Month: April 2019

Categories
Healthy Living

What’s in them?

Days are longer and brighter, April showers are winding down, it’s Spring and some of us, reminded that the Beach weather is on the horizon, may at this time be re-vowing the New Year’s Resolution to hit the gym or the trails.  When one does not exercise regularly – but suddenly do, or take it to the extreme, muscle pains may ensue.  Or if you suffer from various chronic pains, whatever the season, you might be reaching out for these lotions and potions to alleviate the tightness, sores and pains.  But wait – Do we know what’s in these ointments ?

Reading the fine print on some of these body care products may be Greek to most of us non-chemists, while I did hear once that if you cannot pronounce the ingredient, it’s probably in need of further study.  Like with anything, in moderation appears to be safest way to go but with anything, slathering them on to the excess is an invitation for further inquiry.  This news for example highlights what I am referring to.  No, we should not live in fear, just conscious, and very mindful of what we expose ourselves to.  With knowledge and shared wisdom, we need not live in fear or create a bubble that shields, around us.  Yoga may allow us to be more flexible and more open and receptive to shared new ideas on how to question and to do our own study to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Therapeutic yoga is wonderful, this too, if applied correctly and in right doze, the practice can really help with pain management or prevention and enhance our lives –  as there are no side affects – provided we don’t let our ego and vanity get in the way of practicing the kind of yoga that elevates us to that place of loving kindness to Self and others all around us …

Been using EWG to find non-toxic and environmental and health conscious personal care products. As for beauty products, this site is very informative.

These labels are so difficult to really understand and to measure the toxicity.   This APP, “Think Dirty” was highly recommended by a good friend leading a very conscious and well informed lifestyle. One can get the app for your phone and get started – it’s free.

Reading labels sometimes make us more confused than ever so ratings and recommendations from EWG is very helput as this app, called “Think Dirty”  (I don’t care for this name … but a good app) . Just like EWG, products are rated from 1-10, 10 being most toxic; 1 least.  Thank you C-san for an easy app – fun to scan the bar code to search their data base and also fun that you get to add a product unlisted in the database.

Just was with food, we make sure that what we take INTO our bodies are healthy and safe: what we breathe in; put on and be absorbed through pores of our skin and scalp as much as what we put into our mouths.

Categories
Yoga

Yoga Helps Relieve Chronic Pain

This is something I found so comforting during the Chronic Pain Module from Yoga Therapy Teacher Training course I completed.  Yes, studies have shown that practice of gentle but consistent yoga practice can actually help one manage chronic pain.

Here is an excellent article explaining HOW.  Here’s a Harvard study that recommends yoga – standing, seated, reclining and meditation – for arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine, low back pain, to mention some conditions prone to light, dull to debilitating pain.  Not all yoga would do – some yoga styles may actually aggravate the condition unless the practice is modified or customized for that student’s particular needs.

Please refer to this article …Here 🙂

Come breathe and practice a therapeutic yoga with me – standing; seated and reclining poses are all sequenced to melt away the stiffness and bring about lightness of being.

Bridge Pose to Upward Bow pose really uses the back muscles and not for everyone especially if one suffers from pain in the shoulders and lower back … when done therapeutically, props are introduced to best support and individualize the pose – meeting the practitioner where they are at; never straining; never pushing – would be our motto of “non-harming”.  (btw, this me on a fallen tree trunk in Tahoe … Urdhva Dhanurasana “Bow” on a Log:)  We can affect the same benefits of this particular HUGE chest opener pose when you insert pyramid of yoga bolsters we may rest our back onto – it’s heavenly when you can just let the arms and legs go … floaty)  Let me know if you’d like to try that version rather than this one pictured here.

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Matcha & Chai Blend

Matcha Almond Milk Latte with Chai spices – very hipster barista offered with such pride.  A departure from the Matcha idea in Japan – after all – we are in USA A stop over returning to the Bay Area – so much driving looms ahead – definitely need to yoga tonight.  Will be seeking that healing from  – Stiff shoulders and neck; achy lower back; tired eyes; tight sore hips; sore cranky legs … a remedy to sleep better.  Yoga works.

Grapefruit Thyme:)  Lovely scent.

Moon Valley also has a MUSCLE RUB that is organic and natural vs. some of the other brands I used to use. It’s not as strong as others that smell like Ben-Gay-ish products (that may have stuff like Triethanolamine (a skin, immune system, and respiratory toxin), DMDM Hydantoin (a formaldehyde releaser), and dyes like Blue 1 (CI 42090) and artificial colors )  –  but feel I rather go for gentle but good stuff for long term use, that can be trusted for it’s purity.  Per their label –

PURE INGREDIENTS ! Organic Safflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Safflower Herb, Orange Essential oil, Organic Cayenne, Organic Ginger, Organic Lobelia, Organic Arnica, Organic Tapioca Starch, Organic Habanero, Organic Clove oil, and Natural vitamin E made from sunflowers. That’s it.

Yes, it’s USA here – a snowboarders, skiers and locals getting their Java – Stars & Stripes – so bright in this dim lit hole in the wall.