Shedding Your Old Skin – Week 4 – Earth

Sacred Movement Practice – Week 4 – Earth

Welcome to the fourth week of Shedding Your Old Skin.

This class we’re going to focus on the EARTH element as it relates to the legs, knees, feet and toes.

We start lying on our backs with our legs up the wall, allowing the spine to rest on the floor, connecting us with the earth and gravity. Rest while enjoying the 12 minute guided meditation.

This will rejuvenate tired legs and refresh the brain as the blood moves out from the legs into the organs and up into the head.

The second section is an alignment practice specific to the spine, legs and feet.

The third section gets more active as we circulate the chi and invigorate the legs with stretches and ankle circles. Have fun “leg dancing” in the air to the music while still on your back!

We wind down in the fourth section with an internal and emotional focus, having a sacred serpentine dance quality.

We end with grounding our bellies on the earth, like the snake, for a cool down and rest period. Relax and bliss out!

Note: I suggest you watch the active parts of the video (after the opening guided journey) to become familiar with the movement before you do it.

MUSIC CREDITS:
Wendy Rule (Earth), Stephen DeRuby (Infinity),
Makyo (Skin as Soft as Moonlight), Jami Sieber (The Moon Inside)

Meditation Tips – Liver Breath

Visualize inhaling emerald green light into the liver. Smile and breathe in the qualities of kindness and generosity.

Exhaling on a long slow Shhhh sound…, see grey / black smoke as you breathe out. Release anger, resentment, jealousy, and frustration.

Breathing in these jewel-tone colors into our organs helps to build our bodies into the goddesses that we truly are.

Beauty Tip – Rosemary Hair Oil

The smell of rosemary is heavenly, and is said to sharpen concentration, stimulate memory and relieve anxiety and depression. The botanical name is Rosmarinus Officinalis which means “dew of the sea.”

Rosemary hair oil has worked wonders for my fine, delicate hair. I like this product a lot. It really delivers and lasts a long time. It’s helped me to grow my hair long by protecting against split ends and dryness. Rosemary stimulates the hair follicles, and as a result hair can grow longer and stronger.

I use it once a month, rubbing it into my scalp and well into the ends of my hair when it’s dry and needs a wash. I leave it on overnight while I sleep and dream.

In the morning I shampoo and condition my hair as usual. I feel revitalized and fresh!

Diet Tip – Green Foods for Wellness

Avocados are a nutrient dense superfood containing all 18 essential amino acids to form a complete protein. Easily digested and absorbed, avocado is a great nutritional ally for those trying to cut down on animal sources of protein.

They are a source of carotenoids delivering Vitamin A to the system. They are anti-inflammatory with Vitamin C, E, selenium and zinc.

Avocados are rich in beneficial fats, including Omega 3 fatty acids, great for heart health. They contain sugars that are good for the liver.

They stabilize blood sugar and help build muscles, and are also good for your skin, hair and nails.

The portion of the avocado closest to the skin is the most dense in nutrients, so scrape the skin clean before discarding it.

Avocados are delicious by themselves, great in salads, green smoothies and yummy in raw food desserts.

Cucumbers are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and contain phytonutrients called cucubitacins. Vitamins A, B, C, D and E are all contained in this wonderful refreshing food.

They are high in vitamin K which helps in promoting bone strength and preventing osteoporosis and arthritis.

Loaded with silica they are also good for the skin, hair and nails.

High in potassium, low in sodium, this tonic food helps check weight gain and lower blood pressure. You’ve heard the expression “cool as a cucumber”. ;->

The humble crunchy cucumber grows on a creeper vine. Some are shaped like snakes…ssss… like the Armenian type, which I love for Mediterranean style salads with olive oil and lemon.

I also love juicing them with celery, spinach, apples and carrots.

Gazpacho, a tomato and cucumber soup, is a cooling food for summer.

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Check out this article in Boston Magazine for some yummy emerald green food ideas: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/blog/2013/02/20/emerald-green-diet/