A long overdue update from New Orleans!

Hello Friends.

Clearly, I have been on a bit of a hiatus from the e-world! Feeling fresh in this beautiful new year,
I Wanted to check back in for a quick update.

Though a proud NYC resident for the past five years, my heart has always been back in my
home state of Louisiana. I grew up in the state capital, Baton Rouge….. right on the banks of
the Mississippi, whose old state capital is known best by Mark Twain’s proclamation of it being
“the ugliest thing on the Mississippi.”

Now I find myself just 70 miles down that river, in a city that has a soul like no other place.
New Orleans is perfumed with sweet olive when you walk down her streets,
and even now, in the winter, the angel trumpets, overgrown hibiscus plants, and elephant trees
are in full bloom… and they greet you at just about every turn.

My first night in the big easy my friend Justin brought me to meeting for a great organization of healers, called
CRREW (Community Relief and Rebuilding Through Education and Wellness). In response to Katrina, they have
set up practice in New Orleans to serve those in need the New Orleans area. They offer a myriad of wellness & holistic
services for those in need in . You can learn more about them online at www.crrew.org.

The group here in New Orleans is spearheaded by acupuncturist, Dr. Kuang, who has a passion for healing (and spreading
the gospel of acupuncture) that is contagious. Dr. Kuang’s practice is Kim Acupuncture Clinic in Uptown New Orleans: (504) 861-0629‎.

It’s good to see such progress going on here. This city and it’s residents are so special…..it’s inspiring to
see how community can really make an impact.

I’m still getting settled in, but will be taking appointments for Thai-Yoga (with advance scheduling) while
I’m in New Orleans. Rates are all available on the website, but I am also offering a sliding rate scale for
musicians/artists/healers/those in need, in addition to trades of services/goods (bodywork, art, lessons, etc).
Just drop me a line if interested.

Much Love,
kd

Fight the winter cold: Superpowers of zinc, echinacea & vitamin C!

I seldom fall victim to the ‘cold season’ in the winter months, which I largely attribute to battling any budding colds with the natural power of zinc, echinacea & vitamin C.  Here’s a great article I found from QuantumHealth.com about the powers of using these remedies to ward off, or atleast shorten the run of the seasonal cold.

Cure For the Common Cold?
from Health Store News

Is there a cure for the common cold? “Of course there is,” says herbalist Bob Bruscia. “It’s called the immune system. And when functioning properly, it zaps most colds quite quickly.”

Most natural approaches to cold relief rely on boosting immune response. “Zinc, Echinacea and Vitamin C are the leading non-drug remedies for colds, and provide significant relief for most people,” says natural products manufacturer Eve McClure of Quantum.

Do these natural remedies really work? According to more and more experts, the answer is, “Yes.”

ZINC: CAN IT CUT YOUR COLD TIME IN HALF?

One of the most exciting natural cold remedies, zinc lozenges, can reduce the average duration of cold symptoms in half, according to several important studies.

In one randomized, double-blind study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (7/00) and conducted at the Detroit Medical Center in Michigan, cold duration was effectively cut from 8.1 to 4.5 days. The duration of coughs was reduced from 6.3 days for the placebo group to 3.1 days for those using zinc lozenges.

In a 1996 study at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, zinc lozenges reduced the average duration of cold symptoms from 7 days to only 4. The study participants were employees of the Clinic. They started using zinc lozenges or dummy placebo lozenges within 24 hours of the onset of cold symptoms.

The results: the median time for all symptoms to disappear was 7.6 days for the placebo group; the zinc group recovered in 4.4 days.

This study confirms results of several prior tests. In a 1983 study at the University of Texas, zinc lozenges reduced the average duration of cold symptoms from nine days to only three. A 1992 study at Dartmouth College, supported the efficacy of 23 mg. Zinc lozenges.

How does zinc work? Zinc ions may interfere with the replication of cold viruses in the throat, according to George Eby, who conducted the initial study on zinc. But more recent research suggests that zinc may owe its cold-fighting properties to its effect on our immune system, rather than directly on the virus. In either case, many experts now recommend sucking on a 23 mg. zinc lozenge every two hours at the first sign of a cold.

ECHINACEA: HERBAL DEFENSE

The immune enhancing properties of this popular herb are now well documented in the medical literature. Over 300 journal articles confirming the effectiveness of echinacea have appeared in the past decade.

Herbalist Christopher Hobbs recommends taking a “protective dose” of 6-8 echinacea capsules or 2-3 droppers of extract a day when exposed to others with colds or during the early stages of a cold. These dosages should be doubled or tripled during a full-blown cold.

Some research suggests that large doses of echinacea work best in a ten-day course, but that smaller doses may be taken on a daily basis. “Echinacea is the #1 medicinal herb for one simple reason: it works,” says Eve McClure of Quantum. “Our most popular formula is ZincEchinacea, a lozenge which contains zinc, standardized echinacea, propolis, slippery elm, goldenseal and vitamins A and C. And Michael Castleman, who wrote a whole book on cold remedies, calls our lozenges one of his ‘favorite cold cures.’ “

VITAMIN C:

Although scientists continue to disagree as to whether Vitamin C is a cold cure, it is generally accepted that ascorbic acid does boost the immune system. Vitamin C improves white blood cell count, increases the release of prostaglandins and spurs production of virus-destroying macrophages.

Doses between 4000 and 14000 mg. a day can help battle a cold, according to two time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling. Lower doses on a daily basis may help prevent infection. Doses should be spread out throughout the day for maximum absorption.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE MISERABLE WITH A COLD

Popular Over-the-Counter multi-symptom cold drugs are precisely the wrong way to treat a cold, according to the FDA’s Review council on OTC Cold Products. Why? Cold symptoms do not all appear at the same time. So multi-symptom drugs invariably lead to over-medication.

Many experts now recommend a natural approach to “curing” the common cold. “Colds are cured by our immune systems,” says herbalist Bob Bruscia, “By supplementing our diets to support immune response, we can avoid being miserable during the cold season.”

View products now – Cold & Flu Season

Sunny Buckwheat: Healthy eating!

From this months newsletter from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition:

Recipe: Sunny Buckwheat

Buckwheat, known as kasha when toasted, is a hearty ancient grain originally from Southeast Asia. It is a warming grain that cleans and strengthens the intestines and improves appetite. Don’t be deceived by the name, it’s actually a great choice for people with gluten sensitivity.

Sunny Buckwheat

Prep Time:	10 minutes
Cooking Time:	20 minutes
Yields:	4 servings
Ingredients:	1 cup buckwheat 1 small handful of green beans 1 yellow crookneck or patty pan squash 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 2 cups water
Directions:	Bring the buckwheat and water to a boil with the salt. Turn heat down and simmer. While the buckwheat cooks, chop the beans into bite-sized pieces and dice the yellow squash. Add beans and squash to the grain after it has cooked 10 minutes. Continue cooking 10 more minutes. Stir in sunflower seeds, fluff and serve.
Variations:	Use green zucchini or snow-peas instead of green beans. Use pumpkin or other seeds instead of sunflower seeds

Improve your vocabulary & feed the hungry!

Play this super addicting vocabulary game, and not only will it improve your vocabulary, it will also donate  20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program for each word that you get right.

www.freerice.com

Ask a Monk!

Whether you’re just starting to study Buddhism or you’re already on the path, “Ask a Monk, ” an online information and advice service, can be an invaluable resource, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Ven. Shih Ying-Fa, the abbot of CloudWater Zendo, the Zen Center of Cleveland, tries to answer “Ask a Monk” e-mails within 24 hours. www.cloudwater.org/askamonk.html.

Meditation & Breathing: Podcast

We all know that meditation is supposed to be good for you. Yet, understanding something and embracing something are not always one in the same. You’ve probably read plenty of articles reporting the very practical benefits of meditation, such as reducing stress, increasing concentration & creativity, reducing anxiety, decreasing muscle tension, increasing serotonin production (consequently allowing you to be a much happier human), etc, but all of these compelling reports still haven’t compelled you quite enough to try it.

I’m pretty sure our slow acceptance of trying out meditation is based on our lack of knowledge of how or where to start. Anything new seems overwhelming at first consideration. Fortunately, meditation is one of the single most beneficial & simple ways you can improve your total wellness (mental, emotional & physical). And it’s not just for ‘new age types,’ yogis and hippies…. meditation is perhaps MOST beneficial for those with high-stress jobs and a regular 9-5. Check out this article from The Washington Post – meditation is pragmatic for people of all walks of life!

So, to help you jump start your trial (and hopefully soon to be, regularly scheduled) meditation practice, I’ve found some really wonderful guided meditation podcasts that make an excellent blue print for your budding practice. They are no nonsense, simple & effective guides to get started with meditating.

http://www.meditationoasis.com

http://www.themeditationpodcast.com/download.php

Namaste!

Yoga Poses for the Holiday Season!

‘Tis the season for increased travel, lots of eating and time spent with loved ones. Because of the chilly weather this time of year, many of us tend to spend less time outdoors, and of course, less time exercising. Partner this with travel on cramped planes and eating & drinking more often than usual, and your body (and mind) will feel the results.

Here are a few yoga postures you can do in the comfort of your home (or someone else’s) while on the go this holiday season to help keep your body feeling limber and well!

Downward Facing Dog (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/491)
Holiday Benefits: Improves digestion, relieves back pain; fatigue, energizes the body, calms the brain & helps to relieve stress and mild depression (lack of sunshine & time spent outdoors in the winter contributes to depression in many people).

Warrior 1 Pose (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/1708)
Holiday Benefits: Stretches the chest and lungs, shoulders and neck, belly & groin; strengthens the shoulders, arms, back muscles, thighs, calves, and ankles; helps restore energy level.

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/485)
Holiday Benefits: Help process those extra wine & spirits by stimulating the liver and kidneys, combats travel aches by stretching the shoulders, hips, and neck, stimulates the digestive fire in the belly.

Plow Pose (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/479)
Holiday benefits: Stimulates the abdominal organs and the thyroid gland,
reduces stress and fatigue, therapeutic for backache, headache & insomnia.

Corpse Pose/Savasana (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/482)
Holiday Benefits: Calms the brain to help relieve stress & mild depression, relaxes the body, reduces headache, fatugue & insomnia, and helps to lower blood pressure.

Happy Holidays!

Love & Light,

Kristin Renee

Hello world!

Welcome to my new blog. In the upcoming year I hope to fill this page with helpful yoga poses & lifestyle tips to help keep your mind, body & spirit balanced & well. Any suggestions or questions, always welcome!