Holy Cow!

Holy Cow!

My son recently went to the dentist and came out to inform me that he had 16 cavities.  WHAT?! 16 CAVITIES???  The receptionist calmly told me the estimate was somewhere around $2000.  Yikes!   That is a lot of moo-la. 

I was telling my sister, about our visit to the dentist, and she said, “You should try raw milk and cod-liver oil.  It can reverse tooth decay.”  I don’t know about you, but to me it sounded pretty far-fetched.  She said, “Just try it, for pete’s sake. You don’t have anything to lose!”  And she was right.  I didn't have anything to loose, but hey- what if it actually worked?  I decided to give it a try.  

I’m guessing you know the outcome here, or I wouldn't be sharing this with you.  Long story short:  Several months later, back at the dentist office, my son came out ginning from ear to ear.  “Guess what mom?  I only have 4 cavities left!”  Yes, Holy Cow!  It really worked!  I was so excited, I could have done cartwheels right there in the office!  

Now, my thought was this:  If doing this can help re-mineralize teeth and reverse tooth decay, what is it doing for my bones, muscles, joints, etc?  Can you imagine what this could mean for someone with osteoporosis, or other degenerative disease?  This is WAY cool!  

Would you like to learn more about the benefits of raw milk?  Read more here: realmilk.com

Raw milk is not something you can just walk into the grocery store to buy.  There are only a few places that you can purchase it, and it requires a drive into the Salt Lake area if you are looking for organic, grass-fed, hormone/antibiotic-free, milk.  Many groups team up, taking turns to drive in to bring milk back to a central drop-point each week.  A few of you have already expressed interest in joining my milk carpool.  Please contact me if you would like more information about joining. yoga.moma@yahoo.com

Protect Your Knees

I have been given the opportunity to be very grateful for those knobby things in the middle of my leg called knees.  I slipped down the stairs the other day, injuring my right knee.  Suddenly I became keenly aware of just how much my sweet knees do for me everyday. Thank you, knees!

Keeping your knees in good health is an important aspect of daily living.  All of our joints are lubricated with synovial fluid and held in place by muscles and tendons.  


Low-impact movement: generates blood flow and lubrication of the joint and cartilage; a key part of knee health.  
 
Strengthening: the knee joint is held in place by ligaments (which join bone to bone) and tendons (which join muscle to bone). Strengthening the hamstrings and the inner and outer quadriceps equally helps stabilize the knee.  Oftentimes the inner quadriceps are weaker, creating imbalance.
Mobility: flexibility of the knee and supporting muscles - quadriceps, hamstrings and hips also contributes to the overall health of the knee.
 
Good Posture: poor posture can compound or create a knee injury. Imbalanced weight runs down the spine, and eventually bears down on the knees, so stand tall!

A mindful yoga practice will keep your body in balance, greatly reducing the chance of injury.  As you practice, alignment is important in keeping your knees safe.  Here are some pointers that will help you maintain correct alignment.  

• Avoid hyper-extending or popping the knee all the way back.

• Start from the ground up.  Open your toes, hug the floor, press down through all four corners of both feet, and actively lift the arches.

• Keep your knees in line. Stack - knee over ankle, knee cap in line with 2nd toe.

• Listen to your body.  If you feel aching in the joint after coming out of a posture, you have likely gone too deep.  You should never feel pain on the inside of your knee joint after a pose.

• Balancing, poses - especially those that require moving into a bent leg, such as eagle pose strengthen and stabilize.

• Use props.  Don't be afraid to use props that will help you maintain proper alignment.

• Warm up with hip openers. "If your big joints aren't open, your small joints will always take the stress," yoga instructor Sandy Blaine says. "Many people hurt their knees doing Lotus when their hips aren't ready." 

I went to see my chiropractor today and explained the details of my accident to him.  Upon examining my knee, he exclaimed, "It's a good thing you are so flexible, or you would have really been in trouble."   Once again, my yoga practice has saved the day! 

Eagle Pose

Time for Joyful Moments

My sister, Michelle

Recently life circumstances have brought my sister to the difficult task of single parenthood. She found herself looking a home, struggling to make ends meet, applying for scholarships and grants, and arranging for childcare while going back to school.  
I watch her as she squares her shoulders to this task, bravely stepping onto unfamiliar paths that seem so daunting. She is a remarkable example of faith and courage. Though she works herself to exhaustion, her cheerful outlook on life is so inspiring!  It literally radiates from her even through her most challenging trial.  
She has a beautiful gift in art.  It just flows naturally from her.  It medium doesn't seem to matter - clay, quilting, cake decorating, pencils - you name it she can use her hands to create something remarkable.  Years have passed and the busyness of motherhood (she is the mother of 9!) squeezed that from her life.  
Finding herself back in school, she decided to take an art class.  She shared with me tonight that it was like something that had died inside of her long ago suddenly sprang back to life. The feel of the brush in her hand, the smell of the paints - all of it flooded back, bringing with it a rush of tears.  She realized just how much her soul had been aching for the things that brought her joyful, satisfying moments in life. She said, "It made me wonder why I waited so long.  It was sad to think all this time passed with out doing one of the things I love the most."  

It is important to make time to do the things we love.  Sometimes when we are going through tough times we feel as though we can't possibly turn to joy, and so we push it back and bury it deep within.  The truth is, that turning to those things can help sustain us during our most difficult days.  It could be something as simple as taking a bath.  When we become empty, how is it that we can give back to everyone who depends on us?   

What is it that YOU love?  When was the last time you did that?  Plan to do at least one thing that brings joy into your life this week. If you keep putting it off until tomorrow, before you know it, years will have flown by.

Here is the picture that she painted - Her first time doing oils.  Isn't she amazing?

I am so proud of you, sister 'o mine! Thanks for being an example to all of us and letting me share your story.

Oil portrait by Michelle Furniss

  Below is the actual photograph that she painted from.

Foot Zoning & Energy Work

I recently began taking a Foot Zoning class after learning of the multitude of benefits that this modality of healing has to offer. 

The course I am taking is through WeDoFeet Seminars by Brad and Susan Noall. Brad and Susan have been teaching these seminars now for 11 years and have trained several wonderful instructors. My instructor is Kathy Atkinson, founder of Mind Body and Sole in Centerville, UT. 

When I gradutate in May of 2013, I will be a certified Foot Zone Therapist having completed 180 hours of training and at least another 80 hours of practical application.

What is Foot Zoning?
Each day our bodies are bombarded with toxins, stress, viruses, sickness, emotions, and habits that can disrupt our energy flow. When this energy flow becomes blocked or jumbled, it can often be the beginning of illness.
 
The feet are connected to all the parts of your body through meridians. Foot zoning is a technique used to access your body through these meridians. The intent with energy work through the feet is to create a way for the body to rejuvenate, restore, and rebuild itself by returning it to a healthy flow of circulation both physically and energetically.
Read more on my newest page, Foot Zoning & Energy Work.

Let Go - and Fly!

Photo courtesy of: will.koffel.org

The other day, I was driving my son to Driver's Ed class. After a bit, he said, “Look, mom!” I glanced over and saw that he was referring to a wasp that was hanging on to the outside of the window.

My other two children in the back were instantly fascinated at this small, desperate, clinging creature. “Why doesn't he just fly off?”, My daughter asked.

“I don't know.”, I responded. “I wonder how long he will hold on.” Read more:

A special thank you to Will Koffel for the use of his wasp photo.  To see more of his work, visit:will.koffel.org 

Road Trip Tips - For a Happy Tummy

Are you planning to take a road trip this summer?  Snacking and traveling seem to go hand in hand, but the combination of sitting and snacking can often leave you feeling - well, uncomfortable to say the least.  Want to feel your best while you are on vacation?  Read these Tips for a Happy Tummy.

Calming the Tempest Within

As much as we all want to experience more tranquil moments, we have to admit that just isn't what life is about.  In fact, as we experience the beauty along with the beastly, it creates ways for us to grow.  We can then become the more compassionate, non-judging being that we wish to be. 

Our emotions are ever changeable, moving in and out as do the tides of the ocean. . . So, what about the times we feel like a cannon is getting ready to explode inside of us?  Read More: