Good Energy Movement and Wellness / Good Energy Yoga / Melissa “Mati” Elstein

This weekend, my husband and I watched an entertaining and educational documentary on Netflix:  “Fat Sick and Nearly Dead”.  If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it!  It is about a seriously overweight Australian man who also suffers from an autoimmune skin disorder.  He decides to embark on a 60-day green juice fast in the US, and travel around our country meeting and interviewing people about their health and dietary habits.  On his journey, he befriends and inspires a truck driver – a lovely man who is also obese and on a multitude of prescription medications.  I won’t ruin the movie for you by divulging any more of the story, but (and I know this is clichéd) I smiled, laughed, and got teary-eyed during the film.  It definitely motivated us to eat even healthier, and the next morning we both got large organic green juices for breakfast and lunch!  And my husband pulled out his bike from storage and went riding for the first time in years!  ☺

Speaking of dietary issues, I recently learned about a potentially harmful additive that is being used as a thickening agent in many organic and non-organic foods.  Carrageenan is a seaweed (also known as Irish Moss) that is now in many dairy products, dairy alternatives (such as some rice, almond and soy milks and puddings), Applegate turkey breast, frozen desserts and food, beer, Tasti-delight, to name some examples.   During the beginning of this year, I was having a lot of mysterious abdominal pains that could not be explained because all the various medical tests and scopes I did came out normal.  It was very frustrating and scary to be in pain, and not know the cause.  Fortuitously, one of my health-conscious neighbors (who I met during our historic preservation volunteer work on the UWS) emailed me an article by Dr. Andrew Weill regarding the link between carrageenan, inflammation and distressful GI symptoms.  This is the article:     http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA401181…  After reading the article, I eliminated all foods containing this ingredient (and it turns out, it was in a lot of my favorite foods), and lo and behold, the mysterious abdominal pain went away.  As a result of my experience of dealing with pain and a multitude of not-fun medical tests, I now feel I must share this important information with you.  Please review the articles and links, and then you can decide if this is a food item you wish to consume.

Here is more information and a petition I signed:

http://www.cornucopia.org/2013/03/gut-wrenching-tell-fda-to-ban-carrageenan-common-food-ingredient-linked-to-intestinal-inflammation-bloating-irritable-bowel-syndrome-colitis-cancer-and-more/

Here is a partial list of foods containing carrageenan:

http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/

More information:

http://www.cornucopia.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Carrageenan-Report1.pdf

Please share this information with others.  I intend to email my doctors as well with the above links.

In case you missed this last month, I am sharing the link to my latest yoga article; it discusses how to relax the nervous system with yogic 3-part breathing, and published in the West Side Spirit on Jan. 31.  Here is the link:

http://issuu.com/westsidespirit/docs/mn_013113_ws

From the cover page, go to p. 18 (“Alternative Health”).  If anyone would like the article emailed instead, please let me know!

So the world survived the end of the Mayan calendar, and here we are already 2 weeks into in 2013!  I hope that since we did not experience the doomsday predictions for Dec. 21, 2012, that the alternative theory espousing the shift to an age of enlightenment, community and spirituality is true.  Given the many monumental issues the world seems to be facing, it feels as if there is an urgency in the air, with people desirous of this shift immediately.  I have read that before any major shift happens, there will be growing pains.  It does seem as if we are in the midst of a growth spurt, both with its’ positive and negative effects.  Let’s hope for a fantastic New Year, filled with abundance, peace and harmony for all as we leave the old era behind.

This Wednesday, is 12/12/12 and a new moon is the next day.  So it is a very auspicious time to write down your wishes, desires, plans for the New Year and the New Era – one that begins on Dec. 21 when the ancient Mayan calendar ends.  This also marks the shift from the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age.  (See “A Planetary Awakening” – great book by Kathy Newburn).

You can do a vision board and/or a written life plan this Wednesday evening, and take some time to create your own ceremony or ritual around this.

It could also be a nice time to join with others in a group meditation or group wish, as we are now moving into a time of community, of brotherhood and sisterhood.  An understanding of our interconnectedness, with one another and with all on the planet.

So mark your calendars, and may our wishes for a positive future come true!

I am happy to announce that my “Ten Minute Stretch Break” dvd is now on sale for the holidays.  This would make a great holiday gift or stocking stuffer!  I have a number of copies of this DVD I am selling for $ 40 (normally sold for $ 50).

This dvd is geared towards non-dancers and dancers alike who would like to learn flowing sequences aimed at keeping the entire body supple and mobile.

Choreographed to inspiring classical music, I demonstrate beautifully choreographed stretch sequences and movements by ballet master Finis Jhung.  The sequences are very practical, as they are divided into ten-minute segments and included seated, standing, and floor stretches, as well as some basic dance movements.

Because the stretches are divided into short ten minute segments, you can choose to do any combination of the stretches at your discretion.  You will find stretches for the upper body, legs, hips, neck, and spine that will awaken and refresh the body, release tension, and calm the mind.  Each exercise comes with the option of viewing with instructions first, or simply following along.  For some excerpts and to purchase, please click on this link or paste in internet browser:

http://www.finisjhung.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=0_1&products_id=345

(Note that the quality of the actual dvd is clearer than the You Tube footage)

I hope you will enjoy this dvd as much as I enjoyed filming it with the lovely and brilliant teacher Finis Jhung!

I just returned from an amazing weekend at Omega Institute – one of my favorite places on Earth — where I was assisting sports coach and therapist Rob Polishook in his workshop “Unleashing the Performer Within”.   We had such a wonderful group of creative and talented participants, including a tennis player, dancers, musicians, actors, writers, teachers, and a lawyer. I came away very inspired by humanity, and our shared hopes, dreams, challenges and insecurities.  Due to the dedication of all involved in this workshop, we experienced emotional growth and spiritual insights in just a weekend – including for myself.   I taught qigong moves, meditations, and yoga nidra and these ancient healing modalities flowed so well with the psychological and other spiritual aspects of the course.  I hope we are able to repeat this offering at Omega, or elsewhere!

I hope you had a wonderful summer!  I am back from my ABT children’s ballet teacher training (I just found out I passed the exams – fortunately, as the training was quite intense), and from my trip to Israel – which was amazing on so many levels.  I look forward to reconnecting with you in September!

Also, I received this important information from Yoga Association for NY:  After winning the yoga studio tax issue in Albany, “[o]ur biggest challenge remains the issue of Independent Contractor versus Employee status.  After an effective meeting with the Department of Labor, officials have agreed to let Yoga for NY leadership create industry-specific guidelines based on the DOL’s current definitions of Independent Contractors versus Employees.

This is a make-or-break distinction that could create HUGE costs to small and mid-sized studios and close them for good.  We must succeed in getting the DOL to understand the distinguishing characteristics of the yoga business in order to avoid a crisis within our industry.  Our goal is to help all business that provide yoga to stay open and grow.

Yoga for NY needs your support to keep advocating on behalf of the yoga industry in New York.
Please support Yoga for NY and help keep yoga vital in New York.”   You can donate or attend their next fundraiser by clicking HERE.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer – whether it is traveling or being on a staycation.

As noted below, I am away for the last 2 weeks in August, and the first week in August I was taking an intensive children’s ballet teacher training course at ABT – so my teaching schedule in August is very limited.  After Labor Day, things return to normal!

I also wanted to let you know that the yoga tax issue I had previously emailed you about seems to be mostly resolved.  Because the NY Dept. of Taxation has decided that yoga studios will not be obliged to collect taxes (nor back taxes) on classes, it will keep the costs of smaller and independent yoga studios down, and help protect their survival in this competitive market.  The published document, which you can view online,  states:  “The guidance notes that charges for yoga classes by facilities in New York City that offer only instruction in various yoga disciplines are not subject to the New York City local sales tax.”

I believe there are some other pending issues and I will keep you up to date on those as I learn of them.  But in the meanwhile, this is great news!

Dear friends,

These are tumultuous times.  It seems every time we turn on the news or open the paper, we see or read about all the various protests happening here in NYC, as well as throughout the country and internationally.  Or perhaps, you have been actively involved by attending some of these protests and rallies.  There seems to be enormous tension between the status quo and the agents of change and progress, and some have posited that this is all leading up to a global shift of consciousness after the ancient Mayan calendar ends on or around December 20, 2012.   I have found while discussing these issues with others, that many of us have been feeling more emotional than usual, and that many “negative” emotions, such as anger, fear and anxiety have been rising to the surface.   As all emotions are energy in motion, and need to be expressed and examined in healthy ways, rather than repressed, this is not necessarily a bad thing.  However, if we find ourselves getting stuck in the muck of these dark emotions, what can we do to move through them and onward to a more peaceful state?

This past Sunday, I attended a workshop on Anger and Yoga at Integral Yoga Institute with the lovely Swami Ramananda, and I would like to share some of what we discussed with you as I found it very helpful.  When we are experiencing “negative” emotions, it is important to recognize and accept it, rather than deny it.  That doesn’t mean that we act out in damaging ways to ourselves or others, but rather to look inward and not deny that those emotions exist within us.   Here is where the yogic practices really do help.  When we practice yoga nidra, savasana, and meditation where we observe the body, emotions and thoughts without engaging or attaching to them, it can help us off the mat and meditation cushion as well.  With our meditative and mindful movement practices, over time we build the necessary “muscles” to bring that level of awareness and neutral observation to ourselves in our real lives – even in times of heightened emotion.  For me, and probably for many other students, it is especially helpful knowing that in yoga philosophy we are not defined by our thoughts, emotions nor our bodies.  Our true or highest self, the witness self, transcends these aspects of ourselves.  Often when I am in the midst of strong negative emotions, I forget this concept, and need to be reminded.  We may be experiencing anger, fear, anxiety, but that does not mean that we are defined by those emotions.  In other words, I may be feeling anger, but that does not mean that I am an angry person, or a bad person.  It is important to not layer self-criticism and judgment over the emotions we are experiencing.  Yogis engage in self-study – but that is always from a place of detachment or, if that word seems too cold, perhaps with loving curiosity.

There is much more we can discuss regarding this topic, but for now, remember that with our continued practice of yoga (all aspects of yoga, including but not limited to asana, yoga nidra, philosophy, and chanting), tai chi / qigong and meditation, we will experience benefits in our daily lives, and help ease the stress of modern times.

Hi everyone,

I am back in town after a wonderful 2-week stay in warm and sunny Florida.  For me, there is nothing like the ocean, the sun and the palm trees to refresh the body and spirit.  While I was in the sunshine state, in addition to my daily walks on the beach, I took ballet class at Miami City Ballet school, a kundalini yoga and gong meditation class, and a Pure Barre class.  When I travel, I find it interesting to check out different yoga, gyrotonic and dance studios and see how they compare to the places where I study in NYC.  It’s also a great way to connect with like-minded people and learn about the health-oriented and spiritual activities in that area.  For me, I find that forging these new connections makes me feel less like a tourist, and it is fun to discover mutual friends in the six degrees of separation (more like three degrees these days) of the yoga and dance world.

I am happy to announce that the “Ten Minute Stretch Break” dvd is now available for purchase.  In this new dvd, I demonstrate beautifully choreographed stretches and movements by ballet master Finis Jhung.  This dvd is geared towards non-dancers and dancers alike who would like to learn flowing sequences aimed at keeping the entire body supple and mobile.  Choreographed to inspiring classical music, we do seated, standing, and floor stretches, as well as some basic dance movements.  The stretches are divided into short ten minute segments, so that you can choose to do any combination of the stretches at your discretion.  You will find stretches for the upper body, legs, hips, neck, and spine that will awaken and refresh the body, release tension, and calm the mind.  Each exercise comes with the option of viewing with instructions first, or simply following along.  For some excerpts and to purchase, please click on this link or paste in internet browser:

http://www.finisjhung.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=0_1&products_id=345

(Note that the quality of the actual dvd is more clear than the You Tube footage)

I hope you will enjoy this dvd as much as I enjoyed filming the it with the lovely and brilliant teacher Finis Jhung!