SuperBrain Yoga

A scientifically validated method that will help you energize your brain and enhance its sharpness and clarity. It’s a simple technique developed by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui which increases intellectual capacity and sharpens both memory and concentration.

This practice is based on the principles of subtle energy and ear acupuncture. Basically, SuperBrain Yoga allows energy from your lower chakras–or energy centers–to move up to the forehead and crown chakras. When this happens, this energy is transformed into subtle energy, which is utilized by the brain to enhance its proper functioning.

Here are some of the benefits of SuperBrain Yoga:

1. It energizes and activates the brain by synchronizing Alpha brain waves.
2. It reduces psychological stress and improves psychological stability.
3. It results in greater intelligence and creativity.
4. It promotes proper functioning of the brain.

Best of all, SuperBrain Yoga is really easy to learn and you can do it in just three minutes a day. Just read on.

(Disclaimer: This is a very simple exercise, but please remember that you’re doing it at your own risk.)


How to Practice Super Brain Yoga: Step-by-Step Instructions
Ideally, this exercise should be done in the morning. Follow these seven steps:

1. Remove all jewelry and stand up straight.
2. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth right behind your teeth (as if you were about to say “La”). Leave it there throughout the exercise.
3. Take your left hand and grab hold of your right earlobe. Make sure that the thumb is in front.
4. Now take your right hand and grab hold of your left earlobe. Again, make sure that the thumb is in front. At this point you’re pressing both earlobes simultaneously. Make sure your left arm is close to your chest and inside your right arm.
5. Inhale through your nose and slowly squat down to the ground.
6. Hold your breath and do not exhale until you start making your way back up to a standing position.
7. Repeat this squatting action between 15 and 21 times.

Remember to keep a hold of your earlobes and to keep your tongue touching the roof of your mouth throughout the entire exercise.

For more information you can get the “SuperBrain Yoga” book). Please note that the woman in the video makes a mistake when she says when to breathe in and when to breathe out. As the text instructions above explain, you breathe in on the way down and you breathe out on the way up.

Just Breathe~

One way to begin the decade is with a deep breath. Maybe two.

Breathing is quite a necessity for life. Minutes with out air and a human body will perish. Stop...inhale, hold for a moment, exhale. Yes, good. Now we can talk.

(pause, pause, pause)

Learning how to breathe is an important part of your health, part of your life. Take all of the 'healthy' things that you can do and breathing is an essential underlying component of all of them. I will keep this as simple and direct as possible.

Just breathe.

Deeper, not shallow, let that air in...all the way to the diaphragm, I know you have heard of it! The belly breath look it up friends. Click, go to a class, ask a friend, just learn it! Prana, Qi, Chi, let's begin there.

Anyone see the EPIC movie AVATAR recently? Just close your eyes and venture back to the scene where the Na'vi are seated together in a community BREATHING as one under the Tree of Souls. Breathing in as ONE (pause) and yet the light under each individual illuminates, breathing out (pause) and the light is transmitted to the source of all (Eywa) synergistic (for our corporate friends). Just breathtaking - for lack of a better word. Spectacular to see them functioning as one. Connected. Ever been in a yoga class where you are breathing in unison with those around you? Perfect agreement and accord. The state of being so tuned, in the same sound, pitch, in the moment. What an amazing experience. One that is available to you at any time. Believe it or not. We are a community, tied together through breath. Every living thing. every being that crosses your path experiences breath. Even those of our CrossFit family! Gasping sometimes, burpee breath training, boxing, focus, contol... But let's back it down a bit and make it your own. Start easy and controlled. Then move forward!

How about a Daily Deeds? Just try it.

When you wake up each morning, as you are laying in bed, your body will thank you for taking a very few minutes while you do these simple no-brainer breathing exercises. Dr. Andrew Weil has been talking about them for years now. Why not try it. Simple dimple....I am posting one of the full exercises here, but you can follow the link for the remaining options :-)

The Stimulating Breath (also called the Bellows Breath)
The Stimulating Breath is adapted from a yogic breathing technique. Its aim is to raise vital energy and increase alertness.

Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. Your breaths in and out should be equal in duration, but as short as possible. This is a noisy breathing exercise.

Try for three in-and-out breath cycles per second. This produces a quick movement of the diaphragm, suggesting a bellows. Breathe normally after each cycle.

Do not do for more than 15 seconds on your first try. Each time you practice the Stimulating Breath, you can increase your time by five seconds or so, until you reach a full minute.

If done properly, you may feel invigorated, comparable to the heightened awareness you feel after a good workout. You should feel the effort at the back of the neck, the diaphragm, the chest and the abdomen. Try this breathing exercise the next time you need an energy boost and feel yourself reaching for a cup of coffee.

Many blessings for the new year. Now, a deep breath and we're off!

Enjoy! We'll be back for the balance of breath work in eating and exercise :-). Yep, it makes a difference here too. Check in...how do you feel? You should feel good, motivated and ready for more!

~jgirl

What are you going to do?

This little slogan found online by Ted at CrossFit Folsom Lake reminds me of the 'Just Show Up' mantra. You never know what might be in store for you some days, but you won't know if you aren't there.

Equally as important is 'Honor the Work, Honor the Rest'. Will it be a run or walk today, will you scale and get your ego out of the way so that you move forward instead of back. Is it fear of succeeding when you reach beyond what you thought was possible? Because those days are plentiful when you push it to the limit.

Maybe it is a day to find your breathing rhythm. Anyone ever read The Way of the Peaceful Warrior (Dan Millman)? You may perform an amazing human feat though awareness, listening to your body, from the inside out.

Thanks Robert (PHYZYKS)for pointing out the need to acknowledge and connect to the diversity within...the path emerges...aligning your powerful potential.

So...what are you going to do?

As I find myself back in the box, sore, blistered and mentally in my own way, I promise to do my best... in those moments there is no place that I would rather be. ~j

Full Moon Craziness

It was a beauty! Until our region clouded over and more rain~ If you were lucky enough to enjoy the brightest and biggest of 2010 I hope it was a sight.

~jgirl

Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of 2010
space.com – Fri Jan 29, 7:45 am ET

Tonight's full moon will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. It offers anyone with clear skies an opportunity to identify easy-to-see features on the moon.

This being the first full moon of 2010, it is also known as the wolf moon, a moniker dating back to Native American culture and the notion that hungry wolves howled at the full moon on cold winter nights. Each month brings another full moon name.

But why will this moon be bigger than others? Here's how the moon works:

The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles (384,400 km) from Earth. The moon's orbit around Earth – which causes it to go through all its phases once every 29.5 days – is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse. One side of the orbit is 31,070 miles (50,000 km) closer than the other.

So in each orbit, the moon reaches this closest point to us, called perigee. Once or twice a year, perigee coincides with a full moon, as it will tonight, making the moon bigger and brighter than any other full moons during the year.

Tonight it will be about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than lesser full Moons of the year, according to Spaceweather.com.

As a bonus, Mars will be just to the left of the moon tonight. Look for the reddish, star-like object.

Full moon craziness

Many people think full moons cause strange behavior among animals and even humans. In fact several studies over the years have tried to tie lunar phases to births, heart attacks, deaths, suicides, violence, psychiatric hospital admissions and epileptic seizures, and more. Connections have been inclusive or nonexistent.

The moon does have some odd effects on our planet, and there are oodles of other amazing moon facts and misconceptions:

A full moon at perigee also brings higher ocean tides. This tug of the moon on Earth also creates tides in the planet's crust, not just in the oceans.

Beaches are more polluted during full moon, owing to the higher tides.

In reality, there's no such thing as a full moon. The full moon occurs when the sun, Earth and the moon are all lined up, almost. If they're perfectly aligned, Earth casts a shadow on the moon and there's a total lunar eclipse. So during what we call a full moon, the moon's face is actually slightly less than 100 percent illuminated.

The moon is moving away as you read this, by about 1.6 inches (4 cm) a year.

The moon illusion

Finally, be sure to get out and see the full moon as it rises, right around sunset. Along the horizon, the moon tends to seem even bigger. This is just an illusion.

You can prove to yourself that this is an illusion. Taking a small object such as a pencil eraser, hold it at arm's length, and compare its size to that of the moon just as it rises. Then repeat the experiment later in the night and you'll see that the moon compares the same in both cases. Alternately, snap two photos of the moon, with a digital camera or your cell phone, when the moon is near the horizon and later when it's higher in the sky. Pull both photos up on your computer screen and make a side-by-side comparison.

Astronomers and psychologists agree the moon illusion is just that, but they don't agree on how to explain it.

The Ultimate Fast Food!

Thanks Green For Life ;-). Winter, spring, summer or fall...there is a green smoothie that can be enjoyed and is packed full of healthy nutrients.

TGIF ~j




http://www.greenforlife.com/15-smoothies-in-3-mins.htm

Get your Green On!

Green Lemonade Recipe ~

Click and enjoy!

New thinking about what we are eating!

FRESH the movie

FRESH is more than a movie, it’s a gateway to action. Our aim is to help grow FRESH food, ideas, and become active participant in an exciting, vibrant, and fast-growing movement.

When I write we, I don’t mean our small team (officially two of us, with lots of amazing helps from our interns and volunteers) but I mean YOU. All of you. FRESH is a grassroots efforts for a grassroots movement. It’s been tremendously exciting to see the movie catch on and spread like wild fire, being used all over the country as a platform to raise awareness and connecting people to the solutions available in their community.

Within a month of our launch, we’ve received over 20,000 visitors and hundreds of screenings have already been organized. We want to reach 1 million folks. Not just because that would totally feel nice to our ego (mine especially!), but because, we believe that FRESH can truly help get us to a tipping point, when sustainable food will no longer be just a niche market.

Please help us reach 1 million people (to start with that is.) Organize a home screening or a community screening. Get in touch with us, let us know what we can do more and better. We’re open!

I am thrilled to see that work that is being done to 'free our farmers' and create awareness around quality of food for our communities.

I will be organizing a viewing of the movie FRESH and invite you all to attend or find one in your local area. You do have a voice, you do vote with your dollar and you can make a difference right in your own backyard.

Smile and know that what you put into your mouth, chew and digest fuels your body, your life, your contribution to life on earth.

Enjoy! ~j

Get Over It!

The five recommendations in the article below are not just options for recovering from vaccinations but are good practice for reaching and maintaining above average health. Because I believe that they are such key factors I am going to list them at the top here too with my 2 cents attached. ~j

1. Do regular cleansing. - Take a short period of time out of your normal routine. Intermitten fasting, one day or a 3-7 day herbal program or one of the many options that give your body a break and an opportunity to rejuvinate. Seasonally is my favorite time to check in with this. Breathe, stretch, nourish.
2. Clean and support your liver. - The liver is a workhorse. We live in a world with many toxins and our exposure is in excess. Supporting the function of the liver can be a bit like taking out the garbage in your house. Food, herbs, homeopathics, emotional release can all provide your liver with a well earned house cleaning.
3. Get a massage. 'nough said!
4. Think Green...drinks green! By now, you should know that I am a fan of the green smoothie. Truly a stellar way to bring life into the body. Green juices are fantastic as well, but not quite as convenient. So find your favorite green and enjoy it daily! Rotate, explore, revitalize.
5. Smart use of technology. To measure, monitor and protect. - This one is pretty loaded. We are surrounded by technology. Positive and negative. For starters...watch out for the zappers, your cordless or cellphone, wireless internet, EMF (see Dirty Electricity) and the list goes on. Bio-feeback scanners can help to identify imbalances in the body as an option to support the elimination of pesky symptoms or imbalances. This is such a broad catagory, just be aware and begin there :-).

Vaccinations: How to Recover

(NaturalNews) Vaccinations cause various problems that have led to their becoming controversial more than ever before. Because we now know more about what happens. In this article, we plot a step-by-step route to recovery from their effects.

While some studies show that nearly 40% of those surveyed are seriously considering not vaccinating their children, the majority of those surveyed were vaccinated themselves. (1) Generally, the medical profession thinks of the dangers of vaccinations in terms of deaths or retardation due to adverse reactions to vaccinations. Many parents may think about autism concerns. Actually, the dangers of vaccinations are far more widespread and certain in two important ways.

First, vaccinations interrupt normal immune development when given before immune system maturity. When given after, they serve to hyper-excite one facet of the immune system in its relation to four other stages of natural immune system response. Normally, the immune system goes from:

• - you smelling a sick person to
• - contact with the mucus membranes to
• - the blood (the specific area targeted by vaccinations) to
• - byproducts of pathogen breakdown which then requires activity in the body cells and the lymphatic system.

When one part is over-excited, the others may not function adequately, and the one targeted is likely to react excessively and ineffectively, such as in the case of allergies and auto-immune disease.

Second, vaccinations also deposit a foreign protein (or protein particle) and its attendant cocktail of chemicals (and possibly heavy metals) into the body without natural processes (e.g. injury) to alert the body to repel any invaders. History has shown us sadly that these particles may end up deposited in the body somewhere - usually an already weak area.(2)

These two factors (immune mal-development and deposited supertoxins) have long been criticized by outspoken doctors as possible contributors to rising rates of cancer and other diseases. (3) According to Dr. Richard Schulze, the London Journal of Medicine published two articles in the 1890s which voiced the concerns of medical doctors that cancer rates had quadrupled since the introduction of the compulsory vaccination act there.

Fortunately, today we know more about how to recover from the ill effects of vaccinations than ever before. Following is a formula that can be followed to that end. Also included is a short explanation of each:

1. Do regular cleansing - monthly or seasonally. This helps your body to start cleaning out areas which normally would be ignored as a low priority.
2. Clean your liver vigorously. The liver is in charge of monitoring weak areas of the body and can change digestive chemistry and cravings to suit the needs of a needy area of the body. Unfortunately, due to clutter from stones, stress and toxicity, the liver may never have a chance to do this as it should.
3. Get a massage. The massage therapist will work areas of your body that are not normally attended.
4. Think green...drinks! Raw chlorophyll regenerates blood and enhances resistance to EM radiation and the resonance of heavy toxins.
5. Utilize technology to fight technology by using bio-energetic devices that promote healthy vibration in your home. Technologies such as Quantum Biofeedback can specifically target hidden poisons and the ill resonance they set up in your body.

Thank you for reading,Kal Sellers, MH

References:(1)Riekman, Guy. "Rights and Responsibilities." 2007, Life University. Marietta, GA.(2)Fallon, Joan. "Autism- New Hope." 2008, Life University, Lyceum Speaker.(3)Mendalsohn, Robert S. How to Raise a Healthy Child In Spite of Your Doctor. New York:Ballantine, 1984.

Moving as One

Leadership and Responsiveness

Wonderful little OM today. Key thought...shared vision. Enjoy! ~j

If you have ever seen a flock of geese fly overhead, you know how difficult it is to tell who is leading whom. The geese move in swift syncopation as if they are all responding instantaneously to the same cues, tapped into an unseen force that directs and guides their movement as one. It is the same way with wild horses or a herd of buffalo. Yet in all these cases, there is a leader who has established his position through demonstrations of strength, ability, and dominance. The total cohesiveness of these groups is a symbol both of excellent leadership and an excellent ability to follow. It takes both of these qualities for any group or system to work well.

In human communities, it is not always easy to establish who should be leading and who following. There are many reasons for this, including but not limited to the fact that our ways of determining leadership are less instinctual and therefore less clear. It is very rare that everyone is in complete agreement as to who should lead. In the big picture, of course, competition is a positive factor, preventing stagnation and entrenchment. However, in smaller groups, when a leader is truly called to the position and her constituency is responsive to her leadership, an enormous amount of work can be accomplished. This tends to work only if the individuals in the group share a powerful, heartfelt common goal. This goal is the unseen force that directs and guides the group so that they can move as one.

A flock of geese winging in unison across the sky can serve to remind us of what we can accomplish when we surrender to the greater good. When any group of people moves as one, there is a leader at the helm who has sacrificed his or her individual ego to the larger vision of the group and followers who have done the same. When the ego is subdued, it is easier to sense the right way to go and correctly choose the leader who can best take us there. Like a flock of geese, we move swiftly and harmoniously toward our shared vision.

Primal compliant, Paleo lovers just adapt a bit and enjoy!

Roasted Squash and Turkey Soup!

Don't miss this one~ j

Please feel free to visit my most recent blog site 1 Lap Around the Sun.

It is an offshoot of a one year exploration of my most passionate interests.

~jgirl

Happy New Year!

Celebrate life~

• Let go of those preconceptions and let in a world of the unimaginable!
• Be grateful for your loved ones and those things that make your life rich and full.

Thank you for stopping by and coming back to share ! ~j

“Every once in a blue moon, something new comes along that scrambles your preconceptions.”

Cumin Crusted Sea Bass

4 servings

Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes


* 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 1 pound sea bass fillets, skinned and cut into 4 pieces
* 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
* Lemon or lime wedges


Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Toast cumin seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
3. Grind cumin seeds, salt and pepper with a spice grinder or mortar and pestle into a fine powder. Rub spice mixture on both sides of bass.
4. Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add bass and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
5. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until fish is opaque in the center, 3 to 7 minutes.
6. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately, with lemon or lime wedges.

Delicious with sauteed spinach.

Enjoy! ~j

For the more serious counters, Nutrition information:
Per serving: 138 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 2 g mono); 49 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrates; 22 g protein; 0 g fiber; 224 mg sodium; 336 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (62% daily value).

This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and glowing, on sea and continues and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.
~John Muir

Today, you might simply feel inspired by the beauty of the world around you.

If you want to enhance this focus, you might consider devoting a block of time to spend in a natural setting that fills you with awe and wonder. Oceans, rivers, canyons, and forests would be good places to visit because you can marvel at the power of nature and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds around you.

Wherever you choose to wander today, simply let go of worrisome thoughts and engage fully with beauty and wonder as they heighten your feelings of euphoria.Immersing ourselves completely in beautiful surroundings can lift our thoughts above boredom, petty concerns, and stressful circumstances. Seeking experiences of wonder and awe on a regular basis automatically helps us feel lighter and more carefree. As we spend time in beautiful surroundings, we feel removed from our limited focus and our problems seem to shrink when compared to the raw power and blissful serenity that nature offers. As a result, our mood and mind-set seem to lift and expand, creating a stronger sense of spiritual awareness, inner peace, and abundant joy in all of our experiences.

Embracing the wonder of nature can intensify your feelings of euphoria and make every moment deeper and more meaningful today.

A little Om ~j

Limit Your Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation | Environmental Working Group

Limit Your Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation | Environmental Working Group

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Investigation: Monsanto Seed Biz Role Revealed

By Christopher Leonard, AP Agribusiness Writer , On Monday December 14, 2009, 12:01 am EST

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Confidential contracts detailing Monsanto Co.'s business practices reveal how the world's biggest seed developer is squeezing competitors, controlling smaller seed companies and protecting its dominance over the multibillion-dollar market for genetically altered crops, an Associated Press investigation has found.

Read more here.

Here is a yum salad for a winter treat~

Winter fruit salad
Robb Wolf & Nicki Violetti
February 2005

Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
1 medium blood orange
1 medium ruby red grapefruit
1 medium Fuji apple
1 medium Valencia orange
1 handful of fresh mint
¼ cup pecans
Juice from ½ lime
½ tsp cinnamon

Coarsely chop pecans and set aside. Peel orange, blood orange, and grapefruit and separate into slices. The grapefruit will require some extra effort to remove the thick cortex. Chop each slice into fifths and place in bowl. Cut apple into eighths and then cut into smaller bite-sized pieces. Add to bowl. Mince the mint and add to salad. Add pecans, drizzle with lime juice and sprinkle with cinnamon. Mix and enjoy! Makes ~ 6 Cups

Thanks Catalyst Athletics!

Recovery, a necessity! If regular exercise is a part of your life, then rest and recovery should be just as important.



This one is for you Eric...hope you are really enjoying your new rolling relationship. ~j


Foam Rolling: Part I from Patrick Cummings on Vimeo.


Foam Rolling Part II from Jon Gilson on Vimeo.

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."~Hamilton Wright Mabie

*

Sending wishes of a holiday filled with family, friends, love and joy! May you share laughter and memories to treasure together. Merry Christmas! Blessings! ~j

*

ps. Oh yeah! And delicious morsels prepared to compliment those moments that will live on in your mind for many years to come. However you define your family, the love that Jesus shares brings you just a little closer during Christmas time, whether just for a glimmer of a moment or for a lifetime.

AND/OR

PHYZYKS style

Its begining to look like Christmas!
by Bam on Dec.22, 2009, under Latest Posts, Workouts

Everyone knows the song “The 12 Days of Christmas”. “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me……” A close friend of mine designed a workout a few years ago using that song as a templet. The workout goes like the song. Do the first exercise, the second, back to the first, to the third, second and the first again. Continue till you get to twelve.
1 bear crawl 50ft
2 burpees
3 v ups
4 turkish get ups
5 swings
6 squats
7 jerks
8 situps
9 rows
10 jumping squats
11 clock taps
12 jumping lunges

You can use single or double bells.
Enjoy! Merry Christmas!

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living! ~Amanda Bradley

It's time to Celebrate!

'It’s interesting to think of what it would mean to us if we let ourselves wear our nicest clothes and eat off the good china on a daily basis. We might be sending ourselves the message that every day we are alive is a special day and a cause for celebration, and that we are worth it. There is something uplifting about treating ourselves to the finest of what we have. It is as if we rise to the occasion when we wear our best clothes and set the table beautifully, as if for a very special guest. We are more mindful of where we place things, what we are eating, and who is with us. Using the good china, and eating in the dining room might be an invitation to be more conscious of the beauty and grace inherent in our everyday lives.'

With joyful anticipation of your great celebration! ~j

Merry Christmas CrossFit style. It's all GOOD!

Many blessings to all no matter how you share the love, spirit and joy~

~j

The 12 Days WOD from Hollis Molloy on Vimeo.

“Creativity comes from awakening and directing men's higher natures, which originate in the primal depths of the uni- verse and are appointed by Heaven.”
I Ching

Hey gang!

Seems like my favorite boys are out and on the loose. Living the life, talking the talk, walking the walk.

Berardi, Wolf and now Sissons. I had the pleasure of meeting Mark Sissons last week and he is the real deal. You can get a flavor for him on his blog (Mark's Daily Apple).

I love the fact that the boys have come out of the gate blazing. The primal style of eating is very health promoting and when you combine that with sustainable and conscious habits, well, you pretty much have it nailed. Just remember not to forget your leafy greens, a point that I think is key in a successful primal eating.

So enjoy this interview. Keep it real! ~j

CrossFit Radio Appearance | Mark's Daily Apple

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The Paleolitic Solution - Episode 5

Nice work Robb! ~j

Take a listen to the Paleolitic Solution podcasts. There is a wealth of information here. It's great to see more and more support for real food.

Enjoy! ~j

Inward calm cannot be maintained
unless physical strength is constantly and intelligently replenished
~Buddha

Dr Berardi has many sound principles for healthy lifestyle changes when it comes to exercise and nutrition. Rooted in the wisdom of the past and the knowledge of today's cutting edge science. He is one of my favorites!

He doesn't quite go to the extreme's of a Paleo diet, but he pretty much hits all the key points regarding nutrient timing and quality of food.

Whatever your program is, take to heart that making the changes stick makes the difference. Eating and emotion often come into play especially with the holiday season upon us.

Change is not always easy, but when you commit to options that offer a future with a better quality of life, you want look back and say, YES!

Enjoy and take to heart the advice that follows. ~j

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/

Write while the heat is in you.

The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts

uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with.

He cannot inflame the minds of his audience.

~Henry David Thoreau

Breathing Excitement into Life

You may yearn for freedom and adventure today. You might also feel restricted in what you can do, which could cause you to want to explore other pathways. Spending some quiet time alone might help you define what kinds of experiences you desire so that you can come up with ideas for making them happen. If you seek more excitement in your life, you might want to pursue activities that inspire you and bring an element of enthusiasm to your experiences. Activities like dance, artistic expression, and athletic games could get your blood flowing and breathe some excitement into your day. You could also consider taking a trip today to an exotic location or explore areas you’ve never been to that are close to home.

Engaging in new activities and exploring new locations can satisfy our desire for more adventure. Most of us tend to be creatures of habit and forget the benefits of having new kinds of experiences. When we begin to feel stifled or bored with our normal routine, we can simply make a decision to step outside of our comfort zones and try interesting activities. Our minds will be stimulated by the input of new sights, sounds, and experiences, and we will begin to feel interested in life again. Even our usual activities can then take on a new air of excitement because we are engaging in them with a fresh, positive attitude. By making an effort to stretch beyond your limiting activities and pursue some new experiences today, you will be calling in positive energy that will transform your life.

Breathe in, breathe out, begin again. ~j

This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and glowing, on sea and continues and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.
~John Muir

Today, you might simply feel inspired by the beauty of the world around you.

If you want to enhance this focus, you might consider devoting a block of time to spend in a natural setting that fills you with awe and wonder. Oceans, rivers, canyons, and forests would be good places to visit because you can marvel at the power of nature and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds around you.

Wherever you choose to wander today, simply let go of worrisome thoughts and engage fully with beauty and wonder as they heighten your feelings of euphoria.Immersing ourselves completely in beautiful surroundings can lift our thoughts above boredom, petty concerns, and stressful circumstances. Seeking experiences of wonder and awe on a regular basis automatically helps us feel lighter and more carefree. As we spend time in beautiful surroundings, we feel removed from our limited focus and our problems seem to shrink when compared to the raw power and blissful serenity that nature offers. As a result, our mood and mind-set seem to lift and expand, creating a stronger sense of spiritual awareness, inner peace, and abundant joy in all of our experiences.

Embracing the wonder of nature can intensify your feelings of euphoria and make every moment deeper and more meaningful today.

A little Om ~j

Know Your Food
Eating Close to the Earth

Pertinent little OM today. As we continue to approach the holidays awareness will provide many pleasures of the palate. ~j

The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is, much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form of the highest caliber. And the nourishment we derive from this fare promotes wellness within us. But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that the profound pleasures of eating go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating close to the earth.

If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that there is a marked difference between these foods and those that are processed and stacked on supermarket shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its original life force and thus has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure you are eating close to the earth—and enjoying the many benefits of doing so—by shopping at a local farmers market and getting to know the individuals who grow your food. If you make the experience of shopping in this way enjoyable, you will be more apt to reject more convenient canned, packaged, and frozen foods in favor of the real delight you feel while browsing stalls of fresh foods nourished by the same soil you can find in your own backyard. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area and how to prepare them.

As you savor the vivid flavors of juicy ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you can also take pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the earth, you are supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem, discouraging those who would waste precious fossil fuels by carting produce cross-country, and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries.

On Self Knowledge ~Kahlil Gibran

And a man said, Speak to us of Self-Knowledge.

And he answered, saying:

Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.

But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.

You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.

You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.

And it is well you should.

The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs

rise and run murmuring to the sea;

And the treasure of your infinite depths

would be revealed to your eyes.

But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;

And seek not the depths of your knowledge

with staff or sounding line.

For self is a sea boundless and measureless.

Say not, "I have found the truth"

but rather, "I have found a truth."

Say not, "I have found the path of the soul."

Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path."

For the soul walks upon all paths.

The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.

The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.

Thanks Jeff for reminding me that sometimes the message is not about me! We are all connected at a very deep level. Busy or not, there is always a little time for sharing. I value and enjoy that those of you who do drop in just might be on the same page that I am today. Thanks!

*

With the busy-ness of the season upon us, it is an incredible time hear that you would know in words that which you have always known in thought. How often do you find yourself completely wrapped up in your head. For me it is usually while I am driving and then, once the destination has been reached, poof. I feel like Chicken Little, 'what were we talking about again?'!

*

Roaming unencumbered in the place inside that is free, fearless, creative and soulful, honestly I find it magical. This time of year often brings emotions and memories from years gone by, or reflection upon our dreams and aspirations of the future. Don't let them slip back into the depths! Allow those petals to unfold even if just a little. Reveal a little more of your soul today, if not to the world, to yourself!

*

And smile, you are on your path! ~j

Another one from the archives~

Perspective!

"Autobiography in Five Chapters"
From the "Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche. *

1) I walk down the street.....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....I fall in.....I am lost...I am hopeless.....It isn't my fault.....It takes forever to find a way out. *

2) I walk down the same street.....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.....I pretend I don't see it.....I fall in again.....I can't believe I'm in the same place.....But it isn't my fault.....It still takes a long time to get out *

3) I walk down the same street.....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....I see it is there.....I still fall in... it's a habit....My eyes are open....I know where I am....It is MY fault.....I get out immediately. *

4) I walk down the same street.....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....I walk around it. *

5) I walk down another street.

Be who you are and say what you feel

because those who mind don't matter and

those who matter don't mind.

~Dr. Seuss

*

Taking a new step can be challenging. Changing your eating habits while your friends and family aren't can seem impossible. BUT...be gracious. Respect their choices as you ask them to respect yours. You never, know, they just might want to come along for the ride!

Challenge: One quart of green smoothie a day for 30 days.
*

Being prepared by eating before a get together, holiday event or outing will help reduce cravings for foods that you could be tempted by. The Holidays are here! Don't be intimidated.

JUST SAY NO! to overdoing your intake, to excess sweets and unhealthy plates. Delicious healthy real foods are available and quite a treat.

It's true, food is often like a drug. It is up to you whether you want to be addicted or not. Sugar, caffeine, carbs, they can all produce this chemical effect. Test out the theory. Don't take my word for it. There is no better time to test things out like the holidays :-)

*

Each step you take toward changing your lifestyle is a step toward quality LIFE!

Enjoy a healthy balance.

*

HOW MANY LIVING FOODS HAVE YOU EATEN TODAY?

Salad

Smoothie

Fresh juice

Whole fruit

Raw nuts

Veggie nibbles

*

In health! ~j

"The definition of success--
To laugh much;
to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children;
to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others; to give one's self;
to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.;
to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--
this is to have succeeded."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Now many people will define success in many ways, but this one kind of sums it up. Really it is about being your true self. Take a little time for yourself today, or tomorrow if you are already scheduled to the nines today. But give yourself permission to breathe, deeply, with intention; permission to nourish yourself with healthy foods and with rest.

Pray, meditate, or just stop for a moment and look at where you are. Can you define happiness enough so say that you are happy? Are you fulfilled enough to spill over on your family, friends and those that come across your path?

Taking just that moment (or more) that you fully deserve to find your giggle, your smile, your joy, will go far in helping you see clearly those choices that are right for you!

Action for today:

Find your theme song. What is the song out there, new or old, popular or obscure that describes you today or inspires you toward tomorrow?

Namaste ~j

The Role of Diet in Mental Health

Use your imagination not to scare yourself to death

but to inspire yourself to life.

~Adele Brookman

Hello gang! Yes, behind as usual. Looking forward to some fresh perspective, however, in preparation for new content, I realized that there is a whole bunch of great posts buried in the back!

So, please enjoy a few oldies but goodies as I get back into the habit of posting daily!

This one is inspired by a new client call and concern about Vitamin D levels that were just tested for her. Vitamin D is important for our immune health and some people can't get out in the sun during these cooler months. Also, if they can get out in the sun...they can't convert Vitamin D in the body properly. This does not mean run right out and eat enriched processed products. That is not the solution. The solution is to get educated and then make a decision. ~j

Sunlight and Vitamin D are little known healers that are often overlooked. We have been so afraid to get any natural sunlight on our bodies over the last 20 years that we are really missing out. Mike Adams, The Health Ranger, says, "Seeking out sunlight in safe, reasonable doses, does wonders for your health and may, in fact, render all sorts of conventional medical therapies irrelevant." Now, Mike is an interesting guy and he is doing a very "good work" in this world. Basically he investingates and publishes, truths from a natural perspective.

Oh, and I agree. The amounts of mis-information that we have been fed...it's just astonishing! In our family, we no longer use sunscreen on a regular basis and we are in the sun a lot down here in Southern California. When we do feel that we will be overexposed, we use a natural based sunscreen that does not include many chemicals and carcinogens.

For many many more details, I highly encourage you to dowload and view the FREE truthpublishing ebook "The Healing Power of Sunshine and Vitamin D." http://www.truthpublishing.com/healingsunlight_p/pdf-cat21258.htm

This special report contains information you probably won't hear from your doctor or dermatologist, because it goes against everything they believe about sunlight. But recent research is proving that not getting enough sunlight is extremely dangerous to your health because it causes vitamin D deficiencies that promote chronic disease.

Now...how long has it been since you've watched the sunrise or set? Those moments will not necessarily provide you with extra Vitamin D, but will provide great enjoyment :-)

In light! ~j

Mapping the Inner Journey

Journaling as Meditation

A powerful OM today. Connecting heaven and earth. ~j

Of the countless forms of meditation we can use, journaling offers its own unique benefits. Most meditations help empty the mind of concerns and bring positive ideas from our mental landscape, but journaling helps us anchor that experience in the material world. Not every person is attracted to meditating in seated silence, and journal meditation is a nice alternative as an active meditation. It allows us to trace our journey and see where we have grown and what lessons we may be repeating. By employing a different part of the brain than creative or inspired thought, writing or typing a journal can create a greater sense of connection and union with our physical selves and the world around us.

In working through challenges, it can be helpful to first empty all worries from our heads onto the safe pages of our journal. Fears can be brought to light rather than allowing them to haunt the dark corners of our subconscious. We may even feel heaviness dissipate once our heads are free from clutter, leaving space for inspiration and the creation of positive images in their place. Often in the process of writing out all the details of an event that troubles us, something that had been forgotten will come to the surface, providing a missing piece of the puzzle. Then we can truly begin to come up with answers, and write them down beside the worries to map the way from concern to constructive thought.

For capturing guidance and flashes of inspiration, journaling is ideal. This is especially true in the case of dreams, which often fade as we awaken. While working toward goals, keeping track of progress as well as guidance from readings or divination tools can be encouraging. Though it can be difficult to keep all of our guidance in the front of our minds, if we write it down it can serve as a reminder whenever we need it. We can also use our journals to converse with our higher selves or even the universe. Journaling offers yet another way to unburden mind and spirit, while also creating a record of the present and preserving our hopes and dreams for the future.

"We have the capacity to consciously evaluate our responses to environmental stimuli
and
change old responses any time we desire...
once we deal with the powerful subconscious mind.
We are not stuck with our genes or our self-defeating behavior!"

~Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., author of The Biology of Belief

Hey gang!

I know that I have been MIA with the commentary lately. That facebook thing is so fast and available. But I feel that there is such a shift rising on the swell that I will be spending more time here. So thanks for your patience!

Everything is in a constant state of change. Making a conscious change includes the whole package the physical and mental/emotional/spiritual. Changing your lifestyle for good is about consistency.

• A dishonest yes to someone else is a no to yourself (Byron Katie). Be true to yourself or at least start learning what that means. Take care of yourself because if you are sick, weak or otherwise distracted in the past or the future, you can't be present in your life. Don't miss out!
• Share and extra ordinary action or a kind word with those that are part of your sacred circle, family, loved ones, your peeps, pals or just best buds.
• Find your integrity in your community, even with those that you don't know. Our celebrity examples are certainly showing us what not to do! We are all connected in this life and when you dishonor yourself you dishonor others and vice versa.

Keep it real.

With a grateful heart and a vital force! ~j

Auburn Black & White Ball

Summer Nights - It's America, Anywhere USA

We'll be there! Our first time to attend this local event. Hope you'll join us if you are in town :-) ~j

http://www.partyauburn.com/

Some Swine Flu With Your French Fries?

Russian Scientists: H1N1 linked to Genetically Modified Food

Be aware, be prepared...this is an eye opener folks. Stop eating GMO foods, give your body a chance, keep your immune system healthy so that it can take protect us from these nasty man-made viruses. If you don't know about genetically modified foods, get in the know, now.

Scouting motto: Be prepared...in body and mind. ~j

Below is an excerpt from Winston Kao's newsletter connecting the swine flu virus and fast food french fries. This is one of the number of things that the virus appears to be specifically designed to be triggered by.

The molecular formula of Amylopectin, the responsible enzyme in these potatoes, is variable according to wikipedia.com. Best course of action...first, stop eating fast food french fries (additionally the rest of the fast processed foods too)! Then consider how to detox all those chemicals out.

Amylopectin — Molecular Formula: VariableAccording to http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Amylopectin

Scientists from Russia's Ministry of Health are warning in a secret report to Prime Minister Putin that they have discovered a 'critical link' between the H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) virus and genetically modified amylopectin potatoes that are consumed in massive quantities nearly exclusively by Westerners and sold in fast food restaurants as French Fries.

According to these reports, the protease enzyme genetically modified in the potatoes being sold through Western fast food restaurants as French Fries to protect against Potato virus X causes an "explosive" replication of the H1N1 influenza virus in the body.

Evidence confirming these dire findings is also supported by the World Health Organization who in their reporting on the current Influenza Pandemic, clearly show that the H1N1 virus is nearly totally confined to those Western Nations allowing their citizens to consume these genetically modified potatoes, and which include: The United States with over 17,000 cases being reported with 45 deaths; Canada with 2,978 cases; the United Kingdom with 1,226 cases; and Australia with 1,823 cases.

Important to also note about the World Health Organization' s statistics on the spread of the H1N1 Pandemic influenza virus is that Chile is the only country in the World outside of The United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia to allow the planting of these genetically modified potatoes due to their Free Trade Pact with the US and who are reporting 1,694 cases of this disease.

Most of the World's largest Nations do not allow the planting of these genetically modified potatoes and therefore are reporting very limited outbreaks of the H1N1 Pandemic influenza, including Russia with 3 cases, China, the world's most populated country, with 318 cases, and India, the World's second largest country, with 16. Who consumes the majority of these GMO French fries? Our kids! This was recently confirmed by the Washington Post News Service that reported:"Of the 5,000 confirmed and more than 100,000 probable cases of swine flu, the average age of infected people is 15; two thirds are younger than 18.

"These reports further warn that though the genetic history of this insidious man-made influenza seems to initially offer some protection for those Nations not consuming these genetically modified potatoes, to believe so would be a "grave mistake" as new evidence is emerging that this H1N1 Pandemic influenza virus is rapidly mutating, and as we can read from these two reports:"The new strain of influenza appears to have mutated to become more infectious for humans."

From the online edition of science magazine Nature reported last Monday, referencing research by a team including Prof. Yoshihiro Kawaoka of Tokyo University's Institute of Medical Science. The surface of influenza virus particles are covered with thorn-shaped proteins, which allows the virus to stick to human cells. After analyzing multiple samples of the new flu virus, the team ascertained that in some cases the new H1N1 strain has mutated, allowing the strain to stick to human cells more easily.

According to Professor Kawaoka, the same mutations have been found in, the highly virulent bird flu, which kills about 60 percent of those it infects. Kawaoka said the virus is still in the process of mutating into a form even more infectious to humans."More ominously to be examined in these reports is the response of the United States to this Pandemic which, to date, is the World's largest infected Nation (reporting 7 more H1N1 flu deaths today) and which has already declared a Public Health Emergency and, just yesterday, passed a bill in Congress allocating $7.7 Billion to prepare themselves for this catastrophic disease.

Here are a few websites so that you can at least see and learn the truth about vaccines rapidly:

• National Vaccine Information Center http://www.nvic.org/
• Kids Need Options With Vaccines www.know-vaccines. org
• Vaccination Liberation - Exemption Information www.vaclib.org/ exemption. htmVideo: Swine Flu 1976 & Propaganda - The Devastation, The Victims Who Took The Shots Back In 1976 - "WARNING" "WARNING" - 16 Min http://loveforlife. com.au/node/ 6636