Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 7, 2013

10

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views News Saturday, December 7, 2013 


THE JOY OF YOGA

HOW TO CALM DOWN


STAYING FLU PROOF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

As a naturopath, I am not looking to fight off the flu but to stay immune 
to it. For the human body to get sick, conditions in it must be just right. I 
am looking to keep my body strong and healthy this holiday season. Last 
year’s flu season was one of the worst on record. There are things you can 
do now to help avoid the flu. 

I find many of my clients become sick between Thanksgiving to about 
mid-January, is this you? I think this is because there are a lot of demands 
on our time and/or social events that we don’t want to miss during the 
holiday season. If we are not careful, our immune system becomes weak. 
The first thing I would ask is if I am getting enough sleep? After all, that 
is when our body repairs. A strong healthy body must have proper rest. 
Next, am I staying properly hydrated? The holiday season means a lot of 
social gatherings where alcohol may be consumed. We must make sure we 
are drinking at least 8 ounces of EXTRA water for each alcoholic beverage 
we consume. Alcohol is very dehydrating. 

Most importantly, I am looking to eat well so that I stay immune to the flu. That means eating lots and 
lots of veggies, especially greens. This time of year kale, yams, carrots, and spinach are particularly 
important. They are rich in vitamin A, which among other things keeps mucus membranes moist. 
Moisture keeps our membranes healthy and prevents germs from getting past them. If you use your 
heat this time of year you might want to consider getting a humidifier. A humidifier will help prevent 
your mucous membranes from getting dried and cracked. These cracks can provide entry points for 
invading viruses. 

Lastly, I try to avoid eating highly processed foods because they put a toll on your body and can 
compromise your immune function. Give your body what it needs to stay strong during these weeks 
of holiday food, drink and stress by eating well, staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest. 

Do you have trouble meditating? It can really be a challenge to stop all 
the chatter in the head and be quiet. Try this simple breath practice first. 
It is called Bhramari. It is like the sound of the buzzing bee and they say 
it is good for insomnia (at a low pitch), the thyroid (medium pitch) and 
sinus infections (med to high pitch). It activates the parasympathetic 
nervous system and is great for stress. It also helps stop the mental 
looping that we do. So it’s great for people that have trouble meditating. 
Bhramari helps us turn the senses inward to the inner sounds. This 
stills, calms, and sensitizes our 3rd eye. Because we are lengthening the 
exhale, it is great for calming anxiety and alleviating depression.

You can sit in a chair or on the floor on a cushion. Sit up tall with a 
straight spine. Take a couple relaxing breaths to get in the mood. Then 
inhale and as you exhale make a soft buzzing sound, like a honey bee. 
Try it for several rounds.

You can enhance the effects by using a hand gesture (mudra). Place the thumbs on the cartilage by 
the ear to close the ears and lightly place the finger tips on the forehead and nose. The pinky fingers 
just outside the nostrils, the ring fingers on the upper sides of the nose by the eyes, the middle fingers 
at the inside edges of the brow and the pointer finger on the forehead. Do six rounds and then do 
six silent rounds. See if you can still hear the buzzing. Now try your meditation and just watch the 
regular breath in and out.

Have a great stress free holiday season. If you hear someone buzzing – you’ll know why.

Namasté, René

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


SIERRA MADRE FARMERS MARKET 

 

 The Sierra Madre Farmer’s Market hours have changed to 3:00pm through 8:00pm 
every Wednesday. Vendors include Dry Dock which has fresh and wild caught 
fish, Rustic Loaf with artisan breads, Cutie Pie with fresh pies and much more!

 For those interested in being a vendor contact Melissa Farwell with Raw 

Inspirations at 818-591-8161 ext. 806.

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

NATURE’S TENACITY IN THE 
ABSENCE OF HUMANITY

LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND??


April 26, 1986 is a date in history 
that holds rather grave memories for 
those who bore witness to the news 
cast that aired that day, announcing 
a tragedy of global significance, 
the likes of which could not have 
been anticipated by most average 
on-lookers, including myself. Like 
many other tragedies that have hit 
mainstream headlines throughout 
the world over the past century, 
what happened on April 26, 1986 is 
an historic event that will continue 
to be memorialized and analyzed 
for decades to come.

 I wish I could say I remember 
where I was when I heard the news 
that the Chernobyl Nuclear Power 
Plant in the Ukraine city of Prypiat 
had experienced a total melt-down 
at Block 4, but I can’t. I was 23 
years old at the time, and rather 
wrapped up in my own little world. 
Knowing there was nothing I could 
do to change what had happened, 
I suppose I took the path of least 
resistance and wrote it off as just 
another over-inflated, exaggerated 
news flash that I would rather ignore 
than stress over. Now, looking back 
with a better understanding of what 
occurred that fateful day, it breaks 
my heart to think about what those 
local people went through, and the 
affect it will have on all of us, in 
the long run. Anyone of the age to 
remember would have to agree that 
it was, and still is an environmental 
tragedy of epic proportion.

 The radioactive impact of 
Chernobyl’s melt-down is said 
to have been equal to 400 times 
that of the 1945 atomic bombing 
at Hiroshima. More than 400,000 
citizens of Prypiat were rendered 
homeless, and forced out of what 
they now call the “Exclusion Zone” 
where radioactive levels still remain 
exponentially dangerous to this 
day. Numerous cancer-
associated deaths were 
attributed to the event over 
subsequent years, due to 
radioactivity exposure. 
After evacuating the 20+ 
mile span of contaminated 
land, authorities fenced it 
off and secured it as un-inhabitable 
to the human being.

 It has been 27 years now, since the 
Chernobyl disaster, after which the 
area was declared “off limits” for 
human habitation. Meanwhile, a 
growing population of indigenous 
wild animals have managed to 
live in the ’zone’ with no apparent 
mutations or health complications. 
That’s right, in spite of the high level 
of radioactivity proven to prevail 
there, the animals continue to thrive 
and survive. Local wildlife in “the 
zone“, particularly wolves, deer and 
beaver still inhabiting the area have 
fared very well, and even better than 
they have in some other indigenous 
areas throughout the world.

 Among the few visitors allowed 
to venture into the “contaminated, 
radioactive, abandoned zone”, are 
a handful of scientists sent in on 
a quest to research the conditions 
of the area following the nuclear 
disaster, with a particular focus on 
animal and plant life activity. The 
prohibition of human habitation in 
the ‘Chernobyl Zone’ has indeed 
rendered that area a very unique 
scientific study for how nature may 
or may not thrive in the absence of 
human intervention.

 Visits are kept short in ‘the zone‘, 
and radioactive-resistant protective 
gear, designed to help prevent 
exposure is strongly enforced. 
Remarkably, scientists have 
reported data that indicates that the 
indigenous animals still dwelling 
in the ‘zone’ are proliferating, and 
living in a healthier manner than 
they might in other non-chemically-
tainted habitats where humans 
share their space. Why is this? 
Well, the general consensus is that 
wild animals are more capable of 
adapting to environmental changes 
when left to their own without 
human intervention or hindrances.

 I like to think of today’s “Chernobyl 
Zone“ as a virtual garden of Eden 
that should remain human-less, 
mainly because regardless of the 
level of radioactivity scientists have 
gauged on their bodies, the wild 
animals who live there are thriving 
better than in other areas where 
they are forced to share their space 
with human beings. The results 
of the research studies speak for 
themselves, and might indicate that 
nature is trying to tell the human to 
leave wild animals alone and allow 
them a little more space.

 Another thought is, perhaps nature’s 
tenacious response to this enormous 
human error is meant to teach us a 
lesson in humility. We have become 
so proud of our accomplishments 
that we sometimes forget to respect 
the fragile nature of our planet. 
Maybe if we are willing to view 
the Chernobyl tragedy as a tough 
lesson to be learned, we humans will 
become more cautious in applying 
our scientific “intelligence” in the 
future. After all, just because we can, 
doesn’t always mean we should.

 Regardless of the explanation for 
such unexpected ‘life-after-death‘ 
conditions that have developed in 
an uninhabitable zone, one would 
be hard pressed to deny the fact that 
the human’s absence has had a very 
positive effect on the wildlife’s ability 
to thrive and survive. Take it for face 
value, and judge for yourself. Either 
way, you must admit that after 27 
years in the wake of such an epic 
global disaster, it is remarkable that 
the wild animals residing in the 
’zone’ have found a way to revive 
their livelihood without our help.

 Such a scientific study should not 
be taken lightly, and while history 
cannot be re-constructed, the future 
lies before us. Let us use the lessons 
we learn along the way, and proceed 
in a more gracious manner to allow 
all of earth’s life forms to thrive and 
survive. I think we humans got 
lucky in this case (so far), but only 
time can truly tell. Take only what 
you need, give back what you can 
and above all…love and let live!

Nidia is too! 

She is estimated to be between 2 1/2 and 3 years 
old and weighs 49 pounds. She is a very lovely 
girl, both in looks and personality. That face 
says it all!! She recently came to a PetSmart 
adoption event with us and was very calm and 
relaxed around the other dogs. She was well 
mannered and greeted every person she met 
(both big and small) very politely. Nidia just 
loves to be petted and cuddled. She is looking 
for a family to call her own. We hope you’ll 
stop in to meet this sweet, affectionate girl 
and consider making her part of your family 
before the holidays. 

She currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley 
Humane Society located at 851 E. Grand 
Avenue in San Gabriel. We are located off San 
Gabriel Blvd., north of Mission and south of 
Las Tunas. 

To arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Nidia (aka….. TC11668), please stop by any time from 10:00am 
to 4:30pm Tuesday thru Sunday. 

Her adoption fee is $120 which includes her spay surgery, a microchip, first vaccinations and a free 
wellness check-up at a participating veterinarian. Feel free to call us at (626) 286-1159 for more 
information on Nidia. 

See our website at www.sgvhumane.org for information and photos of all our available pets. 

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc