This Cherry Blossom Time Lapsevideo from the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens is the Editor's Pick on vimeo and a lovely preview of what I am set to see this weekend at the annual Sakuri Matsura Cherry Blossom Festival right here in Brooklyn. The BBG has 17 different varieties of cherry trees on the grounds. Like heaven on earth, what a joy it is to walk under the trees, taking in the fragrances of magnolia, cherry and the incoming wisteria. The fruit of the cherry tree is a wonderful source of antioxidants that helps stimulate melatonin production, the usherer of a restful nights sleep.
Melatonin and Body Fat Reduction
The tart or sour cherry variety in particular boost melatonin as well as helping to reduce inflammation in such a sweet way! The juice of the cherry helps reduce uric acid and helps the body burn fat. Sweet cherries I have discovered are rich in potassium and provide a summertime source of it and an alternate to the banana. Potassium is a great way to lower high blood pressure levels and control heart disease. Being a red fruit they are high in anti oxidants like our delicious friends blueberries, raspberries, dark grapes and blackberries. Eating 2 cups of cherries per day while they are in season will be effective in delivering their health benefits. When I went to high school in Michigan, cherries were one of the prime fruits of the region aside from apples. This store sells Tart Cherry Juice by mail order. While you may not be able to indulge in this treat everyday, you can also insure your body gets enough melatonin with Usana's Pure Rest. I use it on a regular basis and it has been effective in helping me get the beauty sleep I need here in the City that Never Sleeps. It's a high quality pure form of melatonin that is vegetarian friendly. It has also proved useful while changing time zones and avoiding the perils of jet lag and sleeping pills. Now knowing what we know about the link between a reduction of body fat and the role sleep plays in weight management here is wishing you sweet, sweet dreams.
The track at McCarren Park with the Pool to the right
Let's Go Outside - Fitness and Fun in McCarren Park!
It's
been a long hard winter with storm after storm and we could all use a life affirming boost
during Spring! Join me and instructor Elina LeClaire
who will lead us in Intensati®, a nifty mind, body, spirit workout that will
get your blood pumping and mood elevated Saturday, May 4th at 10:30AM in McCarren Park! I took a class with Elina at my neighborhood training gym Human @ Ease and really enjoyed myself. Although I may be coming late to the party, I wanted to share this with you because her approach offers a new twist on the same old workout. Why is Intensati® different? Studies are showing that shouting positive affirmations to yourself (and anyone else within earshot!) while working out leaves you coming back for more. The idea here is to replace the old negative tapes running on repeat in your head with better thoughts. If you are what you eat, you do what you think! As part of the event, yours truly is going to offer some insights into the easy ways you can
take care of your heart and the right fuel to give your body AFTER a
work out. Losing weight may not be what you think! And of course we will have snacks - healthy snacks courtesy of
Usana Health Sciences the Nutritional Supplement company that is NSF and
ConsumerLabs approved. Afterwards enjoy the McCarren Park Farmers Market overseen by GrowNYC or join me at Urban Rustic our local farm to table deli eatery.
Where Meet us at Human at Ease located at 31 Nassau Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn 11222
Once the group is assembled we''ll walk together two blocks to the track! What to Bring: Bring water, wear sneakers and dress in your sweats. If you are prone to sweating bringing a dry tee shirt to change into post workout.
We'll meet here Human @ Ease
How to Get There: Take the G to Nassau. If you are taking the L transfer at Lorimer 1 stop to Nassau. Take Nassau exit. Walk on Nassau towards McCarren Park two blocks. We'll be out front. Start Time: 10:30AM Yes you can do it!
End Time: 12:15PM See that wasn't so bad was it?
Cost: FREE You can't beat free!
Elina LeClaire has a passion for health & wellness, inspirational events, and
coaching
people to discover and pursue their dreams. For over a
decade, she has helped challenge, inspire and equip more than 10,000 people
through her company Dream Careers. Since 2010 Elina has been practicing Intensati® a practice she loves to share as it has taken her to the next level
in pursuing her own dreams. She teaches Wednesdays and Sundays at Human @ Ease in Greenpoint.
You will leave class feeling stronger, uplifted and inspired.
Elina is enthusiastic about leading you through a transformational
workout of mind, body and spirit that will empower you to live a life
you love.
Ekayani
Chamberlin is a wellness and lifestyle coach based in Greenpoint. She
offers True Health Assessments helping clients focus on long term health
goals in the areas of weight management, nutrition, sleep and glowing
skin.She
radiates health and vitality at age 50 and is motivated to assist
others in feeling the same way based on the principles optimal
nutrition, diet and attitude. She comes from a long line of
healers and doctors most notably Bernando LaPallo who is 112 years
young, currently working on his second book. Take the True Health Assessment here
Intensati® is a revolutionary workout developed by Patricia
Moreno. Its a fusion of high-energy aerobics, martial arts, yoga, and strength
conditioning. Combining spoken affirmations with simple choreography, IntenSati
provides a heart-pumping, exhilarating workout that builds physical, mental,
and spiritual muscle. It is fitness at the highest efficiency and empowerment.
Karina Yanku of Karina Yanku Healing Arts and Ekayani Chamberlin are holding a spring into summer event on Sleep and How To Get Better Rest Tips and Strategies for You and Your Family. The demand for these presentations has grown reflecting the need of the general public to find holistic solutions to sleep deprivation that affects more than half of the U.S. population including children. In the "city that never sleeps" come take a break to Interact and Learn Self Massage Techniques for Restorative Sleep! Is beauty sleep a myth or reality? Learn about Night Renewal and Anti Aging Skin Care! The presentation will begin with an overview on the Environmental Impact on Sleep and simple things you can do to improve the rest you get every night. This event is presented in cooperation with Unity Church a Spiritual Center for Creative Living.
About Karina Yanku, LMT
Karina
has been in practice for 15 years. She finds that three of the most
profound healing elements on Earth are sound,
rhythm and touch. They are the most primal forces we humans resonate
with, regardless of race, gender, age and culture. A warm, reassuring
touch or the sound of beautiful music can literally restore and lift
your spirit, grounding you and letting you know that you are safe and
loved.The mission of Karina Yanku Healing Arts is the discovery and
creation of new ways to merge these powerful energies of massage and
music to affect an even greater sense of balance and well-being.
Whether it is Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hawaiin Lomi Lomi, massage
accompanied by live didgeridoo, vibrational sound
therapy, or composing exclusive musical scores for OANAMASSAGE®, she
seeks to provide increasingly innovative healing therapies for the
21st Century, specializing in touch, rhythm and sound for the body,
mind and soul. Learn more about Karina's practice here
About Ekayani Chamberlin
Ekayani Chamberlin lineage is based on Culture and Nurture. She comes from a long line of healers on the maternal and paternal sides of her family. She has become a Sense skin care expert for
Usana Health Sciences a pharmaceutical grade company that specializes in
internal and external nutrition for optimal health over the past four years. At 50 she continues to model, perform and most importantly demonstrate the benefits of foundational health. Her passion is educating
both men and women and parents about the importance of what the body
ingests through the skin. Now 50 years old, Ekayani got her start in fashion in
Paris where she was exposed to many "top" products that failed to
deliver effective results.Her foundation and inspiration for healthy
living comes from her 111 years young grandfather Bernando LaPallo. She is the event coordinator and PR liasion for Bernando LaPallo's 112th Year. Connect with Ekayani here
Nicki Keohoho is a co-founder of the Direct Selling Women's Alliance. I first became aware of her via Usana Health Sciences that engaged Nicki as a featured speaker during Sweet Retreat an event geared specifically towards women entrepreneurs.
She has a gift for coaching that has been honed over 30 years of working with women who have decided to pursue the path of direct sales from their homes popularly known as a home based business. I recently listened to her speak via a webinar that the Usana Field Office presented on a live national call. Nicki had great things to say on how women can in general empower themselves through practicing thoughts, feelings that in turn manifest into actions and results. Here I sum up what I took away from this gentle and strong lady's presentation for entrepreneurs that might also be called Thinking, Feeling and Willing.
1. Empowering Beliefs Free Us Coach yourself first and shift your beliefs. Like En Vogue said "Free your mind and the rest will follow". Managing one's mind is powerful and noticing what thoughts we are having that are sabotaging our ability to believe in self is a critical first good step. Nicki also taps into impulses that come naturally to women and using that feminine energy to help motivate us in the positive.
We can ask ourselves a series of empowering questions such as
What am I most excited about today?
Who can I help today?
Whose life can I improve in some way today?
Make sure you get support in making a decision to change your perceptions.This can be through books or audio if you don't already have a support person or group.
2. Feeling
A trip around the wheel brings us to how we are feeling. Do we feel confident about our business building actions? If not why not? Do we need to learn something about our business to feel better about what we are doing? Do we need to understand our product line better? Are we feeling the improvements in our life based on our involvement in some way? When we feel good about something it then becomes easier to take action by speaking with others.
3. Actions lead to successful results.
What I liked here is that Nicki pointed out that success needs to be defined by us individually. While many dream about that big overnight success the truth is that success is built upon a series of smaller actions. Looking for and acknowledging the small yet significant victories we have makes us more appreciative and makes working towards our goals less overwhelming. A series of small successes grow over time.
4. "No one ever died from a NO. " How true Nicki, how true. An undeniable part of sales is that you will hear the word "No. According to Nicki this seemingly simple no can have many meanings. Try asking your prospect if No means "No, Not now?" or "No not ever". If it's the latter you can respect that person's wishes. If the response is the first one simply ask when would be a good time to follow up? 6 months down the line? A year? A week? Learning to listen to others more deeply helps us avoid the pitfall of believing that our business is all about us when really it's all about the customer.
To conclude I felt Nicki conveyed a seasoned long term view of direct sales and the fine tuning we need to do on our own minds, thoughts, feelings and actions. The core of doing anything consistently over time is a balanced and mature outlook. Growing out of our self limiting beliefs help move us forward and gives us courage . I felt that this message was a complimentary perspective held by Jordan Kempner who speaks often on the importance of increasing your skills as a person which can be translated as self mastery.
I just turned 50 today this April 8th, 2013 and the best part is nobody believes me. When I tell people how old I am the response is usually "Really? I don't believe you." I tell you it's simply nutrition and good daily habits that keep me looking and feeling good. It's a pleasure for me to demonstrate a living organism that is built on healthy cells. Overweight, tired with an unspoken resignation that " this is the way it's going to be living from here on out" with sure decline up ahead is not what I choose. While many women try and be coy and hide their age, poor habits and poor nutrition is talking loud and clear. Poor choices are aging them prematurely. The body and face reveal everything about the way in which a person has been treating themselves. Healthy cells make for a healthy body, clear skin, strong hair and nails, high energy, healthy digestion and so on. There is no reason to hide your age when you can celebrate it. Partner with Mother Nature and allow her to rejuvenate you for this is the way of life. I am thankful to my grandfather Bernando LaPallo who has given me a lifelong vision for what life can be with his living example of the cumulative effect of good daily habits. I thank Dr. Myron Wentz's vision and practical action of making optimal customized nutrition available to me by creating and manufacturing Usana products. They have been a God send. I have seen changes in myself and though many would like to say that it
is my "gene pool", all the good genes in the world wouldn't help me if I
abused my body on a daily basis. Now I share my beauty secrets with you which are really not secrets at all.
My Beauty Secrets by Ekayani
* I BIKE
The best cardio vascular workout, other than swimming that works for me is biking. I am a commuter biking approximately 10 miles per day to and from work from my house in Brooklyn to mid Manhattan. I burn calories, get my blood circulating, get sunshine and air without putting undue stress on my joints. I have gone down a pant size again in the past month and am now back to my 27 year old body weight. No gym memberships and a great way to spend time outdoors while toning muscles. Boosts my mood.
*I SLEEP
I get to bed at a decent hour generally about ten pm. I prepare and set up my lunch for the next day, layout my clothes and make sure my breakfast is together before I go to bed at night. This helps me avoid worry and gets me out of the house on time in the morning. Sleep keeps my skin healthy and keeps my immune system strong. See the chart here on the right to see some of the effects of sleep deprivation.
* I EAT BREAKFAST
I eat a healthy breakfast with fruits and whole grains in the morning. Before that however I break my fast by supplying my body with a fresh glass of water with a big old squeeze of lemon juice to flush out my liver, kidneys and hydrate. Ahhh!
* I SUPPLEMENT
I take MyHealthpak by Usana twice a day ensuring that my body gets all the vitamins and trace minerals it needs. I love the auto immune booster that comes with as I require optimal nutrition to live and work in this very busy city of Gotham. As mental clarity and eye sight become more precious to me as I get older, I make sure Visionex DS and Gingo PS are in my pack. I also take Procosa for my joints and skin. * I NOURISH
my skin every day and every night with Sense this wonderful line of paraben free skin care that delivers topical nutrition to the cells on my face. I am feeding my skin anti - oxidant protection, boosting my collagen and elastin with Proteo - C and fending of aging with DSR technology. I cleanse, hydrate and nourish with the Basic Pack. It's super important to cleanse and nourish at night. This is when my body heals. I have had several friends tell me that I appear to be going backwards in time. Care to join me?
Twice A Day I Sen-say!
*MY OBSERVATIONS
My Grandfather Bernando in 1924 Age 23
Bernando in 2011 Age 110
America is obsessed with youth. The other side of this coin is there is also a reckless attitude exhibited in the self destructive habits that you can do anything to your body by way of abuse without end and somehow drag on. This is a pipe dream. Repeated trips to the cosmetic surgeon, fast food parlor and drug dealer can't replace good living. Take a look at some before and after pictures of people you love. In the photos of their youth, before years of smoking, drinking and poor eating they were vibrant with the beauty of younger healthy cells. As you look at photos of that very same person 20 or 30 years later they are almost unrecognizable. What happened? Was it an accident? Is it fate? The plain truth is that is what years of excess will do. Even though it is touted as being normal, abusive habits transforms people from healthy to sick, from their ideal body weight to overweight, from energetic to diabetic. I hope everyone who reads this blog understands that the end of their life is not destined to be lived out in an old age home slumped over a wheel chair pumped full of so many medications that they can barely remember their name. We have choices to make as adults every day for our families, for ourselves and even our communities. The body is a complex fascinating organic machine that only requires love and respect on a daily basis.That will carry you through many years of happy and healthy living. Avoid the sadness and devastating financial burden self created disease will place on your family. While none of us can avoid death, we can live, age and die in beauty, wisdom and dignity enjoying life for as long as we get to live it. Happy Birthday to you!
You are invited! Bring a friend to a special "Introduction toMeditation" FREE of chargeSunday
24 led by my friend John Halpern. John teaches techniques from the
Tibetan school of Buddhism. He is the film director of "Talks with the
Dalai Lama" and "Refuge". He is also an Usana associate. It so happens
that this program falls on Palm Sunday,
the observation of the day Prince of Peace entered into Jerusalem. Most
skilled at controlling his mind, thoughts, actions when I think of
Jesus I think of a person who said such things as "Healer heal thyself. "
and encouraged everyone to "Seek the Kingdom Within".
Vitamin D
and Booster C 600 will be the unique Spring Boosters served to give you a
Lift after this long hard winter we've had! Goodbye Sandy!
Date:SundayMarch 24, 2013
Where: Carolyn Christie's Yoga Atelier
Address: Enter 22 East 17th Street. Take elevator to 11th floor. Suite 1103. This building is also known as 41 Union Square.
Call or Text Ekayani at (212) 475 - 6547 if you need help getting there
Trains: 4 /5/6/Q/ L to Union Square
Healthy Spring Booster Refreshments Served! Learn How Easy It Is To Have a Strong Immune System!
In this REFUGE film clip, REFUGE Yogis & Film Makers by John Halpern Martin
Scorsese, Director, KUNDUN, Oliver Stone, Director, HEAVEN AND EARTH,
Dzongzar Khyentse, abbot, Director, THE CUP, Melissa Mathison, Writer,
KUNDUN, Venerable Tenzin Palmo, lived 12 years in a cave, His Holiness
Shenphen Dawa, Tibetan Lama, and
David Chadwick, Author, Zen priest, offer sound bites about Buddhism and it's impact in the West.
Digestive Health and Skin Care with Dr. Susan Kleiner
On Wednesday February 21, 2013 I was privy to a webinar hosted by USANA Health Sciences that featured a talk on Digestive Health and Skin Care by Dr. Susan Kleiner who has an impressive set of initials next to her name. She holds a Phd, is a Registered Dietician, Fellow of International Sports Science, a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition and CNS. This a person who loves what they do and works as a consultant with Olympic and elite athletes to help them get and stay on track in their nutritional and performance needs. She is a Silver Director with Usana Health Sciences.
In a metaphor I have not been able to shirk for days, Dr. Kleiner began her illustrative talk explaining that digestion for the human being actually begins in the mouth and continues via "one long tube". She made a strong case that humans are essentially one long tube encased by the skin which acts as a passage way from the outside environment to the inner one. While it was a bit odd thinking of myself in that way, there was no denying that my awareness of my own gastro intestinal digestive tract became heightend this past week. Science can certainly be good for a kind of detachment from identification with the body in the way it picks systems apart.
Complexity of Absorption
There are at least 9 different enzymes manufactured by the body to digest our foods which can be divided into carbs, proteins, fats, dairy and nucleic acids. The sites of release for these enzymes are the mouth, the small intestine and the stomach. Some of these enzymes like lactase are released upon demand. In other words, your body will manufacture enzymes as needed which can explain when introducing a new food into your system why it can feel uncomfortable at first. A period of adjustment is needed to let the "manufacturing plant" know they need to get on the ball and supply that specific enzyme designed to break down a particular food. The majority of digestion is
accomplished before food enters the duodenum or at least should if you have spent an adequate amount of time chewing your food properly. While "wolfing" down your food down may occur from time to time, it's important to remember that we are not wolves thus we need to chew our food well so as not to suffer from indigestion.
The Landscape of the Body
Looking at these photographs was similar to looking at an internal version of the the Grand Canyon I visited a few years ago. It is indeed a complex landscape with it's own version of jagged terrain. The lumen or the intestinal wall is not flat and is made up of
innumerable villi and micro villi. It looks something like peaks and
valleys with a textured surface with microscopic and subscopic
hairs. The food you eat passes along and through all this surface area
of the gasto intestinal tract that is exposed to the outside environment
via the mouth and the skin. It's easy to see why eating adequate
amounts of fiber, fruits and vegetables is so very important as food can
easily get left behind to lodge and rot in any of this expansive surface!
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
This is why the purity, potency, and disintegration of any supplement (or food
item for that matter) is so very important. Kleiner pointed out that
NSF certification, WADA approval and peer reviewed published research
papers within the scientific community are critical tools the consumer
can use to make sure what you are putting in your body is up to elite
athlete standards. It serves as a bar to measure against the run of the
mill products that do not pass muster. It was interesting to note that USANA supplements dissolve in water as opposed to vinegar within 35 minutes. This reflects the reality that the average person's digestive system is so weak in terms of acidic production that it is required that supplements be highly bio available.
So What Does This Have to Healthy With Skin? It's Probiotics
Dr. Kleiner pointed out that we don't want to be absorbing contaminants
but with so many of us living in urban areas what can be done? Probiotics work together with our immune system and probiotic cells are most heavily concentrated in the gut. They provide anti fungal, anti viral and anti bacterial protection, forming a physical barrier to hinder the invasion of yeasts and bacteria. Probiotic cells also share their genes with our digestive tract as they have a symbiotic relationship. Eating probiotic foods such as kimchee, pickled products, whole probiotic yoghurts help keep the healthy bacteria in balance. According to Kleiner, the two strains of cultures found in USANA probiotics have proven to be the most efficacious in study after study. So while it may look impressive to have several cultures in a probiotic, this doesn't mean that they are actually doing you much good. Inuline is important and found in Fibergy plus. Flax seeds are a good source of inuline and she recommends 1 to 2 tablespoons daily.
For Dr. Kleiner using USANA's Probiotic is a "non - negotiable" item for her patients and recommends it be taken every other day. It can be taken in water or in food although the temperature of the food should not be hot to preserve the beneficial properties of the strains. Grueling travel, hotel stays, variances in food quality and water can make a person uncomfortable and not feeling their best while on the road. The probiotics boosts the bodies ability to not only digest but keep a healthy balance of "bad" and "good" probiotics in the GI tract. If a person is experiencing bloating or gas the Digestive Enzyme is recommended. If fiber is an issue the Fibergy Plus is an excellent product because it provides the bulk the body needs in the form of insoluble fiber, and choline, a B vitamin essential as a neuro - transmitter. Every time you move or have a thought, choline or the lack of it, plays a role. Although I am not an egg eater myself, Dr. Kleiner pointed out that the idea that egg yolks contribute to high cholesterol is a fallacy and that as a nation we suffer from a choline deficiency by - 50%. This is an interesting observation given the increased statistics for Alzheimers and the amont of egg yolks dumped down the drain. Soy lecithin is another way to get adequate amounts of choline in the diet to insure that your noggin and motor skills function optimally. Choline also helps move nutrients into the cells and toxins or waste matter out.
MyHealthpak Beauty Edition and Sense Skin Care
In conclusion, Dr. Kleiner recommends Usana's MyHealthpak Beauty Edition and the Sense Skin care line for strong hair, nails, vision and healthy skin. The MyHealthpak Beauty Edition contains;
- Procosa a non- animal based version of chondontrin which is an anti -
inflammatory and important for skin health
- CoQ 100 important for maintaining metabolic function as we age
- Visionex for healthy eyes - the highest concentration of lutein is in the eye Adequate amounts help prevent macular degeneration and
loss of vision
- Proflavanol C 200- A hybrid formula patented by USANA that provides the cells with optimal bioflavanoids and C for the skin which has many demands placed upon it and has a high cell turnover.
- The topical nutrition that Sense skin care provides in the form of DSR
technology, Regenisomes, Proflavanol - T, Proteo - C help repair the skin.
The packaging is designed to not attract bacteria that can turn into
inflammation or acne. Tips: Be sure to eat High Fiber foods daily such as carrots,winter
squash, dates, tomatoes, romaine, Bibb or Boston lettuce, whole grains
and cereals, fresh fruit with skin on it like apples, pears, fruit juices with the pulp, cabbage, yams and sweet potatoes. Feeding your skin with foods rich in anti oxidants such
as almonds, dark chocolate, tomatoes, and rich in omega 3
fatty acids are a must. And don't forget the pickles!
