Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 21, 2013

11

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 21, 2013 

THE JOY OF YOGA

TIME TO JUST BE


by Lori Koop, Career Coach


I went to an art opening Saturday night and met a wonderful gentleman. 
Intelligent. Interesting. Open. We were drawn to each other, not romantically 
but “energetically.” He had just signed up for a sculpting class and was 
exploring his creative side in clay. Of course! And me being a ceramicist, I 
was able to give him some pointers. 

I find that as I’ve become more authentic in my life and work, the more 
authentic people I meet. Even in L.A.! I am reading a book called Excuse 
Me Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn, and she says it is a natural 
law. There’s no way of getting 
around it: everything is made 
up of energy. And we, as energetic beings, are like 
magnets attracting similar energies.

Hmmmm. That means if we desire authentic people 
in our lives, we will need to be authentic ourselves. 
If we desire non-judgmental people in our lives, 
we will need to be non-judgmental ourselves. If we 
want honest people in our lives, we will need to be 
honest ourselves. Like attracts like. 

What kind of friends would you like around you? 
Become that yourself, and they will come. I’ve seen 
it. And my guess is you have too.

Be the change that you wish to see in the world. ~ 
Mahatma Gandhi

- - - - - - - - - -
Lori Koop, Reinvent your Career . . . Do work you 
love! Schedule a complimentary session, 626-921-
6315 (Sierra Madre) www.LORiKOOP.com

I was thinking recently about how Yoga came to be such a big part of my life. 
It just slowly has crept in, one class at a time, one day at a time. There was an 
absence in my spirit that needed filling and acknowledgement. I needed time to 
just be and figure things out. To ask the questions, what do I enjoy? What do I 
need to be happy? Dare I say..what do I want to do with my life? 

From a practical point of view, I also needed to move (and exercise). And move in a way that would 
support my body. I've had asthma forever and many old injuries making something like running 
impossible. I would always end up in a near asthma attack & my knees, feet, and ankles would immediately 
start screaming. This did not happen with Yoga. We moved deliberately and with great care, 
no pounding. Further, the asana (poses) started to make me stronger and created a fluid relationship 
between muscle and bone. 

The moments of silence in class offered time for reflection. The asana provided the movement I desperately 
needed. And the breath work addressed my anxiety. What esle did I get? REST. Ahhh. I had 
no idea how much I needed rest. Rest from DOING. 

What is Yoga in your life? What part does it play? 

Being, Remembering, Moving, Breathing, Meditating, Serving, Tolerating, Embracing, Learning, and 
Loving. 

This is my Yoga. 

Namaste, 

Keely Totten, Teacher at Yoga Madre 


I JUST ATE, WHY DON’T I FEEL GOOD? By Dr. Tina 

What is digestion 
really? Many of us have 
experienced indigestion 
or at least something, 
we call indigestion. 
Digestion is the process 
of turning the food we 
eat into substances that 
the body can use at 
the cellular level. Our 
bodies use the food we 
eat as fuel. So digestion 
is the process by which 
the body uses the 
food we eat as the raw 
materials as the fuel 
necessary to repair and 
build new tissue. 

For many people today 
eating or the aftermath 
of eating is not always a 
pleasurable experience. 
These people suffer from digestion disorders. There 
are many others who are suffering but don’t know 
that the root cause is in the digestive system. Poor 
digestion affects energy, healing and repair, and general 
wellbeing. Our bodies cannot use the nutrients from 
the foods we eat unless it is properly digested. Take 
for example lunchtime. Is this you? You are pressed 
for time so you stop at a fast food restaurant. You 
eat quickly…maybe even while you drive so that you 
can get back to work or so you can get to your next 
appointment. It should not be surprising that a few 
hours later you feel sluggish, bloated or have heartburn. 
Eating processed foods while under stress is a recipe 
for digestive system malfunction. 

How do you know if you have a digestive problem? 
Some of the symptoms of the inability to digest food 
properly may be:

• Excessive burping
• Gas
• Occasional diarrhea
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Heartburn


If you suffer from one or more of these symptoms, 
what can you do to correct the problem rather than 
just mask the symptom? The first thing you can do is 
chew your food thoroughly (each mouthful should be 
chewed about 20 times before swallowing). Digestion 
begins in the mouth. Next, take your time eating 
and relax…stress while eating hinders the digestive 
process. Also, do not wash your food down with 
liquids. Save the drinks for 30 minutes before or up to 
2 hours after a meal. Liquids during a meal can dilute 
the acid (digestive juices) necessary to digest food in 
your stomach. Lastly, eat smaller meals…putting too 
much food into your stomach overloads your whole 
digestive system. 

If you still suffer from digestive problems, stop 
popping the antacids and see someone who specializes 
in digestion and nutrition to help you find what is 
causing your problem. 

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