FREE Workshop Announcement

On September 13th from 7pm-8pm we will be offering a FREE workshop on Women's Pelvic Health at Body in Balance Physical Therapy. Anne Thomas, Licensed Physical Therapist from Body in Balance will team up with Sam to discuss strategies for maintaining and improving pelvic health from both an Acupuncture and Physical Therapy perspective.

Strengthening the pelvic region can help prevent some of the unfortunately common problems we're seeing in our practice such as stress incontinence (urine leakage when coughing, sneezing or exercising), frequent urination, low back pain, lack of pelvic muscle tone, low sex drive, and overall lack of energy and endurance.

This workshop would be appropriate for anyone either currently dealing with these issues or people who would like to prevent them from happening in the first place. Women who have recently had babies will also benefit from learning some simple exercises and techniques to strengthen the pelvic floor. To view the flyer, please view the link at the bottom of this article.

And our upcoming FREE October workshop will once again feature local herbalist Stella Lyn, speaking about herbal approaches to staying healthy in cold and flu season. Check back on our home page for more information on this workshop in the near future.

Local Produce and Homemade Salad Dressings

Despite the appearance of snow on the mountains, summer is here for at least a little while longer, and that means fresh local produce is still available. Arctic Organics is our source in the Valley for great veggies. You can buy their produce at the farm on Fridays from 5pm-7pm or visit them at the Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturday. They only use biologically sustainable farming techniques and their soil and produce is guaranteed to be toxin free. If you would like to join their email list to receive updates on what they have available, contact them at beans@alaska.com You can also contact them at 746-1087 to learn more. Click to view:

Arctic Organics Flyer

If you're going to the trouble to make a delicious, life-giving, organic salad, why smother it with a mass-produced, additive and preservative laden commercial dressing? Even some of the so-called "healthy" dressings in the supermarket contain ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners that you definitely DO NOT want in your body. It's easy to make your own nutritious salad dressings. Click the link below for a couple of our favorite salad dressings.

Local Choices for Yoga

Yoga is a growing phenomenon. NAMASTA, the North American Studio Alliance, estimates that there are over 70,000 certified yoga teachers in North America and over 30 million people who practice yoga in the United States alone. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the Harvard Medical School found that people who practice yoga find it helpful for health conditions including back or neck pain, arthritis, anxiety, depression and fatigue. Yoga challenges the body and stimulates the mind while also providing a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. This mind/body connection has brought about life-changing results for many who practice regularly.

So the question is, why haven't you tried yoga yet?

Here's a brief introduction to all three of the local yoga studios in their own words. In addition to these specialized studios, if you are already a member of the Alaska Club, the Wasilla Club has several yoga classes to choose from as well. So there's no excuse not to try it!

In subsequent Newsletters, we will be offering a more in depth feature to showcase the uniqueness of what each studio offers. Dont forget to visit the links at the bottom of each article to see schedules and more information.

Twist Yoga Studio - Wasilla - Anitiqua Libbey, CYT, Owner

Certifications: Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga. I am passionate about Yoga. I stress proper alignment and a solid foundation in my classes. My journey into yoga began at age three in my mother's dancing school. I began apprenticing Iyengar/Hatha classes in 1998 in Boulder, Colorado. After moving to California, I found Bikram and was certified by Bikram to teach in 2000. After teaching up and down the west coast, I moved to Alaska with my husband and enjoy teaching Hatha Flow, Bikram, and Prenatal Classes in the Mat-Su Valley. Deepening my love for all types of yoga, in 2003 I began teaching Ashtanga Yoga and absolutely fell in love with it and was certified to teach in August of 2006. In February of 2006, after years of teaching around the Mat-Su Valley, I opened Twist.

Yoga in its truest form requires a balance of instruction and environment. At Twist, we have created a warm, inviting atmosphere that cultivates awareness of the body, and we constantly strive to improve as teachers, to help our students better understand how Yoga postures can awaken and benefit their bodies. We offer many different types of Yoga and Pilates so our students have enough variety to mitigate stagnation in their practice. All of our classes are beginning classes, and – though some are challenging – can be practiced by people of virtually all sizes, shapes, and fitness levels – including children, in Youth Yoga. We can help you transform your body, and in so doing, sleep better, feel better, look better, and have much higher levels of energy. We are the only Yoga Studio in Wasilla, conveniently located downtown, across from the Library on Main Street. Call us at 376-YOGA and drop in to a class anytime. Visit our website at:

www.AlaskaTwist.com

Yoga in The Valley - Palmer - Tammy Moser, RYT, Owner

Tammy Moser RYT has been teaching Yoga in the Valley for 18 years and has over 5,000 hours of experience. Tammy is certified at the 500 level with Yoga Alliance, in Iyengar and also Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. Tammy's teaching style is joyful and relaxed, yet with attention to detail that comes from her lyengar training. Tammy offers private sessions for yoga, stress management, and relaxation training. Tammy also offers Cranial Sacral Therapy.

YOGA IN THE VALLEY is located at Mile 3.5 Palmer Fishhook Rd. Just 7 minutes from Palmer or the 4 Corners intersection. Phone number is 745-5248 The studio is located in the upstairs of a beautiful log Colony barn with fantastic views of the mountains and Pioneer Peak. Fully equipped with props, and also offers yoga items for purchase. All of our instructors have a minimum of 200 hours training and are certified with Yoga Alliance. We offer a full range of classes. Information about Class schedules and the Mindfulness program can be found on our web-site:

www.YogaInTheValley.com

Blue Mountains Wellness Studio - Palmer - Georgia Stansell, RYT, CMT, Owner

Georgia teaches a variety of classes and workshops. From beginning to advanced, younger and older, she will guide you further into your practice. Georgia is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified NLP and Massage Therapist. Georgia has studied under: Jennifer Prugh, Duncan Wong, Rodney Yee, Judith Lasater, Doug Swenson and Gyandev McCord. Ashtanga is her favorite style of yoga, she is fluent in teaching Ananda, Bikram, Iyengar, Kundalini and Meditation. Georgia is available, by appointment, for Therapy Yoga classes. Autism, Brain Injuries, Pain Management etc.

The Yoga Studio offers Beginning Yoga and Hot Yoga and they have an early bird class at 6:30 on Tuesday's and Thursdays. Winter offerings include Extreme Hot Yoga, Hot Yoga Flow and Feldenkrais movement and exercise. What can you expect from practicing yoga? First, you will probably notice an increase in overall flexibility. Your muscles will gradually begin to release tension and tightness. Expect to sleep better. Expect to not be bothered by the little things that usually irritate you and send you into orbit or eat uncontrollably. Mental clarity increases as does your body’s physical strength. Yoga students often comment how they feel younger, and the weight of the world has been taken off their shoulders. Everyone’s first class at Blue Mountains is free, so bring a friend and give yoga a try! Call 745-9050 to learn more. And please visit our website:

www.YogaAlaska.com

"The Cholesterol Myths by Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD

From the introduction on his website:

Cholesterol is not a deadly poison, but a substance vital to the cells of all mammals. There are no such things as good or bad cholesterol, but mental stress, physical activity and change of body weight may influence the level of blood cholesterol. A high cholesterol is not dangerous by itself, but may reflect an unhealthy condition, or it may be totally innocent.

A high blood cholesterol is said to promote atherosclerosis and thus also coronary heart disease. But many studies have shown that people whose blood cholesterol is low become just as atherosclerotic as people whose cholesterol is high.

Your body produces three to four times more cholesterol than you eat. The production of cholesterol increases when you eat little cholesterol and decreases when you eat much. This explains why the ”prudent” diet cannot lower cholesterol more than on average a few percent.

There is no evidence that too much animal fat and cholesterol in the diet promotes atherosclerosis or heart attacks. For instance, more than twenty studies have shown that people who have had a heart attack haven't eaten more fat of any kind than other people, and degree of atherosclerosis at autopsy is unrelated with the diet.

The only effective way to lower cholesterol is with drugs, but neither heart mortality or total mortality have been improved with drugs the effect of which is cholesterol-lowering only. On the contrary, these drugs are dangerous to your health and may shorten your life.

The new cholesterol-lowering drugs, the statins, do prevent cardio-vascular disease, but this is due to other mechanisms than cholesterol-lowering. Unfortunately, they also stimulate cancer in rodents, disturb the functions of the muscles, the heart and the brain and pregnant women taking statins may give birth to children with malformations more severe than those seen after thalidomide.

Many of these facts have been presented in scientific journals and books for decades but are rarely told to the public by the proponents of the diet-heart idea.

****

This book explores all these topics and is a fascinating look into cholesterol research over the past 60-70 years. If you are concerned about your blood cholesterol, you may breathe a sigh of relief after reading this book.

Other links to visit to learn more about cholesterol:

Cholesterol is NOT the cause of Heart Disease

Dangers of Statins

Cholesterol and Heart Disease - A Phony Issue

Book Review of "The Cholesterol Myths"

Booths at the State Fair

Valley Recycle Pick Up at the Fair

Valley Recycle Pick Up will be at the Fair this year. Stop by to learn more about the newest recycling solution in our community and receive one free month of service if you sign up at the Fair. Valley Recycle Pick Up Offers recycle collection services for $12/month - they pick up on the 2nd and 4th week of every month. To learn more email valleyrecyclepickup@gci.net or call 376-1700.

Massage at the Fair

Pam Stephen, licensed massage therapist, is offering various types of massage at her booth at the Fair for $1.00/minute. Stop by for a relaxing massage or call Pam for more information at 715-8748.

info@alaskaacupuncture.com

907-745-8688

http://www.AlaskaAcupuncture.com