Whatever Happened to AIDS?

I remember when the subject of AIDS was constantly in the media and in our lives 15 to 20 years ago. Then suddenly we no longer heard much about the topic. Did the new medications shift this epidemic? Did our society just become more educated so that we began to focus on other topics such as the H1N1?

Recently, I asked others around me and they also didn't seem to know. So I went right to the source – our dear friend and collaborator, John Sovec, a psychotherapist and YogaHub's instructor for the “Gift of Yoga” DVD. He is also a dedicated volunteer and collaborator of Life Group LA, an AIDS organization that has continued its efforts in educating and supporting those affected by this imbalance.

To pay tribute to all those individuals who have been touched by AIDS in one way or another, John brought together a group of professionals from Life Group LA in a round table discussion to answer my question. They not only answered my question but reminded me why I decided to build YogaHub in the first place – to share information that will assist others in finding balance. The group also kindly gave me permission to listen in and record this conversation, and to make it available on our site for all to hear on December 10th, 2009.

Please take a moment to listen to this call. It was an eye opener for us here at YogaHub, as it will hopefully be for you and those around you. It has increased our awareness and consciousness concerning this topic.

As an expression of our thanks to John Sovec and this very special group of individuals for sharing their knowledge, expertise, and unconditional love in supporting the community, we have chosen to donate a percentage of our sales from ShopYogaHub to Life Group LA for the month of December and January 2010.

Let us join together as a community and share this knowledge with others so that we may shift this epidemic that has touched so many.

Yoga and AIDS

AIDS - a word that can, unfortunately, still elicit an immediate negative response. A horrific, debilitating, and often fatal disease, HIV/AIDS can ravage the body while destroying a person's dignity because of the social stigma that is often associated with it.

December 1st is World AIDS Day – a day in which we focus on raising awareness of this epidemic by stripping away the ignorance and prejudice so often associated with HIV/AIDS. Statistics from the World Health Organization show that an estimated 33 million people worldwide live with HIV, with over a million of them in the United States alone.

For any individual who has AIDS, anxiety and fear can be constant companions, but these days, a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS is by no means an automatic death sentence. Life is all about making choices – and an individual with AIDS can choose to give into the fear or take control and continue to live life in a fulfilling and enriching way.

It takes a great deal of courage to accept an AIDS diagnosis and choose to move forward to continue to celebrate life. By taking control of their own lives, individuals with HIV/AIDS can make informed decisions about their own health and contribute to their own well-being.

Volume 2 - Issue 16

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Did You Know?

Since yoga involves weight-bearing postures, the practice is especially beneficial to your musculoskeletal system and may help prevent osteoporosis.

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Every day people practice yoga, but today we want to hear from you.

Please share with us how you've made YogaHub part of your lifestyle.

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Many alternative therapies are now being considered as a complement to conventional medical treatment for people with HIV/AIDS. One of these therapies is Yoga, which has been shown to have great psychological and physiological benefits. A regular practice of restorative yoga can help an individual with AIDS let go of stresses, quiet the mind, and act as a soothing balm. Various Yoga postures, such as the headstand and shoulder-stand, can help open up breathing passages, increase energy, and improve circulation in the bloodstream.

For a poignant reminder of what it's like to live with AIDS, read the following poem by Richard Kearns, a poet and activist with AIDS. And if you are interested in reading more about Richard Kearns' call to action, click on this link: Kearns to LA County HIV Commission.

For more information on World AIDS Day, as well as information on how Yoga can benefit those with HIV/AIDS, visit the following links:

  • Yoga and AIDS
  • Yoga Postures for HIV/AIDS
  • The Mind-Body Connection: Yoga for HIV/AIDS
  • HIV / AIDS Awareness Day

Another Great Step Forward for YH

Here we are again, introducing another upgrade to our site for you, our community.

We have launched a new face to our Home Page, which we have chosen to rename our “OM Page”, and next we will be working on more user friendly layouts for several other areas of our site. So don't be surprised when what you see seems a little different the next time you visit us.

Again we want to thank you, our community, for giving us feedback so that we can continue to focus our attention on creating a more fluid user experience.

As we are coming upon this Holiday Season, we will be launching the New Year with an upward momentum on another exciting collaboration with our dear friend, mentor, and collaborator, Megan McDonough of Mindful Marketing. We can't wait to share it with you all.

Also, hot off the press: My team tells me that we have just made Gift Certificates available in our ShopYogaHub site. Just in time for those of you who would like to gift your friends and loved ones with something special, all the while knowing that you will be supporting Life Group LA, the AIDS organization that educates and supports those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Updates from the Blog:

Yoga for Stress Relief by Francesca Silva

These days, “stress” is my middle name.

While I don't consider myself a control freak, I do like to have at least some control in my life. Lately, however, life has been somewhat chaotic. We've had a few health challenges with Mumsie, as well as visits to our “Revolving Door” bed & breakfast from some of our out of town friends. (Between you and me, I'm seriously thinking of hanging a “No vacancy” sign on our front lawn!) Continue Reading...

Fear of Leading a Yoga Class by Christina Souza Ma

Can you believe that even writing this title gives me the nervous shakes? I feel so uncomfortable about this topic, which is a true sign of fear. Continue Reading...