Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 28, 2013

10

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views News Saturday, December 28, 2013 


THE JOY OF YOGA

PRANAYAMA: 

JUST BREATHE.


WINTER CAN BRING DRY SKIN

Winter is upon us. Colder temperatures lower the humidity and tend 
to make us use our heat. Add to this that in southern California, colder 
weather signals wind. All of these factors can leave our skin feeling very 
dry and damaged. So, what can we do to keep our skin moist and healthy 
throughout the winter months?

Protect your skin when going outside. Even here in southern California 
it is important to wear a scarf and gloves on cold days to prevent drying 
and chapping. If you are fortunate enough to make it to the mountains, 
remember that snow is a great reflector of the sun. You can easily get a 
sunburn. And don’t forget to keep your lips moist because lips do not have 
oil glands so they dry out easily. 

Use moisturizer liberally. You should look for moisturizers that are made 
from natural oils such as coconut, jojoba oil, almond, or avocado. Watch 
out for preservatives and fragrances since they can dry and irritate skin. 
In addition, don’t use skin care products containing alcohol since alcohol 
can strip oil from the skin. Hand sanitizers are mostly alcohol so they too 
can be a cause of dry chapped hands. 

Don’t overheat your home. Heating systems and space heaters draw moisture out of the air which in 
turn dries out our skin. Using a humidifier is a good option. I use a humidifier in our bedroom, to 
keep my skin well hydrated while sleeping.

As always, stay hydrated. You need to drink water or herbal tea to prevent dehydration. Our skin 
reflects what’s going on inside of us. Remember that alcohol, caffeine, sodas and other kinds of 
diuretics increase our need for water. 

With a little extra care and planning, you can keep your skin from becoming too dry over the winter 
months.

Take a breath. Fill your lungs with a deep inhale, hold your breath for a 
few seconds. Then, slowly, mindfully, exhale. There you have it: Pranayama, 
literally, breath control. Prana means life force energy and ayama 
means to extend or draw out.

Breathing is a simple act that we do without thinking about it. We 
breathe because we are alive, and we’re alive because we breathe. Therefore, 
pranayama is life. 

In your yoga class, your teacher will explain for you the various breathing 
exercises that are an integral part of your yoga practice. There’s Ujjayi, 
the ocean breath, and that one will see you through a lot of poses. 
There’s Kapalabhati, the fire breath and you’ll love it. There’s Dirga, the 
three-part breath, soothing and relaxing. And still more...

Why do we need breathing exercises with fancy, exotic names? Because we don’t pay enough attention 
to our breath. We hold it, we shorten it, we run out of it, caught up as we are in our ever-increasing 
pace of life. So, come to a yoga class. Sit down on your mat, close your eyes for a moment, and take a 
deep breath in. Do you feel it? Your life. Your breath. Pranayama.

Namasté, René

Dr. Tina is a traditional 
naturopath and nutritionist 
at Vibrant Living 
Wellness Center


We’d like to hear from you! 

What’s on YOUR Mind?

Contact us at: editor@mtnviewsnews.com or www.facebook.com/
mountainviewsnews AND Twitter: @mtnviewsnews


JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS


HEY SANTA, WHAT’S WITH THE 
FLYING REINDEER?

LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND,,,

...........Willow is too! 

Willow was found as a stray in San Gabriel and would 
love to start the new year in his forever home. He 
is estimated to be between 1 and 1 1/2 years old and 
weighs 55.2 pounds. Our dog walkers say he is good on 
a leash, and is gentle taking treats. We also know that 
Willow LOVES to play with toys. He will chase them 
and bring them back and put them in a pile. He also 
likes to drop them in a water dish while he gets a drink, 
but he always takes them back out when he is done. 
Willow is a sweet, silly boy with a great personality. 
We have more photos posted of him on the shelter’s 
Facebook page. He is neutered, up to date with all 
routine shots and ready to be part of your family!! 

He currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley Humane 
Society located at 851 E. Grand Avenue in San Gabriel. 
We are located off San Gabriel Blvd., north of Mission 
and south of Las Tunas. 

To arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Willow 
(aka….5058), please stop by any time from 10:00am to 
4:30pm Tuesday thru Sunday. His adoption fee is $135 which includes his neuter surgery, a 
microchip, first vaccinations and a free wellness check-up at a participating veterinarian. Feel 
free to call us at (626) 286-1159 for more information on Willow. 

See our website at www.sgvhumane.org for information and photos of all our available pets. 

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

 
Have you ever wondered where the 
idea of Santa’s sleigh being hauled by a 
heard of flying reindeer came from? It 
may sound silly to some, but my avid 
affection for animals prompted me to 
ponder this somewhat preposterous 
concept, so this Christmas I decided 
to check it out and see what I could 
find on-line. I’d like to thank the good 
folks at altogetherchristmas.com for 
their interesting and enlightening 
account of how those remarkable 
reindeer found flight in our American 
Christmas holiday tradition.

 The character of Santa Claus is 
largely based on St. Nicholas of Mayra 
and Sinterklaas of Dutch lore. Both 
of those figures traveled via a noble, 
white steed. However in some Western 
cultures, particularly America, Santa 
Claus travels the world on Christmas 
Eve delivering gifts in a sleigh pulled 
by flying reindeer.

 In 1812, American author 
Washington Irving refers to St. 
Nicholas as “…riding over the tops 
of the trees, in that self-same wagon 
wherein he brings his yearly presents 
to children.”, in the revised version 
of A Complete History of New 
York written under the pseudonym 
Diedrich Knickerbocker. Yet no 
mention is made of what propels 
the wagon. So where did the story of 
flying reindeer originate?

 The first known written account 
of reindeer in association with the 
legend of Santa Claus occurred in 
1821 when New York printer William 
Gilley published a sixteen page 
booklet titled A New Year’s Present, 
to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve 
Number III : The Children’s Friend by 
an anonymous author. In the booklet, 
reindeer are introduced into the Santa 
Claus narrative:

Old Santaclaus with much delight

His reindeer drives this frosty night.

O’er chimneytops, and tracks of snow,

To bring his yearly gifts to you.

 During a 1922 interview, New 
York’s Troy Sentinel editor Orville 
L. Holley questioned Mr. Gilley 
regarding the booklet’s author and the 
topic of reindeer. Though he did not 
identify the author, Mr. Gilley 
responded:

“Dear Sir, the idea of Santaclaus 
was not mine nor was the idea 
of reindeer. The author of the 
tale but

submitted the piece, with little added 
information. However, it should be 
noted that he did mention the

reindeer in a subsequent 
correspondence. He stated that far in 
the north near the Arctic lands a series 
of

animals exist, these hooven and 
antlered animals resemble the 
reindeer and are feared and honored

by those around, as you see he claims 
to have heard they could fly, from his 
mother.

His mother being an Indian of the 
area.”

 In 1823, the Troy Sentinel published 
the poem, A Visit From St. Nicholas, 
commonly known as The Night 
Before Christmas. The poem features 
eight flying reindeer pulling Santa’s 
sleigh and, for the first time, they are 
identified by name:

When what to my wondering eyes 
should appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny 
reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and 
quick

I new in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers 
they came,

And he whistled and shouted and 
called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, 
Prancer and Vixen!

 On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Dunder 
and Blixem!

To the top of the porch, to the top of 
the wall!

Now, dash away, dash away, dash away 
all!”

 Though originally called ‘Dunder 
and Blixem’ in the 1823 publication, 
Santa’s seventh and eight reindeer are 
commonly known as ‘Donner and 
Blitzen’ today. Dunder and Blixem 
are Dutch words that translate to 
thunder and lightning. Some 19th 
and 20th century publications of the 
poem substituted the names ‘Donder 
and Blitzen’, which are German for 
thunder and lightning, and in other 
articles during the 20th century, 
‘Donner’ replaced the name ‘Donder’. 
After Johnny Marks penned the song 
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 
1949, based on the story by Robert L. 
May, the name ‘Donner’ became the 
most popular spelling of the seventh 
reindeer. May’s story and Marks’ song 
were both well received and Rudolph 
is without doubt the most famous 
reindeer on Santa’s team.

 All of this information helps 
determine the first written accounts 
of reindeer in conjunction with Santa 
Claus, but how did reindeer come 
to be associated with Santa in the 
first place? Many popular Christmas 
traditions related to Santa Claus were 
brought to America by Dutch and 
German immigrants. As the persona 
of Santa and celebration of Christmas 
developed in the west, customs and 
myths from foreign lands, including 
those of Scandinavian and European 
countries were incorporated.

 As pagans converted to Christianity 
during the Middle Ages, winter 
festivals and traditions, as well as 
popular pagan beliefs, often mingled 
with Christian celebrations of 
Christmas. In Norse and Germanic 
mythology, Thor is the god of 
Thunder and soars through the sky in 
a chariot pulled by two magical goats. 
Thor was highly revered, and arguably 
the most popular of Norse gods in 
ancient times. Images and stories of 
Thor soaring the skies in his sleigh 
pulled by two large, horned goats may 
have influenced the creation of Santa’s 
sleigh and flying, antlered reindeer by 
those in the west familiar with such 
mythology.

 Reindeer were once viewed 
as mysterious creatures linked to 
the northern part of the world, 
widespread in Scandinavian and 
Eastern European countries where, 
during the 18th century, they were 
domesticated. They were often used 
in transportation, pulling sleds and 
sleighs and are still an important 
aspect of some indigenous Northern 
European cultures, particularly to the 
Sami people (commonly known as 
Laplanders to non-Europeans).

 Taking these bits of knowledge into 
account, one can see how reindeer 
might have come to be used in early 
writings as the wondrous flying 
creatures propelling Santa’s sleigh.