KonaYoga.com

21 Graceful Days

What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence. -Samuel Johnson

I've got seventeen more days to go on my 21 Day Grace Period. From March 5 to March 25, I'm following Jehangir Palkhivala's Mother Sequence of yoga poses as my practice. I've done it before with glowing results, but this time my interest is on the efficacy of a 21 Day focus.

What is so magical about repeating an action or a prescribed regimen for 21 Days? It hasn't been scientifically proven although you'll find many articles and books claiming "Research shows that it takes 21 Days to develop a new habit". I can't find evidence of any such study being done, but it still seems to work.

Jehangir has had a lot of success, helping people to heal physical ailments by prescribing the sequence for 21 Days, along with a diet of unprocessed and basically raw foods. If 21 Days works like a miracle for stubborn health problems, why not use it to improve other areas of life?

So far, I have written:

• Day 1. Why 21 Days?


• Day 2. The End is Near: 21 days seems doable.


• Day 3. Focus: You can't help but succeed with that amount of focus toward one goal.


• Day 4. Look the Other Way. When things don't go as planned., look again.

Your comments, questions or suggestions are always welcome. Mahalo.

Photo: ThePretenda

Birthday Yoga

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm... As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
-Audrey Hepburn

At the beginning and end of every class, we put our hands together in Namaste, close our eyes and think of things that we appreciate. When I open my eyes and release my hands, I do so with the thought of spreading good fortune out into the world.

At least once a week, my parents sit in front of me in a morning class and at the end of class when I unfold my hands it is my wish that everyone be blessed with the love and support that I receive from them. This week I can do more than wish. My mom's seventy-ninth birthday is on Saturday, October 25, and I'd like to celebrate it by holding a FREE YOGA CLASS at 10:00am. It will be open to all-levels of yoga and not for women only (as is our regular Saturday 10am class). Donations to the Food Bank will be accepted in lieu of a class fee.

Hawaii's food banks are struggling to keep their shelves stocked these days. Food donations to the banks have lessened while more food has been going out the door. Hawaii wholesalers and retailers account for over 75% of the foods donated to the Food Bank, but as the Maui Food Bank Executive Director put it, "Stores don't have as much back stock inventory", which means that stores have less to donate.(1) Community food drives bring in some 12% of the total but with thousands moving to the receiving end of the line, Food Bank warehouses are low on supply.

Listed as the Top 5 Most Wanted food items are:

1. Canned Meats & Tuna
2. Canned Meals (spaghetti, chili, hash, etc.)
3. Canned Soups
4. Canned Vegetables
5. Canned Fruits

A representative from our local food bank said they also take produce, peanut butter and packaged meals such as macaroni & cheese and cereals. Since they are not open on the weekend, please limit your contributions on Saturday to non-produce items. My mom spent her work-life in food service and though retired now, continues to volunteer her time in the community. What better way to celebrate her birthday than to help others put food on the table?

We'll be giving away prizes (yoga class passes, acupuncture, massage, Amazon.com gift certificate, etc.) instead of birthday sweets. Come see how I deftly manage to incorporate drawing for prizes in a yoga class! If you're not able to make it to Birthday Yoga this Saturday, please consider donating to your local Food Bank with a Happy Birthday, Clara wish. She'll feel it!

Sources:
(1) Maui Food Bank shelves going bare. Honolulu Advertiser.

Photo: Inner Still

Can We Raise Interest?

“The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest”. - Albert Einstein

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simon Berry, the man behind the campaign to persuade Coca-Cola and it's distribution channels to deliver life-saving medicines to children in Africa, responded to my September 6 post:

"We are at a crucial phase now. Over the next couple of months Coca-Cola will decide whether to trial this idea (or not). Key to this decision will be the number of people watching! So the Facebook group needs to keep growing."

 

I've read related blogs and articles on the topic and while it may not be a simple matter as sending a few bottles of meds with each case of coke, raising awareness of the issue might spawn other brilliant solutions. Here are ways you can help: Get Involved/ColaLife

 

I've joined the Facebook group, Let's Talk to Coca-Cola About Saving the World's Children, and hope my friends will too. I have only 15 friends right now, but some of them have hundreds! Our enthusiasm could become infectious and then Coca-Cola will have the interest it wants.

 

My daughter-in-law brought me this Coke bottle with a live Taro plant. What a perfect symbol.

 

 

Eat Local Challenge 2008

A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety. -Aesop

This year, Eat Local Challenge 2008 will take place in October and I've signed up once again. You may recall my first attempt last year and the list of local foods I consumed for a month. Well I stand before you, fork in hand (they don't make chopsticks for left-handed people) willing to do better this year, even hoping that some of you will join me!

When my mouse and I scurried through the web, I found that blogs and websites have increased exponentially on the subject of eating locally in just one short year! Where food is concerned, we've been inundated with the good: "eat your fruits and vegetables and avoid trans-fats", the bad:"obesity in the U.S. is at an all-time high", and the ugly: "beware of E. coli, salmonella, cancer and heart disease". Rather than retreating in fear and denial, many intelligent optimists are stepping forward with their plates and palates and suppliers are eager to meet their demands.

What I really love about the whole Eat Local/Slow Food notion, are the precepts of self-responsibility and sustainability, for the good of all concerned. Even though I made a concentrated effort for just one month last year, my buying habits have changed. I'll choose fresh, local produce at the supermarket before I buy jet-lagged, organic fruits from South America at the health food store. Many organic choices are beginning to show up in our locally owned supermarket too.The movement is fresh and raw right now but soon all of the big box stores (Wal-Mart has started in some areas) will buy and sell more local products. Good!

San Francisco hosted Slow Food Nation 2008 this past weekend and a Washington Post reporter began her article about the event saying, "This is how far some people will go these days to get locally grown food...", a perfect segue.

If you're interested, use this tool to locate your 100 mile radius, generally accepted as your "local" area, start making a list of the meals you usually consume and look for local sources or replacements. Farmers' Markets are a good place to start. Ask the folks in the produce department where you shop. Remember, all it takes are 10-20 such inquiries and they'll be telling their supervisors, "Everybody's asking for local produce!" It's my own word-of-mouth theory. Above all, keep it simple and make it fun. Change will happen, no matter who get's elected.

If you come upon a few barriers or challenges, that's all good too. Chances are others have experienced the same and that's how solutions are sought and found!

----------------------------------
"Adam Smith was wrong!": Clip from A Beautiful Mind (Russell Crowe), YouTube (02:42).

RESOURCES:

Sustainable Table: Buy Local tips.

Local Harvest. Find a CSA (Community Supported Ag) in your area to purchase locally grown foods. Listed for Kona is Adaptations, Inc.

Blue Ocean Institute: Guide to Ocean Friendly Fish.

The Kohala Center's "Island of Hawaii Food System Project" (pdf)

Photo by Elenapaint

Give These Guys a Name!

  These are the floor locks in our studio for the sliding walls. I look at these sweet faces everytime I teach a class and place my mat in front of them.  They never fail to make me smile so I think they deserve to be named. Can we come up with some names? I'll conjure up a surprise Prize! Deadline: Saturday, August 9. Winner to be announced in next Monday's newsletter and here on our blog.

P.S. I have determined that they are male...no further information.

Please enter through the COMMENT section below. Mahalo!

Samundari City, a little history of Mumbai (as told by a wave)

We've received a new supply of the Mother Sequence books by Jehangir Palkhivala and they're available at the studio for $10 each. Also just in is a very limited supply of Samundari City, a children's book written by Jehangir's wife, Rashmi. The Palkhivalas reside in Mumbai, renamed Bombay by the Portuguese and changed back to Mumbai in 1995 (I learned that from the book) and Rashmi relays the city's history through the character of Samundari, a wave in the Arabian Sea.

Informative as it is entertaining, this book of over 150 pages is delightfully illustrated by Prakash Kurup. I think I'll use it as my guide/travel book when I make the trek to Mumbai...one day soon.

The Full Mouna

This is Mouna Ghoussoub who teaches Chi Gong on Sunday evenings at Kona Yoga. Mouna grew up in Lebanon and moved to the U.S. in 1988. After spending some time in California and Washington state, she followed a friend's advice to come and visit the Big Island. A planned month-long trip has lasted four years, and counting. Mouna is also a Chi Nei Tsang practitioner and sees clients at Kona Yoga.

When she's not at the studio, you might find her at Eden (one of my favorite stores) in the Kopiko Plaza or in the deep blue with Deron (one of Mouna's favorite people).

Contact Mouna for information on her classes, to make an appointment for a Chi Nei Tsang treatment or just to say "Aloha".

Bounce Bebe at Kona Yoga

Kona Yoga is happy to announce that Perry "P.K." Longno, who's a certified personal trainer (NASM) and certified in Group Fitness (AFAA), recently created an instructional video for her Bounce Bebe workout.  Perry and her son Cruz, lead other moms and babies through the workout at our studio on Fridays at 11am.

It's a great way for new moms to get back in shape under the guidance of a trained fitness professional with their babies right there with them.

The DVDs are on sale for $19.95 at Kona Yoga and through the Bounce Bebe website. P.K. just can't stop the creative process...thank goodness!

Josh Skaller for City Council

In yesterday's Kona Yoga Newsletter, I asked, "Who Is This Man?" and promised to give an answer today. Those who didn't want to wait could click the photo for an answer and the number was.....record-breaking.

The man is Josh Skaller, running for a seat on the New York City Council (39th district in Brooklyn) in 2009. So why do I, living in the District of Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, care? Because I know Josh Skaller.

Josh and my brother Jason Uechi, have been friends since college and Josh was Jason's best man at his wedding. Family in Kona traveled to Massachusetts for the wedding.  Then Jason and his wife Heidi, along with Josh and his wife Kelly, came back to Hawaii for a local wedding reception. Both couples now each have a son.

Sounds quick and simple, but years have passed and lives have been enriched. Jason and Heidi left Brooklyn a few years ago and just bought a home in New Jersey but Jason's convinced that Josh is the "Best Man" for the job.

When you're new to the game and your campaign war chest is filled with more conviction and enthusiasm than money, your face beams with that energy. If clicks on a website counted as votes, you're well on your way, Josh! You may be the only candidate in the race for NYC City Council with a campaign office in Hawaii! IMUA!

...and Baby Makes Three

Danielle won't be in class today, now we're certain. She gave birth to Ayden Danger Deshotel this past Tuesday, March 18, at 4:24pm. Ayden weighed 8.2 pounds and stretched out to a full 21 inches!

Congratulations, Dani and Ben. This will put a smile on the faces of those still doing their wall squats! :D