Fifteen facts you probably never knew about vitamin D and sunlight exposure.
(Compiled by Mike Adams, based on an interview with Dr. Michael Holick, author, The UV Advantage)
Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis, depression, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and even effects diabetes and obesity. Vitamin D is perhaps the single most underrated nutrient in the world of nutrition. That’s probably because it’s free: your body makes it when sunlight touches your skin. Drug companies can’t sell you sunlight, so there’s no promotion of its health benefits. Truth is, most people don’t know the real story on vitamin D and health. So here’s an overview taken from an interview between Mike Adams and Dr. Michael Holick.
- Vitamin D is produced by your skin in response to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from natural sunlight.
- The healing rays of natural sunlight (that generate vitamin D in your skin) cannot penetrate glass. So you don’t generate vitamin D when sitting in your car or home. Read more…
Practicing yoga at home has never been easier. If you are a beginner to yoga or relatively new and want to establish an at home yoga practice, it is important to do some groundwork before jumping into the fray. To prevent injury and maximize the power of your yogic experience, careful preparation and modest investments can make learning yoga at home viable, efficient, and fun.
Here are ten tips to help you establish an at-home yoga practice.
1) Create a Space
Set aside a space dedicated to your yoga practice. Make sure it is free from furniture that could create a hazard to you as you do various yoga asana. Your yoga space should be clean and serene. Decorate it with images and objects that create a peaceful and sacred feeling in your heart.
2) Invest in Tools of the Trade
If you do not already have a yoga sticky mat, purchase one. There are yoga mats for every budget and taste. A mat cleaner will keep your mat smelling fresh after tough workouts. Make sure you have two blocks and a strap for modifications and consider getting a yoga blanket. Not only will they keep you warm when you relax in savasana but they can also be rolled up to help you modify poses. You may need two bolsters for under your knees, and you will probably want at least one style of zafu or meditation cushion. Read more…
The first time I heard the word Namaste, I thought perhaps it was the equivalent of gesundheit. A sort of utterance after a sneeze to ward off the evil spirits of bad health, only it was said every time yoga class was about to begin and again at the end. Eventually I noticed a gesture went along with it every time: palms coming together over the chest and a slight bow of the head. My interpretation of Namaste began to shift when I noticed this. I surmised, when other people in the class would return the gesture, that it was more of a salutation than a keep-the-demons-away-blessing.
When I learned that Namaste, a Sanskrit word that has made its way into our vernacular, literally translated into “I bow to you,” I thought I was way off the mark with my original impression. It was a salutation, a sort of greeting between people, but there is a wealth of history, and thus meanings, behind it. The mudra—a ritual gesture—of the palms touching is said to represent the spiritual in one hand and the physical in the opposite hand. When the hands touch, it is symbolic of one trying to rise above the physical and worldly aspect of himself—and to accept openly the person to whom the greeting is being given.
The Art of Namaste
The stalk on which a ripe fruit rests bends or bows in humility.
If the stalk has not learned the art of bowing, it breaks.Today, offer your namaste not only to your Guru or teacher but also to your lover, your enemy, your waiter, your boss, your parents, the Self within the Self. Bow to the heart of every being you meet with with reverence. All are worthy. Each have something to reveal to you about Who You Are.
~ Leena Patel, founder of Karuna Yoga – the Yoga of Compassion
Training for and running 5K races is an excellent goal that also adds intensity to your workout routine. Once you’ve decided to start racing, incorporating core strength training, speed and distance training runs, and cross-training into your regular training regimen will cause you to succeed not only in the 5K, but also in other fitness related goals. When you combine goal-based training (goals such as running a 5K for time, or building up to a marathon) and the variety offered by each of the previously mentioned elements in your training, your training will become more focused and you will be pleasantly surprised by your performance when race day arrives.
Mundane training becomes more fun and challenging as you track your distances and times for each training run, and incorporate indoor and outdoor runs, sprints, and hills while also noticing your progress. Read more…
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