feature: alternative fitness by Seth Samuels n P P . nsicte Yoga's quest for self-realization and good health parallels Jewish thought. T he light in me bows to the light in you," or more famously known as "Namaste." This phrase graces the end of every yoga class and essentially underlies the basic elements of the practice — communal ties, self-respect, internal and external strength and, of course, relaxation. Few activities in today's world help us to slow down as we all want more and faster, whether it's an Internet connection, a slim figure or even a pay raise. However, the teachings of yoga say much of what we desire can be found within us. But, of course, nothing comes free, so to get there requires hard work, both physical and mental. Not only is this concept of self-focus and control key to being sure that you don't end up on someone else's yoga mat, but also its applicability to everyday life is infinite. Looking inside gives us new perspec- tives and better perception; it truly puts us in time with the workings of our bodies and the body's in- teractions with its surroundings — quintessential in today's movement for improved personal and global health. Many of these teachings also parallel those of Judaism, making the practice a unique experience — almost like going to Shabbat services and getting a workout while doing so. and self-realization, the physical challenges that arise from one pose to the next, depending on the flow's pace and style, force people to adapt to how they can maintain their body's size and shape in new ways. Aside from the cozy room, there's plenty of sweat to be worked up; and some could argue for this over conven- tional workouts. Yoga teacher Diane Bloomfield ofJerusalem took this exact concept into her own hands as she de- veloped "Torah Yoga" in 1991, which "connects the Jewish concepts of Shabbat, renewal, exodus and specific yoga postures." Through connecting how we learn from ourselves as well as from the Torah, Bloomfield notes, "Torah Yoga is very intellectual, in a way, about the body. It says the body is smart. The body knows things and you can learn things with the body." In addition to the mental aspect of meditation So with the summer quickly setting in, yoga is truly the perfect form of exercise for a season of both relaxation and refinement. Nothing's better than learning about "you" in the company of others and contributing those findings to the community. It creates more patience, im- proved communal ties and a better outlook on the world. With practice, the benefits will truly come in unique ways for everyone. Namaste. Seth Samuels, 18, is a 2009 graduate of Birmingham Groves High School and will attend the University of Michigan in the fall. Israel advocacy: by Hillary Dorman and Michelle Kappy S hedding Light: FJA students advocate for more transparency from UNRWA on Palestinian aid. I magine you are in a very dark room and sud- denly one candle is lit, illuminating the entire room. Like that lone candle, each of us can make a difference. Our Frankel Jewish Academy Israel Advocacy class was inspired by this mes- sage. In the beginning of the semester, we learned about the history of the State of Israel and the facts regard- ing the Arab-Israeli conflict. With this knowledge, we then were able to begin advocating for Israel. To make a difference, we wanted to educate others about a topic we were very passionate about. Our class focused on Palestinian refugees served in the Middle East by the United Nations Relief and Work Agency. UNRWA provides food, aid and education to Palestinian refugees, but does not help them resettle. An avowed humanitarian orga- nization that is supposed to use taxpayer dollars to help refugees, UNRWA instead uses those dollars to promote terrorism and fund hate education. We wanted to support House Concurrent Reso- lution 29, which calls for more accountability of UNRWA and ensures that public dollars given to the organization are not being redirected to terror- B2 teen2teen June 25 • 2009 Hy Safran, congressional liaison; FJA juniors Hillary Dorman, Jessica Goodman, Justin Farber, Rachel Margolin; teacher Linda Baruch; juniors Alyssa Adler, Matthew Weisberg, Adam Awerbuch, Basil Williams. Seated, juniors Michelle Kappy and Erinn Sandberg flank U.S. Rep. Gary Peters. ists or to "activities that support terror or promote a culture of hatred." We received more than 300 signatures from our West Bloomfield-based school and the community showing their support for this resolution. To truly make an impact, we wanted to present this information to U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloom- field Hills. On June 7, we met to share our concerns with him. Peters was very impressed with our prepa- ration and knowledge. He also stressed the impor- tance of voicing concerns because he, too, believes one voice can make a difference. This project was extremely successful in many ways. We educated our fellow classmates, staff members and community about our cause and became strong advocates for Israel in the process. Our presentation and petitions will hopefully bring us one small step closer toward finding a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. And we will continue to be advocates for Israel. Though the dark room is large and the fight to- ward peace has only begun, our advocacy candle is starting to shed some light and make a difference in the world. Hillary Dorman and Michelle Kappy will be seniors next fall at the Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield. visit JNt2t.com