Monday, August 31, 2009

Yoga kids

Susan Kramer's website is so cute!!
Kids are definitely good with yoga though. I've been having the kids do Wai Lana Little Yogi DVDs for ages now and they still love it.

* Presented are 15 poses that stretch and strengthen while promoting balance, coordination, the ability to concentrate and an increase in vitality through energetic practice.

* The axial movements (moves with the body in place) include forward bending, backward bending, twisting and sitting erect, all of which should be done gently without straining.

* Practiced in order, each one leads smoothly into the next.

* All poses and meditations can be done on carpet. Alternately, practice outdoors on a grassy spot on a blanket or mat. It is best to exercise before, rather than right after eating.

* Breathe in to begin the pose, and breathe out to finish the pose. In between, breathe evenly.

* Children should remain quiet during practice to maintain personal concentration.

Note:
Yoga practices are non-competitive.
Each person begins at their current level of fitness and ability,
and progresses at their own rate.
This makes these gentle yoga poses and exercises,
with adaptations as needed,
appropriate for those challenged.

I guess it's just like how I still love doing Wai Lana hello fitness after over 3 years of doing it.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Practicing yoga outdoors

The environment in which we do our yoga is very important. The science of yoga teaches that what we see, hear, smell, and feel all have an effect on the body, mind, and soul. It is counterproductive to practice yoga asanas in an environment where the air is dead, stuffy, smelly, or low in oxygen or where there's distracting noise or chatter.

That’s why Wai Lana yoga mats loves to practice outside, especially by the ocean. It is an atmosphere that is noncompetitive and spiritually inspiring.

Wai Lana even practices outdoors when it’s cold. “I like to practice outside in the fresh air. I just layer my clothes. I wear tights under my sweatpants when it's really cold, and a turtleneck under a sweater with a light jacket I can take off once I get warmed up. And that doesn't usually take very long! Out in the fresh air, the asanas and breathing techniques quickly oxygenate and warm my entire body,” says Wai Lana.

There's another element at work outside, too—negative ions. These negatively charged particles in the air are found in great numbers in forests and around oceans, rivers, or streams. Negative ions make you feel alert and invigorated and reduce anxiety and depression. According to researchers, this is because they increase our capacity to absorb and utilize oxygen so that it reaches our cells and tissues more quickly. That's a remarkably similar effect to that of yoga asanas, so why not combine the two for a double dose of feel-good energy!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Getting your Isoflavones in foods

So.. need some recipes with Isofalvones? Wai Lana Yoga has a big bunch of really delicious ones.
Isoflavones in foods
Isoflavones are a group of molecules that are similar in chemical structure. Isoflavones are produced only by plants in the Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae) family, frequently called the legume or bean family. Foods that contain high amounts of isoflavones include soy, peanuts, chick peas, alfalfa, fava beans, and kudzu. When consumed by humans, isoflavones may behave like estrogen in the body.
Estrogen is a hormone that is present in males and females, but women produce much more of it. In women, estrogen is responsible for many of the physical changes that occur when girls begin puberty. It also has many effects related to the monthly menstrual cycle in women as well as in pregnancy. In men, one type of estrogen is important in the development of sperm. Estrogen is present in all people to help maintain normal brain function, to help bones grow, and to contribute to the development of new nerve cells in the brain. The amount of estrogen in the body determines how well this hormone is able to perform its bodily functions.
Australians first began to investigate that isoflavones may have properties similar to estrogen when they noticed high levels of infertility among sheep who ate large amounts of clover.
Consuming isoflavones as food or as a supplement may behave as if the amount of estrogen in the body is increased. This is because isoflavones may behave in a way that is very similar to estrogen in the body. Some cancers and other health problems, such as bone loss, may be prevented by consuming a diet that is rich in isoflavone-containing foods.
However, some experts believe that isoflavones may actually behave as an anti-estrogen. This means that the isoflavones may impair the ability of estrogen to perform its roles in the body. In this case, consuming larger amounts of isoflavones may actually increase the chance of developing some diseases. Isoflavones are sometimes eaten for breast cancer prevention and as a cancer treatment.
Ultimately, it is unclear if isoflavones have estrogenic or anti-estrogenic properties in the body. Though some experts have concluded that isoflavones may reduce a person's likelihood of developing some health problems, this idea is based on the prevalence of these diseases in cultures where these chemicals are a regular part of the foods in the diet. However, there is not agreement among how much isoflavones may help or harm a patient, because not enough well designed studies in humans have been conducted.
The potential health risks and benefits of consuming isoflavones is currently under investigation. The isoflavones daidzein, genistein, and glycitein have been the subject of the most research, and are included on the table below.
Daidzein is more abundant than glycitein, but less abundant than genistein. Daidzein has demonstrated estrogenic properties, but may also be useful in preventing cancer, some forms of heart disease, and osteoporosis. Daidzein has weaker estrogenic properties than glycitein and genistein.
Glycitein constitutes up to about five to 10 percent of the total isoflavones in most foods. Glycitein has been shown to have estrogenic properties, and may also have antioxidant properties as well. Some researchers believe that glycitein may be useful in treating cancer, some heart diseases, and osteoporosis. Though glycitein is not usually the most abundant isoflavone, it has been demonstrated to have estrogenic properties up to three times greater than genistein and up to twelve times greater than daidzein. Scientists are not sure exactly how glycitein interacts with the body to produce its demonstrated effects.
Genistein is the most abundant isoflavone in legumes. Similar to daidzein and glycitein, it has been shown to have estrogenic and antioxidant properties. Genistein may also behave as an anti-estrogenic, and decrease the effects of estrogen naturally produced by the body. Genistein may have properties that may make it useful for treating cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Genistein has estrogenic properties that are one third as powerful as glycitein, but four times more powerful than daidzein. Scientists have proposed a number of ways that genistein may behave in the body, but the details are not known at this time.
AMOUNTS OF ISOFLAVONES IN FOODS
The following table is a summary of information on the amounts of isoflavones in foods. This database was created through a joint effort between the University of Iowa and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The column on the left is a description of the food. Meatless foods are those that are vegetarian but manufactured to imitate the feel and taste of actual meat products. For instance, "Bacon, meatless" contains no pork, and is imitation bacon made entirely from vegetarian sources.
The other columns of the table list the milligrams of isoflavones that may be found in 100 grams of food. The three most abundant types of isoflavones, Daidzen, Genistein, and Glycitein, are included. The "total isoflavones" includes a count of all of the isoflavones, often ones other than the three most abundant, in the food.
After evaluating many samples of food, the researchers averaged the values for each of the four isoflavone categories for each food. The scientific word for this process for finding the average is called "mean."
Governmental agencies have not agreed on the amount of soy a person should consume every day. However, patients should always talk to their doctor before beginning a new diet.
ISOFLAVONES IN FOODS
SYNONYMS
Daidzein, fabaceae, flavones, flavonoids, genistein, glycitein, kudzu, legumes, leguminosae, phytoestrogens, selective estrogen receptor modulators, SERMs, soy, soy isoflavones, soybeans, tempeh, tofu.


On a side note, I just bought a Wailana Yoga Mat Bag. It's beautiful! It's one of her green products.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Yoga and me

I've been doing yoga for quite a while now. Some of my favorite tapes are Wai Lana's toning series. Why? Because they're simple, easy, and yet challenging still.

I've toned up a bit since I've started practicing yoga with her. I also love Wailana Yoga Mats. There are so many designs now and I love the green yoga mats she's come up with.

Currently I've been learning some other exercises as well, such as rowing, bowling, and walking. I hope to slowly increase my strength and start jogging. I'd say two more weeks or so and I'll be out going jogging. Health is such a nice thing to have. :)

Toning your body

So today is the first time I let my mother try out Wai Lana Yoga's Toning workout with me. She's been practicing a bit of yoga with me now that she's been around. I was pleasantly surprised at how much she loved it. She said, "My I haven't been challenged like this in so long." It's hard to think of her as the gymnast that she was as a young girl now! The funny (or sad) thing is that her back, at her age, is still more flexible than mine.

After these few days of her trying out yoga, she's asked me to get her a Wai Lana Yoga Mat. How could I refuse such a healthy request, right?

In the meantime, I have all these beautiful summer flowers just like these ones growing so wonderfully in my garden:

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Yoga for kids

Kids and yoga is a great mix. Actually, anyone and yoga is a surely compatible mix.

Wai Lana yoga's little yogis is so beneficial in so many ways.

Wai Lana's yoga DVD program has something for all age yoga kids, starting with her "Little Yogis" yoga DVD. Parents will love this safe, fun and challenging yoga DVD. Her yoga DVD, "Little Yogis" is full of healthful activities that are good for all the yoga kids in your life. Yoga kids will get such a kick out of doing yoga with Wai Lana. She is and inspiration to yoga kids everywhere. Wai Lana makes yoga into a fun game where yoga kids are entertained and delighted. The yoga DVD "Little Yogis" will teach your yoga kids how to improve their balance and coordination. They won't even know that this playful and exciting yoga DVD is just what the doctor ordered.

A wonderful yoga DVD to watch would be Wai Lana's "Daydream". This yoga DVD is based on an ancient yoga technique known as Yoga Nidra. Her yoga DVD is good for naptime.


Do also try some yoga to stay healthy!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Release that tension headache

I used to suffer from head-splitting headaches. Since I started practicing Wai Lana Yoga regularly, my headaches have disappeared. Apparently one big cause of headaches is tension. Tension from the neck and shoulders caused by poor posture and bad sitting posture can cause this tension.

When you do yoga, the muscle groups in the shoulders and neck are relieved and relaxed. And that helps you get rid of the headache! It's even better when you do Wai Lana Yoga sound meditation because it's just so good for relieving stress! It's scientifically proven to help calm your mind and nervous system too.

On a side note, here's a helpful article on what you should know about viruses.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Wonder basil

I've been reading about different herbs and the like and how good they are for us. One of the herbs was basil. I am already a huge fan of basil, but this makes it even better.

Benefits of Basil

Basil is beneficial in any form for well being of body. You can opt for having basil leaves on daily basis; it helps to strengthen your immune system.

You can also add basil in your daily diet plan. You can also add basil as a form of natural remedy to cure health problems.

Here are some benefits of basil you can keep in mind:

Basil is very effective for curing any type of headache. For curing your headache, you can opt for juice of basil leaves on daily basis. You can also make a paste of few basil leaves. When you have severe headache, you can directly apply this paste. You can also mix basil leave paste along with sandalwood. It effectively helps to reduce the pain caused by headache.

Basil is very effective in curing various types of skin problems. This can include different types of allergies and skin infection. Basil can also cure skin infections like ringworm. You can make a paste of few basil leaves along with some neem water.

Daily application of this paste can help to provide respite from the condition of skin infection. It can cure your skin allergy in a week’s time. Many people also opt for neem powder along with basil leaves.

Having basil on daily basis can also help to improve your breathing pattern. People suffering from breathing difficulties can opt for chewing of basil leaves on regular basis. It helps to increase the oxygen level of your body. Even people suffering from asthma can opt for having basil juice or leaves on daily basis.

Basil juice is effective in curing common cold in an effective manner. You can opt for having basil juice along with some honey for curing the condition of cold. You can opt for some basil leaves along with warm water and have it twice in a day. You can mix some ginger juice along with basil juice.

Basil can also be opted in the form of herbal tea. You can have herbal basil tea on daily basis. It helps to prevent against various types of diseases.

These are some of the main health benefits of basil.


Try some of Wai Lana's wonderful fresh fruit juices. Some of them have basil thrown in there and they are simply wonderful.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Beat depression with yoga

Depression is all too common in the world today. I always knew that Wai Lana Yoga helped me get through depression. Today I saw an article on how yoga has helped other people beat depression.

Here are some excerpts:

Take a holistic approach to beating depression

Authors urge holistic approach combining yoga and meditation

Kimberly Hayes Taylor / Detroit News Health Writer

Depression was always a part of Elle Garfield's life.

Her depressed moods came and went like waves through her 20s, enduring tough times such as losing both parents between ages 19 and 22. But soon after the birth of her third child in her early 30s, depression came to stay. She felt so bad, she checked herself into a hospital for a few days.

"I was crying a lot and feeling hopeless," Garfield says. "I had very low energy. I had trouble sleeping, or I would sleep all the time. My appetite left, and I didn't have a desire to eat. I was losing weight and isolating more. Every area of my life was affected by it."





It makes me happy to know that more people are becoming aware of the fact that yoga really helps depression. It really is a great way to get out of that very sad life. Depression is never a very nice thing to be experiencing. I very much have loved this: Wai Lana Yoga Dance and give much credit to her and to all that fun - to helping me out of depression.

Love to all

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Thinking of Thanksgiving

With time running right out the window, I've gotten thinking about Thanksgiving presents already. I plan to get a bunch of Wai Lana Yoga Products to give my family and friends. One of the things I'd like to get is this Yoga starter's kit:
Of course, I wouldn't really be so keep about doing this if I didn't have all those Wai Lana Coupons I got not too long ago.

Aren't these thanksgiving cookies just adorable?

That's all for today. If you're feeling a bit stressed, just relax and enjoy. Sing and dance along with Wai Lana's Yoga dancing:

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Breastfeeding

A good friend of mine is giving birth soon, and she is still not convinced about breastfeeding. She wanted me to put together info about it for her, and so here it is.

For one, from Wailana:
If you're having a baby, nature has arranged the perfect food for your child—breast milk. I breastfed my three strong and healthy children, much to the dismay of my family and friends. Even my mother, who breastfed me, was influenced by the times to believe that breastfeeding was old-fashioned. But I'm glad I followed my heart. Yoga has woken me up to nature's wisdom and the many benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child, which I'd like to share with you.

First, here are some of the benefits for your baby:

• Breast milk protects baby from disease. Colostrum, the first substance to come from the breast, is rich in infection-fighting antibodies. It also contains living immune cells. The milk itself provides effective immunity against a number of infectious diseases, including mumps, diphtheria, salmonella, pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases. It also decreases the incidence of ear infections, diarrhea, and chronic diseases like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

• Breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs during its first months, including iron and vitamins C and E.

• Mother's milk is easy for baby to digest and utilize. On the other hand, about 50% of cow's milk passes through the body unused, creating extra work for the child's immature excretory system.

• Breast milk does not cause allergic reactions as cow's milk and infant formulas can. It is believed that early exposure to allergens can lead to more severe allergies later in life. This is especially important if you or your spouse have allergies, as your child can inherit this tendency.

• Breastfed babies have an almost pure culture of Lactobacillus in their intestinal tracts. These beneficial bacteria quickly multiply, helping to break down food, make vitamin K, and dispose of harmful bacteria. The breastfed baby's stools are small and sweet-smelling, sometimes occurring only every few days. On the other hand, bottle-fed babies have mostly putrefactive bacteria such as E. coli in their intestinal tracts. As such, their stools are usually large and have a stronger smell. These infants are more likely to come down with gastrointestinal diseases.

Now, some of the benefits for you:

• Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to get breast cancer. Nursing your child also protects against osteoporosis and ovarian cancer later in life.

• Breastfeeding makes it easier to lose the weight gained during pregnancy because milk production burns calories.

• In the first days after birth, baby's sucking at the breast causes the uterus to contract, which protects mothers from hemorrhaging and returns the uterus to its pre-pregnancy shape more quickly.

• Breastfeeding releases a natural tranquilizing hormone, prolactin, that helps keep you relaxed and calm—your baby will like that.

And last (but certainly not least) for both of you:

• Breastfeeding provides an important bond between mother and child that provides great emotional satisfaction for both. This satisfaction cannot be measured in scientific terms. It simply offers a close, intimate, peaceful, and relaxed time with the baby. It is a model of love—of one giving generously of oneself with no expectation of something in return.


If you're not convinced, Breast Feeding for New Mom's has great stuff, as does Breastfeeding . Enjoy :)

Ps. Has anyone gone to Wailana coffee house? My classmate's inviting me for a lunch there.

Wai Lana on Twitter

I'm delighted to see Wai Lana on Twitter!

She's obviously just starting out, but it's great news!

Here are some of her tweets:

Wai Lana Yoga: Our eyes are one of our most valuable possessions, yet we often abuse them. Gaze at a distance and rest to rest your eyes every now and then18 minutes ago from web


Your consciousness affects your yoga practice http://tinyurl.com/mahbgy


On another note, I just bought myself some exercise bands and a nice pair of asics for walking.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Tip top health tips

I've still got my raves from the health group. So, for tip top health tips today, I'd say, don't starve yourself, exercise, eat healthy, and sleep well. If you're out of ideas, Wai Lana has got some fantastic vegetarian recipes which are fantastic. In fact, she just posted one of her soup recipes on her blog, Wai Lana Yoga on Wordpress. Teriyaki tofu- I'm going to try this tonight. I'm a huge fan of teriyaki, so I'm sure I'll love this soup.

In the meantime, my second health tip would be, sleep well. But to sleep well, you've got to exercise well to. Drink fresh milk, eat nuts, and do yoga. Wai Lana just had a nice blog entry about the importance of sleep and yoga. I sure enjoyed reading it, and sleeping that night!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Health Groups

I recently joined a health group. There are about 40 other adults in the group. We had a little meeting tonight and I let them try out some of the blueberry yogurt I've been making. Everyone loved it. It started out a conversation about food, and the relationship between food and health. There were a few people who started to get rather edgy because some other people mentioned that being a vegetarian is so much healthier. Of course, most of us in the group agree, as we've tried it out and all. The two groups- those who agreed vegetarianism is healthier- and those who think it's not necessary to go vegetarian- have a deal now. We're going to have a 3 month cook fest. The only rule is: bias should be left at the door whenever we meet.

I'm planning to do cook a bunch of meals from Wai Lana Yoga's website. I think those recipes that use seitan will be a hit. Her desserts are also wonderful. I think Wai Lana has some of the best eggless cakes I've ever had. Come to think of it, had I not tried out the vegetarian recipes of Wai Lana and several other great recipes, I don't think I would've been convinced that vegetarianism is the way to go.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Yo-yo yogurt!

I've been on this yogurt craze for the past few weeks. In fact, this is what I had for breakfast:


I also made some blueberry yogurt drinks:


And am contemplating on making blueberry yogurt pecan ice cream:


Have I mentioned how thrilled I am that Wailana just posted her first "Wailana's Juice of the week" on her wordpress blog? I want to try her "Sweet Relaxation" with some yogurt in it. I'm sure it would be absolutely perfect!