Author Archives for

The Scream Room (an alternative to yoga)

Dear Yoga Student,

As a teenager, I worked in Starbucks back when there
weren’t that many Starbucks, so the line was out the
door from 5:30 a.m. until closing.

I’ve had 51 different jobs in my life, and to be fair,
pouring coffee wasn’t a bad one…

… but after 6 or 8-hours of grind, foam, cap-it, mop
it, “get in line!” you can imagine I felt pretty fried. The
fact that I was drinking Americanos the entire time didn’t
help matters either.

And here’s the point of all this:

My boss back then, Barry, had this thing he called “The
Scream Room.” The first time he took me down to the
basement to see it, I freaked (but soon, I was hooked).

Here’s how the scream room worked:

1. If you’re feeling really stressed, overwhelmed, anxious,
or ______________ (add negative feeling here), you step
into the walk-in fridge and close the door.

2. With the door closed, you then scream as loud as you
can for a solid minute, until your throat hurts. Think about
it, you probably haven’t really screamed full-out since you
were a kid. It’s really intense.

3. Exit when you’re ready. Repeat as needed throughout
the shift.

In general, I find that people get way to intellectual about
coping strategies. Sure, there are lots of times when
doing some yoga, taking a walk, or sitting quietly in a
room is just what you need.

But let’s be honest. Sometimes, 3 hours of yoga can’t
shake a stick at just 30 seconds locked in your closet
screaming your head off.

Ever done it? I dare ya…

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Yoga Swings – Inversions & Backbends
Yoga Exercises

THOUGHTS? Post them below…

Written on 05 September 2011 by Lucas under Blog Posts with 1 Comment

3 Tips for Quitting Coffee (doh!)

Dear Yoga Student,

I received an interesting email the other day:

“Lucas, I know coffee is frying my adrenals
but I don’t know how to wean myself off it…
what should I do?”

The first 2 days are not easy, but here’s
what I recommend:

1. Switch to green tea for 1-2 weeks first.
Just have one cup daily. It has less caffeine
and has some interesting health benefits as well.

2. Next try honeybush or raspberry leaf tea.
Both can be brewed very dark and taste similar
to caffeine teas (but without the caffeine).

Drink these liberally (multiple glasses daily)

3. If that’s not working, try a water-processed
decaf (not the chemical stuff)

You will get constipated initially (using GI
Cleanse can help), so drink lots of water, eat
lots of veggies and fruits, and don’t worry. It’ll be
over soon!

Hope that’s helpful…

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC

p.s. One of the most ironic things about coffee
is that as soon as you’re addicted to it, it stops
doing what it’s supposed to do – wake you up!

Within a week of quitting, most people find they
have more energy without it. Lots of our students
use Liquid Clarity-B too. It can give you a nice, natural lift.

Written on 19 August 2011 by Lucas under Food, Nutritional Supplements & Yoga with No Comments

Bike 2,132 miles Eating Nothing but Plants?

Dear Yoga Student,

American Tour de France cyclist, David Zabriskie,
is going the distance eating almost nothing but
plant foods.

And he’s not the only athlete going green…

There’s a subculture of extreme endurance athletes
who swear by plant-based foods as a way to stay light,
fast and energized.

Ultra-marthoner Scott Jurek, for example.
Tri-athlete, Brendan Brazier.

Here’s the deal:

Certain foods lend themselves to certain physical
attributes and levels of performance…

… a body builder, for example, would really
struggle to pack on unnatural levels of muscle
mass without HUGE quantities of animal proteins.

… an endurance athlete would really struggle
to keep his weight up if his diet didn’t include
tons of carbohydrates.

There’s no “one size fits all” with food, but if you stop
and think about what you’re building your body with
each day, as your cells regenerate and you redefine
the building blocks that make up your brain, your
musculature and even your bones, it’s pretty amazing
how much food matters.

Stay bendy,

Lucas
Sun Warrior Protein

p.s. Just a disclaimer, from what I understand, Zabriskie
eats a bit of salmon for iron and takes plant-based protein
shakes. The protein shakes, I think, would be essential.
I personally use Sun Warrior. It’s not fruity-flavored (no
weird chemicals)… just very pure, rice-derived protein.
SUN WARRIOR RICE PROTEIN

p.s. What do you think about this? Would you bike
2K miles eating nothing but plants? Would you bike 100?
Love to hear your feedback down below…

Written on 14 July 2011 by Lucas under Food, Nutritional Supplements & Yoga with 1 Comment

Know Any Good Baby Names?

Dear Yoga Student,

My wife and I are about to have a baby boy (any day).

We have ONE name picked out, but we’re not for sure yet.

Do you know any good baby boy names? Can you post
them here? I’m 100% serious, I’d love to get some fresh
ideas. Time is ticking;)

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC

p.s. Just post your favorite name down below where it says
“leave a comment”. I’d really appreciate your help!

Written on 22 June 2011 by Lucas under Blog Posts with 33 Comments

Positive Thinking Myth: “Smile or Die!”

Dear Yoga Student,

A recent student asked me:

“Why is it that people who are obsessed with
positive thinking are always so miserable?”

I didn’t have a good answer because it’s usually
true. And even more true is that the most positive
people I know have no problem whatsoever having
a bum day – or even a bum month – because one
of the most positive thing you can do is to get
real.

If you can relate to this, watch the short video above.

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Yoga Electrolytes

p.s. Please post your thoughts/comments below…
I’d love to hear what you think.

Written on 12 June 2011 by Lucas under Personal Growth & Development with No Comments

When Self Practice Sucks [extrovert]

Dear Yoga Student,

When people get frustrated with yoga, it’s usually
because they’re trying to do something that just
doesn’t fit with who they are.

Extroverted yoga students often struggle with
trying to maintain a self practice, while introverted
students sometimes get bored or anxious in group
classes at their local studio.

************Quick Quiz**************

Q: When you’re REALLY stressed out or burnt
out… Do you prefer to spend time alone or with
others (when you know you need to recharge)?

NOTE: “recharge” means to take care of yourself
and get your head on straight again. Both intro
and extroverts like distraction, but when you
really want to get balance back, are you with
loved ones or alone?

A: If you’re with others, you’re probably, mostly,
an extrovert. If you go hide in a cave (metaphorically
speaking), you’re probably an introvert.

Extroverts usually have a real battle with practicing
yoga on their own. Introverts will blow half a
Saturday experimenting with new poses and
stretching.

One way is not better than the other, but if
you understand your tendencies better, you
can save yourself a lot of grief and enjoy your
yoga more.

For the right person, self practice is such a
wonderful gift. For another person, the best
option is to become a lifelong member at a
local studio.

Simple enough, right? Sometimes we all forget…

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Sun Warrior Protein

p.s. What do you think about this? Join
the discussion below…

Written on 07 June 2011 by Lucas under Blog Posts with No Comments

“Why You Eating Bugs?” she said

Dear Yoga Student,

“Why You Eating Bacteria?” she said. It was my daughter.
I explained *some* bugs are really good for your gut.

They’re called probiotics (a.k.a. “good bugs”) and
here’s what they do:

*Starve off the bad bacteria by eating their food
*Synthesize vitamins K and B
*Reduce inflammation
*Produce short-chain fatty acids to nourish the colon
*Boost your immunity

In the old days, we picked food from the ground and
ate it with bits of soil and microorganisms all over it.

Today, our soils are no good and our produce is
sprayed, so we have to clean and cook most things.
This is bad news for our good bugs.

Add in chlorinated water, antibiotics, and processed
foods; and before you know it, your digestion is not that
great. And digestion, of course, is where you get
the raw materials to build your body.

But enough gloom and doom. Good bugs are hard
to find;) but not impossible.

Here are my 3 favorite sources:
*Raw sauerkraut (unpasteurized)
*Raw kefirs or yogurts (unpasteurized)
*High potency living probiotic supplements

The first two are really easy. To learn how
to make kraut or veggie ferments, please
watch this video: How to Make Saurkraut

To learn more about probiotic supplements,
watch his one: Choosing a Probiotic Supplement

Hope that’s helpful…

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC

p.s. If you have questions or comments on these,
please feel free to post comments on the bottom
of this page and I’ll try to answer them…

Written on 25 May 2011 by Lucas under 7 Secrets of Nutrition & Flexibility with 1 Comment

15,000 Thoughts Per Day [most are reruns]

Dear Yoga Student,

Neurologists and researches estimate that we have
somewhere between 15,000-50,000 thoughts per
day.

And most of them are fear-based thoughts (how do
I avoid __ conflict?); and maybe 80% of them are
reruns, thoughts we’ve had before.

How can you really measure this? How can we
REALLY know? Well, we can’t. But just attempt
to keep track of your mind for a few minutes and
I bet you’ll find it to be true.

In yoga, they often call it the “monkey mind.” In
the office, they call it “multi-tasking.” Whatever
you call it, it’s really no fun and it’s a classic example
of less is more.

Over the years, I’ve tried just about every method
I could find to calm and focus the mind: meditation,
pranayama (yogic breathing), alpha wave music,
chanting, and prayer.

All those things work pretty well, but most people
(myself included) use them as treatments for a
crazy mind and aren’t addressing the fact that…

… there’s simply too much data coming in.

No matter where you live, it’s really easy to cut
the clutter coming into your brain each day and to
be more selective about what you get to think about.

One of the simplest ways is to stop watching or
reading the news. Personally, I unplug my phone
and keep in a dresser so it never rings. This is
extreme, but as long as you don’t mind a little
berating from friends and relatives (What? You
don’t have a TV!) it’s a really great way to reduce
your thoughts.

And when you’re thinking about less stuff, it’s
then possible that a huge chunk of your thoughts
can be positive, productive, and pleasurable.

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC

p.s. If you have any tips or tricks for cutting the
in-coming clutter from your life, I’d love to hear
your thoughts here below….

Written on 11 May 2011 by Lucas under Blog Posts with No Comments

3 Sore Body Foods [and why they might not work]

Dear Yoga Student,

If you’re stretching and doing lots of yoga, you’re
bound to get sore. It’s normal… all part of the
process.

You’re also bound to start craving different kinds
of foods. That’s your body telling you what it needs
to make the changes you’re asking of it.

Here are 3 GREAT sore body foods to help your
body heal, grow, and change.

PINEAPPLE – fresh stuff is loaded with bromelain,
a powerful enzyme with anti-inflammatory and
healing properties.

*When it doesn’t work* canned fruit or processed
juice is very weak. You need the fresh stuff with
active enzymes.

GINGER – eat a chunk of this fresh root vegetable
to flight inflammation and warm your body for
practice.

*When it doesn’t work* forget ginger tea in bags.
They contain so little ginger, it’s really just
“ginger-flavored.” To get medicinal benefits,
you need to consume a nice-sized chunk, either
chopped in a salad or blended in a smoothie.

OMEGA-3‘S – these fats are great for your nervous
system, and strong yoga practice is just as
much a test of your nerves as it is your tissues.
Omega-3′s are also anti-inflammatory and good
for your brain.

*When it doesn’t work* you must consume fresh
chia seeds (http://www.yogabodynaturals.com/yogaseeds), flax
seeds, or eat fresh cold water fish. The majority
of the omega-3′s people are eating have been
cooked or processed. Freshly ground or soaked
seeds are a very inexpensive, convenient option.

Hope that’s helpful…

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC

p.s. One of my favorite post-yoga juices is
pineapple-ginger-coriander. It’s really great
for your sore body and tastes great too.

Written on 08 April 2011 by Lucas under Food, Nutritional Supplements & Yoga with No Comments

When Natural Medicine is NOT Strong Enough

Dear Yoga Student,

I’m a natural kinda guy…

I avoid the doctor, I eat organic foods, and I
rarely take pharmaceuticals.

But sometimes the alternative medicine camp
really pisses me off.

Case in point: I recently heard about Patrick
Swayze’s pancreatic cancer that turned fatal. I don’t
pay attention to stars, but the natural vs. chemo
treatment debate that it sparked certainly caught
my attention.

And when his cancer/chemo proved fatal, the natural
medicine camp had a field day blaming mainstream
cancer treatment.

Modern medicine has saved my own life at least
3 times that I can remember:

1992 – my appendix got infected and nearly burst.
Without surgery and antibiotics, I would be dead.

2005 – scraped my toe on a piece of coral while
diving. Severe blood infection. If not for antibiotics,
I would have lost my leg or my life.

2006 – sliced a tiny chunk off my thumb with a
dirty knife (kitchen accident). By the time I went
to the doc, I had a blood infection all the way up
my arm and neck.

Now I’m a guy who rolls his eyes at 90+% of the
garbage medications people are taking, and I’ve
personally been clinically diagnosed with a laughable
list of nonsense conditions – simple ailments
that a salad and some exercise could fix in a
week.

But, if some day they find a baseball of a tumor
in my brain, you better believe I’m going to the
health food store…

… right AFTER I go see the oncologist.

You see, mainstream medicine is TERRIBLE at
prevention because that’s not their business.
Prevention doesn’t sell.

So what they DO sell is treatment, and yes,
sometimes cures. And for that, they are the
pros.

Do they mess up? Of course. Hundreds die daily
from medical mess ups. But hundreds of thousands
live that would otherwise have died.

The natural health camp goes to the other
extreme… saying everything is preventable
with a little ginger root and positive vibrations.

(people actually suggested that Patrick
Swayze treat advanced pancreatic cancer
with oleander and black cumin seed oil alone)

And this natural fanaticism is just as crazy and
illogical as the doctor who puts women patients
on Prozac for PMS.

Preferring natural treatments is a great way
to live, but recognizing that someday you
might need that doc and his prescription
pad is also important.

Here’s what we know:

87% of patients accept the first recommendation
for a major surgery WITHOUT a 2nd opinion.

That’s foolish.

But flying to Mexico and doing H202 enemas for
months while starving yourself on Acai Berry juice
is beyond foolish. It’s asinine.

My man, Dr. Mark Hyman is part of the new “functional
medicine” crew who approach health holistically and
focus on natural, natural, natural – until you need
something stronger.

I think this makes a lot of sense.

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC

p.s. If you don’t know Dr. Hyman yet, grab
this book (title is cheasy, but it’s excellent)

Written on 16 March 2011 by Lucas under Food, Nutritional Supplements & Yoga with No Comments

5 Things I Learned in California

Dear Yoga Student,

California has more yoga studios per capita
than any place I know and every 5th person
is (or was) either a real estate agent, a yoga
teacher – or both!

For me, California never stops being an amazing,
frustrating and compelling part of the world for me.
Here’s what I learned my last visit:

(1) Organic food CAN be really affordable
(Trader Joe’s & local farmers’ markets offer
really great prices on really great foods)

(2) Sunshine is one of the most powerful
healing elements

(3) You can find (and eat) wild fennel on the
hiking trails on Palos Verdes Peninsula (email
me for directions if you’re going that way)

(4) Trail running is more fun and feels effortless
compared to running on concrete

(5) Not having to drive most days is a real
luxury no matter where you live

Hope your yoga practice is going well…

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC

p.s. The health food stores in Southern California
are outstanding, really the best in the world. But
even still, I’ve yet to find a probiotic available at
even the best health food store that is even 1/2
as potent as our Happy Belly formula. Have you
seen it? 50 BB CFU Probiotics

Got comments or questions? Please share them down
below…

Written on 16 March 2011 by Lucas under Blog Posts with No Comments

Stretching Before or After Workout?

Dear Yoga Student,

Question from Thomas (in Maine):

“I’m a runner and I find yoga really helps me recover
quickly and prevent flare ups in my knees… but I’m
not sure if I should do yoga before or after running.
Does it matter?”

Answer:

To do short hold and dynamic stretches before any
form of exercise (tennis, weight lifting, jogging) is a
great idea. These types of stretches are not about
gaining flexibility, they’re all about warming up and
preparing your body for more intensity.

For example, a runner who pulls his heel to his bum
for 15 seconds on both sides to stretch his quads is
never going to gain MORE flexibility doing this…

… but it’s still very beneficial and ACTUALLY the better
way to stretch before a workout (as opposed to doing
deep, passive stretches).

Why?

There’s a muscular component to it, but mostly it’s
a disconnect for your nervous system. In order to
do a very deep stretch (a la Gravity Poses) you have
to consciously train your nervous system to relax
the tension in your muscles.

The deeper you go, the more your nervous system
is learning to let go and soften.

But if you’re doing sprints, dead lifts, or even
hitting golf balls, you need your nervous system
to be a twitch away from full engagement.

That’s the long answer, but here’s the short takeaway:

*Brief, dynamic stretches are best before a physical
workout to prevent injury and “warm up”

*Long-hold, passive stretches for flexibility gains
are best done AFTER your other workouts OR at the
end of the day

This way, your nervous system isn’t getting mixed
messages… when it needs to, your body will be strong.
And when it’s time, your body will soften and open.

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Sun Warrior Protein – Rice Protein (vegan)

p.s. Do you have some favorite pre-workout dynamic
stretches? Wanna share? Post them down below…

Written on 23 February 2011 by Lucas under Uncategorized with No Comments

Do You Make These 3 Sleep Mistakes

Dear Yoga Student,

Do you make these sleep mistakes:

(1) Having your nightmares at night instead
of BEFORE going to sleep?

(2) Using melatonin suppressing reading
lamps in bed?

(3) Sleeping in a room with EMF or light
Pollution?

If you’re like me and struggle with getting
enough, high-quality sleep, then please listen
to a recent teleclass I did with integrative sleep
expert, Dr. Rubin Naiman.

I found this very helpful and hope you do
too…Yoga of Sleep Teleclass

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Sun Warrior Protein – Vegetarian Protein

p.s. Do you have any sleep tips? If so, please share
them below…

Written on 20 January 2011 by Lucas under Blog Posts with No Comments

The Only Doctor I Listen To…


Dear Yoga Student,

I read 80% of the diet books that come out each
year just to see what people are talking about.

Mostly, they’re just hype written by people who
who have no business writing about health and
wellness what-so-ever…

… so when I do find a health expert that is DIFFERENT…
someone I can trust, it’s pretty exciting (geez, I’m such
a geek).

So let me introduce you to Dr. Mark Hyman.

For my money, he is the ONLY guy in the mainstream
teaching health, weight management, and disease
prevention that you should listen to.

I read everything he puts out many many times, and
he calls his approach, “Functional Medicine.” It’s a very
simple practice that seeks to eliminate the cause of
disease rather than the effects of disease.

This is BEYOND alternative medicine… instead of finding
a natural cure for headaches, you instead find the cause
of the headache and get rid of that.

Sounds obvious, but 99% of all medical practices are
reactive, so this is really revolutionary.

Here’s what often happens:

We have a bad experience with a doctor, so we write
off the entire medical community as a sham and start
going to acupuncturists, chiropractors, and healers.

OR

We have a bad experience with a quack naturopath
and swear off “alternative medicine” forever. If
you’re like me, you tend to gravitate toward
extremes…

… but for real health, extremes are usually NOT the
answer. Prevention is. The middle path. Finding what
works, finding the source of problems, and uprooting it.

Fun stuff.

So that’s why I love Dr. Hyman. He’s a big advocate
of a plant-based diet, yoga, and meditation as well…
so that pretty much sealed the deal.

Stay bendy,

Lucas Rockwood
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
B12 for Vegetarians & Yoga Students

p.s. Don’t be put off by the titles of Dr. Hyman’s books like
ULTRAMETABOLISM. Sounds sensational, I know, but
it’s the best health and diet book I’ve found in 10 years.

Written on 18 January 2011 by Lucas under Food, Nutritional Supplements & Yoga, Uncategorized with No Comments

Do the Splits, Man!

Dear Yoga Student,

I’d like to talk to you full frontal and side
splits because I’ve been getting a bunch
of questions about them lately.

So here’s the scoop:

1. Frontal splits are pretty easy to learn in
2-8 weeks

2. Side splits are much more complicated and
some people’s bodies just don’t move that way

Frontal spits involve two big groups of muscles:
* Hamstrings (back the legs)
* Iliopsoas (top of the thigh and deep pelvis)

Here’s why frontal splits are easier: every time
you stretch your hamstrings or the tops of your
legs, you’re preparing for the frontal splits, so
almost everyone who stretches is accidentally
getting better at the frontal splits whether they
know it or not!

Side splits involves the same muscle groups as
frontal splits, but also your groin and glutes…
plus it’s just really awkward – and no other
stretches seem to have much of an effect…

… meaning to learn the side splits, you’ve got
to do the side splits. A lot!

So what do you do? Practice. Carefully.

In frontal splits, engage your thigh as strong as
you can on the front leg and use your hands to
slowly and carefully lower down.

Engaging your thigh allows the back of the leg
to release more and also protects you from
dropping down too quickly.

In the side splits, micro-bend your knees so
you don’t tweak them and use your hands on
the floor to support your body weight.

In both versions, you want to use your breath
as a guide. Start with 20 breaths/day and build
up from there, eventually to 5 minute holds
(5 minutes is the magic number).

A little soreness is good. Pain is bad. People hurt
themselves all the time trying to hurry into the
splits. It’s no use. Take your time, breathe deeply,
and honestly, you’ll be amazed at how quickly
you’ll progress…

… but don’t try any John Travolta stuff on the
dance floor until you’re feeling REALLY loose:)

No, seriously…

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Sun Warrior Rice Protein

p.s. Note from a yoga teacher…
“I wanted to thank you for your so straight forward
emails full of insights!!! I completely changed my
practice to staying 3 minutes in postures and I have
experienced what I haven’t in 7 years!”
(Tataya, Yoga Teacher)

Written on 17 January 2011 by Lucas under Stretching Exercises & Yoga Poses with No Comments

Trickle-Down Yoganomics

Dear Yoga Student,

Politicians talk about trickle-down economics,
but I like to talk about the trickle-down effect
of yoga.

It works like this:

You build flexibility in your hips and your
forward bends improve. You open up your back,
and your twists become deeper.

Our body and mind are forever intertwined in
this complex maze of tissue and thought;
and when we start crafting our physical and
spiritual bodies, it sets off a chain reaction
that’ll flip your world upside down.

I’m not big on philosophy, but I’m huge into
practice. And what I’ve learned is this:

Manifesters manifest. Businessmen build
empires, lovers love, dreamers dream, and yoga
people wake up early and do something that no
one else sees or cares about (for the most part)
except them.

The best students, you’ll never meet. The best
teachers never teach. This both fascinates and
depresses me all at the same time…

… because it means we have take responsibility
for everything. We have to look inside for answers
and outside for inspiration.

Not sure if that’s helpful, but I truly believe
that’s where we’re all at.

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Yoga Inversion Swing – Yoga Trapeze

p.s. Note from a YOGABODY student:

“Thanks so much to your amazing capsules and
teaching. I finally can do a headstand (and
can hold it which I can’t before) after taking
the capsules almost 3 weeks.” (Whimy, Yoga Student)

Written on 17 January 2011 by Lucas under Blog Posts with No Comments

Best Plant-Based Calcium [quicklist]

Dear Yoga Student,

99% of your body’s calcium is stored in your
bones and teeth…

… so people concerned with the health of their
bones and teeth are concerned about getting
enough calcium in their diet.

Makes sense… but…

Most people do get plenty of dietary calcium,
it simply does not get absorbed efficiently for
any number of reasons (lack of sun/Vit D,
mineral imbalances, or an overly acid diet)

So eat calcium-rich foods, for sure, but just
remember that you can’t JUST chow on calcium
and expect strong bones… there’s always more
to the story than just one micronutrient.

—————-High Calcium Plant Foods—————-

- Seaweeds (kelp, arame, nori, etc)
- Tahini/Sesame seeds (uncooked/unroated better)
- Dark greens (collards, dandelion, kale, parlsey)
- Soybeans (best if eaten fermented as tempeh/nato)

———————————————————————-

Of all of the above, green veggies are something
you can and should eat every day, and sesame
seeds or tahini (if raw) is a really great addition
to sauces and dressing including hummus.

Other great sources included nuts and seeds, figs,
beans, quinoa, and broccoli.

Hope that’s helpful…

Stay bendy,

Lucas
Sun Warrior Protein

p.s. Do you have favorite calcium-rich food? If so, please share below:

Written on 16 January 2011 by Lucas under Food, Nutritional Supplements & Yoga with No Comments

Bugs in My Gut? (oh my!)

happy belly

Dear Yoga Student,

There are 10x more bacteria cells in your body
than human cells…

… which is enough to fill a half gallon jug! (bacteria
cells are much smaller than human cells… but
there are tons of them!)

So this 1/2 gallon jug of bugs includes a delicate
balance of good to bad bacteria that are essential
to maintaining your health.

Yup, that’s right:

There are bad bugs inside you now – hopefully
getting beat up daily by your good bugs, sometimes
called “beneficial microflora.”

These living organisms help with all sorts of
metabolic functions including the digestion of
your food.

When people talk about “living foods” they
are talking about beneficial bacteria-laden foods
like kefir, yogurts (unpasteurized), krauts, and
nato.

I eat fermented foods (homemade) at least 3x
per week and they make me feel great. They
reduce bloating, clear up my skin and give me
a really natural lift in energy.

… and when I’m traveling and can’t get living
foods (or whenever my digestion needs some help),
I also use a probiotic supplement.

Probiotics are supplements that contain dried
(but active) beneficial bacteria. This is a manual
way to add to your “good guy” bacteria troops
really quickly.

With probiotics, you want a minimum of 5 strains
and a potency of at least 25 billion CFU’s (personally,
I only use 10 strains and 50 BB CFU’s as I find it
more effective).

Here’s what a probiotic, beneficial bacteria supplement
can do for you:

* Produce natural compounds that ward off
pathogenic bacteria, yeasts and viruses
* Reduce digestive mucous
* Starve off pathogenic bacteria (if there are enough good guys)
* Produce short-chain fatty acids for gut health
* Boost immune system
* Synthesize Vitamins B & K

So the question is: How are your bugs doing?

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Sun Warrior Protein – Lean, Yoga Strength

p.s. How much sugar you eat (less is better) is a
huge determining factor in your gut bacteria health.
GET THE FULL STORY HERE
(on that page, scroll down for info on the probiotic I use)

Written on 11 January 2011 by Lucas under Food, Nutritional Supplements & Yoga, Uncategorized with No Comments

The Physics of Yoga Strength [interesting]


Dear Yoga Student,

If you’ve ever seen a buffed up yoga
teacher with giant biceps and budging
pecs…

… you can be sure he or she did NOT get
that body-builder physique doing yoga
poses.

Here’s why:

Yoga builds FUNCTIONAL strength, not for show,
but for real life, real power. Ask any yoga teacher
and they’ll tell you a similar story where a buffed
up gym rat comes to class with biceps bigger
than the teacher’s legs…

… and yet he can’t hold a chaturanga (half
pushup) or side plank (side pushup) for more
than 3 seconds while the skinny guy next to him
can stick a handstand for 1 minute.

And here’s why this matters:

Yoga DOES build strength, but not in the way
you’d normally think of. Firstly, it builds dynamic
muscle balance as opposed to mass which is
extremely useful no matter what your goals.

Secondly, it builds greater range of motion, which
by definition, equals greater strength.

Here’s the formula:

*Range of Motion x Force = Output of Power*

A pitcher with a strong arm who has a
pathetic reach due to his tight shoulders
can’t hurl the ball as fast.

A golfer who is build like a truck but whose
hips are locked up can’t compete with his
weaker yet bendy competitors.

Long tissues, strong body. Short tissues, weak.

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Sun Warrior Protein

p.s. For the record, there are LOTS of very smart,
very functional weight trainers and body builders…
lean muscle is one of the secret keys to fitness
when done right.

Has yoga made you stronger? Post your story
below…

Written on 22 December 2010 by Lucas under Stretching Exercises & Yoga Poses, Uncategorized with No Comments

Your Biography Becomes Your Biology

Dear Yoga Student,

I came across a quote the other day by author/speaker
Carolyn Myss that really struck a chord.

She says:
“Your biography becomes your biology.”

What you do, what you eat, how you live your
life quickly becomes who you are on the very
visceral knees, ankles, shins & toes level.

With yoga and nutrition, I like to think of each
day as a building block, a biography being written
that is constantly updating my biology.

How is this practice, this pose, this food going
to create my body tomorrow?

Things to think about:

(1) What is your “story” and how is that freeing
or limiting your body and health?

(2) If you could rewrite your story (or change
the ending), what would you change?

(3) If your actions are your building blocks, what
actions can you start taking now to ensure your
“happy ending” comes BEFORE the end?

Stay bendy,

Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Yoga Inversion Swing

p.s. Love to hear your thoughts on this. Post them
on the bottom of this page here if you’d like to share:

Written on 22 December 2010 by Lucas under Personal Growth & Development with No Comments