Energy for the human body

Many years ago, a wonderful friend gave me a used copy of Viktoras Kulvinskas planetary healers manual. At the time, I was a volunteer at a religious retreat and had plenty of time in the evenings to read. I’m sure I read that book multiple times.

About a year ago, I ordered up another copy and read it, again, cover to cover. By today’s standards, I have to say that book cracks me up. It’s, oh … so groovy man, you gotta just feel the vibes. Lol.

Yet, I have to hand it to Viktoras Kulvinskas, he’s still selling copies and I’m sure that book was divinely inspired. The best part about that book was that he approached his topics with just enough science backing to make you believe that the subjects just might hold a little truth.

On topic that he covers, but doesn’t cover very well is the idea of Breatharianism. The idea that someone could live on nothing but the life force in the air. I’ve always thought it curious and magical at the same time.

When I brought this idea up to my older daughter, she immediately stated “they cheat. No one can live on air.” My response was along the lines, ‘are you sure’?

When it comes down to measuring a lot of things in life, we can say with confidence that, say, when you let go of an apple, it will fall to the ground. Yet, people like to generalize things and so they make absolute statements like ‘if you let go of it, it will fall to the ground.’ But, is that really true in the absolute sense?

The absolute measuring may not apply to the human body. We may ‘think’ we understand how the human body works, but what I’m discovering is that we (as scientists) have discovered how a bunch of the little processes seem to behave within the body and some classic cause and effect situations. But not the full end-to-end story.

In the simple case, the generality is: Sugar gives the body energy. This statement then gets turned upside down so as to state: the energy that the body needs is acquired from sugar. But is that really the truth?

Let’s come back around to that concept of breatharianism. That idea was a key trigger inspiring me to write the post on Prana. Might there really be energy in the air? Might there be enough to sustain someone?

Or, is there another source?

Part of the reason for revisiting this topic is because I came across an article on MSN that talked about ‘the Starving yogi’. He claims to have not eaten since he was 15 (or twelve depending on the source). To me, the MSN article has sensationalized the science behind the 10 (or 15 depending on which news source you read) day ordeal in order to get readership up.

My first reaction to the article was – He’s not starving! If he was hungry he would have eaten something!

Then, if you visit this other article, it looks like one of the scientists is quoted as saying:

If Jani does not derive energy from food and water, he must be doing that from energy sources around him, sunlight being one,” said Shah.

Deriving energy from water? That is new to me.  I’ll overlook that, for everyone can be mis-quoted.

Looking a little deeper, it turns out that there is a video clip on YouTube titled pranasynthesis that is absolutely worth the 4.25 minutes.

What’s unfortunate about this video is the female scientist that’s interjected just about 3 minutes in. And, of course, the editing of her ‘impossible’ statements into the legitimate interview that they are doing with the scientist (Shah) applies someone else’s agenda to the video clip, but we can watch with an open mind.

The narrator also mentions that Shah has a theory about how this yogi survives – he’s feeding off the sun – solar gazing. He goes into details about what must be done. It’s pretty clear that Shah is open minded about the process. Yet, the female is edited in again with a series of misleading “impossible” statements that are really… irrelevant to the observation. Of course people don’t do photosynthesis – plants do that to store energy. What if he’s using the energy directly?

And, by the way, she states that plants generate their own energy supply via photosynthesis (about 3:40 seconds in). That, in my understanding, it technically incorrect. Plants receive energy from the sun and store it in sugars. Plants do not generate energy, they use it and store it.

Now, what they seem to skip over is the Yogi explaining how hs is able to manage (just over 4 minutes into the video) to stay energized. The narrator says, the sun transmits energy through a hole in the holly man’s throat producing a sticky solid lump that he can digest. Then, he states that it refuels the chakra energy points in his body. These words completely contradict the female talking about photosynthesis, for the yogi knows he is not recieving his energy through photosynthesis.

Ultimately, this is interesting. The scientists talk about photosynthesis and sun gazing, but the yogi talks about chakras and actually touches his head.

Seeing this video, I have to wonder if the scientists are even listening to the yogi. He seems to be telling them where the energy comes from, but they seem to only hear that they can understand.

I would love to find more videos like this so that I could learn a little bit more about ‘energy’ in the human body. This yogi seems to point out that there are energy sources other than food that are quite enough to sustain life. And, I have to admit that he looks pretty healthy.

Surfing and encountering malicious software

A couple days ago I was researching for the “You full of Crap?” posting and came across some malicious software on one of the websites that I visited. Every time I come across something like that I get flashbacks to different attacks that I experienced in the early days of the net – say, a little more than ten years ago.

Dang, those attacks where full of popup storms where the act of closing a window popped up a dozen more. And every time, the content was more than triple-x.

I have to say that I’ve been lucky to not have to deal with losing control of a computer for quite some time now.

Fortunately, the other day I was able to successfully kill the explorer before doing anything foolish. In other words, as soon as I detected something unusual, I switched to the task manager and proceeded to terminate the internet explorer and then ran a virus check using the software that I’ve got installed for just such occasions.

The scan didn’t turn up anything wrong.

It was at that point that I took a second visit to that sight just so I could gather the following information:

  • A screen shot(or two) and
  • The explorer address

The screen shots follow:

Notice that I caught this software running a progress bar from 0 to 100% at 96%. Just after it hits 100%, it appears to pop up a dialog allowing the user to remove the malicious software. That dialog is shown  in the second image.

Click for larger image
click for larger image

Things to note:

Take a good close-up look at the first diagram. This information is shown inside IE (Internet Explorer) – it’s NOT a dialog like it looks. The designers of this malicious software want you to think that Windows has detected an issue and Windows is trying to warn you.

Aero is missing. One of the cool display items that came out with Windows Vista was the transparent application title bar. It looks like this:

Click for larger image

Notice that you can partly see through the title bar of the dialog showing you what’s underneath. Now look back at the malicious software dialog – you can’t see through the title bar AND it’s the  old windows classic style. This difference can be seen in the first screenshot looking at the top right hand side of the picture. The minimize, restore and close icons are different than the malicious software dialog. If things don’t look right, they aren’t.

Also notice that they cleared out the content of the website.  Why? Because you’re not on the website that you thought you were on. Take a look at the name in the address bar of the explorer. I copied it so you could see the entire address

http://www1.firesavez7.com/?p=p52dcWpkbmqHjsbIo216h3de0KCfYWCcU9LXoKitaVzHysd2lJOCeXBarK3NapqXYWRha2VrlGXIVqPajtfZ1m5do3OL1cytnpl2Wp6dpJ6eU9rPlqdqWpuooWOYXmKZYpGak19oaGeL08ifb1qtp3VlanCUYJucaWNmWqarlmqTYmeZYJqam2RwWJnInriMWKuimHVscXE%3D

I went looking for www1.firessavez7.com and couldn’t find anything useful. But this definitely is not the website that I wanted to visit.

Now here is where it gets tricky. You know how when you click on a webpage the explorer will perform operations for you? Well, these dialogs are itching for you to click on them. Don’t you just want to click on the “Remove all” button? 

  • Don’t.
  • Resist.

If you do anything, click on the ‘x’ associated with IE’s tab. This little area:

Click for larger image

When you click here, the internet explorer will shut the page down. But, the page complains with a frightening warning – that I did not capture. Fortunately, that dialog is a legitimate dialog (look at how it looks) and instruct it to close the page.

At this point, you’re heart might be beating fast, but you didn’t empower the malicious software to install anything!

I guess the reason for this post is to let you know that you can get out of some situations relatively unscathed.

Remember, if in doubt, bring up the task manager (right click the task bar select Start Task Manager) and terminate the explorer. Afterwards, run your favorite virus scan for piece of mind.

If you want to search for more information on this using Google, search for “Security Threat Analysis virus”. Microsoft has a write up here.

You full of crap?

I’m willing to bet that everyone is. Lol. 

When surfing yesterday, I came across an older Raw Life Health Show video on YouTube that caught my eye. It had both Cacao and Colon in the title, so I couldn’t help but wonder if chocolate was …  ah… Let’s not go there!

I do have to admit that I’ve had a couple colonics before. I’ve suffered from allergies for as long as I can remember, but when I finished my first colonic I experienced three days of pure clean breathing! I couldn’t believe it. It was during allergy season and my nose just didn’t act up. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that experience.

Now that video also had the word cacao. If you’ve read through the archives at all you’ll know that I love my raw chocolate. Well, there is cacao in that and it’s not a small amount.

So, anyway, I clicked and watched the video. I figured I’d see what these guys had to say.

Part way through the video I distinctly remember getting the impression that the Dr. being interviewed wasn’t telling the whole truth. Might be that there is a conflict of interest or something, but the basic information is worth the time. Hopefully you will not get the same feeling.

Before giving you the links, I’ll have to state that I am a firm believer that the body cures itself. If given the proper tools (molecules and energy) the body will always strive for perfect health. The only thing that we should be striving for is pure thoughts – let the body do what it does. Meanwhile, we get to use the body to live out our dreams and manifest our thoughts.

If nothing else, if you cut yourself, it’s the body that heals the wound – not the bandaid that you place over the cut. You didn’t have to think about the healing process or help it along other then to pay attention to any sensation of pain.

Back to the videos. Turns out that this interview can be found on the YouTube channel “The Raw Life Health Show with Paul Nison” – thedurianking’s channel (Google that up if the link above doesn’t work).  It is a four part series where Paul interviews Dr. Charles Partito of www.Ejuva.com.

Try to keep an open mind for the doctor can sound like a salesman during different parts of the interview, but he does have interesting information to share.

First segment: How important is it to cleanse the colon?

Second segment: Are all probiotics the same? (#227)

Third segment: Are herbs really healthy? (#228)

Fourth segment: Is Cacao Healthy and Colon cleansing #230

After having watched this, I looked up the websites. The Ejuva website has a highly motivating video about cleaning the colon on the “program” page (see the link). Try to overlook some of the pictures. The testimonial page seems a bit contrived, but Google (I’m sure) can help me find some real customers. If I find some, I’ll link them in here.

Lastly, if I can find some real testimonials, I might just give this cleansing program a try. And, the next time I go to refill my probiotics, I think I’ll order up Moflora. Seems like a reasonable price.

Heat changes molecules

Why is this interesting and why should we care?

You ever try to grow a seed after heating it? Everyone knows that if you heat something too much you kill it. We all take that for granted. We learn that at a young age and simply don’t question it. Well, that is what we will do now.

Why did heat kill the seed?

And, probably more important:

Did the heat kill the seed?

Both questions are kind of puzzling. Why would anyone question how the seed died?

To understand this a bit better, let’s look at the first signs that a seed provides to indicate that it is alive. That process has a well known name, germination. Here is what the Wikipedia has to say about germination:

Germination is the process in which a plant or fungus emerges from a seed or spore and begins growth. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm.

Germination is the growth of an embryonic plant contained within a seed; it results in the formation of the seedling.

So, if the seedling can germinate, we know that the seed is alive. I know this next part is going to sound really simple, but what makes a seed germinate? Yes, I know. This is another one of those things that just about everyone also takes for granted. At the same Wikipedia link, we see:

Seed germination depends on both internal and external conditions. The most important internal factors include temperature, water, oxygen and sometimes light or darkness.

As it turns out, the requirements needed for that little seedling align pretty well with what we humans need to stay alive. But let’s continue to focus on the seedling.

If you look closely at what the Wikipedia says about the effect that water has on germination, we find some interesting points:

Water – is required for germination. Mature seeds are often extremely dry and need to take in significant amounts of water, relative to the dry weight of the seed, before cellular metabolism and growth can resume. Most seeds need enough water to moisten the seeds but not enough to soak them. The uptake of water by seeds is called imbibition, which leads to the swelling and the breaking of the seed coat. When seeds are formed, most plants store a food reserve with the seed, such as starch, proteins, or oils. This food reserve provides nourishment to the growing embryo. When the seed imbibes water, hydrolytic enzymes are activated which break down these stored food resources into metabolically useful chemicals.[2]

So, if the seed is alive, when it takes in water and oxygen at the right temperature and with the correct amount of light, enzymes are activated which break down the stored resources into usable building blocks that the plant can use to grow.

What I find interesting is that the Wikipedia can always take a simple subject and confuse it with a lot of big words. What are hydrolytic enzymes? And what are metabolically useful chemicals?

From this link, we find a hint regarding what a hydrolytic enzyme is:

In biochemistry, a hydrolase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of a chemical bond.

Looking closer, Hydrolysis is:

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction during which molecules of water (H2O) are split into hydrogen cations (H+) (conventionally referred to as protons) and hydroxide anions (OH) in the process of a chemical mechanism.[1][2] It is the type of reaction that is used to break down certain polymers, especially those made by step-growth polymerization. Such polymer degradation is usually catalysed by either acid, e.g., concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), or alkali, e.g., sodium hydroxide (NaOH) attack, often increasing with their strength or pH.

Hydrolysis is distinct from hydration. In hydration, the hydrated molecule does not “lyse” (break into two new compounds).

Something worth noting here is that when something goes through hydrolysis, it is a chemical reaction that splits down certain polymers. Also, form the seed perspective, it’s using enzymes to perform this function. (What we don’t cover here is the reference to pH. That is a article for another day!) Yet, what is a polymer?

A polymer is a large molecule (macromolecule) composed of repeating structural units typically connected by covalent chemical bonds. While polymer in popular usage suggests plastic, the term actually refers to a large class of natural and synthetic materials with a wide variety of properties.

Because of the extraordinary range of properties accessible in polymeric materials,[2] they play an essential and ubiquitous role in everyday life[3]—from plastics and elastomers on the one hand to natural biopolymers such as DNA and proteins that are essential for life on the other.

So the addition of water to the seed enables it to put its water sensitive enzymes to work breaking down the stored protein or other long molecules that have covalent chemical bonds. The seed can convert long macromolecules and proteins into what it needs to grow by simply applying water based enzymes.

As a reminder:

 A chemical bond is an attraction between atoms or molecules and allows the formation of chemical compounds, which contain two or more atoms. A chemical bond is the attraction caused by the electromagnetic force between opposing charges, either between electrons and nuclei, or as the result of a dipole attraction. The strength of bonds varies considerably; there are “strong bonds” such as covalent or ionic bonds and “weak bonds” such as dipole-dipole interactions, the London dispersion force and hydrogen bonding.

If you remember from a previous article (Is food another form of light) you’d remember that when the chemical bonds break down, the molecules give off electromagnetic energy (light) in the process. Thus, light is part of the growing process – from the inside out!

So, if I’m following this correctly, the enzymes are the molecules that first go to work in the germination process that will eventually show up to us humans as a growing plant.

Makes sense that we look at enzymes:

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze (i.e., increase the rates of) chemical reactions.[1][2] In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts them into different molecules, called the products. Almost all processes in a biological cell need enzymes to occur at significant rates. Since enzymes are selective for their substrates and speed up only a few reactions from among many possibilities, the set of enzymes made in a cell determines which metabolic pathways occur in that cell.

Like all catalysts, enzymes work by lowering the activation energy (Ea) for a reaction, thus dramatically increasing the rate of the reaction. Most enzyme reaction rates are millions of times faster than those of comparable un-catalyzed reactions. As with all catalysts, enzymes are not consumed by the reactions they catalyze, nor do they alter the equilibrium of these reactions. However, enzymes do differ from most other catalysts by being much more specific. Enzymes are known to catalyze about 4,000 biochemical reactions.[3] A few RNA molecules called ribozymes also catalyze reactions, with an important example being some parts of the ribosome.[4][5] Synthetic molecules called artificial enzymes also display enzyme-like catalysis.[6]

Enzyme activity can be affected by other molecules. Inhibitors are molecules that decrease enzyme activity; activators are molecules that increase activity. Many drugs and poisons are enzyme inhibitors. Activity is also affected by temperature, chemical environment (e.g., pH), and the concentration of substrate. Some enzymes are used commercially, for example, in the synthesis of antibiotics. In addition, some household products use enzymes to speed up biochemical reactions (e.g., enzymes in biological washing powders break down protein or fat stains on clothes; enzymes in meat tenderizers break down proteins, making the meat easier to chew).

Looking a little deeper into the enzyme link at Wikipedia:

Like all proteins, enzymes are made as long, linear chains of amino acids that fold to produce a three-dimensional product. Each unique amino acid sequence produces a specific structure, which has unique properties. Individual protein chains may sometimes group together to form a protein complex. Most enzymes can be denatured—that is, unfolded and inactivated—by heating or chemical denaturants, which disrupt the three-dimensional structure of the protein. Depending on the enzyme, denaturation may be reversible or irreversible.

There they go using another collection of relatively unknown words.  Let’s look at denatured:

Denaturation is a process in which proteins or nucleic acids lose their tertiary structure and secondary structure by application of some external stress or compound, such as a strong acid or base, a concentrated inorganic salt, an organic solvent (e.g., alcohol or chloroform), or heat. If proteins in a living cell are denatured, this results in disruption of cell activity and possibly cell death.

When food is cooked, some of its proteins become denatured.

Hey, that is the link I was looking for! We should eventually come back to that.

First, let’s look back at our question: did the heat kill the seed? Logically, it would seem that the heat denatured the proteins that make up the enzymes that are used to break down the stored resources that the seed needs to grow.

Looking at this a different way, after applying heat, the seed has no means of convert the stored resources (proteins and carbohydrates) into useful building blocks for growth. Because of this, the seed is effectively locked in a state of not being able to use its energy reserves.

Ultimately, the heat killed the seed. But why the heat killed the seed has to make you wonder. If heat can denature the proteins that are needed by the seed to life and grow, what kind of ramifications does it have on the human body? Doesn’t the human body need enzymes – just like the seedling does? More importantly, if heat can denature enzymes, which are protein molecules, it would hold that heat would change all types of protein molecules.

We see what heat does to proteins, what about carbohydrates?

Let’s look that up:

A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the general formula Cm(H2O)n, that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the last two in the 2:1 atom ratio. Carbohydrates can be viewed as hydrates of carbon, hence their name.

Monosaccharides can be linked together into what are called polysaccharides (or oligosaccharides) in a large variety of ways. Many carbohydrates contain one or more modified monosaccharide units that have had one or more groups replaced or removed. For example, deoxyribose, a component of DNA, is a modified version of ribose; chitin is composed of repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine, a nitrogen-containing form of glucose.

And from the polysaccharides link we find:

Polysaccharides have a general formula of Cx(H2O)y where x is usually a large number between 200 and 2500. Considering that the repeating units in the polymer backbone are often six-carbon monosaccharides, the general formula can also be represented as (C6H10O5)n where 40≤n≤3000.

This polysacchraride is not simple sugar!

Yet these longer molecular structures don’t taste all that great, nor do the digest readily until they are broken down into smaller pieces. Some enzymes can perform this work, but the fastest process is heating. The heating process breaks the chemical bonds that attach the longer molecules into smaller ones.

This can be seen in the simple process of cooking a potato. Does it taste better raw, or cooked? Anyone can tell you that it tastes sweater after cooking. That’s because the longer starch molecules have been broken down into simpler sugars with register as sweet to the taste budds.

What’s also interesting is that plants have developed molecules that humans have a hard time with. Specifically, if we look up Cellulose, we find:

Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula (C6H10O5)n, a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β(1→4) linked D-glucose units.[2][3]

Cellulose is the structural component of the primary cell wall of green plants, many forms of algae and the oomycetes. Some species of bacteria secrete it to form biofilms. Cellulose is the most common organic compound on Earth. About 33 percent of all plant matter is cellulose (the cellulose content of cotton is 90 percent and that of wood is 40-50 percent).

It’s a really long polysaccharide that forms the cell wall in plants. It’s something that we don’t digest well. Cows and horses do a much better job handling this molecule with the help of microbes. Yet, the human solution to getting around this problem is to cook it.  Applying heat breaks apart the cell wall which makes what’s inside the cell available to the body. Yet heating also denatures other elements of the cell.

So, what do we do?

It would seem that heating destroys key elements of our food. Elements like enzymes that we need to break down other molecules. At the same time, our bodies can’t get to all the ‘food’ in what we eat unless we can get past the larger polysaccharides that block our digestive way.

If we want the best of both worlds here, we’re going to have to get to what’s in the cell without ingesting the larger indigestible molecules. Off hand, I can think of two techniques:

  • Juicing

Here we simply squeeze what’s inside the cells out. If done with little friction, which causes heat, the results should be pure and highly digestible by the body.

  • Blending

Similar to juicing, a good blender will apply enough force to the cells to get them to break apart rendering a mixture that still contains the fibrous material along with the ‘nectar’ found inside the cells.

Both of these techniques seem like great alternatives then heating.

This investigation still leaves a number of unanswered questions.

If heating denatures proteins (destroys them) and you consume them. Can your body still use them effectively? Do these fractured pieces of molecules find function in the body? Or, do they create a situation like looking for an intact glass in a pile of glass fragments? (A nearly impossible task for surviving enzymes.) Also, might the body actually use the denatured proteins thinking that they were the real intact versions? What might this cause?

The more I learn about how heat changes molecules, the more I ask myself is it really worth consuming denatured food? Are there other alternatives like juicing and blending – or simply eating the food unaltered? What might be the best choice?

I guess I’m going to have to investigate whether or not the body can create its own enzymes and how that is done. On top of that, I’ll have to look into mucus and see what that’s made of. I heard it was undigested proteins – the above information could support that idea. Pausing and reflecting on the above, I can understand why so many people have runny noses!

The real question is what are you going to do? It seems pretty clear to me that we should be consuming foods with unaltered molecular structures. I’m going to make it a point to do so.  What about you?

Dave’s Yoga Goals

Yoga is a selfless selfish act. It is a self improvement activity that not only improves your own moment of now, but it also positively affects others. It’s self manifested self improvement that overflows into that which is part of your environment. All that you touch, say and think is influenced by yoga and, at the same time, that which you feel is enhanced.

The selfless part is what flows through you into your environment. Ultimately, it is anything that you create. That selflessness is experienced in every word that you choose to speak and every way in which you choose to resonate in your environment. It is your interaction in life. It is that action that actually makes you feel good about the choices that you make.

The selfish side of things is what you get in return; enhanced feelings. The subtle things in life go from being overlooked and invisible to noticed and experienced. Things that you might have been numb to before, become pronounced and energetically influencing after practicing yoga for a while. The insensitivities that we build up to things like ‘curse words’ or ‘vulgar actions’ are no longer tolerated. The act of yoga aligns the self with the intentions of the self so as to amplify your own vibration to the point where you can feel the harmony and discord of other people and things that enter your perception.

I have been open to yoga for as long as I can remember. The problem was that I never made time for it. In January, nearly a year and a half ago, I committed to giving yoga enough time that I could say “I do yoga” with some reasonable level of belief. I started with an open mind and approached class like every good student should – I accepted being the student.

I took nearly nine months of practice to get to the point where I no longer hurt after the hour workout. I can’t remember how many days my butt hurt for hours, but that is mostly behind me now. At about a year, I finally started to feel my body giving in to the postures. It was at that time that I started to really feel good about my practice.

It was at about that year threshold that I really started to notice those new sensitivities referenced above. I am looking forward to seeing what the next year will bring.

Now, before stating my goals, I have to share a little inspiration with you. A few months ago, one of my yoga instructors took a month to attend a yoga seminar. She mentioned Ana Forrest as if everyone knew who she is. I didn’t. What’s a yoga seminar? After that class, the instructor wrote down the name and gave it to me. A few minutes later, I Googled the name and found this:

I watched the entire six and ½ minutes amazed. Upon completion, I promptly clicked on part two:

That, I have to say, is a bit beyond what I’d even imagined for a goal. That is a lifestyle with no time for blogging! Lol…

The simple truth is that a few years ago, I had a view office at work that overlooked a main thoroughfare and everyday, without exception, an old man walked the sidewalk. He always wore a gray hooded sweatshirt regardless of the weather yet he could hardly walk. I’m sure we’ve all seen the old man that struggles to get out of his chair and then, when he walks, he takes little steps while struggling to keep his balance? This guy that walked the sidewalk, not only took little steps, but his spine was warped and disfigured from age. The primary inspiration for me to start yoga was watching that guy struggle to walk the street every day. The best part about it; he was doing it. The worst part about it; I was sitting tensed up at the computer watching him work out his issues.

So, I vow to not be like that. I will have good posture. I will be able to move my hips and walk. I will not have a hard time getting out of a chair as I age. Rather, I will breathe. I will garden. I will be active. I will enjoy the time that I’ve worked so hard for.  🙂

So, to keep it simple:

Physically

  • Perform a balanced handstand for at least 15 seconds

Pretty sure everyone knows what this means. To get there, I’m going to have to be able to do a few more pushups. Lol…

  • Sit Yogi Style

Here is a Half Lotus pose, but I’d like to actually do the full pose. I remember being able to sit that way for a short while as a kid. As I try today, I like the way it straightens out my back. Breathing is a bit easier too.

  • Perform the splits

I’m sure everyone knows this pose, but I’m going with a simple version! Something like this. Nothing complex or I won’t have anything to work towards next year.

  • Perform bird of paradise

Here is a picture. Right now, I’m a ball of shakes as I try to straighten my leg.

  • Comfortably perform the dancer’s pose

Here is one of my instructors (Georgina See the fifth picture down) performing the pose. She makes it look easy.

  • Comfortably Ujjayi breathe throughout a standard practice.

This one might take a little more explaining. The Wikipedia states:

Ujjayi breathing is a breath technique employed in a variety of Hindu and Taoist Yoga practices. In relation to Hindu Yoga, it is sometimes called “the ocean breath”. Unlike some other forms of pranayama, the ujjayi breath is typically done in association with asana practice.

Ujjayi is a diaphragmatic breath, which first fills the lower belly (activating the first and second chakras), rises to the lower rib cage (the third and fourth chakras), and finally moves into the upper chest and throat. The technique is very similar to the three-part Tu-Na breathing found in Taoist Qi Gong practice.

Inhalation and exhalation are both done through the nose. The “ocean sound” is created by moving the glottis as air passes in and out. As the throat passage is narrowed so, too, is the airway, the passage of air through which creates a “rushing” sound. The length and speed of the breath is controlled by the diaphragm, the strengthening of which is, in part, the purpose of ujjayi. The inhalations and exhalations are equal in duration, and are controlled in a manner that causes no distress to the practitioner.

I’m just now starting to be able to breathe this way. I guess if I keep working on it, I’ll get better. Practice makes perfect – right?

That pretty much sums up the physical side of things. What’s more important to me is the spiritual goals. With this in mind, I’ve got goals that go beyond the physical.

Spiritually (during practice)

  • Regularly experience Hu

A couple times now my yoga has taken me to the point where the Hu sound has filled the room. Both times, at the moment of recognition, my awareness cancelled my sensitivity. I’d like to experience that more often – not the cancellation, but the Hu!

  • Be one hundred percent present

For the most part my mind doesn’t wander during class. It’s just went the action and instruction stops. That’s when my mind wonders. I’m going to save that wondering time for before and after class.

  • Give in; no emotional resistance

If I have to cry, I will. If I have to laugh, I will. It’s about the moment and the transformation.

I’m sure I’ll come up with more ideas that I’ll want to express as goals and there’s nothing stopping me from posting those as the thoughts come up. Don’t you just love blogs?

Thanks for letting me share these thoughts with you in this public setting. Keep in mind that if I can do it, you most likely can too!

Share some happy thoughts and make them count!