Healthy Living Club

Bakasana, more accurately translated as Crane Pose, is the most important of all arm balances, since understanding how to do Bakasana lays the foundation for most arm balances. Arm balances are complex, and they reveal how the flexibility and strength that carry newcomers through many poses cannot replace skills mature yoga practitioners develop over years of practice.Most people who fail at this arm balance have not distributed their weight correctly. The most common mistake I see is students lifting their hips so high that their poses are too vertical?hey become diving cranes! Some people get the feet off the floor this way, but then their pose becomes very heavy on the arms. Crane Pose performed in this manner avoids the weight shift essential to understanding this asana and evolving into other arm balances. My feeling is, if you can’t go forward enough to risk falling, you won’t go forward enough to balance.

First, I want you to feel the abdominal and thigh action that is the core of support for Bakasana. Squat on your tiptoes and bend forward to position your shoulders or upper arms under the shins. (Some folks practice Bakasana with their knees pressed into the armpitsour choice). Strongly lift your head and chest while pressing the arms back against the shins. Without putting further weight on your arms, and keeping your chest lifted, pull your abdomen in and raise your hips to shoulder level. Though difficult, this action gives you a sense of where the real strength of arm balances comes from.

From this position, exhale, push forward from your feet, and move your elbows past your fingers so your arms slant forward. Keep your chest lifted! When you can do this, you will feel your weight shift from your feet to your hands, allowing the body to be lifted and supported by your arms. It’s as simple as that.

You can practice this difficult arm movement without the added burden of your full weight by kneeling and pushing your elbows past your fingers while scooping up your chest. If you look at a picture of someone doing Bakasana well, you will see the dramatic angle of the arms you seek.

So remember, use your abs and thighs to keep your hips at shoulder height, push forward to shift weight onto your hands, and lift your chest. When you become adept, refine the pose further by straightening your arms and pulling your feet as close to your hips as possible, letting your hips rise. Most of all, keep practicing!

Co-founders Joanna O’Neal and Dr. Garrett Wdowin have officially begun operating, and are proud to announce, their new medical facility called Bodhi Body Integrative Medical Centers. This week Bodhi Body will hold the official grand opening event to formally introduce themselves to the public and showcase the company’s innovative approach to healthcare amidst a beautifully designed 7000 square foot facility.

Event Details

When: Wednesday, September 23rd from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: 2915 W. Ray Road, Ste. 8, Chandlerbr>

Event will include an official ribbon cutting ceremony by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, followed by open house tours.

Bodhi Body offers a brand new approach to health care, serving the needs of the increasing amount of Americans looking for alternatives to conventional medicine. Bodhi Body provides integrative health care that combines complementary and alternative services including vitamin infusions, supplementation and unique physical guided activities such as yoga, with conventional medical care. Bodhi Body seeks to care for the whole person by taking into account the many interrelated physical and nonphysical factors that affect health, wellness and disease. Among the list of services, clients are provided complementary childcare while they receive one of the many in-house treatments or speak with their physician.

CEO Joanna O’Neal explains Bodhi Body’s specific goal: “We promise to be our clients Health Advocates and support them in achieving their goal of health and wellbeing. In an inspirational environment, we will motivate our clients to become Health Activists by providing integrated medical services, the highest quality natural health products, unique guided physical activities and sincere encouragement.”

Mickey Mehta, the world-renowned holistic health and fitness expert from India, has unveiled an all new innovative, interactive experience for health and fitness enthusiasts. His series of instructional videos serves as a wonderful learning tool to those seeking tips and guidance to add vigor to their life.

Keen to propagate Yoga, Mickey Mehta has chosen a new mode of communication through which he will be releasing comprehensive video-based modules. He has already come up with the video series hosted on YouTube particularly for the benefit of today’s stressed-out professionals and students who face intense work and study pressures.

A team of expert Yoga practitioners has worked for several months under Mickey Mehta’s guidance to prepare a comprehensive fitness & lifestyle boosting clipping package based on Yoga. His personal channel on the popular video sharing site features the instructional Yoga clips along with key insights into several health-related topics like weight management, meditation, stress busters, detoxification, etc.

Mickey Mehta’s personal channel on Youtube acts as a perfect platform to grasp finer aspects of key asanas that are essential to stay fit, agile and alert – mentally and physically. The modules are quite handy for health-conscious people as Yoga is one of the finest forms of exercise that helps get body in perfect shape and keep the mind balanced.

In the process, the holistic health and fitness guru shares valuable insights on the philosophy of Yoga, meditation, healthy diet and exercises. He states: “It’s only when the body is deeply relaxed that the mind can be peaceful and calm. Gradually, the center of your attention shifts from anger to peace and from utter anxiety to pure joy…” He advises making yoga and meditation an integral part of one’s daily life.

It has been well over a decade since the internationally acclaimed holistic health and spiritual therapist forayed into the field of mind science and spiritual evolution. Mickey Mehta has deftly interwoven the ideologies and core essence of the Tao, Tantra, Vedas, Yoga, Zen, etc. to bring about positive transformations in lifestyles.

Through his website, http://www.mickeymehtahbf.com/, he explains the meaning and benefits of holistic health, elaborating on various facets of real health that goes beyond fitness. To propagate his mantra of health for all, he interacts with people through a host of fitness, health & diet related forums as well as through popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

YogaVibes.com is yoga for today’s digital world. The newly launched site offers viewers the ancient practice of yoga in the most modern of ways–on demand on their computers.

For less than the cost of taking a class at most yoga studios, YogaVibes.com users can stream a high-definition yoga video for 14 days at http://www.YogaVibes.com.

“With the economic challenges that everyone has faced, people are looking for alternatives in terms of health care and well-being,” said Brian Ratté, YogaVibes.com founder. “And more and more people are comfortable with having an Internet experience.”

Yoga is also a good fitness choice in today’s uncertain times, Ratté said, because the practice offers both physical and mental benefits.

With few exceptions, YogaVibes.com classes are filmed live on location. Unlike yoga DVDs, YogaVibes.com videos feature real students at an actual yoga studio. Viewers can sample a variety of yoga styles, such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga and Anusara, and broaden their exposure to teachers around the world.

Along with its for-sale classes, YogaVibes.com offers free instructional short videos taught by its partnering teachers. Viewers can learn the intricacies of a specific yoga pose or deepen their understanding of related topics, such as Ayurvedic medicine or yoga for golfers.

With the publication of its 3rd issue, International Yogalayam announces the official launch of their distinctive new yoga e-zine, The Yoga News. This monthly electronic publication features current yoga-related news stories, yoga articles and special interest pieces, along with commentary on current issues of interest to the global yoga community.

The Yoga News is a FREE monthly yoga magazine of particular interest to both yoga teachers and yoga enthusiasts . Already, The Yoga News has received praise from its global readership for filling a need for impartial, non-affiliated commentary on important issues surrounding the profession and practice of yoga.

For instance, the inaugural issue of The Yoga News (July, 2008) featured an investigation into the formation of the Indian Yoga Association (IYA), an important development for the construction of global yoga teaching standards from the birthplace of yoga itself. The most recent September 2008 issue featured an exploration of the growing controversy surrounding the modern trend of yoga competitions, as well as the movement to get yoga selected as an Olympic sport.

The Yoga News also features articles that delve into the philosophy of yoga in a refreshing, yet practical and meaningful way. Features that explore various aspects of the ancient culture of India, and their importance to the modern yoga community, are also a regular part of this inspirational new yoga e-zine.

Many passengers know that leading a healthy lifestyle is not always as easy as making a resolution and sticking to it. Qatar Airways has taken steps to help passengers meet their goals with their onboard yoga guide and tips on how to stay relaxed and rejuvenated in flight.

Especially customized for long-haul fliers, the four-page “Fly Healthy, Fly Fit” guide has been prepared by Qatar Airways in association with “The Chopra Centre for Wellbeing” and its world-renowned co-founder Deepak Chopra.

The 5-star ranked carrier presents a simple and effective range of relaxation techniques, which have been specially created by Deepak Chopra for the airline’s passengers. Deepak Chopra’s holistic approach fuses modern medical knowledge with the ancient science of Ayurveda and the art of yoga. It provides passengers with easy exercise routines, enabling them to feel more balanced and relaxed during long flights.

Gentle stretches to encourage blood circulation, with soothing self-massages of the neck, arms and hands, as well as step-by-step yoga postures to relieve tension can all be done from the comfort of their seat even with the seat belt fastened. The guide, printed in English and Arabic, allows passengers to easily navigate their way through a variety of techniques with clear illustrations of the exercises.

In an attempt to make the in-flight experience more enriching and less a means to pass time, the guide contains meditation practices to reduce stress, so travelers reach their destination relaxed and rejuvenated. In particular, being aware of one’s breathing – the conscious in- and exhale process – is a powerful tool to fight anxiety and jet lag.

While Qatar Airways’ “Fly Healthy, Fly Fit” guide has been tailored to enhance the quality of the in-flight experience, all of the techniques shown can be used pre- and post-flight for a more healthy and balanced life.

With the wellbeing in-flight programme, Qatar Airways emphasizes its most important goal of enhancing the customer experience onboard. Speaking about the programme, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways is delighted to have teamed up with the world renowned Deepak Chopra and his Chopra Centre for Wellbeing to offer our passengers the ultimate relaxation techniques during their flights.”

“We recognise the importance of air travel for today’s travellers, particularly frequent fliers, and how essential it is for them to remain healthy during long journeys. The programme administered in association with Deepak Chopra will help ensure passengers have a positive, stress-free and fully refreshing flying experience.”

The word Yoga in Sanskrit means to “unite.” The purpose of Yoga is to integrate the body, mind, and spirit through exercise, breathing, and meditation. Finally, the heart of Brentwood has a Yoga studio to call its own. Yoga Country is located just off I-65 at 116 Wilson Pike Circle, Suite 235. The studio is in the same building as Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant right next to the Brentwood Post Office.

With 10 teachers and 8 different classes, Yoga Country has plenty to offer for both beginners and experts alike. From fast paced cardio workouts for weight management to Yoga Meditation for stress relief, Yoga Country has a wide range of classes to choose from. New to Yoga? They offer a Yoga 101 class the first Saturday of every month at 1:00pm. This class will cover the fundamentals of yoga and give the student everything they need to start their practice. They will provide you with a mat and anything else you might need or you can purchase one from their boutique. Private instruction and parties for adults and kids are also available upon request.

September is National Yoga Month. In celebration, Yoga Country will be hosting a Global Mala Yoga for Peace. Students will perform 108 Sun Salutations in succession to completely cleanse the body and mind. It is a very moving and powerful practice, not to mention a great workout. This is a Free event and all donations will go to the Safe Haven Family Shelter in Nashville. Please join Yoga Country on September 20th at 12:00pm.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 43 million Americans are uninsured. Many more are under insured, having only basic coverage. Facing growing numbers of uninsured or under insured patients and feeling dissatisfied with the corporate model of health care today which does not ensure universal access to care, Harmony Community Wellness Center is bringing community style acupuncture to Escondido.

Community acupuncture is a growing, grass roots movement that is changing the way health care is provided for many. Patients are treated in a quiet, comfortable community setting, where treatments can be provided to several people simultaneously. This allows for significant cost reduction, bringing treatment prices down as low as $20 per treatment.

In America, acupuncture practices typically treat patients individually, in private rooms or cubicles. These private acupuncture treatments typically cost $65 to $150 per treatment. The promise of this ancient medicine, once easily accessible to everyone, has been priced out of reach of the average citizen. This cost structure also prevents most patients who do try acupuncture from getting the number of treatments they need to get well.

“Acupuncture works best when treatments are frequent and regular”, says Lars Nielsen, co-founder of Harmony Community Wellness Center. “Treatment effects are cumulative and we want patients to get better as soon as possible. We don’t want cost to be a barrier to your well being. That is why we’ve developed this community clinic. We have a sliding scale fee structure, from $20 to $40 per treatment. There is no proof of income required. We tell patients to pay us what they can afford, it’s up to them.”

The National Institutes of Health (http://nccam.nih.gov/) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have both recognized acupuncture as effective in treating a wide range of conditions. While widely recognized as offering pain relief, acupuncture can also be effective in treating such wide ranging conditions as: Headache, hypertension, depression, menstrual irregularities, digestion issues, eczema and many more.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “acupuncture analgesia works better than a placebo for most kinds of pain, and its effective rate in the treatment of chronic pain is comparable with that of morphine”. In order for acupuncture to be effective, an individual usually needs to commit to regular treatments. By lowering costs, Nielsen aspires to help people make that commitment to their health.

Nielsen stresses that this business model is sustainable for both patients and practitioners, and is not meant to compete with the existing acupuncture model. “We are here to offer an affordable alternative. Everyone deserves an opportunity to help themselves and acupuncture has proven a safe and effective way to do this.”

Harmony Community Wellness Center will be celebrating it’s grand opening September 5th through September 11th, 2009, by offering free treatments to all first time patients. “We want people to experience what community acupuncture is all about and a free treatment gives everyone the opportunity,” says Lars Nielsen.

Free-spirited travelers can ‘relive’ part of the 1960s and discover wondrous India as The Beatles did on their life-changing 1968 visit there, on “The Beatles In India Tour.” The 18-day tour will be led by Emmy-award winning film producer and director, Paul Saltzman, who stayed with and exclusively photographed The Beatles during their visit to India. “The Beatles wrote 48 songs in 7 weeks on that trip – the single most creative period in their illustrious career,” said Saltzman.

Organized by Bestway Tours & Safaris, the fully escorted tour will visit Rishikesh and other spiritual and special Indian sites where The Beatles came together, and will meet Indian musicians who know and performed with members of the group. It includes three days in Rishikesh, a holy city on the Ganges River which is a gateway to the Himalayas where The Beatles spent considerable time, and a visit to the former ashram where The Beatles meditated. Travelers will meet Indian classical musician, composer and Grammy Award winner Ravi Shankar, who taught George Harrison of The Beatles to play the sitar, and visit Ajit Singh, a famous Vichitra Veena player who also performed with Harrison. There will be visits to the historic “Pink City” of Jaipur, Udaipur, the holy city of Haridwar, Mumbai, the capital city New Delhi, and Agra to see the magnificent “Taj Mahal.” Optional yoga sessions, whitewater rafting, and spa treatment can add to the aura.

Departure Date & Costs
On Feb. 11, 2010, the tour will start in the southern city of Trivandrum and end in New Delhi on Feb. 28. There is an optional four-day, medium-grade Himalayas trek to conclude the trip. North American travelers can fly from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, New York, and many other gateways, with estimated US/Canada-India roundtrip airfare of US$1600.

The tour costs US$7890 (per person based on double occupancy, excluding airfare to/from India), and includes inter-India airfare, five-star hotel accommodations, and breakfast and dinner on 17 days. An optional four-day trek costs US$595, and the single supplement is US$2950.

Learn more at Bestway Tours’ website at www.bestway.com or call toll-free from the US and Canada, 800-663-0844. Outside the US and Canada, call 604-264-7378.

First-Ever “Beatles Tour” to India “Bestway is delighted to offer the first-ever Beatles tour of India, which will provide enlightenment and inspiration to many travelers,” said Mahmood Poonja, chief explorer of Bestway Tours. “We are so fortunate that Paul Saltzman, who photographed and met the Beatles in India, and is himself a Beatles expert and renowned filmmaker and director, will lead the tour with his unique experiences, perceptions and joy of India, for all to explore the wonders of India.”

The founders of Yoga Yoga Mehtab Benton and Guru Karam, along with teacher trainer Siri Bahadur, will offer the public a personal experience of the gong, the chakras, and Kundalini energy during three workshops on August 28-30, 2009. Highlights of the weekend include a gong concert, a class to explore the transformational practice of Kundalini yoga, and a workshop focused on the chakras and therapeutic aspects of gong yoga for deep healing and integration into wholeness. Event details are available at www.yogayoga.com.

The three weekend workshops are:
· Gong-A-Thon Mandala on Friday, August 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $25
· The Kundalini Experience?on Saturday, August 29, 1:30-5:30 p.m., $60
· The Sound of the Chakras: Gong Yoga Therapy on Sunday, August 30, 12:30-5:30 p.m., $75

Workshops can be purchased individually at the rates listed above or as a discounted package for $150. The event will be held at Yoga Yoga 360, 2501 South Capital of Texas Highway in Austin, TX. For more information or to register, visit www.yogayoga.com or contact Yoga Yoga at (512) 381-6464. For information on gong yoga and kundalini yoga workshops and trainings with Mehtab Benton, visit www.gongyoga.com.

A three-time presenter at the Southwest Yoga Conference and a recipient of the International Kundalini Yoga Teacher’s Association “Building Communities in Yoga” award in 2000, Mehtab Benton has taught Kundalini Yoga workshops and classes to students and teachers from around the world at the annual Kundalini Yoga Summer Solstice gathering in New Mexico. He is the author of 11 books and over 100 articles on yoga, heath, diet and nutrition. Guru Karam began her lifelong yoga practice at age 16 at a Kundalini Yoga Ashram in Houston, Texas. She has presented classes internationally on Yoga Nidra and the art of deep relaxation. Siri Bahadur began teaching Kundalini yoga in the 1980s when he was in residence at the Dallas Kundalini Yoga ashram. He is a graduate of the first Kundalini Yoga Masters Touch teacher-training program and has taught at Yoga Yoga since its inception.