Stop Teetering and Find Your Center.

What is balance all about? And how do you DO it?

Well the truth is that you don’t ‘do’ it, you CREATE it.

Imagine a set of weighing scales. Those classic ones where 2 trays are suspended on opposite sides of a central stand. In order for it to work you need 2 sides of the equation to ‘balance’ each other out.

The concept is simple. Left has to balance with right. In yoga, the nature of our body brings added complication to this simple equation.

Your body is far more complex than the 2 dimensional balancing required in a set of scales. There are several of these simple physical systems to balance. You learn over time how to create equilibrium between many of these overlapping systems.

So when you are talking balancing yoga poses it is not just about the right equation it is about creating balance in quite a number of equations in your physical body.

   Learn To Create The CONDITIONS For Balance

You have to be able to let go of the idea of balancing on one leg and shift your thinking to that of doing the right combination of actions to create the equilibrium right across multiple systems in your body.

Within the balance equation of your physical body are other equations that require balance too.

In my opinion the most important one is that of effort and surrender.

This is harder to measure but the results you get by practicing regularly create the learning.

   The Two Extremes Of Practicing A Yoga Pose

You may have caught yourself – or someone has told you that you are – simply hanging out in a pose. This is when you manage to approximate the pose but you are really just going through the motions.
Mind you it can take a lot of energy learning HOW to do these poses in the way that benefits you.

Unfortunately, understanding what “hanging out” means only comes retrospectively when you have REALLY worked out the pose!

On the other end of that scale you could be using so much effort that there are areas of your body that should not be being used.

They are supposed to be yielding and letting go. The effort -surrender continuum takes some time for your body to understand.

Too much effort (which is not effectively balanced by surrender) means you will fall out or have to contort your body to stay upright, or you will be fighting your own efforts to stay in the pose.

   Balance Is CONTINUOUSLY CREATED

Are you beginning to see that balance is not static but DYNAMIC? You don’t simply move into a position and “stay balanced”.

If you are constantly overbalancing one way, you have to work out what you have to do to find stability – by creating an
equal and opposite movement or action.

 

 

 

A wobbling ankle in a single leg  balancing pose can move front to back and side to side. When you are new to yoga or one legged balance in general then the movements can be quite large. This is due to a number of things.

You could be quite weak and not have much strength to support you. The weight moves to the left and to stop you falling over your body reacts by throwing your weight to the right. The inside of your foot could lift too. If your body doesn’t overdo it (fall out or ‘over balance’) your foot will ground itself
again and continually re-correct itself back and forth.

Over time your ankle not only strengthens but your envelope of balance becomes refined. The movements become smaller until they are almost undetectable.

   Be Careful If Nothing Is Happening

If your ankle is not making any movements while you are balancing then you have to look at what’s going on.

In this case, when you allow the body to take over and use its own intelligence to keep you upright, movements could happen to create balance that are not in keeping with good yoga technique.

   How You Make Balance Easier, But NOT Your Poses

Let me explain.

Next time you pick up say, your right leg for Standing Head to Knee, take some attention to your left foot.

Notice if it has changed position.

Your unconscious mind creates corrections to stop you falling over. If you are not paying attention your left foot could shift itself so that the toes are fanning out to the left.

In this way your body is making your balance far easier by removing the side-to-side part of the balance equation (and even lessening the front-back challenge).

In keeping with my theory about balancing many equations, your balance is easier because you only have some of the front to back balance to work on.

This is more simple in any case because you have that thing called a foot, spread out on the floor which is providing more stability.

The problem is that you are inadvertently creating other imbalances in your body (in your knee and hips for starters). These imbalances can eventually lead to dysfunction and even to some kind of condition with or without pain.

Another way to remove the side-to-side balance challenge is to lean into your arches or collapse your ankle inward. This is called pronation. If you are not lifting up through your ankle and balancing that with an active footprint then your pose will be compromised.

 

In essence your balance requires both conscious and unconscious elements. That is an equation too! Start with the WRONG conscious stuff (set up incorrectly) then your body will take over, doing its best to manage and unconsciously cause
dysfunction as a result.

Start with CONSCIOUS AWARENESS and correct set-up and your body will respond and benefit you.

   How To Improve Your Balancing                          Skills

So here’s what to do:

* Place your conscious attention on creating a sound and solid pose foundation. This is your set-up.

* Aim to carry through correct conditions of alignment from the get-go til you let go.

* When you are in the pose there is the constant interplay of opposing forces and interconnecting systems.

* You can’t have your attention on every nuance but you can have your mind on technique, correct effort and mindful surrender.

* Let go of the things that we all sometimes get fixated on during practice. These are the distractions of your physical environment (eg heat) or even a technical part of the pose that you pay attention to, to the exclusion of everything else!

   Let’s Look At A Pose To See How This Works:

It takes time to work out what your balance means with Standing Bow. Once you ‘get’ this pose and I mean really GET this pose then you will experience the hugest shift.

Firstly you will just be standing there kind of having a pretty strenuous time kicking the leg back and counting down til you get to the end (hanging out, or just figuring out).

Then one day your body discovers the balance it can create by a whole lot of little equations.

* You start to feel that glorious work of kicking back the leg balanced with the work your front arm does.

* Plus that sensation of surrendering the arm behind to the force of your kicking leg.

* Feeling the hips and lower spine open against the stability of both the standing and kicking leg.

* The arms working to open shoulders and the spine.

There will be days where you feel something flagging and you start to fall out.

But if you truly understand that it is not about TRYING to stay upright but it is about what tractions or work you create in your body then you will intuitively KNOW what it is that you let slide, turn it back on and stay upright!

Now here’s a challenge for you … what OTHER poses could you discover more about the “dynamic” balance involved?

Namaste.

5 Deadly Food Lies, and Exactly What to do.

In todays advertising industry it is common after hearing a thing over and over for weeks, months, and years; one accepts it as the truth or fact. Advertisers know this very well. That is why one sees the same commercials over and over again. Large corporations know that the more they pound their messages into ones brain, telling how one needs, wants or deserves their product, the more likely a person is to buy it. However these advertising messages often aren’t accurate or truthful. In the interest of profits, they are often misleading and deceptive. This is shameful in any industry, but especially where our food supply is concerned. After all we all know food is a HUGE impact on ones health and everyday life. To help one understand and become more educated when an advertising company uses clever claims or slogans for commercial profit rather than putting ones health first, here are five dangerous food lies and a full explanation of each.

Lie #1- IT’S “NATURAL”

“Natural” implies that the food comes from nature, is not made from artificial sources and therefore must be good for you. This is not necessarily so. What “natural” means can vary by region or country. In the US, there is no legal definition of natural on food labels, so it can mean whatever the food manufacturer wants it to mean. Even if it does come from nature, that doesn’t mean that it is good for you.

In Example: Aspartame

Aspartame may technically be called natural because it is made from two amino acids. However these two amino acids are no where to be  found together in nature. They aren’t in the same concentration or specific combination as they are in aspartame. Instead it is a lab creation whose list of harmful health effects is a mile long and growing. More will be discussed in number 3 below.

Lie #2- “LOW FAT”= good for weight loss

I always wondered what food manufacturers used to replace the fat in order to make it low. Low and behold it is SUGAR! What is even worse is that most often it is not even real sugar; it is poisons like high fructose corn syrup. Hmmm… How is this better for me when it has lower fat but more sugar? I don’t see a very good weight loss formula to this idea. People often think that all fat is bad for their bodies. Not so true, a moderate amount (2-3 tablespoons) of good fat each day is vital to ones health (especially ones brain and nervous system) and when good fat is consumed it can also help one lose weight.

Good fats include:

• olive oil (preferably extra- virgin, cold pressed)
• avocados
• butter (NOT MARGARINE)
• flaxseed oil
• fish oil
• nuts
• lean meats
• some dairy

When one consumes these fats, one could lose flab by turning off ones body’s hormone messengers that direct fat storage, especially around ones midsection. Healthy fats help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels without lowering HDL (good) levels. With regular moderate consumption of these healthy fats, it can help lower ones risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancers.

LIE #3 “SUGAR FREE” = good for weight loss

This one is very dangerous, when the sugar is taken out; it is replaced with artificial sweeteners. Not only are these harmful to ones health, but studies have shown that they will make one crave carbohydrates and actually make one eat more! Below is a partial list of the health effects of artificial sweeteners:

ૐ ASPARTAME AKA EQUAL NUTRASWEET

 ૐ EYES   

–          Blindness in one or both eyes

–          Decreased vision and/or other eye problems

–          tunnel vision

–          Eye pain; dry eyes/decreased tears

ૐ NERVES

–          Seizures

–          Headaches/migraines

–          Dizziness

–          Confusion/memory loss

–          Severe drowsiness and sleepiness

–          Numbness of the arms and legs

–          Slurring of speech

–          Tremors/trembling

ૐ PSYCOLOGICAL/PSYCHIATRIC:

–          Severe depression

–          Irritability/agitation

–          Anxiety/ phobias (fears)

–          Personality changes

ૐ CHEST:

–          heart palpatations/ rapid heart beat

–          shortness of breath

–          high blood pressure

ૐ DIGESTIVE:

–          nausea

–          diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools

–          stomach pain/ pain while swallowing

ૐ SKIN AND ALLERGIES:

–          itching without a rash; hives

ૐ ENDORCRINE AND METABOLIC:

–          loss of control of diabetes

–          thinning or loss of hair

–          low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

–          severe PMS symptoms

ૐ MOST SEVERE EFFECTS OF ASPARTAME POISONING:

–          death

–          irreversible brain damage

–          birth defects, including mental retardation

–          ulcers

–          aspartame addiction and increased cravings for sweets

–          hyperactivity in children

–          severe depression

–          suicidal tendencies

–          cancer

ૐ SPLENDA:

–          Nausea; bloating; diarrhea; vomiting

–          Stomach cramps

–          Depression; becoming withdrawn

–          feeling forgetful; memory loss

–          Headaches

–          feeling irate, impatient, hypersensitive, moody

–          Chest and body pains

–          Seizures

Lie #4 GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMO) ARE OK:

Nature has a history of  “cross breeding” within species of plants, usually with the wind or insects carrying pollen and spreading it across plants that produce seeds. The result is sometimes a new “improved” species that can have advantages over traditional ones, both in terms of nutrition and hardiness. All this has been going on since the dawn of time. Now scientists are stepping in and superseding nature by cutting bits off a living organism’s DNA and splicing it into a completely unrelated species. This what’s called a GMO- or genetically modified organism. A classic saying that I once heard was “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.”

First of all, genes are very complex and by altering the genetic code of living organisms, engineers are really manipulating life’s processes. The end result produces whole new life forms that people know nothing about. Second, genetic engineers aren’t just splicing “plant to plant.” Chicken genes have been inserted into potatoes and fish genes into strawberries. Bacteria and viruses have been put into cucumbers and tomatoes. Mouse genes have been spliced into tobacco. Something to think about the next time one lights up. Genetic engineers are also splicing chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides right into the plants. Would you like a little Roundup or Weed-B-Gone in your fresh green salad? Do consumers ever wonder why rates of hundreds of different diseases have been on the rise for the last few decades? The multi- billion dollar companies who market the new crops contend that GMOs are safe, but there has been very few tests to prove that any of their information is true. It is in ones best interest to avoid GMOs like the plague, otherwise one is giving these companies the satisfaction of using ones body as a human guinea pig. The biggest problem is that GMOs are not that easy to spot. It is not like ones grocery store will have a neon sign stating which items are GMO. Together all consumers need to become a careful label reader. If one looks at the tiny little code stickers on produce, it will tell the consumer all that one needs to know.

4-digit code: Regular old traditionally grown produce, 5-digit code: Look at the first number, if it starts with a 9, it’s organic and safe. If it starts with an 8, stay away, it is a GMO!!

Lie #5 IRRADIATED FOODS ARE SAFE:

Irradiation is a process in which foods are quickly passed under gamma rays. The idea is that the energy from the rays is supposed to kill harmful bacteria, parasites, and fungi on the food, thereby making it safer to eat. Irradiation doesn’t destroy all the toxins formed from some different kinds of bacteria and molds. When using gamma rays on food, it kills major nutrients especially the B vitamins, vitamins A,C, and E, as well as some unsaturated (good) fats.

There is a chemical called 2DCB that is formed when certain meats, fruits, eggs, and other foods are irradiated. 2DCB has been shown to cause genetic damage when it is fed to rats and in human cell cultures that have been exposed to 2DCB. As with GMOs, the safety of  irradiated foods simply has not been thoroughly tested. There has been four small human studies, all of which were short- term, and were not enough to give enough evidence to state irradiated foods are safe.  Many scientists believe that the effects of irradiated foods on humans will remain unknown for a number of years. One can identify irradiated foods by their label. Look for expressions like: “treated with ionizing radiation” or “treated with ionizing electrons” Do not hesitate to ask your grocer if unsure.

THE TRUTHS: CLOSE TO NATURE IS ALWAYS BEST

The key is to stay as close to nature as possible. Here’s 3 ways that can be easy, affordable, and taste good as well.

ૐ Avoid processed foods– there’s no chance of getting fooled by food manufacturers’ claims if one doesn’t buy boxed or packaged foods to begin with.

ૐ Buy organic as much as possible- I realize organic can be more expensive, but how expensive do you think your medical bills will be when you get VERY sick? All of savings will be lost in order to get your health back in order. Are you on medications now? Could it be from your food? Most likely it is. So are you saving money? There is always ways to help control the cost of organic foods. One could shop at a local farmers market or participate in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs. If one is on a tight budget and can’t afford to go 100% organic, here are the items which have the largest amounts of pesticide residue and are the most important to buy organic:

• celery
• peaches
• apples
• spinach
• strawberries
• potatoes
• grapes
• cherries
• nectarines
• blueberries
• bell peppers
• kale/ collard greens

ૐ Follow a program that educates you about processed foods

I can show you how to structure a healthy, easy to digest meals and guide you on making REAL foods that are positively delicious and excellent nutrition for the body. I will give you the knowledge about processed foods that you need to know. I will also show you which foods you should eat together for easy digestion that will leave you feeling great and loaded with energy. This is the first step to help counteract the years of effects from your not-so-great diet. Remember you alone are responsible for your health. Don’t rely on claims made by companies who are just looking to make billions, in turn your hell will be damned. Trust real food and practitioners that are their to make your health success #1 one.

ૐAll data collected from http://www.eatright.org The American Dietetic Association

Holistic Modalities to heal depression

“Approximately seventeen million Americans suffer from true clinical depression each year, and over twenty-eight million Americans take antidepressant drugs or anxiety medications.” (1) One is always looking for alternative treatments for illness rather than just relying on traditional Western Medicine. Here is an in depth look into utilizing Holistic modalities to treat Depression. Treatments such as cognitive therapy, aromatherapy, diet and lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, Qigong, acupuncture, and herbal treatments are common practices used by holistic professionals to provide a more natural way to treat depression. There is a higher rate of relapse depression when western drugs are used, unless people they stay on the drugs for the rest of their lives to decrease risk of relapse. Taking an approach to incorporate holistic modality treatments can relieve one’s symptoms and retrain one’s immediate negative train of thought as well as a lower chance of relapse. Adverse side effects are rare with holistic modalities when utilized or used in the addition to Western medicine. (1)

Depression is a reflection of disturbances in a person’s mood. Mood is defined as a prolonged emotional state that dominates an individual’s outlook. Depression is the most common mood disorder seen in the US. A patient is diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria; a patient must exhibit signs of depression for at least two years or one year for children and adolescents. Patients that are depressed will have at least three of the following symptoms: low self-esteem, lack of confidence, pessimism, hopelessness, despair, lack of interest in activities, fatigue, guilt, irritability, excessive anger, lessened productivity, and difficulty concentrating.  Low levels of serotonin and increased levels of cortisol contribute to depression. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that is delivered to the brain which elevates or tranquilizes the brain’s own mood. The making of serotonin depends on how much tryptophan is delivered to the brain. The lower levels of serotonin will lead to more severe cases of depression. The typical pattern when observing depression is low levels of serotonin, with elevated morning cortisol levels and decreased DHEA levels. There is a link between the secretion of Thyroid and Adrenal hormones and depression, however which links what to what is still undetermined and most often a combination of all 3 issues. Certain elements such as a person’s environment can produce psychological and neurological symptoms. Smoking is a habit that can lead to depression because nicotine stimulates adrenal hormone secretion. Vitamin C is utilized in the body to detoxify the smoke which leads to a higher risk of a Vitamin C deficiency. A low-level of Vitamin C has been shown to result in depression and hysteria. If a person’s diet has low levels of B6, one could be simply depressed from a B6 deficiency. Omega-3 has also been studied and concluded that it can reduce developmental depression. Omega-3 is utilized by producing myelin sheaths for nerve ending in the brain. Alterations in membrane fluidity can change behavior, mood, and mental function. Western Medicine prescribes pharmaceuticals such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil; all 3 of these drugs increase the effects of serotonin in the brain. Most often patients have to stay on the drugs for the rest of their lives.  The combination of western medicine with certain Holistic methods can have adverse effects and should be avoided. Each holistic method is different and can work great as an alternative and one can utilize multiple methods at the same time. Cognitive therapy, aromatherapy, diet and lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, Qigong, acupuncture, and herbal treatment are common practices to help naturally relieve and prevent symptoms of depression (1)

Cognitive therapy is one of the most successful in the treatment of Depression. Patients that seek cognitive therapy have a much lower risk of relapse of depression. The therapist teaches the patient new skills for dealing with depression and uses five basic tactics: first help one recognize the negative automatic thoughts, second be able to dispute the negative thoughts  by focusing on contrary evidence, third patients learn different explanations to dispute the negative thoughts, fourth how to avoid rumination by gaining better control over one’s thoughts, and fifth questioning the patient’s cause of negative thoughts and beliefs and replacing the thoughts with empowering positive thoughts.  The main purpose of this therapy is to improve one’s quality of life through solution- oriented psychotherapy. Time and constant sessions will be needed to properly retrain the brain and prevent relapse, but Cognitive therapy has been found to be the most beneficial in treating depression and can be used not only by it but in addition to antidepressants if that’s what the patient needs to be able to function. (1)(2)

Aromatherapy is seen more often now in practices to help patients with depression. The essential oils of plants can be heated to diffuse in a room or be used as the make-up of massage oils. (2) Certain scents relieve different symptoms of depression. Orange and citrus scents have been shown to reduce stress and depression. Orange and Neroli lower stress and one’s blood pressure. A combination of Neroli, valerian, and nutmeg can release tension in the body. True clinical depression responds better to the more refined scent of orange blossom (known as Neroli) as well as lemon to help maintain emotional balance. Paoulo Rovesti PhD came up with the combination of jasmine, sandalwood, orange, and lemon verbena to treat depression and received excellent results. A person can not get a prescription for aromatherapy from the doctor except for one experimental clinic in Balu, Azerbaijan prescribes sniffing an herbal plant for ten minutes twice a week in a sunroom. Plants such as Rose Geranium can help symptoms such as neurosis, headaches, and insomnia. Common combinations of oils that practitioners formulate for depression are 2 drops of each of the following oils mixed together: lavender oil, neroli, marjoram, ylang-ylang, chamomile and clary sage. (3) There is not enough evidence to support aromatherapy as a treatment for depression. However when combined with other treatments it has shown evidence to support its effectiveness. (2)

Diet and lifestyle changes as a form of therapy is a good place to start when treating depression as a whole and should be utilized with other modalities. A diet high in fiber rich plants, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds should be consumed, while avoiding intake of caffeine, nicotine, other stimulants, and alcohol. One needs to monitor glucose levels closely especially if consuming alcohol because the body can become hypoglycemic which can cause depression. A nutrient deficiency can alter brain function and easily show signs of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. Lifestyle changes to incorporate are seeking out a counselor or therapist, practice relaxation and stress reduction techniques; follow through with a positive mental attitude, and incorporating exercise into one’s daily activities. (1) Exercise such jogging, running, yoga, bicycling are effective in producing endorphins and overall better sense of wellbeing. (2)

 

Nutritional supplements are organic and inorganic chemicals required for the body to properly function. They are usually in tablet, capsule, or powder form or by intramuscular and intravenous injection. Vitamins and Minerals can also be found in foods one consumes. It has been speculated that folate and Vitamin B-12 might facilitate monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis by promoting synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, a cofactor involved in converting amino acids to serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Vitamins that are antioxidants are thought to improve mood by decreasing oxygen free radicals in the brain. Vitamin D is thought to effect mood through activational effects on the brain. There is promising evidence to support the effectiveness of folate for depression, but more research needs to be done to determine whether the other vitamins are effective for depression. (2)

Qigong is an ancient Chineseand Korean practice that has been practiced for years in Eastern Medicine. Qigong means “vital energy” and “breath.” The word gong means “work, “and incorporates a practice in meditation, breath exercises, and body movements. Research has shown significant improvements in patients, however daily practices and regular sessions with an instructor are necessary to maintain the benefits. (4) Qigong lives on the principles that if one can cultivate, store, and manipulate his/her energy, one is essentially activating the system of the physical organism at a more fundamental level than mere symptomatic relief. Depression is considered an illness of the body and spirit and Qigong is a very spiritual practice in which one draws on a source of energy beyond them.  Energy moves with intent and focus, and as one practices working more with qi, it will create a mind shift in his/her consciousness. The body can relax and begin to heal itself. Qigong combined with psychotherapy and other modalities will heal and one will want to maintain the energy flow and feeling in a healthy state.  (5)

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment in which needles are inserted in the body in order to balance a person’s yin and yang forces that circulate along channels in the body. It has been known to correct imbalances in these forces. Western Science research has indicated that acupuncture can stimulate the synthesis and release of norepinephrine and serotonin. Multiple studies have shown acupuncture to be as effective as tricyclic antidepressants. Research is still being done everyday but this modality seems to show a very promising treatment for patients with depression. Other studies have also examined the benefits of combining acupuncture to antidepressant medication. (2)

One of the most suggested herbal treatments of Depression is St. John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort is an extract of the flowers and leaves of Hypericum perforatum. In many studies it was shown to outperform a placebo with no increase of side effects. In another study it was shown that imipramine (antidepressant) worked faster than St. John’s Wort but St. John’s Wort was just as effective and caused fewer side effects. Even put up against Prozac it was shown to be just as effective and not have Prozac’s side effects such as vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, and erectile dysfunction. St. John’s Wort has been shown to be most effective to treat mild to moderate depression. One needs to be sure to know all interactions with the medications one is prescribed. St. John’s Wort combined with serotonergic antidepressants can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. It can also induce mania in bi-polar patients and can interfere with the metabolism and absorption of numerous medications and should be avoided before surgery due to possible heart problems from use of the herb. (4) St. John’s Wort has been shown to be effective in treating mild moderate depression and has less severe side effects than antidepressants. (2)

The holistic treatments with the best evidence are St. John’s Wort, and physical exercise. When compared the supportive evidence for antidepressants or face- to –face cognitive therapy, St. John’s Wort doesn’t have as many studies to have contrasting evidence. The other modalities may be useful, but the available evidence is only shown in mild to moderate depression. As more years pass, more studies will be done, especially with a shift in society leaning more towards holistic modalities to heal ailments rather than just relying on western medicine. Depression is a hard ailment to treat just holistically and each individual needs to be thoroughly examined in order to find out which is the best treatment for him/her. A combination of both eastern and western medicine is something practitioners should consider when treating patients that suffer from Depression. Cognitive therapy will always be the strongest when working with patients that suffer from depression, which treats the whole mind-body rather than just altering symptoms with medication.

Bibliography:

(1)   Murray M N.D. Pizzorno J N.D.: Depression In: Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine 2^nd Ed; Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing; 1998:377-400.

(2)   Jorm A, Christiansen H, Griffiths K, Rodgers B. Effectiveness of Complementary and self help treatments for depression. MJA.2002: 176:584-596.

(3)   Keville K, Green M. Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art 2^nd Ed. Berkeley, CA: Crossing Press of 10 speed Press: 2009.

(4)   Brown R M.D. Gerburg P M.D. Muskin P M.D. How to use Herbs, Nutrients, and Yoga in Mental Healthcare. New York, NY: WW. Norton & Company Inc:2009

(5)   Gaik F. Managing depression with Qigong. London, U.K: Jessica Kingsley Publishers:2009

Minor Sources:

Dr. Podell. Alternative treatments for anxiety, Depression, and Stress related disorders. Dr. Podell’s Perspective: http://www.drpodell.org/alternativetreatmentsfordepression. Accessed Oct 16, 2010.

MacPherson H, Schroer S (2007) Acupuncture as a complex intervention for depression: A consensus method to develop standardized treatment protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 15 (2). 92-100.

Hello world! Meet the Yoga Drama Queen

Bijou first discovered yoga back when she was around ten years old from her ballet teacher. It was amazing to Bijou how easily with practice her flexibility, balance and agility increased and became stronger with ease. She didn’t find out till 14 that the strengthening exercises that her ballet teacher made her do daily was this awesome phenomenon called Yoga. Bijou was already a very spiritual person and daily practices of her asanas brought her the peace and tranquility to really find out who she was. In the yoga community Bijou experienced an overwhelming feeling of the power of energy exchange between her instructors,mentors, and fellow lovers of yoga. She felt she had embarked on the path of understanding what her true purpose in life, leading to a divine destiny in healing people with her hands, words, and love of teaching others the power of yoga. Bijou has been embracing her love of yoga for the last 16 years and was able to fulfill her dream of becoming a certified Yoga Instructor last year by two incredible yogi inspirations: Richii Jai, and Indigo Stray. Immersing her with the knowledge and confidence to live the rewarding life of being a yogini. Bijou is certified in Power Vinyasa Flow Lev 2-3 and has a strong knowledge in traditional Bikram Yoga. Bijou has had the privilege of practicing with world renowned yogis. Her love of yoga increases with every  life changing experience in many different types of yoga all over the country from beach yoga in Kona, Hawaii all the way to the east coast in Virginia Beach where Bikram is the favorite in the community. Bijou is currently in school studying Human Dietetics, and Integrative Therapeutic Practices. She plans on becoming an Auryavedic Practicioner and continue teaching Yoga for many years to come.

Live, Dream, Dance and share your heart.

Namaste.

“A Lotus for You, A Buddha to be!”