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June’s Strawberry Moon

In the month of June we can find some interesting dates you might not know about.

One of them is June’s full moon on the 17th, it has associations with ripening and the fullness of life. 

In North America, indigenous peoples called it the Full Strawberry Moon because of the berries they collected around that time.

In Europe, terms like Honey Moon and Mead Moon presented early summer as a time to wed. Newly married couples in Europe received mead and honey as gifts, a custom that probably gave rise to the modern term “honeymoon” probably comes from this tradition. 

Pagan cultures talk about the June full moon as the Lovers’ Moon and perform sweetening rituals. In India, married couples celebrate the June full moon as Vat Purnima.  This tradition calls on married women to fast, put on particularly beautiful saris, and wrap a thread seven times around a banyan tree. This expresses a wish that their husbands will live long and be happy.

How we can be influence by the moon?

According to the tarot readers each full moon is the time to release and let go.

Because of the aspects present this full moon, you can expect extra focus, optimism, and feelings of security as you pursue your goals. Is time to focus on your personal growth, don’t hold anymore things that are not letting you evolve.

Allow yourself to be creative; is a good idea to jornal your thoughts and your emotions as something to do as the first thing in the morning, without judgments.

Write down in a pease of paper what you want to manifest and what you want to let go. Be clear, be specific; go outside the night of the full moon and read it out loud.

Burn the paper where you wrote the things you are releasing (be safe) and keep the paper with the things you want to achieved. Save it in a place where you can read it every morning until it is manifested.

Another interesting date of the month is June 21st, a day to celebrate the summer solstice

What is a solstice? 

Ancient cultures knew that the sun’s path across the sky, the length of daylight, and the location of the sunrise and sunset all shifted in a regular way throughout the year.

They built monuments, such as Stonehenge – in South West England – to follow the sun’s yearly progress. No one really knows why Stonehenge was built some 5,000 years ago. But one possibility is that it was used to mark solstices and equinoxes. That’s because during the summer solstice, the sun rises just over the structure’s Heel Stone and hits the Altar Stone dead center.

Today, we know that the solstice is an astronomical event, caused by Earth’s tilt on its axis and its motion in orbit around the sun.

Did you know June 21st is the International Yoga Day?

As you might know already, yoga is an ancient practice originated from India. This practice is 5000-year -old which heals your mind, body and soul and we can say that yoga reforms your thoughts to peruse a great lifestyle.

June 21st was declared as the International Day of Yoga on December 11 in 2104, by United Nations General Assembly after the call for the adoption of June 21st as International Day of Yoga by Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi. 175 nations took part in this resolution.

During his address to UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014 Modi said,

“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day”

 Narendra Modi, UN General Assembly

By suggesting June 21 (which is summer Solstice) as international yoga day India Prime Minister said that- “The date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world”. 

Bringing together all these interesting events taking place in June; I have decide to host the monthly Chandra Namaskar practice on Friday June 21st, 2019, where we will gather to celebrate the full moon, the summer solstice and the yoga day.
Wow so many good things!

The event will take place At 6:15pm, with a Yoga Class where all the donations will be to fundraise  Cayman’s Act of Random Kindness

If you are around this side of the world you are absolutely welcome to participate.

Here is a flyer with a link of the event below

Facebook event Link

We will practice Chandra Namaskar also know as Moon Salutations.

I will guide you in a slow flow practice that invite us to cultivate the moon’s soothing lunar energy.


What to bring?:

  • Your  Yoga Mat 
  •  Your water bottle.
  • Pen and paper to perform a release ritual.
  • Mosquito Spray for the sunset
  • Blanket if you prefer to cover during the meditation

Place: Dart family Park.
Link to the map direction

If you can please share this event, we will definitely appreciate it and you will be helping us to reach more people.

Love & Gratitude

Renée

Share the Love

Today, February 14th or yesterday, (because I don’t know when you are reading this), is known as the famous “Valentine’s Day”, the lover’s day o maybe the friendship’s day.

It’s the day when people show their affection for another person or people by sending cards, gifts, flowers or chocolates with messages of love.

But..

Do you know how did it started?

I didn’t, so I did some research and it comes to be the day gets its name from a famous saint:

“Saint Valentine”

There are several stories of who he was.

Here I will share one with you

“The popular belief about St Valentine is that he was a priest from Rome in the third century AD.

The Emperor at the time; Emperor Claudius II had banned marriage because he thought married men were bad soldiers.

Valentine felt this was unfair, so he broke the rules and arranged marriages in secret. 
When Claudius found out, Valentine was thrown in jail and sentenced to death.
There, he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and when he was taken to be killed on 14 February he sent her a love letter signed “from your Valentine”.

BBC
The oldest known Valentine’s message written in English; dated in 1477

“While some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial–which probably occurred around A.D. 270–others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

It’s thought that as part of the celebrations, boys drew names of girls from a box. They’d be boyfriend and girlfriend during the festival and sometimes they’d get married

Gradually, St Valentine’s name started to be used by people to express their feelings to those they loved.

History.com

Pretty cool information, right?

But I know, there is lots of times when this can be use as a commercial day for the bussines, and… I get it, it can be socially hard if you are single in these days but that is the beauty of the modern world, you don’t have to have a couple to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Myself, I am not a person who ever consider this day as a day to celebrate.

But you know what?

I think if you can use the excuse of this day to help someone else to feel better, it is absolutely worth it.

And you can share the love in so many different way. It docent have to be only to a boyfriend or girlfriend, or love-partner or a date.

Investing in self- love and self-growing is so important:

  • A massage
  • A good book
  • A good dinner
  • A good wine
  • Time with friends
  • That training or course you always wanted to do

And these are only options but let’s not forget there are others who might not have the same luck as us.

So, why not investing your time in volunteers activities? This is such a great way to share the love.

Since 2018 part of my giving back to community in Cayman Islands is sharing the love of teaching yoga to everyone and to anyone.

I have been organising and sharing the yoga love with classes by donation, all going to a non-profit organisation called:

Cayman’s Act of Random Kindness, 

This organisation endeavours to be a friend to people in unique circumstances of crisis; to demonstrate kindness through loving act’s of service. ARK is a friend to strangers and approaches humanity with great love and compassion -without judgment. ‘Paying it forward’ results in the nurturing and inspiration of the human spirit, changing lives one life at a time. As a chain reaction the ripple of kindness is unending

I chose the full moon for these classes, as a way of bringing the community closer to each other so I can share my knowledge about Chandra Namaskar most commonly known as Moon Salutation.And hopefully be able to provide some new information to the ones who approach these practice with good intentions.

Also have been inviting another wonderful instructor Maree, to join me in the teaching. She is the one in charge of the introspective and meditative part of the class.

February 2019 won’t be the exception and its full moon is commonly known as the Full Snow Moon in Native American cultures.

These ancient tribes named this moon after the way trees cracked in the cold, or how people had to sit shoulder to shoulder around the fire for warmth. Even the Celts called it the Moon of Ice.

But for the one who lives in Cayman Islands this is not something we have to worry about. We have the privilege to enjoy the sun and beach most of the time, right?

That is why Maree & I will be teaching an outdoor Yoga Class by donations!

First we will do a warm up, I will explain how to practice Chandra Namaskar and we will flow with it. On the second part Maree will be a guiding you in a delightful Meditation.

Come ready to let go what is not longer serving you

February 19th, 2019 from 6 to 7pm.

The location is at public beach’s grass patch next to the playground, next to calicos.

As I mention before all the donation will go to Caymans ARK – Acts of Random Kindness 

Please bring your own yoga mat and water bottle.
Maybe some mosquito spray and a blanket for the meditation part 😉

Even in the Caribbean can gets chilli

Here is the link of the event

Be part, share the love and help us spread the word with your friends or anyone you think will like to do the practice.

Thank you

Namaste..

Full Moon the Art of Letting Go

Everything is changing in ways we have never imagined to be.

Crazy times, dont you think so?!

A couple of weeks ago we were living in a world where everything was possible, moving fast, living a life full of schedules, updates, work etc.

It felt like the day never had enough hours

And now… everything stopped.

Time is still and most of us don’t know what to do with this gift

How do you feel about it?

I know I need it and I am taking complete advantage of having so much time to go back to my personal projects, to move slow and reflect.

I am a fan of the Moon, I love following the energy that brings us; during new moon new projects to develop, during full moon time to do some cleansing, reflect and let go what is no longer serving us

Every Full moon invites us to press the pause bottom, slow down, analyze our actions and do some introspection.

Are you really leaving the life you want to live in?

What have you achieved?

What do you want to change?

What do you need to let go?

Persons, situations, feelings, regrets, experiences

Like that closet in the house that nobody wants to clean because is full of sh#t.

It might be the way you feel inside

Take the time to do an internal cleaning, in order to achieved whatever it is that you want to achieved you need to let go what no longer is serving you.

Forgive yourself and others.

Cultivate compassion.

Create space for the new to come

What is Chandra Namaskar?

Before getting into our moon salutation practice let’s review a few aspects about the Chandra Namaskar and the difference with Surya Namaskar:

“The moon as not light of its own but reflects the light of the sun”

  • The moon salutation practice is a reflection of the sun salutation practice. The power of the opposites.
  • Chandra Namaskar is best to practice at night channelizing the moon energy preparing the body and the mind for a restful night’s sleep.
  • Surya Namaskar is best to practice in the morning when the sun is rising, channelizing the sun’s energy for the day to come.
  • Moon Salutations are associated with the yin and the feminine, a receptive, meditative, cooling practice
  • Sun Salutations are said to be the Yan and the masculine, an energizing and awakening practice, related to building heat.

Although sun and moon salutation sequences embrace different qualities, they complement each other perfectly. To create equilibrium in our yoga practice and in our life is important that we recognize the qualities and benefits on each side of the spectrum so that we can find balance and unity between them.

How to practice Chandra Namaskar?

As there is deferents variations of the sun salutations, there are few options of the moon salutations flow.

Here I will share the one I include in my practice :

Is better to place your yoga mat sideways facing the widest part of your mat because you will be flowing from left to right and right to left.

Feel free to adapt or modify the postures to suits your needs and props if you prefer to do so

Begin in Tadasana, standing up at the right edge of the mat you will be starting with your left side. Remember our left side represent our moon energy our softer more contemplative side.

Urdhva Hastasana or Talasala

Translate to “Raised hands pose” or the “Palm tree pose”

Urdhva=raised

Hasta=hand

Tala=palm tree

Asana=posture

Inhale and rise your arms, interlace your fingers, leaving your index finger and thumb extended. Press the feet into the floor and reach the fingers and crown up while relaxing the shoulders down and back.

Standing Crescent Pose

From Urdhva Hastasana exhale and press the right hip out to the side, extending over to the left. Keep the feet grounded and the legs and buttocks engaged. Reach up and out through the fingers and crown.

Inhale and press into the feet as you reach the fingers back up towards the ceiling.

Repeat on other side.

Utkata Konasana or Goddess Pose

Exhale taking a wide step with your left foot to the mat with the feet 3 feet apart and lower into a squat while keeping your knees in line with your ankles. Bend the elbows at shoulder height and turn the palms facing each other.

Utthita Tadasana or 5 Pointed Star

Inhale pressing your weight into the feet, pull up the knee caps and squeeze the thighs, tuck the tailbone, and feel the legs strong and solid, rooted into the floor. Extend your arms reaching out through the fingertips, trying to touch the side walls. Relax the shoulders down and back, gently opening the chest towards the front of the room.

Exhale as you are transitioning to the next posture

Utthita Trikonasana or Extended Triangle Pose

Turn the left foot with the toes facing the the left edge of the mat and your right foot 90 degree with the toes Ponting to the front, the wider part of the mat. Picture a line connecting your left heel and your arm f your right foot. Extend your left arm toward your left side like if you wanted to reach the wall and lower into to grab your big toe, ankle or chin with your palm facing forward.

Inhale and extend your right arm into the sky bringing the arms into one straight line with the shoulders stacked on top of each other. Press the left hip forward and the right hip back.

Face up to your top hand if that is feels ok for your neck otherwise relax your neck and face to your lower hand.

Parsvottanasana, Pyramid Pose or Intense Side Stretch

parsva = side, flank
ut = intense
tan = to stretch or extend.

Exhale and rotate your torso to the left, squaring the front of your pelvis as much as possible with the edge of your mat. As the right hip point turns forward, press the head of the right femur back to ground the back heel. Press your outer thighs inward, as if squeezing a block between your thighs.

Lean the torso forward from the groins over the left leg. Stop when the torso is parallel to the floor. Firm your scapulas against your back, lengthen your coccyx toward the floor, and arch your upper torso back slightly.

Press your fingertips to the floor on either side of the left foot. If it isn’t possible for you to touch the floor, support your hands on a pair of blocks or the seat of a folding chair. Eventually the long front torso will rest down on the thigh

Virabhadrasana A,

Facing the same side you already are, bend the front knee over ankle, create more distance between your feet if needed, tuck the back toes under and straighten the back leg keeping your hips square facing your front foot, come into a lunge positions inhale extending your arms over head. Maybe looking uptimes to the moon if your back allows it.

Option: rest the back knee on the floor, with a pillow or folding the side of the mat if it feel uncomfortable.

Skandasana or Forward Facing Side Lunge

Exhale bring both hands down into the grown and flow facing the wider side of the mat

With your left knee bend let the hips sink down towards the left heel but keeping your left foot down on the ground and your right leg straight, pressing out through the right heel, flex your right toes to the sky.

Inhale and rise your right hand gazing your eyes towards it

Option: if this is not possible adapt it into a side angle pose

Malasana or Garland Pose

Move like water into your yogi squat. Keep your heels on the floor if you can; otherwise, support them on a folded mat or a block.

Press your elbows against your inner knees, bringing your palms to together in Anjali Mudra also known as prayer hands and resist the knees into the elbows. This will help lengthen your front torso.

Stop here for 3 inhalation and exhalations if you want

Keep moving like water no we will reverse the order of the postures in your right side.

Skandasana or Forward Facing Side Lunge

With your right knee bend.

Lunge over your right foot

Facing your right side of the mat

Parsvottanasana, Pyramid Pose or Intense Side Stretch

Falling forward toward your right knee

Utthita Trikonasana or Extended Triangle Pose

Facing your hip to the wider part of the mat. Right hand down and left arm up to the sky.

Utthita Tadasana or 5 Pointed Star

Utkata Konasana or Goddess Pose

Standing Crescent Pose

Bring your body weigh into your right side so you can step your left foot next to the right one at the right edge of the mat

Urdhva Hastasana or Talasala

This is a full cycle.

This is a moving meditation.

You can repeat this as many times as you want until you can feel yourself flowing like water from one posture into another.

If you set any intentions or releasing at the beginning of your practice try to think on these during you all practice.

I am sharing this because I absolutely love it and enjoy it.

Things to remember:

  • Be always careful.
  • Do any modifications in the postures to suits your need.
  • Is always better to practice with a certified instructor if you are not sure of what are you doing.

“Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today?” 

Mary Manin Morrissey

SHARE THE JOY,HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

NAMASTE

Renée

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