Last month I said good-bye to my dear friend, Dakota. He was a cherished member of our family for 10 years and we shared a very special bond. He was a strong-willed boy and it took years to gain his trust and respect, but once we crossed that bridge, he let me know that I… Read more »
Last month’s discussion of meditation began with ‘Simply Pause’… Now, I suggest again, Simply Pause but also…Well Use the Moment. As we Simply Pause, it becomes apparent that more information is always at hand than we can possibly take into account. As we pause, it becomes possible to milk the moment for all it’s worth… Read more »
Today many are concerned about high cholesterol numbers. However, cholesterol is necessary for brain function, hormone production, mineral assimilation, bone function, metabolism, energy production and a healthy immune system. It is the building block of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Every cell membrane is made up of cholesterol (and saturated fats) which… Read more »
How was your Valentine’s Day? Did you and your partner make it a special day? Why is it that we need a designated day to celebrate our love for one another? The tradition is not a new one although much of the meaning has changed. In early Roman times, the month of February was dedicated… Read more »
Something happens…you lose your job, you’re forced to move, someone dear to you is ill. All of the plans you’ve made in the past suddenly seem pointless and you feel as if you’ve lost your direction. Five years ago, feeling stuck and missing a certain passion in my life, I too questioned myself. “Who am… Read more »
A current buzzword for mind is ‘consciousness.’ Did you know you can now go to college and major in Consciousness Studies? You are in good company in the Department of Consciousness Studies where you will find spiritual healers, psychologists, linguists, cognitive scientists and quantum physicists – all working together to better understand your mind as… Read more »
Everyone is familiar with stress in some shape or form. Most Americans indicate they have experienced moderate to high levels of chronic stress but didn’t know what to do about it. Let’s explore what our bodies do in the face of stress and how we can minimize the harmful effects. Your body has a complex… Read more »
We’ve all experienced it – heart racing, muscle tension, irritability. Perhaps stomach pain or clenched jaw. Anxiety can cause sleepless nights and feeling tired all the time. It can lead to forgetting things, and feeling as if life is spiraling out of your control. These are just a few of the things people experience when… Read more »
According to Jennifer Mieres, M.D., American Heart Association (AHA), “to get heart-healthy benefits, you need to get your heart rate up.” Whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all physical activity adds up to a healthier heart. Our desert, especially this time of year, provides a large variety… Read more »
Sometimes the simplest task is the hardest. In the case of meditation this is true for many. Meditation is simply defined as the ‘cessation of fluctuations of the mind.’ There is enough statistical research supporting this, and we should all be taking time in our day to have uninterrupted quiet time focusing on the breath… Read more »
What is Optimal Health? In his book, Dr. A’s Habits of Health, Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen describes Optimal Health as ‘the highest degree of health that is possible for you to achieve.’ The reality for many people is they’re simply surviving in a slowly declining state of well-being, not really healthy and not quite sick.… Read more »
The holidays are behind us and we’ve just turned the corner into the New Year. Now it’s time to get ourselves back on track for more balanced living. But how easy is that in this extremely social valley with galas, fundraisers and a seemingly endless calendar of events? We move from the holiday season into… Read more »
Quality versus quantity has always been a dilemma for physicians, but even more so in today’s medical environment. Health care providers now have major decisions to make which will have long and far-reaching effects for how you, the patient, will be treated. A primary care physician’s practice serves approximately 2,000 to 4,000 patients. A doctor… Read more »
Jayne Robertson was looking for a cause. She has been a yoga teacher and health educator for over 30 years and was searching for something tied to the yoga world. In February of this year, she heard about Off the Mat, Into The World, a non-profit organization created by yoga instructors that raises money for… Read more »
September is Yoga Awareness Month. Most of us would admit that our muscles could use a little more stretching; however, we think ‘yoga is for the young, or for tree huggers, and my body could never do those crazy positions.’ But yoga is so much more than stretching, and how much you can do depends… Read more »
Some fitness professionals will tell you that true balance is all about how much you exercise to feel good, while others will say it is based on your diet coupled with exercise – and then some will tell you that the true balance in fitness is achieved when stress reduction is achieved. Which advisor is… Read more »
Just the other day I was having dinner with an old swimming buddy of mine, Mark Henderson, a former world record holder and Olympic Gold Medalist at the Atlanta Games. In other words, a phenomenal athlete. Sure, we talked about swimming. Then our conversation turned (quite unexpectedly) to yoga. Mark had begun practicing recently and… Read more »
“You have cancer.” Those are three words nobody wants to hear. They can change a person’s life in an instant, and make us feel fearful and anxious, alone in this world, and out of control. What most patients need is not only the very best and most advanced medical care, but also solid emotional and… Read more »
The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine defines this practice as “medicine that confirms the importance of the practitioner/patient relationship; focuses on the whole person; is evidence-based; and uses all appropriate modalities, health care professionals and disciplines to achieve health and healing.” Following this logic, patients win. We receive medical attention that considers… Read more »
The Fever Fallacy Contrary to popular belief, fevers are GOOD and a positive indicator that your body has the strength to fight off pathogens. A fever is part of your body’s defense mechanism and actually kills off bacteria and viruses that can’t live in higher temperatures. Fevers up to 104ºF are benign and of short… Read more »