Masaje con Piedras Calientes

(Hot Stones).

Este tipo de terapia-masaje es muy antiguo y tiene su origen posiblemente en la india hace más de 3.000 años y forma parte, como uno de los tratamientos, de la medicina Ayurveda. A su vez, los sanadores polinesios, llevan utilizando las piedras calientes por más de 2.000 años.

En estos últimos años el masaje con piedras calientes (hot stones) se ha popularizado mucho en los spas y centros terapéuticos en donde se trabaja para el favorecimiento del bienestar personal.

El objetivo general del masaje con piedras calientes es llevar al estado de equilibrio al prana, (Qi en la MTC).

- Drenaje linfático y como consecuencia la eliminación de toxinas.

]]> http://wellnessbillionaire.com/2009/11/27/finally-kids-love-mannatechs-phytoburst/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:53:40 +0000 wellnessbillionaire http://wellnessbillionaire.com/2009/11/27/finally-kids-love-mannatechs-phytoburst/

For what seems like forever, parents around the world have struggled with the daunting task of getting good, solid nutrition into their kids. First there is the challenge of getting them the good whole foods that their bodies need: fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, essential fats, whole grains and legumes. You know, the kinds of things that many kids haven’t yet discovered a taste for. “If they don’t like it, they’re not going to eat it.”

Next, there’s the issue of the nutritional value they actually would get IF you could get them to eat any nutritional food. The nutrients simply are no longer in our food supply as they once were, regardless of your food source. Here’s just one example that illustrates the depetion of our soils, the poluting of our oceans and the effects of toxins in every facet of our food chain. Do you realize that today you’d have to eat 53 peaches to get the nutritional value you got from eating just 2 peaches fifty years ago? Our foods simply do not have the nutrients any longer that our bodies require to function properly and fight disease.

And lastly, when parents finally do realize they need to supplement their kids diets, they’re lost in a sea of claims and testimonials they can’t verify or believe, leaving them overwhelmed and at a loss to choose any sound product at all, let alone the best one available.

Now imagine a product with independent scientific testing, produced by a globally recognized and respected research and development company, that resembled a Starburst candy or chew. Here is a list of the nutrition (vitamin and mineral values) your child gets from eating just two of Mannatech’s PhytoBurst chews:    

It’s true! Two little candy chews that deliver the same vitamin and mineral value as:

• The Vitamin A of 2 1/2 apricots
• The Niacin of 5 carrots
• The Vitamin C of 1/2 lemon
• The Thiamin of 1/2 cup peanuts
• The Vitamin D of 4 cups Vit D milk
• The Riboflavin of 2 tablespoons wheat germ
• The Vitamin B12 of 60 oz. of chicken
• The biotin of  4 1/2 avocados
• The Vitamin B6 of 1 cup brussels sprounts
• Selenium of 2 1/3 cups papaya
• The Vanadium of 4 small pears
• The folic acid of 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach
• The Boron of 1 1/2 bananas
• The Zinc of 1/3 cups almonds
• The Chromium of 5 3/4 cups grape juice
• The Iodine of 1 1/2 oz. cheddar cheese
• The Molybdenum of 1 1/3 cups cottage cheese
• And assorted phytonutrients from cranberry, broccoli, grape pomace and rutin.

Take just a moment and imagine what your life  would be like today, what you child’s life would be like, if that list went into their body “every day”. Childrens nutrition of the future is here and you owe it to yourself and to your child to learn more now about this exceptional new product, exclusively from Mannatech, Inc.

The poem below was written by a PQ student.  Inspiration may have come from the weekly wellness lessons that the students receive from our naturopathic doctor, Dr. Zimmer.  Here it is:

Wellness Poem

In your brain is where it starts

then 30 ft to where you fart

Chewing and saliva breaks down food

what you swallow can affect your mood

Paristasis pushes food down

to the stomach where it hangs around

where a liquid kills things that make you sick

Nothing more than acid… hydrochloric

Watch how much water you’re ingesting

it dilutes the HCl and slows down digestion

1-2 hours is approximate time

to reach the intestines in a state called chyme

Small intestine is the first visit

it suchks out all the nutrients

Water’s absorbed by the large intestine

and poo is created in this state of digestion

Diaharrea is not so kind

if too much water’s left behind

And thin if takes too much

you’re constipated, which really sucks

Up to 24 hours from mouth to potty

on the wonders of the human body

Preventing the Holiday Blues
Holiday Wellness: Not Just for the Body
by Blair Ambrose, MSW

Holiday blues can affect both men and women, young and old. Factors contributing to holiday blues include increased stress and fatigue, unrealistic expectations, and the inability to be with one’s family. The increased demands of shopping, parties, family reunions, and house guests may also contribute to tension and sadness during the holidays. Common stress reactions during the holidays include headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating or not eating enough and difficulty sleeping.

Some of the things you can do this holiday season to cope with the holiday blues:

• 20 minutes of sun and exercise a day. This is not always easy during the winter months, but take advantage of the sunny days by bundling up and taking a walk during your lunch break. Sign up for yoga or meditation class, join a gym, or reconnect with nature by taking a walk in the woods.

• Help someone else: It’s hard to feel down while you are busy helping someone else. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, wrap gifts for unfortunate kids, or spend time with an elderly relative or friend. Instead of feeling glum you’ll find yourself experiencing what the holidays are really about: Giving to others.

• Stay busy and avoid unstructured time: If you know the holidays are difficult for you, why not plan ahead and minimize your difficult feelings. Try to fill your calendar with fun events. Too much time spent alone may bring you to an old, familiar place:  down.

• Most importantly: No matter what is happening in your life, think of the blessings you do have. Taking stock of all of the positives in your life — right here and now — can go a long way toward ending your “bah humbug” mood.

If you continue to experience depressive or anxious feelings despite your efforts to combat the holiday blues seek the help of a professional mental health counselor. Full Spectrum Wellness offers holistic and traditional mental health counseling.

Blair Ambrose, MSW is a licensed clinical social worker offering holistic and conventional mental health therapy at Full Spectrum Wellness. www.millyardcounseling.com or http://www.fullspectrumwellness.com/bio_Blair_Ambrose.html

Heidi Page, MSW is a licensed clinical social worker offering holistic and conventional mental health counseling at Full Spectrum Wellness. http://www.fullspectrumwellness.com/heidipage.html

The University of Minnesota is seeking women who are currently pregnant or less than 6 weeks postpartum to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise and wellness on mood following childbirth

· Participants receive a motivational exercise program or a health and wellness program, which begins after the birth of your baby (participants can sign up for the program during pregnancy)
· Program delivered to you via the mail and phone
· Must be 18 years of age or older; must not currently exercise regularly
· Must have a history of depression or a family history of depression
· You will receive compensation for your time

Call 612-625-9753 or email kenn0341@umn.edu to see if you qualify for this research study.

As we mentioned in our last blog entry, a typical Thanksgiving dinner consists of over 2500 calories, 250 grams of which is fat! With recent statistics showing obesity in America is climbing at alarming rates, it is very important one stays in healthy shape to prevent illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and many any other deadly ailments associated with being overweight.

To help our communities burn off those extra calories, Total Woman Gym & Day Spa is opening its doors Friday, Nov 27th through Sunday, Nov 30th! That’s right: you can come work out at Total Woman for FREE this holiday weekend! This amazing free weekend is a great opportunity for women in our communities to get in and get started building healthier habits. Come in today, we can’t wait to see you!

Corporate Social Responsibility News: Timberland’s Climate and Haiti Help Campaigns; American Cancer Society’s Corporate Impact Awards

“How far you go in life depends upon your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, tolerant of the weak and the strong because some day in your life, you will have been all of these”

George Washington Carver

For those people who have been reading our blogs, it probably has not escaped your notice that much of what has been written about in previous blogs has focussed on things we simply cannot buy, trade or sell, but nonetheless, have a profound affect on our health and general wellbeing. There are many forces in this world that simply cannot be seen, and although invisible, the effect of these forces is considerable. I want to focus on another powerful force that will bring joy to your day and improve your health in the process. This is the priceless act of practising random acts of kindness and senseless beauty, otherwise known as creating warm fuzzies! A warm fuzzy is the warm, pleasant sensations you feel in your stomach and heart when you are emotionally moved by an act of goodwill or love. It is the feeling you get when you perform, or are the subject of, a random act of kindness.

You may be thinking how does practising random acts of kindness and senseless beauty affect our health and why would anyone adopt this kind of attitude towards another, and why should we anyway? First of all no-one should do anything, but we could, and if we did, we may well be surprised at the outcome.

Conventional wisdom has always held that when we help others we automatically become a beneficiary too. It is part of the law of the universe – what goes around, comes around.  One’s physical health, not just emotional well-being, is improved, through helping others. It’s a “helper’s high,” something akin to the phenomenon which runners experience from the release of endorphins. There is also now, widely discussed research which shows that helping others, produces significant health benefits. The effects are similar to those experienced when we exercise.

There are many opportunities during each and every day to perform a random act of kindness to a stranger or anonymously to a friend or family member and there are MILLIONS of different ways to do this. It could also cause another to think of doing likewise, and in so doing create a chain of events. The festive season creates the perfect opportunity to introduce this thought and in so doing it may also transform the life of another. We know for certain that they will benefit and so will you..

Some ideas to get you started are listed below:

Give someone a compliment, say thank you or send a hand written thank you note, be attentive – there is nothing more flattering than being given present time consciousness, carry someone’s bag, offer hope and encouragement to someone who has lost it, give a hug, pick up the trash someone littered, forgive someone, smile (always), lend a helping hand. We all have the privilege of making a positive difference in the world and in doing so benefit ourselves. It is such an awesome thought that we are designed to be healthy and even within the experience of giving (with no strings attached) there is an opportunity to add to our own health bank. Do we need any further reasons? – remember you will also participate in helping to transform the world around you.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – author unknown

I am here to help,

Dr. Vince Hassel

Psychic Sterling Sinclair’s Prophetic Wisdom Winds Down

This blog has come a long way over the past 9 months.

Posts have included, the paranormal, an abduction/murder investigation, art, the auracture language, poems, phrophetic writings, channeled work, spiritual guidance, photos of ghosts, aliens, orbs, lakes, nate, the moon and the sky. 

For the first month, this blog had 0-2 daily/weekly readers and and now it has 50-100 daily readers.

The posts and pictures can be found all over the world in websites, chatrooms and emails.  Many people have even printed copies for their own album or ritual practices.

When I first thought of posting this blog, I wasn’t sure how the world would receive information from a Christian Minister who sees the world through different lenses than most people.

The readers and participants of this blog have sometimes made me angry, fear for my life, and yet at other times, restored my spirit and taught me a lot.

In a dream, a year ago, I was told that the time for me to be silent was no more because my voice and views would lead me to people who may share the same sort of reality.  I am so glad that this happened.

Now, I am being led in a different direction and the pubilic life of Psychic Sterling Sinclair is winding down.

My website and this blog have run their courses and now it is time to prepare for their deletion.

This Blog, “Prophetic Wisdom”, will become inactive when either the view counter hits 58000 views or on December 31, 2009 — which ever comes first.

Until that time, I will continue to do my best to keep it up to date.

Many Thanks and Blessings,

Sterling

by Nissa Hanna

WHAT’S HAPPENING

• At Rite Aid, shopping has healthy benefits. The retailer is testing a rewards program that compensates consumers with free health screenings in addition to traditional discounts (BuffaloNews.com 11.3.09).
• The “Wellness+” program lets shoppers earn points for their purchases to redeem for glucose or cholesterol readings. The screenings take place in local labs that send the results to the shopper’s Rite Aid store.
• Wellness+ members also get gratis access to a 24/7 Rite Aid pharmacist phone number.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS

• Loyalty points can offer more than discounts and freebies. Points that provide practical and innovative benefits can make real impacts that improve shoppers’ lives.
• As consumers search for savvy ways to stay healthy, retailers have an opportunity to step in and become health partners for their customers.

RESOURCES

• Rite Aid: The Wellness+ test stores are in Buffalo, NY

Wow! what an energy level today at the Asia Fitness Convention at Centara Convention Center.

Delegations of  Fitness Business Professionals  from 7 different nationlities together celebrating the great impact of motion and exercise in our lifes.

Orangised by FIT and Asia Congress, the Asian Fitness Convention  2009 is offering workshops for professional Fitness Expert as well as for you and me just having fun exercising and exploring new forms of fitness and movements.

Have a look for yourself and might find the exersice form you have been looking for!

The Asian Fitness Convention is still on until Sunday and even if the workshops are mainly booked out there is always one or the other space available to participate!

Health Care is changing.  Cost of services are going up as the tests and treatments are becoming more elaborate, technical, and expensive.  Insurance companies are requiring additional justification for services rendered and reimbursement denials are more common.  Most people have large deductibles and co-pays for single visits (up to 75$ or more).  However, one thing that has become common knowledge is that if people are not physically active, they will have a significant increased risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, or bone/joint related diseases.  The general population understands this but, people are still getting lost in the system (not getting better, getting frustrated, and returning in 6 months for the same problem).  The answer to this problem is bridging the gap between health care, wellness, and fitness. 

Due to the rise in health care costs, there is an incentive and desire for longevity around the treatments that patients are seeking.  Some people are doing personal training, massage therapy, tai chi, or other forms of cash based programs.  Some are going out on their own in the gym, hiking trail, or pool.    Many are successful with an independent fitness and prevention program, but some people really do need guidance, technical assessment, manual treatment, and correspondence with their health care provider.   When a client is referred for rehabilitation (due to a functional limitation), they follow with a series of visits to progressively improve their ailment.  Once that patient has become independent with the management of their ailment or they have returned to being able to care for themselves, the medical necessity ends.

After 1-2 months of Physical Therapy, most people still have large deficits due to long standing pre-existing weakness, general de-conditioning, or lack of time / motivation to continue their program.  Insurance does not pay for lack of follow through.  Lack of improvement beyond 2-3 visits will typically necessitate denial of services the insurance company.  Most patients form a  bond with their Physical Therapist and want to continue therapy.  WHY NOT?  By offering a cash based program at the same facility at the price that is generally less than the cost of one co-pay (10-20$/class), patients can continue doing wellness classes.  In addition it is more personal and motivational working with the same Physical Therapist and facility that got you through the initial injury recovery process (such as a total knee replacement).

We can take it a step further by bridging the gap between cashed based wellness classes and performance enhancement.  That same client who has recovered from his total knee replacement and has attended a general conditioning class for seniors (cash pay) for 2 months thinks he is ready to resume golf.  Medicare does not not identify golf as an essential functional activity and will deny any services that attempt to use it as justification for continuing treatment.  Why not get an assessment, video analysis of the golf swing, and online home exercise program by the same Physical Therapist that treated you 2 weeks after your knee replacement?  This program is much more expensive than the wellness classes but that one visit will get you on track to enhancing your golf game, injury free.  This same model can be used for the triathlete recovering from Achilles tendonitis or the office employee with neck pain who wants to lose 20 lb.

Bridging the Gap between all levels of physical health care will be the only option in the next couple of years.  Currently, patients are being lost in the system due to lack of follow through, compliance of rehabilitation, and insurance coverage limitations.  Patients will be required to care for themselves regardless of their ability to remember exercises, motivation levels, or recovery time.  The Physical Therapist can act as a resource and coach through the entire process.  This movement towards a “Wellness Model” is being introduced an utilized in many clinics.  Ideally “Wellness Facilities” will become commonplace in Physical Therapy and Fitness practice for better outcomes with all levels of wellness.  I hope that eventually insurance companies will see the lasting benefits of a structured prevention program and include “Wellness Club” memberships in their health care plans.

We all know that eating fresh fruits and vegetables is critical to a healthy diet and our overall health. Did you know that research shows that a fruit or vegetable is at its peak of nutri-tional value when it is at its peak in flavor?

Sign up for our monthly newsletter by going to our website; www.pvalleywellness.com find out more.

This poem captures my wish to (one day, far, far, away) be a grandmother as wonderful as my own. I am thankful for the food on my table and for my family and friends.

Gumbo
by Michael Otieno Molina
from Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryant Terry

Granny was God in the kitchen
Her ladle
sunk deep in swamp green
Ground brown
Grey soup
vanished
and came up full
a mound of sea creatures
A crab leg reached over the lip
Out of the primordial roux
Granny turned and filled my bowl
Gumbo swirled around its parts
And left a spiraling galaxy of spice
In my warm palms
Its scent
swaddled in my own breath
soaked my tongue in savory
And when Granny looked down
at what she made
She knew it was good

Here’s a list of some things to be aware of during your recovery… 

1. Apprehension about well-being (the ‘fear’ of being well)
2. Denial
3. Adamant committment to wellness (“If I miss even one session/meeting, I will lose everything I’ve worked so hard for.)
4. Compulsive attempts to impose wellness on others
5. Defensiveness
6. Compulsive behaviors (destructive ones)
7. Impulsive behaviors (destructive ones)
8. Feeling a general loneliness
9. Tunnel vision (ignoring other things that are important in life other than just your recovery)
10. Minor depression (if you are doing the right things in your recovery, you should be feeling better, right? maybe time to reassess…)
11. Loss of constructive planning (have you become unorganized, or feel like you can just wing it?)
12. Plans begin to fail
13. Idle daydreaming and wishful thinking (even if that one thing were to happen, everything else will NOT just fall into place – that’s a reality)
14. Feeling that nothing can be solved
15. Immature wish to be happy (magic wand, love spells, etc)
16. Periods of confusion
17. Irritation with friends (with unhealthy friends this is normal, but this means the healthy ones)
18. Easily angered
19. Irregular eating habits
20. Listlessness
21. Irregular sleeping habits
22. Progressive loss of daily structure (an organized, easy to follow,  daily to-do list can be a person’s greatest asset in staying healthy)
23. Progressive loss of daily structure (day by day you seem to be slipping, even just the little things)
24. Irregular attendance at treatment meetings, appointments, the gym, support groups, etc… (message boards, support groups, and/or things you did while still sick with people who were just as sick as you were are normal to let go of once you are moving forward and find different, healthier peers)
25. Developing a “I don’t care” or “Whatever” attitude
26. Openly reject help
27. dissatisfaction with life
28. Feelings of powerlessness and helplessness
29. Self Pity
30. Wishful thought of relapse
31. Conscious lying
32. Complete loss of self-confidence
33. Unreasonable resentments
34. Discontinuing all treatment
35. Overwhelming loneliness, frustration, anger, tension, anxiety, etc…
36. Start of controlled relapse behaviors (minor self-harm that you justify as not being as bad as before, developing a ‘just this once’ attitude, etc…)

It’s normal to have bad days, everyone does. But, if they happen more and more, then it’s a good idea to take a moment to think… ”Are these the behaviors and actions I’ve seen happen with me in the past right before things got bad?”

If they are, ask for help NOW. You won’t disappoint anyone. And, it does not mean that it will get bad. By getting help now, you may be able to avoid a relapse all together.

Check out your Relapse Prevention or Discharge Plan and see how you are doing. If you don’t have one, check out the post titled ”The Anti-Relapse Plan, Man”. Take a moment or two and print it out – keeping this information handy is very helpful when you are too stressed to “think”.   

It’s never too late to check’ty check y’self! :0)

Martedì 24 Novembre si è svolto, al quarto piano dello strepitoso Nhow Hotel, quello che mi piacerebbe definire (e perchè no istituire) l’Herbal Essence Day. In realtà si è trattato di un incontro, molto ristretto e decisamente piacevole, con la responsabile delle relazioni estere della P&G Italia e con l’hair guru Ben Cooke, brand ambassador Herbal Essences nonchè hair stylist di Victoria Beckham e Leona Lewis.

Ho parlato di incontro piacevole proprio perché le conversazioni, pur vertendo logicamente sul prodotto con qualche piccola incursione in una strategia di copy sfacciata a tratti esilarante (“gli abbracci voluttuosi di Herbal Essences” o “la fragranza ti permette di avere un impatto più emotional“),  hanno avuto come oggetto l’utilizzo pratico del prodotto. Ci hanno instradato con consigli mirati verso la tipologia più adatta, ognuna di noi ha potuto parlare del proprio “problema” con acconciature, colore e capello crespo (recidivo). In pratica sembrava una vera e propria chiacchierata tra amiche con tutti i vezzi e “femminerie” del caso.

La disponibilità al dialogo è stata massima:  non sono mancate, infatti, domande provocatorie sulla questione della pesantezza dell’INCI e l’eccessivo uso di siliconi, cui sono state date risposte difficilmente contestabili come il totale rispetto delle norme basilari per la composizione dell’elenco di cui sopra e il dosaggio di silicone realizzato in maniera specifica in base alla linea.

In conclusione è stato davvero un bel pomeriggio sia per me che per i miei capelli che a breve riceveranno un fantastico trattamento “scintille di luce” così potrò anche io essere sunny, easy, funny, sporty, chic (come suggerisce Gio) e ridare splendore a questo tetro e deprimente tempo milanese.

Ringraziamenti: Umberto, le blogger intervenute, P&G e Ben Cooke.

Da qualche giorno si avvertiva nell’aria profumo di sorprese, le voci di corridoio sempre più insistenti hanno fatto venire l’acquolina in bocca un pò a tutti, me compresa, ed ora che si sono trasformate in realtà vorrei venire da voi, uno per uno a ridacchiare della vostra espressione stupita!

Ebbene si, perchè c’è da stupirsi, anche Virgin Active fa le ore piccole il sabato e per farvi compagnia ha preparato, solo per la notte di sabato 28 novembre un’offerta esclusiva sulle iscrizioni on line per tutti i centri fitness!

Cosa vi serve? Un pc on line e orologio alla mano perchè la promo chiuderà i battenti alle 9 in punto di domenica 29 novembre. Just for on night!

Per tutti i particolari non dovrete fare altro che attendere le 21 di sabato e restare sintonizzati sulla pagina e-commerce di Virgin Active, ma non finisce qui.

Sei un vecchio socio e ti senti messo in disparte? Non temere, Virgin Active vede e provvede, se hai un amico che come te vuole entrare nella famiglia Virgin, puoi far compilare a lui il modulo on line di adesione alla promozione senza dimenticare di specificare il nome del socio che gli ha parlato dell’offerta, tu!

Per lui la promozione per te un fantastico regalo tra quelli previsti dal fidelity program.

E allora restate allerta la promozione sta per cominciare!!!

“If winter is slumber and spring is birth, and summer is life, then autumn rounds out to be reflection. It’s a time of year when the leaves are down and the harvest is in and the perennials are gone. Mother Earth just closed up the drapes on another year and it’s time to reflect on what’s come before.”   ~ Mitchell Burgess, Northern Exposure, Thanksgiving, 1992

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is, traditionally a time to express gratitude for the harvest produce and otherwise and in this age to express gratitude in general.  Openly, fully, loudly, sincerely declare a hearty ‘Thanks!”  With the seemingly inescapable economic slide and rippling effects shouted by calmly reported by the media in all forms, finding something to be grateful for can be a challenge.  I know, I have felt the blunt force of the “trouble of the past year plus”; my house is on the market, a work major contract ended and my husband and I find ourselves living in two different States due to all the craziness of the past year and a half. So why feel grateful. Heck what is there even to feel grateful for?

The bottom line is a large and growing body of research showing that gratitude is linked to well being. Folks, well being, in body, mind and spirit is invaluable. How else will you get up each day and do what needs to be done and how else will you experience pleasure?  Here are ways people who are more grateful experience well being:

• They are happier, more satisfied with their relationships and life, and are less stress and less depressed. ^1,2,3
• Higher levels of personal growth, self- acceptance, sense of life purpose and control of their environments.⁴
• More positive ways of coping life’s difficulties and changes, like seeking support when its needed, planning how to deal with the problem, reframing, growing form the experience.⁵
• Fewer less negative coping strategies, like blaming yourself, denying there is a problem, avoidance, “better living through chemistry” substance abuse as a coping mechanism.⁵
• Sleeping better, they think more positive than negative thoughts just before going to sleep.⁶

Even on the crappiest of days there is something to be grateful for, even when that does not seem possible. There are days where digging for the good is harder and darn near impossible, but the benefits are worth it.

I am grateful for:

• The love and respect of my husband
• My nephews (6 yrs and 3 yrs old) singing Happy 40th Birthday to me
• My health
• The challenges the year has thrown me and the opportunities that have sprung from it, like being able to devote my work time energy to my Coaching Practice
• Taming some Gremlins on the dance floor
• My beloved and supportive family and friends
• An other cycle of seasons to witness and tend to the miraculous dynamics of my garden

So what are you grateful for this year?

1. McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 112-127.
2. Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., & Maltby, J. (2008). Gratitude uniquely predicts satisfaction with life: Incremental validity above the domains and facets of the Five Factor Model. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 49-54.
3. Kashdan, T.B., Uswatte, G., & Julian, T. (2006). Gratitude and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in Vietnam War veterans. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 177-199.
4. Wood, A. M., Joseph, S. & Maltby (2009). Gratitude predicts psychological well-being above the Big Five facets. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 655-660.
5. Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., & Linley, P. A. (2007). Coping style as a psychological resource of grateful people. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26, 1108 – 1125.
6. Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., Lloyd, J., & Atkins, S. (2009). Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66, 43-48

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.”  — The Buddha

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” — Cicero

The longer  I live, the stronger my sense that living in gratitude  is essential to one’s health and happiness.  We live in bodies we didn’t create.  The air, the water, the plants, the sunlight essential to life–did we create those? Sometimes when I’m in danger of falling into a funk  I visualize myself floating in an ocean of love.  Not that much of a stretch, for when I’m open, I do feel love radiating to  me  from all directions.   And isn’t quietly experiencing gratitude the  heart and soul of Thanksgiving?  If you have a moment, this short guided mediation on gratitude with Deepak Chopra may help you get in the mood.  Happy Thanksgiving.

(Please note Mary Morgan’s comment in poetic form.)

In the interest of exploring all things foot oriented, I have been doing some research on reflexology

Here is what wikepedia has to say about it

Reflexology (zone therapy) is an alternative medicine method involving the practice of massaging or applying pressure to parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health.^{[citation needed]}

The Reflexology Association of Canada defines reflexology as: A natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears and their referral areas within zone related areas, which correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body. Through application of pressure on these reflexes without the use of tools, crèmes or lotions, the feet being the primary area of application, reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and helps promote the natural function of the related areas of the body.^[1]

There is no consensus among reflexologists on how reflexology is supposed to work; a unifying theme is the idea that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve health through one’s

Concerns have been raised by medical professionals that treating potentially serious illnesses with reflexology, which has no proven efficacy, could delay the seeking of appropriate medical treatment. A systematic review of the efficacy of reflexology found one study showing a statistically significant effect in the treatment of urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients. All other conditions reviewed in this study showed no evidence of any specific effect.

On a personal note, I have been to a reflexologist several times and thought I’d died and gone to heaven.

My mouth just watered. It must be that time of year again. Most of us will be with the family and friends who helped make us, literally and figuratively. But if there are people in your life that won’t be at that table tomorrow, please think about reaching out to them (whether by technology, or the art of the heart energetically) and letting them know how you feel about their contribution to your life, or…just say, “Hey.” Don’t elevate the mundane and minutia of the business of every day living to allow you take them for granted. You never know when you might lose them — the bounty that flows from gratitude doesn’t require a special day. No plane, train or automobile needed to share the love –  a call or a prayerful meditation can speak volumes. Happy Thanksgiving and see you back here on Monday, bewitched readers.

Pass the tryptophan please and thank you!

BadWitch

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Dear Readers,

I know that some of you are having a hard time finding thanks this year. We have suffered. We have worried. We have seen debt rise, income drop and unemployment soar. The tough times are not yet over. But for today, let’s decide we have hit bottom. We can now reposition ourselves, redirect and push off with a force that catapults us from the depths.

I give thanks for hitting bottom. I give thanks for the lessons and incredible gifts of compassion and mercy I found there. I give thanks for family, friends and extended community whose very presence on this planet, gives me strength. I give thanks for health and the spirit of laughter. I give thanks for the joy of service. And most of all, I give thanks for amazing readers who share their stories so that we all may learn and grow. Thank you for your questions, your comments and your readership.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving,

GoodWitch

==

Juicy Coaching for Leaders and Individuals.

Mondays money, work, purpose dilemmas. Thursdays family, relationships, love dramedy. Send your FREE brewing questions on how to thrive—not just survive— modern life to: coaching@stillsitting.net.

© 2009 ManifestGroup. No materials may be used without expressed written permission.

Article re mammography guidelines in today’s Guelph Mercury newspaper by Vik Kirsch:
Long-term breast cancer survivor Lynn Roodbol couldn’t disagree more with a new panel’s conclusion that women don’t need mammograms in their 40s.

While living in British Columbia in the mid-1980s, Guelphite Roodbol, 64, found a lump.

“My doctor refused to give me a mammogram. He said I was too young to have breast cancer.” But her persistence paid off: she was ultimately diagnosed as having breast cancer — despite being only 41 at the time.

“That’s why I believe in mammography starting at 40,” said Roodbol, a member of the Guelph Wellington Breast Cancer Support Group who is — ironically — a Guelph and Kitchener mammographer by profession, recently retired.

There’s increasing public debate about a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force panel of experts concluding routine mammograms aren’t needed for women in their 40s. They found little evidence survival rates are better than for women tested in their 50s. Current American guidelines recommend screening every year or two for women in their 40s. But the task force noted a high number of false positive results for women in their 40s leading to unnecessary removal and sampling of tissue.

In the face of concern in the U.S. that the task force is attempting to cut costs for health care providers, President Barack Obama’s administration is assuring the public the government would continue to fund mammograms for women 40 and older, the New York Times reported last week.

The task force recommendations dovetail with what’s the norm in Canada: routine testing of women starting in their 50s.

Canadian Cancer Society senior manager of prevention Gillian Bromfield said periodic testing of women 50 to 69 years of age and of average risk “has been shown to save lives.”

Evidence it would benefit women in their 40s “hasn’t come to light.”

The exceptions include women in elevated risks, such as those in families with histories of breast cancer or those who have had previous exposure to radiation. Such women should have discussions with their doctors about when it’s appropriate to begin mammogram testing.

“They should start those discussions early,” Bromfield said, adding that could begin even before they’re in their 40s in some circumstances.

But Bromfield acknowledged there’s ongoing debate in the public about what’s best. Some people assume that if regular testing is beneficial to people in their 50s, it should be helpful at an earlier age. But among the issues is the fact women younger than 50 have denser breasts, so mammograms may not be as revealing. There are also more false positive test results in younger women.

But Roodbol says she’s living proof women can get breast cancer in their 40s and should be proactive.

By the time her cancer was confirmed, it was in the second stage of development, had grown to a significant size and spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent surgery, received whole-body chemotherapy and made lifestyle changes in exercise and diet.

Roodbol urged women in their 40s to have a healthy respect for the threat of breast cancer. If they have legitimate concerns, they should see their doctors about having mammograms as a precaution.

They shouldn’t wait until they’re 50, Roodbol concluded.

1. List your relapse behaviors…    (relapse behaviors are behaviors that put your life at risk, your health, your job, education, your therapy at risk, your relationships, your safety, etc…)
2. List emotional and interpersonal triggers…    (the emotional state prior to your relapse behaviors, the external events that happen before you relapse, this may include situations including other people, sounds, music, movies, etc…)
3. Describe some apparently irrelevant decisions made in the past…       (these are recent choices and behaviors that moved you CLOSER to relapse behaviors, such as going to the drug store to get shampoo that you used to buy your razors at, or keeping foods you have chosen not to binge on for ‘when company comes’, going out with men you know are bad news but are more exciting than the nice guys you have been meeting, calling up unhealthy people again even just to say ‘hi’, etc…
4. List ways you have attempted to test limits and control, include catastrophizing and ‘all or nothing’ thinking:    (to put yourself to the test to invite temptation and lapse. example – you have already binged a little, so why not binge all the way?)
5. Identify high risk situations for you:
6. Identify some lapses you experienced in the past:    (if they are too painful to write down in detail, you can name them, like ‘the one that happened last Christmas, or the one with Eric, etc…)
7. Specify non-addictive coping resources you will use:    (what NEW, HEALTHY BEHAVIORS can you use that will give you the same reinforcers of your relapse behaviors?)
8. Write down/speed dial/program your cell phone with the  names, email addresses, phone numbers of healthy people you can get in touch with and discuss urges, coping skills and who can offer support:
9. Record plans for modifying your work/school life for better balance:    (this includes therapy and personal growth outlets. example – limit yourself to an 8 hour day, commit to therapy 1x per week, be honest with your therapist about how you are feeling, set aside time for meditation, add some movement – an honest little bit of something is better than nothing.
10. Record plans for modifying your leisure life for better balance:    (include rest, nutrition, fitness, recreation, hobbies, etc…)
11. List tentative plan for aftercare for the next 90 days:    how often will you attend therapy?, how often will you see your doctor?, can you make a commitment to at least give your meds a 90 day shot?, how about groups or meetings? journaling? blogging?)
12. State your present sexual boundaries. Include plans for modifying your sexuality for better balance.    (example, recognize unhealthy and unsafe behaviors. can you say ’no’ with conviction?)
13. List current difficulties with boundaries with people:    (family, partners, therapists or doctors who have begun an inappropriate (aka – secret) relationship with you, abusive people (to include partners, family, bosses, friends, teachers. who do you WANT to be close to in your life? who do you WANT distance from? what limits will you set? what is your plan of action?
14. List five positive accomplishments you have made while in your recovery, or in your most recent treatment program?

Keep this list handy! It’s a great resource for when you are too overwhelmed to think clearly, and will be helpful to anyone you choose to work with. Only share it with healthy people who are committed to helping you in your recovery.

Good Luck! )

Thanksgiving is a fantastic holiday to enjoy family, friends, and comfort foods.

But, according to the American Council on Exercise, the average American consumes 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving, which is the equivalent to eating 5.5 Big Macs from McDonald’s or 15 Supreme Tacos from Taco Bell.

The American Dietetic Association recommends starting your day with a small meal made up of elements from the whole grains, fruit, dairy and meat and beans groups.  Then, instead of starving yourself the rest of the day, grab small, low-calorie snacks that will fuel your body until it’s time for the big feast.  If you starve yourself before a big Thanksgiving meal, you’ll be more likely to overindulge when you finally do eat.

Try to make time for exercise during the day.  Go for a walk, take a bike ride, or play games like touch football with family, friends and neighbors.  Most communities will have 5K or 10K races or fun runs on Thanksgiving weekend.  For a list of events in Maryland, check out the Maryland Running Guide’s November race calendar.

When dinnertime rolls around, choose your foods carefully.  Eat mindfully: chew slowly, savor your food, and recognize when you’re full and stop eating.  Take time in between bites to talk to friends and family.  And don’t deprive yourself of foods you love.  You don’t have to skip the stuffing or pumpkin pie, but load up on healthier, nutrient-rich Thanksgiving superfoods like sweet potatoes, winter squash, broccoli, green beans, and cranberries.

Finally, accept the fact that it’s a holiday.  Don’t stress or feel overly guilty if you indulged more than you usually would.  Instead of panicking or drastically altering your diet for the rest of the weekend, make an effort to eat healthier for the next couple of days.

So you had seconds, eh?  What was that you said?  Thirds?  Oh boy….

We feel your pain and have devised a one-day program to get you back to feeling fit and fabulous in no time!

Upon Wake-up:  Make yourself a yummy cup of herbal tea and hit the mat for an easy and rejuvenating yoga practice.  We recommend the Twist & Detox Series from Yoga Journal.  Click HERE for the free video!

Next, it’s Green Smoothie time! Drinking a nutrient rich green smoothie is a great way to get your body back on track after the holiday festivities. We recommend selecting seasonal and organic produce, and making your concoction of 60% fruit and 40% greens.  Hint:  The more greens the better!  Here is one of our favorite recipes:

Pear & Kale Smoothie (yields 4 cups)

• 1 orange, peeled
• 1/2 Bartlett pear
• 1 (120 g) banana, fresh or frozen
• 1 cup kale
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups ice cubes

Blend and enjoy!  For more green smoothie recipes, click HERE.

Before you leave the kitchen, let’s make a homemade sugar scrub to use for exfoliation in the shower. Sugar produces glycolic acid, which is a wonderful and natural exfoliant for the skin.  We recommend mixing white cane sugar with either avocado or grapeseed oil.  We also like adding a touch of aloe vera & a drop of essential oil.  Do a patch test, and then hit the showers! Massage gently into the skin for approximately one minute and leave on for an additional 1-3 minutes.  Rinse, and voila…smooth skin!

Post shower, do not pass GO, do not collect $200, go directly to the kitchen and grab a glass of water! We recommend that you drink water constantly through the day and eliminate dehydrating beverages such as coffee and soda.  (We know Sweat fans don’t drink soda anyway!)

Okay, okay…we know you have a life and need to get on with your day. If you are venturing out into the world, we need you to be prepared with a healthy lunch option!  Wherever you are, lunch today is a giant green salad with a base of dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc).   Your mission?  To top your salad with fruits/veggies from almost every color of the rainbow! (Minimum 4!)

Red: Tomato, red bell pepper, strawberries, radish, red cabbage, raspberries
Orange: Orange bell pepper, carrot, squash, papaya, pumpkin, oranges
Yellow: Zucchini, lemon, pineapple, yellow apples
Green: Sprouts, broccoli, snap peas, green beans, asparagus, artichokes
Blue: Blueberries (help us out here!)
Indigo/Violet: Eggplant, figs, blackberries, plums, purple grapes

Sometime in the day we need you to get your sweat on with a great cardio session! Run, power walk, dance, vacuum your stairs…whatever it takes.  Get that heart rate up and detoxify!  Don’t forget to drink 8 ounces of water pre-workout, 8 ounces during, and 8 ounces post-workout.

Craving a little somethin’ somethin’ in the afternoon? Repeat your Green Smoothie, or try another recipe from the website.

When dinner rolls around, it is time to go lean and green! This is the perfect time to enjoy leftover (light) turkey meat with a delicious steamed vegetable or leftover salad that you have from lunch.   Still craving something sweet?  Before you have a piece of leftover pie, reach for a piece of fruit or try Good Earth’s Sweet and Spicy tea.  The caffeine-free variety is our favorite way to curb a sweet tooth and relax for the evening.

After dinner settles, we encourage you to end the day on the yoga mat with another gentle yoga practice. Did you know that Gaiam has a yoga channel on You Tube?  It’s a fabulous resource for doing your yoga practice at home.  The PM practice is found HERE.

That concludes your day of health, fitness, and we’d like to think…FUN.   As your head hits the pillow, let’s keep the purpose of Thanksgiving alive by remembering all that we are grateful for.  It’s the perfect recipe for a night of sweet dreams.

To your health and happiness!
Team Sweat and the City