Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 28, 2015

11

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 28, 2015 


THE JOY OF YOGA

INCORPORATING AHIMSA 


The Yoga Sutras 
of Patanjali is one 
of the most widely 
used and sacred 
texts referred to by 
yogis all over the 
world. Within the Yoga Sutras are the Eight Limbs 
of Yoga, which lay out a philosophy to live by. All 
hold great importance within the scope of yogic 
lifestyle, practice, spirituality and everyday living 
in the world. Ahimsa, or non violence, comes from 
the Yamas, the first limb of Yoga. It means “not to 
injure” or do no harm. Yogis and non yogis practice 
this principle in everyday life and experience the 
great rewards it can bring: peace, compassion, and 
reverence for life itself. 

 I’ve been thinking lately on how to better 
incorporate this into my own yoga practice. At 
the same time, I’ve also seen students wanting this 
peace, compassion and thoughtfulness in their own 
lives. 

 To put Ahimsa into practice, I must first apply 
this spirit of non violence to myself. In my thoughts 
and actions, I begin by gently letting up on self 
criticism. Anytime I can peer back and take a look 
from a non judgmental point of view, a great service 
is provided. I can address challenging situations and 
lead my own life with balance and thoughtfulness, 
minus negativity. 

 In my yoga practice, I don’t push myself beyond 
my limitations. I pay attention to my body and give 
love rather than push through my asana practice. I 
add in a balanced diet and proper sleep. Yes, it’s hard 
to put down the electronic device at nighttime, but I 
do it! 

 Taking Ahimsa out into the world is also part of 
the package. For many yogis, this loving approach 
is extended to all living beings, including animals. 
Many abstain from eating meat, and for some, all 
animal products entirely. Practicing non violence 
with one another is essential for living peacefully 
and happily together. 

 This powerful philosophy can bleed into all parts 
of living! It can literally change the world. This brings 
a question to mind. What can you do to weave this 
principle into your life? 

 See you in class and Namaste, 

Keely Totten 

Teaching at Yoga Madre

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART

Did you know that 
February is National 
Heart Health month? 
This is fitting since 
February is the 
month we celebrate 
Valentine’s Day and 
the symbol of this 
holiday is the heart. 
According the center 
for disease control, 
heart disease is the #1 
killer of Americans. 
But take heart, there 
are things you can do 
to prevent and reverse 
heart disease that does 
not include drugs or 
surgery.

 First, if you smoke you need to quit! There is 
nothing that trumps smoking on the list of things 
you should stop or avoid. Running a close second is 
over consumption of alcohol. For men that is over 
2 drinks a day and for women it is over one drink a 
day. But let’s say neither of these things are problems 
for you. Then what else can you do? 

 Adopting a healthy lifestyle can dramatically 
decrease your risk of getting heart disease. What 
does a healthy lifestyle consist of? First thing is to 
eat enough fruits and vegetables, more vegetables 
than fruits. Preferably 9 to 10 servings of fruits and 
vegetables a day. Does that sound like a lot? Are you 
thinking that won’t leave much room to eat other 
things? Maybe that’s part of the solution. 

 Next is limiting fats, especially saturated fats. 
Fats are not bad foods, we need fat in our diet. But 
as Americans, we overindulge and many times, 
with the wrong fats. Many pre-made, packaged or 
process foods have hidden fats. Avoiding these will 
really help you avoid excess fat consumption. My 
next comment may elicit gasps but I also think we 
have to limit the oil we use in preparing our foods, 
even OLIVE OIL. It is still a processed food and 
should be used sparingly. Whole olives also contain 
fiber that olive oil does not. You probably would not 
eat the number of olives you eat when you consume 
2 or 3 tablespoons of olive oil on your salad or bread. 
Oil contributes to clogged arteries. In cooking, I use 
vegetables broth to sauté rather than oil. 

 Lastly, if you want to keep the ticker in good 
health you have to be active. We need to exercise in a 
way that gets your heart pumping. Studies show that 
30 minutes of exercise a day, even if it’s broken into 
three 10 minute sessions a day can reduce a person’s 
risk of developing heart disease.

 In a nutshell, preventing cardiovascular disease 
involves eating a proper diet, exercise, and avoiding 
unhealthy lifestyle habits!

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