Dark Before the Dawn

I have been doing kundalini yoga daily for over a year now and love your collection passionately. I thank you for it every day! My first question is about Navel Power. When I do that routine mid-morning I feel asenergized as when I do any of the others. But when mid to late afternoon hits, I tend to get down-in-the-dumps. This deters me from doing it very often. Is there anything you could tell me about this phenomenon? Also, I am healthy, slim, and well-rested, but I sweat a great deal under my arms. I have been hoping this would lessen, but it hasn’t. Might this have to do with the heart center?

Thank you sincerely, L

Thanks for writing. What you describe is a temporary situation which relates to an energy blockage at the solar plexus. It also means that your heart center is starting to open. This is like the darkness before the dawn. We suggest your persevere in practicing Navel Power and soon you will experience a new openness. The sweating is a glandular issue. The Fat Free Yoga done on a regular basis would be helpful for you. In addition, more raw foods in your diet will provide necessary enzymes to make it less difficult for your body to detox.

Response to Peppermint Tea Challenge

In response to the peppermint tea challenge, I have an even BETTER one: Same thing, only instead of peppermint, you steep green tea with parsley and any other flavor herb tea that you like (or sometimes I'll use earl grey). I discovered 25 years ago that cold parsley tea quenches the thirst and hydrates you like nothing else! However, when I combined it with green tea...Wowwwww! Fantastic and energizing. Thought you'd like to know. ~E.

Post Natal Recovery

I've just read your newsletter and am feeling overwhelmed. After giving birth almost four months ago and still adjusting to being the mother of two I can't seem to find a way to get on track to be ......what should I say...myself. I'm physically challenged recovering from pregnancy and birth and emotionally challenged trying to be the best mom I can to a newborn and her older sister who is dealing with sharing mommy. I can't seem to get myself going to do any yoga. When I do have the opportunity to have some time for myself I can't decide what to do firstand actually all I really want to do is rest. I would so love to feel fit and strong and have some more energy. Every time I think my body is ready though, I seem to over do it.

The thing is, being a mom is anyway physically demanding. The hardest part is that my pelvis and my belly get overdone and really hurt after trying, not really during, exercise. I wanted to try jogging, that was too much, so I did some exercise walking, the next day I was so uncomfortable in my belly. I do normally walk a lot throughout the day and I will be taking a gentle class to build up that area soon but I would like to do some yoga too. I've started to do some yoga videos but I can't do any of the stomach stuff and I could use something new. Would you recommend some of your new titles? The Bliss hips sounds like it could be for me.

Sorry to hear things seem so intense as you adjust to this new stage. Four months after giving birth is not such a long time. Have you been breast feeding? This helps the body snap back quicker. Just take it slow. The walking is good. The soreness is not necessarily a bad thing. Just listen to your body. If your body says to rest right now then you should rest. This is how the body repairs itself. The body has its own healing schedule and doesn't like to be rushed. Soon you will feel your energy back and this will help you feel like "yourself" again.

If the yoga feels like too much, do meditation and breathing exercises. The meditation will also help bring you back to feeling like yourself again. The breath work will help tone the stomach muscles as well. It is important to remember that it does not have to be all or nothing. If you have the inspiration to do something proactive for yourself, a breathing exercise or meditation can be very powerful. We recommend any of the segments on Fat Free Yoga, Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond, or our two newest titles, Dr. Yoga House Call and Yoga Quick Fixes.

ONLY KUNDALINI YOGA?

I recently bought one of your DVDs from Amazon “Yoga Beauty Body” on an off-chance. I had never tried Kundalini before, although I’ve been practicing yoga for years in various forms (power, vinyasa, restorative)Anyway, I loved it. I couldn’t believe the way it left me feeling. So I ordered all the rest of your DVDs from Amazon, and have been using a different one every couple of days since I received them about a week ago. Wow. I had been going through a somewhat blue phase & wasn’t treating myself right- overeating, not working out regularly. My morale has totally changed. I have a different expression. And I am finding myself not buying the junk food and starting to go back to my regular weight. So thank you so much!

My question is this: at the moment, I don’t really feel like doing anything except your DVDs. I have done a couple of sessions of pilates since I started doing them, but no other yoga. I read somewhere that you advise mixing Kundalini with other types of hatha yoga. Is it not ok to only practice Kundalini as one’s yoga? And another question (sorry), why have a couple of people told me to watch out, that I should be careful about practicing Kundalini as it’s too powerful? I feel great!

Thank you so much in advance. F

Thanks for writing. We are happy to hear our DVD's are benefiting you!

Hatha Yoga is built right into our style of Kundalini Yoga so you will not be missing anything if you do only our DVD's.

There are many scare stories about Kundalini. Please be assured that these refer to Kundalini Energy and not Kundalini Yoga. Kundalini Yoga is designed to gently and consistently strengthen the nervous and glandular system and never let you acquire any more energy then your system can handle. Thus you are assured through your practice of having a graceful and effective life.

We wish you continued success with your yoga practice!

The Peppermint Tea Challenge: Update

For those of you who missed last month's newsletter, we first learned of the Peppermint Tea Challenge in Brooklyn, NY from our incredible music talent - Tom Carden. He and his roommates decided to keep a pitcher of Peppermint Tea chilling in the refrigerator from which they fill mugs to sip all day long. This is an excellent alternative to less healthy beverages (like say ... beer) to stay hydrated through the summer months. The only side effects they have experienced are a relaxation response (from the peppermint) as well as an incredible energy buzz (we guess from staying hydrated and maybe the peppermint as well)! "The challenge" is to simply keep the pitcher filled the entire summer and never run out!!!!!

We recommend the loose leaf organic type of teas. Simply bring water almost to a boil, toss in the tea leaves, let them steep for at least a few minutes, and then pour the tea through a strainer into a pitcher. You can sweeten this with honey or agave syrup. If you do not care for Peppermint Tea then substitute your favorite!

UPDATE: We called Tom this morning to ask him how he's doing with his "challenge." His response was: "I keep running out. I guess I can't keep up with my own demand. You might want to make something up for your newsletter."

We wish you all an amazing, productive, happy July!

All Best to You,
Ravi Singh & Ana Brett
www.ravianna.com / 212.982.5518 / ravianayoga@aol.com

Disclaimer: The advice we give is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. Please consult your physician before beginning any exercise program or nutritional protocol.