You may be one of our subscribers who regularly practices or even teaches yoga (and can therefore e-mail in your suggestions!).  If not, you may be curious about this ancient practice and wonder if you could benefit from it.

   

Yoga is a vast subject, but this brief overview may help spur you on to learn more.  Yoga started as a meditative discipline in India around 200 B.C., but it was not until the 15th century that postures were added.  This type of yoga, "Hatha Yoga" really expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries, when different teachers branched out and developed their own yoga styles.  Here is a brief definition of some of these styles:  

• Ashtanga - based on a set series of postures, fast-paced.
• Anusara - postures focus on physical alignment.
• Bikram (hot room) - performed in a heated room to increase flexibility and sweat out toxins.
• Iyengyar - postures are held for a period of time.  Slow-paced.
• Kripalu - a meditation-based yoga, focusing on alignment.
• Kundalini - focuses on the breath and release and movement of energy through the chakras.
• Tantric - the interaction between the male and female elements of the soul is enhanced through breath and contemplation.   
• Vinyasa Flow - more free-form, moves through a set of postures at the inhale and exhale of the breath. 

There are even newer styles of yoga, such as Laughter Yoga and Naked Yoga (!).  Yoga has been found to be extremely beneficial in improving stress management, flexibility, breathing, and its emphasis on the mind-body connection can help in weight loss.  Numerous books and magazines about yoga are available, and the Internet can be a good source of information for finding a yoga studio near you.

Try the "Yoga, Breath and Body" audio CD by Steve Nakon, available on Amazon.

 

Deepak Chopra, M.D., is one of the world's best-known mind-body physician.  Dr. Chopra was born in and earned his first medical degree in India.  After emigrating to the U.S. in 1968, he completed his training and practiced at Tufts University and Boston Regional Medical Center, specialising in endocrinology.  Dr. Chopra studied Transcendental Meditation and Ayurvedic medicine under the famous Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and then went on to set up the American Association for Ayurvedic Medicine.  Later he became president of the Sharp Institute for Human Potential and Mind-Body Medicine.

 

Deepak Chopra is perhaps best known as an author of several dozen books, mostly on the subject of ageing, healing, love and peace, most famous amongst them titles such as "Ageless Body, Timeless Mind", "The Ultimate Happiness Prescription", and "Peace is the Way".  There is even a book on golf and a biography of Mohammed amongst his works.

 

Dr. Chopra moved with his wife and two children to California, where he founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad in 1996.  The Center holds a wide variety of classes in meditation and yoga, and has a wealth of resources on Ayurveda and spiritual matters.  For more information on Deepak Chopra visit the Chopra Center's website.  

1 cup whole coconut milk
1 - 2 tablespoons curry powder
scant 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1/2 large red onion, chopped
1 medium garlic clove, chopped
1/3 cup water
1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch segments
1 1/2 cups cauliflower, cut into tiny florets
1/3 cup cashews, toasted
1 cup brown rice, cooked

Bring half of the coconut milk to a simmer in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Whisk in the curry powder and salt, working out any clumps. Now stir in the chopped red onion and garlic and cook for a minute. Stir in the remaining coconut milk and the water. Let the liquid cool down before adding the green beans and cauliflower. Cover and simmer until the cauliflower and beans lose their raw edge and cook through a bit (1-2 minutes). Remove the pot from heat and stir in the cashews. Serve over rice.
Serves 2-3.