Someone asked how they could use yoga to help with some sciatica that they started experiencing during their pregnancy.
Having never met them, this is what I felt like i could safely offer.


most generally, sciatica is caused by the irritation, compression, and/or inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

see, the sciatic nerve comes down the vertebrae and weaves through the pelvis, it passes under a part of the pelvis called the sciatic notch (bone). then it travels down through the glut and the hamstring.

often, what can happen, is through alignment, tension, injury, etc, is that the notch rubs against, or crushes the nerve. this is irritating. also, if there is a possibility that the nerve can get squeezed by the glute and the hamstring pushing, or being stuck together.

the best thing to do it to create space in the jammed areas, and be really mindful of your not making it worse by doing poses that jam up the area.

some poses that might be useful:
*pigeon pose while lying on the back, you can do it the normal way, if your hips are really open
*pascimottanasana with the knees deeply bent and the spine straight, to peel open the tissues in the back of the legs and butt. deeply bent knees, really really
*try putting two straps around your hips, pull one to the left, and pull one to the right. this can help open the pelvis nicely. you can keep them on while you do your practice, and it might support you nicely
*twisting triangle
*easy locust pose that will strengthen the low back muscles

avoid
*deep forward folding with legs straight
*deep backbends that jam the sacrum

hope it helps.

Your life might be an aquired taste.  Do you remember the first time you had a glass of wine, how awful it was? Do you remember the dawning of awareness, as you realized the depth, the complexity, the beauty?  Have you ever listened, as a vintner discussed what goes into every bottle, the effects of the soil and the atmosphere and the wood of the casks?  Or as a connesiour encourages you to absorb every last bit of flavor? Have you seen their faces light up as they describe what they love about wine?  
This is your life.  Your life is an acquired taste!  You have created your life.  You have done the best you could, given your particular environment, genetics, and karma.  You have crafted something, that just might be wonderful. Sit back, light a candle, and taste it. Savor it's complexity.  Consider the possibility that nothing in your life needs to change except the way you taste it.  Extract every nuance.  Give yourself a chance to sift through what you may have initially written off as unpleasant.  Allow the flavors to open and reveal themselves to you.  Let the bitterness, the grit, the swarm of seemingly conflicting impressions melt into a harmonious blend of experience.  Marvel at the richness and the beauty.
In my favorite Bukowski poem, 'The Laughing Heart', he agrees, 

'Your life is your life, know it while you have it.  You are marvelous, the gods wait to delight in you.'

Join them, all the gods, masters and holy ones.  Join the winos, and the beats.  Delight in your life.

Here is the Original Article In The Telegraph

So Shiva Rea wears stretchy pants and sports bras.  And she teaches wild, undulating vinyasas.  She brings in live drum orchestras.  She quotes ancient tantric texts, and mixes it with her own brand of inspirational cheerleading.  The few times I’ve worked with her, I had an excellent time.  Really enjoyed myself, and also I felt like I grew, spiritually.  I felt my prana flowing, my body opening, my mind clearing.  All good in the hood, as far as I’m concerned.
I was really surprised to hear Yogi Ram’s quote, "Wearing skimpy clothes, glamorizing or doing unusual things definitely affects the dignity of Yoga. The government needs to step in and retain the essence and authenticity of the traditional Indian art."  Shocked really, and saddened.  Saddened, because I naively believed that the yoga culture that I had opted into was beyond the repressive and misogynistic attitudes that I had come to associate with western traditions.  I’ve seen these things pop up a few times before, but this time, I’m really rubbed the wrong way.  Because Shiva clearly hasn’t done anything wrong.  I’ve seen an article or two that has come to her defense, but that isn’t even necessary.  
It seems more useful to address the obvious underlying issue in Yogi Ram’s attitude.  Yogi Ram seems to have a problem with women.   He seeks to deny them of their power, their sexual and sensual agency, their place in the holy mandiram.  He seeks to shame them, to vilify their bodies, and to repress their femininity.  How else would you explain his words?
Yoga is a tradition passed down by a lineage of naked men who cover themselves in the ashes of dead people, hang out in graveyards, drink out of skulls, and smoke massive amounts of weed.  The Lord of the yogis is a naked man.  You would think that ashes and loincloths would fall under the heading of skimpy clothes.  Unusual behavior?  Take your pick.
But they are men.  Men are allowed to do what they want.  Men can choose what to do with their own bodies, can go naked if they want, can hang heavy weights from their members if they want.   Not women, though.  Women need to be kept under control, protected and locked away, like any other piece of property.  We see this often in western culture, but not so much in our yoga, because we have naturally been attracted to the highest elements, of love, acceptance and freedom.  We have been spared much of the dogma and backwoods rhetoric.  But here it is, yogic subjugation of the female, plain as day.
If another man sees OUR woman, while she is dressed in revealing clothing, he might feel lust, he might try to take her away from us.  He might even use force.  He might rape our woman, perhaps contaminating our bloodline.  And, (and this one is maybe even more dangerous to a fearful male ego) if we see a woman that isn’t ours, wearing stretchy pants, we might feel our primal, instinctual urges, we might be motivated to use force, and forsake our spiritual motivations, and act bestial.  Even if we don’t act bestial (pashukarma), we would have to admit that we live in a body that has bestial tendencies.  Animalistic thoughts arise, its part of the hardware.  But what to do?  Best to deal with them honestly, use a yoga and meditation practice to liberate the energy from the thought forms, and move into a loving, accepting place.   You don’t blame hot dancing women in stretchy pants though, just cause you can’t hold your bandhas.  It’s a shallow expression of a victim mentality, and that, if anything, is what would affect the dignity of yoga.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/8368854/Yoga-row-between-Indian-purists-and-Western-free-form.html

spread your toes as wide as you can.
now take your attention from you toes, back a little, into the ball of your foot.
spread the ball of your foot as wide as you can, from the center of the ball of the foot, out to the big toes edge, and the little toe edge.
now relax the toes a little, and just let them gently extend forward.
Focus on opening and spreading the ball of the foot.
snuggle the ball of the foot into the ground, and lift from the center of the arch.
this will send more weight to the outer edge of the foot. this is good, press into the outer edge of your foot, but don't loose your connection to the ball of the big toe.
visualize a line that runs across the center of the foot (left-right)
the front of the line reaches forward, the back of the line reaches back.
Draw your knee back a little to press weight into your heel, and lift the calf muscle upward at the same time.
let the heel flower out from the center to the edges.

I like these 'composite paintings' from 18th century india. It reminds me of a composite Durga that my friend Dave game me once. Durga was created from the power and the energy of all the Gods. All of the shakti combined made her powerful enough to destroy the evil buffalo demon, Mahiasura. It would be interesting to know if there is any relationship between the Hindu Myth, and these Mughal Paintings.
I found this painting, and many more, on "Journey Round My School"



Also, for your enjoyment, here is a traditional version of "The Mahiasura Mardini Stotram" a song the celebrates Durga as the Fierce Warrior who defeats the Buffalo Demon. Those of you who go to Amma's programs will probably recognize it, it is a favorite.

someone showed me this really interesting PDF about 'the fertility awareness method of birth control. i gave it a google, and this is what came back:

Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) is a collection of practices that help a woman know which days of the month she is most likely to get pregnant. A woman can learn when ovulation is coming by observing her own body and and charting physical changes. She can then use this information to avoid or encourage pregnancy. The most effective way to discover YOUR fertile time is to practice all of the techniques described here.

Fertility Awareness increases a woman’s understanding of her body and her menstrual cycle.

from FABC

Here is ths Downloadable PDF, a really neat document.

After 15 days of investigation, India’s Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences concluded its study of 82-year-old yogi Prahlad Jani on Thursday, May 6.

Jani, who claims to have lived without food or water since his childhood, was under the close watch of three video cameras 24 hours a day. Researchers conducted various medical tests on him. The research team, consisting of 35 scientists, could not find any evidence that Jani ate or drank anything during the 15 days.

From the Epoch Times

First Article is here

Last week was a crafty week, i decided to make both lemon pickle and saurkraut. Saurkraut I've made before and find totally delicious, but I haven't made lemon pickle before. Arsha Vidya makes a slammin version, but it never occured to me that I could make it myself. However,I found a recipe online and decided to try it out. Funny thing is, is that now that this recipe is on my mind, lemon pickle is popping up everywhere! I just found a second method, which looks great as well.



Although it certainly needs a little more time, i tasted it yesterday, and it is coming along really nicely. here are the two sites: (you'll love the website names)

Salt and Fat
Evil Mad Scientist

I've wanted to learn this Ganesha Mantra from the Rig Veda for several years now, it has always struck me as being a chant that really conveys and connects with Ganesha Shakti. For some reason, it has always escaped me. I would try to learn it, and try as I might, it would slip through the cracks of my mind. I would put it on the back burner, and when I would later come back to it, I would experience the same frustration. For some reason, earlier this week, it clicked for me. I don't know why, and I don't know how, but I suppose that isn't for me to know. It might have been the time spent with the book 'Loving Ganesha' (link below), but I can't say for sure. I'm going to chalk it up to karma, and shakti. Like our Old Friend Krshna says in the Bhagavad Gita, 'No effort on the path is wasted'. So keep on practicing.

I hope you enjoy the above video, its not exactly the melody or tempo that I use, but it sure is pretty.

Gananam tva ganapating havamahe
[traditionally chanted ganapati gm]
kavinkavinam upamashravastamam,
jyeshtharajam brahmanam brahmanaspata
a nah shrinvan nutibhih sida sadanam

Mantra Text from the Himalayan Academy


Also, This book is a fabulous resource

Mr Jani, who claims to have left home aged seven and lived as a wandering sadhu or holy man in Rajasthan, is regarded as a 'breatharian' who can live on a 'spiritual life-force' alone. He believes he is sustained by a goddess who pours an 'elixir' through a hole in his palate. His claims have been supported by an Indian doctor who specializes in studies of people who claim supernatural abilities, but he has also been dismissed by others as a "village fraud."

The Article is Here