Saturday, November 28, 2015

Clinging- The struggle and the Strife


 
 
 
 
The law of the universe says that when something is taken away from you it will be replaced by that which you need more dearly. Energy is never lost. It simply changes form. We cling to life because we are ignorant of our own true nature. The ego over shadows our true nature with impressions gathered from all of our life’s experiences. We experience pain. The impression lingers long after the pain is gone. We fear experiencing the pain again. But is pain really ever the same? Isn’t each experience unique?  There is pain and then there is tooth pain, back pain, abdominal pain; each a unique pain. That is why it is important to be aware, control the ego, remove hatred and intolerance and stop clinging to anything.

Nothing is achieved without practice so let’s get started and see if we can practice detachment without indifference. Whatever comes up in your mind, let it go and be in the moment.

 Detachment - Remember this does not mean that you are indifferent or don’t care. You love your children, your family, your spouse, your pet, your parents and your friends. Don’t detach from the love just let go of the need to love and be loved. Let life happen. Things will come and things will go. The key is to remain balanced and centered within the strength of your soul no matter what comes your way. It’s all just passing moments.

Doctor Lynn

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

A Recipe for Sex – Solid on the Outside and Soft on the Inside








Just the way we like it!   Buratta cheese is Italy’s answer to rich, sweet and ever so delicious calcium enriched sexy cheese.  Buratta cheese is one of my favorite cheeses and something that we often enjoy as the main course for a light and healthy dinner.

Burrata is not mozzarella. It is in fact a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream, but is its own cheese. The outer shell is solid mozzarella while the inside contains both mozzarella and cream, making the  inside soft and creamy. The name burratta means “butter “ in Italian so it is often referred to as butter cheese. Buratta cheese can be made from either water buffalo milk or cow’s milk.

Although its fat content is high, a one-ounce serving of buratta has only 90 calories as opposed to a one-ounce serving of cheddar which has about 114 calories. About 70 percent of the content of buratta cheese is fat. The rest of the calories come from protein. Buratta contains about 4 grams of saturated fat and 20 milligrams of cholesterol per ounce. That’s 20 percent of your daily intake of fat and 7 percent of your recommended cholesterol limit. Therefore, when eating buratta you should make the rest of the meal relatively low fat.

Remember, it is not what you eat, but how much you eat of what you eat that counts.

However, buratta is a good source of calcium and supplies about 4 percent of your daily vitamin A needs. And since it is a good source of fat and cholesterol it supplies the good fat your sex hormones need to stay healthy and active.

Cholesterol is actually a crystalline substance consisting of fats. It is found naturally in the brain, nerves, liver, blood and bile of humans and vertebrate animals. Cholesterol is necessary for the proper functioning of the body. It is produced mainly in the liver. It is used by the cells to build membranes. It is also used by the sex hormones and to aid digestion.

There are good fats and bad fats. Fats and lipids are needed for energy and are better sources than protein or carbohydrates. We need added fats in our diets because fats also carry the fat soluble vitamins A,D,E and K. Now our sex hormones need all of these vitamins to function properly. The problem with fat is getting too much of it from the wrong source.

Cheese is a form of animal fat. It does provide a great source of calcium and protein. In moderation non- processed cheese is actually a healthy food. Cheese is one of the oldest foods and for many countries a staple in the diet.

Estrogen and testosterone depend upon a certain amount of fat and cholesterol to keep the hormone production healthy. The key is to eat in moderation and when eating a rich food like buratta cheese, eat it as  part of a dinner salad. That way we get things just the way we like them… solid on the outside and soft, sweet, and creamy on the inside. Sexy!

Doctor Lynn

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

A Yoga Moment – change a bad mood


Ever woken up in a “bad” mood? You create your own universe whether you are aware of it or not. Your moods set up a pattern that eventually manifest into your external world. Your moods create the nature of your day. How do we change these so called “bad” moods?

Yoga is a wonderful way to lift a bad mood and it only takes about three minutes! Sit cross legged and upright. Make your hands into fist and pull your arms back past the plane of your body or back so your fists are even with your chest. Press your chest out and take five deep breathes. Now inhale, hold your breath and punch one fist forward. When you can no longer hold your breath release it and pull your fist back. Now repeat on the other side. Then sit quietly and take a few deep breathes. Relax, open your eyes and begin your day

Using yoga poses we bring balance to the body by stretching it, flexing it, strengthening it and releasing it from its tense and drooping stature. This release then moves within and releases the mind from its “bad” mood by releasing endorphins or the nectar of happiness. Bathed in happiness there is a mood shift within and without. You are a reflection of the universe that exists within. Shine brightly!
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Have a happy day!

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Obstacles: Ignorance, ego, aversion and clinging to life


 
 
In yoga it is said there are three primary fears; fear of not being loved, fear of rejection and fear of dying. But according to karma yoga we never die we simply recreate or reincarnate.

To best understand this think about instincts. We all have instincts and we all have things that come easily to us. Let’s say you can draw or play an instrument without ever taking a lesson. Supposedly you perfected this in another life. It’s called experience and that is why we are here on earth to experience life and develop virtues. If you do something over and over it becomes a habit. If you continue that habit it becomes part of your character. So be careful with your habits for they define your character.

Fear of death exists because we have experienced it before. We just don’t remember. That is because according to karma yoga when we reincarnate we experience a kind of amnesia; we don’t remember our past lives. So we cling to life because we are afraid to lose our life. We forget that everything is only temporary. The constant clinging to life creates fear and fear imprisons us. To overcome fear is to find peace and contentment.

Let’s get started and see if we can work on finding a state of peace and contentment. Clearing Fear – yoga pose (come to class for this)

So it is not that we should live life recklessly, but that we should live life fully with awareness by removing ignorance, from the soul by tempering the ego, remove hatred and replace it with love and stop fearing death. The body and the mind are on loan for this lifetime. Live in the moment with a sense of peace for life is eternal. But remember life becomes what life does so choose wisely. What you take with you from this life will materialize in the next life.

Happy Thanksgiving- take a moment and be grateful for all you have and then extend out to the entire universe energy of peace and good health.

Namaste
Doctor Lynn

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Why are we here?


 
 
 
 
According to Karma yoga we are here to develop virtues of the soul. The soul wishes to cleanse itself of karma in order to connect again with the divine energy of the universe.

The only thing standing in the way is the ego. The ego, which no one has ever seen, is a powerful force. It’s amazing to me that everyone believes in the concept of the ego and yet no one has ever seen or measured an ego.

 On the other hand some people find it hard to believe in the spirit and yet it is equally a force that impacts our lives. The difference is that the ego separates us and the spirit unites us.

 The ego is perhaps the most difficult to release for it is what separates us from others. It is what makes us feel superior, unique and different.  It takes a lot of energy to uphold the ego. The ego keeps us from connecting with the universal energy, which is, full of bliss and harmony.

When you are in a flow with your ideas and actions we are free from the bonds of the ego. This is when we excel because there is no concern for the outcome, but rather the process of creation is all that matters. Truly great leaders, artists and creators simply moved with the flow of knowing that to be void of the ego frees one to produce at higher levels of consciousness.

Let’s get our energy moving.

Transcending the bonds of the ego we find happiness and bliss. When we are no longer concerned with the ego and how we are judged. In this we connect with the supreme energy known as the universal spirit. In this state we realize that we are free to create our reality and that our reality can easily become healthy, happy and peaceful. We just need to release ourselves from the bond of the ego.

Doctor Lynn

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

A Recipe for Health – “Chive talkin”


 
 
 
Chives are good for your health and that’s no” jive talkin”.  Chives were listed as a medieval herb that both enhance food and treat us medicinally. Most medieval herbal medicine date back to Greece and to two authors on herbal medicine; Galena and Dioscorides. After the crusades, discoveries from the Arabic physicians came to Europe. Salerno Italy spread the word throughout Europe. The non-medicinal use of herbs was documented and printed in the ‘housewives advice’ book from the 1500’s and 1600s’. Chives, as a culinary herb, appears in this book.

The health benefits of chives, like most herbs is found within its oil. It is the oil that releases the aromatic flavor. Chives are part of the genus allium which include, garlic, onions, scallions and leeks. These strong smelling herbs have been cultivated since earliest of times as important vegetables, flavorings and medicinal plants.

The strong odor so typical of these plants is due to a variety of sulfur compounds. They are reported to have beneficial effects on the circulatory, digestive and respiratory systems. 

Studies have shown that populations who have higher intakes of allium in their diet show a lower risk for cancers, such as esophageal, stomach and prostate. Further the leaves of the chive plant are rich in flavonoids which are antioxidants.

Chives are a good source of vitamin K. The most important role of vitamin K is to coagulate blood. Although vitamin K is found in food it is also created by the bacteria in our intestines which technically make it not a vitamin.

When chives are consumed with foods they aid indigestion. Chives help the body digest fatty foods, such as cheese. So if you are eating a heavy cheese meal it would be a good idea to add a little chopped chive.

Chives are also a good diuretic. They help with fluid retention, as well as circulation and act as an anti-inflammatory food.

So when it comes to chives; remember there is no jive about it; a little chopped chives added to your meal keeps things movin’ and groovin’!

When it comes to your health keep “chive talkin!”

 Doctor Lynn
 

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Paris - Violence is ignorance, ego driven and attachment to hatred.


 
 
 
The obstacles we must overcome to find peace are removing ignorance and establishing awareness, learning to control the ego so that the ego does not get us into trouble and to both remove our attachment to things and remove our aversion to things. We all want happiness so we attach ourselves to that which makes us happy.  The things in life that make us unhappy we hate and run away from. We call this aversion or hatred. But again we need to realize that nothing has the power to make us unhappy. Both happiness and unhappiness only reflect or distort our own state of being. However, unhappiness is not necessarily a bad thing.

An example would be what happened in Paris. For me I felt very unhappy and even angry. Paris is my favorite city in the world. I felt compassion for the people of France, but also a sense of terror for the world.  The situation reflected my own inner values and respect for life. For the terrorists this situation made them happy. It reflected their values. I felt an aversion and a hatred for the perpetrators. Then I realized I needed to detach and find peace within myself. Hate creates hate and love creates love. So the best we can do is stand united with love and support for France and for the world. Hating the terrorists will not solve the problem. Respect for all of humanity on a united front by removing ignorance, surrendering the ego and detaching and letting go without indifference may not bring peace to the world, but it will bring peace to your soul. Peaceful souls united are a mighty force.

My unhappiness at the recent event in Paris reflected my value and respect for life and freedom. I am glad this situation made me unhappy. It made me aware of my inner beliefs. The world can be a horrific place. It can also be a beautiful place. Whatever the events in life let them reflect within you a value for life and a commitment to do no harm.

Doctor Lynn

http://www.doctorlynn.com

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Spiritual Fitness – love, acceptance, eternal life


 
 
 
 
There are three fears that govern life. Fear of being rejected, fear of being unloved and fear of dying. We all want love and acceptance and to have eternal life. All other aspects of fear spring from these three.

 If you really stop and ponder for a moment you will see that every aspect of life is about love and acceptance and the drive to live and not die. Each of these is a part of the finite world. Moving into the realm of infinite spiritual world we come to realize that we are a part of the great universal design and as such are infinitely loved and accepted and because we are infinity itself we have no need to fear death. We begin to see our passage here on earth as about developing the virtues of the soul and not about the accumulation of material things or the over indulgence in earthly life. The accumulation of things is merely an attempt to find love and gain acceptance. This is why material things, over indulgences and ego driven desires will never bring happiness, peace and harmony.

Be the love you seek. Accept yourself fully and remember your soul is infinite energy. The body and the minds are simply on loan, but the soul lives on forever. In this you will find peace and serenity.

Doctor Lynn

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Can Caffeine Improve Your Exercise Performance?


 
 
 
 
 
Researchers reported in the Medicine of Science and Sports that a cup (actually 2-3 cups before a workout) of coffee does in fact enhance your performance and output. However, what they discovered was that it improved lower body big muscles, but not the upper body smaller muscles like the arms. Experimenting with cyclist they found that when cyclist worked at 60% capacity with caffeine the cyclist intensity improved with less muscle pain. But at full max neither perception nor pain decreased.

The conclusion – a cup of coffee can improve your energy output and performance, but like everything in life moderation is the key. One cup with a small bowl of oatmeal might be the best when it comes to fueling the body before a workout. Work smart and then cool down and stretch to prevent injuries and give the body time to recover. One more excuse for a Starbucks!
Doctor Lynn
http://www.doctorlynn.com

Saturday, November 07, 2015

Be the Happiness You Seek


 
 

 
 
The obstacles that prevent us from finding happiness and contentment begin with ignorance, which simply means we are unaware. The journey of yoga is to bring awareness to your consciousness. For example; what is serenity? If we are unaware of what it is and how it feels we may never experience it. Because we are ignorant of our true nature the ego arrives and it attaches itself to things for its own pleasure. But sometimes the things we attach ourselves to do not come or are taken away from us and we develop jealousy, anger and even hatred for those who make us suffer. That is why it is important to learn to detach, but without indifference. Happiness can never be found when we attach ourselves to things. Why? Because attachment brings fear of losing and fear of losing disturbs our sense of happiness.  Let’ practice letting go. You don’t need to remove anything from your life. You continue to love and seek pleasure, but with the ability to detach and allow life to flow. Everything comes and everything goes – stay detached and enjoy the moments.

 

Let go and let be. Happiness, serenity and peace are already within us. No one or thing can bring these to us. Everyone and everything that comes into our lives is only a reflection of our own inner sense of happiness and contentment. Happiness is found within and then it reflects outward into the world. Be the happiness you seek!

Doctor Lynn

http://www.doctorlynn.com

Wednesday, November 04, 2015

A Recipe for Love – Pasta – you know you love it!








We all have a love/hate relationship with pasta. We love to eat it, but hate it because we believe it is the cause of weight gain and a chubby belly. It gives us energy, fills us up and makes us feel warm and relaxed; but when it comes to dieting pasta is the first thing we dump. Is that fair to dump poor pasta after having such a loving affair?

Pasta is a carbohydrate. Our brain needs carbohydrates to fuel it. Current dietary guidelines call for 65% of our daily diet to be made up of complex carbohydrates.

It’s not the carbohydrates that cause weight gain, but the amount of food we eat and the sedentary lifestyles we live. We are all too quick to blame certain foods like pasta for our downfall; but isn’t that the way it is with love? As soon as love gets heavy we blame the love and not the gluttony.

Pasta is usually served with a good supply of vegetables, beans or lean meats and a light sauce with cheese. With the right portion we can get a complete meal supplying all the essential nutrients we need to stay healthy. The secret….eat your pasta meal with a light salad and finish with a light dessert. Enjoy one glass of wine with the meal. Adding an extra glass of wine, bread and an additional portion of the pasta dish is what adds the calories and thus the pounds.

Pasta is very low in sodium and is cholesterol free. Per cup enriched pasta provides a good source of essential nutrients such as iron and several B vitamins. Whole wheat pasta can add about 25% of your daily fiber requirements. Enriched pasta is fortified with folic acid. FDA regulations require enriched grain products to contain this essential vitamin.

Foods that supply glucose and B vitamins to the brain are responsible for improving our memory, focus and alertness. And what do we need to fall in love? First we need memory to keep us thinking about all those stolen moments of romantic rendezvous. Then we need to be focused on the object of our desire. Without focus desire wanes and boredom ensues. And third we need to be alert to the loving gestures, glances and touches that makes us fall in love. Pasta works so hard to keep us falling in love.

 Remember One -Hundred and One Damnation and the love scene when the two Dalmatians are slurping the same strand of spaghetti and their lips meet? May-be it’s the Italian ambience and the good rustic wine, mixed with a warm pasta meal that brings all the romance into play, but without the pasta would an Italian meal be a meal? Would romance be romance without love?

Everyone whether vegetarian, vegan or carnivore can enjoy a meal with pasta as the base. Something about it makes us feel warm, loved and content. Something about pasta continually draws us back to it even after taking leave. Don’t hate the pasta. Don’t blame it for those extra pounds. Give it a break and try it with vegetables, a salad and a glass of wine. Eat slowly and savors it’s soft and creamy texture and who knows you might just fall in love all over again!

Doctor Lynn
http://www.doctorlynn.com