With the change from summer to fall comes new food availability.  This time, as it is a transition of seasons, is an important time in yogic philosophy- it is a time in which to balance the body and mind with the new coming season.  After hearing about the importance of being mindful of this transition in my yoga class, and briefly meeting the Ayurveda consultant at VTCYT, Carmen Walker, I was interested...

When we think of exercise, we often think of our bodies. We exercise to keep ourselves physically fit, be in charge of preventing various health issues, or to just let go and feel good. We also know that there are ways to exercise our brain. Maybe, you completed this morning’s Sudoku or crossword puzzle or will watch tonight’s Jeopardy. I want to tell you about another brain exercise that is...

VTCIT is hosting a food drive for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.  Please bring in any NON-PERISHABLE food items you wish to donate.  There are boxes available at the center. Below is a list of food items we are accepting!

The following items are excellent, non-perishable choices to donate to the food shelf: • Canned fish – tuna, salmon, sardines, etc. • Peanut butter • Cereals – any variety •...

This Sunday May 15th, 11am - 12:30pm, I will be running a group that explores the book Women, Food and God, by Geneen Roth.

This group will meet once a week for six weeks, and will explore the concepts and practices discussed in the book. This is a group for all women seeking a positive group experience that focuses on developing self-awareness and intuition. Along with yoga/meditation, journaling, and group process,...

This is a FREE event! Thank You Vermont for all your support!

10:15 - 11:15 AM: Nutrition presentation,"Creating a Pharma-Foodie Kitchen" with a focus on Boosting Immunity in the Winter Months, with Kimberly Evans RD, CD and Leslie Langevin MS, RD, CD

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Chair Massage with Anne Martin (First come, first serve!) http://vtcit.com/practitioners/view/anne_martin

11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Stress Reduction Yoga with Tisha...

There are thousands and thousands of apps out there to use on your smart phone iPod, or iPad and one was recommended to me that I would like to share.  It is called Track  & Share and is a tool to track contributing factors connected to maintaining good health.

Track & Share has different applications to track various ailments and habits. There is a Track & Share for gratitude, mood,...

The Vermont Center for Yoga & Therapy is pleased to present more programs this fall to our teen community.  Programs include Mindfulness for Teens, Teen Quilting Group, and Reiki Energy-Bodywork Workshop for Teens.

We are very excited to present these programs to teens that are looking to learn something new, meet others, or to just do something different.

If you are a teen, parent, or community member who is...

The military is taking a new step in training. Yoga International magazine reports that the military is exploring ways for soldiers to train their physical, emotional, and spiritual selves. One method is through yoga. Currently, there is an increase in yoga classes and workshops dedicated to those soldiers returning home from their tours.

Why yoga? Yoga has been found to be an effective treatment modality for individuals experiencing symptoms of Post Traumatic...

The fashion industry is changing its relationship with the ideals of beauty once perpetuated in the magazines and on the runway. The ideal of super-thinness has been exchanged for the ideal of health, and Vogue has committed itself to perpetuating this ideal on a worldwide scale. In a recent letter from the Editor in Vogue magazine, editor Anna Wintour shared some very exciting news on the front of body image and eating disorder awareness....

Tea is a warming beverage, perfect for the chilly days of the fall and winter seasons.  Many people enjoy sipping on tea throughout their day- whether it be while reading the morning paper, carrying it around in a thermos, or sitting down with a cup of tea to relax at the end of the day.  Not only is tea soothing to our minds, it also is good for our bodies.   ...

Taken from Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening -

"The emotional patterns of our lives are very strong.  They often come into being because we’ve needed them to survive.  But sooner or later, we all arrive at moments where the very thing that has saved us is killing us, keeping us from truly living.  Being invisible once kept us from being hurt, but now we...

Science Daily published a brief article on a new study that investigates green tea for the treatment of congenital disease, hyperinsulinism/hyperammonemia and two tumors, glioblastomas, a type of brain tumor and tuberous sclerosis complex disorder a genetic disease that causes non-malignant tumors to grow. Compounds present in green tea will continue to be investigated by researchers who are learning how to apply these compounds found in nature to future drug treatments. So,...

Regular physical activity has endless benefits to the body and mind. Studies have shown that consistent activity helps with weight management, reduces the risk of chronic diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), reduces the risk of some cancers, strengthens and builds bone and muscle tissue and improves mental health and mood. The natural release of “feel-good” brain chemicals during exercise can be an effective coping mechanism for depression and anxiety. The...

Please take a minute to check out this great cause!

http://www.pedalingforacure.com/

Nutrition therapy for eating disorder recovery need not be prescriptive.  At times when I am working with a client, the love hate relationship around food gets played out as a desire for a food plan and a simultaneous rejection of the thought of prescriptive eating.  To be honest, in my work with clients in recovery from an eating disorder I very rarely recommend designing a food plan.  Occasionally, when I am...

Mindful Monday

For today, think before you eat.  Our bodies are an amazing tool of communication when we allow them to really talk to us.  Three to four times a day we have an opportunity, at meal times, to check in with our bodies to learn more about ourselves.  Our bodies hold information that often gets communicated through our eating habits.  And as habits go, they become assimilated...

Kombucha is an ancient fermented tea that is becoming increasingly popular due to its many health benefits.  The use of Kumbucha dates back to 221 B.C. during the Chinese empire of the Tsin-Dynasty, in which they referred to the drink as “The remedy for immortality”.  It then spread to Japan and throughout Europe, and is now known worldwide.  People everywhere are benefiting from the properties of this ancient health...

If you are currently engaging in a yoga practice, you may have already (or will) noticed that you may feel recharged, relaxed, or just really good afterward.  Researchers have been exploring this phenomenon and according to an article published in Science Daily, yoga increases the release of GABA, a brain chemical that is responsible for regulating our moods. GABA is also currently used in anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications. If you are looking for...

I read in Science Blog that drug therapy is found to be only beneficial for 30-40% of depressed adults receiving treatment in the United States. Whenever I hear a statistic such as this it reminds me that there must be far greater successful solution for individuals fighting depression. According to Science Blog, a recent article from the Journal for Alternative and Complementary medicine reports that individuals who are seeking treatment for depression may benefit...

I often see people, whether they are new to yoga or seasoned practioners, place the fingers of each hand in Chin Mudra – a common yogic hand gesture, where the thumb and the index finger touch, while the other three fingers generally face the earth. When I considered introducing a regular yoga group geared toward stress reduction; I reflected on the ease and symbolism of this simple Mudra. This gesture represents the connected nature...

I am excited to announce that Dr. Claudia Welch will be coming to Burlington for a one-day workshop focusing on women's health on June 11th. Claudia is a doctor of Oriental Medicine and a practitioner of Ayurvedic Medicine.

Claudia offers a unique perspective on how we, as women, can stay healthy and balanced in today's world.  She will explore the delicate dance of women's hormones, talk about common...

Every year massage therapists and body workers nationwide lend their hearts and hands to raise awareness of the benefits of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies. The 2012 event will be held the week of July 15–21.  Join the Celebration.

Vt. Center for Integrative Therapy  body-workers will be participating in this event. The massage/energy therapists at VTCIT are offering their services, their time and hands by donation , during the week of...

Dear friends, yogis, and colleagues,

It’s been a full and exciting fall!  I’ve been delighted to rediscover a love of photography, which has proven to be very relaxing and rewarding, as it’s another opportunity to slow down and be present.

This Thursday evening, I begin a six-week healing series to address seasonal affective mood fluctuations or distress (Yoga for Winter Blues) at the...

As we move through hectic and busy lives it is important to take time to “smell the roses.”  I know as a parent of a seven year old there are many things to remember; school lunch, forms, baseball stuff, play dates, birthday parties…. The list goes on. Most parents I know hardly have time to breathe during the day, let alone find time for a mindful practice. Here are some...

Are you wanting to know more about Healing Touch energy therapy?  I invite you to take a few minutes to watch this lovely and informative video produced by the Healing Touch Program.  I hope it will inspire you to explore the benefits that Healing Touch energy therapy has to offer you.  I offer individual Healing Touch sessions weekly at the Vermont Center for Yoga and Therapy.

http://www.youtube...

According to a report from scienceblog.com, researchers from Ohio State University investigated the effects of adding fish oil a diet in reducing anxiety induced by stress.

When our body experiences stress, there is an increase in cytokine production. Cytokines are proteins that signal to cells in the nervous system. Therefore, when you experience a trigger in your environment, cytokines will be secreted to activate a stress response in your nervous system.<...

We all know that getting a good night’s rest is essential for maintaining balance in our lives and can improve our overall health. However, we may also experience times when we do not get the highest quality sleep that we intended for. Recently I read on Eating Well’s website that dietitians are now looking towards food and how it can improve one’s sleep. The dietitians and physicians consulted...

Having a cup of coffee each morning is one of my favorite rituals. Grinding the beans, the smells, hearing the coffee drip, and the taste – a true awakening of the senses.  This morning while drinking my cup of coffee, I came upon a report in The New York Times of a study recently published that links decreased depression by 20% in women who drink coffee regularly. However, other caffeinated beverages such as soda...

Feeling stressed, tired, or burnt out? It may be helpful to take a walk, or if you are lucky enough to be living in the beautiful state of Vermont, take a moment and take in a spectacular scene of the Green Mountains or Lake Champlain. Being in nature, researchers understand, has restorative power to nurture our selves.

In an article featured on the Miller-McCune website, researchers found that being in nature, even...

As we start back into the hectic school year there are many ways to still ensure your family is consuming healthy foods. Often times families get stuck in the habit of take out because there is simply not enough time in the day. Here is a list of 10 suggestions to make planning meals a cinch.

1) Portion out baggies of dry goods on the weekends for snacks. This can include trail mix, nuts,...

“Starve a fever, feed a cold” are words of wisdom you may follow when feeling under the weather.  There is some research out there that has found there are particular foods that you feed your cold that can be more helpful to you than others. Eating Well magazine has created the following “Immunity-Boosting Foods” guide to make it easy.  Here are their top five:

1. Chicken Soup 2....

This article is taken from Blisstree, and can be found here.

If you’re at all interested in health or nutrition, you’ve probably heard people raving about the benefits of fermented foods. Though I’m a fan of ferments (things like yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, pickles and miso), I’ve never felt like I had a...