A Yogic Path During the Pandemic

Written by YogaVibes Instructor, Jackie Prete

I keep thinking of the story of the Bhagavad Gita with Arjuna on the battlefield talking to Krishna (his divine charioteer and teacher) and  remembering how reluctant he was to go to battle. 

I am feeling reluctant and humbled by the task at hand yet prodded on by my Inner Krishna telling me that this is the time to step into the role of leader and warrior. We are all being called to step into our Dharma and to serve the highest for ourselves, our families and our community. 

I was on a call last week with my coach, Cate Stillman, who encouraged us to see this pandemic as an opportunity to grow individually and to serve the world  on a bigger level. She was my Krishna.

As a yoga teacher and Health & Wellness Coach in NYC,  I have been contemplating  what are the right choices for me in this moment to support the wellbeing and health of myself, my family, and my community here in the city and all over the world.

I am a part of the Anusara School of Hatha Yoga that has students and teachers in China Japan, Europe, Down Under, South America, Canada, Mexico  and the US.  Our global community is mobilizing to encourage our students to stay at home practicing daily  meditation, & asana and to stay connected so we don’t feel isolated in this serious time of tapasya. (strong disciplined practice and daily routines).

My students and fellow yoga teacher ask me how do I manage manage  fear, sleeplessness, anger, rage, frustration,  restlessness, depression, anxiety, unease and confusion?

PRACTICE IS THE ANSWER!

Since studying Ayurveda and becoming a Yoga Health and Wellness Coach 5 years ago, I have realized how important having a daily rhythm (dina charya) and schedule is to having the ability to  strengthen our immune system and settle  our nervous system.

Dina Charya

A part of the daily rhythm is adopting a daily home practice of yoga and mediation. This is the antidote for anxiety!   Asking my students over the past 30 years to practice at home in between classes has always been a challenge. My work as a yoga Health coach has helped folks find their daily rituals around these practices and experience deeper relaxation, stress reduction, better sleep and more resilience against the onslaughts of seasonal flus and colds.

The Body Evolves

My signature online year long course called The Body Evolves  helps my students upgrade their health habits to experience strong vibrant health and wellbeing and dramatically slow down the aging process.

The Ayurvedic system of self-care has literally saved my life. I survived a traumatic bike accident September of 2016 and these health habits brought me back to life. I was in a wheel chair with a shattered tibia and now can practice yoga, walk without a cane or crutches and have gained back both muscle and bone to be able to travel internationally, teach local classes and privates, lead Teacher Training courses in NYC, Japan and the EU. Having experienced this dramatic improvement and recovery I am so confident that Ayurveda and these health habits  will rebuild your immune system so the body heals itself naturally 

Ayurvedic Tips to survive and thrive during the Pandemic for yoga students and teachers

• Get a  minimum of 7-9 hours sleep or more if your body is asking for more rest!
• Start the day hydrating with 2-3 8 oz glasses of room temperature water. This removes toxins and gets your digestion and elimination going. Add some lemon to help alkalize your system.
• Meditate for 5-20 minutes EVERY DAY!  Follow Mindfulness Meditation on YogaVibes for guidance.
• Move your body in the am. Do a morning Asana practice, go for a walk, do the stairs in your building, go for a jog around the block.
• Reduce acidifying foods from your diet and  add alkalizing foods to boost your immune system
  • Acidifying foods
    • Fried foods & Processed foods ( anything in a box and most of the foods from Trader Joes in a box!)
    • Alcohol & Caffeine
    • Refined flour and sugar ( deserts should be kept to a minimum and have more natural alternatives like fruit , dried fruit, nuts)
    • Soda and diet soda
  • Alkalizing foods   
    • Fruits & Veggies
    • whole grains 
    • Legumes & nuts & seeds
    • Fermented foods ( Kimchi, miso, kombucha, saur kraut)

You can add proteins like  eggs and dairy if they are organic and free range. As often as possible, meat should be grass fed with no added hormones or antibiotics, raised humanely and fish should be wild caught and not farmed.  For vegetarians protein alternatives like organic Tofu, tempeh and seitan can substitute meat and fish. 

Eat seasonal  foods from your own eco-system.  Go to farmer’s markets or be come a member of a CSA ( community supported agriculture) or local farm share.  These CSA memberships come in small shares, 1/2 shares, full shares, egg shares, fruit shares, meat (lamb, beef, pork, chicken) locally grown.

By keeping your diet diverse and eating plants like dandelions that are hale and hearty, you build your immune system to keep you safe in times like this.

Please take care of yourself. We will get through this together if we hunker down in our homes and connect online. 

I send you all much love,

Jacalyn Prete