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Beautiful People Yoga

Willpower & Yoga by Nancy

Was able to slip into one of my favorite local yoga teacher’s class today and feeling so much better from it – even though it might feel as though I am trailing (by choice… smelling the roses on the path and caring those who need my care…), It’s good to be on the same path of teaching (& learning) with someone you feel a kindred spirit towards.  I love to learn as much from those I respect.

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This is Nancy’s Willpower Yoga workshop’s description:

We all make promises to ourselves that we find it difficult to keep. Psychologists now believe that willpower is like a muscle – the more it is exercised, the stronger it becomes in the long run. Find out more about why we are challenged to stay the course and discover ways to strengthen your resolve. This workshop is a unique combination of asana, discussion, guided meditation and yoga nidra (guided savasana) and is designed to help discover answers to the questions of why we behave the way we do, and provide techniques to help create better habits.

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Isn’t it just what we all needed right before the holiday season? It’s just what I needed! Again, just like Dr. Hinohara we may all say this is common sense but that’s just it. We are far from being ignorant.  We know what’s good for us but we do not necessarily do what we know is good for us.  We need to explore why we trip up, why we fail, why we make the wrong choices. In this workshop, Nancy allows us that opportunity to explore the whys. She will be having more workshops and I highly recommend them.  In fact,  I will be first in line. While our styles are different, I believe our values and inspirations share the same source. Yes, I love to teach yoga but I also love to be a student with the right teacher – and in her class, I get to be on the receiver end and how I love that because with all her life experiences, she weaves a class that allows me to just let go.  It’s like unwrapping a gift from a friend – it’s that feeling I love.

Thank you Nancy!

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Beautiful People

Henri Louis Bergson quoted

 

“…Men do not sufficiently realize

that their future is in their own hands.

Theirs is the task of determining first of all whether they want to go on living or not.

Theirs is the responsibility, then, for deciding if they want merely to live,
or intend to make just the extra effort required
for fulfilling, even on this refractory planet,
the essential function of the universe,
which is a machine for the making of gods.”
― Henri Louis Bergson

“To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.”

― Henri Louis Bergson

Dr. Hinohara quoted from Bergson, concluding that YOU are the designer of your own life. Then he recited his own poem which summarized his message for us to live a more radiant life:

Change the Way You Live
Animals cannot change the way they run.
Birds cannot change the way they fly.
BUT human beings can change the way they live.
We, as human beings, can design our own destiny ourselves.

YES! *******************************************************************************

One of the startling data shared was that in US. 70% of population are obese; whereas in Japan, 25% are considered obese based on Body/Mass/Fat index measures.

According to Dr. Hinohara, the following disciplines  determine our health and well-being. Seemingly common sense but coming from a 102 year old doctor in practice for nearly 80 years, it makes you realize this:  We know what’s good for us by intellect, but we don’t necessarily do what’s good for us because something prevents us – what prevents us from doing what we know is good for us?

  1. How and what we eat (more on this* on later posts)
  2. How we breathe. (that’s pranyama)
  3. How and how much we move. (asana & dance)
  4. Quality of rest & quality of sleep. (Restorative & Yoga Nidra)
  5. Noting that rest is not necessarily the same as sleep. (more Restorative & Nature) – more on this coming!

His tips were interesting… and rather convincing especially coming from someone like him.  I think I will hit the studio now:)

* “For example, breast cancer patients who keep their insulin levels under control – a factor most often associated with diet and lifestyle – cut their risk of cancer recurrence in HALF and decrease cancer mortality by two-thirds.” per Rebecca Katz, MS.

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Beautiful People Beautiful Places Beautiful Rituals

102 year old MD visits SF

Dr. Hinohara, age 102 and one of Japan’s most prominent and beloved physicians, is visiting the Bay Area, and giving a lecture next Sunday, October 13th in San Francisco.  To know something about him, here’s a profile of him from nearly 10 years ago…when he was what you might call just a young spring chicken…age 94 (!).

Dr. Hinohara is a former Chief of Staff and President ofSt. Lukes International Hospital in Tokyo.  He has been practicing there for over 70 years… this doctor never formally retired. To this day, it is said that he makes patient rounds and calls, never using the hospital elevator and on foot, going up and down the stairs.  He is on TV and magazines often and has published countless number of books.  He did have a US media coverage before when only 97 (!) Obviously what’s on everyone’s mind is this: How does he do it? Everyone wants to know his secret – Where does he get his fountain of youth?  What is his secret to long and healthy life…People are so in awe of someone who has lived to 102 and still manages to be healthy in mind and spirit – like those legendary yogis you hear about – only he’s this rather average looking man with a gentle smile and superb intellect – What is the secret?

In one of the talks, he mentions the value of  “jyouzu ni ikiru”.  “jyouzu” means “well done” “smart” or “well” – “ikiru” means to “to live”.  On seminars on living “well” or “smartly”, he has spoken with other experts in the area of aromatherapy, sound/music therapy – and spoke highly of any modality of healing therapies that directly influences our 5-senses. Whether through aroma  – smelling the beautiful scents (nose) or music –  hearing beautiful sounds (ears) and/or sensing the vibrations in the air – in chanting or singing (throat) – all olfactory sensory experiences positively work on our nervous system, thus improving the overall quality of life.

It is a common practice for incense to waft through the air at Japanese temples as you hear the deep calming gongs of the bell vibrating the air – the heart and mind can settle in that tranquility …  At home, it has always been a common practice in honoring the dead family members and ancestors to light an incense and pray in honor of them.  My grandparents home had a family buddhist alter in the dining room corner so my grandmother would casually light an incense in her apron as she busily puttered around back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room.  It was a sacred space but not apart from everyday life, positioned right smack in the heart of the house to bring us good luck.  It served as an amulet or like a talisman, the mini-alter box was symbolic representation of our guardians, our ancestors and the recent deceased, giving the family the strength to withstand hardship and protecting the family from any evil. She may burn an incense and chant or pray in silence – then make an offering of some sake or cake and tea… seasonal fruits…Sometimes the offering may be the favorite cake from a certain bakery, served with some tea… it was etched into the fabric of her regular daily life.

The burning of the incense is used in more formalized meditation setting as well. The incense is lighted at the beginning of your practice, and your meditation is over when the last 1mm of incense burns and falls off into the urn as ashes. I was taught that Japanese “senko” when lighted usually lasts about 30 minutes, perfect for timing your meditation practice.  It was utter tranquility in midst of all the chaotic activities that a family dining room served.

It is noted on this utube video footage that here in US too, aromatherapy has improved the quality of life at this certain hospital…

Thanks to Mari Sensei, the most gracious and knowledgeable aromatherapy teacher in the Bay Area, I am able to experiment and concoct a formula that really alleviates the common health issues of today without resorting to unnatural and unnecessary methods – the beautiful scents from nature can really reduce stress and uplift the spirits, promoting the natural R&R response to take place …Thank you for the lovely scents Mari sensei.