Relationship Rescue

Are you in a relationship rut, having the same fight with your partner over and over again? Or playing the same role—nag, enabler—day in and day out? By contemplating the yamas and niyamas, guidelines for living consciously, you can break free from unhealthy patterns and move toward a more joyful future.

The problems may seem to be all about your partner, but if you practice svadhyaya (self-study), you may learn something valuable that can shift the dynamic. For example, do you set your partner up for failure by asking him to do things you know he won't do—and then play the martyr? If you observe your thoughts and motives, you can make your contribution toward healthy change.
-YJ

That is a great questions to ask yourself in general. Do I set other people up for success? In this world we have learned a selfish habit of looking out for only ourselves. If you look at the questions in reverse, do others set me up for success? I bet more often than not the answer is no. So I know next time a quarrel arises I will be looking into myself first to find if I was a hindrance to success.

Side Note

Have you ever been researching a specific brand, service, or activity that you have recently sparked an interested in and keep asking yourself; dose this really work? Is it worth the money? You think to yourself, I wish a real average person who has actually used, tried, or worn a particular item could give me a real testimonial besides the paid advertisement quotes from customers. I'm starting this blog for that reason. Lately on the internet I have been investigating products I want to buy, good quality prescriptions, and even health and wellness programs, and finding no answers. So I thought I could start a blog were I can post true happenings and details of what I find about the products I have personally been looking for and give them a recommendation if deserving. Along with my findings I will also be sharing my thoughts and home remedies that have worked for me. So though most of this will be informational it will be a fun for me to write my own happenings and hopefully get comments if my ways will help anyone else!

Light On Posture

To avoid slouching, imagine that you have a headlight—or "heart light"—shining there at the center of your heart. Make sure the beam shines forward, not down in your lap when you're sitting or toward the floor when you're standing. To find what's known as the "center of the heart," gently tap yourself on your sternum with the fingers of one hand. You can find the sternum toward the top of your torso between your nipples. This is where the heart chakra, or heart center, is. This area should be open (and shining) in most yoga poses, and when you are sitting or standing in regular life.

Light visualization can also be used as a tool in meditation. Bring your awareness to individual parts of the body and imagine it illuminated. The purpose is to make you aware of the essentially spiritual, or subtle, nature of the physical body, which Tantrikas regard as a condensed form of divine light, or divine sound vibration.
-YJ

Posture is something I have been working on for a very long time. Having a job behind the computer makes me put a lot of effort into sitting up straight for 8 hours. I use this visualization as often as I can and it tends to bring more confidence and awareness during the work day.

Staying Grounded

Life's obstacles cause even the most accomplished yogis to wobble. Thankfully, yoga has a proven track record of helping practitioners get through the worst situations. The next time you're facing a difficult life challenge, keep in mind the following coping techniques inspired by yoga.

Dedicate space for reflection. It helps to have a corner of your home that feels sacred—somewhere you can retreat when you feel overwhelmed. It can be something as simple as a candle on your night stand or as elaborate as an alter.

Find a personal refuge. Choose a location with meaning for you—a beach, a park, a special place from childhood—and go there. "Even if it's just for a few hours, find a way to take a mental hiatus...."

Calm your breath. Notice when you're holding your breath or taking rapid, shallow breaths, and make an effort to focus on your inhalation and exhalation. A few breaths with a present can change not only your day, but your entire outlook on life.
-YJ

In the new year reflect on the old and look for the opportunities to change.

The Best Way to Beat the Cold

From being in school to my roommate traveling, I have come in contact with the cold germs and have once again started to come down with something. On Wedesnday I woke up feeling fine an refreshed and as I was headed to work after school my sinuses began the drying before the clogging; the calm before the storm feeling. So Not wanting to be sick for the new year I looked into what I can take so I won't get any sicker, and started to stress.

I remembered a friend of mind told me Jamba Juice always makes her feel better. An once I thought about Jambas Fruity goodness I decided to head down for a drink. I asked the juice master what he recommended to help along with a cold. He said to get a Coldbuster smoothy. If jolts the Immune system with a one-two hit of their Immunity and Antioxidant Power Boosts. To complete the trifecta use your free boost and get the daily vitamin boost. The Cold buster is made with Orange Juice, Orange sherbet, frozen peaches, frozen bananas, ice, immunity boost, Antioxidant power, and daily Vitamin boost. He further told be if you really want to knock the cold out get a shot of Wheatgrass. It has all essential vitamins and amino acids your body needs to get better much quicker. So what the heck I thought it's only 8$ and it's delicious!

Since Wedesnday I have not gotten any worse and today I feel like the symptoms are disappearing. I my throat felt dry and sore but not unbearable I was still able to talk and I didn't even miss a beat of work or school. I'm hoping in a few more days my glands will go down and my nose not feel dried out anymore. But I will be going to Jamba every day to get my coldbuster and Wheatgrass and I suggest the first instance you start to feel sick head down to get the quick fixer-upper!!

Yoga Basics

The Eight Limbs Of Yoga

I thought this was interesting how physical movents and the mind are so powerfully connected.

Yama - Consideration for others, right communication, non-covetousness, moderation and non-greed.

Niyama - Purity, contentment, removal of impurities, self study and reverence to a higher intelligence (divine energy).

Asana - Alert, relaxed practice of posture.

Pranayama - Regulated breathing.

Pratyahara - Restraint of the senses, relaxation through inward focus.

Dharana - Concentration - the ability to direct our minds.

Dhyana - Meditation - The unbroken flow of thought toward the object of concentration.

Samadhi - Illumination


The most popular opening yoga chant is:




Asatoma sadgamaya

Tamasome jyotir gamaya

Mrityomorma amritam gamaya


Meaning: May this practice lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from the time'bound consciousness to the timeless state of being.


Closing chant


Jai Bhagwan

Meaning: May my true divine nature be victorious over my false ego self.

New Years Resolution Diet! Easier Than You Think!

Earlier this fall I have started this all protein, carb-less, self discipline, crying in front of the refrigerator diet that my boss recommended. It's actually not that bad once you get past the first five days but still it's a diet. It is extremely hard for me because I have a sugar loving boyfriend that has a metabolism of a tape worm! He eats whatever foods he wants right in from of me; my favorites too brownies, rice crispies, peanut butter cups, and anything you can think of your sugar tooth craves when you are on a diet. so far I have only slipped up a few times but I just keep reminding myself the long term goal that I want to achieve and I know that I will.

So how this diet was explained to me is you need to get your body in ketosis which is the state of expelling Ketones. "What are ketones?" I thought, "how many do I need to get rid of?" He went on to explain that Ketones are a by-product or waste product when your body burns stored fat for energy. Ketones can be measured in the urine with a visually read strip, and in the blood by using the Precision Xtra® meter. Before I describe the rest of the diet, let me provide a simple review of how the body works:
• The foods you eat break down into glucose (sugar). Glucose travels in the blood and into your cells. Insulin is a hormone (or "key") that "unlocks the doors of your cells" to allow glucose to enter your cells where it can be turned into energy. So without insulin, glucose wouldn't be able to get into the cells.
• Your brain (and the rest of your body) requires glucose to function. When you haven't eaten for a while, or during the night when you're asleep, your liver releases stored glucose to keep you supplied with energy.
• If you don't eat for several days, the stored glucose in the liver is depleted, and your body is in a starvation state. In this situation, the body will break down stored fat to get energy, (and ketones can show in the urine, indicating that fat was burned) and also the body will create sugar out of other substances in the body in order to supply the brain with glucose.

So if you keep in mind that fat burns when there isn't available glucose (that is, when the body is starving) and ketones indicate that fat was burned. In this diet the key to losing weight quickly is to trick your body in thinking it's starving all the time.

Also just for some extra information Ketones are also used to help diabetics monitor their blood-sugar. A non-diabetic can show ketones if he/she hasn't eaten for several days, or is on a severe weight reduction diet. In this situation the body is starving, and there isn't enough available glucose, so fat will burn for energy and the by-product, ketones, may show in the urine or blood.

Now that you have the run down of what state you are trying to get your body in I thought I would tell you my routines and eating habits I had to develop.
first off No Carbs, No Sugar. Those will have to be the rules until you achieve your desired weight then eat in moderation.
Secondly for the first five days you must eat only 600-800 calories of all protein. This is were a healthy diet pill will come in handy. After many disappointing pills I have found that SoloSlim was both helpful and affordable. Again SoloSlim worked for my body type it may not for you but it's always worth a shot to try.
Thirdly after the five protein packed days you are able to add green leafy veggies. But you must still stay away from carrots, corn, any kind of potatoes of course, and anything that you think might ruin it. When in doubt just put it down.
Lastly, and this is the point of plateau or continual weight loss if you are strong enough. By this point you will be consistently expelling Ketones and seeing results. After the 10th day you are able to add fruit in your diet but you will have to make a sacrifice to eat a single serving. One serving of fruit equals two servings of vegetables along with all your protein. At this time I was eating 1,000 calories and added in a light exercise and in that short amount of time I have already lost 12lbs. My plan is to stay in this stage of Ketosis until I reach my goal of 130lbs. Since the holidays this winter are upon us it is getting tougher and tougher but I just think about how I'm going to look in the summer.

I kept myself on a three day grocery list trying to alternate meals when I can but when your diet is so limited it's very hard. I will just give you a list of items that I ate at assigned times of the day. Try to keep each meal at 200-300 calories.

Breakfast Meals:
2 Hard boiled eggs were big for me but i would only eat one yoke and toss the other (70 calories per egg)
Sugar-free yogurt (100 calories)
Half Large Grapefruit - once you can have fruit (45 calories)
A Slice of Ham (60 calories)
Glass of Non-fat milk (80 calories)

Snacks:
Lunch meat - Turkey, Ham, or Beef I would buy the single serving lunch meat pouches so it was easy to count and keep track of (90 calories)
Cheese Sticks - Any kind of cheese my fav was Pepper Jack and again the stick was an easy no brainer way to count the calories (70 calories)
Tofu - I like the squares found at whole foods salad bar to snack on (100 calories)
Edemadme - steamed soy beans with sea salt yum! (80 calories)
Sugar-Free Jello (10 calories) This saved my sweet tooth because you can have enough to get rid of the sugar craving and it will not hinder your diet.

Meals:
Tuna - Again they make single serving pouches (90 calories)
Salmon Loxs - So good wrapped around a cheese stick (100 calories)
Imitation crab - I would finely chop and mix with a little olive oil and then roll it in a piece of nori to make hand rolls (100 calories)
broccoli steamed
Celery
Cheese Sticks
Pastrami with mozza cheese equals Amazing! (250 calories)
Ahi Poke - Hawaiian dish I find a Whole foods
Reduced Fat Turkey Hot Dog (60 calories)
Cucumbers (5 calories)
Pickles (5 calories)


Again there is not set menu these are just tips I found cheap and easy in my busy day! Just remember to have 5 small feeding times a day; Breakfast, snack, meal, snack, and meal. A rule that I tried to follow was not eating after 8pm. But once you get into the habit eventually you will not even feel hungry after your last meal.

Now if I have any kind of sugary carbs my tummy gets slightly irritated plus it has shrunk due to the small meals through out the day. So I keep losing weight and it's not even a problem to stay away from food that make me feel sick. Keep in mind that I take vitamins regularly. I take Cranberry, Dandelion root, Kidney/bladder aid, Fiber, B12, Vitamin c, Fish oil, and a hair/skin/nails supplement. These help in keeping your whole body balanced and take anything else you feel necessary! Hope this helps let me know if you have any other great foods to eat that fit in this diet!