Embracing Menopause: A Path to Peace & Power

Embracing Menopause: A Path to Peace & Power The Baby Boomers are hitting 50, and in a big way! In the next 10 to 15 years, about 45 million American women will go through menopause. When thousands of people voice concerns about social or political issues, it’s news. When millions of women are going through menopause at the same time, it’s a sociological hot flash! What might be the effects of such an unprecedented shift? Hang on, guys, it’s a country of menopausal women on the move! As a generation, we've always done things our way. Experimenting, pushing the edges, and demanding social changes. The entire US economy, seeing dollar signs spinning from our sheer numbers, catered to our desires and needs. From Gerber's Baby Food to the first hot cars, Corvettes and Thunderbirds, our generation has steered major business and economic decisions. Now, how will the menopause phenomenon be addressed in our culture? How do you view yourself as you move to this phase of maturity? We need to really think about what it all means and how we want it to be. Recently, I saw an ad in a prominent newspaper which targets the "senior" population. Its headline blazed across the top of the page. It implied that estrogen loss caused physical, mental, and psychological degeneration. The ad also implied that the "findings" were the results of a study conducted by a research institute specializing in women's health. A closer look at the ad revealed that there was no actual study completed to support the frightening implications described, and that the ad was actually run by a major drug company which manufactures estrogen replacement drugs. Are we to believe that menopause is a disease which needs to be treated with pharmaceuticals
? Are we willing to give our power away to the fear of the loss of our beauty, sexuality and our value as creative women? I don't buy it! We'll decide what menopause means, and our generation of women will do it in our unique way. The physical changes associated with menopause are not a disease, but a natural transition from the child-bearing years to the closure of that time of life. It’s just as natural as the onset of menstruation. In fact, we may look on menopause as a blessing, as freedom from the ups and downs of our hormonal cycles, the end of menstrual cramps, the end of tampons! We can focus our energy and become more creative, more empowered, wiser and more deeply beautiful. All over the world, native cultures honor and celebrate this stage of life. Some Native American cultures call those women who have completed their last moon cycle "women of wisdom," a position of power and respect. As we begin to take our position as the "elder women," as the women who have experienced life, given birth, raised children, created careers, and have gained wisdom from our journeys, we can also take responsibility for how we approach and process our menopause experience. Now we'll stop looking at fashion magazines to determine our external value. We'll inwardly honor ourselves and create a new concept of beauty and power. It’s time to bury the Barbie doll image of beauty and claim a deeper, more spiritual definition of our inner beauty expressed outwardly. Enough of the "blond" jokes, we can wear our silver hair as our crowning glory. Laugh lines on our faces reveal our joy; frown lines reveal our intensity. It’s all a matter of perspective, we can create an attitude of honoring who we are.
Honoring ourselves means taking care of ourselves. We can appreciate menopause as our special time for physical, emotional, and spiritual reassessment. We can take responsibility for how we want to live the rest of our lives and honor who we are. While there is certainly a time when extra psychological, hormonal, and spiritual support is invaluable, there is also an invaluable gift to us from India - a rejuvenating, relaxing, energizing, revitalizing "Fountain of Youth" called Yoga. With Yoga, we can balance our energies physically, emotionally, and spiritually as we go through menopause. Yoga balances the endocrine system which controls your body's production of hormones and it calms the nervous system, reducing stress and aggravation of hot flashes. Yoga is a weight-bearing exercise which strengthens your bones and prevents osteoporosis. It can massage the reproductive organs, relieve pelvic congestion and headaches, boost the immune system, reduce fatigue, and even out mood swings. Deep breathing oxygenates the blood, which cleanses the organs and respiratory system and nourishes the nervous system. Yoga creates more strength and flexibility in your body, calms your mind and creates a more centered feeling in your heart. Yoga soothes, balances, and rejuvenates all our parts, bringing us to wholeness, allowing us to shine. Just an hour of Yoga three times a week is enough to make a difference. If you can make a commitment to yourself to take two or three classes a week for a month, then assess how you feel, you'll surely notice the difference
(courtesy abc yoga)

D-BLACK'S 5OTH B-DAY POETRY CONCERT!

COME ENJOY SOME OF THE MOST ACCLAIMED POETS IN THE NATION

AS We celebrate D-Black's B-day

@

THE WORLD STAGE in Leimert Park

11/18/09 Wenesday 7pm-10pm

We will be performing:check out video clip

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=5926147

yoga class cancelled! SPECIAL WORKSHOP!

YOGA NAGA CLASS IS CANCELLED FOR THIS SATURDAY!

Guest Teacher: Pursha will be giving an amazing workshop

1-4pm

Namaste

SEE YOU NOVEMBER 21ST

1-2:3oPM

CLIMB A MOUNTAIN WITH YOUR WIFE

The other day i met a fellow yogi who said that his relationship was going through turmoil. He was having a tough time with his new found family responsibility. He stated that it felt like he was "climbing a mountain" with his wife. I had empathy for him as I was also going through a life change. As new father I find that things must get "re-blueprinted" when you have someone that depends on you. I told the student that since his relationship felt like a tough mountain climb. may he should actually try climbing a mountain with his wife! My wife and I climbed a mountain together in joshua tree. We were so scared. We thought about falling, we cried, yelled each other, yelled each other. When we made it to the top, it was beautiful to see what was on the other side. The mountain was great metaphor, for taking on the daily challenges of relationships. I think the guy I met might actually try this idea.

Check us out climbing,crying and rising

INHALE BELIEF EXHALE DOUBT

NOVEMBER YOGA CLASSES!!! GIVE THANKS THIS SATURDAY!

This months classes will be about giving thanks. Giving thanks for the fact we understand that a healthier body will lead to a health mind and soul. My teacher says that"every physical problem has an emotional Beginning. We will use yoga this month to shed the obstacles that may hold us back. We give thanks for the fact that we want to get stronger so we can be strong for our loved ones.

Namaste

see u in class!!!

ALL WATER IS NOT CREATED EQUAL

About a year ago i was introduced to KANGEN WATER. I was told that this was the best water in the world. Ok Whatever water is water. give me an arrowhead and I am fine. When I first tasted Kangen water, it tasted invisible. I mean it had no taste! When i returned to regular bottle water, it tasted like paste. My wife started on this voyage of new water with me. After a few weeks of drinking the water, we noticed a difference in our energy levels. Not only did we feel more vibrant the water also causes weight loss. Basically Kangen water is at a ph balance of 8.0-11.0 The body is suppose to be at 7.0 balance for optimal health. Most of us digest to much acid in our daily food intake., which lowers our ph balance. THe Kangen water originated in japan(were people live the longest). KANGEN water is also called alkaline water. Check it out and drink to a better quality of life. Kangen water has also been said to help benifit people with diabetes,arthisitis,exzema and many more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

INHALE BELIEF EXHALE DOUBT

History
Kangen water originates from Japan, where users have been touting its health benefits for years. The process of creating Kangen water attempts to replicate the supposed health benefits of various sources of "healing waters" around the world. The name Kangen is reputed to translate to "return to source," meaning that the process creates water that has been purified and is more like the water found in unspoiled nature.
Process of Creating
Kangen water is created by passing the water through a specific type of filtration machine. This machine reportedly ionizes the water to eliminate free radicals, changes the pH of the water to an alkaline or basic pH (8.5-11.0), and adds what is called "active hydrogen" to the water.
Reputed Health Benefits
Health benefits claimed by the makers of Kangen water machines include reduced aches, pains, and general fatigue, slower aging and cleansing of all the body's systems. Proponents of the water claim that the "active hydrogen" in Kangen water collects and neutralizes free radicals in the body, leading to health benefits. Kangen water websites often include testimonials from individuals who claim that drinking Kangen water has given them relief from various conditions and overall better health.

Halloween Yoga Class!! THis Saturday

YOGA Naga Class With Melvin!!!!!

THIS SATURDAY OCT. 31,2009

1:00-2:30p

Lotus On The Nile Wellness Center

4307 S. Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90008 323.295.6887

I CAN'T CLOSE MY EYES FOR A SECOND!

A new student in class told me that she has a tough time trying to meditate. She says it is so hard to get her mind to stop. In sanskrit that is called your "chitta" mind junk. Most of us have mind junk that keeps us from focusing. To fight this mind junk meditation is the perfect tool. Some people may not be into meditation, but everyone just wants to relax from a stressful mind state.

Well I put a challenge out to the student who said that she could not close her eyes for a second. I created a rough 25 sec flute meditation. See if you can listen for only 25 seconds with yours eyes closed. Just relax

Here are some tips on how to meditate

The Body:
- keeping the back straight, in whichever posture you meditate is most essential.
- try to be comfortable and physically relaxed, and avoid moving too much.
- keep the head straight, slightly bent forward, keep the teeth slightly apart, the tip of the tongue against the upper pallet.
- the eyes are best kept half-open (without really looking), but many beginners find that too distracting and close them.
- the shoulders should be relaxed and the hands can be put in one's lap.
- the legs can be in the full lotus (which not many Westerners manage), but also simply crossed. In fact, other positions like sitting on one's knees or on a bench are good as well. If all of these are too difficult, you can also use a chair, but remember to sit only on the front half of the seat, not leaning against the back rest to avoid a bent back, and keep the feet flat on the floor. Keeping the knees warm may help to avoid numbness of the legs.
- try belly-breathing; not breathing with the chest, but from the navel.
- always remember that the posture should enhance meditation, not be an obstacle! The Buddha even taught one of his disciples who had many problems with his posture to lie down with his back on a bed, and then he quickly made progress; however, most people tend to fall asleep - so it will not be suitable for everyone...

Let me know how it turned out!

namaste

melvin

SATURDAY'S CLASS WAS INSPIRING!

This Weeks class was very inspiring. This week we focused on hip opener & shoulder opener poses. We talked about how we store much of our stress in our hips and shoulders. "every physical malady has an emotional beginning. We used pranayama breathing techinuqes to help us get deeper in the poses. One of the students brought their 7 year old son and 18 year old foster daughter. They really enjoyed the class. They were a reminder to not take the class so serious.

The young 7 year old student had issues with asthma. In this condition, the airways of the lungs are constricted, causing tightness in the chest, bouts of coughing, wheezing, and breathing difficulties. The inflammation of the air passages can become chronic. Asthma is usually caused by allergies or stress. Yoga has come a long way to heal and manage asthma.

Hear is section on poses that you can Do at home to help a child or adult with asthma.

Easy Pose (Sukhasana) This is one of the classic Meditative Poses and is usually performed after doing the Corpse Pose. The Easy Pose helps in straightening the spine, slowing down metabolism, promoting inner tranquility, and keeping your mind still. Shoulder Lifts Many people hold tension in their necks and shoulders, leading to stiffness, bad posture, and tension headaches. Yoga practice can ease tension, increase flexibility, and tone the muscles. This section covers the steps on how to practice Shoulder Lifts. Half Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana) If done properly, the Half Spinal Twist lengthens and strengthens the spine. It is also beneficial for your liver, kidneys, as well as adrenal glands. Practice this Yoga Pose under the supervision of a Yoga instructor. In this section, learn how to perform the Half Spinal Twist. Wind Relieving Pose (Pavanamuktasana) The term Pavanamuktasana comes from the Sanskrit word 'pavana' which means air or wind and 'mukta' which means freedom or release. The Wind Relieving Pose works mainly on the digestive system. specifically, it helps in eliminating excess gas in the stomach. Yoga Exercise - Corpse Pose (Savasana) The Corpse Yoga Pose is considered as a classic relaxation Yoga Pose and is practiced before or in between Asanas as well as a Final Relaxation. While it looks deceptively simple, it is actually difficult to perform. Learn more on how to do it with the help of this article. Anuloma Viloma Anuloma Viloma is also called the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. In this Breathing Technique, you inhale through one nostril, retain the breath, and exhale through the other nostril. Learn how to do this technique for beginners by following the steps found in this article. Relaxation Pose There are three parts to proper relaxation - physical, mental and spiritual relaxation. Relaxation Yoga Pose relaxes your body and mind, and makes you feel refreshed after doing the asanas and the pranayamas.This is why it is an essential part of Yoga practice. Courtesy of yogajournal.com next weeks class we will continue on building core strength! INHALE BELIEF EXHALE DOUBT

YOGA Naga Class With Melvin!!!!! THIS SATURDAY

YOGA Naga Class With Melvin!!!!! THIS SATURDAY

YOGA NAGA CLASS with Melvin !!!!!!!OCT. 17,2009SATURDAY 1-2:30PM
Lotus On The Nile Wellness Center

4307 S. Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90008
323.295.6887

REAL BALLERS TAKE YOGA

The big pretzel? Shaq adding yoga to list of new hobbies

Posted Oct 8 2009 8:11PM

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal has made a career out of twisting around opposing centers.

Now he is doing it to himself.

After a summer of boxing, football, beach volleyball and swimming, Shaq has a new hobby -- yoga. He attended his first class at a suburban Cleveland studio on Wednesday night.

"I'm the worst yoga student in the history of yoga," O'Neal said Thursday.

His massive 7-foot-1, 325-pound frame needed two mats, according to Tami Schneider, owner of Cleveland Yoga in Beachwood. She was O'Neal's instructor for the class and is special ordering a 100-inch mat for her new student, who promised he'll be back.

RELATED STORY: Shaquille impressed with Cavaliers' roster -- on paper.Read Full Article

"He's got some tight hamstrings," Schneider said. "He's obviously a big, strong man. He told me he doesn't stretch very often and that was pretty apparent. I'm looking forward to working with him to get him into some deeper stretches."

O'Neal was interested in Schneider's "hot yoga" class, which is practiced in a room heated to between 85 and 90 degrees. It's designed to purify the body and make the body sweat, release toxins and enhance stretching.

That's important to O'Neal, who needed some modifications for a few of the exercises, like crossing one thigh over the other.

"His thighs are gigantic and so strong, they're as big as my whole body," Schneider said. "So he was able to cross his ankles and that was just fine."

For a forward bend, students are instructed to reach down to the ground in front of them. O'Neal needed blocks to bring the floor closer to him.

Still, Schneider said O'Neal is not the worst yoga student she's seen in her 12 years.

"Not at all," she said. "He came in just like a regular guy. He was alone, which was nice, and he seemed to feel right at home at the studio. He fit right in."

O'Neal spent the offseason filming his reality show "Shaq Vs," in which he competed against various top athletes in their sports. He traded punches with Oscar De La Hoya, intercepted Ben Roethlisberger passes and even swam against Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.

Teammates already have remarked that O'Neal looks to be in terrific shape, which he credits to a summer in the pool.

Now the 37-year-old wants to work on his flexibility.

"You just want to stay loose. You have to do different things to stay loose," O'Neal said. "I have a lot of time on my hands because I'm new to the city and I don't have any hangout spots yet."

Great Class!

Thanks to everyone who attended yoga Naga class!

Class was transforming. We focused on the first

3 lines of the naga series. We focused on

the importance of breathing through each pose. We worked on strong warrior I and Warrior 2 Poses. Classed end with me playing my shakuhachi flute, as we ended class with a meditation.

Once again thank you for supporting our yoga naga class.

I spoke about how my teacher taught me that every physical malady has an emotional beginning.

Next week we will focus on hip opener poses

"INHALE BELIEF EXHALE DOUBT"

namaste

Yoga Naga Class With Melvin

October 10,2009!!!!

Yoga Naga With Melvin

Saturday 1-2:30pm

@

Lotus on the Nile Wellness Center

4307 Crenshaw Blvd.

Los Angeles,Ca. 90008

323.295.6887

Bring:water.towel.mat

YEAR OF THE SELF

Year of the Self:
Self-knowledge, self-trust, self-realization, self-care, self-discovery, self-protection, self-expression, self-acceptance, self-love, self-reliance, self-control, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-guidance, self-awareness, self-accomplishment, self-management, self-pride.

Listen to Your Soul and LIVE!

The following "Five Balls" analogy bears repeating at this time. Life is so precious and can be swiftly taken away so fast! We see and feel this, as a nation mourns the loss of an Icon, Michael Joseph Jackson. Despite his personal demons and issues, he spent his life uplifting others. I got the chills watching an except of him saying that the last tour he was planning, was going to be the "final curtain call". Little did he know the power of those words. Farah Fawcett who also defined an era, a legacy of beauty and cultural change. Also, passed on too soon. Let these early passages be a reminder of the uncertainty of life of life and that death is real and can be imminent at a moments notice. Our solution to this is to live the most conscious, connected, peaceful and generous life possible. Following our own path and listening to our own hearts, is the surest way to the "good life". Goethe said: "If you want to live the good life, just trust yourself".

"Five Balls"(Author Unknown)

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health friends and spirit, and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

1. Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

2. Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

3. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

4. Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life on day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.

5. Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

6. Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.

7. Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

8. Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

9. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.

10. Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

11. Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

12. don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.EXCERPTS from the book: