National Yoga Asana Championship (Via the New York Times)
March 21st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
To warm up backstage before the ninth New York Regional and National Yoga Asana Championship, some competitors slid their legs behind their heads and others curled into back bends. Michael Colwill, 46, stood still in a purple Speedo and practiced bowing. Perfecting a gentle smile, he stood on a yoga mat, secured to the stage with electrical tape, and gazed out serenely at the nearly 700 theater seats.
Since ease carries a 10-point weight in competitive yoga asana, warming up the face is as important as loosening the hamstrings. Competitors complete seven postures in three minutes, and the total 80-point score takes into account technical precision, physical presentation and timing, among other aspects.
Because there are no entry requirements for regional competitions, Colwill, a kindergarten teacher at Public School 8 in Washington Heights who had practiced for less than three years, decided to try. « Read the rest of this entry »
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Expert: Black tea has many health benefits
March 13th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Tea has many health benefits including manganese, good for physical development, and potassium, good to maintain fluid balance, a U.S. food expert said.
Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst, trend watcher and creator of supermarketguru.com, said studies also show tea drinkers are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than non-drinkers, and a recent study discovered black tea lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Black tea is also packed with flavonoids, antioxidants that help combat free radicals that cause cellular damage and aging.
Flavonoids also help prevent the oxidation of “bad” cholesterol, protect blood vessels from inflammation and inhibit blood clotting. « Read the rest of this entry »
Riviera May Resort Celebrates Spring Equinox with Ana Paula Dominguez!
February 16th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
You’d have to be living under a rock to not have heard talk of Mayan mysticism as we move into 2012, the supposed end of the world according to the Mayan calendar — or as many are interpreting, the “rebirth of a new calendar cycle” (a much less dismal interpretation!) To celebrate this rebirth, Fairmont Mayakoba, a stunning resort located on the beautiful Riviera Maya, presents its “Awakening to Wellness,” an exclusive getaway with master yogi Ana Paula Dominguez.
This experience will include daily lessons of Kundalini yoga, a Meditation Techniques workshop and a Stress Managementsession. Participants will relax with luxurious spa treatments and soothing massages at Willow Stream Spa. Sounds like the experience of a lifetime!
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Tai Chi Benefits Patients With Parkinson’s (via New York Times)
February 14th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Tai chi, an ancient martial art characterized by slow, flowing movement and meditation, helps improve balance and movement control for people with Parkinson’s disease.
The finding, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, is the latest study to show the benefits of tai chi for people with chronic health problems. Past studies have shown that tai chi reduces falls and depression among the elderly, and lessens pain for patients with arthritis and fibromyalgia.
In Parkinson’s disease, nerve cells in the brain that produce the chemical dopamine begin to die. Lower dopamine production can lead to tremors, balance problems, stiff facial expressions and muffled speech, among other problems. « Read the rest of this entry »
February 3rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Although it has been used for thousands and thousands of years, acupuncture still isn’t 100 percent supported by the conventional medical community.
While some doctors do believe in the healing powers of acupuncture and actually offer the therapy in their offices, other experts don’t give any legitimacy to acupuncture as an actual medical treatment.
Nevertheless, many studies and patient testimonials have reported positive results from acupuncture therapy. « Read the rest of this entry »
Grape Seed Extract Kills Head and Neck Cancer Cells
February 3rd, 2012 § 2 Comments
Physicians and biomedical scientists are always looking for chemical compounds that can be turned into drugs that can kill cancer cells and spare noncancerous cells. Researchers at the University of Colorado believe they have made such a discovery.
Investigators at the Rajesh Agarwal and his colleagues at the University of Colorado Cancer Center say grape seed extract kills squamous cell carcinoma cells in tumors of the had and neck without harming healthy cells.
“It’s a rather dramatic effect,” said Agarwal, a professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
In a study published last week in the journal Carcinogenesis, Agarwal and his collaborators reported that grape extract killed head and neck squamous cell cancer cells, both in cell cultures and in laboratory mice. « Read the rest of this entry »
36 Hours in Tulum, Mexico
January 31st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Tulum, perched on the southern edge of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, has long since been considered a hotspot for yoga travelers and wellness tourists around the world. The great thing about Tulum as a yoga destination is that it’s the perfect spot for beginners and experts alike to practice and perfect yoga techniques.
The New York Times recently featured a piece that laid out the perfect four-day yoga expedition in scenic Tulum. From exploring the jungles, to eating ceviche at one of the city’s best restaurants, to exploring the cliffs overlooking the Caribbean, this guide goes far beyond just yoga time and provides a great sense of the sites and activities you won’t want to miss when visiting Tulum. Take a look at the full Tulum itinerary!
Puebla, Mexico Makes It to The New York Times’ Top Places to Go in 2012 (Via Mexico Today)
January 17th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Every year The New York Times selects the top places readers should travel to. Puebla, Mexico, a city especially noted for its historical significance and culinary offerings, has earned the thirteenth spot on this famed travel list of places to go in 2012. … Keep Reading
Alternative Ways to Ease Menopause Symptoms
January 10th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and irritability are just a few of the many linked to menopause. Today, many women are turning toward alternative and holistic solutions in finding relief from painful and troublesome menopause symptoms.
While there is little scientific evidence supporting the long-term effectiveness of many of these treatments, a number of studies on the subject are currently under way. Here are some of the most common alternative menopause treatments:
- Soy. The phytoestrogens — estrogen-like chemicals — in soy may help with hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings, but there is no conclusive evidence. According to family physician and natural medicine specialist Dr. Novey, a combination of soy and black cohosh can be effective in reducing hot flashes in early menopause.
- Ginseng. Novey says ginseng has a stimulant effect and can help with the “brain fog” that some women report in menopause; it also may improve energy. It has no effect on hot flashes.
- Kava. Novey says this herb can help with irritability, but there’s no evidence it decreases hot flashes. He adds it’s possible to get withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the herb. In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about kava, saying it could damage the liver.
- Dong quai and red clover. These herbs have no benefits in treating menopausal symptoms, according to Novey and NCCAM.
Is Yoga Unsafe (Via Yoga Journal)
January 9th, 2012 § 1 Comment
We often hear about the many health benefits to be gained from a regular yoga practice. But while there is much potential for healing, there is less-widely reported potential to harm—that is when we push our bodies so far we end up injured. “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body,” published yesterday in the New York Times Magazine, states that “a growing body of medical evidence supports [the] contention that, for many people, a number of commonly taught yoga poses are inherently risky.” The piece was excerpted from the forthcoming book, The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards, written by a Times senior writer and longtime yoga practitioner William Broad. « Read the rest of this entry »
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