pA:9, v8.32 — Healthy Lifestyles

Healthy Lifestyles

Mountain Views News Saturday, August 9, 2014

MVNews this week: Page A:9

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 9, 2014

THE JOY OF YOGA

A POSE TO HELP WITH THAT STRESS

THE COOL CUKES

Last week we were
talking about the
parasympathetic
nervous system.
We want to
stimulate this
“rest and digest”
part of our
nervous system to counter the stresses of life and
remain clam and cool. Yoga can help because the
poses themselves can go to work on the balance
of energy in our bodies. Some poses key us up
and others bring relaxation. To better digest our
food, to calm our overall world, we need poses
that create those effects. We can do a pose called
Viparita Karani to activate the parasympathetic
nervous system. This is a modified should stand.
It is gentle and easy. First, you lie on your back
with your knees bent and your feet planted on
the floor near your bum. Lift your heart slightly
and draw your shoulder blades together and
then settle back to the mat. The idea is to be on
your shoulder blades, so they should be as close
together as possible. Then press into your feet
and lift your hips up off the mat and place a block
or firm cushion under your low back. Readjust
your shoulders again, drawing your shoulder
blades closer together. Then bend your knees
and lift your feet off the floor. If you are stable,
then take your feet toward the sky. The knees
stay slightly bent, the feet, in the air, over your
face. Your bum should be hanging off the end
of the block. Many people have the block too far
down and need to bring it more directly under
the low back. You could also do this pose at the
wall with your feet up the wall, cushion under
your bum.

It is extremely relaxing and comfortable. It
helps lower blood pressure and stress. Do not
do it on a full stomach or if you have glaucoma.
Try to keep your breathing smooth and even,
through your nose. When you come out, do so
very slowly. Do not stand up right away. Stay
low. Work up to spending 5 minutes a day here.
The health benefits are tremendous. Stay calm
and cool.

See you in class.

Namasté,

René

I bet you don’t
think of something
as common as
cucumbers when you
think of super healthy
foods. Did you know
that cucumbers are
from the same family
as squashes and
melons? Cucumbers
are the 4th most
commonly cultivated
vegetable in the world
and have many health
benefits.

First, cucumbers
are over 90% water and contain almost all of
the vitamins the body requires. The skin of the
cucumber contains a lot of vitamins but because
cucumbers are heavily spayed with pesticides and
waxed, I would recommend washing thoroughly or
peeling. The best bet for a healthier salad is to buy
organic and leave the skin on.

Cucumbers are low in calories making them a
great snack food. They are not only full of water but
they also contain electrolytes, especially potassium.
Try putting a few slices in a cool glass of water on a
hot summer day for a refreshing drink.

Cucumber peels are a great source of dietary
fiber. Fiber from cucumber skins helps reduce
constipation, and helps to eliminate toxic
compounds from the gut.

Cucumbers contain a high amount of vitamin K.
Most of the vitamin K is found in the peel or near
the peel so peeling reduces this greatly. Vitamin-K
has been found to possibly have a role in bone
mass building activity. It has also been used in
the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease by limiting
neuronal damage in the brain.

If you find yourself having too many alcoholic
beverages, try eating cucumbers before bed to
avoid a hangover or headache. Cucumbers contain
sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many
essential nutrients. All of these things can play a role
in reducing the intensity of a hangover.

If you are looking for an easy way to improve
your health, add some cucumbers. They are great
in salads, they are great as a salad all by themselves
(thinly sliced, then sprinkle with rice vinegar,
sesame seeds and some sea salt), they are refreshing
in water and they are great alone as snacks.

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

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BEATLEMANIA IN SIERRA MADRE!!
Hop aboard the Yellow
Submarine and get to
know the Fab Four with
Beatles tribute band Hard
Day’s Night this Sunday,
July 27th at Concerts in
the Park. These excellent
musicians deliver an
exciting and authentic
recreation of a Beatles
concert from the “Touring
Years” (1964-66) and the
Sgt. Pepper and Abbey
Road era (1967-70).
The concert is sponsored
by the Sierra Madre
Volunteer Firefighter's Association and will run from 6:00-8:00
pm, but be sure to get there early to secure a spot! Please note
that no alcohol is allowed in Memorial Park. FOOD VENDING:
Farmers Belly food truck.
SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2014VOLUME 8 NO. 30CITY PASSES ADDITIONAL WATER RESTRICTIONS TO COMPLY WITH NEW STATE REGULATIONS......Page B9
AROUND SGV Pg. B1Inside this week:
PASADENA/ALTADENA
Pg. 4ARCADIA NEWS Pg.5MONROVIA/DUARTE
Pg. 5FOOD & DRINK
Pg. 7HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Pg. 9
OPINION Pg. B4
BUSINESS NEWS Pg. B3SECTION B
THE WORLD AROUND US
Pg. B2CALENDAR Pg. 2SIERRA MADRE NEWS
Pg. 3THE GOOD LIFE
Pg. 10EDUCATION & YOUTH
Pg. 6BEST FRIENDS
Pg. 8SMTV CHANNEL 98
B 10
LEGALS Pg. B5ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Pg. 11“Awesome. I never dreamed I’d win a second Kentucky Derby, but here it is. This
was a typical race for him (California Chrome). He ran like he always does. Art
(Sherman) just said: ‘You know him, ride him.’ I had the trip I wanted”
I had the opportunity to sit down outside Starbucks a few days ago to chat with
Victor Espinoza, a fairly new Sierra Madrean, AND a two-time Kentucky Derby-
Preakness winning jockey. In 2002, Victor rode War Emblem to victory in the
Derby and the Preakness, just as he did this past
May with California Chrome. The Triple Crown
of racing – Derby-Preakness-Belmont Stakes –
was last won by Affirmed in 1978, which tells
you just how hard it is to win The Triple Crown!
Victor’s career wins: More than 3,100 and many
more to come!
After the Triple Crown meets, Victor flew
over to England to ride in the Windsor Castle
Stakes at the Royal Ascot five-day meet, June
17-21, winning on the colt, Hootenanny, then
chatted with Queen Elizabeth II and her Racing
Advisor John Warren in the Ascot Parade Ring.
He threw out the ceremonial first pitch at
Yankee Stadium on June 2nd and joked with
David Letterman about who’s the boss when he
and California Chrome get together. California
Chrome likes to play around before the race but
when they get in the gate, Victor is the boss and
that’s that! Victor’s met Michael Strahan, thrown
a ceremonial pitch for the Angels and loves what
he does. But he didn’t tell me all that stuff, that’s
all public record.
Victor is a delightful guy who would really
rather talk about his love for and commitment
to the young cancer patients of City of Hope
than any of his celebrity encounters. He was
quite moved recalling his visit to City of Hope
after the Kentucky Derby win where he brought
California Chrome t-shirts and autographed
pictures to share with the kids. Meeting the
amazing young people at City of Hope showed
Victor a different kind of athlete; kids who are
running races that are very hard to win…
“All these kids, they have cancer. … Since that
time, I donated 10 percent of my earnings for all
the kids that have cancer. … It changed my life
to see those kids like seven, eight, 10 years old,
20 years old. … I hope today with what earnings
I have I can make a change for one of those kids.”
Born on a farm in Mexico, Victor relocated to the United States in 1993. His
mom and the rest of the family are still in Mexico. Older brother, Jose, is also
a jockey but following a serious accident, from which he is still recuperating in
New York, he may not be riding professionally in the future. Victor has had a
number of accidents himself but, as he says, “every day is a concern, but it’s your
job!” He’s on the move constantly following various race meets; Chicago coming
up, Los Alamitos, Del Mar. Which are his favorite tracks? “It’s a fun place where
I can win a race!” But favorites are Santa Anita and Del Mar.
Needless to say, Victor is in splendid shape. He says he works out a lot.
Obviously, to control a racehorse weighing in at 1,000 lbs. or so, you’ve gotta be
at the top of your game! The maximum weight
of a jockey, including full gear, saddle, and saddle
cloth is 126 lbs. in a Triple Crown race. That’s a
lot of horse for a pretty light rider! During cooler
months Victor runs up the Mt. Wilson Trail to
First Water. But now that summer, the heat and
possible rattlesnakes are upon us, he’s spending
more time at the gym, sometimes two sessions a
day, lifting weights in the morning. Made me feel
a twinge of guilt as my weight lifting guru, John,
and I are only making it to the gym on an average
of once a week. Well, we’re walking Sierra Madre
the other days!
Of course, we got into the ‘what do you
eat’ conversation and Victor confessed that his
weakness is dessert and bread. Which one of
us isn’t in that same dietary boat! But he has
learned what his body can and can’t tolerate and
found out the hard way, just like all of us, that
dieting doesn’t work. As he says, life is about
learning and he’s learned his body. Restrictive
diets just made things worse so now it’s sensible
moderation, small meals, and a safe distance from
those seductive sirens bread and dessert! On race
days, he eats very lightly, possibly just one small
meal. I asked him if the old practice of sweating
off excess weight is something he does. No! It’s
not! The ‘hot box’ is still happening but not with
Victor. His health is too important to him to
upset the electrolyte and energy balance!
Victor is one busy guy, still riding
occasionally for California Chrome owner, Art
Sherman, but he’s ready and able to go just about
anywhere to ride upcoming new mounts, one
of which might just possibly be the next Triple
Crown winner. We’re long overdue for another
Citation, Secretariat or Affirmed to take home
horseracing’s biggest challenge and Sierra Madre
would love to see Victor Espinoza in the saddle!
My book: “A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter” is available on
Amazon.com; or at https://www.createspace.com/4561071Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side: VICTOR ESPINOZASierra Madre Resident Is Best Known For Winning The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness This Year By Deanne DavisVictor poses with a young patient at City of HopeEFFORT TO REPEAL UTILITY USERS TAX UNDERWAYNotice of Intent To Circulate Petition Filed With City ClerkBy Susan Henderson
On Wednesday, July 2nd, three Sierra
Madre residents filed a notice with the city
announcing their intention to circulate a
petition to place on the ballot an initiative
entitled “Stop The Utility Users Tax”.
The measure, if passed by two thirds of
the qualified voters casting ballots in the
election where the measure appears, would
totally eliminate the existing UUT.
The petition states the intent
of the measure as, “repealing
existing ordinances permitting
the taxation of utilities and
prohibiting the enactment of
future utility user taxes except
upon submission to the voters
and approval by two-thirds of
the votes cast.”
The residents who have
proposed the measure, Earl
Richey, Shirley Moore and
David McMonigle are listed
on the Pasadena Tea Party’s
TEAPAC website as having
“informally associated
themselves as the Sierra Madre
Tax Limitation Committee
(SMTLC).” The site also
takes ownership of the effort
as part of the California Tax
Limitation Committee’s
“TAX REVOLT”. It also
notes that the Sierra Madre action follows
a similar action in Arcadia.
Earl Richey, a vocal opponent of Sierra
Madre’s city government, is listed as the
contact person for the effort. At press
time, he had not returned a phone call in
order to get his comments. However, on
the TEAPAC website, they quote longtime
Sierra Madre resident Maurice Whittaker
who did speak with the Mountain Views
News.
Whittaker stated that while he had
informed TEAPAC’s President Michael
Alexander that he would sign the petition,
he was quite surprised to learn of the quote
attributed to him on the TEAPAC website.
The site quotes Whittaker as saying, “The
City of Sierra Madre is out of control
just like every city. It’s being run for the
financial benefit of public employees and
the unions rather than the citizens. In these
tough times it’s only fair that government
share some of the pain and learn how to live
within its means.”
Whittaker denied having ever made such
a statement and said that while he did agree
and will sign a petition, he is doubtful if
the effort will be successful. When asked
what proponents of the measure intend
to replace the income derived from UUT
taxes in Sierra Madre with should the tax be
eliminated he replied, “I don’t know. That’s
why I don’t think it will pass [the repeal].”
There are several steps that need to be
completed before the measure can be
put before voters, including gathering
enough signatures. At this point, the City
Attorney has prepared, as required by law,
the proposed language and content. What
happens next remains to be seen.
Arcadia’s Effort
Earlier this month, the Arcadia City
Council rejected the petition of more than
700 signatures submitted by the Arcadia
Tax Limitation Committee by refusing
to put the measure on the November or
“any future ballot”. That committee was
spearheaded by Arcadia
residents Carolyn Papp,
Larry Papp and Greg
Welborn.
Arcadia, where the UUT
represents less than 14% of
its General Fund, is a city
that has other resources
including a major shopping
center, race track and other
commercial businesses that
generate sales tax revenue.
Sierra Madre, on the
other hand, received
31.4% of its General Fund
revenue in the 2013-14
fiscal year from the UUT
and derives approximately
2% of its revenue from
sales taxes with no desire
for expanded commercial
development.
Sierra Madre is currently facing a financial
challenge trying to provide services with a
reduction of no less than $1 million dollars
as a result of voters narrowly rejecting an
extension of the existing UUT at 10%. As
a result, the UUT will be reduced to 8% in
2015 and by 2016 it will drop to 6%.
If a total repeal is passed the city will be
faced with a reduction in revenues of more
than 31% of the General Fund with no
other source of income identified.
Repeal of the UUT would reduce the city’s revenue by 31.4%
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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com