It's not stretching the facts to say yoga is good for you

It's not stretching the facts to say yoga is good for you

 

By: Judi Stuart

Port Discover: Visitor Services Manager

 

Maggie is a pretty smart person, even if she is a dog.

Our eight pound, fluffy, black poodle has many admirable qualities which I have observed and wondered about. For example, almost every time she gets up from lying down for any period, she takes a long stretch. She doesn’t rush it and lengthens herself as far as she possibly can and seems so satisfied when she is finished.

Since it is the time of year when we all try to find something about ourselves to improve, I’ve been thinking about Maggie’s exercise and have decided that stretching is something I could do that would bring benefits to an aging body. People around the world find increased stamina and satisfaction in the practice of yoga.

Yoga Journal reports that 8.7 percent of the adults in the United States practice yoga. Seventy-eight percent say they are motivated by a desire to improve flexibility, conditioning, stress relief, and general health and fitness. Of the 15 million involved, 72 percent are female and 27 percent are male. Twenty-seven billion dollars are spent on yoga products yearly.

Various forms of yoga have been practiced for over 5,000 years and several world religions have taught yoga and meditation as part of their activities. In the West, the focus tends to be on mastering physical poses, practicing certain breathing techniques, and simply relaxing.

The ultimate goal is the improvement of balance, flexibility, and strength. As with all exercise, it is wise to consult with a physician about personal benefits and limitations.

Advantages of regular yoga practice may include better breathing and increased lung capacity, improved concentration and posture, lowering of blood pressure and heart rate, and lessening of stress. Medical researchers are studying the effects of therapeutic yoga on conditions like asthma and arthritis.

The stretching done during some of the yoga motions safely extends muscles and may release the lactic acid that builds up causing stiffness, tension, pain and fatigue, thus improving flexibility. Yoga may also increase the range of motion in the joints and improve muscle tone.

 

The term yoga means union or yoke and its goals are the strengthening of one’s body, mind, and spirit and the pursuit of inner harmony.

After school, daycare, physical education, and community programs are exploring the benefits of yoga for children. Increased self-esteem, self-discipline, and sense of wellbeing seem to be major benefits for students. Ability to focus, balance, concentration, and confidence are also improved by the activities that increase physical and mental self-awareness.

Studies have revealed that yoga can be helpful for children with ADHD and autism, too. Port Discover offers a “Mommy and Me Yoga” class for mothers and young children. The first Tuesday morning class was successful and will continue to be held monthly as part of our health and wellness program for children.

There is something for everyone in the practice of yoga. You are never too young or too old to improve yourself.

 

(Source: www.npr.org)

Santa, The Chimney Expert

Santa, The Chimney Expert

 

By: Judi Stuart

Port Discover: Visitor Services Manager

 

“…And laying a finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.”  Does that make Santa an expert on what one can find in a chimney?  He does have plenty of experience.

            Since 1900, the number of homes constructed with chimneys has steadily declined. Will Santa have to change his methods of operation? Will some animals have to change their habitats?

            Before the eleven hundreds, dwellings had fire pits and the smoke traveled to the ceiling and throughout the structure.  Spaces near the top were used for storage and hanging meats, thus taking advantage of the preservation qualities of smoke.

            When early attempts to control the smoke led to the development of the chimney, a second floor could be added to homes.  By the fifteenth and sixteenth century, chimneys were built of brick and found in most homes.

Chimneys are busy places and can be the residence for several types of creatures.  Bats, blue-tailed skinks, squirrels, spiders, raccoons, chimney swifts and other animals take shelter within these structures.  Tales of wildlife coming into a house through the chimney are common.

Found in North Carolina and most eastern states, the gray, cigar-shaped chimney swift was once a crevice dweller, but eventually transferred to the warm environment of the chimney to build its nest.  The small birds spend most of their waking hours flying and catching insects to eat while in flight.  They quickly dive into the water to bathe and come up shaking the water from their bodies.

Many modern chimneys are covered and have narrow flues, which are not suitable for nesting.  The glue-like saliva, which the bird uses to cement its half-saucer nest to brick walls, no longer works. 

In 2012, chimney swifts were added to the watch list because they are in steep decline.  Swifts migrate to South America and spend the winter in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil.  Although the swift is gone, the nest will remain in the chimney.

 Santa might also encounter a nasty substance called creosote, which is a by-product of incomplete combustion.  Burning fossil fuels such as wood and coal produces water, carbon, and volatile chemicals which condense on chimney surfaces.  All forms of creosote are highly combustible.

Several factors can make the build-up worse.  Restricting air flow by closing fireplace doors, failing to open the damper completely, burning unseasoned wood, and overloading a firebox can all accelerate the build-up.  

This black, oily substance can eventually become a thick deposit which reduces the airflow in the chimney and may cause a chimney fire.  Most of the time, the fire is contained inside the chimney, but if the fire is hot enough, it can ignite materials close to the chimney and cause a house fire.  Homeowners should have their chimneys cleaned regularly by a professional.

Whatever Santa encounters, he always gets the job done with the help of many elves, of course.   

(Source:www.clipartguide.com)



Do you believe in the magic, er, science of Christmas?

Do you believe in the magic, er, science of Christmas?

By: Judi Stuart

Port Discover: Visitor Services Manager

 

Have you ever wondered what was wrong with Rudolph’s nose? Some scientists who have considered the problem proposed that he might have had a severe cold, but others take it a step further.

Reindeer noses actually have an abundance of membranes that warm the air coming into their bodies. Because of the warmth and moisture, parasites and bacteria might have created an infection, which caused the famous red nose. Poor Rudolph!

What about the reindeer antlers? Their names sound male, but real reindeer shed their antlers around Christmas time, so they must have been misrepresented. How shocking!

Although Germans have an abundance of evergreen trees, they invented the first artificial trees by using dyed goose feathers. What a mess that must have been!

The tallest Christmas tree on record was a 222-foot Douglas fir that decorated the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Wash., in 1950. Most Christmas trees grow for 15 years before they are cut.

Another Christmas legend tells that spiders wove a blanket for Baby Jesus, so in Poland, spiders and their webs are used to decorate trees and are considered signs of kindness and wealth.

Evergreens were symbols of eternal life and rebirth, so bringing them in the house during winter was a sign of preservation of life for ancient people. From that belief, grew the Christmas tree tradition. A strong environmentalist, President Teddy Roosevelt would not allow a Christmas tree in the White House.

According to legend, Martin Luther, protestant reformer, was moved by the beauty of stars shinning between branches of a tree. He brought a tree into the house and decorated it with candles to share with his children. Apples were one of the first ornaments to decorate trees.

Because the rooster was thought to be the first animal to announce the birth of Jesus, Bolivians attend the “Mass of the Rooster” on Christmas Eve each year and actually bring roosters to the service.

The name mistletoe comes from the Anglo-Saxon word, which means “little dung twig” because bird droppings are the method of spreading the seeds. Druids thought of the mistletoe plant as sacred because it has berries when other plants seem to die. They believed that it had special powers to cure illnesses and to hold evil at bay.

Aztecs believed that the beautiful poinsettia was a symbol of purity and often used it as medicine to reduce fever. Poinsettias are not poisonous, but holly berries are.

There are several possible explanations for the Christmas Star appearing in the story of Jesus. Some people think it may have been an exploding star or a supernova. Others believe it could have been a planetary alignment of Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn, which would have produced a noticeable light. Another possible cause of the light could have been a comet.

Christmas traditions and legends often contain a touch of science, and that makes them more interesting for some believers.

(Source: facts.randomhistory.com/Christmas-facts)