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Hi there, dear friends,

Since I picked up Yoga 3 weeks ago, I have learned a few techniques that have helped me tremendously (aside from the slimming or toning aspects) in my life – specifically on injuries related to my strenuous house chores, like mopping the floors, picking up heavy things, bending a lot, and so on. I have had a lower back slipped disc injury many years ago and whenever I bend often in my work, I usually end up with lower back pains for days.

But since I have been applying this Yoga method whenever I have to exert myself or bend over too much, I am very happy to say that now I no longer have lower backaches!

This Yoga technique is called a Mula Bandha or a Root Lock, one of the three Bandhas (Locks) that were taught by my Yoga instructor. (I will describe the other equally good Bandhas later on.) Basically, we apply this interior lock whenever we have to bend over to lift something heavy, do strenuous activities, or like in my case, having to put my whole weight on my mop to wring it dry. In addition to protecting our spine, this Mula Bandha also have other good health benefits.

Benefits

1) Increases flexibility of our spine and stimulates heat (good for those of you who feel cold during winter?)

2) Helps to prevent back injury by guiding us to move from our centre of body – when we have this lock in our lower spine, our back is stronger.

3) Ovaries in the female and the prostate gland in the male receive an increased flow of blood circulation. For ladies, this will benefit those with irregular mentrual periods.

4) Helps to prevent haemorrhoids.

5) Beneficial for toning up the kidneys and bladders.

6) Good for those with incontinence problems that most ladies would often get when they reach middle age.

Method

Mula Bandha focuses on those muscles that form a sling in our pelvis, from the pubis in front to the coccyx at the back. These muscles support the upper part of our vagina, the uterus, the rectum, the bladder and the prostate. We ladies usually know this technique as Kegels’ Exercises, which is often prescribed by gynaecologists after childbirth. For men, the area of these muscles can be identified by imagining that you are urinating and that you must stop the flow of urine by using (or contracting) these muscles.

When the Mula Bandha is engaged, we prevent prana (chi or lifeforce) from escaping from our lower body and prana flow is directed in the body. That is why heat is generated internally when prana or chi is flowing well in us. This lock is also used during Yoga asanas (postures) to prevent injury.

1) Sit comfortably on the floor or on a chair, or stand up in a relaxed manner.

2) Take a few breaths slowly, counting 1 to 4 for each inhalation and exhalation.

3) After you have exhaled completely, hold your breath and start contracting your pelvis muscles, as if you are stopping the flow of urine during a pee. For beginners, this will take a short time for you to get used to this step. Contract the muscles as much as you can …..and then, LOCK them in place.

4) With the Mula Bandha or LOCK engaged, continue to breathe in slowly and do normal breathing a few times.

5) Release the Mula Bandha or Root Lock, and repeat steps 3 and 4 again. Do this about 5 times or more if you wish or are able to.

This really beneficial Yoga technique can be done a few times a day…for me, I often have to engage the Mula Bandha when I am mopping the floor, when I reach down to pick up things, and even when I am sitting in front of the PC. It helps my spine to be firm and strong.

Note – DO NOT do the Mula Bandha if you are pregnant, having your menses, or right after a meal (best is 2 to 3 hours after a meal).

For those of you that often get lower back pains like me, I hope you will try to do this Yoga Technique and later say “Bye Bye” to your backaches!

Good morning, dear friends

Ah, during this part of the year when we have so many festivals and holiday feasting – Winter Solstice Festival, Christmas, New Year parties – there is a thought that is bound to be on most people’s mind ===> that “we have certainly indulged ourselves with all the yummy food and may need to go on diet soon!”

Some would go on crash diets for days and weeks after their partying is over! However, this will not be very good as this method will actually backfire later on and the pounds shed will come back on again.

Some will be very hardworking – they will actually exercise more to burn off those extra weight that they have put on during the holidays, which is the right way to go and will be very effective when they also eat lighter, healthier meals at the same time.

Thus, it is all a matter of juggling and balancing our food intake and exercises. It helps if we know that 3,500 calories makes up 1 pound and 2.2 pounds equals 1 kilogramme.

I would like to share with you this article on the Lemon Juice Diet that came out in my newspapers a few weeks ago, and thought that it really made a lot of sense in helping us to lose weight. This is not the same thing as the Lemon Juice Cleanse or Master Cleanser (that was introduced by Stanley Burroughs) which requires a fast of lemon juice and saline liquids for 2 weeks (I won’t be able to fast on liquids like this!)

Read on and see for yourself how this works….

The Lemon Juice Diet by Louise Atkinson, The Star Newspaper, 18 December, 2007

DRINK lemon juice with warm water every morning to stimulate your digestive system.

Hoping to lose a few pounds before Christmas and New Year but gloomy about your chances of success with conventional diets? Then lemons could be the answer!

In a new book, The Lemon Juice Diet, leading health writer Therese Cheung suggests that the reason why so many of us battle with our weight is because our digestive systems are not working properly – and that the conventional dieting tends to excarbate that.

However, including lemons in your diet – both JUICE and PEEL – will boost your digestion and if you also eat healthily and exercise, can help you lose weight.

“Research seems to show that if your digestive system is not working correctly, healthy weight-loss is almost impossible,” saus Cheung. “The problem is that poor digestion can stop your body getting the nutrients it needs to burn fats. It can also cause a buildup of toxins in your body, leaving you feeling sluggish and depressed.

“This, in turn, slows down your metabolism, making any weight-loss goals unattainable.”

Furthermore, she says, if your body isn’t absorbing the right nutrients, then no matter how overweight you are, it thinks it is malnourished and constantly craves nutrients, telling you that you are hungry when you are not!

The solution is LEMONS. “When it comes to boostings the body’s digestive and detox systems, lemon is a natural powerhouse, ” says Cheung.

Lemons are rich in citric acid (at 7 to 8 %, they have the highest concentration of all the fruits), which, she explains, “combines in a complex interaction with other acids and enzymes to ensure healthy and problem-free digestion by stimulating stomach juices.”

“Thanks to its acidity, even a little lemon juice can improve your digestion and lower the impact of any meal on your blood sugar,” she adds.

The pectin in lemon – found in the peel – is a great source of fibre that helps weight loss by turning into a sticky gel when you digest it, preventing your stomach from absorbing sugar too quickly.

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found pectin can eliminate the urge to eat for up to four hours , because after eating it you tend to feel satisfied for longer.

Lemon juice is also one of the most food sources of Vitamin C. Not only is this great for warding off colds, but a recent research at Arizona State University suggests that people who eat fruit and vegetables high in vitamin C have more efficient digestive systems and are more likely to lose weight that those who don’t.

In addition, lemon juices increases the acidity of the digestive system. This helps the body absorb calcium, which is then stored in fat cells. Research has shown that the more calcium there is in a fat cell, the more fat the cell burns.

It seems the humble lemon could be a powerful aid to digestion, and a useful diet booster.

But it’s not a case of eating only lemons: the good news is that you can eat perfectly normal foods on this diet, including cheese and other proteins, You can even have chocolate ice-cream!

You can also eat as much as you like of the right sort of foods: there is no calorie caounting involved. All you have to do is make sure that at least one meal a day includes lemon ===> either a squirt of juice or some peel.

The Lemon Juice Diet advocates a simple healthy-eating plan based on 7 principles, If you combine these 7 principles with an exercise regime involving 20 minutes of aerobic activity five or six days a week, within just a week you should start feeling healthier and your clothes will be looser.

By week two, you will be dropping pounds…

The 7 Principles

1) Drink lemon juice with warm water every morning. Starting the day with the juice of a lemon in a glass of warm water will stimulate your digestive system.

2) Eat at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day. All vegetables and most fruits are low-calorie nutritional powerhouses, rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and nutrients that can boost immunity, balance hormones, calm the nervous system, aid digestion, and help weight loss.

3) Balance your blood sugar levels. Irritability, poor concentration, fatique and headaches are all symptoms of fluctuating blood sugar levels; which can make you crave sweet and fattening foods. When the blood sugar levels swing too high, so does insulin. This hormone helps shuttle blood sugar (Glucose) into your cells to be uses as energy. In other words, it promotes fat storage.

Sprinkling lemon juice over your meal can be enough to lower the blood sugar impact by as much as 30 % – use it in all your cooking.

Eat protein with each meal, as it steadies your blood sugar by delaying the absorption of carbohydrates and fats. Eating 5 or 5 times a day will combat food cravings.

4) Cut down on sugar-rich foods. This will give you a brief high, followed by a big slump and leave you feeling edgy and tired. Refined foods – such as white bread, white rice, instant potatoes and corn flakes – can act like sugar in your system, and end up being stored as fat. Instead, stick to whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein.

5) Forget low fat – your body needs some fat to lose weight. Unsaturated fats can help with weight loss by delaying the passage of carbohydrates into your bloodstream, keeping blood sugar levels stable and insulin down.

Increase your consumption of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids, found in nuts, seeds and oily fish, and unsaturated fat found in extra virgin olive oil.

6) Eat lots of fresh whole foods. Switch from processed to whole foods to boost your intake of the nutrients your body needs for weight loss. Whole foods such as beans, pulses and lentils also contain fibre, which stimulates the digestive system and can slow down the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose.

Best of all, whole food are free of hidden sugar and chemicals that overload your liver, making it hard for your body to digest food and burn fat. Choose brown pasta, wholegrain bread and cereals, vegetables, fruit, fresh soups, smoothies and juices (not from concentrate), and eat a salad with every meal.

7) Slow things down. Eat slowly and chew properly. Chewing relaxes the lower stomach muscle and triggers nerve messages that activates the digestive process. If food is not properly chewed, nutrients remain locked in and undigested.

Your stomach and intestines are sensitive to stress. When you feel anxious, digestion will shut down, leaving food partially digested. So, finding ways to manage stress is not only important to your emotional health, but your digestive health, too.

Note -If you suffer from heartburn, kidney or gall-bladder problems, or have a citric allergy, consult your GP before going on this diet.

Happy Dieting!

Here is a picture of my Lemon Juice Drink that I had made for myself yesterday. See the little bits of lemon peel floating at the top? I decided to chop the lemon peel up so that as I drink my lemon juice, I can also eat the peel. I had also added a tablespoon of honey to make this drink tastier. Be sure to put cold water into your glass of lemon juice, then only top up with a little hot water to make a warm lemon juice drink! Hot water will destroy the Vitamin C in the lemon juice as well as the nutrients in the honey!

This morning, I made myself another glass of warm lemon juice but without the honey added and wow, did it perk me up!  

Have a wonderful weekend!  

Happy New Year, dear friends!

I was watching a TV programme just now called “The Path To Health”, a Chinese documentary that discussed various foods, how we eat, what we eat, etc…for good health. It was based on Traditional Chinese Medicine practices and towards the end of the programme, the host of the show talked about a new way of eating that was introduced in 1996 by naturopath, Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo, who said that what we eat should follow our blood types.

The fact that the Chinese health programme I watched did talk about D’Adamo’s diet method got my attention. Hmmmm………now, I got to look more into this new way of eating. How interesting indeed! Luckily for me, my family members are all from Blood Type O, so this will make it easy for me to adapt my cooking to this type of diet! Wow!

According to naturopath Peter J. D’Adamo, our blood type is a genetic fingerprint that is more powerful than race, culture or geography. It all has to do with lectins, a diverse group of proteins that are present in certain foods. D’Adamo, who is a naturopath, claims that negative reactions between food lectins and our blood are responsible for many ailments. His solution is to avoid the foods that contain all those bad lectins. The list of what’s good and what’s bad, however, is extensive and differs dramatically according to your blood type. The book states:

• Type O’s (46 % of the population), belong to the oldest genetic group and need to eat meat virtually every day to satisfy your ancient, hunter-gatherer genes. Type O’s should also avoid oats, wheat, and most grains, because they are all products of an agriculture that didn’t exist when O’s originated.
• Type A’s (40% of the population) evolved after the start of agrarian society and are best off as a vegetarian.
• Type B’s (10 % of the population) emerged as humans migrated toward colder, harsher climates. Bs’ can have the most varied diet, including meat, and theirs is the only blood type that does well with dairy products.
• Type AB (4% of the population) is a relatively modern adaptation that arose from the intermingling of the A’s and the B’s. Therefore, AB’s have the benefits and intolerances of types A and B.

Below are some interesting videos -

Blood Type O

Blood Type A

Blood Types B and AB

What do you think of this type of diet I shall try this for a while and see how it goes…

Good night and sweet dreams from KL!

Dear friends,

Most of us would have experienced some back pains or lower back aches some time in our life. For me, I have had a slipped disc in my lower back while bowling when I was 18 years old. Sometimes, I will have lower back pains and while I practised Yoga for one month 16 years ago, my backaches were gone for a long time, but they came back when we moved into our 3-storey house and I am more strenuously involved in doing the house chores. My backaches are often very bad after I had mopped the whole house, mainly from having to bend over and wringing the mop!

Anyway, since I attended the Yoga class on Tuesday and practising the Sun Salutation poses recently, my back feels stronger and better. I have found 2 video here specifically for strengthening our back and I hope the Yoga exercises will work for you, too!

Yoga For Healthy Back

Yoga For Lower Back Pains With Tara Stiles

Below is an E-Zine article written by Shelley Hitz, Licensed Physical Therapist and Certified NASM Personal Trainer.

Are You Willing To Follow Eight Yoga Exercises For the Lower Back?
By Shelley Hitz

EXERCISES FOR BACK RELIEF

Many people believe that rest is best for a painful back, but actually, what your back really needs when it’s hurt is exercise. Regular exercise relieves back pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the spine and helps to prevent future injury. This is a use it or lose it situation: the more you rest, the weaker your back gets, even if it is hurt. Studies have actually shown that you can heal your back pain faster and get back to your regular activities with just two days of rest. This article will focus on Yoga Exercises. Remember to contact your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

YOGA EXERCISES FOR YOUR BACK

A good, regular yoga practice will go far in relieving the stress and tension that sometimes cause mild back pain, and in fact, studies have shown that yoga is the number one most effective exercise for relieving back pain. However, not all yoga poses relieve back pain, and some can in fact aggravate existing pain, so it is important to know which poses will be most helpful in relieving back pain. It is best to do these exercises under the supervision of a certified yoga instructor, and if you encounter any problems with these poses, you should consult an expert. Even just one or two sessions with a yoga instructor can help, as an instructor will help you with your form and posture during poses. Here are some of the best yoga poses for relieving back pain. Each pose should be held from five to ten seconds, depending upon your level of comfort, and should be done on a mat or other soft, supportive surface.

CORPSE:

Lie flat on your back in a relaxed position, arms resting at your sides, palms down, and legs lying naturally, with knees turned out slightly. If it hurts your back to have your knees turned outward, do this pose with knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Breathe in and out for a few seconds while allowing any tension to leave the body.

CAT STRETCH:

Start out on your hands and knees with a flat back. Your hands should be directly under your shoulders with fingers spread. Knees should be directly under the hips. Head is held loosely so that you are looking at the floor between your hands. Inhale, and as you exhale, arch your back toward the ceiling, tuck your chin in to your chest so that you are looking at your navel, and tuck your tailbone underneath. Hold, then release back into your original position.

WIND-RELEASING POSE:

Lie flat on your back as in Corpse pose. As you inhale, bend your knee, place your hands right below the knee, and draw your leg towards your chest. Your left leg should remain flat on the floor. Exhale and bring your forehead up to touch your knee. Inhale, and then as you exhale, return to your original position. Repeat with the other leg.

SAGE TWIST:

Warning for this pose—it involves twisting your back, so you should take particular care not to twist too far or you risk aggravating any existing back pain. This should be a gentle stretch; twist just as far as is comfortable. Sit on the floor with both legs out in front of you. Bend your right knee, lift your right leg over your left, and place your right foot on the floor next to your left knee. Sitting with spine straight, place your left elbow on the right side of your right knee. Bend your left arm so that your left fingertips are touching your right hip, while at the same time, twisting to look over your right shoulder. This is where you need to be careful not to twist too far. Hold for a few seconds, release, and repeat on the opposite side.

PALM TREE:

Stand with feet facing forward, arms at your sides, weight distributed evenly on both feet. Raise both arms over your head, interlock your fingers, and turn your hands so that your palms are facing upward. Next, place your palms on your head and turn your head so that you are looking slightly upward. Stretch your arms upwards, and at the same time, come up onto your toes if you can do so without pain. Stretch your entire body upward and hold, if you can. Some people have difficulty balancing during this pose, so just do the stretching part if you need to.

FISH POSE:

Lie on your back with knees bent and arms at your side. Arch your back as far as you comfortably can and raise it off the ground by pushing the floor with your elbows. If you can, tilt your head backwards and rest the crown of your head on the floor. Breathe deeply from the diaphragm and hold pose for one minute if you can.

LOCUST:

Lie face down with arms at the side, palms down, and elbows slightly bent with fingers pointing towards the feet. Raise your legs and thighs as high off the ground as possible without causing your back any pain. Hold for one second and repeat up to twelve times. This can be a vigorous exercise so you must take care to strain already injured muscles.

BENDING FORWARD POSTURE:

Stand up straight with feet together and arms hanging loosely along your sides. Breathe in deeply and raise your arms straight above your head. While breathing out, bend forward and touch your toes if you can. If you can’t reach your toes, grab hold of your ankles or calves. To complete the pose, you should touch your head to your knees, but this may be too difficult for many who suffer from lower back pain. Your movements during this pose should be smooth, not jerky.