What's wrong with this listing?
Genesis Tree Of Life Yoga & Wellness
10202 Metropolitan Ave, lower level
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Uber
MORE PHOTOS
more
Rates
Programs
Wellness
Retreat
Workshops
Schedule
Rates
Yoga | Tai Chi
Single Class
$22.008 Class Series (Valid for 10 Weeks)
$130.001 Month Unlimited (First Time)
$59.00Yoga
Private sessions with group discounts (more than two people) available and corporate programs – call for details.
1 Month Unlimited
$130.006 Month Unlimited (Auto-Renew)
- (per month) $95.00
Purchasing Options
Single Class
This option is for those students who can only attend occasionally and do not have a set schedule. This option can be used for our progressive and open classes.
8 Class Series
We suggest this purchase option for anyone interested in attending any of our 8 class yoga progressive series, (Beginners I, Beginners II, Intermediate I, and Intermediate II). This package may be used for our progressive and open classes.
1 Month Unlimited
This is the best option if you are planning to attend 3 or more yoga classes per week and would enjoy the flexibility to attend as many classes as you would like. This package can be used for our progressive and open classes.
Children and Teen Yoga
Yoga
- Single Class $22.00
- 1 Monthly Series of 4 Classes $60.00
- 1 Monthly Series of 5 Classes $75.00
Info
Registration Policy
Registration in our system and sign-up for each class/workshop is necessary prior to attendance. You can sign up online or by calling 347-497-3673.
Need to Freeze Your Yoga Plan?
If you are traveling, have a particular health issue or family obligation and you cannot attend your classes, you are entitled to freeze your membership package for a minimum of 30 days.
Cancellation Policy
Please give us 24 hours notice to your class and we will give you a full refund or replace the class on your package!
Special Discounts
15% off purchase will be granted to Genesis Society members. First class is half-price for new students.
Programs
As a holistic center we understand the importance of the integration of mind and body. In additional to classes at the yoga center, we have an extensive program of activities, interfaith courses, retreats and cultural events throughout the year to guide you on your journey to health, well-being and spiritual enlightenment.
Holistic Healing
Health Services & Products. Under the auspices of Genesis Health & Wellness, our very own René David Alkalay, PhD, ND, AFAA, provides an extensive selection of health and wellness services. As a healer, yogi and board certified naturopathic practitioner, Dr. Alkalay brings a wealth of knowledge to provide clients with a total integration of mind, body and spirit in their quest for health and well-being.
Workshops
In addition to our ongoing classes, GTOL runs special workshops throughout the year to help you deepen your understanding of and experience with yoga, meditation and other holistic practices. For actual dates, times and fees click on the WORKSHOPS tab in our schedule.
Children's Summer Camp
Kids can learn to work cooperatively as well as learn to care and nurture themselves. Our camp is sure to create lasting memories, new friendships, and a foundation for health and well-being! Includes yoga, martial arts, snack-making, arts & crafts and song & dance.
Corporate Wellness
Our program is an effective wellness solution for employers who want to lower costs, help employees improve their overall health and reduce the rates of illness and injuries.
Retreats
Feel the need to get away and recharge your batteries? GTOL offers two destinations that provide relaxing, re-energizing retreats. You can plan a full vacation week or short weekend stays throughout the year. Or try one of our scheduled GTOL Workshops on Retreat which include yoga, meditation, Pranayama and tips on healthy living. Announcements are made here on our site and in our newsletter, so be sure to sign up to receive it. These retreats are great for the whole family, groups of friends, couples or for special You time.
Wellness Center
In addition to providing instruction in yoga, meditation, pranayama, fitness and dance, an important goal at Genesis Tree of Life Yoga & Wellness Center (GTOL) is to promote knowledge and awareness of modalities that benefit emotional, intellectual and physical health. Over the years GTOL has grown to include holistic services that help people around the world reclaim their health and well being. It has become an affiliation of instructors and holistic practitioners offering a range of complementary and alternative wellness services in the form of classes, teacher training, workshops, retreats and one-on-one holistic therapies.
Practitioners at Gtol
Find out more about the independent practioners, including our own Dr. René David Alkalay, and the services offered by each, and get contact info to schedule an appointment.
Health and Wellness Services
Acupuncture
Alexander Technique
Bioenergetics Therapy
Biosyntonic Therapy
Chakra Balancing
Chiropractic
Energy Healing
Massage Therapy
Moxybustion
Nutritional Counseling
Naturopathy
Personal Training
Physical Therapy
Reflexology
Reiki
Su Jok Reflexology Therapy
Therapeutic Counseling
Weight Management
Meet Our Practitioners
In addition to being a center offering classes and workshops, GTOL is also an affiliation of holistic practitioners offering complementary and alternative wellness services with one-on-one holistic therapies. To get more information or schedule an appointment contact the practioners directly by calling or visiting their website.
Acupressure/reflexologist/su Jok Therapy
Neelam Sethi (347-453-1530) Holistic healer offering alternative therapies that help manage pain and illnesses, as well as increase your overall sense of well-being without the cost and side effects of medication. www.touchnheal.com.
Acupuncturist
Yuli Fridman, MS, L.Ac. (718-612-1933) Licensed acupuncturist and certified by National Certification Commission for Acupuncture. Specializing in The Balance Method – amazing at targeting musculoskeletal pain that has no apparent cause – and infertility. www.AccupunctureInQueens.com.
Chiropracter
Mitch Proffman, D.C. (718-268-9080) Holistic chiropractor using natural healing systems, including exercise physiology, applied kinesiology, meditation, nutrition and stress management to help bring balance to a patient's body, mind and spirit. www.chirohands.com.
Therapeutic Counseling
Linda Torres providing a practical approach to achieving balance and serenity in an over-stimulated world through individual, family and group therapy.
Fitness Trainer
René David Alkalay, AFAA
(718-544-5997) Certified personal trainer with 22 years experience. Offering fitness assessment and customized training programs for your specific goals and level of fitness.
Christine Busini, A.C.E.
(718-575-0056) Certified personal trainer and professional dancer. Works with clients here and in their homes with concentration on balance, alignment and body awareness. Specialty: women of the baby boomer generation. www.cbusinipersonaltrainer.com.
Massage Therapist
Wendy Vigil, LMT
(917-488-7762) Professional, licensed massage therapist offering Swedish, Deep Tissue, Pre-Natal Massage; Reflexology; Body Scrub Treatments.
Andrea Santoro, LMT
/(917-623-0287) Licensed professional providing Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy, Dead Sea Salt Scrub and Herbal Body Wrap.
Naturopathic Doctor
René David Alkalay, PhD, N.D.
(718-544-5997) Holistic healer using a mind/body medicine approach of herbology, orthomolecular medicine, exercise physiology, healing touch therapy, meditation, nutrition, chakra balancing, therapeutic counseling, stress management and yoga to help bring balance to a patient's body, mind and spirit.
Sean E. Heerey, N.D.
(212-239-4544) Health restoration expert specializing in getting people healthy without drugs or surgery. Programs are individualized and help to restore energy and balance in the body. Assessment of food intolerances for customized eating, supplement and lifestyle plan based on specific needs. www.drseanheerey.com.
Health Information
An important goal at Genesis Tree of Life Yoga & Wellness Center (GTOL) is to promote knowledge of and best practice in health, nutrition and disease prevention. As a naturopathic doctor, nutritionist and holistic healer I receive a lot of information and will pass along here what I think will help you lead a healthier, more fulfilling life. – René David Alkalay, PhD, ND.
Biosyntonic
Natural waves are information carriers
All naturally occurring waves in nature have a vortex shape (three dimensional). These waves come from sunlight, cosmic radiation, magnetic fields, gravitational fields and others. These waves provide information to the body. The water in the body serves as a recording media and carrier of information just like the videotape or any other magnetic media such as the computer's hard drive, etc.
Natural waves are modulators of the body
The information received by the body from the natural waves serve to regulate the body's biorhythms and the function of the organs and glands. It also modulates the DNA. Without this information the glands and the organs cannot function and communicate with each other properly, and the body cannot adapt to his environment. This is the reason that people feel better in a natural environment.
Artificial waves interfere with biological systems
All man made waves: electric electromagnetic fields, radio, TV, microwave towers, cell phones and many others are made from bi-dimensional sinus waves. These waves when they mix with natural waves alter the natural waves and therefore change the original information. As a result the body receives misinformation and the normal function of the DNA, organs and glands is disturbed. This contributes to illness, disease, aging and emotional and mental stress. Extreme example to this phenomena is when people are exposed to very intense electromagnetic pollution such as people who work in front of computer monitors every day for years will suffer severe health problems. People who live under high power lines for a long period of time are more likely to get cancer etc.
BioSyntonie Restores Vortex Waves Utilizing Natural Resonance Phenomena
Biosyntony restores the normal vortex waves by the resonance phenomena. The ceramic memory discs resonate and create vortex waves whenever they are exposed to natural or artificial waves. The various crystalline materials in the discs emit beneficial vortex waves which will restore the correct information to the body thus improving its functions physiologically and energetically. This phenomena results in greater well-being as well as acceleration of healing physically, emotionally and mentally.
The Sugar Rollercoaster
by Rene David Alkalay, N.D.
We eat sugar and spike upward.
The body and brain begin to realize that we have eaten a processed and incomplete food with very little nutrient value, and so we drop downward in energy and functional ability. We then have more sugar, and, once again, spike upward...and he roller coast ride continues. Along with the consumption of refined sugar come a multitude of mental and physical ailments. With the daily use of sugar, the body becomes over-acidified. To correct the problem, the body begins to use an increasing number of minerals from inside the body. A message that is received is "the blood must be protected," and so calciium begins to be drained away from the bones and the teeth; this, in turn, leads to a degeneration and a weakening. The cascade continues with the excessive use of sugar and every organ of the body becomes effected.
Sugar is initially stored in the liver in the form of glucose (glycogen).
However, the liver's storage capacity is limited. The amount and frequency of current sugar consumption - well above a required amount - enlarges the liver beyond its ability to store and process efficiently, so the excess glycogen is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids. In its wisdom, the body then stores this excess in the least harmful places, the belly, the buttocks, the breasts, and the thighs (away from major organs where the damage could be much more serious). However, in our continuing descent into poor eating and the over-consumption of refined sugars, these areas fill up and the fatty acids begin to spill over into the heart and kidneys. Tissue begins to degenerate and turn into fat. As vital organs continue to lose their ability to properly function, abnormal blood pressure develops.
Now, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes involved and with it the brain begins to become paralyzed, thus disrupting normal brain function.
Red corpuscles change as the circulatory and lymphatic system are invaded, leading to an overabundance of white blood cells. This further slows down the creation of new tissue. Along with these physiological consequences comes a more limited immune system response and we become more susceptible to attack by the elements and by microbial based illnesses.
There is a silent, or not so silent, epidemic of a weakening of memory and general brain function.
We find a strong relationship between the over-consumption of refined sugar and this phenomenon. For the brain to function in an orderly manner, it needs a vital compund, glutamic acid. this is found primarily in many vegetables. The role of B vitamins is to divide glutamic acid into antagonistic complementary compounds. These produce a "control" response in the brain. In our intestines there are symbiotic bacteria that also produce B vitamins. Our evolution has been in harmony with nature and so we find that sugar as found in sugar cane comes togather with the B vitamins. In fact, sugar cane is one of the highest natural sources of B vitamins. However, in the refining process, these are removed and so we have a very unbalanced food that causes all of the above, and more problems to our health. With the daily use of refined sugar, the symbiotic bacteria wither and die and our B vitamin reserves continues to drop. We become sleepy. Our ability to remember and to think clearly becomes impaired.
These notes are based on the work of William Duffy in his book, "Sugar Blues."
stay tuned: in the next installment of these articles we will look at the continuing consequences of Sugar Addiction
The Sugar Blues
A multitude of common physical and mental ailments are strongly linked to the consuming of 'pure', refined sugar.
Sugar taken every day produces a continuously over-acid condition, and more and more minerals are required from deep in the body in the attempt to rectify the imbalance. Finally, in order to protect the blood, so much calcium is taken from the bones and teeth that decay and general weakening begin. Excess sugar eventually affects every organ in the body. Initially, it is stored in the liver in the form of glucose (glycogen). Since the liver's capacity is limited, a daily intake of refined sugar (above the required amount of natural sugar) soon makes the liver expand like a balloon. When the liver is filled to its maximum capacity, the excess glycogen is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids. These are taken to every part of the body and stored in the most inactive areas: the belly, the buttocks, the breasts and the thighs.
When these comparatively harmless places are completely filled, fatty acids are then distributed among active organs, such as the heart and kidneys.
These begin to slow down; finally their tissues degenerate and turn to fat. The whole body is affected by their reduced ability, and abnormal blood pressure is created. The parasympathetic nervous system is affected; and organs governed by it, such as the small brain, become inactive or paralyzed. (Normal brain function is rarely thought of as being as biologic as digestion.) The circulatory and lymphatic systems are invaded, and the quality of the red corpuscles starts to change. An overabundance of white cells occurs, and the creation of tissue becomes slower. Our body's tolerance and immunizing power becomes more limited, so we cannot respond properly to extreme attacks, whether they be cold, heat, mosquitoes or microbes.
Excessive sugar has a strong mal-effect on the functioning of the brain.
The key to orderly brain function is glutamic acid, a vital compound found in many vegetables. The B vitamins play a major role in dividing glutamic acid into antagonistic-complementary compounds which produce a "proceed" or "control" response in the brain. B vitamins are also manufactured by symbiotic bacteria which live in our intestines. When refined sugar is taken daily, these bacteria wither and die, and our stock of B vitamins gets very low. Too much sugar makes one sleepy; our ability to calculate and remember is lost." William Duffy.
What Exactly Are Genetically Modified Foods
Genetically modified foods (GM foods, or biotech foods)
are foods derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), specifically, genetically modified crops. GMOs have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding and somaclonal variation. Commercial sale of genetically modified foods began in 1994, when Calgene first marketed its Flavr Savr delayed ripening tomato. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products: soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil. These may have been engineered for faster growth, resistance to pathogens, production of extra nutrients, or any other beneficial purpose. GM livestock have also been experimentally developed, although as of July 2010 none are currently on the market.
While there is broad scientific consensus that food on the market derived from GM crops pose no greater risk to human health than conventional food
critics have objected to GM foods on several grounds, including safety issues, ecological concerns, and economic concerns raised by the fact GM plants (and potentially animals) that are food sources are subject to intellectual property law. If you are concerned about genetically engineered foods in your shopping cart, you need to act now! There are things you should know before you buy any food or beverage products at stores and things you can do to avoid getting genetically engineered foods.
Important Points
There is much debate and reporting on the growing use of Genetically Modified Food. Claire Robinson, research director of Earth Open Source, and co-author of "GMO Myths and Truths" says that "The GM industry is trying to change our food supply in far-reaching and potentially dangerous ways. We all need to inform ourselves about what is going on and ensure that we – not biotechnology companies - keep control of our food system and crop seeds." The report tries to set the record straight on the many myths and misconceptions. Some of the points we believe are important to know are that:
Genetic engineering as used in crop development is not precise or predictable and has not been shown to be safe.
The technique can result in the unexpected production of toxins or allergens in food that are unlikely to be spotted in current regulatory checks.
GM crops
including some that are already in our food and animal feed supply, have shown clear signs of toxicity in animal feeding trials – notably disturbances in liver and kidney function and immune responses, though GM proponents have dismissed these statistically significant findings as "not biologically relevant/significant", based on scientifically indefensible arguments.
GM foods have not been properly tested in humans, but the few studies that have been carried out in humans give cause for concern.
Conventionally bred, locally adapted crops, used in combination with agroecological farming practices, offer a proven, sustainable approach to ensuring global food security
Tell national supermarkets
Don't sell genetically modified salmon.
AquAdvantage by AquaBounty could become the first brand of genetically modified (GMO) frankenfish coming to your grocery's seafood case
but opposition from supermarket chains could help us stop it. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have already agreed to boycott the fish, but none of the other supermarket chains like Kroger, Safeway, Target, and Walmart - which account for the vast majority of supermarkets under various brands - has commented yet.
AquaBounty's frankenfish is an Atlantic salmon, spliced with genes from an eel pout and growth hormone from a Chinook salmon.
The result is a salmon that produces growth hormone year-round and grows twice as fast.
The fish hasn't been proven safe for humans. But the FDA may approve it based on a limited, flawed, and inadequate study
despite the fact that the same study identified elevated allergy-causing potential, and elevated levels of the IGF-1 growth hormone, which is linked to colon, prostate and breast cancers. Clearly more study is needed to determine possible dangers to our health and other wildlife posed of GMO salmon.
These lab-created salmon to would pose a serious risk to wild salmon populations if they escaped into the wild, as they consume five-times more food than wild salmon, and are more aggressive.
Introducing these traits into the wild population would be serious - and irreversible.
Separate from any risks, GMO salmon are less healthy to eat
producing less of the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than conventional salmon - and a less efficient food source - requiring 1.5 to 8 kilograms of wild fish to produce one kilogram of conventional farmed salmon. If your grocer agrees to sell these salmon, you'll have no way of knowing when you're buying them. Monsanto and other companies have dumped millions into campaigns to sour voters on laws that require GMO foods to be labeled,4 so these fish will show up in supermarkets without any indication of their GMO source.
But national grocery chains are sensitive to public pressure
and could agree to stop selling these products if there's enough public outcry, which could lead people to just buying less salmon overall. Just last year, the top three grocery chains agreed not to sell products containing "pink slime" meat after publicity forced their hand.
Tell national grocery chains that GMO salmon is unacceptable, and they must refuse to stock it.
Click the link provided here to sign the petition automatically. Sign Petition.
Are you concerned about the lack of labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods?
If everyone speaks up then we will be heard. Additionally, we hope you will take action. There are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.
Benefits of Eating Raw Foods
The human race learned long ago that cooking meat before eating it would protect them from certain diseases. Since then this practice of cooking has grown to include all types of foods and is now considered an art. Very few meals are eaten which include raw elements, except for the leafy green salad. While it isn't easy to simply abandon thousands of years of tradition and revert back to 100% raw food. Margaret Mead once said, "It is easier to change a man's religion than to change his diet. Here are 10 advantages to a diet of fresh, whole raw fruits, vegetables and nuts, which may lead you to find a greater place for them in your diet.
Ten Advantages Of Eating Raw
Raw foods are better quality, therefore you eat less to satisfy your nutritional needs.
The heat of cooking depletes vitamins, damages proteins and fats, and destroys enzymes which benefit digestion. As your percentage of raw foods increases you feel satisfied and have more energy on smaller meals because raw food has the best balance of water, nutrients, and fiber to meet your body's needs.
Eating a diet of raw foods can reverse or stop the advance of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
Remember, cooking creates free radicals, which are the major cause of cancer. When you lower the number of free radicals your cells are bombarded with, you lower your risk of cancer.
A raw food diet can protect you from acute diseases such as colds, flu, measles, etc. Raw foods maintain a healthy body and a healthy body will not become diseased.
As long as you combine raw food properly according to the rules of Natural Hygiene, you may reach a level where you no longer suffer from heartburn, gas, indigestion or constipation.
Raw foods have more flavor than cooked foods so there is no need to add salt, sugar, spices, or other condiments that can irritate your digestion system or over stimulate other organs.
Raw foods take very little preparation so you spend less time in the kitchen. Even a child of 5 or 6 can prepare most items for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
This gives children a sense of self-esteem and independence, not to mention the break it gives Mom or Dad.
When you are eating raw there's little chance of burns, unless you're in the middle of a forest fire or out in the sun too long.
Just think! No burns to tongues, the roof of your mouth, or fingers, and many fewer house fires.
Cleaning up after a raw meal is a snap. No baked-on oils or crusty messes. And any inedible parts go directly to the compost pile.
It is environmentally sound. With humanity on a diet of raw foods, the food industry would close up shop and take up organic gardening.
This would save us enormous amounts of natural resources used to produce power for these industries. Nuclear power would be clearly unnecessary. And think of how many trees and oil reserves could be saved without the need for the paper and plastics used in packaging our processed foods. There would also be less carbon dioxide released in to the atmosphere when all the cooking stopped and more oxygen produced from all the new orchards and gardens, thus helping to reverse the Greenhouse Effect.
Eating raw saves you money on food, vitamins, pots and pans, appliances, doctor bills, drugs, and health insurance.
The Science of Raw Food
A raw food diet is not just good for you - it's also good science! Cooking not only destroys nutrition and enzymes but chemically changes foods from the substances needed for health into acid-forming toxins, free-radicals and poisons that destroy our health! When raw foods are exposed to temperatures above 118 degrees, they start to rapidly break down, just as our bodies would if we had a fever that high. One of the constituents of foods which can break down are enzymes. Enzymes help us digest our food. Enzymes are proteins though, and they have a very specific 3-dimensional structure in space. Once they are heated much above 118 degrees, this structure can change, creating acidic toxins, including the carcinogens, mutagens and free-radicals associated with diseases like diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and cancer. Cooking also destroys the live enzymes that aid in digestion and health.
Enzymes
Once enzymes are exposed to heat, they are no longer able to provide the function for which they were designed. Cooked foods contribute to chronic illness, because their enzyme content is damaged and thus requires us to make our own enzymes to process the food. The digestion of cooked food uses valuable metabolic enzymes in order to help digest your food. Digestion of cooked food demands much more energy than the digestion of raw food. In general, raw food is so much more easily digested that it passes through the digestive tract in 1/2 to 1/3 of the time it takes for cooked food. Eating enzyme-dead foods places a burden on your pancreas and other organs and overworks them, which eventually exhausts these organs. Many people gradually impair their pancreas and progressively lose the ability to digest their food after a lifetime of ingesting processed foods.
The Importance of Alkaline
Your body is actually sort of an alkaline battery, running on electrons.
All life-giving chemical reactions only happen when electrons or energy flows between atoms. Cooking or processing causes food to lose electrons - the source of the energy your body needs. Things that are healthy 'contribute" electrons/energy, and are called alkalizing or "reducing." Things that are unhealthy steal electrons/energy, and are called acidic or "oxidizing" (which means to burn up, rust, break down or decay).
Your body is designed to be alkaline, like the battery!
Because the pH scale is logarithmic even a fraction of a point can create huge changes to health! One hydroxyl molecule (-OH) in 550 million is enough to make water conductive. In fact, most important processes in your body only work within a very narrow pH range. For example, if the pH of your blood falls to the low end of its normal range (~7.35-7.45), a.10 difference, it could reduce the oxygen levels in your blood by as much as 300%!
Two common myths are that eating raw is expensive and that it takes a lot of time to prepare.
When you do it correctly, a raw food diet is actually one of the easiest, most convenient and most economical ways you can live! Remember, raw foodists eat mostly organic food, which is 80% to 300% more nutritionally dense (click for article on Organic Food) - loaded with available electrons/energy. As your body learns to absorb this additional nutrition and energy you'll be less hungry, getting more energy from what you do eat, and eat less. This ultimately can reduce your food costs, as well as your health care costs, far below what is was when you were eating empty calories filled with the acidic toxins. Raw, live food and water is the ultimate health care plan!
Supplements that can help balance your pH level: Cell Power by Positive Power Nutritionals
So don't waste your food, yourself and our planet by cooking what you eat.
Fruits, nuts and vegetables which are whole, fresh and raw are brimming with life and have the ability to transmit their life force directly to you.
Using Herbs for Better Health
Herbs are plant food substances.
This is not a scientific definition it is a practitioner's definition. It is used by the people who make recommendations about how to build better health naturally. If a person uses herbs they are an herbal practitioner. Herbs have been used since people began eating. They are not new and they were used long before there were people who called themselves doctors or scientists and they worked and they still do. A large amount of information concerning which herbs to use for what was intuitive and through some trial and error as people sought out what helped them.
Today we now have an impressive list of plants that build better health.
There is a solution to every physical problem. It was meant to be that way. It is not experimental. The great religions of the world say much and give much information about the use of herbs. It has also been said each person has an herb. Since there are so many physical differences between us, it stands to reason one herb may do more for a certain person than another but do not despair. There is an herb for you too. Often there are many herbs that are especially helpful for you, just waiting to be discovered.
Luckily when eating an herb if the wrong one is taken
nothing much happens and if you do eat too much of it, body mechanisms usually reject it and you leave it alone. Interestingly enough, an herb which tastes awful to a person may indeed taste very agreeable to the same person when it is needed. Part of the fun is discovering your herb or herbs and, in the process, an acquaintance with herbs that help other people is gained. One of the ways to tell what an herb will do is to taste a little of it. This is much easier to do with a liquid herb than a tablet or a capsule but in any case it should be done before you ask anyone else to try an herb so it will at least be known if what the label says is in the bottle, is actually in the bottle. Practice has shown that even when two people have the same physical problem one may be helped more than another. This is because people are different and some folks are less ready to get well than others. Even when you know exactly what they need, they still find some way to keep it from working or a reason for not taking it. Never despair, that the herbs don't work. This is a cooperative team effort. The team is made up of the herb or herbs and they know what to do, the Creator who gave them to us and we would expect the Creator to be willing for anything good, the one who gave the advice, and the person using the advice. Each member of the team must do their part.
Below is a list of some of favorite or more commonly used herbs.
We will be adding new information every week on a different herb so come back often.
Herbs
Alfalafa
All Cell Salts
Arnica
A.W. (Combination of (Green Hull) Black Walnut
B.D.R.-C
Blue Steele
Borage
Wormwood
Health Benefits
Stretching May Offer Extended Benefits.
Study shows gains in strength and endurance, but best timing still debated.
If stretching ranks among your list of health priorities somewhere below turning down the volume on your iPod, a new report may give you extra incentive to reach, bend and twist.
What did the study find?
The study found that a regular stretching program may actually enhance performance, making people stronger and increasing their endurance.
Stretching appears to do more than just increase range of motion
says study author Arnold Nelson, an associate professor of kinesiology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. "The extent that some people improved was surprising," he says. "Some people had fantastic improvements.
Nelson says stretching won't take the place of aerobic and strength-training programs, but it may supplement them.
And stretching is a smart idea for people who are traveling and don't have a good place to work out, he says.
He also says stretching may especially benefit people who need exercise the most but are too weak to lift weights or get moving.
"It's a catch-22," he says, but stretching can be a good place for them to start on a path to wellness.
Nelson believes stretching affects muscles in a similar way as strength-training but on a smaller scale.
We suspect it's activating some of the same things in the cell that exercise activates," he says.
Exercise physiologist Michael Bracko
a spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), says the findings offer some good news about stretching, which also can help keep people flexible, improve posture and possibly allow them to avoid some injuries and other aches and pains.
But Bracko notes that it's unlikely many people would comply with such an intensive stretching program.
Participants in the study stretched for 40 minutes three times a week.
Nelson says the study was designed specifically to include a lot of stretching to see whether there was an effect.
While lab research has found that stretching can boost strength in rats, the new study is one of the first to document this in people.
He says it's likely that lesser amounts of stretching offer strength benefits, too, but that hasn't been researched.
At the very least, Nelson and other experts say people should aim to stretch all major muscle groups at least once a few times a week, such as after exercising.
Getting up from your desk and stretching out throughout the day also is recommended to release muscle tension. Plus, it just feels good.
Gains in strength, endurance and jumping
The study involved 38 mostly sedentary people who were divided in two groups. One group did not do any stretching exercises during a 10-week period while the other group engaged in a program that required stretching the legs for 40 minutes a few times a week. The series of 15 static stretches in the program were aimed at working all major muscles in the legs, including the hamstrings and quadriceps. Several of the stretches, for instance, required sitting on the floor with the legs out and then lowering the chest toward the legs. Participants held each stretch for 15 seconds and then repeated it three times. People in neither group participated in any other kind of regular exercise routine.
Not surprisingly
those on the stretching program improved their flexibility, demonstrated by an average 18 percent increase in the distance they could reach during stretching, according to findings published in the October issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, a journal of the ACSM.
But they also increased their strength, as measured by their ability to perform on weight machines.
The amount of weight they could lift one time - their "one-repetition maximum" - increased an average of 32 percent for knee extension exercises and 15 percent for knee flexion exercises. Their muscular endurance - defined as the number of repetitions they could do at a weight that was 60 percent of their max - improved 29 percent for knee extension and 30 percent for knee flexion.
In addition, the stretching group saw more modest gains in other areas.
Their vertical-jump distance increased 7 percent and their standing long-jump distance increased 2 percent.
Those in the control group saw no improvements in any of these areas.
Timing still controversial
When to stretch has become a controversial topic in recent years, with many fitness experts now saying that stretching before exercise doesn't help prevent injury and may even decrease performance. As a result, trainers typically advocate stretching at the end of a workout, when the muscles are already warm.
But Bracko
who is the director of the Institute for Hockey Research in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, says that try as he might, he cannot get the hockey players he coaches to stop stretching before a game. It's just so ingrained in them that pre-event stretching is the thing to do, he says.
Not everyone agrees that stretching before exercise is inadvisable, however.
Dr. Nicholas DiNubile, an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and author of "FrameWork," a book about maintaining healthy muscles and joints, says studies showing that pre-event stretching doesn't prevent injury have involved mostly healthy people, not the kind that he often treats.
Aging boomers and people with pre-existing muscle or joint injuries should stretch before exercise, DiNubile recommends.
My feeling is you can never go wrong stretching before and after," he says.
But he does advise warming up first with some aerobic exercise and then stretching - and then doing the more intense activity.
Stretching a cold muscle, I don't think that's a good idea," he says.
Think of your muscles as taffy, says DiNubile. Hard taffy will break, but warm taffy will stretch and stretch.
Gauge your stretches accordingly. They shouldn't hurt. If a stretch feels like it's being forced too far, it likely is.
Article by Jacqueline Stenson, MSNBC Contributor © 2008 MSNBC Interactive
In addition to our yoga program which offers in-depth training in correct principles of stretching
on our links page, check out our affiliate site, The Stretching Institute and look at the Stretching Handbook and accompanying DVD.
While the recommendations in the article are a good starting point, you'll get a lot more benefit when you include a wider range of exercises.
So to improve your performance, reduce injuries and really take advantage of all the stretching exercises on offer, grab a copy of the updated 2011 edition of the Stretching Handbook and accompanying DVD. Together, they include 135 clear photographs and 44 video demonstrations of unique stretching exercises for every major muscle group in your body.
The DVD also includes 3 customized stretching routines (8 minutes each) for the Upper Body
the Lower Body; and the Neck, Back & Core, plus a bonus DVD-ROM feature that allows you to print out over 80 stretching routines that you can take with you where ever you go.
The Handbook and DVD will show you, step-by-step, how to perform each stretch correctly.
Plus, you'll also learn the 7 critical rules for safe stretching; the benefits of flexibility; and how to stretch properly. Check out the Stretching Handbook & DVD for yourself.
Eating This Feeds Bacteria That Can Poke Holes Through your Gut
Recent research
found that the macrolide antibiotic Azithromycin increases your chances of dying from a cardiovascular event by 250 percent within the first five days of usage, compared to taking amoxicillin. Those who already have heart problems are at an even greater risk of dying from the drug, which parallels Vioxx that had killed 60,000 people by the time it was removed from the market in 2004.
Antibiotics are indiscriminate bactericides
meaning they kill ALL bacteria, both good and bad, and many of the immediate and long-term side effects are related to this fact, as disrupting your gut flora has a detrimental effect on your overall immune system.
The greatest danger posed by antibiotics does not come from prescribed courses of antibiotics, but rather from the food you eat.
The prevalence of antibiotics found in both conventionally-grown meats and vegetables has the potential to throw off, or contribute to intestinal imbalance and subsequent immune system dysfunction.
It's estimated that the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock accounts for 70 percent of the total antibiotic use in the US
and when all agricultural uses are considered, the share could be as high as 84 percent.
On December 22, 2011, the US FDA posted a notice in the Federal Register that it was effectively reneging on its plan to reduce the use of antibiotics in agricultural animal feed.
Instead, the agency issued voluntary guidelines in April of this year, suggesting that livestock should only be treated with antibiotics to cure illness, not to enable growth.
Eating This Feeds Bacteria That Can Poke Holes Through Your Gut
June 20 2012, by Dr. Mercola
Azithromycin (Zithromax) is a macrolide antibiotic used in the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. It's known for having unpleasant side effects such as skin rashes, itching, allergic or anaphylactic reactions, and severe, watery diarrhea.
But it's also associated with more severe side effects
such as myopathy-muscle and tendon pain, weakness and cramping when taken in combination with statins. And previous research has shown that use of any type of antibiotic increases the risk of breast cancer in women.
Most recently
research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that azithromycin increases your chances of dying from a cardiovascular event by a whopping 250 percent within the first five days of usage, compared to those who took amoxicillin. This is nearly the same as that for Vioxx, which killed 60,000 people and was voluntarily removed from the market nearly eight years ago.
When researchers looked at people who already had heart problems, their risk of dying while on this drug were even higher.
The risk of cardiovascular death was also significantly greater with azithromycin than with ciprofloxacin, while levofloxacin and azithromycin had comparable risks of cardiovascular death.
What You Must Know about Antibiotics
It's important to recognize that antibiotics are indiscriminate bactericidal agents
meaning they kill all bacteria, both beneficial and pathologic, and many of the immediate and long-term side effects are related to this fact. By killing off the beneficial bacteria in your gut, antibiotics have a detrimental effect on your overall immune system, and if you do not "reseed" your gut with probiotics (good bacteria)-either in the form of a probiotics supplement or fermented foods-your immune function can remain compromised for some time.
Hence, antibiotics should only be taken when absolutely necessary, and care must be taken to rebalance your intestinal flora to prevent long-term effects to your health.
Taking probiotics while on an antibiotic can also help reduce diarrhea, which is a common side effect.
About 80 percent of your immune system resides in your gastrointestinal tract, which houses 100 trillion bacteria-about two to three pounds worth of bacteria, plus yeasts.
You should have about 85 percent "good" bacteria and 15 percent "bad". All of these microbes compete for nutrients from the food you eat, but the strength in numbers that beneficial bacteria enjoy helps keep the bad bacteria and the ever-present yeasts in check, and causes them to produce nutrients your body needs, such as B vitamins.
However, when you introduce antibiotics,
these beneficial bacteria are decimated along with the pathogenic ones, thereby upsetting the delicate balance of your intestinal terrain. As a result, yeasts can grow unchecked into large colonies and take over, causing a condition called dysbiosis. Using their tendrils (hyphae), yeast can literally poke holes through the lining of your intestinal wall, which results in a syndrome called leaky gut. At this point, you tend to become increasingly susceptible to a wide variety of health problems, such as: Arthritis, Asthma and allergies, Skin problems, Kidney problems, Digestive issues, Autoimmune disorders.
How Your Gut Influences Your Health
The reason why a dysfunctional bowel can wreak such havoc is well-explained by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
whose groundbreaking work sheds much needed light on how your gut affects your immune system, and how this dynamic interaction has profound impacts on your overall mental-, emotional-, and physical health.
She has written an excellent book called Gut and Psychology Syndrome
the acronym of which-GAPS-also stands for Gut and Physiology Syndrome, which is the name of a second book currently being written. Dr. Campbell-McBride's GAPS theory eloquently explains how immune abnormalities caused by damaged gut flora are at the root of virtually ALL degenerative diseases, as well as many neurological disorders, including ADHD and autism.
Once your gut becomes porous, or "leaky," it has openings that can allow undigested food particles in.
When foods are absorbed in this partially broken down form they're viewed as "foreign," causing your immune system to react to them. Food sensitivities and allergies, digestive issues, and eventually, autoimmune disorders, can all arise as a result.
In addition, parasitic yeasts can also cause you to change what you eat by causing cravings for carbohydrates like sugar, pasta and bread, for example, as this is their preferred fuel.
So, it should come as no surprise that weight gain is one of the telltale signs of antibiotic damage and subsequent yeast overgrowth.
Sadly, many doctors dismiss the connection between their patients' intestinal disorders and the drugs they themselves prescribed.
So, beware, and always make sure to repopulate your gut with a high quality probiotic every time you use an antibiotic.
Did You Know You May Be Consuming Hidden Antibiotics Daily?!
Unfortunately, the greatest danger posed by antibiotics does not actually come from prescribed courses of antibiotics, which you have some control over, but rather from the food you eat.
The prevalence of antibiotics in both meats and vegetables has the potential to throw off, or contribute to this intestinal imbalance.
Animals such as cattle, chickens and hogs raised in confined animal feeding operations (CAFO's) are routinely given antibiotics
both to keep them alive in stressful, unsanitary conditions, and to make them grow bigger, faster. Antibiotics can also be found in conventionally-grown vegetables, and the reason for this is because antibiotics in livestock end up being transferred, via manure, into the soils that vegetables are then grown in.
The widespread practice
of using subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics to increase growth in livestock has been pin-pointed as a leading cause for the development of new strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as the now-widespread form of staph (MRSA) known as ST398, or "the pig strain" of MRSA.
This livestock-acquired strain of MRSA adds to an already troubling situation
The human community-associated strain of MRSA, USA300, already affects close to 100,000 people a year in the US, and caused 18,600 deaths in 2005 alone. To put that number into perspective, HIV/AIDS killed 17,000 people that same year. What's worse, research has shown that various MRSA strains can be transmitted from humans to animals and vice versa, putting the health of both humans and animals (including pets) at ever increasing risk.
It's important to realize that antibiotic-resistant disease like MRSA is a man-made problem, created by the excessive use of antibiotics.
Medical overuse of antibiotics is one aspect, but the greatest, and most hidden, factor is the excessive use of antibiotics in food production.
According to the first-ever report by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on this subject, American factory farms used a whopping 29 million pounds of antibiotics in 2009 alone
Back in 2001, a report issued by the Union of Concerned Scientists estimated that the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock accounted for 70 percent of the total antibiotic use in the US, and when all agricultural uses were considered, they estimated the share could be as high as 84 percent.
Clearly, agricultural antibiotic use is the smoking gun in the battle against antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
It's also likely a primary cause of chronic poor gut health and reduced immune system function!
FDA Proposes Phase-Out of Antibiotics in Food Production-Sort of...
The rise of antibiotic-resistance in livestock is so alarming that government officials have finally admitted you can become infected when you eat or simply handle infected meat.
They also warn that the microbes can contaminate kitchen counters, utensils and other food. Even the USDA, which usually defends agribusiness interests, proclaimed at a 2009 congressional hearing that there is indeed a link between antibiotic use in animals and drug resistance in humans.
But the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still refuses to tackle this issue head on.
In fact, on December 22 last year
the agency quietly posted a notice in the Federal Register that it was effectively reneging on its plan to reduce the use of antibiotics in agricultural animal feed – a plan it has been touting since 1977. Against all logic, and with virtually no public announcement, the FDA decided to continue allowing livestock producers to use the drugs in feed. According to the Federal Register, dated December 22, 2011.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency)
s withdrawing two 1977 notices of opportunity for a hearing (NOOH), which proposed to withdraw certain approved uses of penicillin and tetracyclines intended for use in feeds for food-producing animals based in part on microbial food safety concerns.
This despite the fact that as recently as 2010, the FDA acknowledged the problem in a draft guidance to industry
which proposed livestock producers stop using subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics in animal feed, stating that: "Antimicrobial drugs have been widely used in human and veterinary medicine for more than 50 years … The development of resistance to this important class of drugs, and the resulting loss of their effectiveness as antimicrobial therapies, poses a serious public health threat. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs creates selective evolutionary pressure that enables antimicrobial resistant bacteria to increase in numbers more rapidly than antimicrobial susceptible bacteria and thus increases the opportunity for individuals to become infected by resistant bacteria. Because antimicrobial drug use contributes to the emergence of drug resistant organisms, these important drugs must be used judiciously in both animal and human medicine to slow the development of resistance.
Then, in April of this year, the FDA issued voluntary guidelines suggesting that livestock should only be treated with antibiotics to cure illness, not to enable growth
But can we really rely on the honor system with regard to how industry grows our food?
I think not. We need measures to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly-and that needs to go beyond mere suggestion.
On a slightly brighter note, in January the FDA announced it would restrict the use of one class of antibiotics, cephalosporin, in cattle, swine, chicken and turkey1
These antibiotics, which are regularly prescribed to humans, are implicated in the development and spread of drug-resistant bacteria among humans that work with, and eat, the animals. As of April 5, cephalosporin is no longer allowed for use in preventing diseases in livestock, although they will still be allowed for illness treatment in livestock.
How to Protect Your Family from Hidden Antibiotics
Granted, conventional medicine still needs to curtail its prescriptions for antibiotics
but even if you use antibiotics judiciously you're still exposed to significant amounts of antibiotics from the foods you eat. This is one of the primary reasons why I ONLY recommend organic, grass-fed, free-range meats and organic pasture-raised chickens, as non-medical use of antibiotics is not permitted in organic farming. These foods are also far superior to CAFO-raised meats in terms of nutritional content, which you can read more about in this previous article.
Apart from growing and raising your own foods, your best option is to get to know a local farmer
one who uses non-toxic farming methods. If you live in an urban area, there are increasing numbers of community-supported agriculture programs available that offer access to healthy, locally grown foods, even if you live in the heart of the city.
The Weston Price Foundation 2 also has chapters all over the world and many of them are connected with buying clubs in which you can easily purchase these types of foods locally.
Another resource you can try is Local Harvestx 3, which you can use to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of safe, sustainably grown food in your area.
Feel the Need to Get Away and Recharge Your Batteries?
GTOL offers two destinations that provide relaxing, re-energizing retreats. You can plan a full vacation week or short weekend stays throughout the year. Or try one of our scheduled GTOL Workshops on Retreat which include yoga, meditation, Pranayama and tips on healthy living. Announcements are made here on our site and in our newsletter, so be sure to sign up to receive it. These retreats are great for the whole family, groups of friends, couples or for special YOU time. Please call if you have interest, we love arranging groups!
The Genesis House in the Poconos, PA
This beautiful country house awas acquired by The Genesis Society to fulfill the mission of humanitarian efforts for children and adults with health issues or disabilities, as well as to provide a sanctuary for everyone seeking to improve and maintain their sense of well-being. We offer workshops, seminars and other retreats for special weekend getaways. Our GTOL Workshops on Retreat include yoga, meditation, pranayama, vegetarian meals and tips on healthy eating and living. Check our workshops shcedule for upcoming events.
Mineral Springs Resort at Crystal Springs, NJ
Enjoy a recreation-rich getaway in nearby New Jersey, Crystal Springs Resort is a spectacular NJ vacation destination, acclaimed as the New York Metro area's most unique four season resort. Located in the rolling farmland of the Garden State's picturesque northwest, this world-class NJ resort is just an hour from New York City. Our accommodations are at their Minerals Resort & Spa, ideal for outdoor adventures and families alike. Join us for our GTOL Yoga Weekend Workshops, Whether it's to participate in one of our weekend workshops or as your own getaway you get to enjoy spectacular mountain views, hiking, indoor, and outdoor heated pools, jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. There are additional services available on premise or nearby like a spa, massage, golfing and skiing. Call for directions: (347) 497-3673.
Workshops
Workshops
Our workshops provide our students with many types of classes to choose from. We bring new classes and offer an array of programs for those who focus on benefiting and improving their physical health, mental well being, spirituality and more. Yoga mats are required for all Yoga Classes and are available for rental at Genesis Tree of Life for $2.
Tue June 16, 2020
Virtual On-line Beginner's 1 Hatha Yoga Tuesday
Start time: 4:00 pm; Instructor: Rene David Alkalay; Duration: 1 hour & 15 minutes.
Beginning Meditation-Stage 1-Virtual Tuesday
Start time: 5:30 pm; Instructor: Rene David Alkalay; Studio: Virtual On-Line; Duration: 1 hour.
Wed June 17, 2020
Virtual On-Line Morning Meditation-Wednesday
Start time: 9:00 pm; Instructor: Rene David Alkalay; Duration: 30 minutes.
Thu June 18, 2020
Virtual On-Line Beginner's Hatha Yoga - Thursday
Start time: 4:00 pm; Instructor: Rene David Alkalay; Duration: 1 hour & 15 minutes.
Beginning Meditation- Stage 1- Virtual Thursday
Start time: 5:30 pm; Instructor: Rene David Alkalay; Room: Virtual On-Line; Duration: 1 hour.
Class Descriptions
Virtual On-Line Beginner's 1 Hatha Yoga Tuesday
An ongoing, OPEN class for all BEGINNER levels You will learn a set of movements for the health of the joints and the stimulation and balancing of the hormonal system. Pranayama (the science of breath), and the introduction of a relaxation practice are designed to provide you with tools for stress reduction. You will begin to develop a fundamental understanding of Raja Yoga as a meditative tradition. This class is good for all individuals with or without yoga experience, and who have no physical problems that would impede yoga practice.
Beginning Meditation-Stage 1-Virtual Tuesday
In three parts: Practical laws of living. Guided imagery for establishing a peaceful consciousness. Transcendental Meditation. This is a free class. Donations to the Genesis Society
Virtual On-Line Morning Meditation-Wednesday
Shithili Karana, TM (Himalayan)
Beginning Meditation- Stage 1- Virtual Thursday
In three parts: Practical laws of living. Guided Imagery for establishing a peaceful consciousness. Transcendental Meditation. This is a free class. Donations to the Genesis Society are greatly appreciated. Donate to www.genesissociety.org
Browse Nearby
General Info
Payment Types
All Major Cards
Hours
Monday:
9:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday:
9:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday:
9:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday:
9:00am - 9:00pm
Friday:
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Sunday:
9:00am - 8:30pm
About Us
The Tree of Life Yoga & Wellness Center is dedicated to bringing awareness and knowledge of health and well being through the integration of mind, body and spirit found in the practice of yoga, meditation, martial arts, dance, other forms of physical culture and the science of the mind.