Bottling Oranges

I was planning to wait until May 1 to start a freshly-squeezed Orange Juice and Water-Only journey, but there are still three days left before the start of the month, so that's three days sooner that my system can get more alkaline prior to the start of a new month. Although we tend to think of oranges making the body more acidic, they actually help make the body more alkaline

Follow along for the next two weeks for insight into my OJ and water diet and to learn about my inspiration behind it. And, if you don't already know, you'll be AMAZED by the VARIED nutrients in an orange.

On another note, as I type this I hear my son slurping the last drop of his banana/strawberry smoothie....a sound he makes with his straw and mason jar that is music to my ears. ;-)

Here's to Bottling Health!

Do you plan on bottling any new health before or during May?

Bottling Balance

I just watched this video over at TheBalancedMomCoach.com and wanted to share. If you're trying to find your balance, be sure to watch this for balanced insight. "Making quiet time," tops the list. (Precisely the way we start yoga classes to center the mind, body, and spirit!) ;-)

Bottling Beauty

"This world is nothing more than
Beauty's chance to show Herself.
And what are we? --
Nothing more than Beauty's chance to see Herself.
For if Beauty were not seeking Herself
we would not exist..."

~ Ghalib (From Two Suns Rising)

Bottling the April issue of Pear Magazine

In today's The Daily Raw Inspiration newsletter, Jinjee Talifero had this to say about the latest issue of Pear Magazine, the online magazine I edit.....

It's here!

In the April 2009 Pear Magazine Online, we intend to uplift you through music, poetry, and video, as well as articles like "Recession Buster: Ask For Money and It is Given - The Secret to Getting Money" and "Recession Proof Your Health through Planting a Garden". These should inspire you to put your own positive spin on recession matters. In "Nature's Candy - A Gift to The Children of the World!" you'll learn of the generous gift a university class gave to improve children's health everywhere. This is also a wonderful story about the way our lives and our businesses can organically grow through the joys of spiritual social networking! Jinjee also shares a personal account of how music has helped break some not-so-good eating habits. Sonja Watt writes about Detoxifying The Body and Getting Fit With Sleep! Sonja also shares a comprehensive list of useful tips for Dealing With Non-Raw Friends and Family who 'attack' your raw-food position. In this issue you'll learn how to harvest nettles and grow sprouts to support your journey to optimum health. Penny will guide you through Mountain Pose or Tadasana for becoming strong, grounded, and centered. Meet some amazingly flexible boys, learn 40 Reasons Yoga Heals, and get 40 tips for making your life work better!

A Spring Gift! - In this month's Pear Magazine you'll also get a free link to our 7 Days Raw Program that starts this coming Monday! Join us for 7 delicious and energizing days including support from the 7 Days Raw Forum!

Sign up for Pear Magazine now at: http://www.pearmagazine.com/ and watch what grows!

In Joy!
Jinjee
http://www.thegardendiet.com/

Bottling Yoga as Medicine and/or Prevention

Yoga As Medicine -- The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing by Timothy McCall, M.D., lists 40 ways that yoga heals:

"1. Increases Flexibility
2. Strengthens Muscles
3. Improves Balance
4. Improves Immune Function
5. Improves Posture
6. Improves Lung Function
7. Leads to Slower and Deeper Breathing
8. Discourages Mouth Breathing
9. Increases Oxygenation of Tissues
10. Improves Joint Health
11. Nourishes Intervertebral Disks
12. Improves Return of Venous Blood
13. Increases Circulation of Lymph
14. Improves Function of the Feet
15. Improves Proprioception
16. Increases Control of Bodily Functions
17. Strengthens Bones
18. Conditions the Cardiovascular System
19. Promotes Weight Loss
20. Relaxes the Nervous System
21. Improves the Function of the Nervous System
22. Improves Brain Function
23. Activates
the Left Prefrontal Cortex
24. Changes Neurotransmitter Levels
25. Lowers Levels of the Stress Hormone Cortisol
26. Lowers Blood Sugar
27. Lowers Blood Pressure
28. Improves Levels of Cholesterol and Triglycerides
29. Thins the Blood
30. Improves Bowel Function
31. Releases Unconscious Muscular Gripping
32. Uses Imagery to Effect Change in the Body
33. Relieves Pain
34. Lowers Need for Medication
35. Fosters Healing Relationships
36. Improves Psychological Health
37. Leads to Healthier Habits
38. Fosters Spiritual Growth
39. Elicits the Placebo Effect
40. Encourages Involvement in Your Own Healing"

Contact Penny at penny@bottlinghealth.com if interested in yoga classes for children, adults, or parent-and-child classes.

Bottling My Mom and My New Yoga Book

Whew, I've just had a moment -- a moment of joyful tears and a feeling of overwhelming love for my mom while leaving a message on her voicemail. I was thanking her for the surprise I found awaiting me today in my mailbox. How exciting! The inscription read -- "To my Darling Daughter -- Penny. Hope you find this useful. Much Love, Mom"

If I could bottle my mom and share her ongoing love, thoughtfulness, and kindness with every person without a loving mom, I would do just that. Her name really should be in the dictionary next to these above-mentioned words.

What was even more touching about getting my new yoga book today was that JUST this morning I sent this e-mail to my mom in Bermuda......and then the book from her showed up just a little later! Forever the supporter she is!

I wrote....

Hi Mom,

Some things never change, huh! LOL Back then I called it gymnastics -- today it has evolved to yoga! ;-) Remember you used to say you would see me upside down more than anything else!!! LOL Well, thanks soooooo much for nurturing my childhood passion for gymnastics, because I'm convinced this is why I can still (at 43 years young) do and love things like this (below) today -- a huge mind, body, spirit adult health tool for me. ;-) I will never ever forget the gymnastics mat you handmade for me and the vault box and springboard that Daddy made that adorned our backyard. LOVE YOU, BOTH!!!!

Attached are a few more pics (coming on BottlingHealth.com) that my neighbor Michele took and sent to me! She has been wanting to take some yoga pics of me for a while now, so here are a few of them!

Happy Easter..............I'll title the above "Bending over backwards for/with Christ!";-)

Love,

Penny

Bottling God's Light and Love

"Honor the highest thing in the Universe; it is the power on which all things depend; it is the light by which all of life is guided...

"Honor the highest within yourself; for it too is the power on which all things depend, and the light by which all life is guided." ~ Marcus Aurelius

Bottling Spring Break

My son is on his Spring Break from school this week, and I really treasure this time that offers a break from traditional school routine. My heart is happy to allow him to, as I put it, "get his full rest in" (not having to wake him until his body is fully ready to do so) -- combined with plain ole' downtime incorporating a blend of some chores to letting him do his own thing around here to enjoying creative "athletic" silliness between us, and more. The change of pace feels wonderful, and I am just embracing this week with open arms.

Yesterday morning, to a friend I wrote: "It's Spring Break for my son this week, so I think I'm just going to spend the morning with him before he gets together with some friends later on today. So, I just wanted to say hello and tell you that I'll most likely see you in Wednesday's Pilates class if you are there."

She replied: "Enjoy your time with your son---most mothers I hear from dread the break--it's so nice to hear you are relishing it with him. :) Have a wonderful day full of all good things."

One of the good things Caleb and I shared yesterday was what I called our "10 at 10"! At about 10:00 a.m., for about 10 minutes, we did a powerful reading and discussion of a page from the journal of Marcus Aurelius, the last of the great Roman emperors. We got our hands on some of Aurelius' writings via Two Suns Rising by Jonathan Star, the text used for the yoga teacher training class I'm doing. About The Meditations, the journal Aurelius kept during the last phase of his life on earth, Two Suns Risings explains, "His writing is filled with such intimacy and sincerity that we no longer feel in the company of a Roman emperor but of an old and reliable friend."

One example of Aurelius' writing is below....what was shared with Caleb during our yesterday's 10 at 10!

"There is one type of person who, whenever he does a kind deed, will not hesitate to ask for some reward. Another type of person, though not so bold, will keep track of everything he has done for you, feeling deep down that you are in his debt. Then there are those who give without any remembrance of what they have done. They are like the vine that has brought forth a cluster of grapes, and having once borne its delicious fruit, seeks nothing more. As the horse that runs its race, the hound that tracks its game, and the bee that hives its honey, so should a man be when he has done an act of kindness -- not seeking reward, not proclaiming his virtues, but passing on to the next act, as the vine passes on to bear another cluster of summer grapes.

Life is the way you see it."

Ahhh, more Aurelius for us today! ;-) Come back later for the picture to complement the above and then tomorrow to find out what we read today!

"Handbook 2009"

Happy April -- This "Handbook" just turned up in my inbox from a dear friend of mine. I have no idea who the source of this content is, but it's too good not to share!

Enjoy and Apply...

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about