Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 16, 2014

9

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 16, 2014 

THE JOY OF YOGA


PANDIT RAJMANI

5 Herbs for Better Digestion

Many people suffer in 
silence from digestive 
issues because they 
find the symptoms 
hard to discuss. Yet 
digestion issues may 
well be the most 
common issue facing 
Americans on a daily 
basis. Besides making 
lifestyle changes like 
eating more fiber and 
eating dinner at least 
2 ½ to 3 hours before 
bedtime, there are 
herbs that you can use 
to flavor your food that 
can also aid in digestion. Most people know that 
peppermint calms an upset stomach but did you 
know these herbs were also good for digestion:

 Oregano: Oregano is a highly alkaline herb, so it 
fights acidity and thus lowers inflammation. It also 
stimulates the digestive system which helps prevent 
constipation.

 Rosemary: It is a great remedy for indigestion, 
bloating, gas pain and constipation. It has 
antifungal properties so it can help prevent an 
overgrowth of yeast in the digestive tract.

 Sage: Sage is a calming, soothing herb. It can 
help keep the digestive system running smoothly. It 
helps the stomach digest protein, and also helps to 
eliminate gas. 

 Thyme: Thyme is another soothing herb which 
makes it great for dealing with an upset stomach. 
Thyme is also antiviral which can help your system 
to ward off digestive system viruses. 

 Lavender: Not only does lavender smell great but 
it is also known as one of the best calming herbs. 
When we become stressed and anxious our digestion 
slows which can cause many issues. Lavender used 
to flavor foods can calm our digestive tract. It is 
also an alkaline food, so it aids in reducing acidity 
and inflammation.

 Herbs and spices were widely used by our 
ancestors for increased health and well-being. If 
you are looking to find a healthier way of living 
try, using more herbs as part of your meals. They 
provide many other benefits besides aiding in 
digestion. Be creative, you never know what you 
might come up with!

My teacher. Pandit 
Rajmani Tigunait, 
is coming to town. 
Yoga Madre will be 
hosting his book 
and lecture tour 
on September 18, 
at the Pasadena 
Neighborhood Church. He is an amazing scholar and 
true visionary. Please join us. Register at yogamadre.
com

 I thought you might like to know a little bit about 
him:

 Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD, is a modern-day 
master and living link to the unbroken Himalayan 
Tradition. He embodies the yogic and tantric wisdom 
which the Himalayan Tradition has safeguarded for 
thousands of years. Pandit Tigunait is the successor 
of Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas and the spiritual 
head of the Himalayan Institute. As a young man he 
committed himself to arduous spiritual practice and 
studied with renowned adepts of India, before being 
initiated into the lineage of the Himalayan Tradition 
by his master, Sri Swami Rama, in 1976.

 Pandit Tigunait is fluent in Vedic and Classical 
Sanskrit and holds two doctorates, one from the 
University of Allahabad (India), and another from 
the University of Pennsylvania. As a leading voice of 
YogaInternational.com and the author of 15 books, his 
teachings span a wide range, from scholarly analysis 
and scripture translation to practical guidance on 
applying yogic wisdom to modern life. Over the past 
35 years, Pandit Tigunait has touched innumerable 
lives around the world as a teacher, guide, author, 
humanitarian, and visionary spiritual leader.

Hope to see you there!

Namasté,

René

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


U.S. EPA settles with Calif. shoe insert companies 

for unsubstantiated product claims

Los Angeles--The U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency last week, ordered WalkFit, LLC, 
WalkFit Platinum, LLC, and Ideal Products, 
LLC to pay $210,316 in civil penalties for making 
unsubstantiated antimicrobial claims about 
their orthotic shoe inserts, resulting in the sale 
and distribution of an unregistered pesticide, a 
violation of federal environmental law.

 The instruction sheet and advertising material 
for WalkFit Platinum Orthotics contained claims 
that the shoe inserts were treated with ‘nanosilver’ 
that had antibacterial and antifungal properties 
and killed germs. Products that claim to kill or 
repel bacteria, fungi, or germs are considered 
pesticides and must be registered with the EPA 
before their sale or distribution, as required under 
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA). 

 During an investigation that began in 2010, EPA, 
along with the California Department of Pesticide 
Regulation, found that the WalkFit companies, 
headquartered in Sherman Oaks, Calif., sold 
numerous orthotics with the claims to various 
retailers and customers throughout the nation 
from July 2009 to August 2012. Orthotics are shoe 
inserts that claim to eliminate posture problems, 
strengthen heels and ankles, and reduce foot and 
leg pain.

 The companies have since removed the terms 
“antibacterial,” “antifungal,” and “germ-killing” 
from their instruction sheets, advertising material, 
and website.

 Under FIFRA, companies must register pesticide 
products with EPA before making claims about 
their ability to control germs or pathogens, and 
prior to distribution or sale. The Agency will not 
register a pesticide until it has been tested to show 
that it will not pose an unreasonable risk when 
used according to the label directions. Consumers 
should be careful to look for the EPA registration 
number printed on pesticide product labels, and 
need to follow the label directions for use.

 For more information on FIFRA, please visit: 
http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/lfra.html 

THE JOURNEY IS THE REWARD

RICH Johnson


This column is a reaction to my profound sorrow at the tragic end to Robin 
William’s life. My hope is this perspective will help someone out there who 
is struggling and looking for purpose.

 “The Journey is the Reward” is the title of the first biography of Apple 
Computer founder Steve Jobs. It was published in 1988 so Steve still had a lot 
of his journey left to live out.

 “The journey is the reward” is also a Chinese proverb. 

 To me the truth buried in that quote is; it’s not the arriving or the 
achievement that is the reward, but rather the gettin’ there. 

 Having read dozens over the years I consider myself a student of biographies. Biographies tend 
to be written about people who have achieved stardom and/or notable accomplishments (duh). A 
common question asked the subjects in biographies is what periods of their lives do they most fondly 
remember. A typical answer might surprise you. Actor Henry Fonda looked most fondly back at the 
time in his life when he was broke and doing summer stock in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Laurence 
Olivier’s fondest memories were his early years doing theater in the West End of London. These two 
accomplished men, in addition to countless others, discovered the arriving could not compare to the 
getting’.

 Do we really know what we want? That’s the question and lesson found in Christopher Marlowe and 
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s play “Faust”. The scholarly Faust dissatisfied with his life makes a 
deal with the devil to give him what he thinks he wants. Faust ultimately discovered it wasn’t what 
he really wanted. To bad there wasn’t a guarantee. There is a wonderful 1945 movie version of 
“Faust” called “The Devil and Daniel Webster”. 

 To me the life of John Lennon has Faustian overtones. John, in the early years of the Beatles 
would say to the depressed moptops, “We’re going to the toppermost of the poppermost.” The 
Beatles wanted to be more popular than Elvis and would have given anything to make it so. And 
it happened. But anyone who has read a biography of John knows he loathed the fame that ensued. 
He moved to the middle of New York City where he could find some cherished anonymity.

 So, Rich what is your point? How many of us think if we could acquire fame, wealth and success 
we would have our reward. We would have arrived. I think many of the famous arrivers (we call 
them celebrities) find a big hollow vacuum up on that plateau. Nope. I’ll stick with Steve Jobs and 
believe that “The Journey is the Reward”.

 If you are of such a mind crack open your Bible to the third chapter of Ecclesiastes (Many of you 
remember this chapter from the 60s song “Turn, Turn, Turn). Ecclesiastes, probably penned by 
Solomon, the smartest and richest person in all of history offers us good advice. Read through that 
third chapter and pay close attention to verse 12-13: “I know that there is nothing better for people than 
to be happy and to 
do good while they 
live. That each of 
them may eat and 
drink, and find 
satisfaction in all 
their toil—this is 
the gift of God.” If 
you currently find 
no fulfillment in 
your labor, change 
careers! It may take 
time but so? Where 
ya’ going? While 
you’re at it seek 
the Lord. He’s very 
good a providing 
perspective and 
purpose, if you are 
looking. 

 Finally, nanu 
nanu Robin. You 
brought my friends 
and I lots of joy.

 
90th Anniversary 
Community 
Celebration 
September 27th 2014 
Noon – 5 pm 
851 E. Grand Ave, San Gabriel 
(626) 286-1159 
Pet Products, 
Entertainment, 
Food Trucks! 
Freebies & Fun for 
all ages – including 
an Alumni 
Parade! 
I’m an 
alumni, in 
fact, I’m a 
celebrikitty! 
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