| Mailbag |
This comes as a response to my article on toxic produce from last Friday.
Dear Sarah,
You knew you'd hear from me on this one! I find this list very interesting. Why "domestic" blueberries? Those from Canada are OK? Why are sweet potatoes good and potatoes bad? Both grow in the same manner. UDA has tested "organic" vs. pesticide grown many, many times and has found no chemical differences. Does this clip imply that there is a difference? What about "organic" grown next to pesticide treated?
Dr. Warren Goux
Warren, good questions all. I just report on the findings. Most of the data in this article came from the Environmental Working Group as featured on CNN's special on toxic foods done by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. You may want to contact Sanjay as a follow-up to his story. Here is a link to send him an E-mail. |
| 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 |
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Spiritual Formation |
Yoga Sutra I.32 They {the distractions described in the last lesson} can be removed by the practice of concentration upon a single truth.
"That is to say, the truth of God's existence," remark commentators Isherwood and Prabhavananda (book, left). They observe that many people try a little bit of this and a little bit of that in their approach to finding God. "Sri Ramakrishna compared them to the man who digs a number of shallow wells, but never goes deep enough to find water anywhere." Ramakrishna was considered the holiest of Indian sages in the 19th Century. Interestingly, he embraced Christianity in 1873 after a follower read passages of the Bible to him. Many of Ramakrishna's disciples advocated a religious practice based upon the deep meditation from Hindu tradition combined with living a life based upon Christ's example.
Bible Study: Psalm 1 (from BibleGateway.com)
Key Bible passage: Psalm 1:
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
You've got to read the entire Psalm 1 today! Look how beautifully it parallels today's yoga sutra.
TODAY'S CONTEMPLATION
In my 30s and early 40s, I was a very busy Christian--very active in the life of my church. Yet I did not really develop a meaningful relationship with God until I started a daily practice of scripture reading, prayer and meditation. When I began in the late 90s, I certainly didn't label it yoga, but this is exactly what yoga teaches us to do. When you do that, you discover a whole new level of joy and peace, as described in the next passage in our Psalm for today:
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. |
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| Stay Safe This Summer | |
The new findings from the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) testing of sunscreen products are all over the media this week. Last week, another chunk of my skin was removed due to skin cancer, so my ears always perk up on this subject and I urge you to take it seriously. I lost a young co-worker to melanoma once, and I'll never forget it.
The best advice is to stay out of the sun, especially at mid-day during the summer months. If you do go out, wear a hat! Most doctors now advise people to put sunscreen on exposed skin--especially hands, neck and face--EVERY day, rain or shine.
Many sunscreen products are coming under fire because of chemicals in the formulation that may be hazardous over the long-term. Check the label on your sunscreen. Some ingredients are known or highly suspect carcinogens. The biggest baddies are Vitamin A and oxybenzone. In the EWG testing, only 8% of products tested were safe and effective. Many had wildly exaggerated SPF factors that gave people a false sense of security. Plus, most people applied way too little to give them the sun protection touted on the label.
The report is quite interesting! If you'd like to read an executive summary of the findings, click here. At this EWG website, you'll find their list of recommended products and even makeup formulations that meet their standards. The good news is, EWG does recommend some products. Most of the recommended ones are difficult to find at the drug or grocery store. Below are two that earned the coveted "Green" category for being both safe and effective. After looking at the reviews posted on the Internet (not on the EWG site), there is no perfect product. Users of the California Baby products remarked that they liked the consistency and ease of application, but caused some eye stinging. The Badger products earned the highest award from EWG, but some reported it was chunky and hard to apply, and stuck to clothing. You decide, but be sure to find an effective sunscreen that works for you and wear it daily! Reminder: most people who love the sun and diligently work on a great tan in the summer wind up looking like luggage by age 55. My dermatologist's best advice for keeping skin looking young? No magic lotions or Botox. Just stay out of the sun!
California Baby SPF 30 + Sunscreen Lotion - Super Sensitive, 2.9 oz
by California Baby
Health and Beauty ~ Release Date: 1999-01-01 
List Price: $17.99
Our Price: $15.09 Buy Now
Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen For Face & Body 2.9 oz (82 g)
by WS Badger Company
Misc.
List Price: $16.00
Our Price: $13.60 Buy Now |
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Thunderbolt | |
The only pose mentioned in the original text on yoga, Patanjali's sutras (see translations, above left), is a sitting pose. The object is to find a sitting pose where you can relax your limbs and forget about them, thus freeing up your mind to concentrate uninterruptedly on God. Most of my students prefer Easy Pose, but I enjoy Thunderbolt Pose (below) as I can keep my spine erect without effort. This is student Alison Lumbatis below. This looks much like the Hero Pose, but notice that the feet are together, and you sit back gently on your heels.
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! |
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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 |
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