Category: Healthy Activities

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Beautiful People Healthy Activities Healthy Food Healthy Living

Gratitude to Persian Hospitality 

Persian hospitality is generous. They have an appreciation for aromatic flavors such as saffron and fresh herbs like mints … then dreamy scents of rose water and orange blossoms:) while fresh fruits are plentiful and rainbow of fresh vegetables are abundant.  My friend works away in the background making sure all her guests are at home and well fed – but after she makes sure that all her guests are well taken cared of, she would kick up her heels and dance with a wine glass in one hand! Where’s the music ? She calls out to her handsome son who then becomes a DJ, lol, while her partner busily fills the guests’ glasses.

She’s delightful!! Like her name that means “bright” or “light”, from the land of Hafiz and Rumi, she knows Joy – Yes, she knows how to give a party!  A joyful caregiver she is, there are “survivors” amongst us because of her. I admire how she brings life and joy to her family and friends. 

All gratitude:)

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Healthy Activities Healthy Living Yoga

Yoga Therapy that matters:)

Between the stimulus and the response there is a space, and in this space lies our power and freedom.
– Viktor Frankl

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The above is the prescription for general well-bing and that I was reminded of after having to fly to Japan to be with my aging mom who suffered a stroke and got carried into the hospital only to be admitted straight into ICU – internal bleeding in the head requires urgent care, yes. Every second counts as more bleeding, more brain cells and neuropathways in trouble. SO between travels and work and family and illness in that family, there’s no time to go to yoga classes (thank god I’m trained as an instructor and a therapist to take care of myself at times of dire straits:) but everywhere you go, the yoga studio for your practice is within. It’s right there within you – you can do yoga just about anywhere. ANYWHERE.

One of the things I notice as I observed and assisted with my mother’s recovery is how important Rehabilitation or Physical Training is. Having come across Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and a Language Specialist at St. Luke’s International Hospital, I could not have been more thankful that my mother received the best in post-stroke care. You have to start moving as soon as you are able – so as soon as her bleeding stopped with IV-meds transfusion, she was directed to start her physical therapy with these amazing compassionate professionals. Keenly aware through the slow simple movements – Move those muscles or you lose them. Really vital before strengthening those muscle groups is the iron rule – YOU’VE GOT TO STRETCH. Banish stiffness, bring the circulation into all the tightness – Tightness in the body; stiffness in your ligaments are intrinsically related to restrictive breathing that ultimately affects your mental clarity such as cognition and reasoning. Knowing that body and mind are intrisically connected, when the body is constricted and tight, so is your breath; when your body is soothed and relaxed, so is your mind, ultimately affecting your psyche … your quality of life.

Upon returning, I thought I never make it back to my Yoga Therapist Training Intensive – so beaten by a bad case of jet lag – this month’s module themed “Yoga & Addiction”. Beyond all the notes, the above quote shared by our teacher strikes a chord in me. Whether you have an addiction issues or not, or if you have a friend or a family member with such challenge, enlisting outside support of a well trained therapist could make a difference between recovery or demise. Recovery and healing is possible through yogic training for the mind & body. It takes practice for all to access this power referred to above – there’s so much benefit to practice of yoga for the external physical aspects as well as for overcoming and befriending the internal struggles we all confront whether it be innocent addictions or destructive addictions. First we start with a little commitment to practice each day and it becomes a habit and the kind of habit that gently nudges the behaviors in such a way to stimulate new grey matter growth, benefits, i.e., neuroplasticity – all attained through the mindful practice of yoga.

Give it a try! It’s lifelong:) I love it.

Photo of “Healing Yoga for Wellness” by Lorien Neargarder, RYT 500
Nothing beats a direct and real contact with her but … sometimes we aren’t so lucky.
She will be missed in California – all the reason to get this DVD!

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Healthy Activities Healthy Food Healthy Living

Right On

*** Elegance ***

It is not easy
to stop thinking ill of others.
Usually one must enter into a
friendship with a person who has
accomplished this great feat
Himself.
Then something might start to
rub off on you
Of that
True Elegance

So interesting when I opened my emails this morning, I had one from UC Berkeley’s The Greater Good Science Center, with a title “How to Handle a Toxic Relationship”. We all know toxins in our environment and foods can cause inflammations and compromise our immune system … what about other kinds of toxins ?

In pursuit of a being who has no ill will within, to be that truly “elegant” breathing creature that Hafiz refers to, that I emulate. I use forgetfulness as a way to cope OR
my other usual tactic is … avoidance. But is that truly healing? Is that truly the way to handle toxic people?
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A lot of people are into spring cleanse – juicing green smoothies, eating only organics, banning red meat, etc. etc. and it’s also an excellent time to identify ALL toxins in your life – it’s not just about eating organic foods, it’s not about restraints and discipline – it’s about evaluating relationships that can be toxic – Is it the boss that lacks respect? Is it a so-called friend who gossips and spreads misleading rumors? Is it an overly judgmental relative? Is it the extremely critical peer with passive aggressive ways? Is it that one who criticizes like a NY Times Critic being paid to do it? Is it that someone consumed by greed and ego who grew up feeling inadequate? Is it that person who ate too much honey and “stuck” in a hole you tried pulling out many many times? Allow the independence, allow their insights, allow their intelligence and inner wisdom to guide them out of the hole … trust.

To stress resilience YES; but as you boost your resiliency, why not just let them go, let the toxins wash away and make room for the kind, thoughtful, confident, brave and very human people you admire to be in the circle of joy with. Relationship is not a “project” – series of them make up our life – it’s about life. Being aware that there are ups and the downs and all in-between, we help dislodge the toxins around and in us

Through yoga.

Thus ensuring our health.

*** Green Smoothie ***

(serves about 2-or-so:)

1 organic apple – pref. green**
Few organic green grapes with skin on if available
5-8 Kale leaves (or spinach & other deep green leaves)
1 T organic spirulina
1 C + organic coconut water OR
hemp milk OR almond milk – any clear or white liquid of goodness
1 banana pref. frozen
Organic Raw Local Honey to Sweeten if needed:)

Enjoy – Fill up with all good nutrients; eliminate what does not nourish you. Motto of the Day?
That’s the REAL cleanse.