Fitness Partners

This is for the people who are highly committed with their fitness weight loss goals! They have said that enough is enough, and they’re on a rampage to get fit and healthy!

People who are in their quest to burn body fat quickly and create massive fat loss need to believe in themselves and stay steady the course. It’s very possible to reach your fitness weight loss goals, if you stay motivated and be consistent in your efforts!

Remember this very important fact: 90% of all related fitness and health training is based on our mental attitude. If your attitude is negative and uninspired you will fail!

Okay here we go!

Super Fat Burning Tip #1

At the start of your morning begin an aerobic type of training exercise. If you are already familiar with Interval Training, you could incorporate that into your exercises to achieve even a greater of unwanted bodyfat.

It’s a well proven fact that endurance training will cause a massive trigger effect of releasing fat into the bloodstream to be utilized for energy. Recent studies have shown that in the morning you can burn up to 3 times as much fat as compared to working out at any other time of the day!

Optimally, hitting in the range of 45-60 minutes would give intense results, but if you have 30 minutes and maintain a fairly strong level of intensity, you will still get awesome results.

Science shows that for the next 4-6 hours after the workout, your body maintains a much higher metabolism. This means that whatever you are eating throughout the day is being incinerated by your supercharged accelerated metabolism!

Here’s what is behind the scenes: During the day your body’s main source of energy is carbohydrates.

While you are sleeping, say for 6 hours of more, your body utilizes a huge amount of those carbohydrates for various physiologic functions that go on to repair and sustain you.

By time morning arrives your body is low on carbohydrates. Since this is the case, once you begin to exercise, it instinctively redirects the body to utilize stored body fat for fuel.

Enhance the effect to burn body fat quickly, by adding another workout later in the day to your training routine. The effect is simply spectacular over the course of a few double sessions! WOW!

Basically, you are keeping your metabolism running red-hot and constantly exploding fat molecules for energy utilization! The end result is that unwanted bodyfat literally melts away!

Super Fat Burning Tip #2

Eat breakfast! I would recommend that the main component of your breakfast come from a high quality protein source. A favorite choice for many is some type of whey or soy protein shake! Take with you some fruit and raw high fiber vegetables..

The breakfast and the protein are an added 1-2 punch to keeping your body metabolism a raging furnace for burning unwanted pounds of fat.

Final Note: Instead of eating 2 more meals throughout your day, set yourself up to eat 4-5 mini meals per day spaced out about 2-3 hours apart. Results: you burn even unwanted bodyfat!

These 2 super fat burning tips combined with creating for yourself a healthy lifestyle based on conscious and deliberate better choices will take you to a whole new awe-inspiring level of health and fitness!

Best of success to you in your health and fitness weight loss goals.

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Let’s face it. Fad diets do not work for permanent weight loss. Some of them have minimal effect and some of them do not work at all! But what do we do when we need to lose weight in the shortest possible time period? Venturing into unfamiliar dieting territory is quite risky and mostly ends up in unsuccessful takings. What we need is quick trimming down of weight but in a safe manner.

According to doctors and nutritionists, there is nothing wrong in wanting to lose weight rapidly – as long as it is done properly. They say that it is actually possible to lose about 3 pounds per week just by doing it at home and not needing a health doctor or a weight loss counselor. Having a goal like wanting to look great in a dress or in a gown in an important event, say, your sister’s wedding or your daughter’s 18^th birthday party is a good motivating point as long as you keep up the program even after the big event. But still you need to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to start your weight loss program. Do not ever start to try losing 20 pounds with only one week to go before the occasion.

Losing weight is simple math. You must subtract more from your body than what you add to it. When dealing with food and diet, it is burning more calories than what you eat. Experts say that around 500 calories per day must be taken away so we could really lose excess weight. This can be achieved by eating fewer calories and increasing exercise. If you do this everyday, you may lose about 2 pounds of fat in one week.

Increasing the amount of calories that you burn will make you lose weight faster. Eating less and exercising more will yield better results, but what would you do if you do not want to cut down on eating? The answer is food substitution. This is one of the safest ways to achieving a better body in a quick manner.

Cutting down on sodium (which we normally get from salt) and starches will reduce our body’s fluid retention and fluid levels as well. But do not forget to take in as much water as possible. Water is better to keep in our body rather than other fluids that eventually convert into fat. Do not forget to add fruits and vegetables in your diet. A safe way in losing weight is by watching what we add to our meals, not always what we remove.

Meditation is one of the best things you can do to bring a little relief to your mind, your spirit and even your physical body. It is a practice which has been with us for thousands of years; the ancient civilization of India was one society well aware of the benefits provided by meditation. We in the West have come to an understanding of meditation as a tool for achieving better mental and spiritual health only recently. On of the most effective and simple methods of meditation (and for precisely this reason, the most popular) is Chakra meditation.

The Basics of Chakra Meditation

Chakra Meditation is a means of striking a balance between the seven energy centers of the body - these are known as Chakras. Once these energy centers are properly balanced, proper energy flow through the body can be achieved. We should briefly explain these seven Chakras:

1. The Crown Chakra - located at the top of the head, this is the Chakra which relates to our thought; wisdom, knowledge and our very consciousness.

2. The Brow (or Third Eye) Chakra - this Chakra is located between the eyebrows and relates to the element of light; that is to say our powers of perception and visualization.

3. The Throat Chakra - this Chakra is found at the base of the throat and is tied to the element of sound. This Chakra is related to our ability to communicate and our creative impulses.

4. The Heart Chakra - found in the center of the chest close to the heart, this Chakra is responsible for your capacity to love and feel compassion, as well as governing your relationships. This Chakra is related to the element of air.

5. The Solar Plexus (or Power) Chakra - situated just above the navel, this Chakra is related to our will power as well as our metabolism. This Chakra is related to the element of fire.

6. The Sacral Chakra - found just below the navel, this Chakra relates to physical love and our generative organs, as well as the creative impulse.

7. The Root (or base) Chakra - Found at the base of the spine, this Chakra is responsible for our general physical health, as well as security and prosperity. This Chakra is related to the element of Earth.

To refresh yourself and bring things back into the proper balance, nothing works better than does Chakra meditation. If all of these important energy centers are in proper alignment, then you will enjoy better health; physical, mental and spiritual. Chakra meditation can make a huge difference towards fostering better health and a better life for you.

Chakra Meditation:- The Process

Chakra Meditation consists of three techniques:

1. Grounding - This technique aims to make you feel physically connected with the Earth. Close your eyes and visualize a root growing from your body and into the Earth beneath you. You will need to focus intensely in order to do this successfully.

2. Centering Technique - Take a few deep breaths. Tighten and relax each part of your body, from bottom to top; visualize yourself relaxing as you do so. Finally, visualize centering a piece of pottery on a potter’s wheel.

3. Relaxation Technique - This can be anything which works to produce the necessary state of relaxation for you, but many find that visualization techniques are best to achieve this. Here is a simple way to perform Chakra meditation:

a) Sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
b) Close your eyes and try to shut out external stimuli - you want to have as few distractions as possible.
c) Breathe naturally; your breath will naturally reach the proper state.
d) Begin to concentrate on each part of your body from toe to head. Eyes still closed, feel the surface you are sitting or lying on, the air around you; visualize your surroundings.
e) You may find this difficult at first, but just let any distracting thoughts run through your mind - they will work themselves out and disappear with practice.
f) Don’t hold your consciousness back; let it flow as it will through your body.

Do this meditation for as long as needed at any time of the day!

As a boomer, you most probably have kids (or grandkids?) that are in school. Whether you have

high school, elementary or pre – school children, one issue will always be a collective one. “Is

my child doing well in school?” or “How can I help her do well/better in class?”.

In today’s fast paced world, incessant demands to meet the needs from work, family and even

oneself, it’s no wonder many people burn out because of stress. However, boomers can keep our

minds happy by bearing in mind that our brains, like our bodies, need some special attention.

RELAX. You may have heard this word over and over again, and believe it. Take some time to let go

of all the tensions. Find some hobby you know you can enjoy, or just sit still and take long

breaths for a couple of minutes. This five letter word can be a life – saver in dire times and

can save you from breaking down.

TAKE TIME TO PRAISE YOURSELF. After a frenzied and frantic dash to the finish line (or deadline),

give yourself a pat on the back. Or a vodka martini, or a glass of wine, or a slice of chocolate

cake. Whatever it is that rewards you.

TRY READING SOMETHING NEW. Discover new things by taking time to read something new. Who knows,

you might love that old sci – fi paperback that’s right behind all your classic novels.

MEDITATE. Focus. Work your brain out a little bit by meditation.

LISTEN TO MUSIC. It doesn’t have to be classical music, although classical can be great. Music

can be a great therapeutic method in order to improve your memory, stimulate your immune system

and reduce stress.

GET OFF THE COUCH AND TURN OFF YOUR TELEVISION. While the idea of lounging around the couch after

work or a busy day can be very enticing, television actually clutters your brain more. Try to

spend your time with other activities

LEARN A NEW SKILL. Aside from having something new to put in your resume, when you learn a new

skill, you’re actually working out multiple areas of your brain.

TAKE UP WRITING. Pent up feelings, thoughts and emotions can be poisoning to your mental and

emotional well-being. Write all these down. When you’re angry with someone and are unable to tell

him or her, writing what you feel helps you release those negative energies.

PLAY MIND GAMES. Optical illusions, brain teasers and crossword puzzles are great ways to improve

mental clarity, while at the same time, having fun.

Our minds are perhaps our greatest assets, and since always at work, our minds need love, care

and a whole lot of stimulation to keep in top shape.

Find out more ways to stimulate your mind at boomeryearbook.com!

www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share

your thoughts, rediscover old friends, or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical

psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping Boomers

connect for fun and profit.

for www.boomeryearbook.com

www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share

your thoughts, rediscover old friends, or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical

psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping Boomers

connect for fun and profit.

for www.boomeryearbook.com

www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share

your thoughts, rediscover old friends, or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical

psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping Boomers

connect for fun and profit.

Source

Why is the Buddha smiling? Because it’s finally happened: meditation is mainstream.

Of course, the true “Buddha mind” finds reason to smile from within and is said to be unfazed by such spacetime frivolities as cultural trends, but surely the “enlightened” among us, whoever they are, must be encouraged that meditative practices are being taken up in boardrooms of corporate America, taught at YMCAs, introduced to schoolchildren around the world and even advocated within the military.

Mindfulness, Zen, the Transcendental Meditation technique and many other practices have become household words. Hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific research studies have demonstrated the efficacy of meditation for improving health, preventing disease, accelerating personal growth and even reversal of aging.

But with so many different methods of meditation available, how does one choose a suitable, effective meditation technique for oneself or one’s family? Here are some timesaving tips from a longtime meditator and 35-year meditation teacher to help you evaluate which meditation might be best for you.

Meditation techniques are not all the same!

The first step is to recognize that not all meditation techniques are the same. The various meditation practices engage the mind in different ways. Vipassna, also commonly (and perhaps loosely) known as mindfulness meditation, emphasizes dispassionate observation and, in its more philosophical form, the contemplation of impermanence, sometimes focusing on the interconnection between mind and body. Zen Buddhist practices are likely to use concentration, whether directed at one’s breath or at trying to grasp a Zen koan. The Transcendental Meditation technique uses effortless attention to experience subtle states of thought and ‘transcend’ by use of a specialized mantra. Christian Centering Prayer uses a word of worship to stimulate receptiveness to God. And this is only a small sampling of the variety of practices commonly lumped together as ‘meditation.’

Different techniques have different aims, employ a variety of procedures and naturally produce different results. In determining which technique among this wide variety of practices might best suit your purposes, start by asking yourself what you want out of meditation, and how much time you’re willing to give it. Some meditation programs emphasize regular or twice-daily practice over time to gain maximum benefit and evolve to higher stages of personal growth, while other practices are intended for an occasional inspirational boost or to chill when you’re stressed.

Another question to ask yourself: do you want a meditation practice that comes with a religion, philosophy or way of life? Many practices, such as Buddhist and Taoist practices, are interwoven into a conceptual world view that’s an intricate part of the practice—whether it’s an approach that contemplates the cosmos and human mind as inseparable elements of a single order, or a world view that strives to get beyond all dogma and see the world as it truly is, it’s still another mentally conceived world view. Other practices, such as the form of mindfulness meditation now popular in the West, or the Transcendental Meditation technique, are secular in nature and can be practiced without embracing any particular philosophy, religion or way of life.

Are you seeking to achieve inspiration and insights during the meditation experience? Meditations that fall into this category are contemplative techniques. They promise greater depth of understanding about the topic being contemplated and help the intellect fathom various avenues of thought. These types of meditations can be pleasant and emotionally uplifting, especially if there is no straining or mind control involved. Often these practices are performed with the guidance of a CD, instructor or derived from a book.

A scientific approach:

Are you looking for a certain health benefit, such as decreased anxiety or lower blood pressure? Though proponents of most meditation practices claim health benefits, frequently these claims of benefit cite scientific research that was actually conducted on other forms of meditation, and not on the practice being promoted. Yet research has clearly shown that not all meditations give the same results.[1] If you’re choosing a meditation for a specific health benefit, check the research being used and verify that a particular benefit was actually done on that specific meditation technique and not on some other practice. While you are looking into the research, be sure the study was peer-reviewed and published in a reputable scientific or academic journal. If a study showing a specific benefit—such as deep relaxation or reduced anxiety—was replicated by several other research studies on that same practice, then the science is more compelling.

When it comes to reducing stress and anxiety, scientists have again found that all meditation practices are not equally effective. Practices that employ concentration have been found to actually increase anxiety, and the same meta-study found that most meditation techniques are no more effective than a placebo at reducing anxiety.[2]

Need meditation to lower your blood pressure? The Transcendental Meditation technique is the only mind/body practice that has been shown both in independent clinical trials and meta-analyses to significantly lower high blood pressure in hypertensive patients.[3] To determine if a particular form of meditation has scientific evidence supporting a specific benefit, you can do a search at PubMed or through Google’s academic search engine, Google Scholar. There are over a thousand peer-reviewed studies on the various forms of meditation, with the Transcendental Meditation technique and mindfulness meditation being the most extensively researched practices, respectively.

How much time do you have?

Another consideration is how much time it takes to master a particular meditation technique. Some meditation practices require many years to master and to achieve their stated purpose—or even get a glimpse of the goal—while other practices may take only a few months or even a few minutes to produce intended results. For example, relaxation CDs can have an immediate, soothing effect—it may not be nirvana, but in some cases relaxation is all that’s promised. If you don’t have the patience to persist in a practice that takes many years to attain success, it makes sense to choose a technique that requires less or no effort.

Along these lines, does the meditation practice you’re considering require the ability to concentrate? If you have a hard time focusing for prolonged periods, or suffer from ADHD, you may find it frustrating to attempt a concentration type of meditation. Remember, scientific findings actually indicate that concentration techniques, though they may improve focus in some cases, can actually increase stress and anxiety.[4]

Meditation and the brain:

Want to meditate to enhance brain functioning? There are several types of meditation CDs marketed on the Internet as “scientific technologies” for improving your brain. If you look past the marketing slogans (”Meditate deep as a Zen monk—instantly!”) to see if there are any peer-reviewed scientific research studies verifying such claims, don’t be surprised if you don’t find any. This doesn’t mean the CDs will not improve your brain—perhaps they will—but I hesitate to recommend such unproven methods, especially if they feign to be scientific when they are not.

Speaking of meditating deep as a Zen monk, brain researchers have reported EEG alpha coherence in the frontal brain area during Zen meditation—as well as during the Transcendental Meditation technique (which shows EEG coherence throughout the entire brain). Neuroscientists theorize this to be a positive effect, because the prefrontal cortex (PFC) “oversees” the whole brain, and having a more coherently functioning PFC should improve overall brain performance. Thus there’s evidence from neuroscience that certain meditation practices may be good for your brain. If the barrage of meditation CDs on the market that claim improved brain functioning were to show such prefrontal EEG alpha coherence, that might lend some credibility to their promises of improved brain function. Advances in neuroscience in recent years, and an influx of new scientific data on brain patterns during meditation, may soon expose claims of brain enhancement as true or false, based on what’s happening in the brain during meditation.

Meditate for Relaxation:

If it’s relaxation you want, research shows that the body’s relaxation response can be induced in many ways—even by just sitting with your eyes closed and listening to soothing music. Because of the intimate connection between mind and body, the deeper you go in meditation and the more settled your mind becomes, the deeper is the state of rest for the body. Contemplation practices—one of the major categories of meditation techniques—like concentration practices, have their own particular and distinct effects on mind and body. Because contemplation and concentration practices keep the mind busy—engaged in a particular activity or mental task—they are not most conducive to the mind’s settling inward, and thus will not bring the deepest rest and rejuvenation to the body. Some methods, such as the Relaxation Response, Christian Centering Prayer, or relaxation CDs often employ a mixture of both contemplation and concentration, depending on how one approaches the practice. Beware: there’s no evidence that contemplation or concentration practices such as these will actually lower high blood pressure or significantly reduce anxiety. Easy listening meditation CDs that don’t require much active engagement on the part of the mind—especially ones that do not use guided voice instructions that keep the mind engaged in the realm of meaning and contemplation—may be your best bet if you want some mild relaxation and a little emotional upliftment.

I say “mild relaxation” because meta-studies of all available research on levels of rest during mind-body practices shows that most meditation practices, including the Relaxation Response technique, do not provide physiological relaxation any deeper than simple eyes-closed rest.[6]

If you want really deep relaxation, you need a meditation practice that takes you to the deepest, most transcendental level of your Self.

Secular or non-secular:

Certain meditation practices may conflict with your religion or beliefs. The practice of meditation, though found in almost every religion, has been predominantly associated with traditions of the East. Some of these practices require adherence to beliefs of Eastern philosophy, while others are merely mechanical practices (like watching your breath) extracted from those cultures and applicable to anyone. Granted, the East has much to offer the West—and vice versa—and most people find it possible to incorporate an Eastern-derived meditation practice from an age-old tradition without sacrificing their own personal belief system.

I could never sit like that!

A practical consideration: do you need to sit in a prescribed position to do a particular meditation practice? The popular image of a meditator in leotards sitting cross-legged in full lotus position may have you thinking, “I could never do that.” Don’t be discouraged. Even if you are unable to sit like a pretzel or for an extended period without back support, there are meditation practices that do not require any particular position and are best practiced in your most comfortable easy chair. Some forms of Zen and mindfulness are even practiced while walking!

Selecting a teacher:

Do you need a meditation instructor or guru? That may depend on the depth—or height—to which you aspire. The higher meditative states are not so readily achieved by instruction techniques learned from a book or CD. The very act of reading and self-instructing can interfere with your innocence and ability to get beyond the active, surface levels of the mind. This requirement for innocence during meditation is beautifully underscored in the classic little book entitled, “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind,” by Shunryu Suzuki. It can be a challenge to be innocent when you’re simultaneously playing the roles of expert teacher and diligent student.

And then the question arises: how do I know I’m doing it right? Without the expert guidance of an experienced teacher, how can you know? In the great traditions of enlightenment, such as Buddhism, Taoism and the Vedic tradition, meditation was learned from sages who passed it on only to students who preformed sufficient austerities and showed receptivity and aptitude for learning. The act of “initiation” was considered sacred and the student showed great reverence for the teaching. Kings would give half their kingdoms or more to charity, just to earn the honor of studying with a master teacher of meditation—hoping thereby to gain liberation or enlightenment, full awakening to the true nature of life. Such was the regard for meditation in ancient times. These days, though many people may profess to be meditation teachers, they may not have the expertise you are looking for if you are serious about practicing meditation and committed to gaining higher consciousness and enlightenment. Check the teacher’s credentials and degree of training. Does the instructor represent a venerated tradition of meditation? Is the teacher upholding the purity and effectiveness of tested and proven procedures? Is the teacher directly connected to the lineage of a great, enlightened master who passed on to them the correct instructions for effective practice?

How much should I pay?

Some people claim that because meditation is a spiritual practice, it should be given out for free, and in many cases it is. You can pick up a meditative technique as part of many yoga classes, from a library book or a friend’s CD. But many meditation courses require a course fee. Some teachers charging for meditation offer a structured course that includes follow-up and personal support—thus there is overhead and educational expenses. Remember the wise adage: you get what you pay for. If you are looking for regularly scheduled group meetings at a meditation center and ongoing follow-up, you may need to pay for that amenity. There is nothing unspiritual about paying for a service that directly benefits your health and wellbeing. In the West, where materialism dominates, it is new to think of paying for something we cannot hold in our hands. If you find cost a stumbling block to learning meditation, look at the cost effectiveness of the practice and what it will bring in terms of healthcare savings and increased efficiency and quality of life. And look into what the organization does with the money; the organization may be a legitimate non-profit supporting a humanitarian cause that you agree with, such as promoting world peace.

Deliberate—and Jump within!

The bottom line: assess your personal needs and strength of intention to incorporate meditation into your life. Be realistic about your abilities and the requirements of the practice. Do your homework—most meditation programs have a Website. And if you know someone practicing a type of meditation that interests you, ask for a personal testimonial. Evaluate the claims and the scientific proof behind those claims if there is any. Check the track record of the teacher and the organization. Then join the millions who are turning within to change themselves and the world.

1. Orme-Johnson, D.W., and Walton, K. (1998), “All approaches to Prevention are not the Same,” American Journal of Health Promotion, May/June, [5]: 297-298.

2. Ibid

3. Rainforth M, Schneider R, Nidich S, et al: Stress Reduction Programs in Patients with Elevated Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Current Hypertension Reports [9] 520-528, 2007

4. Eppley, Abrams, & Shear, Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45, 957-974, 1989.

5. International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981; Psychosomatic Medicine 46: 267–276, 1984; International Journal of Neuroscience 46: 77–86, 1989; International Journal of Neuroscience 13: 211–217, 1981; 15: 151–157, 1981; Scientific Research on Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programme: Collected Papers, Volume 1: 208–212, 1977; Volume 4: 2245–2266, 1989.

6. Eppley, Abrams, & Shear, Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45, 957-974, 1989.

Source

All of us want a sexy looking body that isn’t overweight with all of that nasty fat. And for this most of us starve ourselves. But, this is not required anymore. One of the easiest ways of losing your weight is taking Phentramin-D. These pills offer quick weight loss results and you could look sexier than you ever thought. You must be wondering how Phentramin-D works.

Phentramin-D contains the ingredients that your body needs in order to enjoy a better lifestyle. Phentramin-D has the ability to increase the cyclic amp that triggers the bodily process of burning your fat. It suppresses you appetite, but at the same time increases your energy levels. It doesn’t stop there. Phentramin-D manipulates the intake and release of catecholamines known as epinephrine, dopamine, and noripenephrine. Phentramin-D possesses two special weight loss ingredients like 1,3.7 Trimethylxanthine and 1,3-Dimethylpentylamine that help in weight loss.
1,3.7 Trimethylxanthine is something that has a direct effect on cyclic amp. It converts cAMP into a non-cyclic form, intensifying the weight loss supplements. While, 1,3-Dimethylpentylamine provides Phentramin-D with the ability to provide its users with a nice, smooth, prolonged boost in energy.

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Side effects of Phentermine, Phentermine side effects

Every medicine has some side effects and so does Phentermine. When looking at side effects of Phentermine, they might seem quite extensive, but in reality, its side effects are no more dangerous than other similar medicine. Phentermine side effects fall into two different categories. There are the common side effects and the less common side effects. You must remember that Phentermine works by interacting with the neurotransmitters in your brain so mental side effects are more common.

Insomnia, increased blood pressure, irritability, and nervousness some of the other side effects of Phentermine. While, these are relatively minor side effects of Phentermine, it’s always advisable to consult your doctor about any side effects that you may be experiencing with Phentermine. This list of uncommon Phentermine side effects include blurred vision, change in sexual desire, clumsiness, confusion, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, skin rash, or stomach pain. Many a times, most patients do not experience any of the Phentermine side effects. The side effects listed here are just a guide so the patients are prepared that they might experience any or some of these side effects.

On a lot of sites you see unbelievable assessments regarding brainwave meditation. You can read slogans like meditate deeper than a Zen monk’ or ‘Meditate profoundly within minutes’ or even ‘meditate in minutes’. Most of this how ever is is plain lie. Not that there is no truth to to these claims, but you do not get it just out of the box.
Yes, you will get entrained to lower brain waves but that also happens when you when you sleep.
What you need to do is using all the techniques that experienced meditators employ. Doing this, you will greatly enhance your benefits you get out of your brainwave meditation session. The following guidelines helped me, so they will work for you also.

Relax
If you want to learn how to meditate, even with the help of brainwave entrainment, you will have to learn how to relax completely. It is a basic skill and must be mastered. .
In the beginning of each entrainment track your brainwaves are slowly brought down over a period of 5 to 10 minutes. This is the perfect time to relax every one ofour muscles. If you just bring you attention to each of the muscles, one by one, willing them to relax, you will see that they just do that. Fee all the tension flow out of you. Now do the same for your emotions. Just gently look at them and allow them to relax.
If you omit this step, the CD will do it for you. You will,however not be able to reach the depts as with the conscious relaxation of your body a,d mind.

Listen to the track.
Not too many companies selling brainwave meditation CD’s tell you this, but I found listening to the track enormously enhances the meditation experience. At least to me it does. I have no idea about the long term effects, as I did not study these, but the feeling of going deep into the meditation is definitely affected. The more you can focus on the track, the better it gets.

Try to stay awake
This is actually the a consequence of the previous one since, as you fall asleep, you are not concentrated on the music, obviously :-). It is true that staying awake is sometimes difficult. The music guides your brainwaves to those of sleep. But now you need to stay awake. It is the exact purpose of meditation: to reach these states consciously, so awake. That is where the real benefits lie. You sleep every night, yet, you do not benefit from the meditation, as you are not conscious of your thoughts. You need to go there conscious.

Do not mix practices
As you do not need to do a great effort to reach low brainwaves (after all, that’s where the tracks are for). You tend to want to do a whole lot of practices. To mix them up. But that is actually not such a good idea. In this way you do not have any continuity. You fleet from one point to the other. Moreover, if you add a practice, be sure that it is in sync with the entrainment frequencies. Otherwise your practice will tend to lead you to one particular frequency, and the track to another one. This is counterproductive.

At the end, open you eyes slowly.
Again, as in normal meditation, come back in very slow way. Try to bring the blissful feelings you had in meditation back into your waking life. After all, that is why you do the meditation in the first place: to lead a better, more peaceful life.

Conclusion
Brainwave meditation is a lot like regular meditation. So the same techniques to improve the experience also apply here. But now you have the added aid of technology at your side.

Source

Most people put their routine colonoscopy off for as long as possible, dreading what they may find or how bad it may hurt. The truth is, a colonoscopy isn’t anything to be afraid of. While it’s much easier to simply ignore the need for a colonoscopy, you could be unintentionally shortening your life!

There are some things in this world that are just a part of life…paying our bills, brushing our teeth, having a health insurance, etc. Well, it’s time to add colonoscopy to the list! There are certain instances where you need to have a colonoscopy. Most doctors advise anyone over 50 years of age to receive a colonoscopy. If you happen to have a family history of colorectal cancer, the age may be a lot earlier. After receiving that initial colonoscopy, your doctor will let you know how often you should come back. Mark this date on your calendar and don’t consider canceling an option!

Most people who have gone through a colonoscopy say the clear liquid diet before hand is the worst part. Before surgery your gastrointestinal tract needs to be cleaned out so the doctor’s can get a “clear” view. The liquid diet will help in making sure your tract is spotless! Depending on your doctor’s instructions, this diet can last anywhere from 1-3 days but 24 hours is about the norm.

Most people who have gone through a colonoscopy say the clear liquid diet before hand is the worst part. Before surgery your gastrointestinal tract needs to be cleaned out so the doctor’s can get a “clear” view. The liquid diet will help in making sure your tract is spotless! Depending on your doctor’s instructions, this diet can last anywhere from 1-3 days but 24 hours is about the norm.

So what actually goes on during the surgery? Well, most people are given a light sedative and asked to lie on their side. From here, the doctor inserts a scope up the rectum and towards the colon. Doing this, the doctor can see any polyps that have formed and get rid of them. Although polyps are pretty typical for the average person, it’s good to have them removed. A small polyp can turn into colorectal cancer over the years. The doctor than will usually take a sample of the tissue to check for disease. The whole procedure typically is under an hour long. Make sure to bring a friend to drive you home as your sedative will take awhile to wear off.

So what actually goes on during the surgery? Well, most people are given a light sedative and asked to lie on their side. From here, the doctor inserts a scope up the rectum and towards the colon. Doing this, the doctor can see any polyps that have formed and get rid of them. Although polyps are pretty typical for the average person, it’s good to have them removed. A small polyp can turn into colorectal cancer over the years. The doctor than will usually take a sample of the tissue to check for disease. The whole procedure typically is under an hour long. Make sure to bring a friend to drive you home as your sedative will take awhile to wear off.

The dirty truth about colonoscopies is that they aren’t as dirty and horrible as we make them out to be in our minds. If you are without health insurance, try finding an affordable plan on healthplanone. You are able to view several different health plans available and very affordable. Our body is our only means of living life. Make sure we are proactive in protecting it!

This type of cancer is not just something the elderly can get! Cancer is spreading far and wide. With this type of prevention available to us, we can’t afford to wait and see.

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“In the attitude of silence, the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Silence: The state of being still and silent.

In our civilized world, we enjoy numerous conveniences. Like everyone else, I enjoy most of them. But with the invention of electricity, we created 24-hour lives, constantly feed by input or, better stated, noise. So what is the impact of such a noisy environment and lifestyle? Let’s see.

I recently had the opportunity to attend an outdoor retreat — camping in a tent, which for me is equivalent to having a root canal. Anyway, there was no paper or books to read or TV, cell phone, or landline for almost a week. All input was either provided by the retreat program or by my quieted internal thoughts; no other vices were available to fill or stimulate my mind.

I can’t ever recall a time in the past decade where I was able to do this for an entire week. I can’t explain the quietness that occurred in my mind and soul, but it was peaceful. Those of you who already have significant quiet time in your life know what I mean; for those who don’t have quiet time, it is difficult to describe the incredible grounding that occurs when you are not overloaded with input.

In the past I have tried to have quiet times of reflection and, of course, the phone would ring or an urgent project happened to drop in for a visit in your thoughts. Until experiencing this retreat event, I had no consciousness of how powerful true silence can be for your overall health and wellness.

This notion happens to be backed up by medical science. True relaxation (sitting on the beach in Hawaii doesn’t quite count) has a physiological effect on your body and mind. Let me explain.

During one episode of Star Trek - The New Generation, the crew was affected with a virus that did not permit them to dream or go into delta wave patterns of sleep (I’ll explain that in a moment). The result was that one-by-one each, crew member started to go insane. They simply could not function without dreams and delta wave patterns. And a lifestyle that has continuous, constant noise and input (a lack of silence and quiet times) is doing to the same to each of us. We do not give ourselves time to seriously recover. Stress-related health problems have never been higher; the non-stop input around us is one of the contributing factors.

There also has been much medical documentation on Vietnam vets who, after several tours, were constantly running on adrenaline. When they came back from their theater of operations, their bodies would not relax or calm down; this caused a viscous cycle of high methane that was medically creating imbalance and instability in their lives.

Have you ever had nights (or even days) where your mind would not stop racing and your thoughts were almost uncontrollable . . . and the harder you tried to relax, the less you could? Finally in total exhaustion, you collapsed into sleep only to wake up the next morning feeling completely exhausted?

Let’s look at the biological makeup affecting our physical and mental consciousness. We all operate on four forms of brain waves.

1. Beta is our alert, fully awake mode of 12 to 16 cycles per second.
2. The second type is called alpha: 8 to 12 cycles per second. This is where you feel your greatest creativity and also memory. Example: when you forgot something and tried to remember and could not, then afterward, when you relaxed, the name or detail came to you. Sound familiar?
3. The third is theta, which is 4 to 8 cycles per second. This is where you begin to feel drowsy or even sleepy.
4. And finally, delta waves cycle at 1 to 4 cycles per second; usually you are in various levels of sleep.

Our brain waves must be balanced so we can feel fulfillment and function optimally in our lives. If, overall, you have too much beta , for example, and not enough of the other forms of brain waves — and your body and brain don’t have time to recover or regenerate — your abilities the next day are reduced. I know this is an oversimplification of a complex medical subject but my point here is that always being full-on in life — without a balance of recovery and silence — is a recipe for disaster.

Silence and stillness have been replaced by constant input and/or movement. But imagine the opposite ? where you are in the mountains in a log cabin with no development or anyone else around . . . It is night; a fresh snowfall covers the ground and trees. As you step outside, the only sound is the snow. There in that moment is the powerful sound of silence.

If you have not done this for a while — just being quiet and still — you might find it more difficult to do than you think. I have personal experience on that one. But I encourage all who are reading this article to claim the power of being silent and still . . . to actually increase your fulfillment by simply doing nothing and being entirely in the moment.

Action Steps to Help Introduce the Power of Silence into Your Life,

1. Take a moment to reflect on how much quiet time you really have in your life.
2. Think about all the input and activities you allow into your life every day; determine which ones are essential and which ones can be omitted. Watching the same CNN Headlines for four hours in a row might be a bit much!
3. Make a list of all unnecessary, frivolous stimuli that you add to the noise in your life. Much of it can be reduced or omitted entirely . . . such as having the TV on all day while you do housework and other similar examples.
4. Start to replace your noise with silence.
5. Set aside a time that is convenient, where you can have silence and relaxation on a deeper and longer time frame . . . a day in the forest, at home with all the “conveniences” off.
6. Commit, once or twice a year, to going to a place where you have no opportunity for outside input; spend time with none other than yourself. Each time, you’re stay longer in duration. Pay attention to the process to see if you can actually quieten yourself enough to not have racing thoughts.
7. Help others in your life reduce their noise, too.

Until next time, keep Living On Purpose.

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We introduce you to this wonderful Abhyanga (oil massage) practice, which can be practiced daily to greatly enhance your well being. We discuss the principles of Abhyanga, the scientific evidence of the effects of Abhyanga and the role of Abhyanga in promoting good health. We also demonstrate how to self administer Abhyanga for your daily life.

Head massage plays an important role in Abhyanga Massage, along with foot massage. It is stated in Abhyanga ancient texts that if the whole body cannot be massaged every day then at the very least the head, ears and feet should be massaged. This workshop shows you how to effectively massage your own head and how to administer head massage to others using appropriate oils and techniques.

There are however, five general strokes that are used in traditional massage. These are sweeping, tapping, kneading, rubbing, and squeezing.1 sweeping is applied from the navel out toward the distal areas of the body in brisk, straight strokes. On the upper body, sweeping starts at the navel, sweeping up to the shoulder and then sweeping down to the hands. Sweeping is used to open and close a body area and are repeated up to twenty five times on one area. Sweeping warms the tissue and revitalizes the limbs and feel invigorating.

Tapping is used to awaken the body, alert the nerve endings, and increase circulation. It is done with open palms and relaxed fingers. After the area has received the tapping technique, it is kneaded at a depth that is tolerable to the client. The area is kneaded thoroughly and completely before the therapist moves on to the fourth technique, which is rubbing. Rubbing can be done on dry skin or performed with oil. It can be deep or light and superficial. Although some specific techniques rub in a counterclockwise direction, most often the rubbing is in clockwise circles.

The fifth step in the massage sequence is squeezing. Using both hands, the therapist lifts an area of muscle with a squeezing and crossing torque-like motion. In bony areas such as the fingers and toes, a combination of squeezing and twisting are used to mobilize the area. To finish the fingers and toes, a drop of oil is placed on the finger so that it fills the gap between the nail and the flesh. The massage sequence ends for each body area just as it began with straight sweeps working out from the navel to the distal areas of the body.
We introduce you to this wonderful Abhyanga (oil massage) practice, which can be practiced daily to greatly enhance your well being. We discuss the principles of Abhyanga, the scientific evidence of the effects of Abhyanga and the role of Abhyanga in promoting good health. We also demonstrate how to self administer Abhyanga for your daily life.

Head massage plays an important role in Abhyanga Massage, along with foot massage. It is stated in Abhyanga ancient texts that if the whole body cannot be massaged every day then at the very least the head, ears and feet should be massaged. This workshop shows you how to effectively massage your own head and how to administer head massage to others using appropriate oils and techniques.

There are however, five general strokes that are used in traditional massage. These are sweeping, tapping, kneading, rubbing, and squeezing.1 sweeping is applied from the navel out toward the distal areas of the body in brisk, straight strokes. On the upper body, sweeping starts at the navel, sweeping up to the shoulder and then sweeping down to the hands. Sweeping is used to open and close a body area and are repeated up to twenty five times on one area. Sweeping warms the tissue and revitalizes the limbs and feel invigorating.

Tapping is used to awaken the body, alert the nerve endings, and increase circulation. It is done with open palms and relaxed fingers. After the area has received the tapping technique, it is kneaded at a depth that is tolerable to the client. The area is kneaded thoroughly and completely before the therapist moves on to the fourth technique, which is rubbing. Rubbing can be done on dry skin or performed with oil. It can be deep or light and superficial. Although some specific techniques rub in a counterclockwise direction, most often the rubbing is in clockwise circles.

The fifth step in the massage sequence is squeezing. Using both hands, the therapist lifts an area of muscle with a squeezing and crossing torque-like motion. In bony areas such as the fingers and toes, a combination of squeezing and twisting are used to mobilize the area. To finish the fingers and toes, a drop of oil is placed on the finger so that it fills the gap between the nail and the flesh. The massage sequence ends for each body area just as it began with straight sweeps working out from the navel to the distal areas of the body.
Source

Getting a professional massage just might very well be one of the best ways to relax the mind, body and spirit. These days, professional massage therapists are in high demand, and although the occasional massage from one of these highly trained practitioners may cost what the average person considers a good bit of money, it seems well worth it to many. Not only does it make you feel wonderful from head to toe, it also has many health benefits that many people (and you?) are probably unaware of.

The best way to describe what a massage can do for a person’s overall health is explaining how a therapist can manipulate the body’s soft tissues, which means the massage therapist has complete control of a person’s musculature. The most common areas of the body that a therapist focuses on are the back, neck, arms, legs and, at times, even the jaw and head. Massages can help to alleviate the most common types of stress that occurs in the body’s muscles, wherever they are located. Still, simply describing massage methods doesn’t quite answer the question of what massage therapy can do to benefit a person’s overall health.

Reduce stress, live longer

One key benefit to massages is that they help lower high blood pressure. This is important information for someone who might suffer from high blood pressure and the various secondary conditions it causes or contributes to. Massage therapy helps lower a person’s heart rate, which, of course, is directly linked to blood pressure. Since high blood pressure can lead to serious health conditions, like heart attack and strokes, the occasional massage might be a good thing to try as a preventative against such conditions.

Interestingly, massage therapy has been shown to help certain people with certain, specific kinds of mental health conditions. Many psychiatrists will recommend that their patients receive a massage regularly to help alleviate depression symptoms, anxiety and other mental health conditions. The mechanism by which it works is hardly mysterious, but it is amazing for its simple effectiveness and ability to affect all major systems of the human body. Massage clearly relaxes the body, as well as the mind, at the same time, which can stimulate the brain’s production of both endorphins (natural pain killers) and mood-enhancing serotonin.

Set and setting, game and match

The human mind being the powerful creative force that it is, many massage therapists set the mood with candles, music and sometimes by burning incense. In addition to bringing a more soothing atmosphere to the massage, there are some indications that aromatherapy has some testable effects on stress, too. Enhancing the mood, therefore, may be a more powerful technique than even massage professionals now realize.

Massage therapy can bring a wide variety of beneficial elements to a person’s life. Many professional and amateur athletes have been known to use massage therapy, quite often before they play in a game, take to the track or strap on the skis. The massages that pro athletes receive help to relax them before they play, at which time they will exert themselves far beyond the normal demands of life, with more force and potential pain than most people will ever experience. The massage therapist is ready to help relieve their pain after the game is over, too.

Good for one and all

Yet it is not just the athlete who can benefit. Massages can greatly reduce the pain and inflammation associated with such diverse conditions as osteoporosis, asthma, arthritis, diabetes and other inflammatory diseases. Massage therapy is also part of the toolkit for many physical therapists, who understand how important good blood flow is to healing muscles, organs, bones and, ultimately, every cell in the body. The oxygen that the blood takes to the cells is what keeps the various cogs and gears of the human engine running. Massage therapy can help deliver the fuel and sustenance that the body needs by facilitating blood flow and oxygenation.

Clearly there are many beneficial aspects to massage therapy that help to open wide the window of opportunity for people suffering from all different types of ailments. This article mentions only several of the rewards associated with massage therapy, but the benefits all share some things in common as do the methods. All the methods are natural, drug-free, noninvasive, chemical-free (except for simple lotion or oil) and based on the sciences of physiology and anatomy. All benefits are real, not based on mood-altering drugs and can be obtained exactly the same way time after time – you build no resistance as you do to a drug, and you have no side effects except a feeling of wellbeing, and that is one you will never complain about.

In fact, massage therapy has just as much right to say it is “good for every body” as milk does, and there is a simple way you can prove whether or not it’s right for you. There is probably a trained, licensed massage therapist within a short drive from where you are sitting right now. If you’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing a professional massage for yourself, what are you waiting for? Your local massage therapists are waiting for your call today, and are ready to introduce you to the original “natural health care.”