THE YOGA MINIBOOK FOR STRESS RELIEF (THE YOGA MINIBOOK SERIES 3)

Remove the astragalus and discard. If desired, remove the garlic cloves.

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Rinse the lentils and rice well in cold water and drain. In a large pot, add the broth, lentils, rice, bay leaf, spice, and greens, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer about 1 hour, or until the lentils are soft and the water is mostly absorbed. Stir occasionally and add more water if necessary.

Remove the bay leaf and discard. Garnish with chopped fresh herb and serve immediately.

To learn more about yoga-inspired foods, diet, and recipes, download a free sample from Elaine Gavalas' book, " Yogi in the Kitchen". Balance holiday indulgence with Elaine's yoga flow videos here. Elaine Gavalas is founder of GalenBotanicals.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , we're in the midst of a growing epidemic of prescription painkiller overdoses. More than 22 million American adults are struggling with addiction and substance abuse. The following research suggests yoga is a promising complementary therapy for substance abuse and addictions.

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A randomized, controlled, blinded study published in the ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry reports Sadarshan Kriya yoga increased feelings of well-being and reduced anxiety in male prisoners with psychoactive substance dependence. Researchers from the Central Jail Hospital Department of Psychiatry, New Delhi, India administered either Sudarshan Kriya yoga or breathing meditation control to male prisoners with substance dependence, for 3 months. Participants continued to receive pharmacological therapy during the study. The Sudarshan Kriya participants practiced yoga rhythmic breathing daily.

The control group sat with eyes closed and attention to their breath. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in anxiety. A systematic review funded by the National Institutes of Health NIH and published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence suggest yoga and meditation-based therapies could help people quit smoking. Researchers at Oregon Health and Sciences University analyzed 14 clinical trials examining the effectiveness of mind-body practices on smoking cessation.