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.