Holistic Life®

2011-04-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Theres always another way to see things....

2011-04-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

2011-03-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

COHERENCIA.

Que te dice la palabra?

Ultiomamente he puesto esta palabra como algo aplicable a todo.De hecho, fue uno de mis propositos de año nuevo: Congruencia.Que ES?
Es curioso a veces toparnos con personas, o incluso familiares y nosotros mismos, decir que esta bien, o que no esta bien.
Como nutricionista holistica y maestra de yoga, me topo con humanos que estamos en esa lucha,bueno, no lucha , es una busqeuda del balance , de esta condicion : congruencia.
Me pongo a leer, me pongo a meditar, me pongo a educar mi cerebro a crear nuevas conexiones neuronales y el camino parace sencillo, otras veces duro. Pero posible.

Cuales son los pasos que siento son adecuados? Bueno para empezar son mis pasaos, me animo a darte animos para que tu sigas el tuyo y encuentres lo que a ti te hace entrar en esa homeoestasis , a ese balance llamado congruencia.

Como mi adorado maestro Larry Schultz(QEPD)decia: "Do what you practice and practice what you teach."

2011-03-10T00:25:00.000-08:00

2011-03-09T23:18:00.001-08:00

Buckwheat is the hearty, working-man’s crop that thrives in poor soil conditions, freezing temperatures, droughts, and excess rains. Buckwheat is resistant to damage and is therefore relatively inexpensive and easy to grow. Buckwheat is native to Northern Europe and Asia and eventually spread to Europe and Russia in the 14th and 15th centuries, and was introduced to the United States by the Dutch during the 17th century.
It may surprise some people to learn that buckwheat is actually a fruit even though it is commonly thought to be a grain. Buckwheat is a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel.
Whole buckwheat is a very nutritious food. The protein in buckwheat contains the eight essential amino acids and is also high in lysine. Buckwheat is also rich in many B vitamins as well as phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese. Buckwheat is also a good oil source of Alpha-Linolenic Acid, which is one of the two essential fatty acids we must have to be healthy.
Health Benefits of Buckwheat
Buckwheat is high in fiber. 1 cup of cooked buckwheat groats contains over 4 grams of dietary fiber.
Buckwheat contains the eight essential amino acids.
Buckwheat contains many minerals including: phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese.
Buckwheat contains a rich supply of flavonoids, particularly rutin.
Buckwheat lowers glucose levels and is beneficial for managing diabetes.
Buckwheat has been found to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.
Buckwheat is a fruit seed and is a gluten-free alternative to grains.

2011-03-03T23:48:00.000-08:00

You are deeply loved
and you will be deeply missed,
Thank you Larry
NAMASTE!

Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops thats where you'll find me oh
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to,why, oh why can't I?

2011-03-03T23:42:00.001-08:00

Rest.
Sweet Dreams :)

CAFFEINE ANYONE?

2010-12-17T00:11:00.001-08:00

CAFFEINE ANYONE?

So what’s the scoop on caffeine? One minute someone says caffeine is good for you, and the following week you’re reading that it causes exhaustion, fatigue and addiction.

It is estimated that approximately 80% of the world’s population uses caffeine on a daily basis, mainly in the form of coffee, tea, sodas and chocolate, but it is also found in some drugs, ‘decaffeinated’ coffee and tea, and energy drinks. According to Harvard School of Public Health researchers involved in a 22-year study, the overall balance of risks and benefits of coffee consumption, are on the side of benefits." Another study from Finland shows that middle aged people who consumed moderate amounts of coffee or tea (3–5 cups per day), were 65% less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by the time they reached their mid-sixties to seventies, compared with those who drank little coffee or avoided it altogether. Other studies suggest that drinking coffee reduces the risk of being affected by Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, cirrhosis of the liver, and gout.

But not everyone agrees that caffeine is beneficial, and questions remain about what exactly is the cause behind its reported benefits.

There are many new studies which appear to support caffeine but if you look closely, the scientists will not say that caffeine enhances your health and long-term well-being. They might say a particular type or part of chocolate, or caffeine is good for you. Most of coffee's beneficial effects against Type 2 diabetes are not due to its caffeine content but something else, since the benefits are greatest in those drinking decaffeinated coffee. We know that the antioxidants in roast coffee - lipophic antioxidants and chlorogenic acid lactones – are playing protective roles when it comes to protecting nerve cells, but it is unclear by which mechanism this occurs in other organs of the body.

Menopausal women taking estrogen, for instance, will not enjoy reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In fact, their risks were increased. These finding was observed by the same Harvard researchers just mentioned - yet the dangers of drinking coffee to this group of women is rarely reported in popular media.
Some studies point out that coffee consumption does not raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, yet other research has shown that chronic consumption may increase aortic stiffness. Caffeine may contribute to the development of heart disease because it increases cholesterol levels, and a chemical in the blood called ‘homocystein’, a marker for predisposition to heart attack. Unfiltered coffee, especially, can raise blood fats. Even a small amount of caffeine can be detrimental for people who are sensitive to caffeine.

There is much conflicting research around, so above all, people must be their own health advocate and investigate further into whether you are reading industry-funded or independently-funded research.

Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel
Caffeine does not add energy to your system. Instead it burns up your reserves at a quickened pace. This forces your glands to secrete when they don’t have much left to give, leaving you feeling more tired. According to nutritional biochemist Stephen Cherniske in his book, Caffeine Blues, caffeine begins its effects by initiating uncontrolled neuron firing in your brain. Within 5 minutes of drinking your morning coffee, this excess neuron activity triggers your pituitary gland to secrete a hormone, ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) that tells your adrenal glands to produce adrenalin, a stress hormone that prepares you for ‘flight or fight’. Caffeine also stimulates the production of noradrenaline and reduces the calming neurotransmitter, serotonin.

How much buzz in that cup?
It depends on how the coffee bean or tea leaf or product has been processed, and/or brewed. A dosage of 50 to 100 mg caffeine – typically the amount in one cup of coffee - will make you brain feel more alert, but think again – caffeine has woken you up because it has triggered a stress response and your brain perceives as external threat or danger. Your muscles tense, your blood sugar elevates for extra energy, and your pulse and respiration rates speed up. So what sort of jolt can you expect?

• A 6 ounces cup of Percolated coffee has about 120 mg of caffeine
• Black tea has about 70 mg
• Green tea has about 35 mg
• Brewed decaf coffee has 5 mg of caffeine
• Starbucks brewed coffee has 250 mg per 8 ounces
• Starbucks Latte-Mocha has 75 mg per 16 ounces
• Starbucks Vanilla Grande Frappuchino with whipped cream – 18 ounces contains 430 calories, (130 from fat), 60g sugar and 115 mg caffeine. ***NOTE: 3500 CALORIES = 1 pound of FAT
• Red Bull ‘Monster Mixxd Energy + Juice’ has 80 mgs caffeine
• Tim Horton’s ‘large’ coffee has 140 mg caffeine.
• Popular colas have around 45 mg
• Mountain Dew has 54 mg
• Baking chocolate has 35 mg caffeine per ounce

Detrimental Effects of Caffeine:
What could possibly be wrong with something we have been exposed to from an early age in the form of chocolate bars, cough syrups and colas? To start with, caffeine lowers production of DHEA, a hormone critical to the optimum functioning of your immune, cardiovascular, reproductive, and nervous system health. DHEA is an anti-aging hormone and coffee consumption interferes with that process. Though milder in its effects, caffeine manipulates the same neurochemical channels that amphetamine drugs operate on. Overuse of caffeine can result in a number of symptoms including irregular heartbeat, sleeplessness, headaches, nervousness, tremors, irritability, and depression.

Vitamin and Mineral Depletion: Caffeine acts as a diuretic, dehydrating the tissues and blood vessels of your brain. This, in turn, affects short-term memory recall. Its diuretic and adrenal gland stimulating properties have been linked to iron deficiency anemia in infants. Coffee also interferes with the absorption of supplemental iron due to the polyphenols present. Caffeine depletes the body of B vitamins, as well - which you need for proper brain and nervous system functioning and to convert food into energy. B1 or Thiamine deficiency especially, can cause fatigue and nervousness. Caffeine also speeds gastric emptying, thus preventing food nutrients from being properly absorbed in your small intestine. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc, are all depleted by caffeine.

Caffeine’s Effect on Blood Sugar: What is happening is that as adrenaline is released, the liver begins to emit stored blood sugar, and you get a temporary ‘lift’ or mood boost. As insulin is released, blood sugar drops below normal. While initially, caffeine may lower your blood sugar, it can lead to increased hunger or cravings for sweets later. You get a short-term boost at the expense of long-term jitters and fatigue. If you continue to drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages throughout the day, you will find yourself in a chronic state of stress throughout the day. Indeed, many scientists have found it exacerbates mood disorders in adults and children, triggering anxiety, depression, and irritability.

Who is most at risk?
The metabolism of coffee depends on the state of the liver. In a healthy liver, caffeine is mostly broken down by the hepatic microsomal enzymatic system. It can take between 3 and 12 hours to detoxify a single cup of coffee. At-risk groups include children, teenagers, men, women, pregnant women, people with fast metabolisms, and the elderly. In short, it affects everyone, young and old.

Because caffeine causes your stomach to produce extra hydrochloric acid, it may aggravate pre-existing conditions such as ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Elderly individuals with a depleted enzymatic system are especially at risk - even decaffeinated coffee may cause heartburn. In men caffeine increases the risk for prostate and urinary problems. In women caffeine has been linked to fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, osteoporosis, infertility problems, miscarriage, low birth-weight infants, and menopausal problems such as ‘hot flashes’.

Caffeine, like theobromine (found in chocolate), has to be detoxified by the liver, burdening it over time. But caffeine is not the only toxic substance in your daily brew. Coffee contains a host of chemicals, not just caffeine. Among them is a group of extremely toxic compounds called ‘polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons’ (PAHs). You might remember this word as the cancer-causing agentisolated from barbecued meat.

Chemicals in your morning Cuppa:
Commercial coffees contain harmful chemicals. Over 1,000 chemicals have been reported in roasted coffee; more than half of those tested (19 out of 28) are carcinogenic. Instant coffee, for instance, has a much greater amount of acrylamide than brewed coffee. For over 20 years coffee growers have used deadly pesticides on their coffee plants – including chemicals such as Aldrin, Dieldrin, Chlordane and Heptachlor. Thus, coffee is a seemingly benign route for daily toxin consumption.
Finding out whether you are addicted to caffeine is easy. Just give up all of your caffeine sources - including soft drinks – for a couple of days and see if you feel tired, headachy, grumpy and depressed. Headaches and fatigue are the classic signs of caffeine deprivation

Strategies to wean yourself off the caffeine habit:
Upon arising, drink at least 2 glasses of pure water. Once your brain cells are refreshed, you may not even feel like drinking something to ‘wake you up’. Also:

Gradually reduce the amount you are consuming, i.e., 3 cups of coffee, tea or soda per day during week 1; 2 per day during week 2; 1during week 3; and none in week 4.

Gradually replace coffee with decaf. During week one, use half regular coffee and half decaf; week 2, use ¼ regular coffee and the rest decaf, week 3 start drinking only decaf (this is not the best strategy as even decaf contains caffeine).

Whatever strategy you use, stick with it. Taking magnesium glycinate or citrate will help with headaches.

Other Ideas for staying caffeine-free at home:
Instead of reaching out for your morning cup of coffee, you can do your body a big favour by eating a healthy breakfast instead. A good breakfast, followed by a healthy lunch, will keep you feeling energetic all day. There are many caffeine-free herbal teas available (i.e., camomile, mint, raspberry leaf), but when looking for a tasty coffee alternative, you can try:

Teeccino – herbal coffee made of roasted carob, barley, chicory root, figs, dates, orange peel and almonds.

Ayurved Roast – an organic blend made with ashwagandha, shatavari, and brahmi herbs.

Roasted carob- lightly roasted carob powder has a light mocha flavour.

Yerba maté – this grassy tasting tea contains caffeine, however preliminary evidence suggests its caffeine affects muscles tissues versus the central nervous system. Know that is has a stimulating effect on both myocardial (heart muscle), as well as smooth muscle tissue.

Grain coffees (these contain ingredients such as almond, asparagus, malted barley, okra seed, potato peel, sassafras, and dandelion root).

Here’s a recipe for a roasted carob smoothie that you can try today. In a blender place:

1 cup organic almond milk (hot or cold)
1 heaping tablespoon roasted carob powder
3 pitted dates or a few drops of maple syrup to taste (can also try ¼ teaspoon stevia)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
Optional: 5 or 6 soaked walnuts

Whizz for 30 seconds and enjoy.

Click here for the full bibliography for this article [PDF].

by Helen Papaconstantinos

Stanza One.

2010-11-29T22:43:00.000-08:00

The Venerated Shankari (Shakti) , source of energy, opens her eyes and the universe is reabsorbed in pure consiousness; she closes them and the universe is manifested within her.

Shiva/Shakti express themselves through play and creativity in absolute consiousness.They do not have plans for the creation that emanates from them, any more than a musician have plans for the sound that emanate from his counsiousness and then from his instrument in an inifite wave.If people enter into resonance, it is because divine consciousness are indivsible.The Shakti is the supreme artist;the yogini and yogin are the supreme listeners.The Shakti is the source of the person teaching and the place of return for the sensory perceptions of the person listening.

The Universe is uninterrupted density of counsciousness fulfilled by the Self.

Moola Mantra :)

2010-11-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

Om
Sat Chit Ananda Parabrahma
Purushothama Paramatma
Sri Bhagavathi Sametha
Sri Bhagavathe Namaha
This mantra evokes the living God, asking protection and freedom from all sorrow and suffering. It is a prayer that adores the great creator and liberator, who out of love and compassion manifests, to protect us, in an earthly form. This Moolamantra has given great peace and joy to people all over the world, who have chanted, or even listened to it. It has the power to transport ones mind to the state of causeless love and limitless joy. The calmness that the mantra can give is to be experienced, not spoken about. Dear reader, here is the key with which any door to spiritual treasure could be opened. A tool which can be used to achieve all desires. A medicine which cures all ills. The nectar that can set man free! All auspiciousness and serenity is yours simply by chanting or listening to this magnificent Moolamantra.

Whenever you chant the Moolamantra even without knowing the meaning of it, that itself carries power. But when you know the meaning and chant with that feeling in your heart then the energy would flow million times more powerful. Therefore it is essential to know the meaning of the Mantra when you use it.

The Mantra is like calling a name. Just like when you call a person he comes and makes you feel his presence, the same manner when you chant this mantra, the supreme energy manifests everywhere around you. As the Universe is Omnipresent, the supreme energy can manifest anywhere and any time. It is also very important to know that the invocation with all humility, respect and with great necessity makes the presence stronger.
FULL MEANING.
Om Om has 100 different meanings. It is said 'In the beginning was the Supreme word and the word created every thing. That word is Om'. If you are meditating in silence deeply, you can hear the sound Om within. The whole creation emerged from the sound Om. It is the primordial sound or the Universal sound by which the whole universe vibrates. Om also means inviting the higher energy. This divine sound has the power to create, sustain and destroy, giving life and movement to all that exist.

Sat Chit Ananda

Sat The all penetrating existence that is formless, shapeless, omnipresent, attribute less, and quality less aspect of the Universe. It is the Un manifest. It is experienced as emptiness of the Universe. We could say it is the body of the Universe that is static. Every thing that has a form and that can be sensed, evolved out of this Un manifest. It is so subtle that it is beyond all perceptions. It can only be seen when it has become gross and has taken form. We are in the Universe and the Universe is in us. We are the effect and Universe is the cause and the cause manifests itself as the effect.

Chit The Pure Consciousness of the Universe that is infinite, omni-present manifesting power of the Universe. Out of this is evolved everything that we call Dynamic energy or force. It can manifest in any form or shape. It is the consciousness manifesting as motion, as gravitation, as magnetism, etc. It is also manifesting as the actions of the body, as thought force. It is the Supreme Spirit.
Ananda Bliss, love and friendship nature of the Universe. When you experience either the Supreme Energy in this Creation (Sat) and become one with the Existence or experience the aspect of Pure Consciousness (Chit), you enter into a state of Divine Bliss and eternal happiness (Ananda). This is the primordial characteristic of the Universe, which is the greatest and most profound state of ecstasy that you can ever experience when you relate with your higher Consciousness.

Parabrahma The Supreme Being in his Absolute aspect; one who is beyond space and time. It is the essence of the Universe that is with form and without form. It is the Supreme creator.

Purushothama This has different meanings. Purusha means soul and Uthama means the supreme, the Supreme spirit. It also means the supreme energy of force guiding us from the highest world. Purusha also means Man, and Purushothama is the energy that incarnates as an Avatar to help and guide Mankind and relate closely to the beloved Creation.

Paramatma The supreme inner energy that is immanent in every creature and in all beings, living and non-living. It's the indweller or the Antaryamin who resides formless or in any form desired. It's the force that can come to you whenever you want and wherever you want to guide and help you.
Sri Bhagavathi The female aspect, which is characterized as the Supreme Intelligence in action, the Power (The Shakti). It is referred to the Mother Earth (Divine Mother) aspect of the creation.
Sametha- Together or in communion with.
Sri Bhagavathe -The Male aspect of the Creation, which is unchangeable and permanent.
Namaha- Salutations or prostrations to the Universe that is Om and also has the qualities of Sat Chit Ananda, that is omnipresent, unchangeable and changeable at the same time, the supreme spirit in a human form and formless, the indweller that can guide and help in the feminine and masculine forms with the supreme intelligence. I seek your presence and guidance all the time.

2010-10-25T00:53:00.000-07:00

Taking care of your skin.[Dry Skin Brushing Technique]

2010-10-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

Many bodily wastes are eliminated through the skin. Regular skin dry skin brushing enhances any detoxification program and makes you feel great!

All you need is a simple natural bristle brush, preferably a brush with a long handle as it enables you to reach those inaccessible parts of your body for a more thorough treatment. Do not use any water; simply brush your dry skin firmly and steadily, with long strokes, always moving towards the heart.

How to do a Skin Brushing Detox

The ideal time to carry out a skin brushing detox is before a shower in the morning. Begin at the soles of your feet and work upwards, not forgetting the sides and tops of your feet. Work up your calves and knees in turn. Brushing strokes over your thighs and bottom can help eliminate cellulite. Brush more gently over your belly and breasts. Brush your back and sides as best you can; this is where a long handle on your brush come in! Repeat the process on your arms, starting with the palms of your hand, brushing briefly up the sides of each finger, back of the hand. Work up your arms; you will feel your body start to tingle as your circulation is stimulated. The whole process takes around five minutes.

Lymphatic Drainage with Skin Brushing

Skin brushing enhances the natural detoxification action of the body’s lymphatic system. The lymphatic system consists of tiny vessels with one-way valves through which waste materials drain from the body’s tissues. Unlike the blood circulatory system, which is pumped by the heart, the lymphatic system relies on the contraction of muscles to drain these lymphatic wastes back into the bloodstream via lymph nodes. Skin brushing encourages the efficient elimination of waste via the lymphatic system, speeding up the drainage of substances such as toxins, dead cells and metabolic wastes.

Benefits of Skin Brushing

After a few days of skin brushing your body will glow and your skin will feel soft to the touch. Over time cellulite may slowly be reduced. Any existing build-up of dead skin is removed, indeed you may find that dead skin is washed off in the shower after a few days of skin brushing.

Skin brushing is a great support to any detox program.Skin Brushing - How Often?

Skin brushing is most beneficial carried out daily, in the mornings, before a shower. Take a break from skin brushing from time to time to enhance the detox effect. For example, do not skin brush for one week in every month. You will soon start to look forward to the refreshing feeling of your daily brush, indeed one can crave the sensation after a prolonged break!

HAPPY YOGA & HAPPY LIVER :)

2010-10-24T02:38:00.000-07:00

PLOW POSE (HALASANA)

Liver problems are quite a serious concern as the liver plays a crucial role in our health and the normal functioning of our bodies. Liver disease and damage can even lead to death in severe cases. Liver damage or liver problems can occur because of a variety of reasons. In some cases the damage may be due to a specific disease like hepatitis, where jaundice is a symptom, or it could be liver damage due to lifestyle itself – excessive drinking or unhealthy food habits. Whatever the cause its important that you take care of and strengthen the liver to minimize damage and reduce the risk of deterioration. While certain illnesses are curable, some are not and lifelong care is necessary.

The use of yoga for the liver can help overcome and live with liver conditions. While the relationship between exercise and physical fitness is very evident the relation ship between exercise and liver health is not so clear. The idea of yoga for liver problems may in fact leave most of you baffled, or questioning the seeming absurdity of this declaration. But yes, yoga for liver problems is an effective way of maintaining and enhancing the health of this vital organ. Yoga’s approach to fitness differs from other exercise regimens, in that it does not merely focus on visible physical health, but on the body as a whole. This means that it takes into account the relationship between physical, mental and emotional health and the need to maintain balance. Yoga therefore acts as a balancing force, through its combination of physical postures, breath techniques and meditation.

In the context of internal organs, when we say exercise for liver problems for that matter, we are not referring to routines that exercise your liver, but rather to exercises or activities that stimulate, regulate and enhance the function. The strange contortions that make up the asanas or physical poses of yoga offer some of these direct benefits. Many of them put gentle pressure or act as a massage on the organ, stimulating it. Other asanas improve circulation, some improve nervous system function, breath exercises improve circulation and cleanse the system, and so on. Thus they indirectly improve liver function by balancing the various functions that do have an effect on liver function.

Exercise caution when practicing yoga however, as failure to follow rules or misinterpreting them can often result in injury. For this reason it is best to learn under the guidance of an experienced instructor. Certain yoga poses for liver problems are recommended such as the Diamond Pose(Vajra-asana), the Locust Pose(Poorna Salabhasana), the Plow Pose (halasana), and the Standing Forward Bend to name a few. Keep in mind that in addition to the physical practices it is necessary to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes diet and general routines.

Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Waffles

2010-10-24T02:29:00.000-07:00

Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Waffles

* 2¼ cups whole-wheat flour
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* ½ cup creamy peanut butter
* 1½ tablespoons sugar
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 2¼ cups whole milk
* ¼ cup vegetable oil
* ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
* Cooking spray or melted butter

Combine all main ingredients together. Preheat your waffle iron/cooker. When your waffle cooker is ready lightly rub some butter/coconut oil on it. Pour your batter into the waffle cooker. Once you let it cook for about three to five minutes it should be a nice golden brown color. Top it with some berries and your healthy waffles are ready to be eaten!

Cardamom!!

2010-10-19T01:03:00.001-07:00

Health Benefits of Cardamom

Commonly known in India as "choti elaichi", cardamom's scientific name is Elletaria cardamomum. Though it is more popularly used as a herbal spice , which is added in dishes to provide a strong aroma and flavor but in Ayurveda it is considered to be a very useful and effective medicine. In Ayurvedic texts cardamom is referred to as "ela".

According to traditional wisdom of Ayurveda, cardamom is effective in improving digestion. It helps those suffering from stomach cramps. It is a good stimulant and beneficial for those suffering from flatulence and gas.

Cardamom also helps in cleansing the body as it has detoxifying properties. It is basically a warm spice and known to have originated from India. It improves blood circulation to the lungs and can be helpful in prevention of spasms or convulsions. Hence, cardamom in small quantities is beneficial for those suffering from asthma or bronchitis.

Cardamom enhances appetite and provides relief from acidity in the stomach. It is used in the cure of halitosis. It is beneficial for those suffering from various kinds of respiratory allergies. When you have sore throat, you can try out a little quantity of this medicinal spice.

Those suffering from nausea as well as excessive threat can also try out cardamom. Along with some other medicines, it can be used for treating mouth ulcers. It is known to be a good cure for weakness in general. Some practitioners of Ayurevda also advise its use for treating infection of the urinary tract.

Cardamom is known to be helpful in balancing all three 'doshas' in the human body. Hence it is termed as "tridoshic”. A little quantity of cardamom is especially beneficial in balancing "kapha”. It can be used for balancing "vata" and "pitta" also.

The quantity of cardamom which need to be consumed depends on the physiology of a person and the disease which is to be treated or cured from. .

2010-10-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

What we think matters....litteraly. -Ramtha

2010-09-30T18:15:00.001-07:00

2010-09-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

Food and Emotions

Want DHA but don't like fish? Eat sushi. It has fish in it and is delicious.

The science of happiness has turned up evidence that food can make you happy. However, a lack of certain foods -- or at least some of their essential ingredients -- can actually make you sad. A fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the most abundant fat found in the brain. This is good, since it's an essential building block for brain structure. It's also easy to get; two major sources of DHA are fish and shellfish. A study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) uncovered a link between DHA deficiency and an increase in the prevalence of depression in the United States.

Oddly, while some foods have been shown to improve mood in the human brain, restricting food intake can have an even more pronounced effect on happiness. A hormone called ghrelin within the stomach heads over to the brain and tells it that it's time to eat. When ghrelin is produced, you feel hungry. After you ingest food, ghrelin production stops and your brain ceases to receive hunger signals.

When you don't eat, however, ghrelin production continues and the hormone builds up in the brain. While the increased ghrelin will prolong your hunger, researchers have found that the hormone also acts as a natural antidepressant. A 2008 University of Texas study found that rodents injected with ghrelin showed decreased symptoms of stress and anxiety .

Interestingly, rodents that were placed on a calorie-restricted diet (40 percent of normal caloric intake) showed the same results.

Whether it's psychological or physiological, it's clear that foods have a powerful effect on our moods. It would appear that eating only nutrient-packed foods that affect brain chemistry might be the best way to achieve happiness, but the occasional indulgence should make you just as happy. Perhaps a healthy balance of nutritious foods and comfort foods can help maintain the balance in a person's mood best of all.

2010-03-25T12:14:00.001-07:00

2010-03-25T00:24:00.000-07:00

2010-03-25T00:23:00.001-07:00

Say No to Say YES

2010-03-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

-ArtiZen Coaching :)

Simplifying, prioritizing, and making room for your dream to grow

I’m a big fan of saying YES! So many amazing things have manifested in my life through the power of YES.

And I’m continuing to learn that there are also times when saying no (even when it's difficult) will serve best. In order to say yes to something, you most likely will have to say no to something else. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day!

While saying no is important, it still can feel awkward or yucky to walk away from an opportunity or to turn someone down. Many of us have been so conditioned to avoid conflict, to do things for others at own expense, or to be agreeable, polite, and to even grin-and-bear-it, that sometimes saying no doesn't feel like an option. Or if you're coming from scarcity, you may fear that if you don't say yes, you'll lose your chance. But if you don't say no, you'll be overwhelmed, exhausted, and perhaps eventually resentful. Not good things for maintaining healthy relationships, being fully present, or manifesting your dreams!

With my plans and a book deadline looming, I've been acutely aware of how I choose to focus my time. I wish I could do it all, and I'm envious of those who seem to be able to juggle so much, but I know my limits AND I know I'm dedicated to fulfilling this goal.

Throughout the past six months I’ve consciously, yet uncomfortably, said no to things like hanging out with friends and family, meeting new people, going regularly to yoga and intuitive painting classes, keeping up with my online connections and newsletter, and even to taking on new clients. It's been challenging because those are all things I love, so I'm grateful to have wonderfully supportive people in my life who remind me that this intense focus is only temporary. That it's all in service of my dream and that my dream is in service of something bigger than me. And that by saying no, I'm saying YES.

Here are some tips to help you say no gracefully as you tend to your dreams:
Be clear about your priorities. When you're clear about how you are choosing to spend your time and energy, it's easier to know when to say no.
Communicate your availability clearly and directly. Let those around you know ahead of time when you'll be busy and why. They'll appreciate the heads up and will probably even ask you how they can support you in reaching your goal.
Provide other options, when possible, to those making requests of you. If you're not able to help, where else can you point them to for support?
Stay connected to what you're saying YES to, especially when you feel guilt coming on (either self-imposed or from others). Ask yourself, "What's this in service of?"
Remind yourself that this stage is temporary. You get to choose when to start adding more yes's back into the mix.
To put this into practice, first ask yourself, what are you committing to say YES to? What's the goal or dream that you want to nurture? Then, give yourself permission to say no to at least one thing big or small. What will you say no to this week? And by saying no, what are you honoring and making room for?

2010-03-17T12:45:00.001-07:00

What is Natural Nutrition?

2010-03-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

By DaniellePerrault(CSNN,Canada)

One of the most crucial problems of modern civilization is malnutrition. Whether we consider malnutrition due to poverty and shortage of food as encountered in third world countries, or witness dietary abuse problems common to the rest of the world, we find enormous suffering caused by the way we feed ourselves. We are dying of malnutrition.
It takes courage to face the fact that through ignorance and lack of interest in the needs of our own bodies, we are slowly bringing ourselves to the point of extinction.

Fortunately there is hope. Our modern society is awakening to a new and vital interest in nutrition. This curiosity is not aimed at the traditional dietetic and scientific field. Rather, it involves an emerging sphere of nutrition that encompasses not only the characteristics of food, but also explores the quality of the food source and holism of the consumer. This new area is called 'natural nutrition'.

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For the past fifty years, science has dominated the civilized world. If something is not demonstrated scientifically, it is claimed to be invalid and unworthy of our attention.

Food manufacturers have exploited this phenomenon to their advantage. The markets are swamped with supposedly beneficial artificial foods. We have become a generation of gullible consumers. We cannot count on dietetic associations to guide us because most of them are backed by these processed food giants, and therefore unlikely to give us objective advice!

Let's begin the process of unlearning, of getting back to basics...

A shift is slowly occurring. We are beginning to understand that the only person in charge of us, individually, is us, and that no one knows more about what's good for us than we do.

In this move toward personal freedom and wisdom, today's informed consumer recognizes that he is what he eats. He also realizes that food does not nourish the physical body alone. Mind and consciousness are not divided from the physical self.

It becomes clear then that there is no diet that is right for everyone all of the time. Neither are there miracle nutrients that will cure all ills. Each person is uniquely different, and each must exercise his judgment as to what is right for his own well-being.

'Each generation's health is slightly more compromised than the previous one due to environmental deterioration'

Following this realization comes a new insight: the quality of the food eaten affects the degree of well-being experienced. It is easy to comprehend that artificially created food, or food grown under sub-optimal conditions, cannot contribute the ingredients necessary to good health. Only natural, wholesome foods can produce the degree of health that brings peace of mind and enjoyment of life. In our society, this requires constant vigilance as to what we choose to eat.

The properties of natural nutrients are best described by these four words: natural, alive, good quality.

Natural, as in unprocessed, unrefined foods, such as whole grains and legumes.

Alive, meaning that it still contains live enzymes, such as fruit, vegetables, and sprouts.

Good quality, meaning grown in soil rich in essential nutrients such as organically grown foods (pesticide free and grown without synthetic fertilizers).

These four simple words: natural, alive, good quality, can serve as a guide to everyone wishing to improve his/her health. Awareness and understanding of the simplicity of our natural needs will inevitably lead to individual and collective good health. We need to learn to look at good nutrition not as a means to stop our diseases, but as a tool to create our own immunity and overall good health.

As more and more consumers demand the quality of food that we are entitled to, we will find that food manufacturers and suppliers will be forced to provide it.

We will then see a significant move towards the prevention of disease starting with a most important requisite: natural nutrition.

Stay healthy

2010-03-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

Yoga & The Road ૐ

2010-03-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, we decided to go to explore the Termas San Joaquin , located in Icamole, in the state of Coahuila,México.
The place is extremely amazing and the people is nice.
Surrounded by dessertic nature, is the perfect place for a weekend retreat, do some yoga, meditate, eat good (a little expensive)food, running or cycling, and of course, enjoy the healing benefits of this waters.
Must see: The sunset.

2010-03-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

Yamas & Niyamas

2010-03-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

Yoga is more than just a physical discipline. It is a way of life—a rich philosophical path. And the yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances) are ten good common-sense guidelines for leading a healthier, happier life for bringing spiritual awareness into a social context. They are for you to think about and ponder over with a rational mind, because yoga is not about mindlessly accepting externally imposed rules—it is about finding the truth for yourself—and 'connecting' with it.

Lets start with the YAMAS, one by one:

Yamas:

There are many interpretations of and opinions about the yamas and niyamas. While the ancient Indian text, the Bhagavata Purana assigns 12 yogic restraints the Parashar Smriti, another text, puts forward ten. But the yamas as described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra are only five, which are also known as the great universal vows or the sarvabhauma maha vratas, because they are not limited by either class, creed, time or circumstances. They are the guidelines for how we interact with the outer world, the social disciplines to guide us in our relationships with others. These five are:

• Ahimsa (non-violence),
• Satya (truthfulness),
• Asteya (non-stealing),
• Brahmacharya (celibacy) and
• Aparigraha (non-covetousness)

According to the Yajnavalkya Samhita, ahimsa or non-violence is the awareness and practice of non-violence in thought, speech and action. It advocates the practices of compassion, love, understanding, patience, self-love, and worthiness.

Patanjali describes truthfulness as: "To be in harmony with mind, word and action, to conduct speech and mind according to truth, to express through speech and to retain it in the intellect what has been seen, understood or heard." A perfectly truthful person is he who expresses in his speech exactly what he thinks in his mind and in the end acts according to it.

Non-stealing or asteya is the third constituent of the yamas of Ashtanga Yoga. It upholds forgoing the unauthorized possession of thought, speech and action. Asteya stands against covetousness and envy. It advocates the cultivation of a sense of completeness and self-sufficiency in order to progress beyond base cravings.

The Vedas, Smritis and Puranas all glorify the fourth constituent of celibacy. It is believed to be a behavior, which brings man nearer to the Divine. This yama believes in avoiding all sensual pleasures, whether mental, vocal or physical.

The literal meaning of apigraha, the fifth yama, is the non-accumulation of worldly objects, caused by covetousness and attachment. The commentator Vyasa says that this last state of yama is attained when one remains totally detached from sensual pleasures of all kinds and so effectively refrains from committing himsa or violence of any sort.

2010-03-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

Human Beings

2010-03-08T00:08:00.000-08:00

What is the cobection between our dreams and our reality?

I guess its our actions.
Our actions come from our deep and not too deep toughts and then it becomes into action. Allowing ourselves to feel our emotions without going into dram, we will observe a huge change in our way of seeing life.
Life is not about doing. Life its about LIVING.Life its about BEING. Being aware of what we are feeling, doing loving, looking, feeling right NOW.

DO less
BE more.
ENJOY LIFE!

We are HUMAN BEINGS not HUMAN DOING!

Love& Light

Nars :)

I [heart] my life.

2010-02-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

The best thing is to hold your head high and follow your bliss. Who cares what everyone else is doing and going! Focus on your passion, as no one else knows what that is for you. Look for the signs in your life that you are on the right path. If you feel like your pushing a bolder up a hill, allow a new path to emerge. But most importantly have FUN! We are all too serious! We are all meant to thrive, so let it in :)

Daily Dosis of Wellness!

2010-02-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

(Rhodes Wellness)

One of the most powerful tools to healthy living is learning how to put yourself first. Many of us confuse good self care with selfishness. In the helping field many of us have experienced what we call "burn out". We become exhausted with the seemingly endless demands on our time and energy.
This happens because we have few role models to show us how to take exceptional care of ourselves.
1n order to truly attain and maintain success, we must first build a strong foundation. This means spending the time to strengthen ourselves, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Here are some tips to help you.

1. Daily clearing: Each day, check in and identify how you are feeling, what you are thinking. Identify the state of your body. Do a thorough assessment. Do what you need to do say what you need to say or think/ believe what you need to think or believe to feel 1000/0 clear, focused and present.

2. Gather top quality support. If you can - find a community of like-minded people. 1f you can't, hire a personal coach. Get support as often as you can. Daily support is ideal. Weekly support is okay too. The criteria for supportive people is that when you are with them, you feel positive and empowered. 1f you feel criticized or negative - it is not support!! Many individuals and organizations pride themselves on working from a fault finding perspective. This does not work. Don't allow yourself to be convinced that you need people to pick you apart for "your own good". Constructive feedback feeds esteem. Criticism weakens us and creates doubt.

3.Clean up your living space. Physical clutter is very stressful. Clean up your home, your office, your car. Get rid of anything you don’t use regularly.

4.Get rid of commitments that weigh you down. Use the time to do things that give you pleasure

5.Create new and healthier habits. Make a list of 100 things that bring you joy. Choose ten of these to do every day.

6.Identify what you do on a daily or weekly basis that you don't enjoy doing. Create a system of hire someone to do it for you. You’ll be surprised at the relief you feel and the energy you have freed up to do what you are born to do.

7.Start a mood log. Start to track when you feel bad. What were you thinking to bring on the bad feeling? What are your beliefs behind that thought? The goal is to create more good or positive feelings and diminish stress, worry, depression, anxiety and the other joy thieves. You may have to first ask yourself if you think it is okay to feel good

8.Learn it listen to your inner voice. Your intuition is your channel to your spirit. It has the answer to what you should be doing with your life. why shouldn’t you have a fully actualized life?

Check this out !

2010-01-04T23:48:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMuzv75RzW4

Snowboard/Ski Season has arrived!

2010-01-04T21:14:00.001-08:00

The term "Ahimsa" refers to one of the most important moral disciplines, or yamas, in yoga. It may be defined as non-harming or non-injury to all living things, including oneself. This discipline can be applied to skiing and snowboarding, teaching you not to push too hard or too fast. Instead, be sure to respect your body and yourself and know your limits.

Meditation is an idea tool for calming and clearing the mind. In this state, you control the mind, the mind does not control you. However, to keep the mind from wandering, a tremendous amount of concentration is required. Yogis say that we have about a thousand thoughts for each wink of the eye. These are a lot of thoughts and the real challenge is how to go from having all of these thoughts to having a meditative mind. While this will require some training and there are different methods for achieving a meditative state of mind, all are fairly simple in that they teach you to be present in the moment.

It is through the breath that one can become present in the moment. The breath connects us to the present moment, focusing and turning the mind inward. Once you start focusing on your breath, you will find that you quickly become calm and relaxed. This can work in just about any situation but can be particularly beneficial when skiing and snowboarding.
While there are all sorts of practices that can help you to create balance and build your resistance, Yoga provides one of the most balanced workouts possible. If you can find the time for only one practice, make it Yoga. Yoga will help you to develop a mind-body connection while strengthening your muscles and increasing your flexibility.

2010-01-04T14:12:00.001-08:00

Now?

2010-01-04T13:27:00.001-08:00

What it means to live in the present?

Well, i guess i dont have all the answers but i like to think that my mind and my soul know the answers i need to know for the moment, for the time im leaving right now, in the place where i am at that moment.

My morning practice improves when i am not thinking in the next asana (posture). My mind is focused in th NOW, in the breathing, the energy, the drishtis (gaze).

Meditation helps me to keep my mind a little bit more quiet and in peace. And to be honest it is really easy to enter into anger, worries,stress and wondering about things that doesnt even exist! so if that happens (and it does at least to me) i just breath and think: Ok nars, this is just thoughts, change the tune to positive and breathe......and it works! im improving at least !

Meditation, Physical excercise(it could be yoga,snowboard, climing,running,wakeboard,etc), a hearthy & healthy nutrition ,apropiate sleep and a positive attitude can make huuuge changes in our lives.....
im still learning to do it.
nobody borns being a master.we all have the potential.we all have free will to do it ..or not.

happy new year dudes!
namaste,

n

2010-01-03T21:05:00.001-08:00

There are some days that our mind trick us. We get up and start the day as we start another ones: like a rutine. Outside its raining or even snowing and freezing! and you definetly think it twice between staying in bed and getting ready for another day at your job. So, u remember you have to pay the bills...and you get up.
Everythings goes as usual: your boss, co workers, the people....so finally your day is over and u have free time, so u decide to go to your climbing-indoor gym...but your belayer is still at work and couldnt make it on time , so u do boulder by yourself....boooring, you think.So, finally its finish and then you enter this new yoga class...awesome, maybe with taht you are going to fall asleep easier...i can continue here, but you know this story can turn in so many different ways as possible.It could be better, or worse...depends on you.
It is true that we live in an acelerated world, livin accelerated lifes , but HEY! life isnt just about paying the bills! wake up! theres a world outhere! go and do some yoga at the park, sing out loud your favorite song while youre walking on the streets, go out to the mountains,with your dog, your friend, partner, or by yourself, do some meditation, go and treat your self in to a spa (spas are not only for women!), eat a healthy deslicious hearty soup,smile,give thanks,say soemthing nice to someone,value and appreciate what you ve done and what you have, and even more important, be greateful dude!
life is short enough to livie it frustratedd, angry, worried, jealous,etc....so please do your best to change your tune in to healthy positive thoughts...i know is not easy, myself included have had maaaaany bad days according to me, but as soon as i realize it, i decide to change it, and it changes...so now, do a favor to the world...smile and share that smile with everybody! (yes, even if they dont answer the smile back haha)
good night mates!

n :)

2009-12-25T22:37:00.000-08:00

Embrace the love!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR_ms5RO50g

The Artist

2009-10-30T23:45:00.000-07:00

Being free its an option. Its up to you. Not your family, not your friends, not your posessions, job or pets.
Our mind control every situation we are right now. It controlled all the situations we where involved in the past , triggered by our toughts, so, definetly it will create our future situation. So lets create a better and new tomorrow. For us, for you, for the world, for the universe.
Think. Do. Love and be greatful.
Create your life.
Youre the artist of your life.
Create it beautifuly....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o976QDa6098&feature=related

2009-09-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens..

~ Kahlil Gibran

Believe in nothing...

2009-09-17T00:43:00.000-07:00

"Believe nothing.

No matter where you read it,

Or who has said it,

Not even if I have said it,

Unless it agrees with your own reason,

And your common sense."

-Buddha

2009-09-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

Will yoga help back pain or neck pain?

Although no one treatment works for everyone, many aspects of yoga make it ideal for treating back pain and neck pain. For example, studies have shown that those who practice yoga for as little as twice a week for 8 weeks make significant gains in strength, flexibility, and endurance, which is a basic goal of most rehabilitation programs for back pain or neck pain.
In addition, the breathing and meditation aspects of yoga induce a "relaxation response" that has been found in many studies to assist people in decreasing their pain. Yoga has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of depression and anxiety that often accompany pain problems.
Is yoga possible for people who aren't naturally flexible?
Many times those who are not inherently flexible actually benefit from yoga the most. In addition, most yoga poses can be modified for beginners so that everyone can do a version of the poses. Yoga is more than a set of exercises to increase flexibility, however. Different skills are needed for different yoga poses: some help the practitioner gain strength, others challenge balance, and others train attention and concentration.
Is there anyone who shouldn't do yoga?
Yoga can be safe for everyone, but depending on the medical condition, certain poses may need to be modified or avoided. A couple of examples of patients who may need to avoid certain yoga poses include:
Patients who have been diagnosed with advanced spinal stenosis should avoid extreme extension of the spine such as back bends in yoga.
Patients with advanced cervical spine disease should avoid doing headstands and shoulder stands in yoga.
Most of the precautions surrounding the yoga poses can be determined by understanding the specific medical condition, using common sense, and finding a good yoga teacher to assist.

Most backaches are due to muscles being overworked in some way. These muscles do not need to be challenged or even stretched so much as they need to be released and relaxed. Svaroopa Yoga induces these muscles to let go and teaches students how to move and sit properly so that they may continue to be strain free.

2009-09-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

Cat-Cow Pose
In the cat-cow pose, you move your spine back and forth between rounding and arching. Here, it really pays to know the nature of your injury because one of the two movements may affect it. Cat-cow has several benefits, among them: -establishes ideal spinal alignment -strengthens and stretches back muscles -develops coordination of spinal movement.

What Type of Back Injury Do You Have? Its a very nice idea to start by assesing any back injury you may have either currently or in the past..all the asanas that i will show here alternate between arching & rounding. So, to know when to take it easy o your back, lets understand the nture of your injury...

Facet Joint Problems such as
Spondylolysis---will be irritated by arching the back.
Disk problems---May be worsened by rounding the back.

Ask your doctor or therapist if you're ready for these spinal movements and to suggest any necessary safety precautions.

-----------------------------------------------

Check it out!

2009-09-02T10:14:00.001-07:00

Hi guys!
Today its a beautful day, and i want to share this link with you:

http://www.creerescrear.com/ (It has english/Spanish options)

Its an independient Mexican movie ,based in real life facts.
Check it out!

Have a beautiful day,
Nars ;)

[Tip of the day] - Fingers and Pulleys

2009-09-02T01:47:00.000-07:00

The first thing we ask ourselves after having an injury is "How long will be out of business?"
Well, the answer, we usually have it. What is it? this is an estimate: Think about it, then that answer multiplied it by 3. (sorry,but is so true)
We usually after an injury,we often donttake t serously.we think that i we continue doing those chaturangas , inversions or doing those pull ups , and grabbing those small crimps, or whatever we are doing, the pain just will go away..like if our body will heal with even more work!
Usually our body is asking us, begging us for a rest, for a break ,is telling us that theres somethingwe need to take care of, something that has to do directly with our body, so we better listen!
[It is a good example for practicing Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satya (truthfulness)]

But what to do when we are injured after asking our selves what to do?
Well, here are the tips:

-The best exercise to do while your finger is injured A perfect exercise for a finger injury is working the rotator cuff. Well, it may not help your finger but it does give you the time to strengthen the neglected rotator cuff.
-Tigers Balm is the perfect massage lubricant. It's a great consistency and heats up the area to increase blood flow.
-Weight Lifting can be an excellent rehab tool. It requires some grip strength but can be easily compensated by the other fingers if the weight is too much. Total rest of the fingers is not good. You need to stress the fingers a little to let the new tissue know that there will be stress in the future. Getting a little stronger is never a bad thing also.

Namaste Climbers!

8 Limbs of Yoga

2009-09-01T23:04:00.000-07:00

The art of right living and the foundations of yoga philosophy were written down in The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, approximately 200 AD. Compiled by Maharishi Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, the Eight Limbs of Yoga are a progressive series of steps or disciplines that purifies the body and mind, ultimately leading the Yogi (one who practices Yoga) to enlightenment.

While the physical part of yoga is certainly of significance, the eight conventional limbs of Yoga practice have meditation of God as their underlying principle. The practice of yoga is both an art and science, which creates unification of the body and mind with the spirit.The main objective of Yoga is to help the practitioner cultivate an awareness of self. In other words, it is about making balance and creating calmness to live in peace, good health and harmony.

Yoga describes the inner workings of the mind and provides eight steps to control its restlessness to enjoy the lasting peace. Each part ultimately brings completeness to the individual. They tend to find their connectivity to the divine. Being a different individual, a person can emphasize one branch and then move on to another according to their understanding.

These are the eight limbs of the system found in the famous Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Eight Limbs Of Yoga
YamaIt is known as Moral observances for interactions with others. Broken down into five wise characteristics, they tell us about our fundamental nature that of being compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful. It teaches the directives of
Ahimsa (non-violence)
Satya (truthfulness)
Asteya (non-stealing)
Brahmacharya (control)
Aparigraha (non-covetousness)

NiyamaIt is known as Moral observances for interactions with yourself. The word itself means rules that are prescribed for personal observance. The niyamas are far more than an attitude, and are more intimate and personal. The directive include :
Shaucha (internal and external purity)
Santosha (contentment)
Tapas (austerity)
Svadhyaya (study of religious books and repetitions of Mantras)
Ishvarapranidhana (self-surrender to God, and His worship).

AsanasIt is the practice of physical postures and is the most commonly known aspect of yoga. The practice of moving the body into postures helps in improving health, strength, balance and flexibility. On a deeper level, the practice of asana, which means staying or abiding in Sanskrit, is used as a means to calm the mind and move into the inner essence of being.

PranayamaIt controls the energy, in order to restore and maintain health and to promote evolution. Pranayama is the measuring, control, and directing of the breath. It further provides perfect relaxation and balance of body activities are realized.

PratyaharaIn yoga, the term pratyahara implies withdrawal of the senses from attachment to external objects. It is most commonly known for sensory inhibition.

Dharana Immovable concentration of the mind is the underlying principle of Dharana. The essential idea is to hold the concentration or focus of attention in one direction. The mind needs to be stilled in order to achieve this state of complete absorption.

DhyanaDhyana focuses on Meditation. It means worship, or profound and abstract religious meditation that involves concentration upon a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. The concept holds that when one focuses their mind in concentration on an object the mind is changed into the shape of the object.

SamadhiIt is the final step in the eight-fold path of Yoga. It means pleasurable fascination of one's individual consciousness in the essence of God. Samadhi means to bring together to merge. In this state, the body and senses are at rest, but the faculty of mind and reason are alert. You need to control the feelings of Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism), Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes), Abhinivesha (clinging to mundane life).

Namaste.

Love

2009-09-01T00:46:00.000-07:00

at home, waiting for the sun to rise.my body will go to sleep awaiting the glorious morning to become bright and powerful again , letting the stars to hide behind the clouds and the moon jump in to the deep of the ocean..
My soul will visit the land of dreams,and we in our own world, you and me,will share the glory of our love.
A candle light, a dream, a bottle of wine....and from my window, the city seems to be sleeping.

Julie&Julia effects....

2009-08-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

Well....today i was super thrilled with my day...to be honest, this week has been full of ups and downs..different moods and situations, and it just comforting that the week ended like ended today. I went to the cinema and watched a very nice movie...wich inspired me...Julie&Julie...and wait..i didnt meant that inspired me to finally get up in the mornig and start making real elaborated food..( I do cook dont get me wrong, but am not that passionated about it ha ha but I would lke to...honestly...but im not) it inspired me in the way that Julia gets inspired by a totally strange person. And here i am.
Iwas thrilled.I was by myself at the cinema. And i was feeling greaaaaaat.
Since i moved to Vancouver , i ve foud that we as an individuals, protect our privacy and its totally normal that we get into social circles and diferent activities. but here i Van i`ve noticed its very different to what i was used to. Not better, not worse. Just different and I LOVE IT.
Ive met wonderful and amazig people, but when walking in the streets, its very strange for me to just look in my way, my space... maybe its because im not that used to walk in the city...until now! i usually drive and just drive....awwm always learnng soemthing new...nice...lol
After the movie, i was wating the bus...(for a long time, wich dont love) and i was there, joinig all this buch of people, all of us with headphones listening to our own music selection, and suddenly this sweet old man smiles me and tells me something while he was walking....and i couldnt hear because of the volume of my music and my headphones---and he keeps smiling at me, while he takes his hat off...and i smile back at him back of course! but at the same time he keeps walking, and then he stops and when I finally remove my headphones--"excuse me, i didnt hear...the music.."-Comes out of my mouth
And he answer back "Just wishing you a good night and well,you just made my day with your smile...Thank you!"---and he keeps walking away,smling and waving good bye--while a bunch of people in the bus stop was looking at me ---hahahah that was the most funny and nice thing of the day.It was simple but honest. Sweet.
And that man made my evening. Good night!

Free your mind...

2009-08-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

Hi there!
Today is such a beautiful day...walking at the park and watching the sunset was terapeutic...really relaxing and nature bounding stuff!!
i did a short meditation that i would like to share with you guys!
so prepare your self in a comfortable place, quiet, clean and where you feel comfortable...
This meditation will help you to calm your mind wherever you are, before your climbing, before your running, before your activities, or just at whatever time of the day to enjoy your time, and live the present, to calm, relax, and just go with the flow....so enjoy!

Meditation-

Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take a few moments to “simply be”. Notice whatever is being experienced in the moment — sounds, physical sensations, thoughts, feelings — without trying to do anything about it. Continue like this a little while, allowing yourself to settle down.
Now bring the attention to the breath. Simply notice the breath as it moves in and out as the body inhales and exhales. Notice how the breath moves in and out automatically, effortlessly. Don’t try to manipulate it in any way. Notice all the details of the experience of breathing — the feeling of the air moving in and out of the nose, the way the body moves as it breathes, etc.
The mind will wander away from the breath — that’s fine, it doesn’t matter. That’s a part of the meditation! When you notice that you are no longer observing the breath, easily bring your attention back to it.
Let all of your experiences — thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations — come and go in the background of your awareness of the breath. Notice how all of your experiences — thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, awareness of sounds and smells — come automatically and effortlessly like the breath.
In time, you can become aware of the tendencies of your mind. You will see how it resists certain experiences and tries to hold onto others. The natural settling down of the mind allows you to notice these underlying tendencies and creates the possibility to let them go. If you experience a resistance to what is occurring, an attempt to change what is happening, a tendency to hold on to some experience — let it go.

[you might want to record this words with your voice and then play it in order to follow the meditation]

namaste! :)

Eating Raw Food

2009-08-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

I love food, thtas a fact. and during my life i have been discovering different ways of truly nurture the body, and also another ways that mistreat the body.
Im talking about food. We can divide and organiza our way of eating in just Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner.
But i fin dit very difficult.AND NOT HEALTHY AT ALL.
I eat 5 times a day (that whats healthy and recommended). Early morning breakfast-Snack-Lunch-Snack-Dinner.The importance of eating pure ,organic and healthy food its an option but not necessaryly has to be all the time organic. i presonally love organic and raw food. but i still love salmon and once in a while a good hamburger. Theres no sense in for example, eating an organic apple from Chile! (The carbon monoxide that uses the transportation is still contamination!).
It is true that our body needs fuel (food) and even more if youre an athlete or does physical activiyies during the day.But we have been grwon in a culture that cooks the food.It is okwith that? recently,it has been discovered that cooked food looses a lot of their healthy properties, so, the qustion here is: Should we eat raw food then? Its up to you. but i strongly recommend (also i try my best) to eat the more quantity of raw food in your meals.70% i think is fine. and you dont have to leave behind your loved BBQs or that huge hamburger you love. But be carful to eat it not too often, this kind of food has a lot colesterol if you eat it often. But hey! we deserve this once in a while! a BBQ with friends? of course! specially during the summer!

So guys, try to eat more fruits and vegetables during your day!
One apple a day keep the doctor away!!

namaste!

Being Passionate Means Taking Risks.

2009-08-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Being passionate Means Taking Risks!

You may indeed find yourself living a comfortable life when you dont follow your insctints.You pay your bills, fill out all of the right forms, andlive of fittingin and doing by the book. Buts its a book that was written by someone else.Youre aware of that nagging companion saying to you,"This may look right, but does it feel right?Are you doing what you came here to do?".For many people, the answer is "How do i know what my heroic mission is?".

Yoll find your passion in what inspires you the most. And what does the word "inspire" mean?
It derives from the words "In Spirit".
When youre inspired,you never have to ask about your purpose.Youre living it.

What is your passion?What stirs your soul and makes you feel like youre totally iin harmony with why you showed up here in the first place? Know this for certain: Whatever it might be, you can make a living doing it and simustaneously provide a service for others. I guarante it.

The only thing that will keep you from playingthe music you hear and marching the unique drumbeat you experience within,is fear.
There are only two basic emotions: Fear & Love. You may feel disaproval of others.Take that risk and youll discover that you receive more approval when you dont seek in that when you do.
Youy might fear the unknown.Take the risk as well.Wander in there, asking yourself "What is the worst thing that can happen if this doesnt work out?" tHE TRUTH IS THAT YOU WILL JUST MOVE BEYOND IT.
Youre not going to starve to death or be torture if it doesnt work out.You might fear being succesful. You may been conditioned to believe youre inadequated or limited.The only way to challenge these absurdities is to go toward what YOU know youre here for an let success chase after you, and it most assuredly will. Or, you may fear the biggest one of all: You may fear failure.

-From the Book: "10 Secrets to Succed and Inner Peace" -Dr Wayne Dyer.

CoreStrenght

2009-08-04T00:38:00.000-07:00

This days, people are more aware in their body.Wellness, sport and nutrition is becoming mor important this days. And every time new techinques are being released besides fitness or weight lifting training for maintaing muscular tone or strenght. Yoga and Pilates are becoming really important as a complement or a routine on daily life.
But, What does Yoga and Pilates have in common?
Core Strenght!

Personal trainers, terapists and doctors all over the world have discovered something that yoga and taichi already knew: A strong, firm and toned core is very important for a good health.
So , its very important that people start to move more, specially those people that spend many time of their day sitting infront of a computer on a desk or not very active activities.
Scientists have discovered that people with a toned core,legs and glutes have less risk of injuries.

...to be continue.

Yoga & Sports

2009-08-04T00:19:00.000-07:00

Ok. During all the time i`ve been in to the Yoga world, i`have been aware that every body, every personality is very different form each other, even in one person, their practice will vary a lot fromone day to another. But lets think it this way: we all are looking for a pacific state of mind, a better condition of our body and in constant search of happiness.
Some people search it trough the completely path of meditation, yoga or even becoming monks or religious persons. Some others will might be looking trough sports, yes. trough sports, and it could be going toa gym or jumping from an airplane.
When i started practicing yoga i was totally focusen in JUST that , cause i tought only THAT way was going to put my mind in calm, by emotions calm, and my body in shape..and i stoped doing all my other sportif activities, cause "they where distracting me" after a couple of years , something was missing in my life. and i realize that doing sports was a very important part of my life...but, it was possible to keep doing what i love, together with my other love (climbing,running,yoga?) and the answer is siple: OF COURSE YES!
W might some times limitate ourselvesto onw or another things to do, cause theyre the "normal" thing to do or whatever,but we often forget about doing things because we love them!
So here i am. doing what i love. studying Human Kinetics, teaching yoga, and practicing Yoga and sports like i always have done!
So this iswhat i think: always listen to yourself. Balance is the main idea of yoga.
So, tonight you want to go out? Go!, having fun is not dangerous. The excess is.
You want to rest this week? Do it!, but remember your resposabilities.
Do you want to eat or not eat meat? Thats totay up to each person. find your balance. enjoy life. feel hapy with what you do. Thats the main idea of life.
Have fun,live your life as you alwas dream! :)

namaste :)
N.

2008-10-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

In Lak’ ech a lak’ (Tu eres Yo y yo soy tu)" Frase Maya.