My teacher Carlos Castaneda taught me this: Our Organs Have Their Own Consciousness And We Can Talk to Them This year marks the 20th anniversary of the departure of my dear teacher and guide Carlos Castaneda. I met him in the mid-nineties as a young doctor looking for a deeper meaning in my path as a… Read more »

It would not be an exaggeration to say that young vessels equate to young age and that a healthy, vital flow in the blood vessels makes every other part of your body shine and function well. Open yourself up to discovering the universal flow and connections that are inherent in your arteries, veins and lymph... Read more »

This is an exciting moment for us as human beings. Today, we are in a time that calls for a jump, for a rapid change, not just because we can but because we must. This is not the time to sit on the sidelines, to be a passive traveler of life. Life on the planet... Read more »

Today Matters Today is Solstice Day on our planet. It is a perfect day to review, shine light and dream new beginnings, to acknowledge, to see the high side in our life and in our relationships. So, I begin this sorcerers’ entry, this personal blog, saying thank you, thank you! To each one of you,... Read more »

As a doctor in a busy clinic, I often find myself in a similar predicament as my own patients, that is, how to stay focused and stay present, without feeling that there is not enough time to take care of all that is on my plate. From early morning professional meetings to a lively stream... Read more »

So how’s that sleep thing going for you? Do you feel rested? You’ve probably heard this, but sleep really, truly is important. Getting enough sleep is vital for optimal health and wellbeing. Yet most of us don’t manage to sleep enough, or sleep well. This can be complicated by hormonal shifts, especially for women. For… Read more »

It’s undeniable. The holidays are on the way! How can you keep yourself healthy during this busy season? One key is to strengthen your digestive fire. Holiday celebrations almost always include rich foods. While we all know that it’s important to eat well, we can get a little derailed this time of year. Also, if… Read more »

CARLOS CASTANEDA’S NEW YEAR’S RITUAL Here is the ceremony that our teacher Carlos Castaneda taught us: It starts during the last days of December, and finishes after the clock strikes midnight on January 1st. Castaneda would tell us that, at midnight, the light of Spirit or the Universe comes and “watches us”—a force descends upon... Read more »

The science is in: Happiness matters! It turns out that happiness and a strong social network are key components in your health and longevity. As the poet W. H. Auden put it, “We must love one another or die.” This statement is borne out by research showing that social relationships can both extend your life and… Read more »

How powerfully do our thoughts influence our health and wellbeing? The intricate connections between mind and body are only beginning to be scientifically understood. What we do know at this time is: Our emotions affect our physiology The brain is an amazingly adaptable and powerful organ Regular exercise can improve memory and cognitive functioning Studies continue to illuminate the… Read more »

Feelings. The senses. Our emotions. Being aware of your feelings can have a directly positive influence on your health and well-being. I'll share a couple of exercises with you here, visual and physical, to help you hone that influential connection between feelings and health. For more detailed information about this and other topics, consider subscribing... Read more »

The senses are our windows to the world. They give us information that we use to stay safe, interact with others, experience our world and understand life (the hallmark of our species). The challenge is that we’re so constantly bombarded with a stunning array of input, that most of us suffer from sensory overload. What… Read more »

We’re thinking about longevity lately, and sustainability. Can what you eat really make a difference to your longevity? Yes! In fact, your daily food choices affect your mood and health both in the moment and well down the road. First and foremost, aim to eat according to the season. This is a key for aging… Read more »

Some things stand the test of time, while others fade away. When it comes to staying youthful, Chinese Medicine offers an herbal treasure trove for our bustling modern lives. What’s more, Chinese herbs can be used together with key nutritional supplements for broad support of your health and longevity. The following supplements, herbs and herbal… Read more »

Are you thinking about doing a cleanse? Everywhere we turn these days, we see cleanses and detox programs being promoted. The truth is that not all programs are created equal. A proper detoxification program can be greatly beneficial. But some cleanses actually do more harm than good. Why Detoxify? A good detox program is energizing… Read more »

Sleeping well is a struggle for some of us throughout the year, but the summer season can really turn up the heat on nighttime tossing and turning. To help, we have some recommendations for what to eat and what not to eat to invite blissful slumber any time of year. Let’s focus here on food.… Read more »

Movement. Energy. Health. Vitality. It’s all tied together. We think it’s important to take the whole into consideration. But to understand the whole, you must look at the parts, and vice versa. Movement is a key part of what we teach in our classes and workshops because movement, in one way or another, is a fundamental... Read more »

You can enjoy positive effects from even just one meditation, and the long-term benefits multiply with continued practice. Recent studies show that meditation not only reduces stress—which would certainly be enough reason to try it—but it actually affects our DNA, protecting the life of our cells and slowing aging. One study showed that just one… Read more »

Create a strong foundation for health by nourishing your bones, muscles and tendons. Not only can you do this in simple ways, you can also do this in delicious ways. These seven common foods can help revitalize your joints and tendons: Tomatoes Kale Eggplant Red Bell Pepper Blackberries Basil Brussels Sprouts The bonus? This is… Read more »

“If your mind stops on the sword your opponent is swinging at you, a gap opens up; and in that gap your action falters. If there is no gap between your opponent’s striking sword and your action, the sword of the adversary will become your sword. A mind like a spark means the state of… Read more »

Summer is here, and at ELSI, our minds are on the things we can do to enjoy it to its fullest. This week, I’d like to share my prescription for healthy living. These six, effective tips for energy and wellness are simple to incorporate and sustainable, no matter the weather. Adapted from Dr. Oz and sprinkled… Read more »

Whether we love it or hate it, we all know that exercise is important to our health and longevity. Given that, why not have some fun with it and maximize our exercise routine for faster results? Physical activity helps both your body and mind stay strong, healthy and resilient. It helps you detoxify, oxygenate and… Read more »

Called the “Mushroom of Immortality”, reishi is a powerhouse supplement with a variety of benefits. From its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties to help with cancer and AIDS, it’s one of my favorite products. We incorporate reishi in our detoxification programs, and recommend it to help boost the immune system during flu season. Reishi may be the most highly respected… Read more »

Are you looking for more energy? Maybe you’ve been thinking about a detox program? It seems that everyone is talking about detoxing these days, but the trick can be incorporating a program into your life without disrupting your daily routine. The good news is that there are things that you can easily incorporate into your daily… Read more »

What can boost circulation, ease muscle tension, promote weight loss and activate the release of toxins from your system? An infrared sauna session. What’s even better: You get to relax while the sauna does all the work! Detoxification is a big theme for us right now—the spring season is a perfect time to detoxify and… Read more »

What? Yes, that’s what we’re saying. Our Green Detox Smoothie is not only really good for you, but it actually tastes…great. Smoothies play a key role in our Detox Program diet plan, for those who do well with raw vegetables. For good reason: They are packed with nutrition, easy to digest, quick to make and… Read more »

It’s being fought tooth and nail, but the US Food and Drug Administration is considering adding one line to labels on packaged foods telling you how many teaspoons of sugar have been added to the product. It’s something you’d like to know, right? So why are food manufacturers lobbying so hard against it? It looks… Read more »

3 Ways to Detox This Spring Whether you’re conscious of it or not, your thoughts can either block or accelerate your energy. Get the tools to make way for more joy and abundance in your life. It seems like everywhere we turn lately, someone is talking about a detox program—juice programs, retreats, and all variety… Read more »

What does it mean to have vitality 24/7? What does that look like? What picture comes to mind? Everything we do at ELSI is aimed at feeling fully alive and expressing your greatest potential in life. The question is: What does this look like? Well, it’s different for every person, but at the center of… Read more »

When it comes to facts, we don’t always get the real story. In fact, recent findings show that what we’ve been led to believe about antidepressants was cleverly skewed to favor drug companies. Surprising? For us, not so much. Drugs, while they can be of great benefit and are sometimes necessary, are also extreme. Rarely... Read more »

Does engaging in sexual activity energize or deplete you? Becoming aware of how your energy level rises or falls in relation to sex can help you increase your vitality bank account. Outside of cultural or moral ideas of sex, there is the reality of how it is in your body, for you uniquely and individually.… Read more »

Imagery for Immunity Research shows that our thoughts and feelings impact our physicality, from increased cortisol levels when we’re stressed to lowered immunity if we’re feeling depressed. Most of the time, we don’t consciously direct our thoughts for the benefit of our health, but we do have the power to do just that. Visualization is... Read more »

Your perfect weight is an individual expression of being in harmony with your soul. Ideals of beauty change through time and among cultures, but what is best for each of us is a unique matter. While obesity is a serious health issue that is tied to various diseases, the idea of optimal body weight can… Read more »

Food: New Paradigms and Timeless Wisdom We all know that diet plays an important part in our health and wellbeing. But how what we eat affects our biology isn’t so clear, as evidenced by the diverse and often opposing diets promoted by trustworthy physicians. Should you eat for your blood type? Follow the Paleo Diet,… Read more »

Most of us start each year with one or more resolutions that we hope to accomplish. Maybe you want to shed extra pounds gained over the holidays, or to get to the gym more regularly. But by the time March rolls around, these resolutions can seem like a distant memory. What happens? Usually, other things… Read more »

Movement is the key to energy. It really is true! Of all the things we can do to stay energized and healthy, keeping our bodies moving is right there at the top—even, and maybe especially, when we feel sluggish. There are many reasons why we might not feel like being active, but a major one… Read more »

Dear Community: We are launching a new series of weekly newsletters. We look forward to sharing practical ideas, experiences, relevant research, and guidance for creating and maintaining a vital, healthy and strong body-mind. We intend to focus on four areas, one each week: 1) Nutrition and Food, 2) The Wisdom that guides the Path With… Read more »

We are excited about our recent presentation to the Cancer Support Community at the Benjamin Center in West Los Angeles, CA. The audience of cancer patients, their relatives and educators, enthusiastically received the three-part series. We introduced the basic concepts and philosophy to first-time listeners, and shared an introductory set of  movements. We explained the... Read more »

This fascinating study looked at how posture and movement can effect one’s emotional state. The study measured the effects of movement, motor imagery and observation of whole-body expression (body language) of emotions—happiness, fear, sadness—on the affective state. The findings show that the deliberate control of motor behavior can regulate feelings. These findings highlight a key element… Read more »

Our Nutrition + Health class series is chockfull of practical information you can use to feel your best every day. These online classes are one of the best gifts you can give to yourself and your family. Our class on September 7th focused on maintaining healthy bones, muscles, tendons and joints. Here are some of… Read more »