| Mailbag |
About half of my readers live in the Dallas area, so you might benefit from this tip from reader Adrienne. And by the way, I made a little mistake--last week I wrote about Vibram's Five-Finger Barefoot RUNNING shoes, not walking shoes.
Dear Sarah,
FYI, I have seen the the Vibram Barefoot Running shoes for sale at Whole Earth Provisions on Mockingbird if anyone would like to try on a pair before buying.
|
| Yoga Study Books | |
In February, we began our study of the original yoga knowledge, and building a bridge to our JudeoChristian traditions. The 196 yoga sutras, or little lessons, were compiled some 500-800 years before Christ. You can find many translations and interpretations on the Internet for free if you'd like to follow along. Sanskrit is hard to translate into English. However, I enjoy these two translations as the commentators often set the lessons in a Christian context. Here are my picks for the best two:
How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali
by Swami Prabhavananda by Vedanta Press & Bookshop
Paperback 
List Price: $10.95
Our Price: New and used from $6.25 Buy Now
Below is a brand new translation/commentary--the one above was written in the 1930s I believe. The cover is a bit scary for Westerners, but the commentary makes the sutras, well--rather enlightening!
The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: A New Translation and Guide by Ravi Ravindra
by Ravi Ravindra by Morning Light Press
Hardcover
List Price: $14.95
Our Price: $11.21 Buy Now |
JOIN OUR LIST
|
 |
| Link here to Amazon.com |
|
Amazon.com is a trusted Internet supplier that offers virtually any product imaginable (except perishable groceries) at a great discount with fast shipping and reliable customer service. This link takes you to their site. I receive a 4% commission on these products, but you get the same low Amazon price. Your support helps to defray the costs of this daily E-votional. Happy shopping! | |
|
 |
|
Spiritual Formation |
Yoga Sutra I.30 Sickness, mental laziness, doubt, lack of enthusiasm, sloth, craving for sense pleasure, false perception, despair caused by failure to concentrate and unsteadiness in concentration; these distractions are the obstacles to knowledge.
This is quite the list! Here, the "knowledge" spoken of is specifically knowledge of God. My father grew up in a Christian Science household, and I recall that he rarely complained of being sick. Even in his last days when he clearly suffered from emphysema, when you asked him, he was always "feeling fine." In his religious tradition, all sickness can be dispelled through faith. Clearly, disease and physical discomfort can separate us from God. That is one reason why an integrated yoga practice includes rigorous physical exercise to keep body and mind healthy.
I'm glad "lack of enthusiasm" is on the list. Did you know that "enthusiasm" comes from the Greek and literally means having God within? in-Theos. Of all the problems on this list, our commentators think that "sloth" is the worst. "Sloth is the great enemy," say Isherwood/Prabhavanada, "the inspirer of cowardice, irresolution, self-pitying grief, and trivial, hair-splitting doubts. Sloth may also be a psychological cause of sickness." An earnest faith journey is no walk in the park. It takes effort, determination, vigilance, and yes--enthusiasm!
Key Bible passage: 2 Corinthians 9:2
2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.
This entire chapter in 2 Corinthians talks about the power of enthusiasm and how it can literally work miracles in people around you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
TODAY'S CONTEMPLATION
In reading through the list above, do you sometimes fall victim to one or more of these "distractions?" Not to be overly self-righteous, but sloth and a lack of enthusiasm are never issues with me. However, sometimes I do wallow about in despair when things don't happen as quickly as I'd like, or when people or events discourage me. I do find that if I just take extra time in the morning in prayer and meditation, God warms my heart and refreshes my mind. What do you need help with on the list today? "Don't worry about anything, but in prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your lhearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.
|
|
| Better Living Through Chemistry? Not these..... | |
Are pesticides on your grocery list? You may not think so, but they routinely lurk in the produce section of most grocery stores. These days, more people are becoming aware of the sources of carcinogens, cancer-causing agents, in their lives. Many studies show a link between pesticides in our food supply and a variety of cancers, auto-immune diseases, and attention-deficit disorder.
The government has come out with a weak recommendation to eat more organic fruits and vegetables, but it's not nearly enough according to one of my health heroes, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. In his CNN Special last week, Toxic America, he found that many health officials believe government-approved levels of pesticides in our food are way too high, especially for young children. "A kid's brain goes through extraordinary development, and if pesticides get into the brain, it can cause damage," says Dr. Philip Landrigan, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Unfortunately, simply washing your produce doesn't do much good, as pesticides are absorbed deep inside. Peeling is a bit better, but think about celery, the dirtiest of the "Dirty Dozen" on the list below. Remember your grade school experiment when you placed food coloring in a glass of water with celery? And within minutes, the celery would be bright blue THROUGHOUT its entire structure? In exactly the same way, celery absorbs pesticides that farmers use to improve yields.
The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization devoted to better public health, recently scoured 100,000 pesticide reports from the USDA and US Food and Drug Administration. They identified the fruit and vegetables most likely to contain "from 47 to 67 pesticides per serving." Yikes! For these, it's wise to pay extra and buy organic. The good news is, many other fruit and vegs do not absorb nearly as much of the dangerous chemicals, so the experts at the Environmental Working Group says the 15 at the bottom of the list are safe to eat without spending more for the organic versions.
Feel free to print and clip this list as a reminder next time you go grocery shopping. It's a great guide to remind you where to invest in organic produce, and where you can save money buying nonorganic. If you want to find out more about the Environmental Working Group, visit their website by clicking here.
|
|
Sphinx | |
This is a relaxing and restorative pose that gently strengthens the lower back and helps open the chest.
For instructions on this pose, click here (photo and instructions courtesy of Yoga Journal.)
If you'd like a more structured way to practice yoga, try the new Redeeming Yoga Workbook and Journal, now available for sale on-line. It contains an 8-week program of meditations, health tips, Bible study, plus room for journaling. Click here to order now! |
|
Thank you so much for spending time here today. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to E-mail me at sarah@redeemingyoga.com. I'm obligated to say that none of the information contained in this E-letter should be construed as medical advice. Before you modify your diet or fitness regimen, please check with your doctor.
Sincerely,
Sarah Riehm
Redeeming Yoga |
|
|
