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Monthly Newsletter
Gradual Shifting It is hard not to jump ahead of ourselves. We all do it. The nature of the mind is to project into the future.
Where Is This Craving Coming From? Cravings happen to all of us. Recently, a seminar participant pointed out that she had intense cravings for tuna melts. How is this possible? Does our body "need" a tuna melt? Well - yes and no.
Peaceful Weight Loss in December Every year around the holidays the thoughts creep in. "I am not doing enough". "I need to lose weight". "I need to excersise more". "I'm not practicing the way I should be". I hear this pressure in my own thoughts as well as my clients. Maybe it is the business
Peaceful Weight Loss in September At the studio where I teach, yoga classes are full of students embracing a new season. As we move out of our summer schedules, we are presented with opportunities for change to occur.
Deep Listening We are constantly being innundated by nutritional and weight loss information. Hardly a product exists in the grocery store anymore that doesn't make some sort of health or weight loss claim. This triggers our mind to start spinning -- digesting and evaluating the information coming in.
Peaceful Weight Loss in July "Slim your belly in 9 minutes. " That was on the cover of a health magazine I looked at the other day. I'm not sure what was crazier: the assertion, or the fact that I wanted to believe it.
To Carb or not to Carb? - Peaceful Weight Loss in June There are endless opinions on carbohydrate intake and weight. In many studies, people who eat less carbs have lost weight. Of course, if we look at many of the participants in these studies one or two years later, the weight is back on (and then some).
Peaceful Weight Loss in May It's spring -- and in alternative health circles, that means it's time for detoxing, cleansing and fasting. It seems that everywhere I look -- whether it's in magazines, bookstores, or CVS -- someone is trying to sell me a fasting system or detox kit. While these products and systems may have their benefits, weight loss is not one of them.
Be a Food Yogi - Peaceful Weight Loss in April What is a yogi, anyway? It is someone who has committed to following a path which leads them to a realization of their spiritual nature.
Ahimsa - Peaceful Weight Loss in March There is a concept in yoga that one should be non-violent in thought
and action -- and that by doing this we bring peace to ourselves and
those we come in contact with
Commitment (Peaceful Weight Loss in January) Like most people, I tend to have some pretty big ideas around this time of year. The rush of the holidays leaves me in mid-January ready
to "get stuff done." Interestingly enough, this is just the attitude that many yoga texts warn us against.
Taking Care of Yourself is not “All About You” (Peaceful weight loss in December) Taking Care of Yourself is not "All About You"
As we move into the holiday season, we often have more to do. Office parties, connecting with family, preparing food...all these things infringe upon our daily rhythms. With all these extra obligations, it is easy to let our personal practice slip.
Peaceful Weight Loss in November No one has ever gained ten pounds at Thanksgiving dinner.
Peaceful Weight Loss in October Halloween is coming and my son doesn't like candy. Well, that's not entirely true. He likes the concept of candy -- the shape, color, and packaging; something rare and valuable to get excited about. I have the same feeling, really. Rare special foods that please our senses of taste, smell, feel and vision are fantastic.
Working with Cravings (Peaceful Weight Loss in September) I've received a lot of questions lately concerning cravings for specific foods. So I thought I'd revisit the topic here. Our minds latch on to the idea that certain foods are essential.
Eating for the Heat (Peaceful Weight Loss in August) It's August - it's hot. Our bodies naturally experience shifts in appetite with the heat. It is common to feel less hungry during the hotter hours of the day.
Emotions - Peaceful Weight Loss in July Yogic emotions are energy. Our system is designed to let these emotions flow through our bodies. When we do this, we have a complete experience of these emotions and then the energy returns to its source and we feel at peace. Of course, we have another possibility -- we can suppress, block, or redirect our emotional energy.
Connection (Peaceful Weight Loss in May) As I work on my own practice, I'm always amazed by how important connection is. It's so easy to stay in our head and try to work out our issues.
Binge Eating - Peaceful Weight Loss in March One of the most common questions I get asked at my seminars is how to stop binging behavior. Often we binge eat to repress unwanted emotions. I commonly hear fear and loneliness being cited as reasons for binging. I also see that it is comforting for many people.
Peaceful Weight Loss in February It seems like everyone I know has been sick. My family has had the flu. My friends have all had colds. Events are constantly being canceled because of illness. It feels like all the forces in nature are conspiring to get us off track -- to throw us from our routine.
Expanding our view of the self (Peaceful Weight Loss in December) This holiday season, love yourself. Be kind to yourself. And then let that love spread to others.
Language for Freedom (Peaceful Weight Loss in November) As humans, we have an instinct to react against any restriction on our freedom. If you tie your arms behind your back, you will struggle to find a way out. So why should you expect your mind to be different?
Stoking the Fire (Peaceful Weight Loss in October) What makes you feel alive? What do you do on a regular basis that reminds you of your inner fire for life? This is the question I would like for you to ponder this month.
Cultivating Peace (Peaceful Weight Loss in September) Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
--Tao Te Ching
Peaceful Weight Loss in August Vacation -- a time to relax all discipline. A time to sit and see what happens. A time to be with no expectations -- a time to eat.
Peaceful Weight Loss in July Focus on what foods you need to eat to feel healthy, energetic, and mentally clear. Until this happens, the benefit from eliminating "bad" foods will not be realized.
Peaceful Weight Loss in June - Levels of Change There are many ways to approach weight loss. From one point of view it is a simple mathematical equation -- less food = less weight. Eat a bit less than you need to sustain your weight and the pounds will come off. This is, of course, true. We know it because we have dieted and then seen the results. Most likely, though, the pounds didn't stay off. We went back to our old way of being and ended up back where we started.
Peaceful Weight Loss in May Be present, be present, be present. We see and hear this often in self-help books and spiritual literature. For most of us, this isn't enough -- we need to "do" something -- take some sort of action, or progress toward a goal. So the question becomes: WHY should I be present, and to WHAT?
Priorities: Peaceful Weight Loss in April I had the good fortune to take a yoga class with a fantastic teacher recently. He suggested that our asana practice was there not to change us, but to make us more comfortable with ourselves.
Thinking Holistically: Peaceful Weight Loss in March As human beings with brains, we have the tendency to be reductionist. "This chocolate will make me fat" or "I ate too much today -- I'm going to gain weight" or "Carbs go right to my thighs."
Desire vs. Craving: Peaceful Weight Loss in February Desire occurs naturally in our lives. It is an expression of our infinite creativity and energy. When we relax and let go, we can be swept along by this desire, and life feels effortless.
Peaceful Weight Loss in January Every year, right after New Year's, I am caught up in a flurry of activity. People are interested in working on their New Year's resolution -- which is to lose weight and be healthier this year.
Peaceful Weight Loss in December Yoga is compassion, love, and acceptance. In asana we accept our strengths and limitations in the pose. This attitude brings peace to our mind, body, and spirit.
Peaceful Weight Loss in November What poses are best for weight loss? This is a question I am asked constantly. The answer is always the same: What pose or poses do you need to do to feel better?
Peaceful Weight Loss in October Dieting is restriction - Yoga is opening.
Peaceful Weight Loss in September Things take care of themselves...
...when we participate.
Sattvic Lifestyle Eating (August 2006) Different and new points of view are great -- they help us break out of old, unproductive patterns adn acknowledge the ones that are working well.
Whole Food - Just Whole Food (July 2006) My clients and I keep coming to the same conclusion: If I eat mostly whole foods, I feel great and my weight finds itself a comfortable spot for me.
Peaceful Weight Loss in June "Yoga asana is a steady comfortable position
reducing the tendency for restless breathing
and promoting one's identification with infinite breath of life."
The Foundation of Weight Loss Practice (May 2006) I've been writing a lot about food lately, so I thought I'd get back to the foundations of the Peaceful Weight Loss practice. Every day we return to the mat and again begin the process of finding ourselves.
Spring Cleaning - Peaceful Weight Loss in April The desire to cleanse increases in the spring. We also naturally grow more active. The trick is to manage this natural spring "push."
Letting the Sweet Flow in our Lives (March 2006) I'm often asked, "How do I stop eating sweets?" I would answer: Don't stop. Instead, find a more peaceful expression of your desires.
Peaceful Weight Loss in February Timing is everything. So when is the best time to shift our lifestyle? And should external factors influence our decision? Of course they should.
Peaceful Weight Loss in January Okay - the holidays are over and we're back to our regular routine, with New Year's resolutions in place. Were they the same as last year's? What have you changed? Have some been "broken" already?
Peaceful Weight Loss in December I love to practice on Christmas morning. It helps me experience the day fully - and prepares me to fully enjoy my family and food.
Making Peace at Thanksgiving (November 2005) Ah, Thanksgiving -- our most food-centered holiday. If you are engaged in a weight loss process, it can certainly feel like an attack on your eating plan. But it doesn't need to feel like that.
Recommended
The Yoga Sutras of Patangali—Mukunda Stiles the most simple clear and beautiful translation of this classic yoga text I've every read. So nice in fact I've studied with him for 3 years. No commentary just poetry.
Vegetarian cooking for everyone The best cookbook I've every come across. Explains what to do with all sorts of food. Look up "kale" instead of entrees. Her recipies are easy and fantastic.
Healing with Whole Foods Chinese 5 element theory - whole food properties and healing - ayurvedic insight - why are mushrooms good for you --- just buy this book.
Yoga mind body spirit had the privilege of taking a restoritive class from her. A lovely person and a clear useful asana book. Uses iyengar style props. Great intro material on yoga philosophy
Tomato blessings and Radish Teachings Zen wisdom and recipies in one book - fantastic!
Peace is Every Step Zen wisdom and recipies in one book - fantastic!
Other Articles
Scientists Say Dieting Does Not Work US scientists conducting a comprehensive review of dieting research have concluded that dieting does not work.
The study is published in the April edition of American Psychologist, the journal of the American Psychological Association.
Yoga May Aid Body Image, Cut Eating Disorders Yoga may make women feel better about their bodies, steering them away from eating disorders, a new study shows. In fact, yoga may have an edge over other forms of exercise in that regard, according to the study in the Psychology of Women Quarterly. The reason may be yoga's mind-body aspect....
Study: Breakfast Helps Girls Stay Slim Girls who regularly ate breakfast, particularly one that includes cereal, were slimmer than those who skipped the morning meal, according to a study that tracked nearly 2,400 girls for 10 years.
Yoga May Help Keep Weight Off at Mid-Life A study published in the July/August issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine showed that those who practiced yoga tended to avoid junk food and overeating because they wanted to respect their bodies.
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