Take control of your health!

Today Sunday as I sit here on my lanai in this beautiful island of Hawaii, I feel blessed, blessed for my health, my wealth and my prosperity.  I accept myself for all that I am and all that I have.   This is not the way it has always been for me.  In my quest for good health I have learned many things and most importantly learned to accept those I cannot change. When we live with illusions we cannot heal.

There are three main illusions that plague us in our quest to heal our lives, bodies and souls.  The first of these illusions is that we are this body.  We identify with this body.  When we do this we use the theory that we are “Finite”.  This is the furthest thing from the real truth.  We are not this body, we are beautiful souls housed in this body that has been on loan to us for our time here on this earth.  It is our temple our temporary home during our journey here on this finite land.  We must learn to accept the fact that we are more than what we can see in the mirror.  We are beautiful light beings.   The second illusion is that our quest in life is the pursuit of happiness.  The problem with this myth is that our understanding of happiness is confused with pleasure.  Pleasure is not happiness.  Pleasure should not be confused with happiness.  It is in this confusion that we become ill.  We become disillusioned with life.  We are seeking and never finding.  We become entangled in a cyclical web of self destruction.  The more pleasure we seek in the aim of happiness the less we find it, and so it goes.  Happiness goes much deeper, it goes to the soul, to our true being-ness.     The third illusion is Power.  The power to be happy, to be healthy, to be what we need to be to have it all.  The illusion of seeking power is been with us since our inception.  Have we not learned from the cartoons of old that always depict the villain as the one seeking all the power at any cost, thinking all along that this power will bring them happiness, only to find that at the end the bigger they are the harder they fall.  We fall into thinking that power is infinite and we go in search of this infinite power, we seek it through material things, we acquire many things.  Then all of a sudden we realize that things, power and other such illusions are not the answers.  Falling into these three illusion will only serve to keep you in a state of stasis.  This place of cyclical unhappiness and illusionary feelings.   We need to learn to love and accept ourselves totally, unconditionally and lovingly.  Love is the only answer for healing.  Love is the true power.  Love in its purest sense if the real healing.  Love yourself, accept yourself and begin to heal yourself from the inside out and this will heal your mind, your body, and your life circumstance.  We must learn to give love, receive love, share love and accept love.  When we can truly do this will be able to begin our healing.  The healing of our body, lives, spirit and most importantly the healing for this land we call mother earth.

Aloha  and Namaste!

The weather is warming up and you need to find something to make sure you stay healthy and beautiful.   This means nourishing your skin, which by the way is the largest organ found on our body.   Our skin inhales everything and it sends it right to the blood stream.  Therefore, we must be mindful of everything we put on our face and body.   The body  has some protection from our clothing but our face is our first line of defense from the climate we live in, which is why it is important to nourish and sustain healthy skin from the inside out.

Here are some tips that will make you look and  feel great as well as heal from the sun this summer.

1.     Hydrate - Drink plenty of pure clean water.  I usually tell my clients to drink half their weight in ounces of water, more if they exercise in the sun.

2.     Take a Probiotic; you must never underestimate the power of the gut to help keep you healthy.    Probiotics are the friendly bacteria that is needed to keep your gut happy and healthy.  A strong gut helps to regulate our immune system.

3.      Eat a healthy diet of mostly raw foods, foods high in omega-3 fatty acids which produce a hydrating effect from the inside out, and antioxidants which help fight signs of aging.  

4.     Take great vitamins and minerals that are international grade as well as pharmaceutical grade.  There are not many companies out there but there are at least four.  Vitamins must have a high bioavailability in order to be completely absorbed in the gut.  Choose a vitamin with at least 85% or above bioavailability.

5.     Take a revitalizing bath – in cool to warm water, not hot! Organic salt baths are rejuvenating, and help dry skin to slough off. Stay away from hot water as it robs the skin of vital nutrients.

6.     Moisturize your body daily with non-clogging organic moisturizers such as organic coconut oil.  Coconut oil nourishes your skin and your hair instead of clogging it, as many toxin-impaired moisturizers do.

7.     Drink organic green tea; drink it cold with a touch of cinnamon in it.  Green tea is a natural antioxidant and it also enhances excess fluid loss from the body. Cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory and anti biotic.  Making it a great drink to have in the summer. 

8.     Sweeten your drinks and food with only stevia, look for organic stevia.  It is becoming very popular right now.  Stay away from sugar as it robs the body and the skin of its natural processes.  It will also add extra weight to your mid section which you do not want. 

9.     Cleanse your skin at night.  It’s especially important to cleanse and moisturize before you go to bed at night, to remove impurities from your skin before your revitalizing sleep time. Just be sure your moisturizer isn’t tainted with toxins.

10.  Get plenty of rest.  Keep your self on schedule, keep your circadian rhythm in flow and in check.  This is the cycle that regulates our melatonin and our cortisol levels. Two vital hormones that the body produces to help keep us going.

Why do I stress organic so much?  Because what you don’t know and what is hidden from you in some labels can hurt you.  Be sure to check your products and buy organic as much as possible.

Namaste,

Marti Angel

Everywhere you turn you are being bombarded with ads in every medium, weight loss miracle pills, systems, books, CDs/DVDs and contraptions.  All of which are meant to bring about the new you.   The problem with this is that it prays on our ego thoughts, weaknesses and insecurities about our self’s and our bodies. 

According to ‘Fat Exploding the Myths - by Lisa Colles’ Americans are reported to spend an estimated $50 billion each year on weight loss products and over $6 billion of that is spent on fraudulent products.  On May 8, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to immediately stop using HydroxycutÔ products because Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries.  If these products actually worked we would have only slim people, hence no market for weight loss products.  We must remember that the goal of any good marketing program is to entice, lure and capture the audience, which ultimately results in the sale of their product.  The scary part of all this is that the FDA website has a list of over 70 products that are on the market today of tainted weight loss pharmaceuticals–many of which continue to be sold today.

These are just some of the many warnings overlooked by those who are trying to lose weight.  True weight loss begins with acceptance of the fact that we are fully responsible for the state of our current weight.   There are no miracle cures that work for everyone across the board.  Every person brings with them a very unique physical makeup, mind and spirit which determines the outcome of the results.

True weight loss is a matter of the mind.  We must begin with searching for the reason that we have the extra weight.  The Ancient practice of Yoga tells us to love ourselves and learn to accept who we are from the inside out.  We must deal with the fact that the only reason that we are not satisfied with ourselves is because we do not truly love ourselves.  One of the eight limbs of yoga teaches us that we should practice ahimsa, compassion for all living things that includes ourselves.  When we begin to practice ahimsa; we find that we begin to accept responsibility for who and what we are.  Changing our physical bodies begins there. We must accept our current state and that becomes our basis for change.

Mentally and emotionally, we need to accept responsibility for what we look like now.  We need to practice forgiveness, caring and love.  By mentally saying “ I love you” as we look into the mirror we access the deepest blocks that have kept us hostage.   The change that begins to happen is subtle but very powerful.  When we begin to change our attitude towards ourselves we begin to unfold like the lotus blossom, petal by petal.  Weight loss requires dual brain action. Once we work on the weight loss from the right brain, lovingly and creatively we can then begin to work on it by using the left-brain factually and logically, which then becomes a matter of simple math.

Mathematically speaking we must burn more calories then we intake.  For every pound that we gain we have eaten approximately 3,500 calories more than we have used.   Now granted this is a simplistic version, but it does merit us taking a good, strong, look at our caloric intake.  

Interestingly, if we change our mindset of memes that we have bought into we can also begin to change our body.   Healing your body from the inside out, and taking control of your health is the true and only key to weight loss, all the other things are just tools that we can use to help us get to our destination.  Remember, this can be a roller coaster ride, but my best advice is hold on tight and do what it takes to get off this ride in a safe, positive, healthy and loving manner.  Use caution and seek professional guidance when deciding to take any pharmaceutical product. 

Namaste,

Marti Angel

What is chlorophyll?

Chlorophyll is the chemical that makes plants green - it is similar to hemoglobin found in humans. It has many health benefits for humans that have been recognized through time. As far back in time as 1911, scientist discovered that chlorophyll had a great similarity between human red blood cells and the molecular structure of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the structure of a plants life source. Therefore it makes sense that it aids the human body in healing and staying strong.

As holistic nutritionist I find that many of clients are looking to help improve their overall well-being, but some do not have the motivation to make a lifestyle change that may take more of a commitment that may take more consistent behavior than they are willing to do. Simply adding chlorophyll in one way or another can make a sizeable difference.

To better understand this healing power, it is important to understand how chlorophyll affects the body. So here are some very helpful hints that may help you, by simply taking Chlorophyll daily.

Sources of chlorophyll include all green leafy vegetables like chard, kale, collard, mustard, spinach, alfalfa, and sea vegetables. Leaf lettuce, broccoli and green beans are also good sources. However, there are other sources now available that you might not recognize. Algae, including Spirulina, chlorella, and blue green algae, are primitive organisms among the first life forms on the planet. But I usually suggest liquid chlorophyll to all my clients and based on their individual need tailor the amount used by each individual client.

Chlorophyll is what I may call one of mother earths little helpers. Chlolphyll helps in the formation of healthy blood, it helps to oxygenate the blood, thereby helping to cleanse the pathway to the heart. I have taken this little miracle for some time now and I recommend it to many if not all of my clients.

Here are some benefits that may be of interest to and your health: Best of all there are no side effects.

• It helps to cleanse your blood
• It assists your body to rid it self of toxins
• It is a natural form of iron and much better on your tummy that ferrous Sulfate
• It cleanses and deodorizes the colon
• It assists in the detoxification of your liver
• It aids in hepatitis- because it cleanses the blood
• It feeds the heart by cleansing the blood
• It may assist in menstrual cramps by allowing the blood to flow
• It assists in the regulation of blood sugar
• It helps to cleanse the lungs making it great for asthma, bronchitis etc
• It helps the body heal wounds more rapidly
• It aids in body odor
• It strengthens the immune system making it more resistant to viruses
• It aids in the cleansing of nasal passages- for allergies
• It cleanses the bacteria found in the mouth aiding in better breath
• It keeps mouth sores at bay
• It can be used as a gargle for sore throats
• It helps the gums heal- Gingivitis
• It aids in hemorrhoids
• It aids in stomach ulcers
• It aids in GERD
• It aids in circulation through the body, varicose veins etc.
• It aids the body in lowering inflammation
• It aids in all digestive problems.

It’s important to assess the needs of your body when considering the use of chlorophyll. Many chlorophyll rich substances come in formulas or by themselves and can be taken for preventive measures or therapeutically.As a Nutritionist I suggest that you consult an authoritative source ( nutritionist, nutraceutical consultant or a heath care practitioner) . It is also very important to know that the source should be clean and chemical free. This information is one you can get from a nutraceutical consultant.

Marti Angel, MA
“America’s Health and Expert Lifestyle Coach”

In this world where we are socially indoctrinated to believe that instant gratification is where it is at,  we need to realize it is not the way of the spirit nor is it the way our the natural flow of our bodies.  We all know that we have been given this body as a rental during our stay here on this earth.  This being the only truth of our bodies, we continue to treat our bodies with out respect.  This is not the way of the spirit of yoga.  In our yoga journey we begin to realize that to have the patience to allow our bodies to recover or adjust to whatever it is they need is truly the way of the spirit.  Following this tradition we must also know that when we change something in our bodies and or mind we must give it time to sink in, time to become one with us and our spirit.  Interestingly enough in my nutritional practice I do not see this happening.  This saddens me.  I have a beautiful client who is young in her body and she does not understand that her treatment of her “temple” will not allow her to have this “rental” for very long if she continues on this path of self destruction.  She came to me because she believes in natural medicine, or so she claims, yet whenever we meet I suggest that she slow down and practice patience, and take the supplements that will allow her body to find its way on its own terms at its own time.  She takes all this in claiming that she will do this, but then I get a frantic call claiming that what she is doing is not working, and she would like to see results in a more rapid manner.  I reassure her that it will take time for her body to find its own way and that she must nurture it.   This is not uncommon from many of my other clients, they all seem to want the nutritional guidance I give them to work immediate miracles.  This is not the way of our bodies!  This is not the way of our spirit!  Here is a quote from a doctor whom I admire and have had the privilege of meeting !  Dr. Ray Strand;
There is a major misconception about supplementation. In this era of medication, people believe that they should notice differences within a few days to a week or two. However, nutritional medicine is totally different from allopathic or traditional Western medicine. Nutritional supplements are simply nutrients the body uses in its normal enzymatic reactions. They are not medicines. They are nutrients from our foods, but supplementation allows us to get them at optimal levels that diet alone cannot provide.

It takes between 6 to 12 months to replenish any nutritional deficiency and optimize the body’s natural immune system, antioxidant defense system, and repair system. If you are over 30 years of age or already have a chronic degenerative disease, it may even take longer. This is why I stress over and over that you need to give nutritional supplementation a minimum of 6 months, or even better a year, before you evaluate the benefits. When my patients tell me that they will try using my recommended supplements for a month, I tell them not to even start. If you are not willing to try my recommendations for at least 6 months, you should not even begin.

It is reassuring to know that even a medical doctor faces the same challenges that I do as a Yoga Therapist and Nutritionist.  Remember,

it took a long time to get out of sink, let us remember that it will also take time to get back in sink, but it will happen with full faith and belief but most of all patience and guidance from someone who cares and knows!

To all my readers I say be well, follow the way of the spirit and take a deep breath!!

Namaste,

Hi, Marti Angel here, with an article from Richard Moyle via Asbestos.com advocating alternative treatments for this debilitating lung disease. I am happy to support the cause of alternative treatments for any and all illnesses. I feel the more exposure alternative therapies get, the more informed decisions patients can make. Once again, I remind you to take control of your health by reading this and sharing.

Alternative Treatments for Mesothelioma by Richard Moyle

While there are a number of conventional treatments for asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis and malignant pleural mesothelioma that have been proven to be effective, some of these treatments can cause unwanted side effects like pain and nausea. But there are a number of complementary therapies that can help ease these side effects, as well as mesothelioma symptoms themselves.

One such alternative therapy used to treat these types of illnesses (as well as a myriad of other conditions) is called aromatherapy. This medical technique uses fragrances in oils, lotions, and other substances to heal and prevent health problems.  Fragrances are applied in liquids called essential oils, which are distilled and highly concentrated plant-based oils. These are combined and used by aromatherapists to provide pain relief, symptomatic relief, and improve general well-being for patients.

Acupuncture is the most widely accepted form of alternative/complementary treatment. In fact, this type of treatment is so widely accepted that many health insurance companies even cover it. Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely fine needles into pressure points at clearly defined locations on the skin to improve the balance and flow of factors referred to as Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood in traditional Chinese medicine. This type of treatment can provide relief from chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, and stress, and is one of the most common alternative treatments used by those with asbestosis.

Meditation has also long been known as an excellent way of reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. Currently, meditation is also believed to help manage pain and other disease symptoms. Many people with cancer who add meditation to their treatment program find the practice helps relieve pain, stress, and anxiety. Some studies have even indicated that meditation may be able to slow tumor growth and improve patient prognosis.

Mesothelioma doctors are becoming more and more open to alternative and complementary forms of treatment, but it is always wise to discuss a new treatment option with a physician before proceeding as these treatments can affect people differently depending on their situation. 

As a Certified Metabolic Nutrition advisor and a Functional diagnostic Nutritionist– I wanted to explain a bit more about what this is all about.

You May Need Metabolic Typing®

Metabolic Typing® is the most exciting development in the field of nutrition in the last 100 years. Metabolic Typing® changes everything and is revolutionizing the way we think about health and the practice of nutritional medicine. Here’s a brief introduction:

Perhaps you’ve reached the point where you think or even know that nutrition is important if you ever want to get well and stay well. It’s just common sense, right? But you’ve also come to find that the field of nutrition is quite baffling. And even though the information explosion has made more information available than ever before, it’s also made it even harder to find what’s really true and right for you or decide just what to do.

Has the information explosion brought confusion instead of clarity to your questions about nutrition? If you’re interested in nutrition and are looking for answers to a health problem or are simply looking for a way to stay healthy, your search may have just ended.

Based on over 25 years of experience in custom designing metabolic typing programs suited to each person’s unique Metabolic Type®, Healthexcel is dedicated to the unfoldment of human potential and the development of optimal health through individualized metabolic lifestyle programs.

We believe that the body is designed to be healthy. That good health is everyone’s birthright. That the ability to experience radiant health is part of the genetic code built into every cell in your body. And, that what you need to do in order to reclaim your birthright is to understand what YOUR body needs as opposed to someone else’s, in order to function the way it was intended it to.

I love this work and enjoy helping people take control of their health through metabolic typing.   I help people heal from the inside out!

Namaste,

We all know that “Yoga” is the connection of mind, body and spirit. Therefore, it serves to know that ” you are what you eat!” In this world where we have an impoverished food supply, I always suggest that everyone take quality vitamin supplements based on the integrity of the supplement company not based on price. There is clearly a difference. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLBqGN6DAts

New research from the Lewin Group (www.lewin.com) has shown that spending pennies a day on a few key nutritional supplements can
dramatically reduce sickness and chronic disease– and greatly decrease healthcare expenditures as a result. How did they come to this conclusion? And why haven’t we heard about it? The Lewin Group looked only at rigorous scientific studies that documented the benefits of nutritional supplements. They used the Congressional Budget Office’s accounting methods to determine the economic impact of supplements. And they kept their analysis specifically to Medicare patients and women of childbearing age. Although nutritional therapies can help a broad range of illnesses, the group only looked at four supplements and disease combinations because of the rigor and validity of the scientific evidence available for these nutrients and diseases. While there are many other beneficial nutritional therapies that have been proven helpful in studies, the ones in this particular study are only those that are unquestionable, beyond scientific doubt, well-accepted, and proven to help. Yet they are also under-used and not generally recommended by healthcare providers. The study looked at: 1. Calcium and vitamin D and their effect on osteoporosis 2. Folic acid and its ability to prevent birth defects 3. Omega-3 fatty acids and their benefits for heart disease 4. Lutein and zeaxanthin and their benefit in preventing major age-related blindness, or macular degeneration Most of us hear the refrain from our physicians that nutritional supplements just produce expensive urine, that you do not know what you are getting, or that there is no scientific proof to support their claims. My advice to these doctors is to do their scientific homework. Let’s start by looking at calcium and vitamin D. First, I want to point out the vitamin D research referred to in The Lewin Group study is older research. Newer research, as I have discussed in my vitamin D blogs, suggests that higher doses of vitamin D3, such as 1,000 to 2,000 IU a day, have even greater benefit. Based on that older research, the study’s authors determined that providing Medicare-age citizens with 1,200 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D would result in reduced bone loss and fewer hip fractures. The researchers estimated these supplements could prevent more than 776,000 hospitalizations for hip fractures over five years and save $16.1 billion.Next let’s look at omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent cardiac arrhythmias, improve cell membrane function, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and have many other benefits. The Lewin Group found that giving the Medicare population about 1,800 mg of omega-3 fats a day would prevent 374,000 hospitalizations from heart disease over five years. The Medicare savings from reduced hospital and physician expenses would be $3.2 billion. This is pretty convincing data, but it doesn’t stop there. The Lewin Group also analyzed the economic effects of lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that are found in yellow and orange vegetables. I recommend taking them in combination with the hundreds of other carotenoids found in yellow and orange foods. Taken as supplements, these have been shown to treat macular degeneration, which is the loss of central vision, a major reason people over age 65 require nursing home care. The study found that taking 6 to 10 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin daily would help 190,000 individuals avoid dependent care and would result in $3.6 billion in savings over five years. Lastly the Lewin Group looked at the effects of taking folic acid. 44 million women of childbearing age are not taking folic acid. If only 11.3 million of them began taking just 400 mcg of folic acid on a daily basis before conception, we could prevent birth defects called neural tube defects in 600 babies and save $344,700,000 in lifetime healthcare costs for these children. Over 5 years, this would account for $1.4 billion in savings. Taken together, these four simple interventions, which cost pennies a day, could produce a combined savings of $24 billion over five years. This does not even include benefits to people younger than 65 or any of the other benefits of nutritional supplementation, such as improved immunity, cognitive function, and mood What’s Your Plan for a Healthier Life? Experience how to stay healthy, feel great and live an active life. Uncover which foods and supplements you need to thrive and how to rid yourself of the harmful toxins that make you sick and fat. Start applying these 5 groundbreaking principles today.
In this study, the researchers were extremely strict and only looked at nutrient interventions that met three criteria. 1. The supplement had to produce a measurable physiological effect.
2. This physiological effect had to create a change in health status. 3. The researchers only looked at health problems where a change in health status is associated with a decrease in healthcare
expenditures. The Lewin Group’s study is intriguing. The economic impact of investing a few pennies a day in nutritional supplements is compelling. But what’s downright frightening is that studies
by the US Department of Health and Human Services prove that the typical American diet does not always provide a sufficient level of vitamins and minerals — meaning we are at greater risk for conditions like those outlined above. Because of our consumption of low-nutrient, high-calorie foods that are highly processed, hybridized, genetically modified, shipped long distances, and grown in nutrient-depleted soils, many of us are nutritionally depleted. In fact, a whopping 92 percent of us are deficient in one or more nutrients at the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) level, which is the minimum amount necessary to prevent deficiency diseases like rickets or scurvy –diseases that are the result of not getting enough vitamins and minerals. The RDA standards do not necessarily outline the amount needed for optimal health. What’s more, our government’s nutrient guidelines ignore the fact that many Americans, because of genetic variations and unique needs, may need higher doses of vitamins and minerals than the RDA. Vitamin deficiency does not cause acute diseases such as scurvy or rickets, but they do cause what have been called “long-latency deficiency diseases.” These include conditions like blindness, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, and more. What all this adds up to is clear. Nutritional supplements do not just make expensive urine.
Based on mounting evidence and confirmed by the Journal of the American Medical Association (1) and The New England Journal of Medicine (2), I strongly believe that we should all be taking
certain basic supplements. Here are the supplements I recommend for everyone: 1. A high-quality multivitamin and mineral. The multivitamin should contain mixed carotenoids, which include lutein and zeaxanthin as part of their mix, as well as at least 400 mcg of folate and a mixed B-complex vitamin. 2. Calcium-magnesium with at least 600 mg ofcalcium and 400 mg of magnesium. The calcium should be calcium citrate or chelated versions of minerals. Do not use calcium carbonate or magnesium oxide, which are cheap minerals that are poorly absorbed. 3. Vitamin D3, 1,000 to 2,000 IU a day (people who are deficient in vitamin D will need more). 4. Omega-3 fatty acids that contain the fats EPA and DHA, 1,000 to 2,000 mg a day. The cost is low, the benefit is high, and the
risk is non-existent for these nutritional supplements. Not only will you feel better, have better immune function, and improve your energy and brain function, but you will also prevent many problems down the road. So, eat a healthy diet — and take your nutritional supplements every day.

Take a complimentary health assessment
http://www.martiangel.usana.com
to see what you should be taking for your personal health!
***********************************************

What is the big mystery of the male and female sides of the body? Why do we need to be aware of this?   The body is energetically divided into two parts. The right and the left, male and female dominated sides.  This is not a new concept, it has an origin in eastern philosophies like Buddhism, Yoga, and you can even find ancient writings that the Mayan civilization was aware of the power of maintaining balance between these two opposite energies.

The Buddha taught it quite clearly. Each human being has a right and left hemisphere in the brain, which we classify as male and female, the right being female, left being male. The left or male side is in charge of the right side of the body and the right brain or female side is in charge of the left side of the body.

The Maya placed themselves and their environment into categories that allowed them to order and manipulate their world. They frequently categorized using the basic complementary pairing of male/female, and right/left.

In yoga, male energy (the sun), is referred to as Shiva, and is the form of the universe. Male energy is the domain of the right side of the body.  Whereas female energy (the moon), is referred to as Shakti, and is the force of the universe. The female energy is the domain of the left side of the body.

The significant importance is that as one person we need to be in constant balance to be able to achieve the best of our world, mental physical and emotional. Both sides, male and female have to attain a harmonious whole.

The male side is usually connected to our rationality, logic, linear thinking, and understanding. The female side is connected to feelings, nurturing, caring, compassion, love, and all the emotional qualities.  Each of us has sides, the emotional and the mental capacity. Very few people develop both equally, therefore their cart often topples. Emotionalism is just as much a danger as thinking without being in touch with one’s feelings. That too can go very much astray.

A person who goes too far on the side of rational thinking has to learn to balance with feelings, the female side. Anyone who thinks to the extent where the experience of feelings is hardly known has to practice much mindfulness of feelings. On the other hand, the female side is often emotionalism. This means we are carried away by our emotions and consequently our thinking is impaired. The quality of logical thinking, of delving into a thought process and being able to analyze, is not possible when the emotions are at the forefront.

During yoga practice, the goal is to observe and understand the dance between Shiva and Shakti. In this dance Shiva and Shakti flow in balance with each other are bringing balance to the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the yogi.

When we experience blockages, or imbalances within our male/female essence or energy the results can be disastrous and harmful to our physical body as well as our mental body.

For example there is a belief that manic depression is common and occurs when the right and left energies are uncontrolled or out of balance.   When a person is stuck on the right, the male manic side, then the body becomes wiry and thin and heart attacks become prevalent. When stuck on the left, the female depressive side the person becomes lethargic and fat and easily depressed. The physical base of these energies is the perineum in the male and the vulva in the female. Their other control point is the left and right nostrils. Blocked nostrils and mucus can show a blockage of these energies.

There can also be outward signs of imbalances, notice to see if you are having issues with
males or females in your life and your body will begin to manifest these imbalances in the form of maladies.  Issues with males may result in simple things like stubbing your toe on the right foot, hurting your right elbow.  The same goes with the opposite side of the body.  Issues with females manifest in the left side of your body.

The balancing of male and female energy needs to be seen as connecting heart with mind.  Energy and concentration have to balance.  In yoga the practice is to begin to allow the energy to realign itself with the body.  Meditation is one of the most effective tools that can be used to connect and balance the male/female energies.   Yoga is used to prepare the body for meditation thus increasing the ability to have these energies find their space and begin to realign, to balance, to find harmony.  Chakra balancing is an effective way in which to align those energies.  Other very effective tools for connecting and balancing are Reiki, Watsu and pranayama work.

It is interesting that this knowledge that has been with us through many centuries and was common place then to detect bodily, mental and spacial ills should be so foreign and mysterious to us in this so called “advanced” civilization.   I believe that more and more as we enter the age of “inspirato”1  we will begin to learn how to listen and connect with our own energy.  Only then will we begin to feel the balance and healing that comes from this.

1. Inspirato- latin for inspiration. We will be moving from the age of information to the age of  a new world where compassion and respect for ourselves, the universe and others will prevail.

Did you know that you could lose weight by changing your thoughts and using follow through? It is right after the holidays and you are being bombarded by “lose weight” commercials- They either want you to buy some costly pills, join a gym or buys some processed food that they will ship to your home.  These are all well and good but if they had lasting effects they would not be around anymore.  Sad but true. To lose weight you  need to  work with the whole person from the inside out.  You must address the mental, spiritual and physical aspects of losing weight.  You must start with your thoughts.  Your thoughts come first, the action follows.  If you always think ” I don’t know why I am working out, I can’t lose weight anyway.  Well guess what? This then becomes a self fulling prophecy, or as they say in the “Secret”- “your wish is my command”.   How can you lose weight, if you truly think you can’t?   You must begin to change your though process, be grateful for being healthy enough to be able to begin a weight loss regime.   Instead of thinking ” I can’t lose weight.” replace that thought with ” I am getting closer to my ideal weight and my body responds beautifully to exercise.  Imagine what you could do with those thoughts? Begin this year differently, begin my addressing your negative thoughts and replacing them with positive affirmations of what you truly want to accomplish.  Then just sit back relax and watch it happen!!

Namaste,