Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 12, 2016

10

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 12, 2016 


THE JOY OF YOGA

ACUPUNCTURE AND FROZEN SHOULDER

Treatment Plus Exercise Better than Exercise Alone

The term “frozen shoulder” is used to describe a variety 
of conditions that cause pain and limit the range of 
motion of the shoulder joint.

 Once a person is diagnosed with frozen shoulder, 
the initial stages of care are aimed at reducing 
inflammation and increasing range of motion. Toward 
that end, various treatment methods have been devised, 
including anti-inflammatory drugs, ultrasound, heat, 
massage, and stretching and isometric exercises. Steroid 
injections and nerve blocks have also been employed at 
times, but the effectiveness of these therapies can vary 
greatly from patient to patient.

 Several studies have reported that acupuncture can 
successfully treat frozen shoulder, but the majority of 
these studies have not been of the randomized, controlled 
trial (RCT) variety. A new study using the RCT format 
compared the use of acupuncture (along with exercise) 
to exercise alone in a small group of frozen shoulder 
patients. The study, published in the Hong Kong Medical 
Journal, found that patients treated with acupuncture 
and exercise demonstrated “significantly greater 
improvement” on shoulder assessment tests than those 
using just exercise, and suggests that acupuncture could 
be useful in cases where more conventional therapies have 
been unsuccessful.

 Thirty-five adults diagnosed with frozen shoulder 
were randomly allocated to an exercise group or an 
exercise plus acupuncture group and treated for six 
weeks. Subjects in both groups were assessed using a 
test called the Constant Shoulder Assessment, which 
combines patient ratings for pain and activities of 
daily living with range of motion measurements for a 
maximum score of 100 points. Assessments were taken 
at three intervals: baseline (just prior to the start of the 
study); at the completion of treatment; and at 20 weeks.

CSA scores were relatively equal for both groups at 
the beginning of the study. Within six weeks, however 
“significantly higher” scores were reported in patients 
receiving acupuncture and exercise, with an average 
improvement rate nearly twice that of the exercise-
only group. These improvements were also seen at the 
20 week follow-up test (see Table I).

 Table I: Constant Shoulder Assessment scores 
and percentage of improvement following treatment. 
Group CSA score, baseline CSA score, 6 weeks CSA 
score, 20 weeks % improvement from baseline, 6 weeks 
% improvement from baseline, 20 weeks Exercise 42.8 
57.6 57.9 39.8% 40.3% Exercise plus acupuncture 41.3 
66.8 67.3 76.4% 77.2% Some limitations were noted by 
the investigators -- for instance, the number of exercise 
minutes between groups. The exercise-only group 
performed supervised shoulder exercises for a total of 
360 minutes over the treatment period, whereas the 
acupuncture/exercise group performed supervised 
exercises for 600 minutes (360 in a group setting, 
240 while being treated with acupuncture). Because 
acupuncture is known to relieve pain, the researchers 
speculated that patients who had acupuncture before 
exercise may have shown greater improvements 
because they experienced less pain during exercise. 

 Reference http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/
mpacms/at/article.php?id=28032

BHAVANA


It’s always the right 
time of day for a 
nourishing yoga practice. It’s the right combination of 
freedom of movement for my body and pure love and 
acknowledgement within my spirit. And, since a good 
asana practice can do so much, my reasons, or needs 
for practicing change. If my body aches, I concentrate 
on joint care and do poses that free up each joint 
and give a gentle stretch or attention to the problem 
areas. If my attitude needs an adjustment, I add more 
poses that change the flow of my energy. You get the 
point. In each focus, I am creating a subtle feeling 
with my practice. This feeling is called a Bhavana. 
In a group yoga class, we have a beautiful, skilled 
teacher leading us in and out of yoga poses. Is the job 
of the student to perform each pose to textbook form? 
Is the goal to have the best down dog ever? No way! 
Teacher Lauren Toolin, made such a wide point on 
this. She said the job in each pose is not to be on the 
cover of Yoga Journal, but to be in the Bhavana, or 
the feeling and connection. (Oh yes! Ha. That’s right.) 
Our bodies and minds contain the divine 
wisdom we crave. It’s in that Warrior pose where 
I can experience strength, determination and 
clear communication. It’s in easy sitting pose, 
Sukasana, that I experience my internal divine 
relationship. The entire class, in fact, becomes 
a venue for connection, development and 
creation of what I want in my life. The teacher is 
there to help develop specific Bhavana through 
poses, breath work and cleansing techniques. 
Being in the feeling without resistance is 
happiness. It’s peaceful, unchanging and uniquely 
beautiful. See if you can bring your awareness to 
this next time you are practicing. “Be in the Bhav”.
Namaste, 

Keely Totten

Teaching @ Yoga Madre Tuesdays, 6pm 

Mixed Levels & Fridays 11am Beginning


FOOD AND DRINK

 

SAN ANTONIO WINERY OFFERS WINE 
TASTING, TOURS, AND DELICIOUS CUISINE IN 
THE HEART OF LOS ANGELES

Pasadena is home to many of my friends in the restaurant business. One family that has made 
their home here for many years is the Riboli family. Does the name sound familiar to you? If not, 
I bet you know their wines. The San Antonio Winery is just a few miles away from where you are 
reading this right now - no long drive to Napa or Temecula. Los Angeles is home to the longest 
and largest producing winery in Southern California. San Antonio Winery, located just east of 
downtown Los Angeles in Lincoln Heights, offers the ultimate romantic experience, or the ideal 
spot to celebrate love and good times with friends. Step into the vast tasting room and up to the 
counter, and one of the friendly, learned staff will guide you on your wine tasting adventure. You 
can choose from a selection of award-winning dry wines from San Antonio Winery’s Maddalena 
and San Simeon collections, or semi-sweet, semi-
sparkling wines from their popular Stella Rosa 
line, like Stella Rosa Red, and sparkling Stella Rosa 
Moscato Rosé, perfect for “stellabrating” romance. 

On my recent visit I took a tour of the entire winery, where I learned about the original urban 
winery’s history. I even got to see where the wines are fermented, aged, and bottled. Once I worked 
up an appetite, I indulged in homestyle Italian cuisine at Maddalena restaurant. Named after the 
winery’s matriarch, Maddalena was the first restaurant inside a winery in California. It was opened 
in the 1970s after Maddalena Riboli’s sandwiches became so popular, a long line would form 
outside the winery. 

Today, you can still enjoy some of Maddalena’s delicious recipes, like her outstanding lasagna and 
handmade ravioli. You can listen to live music in the restaurant all weekend long. San Antonio 
Winery is located at 737 Lamar Street. There is also an ample parking lot with complimentary 
parking. 

Visit sanantoniowinery.com for more information. 

For more reviews please check out my website www.peterdills.com listen to Dining with Dills every 
Saturday at 5 PM on KLAA AM 830 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!! Save the Date. March 30th If 
you love Champagne Like I do, join me at Ruth’s Chris Steak House for a night of Veuve Clicquot, 
Don’t wait call and make your reservations today 626 583-8123 


TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com


Julie’s Favorite Family Recipes

DR.JIM’S QUICK AND EASY CHICKEN CURRY

1 1/2 lbs skinless boneless chicken thighs: bake at 325 degree oven for 45 minutes

While chicken is cooking:

Peel and cut 2 medium potatoes and 2 medium carrots into small cubes - 1/2” to 3/4”

Cut 1 stick of celery into 1/2” slices. 

Boil all until slightly soft

Empty contents of 15 oz bottle of Patak’s Tikka Masala Curry sauce (or similar) into 12 “ skillet with 
lid. 

Cut cooked chicken thighs into small pieces and add chicken and vegetables to skillet. 

Note: vegetables are often served as side dishes in Indian meals. But for sake of convenience the 
vegetables are added to the chicken at this stage. 

Add 2 tablespoons of frozen peas. 

Simmer for 30 minutes and serve with basmati rice and mango chutney or allow to marinate covered 
over night and reheat the next day. Also can be frozen. 

Other side dishes that can be picked up at Trader Joes: naan and channa masala