Understanding Diabetes - Stabilizing a Sugary Roller Coaster

My Yoga Online - Learn about diabetes, the underlying causes of this common disease, and some new research on phytonutrients that improve insulin sensitivity and stabilize blood sugar. Enjoy this new health and wellness article by naturopathic physician, Dr. Danny Jui.

Life at the cellular level is a roller coaster fuelled by sugar. Glucose, a type of sugar, serves as an important energy currency in our body. Most of the foods we eat are converted into glucose, which is used by our cells to carry out their functions. Properly managing our intake of and paying close attention to our body’s response to this sugary guel is key in maintaining optimal health. Keeping the blood sugar roller coaster steady on track may prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes.

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Organic, Sustainable Yoga Clothing

My Yoga Online - We have had the opportunity to try out an organic and sustainable clothing line called Mission Playground. Besides bringing awareness to sustainable consumption, this company is committed to raising awareness for issues that concern playgrounds. Mission Playground has established S.E.E.D. which pledges 1% of sales to non-profit organizations that share the same passions for playgrounds.

More about Mission Playground:

Mission Playground has introduced new innovative fabrications that will be introduced to the public in February 2009, including 100% recycled PET bird’s eye knit with technical attributes, 100% merino wool jersey, 100% organic cotton poplin, and exclusive to Mission Playground is MIPAN regen recycled nylon from pre and post consumer waste.

The company takes pride in supporting fair labor suppliers and will continue to explore sustainable design techniques, production methods and fabrications as time and resources evolve.

http://www.missionplayground.com

Twists And Turns Of Yoga Practice

My Yoga Online - Dr. Robin Armstrong has added a new yoga anatomy article to My Yoga Online addressing the important applications of twists in our yoga class. This article looks at how different yoga positions (standing versus seated) have different approaches to insure proper alignment and safety in our twisting yoga poses.

Twisting postures are an enjoyable, challenging, and some might say vital part of our yoga practice. Poses like marichyansa/Marichis pose, revolved poses like parvritta trikonasana/revolved triangle, and parvritta parsvokonasana/revolved extended side angle pose allow us to move and lengthen our spines to improve our spinal and pelvic flexibility, as well as our strength. Traditionally twists are thought to be detoxifying, literally wringing out the organs of digestion and detoxification. To better understand the benefits and considerations surrounding twists, let’s take a closer look at the spine.

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Yoga and the Truth About Twists

My Yoga Online - Dr. Carla Cupido has written new, inspiring article about the application of twists in yoga and daily life. Learn how twisting can present contraindications and hazards for the spine. This is an important article for all yoga practitioners and yoga teachers. Enjoy.

When we think about twisting through the low back, we often think about the muscles we could be strengthening or stretching through the movement. However, we do not often consider the risks of twisting as for those of us with healthy backs; it does not seem that precarious a movement. For those of us in careers that require repetitive twisting, the dangers of twisting may be apparent to you. Twisting has been proven a factor in the incidence of occupational low back pain.

If this motion has been recognized as a threat for employees in some jobs, how does that relate to a yoga practice? Are all types of twisting bad?

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Yoga for COPD

My Yoga Online - My Yoga Online has posted a new article addressing yoga practice for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) by Vijai Sharma, PhD, psychologist, certified yoga therapist and yoga teacher.

Yoga is unique program for self-management for people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or other chronic illnesses because yoga is one of the most comprehensive body, breath and mind systems I know.

According to Thomashaw and Walsh CO-Morbidity survey of over 3000 people with COPD on average have 6 co-morbid disorders. 60 to 80% of them take 5 to 10 medications and 15-25% people take more than 11 prescribed medication. Most commonly reported problems are high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, GERD (Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease), sinus disease, sleep apnea, weight loss, muscle weakness as well as depression and anxiety. (See footnote) Similar other surveys too point out that COPD affects the whole body and causes a wide range of negative emotions such as the sense of personal loss, hopelessness, depression, anxiety and panic attacks and anger and frustration.

Yoga can be particularly beneficial for us with COPD. We must constantly work on improving our physical health, breath function and emotional strength.

Click here to read Dr. Sharma's article and suggested yoga practice for COPD.

Yoga and Seasonal Stress

My Yoga Online - As the busy and stressful holiday season approaches, it is important to examine your powerful emotions authentically with this new yoga article by Alexandra Goldwell, Registered Clinical Counsellor and yoga instructor.

As spiritual beings having a human experience, we sure have a huge range of emotions we are capable of experiencing and sometimes several show up at once! The holiday season is upon us which can be one of the most stressful times of the year where emotions run high. It’s a good time to begin to become more aware of your emotional experience in yoga practice and use the practice and breath to release tension and pent-up emotion.

So whether you’ve been practicing asanas for a while or you have just started, the best starting place is simply to know that yoga can bring a whole gamet of emotions to the forefront. You may notice yourself in Savasana choking back tears. Or maybe the teacher holds the class in warrior posture forever and you feel anger. Maybe you look at others in the room that seem to be balancing perfectly or are more flexible and you feel jealous. You could be in childs pose and feel relief or sadness or anxiety. Yikes! Why does this happen? What to do?

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