How To Evaluate A Fitness Gadget!

It’s a billion dollar industry, and growing exponentially. An astounding number of gadgets out there, and associated infomercials claim to transform your pudgy abs into washboard abs with “virtually no effort on your part.” Unfortunately, the only thing that they’re likely to do is reduce is the balance in your checking account, not your scale.

The truth is, everything looks better on TV, but you have no way of judging the quality of a machine or gadget. When you watch exercise equipment ads on TV, keep in mind the following tips:

1. If the advertisement claims that you can tone up while lying in bed reading a book, watching TV or on the phone, please pass it up. This is the catch phrase used by advertisers to sell to unsuspecting customers.

2. Beware of the phrase “guaranteed or your money back.” Always look for the fine print. The manufacturers may promise that you’ll lose 10 pounds in 3 weeks, if you follow the program. Incidentally, the program generally involves a low-fat diet and a more vigorous exercise program.

3. Be cautious of hard sell phrases like “three easy payments.” One gadget claims to cost “Not $80! Not $60!” but “just 3 easy payments of $14.95.” When you add the shipping & handling, and it costs $54.95.

4. Don’t be impressed by expert endorsements. This is the oldest trick in the book. It’s a sign of money behind marketing, not the quality of the product.

5. Don’t pull out your credit card just because a product is not sold in stores. Matter of fact, most of these gadgets are found on store shelves, or will appear in a few weeks. The product is most generally less expensive at the store and you can have the option to test the product to see if you like it.

6. It’s no big deal if a product “awarded a U.S. Patent.” You could patent a dumbbell for animals if you had the right design. To get a US patent, you need an original idea, not necessarily a good one.

7. Don’t believe in a tool that will enable you to build strength and lose fat simultaneously. Building muscle and losing weight are 2 separate fitness goals and require different approaches.

8. Don’t be impressed persuaded by scientific terms. Product manufacturers like to use fancy phrases, many of which are not accepted by the medical community.

9. Don’t believe that some new contraption is better than free weights or machines. One manufacturer claims that “with free weights or machines, getting the right form is impossible,” but with its revolutionary new gadgets, “there’s no way to use the gadget improperly.”

10. Don’t shop when you are desperate, hungry or tired. You are more likely to be ‘taken in’ by false advertising. Shop when you are feeling your best, so you can make the right decision without being affected by the hype.

For more information about these exercises, and free full color exercise routines, diet plans and grocery lists, visit best-weight-loss-programs.net/ Best Weight Loss Programs and toningforwomen.com/ Toning For Women. You can train with Nitin at the Phone Fitness Trainer website.

The Traingle of Health - The Secret to Preventative Medicine

Einstein had a theory that human beings, are a complex network of energy fields interfaced with physical body systems. He eventually proved to scientists that energy and matter are dual expressions of the same universal substance. The universal substance is the vibration from which we are composed. If the vibrations of our physical and emotional energies are balanced we experience good health.

“Illness is a human condition which indicates that the patient is no longer in order or in harmony at the level of consciousness. The loss of inner balance manifests itself in the body as a symptom. The symptom is at one and the same time a signal and a vehicle for information, for its appearance interrupts our life’s familiar flow and forces us to give the symptom our attention” (1)

Have you ever wondered why you always get two colds every year, or why whenever you do not have time to get sick, you do. Our bodies give us what we need to look at our lives. Now sometimes that is not what we consciously think we need or want, but we get it anyway. Our belief systems and the subconscious patterns we have created mould our lives. Our needs and supply for emotional contact with people can decide the fate of our physical health and presence or lack of illnesses.
Dr John Harrison illustrated the reason people get ill it well when he said “People get ill to get what they want (caring, etcetera)” and “People do not get what they want (caring, etcetera) so they become ill.” (2)

Have you ever reflected on what was happening emotionally in your life when you “caught” an illness, or have you listened to your self-talk and how it seems to reflect your health? You may say frequently that a guy at work is a pain in the neck, and by coincidence you frequently suffer with a pain in the neck. When your emotions are manifesting as physical symptoms you have handed over control of your life.

The best way I have found of explaining this lack of control of life is with the “Triangle of health.”

The Triangle of Health

The effects of emotional and subtle stresses in life on our physical being are profound If you think of your life like a triangle and you are able to keep the three points of the triangle in a positive state you experience that wonderful sense of well being. If the three points of the triangle drift into the negative you experience physical ailments. I believe that life really is that simple. It is the energy it can take to stay in that positive state that sees most people drift off track and be very human at times.

The three points of the equilateral triangle are as follows:

Physical/Circumstance

Attitudes & Beliefs

Emotional State

Attitudes and Beliefs

This is the matter that we have ingested subconsciously over the years, creating our attitudes and our belief systems. These attitudes and beliefs hang around in the subconscious waiting to be used. For instance remember your mother telling you not to go outside in the cold weather without a singlet on, or you would catch a cold? Statements like these were projected onto us in our childhood and adult years - not just from parents, but also from many others of significance in our environment. We took in the material consciously and subconsciously and it is now stored somewhere in our memory banks.

Nowadays, we don’t pay it any conscious attention, but it is still there having an influence on how and why we do the things we do in life. The statements, manifested as a belief on some level, can come alive at any time influencing our physical and emotional health.

My clinic experience has shown me that they influence all areas of our lives. Have you ever heard yourself say something you have not thought of in years, yet remember hearing your parents say the same thing to you? Where did it come from? You do not consciously decide to do it, yet I know that as a child I heard myself saying I was not going to “be like that”, or “act that way when I grow up.” But before I knew it, I was repeating those behaviors. Then I started looking for, and noticing, these patterns. I started to catch myself out and correct these behaviors and attitudes that did not work for me. I regained control of my life.

There is a saying that goes: “What you resist, persists” and this is relevant here. The more you try to not be like your parents, for instance, the more you become like them. Our attitudes and beliefs come from our experiences, consciously and subconsciously, in life. And if we focus on not doing a particular thing, our bodies only hear to do that thing. We give away so much of our personal power trying not to do it, that it gains the upper hand and wins. So the first thing to do is to recognise the pattern and then not empower it with any unnecessary negative energy or attention. We are all human and have many learning experiences in life. The thing to do is to recognise what they are really about and then manage those life experiences. When you do you can then stay in control of your life instead of allowing it to control you.

Emotional State

The second point of the triangle is that of your present emotional state. Have you ever heard people say they caught a cold or flu, just when they did not have time for it? Or, that they always catch “two colds a year”, or “everyone at work is sick, I bet I catch it too”? It is almost as if they are subconsciously setting themselves up. I am sure they do not really want the cold, but on some level they like the attention that sick people attract. The time that most of us received that extra attention as a child was when we were sick or injured.

Our self talk can be reflecting how we emotionally feel about life and our bodies listen to it. We are more susceptible to “catching” ailments when we are running negative stress and using negative self talk. Personally, I think stress is a catchword for life, and the way we choose to react or respond to what is happening. Again, we can call the experience negative or positive. Stress is what helps keep us alive, it is just that positive stress does not have a negative impact physically and emotionally on our bodies where negative stress does. Everything in life is simply how we want to look at it, we can choose to consciously turn around any negative situation into a positive learning experience. If we refuse to listen to our bodies and keep pushing them beyond their limits something has to crack. If we do not stop and listen to our bodies, it will bestow an ailment upon us. This ailment has manifested to stop us, and make us listen. The secret is to listen to our bodies as we move through life and make corrections to any imbalances that may be happening before they turn into a physical ailment.

“The body itself has no power to generate illness; illness is merely the shadow thrown by the mind. A healthy mind will shadow forth a healthy body; an unhealthy mind will shadow forth an unhealthy body. Every new cell created in the body is either negative or a positive thought in form. In the older days, it was customary to say that cells are “built under the influence” of either negative or positive thought. In reality, the cells are the thought itself. Healthy thoughts mean healthy cells; sick thoughts mean sick cells. (2)

It is the well known story of Norman Cousins (the man who laughed himself well in 1964) that shows how simply changing your mindset and attitude or emotion towards an illness even the nastiest ailments can be reversed. His book Anatomy of an Illness is an inspiring read.

Physical

The third point is that of the physical or circumstance. This is the event or happening that collided with you. Take the not wearing a singlet on a cold day scenario. The circumstance/physical is the cold weather. You could be out playing golf and having a great time, but it may also be cold and raining. You are not dressed warmly, but you are having such an enjoyable, positive time that you do not have a chance of catching anything negative that day. On the other hand, you could be caught late after work and tired from your day at the office, when the car breaks down in cold and wet weather. You have the emotional “too hards” or the “poor me’s”, and you are running plenty of negative stress. Guaranteed, this is the time you will catch the cold.

With the triangle, consider what patterns or incidents you may be setting up for yourself without actually thinking about it. When you are struck down with an ailment, think about what is coming up or has just happened that could have caused enough stress to manifest, or exacerbate, an ailment.

My passion for aromatherapy comes from the fact that essential oils have the ability to work on all three points of the triangle of health. Because essential oils have the talent to work on both physical ailments and the emotions behind them, they can be used to rebalance a person’s life.

CASE STUDY

Carol was a woman who presented herself to my clinic suffering with what her doctor had diagnosed was psoriasis. The symptoms covered over 70 percent of her body and had been present for the past three years. The psoriasis would fluctuate between red and inflamed to dry and scaly. Carol was a 24 year old woman who seemed happy enough in herself. She was engaged and a full time psychology student at university. In the initial consultation she was just concerned with obtaining something to use topically to relieve the burning itch that occurred at night. Being a naturopath as well as an Aromatherapist, I conducted a consultation looking at the effects of her diet on the physical symptoms. What I found was that her diet was balanced 95 percent of the time. The only place I identified she could improve was with the increase of essential fatty acids. Carol chose to do this with a supplement, the supplement I selected was a balanced Omega 3:6:9 capsule to re-establish a balance of “good” essential fatty acids in her body.

I explained the Triangle of Health to Carol and discussed with her the possibility of her emotions influencing her skin condition. As it turns out, through our conversation we discovered that information she was studying was pushing buttons and mirroring her own childhood and present adult life. I decided to use the Aromatherapy Insight Cards to identify where she was emotionally at this time. I had Carol think about her skin condition and intuitively select three Insight Cards. The cards she chose were German Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla, Tea Tree Melaleuca alternofolia and Pine Pinus sylvestris.

Now, working as an Aromatherapist and looking at this woman’s skin, the combination of these three essential oils would not usually be chosen to work on the physical symptoms she was experiencing. Carol chose, Chamomile for letting go, Pine for raising self esteem and to stop rescuing others so she could start to rescue herself and the Tea Tree to understand why she was reacting the way she was and to release the struggle she was experiencing. The emotions she was experiencing were manifesting because she was holding herself back in negative past experiences which were fulfilling her belief that she was not attractive and reinforced her low self esteem. The skin ailment manifested for Carol to hide behind, when it was really bad she had the perfect excuse to skip her classes, not having to front the issues.

We set a plan to work on the skin topically and also for Carol to use those three essential oils in a vaporizer as well.

Carol applied the blend twice daily to affected areas as a regular treatment and as required for any times the irritation was exacerbated. I saw Carol weekly for an aromatherapy massage using the same blend of oils and by the third visit (two weeks later), the skin had improved where the inflammation had reduced 90% and it was not causing irritation at night. During the first week of treatment she had 3 days off university to settle herself. The remainder of the time she was attending classes and preparing for exams. After the first two weeks we used the Insight Cards to check if there were any additional oils to work with, and the result was to add Palmarosa Cymbopogon martinii. I use Palmarosa for being adaptable to changing circumstances and to release past insecurities and hurts. I added 0.25 percent to the blend and continued with the other ingredients. I used some Aromatic Kinesiology with Carol, verifying the blend of oils was suitable for her condition and she continued to have weekly massages. At the end of a six week period Carol was free of psoriasis except for a little in her scalp. Carol continued treatments at monthly intervals and it is now 12 months since I first saw Carol. Her skin is now clear and she uses essential oils for their subtle talents helping her to manage and work through emotional issues as they arise. She admits to being very human and still has buttons pushed. But now days she can recognise her body and triangle are getting out of balance, she then focuses on her essential oils and regains control of her life, not allowing it to control her.

“Those people who take great joy in the power they have over their own lives can fulfill their dreams. These people will become successful in what they want for themselves and will have little need for diseases. They may from time to time suffer acute complaints because of environmental hazards which combine with old childhood messages they have chosen to retain, but they will not put themselves at risk for major trauma or serious illnesses” (4)

The bottom line is that we are all responsible for our own health. Yes we all have experienced some pretty interesting physical ailments and learning experiences in the past. But the past is the past, like Anthony Robbins says, “nothing from your past will influence your future unless you let it.” You can decide today to work on balancing the points of your triangle to regain your personal power and restore a sense of wellness you most probably have not experienced in a long time. Don’t let an unbalanced old person move into your body.

References

(1) Dethlefsen T. & Dahlke R. – The Healing Power of Illness – P10 Element Books USA (1991)

(2) Harrison Dr J. – Love Your Disease - P37 Harper Collins Australia (1992)

(3) Bailes F.- Your Mind Can Heal You – P6 DeVorss & Co USA (1971)

(4) Harrison Dr J. – Love Your Disease - P54 Harper Collins Australia (1992)

Life Balancing expert Jennifer Jefferies is one of Australia’s best-known authors and speakers. Jennifer’s simple, practical and proven 7 Steps to Sanity can help bring balance to anyone who wants to have it all without sacrificing their health, sanity or sense of humour along the way.
Jennifer is a qualified health practitioner, who speaks to corporations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, sharing practical real-life strategies that help people to improve their health, wellbeing and productivity by finding balance in their lives.

Jennifer has also written numerous books and e-books and life balancing products. You can contact Jennifer at:

Jennifer Jefferies International Pty Ltd
Po Box 4298,
Elanora, QLD 4221 Australia
Phone: 61 7 55986035

jenniferjefferies.com jenniferjefferies.com

How to Teach Yoga in the Corporate Marketplace, Part 1

Many Yoga instructors, and Yoga teacher interns, are seeking methods for reaching into the corporate sector. After all, the corporate sector is almost as alluring as a government contract. Yet, there is a mystery surrounding how Yoga teachers should enter the corporate world. Below are some of the most effective ways to establish a strong business as a Corporate Yoga Teacher.

Yoga offers many health solutions to the masses, but for the corporate world, Yoga offers solutions for accident prevention, injury prevention, employee job performance, and cutting down on “sick time.” Some “forward thinking” companies have corporate fitness centers, group fitness classes, and Yoga classes.

However, Yoga teachers still have to explain what exactly they teach. For any Yoga teacher, this is a great chance to redefine the purpose of Yoga. This is an opportunity for Yoga instructors to explain how learning Yoga will fulfill the needs of responsible companies. By taking preventative action for their own employee’s sake, these companies will save money in worker’s compensation claims and improve their overall production.

It is unfortunate that greed and fear are the prime motivators involved in buying most products and services. Another prime motivator is the actual need for your product or service. As Yoga teachers, we offer the service of education for the purpose of prevention and complete health maintenance.

Corporate Yoga teachers are addressing something more powerful than fear and need - combined. That is the reality, and experience, of paying more, every year, for worker’s compensation claims. Real experience is more powerful than perceived fear. Yoga programs, for the corporate sector, offer very real solutions.

This is where the strength in a Corporate Yoga program shows. All companies, and especially the larger ones, know the harsh reality of paying for accidents or repetitive motion injuries. Most companies have also experienced a dip in production due to increased absenteeism. So, the “bottom line” is that Yoga training offers many solutions for companies, which want to take action.

What should Yoga teacher’s mention in their brochures, letters, post cards, faxes, Email, and flyers? If you are sending anything electronically, please make sure you have permission. With that said, Yoga training offers businesses solutions such as: Improved physical balance, flexibility, coordination, awareness, self-discipline, goal setting skills, and how to effectively use your body for leverage without causing injury. As a Yoga teacher, you could offer a short-term “Yoga workshop for injury prevention,” as an introductory program to “get your foot in the door.”

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Cure Your Acne From The Inside Out

For the longest time during my struggle with acne, I only concentrated on fighting the problem on the surface. I was constantly looking for the newest topical cleanser or cream, thinking that the next one would be the one. What I didn’t realize was that to completely rid myself of my acne, not just temporarily, but for good, I needed to fight it from the inside out, as well as on the surface.

The topical acne products I used were usually at least somewhat helpful; a spot would clear up here and there, and I’d see less redness and irritation. But that was only half the battle. No matter how many cleansers I used, I’d always get new, embarrassing flare-ups. It seemed like there was nothing I could do to stop them. What I never knew was that acne is primarily caused by out-of-whack hormonal levels. Not poor hygiene or diet, or any of the other myths out there, but hormones.

That’s why my acne always came back to haunt me. The skin cleansers took care of it after it erupted, but I wasn’t doing anything to prevent it from breaking out in the first place.

What finally got rid of my acne for good was an acne fighting system that combined a topical cream and rinse with a pill supplement. The two products were specifically designed to work together to both heal and prevent acne. The topical healed the breakouts I already had and the pills got my hormones under control to prevent future ones.

I know that a lot of people are wary of taking pills, especially for a skin ailment as misunderstood and misrepresented as acne. Some - like myself before seeing the results firsthand - don’t understand how taking a pill can help in preventing acne. Others don’t see acne as anything more than a minor embarrassment, a teenage problem that doesn’t justify a need for oral medication. Acne, however, is much more than just a minor embarrassment.

Anyone who’s suffered from severe acne like I have will tell you the same. It can wreak havoc on a person’s self-esteem and self-confidence, and if left untreated, can leave them both emotionally and physically scarred. Acne is a serious condition, and needs to be treated as such. Don’t just be content to fight acne on the surface. Take it out at the source. Cure your acne from the inside out and prevent future breakouts while getting rid of the current ones.

I suffered from acne for years, but when I found a medication that worked, my entire life changed for the better. There’s no reason that the same can’t happen for you.

If you’d like to know which treatment system finally cured my acne, visit youracnecures.com youracnecures.com

The Connection Between Menopause And Mood Swings

Menopause is an inevitable part of life for every woman; the time when the ability to reproduce comes to an end. This physical process normally happens gradually over the course of several years as hormone levels shift and diminish. The physical ramifications – along with the emotional fallout – of this life transition often spur a strong connection between menopause and mood swings.

During puberty, a woman’s ovaries begin to produce eggs along with the hormones to support reproduction. This menstrual cycle continues throughout a woman’s life until the beginning of menopause which generally occurs sometime between a woman’s mid-forties and mid-fifties. If menopause happens naturally it can take place over a period of time as the ovaries begin to slow their production of eggs and hormone levels drop off until eventually the process ceases altogether - resulting in the permanent end to a woman’s reproductive life. In the case of medically-induced menopause, a woman is thrust into this change with the surgical removal of her ovaries for a variety of reasons. In either case, there are a myriad of symptoms associated with menopause.

When the ovaries cease to produce eggs they also cease to produce estrogen – the hormone responsible for supporting menstruation and pregnancy. The result can be a bevy of symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, memory loss, insomnia, and loss of sexual desire, among others. This elimination of estrogen also often tends to forge a strong correlation between menopause and mood swings. The depletion of hormones can sometimes result in irritability, anxiety, and even periods of depression. There is also the emotional element attached to the process of menopause; a woman is saying goodbye to her reproductive life – a process that can be overwhelming and sad.

Menopause and mood swings can be especially difficult when it goes on for long periods of time and interferes with daily life including career and family. In this case, a woman may seek out those treatments to help minimize mood swings. In some situations, a natural treatment plan that focuses on a healthy diet, consistent exercise, and adequate sleep can help to bring relief.

In more severe cases, the relationship between menopause and mood swings puts up obstacles throughout a woman’s life. When all natural remedies fail, it may be time to see a doctor who can prescribe medical therapies that may help alleviate the symptoms.

For easy to understand, in depth information about menopause and mood swings visit our ezGuide 2 menopause.ezguide2.com Menopause.

Herbs - Past and Present

The use of herbs as natural medicines goes back thousands of years, to when their use was first recorded in China. Throughout the ages, their uses have been recorded and passed down from generation to generation. Herbs seemed to drop out of favor with the rapid development of synthesized drugs. They have recently made a resurgence, with many people realizing, that although the quick fix associated with the drugs, may temporarily alleviate a problem, it may not be the best way of remaining healthy.

What Is A Herb?

Basically a herb is any plant that can be used medicinally to treat the body. Such definition includes fruit, vegetables and culinary herbs.

Garlic is a good example, because it has so many medical applications. They include, colds and flu, blood pressure, high cholesterol, and urinary infections amongst many others.

Many people include culinary herbs, such as parsley, coriander, fennel, fresh mint, basil and others, in recipes, and food preparations. They are, perhaps unwittingly, getting regular doses of herbal medicine.

How Do Herbs Work?

Herbs, or shall we call them medicinal plants, work in a variety of ways. The active content of different herbs determines which medical conditions they are able to treat.

There are herbs that treat infections.

Herbs to assist with blood circulation.

Herbs to treat mucus membranes.

Herbs to stimulate appetite and digestion.

Herbs to detoxify and assist with waste elimination.

Herbs to assist with hormone problems.

This list is by no means exhaustive, as there are herbs to use with most afflictions, but it serves to demonstrate that different herbs can help to strengthen, and balance bodily systems, and treat a host of maladies.

How to Take Herbs

There are many ways to take herbs internally, and the most obvious is as a food, as already indicated. Otherwise they can be taken as teas, tinctures, capsules, tablets, and powders. Some herbs may also be useful for gargles, and mouth washes. Herbs are also beneficial for external usage as herbal baths, ointments, lotions and creams, and essential oils.

Where Do Herbs Come From?

Because herbs are natural plants, they are obtained from different parts of the world, depending on the climatic and other conditions they require. Modern international trading means that it is probably easier than it has ever been, to purchase anything, including herbs and herbal preparations, from wherever they originate.

There are at least hundreds and more probably thousands of different medicinal herbs growing in our world. As with orthodox medicine, expert help should be sought, before taking any herbal preparation that you are not 100% sure about. Professional advice is readily available, and there are also excellent books and periodicals that are informative.

General

There is much concern these days about poor diet, obesity, malnutrition, and lack of exercise. People are slowly coming to realize, that to a large extent, they are responsible for their own health and well-being. Some are seeking a natural health lifestyle, including wholesome organic food, free from highly toxic pesticides and fertilizers.

There is nothing more wholesome than naturally grown herbs and plants. They provide not only the food you eat, but also the air your breathe.

If you care for them – they will care for you.

Richard Wise writes articles about natural health, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, antioxidants, allergies and vegetarianism. If you are interested in herbal remedies please visit his herbalremediesforall.com web site which is at herbalremediesforall.com/ herbalremediesforall.com/

Acne Solutions

The onset of puberty is often signaled by the appearance of tiny reddish bumps on the skin - especially the face. These bumps or pimples better as acne become infected and scar the skin, sending teenagers and adults rushing to the medicine cabinet for an instant cure.

Acne is one of the commonest skin disorders. It is an infection of the skin, accompanied by an increased production of oil by the sebaceous glands. This oil combines with dead skin cells and the resulting debris blocks hair follicles. Such conditions are ideal for skin bacteria that multiply quickly giving the skin a swollen, red and somewhat embarrassing appearance. Acne affects much more than the skin. It influences personality and self-esteem.

The causes of acne are not yet fully understood. As a result, there is no real antidote. It is believed that the hormonal surge that accompanies puberty is responsible for acne. Hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands, excessive dead skin cells, bacterial infections and chemicals like chlorine are also listed as causes. There are as many myths about the causes of acne as there are facts. It is believed that consumption of fatty foods like butter; greasy food, chocolates and sugar are causes. These suggestions lack scientific evidence.

Cures for acne are designed to tackle bacterial infection, reduce the secretion of oil glands and remove dead skin cells. Creams and lotions which crowd super market shelves offer a four-fold benefit to the user. These include eradication of the infection, removal of dead cells, stemming the production of oil and masking the discomfiting bumps and scars caused by acne. It is always advisable to consult a dermatologist before using a skin lotion or ointment for acne. There are a few precautions one can take to reduce the effects of acne. These are, washing the face regularly using warm water and a mild soap. You should also avoid squeezing pimples, strong sunlight and excessive use of makeup.

While acne often disappears in adulthood, it could leave deep scars and skin blemishes on the body. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons have developed several techniques to mask facial scars. Some of these are dermabrasion, laser resurfacing and punch excision. Chemical peels that remove dead skin layers are also widely used. Stress is known to increase acne in some people. Exercise and controlled diet help reduces stress and the spread of acne. Acne cannot be prevented, but judicious use of available solutions goes along way in reducing its impact on the skin and more importantly on the mind.

e-AcneSolutions.com Acne Solutions provides detailed information about acne solutions, natural acne solutions, acne scar solutions, best acne solutions and more. Acne Solutions is the sister site of e-acnetreatment.com Acne Treatment Web.

Breathing For Improved Vitality

How often during the day do you catch yourself holding your breath or clenching your jaw and squeezing your eyes tighter? When you hold tension in your body, there is a natural tendency to only breathe from the chest? Why is good breathing technique important?

Breathing well helps you re-calibrate your physical and emotional wellbeing. It brings a sense of calm, of tranquility and peacefulness to your body and your soul. It helps “slow down” the pace of your world. This is significant in maintaining emotional balance. Breathing deeply has physiological effects as well. It’s a tremendously easy way to reduce your heart rate, lower your blood pressure and release tension from your neck, shoulders, back and abdomen. I have a favourite saying “Oxygen In, Energy Up”.

How can you best improve your breathing patterns? Do this “Self Check- in” then make some changes!
• Locate your breath. Notice if it’s in the upper part or lower part of your body. Does your breath move deeply into your body or is it shallow?
• How frequently do you breathe? What’s the tempo, the pace? (Twelve-fourteen breaths per minute are considered an average rate.)
• What is the quality of your breath? Is it free flowing, thick, dense, do you feel trapped in your chest? Can you get as deep as you want to? Is your breath smooth or ragged?

Don’t rush. Find a quiet time to do the following breathing activity:

Alternate Nostril Breathing:
This is a great technique to bring balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain. It also soothes and calms the nerves, a wonderful thing when you’re stressed! Sit in a comfortable position. Using the right hand, fold the index and third fingers inwards to touch the palm near the base of the thumb. Let the little finger rest gently against the side of the ring finger. The cycle for breathing is as follows:

1. Close the left nostril with the ring finger, and inhale completely through the right nostril.

2. Close the right nostril using your thumb, and release the ring finger off the left nostril and exhale through the left nostril.
3. Inhale through the left nostril.
4. Close the left nostril with your ring finger, and release the thumb off the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril. Repeat this cycle at least 5 times. This is a great technique for you when you’re stressed, and even to teach children to use before bedtime, or before a big test at school.

Take the time to notice and feel the effects within your body before you move onto your next activity or conversation. Remember, the choices you make today regarding your nutritional intake, your activity level and the amount of rest, relaxation and hydration you get will all have an impact on your state of health 5 or 10 years down the road. Take good care of yourself, and those you love. Strive for balance and let your light shine!

Carolyn Wiens is a certified Lifestyle Coach, Corporate Wellness Trainer and Yoga Instructor. She owns Sunrise Lifestyle Coaching & Yoga Studio in Simcoe, ON and can be reached at sunrisecoaching.ca sunrisecoaching.ca or at 519-426-1118 for a FREE coaching session. Sunrise Lifestyle Coaching’s mission is to inspire people to live with passion to their fullest potential.

Time Management-For Bodybuilders?!

Your Daytimer…
Your car…
Your computer…

What part do they play in your body building plan? What? You don’t HAVE a body building plan?!

You thought you’d just go lift some weights, drink some kelp, spray on a tan and come out ripped?

Just like in anything else, having a plan is half the battle…and STICKING to your plan is the other half.

Part One of Your Body Building Plan:

Plan it…on PAPER…in INK!

Everyone’s spare time department’s lacking so you have to plan ahead for your priorities to show in your life.

Time management gurus have an excellent system that’ll work in your body building plan. It involves something called “big rocks.” In your schedule, mark off the times when you’ve got big rocks, those things you can’t move (well, maybe YOU could, cause you’re so strong and all). Things like school, work, sleep, whatever.

The holes left in your schedule are where you get to create your training plan. Schedule your workouts…and schedule your “down time”.

Now, the tough part – follow your body building plan like you wrote it. Show up and be where you’re supposed to be!

Part Two of Your Body Building Plan:

Listen. Redeem the time. Research shows we spend like HALF our lives in the car.

Yes…you look very cool in all your muscle-ness making your pecs dance to your favorite CD. But wouldn’t you be smart to trade the dance party in for a chance to advance your body building plan?

To stay motivated and on track with your plan, try listening to CD’s on motivation, time management, goal setting, competition, and success. These audio programs aren’t JUST for stuffed shirt executives anymore! You can also look online for downloadable audio sessions from fitness experts!

Part Three of Your Body Building Plan:

Surf…the internet, that is!

We’re in the information age. Use it to your advantage. Yes, you’ll find a lot of junk out there from phonies, wannabe’s, greedy guys, and idiots. None of that has a place in your body building plan. But, there are also sites that are really helpful. Get on their newsletter lists. Find out what books they recommend. Learn from these muscle masters. It’s almost as good as talking with them in person. It’s the modern way of surrounding yourself with greatness and it’s a surefire way to find success in your body building plan.

The “Muscle Nerd”, Jeff Anderson, is a world-renowned fitness consultant and author, most noted for his cutting edge research in natural bodybuilding and fat loss. Discover the secrets to transforming YOUR body today at: musclenerdfitness.com musclenerdfitness.com

The Truth About Fish Oil Toxins

Fish Oil Toxins
Fish Oil Oxidation

Let’s face it, fish used to be a very healthy food and important to include in our diets, but nowadays, with so many fish oil toxins, even the FDA advocates a limited consumption of fish, especially types of fish that are susceptible to accumulating toxins in their flesh.

Now, fish oils and eating fish are different.

And in this short article we’ll explain.

You see, because of all the pollution in the Ocean waters, the majority of fish have varying levels of toxins like mercury and PCB’s.

Therefore, the fish oils that are extracted from them also harbor these impurities.

But before we discuss what you can do about these toxins, let’s address the question of fish oil oxidation.

Fish Oil Oxidation

Most fish oils that are used in fish oil supplements are transported long distances in tankers. Oftentimes, the fish is harvested in one country and transported to another. Fish oil is highly susceptible to rancidity….meaning it goes bad quickly because it’s fragile.

In short, freshness for most fish oils is an issue — which is just another way of saying that the fish oil can become oxidized and go bad.

To get around this, many manufacturers of fish oil put additives in their product to counter the fish oil from going rancid. As you are probably aware, the less additives and preservatives you get from your food sources, the better.

Not all fish oils require additives, however, such as those that souce the fish and manufacture the product in close proximity.

Fish Oil Toxins

Now, the other issue is toxicity. Because fish oils themselves can retain the toxic impurities of the fish, it’s vitally important that you only purchase what are known as “molecularly distilled, pharmaceutical grade” fish oil supplements.

These have undergone a purification process that removes any potential contaminants.

The other issue you should be aware of is that not all fish are equally high in the important omega 3 fatty acids that we all need. The two most important of these are DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids, and DHA is arguably the most important one.

In summary, you should only use a fish oil product that has:

taken preventative measures against fish oil exidation — hopefully without the need for artificial additives. Adding vitamin E to the product is one way to help prevent oxidation.
undergone molecular distillation and is pharmaceutical grade
uses a fish high in DHA and EPA

If you follow these guidelines, you will pick one of the better fish oil products on the market.

If you want to avoid omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com/Fish_Oil_Products.html fish oil toxins and fish oil oxidation, learn about the fish oil supplements we take ourselves after extensive product research at: omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com/Fish_Oil_Products.html omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com/Fish_Oil_Products.html