A recent article published in The New York Times written by William J. Broad has shone some unfavorable light onto the practice of yoga. Thank you to Daniel Strack, a Facebook Fan, who first alerted me to this article.

In the article How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body? yoga teacher Glenn Black warns about the potential damaging effects of doing yoga. Black noted that Americanized yoga classes tend to be more ego-driven than aligned with spiritual practice. Teachers and students are at risk of injury when they try to force their bodies into ranges of motion that are harmful to muscles and skeletal structure.

I'm no yoga expert but I do know three people personally who have attributed their years of yoga practice as contributing to and probably causing pain they now endure (back, hip, and knee pain). Ouch. This shared with me from individuals who continue to be disciplined yoga devotees. The woman with the bad knees routinely gets massages to help give relief.

A Guide associate and yoga expert, Ann Pizer, agrees that "yoga can be hazardous to your health..." she gives her opinion on the article in her blog here.

I'm more of a Pilates gal myself, although I have practiced Kundalini Yoga in the past. I meditate while I'm sitting comfortably on a pillow (legs crossed) or upright on the couch, feet on the floor. I'm not nay-saying yoga. I think yoga has its pluses and minuses. We live on a planet of duality after all... nothing is black or white. In my view yoga has more positives going for it. My personal healing focus is primarily about balance and awareness. Any meditative practice or physical exercise can be positive when done appropriately, BUT, they can also be harmful when done in excess or without regard to possible harm.

Disclaimer: About.com is a part of The New York Times

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~ Healing Lesson of the Day ~
~ Affirmation of the Day ~

There is still time to submit your nominations for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards (RCA). Twenty-three Holistic Healing awards are to be given, four of them related to Reiki healing.

Best in Reiki

• Best Reiki Book (nominate your favorites)
• Best Reiki Music CD (nominate your favorites)
• Best Reiki Facebook Page (nominate your favorites)
• Best Reiki Twitter Personality (nominate your favorites)

Reader nominations opened last week and will continue through Feb. 15. Some interesting choices are being submitted, but there seem to be some obvious omissions. At, least obvious to me. Who do you see missing in the list of nominations below? Show your support and nominate your Reiki favorites for this special honor (also check out all the other holistic healing award categories). Up to five finalists will be chosen from each group based on reader nomination to compete in the voting phase of the RCA beginning Feb. 22.

Here's a look at what the nominations look like as of this morning:

Reiki Books Nominated So Far

• Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide written by Pamela Miles
• Reiki: Hawayo Takata's Story written by Helen Haberly
• Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism written by Rose De Dan
• Reiki for Life written by Penelope Quest

Reiki Music CDs Nominated So Far

• Reiki Starlight, Llewellyn
• The Reiki Journey, Ginny Mackles
• Time Accelerated, Crystal Journey (David Hickey)

Reiki Facebook Pages Nominated So Far

• The Reiki Journey
• Divine Lotus Healing
• Reikified!
• Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC
• Dragon Fly Reiki
• Blossomtree Holistics
• Abby's Energy Healing Page
• Reiki, Medicine, and Self Care
• Jikiden Reiki Association (unfortunately this is a closed group and as a result will not make the cut.)

Reiki Tweeters Nominated So Far

• @WestPutReiki
• @Wellth
• @devioftheprose
• @reikishaman
• @WildReikiShaman
• @QAMassage

~ Healing Lesson of the Day ~
~ Affirmation of the Day ~

Free Advice from Intuitive Life Coach, Anandra George

Question: People always criticize me. I am constantly on guard, waiting to be hit with people's words. My mother was very critical and strict. But I know deep inside that I love life and want to be free, even though I'm shy and meek and also self-critical. How can I change this?

Anandra's Answer: It sounds like you'd very much enjoy being seen, understood, loved, and appreciated as you are.

There's nothing you need to change or fix about yourself in order to deserve love. Your soul is perfect and totally lovable as it is!! The only thing you need to practice or "do" is to consistently remember is your true nature (your soul, your spirit, your essence, the "I AM" behind all other ideas you have about yourself).

Your work, if you want to get out of this cycle, is to distinguish between your inherent goodness that does not grow or shrink from praise or criticism, and the limited identity that was formed in response to your childhood environment. That self (not the real you) is dependent on and/or defensive to the words and actions of others, and is always swinging back and forth between stress (I am bad) and relief (I am good), and can never be at peace.

It takes a bit of discipline, but please remember that when you're upset, you can't change the other person. You can only change yourself, and use the gift of the experience to lead you deeper into yourself, where a negative belief system was hiding that was causing you pain. Read More...

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Inner Child Therapy Resources

I keep a Healing Photo of the Week Archive if you wish to revisit previous photos featured. You can also explore Around About: Photo of Week to view the latest Guide featured photos across the network.

_{image © Dave_B, Flickr Creative Commons} 

~ Healing Lesson of the Day ~
~ Affirmation of the Day ~