Yoga- what is it?

Well first of all I would love to thank all of my friend on Facebook who gave their options about my question. The Question- Should Christians and yoga mix? Is yoga exercise or part of something else? What do you think? Is yoga an exercise or is there more to it.
To very honest with you if you asked me this question yesterday my answer would have been quite different then now. This morning I woke up and for some reason I started researching the same question myself. I ALWAYS HEARD things but never knew for myself. I was one who would say, it doesn't mean that to me. I ENJOY THE STRETCHES. But I can't say that any more. Ok, here's my disclaimer.. lol.. I FEEL in my heart that we should love everyone even if they have different views and beliefs as you. I also feel it's about a personal relationship with Christ and not just follow religious view or dogma. Our Father Elohim. even respect our free will, to serve Him or not. And He will not force Himself on a person. We have a choice to follow His ways or men. Ok back to my questions was if Christian and yoga can mix..


The word Christian means a follower of Christ. We have the belief that Christ was more then just a man but the son of the living God. And that God sent his son to save us from our sins to buy back falling men with the price of His blood.

If you consider yourself a Christian keep reading, if you don't the rest doesn’t have much meaning for you.


SATAN IS VERY GOOD OF CREATING COUNTERFITS. And most of the time they confuse people into seeing true from error.

We Christian have the Trinity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity = Father, Son and Holy Spirit

In Hindu they have The Hindu triad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimurti = Brahma the creator, Viṣṇu the maintainer or preserver, and Śiva the destroyer or transformer

YOGA is the creation of one of their gods. Siva is credited for the creation of yoga. Even the poses are a form of worship. One can't separate something that was created by the same origin.
Read the following links and come to you own conclusion. I'm not here to tell you what to believe, but my personal view about yoga has changed. At the end of the day, it’s all about your personal relationship with your Lord and Savior. It’s something you and Him will have to deal with. I JUST WANT people to think about my question. The word Yoga means meaning "to control", "to yoke" or "to unite" you to their gods a way to fill the space between them and their gods. ‘a bridge”

Take it from the source and learn from them first hand. These are popular yoga websites and information from the best in the land on yoga. Notice how they are proud and don’t hide the true meaning of yoga. Even the poses are as part of their worship as the practice of opening ones mind.

Without the Yamas, there is no Yoga
http://www.dharmayogacenter.com/_downloads/library/DMY_Without_Yamas_1207.pdf
Dharma told us “The goal of yoga is Self-realization: to find out who you are, why you’re here, who
God is. God and the Self are the same – exactly the same.”

Beyong The Pose
http://www.dharmayogacenter.com/library/article.php?name=beyond_the_pose

Dharma Mittra “ The Jack La Lanne of Yoga” http://www.dharmayogacenter.com/intro.php is widely known for the yoga poster which shows him in 908 different poses. The poster, originally a gift for his guru, now hangs in studios worldwide, provoking audible gasps and inspiring his fellow yogis around the globe. Originally from Brazil, Dharma Mittra has been a ‘full-time yogi’, as he puts it, since 1964. He runs the Dharma Yoga Center in New York, and at 65, he is still defying gravity by achieving feats like standing on his head with no hands.
Considering his poster, you might assume that a Dharma Mittra workshop would be full of highly technical instructions for advanced poses. But he flowed from one pose to the next, talking more about Lord Shiva and the spiritual quest than to what degree your back foot should be turned in. “Remember, the goal is not to get your foot over your head,” he told us. “The true purpose of yoga is self-realization.”
As we wrestled with the Dancer pose for a second time, Dharma Mittra talked about the importance of dedicating every pose to the Lord - not an institutional God, but the Divine Spirit, the higher self that is present in all of us. “The pose must come from your spiritual heart,” he enthused. And it struck me that the main difference between Dharma Mittra and most of us in the room was that he does indeed practice yoga as if his life depended on it.

The Origins of the Asanas
Asana means posture or pose. Its original meaning, “seat”, refers to the ultimate goal of Yoga asana: to prepare the body for rock-like steadiness in the practice of meditation. While in a seated, meditative pose yogis discovered that a straight back and deep abdominal breathing were essential to comfort and facilitated concentration. From these needs – a straight spine and deep abdominal breathing – arose the whole system of Yoga asanas.
Many poses developed by mimicking the natural positions of the animals for which they are named. The Surya Namaskars or Sun Salutation was originally a worship of Surya, the sun. As a vinyasa of twelve poses and twelve breaths, it is traditionally done twelve times all reflecting the length of the year and the sun’s path across the heavens.Prerequisites for Asana Practice

Make an Offering of Yourself
http://www.yogalearningcenter.com/articles/OfferSelf.cfm?Title=Make%20An%20Offering%20Of%20Yourself
Shiva was in the forest, watching. Yet each time the sadhu's eyes turned toward him, Shiva would gracefully turn his back, revealing the splendor of Parvati, the goddess. For indeed, as those who know whisper, Shiva and Parvati, his creative power, are as one. Parvati is but the other face of Shiva.
The sadhu was so intent upon finding Lord Shiva that he did not even notice Parvati. He saw only delicate mosses, white jasmine and knotted trees bent like sages, and not the dark tresses of his Lord within the forest creepers. Shiva circled again and again, turning each time to reveal some new wonder. The sadhu remained oblivious.
The story of Shiva and the hapless sadhu plays upon the mystery of the spiritual quest, that God is both seen and unseen. Its image of Lord Shiva hiding Himself in plain sight is honored in the tradition of hatha yoga by naming the 'rotated' or twisting poses of hatha yoga 'parivritta', after the goddess Parvati, recalling the image of Shiva's turning. In rotated poses, the yogi takes his stance and then twists, turning his back and reversing the pose. The pose is thus turned inside out, bringing to the fore the unknown -- the part of the body which is unseen, hence overlooked and mysterious. Hatha yogis are celebrants of such mysteries, known for turning things -- even themselves -- on their heads to find God. Their tradition seeks the 'unseen' experience of the divine within the 'seen', within the body itself. Their postures and practices venture into the last place one would think to look, and find there the face and gestures of the Lord. The yogi finally 'sees' when he makes an offering of his own vision, sacrificing his ordinary way of seeing things for the sake of a higher, more expanded vision.

In Anusara Yoga we make each pose an offering. But what are we offering, and how? It's not that God looks down from His heaven like a doting parent and says, "Nice Dog Pose -- thank you!" The monk in the forest must have thought -- at least for a moment -- that he was making a tough and noble sacrifice, one worthy of at least a peek at God. But acts of sacrifice truly mean little and can even be deluded, until we are ripe to see through new eyes.

In yoga, spirituality involves sacrifice -- but not sacrifice in the sense of a painful relinquishment or penance. In yoga, sacrifice is not martyrdom. The body is not meant to suffer for the aspirations of the spirit, for the body is not only the offering; it is the altar, the holy ground upon which we approach the Lord. It is in and through this body that we rise higher, not apart from it. What is the offering, the sacrifice we make? We sacrifice the sense that we are separate from god. The body is not the gulf that separates us from god; it is the bridge over which we must pass to meet Him.

True Living Sacrifice:
The Bible tells us to make our self a living sacrifice to the one living God. Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship.
It’s our action with our bodies and way we live our life is an offering to our creator Elohim
If the body is the temple of the living God, why use it to offer a sacrifice to another god.


http://www.yogawiz.com/blog/yoga-benefits/benefits-of-siddha-yoga.html
Meditation, Seva, Chanting, Dakshina, Intensive And Satsang Are The Main Principle Of Siddha Yoga

What Are the Benefits of Siddha Yoga
Siddha yoga has four basic principles. The first one believes that God is in each of us and we must honor ourselves in order to worship God. We must also see God in each other. The third principle says that the heart is a sacred place and we must explore this sacredness in each of us. The fourth principle believes that nothing that is not Shiva, does not really exist.
Siddha yoga aims at bringing alignment in the lives of practitioners through meditation. It aims at bringing about divine consciousness. Siddha yoga practitioners also practice other things like chanting, dakshina, seva, hatha yoga, retreat and satsang for achieving enlightenment.
Siddha yoga teaches people to live life in the exact way and practice correct actions in all situations. It is about internal development and self improvement. It is believed that people can change their own destinies through Siddha yoga since this practice brings about a change in a person’s attitude and actions. Siddha yoga is also said to make a person healthier by curing physical as well as mental diseases. This is based on an ancient belief that the sufferings that we face now are a result of the karma of our past lives.


http://athayoganusasanam.blogspot.com/2009/05/shiva.html

Lord Shiva: The Father Of Yoga

Shiva! This God represents the process of involution, dissolution, and regeneration. Shiva is the God of death. Shiva is also the father of Yoga. Lord Shiva has the distinction of being the first Yoga teacher, and his first student was a little fish. This complicated being loved deeply, and was not beyond wrath when overcome by grief.

The warrior postures are Shiva poses. Virabradra, a fierce warrior, was born when a distraught Shiva, having lost his true love, ripped the dreadlocks from his head and threw them to the ground. They hit the earth and being hair of a God, were reborn instantly into deadly warriors, who avenged his lovers death. Dreadlocks? Yes, Shiva was a deep meditator and went through a ganga phase. The Hindu Gods are such interesting beings...

Natarajasana, above, is a posture that represents Shiva in a happier phase: Enjoying a cosmic dance at the center of the universe with the Goddess Parvati (Goddess of Wisdom). The cosmic dance called "Tandava" being the starting point for all creation. Symbols in the dance represent blessings, light, and the destruction of ignorance. The dance of Shiva is the dance of life.


Read for yourself from a yoga dictionary http://www.dharmayogacenter.com/library/dictionary.php

Mantra: "Man" means "mind" or thinking, and "tra" means to "release or free". Mantras are sacred sound vibrations, that asist in freeing the mind and to bring clarity, peace and well being. They can be used in rituals, whispered, or chanted. Hindus believe that god, good health, fortune, and victory over enemies can all be attained by chanting the right mantra.

Mudra: Hand movement mainly of the fingers, capable of expressing ideas and emotions. In yoga these sacred hand positions relate to a particular meditation, enhancing the effect of the posture.

Namaste: A tradtional Indian greeting. Two hands pressed together and held near the heart with the head gently bowed. Namaste means "I bow and honor the divine presence in you." Namaskar is another variation of Namaste.

Om: also written as 'AUM' according the Yogi's and Rishi's OM (AUM) is considered to be the sound that represents the Ultimate Reality, the primordial vibration, which is prefixed to many mantras. Om shares many of the same meanings with its Semitic counterparts: the Hebrew "Amen" and the Arabic "Amin." All three are used to open or close prayers.

Well what about Christian Yoga
Sorry that just don’t fit together.. That like saying. Christian witch, Christian spell, Christian enchantment, or Christian magic. You can’t take the good out something evil and call it good for God’s children to do.

1 Corinthians 10:21
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2010:21;&version=49; God’s ways and satan’s ways don’t mix.

Isaiah 5:20-21
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%205:20-21;&version=49; A warning from God not to call something evil good and good evil.

Acts 8 :1 – 24 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208:1-24;&version=49; you will read how the First followers of Christ ( Phillip, Peter and John dealt with mixing of the Gospel with magic for self gains.

Act 13 :4-12 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Act%2013%20:4-12%20;&version=49; Paul encounters an magician who opposed the Gospel and want to stop the spread of it.


Once yoga instructor, now something else!
Laurette Willis is the director of PraiseMoves. This is someone who has teach and practice yoga for 22 years and accepted Christ and developed a safer way to exercise called PraiseMove- the Christian Alternative to Yoga. Go to her website and read more about her first hand experiences with yoga.www.praisemoves.com
http://www.praisemoves.com/christianalternative.htm( read full article)

Below are quotes from her article.

I call yoga “the missionary arm of Hinduism and the New Age movement.” We don’t often think of other religions having missionaries, but the philosophy and practice of yoga have been primary tools of Hindu “missionaries” to America since “Indian priest and mystic” Swami Vivekananda introduced yoga to the West at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.[i]
interestingly, Swami Vivekananda is attributed with the idea of combining the theory of “evolution of the soul” with his teachings of Hinduism. Instead of working out one’s “karma” by becoming a grasshopper, ant or human in progressive lives, he taught an “evolution of the soul” whereby the individual continues in an evolutionary process to “manifest the god within.”

In an article entitled “An Open Letter to Evangelicals” from the January 1991 issue of Hinduism Today, Swami Sivasiva Palani writes, “A small army of yoga missionaries – hatha, raja, siddha and kundalini – beautifully trained in the last 10 years, is about to set upon the western world. They may not call themselves Hindu, but Hindus know where yoga came from and where it goes.”

Swami Palani goes on to write, “We hope this proves useful to you. I close with a quote from Swami Vivekananda, Hinduism’s greatest modern missionary, spoken in January of 1895, ‘What I now want is a band of fiery missionaries.’ It’s a hundred years late. But it appears he’s going to get his wish.”

In the West, the term “yogi” is used to refer to anyone who practices yoga. However, in the Bhagavad-Gita, the god Krishna says that the true yogi is one who has surrendered himself “fully unto me.”

Outer Body
Yoga’s breathing techniques (pranayama) may seem stress-relieving, yet they can be an open door to the psychic realm – inhaling and exhaling certain “energies” for the purpose of relaxation and cleansing (Paul refers to satan as “the prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2, and I doubt the air to which he is referring is oxygen, but rather the psychic arena some call “the second heaven” which is certainly not a playground). Whenever you see the words prana, ki or chi, these refer to “life force” energies (see the notes on hatha yoga at the end of this article).

Both chanting and the customary relaxation period at the end of a yoga session also have an agenda that may surprise the weekend yogi. Before becoming a Christian, I remember numerous instances of “traveling outside my body” during yoga relaxation periods. I wonder who – or what – checked in when I checked out? Whether you believe such phenomena can happen or not, some medical professionals claim such experiences have led to psychosis. (Note: While Christians cannot be “possessed” since the Holy Spirit resides in your re-created human spirit, one may be “oppressed” by demonic influences.) This outer body experience actually happen to me back in 1999 when I brought a yoga class to the wellness center I was running. I thought this was a great feeling and something good about yoga. Until now! It really felt great, but now I know the true reason and what was going on. Could this be a reason why people enjoy yoga as well? - CJ

Ok, what does a Hindu professor say about yoga?
Subhas R. Tiwari is a professor at the Hindu University of America. He is a graduate of the famed Bihar Yoga Bharati University with a master's degree in yoga philosophy. http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2006/1-3/09_opinion.shtml ( read full article)

Yoga Renamed Is Still Hindu
From Hinduism Today magazine 2006

I challenge attempts to snatch yoga from its roots
In the past few months I have received several calls from journalists around the country seeking my views on the question of whether the newly minted "Christian Yoga " is really yoga.
My response is, "The simple, immutable fact is that yoga originated from the Vedic or Hindu culture. Its techniques were not adopted by Hinduism, but originated from it." These facts need to be unequivocally stated in light of some of the things being written to the contrary by yoga teachers. The effort to separate yoga from Hinduism must be challenged because it runs counter to the fundamental principles upon which yoga itself is premised, the yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances). These ethical tenets and religious practices are the first two limbs of the eight-limbed ashtanga yoga system which also includes asana (postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (contemplation/Self Realization). Efforts to separate yoga from its spiritual center reveal ignorance of the goal of yoga.
I believe such efforts point to a concerted, long-term plan to deny yoga its origin. This effort to extricate yoga from its Hindu mold and cast it under another name is far from innocent. It is reminiscent of the pattern evident throughout the long history and dynamics of colonizing powers. Firstly, the physical geography of a people was colonized, then their mental arena. Now we are witnessing the next phase, the encroachment on the spiritual territory of Hinduism which began in the last few decades. Some of the agents behind "Christian Yoga " also draw from the same treasure chest which supports the conversion movements of Hindus and other sacred cultures.

Read what the Southern Baptist Convention said about Christian Yoga: http://www.christianresearchservice.com/LifeWayYoga.htm
Here is another source of information but from Anointed Ministries.
http://anointedministries.org/Jesus_NOT_Yoga.pdf I don’t know him and have not reviewed his background. But the information he shares about yoga is worth reading.


My conclusion:
Yoga was introduced to the US back in 1893 as a missionary arm of Hindu religion. And over time it has grown to a point where it is today 15 – 20 million people practice yoga in US. If someone, came up to a person back in the 1893 with pictures of all their gods, how many people do you think they would have attracted to their religion. But by teaching yoga could be a binding force that could connect all religions was easier to adapt. And that idea of mixing truth and error goes back to the Garden of Eden. The human mind will want to try it, and then slowly a person is introduced to the New Age – spiritual practices and beliefs. What seems harmless; turn out to be the Fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.


Ok, Casio what should I do now?

1. First pray about the information I shared with you. And ask for the Lord to give you an open heart to process this new information. My goal wasn’t to convince you to think a certain way, but I had a conviction to share what I found. And as a Christian health and fitness educator, something I thought to be an exercise method turns out to be something quite different. You have to make that decision on your own. It’s between you and your Savior. I’m not here to judge, but to help share facts. Being a Christian is a hard road to follow, because of all the temptations and ungodly things around us seems so wonderful and a delight. But our delight should come from the Lord Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

2. Search for other safe “exercises” (remember yoga was never created as form of exercise, rather a form of worship) There are other safe movements you can do to increase your flexibility or range of motion. I haven’t made contact with the created of PraiseMoves yet, but I will. But from what I see, it’s something to look into as a safe alternative to yoga. Or just continue to perform basic stretches. There are several posters and book out there.


3. We need to understand we are witness to others and if we call ourselves a Christian our actions needs to display those Christian characteristic that sets us apart form the World. Read Rom 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012:1-2

It’s not a legalistic approach to challenge yoga, yoga is what it is.

Casio Jones.

The H1N1 - How to Fight Back !

The H1N1 flu and human immune system has been front and center in this week’s headlines. I know the following information will be important to you as well.

Our bodies are created with an powerful and complex immune system, and given the proper raw materials, the body can do wonderful things that even modern medicine cannot accomplish. It is known that a strong immune system is critical to avoiding and being overcome by pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Research confirms that the Standard American Diet (SAD) combined with poor sleep, stress and a sedentary lifestyle is a recipe for compromised immunity. People with good diets and active lifestyles are seldom sick and when they do become ill, recover much faster than their peers with poor diets and lifestyles.


Here are a few high-impact steps you can take to support your immune system:
• Increase your intake of Omega 3 (EPA & DHA) together with Vitamins D , and A. Most people are deficient in all three and all three have been shown to significantly enhance immunity.

• Vitamin C and Zinc also helps improve your immune system.

• Add 3+ servings of fresh vegetables per meal and some fresh fruit.

• Replace a daily meal with a LivingFuel Smoothie. LivingFuel This is my store were you can get a can of LivingFuel Smoothie.

• Eat plenty of garlic, onions, oregano, coconut, hot peppers and spices. Extracts and oils of these nutrients can be extremely effective. Try odorless Garlic capsules as well.

• Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar - you can find it in the green section of Publix.

• Wash your hands frequently.

• Avoid places with high risk of infection such as doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals.

• Avoid flu shots and other vaccinations.

• Avoid or minimize medications.

• Avoid highly processed junk foods, fried foods and sugar. This includes items such as sandwiches, baked goods, cookies, crackers, donuts, French fries, hot dogs, ice cream, pizza, potato chips, waffles and other processed foods that contain flour and/or sugar and many other impurities. These types of foods are enemies of sustained energy, performance and immunity. Recent research shows that a single serving of refined carbohydrates given to a lean, healthy young adult is enough to triple their inflammatory response to the surge in blood glucose.

• Avoid overeating which can cause inflammation and compromise immunity.

Please listen to your body and if you feel anything coming on, shut yourself down and get some rest and please go to your physician for attention. The information I shared with you is not to replace anything your physicians tell you. But please understand where your physician’s education comes from. Are they quick to write a script for drugs or are they egger to get to the root of your problem and not just the effect of your problem. You have a choice on how to live your lifestyle, don’t let it get to a point when you don’t have a choice anymore. Take Action and Live..

Quick Snack Tips For The Office

1.Set your alarm ten minutes earlier than usual and use the extra time to make a packed lunch. Include whole grains, lean protein and vegetables. It needn’t be complicated: how about a turky and lettuce sandwich on whole meal bread, with a handful of cherry tomatoes on the side?

2.Buy five pieces of fruit at the start of the week – bananas, apples, pears –Keep them on your desk and eat one each day.

3.Keep a water bottle on your desk. We all know we should drink more water, but it’s easy to get absorbed in work. Take regular sips – staying hydrated will help you concentrate, and ensure you don’t mistake mild thirst for hunger pangs, Add lemon juice for extra Antioxidant.

4.Cut down on caffeine. Switch one of your daily cups of coffee for an herbal tea.

5. Leave your office at lunch time. Go for a brisk walk, or ask your nearest gym for a free day pass and check out their facilities. How about inviting a friend to join you? If you really can’t get out, make some time before or after work to exercise – cycle or walk to work, if you can.

6.Cut the cookies or snack cakes. Do you work in an office where there’s a communal cookie tin – or where peers are constantly bringing in cakes to celebrate birthdays? Buy a box of low-fat cereal bars, keep them in your desk drawer, and munch on one of those instead when you hear the cookie tin calling your name.

Eat More of these for a Flat Belly!

What if someone told you that you need to eat more foods to get your belly down? How would you react? But it’s true in some case an increase in calories is needed to speed up a metabolism. But what kind of food should you eat more of that will help control your midsection? Here are a few foods for you to add to your next shopping list. What could be better? Eating and working on your waist line!!!!


Shoot for a C: Research has found that foods that are naturally rich in vitamin C—like citrus fruit, cantaloupe and red peppers—can help reduce fat absorption. In fact, skip it and you may see your middle expand, since diets low in vitamin C have been linked to bigger waistlines. Meet your daily goal of 75 milligrams by snacking on an orange or a cup of strawberries.

Have a Tea Party: Women with the highest consumption of catechins, the plant-based antioxidants in Green or white tea that may boost fat burn, put on fewer pounds over 14 years than those who drank less tea, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reveals. Try to choose green or white varieties, which contain the most catechins.

Going Banana’s: For a long time people wouldn't eat banana because of the sugar content. I always told my clients to eat every fruit God created, it has a purpose. And now here's proof, by eating a banana you'll stop the midsection bloating faster than ever. The fruit contains 422 mg of potassium, which controls the amount of puff-producing sodium in your body. Grab some from your fruit section or street vendor for great tasting ab-flattening snack. Plus, with about 105 calories per banana, it’s a great pick me up as well.

Whole-grain bread Researchers from Penn State found that dieters who ate at least five servings of whole grains while following a low-calorie diet shed 24 percent more abdominal fat than those who averaged the same number of calories but ate refined grains. To up your intake, swap your cornflakes for oatmeal. Check your ingredients to make sure Whole grain is first on the list or is the only thing on the list.

For you Chocolate loves out there:, my friend Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, the former nutrition director at Prevention and co author of the Flat Belly Diet, states the secret ingredient in the Flat Belly Diet that whittles away belly fat is the addition of a monounsaturated fat, or MUFA, at every meal. MUFAs are found in olives, avocados, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, soybean, flax, and olive and sunflower oils. "Research shows that MUFAs have health benefits and target belly fat. They also help control satiety, so by adding in one MUFA at meals and snacks it is easier to stick with the plan and lose belly fat," explains co-author Sass.

Stroll away your sweet craving: Now if you are have to much of a chocolate craving and know you have hit your limit already. This is for you. Studies has shown that “Chocolate lovers” who walked for 15 minutes reported reduced chomping down dark delight during the walk and even afterward. I wonder if this trick will work when my wife bakes her chocolate chip cookies!! -- the best!

Overhaul Your Worst Eating Habits

Why feel guilty every time to eat?
Eating wrong can be a serious habit. For so many people eating can be very confusion, scary and self destructive. Here are a few tips you can do to help you eat better and provide more energy.

1.Bad Habit: Missing meals
Letting yourself get too hungry is one of the worst things you can do if you're trying to lose weight. So many people will make a cup of coffee, but skip breakfast. So many parents will make breakfast for their kids, but won’t make enough for them self. Finally, when you finally do eat, you're likely to throw down too much food. It's very difficult to make good meal choices when you are starving.

What to do:
Don’t Miss Breakfast!!! Make enough for your child and your self. Use the time to start your child’s day off right with some quality time with you. Make sure you then refuel every four to five hours. If you have a busy work schedule and rarely stop once your day begins, plan your meals for the day like an appointment. Set you alarm clock on your computer to remind you to eat. You can even eat simple meals like microwaveable healthy meals, low-fat cottage cheese and fruit, or a high-fiber nutrition bar and a container of nonfat yogurt. Eating healthy carbohydrates and lean protein will provide long-lasting energy and balance out your blood sugar.

2. Bad habit: Restaurant Jukie!
Restaurants are a caloric nightmare. Portion sizes can be huge, and chefs often have a heavy hand with salt, fat, and sugar. You’ll eat an extra 500 per meal you eat out!

What to do: If you can't cook at home, limit the damage. Avoid alcohol, which contains empty calories and weakens your inhibitions, making it harder order healthy meals. Stick with water and skip the bread basket and go for salad (with oil and vinegar on side) This will help curb your appetite. Next, pick a lean protein entrée, such as fish or chicken, and choose preparation methods that use little fat, such as poaching, grilling, or broiling. With tons of veggies.

3. Bad habit: Using food as comfort
Most people who struggle with their weight use food to help them deal with negative emotions or stress. Once the food is gone, the problem is still there, plus now guilt sets in..

What to do: Try to understand what you are feelings ("I'm sad, not hungry"), and remind yourself that eating won't solve things. Remember, how you feel in the past from using food to solve your problem. Then find another solution to your problem, such as calling a friend, taking a walk, or reading. In time, food will not be the choice for solutions.

4. Bad habit: Eating when you're not hungry
Choosing to eat a snack when you are already full only adds on the pounds.

What to do: Before you open you mouth to eat something, ask your self if you are truly hunger.. If No, put down and walk away. If you're a little hungry and it’s not time to eat, wait until it your next meal. When you do sit down to eat, "eat until you are 80 percent full." This will help you from overstuffing yourself.

Update from Casio

I've been here sitting at my computer for a few hours working on the new Casio Jones website. It's my goal to have it done by this weekend. I've been blessed with so many new doors; I can only give God praises for sending them my way. Gotta run. I got some new stuff I would love to share with ya soon!

See ya

Casio

Create Active Holiday Habits

I don’t know about you, but the holidays can be a very stressful but yet exciting time of the year. With our mind on getting the perfect gift, while trying to save money causes us to lose focus on our health. So why not try these tips to help squeeze in some physical activity during these last weeks before the big day?

1.Cut back on your family's television viewing time. Limit the number of hours your children spend playing video games. Instead make a new holiday tradition. Take a brisk walk (or wheel) around the neighborhood to see the holiday decorations or grab your bike, walking shoes or head out to the nearest trails or national park.

2.Play some backyard football, Frisbee or just Tag with children and adults before the big holiday dinner or during football half-time.

3.Grab your partner and Dance or exercise to your favorite holiday music. Together with friends make a New Year’s commitment with friends to start a daily walking group.

4.While you are standing in line to buy your special person a gift, try to maintain you balance and stand evenly on both feet. You could squeeze and hold your glute muscles or even heel raises (try 20 reps of your choice). Don’t stand with your hips out the side, this places your body out of alignment and cause unnecessary stress.

5.The Mall Shopping Workout- take advantage of your trip to the mall (plan for extra time) as you prepare your shopping list also plan your shopping route. Deliberately plan to go from one side of the mall to the other and chew up as much of the mall floor as you can between each store. Make frequent trips to your car to unload and return back to your route. Use your “New York City Walk”, when you are walking from store to store. Anyone who has visited NY, knows the NY city walk. FAST !!!!

6.Most of all, don’t give up on yourself. If you miss your goal for today try again tomorrow and keep trying until you get back into the game. It’s so important to forgive yourself and see each day and an opportunity to becoming more active. The more you think about being active increases your chance to move more!

Casio Jones