Yogananda Dif

Goji (Lycium barbarum - Latin). Through the ages, legends abound about this miraculous fruit, the goji berry. There are festivals held to celebrate its goodness, and a poem was written in its honor. During the Tang Dynasty (around 800 AD), a well had been dug beside a wall near a famous Buddhist temple that was covered with goji vines. Over the years, countless berries had fallen into the well. Those who prayed there had the ruddy complexion of good health, and even at the age of eighty they had no white hair and had lost no teeth, simply because they drank the water from the well. It is said that the Himalayans were the first natural healers, and that they shared their wisdom with the[..]

Tokyo, capital city of Japan since 1869, is one of the most populated metropolitan cities in the world. Believe it or not, Tokyo City is complex, big and always on the move. Be warned, if you are in Tokyo City for the first time, you will be greeted with the city's saturated big concrete high rise building, very wide roads, raised concrete expressways crossing one another. This remarkable city is also where the old meets the young. You can be in the most modern place such as Roppongi in one minute and you can wonder down the street to experience a traditional old shrine or town the next moment. This is the beauty of exploring the City of Tokyo. Greater Tokyo has 23 wards (ku), 26 smaller[..]

Bentota is a famous coastal city of Sri Lanka which is famous for its golden beaches. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations amongst the tourists. The city is famous for its ancient healing art Ayurveda, production of Toddy and an alcoholic beverage made out of coconut nectar. This prominent tourist attraction of Sri Lanka was severely damaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami but every one must salute the spirit of the people of Bentota and the authority which have brought back all the glory of the city so soon. Especially, globally famous Bentota beach hotel has regained its quality and beauty remarkably. Hotel Bentota beach Sri Lanka is located beside the mouth of the[..]

In the last two centuries, new cultural discoveries have nearly rewritten history. It's been an exciting time, full of adventure and surprises. Around every corner there are new responses to questions we had already imagined answered. And of these breakthroughs, none shines as brightly as the impact of ancient Chinese inventions on modern life. As we explore ten of the greatest inventions and innovations of Ancient China, you may be surprised at their influence on recent technology. 1. Paper. Paper, as we know it, was invented in China around the year 105. After seeing earlier attempts made from silk, bamboo sticks and animal skins, Cai Lun came up with his own idea. After mixing[..]

Visiting China has always been on top of my priority travel destinations. I switched jobs recently and became close friends with a colleague of mine, Ni Quian, who was born in China and came to Toronto five years ago as a permanent resident. Last summer, when she told me that she was spending a month with her family in Luanping, and invited me to travel with her; I realized that this is the opportunity I have been looking for. So on July 17 we packed our bags and boarded a plane to Beijing. To say that my stay in China was fascinating would be an understatement. I attended a wedding ceremony in one of the villages bear Luanping, of course the famous tea ceremony, then Ni took me to Xi'An[..]

When in Hong Kong make sure you don't miss these Hong Kong highlights. Hong Kong Skyline is one of the most stunning skylines in the world. And the best view of Hong Kong Island skyline is from the Kowloon waterfront - the Avenue of Stars at Tsim Sha Tsui. Avenue of the Stars is the local version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and celebrates the movie stars of Hong Kong cinema. It is located on Kowloon's seaside promenade and offers fantastic views, day and night, of the Hong Kong skyline and Victoria Harbour. The Avenue can be reached from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station or the Star Ferry terminal. A Symphony of Lights (best viewed from the Avenue of the Stars) is a spectacular light and[..]

> Can you be peaceful no matter what is happening around you, no matter where you are? If you can't, often times you are resisting inwardly what is happening around you. Read this series of articles to help you find some inner peace. In Part 1, which can be found at the Urban Monk website, we examined our inner resistance to events and sensations that actually don’t mean anything. One sensation is no better or worse then the other, but our mind creates a story around it, and makes us judge or resist them as good or bad. Good or bad — an artificial distinction During the evening class, I realised the heat was making me sweaty and sticky, and that made me irritated too. Why[..]

From Academy Award-nominated director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) and Disney*Pixar comes the newest animated big-screen hit, "UP". You are invited on a hilarious and heartwarming journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. In the 1930's, a beacon of hope for a down-and-out American public was a rich, clever and handsome adventurer named Charles F. Muntz (voice of Christopher Plummer). His famous mantra "Adventure is out there!" inspired his biggest fans, youngster Carl and Ellie (voice of Elie Docter). Carl Fredrickson (voice of legendary actor Ed Asner) is not your everyday hero. He's a bit of a grouch, but in the tradition of the great Walter Matthau and Spencer[..]

Pull into the garage and put the Mercedes wheels on lock for the night and snuggle up with some of the best television you've ever seen. These are more than TV shows, they are high art. The Wire “Television show” doesn’t even do The Wire justice. Less a TV show than a carefully planned visual novel, The Wire is the ultimate TV show for people who don’t want their TV to insult their intelligence and who favor character development over fast plots. The Wire changed how people see drama television and the power it can have in the exploration of difficult and often times ignored sociopolitical themes. The Wire was more than just a cop show or a show about the drug trade in Baltimore,[..]

Many sales managers walk into the "pit" of salesman and loudly scream "start selling". The famous mantra of "sell like hell" rings loudly in many a professional's ears. The pressure to keep your sales up often means running to the internet and searching for that killer sales script. What script will make sure you get the sale every time? What sales script will pierce the objection handling of that tough prospect and get them to sign on the dotted line? Chasing a magical sales script that sells will leave you disappointed. There is no silver bullet that you can use on each of your telephone calls that will "close the deal". Your customers don't want to be sold to. They don't want to feel[..]

Unfortunately, mood disorders runs in many people in the world today. Many of these people who suffer from anxiety take a pill each day to combat their issues. The problem with these medications, Xanax for example, is that they are all extremely easy to become dependent on. This will in turn make the user an addict just waiting for their next fix. If you are a person who wants to combat your anxiety but do not want to become dependent on a pill while doing so, you should look for a natural, long term solution. Anti-anxiety pills do not actually cure the problem. They allow the user a window of opportunity to get away from their anxiety. However, when the drug wears off, and every drug[..]

This article address the possibility that many failures in home business have more to do with focus than effort and provide methods to increase focus to create success. I was fired form my job of 9 years and I had to make money fast. The internet was an area that I was familiar with and I thought I was pretty good getting around. But business is business, it make no difference if it’s on the net or the corner of 12th and Market you must treat your business with the same respect. (Lesson learned) I got hooked on the freedom the internet and home business offered and knew right away that this was the business for me. So I emerged myself in every thing that had anything to do with[..]

Every single day, millions of Americans and people around the world suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder. The most common being panic attacks. Those people that suffer from these are desperate to find reliable ways to coping with panic attacks in their daily lives. But first, you need to understand that these attacks manifest in several different ways for different people. For example, people who suffer from this anxiety disorder can be as young as 13 or 15 years old or there are cases of those people who suffer them well in their 70s and 80s. The symptoms vary as much as the age group but in general, they manifest in sudden sensation of nervousness, palpitations, rapid breathing,[..]

your heart ache so much you feel as if you may be having a heart attack? Do you spend more time alone and shut people out? Do you feel as though you have no appetite? Do you feel like crying when you listen to music? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are probably suffering from what we call in layman's terms, a "broken heart." Whether it was you or the other person who ended it, or whether you were with the person at all does not affect how much or how long you are hurting. Broken hearts are unpredictable, you never really see them coming and you don't know how long they'll stay. You feel sorry for yourself, wallowing in a murky puddle of self-pity. Your best friends are[..]

As the Chinese proverb says, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life." Going on a diet is like getting a fish because it's a short term solution to a lifelong problem. Learning how to live a healthy lifestyle will enable you to sustain your weight loss for the rest of your life. Hopefully, highlighting the following 5 weight loss obstacles will empower you and help lose your pregnancy weight fast. 1. Making Poor Food Choices Do you eat the wrong foods? Whether it's because of your busy schedule or you just don't know any better, eating unhealthy foods adds tons of calories to your waistline. Try to avoid processed foods[..]

Many women experience disrupted sleep during menopause. Nights filled with restless sleep can lead to days filled with exhaustion, angst, and even depression. There are many different things that can contribute to a lack of sleep during menopause. Psychological stress that may occur during waking hours often results in a night filled with constant tossing and turning. Fatigue, anxiety, and everyday problems can result in a bodily imbalance. This imbalance eventually leads to uneasy nights. To avoid psychological stress, try partaking in a yoga or meditation class. In addition to any psychological stress, physical ailments can also result in a lack of proper sleep. Aches and pains caused[..]

I think we can all agree that we live in a fast paced, immediate gratification society and nowhere does this become more plainly obvious than in our self help adventures. No one just wants to lose weight - they want to drop major weight and look great in 1 weekend! Truthfully, it's the same thing in lots of other self improvement sectors, I remember last year going to a meditation class that was half empty...while the room adjacent to ours was filled to the brim. Why? The sign on the doors said - "Enlightenment in an Hour!" The good news is you CAN lose weight in one weekend, and not only can you drop some unwanted weight, you can also beautify your skin, your hair, your breath, and[..]

Hypnosis is a state of relaxation; it is normal and natural, and is a proven therapeutic aid. Like anything which is new or different to us, people have a lot of questions about hypnosis when they are first contemplating its use. I would like in this short article, to dispel some of the myths which are sometimes associated with hypnosis. People often question whether they can be made to do anything against their will, and the answer is no, you could not be made to do or say anything which you do not wish to say or do. Hypnotherapy is safe, natural and effective and this is why it is so popular as a therapeutic aid. Another worry which people may have is whether they will definitely come[..]

An over the counter benzoyl peroxide solution, available in 2.5,5 and 10 percent strengths, will get rid of most run of the mill pimples. Try these tips for good results. Use the lowest concentration. Treat mild acne with the 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide product. People think 10 percent products work better because they sting and burn, but 2.5 percent product can be just as effective without over drying your skin. To help clear up a tough breakout, you might opt for a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide product. Kill a blemish with kindness. Apply a benzoyl peroxide product directly on your pimples just once or twice a day-for mild acne, at night is enough-until your pimple stops being painful or[..]

This past year, I have come to appreciate the power of truly loving myself. Most of my life, being alone was one of my biggest fears. I found myself in numerous relationships for the wrong reasons and ended up settling in ill-fitting 'partnerships'. This deeply rooted fear and lack of understanding of myself caused the relationships to become my whole world; my focus of attention; my center. I would sacrifice my own goals for the other person. And, when the relationship collapsed, so did my sense of self. Through much introspection, I realized the source of these failed relationships was myself. I realized that I didn't truly love or appreciate myself and had relied on external sources[..]

If you are reading this, you really want to have a baby. And at some point, you feel like you might try almost anything to become pregnant and bring home a healthy baby. That's perfectly normal. But before embarking on lots of uncomfortable and expensive procedures, doesn't it make sense to first try to maximize your fertility naturally? This situation doesn't apply to all women, for various personal reasons. However, most women prefer to try a natural approach to fertility, at least initially De-stressing your life is easier said than done. The emotional stress of family, work, and daily chores can be taxing on anyone. When you add fertility issues into the mix, your stress levels may[..]

Encounters with hypercritical and aggressive bosses that are never satisfied, can make the work you could love seem unfulfilling and tedious. Then again, maybe YOU really ARE the problem! Does your "Boss Bully" have just cause, but inappropriate methods? Or does s/he treat most everyone with contempt? Assuming the "Boss Bully" really is a bully, what can be done about it? Often, as companies are forced to streamline, the staff gets leaner, the workloads get bigger, and bosses get meaner. Vacation and sick time, deadlines and workloads, and performance reviews seem to get more and more restrictive. The truth is that these "Boss Bullies" often live under the gun and face similar pressures[..]

In Part 1, which can be found at the Urban Monk website, we examined our inner resistance to events and sensations that actually don't mean anything. One sensation is no better or worse then the other, but our mind creates a story around it, and makes us judge or resist them as good or bad. Good or bad - an artificial distinction During the evening class, I realised the heat was making me sweaty and sticky, and that made me irritated too. Why does being sweaty irritating? It was just a sensation, no different to the sensation of rolling around in the softest silk sheets. Only our mind makes the artificial distinction. If I was sweaty after running around the beach with a supermodel in a[..]

Ovarian cysts are common in women at age of reproductive years. 90% of women at that age have ovarian cysts depending on the severity of the condition. Contrary with popular opinion cysts are not contagious and the vast majority will not lead into cancerous condition. However, you should be aware since ovarian cysts can cause swelling leaving painful excruciating pain. Let’s discuss how you can get rid of ovarian cysts using entirely natural methods. 1. Look For Signs and Symptoms Of Ovarian Cysts Before it is too late, look for signs and symptoms. It is better to cure your ovarian cysts early on; the early symptoms you might want to recognize are painful feeling during bowel movement,[..]

Stress is a part of life, but unfortunately modern stress levels can be sky high and unhealthy. Although we might not need to worry about being eaten by a saber toothed tiger or trampled by a wooly mammoth anymore, we have plenty of big and little things to worry about and stress over. Here are 6 techniques that can help you relax. 1) Deep breathing Just breathing slowly, deeply, and deliberately is extremely relaxing. It also pumps lots of oxygen to the blood and brain which helps relieve stress. 2) Meditation Meditation combines deep breathing and other techniques to achieve a profound relaxed state, similar to sleep. I'm hoping to take a meditation class to further learn this[..]

If you're stressed out, it's good to know that there are tools available that will help you reduce your stress naturally, without the help of prescription drugs. Here are some natural stress reducers you can use: 1. Meditation Meditating on a regular basis is quite normal and studies have shown that it is very helpful in reducing your stress levels as well as often helping to reduce your blood pressure. You can join a local meditation class, use a guided meditation MP3 or one of the modern meditations which are combined with binaural beats to take you into a deep meditative state with no effort on your part. 2. Eat Your Stress Away Nutrition is important. A proper diet will go a long way[..]

The Triangle of Life Concepts In this article we discuss how to avoid a younger mortality. The first thing that we have to understand is the basic of the life concept. It is the good and proportional combination of healthy nutrition, sufficient exercise and quality sleep or rest. Those three elements of life are the most important things. They must be understood comprehensively to support your healthy and happy life. The good and healthy nutrition combined with sufficient quality sleep and proper exercise will be the foundation of good health. It is like a triangular. We talk about comprehensive knowledge about maintaining a good health as a whole. We have to live in harmony. It calls[..]

Getting help for a troubled marriage can be overwhelming. Many times one partner refuses to get help for the troubled marriage, and just seems to isolate "hoping things will get better". Here are some ways in which you might find some relief. 1. Was counseling discussed as an option? Before we dismiss it, you must first ask yourself if counseling was an option? Was your partner ambivalent, or just down right against it, refusing to go? If he or she had some degree of uncertainty, or might be persuaded, then stay with it. Getting professional help for a problematic marriage is most often the best way to go. Sometimes the biggest obstacle is finding a competent "marriage counselor", who[..]

Eye muscles should be treated like any other muscles in the body. As eye muscles are delicate so they should be treated more carefully than other muscles in the body. And like any other muscles in the body they are subject to strain. Before learning how to relieve the troublesome eye strain symptoms, you need to know the signs of eye symptoms. You are likely to experience the strain if you have: •Blurred vision •Slight headache •Pain in the eyeballs •Pain when eyes rotate •High light sensitivity So, how would you deal with the eye strain symptoms? As we have mentioned that eyes need to be treated like the rest of the muscles in the body, so the eyes need exercise and plenty of rest.[..]

It's a situation that comes up quite often. One or both partners have to go away for a while- maybe for an extended business trip or to visit ailing family. The separation can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Sometimes the separation is a year or longer in the case of the spouses of individuals in the armed forces. It's easy to get caught up in feelings of loneliness and sadness. This can affect other areas of your life and you may start to feel depressed, staying home and not doing the things you'd normally like to do. Here are some tips to help you avoid falling into a rut when you have to deal with an extended absence: 1. Keep your mind busy- take this time to find[..]

What is it that pushes us to achieve our wildest and most improbable goals? Grit, defined by Angela Duckworth and her colleagues, is the combination of perseverance and passion for important life goals. Leaders in art, medicine, law, journalism and other fields have it. More important than the diet, exercise plan or yoga class you choose, is staying with it. Developing your grit will help you stick to your wellness program, even in the face of setbacks. Here are some suggestions for getting more gritty. * Find your passion. Before picking a diet or exercise plan, read, study and experiment. Nutritionists, personal trainers and other experts are good sources of information. Like to work[..]

The occasional "I wish..." just isn't enough. If you want wealth, you need to take action. Check out these 3 must-have mindset strategies you'll need to create the wealthy life you and your family deserve: Wealth Affirmations What's an affirmation? Quite simply, it's a positive, true statement about yourself. For years, medical experts have recommended affirmations as a way to create positive expectations about health and healing. Research shows that having a positive attitude can boost health and speed recovery. Wealth affirmations can have the same positive effect on your wealth. If you're not sure where to start, here are just a few you might try: - I am a money magnet. - I commit[..]

These are some of the best ways to deal with anxiety and panic attacks. 1. Medication People often turn to our medical system and expect a "magic bullet" to reduce or eliminate their anxiety attacks. Today's drugs get quite close to that ideal, although some people can experience side effects. Various types of benzodiazepines are often prescribed, the best known of which is probably Valium, although stronger drugs are available if necessary. 2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Once your anxiety attacks start to come under control, therapy may be your next step. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aims to help anxiety attack victims to cope with their problems. It usually involves making you[..]

Although meditation has been practiced for ages, it has only recently become popular in the Western world as more people become aware of the benefits, not only in achieving a more peaceful and less stressful life but also in maintaining a healthy physical body. It has become part of my daily routine just like exercising and eating healthy, and I have experience the benefits of it over the years. So when someone ask me what my secret is to living a joyful and healthy life, I always mention meditation as one of the ingredients. A few weeks ago one of my cousins came to visit and asked me the same question. She works 60 hours a week for a big company in New York and lives in a highrise[..]