Conversations with Mirra and Aadil

Aadil Palkhivala (2:49)

One night, Savitri and I were fast asleep in our home in Bellevue. Out of the blue, we both woke up at the same time and looked at each other.

“Did you feel that? Do you feel peaceful suddenly?” I asked her.

 ”What happened?” she asked me. I got out of bed to have a look around. It was then that we noticed why we suddenly felt so relaxed and peaceful. The power had gone out! It is so easy to forget how good it feels to be away from the influence of electricity, radiation waves, and magnetic fields.

Remember how peaceful it feels to walk in a forest? This is in large part because the body is not being agitated by electromagnetic energy fields. The body responds to energy fields without interpretation: it cannot help but respond and cannot NOT be manipulated by the currents of electricity. When a wire passes close to me, it is sending out a magnetic field in a certain direction. When the electricity runs on an Alternating Current (”AC”), the direction of the movement alternates 60 times per second.

There are two dangerous responses to this current that happen in the body. The first is in the blood. Because of the iron molecules in our blood, the blood is forced to move in the direction of the electricity. That means my blood is also being forced to change “direction” 60 times per second! This is very agitating to the body.

The second is the nerves. Our nervous system is electric and is directly affected by AC. The nervous system becomes exhausted and can no longer protect us from stress. The brain, which is the central nervous system, is being affected to the point that there are now more youth deaths from brain tumors than other forms of cancer. Brain tumors are on the rise in the last 10 years, immediately after cell phone use (which use microwave frequencies) has taken off.

DC, or direct current, only moves in one direction and so does not agitate the blood and nerves like AC. However, DC does not travel as far along wires, and therefore cannot be turned into a marketable commodity in the way the AC has in this country! There is much more to this story, but consider this: the light bulbs that Edison created are still working in his home today – they have never run out and they run on, you guessed it, DC! Imagine the possibilities if our country was run on DC power instead of AC….

So, what do we do to protect ourselves against radiation, microwaves, electricity and magnetic fields?  First, we must NOT worry! In fact, worrying causes more damage than the EMFs!  Second, make sure you are safe, without worrying! One simple, effective, and free thing to do is to move your bed about 6-8 inches away from the walls. Since most homes have wires running in the walls, this will eliminate exposure to your head for the 6-9 hours a day you are sleeping. Also, in the bedroom, move any electric clocks away from your head – battery clocks are fine.

Here are some other ways to protect yourself:

• Of course, do not eat or use a microwave oven. Even electric ovens emit high amounts of EMFs, so try not to stand near them for too long when they are on.
• Don’t stand between a cordless phone and its receiver, so the transmitted waves do not move through your body.
• Unplug equipment you are not using.
• Use an air-tube head set on your cell phone. (See our recent article on cell phone dangers and the work of Dr. George Carlo: “What the Cell Phone Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know”)
• Exercise and deep breathing keep cells healthy by moving nutrients and oxygen into the body, and moving metabolic waste and old cells out of the body. Use cleansing nutrition like Fortune Delight and Calli.
• Visit the EMF Safety Superstore at www.lessemf.com for Trifield Meters, Faraday bed screens, and many other products that protect the body from EMFs.
• For more information, visit www.electropollution.org. I highly recommend this informative website.

(Savitri, “Truth Within” 2:28)

I came across this blog post a few weeks ago. It is a wonderful overview on one of the roots of the problem that led to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. At the end of the article I have added my recommendations for what we are to do with this information.

Corporations Won’t Self-Regulate, by Barbra Streisand

Posted: June 9, 2010 03:23 PM, The Huffington Post

Reposted from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbra-streisand/corporations-wont-self-re_b_606439.html

It’s now well over a month since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the Gulf of Mexico and created the largest man-made environmental catastrophe in American history. The question haunting everyone is: how was this allowed to happen? From the devastated fishermen and business owners in the Gulf Coast to environmental activists across the country — we all have been watching, horrified, as millions of gallons of oil continue to pour into the ocean, destroying people’s livelihoods, poisoning marine life and destroying coastlines and eco-systems for decades to come.

In the wake of this disaster, I have no doubt that the spill occurred because the pendulum of power in our country has swung dangerously far in favor of corporations. The systematized deregulation of our industries, which began under President Reagan and continued vigorously under George W. Bush, is now literally destroying our environment.

For eight years, Bush and Cheney were both far too cozy with corporate America, and were deeply committed to deregulating industry from the government’s oversight. Bush and Cheney moved people from big industry into government positions, placing them in charge of both writing the rules and policing the very industries they once worked for. Whether in financial meltdowns or oil spills, we are reaping the consequences of these actions and will continue to do so for years to come. Now, the recent Supreme Court decision in Citizen’s United allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on federal elections, thereby giving the biggest industries unprecedented influence in our democracy (that’s why we need a progressive on the Court).

Over the last six weeks, the perpetrator of the Gulf Coast spill, British Petroleum, has been playing the blame game, stating that Transocean, the owner of the oil rig, is at fault and that Halliburton’s poor job cementing the base of the well contributed to the spill. Each day we uncover more information on how these private companies, concerned only with their bottom line, have cut corners and neglected maintenance in a race toward higher profits (for instance, BP decided NOT to purchase a $500,000 blowout preventer valve, which gets bolted onto the sea floor at the wellhead as a failsafe to prevent these types of disasters). Many other countries require that oil companies purchase blowout preventers to protect against accidents and do not allow individual regulators to make these decisions. In addition, in other countries, regulations require oil companies doing deep water drilling to build and maintain a relief well from the outset to alleviate the affects of possible spills.

The BP spill also brought to light the corruption and ineptitude in the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service office. President Obama inherited most of this staff since many of the employees were placed into these regulatory roles during the eight years that Bush was President. Many of the regulators were already friends with industry officials and some had worked in the oil and gas business before their stint in government. These regulators apparently let the oil and gas companies fill out their own inspection forms in pencil and then traced over their writing in ink. In return for their leniency, regulators accepted invitations to hunting trips and tickets to college football games courtesy of the oil and gas companies. Basically, Bush put the foxes in charge of guarding the hen house! In addition, the Minerals Management Service frequently granted waivers to BP and other oil companies releasing them from providing regulators detailed environmental impact and safety contingency statements regarding the areas they planned to drill for oil. These waivers allowed oil companies to take short cuts, which ultimately lead to the kind of disaster we are now experiencing in the Gulf.

Lack of accountability, lack of oversight, lack of regulation, corruption…this all sounds frighteningly familiar. Although many had hoped we had learned our lesson after the recent financial meltdown, this disaster has further proved that free market capitalism can only be trustworthy and accountable if industries are properly regulated. Bush allowed polluters to self- regulate. We can’t assume that companies like BP and Halliburton will spend the time and money to ensure environmental safety, just like we have learned the hard way that financial institutions like Lehman Brothers and Bear Sterns will not safeguard our life savings. Sadly, we now know that when companies driven by profit are not regulated, they will not prioritize the public’s best interest.

We have heard people say over and over again that less government is good government. During the health care debate, people wanted government to “stay out of their Medicare,” not realizing that Medicare is a government program. Without government regulations and a trustworthy system of checks and balances, this will not be the last oil spill that could have been prevented…or the last financial meltdown. There’s little the federal government can do now to save the birds, beaches and marshes steeped in oil along the Gulf, but as we move forward, we can demand that our government move quickly to put strong, sound regulations in place across all sectors in order to protect our people and our country.

Aadil adds:  This is fabulous education, and it is very important for us to be educated. However, what is missing is what we are to DO with this education. Since I am teaching the Therapeutic Teacher Training right now, I  will use my next post to elaborate on what we are to do, such as explore elections reform, the idea of big government or small government, and how to use Purna Yoga Meditation to enlighten our senators, representatives and president!

(Nadine was a case study in my Wednesday afternoon Ongoing Teacher Training Class about a year ago.  Here is her update!)

Little did I know when I walked into my first yoga class on Senior Fitness Day that it would save my life! It was several years ago when I walked into this BIG room at the Community Center and there was only the teacher, Angelica, there with a BIG welcoming smile. “Oh, are you coming to my class?” she asked.

 The class was called Senior Gentle Yoga. Pretty soon I realized I was supposed to get down on the floor on that thin mat – oh dear, my body didn’t move like that! When I started, it was hard to get up and down on the mat. I had 15 years of Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain and Chronic Fatigue for starters so the workouts I had been doing previously just didn’t work for me anymore. When I started yoga, even getting up and down on the mat HURT! But I had to do something!! Week by week, I progressed a little further and a little further – with the great enthusiasm of Angelica. She had a great sense of when we were totally exhausted and she would adjust the class as needed. I didn’t know then, but now I realize that most classes don’t do that many restoratives at the end of class, but that was what was needed and Angelica knew it!

After a while, Angelica said she thought I should try the Level I classes at the community center.  Well, I thought she liked me, but there I was being introduced to things like “standing poses!” I felt like I was being twisted into a funny shape forever and surely I’d die! But I hung in there and did what I could and came back for more.

I think the key for me was starting where I was and working slowly and consistently. Since this wasn’t my nature, Angelica had to teach me that this was okay! As a result, I have been free of my Fibromyalgia for several years and have moved to taking classes at Yoga Centers, where I have found more wonderful teachers that help me work from where I am to where I want to go. I have also been inspired by the gentle accepting attitude and the meditative influence –  which is very healing after being in pain for years.  

 Before I started yoga, I could hardly move. My husband remembers when I could barely walk to the mailbox. Now I LOVE Yoga! I still do have limitations with my body but there are LOTS of things I can do and, who knows, maybe by 70 I will be able to do more.  I started taking just one class a week several years ago, and over time, have worked up to six times a week. However, since I was feeling so much better, I started back to work, so now I only get to class three times a week.  Maybe when I retire I can get back to six times a week!  

 Some comments from my bodywork doctors are: “You are more flexible than some of my 20-year-old patients!” and “Your movements are so fluid given the issues in your body.”

 So THANK YOU to Yoga Centers for getting me moving, helping me heal myself, and supporting me in accepting that where I am is just fine! And thank you for getting me back in the world and – truly – for saving my life!

Join us for tea and treats and a fun informative chat about the 200 hour teacher training offered by The College of Purna Yoga at Yoga Centers in Bellevue, WA.  Meet and ask questions of the instructors Gina Hagger and Angelica Rose, administrator Kirsten Elfendahl, graduates and current students of the College of Purna Yoga. 

In fact, Kirsten and Mona are going through the 200 hour currently!  It will be a joyful opportunity to hear from them on their experience going through the college!

The 200 hour is perfect if you want to deepen your practice , and create the foundation for teaching if that is the path you choose.  It is an opportunity to  build greater awareness of your body and use that awareness towards your own healing.  One of the most rewarding aspects is the shared experience with your classmates.  The 200 hour creates a very deep feeling of connectedness which is missing in so much of our lifestyle. 

It is also helpful to meditation students who want to work with asana to bring more light and healing into their bodies.  Health practitioners have the opportunity to compliment their existing practice.  Whatever your aim, the 200 hour will deepen your respect for yourself and your love of yoga.

It will be held Monday April 26, 2010 from 7:30-8:30 pm.  See you there!

Kinders van die Wind” or “Children of the Wind” (1:53)

What shall I wear today? What am I going to do and who am I going to see? What’s in the laundry and whats not?  Do I have enough of anything in my closet to put myself together?  Do I care?

 Dressing yourself for the day is quite influential whether you are aware of it or not. Our moods often dictate what our bodies end up wearing.    If you defer to wearing dark colors because its easy, or it’s all that’s in your closet, we would like to share some food for thought with you and your nervous system.

 When you look in the mirror after you dress, train yourself to notice how you feel when you see yourself.  Notice your mood.  If you are feeling flat, or not yourself, could it be the color of what you are wearing or is the fabric irritating your nervous system, and you never noticed that before?

It’s a myth that dark colors are flattering. They can make you look and feel older than you really are. There is a reason baby clothes never come in dark colors. There is a reason the spring colors are always bright and happy.  It’s a time of blossoming.  A new baby comes into the world and we want to encourage its growth and happiness in all ways hence soft light pretty fabrics.  A freshly planted flower is given every opportunity for growth because of the joy it’s color gives us when it blooms.  Bright cheery colors and happiness go hand in hand.  Blossoming occurs at any age.

 To the mind, dark colors seem easier and appear to hold power, but to the heart and feeling level, our shadow and ego rely on us wearing dark colors. To the mind neutrals “ make sense and go with everything”, but on the feeling level they don’t help your heart to open.  Wearing all white and beige are where the white shadow hides out and says “see how pure I am.”

 Bright happy colors open your heart feeding and calming your nervous system.  We require a variety of colors in our wardrobe just like we require variety in our daily foods.

  Other considerations are:

•  If you work around people who wear black, immediately try to find a happy color to look at to replace the picture of dark colors in your mind.
• At night, wear soft light colors to help your nervous system calm down and smooth it out, preparing yourself for sleep.
•  Refrain from dressing children in dark colors and rough fabrics because their nervous systems are just beginning to feel. Dark colors and rough fabrics like denim undo this delicate growth process.

 Plaid is just ok on the body.  It can cause a little chaos on the nervous system in general because its very angular.  Plaid was historically used as a cover up before battle prior to “camouflage fabric coming into existence.   Refrain from dressing your children as well as yourself in camouflage.   Your nervous system will be so much happier

 Your skin color changes as more Light comes out from within.  You will notice as you age how lighter softer colors are much more flattering to your skin and help you look and feel younger.

 Experiment with color by having one shirt or tshirt from every spectrum of color or every shade of the rainbow in your closet. Its an inexpensive way to see that you can wear almost every color, just fine tune the shade of it.   Then use one shade of light gray or a warm beige as a base color.

Spring is around the corner.  For bright colors, consider Land’s End, or Fresh Produce online.

Experiment with new bright colors in a top or shirt to start.  Feel the difference it makes in your level of happiness.  Enjoy!