The July Yoga for a Cause was another great success! There were 18 people in attendance and $293 in class fees and donations were raised for Camp Phoenix.

Thank you for your continued support of the charities in our area.

Most people think of the body as a machine - the heart as a pump, and the kidneys as plumbing. Instead, picture the body as a garden in need of rich soil, sunny heat, and thirst-quenching rain. To be healthy, plants need nutrient-rich soil that is not too dry or wet, too hot or cold. They must be protected from savage winds and extreme weather. Similarly, the human body enjoys health when its internal conditions are favorable.

In Chinese medicine, our discomforts and illnesses are understood to be a result of adverse internal climates and obstruction in the flow of our rivers of qi (the body's vital life force). By understanding Chinese medicine's basic principles, you can learn to recognize when your body is threatened by adverse conditions and how to improve your internal weather patterns. Treatments may include acupuncture, acupressure, massage, herbal remedies, diet, and exercise.

The Five Organ Networks
As Nature is organized by five primal powers- wood, fire, earth, metal, water- the body is divided into five functional systems known as organ networks. These networks govern particular tissues, mental faculties, and physical activities by regulating and preserving qi, moisture, blood, spirit, and essence.

When out of balance, each of the five organ networks displays physical and emotional signs. By observing symptoms and behavior, a practitioner can tell which networks are in distress - where there is congestion or depletion - and what points need to be stimulated.

For example, the kidney network includes yet extends beyond the job of managing fluid metabolism which we in the West ordinarily associate with the kidneys. The kidney stores the essence responsible for reproduction, growth, and regeneration. It controls the teeth, bones, marrow, brain, inner ear, pupil of the eye, and lumbar region, and is associated with the emotion of fear, the will, and the capacity for sharp thinking and perception. So problems such as retarded growth, ringing in the ears, infertility, low back pain, paranoia, fuzzy thinking, weak vision, apathy, or despair are viewed as dysfunctions of the kidney network.

The heart not only propels blood through the vessels, but harbors the spirit and governs the mind. Symptoms as varied as anxiety, restless sleep, angina, and palpitations occur when the heart is agitated.

The spleen is in charge of the assimilation of food and fluids, as well as ideas, so when this network is disturbed, indigestion, bloating, fatigue, scattered thinking, and poor concentration ensue.

The liver is responsible for the storage of blood, flow of qi, and evenness of temperament- so when the liver is thwarted, tension in the neck and shoulders, high blood pressure, headaches, cramping, moodiness, and impulsive behavior may follow.

Through the breath, the lung sets the body rhythm, defends its boundaries, and affords inspiration. A troubled lung might trigger tightness in the chest, skin rashes, vulnerability to colds or flus, rigid thinking, or melancholy.

If you want to see how your organ networks are functioning, call and schedule a digital meridian graph with Patti. Mention this article and receive the assessment for 50% off! This offer is only valid during the month of August.

Do laundry when the day is cool.

Wash and dry clothes early in the day and late at night. Don't forget clotheslines: they generate no heat in the house!

Mango - The very name of this delectable fruit sounds exotic, conjuring up images of white sandy beaches, palm trees, and relaxing afternoons spent in a hammock swayed by a warm tropical breeze. And it's no wonder that this sweet fruit has such an effect. Throughout the tropical regions of the world, mangoes are eaten as frequently as apples are in other parts of the world. Do you have to travel all the way to the Caribbean or Thailand to enjoy a sweet, succulent mango? Lucky for you, mangoes are available from late spring through the end of summer in your local grocery store or outdoor market

DID YOU KNOW...
Covered in an inedible skin, mangoes are an oval- shaped fruit that yield a bright yellow-orange flesh rich in beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a natural disease-fighter, and may play a role in cancer and heart-disease prevention as a powerful antioxidant fighting free-radical damage. Mangoes are also rich in vitamin C and supply a good amount of potassium and a variety of B-vitamins.

When selecting a mango, keep in mind that size and color do not necessarily indicate ripeness. Instead, pick up each fruit. Feel for a heavy weight for its size to indicate juiciness, and press your finger into the flesh to test for a slight yield, which indicates ripeness. Your sense of smell also comes in handy when choosing a perfectly ripe mango. A strong floral aroma should be your pick, but watch out for any odors indicating that the fruit has fermented. If you are taking more mangoes home than you can eat, choose under-ripe fruits that you can leave in a cool room for a couple days to ripen.

Mango Mandarin Sorbet
Fresh, juicy fruit can be easily turned into a tempting sorbet.

Ingredients
For the sorbet:
2 or 3 ripe mangoes, peeled and pitted
Juice from 4 mandarins or tangerines
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons filtered water
2 tablespoons organic cream
Shredded coconut or grated chocolate, for garnish

For the sauce:
Juice from 4 or 5 mandarin oranges or tangerines
1 tablespoon raw organic sugar, such as Sucanat
¾ teaspoon ground cardamom

1. For the sorbet, in a food processor fitted with the metal blade or in a blender, puree the mangoes, mandarin juice, maple syrup, lemon juice, and water. Pour into a bowl and stir in the cream. Cover the bowl and freeze for 4 hours, stirring until smooth once every hour by hand with a fork or, for a finer consistency, with a handheld electric mixer.

2. Meanwhile make the sauce. In a saucepan over medium heat, simmer the mandarin juice, sugar, and cardamom until the sauce is thick enough to coat a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until serving time.

3. To serve, scoop the sorbet into individual chilled serving bowls. Drizzle the sauce over each portion and garnish with coconut or chocolate.

Body Wellness Program

Who: Persons seeking a holistic lifestyle change.
What: Friendly, non-judgmental guidance and support to alleviate excess weight, eating disorders, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, pain, and suppressed emotion.
When: The fourth Saturday of each month.
Time: 10:30a - 12:30p
Cost: $35 (vegetarian snacks offered)
Facilitators: Gina Caccavalla & Patti McCormick.