Inspired by the 9 Muses, Taoist 5 Element Holistic Hydration for Yoga and Beyond
Hello Yoga Friends!
Thanks for joining me again here with Asana Insights as we continue to cultivate a yoga-inspired lifestyle with a Taoist 5 Element twist!
We’ve been exploring the elements and yoga as expressed through the viewpoint of the current season,working our way through spring which represents the Wood elelment. Each element (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) takes a turn throughout the year. Early summer and the Fire element is just around the corner, so let’s soak up the final freshness of spring while we can!
May 1st, or May Day, marks the halfway point from the spring equinox to summer solstice. May Day is an ancient holiday that was celebrated across many different geographical areas. Traditional observances incorporated flowers, tree branches, and fertility dances to rejoice in spring’s victory over another winter. While the holiday has evolved over time, May Day is still celebrated across cultures, welcoming the glory of spring.
So with the sun shining stronger and earth heating up, now is the perfect time for a hydration checkup before, during, and after yoga practice!
Dehydration: Surprising Signs
Beyond thirst, hydration also effects our mood and productivity in surprising ways. According to Taoist 5 Element wisdom, dehydration manifests as imbalanced Wood energy in the body. Common signs include:
Experiencing yourself as extra irritable, and/or
jealous,
territorial,
ungrounded,
uninspired,
disorganized
experiencing cramps during or after yoga practice,
headaches,
eye-fatigue (like tired eyes from staring at screens all day)
Luckily, all of these can be fairly easily addressed with fast results through good hydration. West Wind Yoga Retreat‘s Asana Insights has teamed up again with Rebekah Gillette to teach us how!
Welcome Back Institute for Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Recipe Developer, and Holisitic Chef, Rebekah Gillette
Always ready to bring new us flavors and holistic meal inspiration, Rebekah shares a new recipe that fits right into our springtime Wood element yoga theme: Barley Grass Sweet Tea.
A little hydration boost to recalibrate our Wood energies to may be just the recipe to set us straight again, for yoga practice and beyond, nourishing the body, mind, and soul.
See below Rebekah’s short and easy video recipe for Barley Grass Sweet Tea:
More Yoga Hydration Recipes from Rebekah:
Previously, Rebekah shared a super refreshing (and super tasty!) Kombucha recipe:
The whole blog that digs into spring energies and recipes to keep you nourished and balanced is HERE!
May Day and the 9 Muses
We celebrated this year’s May Day on the foothills of Mount Helikon, Greece, home to the 9 Muses in Greek mythology. Please enjoy the short video below of making traditional May Day wreaths. Just like the Barley Grass Sweet Tea, these wreaths feature milk thistle, believed to protect again the evil eye!
Have a great week!
Namaste,
Lara
PS
Resources
Don’t miss out on these great discounts on the superfood products Rebekah's recommends: Save $50 on your first purchase ($75 min) or 25% when you spend over $200.
For Barley Green Juice CLICK HERE
For Carrot Juice Plus, CLICK HERE
For Pineapple Coco-Hydrate, CLICK HERE
For Can’t Beet This, CLICK HERE
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Thank you for this reminder of the importance of staying hydrated and for yummy ways to do it. I appreciate the reminder that sometimes when I'm feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated, sometimes what I need most is a glass of water or a cup of herbal tea.