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The Inner Voice 
A weekly newsletter from Debbie Jensen-Grubb, RYT500
November 11, 2013 - Issue 56
In This Issue
Joke of the Week
Mantra
Yoga for Strong Bones
Nutrition Prescription - Bone Provisions
Ponderings - Keeping Your Bones Healthy
Upcoming Workshops
Quick Links
This weeks reading can be seen here at The Daily OM
 

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To access past issues click here:

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DVD Cover

Our bones are the support system of our bodies. Headshot Pink They give us our stature and transport us through life.  We tend to think of them as solid and unchanging but in reality our bones are constantly being broken down and rebuilt throughout our lives, so it's super important to keep them strong and healthy.
 
One of the best ways to do this is with weight-bearing exercises.  One of the heaviest loads you can bear is the weight of your own body.  If you have ever tried to do a push up you can attest to that fact!
 
Yoga asanas do just that, we use our strength to hold ourselves up in the poses to build stronger bones by putting stress and strain on the muscles; thus inspiring the bones to build mass to support our efforts.
 
There are many other factors too, of course. Eating a good diet full of the required nutrients, not smoking or drinking alcohol, getting outside in the sunshine, and living an active life all help to keep our bones healthy well into the future!
Joke of the Week - hee hee 



Mantra
A mantra is a sound or phrase that aids in the concentration of meditation.  It is a Sanskrit term and literally means 'instrument of thought'.  Here you will find a suggested mantra to use during the week (from Louise Hay's 'Heal Your Body'). Just repeat it whenever you need a lift.
 
I am well structured and balanced!
 
Yoga for Strong Bones
Yoga for Healthy BonesThe good news is that our bones can be strong and healthy throughout our entire lives if we take the steps to take care of them.  Living an active lifestyle that includes weight bearing actions is one of the premier steps that you can take to ensure that your bones last a lifetime.
 
Yoga is one of those workouts that can stress the bones and muscles more than your everyday life can, with the added benefit of doing it safely when you pay attention to your movements.  Yoga builds bone strength in the hips, spine, and wrists - the bones that are most vulnerable to fracture.
 
With all of the various positions that yoga puts you into:  from standing on your feet, head, hands, and shoulders to balancing on one foot, to moving through a range of motions in the Sun Salutation, the whole body gets moved, twisted, and supported into better health.
 
In the above video is a small sample of some of the poses that you can do to help build stronger bones and a more supple spine. Two valuable assets as you dance your way into your golden years.
Nutrition Prescription - Bone Provisions

Weight bearing exercise is not the only factor in keeping your bones healthy, diet also plays a crucial part.  The main vitamins and minerals that we need to preserve our bones health are:  calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, potassium, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B12. 

 

A surprising fact that I discovered during my research on the web was that diary is actually bad for you in regards to bone health.  It actually leaches the calcium from our bones instead of our bodies absorbing it!

 

So what foods to eat that are good for our bones?  Dark, leafy greens is the #1 food to eat like kale, collards, and spinach. They are full of calcium, magnesium, and Vitamin K.  (Those on anticoagulants, such as warfarin, must limit their intake because Vitamin K coagulates the blood.)  

 

Be like a bird and eat more seeds.  Seeds are full of protein, high in fiber, and incredible rich in minerals which make them a perfect food to help build bone strength!  Pumpkin seeds are especially beneficial to the bones.

 

Take a tip from our squirrel friends and begin to stock up on some nuts to construct your bones from the inside out.  You can blend them up into a delicious nut butter or sprinkle some on your soups, salads, or yogurt.  Walnuts in particular are good for building bones because of their omega-3.

 

Last, but not least, consuming beans will help to form your frame into a sturdy structure to carry you your whole life through.  Black beans in particular are good with the iron, calcium, and the chromium they provide.

 

Finally, get outside and soak up some sun!  It's the easiest way to get your Vitamin D to help improve your bone density.  Try not to use sunblock for at least the first 15 minutes that you are absorbing your vitamins because it blocks our body's ability to do so.  The heavy use of sunblock is one of the reasons that Vitamin D deficiency has become so prevalent in our country.

 

There are some things that we cannot change that can affect our bones such as our gender, genetics, age, and certain medications we must take.  And then there are other things that we can do like not smoking or drinking alcohol, and avoiding dairy, salt, cola products, and eating too much protein.

 

The good news is that it is never too late to begin to fortify your bones!  Begin to change your diet to supplement the vitamins needed for strong bones, increase your activity, and begin weight bearing exercise.  By doing these things you will be able to move through life with grace, ease, and agility!

Keeping Your Bones Healthy

It's true that we lose bone as we age, but it is not a natural part of aging.  Bone loss can lead to osteoporosis where bones fracture from the slightest of bumps because they have become so thin and brittle. Fractures from osteoporosis is one of the leading causes of disability.

 

The truth is having healthy bones is your responsibility.  If you haven't been taking good care of your yourself up to now (which includes your bones), it's never too late to start.  Exercising, a healthy diet, weight bearing activities can all start today if you choose.  Begin to pay attention to the red flags that your body is sending out to you.

 

Our bones are our storage banks for calcium.  We can't get the bone deposits that we have missed out on but we can bolster them up by starting as soon as possible! I found this website: http://www.betterbones.com/bonehealth/ that offers The Better Bones Package, an all-natural approach to bone regeneration and repair.  They even have a package specifically for women because we are more likely to be affected by bone loss.  Another website that guides women in keeping their bones strong is:

Strong Women.  Check them out and see if it is something you might be interested in. They might be just the help you need to motivate you into getting stronger and aging vibrantly!

They say that old age isn't for sissies.  I'd have to agree.  Yet it all begins with educating ourselves as to what a healthy lifestyle includes and then implementing it!  Take the time to take care of yourself.
 
Eat a diet that suits the unique needs of your body, even if that means decreasing the foods that you love to eat, but are not good for you.  Show up and engage yourself in lively activities.   Avoid actions and activities that will harm you.
 
It's never to late to live an effervescent life full of vim and vigor.  It begins with you.  Do take good care of yourself because the world needs the best 'YOU' you can be.
 
See you in class!
Thank you!
Hugs and Namaste,
 
Debbie
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Please join me in my next workshop...
 Yoga Nidra
New Year's Eve
December 31, 2013
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
 
Come with your Sankalpa for 2014 and let's begin to make your dreams come true!