Yoga   Yoga: For Health and Much More

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that may be as hard on the emotions as it is on the body. Not only must its victims confront the fear and depression that accompany any degenerative disease, but the emotional fluctuations caused by MS brain lesions are part of the everyday struggle for many with the disease. For that reason, finding a community of support may be as important to the management of the disease as any other form of treatment. A group of MS patients in Arizona has discovered that a this sort of community, as well as physical relief, can come through a gentle, healing practice called Dahn Yoga.

When Cathy Downie discovered Dahn Yoga at a Phoenix-area Dahn Center, she found something that finally worked for her after a long, 13-year struggle with the disease. Dahn Yoga offered exercises that were gentle enough for her current physical condition, yet at the same time provided challenges for her body and peace for her mind. She found that her condition improved dramatically after only a few months of training.

Cathy’s results were so profound that she ultimately decided she could not keep her success all to herself. After gaining training to become an instructor, she eventually began a special section of what she calls “gentle yoga” at a local community college.

The class soon attracted dozens of MS sufferers, as well as people struggling with other types of debilitating disease, including lupus, cerebral palsy, and fibromyalgia. Her students experienced amazing results, and a few went on to create their own Dahn Yoga classes.

Dahn Yoga may work especially well for MS due to its stress-relieving, energy-building workout. Part of Ilchi Lee’s Brain Education System Training (BEST), a brain-based approach to mind-body fitness, Dahn Yoga helps practitioners release stress while also improving energy flow in the body through light stretching, energy-building postures, meditation and breathing techniques.

Many of MS’s common symptoms, including muscle stiffness, emotional fluctuation, and fatigue are often relieved through its methods.

For more information, visit bestlifemedia.com

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The Inland Empire’s all new Bikram Yoga studio begins a 30-day challenge to optimal health. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Bikram Yoga Inland Empire run by certified Bikram instructor Diedre Dargan is the only Inland Empire location to offer the authentic Bikram program.

Bikram yoga is an amazing 90-minute hatha yoga class done in a warm room. It is specifically designed to work every muscle, bone, joint, ligament, tendon, gland and organ in the body.

By teaming up with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, students will have the dual satisfaction of doing something good for themselves as well as helping St. Jude in its ongoing fight against childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

Additional benefits are the prevention of illness and injury, weight loss, and limiting the effects of aging. Students of all levels and ages benefit from this total body/mind work out as is evident by the inspiring presence of Diedre’s mother in most of the classes.

For more information,visit bikramyogaie.com

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Following are Eight Keys to Health and Wellness for 2008:

1. Sleep well. Improve sleep quality and you increase alertness, vitality, decision-making, and overall health and wellness. According to Carl Hunt, M.D., director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, “There’s a need to look at sleep on the same level of importance as diet and exercise. All three are equally important for good health.”

2. Be “Health Proactive”. Know the tests and screenings you need to take charge of your health: HPV, cervical cancer, osteoporosis, PSA and more.

3. Make strength, balance and flexibility a key part of your fitness resolution. Improve your total fitness by adding easy principles from yoga and pilates to your routine. Besides health- wellness and well-being should be your result.

4. Consider “Complementary and Alternative”. A variety of complementary and alternative therapies and options are gaining scientific acceptance — Yoga, herbal, hypnosis, acupuncture and more.

5. Understand how to motivate yourself. Understand the mind-body relationship to resolution success. Both how you think and what you think about make all the difference. Know the psychology and the physiology of healthy weight management.

6. Find your way around a food label- how to read them and what to look for. Unlock the key to nutrition with each trip to the grocery store.

7. Know how to eat out but keep pounds off. Eating out and gaining weight do not have to be synonymous. But remember that almost 75% of all restaurant visits in the US happen at a fast food or fast service restaurant.

8. Learn how to walk (for wellness). The most overlooked yet easiest path for most to improve health and wellness is getting out (or in) for a good walk. At the club, around the block, or at the mall. Start a program with a buddy- two legged or four legged. Use the right form and burn calories faster.

For more information, visit healthandwellness.com

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