FEBRUARY 27, 2011

Rising With The Sun

Posted by Dorothy under Natural Highs, Philosophy, Wellnessno responses

After years of e-mailing my clients and friends instructions and poses of The Sun Salutation, I have decided to make things more convenient for all by posting a one page picture file of the sequence and simple instructions to be printed. The pace of the sequences can be done according to your personal preferences or your fitness plan for the day. For example, if you want to work on your cardio, pace yourself faster with one breath for one pose, and if you prefer to work on building strength, slow down.

Download as PDF

1) Tadasana ( Mountain )

-stand with feet together and palms together at heart
-feet firmly on the ground, abs tight
- chest to open, shoulders relaxed & spine to lengthen

2) Urdhva Hastasana ( Upward Salute )

-inhale
-open your arms to the side circling it up and over your head, then keep your palms together
-shoulders away from your ears
-lift and open your chest upwards & arch your back slightly without pushing your lower ribs forward
-elongate your spine & waist, gaze diagonally upwards

3) Hasta Uttanasana ( Forward Fold )

-exhale
-open your arms to the side, hinge from your hips & lower down your hands to the side of your feet
-bring your chest to your thighs and forehead to your shins
-keep your feet firm, do not lock your knees, lift your sitting bones upwards

4) Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana ( Lunge )

-inhale
-lunge R leg to the back, keeping theLknee at 90° where your L knee is in line with your ankle
-extend through the back of your R knee and into your heel
-lengthne your spine forward & draw the shoulders back & away from the ears
-even out the weight between both legs

5) Plank

-retain your breath
-lunge L leg to the back keeping your feet together & extending from your hip into your heels
-hands to be in line with your shoulders, engage the abs and gluts

6) Ashtanga Namaskara ( 8 Points Salute )

-exhale
-drop the knees chest and chin down
-elbos to be pointing up to the ceiling & hips to be lifted off the ground
-relax entirely

7) Bhujangasana ( Cobra )

-inhale
-flatten your toes, slide your body forward & lift your chest & lengthen your spine diagonally upwards
-extend through your arms & keep the elbow close to your body
-do not worry about arching the back, just keep lifting your spine,also squeeze your gluts
-press your toes into the ground & extend your legs

8 ) Adho Mukha Svanasana ( Downward Dog )

-exhale
-tuck the toes in, lift your sitting bones up
-lift along your inner arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders
-widen through your upper back & draw the shoulders away from your ears
-lengthen ur spine & waist
-keep the head between the upper arms, look in between your legs

9) Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana ( Lunge )

-inhale
-lunge R leg forward

10) Hasta Uttanasana ( Forward Fold )

-exhale
-lunge L leg forward

11) Urdhva Hastasana ( Upward Salute )

-inhale
-open your arms to the side, circle your arms up while lifting your chest upwards then bring your hands up & over your head keeping the plams together

12) Tadasana ( Mountain )

-exhale
-stand with feet together and palms together at heart
-feet firmly on the ground, abs tight
- chest to open, shoulders relaxed & spine to lengthen

13) Switch for the Left lead

If you need further explanations or if you have any queries, please feel free to e-mail me at dorothy@langkawi-yoga.com

**Our next Langkawi Yoga And Nature Retreat: 17 – 21 March 2011

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FEBRUARY 20, 2011

Homemade Soy Drink

Posted by Dorothy under Natural Highs, Wellness1 comment

I have recently been introduced to an efficient high speed blender in which soy beans ( U.S ) or soya beans ( U.K ) can be blended finely in less than 1 minute. Since I have been buying my soya milk in a packet, It has been a delight to be able to make it fresh, without preservatives and at a low cost. Since then, I no longer buy packet soya milk and am also able to lower the amount of sugar in my home made drink.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration:

Soy protein products can be good substitutes for animal products because, unlike some other beans, soy offers a ‘complete’ protein profile. … Soy protein products can replace animal-based foods—which also have complete proteins but tend to contain more fat, especially saturated fat—without requiring major adjustments elsewhere in the diet.

So to share the goodness of homemade soya milk, I am giving all my fellow readers the recipe as below:

You will need:

1. High speed blender
2. Muslin cloth or bag
3. Soya beans   150gm
4. Water            1200ml
5. Sugar or rock sugar to your liking

Instructions:

1. Soak the beans for 5-6 hours or overnight
2. Then remove the skin which will mostly come to the surface of the
   water by scooping or any other way which you find efficient
3. Blend beans with 600 ml of water
4. Pour blended ingredients into muslin bag and squeeze juice into a pot
5. Add the rest of the water and squeeze more of the juice
6. Then put the pot on the stove to boil
7. Add in sugar if you choose to
8. Turn off the fire and leave to cool down

**Adjust the amount of water or weight of beans according to the thickness that you prefer

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