 Traveling for the first time since mid-March and the COVID-19 shutdown, I worried I’d have difficulty getting an Uber to take me to the airport. I was wrong. The Uber car arrived even quicker than usual. The driver wore a mask and there was sanitizer and cleaners available next to the seat I sat in. I had my own sanitizer spray and wipes too. He had his side window open a few inches, circulating the air. The driver was as nice as Uber drivers usually are and helped with my luggage. I felt perfectly comfortable and safe.
On this late Sunday morning, Chicago’s O’Hare airport seemed a ghost town. Social distancing was quite easy, with so few people in the terminal. Staff were present to assist with check in and staff were visibly cleaning as I walked through the terminal to get to my gate. The airport was really clean and smelled fresh. I even visited the ladies room, as I arrived early and had quite a long wait. I thought that the check in process might be slower than usual, with the 6 feet distancing and other safety measures in place. Again, I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised. Check-in with TSA pre-check took about 5 minutes in total. The gate was in a rather remote area of the terminal. I walked for some time and saw fewer than 10 people along the way, and most were airport staff. Arriving at my gate, there were 8 people other than me in a span of three gates. I walked past darkened Starbucks and other food venues - none of them were open. I was thankful that my two apples had not been confiscated at the security check. With a couple hours to spare, I knew that those apples would be enjoyed. I felt blessed that the experience was peaceful, safe, clean and seamless. I didn’t really miss the noise, chaotic feel and all the people sitting on floors and pretty much heavily packed into the airport of the past. I do hope that the usual bustle and vibrancy of a busy airport seemed a thing of the past. Perhaps a new normalcy that is somewhere in the middle will be the future - Vibrant, orderly and busy, with less of the chaos and packed in feeling? Time will tell………. Sharing the light, Mary  Participating in the Immune Defense Summit, I am excited to share this work by Dr Zelenko, in Monroe, New York. With ZERO deaths, Doctor Zelenko’s simple and direct outpatient treatment of COVID-19 high risk patients is incredible. I am encouraged to know he is in contact with the White House and the leaders of Israel. Dr Zelenko is the primary care physician of 75% of the adult population in a small town of 35,000 residents in upstate New York. His goals are simple- keep those infected alive and out of the hospitals. After doing much research on what was being used around the world and speaking with local hospital doctors, he determined the regimen of treatment he would use for those testing positive in the high risk categories of his patients. 699 of his patients tested positive for the virus, and 200 of them were high risk- over 60 years old plus comorbidity. Those not in the high risk category had minor or no symptoms and are fully recovered. ****Please, share this information with your doctor if you need treatment. His treatment for the high risk patients was the following regimen: Hydroxychlroquine (Plaquenil brand name) - 200 mg 2X/day for 5 days (requires prescription) Zinc Sulfate 220mg (does not need to be sulfate - needs 50mg elemental zinc) for 5 days All but 6 of the patients did not need hospitalization and are in full recovery. 4 of the 6 patients are being given antibiotics for pneumonia in the hospital and doing better. Two of the 6 patients have been intubated in the hospital. Dr Zelenko explained that the zinc is actually the key to the treatment, as this mineral stops the replication of the virus in the body, so that the body’s immune system can fight off the attack. Zinc however, is a positive ion and needs a transporter to get through cells. The Hydroxychloroquine opens the door and allows the zinc to enter the cell. Both are needed together. Dr Zelenko said that if there was a bacterial issue as well then he would also add the commonly used antibiotic, erythromycin. It is important to note that all of these patients were in the early stages of the virus. Dr Zelenko’s successful treatment of his patients gives me great hope! Another speaker in the Immune Defense Summit was Dr Levy. Practicing for 40 years and an expert on vitamin C, he also provided practical and excellent information for good health and to fight against the COVID-19 virus. I was surprised to learn that there are approximately 60,000 peer reviewed articles published on vitamin C. I was also surprised that a study of 16,000 Americans found that 33% were deficient in vitamin C- one in every three people. Even moderate vitamin C deficiency can lead to a weakened immune system, fatigue, chronic pain, dry and rough skin, impaired wound healing, weight gain, and heart disease. Somehow, I only thought vitamin C had an important role in keeping away colds. I was wrong! Vitamin C rich cells show up first to address all attacks on the body. Dr Levy discussed how Vitamin C, along with other antioxidants are the power of the immune system. Vitamin C is a macronutrient and one of the most important substances to keep at a high level in the body. Vitamin C neutralizes toxins or free radicals by donating electrons to them. Toxins cause disease. With a strong immune system and enough vitamin C and antioxidants in the cells, the toxins are neutralized. Further, Dr Levy explained that anywhere in the body that inflammation is present, it is a sign that vitamin C has been depleted. There is increased oxidative stress = inflammation. All Vitamin C is not equal, as supplements that are water soluble do not penetrate the cells easily. Dr Levy’s talk provided a multi-C protocol, especially if acute resolution is needed. He recommended liposome encapsulated C (gets into the cells), daily sodium ascorbate powder to bowel tolerance 2 or 3x/day (helps clean the gut), plus Ascorbyl Palmitate (fat soluble C that also gets into the cells). If there is an acute hospitalization situation, he urged patients to ask for an IV vitamin C and hydrocortisone to neutralize inflammation and toxins attacking the body. I learned much from these talks, and I am grateful for the expertise of these medical professionals. While I am a novice, I am determined to take responsibility for my health care, and that requires learning through research and listening to experts. I also recognize that experts often have opposing views and that's fine and part of the process too. Ultimately, I need to make the decisions about my health and be responsible for those decisions. As an avid follower of Ayurveda, I’ve embraced this science as a methodology that treats not only symptoms but focuses on root causes for imbalance and disease in each individual. It is not one size fits all, and Ayurveda works. I have personal experience using it. Ayurveda seeks to help with the overall balance of the body, mind and spirit. A person who has a balanced lifestyle and strong constitution is able to maintain balance through healthy foods, drinks, activities and exercise. Foods rich in vitamin C include broccoli, cantaloupe, cauliflower, kale, kiwi, oranges, papaya, red, green or yellow pepper, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes. Foods with darker, richer colors like orange, yellow, blue, and red tend to be higher in antioxidants. Whether vegetables, nuts, fruits or spices (such as cinnamon, turmeric, ginger), there are many choices of foods that are high in antioxidants. The key is to not become deficient, and regular consumption of the above mentioned foods will enjoyably serve to keep you and your immune system healthy. Some supplements and herbal medicines may also be needed to add defense against the pollution in our air and water, plus the ill effects of the many chemicals we encounter in our daily lives. The good news is that we can live healthy, happy long lives when we learn what our bodies and minds need. I encourage you to keep paying attention to your health. When we are healthy, every facet of life is better! I am grateful for the learning from the Immune Defense Summit and from the many teachers of Ayurveda and yoga that have transformed my life. May we all live life healthy and happy. Namaste, Mary  Before he died, a father said to his son; “Here is a watch that your grandfather gave me. It is almost 200 years old. Before I give it to you, go to the jewelry store downtown. Tell them that I want to sell it, and see how much they offer you.” The son went to the jewelry store, came back to his father, and said; “They offered $150.00 because it is so old.” The father said, “Go to the pawn shop, and see how much they offer you.” The son went to the pawn shop, came back to his father, and said; “The pawn shop offered $10.00 because it looks so worn.” The father asked his son to go to the museum and show them the watch. The son went to the museum, came back and said to his father; “The curator offered $500,000.00 for this very rare piece to be included in their precious antique collections.” The father said, “I wanted to let you know that the right place (right people) values you in the right way. Don’t find yourself in the wrong place (with the wrong people) and get angry if you are not valued. Those that know your value are those who appreciate you. Don’t stay in a place where others do not see your value. Know Your Worth!” -Thank you to Scott Tang for sharing this story This story has interesting layers of understanding. Initially, I appreciated the clear understanding of the teaching - something that looks old and worn may be quite valuable to expert eyes. Then I reread, thought more and realized the story presented the teaching that old and worn are to be appreciated as having value. The favorite teaching to me was revealed in the idea that where we are the most appreciated is where we have the most value. It is true that our value is inherent wherever we may be, and shining our light or sharing our value may positively influence and help others. Yet, seeking to be in places and the company of those who appreciate us is recognizing and knowing our own worth! Namaste, Mary Dinacharya: Ayurveda´s answer to loving and living joyfully Would you like to reverse aging? Generate self-esteem, peace and happiness? Keep the aura bright with lustrous skin, and healthy tissues? Improve digestion, eyesight, hearing, muscle strength, flexibility, and brain function? Most importantly, during these turbulent times, strengthen the immune system? Isvari, with her dynamic and compassionate style of teaching , will convey Ayurveda’s ancient holistic medicine with a daily routine for every body type. A daily routine is absolutely necessary to bring radical change in body, mind and consciousness. For the novice and for the leading aspirants of Ayurveda, there will be gems of information you won’t want to miss.
Isvari (Mary Ann) Johnson AP, CYI is a sincere and dedicated teacher/practitioner of Ayurveda and Classical Yoga. In 1997, she received the advanced certificate for teaching yoga from the Sivananda Yoga Retreat in Nassau, Bahamas. In 2004, she graduated from Dr Vasant Lad’s Ayurvedic Studies I and II at the Ayurvedic Institute Albuquerque, NM, finishing her studies with Dr Lad in Pune, India. For two decades, Isvari has traveled internationally, holding seminars with emphasis on body treatments, nutrition and yoga. She is a motivating teacher and life coach. Currently, she is the director of Ayurveda at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in Woodbourne, NY, and is on faculty for Dr. Vasant Lad’s Institute of Ayurveda, Pune, India. (VIOA) You can contact her through email for an Ayurvedic Consultation jisvari@gmail.com or visit her at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in Woodbourne, NY where she also offers Ayurvedic Bliss Therapy. Bliss Therapy includes body message and shirodhara. Shirodhara means a steady continuous stream of warm oil poured over the forehead and scalp, making for deep relaxation and rejuvenation. She offers credited courses in Ayurvedic body treatments at the Sivananda Yoga Retreat , Nassau Bahamas.
 We are living in such uncertain and unprecedented times. While I am questioning more and more about the shut-down and who and what was behind it, I have seen some definite positives, at least initially, from people slowing down, being with their families and pausing the fast pace of life we’ve all become so used to.
In the last five and a half years, as most of you know, I’ve been learning about and living a yogic life. Many of the main yogic principles are similar to the simple lessons of right living I learned at home, growing up in a traditional household. Yet, somehow as an adult, the world I am living in seems to have changed the basic meaning of the virtues I’d learned about - kindness, cleanliness, patience, compassion, honesty, tolerance. This is no judgement of others, as I found myself very much caught up in the fast paced, competitive, money driven, power seeking, highly judgmental, materialistic world. Taken to the extreme, these lauded characteristics said to lead to success, come at a price - our physical, emotional and spiritual health can be highly compromised, leading to weakened immune systems, disease and early death. We've all heard a lot about weakened immune systems lately. While it was difficult to transition, the yogic lifestyle resonated so much with me, in part because the basic tenets were familiar and what I’d been taught as a young girl. Residing in an ashram in the Bahamas for most of the past five years, virtues were valued, taught and encouraged. Gratitude, patience, compassion, kindness, cleanliness, honesty, love - remembering them as we learned them as children. Gossip and idle talk were discouraged at the ashram. No TV and no news were actually freeing to the mind and spirit. When was the last time you had a tech free day? I firmly believe that We Can Do Better as a human race. I also believe that there is good in all of us, and an innate sense of right behavior in healthy humans. Health and Virtues are of value to a civilized society. As we are returning to activity once again, I wonder if the time we’ve had to reflect on what is important will spread out and change the world into a more caring, compassionate, healthier, and cleaner place to live? Sending you love, Mary  Catching up on Facebook the other day, a friend of mine shared a quote from a book she was rereading. I jotted down the title, and since I have more time these days while being sequestered, I ordered it for my kindle. Reading Susan Jeffers book, Embracing Uncertainty, has been a good reminder during this worldwide pandemic, of some important truisms. I’ll just share a few from the book: Living each day with hope can be filled with suffering. What?! While it is better to remain hopeful than despondent and full of pessimism, hope is a word and emotion loaded with expectations. Hoping is wishing, wanting and desiring in disguise. We get into the habit, as I often am, of hoping everything. Have you ever said these - I hope it won’t rain. I hope I won't be late for my phone meeting. I hope today is a good day. I hope the kids get along today. I hope there isn’t much homework. I hope I don’t mess up. I hope the line won’t be long for drive-up coffee. I hope we get to go to restaurants again soon. I hope I don’t say the wrong thing. I hope he/she likes me. And on and on - there are bound to be disappointments in these ongoing hopes and expected outcomes. Living each day with wonder helps. Instead of “I hope it won’t rain,” “I wonder if it will rain today.” Just writing it down feels like less pressure than the hopeful statement. Wondering allows for more than one answer. “I wonder when the current world situation will stabilize?” Wondering eliminates the innumerable opportunities for disappointment, since hopes are often shattered. Wondering brings in curiosity and a sense of adventure. Each day will happen, and sometimes it will rain and sometimes it won’t. The rain and most of the hopes mentioned above are not in our control. The emotions will come and go. The difference is that wondering allows for observation of the events and our emotions. Hoping or giving up hope, wraps us tightly in the emotions, trapping us in the drama. Know-It-Alls close the door to knowing. Listening to the “experts” can be a very frustrating experience, as it seems they don’t “know” much of anything. Experts can’t seem to agree either. In reality, even results of scientific research are often filled with guesses. There are many flaws in research and studies that provide the expert claims of “proof”. The know-it-alls believe their own rhetoric and claim they have all the answers. Yet, a real expert will tell you, “To the best of our knowledge at the present time, this is the information we have. Future research may prove us wrong.” Unfortunately, the media and the public in general, often push our leaders, scientists and so-called experts to have “the right answer”, and under immense pressure our society yields self proclaimed know-it-alls. In order to succeed, we believe we have to “know” the answers. I am certainly among those who believed I had to have the answers in order to achieve and succeed. Not-knowing is the path of wisdom. Currently, our desire to listen to those who claim to know everything, results in our hopes and expectations controlling us. We listen to those we agree with and shut out those who have differing views. We hope for a certain action or response and seek out those who will give it to us. Polarization is the direct result. Yet, even with this controlling of expectations, there is inevitable uncertainty in our life. It may rain today or MAYBE it won’t. The stock market will go up or MAYBE it will go down. If we want to be disappointed, rigid, angry, impatient and obsessive, then we can continue letting our expectations control us. Giving MAYBE a chance whether there is a long line at Starbucks or we say the wrong thing will lead to more spontaneity, creativity, joyfulness and calm. It is a wiser path to realize that life is full of MAYBE and accept not-knowing. When we think something will last forever, we tend to forget to focus on now. Susan Jeffers also offers some good relationship advice that pertains to all of life. She says about love and her personal relationship - “We don’t think about forever. We think about today…..When you focus on acting lovingly today, love tends to grow and grow.” MAYBE we can stop worrying about whether we will have enough toilet paper, be indoors and sequestered forever or hoping that life will return to “normal” again soon? MAYBE if we wonder what we can do that is amazing TODAY, perhaps the day will present new opportunities for creativity, joy, growth and love. MAYBE we will even become a bit wiser? Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary  (Thanks to GLO and Grace Van Berkum for the graphic - more about Grace below)
Luckily my mom already had plenty of toilet paper, but we had a very limited supply of hand sanitizer. Scouring the usual online sources for the usual brands of hand sanitizer had me coming up empty handed. Then I recalled an online store my mom ordered from once around Christmas. ***Grove Collaborative specialize in amazing natural products. They carry everything from hand soaps to multi-surface cleaners, to toilet paper and yes, hand sanitizer. I placed an order for this wonderful sounding hand sanitizer gel in blood orange scent with moisturizing coconut oils. I also ordered sanitizing hand wipes, some sanitizing spray cleansers, walnut scrubber sponges and a palm fiber scrubber. All the products were excellent. The Hand Sanitizer and the Palm Fiber Scrubber (for fruits and veggies, it’s the bomb) are now new favorites that I will be buying long after the quarantine is over. ***Thanks to experiencing a Cleanse and learning to incorporate smoothies in my diet with GLO’s, Grace Van Berkum, I learned about the products and companies below: Sun Warrior Protein powder that is easily ordered on Amazon is another new favorite. Both chocolate and vanilla are excellent. This is an organic plant-based protein powder that is a great base for easy to make smoothies, that are delicious and super healthy to support the daily stress of this difficult and uncertain time. Navitas Organics Plant-based Superfoods have added further nutrition and flavor to my daily smoothies. They still have a great 40% off sale, and I tried all of the following products: hemp hearts, Vanilla and Greens powder, chia seeds, cacao butter, cacao nibs and cacao powder, coconut palm sugar and cacao hemp organic almonds. Cacao hemp organic almonds are a new delicious favorite snack! I'll surely be buying these again. This great company and their products are new to me, and I’m so glad that Grace pointed me in their direction. Along with Sun Warrior Protein, I’ve been boosting my mom's and my immune systems daily with these great products. The Coronavirus doesn't stand a chance! Trying the many, sure to please, GLO recipes that Grace has created leads to delicious success. For me, I create a new recipe daily for Mom and me. It is fun to experiment. Below is the recipe from one of the yummy Smoothies I made: 1.5 scoops Sun Warrior Protein Vanilla 1/2 frozen banana 1 small avocado Small Handful of spinach leaves Good sized Handful of almonds (soaked overnight - skin still on) 1 tbsp hemp hearts 6 oz (I used almond or coconut) milk and 4-6 oz water Blend in a Vita Mix or high powered blender. We have an Osterizer Commercial blender, and it works fine. I’d encourage you to try these companies and products. I’m sold on the quality and service that I received and what a pleasant surprise to find new favorites at a time like this while quarantined indoors. Be safe, stay healthy and keep social distancing - it is working! Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary  I am currently back in Chicagoland to be near to family during this uncertain time.
I'm guessing that many of you are also in the quarantine mode of life, doing your part to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus. After weeks of this social distancing, I realize how much I appreciate technology as a means to connect with family and loved ones. FaceTime, Messaging, What's App and Email are very helpful at times like this. I am grateful for the access to it, the extra time to enjoy it, and knowing that those I love are safe. Watching my grandkids jumping in puddles and riding on their scooters gives me a reason to smile and feel joy and hope. I am grateful for the great parenting that I observe, as my grandchildren in this country and the UK continue to thrive. Schools have children and parents busy doing creative assignments using online learning and phone photos as a means to turn in assignments. Whether taking a ride and having a picnic in the open trunk of their truck or making maracas from paper plates, cups, dried corn and tape or coloring and practicing writing letters, or counting and recording how many two footed hops can be done in a minute - it's pretty special that teachers and parents are coming up with so many good ideas. Teaching our children to cope well in difficult times is a very important lesson. Watching my adult kids and their spouses partner with the schools to keep the children learning, busy and happy is wonderful to see. I’m grateful for so much and hope to keep gratitude flowing as a balance for the news that is a constant reminder of the impact of Coronavirus each day. Your coping skills and approach to daily activities are the messages your children will pick up. Who your children are tomorrow begins with what you do today. May you remain safe, healthy and grateful during this time. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary  These Ayurvedic Tips to Boost Immunity are shared by Ayurvedic Healing in Santa Cruz, California, the clinic of Ayurvedic Physicians Suhas, Manisha, and Manas Kshirsagar. COVID 19- Ayurvedic Tips to Boost Immunity
Wishing you and your loved ones health and peace of mind during these turbulent times.
Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary  I’ve led a workshop recently at the ashram on Ayurveda(knowledge of science of life) and Dinacharya (Daily Routine). It has been interesting to note that in a group of 40 people only 7 or 8 knew nothing about Ayurveda. Considering I had never heard the word Ayurveda before 6 years ago, I’m continually reminded that my views and knowledge were quite limited.
I’ve embraced Ayurveda and revised my lifestyle substantially, aligning more with yogic principles and Ayurvedic knowledge. It has been a natural flow somehow, and I’ve been compelled through my fascination with these two sciences of yoga and Ayurveda. The results I’ve seen and transformation in my levels of peace and tranquility keep me practicing and staying on this path. It was fun to share my experiences with others. Interestingly, I’ve also been doing a 4-day “Gracious Living Detox Cleanse” with Grace Van Berkum that focuses on vegan and plant based raw foods. This is my first ever cleanse of this type. Grace’s story is fascinating, especially with regard to the impact she’s had on her father’s health issues - first with his cancer and recently helping him with Alzheimers and making great progress. I encourage you to check out her website www.gracevanberkum.com The first day we had a delicious salad and chia seed smoothie (photo above) and then we had liquids on days 2 and 3. Day 4 was a combination of liquids and for dinner a delicious salad. Through this process I’ve learned more about the importance of Enzymes, which are obtained through raw foods and herbs. I’ve also learned about the importance and discovered some new sources of Chlorophyll, Phytonutrients, Good Fats and Plant Proteins. I hadn’t realized, for example, that in order for beans to be a complete protein, it was good to eat rice either with the beans or sometime during the day as the food sources work together. I’ve also become a big fan of hemp seeds and learned about soaking seeds and beans to eliminate the gaseous feeling we often have after eating these foods. Soaking seeds and nuts removes the invisible shell of enzyme inhibitors and other nutrition blockers inherent in nuts and seeds. This allows for better digestion for humans. Soaking for a few hours or overnight makes the raw nut come to life and makes it easier to digest. Bee pollen as a source of protein was also new to me. Soaking chia seeds in water or almond milk, again new to me, made delicious, easily digestible and healthy smoothies. Our smoothies included a green food for enzymes and chlorophyll such as cucumbers, zucchini, basil or fresh mint and additional protein sources such as hemp seeds or hemp hearts (3-4 tablespoons is equivalent to a chicken breast in protein), pumpkin seeds or flax seeds, avocado or coconut flakes for good fats. Colorful vegetables and fruits provide phytonutrients. Grace advises to limit fruit consumption. We learned how to make almond or any nut or seed milk. It is incredibly simple and delicious, plus inexpensive. I am looking forward to blending this new knowledge of Grace’s 5 keys to good nutrition with my Ayurvedic principles and daily including them in my meal preparation. Grace teaches that every meal should include these 5 elements in order to energize and have peak performance throughout your day. The 5 elements increase vitamins, minerals, fiber and hydration in the system. And her recipes are absolutely delicious!!!! I encourage you to investigate Grace's Wellness center in Nicaragua and check out her website which has a wealth of knowledge and great recipes. 5 Elements for every meal Enzymes Cholorophyll Phytonutrients Good Fats Plant Proteins Bon Appetit! Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary Thanks to Daureen Collodel for sharing her sister, Deborah's video and some facts and solutions to raise awareness of the ever growing plastic pollution problem on our planet. Thank you for taking the time to read and view.
Some Facts: 1. As of now we produce 300 million tons of plastic per year including 20+ million plastic water bottles a day. 2. 8 million tons of plastic are dumped in the ocean every year - most of that is single use plastic. 3. Plastic never goes away... the idea of out of sight out of mind or even recycling is not working!! 4. All of the plastic trash around the world is either burned or dumped in rivers and oceans or put in landfills forever. 5. The petro chemical plants tied to the big oil corporations are gearing up to build more plants and divest into making more (mostly) single use plastic. Some Solutions: 1. Say NO to any single use plastic! 2. Shop sustainable small and local. 3. Sign petitions and support bans of plastic. 4. VOTE for politicians with a green agenda. 5. Call out big businesses that continue to think profit over planet. Some Links..with tons of great info and positive work happening around the world: Plasticpollutioncoalition.org Makeachange.world Breakfreefromplastic.org plasticoceans.org Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary |
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