On this last day of the month, I would like to weigh in on diabetes since November is American Diabetes Month. This disease is pretty close to my heart because most of my family has it. Family gatherings almost sound like a diabetes support group.Diabetes is a disease that is heavily affected by your lifestyle habits. In fact, it can even be prevented by adequate exercise and a healthy diet that is not too high on calories or foods with a high glycemic index. You can click here for recommendations from the American Diabetes Association.From the perspective of ki energy, which is how Dahn Yoga and other traditional Asian practices look at health, diabetes is about having adequate circulation. Proper energy circulation affects our hormone regulation. Also, people with diabetes have poor blood circulation, which means they also have poor energy circulation.Jung Sug Hong, who has had a lot of success with helping people overcome diseases such as diabetes without medication, recommends this program of exercise to start treat symptoms of diabetes:Before beginning the program, create the mindset:

• “I will try to reactivate my natural healing system.”
• Don’t resist any pain or discomfort your body feels, but rather face it and accept it with compassion.

Do this first phase of exercises for three months:

1. For 5-10 minutes, several times a day, wiggle your fingers and toes while in a relaxed position. Remember to exhale through your mouth and feel your breath as you do it. This exercise will help recover the natural ki energy flow in your body and increase blood circulation. It’s important for diabetics to recover the blood and energy circulation of the fingers and toes first.
2. Next do dahn-jon tapping, starting with 100 times and building up to 1000 times. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and parallel to each other with your knees bent slightly. Keep your back straight and shoulders relaxed. Use the pinky side of both fists, not held tightly, to tap your abdomen two inches below your navel. If you are not able to stand, you can also tap in a sitting position. Exhale with your mouth open slightly.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays. I had an awesome experience last week when I was teaching the Thankfulness and Giving Gratitude Yoga Class at lululemon Northpark this past Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving.

I taught the Yoga class in a corridor of the mall. As I was teaching, an older gentleman named John, who was volunteering with The Salvation Army, approached me. He had been standing off in the distance, listening to the music and watching from afar. He asked if the music I was playing was on a cd. I answered him that it wasn’t…that it was a playlist I had made. He said he loved all of the music I was playing. About 10 minutes later he came back. And, so while the class was in Pigeon Pose, I spoke to him again. (can you imagine the whole class stayed in pigeon the whole time?! About 2 or 3 minutes) John said he wished he could be taking the class with us. He said he had had a stressful day and that just listening to the music and our breathing was healing. He became slightly teary-eyed as he told me this, and I let him know I would make him a cd of the music. So, yesterday, I went back to Northpark and gave him the cd. It was awesome to get to give the gift of music because I know how powerful music is to me.

Oh my gosh…as I’m writing this they are talking about this exact thing on the news playing in the background…just how powerful and emotional music is. I think they were talking about soldiers listening to music.

Anyhow, it was awesome to realize how healing energy can be, even if it’s just being near a group of people who are aligning with a positive connection to breath/prana, listening to positive music, breathing positive thoughts and intentions together.

I will be back to write more soon…but just wanted to give a quick update. There is so much to be grateful for, I am especially grateful for Shiva Rea coming to Austin in January. What an awesome way to begin the New Year! The picture above is of my nephew, Luke, enjoying his first stuffing ever. He will be 2 on New Year’s Eve. I am blessed and knowing I’m blessed is the greatest blessing there is.

Here is a powerful quote from Parmahansa Yogananda.

“This earth is full of imperfection; but in the Land Beautiful no clouds come and we can materialize the golden dreams of our earth sojourn. Only the ark of silence can take us to that Land. There all hearts meet in unity and wisdom; our love is not limited by human attachment, for our souls greet the Spirit in one another. If only you would take the ark of silence, you would reach that Land where you all want to go.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

(Picture of beloved Yogini and my teacher, Shiva Rea)

OH MY GOSH…IT’S TRUE…I HEARD THIS THE OTHER DAY…BUT IT’S REAL!!! SHIVA REA WILL BE IN AUSTIN, TX JANUARY 9-10 AT YOGA YOGA. I just verified this after I wrote this post. Wooooooooooo hooooooooooo! Dreams do come true and prayers are answered. Jai guru, saraswati mata.

Last night I went to a Kirtan and ecstatic dance at Park Cities Yoga in Dallas. It was awesome. It was led by Monica Blossom Hochberg who guides ecstatic dance in Dallas…she is an incredibly inspiring and beautiful person. I hope you have the opportunity to cross paths with her one day. And the Kirtan was sung by Rudra Das. I have never heard him sing before but it was amazing. He is incredibly inspiring and connected and what a blessing to be in his presence. He said so many things which were so powerful, such as, ‘you are the guru. Yes, that’s a bit much for some people at first…but, you are the guru.‘ He also said that the second chakra is the opening to the Divine Mother and seeing the Divine Mother in all beings and knowing the Divine Mother within us. Through this awakening we realize the Divine is within each and everyone of us and the Divine Mother is in all women and men. Even when we experience someone being unkind to us, we can know it is the Divine Mother enlightening us to greater, compassion, forgiveness, understanding and love for ourself and everyone. Any harshness we experience is a lesson in love to be learned. With this understanding, we can let go of being afraid to open our hearts, even in situations or with people we are afraid to let ourselves love. With this realization we can know, like Rev. Lee Wolak says who leads the Agape Center for Spiritual Living in Frisco, TX, that we think we are going to get hurt if we open our hearts, but in reality, they just keep opening and opening to greater love and compassion for everyone and everything. The great mystic poet Hafiz says, love is constant compassion and forgiveness.

One of the chants we sang as we moved to awaken the 2nd chakra, was Sarasvati Ma. A dear friend of mine, Kate LaCroix who owns Global Soul Adventures, just gave me this beautiful song by Daphne Tse, a fellow Yogini and student of Shiva Rea. The song is called Saraswati Mata. I highly recommend downloading it on itunes…it is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard. I met Daphne a couple of years ago at a Yoga training with Shiva and she sang one of her songs for us. When I was listening to this song this week, it reminded me of what Shiva says which is, what is the song Yoga wishes to sing through you? She doesn’t mean literally singing, she means expressing the joy in the heart, the unbounded consciousness, bliss and love within us allowing that to flow to everyone we meet and know.

Let’s see, what else. Well, I completed the 30 hour Thai Yoga Bodywork training over the last two weekends. It was intense and overflowing with information, but it was incredibly enriching and good, as well. I’m so glad I was able to take it with Chock. He is one of the greatest healers I have met since I have been on this path of healing. He knows so much and his presence is so loving and positive, I am grateful to know him.

Also, there will be a couple of Holiday Yoga classes I am offering. One is next Wednesday at lululemon Northpark from 6-7 pm and is FREE. The other one is Saturday, December 12th from 3-5 pm at exhale spa, with refreshments following, and is $30. Both will be wonderful and I’m really looking forward to sharing this special and sacred time with you, connecting to a deeper appreciation for the Divine gifts in our life, the loving presence of family and friends and the ever-expanding spiritual community growing and evolving in Dallas and beyond. I have just sent out more information in a True Yoga announcement. If you do not receive True Yoga News and would like to, please submit your email here.

Oh, and a True Yoga retreat is pranfesting for March 2010 to Brazil led by world traveler and Global Soul Adventure owner, Kate LaCroix, and myself. Please stay tuned for more details and join us if you can. It will be the trip of a lifetime, a true spiritual journey for your body, mind and soul.

I wanted to leave you with this. It’s on a bookmark that I was given when I purchased a book by Bhagavan Das called It’s Here Now, Are You? this past August at Thunderbolt Spiritual Books in Santa Monica, CA, when I was out in L.A. for the SRF Convocation.

When asked,
Are you a God or a man?
The Buddha replied,
‘I am awake.’

Only those can understand who
have felt. Only those who have
attained to spirituality can
communicate it to others, can be great
teachers of mankind. They alone
are the powers of light.”

Sri Ramakrishna

General Guidelines: An open mind, empty stomach, and bare feet are recommended. Do not strain or force any movements.

Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Pay special attention to breath and body alignment. Hold each pose for a minimum of five inhalations/exhalations (about half a minute).

1. Sit on floor with legs straight out in front of you, in Dandasana (staff pose), then bend the left leg so that heel comes in contact with the right buttock and the knee stays on the floor.
2. Place right foot on the floor with a bent right knee, so that ankle of the right leg touches the left knee that is still flat on the floor (right ankle can extend just in front of left knee).
3. Inhale and reach left arm straight up into the air, move the right knee out of the way with the biceps of left arm and press the elbow of the left arm against the kneegrasp the knee of the left leg with the palm of the right hand.
4. Gently wrap right arm behind your back, either rest in on the floor or grasp the inner thigh of the left leg if possible.
5. Turn your head to the right and twist your face and shoulders to the right. Look out of the corner of your right eye.
6. Breathing may become difficult at first, with every inhalation release the posture slightly and then twist deeper with every exhalation.

Standing Poses:
Tadasana Mountain Pose
Urdhva Hastasana Upward Facing Hands Pose
Uttitha Parsvakonasana Extended Side Angle Stretch
Uttitha Trikonasana Extended Triangle Pose
Parshvottanasana Sideways Extension Pose
Virabhadrasana I & II Warrior Poses
Utkatasana Chair Pose
Banarasana Lunge Pose

Seated Poses:
Virasana Heros Pose
Badddha Konasana Cobblers or Butterfly Pose
Kapotasana Pigeon Pose
Dandasana Staff Pose or Plank Pose
Sukhasana Simple Crossed Legs Pose

Forward Folds:
Balasana Childs Pose
Adho Mukha Shvanasana Downward Facing Dog Pose
Uttanasana Standing Forward Fold
Prasarita Padottanasana Standing Wide Leg Forward Fold
Paschimottanasana Seated Forward Fold
Janushirshasana One-Leg Seated Forward Fold
Parsvatonasana Standing Head to Knee
Upavishta Konasana Seated Wide Leg Forward Fold

Back Bends:
Bhujangasana Cobra Pose
Urdva Mukha Shavanasa Upward Facing Dog Pose
Ustrasana Camel Pose
Dhanurasana Bow Pose
Urdva Dhanurasana Full Back Bend
Setu Bhanda Sarvangasana Bridge Pose

Balances:
Ardha Chandrasana Half-Moon Pose
Vrikshasana Tree Pose
Garudasana Eagle Pose
Vasisthasana Side Arm Balance

Other:
Ujaii. Victory Breath
Chaturanga Dandasana Low Plank Pose
Supta Padangushthasana Reclined Leg in the Air Pose
Padangustasana Leg in the Air Pose
Vinyasa Flowing through poses.
Surya Namaskar Sun Salute
Shavasana Corpse or Relaxation Pose

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I am attending a Thai Yoga Certification training here in Dallas with the gifted Thai Massage Therapist and healer, Chock Petchprom, and his wife Rocie.

The training was all day Saturday and Sunday this past weekend. We will finish the 30 hour certification next weekend with class all day Saturday and Sunday then, as well. I am learning so much, in particular, about the powerful meidicinal benefits of Thai Yoga massage and how it is possible to facilitate healing in the body, mind and heart through the releasing of blockages in the energetic meridians of the body. In Yoga, the meridians are called the nadis, and there are supposively 72,000 which run throughout the body. Thai Massage focuses on the 10 major ones.

Speaking of the nadis, I attended a really fascinating workshop with Edward Clark, who is the founder and choreographer of the well-known Tripsichore Yoga Theater Group in London. When I first attended the workshop, I enjoyed it but was uncertain how beneficial I would find his teachings and insights to be in my Yoga practice. I really resisted much of what he was talking about at first. Especially the idea that Yoga is not about going for the stretch. He said nowhere in the Yogic texts does it say the intention of the Asana, or pose, is to go for the stretch. The intention of the Asana is to awaken the flow of Prana/Life Force/Consciousness through the Sushumna Nadi, the central energetic channel through which all Consciousness/energy flows in our body and being. You can think of the Sushumna Nadi as the spinal cord, although it is an energetic pathway not something physical. But, it does flow through the channel of the spine, from the tailbone, all the way up along the spine, around the back of the head, over the top of the head, through the forehead, ending at the point between the eyebrows, known as the 3rd eye or 6th chakra/energy center.

It’s been amazing to bring this new awareness into my Yoga practice. In the past, although I knew Yoga is a consciousness awakening practice through the poses and breath…my focus was often more egoic and on some level about attainment…trying to get ’somewhere.’ After studying with Edward, my focus has been transformed, once again. Although, it was not comfortable letting go of my old approach, at first. If Yoga is not about trying to achieve something or get somewhere, (a better body, a calmer mind, etc., etc.) on some level, what’s it about? For those of you who are able to practice with me here in Dallas…I’m so glad I get to share what he taught us in a practical, physical way, through the Asanas.

If you don’t get to practice with me yet, essentially, what Edward was saying, is the whole intention of the Asanas is to maintain the integrity of the spine, or Sushumna Nadi, in any and all poses. The way we maintain the integrity of the spinal column is through the activation of the bandhas, or energy locks in the body-Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha and Jalandhara Bandha. It’s amazing what starts to happen in your poses, practice and self when you begin to activate the bandhas. Beryl Bender Birch, a well-known Yoga teacher in New York, says if we are not engaging the bandhas in a pose, we are just doing gymnastics. Perhaps this is a bit of an exaggeration, but Yoga is about becoming increasingly conscious and connected to our breath/Prana. Through the activation of the bandhas in a pose, we are more aware of our body, mind and breath, and our connection to all things. What I’m realizing is greater opening in my backbends, especially the region of the back behind the shoulders. By the New Year, I hope to be making Yoga podcasts available on the True Yoga Blog and website so you can see and practice what I’m talking about. So, there is a physical benefit to engaging the bandhas and activating the flow of energy up the spine, and yet, the intention of this activation is still much greater than just physical. The ultimate Yogic intention is to awaken the flow of Consciousness from the lower centers of awareness (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd chakras) into the higher states of awareness (the 4th, 5th, 6th and crown chakra.) Through the activation of this flow of energy, we awaken to the energetic reality we are living, breathing and pranafesting with each moment, each breath we breathe. We are channels through which Light/energy flows. It is not flowing from us…it is flowing through us. The body and mind are an instrument to harmonize and direct the flow of this energy in the most powerful and positive way possible.

When I attended the SRF Convocation in L.A. this past August, the monk said that Yogananada would always say to keep your awareness focused at the Christ Consciousness center or 3rd eye/6th chakra. Cosmic energy or Light enters the body through the Medulla Oblongota at the base of the skull (where the brain stem and spinal cord join…it is the center which controls respiration in the body and the one part of the body which can not be operated on) and then is materialized into form through our conscious will, also known as the Christ Consciousness, 3rd eye or Eye of Light. If you imagine everything is energy and, therefore, everything is Light, this light is flowing into you and being pranafested, or manifested, faster than you mind can comprehend. In other words, the Light moving through you is being materialized into form faster than we can imagine. Everything is energy, therefore everything, in essence is Light. The Light moving through you is creating your Conscious reality every moment, with every breath you breathe. The best analogy I can offer would be the light that flows through a movie projector and then projects the picture onto the screen. In essence, you are the the projector. This will give us a good bit to pause and meditate on for a few days.

I will be back soon. Om~

Zen yoga poses are part of an Oriental system that combines the practice of asanas with Traditional Chinese and Japanese Medicine. Postures are categorized according to the primary meridian they affect. A meridian can be understood as similar to a blood vessel, in that it has an energetic structure that corresponds with the human body, but which is instead a channel for energy to circulate (instead of blood).

The alignment of these exercises with specific meridians is what makes zen yoga such a powerful healing modality. In fact, teachers of this Oriental system emphasize its’ capacity to help treat the basic causes of illness.. This article will explore what is meant by that, and provide some illustration on
how zen yoga poses can be adapted to an individual’s problems.

Meridian exercises work by facilitating the natural flow of energy in areas where we experience blockages and stagnation. We may feel those areas of blockages as stiffness, aching, tension, pain, or simply a feeling of being uncomfortable. Zen poses open up their primary meridians, and as a result,
they dispel ‘ill’ energy, and allow healthy energy to flow instead.

A little background on meridians may be helpful. There are 12 meridians, and they are named after different organs of the body. So, we have the Lung meridian, large intestine meridian, Heart constrictor, triple heater, liver, gall bladder, spleen, stomach, heart, small intestine, kidney, and bladder.

It’s important to note that although these meridians each have an energetic relationship with the organ after which they are named, they are not just referring to the organ when we speak about them. Their primary meaning is an energetic reference, to a type of energy that runs along a specific
channel, which just happens to be associated with a physical organ as well. So, when Oriental practitioners and yoga teachers talk about a particular meridian being out of whack in some way, this definitely does not mean that our organs are! I emphasize this because a lot of people tend to get
alarmed by some of the terminology, and it just stems from a misunderstanding of the context in which it is being used.

By understanding how important the energetic aspect is in Oriental philosophy, it is easier to understand how they look at the symptoms of disease, illness, or any problems we feel in our bodies. Instead of focusing on the symptom itself, Oriental diagnosis looks at what is going on in the meridians,
and a healing approach is based on this, instead of a rigidly defined solution for a set of symptoms. What this means in practical terms, is that one person’s ideal solution to a bad back, or a stiff neck, may be very different to another’s.

The good news is that you don’t have to know a lot of theory to do zen yoga successful. And neither do you need to understand the intricacies of Oriental diagnosis to apply zen yoga exercises for your own specific problems. Masunaga offers this useful guide: “first find the exercise which is
hardest to do… and then look for another one which is the easiest… If doing the easiest exercise causes an improvement in the performance of the most difficult one, or relieves a … symptom, it is effectively reinforcing the Ki [energy] in the Kyo [deficient] meridian”.

Masunaga was a leading shiatsu teacher in Japan who organized meridian exercises into a system that people could use themselves. He actually wrote that the best way to learn about zen yoga poses, was to practice them! Zen yoga seems more difficult in theory than it is in practice. It’s actually
a very fun, playful and gentle style of yoga that can readily be adapted to any level of fitness and health. Like tai chi, it has great health benefits, which can be explored in more detail through classes or publications.

General Guidelines: An open mind, empty stomach, and bare feet are recommended. Do not strain or force any movements.

Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Pay special attention to breath and body alignment. Hold each pose for a minimum of five inhalations/exhalations (about half a minute).

1. Lie on your back, heels together, toes apart, arms at your side with the palms facing up. Arms should be in a slight A-Frame position with the shoulders rolling back into the ground.
2. Keep the eyes closed, sinking them deep into their sockets.
3. Relax all the facial muscles.
4. Breathe deeply, allowing the belly to go fat, lifting it with every inhalationlowering it with every exhalation.
5. Use this time to connect within yourself. Thank your body for allowing you this chance to use it in the practice of yoga. Connect with yourself.
6. Think ONLY of the present moment, practice a hand gesture or mudra with the thumb and first finger of each hand touchingrelax all the other fingers.
7. When through, roll to your side into the fetal position and rest for a few minutes before getting up.

People have an obsession when it comes to looking good. We always try to be thinner and look younger. This is why people aging is such a huge part of who we are as a society. Globally more people are scared of aging and ultimately scared of dying that almost anything else.

This is because there are a number of things that we don’t know about death. People like to know things and they like to prepare for things. Death is something that humans can never know about, so this is why it has become so scary for people.

To this end people try to slow down the aging process in the hopes that they will live longer, not to be around family for longer or to live life longer, but in fact to stay away from dying. Various products have been developed around this obsession that people have and today you can find face creams, neck and bust firming creams, anti wrinkle creams, and other products. There are also pills that people take from anti oxidants to anti aging herbs.

For some people aging is so scary that they revert to majorly expensive and majorly dangerous surgery to stay young. They get Botox injections to smooth the face, and they opt for facelifts, breast lifts, and more. The price of aging is expensive nowadays and people tend to forget that aging is natural and part of life.

The main thing that you have to consider when you age is that you can prevent it to a certain degree by doing the correct things when you are young. This means not drinking or smoking, never going into the sun, not ever washing dishes or doing work, and more. If you really wanted to prevent aging you would not have a very exciting life.

People do want to enjoy life, however, and this is why when we get to a certain age and start noticing the wrinkles and grey hair, but not the words in your diary, people start to panic.

They try various drugs and medications to slow down aging and to even try and reverse the effects. With some natural products you can do this to a degree, and you can use various safe treatments. What you should be doing though, is embracing this new change in your life and making the most of it. You can still feel young at heart and this is really all that matters.

For more information on how Long Term Care Insurance can help prepare us as we age. Also you can get a long term care insurance quote. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers. This gives you tremendous options.

The phenomenon of rising health care costs has been more and more in the news lately. It certainly is a matter of extreme interest to many people around the country these last several months, as has been amply demonstrated at a number of health care reform debates and legislator town halls. The concern over health care costs cuts across all socioeconomic and political affinity groups, too.

As a matter of interest, there are several reasons given as to why medical costs seem to be rising faster than inflation or other consumer indexes. For one, many people have come to expect the latest and greatest in medical technologies and other therapies which has caused a distortion in supply and a consequent rise in the cost of certain medical treatments and therapies.

Many experts who have studied health care administration and other facets of medicine believe that is possible to get control of rising health care costs through a few relatively simple legislative and policy changes. Most believe that some sort of lawsuit reform that can be implemented and that addresses suits brought against medical care providers could be a good first step.

Unfortunately, there are a number of constitutional questions about such a move, in addition to the fact that trial attorneys are very powerful contributors to various politicians and are themselves a very strong lobbying group. Another quick fix would be to allow health insurance companies to compete freely across the country without regard to state lines. Currently, the each state sets its own laws and rules for the regulation of health insurance.

And because each state regulates health insurance from a different perspective, it seems that unavoidable distortions in the market tend to occur and which have the effect of artificially depressing competition that could result in lower costs. For example, the cost of insurance in New York may be much higher than the cost of insurance in Wyoming. Allowing insurers to compete head-to-head seems to make a lot of sense.

Each of the states must also share in the blame, as legislators and others responsible for creating law have looked to forcing insurers to offer gold plated health insurance coverage regardless of the need for certain portions of such insurance policies by certain consumers. This tends to increase the cost of a health insurance policy across the whole group instead of where it belongs, which is on the individual purchaser of the insurance.

The phenomenon of rising healthcare costs shows no signs of going away anytime soon. For sure, it is becoming ever more crucial that some sort of reform of health care takes place sooner rather than later. Also for sure, there are a number of simple fixes that could result in appreciable drops in the cost of healthcare in both the short and long terms and which would gladden any family on a budget.

For more information on how Long Term Care Insurance can help prepare us as we age. Also you can get a long term care insurance quote. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers. This gives you tremendous options.