Take a breath and relax...

Stress and high blood pressure...

2008-11-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

According to lifeclinic.com, blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats if pumps blood into our arteries. Having high blood pressure is when it reaches 140/90.

When your blood pressure reaches this level it puts you at risk for a heart attack or heart disease. A way to keep blood pressure low is to relax.

Interesting Facts:

1. Systolic Pressure is when your heart beats and your blood pressure is at its highest.
2. Disasolic Pressure is when the heart is between beats making it more at rest causing blood pressure to fall.
3. When the cause of what caused blood pressure to go up is unknown it is called, "essential or primary high blood pressure."
4. When the cause of what caused blood pressure to go up is known it is called, "secondary high blood pressure."

When we suffer from stressful situations, it can cause a temporary spike in our blood pressure. According to mayoclinic.com, "doing activities to reduce your blood pressure, such as exercising 30 to 60 minutes a day, can also reduce your stress level. And if you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, doing activities that can help you manage your stress and improve your health can make a long-term difference in lowering your blood pressure."

It is said that there is no real proof of stress by itself causes the long term effects of high blood pressure, but stress puts hormones in overdrive and is responsible for causing behaviors that do cause a spike in our blood pressure, such as drinking alcohol or getting no sleep.

Stress on the heart

2008-11-12T21:17:00.000-08:00

Our heart is the most important part of our bodies. Without them we obviously cannot survive. It is best to take care of our hearts in whatever way we can. One way is to reduce stress because it helps decrease our risk or developing heart disease.

What is heart disease? Visit this slide show.

The American Heart Association says CHD is caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries because of fatty build ups of plaque. With this it is likely to develop chest pains or even a heart attack.

Did you know? According to CDC.gov, heart disease claims more than 7 million lives each year.

According to medicinenet.com, although medical researchers do not have a positive answer to how stress increases the risk of heart disease, it is known that stressing out can cause our blood pressure to go up and could cause our cholesterol to become high which can both make out heart suffer.

Medicinenet continues to say, "If stress itself is a risk factor for heart disease, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack."

It was found in a study done by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, that signs of heart disease are attributed to stress more frequently in women than men. "Dr. Chiaramonte stated, "For women, the presence of stress or anxiety drives the interpretation of accompanying symptoms so that symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath undergo a 'meaning shift' when presented in the context of stress or anxiety and they are perceived as a manifestation of the stress or anxiety and not as CHD symptoms. For men, cardiac symptoms drive the interpretation of accompanying symptoms so that anxiety or stress is perceived (rightly so) as a risk factor for CHD and may in fact augment the CHD assessment. The presence of anxiety or stress in men does not deter from the CHD assessment; for women, it appears to preclude a CHD assessment," sciencedaily.com said.

More about the study visit: CHD Study

The Swedish Massage

2008-11-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

The Swedish massage is the most basic and most popular type of massage. According to Anna Lynn Sibal who writes for massageden.com, the Swedish massage was developed by Henrik Ling in Sweden in the 1700's. "Swedish massage is particularly to allow the body to absorb more oxygen, thereby rejuvenating the body. Swedish massage is also geared towards detoxification by increasing the speed by which the cells of the body eliminate their waste materials.
But more than these, Swedish massage brings to the receiver an immense feeling of satisfaction and relaxation," Sibal said.

When giving a Swedish massage there are six techniques that are used. Visit the link to learn more: Swedish Massage Techniques

Here is a lesson on how to do a Swedish massage for the back:

Stress from school

2008-11-12T19:58:00.000-08:00

Many things in our everyday life can cause stress. For those that are students, school is most likely one of those stresses. Heliohealth.com says,

" When it comes to dealing with school stress, the most important thing to remember is to keep it real! Learn what stress is, what it isn't, and what it can do if you choose to let it rule your life."

Some tips that their website offers to keep stress away from school are:

1. Maintain Perspective- keep in mind that it is only a homework assignment and it is not the end of the world. Take control.
2. Be Organized: Be sure you have what supplies you need. Label and separate things by class.
3. Prioritize- Notice when things are do and do your work according to what is due first or work on those projects first that take a long time.
4. Maintain Focus- don't let TV or radio distract you from doing your assignments and limit distractions.
5. Learn to say "NO"- don't take on extra obligations don't be afraid to say no if someone like friends ask you to do things when you should be doing your homework for example.
6. Get Extensions- Sometimes it is OK to ask your teacher/professor for an extension on a paper or project if it is really needed.
7. Take Breaks- After around 45 minutes to an hour of doing your assignments take a 5 to 10 minute break. It helps refresh your mind.
8. Use Teamwork- Sometimes its good to work in a group than alone. It gives you more opportunity to gain more knowledge by listening to others.

WebMD Health News reporter Jennifer Warner wrote about a study that was done to see if stresses at home can affect a teenagers' performance at school. "Researchers found the negative effects of stress at home linger and affect teenagers' academic performance at school for up to two days. Meanwhile, stress over grades and other demands at school may also spill over into the home life of teens," Warner said.

For more information on the study that was done visit: Teen Stress At Home Lingers In School

Senator McCain Relaxing At His Sedona, Arizona Home

2008-11-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Senator McCain's way of relaxing is when is spends time at his home in Sedona, Arizona.

According to Gateway To Sedona.com, the McCain's have owned their home for over 25 years. At the home they treat guests and family to barbecue ribs and chicken which McCain would make himself.
His home in Sedona is where he, "enjoyed countless weekends, family gatherings and relaxing get-aways from their busy life in Washington D. C. and Phoenix," Gateway To Sedona.com said.

According to Dana Bash, Tasha Diakides and Evan Glass who are all CNN reporters, "McCain revealed that barbecuing for guests is one of the few ways he relaxes, especially during the grueling campaign, and was eager to share his carefully honed recipe on the gas grill: baby back ribs (bought at Costco), cooked bones down with a dry rub that's a third garlic powder, a third salt and a third pepper. The trick to not letting it dry out? Keep putting lemon juice on, the senator said."

Other than treating his guests to food, McCain would humbly give guests wildlife information of all the animals that would roam around his property. Such as the 67 different types of birds, and the occasional cougars and coyotes.

There are many more pictures on McCain's daughter's blog that show him at his home in Sedona. To visit click the following link: McCain Blogette

New President Obama Takes Time To Relax

2008-11-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

Throughout his campaign, Obama has been busy running around trying to get whatever vote he can. Even with his hectic schedule, he showed the public that he can still take time to himself and to relax.

Some of the many things that he has done is hung out at the beach and go bike riding. According to Wcco.com, in March he took some down time during his campaign to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands where he was spotted on the beach by local tourists. This past August he took a trip with his two daughters ten-year-old Mailia, and seven-year-old Sasha and wife Michelle to Hawaii to visit his ill grandmother who he also called "tutu". While on his trip to Hawaii it was a time for him to relax and spend time with family. He also took time to visit the beach on his trip.

The day after Obama was elected president on November 5th, according to the Associated Press, he took the morning to relax and enjoy a nice
breakfast with his daughters. After his breakfast, "Obama left the house alone, clad in workout clothes, a ball cap and sunglasses, and spent an hour at a friend’s apartment building, where he uses the gym," The Associated Press said.

Aromatherapy bubble bath

2008-10-30T14:03:00.001-07:00

Although the brand is called "California Baby", it doesn't mean that it is just for babies. However, it is as safe enough for newborns and good enough for grownups as well. If you find yourself having a horrible day and need some help relaxing, a bubble bath can help the process of calming our bodies.

According to their website, californiababy.com, their product is made with, "mild vegetable-derived bubbling agents, enriched with a nourishing herbal complex that works to protect delicate skin. Non-drying, extremely biodegradable bubble bath strictly avoids the use of synthetic fragrances and harsh bubbling agents. This product was developed to avoid irritation (that is typical of other bubble baths) and we never use Sodium lauryl sulfate, DEA, or numbing agents."

This aromatherapy bubble bath also uses the soothing sent of French Lavender. For anyone interested, for a 13 oz bottle it cost $13.99. The cost of tax and shipping is additional. Visit their website for more details: www.californiababy.com

Here is a testimonial from a person who tried this bubble bath.
" I have super sensitive skin & have to return or donate any bubble bath, lotion product ever given to me. My husband did research & bought some of your products for Christmas. My skin feels great & I did not react to any of the product. My kids were finally able to experience a bubble bath (I would never let them b/c of harsh chemicals). Thank you for making such a great product line & manufacturing in the US. I will continue to try more CB products! Kind regards, MLS"

This company offers products other than bubble bath as well. They offer a bunch of other products such as hair and body care, skin care, SPF sun care, care for those who have eczema and much more. Their aim is to provide care for babies, kids and sensitive adults.

Panic attacks

2008-10-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

What is it?
Panic attacks can be scary. They can hit a person suddenly making the person feel as if they are having a heart attack, suffocating and they even feel as if they are dying.

What causes a panic attack? According to WebMD, "Experts aren't sure what causes panic attacks and panic disorder. But the body has a natural response when you are stressed or in danger. It speeds up your heart, makes you breathe faster, and gives you a burst of energy. This is called the flight-or-fight response. It gets you ready to either cope with or run away from danger. A panic attack occurs when this response happens when there is no danger."

It is said that more women than men experience panic attacks. These attacks can last 5-20 minutes and the most anxiety a person will experience is about 10 minutes after the initial attack starts. Anxietypanic.com says that 1 out of 75 people world wide will experience a panic attack at one time or another in their lives.

Although some medications can help with anxiety and stress to prevent these attacks, there are other "natural" ways to prevent these as well. For example, if you practice many of the relaxation techniques that are in this blog, you will find that it really helps take with stress.

Hot stone massage

2008-10-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

*What is it?
Leonardo Antunano who is a licensed massage therapist describes a hot stone massage as being a, "application of heated stones to the body during a gentle deep tissue massage. Stones are used as an extension of the hands. It stimulates the circulatory system and promotes self-healing. Softens and relaxes the muscles and helps to release toxins. Induces a state of deep relaxation that washes away stress. Creates a feeling of peacefulness and spiritual well being."

*History of the hot stone massage:
According to spavelous.com, the hot stone massage can be traced back about 5000 years being used in India. It was also used in cultures such as:
-Japanese: where stones were placed on the stomach and used to aid digestion.
-Chinese: for 4,000 years, the stones were used for muscular pain, and from around 2,000 BC, they were used for improving function of internal organs.
-Native Americans: used to detoxify and find harmony

*Stones used:
The stones that are used according to Cathy Wong from about.com, are basalt rocks because they are rich in iron which lets the stone retain heat. They are also river rocks which are smooth which is good on our bodies.

*How are they used?
"The stones are immersed in water and heated in an electric heating device until they are within a certain temperature range. The stones may be placed at specific points on the back, in the palms of the hand, or between the toes.The heat warms and relaxes the muscles, which allows the therapist to apply deeper pressure, if desired.The warmth of the hot stones improves circulation and calms the nervous system," Wong said.

*Time and cost:
A hot stone can take anywhere from 30 to 120 minutes and can cost about $50-$190.

*A therapist in Delray Beach, Florida:
Leonardo Antunano as mentioned earlier works out of Delray Beach, Florida and he charges about $70-$180 depending on the time a client would want. If you would like more information or to book an appointment with Leonardo please contact: 561-330-3434.

Caffeine and relaxing don't mix

2008-10-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Caffeine is hard to avoid because it is in some of our most favorite things such as chocolate, soda and coffee. According to wisegeek.com, It is found in various beans, leaves and fruit in some plants.

For us humans, caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine can have positive effects such as a "pick me up" when we need it the most. However, it can also have negative effects on our bodies such as making us overstimulated giving us the jitters and can spike our blood pressure.

* Mind boggling fact: Many researchers have mixed emotions regarding the effects that caffeine has on our blood pressure. Many studies have been done and they give results that are sometimes mind boggling. For example, one 12-year study was done using 155,000 women and they found that women who got their caffeine from soda experienced a risk for higher blood pressure than those women who got their caffeine from coffee.

About.com mentions other effects that caffeine has on our body such as disrupting sleep or interfering with hormones in our body and can cause moodiness. Too much caffeine such as approximately 4 cups, can make you dependant and cause you to have headaches as you try to wean yourself off of it.

Mayo Clinic hypertension specialist Dr. Sheldon Sheps recommends the following, "limit caffeine to 200 milligrams a day- about the same amount as in two 12-ounce cups of brewed coffee. Keep in mind that the amount of caffeine in coffee and soft drinks varies by brand. Also, avoid caffeine right before activities that naturally increase your blood pressure."

The Cold Air Bath... Ben Franklin used to do it..

2008-10-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

In Philadelphia back in the times when Benjamin Franklin lived, he used to take cold air baths each morning in his room. According to The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, he was sure that fresh air was important to your health. Franklin wrote to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg who was a French physician saying, "I rise early almost every morning and sit in my chamber, without any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing."

In relation to a air bath is a cold air bath. It is a relaxing method used to expose your body to fresh air and can raise your metabolism. Cold air baths help also to open your pores if you take a warm bath first and then a cold air bath.

A cold air bath entails exposing the nude body to the air.

Dr. Herbert M. Shelton made the point that taking these cold air baths can help raise metabolism by 50 in just ten minutes where as Thyroid extract which is a stimulant of metabolism can take up to a year to achieve. He continues to say, "An air-bath of twenty minutes duration reduces the hydrogen-ion content of the blood to normal. No drug method known can do this in any length of time."

Dr. Shelton continues to say, "Air baths, accompanied by gymnastic exercise, which are more pleasantly practiced in a state of nudity, will do much to add to the health of everyone.The air bath should be pleasant and if it is taken progressively will prove to be so. Its duration must depend on the temperature and on the condition of the patient. The patient must not be permitted to chill. Should chilling occur, no time should be lost in securing proper warmth."

He also mentions when you are a beginner of taking air baths it is best to make them short.

It is new to our bodies and patients that are delicate or sensitive sometimes cannot handle more than three minutes in the beginning. The Best thing is to do it in moderation.

Cheryl Myers from ehow.com gives tips on how to make a cold air bath. Please visit her website for more information: http://www.ehow.com/how_4494955_make-air-bath.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

Relation of Stress and Headaches

2008-10-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Headaches are painful and can ruin one's day.

When we stress out with the everyday elements it can cause us to have headaches. There are many different kinds that we can obtain such as a sinus,cluster,tension and even the big mac of them all, the migraine. The diagram on the right can help you figure out which one you may have as you are experiencing one.

According to webmd, "Emotional stress is one of the most common triggers of migraines and tension headaches also known as a stress headache. Migraine sufferers are generally found to be more emotional and highly effected by stressful events. During stressful events, certain chemicals in the brain are released to combat the situation (known as the "flight or fight" response). The release of these chemicals can provoke blood vessel changes that can cause migraine headaches."

Daily stressful situations such as our jobs can cause a person to experience chronic tension headaches. Stress management, counseling, and medications such as antidepressants or anxiety medicine are useful to help with these chronic tension headaches.

The online mayo clinic suggest these tips to use to avoid stress and headaches. Although we cannot avoid daily stress, we can try to control it.

1. Simplify your life
2. Manage your time
3. Be Prepared
4. Let go
5. Adjust your attitude
6. Relax
7. Take a break
8. Exercise regularly
9. Eat smart
10. Laugh
11. Change the pace

Stress and hair loss

2008-10-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

How many times when you are stressed out or aggravated do you feel like pulling out your hair? When you are stressed do you realize you are cutting out the middle man?

According to about.com, when we get stressed it could cause us to experience one of two types of hair loss.

1.) Telogen Effluvium: is the most common and less severe type of hair loss. The hair stops growing and lies dormant, only to fall out 2 or 3 months later. It eventually grows back 6 to 9 months later.

2.) Alopecia Areata: involves a white blood cell attack on the hair follicles. The hair usually falls out in patches within a few weeks of the blood cell attack and could involve the entire scalp and even body hair. Treatment may be required and it is possible for the hair to grow back on its own.

"The condition of a person's hair can tell you a lot about stress levels in their lives. Happiness and serenity in a person's life will be reflected by healthy looking, shiny hair. However, those with dry, lifeless, poor hair are likely encountering a depressing situation and are struggling to adapt," the medical news today said.

An interesting fact: Healthology.com claims that the biggest cause of hair loss for women when it comes to stress is during pregnancy. Around 45% of pregnant mothers experience hair loss due to stress during pregnancy.

If you are experiencing hair loss due to stress try not to worry too much about it. It will only make you stress out more and you will be creating a cycle for the problem. If you would like an expert opinion on a hair loss problem contact a board certified dermatologist.

Peace and quiet helps with stress

2008-10-17T13:40:00.001-07:00

The world is filled with noises. There are some sounds that are naturally relaxing, and then there are others that can cause us stress. Those that cause us these stresses could be traffic noises, office machines and cell phones just to name a few. Cathy Lewis who is an inspirational writer for "Natural Awakenings" magazine, wrote about a study conducted near London's Heathrow Airport. "The study showed an association of regular exposure to environmental noise with mental health problems and individuals' increased production of the stress hormone, coristol. Other medical studies have linked exposure to noise with psychological distress, gastrointestinal problems and cardiovascular conditions. Even low-level sounds have been connected with problems ranging from increased aggression to poor sleep," Lewis said.

According to Lewis, there are five things that you can do to get the peaceful effects by using silence.

1. Start the day with silence (Instead of waking up in the morning and putting on the news and grabbing a cup of coffee, try something more peaceful such as stretching).

2. Eat at a table, without TV or reading

3. Drive in silence

4. Create a silent retreat at home (dedicate an evening to yourself with no talking and by turning off all machines such as TV and your phone).

5. Practice silent exercise (work out with out an iPod for example. It also gives our bodies to pay more attention to what our bodies do when we exercise such as posture and breathing).

Help your body and your mind by exercising

2008-10-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

Exercise

Exercising is a great way to alleviate stress. According to womens fitness.net, "Exercise can decrease muscular tension, loosen tight muscles and decrease the body chemicals that are brought on by stress. It also stimulates brain activity patterns that are associated with meditation and relaxation."

There are many ways to work out instead of just having to go to the gym. Just to name a few. Riding your bike, (while enjoying a breeze) is nice. Going out dancing could help take stress away as well.

It is also important to exercise not only for our psychological well being but also for our physical well being. Exercising could: (Information taken from http://www.healthdiscovery.net/).

Help prevent diseases
Improve stamina
Strengthen and tone our bodies
Control our weight
Improve our quality of life

Americanheart.org suggests that, "adults ages 18-65 should be getting 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity five days of the week."

Something great I wanted to share......it does help!

A great website to visit is: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/relax.htm

This site contains a program to help you relax at home. I tried it myself and found it to be pretty interesting. By the end of the exercise, I did feel more at ease. The program starts with a "Getting Loose" exercise and then it is followed with "Breathing Easy."

Help stop insomnia by relaxing

2008-10-09T14:27:00.001-07:00

Insomnia

When we stress about things it does not seem to leave our minds at least until the problem is resolved. The problem with this is that these problems and stresses we take to bed with us without even knowing it. Having even one restless night can even screw up the way we feel the next day.

According to helpguide.org, "When you continuously don't get the amount of sleep you need, you begin to pay for it in daytime drowsiness, trouble concentrating, irritability, increased risk of falls and accidents, and lower productivity."

The amount of sleep each person varies by age. (Report from helpguide.org)

Infants- 16 hrs per day
Babies/toddlers 6 months to 3 years old - 10 and 14 hours per day
Children ages 3 to 6 years old- 10 and 14 hours per day
Children ages 6 to 9 years old- 10 hours per day
Children ages 9 to 12 years old- 9 hours per day
Teenagers- 9 hours per day
Adults- 7 to 8 hours per day
Older adults- 7 to 8 hours per day

Can relaxing help you sleep?

Informedhealthonline.com, spoke of a study conducted from researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada. The researchers taught people relaxation techniques to help them sleep. Some of the techniques used were breathing and self-hypnosis. These people had a relaxation session with these techniques given to them once a week for four weeks. "The researchers concluded that relaxation therapy could help people sleep longer, but the quality of their sleep did not really improve. The benefit mainly came from getting to sleep more quickly." Research also suggest that if you are having problems sleeping to try these techniques. More information could be found on http://www.informedhealthonline.com/.

Using Meditation to relax

2008-10-09T14:00:00.001-07:00

Meditation

Meditation is when you involve your mind in a deeper train of thought. The stresses of daily life often leave our minds racing which could lead to things such as insomnia or even higher amounts of stress.

According to learningmeditation.com, "We start by paying attention to our breathing. The practical effort to focus completely on our breathing takes our minds away from the 'mind clutter' that constantly tries to invade our mind and eliminate feelings that will lead to a time of calm. With repeated effort the goal of clearing your mind- to think of nothing, does occur and the process of meditation takes on its own energy. The result is, and I guarantee this, peace, serenity, calmness, eventually opening yourself to new insights. "

When learning to meditate, realize that there is really no right or wrong way to do it. As I researched, I found that meditation is just time that you set aside for yourself. " A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance, " how-to-meditate.com said.

According to how-to-meditate.com, "meditation can also help us to understand our own mind. WE can learn how to transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy."

If you are ever feeling stressed or down. Give yourself the gift of 15 minutes to meditate. You might find that it helps you.

Does your dog help you relax? Return the favor.

2008-10-08T13:58:00.001-07:00

Ahhh........

Chateau Poochie

Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

For those who would like to pamper their dog and to return the favor of relaxation.

I would compare Chateau Poochie as being a very high class establishment with European style, luxe fabrics and fine furnishings.

Chateau Poochie offers many services including:

A senior center for older dogs

Zen wellness center

Salon & Spa

Doggie disco and social lounge

Daycare

Botique

Training

much more....

Their boarding center is no ordinary boarding center. It looks more like an actual hotel room that we would stay in. There is housekeeping where linens are changed daily. Luxury bedding, minibar menu room service, flat screen tv's, and a profession staff that is there for your dog all around the clock, all week and all year around.

The salon and spa offers things such as aromatherapy baths, pawdicures, massages and much more.

Chateau Poochie Featured on CNBC

It is quite an amazing place and something to look into if you would like to treat your dog.

For more information visit:

http://www.chateaupoochie.com/

-or-

(954)- 561-8111

Pets help us relax

2008-10-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

If you are a pet owner, you should know your pets are there for you whenever you need them, as long as you are willing to be there for them too.

According to totallystressedout.com, taking the time from your busy schedule to snuggle or play with your pet can lower your blood pressure. It is a healthy thing to do for you and your pet.

Holistic online's research shows that pet ownership can:

*Reduce stress-induced symptoms

*Requires less medical care

*Add years to your life

"Pet ownership may affect people physiologically though the soothing and relaxing effect of touch. And speechless communication with a pet, or simply watching a car or fish, may produce a relaxation response with little demand on the patent," Holistic online said.

Interesting Study: There was a study conducted with 92 people who were hospitalized with heart problems. Those out of the 92 people who owned pets lived one year longer than those who were not pet owners. "The study found that only 6% of patients who owned pets died within one year compared with 28% of those who did not own pets," holistic online said.

2008-10-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

Yoga

"Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit. The continued practice of yoga will lead you to a sense of peace and well-being, and also a feeling of being at one with their environment."

(Information taken from www.yoga.org.nz)

Yoga is just one way to help you relax. It requires you to use different breathing techniques and postures.

The benefits to doing yoga will help both your physiological and psychological being.

To view psychological benefits visit:

http://yoga.org.nz/benefits/psychological_benefits/benefits_psychological.htm

To view physiological benefits visit:

http://yoga.org.nz/benefits/physiological_benefits/benefits_physiological.htm

According to the healthguide, (www.helpguide.org), yoga is a relaxation practice. It is something that you should take time to do but the benefits are worth wild. "Most stress experts recommend setting aside at least 10 to 20 minutes a day for your relaxation practice. If you'd like to get even more stress relief, aim for 30 minutes to an hour."

Laure Carter from The sanctuary Holistic Wellness Center in Delray Beach, Florida offers "Lifeskills Yoga Coaching".

"Lifeskills is a twofold yoga practice. First, "asana", or poses practice, created by Ana Forrest, connects you to your spiritual and physical core based on the pillars of Breath, Strength, Integrity and Spirit. Lifeskills Yoga practice, created by Jessica "Unmani" King, 'Where yoga meets life and life meets yoga' is the second aspect of this unique yoga practice, bringing awareness, steadfastness and integrity to your life," Carter said.

If you are interested in inquiring about her classes you can reach her at:

Laure Carter (954) 871-6826

Laughter and relaxing

2008-10-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

Laughter

Laughter is something easy that we could do for ourselves everyday. It is a way to help us relax and to take a load off when it comes to stress. Susan Stewart is co-founder and partner of It's My Nature, a home based business in Florence, Oregon that provides aromatherapy and herbal comforts (http://www.itsmynature.net/). "Laughing releases the tension of pent-up feelings and can help us keep things in perspective. Laughter is one for the body's safety valves, a counter balance to tension. When we release that tension, the elevated levels of the body's stress hormones drop back to normal, thereby allowing our immune systems to work more effectively," Stewart said.

Laughing is a good pick-me-up that provides both short term and long term effects as well.

(The following is reported by the MayoClinic)

Short Term Effects:

Stimulate your organs. (Enhances your intake of oxygen rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain).
Activate and relieve your stress response. (A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling).
Soothe tension and stomachaches. (Laughter can also ease digestion and stimulate circulation, which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress).

Long Term Effects:

Improve your immune system. (Negative thoughts manifist into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and ecreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses).
Relieve pain. (Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkiller).
Increase personal satisfaction. (Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier).

So are you feeling a little stressed out? Try a good laugh. Its the cheapest kind of medicine.

Stress can lead to depression

2008-10-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

It should be a priority for us to relax and make a conscious effort to keep healthy. According to the Life Positive Foundation, "Minor stress events can stir up depression symptoms depending on the personality type." Depression affects a variety of people. The degree of how much it affects a person depends on their age and their gender. According to Laurie Norman, who is a licenced mental health counselor, October is known to be national depression month. "Some people say that depression feels like a black curtain of despair coming down over their lives. Many people feel like they have no energy and can't concentrate. Others feel irritable and cry frequently for no apparent reason. The symptoms vary from person to person, but if you feel down for more than two weeks, and these feelings are interfering with your daily life, you may be clinically depressed."

Norman also informs us that depression is a serious illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts that can last weeks, months or years.

If you or a friend is feeling depressed, it is best to get help instead of thinking that the problem will just go away on its own.

A good place to call or visit is:

Professional Centre' of Delray Beach

4205 W. Atlantic Ave.,

Suite C302

Delray Beach, FL 33445

Phone: 561-495-8868

www. counselingspecialist.com

Negative Feelings Are Contagious

2008-09-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

A good tip to help lower the stress level is to avoid those who are constantly angry or those who complain. Whether its family, co-workers, friends or that dreaded mother in law! (Thank goodness I don't have that particular problem).

As much as we would like to always be happy, when you are around those who aren't for long periods of time, it gets you in their particular mood. If you see those who are in a bad mood try to help them get in a better mood. It might make you feel good to help them. If you find that there is nothing that you can do then get out of the situation. Its not worth putting you in a bad mood too!

An opinion of mine..... Sometimes there are those friends who will always come to you to tell all their problems to. You should be sure to tell that friend when they cross the line. Sometimes enough is enough and you are not their personal sponge to suck up all their issues. If they seem to cross the line you will know. If it is leaving you to feel stressed out and if you begin to feel negative then that is when they crossed the line. Just as they are trying to talk to you about their problems, you should be able to talk to them when they made their problem yours. You want to be a friend, but they are not being a good friend if they are making you stress.

Tazo Tea

2008-09-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

If you find yourself drinking a lot of coffee why not try something different.
Coffee and Soda has proven to be not all that good for you... especially if you are trying to relax! I tried drinking teas and would have to say that my favorite brand to drink is Tazo.

They have 3 different categories of teas:

Black Teas
Green Teas
Herbal Infusion Teas

My personal favorite is "Refresh." It is a Herbal Infusion Tea made with North-western grown peppermint and spearmint leaves with a hint of tarragon. In my opinion as you drink it, it makes your throat feel kind of cool. It gives me a good sensation and better yet it is caffeine free!

Another Favorite is "Calm." It is made with Chamomile Flowers, Hibiscus Flowers, Lemongrass, Spearment, Rose Petals, Blackberry Leaves, Safflowers, Peppermint, Lemon Balm, Licorice, Sarsaparilla, and natural flavors. This particular tea is also caffeine free!

Their website is amazing! If you would like to see all the teas they offer and the ingredients that are in each, go to: www.tazo.com

The Perfect Bubble Bath...

2008-09-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

Bubble Baths! Yey! My Favorite!

Want to be like this guy? Hehe.

A Few Tips That Make The Best Bubble Bath:

First, you need the bubbles! Get as much as you can! (I love to use Mr. Bubbles)
A glass of wine or beer. (Be careful with the glass in the bathtub)
Candles, or better yet, floating candles
Music that you find to be relaxing (A suggestion would be to try and find music that is calm and soothing)
A bath pillow for your neck while you lay in the bath
Bath Salts
Dim Lighting (If using candles that should give you enough dim lighting).

With school, work, taking care of the pets, the boyfriend and so on... by the end of the night it is time to take care of me! Even though it might be late, my "happy hour" is a bubble bath. I use all of the above tips that I have to offer. With these tips, the bath becomes a moment where I wish I could pause time.

I start by grabbing a glass of Pinot Grigio then I lock the door, light all candles, pour some Mr. Bubbles and bath salts, and put either my Chinese soothing music, Spanish guitar music or Coldplay. (Coldplay is actually really relaxing when you listen to the words and close your eyes).

Painting... Fun AND Relaxing!

2008-09-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

When I get stressed out I try to do whatever I can to put me in the right state of mind.
Some days it requires different things to get me in that state of mind.
So one day I decided to paint. Thats right, paint!
I went out and bought a canvas, some paint brushes and paint and got to it.
I found it to be so relaxing.
I believe painting outside or at the beach could heighten the mood even more.
This is what I painted that day when I was stressed.
It is a painting of two orchids. I ended up giving this painting to my Grandparents. They love Orchids. My grandfather has a whole nursery of them in his backyard. I know I am not an artist but it was the act of painting and being creative that made it relaxing.
You should try it!

Cheap Music To Help With The Mood

2008-09-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

I was in Target the other day and I noticed this interesting set up they had by the candle isle.
They have a whole variety of CD's where you can sample each one before you buy it.
It looked like this... I took a picture.

They are so cheap too!

Some are between $8.99-$9.99 per CD. They are all soothing kinds of music from styles such as

Chinese

Spanish

Italian

Waterscapes

Sounds for baby

Jazz

Piano

Spa like music

......and more (I personally bought the spanish gutair one. It is so soothing and makes me smile)
I went through and sampled all of them. It was fun and I was happy to buy something so cheap that I knew would help me relax.

Bluecorn Naturals

2008-09-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

A Wonderful Discovery to help relax!

I came across these candles and they offer a way to help us relax. Imagine the scent of these as you are relaxing in your house or maybe even lit while you enjoy a nice bubble bath.

They are made with 100% Beeswax and cotton wicks and on the even better side they are lead free and paraffin free.

Prices range from around $5.00-$30.00

Their Aromatherapy line includes:

Clarity: Made with a blend of pure essential oils, Eucalyptus, Orange and Lavender.

Relaxing: Made with pure essential oils of Lavender.

Tranquility: Made with pure essentials of Lemongrass, Cinnamon and Rosemary.

Sensuality: Made with pure essentials of Palmarosa, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli

Uplifting: Made with pure essentials of Lavender, Geranium and Tangerine.

Well Being: Made with pure essentials of Ylang Ylang, Cedarwood, Nutmeg and Lavender.

Not sure which to get? They also offer samples of each of the above scents.
(6 2oz. travel tins for $29.70)

To order or to view more information check out their website:
http://www.beeswaxcandles.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BN&Category_Code=aromatherapy

2008-09-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

Looking for a way? Here is one!

Hey! We work hard! Between what may be work, school, love, family or anything that may stress us out.... enough is enough! You should want to kick stress straight in the butt and wake up one morning and say, "Self! You know what? Its time for ME!"

Christina Byrnes from Florida Relaxing Massage offers reflexology which your feet are sure to thank you for!

You are on them many hours a day, and our feet seem to be the most used and abused part of our bodies. Christina offers reflexology which uses pressure points in your feet that help to tonify your organs and your overall system. Let me tell you... her foot massages are amazing!

"Getting reflexology can help balance hormones," Byrnes has said.

She will be more than happy to give those who are interested a free consultation.

Christina Byrnes

561.929.9802

She also offers stress management classes that can help you relax.

Classes Include:

Breathing Techniques

Self Massages we can do on our own time

Yoga Postures

Aromatherapy

*(These classes are great for personal reasons as well as business companies looking to help their employees)

For More Information Visit:
http://healthprofs.com/cam/prof_detail.php?profid=505948&city=Boca+Raton&county=Palm+Beach&state=Florida

2008-09-10T13:07:00.001-07:00

Stress makes you want to pull you hair doesn't it?

The "Down Low" on stress:

What is stress? Stress can be from expectations or challenges that we are faced with on a daily basis. As we face these unwelcomed situations if we do not do our best to fight back it can cause us some serious health problems.

Stress can cause: (According to Medicine.net)
Anxiety Disorders
Depression
High Bloog Pressure
Cardiovascular Disease
Certain Gastrointestinal Diseases
Some Cancers
And supports the process of aging. (OH NO!)

Want to avoid all that? Well you can!