Choose Your Path Wisely

How many times have your heard to follow your own path? There are many times that a well worn path and a good fence is a welcomed relief as we try to find our own way.

A Yogic Beautiful Skin Secret

Living in an Indian community, I learned many health and beauty secrets just by using herbs and spices. One of the most powerful spice is turmeric. Turmeric is a bright yellow spice used in eastern dishes. It's what gives Indian food that beautiful golden color.

But what many women don't know is that combining turmeric with yogurt, milk or olive oil, they can make an inexpensive, effective face mask.

Here's a nice little recipe that you can use routinely for glowing beautiful skin.

Beware, turmeric powder can stain fair skin and clothes. When preparing the powder, try to keep it contained with no spillage. If you are fair, like me, your skin will initially look sallow after you remove the mask. But, trust me, the stain will fade away after a few hours.

My Recipe for Glowing Skin:

• 1 to 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
• For oily skin: 1/4 cup plain yogurt, few drops of lemon juice
• For dry skin: 2 tablespoons olive oil, almond oil or coconut oil, maybe more
• Some drops of honey

Preparation:

Mix the turmeric in a small glass bowl. Should I mention again, turmeric stains:

According to your skin type use either yogurt or oil:

• If you have oily skin: Add lemon juice and stir. Slowly mix in the yogurt until a creamy paste is formed. Use more or less yogurt to your liking.
• If you have dry skin: Add the oil slowly and stir until a paste is formed. Add more for more creaminess.

Apply mask to face and neck.

Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes. Relax. Let the muscles in your face relax.

After the time is up, use a wet warm gentle washcloth that you don't mind staining, gently rinse off the mask. I use baby washcloths and towels for my face.

Splash your face with cold water to give it an extra glow.

Glowing skin requires proper care, cleaning, and feeding. Feed your face. Clean your face. Be kind to your face.
SMILE.

Egyptian women have been using yogurt for years to keep their faces beautiful and supple. Many of my friends are now adding turmeric to their nightly yogurt masks.

Have a beautiful day.

Greetings On Winter Solstice 2012

Winter Solstice. The shortest day. The longest night. The Choice for Consciousness change.
     Our mother Gaia talks to us. We must let go of the myth that we control nature. We must learn again to respect her balance and constraints, to live with humility.
 May we justify peace with love, rather than violence to justify peace.
   May this Solstice mark an end to the last 2012+ years, where the collective holds a world view that we are separated and isolated actors on a grand stage.
     May this be the beginning of a new time when we all understand the world as an intricate and delicate web of relationships.
  We are One. I am You and You are Me. May Peace Prevail.
Happy Solstice Greetings everyone.

Winter Solstice Sunrise 2012

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.

5 Actions to Prepare for My Spring Cleanse & Detox Program

Spring officially started yesterday, March 20 at 13:15 in Egypt. It is time to shed winter jackets and leap into the lap of summer. 

At the beginning of the month, I set my intention for a week-long body-mind Spring cleanse and detox. As cold weather persists in Egypt, I decided to start my Cleanse Program next week. Hopefully the weather will warm up. In the meantime, I am preparing my body and mind to lose my winter indulgences.

Over the last several years, I’ve tried dozens of cleanse programs. I’ve found that I failed more often when I jumped into a program and didn’t take time prepare physically, and more importantly mentally. The mind can be a vicious saboteur.

Here are a few of my preparation tips that I integrate 10 to 14 days before starting any cleanse and detox program:

1: Set intention of what you expect from your detox program and integrate that intention. Not only will this set your approach, it will help you to chose the right program for you.

This Spring cleanse, I visualize radiance, lightening up, and revitalization.

During this time, I don’t just think and say I’m “going to do a cleanse.” I am making choices in my foods, actions, and words to support a week of changing up my daily routine for the benefit of my body.

Don’t try a cleansing routine because everyone else is doing it, or you think you are fat. If you take some time to consciously be aware of “why” you want to do a cleanse, then you will know if it is right for you and what program will suit you. When you have set your intention to be true to your cleanse program, then unexpected temptations to veer aren’t really tempting.

2: Explore and understand your selected detox program and arrange your food pantry to reflect the foods you need. Start using up perishable foods that don’t fit in the detox menu and get rid any foods that might derail your detox efforts before, during, and after you finish the program. Purchase non-perishable ingredients for your cleanse menu.

3: If you don’t already have a daily morning practice, start one.  For example, if you are doing 3- to 7- day detox program, plan (as in schedule) 21 days to encompass before, during and after your selected cleansing period. Determine a set time for a 15- to 30-minute daily morning meeting with your Self. No compromises. Practice yoga. Practice meditation. Read something spiritual or uplifting. Do one or all. Be compassionate of your Self during this time.

Upon awakening, sit quietly for a few minutes and tune into your breath. Become aware of your body and your surroundings.

Create your support system through your self awareness. Healing is of yourself, and you cannot heal if you perceive sickness or lack. Take this time to face any misperceptions you have of your self and see your way through your cleanse.

Tune into your body. Set your intentions. Tame the mind that will challenge you to eat everything in the grocery store.

Spring Cleaning on all levels. Clean surroundings make
tough detox days lighter and brighter.

4: Clean your house from top to bottom.
Not only will you shift the energy of your home, it’s great exercise.

If you apply posture and fitness principals as you go up and down the ladder and mop the floors, you can really feel your muscles getting a workout. Strengthen your arm muscles as you wash the doorframes and shake out the curtains. Don’t forget to stretch from time to time, especially after a bout of scrubbing.
Last weekend, I scheduled myself to clean the apartment. (Not to have my maid do the cleaning.) My husband was away, so I had the place to myself to chant, sing, talk to myself and get downright exhausted as I wiped down pollution-stained windows and doors, and mopped in every corner. It took me the whole day.
When I finished, I made a cup of tea and basked in the shine and fell asleep before 9 pm. The next day, I woke up invigorated and refreshed in a gleaming apartment. My stage is set. Clean surroundings make tough detox days lighter and brighter.

5: Get your friends and partner to support you in your detox program. If they are interested, then welcome them into your plans. Otherwise, don’t preach but ask for their support. I know that my husband won’t drink hot lemon water in the morning and doesn’t have any inclination to do a cleanse. But, I do know that he loves the fresh juices that I make, so I make sure to include him in the juicing portion of my cleanse. He eats what he wants, but doesn’t tempt or taunt me with his food choices.

Hope these tips help you for your happy Spring Cleansing!

No boundaries between oil and spirit

Development Threatens Sacred Land of Altai

In this special report from LinkTV Earth Focus, learn about a place where there are no boundaries between spirit, nature and man. This is a place where a major Russian gas pipeline threatens to destroy the ancient and sacred Siberian land of Altai and the culture of the people who live there.

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.

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Since have withdrawn this site

Live Simple

home away from home in Arizona
Simple living brings plenty of time at one's disposal, which can be used for self-transformation.
--Paramahamsa Hariharananda, Kriya Yoga

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