Pet More Downward Facing Dogs Yoga Resolutions for the New Year Rerun

by Nina

Back in the Day: My Brother Danny and Our Dog Nikki

"Hear now the wisdom of Yoga, path of the Eternal and freedom from bondage.

No step is lost on this path, and no dangers are found. And even a little progress is freedom from fear." —The Bhagavad Gita

When my son was in the fourth grade, he came to me with a problem. His teacher had asked him to write a list of ten possible resolutions he could make for the new year, and the thought of coming up with ten things he needed to change about himself was making him utterly miserable. But to this dedicated student, skipping the assignment was not an option. “What can I do, Mom?” he asked me sadly. “Well,” I replied, “how about if you came up with some resolutions that would be very easy and fun to keep?” “Like what?” He looked at me doubtfully. “Let’s see,” I mused, “how about something like: pet more dogs?”

He lit up with a smile and then went off in much better spirits to write a list of resolutions for his teacher (and keeping the “pet more dogs” resolution throughout the year did turn out to be a lot of fun.) I’m bringing this up now, because if you are planning on making any New Year’s resolutions regarding yoga this year, I’d advise you to take the same lighthearted approach.

If you want to start a home practice, rather than deciding to do full-length class everyday—a rather overwhelming commitment—think small. As my son did, try to come up with a resolution that will be easy to keep and fun to do. How about:

1. Do one Downward-Facing Dog pose a day five days in a row for one week. (You can pet yourself afterward.) 
2. Look through a yoga book and find a picture of a pose you’ve never done and just try it. (Be sure to laugh if you get totally confused or fall out of the pose.) 
3. Download a yoga nidra practice or guided relaxation onto your iPod and try it once. (You might become addicted.) 
4. Clear some wall space, figure out what to use for props, and set yourself up for Legs Up the Wall pose at home. (If you decide to do again some day, you’ll be ready.) 
5. Practice seated meditation for five minutes a few times in a week. (If it feels good, try it for a second week, then a third, then....) 
6. Buy yourself an eye pillow and “test” it at once or twice in Corpse pose (Savasana). 

Anyway, you get the idea. The thing is, that resolutions that are too challenging and time consuming are likely to fail, while any small, easy, fun steps can help you get started on the path to a home practice. That’s what happened to me: I started practicing just a few poses at home, and gradually over time my practice grew organically. But even if your practice stays small, as The Bhagavad Gita says: “No step is lost on this path, and no dangers are found. And even a little progress is freedom from fear.”

Readers, I’d love to hear about any yoga resolutions that you’re making for yourself or that you’d recommend for others, especially some simple and/or colorful ones.

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Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Update 7 2012 the Year for Gene Therapy

While I have previously written about the progress being made in the use of stem cells in ophthalmology (see Stem Cell Update 13) and described the 9-10 clinical trials currently underway or about to start (see Stem Cell Update 14), recent events point to 2012 becoming a breakthrough year for the use of gene therapy to overcome genetic defects that cause several ophthalmic diseases.

In the accompanying table, I list the fourteen clinical trials that I know about in the use of gene therapy in treating ophthalmic disease. Half of the trials are aimed at treating Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), while three are for treating the wet form of AMD; one is underway for treating Choroideremia; one for Stargardt’s Disease; and two are aimed at different forms of retinitis pigmentosa (Autosomal Recessive RP and Usher Syndrome 1b).

In addition, I show at least twenty four clinical trials in either the pre-clinical (animal study) mode, or a couple in the IND-preparation mode. That is close to forty clinical trials using gene therapy to treat ophthalmic diseases.

The treatment of Leber’s using gene therapy has been ongoing for at least three years and, as I will show in the next update (Gene Therapy Update 8), those trials are going quite well, with many of the patients showing improved vision.

Finally, as another indicator that gene therapy will play an important role in ophthalmology in this year, Ocular Surgery News is about to begin a special section, OSN Retina, to be part of it’s coverage of the ophthalmic scene. The January 25 issue of Ocular Surgery News will include OSN Retina - a leading destination that will provide retina specialists with more relevant information specific to their field.. The premiere issue will include a feature on how  “Retinal gene therapy may pave the way for attempts to reverse genetic disease: Advancements in retinal gene therapy have prompted a collaborative effort to attain FDA approval.”

For those of you who wish a better understanding of how gene therapy works, and until I write the Primer on the Use of Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology, which I have threatened to write for the past year and a half, you can gain an understanding by reading my first article about gene therapy, written back in November 2010, The Use of Gene Therapy in Treating Retinitis Pigmentosa and Dry AMD by Retrosense.

Here then is my latest version of Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology by Application:

A pdf file of the table is available by email request.

Enlightment for Year 2011

Found this gem on a blog and I am copying it and pasted here for you all. Although, the story is simple but it carries a very strong and meaningful reminder to everyone of us.

We are just a few days away to the end of Year 2010. Have we asked ourselves, how much have we done and accomplished, and has everyone been conscious and taking good care of their own health ? 

Anyway, whatever has passed, they are history and do allow me to wish everyone an early .... Happy New Year 2011.

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There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, "If I could only see the world, I will marry you."

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything,including her boyfriend.

He asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me ?" The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them
the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later had a note sent to her saying, "Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."

This is often how our human nature works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

-Author Unknown-

Life is a gift

Today, before you say an unkind word,
think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food,
think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife,
think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

Today, before you complain about life,
think of those who may have died before their time.

Before whining about the distance you drive,
think of those who walk the same distance on foot.

When you are tired and complain about your job,
think of the unemployed, the disabled,
and those who wish they had your job.

And, when depressing thoughts seem to get you down,
put a smile on your face and think:

You're alive and still around for a reason !!!