Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training In Egypt

Week 1 of the Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training course came to a close last Thursday. It was such a pleasure to be with these two amazing yogis. Siri Neel, Lead Trainer for the Course and Shama Kaur, the gentle force behind the organization of this course. I could go on and on...and I will as I continue to shuffle through my photos w
ink emoticon\

Dancing in the Rain.
On the afternoon that we were to watch a video class taught by Yogi Bhajan, it started to pour down rain! What a great way to start our Teachers Training with a classic greeting from the Master of Kundalini Yoga.

‪#‎kundaliniyoga‬ ‪#‎egypt‬ ‪#‎KRI‬ ‪#‎Level1‬

‪#‎kundaliniyoga‬ ‪#‎egypt‬

Kundalini Yoga Level 1 Teacher Training Cairo Egypt 2015

Sat Nam Dear Readers: 

I am extremely delighted to announce that we are launching the first ever Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training in Egypt starting this November 2015.
Through a gracious grant from the Kundalini Research Institute (KRI) we are offering this program as a "Reach Out Teach Out Program." This opportunity reduces fees from 5000$ in the US to 2200$ here in Egypt.

The Lead trainers are long-time practitioners and teacher trainers of Kundalini Yoga: Siri Neel Kaur Khalsa, Sat Purkh Kaur and Shiv Charan Singh.

Below is a Facebook event that contains all details to the event. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/808652732533332/

If you are interested in this training please do let me know.

And we would be tremendously grateful if you could share this with your network of students.

Love and Blessings

Shama Kaur and Dev Dharam Kaur, Kundalini Yoga Instructors in Cairo, Egypt

Yalla Yoga, Cairo Egypt Yoga Studio announces Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Training

to apply, email: shama@yallayogacenter.com

Meditation During Revolution: Inner Conflict Resolver Reflex

The week grind on. Everyone that I know is stressed. Talk of revolution and politics cut into every conversation. As the rush of revolution adrenalin subsides, we are left sorting through a deluge of information.

Stories. Replay. Analysis. Videos. Tweets. Facebook. 
What to believe? Who to believe? Rumours run Rampant!

Years ago, long before Twitter and Facebook, I remember Yogi Bhajan telling us of the coming Age of Aquarius. He warned us that we would be overwhelmed with information. All secrets would be revealed. All lies exposed. Everyone would know everything about everyone. I sit here once again after another wave of millions of people came together outside my front doorstep. I not only hear my teacher's words, but experience his vision. 

The flood of "news" is overwhelming. Media hyped stories with points of view jabbed in from every angle: images challenge images; words reversed; words spewed.
Writers and commenters confuse us with propaganda, changing media strategies, and retelling of events ad nauseam. We take sides. We push. We pull. We argue. We agree. We judge. We stalemate.  

The cacophony holds us in confusion. Emotions get stuck in deadlock.
Maybe you find yourself in anxiety. Maybe you find yourself in hopelessness. Maybe you find yourself fear. Maybe you find yourself in euphoria.

Our inner conflicts block our ability to think and act clearly. We want to find the Truth, but we don't know how to navigate through the depths of information. 

I say, take a break.
Turn off your television. Log out of your internet. 
Take a seat. Pause. Take your breath. 

When you depend on your mind to discern what is true, it will lead you to duality. Our minds are not equipped to handle the flood of information coming at us. The mind is expert in volleying back and forth with arguments for and against. 

When your breath pattern changes it disturbs your prana, your life force. This disturbance puts us into an inner conflict. Our energy gets scattered. Rather than being centered, the energy moves distressed through our being. We are are unable to determine our own course of action. We are unable to discern our Truth. 

Inner Conflict Resolver Reflex 

This meditation resolves many conflicts and is an automatic reflex for survival. The effect is certain, gradual, and simple.

Kundalini Yoga Meditation: Inner Conflict Resolver Reflex

Inner Conflict Resolver Reflex

POSTURE: Sit in an Easy Pose, with a light jalandhar bandh.

EYES: Close the eyes 9/10ths of the way.

MUDRA: Place the hands over the chest, with the palms on the torso at the level of the breasts. The fingers point toward each other across the chest.

BREATH: The key to this meditation is attention to the breath. Inhale deeply and completely for 5 seconds. Exhale completely for 5 seconds. Hold the breath out for15 seconds, by suspending the chest motion as you pull in the Navel Point and abdomen.

TIME: Begin with 11 minutes. Build up to 31 or 62 minutes.

TO END: Inhale deeply and stretch the arms up over the head. Relax the breath and shake the arms and hands for 15-30 seconds. Relax.

~~~~~~~~~~~

This breath pattern holds the breath out three times as long as it is held in. So, the body senses a lack of prana in vital areas of functioning and asks how it can quickly and optimally reorganize itself to respond to this survival threat. The fibers of the Pranic Body extend and re-channel the prana to form a new pattern filled with clarity and action potential. 

Your built-in computer can calculate your total resources and the level of challenge, then design a strategy to prepare and use the mind and body effectively.
Be honest with the breath timing, and the meditation will be honest with you.  

- Yogi Bhajan

~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Meditation during Revolution: Meditation for a Calm Heart

The last few nights have been challenging to keep a focused mind and focused breath. Military helicopters flying overhead. The energy pulsing from Tahrir. Constant checking Twitter to find out where gun fire is coming from. I can't settle into sleep. Nervous. Anxious.
 During the day, we can see the people in the streets. At night, we can only hear gun fire and shouting. A battle is being waged, but I don't want my fear to play into the scene. I am in the middle of this war zone. But, I chose to be calm for those that are not calm.
Rather then fret, I practiced a meditation that I frequently teach in class. I practice it when I find it hard to be calm and find center.

Meditation for a Calm Heart 

POSTURE: Sit in an Easy Pose, with a light jalandhar bandh. 

EYES: Either close the eyes or look straight ahead with the eyes 1/10th open.

MUDRA: Place the left hand on the center of the chest at the Heart Center. The palm is flat against the chest, and the fingers are parallel to the ground, pointing to the right. 

With the right hand, make Gyan Mudra (touch the tip of the index (Jupiter) finger with the tip of the thumb). Raise the right hand up to the right side as if giving a pledge. The palm faces forward, the three fingers not in Gyan Mudra point up. 

The elbow is relaxed near the side with the forearm perpendicular to the ground. 

BREATH: Concentrate on the flow of the breath. Regulate each bit of the breath consciously.
Inhale slowly and deeply through both nostrils.
Then suspend the breath in and raise the chest. Retain it as long as possible.
Then exhale smoothly, gradually, and completely. When the breath is totally out, lock the breath out for as long as possible. 

TIME: Continue this pattern of long, deep breathing for 3-31 minutes.
To End: Inhale and exhale strongly 3 times. Relax.

When you hold the breath in or out for "as long as possible," you should not gasp or be under strain when you let the breath move again.

Make your next practice COUNT!

On Saturday, June 1, The Breathing Room will participate in a global yoga benefit to send 200 girls in Asia and Africa to school next year. We will be donating 100% of fees from the classes below to Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Program.

Please join us in supporting Namaste World! by attending the following classes:

7.15-8am meditative walk – April (sign up at the studio please!)
meeting/starting point in front of building 20, road 15

8-9am family garden yoga – Jessica
at Jessica and Jonah’s garden, building 20, road 15
a special hour for the whole family!

10-11am Sivananda – Dominika
an open class at the studio

11.15am-12.15pm Yoga Nidra – Jenna
at the studio
Yoga Nidra literally means “yogic sleep”.  What you will experience in the class is a deep, guided, internal relaxation.    You will spend most of the class lying on your back – so you are welcome to use the bolsters at the studio and are encouraged to  bring a small pillow and a blanket or warm clothes to get the most comfort out of the session.

12.30-2pm vegetarian lunch (sign up at the studio please!)
at Dominika’s house – 12, road 21 (same street as CSA is on), floor 5

5-6.30pm Yang/Yin – Robi
an open class at the studio

6.30-7pm Kirtan – Dominika
at the studio
Kirtan is a different way to calm the mind and can carry us to a place of quiet and stillness. Using ancient Sanskrit Mantras, Kirtan calls upon sacred energies which serve to quiet the mind, remove obstacles, and bring us back to the center of our being.

all the classes and special events are donation based, with a suggested donation of 50LE. if you have time that day we’d love to see you at one or the other thing offered – bending, stretching, singing – having a good time – for girls education!

About Room to Read:
Educating girls is the most powerful and effective way to address global poverty. Room to Read supports girls so that they not only graduate, but also develop the skills they need to negotiate key life decisions. Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Program uses an enhanced approach that includes providing academic support, mentoring and life skills training to girls in nine countries in Asia and Africa. Finishing secondary school leads to smaller, healthier families, lower HIV infection rates, and higher wages. Educated women are more likely to educate their own children – ending the cycle of illiteracy in one generation. To date, Room to Read has supported more than 20,000 girls!
For more information, visit: www.roomtoread.org

Spring Equinox Energy Inspires Us to Lighten Inner Mysteries

Today marks the Spring Equinox. Equinox means "equal night." Day and night are in perfect balance. Because the sun is positioned above the equator, day and night are about equal in length all over the world during earth's equinoxes.

The Great Sphinx faces the rising sun on the day of the Spring Equinox.

Secrets of the Ancients

     Ancient cultures marked the sun's cycles in stone. Knowledge of the special power in Spring was universal. Egyptians built the Great Sphinx to directly face the rising Sun on the day of the Spring Equinox.

Tune into Sun Cycles of Change

     Life, and the movement through natures cycles, feels like it is moving into a grand pause for about five days. This stillness - and shift towards increasing light - is recognized as a very potent time to focus and set intentions for the coming months.    From this day forward, you are moving, along with everyone in the Northern hemisphere, more and more into the light.

Spring Time is Planting Time.

    Spring Equinox moves us from the deep winter days of hibernation to turning outward, being filled with the increasing light. This looking out inspires action. Use the special upsurge of energy after the Spring Equinox to "get going." Spring Ahead

                    Set your intentions. Find your balance. Flow into your life.

    "If you don't design your own life plan,
chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan.      
   And guess what they have planned for you?      
Not much."  quote from Jim Rohn

Part 3: Inhale Deeply, In This Air? Living in Pollution.

Part 3 Yoga and Meditation To Survive in the Pollution of Cairo

As I mentioned before, the main route for air pollutants is through the nose, mouth and throat. The nose is very efficient at trapping and holding some inhaled pollutants.

I have many yogic strategies that I used daily to maintain some sense of healthy eye, nose and throat health in our polluted city.

Here Are Simple Yoga and Meditations For A Pollution Pound of Cure:

Yogas and Exercises for Healthy Eyes

Rotate your eye balls, slowly, clockwise and anti-clockwise.
Don't move your head or neck.

Try to do these exercises first thing in the morning and in the evening to create a habit.

Sit straight and take a long breath. Rotate your eye balls, slowly, clockwise and anti­ clockwise 10-­15 times each direction. Repeat a few times. Without moving your head: look up, look to the right, look down, look to the left. Repeat.

Relax, Meditate to Calm Your Immune System  

Exposure to air pollution revs up your immune system to a point of being out of balance. It may be possible to relieve allergy symptoms and calm the immune system through deep relaxation.


Spend 10­-15 minutes for meditation. Early morning is best. You can sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair. Close your eyes and allow your mind to relax.

Part 2: Inhale Deeply, In This Air? Living in Pollution.

Part 2 Simple Home Remedies To Survive in the Pollution of Cairo

Morning after Tahrir Square conflicts,
the tear  gas permeates
downtown streets.

Just when we think the Cairo black cloud couldn't get any worse, it does. I live next to downtown and since the Revolution, we have a new element to add to the pollution mix: tear gas.

As I mentioned before, the main route for air pollutants is through the nose, mouth and throat. The nose is very efficient at trapping and holding some inhaled pollutants. I have many yogic strategies that I use daily to maintain some sense of healthy eye, nose and throat health in our polluted city.

Here Are Simple Home Remedies For A Pollution Pound of Cure. All ingredients are available everywhere throughout Cairo.

THROAT AND LUNGS

Irritating dry cough:
Depending on the intensity of your cough and lung problems, you can try some of these remedies. 

Ginger, Garlic Tea (Zanjabeel, Tome)
Ginger and garlic tea not only soothes the throat, it also loosen the mucus membrane, and clears chest congestion.

To Prepare: Take a chunk of fresh ginger root and cut into small slices. Add the juice of garlic cloves and small amount of lemon juice into boiling water. Boil it for about 15 to ­20 minutes. Strain the liquid and keep it aside. Add a little amount of honey. The lemon juice loosens the cough and soothes the breath.

Aniseed (Yansoon)
Anise tea is effective for severe coughs (especially dry cough). This tea loosens mucous and melts cough accumulation in the chest. It also improves breathing system and chest congestion.

To Prepare: Grind the seeds if you have a grinder or keep them whole if you don’t. Boil some water, add the seeds or the powdered seeds, steep for 10 minutes or longer. Strain and enjoy hot or at room temperature.

Grapes ('inab)
Grape juice combined with honey is a fast relief for a dry cough. Grapes play important role in loosening cough and mucus and cleans it out. Juice fresh grapes and (if you want) add some honey.

Orange (Bortoân)
Freshly prepared orange juice is a good remedy for a severe cough. Drink it as soon as you juice it. To prevent a sour stomach, don't drink orange or citrus juice in the evening hours.

EYES

Home Remedies for Eye Care

Potato (Batatas)
Potato can keep eyes healthy. For weekly eye care, take a potato slice and put one over each eye for 10­ to 15 minutes. Potato keeps eyes stress free and lustrous.

Cucumber (Khiar)
Cucumber is the same as potato to promote eye health. Put a small round slice of cucumber over your closed eyes. Relax for 10-­15 minutes.

OVERALL, KEEP A BALANCED DIET AND LIFESTYLE

Follow a Diet High in Antioxidants

Antioxidants help the body clear oxidants away before cell injuries can occur. They also inhibit enzymes that cause cancer, and help the body repair the damage done by oxidants. There are many antioxidants including folic acid and vitamin C.


Eat plenty of green vegetables and fresh fruits. Fruits rich in Vitamin A are essential for healthy eyes and proper eye sight. Citrus fruits, along with vegetables like tomato, spinach are good for eye care, and make eyes healthy.

Foods high in vitamin E are excellent sources of antioxidants. Foods high in vitamin E include vegetable oils, nuts and green leafy vegetables.

Drink water and freshly fruit juice.
Water and fresh juices keep your body hydrated and have positive effects in keeping eyes and the entire body system healthy and glowing.


Drink green tea.
It is a natural antioxidant. Green tea is better than black tea because it is less processed and contains higher levels of antioxidants. Steeping the tea for about five minutes releases over 80 percent of the antioxidants in tea - called catechins.

Avoid caffeine, any type of oily and spicy food, sugar, chocolates, etc.
Any type of cold drink, ice cream should also be avoided.

Part 1: Inhale Deeply, In This Air? Living in Pollution.

Part 1: Daily Maintenance Routine To Survive in the Pollution of Cairo

Garbage piles up in the streets of Cairo.

I'm one of the lucky ones in Cairo that can still open my windows in the early morning hours to catch the breeze of cooler temperatures. But, it's that time of year and the smells of Cairo are harsher than ever before. The farmers are burning the rice stubble and our air quality takes an even harsher temper.

Every year, we hear that there are crack-downs on farmers burning their fields. Yet, every year, the haze in the air…and yes it looks and smells different from the typical Cairo haze…turns a murky white and becomes unbearable to breath.

The main route for air pollutants is through the nose, mouth and throat. The nose is very efficient at trapping and holding some inhaled pollutants. I have many yogic strategies that I use daily to maintain some sense of healthy eye, nose and throat health in our polluted city.

Here is my Daily Routine For A Pollution Pound of Cure:

LUNGS, THROAT

1) First thing, after waking up in the morning:
Brush your teeth and your tongue. Brush all the way back to the root of the tongue to remove toxins. Brushing to the back of the tongue will make you gag. This is good because it releases the mucus that collects in the throat at night. Yogi Bhajan called the glands at the back of the throat the "monkey glands."

The gagging reflex causes the eyes to water, and will help maintain good vision and prevent cataracts. You want to get rid of the mucus and toxins before you drink anything so the toxins don't go into the intestines and cause diseases.

2) After brushing your teeth, prepare for your Cold Shower called ishnaan or hydrotherapy. When you get into a habit, you will crave a cold shower first thing in the morning. You can turn the water to warm after several minutes to wash your hair and body.

EYES

The main route for air pollutants is through
the nose, mouth and throat. 

Itchy Eyes:
1) One best asana for eyes is to fill your mouth with cold water and hold the water in your mouth. Splash your eyes with cool or slightly warm water about 15 times. Then, spit out the water from your mouth. Repeat a few times to take away itching or stinging. Do NOT use hot water.

2) The soles of your feet are a direct link to the soul of your eyes. The life nerve runs from the tip of our big toe to our optical nerve.

Make the clean connection: wash your feet. After a long day, I always wash my feet with warm and then cold water before I go to bed. This five minute routine not only help my eyes, it calms me for a relaxing sleep and washes off all the pollution picked up from Cairo streets. Once you're in bed, rub a little scented oil into your feet. You can get some very nice oils from the Nefertiti line.

3) Always keep your eyes clean, but do not rub your eyes directly with your hands to prevent other pollutants to enter. Use a tissue. Say no to smoking, as this too causes severe eye ­related disease.

NOSE

Gray or black boogers: 
Black/Gray Mucus happens in the city because of pollution in the air. The job of the mucus is to trap dirt or other particles and prevent them from getting into the body.

Every night before I go to bed, I clean my nose passages thoroughly. Some nights it is frightening at the amount of black stuff that comes out. Besides using tissues or a soft cloth, I use a neti pot.

The Proper Way to Use A Neti Pot

DO NOT USE TAP WATER in your Neti. Tap water contains trace amounts of bacteria and protozoa, which is usually not a problem when you drink the water because your stomach acid does its job. But, when you are washing those organisms into your nasal passages, very bad outcomes can result.

Brass neti pot hand-made from artisan in Khan Khalili

Use only distilled or sterile water, which you can buy in pharmacies here in Egypt.  The label will state “distilled” or “sterile.” If you need to use tap water, then bring it to a rolling boil for 5 minutes, cool it until it is lukewarm.

Use regular salt or specific neti pot salt only. Do not use iodized salt since it can cause irritation. Store the salt in a sealed container to prevent contamination.

Always make sure your neti pot is disinfected before using. Clean it thoroughly after each use with soap and hot water, and store it upright in a well-ventilated area, such as the bathroom counter. It must have a chance to dry out completely before the next use.


Don't share your neti pot with others to avoid passing germs.

Brass neti pot hand-made from artisan in Khan Khalili

Big Boxes of Baking Soda! Detox Value

Large boxes of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
now available in Cairo, Egypt.

Every now and then, I peruse the mega-markets around Cairo to see what interesting things have been imported. A few weeks ago, whilst shopping at Carrefour in Maadi, I was astonished to see a shelf dedicated to Arm and Hammer Baking Soda. Not just a few small boxes, but big big sizes too.

Sodium bicarbonate, MY DETOX FRIEND

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is an inexpensive detoxification ingredient that is safe to use and very effective. I use baking soda for detox baths, brushing my teeth, and deodorizing the refrigerator.

DETOX POLLUTION OUT OF YOUR BODY

Now that I have ample supply with my new found Arm & Hammer baking soda, I can return to regular detox soda bathing. A detoxification bath requires soaking in the bath for 10 to 20 minutes twice a week, with at least two days between each bath.

BEFORE YOU SOAK

Dry brush your body starting with the feet and working up towards the heart with a body brush or loofah sponge to remove dead skin cells before your detoxification bath. 

AFTER YOU SOAK

Showering after a detox bath helps to complete the cleansing process. Try to take a cool or cold shower, don't use any soaps, just wipe your entire body with a washcloth to remove any residue from the skin. After you towel dry, put on clean clothes.

RECIPES FOR BAKING SODA BATHS

Baking soda softens the bath water and helps to soften and smooth the skin. It also has an alkalinizing and deodorizing effect. Essential oils can be added. Essential oils will add a lovely smell and increase the soda’s therapeutic action. A baking soda bath in tepid water can be especially refreshing in hot, sticky weather. 

Basic Baking Soda Bath

For all skin types 

Use 1/2 cup baking soda per bath. 

Basic Aromatherapy Soda Bath 

Add essential oils to baking soda to increase the bath’s therapeutic action while producing an array of delightful fragrances.

20 drops essential oil

1 cup (8 oz.) baking soda 

Place baking soda in a glass jar, and add the essential oils, drop by drop, stirring them in well. Cap the jar tightly and shake to continue mixing.  Pour the mixture into the bathwater.

If you have irritated or inflamed skin, try lavender or sandalwood essential oils.
Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 9 drops of lavender essential oil and 11 drops of sandalwood essential oil. 

Other oil options: Add 3 drops chamomile essential oil for soothing inflamed or irritated skin. Replace the lavender with peppermint oil and the sandalwood with tea tree oil for a cooling, energizing and cleansing bath.

TOOTH POWDER

Cleans and deodorizes the mouth and teeth. 

Sprinkle baking soda onto moistened toothbrush and proceed to brush.
Optional: Add 1 drop of tea tree oil to powdered toothbrush for added cleansing, or other oil for taste. Makes enough for 1 brushing.

51 MORE USES
Find more great uses at this article 51 Fantastic Uses for Baking Soda, A Care2.com favorite by Melissa Breyer Read the entire article here.

Good luck. Not sure how long Carrefour will sell this product, but hopefully it will be around for awhile.

Kundalini Yoga Intensive - Zamalak, Egypt

visit: http://www.onthematstudio.com

Free Your Self from the emotional drama, stress and anxiety. Join me for an afternoon of intensive Kundalini Yoga practice.

We will be practicing a yoga set that I personally used for 40 days to transform and heal myself after experiencing a debilitating and traumatic event.
This is a challenging yoga set and meditation that can free you from chronic unhappiness, emotional dependance, Post Traumatic Stress and lead you to your core power...lead you to You!

Saturday 21st April 2012

2 Hour Kundalini Yoga Intensive, with meditation

Yogi tea and a raw food snack will be served after class.

From: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Fees: 150 LE

Where: On the Mat Studio
5 Al Morsalen St. Branched from Shagrat Al Dorr St.
1st floor , 4th Apartment
Phone 012 390 7962 or 014 446 8888

Email: info@onthematstudio.com

Booking can be made in person at On the Mat Studio or by telephone.

April 2012 Kundalini Yoga Classes, Egypt

Kundalini Yoga Classes in Cairo

Time: Sunday, 19:00 - 20:15 - April 1
Where: Nun Centre in Zamalek
Cost: 75 LE per class, package rates available
4 Shafik Mansour Street, Zamalek - 012-2207669 - http://www.nuncenter.com/

***
Time: Tuesdays, 20:00 - 21:15 - April 3, 10, 24
Where: the Breathing Room, Maadi
Cost: 65 LE per class, package rates available
The Breathing Room is located in building #10/5, road 216 on the ground floor, next to Daniel Hechter
***


Time: Sunday, 18:30 to 19:30 - April 22 & 29
Where: On the Mat Studio in Zamalek
Cost: 50 LE per class, package rates available
5 Al Morsalen St. Branched from Shagrat Al Dorr St. 1st floor , 4th Apartment - http://www.onthematstudio.com

SPECIAL: Kundalini Yoga Intensive. Saturday, April 21. 14:00 to 16:00

Join us for an afternoon of Kundalini Yoga and meditation. Learn ways to release stress and anxiety, regain your energy, and clear your mind and emotions. We will be practicing a vigorous Kundalini Yoga set, relaxing breathing techniques, and meditation. Yogi tea and raw food snack will be served afterwards.

Where: On the Mat Studio in Zamalek

***

Time: Monday,  18:00
Where: Garden City
By Appointment Only

***

Spring Yogic Cleanse: Artichokes in Season

Artichokes are excellent for the liver.

Spring is around the corner with Spring Equinox beginning March 20, 2012, at 13:15 in Egypt. It is a most auspicious time for a Mind, Body, Spirit Cleanse.

Artichokes are a Perfect Food for Detox
Clinging to the Spring weather roller coaster as she freewheels us into summer, I am preparing my Spring Cleanse and Detox menu. 


Greens are my primary food for a good spring cleanse.
The other day, as my husband and I zipped across town, we passed by a little cart that was stacked with beautiful, green artichokes. My husband happens to adore artichokes. We didn't have anything for dinner, and he said he would take care of the steaming and make a dressing.

We got five bulbs and steamed them all. With a fresh and healthy mustard concoction on the side, we had a complete and satisfying evening meal.

Healing Properties of Artichokes
I was happy to read all about the beautiful artichoke and its medicinal properties. Low in calories, with only 60 calories for one medium cooked globe, it is also fat-free. It is a natural diuretic, a digestive aid, and provides nutrition to health-promoting bacteria in the intestinal tract.

It didn't surprise me to find artichokes, in season now, at the most perfect time for body detox.

According to Ayurveda principles, eating artichokes when in season over an extended period of time will result in a cleaning and detoxification of the body.

March 2012 Kundalini Yoga Classes, Egypt

March 2012 (no classes 6 & 7 March)

Kundalini Yoga Classes in Cairo

Time: Sundays, 19:00 - 20:15 - March 4, 11, 18, 25
Wednesdays, 09:30 am - March 13

Where: Nun Centre
Cost: 75 LE per class, package rates available

4 Shafik Mansour Street, Zamalek - 012-2207669 - http://www.nuncenter.com/

***

Time: Tuesdays, 20:00 - 21:15 - March 13, 20, 27

Where: the Breathing Room in Maadi
Cost: 65 LE per class, package rates available

The Breathing Room is located in building #10/5, road 216 on the ground floor, next to Daniel Hechter

***

Time: Monday and Wednesday,  18:00

Where: Garden City

By Appointment Only

***

Social Workout Yoga Revolution Rocks

Yoga Journal's 21 Day Yoga Challenge Final Results for Yoga Revolution: Cairo's Rockin' Yogis


 Yoga Revolution: team members were from Breathing Room Studio in Maadi
We placed 24 out of 128 teams!

Yoga Revolution in Yoga Journal's 21 Day Yoga Challenge

Rank 15 is my Individual placement out 6397 people participating on Social Workout. I practiced every day. It was actually eye opening to me of how slack I had become in my daily practice. Participating in such an event and recording my daily practice online made me much more aware of my practice. What's this 192 percent? Because many of the days, I would meditate 31 minutes with Kirtan Kriya.

Darla Hueske Yoga Journal's 21 Day Yoga Challenge

This was such an amazing challenge. Yoga Journal provided wonderful videos for each day's practice. Also, a nice vegetarian recipe and words of encouragement.
It was a great way to kick-start 2012.

Related posts:
1) Social Workout Spotlight Features Yoga in Cairo
2) team Yoga Revolution takes on 21 Day Yoga Challenge
3) 21-Day Challenge - Yoga Journal

Day 1 Freedom : United Community of Egypt

@sierragoddess

Saturday, 12 February 2011: The first day of victory for Egypt. The atmosphere in Cairo is electrifying.

It's a new beginning for Egypt. And, as I have witnessed this movement of enlightenment across this country, I know Egypt is opening to a prosperous future.

As of yet, I haven't set a day or time to begin teaching yoga classes.

These last weeks, I've been supporting my friends in Tahrir Square, either by being with them when I could, or respecting their wishes for me to stay home. From peaceful protests, to heart-wrenching violence, to early curfews, we all moved through these last weeks moment-by-moment, on edge, in the present. At home, I did my best to sit quietly in my prayer space, but it was incredibly challenging.

We experienced communication without earthly communications (i.e. mobile phones and internet.) We formed community watch groups within hours as violence from thieves and thugs took to the streets. We went to the streets with brooms and bins to clean up our Cairo this morning, no less than 12 hours after victory to the principal demand of ousting President Mubarak. We didn't need committees, we simply moved through the link of oneness.

Every day, I was awestruck as the protestors held their ground and demonstrated phenomenal peaceful being. Young, old, Christian, Muslim, Secular, doctors, nurses, educators, students, unemployed, everyone as one.  At the same time, I listened to western media pundits use fear words in their broadcasts, baiting for confrontation and conflict. My friends translated the deception and propaganda being broadcast from state television and newspapers. Emotions swung from highs to lows, but never did we consider that we would leave. This is our home.

Peace to All - If you want to have peace, be peace. Peace is action from within, but you won't get there without practice. United we stand. Divided we fall. One. YOUR moment is now. ...now.... now...

### 30 ###

Safe

Thank you to everyone that contacted me during this last week to check in on me and my family here in Cairo. I can't tell you how much I appreciated your emails of love and overall support. It was overwhelming to suddenly be connected with people that I haven't communicated with for years and discover that time is irrelevant.

Love prevails. Peace prevails. Time is an illusion.

We (my family, my friends, my neighbors) are all fine. We all appreciate your love and prayers for us and everyone here in Egypt.

At this time, we are all focused on the well-being of our communities and friends. As soon as I return to teaching yoga classes, I will post the schedule.

When the breath is controlled and regulated, the person becomes divine. If the breath is not controlled, then the person is busy in worldly activities and forgets his spiritual nature. - Paramahamsa Hariharananda

the move to YogaInEgypt dot com

On 08 February 2007, when I launched Yoga Everywhere blog, I had just moved to Cairo, Egypt. I really didn't think that I'd be living in Cairo until 2010. Yet, here I am: living in Cairo and will be probably living in Cairo for many more years since my husband has started a sailing centre on the Red Sea coast. (SailinEgypt.com)

Egypt: the mother teacher of non-attachment and forgiveness

My entire life transformed since I arrived in Egypt in 2007. For more than a year, I wrote a daily journal on a different blog address until an incredibly frightening event happened to me and so I deleted that entire blog. (and my Facebook account)

In one click, an 18-month daily journal was gone! The entire situation, from event to delete buttons, provided me with a great lesson in non-attachment on many levels. (Yet, not only for me, but for everyone that was reading that blog!)

After I deleted my daily-life-in-Egypt blogspot, I started to write more on the Yoga Everywhere blogspot. The event really made me search inward. Through my yogic practice and writing on the blog, I sorted things out. It ain't easy working and living in this city. The big PLUS was getting thoughtful feedback from the readers. I will not delete the Yoga Everywhere blogspot in hopes that someone can benefit by my writings and ramblings and search for Truth. What is the point in knowing this yogic technology and not applying it?

Most Popular Post in this site is my experience with Nabhi Kriya

I find that many people are especially interested in the nabhi kriya yoga set and personal journey of the practice that I have posted here. (Complete Nabhi kriya yoga set here) I particularly love the energy of this yogi that I found on Kundalini Yoga blogs: 1000-days-until-the-end-time-master-something

It's such a good practice that I started another 40-day nabhi kriya intention. This time, the practice is different in many ways. I will post the set here and plan to explore my journey (Nabhi Kriya part 2) here on YogaInEgypt.com.

I also have the surya kriya set posted there too. (surya kriya set)

Thank you and bless you all.

Peace be to your thoughts.

## 30 ##

Since have withdrawn this site

hot hot hot

Taking a walk along the Nile to clear my mind

As I contemplate my theory of creativity, I arrange files on my hard drive.

My imaginative thoughts seem be well suited to mundane tasks today: organize photos, delete photos, and back up files. This is a good thing to be in stillness and focus.

It's horribly hot again here in Cairo. Above 40 degrees. Stay cool.

## Our life is going to change. Wisdom is to change ahead of the change. Foolishness is to change after the change. --Yogi Bhajan ##

Spring cleaning

I am deeply cleaning the apartment today, all the way to my closets. As I clean, here is what I'm training my mind to think about instead of all the other crap that usually swirls around inside:

Never take more than we need;

Thank Creator for what we have or what we will receive;

Use all of what we have;

Give away what we do not need.

Everything on earth is alive;

Everything on earth has purpose;

Everything on earth is connected;

Everything on earth is to be embraced.

Talk to the Animals.

## do yourself a favor, create a sacred space today ##