Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 25, 2014

9

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 25, 2014


THE JOY OF YOGA

NOT ALL YOGA IS CREATED EQUAL 


When first 
beginning in yoga, 
it’s hard to know 
which type to 
practice. Because, 
let’s just say it; not 
all Yoga is created 
equal. 

 An important question to ask when beginning (or 
at any point in our journey) is: “What do I want to 
get from my yoga practice? What effect do I want 
the practice to have in my life? 

 If you’re coming to yoga to lose weight, and don’t 
have any injuries or ailments then a fitness, fast-
paced approach may be right for you. However, 
what if you need a practice to balance your already 
chaotic, supercharged life? Then a practice that 
provides strength, groundedness, and stillness may 
be right for you. How about the student seeking pain 
relief or a practice that will support the joints? Then 
a gentle practice, with precise, careful movement 
may be indicated. The fast-paced approach on a 
person who has anxiety or emotional upheaval may 
not be so good. The effect of a rigorous practice can 
make it hard to settle down, only worsening the 
problem. It’s important that our practice support us 
in all areas of our life. Not just weight loss, or our 
need for a cardio fix. Gentle students may need a 
little more challenge at times, of course, under the 
guidance of a qualified teacher. 

 When people ask what kind of yoga I practice, 
my answer is “Hatha Yoga. And no, it’s not hot.” 
Personally, I air on the more traditional side of 
things, staying away from yoga with external 
heat, or fitness style yoga that is hard on the 
joints. I want to be in my body comfortably 
for a long time. My practice includes stillness, 
pranayama (breath work), meditation, and self 
study. It’s well rounded. 

What I hold most dear is that my yoga includes 
tradition. I have a teacher, my teacher has a 
teacher, THAT person has a teacher, and so on, all 
the way back thousands of years. There’s a lineage 
and power and reverence in that tradition. All of 
the practices and principles handed down can be 
applied in everyday life, TODAY. 

 I propose you try to find the best practice for you. 
Observe the effects of practice after class. See what 
works and what does not. What practice brings out 
the best in you? 

Namaste and see you in class, 

Keely Totten 

Yoga Madre

ARE MUSHROOMS A HEALTH FOOD?


Most people think 
of mushrooms 
as a vegetable but 
mushrooms are actually 
a fungus, a special type 
of living organism that 
has no roots, leaves, 
flowers or seeds. As any 
foodie can attest, the 
beauty of mushrooms 
is their exotic taste and 
that they are hearty. 
But are they healthy 
for us or just empty 
calories? Turns out that 
mushrooms are low 
in calories and high in 
nutrition. 

 Just like us, 
mushrooms are 
susceptible to the same pathogens, meaning bacteria 
and viruses. Mushrooms have evolved with a strong 
defense against bacterial invasion. If fact we get the 
antibiotics, penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline 
all come from fungal extracts. It’s no wonder 
that studies have shown that the cultures who eat 
mushroom regularly have stronger immune systems. 

Like humans, mushrooms produce vitamin D when 
in sunlight. So mushrooms can be an excellent 
food source of vitamin D. All mushrooms contain 
excellent amounts of the nutrients potassium, 
copper, niacin and selenium.

 The only drawback to mushrooms is that absorb 
and concentrate anything that is good or bad from 
soil, air and water. We know that mushrooms are 
especially talented at concentrating heavy metals 
and pollutants so healthy growing conditions are 
a critical factor. To be safe, I recommend organic 
mushrooms. I do not recommend picking 
mushrooms in the wild unless you are absolutely 
sure you know what you’re picking since there are 
probably more poisonous mushrooms out there 
than edible ones. 

 After seeing what little powerhouses of nutrition 
mushrooms are, I highly recommend adding some 
to your diet. They’re an excellent addition to any 
salad, great flavor enhancers, and hearty enough to 
replace meat in many dishes. 

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


You were made to create something. Something unique. 
Something tru. The result of passions put into play. This 
is your art. Maybe for you it doesn’t involve paint, but 
instead involves nails, words or computers. What do you 
daydream about? 

 Your art is what you create. Of course, it’s original… 
because you are an original. No one has ever been, is or 
ever will be just like you. With the gifts, the passions and 
the purpose you have. You were specifically designed. 
For the work that you’re here to do. I call this “your work 
in the world.” And no two people have the exact same 
calling. The vision is there for you. You are the exact right 
person to do it! Actually, you’re the only person who can.

 Maybe you’ve been side tracked, believing it’s 
impossible. Believing you don’t have what it takes. Maybe 
you lack the money. Or the time. It’s easy to look away. To 
avoid. But it is inside you. And will continue to whisper. 
It wants your highest good. It wants you to fulfill your 
purpose. To be happy. It’s why you’re here. 

 If “something’s missing,” it is your art. I can help you 
find it and step out. It’s not easy… but it’s the only way to 
really live.

 LORI KOOP : Coaching for Creatives. Schedule a 
complimentary session: www.LORIKOOP.com or call 
626-836-1667. (Location: 47 E. Montecito Avenue, Sierra 
Madre 91024) I’m here every other week.


FREE FLU VACCINE CLINICS 

OFFERED THROUGH NOV. 25, 2014

PASADENA, Calif.—Fight the flu by getting a free 
vaccine offered by the Public Health Department 
through Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. The vaccine will be 
provided at various Pasadena locations, listed below, on 
a first-come, first-served basis.

 The free vaccine will be available to everyone ages 6 
months and older at no cost, while supplies last. Minors 
must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Be sure 
to wear short sleeves.

For more details on the clinics, call (626) 744-6000 or 
visit www.cityofpasadena.net/publichealth.

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. 
Fair Oaks Ave.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. 
Holly St. 

Pre-registration required. Call (626) 795-4331.

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Allendale Branch Library, 1130 S. 
Marengo Ave.

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library, 999 
E. Washington Blvd.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library, 1355 
N. Raymond Ave.

 Different types of flu viruses can spread through the 
community during flu season. The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 
ages 6 months and older get the flu vaccine annually to 
protect against the most common types of flu viruses. 
Even healthy children and adults can get very sick from 
the flu. 

High-risk groups susceptible to severe flu complications 
include seniors ages 65 and older, pregnant women and 
people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, 
chronic lung disease and diabetes. 

 For more than 120 years, Pasadena’s Public Health 
Department has worked to promote and protect the 
health of the greater Pasadena area. Promote. Protect. 
Live Well. Visit the Department online at www.
cityofpasadena.net/publichealth.

 Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit us online 
at www.cityofpasadena.net; follow us on Twitter @
PasadenaGov, www.twitter.com/pasadenagov, and like 
us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofpasadena. 
Or call the Citizen Service Center, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, at (626) 744-7311.

ONE IN SIX PEOPLE WORLDWIDE WILL HAVE 

A STROKE IN THEIR LIFETIME

One in three Americans cannot recall any stroke warning sign

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 21, 2014 — It was the summer 
of 2009 and Dana Rivera was having a typical day. She 
started her morning with a workout then dropped her son 
off at summer school. 

 Before picking him up in the afternoon, Dana made 
a quick stop at the store. There, she suddenly felt the left 
side of her body collapse. A store employee called 911, the 
paramedics arrived and Dana was rushed to the hospital. 

Dana was sent home with a migraine diagnosis, but 
wound up back in the hospital a short time later after 
her symptoms worsened. Tests confirmed that she had a 
stroke.

 At 44 years old, the wife and mother of four had to 
overcome the challenge of regaining the use of her left 
side which became paralyzed from the stroke. Dana has 
since fully recovered and become a strong advocate for 
stroke awareness, as well as a support to stroke patients in 
recovery. 

 One in six people worldwide will have a stroke in their 
lifetime. In the United States, someone has a stroke every 
40 seconds. Yet one in three Americans cannot recall any 
of the stroke warning signs.

 In recognition of World Stroke Day on Oct. 29, 
the American Heart Association/American Stroke 
Association urges people to learn the stroke warning signs 
since bystanders often need to act in an emergency.

“The patient doesn’t always recognize their own stroke 
and when they do, sometimes their symptoms make 
calling for help difficult, if not impossible,” said Reza 
Jahan, MD, associate professor, division of interventional 
neuroradiology, department of radiology and 
neurosurgery, UCLA Stroke Center. “Just like we need to 
learn CPR to save someone else’s life, we need to learn how 
to spot a stroke and act fast for the best chance of a positive 
outcome.”

 The American Stroke Association’s Together to End 
Stroke initiative, nationally sponsored by Covidien, a 
global healthcare product company, teaches the acronym 
F.A.S.T. to remember stroke warning signs: 

 F - Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is 
it numb? Ask the person to smile.

 A - Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the 
person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

 S - Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable 
to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person 
to repeat a simple sentence like, “The sky is blue.” Is the 
sentence repeated correctly?

 T - Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these 
symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and 
get them to the hospital immediately.

 “Those with loved ones who have stroke risk factors 
should make it a priority to learn F.A.S.T. and teach 
others,” said Jahan. “Recognizing a stroke and calling 
9-1-1 gives the patient a greater chance of getting to an 
appropriate hospital quickly and being assessed for life-
saving treatment like a clot-busting drug or medical 
device.” 

 The association offers a free mobile app to help people 
spot a stroke and identify award-winning hospitals nearby.

This year, 795,000 people in the United States will have 
a first or recurrent stroke. In addition to a prior stroke, 
major stroke risk factors include:

 Transient ischemic attack – About 15 percent of strokes 
are preceded by a TIA (or “mini stroke”).

 High blood pressure – It’s the most important 
controllable risk factor for stroke. About 77 percent of 
people who have a first stroke have blood pressure higher 
than 140/90 mm Hg. An estimated 78 million Americans 
have hypertension.

 Atrial fibrillation (Afib) – It increases stroke risk up to 
five times and affects more than 2.7 million Americans.

Smoking – Current smokers have two to four times the 
stroke risk of nonsmokers or those who quit more than 10 
years ago. In 2011, 21.3 percent of men and 16.7 percent of 
women 18 or older were cigarette smokers.

 For more information about the stroke warning signs 
and mobile app, risk factors or Together to End Stroke, visit 
www.StrokeAssociation.org.


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