"All the world's a stage"

“All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts  [..]"

- William Shakespeare, As you like it

Ladakh, 2009

looking for a new home in India
(Karnataka, 2012) 

going to retreat  😎
(Ladakh, 2014)

Dharamsala, 2015

Dharamsala, 2018

🙏😅💞

Atmavikasa Back-Bending Fusion Intensive (12 November - 8 December 2017) : a brief report

Three weeks already have passed since I have joined this back bending program. 

A very challenging and intensive course indeed, either physically and mentally. Yet, very interesting and helpful. 

At first glance, it might seems a mere repetition of strenuous exercises, aimed to make the practitioner gain a better flexibility and confidence in back bending techniques and postures. 

But, in real, through this physical practice, the mind itself is the main object of our training. 

Therefore, I still believe that the point is not actually the final results, yet what we are learning through the journey itself. Pain, frustration, anger, and uncomfortable feelings are deliberated created and manifested. Through stillness and calmness, the real training is about to deal with them, or better, just look at them, without neither grasp at them or follow them. 

An intensive and deep practice as back bending will definitely help into this kind of mental training. 

Moreover, a plus of energy will be stimulated and awakened through spine-focused exercises. A good opportunity to better understand and channel our inner potential and  self-confidence. 

Four weeks (five days class for each week) will run quickly (I still can not believe only five days are left!!), but the informations and guidances gained will give enough support to guide at least one year daily practice. 

One of the best part, it is definitely the total freedom to adjust and personalized the practice to one own’s body and physical limitations. Going more forwards, trying to see a little beyond one’s own limitations, or just stay in one’s confort zone, till the right time will come and a better confidence is built. A conscious and careful practice will definitely empower each practitioner to understand a little bit more about its own mind and how to deal with it, without actually harming him or herself. 

That’s all for now. I have collected some random impressions and thoughts I had during these practicing days, hoping it might be useful and inspiring for future students and seekers. 

As always, a big thanks to Acharya Venkatesha and Acharya Hema for their selfness guidance. 

Akira


Back-Bending Fusion Intensive held by Atmavikasa center of yogic sciences, Mysore, India www.atmavikasayoga.in 

This journey

“I wanted to see the Light. The Light within. I wanted to learn how to look inside. For this reason I come here. This is the purpose of my journey, learning how to look inside, seeing beyond space and time. I wanted to see the real Truth, beyond any illusion, beyond any self-imposed limitation. The Truth that abides beyond the mind. I wanted to reach that state, because I couldn’t lie to myself anymore.” (May, 2017)

Grazie a tutti, un racconto per voi

Oggi, 9 dicembre 2016, ho deciso di raccontarmi un po’. Sarà l’ispirazione della montagna, sarà che ieri, per il compleanno ho ricevuto molti messaggi da tanti amici che non sentivo da anni. Sono stata felice, molto felice, e così, ho sentito il desiderio di raccontarvi un po’. Sono trascorsi parecchi anni, e con qualcuno di voi non ho mantenuto veri contatti. E così, eccomi qua. ;)

Fu esattamente sei anni fa, il 7 Dicembre 2010 quando partì dall’Italia per trasferirmi in India. Ho semplicemente abbandonato tutto ciò che avevo, amici, famiglia, studi, lavoro. Impachettato 23 anni della mia vita in uno zaino per iniziare una vita nuova. 

Fu uno shock. Un po’ per tutti. Qualcuno pensò che avessi semplicemente preso una sbandata per un ragazzo, qualcun’altro che fossi impaziente e poco costante. Ciò che realmente accadde non è esprimibile a parole. Fu una constatazione, di un instante, in cui vidi che non vi era alcun beneficio reale in ciò che stato facendo. E così non ebbi scelta, se non abbandonare tutto, senza molte spiegazioni, perchè certe cose devono essere provate, e non possono veramente essere spiegate. 

Non sapevo con precisione dove andavo, non sapevo nemmeno cosa stavo cercando.. sapevo solo che ciò che avevo fatto fino ad allora non sarebbe potuto continuare. 

E’ stato un viaggio lungo, con molte sofferenze, molte avventure, tante follie, e anche sorrisi. E’ stato un viaggio che mi ha cambiato, profondamente. Ho conosciuto lo yoga, il pensiero hinduista, la meditazione, ho praticato in vari monasteri, ritiratami dal mondo e dalla società per mesi. Mi sono anche sposata, ahah si, ma quasi nessuno dei miei amici l’ha veramente mai saputo, e poi divorziata, perchè la mia ricerca doveva continuare e non riuscivo a costruire una solida famiglia. 

E infine, sono approdata allo studio del pensiero buddista che fin dalla nascita mi ha accompagnato silenziosamente. A volte penso che tutto questo viaggio non fosse altro che una preparazione di purificazione, per insegnarmi ad osservare. Sì, proprio osservare, Osservare il mondo, proprio come il monaco del romanzo “Neve” di Fermine, che così si racconta “Un mattino, ci si sveglia. E’ il momento di ritardi dal mondo, per meglio sbalordisene. Un mattino, si prende il tempo per guardarsi vivere.”

E perchè tutto ciò? Perché imparare ad osservarsi? Perché desideravo imparare a fluire, a diventare acqua, fluida e limpida. Che ovunque vada continua imperterrita il suo cammino, senza attaccamento nè forma. E in questo continuo fluire l’acqua pulisce, purifica, guarisce. L’acqua che purifica, l’acqua che fluisce. Imparare ad osservare il proprio dolore con amore e compassione, sopportarlo con forza e costanza, senza farsi affliggere, e attendere. Attendere che si trasformi. Perché tutto è impermanente, il dolore come la gioia, e se lasciato semplicemente manifestare senza nessun tipo di rifiuto, si dissolverà nel vuoto, regalando un senso di libertà e pace. E poi di nuovo arriverà, e ancora ed ancora. Ripetutamente, perchè questa è la natura della nostra esistenza, e per quanto possiamo cercare di evitarlo, sempre ritornerà. Fino a quando non impareremo a lasciargli spazio, ad osservarlo manifestare e poi dissolversi. E allora, anche se porterà sofferenza, sarà una sofferenza diversa. Una sofferenza che nasce dalla manifestazione del dolore, ma che si sa svanirà. E noi, con amore e saggezza, lo lasceremo manifestare, in tutta la sua forza e violenza, senza repulsione, né avversione, ma con calma e tranquillità ne aspetteremo la trasformazione. Senza reale afflizione il nostro spirito ne rimane immune, come uno spettatore che osserva una tragicommedia.

Ora sono qui, ai piedi dell’Himalaya, continuando a studiare e praticare al meglio ciò che ho imparato dal pensiero hinduista e buddista. Vivo insieme alla comunità tibetana in esilio, e studio lingua tibetana, per meglio comprendere gli antichi testi e insegnamenti preservati nella cultura tibetana. Un anno ancora mi attende di studio intenso, e poi chissà. 

Perché la vita è buffa, imprevedibile, a tratti gioiosa, a tratti strazianti. Ma in fondo è un’occasione, unica e irreperibile. Un’esperienza che insegna e che forma. E come ieri papà mi ricordò, ogni anno che passa è come un mattone che serve a costruire la pace e saggezza dello spirito <3 

Grazie a tutti del pensiero, grazie delle vostre condivisioni, spero a presto, prestissimo. Akira

Yoga as Holistic Therapy

It has been seven weeks since I have joined a therapy program in South India at Atmavikasa yoga centre. This program is designed as an eight-weeks intensive yoga’s practice based on a therapeutic approach.

I have started to study and practice yoga almost five years ago, and since that time I have learnt a lot about self-practice, food, ayurvedic science, physical and mental health and so on. The practice of yoga has actually led me to a beautiful journey of self-healing.  

Nevertheless, during the last year and half I have changed drastically my daily practice, and I have also started to be less disciplined about my habits and lifestyle. Naturally my health (mainly mental) got worse, lack of concentration, lack of self-discipline, and as a consequences I have faced also some physical illnesses. Meanwhile I also have been asked to teach some yoga classes, and what I have found mainly was that people around me don’t have a very healthy body (and mind), and mainly they are also not really aware about how to heal this condition.

So, moved by these reasons, I have decided to join this therapeutic program, that actually it happened in a perfect time, exactly when I was facing lot of difficulties in controlling my mind and physical health till the point that I almost couldn’t even fullfill my daily responsabilities and work.

Then, what I have actually found here, is a very pure yoga’s practice, taught with the main aim to control directly the mind’s energy.

At this point I would like to quote few lines of the introduction of the book “Yantra Yoga”[1] written by Chogyal  Namkhai Norbu,  a Tibetan master living in Italy, because I think that here it is clearly explained the main subtle aim of yoga’s practice.

“The visualizations are always done in specific points because the prana or vital energy concentrates where we concentrate our mind. In the diverse cakras we concentrate on colored spheres that represent the energy of the five elements. At times the shapes and colors are visualized in different cakras, at other times only in the main cakra of the navel.

Meditation or contemplation means knowledge of the nature of the mind beyond dualism. This condition is symbolized by the central channel, while the right and left channels represent dualism and karmic breathing. We always live in time conditioned by dualistic vision, judgments,

thoughts and concepts. As the central channel symbolizes the nature of mind, the definitive aim of Yantra Yoga is to capture the karmic prana within the central channel. What does this mean? Breathing in a distracted manner through the solar and lunar channels is the way

we transmigrate. Through distraction all actions arise and karma is produced. That is why normal breathing is called karmic. When a living being is born, it already has its own character produced by a specific karma tied to the prana and the breath. If we want to become masters of ourselves and our minds without further distraction, first of all we should be able to control the karmic breath. The main method to do this is called “capturing the karmic prana in the central channel” through the practice of kumbhaka, which consists of inhaling the air through the two channels and forcing the prana energy into the central channel. In this way the air flowing in the two karmic channels is exhausted and integrated within the central channel.

The five kinds of prana practices explained in this book serve to enable one to realize and stabilize knowledge of the nature of mind by bringing the karmic breath into the central channel. A practitioner who abides continually in the state of contemplation no longer has problems

of unbalanced energy. Many people are unaware of the reason why such coordination is necessary because they believe that breathing is something natural. They say, “Why coordinate the breath when we have been breathing naturally since we were children?” However, in reality there is

no breathing that could be called natural. Our ordinary breathing tied to the prana energy is traditionally compared to a blind horse, while the mind is said to be like a lame horseman. Just as a blind horse cannot be independent but needs someone to lead it, energy needs to be guided by

the mind. There is no such thing as a breathing that is independent and unrelated to the mind and emotions. In conclusion, control of the prana is very important in order to approach knowledge of the nature of mind, our real potentiality. If we succeed in accessing this potentiality and mastering it, we are on the path and realization is possible. On the other hand, if we are ignorant of this

condition we remain slaves of our mind and cannot abide in our true nature. Thus it is important to coordinate body and energy, and it is for this reason that Vairocana transmitted the Yantra Yoga teaching in relation the characteristic principle of Dzogchen.”

Even though I am not practicing the yoga of the Tibetan tradition, I believe that it can be easily considered the equivalent of Hatha Yoga within the Buddhist tradition. I do believe that the approach and the way of practicing that I have been taught during these few weeks, would led a serious practitioner to higher level of consciousness (or realizations).

Nevertheless, in the beginning, it is obvious that the main level on which it is required to work on is the physical one.

This is the main reason why during this program, so much attention and restrictions were put on food and life-style’s pattern. Anyway, when we are still totally bounded in this relative (samsaric) conditions, we are totally dependent to food habits and physical health. So, it is very essential to improve these basic conditions, in order to be able to go further in any kind of spiritual practice.

During these past few weeks I have learnt and gained a lot. I actually found exactly what I needed. On my mental level I could say that I have gained a good amount of self-discipline and concentration, that probably has led me also to a better physical healthy condition. Without any or very very less distractions (I actually didn’t allow myself to go out for lunch or dinner even one time, neither to spend my free time in socializing or any other kind of distractions), I have been able to work properly on my mind's unbalances.

Moreover, what I have learned here, was not only related to a personal level, but I have also received many informations about how to use yoga as an holistic therapy, that in the future it would be wonderful to share with whoever would like to go through the path of self-healing.

Yes, because I do believe that the real healing is coming from inside, and not other healing would be possible other then a self-healing therapy. So, I think, that whatever conditions we might face in this life, whatever hard or painful it might be, it actually has to be taken as a wonderful opportunity to start a journey of self-discovering, that eventually it might leads to a pure state of freedom and ultimate bliss, not anymore dependent from deluded and bounded mental perceptions. Till then, in my opinion, a continuous aimless pure effort, would be very helpful in order to conduct a fruitful and satisfying human life.

As a conclusion, I would like to thank my both teachers during these past few weeks, for their efforts and work. If I should recommend a proper Hatha Yoga teachers and practioners that I have met till now after few years of research around India, I will for sure go for them, Acharya Venkatesh and Acharya Hema. 🙏

This paper embodies the research done by me as a part of Yoga Therapist training 2016 held by Atmavikasa center of yogic sciences, Mysore, India www.atmavikasayoga.in

---

[1] Yantra Yoga is  a system practice that includes physical movements,

breathing exercises and methods of concentration. It can be considered

the equivalent of Hathayoga within the Buddhist tradition. While there

are numerous systems of Yantra or Trulkhor belonging to various

tantric cycles, the only system that is currently diffused in the West is the

Yantra presented in this book, which has been taught since the early

1970s by the master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

About inflammation, body's immune system response, leaky gut and proper diet.

This week I am going to post a blog about inflammation. Please, be aware, that the following informations have been found on the web, and at the end all the sources are mentioned. 

The last paragraph is a personal writing regarding my experience and studies about the relation between food and inflammation, based on Ayurvedic system and western "alternative medicine" system. 

A brief technical description

Inflammation is the body's attempt at self-protection; the aim being to remove harmful stimuli, including damaged cells, irritants, or pathogens - and begin the healing process.

When something harmful or irritating affects a part of our body, there is a biological response to try to remove it, the signs and symptoms of inflammation, specifically acute inflammation, show that the body is trying to heal itself.

Inflammation does not mean infection, even when an infection causes inflammation. Infection is caused by a bacterium, virus or fungus, while inflammation is the body's response to it.

The word inflammation comes from the Latin "inflammo", meaning "I set alight, I ignite".

Inflammation is part of the body's immune response. Initially, it is beneficial when, for example, your knee sustains a blow and tissues need care and protection. However, sometimes inflammation can cause further inflammation; it can become self-perpetuating. More inflammation is created in response to the existing inflammation.

Acute inflammation - starts rapidly and quickly becomes severe. Signs and symptoms are only present for a few days, but in some cases may persist for a few weeks.

Examples of diseases, conditions, and situations which can result in acute inflammation include: acute bronchitis, infected ingrown toenail, sore throat from a cold or flu, a scratch/cut on the skin, acute appendicites, dermatitis, tonsillitis, infective meningitis, sinusitis, a blow.

Chronic inflammation - this means long-term inflammation, which can last for several months and even years. It can result from:

Failure to eliminate whatever was causing an acute inflammation,

An autoimmune response to a self antigen - the immune system attacks healthy tissue, mistaking it (them) for harmful pathogens,

A chronic irritant of low intensity that persists.

Examples of diseases and conditions with chronic inflammation include: asthma, chronic peptic ulcer, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic periodontitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, chronic sinusitis, chronic active hepatitis (and many more).

Our infections, wounds and any damage to tissue would never heal without inflammation - tissue would become more and more damaged and the body, or any organism, would eventually perish.

However, chronic inflammation can eventually cause several diseases and conditions, including some cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, periodontitis, and hay fever. Inflammation needs to be well regulated.

Inflammation at the root of most diseases

Inflammation has been found to be associated with just about every health condition and researchers are furiously investigating chronic inflammation’s effects on health and possible preventive medical applications.

Because modern medicine focuses on treating symptoms, not addressing the root cause of an issue, the healing process, most of the time, is unsuccessful. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. Heart disease is inflammation of the arteries. Instead of taking a medication to reduce joint pain or lower cholesterol, we would be better served by reducing inflammation in the body.

Although inflammation has long been known to play a role in allergic diseases like asthma, arthritis and Crohn’s disease, some researchers say that even Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and Parkinson’s disease may all be related to chronic inflammation in the body.

The Food as a main cause of Inflammation

What researchers believe is that an overactive immune system results in the body being flooded with defense cells and hormones that damage tissues.

Dietary and environmental toxins may build up in the body, turning the immune system on and keeping it highly reactive.


Foods that promote inflammation are pasteurized dairy, refined carbohydrates, meat, sugars and trans fats. 

Nevertheless we can find some anti-inflammatory foods such as fiber, fruits, vegetables and teas have been used to combat cancer, and vitamin E, curcumin, acetylcarnitine and catechin have had positive and preventative effects on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Researches about Anti-inflammatory foods

Foods high in antioxidants help to reduce damage caused by inflammation.

UCLA professor Greg Cole has been looking at how to control inflammation and possibly prevent Alzheimer’s disease with food substances such as curcumin, fruit flavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids and reservatrol.

Tuft University Dr. Andrew Greenberg says, “There is no doubt that if you lose weight, inflammation is dramatically improved.” This is because excess fatty acids circulating in the blood promote the inflammatory immune response.

By reducing inflammation, you place your body in a state that is conducive to healing from diseases and other health conditions.

Sources

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

https://draxe.com

Some personal conclusion about Inflammation and Diet

According to my experience and researches, the inflammation present in different parts of the body has a root in the gut. Toxic food, wrong life-style, and so on, might lead to a chronical inflammation of the gut and to the well-known leaky gut condition. A leaky gut condition will affect the immune system, causing an overactive response that eventually will lead to various auto-immune diseases (as asthma, arthritis, colitis, and so on). 

Leaky gut syndrome is not generally recognized by conventional physicians, but evidence is accumulating that it is a real condition that affects the lining of the intestines. The theory is that leaky gut syndrome (also called increased intestinal permeability), is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment as well as to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances. As a consequence, some bacteria and their toxins, incompletely digested proteins and fats, and waste not normally absorbed may "leak" out of the intestines into the blood stream. This triggers an autoimmune reaction, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal bloating, excessive gas and cramps, fatigue, food sensitivities, joint pain, skin rashes, and autoimmunity. The cause of this syndrome may be chronic inflammation, food sensitivity, damage from taking large amounts of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), cytotoxic drugs and radiation or certain antibiotics, excessive alcohol consumption, or compromised immunity. (source http://www.drweil.com)

So, in order to prevent or heal this condition the food that should be avoid totally in order to eliminate this conditions are all refined products, as flour, polished grains, white sugar, white refined salt, oils, etc., trans fats, animal proteins and wheat. And try to get the less processed food available on the market.

When we say "avoid totally", that means that not even a single molecula of that kind of food should be taken, at least till the time when the gut conditions are normalized. 

Instead we should enhance the daily intake of vegetables, especially greens vegetable, and fruits.

Have beans and legumes (the best would be the yellow indian mung dal that is the easiest to digest and it won’t create any gas in the digestive system) around twice a week, according to the age, life-style and body’s structure.

Consume daily some healthy fats as nuts, avocado or even cold-pressed oils, as canola oil or extra virgin olive oil etc. with moderation.

  

A couple of times at week home-made sprouts are also a good source of minerals, proteins and many nutrients. 
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Use healthy herbs and spices to flavour your food as curcuma (it has a very anti-inflammatory effect!!), cumin, coriandol, black pepper (in limited quantity), ginger, cinnamon and so on. 

Anyway be aware that every spices has a precise property and effect, so they also have to be used with awareness and according to a proper knowledge.

And as a must: Drink plenty of water!

If the leaky gut condition is present they say there are two options in order to heal it, very riped bananas or the psyllium husk (widely used in India).

If the infiammatory process is already reached a chronic stage, then a long fasting would be advised, till the conditions are normalized. If bodily conditions are too weak to fast, then a diet based on fruits and vegetable centrifugated juice would be a good option (so you will get enough nutrients that the body required without an overdose of fibers, that might irritate your intestine even more).  Just keep in mind that vegetables have a energizing effect, while fruits have mainly a detox effect. If body conditions are not too weak, I would advise to go first to a detox process and then follow a energizing diet. 

So, in this blog, I briefly explained little basic informations about inflammation and proper diet, but be aware that nutrition’s topic is very vast and huge, and many conditions have to be considered before fix a proper personal diet, so unless we don’t have a proper food and body knowledge, would be advisable to rely to a specialist in order to success in the healing process.

We live in a relative condition, and some “good food” taken at the wrong time might become easily harmful for the body (and the mind), and this is the reason why a personal diet should be followed according the our own present conditions.

So, according to my researches and experience, only when our gut would be healthy, toxins will not spread in the body and consequently our immune system will work properly, giving no chances to inflammation to affect the body.

This paper embodies the research done by me as a part of Yoga Therapist training 2016 held by Atmavikasa center of yogic sciences, Mysore, India www.atmavikasayoga.in