Hypermobility and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

Do you have unexplained symptoms such as low energy, low blood pressure, breathing or throat issues, itching, hives, flushing, sensitivity to chemicals and fragrances, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal issues, skin darkening, and/or brain fog? What about intense cramping or diarrhea caused by high prostaglandins around or during your period?

These symptoms all can be signs of Histamine intolerance and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a condition where the body cannot break down histamine effectively and mast cells in the body are overactive and release too many inflammatory chemicals into the system in the short and long term.

Basically, mast cells are an essential part of the immune system and play a crucial role in protecting our bodies from harmful pathogens and our cell’s natural danger responses. However, they also produce byproducts that can have various negative impacts on our health when triggered and produced too much. This overreaction can be triggered by consistent environmental, chemical, pathogenic, or emotional stress. Recent studies have shown that these byproducts could be linked to allergic reactions, asthma, and even certain types of cancer.

If you're struggling with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), you know how difficult it can be to manage the symptoms and understand your body’s needs. Fortunately, there are holistic lifestyle changes you can make to support your body and help manage symptoms. From stress reduction techniques to dietary changes and natural supplements, there are many options available to help you feel your best.

Our top 3 recommendations for those who suspect MCAS in their lives:

1. Practice stress-reducing techniques: Stress can be a major trigger for MCAS symptoms and our cell danger response, so it's important to find ways to reduce stress. This can include practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, or simply taking time for yourself to relax and unwind. Our yoga and wellness classes are perfectly designed to support you.

2. Focus on anti-inflammatory foods: Incorporating foods that are rich in anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce inflammation throughout the body. Some examples of anti-inflammatory foods include fatty fish, leafy greens, berries, and turmeric with black pepper.

3. Avoid trigger foods: Certain foods can trigger MCAS symptoms, so it's important to identify and avoid these foods. Common trigger foods include processed and packaged foods, dairy products, and high histamine foods such as aged cheeses, fermented foods, and alcohol.

MCAS can be difficult to diagnose and manage, but with proper support, it is possible to improve your quality of life and reduce or eliminate symptoms. If you suspect you may have MCAS and would like a holistic way to support yourself, sign up for a lifestyle assessment and integrative health session with Kate to get personalized support.

The Yamas - Asteya

Freedom comes from within. 

Photo by Kelsey White

In past articles, we've explored Ahimsa and Satya, the first two yamas from the text "The Yoga Sutras".  Today we'll discuss and take a look at asteya.  Asteya is the practice of non-stealing.  It is the respectful observance of sources that have contributed to your life or surround you in written, spoken, energetic, or situational exchange.

One way you can think of this practice as utilizing the academic use of bibliographies to ensure that you are giving proper credit to those who have introduced or developed the information that is presented to you in life. Another way is to respect the time and energy of yourself and those around you. Practicing asteya enables us to honor the community we come from and interact with in our lives, while simultaneously lifting each other up energetically instead of eroding the very forces that sustain and build us all.

Asteya, when practiced well, can physiologically affect individuals, including yourself.  When we practice asteya, we are able to positively support brain chemistry including our serotonin and dopamine levels. These two chemicals are related to doing a good job and value or stature. The more we practice giving people the credit they deserve, the more we help elevate their level of self-worth, value, and appreciation and the less likely individuals will experience chemical imbalances that result in symptoms like depression, anxiety, and social fears.

Be aware of asteya in:

Photo by Mary Wrightson

• Your speech, writing, artwork/creations
• Use of imagery on social media
• Exchanges with teachers, professors
• Exchanges with friends, family and lovers
• Your own energy expenditures (thoughts, actions, emotions, words)

Ask yourself:

• Did I come up with this?
• Where did this (idea, thought, emotion, item, etc) come from? 
• Am I living presently or focusing on past or future?
• Am I adding to, taking away from, or being neutral in this situation?
• Is there reciprocity in this situation or my day to day life?
• How can I give more credit to my wealth of knowledge or those around me?
• Do I know how to say no to others when it is depleting of my own energy? 

Enjoy taking a deeper look within and starting to become aware of your patterns and habits. As always, if you need support or assistance in working with this topic and construct in your life, please contact us to set up an energy or coaching session with one of our professionals so you can live beyond limit and start living the life you'd like to live. 

The Yamas - Satya

Often times we think of yoga as the fitness classes with iconic postures, yoga pants, flexible people, and zen like teachers.  While you may come across some or all of these aspects of yoga, true Yoga is the "yoking of mind, body, and spirit" and consists of 8 limbs (Astanga) of external and internal practices both on and off of the mat. 

The 8 Limbs of Yoga (Astanga):

1. Yamas – social morals or observances

2. Niyamas – personal observances

3. Asana - posture

4. Pranayama – breath or prana control

5. Pratyahara – internalization of the senses

6. Dharana - focus

7. Dhyana - meditation

8. Samadhi – absorption

By practicing on and off the mat and taking a deeper look into the philosophy behind this syncing and aligning of an individuals mind, body, and spirit we can get a better look at our specific kleshas, or roots of suffering. Often we find that our lives and mat practices are riddled with inconsistencies that create disharmony and conflict within ourselves and surroundings.  

Today, we'll look at the yamas, and specifically satya, the practice of truthfulness.  

Satya is the ability to stand in one’s truth at all times. Beyond telling the truth to others, it's telling the truth to oneself. It is not only seeing the truth of the full situation at hand, but also living the truth of that situation. When we practice satya the mind, body, and spirit are in alignment with one another and our energy is resonant, full, and impactful.  When we live in falsehoods, contradictions, or lies we experience energetic riffs or dissonance that can be felt physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in our bodies, relationships, and outreach.

Satya is a very intentional and conscious practice that brings great ease into our paths when accomplished.  In order to fully practice satya, one must dive beyond their personal vantage point and perspective and take into account factors beyond their personal experience that motivate others and the environment. Once individuals can step out of their limited perspective, the full truth can be revealed.

 By remaining open to all that there is and all that there could be that is outside of our previous experiences, we free ourselves and clients from their pasts and the limiting factors that have been practiced.  

Ask yourself:

• Do I lie to myself?
• Do I lie to others?
• What subjects do I tend to lie the most about?
• What am I afraid of if I tell the truth?
• Am I open or am I closed off in my interactions?
• Do I try to analyze everything with my mind/ego, or do I feel into situations?
• What judgments do I have of others and myself?
• What stories do I tell myself about myself or the world? Are they still true to this day?
• What is my personal core truth? What resonates with me the most? When do I feel the most authentic?

Have questions or want some one on one coaching for your life and practice? Contact us to be supported in your journey.

What to Look for in A Yoga Teacher

Not all teachers are created equal and there are. Not all trainings that are "Yoga Alliance" certified are credible or complete in how they're taught and what they require "certified teachers" to demonstrate before getting out and teaching people in groups and one on one.  With all of the trainings, certifications, styles, and advertising on the web or in magazines it's hard to know what to look for and how to identify whether or not you're in good hands, so we've made a few pointers for you to be able to feel informed about the studios, teachers, and environments you place yourself within.

Overall the  most important things when you're looking for a yoga instructor are:

1. Knowledge and incorporation of the philosophy and energetics of yoga. 
   • Look to see how they define yoga.  The sanskrit translation is "yoking of mind, body, and spirit," meaning it's helping you connect with you on all levels. 
   • The philosophy begins with the Yamas (social observances) and Niyamas (personal observances), involves postures, breathwork, internalizing the senses to connect with your inner experience, concentration, meditation, and takes you as far as samadhi (bliss/oneness/absorption with your surroundings/infinite consciousness/etc).
   • The energetics involves bandhas (supports/locks), vayus (subtle winds or energies of the body), koshas (layers of self and experience), kleshas (root of suffering) at a minimum.  
   • You'll see more life results in a quicker amount of time by practicing and learning the full philosophy and energetics than you will by practicing the physical postures alone.
2. Knowledge of the physical body, postures, and how to adapt to make them accessible to all persons in the room.
   • See if they're familiar with anatomy and physiology.  Do they know what muscles are doing what? Can they help you target and locate what you need to find to get into the postures? Do they ask you to find control and restraint at times and work deeper at other times?  Do they offer modifications and levels of the postures for all students to work at their own pace? 
3. Offers adjustments without force and with your permission.
   • Adjustments should only be offered to help you learn how to find the alignments, space, or ease in your own experience.  If your teacher forces the movement or posture onto your body, it doesn't help you figure out how to find it on your own.  Those that use light touch, visual cues, verbal cues, sensory cues, etc are better teachers and will help you grow more in the long run in a safer and healthier manner.
   • Consent is key.  With so many of us walking around with traumas and personal preferences, it's important that your teacher give you the option to say you rather not be touched in class.  Whether they ask if it's okay, offer chips to mark if you'd like adjustments for class, or ask you to make a gesture in your opening meditation so they know who is and is not comfortable with physical assists, permission is VITAL so you feel safe and respected in your body and practice. 
4. Clear with instructions and able to demonstrate, explain, and assist you with the practice.
   • They should be easy to follow and understand as you go through class.  If you're confused the whole time, they refuse to demo to help you figure out where to go or what you're doing and what you need to be doing...well then they may not be the best teacher for you.
5. Warm, friendly, supportive, and approachable. 
   • It's important your teacher makes your feel comfortable in the skin you're in and actually cares about you beyond your mat.  If you have feedback or concerns about your practice or their teaching, it's important that they create an environment where you feel comfortable voicing your needs so you can feel safe and supported in your yoga journey.
   • They get excited to share with you and to see you grow.  They help you notice your progress and celebrate your developing practice.  They notice your small and big shifts and changes.
6. Professional in appearance and demeanor.
   • It's important that the teacher is professional and focuses on you or the class you're in as a whole instead of focusing on their own practice or problems.  While sometimes a teacher's personal journey can be a powerful teaching experience and offer you permission to be sensitive to your own grown and needs, it should not be the main focus of the class as they are there to teach and serve you and your development.  
   • It's important they care about their hygiene and appearance to an extent. One of the main pillars of yoga philosophy is cleanliness, so if they're always looking disheveled and a bit rough or potent smelling, they are showing disrespect to both you and themselves. 
7. They LIVE their practice. 
   • Yoga isn't just a hobby for them. The best teachers are those who take their practice into their daily lives in every waking moment.  They're present in themselves, they listen and like to be challenged to learn and grow, they care about the world, and they are focused on being their best selves.

We hope this guide helps you target the teachers who will be able to best help you deepen your practice.  We support the new teachers who are working to develop their knowledge base and ability to teach and guide students, but recommend those with a bit more training and experience to ensure a safe, supportive, and powerful environment to help you know your investment in yourself is going to be well worth the efforts and professional attention.

Have questions or need help finding the right teacher for you?  Shoot us a message at katew@livebeyondlimit.com or use our Contact page to receive some support.