Issue: #8: May 2009

Namaste friends,

I don't usually think about how often I lie--and not because I do it so often that I can't keep track (you're just going to have to take my word for that). But I started thinking a lot more about why and how frequently people lie after reading a particularly provocative article in the May issue of REAL SIMPLE that explores the "truth about lying."

The article outlined six common ways that we 'stretch the truth' (one of the most popular euphemisms for lying that sounds a bit like a yoga move). These include:
to save face
to shift blame
to avoid confrontation,
to get one's way
to be nice
to make oneself feel better.

Keep a "liar's diary" for one day, and you'll realize how often you step off the primrose path (another euphemism--for lying gardeners, I guess.) But when I kept track of my thoughts and actions, I soon became aware of all the little untruths--the sins of omission, commission or self-deception that come out of my mouth on a daily basis, almost automatically.

Of course not all lies are inherently bad; there are the little white lies that smooth our social interactions: "That hair cut looks sexy," or "I was out of town when you had your bridal shower." But the intentional infractions, the deliberate opting out of potentially uncomfortable situations, are less acceptable. Consider the following fibs: "I never got your message, my voice-mail wasn't working" or "I can't help you because my kid is sick" or "It doesn't matter if I binge on cookies today since I'll start my diet tomorrow" or, in my case, "I'm so busy, I don't have time to do my newsletter."

I decided to go to the Yoga Sutras for some guidance. "For those grounded in truthfulness, every action and its consequences is imbued with truth," yoga sage Pantanjali advised. Which is all well and good, but I needed something a little more practical. As it turned out, the best advice I found was from nineteenth century guru Sai Baba who said: "Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence?"

Perhaps a vow of silence is in order!

Breathe well, be well,

Suzanne
Full Potential Yoga
suzanneausnit@optonline.net

P.S. Scroll down for my Detox Intensive on June 7th!


Soul Food
"The best time to plant a tree was always 20 years ago. The second best time is always today."

  Chinese proverb

"The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough."

  --Rabindranath Tagore

HEAL

Hands off
The media frenzy over the swine flu brings to mind a few simple precautions to keep you healthy and calm.

Remember that infectious diseases like colds, flus, and gastrointestinal disorders are commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact. So avoid shaking hands (you can always smile and bow) and touching public surfaces like door knobs and subway poles or personal surfaces like your face. Studies have shown that the influenza virus can survive and infect a person for up to 8 hours.

Hand washing is a simple habit, something we do without thinking. Instead, choose to make your unconscious habit, conscious. Be mindful of how long and how often you wash your hands. Cleansing with soap and water for 15 seconds (about the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday") reduces bacterial counts by about 90%. Make sure you wash your hands frequently, both at work and immediately when you come home from being outside.

And please dry your hands thoroughly. Wet hands are more likely to spread germs than dry ones.

Garlic power
Garlic protects you against more than vampires. It contains a compound called allicin, which becomes activated when a clove is chopped or smashed. Researchers have recently confirmed that allicin is a potent antioxidant--a neutralizer of dangerous free radicals in your body. Studies have also shown that garlic lowers blood pressure, helps control weight, and inhibits the formation of plaque in your arteries.

Here's a recipe for a delicious, quick garlic butter that doesn't require cooking. Finely chop 10 cloves of garlic with salt and blend with three tablespoons of softened butter. Throw in any chopped herb you like, and spread thickly on bread. Use it quickly after chopping--the allicin breaks down within an hour.

STRENGTHEN

To the core Most of us think our core is stronger than it is. To find out if that's the case, take this 3-minute test based on forearm plank. It involves a series of arm and leg movements: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/coretest.htm. Try to keep your spine and hips stable as you move your limbs (arms and legs both individually and diagonally). If you flunk initially (I did), practice four times a week until you're up to snuff.

Fancy footwork

Yoga helps to wake up the intelligence of your feet, teaching them to sense where the weight of the body is properly distributed. Unfortunatley, your feet can lose their way when you put your shoes on. Shoe choice, in fact, matters. Wearing shoes that do all of the work of supporting your feet can weaken your feet and decrease proprioception--your body's ability to know where it is in space). Think of how your muscles atrophy after wearing a cast. The same thing can happen to your feet. Be wary of thick soled, stiff and very cushioned shoes. The best shoes are those that can bend in half at the arch (when not on the foot).

LIVE

Fine shine

Kapalabhati, which translates as "skull shining breath," is a series of sharp exhalations in which the belly contracts and relaxes, while air is blown out through the nose. Yogis have long known that it strengthens the abs, dispels sluggishness and clears out the nasal passages. A Czech study has now clarified why it works. As a result of kapalabhati, the parasympathetic nervous system is turned on, creating a feeling of relaxation and a slowing down of the breath rate. However, kapalabhati also raises the blood pressure, readying the body for activity. Because it leads to a state of relaxed readiness, this technique is often practiced at the beginning of yoga class. Other studies have also shown that it may result in a greater ability to concentrate.

E-mail brain drain

Are you addicted to e-mail, instant messaging and text messages? A recent study of 1,100 Hewlett-Packard employees found that IQ test scores dropped temporarily by an average of 10 points when juggling communication missives. Although recovery time was not measured, scientists at the University of London's Institute of Psychiatry found that the loss was equivalent to missing a full night's sleep, and over double the loss from smoking pot. Not surprisingly, women lost fewer IQ points, thanks to their ability to multitask. The study found that sixty-two percent of adults check work messages after office hours and on vacation; half of the participants reply to e-mails immediately or within 60 minutes.