YOGUE: INSIYA RASIWALA-FINN

Yoga + Ayurveda. Rituals for Modern Wellness.

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A Yoga Routine for when you feel crummy.

February 9, 2021 by yogue Leave a Comment

It has not been an easy year for me here in Bali. Since our family stayed on after our flights home were cancelled last March, we have navigated tropical fevers, braved an incessant rainy season and also had some accidents. Last October, a week before my birthday I experienced a really bad motorbike accident, which left me impaired for almost two months, before I really felt like I was back and healthy in my body.

Then last week, I had surgery on my left foot to remove a callus on the ball of the foot – an injury that has been impeding me from running or walking with ease for almost six years now. It first originated when I stepped on some broken glass!!! 🙁

After doing a yoga practice with a girlfriend where I wobbled every time I stood on my left (injured) foot; I committed to myself that I would look after this injury asap.

For me that meant no more waiting, but instead, taking action.

Last week, I went to the hospital here where I had been referred to a plastic surgeon by a dermatologist who I saw last November about the injury. Right, I was finally following up!!!

The consult appointment also included surgery. It happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to process the implications – In Canada, one podiatrist told me to think about surgery as being such an end of the road decision that I promptly gave up the idea altogether. And considering how many nerves lay on the soles of our feet, I understood how important a decision this was.

Yet, after the 20 minute procedure in Bali when I saw how much hardened callused tissue the doctor had removed, I was shocked and relieved. He also promised me no pain while walking once the foot healed. Of course, now it also meant, waiting and resting my foot while it healed.

It has been very difficult to stay stationary this past week. I realize over and over how much I rely on being in my body to feel good. And how important movement and yoga are to my wellbeing, my overall mood and my level of happiness.

I’ve tuned into to a different yoga and movement practice than I am normally accustomed to; and realize how much even a very simple routine can help move stuck energy and emotion out of the body.

Since I cannot weight bear on my left foot at all right now, the only poses I have been able to practice are on my back, and simple cat cows. Here is a simple routine that has helped me breathe, connect and feel more like myself. I would recommend it to anyone suffering from mobility issues, hip instability, if you are recovering from an accident, or if you simply want some gentle, healing yoga.

Here is the routine. I hope you enjoy it.

To begin:

Child’s Pose or Wisdom Pose: 5 – 8 breaths.

Settle down in child’s pose for 5 – 8 breaths. Use a cushion between your hips and heels if your hips cannot touch your heels (I could not put any pressure on my left foot so I actually just had my hips up slightly above my heels). Knees can be wider than hips if you have no issues with your knees, otherwise, have the knees together. I did this as for me right now, gathering and containing my energy was what I needed in my practice.

Cat to Cow: 8- 10 breaths.

Next, come onto all fours and play with spinal mobility in your cat / cow poses. Allow yourself to exhale as you draw the navel in towards the spine and round the back, then release the belly down as the head lifts up on the inhale. Initiate the spinal roll from your pelvis. Notice that you stabilize using both feet and hands, don’t dump weight onto the knees. Play with this movement, practice lifting alternate arms and legs and also make the spinal rolls as big and fluid as you need to. Again, my left foot here limited my shifting weight from side to side so I stayed with a forward/ back roll which felt amazing.

Sphinx Pose: 5 breaths

From cat / cow roll forward onto the belly and lay down, forehead onto the mat. Draw the elbows to either side of the rib cage, press down through fingertips and slowly raise your torso off the mat. Elbows will line up approximately below the shoulders when you do this. If the spine feels more open, lengthen the arms to your own degree. Breathe here. Notice that you have to press down on the tops of the feet so you don’t hinge the spine and instead create a supple curve of opening through the entire front body.

Thread the Needle Pose: 5 – 8 breaths each side

Release back down onto the mat, roll onto the back and bend the knees. Cross right ankle on top of the left, thread the hands behind the left thigh. Use your right elbow to press the right thigh away from you, as you draw the left knee in towards you. Flex the feet so you protect your knee; and keep drawing the the left knee in closer. You should feel a (joyful 🙂 ) opening on the outer right hip as well as release in the lower back. Remember not to lift the pelvis up in this pose or you will miss the length in the lower back. Exhale through an open mouth and make any sound you need to let energy and emotion flow. Repeat on the other side.

Adrenal Draining: 8 – 10 breaths

This technique, specific to Blissology Yoga is done on one’s back. Here we counter the body’s tendency to breathe only in the front, by connecting to the back body and specifically try to calm our over amped adrenal glands.

Draw the knees into the chest and hug the arms around the backs of the legs. Clasp the hands so the shoulders can work as little as possible. Let the shins drape over the forearms and hug the knees into the chest. If possible, wrap the arms around the backs of the thighs and drape the shins over the forearms. Feel the bones of the back body in the back of the rib cage, the pelvis, shoulder blades and the skull.  With each let each long, slow and tension-releasing exhalation release the lower back down into the earth (like a hot knife through vegan butter).  (this analogy via @theblissologist)!!! Let your mind rest.  Feel the belly rising on inhalations, nourishing the organs and relax the tension stored there.

Breathe tension of out through and open mouth and feel the pleasure of finally finding the off switch.  Today is a beautiful day and you are exactly where you need to be. 🙂

The Bali BLISS List: Our Fav Yogi Friendly Cafes in Canggu

February 11, 2020 by yogue 2 Comments

Brunch offerings at Crate, Canggu

Eoin my global yoga teaching, surf-mad husband and I have been returning to Bali for the last thirteen years; and you might say that Bali is not unfamiliar to us. Yet, we are still surprised by the changes, development and increasing hipster-ness that continues to grow exponentially where we hang out in Canggu.

[Read more…]

Food Matters + Mindful Eating

January 17, 2019 by yogue 2 Comments

You know those days when everything comes together in a cohesive, integrated way and you begin to trust that there are no coincidences in life, simply events that align, once we open up to the possibility of alignment?

[Read more…]

FLOW into Purpose: Ayurveda + Yoga for a New Year

January 13, 2019 by yogue Leave a Comment

at Semperviva Yoga, Vancouver

with Insiya Rasiwala-Finn

We live in a world of 24/7 stimulation. The impact of our current pace of living has resulted in stress, chronic health imbalances and a lack of focus. How can we stay healthy, grounded, present and not burn out? How can we shift our course this new year to find more flow, so that we are moving along with the river of life and not against it?

Join Insiya for an illuminating discussion of health grounded in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, yet peppered with practical modern insights on how to find balance, ease, purpose and joy in our lives. The conversation will lead us to a vinyasa yoga practice and meditation for more relaxation, spaciousness and bliss.

Suitable for all levels.  Bring a journal and be prepared to breathe, move and sweat.

50 hr Ayurveda Immersion with Blissology

July 3, 2018 by yogue Leave a Comment

Experience the healing power of Ayurveda as we tap into its divine wisdom storehouse to transform our Yoga, up-level our health and live with more purpose, power, clarity and bliss at this transformational course with Yogini + Ayurveda Specialist Insiya Rasiwala-Finn.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Ayurveda is India’s powerful healing science of life, it helps us return to a simple yet core idea: when we live in true harmony with the rhythms of nature and flow of life, we can experience authentic mind body and spirit health even in our fast-paced, modern lives.

As yogis and yoga teachers , we are all looking to deepen our practice and ignite it with more presence, intuition and power. With Ayurveda’s wisdom of self-knowledge, we receive the gift of more insight, sensitivity and understanding in our lives. In this way, the study of Ayurveda will transform our yoga practices and our health, as well as those of our students, allowing us to truly become healers while we share our own journeys of growth and evolution.

“Join me on this exciting immersion that I have crafted with years of my study of this incredible holistic science and lifestyle.”

Insiya Rasiwala-Finn, B.A. RYT, Ayurveda Counsellor.

This course counts towards 50 hours for the Blissology Yoga 500-hour certification. Or you can earn 50 Yoga Alliance CEUs (in order to maintain your RYT status on Yoga Alliance, you need to report at least 30 hours of training every three years and this course will give you 50 hours towards that). 

 

YOU WILL LEARN:

KEY AYURVEDIC PRINCIPLES:

Understand the key principles of Ayurveda as related to diet, lifestyle, mental and spiritual health. Learn how to apply them to your life to create more well-being, balance and transformation.  Intimately connect with your Prakriti: your unique, natal constitution and rediscover how you are meant to live, in harmony with our larger environment, in a way that is uniquely balancing for your body, mind and spirit. Use this knowledge to create a life of more purpose and bliss.

YOGA FOR THE DOSHAS:

The three Doshas or constitutional mind-body types open the doorway to deeper understanding of our bodies, our minds and heart. With these tools, we begin to observe existing habit patters and effect lasting changes that move us to a different way of being. You will learn how to adapt the yoga practice to balance the impact of the time of day, seasons, the age of your students and bring more balance and healing. You will practice creating bespoke yoga routines that help to balance yours and your students’ individual constitution and learn how yoga can be powerful medicine when used wisely.

HOW TO CULTIVATE PRANA:

The movement of prana, or life force or energy is key in the yoga practice. Understanding the deeper principles of this life force energy via Ayurveda offers us insights into sequencing practices to address different energetic needs. We will discuss and practice yoga asanas through the Ayurvedic lens, to bring freedom, awareness and flow.

 

FOOD AND DIGESTION:

Digesting food well is crucial to our health according to Ayurveda and more recently Western Science. Learn how what you eat and when impacts us individually and how we can find more balance in our life through balancing our food. Create your own healing regimen using simple Ayurvedic recipes that you will use for life.

 

SELF-CARE PRACTICES:

Maintaining “shukra” or juicy-ness is our mind-body’s way of signalling that we are vibrant and thriving. Here we’ll explore how we can use a daily routine of Ayurvedic self care practices, yoga and pranayama to effect energy, vitality and creativity in our life and practice as we age.

 

AT THE END OF THIS COURSE, YOU WILL FEEL EMPOWERED TO:

  • Incorporate Ayurveda into your own life and your yoga classes.
  • Understand digestion from an Ayurvedic perspective and be able to offer yoga and lifestyle suggestions on improving digestion and thus overall health.
  • Teach Yoga inspired by Ayurveda to balance the doshas.
  • Understand Ayurvedic principles on taste, food and health.
  • Cook a delicious and healing Ayurvedic meal.
  • Create and practice an inspiring home self care routine.
  • Live life according to the natural flow of energy so that you thrive in all aspects of your life.

Celebrating World Oceans Day: One Plastic Free Step at a Time

June 8, 2018 by yogue 2 Comments

For the past three months, we have lived a few minutes walk from the beach in a quiet village in Bali.  I can’t quite describe how simple life is here, and how luxurious that feels.  We awake with the early dawn light, and try to “sand-ify” our feet before the sun is high as it gets hot here in the tropics, quickly.

[Read more…]

Live in Flow: How to Balance Your Doshas

April 10, 2018 by yogue Leave a Comment

In the post preceding this one, What’s my Dosha?; I wrote, that in order to live more in FLOW with Life, to be truly healthy and vital, it is essential to balance our Doshas.  And since you now have an understanding of the energetic qualities of the 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha I know we can talk about how to balance them.

[Read more…]

Bali Spirit Festival 2018

April 6, 2018 by yogue Leave a Comment

 

I am thrilled to be presenting once again at this big hearted, soul-stirring festival that coalesces annually in Bali!!! The current line up of workshops with me is:

Urban Ayurveda: Friday April 6 at 12:15 p.m.

We live in a world of 24/7 stimulation. The impact of our current pace of living has resulted in disconnect, stress and chronic health imbalances. How can we stay healthy, grounded, present and not burn out? What is true freedom and how can we experience it? Join Insiya for an exciting conversation grounded in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, yet peppered with practical modern insights on how to find balance, ease, purpose and presence in a world that is moving so fast we can scarcely keep up. We will end our discussion with a healing meditation to gain balance and presence.

The Yoga of Conscious Parenting: Sunday April 8 at 1 p.m.

We all seek to parent with presence, compassion and love and yet real life often gets in the way. Join yogini, ayurvedic counsellor and mama Insiya Rasiwala-Finn in this stimulating workshop where she will share tangible insights from yoga’s sister science of Ayurveda to bring more balance, space, health, ease and love for our children and ourselves in the fast pace of modern life.

Surya Samudra: A Yoga Retreat to India with Insiya + Eoin Finn

January 7, 2018 by yogue Leave a Comment

Are you ready to dive deep and open up to your inner bliss?

To practice yoga in its birthplace, in a beautiful tropical setting by the shores of the Arabian Sea, where the ocean waters (samudra) meet the setting sun s(surya)?

We are so excited to offer up our first retreat in Insiya’s homeland of India, where we will deepen our yoga practice as well as our understanding of its philosophy on the soil of its evolution.

Join globally renowned yogis Insiya and Eoin Finn in beautiful Goa, India this winter for a retreat that combines Blissology Yoga with Ayurveda to give you the tools and practices to step into your most joyful and vibrant self.

This 7-night yoga retreat on the shores of serene Morjim beach in Goa, India, will help you find true health, balance, and profound healing.

Daily yoga practices with Eoin and Insiya are designed to help you release blockages, and Insiya will share her extensive knowledge of Ayurveda that will help you find more balance, self-care and happiness in your life—at the retreat and beyond.

Each day includes yoga and meditation practices, nourishing vegetarian meals, rest time and exciting optional excursions or activities. We are so excited to see you in Goa!

For more details, a sample retreat day, FAQs and to book: visit this link.

*Early bird discount: $200 if booked by Sep 30*

Wanderlust Whistler 2017

August 3, 2017 by yogue Leave a Comment

I’m joining the #WanderlustFestival family on the road this summer in Whistler along with an amazing tribe of yogis and change makers including (and not limited to) Janet Stone,  Eoin Finn Fiona Stang Djtaz Kevin Paris Ryan C. Leier! Definitely hope to see YOU there! For tickets click here.

My offerings are below:

Thursday August 3
Urban Ayurveda: Lecture/ Discussion

Friday August 4
Embodied Presence: Meditation
Radiant Heart: Meditation
Sama Agni: Meditation
Earth Lotus: Meditation

Saturday August 5
Embodied Presence: Meditation

Sunday August 6
Sama Agni: Meditation
Sama Agni: Meditation
Earth Lotus: Meditation
Vital Radiance: Vinyasa Flow

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Yoga + Ayurveda. Rituals for Modern Wellness
ABOUT YOGUE Hi, I'm Insiya. Journey with me as we live slow, scatter beauty and tread lightly on the planet.
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Recipes

Spiced Apple Almond Muffins

Spiced Apple Almond Muffins

January 17, 2019

Simple Spiced Summer Oatmeal

Simple Spiced Summer Oatmeal

August 16, 2018

Ayurvedic Chai: My Favorite Recipe

Ayurvedic Chai: My Favorite Recipe

August 16, 2017