Has God Been Leaving Us Clues?

Has God been leaving us clues on how we can be healthy?  Consider some interesting facts.

	A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
	A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.
	Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
	A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
	Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
	Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
	Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? ... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
	Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of S perm a S well to overcome male sterility.
	Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
	Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries
	Grapefruits, Oranges , and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
	Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

do you like money?

Are you comfortable with the subject of money?
I am asking because I used to be uncomfortable myself.
It's built in to some of the paradigms that our society adheres to.

And, after all, I am a Buddhist teacher, and in addition my politics tend to be on the progressive side.
And let's face it, money or lack of it, is a big issue for a lot of people, and a source of suffering, on all sides of the equation.

Didn't we learn that poverty is noble? And that there are more important things than money?

Money is energy, but it's not 'just' energy.
It has particular qualities. Having it is a choice, no matter who you are or what your circumstances.
You may not think you have a choice but you do.
Even the Buddha was clear on that.

Having or not having money is not a measure of nobility or spirituality.

If you chose to have a lot of it, I mean really a lot of it, what would you do? How much could you help address some real issues. I don't mean throwing money at problems, a common habit for some people who wish to alleviate their own discomfort with unconscious privilege.

What I mean is - how deep could you go into beginning to unravel the systemic nature of oppression with dedicated billions?

Money can be time. It can be choice, access, and genuine influence.

Someone said, "Money's not the most important thing in the world, but it's right up there with oxygen."

They were being honest.
Try raising a family without it.

Sending you best wishes
for outrageous abundance
and the skill to use it wisely

Caitriona and Michele
Manzanita Village Retreat
and 5 Changes Coaching

Isn't Feng Shui Just About Placement?

by Pat Heydlauff

Feng Shui is thought to be three to four thousand years old, originating in Ancient China. It is based on specific principles of living in harmony with your environment and your environment being in harmony with you so your life can be balanced, abundant and joyful. Out of those simple principles grew a way of life that lead to prosperity and longevity.

Today there are at least four basic Feng Shui schools or philosophies and they don’t always agree on everything or sometimes, even where to begin other than your front door. The couple of things they do agree upon is you should strive for balance in your life and you should unclutter your world, making it more peaceful and filled with joy.

Somewhere along the way over the last few thousand years Feng Shui got tagged with the concept that it was all about placement, not an overall lifestyle. Even though placement is important because that is part of what determines the flow of energy throughout your home and your life, it is really about living a lifestyle that creates calm and peace in your life.

My simple definition of Feng Shui is the use of positive energy in your environment to bring about the results you desire such as better health, improved income, less stress, even better relationships. Feng Shui is actually a tool that you can use to improve your life and help you create the life you want.

A Four Part Plan for Living

Feng Shui is really a four part plan for creating the life you want to live with less stress and not being a victim of circumstances. It’s a way to improve your lot in life without conflicting in any way with existing religious beliefs and customs since most forms of Feng Shui do not contain a religious element. Be aware however there is a religious component to at least one of the schools being taught.

Part 1 always begins with un-cluttering your front entrance and then your home so fresh new positive energy can not only find your front door but always be welcomed inside to help you energize your life your desires and dreams. If the clutter is on the outside, life giving and life improving energy cannot enter. If the clutter is on the inside, energy gets stuck and stagnant everywhere clutter is located causing disharmony. Think of it in terms of your digestive system. If you put food (positive energy) in but it gets stuck (constipation) and can’t get out you become physically ill. If old energy stays in your house year after year and gets stuck, new ideas, new thinking and new opportunities cannot enter because the clutter is keeping them out and you from improving your life. Make un-cluttering a priority.

Part 2 is where the placement comes in. Once you’ve un-cluttered your home you look at the flow of energy throughout. In order to prevent energy from moving through too quickly you can place pieces of furniture or a rug in its way to encourage it to meander in all directions throughout your home. You also do not want to prevent energy from flowing by having dead end corners and long unlighted corridors. Most of these things can be remedied by the placement of lamps, pictures on walls and even the color the walls are painted. Placement matters but it is only one step of the plan.

Part 3 is about enhancements. This is a process by which you use things you love to focus energy onto specific areas of your life. For example, it you want to encourage more money to enter your life, place a healthy upward shooting green plant in the east area of your living room. Add to it a small wooden money pot, placing into it 7 gold coins (US silver dollars or gold dollars work just fine). There are numerous enhancements you can do throughout your home to focus energy onto a number of desires or aspirations. Sometimes enhancements can be confused with the placement of things because focusing energy on specific areas of your life needs to be done in specific locations in your home.

Part 4 is often the missing link. You need to also Feng Shui your thinking. It’s really great to have a home that is in perfect balance and provide you supportive uplifting energy but it can’t work in a vacuum. If you haven’t un-cluttered your mind and thinking from all of those negatives you’ve carried around with you for years and replace those negatives with positive thinking, you’ve only won half the battle. Take time to reflect, meditate or journal and really explore your core values and inner operating system. Find those thoughts that are no longer relevant to the future you want to create and delete them from your thinking. Aligning your inner thinking with your outer actions is the best way to create a peaceful joy filled life.

Feng Shui is so much more than just the placement of things. It truly is a lifestyle that aligns your thinking internally with your actions externally to help you realize your hopes and dreams and to create the future you are seeking.

Author's Bio
Pat Heydlauff, president of Energy Design, helps people eliminate chaos and stress at home and within oneself. As a consultant and speaker, Pat uses color, design and organization principles to transform clients' lives. Her proven methods remove clutter and disorder, while enhancing personal growth, improved relationships, prosperity, and joy. Her new book, "Feng Shui: So Easy a Child Can Do It," provides changes that lead to personal success and abundance. For information on her consulting, speaking and artwork, visit Energy-by-Design.com

Body Awareness, Exercise Safety, and Ten Tips to Avoid the Potential Pitfalls of a Bad Personal Trainer

by Aliesa George

I have to say that I am grateful for my gymnastics, dance, and Pilates training - especially in regards to body awareness. I’m sure it’s why so many dancers and athletes are embracing Pilates as a component of their injury-prevention and cross-training program. And it makes sense why so many of my clients over the years have started Pilates, because of an injury or problem that limited their ability to participate in general exercise programs. I feel blessed and fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with great coaches, teachers, trainers and mentors, but I know that not everybody out there has had the same experience.

The old saying, “You can’t fix it if it ain’t broke…” Well if you’re not aware of what you’ve been doing to “break” it - how could “fixing” it even begin to solve the problem. The first “fix” has got to be with the mind-body connection and improved body awareness, or old bad habits will be impossible to break.

Regardless of your athletic or dance background, or how old you were when you started your first exercise program, or what physical shape your body is in - it’s never too late to improve your health AND strengthen your mind-body connection! It just takes the desire to work on it - and a good coach to guide you along the way!

It’s been interesting hanging out in the local health clubs recently….I know that there are lots of GREAT personal trainers and Pilates teachers out there...but there seems to be such a difference between the typical weight-room training sessions that I’ve observed lately, and a one-on-one Pilates training session. I suppose unless you’ve experienced both - you don’t know the difference. But they seem to be light years apart in the amount of fine-tuning and corrections a client actually receives to be in the right alignment and improve technique. I’m sure these comments will stir up some controversy!

I find it difficult to keep my mouth shut at the gym watching these poor people do exercises in absolutely horrible alignment with zero support in the right places, or being asked to do an exercise that is way to advanced when there might be something much more appropriate to start with. At the moment… this is probably the best venue for me to express myself!

** (For the purposes of the rest of this article - when I say “Trainer” I’m referring to anyone you hire to assist you with your wellness program (personal trainer, Pilates Instructor, Yoga teacher, coach, or other health professional.)

For the less experienced clients out there who are wondering how to get the most from your workouts and hire the right Pilates teacher, Personal Trainer, or Coach... Here are my tips and suggestions:

1. If you are not asked to complete a fairly comprehensive personal assessment, medical history, and goal setting evaluation before you begin - proceed with caution… I know that it seems like a hassle to fill out all these forms, but this personal information and/or fitness evaluation gives a trainer the information they need to help design a personalized program that’s appropriate for you.

2. If you complete assessment forms and you have had a recent injury, surgery, or medical issues - don’t keep these details a secret! You might even be pro-active and schedule a consult with your doctor or physical therapist to get written pre-approval to start your new fitness or Pilates program. All this will only help your trainer do a better job for you! Bring any guidelines, therapy exercises, or information with you that might be useful for your new wellness coach.

3. If you’ve notified your trainer that you have a medical issue, back problem, or injury and they don’t seem to be taking that fact into consideration as they are putting you through your paces…Remind them of the problem. If they ignore the issue - STOP Immediately, Do NOT finish the session, ask for a refund and find a new trainer.

4. If any trainer works with you and says, “do 8 more reps.” And then proceeds to tell you about their weekend, or asks you questions about the weather - or any other conversation unrelated to how your body feels while executing the exercise - they are distracting your focus , shutting the door on improving body awareness, and minimizing the concentration you might need for your effort. (I need to point out that watching TV, and possibly the music on your IPod may be doing the same thing!)

If any trainer explains how to do an exercise, demonstrates it for you, but then never actually looks at your body to make corrections for your breathing, form, or technique….in my opinion - you’re not really getting your money’s worth. Either they don’t really care about you, or they don’t know enough to critically look at your body and make corrections. Either way your potential risk for injury just got higher, and they aren’t doing everything they could to help improve your body awareness and health.

5. If you are doing an exercise and it hurts–anywhere - Notify your trainer immediately. If they are NOT able to modify, adapt, or change the exercise to make it safer and more appropriate - find a new trainer! There is a difference between muscle fatigue and pain! A well-qualified trainer will work with you to be sure that everything you do is beneficial AND safe. The better your body awareness is - the easier you’ll be able to distinguish between the two. When in doubt…Leave it out! Or take a break. Or go on to a different exercise. If you’re not used to paying attention to how your body feels during exercise, there may be a learning curve for both you and your trainer to find the right exercises for your program.

6. If you are at risk for Osteoporosis, or have Osteopenia (the beginning stages of bone loss) your doctor probably wants you doing weight-bearing exercise. However - guidelines in the U.S.A. for exercise safety are no forward bending, side bending or twisting! Is your trainer selecting appropriate exercises for you to help build bone density and avoid fractures? If you’re not sure - Find a new trainer. If you inquire about these guidelines and they can’t tell you why they are important…..Or they’ve never heard of them (and then they ask you to do another ab crunch…) The potential for you to get injured and start breaking bones just went way up! Please be safe.

7. It’s important for every exercise to have a purpose. Can your trainer tell you why you’re doing everything in your workout program? Knowing the benefits will help make everything you do more valuable to your health and well-being. (And you may be less likely to skip the exercises you hate - because you know that they are in fact the very best ones for you to do!)

8. Ask questions about the qualifications, training, experience, education, certification, and areas of expertise for the trainers you are considering. There is no hard and fast right or wrong rule here. Just realize that you will probably get what you pay for. Sometimes hiring a new or less-experienced trainer because they are “cheaper” may not be in your best interest. But a few sessions with a seasoned veteran - and they might be able to oversee a continuation of your program with a newer instructor (especially if you are starting a program and have medical concerns.).

9. Your goals and priorities will change - is your workout program changing to help meet your objectives?

10. Never hesitate to ask to work with a different trainer. It’s always appropriate to make a change, and can be good to get opinions and insight from a fresh perspective – It’s YOUR body!

Discover and develop your own sense of body awareness so that you can make corrections in your form, and pace yourself to get the most of your workouts. Always listen to your body and make safe exercise choices. Know that workouts with a well-qualified trainer will always be money well spent. Use your trainer to help guide and motivate you to stay active and healthy and let them assist you with a safe and appropriate workout program. If you ever have any concerns - express them, and know that there are lots of great fitness and Pilates professionals out there…Keep looking until you find the one with the experience, expertise and personality to meet your needs.

Author's Bio
Aliesa George is the founder of Centerworks® Pilates. She is an author, workshop presenter, and mind-body health expert with more than 25 years of experience designing solutions for health improvement. Aliesa has created a wide variety of products focused on Pilates, Foot Fitness, the Mind-Body Connection, Stress-Management, and Whole-Body Health. She enjoys helping others discover the connection between thought and action to get positive results and achieve goals for a healthy mind, body and spirit!

To get complete product information, and learn more about resources and workshops, please visit: Centerworks.com

Use a 2-Liter Bottle as a Light Bulb

I have come across this excellent Eco friendly electricity saving solution.

In 2002 during an energy crisis and blackout Alfred Moser, an engineer in Brazil,  discovered that he could escape from working in the dark, by hanging water filled bottles in the roof of his workshop.