Staying Connected |Akhila Health Newsletter | Vol 9 | 10.24

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Akhila Living Well Series November Webinar

Connecting With Yourself Through Movement

November 14th, 5PM PDT / 8PM EST

Hosted by Selene Vega, Ph.D. and licensed psychotherapist,this workshop will present practices to access your unique inner being and connect with your authentic self through breath, sensory awareness, and movement.

**100% of ticket sales fund critical mental health services for low-income women. Thank you for your support!!

Key takeaways:

Simple practices for tuning in to external awareness and internal awareness
Centering--what does it mean and how to do it
How to incorporate mindful movement in daily life

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

GET YOUR TICKET!

Yoga: Origins and Evolution

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means 'to yoke' or 'to unite.' In the modern yoga practice, this union is interpreted as the integration of the mind, body, and spirit. The rich tradition of yoga provides a well-rounded approach to well-being that goes beyond physical exercise and provides a framework to lead a purposeful and meaningful life to experience freedom and bliss.

The people of ancient India developed varied thoughts and techniques on yoga over time. Patanjali systematically organized the preexisting traditions and philosophies in the classic text called Yoga Sutra. In it, he explained the concept of Ashtanga Yoga (the Eightfold Yoga) highlighting eight steps to achieve wisdom and self-realization - Yama (outer sense control, principles of ethics), Niyama (inner sense control, principles of conduct), Āsana (seating posture or the physical exercises), Prānāyāma (breath control), Pratyahāra (inward focus), Dhārana (concentration), Dhyāna (meditation) and Samādhi (inner communion).

In the United States, three aspects of yoga are emphasized - physical exercise (āsanas), breathing (prānāyāma), and meditation (dhyāna).

Āsana (physical exercises): The term 'āsana' describes the physical practice of yoga—encompassing the postures and poses taken in a yoga class.
Prānāyāma (proper breathing): 'Prāna' represents the "life force" within every being, and 'Prānāyāma' refers to the breathwork element of a yoga practice. Practicing various breathing rituals allows us to unblock mental and physical obstacles we may be feeling.
Dhyāna (meditation): 'Dhyāna', translates to meditation and observation, and encourages one to let go of thoughts and draw the mind to a deeper state of focus, harmony, or devotion.

Āsana (physical exercises) and Prānāyāma (proper breathing) help our workshop participants develop a deeper sense of connection within. This naturally leads to Pratyahāra (inward focus) and Dhārana (concentration) which aids in Dhyāna (meditation). Through such centering, participants are able to utilize the information provided to transform their lives from within.

Benefits of yoga include stress relief, improved mental and physical health, improved sleep, balance, pain relief, and weight loss. Whether you're an experienced yogi or a newcomer, the transformative benefits of yoga are here to enhance your life in ways you might not have thought possible.

Building Healthy Habits

CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY!

Holistic health and stress management techniques are particularly effective for promoting overall well-being. But being consistent with these practices can be challenging. By incorporating these practices into your routine, you can experience a wide range of benefits, including:

Reduces Stress & Anxiety: Mindfulness and stress management techniques help lower cortisol levels, reducing chronic stress and anxiety for improved mental health.
Boosts Physical Health: These practices reduce symptoms of stress-related illnesses like hypertension, chronic pain, and insomnia, promoting overall physical well-being.
Enhances Emotional Regulation: Mindfulness increases self-awareness, helping individuals better manage emotions and respond calmly to challenges.
Improves Focus & Clarity: By promoting mental clarity and reducing overwhelm, these techniques enhance focus, decision-making, and productivity.
Fosters Resilience & Long-term Wellness: Regular practice builds resilience, encourages self-compassion, and promotes healthier lifestyle choices for lasting well-being.

To reap the full benefits of mindfulness and stress management, aim to practice these techniques at least once a week. Here are some tips to help you incorporate them into your routine:

Choose a Quiet Space
Set Aside Time
Start with Short Sessions
Be Patient and Consistent

Explore Our Resources:

For more in-depth information, helpful videos, and practical tools, visit our Resource page.

Remember, building healthy habits takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and celebrate your progress along the way!

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Selene Vega!

Selene Kumin Vega, Ph.D. is a licensed psychotherapist (CA MFC #32604), workshop leader, and professor in Saybrook University's Mind-Body Medicine graduate program. Her work with movement and experiential modalities evolved over 50 years of facilitating self-exploration, connection, and transformation. She has published chapters on psychospiritual approaches to anxiety and movement practices in psychotherapy, and journal articles on ritual and creative consciousness. She was editor of the Spiritual Emergence Network Newsletter, and co-authored The Sevenfold Journey (Crossing Press, 1993), now in six languages.

What does serving the community mean to you? I see myself as part of many overlapping communities, interdependent with all other human beings and other species. As part of this larger sense of community, I offer what I can to support the well-being of the whole and the individuals within that whole. I try to say yes to opportunities to share my experience and energy to benefit others, knowing that in offering what I can I am part of a web of life and caring that supports all.

How do you incorporate mindfulness into your life? Finding equanimity in the face of stressors and crisis is a moment by moment practice. I appreciate times of sharing and guiding the practice of mindfulness, as an offering that supports our ability to come back to center, to come back to the present moment at times when something in our lives activates us into distress or reactivity. There are so many ways to return to center--movement, writing, being in nature, poetry, or even as simple as bringing awareness to breathing and body.

What do you enjoy about working with Akhila Health? My calling is to support the development of potentialities and consciousness in all of us. I embrace the mutual interdependence of all the beings of the world and do my best to share techniques to increase our ability to make conscious choices as we move through each day and through our lives. I am happy to be able to do this for the women who come in contact with Akhila Health, providing them with tools to continue growing into all they can be.

Seasonal Fall Recipe

These easy chili-spiced sweet potato tacos, topped with a creamy avocado lime sauce, make a delicious vegetarian dinner.

Avocado Sweet Potato Tacos*

*loveandlemons.com

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato, cubed
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
4 to 6 tortillas, either corn tortillas or homemade
1 cup black beans, cooked, drained, and rinsed
Lime slices, for serving
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Avocado yogurt sauce

1/2 cup whole milk Greek yogurt
1 small avocado
1/2 garlic clove
Juice of 1 lime
Sea salt & fresh black pepper

Optional toppings:

1 small avocado, diced
2 scallions, diced
Crumbled feta or Cotija cheese
Pickled onions
Microgreens or fresh cilantro

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400° F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Toss the sweet potatoes with olive oil, chili powder, salt and pepper, and spread onto the baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Make the avocado yogurt sauce: In a small food processor, combine the yogurt, avocado, garlic, lime juice, and a few generous pinches of salt and pepper. Pulse until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Chill until ready to use.
Assemble the tacos with a scoop of the sauce, the roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, and desired toppings. Season with salt, pepper, and squeezes of lime.