How do you draw closer to God through yoga? You allow the slow intentional, meditative practice to train your heart and mind for silence. Worship is a conscious act of the mind. When you learn to become quiet and still, you are creating a heart that is teachable. Christians are instructed to "be still and know" which allows God to speak to the uncluttered mind.

Suggesting that yoga cannot be separated from its Eastern history and therefore should not be practiced by Christians is like saying Christians cannot enjoy the sunshine God provides because some religions actually worship the sun.

Yoga is a universal practice that is thousands of years old, predating Hinduism, and was not designed for a specific religion. It is considered a framework or guideline to direct people toward greater spiritual growth and physical health. Therefore, yogic principles and disciplines can be used in the context of any faith (or none at all.) Easterners were simply the first to appreciate it and to apply it to their belief systems.

Since yoga is a philosophy and not a religion, it does not make specific statements about a deity, nor does it require students to believe in concepts such as karma or reincarnation. Yoga is designed to equip students to find the inner meanings of their own religion, understanding it on a deeper level. When practiced within the context of one’s faith, yoga can restore the student to the intimate relationship with God, which is at the center of Christian faith.

Fall has arrived and with it, pumpkin season. There are always plenty of pumpkins to carve up around Halloween time and a great way to make use of the seeds is to eat them, salted and toasted.

Pumpkin seeds were adopted in traditional Chinese medicine in the seventeenth century, where they were considered to be a symbol of prosperity and health. Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, many valuable minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, fiber and beta-carotene. Rich in zinc, pumpkin seeds have been used as an effective treatment for enlarged prostate. They are a soothing diuretic and have been used for centuries to relieve an irritable bladder. Additionally, the unusual amino acid, cucurbitin, in pumpkin seeds is said to be a very efficient remedy for killing intestinal parasites. Another rare amino acid in pumpkin seeds is called myosin, and it is the primary protein constituent of nearly all muscles in the body and important in the chemistry of muscular contraction.

Pumpkin seeds are helpful in alleviating nausea, motion sickness and travel sickness. Some promising research has indicated that they are also helpful in preventing some cancers. The seeds have been thought to be useful for psychological treatments, and some studies have demonstrated that the L-tryptophan content in them may help ease depression. WOW! So much goodness in such a tiny package!

One medium sized pumpkin
Salt
Olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut open the pumpkin and use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.
2. In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a tablespoon of salt for every cup of water. Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.
3. Spread about a tablespoon of olive oil over the bottom of a cookie sheet. Spread the seeds out over the cookie sheet, all in one layer. Bake on the top rack for 20 minutes or until the seeds begin to brown. When browned to your satisfaction, remove from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack. Let the seeds cool all the way down before eating. Either crack to remove the inner seed. This is a lot of work and in my opinion, unnecessary, so just eat whole. ENJOY!

Can you really be blamed for being an unbridled child who enjoyed life outside and gave no thought to sunscreen? Well, of course not. But, if you're using the "damage is done" argument as an excuse for not wearing sunscreen now, it's time to let go and move on to sunscreen-filled days. While it's true that sun exposure early on in life is responsible for 80% of the damage we see by the age of 18, it's not to late to start impending any damage you could be accruing right now - maybe even at this very minute!

Fifteen minute walks outside and occasional lunches outdoors can add up to an increase in hyperpigmentation (age spots), sensitivity, weakened collagen and elastin in skin, and, of course, skin cancer. And, even if you don't see pink or red skin after being in the sun, that doesn't mean that the sun hasn't made its mark.

In short, leave your tanning days behind you, and start taking control of the health of your skin today by adding sunscreens to your regimen. Sunscreen are your greatest weapon in helping to control the severity of pigmentation and damage from UV light, as well as helping to prevent the signs of premature- aging caused by UV exposure. In fact, sun protection ingredients are the only true ingredients that are "anti-aging", as they help impede UV damage from breaking down collage and elastin in skin. And with new sunscreen technology that won't clog pores, won't cause excess irritation (redness and burning) and won't feel chalky or greasy, it's much easier to comfortably make them a part of your daily skin care regimen.

HATHA YOGA
Custom tailored to your ability and intention, this class includes guidance for safe, correct and effective breathing, posture, stretching, strengthening and balance, while incorporating traditional elements such as centering breath, chanting, relaxation and meditation. This class is taught for all levels of experience.
Tue & Thurs 9:00 am & 5:30 pm

FLOW
This is a dynamic yoga, tai chi and Pilates workout that leaves you feeling long, strong, centered and calm. Each class follows a set sequence of exercise disciplines to contemporary music and is made up of 45 minutes of simple yet challenging exercises followed by ten minutes of relaxation and meditation. Options will be presented according to your level of fitness.
Mon, Wed and Sat 9:00 am

CHINESE YOGA
A unique combination of Qigong and tai chi and consists of slow gentle movements, soft stretching, and energizing holding postures that dramatically improve health and well being by reducing stress, renewing energy, improving circulation, balance, and concentration. Each class is scientifically designed to work every muscle, tendon, joint, organ, and gland while moving fresh, oxygenated blood throughout the whole body. Learn to access your qi energy and balance the flow of energy within your body. This is our most gentle class.
Mon & Wed 2:30 pm

We believe that Life Coaching is becoming important for everyone to have in their network. Life can be so confusing and complicated at times, it's just good to have a "neutral" source to help you to clarify a situation and to find positive solutions Designing life strategies and being proactive gives us the power to choose the life we want, rather than life just happening to us. A Coach isn’t a therapist or a consultant. A Coach doesn’t give you the answers. A certified Life Coach has completed a two year Masters Program and under the tutelage of mentor coaches, learned to listen, to question, to get at the heart of your situation, to help you visualize an outcome, to create goals and to design strategies for success. Coaching accelerates your progress by providing greater focus and awareness of possibilities leading to more effective choices.

Inline with our holistic belief of mind and body, Sana Vida is now offering Life Coaching services with Professional Life Coach, Carolyn Bates. A professionally trained and certified Life Coach, Carolyn moved her practice from Houston to the Marble Falls area a year ago. Carolyn is a strong and motivated Coach. Her clients have reached the bottom of a pit, the end of a rope. They are ready to change their lives once and for all. She’ll help you to find out what you are tolerating, who and what is stealing your energy and time and how to eliminate that. None of us have time to spend in negativity.

Previously, Carolyn was a Board member and Treasurer of The Houston Coaching Network. Currently, she is a member of The International Coaching Federation, Coachville and Coach U. Watch for Carolyn and Coaching Life Design to be writing a regular column in The Beacon and to be offering workshops and seminars at Sana Vida. To schedule a session with our Life Coach, Carolyn Bates, either on the phone or, if you prefer, at Sana Vida, you can contact her at 830-598-8961 or through email at carolyn@coachinglifedesign.com

“Coaching is one of my passions. My clients are a privilege for me to work with, a gift. Their success is my reward and motivation.”