Basmati.com sits down with Pierre Couvillion about all things holistic living!

Four o’clocks are of the genus Mirabilis L., species Mirabilis jalapa L. and are also known as Marvel of Peru, where it originated. The Spaniards discovered the plant in the Peruvian Andes in 1540 and exported it to Europe where it became a popular decorative addition in gardens throughout the continent. In warmer climates the four o’clock is a perennial but in cooler climates it is an annual.

I am often asked, “What is self-care acupressure?” because I teach workshops about yoga and acupressure. I have found many people have heard of acupressure, but are not sure of the meaning of this healing modality. I am often asked, “Is acupressure and acupuncture the same thing?” The answer is that they are similar modalities. Both acupressure and acupuncture are based on the meridian system of Chinese Medicine.

If a natural disaster were to hit in your community or near your home, would you be prepared? Would you be able to survive without power, water, heat, or air conditioning? Do you have a stock of water and food to hold you over for a few days? Including enough for your pets?

In your quest to eat healthily and maintain a healthy weight, you have to navigate grocery store aisles full of foods that appear healthy but may not be as good for you as they seem. This may be due to confusing labels, marketing campaigns, or just misinformed public perception. You’ll often see words like "low fat" or "no sugar" and "energizing" on packaging, but these labels don't necessarily mean those items are good for you.

Shoulder Pressing Pose/Bhujapidasana

Benefits:

Strengthens shoulders.

Improves balance.

Can also help tone belly.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start sitting on butt, bring legs around arms and hook feet together and lift bottom up.

To strengthen shoulders you must lift with the shoulders, to do this you have to push downward with your shoulders for the extra lift.

Keep body toned.

You should be using your core to lift your knees off the ground.

With the sun moving through the constellation of Virgo we are influenced by the element of earth and Virgo’s strong organizational and precise way of viewing the world. In order to more easily connect to what Virgo offers, both the clear quartz crystal as well as the carnelian stone can help offer both heightened precision as well as grounding support for the month.

“I am fat. I am not the person you would typically imagine teaching or practicing yoga. Or even sitting behind a reception desk in a yoga studio.”

The Scoop on Quinoa:

• Related more to spinach and beets, quinoa is primarily grown for its edible seeds but is considered a pseudo-cereal since it does not belong to the grass family like other cereals do.
• Historically quinoa was first cultivated in the Latin corridors of Ecuador, Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia.
• The quinoa you find in supermarkets is mostly sold after it’s been rinsed of its saponin content.

Springtime can be tough on people who experience allergies, and summertime, while slightly better, can still be a rough season for those allergic to pollen and environmental toxins. Just like humans, however, pets can also suffer from seasonal allergies due to a variety of reasons. Last week, for example, I brought my dog on a camping trip to the nearby mountains.