This Gentle yoga method focuses on proper breathing, relaxation, stretching, and meditation. Experience a feeling of well-being and peace. Taught by: Mary Jacobson, Wednesdays at 6:30pm. Call 818-906-3022 for more information and to reserve a spot.

I’ve seen an idea circulating on the Internet, and I want to share it with you as 2012 winds down.

Before I begin, though, I would like you to think back on this past year. What good things have happened to you? Do you remember that day you dropped your credit card and a passing stranger returned it to you? Or the time you took a walk around the block and heard the chords of your favorite piano sonata streaming through an open window? Maybe not.  Throughout the course of a year, so many small, good things happen to us, but the memories of them fade, whether because of the passage of time or because of the other trying and stressful occurrences in our lives.

At the start of 2013, pick a jar—a big jar—to be used as your Jar of Good Things. Each time something good happens to you—regardless of how large or small—write it on a scrap of paper and slip it into the jar. At the end of 2013, empty the jar and read its contents. The memory of all those wonderful things that happened to you in the past year will give you another glow of happiness.

Cherish these moments; great things happen to all of us every day and remembering them can help us get through our most difficult times.

Amy Marash was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009.  Upon hearing her diagnosis, she chose to laugh at cancer, instead of allowing herself to be scared by it.  She started her blog “cancer is SO FUNNY!” to showcase the cartoons she created as a response to her cancer and the struggles she encounters as a cancer patient.  Her drawings illustrate her inner emotions as she travels through the difficult path of cancer.

Here is her post from October 5, 2010: So Funny I Forgot to Cry

DO I HAVE TO CRY?

Giving yourself permission to laugh is as important as giving yourself permission to cry and grieve. That’s because humor is an important defense mechanism; it can help people with cancer adjust to the stress of their illness and treatment. Being able to laugh can create a sense of power. By helping you adjust to the reality of your illness, it can give you a renewed sense of control over your life.
–cancer.net

http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Cancer.Net+Feature+Articles/Quality+of+Life/Coping+With+Cancer+Through+Humor

You can check out more of cancer is SO FUNNY by clicking here.

With the holiday season in full swing, I thought I would pass along to you an article from the American Heart Association about how to be smart in choosing what to eat this year:
Be mindful of what you put into your body–don’t allow yourself to sit in front of the TV and mindlessly eat handfuls of popcorn, nuts, and chips. Instead, portion out what you plan to eat, and know when to stop!
For more advice, check out This Holiday Season, Eat Mindful, Not Mindless.

Or, check out their article about how to make your traditional holiday food healthier:
Try using cinnamon-flavored, sugar-free applesauce instead of butter, or use dried berries instead of chocolate chips! More tips can be found here: Making Holiday Traditions Healthy

Martha Stewart’s Whole Living has an entire issue dedicated to the foods and activities that can help you fight cancer.

Pumpkin seeds are full of phytosterols, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral important for blood pressure regulation and bone health. Add them to trail mix!

Fiber helps the body eliminates toxins and avoid hunger by maintaining steady blood sugar levels, thereby making the body feel satiated longer. Oats are a fantastic way to get your fill of fiber. Try adding frozen blueberries, a 1/2 banana, and walnuts to your oatmeal to also load up on super healthy antioxidants!

Check out the e-magazine for more tips!

Thank you to Sam Choy’s Pinapple Express Truck and to the Dough Dough Girls for a wonderful night of delicious food at weSPARK!

Can’t wait to see them again!

Take the night off from cooking and head to weSPARK for a taste of Hawaii in December. LA’s hottest food trucks are partnering with weSPARK to bring you an exclusive taste of Hawaii! On Tuesday, December 18, from 5pm to 8pm, your favorite food trucks will be parked in front of weSPARK, on Ventura, for a night of Poke, Kalua Pork Sandwiches, and Malasadas (those tasty Hawaiian doughnuts!).

Come for a savory Hawaiian meal from Sam Choy’s Pineapple Express or stop by to satisfy your sweet tooth with delectable desserts from the Dough Dough Girls.

All proceeds will benefit weSPARK Cancer Support Center and help keep our support services free for cancer patients and their loved ones.