New website launch!

June 22, 2010

www.thebindu.com – Help us celebrate and enter to win a FREE month of yoga! Don’t miss the offer at the bottom!

Marty Kestin, Not Your Typical Massage Therapist

June 16, 2010

By: Marty Kestin, Ensoma Bodyworks

Recent blogs have discussed the power of the practice of yoga. My business coach suggested it might be a good idea to talk about the power of what I do. I am a bit uncomfortable about tooting my own horn but here goes: it’s not what I do that’s powerful but rather how I teach you. Here’s why:

• I do what most doctors, other massage or physical therapists and chiropractors don’t: I teach you tools for self-sustained healing. For example: Most people go to a professional to receive their expert opinion on what’s wrong and then they do what they’re told. Instead, I help you understand what is causing the symptoms and give you new skills to be the expert of your own body. I will teach you how to treat the heart of the symptom so that other ailments don’t show up.

• My clients and I don’t chase symptoms. The health care system keeps boasting about the latest technologies to treat “X” condition. More often than not “X” condition is the end result of a process that started some time ago. Even some of the holistic methods out there just chase symptoms with more natural treatments. Instead, you and I seek out the cause of your problem from a broader perspective to get to the bottom of things. We will combine multiple therapies, at home self-treatment and education to help you alleviate pain for good.

• I have a unique skill set from several disciplines allowing me to help you more effectively in treating joint, muscle and chronic orthopaedic issues. Some of the skills I have can be found in these links. www.egoscue.com http://saveyourself.ca/tutorials/trigger-points.php www.Zentherapy.org

I am passionate about helping people live vibrant and pain free lives. Working with me is fun, educational, feels great and is an important investment in the only body you get in this lifetime. It will make your yoga practice stronger, softer and for that matter anything you do with your body will improve.

Click this link to read some of the testimonials on my website for some examples of how people improve the quality of their lives by aligning with my bodywork practice. All past and new clients get a $25 discount on any session this summer. I would love to meet and work with you.

Marty Kestin, Ensoma Bodyworks, 704.335.8115
Marty Kestin, BS, MSW has a private practice in Charlotte and Lake Norman inside the Bindu.

Common fears and misunderstandings about Community Acupuncture

June 10, 2010

By: Abe Rummage, www.AcuCareClinic.com

As an acupuncturist it’s my job to help people feel better but I often find myself in the roll of educator as well. Despite an impressive 3500+ year history, acupuncture is fairly new to us here in America. At social gatherings I often find myself with a small audience of very interested people that usually have little information and more than a few unnecessary fears. I believe that these fears are what prevent people from coming in for acupuncture treatments. The following are a few of them and why they are really nothing to be worried about.

Don’t the needles hurt?
No. This is easily the most common question I hear. While you may feel some sensation, acupuncture is not a painful procedure.

What if I am not comfortable disrobing?
In Community Acupuncture the only points I use are from the elbows down and the knees down with the occasional usage of auricular (ear) points. Disrobing is not necessary and the treatments are just as effective. Even in traditional treatments, disrobing is seldom necessary.

Do I have to talk about all my problems with people around and listening to me?
All I really need to know is “Where does it hurt?” Private details will stay just that. Also, we can talk in a separate room before the treatment if needed to make the experience as comfortable and private as possible.

Will I have to get continuous treatments for my problem?
No. Acupuncture is not a medication it is a therapy. The goal is to help the body restore itself to balance when its normal abilities to heal have become overwhelmed due to chronic or acute conditions. Once balance has been restored, you’re done! My personal average for most conditions is 12 treatments, however some people will need more or less.

Call us or stop by The Bindu sometime and see what it’s all about! I’d be happy to answer any other questions or concerns that you may have. Also, be on the lookout for our special Community Acupuncture sessions coming in July and August after selected yoga classes. These special sessions will be only $20! ($5 off the normal fee).

Abe Rummage L.Ac • 704-483-5441 • www.AcuCareClinic.com

Pain Free Living: Learning to Listen to Your Body

June 8, 2010

By: Marty Kestin, MSW, LMBT, www.ensomabodyworks.com
***Don’t miss Marty’s offer for a free massage at the end of this blog!***

Pain and stress are the #2 reason for doctor visits. Prescriptions are the #1 response. My locker room pals talk about shoulder, hip and knee surgeries as if they were discussing the weather. Many of us have a chronic back, knee and joint pain. This is the norm but do you think it’s normal?

Why do we have so much pain in the first place?

• Not enough exercise.
• Too much stress that is slowly hurting and killing us.
• We don’t listen to our bodies’ cries for help. Pain and aches are our bodies’ way of saying, “pay attention!”

If I promised an easy means to prevent pill popping, future joint issues and alleviating chronic back pain (and win a free massage) would you try two simple habits?

The “listen to your body” solution.
Step 1: Take 15-30 minutes of quiet time (on your back) and ask your body what it needs. It will tell you quite clearly once the chatter of mind and ego calms down. Five minutes of deep breathing will facilitates this process.

Step 2: Follow through on the answer. (Go for a nightly walk, begin that meditation practice, get more sleep, eat healthier, exercise more, and some of us will hear, “R-E-L-A-X M-O-R-E!” I said it – the five letter word that we have no time for. Stress hates good food and exercise but can’t stand someone who is relaxed. Relaxation creates the relaxation response in the body and reverses the negative affects of stress.

The relaxation response is easily created through slow moving or still mind body disciplines such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, Qi Gong, or a regular breathing practice. Fast moving exercise is fine as long as you take time after to lie down, breath deep and RELAX for 15 – 30 minutes. Why?

 Going from work to the gym only perpetuates the stress response if you do not take the time induce the relaxation response afterward. Unless you are lucky enough to get 8-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, all that go-go-go will add up to more bad stress on your body.

Now, about that free massage: Try this listening solution with your new habit for two weeks and then email Marty (mkestin@ensomabodyworks.com) your story of success by June 22, 2010. The winner will be chosen randomly.

To learn more about beginning or enhancing your relaxation practice talk to your Anusara Yoga instructor or contact Marty today at 704.335.8115 or mkestin@ensomabodyworks.com. Marty has been teaching his clients to relax for healthier pain free living for over 10 years.

How can Acupuncture help me?

June 3, 2010

By: Abe Rummage, www.AcuCareClinic.com

As one of only a very small handful of acupuncturists in our area I get asked a lot of questions about what I do and whom it can help. I like this because I am passionate about what I do. I genuinely enjoy helping people better understand what acupuncture is all about and sharing it with them. As a more than 3,000 year old form of medicine, acupuncture has been the primary form of healthcare used in Asia until as recently as the 1960s.

What is acupuncture and how does it work?
The short answer is that ancient Chinese discovered that our bodies are completely covered, inside and out, with an enormous network of energy channels. Every part of our body is touched by at least one of these channels. Much like the water in rivers nourishes the land, the energy in these channels nourishes the parts of the body to which they are connected. When our energy is robust and flowing easily we are healthy and we thrive. When this energy is weak, blocked or stagnated then the areas that rely on this energy to be healthy will suffer and we begin to develop symptoms.

Why do we have weaknesses or blockages in our energy channels?
Injury, over work, poor diet and lifestyle, environmental toxins, genetics, etc. It is my job as an acupuncturist to figure out which channels are affected, how and why they’ve been affected and then create the best possible treatment to help you restore your energy and return its flow to normal.

So, how do I help restore you to a normal, balanced place?
Well, all of the energy channels have points on them where I can access and manipulate their energy. These are points where I can build the energy, break up blockages and help restore balance. Acupuncture is the insertion of very thin, sterile needles in these points to “switch them on” and use their effects to alleviate symptoms and encourage healing. This rebuilds your energy and gets it flowing properly again.

Sounds simple enough right? Well, remember, I’m giving you the short answer! If you’re curious and want to know more, then please give us a call, visit our website or come by to talk with me on Thursday afternoons at The Bindu during Community Acupuncture (1-6 pm).

Acupuncture can be extremely helpful for all sorts of conditions: from pain (of all kinds), to digestive and breathing disorders, sleep problems, stress, high blood pressure and so much more. I also have extensive knowledge about traditional modern medicine and so I will know when/if a condition you have is beyond my ability to help. In those situations I typically will encourage patients to see their family doctor or I’ll suggest a specialist.

AcuCare Clinic
704-483-5441
www.AcuCareClinic.com

Making a Real Difference in Student’s Lives

June 1, 2010

Introduction by: Kelley Gardner

When Yvette went through our teacher training I was struck by her quiet confidence, sense of humor and light-heartedness. It’s a real pleasure to have her as part of the Bindu teaching family. The group of beginners that gathers each Sunday afternoon at 5:30p just keeps getting bigger and it’s a real testament to Yvette’s inspiring teaching style. Please enjoy this interview with Yvette and we hope to see you in class this summer!

~ Kelley

Interview with Yvette Harrold
When you decided to become a yoga teacher, why did you choose training in Anusara?
I had been practicing a variety of yoga styles for years, including Anusara, and of course, I knew that I enjoyed being a student of Anusara. I looked closely at the teacher curriculum, and I valued the depth of what I was required to study, learn and apply.

What advice do you have for people just starting yoga?
I think that most people have very personal reasons for stepping into yoga. I encourage people to nurture that seed within them. That initial motivating factor is very powerful. As time goes on, you will be amazed at the incremental reasons that you will find to continue coming back to the yoga mat and to also explore the other facets of a yogic life. Once you are committed to a consistent asana practice, it will be hard to function without it – and that is a good thing!

What is your favorite yoga posture and what are you currently working on?
This might seem odd, but I have to say it is Chaturanga Dandasana (from plank pose lowering to the point the shoulders and elbows are even with the forearms vertical). I love the muscle energy in this pose, from my heels through my midline, my arms and shoulders, and the softening of the heart. It is a pose that we do so frequently and so it’s a place for me to check-in with my body and ask, ‘how strong am I today?’ And I love what it does for my arms! There are so many postures that I am working on, but in the past year, I have been pushing my limits in backbends. I admit that I have avoided them for 10 years! Mermaid and Scorpion are currently high on my list.

What is your favorite soapbox to get on?
I generally don’t express my opinions without being asked first, but you asked! Don’t be a victim. Take ownership of your life and your circumstances. If you are facing something truly out of your control, accept it with grace. If you CAN control it, then take action. Practicing yoga gives you plenty of time to figure these things out.

What does your ideal yoga week look like?
I find yoga in nature. So I would be outside where it is warm and sunny. I am hiking, running, exploring, thinking, and taking in all the beauty with touch, site, sound, and breath. There would be daily asana in the late morning and late afternoon. On alternative days there would either be a deep-tissue massage or a restorative practice at 8pm, followed by a hot shower, a soft robe, a fluffy bed and a book.

What’s the last book you read? What is the last yoga book you read?
Reading is one of my favorite activities. I just finished The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff, an intriguing piece of historical fiction about the Mormon faith in the late 1800’s. Exploring yoga philosophy through reading is never ending. I have been revisiting the Bhagavad Gita through Douglas Brooks’ companion guide, Poised for Grace. I appreciate his ability to help someone like me gain a greater understanding of this important piece of literature.