Watch what you wear

Here's a little explanation on how wearing high heels ruins your posture and everything else.



While yoga can help you correct this, it's better to be on the side of prevention rather than trying to fix the problem!

The Chariot and the Driver

The Chariot and the Driver

Imagine that you are the driver of a chariot harnessed to five strong horses. What do you need to drive that chariot to your chosen destination? You need control over the horses. If the horses are unruly—if they stand on their hind legs, try to run in different directions, or refuse to obey your instructions—you’ll never reach your destination. What’s more, you run the risk of a serious accident, which could destroy or damage both the chariot and your own body.

The ancient yoga texts compare the body to a valuable chariot of which you are the driver. Your senses—the eyes, ears, tongue, nose, and sense of touch—are the five strong horses harnessed to the chariot. To succeed in life, you must be able to control your senses, just as the chariot driver needs control over the horses. If your senses are unrestrained, if they are like wild horses pulling you this way and that, you’ll never have any meaningful direction in life. You’ll simply get dragged this way and that by the senses. You’ll be the slave of your senses—a hedonist. And your life will surely end in disaster or, at the very least, in frustration and purposelessness.

The aim of yoga is to gain control over your senses, and this can be achieved by controlling the mind. The mind is the tool that directs the senses. It can be compared to the reins that are harnessed to the horses and used to direct them. So in order to control your senses, you must be able to control and direct the mind.

Yoga practice is meant to help you take control of the direction of your life. It does this by helping you develop and maintain control over your body, mind, and senses. You then have a much greater chance of attaining your goals and eventually experiencing the bliss of spiritual realization, the ultimate goal of yoga.

Click here to watch “Five Wild Horses,” my music video that demonstrates the above.

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Lessen Your Baby's Toxic Load

Here's a very useful little article about how to keep you and your baby healthy for longer!

Lessen Your Baby's Toxic Load (Part 3): Skin and Bath Products

Baby care products such as shampoos, lotions and powders fall under cosmetics` regulations and the FDA is not required to test their safety. The only way to be assured a product will not contain harmful compounds is that it be certified organic, and better yet, certified organic to food standards. Infants and children are extremely vulnerable to the harmful effects of these chemicals because their brains and organs are still growing and developing. You need to know how certain ingredients cause harm, how to read labels to avoid toxins and how to find acceptable substitutes.

MAJOR TOXINS
•PHTHLATES: Phthlates are known to disrupt the endocrine and reproductive systems, especially in young boys and it is suspected that the increase in male infertility is directly related to exposure to phthalates.

Phthalates have been in the news a lot lately but did you know that they are present in most baby care products such as lotions and shampoos? Europe and Canada are taking action, but the US is still dawdling and allowing the FDA to try and convince us they are safe. They aren't. Although the California law will ban 6 types of phthalates in bottles and toys, phthalates in other products such as bath and skin care products have not been addressed, As there is no requirement to fully disclose ingredients on the label, there is no way to determine if they are phthlate free UNLESS you buy certified organic products.

A recent study from the University of Washington determined that children weren't just being exposed through bottles, formula and chew toys, but were absorbing phthalates through their skin when products were applied. Researches checked the urine of 163 infants aged 2 to 28 months. More than 80 percent of these children had 7 or more types of phthalates in their urine. The more a baby was bathed, the more lotions used, the more phthalates were detected. Baby shampoo had been used on more than half the infants within 24 hours of the urine tests. Fourteen percent of the babies had had powder applied and over 30% had lotions applied. These babies had FOUR times the level of phthalates in their urine than those babies whose parents had used no products on them.

The industry counters this study by stating the only phthalate used in baby products is DEP which they claim has been proven safe, so how could 7 or more different types be found? Yes, babies and children are exposed via many routes, but the fact remains that all phthalates were dramatically increased in babies whose parents had done nothing differently other than use shampoos, lotions and powders. This strongly indicates the increased phthalates came from these products. Remember, full ingredient disclosure isn't required, so we don't know exactly what the manufacturer is putting in these products.

•CARCINOGENS or cancer causing agents: "Though its review of 23 peer-reviewed studies of cancer incidence from the past 50 years, EPA has determined that infants up to age two are, on average, ten times more vulnerable to carcinogenic chemicals than adults, and for some cancer-causing agents are up to 65 times more vulnerable. The Agency also found that children from age two to 15 are three times more vulnerable to carcinogens than adults. By incorporating these factors, the new risk assessment methods show that children accumulate up to 50% of their lifetime cancer risk by their second birthday." http://www.ewg.org/node/8683, April 2, 2008. Here are just a few ingredients known or suspected to cause cancer: Alkyl-phenol-ethoxylades, Ammonium laureth sulphate, Benzene, Cocamide (and cocomide)DEA, FDC- (FD&C) Colors, Glycols - Propylene glycol, Diethylene glycol, carbitol, Ethylene glycol.

•FRAGRANCES: "Fragrance" can contain up to 4000 separate ingredients, almost all of them synthetic. Synthetic fragrances cause headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, asthma and allergic skin reactions. They also affect the central nervous system causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.

•1,4 DIOXANE: Companies use ethylene oxide to make harsh, petroleum based ingredients gentler. A byproduct of this ethylation is the production of 1,4 Dioxane, a known carcinogen and suspected to cause kidney damage. Recently several supposedly "green" companies were exposed because their products contained this chemical which is direct proof of the presence of petroleum based chemicals. Again, you will not find this listed in the ingredients, especially because it is a byproduct and not part of the formula. If you see any of these ingredients listed on the bottle, stay far away from it: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, any other "eth," or PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol

•MINERAL OIL: Would you put gasoline on your child? According to Environmental Working Group, 40% of all baby lotions and oils contain petroleum, a non-renewable hydrocarbon made from crude oil. This oil coats your baby's skin in a non-breathable toxic film. According to Australia's National Occupational Health and Safety Commissions (NOHSC), "Prolonged contact with mineral oil has the associated risk of developing skin conditions such as oil folliculitis, eczematous dermatitis, melanosis of the face and plantar warts." Petroleum also disrupts hormones and diminishes the skin's ability to detoxify. It is the 2nd most likely cause of premature skin aging following excessive sun exposure. Mineral oil based sunscreens are now being implicated in promoting skin, colon and breast cancer and in fact, are found in most breast cancer tissue. Petroleum is a known carcinogen, known to adversely effect health, yet still approved as safe by the FDA.

•SODIUM LAUREL SULFATES(SLS)/SODIUM LAURETH SULFATES(SLES): These ingredients are used to make shampoos, soaps, toothpaste etc sudsy. According to the Journal of American College of Toxicology (Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983), SLS can damage the immune system; cause separation of skin layers and inflammation of the skin. The American College of Toxicology states that SLS/SLES can cause malformation of a baby's eyes. These chemicals are absorbed easily through the skin and wind up in the heart, liver, lungs and brain.

•PARABENS: Are often used as a preservative in everything from food to shampoo to baby wipes. Even at very low doses, parabens are known to cause reproductive damage and systemic organ toxicity.

•"NATURAL": This term is not regulated and no guarantee of safety. Most products labeled "natural" contain at least one of the above ingredients and have petroleum chemicals in them.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CHILD`S TOXIC LOAD:
•READ LABELS: Carry a list of the above ingredients with you when you go shopping.
•KEEP IT SIMPLE: Before a baby becomes mobile, warm water and a washcloth is usually all you need.
•CHOOSE CERTIFIED ORGANIC: When you do use products, choose products that are certified organic. You can be assured that these products contain nothing but pure, truly natural, non-toxic ingredients that are safe for your baby, your family and the environment. Miessence Baby is an excellent example of a product line certified organic to food standards. (A review of some of the Miessence Baby products will be forthcoming in another article).

Remember, the skin is the largest organ in the body and readily absorbs almost anything placed on it. The above ingredients are just some of the major toxins. There are many more. Assure your children's future health by protecting them now. If you can't pronounce the ingredients or have no idea what something is, if the label reads like a chemistry textbook instead of a garden, don't buy it. Know what you are putting on your baby's (and your own) skin.

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I've noticed that I have a much easier time keeping off weight now. I used to eat desserts after each meal- or at least after lunch and dinner, and I always had an extra roll or two all around. Now that I've hardly been eating sweets, it's great! I don't gain weight either.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I got my mom Wai Lana's "nourish and relax" gift basket this year.

Getting past your cravings

This has been more real to me in the past few weeks since I've stopped eating sugar so much. It's pretty amazing. It's a great way to keep off the extra pounds as well!

What Are Your Cravings?

Like most of us, chances are you’ve probably been on at least one diet before. And you likely gave up on that diet for the same reason everyone else does - cravings. While we may start out with good intentions, often cravings for sugary sweet or fatty foods take over and we give in and give up on our diet. The good news is, you can overcome your cravings; you just need to know what they are and how to beat them.

Often, cravings are actually a sign that you’re missing a nutrient your body needs. While eating certain foods will get those nutrients to your body, they may also come with excess fat and calories you don’t need. This is because, while our body may need a certain nutrient, we still want it to taste good. This is probably why you may not crave the best source of a particular nutrient, and why you don’t have enough in your diet already. The best option is to figure out what nutrient you need and take a supplement or alter your diet accordingly.

While knowing your cravings can often help you figure out what nutrients you’re lacking, it is also a good idea to see a doctor for a routine physical and blood tests. They can recognize what the problem is and how to best add the missing nutrient to your body. They can also screen you for other issues while you’re there.

Often, what you’re lacking is not actually food, but water. Our bodies have a hard time distinguishing hunger from thirst. That may also be why eating food doesn’t necessarily make the cravings go away. Next time you have a craving, drink a large glass of water and see if the hunger sticks around.

Ideally, if you eat a healthy balanced diet, you will reduce many of the cravings you have. But cravings are also based on emotions and other triggers besides the actual need for a certain food.

While getting enough nutrients can help with some cravings, others come from social and psychological triggers. Your cravings could be triggered by a certain person or social setting, or simply by a certain mood. In order to control your cravings, you need to figure out exactly what it is that makes you crave certain foods and change those conditions. If you cut out the cause, then you’ll better be able to stick to healthier choices.

To figure out what your cravings are and what’s causing them, you could start a journal. Just write down any cravings you have, along with your mood, what you’re doing, what you’ve been eating and drinking, and anything else you think might be triggering your hunger. Every so often, look through the journal for patterns. If you find something specific is triggering your cravings, try to avoid that behavior or have yourself prepared ahead of time with a healthy snack instead.

While beating your cravings can be tough, it is possible. Remember that occasionally giving into a craving isn’t terrible, just as long as you don’t do it all the time.

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Stay Fit And Slim During Winter

Time to go for the yoga diet! Wai Lana's got some great recipes to help you make wonderfully delicious dishes and soups that will keep you fit and happy through the winter. She's got some great juices that will help you keep in your best shape.

Remain Fit And Slim During Winter

Are you worried that you might end up becoming fat in winter? Yes, in winter, because of the fact that most of us eat more during winter and there is very less physical activity and due to this you may put on weight. Since there is no calorie burning exercise most probably one may even become obese.

If you are both figure and health conscious then be sure to make this winter regime. Ensure that you are not stuffing so much into your big pot belly. Largely depend on fresh fruits and vegetables. They say they are the corner stone of leading a healthy life. At the same time you must learn that you are not supposed to consume access. You already know the side affects of everything too much.

Eat different varieties to supplement all the required energy, nutritions, minerals and vitamins. They are the catalyst and ingredients of healthy health. If you know the tricks to eat then you can never gain those extra flabs in your stomach. Do regular light exercise this will definitely benefit you.
Another important lesion is to know the limitation of consumption. Though fresh fruits and vegetables are indispensable options for the health but it is also equally important to know how much we should eat. There could be a repercussion lying ahead. Eat proportionate amount and remain healthy.

Your breakfast and lunch idea must be mix of all good fresh food. Eat fruits and nutritious food in the breakfast and lunch. You must not skip the breakfast. Dinner should be with vegetables, fruits apart from your other carbohydrate food.

If you are planning to eat outside, make sure that you are served fresh fruits and light meal. Go for a vegetarian restaurant. Don’t over eat. Be aware of gaining weight.

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Yoga for Children

Yoga for Children
Wholesome is a word we often associate with our children's well-being. We feed our kids wholesome food to nourish their growing bodies. We encourage wholesome activities to help them develop good habits and useful skills.

Yoga is not only wholesome, but holistic as well. In other words, it's an activity that develops the whole child—physically, mentally, and emotionally. What's more, kids of all ages have fun doing yoga and watching their balance, flexibility, and strength improve. They also learn to focus and relax. This positive experience is likely to keep them practicing yoga as adults, reaping yoga's many benefits for years to come.

Many types of exercises help children develop strong muscles, but the strength they gain is rarely balanced with increased flexibility. Yoga postures, however, improve both strength and flexibility, giving kids an ease of movement that helps them improve their performance and prevent injuries. They develop balance, coordination, and the ability to focus. Even kids who aren't athletic enjoy yoga. Because yoga is a gentle, noncompetitive form of exercise, they can practice, do well, and build confidence in a nonthreatening environment.

On a deeper physical level, yoga's focus on good posture helps young spines grow straight and strong. The poses regulate and balance the production of hormones, which is especially important as children approach and pass through puberty. Yoga also improves their digestion, nutrient absorption, and elimination while helping to strengthen the immune system.

In yoga, kids get their bodies and minds working together. They concentrate on positioning and moving in a slow, controlled manner. Sometimes they focus on holding a pose, on their breathing, or on the animal they are imitating. This ability to focus carries over into other aspects of their lives, making it easier for them to concentrate on schoolwork and other important tasks.

Yoga also gives children valuable tools to help them cope with the stress they often face. This stress may be in the form of academic pressure, sports competitions, problems at home, and so on. Yoga postures, breathing, and relaxation techniques teach them how to calm the mind and release excess tension from the body.

Yoga is a wonderful activity for children. It builds strength, stamina, and flexibility and teaches patience, perseverance, and concentration, helping kids become happier and more productive. Whether children are dealing with tight muscles, obesity, divorce, fear, or anxiety, they can use yoga to bring them relief not only throughout their childhood, but also in their adult lives.

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