Sauerkraut first. About 12 days ago I made my first batch of sauerkraut from cabbage grown in the shala's organic garden. I tasted it at ten days. It is amazing! The crispness, the freshness, the 'fermenty' richness .. its in a jar on the kitchen counter .. looking lively and green.
Two days ago I harvested 3+ pounds of cabbage and spent part of the day making sauerkraut (and raw goat milk yogurt). This is the eighth fermented food I have made (idli, natto, dosa, kefir, yogurt, dhokla, saurkraut, sourdough. Then there are the fermented drinks, like mead and tea.).
I am really enjoying both the process of fermentation and the many health benefits. Like promoting the overall health of the intestinal tract, improving the bodies natural enzyme and vitamin absorption, and other pluses. Naturally then, I am also looking forward to preserving with whey and fermentation when the garden starts producing root or vine vegetables.
But moreso is how fermentation is introducing itself to me as an Old Mother. She is older than humans, in that fruits naturally ferment, so have been doing so on their own before we walked our first steps. And for my ancestry, in the Caucasian Region, there have been found vessels containing wine that is 8,000 years old.
Fermentation is a wise teacher of transformation, of changing one thing into something simplier. Ah .. the beauty of simplicity in my life! Yes .. simplicity is something that is blossoming within me - since my resolution at NY, and even moreso since my 50th birthday in April.
Yes .. this Old Mother - perhaps Madhudevate - is the mistress of mystery and miracle, of rising from the dead even. And she is an Old Mother - a woman - because where food was scarce, this wiseone preserved and kept the foods - and the vital nutrients - that kept the hearth healthy in fallow times.
As to the health fair .. I participated in one yesterday at a local health food store (link above). It was quite a success because I met several local healers and reconnected with a few that I hadnt seen in a few years.
Plus .. Lakshmi was with me, for my luck was strong! I won an organic products gift basket!
Locally, I met some massage therapists (both eastern and western), a clinical herbalist, reflexologist, and a fellow Reiki practitioner. Both the therapist and reflexologist took my Ayurvedic classes when they were part of a certification course in Thai Yoga Body Therapy, so we knew some of the same folk and shared some mutual teachers.
And all but one of these were women .. healers all. Shakti is near and dear to my heart, so I dearly love to meet with, to sit with, to share tea with, to exchange experiences with women healters.
In all, it has been a very productive two days - filled with healing and laughter, of new ideas and information!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Pattabhi Jois Passes Away
Yoga guru Pattabhi Jois dies at 93
Memorial planned in London for influential teacher of ashtanga yoga
Thousands of devotees of ashtanga yoga will perform their primary series with a heavy heart today after learning of the death at 93 of the influential teacher in the movement, Krishna Pattabhi Jois.
The yoga expert, credited with popularising the ancient system of ashtanga, died at his home in Mysore, India, on Monday. He was responsible for bringing the physically challenging form of yoga to the west, and counted among his followers Madonna, who included the traditional ashtanga chant on her Ray of Light album, and the actor Gwyneth Paltrow.
Ashtanga practitioners perform a series of yoga postures, known as asanas, daily and in strict sequential order. Beginners carry out the primary series, moving on to the secondary series. There are six series altogether, but only a handful of students in the UK are known to have passed the third stage.
Although the yoga positions are believed to be thousands of years old, it was Pattabhi Jois who became the most famous teacher of the Astanga Vinyasa system in the west. He left his native India in 1975 to teach classes in California, and has visited the UK several times, teaching up to 300 students at a time.
In north London, the Triyoga centre in Primrose Hill issued a statement saying: "Guruji was much loved for his heart, his smile, his humour and his devotion – both to his family and to ashtanga vinyasa yoga."
The centre is organising a memorial event on Sunday week, with a sequence of 108 sun salutations in his honour. All are welcome, the centre says, adding kindly: "Come and sit if you prefer."
AND
City's 'Yoga Guru' Pattabhi Jois passes away
Mysore, May 19 (BRS)- Renowned Yoga Guru Pattabhi Jois passed away at his residence here yesterday afternoon. His end came at about 2.30 pm.
He was 94. Pattabhi Jois, who was ailing for the past few days, was active teaching yoga till the end. He is survived by son Manju Jois, daughter Saraswathi and grandson Sharath, apart from a large number of relatives and disciples.
Profile
Pattabhi Jois was born in 1915 to K. Krishna Jois-Subbamma couple in a small village of Koushika, Hassan District.
He began learning yoga at the age of 12 and later under the guidance of T. Krishnamacharya between 1927 and 1945. Subsequently, he enrolled in the Sanskrit Mahapatashala, Mysore and learnt Sahitya Veda and Advaita Vedanta from 1930 to 1956.
He studied ancient yogic texts such as Patanjali Yoga Dar-shana, Hatayoga Pradeepika, all Upanishads and others. He set up a school of yoga called Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, training hundreds of students in various nuances of yoga. He gained name and fame by his lucid exposition of the curative and medical benefits of practising yoga.
Jois, reverentially addressed as Guruji, was honoured by the title 'Yogasana Visharada' by Sri Shankaracharya of Puri in 1945. He was Professor and Head of the Department of Yoga at Maharaja's Sanskrit College from 1937 to 1973. He has toured extensively across the world, guiding innumerable yoga workshops in the USA, England and France. A number of Hollywood stars and other VIPs are among his students.
His book titled Yoga Mala in Kannada is considered authoritative on the subject and has been translated into English and published by well-known publishing house of the USA namely Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG).
Very recently, the Union Tourism Minister honoured him for fostering tourism in Mysore by way of attracting foreigners to the city in large numbers to learn yoga.
Last rites
The last rites of Pattabhi Jois were performed last evening at Chirashanthidhama in Gokulam.
Memorial planned in London for influential teacher of ashtanga yoga
Thousands of devotees of ashtanga yoga will perform their primary series with a heavy heart today after learning of the death at 93 of the influential teacher in the movement, Krishna Pattabhi Jois.
The yoga expert, credited with popularising the ancient system of ashtanga, died at his home in Mysore, India, on Monday. He was responsible for bringing the physically challenging form of yoga to the west, and counted among his followers Madonna, who included the traditional ashtanga chant on her Ray of Light album, and the actor Gwyneth Paltrow.
Ashtanga practitioners perform a series of yoga postures, known as asanas, daily and in strict sequential order. Beginners carry out the primary series, moving on to the secondary series. There are six series altogether, but only a handful of students in the UK are known to have passed the third stage.
Although the yoga positions are believed to be thousands of years old, it was Pattabhi Jois who became the most famous teacher of the Astanga Vinyasa system in the west. He left his native India in 1975 to teach classes in California, and has visited the UK several times, teaching up to 300 students at a time.
In north London, the Triyoga centre in Primrose Hill issued a statement saying: "Guruji was much loved for his heart, his smile, his humour and his devotion – both to his family and to ashtanga vinyasa yoga."
The centre is organising a memorial event on Sunday week, with a sequence of 108 sun salutations in his honour. All are welcome, the centre says, adding kindly: "Come and sit if you prefer."
AND
City's 'Yoga Guru' Pattabhi Jois passes away
Mysore, May 19 (BRS)- Renowned Yoga Guru Pattabhi Jois passed away at his residence here yesterday afternoon. His end came at about 2.30 pm.
He was 94. Pattabhi Jois, who was ailing for the past few days, was active teaching yoga till the end. He is survived by son Manju Jois, daughter Saraswathi and grandson Sharath, apart from a large number of relatives and disciples.
Profile
Pattabhi Jois was born in 1915 to K. Krishna Jois-Subbamma couple in a small village of Koushika, Hassan District.
He began learning yoga at the age of 12 and later under the guidance of T. Krishnamacharya between 1927 and 1945. Subsequently, he enrolled in the Sanskrit Mahapatashala, Mysore and learnt Sahitya Veda and Advaita Vedanta from 1930 to 1956.
He studied ancient yogic texts such as Patanjali Yoga Dar-shana, Hatayoga Pradeepika, all Upanishads and others. He set up a school of yoga called Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, training hundreds of students in various nuances of yoga. He gained name and fame by his lucid exposition of the curative and medical benefits of practising yoga.
Jois, reverentially addressed as Guruji, was honoured by the title 'Yogasana Visharada' by Sri Shankaracharya of Puri in 1945. He was Professor and Head of the Department of Yoga at Maharaja's Sanskrit College from 1937 to 1973. He has toured extensively across the world, guiding innumerable yoga workshops in the USA, England and France. A number of Hollywood stars and other VIPs are among his students.
His book titled Yoga Mala in Kannada is considered authoritative on the subject and has been translated into English and published by well-known publishing house of the USA namely Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG).
Very recently, the Union Tourism Minister honoured him for fostering tourism in Mysore by way of attracting foreigners to the city in large numbers to learn yoga.
Last rites
The last rites of Pattabhi Jois were performed last evening at Chirashanthidhama in Gokulam.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Rethink your Soymilk
Silk, SoyDream, Pacific Natural Foods and Vitasoy all Rebuked in New Soy Scorecard Ratings
by: Mike Adams
The Cornucopia Institute (www.cornucopia.org) has just released a new report about organic soy products that's sending shockwaves through the soy industry.
By compiling information on the sourcing of soybeans, the use of toxic chemicals for soy protein extraction, and the use or avoidance of genetically modified soybeans, the Cornucopia Institute has created an Organic Soy Scorecard that reveals which soy product companies are truly trustworthy vs. those that are not.
The scorecard (http://www.cornucopia.org/2009/05/s...) takes into account:
-Where the soybeans are sourced from (many companies use "organic" soybeans sourced from China!)
-How the soybeans are processed (some companies bathe soybeans in toxic chemicals, then put the resulting extracts into infant formula!)
-How forthright the companies are in providing information to investigators.
-Whether the company tests for and avoids genetically modified soybeans.
...and other details.
You can read the full report on www.Cornucopia.org
Here's who came out on top.
The soy companies scorecard ..
5-star rating:
-Eden Foods - 100% of their soybeans are grown in the U.S. and Canada.
-Vermont Soy (Vermont) - 100% of soybeans also grown in U.S. and Canada (mostly in Vermont). Low-heat pasteurization helps preserve soybean nutrients.
-Small Planet Tofu (Washington) - Buys solely from American farmers.
-FarmSoy (Tennessee) - Real tofu made from soybeans bought from American farmers.
-TwinOats (Virginia) - Buys soybeans from an organic family farm in Virginia.
-Unisoya / Green Cuisine (Canada) - They grown their own organic soybeans on 400 acres.
4-star rating:
-Organic Valley
-Great Eastern Sun
-Fresh Tofu
-Wildwood
-Tofu Shop
3-star rating:
-Harris Teeter
2-star rating:
-Trader Joe's - refused to disclose sourcing information.
1-star rating:
-Pacific Natural Foods - Buys soybeans from China and refused to disclose the name of the organic certifier in China. Refused to respond to questions about the certification of their "organic" soybeans. Cornucopia wonders whether Pacific Natural Foods is engaged in "a marketing gimmick" when it claims its products are "Certified to the Source." (Certified by who?)
-Vitasoy USA - Buys soybeans from China.
-Westsoy / SoyDream (both owned by Hain Celestial Group) - Refused to share sourcing information.
-Silk (Dean Foods) - Refused to participate. Says the report: "Since Dean Foods acquired WhiteWave, its founder, Steve Demos, has left the company, along with almost all of the pioneering management - those who believed in "green" values. According to Demos, the company is now all about "green, with the dead presidents on it."
by: Mike Adams
The Cornucopia Institute (www.cornucopia.org) has just released a new report about organic soy products that's sending shockwaves through the soy industry.
By compiling information on the sourcing of soybeans, the use of toxic chemicals for soy protein extraction, and the use or avoidance of genetically modified soybeans, the Cornucopia Institute has created an Organic Soy Scorecard that reveals which soy product companies are truly trustworthy vs. those that are not.
The scorecard (http://www.cornucopia.org/2009/05/s...) takes into account:
-Where the soybeans are sourced from (many companies use "organic" soybeans sourced from China!)
-How the soybeans are processed (some companies bathe soybeans in toxic chemicals, then put the resulting extracts into infant formula!)
-How forthright the companies are in providing information to investigators.
-Whether the company tests for and avoids genetically modified soybeans.
...and other details.
You can read the full report on www.Cornucopia.org
Here's who came out on top.
The soy companies scorecard ..
5-star rating:
-Eden Foods - 100% of their soybeans are grown in the U.S. and Canada.
-Vermont Soy (Vermont) - 100% of soybeans also grown in U.S. and Canada (mostly in Vermont). Low-heat pasteurization helps preserve soybean nutrients.
-Small Planet Tofu (Washington) - Buys solely from American farmers.
-FarmSoy (Tennessee) - Real tofu made from soybeans bought from American farmers.
-TwinOats (Virginia) - Buys soybeans from an organic family farm in Virginia.
-Unisoya / Green Cuisine (Canada) - They grown their own organic soybeans on 400 acres.
4-star rating:
-Organic Valley
-Great Eastern Sun
-Fresh Tofu
-Wildwood
-Tofu Shop
3-star rating:
-Harris Teeter
2-star rating:
-Trader Joe's - refused to disclose sourcing information.
1-star rating:
-Pacific Natural Foods - Buys soybeans from China and refused to disclose the name of the organic certifier in China. Refused to respond to questions about the certification of their "organic" soybeans. Cornucopia wonders whether Pacific Natural Foods is engaged in "a marketing gimmick" when it claims its products are "Certified to the Source." (Certified by who?)
-Vitasoy USA - Buys soybeans from China.
-Westsoy / SoyDream (both owned by Hain Celestial Group) - Refused to share sourcing information.
-Silk (Dean Foods) - Refused to participate. Says the report: "Since Dean Foods acquired WhiteWave, its founder, Steve Demos, has left the company, along with almost all of the pioneering management - those who believed in "green" values. According to Demos, the company is now all about "green, with the dead presidents on it."
Monday, May 18, 2009
Health Fair Georgia
I started a yahoo list to discuss alternative health and lifestyle approaches. Click on the link above to check it out!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Friday, May 15, 2009
Aging and Yoga
"The body is designed to heal itself .. it wants to be healthy, so will rejuvenate itself. All we have to do is assist it by either not dumping toxins in it, or reducing the amount of those toxins."
-Yogini Valarie Devi
Ayurveda, the 'science of life and living', constantly emphasizes the bodies natural resiliancy. In a society that actually encourages / expects us to take drugs, hormone replacement or invasive surgery as we age, Ayurveda - a 4,000 year old practice - tells us otherwise. Yoga has long contended that our body was built to last 120 years .. naturally, vital and strong, with a slow aging process.
Yet, when we look around us, we see those who seem to age faster than others.
To help us live Yogically .. naturally .. and to support the body in its natural desire to be healthy, here are a few simply, at home things you can do.
First, drink green tea.
Instead of coffee, drink green tea. If you have trouble waking-up, it will help you do that, while helping your brain combat the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of mental deneration.
The polyphenols and antioxidants in green tea increase our cognitive and learning ability. Specifically, catechin - a polyphenol found only in green tea - is four times higher than that found in regular (or black) tea.
Couple this with the latest reseach on green tea, that relates how it helps the body loose belly fat, and you add a powerful boost to your weight lose efforts.
Second, up your magnesium.
Our body needs magnesium to maintain healthy bones, but perhaps more important .. to maintain healthy cells, which help the body to produce energy and regenerate more effectively.
Many people hinder their bodies magnisium absorption by eating too much dairy and too much salt, which leach the magnesium from both the bones and cells. So instead of taking a pill, reduce the amount of processed food that you eat.
Once such way is to eat brown rice and wheat germ, which are high in magnesium; whereas processed white rice and white bread / pasta / flour, are not.
Other great and munchy sources of magnisium include: Brazil nuts and almonds, sesame and sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and cashews.
Other ways the body uses magnesium include relief from muscle cramps (its not always lack of water or vitamin B), and protection from UV rays.
Next, try cardamom.
Many of us enjoy chai .. that wonderful spicy tea found in grocery stores. The primary flavor there is cardamom, and its one of the primary ingredients in Ayurveda because it improves circulation, increases energy levels, and stimulates our mental clarity.
Cardamom is also an antidepressant for emotional disorders, so enchances our overall wellbeing. Additionally, bees that are drawn to orchids also love cardamom, which balances their pheromones, which, in humans, directly improves our sexual drive.
In fact, in many ways cardamom is a 'wonder' herb because it also eases indigestion, reduces fever, eases gastro-intestinal discomfort, and just plain tastes great in just about everything. It can be added to tea, baked into breads, and even sprinkled over oatmeal.
Finally, magnolia.
Yes .. that lovely tree with the thick green leaves and beautiful white flowers. In our stressed-out, rapid-paced, tension ridden society, magnolia is a blessing to us all. It will relieve nervious tension, induce sleep, increase mental focus, and ease irritability. Medical research has also shown it to be a powerful aid in the the fight against eating disorders.
Consider how so many of us reach for 'comfort food' when stressed-out. 'Situational foods' like chocolate, ice cream and other sweets temporarily relieve stress, but that is only a short fix for a chronic condition. One that leads to overeating and weight gain.
To break this harmful cycle, magnolia is there to help the body improve digestions, regulate the appetite, and reduce swelling and bloating.
That beautiful white flower, for example, is a powerful remedy for allergies and sinus conditions. And recent medical studies have found that magnolia contains the phytochemical honokiol, which helps the body ward off stress, control the appetite and aid in weight management.
So if you have seen magnolia capsules at the grocery store, now you know why.
Remember .. Yoga is more than just a way to get in shape and loose weight, but it is also a powerful ally for the body to maintain lifelong health and fitness.
All of us are interested in living long and productive lives, to better enjoy the wonders of the world around us ... Yoga and Ayurveda help us do just that!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
-Yogini Valarie Devi
Ayurveda, the 'science of life and living', constantly emphasizes the bodies natural resiliancy. In a society that actually encourages / expects us to take drugs, hormone replacement or invasive surgery as we age, Ayurveda - a 4,000 year old practice - tells us otherwise. Yoga has long contended that our body was built to last 120 years .. naturally, vital and strong, with a slow aging process.
Yet, when we look around us, we see those who seem to age faster than others.
To help us live Yogically .. naturally .. and to support the body in its natural desire to be healthy, here are a few simply, at home things you can do.
First, drink green tea.
Instead of coffee, drink green tea. If you have trouble waking-up, it will help you do that, while helping your brain combat the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of mental deneration.
The polyphenols and antioxidants in green tea increase our cognitive and learning ability. Specifically, catechin - a polyphenol found only in green tea - is four times higher than that found in regular (or black) tea.
Couple this with the latest reseach on green tea, that relates how it helps the body loose belly fat, and you add a powerful boost to your weight lose efforts.
Second, up your magnesium.
Our body needs magnesium to maintain healthy bones, but perhaps more important .. to maintain healthy cells, which help the body to produce energy and regenerate more effectively.
Many people hinder their bodies magnisium absorption by eating too much dairy and too much salt, which leach the magnesium from both the bones and cells. So instead of taking a pill, reduce the amount of processed food that you eat.
Once such way is to eat brown rice and wheat germ, which are high in magnesium; whereas processed white rice and white bread / pasta / flour, are not.
Other great and munchy sources of magnisium include: Brazil nuts and almonds, sesame and sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and cashews.
Other ways the body uses magnesium include relief from muscle cramps (its not always lack of water or vitamin B), and protection from UV rays.
Next, try cardamom.
Many of us enjoy chai .. that wonderful spicy tea found in grocery stores. The primary flavor there is cardamom, and its one of the primary ingredients in Ayurveda because it improves circulation, increases energy levels, and stimulates our mental clarity.
Cardamom is also an antidepressant for emotional disorders, so enchances our overall wellbeing. Additionally, bees that are drawn to orchids also love cardamom, which balances their pheromones, which, in humans, directly improves our sexual drive.
In fact, in many ways cardamom is a 'wonder' herb because it also eases indigestion, reduces fever, eases gastro-intestinal discomfort, and just plain tastes great in just about everything. It can be added to tea, baked into breads, and even sprinkled over oatmeal.
Finally, magnolia.
Yes .. that lovely tree with the thick green leaves and beautiful white flowers. In our stressed-out, rapid-paced, tension ridden society, magnolia is a blessing to us all. It will relieve nervious tension, induce sleep, increase mental focus, and ease irritability. Medical research has also shown it to be a powerful aid in the the fight against eating disorders.
Consider how so many of us reach for 'comfort food' when stressed-out. 'Situational foods' like chocolate, ice cream and other sweets temporarily relieve stress, but that is only a short fix for a chronic condition. One that leads to overeating and weight gain.
To break this harmful cycle, magnolia is there to help the body improve digestions, regulate the appetite, and reduce swelling and bloating.
That beautiful white flower, for example, is a powerful remedy for allergies and sinus conditions. And recent medical studies have found that magnolia contains the phytochemical honokiol, which helps the body ward off stress, control the appetite and aid in weight management.
So if you have seen magnolia capsules at the grocery store, now you know why.
Remember .. Yoga is more than just a way to get in shape and loose weight, but it is also a powerful ally for the body to maintain lifelong health and fitness.
All of us are interested in living long and productive lives, to better enjoy the wonders of the world around us ... Yoga and Ayurveda help us do just that!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Yoga and Health Care
Increasingly, Americans are supplementing their doctor's care with other therapies. But why?
Well, here is one reason:
"Medicare is in [terrible] shape. The program for hospital expenses will pay out more in benefits than it collects this year and will be insolvent by 2017, two years earlier than the date projected in last year's report."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090512/ap_on_bi_ge/us_social_security
Which explains a survey by the National Institutes of Health, where they found that 38% of adults and 12% of children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM / CAMA).
Even the U.S. Air Force is embracing CAM. Over the next two yearss, its doctors will learn acupuncture (Yoga nadis and marmas) techniques before deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan. Battlefield acupuncture, for example, focuses on alleviating pain and helps treat burns and other traumatic injuries.
In all, the most popular - and effective - alternative health care choices (self-health care) today are:
-Yoga, Yoga Breathing, Meditation: 37.5%
-Yoga Therapy (Yoga massage, Thai Yoga Massage): 18.3%
-Natural and Organic Products: 17.7%
-Chiropractic, Osteopathic: 8.6%
Want to be healthy? Want to regain your health? Worried about the rising cost of health care, or the possibility that it wont exist?
Yoga is the best course of action.
Well, here is one reason:
"Medicare is in [terrible] shape. The program for hospital expenses will pay out more in benefits than it collects this year and will be insolvent by 2017, two years earlier than the date projected in last year's report."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090512/ap_on_bi_ge/us_social_security
Which explains a survey by the National Institutes of Health, where they found that 38% of adults and 12% of children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM / CAMA).
Even the U.S. Air Force is embracing CAM. Over the next two yearss, its doctors will learn acupuncture (Yoga nadis and marmas) techniques before deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan. Battlefield acupuncture, for example, focuses on alleviating pain and helps treat burns and other traumatic injuries.
In all, the most popular - and effective - alternative health care choices (self-health care) today are:
-Yoga, Yoga Breathing, Meditation: 37.5%
-Yoga Therapy (Yoga massage, Thai Yoga Massage): 18.3%
-Natural and Organic Products: 17.7%
-Chiropractic, Osteopathic: 8.6%
Want to be healthy? Want to regain your health? Worried about the rising cost of health care, or the possibility that it wont exist?
Yoga is the best course of action.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
In Yoga, women, as mother, are the physical representations of the Divine Mother or Devi. Devi is the female aspect of the divine, and her shining light is seen in every woman. She is the embodiment of consciousness and discernment, and she has many names.
As Durga she is a woman's strength, a protectress of children.
As Saraswati she is a woman's sacrality, her voice of wisdom and gentle encouragement to learn.
As Lakshmi she is a woman's good qualities, her beauty and grace. Her love dispels all darkness and fear.
As Parvati she is a woman's gentle and nuturing side.
As Kali she is a woman's independence and creativity.
As Mahavidya she is a woman's intuition.
As Navadurga she is a woman's joy and happiness.
May you find your Mother within!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
As Durga she is a woman's strength, a protectress of children.
As Saraswati she is a woman's sacrality, her voice of wisdom and gentle encouragement to learn.
As Lakshmi she is a woman's good qualities, her beauty and grace. Her love dispels all darkness and fear.
As Parvati she is a woman's gentle and nuturing side.
As Kali she is a woman's independence and creativity.
As Mahavidya she is a woman's intuition.
As Navadurga she is a woman's joy and happiness.
May you find your Mother within!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Yoga Stimulus Package
Want to reduce stress? Then try stimulating yourself! The following routine is a great way to release tension and boost your body and mind!
-Mountain Pose. Begin and end here. Simply stand with your feet together, shoulders relaxed, palms together at the heart, and just breath.
If you want to think of something, then choose pleasant thoughts. Also focus on releasing the small pockets of tension that 'hide' in our eyes and mouth, your neck and shoulders. Just stand, breath and relax for about six breaths.
-Wide-A Standing: Step the legs out (about three to four feet apart), interlock your fingers behind your back, and slowly lean forward, allowing your head to hang down and your arms to lift as high as they can comfortably.
If you want to bend your knees, then bend them. If you want to keep the hands close to the hips, then do that. Just relax, breathe deep, and allow the stretch to happen all by itself. No pushing, no straining, just standing with the legs wide, shoulders open, breathe deep and slow. Try to stay here for six breaths.
-Wide-A Forward Bend with Bat Arms: Release your hands and arms. Step the feet a little closer. Leaning forward, fold the arms, so the hands are resting lightly on the elbows. Breath deep and relax. Let gravity do the rest. Stay here for six breaths.
-Wide Squat: Release the arms and bring the legs a little closer still. Bend the knees and lower the hips into a squat. If you come up on the toes, thats alright. Press the palms together at the heart, or extend the hands forward for balance. Relax deeply, allowing the hips to open. Try to hold this for six breaths.
-Cobra: Slowly drop to the knees and lay on your belly. Inhale deeply and give yourself a full-body stretch, with the hands extended out in front of you. Bring the palms in, beneath the shoulders, and slowly life your chest and chin. The elbows can be bent, but the breath should be deep and slow, so try to hold as long as you can.
-Locust: Slowly lower the chest and chin, and rest for a moment. Make a fist with the hands and place these under the body, in the space where the upper thigh bends, and beneath the lower belly. Place your forehead on the floor and slowly lift your legs off the earth. The gentle pressure from your fists will massage the lower intestinve, and the leg lift will strengthen the lower back. Try to hold this for six breaths. If you cant, do you best, smile softly, and move to the next pose.
-Fish: Roll over to your back and straighten your legs. Bring your hands under your hips, lift your chest - arching - and try to put the back of your head on the floor. Your throat and chest will really be open here, so its a great opportunity to breathe even deeper than you have been. Enjoy this stretch for about six breaths.
-Wind Relieving Pose: Yes .. that kind of wind! Still on your back, arms at your sides, legs together, bend one knee and bring that into your chest. Gently squeeze, holding there, while you breathe six deep and slow breaths. Be sure to do the other leg.
-Leg Elevation: Ahhh .. everyones favorite pose! Up against a wall, butt touching or very close, legs straight up the wall, simpy relax and enjoy the reverse blood flow from the legs. If you have a weak spine or stiff hamstrings, then do this up against the couch, so your knees are bent. Hold here for six breaths. Try not to fall asleep!
-Back to Mountain Pose, where it all began.
-Mountain Pose. Begin and end here. Simply stand with your feet together, shoulders relaxed, palms together at the heart, and just breath.
If you want to think of something, then choose pleasant thoughts. Also focus on releasing the small pockets of tension that 'hide' in our eyes and mouth, your neck and shoulders. Just stand, breath and relax for about six breaths.
-Wide-A Standing: Step the legs out (about three to four feet apart), interlock your fingers behind your back, and slowly lean forward, allowing your head to hang down and your arms to lift as high as they can comfortably.
If you want to bend your knees, then bend them. If you want to keep the hands close to the hips, then do that. Just relax, breathe deep, and allow the stretch to happen all by itself. No pushing, no straining, just standing with the legs wide, shoulders open, breathe deep and slow. Try to stay here for six breaths.
-Wide-A Forward Bend with Bat Arms: Release your hands and arms. Step the feet a little closer. Leaning forward, fold the arms, so the hands are resting lightly on the elbows. Breath deep and relax. Let gravity do the rest. Stay here for six breaths.
-Wide Squat: Release the arms and bring the legs a little closer still. Bend the knees and lower the hips into a squat. If you come up on the toes, thats alright. Press the palms together at the heart, or extend the hands forward for balance. Relax deeply, allowing the hips to open. Try to hold this for six breaths.
-Cobra: Slowly drop to the knees and lay on your belly. Inhale deeply and give yourself a full-body stretch, with the hands extended out in front of you. Bring the palms in, beneath the shoulders, and slowly life your chest and chin. The elbows can be bent, but the breath should be deep and slow, so try to hold as long as you can.
-Locust: Slowly lower the chest and chin, and rest for a moment. Make a fist with the hands and place these under the body, in the space where the upper thigh bends, and beneath the lower belly. Place your forehead on the floor and slowly lift your legs off the earth. The gentle pressure from your fists will massage the lower intestinve, and the leg lift will strengthen the lower back. Try to hold this for six breaths. If you cant, do you best, smile softly, and move to the next pose.
-Fish: Roll over to your back and straighten your legs. Bring your hands under your hips, lift your chest - arching - and try to put the back of your head on the floor. Your throat and chest will really be open here, so its a great opportunity to breathe even deeper than you have been. Enjoy this stretch for about six breaths.
-Wind Relieving Pose: Yes .. that kind of wind! Still on your back, arms at your sides, legs together, bend one knee and bring that into your chest. Gently squeeze, holding there, while you breathe six deep and slow breaths. Be sure to do the other leg.
-Leg Elevation: Ahhh .. everyones favorite pose! Up against a wall, butt touching or very close, legs straight up the wall, simpy relax and enjoy the reverse blood flow from the legs. If you have a weak spine or stiff hamstrings, then do this up against the couch, so your knees are bent. Hold here for six breaths. Try not to fall asleep!
-Back to Mountain Pose, where it all began.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Yoga Family
I am a Yogini. I teach Yoga at Hamsa Yogashala. My students are my family. Just as, no matter where I go - visiting another city, another state, another country - when I take a Yoga class there, I find a group of likeminded souls engaged in a physical practice with a deep spiritual root. They too are my family.
How can this be? Because I, like all of them - some 17 millions of them - are working to be the best self I can be.
When you take a Yoga class, a meditation workshop, a vegetarian cooking class, or have Yoga Therapy, you become part of a greater community that extends around the world.
In South America or Russia, in Africa or Alaska, in China or India .. you will find an kindred spirit that marks no boundary lines, that knows no laws or restrictions, that extends back tens of thousands of years, that everyone on the planet can do and benefit from.
Yoga is not new, so its not a fad. Yoga does not belong to India alone, so its not a 'Hindu practice'. Yoga is not another exericise routine, but a body and mind lifestyle.
Nor is Yoga a religion .. which seems to be suffering world wide. Jews are worried about intermarriage, liberal Protestants are concerned about lowered attendance, Catholics are marshalling the masses, and the Episcopal church has been rocked with change. Unlike all of these, Yoga is not a religion .. so is neither limite or restricted by narrow religious traditions in a multicultural age.
Yoga means "union". The union of body and mind .. the union of warring groups to find peaceful solutions .. the union of ethinic factions to celebrate their diversity .. in short, people the world over are hungry for a real and lasting union of harmony and balance that actually addresses the physical and mental-emotional conditions of their lives.
How can this be? Because I, like all of them - some 17 millions of them - are working to be the best self I can be.
When you take a Yoga class, a meditation workshop, a vegetarian cooking class, or have Yoga Therapy, you become part of a greater community that extends around the world.
In South America or Russia, in Africa or Alaska, in China or India .. you will find an kindred spirit that marks no boundary lines, that knows no laws or restrictions, that extends back tens of thousands of years, that everyone on the planet can do and benefit from.
Yoga is not new, so its not a fad. Yoga does not belong to India alone, so its not a 'Hindu practice'. Yoga is not another exericise routine, but a body and mind lifestyle.
Nor is Yoga a religion .. which seems to be suffering world wide. Jews are worried about intermarriage, liberal Protestants are concerned about lowered attendance, Catholics are marshalling the masses, and the Episcopal church has been rocked with change. Unlike all of these, Yoga is not a religion .. so is neither limite or restricted by narrow religious traditions in a multicultural age.
Yoga means "union". The union of body and mind .. the union of warring groups to find peaceful solutions .. the union of ethinic factions to celebrate their diversity .. in short, people the world over are hungry for a real and lasting union of harmony and balance that actually addresses the physical and mental-emotional conditions of their lives.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Yoga is a Bodymind Science, an interview
Wisdom Yogini Valarie Devi teaches regular classes at Hamsa Yogashala in Gwinnett County, Georgia. There, she demonstrates the practice and application of Yoga and concentration. In all, she teaches that Yoga is a bodymind science that uses poses, deep breathing and focus to cope with the stress of everyday life.
Here, Yogini Valarie answers some frequently asked Yoga questions.
Q: What is your role at Hamsa Yogashala?
A: Teaching Yoga for physical and mental health. I do this through regular Yoga classes, Yoga Therapy - which is a form of massage and holistic life practice - and living a life of peace and balance, so that others may see that they too can have joy and happiness.
Q: What makes Hamsa Yogashala different from other studios?
A: I teach traditional Hatha Yoga in its original sense, as both a physical and spiritual discipline and practice. I teach that both must be in balance, after all, it is difficult for us to grow - to realize our true potential - when we are ill or suffer physical or mental pain.
Q: What are your students seeking when they come to your classes?
A: Right now, they are very concerned about the economy, which is creating stress and restlessness in their lives.
Q: How does a Yogini help someone through a bad economy?
A: I set an example for them so that they can understand that, if you want to continue to get what you have been getting, then continue to do what you have been doing. There is a great deal that we can learn from the current economy .. such as gratitude .. for we have the intelligence and opportunity to change, then accept that change to embrace the next opportunity. This is the wholeness of Yoga.
Q: So, if someone is concerned about losing their job, how is coming to a Yoga class going to help that?
A: Yoga is self-help. It is looking for the next possibility with grace, strength and balance. Like so many things, this takes discipline and practice .. which is why we come to Yoga class, to learn these things. To face our reality - our self - then grow and become stronger for it.
Q: I've never met a Yogini before. I have known Yoga teachers, but not a real Yogini. What does that mean?
A: When I was three years old I told my mother that I wanted to "live a life of prayer". Before I was born, my grandmother had several dreams about me. She related on several occasions, while my mother was pregnant, that I would be born "with a fire in the head", and that I was protected by "a fierce warrior woman". I was raised in a family that embraced many world religions, so from an early age I studied these. My Yoga studies began at the age of eleven when I came upon the teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. Because his teaches so deeply influenced me, I often consider him as my kulagura, or family teacher. Because of his words, it wasn't long before I was reading the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana and the Ramayana. In all, I have dedicated my life to Yoga, Yoga Therapy, and the divine Mother. Throughout my life I have traveled .. living in ashrams in monestaries, in communes or just walking the path before me, as I did while in India.
Q: What did you do for money?
A: I do not travel as a tourist, but as a sacred pilgram. This is part of the Yogic tradition, even before I learned this, I naturally accepted this lifestyle.
Q: Can you explain about enlightenment? Like, what where you doing when it first happened to you?
A: I have had innumberable moments of spiritual ecstasy. The earliest memory I have is when I was three. I was playing in an open field, not far from my grandparents home, when a dark storm cloud appeared on the horizon. It quickly grew in strength, blackening the sky. The backdrop of dark churning clouds against a summer blue sky, of cool moisture and electricity against the smell of fresh hay and warm air caused me to become wholly absorbed so that I lost outward consciousness and experienced ineffable power and joy.
Q: So you, as a Yogini, teach Yoga and meditation? What do other Yogins do?
A: I simply share what I have learned along the way. The other Yogins I know - like Yogi Bharata and Yogi Ram Das - do the same.
Q: Are you engaged in any charity work?
A: Yes, I am. First, I offer free Healing Yoga classes at Hamsa Yogashala. Then I give my energy to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which uses public information to protect public health and the environment. My grandmother always told me, "To be aware, we must also beware."
http://www.ewg.org/
Q: Why would someone take Yoga at your studio, why not a gym?
A: My students come for physical health and mental wellbeing. They never leave empty-handed.
______
About Yogini Valarie Devi:
She is a recognized and respected Yogini, and has been called a "teacher's teacher". Throughout her life, she has been compelled to manifest the deeply spiritual heritage of Yoga, to experiment and play with Yoga, to bring her students back to their natural breath, to heal, to meditate, to chant, and to live Tantra and Yoga everday.
Here, Yogini Valarie answers some frequently asked Yoga questions.
Q: What is your role at Hamsa Yogashala?
A: Teaching Yoga for physical and mental health. I do this through regular Yoga classes, Yoga Therapy - which is a form of massage and holistic life practice - and living a life of peace and balance, so that others may see that they too can have joy and happiness.
Q: What makes Hamsa Yogashala different from other studios?
A: I teach traditional Hatha Yoga in its original sense, as both a physical and spiritual discipline and practice. I teach that both must be in balance, after all, it is difficult for us to grow - to realize our true potential - when we are ill or suffer physical or mental pain.
Q: What are your students seeking when they come to your classes?
A: Right now, they are very concerned about the economy, which is creating stress and restlessness in their lives.
Q: How does a Yogini help someone through a bad economy?
A: I set an example for them so that they can understand that, if you want to continue to get what you have been getting, then continue to do what you have been doing. There is a great deal that we can learn from the current economy .. such as gratitude .. for we have the intelligence and opportunity to change, then accept that change to embrace the next opportunity. This is the wholeness of Yoga.
Q: So, if someone is concerned about losing their job, how is coming to a Yoga class going to help that?
A: Yoga is self-help. It is looking for the next possibility with grace, strength and balance. Like so many things, this takes discipline and practice .. which is why we come to Yoga class, to learn these things. To face our reality - our self - then grow and become stronger for it.
Q: I've never met a Yogini before. I have known Yoga teachers, but not a real Yogini. What does that mean?
A: When I was three years old I told my mother that I wanted to "live a life of prayer". Before I was born, my grandmother had several dreams about me. She related on several occasions, while my mother was pregnant, that I would be born "with a fire in the head", and that I was protected by "a fierce warrior woman". I was raised in a family that embraced many world religions, so from an early age I studied these. My Yoga studies began at the age of eleven when I came upon the teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. Because his teaches so deeply influenced me, I often consider him as my kulagura, or family teacher. Because of his words, it wasn't long before I was reading the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana and the Ramayana. In all, I have dedicated my life to Yoga, Yoga Therapy, and the divine Mother. Throughout my life I have traveled .. living in ashrams in monestaries, in communes or just walking the path before me, as I did while in India.
Q: What did you do for money?
A: I do not travel as a tourist, but as a sacred pilgram. This is part of the Yogic tradition, even before I learned this, I naturally accepted this lifestyle.
Q: Can you explain about enlightenment? Like, what where you doing when it first happened to you?
A: I have had innumberable moments of spiritual ecstasy. The earliest memory I have is when I was three. I was playing in an open field, not far from my grandparents home, when a dark storm cloud appeared on the horizon. It quickly grew in strength, blackening the sky. The backdrop of dark churning clouds against a summer blue sky, of cool moisture and electricity against the smell of fresh hay and warm air caused me to become wholly absorbed so that I lost outward consciousness and experienced ineffable power and joy.
Q: So you, as a Yogini, teach Yoga and meditation? What do other Yogins do?
A: I simply share what I have learned along the way. The other Yogins I know - like Yogi Bharata and Yogi Ram Das - do the same.
Q: Are you engaged in any charity work?
A: Yes, I am. First, I offer free Healing Yoga classes at Hamsa Yogashala. Then I give my energy to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which uses public information to protect public health and the environment. My grandmother always told me, "To be aware, we must also beware."
http://www.ewg.org/
Q: Why would someone take Yoga at your studio, why not a gym?
A: My students come for physical health and mental wellbeing. They never leave empty-handed.
______
About Yogini Valarie Devi:
She is a recognized and respected Yogini, and has been called a "teacher's teacher". Throughout her life, she has been compelled to manifest the deeply spiritual heritage of Yoga, to experiment and play with Yoga, to bring her students back to their natural breath, to heal, to meditate, to chant, and to live Tantra and Yoga everday.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Yoga, Breast Cancer and Depression
Yoga cuts depression by half in breast cancer patients
Yoga not only provides emotional benefits to women with breast cancer, but also reduces their chances of depression, says a new study.
The study, published in a special issue of Psycho-Oncology focusing on physical activity, found that women undertaking a ten week program of 75 minute Restorative Yoga (RY : Healing Yoga) classes gained positive differences in aspects of mental health such as depression, positive emotions, and spirituality (feeling calm/peaceful) compared to the control group.
RY is a gentle type of yoga, which is similar to other types of yoga classes, moving the spine in all directions but in a more passive and gentle way. Props such as cushions, bolsters, and blankets provide complete physical support for total relaxation with minimal physical effort, and so people in differing levels of health can practice yoga more easily.
Forty-four women took part in the study, with 22 undertaking the yoga classes and 22 in the waitlist control group. All of the women had breast cancer; 34 percent were actively undergoing cancer treatment while the majority had already completed treatment.
All participants completed a questionnaire at the beginning and end of the ten-week program, asking them to evaluate their quality of life through various measures. The results clearly showed that the women who had been given the RY classes experienced a wide range of benefits compared to the control group (who were later all invited to attend identical RY classes).
"Evidence from systematic reviews of randomised trials is quite strong that mind-body therapies improve mood, quality of life, and treatment-related symptoms in people with cancer. Yoga is one mind-body therapy that is widely available and involves relatively reasonable costs," said lead researcher Suzanne Danhauer, Ph.D., based at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
"Given the high levels of stress and distress that many women with breast cancer experience, the opportunity to experience feeling more peaceful and calm in the midst of breast cancer is a significant benefit," the expert added.
The study found that women who started with higher negative emotions and lower emotional well-being derived greater benefit from the gentle yoga intervention compared to the control group.
Women in the gentle yoga group also demonstrated a significant within-group improvement in fatigue, while no such change was noted for the control group.
Yoga not only provides emotional benefits to women with breast cancer, but also reduces their chances of depression, says a new study.
The study, published in a special issue of Psycho-Oncology focusing on physical activity, found that women undertaking a ten week program of 75 minute Restorative Yoga (RY : Healing Yoga) classes gained positive differences in aspects of mental health such as depression, positive emotions, and spirituality (feeling calm/peaceful) compared to the control group.
RY is a gentle type of yoga, which is similar to other types of yoga classes, moving the spine in all directions but in a more passive and gentle way. Props such as cushions, bolsters, and blankets provide complete physical support for total relaxation with minimal physical effort, and so people in differing levels of health can practice yoga more easily.
Forty-four women took part in the study, with 22 undertaking the yoga classes and 22 in the waitlist control group. All of the women had breast cancer; 34 percent were actively undergoing cancer treatment while the majority had already completed treatment.
All participants completed a questionnaire at the beginning and end of the ten-week program, asking them to evaluate their quality of life through various measures. The results clearly showed that the women who had been given the RY classes experienced a wide range of benefits compared to the control group (who were later all invited to attend identical RY classes).
"Evidence from systematic reviews of randomised trials is quite strong that mind-body therapies improve mood, quality of life, and treatment-related symptoms in people with cancer. Yoga is one mind-body therapy that is widely available and involves relatively reasonable costs," said lead researcher Suzanne Danhauer, Ph.D., based at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
"Given the high levels of stress and distress that many women with breast cancer experience, the opportunity to experience feeling more peaceful and calm in the midst of breast cancer is a significant benefit," the expert added.
The study found that women who started with higher negative emotions and lower emotional well-being derived greater benefit from the gentle yoga intervention compared to the control group.
Women in the gentle yoga group also demonstrated a significant within-group improvement in fatigue, while no such change was noted for the control group.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Yoga and Health
Yoga is an ancient practice that has been embraced worldwide for millennia. Today, many Americans are learning the many benefits of Yoga. Aside from being one of the hottest fitness trends to sweep the country, it is heralded by physicians as an amazing health boost.
There are nearly 11 million Yoga practitioners in the United States today, practicing many different forms of Yoga - from gentle to 'hot', to vinyasa to another lineage - and all of them are receiving health benefits from their practice.
For example, here are several ways Yoga can help improve your health.
-Yoga increases flexibility. Yoga increases the range of motion in our joints, adding additional and necessary lubrication. It also stretches the soft tissues of the body, such as the ligaments and tendons. One medical study has shown that Yoga participants enjoyed a 35 % increase in flexibility after just two months. Increased flexibility keep us feeling and looking youthful.
-Yoga builds strength. "Yoga teaches us to bench press our body weight", says Yogini Valarie. When practiced correctly, nearly all Yoga poses help build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles, while building muscle, which promotes bone strength.
-Yoga is good for your back. One of the most common complaints in America today is chronic back pain. "Every Yoga class I teach, focuses on Yoga Therapy. There simply can be no other approach for me", says Yogini Valarie. Some Yoga teachers have taken the time to study Yoga Therapy, which focuses on breathing, concentrated movement, low-impact flexibility and muscle exercises. One research study showed that Healing Yoga classes - like those offered at Hamsa Yogashala - helped people with lower back pain twice as much as medication did.
-Yoga is good for mental health. How could a practice that incorporates relaxation, meditation and deep breathing not be good for our mental health? Yoga is an excellent stress reducer, and there's a lot of stress going around right now.
-Yogic breathing can improve lung function. The deep and mindful breathing that is part of Yoga can lead to better sports performance and endurance.
-Yoga is good for heart health. Yoga has been proven to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate, and that's very beneficial for people with hypertension. Yoga has also been associated with lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
-Yoga helps with balance. "As we age, we may loose our hair, loose our good eyesight, or loose our sex-drive. Medicine has a pill or procedure for all of these. However, the only sure fix for loss of balance is Yoga", Yogini Valarie. For older people, the balance techniques learned in Yoga can help prevent falls, which are often the first step to failing health.
There are nearly 11 million Yoga practitioners in the United States today, practicing many different forms of Yoga - from gentle to 'hot', to vinyasa to another lineage - and all of them are receiving health benefits from their practice.
For example, here are several ways Yoga can help improve your health.
-Yoga increases flexibility. Yoga increases the range of motion in our joints, adding additional and necessary lubrication. It also stretches the soft tissues of the body, such as the ligaments and tendons. One medical study has shown that Yoga participants enjoyed a 35 % increase in flexibility after just two months. Increased flexibility keep us feeling and looking youthful.
-Yoga builds strength. "Yoga teaches us to bench press our body weight", says Yogini Valarie. When practiced correctly, nearly all Yoga poses help build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles, while building muscle, which promotes bone strength.
-Yoga is good for your back. One of the most common complaints in America today is chronic back pain. "Every Yoga class I teach, focuses on Yoga Therapy. There simply can be no other approach for me", says Yogini Valarie. Some Yoga teachers have taken the time to study Yoga Therapy, which focuses on breathing, concentrated movement, low-impact flexibility and muscle exercises. One research study showed that Healing Yoga classes - like those offered at Hamsa Yogashala - helped people with lower back pain twice as much as medication did.
-Yoga is good for mental health. How could a practice that incorporates relaxation, meditation and deep breathing not be good for our mental health? Yoga is an excellent stress reducer, and there's a lot of stress going around right now.
-Yogic breathing can improve lung function. The deep and mindful breathing that is part of Yoga can lead to better sports performance and endurance.
-Yoga is good for heart health. Yoga has been proven to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate, and that's very beneficial for people with hypertension. Yoga has also been associated with lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
-Yoga helps with balance. "As we age, we may loose our hair, loose our good eyesight, or loose our sex-drive. Medicine has a pill or procedure for all of these. However, the only sure fix for loss of balance is Yoga", Yogini Valarie. For older people, the balance techniques learned in Yoga can help prevent falls, which are often the first step to failing health.
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