This week's yoga, March calendar, Herb/Spice of the Month: cinnamon, reminders, and more

Hello,  
 
I am looking forward to our yoga this week on:

Tuesday, March 3 at 10:30AM at BUMC

Wednesday, March 4 at 6PM at BUMC

  Thursday, March 5 at 11:30AM at BUMC

Saturday, March 7 at 9:30AM at BUMC

Sunday, March 8 at 5PM at BUMC


Optional Meditation during the Second Week of Each Month   

March dates: T., March 10, W., March 11, Sat., March 14, Sun., March 15
 Your donation benefits Our House which provides care and education to homeless children and helps their parents to get to their feet.
Please remember to put your donation in the basket in lieu of extra fee.

  Lunch and Dinner Club Dates
In February, some of us  shared a great time at lunch and dinner.  I will send new dates soon.

Reminders
Attached please see the March calendar.

Please note that instead of Th., March 26, we will have Chair/Mat yoga on Friday, March 27 at the same time and place.

Spice/Herb of the Month; Cinnamon

What we know as Cinnamon is actually the bark of cinnamon tree.  The use of cinnamon as a medicinal plant is very old. It was used in ancient 4000 year old medical references from India, It was imported from China 2000 years ago.  Drawings of it are found in the Egyptian pyramids and it is documented in the Bible.  It is pungent, sweet, astringent and has warming effect.   It has positive effects on plasma, blood, muscles, marrow and nerves.  So it works on circulatory, digestive, respiratory, nervous and urinary systems.   Therefore, it is useful for colds, sinus congestion, bronchitis, and dyspepsia. 

Cinnamon is anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-microbial helping to ward off colds and regulates blood sugar. It can be used to treat colds, diabetes, indigestion, weight loss and high cholesterol.

For the digestive system, cinnamon possesses properties for stimulating saliva and gastric juices to facilitate digestion.

For respiratory diseases, cinnamon is antibacterial, expectorant and anti-inflammatory.  Cinnamon is a good ally of the digestive system in the treatment of common respiratory abnormalities.  It has the ability to increase sweating and raise body temperature so it is particularly suitable for breathing problems such as bronchitis, colds and cough. (Take 2 or 3 drops of oil of cinnamon dissolved in a glass of warm water sweetened with a teaspoon of honey 3 times a day.

For Diseases of the circulatory system cinnamon encourages blood circulation to treat abnormalities related to poor circulation especially in the fingers and toes.

For difficult menses make an infusion of a spoonful of shredded cinnamon per liter of water. Drink two glasses per day.

For fungi in feet and nails make a foot bath  with a liquid infusion of two teaspoons of cinnamon broken up in a couple liters of water.

Note: If you have any medical condition, talk to your doctor since cinnamon could interact with antibiotics, diabetic drugs, blood thinners, heart medicines and others.

To add cinnamon to your everyday food, consider sprinkling cinnamon powder to your food when cooking meat and/or vegetables. 

To make tea, mix 1 teaspoon ginger, 2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon cloves; add two cups of boiling water and brew.  The other way is to add cinnamon stick to your black tea while brewing black tea.  

Also, consider sprinkling cinnamon to your apples, pears and other fruit. 

For a breakfast treat or dessert, cut Granny Smith apples into small pieces, sprinkle a good amount of cinnamon, a little brown sugar, a touch of salt and a small amount of butter and microwave for a few minutes to stew the apple.   Sprinkle with toasted old fashioned oats.

 

 Food for Thought

And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
Percy Bysshe Shelley

  Namaste
Mariam