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by Acharya Sri Khadi Madama, RYT, of TheHolisticOption.com
Yoga offers us many ways to correct what I call temporal shifts in our body alignment that are created by constant postural demands at work or commuting, many of which create long range damage. It is through becoming aware of how we use our bodies through body language that we can avert the ravages of speaking bad body language and to start speaking Yoga Body Language. The spine is the key to interpreting our health since all movement radiates from the spine and the spine contains all of the nerves that flow to our internal organs and nervous system. The more mobile the spine, the more energy and vibrant health in the body. The Yogi can achieve complete health in proportion to his awareness of how he moves from the spine. For those who sit for hours at work, the slumping forward with tilted spine and contracted muscles crimp the nerves and impede blood flow to the brain cutting off oxygen.
Let's start this week off right by beginning our Yoga Body Language with an erect spine which says, "I'm confident, successful and feel good about myself". This will create an air of success around you that people will be able to read and respond to favorably, as well.
Every half hour cue yourself to sit up straight and take a deep breath. Mentally talk that Yoga Body talk by telling yourself that you are successful, confident and attractive. Visualize a tall Pine Tree with its branches flowing gracefully and imagine breathing in its refreshing scent for a mini-meditation spiritual uplift. If you work or live near such a tree, just touching a branch for a few minutes will energize you. Yogi's are known for graceful deliberate movement and agility.The important thing is that Yoga offers us ancient knowledge to create this vibrant health anywhere we are.
Khadi's website is www.yourstrulyyogatv.vpweb.com.
by Acharya Sri Khadi Madama, RYT, of TheHolisticOption.comLast month I began an essay on the historical value of practicing traditional Yoga and keeping to it's ancient code. This month I find that I must continue in this line, as Yoga continues to be exploited by more and more trend seeking journalists and venues. I have just seen an ad requesting information for Yoga retreats that offer wine tasting parties as one of the events. I have no idea when this outrageous distortion will end. The old masters knew only too well that alcohol consumption affects the cerebral cortex of the brain, one of the main channels for the passage of the Kundalini energy. That energy that must be released from the base of the spine and which must travel through the energy impasses known as the Three Grandhi's or knots, and it must circulate through the 7 Chakras in the subtle anatomy before being able to reach the Thousand Point Gate (Thousand Petaled Lotus) at the top of the head and which is the location of the 7th Chakra. If this energy becomes tainted in anyway, this process cannot be achieved and the aspirant cannot reach enlightenment. In fact, if the energy becomes tainted, as the practitioner tries to force the process, it can cause serious problems. Enlightenment can only be achieved when the subconscious mind is clear of debris through much deep disciplinary practice, otherwise the superconscious cannot be accessed. Many people go to a Yoga class, then off to a party or dinner and have a glass or two of wine. What they don't know, because they are not being properly instructed, is that they will impede or reverse any progress toward this higher development, if that is their goal. In ancient times, the Guru would not instruct anyone who partook of alcohol or meat and in fact, certain Yoga practices even today, are withheld from students who do not abstain from these two substances because of the danger of the damaging effects being introduced into the finer nerve tissues, known as Nadis, and the subsequent damage to the student. These students would be barred from advancing to the more advanced techniques and therefore, stunted in their long range progress. This also includes smoking cigarettes. If your life is not improving all' round while you are practicing Yoga, it is because you are not engaging the 10 principles and only practicing one small portion of Yoga such as the postures only. This idea is very sad because often Yoga will be suggested to someone for their health or stress management, yet, they do not achieve the results desired because these other principles are not incorporated. Yoga works best as the total package it was designed to be by the ancient Rishis who channeled it from the masters in the higher spheres.
Now here are the substantial facts. According to a health note in Woman's Day Magazine, June 2009 issue, the findings are that drinking just one glass of wine per day can raise your risk of developing breast, liver and colon cancer by almost 13%. The health note went on to say to limit it to no more than 3 times per week. Why not just eliminate it all together? You can substitute the wine with chilled fruit herbal tea, & the beer with Chamomile/Ginger herbal tea in seltzer. If it's the buzz you're looking for, that's where meditation comes in. Grab your Yoga mat instead of the bottle. You'll live longer and feel 'Yours Truly, Yoga' better.
Khadi's website is www.yourstrulyyogatv.vpweb.com.
by Acharya Sri Khadi Madama, RYT, of TheHolisticOption.comTHE THIRST QUENCHING BREATH: This breath has been used by Yogi's over the centuries to quench thirst when water was not available. It will help for short periods of time when one feels parched.
Sitting in a comfortable position with your spine relaxed but straight. Curl up your tongue as you extend it just outside of your lips, to form a kind of straw. Inhale slowly through your "straw", then retract your tongue, as you close your mouth to exhale through your nostrils. You will notice that your mouth feels very cool. Now repeat, as you continue to repeat, the inside of your mouth will become more and more cool and cool saliva will begin to form. Swallow this cool saliva so it can begin to cool you down and un parch your system. Repeat approximately 8 times.
THE COOLING BREATH: As above, sit comfortably, parting your lips slightly, and placing your upper and lower teeth together and your tongue behind your teeth right where they come together. Inhale through your mouth, which will make a kind of slurping sound. Then exhale through your nostrils with your mouth closed. You will find that the cooling effect can be felt in the mouth, throat and down into the chest. Repeat 8 times.
Both of these breaths utilize mouth breathing which is not normally practiced in Yoga. However, due to the special nature of these two "pranayams" (controlling the life-force breathing) one is actually energized in a healthy way. These two breaths are also 2 of the 8 special breathings performed by advanced Yogi's. They are simple and effective and most importantly, safe! However, if you suffer from Asthma, Allergies or any other respiratory problems, please check with your physician before attempting to learn these two breaths.
Khadi's website is www.yourstrulyyogatv.vpweb.com.
by Acharya Sri Khadi Madama, RYT, of TheHolisticOption.comEven though I am The Yoga Diva on the Flying Carpet, and jutting around for guest appearances and Sports Yoga clinics, I always make time for my long time students, and each month treat them to a mini retreat which I call a Yoga Party. During this class I like to introduce something unique that our regular class doesn't allow time for, and this month I thought I'd love to share this idea with all of you 'Ask the Health Experts' blog readers.
I wish I could claim the brilliance for this idea, but I cannot. I learned it more than 35 years ago from a brilliant behavior consultant during a Yoga retreat I was conducting, and later, saw that yet another inspired Yoga instructor was offering it at the Omega Institute. I've taught this over the years at various venues and each time, I seem to be able to uncover something that I hadn't thought of before. So, with no further ado, get out a piece of paper big enough to draw the outline of your body, find some markers and let's do a Yoga Body Map. The thing about a body map is that it relates perfectly to a Yoga setting in that once you're finished playing with it, you can set about to do the Yoga poses that will help to recover, relieve, strengthen, release whatever it is that the Yoga Body Map reveals. Here's how you do it:
1. Draw an outline of your body with the color of choice.
2. Identify any areas of your body that have been injured either physically or emotionally.
3. Identify areas of your body that you are just plain not happy with.
4. Any surgeries?
5. What parts of your body are just fine?
Now choose some colors and indicate all of those areas on the map. Use it as a meditation: think about healing those areas by re-coloring over them with a different healing color such as blue. Have fun with it! I drew a happy orange slice where my neck used to hurt because I love the happy look of orange slices...and 'orange you' just happy you can color over things too? The body map will reveal all of the joys of living in your body and it will help you in a lighthearted way identify where you are having some problems. By breaking the cycle of serious suffering, you can shake the negative energy and feel for these glorious fun moments that you have control over that last 5 pounds, the headaches (please don't draw an axe on your head!) and other aches, pains and illnesses as you color them away, draw sacred symbols on them. Have a broken heart? Color it blue and healed. The important thing is to have fun, even when dealing with sensitive areas. In this way, you get to move past them in ways you didn't think you could. Don't forget to dot yourself by putting the dot of enlightenment on your third eye to finish your masterpiece. Later, you can give it a great big send off in your outdoor chiminia with a few cones of favorite incense. You will be amazed at what the Yoga Map will reveal and release.
Khadi's website is www.yourstrulyyogatv.vpweb.com.
by Donielle Wilson, ND, of TheHolisticOption.com
Breakfast is the key to starting your day feeling both healthy and energetic. Whether you are focused on balancing your blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, losing weight, avoiding gluten and dairy, fighting off yeast or improving your mood and focus, the breakfast recommendations are basically the same! This may come as a surprise, but these three simple concepts really do control all of the above:
1. Make sure to include protein.
2. Minimize carbohydrates.
3. Include healthy fat and fiber if possible.
Ok, with those three points in mind, let's build a breakfast for you. I would like to encourage you to think outside the breakfast box! Forget about cereals, pancakes, waffles and the like. They are simply too high in carbohydrates, have a high glycemic index and, furthermore, tend to contain gluten (an all too common grain that many people can't eat).
Set aside American breakfast concepts, and those advertised on TV and start thinking of breakfast in a whole new way. How about wild salmon for breakfast? (that is one of my favorites) Or left over chicken and roasted vegetables.
Here are my favorite breakfast choices:
1. Protein shake (Metagenics Sustain or Thorne Mediclear Plus) with flax seed oil, ground flax seeds and ProBerry
2. Turkey Bacon (hormone and antibiotic free)
3. Frozen turkey sausage (hormone and antibiotic free)
4. Wild Salmon, sauteed with onions
5. Turkey Bologna (hormone and antibiotic free)
6. Whole, Organic egg (if you are not intolerant to eggs) poached or sauteed with arugula and goat cheese
How much you ask? My recommendation is to eat half. Eat half as much as you think you need or half as much as you usually have. What is the worst possibility? You might feel hungry in an hour or two? Great, then eat a second breakfast.
It is better to spread out the calories and eat every 3 to 4 hours throughout the day, so for those of you like me, who love breakfast, I don't think it will take much convincing to switch to breakfast twice! That is right, eat half, and eat the other half (or something else) in a couple hours.
To drink? Stay away from juices. They are basically sugar, adding to your carbohydrate load and making a tasty breakfast for yeast, encouraging them to stay instead of go away. A much healthier option is green tea. It helps regulate blood sugar and metabolism, and prevents cancer at the same time.
Otherwise water, filtered of course, is a great place to start your day, especially if you consume caffeine, which is a diuretic. Minimize the caffeine, but at the same time I think you will find that the longer you stick to these breakfast items, you won't be needing that caffeine to boost your energy so much anymore.
By following these recommendations, you will likely notice a difference in how you feel even the very first day you try it. From then on, I bet you won't look back!
Dr. Donielle Wilson's website is www.doctordoni.com.
by Acharya Sri Khadi Madama, RYT, of TheHolisticOption.comMany years ago I was asked to teach a Yoga class at a local school. It was my habit in those days, on the first night of class, to ask students to write an anonymous note as to why they were in the class and what they hoped to achieve during our 10 weeks. It was also my habit to tell them that at no time during the 10 weeks were they to use phrases like "I'm getting old", I'm sick and tired" or "I'm dying to __________" (whatever their statement was). I told them that in Yoga, we cannot use these phrases if we want to train the mind and the body to be well. When the students returned the next week, they handed me their folded anonymous notes which I read when I returned home that evening. One was a long letter from a lady telling me that she had inoperable brain cancer and had been given 6 months to live. She had taken up my class because she felt it would help her to relax and be soothing to her, but when she heard my words on that first evening to get the word "dying" out of her mind and experience, she told me that she decided that she would follow what I said by changing everything she said to "I'm living to go to the movies", "I'm living to see my sister next week", etc. I did not know who this student was and I taught maybe one or two more semesters, having some of the students return subsequently, before ending my time at the school. I had taken a particular liking to a small handful of the students and had wondered to where some of them had gone. It was not much time after then, that I was asked to host my TV show, Yours Truly, Yoga, and once again agreed to teach publicly due to viewers writing in to ask where they could take classes with me. During that time, I had also been asked to be a special guest, appearing for Clinique at an event at our local Mall. Even The Amazing Kreskin was there and he WAS pretty amazing and also very friendly. One of the former regular students from the local school came into my mind and I wondered where she had been during these last years. A moment later, I turned around and was amazed to find her at the counter opposite me. We both were surprised and she came up to hug me. When she did, she whispered in my ear "I'm the one who had the brain cancer and it's 8 years later, here I am, it's in remission. I believed so strongly in what you said and I lived it every day. Thank you." I saw her again a couple of years after that at a craft store, still happy, still well. I tell her story in every workshop and at every speaking engagement because it's true and people need to hear it. She believed so deeply that if she changed her mind to focusing only on living, in thought, word and action, that she would live, and she did.
Yoga teaches us to keep our minds clear and focused. On a deeper level it teaches us that if we learn the true art of concentration, Dharana, we can then truly fund the energy needed to bring about great change in our lives for the better, by funneling our energy in beneficial directions. What we allow ourselves to hear, think, say and see has such a deep impact on our wellness that it behooves us to live as the Yogi's did, in those ancient, more simpler times by keeping our thoughts and words sweet and pure and to focus on being well first within our spiritual core, which radiates pure healing energy to our minds and bodies. Strive today to be protective about what you allow yourself to see in the media; keep the company of positive people; don't focus on minor discomforts by speaking of health and well-being. Watch happy movies, read uplifting books....and most of all, fill your life with Divine Love.
Khadi's website is www.yourstrulyyogatv.vpweb.com.
by Kim Bloomer, VND and Jeannie Thomason, VND, of TheHolisticOption.comQuestion from TheHolisticOption.com community member: I have an 11 year old, male, English Short-Haired Pointer mix who suddenly presented with the following symptoms a few days ago: Won't eat usual amount or anything at certain meals, drinking a lot more water than usual and urinating more because of it; tremors, shaking, trembling; muscle fatigue/weakness; has had loose stool; generally unmotivated, lethargic, which is not typical of his personality. My conventional vet has diagnosed this as Addison's Disease. What do you suggest may be the cause... and what can be done about it, naturally? - S.C.
Dr. Jeannie and I are both in agreement on this... This dog needs to be switched to a raw diet. Processed food is a major part of the problem. Her veterinarian will not agree due to the training they receive in pet nutrition , which amounts to training by the pet food industry. Bottom line, dogs are opportunistic scavenger carnivores. We've both seen these types of illnesses resolved just by switching the diet to a natural diet which is a raw diet such as they'd eat in the wild. Again, her veterinarian will disagree, so the choice will ultimately be hers.
This dog's owner can learn much by visiting these sites. Editor's Note: Some of the images seen on the websites below may be disturbing to some viewers.
www.rawmeatybones.com
www.rawfeddogs.net
www.rawlearning.com
www.rawfed.com
Another factor is vaccination. Stopping the annual vaccines is key since this will only contribute to the decline in the dog's health. If the has dog been vaccinated recently, it could be an adverse effect thereof.
"Homeopathic veterinarians and other holistic practitioners have maintained for some time that vaccinations do more harm than they provide benefits. Vaccinations represent a major assault on the body's immune system.... Vaccine induced chronic diseases range from life-threatening conditions such as auto-immune crises to conditions destroying the quality of life of an animal as in chronic skin allergies." - Charles E. Loops, DVM
We wholeheartedly concur! And we hope this dog gets a chance to become all that he can be with proper nutritional support through a species appropriate raw diet and eliminating the toxins of processed food and any other toxins such as vaccines, pesticide pest control and whatever else that allopathic medicine overloads our pets' immune systems with. The naturopathic approach that include fresh air, sunshine, pure water and a species appropriate RAW diet can help animals AND humans alike heal. If we honor the eight laws of health, then we and our animals can and will be well.
Dr. Kim Bloomer's website is www.aspenbloompetcare.com. And Dr. Jeannie Thomason's website is www.thewholedog.org.
Yoga offers us many ways to correct what I call temporal shifts in our body alignment that are created by constant postural demands at work or commuting, many of which create long range damage. It is through becoming aware of how we use our bodies through body language that we can avert the ravages of speaking bad body language and to start speaking Yoga Body Language. The spine is the key to interpreting our health since all movement radiates from the spine and the spine contains all of the nerves that flow to our internal organs and nervous system. The more mobile the spine, the more energy and vibrant health in the body. The Yogi can achieve complete health in proportion to his awareness of how he moves from the spine. For those who sit for hours at work, the slumping forward with tilted spine and contracted muscles crimp the nerves and impede blood flow to the brain cutting off oxygen.
