Sunday, February 27, 2011

Energy Share for Sunday

February 27, 2011

This past week has been chilly with freezing rain, snow, and hail for a normally sunny California. I happen to love the rain and days like these since living with extreme weather was more the norm for me growing up in the islands. Six months of humid rain, thunderstorms, mild flooding...that often translated into families and friends coming together to help each other through difficult times. And it's no exception out here. Why worry about the things you have no control over except with yourself and just be happy? Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst, that was the philosophy that everyone lived by. Just having the basic needs - water, food, electricity - made everything else seem like icing on the cake.

But, in spite of my love of generally adverse weather, I called on the Sun, imagining its powerful rays lighting the skies. I called for spiraling golden sparks that glittered and danced across the land, spreading warmth wherever they went. Thankful for this blessing, I now shine the light of love on you. Let the power of this light infuse you with strength and energy, adding fire to your spirit.

I gratefully acknowledge the spark of energy from you and welcome it with open arms. Enjoy every moment and live the passionate life you intend it to be.

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. Janice Trenair, Koroit, Victoria, Australia

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

24. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA

25. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA

26. Karen Saldanha, Corona, California, USA

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

28. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA

29. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA

30. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA

31. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada

32. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA

33. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

34. Lynda Truthseekir, Los Angeles, California

35. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK

36. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA

37. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia

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

39. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA

40. Mark Woit, Nuermberg, Bavaria

41. Matthew Leonard, Vermont, USA

42. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

43. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands

44. Moira Congreve, England, UK

45. Monica Hernandez Estrada, Corona, California, USA

46. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA

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

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

49. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA

50. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario

51. Pauline Leung, England, UK

52. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA

53. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada

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

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

56. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA

57. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

58. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia

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

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

61. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA

62. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

63. Velanthas, Manila, Philippines

64. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India

65. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA

66. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia

67. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario

68. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India

69. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA

To Join My Weekly Energy Share, click HERE

Friday, February 25, 2011

Dance Therapy Shows Promise in Treatment for Eating Disorders

For millions of people recovering or struggling with eating disorders, one type of alternative therapy can be stated simply, and without a prescription – just dance.

Dance and other types of creative movement may be another valuable tool on the journey to recovery for millions of people with eating disorders. Officially known as dance/movement therapy, or DMT, the philosophy for dance as a healing resource for eating disorders is based in the mind-body connection, and may help address the challenging and complex emotional element of eating disorders.

At the heart of the concept is the belief that changes in a person’s physical movements can impact their health at the emotional level, intellectually, and also improve body image. The American Dance Therapy Association has set forth a list of standards for becoming a professional dance therapist, and actively practicing dance therapists must also have at least a college education at the master’s level.

Surprising to some, the American Dance Therapy Association was actually formed in 1966 as a way to bridge knowledge globally about the powerful impact of dance on treatment plans. Therapists can lead individuals through dance therapy sessions, or lead in a group setting. Today, research, movement analysis and study in fields like psychopathology are part of the training for dance therapy.

For people with eating disorders, a disconnection to the body and negative self-image can be serious hindrances to recovery – and dance therapists believe that connecting a person to their body through positive movement can close this sense of disconnection. DMT draws not only from dance methods, but also from the study of movement and other science-based theories.

Dance therapy is also helpful for recovery from eating disorders because the person who typically “eats away” their feelings or emotions – good or bad – can put these feelings into dance expression, even when they are unable to talk about them verbally. Dance therapists also believe that negative emotions that are held for long periods of time can be manifested in different areas of the body, but released through movement.

The sense of mindfulness created by dance therapy also leads to a strong, healthy awareness of the body and its dimensions, setting the stage for healthy attitudes and a state of trust with the body rather than seeing the body as the enemy. This is an especially intriguing element of dance therapy for professionals who work with people struggling with eating disorders where the perception of the body has become severely harmful and distorted.

As the person in dance therapy begins to notice and be more mindful of the different levels of sensations throughout the body, therapists hope they can also get in touch with that sense of feeling when they are not in therapy sessions, and thus move closer to recovery from eating disorders.

Dance is not new as a means for communication and expression, but its application to eating disorders and dysfunctional eating may continue to emerge as a strong healing force because it allows participants to experience their bodies in positive ways and become less detached from their physical selves. The practice is also being applied to help bring healing from domestic or sexual abuse, in battling substance abuse and mental illness including depression.

http://www.eating-disorder-resources.com/eating-disorder-articles/eating-disorder-treatment/dance-therapy-eating-disorders/

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Dance/Movement Therapy Goes Viral (Please?)

February 21, 2011 by Lora Wilson Mau, MA, R-DMT

Let me put my cards on the table.

I started this blog two years ago out of a deeply felt frustration that I know is shared by many of my fellow dance/movement therapists. I know they share this frustration in some form or another because the topic and the discussion of ways to address it has been repeated – for years – in professional discussions, online forums and local and national dialogues. It is an ongoing issue for our professional community.

The frustration is this:

In the 21st century, how can it be that the profession of dance/movement therapy is not better known? Better understood? At the very least, heard of? Granted, if one is not working in the mental health or rehabilitation or wellness professions, then it is perhaps logical that the profession be an unfamiliar concept. Certainly, I have never heard of countless occupations. But, how can it be in the 21st century, over ten years since the “Decade of the Brain”concluded, that dance/movement therapy is not better understood by our colleagues whose professions involve psychology or neuroscience?

How is it that when one Googles “dance therapy” on the internet, one gets more references to Brittany Spears and pole dancing or random dance classes than one gets legitimate information on the nearly 50 year old profession of dance/movement therapy?

This latest spike in frustration was inspired by the recent feature on Anderson Cooper 360 that took a close look at a day in the life of Gabrielle Gifford’s rehabilitation at the TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Texas.

How is it that when Dr. Sanjay Gupta visited the hospital to get a hands on experience of a day in the life of Congresswoman Giffords’ recovery, dance/movement therapy was not included in the diverse list of therapies? Yes, music therapy was on the day’s agenda and, to Dr. Gupta’s credit, he really appreciated the power of music therapyexecutive function.” This acknowledgement on a show as respected and widely viewed as CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 is a real boost for our colleagues in the music therapy profession to work “on developing … attention, memory and overall

But dance/movement therapy was NOT on the schedule and it was not addressed by Dr. Gupta – by name.

However, a quick glimpse at the video of the music therapist, Maegan Morrow, reveals that she was incorporating movement with the music to help her patients improve cognitively and learn to walk again. “Lean 2, 3, 4, Push up, 2, 3, 4…” The diverse therapies at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital work together to rehabilitate patients from traumatic injury… and yet the experts on using movement psychotherapeutically, who are specifically trained in connecting through movement and facilitating movement and rhythm – for whatever end goal – are not on that team?

“The brain learns best when it processes cognitive, affective andpsychomotor information simultaneously.” (emphasis mine.)
Dr. Michael Merzenich
Neuroscientist

This is fundamental knowledge to neuroscientists and to anyone familiar with “brain-based learning.”

Movement is not only integral to healing psychologically, it is integral to effective rehabilitation of the brain, to learning and to brain plasticity.

Though my peers and I ask these questions – how, how, how can the world not know? – we do so, of course, acknowledging the onus is on us, the dance/movement therapists. This is precisely why I blog on DMT, why I encourage my colleagues to do the same and why I am writing a book on the topics of this blog.

Did you know:

Neuroscientists have declared the importance of psychomotor processing to learning.

The New England Journal of Medicine published that dancing, moreso than any other leisure activity, decreases cognitive decline in senior citizens over 75.

Physical therapists have published repeatedly on the therapeutic value of dancing the tango for people with Parkinson’s disease.

These are but drops in the bucket of research that RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT reveal the importance of dance and movement in our lives and yet… the official profession of dance/movement therapy remains in the shadows.

Compared to the combined fields that make up verbal psychotherapies (social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists) – and even to our allied creative art therapists – dance/movement therapists are still very small in number. We practice in countries all over the world but only have six graduate programs in the United States where the dance/movement therapy master’s degree can be earned. There are additional ADTA approved “alternate route” programs for individuals who have a master’s degree in a related mental health field to get the requisite DMT training; even so, a handful of programs can only produce so many dance/movement therapists a year.

The simple fact of the matter is that at the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference in Anaheim, California in 2009, the leading psychologists and psychiatrists in the world presented, among other things, on the importance of acknowledging the body in psychotherapy: attending to bodily sensation, breathwork, moving, mindfulness, meditating.

The handful of respected dance/movement therapists that attended with me sat, nodding, in agreement.Yes. Yes, we know.

This is what we do. This is what we have done for over forty years.

The simple fact of the matter is that 10 million people worldwide are participating in Zumba® classes each week, many referring to it as their “therapy.” Television news stations are doing stories on the effect of Zumba® on its students and teachers alike, noting its therapeutic value in places as unusual as prisons. Again, though Zumba® is a fitness class and not dance/movement therapy, the fact that dancing is experienced as being “therapeutic,” even within the structure of an exercise class, comes as no surprise to those in our profession.

The world is discovering in its own ways that movement and dance and the bodymind connection are important. This is wonderful! This growing awareness should be shining an ever-expanding spotlight on the profession that has been implementing these truths in its clinical practice for decades. Dance/movement therapists have not just discovered the power of movement to evoke emotion… or heal trauma… or break through isolation… or express that which cannot be spoken… or garner insight… or connect with self, with others.

Dance/movment therapists have an extensive body of research and theory that delves deeply into these subjects. Our expertise can be your expertise… if the dialogue begins.

We must be on the edge of a fusion, of an integration, of a collaboration between verbal psychotherapies, neuroscience, medicine and dance/movement therapy that will change the course of healing and wellness and recovery in this new century. We must be on that edge. I can feel it.

But the awareness has to spread so that the curiosity can pique and the collaborations can begin large scale.

Dance/movement therapy must go viral.

That is my challenge to you. Help spread awareness. The research and the experts are there to back it all up. What is needed is awareness.

How I wish the media would shed light – BIG LIGHT – on these stories – or simply look in their own communities for the stories that are happening there, right now:

Dance/movement therapists making breakthroughs with children with autism.

Dance/movement therapists teaching staff and caregivers essential nonverbal communication skills to more meaningfully connect with those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Dance/movement therapists empowering women in India who are survivors of human trafficking and sexual abuse.

A Dance/movement therapist helping child soldiers in Sierra Leone feel empathy again – and teaching others how to continue the work in their communities through dance.

A dance/movement therapist who has designed a movement based curriculum to help foster empathy and prevent violence in schools.

There is not enough light cast on this work nor on its potential to effect real change in the lives of millions of people across the globe.

Help shine the light.

If your life or the life of someone you love has been touched by Alzheimer’s, autism, bullying, cancer, trauma, Parkinson’s, mental illness, an eating disorder, body image issues, brain injury… if you have ever felt the power of dance in your own life, on some level, please pass this on.

Shine the light.

This is a “virus” the world desperately needs.

http://dancetherapy.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/dancemovement-therapy-goes-viral-please/

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Energy Share for Sunday
February 20, 2011

These spiritual window-shoppers,

who idly ask, 'How much is that?' Oh, I'm just looking.

They handle a hundred items and put them down,

shadows with no capital.

What is spent is love and two eyes wet with weeping.

But these walk into a shop,

and their whole lives pass suddenly in that moment,

in that shop.

Where did you go? "Nowhere."

What did you have to eat? "Nothing much."

Even if you don't know what you want,

buy something, to be part of the exchanging flow.

Start a huge, foolish project,

like Noah.

It makes absolutely no difference

what people think of you.

Rumi, 'We Are Three', Mathnawi VI, 831-845

Today I send to you a dose of calming and relaxing energy floating quietly on the clouds. Whenever you are feeling rushed, overwhelmed, anxious or fearful of things to come, take a moment to close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine that the only thing happening right now is the peaceful and calming energy that settles over you. With the rain and snow that fell over the past weeks and days, it's perfect for a catnap. When you can, make time to fit it in your day. Use the boost to rejuvenate and inspire yourself and step forward, once again in confidence and renewed vigor.

When you are ready, send out whatever energy you use to everyone else in our share. Feel the energy boost flow with every breath you take, with every heartbeat, with every embrace we give for each other. Let us celebrate this energy we share amongst ourselves and for those who are to come.

Thank You for all the good that you do and enjoy every moment of this next week. Live the passionate life you intend it to be.

Namaste, (I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells),

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. Janice Trenair, Koroit, Victoria, Australia
23. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
24. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA
25. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA
26. Karen Saldanha, Corona, California, USA
27. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
28. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA
29. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA
30. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA
31. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada
32. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA
33. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
34. Lynda Truthseekir, Los Angeles, California
35. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK
36. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA
37. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia
38. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia
39. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA
40. Mark Woit, Nuermberg, Bavaria
41. Matthew Leonard, Vermont, USA
42. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
43. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands
44. Moira Congreve, England, UK
45. Monica Hernandez Estrada, Corona, California, USA
46. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA
47. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia
48. Nieema and Jan Thasing, Elkton, South Dakota, USA
49. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA
50. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario
51. Pauline Leung, England, UK
52. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA
53. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada
54. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA
55. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
56. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA
57. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
58. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia
59. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA
60. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England
61. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
62. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
63. Velanthas, Manila, Philippines
64. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India
65. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA
66. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia
67. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario
68. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India
69. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA

To Join My Weekly Energy Share, click HERE

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Barbie World

This little song took hold of our household for a day when my brother-in-law sang his version of it to my 9 month old niece. One of those, "I just couldn't get this song out of my head, it's so catchy" kind of thing... Depending on your perspective, it speaks to a person on various levels...Something reminiscent of the 80s, Pink-ish social commentary, yet also a simple take on just being Barbie...silly and adorable in a way, I'd say. Love it or hate it, it'll get rooted in your brain in such a subtle, contagious and insidious way. Enjoy!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Visually Impaired Children And Dance

http://dancing.dracony.org/2011/02/16/visually-impaired-children-and-dance/
[posted in the healingdance Yahoo group]

Visually impaired children may not have much experience of what their bodies can do. There can be delays in their physical development in the critical early years of childhood. They also often have deficits in physical and motor fitness. This can in turn lead to problems with balance and co-ordination. Research has shown that blind people expend more energy in everyday activities than those who can see which can cause tension and stress. Young people with vision problems can also feel socially isolated and very vulnerable to exploitation.

Attending dance movement sessions can bring numerous benefits on many different levels. The pupils learn to listen to instructions and become a member of a group. They learn to express feelings and emotions physically in a non-aggressive manner. Familiarity with their bodies is increased and they learn to use them creatively. Physical flexibility, co-ordination and cardiovascular fitness all improve. Classes are team-building and confidence enhancing. The participants discover that the whole of their bodies can register feelings of touch. Arms, legs, feet, knees, back or butt all feed back sensations of touch.

Classes need to include rhythm and instrumental work, singing accompanied with movement, body awareness exercises, dance improvisations to music and contact improvisation. Contact improvisation is partner work where the weight between the two close moving partners gives rise to the movement. It is a pleasurable, free-flowing dance form. It is sometimes referred to as an art sport because it combines gymnastic and poetic qualities, a healing art because it promotes physical and mental well-being. It is a movement form uniquely suited to blind and deaf/blind people because it is based on the sense of touch.The dance emerges from paying attention to sensations on the surface of the skin and inside the body as two people move in close physical contact.

Kjersti Engebrigtsen a Norwegian dance movement therapist writes ” it is often said that the blind understand sequence by touching one thing at a time Dancing on the contrary is a simultaneous experience”.

I have had blind pupils in the groups of children with special needs with whom I have had the pleasure of working. Some of them were in wheelchairs with no voluntary movement. Their class teachers and I worked on the floor with them. Usually the pupil was positioned between our outstretched legs leaning back against our chests for spinal support. We never, ever manipulated their limbs. The sessions were mainly about gentle movements to music with sensory elements such as texture, smell and light included. This group had very severe problems but they obviously enjoyed the classes.

We also did square dances with the children in wheelchairs. This activity was much appreciated by them. It increased their spatial awareness as well as their feelings for speed and direction.

I have also worked with blind teenagers in a mixed ability group. Here the emphasis was on socialization and confidence building. There were many activities which needed total confidence in other people. One such activity was standing upright on the vaulting horse and leaping off to be caught by many willing hands. I tried this with my eyes closed and it was terrifying! I really admired the complete trust shown by these young people.

Gender issues arose with this group and we had to be extra sensitive to each individuals choices, wishes, likes and dislikes. A session of social dancing was always included. Being able to take part in social dancing gives teenagers confidence at a time when they are endeavouring to lead a more independent social life. It’s good for them to be able to behave in the same way as their peers.

At the moment there is a great deal of innovative work going on in this field. The Third St. Ensemble Company, based in Tuscon in the United States, has a mixed company of children, young adults with or without disabilities, blind and deaf dancers. Amazingly the company performs in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. Wheelchairs are incorporated as props in contact improvisational techniques.

Many of you will know of “Dance Dance Revolution” a game played on a Play Station console. Students at the University of North Carolina had an idea for a modification which would get visually impaired children moving while teaching them braille. They adapted “DDR” mats so that they could be connected to the USB port on a PC. This has created a game which gets the children moving while teaching them braille characters at the same time. The children use their hands, feet, head or other parts of their bodies to press appropriate dots for the braille character. Schools throughout North Carolina are now using this system which helps improve spacial awareness while also improving muscle strength.

Buse Gowda of Bangalore, India lost his sight at three years old due to an accident. Ashok Kumar was a dance teacher engaged by the Ramana Maharishi Academy for the blind. He had no idea how to teach dance to visually impaired students. It was Buse Gowanda who asked Ashok Kumar to demonstrate and hold a pose. He then felt his teachers’ limbs to understand and explore the pose. Buse Gowda then tried to copy the pose. To help his students Ashok Kumar created a “touch and feel” technique. Buse Gowda is now a renowned dancer who excels in facial expressions. He received a national award in 2000 for outstanding achievement in the field of creative arts.

This just shows that blindness does not stop those with talent from being great dancers if we give them the opportunity.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Zumba Gold dance workout targets baby boomers and beyond, as well as exercise beginners and others needing modification to their workouts. Zumba Gold builds cardiovascular health by challenging the heart and working the muscles of the hips, legs and arms with dance moves.

ZUMBA GOLD GIVES SENIORS, BEGINNERS A WORKOUT
in Staff Report
http://rustonleader.com/node/9390

Chances are you have heard about Zumba — the fitness dance program that has become increasingly popular across the world!

It is estimated that 6 million people are taking Zumba classes each week in one of the 50,000 locations in 75 countries. What you may not know is that Zumba isn’t just for the young and fit. It is a great way for older adults to get in shape, too.

On Monday, we had our second class of Zumba Gold® at 10 a.m. in the Bobby James Gym. The class is taught by Abril Rocio Armendariz, a Zumba Gold licensed instructor, and is $1 per class. We had more than 20 people who participated in each class.

The initial concept of Zumba combined a dance workout with a party-like atmosphere. Zumba Gold takes the extremely popular Latin-dance inspired workout of Zumba and makes it accessible for seniors, beginners or others needing modifications in their exercise regimen. Gold builds cardiovascular health by challenging the heart and working the muscles of the hips, legs and arms with dance moves.

According to www.zumba.com, Zumba Gold targets the largest growing segment of the population: baby boomers and beyond. It takes the Zumba formula and modifies the moves and pacing to suit the needs of the active older participant, as well as those just starting their journey to a fit and healthy lifestyle. What stays the same are all the elements the Zumba Fitness-Party is known for: the zesty Latin music, like salsa, merengue, cumbia and reggaeton; the exhilarating, easy-to-follow moves; and the invigorating, party-like atmosphere.

For active older adults who want camaraderie, excitement and fitness as a regular part of their weekly schedule, Zumba Gold is the perfect fit. It’s a dance-fitness class that feels friendly, and most of all, fun.

Non-supportive moves and chair-based options are available to Zumba-goers in this particular class. Zumba Gold stays true to the original approach in that it does not rely on typical aerobic-style 32 count beats for movement and, instead, is inspired by authentic music. This class already takes into consideration some of the areas that may be of concern. For example, crossing your legs when dancing can be dangerous for older adults because it may lead to a fall. So, the dance moves in a modified version would not incorporate crossing the legs. Also, there is less hopping around or vigorous twisting and turning. It’s a little bit easier for older adults to take part in these modified versions safely, but there is still a fun atmosphere in the class.

Studies show that those who participated in a dance exercise program experienced improved cognitive function (from learning new steps and moves), motor control and performance, range of motion, bone density and increased caloric expenditure. Additionally, psychological benefits such as enhanced self esteem, general feeling of well being, better quality of life, reduced depression, opportunities for social interaction and increased opportunities to dance, party and have fun have all been benefits of Zumba.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Longevity Boosts Immune System and Vision

I regularly receive updates from the Rainbow Forever Trust newsletter, and the testimonials are awesome! It's amazing how an essential oil can have a multitude of uses to improve and maintain overall health and wellness. I love this latest one on the Longevity Oil Blend. Longevity™ contains oils that rank among the most powerful antioxidants known. Antioxidants are thought to protect the skin by attaching themselves to free radicals, which minimizes the harm they do and is important for youthful-looking skin. Enriched with the pure essential oils thyme, orange, and frankincense, Longevity protects DHA levels, a nutrient that supports brain function and cardiovascular health, promotes healthy cell regeneration, and supports liver and immune function.* Longevity also contains clove oil, nature’s strongest antioxidant, for ultra antioxidant support.

You can order it in either the 15ml Bottle or Softgels at the Preferred Customer prices below the article:

Testimonials From Rainbow Forever Trust/David Ford

Longevity Essential Oil Blend

I have personally had fabulous results supporting the immune system with Longevity Oil, 3 drops in a capsule, 2 times daily. Since beginning this regimen, I have had no further problems with any virus related conditions. Longevity removes chemicals that have built up in the body. It is the greatest blend to clean chemicals out of our body and clean receptor sites.

I take my Longevity 3 to 5 drops in a couple of ounces of rice milk. You still don’t get past the taste.

I had plantar warts on the bottom of my heel that would not go away no matter what I did. I tried the banana and the duct tape, freezing them, everything under the sun. Finally, I started filling 00 caps with Longevity Oil and within two weeks they were gone and never returned. Later I learned that they're viral, SO it makes sense!
Kathie

In January my insurance was changing and I was losing my optical coverage so I begrudging got glasses. I had a 2.25 on the reading side, distance was ok. I had been getting by with cheaters as I knew as soon as I got my liver better it would improve anyway.

I work in an office, so not seeing well is a big hindrance. One day I decided to add Longevity to my routine. One 15 drop capsule a day that was only one bottle ago and today I do not have to wear my glasses for work. I can even read a regular print bible with good light. My vision is not quite 20/20 yet, but I don’t need glasses to work! The $150.00 extra I spent on designer glasses I should have just spent on more oils! Yep, I got 2 more bottles of Longevity this month.
Bev

Order Longevity at Preferred Customer Prices

Select either the 15ml Bottle or Softgels

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Here's an article that started off with a title which, I thought, would give a straight "yes" or "no" answer. As research goes, the results are encouraging but conflicting with previous studies. Why? As the average consumer, there's so much conflicting information out already and just adds to the confusion. Considering how little fiber people generally consume in this country, I'm inclined to say that we're already dooming ourselves to an early death. So I'd side with Ms. Slavin; don't bother figuring out which types of fiber to keep in your diet, just go with all the varieties out there.

Could Getting More Fiber Help You Live Longer?
By Angela Haupt and Katherine Hobson, USNews.com
Mon, Feb 14, 2011

Hear fiber and you probably think of bran cereal, which doesn’t exactly make you salivate. But new research suggests more fiber could equal more years. Analyzing data from nearly 400,000 men and women ages 50 to 71, researchers found that those who consumed the most fiber were 22 percent less likely to die from any cause during the nine years they were studied. Men were 24 to 56 percent and women 34 to 59 percent less likely to die of heart and infectious or respiratory diseases, according to findings from the National Institutes of Health's AARP Diet and Health Study, published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Why fiber reduces the risk of early death is unclear. Perhaps it's because fiber lowers levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, improves blood glucose levels, reduces inflammation, and binds to potential cancer-causing agents, helping to flush them out of the body, says lead author Yikyung Park, a staff scientist at the National Cancer Institute.

What is clear, however, is that participants only benefited when fiber came from grains, like oatmeal, cornmeal, and brown rice. Fiber from fruits, vegetables, and beans had no impact on death risk. "Whole grains are rich sources of fiber, but also good sources of vitamins, minerals, and other phytochemicals that may provide health benefits," Park says. And grains have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties--another reason researchers say grain fiber is beneficial.

Clearly, "all fibers are not created equal," cautions James Anderson, an endocrinologist at the University of Kentucky-Lexington. "Different fibers have different properties." And while the latest study emphasizes grain fiber, past studies have found that fiber from fruits and vegetables can benefit heart health.

Here's a field guide to fiber sources:

Soluble fiber: Foods high in soluble fiber, so called because of its ability to dissolve readily in liquids--include oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries, and apple pulp, according to the American Heart Association. Soluble fibers have been linked to lower levels of "bad" cholesterol. Viscous fibers found in foods like oat bran and beans seem to work particularly well because they form a gel in the gut that slows down fat formation and absorption, says Joanne Slavin, a professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota and author of the American Dietetic Association's 2008 position paper on dietary fiber. (The Food and Drug Administration allows heart disease health claims for oats, barley, and psyllium, the fiber found in Metamucil.) Soluble fibers also regulate blood glucose levels, says Anderson. But most soluble fibers, except psyllium, don't have the laxative effects that many people associate with fiber, so don't rely on them for that purpose.

Insoluble fiber: High levels of insoluble fiber, too, have been associated with a lower risk of heart disease--perhaps through other mechanisms. So while there's an ongoing debate over which types of fiber confer which heart-protective benefits, the take-home is that no one should rely solely on soluble fibers to get the maximal heart benefit. The AHA lists whole-wheat breads, wheat cereals, wheat bran, cabbage, beets, carrots, brussels sprouts, turnips, cauliflower, and apple skin as foods high in this type of fiber. Unlike soluble fiber, it doesn't dissolve in liquids or form a gel but instead passes through the digestive tract pretty much unchanged. Because insoluble fiber hustles things along in the digestive tract, it's also a good source of relief if you're constipated. In addition, insoluble fiber (and to some extent, the soluble kind) may help you feel fuller and possibly help weight control.

Resistant starch and others: The starch products not digested in the small intestine "fit the newer definitions of fiber," says Slavin. They're found in legumes as well as starches like potatoes, pasta, and rice that have been cooked and cooled (as in potato or pasta salad, or sushi), and barely ripe bananas. And they're also being added to foods to increase fiber content without affecting taste, as well as to reduce caloric density; a product called Hi-maize, for example, is added to pastas and energy bars. In addition, resistant starch is a "prebiotic" that, when fermented in the large intestine, increases beneficial bacteria, says Hope Warshaw, a nutritionist and author of the Real-Life Guide to Diabetes. (She's also a consultant to National Starch, the maker of Hi-maize.) It doesn't, however, seem to have the cardiovascular effects of other soluble fibers, says Anderson.

Yogurts with added fiber actually contain inulin, a group of simple sugars that are not digested. Inulin occurs naturally in chicory root and other plants and grains and is a form of soluble fiber but, like resistant starches, doesn't have the same anticholesterol effects, says Slavin. It, too, has prebiotic effects.

So what's the bottom line? The federal government's just-released Dietary Guidelines for Americans call for about 25 grams of daily fiber for women and 38 for men, and research shows we are getting only about 15 grams. But because the health benefits of different types of fiber vary--and in many cases are not clear or consistent--the best advice is to eat an array of plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. That's despite the new findings that only fiber from grains is linked to a lower risk of early death. Worry less about targeting specific types of fiber and "get [it] from as many different foods as you can," advises Slavin. And if you are selecting packaged foods on the basis of their fiber content, be sure that they are healthful in and of themselves. Cracklin' Oat Bran, for example, has 6 grams of fiber per serving, but 30 percent of its calories come from sugar and it has 3 grams of saturated fat.

--This article was originally published on 5/5/2009. It has been updated.

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Energy Share for Sunday
February 6, 2011

On Friendship

Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love

and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger,

and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind

you fear not the "nay" in your own mind,

nor do you withhold the "ay."

And when he is silent

your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;

For without words in friendship,

all thoughts, all desires, all expectations

are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;

For that which you love most in him

may be clearer in his absence,

as the mountain to the climber

is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friendship

save the deepening of the spirit.

For love that seeks aught
but the disclosure of its own mystery

is not love but a net cast forth

and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide,

let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend

that you should seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter,

and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things
the heart finds its morning
and is refreshed.

- Kahlil Gibran

Today I celebrate the beauty and richness of our friendship, the quiet moments filled with peaceful harmony, all the joyful memories of our shared past, present and anticipation of all that is yet to manifest. Let us celebrate this energy we share amongst ourselves and for those who are soon to join - whether in need, in friendship, and support.

Namaste, (I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells),

Years ago I flew to Houston to visit my parents, and the state's largest shopping mall is definitely Texas-style big. Just as advertised with an ice skating rink. Who knew you could ice skate in Houston? Checkout the top travel destinations for 2011, a few of which are definitely on my bucket list....

Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2011

We analyzed a year's worth of news, trends, and statistics to identify the world's best value destinations for 2011. From China to our own backyard, here are ten places that you can't afford to miss.

By Nicole Frehsee

Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge
Photo: Courtesy Thorsten Pohl/

Wikimedia Commons

Dublin, Ireland

Why in 2011: Ireland's banks are struggling-the country recently accepted a $112 billion bailout from the European Union-but the economic turmoil has an upshot for tourists: kind prices. Exchange rates have improved by 7 percent over last year and lodging prices are the lowest of any major city in Western Europe. In fact, scoring a bed in Dublin costs 7 percent less than it did in 2009. Restaurants are similarly well-priced; even the Michelin-starred Chapter One is offering a four-course, pre-theatre menu for $65-a bargain when you consider that a full meal is $105. And transportation is equally cheap: Dublinbikes, the city's cycle-share program, rents out bikes for $2.50 for three days, and rides clocking in at 30 minutes or less are free. Even the $13 tax levied on Dublin International Airport travelers will soon be slashed to $4 in an effort to boost tourism.

Read more...Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2011

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Altered States of Consciousness: Trance Dancing

May 6th, 2010 |

Author: Raushanna

Spiritual dance is often used to raise energy, heal the sick and connect with Deity.

The integration of movement and dance into spiritual practices and religious rituals is not a new concept. Since before recorded time, man has been using gestures and movements and dance, both choreographed and improvised, to raise energy, heal the sick, connect with Deity, and foster a sense of community connection. One useful purpose for sacred movement is as a tool to facilitate and enhance the achievement of the altered state known as “trance.” Once again, modern man is not inventing this concept, but rather reviving it, for the “trance dance,” like all other sacred movement, has its roots in antiquity. Many trance dance traditional rituals have survived intact and are still being used in religious ceremonies and healings to this day.

Sufis perform a trance dance called “whirling” (mostly associated with Dervishes of Turkey) as a part of a formal religious ceremony known as the Sema, which is performed in order to reach religious ecstasy and a connection to Deity.

The Anastenaria is a traditional celebration found in Northern Greece and Southern Bulgaria, in honor of Saint Constantine and Saint Helen. At the end of the celebration, participants carry icons of the Saints and dance around a large fire for hours, until they enter a trance and are called by the Saints to walk barefoot over the glowing-red coals, unharmed by the fire.

Zar Cults of the Middle East are groups with specific members who perform their healing trance dance in order to contact and communicate with the spirit(s) causing particular illnesses or afflictions, not to exorcise them, but rather to work out a mutually agreeable symbiotic accommodation or “living arrangement.”

The Guedra, part of the culture of Morocco’s Tuareg Berbers, or Blue People (the dye from their deep blue robes impregnates their skin), is a moving meditation performed as a ritual of blessing and celebration of life, usually performed by one or a few dancers, supported by a drummer, hand clappers, and chanters; all come together to build powerful energy and bring blessings, spiritual ecstasy and connection to Deity.

The pizzica is a folk dance from Italy that comes in three highly symbolic variations.

The pizzica is a folk dance from Italy that comes in three highly symbolic variations. In the first, the pizzica de core, a man and woman circle each other suggestively but are never allowed to actually touch. The second, the danza della scherma, is a mock sword battle performed by two men. The third dance, the pizzica tarantata, is a strange ritual with an almost primitive history, dating from a time in which women suffering from a variety of mental or emotional disorders of the sort that used to be labeled “hysteria” were believed to have been bitten by a poisonous spider. The Tarantella Dance music is probably the most recognized song of all the Italian folklore music.

Liturgical dance is a modern form of religious trance dance that is made a part of worship services, usually as an expression of prayer or worship through movement of the body. Liturgical dancing can be spontaneous or can be choreographed in advance in order to fit into the lyrics of a particular hymn or song, or the focus of a religious service. It is relatively new in the West, but its roots go back to accounts of religious dance in the Bible’s Old Testament.

But not all trance dancing is related to healing or banishing or exorcism. Anyone who has spent some time on a dance floor at a modern night club can attest to the power of dancing and the “group consciousness” that can be created through rhythm, music, lights and movement. Electronic trance dance and all of its alternate forms (such as Rave, Euro, Techno and House) are characterized by music with rhythms that fall within the 130 to 155 beats per minute range, a tempo that, combined with a dancing style of repetitive movement, is perfect for inducing a trance or altered state of consciousness.

Modern trance dancing uses rhythmic sounds, sights such as pulsing lights, and repetitive movements as activators to influence the brain and bring brain wave vibrations into alignment with the rhythm, and thus to the trance level. This use of outside influences such as rhythm and repetitive body movements to help achieve a trance state is known as “entrainment.” The more senses that are involved in this process, the easier it is to attain and maintain a trance state. Transformative breathing, pulsing lights or flames, and incense, when combined with music and rhythms and repetitive body movements, can allow the dancer to slip into a powerful trance.

Want to give it a try?

The wonderful thing about trance dancing is that anyone can do it. You don’t need to be a certain age, you don’t need any dance training or ability, and you can even do it from a chair if you are unable to stand. What you look like when you dance is not even an issue; the most important part is what you feel while you are dancing. Actually, too much worry about your outer form will distract you from the trance.

Begin swaying back and forth with the rhythm of the music.

Trance dance is essentially a meditation, with movement as the tool used to bring your awareness to a place where meditation, trance and communion with Deity can happen. By allowing your body to freely express the rhythms and movements created by the catalyst of sound, you are brought to a meditative state and enter into a deeper mythic reality.

Repetitive movements can act as a focus for your mind similar to that of a mantra or chant; when repeated long enough the movement will fade from your awareness and shift your attention from your physical surroundings to a state of dreaming. While any repeated motion can be used to attain and maintain a trance; the ideal movement would be one that is strenuous enough to get the endorphin effect of exercise, but simple enough to be easily repeated without the worry of getting it wrong.

To set up a trance dance session, you will need to find a block of time when you won’t be disturbed, at least 45 minutes. You will need to arrange your furniture so you won’t injure yourself, and you will need some music, any kind of music as long as it truly inspires you. You might want to also dim the lights or burn some pleasing incense, but be careful of any open flames.

Begin by following the rhythm with your breathing; then consciously relax and invite the music into your body. Begin swaying back and forth with the rhythm. As you put your body into motion, be aware of what feels good in a sensual or physical way; don’t worry about what you look like, for no one is watching. Allow your mind’s chattering and preoccupation with your physical world to fade, along with awareness of conscious movement.

Your aim is to reach a purity of experience that is just the rhythm and the motion and you and the sound; this is the moment of your entry into a trance state. Try not to stop dancing; continue moving without conscious choice until you feel the trance is completed. Slowly begin to decrease your movements and lessen their intensity until you are once again back to swaying to the music. Then bring even that to an end and stand still; experience the absence of motion with as much sensual awareness as you experienced motion.

Through trance dance our physical bodies and our physical world “disappear,” and we become more like spirit, and less attached to life’s ordinary difficulties, making it possible at these moments to let these problems go, and sometimes to become aware of viable solutions to these problems. Trance dancing is also a wonderful way to cleanse the cobwebs from your mind and rejuvenate your body.

Sources:

Wikipedia – Trance
Sacred Mists Sacred Movement Extension Class

The Passionate Life: Dance, Music & Other Loves

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