and meditation.
It was an eclectic mix and I may well continue on here in the same sort of manner. However, I want this blog to have a more yoga/raw vegan/natural-based theme.

 And so I suppose that brings me to explain a bit about me. Though really I'm just your average yoga-practicing, low fat raw vegan-eating, literature-reading, French-learning, running-loving 18 year old. I know, I know lots of teenagers like that too... If only.

But hey ho, isn't that one of the few benefits of the internet in this day and age - the ability to be yourself, to be different, and to express your opinion, whilst connecting in the meantime with others who are similar to yourself. Well let's hope that's what goes down.

 Welcome, and here goes...