Spring Magic/There IS a Perfect Chi Gong Spot in Central Park

Chess and Checkers House, Central Park

Last spring, I started my morning outdoors chi gong practice (and often added LV Chair Yoga) on the South side of Central Park; I practiced outside until November and even on mild winter days.  It was a very gratifying experience.
At first I had settled in on the pretty hill by the bridge,  then by the benches on the east side of the ball field; ideally I wanted to face the morning sun.  After a while there was just too much going on.  A group of dog owners started congregating there after their walks, and it also turned into tourist central.  From then on, I kind of just moved around and went with the flow and at times I just practiced at home or at the river later during the day if my schedule allowed it or at night.  It did not matter.  I realized there was no perfect spot.  

About Yoga and Digging - Holiday Weekend!

one of the waterfalls

one day after full moon

Yoga (practicing asanas) has been on my mind all the time (it has been keeping me sane often and for those instances when I lost it, it often has helped me bounce back.  When I am off, it is an absolute priority.  It was my intention to practice every day during the Memorial Day weekend.  Well that did not materialize, or maybe it did. 

Hiking at the amazing Raymondskill Water Falls never fails to put me into the best of moods.  We stopped for this hike as we so often do.  The falls were bigger than I had ever seen them before due to extensive rain falls, and guess what, walking up away from the falls there were two white water rafters. 

Alpine Desire Satisfied! Snow! New Insight!

Almost full...

Finally some snow!  It just took a 5-hour drive to Killington, VT since we have barely had any in New York.  We were so lucky and had amazing snow as well as sun shine.  As per the reports of the inn owner it had been a very bad season until about two weeks before we were there (the first week of March) as well as during our first night there.  The skiing was bliss although, don't get me wrong - skiing does make me a little nervous these days because I do it only once a year.  The thought of ice for example and practically vertical slopes I nevertheless let myself talk myself into going down on; of course, there is something of a baby daredevil in me.

Appalachian Trail(Mt Pico)

I brought some fresh juices and a bottle of fresh almond milk along since I was invited to join a Wellness Support Group at YCT Foundation.  The dried mangoes I also brought Mowgli feasted on while we went to get some tea at my favorite diner at the Taconic Parkway.  He left a piece on my seat and was literally sitting on one.  My guess is that we either surprised him or it was getting too sweet for him; so no mangoes to munch.  
With members of the support group I have been doing a cleanse this spring and have been eliminating items such as coffee, wheat, dairy, red meats, sugars, etc. and replace them with more veggies, juices,  whole grains, seeds ...  sugar is not an issue, neither are red meats, alcohol, nicotine (although it's time to confess that I smoke a cigarette then and again).  For me it's mostly about adding more vegetables and dropping wheat (I am very curious about possible changes); I may revisit this subject and may share some of my recipes shared with the group.  
My 2-day VT routine was: Dien Cham Basic Session in bed, morning hike on the Appalachian Trail with Mowgli who was ecstatic, Chi Gong, some yoga stretches before or after breakfast (oatmeal with fresh almond milk and fruit), then a few hours of skiing interrupted by lunch, tea/bathroom breaks, back to the trail with Mowgli, hot tub, dinner, a bit more of Chi Gong/yoga/breathwork/listening to mantras, bed - no nonsense. 

Goofing off after a fall...

My self care routine gave me confidence.  As there was virgin snow and there was no ice I got to work on my technique and I realized that I collapsed my chest ever so slightly especially going down moguls; it all started with my decision to work on NOT dragging my poles which I had been aware of for a long time... ah (light bulb), not keeping the upper arms close enough was supporting this dragging which of course resulted in some tension; so standing atop a mogul slope that I could not say no to but did not feel that comfortable about either, made me pay attention to my breath; I was having a little conversation with myself, "yoga off the mat, calming down, you want to do it gracefully and most of all you want to be safe."  From then on I applied my newly gained insight and mastered the moguls so much better, wow what a difference!  I felt I made a big leap.
What led me to this eye opening moment was my basic routine that supported me "off the mat", beginner's mind, checking in with the body, my emotions, taking a few deep breaths to ground, observation, revelation!
 
At one point I had to make a sharp turn to avoid a jump which resulted in a pull in my left knee, no!  So I took it very easy getting to the base; once on the chairlift I did slow knee extensions/flexions.  My knees' tracking is not very well supported - they have never caused me much problems, as I fortunately have been aware of it for a very long time (one of the benefits of yoga is that you become aware of your problem areas).  In some yoga poses I feel some strange tension so I am very proactive in dealing with every bit of funk going on there - have been for a long time.  I also cupped my knee and worked the knee reflexes on the face, which are just outside the corners of the mouth, I think the hiking strengthened my knees as well; both mornings I sniffled which made me add that sniffle protocol!

What a lovely two days in the country, fresh air, sun shine, hiking. It all started with an incredible sunset over the Taconic Mountains; it's still all with me and the new insight keeps on nurturing me.  

youcanthrive.org

 

Water Dragon! Shiva's Lingham-Back on Track!

Lucky Bamboo

Shiva's Lingham

Dragon - Shiny Pearl Symbolizing Wisdom

Chinese New Year's has come and gone, the Year of the Water Dragon.  The veggie dumplings on Mott Street were delicious, the lucky bamboo I bought for the apartment and friends were beautiful and add happiness on a daily basis - taking some time for private time, reflection and fun! 

For better (or for worse) I happen to be a dragon and I am practically giving away my age as one of my friends remarked, when I mentioned it on facebook.  It certainly had crossed my mind, but then I concluded again that our biological age is just a number anyway and that I made peace with the fact that I am not a spring chick, done that, been there!  On good days which I equal with balanced days in my opinion we all look ageless because we shine, we move about with ease, everything flows.  Are you with me?  On off-the-center kind of days we tend to look and feel more the biological age we really are.  In yogic terms our age is determined by the flexibility of our spine and the flexibility of our mind probably, and I would add the quality of our breath and there are other factors, but I will stop here.  Perhaps I am as young as a baby when I breathe effortlessly like a baby (hm will give this some more thought) I was having a "age discussion" with my partner a while ago and I realized that I generally feel much better now than when I was younger and that applies to all layers of myself.  This is attributed to knowing myself better and the effort to keep a lot of self-produced stress at bay or at least to counter it as much as I can.  There are days when nothing makes sense and I ask myself "now what, when, how?"  When I do not practice yoga for two consequent days which happens occasionally, I start feeling weak and a bit insecure about my health and I get a bit worried.  The benefits of yoga are a no brainer to those who regularly practice.  (I wonder how Chi Gong compares to yoga in terms of spinal health.  Chi Gong is very fluid, slow and easy on the joints, although yoga can be slow paced but often, it is not; I love using Chi Gong as a warm up for yoga, but I also do it by itself in case of time constraints and I am so glad I took it up last year - the plan for this summer is to practice in the big outdoors as often as I can).  

Confetti Rockets at the After Party in Chinatown!
This was the second time I had problems doing it;
I worked really hard; once it released, it went off
horizontally more than up into the air; I hit a group
of spectators, who thought it was great fun (thank God);
We all had a good laugh!  

As for Self Care,  I wound up doing the basic protocol only for two days and yesterday I felt the ripple effect in form of some tightness in my chest and a tickle in my throat as well as some pain on the L side of my neck and my L shoulder.  I did do, however, for the most part do my usual program of Chi Gong, light yoga and breath work before falling asleep and first thing when waking up and while still in bed- I LOVE BREATHING and I fueled up on some fresh Poconos country air on the weekend.  The weather is continuing to be unpredictable, but I have been keeping healthy so far this winter.  

Today I returned to Dien Cham which I did sitting at the counter in the mirrored kitchen which allowed me to study the location of the points in detail, the anatomical landmarks which I really only did in the very beginning of my exploration.  Sometime it still amazes me how quickly I started "finding the points", now bear you in mind, I do use my fingers/Shiva's Lingham or other stones and many of the points I work by rubbing over them and treating them more like reflexes so I am not looking for a tiny point, but still, I found it remarkable how quickly I got comfortable.  

Shiva's Lingham (which is great for balancing; it represents female and male energy) I used for certain points and I have done so in the past.  It's surface is very smooth and I have been using it on clients as well.  How rejuvenated my face looked after the session - alas! I must have said it before, natural botox!  Does not cost a penny, no negative side effects!  Protocols used: basic/standard/immune deficiencies/dry cough and L shoulder reflexes (frog).  There has been some mucus release already.  Hours later despite spending too much time at the computer, no symptoms, or am I in slight flight/fight mode?     

Some of the points were rather sensitive which did not surprise me: Point 41, Point 60, Point 3, Point 39, Point 85.  I decided to do the basic session a few more times before the day is over as well as these points.  Bed time will be earlier than usual I hope.  Tomorrow will be a busy day.  The intention remains to continue to be as proactive about my health as I can.     

As I was typing I had some of Juice Generation's Sweet Greens juice.  Valentine's Day meant some chocolate eating but also a healthy home made meal with just a sip of white wine and a late evening walk in the park.  Hopefully I will have help eating the remainder of the chocolate; I am rather undisciplined once chocolate is in the house!  

The paper dragon puppet which has been inhabiting the refrigerator door for a couple years I thought needed some repair and to be dusted off before the beginning of the Year of the Dragon festivities started on January 23 and ended on February 6  (I believe).  I did some de-cluttering although that has been an ongoing project.