 Welcome!
I’m not supposed to pick favorites, but I can’t help it: summer is my favorite issue of the E-News! The room is abuzz with excitement as we brainstorm what to include. Nature is in full bloom, farms are bountiful, and life is ripe with possibilities. And our team has some great ideas for getting the most out of these delicious months. Get to know your neighbor—your neighboring farm that is; Eat locally and the earth and your body reap the benefits. Learn to live more fully in the moment. Find out how to keep your gut healthy. Learn a new way to play outside. Plus, how to stay cool in the summer sun and why a Thai massage should be in your immediate future.
Wishing you an abundant and joy-filled summer.
Jennifer Young, Director of Kripalu Healthy Living Programs
nutrition notes eating locally
by Kathie Madonna Swift, Lead Nutritionist
“In matters of taste, consider nutrition. In matters of nutrition, consider taste.” Julia Child surely must have been referring to “eating locally grown” when she coined this famous phrase. More recently, Michel Nischan, chef and author of Sustainably Delicious, considers eating locally grown a healthy act of heroism. Not only is eating local good for our planet because it reduces our carbon footprint and supports a sustainable food system, but, undeniably, eating what’s close at hand simply tastes luscious!
Summer is the perfect time to discover the many available edible delights bursting with nutritional goodness. To help you in your quest for local fare, there are a number of resources available on www.localharvest.org and www.farmfresh.org that can lead you in the right direction.
life lessons the practice of being present
by Aruni Nan Futuronsky, Senior Life Coach
Yoga teaches us how to reestablish the innate balance that exists between body, mind, and spirit. When our minds get out of balance, they overextend, becoming busy and overworked. As a result, we lose connection to the wisdom of our bodies and the depth of our spirits. Practicing being in the moment trains the mind to come down to size, to become an ally—and to allow signals from the body and knowledge from the deep self to come forth. Rather than focusing on what was (the past), or projecting what may be (the future), practice staying in the present moment.
Here’s a summer practice of presence for you: Go for a walk on a beautiful day. Take off your shoes and notice the texture of the grass beneath you. Feel the temperature, the dryness or humidity. Notice the sun on your arms and hands. Sit and watch the clouds as they move across the sky. Let the elements of nature be the doorway back home into the present moment for you.
yoga practice forward bends
by Janna Delgado, Yoga Teacher and Personal Trainer
To cultivate a sense of balance amid the heat of summer, try Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend). This pose combines the grounding effects of a forward bend with the calming qualities of an inversion, so you can stay cool and relaxed.
To start, stand with your feet parallel, 3–4 feet apart. Root your feet into the earth. Create an even balance between your left and right foot, between the balls and heels of each foot, and between the inner and outer edges of each foot. Keeping the feet firmly planted, bring your hands to your hips and inhale, lifting your chest toward the ceiling. Exhale and fold forward from the hips, letting your heart lead the way. Place both hands on the floor underneath your shoulders, or on top of two blocks. Let your fingers face forward and spread them wide apart. Allow your elbows to bend and let the crown of your head draw toward the earth. Now, take 5–10 deep breaths, cultivating long, smooth exhalations, which have a calming effect on the body and mind.
To come out of the pose, stay rooted through your feet and place your hands on your hips. Exhale up to standing, letting your heart remain lifted as you rise. Step your feet together and take several deep breaths to feel the effects of the pose.
healthy living program digestive health
Got the wrong kind of gut feeling? Do you find yourself taking expensive medications or over-the-counter drugs just so you can eat without discomfort? One in five Americans is challenged by chronic gastrointestinal (GI) concerns. If you’re one of them, you can find relief—naturally. Kripalu’s innovative Digestive Health program combines the guidance of an expert team, led by nutritionist Kathie Madonna Swift, with the knowledge and experience you need to remove toxins from your diet, decrease inflammation, and create a balanced GI “ecosystem.”
This was an amazingly comprehensive program. I was given so many useful tools to incorporate into my daily life. I am on the road to better health and well-being.
—Sarah Dumoff, past Digestive Health participant
Learn to enjoy eating again in Digestive Health: A Holistic Approach.
healing arts highlight thai massage
Looking to become more active and try something new? Get your body ready for the summer with a Thai massage at Kripalu. Done on a traditional floor mat, Thai massage is a series of guided stretches and twists that will open the body and release tension. You remain fully clothed as your therapist applies gentle, steady pressure along energy points and pathways. This relaxing massage of yoga-based stretches is a great way to relieve stress and loosen up tight muscles—a perfect complement to any of Kripalu’s programs, or to your own personal yoga practice.
Find out more about Thai massage and Kripalu’s other bodywork services.
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