Standby Power
Friday, December 7th, 2007 by Michelle Trantina
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Call it what you will: phantom load, idle current, vampire power, wall wart; they’re all euphemisms for the way devices use and waste electricity when they aren’t even on, and they’re everywhere.
Researchers estimate that phantom loads (standby power) account for 2-8% of total household energy. If you’d like to find out which appliances/electronics in your home attract the largest load, devices like the Kill A WATT and WATTSON will do the trick. The best action you can take is to start eliminating unnecessary power use in your home today by following these tips:
1) Purchase a “Smart” Power Strip (available in Canada & US for about $40) that automatically cuts the power when your devices are turned off. Alternatively, you can buy a remote control outlet system such as LaCrosse RS-204 (the same price) which comes with two outlet receivers and a remote. Place the receivers in the wall outlet, plug a regular power strip into that and you have remote control over all the devices (+ their phantom loads) on that strip. The Mini Power Minder has the smarts to shut off your computer’s peripherals when the computer itself is shut down.
2) When buying new items, be sure to buy MORE….
Popularity: 56% [?]
Mind Body 101 Video - Exploring Yoga Standing Postures
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 by MyYogaOnline
Combining detailed alignment and powerful, flowing movements, Power Yoga Therapy seeks to provide students with an understanding of “how” and “why” Yoga postures work. This Video Tip by Jesse Enright addresses the importance of maintaining muscular balance and postural integrity over aesthetics and performance. Jesse brings focus to this holistic approach through Standing Yoga Postures: Warrior 2 Pose, Triangle Pose, and One Leg Balance Pose.
Popularity: 77% [?]
Eco Friendly Thanksgiving Part 1
Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 by Michelle Trantina
Make this year’s Thanksgiving more meaningful by making your celebration more healthful, environmentally friendly and authentic. If you plan ahead and keep things simple, this more sustainable type of Thanksgiving doesn’t have to involve more work or expense, so it can satisfy your appetite, your spirit and your conscience. This could be the first year of a new tradition for your family.
1) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Reduce the amount of waste your produce by buying only as much as you need and choosing products that come in packaging that can be recycled.
• Carry reusable bags when you do your shopping, and use cloth napkins that can be washed and used again. A set of four organic cotton napkins might set you back $20, but you won’t have to buy attractive paper napkins for the rest of the holidays…or the coming years.
• Recycle paper and plastic, glass and aluminum containers. If you don’t already have a compost bin, use your Thanksgiving fruit and vegetable trimmings to start one. The compost will enrich the soil in your garden next spring.
2) Buy and eat locally grown food
Buying only locally grown food is one good way to have an eco-friendly Thanksgiving. Locally grown food is good for your table, your health and the environment. Locally grown food tastes better than food that has to be grown and packaged for maximum shelf life, and it requires less fuel to reach store shelves. Locally grown food also contributes more to your local economy, supporting local farmers as well as local merchants.
3) Make your Meal Organic
Using only organic food for your feast is another good eco-friendly Thanksgiving strategy. Organic fruits, vegetables and grains are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers; organic meat is produced without antibiotics and artificial hormones. The result is food that is better for your health and good for the environment. Organic farming also produces higher yields, increases soil fertility, prevents erosion, and is more cost-effective for farmers.
4) Celebrate at Home
Thanksgiving weekend is one of heaviest for highway travel. This year, why not reduce global warming and improve air quality by lowering your auto or plane emissions at the same time that you lower your family’s stress level? Skip the stressful holiday travel and celebrate an eco-friendly Thanksgiving at home.
5) Travel Smart
If you must go over the river and through the woods, there are still ways to have an eco-friendly Thanksgiving. If you drive, use less fuel and lower your emissions by making sure your car is in good working order and your tires are properly inflated. If possible, carpool to reduce the number of cars on the road and lower the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to air pollution and global warming.
If you do fly, consider purchasing carbon credits to offset your portion of the carbon dioxide emissions generated by your flight. A typical long-haul flight produces nearly four tons of carbon dioxide.
Popularity: 60% [?]
Greening Coffee and Tea
Thursday, October 11th, 2007 by Michelle Trantina
Before you drink coffee and tea, keep these tips in mind:
1. Think Local Brew
Seek out the coffee and tea that have traveled the least distance to reach you and also aim at supporting local, independent farms, cafés, and roasters.
2. Mug shots
Find that perfect mug and make the investment. Not only is a reusable mug more pleasurable to sip out of than a paper cup, but it will replace an untold number of disposable cups, plastic sippy tops, “java jackets,” and other disposable paraphernalia. Make a quick tally of how many disposable coffee or tea cups you use in a month…yeah, it’s probably a lot.
3. Organic
Coffee and tea that bear organic certification are more eco-friendly because they are grown and processed without toxic chemicals, are cultivated and harvested in ways that protect sensitive ecosystems, and spare workers from exposure to harmful pesticides and herbicides. Shade grown coffee is another important category that preserves habitats for migratory birds on coffee farms, also letting beans mature more slowly and creating richer flavors.
4. Fair Trade
Not only does certified fair trade coffee and tea help ensure living wages and safe working conditions for farmers, but TransFair Canada and Rainforest Alliance both include rigorous environmental standards in their certification criteria.
5. Home brew
The local café is great. It’s got your friends, good food, free wireless. But if you think you can be greener and/or tastier in your own kitchen, give it a try. When you brew at home you know where the beans and leaves are coming from and also where they go when they’re spent. Plus, you can’t forget your mug, you can choose organic milk, and never toss out another paper sugar packet, make your coffee exactly as you like it, maybe try dark brown sugar or raw honey instead of plain old white sugar… And try a bit of quick math on the cost savings of making your morning cup at home. The savings definitely add up.
Popularity: 63% [?]
Yoga Tips - Purposefulness and Focus By Reducing Viksepa
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 by Kreg Weiss
We live in an age of distractions and clutter that cloud the mind, create heaviness on the physical and burden the soul. In Yoga, these distractions and obstacles are called Chitta Viksepa. With even small adjustments in behavior, thought, and action, we can shift to a greater state of clarity and focus. This clearer sense of focus allows purposefulness to abound and abundance to flow.
There are a variety of categories that narrow down Chitta Viksepa including:
*Alasya - Laziness
*Samsaya - Doubt or indecision
*Pramada - State of indifference
*Bhranti Darsana - False knowledge
*Vyadhi - Sickness which disturbs one’s physical equilibrium
*Angamejayatva - Unsteadiness of the physical body
*Styana - Lack of mental disposition for work
*Avirati - Sensuality and the state of being drawn to sensory objects
*Alabda Bhumikatva - Lack of concentration or continuity of thought or concentration
*Dukha - Pain or misery
*Daurmansya - Despair
*Svasa-prasvasa - unsteady respiratory flow
We often grow accustomed to allowing distractions to move us from tasks that help us achieve our goals and that move us towards a more positive existence. Often, in order to accomplish and follow through on goals, we must move out of our comfort zone, jump face-first into fears, perform uneasy tasks, or experience a period of sacrifice. Distractions are often the states of existence that are easy for us to fall back into; states of habit, of insecurity and doubt, of laziness, of indifference. Rather than moving away from these states to a place of focus, we collapse into this lack-luster state of interruption.
After decades of distractions, we come to the end of life looking back with regret that we didn’t dissolve those distractions with the radiance of focus and drive. What holds us back from experiencing our true potential? What habits and behaviors keep us from expressing the inner self?
For myself, most of the distractions start from the exterior and leave echoes of clouding vibrations. These unnecessary external stressors leave the muscles and joints tense, digestive system in chaos, and the entire body weak and lethargic. Take some time to write down all the distractions and menial tasks that are bombarding you daily. You may be surprised at the substantial length of your list. With your list, go through and see which 3-5 you can eliminate within 24 hours. Let this adjustment set in for 21 days especially if this is the removal of habit(s).
Then return to your list, see if you can add more (some may have surfaced since the original list was done) and explore how you can remove another 3-5 distractions. What is keeping you from accomplishing your goals? What is moving you from living a life of true happiness?
Some simple adjustments that can provide wondrous results:
1) read and respond to emails maximum twice a day - schedule specific times to read and respond to emails and don’t diverge from this schedule - many find this alone can add a substantial amount of extra time to one’s day
2) answer your phone only a specific times of the day and then turn it off - you don’t always have to answer the phone - your phone is for your convenience, not for those calling you
3) complete or remove tasks that annoy you - the longer you leave things that annoy undone, the more you move into a state of indifference (repaint those marked walls, fix that broken step, empty the garbage from the shed - find what annoys you and follow through)
4) reduce and organize - clean out unorganized closets and draws - create a zen environment in your home and office leading to a calmer internal state - be able to start your days with the eyes not burdened with disarray - don’t hide your clutter behind a door - organize inside and out
5) give yourself a minimum of 30 minutes a day with complete solitude and reflection - let quiet flood the nervous system - yoga, meditation, a walk in nature - anything that creates connection to the now and self
Just by completing a few small tasks or changing a few small habits starts us on a path of achievement. Confidence begins to replace indifference. We see ourselves and the world as having more potential for greatness, and we see goals with joyous appeal rather than as difficult mountains to climb. We start to surround ourselves with others who create their destinies and we see ourselves moving away from those who live by default in the distractions. We can gradually develop a powerful sense of discipline with each successful change and each reduction in viksepa.
Popularity: 54% [?]
Green Living - World Car Free Day - September 22nd
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 by Michelle Trantina
September 22nd is annual world car-free day. Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections and neighborhood blocks to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society. It’s a perfect day for us to imagine what our cities might look like, feel like and sound like without cars.
1) Walk -there are many benefits to be gained from walking. These can include more energy,
deeper and more satisfying sleep, stronger leg muscles, more low impact than running, lower body fat, higher metabolic rate, and reduced stress. It is also a great opportunity to share conversation with friends and family and breathe the fresh air.
2) Bike- In addition to the many health benefits, cycling has a lower cost per mile than any other form of transportation (except walking), both for society and for the user. When the cost of travel is calculated into the speed equation, a bicycle ends up being faster than an automobile under most conditions. Further, the impact of cycling on other living creatures and on the ecological balance is small. A bicycle uses only a tiny amount of oil. The amount of steel and other materials in its construction is less than two percent of that found in a small car. A bicycle burns no fossil fuels: a bike that replaces an automobile for all travel is equal to the planting of 170 trees. Check out bike routes in your area!
3)Take public transit - A study commissioned by the Canadian federal government shows it would cost Canadians 50 percent more to meet new travel demands by car than it would by public transit. Taking public transportation is cheaper than paying for gas. Also, it is safer and much less stressful than driving (think traffic, construction etc.). It’s also an opportunity to meet someone new.
4) Stay at home – Postpone all the errands that you “have to do” until the next day and spend some quality time with those most important to you.
5) Be Creative- Don’t be afraid to try something new- rollerblade, skateboard or take a pogo stick! (if you choose to be adventurous remember to wear a helmet).
Popularity: 62% [?]
Yoga Meditation - Deeper Connection with Jiva Bandha
Friday, August 24th, 2007 by Kreg Weiss
As we explore our Yoga Meditation practice, we can learn various techniques and applications to bring us to places of greater connection. A useful tool to create this greater connection in our Meditation sessions is Jiva Bandha. Jiva means “soul or the consciousness of the living being” and Bandha means “internal lock“. Jiva Bandha is the subtle locking of the tongue to the palate.
Jiva Bandha has many effects that transmit direct and indirect benefits into the Meditation practice. The first initial benefit is the tongue lock reduces the production of saliva, thus allowing you to maintain greater levels of stillness and reduces the distraction of needing to swallow.
Jiva Bandha is also an effective aid in reducing tension and pain stimuli in the neck and jaw. I have practiced with a physiotherapist who specializes in chronic pain therapy. She uses Jiva Bandha and other tongue techniques for some of her patients suffering from chronic neck and jaw conditions.
When we are experiencing physiological and emotional trauma, stress, pain, poor posture, respiratory disease, smoking, or muscle tension, we can be bombarded by a complex negative feedback system ultimately resulting in apical breathing (breathing only in the top of the lungs), which brings forward a flood of unwanted physiological conditions:
*poor posture, muscle tension and pain
*poor breathing mechanics and poor lung compliance
*increased ventilation rate and the sensation of being “out of breath”
*excess venting of carbon dioxide (often occurs with rapid, swallow breaths when stressed or experiencing tension) leading to respiratory alkalosis (high pH levels)
*increased urine production and reduced ability to buffer pH fluctuations
*constriction of blood levels leading to reduced flow of oxygen to cells
*increased state of anaerobic (lack of oxygen) respiration in the cells
*increased cortisol production
*poor sleep and increased states of arousal
When performed correctly, Jiva Bandha creates a cascade of healing benefits:
*encourages proper placement of the skull reducing tension on the neck and encourages breath to move more freely through the nose and not the mouth
*proper head positioning leads to proper spinal alignment and reduced stimuli from neck tension, thus transmitting freedom to the abdomen
*with freedom around the abdomen, we can more effectively breathe with the diaphragm leading to improved lung compliance
*in this deeper state of yogic breathing, we now move into a slower ventilation rate reducing the tendency of venting off carbon dioxide
*with reduced CO2 venting, pH levels in blood and urine production normalize, blood vessels relax allowing better flow of oxygen to the tissues, and cells enjoy improved metabolic reactions with oxygen (aerobic respiration)
*the body moves into a healthier, homeostatic level including reduced production of cortisol (stress hormone), which leads to better sleep and overall reduced arousal states
To perform Jiva Bandha properly, simply think of saying the letter “N” silently. Feel where the tongue softly touches the palate. If the tongue is pushed forward into the teeth, the jaw becomes pulled forward as well. This is counterproductive since the forward position of the jaw brings the head forward, posture is lost, tension develops, and the cascade of negative stimuli begins.
The tongue should be slightly back from the teeth creating a very light “cupping” motion. With this proper placement of the tongue, the mouth can close, but the jaw can float sending release through out cheeks and neck.
Jiva Bandha does not need to be held for the entire length of your Yoga Meditation practice. Slowly develop the endurance of the tongue while focusing on sending release and freedom through the jaw, down the next, over the shoulders, and into the core. Aside from the physiological benefits, explore how this tongue lock can help create a new level of meditative connection to the consciousness of the living being.
Popularity: 66% [?]
Hatha Yoga Class - Relieving Neck and Shoulder Pain
Thursday, August 16th, 2007 by Kreg Weiss
We have a new article “Hatha Yoga as Physical Therapy for Neck and Shoulder Pain” that offers great insight into the likely cause of chronic neck and shoulder pain in most people. This Yoga anatomy article explores alignment cues for your Yoga exercises and aids in bringing awareness to your overall posture in helping alleviate these chronic conditions.
Of particular importance, and well explained in this article, is the poor positioning of the head in relation to the cervical (neck) vertebrae, and how this poor positioning results in a cascade of negative effects on muscles and bone structures.
Popularity: 55% [?]
Exploring Hamstring Muscles in Janu Sirsasana and Forward Bend Yoga Poses
Thursday, August 9th, 2007 by Kreg Weiss
One of the benefits of many forward bending Yoga poses is expanding and stretching of the hamstring muscles. We should take time in our Yoga classes to align the sit bones and leg bones so we can target the proper line of stretch of the hamstring muscles. With this alignment, we should understand the basic anatomy and mechanics of the various hamstring muscles.
The hamstrings (posterior thigh muscles) consist of 3 long muscles that start underneath the gluteus maximus on the pelvic bone (ischial tuberosity), extend down the back of your thigh bone, cross over the back of the knee and insert along either side of your knee on your lower leg or shin bones.
The biceps femoris muscle (long and short head, hence “bi”-ceps), runs down the lateral or outer side of the thigh bone. The other two hamstring muscles, semitendinosus and semimembranosus, run down the medial or inner side of the thigh bone.
Having key attachment points at the sit bone (ischial tuberosity) and below the knee, they are involved in the following:
*Semitendinosus and semimembranosus extend the hip (move the thigh bone posteriorly) when the upper body and torso are fixed, or they extend the trunk when the hip is fixed.
*Semitendinosus and semimembranosus flex (bend) the knee and medially (inwardly) rotate the lower leg when the knee is bent.
*The long head of the biceps femoris also extends the hip.
*Both short and long heads of biceps femoris flex the knee and laterally (outwardly) rotate the lower leg when the knee is bent.
*Hamstrings help to stabilize your knee.
*Hamstrings assist the quadriceps and gluteal muscles in many leg activities.
Knowing where the hamstrings run and how they act on the body, we can manipulate the alignment of our forward bends to more effectively target the different hamstring lines. Most people have greater flexibility in the biceps femoris (lateral side) than the semitendinosus and semimembranosus (medial side). This becomes evident in Janu Sirsasana as many people find the thigh, leg, and ankle often turning outwards as they bend forward. As the body stretches into the hamstrings, the body expands into a place of less resistance. We want to maintain balance in the hamstrings, though, and expand the inner hamstring lines as effective as the outer lines.
Therefore, before starting our forward bends, we should take a moment to situate the pelvis so the hip points create a perpendicular line to the forward leg (squaring the hips). This lines up the sit bone (to be effected by the stretch) so that the muscle insertions are receiving more equal expansion (not just the lateral edge). From there, we line the foot and ankle so the toes face vertically rather than allowing the thigh and shin to rotate outwards. This correction of the foot and ankle allows us to target the entire line of the inner hamstrings right into the insertion below the knee.
Other tips to consider:
*When folding in forward bends, encourage your spine, waist, and shoulders to be evenly drawing forward on both sides. If your torso curves over the thigh, you are most likely falling into the outer hamstring stretch and neglecting the inner hamstrings.
*Spread the gluteal muscles away from the sit bones in seated forward bends to allow a greater connection to the sit bones, thus adding awareness to the muscle origin.
*Enter forward bends that involve the hamstrings slowly. Stop part way into the fold so you can gently rotate the thigh and leg bone inwards and outwards. Find your attachment points and lines of resistance. Collect into your alignment and move forward with breath.
*Don’t rush into the hamstring stretches as this just causes the receptors in the muscles to fire and reflex. Practice patience and let the breath move you in slowly.
*Enjoy a slow exit. Prior to fully coming out of the fold, come out about 5-10% to a point where little to no “stimulation” is felt from the stretch. Enjoy a pause and a mental state of steadiness.
Popularity: 48% [?]
Yoga Nidra - Power of Yogic Sleep and Pratyahara
Wednesday, August 8th, 2007 by Kreg Weiss
Yoga Nidra is a powerful practice of creating an altered state of consciousness by planting healing seeds of affirmations (or sankalpa). As a form of Pratyahara, Yoga Nidra moves one to a state where one can withdraw from the senses and the influences of the mind which do not serve us on the path of enlightenment.
Taken well beyond the effects and benefits of Savasana (or relaxation), Yoga Nidra implants affirmations deep into the subconscious so they echo and manifest into one’s daily life. Regular practice of Yoga Nidra can create life changing results.
Read more about the type of affirmations used in Yoga Nidra.
MyYogaOnline offers two downloads of Yoga Nidra that allow you to practice anytime:
*Short Practice Yoga Nidra Session
*Yoga Nidra Extended Practice
Popularity: 47% [?]
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