Sleep Like A Baby! 

(And Wake Up Feeling Younger)

By Patricia Curtis, Prevention
Thu, Apr 22, 2010

Nighttime is the right time to take years off your face. "Hormonal changes boost blood flow to the skin, brightening it overnight," says Melvin Elson, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt School of Nursing. Skin temps are higher, too, so age-fighting potions seep deeper for better results. And even though you're resting, your skin is hard at work. Studies show that cell turnover is 8 times faster at night, softening wrinkles. 

Sleep Like A Baby! (And Wake Up Feeling Younger)

Energy Share for Sunday
June 27, 2010

Optimism in the face of uncertainty is a difficult art. The terrain of life is varied and mysterious. I cannot always see the path ahead. At times my view is shadowed by doubt, constricted by fear. The open vistas of optimism are closed to me.

In such shortsighted times, I must practice the discipline of positive attitudes. I must consciously choose to expect a benevolent future despite my shaken faith. Grounded in the routine of each day's unfolding business, I must act in alignment with my coming good.

This means I say "yes" to opportunities for new adventures and acquaintances to enter my life.

I say "yes" to unexpected doors opening.

Rather than cling to my known life, I allow that life to alter and expand.

I choose to take positive risk.

I step out in faith despite my misgivings.

Today, I open my mind and heart to the new vistas before me. I embrace change and accept unfolding possibilities. I am a fertile field available for God's planting.

Julia Cameron

Enjoy the energy boost I share with you today... to help you imagine and embrace the greatest possibilities beyond your current reality. To imagine and embrace a course of action that fulfills your passion and life purpose with exuberance and enthusiasm.

I welcome and embrace the energy boost from you so that I may do the same and gratefully acknowledge your part in the giving and receiving of heartfelt energy. Thank you for all you do as healers, teachers and friends.  Enjoy the previous posts, don't be surprised if you see more amusing animal videos from me.

Remember to be present in every moment and live the passionate life you intend it to be.

Aloha pumehana (with blessings, love and affection)!

Lydia

1. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA

2. Amy Manuel, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

3. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

4. Annette Maxwell Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

5. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria

6. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland

7. Carol Gent, Lancashire, England, UK

8. Denise Matthews, Nottinghamshire, UK

9. Donna Pfeiffer, Venice, Florida, USA

10. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria

11. Egon Russell, Adelaide, Alabama, USA

12. Eileen To, Middlesex, Alabama, UK

13. Eve Hale, Hampshire, England, UK

14. Grant Luckey, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

15. Gudrun Gudmundsdottir, San Diego, California, USA

16. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA

17. Heidi Fruhling, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA

18. Hillary Bisaillon, Yorktown, Virginia, USA

19. Janet Evans, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA

20. Janet Henningsen, Indialantic, Florida, USA

21. Janet Kinge, Basingstoke, UK

22. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

23. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA

24. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA

25. Karen Saldanha, Corona, California, USA

26. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada

27. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA

28. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA

29. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA

30. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada

31. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA

32. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

33. Lynda Truthseekir, Los Angeles, California

34. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK

35. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA

36. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia

37. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia

38. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA

39. Mark Woit, Nuermberg, Bavaria

40. Matthew Leonard, Lodi, New Jersey, USA

41. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

42. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands

43. Moira Congreve, England, UK

44. Monica Hernandez Estrada, Corona, California, USA

45. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA

46. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia

47. Nieema and Jan Thasing, Elkton, South Dakota, USA

48. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA

49. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario

50. Pauline Leung, England, UK

51. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA

52. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada

53. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA

54. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

55. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA

56. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

57. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia

58. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA

59. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England

60. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA

61. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

62. Velanthas, Manila, Philippines

63. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India

64. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA

65. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia

66. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario

67. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India

68. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA

Baby and Dog Invent Their Own Game

Watch this little boy and his bff play their version of tag...let the giggles begin!

http://purinaanimalallstars.yahoo.com/?v=7652402&l=100000085

Movement and Exercise for Cancer Patients

The Lebed method is a movement and exercise program that focuses on the lymphatic system, which is sometimes affected during cancer treatment. Susan DeCristofaro, RN, MS, OCN, takes us through some simple exercises to help prevent lymphedema and neuropathy, from blowing bubbles to gentle resistance stretches, and finishes up with a fun chorus-line routine.

For more information on Dana-Farber's Lebed classes, visit http://www.dana-farber.org/pat/support/calendar_supportgroup.asp

What a sweet, lovely story... Reminds me of our very first Smith family reunion beginning with the trip from Palau to upstate New York and the Catskill mountains.  I was 5 years old and my baby sister was barely 6 months old.  A dream it was then and a dream it is still...

Home & Garden
In the Catskills, Comfort in a Gingerbread House
By JOYCE WADLER
Published: June 23, 2010

One woman’s cottage, which stands near the trailer she shares with her husband, is a dream of Victoriana.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/garden/24cottage.html

Energy Share for Sunday
June 20, 2010

Music / Kitaro / Full Moon / Video Credits / ESA Hubble / Text / Rab Adamson

Today I send you an energy boost to remind us all of the infinite wisdom that lies within. Let us allow this wisdom to guide us along our journey to move forward confidently. I share the boost embedded in the video with you in a spirit of unity, unconditional love and strength of character to free yourself of drama and conflict.

I welcome and embrace the energy boost from you so that I may do the same and gratefully acknowledge your part in the share. Thank you for all you do as healers, teachers and friends. By the way, I also post the energy share on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, so Join Me there, if you haven't already.

Enjoy the previous posts, and Happy Father's Day for all near and far. We got to celebrate with a midday brunch at an IHOP in downtown Riverside. The day started off with a little adventure when the first IHOP we went to had an emergency shutdown due to a kitchen fire...whew! Glad we had just sat down and hadn't ordered yet.

Remember to be present in every moment and live the passionate life you intend it to be.

Aloha pumehana (with blessings, love and affection)!

Lydia

1. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA

2. Amy Manuel, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

3. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

4. Annette Maxwell Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

5. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria

6. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland

7. Carol Gent, Lancashire, England, UK

8. Denise Matthews, Nottinghamshire, UK

9. Donna Pfeiffer, Venice, Florida, USA

10. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria

11. Egon Russell, Adelaide, Alabama, USA

12. Eileen To, Middlesex, Alabama, UK

13. Eve Hale, Hampshire, England, UK

14. Grant Luckey, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

15. Gudrun Gudmundsdottir, San Diego, California, USA

16. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA

17. Heidi Fruhling, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA

18. Hillary Bisaillon, Yorktown, Virginia, USA

19. Janet Evans, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA

20. Janet Henningsen, Indialantic, Florida, USA

21. Janet Kinge, Basingstoke, UK

22. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

23. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA

24. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA

25. Karen Saldanha, Corona, California, USA

26. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada

27. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA

28. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA

29. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA

30. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada

31. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA

32. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

33. Lynda Truthseekir, Los Angeles, California

34. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK

35. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA

36. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia

37. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia

38. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA

39. Mark Woit, Nuermberg, Bavaria

40. Matthew Leonard, Lodi, New Jersey, USA

41. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

42. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands

43. Moira Congreve, England, UK

44. Monica Hernandez Estrada, Corona, California, USA

45. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA

46. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia

47. Nieema and Jan Thasing, Elkton, South Dakota, USA

48. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA

49. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario

50. Pauline Leung, England, UK

51. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA

52. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada

53. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA

54. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

55. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA

56. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

57. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia

58. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA

59. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England

60. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA

61. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

62. Velanthas, Manila, Philippines

63. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India

64. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA

65. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia

66. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario

67. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India

68. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

To all the Fathers near and far...

Make your own greeting

Healing Hula

By MARGA LINCOLN, Independent Record | Posted: Thursday, June 17, 2010 12:00 am

In late fall 1995 a flock of migrating snow geese stopped to rest on the toxic waters of the Berkeley Pit in Butte.

For 342 of them, it would be their last resting place.

For artist Kristi Hager, their deaths became a call to action — first in anger and later through dance.

Nearly five years later, on July 9, 2000, 154 women, children and men, dressed in water-blue sarongs, gathered on the rim of the pit, part of America’s largest Superfund site, and danced the “Cool Water Hula.”

This art action went down in history — recorded in “Montana: Stories of the Land,” an award-winning history book by Helena author Krys Holmes published by the Montana Historical Society.

Now, 10 years later, the dancers are back.

Read the rest of the article: Healing Hula

Cool Water Hula: Making waves to transform a greed culture into a green culture

This July will mark the 10 year anniversary of this call to action for people to dance hula, to embody the beauty and sacredness of the land as well as to speak out against the toxic water accumulating in The Berkley Pit in Butte, Montana. The Pit is the world's largest Superfund site. You can follow the activities of the group posted on http://coolwaterhula.blogspot.com/

Use It or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter

Richard Powers

For hundreds of years dance manuals and other writings have lauded the health benefits of dancing, usually as physical exercise. More recently we've seen research on further health benefits of dancing, such as stress reduction and increased serotonin level, with its sense of well-being.

Then most recently we've heard of another benefit: Frequent dancing apparently makes us smarter. A major study added to the growing evidence that stimulating one's mind can ward off Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, much as physical exercise can keep the body fit.

You've probably heard about the New England Journal of Medicine report on the effects of recreational activities on mental acuity in aging. Here it is in a nutshell.

The 21-year study of senior citizens, 75 and older, was led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, funded by the National Institute on Aging, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Their method for objectively measuring mental acuity in aging was to monitor rates of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

The study wanted to see if any physical or cognitive recreational activities influenced mental acuity. They discovered that some activities had a significant beneficial effect. Other activities had none.

They studied cognitive activities such as reading books, writing for pleasure, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards and playing musical instruments. And they studied physical activities like playing tennis or golf, swimming, bicycling, dancing, walking for exercise and doing housework.

One of the surprises of the study was that almost none of the physical activities appeared to offer any protection against dementia. There can be cardiovascular benefits of course, but the focus of this study was the mind. There was one important exception: the only physical activity to offer protection against dementia was frequent dancing.

Reading - 35% reduced risk of dementia

Bicycling and swimming - 0%

People who played the hardest gained the most: For example, seniors who did crossword puzzles four days a week had a 47% lower risk of dementia than those who did the puzzles once a week.

Playing golf - 0%

Dancing frequently - 76%.

That was the greatest risk reduction of any activity studied, cognitive or physical.

Quoting Dr. Joseph Coyle, a Harvard Medical School psychiatrist who wrote an accompanying commentary:

"The cerebral cortex and hippocampus, which are critical to these activities, are remarkably plastic, and they rewire themselves based upon their use."

And from from the study itself, Dr. Katzman proposed these persons are more resistant to the effects of dementia as a result of having greater cognitive reserve and increased complexity of neuronal synapses. Like education, participation in some leisure activities lowers the risk of dementia by improving cognitive reserve.

Our brain constantly rewires its neural pathways, as needed. If it doesn't need to, then it won't.

Aging and memory

When brain cells die and synapses weaken with aging, our nouns go first, like names of people, because there's only one neural pathway connecting to that stored information. If the single neural connection to that name fades, we lose access to it. So as we age, we learn to parallel process, to come up with synonyms to go around these roadblocks. (Or maybe we don't learn to do this, and just become a dimmer bulb.)

The key here is Dr. Katzman's emphasis on the complexity of our neuronal synapses. More is better. Do whatever you can to create new neural paths. The opposite of this is taking the same old well-worn path over and over again, with habitual patterns of thinking and living our lives.

When I was studying the creative process as a grad student at Stanford, I came across the perfect analogy to this:

The more stepping stones there are across the creek,

the easier it is to cross in your own style.

The focus of that aphorism was creative thinking, to find as many alternative paths as possible to a creative solution. But as we age, parallel processing becomes more critical. Now it's no longer a matter of style, it's a matter of survival — getting across the creek at all. Randomly dying brain cells are like stepping stones being removed one by one. Those who had only one well-worn path of stones are completely blocked when some are removed. But those who spent their lives trying different mental routes each time, creating a myriad of possible paths, still have several paths left.

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine study shows that we need to keep as many of those paths active as we can, while also generating new paths, to maintain the complexity of our neuronal synapses.

Why dancing?

We immediately ask two questions:

Why is dancing better than other activities for improving mental capabilities?

Does this mean all kinds of dancing, or is one kind of dancing better than another?

That's where this particular study falls short. It doesn't answer these questions as a stand-alone study. Fortunately, it isn't a stand-alone study. It's one of many studies, over decades, which have shown that we increase our mental capacity by exercising our cognitive processes. Intelligence: Use it or lose it. And it's the other studies which fill in the gaps in this one. Looking at all of these studies together lets us understand the bigger picture.

Some of this is discussed here (the page you probably just came from) which looks at intelligence in greater depth. The essence of intelligence is making decisions. And the concluding advice, when it comes to improving your mental acuity, is to involve yourself in activities which require split-second rapid-fire decision making, as opposed to rote memory (retracing the same well-worn paths), or just working on your physical style.

One way to do that is to learn something new. Not just dancing, but anything new. Don't worry about the probability that you'll never use it in the future. Take a class to challenge your mind. It will stimulate the connectivity of your brain by generating the need for new pathways. Difficult and even frustrating classes are better for you, as they will create a greater need for new neural pathways.

Then take a dance class, which can be even better. Dancing integrates several brain functions at once, increasing connectivity. Dancing simultaneously involves kinesthetic, rational, musical and emotional processes.

What kind of dancing?

Let's go back to the study:

Bicycling, swimming or playing golf - 0% reduced risk of dementia

But doesn't golf require rapid-fire decision-making? No, not if you're a long-time player. You made most of the decisions when you first started playing, years ago. Now the game is mostly refining your technique. It can be good physical exercise, but the study showed it led to no improvement in mental acuity.

Therefore take the kinds of dance classes where you must make as many split-second decisions as possible. That's key to maintaining true intelligence.

Does any kind of dancing lead to increased mental acuity? No, not all forms of dancing will produce this benefit. Not dancing which, like golf or swimming, mostly works on style or retracing the same memorized paths. The key is the decision-making. Remember, Jean Piaget suggested that intelligence is what we use when we don't already know what to do.

We wish that 25 years ago the Albert Einstein College of Medicine thought of doing side-by-side comparisons of different kinds of dancing, to find out which was better. But we can figure it out by looking at whothey studied: senior citizens 75 and older, beginning in 1980. Those who danced in that particular population were former Roaring Twenties dancers (back in 1980) and then former Swing Era dancers (today), so the kind of dancing most of them continued to do in retirement was what they began when they were young: freestyle social dancing -- basic foxtrot, swing, waltz and maybe some Latin.

I've been watching senior citizens dance all of my life, from my parents (who met at a Tommy Dorsey dance), to retirement communities, to the Roseland Ballroom in New York. I almost never see memorized sequences or patterns on the dance floor. I mostly see easygoing, fairly simple social dancing — freestyle lead and follow. But freestyle social dancing isn't that simple! It requires a lot of split-second decision-making, in both the lead and follow roles.

I need to digress here:

I want to point out that I'm not demonizing memorized sequence dancing or style-focused pattern-based ballroom dancing. I sometimes enjoy sequence dances for several good reasons . Plus there are stress-reduction benefits of any kind of dancing, cardiovascular benefits of physical exercise, and even further benefits of feeling connected to a community of dancers. So all dancing is good.

But when it comes to preserving mental acuity, then some forms are better than others. When we talk of intelligence (use it or lose it) then the more decision-making we can bring into our dancing, the better.

Who benefits more, women or men?

In social dancing, the follow role automatically gains a benefit, by making hundreds of split-second decisions as to what to do next. As I mentioned on this page, women don't "follow", they interpret the signals their partners are giving them, and this requires intelligence and decision-making, which is active, not passive. This benefit is greatly enhanced by dancing with different partners, not always with the same fellow. With different dance partners, you have to adjust much more and be aware of more variables. This is great for staying smarter longer.

But men, you can also match her degree of decision-making if you choose to do so. (1) Really notice your partner and what works best for her. Notice what is comfortable for her, where she is already going, which moves are successful with her and what aren't, and constantly adapt your dancing to these observations. That's rapid-fire split-second decision making. (2) Don't lead the same old patterns the same way each time. Challenge yourself to try new things. Make more decisions more often. Intelligence: use it or lose it.

And gentlemen, the huge side-benefit is that your partners will have much more fun dancing with you when you are attentive to their dancing and constantly adjusting for their comfort and continuity of motion.

Dance often

Finally, remember that this study made another suggestion: do it often. Recall that seniors who did crossword puzzles four days a week had a measurably lower risk of dementia than those who did the puzzles once a week. If you can't take classes or go out dancing four times a week, then dance as much as you can. More is better.

And do it now, the sooner the better. It's essential to start building your cognitive reserve now. Some day you'll need as many of those stepping stones across the creek as possible. Don't wait — start building them now.

http://socialdance. stanford. edu/syllabi/ smarter.htm

Energy Share for Sunday

June 13, 2010

The heart has dreams and hopes it hides from public view. 

The heart has secret sorrows, private woes. 

Listening to my heart, I must listen with gentle ears.

If I judge too harshly, my heart will not speak of disappointments and their pain will remain.

My heart requires my tenderness to speak its secrets.

My heart rewards my love by being the true compass by which I may steer my life.

Today, my heart is safe within my keeping.

I offer my heart compassionate ears to hear its dreams.

Julia Cameron, "Transitions: Prayers and Declarations for a Changing Life"

Today I send you an energy boost to fill you with patience, compassion and perseverance for the week. Give yourself a quiet moment to be uplifted by it.  Share the boost with others in a spirit of kindness, gentleness, and unconditional love, especially for those who are facing tremendous struggles now and in the days to come.

I welcome and embrace the energy boost from you, my friends, and gratefully acknowledge your part in the share. Thank you for all you do as healers, teachers and friends.

Enjoy the previous posts, especially my latest flamenco dance kick ('ole!) and celebration of the past holiday. I also post the energy share on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, so Join Me there, if you haven't already.

Remember to be present in every moment and live the passionate life you intend it to be.

Aloha pumehana (with blessings, love and affection)!

Lydia

1. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA

2. Amy Manuel, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

3. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

4. Annette Maxwell Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

5. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria

6. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland

7. Carol Gent, Lancashire, England, UK

8. Denise Matthews, Nottinghamshire, UK

9. Donna Pfeiffer, Venice, Florida, USA

10. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria

11. Egon Russell, Adelaide, Alabama, USA

12. Eileen To, Middlesex, Alabama, UK

13. Eve Hale, Hampshire, England, UK

14. Grant Luckey, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

15. Gudrun Gudmundsdottir, San Diego, California, USA

16. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA

17. Heidi Fruhling, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA

18. Hillary Bisaillon, Yorktown, Virginia, USA

19. Janet Evans, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA

20. Janet Henningsen, Indialantic, Florida, USA

21. Janet Kinge, Basingstoke, UK

22. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

23. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA

24. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA

25. Karen Saldanha, Corona, California, USA

26. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada

27. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA

28. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA

29. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA

30. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada

31. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA

32. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

33. Lynda Truthseekir, Los Angeles, California

34. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK

35. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA

36. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia

37. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia

38. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA

39. Mark Woit, Nuermberg, Bavaria

40. Matthew Leonard, Lodi, New Jersey, USA

41. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

42. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands

43. Moira Congreve, England, UK

44. Monica Hernandez Estrada, Corona, California, USA

45. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA

46. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia

47. Nieema and Jan Thasing, Elkton, South Dakota, USA

48. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA

49. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario

50. Pauline Leung, England, UK

51. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA

52. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada

53. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA

54. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

55. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA

56. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

57. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia

58. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA

59. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England

60. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA

61. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

62. Velanthas, Manila, Philippines

63. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India

64. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA

65. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia

66. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario

67. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India

68. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA

Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) and Psychological Healing

Jun 7, 2010 Nicole O'Driscoll

This liberating movement-based therapy brings body, mind and spirit together, alleviating disabilities, negative emotions and the symptoms of mental illness

Departure from the Medicalisation of Disability, Addictions and Mental Illness

The diagnostic and medical approach remains one of the most popular ways of treating disabilities, mental illness, addictions and criminal behaviour. Even the natural scope of human behaviour has been unable to escape, with “social anxiety” now a medical term for shyness. There are a plethora of medications being produced by the pharmaceuticals industry for this and other “illnesses.”

The social or psychological model takes another approach - that by engaging with a talking therapy and examining one’s life patterns, traumas, behaviours and relationships, recovery is brought about from within. This can be a painful and laborious process, albeit an authentic and liberating one. The therapist forms a relationship with the client and guides her towards managing negative emotions and behaviours, through a process of acquired self-knowledge. From a long-term point of view, this seems the better road to a fuller recovery, because the client is not dependent on a panacea in the form of a pill.

Dance Movement Therapy moves away from the medicalisation of mental illness and addiction. 

It brings together and energises the connection between body, mind and spirit, providing a creative outlet for the emotions and for the self. Those who work with marginalised groups - individuals with disabilities, learning difficulties, addictions, mental illness, offender histories, the elderly - will recognise how difficult it can be for individuals from these groups to “open up” verbally. Many are simply not used to being offered or receiving help, and do not know how to engage with it if the emphasis is on verbal communication.

One of the benefits of Dance Movement Therapy is that it enables communication where words are difficult or not possible. 

There is the added benefit that, where individuals from these and other marginalised groups are often at risk of becoming isolated, Dance Movement Therapy provides a space that is both social and therapeutic at the same time. Participants can enjoy being in a group gathering without any pressure to follow in conversation the social roles that every member of society is expected to adopt.

The Benefits of Dance Movement Therapy

The physical, emotional and psychological benefits of Dance Movement Therapy are prolific. It provides a personal coping strategy for participants, a tool to be used against negative emotions and behaviour patterns. Where medication anaesthetises the symptoms of mental illness, Dance Movement Therapy allows these emotions and behaviours to be expressed and released from the psyche, enabling a process of renewal. Its “unlocking” power makes it the antidote to suppressed negative internal clutter that leads to destructive or self-harmful behaviours.

Dance Movement Therapy provides a completely safe, non-judgemental space in which the participant feels aided through a process of self-development. Self-esteem tends to increase greatly, as non-verbal modes of communication are explored.

Emotions, Disability and the Body

Emotional damage and physical ailments create muscular tension and stiffness in the body. Dance Movement Therapy releases this tension, allowing the body to move freely and to become more aware of itself as a living, dynamic object in physical space. Every individual on the planet has their own distinctive way of moving, and Dance Movement Therapy allows the participant to release her potential and get to know herself through movement.

The human body is a beautiful creation - complex, intricate, immensely strong, yet as fragile as a beeswing. It is full of potential energy, actuated by a vast network of millions of signals and synapses. These activate together to bring about the slightest, most simple movement - a blink of an eye, a scratch of the head, a giggle. Imagine what the body would look like if each of these signals, synapses and receptor sites were illuminated from within during the dance. It would resemble an infinite gathering of stars and sparks, a microcosmic version of the night sky. The human body is chemistry, electricity, energy. This beautiful orchestra is celebrated in the movement of the dance: “dance can utilize intelligence, spirituality, discovery and spontaneity while the body is producing art.”[1]

How does Dance Movement Therapy Work?

In 1942, Marian Chace, a pioneer of modern dance, was invited by psychiatrists at a nearby hospital to work with a group of non-verbal clients. She had observed of her own students that their well-being improved through their participation in dancing, and that they were more engaged with free-expression of emotion than with perfecting the techniques. Over twenty years later, in 1965, the American Dance Therapy Association was founded, with Chace in the role of its first president.

During the intervening time, Dance Movement Therapy came under a theoretical focus, where psychotherapists adopted it as a form of treatment while identifying how it works. The theory and principles are based around the belief that “the body and mind are inseparable.”[2] If body and mind are so closely linked, then a disorder in one will produce a disorder in the other, and vice versa. Similarly, releasing the body’s movement will bring about a unified release in the body and mind of the participant. Instead of relying on words to engage with the client, the therapist mirrors his/her movement. This movement can often reveal a symbolic, unconscious process, allowing the participant to work through early childhood experiences in the same non-verbal way that she experienced them before learning how to speak. Dance Movement Therapy reconnects the present self with the youngest self, allowing the client to move towards forming new ways of being.

[1]www.worldwidehealth .com “Dance Therapy” (Accessed 7th June 2010)

[2] Levy, Fran J. Dance Movement Therapy: A Healing Art (Reston, VA: The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 1988)

Dancing to Health in Self Healing and Development

By Josef Mack

Dance is a simple activity that can open doors to better health. We encounter dancing in our day-to-day lives. If it is embraced correctly, dance will lead to amazing benefits. You can dance while doing your everyday tasks so you do not have to stop everything but still get the benefits it brings with it although a more focused dance session can have far more dramatic benefits.

You can dance yourself to health and the beauty of it is you do not have to be a good dancer. When we dance to music we focus on our rhythmic movements in tune with the music and this gives us an escape from our day-to-day stresses. We can just fly away into the music and experience that sense of being and by so doing release stress. Stress is a very restrictive force that prevents us from functioning properly as well as sucking positive energy out of us. So by dancing we can by release it. We unlock this huge potential from within. With this focus into the music we also absorb the healing energy in music, which is fantastic when coupled with our own energy. It is like we are on top of the world and set to achieve our full potential.

Dance is an art, and often takes our mind into visualization and fantasy at the same time when done correctly, which encourages stress relief. You can develop a positive attitude, self-esteem, confidence, etc. the more you practice.

The type of dance you would most find appropriate for you is a matter of personal choice. Some women would find belly dancing more fun as well as lighting that passion locked deep inside them while others might find tango would strike that chord which nothing else can. Belly dancing is linked to achieving that balance of energy in the body, which is essential in the holistic approach to good health as well as self-development. The key is just finding movement and rhythm that is comfortable for you. It does not have to be a defined dance it could be your own personal dance but the key is finding movement that suits you well.

Dancing makes, you coordinate your mind and body, which helps in the connection of the mind and body.

The physical benefits dancing brings to a person can never be over emphasized regardless of the levels of fitness one can achieve. Dance and the beauty of dancing is there are so many dances so one can have one that fits their own personality giving them that personal touch. It is a fantastic way of exercising. Dancing can help those with high blood pressure, joint health as well as burning calories. Exercising is a great way of aiding well being. Dancing can also be a fun way of exercising. It can also play a pivotal role to our overall well being as well as aid us in recovery from an illness.

The expressive nature of dance has other benefits including being able to find your voice. One can express themselves in words other through music and other through dance hence its expressive nature is fantastic.

Self-discovery through dance is often a by-product of this fun filled exercise called dancing. Dancing in a group helps you be at ease with others and with being at ease with others you will find it easy to find your inner self hence it aids in self-discovery. As one dances, they become more confident and with confidence comes the ability to reach one's full potential and achieve things one never thought could be possible.

Dancing is amazing. Its function is far beyond what words can express. All one can do is try it and I am sure the healing energy you unlock will amaze you.

Next, if you would like to find out more about Self Development and Healing, then visit Self Development and Healing now. To learn more about your health please visit Health Secrets Explained now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticle s.com/?expert= Josef_Mack

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This should be the highest priority for any Pacific islander, especially when the health issues can be prevented and possibly reversed with education and changing cultural habits that support such unhealthy choices.  A state of health emergency has already been declared for the Pacific island region...

Lifestyle disease rate explodes among Pacific Islanders

By Helen Altonn 

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 27, 2010

Diabetes, heart disease, strokes, cancer and other diseases -- many lifestyle- related -- have reached "epidemic" proportions in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands, a crisis that grips Hawaii because many islanders choose to live here under the Compact of Free Association.

Read on...
http://bit.ly/dgS5be

Energy Share for Sunday

June 6, 2010

Today I send you inspiration, light and passion to energize your spirit throughout the week.  Now is your moment to shine, share your talents, be alive and  dance, dance, dance!  Remember that everyone is on a spiritual journey, but not everyone knows it yet. So pass on the inspiration to those you meet along the way, help them to remember and recognize the beauty of their spirit and the joy of unity amongst our diversity.

I welcome and embrace the energy boost from you, my friends, and gratefully acknowledge your part in the share. Thank you for all you do as healers, teachers and friends.

Enjoy the previous posts, especially my latest flamenco dance kick ('ole!) and celebration of the past holiday. I also post the energy share on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, so Join Me there, if you haven't already.

Remember to be present in every moment and live the passionate life you intend it to be.

Aloha pumehana (with blessings, love and affection)!

Lydia

1. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA

2. Amy Manuel, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

3. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

4. Annette Maxwell Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

5. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria

6. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland

7. Carol Gent, Lancashire, England, UK

8. Denise Matthews, Nottinghamshire, UK

9. Donna Pfeiffer, Venice, Florida, USA

10. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria

11. Egon Russell, Adelaide, Alabama, USA

12. Eileen To, Middlesex, Alabama, UK

13. Eve Hale, Hampshire, England, UK

14. Grant Luckey, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

15. Gudrun Gudmundsdottir, San Diego, California, USA

16. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA

17. Heidi Fruhling, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA

18. Hillary Bisaillon, Yorktown, Virginia, USA

19. Janet Evans, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA

20. Janet Henningsen, Indialantic, Florida, USA

21. Janet Kinge, Basingstoke, UK

22. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

23. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA

24. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA

25. Karen Saldanha, Corona, California, USA

26. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada

27. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA

28. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA

29. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA

30. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada

31. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA

32. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

33. Lynda Truthseekir, Los Angeles, California

34. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK

35. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA

36. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia

37. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia

38. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA

39. Mark Woit, Nuermberg, Bavaria

40. Matthew Leonard, Lodi, New Jersey, USA

41. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

42. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands

43. Moira Congreve, England, UK

44. Monica Hernandez Estrada, Corona, California, USA

45. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA

46. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia

47. Nieema and Jan Thasing, Elkton, South Dakota, USA

48. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA

49. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario

50. Pauline Leung, England, UK

51. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA

52. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada

53. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA

54. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

55. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA

56. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

57. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia

58. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA

59. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England

60. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA

61. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

62. Velanthas, Manila, Philippines

63. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India

64. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA

65. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia

66. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario

67. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India

68. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA

I'm on a flamenco kick this week...Sara Baras is a terrific dancer, check it out:

I just love the dynamic intensity and drama of flamenco dancing whether in solos, couples and groups.

Checkout Timo Nunez and Pamela Lourant Flamenco Dance at The Profant Fiesta Finale at the Santa Barbara Courthouse sunken gardens.