Oo-rah Yo-ga
Photo via www.yogajoes.com
According to Wikipedia, "Ooh Rah is a battle cry common in the United States Marine Corps since the mid-20th century. It is comparable to hooah in the US Army and hooyah in the US Navy and US Coast Guard. It is most commonly used to respond to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm."
Two days after we celebrated our nation's vets, I'm writing a post about the use of yoga for helping those who have served. I chose not to post on the day itself, because our vets deserve to have our understanding and appreciation for more than just one day of the year.
Whether you agree with the use of the military or not, our vets live with the effects of their service every day, many suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The use of yoga to help treat the effects of PTSD has gained a great deal of attention and research in recent times. According to this peer-reviewed article on trauma-sensitive yoga:
“An essential aspect of recovering from trauma is learning
ways to calm down, or self-regulate. For thousands of
years, Yoga has been offered as a practice that helps one
calm the mind and body. More recently, research has shown
that yoga practices, including meditation, relaxation, and
physical postures, can reduce autonomic sympathetic activation,
muscle tension, and blood pressure, improve
neuroendocrine and hormonal activity, decrease physical
symptoms and emotional distress, and increase quality of
life. For these reasons, Yoga is a promising treatment or
adjunctive therapy for addressing the cognitive, emotional,
and physiological symptoms associated with trauma, and
PTSD specifically.”
My handsome dad
Organizations such as the Veterans Yoga Project provide resources for vets, yoga instructors and community members on the use of yoga to serve our vets. There are also many articles that have been published on the subject. On a personal note, I have lead yoga and meditation events for organizations who serve those impacted by trauma and found it to be very effective in assisting the participants in utilizing strategies to help stay calm and self regulate; as well as to be able to take those skills outside of class and use them in their everyday lives-which is of course the ultimate goal.
Anyone affected by depression or PTSD should seek the assistance and guidance of professionals, and may find the practice of yoga to be beneficial as a part of a holistic wellness plan.
My Granddaddy
A huge shoutout to all of our servicemembers for all you do, please know that you are appreciated. Namaste.
If you are a vet or know of one affected by depression or PTSD, please reach out to the Veteran's Crisis Line.
©2018 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease or condition. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
The Launch of Community Hip Hop Yoga
Last week I had the privilege of launching my very special Community Hip Hop Yoga classes. Launched in conjunction with my 30th birthday, this class is one that's near and dear to my heart. I offer this class at a discounted rate so that cost won't be a hindrance for those without a ton of disposable income to devote to health and wellness. I'm a single mom so trust me, I get it. My goal is to make health and wellness accessible to our communities and help alleviate some of the issues that we face in the process.
Yoga is a safe space. Besides the obvious physical benefits, so many of our issues (physical and otherwise) relate back to stress and the internal pain that so many carry with them on a daily basis. Through my classes, students have an opportunity to take time for self care and to mentally and emotionally let go of things that are not serving them.
This class is fun! I'm not your typical yoga instructor and the soundtrack for the class makes that very obvious from the beginning. Everything from Yasiin Bey to Erykah Badu; Common, Snoop Dogg and of course, A Tribe Called Quest; I encourage my students to laugh, dance and sing their way through class. Hey, it's about having a good time, and if you're singing (or rapping!), you're breathing!
This class is just the beginning. Soon I'll also be offering raw vegan food workshops and other community wellness events, some in partnership with other amazing wellness professionals and groups. I'm also taking my classes on the road and will be posting details soon about bringing DID with Cazoshay to your city!
Making the Most of the Changing Seasons
First post!
"5 Ways to Make the Most of the Changing Seasons"
The first blog post on my *own* new blog is actually a repost of something I posted back in September of 2014. It's one that I previously submitted to another wellness website and it was not accepted to be published. It's appropriate that this is the first post on MY new blog as it represents this newfound season in my life. As I turn 30, transitioning into the next major decade of my life, I am answering the call to share health and wellness with the world on my own (read: God's) terms. Instead of waiting to be accepted by other outlets, I am in control of how and what I post and share, rather than trying to fit into someone else's mold or template. So enjoy this "vintage" post, and share in the comments how you like to transition into the fall season. Namaste.
5 Ways to Make the Most of the Changing Seasons
Fall is probably my favorite season. It may have something to do with the fact that my birthday comes during this season, but more so because I really consider autumn to be like a "second spring." As summer transitions to the cooler autumn months, it's an opportunity to invite some positive changes and habits into your life. Here are five ways to make the most out of the transition to fall.
1. Embrace the Change
It doesn't have to be something major, but as the season changes, try mixing it up and trying something new with your own routine. Go to a new restaurant, make a subtle change to your hairstyle, or read a book from a genre you don't typically read. Embracing and inviting change breaks up monotony and adds interest and enjoyment to your life in unexpected ways.
2. Get Physical
As the temperature begins to drop, there can be a tendency to allow fitness habits to drop off as well. Make a commitment to stay active as the weather gets cooler. Going for a run or practicing yoga outdoors while taking in the beauty of the changing leaves is a great way to stay motivated to keep up with physical activity as fall approaches.
3. Get an Immune Boost
Fall is also known as the start of cold and flu season. Get ahead of the game by boosting your immune system naturally. Incorporating echinacea supplements and a good multivitamin are great ways to pump up your immune system before the colds start circulating. (Always consult a health care professional before taking any herbs or supplements.)
4. Create a Ritual
Embrace the change by creating a ritual? Seems counterintuitive, right? But as the weather gets harsher, having something to look forward to each day makes the transition much easier. After a long day of teaching yoga events, doing research and answering emails, I look forward to a warm cup of tea or organic cocoa at the end of the day. Whatever that ritual may be for you, whether ten minutes of quiet meditation on your lunch break, or dry brushing your skin before a shower, having a daily ritual to look forward to eases the transition from one season to the next.
5. Clear the Clutter
As we make the change from summer to fall, take the opportunity to do a second "spring cleaning." Put away summer clothes, or even donate those you no longer wear. Take this time to de-clutter your surroundings to go into the next season free from anything physical that is no longer serving you.
Now that you have some options to make the most out of the transition from summer to fall, don't forget to take time to just enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons that is all around you!