Breast cancer

I know two people who've had breast cancer. The other one has moved on, and the other is recovering. Going Wai lana green

You cannot control some things that put you at risk for breast cancer, such as your age and being female. But you can make personal choices that lower your risk of breast cancer. If you are at high risk for getting breast cancer, your doctor may also offer you certain medical treatments that can help prevent breast cancer.

Female hormones

Hormones change the way cells within the breast grow and divide. The years when you have a menstrual cycle are your high-estrogen years. Experts think that the longer you have higher estrogen, the more risk you have for breast cancer.4 This includes taking hormones after menopause.1, 26

* Avoid long-term, high-dose hormones after menopause. If you use hormone therapy for menopause symptoms, use a low dose for as short a time as possible. This includes estrogen-progestin and estrogen-testosterone.1, 3 Using estrogen by itself may slightly raise breast cancer risk.1
* Breast-feed. Breast-feeding may lower your breast cancer risk. The benefit appears to be greatest in women who breast-fed for longer than 12 months or who breast-fed several children.27
* Strive for a healthy weight. Extra fat cells make extra estrogen, which raises your breast cancer risk.4 Getting regular exercise and watching what you eat can help.

Having a full-term pregnancy before age 30 also lowers your breast cancer risk.10

Healthy food and exercise

* Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. A low-fat diet with limited red meat may lower your breast cancer risk.28, 29, 30
* Be active. Try to do at least 2½ hours a week of moderate exercise. One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week.5, 31 Staying active may lower your breast cancer risk.32
* Drink no more than one alcoholic drink a day.4 Using alcohol leads to extra estrogen in the body, which raises your breast cancer risk.10

"Anti-estrogen" medicine

If you are at high risk for breast cancer, talk to your doctor about taking medicine that helps prevent it. This is sometimes called hormone therapy for breast cancer. It blocks the effects of hormones on breast cancer cells.

* Tamoxifen is a medicine that blocks the effect of estrogen on breast cancer cells and normal breast cells. Among high-risk women, tamoxifen lowers their risk of breast cancer about the same as raloxifene does.33 But this medicine may also increase other risks, such as for endometrial cancer, stroke, and blood clots in veins and in the lungs.
* Raloxifene is widely used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. It works like estrogen on bone, but it works like an "anti-estrogen" on breast tissue.34 Among high-risk women, raloxifene lowers their breast cancer risk about the same as tamoxifen does. Compared to tamoxifen, raloxifene's endometrial cancer risk is lower.33

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved raloxifene for use in reducing the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis. The FDA has also approved raloxifene for use in postmenopausal women at high risk for breast cancer.
If you are at high risk for breast cancer

If you are concerned that you may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, talk with your doctor about whether you should take tamoxifen or raloxifene to prevent breast cancer. It is important to consider both their benefits and risks.

If you have a strong family history of early breast cancer or breast and ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor about BRCA testing. For more information, see:

Click here to view a Decision Point. Should I have a gene test for breast cancer?
Click here to view a Decision Point. What should I do if I'm at high risk for breast cancer?

Surgery to remove the breasts. Some women with a strong family history of breast cancer decide to have surgery to remove their breasts. This called a preventive or prophylactic mastectomy. It reduces the risk of developing breast cancer by approximately 90% in women who have a strong family history of breast cancer. A cancer risk assessment, genetic test, and psychological counseling are recommended for women who may be considering this treatment option.35

Surgery to remove the ovaries. Genetic mutations (called BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene changes) raise the risk of both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Hormones made by the ovaries increase the risk of breast cancer. Removal of the ovaries (prophylactic oophorectomy) reduces the risk of breast or ovarian cancer in women with a genetic mutation. Such a decision is best made after a cancer risk assessment, genetic test, and counseling.36

Do some yoga exercises to help balance the hormones too. It's a great feeling way to prevent cancer or make you feel better if you already have cancer

Cooking & more

Every parent knows that cooking for kids can be a real challenge. One thing I'm glad about is that my kids are actually quite fond of different types of food and are easy to feed. They particularly love the thick soups I've been trying out from Wai Lana's soup book.

I've been reading a bit about cooking:

Tsukemono: The Art of Japanese Pickles

One of my favorite, often-overlooked parts of Japanese cuisine is the colorful pickles that add a punch of flavor and textural interest to nearly every meal--breakfast included. Called tsukemono (soo-keh-MOH-noh), they come in a variety of colors and flavors, but are often very salty* or sweet-and-tart.

Tsukemono plays an important role in Japanese cuisine: adding a big kick of flavor (with no fat and few calories) to otherwise mild-tasting food. Traditional Japanese cooking focuses on fresh, seasonal ingredients that are typically seasoned minimally to let each food's pure flavors shine through. This makes for mild and subtle dishes that shine with a Zen-like simplicity. Aside from the pungent kick of wasabi, which is typically eaten only with sushi, Japanese cooking does not employ the zing and spice of other cuisines, such as Korean. But that's where the under-appreciated pickle comes in.

Tsukemono refers to a broad category of pickles, many of which can be bought at an Asian market or made at home. Serve them in small portions (like those above) on the side of any meal, and try the parings I've suggested below. These are a few that I regularly buy. You can find them in the refrigerated section of most Asian markets that carry Japanese foods. In the picture, clockwise from top left:

1. Beni shoga (aka pickled ginger): This bright-red pickled ginger root is quite different from gari, the sweet, pale-pink slices of pickled ginger that accompany sushi. Colored with red perilla leaves (called shiso), beni shoga has a strong, salty, almost spicy flavor that adds a wonderful kick of flavor to dishes such as beef noodle bowls, stir fries, and yakisoba (stir-fried noodles). Ginger is widely purported to help quell nausea, so when I'm feeling under the weather, I often eat this type with ochazuke (o-CHA-zu-kay), which is simply green tea poured over rice (kind of like milk on cereal). Look for it in plastic tubs about the size of a tuna can.

2.Takuan (pickled daikon): Though the version above is dyed yellow, this pickle sometims looks paper-white or beige. Made from daikon, a mild white radish that can grow to the size of your forearm, it has many uses besides pickles: grated in dipping sauces, shredded into a mound of ribbons that go well with sashimi, and boiled in soups, to name a few. Takuan has a pleasant crunch and mild brininess, and it is eaten at the end of a meal, as it is believed to aid in digestion. You can buy it sliced, or as a whole radish immersed in a bag of brine.

3. Rakkyo (RAH-kyoh; aka pickled shallot): Similar in appearance to a cocktail onion, these crisp, mild, sweet-and-sour shallots, pickled in a light seasoned vinegar, are like candy to me. Often served with grilled fish or meats, they provide a crisp, bright note that's palate-cleansing between savory bites. Rakkyo is often labeled "pickled scallions" and sold in little plastic bags or small glass jars.

4. Umeboshi (ooh-meh-BOH-she; pickled Japanese plum): This is the quintessential Japanese pickle. One of my favorites, umeboshi is colored red with shiso and has a startling tartness that almost makes your eyes water (in a good way). It's an acquired taste for some. They are sometimes pale pink, and sometimes bright red, and they range from cranberry-sized, crunchy fruits to olive-sized fruits with a squishier texture. They are served with many meals, including breakfast, and are often placed in the center of onigiri (seasoned rice balls). Look for them in small plastic containers.

Make your own: I have never tried this, but from what I understand, some types of tsukemono are relatively quick and easy to make (while others aren't worth the effort). The quick-and-easy variety have a limited shelf life, while the ones that require more time to ripen tend to last a bit longer in the fridge. Check out Just Hungry's tsukemono post for more detailed descriptions, and make sure to see her quick-tsukemono pickle recipes. (I know I keep linking to this blog, but it's the best resource I've found on authentic Japanese food. If you know of others, please share!)

Don't you just love how Japanese food looks?

On a side note, I let my sister try out Wai Lana's Ujjayi Pranayam, I read that it's good for people with heart problems. She said she's never felt so relaxed in her life. :)

The 11 Kinds of Insomnia

I was reading a little about how there are 11 different types of insomnia! That fact in itself might keep you awake all night.

The 11 Kinds of Insomnia
Insomnia may be caused by a drug, a medical condition, stress, or an unknown factor.
(COLIN ANDERSON/BRAND X/CORBIS/HEALTH)
You don't have to lie awake for hours past your bedtime to have insomnia. The condition manifests itself in several ways: trouble falling asleep (known as sleep-onset insomnia), staying asleep (sleep-maintaining insomnia), or waking up too early (early morning awakening).

Sleep specialists may also describe a sleep problem based on its underlying cause, such as a medical condition or a psychological issue. To do this they use the 11 classifications of insomnia below, developed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Insomnia
General insomnia is a classification of sleep disorders in which a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. These disorders may also be defined by an overall poor quality of sleep.

Adjustment insomnia
This disorder, also called acute insomnia or short-term insomnia, disturbs your sleep and usually stems from stress. The sleep problem ends when the source of stress is gone or when you adapt to the stress. The stress does not always come from a negative experience. Something positive can make you too excited to sleep well.

Behavioral insomnia of childhood
This disorder occurs when children don't go to bed on time unless a parent or guardian enforces a bedtime. If the children are made to go to bed at a specified time, then they tend to fall asleep at a normal hour. If they are not given strict bedtimes, then they may linger awake for hours at night.

I used to have insomnia, but just do yoga. Wai Lana yoga has helped me say goodbye to insomnia. I mean just try out some of her yoga meditation and tell me if you won't feel rested and sleepy.

Natural beauty secrets

My sister and I had a fun time trying these today:

The Secret to All-Natural Beauty Is in Your Kitchen

Consider this food for thought: Great skin is as much about what you put in your body as what you put on it. But what if the same food you put in your body for healthy hair and skin could do the same good on your outside too? Celebrity makeup artist Shalini Vadhera says if you want to get gorgeous, hit the fridge. Inspired by her global travels, the founder of Global Goddess Beauty shares her top 4 all-natural beauty secrets from women around the globe.

Go bananas for healthy hair
If your hair is starting to show signs of damage from heat styling or color treatments, try this Hawaiian secret for super-shiny tresses: Use a fork to mash one banana in a bowl, then slather the mixture from root to tip. Leave the treatment on for 15 minutes, then wash with shampoo. Bananas help improve the health and natural elasticity of your hair thanks to their high levels of potassium.

Smooth skin with this sweetener
Take a cue from fresh-faced Polish women, who apply honey on their faces as an intensive moisturizer. Just a thin layer does the trick. The sweet golden goo’s firming and moisture-retaining properties make it a popular anti-aging ingredient, too. An added bonus? It helps protect the skin from the damage of UV rays.

Warm a small pot of honey in a double boiler over low heat. After testing a small dab on the inside of your elbow for a safe temperature, apply the honey generously over your entire face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm, then cool water.

Go with garlic for stronger nails
Add chopped garlic to a bottle of clear nail polish. Let it sit for 7 to 10 days, then paint the mixture onto your nails. It’s a little secret Dominican women use to strengthen their nails—and it makes them feel stronger than acrylic tips!

Dry, dull skin is the pits
Skip expensive body scrubs or spa treatments in favor of a natural, budget-friendly body treatment. Next time you snack on Greek olives or whip up a tapenade, hold on to the pits—they are a great natural remedy for dry skin. Grind them up in a food processor and use them as a body scrub to remove dry, dead skin cells.

Good to have the eco yoga tote kits from Wai Lana come in the mail today. The kids are excited. I'm off to do some yoga now. Wailana Yoga's showing!

My favorites..

I have some pictures of my Wai Lana favorite juices and some of Wai Lana's yogi bars:

Happy Yoga Month!

September has always been one of my favorite months. Minus the starting of flu season- I just love seeing all the beautiful colors coming in... and now that it's been declared national yoga month, all the more I love it!

Wai lana is offering free shipping for all CDs, Dvds, and yoga mats until the 30th. Great stuff!

This morning I went to the park to join about 300 other yoga practitioners. It was fun and a nice way to meet other like-minded people. We plan to do it at least once a month now!

I ordered another bunch of Wai Lana yoga dvds for gifts and for myself. :)

Happy yoga practice everyone!

Natural cough and flu cures

With all the sick people around here these days, I've been making everyone in the house take extra loads of Wai Lana's immune system boosters. I've also been reading more about natural flu and cold remedies:

Top 7 Natural Cold Remedies: Do They Work?
herbal-remedies-cold
Americans spent $1.5 billion on cold and flu supplements and other "immunity boosters" in 2007.
(ISTOCKPHOTO)
Bob Martin says he hasn't caught a cold in years, not since he discovered echinacea and goldenseal. For the past decade, the 60-year-old teacher from Placitas, N.M., has taken the herbal supplements in megadoses three times a day at the first sign of a sniffle. Now he only gets sick if he doesn't dose himself in time, he says.

"It's been years since I've had a cold," says Martin. "I take the herbs, climb under the blanket, and I'm fine the next day. They nip it in the bud."

Martin is not alone in his faith in herbal remedies, which he also takes for toothaches, earaches, and other ailments. According to the Nutrition Business Journal, Americans spent $1.5 billion on cold and flu supplements and other "immunity boosters" in 2007, and the market is growing at twice the rate as that of the standard, over-the-counter, cough-and-cold-remedy market.

But do these alternative treatments actually work?

Martin and plenty of other consumers answer a resounding "yes," but experts say that, overall, there's little evidence-based scientific literature on the subject. In fact, the makers of Airborne, the ubiquitous "effervescent health formula," settled a class-action lawsuit to the tune of $23.3 million in 2008. The charge? The Center for Science in the Public Interest, which helped litigate the suit, and the Federal Trade Commission, which filed a separate complaint against the manufacturer, said the company made false and unsubstantiated claims when it said its product could fight germs or prevent colds.

"Only a very, very small number of compounds have undergone peer review," says Frank Esper, MD, member of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, in Cleveland. "What you see is anecdotal."

And the ones that have undergone peer review generally come back with mixed reviews.

The evidence is often not strong, and it can be conflicting. "But there is some good evidence that some of these things can be effective," says David Leopold, MD, director of integrative medical education at the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and a faculty member with the Scripps Natural Supplement Conference, in La Jolla, Calif.

Herbal remedies don't seem to prevent colds, but they may help curb symptoms or shorten their duration, he says. "The things I talk about will reduce duration 24 or 36 hours, which is significant if you're out doing things," Dr. Leopold says. "They also seem to decrease severity of symptomology."

Here's what's known about the efficacy of some of the most well-known alternative cold remedies, in alphabetical order: View slideshow of natural remedies.

Good news is Wai Lana yoga's got all these sales now! I'm going to get some halloween gifts together!

Great brain foods

My aunt was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. I've been researching a lot about brain-friendly foods. I got out Wai Lana Yoga's juice book. I'm going to make my aunt drink a lot of fruit juices.

SuperFoods for Your Brain
Posted Thu, Sep 03, 2009
September means that many of us are getting back to school or back to work or back to looking for work -- all of which require a whole lot of braininess. To support this big brain storm, I checked in with our friends at EatingWell, to see what they suggest for smart eating. They got back to me with the best brain food to eat during each stage of life...

The Best Brain Food for Infants and Babies:

Iron. By 5 or 6 months, babies have used up the iron stores they're born with and need to get iron from food or supplements to support brain development.
Food solutions: Iron-fortified cereals. Try these iron-rich recipes.

The Best Brain Food for Children and Teens:

School-aged children should start their day with low-glycemic-index breakfast foods. (They need morning fuel.)
Food solutions: Bran cereals, oatmeal or whole-wheat bagels. Try these oat-filled recipes.

The Best Brain Food for Young Adults:

Got iron? 10 percent of women are anemic, and new studies show that being even mildly iron-deficient affects learning, memory, and attention. Luckily, restoring iron levels to normal also restores cognitive function.
Food solutions: Dark leafy greens, beans, meat or soy. Try these leafy green recipes.

The Best Brain Food for Older Adults:

Eat your antioxidants. People who eat more brightly colored fruits and leafy vegetables have less cognitive decline than those who don't; antioxidants in produce may mop up free radicals and protect neurons from damage.
Food solutions: Berries and other fruits, greens and turmeric (which contains curcumin). Try these antioxidant-rich recipes.

The Best Brain Food for Pregnant Women:

Pregnant women who eat fatty fish, such as salmon, during their third trimester of pregnancy have babies who tend to perform better on cognitive tasks. Researchers think the omega-3 fatty acid DHA is needed during this time to build neurons and their connections.
Food solutions: Salmon and other fatty fish, DHA-fortified eggs and yogurt. Try these healthy salmon recipes.

-Check out these brain-boosting recipes to incorporate all the foods above into your diet.

-But smarts are not everything. Here are some of Wai Lana easy rules on how eat for happiness.

Chiwalking?

After doing my daily Wai Lana Yoga session today, I was reading about Chiwalking and chirunning this morning. Pretty interesting stuff!

Health magazine’s story “Walk a Little, Live a Lot (Longer)” proves that you don’t need to run a marathon (or even a half marathon) to stay fit. In fact, you don’t need to run at all: Squeezing in some extra walking every day is a great way to burn calories, boost mood, and lower your risk of disease.

One type of walking, called ChiWalking, can even cut down on aches and pains by incorporating elements of tai chi, yoga, and pilates. By emphasizing good posture, loosening joints, engaging core muscles, and relaxing the arms and legs, this approach makes walking easier on the body and helps eliminate the discomfort of moving incorrectly.

According to ChiWalking.com, you can learn (and then mix and match) 12 different types of ChiWalks depending on your goals, including a Cardio Walk, an Aerobic Walk, a Flexibility Walk, a Loosening Walk, a Focusing Walk, an Energizing Walk, a Walking Meditation, and more. These walks focus on the body-mind component inherent by incorporating what the folks at this site call the Five Mindful Steps.

1. Get aligned: physically with your posture, mentally with your intentions

2. Engage your core: physically with your lower abdominals, mentally by using your will power

3. Create balance: physically between your upper and lower body and also between the right side and the left side of your body, mentally by creating a balanced fitness program

4. Make a choice: physically to walk in a new way, mentally to create health

5. Move forward: physically with grace and ease, mentally by focusing your mind on the next mindful step

ChiWalking originated from ChiRunning, a practice invented by ultramarathoner Danny Dreyer to help runners learn to land on their mid-foot (the most efficient way to run long distances) and prevent shin splints and overuse injuries by putting less strain on their lower legs and toes. A recent survey conducted by West Virginia University showed that 90% of ChiRunning students reported that the technique prevented injuries and improved ease of running.

With ChiWalking and ChiRunning gaining popularity, New Balance has unveiled a running shoe (both men’s and women’s versions, created with Dreyer’s help) specifically for mid-foot strike runners.

ChiRunning and ChiWalking clubs and workshops are springing up around the country, and of course, the website offers books and DVDs as well. Give this a try and let us know what you think.

When it comes down to it though, I think I'll just stick to Wai Lana. She's got something for the whole family, and that's a major plus in my household.

Cell phone radiation

With the death of Sen. Kennedy recently, the brain cancer and cell phone issue has been brought up front again. While surely the cell phone companies are behind the fact that the real statistics and effects of radiation are not openly published, it's something each of us should be aware of. No matter how much Wailana yoga we do, if we aren't aware of the effects of this on our health, there's only so much we can do.

Here's a helpful article from yahoo news on it:

Cell phones and radiation: 10 best and 10 worst
By Lori Bongiorno
Posted Tue Sep 8, 2009 10:14pm PDT
Related topics: Health, Safety, Cell Phones
More from The Conscious Consumer blog

95 votes
Buzz up!

How much radiation does your cell phone emit? It's easy to find out the answer thanks to the Environmental Working Group's new online guide to cell phone emissions.

The non-profit research and advocacy group ranked over 1,000 different cell phones according to radiation levels. It looked at the publicly available, but difficult to find, specific absorption rate (SAR) for each phone. SAR is a measure of how much radiation is absorbed by the body when the phone is sending a signal to the network. (Your phone only emits radiation when you talk or text.)

The jury is still out on whether cell phone radiation is harmful to human health, but it certainly won't hurt to limit your exposure to cell phone radiation when you can. Several research teams from different countries report a higher risk of developing brain and salivary gland cancer among high-volume, long-term cell phone users compared to people who use cell phones less often, according to EWG. For example, a 2009 scientific analysis of studies done in Sweden and several other European countries found a consistent pattern of an increased cancer risk after more than 10 years of mobile phone use.

"The data is still conflicting and the science isn't settled," says Jane Houlihan, research director at EWG. "But there is enough evidence now that it makes sense for people to take personal action while the teams of scientists and health agencies sort through the data." Houlihan also points out that health agencies in six different countries are warning people to cut their exposure to cell phone radiation, particularly when it comes to children.

Taking personal action can be as simple as adding radiation emissions to the list of criteria you use when purchasing a new cell phone, especially when it's for your child.

How much of a difference can choosing a low-radiation phone make? High-radiation cell phones on EWG's list emit eight times more radiation than those on the low end of the spectrum.
cell phones

10 best phones (lowest radiation)

1. Samsung Impression (SGH-a877)
2. Motorola RAZR V8
3. Samsung SGH-t229
4. Samsung Rugby (SGH-a837)
5. Samsung Propel Pro (SGH-i627)
6. Samsung Gravity (SGH-t459)
7. T-Mobile Sidekick
8. LG Xenon (GR500)
9. Motorola Karma QA1
10. Sanyo Katana II

10 worst phones (highest radiation)

1. Motorola MOTO VU204
2. T-Mobile myTouch 3G
3. Kyocera Jax S1300
4. Blackberry Curve 8330
5. Motorola W385
6. T-Mobile Shadow
7. Motorola C290
8. Motorola i335
9. Motorola MOTO VE240
10. Blackberry Bold 9000

Can't find your phone? Check the entire list of 1,000 phones or search for your model. If your cell phone isn't on EWG's list, then search the Federal Communications Commission website to get your phone's SAR value. You can then compare it to the models in EWG's guide to see how it stacks up against the competition.

Buying a new cell phone isn't your only option for limiting your exposure to cell phone radiation. Keeping your phone away from your head and body is the best thing you can do.

Here are some tips adapted from EWG's guide to reducing cell phone radiation exposure:

* Use speakerphone or a headset. There's no consensus on whether it's safer to go with a wired or wireless headset, but headsets emit less radiation than cell phones.

* Send text messages instead of talking. Phones use less power and therefore emit less radiation to send text than voice. It also keeps radiation away from your head.

* Stay off the phone when you have a poor signal. Your phone will emit more radiation to get the signal to the tower when there are fewer signal bars on your phone.

Exercise!!

I read an article today about how the greatest risk factor is the lack of exercise. It has only just fueled my passion for getting kids started on exercise early. We do a mix of Wai Lana Little yogis with soccer, swimming, tennis, and hopefully some martial arts soon.

I'm so glad I started practicing yoga exercise. Had I not been so depressed and willing to try out anything back then - a couch potato and TV freak with weight problems who happened to stumble upon Wai Lana Yoga's PBS series, I'm sure I would have way worse health problems today and in the future. How thankful am I? You can't even imagine. It is absolutely horrible to be in a situation of feeling so utterly helpless, - as if unable to stop yourself from the downward spiral of depression, over eating, and lethargy. I credit Wai Lana fully for having given me the motivation and help to actually get out of that situation I was in before.

We are constantly bombarded with gloom and doom news stories warning us that heart disease is America's number one killer, followed closely by cancer. What's more, there's a worldwide epidemic of diabetes and fear mongers are also warning that swine flu, H1N1, is lurking around every corner about to plunge us into a pandemic. But what is really the biggest threat to your health? According to epidemiologist and researcher Steven Blair, the gravest public health problem of the 21st century is Americans' physical inactivity and it poses the greatest risk of ill health to Americans. Simply put, sitting on your butt instead of moving your body in your daily life and exercising can be deadly.

Unfortunately, an enormous number of Americans, around 50 million, are living sedentary lives. That puts these coach potatoes at increased risk of health problems and early death, Blair recently said in an address to the American Psychological Association's (APA) 117th Annual Convention held in Toronto. "Over the past few decades, we have largely engineered the need for physical activity out of the daily lives of most people in industrialized societies," he stated.

Blair pointed to research showing that around 25 to 35 percent of American adults are inactive. They work sedentary jobs, engage in no regular physical activity program, are generally inactive around the house and most don't even do their own yard work. "Given that these individuals are doubling their risk of developing numerous health conditions compared with those who are even moderately active and fit, we're looking at a major public health problem," Blair said in a statement to the media.

A professor of exercise science and epidemiology at the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, he is recognized as one of the world's leading experts on exercise and its health benefits. Blair was the senior scientific editor of the 1996 U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health.

His extensive research comes involves the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS), an ongoing study started in 1970 which includes more than 80,000 people. In addition to keeping track of the participants medical histories, scientists periodically have measured the participants' body composition and body mass index (BMI). Each volunteer in the study also underwent a stress test.

The results, Blair told the APA, show that the fitness level of the research subjects has turned out to be a significant predictor of life span. For example, a follow-up study of 40,842 ACLS participants concluded a poor fitness level accounted for about 16 percent of all deaths in both men and women -- and these are deaths that most likely would have been avoided if these people had simply spent about half an hour a day walking. What's more, this percentage of deaths was significantly higher than when other risk factors were considered, including obesity, smoking, high cholesterol and diabetes. The ACLS also found that men who were only moderately fit lived six years longer than men who would qualify as sedentary couch potatoes.

Blair revealed that exercise can help beat breast cancer, too. An examination of 14,811 women patients in the ACLS showed that those who very fit were 55 percent less likely to die from breast cancer than women who were not in good shape. This huge reduction in breast cancer deaths was calculated after the researchers controlled for BMI, smoking, family history of breast cancer and other possible risk factors. Blair also explained in his APA presentation that recent emerging evidence shows exercise is good for brain health and can delay the mind's decline.

"We need numerous changes to promote more physical activity for all, including public policies, changes in the health care system, promoting activity in educational settings and worksites, and social and physical environmental changes. We need more communities where people feel comfortable walking," Blair said in a statement to the press. "I believe psychologists can help develop better lifestyle change interventions to help people be more active via the Internet and other technological methods."

Awesome moms

I was reading about these mothers who became medalists after having children. It gave me a glimmer of hope. Or maybe I should just stop being silly and face the music with this one. Hatha Yoga is already my favorite exercise, and I'll be happy if I ever look half as good as Wai Lana Easy does.

It was rain-raining here all day. My hands are all cracked and dry from all the cleaning I've been doing. I have these silly cleaning binges every now and then. I just get totally obsessed with cleaning and can't stop until my hands are all cracked and painful. Needless to say, everything and everyone is sparkling clean. Except for me. Shower time now! I'll do a tape of Wai Lana Yoga Products after.

Love to all

Flu prevention tips

I've been getting the kids used to a less-hot version of the ginger tea recipe from Wai lana.

I like this little article from Sanjay Gupta to parents on the swine flu too:

Now, over the past eight years, I have grown accustomed to being engaged in these sort of discussions where I am asked about everything the "media" have reported over the past few months, and asked to defend things point by point. It can be a challenging task.

This time, however, the topic was H1N1, or swine flu.

I spent the weekend thinking about what I was being told, and realized there was a larger point here.

People were scared, more than I had seen in a long time. And, health care professionals were blaming the media -- accusing them of being alarmist.

So, I decided to get away from the studio, away from the talking heads discussing mortality rates, and away from the hypothetical discussions about what might or might not happen. I wanted to see for myself what was happening in emergency rooms right now.

I was most curious about pediatric ERs, because young people seem to be most affected by this, and selfishly, I was curious about my own three girls and how I should react if they become ill this fall.

What would I do without these day dream cds from Wai Lana? They're so helpful. :)

Not much else happening here these days.

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!

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:

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.

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

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:

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.

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!