Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 5, 2013

13

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

 Mountain Views News Saturday, October 5, 2013 


THE JOY OF YOGA

BLOWING IN THE WIND

ene
They say that this weekend we will be blowing again. In Yoga and 
Ayurveda (the sister science to yoga) we say that the wind is Vata. 
Wind is good, it keeps things blowing or moving around. It keeps us dancing, talking, questioning. 
But when we get too much wind – we get spacey. The wind can make us ungrounded, unfocused 
and depressed. If we cannot concentrate – we cannot get anything done. Getting things done gives 
us a sense of self and accomplishment.

In today’s world everything is Vata! There are planes, trains, cars, cell phones and Twitter! 
Everything is moving too fast. Not to mention that as we age, well, we get a little drier in the skin 
and bones department. So while we want to keep moving, we need nurturing and grounding. We 
want to learn the secrets of living longer and feeling whole.

Your yoga practice can make a HUGE difference. A focus on the elements can bring greater balance. 
For example, the elements that balance wind would be Earth and Water. So bringing in the earth 
element can stabilize and ground you. The water element can hydrate and nourish you. A flow-y 
water like practice can counter that fast-paced wind but keep you moving and happy. Forward 
folds are a great way to bring in earth. Balancing with your gaze fixed on a spot on the floor can 
help too. What we want is calm and steady. So we flow a little and then stabilize. Easy right?

The idea is not to get rid of what we cannot change – the wind, but to balance and support what we 
can change – ourselves.

See you in class. Namasté, René


CONSUMERS FLOCK TO COVERED CALIFORNIA WEBSITE 
AND SERVICE CENTERS AS OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS

State’s New Health Benefit Exchange Receives Thousands of Calls and Millions of 
Page Views on Launch Day

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California™ officials are thrilled with the strong consumer response 
today, the historic first day that California consumers have been able to shop for, compare and 
enroll in affordable health plans or apply for no-cost or low-cost Medi-Cal through the state’s new 
health benefit marketplace.

Calls to Covered California Service Centers and visits to Covered California Web pages from enthusiastic 
consumers were extremely high throughout the day. Some 5 million page views were made to 
the Covered California website by 3 p.m. The page views averaged 5,000 per minute and peaked at 
16,000 per minute.

Also by 3 p.m. Covered California had logged in some 17,000 phone calls to its Service Centers.

To ensure that consumers will have positive experiences going forward, Covered California will take 
down the enrollment section of its website from 9 p.m. Tuesday until early Wednesday. This will help 
optimize performance for the millions of people expected to log in to use the enrollment function in 
future. Other portions of the website will remain accessible. 

Today is merely the starting line, not the finish line, for those seeking health coverage through Covered 
California. Consumers will have the ability to enroll by Dec. 15, 2013, in order to ensure coverage 
starting Jan. 1, 2014, and after that they can still get insurance until open enrollment concludes 
on March 31, 2014. 

About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s marketplace for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act. Covered California was charged with creating a new health insurance marketplace in which 
individuals and small businesses can get access to affordable health insurance plans. With coverage 
starting in 2014, Covered California will help individuals determine whether they are eligible for 
premium assistance that will be available on a sliding-scale basis to reduce insurance costs or whether 
they are eligible for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal. Consumers can then compare health insurance 
plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Small businesses will be 
able to purchase competitively priced health insurance plans and offer their employees the ability to 
choose from an array of plans and may qualify for federal tax credits.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the new market 
work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the Governor 
and the Legislature. For more information on Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.

WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS BREAST 
CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

(StatePoint) Unfortunately, too many of us know 
someone - a family member, friend or colleague 
- who is affected by breast cancer. In fact, breast 
cancer accounts for nearly one in three cancers 
diagnosed in U.S. women, according to the 
American Cancer Society.

Since there is no cure for breast cancer, much 
more needs to be done in the fight against this 
life-threatening disease.

There are several easy ways you can make a difference 
this October, which 
is Breast Cancer Awareness 
Month, and beyond:

Get the Word Out

Awareness is crucial to early 
diagnosis and timely treatment. 
Talk to your sisters, 
mothers, daughters, aunts and 
friends about scheduling annual 
checkups and diagnostic 
tests.

Since genetics can play a factor, 
sharing your medical history 
with your family is especially 
important. Use free web services, 
such as the government’s 
Family Health Portrait tool, 
available at www.familyhistory.hhs.gov, to collect 
this information and help your health care provider 
formulate a prevention plan.

Show Your Support

Beyond spreading the word, there are easy ways 
you can support the fight against breast cancer 
– from your grocery store list to fundraisers and 
more.

First, look for your favorite brands that are giving 
back to the cause. For example, Nestlé Pure Life 
Purified Water is supporting The Breast Cancer 
Research Foundation (BCRF) through its Pink 
Pack program. Every package of Nestlé Pure 
Life Purified Water marked with a pink ribbon 
represents a donation to BCRF, with a minimum 
of $750,000 this year.

BCRF is dedicated to breast cancer research that 
will ultimately help lead to prevention and a cure. 
Currently, 91 cents of every dollar spent by BCRF 
is directed towards breast cancer research and 
awareness programs, such as one of the grants 
that Nestlé Pure Life is helping to fund, aimed at 
findings drugs to prevent breast cancer in those 
with the BRCA-mutation. To join Nestlé Pure 
Life in supporting BCRF and 
make a direct donation supporting 
research efforts, visit www.
bcrfcure.org. 

Another easy -- and fun -- way 
to show your support and raise 
funds year round is by participating 
in walks and runs. Gather a 
group of friends and family and 
find a local walk or race that raises 
funds for an organization tied 
to research or finding a cure. It’s 
a meaningful way to get directly 
involved.

Healthy Lifestyle

BCRF-funded research has indicated 
that there is a positive relationship between 
exercise, a healthy lifestyle, and breast cancer 
risk.

Among other things, it is important to maintain a 
healthy body weight through exercise and a well-
balanced diet. One weight maintenance trick is 
to stay hydrated and eat plenty of fiber-rich foods 
like almonds, beans and apples, which make you 
feel full and can help you avoid overeating.

This Breast Cancer Awareness month, there are 
many great ways to support causes that fight this 
all-too-common, life-threatening disease. Find 
out more by visiting www.cancer.org.


BREAST HEALTH AWARENESS 
NIGHT BENEFITING CITY OF HOPE 
SATURDAY! NASCAR RACES AT 
IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY: 

SATURDAY OCT 5, 2013

Special Guests: Tommy Lasorda from the LA Dodgers 
and Dodger broadcaster Jorge Jarrin

Irwindale, Calif. - - This Saturday night, October 5, Irwindale 
Speedway will promote national Breast Cancer Awareness 
Month with a special night of Whelen All-American Series NASCAR 
competition benefiting the track's nearby neighbor, leading 
cancer research and treatment center, City of Hope. 

"We've pledged to contribute $2.50 for each adult ticket sold on 
Saturday night and I'm really hoping to be able to write a very 
big check payable to City of Hope at the end of the evening," said 
Irwindale Event Center's President/CEO Jim Cohan. 

"This is the 100th anniversary of City of Hope and we are very 
proud to represent them and have this opportunity to celebrate 
the service they continue to provide to people from near and far. 
The idea of close teamwork yielding good results in motor racing 
is well-known, and the great teamwork at City of Hope is what 
has made them one of the nation's most respected research and treatment centers." 

 Irwindale Speedway is honored to welcome to the track cancer survivors and medical staff from 
City of Hope. Doctor Joanne Mortimer, Director, Women's Cancer Programs and Co-Director, 
Breast Cancer Programs who will serve as City of Hope's Grand Marshall for the night and "give the 
command" for the drivers to start their engines for the first race. 

Adding to the festivities on Saturday night will be a special guest appearance by Tommy Lasorda 
of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have been longtime supporters of City of Hope's causes. 
Lasorda will be at the Speedway to salute the organization and to greet all of the fans who love both 
NASCAR Home Track Racing and the LA Dodgers.

 Popular Dodgers radio broadcast team member and co-host of "Dodger Talk" on AM 570 Fox 
Sports Los Angeles, Jorge Jarrin will emcee the pre-race ceremonies on Saturday night.