Desert Health News September-October 2024

www.coppermoonrising.com Thoughts of yoga often invoke extreme flexibility, contorted limbs, yoga pants, messy buns and mala beads. The practice itself is much deeper, much richer, and can be a tool for living a more mindful life; a life where you never need to touch your toes but only the depth of your own heart. Yoga is actually an eight limbed path and only one of those limbs is movement, known as asana. The asana practice is what brings most to the yoga mat—the strength of the poses, the movement of the breath, the sweat and the sweetness of the final resting pose are enough to keep people coming back. Much more occurs without the student’s awareness. These are the pieces that can be taken off the mat and into one’s life. By developing a yoga practice off the mat, one can become more mindful of many aspects of their own lives. It is through this awareness one can begin to make subtle changes in behaviors, choices and habits that may not be serving them to achieve their highest potential or greatest good. For example, the first two limbs of the yoga practice are the yamas (abstinences) and niyamas (observances). These are considered the ethical practices of yoga, but really are ethical practices of life. They invite us to take a deeper look into how we take responsibility for ourselves as we engage in the world by consciously choosing alternate behaviors. They guide us deeper into the ideas of non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing, non-possessiveness, maintaining vitality, discipline, contentment, purity, self-study and devotion. Each practice has within it a unique lesson, one you can return to time and again as life ebbs and flows. The fourth limb, pranayama, focuses on breath control. Why is this important? The breath follows the mind, and the body follows the breath. When the mind is busy, the breath is quick, shallow; thereby the body moves more quickly, making it difficult to relax. When we learn to control the breath through these practices, we can learn to quiet the mind and relax the body. This is one of the benefits on the mat as well; students don’t often realize it is happening, but know they feel amazing after every class! The fifth limb, pratyahara, teaches us to withdraw the senses, remove distractions. In this fast-paced world where everything is literally at our fingertips 24/7, this is an invaluable practice. Closing the eyes is one of the simplest ways to withdraw; to quiet the mind as the sense of sight brings so much information to the brain. By simply closing the eyes and removing the external stimulus, even briefly, the heart rate slows, the breath deepens and the mind quiets. The same goes for silence. I needn’t say more than this: LISTEN and SILENT are spelled with the same letters; the quieter you are, the more you can hear. The sixth limb, dharana, teaches us about focused concentration. Again, our culture is no longer designed for us to do one thing at a time. This is a practice that really guides us deeply into learned concentration. With increased recognition of brain health, mental acuity, the rise of adult ADD, anxiety and depression, dharana is a valuable practice to employ at any stage of life. The seventh limb, dhyana, is meditative absorption. This is where we can truly integrate the breath, the removal of the senses and the focused concentration so the benefits of meditation can be felt. Numerous studies point to the power of a meditation practice for the improvement of health and wellness. The eighth limb is known as samadhi, ‘sama’ meaning ‘same’ or ‘equal’ and ‘dhi’ meaning ‘to see’. This practice brings us to see life as it is without the interference of the mind, the outside distractions, the judgements, etc. Referred to as enlightenment or bliss the state is best described as a place where one can just be with what is. Yes, this is a practice. Much like a musician plays the same notes again and again to create a melody, we too can practice these principles again and again to bring a melodic quality into our daily lives. Alison Mullins is a certified holistic life and health coach, yoga therapist, sound healer and founder of Coppermoon Rising. She offers private and corporate wellness programs combining the “8 Pillars of Wellness” and the “8 Limbs of Yoga” to create a life of balance. Contact Alison at alison@coppermoonrising.com or visit www.coppermoonrising.com. www.DesertHealthNews.com September/October 2024 Cancer Recurrence Monitoring Continued from page 9 What Makes a Great Caregiver? Continued from page 3 Alison Mullins SPEAKER | WRITER | TEACHER | COACH Merging the 8 pillars of health & wellness with the 8 limbs of yoga to create holistic offerings Life/Health Coaching Motivational Speaking Yoga and Sound Healing PRIVATE AND CORPORATE ENGAGEMENTS ww.coppermoonrising.co alison@coppermoonrising.com 760.485.3433 www.livewellclinic.org 760.771.5970 78900 Ave. 47, Suite 102 • La Quinta info@livewellclinic.org • www.livewellclinic.org Live Happy, Live Well @LiveWellClinicLaQuinta @LiveWellClinic Offering Telemedicine Naturopathic Primary Care ProLon FMD (Intermittent Fasting Diet) Photodynamic Therapy Sound Baths Last Wednesday of each month • $30/person Delaney Quick, ND Naturopathic Resident Annissa Ceja, ND Naturopathic Resident Sonja Fung, ND Naturopathic Doctor Medical Director Natural Options The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 9 Non-invasive therapy for Neuropathy and Chronic Pain from diabetes, trauma, chemo and more Non-Invasive • No Drugs • No Surgery! Cutting-edge electrical signaling treatment uses a special pneumonic electrical system with suction cups placed on the skin to regenerate nerves by increasing blood flow. Call us today to determine if your pain can be successfully treated. (760) 766-7200 1492 N. Palm Canyon Drive • Palm Springs Physician managed therapy covered by Medicare, PPOs and other insurances. “There has been a substantial difference in the feeling in my feet – for the better! Less numbness, tingling and burning!” — Bob H. Hope for a better quality of life The eight principles of yoga expand far beyond the practice of movement. As a doctor, I’ve always believed in the power of knowledge. And as a survivor, I’ve come to appreciate how much peace that knowledge can bring. These new technologies allow us to move from a reactive stance, waiting for something to go wrong, to a proactive one, where we’re actively working to prevent it. The fear of recurrence may never completely disappear, but with advances like ctDNA and functional lab testing, we can face that fear with greater empowerment. Dr. Ceja is a primary care naturopathic doctor and resident at Live Well Clinic in La Quinta and can be reached at (760) 771.5970. For more information, visit www.livewellclinic.org . :ources: 1) https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2024/colorectal-cancer-ctdna-may-guide-adQuvant-therapy; 2) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41 23-024-00626-6; 3) https://www.natera.com/oncology/billing Yoga: So Much More than the Mat By Alison Mullins, MS, IAYT, IHHC Lastly, a positive attitude can truly lift the spirits of the person receiving care. I’ve seen firsthand how a caregiver’s warmth and positivity can turn a challenging day into a more manageable one. Positivity brings a bit of light into the home, making each day a little brighter and more enjoyable. It’s that dance in the kitchen or shared laughter over coffee that leaves a lingering smile, long after the caregiver has gone home. In my years as a local nurse advocate, I’ve seen the profound impact that the right caregiver can have. They’re more than helpers—they’re companions, confidantes and a vital part of ensuring that the person they care for can live their life with dignity, comfort and joy. So, when you’re looking for a caregiver, think about these qualities. Finding someone who not only meets your physical needs but also supports your emotional and mental well-being can make all the difference in your day-to-day life. Dr. Porter is CEO and founder of MyHealth.MyAdvocate in Palm Desert. She is an experienced health care professional with over 30 years of nursing practice dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of health care processes and advocating for patients, families and caregivers. (760) 851.4116. www.myhealthmyadvocate.com .