• 10 Antioxidant Rich Foods

    Antioxidants are made up of various vitamins and natural plant chemicals such as carotene, lycopene, lutein, and other substances, which may play a role in helping to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. Antioxidants may prevent or fight heart disease, cancer, aging, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and more. However, research shows that simply taking antioxidant supplements cannot be the only answer to getting what your body needs. In fact, it’s possible some of these supplements could be harmful if taken in too high a dose. For example, dark chocolate is known to have antioxidant properties, but if taken too much it can over-stimulate the physiology, cause anxiety and other problems. The key to all of this is moderation and a holistic approach. Simple solutions usually do not work because our…

  • Phillip Askew & Lydia Walker – Variations On Surya Namaskara (Music by Jonah Rank)

    “Phillip Askew, yoga instructor, and Lydia Walker, formerly of the School of American Ballet, present their “Variations On Surya Namaskara” as part of Columbia Ballet Collaborative’s Fall Show at New York City Center Studio on November 22, 2008. With the improvisational accompaniment of pianist Jonah Rank.” Also, see coverage of this by The New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/arts/dance/28kour.html

  • Documentaries Trump the Dominant Narrative

    The medium of documentary film is young but is rearing its head as the most powerful of all art forms. One could argue that music and books are more potent forces, but does music teach lessons as pointedly and do books reveal life as visually and aurally as a documentary? Not in my mind. I consider documentary films to be modern history books. I believe they will actually surpass history books in coming generations as the best tool for learning from the successes and follies of our ancestors. Unlike reading a book, documentaries allow viewers to see and hear life (albeit on a screen), thus creating a visceral experience that resonates more deeply. When shot and edited ethically, documentaries offer incredible insight into human beings and events as they are,…

  • Morning Yoga

    In my last post, I talked about how every yoga practice is different. Some days you have outstanding balance; other days, it takes all you have to stay in tree pose for more than two breaths. Experiencing and being aware of such differences will help you to more completely understand your body. Through this understanding, you will be able to determine which poses, and ultimately, which type of yoga is best for you.

  • You Are Where You’re Supposed to Be

    I have to be honest. I recently fell off of the yoga wagon. I know that is probably not the first thing you were hoping to read when you clicked on the yoga page of Tuning the Student Mind, but hear me out. One of the things that I love most about the practice of yoga is that it never lies. Yoga is and has always been a very real extension of myself. Yoga shows me where I am, on an emotional, spiritual, and physical level. Like a mirror, it does not reflect back to me who I imagine myself to be or who I would like to be tomorrow, next week, or next year. It shows me who I am, right now.

  • Skinny Snacking | French Women Don’t Get Fat

    Yesterday I bought the book, French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano. Although I am only a quarter of the way through this seemingly awesome book, the author has made it very clear that skipping meals in the French world is a no-no. Have you ever wondered why French women don’t get fat? Or why Europeans are generally more healthy, and of a more normal weight than Americans? I know I have, along with many friends of mine. The trick? Well, it’s pretty simple: French [women] never skip meals, they usually eat what they want (of course the food in France is much more fresh than in America, less processed, and usually doesn’t have chemicals or additives), but other than that, it’s all about one little, yet crucial word:…

  • In the Spirit of Spring | Pasta Primavera

    *This dish is easily customizable for meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diets. It’s a gorgeous spring-like day and it inspired me to make a light, bright, and tasty lunch! This afternoon I made a delicious and healthy, low-fat pasta primavera! Pasta primavera is an Italian-American dish consisting of pasta, any selection of fresh vegetables and sometimes a meat of choice. Did you know that ‘primavera’ means spring in Italian? This dish was quick and easy to make. I used all organic ingredients. It serves approximately 4 people and the cooking time is 20 minutes.

  • Cultural Rehab

    A healthy man needs to see a doctor after spending time around a group of contagious sick people because he too becomes infected. A clean individual who spends time around a dirty drug scene will eventually start participating and use the drug. If that behavior continues and as a result their quality of life goes down, the best thing they could do is seek help. Individuals in this situation need to learn how to be alright without the addicting drug. There is a type of institution for that. Its called rehab. The purpose of rehab is to remind you of who you were before you started using. Sometimes I wonder if it is difficult for people to admit addiction because they started down the path so innocently. Initially, they may…

  • Tetris Game Hijack

    I came into the “Consciousness, Creativity and Bliss” class after a long and stressful previous semester. The promise of meditation lured me in as the stacks of boxes full of responsibilities kept getting higher and higher in my mind. Now don’t get me wrong, the boxes don’t just disappear when I meditate. Going to school and working is necessary, at least until I graduate. The problem arises when these boxes aren’t neatly stacked one on top of the other but rather dropped at random like a really cruel game of Tetris. Things inadvertently become misaligned. Every one of my classes has a box of its own. Every family member, with their unique and crazy respective problems, has a box just for themselves. Every hour I log at work is another, much…