Monthly Archives: August 2011

Have you considered Bikram’s Yoga?

Bikram’s yoga and Moksha yoga are both forms of hot yoga.  Hot yoga has become very popular over the past decade.  It is trendy and popular and all the rage.  If you have heard about this practice you have likely considered if hot yoga would be a good practice for you or not.  The answer is that it really depends and here is why.

The main variation between hot yoga and regular yoga is the surrounding room temperature.  Hot yoga is performed in a heated room that ranges in temperature from about 85F up to around 100F or so.  This heat is not typical to most yoga practices in the past.  Most practices of yoga have you warm your own body through movement and breath combined as opposed to the environment warming the body.

Having a heated room can be a good thing or a bad thing and it all comes down to where you are at and if hot yoga is right for you.  The benefit of Bikram’s yoga is that heat can provide a medium to go deeper into poses more easily then otherwise possible.  It can encourage the body to detoxify through the skin as well as other pathways.  It also provides for a way to increase your concentration as the heat can require a strong focus to stay centered.

On the opposite side of things one of the most prevalent negative occurrences in hot yoga is over stretching since there is a false sense of being able to move deeper into poses.  Another thing is detoxifying too quickly.  We don’t often have an environment that encourages that level of sweating, moving and breathing all at once.  This can create a quick flood of toxins into the blood that then have to be dealt with by the body.

Perhaps you are aiming for this level of detoxification and therefore you are prepared to deal with any symptoms that arise from this practice.  The results can be many including head aches, pains, light headedness, tiredness and so on.  This simply occur as a result of the body moving out that which is not longer stored in the tissues.  The result is positive but it can be uncomfortable.

So whether or not hot yoga is for you really depends. Some of the questions to ask yourself relate to the hardiness of your body, how much tendency you have to push yourself vs. moving at your own pace.  Additionally, hot yoga is not always best for those with heart conditions or blood pressure issues.  Consider all angles though including how much detoxification you can handle and how quickly you can handle it.

If you do decide to practice hot yoga of any kind consider the tools you need to stay comfortable and maximize your experience.  You will want a good Bikram’s yoga mat, good hot yoga clothes as well as making sure you are heavily hydrated as you will loose a lot of sweat in your practice.

Food Matters – The Essential Diet Information For A Health Life

Millions of people live with extreme anxiety for years before seeking medical treatment. Others are taken to doctors at very young ages because their parents believe they are depressed and potentially dangerous to their own health. They then spend most of their lives taking prescription medications that alter their personalities. Not only are adults now taking these strong medications, but they are being prescribed to young children as well.

This is a tragedy, considering you can actually fight anxiety and depression with dietary choices. If that sounds too good to be true, let me introduce you to just a few of the foods that have been proven to relieve symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. There are many other foods where these came from!

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits have been shown to reduce the levels of cortisol inside the body. Since cortisol is released as a response to stress, those with anxiety tend to have more of it patrolling their bodies. Citrus fruits can reduce these levels, reducing the tension of anxiety.

Besides eating fresh citrus fruits, you can drink pure fruit juices that contain citrus fruits. You may also make smoothies with an orange or grapefruit juice base. Citrus fruit juicing machines (manual and electric) can be found rather cheap on the market today. They allow you to make fresh juice without the preservatives you get with store-bought juices.

Dark Green Vegetables

Next time you make a salad, skip the iceberg lettuce. Instead, go for a nice bed of baby spinach and other deep green colored leaves. Next time you select a side for your grilled chicken, reach for asparagus or broccoli. Vegetables that are dark green in color are packed with B vitamins that have shown to bring up energy levels while bringing down depression.

Remember, avocados are nice and green so you can throw in some guacamole as a green vegetable that is also a source of healthy fat.

All of the dark green vegetables are beneficial to your overall health, but they may be even more important to those suffering from depression. B1 has proven to increase energy and control mood swings. B3 has been shown to reduce levels of cortisol, much like citrus fruits. B6 is believed to have a calming effect on the nervous system.

Those with anxiety may benefit from a diet rich in dark green vegetables as well, since they can reduce cortisol levels.

Fatty Fish

Omega 3 fatty acids are a bit of a wonder. The human body (especially the brain) depends on them for proper functioning. Yet, the human body is not capable of producing these healthy fats on its own. One of the amazing benefits of consuming high concentrations of omega 3 fatty acids is better mental functioning. Some studies are showing a connection between depression relief and the amount of these healthy fats found inside the body.

You can get small amounts of omega 3 fatty acids through healthy plant foods, but the higher concentrations needed for maximum health benefits are found in fatty fishes like salmon. You just have to be very aware of high metal content in some bodies of water where these fatty fish are found. Stick with high quality supplements made with fish from safe waterways.

There is no guarantee that any of these foods will completely relieve your depression or chase away your anxiety. Yet, they happen to be among the healthiest foods for weight loss, muscle building, and fat burning. What do you have to lose?

Please visit The Personal Development Company To Learn More About Food Matters by Permacology Productions

The Best Juice for Healthy Skin

We all want beautiful and glowing skin. We all want to look beautiful. We all want to look our very best. One of the things which we can do is drink juice. It is possible to juice your way to great skin. Ask any medical expert and he will tell you that what you put in your body will manifest itself on your body. If you eat greasy food, you will get a lot of pimples. This is not a secret. You have to take good care of your body if you want to look great.

There are many treatments for healthy skin. One of them is to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. Your skin will be deprived if you do not do this. And no, other liquids like soda do not substitute for water. You need to consumer beta carotene and Vitamin A. They will rebuild your tissues and reduce the production of excess oil. Vitamin C and Vitamin E are also necessary.

You will need to buy juicer so you can enjoy all the goodness of juice on your skin. A glass of juice daily can help you on your way to better skin. The key is drinking real juice and not a cocktail. Vegetable juices are some of the best options for the skin because they have less sugar and they have fewer calories too. Yellow, orange and dark green leafy vegetables give your skin a lot of goodness.

When it comes to fruits, you can also juice grapes, berries, pomegranate and prunes. They are packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants. Some reports also say that Acai Berry also has high concentrations of antioxidants. This has not been proven though. There are lots of other fruits today which are good for the skin. You can also find a lot of free juice recipes for the skin on the Internet.

The Health Benefits of Cod Liver Oil

Conventional fish oils are some of the best-supported supplements in terms of research and empirical backing, yet it is still unclear whether they are most effective than alternatives such as cod liver oil. Both conventional fish oils and cod liver oils are effective because of their high doses of essential fatty acids occurring in their natural form, but other aspects of cod liver may make it an even better choice than conventional oils.

Vitamin A in Cod Liver Oil

Although rarely giving proper recognition, vitamin A is essential for the development and maintenance of proper vision, as highlighted in the article What Does Vitamin A Do? Furthermore, vitamin A is responsible for the regulation of a wide variety of other hormonal processes that keep the body functioning properly. Cod liver oil contains high doses of vitamin A in it’s naturally occurring form, as opposed to synthetic alternatives.

Vitamin D in Cod Liver Oil

Another important component of cod liver oil is vitamin D, which is regulates bone mineral density, various hormone-related processes, and more. Researchers have even established a link between vitamin D deficiency and hair loss due to vitamin D’s influence on hair growth cycles. As with vitamin A, the vitamin D in cod liver oil is in it’s naturally-occurring form and is therefore easily absorbed by the body.

Omega-3s in Cod Liver Oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are the main selling point of fish oils in general, and are also present in high quantities in cod liver oil. Omega-3 balance (in comparison to Omega-6) has been found to be an extremely important factor in overall health. Moreover, common American diets tend to be excessive in Omega-6 fatty acids and very low in Omega-3s, so it’s almost always the case that a form of fish oil can help with these imbalances.

Seniors, How to Stay Balanced!?

Unless we have regularly practiced some form of exercise in our life or have inherited exceptionally good genes, we will feel weaker in the legs as we get older. That is part of growing older and as the Chinese say, ‘old age starts in the legs’.
Helping to prolong one’s life with exercise is the solution, as well as also looking after oneself in other ways,
such as maintain good nutrition, fresh air, good, nourishing relationships etc.

How come old age starts in the legs?
Considering that our main support is the ground, the earth, we learn that being connected to it is vital in fact.

We are constantly and without interruption being ‘fed’ energy from the earth – as well as from the heavens – thus we learn in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Again according to TCM, some of our organs, like the stomach and the spleen, have the quality of the earth in them and are classified as being of the earth element, just as some others, like the lungs, have the quality of the air and are classified as being of the air element, while the heart is of the fire element. Our body comes from the earth and the ancient Chinese were quick to see, through being close to nature, its relationship to the different elements of nature.

So, yes, it is very important to keep our connection to the earth, if only by developing the leg muscles, which, being intimately connected with every other area of muscle in the body, play an crucial part in keeping the whole body strong and well-balanced.

Many of us have taken for granted the fact that the earth supports us, but in older age are surprised or accept it as a ‘fait accompli’ if we lose our balance, as if it were a natural part of growing old.

So we end up spending time in wheelchairs or having to hold on to a walking frame to get about.

A few years ago I approached several retirement homes to offer an exercise program for seniors, and I was shocked to see this state of affairs.

Most of the people there were hardly able to lift their arms without any help! (Of course I am not including some of us who’ve been unfortunate, having had accidents and needing to resort to extra outside help).

I honestly think it’s time for everyone over 50 who hasn’t already started some form of exercise to begin and keep up with it as a regular practice.

Although maybe we might have to try several exercise programs for seniors until we find one that is:

·        easy
·        where we feel we make progress
·        that makes us feel good, stronger, energised and relaxed at the end of a session

And may I suggest easy Tai Chi?!

I’d also like to mention that exercise helps us to be inspired and creative, but that will be the topic of another article!

To provide a means to generate well-being from within, Francoise Bonhoure, a qualified Seniors Exercise teacher (for Over and Under 50’s!), has created a comprehensive beginner exercise program.
By joining the membership for our ezine you’ll have access to free exercise videos and audios

Cleansing The Body With Detox Drinks

Detoxification of the body is not just for weight loss, it is also for cleansing the colon and purifying the internal organs. There are a number of detox drinks that one may purchase at any health food store today. However, the best detox drinks are made fresh in your own kitchen. Detox drink recipes vary according to the purpose for which you were doing the detoxification, as well as your own personal preferences.

It is prudent to detoxify any time you have overindulged in food or drink, or are feeling unwell. Delicious, nutritious, and easy to make, the best detox drinks will eliminate waste and toxic substances that have accumulated in your body. All of us take in unhealthful substances, whether by breathing or in the foods we eat, on an almost daily basis. If you have been constipated, detoxification is one avenue to relief. When our systems become inundated with harmful substances, we may feel sluggish, weak, and vulnerable to illness. Healthful eating and regular exercise are important to say the least, however, even when these two rules are followed, there are times when we need to use the process of detoxification to feel our best.

The importance of drinking enough pure water cannot be overstated. Each morning begin with a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice in warm water. You may follow that with any number of detox drink recipes some of which are listed here. Particularly delicious is the peach juice drink, which is made by combining 2 to 3 peaches in your blender with a bit of fresh basil or fresh coriander. The carrot-vegetable juice detox, is rich in beta-carotene and is made by combining 2-3 fresh carrots with one kale leaf and a mint leaf or two in your blender, adding fresh water as needed.

Blending 2 to 3 green apples with one carrot, two leaves of Swiss chard, three sprays of watercress, and a celery stalk make the always-popular apple-vegetable detox drink recipe. As usual, add water as needed. Avoid using sugar or dairy products in detox drinks. If you must have more sweetness add fruit or berries. The important thing is to make sure that you are ingesting the juices of fresh vegetables and fresh fruits only, combined with pure water. In between detox drinks, keep yourself hydrated with plenty of water.

If you do not tolerate plain water well, simply add a bit of lime or lemon juice. You may also add a bit of orange juice. A dash of ginger will help ward off any nausea. Within a few days, you should see a pleasant change in your complexion, a rise in your energy level, and experience a more restful sleep.