A study conducted by Johns Hopkins, mentioned in the free online newsletter John Hopkins Health, Summer 2012, "Guys: The Truth About Anger Management", angry and hostile men are more susceptible to a heart attack. Negative emotions result in undesirable physiological effects such as high blood pressure and narrowing of the arteries. Most people realize this. "Men... Continue Reading →
Change Fat Color To Lose Weight
Image source: "Adipose Tissue", Wikipedia. Why does fat color matter? Isn't fat just fat? It seems not. There are two colors of fat--white and brown. Natural "exercise" hormone transforms fat cells in Harvard Health Beat's June 23, 2012 issue describes the two types of fat and how the energy storing fat can be transformed to energy... Continue Reading →
Relaxed Yoga For Autistic Children
After our recent relaxation response-based yoga session, Yoga: A Journey Within, this study Relaxation response-based yoga improves functioning in young children with autism: a pilot study is particularly interesting. What is relaxation response? Medical News Today states: "The relaxation response is characterized by reduction in oxygen intake, increase in exhalation of nitric oxide, and lower psychological... Continue Reading →
Kathryn’s Avocado Pate Hira’s Cardamom Wheat
Three new recipes have been added to http://www.mahasriyoga.com. Kathryn's Avocado Pate is good for any season. It is everything we want--great tasting, fast, easy, and super elegant. The pate is gluten-free. Kathryn has generously shared this delicately flavored recipe that can proudly hold center stage at any table. Hira's Cardamom Cracked Wheat is the Gujarati... Continue Reading →
Mahasri Yoga Recipes And Vegan IQ Quiz
There is a fun vegan IQ quiz in The New York Times (Well Blog by Tara Parker Slope, April 18, 2012) that really challenges what we know about a vegan diet. As a life-long vegetarian, it was surprising how many questions I got wrong. Try it, it is a lot of fun and ties in with... Continue Reading →
Balanced Paced Breathing For Calmness
Once the foundation is laid and the body prepared with the practices listed in the previous two posts, the next step is balanced breathing where the breath is comfortably paced. This breath is also called equal inhalation and exhalation and samavritti pranayama. It calms the mind, making it quiet. The breath will gradually become deeper... Continue Reading →
How To Lengthen Breath Safely
To safely learn to control the breath, stretch it and make it deeper, here are the basic foundations to pranayama. The audio links are to tracks on http://www.mahasriyoga.com. Whole Body Breathing Conscious breathing requires some effort initially but after some practice it becomes a natural part of you. Another deeply relaxing practice, whole body breath is... Continue Reading →
Safe Breathing And Increasing Lung Capacity
This post, following up on the previous post, offers specific suggestions and a process for safe breathing for pranayama and increasing lung capacity. Asana: Some gentle movements can definitely help loosen muscles and help tone the diaphragm and lungs for better breathing. Refer to the movements of the Upper Body on http://www.mahasriyoga.com. A few other... Continue Reading →
Problem With Breathing Counting To 5
Here are the problems with being told to count to 4, 5, 6 while breathing in and doing the same breathing out by various sources (newsletter from our medical provider, yoga books, stress management advice, etc.): Average rate of breathing: I have been watching the number of breaths per minute, called eupnea, in the age... Continue Reading →
Mahasri Yoga 