By Guest Blogger on March 16, 2011by Stuart Watkins
Have you been getting your daily dose of negative ions? We need exposure to negative ions to be more positive in our life. I know, it sounds a little backward at first, doesn’t it? Negative ions are invisible molecules that clean the air around us by attaching themselves to positive ions (from dust, smoke, electronics, car exhausts, our breathing, etc.), so they’re not just floating around for us to breathe into our system. Generally the more populated a city is, the fewer negative ions and the more positive ions.
As I write this, I’m in India’s capital city, Delhi — one of the most polluted cities in the world. Having spent the previous four weeks nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in a town called Tapovan, Rishikesh, my love for negative ions reached new heights. I can’t help but compare the difference in how my body and mind feel in Delhi as compared to Rishikesh. I don’t think I will ever take fresh air for granted again!
Every morning a powerful breeze would howl down from the Himalayan mountains bringing healing energy from this sacred land. As we practiced yoga every morning at sunrise, the magical breeze would flow through the ashram and through our bodies creating a magical environment. The cleansing, strengthening and mystical effects were apparent from day one. Through the deep meditation practices I could literally feel the negative ions flowing into my system, cleansing, healing and creating space for an abundance of vitality and joy.
Negative ions help relieve stress, increase vitality, strengthen the immune system and so much more. That’s why we all feel so incredibly good after being at a waterfall, in the mountains or at the beach. The human body is meant to be absorbing negative ions on a regular basis, so it’s no wonder why there are so many health problems related to fatigue, depression and immune disorders. It’s no wonder why so many people find it incredibly hard to let their true nature shine. Most people aren’t exposed to nearly enough negative ions. All the technology around us has virtually eliminated the positive ions in the air — unless you live at a beach with no cars or electronics or out in the wilderness or mountains, etc.). Oh, wonderful Rishikesh!
Often people think they can escape pollution by staying indoors. It’s quite common for indoor environments to be just as, if not more than, polluted as outside. When you look around most bedrooms or offices, there are at least a couple of electronic devices. Think about it … laptops, mobile phones, televisions, lights, heaters, electric blankets and so many of the countless electronic gadgets available these days. They all release positive ions galore! Even man-made fibers in carpets, clothes and furniture all reduce the level of negative ions and increase the positive ones in the environment. The house you live in or the place you work at could very well be more polluted than outside! Combine this with other pollutants (if you live in a populated area) and you can almost guarantee that you’re getting exposed to way too many positive ions. This over-exposure to positive ions contributes to the body being in toxic overload, unless small steps are made to make your environment richer in negative ions.
Here are some tips to help bring more negative ions into your life:
-Use Himalayan rock salt lamps or an ion generator or purifier in your house and in your office, if possible. These lamps and purifiers mop up positive ions and help bring back natural harmony to your environment.
-Place potted plants (real ones) throughout your house and office. It’s very common for modern houses to be more polluted than outside, so enjoy bringing the beauty of nature into your home.
-Connect with nature. Get barefoot and walk on raw earth. The earth is charged with negative ions! Our feet are conductors to absorb negative ions, so go outside and experience a lovely barefoot walk. Simply walking on the earth is so healing.
-Spend time at the beach or a waterfall. There’s a reason why we feel so good after being at the beach or at a waterfall. Because of the crashing pure water, these precious parts of the planet are especially charged with negative ions.
-Use natural, preferably organic deodorants, body washes and creams. You can even use Himalayan rock salt soaps, which are quite mainstream now.
-Use organic sheets, towels, clothes and dishwasher and laundry detergents, if you really want to go the extra distance in your efforts to increase negative ions and decrease positive ones in your life.
So, if you’re not feeling as good as you know you could feel, it may be as simple as looking at the environment you’re in and making some small changes here and there. To me, it’s all about getting back to our true nature, which is full of joy and vitality. We’re meant to connect with nature, not pollutants, so in gratitude for the body we have been blessed with and in gratitude for the amazing planet we live on, do yourself a favor and bring some negative ions into your life.
Stuart Watkins is a holistic fitness and lifestyle coach based out of Australia. Stuart’s love for travel and new knowledge has taken him all around the world, while achieving certifications as a Holistic Fitness Practitioner, Holistic Life Coach, Yoga Teacher, Personal Trainer, Massage Therapist and Stress Management Specialist. He draws on his knowledge in these areas to ensure each of his clients journey to true health and happiness is in good hands.
Photo credit: hockadilly
Read More By Guest Blogger on January 31, 2011
What insane person would choose to do a 21-day cleanse in the first weeks of December with nothing but parties and festivities ahead? Me! On November 13, 2010, I declared myself a mess physically, mentally and spiritually. No spark, no twinkle, no joy and a muffin top that turned into a layered cake from under my bra line to my knees. With dismal blood results (nonexistent immune system) and a desire to have someone brutally honest and highly qualified coach me back to my sparkly self, I called on Kris Carr, wellness warrior extraordinaire (I have followed her since 2008). I wanted Kris Carr for my private coach, but she was unavailable.
I found that she had just written a new book, “Crazy Sexy Diet.” I ordered it, devoured it in two days, filled it with Post-it notes, highlighter marks and scribbled messages to myself. At the end of the book she brilliantly outlines a 21-day cleanse. It was as though I had just spent weeks being privately coached by her and now here was the perfect plan for me. I felt her amazing support behind me with the 21-day guide she beautifully wrote out for each of the 21 days. Holidays or not, I had to rekindle the fire in my life and this was it.
Answers, Answers and More Answers
Juicers: In 2 pages she saved me hours of research for any and all questions about the differences in juicers. My 10-year-old Champion was great!
Supplements: No need to invest a fortune in supplements. She outlines all the key ones and where to buy them online. No need to buy them all!
Vices: Why animal products, dairy, caffeine, soda, alcohol and sugar keep you from ultimate health. With great humor and razor sharp accuracy she explains how these vices are harmful to your sexy self. The experts that contribute to her book are the all-stars of health and wellness.
Other questions: Everything about digestion, colon hydrotherapy, wheat grass, saunas, neti pots and you name it. Her logic and clarity gave me the confidence to sign up for a series of 3 colonics. Holy moly! The experience blew my mind and clearly showed me how my colon was filled with toxins that were challenging my immune system.
20 Questions Over 21 Days
She suggests making a journal with pages of her 20 questions. I did, and it created a beautiful journal of my experience. Each question was key to my success not just for the cleanse but for habits I needed to insure were in my life on a regular basis.
Question 11: “Did you laugh?” By day 5 I was giggling!
Question 6: “Did you dry brush today?” I quickly became addicted to this relaxing yet invigorating ritual.
Question 1: “Did you abstain from coffee?” This is my crack! My greatest fear going into this adventure was no coffee. I was a gold card carrying Queen of Starbucks! I am shocked that now I am a Grand Princess of Green Drinks! The power in a shot of wheat grass is incredible! (Though I do have to hold my breath when I drink it.)
The 21-Day Cleanse
Kris lovingly writes out a guide for each day of the cleanse. She offers prayers, affirmations, tips and gentle encouragement for exercise, meditations, meals and more. I found these pages to be of great guidance as well as comfort to me through some tough moments. The mediation portion of the cleanse was invaluable to me. Her affirmations and prayers assisted me in creating the space and grace for this much ignored portion of my health.
On day 18, she asks you do a vision board. Trust me, as you go through the cleanse your mind wakes up and the aspirations, creativity and sparks are flying, so these exercises are perfectly timed.
Fasting
The seventh day of each week is a juice fast. This has now become a beautiful ritual in my life that I have continued but was extremely difficult at first. Juice fasting not only allows your digestive system to relax, but it also gets lots of things to bubble up emotionally and physically. Her words of guidance and support during a Power Storming session were key to my success in this portion of the cleanse.
Recipes
Yummy, easy and plentiful! Her recipe section has something for everyone. Her Make Juice, Not War Green Juice is power in a glass. I watched the video of Kris’ cutie husband, Brian, and got some great tips on juicing. Her website is amazing for recipes, tips and wellness info.
Her juice and smoothie recipes are delicious. The Green Guru smoothie is great if you are in a hurry or do not have a juicer.
I only used three to four recipes so not to overwhelm myself: tofu eggless salad, Buddha bowl (I always have on hand now), Mexican pilaf, Kristen Suzanne’s harvest soup and lots of avocado cumin dressing (her dressing section is amazing!).
You do not need a food dehydrator, bamboo mat or hijiki (I have no idea what this is) to be successful in her cleanse, though noted in some recipes.
I am “twinkling” again!
The Crazy Sexy Diet has been a life cleanse for me, not just a diet. Near the end of the cleanse, my dear friend came over to my house. Without knowing what I had been up to, he said “Wow! You are twinkling!” And I was!
I got my joy, twinkle, spark and giggle back. I also lost my muffin top and layered cake. I put a great amount of time in preparation for the cleanse (12 days prior), but it was worth every minute of planning to experience such rewards. I was a lackluster mess on day 1, but 21 days later I “twinkled” almost as much as our Christmas tree. The best news is that the results of my post-cleanse blood work were “outstanding!”
In November, my oncologist said “Mia, you just have to accept your new ‘normal’ low white blood count,” due to chemotherapy. That pissed me off! I bet her that with diet and a better way of dealing with my stress (meditation), I could change those numbers. Thanks to Kris Carr and the Crazy Sexy Diet 21-Day Cleanse, I won that bet! The prize is having regained confidence in my health, body and post-chemo brain. Do you want to “twinkle”?
Mia Pate Ogletree, mother of 2 small children had a thriving personal training and an online clean-diet coaching business prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. After rebuilding her home life, health and fitness, she is now returning to building her business and teaching others.
Photo credit: floridecires
Read More By Alejandro Junger, MD on August 2, 2010
Feel like you absolutely need that piece of chocolate, pint of ice cream or huge plate of mashed potatoes to satisfy your craving? Rather than true hunger in a physical sense, cravings are more likely a sign of one of two things: an emotional hunger or possibly a deficiency in some key nutrients. Follow these four steps to restore balance.
Step 1: Eliminate the bad stuff
Get rid of sugar, caffeine and anything processed and/or refined. If you really struggle with mood swings and depression, eliminate gluten, dairy, red meat and alcohol. Do this at least until you feel the symptoms are under control, or you have healthy doses of serotonin being produced and maintained in the body.
In my opinion, sugar and caffeine are the main two culprits and cause the greatest amount of damage. You’d be doing yourself a huge favor by releasing them from your diet. Sugar can, indeed, make us momentarily uplifted because this refined molecule temporarily boosts blood sugar and actively alters brain chemistry. But like any drug, the depression after it wears off is far worse than the brief happiness it appeared to give us. And in the worst cases, we sometimes fall into a pattern of treating that mental rut with yet another hit of sugar to keep the happiness going.
This downward cycle of sugar dependence leads us to long-term obesity, diabetes and depression. Sugar also contributes to adrenal exhaustion, metabolism malfunction and overall poor health, which opens the door to a whole host of illness and disease.
While there are six definite tastes that we need for balance (salty, sweet, bitter, astringent, pungent and sour), the sweet taste is not abundant in whole and natural foods. We’re meant to have it in small amounts and seasonally. In the summer, the days are longer and we’re more active. We have more of a need for the bursts of energy that we get from berries, melons and other fruits. Maple syrup in the spring, and sweet vegetables, honey and apples in the colder months provide the sweet taste year-round.
Step 2: Add more good stuff
· Adaptogens: yerba mate, ashwaganda, ginseng, rhodiola, cordyceps mushrooms, etc. Adaptogens stabilize moods, ease stress and promote feelings of well-being. They also add an infusion of balanced and sustained energy without stimulation like caffeine. Herbs like St. John’s Wort help fight depression and can be taken with dandelion root and milk thistle to aid in liver detoxification and cleansing.
· Healthy fats that contain omega 3′s: nuts like almonds, pistachios, pecans, macadamia and walnuts; avocados, coconut and other cold-pressed oils; seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, hemp, chia and flax; olives as well as good quality fish oils.
· Green vegetable juices. These alkalize the body and help bring everything back into balance and release our cravings for sweet and processed foods.
Step 3: Bring in (or get back to)
· Living in the present moment.
· Removing complication: simplify, simplify, simplify every area of your life that you can. Move away from rampant multitasking and being plugged into a myriad of technological gadgets constantly. Take technology breaks and focus on one task at a time as much as you can. Eliminate clutter. Clean out your cupboards (which will probably lead to healthier eating as well) by throwing out or donating the packaged, canned and less than optimal things buried there.
· Moving out of the thinking mind and into the feeling heart.
· Meditating. Any amount of being still brings immeasurable benefits into our lives even if it’s five minutes when you’re waking up or falling asleep.
· Enjoying everyday moments. There are a million beautiful things that pass through our days. What are five of them that have happened today so far?
· Exercising, through yoga, dance, or whatever you prefer, to release endorphins. When we feel good about our bodies and are generally happier, we move more, so we become fitter and have more energy, so we move more. This creates a positive circle of cause and effect.
Step 4: Release and Be Empowered
During any cleanse it’s inevitable that not only will you clear out toxins and old sludgy buildup, but old emotions will most likely be released as well. For some, this is unexpected and a little unsettling, but the best way to handle it is to look at those emotions or feelings as they’re surfacing. Don’t delve in and live in the past, just let them go. They no longer affect you, after you realize that they brought you to the place you are now, and that it’s exactly where you’re supposed to be. They do not affect your future. How you act and think right now is the only thing that affects your future, and that’s not meant to make us anxious or stressed, but to excite and enliven us as every moment is truly a gift full of promise and a chance to create exactly the future you want!
Photo Credit: canadapost
Read More By Alejandro Junger, MD on April 6, 2010
As a doctor, some of the most powerful tools that I have found are detoxing and cleansing. By ‘detoxing’ I mean this: a program that will create optimal conditions for the recirculation of toxins that have been trapped in our body’s mucus, as well as support for the liver in its work of neutralizing and preparing those toxins to be eliminated via sweat, feces and urine.
Cleansing is a method of enhancing the elimination of these toxins, as well as the mucus, that the body has generated to defend itself from the irritation caused by toxin accumulation. Cleansing encourages and assists the channels of elimination, through skin, kidneys and intestines.
Quantum physicists have clearly shown that “The Universe is made of Light,” and light behaves both as a particle and a wave, depending on what instrument is used to measure it. Waves uplift, resonate with and attract each other. The stronger the wave, the more other waves will begin to imitate it.
All of these waves are ultimately interconnected with each other; our emotions and our bodies are waves within waves and are continuously affecting each other, and all of us in turn are subject to the effects caused by larger and more powerful ones. We can see these effects in the winter when it seems everyone is a bit more sad and struggling with depression, and the trees and plants mirror that empty and bare feeling as they lose their flowers and leaves.
However, with the arrival of spring, when nature seems to be having a seizure of awakening, everything explodes with waves of life, and all animals, plants and even our own bodies become influenced by this activity. Winter’s depression is swept away by joy and plants bursting with life. Whatever you can do to align yourself with this force will enable you to ride the wave to the other side of the cold and dark remnants of winter.
Here are 5 simple things you can do to enhance these cleansing and expanding waves, and the reasons behind them:
1) Give your digestive system a break. Digestion takes work and slows down other functions, the detox functions in particular. As digestion work eases, there is a point at which the body receives a signal to enter detox mode intensely and releases trapped toxins and mucus.
Be safe and choose your program intelligently. Stopping digestive work completely, as in a water fast, can be dangerous and even deadly. Jesus did it for 40 days, but he didn’t have the chemicals in his food, soil and water that we do now.
Juicing is an effective way to detox and cleanse, but still too intense for most Americans, especially if they are living in the city, working, taking care of children, and socializing. This schedule is too demanding to subsist on juice alone as it does not deliver the amount and variety of nutrients needed to safely and effectively complete this work. Toxin recirculation overwhelms the ability of our liver to detox effectively While juice provides many antioxidants, this is the half of the work of detoxing. People that cleanse regularly and have a clean diet the rest of the time do really well with juicing programs, but juicing fails for so many of my patients because it really needs to be done in the right way.
What I do, myself, is have a liquid breakfast, a solid meal and a liquid dinner. In my book, “CLEAN,” there are recipes enough to never repeat a meal in 3 weeks, providing plenty of nutritional support and variety.
2) Give your immune system a spring break. 80% of our immune system lives in our intestines, and because of the damage caused by modern toxicity, it is constantly in a state of alert and in attack mode. There is a list of foods that really stir things up for the immune system and create a damaged intestine. Dairy, sugar, coffee, and gluten are the obvious culprits, but there are fruits and vegetables that do the same, even if organic. The list of foods to avoid to calm allergies and even autoimmune waves is called “The Elimination Diet.” Following this food plan alone will enable a detox to happen seamlessly and powerfully.
3) Cleanse your kitchen. Nature knows what it is doing. Any time of year, animals all over the planet are eating whatever is in grown locally and in season, and we’d be wise to do the same. Go to the farmer’s market, learn what is in season, and eat whole foods when they’re fresh and abundant.
4) Drink lots of water. Filtered water is best. Not distilled, unless you know what you are doing. Water with lemon is great for cleansing, as lemon is nature’s magic cleaner. In the spring, the ice melts and the rivers run strong. Imitate spring in your body with fresh water flowing through it constantly. Be careful not to overhydrate and wash out your body’s natural minerals with distilled or less than optimal water. Still, if there is a time to drink lots of water, it is during a cleanse—and especially during the spring.
5) Spring has its distinct qualities but shares qualities with all seasons. Day and night happen regardless of season or weather. To sleep at sundown and wake up at sunrise is one sure way to sync with all of nature, the planets and beyond. When was the last time you did that?
These are simple and effective ways to cleanse your body and prepare for the warm weather and necessary expansion of the next season.
Wishing you all a Clean and healthy spring,
Dr. Junger and the Clean Team
Read More By Guest Blogger on September 4, 2009
Getting to Know the Nose
Before we go into the details of the nasal wash, let’s begin with a science lesson. The nostrils are the interface between your body and the atmosphere—they filter, clean, heat, and moisten the air you inhale. This is why yogis advocate breathing through the nose instead of the mouth.
The sensitive lining of the nostrils secretes mucus, which effectively traps dust, dirt, and other particles when it is moist. The mucus also contains antibodies, which help protect the body from infection or irritation by foreign materials or organisms. This is important because you inhale 18,000 to 20,000 times daily. All day the moist, sticky mucus collects dirty particles from the air you breathe and keeps it from entering the lungs. If you don’t clean this matter out of the nostrils, it will end up in your stomach, because the mucus lining of the nostrils slowly moves everything backwards until it is swallowed. What’s more, when the mucus becomes dry or laden with dust, it loses its protective function. The nasal wash dissolves and clears away dried mucus and stimulates the nasal linings to secrete fresh, moist mucus, which will help keep your nose—and the rest of your system—healthy.
How It Works
You can use the neti pot to rinse away pollen, dust, germs, and other airborne contaminants; to remove excess mucus when you’re congested; to moisturize the nasal membrane after spending time in planes or in heated or air-conditioned rooms; and to open the nostrils as you prepare for meditation.
The anatomy is simple. As holistic expert Carrie Demers, MD, explains: “Your nose is divided into two passages, and there’s a septum in between. You pour the water in one nostril, it goes around the back of the septum, and gravity helps it flow out the other side.”
The nasal wash, she says, can also prevent or treat sinus infections. “Your sinuses drain into your nasal passages through little openings called meatuses. It’s when these openings get blocked that mucus accumulates and causes pressure and infection. The neti water washes over the meatuses, keeping them open and the mucus inside the sinus cavities flowing out—the water doesn’t actually go into your sinuses.”
The Practice
If you’re wincing at the memory of getting water up your nose while swimming as a kid, don’t worry—jala neti uses a warm saline solution that’s the same temperature and salt concentration as your bodily fluids and is soothing to the sinuses. Neti pots vary in shape and size, so here’s a basic recipe: Mix one-half heaping teaspoon of pure noniodized salt with two cups of warm water until the salt dissolves completely. Adjust the mixture to your own salinity—it should taste like warm tears.
Fill your neti pot and lean over a sink, face downward. Keeping your nose slightly higher than your lips, twist your head to the left. As you breathe through the mouth, insert the spout into the upper nostril until it forms a tight (but comfortable) seal. Raise the handle of the neti pot and let the water flow through the nose and out the lower nostril. When you’ve emptied the pot, exhale through both nostrils into the sink or a tissue. (Do not close off one nostril while blowing, because this could force the water back into the ear.) Then repeat on the other side.
To clear loose mucus and water from the nose after the practice, exhale forcefully into the sink 5 to 10 times with both nostrils open and the face relaxed. Next, do a simple forward bend, turning the head from side to side as you do another round of vigorous exhalations. Remember, one of the goals of the nasal wash is to reduce excess mucus—so don’t be squeamish about blowing it out. You’ll feel better if you do.
The yogis have numerous variations of jala neti. In addition to the beginner’s nostril-to-nostril version described above, you can also learn how to pull water from your nose into your mouth, or push it from your mouth to your nose—which is especially useful if you’re away from home without your neti pot. To try the mouth-to-nose practice, fill your mouth three-quarters full with warm saline solution. Lean over the sink, facedown. To expel the water, tuck your chin toward your neck and press your entire tongue against the roof of the mouth, forcefully exhaling the saline into the sink. Keep the throat relaxed through the entire process. Repeat several times. This nasal wash reverses the natural motion of the cilia and cleans them in a different way. It also reduces postnasal drip.
The Neti Pot Challenge
For those of you who are new to the nasal wash, try spending three to six days learning how to do it. Then use the neti pot every morning for a month to observe its overall effect.
Next, figure out how often you need to do it and what time of day works best for you. To check whether you would benefit from the nasal wash at any given moment, breathe deeply through both nostrils together, then through each nostril separately; if you feel any blockage, you will find the nasal wash helpful and soothing.
Here are a few more suggestions: Use the neti pot before your asana or meditation practice. Try rinsing your nose after exposure to dusty, smoky, or sooty environments and notice the relief you get from it. Anticipate allergy seasons by getting started on a regular schedule of two or more daily washes. Generally, use the pot before meals, instead of afterward, to stay in harmony with the body’s natural mucus-producing schedule.
Meet You at the Sink?
So there it is: nasal irrigation is both comical and practical. It cleanses and protects the nasal passages, counteracting the effects of environmental pollution and treating colds, allergies, and sinus problems naturally and effectively. It improves the quality of your breathing, and hence, your yoga and meditation practices. Now, that’s a pretty convincing argument, isn’t it?
You can check out Neti Pots and washes in the body section at the Crazy Sexy Shop!
Written by Shannon Sexton, Yoga+’s Editor-at-Large
Originally published in Natural Health Magazine
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