Terre Pruitt's Blog

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Posts Tagged ‘Wiki’

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A Breathe Of Fresh Caffeine?

Posted by terrepruitt on June 24, 2014

Wow, you might not believe I have more “stuff” going on.  More on that later.  I am sure I will write a post or two.  You know I always share, it just takes some time sometime.  So, instead – highlights of my day:  a student who has been away from my Nia classes for a bit came to class today.  That was wonderful, unexpected and very timely.  Another student in one of my yoga classes came to class with his own mat.  That put a huge smile on my face.  I took that as a sign that he is “into” it.  Later when I told him I was so happy to see him have his own mat, he said, “Yeah, I got to stick with it!!!!”  Thrilling!  Yes, gotta keep looking at the bright spots.  While perusing my cache of “topics to post about”, I came across one I found interesting.  Could be something you are aware of, perhaps I had heard of it too, but forgot.  I think the studies were done in 2009.  Did you know caffeine could, possibly, help people with asthma breathe better?

There is an article about a small study showing caffeine worked as a bronchodilator.  “A bronchodilator is a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow to the lungs.” per Wiki

The small study of 75 people with mild to moderate asthma was done.  Six trails showed 55 people had improved lung function for up to fours hours after consuming caffeine.

A study at the Indiana University show that caffeine an hour before exercise can significantly reduce exercise induced asthma.  I cannot find a link to the Indiana University study, but there are numerous articles about it that surface when a search is done.  One article on ScienceDaily said that it was LARGE amounts of caffeine that were used in this study.  The article stated “9 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight”.  Ok check my figuring on this using the information from the Mayo Clinic regarding a regular brewed cup of coffee, which is 8 oz brewed coffee has 95-200 mg of caffeine.  That is a big difference, but that is ok, it will still work in my “figuring”.  Let’s use the top, 200 mg of caffeine in a cup of coffee.  Well, lets say average man is 80 kilograms (176.37 pounds), that would be 720 mgs of caffeine.  That is roughly 4.5 cups of strong coffee.  Is that right?  The article also said that smaller amounts – 3 mg – 6 mg per kilogram of body weight “also reduced the wheezing, coughing and other symptoms of” exercise induced asthma.

Interesting.  I know many people who use caffeine to help fuel their workouts.  I know many people who use caffeine to help fuel their day.  So, while I am by NO MEANS saying to use caffeine instead of any physician prescribed medication for asthma . . . I just think it is interesting.  Since it could be that many people with asthma are drinking coffee anyway. I just like when I come across tidbits of information.

What do you think?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

POPCORN, A Thing Of My Past

Posted by terrepruitt on June 21, 2014

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaMy niece was here visiting for a week, but because she is family she doesn’t really get treated like a guest.  It is my stance that she is here visiting ME (and my husband) so I drag her along to all of my Nia classes, my yoga classes, and all the things I have to do.  She is completely capable of staying at the house and relaxing as if on vacation, but — nope, she is here for a visit so I make her visit.  She got out of going with me one day when her uncle took her to the beach.  THEY were visiting.   At the end of the week, my dad came to pick her up and we were waiting for my husband to get off of work so we could all go to dinner.  My dad looked at one of my clocks, then at his watch and he said, “I always look at MY watch.”  Then he said that my clock was fast.  We started talking about how we can’t call POPCORN any longer.  Then I realized that my niece probably doesn’t even know what that is!  So I asked her, she had no idea.  Awwwww.  Sometimes it is sad when things I had all my life are unknown.  The conversation led to, “When did it stop?”  So, of course, I looked it up.  And — guess what?  I found all kinds of information I didn’t know.  This post is about POPCORN or the Speaking Clock!

When I was young if you wanted to know the EXACT time you called 767-1234, or 767-2676, which spells POPCORN.  Now, I grew up in a house with a lot of clocks (probably why I have a lot in our house), but they were set at least 10 minutes ahead of time — I am sure my parents had a reason for that, but I could NOT tell you WHY (but my dad still does it).  Not only were they not set to the correct time, most of them didn’t match.  So, I basically never really could figure out what time it was, so I called POPCORN a lot.

It was also interesting because after a power outage the line would be busy!  Apparently a lot of people were trying to find out what time it was!  My internet search revealed that AT&T stopped the Speaking Clock in California in 2007.  I remember when it stopped.  I remembered it was a hot topic in a lot of my social media feeds, but I didn’t remember the year.  All of the information in this post is from Wiki.  Wiki says that in the United States it was not known by the name “Speaking Clock.”  That is nice for me to know because I don’t remember it ever being called that.  The information states it was typically called “Time of Day.”  I just remember we called it POPCORN.  Although the 767 prefix was just for Northern California.  (Wiki calls the prefix “exchanges”)

Quick Wiki facts:

–France had the first speaking clock service, it started on February 14, 1933
–Not all speaking clocks are a free call, sometimes services charges apply
–Some counties have speaking clocks in more than one language
–Some services supply local time and local weather

The following countries have speaking clocks:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados,Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France Germany, Greece, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,  Ukraine, United Kingdom,

Norway had the service until 2007.  Also, it could be that some of these services have since been ceased.

Ha.  Cool.  I never really thought about other countries having a speaking clock.  Seems like a lot of the States in America have stopped the service due to the use of cell phones.  Not many people using their cell phones to CALL to see what time it is.  And cell phone clocks don’t need to be set.  I used to carry the phone (not a cell phone) from clock to clock and set the time to the EXACT time according to POPCORN.  I just was kind a little surprised the other day by the thought that my niece didn’t even know what it was.  I am so happy that Deb Wong thought to video tape it and put it on Youtube for those of use that want to hear that familiar voice to see it!  THANKS Deb!

So . . . do any of you local remember this?  Miss it?  How about you all living not local (to me)?  Do you have a Specking Clock?  Do you use it?

 

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Have You Ever Heard Of Sporotrichosis?

Posted by terrepruitt on June 3, 2014

Holy Moly!  I love to learn stuff, but some stuff I would rather not learn in a “first hand” manner.  Ya know what I mean?  Like emergency response times (I am not saying I learned this first hand), but that is an example I am using.  I don’t want to know first hand how long it takes for an ambulance or a fire truck to get to me . . . because that would mean I would be in a situation where I had the opportunity to learn that.  That is what I mean.  There are some things I could do without learning or could have done with out learning.  Recently I learned about something I had never heard of and quiet frankly I am shocked.  But I guess it is a really good thing because perhaps that means that it is not that common.  Have you ever heard of Rose Grower’s Disease or Rose Gardener’s Disease?  It is an actual “disease” you can get from a rose!!

I know so many people who have roses, I am surprised I haveDance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle Yoga never hear of it until now.  I am just going to quote directly from an online dictionary:

“Sporotrichosis is a chronic infection caused by the microscopic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The disease causes ulcers on the skin that are painless but do not heal, as well as nodules or knots in the lymph channels near the surface of the body. Infrequently, sporotrichosis affects the lungs, joints, or central nervous system and can cause serious illness.

The fungus that causes sporotrichosis is found in spagnum moss, soil, and rotting vegetation. Anyone can get sporotrichosis, but it is most common among nursery workers, farm laborers, and gardeners handling spagnum moss, roses, or barberry bushes.”

The fungus can get into your system via cut or a scrape.  Of anyone who has handled a rose, who has NOT been stabbed by a thorn?  Eek.  And that is how you get it from the fungus from the source itself.  It is not contagious, as in it does not get passed from person to person.  But it is Zoonosis, so according to Wiki a person can get it from an infected animal.  I was thinking that it must be one of those things that people get when they have a weakened immune system . . . and . . . yup, that is what this dictionary states.  Otherwise I think it would be more common and I would have gotten it.  Because I have been pricked by thorns a lot.  Sometimes I look down and the thorn is still in my skin.  OWWWW.  Could be too that our roses don’t have this fungus, but I don’t know.

When trying to come up with words and phrases to do a search on the internet that would show me what a rose bush that has this fungus looks like, other pictures that I cannot stomach showed up.  So if any of you know what the plant would look like  . . . please let me know.  (Be careful searching the internet!)

The information that I have read regarding the disease states that it is painless, but it does not look painless.  But any time I see a red bump I think it is painful, but that is not always the case.  The treatment varies . . . as in the medicine used, but all information I have seen says it my be taken for weeks sometimes months of treatment.  So apparently it takes a long time to get this out of the body.

So . . . if you garden wear your gloves and be careful out there.

Had you heard of this disease?  Do you know what roses that have it look like?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Some Like It Hot

Posted by terrepruitt on May 13, 2014

The average body temperature of a healthy, resting adult human being is stated to be at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius.  I say average because some people have a slightly higher temperature that is normal for them and some have a slightly lower temperature that is normal for them.  So 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius is average.  I like what Wiki says:  ” Despite what many schoolchildren are taught, there is no single number that represents a normal or healthy temperature for all people under all circumstances using any place of measurement.”  Information gleaned from several sources remind us that changes in hormone levels can change the body temperature. Also that the different ways temperature is taken can indicate a different reading.  Oral is where you get the average “normal” of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius, where an ear or rectal measure could be higher, and an armpit measure lower.  Our weather is too hot for me right now, so I was thinking of body temperature and just thought I note some information.  It is interesting to me.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaWhen my mom was first in the hospital a couple of years ago when she had a lobe of her lung removed I first saw the forehead swipe thermometer.  I was amazed.  I said to the nurse, “What did you just do?  Are you kidding me?”  I had never seen that before.  She picked it up and was done with it before I fully comprehended what she did.  I thought that was super cool.  Then not too long after I took my cat to the vet and they had an ear thermometer . . . which is GREAT for an animal.  Taking an animal’s temperature is the second thing (they weigh them first) that happens at a doctor visit and normally it does not set the right mood.  So the ear thermometer is great.

Body temperature can change throughout the day, changing almost a full degree F.  It can also change according to its needs, if it is hungry or sleepy its temperature can change.  There can also be slight differences from day-to-day.  Outside variables also affect body temperature . . . if it is cold or hot outside the body could reflect that.  Each body has a “normal” range for it.

I find the difference in heat tolerance to be interesting.  I do not like heat . . . at all.  To me it is too hot when the temperature is over 75°, but that also depends on if there is not wind.  This past weekend the car thermometer said 72° F but there was a wind and it was perfect to me.  I loved it.  I wish I would have gone outside.  My husband likes the temperature warmer.  Many people like the sun and heat.  Many do not.  I find the differences interesting.   I often wonder if it has to do with sweating.  If I am slightly warm I am sweaty and I don’t like to sweat unless I am working out, like doing Nia.  And I know many people who don’t sweat.  So they are fine when it is 80° whereas I am too hot and sweaty in that heat.  I don’t think my temperature runs high, but I don’t know.  I cannot remember the last time I had my temperature taken.  And normally I don’t take it unless I think I have a fever so that doesn’t help know what my “normal”.

This is the first day of our “hot spell”.  I hope it cools down by the weekend.  As they say it will.

So do you know if your body’s temperature is a little higher than the “average”?  Is it lower?  Do you like hot weather?  What do you consider hot?

*Some information was from WebMD.com

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick

Posted by terrepruitt on March 18, 2014

Maybe Jack practiced Nia.  We do a lot of agility movements in a Nia class.  From Wiki’s definition of agility:

“Agility or nimbleness is the ability to change the body’s position efficiently, and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, and endurance.”

When thinking of agility I tend to think of my entire body starting then stopping.  My entire body moving one direction then changing quickly, like the definition states. But agility can be just in the fingers, in the hands, in the arms, or just in the legs.  Our entire body does not have to move for it to be an agility movement—or at least that is how we call it in Nia.  We do a lot of movements that require agility.

I just posted about Creeper Crawlers.  That is an agility movement of the fingers.  They are starting and stopping and going one direction then the other.

Drumming is a great example of agility.  Your arms and/or hands are starting and stopping and changing direction.  We drum in Nia.  There are certain routines where it is part of the choreography.  There are times when we do it in FreeDance.  The music often calls for drumming.  Sometimes we listen.  Drumming is a fun way to connect to the sensation of agility.  Without actual drums we can drum all around our space;  up in the air above our heads . . . in one of our Nia routines they call this sky drumming.  We can drum below our bodies, to the sides, behind our bodies, around in a circle, all over.  Sometimes I invite the class to imagine they are in the middle of a HUGE drum set with drums all around them.  They can’t even move without hitting a drum.  That is some wild drumming.

Looking around and allowing the head to change direction is a form of agility.  Look!  Look!  Look!  As if you are watching a bug fly around.  Hip bumps . . . keeping those hips juicy with that left right action.  If you are really playful, hip bumps back and forth . . . it’s all about being agile.

Another great show of an agility move is kicking.  Kicking like a swimmer’s kick.  Fast feet, fast action action.  One direction then the other.  Back and forth.  Of course this can be done with the action from the knee or even the hip.  Whatever joint does the action, kicking is another great example of a movement that requires agility.

A number of Nia’s 52 Moves of the The Upper Extremities can be tied to agility.  Blocks and punches can be done with a quick change of direction, along with webbed spaces and palm directions.

Agility is one of Nia’s Five Sensations that we practice and play with in our Nia classes.  The other sensations are Flexibility, Mobility, Strength, and Stability.  Like many groups and professions we have many acronyms, the one for Nia’s Five Sensations is FAMSS.  The A is for Agility.

What do you do that can be considered an agility move?

Posted in Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

The Color Of Joy And Love

Posted by terrepruitt on February 22, 2014

Sometimes I feel as if I am so “behind” on “knowing things”.  Do you ever feel like that?  Sometimes I feel as if I am the last to know.  I feel as if everyone knew it but me.  But then I remember there are a lot of people in the world AND there are a lot of things to know and not everyone knows everything.  So sometimes even though I think “everyone knows” when I post about it I am always happy to receive comments that what I shared is new to at least one person.  But . . . this might be one of those things that everyone knows.  I mean, I would bet that all of you have heard of a race or “run” where people who participate get colored corn starch thrown on them, right?  I mean, even if you haven’t been to one, or seen one, or participated, you have probably seen at least one person in your social media circle post about one.  I am not a runner nor am I a person that just likes to be dirty even if it is with bright and beautiful colors.  So you won’t find me participating in one.  But I see my Facebook feed FULL of stuff related to it.  I thought it was just a way for people promoting running events to get more participants . . . . because a lot of people — unlike me — think it is fun to get colors thrown on them.  I thought it was just something that race producers did to make it fun and different.  I didn’t know that it is an actual religious festival.  I do know that many things start out as religious festivals or customs of races and people, but I would have never thought that a run with colors was more than just something promoters came up with.  There is something called Holi from which these events might have been borrowed.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaSince I have never participated in runs or races it could very well be that the promotional materials talk the Holi Festival.  I don’t know.  But in looking at the Color Run website they do state “event is all about having fun, we also focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle.”  According to Wiki Holi “is a spring festival also known as festival of colors, and sometimes festival of love.”  One website states, “Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as ‘Holika’.”  As with many beliefs there are different stories associated with the festival.

The common thread is that it is a celebration of spring.  As with many celebrations regarding spring there is more to it than just the weather; it is about new, about renewal, about starting over, about forgiveness.  And for some, love.  There is also the element of good triumphing over evil.

Holi is like Easter in that it is not on the same day every year as it is based on the full moon and is either in February or March.  The start of the festival is usually signified with a bonfire.  This is a symbol of the good triumphing over evil as one of the legends has to do with a HUGE bonfire.  The next day is when the colors are poured, thrown, and/or disbursed.  It is a day of fun and celebration.  The colors have to do with one wanting to make his lover’s skin that same as his.

I can see why the race promoters borrowed this tradition.  It stems from joy and love so adding it to a run just adds to the fun of the run.  It sets the tone for an event that is a celebration.  This type of race — or run — is done all over the United States.  Holi Festivals take place all over the world.  I was intrigued to learn the throwing of colors started off as religious event.  I thought I would share because it is cool to learn things and maybe you didn’t know either.

Have you participated in a race/run where they throw colors at you?  Have you heard of an event like this?  Did you know it was (more than likely) borrowed from the Hindu tradition of Holi?  

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Regal Pose

Posted by terrepruitt on October 31, 2013

Sometimes in Nia we do yoga poses, I have yet to do the sphinx in a Nia class, but I do include it in the Gentle Yoga class I am teaching.  I think of it as a nice gently backbend.  I think of it as a regal pose.  I think of it as a spine lengthener and a back strengthener.  I like the Sphinx Pose.

Although, according to Wiki, the Sphinx is not nice:

“A sphinx is a mythical creature with, as a minimum, the body of a lion and a human head.  In Greek tradition, it has the haunches of a lion, the wings of a great bird, and the face of a woman. She is mythicised as treacherous and merciless. Those who cannot answer her riddle suffer a fate typical in such mythological stories . . . ”

Ha, I think I will stick with the idea of regal.

The Sphinx Pose is another prone pose, where you are lying on your belly.  Your legs are together, touching, and straight out behind your body.  Start face down, with your arms stretched out on the ground above you, as if you are reaching above your head.  Before bending back, gently press your pelvis towards the earth, lengthening your tailbone towards your feet.  As you lift your head and chest up off the ground, bring your arms back.  Stop when your elbows are directly underneath your shoulders.  Or you can bring your hands up by your ears and gently push up into the backbend.  Adjusting your hands so that your elbows are directly under your shoulders.  You are resting on your elbows and forearms, palms down, fingers together.

Continue to keep your legs together, while your toes are reaching toward the opposite wall/direction.  Your back is active, while your arms are supportive.  Reach with your chest somewhat upward and open.  Your shoulders are back and your shoulder blades are pressing gently toward the earth.

Your gaze is forward and your posture is regal.  You are strong and confident.  Breathe into the pose.  Hands, arms, neck, back, and legs are all active yet not tightly clenched.

(11/17/21: Click Picture The Great Sphinx for a picture.)

Stay for a few breaths or as long as your practice dictates.  Release and lower to the floor, allowing your head to turn to the side.  Rest your head on your hands and repeat as desired.

This is a nice gently backbend that can be the next backbend after learning the locust pose, if your practice is one in which you are progressing from a small backbend to a “bigger” backbend.  These (the Locust Post and the Sphinx Pose) can be preludes to the Cobra and the Upward Facing Dog.  Of course, this is a great pose to practice even if you are already doing the other backbends.

This pose is great to help strengthen the muscles in the back.

If necessary a rolled towel can be placed under your pubic bone in the shape of a U to provide cushion.  The U would be “hugging the belly”.

Do you have backbends in your practice?  Is sphinx one that you do?  What backbends do you practice?

Some Benefits Of Doing Back Bends

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Time For Thyme

Posted by terrepruitt on October 10, 2013

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaJust this week I was cooking dinner and my husband walked in the house and asked what smelled so good.  I had cooked some pasta for dinner a few days or so earlier.  Having been in a rush I didn’t measure or think, I just dumped the remainder of the pasta into the pot and cooked it.  I ended up with a lot of pasta!  We have been eating it for days!  For a couple of the meals I added meat and vegetables.  But one day I hadn’t defrosted any meat so I needed something.  You know how I like to have something quick to cook after teaching a class whether it is Nia or Gentle Yoga.  I often pair up beans and rice — as you know my favorite recipe is Red Beans and Rice.  But I had never put beans with pasta, but I thought, “Why not?”  So I added a bell pepper and some garbanzo beans to the pasta.  When cooking my primary spices are onions and garlic, I decided since we had been eating pasta for days I needed to change up the flavor a bit.  I normally save thyme for marinades and the aforementioned recipe.  By “save” I don’t really mean I keep it just for those things, I really mean I don’t even think about it except when making those things.  I use it when a recipe calls for it, but I don’t think to just put it in what I am cooking.  So, I think what my husband was smelling was the thyme.  It was a different type of yummy aroma.  Of course, I wanted to learn more about thyme.

According to Wiki the Greeks thought it was a source of courage.  And the Egyptians used it for embalming.  Also, Wiki states it is thought that the Romans were responsible for the spread of thyme throughout Europe by using it “to purify their rooms and to ‘give an aromatic flavor to cheese and liqueurs’.”

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaI think of it as being “twiggy” or leaves so recently when I received some ground I was surprised.  I know the leaves, especially fresh, are more flavorful, but I sometimes do not like to have the leaves in my food.  So I was happy to have the ground thyme to include in my pasta dish.  I just put the past in a pan to warm it up, added the garbanzo beans, cheese, and some green bell pepper.  As it was warming I sprinkled on some thyme and salt.  I was actually surprised at the flavor.  It was really good.  Whenever I learn something or get surprised I think to post about it.  I mean, I didn’t know.  I never thought to just put thyme in my pasta.  I also never thought to put garbanzo beans with my pasta.  I know many people use thyme frequently and with confidence, but I hadn’t until now!

If you consume thyme by the tablespoon you’ll receive a good dose of vitamin K and iron.  Per tablespoon 30% of the Daily Value and about 9.5% of the DV respectively.

Turns out that thyme oil or at least a component of it is an antiseptic and it is used in mouthwashes.  It also has antibiotic properties and helps fight fungal infections.

The leaves can be made into a tea to help with coughs and bronchitis.

The World’s Healthiest Foods’ website says there are “about sixty different varieties including French (common) thyme, lemon thyme, orange thyme and silver thyme”.  Seems like I need to get to using thyme more so that I work my way through all the varieties.

How about you?  Do you cook with thyme often?  Did you know there were so many varieties?

Posted in Food | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Walking The Labyrinth

Posted by terrepruitt on August 17, 2013

In Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYoGreek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate structure so cunningly designed and built that he who did so barely escaped it after he built it . . . .so sayeth Wiki. If that were the case, to me it sounds more like it was a maze then what I know to be a labyrinth. Seems as if there are some typical patterns of labyrinths. There are Medieval labyrinth patterns, Classical Labyrinth patterns, Christian Labyrinth patterns, etc. Seems like they are found in many cultures and places. As I mention in my post about my first Sound Healing and Labyrinth Walk, the walk you take on a labyrinth is your own. It is your own quiet time. The time could be a meditation, could be a prayer, a time for you to give gratitude, a time for reflection, a time for planning, a time for a good ol’ heart to heart with yourself. You could be reciting a poem or signing a song . . . . whatever it is it is what you want to do. Walking the labyrinth is what you make it.

The walk could be a mental journey, an emotional journey, or a spiritual journey. While I am walking I like to add in a bit of physicality. Of course, I am walking the pattern, but as I go in addition to whatever it is I am doing either mentally, emotionally, or spiritually I like to move in different ways. At times I might concentrate on my feet, careful to roll through my ENTIRE foot. Mindful of the outer edges of my feet. I like to walk on my toes. I like to take a few feet side-stepping. I shuffle, I walk backwards. I face outward and inward. I take huge steps. And there are some moments when I take teeny tiny steps. I crouch low and stand tall. I also stop. The walks I have been on include Crystal Singing Bowls, so there are times when I stop to sense the songs. When I am not moving I can better feel the vibration of the bowls. Whatever I am thinking about and reflecting on and however I am moving I do it in silence. If you know me, I am not often quite. I did not speak for almost two hours today. Normally I am bursting with words, but today, I realized I was fine being silent.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYoThe labyrinth we walk for these events has a placard that says the labyrinth is an ancient symbol for the spiritual journey. It also explains that some think labyrinths were used to teach stone masonry and mathematics, while others say it was used in place of people actually having to travel to Jerusalem for a Pilgrimage. It further explains that the one we walk is based on the medieval labyrinth that is in the floor of the Chartres Cathedral outside of Paris, France.

The speed in which you walk is your own. Of course, it is best to be respectful of the others walking it too. No tailgating or rudely passing. I had thought this labyrinth had an in and an out, but the path out is the same as the path in.

I had a great walk. It was nice to stroll the pattern and contemplate things.

It was also so, so, so great to witness the singing bowls again. After the walk Cecilia let me hold every single one of her bowls and I sensed the different vibrations. It is amazing the different energy and power that comes from each different bowl. Just amazing. I am so very grateful that she and Jessica share their beautiful bowls and energy with us.

While I don’t know when the next Sound Healing and Labyrinth Walk will be, one of the women who shares her bowl’s singing with us is planning to start a once-monthly Sound Healing/Meditation gathering on the fourth Sunday of each month. As soon as I get details I will share. While it will not include a labyrinth walk I am certain it will be fun.

If you every have the opportunity to walk a labyrinth I strongly encourage you to do so. Before you begin pick something to focus then open your heart and take that first step. I have faith that you will not regret it and you will find it to be time well spent.

Have you ever walked a labyrinth? Where? What was it made of?

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Put Rocket In Your Bowl

Posted by terrepruitt on July 20, 2013

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYoMy latest veggie obsession is arugula.  Now I know I have been eating arugula for a long time.  I know that it is popular at restaurants.  I know that I have had entrées topped with arugula or it served on the side.  I know that it is in some of the salad mixes I buy and eat.  I know that it is described as having a peppery flavor.  But I didn’t know how good it was.  I actually think that I thought that the food with it in it or on it was so good because it was “restaurant food” and the chef knew how to cook.  I had never thought to attribute the fabulous flavor of the whole dish to arugula.  Ok, maybe not every dish was fabulous BECAUSE of the arugula but I am thinking that they were definitely enhanced by this green.  Recently I was in the store and I was looking at my choice of organic greens and there was spinach and the regular packaged assortment of weeds and a separate container of arugula.  I hadn’t remembered ever seeing arugula in a separate container before.  Maybe because I always grab either spinach or the bunch of weeds.  But this time I noticed them so I decided to grab them.

The regular assortment of weeds has been very tiring to me.  It has become so tiring and bitter that I have actually elected to not have salad a few nights because I just didn’t want to eat that bitter bunch.  So when I was standing in the produce section and I saw something other than that package of weeds I was very happy.  I thought, “What the heck?  I know I have had arugula before.”  I always thought of it as an accent green.  So I bought some spinach too and just put a bit of arugula in with it when preparing our salads.  I always was a tad bit concerned because of the description I kept seeing.  The peppery part.

I decided I love arugula.  I have been loading up our salads with it.  My hubby does not get as excited about greens — except collard greens — as I do so he just shrugged it off when I went on and on.  And now it is our salad staple.  I don’t think it really has any great nutritional values, but if it is a nice accent to a salad and encourages you to eat one, then that is a benefit.

I have a friend and I always share with her my latest kick and I told her that I arugula was my latest thing and she said the same thing as I did.  She doesn’t remember ever seeing it sold separate in a bag or container either.  So either we both have not noticed it before or they weren’t doing it as much as they are now.  She hadn’t tried it either.  Yes, she has had it the same way I have had it but not buying it and putting it in a salad herself.  Well, since I love it I thought I would point it out.  Yes, it could be something you have been using forever and this is old news, but you never know. I always have faith that I am giving at least one person a new idea.  It might not even be the exact one I am sharing but I like to think my “share” sparks something for someone.

According to Wiki (copied directly from) “Eruca sativa is an edible annual plant, commonly known as salad rocket, roquette, rucola, rugula, colewort, or, in the United States, arugula.”

Some quick nutritional information:  in 2 cups there is

20 calories
.5 gram of fat
25 mgs of sodium
148 mgs of potassium
3 grams of carbs
1 grams of fiber
2 grams of protein

It also looks as if it can be a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin K.  And to me a good source of calcium.  Plus it being a green it has phytochemicals which are necessary for good health.

Do you eat salad rocket?  Are you an arugula fan?

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