gdp's Comments

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : How Reiki Works—The Science Bit.

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:53:46 +0000

Being a science student and yoga geek myself, I *really* wish that authors claiming to present a "science" based perspective adjust their language to be a bit less fundamentalist and a bit more, can I say, humble? For example, this author says (regarding e=mc^2): "This shows, that in fact, all matter is energy." Not true in all scales of perception. It is merely a mathematical approximation of a theoretical phenomenon applicable to quantum scales, where rules are different than macro states, and few scientists would boldly claim that it is a universal "fact" that matter = energy. Moreover mass cannot efficiently be converted to energy, so this "theory" appears to have very little practical application in the context of creating healing energy, i.e. reiki. And then there are statements such as: "The myofascial system carries signals in the form of tiny electrical light impulses called biophotons (literally meaning biological light) which are said to be the smallest sparks of conscious energy, carrying the very building blocks of life and allows all cells to communicate with one another." Does the author understand the concept of biophoton in the in scientific sense, and how using it inappropriately INCREASES the skepticism against pseudoscience, rather than making an effort to frame the discussion in a more rational way so as to steer clear of such accusations? See for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biophoton (scroll to bottom) And this: "To put it simply, the practitioner acts in the same way as a metal rod conducting electricity or heat energy from source to its destination and throughout." lazy analogy! By oversimplifying it like this, we do great disservice to the potentially complex mechanisms that underly actual energy exchange between human beings. Not saying I know the answer (although I'm definitely a seeker, having studied physics and yoga), but I get annoyed when writers such as this claim to present a scientific perspective, and fall back into weak explanations with no apparent effort to counter or even level up to rigorous scientific analysis. Stop being a sheep and start owning and refining your knowledge before sharing! finally, this: http://allpoetry.com/So-You-Want-To-Be-A-Writer

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Happy (Skinny) Belly Soup Recipe. ~ Kate Lumsden

Sat, 28 Dec 2013 17:57:52 +0000

Curious as to why you didn't mention Asafoetida. It's ubiquitously used in my family's cuisine to minimize gaseous effect of beans and legumes, and is vata/kapha balancing.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Could you be protein deficient? Here are the hidden signs.

Tue, 1 Oct 2013 05:16:33 +0000

Purely from a writing perspective - what is the connection between the squirrel's broccoli and the acidic harvest in the winter?

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Hot or Not? Possible Benefits & Precautions of Hot Yoga.

Thu, 1 Aug 2013 16:54:51 +0000

I've heard that the heat doesn't affect the muscle fibers and connective tissue closest to the core - therefore, deepening a pose / stretch with the assumption that it is more pliable (which it is, superficially) can be injurious. Any thoughts on this?

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : 6 Tips for Advancing Your Yoga Practice. ~ Carri Uranga

Mon, 8 Jul 2013 05:20:43 +0000

Thanks for including point 6 (regular meditation). Pranayama is also an advanced practice for those feeling limited in their asana practice, in addition to practicing and refining yamas and niyamas, and concentration/sensory exercises (pratyahara/dharana), resulting in a finely tuned nervous system that will provide far more body-mind feedback during a subsequent asana practice.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Meditations on Music & Silence. ~ Sachin Kandhari

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:31:49 +0000

Gabriela, thanks for your comment. It was the realization that I was listening to music EVERYWHERE that sparked the idea to simply stop and see what happens.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Shhhhh. ~ Amy Taylor

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 11:38:13 +0000

I love these little self-experiments! Standing in line at Chipotle, I observed some deaf students place their orders using gestures and decided to do the same myself. It was going great until they added sour cream, and I literally had to clamp up to keep from stopping them...but I maintained my silence. Also, have you tried blindfolding yourself around the house? I barely lasted an hour. PS I'm the Sachin Kandhari from the above trackback!

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Science is Sexy.

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:43:42 +0000

A true Gnana Yogi

Food Practice : Cooking As Meditation

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 21:14:59 +0000

love the list with no proportions / instructions

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Eat Six Times a Day? The Dangers of Frequent Eating.

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:47:58 +0000

This sentence really struck me: "If the meals are small, frequent and healthy, the body won’t store any fat from those meals and, in theory, have energy all day and never gain weight." I'm a skinny "vata" dude, and ayurveda (and others) prescribe eating more, and more often. I practice never "feeling hungry" and usually pig out on everything vegetarian and wholesome in sight. Should I be waiting longer in between meals? (I'm also meditating a lot to eliminate nervous impulses and involuntary movement.)

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Quite Possibly One Of The Coolest Yoga Videos Ever.

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 14:32:58 +0000

i'm slowly working my way up this path! https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=966125... and https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=101001...

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Review: Get a Nice Yoga Butt Without Doing Yoga: Just Buy These Pants.

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 05:08:39 +0000

wonder what happens to that ass when you take 'em off...

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Samadhi Pants Strip 97 – The Yoga Superstore

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:35:20 +0000

I love it. If only it were true. I'd actually pay for classes! (until I could figure out a work-exchange program)

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Why & When You Should & Shouldn't Drink Water. ~ Sara Bruskin

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 01:01:59 +0000

The rule in our house (and my dad's house) was: no water 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after meals. Ayurvedic principles running strong and deep...

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : Some Days You’re a Rock Star, Some Days You’re Just a Rock.

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:06:41 +0000

great post - I've actually shown up late to teach (at nearby homeless shelter) and found a larger-than-usual group waiting - turned out to be an awesome class! BTW, windows block the UVB radiation required by the skin to synthesize Vitamin D...doesn't stop the sunburn though (caused by UVA radiation).