The Living Yoga Newsletter

Here you will find more of my Radiant Health & Energy Tips
you signed up to receive, as well as valuable articles and
other inspirations and resources selected to support you on 
your journey to total health!
**************************************************
Local Happenings

ELLEN'S YOGA CLASSES:
Living Yoga classes in my home studio: currently these
ongoing vinyasa flow classes are level I / II, appropriate
for beginning to intermediate students.  Join us as we build
healthy community in a fun and intimate environment where
you will receive one-on-one attention, a raw food snack, and
access to my unique lending library of healthy lifestyle
resources. http:// www.LivingYogaNow.com for more description and
to register.
Drop-ins available, space permitting, and FIRST CLASS FREE!
Mondays,  5:30 - 7 p.m.
Wednesdays,  9:30 - 11 a.m. 

Ellen's other community yoga classes:
www.A2Yoga.com :  Fridays noon - 1pm, Restorative Yoga
Sundays, 9 - 10 am Beginning Yoga
www.Sun-Moon-Yoga.com :  Saturdays 10:45 - noon, Basic Yoga
NEW!! www.mbsacademe.com :  Wednesdays 5:30 - 6:45, Vinyasa
Flow Yoga level I/II 

Here are the 6 major causes of disease, as presented by Don:
1.Toxins and Hormones (especially in food)
2.Inactivity
3.Cooked foods (and foods not of your biological
adaptation)
4.Not enough deep sleep (affects healing)
5.Chronic dehydration (not consuming enough water and/or
consuming dehydrated foods & diuretics)
6.Unmanaged stress (interferes with digestion and depresses
immune system)

And how to be vibrantly healthy:
*Eat the foods you are designed to eat (those which can be
eaten & enjoyed without modification or processing: Fruits -
mostly, and green leafy veggies, and optionally a small
amount of nuts/seeds)
*Eat whole, fresh, ripe, raw, organic plant foods
*Don't eat the foods you are not designed to eat
*Avoid overeating on fatty foods
*Eat ONLY WHEN HUNGRY!
*Avoid foods that dehydrate the body (causing thirst)
*Drink only water (filtered through a solid carbon block, do
not drink with meals, and filter your shower water)
*Avoid toxins and poisons (cosmetics, pesticides, smoking,
alcohol, irritants, hormones)
*Get enough deep, restorative sleep (100% darkened room,
don't eat within 3 hours of going to sleep, don't take
problems to bed with you, don't use an alarm clock that may
wake you out of deep sleep)
*Manage stress (look on the bright side, don't worry about
what other people think about you, welcome positive change,
deep breathing, rebounding, Tai Chi or yoga)
*Get enough sunshine (avoid sunblock, get sun even when it's
cold outside, expose all your skin to the sun)
*Respect (your) Nature, respect your body ("Give your body
what it wants, and don't give it what it doesn't want." -
Nature)
*Get empowering books that contain truthful information.
*Associate with those who speak the truth, care more about
people than money, and who walk the talk.
*Visit www.health101.org for enlightening and empowering
articles.

**************************************************
The diet that Nature intended for us:  unheated
FRUITS  Vegetables  Nuts & Seeds 
**************************************************
How do we know this?
1.Comparative Anatomy - the animals that are most like us
(Bonobo monkeys) eat mostly fruit, some green leafy
vegetables and no animal products)
2.Human Physiology - our digestive systems are designed for
a plant-based, fruit diet. Not grains or meat.
3.Empirical evidence - people who eat an uncooked,
plant-based diet have better health than those who eat
cooked animal/grain/dairy diets.
4.Logic - Does it make sense that our original diet (the one
we ate when we roamed paradise), was less healthy than what
most people eat today?

Fruits & veggies have everything your body needs to be
healthy!  Adequate amounts of : Protein (all amino acids),
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's), Calcium and other minerals .
. . . IF you don't cook them, IF you don't miscombine them,
and IF you don't eat a "narrow" diet.

Don helped us to learn to recognize the signs of true hunger
(it's actually a sensation in the throat, not the stomach!),
and how to know when we have had enough to eat.  He shared
the observation that in the wild, animals never eat in whole
numbers - they always respect when their body has had enough
and stop immediately, even though it is usually part way
through a piece of fruit.

And here are some great quotes, said or collected by Don:

"Transition at a tolerable pace, get over the hump, and live
happily and healthily ever after!"  -Don

"Variety during the year, simplicity at each meal!" - Doug
Graham

"The further away from Nature you stray, the less healthy
you will be."  - Don

"What can do you great harm is what you know, that just
ain't so."  - Herbert Shelton

"We as a species have the intelligence to know how to do
many things, but not the wisdom to know not to do them."  -
Don

"Thee cause of serious disease is . . . the cumulative
effects of the contributing factors."  - Don

"The lifestyle practices necessary for vibrant health are
not a matter of opinion; they are a matter of fact, and are
based on the science of health, a.k.a. Hygiene.  To
distinguish natural health from "health from a pill", it's
called Natural Hygiene.  -Don

"Please do not feed the deer . . . The deer are wild
animals, not pets or domestic animals.  Feeding causes
problems for these animals when they are given foods that
they would not encounter in nature."  - actual sign in a
park

All in all, it was a whole lot of very powerful information
packed into one day, shared with depth and humor by a man
who has learned to put it all into practice, and stands as
living proof of the truth and power of Nature's laws.

If you missed the workshop this time, and want to learn
more, I highly recommend you get a copy of Don's book, "How
to have the BEST odds of Avoiding Degenerative Disease"
(www.health101.org), Doug Graham's "The 80-10-10 Diet:
Balancing Your Health, Your Weight, and Your Life, One
Luscious Bite at a Time" (I have copies in stock), and/or
Frederic Patenaude's "The Raw Secrets" (on my website,
www.LivingYogaNow.com). 

*************************************************
Don plans to return next year, and I expect to bring you Dr.
Doug Graham in April, so stay tuned!!

Some of you also attended Victoria Boutenko's lecture on
September 17th.  I'd love to hear what you thought of her
presentation!  Please send me your impressions.
*************************************************

Who else wants to be in control of their health?
"The 80-10-10 Diet: Balancing your Health, Your Weight,
and Your Life, One Luscious Bite at a Time",
by Dr. Douglas N. Graham.

In this comprehensive volume "Dr D", as he is affectionately
known, spells it all out for us, baring the truth of
Nature's laws "though the heavens may fall".  Here you will
find all that you need to take control of your health, for
once and for all. 

Autumn Applesauce, from my daughter Hannah
Core and chop a couple of apples (you can leave the skin on
or remove it), and add to the blender with a banana or two. 
Blend to desired consistency, adding a tiny bit of water if
necessary just to get the blender going.  Play with the
ratio of apples to bananas, and add a pinch of cinnamon if
you like.  For extra fun, top with some shredded apple.

Replenishing Sports Drink, from Doug Graham
This one's great right after a good sweaty workout! 
Put several bananas in the blender with a few stalks of
chopped celery.  Add water to desired consistency -
thinner than a typical smoothie is good.  This drink will
help to replenish potassium and natural sodium excreted
during strenuous exercise.

Tahini Dressing, from Alyssa Cohen
2 TBS raw tahini (in the refridgerator of health food store)
½ lemon, juiced
½ orange, juiced
½ c parsley
(optional 1 tsp raw honey)
Blend all, toss with a salad and enjoy!

**********************************************
The Raw Secrets:
An E-book (and regular book) You Should Know About
**********************************************
One of the most useful resources in the health world is the
book "The Raw Secrets: The Raw-Vegan Diet in the Real
World."

Frederic Patenaude, editor of the Pure Health & Nutrition
Newsletter (and formerly of the magazine "Just Eat An
Apple"), wrote "The Raw Secrets" to relate his experience
with diet and healthful living habits and the problems he
and others have had trying to make them work in the "real
world." He reveal all the "secrets" he has learned along the
way.

Since "The Raw Secrets" has been published, Frederic
received so many testimonials and positive reviews that
it's hard for him to keep track of them!

Here's one that he received recently:

--Hi Frederic!

I got "The Raw Secrets" in the mail yesterday and spent
all day today reading it. It was absolutely genius, yet
simple!

I started eating 100% raw in January. It solved years of
problems, but only lasted 3 months. Then, many of the
problems mentioned in your book crept in... without me
really being aware of them. I knew the diet was right, but
something was wrong... such frustrating and unnerving
feelings!

I prayed that God would open my eyes and lead me to right
sources of information on this topic (since there is so much
contracting information out there). That very day I ran
across your website. After reading many of the articles, I
decided to order your e-book "The Raw Secrets". It was
very impressive and inspiring and an answer to my prayer!

I know I have a lot more research and experimentation to do,
but your book was greatly helped to steer me in a positive
and promising direction!

Thank you so much for all the time you put into this book!
God bless your efforts as you continue to research,
experiment and share what you know! This information is
incredible... just truly awesome!!!

Most gratefully,

Erica Ormonde
Baker City, OR USA
--------------------------
I think you will find "The Raw Secrets" to be an awesome
resource. For more information, go to:
http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/cmd.php?Clk=2086293

*************************************************

How to Get Your Lymphatic System Flowing

Don Bennett talked a lot about the importance of moving the
lymph fluid throughout the body.  Stagnant lymph fluid leads
to disease, as toxins build up and are not effectively
eliminated.  Your blood has a pump to keep it flowing (your
heart), but the flow of your lymph depends on you moving
your body!  Don recommends bouncing regularly on a rebounder
(mini trampoline) to move the lymph.  

Another great way to move the lymph is to do yoga.  I found
some great information about this in the book "Kripalu
Yoga", by Richard Faulds.  Here is an excerpt:
"All movement increases lymph flow to some extent, but yoga
appears to increase it in dramatic ways.  By fostering
relaxation, yoga releases hormones that dilate the lymph
vessels.  Deep diaphragmatic breathing and backbending
postures keep the large thoracic duct open and the river of
lymph flowing freely.  Through a variety of positions, and
especially through inversions, yoga uses gravity to move
lymph to places it might not otherwise flow so freely. 
Lymph glands are concentrated in the armpits, neck, and
groin.  By stretching these areas, yoga facilitates their
elimination of infectious invaders.  All of these effects
together help the lymphatic system accomplish its task of
keeping the body free of wastes, germs, and toxins."

A simple yoga posture that stimulates lymph flow is the
"Puppy Stretch".  This pose opens the thoracic duct and
massages lymph nodes in the armpits, neck and chest. 
Additionally, it stimulates the thymus gland, another key
component of the immune system.

To come into Puppy Stretch, begin in Table Pose, on "all
fours" with hands directly under your shoulders and knees
directly under your hips.  Inhale deeply, then as you exhale
slide your palms forward on the floor until you feel a good
stretch to the chest and armpits.  Inch your fingers forward
a little bit more, then let your forehead come onto the
floor, relax the back of your neck, and gently press your
sternum down.  Keep your hips high and tailbone lifted. 
Breathe deeply and hold, allowing the chest to open.  To
intensify this stretch you can press your elbows into the
floor and bring your hands into Prayer position behind your
head.  The lymph nodes in your neck and armpits are now
receiving a stimulating massage!

To release, slide hands back into Table Pose, or press the
hips back onto the heels and rest in Child's Pose.

Puppy Stretch:

******************************************************
"Joy is natural to the human being; it is not something we have to
create.  It is there already!  All we have to do is clear away whatever
is in the way of our experiencing it."   - Leslie Kenton
*******************************************************
"Happiness begins by facing life with a wink and a smile." 
- Chinese proverb
*******************************************************

That's all for now!

Yours for radiant health and happiness,