Warm up Summer Solstice moves

It’s been so cold and wet and windy this past week that the Summer Solstice has not lived up to my expectations at all. Therefore I want to suggest we try some moves to keep warm in the mid section, or our “core” as it is often referred to in fitness circles. When we do yoga or Pilates exercises which stimulate the core muscles we are effectively warming up our internal sun because we are stimulating the nerves of the solar plexus.

The solar plexus is described in 1926 book Just How to Awaken the Solar Plexus below:

There is a real sun center in us, the Solar (or Sun) Plexus. This is a great nerve center situated in back of the stom-ach. When this central Sun, from which all the nerves of the body radiate, is in its normal condition, it steadily radiates a real energy, just as the sun does. This energy vibrates through the nerve highways and by-ways of the body out toward the surface of the body in all directions (the mucous membranous surface, as well as the outer skin), and is thrown off in a real halo or atmosphere, which always envelops the body. If this radiation from the Solar Plexus is positive enough, the influence of another person cannot disturb its steady, harmonious vibrations in the least.

The exercises I suggest (which we’ve been doing in class all week) are Sun Salutations, abdominal strengtheners like Boat pose or Rock The Boat, Warrior poses, twists, and Breath of Fire. These poses fan the flames of your inner fire and restore vitality so that you can move from the strength of your core so try them to warm yourself up this wintry Summer Solstice!

Victoria

Coming off my meds

Brighter Blessings says:

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day, and longest night of the year, and is the traditional time to celebrate the truly important things in life: your family, your children, your home and looking forward to a wonderful year to come. Also known as ‘Yule’, the Solstice is a time throughout time that honours love and new birth, as well as the collective unity of man.

For those who don’t know (and there may well be a few of you, because I don’t really broadcast this) I am dealing with mental ill-health. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2009 following a major breakdown in 2008 and a decade of undiagnosed manic depression before that. When I was first diagnosed I spoke to all my oldest friends and not one of them was surprised at this diagnosis, which really worried me! How bad had I been?? (Please don’t email me back with the answers cos I have a fair idea!)

So, like the good girl I try to be now, I followed the psychiatrist’s advice and took my Lithium every day since 2009. When it didn’t work he put me back on anti-depressants as well (late-2009) and then when that didn’t work he tried me on anti-psychotics (2010 – following Granny’s death). And, for over a year now, I have been stable in my moods with this combination of Lithium and anti-psychotics.

I’m finding the death of my beloved Granny doesn’t hurt in my soul in the same way as it used to. I no longer feel the pain of her passing as a physical one, cutting deep into my body and leaving me gasping for breath. Instead, I am grateful for the loving support of Chris and my parents and I thank the gods for bringing me Foxy as he lights up my life and has really helped me to stabilise my moods. There’s nothing like a dog to bring you into the present because that’s where he lives! So, because I feel stable and strong at present and because of the side-effects (I am sick of the horrible acne, weight gain and feelings of complete apathy) I have made the decision to come off my medication.

I intend to do this slowly and carefully and will be sure to monitor my moods so I don’t allow myself to fall so low or rise to those dangerous highs again. But I just want to be more true to myself as a yoga teacher and, as I mentioned earlier, I am sick of the apathy. I just want to FEEL things again – both happy and sad. At the moment it’s like everything that happens to me just slides off and the main feelings I experience are irritation, frustration, anger and annoyance! I’m not saying I want to feel ecstasy and agony on a daily basis but I’d like the option…

So now, on the eve of the Winter Solstice, I will be reducing the amount of medication I take on daily basis and by the time we arrive at the Summer Solstice I am planning to still be stable but also to be drug free! What are your plans for the winter solstice? For this time of “love and new birth”? Comment below or on Facebook as I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Victoria