Ann Alesio
Yoga Teacher & Ayurveda Specialist
Sat Nam, Friends!
I am over the moon to be bringing Prana Shakti Yoga to the “Island of Sanity” that is Yoga Together! Prana Shakti yoga pracice uses movement, breath, sound and meditation to regulate the nervous system and connect us to our true nature. I completed a 200 hour training through Life Force Academy with Krishna Kaur and Jai Dev Singh and feel so fortunate to live in a time when we have access to teachers both near and far.
I found LFA through Ayurveda, the ancient healing system that is the sister science to yoga. I was browsing the resource section of one of my favorite cookbooks by Divya Alter, whom I reference in my story below, and stumbled across Jai Dev’s website. I tried one of his classes online and I was hooked! A few months later, he was offering his very first teacher training. It looked very demanding but I signed up. Then I got nervous thinking I wouldn’t be able to carve out the time, so I dropped out. After a week of deep contemplation, I signed back up again and let me tell you, this was a life changing experience that I can’t wait to share!
My journey has come from a desire to find root causes to my suffering and truly heal. I was so out of tune with my body, mind, and soul and how it all relates to nature that it was making me sick. I didn’t realize that I had the power to turn things around. Read on to see where it all began…….
“We live in a world of polarities - for every positive charge there is a negative, for every feminine aspect there is a masculine, for every up there is a down. According to the same principle, every element has energy, and every energy has it’s own particular attributes, or vitality - enhancing qualities, as well as challenges, which can cause weakness or disease. With Ayurveda, we can strengthen the attributes and diminish the challenges of each element.”
-Divya Alter from What to Eat for How You Feel
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This is one of my favorite and most accessible descriptions of Ayurveda I have found. Ayurveda is an an ancient system of natural healing that originated in India and subsequently inspired both Tibetan medicine, and Traditional Chinese medicine. The principles focus on balancing mind, body and spirit through nutrition and lifestyle.
I came to Ayurveda over ten years ago in need of healing. I suffered from endometriosis, fibroids, and painful heavy periods. After two surgeries with some short term relief, I was not getting to the root cause of my health issues . The western medical model is great for treating symptoms , but it falls short when it comes to a deeper healing. I connected with Cary Twomey of Midwest Dharma Wheel here in Lincoln, Nebraska. I was ready to make all of the changes she suggested- diet, lifestyle and an herbal regimen . I was skeptical at first and definitely not perfect at it, but then I slowly began to feel better. I was able to avoid further surgeries, made it through menopause with ease, and I am feeling more vitality than ever. Ayurveda shines when it comes to easing and even reversing chronic conditions.
Inspired by Cary and her wealth of knowledge , I became ever more curious about the principles of Ayurveda . In March of 2020 - the pandemic raging- I thought it would be a good time to take a deep dive into learning this ancient practice with a modern approach. I found two courses online through Ayurvedic Living School where I was able to connect with teachers and students from all over the country (one of the gifts of the pandemic) and completed internships in herbalism and lifestyle coaching. I am honored to say that I am now a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner/herbalist, and I have added these services to my aesthetic practice at Bella. It is so exciting to be able to offer my clients ways of healing from the inside out, to really thrive as they age. I have created some packages that are customizable for budget and time commitments. For more information and or a short consultation to see if this is right for you, contact me at 402-327-9726.
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I am aware of the Breath of Fire documentary and its implications for Kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Yet another painful example of the abuse of power by a self proclaimed guru. The far reaching affects of this man’s abuse are heartbreaking and have impacted generations. May peace come to all of the victims.
My teachers at Life Force Academy have done well to distance themselves from the organizations that were involved in perpetuating and protecting abusers.
In my experience, I have found the teachings to be profoundly effective in calming the mind, relaxing the nervous system and promoting life affirming habits. I invite you to reach out to me at annalesio@mac.com with any questions or concerns about this practice.
I am looking forward to assisting you