Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Pranayam: Breath Control for a Tight Bod....

...Pranayama (Sanskrit: prāṇāyāma) is a Sanskrit word often translated as control of the life force (prana).[1][2][3][4] When used as a technical term in yoga, it is often translated more specifically as "breath control". ... Source: Wikipedia

Due to sudden increase in bp, in the past few days, I decided to try some Pranayam techniques. I suspected a viral infection, and I tried the simplest of pranayam technique (see below). It took about 3 days for the infection to subside.

1. using your left thumb, press to close the left nostril
2. inhale using your right nostril - use the abdomen as much as possible
3. hold for 2 seconds
4. whilst releasing your left thumb, use your left index to close the right nostril
5. exhale through the left nostril
6. repeat for about 10 to 15 times

Not too much or you'll feel dizzy! Too much oxygen...

"Yoga works primarily with the energy in the body, through the science of pranayama, or energy-control. Prana means also ‘breath.’ Yoga teaches how, through breath-control, to still the mind and attain higher states of awareness. The higher teachings of yoga take one beyond techniques, and show the yogi, or yoga practitioner, how to direct his concentration in such a way as not only to harmonize human with divine consciousness, but to merge his consciousness in the Infinite." — Paramahansa Yogananda

Monday, September 10, 2007

Does Meat Contain Starch?

"...Previously, experts had wondered if meat in the diet was the answer.

Brain food

However, Dr Nathaniel Dominy and colleagues argue this is improbable.

"Even when you look at modern human hunter-gatherers, meat is a relatively small fraction of their diet.

"To think that, two to four million years ago, a small-brained, awkwardly bipedal animal could efficiently acquire meat, even by scavenging, just doesn't make a whole lot of sense."..."

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6983330.stm

Case closed!


Dang! I hate it when I am right!

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Jim's Golden Sea Bream

Well Jim, Captain Cook got it wrong! This is NOT a Snapper, but a Sea Bream!

(Jim's holding a Golden Sea Bream Pagrus auratus, caught around Moreton Bay, off Brisbane. Apparently the northern limit for this particular species.)