Back in Alignment!

Yoga can be a wonderful healing practice for a variety of back ailments, including scoliosis. Not only will it eliminate some of the pain, over time it can start to gently reverse some of the misalignment associated with the condition.

Often with scoliosis, the spine is not only misaligned from side to side, but also the head can sit forward, one shoulder can be higher, and a hip can be more forward and raised. All these symptoms can be improved by doing poses that lengthen the spine, such as Standing Forward Fold. Try this simple variation on the classic forward bend:

Stand with your feet at hip distance with the outside edges of your feet (the pinky-toe sides) parallel to each other. Place your hands on your hips and bend your knees. Fold forward slowly until your head points toward the floor. Keep the knees soft enough that your stomach rests on your thighs (even if your hamstrings are very loose). Now release your arms over your head. Bend your elbows and hold on to your opposite elbow, letting the weight of your arms deepen the release on your spine. Stay for at least five to ten breaths, then release your elbows and roll up slowly, stacking your joints. -YJ

One of these Days I'm going to Love me

Millions of Americans—most of them women—struggle each day with feelings of shame and inadequacy about their physical selves. In fact, studies have shown that the majority of American women don't like what they see in the mirror. Yogis certainly aren't immune to the complex web of cultural forces that contribute to the epidemic of self-loathing. After all, it's not easy to reconcile life in an image-conscious world with the yogic notion that the body is simply the vessel through which we navigate a spiritual path.

But yoga practice creates an opportunity for us to re-create our relationship with our body. While we may have come to the mat looking for a "yoga butt," when we get there, we're usually so focused on directing breath into our tight quads or feeling the alignment in our hips that we forget about our appearance. By enabling us to go inward—to focus on how we feel in a pose rather than how we look—yoga encourages us to let go of our desires for our body and criticisms of it, to enjoy its movements. Over time, this experiential relationship with our body may even enable us to forsake the mirror for our internal seer, to filter out social pressures and unrealistic expectations, and to accept ourselves as we are. -YJ

New group on facebook!

I have just started a new group on facebook to get my yoga ball rolling! I'm very excited and I hope to get some members who can give me feedback!

Search for it in facebook under the name sunkissed yoga!!

I'm almost finished with my teacher training and can't wait to get started!


-- Namaste Alyssa
Twitter.com/sunkissedyoga

Tally me Coconut

I love me some coconut oil in my hair! It makes is smooth and healing the treated ends and I smell delicious all day long!

he benefits of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil don't stop in your kitchen. For decades, professional massage therapists have used pure coconut oil to knead away tight stressed muscles.

However, you don't have to be a professional massage therapist to gain the skin and tissue support benefits of coconut oil. Feel free to use this high-quality coconut oil as you would any lotion.

Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. It helps protect your skin from the aging effects of free radicals, and can help improve the appearance of skin with its anti-aging benefits.

In fact, physiologist and biochemist Ray Peat, Ph.D. considers coconut oil to be an antioxidant, due to its stability and resistance to oxidation and free radical formation. Plus, he feels it reduces our need for the antioxidant protection of vitamin E.

Like Dr. Peat, many experts believe coconut oil may help restore more youthful-looking skin. When coconut oil is absorbed into the skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple.

Coconut oil will not only bring temporary benefits to the skin, but it will aid in restoring your skin's youthful appearance. The coconut oil will aid in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin smoother. It also penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin to strengthen the underlying tissues.

Responders to the Mercola.com survey provided remarkable feedback on how Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil supported healthy skin, including:

Smoothing and moisturizing effects
Promoted skin elasticity
Convenient eye make-up remover
Use in shaving applications

Coconut for Weight loss-

If you live in the United States, you have a 55% chance of being overweight.

And, by now, I'm sure you're aware that obesity affects your quality of life and is linked to many health concerns.

One of the best benefits of coconut oil lies in its ability to help stimulate your metabolism.

Back in the 1940s, farmers found out about this effect by accident when they tried using inexpensive coconut oil to fatten their livestock.


It didn't work!

Instead, coconut oil made the animals lean, active and hungry.

Now, I'm certainly not comparing you to a farm animal...

However, many animal and human research studies have demonstrated that replacing LCFAs with MCFAs results in both decreased body weight and reduced fat deposition.

So, by changing the fats in your diet from the unsaturated long-chain fatty acids found in vegetable or seed oils to the MCFAs in coconut oil, along with following an exercise plan, you may find yourself gradually losing those unnecessary pounds.
The reasons are simple:

The long-chain fats nearly always go to fat storage, while the MCFAs are burned for energy
Since coconut oil helps to stimulate your metabolism, you may burn more calories each day, helping to accelerate weight loss (and probably your activity and energy level, too)
Mercola.com survey respondents provided many examples of how coconut oil got them started optimizing their weight. Here are a few excerpts:

"I lost about 24 pounds in 6-8 weeks"
"I wasn't really overweight to begin with but I have lost some of my excess belly fat"
"In conjunction with exercise and eliminating most starches from my diet, I have lost 45 pounds over the past 5 months"
"I have been losing weight and body fat"
"Besides the good taste, my weight seems to have stabilized"
Coconut oil has often been compared to carbohydrates in its ability to be "burned" for energy. However, since insulin is not involved in the process of digesting the MCFAs in coconut oil, you won't get those carb-related spikes in your blood sugar level. This is especially good news for those of you concerned about maintaining normal blood sugar levels.

In fact, the ability of MCFAs to be easily digested, to help stimulate the metabolism and be turned into energy has entered the sports arena. Several studies have now shown that MCFAs enhance physical or athletic performance.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. And you've probably heard that a sluggish thyroid is one reason why some people are unable to lose weight, no matter what they do.

The light, non-greasy taste of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is so delicious, you'll want to use it nearly every time you cook. Just to get you started, here are a few things you can do with your coconut oil:

Whenever you fry, stir-fry or sauté veggies, eggs, poultry, fish or whatever, use coconut oil for a health-conscious light flavor
Toss some coconut oil into your smoothies or juiced drinks for a burst of lauric acid
Make your own mayonnaise with coconut oil
Use it on your salads for a tropical flair
Try it on popcorn instead of butter

Besides weight loss, there are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. Your healing process accelerates. Cell regeneration increases to replace old cells, and your immune system functions better overall.

Tea Tree Oil

Why Do People Use Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree has a long history of traditional use. Australian aboriginals used tea tree leaves for healing skin cuts, burns, and infections by crushing the leaves and applying them to the affected area.

Tea tree oil contains consituents called terpenoids, which have been found to have antiseptic and antifungal activity. The compound terpinen-4-ol is the most abundant and is thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial activity.

People use tea tree oil for the following conditions:

Acne
Athlete's foot
Dandruff
Vaginitis
Thrush
Periodontal disease
As an antiseptic
Boils
Lice
Eczema
Psoriasis
Yeast infection
Sources of Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is most commonly found as a pure essential oil. It is also an ingredient in creams, ointments, lotions, soaps, and shampoos.

Tea tree oil should not be confused with Chinese tea oil, cajeput oil, kanuka oil, manuka oil, ti tree oil, and niauouli oil.

What is the Evidence for Tea Tree Oil?

There have only been a few, older clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of tea tree oil in humans.

Athlete's Foot
A randomized controlled trial examined the use of 25% tea tree oil solution, 50% tea tree oil solution, or placebo in 158 people with athlete's foot. After twice daily applications for 4 weeks, the two tea tree oil solutions were found to be significantly more effective than placebo.

In the 50% tea tree oil group, 64% were cured, compared to 31% in the placebo group. Four people using the tea tree oil withdrew from the study because they developed dermatitis (which improved after discontinuing tea tree oil use). Otherwise, there were no significant side effects.

Fungal Infection of the Toenails
A randomized, controlled trial published in the Journal of Family Practice looked at the twice-daily application of 100% tea tree oil or 1% clotrimazole solution (a topical antifungal medication) in 177 people with toenail fungal infection. After 6 months, the tea tree oil was found to be as effective as the topical antifungal, based on clinical assessment and toenail cultures.

Another randomized, controlled trial examined the effectiveness and safety of a cream containing 5% tea tree oil and 2% butenafine hydrochloride in 60 people with toenail fungal infection. After 16 weeks, 80% of people using the cream had significant improvement compared to none in the placebo group. Side effects included mild inflammation.

A third double-blind study looked at 100% tea tree oil compared with a topical antifungal, clotrimazole, in 112 people with fungal infections of the toenails. The tea tree oil was as effective as the antifungal.

Acne
A single-blind randomized trial by the Department of Dermatology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia compared the effectiveness and tolerance of 5% tea tree oil gel with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion in 124 people with mild to moderate acne. People in both groups had a significant reduction in inflamed and non-inflammed acne lesions (open and closed comedones) over the three month period, although tea tree oil was less effective than benzoyl peroxide.

Although the tea tree oil took longer to work initially, there were fewer side effects with tea tree oil. In the benzoyl peroxide group, 79 percent of people had side effects including itching, stinging, burning, and dryness. Researchers noted that there were far less side effects in the tea tree oil group.

Dandruff
A single-blind study examined the use of 5% tea tree oil shampoo or placebo in 126 people with mild to moderate dandruff. After 4 weeks, the tea tree oil shampoo significantly reduced symptoms of dandruff.

It works for all those uses I will always have a bottle of tea tree oil in my house. And for the fungus treatments if you suffer from yeast infections look into putting a few drops in your underwear every morning, it has so far kept it away for me. I'm a usual sufferer. One of the best home remedies!

Growing long hair for the Summer

1. The first step to growing long, beautiful hair is by far the most important. It is absolutely non negotiable for anyone who wants healthy hair at any length, but it is also by far the hardest step you will have to follow. In order to have long healthy hair you absolutely have to start with healthy hair. You must cut off every inch that is considerably damaged. If you are going for extreme length, from that point on you will have to treat your hair like delicate, antique lace at all times. Remember, once your hair is at your waist the ends can be as many as six years old. Your hair will go through a lot of trauma in six years no matter how careful you are with it. Because there is absolutely no way to repair damaged hair, you *must* start out with healthy hair to have healthy hair when it's long, there's no way around it. If your hair is not very damaged up the entire shaft, you may start with a very healthy trim and then continue to trim monthly to maintain your length until all the damage is gone; however, keep in mind that if the amount of damage does not continue to decrease using this method, you didn't remove enough of the damaged hair to begin with and another healthy trim is in order. You'll save precious time by removing as much damage as possible from the very beginning and immediately implementing the steps that follow to your now beautifully healthy hair!

Remember, long damaged hair is never as pretty as shorter healthy hair, and because healthy hair needs to be trimmed less often and doesn't break as easily, the result is much faster growth overall. I learned this step the hard way and wasted ten years trying to grow damaged hair I refused to cut... hair that started literally growing like a weed when I finally bit the bullet, did the dirty deed and stopped doing all the horrible nasties that initially resulted in the damage. Duh. Learn from my pain.

2. Always trim your hair often. Damage to your hair will move up from the ends and the only way to stop the damage in its tracks is to remove it as soon as it happens. Trim hair a half inch every month or so (the average rate of hair growth) if you are maintaining your length. If you are actively growing your hair, trim it a half inch every three or four months. In between trims it is beneficial to sit in bright light and snip any splits off the ends of individual hairs with a good pair of hair cutting scissors that you explain to the men in your house are absolutely not to be used for anything else, especially prying off bottle caps when they can't find the bottle opener, which is of course in the drawer where it belongs if they'd just look. I digress. If you are persistent with this method, regular trims may be able to be postponed even longer. If your hair begins to show damage, it is important to trim it more often! Damaged hair doesn't grow, it breaks, and damage will only increase with time.

3. If you don't have someone you trust implicitly to trim your hair for you, find a salon that caters to long hair, has a long hair specialist, or at least be sure to glare at your stylist as menacingly as you can while you clearly explain your hair-growth goals before letting her come at you with scissors. It also helps to ask the stylist to show you exactly their perception of the amount of hair you want trimmed by showing you what they think is the same distance from the end of their comb. I am convinced stylists are taught a completely different measuring system from the rest of the world, and not once have I ever had a stylist show me an accurate half inch on her first try. Not once. It also helps to remember, it is not in the best interest of most salons or stylists if you rarely make visits to their salon, which is definitely a conflict of interest! If your hair is short and styled, you are always there spending money for maintenance. If your stylist tries to convince you that your long, healthy hair should be cut, run screaming from the salon immediately! Make sure that anyone whose advice you consider, be it a stylist, friend or family member, has only the best interest of YOUR acknowledged hair growth goals in mind. Otherwise smile politely and ignore every word they say. You absolutely are not too old, too thin, too short, too gray, too anything to have long hair.

4. Avoid using any heated appliances whenever possible. No blow drying, no curling irons, no hot rollers, and especially no flat irons or crimpers! If you absolutely must blow dry do so minimally, and contrary to popular belief, it is best to let your hair dry naturally for as long as possible and use the blow dryer just to finish it off at the end if you must. If you must use hot rollers, use flocked or soft rollers, not spiked plastic rollers. If you insist on using curling irons, flat irons or crimpers on a daily basis, really long healthy hair isn't in your future. If you do use heat on your hair, be sure to use a product that will help protect your hair from it and keep in mind that every time you apply that heat you are likely to cause some damage.

5. Don't use any harsh chemicals on your hair. Definitely no perms and no peroxide! If you must color, use non peroxide color, henna (but not if you have very dry hair... henna tends to be drying but does help to "plump up" fine hair), or even make your own natural hair color. Hair color with low peroxide is more tolerable, but using these products again and again will eventually affect the health of your hair, it is unavoidable. No perming or straightening ever for any reason. These chemicals actually break down the structure of your hair and completely rebuild it... no other chemicals meant to be applied to hair are more damaging. Don't do it.

6. Avoid chlorine and saltwater. If you go swimming in either, shampoo your hair as soon as possible after exposure. If you are blonde, you may want to consider using a shampoo specially formulated to remove the green tinge that can come from exposing your hair to chlorine. If you swim very often, invest in a good bathing cap (and to be really kind to your hair, apply deep conditioner and take advantage of the body heat that will be generated while you're wearing it). If you spend a lot of time in the sun, use a conditioner that provides SPF protection against the sun's rays, or cover your hair with a tightly-woven hat or scarf.

7. Be *extremely* careful of what kind of hair jewelry you use. Never use metal barrettes(the "French" style) and absolutely NEVER use rubberbands, they will tear your hair when you try to remove them. Avoid anything that has sharp or rough edges, such as plastic combs with rough seams or hair claws with metal hinges. Never put anything in your hair that attaches with Velcro or springs. If you take anything out of your hair and a significant amount of hair comes out with it, don't ever put it back in your hair. Scrunchies are very hair-safe, and several can be used if your hair is very long. Need I mention the most fabulous, elegant, stunningly beautiful hair accessories of ALL TIME? [begin: shameless self promotion] LongLocks HairSticks of course! [end: shameless self promotion]

8. Never put your hair in any kind of style that will put undue stress on the individual hairs... no tiny braids, no extremely tight coils. If you pull all or some of your hair into a braid or a ponytail to create your hairstyle, make sure it isn't pulled tight enough to put stress on the roots of your hair. Pulling hair tight repeatedly commonly results in bald patches! If you go after the long hair "quick fix" and put extensions in your hair, be forewarned that your own hair will likely be significantly more damaged when they are removed than it was to begin with. Dreads almost always have to be cut off to be removed and are tremendously damaging to hair.

9. Avoid extreme diets. If your body isn't getting enough nutrition, neither is your hair. Even if you try to avoid fat, it's essential that you don't completely eliminate all fat from your diet. Your hair (and body) will surely suffer for it. If you tend to restrict calories then be sure to take a multivitamin (any comprehensive one will do) to make sure both your body and your hair get the daily nourishment they need.

10. Be *extremely* gentle with your hair when it is wet. Don't rub your hair vigorously with a towel, gently squeeze the towel down the length of your hair. Turbie Twists are a great alternative to twisting your hair in a standard towel (I can get all my hip-length hair into one, but just barely). NEVER brush your hair when it's wet, this is when your hair is at its most delicate. Use a very wide-tooth comb to smooth wet hair. In fact, it is best to avoid brushing your hair under most circumstances, a wide-tooth comb is almost always a better choice.

11. Be very careful with what you choose to style your hair. When you do use a brush, use only natural boar bristle brushes, which are useful in distributing sebum (your hair's natural protective oils) to the ends of your hair and to remove loose hairs. If your hair is so thick that a boar bristle brush won't penetrate, there are several smooth wood brushes on the market that will be kind to your hair. Using a wide-tooth comb is far less damaging but it is important to choose a comb that is molded or has smooth seams (use a bit of sand paper to smooth rough seams if necessary). Comb your hair often throughout the day to detangle it. Work in small sections, always starting close to the ends, combing down in long, smooth strokes until all tangles are removed, and then starting the next set of strokes higher on the same section of hair. Knots are very hard on your hair and it's best to avoid them at all costs. Tiny knots that absolutely cannot be removed by any other means should be cut from your hair, not torn. Also, avoid back combing or "teasing" your hair with a fine-tooth comb. This lifts and tears the cuticle, destroying even the healthiest of hair in a very short period of time.

12. Comb your hair to ensure all knots have been removed before shampooing. After the knots have been removed, use a boar bristle brush to remove loose hairs, which will also cut down on knotting during shampooing (not to mention keeping your shower drain clean and your plumber at bay). Try to teach your husband to do the same. Good luck.

13. Let your hair get dirty once in awhile. That's right... permission to be lazy, what more could you ask for? Don't shampoo, spend the entire weekend in bed drinking Moet, eating chocolate covered strawberries and watching Out of Africa for the umpteenth time (live vicariously through Meryl Streep by rewinding a few times to watch Robert Redford wash her hair while reciting poetry), all while those wonderful natural conditioning oils work their magic. Don't forget the boar bristle brush before shampooing to distribute those oils and for heaven's sake don't forget not to answer the door before shampooing for any reason! Well, unless of course you are expecting Bob to drop by. One can dream, no?

14. Don't pile your hair on your head when you wash it, that's just asking for knots. Apply shampoo only to the roots and wash your scalp, then work the shampoo to the ends. You may find adding a bit of water to your shampoo or very quickly ducking under the shower spray after initially applying it to your hair will increase lathering significantly, making it easier to work the soap to the ends of your tresses. When you apply conditioner, work it through to the ends of your hair, smoothing and detangling gently with your fingers as you go. Continue smoothing your hair as you rinse. This will make combing your wet hair much easier and less likely to tear.

15. If you wash your hair often or have very dry hair, you may want to consider using only conditioner to wash it on occasion. If your hair isn't very dirty the conditioner will easily rinse away surface contaminants while allowing you to avoid daily use of the harsher solvents found in shampoo.


16. Rinse your hair in as cold water as you can stand. Not only will this make the cuticle lay flat and less likely to snag and break, but by the same token you'll get the added benefit of very shiny hair that's easier to comb wet. Yes, you will get used to doing this, even in the shower, and it is wonderfully invigorating for your whole bod, not just your hair. I know, I know... I couldn't convince Hubby either, but it's true, I swear! Trust me.

17. If your hair is especially coarse, extremely curly, you didn't heed my stern advice in Step 1 and your hair is damaged (do NOT make me come over there) or if it is prone to damage easily, you may want to consider using a leave-in conditioner in addition to a regular rinse-out conditioner (I recommend Infusium-23, but there are many good ones out there). In some cases, leave-in conditioners may replace rinse-out conditioners altogether.

18. Become familiar with the ingredients in your styling products. Once you know what affects your hair positively or detrimentally, you will be able to effectively choose products that contain ingredients that are best for your hair type. For instance, some people find that their hair does not respond well to silicone products (found in most "smoothing" or "anti frizz" products and many conditioning shampoos), if used over a long period of time. Any ingredient that ends with the suffix "cone" in the ingredient list is usually a silicone derivative and should be avoided by those sensitive to it (I am not decrying products containing silicone, only stating an example... I regularly use some products that contain small amounts of silicone with no ill effects on my own hair). Products that nourish your hair with natural ingredients that are available at most health food stores are excellent alternatives to the chemical laden, overpriced high-end lines sold in department stores and salons (I can personally recommend Nature's Gate products, of which there is a wide variety from which to choose). Either way, what matters most is to use whatever works best for your hair, not what is necessarily the hottest trendy product or for that matter, the most cost efficient product. By the same token, it helps to clarify your hair as often as needed by rinsing with a mixture of cider vinegar and water or using a clarifying shampoo to remove build-up of product in your hair and avoid the damage to the cuticle this can cause if left unchecked. As a whole, this is one step to growing long, healthy hair in which using common sense rather than falling victim to marketing ploys plays a huge role.

19. Deep condition your hair at least monthly, even if it's in good shape this will help keep it that way. If your hair is dry or damaged, deep condition weekly. Hot oil treatments are a good alternative for very dry hair or for extra conditioning (but be forewarned, to some extent hot oil treatments will lift any non permanent color you've added). You might want to try washing and applying conditioner at night, wearing a shower cap to bed, and rinsing in the morning for a really intense conditioning treatment as well. A word to the wise... conditioning nights have been conclusively proven to be detrimental to romantic evenings with the significant other. Use this information to your own best advantage based on the current status of your relationship.

20. Lessen the friction on your hair whenever possible. Don't sleep with your hair loose or if you must, use a satin pillowcase. If your hair is very long and prone to getting caught in car windows, seat belts, doors, or even under your butt when you sit down, it's important to remember that all these things can cause damage to your precious locks. Wear your hair braided or in an updo hairstyle (did I already mention LongLocks HairSticks?) whenever possible to avoid daily wear and tear. And we all know, no matter what promises hair product manufacturers claim, the ONLY way to fix damaged hair is to CUT IT OFF... perish the thought! - longlocks.com

Gym tyme!

Finally was able to wake my lazy self up and get to the gym. It was miserable at first but now that I'm fully awake I feel great! I climbed 63 flights of stairs and did some quad exercises and lastly went tanning. I'm very white and lacking in the muscle definition for this time of year. With my yoga teacher training I'm in some desperate need of weight loss, I hate packing around an extra 15 lbs when I'm trying to do an arm balance. Motto for this summer do what makes ya feel good without thinking! Ha hope everyone enjoys the day!


-- Namaste Alyssa
Twitter.com/sunkissedyoga

It just clicks

Had a realization at school today. While doing a verbal practice it just hit me what a proper sequence should be partaining to hip alinmemt, intension, and themes. I love when you have those moments of lighting; BOOM and it makes sense. I've had my realization and am thankful because my final is in a month. Nervous and excited can't wait to start the next chapter


-- Namaste Alyssa
Twitter.com/sunkissedyoga

Hostility

Holding in alot of hosility toward the people I work with. My festering anger and frustration is not doing anyone any good I have come to the conclusion that I need to get out of my job. I'm on a different life path now and am just waiting until school is over in a few months. Just wanted to vent and get this off my chest because I can't bottle it in any longer. Harboring all this pent up rage is making me not like myself anymore. I want to be free to fly and be my own boss!


-- Namaste Alyssa
Twitter.com/sunkissedyoga