Pay the Mind no mind

(Originally written for The Philistine, March 2012 - since revised.)


The ultimate goal of Yoga is to transcend the Mind in order to be able to reach a state of blissful meditative Awareness called samadhi. While many of us consider the mind to be the definitive plane of existence, yogic philosophy argues that although our cerebral capacities are indeed what separate us from the "lower" animals, we do not give ourselves enough credit if we believe that our experience must stop there.

The function of the brain or the Mind is to create thoughts in response to stimuli communicated to it through the sensory cells. This is its job, and the mind does not necessarily care what kind of thoughts it creates - it takes information in from the senses and then gives orders to the cells in our nerves and organs about how to respond. 

Yet, we possess the ability to have some control over this system of thought-production. For example, say your co-worker yells at you for making a mistake. Your mind's initial reaction may be to yell back, or to run away in fear, or to cry (depending on your 'state of mind', as it were). But if we gain mastery over our impulses - i.e., our brain's auto-response communication, we can stay calm and steady in this or any situation. Instead of letting that rush of adrenaline determine our reaction, we can first tap into the truth of what is happening and let our greater awareness guide our actions.

Ayurvedic Spring Detox! Intro workshop Sat. March 2nd

I'm delighted to invite you to experience "spring cleaning", Ayurveda style... (right here in Brooklyn!)

NOTE: A similar workshop will be presented again in June 2013, also at Jai Yoga Arts in Bushwick. More info soon! - Thanks, KatieR :) 

New web site is up!

Check out the new web site! www.kratuwellness.com

On that site you'll find more information about holistic health, ayurveda and yoga. It also tells you a little about me and the services I offer to help you find greater balance and well-being. So please visit the site and let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Katie :)

info [@] kratuwellness [.] info

Living Without, With Fun

Between the rise of food allergies and the increasing interest in living more harmoniously with our environment, many people are exploring diet alterations in order to find balance within and without. These modifications to our food intake can sometimes feel restrictive, confusing, or over-whelming. Yet, it's likely that soon the 'proper' diet for your body-mind-spirit will start to feel good. And, it can be fun - if you approach it as a game or a challenge, maybe even a puzzle of all the elements that need to be pieced together to become your perfect healthy self.

It's hard not to sound like I'm lecturing when I talk about why I feel moderation is vital to our survival - as individual bodies and as a species and a universe. But had we not gotten ourselves to a point of such excess, it would not feel so inhibiting to live more simply. And don't get me wrong - I enjoy many of the outcomes of "modern society", and indulge in these luxuries and conveniences myself (mobile phones and music players and computers and fashion and restaurants and so on). Hey, even moderation should be taken in moderation, right?

So, taking ourselves where we are. Not living in caves or under trees (as nice as that may sound), but living in stride with our fellows and peers and families, as householders with jobs and grocery stores and transportation and everything else. There are things you can do that don't have to interfere with that life. If anything, these choices may even enhance that life.

The importance of R&B (Rhythm & Balance!)

One of the most basic "take-aways" from ancient Vedic wisdom - as well as a growing voice in modern medical science - is the concept of finding balance in our life, or getting ourselves into a healthy rhythm. As children, others dictated our schedule and activities, and ensured that we had a good balance of time to eat, time to learn, time to play, and time to rest each day. We naturally woke up early and got tired as the sun set on the horizon; meals were well-rounded and served at consistent intervals; we got to run around outside and then take time to rest and have a snack before engaging in learning, communicating, and relating. But as adults we are left to make these decisions and timetables on our own -- and it's not always easy. Between the occasional thrill of getting to eat ice cream for breakfast ("because i'm a grown-up and i can do whatever i want!"), the now-accessible temptations that were forbidden in childhood (alcohol, tobacco, staying up late), and of course all the stresses that go along with running a household, it's no wonder that so many of us struggle with the loss of daily structure and the lack of restrictions on indulgent behavior.

Yet, falling into one's own rhythm is one of the most automatic ways to bring greater balance and well-being into your life. But you have to be ready to shake up your current habits in order to get that R&B (Rhythm & Balance) into your daily life.

In-cell-igence

Did you know that the concept of a "cell" has been around longer than the microscope? The great thinkers of what is now India were aware, centuries ago, that the body is comprised of thousands of small units that performed specific actions; their belief was that it is an individual's responsibility to support the proper functioning of each of these units, so that all the bodily systems (including mental and emotional) could perform optimally. Of course, these rishis ("seers" or philosophers) also believed that once our body-mind-spirit is in perfect harmony we become capable of attaining Enlightenment, or a state of complete oneness with ourselves and with the larger universe. But regardless of whether you're striving for samadhi or simply seeking physical, mental or emotional well-being, there are things we can all do to ensure health on a cellular level.

The ancient wisdom of the Vedas (scholarly texts written thousands of years ago, covering spirituality, philosophy, as well as medicine and diet recommendations) tells us that cells have their own "intelligence" or knowledge of the job they are intended to perform. Translated for modern times, this simply means that our body does a lot of what it's "supposed" to do without much effort or interference on our part. For example, our heart knows how to pulsate so that blood can travel through the body, carrying oxygen and nutrients where needed. Our lungs and nostrils know how to work together to take in air and breathe out CO2; our mouths, trachea, intestines, and various other organs each have their own role in breaking down food and distributing the calories, fat, proteins, vitamins and minerals from each bite we take.

Pretty cool when you stop to think about it, huh? How amazing that I don't even have to know anything about the inner mechanics of my "vehicle", which takes me where I want to go and allows me to experience all the pleasures and pains of this planet -- all I have to do is go along for the ride!

So, you might now be wondering, if our cells take care of all this stuff on their own, what is this talk of responsibility? I can't control my heartbeat or what my body does with my food!

 Or CAN you??

About KRATU

Welcome to KRATU Wellness!

Are you looking to look and feel better, and think more clearly? Do you want a better handle on your diet, or other aspects of your daily life?  Find out how Vedic practices, developed in Asia thousands of years ago, can be applied to our modern lives and crafted for our individual needs and lifestyles...


You may have heard of the healing and stress-reducing benefits of yoga and ayurveda, or holistic nutrition; western science is indeed discovering that exercises such as yoga asana (postures), focused breathing, and conscious eating have a positive impact on people's bodies, minds, and emotional balance. But did you know that you can receive personalized guidance to help you figure out what exercise style and foods are right for you? With an Ayurvedic/holistic nutrition consultant you'll determine your unique constitution and create a diet-lifestyle plan, tailored to your tastes and preferences. You can also host a workshop for your friends, family, co-workers or others (great for yoga studio and wellness center staff!) about a specific topic, or about holistic nutrition in general. Katherine (Katie) Rosenthal, along with a network of practitioners, are available to work with you one-on-one or in a group. Email Katie - kratuhealth [@] gmail [.] com - to set up an appointment or ask any questions. I look forward to hearing from you!


KRATU: plan; volition; strength; wisdom

Like many Sanskrit words, the term kratu has many interpretations. In Hinduism, Kratu is said to be the name of one of the seven divine rishis, or sages - powerful deities charged with the responsibility of bringing the proper Intelligence and Energies down to the earth so as to strengthen the processes of Transition. From that story we get the concept of "kratu" as a "divine plan," as well as the knowledge and will-power needed to evolve into our best selves and live our fullest life.

Dr. David Frawley defines kratu as intelligence in action (Ayurvedic Healing, p61), or consciously working toward the goal of a harmonious life. He states that by first having "the right will and the true resolve," we can take control of our daily actions so as to become the person we are meant to be.

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wellness: "the quality or state of being in good health* especially as an actively sought goal" (Merriam-Webster)

A state of being in which all our systems are well-balanced and well-nourished; a state of wholeness in which our minds, bodies and spirits are in sync on an individual level (the microcosm), and also in sync with the external universe (the macrocosm). In Ayurveda, wellness is understood as the ability to properly digest, absorb, and transform what we take into ourselves on all levels of existence, including, for example, our digestive system as well as our mental and emotional processes and our spiritual or energetic selves.

      *health: "the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain" (Merriam-Webster)

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That said, begin your journey toward better health today. Contact Kratu Wellness to find out more!