băl•ance yoga lounge

The research stacks up- yet another study reveals the science behind the ancient practice…

- suppresses the stress response

- stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system to calm the body

- boosts immune function

- reduces the inflammatory response

to rebalance and heal the body.

Now read part two of the article, “The Psychology of Yoga.” And ponder this quote from the article:

“To people who are on the fence about trying it out for the first time, Brower
offers this: “Know that it may take some time to find the teacher who really
speaks to YOU in a way that you can hear, but once you do, be prepared to feel
stronger, more secure, and, in many cases, ridiculously fortunate and thrilled
to know the strength in your body that comes with a consistent practice.”

Visit our website to locate a class that fits your busy schedule and drop in to visit the yoga lounge.

Related articles

• Yoga: Changing The Brain’s Stressful Habits (bipolarblast.wordpress.com)
• Stressed spelled backwards…. (jodisussner.wordpress.com)
• How Yoga Eases Rheumatoid Arthritis (everydayhealth.com)

The new age sequel to “Wherever You Go, There You Are.” Click Here:)

If you’re visiting warmer climates during the holiday season, try out this hot new yoga class on water!

Emmy Award-winning actor Martin Sheen (The West Wing) lends his distinguished voice to this stirring call to move beyond religion for the guidance to improve human life on individual, community, and global levels, including a guided meditation practice for cultivating key human values.

Ten years ago, in his best-selling Ethics for a New Millennium, His Holiness the Dalai Lama first proposed an approach to ethics based on universal rather than religious principles. Now, in Beyond Religion, the Dalai Lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way.

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Transcending the mere “religion wars”, he outlines a system of secular ethics that gives tolerant respect to religion, but, with the highest level of spiritual and intellectual authority, makes a claim for what the Dalai Lama calls a third way. This is a universal code of ethics that transcends religion boundaries, that recognizes our common humanity and advocates for a global human community based on understanding and mutual respect.

Beyond Religion is an essential statement from the Dalai Lama, a blueprint for all those who yearn for a life fulfilled and a better world.

Audible’s production of Beyond Religion is available free through December 20.

Related articles

• Beyond Religion by the Dailai Lama (coreonnewenergyenglish.wordpress.com)
• WATCH: Martin Sheen On Being The Voice Of The Dalai Lama (huffingtonpost.com)

Self-control. Who doesn’t wish they had more. Knowing the right thing to do is so much easier than actually doing it!

Studies suggest that the relationship between awareness, caring, and action is not straightforward. Read Kelly McGonigal’s blog about the secrets of self control without suffering.

Kelly is the editor in chief of the journal of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and health psychologist at Stanford University.

Related articles

• The Science of Willpower (kellymcgonigal.com)

Americans and caffeinated beverages have a long love affair…but our children are following in our footsteps and how much caffeine is TOO much for teens? Do children as young as 8-10 years need an energy drink for peak sports performance?

USA Today provides a nice chart sharing the milligrams of caffeine in soda and energy drinks, along with some eye-opening dialogue on caffeine consumption by teens.

Image via Wikipedia

Related articles

• Energy drinks a public health problem? (junkscience.com)
• Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks & the Law (just in time for the Holidays?) (lawprofessors.typepad.com)
• Energy Drinks Send Thousands to the ER Each Year (webmd.com)

If you enjoyed the video Whole Foods Parking Lot, check out his new video, Yoga Girl.

How many times have you been in the company of someone who couldn’t put their mobile device down…even while you were talking face-to-face? What are the implications of a child’s first word being “iPad?”

This article widened my perspective and I feel challenged to put down my smart phone, turn off the television and really connect with others for the month of December.

Follow the link to complete a very brief survey regarding the class schedule at the lounge. Tell us when YOU want to attend and what classes you want more of at the lounge

I want to comlete the survey!

Meditation and sex are the same to your brain. Who’s NOT going to follow this link and read more? Who doesn’t need a little stress-reducing “meditation” during the holidays? I really can’t wait to read your comments on this one…

Drumming meditation this Sunday night (December 4th) at 6:45PM. Walk-ins welcome.

Image by holisticgeek via Flickr

Here are a couple options for homemade laundry detergent that is free of dye, perfume and fillers!

Video tutorial for making Liquid laundry detergent

or make Powdered laundry detergent recipe:

1 bar of Fels Naptha soap (found in the laundry aisle in grocery store- HyVee in Ankeny usually stocks), 2 cups of borax, 2 cups of washing soda, and 1 cup of baking soda.

Grate and then finely chop (I use food processor blade) the bar of soap, add the powders and mix well. The borax is very fine and tends to become airborne in the process of mixing, you may wish to cover your mouth and nostrils if you are sensitve.

Package either variation in a reusable container for a useful holiday gift. Happy Holidays from the yoga lounge

Make time for quiet during the busy holiday bustle; kids need quiet time too!

…How many times do we have to repeat ourselves? The good news is that more and more clinical trials are confirming that yoga strengthens the muscles of the spine to reduce back pain!

“Chronic low-back pain annually affects between 5 and 10 percent of all income levels of the population; low-back pain accounts for $50 billion in direct medical expenditures and is the most common cause of workers’ compensation, according to national health studies.”

Add some heart felt joy to your holiday. Everyone will enjoy reading this; AND you’ll get ideas on what to buy your yogi for Christmas!

Where would YOU rather be during the holiday season?                    On the mat…or at the mall?

Each student with a current multiple attendance yoga pass is eligible to receive a lounge gift card good for three group yoga classes for gifting this holiday season! Let the yoga lounge do your shopping for you.

When you attend a class December 1 through December 24, ask your instructor for a FREE three class holiday pass (retail value $45). Perfect for the office gift exchange, the neighbor who watches the family pet while you are vacationing or the hardworking professional who styles your hair or cleans your home.

(Gift card can only be redeemed by students NEW to the yoga lounge. Offer is non-transferrable and expires 3.31.2012. Limit one gift card per student)

So many of life’s problems stem from too much or too little of something. We spend our lives searching for balance…