Click here to see the newscast.
Two Notes:
1. The doctor being interviewed is clearly not the yoga type thus giving more credence to his report (I feel). Though I do believe his comments at the end about men and yoga were unnecessary and could have been better framed.
2. Please excuse the commercial before the report. Sorry 
For those interested in learning about the wonderful benefits of plant based foods check out these two great medically renowned websites on health and diet.
Dr Neal Barnard, President PCRM (Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine)
Dr John McDougall & The McDougall Plan
Plus check out this great resource about the top ten veggie blogs.
(Below is a link to see the below pyramid in full view.)
You have probably heard about Blue Zones, i.e. places where people live longer with an enhanced quality of life. Sociologists and wellness professionals study such places and regularly report on them.
Recently one such blue zone article was written about a town in MN that was adopting 4 practices to increase longevity and vitality:
1) Eat more fruits and vegetables
2) When possible, walk instead of drive
3) Be productive and socially active in the later years of life
4) Seek inner fulfillment
I do not think they intended their list to be exhaustive – just a good way to begin.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts and sharing some as well.
Open any yoga magazine or even the health section of any newspaper, and you will read about the many benefits of yoga: Less stress, greater flexibility, lower blood pressure, deeper sleep, faster recovery time, and so many things.
In short, there are numerous ways how yoga helps. Even then, it can all seem quite theoretical or even beyond what we think we can achieve.
Sometimes we all need to hear stories, anecdotes, or even a word or phrase from people in our local community to inspire us to keep going. You may feel that your experience is insignificant, but by sharing it you may open a whole new avenue of hope and inspiration for someone else.
In my own life, yoga has helped blow away a dark cloud of an inferiority complex that seemed to always loom over or even envelop me. It has also granted me a greater sense of belonging, allowing a much more positive outlook in life – both individually and collectively. There is still a ways to go – but at least the journey is en route and not stalled!
I will gladly share more about the above as well as other ways yoga has helped.
Remember…
As we all get ready for spring – and all the lifting that goes with it from potted plants to junk boxes from the attic – here are a few tips to keep in mind to keep your back healthy and strong:
Correct Lifting Technique
1. Stand close to the load; have firm footing and a wide stance.
2. Accentuate your lordosis.
(I.e.concave groove along the spine in the small of the back)
3. Bend your knees down to the load and keep your back straight.
4. Get a secure grip and hold the load as close to you as possible.
5. Lean back to stay in balance, inhale, and lift the load by straightening the legs.
6. Take a steady lift; do not jerk
7. When upright, shift your feet to turn and avoid twisting the low back
Rule: When lifting you should apply the correct lifting technique. In addition, you should also stand upright and bend backward (anuvittasana) five or six times immediately before and after each single heavy lift and also at repeated intervals during repeated lifting.
(Adapted from: Mckenzie, R., Treat Your Own Back (April 2001), p.29-30.
Eating is an integral part of our human health. We all know the proverb, ‘You are what you eat.’
There are so many aspects to diet and nutrition: Food source, food choice, routine, hydration, and much more.
This short blog post deals with amount.
According to the yogi, when we complete a meal, the stomach should be:
(1) 1/2 full of food;
(2) 1/4 full of liquid;
(3) 1/4 empty, i.e. air.
Obviously step 3 is the hardest one!
But think what happens when you overfill your washing machine. Then it can hardly turn and swoosh the clothes around. There is no space for the machine to work.
Same is the case with our beloved belly! It needs space. So point #3 is quite important. When you get the hang of it – let me know. Because I am in a chronic state of non-compliance!
The other thing is to try and hydrate before your meal, and when eating, then only eat, don’t drink. Drinking fluids when eating dilutes – or even washes away – the digestive enzymes in the saliva.
Like everything else, our style of eating should be done in a systematic way. Then we can better enjoy those savory treats!
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