PULSE.

Byline: Kate Zuparko

The `Natural' way

Imagine feeling good and being healthy all the time. Sound impossible? Not so, according to author Kevin Trudeau, whose book ``Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About'' sets out to expose readers to an all-natural lifestyle he says will end Americans' manufactured-drug dependency and make them healthier.

``The more drugs we take, the worse we are, not healthier,'' he said. Trudeau's drug-free mentality began 25 years ago, when he was diagnosed with an ``incurable'' diseased heart. Trudeau went outside the U.S. and found a cure - one that wasn't allowed in the country.

Trudeau's book aims to expose the profit motives of the corporate pharmaceutical industry and encourage people to explore alternatives to drugs.

``When you have a headache, it's not because you have an aspirin deficiency,'' he said. ``Don't try to suppress the symptom. ... Ask yourself why you have it.''

``Natural Cures'' gives more than 100 steps to prevent illness, along with 50 natural cures to common ailments. It may seem overwhelming, but Trudeau encourages people to start small.

``Do something simple,'' he said. ``There are some very easy things you can do.''

Trudeau has three top recommendations for those who want to ease into a more natural lifestyle: eat an organic apple a day; drink plenty of pure, filtered water; and do a colon cleanse. Even these little changes can make a big difference, he says.

It also isn't necessary to do everything in the book to start feeling better, Trudeau says. If you can't follow every suggestion, don't worry.

``You'll still have tremendous benefits even if you only add one or two things to your lifestyle,'' he said.

``Natural Cures'' retails for $29.95. It is available at major book retailers and through Trudeau's Web site, www.naturalcures.com.

YOUR YOGA COMFORT ZONE: Yogaworks Studios in the L.A. area are out to dispel the notion for the uninitiated that yoga takes place ``somewhere in a back alley with incense burning,'' says publicist Amy Morris Shapiro.

To that end, they're offering free yoga classes for beginners and their friends this week, starting tonight at the Center for Yoga Studio, 230 Larchmont Ave. in Los Angeles.

Morris says that a recent study conducted by Yogaworks showed that people trying yoga for the first time are most comfortable in a class filled with other novices. She says this is their way of easing newcomers into discovering the benefits of yoga.

Free classes will also be offered in Santa Monica and Westwood this week. For schedules and more information, visit www.yogaworks.com.

I KNOW KUNG FU: Martial artists: Kick your skills up a notch with the aid of an unexpected source - yoga. ``The Martial Artist's Book of Yoga'' (Ulysses; $14.95) identifies five basic fighting categories - strikes and blocks, rolls and falls, kicks and jumps, joint locks, and grappling moves - then offers a series of yoga poses to help improve each area. Geared to all skill levels and styles of martial arts, the book addresses flexibility, strength and balance as well as increasing overall fitness, all of which translates into enhanced martial arts skills. Each pose is illustrated and explains the corresponding martial arts application.

``The Martial Artist's Book of Yoga'' is available through Amazon.com and other book retailers.

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(1) no caption (book: ``Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About'')

(2) no caption (book: ``The Martial Artist's Book of Yoga'')