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Healthy Activities Healthy Living Yoga

Encore !

No I have no commercial vested interest in this film – just what I believe in. Sharing for your good health – a film by UPLIFT, We are One:

A passing thought: I’ve been seeing really cute t-shirts in some classes – something like “My Religion is Love” and “I choose Happiness !” All so wonderful and if there was a t-shirt, I may buy the one with Daiai Lama’s quote to alleviate some fears people have that I have personally encountered:

“I’m not flexible enough” or that
“I am not into that spiritual stuff” or worse,
“Isn’t it pushing Hindu religion?”

So here’s a message. It’s NOT religion – go to church for that. Besides:

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
– Dalai Lama

That seems like enough to me. Nothing fancy or complicated – just sticking to simple stuff. And … it’s quite challenging as it is in this world full of fear and heartbreaks.

Loving kindness to self and all, yeah?

Categories
Beautiful People Beautiful Places Healthy Living Yoga

Fire & Air Quality*

Check your local air quality and take care of yourself and your family:)

A grocery store cashier and I struck up a conversation – he says he’s glad to stay indoor because he has asthma. Confides he’s had trouble breathing since 4am Monday morning when he was getting into work (they start early!) – then he says, I have nothing to complain though. Those people lost everything and I’m here okay, he says, as he bagged the apples and basil. There’s so much humanity out there. So truth be told, me too I say – since Monday morning, I’ve been sneezing uncontrollably and my eyes are itchy and if I am like this, I could imagine what inhaling denser smoke can do to you at the sight of devastation. We nodded and agreed. Praying for the winds to quiet down to give the Napa/Sonoma residents the needed relief. Dear Nature (though it’s usually human’s own doing even if it’s called “wild” fire) – please settle down and heed them – have some mercy.

Speaking of relief, the air quality of the studio I teach is so … PURE, I am practically in tears, so grateful. It’s heavenly when you come in from the smoke and dust. It’s something I had taken for granted – I did not know they had installed a special filtering vent system !!! OMG, just read this – I am tearing up with gratitude – I need this kind of purity when I practice – and same for the students. Breath we take is everything:

Our new climate control system is state of art and the best in the Bay Area. Designed by the leading industry consultant, our system combines the optimum ingredients of consistent, evenly distributed heat, cleaned fresh air and warm humidity. It also has CO2 monitoring, allergen removal and pathogen control. The room is virtually odor free.

The system removes contaminants and allergens before they get introduced into the yoga room. Germicidal ultraviolet light rays eliminate and destroy: Bacteria, Odor, Mold & Mildew, Viruses, V.O.C.’s, Cleaning Chemicals, Smog and other Airborne Pollution. The benefits of a clean air environment are enormous, clean air will; help prevent colds and influenza; prevent headaches after class; provide relief from asthma, hay fever and sinus problems; reduce fatigue, and breathing problems; and relieve sore throats, runny noses, wheezing and sneezing. In addition to constantly purifying the air from harmful bacteria, we also installed a humidity system designed to remove excess humidity when too high or to add moisture when too dry. As a result, our students are energized and can focus on their yoga practice without being concerned about the room environment.

Our flooring is anti bacterial, prime cherry wood look-alike, however, is in fact made from 100% recycled rubber. This flooring is used in many hospital operating rooms because of its cleanliness. It also has a slight texture for gripping during postures. It is 100% sealed and therefore easy to keep cleaned. We use an energy efficient gas powered furnace, NOT radiant heating. We do NOT use sweat absorbing carpets.

Wow, just wow in awe. I am so grateful for this place and looking forward to finding refuge there tonight to be connected to that “humanity”.

As I take refuge indoors, I am reminded how much I really need to get out of this smoke filled air that’s giving me a migraine headache and a sore throat. Being super sensitive to scents and dusts, I too now suffering from asthma as I work so distracted with a brain fuzz.

Praying – May we all have clean fresh air to breathe soon.
Mantra of the day – Inhaling Pure white light – Oxygen; Exhaling stale grey smoke …

Break out of that dullness and inertia with a fitness program that does not drain you but rather, recharges you.

To our respiratory health for all this Autumn day – Namaste.

*Told local AQI (Air Quality Index) reached over 100 (out of scale of 500) – while yesterday, it was 60 … for those with respiratory issues, masks that filter out up to even 99% is apparently NOT recommended as you have to breathe even harder with masks creating more stress …stay calm, stretch, yogic heart openers, stay indoors, if lucky enough, find space with air purifiers. Check with your healthcare provider if you need more protection.

This is a helpful link … Breathe

* Here’s another … LINK

Categories
Healthy Activities Healthy Living Yoga

The Lymphatic System includes organs?!

Learning something new everyday! I was surprised to read that the lymphatic system includes several other organs such as the tonsils (glands located at the back of your throat that filter bacteria); the adenoids, and the spleen and the thymus (filtering organs that screens the blood and produce white blood cells). No wonder the lymphatic system is so vital as much as our blood vessels and nervous system are.

Noting that when the lymphatic system becomes overly stressed, they become sluggish as we experience the following:

chronic fatigue
swelling in lymph nodes (like throat, armpits or groin)
muscle aches and pains
joint pains
sore throats and getting colds more often
frequent infections or viruses
fibromyalgia symptoms
arthritis
and …even cancer formation

The body protects us from infection and illness by trapping microbes found in our tissues (mostly bacteria we pick up from the environment) and sending them to the lymph nodes, where they become “trapped.” This keeps the bacteria from spreading and causing further problems like viruses. Once the bacteria are trapped, lymphocytes attack and kill the bacteria. Then the lymphatic system, our body’s drainage system will eliminate the toxins out of our system, protecting us.

Yoga can help in restoring the healthy function with the gentle coaxing through asana, breath and centering practices afforded in a regular practice you maintain. Yoga works.