Feeling hot?

​Welcome to the Helena Yoga Therapy blog. My intention with this newsletter is to send you little notes of how to care for yourself, to live more fully and vibrantly and to let you know about upcoming events. I promise not to overload your inbox, I’m shooting for maybe monthly or seasonally.

We are certainly in summer now, it took a bit of time, but here we are.

Summer is Pitta season. Pitta is one of three elemental properties that govern the systems of the body and our seasons. Pitta is a combination of fire and water. Pitta’s water is like melting instead of cool water! Pitta is also all about doing: hiking, biking, running, paddling and work. I hope you are getting a chance to enjoy the amazing outdoors of Montana and not working too hard!

Pitta is intense like the heat of a fire. Too much fire and melting of Pitta can result in heat rashes, hormonal challenges, and digestive issues. Just like some wildfires are good for the forest, too much fire and there is mass destruction and terrible smoke.
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Are you feeling hot? Angry? Have digestive issues? Then maybe you have accumulated too much Pitta heat. Time to calm and cool down the Pitta fire. Here are some ideas for you:

​Eat cooling foods like melons, cucumbers and fresh veggies out of the garden. Our stomachs are ovens, they literally cook the foods we eat. Giving our stomachs easy to digest, nutrient dense foods that don’t need a lot of cooking keeps our internal engine less hot. Also, try to avoid hot spicey foods!

Hydrate!  My favorite is fresh Cardamon Lime-aide. 

4 cups water

¼ c FRESH squeezed lime juice. Don’t skimp on this, it will take about 6 limes depending on their size. Bottle lime juice has not prana (life energy).

1 Tbls sweetener of choice. I like to use Coconut sugar.

Heat up 1 c of water and melt the sugar in the hot water. Let cool a bit and combine with the other ingredients. Refrigerate and enjoy.

​Add ins: a pinch of cardamom powder. Or add a few leaves of fresh basil, cilantro or mint to your heated water, let it sleep then strain.

​Lie down on the ground, under the canopy of the trees. Just feel the support of the ground. Pitta’s lack earth, so lying on the earth grounds them. Look up into the canopy watch the breeze move through the leaves. Can you hear it? Can you Feel it? Pitta lacks the qualities of air and space, watching, feeling and seeing the air move helps to calm Pitta energies.

Attend a restorative yoga class!  I’m offering a New Moon Restorative Yoga Workshop on August 16. 

Even as we are still in summer, fall is just around the corner. I have some exciting things coming up in September, I’d like you to know about.

Yoga Camp:
Join me Yoga Camp at Camp Child. This beautiful camp is located near Elliston, MT just on the west side of MacDonald Pass.  There will be yoga classes three times per day, amazing vegan food, hiking and campfire activities. Accommodations are rustic group cabins, and you'll need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow.  It's a summer camp, you guys!  
Thursday September 14 – Sunday September 17.

Move Your Body Monday Flow Class:
This weekly flow class focuses on movement and strengthening of the body, breath and mind. The movement of the body brings the mind into the body, allowing the mind to rest from its constant churnings of planning, organizing, ruminating and problem solving. As the body moves the mind settles. As the mind settles the breath becomes rhythmic. This settling allows us to build the strength of staying, staying with the effort, staying calm in the mind, staying soft with the breath.
Mondays, starting September 4, 5:30pm-6:30p

Thursday Therapeutic Yoga Class:
Therapeutic Yoga is ideal for those living with chronic pain, limited mobility, auto-immune conditions or recovering from injury. This class is adapted according to the needs of each individual inviting participants to explore a range of movements that are both challenging and safe - free from competition or striving. Yoga props such as chairs, blocks and bolsters will be used. Core stabilization, relaxation techniques, functional breathing, and self-awareness are key components of every class. 
Thursdays, starting September 7, 12:15p – 1:15p

Friday Mandala Flow
Flow yoga is another description for vinyasa. Vinyasa means “to place in a special way”. The art of vinyasa is the art of placing oneself mindfully and moving with the breath. A Mandala is a geometric shape that represents the Universe in balance. In this class we will practice creative sequences that move us around our mat creating our own sacred shape geometry with the ultimate goal of bringing our body, mind and spirit to a united Universe.
Fridays, starting September 8, 6:15a – 7:15a

You can pre-register at: https://www.gentlehealinghelena.com/calendar
 
Inhabit your life!
Andrea