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The Yamas & the Niyamas represent the first two limbs/branches of the eight-limbed body/tree of Ashtanga (ashta=eight, anga=limb) Yoga. Considered as foundations for the remaining six limbs, these outer branches of the Ashtanga system are attitudes & actions that have the power to align us with Inner Peace. Totaling ten in number ~ five Yamas or donts, and five Niyamas or dos ~ they strike a resonant cord, for many who first come upon them, with the Christian Ten Commandments. There is, however, an important difference: the emphasis of the Yamas & Niyamas is not so much on what we will suffer if we fail to abide by them, but rather on what we will gain if we choose to practice them. In other words, they are not so much commandments as they are recommendations, invitations or just plain sensible advice from our friends in this Yoga lineage.

The Yamas & Niyamas are ~ at least initially ~ engaged with as a path, a practice, a direction of development. Once weve practiced for a while, and realize spiritual perfection (i.e. have traversed the remaining six limbs of Ashtanga Yoga), the Yamas & Niyamas manifest as specific siddhis/fruitions which take us beyond the yes and no of the path, and into the nondual territory of YesNo, a.k.a. Nirvana, Brahma, Unity Consciousness. They become what in Buddhism are called paramitas (nondual perfections). So while initially the Yamas & Niyamas are much like the proverbial finger pointing to the moon (a tool for guiding our vision), in their essence and final manifestation they are finger/moon indistinguishable.

The first of the Yamas is Ahimsa, or non-violence. It is the practice of doing no harm, and reveals benevolence as a natural quality of the heart. When we perfect the quality of non-violence, hostility ceases in our presence: even the fiercest of beasts ~ in meeting this perfected vibration of doing-no-harm ~ themselves become harmless. Complementing the Yama of Ahimsa is the Niyama of Saucha, or cleanliness, which ~ though it includes bodily cleanliness ~ refers principally to a purity of heart. In renouncing the desire to do harm in any way to others (the practice of Ahimsa), we develop a sweetness & innocence that is the sign of a heart inwardly pure and at peace. The consciousness of being separate from others (the root of all acts of violence) has at this point been transformed into the realization of the inherent Unity of Being giving rise to that absolute inner purity which is recommended by the Niyama of cleanliness.

The second of the Yamas is Satya, or truthfulness. This is the practice of harmlessness with respect to our speech: of speaking in a way that is both truthful and kind. This requires us, for one, to make a distinction between truth and fact: the truth (the Masters tell us) is always beneficial (given the particular context); a statement of fact can (within a particular context) be either beneficial or harmful. What is recommended, when faced with a situation in which speaking sincerely would likely inflict harm, is simply to remain silent. Perfection of Satya develops mental power to such an extent that ones mere word becomes binding on objective events: One has merely to declare a thing so for it actually to become so. Complementing the Yama of Satya is the Niyama of Ishvara Pranidhana, or Devotion to the Supreme Lord, for the ultimate act of truth-telling is to admit to there being only one reality in existence: God. And this is a God discovered not by scattering our devotion outwardly in religious ceremonies and rituals, but rather by turning it inward (becoming yogis!) ~ by realizing Brahma flowing through and as ourselves. This fundamental self-honesty (Satya) unfolds quite naturally then as the Niyama of Devotion to the Supreme Lord (our own radiant Core). When we realize who we are, how can we not be in love and endlessly devoted to that?!

The third of the Yamas is Asteya, or non-avarice. What is to be renounced, here, is the desire for anything that is not acquired by merit. This involves a fundamental trust in the law of attraction by which what a person does indeed merit, will be (quite infallibly) attracted. (This is in alignment, also, with the tenets of Karma Yoga: of remaining relaxed with respect to outcome/resluts, even in the midst of fervent activity.) Developed to perfection, the quality of non-avarice generates a subtle magnetism that enables the yogi to attract things effortlessly: his or her needs, whatever they are, are always met giving rise then to a sense of ease and relaxation. Complementing the Yama of Asteya is the Niyama of Santosha, or contentment. Because we know that what we merit will always be forthcoming, were able ~ in our work and in our play ~ to rest within an attitude of acceptance, regardless of the particular circumstances that are currently manifesting in/as our life.

The fourth of the Yamas is Aparigraha, or non-acceptance, and is a corollary to Asteya/non-avarice: Asteya signifies non-attachment to what is not our own; Aparigraha signifies non-attachment to what we would normally consider to be our own. The point is that nothing, truly, belongs to us (as small-self/ego). Everything ~ our bodies, our actions, our thoughts ~ belongs to the Lord (our Higher Self). The perfection of Aparigraha manifests as the capacity to remember our past incarnations (something that is possible only when we let go of our identification with our present body). Complementing the Yama of Aparigrapha is the Niyama of Swadhyaya, or introspection, which invites a movement from an understanding of what we are not (via the practice of non-acceptance) to an ever-deepening intuition of who we are.

The fifth of the Yamas is Brahmacharya, self-control or ~ more literally ~ flowing with Brahma/the Supreme Spirit. This teaching is applied most specifically to the practice of celibacy/sexual abstinence. More generally, it refers to working skillfully with all of our natural human appetites. In its deepest sense, Brahmacharya signifies the practice of allowing our awareness always to be flowing in the Core of our Being, i.e. of being identified with Spirit, instead of with an ego centered in body-consciousness. As we train in this way, we begin to be master of our natural human appetites (their fulfillment becomes a clear expression of the energy of awakened mind), instead of being mastered by them (i.e. drawn into loops of distraction from the truth of who-we-are). The perfection of this Yama dawns as an arising of boundless energy, which causes us to shine like the sun itself, shedding radiance continuously. Complementing the Yama of Brahmacharya is the Niyama of Tapas, or austerity, which refers to the practice of taking energy that was formerly directed outwardly, and re-channeling it into the spiritual search, of offering (as food) to the fire of the Shushumna Nadi, all of those previously outwardly-directed desires/appetites.

Elizabeth Reninger holds Masters degrees in Sociology & Chinese Medicine, is a published poet (please visit: http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com), and has been exploring Yoga ~ in its Taoist, Buddhist & Hindu varieties ~ for more than twenty years. Her teachers include Richard Freeman, Mingyur Rinpoche & Eva Wong. For more yoga-related essays & resources, please visit her website: http://www.writingup.com/blog/elizabeth_reninger

// posted by 58378 @ 2:32 PM 0 comments

Since the total truth came out about HRT, the medical community has been in turmoil and somewhat divided as to what should be recommended to women who are experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance. In the meantime millions of women are confused about what to do to relieve their symptoms and at the same time not cause health problems down the road.

Natural progesterone cream, when used correctly, seems to help many women through the symptoms of hormonal imbalance with many added benefits. Natural progesterone, has the same molecular structure as the progesterone produced by the body. It is absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. It can help your body keep estrogen and progesterone levels in balance, resulting in maintained sense of equilibrium.

As beneficial as natural progesterone cream is, we must be aware that we are dealing with a very delicate system - the endocrine system. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola: "The problem relates to the fact that progesterone is highly fat soluble and once applied to the skin will store itself in a woman's fat tissue. When one first uses the cream, there is no problem here as the fat stores are very low. But as time goes on, the cream accumulates and contributes to disruptions in the adrenal hormones such as DHEA, cortisol, and testosterone. I have learned that although progesterone cream is an enormously useful tool, it needs to be used very cautiously."

It is advised that women test their progesterone levels yearly. Although progesterone over-dose is not something that causes great harm, initially-sleepiness is a clue-the solution that we are after is balance of all hormones. Anytime there is an over-balance of a hormone, even progesterone, the system will suffer and symptoms will appear.

Along with progesterone, balancing the adrenals is very important, but something that is often over-looked in hormonal balancing. There are many useful herbs that can help accomplish this along with the following: Diet, Stress and Sleep.

A totally balanced diet like the one offered in my E-Book, Balancing Your Hormones Without DrugsYou Can Feel Good Again, is imperative. I am convinced that about 85% of all hormonal symptoms can be relieved with a healthy, balanced diet. Along with diet, drinking half your body weight in clean, pure water is also essential.

Hidden stress can be the underlying cause of why some women do not experience symptom relief of hormonal imbalance. Stress is often a "silent symptom" in that we have usually learned to consider it as being a normal part of life. Some suggestions in dealing with stress include: meditation, prayer, yoga, EFT, exercise (especially walking), deep breathing and learning how to remove yourself from difficult situations. In order to alleviate stress these must be practiced very daily.

It is said that over of the population is sleep deprived. The importance of being in bed before 10:00 p.m. so that the body's biorhythms are not disturbed has been taught by natural medicine doctors for many years. The body does most of its repair and healing between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. If you are awake during these hours your body definitely looses. There is no such thing as "catching up on your sleep". Once it is lost, it cannot be regained. Weekend "sleep warriors" are actually doing more harm to their Circadian rhythms than they may realize.

Like most things in life, we must always proceed with caution. There is no magic bullet when it comes to getting the body balanced and healthy. Natural progesterone is the most natural and safest way to assist women with the symptoms of hormonal imbalance, but we must remember that our goal is "balance" in every area.

The following table shows the benefits of natural progesterone compared to estrogen. As you can see, the effects of progesterone are many-we would do well to use it wisely.

Estrogen Effects: Stimulates breasts cysts; Increases body fat storage; Salt and fluid retention; Depression and headaches; Interferes with thyroid hormone; Increases blood clotting and risk of stroke; Decreases libido (sex drive);

Impairs blood sugar control; loss of zinc and retention of copper; Reduced oxygen level in all cells; Increased risk of endometrial cancer; Increased risk of breast cancer;

Helps decrease bone loss slightly.

Progesterone Effects: Protects against breast cysts; Helps use fat for energy and keep it off hips; Natural diuretic (water pill); Natural anti-depressant; Facilitates thyroid hormone action; Normalizes blood clotting;Increases libido;

Normalizes blood sugar levels; Normalizes zinc and copper levels; Restores proper cell oxygen levels; Prevents endometrial cancer; Helps prevent breast cancer; Increases bone building.

About The Author

Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP, CH is a Doctor of Naturopath, Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Practitioner and Clinical Herbalist in the Houston, TX area and Founder / CEO of Oasis Advanced Wellness. A teacher, educator and seminar speaker, she counsels Oasis Advanced Wellness clients on the aspects of getting the body healthy and keeping the body healthy and also develops customized health programs to help clients get healthy. As a cancer survivor, she is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a practitioner, to clients suffering from disease. She is also involved in researching new alternative disease treatments and products. Dr. Lanphier is Editor and contributor to the worldwide E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness. To receive a free subscription go to: www.oasisadvancedwellness.com. Be sure and visit our bio identical hormonal balancing site at www.menopause-pms-progesterone.org and www.oasisserene.com. We would love to become your partner in health.

staff@oasisadvancedwellness.com

// posted by 58378 @ 6:30 AM 0 comments