Holistic Health and Yoga

I don't know if you know this about me as I always write about yoga and meditation: before I taught yoga, I taught people about natural healing.  Homeopathy, reiki, nutrition, herbs, acupressure, weight loss - these are the tools I taught about.  There are so many options available that actually work!

There is also alot of confusion about these options. We read in the media that a certain herb is good for something, then we read somewhere else that a certain way of eating is good for something else and we start to see so many options that we think we can't possibly take all of these in, get overwhelmed and just give up and end up eating what everyone else around us is eating. This can be okay or not depending on how healthy you and your family & friends actually are.

I feel fortunate that I started out pretty sick and now I'm not.  I had nothing to lose by trying out different natural healing methods.  I was constantly struggling with my weight (my father was very overweight most of his life); constantly getting colds (even bronchitis & possibly pneumonia once) and whenever I exercised, ended up injuring myself.

Before I shifted my diet and lifestyle so dramatically, I had bladder and kidney infections about every other month.  I even went to see a specialist - a urologist - to find out why I kept getting sick.  After a painful test, when the "specialist" said idiopathic (translation "we don't know why"), I gave up on medicine.  I prayed.  Then a new friend showed up in my life.

She was a vegetarian and went to a naturopathic doctor.  Since I was desperate for something new and intrigued by her health & vitality, I went for it.  Within 3 months, my bladder and kidney infections that I had suffered through for 8 years, ended.  My healing path began.

I then had a voracious appetite for knowledge of holistic, natural healing modalities.  Long story, many years later, I now have a certification in Natural Therapies, Certificate in Holistic Weight Management and Wellness Coaching.  I have also studied yoga now and it's therapeutic effects for much of the past decade or more.  I also have a B.S. in Psychology and Reiki Master/Teacher.

Healing takes place at many levels - the gross physical to emotional-mental to the spiritual.  True healing takes place at all of these levels and if you want to go down that path, the answers you seek will find you.

Since 1986 when I started on the road to wellness, I have completely transformed my own health and also helped many others along the way.  I recognize that there also is a political battle and financial battle in this country over health care.   Every year the pharmaceutical industry gets some senator or congressman to introduce a bill to take away our right to purchase some vitamin (or all of them) or herbs, or even to take away our right to find this information!  Even now, many vitamin companies are in danger of having to close shop because there is a bill that takes away our right to buy vitamins without a doctors prescription!

Now - I know we do not have to take "vitamins" - research shows that whole foods are what the body recognizes for food & healing.  However, there are some really great supplements out there that are whole-food based  - not chemically created individual vitamins - that are having a tremendous impact on individuals health & wellbeing.  And these supplements have decades of research backing up their claims!

Also homeopathic medicine and herbal medicines have hundreds of years of success at helping people with minimal or no side-effects.

We MUST learn about these and pass this knowledge onto others for future generations.  Knowing how to heal our bodies and help our loved ones too, empowers us.  Now is the time to take your life and health into your own hands!

Grow your own food if you can - eat more fruits and vegetables. Cut out meat; sugar & dairy products (all of these can make you sick if you eat them too often).  Read about natural ways of healing your body too!  Do you know that water is one of the most healing substances ?  Many of our ills are from dehydration?!

Since I began practicing yoga daily, I have had little in the way of health challenges.  The supplement I have  eaten for more than 20 years - is spirulina (I have bought from the same company - see http://karenswellness.rbclifesciences.com - that's me - if you get a $35 lifetime membership it's 20% discount on it and less costly than co-op spirulina!).

When my cat is sick, I use food and homeopathic remedies and water that is reverse osmosis filtered.  My cat has not been sick since we started with that water and some food for sensitive digestion that has pro-biotics in it.

When raising my children, their medicine was homeopathic remedies and herbal teas and healthy food.  Why does yoga keep me healthy?  Well, the daily practice keeps my whole circulatory system, lymphatic and muscular, cellular and neurological system clean (detoxified), massaged inside & out, oxygenated and energized (with breathing/prana) and balanced.

Spiritually, emotionally, mentally I am healthier because of my meditation and spiritual life.  I read uplifting spiritual texts, I pray, I take time out everyday to meditate and contemplate and connect with God.

Socially, I stay in communication with the people I love.  And I balance it out with plenty of alone time.  I rest enough, eat healthy, entertainment is also positive and uplifting.  I am in charge of what I put into body and mind.

It is time to do this and to share this with others.  I will continue to share with you this knowledge and get into more detail in this blog.  Check back again soon, I will post some information on homeopathy next time.

Namaste,

Karen

Seasons Change - What about change?

Today I am reminded of the nature of change.  It is always occurring and I catch myself resisting it, again.  Once more I surrender and allow it in.  Why do I resist and try to zone out?  What am I resisting? When I ask myself that, I remember something I read in the Bhagavad Gita - that as human beings, our greatest driving motivation is pleasure, and if that is so, then we are strongly motivated to resist anything uncomfortable.  Change is uncomfortable.

I relax again, noticing my breathing, being aware of my muscles being tense, consciously relax them, then ahhh, throw on a shawl while I sit at my laptop.

The body adapts to the change in seasons too.  If we are aware of this and provide the nutrients we require, this time of year is a great time to keep eating those greens, start adding squash to our diets, all of the bright yellow and oranges give our bodies the vitamin A (via beta carotene) that we need to have healthy mucous membranes.  What that means is we are more resistant to virus taking hold!  Cleaner diets mean stronger resistance to those seasonal colds.  Avoiding sugar, other processed foods and animal products that steal our energy while adding these vegetables in generous (nature's abundant now!) portions, we revitalize ourselves.  Doing our asana practice- if only for 15 minutes each morning, keeps our organs and digestive system operating at peak efficiency.  Don't forget the water too.  Most of us are dehydrated, drinking pure water also protects us from all kinds of ills.  Some doctors say that drinking 2-3 glasses of water first thing in the morning before anything else will take care of just about anything that ails you.

One more thing - I add a few extra nutrients to my daily regimen:  spirulina everyday, some added fish oil on occasion and the calcium/magnesium supplement (whole food based).  Sometimes I add some vitamin C to my diet, but I try to get most of what I need by eating a plant-based diet and not overeating.  Overeating clogs up the digestive system and actually prevents you from absorbing the nutrition from your food, thus creating a vicious circle of lack of nutrients and excessive hunger.  Longevity research has proven that those who are slightly underweight live longer than if you are carrying around extra pounds.  I find that I am much more energetic if my meals are smaller and I eat my 3 a day.  My smoothie in the morning, late morning snack, late lunch & light supper.

If you want more of these type of tips and some great coaching support, try my "Boost Your Metabolism" 6 week program.  You will likely shed some pounds, and very likely boost your energy level.  We are also going to have Mary Battista's one hour workshop (power packed) called "Eating for Energy" on Sept. 30 at 11 am in the studio.   Also in September "Know Your BodyType" with Asavari Manvikar - another piece of the wellness puzzle is knowing your body type and what types of foods balance you or throw you out of balance.  (sign up for Asavari's workshop through Eden Prairie Community Ed's website).

So Change?!  I'm so excited for it - bring it on!  Namaste