Video: Herbal Formula for Spotting during Pregnancy-Maintence II

Video: Herbal Formula for Maintaining Pregnancy-Mainentence I Formula

I’d like to talk to you a little bit about our Maintenance formulas.  These formulas are great at maintaining pregnancies through the first trimester.  There are two different maintenance formulas.   I’m going to talk to you about the first one which is Maintenance I.  This formula helps harmonize and relax the uterine wall.  It keeps the mother calm and it helps keep the baby calm as well.  Once the baby is calm, the fetus is calm, there’s a lot that is allowed to happen that otherwise wouldn’t happen (it wouldn’t happen as efficiently anyways).  The umbilical cord development, the placenta development are so important during the first trimester.  This formula has been shown to help assist the body with those developments.  It’s a great formula, it’s a safe formula.  It can be taken right through the first trimester.  If there’s any complications whatsoever, we have a great formula that I will talk to you about, it’s Maintenance II, and we’ll go onto that next.

Donald Clarke, L.Ac.
CNY Healing Arts – Syracuse
315.671.5755
dclarke@cnyhealingarts.com

The Health Benefits of Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III Pose)

This is a great pose to practice with a partner for support, especially if you are a beginner. If you don’t have a partner available, try Warrior III against a wall. Either face the wall so your fingers can just reach it or face away from the wall with your lifted foot resting lightly against it.

To practice this pose with a licensed yoga teacher, check out the yoga class schedules for each branch of CNY Healing Arts (Rochester, Syracuse, Albany).

Getting Into Warrior III Pose:

Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Step your right foot 12 inches forward and put all of your weight on your right leg. Inhale and raise your arms above your head – palms facing toward each other, arms parallel to each other and perpendicular to the floor.
Now, exhale and lift your left leg up and out. Hinge at the hips, lowering your upper half towards the floor. Gaze down at the floor and focus on a point. This will help you balance. Reach through the crown of your head and your left toes, in opposite directions of course. Reach through your fingers as well. Contract your abs for stability and keep them engaged throughout.

At this point, your body should make a straight line, parallel to the floor – save your right leg, which should be perpendicular to the floor. A tip: As you bring your upper half towards the floor, don’t swing yourself into position. This causes imbalance and make the yogi tend to shift all body weight to the ball of his or her standing foot. You want to support your weight evenly throughout all parts of the foot.
Breathe and hold for 2-6 deep, steady breaths. To release, slowly move your torso back to an upright position, lowering your left leg to the floor. Step both feet back into Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Repeat Virabhadrasana III for the same number of breaths with all weight on your left leg.

Benefits of Warrior III Pose:

• Strengthens the legs, ankles, shoulders and back
• Tones the entire body, especially your abdomen
• Improves memory and concentration
• Encourages better posture and better
• Invigorates and energizes

The Healing Power of Reiki

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words: Rei and Ki. The English meaning of these words is challenging to grasp, since the Japanese language has many levels of meaning. When put in the context of spirituality and healing, Rei describes a higher intelligence that is all-knowing – translating to mean “the higher power” or “God’s wisdom.”

Ki portrays the unseen energy that flows through all living things– translating to “life force energy.” If your Ki is high, you may feel confident, strong, happy, healthy and ready to take on life’s many challenges. If your Ki is low, you may feel weak, stressed, vulnerable and apprehensive. Negative thoughts and feelings can drastically lower your Ki. Low Ki also makes you more likely to get sick.

You receive Ki from food, sleep, sunshine and the air you breathe. Obviously, the quality of these inputs directly relates to how much Ki you can extract from it. One can also boost one’s Ki with breathing exercises, yoga and meditation. With Rei and Ki defined, a loose translation of Reiki is “spiritually guided life force energy.”

Here are a few frequently asked questions about Reiki:

What exactly is Reiki?

Reiki is a natural, non-invasive and entirely safe method of spiritual healing. It is a Japanese technique that focuses on stress reduction and relaxation, thereby promoting the healing process. Reiki is based on the concept that an unseen energy flows through us, keeps us alive, and determines our state of being. The process of administering Reiki is meant to keep this energy in balance and harmony with one’s physical body.

Where did the Reikii deals come from?

There is much speculation about where Reiki came from. Some believe Reiki originated from Buddhism, but most believe that Reiki is religiously neutral and applies to people of all religions, cultures, races and ages.

The most widely accepted origin of Reiki is from Dr. Mikao Usui – founder of the Usui System of Reiki. Born August 1865 in Yago, Japan, Mikao Usui was known as a hypersensitive spiritualist. Facing personal and business failure, he embarked on a 21-day training course in March 1922.

While meditating under a waterfall on Mt. Kurama, the power of Reiki energy is said to have entered him – giving him the ability to heal others without damaging his own energy. From here he developed his notorious system of healing.

How does Reiki work?

We are alive because life force flows through us -nourishing our organs and cells, and supporting them in their vital functions. When this flow is disrupted, it causes damage to and diminished function of the physical body.

Reiki heals by flowing through the affected parts of one’s energy field and charging them with positive energy. It is thought to shake loose the negative thoughts and feelings attached to one’s energy field, thereby clearing the energy pathways and allowing a healthy flow of life force.

The Health Benefits of Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose)

With so many great applications and benefits, it’s a wonder your doctor hasn’t recommended Ardha Chandrasana to you! Even if you don’t have menstrual pain, sciatica, osteoporosis or gastritis, this pose can help effectively reduce stress hormones – thereby nurturing your body and lifting your mood.

To practice Half Moon Pose with a licensed yoga teacher, check out our yoga class schedules by location (Rochester, Syracuse, Albany).

Getting Into Half Moon Pose:

Begin in Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose) to the right side. Soften and bend your right knee, resting your left hand on your hip. Now, reach your right hand forward, beyond the outer part of your right foot – it should rest about 12 inches ahead of your right foot.

Firm your right hand and right heel into the floor. Then, straighten your right leg and, simultaneously, lift your left leg so it is parallel to the floor, or raised a bit further if you cannot keep it parallel. Extend actively through your left heel, toes facing forward, and keep the entire leg engaged.

Make sure you don’t lock your right knee – this could hyperextend it. Instead, keep your right kneecap pointing in direction with your right toes, not turned inward. Also, keep your hips open, stacking your left hip on top of your right.

Support most of your body’s weight with your right leg, using your right hand only to stay balanced. When you are poised, reach your left arm up towards the sky. As you do so, open your chest. Your arms should be in line with each other and perpendicular to the floor.

Gaze upward towards your left fingertips and hold Ardha Chandrasana for 3-6 steady, deep breaths. To come out, lower your left leg to the floor as you exhale and return to Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose). Repeat to the left side.

Benefits of Half Moon Pose:

• Strengthens your legs, ankles, abdomen, buttocks and spine
• Stretches your groins, hamstrings, calves, shoulders, and spine
• Opens your hips and chest
• Builds coordination and balance
• Improves digestion
• Aids in stress relief
• Therapeutic for anxiety, fatigue, menstrual pain, backache, fertility, sciatica, osteoporosis, indigestion, gastritis and constipation

VIDEO: Herbal Formulas for the Menstrual Cycle and Infertility – Cycle I, II, III, and IV

Video: Herbal Formula For Easing the Mind and Relaxing

I’d like to talk to you about one of our formulas called Happy Day.  This is a great formula.  I think this is one of our most popular formulas.  This is the formula that helps people, not just women to balance out hormone levels but also emotions.  It’s called Happy Day because it literally does balance emotions.  It’s a very productive formula, it’s a very safe formula to take.  

Often times during cycles, women will have emotional highs and lows.  This formula is really great at balancing you out.  With emotional highs and lows, you get a lot of symptoms:  you get abdominal bloating, you have a lot of menstrual pain associated with it, irregularity of the bowels and sleep issues.  This formula is really, really great at smoothing everything out; balancing out hormone levels, helping regulate menstruation, also helping with sleep and calming you down.  Happy Day is a great formula.  I encourage it for everybody.

Donald Clarke, L.Ac.
CNY Healing Arts – Syracuse
315.671.5755
dclarke@cnyhealingarts.com

The Health Benefits of Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose)

In Sanskrit, “utthita” means extended, “trikona” means three angle or triangle, and “asana” means pose. If you have neck issues or are uncomfortable in our version of Extended Triangle Pose, turn your gaze down to the floor and consciously relax your neck. Then shift your gaze slowly upward if you can. Alternatively, keep your head centered and gaze forward.

To practice this pose with a licensed yoga teacher, check out our yoga class schedule for each location (Syracuse, Rochester, Albany). 

Getting Into Extended Triangle Pose: 

            Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Exhale and step your feet apart about 4 feet wide – it’s usually wider than you think – keeping your feet parallel to each other. Your heels should be in line. Raise your arms and reach out to the sides, palms down. Try to keep certain postures throughout Utthita Trikonasana: shoulders wide, arms parallel to the floor and torso long and upright.

            Now, turn your left foot in slightly to the right and your right foot out 90 degrees to the right so the inner part of your right foot faces forward. Remember to keep your heels in line with each other. Then, turn your right thigh outward so it faces in the direction of your right toes. Remain facing forward.

            Inhale and reach strongly to the right, allowing your hips to shift to the left as you do so. Now, exhale and bend to the right – hinging at the hips, not the waist. The key is to lengthen your torso: extend through the crown of your head while drawing your hips and tailbone toward your back heel.

Lower your right hand to your right shin, ankle, or the floor on either side of the foot (it depends on the flexibility in your hips, legs, and/or shoulders). Make sure to keep your legs straight, thigh muscles engaged and front right foot pressed firmly into the ground.  At this point, your arms should be perpendicular to the floor. Stretch your left arm straight up toward the sky.

Gaze up softly at your left hand. Hold this pose for 3-6 slow, deep breaths. To come out, inhale and press your back heel strongly into the floor. Repeat to the left for the same length of time.           

Benefits of Extended Triangle Pose: 

• Strengthens your legs, feet and ankles
• Stretches your hips, groins, hamstrings, calves and spine
• Opens your chest and shoulders
• Strengthens your back, neck and abdominals
• Stimulates your abdominal organs, aiding in digestion
• Therapeutic for stress, anxiety, infertility, flat feet, neck pain, osteoporosis, sciatica and symptoms of menopause
• Relieves backache, especially during pregnancy

Get Outdoors, Get Vitamin D!

Written by Kim Fischer, below is a recent article taken from her blog, Lotus Life Yoga. Kim is a certified yoga instructor at our Syracuse CNY Healing Arts Center. Class schedule here.

With longer days and warmer weather, more of us are spending time exercising outdoors. This comes as a great relief after a long, cold, dark winter. One great activity that people may not realize that they can perform outdoors is yoga. A great benefit of performing yoga outdoors is that it allows your body to make Vitamin D. It is important for us to take the opportunity to make some Vitamin D every day because for much of the year we cannot make enough Vitamin D to satisfy our bodies’ needs. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 5-30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM at least twice a week to the face, arms, legs and back without using sunscreen will lead to sufficient levels of Vitamin D synthesis. The importance of maintaining healthy levels of Vitamin D is just beginning to be understood: a growing body of research suggests that Vitamin D might play some role in the prevention and treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, Glucose Intolerance, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and many other medical conditions. Vitamin D has a number of roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function and the reduction of inflammation. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that Vitamin D may have a protective effect against colon, prostate and breast cancer. Finally, Vitamin D is extremely important in supporting calcium metabolism and in the prevention of osteoporosis or brittle bones; a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue which increases bone fragility and significantly increases the risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis is most often associated with inadequate calcium intake, but insufficient Vitamin D contributes to osteoporosis by reducing the body’s efficiency in calcium absorption and metabolism. Rickets and osteomalacia are extreme examples of the effects of Vitamin D deficiency. However, osteoporosis is an example of a long-term effect of lower-level calcium and Vitamin D insufficiency. Adequate storage levels of Vitamin D maintain bone strength and might help prevent osteoporosis in older adults and other people at risk. This is important because more than 40 million adults in the United States have or are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Also many more Americans are at risk of developing osteopenia, which can lead to osteoporosis. So take advantage of the beautiful spring and take care of your health by moving your yoga routine outdoors.

Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medical Clinic

Making a Connection

Written by Kim Fischer, below is a recent article taken from her blog, Lotus Life Yoga. Kim is a certified yoga instructor at our Syracuse CNY Healing Arts Center. Class schedule here.

In this new age of social media, I am often left wondering exactly how “social” we really are? Has tweeting and Facebooking replaced a good ol’fashioned face-to-face chat and has texting bumped the phone calls in to the long distance? And what has happend to the letter? Is there something wrong with sitting down, taking out a ball point, writing out your thoughts and sending it with love? Have we become too tech-social and not enough real-social?

There is something special that is felt when people gather. Body language expressed, tone of voice heard, and physical contact perhaps with a handshake, hug or kiss. We loose all of these essential steps to a conversation when we use technology to communicate. Its like trying to bake a cake and forgetting the sugar, something is missing! Human beings need to communicate. Not just by phone, text, or email. But by real, in the flesh, discussion.

Gathering together gives us comfort and a sense of togetherness. We feel joy and happiness because we see a smile on a friend’s face or receive a hug from a relative. We also get a sense of conformation that our idea or way of thinking is right through others opinions and feedback. This is true of our yoga community (sangha). We come together, practice, laugh and sweat and it is done together, as a group. We leave feeling elevated and enlightened, like we are apart of something larger as a whole community, not just an individual.

If you are someone who is constantly using technology to do the talking, don’t be fooled. This is not a good substitute for the real-deal. Nothing can replace the joy and memories made by spending time with loved ones.  Use your time wisely and start reconnecting with people now. This will hopefully help you avoid unnecessary feelings of depression, separation, and isolation that can come from being too busy.

With Love,
Kim