February 3, 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 »
Is Yoga Unsafe (Via Yoga Journal)
January 9, 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 »
Food Combining for Better Digestion
January 5, 2012 § Leave a Comment
It’s no secret that there are countless steps we can take to maximize energy through our lifestyle and dietary habits, and facilitate healing within ourselves. But did you know, there are also specific foods that should be combined, and also separated, in order to maximize digestion and increase gastrointestinal health.
When proper food combining is not maintained, our systems have a more difficult time detoxifying — your stomach will reamin instead in an acid state. Holistic Healing News provided this great and easy formula to help you begin to take the necessary steps to maximize digestion and maintain overall wellness:
*Eat fruits with fruits.
* Mix citrus with citrus and soft fruits with soft fruits.
* Soaked nuts and citrus combine well.
* Always eat melon alone and do not mix them.
* Combine starchy foods like grains, potato, non-yeasted breads, etc. with vegetables.
* Eat only one type of starch at a meal.
* Eat protein with vegetables. « Read the rest of this entry »
January 3, 2012 § 1 Comment
If you’re thinking that in 2012 you want to become a yoga teacher, join the club. According to statistics compiled by Yoga Alliance, there are now more than 50,000 yoga teachers in the U.S., and that number is growing.
Some yoga practitioners dream of living the life of a nomadic traveling teacher. Others of someday owning their own studio. Other yogis, particularly in a still-uncertain economy, are turning to teaching yoga as a second source of income.
Is it really worth investing in that 200-hour-or-plus teacher training? Will there be a job out there for when you’re done? Is it time to quit your day job? Here’s an infographic, which first appeared on Teachasana (a website resource for yoga teachers), with all sorts of facts and figures from recent articles that might help you make up your mind.
Via Yoga Journal
The Friendly World of Probiotics (via Holistic Healing News)
December 1, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Traveling can take a toll on a person’s physical health. Many travelers understand first-hand the unfortunate risks to digestive health that often “come with the territory”, so to speak. Traveling can introduce foreign microbes to the digestive tract, resulting in mild to severe digestive problems, which may be difficult to diagnose. But by keeping the beneficial bacteria colonies in the gut healthy and strong, the chances of suffering from such digestive imbalances are far less. In addition, beneficial bacteria can strengthen overall health in a number of ways.
Digestive health is the cornerstone of vitality
Optimal digestion is truly the cornerstone of any health restoration and maintenance program, for many reasons. From complete nutrient absorption to immune health and even brain and neurotransmitter function, digestive health directly influences a wide range of critical processes in the body. And much of these digestive-related functions hinge on the presence of healthy bacteria colonies in the digestive tract. New studies are revealing insights into the far reaching health benefits, complexity, and uniqueness of the friendly bacteria which live in and around us, flourishing under the right conditions. One of the most beneficial strains being studied is called Saccharomyces boulardii. « Read the rest of this entry »
It Could Be Old Age, or It Could Be Low B12
November 29, 2011 § 1 Comment
The New York Times recently posted an article regarding the connection between the vitman B12 and memory loss, specifically regarding the elderly. The article told the story of Ilsa Katz, an 85 year old woman whose daughter, Vivian Atkins, noticed that she was becoming increasingly confused.
“She couldn’t remember names, where she’d been or what she’d done that day,” Atkins recalled. “Initially, I was not too worried. I thought it was part of normal aging. But over time, the confusion and memory problems became more severe and frequent.”
Atkins recalled that her mother had lost touch with much of reality, unable to recall the names of close relatives or what day it was. « Read the rest of this entry »
Sitting Without Breaks UPs Cancer Risk (Via UPI)
November 21, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Sitting for long periods of time is associated with health risks — even for people who are regularly physically active, an Australian researcher says.
Neville Owen of Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Australia said key indicators of cancer risk are lower when prolonged sitting is interrupted with brief breaks of 1 or 2 minutes.
“Sitting time is emerging as a strong candidate for being a cancer risk factor in its own right. It seems highly likely that the longer you sit, the higher your risk. This phenomenon isn’t dependent on body weight or how much exercise people do,” Owen said in a statement. “In our studies, we’ve measured waist circumference, insulin resistance and inflammation — indicators of cancer risk common to many physical activity-cancer studies. We found that even breaks as short as 1 minute can lower these biomarkers.” « Read the rest of this entry »
November 21, 2011 § Leave a Comment
C-Health Online recently posted an interesting article that begged the question, “what’s on your bucket list?” We all have bucket lists, things we want to do or accomplish in our lives, and C-Health urged readers to consider something a little different when thinking about our bucket lists… cholesterol.
As the article states, not everyone gets to accomplish everything on their bucket list. Heart disease and stroke represent some of the leading killers in the U.S. and Canada. High cholesterol puts you at an increased risk of developing one of these two conditions. Whether you are at low, moderate, or high risk of developing heart disease, the goal is to reduce your LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) by at least 50%.
You can calculate your heart disease risk yourself or ask your doctor about your risk at your next visit. In general, people are classified into 3 risk groups. Do you know where you stand? Take a look, and study up… because with something like cholesterol, prevention is key!
- low risk: Less than 10% risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years. This means that less than 10 out of 100 people at this level of risk will develop heart disease in the next 10 years.
- moderate risk: 10% to 19% risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years. This means that 10 to 19 out of 100 people at this level of risk will develop heart disease in the next 10 years.
- high risk: 20% or greater risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years. This means that 20 or more out of 100 people at this level of risk will develop heart disease in the next 10 years.
You Have 1,440 Minutes Every Day – Take 10 to Meditate (Via Mind Body Green)
November 18, 2011 § 1 Comment
By Jeff Cannon
Every day someone tells me how great they feel when they practice yoga. They feel whole and complete and relaxed and alert — all at the same time. Yet no sooner than they leave the yoga studio, does the old stress and worry start to seep back into their life. So quickly at times, that it makes them wonder just how long the healthy benefits of a great yoga class stay with them.
When I mention extending those great feelings through meditation, I am inevitably told, “I love the idea, but I just don’t have enough time to meditate.” Or, “There’s just no way I can sit and think for twenty minutes. There’s just too much going on in my head.”
Well guess what, you actually do. You don’t have to sit for twenty minutes or half an hour to benefit from a meditation practice. You only need a few minutes here and there to reduce your stress, minimize the noise from the world around you, and gain control of your life, so you can start to live your life as if you carry your yoga mat with you. « Read the rest of this entry »
Wellness Travel is a Road to Health and Profits!
November 15, 2011 § 1 Comment
Wellness travel, the segment of medical tourism which consists of relaxation and general health treatments, is becoming an increasingly important as well as lucrative travel market — one that continues to grow in size and scope.
Wellness tourism is now at a $106 billion global industry, according to “Spas and the Global Wellness Market,” a study by the nonprofit research and consulting firm SRI International.
So what is wellness travel? According to Susie Ellis, president of SpaFinder, Inc, “Wellness travel is about the desire to promote, maintain and improve one’s health and well-being. Wellness travel can take a number of forms and encompass a lot of different activities.”
Ellis explained that spas are a big part of wellness travel, specifically destination spas. The concept of wellness can incorporate stress reduction, meditation and yoga. It can also refer to adventure travel, hiking and eco-tours.
