The September 6, 2011 issue of Harvard Healthbeat states that "as researchers have learned more about how the brain works, and how the nervous system interacts with other parts of the body, they have discovered that pain shares some biological mechanisms with anxiety and depression." The confluence of anxiety, depression, and pain is specially noted... Continue Reading →
Yoga Improves Balance in Senior Stroke Patients
The Department of Veterans Affairs funded a recently published study conducted by researchers at Indiana University. The pilot study involved 19 men and one woman with an average age of 66. They took part in an hour-long yoga class, twice a week, for eight weeks. The yoga class was taught by a yoga therapist who... Continue Reading →
Fall Cleaning and Sowing Peace
There is a change in the air with cooler temperatures as we anticipate Fall. It is time to begin thinking about Fall clean-up of the mind and body. Fall planting will be here soon. We are gathering seeds to sow peace. We begin with this beautiful clip of universal appeal, The Principle of Emptiness. The seed text is written... Continue Reading →
Animal vs Plant Protein for Low Carb
Randomized trials show that low-carb diets are as good as low-fat diets and may even be better, according to Harvard Healthbeat's August 16, 2011 issue. Two studies show that just as there are good fats and bad fats, good carbs and bad carbs, there is new evidence for good proteins and bad proteins. Researchers at... Continue Reading →
Colon Cleanse Controversy
According to a recent report regarding colon cleanse on CNN, colon cleanse is not recommended by Dr. Michael Picco (consultant gastroenterologist) of Mayo Clinic or Dr. Ranit Mishori (family medicine physician at Georgetown University School of Medicine). In a report released this week in the Journal of Family Practice, Dr. Mishori and her colleagues examined 20... Continue Reading →
Family Food Connection:Summer Vegetarian Recipes
Loss of connection with family recipes within Indians in the Western world seems to be a frequent refrain now. Finding time to cook is a challenge and writing down recipes is challenging for the senior generation. Home cooking is rarely found in restaurants and the food is different. There is so much that goes along... Continue Reading →
Practical Effective Chair Yoga for Arthritis
Gently dynamic repetitions help warm and loosen the joints to increase range-of-motion and decrease stiffness. The chair yoga practice and chair sun salutations/surya namaskar have helped people with back pain as well.Those who have arthritis that restricts their ability to get on the floor, please see all the gentle, restorative yoga asanas that can be... Continue Reading →
Slow Carb Eggplant Recipe
Spiced, roasted eggplant makes a fragrant and flavorful bhartha (mashed). In this recipe, Roasted Spiced Eggplant, all the vegetables are first oven roasted (can use the grill as well) for more flavor. This also reduces the amount of oil in the dish. It carries well in a lunch box and can be eaten at room... Continue Reading →
Meditation and Brain Stem
Long-term meditation is associated with increased gray matter density in the brain stem Vestergaard-Poulsen, Petera; van Beek, Martijnc; Skewes, Joshuaa c; Bjarkam, Carsten R.b; Stubberup, Michaeld; Bertelsen, Jesd; Roepstorff, Andreasa c Abstract: Using magnetic resonance imaging, we observed higher gray matter density in lower brain stem regions of experienced meditators compared with age-matched nonmeditators. Our... Continue Reading →
Mahasri Yoga 