Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Kundalini "Ana Brett" Style Part 2

Hello Everyone!

KY is a part of my daily life and continues to be the path I have chosen to detoxify physically and mentally.  On May 16th, I began my 40 day practice.  Normally I would do KY 4-5 days a week, but I'm curious to see where this daily practice will take me.


Recently, I asked Ana Brett  what collection of DVD's she would recommend for someone beginning a Kundalini journey that wants to connect with spirit, get on the path to health and happiness and lose some weight at the same time?

Ana Brett
For a beginner looking to lose weight (or anyone interested in weight loss) we always recommend Fat Free Yoga.  That DVD was created because it was our way of bringing something that we had been observing for years, into the mainstream: namely that Kundalini Yoga, the style of yoga on our DVD's, leads to dramatic weight loss.

Fat Free Yoga is a comprehensive and fun workout.  Its easy to get into, you can do just one of four 15-20 minute sets, or do the entire thing.  You will work all of the major muscle groups, etc., but the most important thing Fat Free Yoga does is work on the glands.  As we say on our DVD, "Your life is in your own glands!"  A healthy and balanced glandular system makes all the difference for weight loss and beyond.

The meditations at the end of that program are easy to follow and interesting too.  They work on the inner aspect of weight loss.  Ultimately to be successful at anything, we need to work on the inside out and feed our souls.

Breath of Fire - You mentioned before that its a great metabolism booster, and when I do it I experience a slight burning sensation in my nose. Is this what I'm suppose to feel?  For folks that do not know what the Breath of Fire is, can you please explain it to them? 

Ana Brett
Sometimes people experience a slight burning sensation whey they first start practicing Breath of Fire.  This simply means that they are eliminating toxins.  Its actually a good sign!  Better to deal with old toxins now than to have them deal with you later!

Breath of Fires is one of the most important breath practices in Kundalini.  It's also called Bhastrika.  Breath of Fire is a somewhat quick rhythmic breath through the nose which puts an equal emphasis on the inhale and exhale.  When doing the "Breath of Fire," the lungs act like bellows and pump oxygen right into the bloodstream, actually, much more effectively that the cardio-vascular effect of speeding up the heart rate which is why we say that the Breath of Fire is "more aerobic than aerobics!"  Breath of Fire also massages the pituitary gland.  When that is stimulated, all of the other glands come into balance.

If you haven't tried any type of yoga and are interested in starting, I would recommend Kundalini. Kundalini is gentle, yet powerful.  Ana Brett & Ravi Singh are professionals and they are great at guiding you along the way.  Try the DVD or take a class and see if its right for you.  All I know is that Ana & Ravi will not disappoint.  They have over 40 years of combined experience and they definitely practice what they preach.

  I'm not a professional and always recommend that before
starting any kind of exercise routine,
consult your doctor prior to practicing. 

I will post Kundalini "Ana Brett" Style Part 3 interview next week.  You'll enjoy it, because Ana was kind enough to share with me her delicious recipe "Lime Lickey."  I already made it and took pictures to show you how delicious it looks and tastes.  Please stay tune. 

Thank you for reading my post and I look forward to providing you with simple recipes that are "nutritious and delicious."  Stay tuned.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Kundalini "Ana Brett" Style

This is a 3 part interview.
I felt that it was best to split up the interview into 3 days.  By keeping it simple, I promise to deliver information that will keep you interested in learning more.  Thank you.

Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga blends breathing, movement, stretching, meditation, chanting and the science of sequence. The poet Dylan Thomas' phrase, “the force that through the green fuse drives the flower,” is the perfect definition for Kundalini.

It's Life aspiring, the creative motivating force within us. Kundalini empowers us to shine, prosper, and excel in all things. It's the common denominator for all forms of self-healing, inspiration, and transformation. (http://www.raviana.com/)

Let me start off by saying, "I LOVE KUNDALINI YOGA!"  KY is taking me on a journey to health and happiness.  It keeps me connected to spirit, committed to the practice and most importantly energized.  Ana Brett and Ravi Singh are an excellent team, because they provide you with an extensive knowledge of Kundalini.  So if your interested in losing some weight and you want to give your emotions and glands a work out, than keep reading this wonderful interview I had with the beautiful Ana Brett - Kundalini Yoga Teacher.  Once you read the interview,  I'm confident you'll become a fan too. 

1.  People (including myself) associate weight loss by having to do cardio and strength training to help burn calories and fat and build muscle.  For someone who wants to lose weight, and prefers not to do a strenuous workout and is new to yoga, why Kundalini?

ANA BRETT
It’s true.  Most people think of weight loss only in terms of calories burned and muscles toned.  But for real results, its important to find the solution to why there is excess weight in the first place!.  Is it stress, emotions, lifestyle, glandular imbalance, i.e., metabolism slow down?  Kundalini Yoga burns calories (about 450 an hour) and builds muscle, but it also works on quickly addressing all these other elements which are so crucial to real success.  For real weight change, it is important to address hormonal balance, as well as the nervous system, emotions, inner organs, and your relationship with energy itself.  Yoga means balance and, through your yoga practice, your body starts to return to its natural equilibrium. Your metabolism will re-calibrate, your body will start to release old emotional energy which creates tension, body blocks, and even “problem areas.” When energy is flowing you can begin to process emotions in a healthy way. A regular practice can help give you a “clean slate,” so that you can live your life proactively and not just reactively. And you can make conscious choices regarding your health and what you put in your body.
One aspect of Kundalini Yoga that we really love is that it’s so accessible to anyone at any fitness level.  If you can breathe you can do it! Kundalini Yoga also has a high fun factor! You are performing traditional yoga poses but , in a KY class, those poses are combined with movement and breath techniques (and motivating music in our classes and/or DVD workouts). This makes your workout something that you can look forward too. Also, in Kundalini Yoga, results happen quickly. In fact, you will feel different and even look visibly different in terms of a glow after your very first session. This gets a newbie excited about their practice and sparks curiosity about what a regular practice will hold for them.
The ancient yogis, discovered that through specific combinations of exercises, breathing, and mental focus, amazing benefits could be delivered in a very short time. Kundalini Yoga is a householder’s yoga. It’s for people who want to get everything covered and still have time for a life!

To learn more about Ravi & Ana, please visit their site at http://www.raviana.com/

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Is My Body Too ACIDIC aka TOXIC?

Welcome! I have a weighty issue that I’m trying to conquer.  Once I turned 40, my body changed, and it was hard to lose weight.  I asked myself if my body was too acidic, because I felt fatigued with lingering headaches, lacked energy and always had skin issues.  Finally, I began to listen to body and I discovered that I was not feeding it the proper foods it was craving to carry me through the day. I’ll admit, I LOVE FOOD, but my body was too acidic/toxic!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Raw Cashew Lemon Drops + Cleansing

I tried this recipe this past weekend for my family and friends and it was a big hit.


These fruit and nut balls make for a perfect (simple) sunny snack. The lemon adds detoxifying properties to help your body transition to a lighter, more cleansing diet, just in time for spring!


Recipe by....Leanne Vogel - Holistic Nutritionist
This nutritional recipe is QUICK and EASY to prepare. Enjoy!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Cinnamon Roll Smoothie

This recipe was sent to me via email by the ladies of Life Force Families. It's simply DELICIOUS! So delicious that I want to share it with you.

Recipe....

2 Frozen Bananas or Bananas with Handful of Ice
4 Brazil Nuts
8 Raw Cashews
1 Teaspoon of Sun Flower Seeds
Lots of Cinnamon
Pinch Of Salt
Stevia To Taste
1 Cup of Almond Milk


Blend Until Smooth.

All I can say is YUMMY!