The Pains Which Are To Come

by Nina

Oak Tree in Late Summer Light by Brad Gibson

II.16. heyaim dukham anagatam

The pains which are yet to come can be and are to be avoided.
—Yoga Sutras, translation by B.K.S. Iyengar

Last night a friend was telling me what she loved about our blog was that it was positive and optimistic. We write about good things, she said, and have positive solutions. Well, we do believe that yoga has many answers for helping us age gracefully, and we regularly recommend various poses and practices for preventing and/or reducing many of the “pains” that accompany aging. But, I have to say, we are also realists, both about the “aging” and “yoga” parts of our mission. In the last five years, Brad and I have seen all four of parents die. All were in their eighties or nineties, and they died of diseases typical of the elderly (cancer, Alzheimer’s, stroke). Without going into details, I’ll say none of these deaths were particularly pretty, and certainly no amount of yoga poses or practices could have helped prevent the decline and pain that came at the end. In fact, with two of the deaths, from cancer and from kidney failure, we’re grateful for modern medicine’s painkillers.

As I’m sure many of you must know, experiencing the death of your own parents is sure to make you contemplate your own. We wonder for ourselves, if it is possible, how can we avoid the pains which are to come? For me, this is where yoga philosophy comes in. (Studying the scriptures is svadhyaya, one of niyamas that comprise the second branch of yoga, so this is as much a part of yoga as anything else we do and is obviously available to anyone, regardless of age or physical condition.)

Although I tend to turn to the Bhagavad Gita for wisdom about cultivating equanimity, I also find the Yoga Sutras an invaluable resource. To my mind, the Yoga Sutras is a brilliant work of psychology. Patanjali deconstructs how the mind works, identifying the roadblocks to cultivating equanimity, and then goes on to recommend solutions. I find this sutra particularly relevant for those of us concerned about aging:

11.3. The five afflictions (klesas) which disturb the equilibrium of consciousness are: ignorance or lack of wisdom, ego, pride of the ego or the sense of ‘I,’ attachment to pleasure, aversion to pain, fear of death and clinging to life. —Yoga Sutras, translation by Edwin Bryant

Aversion to pain, fear of death, and clinging to life, all of which seem to come along with aging, do indeed disturb our sense of equanimity. But the very fact that these feelings are identified as “afflictions” suggests to me that while there is always difficulty, including pain and death, we don’t necessarily have to experience it as suffering. It’s the aversion to pain that causes suffering, not the pain. And it’s the fear of death and clinging to life that causes suffering, not death—or dying—itself.

I actually find this explanation alone to be very helpful. For rather than just feeling that suffering is inevitable, knowing there is a difference between a difficult situation and my reaction to it helps me from getting so caught up in it (well, it’s a work in progress). So that’s a little “wisdom” to counteract the “ignorance” that is another one of the klesas. You can find a lot more wisdom in the Yoga Sutras, and I recommend reading this if you haven’t already. But what does Patanjali recommend for overcoming the klesas? After introducing the klesas and describing each one in detail, Patanjali simply says the following:

II.11. The states of mind produced by these klesas are eliminated by meditation. —Yoga Sutras, translation by Edwin Bryant

My friends will all tell you that I take very good care of myself. I practice yoga asana regularly, in way that supports my particular body and needs, I include stress management practices for my emotional well-being as well as my physical health, and I eat a healthy diet. But I believe that, in the end, cultivating equanimity through wisdom and practice will be the most important aspect of my healthy aging.

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Diet Vs Exercise Which Is More Important

By Howe Russ

Is diet more important than exercise or vice versa? This is a question which people around the world have contemplated for years, often to no conclusion. Today we will help you to reach that conclusion for yourself.

It would seem the typical answer you get to this question would vary depending upon who you asked. If you ask somebody who has religiously followed weight loss plans and celebrity culture for a while there is a large chance that they will concur dieting plays the bigger role.

Likewise, however, those with a long background of exercise under their belts will be much more likely to advise you that you need to concentrate more on the fitness aspect of your lifestyle. Many people even go as far as to advise that if you do this effectively, you can pretty much eat whatever you want. So who is correct?

Actually, it's neither.

One of the biggest, yet most common, mistakes is for people to attempt to prioritize one aspect over another. You'll hear things like percentages being used, with people often telling others than exercise is 60 percent of the deal whereas nutrition is the other 40 percent.

At the end of the day you should be applying both factors if you want to see results and maintain them. If you are trying to work out how to lose weight and you only apply the rules of one principle you will tend to fall into one of two categories, both of which can be seen at most gyms and workplaces around the world:

* The person who consistently follows new eating plans, often picked up from celebrity gossip magazines or New Year weight loss plans. They don't combine this with regular exercise, though, and even though they are able to drop some pounds through a healthier lifestyle they don't actually look any healthier at all. They haven't worked out, so their body is no more toned than it was three months ago.

* Those who love training in the gym but hate watching their nutrition. Sure, they may down a protein shake after a tough workout, but that is as far as it goes. When outside the confines of the local gym they will happily consume junk food, takeaway meals and alcohol on a regular basis. While their workout sessions will lead this person to developing some shape and tone to the biggest muscles in their body, they tend to struggle when it comes to toning their abdominal area and achieve a stocky, square look.

If you only pay attention to one factor, or you choose to place way more importance on one over the other, then your destiny is shown in the two stereotypes revealed above. Why would you do this? As somebody trying to build a better body, it simply would not make sense.

It's almost like trying to decide whether fuel is more important than your car. At the end of the day, neither is very useful on their own. The correct approach is to apply both factors to your lifestyle and realize that neither is more important than the other. They are not in competition for your attention, they are two things which are designed to work together. If you are able to apply the basic principles of a good nutritional plan and a healthy workout program you will see positive change and the results will be sustainable, too.

Today's clip on how to lose weight details five extensively researched fat loss tips for you.

To sum up, listen to bodybuilder Jay Cutler's response when he was recently asked the question is diet more important than exercise or vice versa. Jay advised that placing importance on one over the other is a useless mentality which leads to long term failure and you should be focusing 100 percent on your workout routine as well as 100 percent on your eating habits. Most people aren't trying to become champion bodybuilders, of course, but if you apply a similar mentality to your fitness regime you will notice that discovering how to lose weight isn't rocket science after all.

About the Author:

About the author: Find out how to lose weight with the UK's most watched Personal Trainer Russ Howe PTI for free. Now, is diet more important than exercise? Check out his website for more tips every week.

There Are Many Types Of Chiropractic Care Which Offer A Variety Of Benefits

By Michelle Caron

There are many different types of treatment or care that make up chiropractic; however, the spinal manipulation or adjustment is the primary method of chiropractic care. Joints and tissues are manipulated into their proper place with a chiropractor's hands. Chiropractors manualy apply a force which helps to restore mobility to joints after a tissue injury. Activators, ArthroStim (TM) adjusting instruments and drop tables are also used for spinal adjustments. Pain relief is often felt immediately after an adjustment, and generally continues with time and additional treatments.

Ultrasound therapy is another method of care offered by many chiropractors. This ultrasound delivers a mini-massage, unlike the medical ultrasound used for diagnoses. Ultrasound therapy offers many benefits including a decrease in pain, muscle spasms, stiffness, and swelling, and an increase in blood flow. Ultrasound is effective for many conditions because it offers this wide range of health benefits. Spinal adjustments can also be more effective after ultrasound therapy, as the patient may be more relaxed.

Massage therapy encompasses soft tissue manipulation in the soft tissues of the body to relieve and prevent pain, discomfort, stress and muscle spasms, while increasing health and wellness. Manual soft tissue manipulations are made with the practitioner's hands including holding, applying pressure to the body, often causing movement. Massage therapy has been proven to improve posture, encourage relaxation, improve circulation, lower blood pressure, promote deeper breathing, improve flexibility, improve range of motion, relieve headaches, strengthen the immune system, improve post surgery or injury rehabilitation, and generally enhance a person's overall sense of well-being.

LLLT (low level laser therapy) or Cold Laser Therapy decreases pain and enhances healing by beaming lightwaves through the laser into the affected tissues. This laser enhances the body's ability to repair itself faster. Inflammation is reduced by LLLT, making it effective for many conditions for which people seek chiropractic care. This laser is useful for back pain, neck pain including whiplash, muscle sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis and pain in all areas of the body.

A traditional form of Chinese medicine called acupuncture is performed at many chiropractic clinics. In this therapy the body's vital flow of energy, or qi, is regulated, helping to control your mental, spiritual, physical and emotional health. Traditionally, tiny needles are inserted in the skin along meridians or pathways. These needles enhance pain relief in the neck, joints, head and back (with back pain being the most common reason acupuncture is sought). Acupuncture is also beneficial for pain releif from dental work, menstrual cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, knee injuries, tennis elbow and arthritis. Many people took over-the-counter pain medications to relieve this conditions in the past, which came with potentially harmful side effects. People are now turning to acupuncture to relieve their pain, which has no known side effects.

Most clinics also offer lifestyle and wellness coaching, specifically in the areas of nutrition, exercise and ergonomics. Chiropractors believe that the body was designed to be healthy, and has an innate ability to maintain proper health if treated well. Most chiropractors can identify triggers in your daily life and routine that could be causing you problems, and offer solutions to keep your body functioning it's best.

A wide array of techniques and tools are used by chiropractors. Your method of care or treatment plan will be determined by how your body responds, and the condition being treated. Visiting a few chiropractors may be necessary before finding the doctor that best meets your needs.

About the Author:

Want to find out more about the types of chiropractic care offered? Visit our website on chiropractic care., To read health related articles visit our Facebook page to read health related blog articles #2.

Liver Detox Tips Which Herbal Treatments Are Best To Keep Your Skin Healthy

By Kim Moser

In many cases, herbal treatments can greatly improve psoriasis. One of the ways to work with psoriasis is by correcting liver function. When the liver is not operating adequately, blood may be full of toxins and this can manifest on the skin. Episodes of psoriasis can also be triggered by trauma, emotional stress and infection. Often immune system problems have some involvement. So it is important that any herbal mixture contain herbs that target these factors. Psoriasis has a habit of coming and going and the longer you have had it, the longer it may take to clear up. So you need to have some patience.

A typical Psoriasis herbal treatment mix contains Yellow Dock, for chronic skin conditions and is also a liver stimulant. Cleavers assists with lymphatic circulation and stimulation of kidney function. Liquorice for its anti-inflammatory qualities. Gotu Kola helps with connective tissue repair and regeneration of normal tissue and Bupleurum assists liver detoxification and is also an immune system stimulant and corrective.

Psoriasis is the result of over-active skin cell replication and is characterised by scaly patches that are often a silvery colour. Itching and bleeding often occur as skin cells grow faster than they can be shed. To soothe the skin, applying a cream of Calendula, St Johns Wort and essential oil of Tea Tree and Lavender twice daily will help. Although this will relieve symptoms, balancing the body is the best way to get long lasting results.

Your liver is one the largest and most amazing organs in your body. The liver has come under increasing levels of stress in modern times as it attempts to rid the body of toxic environmental substances. The liver detoxifies the body using two main pathways. The initial phase attempts to convert harmful chemicals into more benign ones. In carrying out this process free radicals are released. Liver cells can subsequently be damaged by too many free radicals. The liver cell can break apart, releasing enzymes that can be measured in the blood and show problem tissue damage. Herbal treatments high in antioxidants can reduce the accumulation of free radicals.

The conjugation pathway is the second detox pathway in the liver. In this process the liver uses the bowel or kidneys to eliminate toxins as waste products by joining special substances to the toxic chemical. If the processes of the bowel or urinary system are impaired, the conjugation pathway can fail. Amino acids like cystine and taurine contain sulphur and are needed in the conjugation phase.

In conjunction with herbal treatments, Glycine, glutamine, choline and inositol are also required to take you through phase two detoxification of the liver. Phytoplex is a product that will assist in this phase. Products such as Biological Sulfur will aid by providing the much-needed sulfur for the catabolism of these amino acids and assist with liver detoxification.

It is important that the herbal also has herbs such as dandelion to help the kidneys and the bowel to eliminate waste effectively. Cleavers, St Mary's Thistle, Shizandra,Tumeric, Globe Artichoke, and Gentian all work together to provide antioxidants and or to stimulate elimination to help the liver to detoxify your body.

About the Author:

Looking to find the best deal on pure herbal treatments, then visit www.herbhub.com.au to find the best advice on herbal remedies for you.