Can Writing Actually Improve Your Health?
May 15, 2007
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, writing about stressful life events helped reduce symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis in patients with these chronic illnesses. The effects of the writing exercise were still evident four months later and resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in patient symptoms.
Interestingly, studies showed that asthma patients who wrote about their most stressful life events showed a 19-percent improvement in lung function; similarly, rheumatoid arthritis patients had a 28-percent reduction in symptoms.
These findings add to a growing body of evidence that links mental and emotional health to physical well-being. Although researchers aren’t sure exactly how expressive writing can lead to health improvements, they theorize that writing help people cope with stress, and stress-as well all know-clearly impacts health.
University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker believes that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. He theorizes that writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thus reducing the impact of these stressors on your physical health.
Is It Deja Vu?
May 14, 2007
Is It Deja Vu?
by: Pamela Thomas
Have you ever had an issue or situation reoccur time and time again which left you asking, “OK, when will this go away?” OR “Why me?”
Yes, why you? Great question!
The answer; oftentimes repetitive issues and situations present themselves until we learn to master them. It is usually the Universe’s way of telling us we have something to learn and we need to pay close attention.
As a personal example
For as long as I could remember I was always fixing, rescuing, making things right for everyone around me. Partly because I never wanted to let anyone down and partly because I had this need to be liked. Needless to say, I encountered people (repeatedly) who would take advantage and walk all over of me, leaving me feeling angry and powerless.
It was not until I learned that I didn’t have to make things right for everyone in order to be liked the only person I was really letting down was me I could help empower people to make things right for themselves(OK, you get the idea)that the situation of always fixing, getting walked on and feeling angry and powerless dissipated.
5 Practical Ways to Make the Most of Your Day Dreams
May 13, 2007
5 Practical Ways to Make the Most of Your Day Dreams
by: Karin Syren
Live more powerfully & more significantly - the journey begins today!
PURPOSE is what you’re created for. MISSION is what you’re meant to do about it. VISIONS are the evidence, and GOALS are the means of achievement.
It’s a plain and simple truth that you will not have in reality what you cannot first create in your mind. Effective use of the incredible gift of imagination is the key.
Imagination is the vision birthed by the powerful union of the mind and the emotions.
Webster defines imagination as the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality; a creative ability. With this in mind, It’s not difficult to see that utilizing this gift can be a worthwhile employment - - if it is harnessed. Einstein understood the power of the gift.
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. Albert Einstein
Shamanism
May 12, 2007
Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although there are many localized variations, the basic tenet is that all things are sacred and alive. Shamans are experts in this perspective and act as priests, holy persons, guides, researchers, explorers or professionals. Most have the ability to enter trance or altered states to access information related to their work.
The shaman acts as a bridge. While in contact with life in other dimensions of the universe, they also use what is available in the local environment as an aid in returning a person, place or situation back into balance.
The historical paths to becomming a shaman are many and varied. Before we had instant mass communication, and global travel, a would be shaman lived in a small village like all our ancestors. These small tribal settings were located in different ecosystems, some tropical, some cold, mountainous, valley, desert, forest, etc. Each place had it’s own unique energy, with different plants and animals. You won’t find a whale in the desert, so each potential shaman had very different life experiences and local resources to work with. Also, mythological systems vary a great deal.
Pick Up Your Pen and Lose Weight!
May 11, 2007
Although every dieter knows that keeping food records is a key to permanent weight loss, few understand the importance of also keeping an "emotional journal." In fact, one dieter lost 100 pounds, thanks in part to the insights gained through daily journaling.
Dieting for weight loss can be as simple as keeping that food diary, or (the more challenging) dipping into the dark waters of the psyche. For example, which emotions motivate, sabotage, side-track, or inspire? Which people are supportive, which ones undermine your focus with snide remarks or constant invitations to ice cream? All will be revealed inside your private journal.
Of all the journal exercises for gaining insight, a favorite is the "Letter to My Body." In this exercise, the dieter actually pens a letter to self, being as honest as possible. A sample might be "Dear Fat Body, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. I hate your rolls of fat on me, I hate that my knees hurt, I hate that you’d rather have a Danish than let me feel good about myself. I hate that you’ve been good all day and I know that tonight you’ll be a pig."
Speed of Movement & the Mighty Metronome.
May 10, 2007
Tempo refers to the speed of movement and is usually represented by a 4-digit number: eccentric (negative) contraction - isometric (pause between negative and positive) contraction - concentric (positive) contraction - isometric (pause between positive and negative) contraction. For example, a tempo of 3-1-2-0 means to lower the weight for a count of 3, pause for a count of 1, raise the weight for a count of 2, and do not pause before starting the next repetition. An “X” designation denotes eXplosive, meaning to lift the weight as fast as possible.
It’s not uncommon for people to race through their sets in order to get done sooner. Although this could benefit power development, hypertrophy might be sacrificed. For instance, if two individuals were to perform the same number of repetitions, but one completes the set in 6 seconds and the other takes 60 seconds, is the training effect the same? Obviously not! Tempo is a training parameter that is quite often neglected. You can calculate total time under tension (TUT) of a set simply by multiplying tempo (add all 4 digits) and the number of repetitions performed.
They Dont Know Squat!
May 10, 2007
There seems to be much confusion amongst trainers and trainees as to whether squats should be performed all the way down or just half way. In most gyms today, a common instruction during squats, deadlifts, and lunges (as taught by many personal training organizations) is not to allow the knees to travel beyond the toes. Doing so will ultimately cause the destruction of your knees! I do not agree. There are certain instances where partial range of motion (ROM) is indicated, but for the most part, I teach people the full squat for the following reasons:
* It is the most primitive movement pattern known to man; our ancestors used to perform many daily functions (i.e. harvesting, gathering, hunting, cooking, eating, etc.) in a full squat position.
* Also, in case anyone hasn’t noticed, we spend 40 weeks in the fetal position (which is basically a full squat) prior to entering this world - do we come out with bad knees?
* We should strive to train in full ROM for each and every exercise. The squat is no exception.
* Every exercise produces stress around a joint - the body then adapts to this stress.
Self-Esteem: You Are Not Who You Think You Are
May 9, 2007
Self-Esteem: You Are Not Who You Think You Are
by: Margaret Paul, Ph.D.
David sat in front of me at one of my five-day intensive workshops. A successful businessman with a wife and two grown children, David believed that he was not good enough.
“I’m insufficient,” he said. “I’m inadequate.”
I looked at this kind man and felt deep sadness for him. He did not know who he was.
“Why do you believe that?” I asked.
“I didn’t do well in school, and I’ve made lots of mistakes in my life.”
“So you are basing your worth on your performance, right?”
“Of course.”
David could not conceive of any other way of defining his worth other than through his performance - which he never saw as good enough.
I asked David to look inside - at the essence of himself - and tell me what he sees. All he saw was emptiness.
“David, please close your eyes. Now imagine a wonderful being who loves you very much. Who comes to mind?”
“My grandfather. He died when I was young, but he really loved me.”
3 Steps To Starting a Successful Fall Exercise Program
May 8, 2007
Ah, the crisp cool breeze, the invigorating feel of the outdoors as the leaves start to turn colors, the sound of kids laughing on their way to school.
Fall is the time for new beginnings. New classes, new curriculum, new programs, new start. You’ve relaxed over the summer and now you’re ready to reach higher, push further.
You’re pumped. You’re excited about starting a new season. You’re ready to tackle new challenges.
There’s nothing like feeling the momentum of new beginnings. If you’ve been wanting to lose weight and get into amazing shape, why not use this momentum to your advantage?
Momentum is one of the most underrated factors in achieving a better body.
Momentum can give you what you need to start an exercise program, stick with it and reap major rewards.
As we all know, it’s very easy to do something when we feel excited about it. This is not a bad thing if you learn to use it.
This initial excitement does wear off eventually, but by the time it does, you could be so far ahead already, that maintenance is easy.
Why not use this initial excitement to kick-start your treadmill exercise program?
Real Weight Loss Begins Today…With Cliff Kuhn, M.D.s Fun Factor Diet!
May 7, 2007
Weight Loss is something that many Americans struggle with. In this article, Cliff Kuhn, M.D. will teach you why your weight loss techniques so far have been unsuccessful, and how to correctly lose weight - and keep it off!
P.T. Barnum, who dedicated his life to entertaining the masses, often relied on size-related adjectives to sell his attractions. His posters and announcements were peppered with words like mammoth, extraordinary, colossal, and gargantuan.
Unfortunately, if you’re like most of us those words might be used to describe you as well. Americans have an obsession with weight loss and with good reason; the percentage of overweight people in the United States is doubling every ten years - from 1 in 200 in 1986, to 1 in 50 in 2000. Without some weight loss, pretty soon there won’t be enough room for us all on this continent!
We’ve identified a curious paradox: Americans are obsessed with weight loss and spend billions on it each year, yet 140 million of us are overweight or obese - and that number grows (pun intended) each year. With all that energy and money thrown at it, why can’t we experience more weight loss and why do we pack it on in the first place?
