Egg Donor Open House & Informational Evening

WHEN: Tuesday, May 10th, 2011, 6:00-8:00pm
WHERE: CNY Healing Arts, 191 Intrepid Lane, Syracuse, NY

Join us for an Egg Donor Open House and Informational Evening. Light refreshments will be offered, we are also raffling off door prizes. *RSVP to Kari Gardner, Donor Coordinator by May 4th. 315-671-3079 or kgardner@cnyfertility.com

CNY Fertility, one of the region’s most respected and successful fertility centers, is currently interviewing young women ages 21-32 to anonymously donate their extra eggs, giving infertile couples and women a chance to have children. The procedure does not involve surrogacy and no medical expenses are incurred. There is no waiting list for recipients. Donors will be compensated $4000 at the end of their egg donation cycle.

Syracuse • Albany • Rochester
www.cnyfertility.com • www.cnyhealingarts.com

25% Off Herb Sale Extends Through the Month of May

CNY Healing Arts Centers in Syracuse, Albany, and Rochester NY are pleased to share that we are extending our herb discount sale through the month of May, 2011. It’s a great time to stock up your wellness cabinet and enjoy savings of 25% off all herbs. Please inquire with the acupuncturists on staff at the center nearest you. For locations, directions and hours of operation – click here.

The Health Benefits of Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge Pose)

This is a great pose for athletes. It treats the typical sources of lower-body soreness, especially in runners: tight quads, hamstrings, and hips. Low Lunge may seem simple at first, but there are a plethora of benefits to this posture.

If you are having trouble balancing, try practicing this pose facing a wall. Press the big toe of the front foot against the wall and stretch your arms up, fingertips to the wall if necessary. 

Getting Into Low Lunge Pose: 

Start in Downward-Facing Dog. From there, exhale and step your right foot forward between your hands. If you have trouble reaching, use your hand to move your foot up, aligning knee over heel. Then lower your left knee to the floor, placing the top of that foot on the floor.

Slide the left leg back until you feel a comfortable stretch in the front thigh and groin. Make sure to keep your right knee fixed in place as you do this. As you exhale, gradually take the lunge deeper by allowing the right knee to move slightly in front of the ankle.

Now, inhale and lift your torso upright while sweeping your arms out to your sides and up overhead. Your arms should be straight and perpendicular to the floor. Remember to avoid slouching! Engage your core and grow taller from your pelvis through the crown of your head. Keep your chin lifted slightly, but not so much that it compresses your neck.

Hold for 1 minute then exhale your torso down so you can place your hands on the floor on each side of your right foot. Turn your toes back under and, with another exhale, lift your left knee off of the floor and step back to Downward-Facing Dog. Repeat Anjaneyasana for the same amount of time with your left foot forward. 

Benefits of Low Lunge Pose: 

• Releases tension in your hips
• Stretches your hamstrings, quads, and groin
• Strengthens your knees
• Helps build mental focus

Acupuncture for Allergies

Each year, almost $6 billion are spent on medications for the treatment of allergies, with another $300 million spent on office visits. In America, an estimated 50 million people suffer from a variety of allergies. In each case, a person’s allergies are specific to certain allergens. An allergen is a substance that can cause an allergic reaction, where the body may identify it as foreign or dangerous.

So, what is an allergy you ask? An allergy is defined as your immune system’s exaggerated reaction to substances that are generally not harmful. Your immune system is usually pretty good at distinguishing between the good stuff and bad stuff in your body, but in a person with allergies, the immune response is oversensitive. When it recognizes an allergen, it releases chemicals to fight it off. This is what causes the symptoms of an allergic reaction: itching, swelling, hives, rashes, mucus production, muscles spasms, and more.

Acupuncture is an incredibly helpful treatment for allergies, sometimes curing it altogether. In Chinese medicine, allergies are said to be caused by an “invasion of wind cold.” Treatment is aimed at dispersing “wind” and nourishing the immune system. In western medicine, acupuncture is known to balance the unconscious responses of the nervous system, thereby decreasing the body’s reactivity to allergens. In effect, acupuncture improves the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

After treatment, patients often feel calmer, can sleep better, and withstand illness more easily. This is probably due to the fact that acupuncture significantly decreases stress levels. Furthermore, the ancient Chinese thought that acupuncture could improve life span. Since we know that stress increases cell deterioration, it is possible that acupuncture does fight aging and help us live longer.

If you’re interested in acupuncture to treat your allergies, please call the location nearest you.

Syracuse – 315.671.6755
Rochester – 585.244.1280 ext.2
Latham – 518.724.5750

Refreshing Spring Drink: Iced Green Tea Latte

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.

Iced Green Tea Latte Recipe

Spring is here and it has inspired me to make my favorite green tea drink. Its easy and fun to make. The recipe is below, enjoy!
 
Matcha Powder – Found in most Asian markets

Ingredients: Matcha (green tea powder), Agave Nectar, Soy Milk (vanilla) and Ice

Mix a spoonful of the Matcha, ice and 8-12 oz of soy milk together in a sports drink bottle (something you can shake and not make a mess), add the Agave to taste (a little does a lot). Shake it vigorously to mix all of the powder, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts Per Serving (16 fl oz) Calories 260 Calories From Fat 35

% DailyValue
Total Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 0.5g 2%
Trans Fat 0g
 
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 105mg 5%
TotalCarbohydrate 48g 17%
DietaryFiber 2g 8%
Sugars 44g
 
Protein 7g

Vitamin A 10%
Vitamin C 15%
Calcium 35%
Iron 8% 
Caffeine 80mg
PercentDailyValsBasedOn2KcalDiet (Nutrition info. from Starbucks website/varies according to your taste)
Cheers,
Kim Fischer

The Health Benefits of Purvottanasana (Upward Plank Pose)

Purvottanasana means intense eastward facing stretch. As the sun “rises in the east and sets in the west,” the east is known as the direction of new beginnings and budding potential. In Upward Plank Pose, we draw on the strength of the core and leg muscles, as well as the support of the shoulders beneath the heart.

Note: if you are a beginner struggling with Purvottanasana, practice your posture with the support of a chair. Sit near the front edge of the seat and wrap your hands around the back edge. Inhale as you lift your pelvis, then straighten each leg with an inhale. 

Getting Into Upward Plank Pose: 

Start in Dandasana (Staff Pose). Place your hands behind your hips with the tips of your fingers right behind your buttocks. Either point your fingers towards your body, which is more common, or away from your body. If you point them towards your body, your shoulders will be less open, but it’s a great stretch for your wrist flexors. If you have limited range of motion of the wrist, this posture may hurt and is not recommended.

If you point your fingers away from your body, your shoulders will be more open and will allow a greater stretch in your chest, but it is more likely for your elbow to hyperextend. If you have trouble with hyperextension in your elbows, this posture may be uncomfortable for you. As you move into Purvottanasana, you could have someone press the outside of your arms inward to stabilize your elbows.

Now, keep your legs extended along the mat, or, if you need to modify, bend your knees and place your feet on the floor. Exhale and lift your bottom off the floor, pressing your hips upward. As you come into position, push through your thumbs and big toes. Straighten your legs one at a time and avoid hardening your buttocks. Ideally, your torso should be parallel to the floor, but it can take some time. Support the lift of your chest by firming your shoulder blades against your back.

As you move into posture, you will want to keep your neck elongated (you will be fighting gravity from pulling your head down). When you’re comfortable in Purvottanasana, you will want to keep a slight chin tuck as you lower the crown of your head towards the floor. You don’t want to feel any compression in your spine as you do this. Relax and breathe steadily, holding posture for 30 seconds. As you exhale, sit back down in Dandasana. 

Benefits of Upward Plank Pose: 

• Strengthens your triceps, wrists, back, and legs
• Stretches your shoulders, chest, and front ankles
• Frees your mind
• Helps keep you open to new possibilities

The Health Benefits of Paripurna Navasana (Full Boat Pose)

In Sanskrit, “paripurna” means entire, full, or complete, “nava” means boat, and “asana” means pose; hence, the English name: Full Boat Pose. Despite the effort and many actions involved, finding stability in this posture can help calm and align your body, mind, and emotions.

To practice Full Boat Pose with a licensed yoga practitioner, check out our yoga class schedules by location (Syracuse, Rochester, Albany).

Getting Into Full Boat Pose:

Sit on the floor with knees bent, feet flat, and legs together. Slide your hands a little behind your hips, fingers pointing toward your feet and elbows bent away from you. Lean back slightly and lift your heels an inch or two off the floor. Make sure your back does not round, but stays straight throughout this pose.

Draw your shoulder blades together momentarily to lift and open your chest. Slowly begin to straighten your legs through the heels. Ideally, when your legs are fully straightened, your thighs should be angled about 45 degrees to the floor and the tips of your toes should be slightly above the level of your eyes. If you are unable to straighten your legs while raising them, try keeping your knees bent (shins parallel to the floor).

Now, stretch your arms forward alongside your legs, palms facing down. Spread your shoulder blades across your back and reach strongly out through your fingers (while maintaining a straight back and long torso). Your arms should be parallel to each other as well as to the floor. If you are unable to raise your arms while in Paripurna Navasana, either grip the back of your thighs or keep your hands behind your hips where they were.

Open your chest and relax your shoulders down your back. Put as much effort into lifting your chest as you are in lifting your legs. Breathe steadily and hold for 2-6 breaths. Gradually increase your endurance until you can hold the posture for a full minute. To release: bring the legs in as you exhale and sit upright as you inhale.        

Benefits of Full Boat Pose: 

• Tones and strengthens your abdominal muscles
• Improves balance and digestion
• Stretches your hamstrings
• Strengthens your spine and hip flexors
• Stimulates the kidneys, thyroid and prostate glands, and intestines
• Aids in stress relief
• Improves confidence

Yoga, Emotions and Riding the Waves

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.

What is anger? When you get angry, is it you who gets angry, or is it something that is happening to you?  Yoga teaches us to slow down and examine our thoughts and emotions as they arise. We know through meditation, that most of the time our minds race with thoughts, plans, and expectations. How do we react when an expectation isn’t met? To an untrained mind, we feel waves of sadness, depression, anxiety or maybe fear. However, these emotions are just that, waves of energy. Lets look at what we know about the ocean waves, other than their obvious beauty. We know that quite simply, they come and go. And like the waves, our emotions also come and go. We must remember this analogy next time we are hurting, and learn how to surf!

Riding the waves, as I like to say in my classes, is what makes us good yogis. It pushes and guides us to deep edges and boundries of our minds where we feel resistance. Then we rise up, towards the light, surviving the challenge and ready for more! What a valuable lesson.  We can use this same technique off the mat, so to speak. When anger presents itself, we have an option. First, we can kick and scream like a three year old, and give into the emotion. Or we can pause, take a deep breath and put on our wetsuits, because it’s hang ten time! Let the emotion rise within you, watch it. Breathe into it. Say to yourself I feel angry or mad or jealous (fill in the blank with how you feel). Then watch it some more. Eventually the feelings will resolve and you can see clearly again. This resolve can take seconds or sometimes years. The point isn’t to rush out of “bad” emotions but to open-up, and be present to what is and use this as a self-learning opportunity.After the wave(s) have left the body we can then begin to ask ourselves important introspective questions. Why did I feel this way in the first place, what triggered this emotion? Is there something I need to acknowledge or address? Is there something I need to say out loud to someone (loving communication)? What do I need to feel better? We often neglect this last question and as a result we never “heal.” If we’re not careful this can lead us to unhealthy emotional patterns and behaviors.

Most importantly remember, we are not our emotions. Emotions are forms of energy, and all will pass. And, like any new adventure, it takes a good dose of courage and a pinch of patience to look inward. I know you can do it!

Cowabunga,
Kim

The Facts on Laser Genesis

 

             At CNY Healing Arts, we offer an advanced, innovative way to promote healthy, radiant skin in both men and women. With Laser Genesis, our staff can plump your wrinkles, diffuse your redness, shrink your oversized pores, and smooth your skin texture without the pain, irritation, and downtime you get from using other lasers. In fact, the Laser Genesis method has been scientifically proven to stimulate the reproduction of collagen, which keeps your skin looking lively and elastic. So, you can look like you did 10 or even 20 years ago!

            Now, you’re probably wondering how this “miracle” laser works. Unlike ablative lasers, which typically require anesthesia, pain management, and some serious down time, Laser Genesis can be performed in a relaxed, comfortable environment and patients typically don’t use topical anesthetics or gel. Laser Genesis works by gently heating the tissue below your skin’s surface and in your capillaries.

Over the course of a patient’s treatment, Laser Genesis can help restore the skin’s youthful glow and appearance by smoothing out uneven texture caused by aging, sun damage or scarring. Patients will experience a more even, healthy complexion as treatment diminishes large pores and minor imperfections. Although the results of each individual treatment are subtle, the overall effect of a full treatment plan can be quite dramatic.

An average patient requires 4-6 Laser Genesis treatments to achieve his or her best possible results. Still, keep in mind that each patient’s conditions and needs are different. The most common side effect is slight redness that should disappear within a few hours of treatment.

The Health Benefits of Cat-Cow Stretch

            Cat-Cow Stretch is the incorporation of Marjaryasana (Cat Pose) and Bitilasana (Cow Pose). The two asanas are paired together for a gentle, flowing vinyasa. For those of you who are not familiar with the term, vinyasa is defined as “breath-synchronized movement.” If you practice Vinyasa Yoga, you will move from one pose to the next as you inhale or exhale; that is, your movements will match your breathing.

Getting Into Cat-Cow: 

            Begin on your hands and knees in Table Pose. Your hips should be set directly over your knees and your shoulders, elbows, and wrists should be in line and perpendicular to the floor. Keep your back straight (like a tabletop) and your spine in a neutral position. Let your neck be long and your eyes soft, looking at the floor. Stabilize your shoulder blades by drawing them down your back.

            Once you have established Table Pose, move into Cow Pose. As you inhale, simultaneously lift your sit bones upward, press your chest forward, and allow your belly to sink towards the floor. Lift your head, relax your shoulders away from your ears, and gaze straight ahead.

            As you exhale, come into Cat Pose. Simultaneously round your spine outward, tuck your tailbone, and draw your pubic bone forward. Release your head toward the floor, but don’t force your chin to your chest. Note: if you have a neck injury, keep your head in line with your torso throughout Cat-Cow.

            Go back and forth between Cow and Cat on each inhale and exhale, matching your movements to your own breathing. Do this for 5-10 breaths and try to keep an even distribution of weight between your hands and knees. After your final exhale, end the stretch in Table Pose.           

Benefits of Cat-Cow: 

• Improves posture and balance
• Strengthens and stretches the spine and neck
• Stretches the hips, abdomen and back
• Increases coordination
• Massages and stimulates organs in the belly, like the kidneys and adrenal glands
• Creates emotional balance
• Relieves stress and calms the mind