Halloween Candy: It’s Not How Much Kids Eat, It’s When
THURSDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) — Halloween and its avalanche of candy is coming, making it the worst time of year for children’s teeth, right?

Not necessarily, says a dentist who contends that parents can make a big difference by monitoring when their kids eat their sweets.

“Parents need to know that frequency is far more important than amount when it comes to taking in” sugars, said Dr. Mark Helpin, acting chairman of Temple University’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry. “It’s not how much we eat but how often we eat these kinds of things that will place us at increased risk of dental decay and cavities.”

Candy remains a huge part of Halloween for tens of millions of American kids and their candy-buying — or candy-pilfering — parents. The National Confectioners Association says 93 percent of children in the United States go trick-or-treating, and the group estimates that Halloween candy sales this year will top $2.26 billion.

But children — and adults — are less at risk of developing tooth decay if they eat sweets — or even carbohydrate-heavy foods like potato chips and crackers — at mealtimes, Helpin said.

Cavities are most likely to develop when your mouth is exposed to the acid created by bacteria during eating, Helpin said. “When we eat [at meals], the flow of saliva increases. We’re also taking in other liquids that will help wash the mouth out,” he said.

But if you snack during the day, the teeth are continuously bathed in acid, he said. “If I have four pieces of candy, and I eat all four at one time, my mouth will have acid in it for 30 to 60 minutes. If I eat one each hour, my mouth can be exposed to acid for four hours,” he added.

So what should you do? The worst time to give kids sweets is right before bedtime, Helpin said. As for mealtimes — like lunchtime at school — it’s wise for children to swish a liquid in their mouths to wash away acid, he said.

When it comes to Halloween, Helpin recommends that parents not get overly concerned about candy and their kids. “I don’t think Halloween week is going to be the make-or-break factor in whether someone will get a number of new cavities,” he said.

Helpin recommends that parents have their kids brush their teeth after eating candy. If that’s not possible, have them rinse their mouth with water three or four times after eating. This will help cut down on acidity in the mouth, he said.

There can be special concerns about Halloween treats if your child is among the 3 million American boys and girls with food allergies.

“Candy products frequently include ingredients like peanuts, tree nuts, milk and egg, some of the most common food allergens in children,” Dr. Jacqueline A. Pongracic, an official with the Milwaukee-based American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, said in a news release issued by the organization. “Peanuts and tree nuts are common causes of severe, life-threatening reactions, and children and their parents need to be aware of this and check ingredients for all treats. This can be especially tricky with Halloween candies, which often do not have ingredients listed on their labels.”

According to the AAAAI, parents of children with food allergies should do the following:

* Before Halloween, ask your neighbors to give out safe snacks, even distributing some to them to hand out specifically to your child.
* Be aware that the smaller candy bars usually passed out to trick-or-treaters may have different ingredients than their regular-size counterparts.
* Teach your child to politely refuse offers of home-baked goodies like cookies or cupcakes.
More information

Get more Halloween safety tips from the American Red Cross.

Beware of Other Haunted Hazards

On Halloween, parents worry about the safety of their kids as they walk down the streets of their communities, leaving them vulnerable to accidents or injuries.

Mary Muscari, associate professor of nursing at Binghamton University, State University of New York, and author of Not My Kid 2: Protecting Your Children from the 21 Threats of the 21st Century, offers these recommendations:

* Help your kids choose costumes that allow for adequate vision and mobility.
* Trick or treat during daylight hours, or make sure at least part of your child’s costume is reflective so motorists can see them. And be sure to plan the trick-or-treat route. Select homes you know.
* Your kids should have charged cell phones and flashlights on hand. And if you’re with them, you should have a cell phone and flashlight, too.
* Older children and teens should be cautious about controversial costumes. Dressing like a gang-banger on the wrong turf can have disastrous consequences.
* Flame-resistant doesn’t mean fireproof, so keep trick-or-treaters away from open flames.

SOURCES: Mark Helpin, DDS, Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia; Mary Muscari, Ph.D., associate professor, nursing, Binghamton University, State University of New York; October 2008, news release, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

From: Health News

EWww! Germs Everywhere!

For most of us, whether we are parents or not, information like this is always alarming- but helpful. I like to use the clorox baby wipes to help keep germs under control.

Doorknobs and TV remotes are germ hotbeds

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione, Ap Medical Writer – Wed Oct 29,

WASHINGTON – Someone in your house have the sniffles? Watch out for the refrigerator door handle. The TV remote, too. A new study finds that cold sufferers often leave their germs there, where they can live for two days or longer.

Scientists at the University of Virginia, long known for its virology research, tested surfaces in the homes of people with colds and reported the results Tuesday at the nation's premier conference on infectious diseases.

Doctors don't know how often people catch colds from touching germy surfaces as opposed to, say, shaking a sick person's hand, said Dr. Birgit Winther, an ear, nose and throat specialist who helped conduct the study.

Two years ago, she and other doctors showed that germs survived in hotel rooms a day after guests left, waiting to be picked up by the next person checking in.

For the new study, researchers started with 30 adults showing early symptoms of colds. Sixteen tested positive for rhinovirus, which causes about half of all colds. They were asked to name 10 places in their homes they had touched in the preceding 18 hours, and researchers used DNA tests to hunt for rhinovirus.

"We found that commonly touched areas like refrigerator doors and handles were positive about 40 percent of the time" for cold germs, Winther said.

All three of the salt and pepper shakers they tested were contaminated. Other spots found to harbor the germ: 6 out of 18 doorknobs; 8 of 14 refrigerator handles; 3 of 13 light switches; 6 of 10 remote controls; 8 of 10 bathroom faucets; 4 of 7 phones, and 3 of 4 dishwasher handles.

Next, the researchers deliberately contaminated surfaces with participants' mucus and then tested to see whether rhinovirus stuck to their fingers when they turned on lights, answered the phone or did other common tasks. More than half of the participants got the virus on their fingertips 48 hours after the mucus was smeared.

The study was sponsored by Reckitt-Benckiser Inc., makers of Lysol, but no products were tested in the research. The study, designed by doctors with no ties to the company, was an effort to lay the groundwork for future research on germs and ways to get rid of them.

In a separate study, the university's Drs. Diane Pappas and Owen Hendley went germ-hunting on toys in the offices of five pediatricians in Fairfax, Va., three times during last year's cold and flu season.

Tests showed fragments of cold viruses on 20 percent of all toys tested — 20 percent of those in the "sick child" waiting room, 17 percent in the "well child" waiting room, and 30 percent in a sack of toys that kids are allowed to choose from after being good for a shot.

"Mamas know this," Hendley said. "They say, `We go to a doctor for a well-child checkup, the kids play with the toys and two days later they have a cold.'"

There is no proof that the remnants themselves can infect, but their presence suggests a risk, said Dr. Paul Auwaerter, an infectious-diseases specialist at Johns Hopkins University. He was familiar with the study but had no role in it.

Doctors have long advised frequent hand-washing to avoid spreading germs. Wearing surgical masks and using hand sanitizers also can help, a novel University of Michigan study found.

About 1,000 students who live in dorms tested these measures for six weeks during the 2006-07 flu season. They were divided into three groups: those who wore masks, those who wore masks and used hand sanitizer, and those who did neither.

The two groups who used masks reported 10 percent to 50 percent fewer cold symptoms — cough, fever, chills — than the group who used no prevention measures.

Researchers note that the study was not "blinded" — everyone knew who was doing what, and mask wearers may have been less likely to report cold symptoms later because they believed they were taking steps to reduce that possibility.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paid for the study.

The conference was a joint meeting of the American Society for Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

From: Yahoo News

Wai Lana Yoga Supplements - Women Rule!

I had a great laugh watching the ad of Wailana's Supplements. I say, women rule! :D

Wai Lana Yoga on TV

Wai lana yoga's TV schedules

Asana of the Week

Hips Folded
In this upside down forward bend, your back rests on the floor instead of your legs.

1. Lie on your back with your feet together. Place your arms at your sides, palms down.

2. Inhale and raise your legs. Bring them toward you until they form a 45-degree angle with your torso. Press your lower back down.

3. Interlock your fingers around your feet.

4. Folding from the hips, exhale and gently pull your legs toward you. Bend your elbows to the sides. Touch your toes to the floor behind your head if you can, leaving as much of your back on the floor as possible. Breathe slowly and evenly as you hold for 20 to 30 seconds.

5. Inhale and slowly roll your spine down. Move your legs away from you and straighten your arms without releasing your feet. Repeat 3 to 5 times.

6. Exhale as you slowly lower your legs to the floor and relax.

Here's an Easier Way...
If you can't interlock your fingers around your feet, hold the sides of your feet or your ankles. If you can't reach your ankles without bending your knees, loop a strap around your feet.

Hints...
• As you bring your legs toward you, try to get your thighs onto your abdomen.
• When lowering your feet to the floor, bring them as close to your head as possible.
• Flex your feet for a stronger hamstring stretch.

Benefits
• Stretches the spine and hamstrings
• Tones the kidneys, liver, and pancreas
• Stimulates the abdominal organs

Click here to watch Wai Lana's Asana of the week

YOGA TIPS for Easing the Chill of Winter

With winter just around the corner, I figured it would be about good timing to post this.

YOGA TIPS for Easing the Chill of Winter
Anna Montage, Health and Wellness Editor

Extra Tips for Dressing Warmly

Legs are often neglected in our outdoor clothing. If you’re planning to be outside for more than a short while, it’s important to keep your legs protected from the cold and wind. Nylon athletic pants with zippers on the side can be easily slipped on over your regular pants and aren’t too expensive. If you live in a cold climate or spend a lot of time outdoors, it may be worth the investment to buy outer pants that also provide some extra insulation. A sporting goods store or outdoor store can help you with this.

In many climates, a fleece jacket provides plenty of warmth if you layer a wind-proof shell on top of it. Outdoor companies make specially treated fabrics that keep the wind at bay. You will be surprised at how warm this simple and comfortable combination will keep you! If it’s very cold outside, a warm hat and fleece neck gator or scarf are essential, otherwise your vital body heat may slip right out the top of your jacket

Brrrr! While the winter season brings fun outdoor sports, family gatherings and toasty fires, the chill of winter can really take a toll on your physical and even mental health. Some people are more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather than others, but everyone can benefit from some simple strategies to stay balanced and healthy during the chilly season.

Keep bundled up! It may seem obvious, but one of the best remedies for warding off the winter chills is dressing properly. Keeping your feet and head warm is an absolute must—whether you’re inside or outside. Don’t let fashion make you a slave to the cold! There’s plenty of attractive outdoor apparel that looks great and keeps you snuggly even in the chilliest of temperatures. Your shoes or boots are crucial to your warmth and comfort and are worth the investment for a top-quality brand. Don’t forget to make sure they are water-resistant as well! Wet feet will chill your whole body.

Keep munching on fresh fruits and veggies, but also add warming soups, teas and spices to your yoga diet. Warm soup on a cold winter day helps soothe the body and mind. It can also help you stay hydrated and nourished. Don’t neglect fresh raw fruits and vegetables, but try to accompany them with other foods that help to counteract the effects of winter, such as soups, casseroles and other cooked dishes.

Warm liquids also tend to make you feel full, helping ward off the tendency to eat too many sweets and other rich foods in the winter. For example, hot herb tea is another great way to stay warm and hydrated without adding too many calories. A little honey or other natural sweetener added to your tea can help stave off wintertime cravings for unhealthy sweets. Fresh juices, especially when jazzed up with some ginger or other warming spices, will speed up your metabolism and provide potent enzymes and antioxidants to help keep fatigue and sickness away. Check out Wai Lana’s Favorite Juices for recipe ideas.

In your cooking, focus on warming spices such as ginger, cumin, and cinnamon. The Indian spice blend garam masala is a tasty and very warming addition to many vegetable dishes. It can be used by itself or along with ginger, cumin, turmeric or other Indian spices.

Maintain a healthy weight by staying in balance and keeping warm. If your body becomes too imbalanced from the cold, you will crave rich, oily food to counteract the effects of the weather, thus sabotaging your weight loss or maintenance goals. The warming herbs and foods (along with warm clothing mentioned above) will help you avoid these health pitfalls. So stay warm with teas, soups and spices and you’ll enjoy the winter weather without gaining extra weight.

Get Plenty of Exercise! Don’t avoid the outdoors! Embrace the cold by dressing the way I describe above. By dressing properly, you can be comfortable outside in even the most frigid climates. It’s crucial for your physical and mental health to get plenty of outdoor time during the cold season. The crisp cold air will oxygenate your body and invigorate your mind and sense of well-being. A little sunshine (even through the clouds) helps to keep your biological clock in balance and produce necessary vitamin D for the body. Getting outdoors also helps stave off “cabin fever” from spending too much time indoors!

Practice Yoga. Yoga is the most ancient, time-tested method for keeping the body and mind healthy and balanced. Yoga brings fresh oxygen to your cells, helping keep your energy and spirits up. Yoga also helps improve muscle strength and flexibility. Yoga helps you stay in a peaceful state of mind so that you are happier and less affected by stress.

From: Wailana's Yoga Newsletter

Yoga and weight control

Yoga and weight loss is always a big topic for many people. Questions about how yoga helps with weight loss- and Wai Lana has a very nice explanation for this. Here's a little example for this:
Wai Lana's wind blown tree. Hear more from this on Wai Lana's 3rd series.

Creative Kids

Creative Kids is a great resource for good materials for teaching kids. Wailana's Little Yogis are included! :)

Fun Activities for kids

Mothers and teachers are always looking for good ways to keep children entertained, mentally stimulated - and able to exert their energy! Here's one kit to help in all these aspects.

Best Brain foods

There Really Is Such a Thing as Brain Food
Your brain never stops working, so it's important to provide it with the right nutrients to keep it humming along.
HealthyMonday.org in association with John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Couple about to eat breakfast (© Digital Vision Ltd.)

We all know that the foods we eat affect our bodies. But they may have an even greater impact on our brains. The way we feel and how well we concentrate is all influenced by what we eat.

The brain works all day and all night so it needs the right nutrients to keep us going. The right food can help us concentrate, stay motivated, improve our memory, and even prevent our brains from getting older.

One of the most important ways to feed your brain is to get the right kinds of fats, in the right amount.

Yes, that's right. Fats. Chemicals called fatty acids are actually brain food. The healthiest type of fat is what's called omega-3 fatty acid. Basically, this makes your brain work at its peak. One of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acid is fish. Don’t worry if fish isn’t your favorite food, though. There are plenty of other “brain foods.”

It is important to get enough complex carbohydrates, especially at breakfast time. They give you energy for a long period of time. Avoid things like coffee and sugar that give you a burst of energy but then leave you feeling tired very quickly afterwards.

One of the best sources of complex carbohydrates, especially for breakfast, is fruit. It’s a great source of energy that gets the brain going and keeps your energy levels up all day. Berries and citruses are highest in complex carbohydrates and antioxidants (they fight cancer). Add some protein, such as cereal or whole-wheat toast for a complete and healthy breakfast.

Ideally, a larger lunch is better than a big dinner. Eating a heavy meal before going to bed can actually disrupt your sleep. A lighter meal with help you have a more restful night of sleep. Rely on a good breakfast and lunch to keep you full and going for the day.

In addition to getting the right types of food, it is important to have enough water. Fruit juices and non-caffeinated teas, such as green tea, are also good choices because they relax your brain and actually help you focus. Soda does provide a quick boost of sugar, but that boost doesn’t last long and actually leads to a decline in your ability to focus and think clearly.

Good brain foods include:

Complex carbohydrates, such as spinach, whole grains and grapefruit, can stabilize your blood sugar, which can improve brain function and fends off hunger pangs.

Protein, which breaks down into amino acids in your digestive system, some of which improve alertness and mental agility.

Fats are usually associated with problems like obesity, but some fats are actually good for you. Monounsaturated fat, like in olive oil, can improve blood cholesterol levels, and omega-3 fatty acids, actually improve brain function.

Whole Grains improve cardiovascular health, so you'll be pumping more blood to all your organs, including your brain. On top of that, many breads naturally contain or are enriched with vitamins that enhance mental performance.

Vitamins like folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 improve the ability to recall information. Choline, the fat-like B vitamin has been shown to enhance memory and minimize fatigue.

From: MSN

Eat lots of nuts. Wai Lana's got some great juice recipes with nuts in her book. :)

Wai Lana Yoga's Latest: Goji berries, Goji Juice

I'm pretty thrilled to see Wai Lana's newest products, it's like Christmas!

Detoxifying

For most of us, our environments are getting more and more polluted everyday. It is important to know how to detoxify. Hatha Yoga is one great way of doing that. Before I started doing Hatha Yoga - the days I fondly call "Pre-Wailana days" my health was not great. I had a lot of trouble eating properly, I had a lot of breakouts, and I was always low in energy. One reason that causes all of that is a build up of toxins in the body. Hatha Yoga cleans out your whole body- with all the squeezing, twisting, bending, and stretching movements fresh, clean blood flushes all the different organs. This in turn flushes out the built up toxins and fat build up around the different body systems/organs- allowing them to work properly.

Now I am also taking Wai Lana's supplements to help remove the toxins. Aloe Vera in particular is one of those things that is revered for its healing and cooling effects on the body. I've been taking Wai Lana's Aloe Cleansing and the Pure Aloe Juice almost everyday now. I love how it makes me feel - so clean and light inside.

The Yoga Diet

weekly recipe
yoga diet


Food for the Body That's Good for the Soul
A real yogi eats to live, rather than living to eat. This doesn't mean your food has to be tasteless, though. In fact, cooking has always been one of my favorite hobbies. Over the years, my family and friends have patiently tested my kitchen creations (which, I must admit, sometimes flopped). But after trying out hundreds of dishes, I now have quite a few tried and true recipes to share with you that are healthful, tasty, and easy to prepare. I'll post a new favorite here each week, so check back often for delicious new additions to your diet.

So what do yogis eat? A vegetarian yoga diet, of course, consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and grains, nuts and seeds, and a moderate amount of dairy products. You can prepare countless dishes using various combinations of these nutritious foods. Fry up some spices and turn a plain vegetable dish into a savory Indian curry. Add herbs for a Mediterranean flavor or ginger and coconut milk for a delightful Thai entree. With scrumptious and satisfying dishes, even the die-hard meat-eaters in your family won't miss the meat. And if they think "vegetarian" means bland and boring, they're in for a pleasant surprise.

A Spiritual Diet
You don't have to be a vegetarian to do yoga, but as you become more aware of your body, you'll find that eating meat makes you feel heavy. A vegetarian diet, on the other hand, helps you maintain the light and energized feeling you get from practicing yoga. Just go easy on the fried spring rolls and cheese dishes—they can put on the pounds.

The yoga diet is especially important if we want to elevate our consciousness to the stage where we're feeling love and compassion for all living beings—including animals. Eating them, rather than respecting and caring about them, simply hardens our hearts, moving this goal beyond our reach.


Making the Switch
Switching to a vegetarian diet isn't hard as long as you have tasty alternatives. And you don't have to do it overnight. First cut down on red meat, then gradually eliminate it from your diet. As you find other vegetarian foods you enjoy, you can gradually give up poultry, fish, and eggs. You'll join the ranks of thousands of new vegetarians, many of whom have changed their diets for health reasons now that flesh foods have been linked to cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, and so on. Even cutting back on meat a little will benefit you—and I'm hoping my recipes make this transition easy and enjoyable.

Don't worry about getting enough protein. Vegetarians get lots of protein in legumes, grains, and the like. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture places meat second to last in importance, behind grains, fruits, and vegetables. There's now a vegetarian food pyramid and a wealth of scientific evidence proving the health benefits of the yoga diet. I have my own living proof: My three healthy and athletic kids—vegetarians since conception!

So try out this week's recipe or browse the site for something that catches your fancy. And be sure to visit us again for more tasty and healthful "eat to live" recipes. Bon appetit!

Wai Lana's Upward Body Stretch

Yoga and height increase? Here we go.

Body Upward Stretch
You can do this stretch just about anywhere, with or without a wall. It feels especially good if you've been sitting for a long time as it gets all the kinks out of your spine and releases shoulder tension.

1. Stand with your feet a few inches from a wall, hip-width apart. Your buttocks touch the wall.

2. Inhale and slowly raise your arms to the sides and over your head.

3. Interlock your fingers and turn your palms up. Stretch your hands and arms upward, straightening your elbows.

4. Lift your chin and look up at your hands.

5. Come up onto your toes. Stretch your whole body upward. Breathe normally as you extend your spine up, allowing your abdomen to contract slightly. Bring your arms back toward the wall.

6. Lower your heels to the floor, straighten your head, release your hands, and lower your arms to your sides. Close your eyes and relax.

Focus in the Pose...
Lift, lift, lift. Lift your heels, lift your kneecaps, lift your spine, lift your ribs, lift your arms. This is called Body Upward Stretch, so do just that: stretch everything upward. Just don't hunch your shoulders up toward your ears.

Benefits
• Releases shoulder tension
• Tones the spinal nerves
• Strengthens the ankles and calves
• Improves balance
• Encourages healthy elimination

To watch the instructional video, go to Wailana Yoga

Wailana on Eye Protection

Watch Your Eyes
Our eyes are one of our most valuable possessions, yet we often take them for granted, even abuse them. With winter days shorter and grayer, we spend more time indoors under artificial light. Reading or studying in this light takes more "eye energy" than in the natural light of day because artificial lighting doesn't include the full light spectrum. Reading in a dimly lit room is even worse; it can cause eyestrain. So give your eyes a break—turn on an extra light or two if you're going to be reading inside.

Another simple thing you can do is rest your eyes periodically. Indoors, most things you look at are fairly close to you, and your eyes work harder to focus close up. On the other hand, gazing at a distance relaxes the eyes. So an easy way to rest your eyes is to simply look out a window at the sky or at the horizon.

From: Wai Lana's Weekly Message

Coming from a family of people who almost all have to wear glasses, I feel blessed to not have had to wear them myself. And now in this world that we almost all use computers and that kind of thing, it's always good to remember this.

I think this is a valuable little tip. :)

Jealous Moms?

Why moms get jealous when dads bond with kids
"Now stay in bed and go to sleep," my husband, Bill, said as he hugged our 3-year-old son, Davey, good night. "If you don't, I'm gonna talk in my troll voice all day tomorrow."
As dads spend more time with their kids, mothers sometimes feel they have to defend their territory.

As dads spend more time with their kids, mothers sometimes feel they have to defend their territory.

I smiled with pity at this poor, deluded man. Several times a night, Davey had been getting up to look at books. I had spent fruitless hours reasoning with him. No way could Bill's threat make a difference, especially since Davey found his troll-under-the-bridge act more funny than scary.

But that night, Davey didn't get up once. In the morning he ran around crowing that he'd won and the troll couldn't come. Bill, unlike me, must have known that Davey needed to turn staying in bed into a game. Of course I was grateful.

I was also just the tiniest bit jealous. Why hadn't I been the one with the great insight? Why couldn't I talk like a troll?

It's comforting to know that I'm not the only mom who's had such moments. Plenty of us admit to everything from mild envy to full-blown resentment of our mates' parenting skills. And that makes us feel ungrateful: After all, we finally have something that mothers have wanted for generations: an extra pair of hands.

Today's dads spend 21.7 hours a week on child care and related duties such as shopping and housework, up nine hours from 30 years ago, according to research by the University of Maryland. Which isn't to say that moms still don't handle the vast majority of kid-linked tasks -- a whopping 39 hours weekly.

Still, our guys are doing more than their dads did. Fathers clip tiny toenails and baby-food coupons. They read bedtime stories and clothing labels. And while some of our own dads had no clue about how to change a diaper, our kids' dads often have fierce opinions on Luvs versus Huggies. Parenting.com: Secrets to a made-to-last marriage

We moms say we want our spouses to be do-it-all dads: We're forward-thinking women of the 21st century. Besides, if they did less, we couldn't possibly juggle our busy lives without going nuts.

"But we don't want them to take over," says Pyper Davis, a mother of two in Washington, D.C. "We don't ever want to be pushed off that throne of being Mommy."

Jealousy and envy and ego, oh my!

One reason we're possessive of the parental crown may be that, although society's changed, we still get traditional messages about women's roles. "A lot of our mothers, our workplaces, our TV shows still tell us that moms should do most of the childcare," says Liz Park, Ph.D., a marriage and family therapist with three kids in Crownsville, Maryland. We moms can be good at taking such messages to heart. Parenting.com: Keeping score in the chore wars

"For women, no matter how far along you are in your career or no matter how much of a feminist you consider yourself to be, at some level you're coming from an assumption that women are caretakers," says Heather Gerken of New Haven, Connecticut, a law professor and the mother of Anna, 6, and Ben, 2. "When Anna was a baby, I would feel guilty about the time away from her," she says.

And at home, sharing child care with her husband, she felt a little jealous that he was as central to Anna's life as she was. "Now that I've gone through this twice, all I'd add is that the twinges of regret are overwhelmed by the joy of raising kids together. There's no other reason I can think of for that jealousy, except for the guilty, nagging feeling that you ought to be spending more time with your child."

Well, there are at least a few other reasons.

The briefness of those precious early years, for one. "When our son was a baby, Brian gave him more of his baths," says Jessica Davis of Chicago. (Both names were changed.) She believed it was important for them to have such one-on-one moments, but "I remember thinking a few times, 'I should take the bath with him!' Especially when they're babies, you're likely to think, 'I want this piece or that piece' because babies sleep so much and quality time with them is much more limited than with an older child." Parenting.com's guide to kid sleep
Health Library

* MayoClinic.com: Health Library

Then there's the matter of love. Naturally, when our spouses spend extra time nurturing our children, the kids become extra attached. "David* just adores his dad. He's his little shadow," Amy Conner* of Nashua, New Hampshire, says of her 3-year-old son. She understands the daddy worship; she thinks her husband, is "more playful" with David than she is. "But at first it just hurt because I didn't feel that he loved me as much as [him]," she admits.

For some moms, like me, what hurts is a deep-seated notion that we should be better parents than our spouses -- more instinctive, more inventive, more in tune with our kids' needs. D'Anne Gleicher of Alameda, California, finds herself battling this idea when her daughter is sick. Because she can't get paid time off from her job as an attorney, her husband is usually the one to stay home with Ava, 8. "I know he's very capable of caring for her, but I want to believe I'm better at it than he is -- even though I'm not. I think it's the whole 'I'm the mommy and I can fix anything.' It's almost like a savior thing."

Working mothers aren't the only ones who long to be saviors. Sarah Mock of Tualatin, Oregon, quit working as a high school teacher when her second daughter was born. "When you've made this decision to stay home, you've given up this side of you where you can shine as your own person. Instead, you feel pressure to shine as a parent," she explains. Which can make it frustrating when your husband is as much fun with the kids as you are. "Recently John helped them make their own version of Candy Land. I thought, 'Why can't I think of things that are more creative?' " she says. "It seems he's doing very well at work and then when he comes home he's doing very well with the kids, so it's like he's doing great everywhere and I'm running to keep up."

Who's the boss?

If we're not careful, jealousy and insecurity can turn moms into control freaks. So says Park, a recovering control freak herself. "With our first child, I was constantly asking my husband, 'Are you making sure he's getting his vegetables?' It feels good to make the decisions."

Trouble is, "the more we control how dads do things, the less involved they want to be," Park says. A recent Ohio State University study of almost 100 couples with newborns backs her up: Researchers found that even dads who believed they should be highly involved in childcare shied away from doing things for their infant if Mom was very judgmental. Parenting.com: The truth about bonding

So Park recommends trying what she did with her husband and her son, Joe, now 11. "I had to let go and let them have their own relationship -- he's a competent man! If Joe doesn't have a vegetable, who cares?" When you find yourself hovering, Park suggests, leave the room. And if you feel compelled to share some crucial knowledge -- the latest food pyramid for toddlers, say -- try offering him some childcare lit. "That way it's neutral. It's not like you're dictating to him how to do it," she says.

Rethinking the rivalry

As for curbing the green-eyed monster, it comes down to discovering things you do well with your kids. When they're babies, simply breastfeeding them is something Dad can't do, and may be enough. Later on, try sharing your passions, from gardening to karate. It's also smart to take turns doing the fun stuff, like playing with the kids, as well as the non-fun stuff (say, disciplining them). Dad's giving the baths? Great. Make storytime yours, instead of moping. Parenting.com: Play list

Most important, moms say, remember how lucky your kids are to have two hands-on parents. Gleicher hopes that having a caring, involved father will one day spur her daughter to choose a guy with those qualities. "She won't end up with somebody she doesn't respect," she says.

Speaking of respect, adds Gerken, it's the best cure she's found yet for parental jealousy. "Just to glory in your husband's abilities as a dad, I think, is key," she says.

Next time Bill pulls off a child-care coup, I plan to be a model of admiration. I'll watch and learn. And I won't begrudge him his troll voice one bit -- as long as talking like SpongeBob can be mine, all mine.

From: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/10/17/parenting.moms.jealous/index.html

It's a real issue that may come up, but a very minor one. Mothers are generally (and unfortunately) very unappreciated people. But I think that the more involved fathers are in raising their kids, the better it is for the kids- for everyone, really.

Wai Lana Yoga's weekly message

Inside Out Yoga
When you do yoga asanas, don't try to force your body into an "ideal" position; instead, do them from the inside out. Move into the postures with inner awareness, noting and accepting your body's strengths and limitations. Don't worry if you can't stretch as far as someone else—yoga is about doing the poses the best you can while maintaining proper alignment. This is the safest way to practice, too. If you practice regularly and conscientiously, gently stretching your boundaries, you will advance very quickly.

Wai Lana's Weekly Message

Breast Cancer news

It's always a daunting prospect for any person to be faced with a disease such as cancer. Breast cancer is no joke for anyone either, and so here's a little article I got from CNN today:

A head-to-toe look at breast cancer's real effects

* Story Highlights
* Breast cancer diagnosis is devastating, bringing fear and isolation
* Chemotherapy could cause side effects such as forgetfulness, trouble concentrating
* Numbness in the hands and feet from chemo can make daily tasks difficult
* Rekindling your sex life can be really restorative, doctor says
* Next Article in Health »

By Lambeth Hochwald
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Health

Let's face it: Your mom, your sister-in-law, your co-worker, your best friend from college -- someone you know has had breast cancer. Someone you care about has sat white-faced, clutching the kitchen phone, or in a doctor's office, and gotten the scary news that every woman dreads -- news that one out of eight of us will hear in our lifetime, 250,000 of us this year alone.
Adriene Hughes talks to her plastic surgeon, James Chao, about the implants used for her breast reconstruction.

Adriene Hughes talks to her plastic surgeon, James Chao, about the implants used for her breast reconstruction.

If there's an upside to this breast cancer picture it's that the odds of surviving are getting better all the time.

In the United States, there are more than 2 million breast cancer survivors who are learning to live -- and live well -- with what was once a death sentence. That means there are even more opportunities for us to share the breast cancer experience with a friend or family member, and more reasons to try to understand what they're going through and how we can help.

To give you a realistic head-to-toe picture of what it's like to have breast cancer, we consulted the nation's best experts and talked to a dozen breast cancer survivors, including some who are still in treatment. Read this and you'll understand why your neighbor suddenly can't remember your last name, why your aunt doesn't want to wear a wig, and why your best friend just needs you to sit with her and hold her hand.

Feeling alone and afraid

Even with survival rates up, a breast cancer diagnosis is devastating, bringing equal parts fear and isolation. "It alienates you," says Pamilla deLeon-Lewis, 57, a motivational speaker and poet in New York City, who did six months of chemotherapy and eight weeks of radiation after her stage II metastatic breast cancer was diagnosed. "In the Caribbean, where I'm from, people cut you off when you admit to having cancer. My aunt wouldn't let me come close to her. I felt invisible."

Friends -- even some online-- became more important to deLeon-Lewis during her treatment. "The women in chat rooms going through what I was going through made me laugh and cry. Because of them I felt like I could do this. I felt empowered."

For Stephanie Gensler, 39, an advertising account coordinator in Baltimore, Maryland whose stage II aggressive breast cancer was diagnosed when she was 34, had a lumpectomy, a six-month regimen of chemo and 36 radiation treatments. The most painful part, she said, was going through breast cancer without a partner. "What hurt the most was going to bed alone."

The biggest fear of all, of course, is of dying-- a worry that doesn't soon go away. "I remember the Mother's Day after I was diagnosed. My son was 6, and I kept thinking I'm not going to be around to see him grow up," says Kim Regenhard, 51, a 10-year survivor who just published A Survivor's Guide for the Breast Cancer Journey. "Mother's Day is still very tough."

Memory takes a hit

Some treatments for breast cancer -- like chemotherapy -- are extremely debilitating. Forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and foggy thinking are common side effects.

"I always prided myself on remembering numbers when I worked on Wall Street," deLeon-Lewis says. "But chemo absolutely compromised my short-term memory."

What's the chemo-fog connection? "It may be hormonally related," says Jennifer Litton, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the department of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. "Chemo can put a woman into menopause, and these are symptoms that go along with that. Postmenopausal women suffer, too, and we're not sure why." The fog lifts somewhat over time-- but not for everyone, experts say.

Almost 15 percent of women who've had chemotherapy will have chemo-brain for life, but deLeon-Lewis isn't discouraged: "I refuse to let cancer or any of the medications to get rid of cancer keep me down. I do crossword puzzles, word games, and anything else I can to keep my mind strong."Video: See Pamilla deLeon-Lewis talk about her breast cancer journey.

A changing body image

How breasts look and feel post-cancer will depend on what's been done -- lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiation. Survivors deal with scars and sometimes dented breasts, in addition to breast removal and the side effects of reconstruction.

A mastectomy sometimes leaves a woman with numbness and tingling in the chest, as well as neck and back pain. "It causes a loss of sensation in the chest wall from your collar­bone to your rib cage," says Monica Morrow, M.D., chief of the breast-surgery service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. "The discomfort decreases over time, but as nerves regrow in a year or two it's normal to experience occasional sharp, shooting pains or a feeling of something on your skin you want to brush off."

Radiation treatments can take a toll, too, causing extreme redness or dryness on the breast skin and changes in the color or texture of the nipple and areola.

Hair ... going, going, gone

The same drugs that target cancer cells can do a number on your hair follicles, says Eric P. Winer, M.D., a medical oncologist and chief of the division of women's cancers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts and chief scientific advisor at Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "Depending on the kind of chemo, we know exactly when hair will fall out."
Don't Miss

* Oprah.com: Christina Applegate: Why I had a double mastectomy
* Study: Aspirin, ibuprofen may cut breast cancer risk
* iReport.com: Coping with breast cancer

Regenhard lost her hair on a business trip. "It was a week-and-a-half after my first treatment," says Regenhard, who'd had a lumpectomy, then chemo and radiation. "The first day I facilitated the meeting with short hair. The next morning my pillow looked like a squirrel. Then it came out in clumps in the shower. The day after that I went to the meeting with a wig on. Thankfully, I had a lot of support from the people in that room."

Alice Crisci, 32, revels in being bald. "My thing is to get ahead of the change," says Crisci, who is still undergoing chemo after learning she had stage I breast cancer in February. "It's so liberating," she says. "A shower or the wind feels great on my bare head. More important, for me, wearing a wig meant I was hiding the hellacious thing I was going through. I don't want to hide."

Eyelashes, eyebrows, and other body hair also may thin during chemotherapy but tend to take longer to fall out. "At one point I was down to three eyelashes," says Eloise Caggiano, 37, a three-year survivor who had a single mastectomy before beginning four months of chemo. "I was trying to be so gentle when I washed my face, and I kept willing those lashes to hang on." Crisci says she's down to "like five pubic hairs. I tell people that I am having the most painless Brazilian waxes." Hair typically begins to grow back within a month or two of chemo being completed, Winer says. When it returns, it's often grayer or curlier before returning to its original look. Meet seven women who lost their hair and how they coped.

Coping with pain

During treatment, bone pain can be terrible. Certain chemo medications, such as paclitaxel, can prompt muscle aches and joint pain, says Banu K. Arun, M.D., an associate professor in the department of breast medical oncology and co-medical director of clinical cancer genetics at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. But the pain usually goes away after chemo is finished. Those who receive longer-term therapies, such as estrogen-blocking Tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor such as Arimidex may experience pain for longer.

"After my first chemo, my bone pain was so severe, it felt like I had been hit by three Mack trucks," Crisci says. "The unfortunate thing is that no one knows how you'll react to chemo, so they can only make adjustments after you've had your first treatment. The second round was a lot easier, and I started taking Motrin for bone pain before it even started."

Just six months ago, before her stage IIIB inflammatory breast cancer spread to her bones and became more painful, Elizabeth Miller, 49, a senior vice president of design for a home-furnishings company in New York City, was appalled at the thought of taking pain medication. "Now I find myself waiting for the magic pain-medication alarm song that my son programmed into my cell phone so I can work and live without my breast cancer pain stopping me," she says.

Bone loss is also a concern for breast cancer survivors. If you're premenopausal and go through breast cancer treatment, you'll experience a 7 percent bone loss, some experts say. The good news is that women can do something about bone loss from weight-bearing exercise to taking vitamins such as calcium and vitamin D, oncologist Litton says.

Little things get hard

Numbness in the hands and feet from some chemo medications can make daily tasks like holding a pencil or buttoning buttons nearly impossible. "Taxol makes your feet and fingers tingle, and the small veins tend to go numb," says Adriene Hughes, 48, who had a single mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and reconstruction. "It also makes your body ache for five days. It feels like someone beat you up. You can barely move."

There's no easy solution, says Marisa C. Weiss, M.D., an oncologist and founder and president of Breastcancer.org. "But there is some research on the benefits of B6 vitamins for numbness. And patients can manage pain with Neurontin."

Women also sometimes get brittle nails on fingers and toes from chemo and burns from radiation. Most of these aggravating side effects go away eventually, but it may take time.

Reconstruction or not?

Deciding how you want to look after treatment is very personal, says Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D., professor of behavioral science at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. "Not all women choose reconstruction after mastectomy; in fact, only 17 percent do. It's a really personal choice that has nothing to do with sensuality or taking care of yourself," she says.

Some women know that they want to have reconstruction done right away like Adriene Hughes who had a temporary implant put in after her single mastectomy and then had implants put in both breasts 18 months later.

Others aren't so sure, though. "I have no plans for reconstruction," says Debbie Arkin, 49, of Tampa, Florida who had a double mastectomy to remove stage IIA invasive ductal carcinoma in 2006 and is featured on Health.com. "I love not wearing a bra. I had 34DD breasts and am enjoying the break from having all that weight on my upper body." Meet women who've decided for and against breast reconstruction

What about sex?

There's no doubt that having breast cancer isn't sexy. Hair loss, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms of menopause caused by a dip in estrogen such as hot flashes and interrupted periods don't help. But rekindling your sex life can be really restorative, Weiss says. "It may help to mix up your sexual repertoire to get in the mood. If you've never needed a sexy book or movie to get ready for sex, you may now."

"It was so life-affirming to have sex while I was undergoing treatment," says Hendy Dayton, 48, who has been married for 23 years and whose caner was diagnosed in 2003. "I didn't feel particularly attractive, but my husband affirmed that I was just as beautiful and that this was a temporary thing," she says.

Dawn Reinhart, who learned she had stage IIB invasive ductal carcinoma at age 34, had a more difficult time. "Before my diagnosis, my sex life was fairly normal," says Reinhart, now 44. "But after two surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, I completely lost interest in it. I couldn't get aroused. I would rather have had my taxes done than have sex." For Reinhart, it was also a physical problem: "My ribs were fragile after radiation, and it took some time to find positions that worked." Once she could get comfortable, she also tried some arousal products that helped. "I think so many women lose hope of having a good sex life after a breast cancer diagnosis, but they don't have to." Seven breast cancer survivors talk about sex

That queasy feeling

Many women experience tummy troubles, particularly nausea during chemo, as the drugs disturb the digestive track. "Nausea generally occurs within one to three days after chemo, but we have lots of effective nausea medications to control it," Winer says, although constipation and indigestion may be unpleasant side effects of the anti-nausea medications themselves.

"I had low-level nausea during chemotherapy," says Kelly Corrigan, 41, author of The Middle Place, who found a big lump in her left breast that turned out to be stage III HER-2 positive breast cancer, the fast-growing kind. "It reminded me of the first three months of pregnancy. I ate saltines and drank ginger ale as often as I needed to."

Chemotherapy also takes its toll on the mouth about five to eight days after treatment begins. The rapidly dividing cells that line the mouth can't do their normal job of replacing old cells with new ones, and this makes the inside of the mouth vulnerable to sores in two out of five women.

Others experience a metallic taste in the mouth or a change in taste.

When Miller was going through chemo after being diagnosed five years ago, she experienced a pronounced change in her tastebuds. "I'm not sure if it was simply a comfort-food thing, but I was very interested in smoothies, yogurt, and other 'gentle' foods," Miller says.

Fertility fears

Women with cancer who want to have kids can discuss egg preservation with an oncologist before beginning chemo, which can cause early onset of menopause and associated infertility, Weiss says. "During the years of hormonal therapy, pregnancy is unsafe," she explains. But when treatment is complete, survivors who are ready to become parents can discuss their hopes and options with their OB-GYN. "I froze my embryos, so I'm sure I'll have them when I'm ready to think about starting a family," Crisci says.

Gensler wishes that someone had put egg preservation on her radar. "No one said anything to me, and I wasn't thinking about it. My doctor says it's possible for me to get pregnant, but I'm not sure it is," Gensler says. "That was the hardest thing I had to deal with: learning that I may not be able have a baby."

Looking older

Skin takes a hit due to the withdrawal of estrogen, oncologist Litton says. "During chemo, women sometimes notice their skin is drier. There are lots of rashes. When you come off the drugs, the rashes go away." That means skin should be protected even more during chemo. "Women being treated for breast cancer are in a very sensitive time of life," Weiss says. "They should always use an SPF of 30 or greater and wear a large-brimmed hat and sun-protective clothing."

It's OK to exercise
Health Library

* MayoClinic.com: Breast cancer
* MayoClinic.com: Types of breast cancer
* MayoClinic.com: Male breast cancer

Not so long ago breast cancer survivors were told not to exercise for fear of getting lymphedema, painful upper-arm swelling and shoulder stiffness due to fluid buildup after lymph node removal. Today, lymphedema is far less common because breast cancer is generally caught earlier and most women now undergo a sentinel node biopsy where only the important lymph nodes in the underarm are removed. What's more, exercise is now recommended for both its physical and emotional benefits.

Still, some women do experience arm swelling, says Weiss, who prescribes manual lymphatic drainage which, simply put, is massage in an upward direction. "The goal is to encourage drainage of fluid up into circulation past your shoulder." Pumps and compression sleeves may also help. Survivors with arm swelling should avoid hot tubs, use insect repellent and oven mitts to avoid trauma, and get blood pressure readings or have blood drawn from the other arm, Weiss says.

Facing the future

Grief, fear, anger, anxiety. Breast cancer survivors feel it all at one time or another, experts say even after treatment is finished. "It was like I had posttraumatic stress disorder," Dayton says. "I couldn't believe what I had just gone through, and I couldn't stop crying."

For Regenhard every ache and pain brought a new fear the first year. "At the beginning, I think that's very normal," she says. A big transition for many survivors is easing from many checkups with a variety of docs to just one with a regular physician. She says, "You worry, 'What if it comes back and someone's not there to catch it?' That kind of adjustment is hard." This "cancer shock" fades after a few months or years for most patients, but many say the fear of cancer coming back is always with them.

Others are determined to look on the bright side. "I had eight cycles of chemo, a lumpectomy, and two months of radiation. But my cancer experience overall was extremely positive because I believe there are certain conversations, interactions, and intimacies that can only happen in the space around a crisis," says Corrigan, a northern California mother of two who created CircusOfCancer.org, a site to help women understand the upside of the cancer experience. "I had some of the best conversations of my life that year. You soon go back to bitching about how you need to get your windshield fixed. But I hope people will strive to connect while they're in that sacred space."

Getting breast cancer has a funny way of bringing clarity, survivors say, from who your friends really are to what you want to do with your life. "During treatment, I started thinking that I wanted to feel good at the end of the day and needed a job change," Caggiano says. "If I was going to work until 9 at night I wanted it to be for a good cause." She now works at the Avon Foundation, overseeing its signature breast cancer walks. "I'm putting my breast cancer experience to good use. I get to meet all these wonderful survivors, and I get hugs all weekend long when we do events. What sort of job do you have that lets you get hugs all weekend long?" 3 Ways to fight the fear your breast cancer will come back

Blurbs

Whoa check out that guy's face!

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.
Henry David Thoreau

Wai Lana's Gems of Inspiration

I'm very tired today. I cleaned up everything and had allergies all day from it. I just did netti a while ago. Felt much better after.

Noni

I never realized Noni was such a good thing. I've been hearing about it but I never really paid much attention to it. But now that Wailana's got a whole new product line - made of Noni, I'm going to try it out. I'm interested.

They're all on buy 2 take 1 sale.
Noni soap- is just one of the few. If you're interested to see more, please check out


Wai Lana Yoga - Noni, Natural Health and Beauty Products

Have a nice day. :)

Wai Lana's Favorite Soups

Wai Lana's
Favorite Soups

From fabulous French Onion to creamy Potato Leek, this gorgeous cookbook has something for everyone: comforting classics, hearty vegetable soups, silken blends, healing broths, Thai curries, Asian noodle soups, sustaining stews, and more. Mouthwatering recipes for all occasions!

* Delicious, healthy soups the whole family will love
* 140 fool-proof recipes, over 300 pages
* Helpful hints, variations, and shortcuts
* Beautiful full-page color photograph for each recipe
* Most recipes call for easy-to-find, everyday ingredients

Hardcover $26.50

To find out more, check Wailana's Yoga Store

This is fantastic. I'm so excited about this. I can't wait to get it. Looks beautiful. I'm sure the recipes are all yummy too!

Wai Lana Yoga- Aromatherapy

Wai Lana's got a newer product line, aromatherapy products. How cool can that be? :)

Here are some pictures of them:

To see more, check Wai Lana's Yoga Store . :)








AND, they're buy 2 take 1 now!

Warm Up This Winter with Delicious Dhal

Warm Up This Winter with Delicious Dhal
Fit Yoga
February 2007

By Wai Lana

For decades, dhal has been a staple dish in our family, not just because it’s a breeze to make, but also because everyone loves its mild curry flavors and feels satisfied after eating it. A cornerstone of Vedic cooking, dhal has been a major component of most meals in India for countless centuries. Literally translated, dhal simply means “seed.” As a dish, however, it’s very often comprised of small legumes called pulses, such as lentils or mung beans. Technically seeds themselves, pulses cook relatively quickly and go well with most grains and veggies.

The Different Dhals
Lentils and mung beans come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Like all bean family members, they are packed with a balance of quality nutrition like protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, and B vitamins, as well as other valuable nutrients. They make for a nurturing, satiating, and sustaining meal, especially when cooked or served with vegetables and partnered with basmati rice or whole wheat chapatis (tortilla-like Indian flat breads).

Of all dhal varieties, yellow mung dhal is most highly regarded by Ayurvedic practitioners. This is because it requires no presoaking, cooks quickly, is easy to digest, and is suitable for all body types, even children and the elderly. Yellow mung dhal generally does not cause any gas or bloating—a common complaint with larger beans. It also has a palatable nutty flavor.

Split red lentils, otherwise known as masoor, also cook quickly and digest without causing discomfort. After simmering for 20 minutes or so, both yellow mung dhal and red lentils lose their form, disintegrating to create a rich, creamy texture for delicious, satisfying soups. In cookbooks and on many restaurant menus, you’ll find such soups are simply called dhal.

Brown and green lentils, on the other hand, keep their form during cooking. These pulses are a little harder to digest—though far easier than the bigger kidney or pinto beans! Lentils make fine simple dishes on their own along with some spices and a vegetable or two. They also make hearty additions to soups and stews. Lentils are even good cooked with brown rice, which takes about the same amount of time to cook. There is no need to presoak brown or green lentils.

Dhal is also commonly made of channa, or split hulled black chickpeas. These beans take longer to cook and are not as easy to digest. Unlike mung beans or lentils, channa should be presoaked for a day before preparation and cooked for about 2 hours. A pressure cooker really comes in handy if you like channa dhal as it can bring the cook time down to mere minutes.

Buying, Storing, and Preparing Legumes
You can find most lentils, mung beans, and channa in Indian stores, health food stores, and bulk stores. Even some regular supermarkets will stock them. Store all varieties in airtight containers and try to use them within 3 months of purchase. Remember that the older they get, the tougher they get, so you’ll need to soak and cook them longer as they age.

Prior to preparation, be sure to sift pulses to remove any pebbles or other debris, then rinse them thoroughly.

Improving Digestibility
Generally speaking, the smaller the bean, the easier it is to digest. This is why yellow mung dhal and red lentils are ideal. To increase the digestibility of any legume, however, cook with digestive spices like coriander, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and fennel. A hint of clove or cayenne is also great for kindling your digestive fire.

Whenever required, soak legumes for the appropriate amount of time (anywhere between 1 and 24 hours, depending on the size, age, and toughness of the bean). Always discard the soaking water and cook beans in fresh water. Skim the foam off the water’s surface during cooking to further reduce any gas-producing properties.

Don’t salt the beans until after they’ve cooked as salt causes them to toughen up, thus prolonging the cook time.
Easy Dhal

RECIPES

Easy Dhal
Beautifully flavored, low in fat, and rich in protein, this tasty dhal is easy to make and delightful to eat. Try making it as a palate-whetting appetizer or as a delicious meal in itself along with fragrant basmati rice.

Ingredients
2½ cups dried red lentils, sifted and rinsed well
7 cups water
One 15-ounce can diced tomato (or 2 cups fresh)
1½ tablespoons minced ginger
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon olive oil or ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon minced fresh chili or red chili flakes
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2¼ teaspoons salt or to taste
1/2 cup minced cilantro or mint leaves plus extra for garnishing
1/2 tablespoon minced garlic

Procedure

1. Place the lentils, water, tomato, ginger, and turmeric in a 4-quart pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes.
2. When the lentils have broken down and the soup is quite smooth, heat the ghee or oil in a small skillet over high heat. Add the cumin and mustard seeds and sauté for a few seconds. When the cumin darkens, add the chili and coriander and stir for a few seconds. Remove from the heat and add immediately to the soup along with the salt.
3. Add the cilantro or mint and garlic and stir through. Ladle into bowls, garnish with extra cilantro or mint, and serve.

Tips/Variations
Veggie variation: Include 1 to 2 cups chopped yam from the very beginning. Or, after the lentils have cooked for about 20 minutes, add 2 cups chopped vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, or spinach. Increase the water and salt if necessary.

Coconut variation: Add 1 cup of coconut milk a few minutes before serving and increase the salt slightly if necessary.

Hands-on prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Makes about 9 cups

From: Wailana in the Media

Managing Anger

Anger is an issue most of us have to deal with. For one, I get angry a whole lot and quite easily. I've been trying to hang around people with nicer temperaments so that I can get through a bit more.

Release Anger Through Yoga

Anger can be very destructive. It can cause physical and mental problems and can even destroy our personal relationships. But you don't have to let it.

You can learn to release your anger through yoga. Breathing exercises are particularly good for calming down immediately. Just take as many slow, deep breaths as you need to. Yoga sound meditation combined with breathing is even more effective, as the sounds themselves are calming. Yoga asanas also help release tension in both body and mind. So before you blow off steam and hurt yourself or someone else, release your anger with some yoga.

Wailana's Weekly Message

Yoga Mats

For any yoga practitioner, choosing a yoga mat may be as crucial as choosing a tennis racket for a tennis player- or, an eskimo choosing a kayak in the old days when the saying was, "If someone drowned/fell off their kayak- it probably wasn't their own."

I just found this site where Wailana's complete list of yoga mats are presented. With this huge variety of mats, I'm sure you'll find that will suit your needs and likes perfectly. :)

Aloe Energy

I've been taking Wailana's "Aloe Energy", one of the newest products of Wailana, and I have just felt the great effects of it on me. I do have so much more energy. It's amazing, it's lovely! It's definitely a worthy buy.

Click here for enlarged view
price:

Aloe Energy

Special offer: Buy two bottles of Aloe Energy, get one free!

Aloe Energy provides you with ginsenosides, which reduce fatigue and improve stamina and endurance. They are especially helpful in maintaining peak performance during physical exertion.

17 fl oz

Ingredients: Pure aloe vera juice, aloe vera pulp, apple juice concentrate, stevia extract, lemon juice powder, xanthan gum (thickener), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract, Panax ginseng extract, cayenne pepper, citric acid (pH stabilizer)

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat or cure any disease.

Natural Beauty and Health, with Wailana

I just got the rest of the Wailana supplements I ordered. I ordered more today to send to my aunt. :)

Wailana's Weekly message

Release Anger Through Yoga
Anger can be very destructive. It can cause physical and mental problems and can even destroy our personal relationships. But you don't have to let it.

You can learn to release your anger through yoga. Breathing exercises are particularly good for calming down immediately. Just take as many slow, deep breaths as you need to. Yoga sound meditation combined with breathing is even more effective, as the sounds themselves are calming. Yoga asanas also help release tension in both body and mind. So before you blow off steam and hurt yourself or someone else, release your anger with some yoga.

Wailana Yoga Weekly Message

My Review of Extra Thick Hot Pink Unprinted Yoga and Pilates Mat from Wai Lana Productions

Originally submitted at OnlineSports

Twice the thickness of our standard mat for extra cushioning and comfort.

• Sticky yet smooth surface prevents slipping
• Thicker cushioning for greater comfort
• Offers support and stability in poses
• Latex-free (tested by an independent laboratory)

Extra Thick Hot Pink Unprinted Yoga and Pilates Mat from Wai Lana Productions

Wailana's Extra Thick mats

By Aiva Bragley from San Antonio, Texas on 10/5/2008

 

5out of 5

Pros: Cheap, Non-slip, Portable, Durable, Comfortable, Easy to wash, Attractive Colors

Best Uses: Yoga, Sleeping, Home, Pilates, At The Gym, Sit-ups

Describe Yourself: Frequent Exerciser

I really love Wailana's products, and this mat in particular. I've had one for ages and I've taken it EVERYWHERE I go. It's my best mate for exercise.
:)

http://www.wailana.com is definitely my favorite website!

(legalese)

Wai Lana's Newsletter - Healthy Foods and fast

Healthy Food—Fast
Anna Montage, Health and Wellness Editor

One of the biggest obstacles to making the transition to a healthier, tastier daily menu can simply be the perceived need for a lot of time to prepare balanced, nutritious meals. However, in this month’s article we’re going to show you just how quick preparing satisfying, tasty meals can be. After all, for most of us almost every day is busy and hectic, so you need plenty of creative ways to handle those last-minute meal preparations—without sacrificing your health in the process.



Last-Minute Pasta Dinner
Last-Minute Pasta Dinner

Ingredients:
Whole wheat pasta (or your favorite pasta)
Veggie ground round (usually available in either the produce or frozen foods section of your grocery store)
Olive oil
Garlic, onion and/or mushrooms (optional)
Meatless pasta sauce (try organic!)
Salad veggies (such as baby greens, baby carrots, cucumber, etc.)
Your favorite salad dressing
Wholegrain or Italian bread (optional)

You arrive home starving—and possibly to greet starving family members as well. What to do? Here’s a quick, easy dinner sure to satisfy the palate:

First, turn a burner on high and get a pot of water going for your pasta. For the nutritional boost of whole grains, try some of the new whole wheat pastas available in most grocery stores and all health food stores.

Sauté the veggie ground round in a little olive oil and, if you like, add some garlic and onion or mushrooms. Once it’s lightly browned, add a jar of your favorite meatless pasta sauce (preferably organic) and simmer for a few minutes.

In the meantime, throw together a quick tossed salad. Prewashed baby spinach and salad greens make salad easier than ever. (It’s always a good idea to give these an extra rinse.) Throw some baby carrots on top and garnish with whatever other salad veggies you have on hand. A little cheese always adds extra zest to a simple salad. Top with your favorite dressing. A little garlic bread (optional) adds a traditional complement to this tasty meal. (Try wholegrain bread!)



The Easiest Cheese Lasagna Ever!
The Easiest Cheese Lasagna Ever!

This recipe is perfect for whenever you and your family and friends want a delicious, gourmet meal but you don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. This lasagna takes only about 20 minutes to prepare but about 1½ to 2 hours to cook. (If needed, you can assemble it several hours ahead of baking time.)

Ingredients:
1 package lasagna noodles
3 jars marinara pasta sauce
16 oz ricotta cheese
1 lb tofu (optional)
16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
½ tsp dried basil for garnishing (optional)
½ tsp dried oregano for garnishing (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. This recipe doesn’t require pre-boiling the lasagna noodles (it’s not necessary to buy the no-bake kind) but you use plenty of sauce to compensate. It’s important to use marinara style sauce because the higher water content helps cook the noodles.

First, pour a good bit of sauce on the bottom of the pan and spread it out. Use enough sauce so that you can’t see the bottom of the pan at all (this usually amounts to about ¾ of a jar of sauce.) Then put your first layer of dry lasagna noodles down. Spread on the ricotta cheese (about half the container) and sprinkle with a little pepper.

Tofu/ricotta option: If you like, before you put the ricotta in the lasagna, mix some ricotta and tofu together in a 50:50 mixture, crumbling the tofu with your fingers. You (or your guests) will never know the tofu’s there, but it makes the lasagna come out nice and firm and it also provides all the nutritional benefits of soy.

After you spread the first layer of ricotta or ricotta/tofu mixture over the dry lasagna noodles, sprinkle on some shredded mozzarella cheese. Add another generous layer of pasta sauce, then lay down another layer of dry lasagna noodles and repeat with more ricotta or ricotta/tofu and mozzarella and sauce. Add one more layer of dry noodles and add some extra sauce over these noodles. Cover with a layer of ricotta.

Wrap the whole casserole tightly in aluminum foil (this is a crucial step because the sauce will steam the noodles, but the casserole needs to be tightly wrapped). Bake for 1½ to 2 hours. In the last 5 or 10 minutes, remove the foil and add a final layer of mozzarella cheese for an attractive presentation. (The mozzarella will stick to the foil, so don’t put the foil back on for this step.) If you like, sprinkle a little basil and oregano on for an added garnish.

There will usually be a little sauce left that you can warm up for those who like extra sauce with their lasagna. Served with a light salad and bread, this meal is both simple and delicious.

Tip:
To make it easy, here’s a little summary of how to layer your lasagna:

1st and 2nd layers:

Sauce
Noodles
Ricotta/tofu
Mozzarella

3rd layer:

Sauce
Noodles
Sauce
Ricotta/tofu
Mozzarella (added in last 10 minutes—remove foil)



Quick and Easy Salad Meal—Not Your Ordinary Salad
Quick and Easy Salad Meal—Not Your Ordinary Salad

A hearty salad can make a delicious and satisfying meal—it’s all about including the right ingredients. There are no hard and fast rules for making a salad, but here are some suggestions. (By the way, wholegrain bread topped with a little butter makes a nice accompaniment to this nutrient-packed meal.)



Pre-washed salad greens, such as baby spinach, baby romaine, etc., make the base of your salad—these are generally easy to find organic. Throw in lots of your favorite veggies: cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, etc. For that hearty salad meal taste, add black or green olives, avocado, and/or crumbled or grated cheese. Balsamic vinegar splashed on your salad with a dash of olive oil and salt and pepper makes a great simple dressing, or choose your own favorite dressing. (Try to avoid creamy dressings or those with a lot of additives and preservatives. The idea is to get plenty of healthy fats from the salad ingredients themselves, such as the olives and avocado.)



Veggie Burgers and Fries: A Healthy Version of the American Favorite
Veggie Burgers and Fries: A Healthy Version of the American Favorite

It’s fun to serve this healthy, delicious version of an American favorite.

Ingredients:
Veggie burgers (virtually every grocery store now has these in the frozen food section)
Olive oil or butter for pan-frying
Wholegrain hamburger buns (available at your local health food store and some grocery stores)
Lettuce
Sliced tomato
Ketchup, mustard, eggless mayonnaise (available in health food stores), etc.
Deli pickles
Baby carrots
Potato options: organic frozen french fries or baked potatoes

This meal is so easy to make! Just put a little olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Use enough oil to coat the pan. Sauté the veggie burgers on each side until they are lightly browned. Serve on wholegrain hamburger buns with lettuce, tomato, and all your favorite condiments. (You can also make this same meal with “veggie dogs” in place of veggie burgers.) Baby carrots make a quick and healthy side dish.

For a potato side dish, try the healthy organic versions of frozen french fries available in health food stores. Potatoes are naturally nutritious, and these healthy fries use only high-quality oils—no hydrogenated fats. They’re an easy solution for a busy or tired cook.

Baked potatoes are also easy, but they take longer to cook. (Bake at 375ºF for 45 minutes or longer, depending on the size of the potatoes. Poke with a fork to determine when they are done.) This is a pretty light meal, so topping your potato with some butter and/or a little grated cheese is fine. If you’re trying to eat very light, try plain low-fat yogurt on your baked potato in place of sour cream. It’s surprisingly tasty!

These meals are so easy to make and so delicious that you’ll soon find healthy cooking a breeze. Bon appetit from your friends at Wai Lana Yoga!

From: Wailana's Newsletter

Wailana's Lord of the Dance

Wailana's asana of the week:

Lord of the Dance (Step 2)

The trick to balancing is concentration. And a good way to improve your concentration is to practice balancing poses. There is a final step to this graceful posture, but now let's just focus on balancing and extending the body in this preliminary stage.

1. Stand with your feet together.

2. Slowly bend your left knee back and take hold of your foot.

3. Raise your right arm, palm facing forward. Tuck your buttocks under slightly as you lift your spine.

4. Keeping your standing leg straight, tilt forward from the hips so that your torso and arm extend out at a 45-degree angle. Move your left knee back slightly and hold your left foot close to your buttock. Reach forward with your extended arm, elongating from the shoulder joint. Breathe slowly and deeply as you hold.

5. Slowly straighten your hips and back.

6. Lower your arm.

7. Release your foot and repeat on the other side.

Focus in the Pose...
With your hips tilted forward, elongate your lower vertebrae and on up through the spine. Be aware of the gentle thigh stretch as you hold your heel to your buttock.

Hints...
• Balance your weight evenly on your standing foot so that you're firmly grounded. With a solid base, you'll be able to lift upward more easily.
• Keep your gaze steady. Focus your eyes on a fixed point in front of you to help you balance.

Palin Interview with Katie Couric - spoof

:) I thought this was good fun Tina Fey as Governor Palin