Wednesday, June 24, 2015

This week's yoga, June and July calendars, Herb/Spice of the Month: Chamomile, reminders, and more

Hello,

You are getting this email late on Monday afternoon because right after I came back from my vacation, I had to go for jury duty today.  I was waiting to see if I get selected before I send you my weekly reminder.  I wasn't selected. :-)

I hope you enjoyed practicing yoga with Nina  last week.  I am looking to practicing with you this week:

 

Tuesday, June 23 at 10:30AM at BUMC

Wednesday, June 24 at 6PM at BUMC

  Thursday, June 25 at 11:30AM at BUMC; Chair/Mat yoga at Gym (if gym proves to be too hot, we go to the adjacent room)
 

Saturday, June 27at 9:30AM at BUMC

Sunday, June 28 at 5PM at BUMC



Optional Meditation during the Second Week of Each Month   

We donated $40.00 to Our House this month.  Thank you.
Do yourself a favor and spend about 10 minutes after yoga to meditate; it's the best time because your mind is clear and calm.

 Your donation
benefits Our House which provides care and education to homeless children and helps their parents to get to their feet.
P
lease remember to put your donation in the basket in lieu of extra fee.

  Lunch and Dinner Club Dates

  Please send me suggestions for date and place for our next lunch and dinner outings.

Reminders

Please see June and July calendar attached
Until end of June Chair/Mat yoga takes place in the gym.  If gym proves to be too hot, we will practice in one of the adjacent rooms. 
As of July 1, we will meet at Clairmont Presbyterian Church

Spice of the Month; Chamomile
Chamomile is one of the most versatile and benign of  the herbs.  Here are a few of its uses:

Digestion; It is great for digestion, weak stomach, stomach spasms and for anything related to digestion.  To make tea, brew one to two tablespoons of chamomile with one cup of boiling water.   Drink half a cupful at a time.
Diarrhea; chamomile tea is an old remedy for children's summer diarrhea.
Enema; chamomile tea may be used to irrigate the body when there are chronic stomach spams caused by gas.  This and a neutral, natural and fiber-rich diet will often cure the flatulence.
Antiseptic, Anti pain; to reduce inflammation, sores and swellings, apply a hot and wet chamomile paste to the area.  To make the paste, add a small amount of boiling water to the flowers, blend in a blender or grind in a mortar and pestle.
Bath and Hair; Make a large infusion, steep for fifteen minutes, strain and add to a bath to heal the body sores and aches.  this same infusion can be used to lighten and add golden highlights to brown hair.  combine chamomile with neutral henna to add beautiful highlights to dark hair.
Facials; To make a deep pore-cleansing chamomile facial, boil water, add it to chamomile flowers.  Improvise an umbrella "hood" with a large towel over your head.   Keep your eyes closed and allow the chamomile steam open the pores of your face.  Stay out of a draft and cleanse your face immediately after the facial.
Insect Repellent; Splash chamomile tea over your face, arms, hands and feet to keep mosquitoes away.  It also works for keeping gnats and summer flies away.
Chamomile Oil; there are two ways to make oil.  One is with olive oil: add the dried flowers to olive oil 10 times their weight, heat a very low heat and every now and then stir.  It should not boil.   Leave it for 24 hours before straining it.  Keep it a tight glass container.   Apply topically on your stomach and belly for gas and spasms.   The second oil is made with sesame oil: add dried flowers to 4 times their weight sesame oil and two times their weight water.  Heat at low temperature and let it boil until the water is evaporated.  
Use chamomile oil topically when you don't have time to take a bath or to make a paste.
Note: If you have allergy to ragweed make sure your chamomile flowers are not mixed with chamomile flowers.   Since chamomile is a low growing plant, some times while picking the chamomile flowers accidentally ragweed gets mixed with the chamomile flowers.


Food for Thought

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.  when the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves."


Namaste

Mariam