Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 11, 2014

9

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 11, 2014


THE JOY OF YOGA

THE INFAMOUS DOWN DOG


Adho Mukha 
Svanasana. 
Downward facing 
Dog. A stable 
pose of many 
yoga classes. It’s 
a resting pose, a 
transition pose, 
an inversion, and it’s grounding. Finding the proper 
alignment is critical for comfort in this pose. We 
don’t want the hands slipping, wrists hurting, or 
rounding in the upper back.

 To best access the pose, we’ll begin on all fours 
(hands and knees). The hands should be nice and 
wide on the mat, pinky finger almost reaching 
the outer edge. The fingers are spread like starfish 
gripping the mat. Each finger pressing down, 
in particular, the thumb and index finger. Each 
knuckle and “finger pad” pressing down. As you 
begin to lift the knees off the mat, lift the hips up and 
back, and tilt your tailbone to the sky. Feet can stay 
at hip distance and knees can be bent slightly. Arms 
will become straight, eye of the elbow on the outside 
of the arms. Shoulders externally rotate (inner upper 
arm wraps toward ceiling) and forearms wrap in as 
you push the earth away with the hands (relieving 
pressure in the wrists). Inner thighs wrap inward 
and begin to press down through the heels. Think 
about elongating the spine, tugging navel towards 
back body and relaxing the neck completely. Stay 4-6 
breaths to start, and progress to 8-12 breaths as you 
advance.

 Because Downward Facing Dog is so common, 
it’s important to truly find this pose for your body. 
You’ll want to be active, strong, and comfortable. The 
benefits are immense, we build strength, improve 
circulation, relieve lower back pain, and enliven the 
entire body. A longer hold in the down dog can serve 
as an anchor to bring concentration and focus.

 Modifications could include coming down onto 
the elbows/forearms when your wrists won’t permit 
weight bearing. A deep bend to the knees can assist 
tight muscles in the backs of the legs. Students with 
high blood pressure need to check with their doctor 
first before practicing this pose. Only stay in the 
pose if it’s pain-free. It may be very challenging, even 
uncomfortable at first. Check in while you’re there 
and see how the entire body is doing. Enjoy!

Namaste,

Keely Totten

Teacher at Yoga Madre


FEED YOUR BRAIN

The food we eat 
interacts with the 
gut, and the gut itself 
cooperates with the 
brain by nerve and 
hormone signaling. 
This is why the food 
we eat is so important! 
When we are in a 
hurry or famished, 
we often grab what 
is convenient, and 
this is not what is the 
best for us. Highly 
nutritious food is the 
fuel the brain thrives 
on and in turn keeps 
out gut healthy. The 
entire fast and processed 
food industry creates 
products that are full of processed sugar, animal 
byproducts and GMO’s. These businesses are 
producing products that I wouldn’t call food. They 
diminish good bacteria, slow digestion and are 
cognition-killing. These so called foods cultivate 
preventable diseases. All of this dampens thinking, 
energy and motivation.

 So what are the best foods for that brain gut 
connection? First and foremost we need to eat a 
diet rich in whole organic foods, foods that are not 
processed, or are minimally processed including 
as many greens as possible. Leafy green vegetables 
contain high concentrations of nitrates that turn 
to nitrites when we chew them thanks to the good 
bacteria in our mouths. These help blood vessels 
increase oxygen flow, specifically to places that 
are lacking oxygen! Other foods that are good for 
our brain are things like fresh ginger. Ginger has 
been shown to increase memory, while reducing 
oxidative stress in the brain. Eating beets and 
drinking organic beet juice is great for cleansing 
the liver but also great for the brain. The nitrates 
in beets and beet juice increased blood flow to the 
brain. 

 Remember to fuel your own brain with the best 
foods on the planet daily.

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


ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR REPORT

ON COUNTY PREPAREDNESS FOR EBOLA


LOS ANGELES COUNTY-- Supervisor Michael 
D. Antonovich WILL ask the Departments 
of Health and Public Health to report to the 
Board of Supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting 
on the actions being taken to prevent an 
outbreak of the Ebola virus in the county. 
“It is vital that we have the information available 
to the public on preventive measures being taken 
by county departments to protect our residents 
from a potential outbreak,” Antonovich said. 
In addition to the efforts being made by county 
departments, the supervisor will ask what role the 
county will play in coordination with agencies 
from the federal and state governments. 
County departments engaged in preparedness 
and prevention efforts include the Department 
of Health, the Department of Public Health, the 
Office of Emergency Management and others. 

 
“The artist is not a special kind of person; rather 
each person is a special kind of artist.” Ananda 
Coomaraswamy

 What art is in you? What have you always 
wanted to make, do, start or invent? When you 
listen in, you hear the artist whisper. Your body 
responds with a thrill. Yes, this is what you were 
made for. You know. Inside, we all know.

 It’s one thing to know and quite another to 
do. There’s so many reasons not to. Your mind 
reminds you. To keep you quiet. Scared. Paralyzed. 
No, nothing good comes from that talk. Definitely 
no artwork.

 And that’s why I write. To free you to make. To 
inspire the artist within. To release the art that 
is meant for all of us. A product. A service. Or a 
painting. Let’s unite. We have work to deliver to 
the world.

LORI KOOP : Coaching for Creatives. Career 
~ Business ~ Life. Schedule a complimentary 
session: www.LORIKOOP.com or call 626-836-
1667. (Location: 47 E. Montecito Avenue, Sierra 
Madre 91024) Find me here every other week.


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