How an Alkaline Diet/Lifestyle can Utterly Transform your Body and Health

Alkaline. It's becoming a buzz word in the wellness field. Why? Minerals, that's why. That is an oversimplification of course, but there is great power in simplicity. The body requires certain essential nutrients to function; amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, etc., and none are both as important (and as deficient) in the western diet as minerals. 

The body is known to function best when the blood is within a very specific pH range, ideally at 7.365--Slightly alkaline. Add this to the REVOLUTIONARY claim by the Alkaline Diet Movement's Founder, Dr. Robert Young, that keeping the body alkaline can virtually cure ALL dis-ease, and you have a subject at least worthy of further exploration. 

In my own experience of countless years of health and medical problems, from immune disorders to depression and even cancer, the one thing that has worked to help my body heal more consistently is following an alkaline diet. Not to mention that this information has been around long before Dr. Young:

The body has a buffering system, namely the kidneys, liver, lungs and other homeostatic mechanisms, that can work to neutralize excess acids within the blood, but it uses minerals to buffer said acids, and given that the Standard American Diet (SAD) is dangerously low in these minerals, it can lead to grave imbalances in this most delicate of systems. Within the SAD diet, we have the over-consumption of many acid-forming (the way it's processed through the body) foods: carbohydrates & proteins, plus excessive amounts of alcohol, sugar and caffeine. And this isn't counting all of the stressful acid-forming toxins we are exposed to in our ever-growing industrialized culture. Remember the term "acid-rain" from the 80's and 90's? Funny how no one talks about it these days, yet our world has never been more acidic. SO... what to do?! 

Eat more Vegetables!!! Drink more (pure) water!!!

This time-honored wisdom, heard around the world from Grandmother to Mother to Child is our simplest and greatest power on the path to claiming our perfect health! It's also hard to argue with, as most people know deep down that this is true, we just simply need to be reminded, and more importantly, supported. Since our American society and lifestyle does not yet support this wisdom, we must first learn how to best support ourselves. 

In my own experience, transforming my eating habits from being a sugar-addict from the age of two until just recently (thats almost 30 years of acidifying my body) has not only transformed my physical health--which was very poor my whole life--I have nearly reversed all of the damage to my body by aligning with this simple wisdom, and my mind and even my Spirit have never been better. Eating Alkaline works. . . and you can take that to the bank!!!

There are many things we can do, but just following our own inner-balancing mechanisms has always been the best way to go. Yet knowing where our balance lies is a vital part of achieving it. For chemical and dietary balance within the body the alkaline alignment is simple: at least 60% of your plate should have vegetables on it, the other 40 can be acid-forming foods. That ratio is, however, to maintain an alkaline blood stream. If you are like most people and out of balance, with acidic blood, then to bring the body back into balance the ratio is then 80:20. 

This is what real Yoga is about; discovery, self-awareness & balance. And there is almost no more important awareness than what we put into the temple of our body. And speaking of Yoga. . . did you know one of the most effective ways to alkalize the body is the detoxifying methods the body uses in respiration?? 

That's right. Even simply breathing properly (slower, deeper, a min. of 5 seconds for each in and exhale) can dramatically influence healing. Don't just take my word for it, try it out! Meditate (focus) on your breath regularly. Drink more clean and alkaline water. Breathe deeper, and slower. Everything (your body, emotions, mind, family, friends, planet) will thank you for it. 

To your ideal health (a.k.a. alkaline alignment)!

Why Alignment is Everything

Neutral Spinal Alignment. In this photo, you can see four different alignments of the human body, yet only one is aligned neutrally, i.e., the way nature designed. The first image (A) represents this ideal alignment, while the other three show typical mis-alignments: (B) Kyphotic-lordotic, (C) Flat Back Posture, and (D) Sway-Back posture. Which of these posture best describes your own alignment? Knowing the answer to this can change your body, and your life. The implications alignment has on health and physiology are staggering, so much so, I find myself flabbergasted almost daily that everyone doesn't know this.

The difference between movement in alignment and movement out of alignment is like the difference between sleeping in a comfortable position and sleeping awkwardly to awake with a crick in your neck. The really remarkable thing is that most Yoga, Personal Training and general fitness activity out there (except Iyengar & Anusara styles of Yoga, Pilates, and speckles of intelligent teachings here and there) are nearly oblivious to the alignment of the body and spine during exercise.

This changes everything, and is not an exaggeration. When the human spinal column is neutral (figure A) the benefits of a workout are innumerable.

When the spine is misaligned (figures B-D), injury is much more likely. This can even effect all the joints, from ankles to shoulders and everything in between. Spinal alignment directly influences breathing capacity and function, which in turn influences brain and metabolic activity. We know in Yoga the breath is everything, and since the breath depends on spinal alignment, we can deduce that alignment is also everything. The breath and alignment are one. 

The good news is that alignment awareness is growing.

Foot-Alignment (the Foundation of Support for the Spine)

Consider this image regarding the alignment of the feet, which are the ground support for the whole body. A fun, challenging and incredibly simple action that will literally change your life is to look at the posture of your feet. The Runner's world is becoming more aware of the importance of alignment with regards to the foot. This is why "Barefoot Running" has become a movement. It supports alignment, or as they would call it, a "neutral gait." Basically, it translates into the alignment of the feet with one another and their natural arch structures (which in turn effects the alignment of the spine and entire rest of the body).

When the human body walks, and especially runs, the middle toe, that's the 3rd toe, of each foot need be parallel with the other, both pointing directly forward. In this position, the natural arches of the foot are poised to work and engage properly, which is the literal foundation for the body's core strength: The core begins at the feet! As these arches engage, so too do the glutes and the rest of the core, bringing proper support to the entire body! It all depends on the foundation!!!

Most people walk with their toes pointing out, and some walk with the toes pointing in, but both are out of balance and will effect the alignment of everything above them. As your first step (pun intended) on your path to alignment, start noticing the direction your toes point, and try and keep your middle toes parallel while you move or  stand. 

While you do this, actively engage your big toes inward, reaching toward one another while the pinkie toes reach in the opposite direction. Do this while placing most of your weight in your heels as this fully engages the three arches of the feet, bringing balance on the four corners of each foot. This is a profound and simple action to take in correcting misalignment in the body. 

Feel free to post comments and share the wonder in the simplicity of this truth! :)

To your Alignment, a.k.a., Your Greatest Potential

What is "Yoga?" Which style is right for me?

The word Yoga means Union. It comes from the Sanskrit, meaning to bring together. When done with mindfulness, this is exactly what Yoga does; unites body and mind with breath. However, not all Yoga is created equal. So how can we navigate the vast sea of styles that have sprouted from this honored tradition?

Bikram Yoga, a.k.a. Hot Yoga is served up in a 108 degree heat which makes it ideal for rapid detoxification & flexibility training. It is a very powerful, and in many ways, very mindful sequence full of wisdom, but it can be too militant, and is not really appropriate for most beginners or the unfit, as it has little focus on spinal alignment, and keeping the body safe. Sadly, this is a staggeringly common failure of the fitness and health industry today, including most yoga. Bikram also discourages modifications and props, which nearly every beginner needs for some pose or another.

Vinyasa Flow, is one of my personal favorites as well as one of the most popular, but it can be  demanding at times, and its offshoot Power Yoga is for the advanced. Ashtanga Yoga (the "Father of Vinyasa") is one of the most physically challenging practices and, along with Power and Vinyasa, offers a faster-paced sequence that often keeps the body moving, which is great for your typical type-A with a busy mind that just won't sit still. They are very popular styles in NYC--no wonder! These styles use a fluid sequence of interconnected poses creating a sort of "moving meditation experience," and are often challenging workouts, potentially leaving the practitioner with an "exercise glow," or "Yoga high," by the end of class.

Iyengar Yoga is ideal for beginners, and those in need of alignment training (which is nearly everyone). Alignment awareness is vital for a base knowledge of how to use the body effectively and most important: safely. Alignment's importance cannot be overstated, however, the time and detail given to each posture in this style can sometimes be drawn out and may endanger the practice in becoming too cerebral. It characteristically has fewer poses with longer holds to refine the alignment of each. 

Chair Yoga/Senior Yoga is a nice, low-impact practice that emphasizes breathing, body-awareness, stretching, meditation (quieting of the mind) and increasing circulation and range of movement in the joints. So many people see all these fit bodies in the media and think that if they aren't flexible or fit that yoga isn't for them. Yoga is for EVERY body, and this practice proves it :)

Hatha Yoga is essentially the source of Modern Yoga as the originator of all its subsequent schools, and these days generally refers to a class with deep stretching of individual postures held long enough to bring mindfulness to the breath and posture itself.

Acro/Partnered Yoga completely rocks. This kind of Yoga happens usually after you've done at least a few Yoga classes, you love it, and you wanna let your inner child-monkey out for a good time and play. Here, Yoga moves from a solo practice out into the world, communicating, with a partner, building trust and with the community it becomes more fun!

"Bird Pose"-One of the Basic Partnered/Acro Yoga Poses

Kundalini Yoga is for Masters: those who are interested in mastery and those who are ready for it.  It is the most energetically cleansing and spiritually transformational approach to Yoga, and is to be taken with a bit of discipline, especially given the intense power in it's nature; Kundalini energy is said to be the evolutionary energy of consciousness. Jung would have called it the "unconscious." Working with it is no trifling matter. . . but it can also bring lots of joy! Like so much of life: Challenge helps us grow. Characterized by dynamic movements in place of static postures, often coupled with a rapid breath control technique, this style can also be one of the most meditative and draws as much energy inward as it expends, sometimes even more. Both this style and the next discussed deal overtly with the major energy centers of the body, a.k.a. the "Chakras"

Tantra Yoga is one of the most neglected branches, despite its relative wealth of information. The word "tantra" comes from two words: "tattva," meaning the science of cosmic principles and "mantra," meaning the science of mystic sounds and vibrations. It is a practical blueprint to navigate through the earthly realms of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, toward the realization of the Divine.

Its physical practice is somewhere between Hatha and Kundalini in its nature, and yes, the rumors are true; it can include certain sexual education techniques, which may also bring one to enlightenment. . . if you're into/looking for that sort of thing. The Tantric Path encourages us to be fully our selves to reach enlightenment, and that our desire is the key to such a state, which is a radical opposition to most traditions.

We've discussed styles & disciplines, mindfulness, even the essential nature of alignment. But what is the essence of Yoga? What is the experience, the purpose?? You can practice for personal, physical, professional or any other kind of development. You can practice to be happier, or to get better sleep, to be a more compassionate person. All of these are noble pursuits, and common benefits, but they only mere expressions of the one purpose of Yoga: Oneness.

That is, Complete Union within self, and the entirety of experience. 

This happens through the grace of the breath. It may sound like a bold claim, or un-satisfyingly simple to the ego/mind, which loves complications. There is great power in Yoga's simplicity. The breath, simply, generates awareness. True conscious awareness, free from the filters of the ego/mind, is that very same Oneness. It is the base expression of it, and from it, all benefit from Yoga flows. When we come into the place where we finally let go of the thinking mind, and sink into the being mind, the mind of awareness, all matter of transformation may happen.

Do Vinyasas, do Kundalini, do Bikram or whatever styles and postures you like. Practice with another, or even whilst you're by yourself. When sitting, driving, walking, or dancing. . . if the mind is present and awake to the breath in each moment, THAT is Yoga.