<![CDATA[ - OneBodyMindSoul]]>Mon, 28 May 2012 10:29:56 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Can a vegetarian diet, help develop muscles?]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 01:24:50 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2012/05/can-a-vegetarian-diet-help-develop-muscles.htmlOne of the biggest fears from who start a vegetarian way of living, is to loose muscles or get weak. Many nutritionists already wrote that this is a myth, specially nowadays with so many alternative protein options, and so much chemicals inside animal proteins.

For athletes, 0.7 to 1 gram of protein per pound of lean muscle is optimal for increasing strength and size. For example, if you weigh 180lb and have ten percent bodyfat, then you should get 150-160 grams of protein to build more muscle. If you want to maintain your size, then 100-120 will probably be sufficient.
Another important point is that without enough fat in your diet, your skin will dry up, and your energy level will go down. To have 20-30% of your calories from fat is a good way to go. 
Examples of healthy fats: flaxseed oil, avocado, almond butter and walnuts. 
Coconut oil or milk are saturated fats that are not present in the case of a vegan diet, also required for optimal health.

I always advice my students to have a balanced diet without excess, but that 80% of their diet comes from fresh organic food.
Example of combining foods to get muscle building aminoacids: 
black beans + quinoa, 
lentils + brown rice, 
almond butter sandwich (Ezequiel bread), 
rice protein milk shake. 
Veggie burger (soy free) is also a good option every now and then…

Some tips on muscle building foods for vegetarians:
Quinoa, Pea-Rice-Hemp Protein Powder, Avocado, Steel -Cut Oats, Almonds, B apetit lack beans, broccoli, coconut milk, sweet potatoes, seitan, spinach, chia seeds, Chick peas, brown rice, natural peanut butter, walnuts, collard greens, cauliflower, lentils, Portobello mushroom,and  peas. 

Bon Appetit!

Font: bodybuilding.com and livestrong.com

]]><![CDATA[YOGA is NOT a Religion, by Eliane Carotta]]>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:08:05 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2012/04/yoga-is-not-a-religion-by-eliane-carotta.htmlPicture
I recently had an experience that wanted to share here, and clarify some details about the Yoga philosophy.
One of the places I contacted to teach here in California, didn’t want to add Yoga to the program because of their Religious belief. Of course I respect that, and I AM NOT JUDGING, but as a Yoga teacher, I wanted to clarify that YOGA is not a religion.
It is a physical practice that might originate a lifestyle with physical and emotional benefits to the practitioner. 
And even if you practice its moral philosophy, you can STILL have your religious beliefs, because the ethics and moral parts of Yoga refer to character and conduct, without any creed or fixed set of beliefs, nor prescribed godlike figure to be worshipped in a particular manner.

Yoga and its history, as many other physical practices, or Martial Arts, has its ancestors, considered examples of conduct that might be mentioned and honored with respect. So, if you have a specific religion, don't get confuse when seeing images or pictures in Yoga studios. This doesn’t always mean that the teacher is worshiping an image or picture. 
In my case, it means I respect the teachings of a specific master, and will use it as an example of conduct to inspire my students (and myself, of course) on how to become better individuals.

I always mention during classes or guided meditations I teach, that our life would be much easier and we would be much happier if we think twice before saying (that’s why we have 2 ears and 1 mouth) or acting; if we stop judging or expecting; if we give up on our fears; and specially, if we learn how to let go and forgive others.
It’s hard, and I always catch myself committing such “sins”…, but we are here to learn and improve, right?
So, let's keep learning, let’s FOCUS on IMPROVE day by day by following good examples without criticism or resistance to change ;)

"Fear less, hope more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Hate less, love more; And all good things are yours."
Swedish proverb

NAMASTÉ!
]]><![CDATA[Are you waiting for the other shoe to drop? By Eliane Carotta]]>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:23:40 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2012/04/are-you-waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop-by-eliane-carotta.htmlHow do you deal with your fears? Are you willing to face them and learn how to live fearlessly?

According to a research from Business Enterprises (a group of coaches that help people thrive in their vocational pursuits), the four FEARS that hold us back, avoiding us to succeed, are: - the fear of failure, the fear of blame, the fear of harm, and the fear of not being liked.

When we accept that protecting ourselves from harm will also protect us from opportunities, we stop declining opportunities that we are perfectly ready to take on!
Carl Jung said: “Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children then the unlived life of the parent.” 
Yes, we were raised by parents that might expect us to be what THEY want, and we respect them because they are our base, our family, our strength. But are we in our own path, doing what our hearts feel passionate about, or we are just following what our parents and the society imposed to us? 

According to Dr. Ivan Kos (Head of Radiological Laboratory at Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, Academy of Medical Science of Ukraine, Ukraine), "Newborn babies have only two fears: of loud noises and falling. These are normal, and considered alarm system given by nature as a means of self-preservation. All other fears are abnormal, caused by particular experiences, or passed on by parents, and others who influence us as we grow up."
Traumatic incidents in life are the top responsible for fear, but many "victim" words that should be avoided in our thoughts, are usually and unconsciously holding us back, as "what if", or the expression "woulda coulda shoulda".

How to overcome your fears?
First, be aware that NOW is all you have, and even though decisions in the present affect your future, you never really have to say "forever" about anything, because you don't actually know what will happen in the future.
Take AWAY the pressure that freaks you out, and ENJOY your present!!!

And, remember:“Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone…”
Ready to face it? 
Check how fearless you are: click HERE and try this simple quiz
]]><![CDATA[DOSHA TEST - DISCOVER YOUR BODY TYPE]]>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:59:33 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2012/03/dosha-test-discover-your-body-type.html In Ayurveda, the body is formed by five elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether. However, the functions are controlled by three doshas (or the vital energy): Kapha, Vata and Pitta. These dynamic energies make things happen in the organism, and if imbalanced, lead to problems.
Ultimately, any aspect related to metabolic function and its relationship to health and disease boils down to the harmonious actions of the three doshas.
After doing this test, I suggest you to “google” the best diets to benefit your type of body.
And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me ;)
Good luck,
Eli

What is your Prakruti (body constitution)?

Circle these answers based on the state of your natural being throughout your life. The focus is YOU, the real you, not what happens to be true recently, nor what you wish to be. You may float between two answers and in that case, pick both. Add up the totals for each V, P, and K at the end. The test will tell you if you are Vata, Pitta, Kapha or any combination of the three.

1. Physique

v) I am a slender person and I hardly gain weight
p) I am medium build
k) I am well built and I gain weight no matter what I do

2. Skin

v) My skin is dry, thin, and itches often
p) My skin looks flushed; I have lots of moles and freckles on my body
k) My skin is smooth and soft, it looks pale sometimes

3. Hair

v) My hair is dry, thin and brittle
p) My hair is neither dry nor oily (men, receding hairline)
k) My hair is thick, full, lustrous, and slightly oily

4. Face

v) My face is oval
p) My face is triangular (pointed chin, prominent jaw line)
k) My face is round

5. Eyes

v) My eyes are small; they feel dry often and have a bit of dullness (usually brown)
p) My eyes are medium in shape; sharp & penetrating (usually blue)
k) My eyes are big and round in shape, full eyelashes

6. Hands

v) My hands are generally dry, rough; slender fingers; dry nails
p) My hands are generally moist, pink; medium fingers; soft nails
k) My hands are generally firm, thick; thick fingers; strong & smooth nails

7. Joints

v) My joints are small, prominent bones, and often crack
p) My joints are medium and loose
k) My joints are large, sturdy, with lots of muscle surrounding

8. Activities

v) I am a very active person (always on the go, mind constantly thinking)
p) I like to think before I do anything
k) I am steady and graceful (I don’t like to rush)

9. Actions

v) I walk fast and talk fast
p) My actions are very thoughtful and precise
k) I like a slower pace and I take my time to accomplish things

10. Sleep

v) I do not sleep soundly at night. I tend to toss and turn. I wake up early in the morning
p) I am a light sleeper but if something wakes me up, I can go back to sleep easily
k) I am a heavy sleeper

11. Appetite

v) Varies, sometimes I feel hungry, sometimes not, I feel anxious if I don’t eat
p) I always feel hungry. If I don’t eat I get irritable and angry
k) I don’t feel very hungry. I can go without food easily for a day

12. Bowel Movement

v) I tend to have constipation and can go a day or two without a bowel movement
p) I am regular and sometimes stools are loose (tend to get diarrhea)
k) I have no problem. I wake up to go to the bathroom.

13. Voice

v) My voice tends to be weak or hoarse
p) I have a strong voice, I may get loud sometimes
k) My voice is deep, has good tone

14. Emotions

v) I am a born worrier, I often feel anxious and nervous
p) If things don’t happen my way, I feel irritable and angry
k) I am a happy person, very caring and loving

14. Weather Preference

v) I love warm and humid weather
p) I enjoy cool weather, I dislike a warm climate
k) I like warm but dry weather

16. Sweating

v) I sweat little but not much
p) I sweat profusely and it might have an unpleasant odor
k) I never sweat, unless working very hard

17. Memory

v) I remember quickly and forget quickly
p) I remember what I want to remember and never forget
k) It takes me a while to remember, but once I do I never forget.

18. Actions

v) I tend to be spontaneous
p) I am a list maker. Unless I plan,I don’t do anything
k) I don’t like to plan, I prefer to follow others

19. Stamina

v) I like to do things in spurts and I get tired very easily
p) I have medium stamina
k) I can work long hours and maintain good stamina

20. Mind

v) My mind gets restless easily (it starts racing
p) I get impatient easily
k) It takes a lot to make me mad. I usually feel very calm

21. Decision Making

v) I change my mind more often and will take time to make a decision
p) I can make a decision easily and stick with it
k) I want others to make the decisions

22. Personality

v) “Can I change my mind”?
p) “It’s my way or the highway”
k) “Don’t worry be happy”

23. Sports

v) I like action
p) I like to win
k) I like to have fun

24. Health Problems

v) My symptoms are mainly pain, constipation, anxiety and depression
p) I often get skin infections, fevers, heartburn, and hypertension
k) I tend to get allergies, congestion, weight gain and digestive problems

25. Hobbies

v) I like art (drawing, painting, and dance) and travel
p) I like sports, politics, and things that get my adrenaline pumping
k) I like nature, gardening, reading, and knitting.

Font:
www.bluelotusayurveda.com
www.allthatmatters.com



]]><![CDATA[COLLAGEN AND IT'S FANTASTIC EFFECTS! By Eliane Carotta]]>Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:55:51 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2011/10/collagen-and-its-fantastic-effects-by-eliane-carotta.htmlMost part of women in my classes are seeking for their balance between physical and emotional body. I try to guide them as healthy as I can, by giving daily tips during classes, but articles, like this, are very important to be read and followed...
 
With the years, come the aging process that Yoga is expert in decrease... but there are some other investments to be done regarding diet, because in the end, you are what you ingest!

Today the subject is collagen, the largest and most abundant protein in our body.
As we age, the production of collagen drops way off, and almost all our structures can be affected, since this protein is a connective issue for important organs and parts of the body.
The production decreases because of hormonal changes, nutritional deficits, the sun (yes Miamians!), overwork, alcohol... and many other things very common in the diet and routine of a normal person.


If you'd like to decrease aging process, increase tone muscles, firm skin, rebuilt joints and resolve chronic problems as osteoporosis and high blood pressure (among others), start to add the "super" collagen, or hydrolyzed collagen (or simply gelatin), to your diet. The basic difference between the "super" and the regular, is that the first, the hydrolyzed one, suffers a process to reduce it's proteins into small peptides, becoming highly digestible, fastening the process into the body, and having less (or none) side effects.

Attention vegans, collagen is natural and has almost no side effects, but it's found into animals bones, skin, and connective issues, as cow, pigs, horses and fish.
There are vegan ones in the market, but as far as I know, they are made from genetically engineered tobacco plants... It's always good to search and research about it's efficiency and effects!

Enjoy tons of gelatin and improve your body!

This is where I found interesting facts to inspire me for this article:
http://www.thedoctorwithin.com/collagen/Collagen/
]]><![CDATA[Basic Class for Beginners ]]>Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:52:58 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2011/09/basic-class-for-beginners.html This class is very basic and simple. I recommend it to students that are busy to follow a schedule at a studio, or traveling a lot without the opportunity to follow a instructor…

Tadasana (Mountain Pose) – improves posture, improves bladder control.

During 3 deep breaths, stay in this pose trying to empty your mind, adjusting you body to start the others poses (opening chest, extending the spine, keeping both base of feet on the floor). Inhale look up, arms up, stretch all your body, keep the breath for 5 sec and relax when exhale with the arms on the side.

Before start the other asanas, warm up your body with three Sun Salutations. 
If you don't remember the sequence, click the link:
www.yogasite.com/sunsalute.htm

Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) - calms the brain, relieve stress.

Stand in Tadasana, hands on hips. Exhale and bend forward from the hip joints, not from the waist. Try to grab your toes with the fingers if you can, or just grab your legs. Each time you exhale try to extend a little bit more. Keep for 5 breaths.

Vrksasana (Tree Pose) - improves balance

Bend the left knee, bringing the sole of the left foot high onto the inner right thigh, press the foot into the thigh and the thigh back into the foot. Keep your hands on the hips, and focus at any stopped point. When you feel balanced, extend arms and keep it for 5 breaths. Repeat w/ the other side.

Virabhadrasana I (Warrior Pose I) - improves balance, coordination and concentration

From Tadasana step your feet around 4 feet apart. Raise your arms perpendicular to the floor (and parallel to each other), bend the right knee, keep the left leg extended and the left feet diagonal from your body (around 45 degrees). Keep it for 5 breaths. Repeat w/ the other side.

Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose) - Stimulates abdominal organs, increases stamina

From Tadasana step your feet around 4 feet apart. Raise your arms parallel to the floor and reach them actively out to the sides, shoulder blades wide, palms down. Bend the right knee; keep the left leg extended and the left feet diagonal from your body (around 45 degrees). Keep it for 5 breaths. Repeat w/ the other side.

Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose or butterfly) - Stimulates the heart and abdominal organs, improves circulation, and helps relieve mild depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

Sit and bend the knees bringing the soles of the feet together and letting the knees fall out to either side. Open your feet like a book, and grab your big toes w/ the fingers. Open chest, extend spine and come into a forward bend. Five breathings.

Marichyasana III - benefits the abdominal organs and spine, stimulates the brain.

Sit and bend your right knee bringing the heel close to your butt and wide, keep the left leg strong. Rotate your torso to the right and place your right hand behind you close to your sitting bones. Make a pressure with your left arm against the right leg and look up to your right shoulder. Keep it for 5 breaths. Repeat w/ the other side.

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose) - stimulates the thyroid, rejuvenates tired legs, improves digestion

Lie on the floor; bend the knees bringing the soles of the feet close to your butt. Lift the hips up towards the ceiling. Relax head, shoulders and arms. Pay attention on the breathing (inhale inflate, exhale empty chest stomach and belly). 5 deep breathings.
Relax for 1 deep breath bringing knees up to chest, balance body massaging back and repeat again the pose for + 5 breaths. Repeat the relax again, but after balance and massage your back, let your knees fall to the side and prepare to the last one:

Lie down in Savasana (Corpse Pose) - pacifies the body and quietness the mind by discharging muscular, nervous, mental and emotional tensions
Relax the whole body, including the face. Let the body feel heavy. Stay in this pose for 5 min. It's very important that you do this pose! The body needs this time to understand the new information it has received through practicing yoga.

Sit in lotus pose and recite the mantra OM 3 times when you exhale after a deep breath.

Patanjali (who wrote the Yoga Sutras and is considered to be the father of classical yoga) taught that when we chant this sacred syllable and simultaneously contemplate the meaning of it, our consciousness becomes "one-pointed: and prepared for meditation.

Good practice! Namaste!
Eli

Photos: www.yogajournal.com

]]><![CDATA[Do you take care of your wrist? by Eliane Carotta]]>Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:13:56 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2011/01/wrist-therapy.html
Due to potential impacts, falls or repeated activity as sustaining your body during push-ups or Vinyasas, or specific techniques as wristlocks, the wrist is a vulnerable joint to lots of injuries.
It is a small and maybe the most complex joint with delicate tissues around, as ligaments that knits it’s bones together, and tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the fingers. There is very little covering muscle or tissue on the top of the wrist.

In the case of athletes that punch,  remember that hand has around 27 bones that need to be protected, and always wear hand wraps to avoid mild tear, a strain, sprain or even a rupture. Always use a careful and gradual approach to increase wrist flexibility and strength!While studying to write this article, I read that lots of fighters hurt their wrists by punching anatomically incorrectly. They don’t pay attention on how to align the hand when striking, or don’t align the wrist properly when doing a straight punch. If it is bent or bends during contact, wrist injury might occur.

In my classes I always teach a wrist therapy learned from Duncan Wong during a Yogic Arts® Teacher Training. This is the link for the video, so you can also learn and stretch yours:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbNdVmzwPq4

Another exercise I always recommend, since my wrist is a little weak and it works perfectly for me, is squeezing the tennis ball: Hold and squeeze the tennis ball as hard as possible (without pain) for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times. Increase as you practice to more holding and repetition.

In case you injured your wrist, try icing the area to reduce fluid accumulation. Wearing rigid splints that keep the wrists from flexing can also help.
And don’t exercise if you are in pain.
Many experts advice that rest and 24-hour splinting for two or more weeks are needed to prevent permanent nerve damage.

]]><![CDATA[Yoga to overcome fear by Eliane Carotta]]>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:22:14 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2011/01/yoga-to-overcome-fear-by-eliane-carotta.htmlMy first experience in Yoga was in Brazil and it was terrible!
I didn't connect with the teacher, and the style I tried by the time wasn't what I was looking for.
Years passed by and when already in Miami, I had my second experience right before my firts teacher training. I tried an Ashtanga class and it was a hard challenge to my body. I loved it.
During the teacher training, the two important things I learned were the spiritual side of Yoga and how to control myself and feelings, specially how to overcame fears.

During almost fifteen years of Martial Arts, I was always surrounded by tough guys and learned how to have a tough attitude (without losing my feminine side, of course), but since they were all huge and used to treat me like the little sister, I was always in the comfort zone, and never tried to really overcome my inner fears. In fact I didn't even think about it. The body was in shape, the ego was surrounded by lots of testosterone, and everything seemed ok. 
One day in a Jiu-Jitsu class (the Brazilian martial art I used to practice), some guys were trying to do hand and headstand and I was amazed, but couldn't do it... To be sincere, I never tried, was always scared thinking I was protecting myself, because the truth is: I was frustrated and sad for not being able to do it. I built a protection inside me that nobody saw, but that little thing bothered me A LOT.

During my first TT in Miami (under teacher Reed Taylor from It's Yoga), I was asked to do a headstand. I panicked! During seconds my body froze and I didn't know what to do. I was studying to be a teacher, there were at least ten people looking at me, and I felt the dumbest person in the world.
To make a long story short, he helped me and taught me how to hold somebody... I was doing it by myself after a week, with that amazing feeling: overcoming a fear!

Yoga really empower you and can even unblock negative feelings and fears from childhood. It requires practice and persistence, but if it happened to me and to LOTS of people I've met, it can happen to YOU!

Besides overcome your physical, you also can improve other fears: the fear of poverty, the loss of a relationship, or of a job. It's all on your mind, and YOGA can work on your mind braking the negative cycle of energy. It's like an anti depressant or an anxiolytic, but without side effects.

Namaste!
]]><![CDATA[Thinking before find your best friend! By Eliane Carotta]]>Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:54:51 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2010/04/thinking-before-find-your-best-friend-by-eliane-carotta.htmlPicture
After deeply thinking about writing this article, I decided to put my emotions on the side and do something very statistical. Been involved with abandoned animals for more than twenty years (since Brazil) and the huge amount of emails and situations I’ve witnessed lately, motivated me to do it.
If you are considering having a pet, or know somebody willing to do it, you should read it before.

According to the APPA (American Pet Products Association) America’s spending on pets has grown despite the recession, with a 5.4% increase in 2009. The APPA’s annual comprehensive review shows spending on animals, food, supplies, veterinary care, grooming, boarding and pet sitting jumped to $45.5 billion in American in 2009, up from $43.2 billion in 2008. And it projects another increase — of nearly 5%– in 2010.
Looking at these numbers, I guess Americans are pet lovers and care about their companions, right?

According to a National Pet Owners Survey (2009-2010) published by The Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 77.5 million owned dogs and 93.6 million owned cats in the United States. Nineteen percent of owned dogs and twenty-two percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter.
Still nice and positive numbers?

Unfortunately national statistics show that nearly 50% of all animals in shelters are euthanized due to the lack of homes. 
America has become a nation of disposable pet owners.
Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them.

Many cats and dogs who die as a result of pet overpopulation could have made wonderful pets. Between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters every year; far too many to all find homes.

Are you and your family willing to make around 10 year commitment? Choose wisely, for when the bond breaks, everybody concerned suffers.

These are some options if you decided to adopt a pet:
www.adoptapet.com
www.petfinder.com

]]><![CDATA[Duncan Wong by Eliane Carotta]]>Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:29:47 -0800http://www.sanatura.com/1/post/2009/07/duncan-wong-by-eliane-carotta.htmlHis background comes from San Francisco’s Chinatown, where he was born and had his Buddhist master.

The influence of his grandfather’s Gung-Fu practice and formal dojang (Korean martial arts school) training are very significant in his martial arts knowledge.
In yoga he comes from Ashtanga lineage of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and he is also certified in the Jivamukti Yoga method as taught directly by Sharon Gannon and David Life.

He is Duncan Wong, the founder of Yogic Arts, a practice that mixes yoga and martial art.
His body-language-form-of-practice and his inner peace make everybody follow his movements. The soundtrack is unique: a mixing of hip hop and oriental sounds that overcome the usual and transform the mat in a space where you workout body, mind and soul with spirituality, and even humor sometimes. His unique way, his knowledge and humbleness, were far ahead my expectations. It was such an honor has somebody like him to practice and learn from!

What is Yogic Arts?

The Definition:
A Synthesized System comprised of organic movements from the disciplines of Yoga, Martial Arts, Body Work, Pilates + Dance.

The Principle:
Physical Enlightenment through Sacred Touch + True Grounding

The Results:
Rhythmic Movement Therapy + Superior Core Conditioning + Purified Energy
When did you first practice yoga, and how was the beginning in this style?

As a teenager, I turned to yoga as a pathway for healing from my combative urban youth.
As a childhood laborer with early martial artist roots, and later as a yogi and a body worker; I took the multi-faceted teachings of my masters, and intrinsically developed a practice and a natural movement within my own life. Also, my every movement resonated and evolved the Yogic Arts practice, in the same way an animal develops a feeling for its innate balance and power.
As a teacher-practitioner with 20+ years of movement experience to reflect upon, I have a high regard for compassion and wisdom towards those driven to seek their truth and perfection.
How do you feel the connection between you body and mind in your practice?

Two parts of a greater whole, which constitutes the conscious machine which we utilize as the divine instrument to play our sweet lives through.
Do you ever find that yoga takes you more "out of the world" than "into" it?

This all depends on the amount of intention and meditative quality we apply to our practice and the daily actions of our respective lives.
Reclusion into an ashram to attain enlightenment and then remaining there without sharing such acquired insight with others less fortunate enough to have this experience, is the antithesis of the yogic way and tradition.

Since you are a kind of yoga celebrity, what keeps you humble?

The consistent humility exemplified by my teachers, colleagues and students; and also the kind smiles on the faces of all the labor workers of the world, which I am a proud member of.
How do you view the current yoga boom, and what advices would you give to somebody that is just starting?

I view it as a clear global necessity for the continuation of love and humanity on the planet.
First, welcome to the healer-warrior path. You’re a yogi now : )
Secondly, with practice comes a responsibility to love your Self and Others equally. This begins from within, and involves practicing slowly and without inflicting pain on your body, heart and mind.
Remember, if it hurts and your breath is uneven, you’re not practicing yoga.Duncan has recently launched DVD's, Books, an iPod product with Apple, and his own clothing line in Japan, as well as establishing his Yogic Arts
headquarters this year, at the Namaste Yoga Shala in Shanghai. His line of clothing in the US is represented by I Love Yoga (www.iloveyoga.com).
+ info on his work and lifestyle products: www.yogicarts.com

]]>