Fire Fighter vs Bricklayer: Don't Allow Yourself to Be Derailed

A few weeks back, I allowed myself to be derailed by people I placed confidence, admiration and respect. Looking back, I recognized that there was always a lot of chaos and swirl cycling around those same individuals.  At the time, I equated it to busy-ness and momentum that comes with running a business. I, too, got caught up in it, sucked in by it and frequently redirected to put out fires. As a result, the job I was brought in to do shifted, as did my focus and confidence in myself.  Lesson learned.

Now, as I stand in a much calmer place, I realize that it was self-generated chaos that allowed certain individuals an opportunity to bring structure to that chaos, providing a type of job security, if you will.  How, then, could the value I bring to the table be truly realized or even recognized, when the main focus was on the fire in the room?  Hmmm. When someone arrives with a fire hose to put out the fire, it's hard to recognize the bricklayer strengthening the foundation of the building.

6 Key takeaways:
1. Know what kind of leader you are following.  A fire fighter or a bricklayer.
2. Know what leadership truly values.  A fire fighter or a bricklayer.
3. Decide which one you are/want to be. A fire fighter or a bricklayer.
4. Share your successes along the way. Tell someone. It's easy for you and leadership to get distracted by frequent fires.
5. Have frequent meetings with leadership so you build not only a stronger relationship, but value. Don't let a secondary person do that on your behalf. You never know what is being said, or not said.
6. Constantly build your own foundation. Build your own network and skills so you realize your personal value proposition.

Blessings ~
Dawn

Challenging Confidence

Blessed day all ~

 

Hoping this day finds you inspired to move forward with confidence and purpose in yourself, your vision and your faith.

Life presents many challenges and obstacles that can crumble some of the strongest and wisest people we know. These challenging circumstances are often beyond our control, yet they provide a valuable opportunity for us to reach beyond our boundaries to overcome fear. Some call these life lessons. We all have them, or will have them, at some point in our lives. We can choose to become stronger or weaker because of them.

Have the confidence to choose to become stronger. Have the confidence to reach out to others to help give you strength. Find the confidence to become better than you are today by educating yourself, finding a mentor or improving yourself in some way.

I have faith in you!

Blessings and Namaste,

Dawn

Stop Sitting, Move More, to Avoid Diabetes

Time spent in sedentary behavior — sitting or lying down — has a stronger impact on diabetes risk than does moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in adults, new research shows.

"This is the first work to demonstrate that sedentary behavior might have a greater bearing on diabetes risk factors than exercise in adults at risk of the disease," lead author Joseph Henson, a PhD student from the Leicester Diabetes Center, United Kingdom, told Medscape Medical News. He reports his findings together with colleagues in a report published online February 27 in Diabetologia.

For more on this story read more - Stop Sitting, Move More

Stop. Breathe ~

Life moves at a rapid pace, so much so that people can forget to eat. Who does that? Most days, I find myself feeling like a ping pong ball running from one meeting to the next trying to fit everything in. At 6:00pm I cannot begin to recall what I did at 8:00am, other than I know it involved drinking a cup of coffee to flip the switch in my brain to the "ON" position.  Upon arriving home the demands don't stop as my youngest (19mos) demands mommy time, my pre-teen daughter hugs me and needs my ear to discuss what happened at school, and my teenage son requires a daily hug just to know I am home. My husband, well, he has needs too as we fight to find time to chat in between toddler chatter and brother-sister banter.  Breathe. . . . . . .

Technology is supposed to make things simpler. Easier. More efficient.  In many respects they do, however, they give us a false sense that we can now do MORE with the same amount of time we had before technology. I may be able to do more, but I feel exhausted. My batteries drained. Yet feel a void, or sense of loss as though I am still missing out. Breathe . . . . . . .

My toddler quickly runs over and wedges himself between me and the counter as I stand at the sink washing dishes and his sippy cups, demanding my attention chattering "Up! Up! Up!" As I pick him up and stare into his big blue eyes, the smile on his face and his adoring dimples redirect my focus. He gently lays his head on my shoulder and I stop. Breathe. And remember that the void, the sense of loss I felt earlier, is gone. Breathe ~ ~ ~

Advanced Breast Cancer in Young American Women: On the Rise?

In the past 30 years, there has been a small but significant increase in the incidence of advanced breast cancer in American women 25 to 39 years of age, according to a study published in the February 27 issue of JAMA.

During the same period, there was no increase in advanced disease in older women, according to the researchers, led by Rebecca H. Johnson, MD, from the Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington.

In the young women, the incidence of breast cancer with distant involvement at diagnosis increased from 1.53 per 100,000 women in 1976 to 2.90 per 100,000 women in 2009. This is an absolute difference of 1.37 per 100,000, and is an average compounded increase of 2.07% per year (P < .001) over a 34-year interval.

For more information on this story, click here Advanced Cancer in Young American Women - Continue

By Nick Mulcahy

Feb 26, 2013
MedScape Medical News

Dietary Recommendations for Healthy Children

AHA Scientific Position:  The American Heart Association has dietary recommendations for infants, children and adolescents to promote cardiovascular health:

Start in Infancy:

• Breast-feeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for about the first 4–6 months after birth. Try to maintain breast-feeding for 12 months. Transition to other sources of nutrients should begin at about 4–6 months of age to ensure sufficient micro nutrients in the diet.
• Delay introducing 100 percent juice until at least 6 months of age and limit to no more than 4–6 oz/day. Juice should only be fed from a cup.
• Don't overfeed infants and young children — they can usually self-regulate the amount of calories they need each day. Children shouldn't be forced to finish meals if they aren't hungry as they often vary caloric intake from meal to meal.
• Introduce healthy foods and keep offering them if they're initially refused. Don't introduce foods without overall nutritional value simply to provide calories.

The American Heart Association recommends this eating pattern for families:

• Energy (calories) should be adequate to support growth and development and to reach or maintain desirable body weight.
• Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
• Keep total fat intake between 30 to 35 percent of calories for children 2 to 3 years of age and between 25 to 35 percent of calories for children and adolescents 4 to 18 years of age, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts and vegetable oils.
• Choose a variety of foods to get enough carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients.
• Eat only enough calories to maintain a healthy weight for your height and build. Be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day.
• Serve whole-grain/high-fiber breads and cereals rather than refined grain products. Look for “whole grain” as the first ingredient on the food label and make at least half your grain servings whole grain. Recommended grain intake ranges from 2 oz./day for a one-year-old to 7 oz./day for a 14–18-year-old boy.
• Serve a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, while limiting juice intake. Each meal should contain at least 1 fruit or vegetable. Children’s recommended fruit intake ranges from 1 cup/day, between ages 1 and 3, to 2 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy. Recommended vegetable intake ranges from ¾ cup a day at age one to 3 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy.
• Introduce and regularly serve fish as an entree. Avoid commercially fried fish.
• Serve fat-free and low-fat dairy foods. From ages 1–8, children need 2 cups of milk or its equivalent each day. Children ages 9–18 need 3 cups.
• Don’t overfeed. Estimated calories needed by children range from 900/day for a 1-year-old to 1,800 for a 14–18-year-old girl and 2,200 for a 14–18-year-old boy.

This eating pattern supports a child's normal growth and development. It provides enough total energy and meets or exceeds the recommended daily allowances for all nutrients for children and adolescents, including iron and calcium.

More on this story, go to: Dietary Recommendations - Continued

Driving the Market for Healthy Kids Snacks

According to a USDA survey of nearly 10,000 children, twice as many kids today eat snack foods than did 20 years ago. For children younger than nine, nearly half of their recommended caloric intake comes in the form of snacks – while according to the CDC the rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled since 1980.

Thanks to strong educational efforts by First Lady Michelle Obama, the Center for Disease Control and numerous non-profit organizations, parents today are taking this threat seriously, intent to do better and committed to providing their children with healthier snacking options. When examining their buying habits, it’s clear that they want snacking options that are delicious, nutritionally balanced, travel well and appeal to children.

For more on this story go to:  Healthy Kids Snacks - continued

Attitude = Success

In these challenging times, your success will depend on the attitude you choose daily and how you decide to embrace change. The success you experience in you life and career will depend on the choices you make every day. You don't get to vote on how you are perceived. How others see you is their reality no matter what you might have intended. Although we judge ourselves by our intentions, we often misjudge others by our own perceptions of their behaviors. How others respond to you as a team member, employee or friend will depend entirely on their experience of you.

Strategies to help you demonstrate the kind of personal leadership that will serve you in your life and career include:

• Take ownership of others' perceptions of you
• Don't stretch yourself too thin
• Keep your eye on the road
• Manage your reputation by choosing a positive disposition
• Show that you care
• Become a champion of others
• Adopt and attitude of service
• Find meaning in what you do every day

I know I have a long way to go, but I am sold on the power of teamwork and human kindness to help me forge ahead.

Blessings ~

Seeking Truth

Hoping this day finds you seeking the truth in all you do so that it grounds and validates your values, your purpose, and clarifies your vision moving forward.

 

We live in a world where events and information are influencing or even changing our beliefs, our values and even questioning our purpose. While this can be a good thing in some respects, there are times when it can be destructive to the fabric of our being. Are you able to discern the difference?

As you seek clarity in your faith, seek out the sources you know will offer honest, factual information. Then research some more. As you seek clarity in your purpose, seek out those individuals and resources that will help you reveal your inner strengths, motivations, abilities and talents. As you seek clarity in your values, seek out those individuals and sources from your past that taught, influenced and mentored you to where you are now - then create a path for how you plan to continue forward with the knowledge you now have.

 

I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking the truth in life and all that entails. In many respects, it will involve a journey as the answers won't be found overnight. It is an experience you must endure to reveal your inner-self and where you fit in it all. This experiential journey will be the lesson and help reveal the clarity you seek.

 

I wish you many blessings in your journey toward the truth.

Women have to work HARDER than men to lose weight and get fit

Great article by Anna Hodgekiss Women have to do about 20% more exercise to get the same benefits And while exercise alone might be enough for men to lose weight, women also have to look at their diet to get the same results experts say body composition such as muscle mass and hormones to blame. It's bad news for women who work out with their partners. Scientists have discovered that when it comes to the benefits of exercise, the odds appear to be firmly stacked against the fairer sex. New research suggests that women have to do a lot more exercise to get the same health benefits as men, in terms of both diet and fitness. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2267714/Its-harder-WOMEN-lose-weight-men.html#ixzz2J1vERpvY PUBLISHED:12:23 EST, 24 January 2013| UPDATED: 12:43 EST, 24 January 2013

Being Busy

Blessed day all ~

Hoping this day finds you focused on the job at hand, prioritizing you needs versus wants and making hard decisions that will, in the end, best represent your true happiness.

If I could slap an adjective in front of my title it would be busy - busy wife, busy mom, busy friend, busy instructor, busy volunteer, busy salesperson, etc etc etc. My life these days is dictated by the hours blocked out in my calendar. My husband and I refer to our smart phones as our "family bible" of sorts, as it keeps us connected - connected to our work calendars, kids activities, our lives and yes, each other. As the kids activities ramp up, there are weeks that go by where the only way we are able to connect with one another is by phone (voice, text, email). The winter months tend to be a bit slower and allow us some much needed R&R from travel sports, but they are still packed full of activities. I suspect many of you are also busy in your own way, in your own world.

I came across a great blog titled "Find Peace in a Busy Life" that had some great nuggets of insight that I wanted to share. Something for all of us to consider as we carve out precious time for ourselves, our spouses, our children and others.
There's no such thing as being too busy. If you really want something, you'll make time for it.

I’ve realized that busy is simply a state of mind. A state that often causes stress, unhappiness and waisted energy.

Don't be too busy to serve your purpose.

Life can never be too busy for the things that matter most to you. If you don’t have time for those, the busywork won’t matter anyway.

“Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these needs there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.”
~ Thomas Alva Edison


Cheers for finding busy-ness that serves your purpose toward accomplishment.

Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn

3 Ways Exercise Feeds Your Brain!

Blessed day all ~

GREAT information on the attached article to help you understand the impact exercise has on the brain, especially in the area of disease prevention, brain plasticity and cognitive functioning. Age CAN simply be a number and not a condition of decline.

Some key points in the article:
- A sedentary lifestyle does more than contribute to weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. It's, quite literally, a brain-snatcher. It robs you of the neurologic health you need to be your best now and maintain your quality of life as you get older — and can even shorten your lifespan.
- A study conducted on dementia-free older adults found those who walked 72 blocks (or 6-9 miles) a week had more gray matter than people who walked less. Better yet, the increased brain volume was linked with a 2-fold decrease in risk for cognitive decline.
- People who exercise regularly have about half the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia than their sedentary counterparts.
- Exercise needs to be aerobic to promote positive brain effects, according to Dr. John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and author of Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Pear Press 2008). Strength training alone doesn't have the same positive brain effects as combining cardiovascular and strength training.

Read more!. Click on the attached link for the full article.
http://bit.ly/dGdfYl

Blessings for a healthy day!

DawnDawn Lang, MA
Perception Access, Inc.
langdc@gmail.com
http://www.twitter.com/Dawn_Lang

Become Your Personal Best

Great advice from Roz Usheroff - Leadership, Image, Etiquette and Branding Specialist

In these challenging times, your success will depend on the attitude you choose daily and how you decide to embrace change. The success you experience in your career will depend on the choices you make every day. You don’t get to vote on how you are perceived. How others see you is their reality, no matter what you might have intended. Although we judge ourselves by our intentions, we often misjudge others by our own perceptions of their behaviors. How others respond to you as a team member will depend entirely on their experience of you.

Below are some strategies to help you demonstrate the kind of personal leadership that will serve you in your career.

-Take ownership of others’ perceptions of you
-Don’t stretch yourself too thin
-Keep your eye on the road
-Manage your reputation by choosing a positive disposition
-Show that you care
-Become a champion of others
-Adopt an attitude of service
-Find meaning in what you do every day

I know I have a long way to go, but I am sold on the power of teamwork and the power of human kindness. As my mother often says, you get out what you put in. So give unconditionally. Miracles do happen. Go Roz!

http://usheroff.com/about.html

Blooming where you are planted

Blessed day all ~

This is a wonderful message worth sharing from a dear friend, leadership, image, etiquette and branding specialist - Roz Usheroff. She reminds us that true leaders emerge. That leadership has more to do with how you support and inspire, and less to do with your job title. Great nuggets of inspiration can be found in her message. After reading, write down how it relates to you and inspires you to change/improve upon your better self.

Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn

Dawn Lang, MA
http://www.twitter.com/dawn_lang

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin

One challenge many professionals face as the economy recovers is finding themselves in new roles in new jobs. Often, the corner office has been replaced by a middle cubicle and giving orders has morphed into taking them. Or, they now operate from a makeshift home office. If you find yourself now part of a work unit instead of managing one, are you no longer a leader? Not necessarily.

True leaders emerge. Leadership has more to do with how you support and inspire those around you and less to do with your job title. Let’s look at two examples.

Jonathan

When I first met Jonathan, he was an executive vice president at a large software company. Now he is an analyst at a small firm. His management experience exceeded his boss Jerry’s by a generation. After getting the lay of the land and mastering his new job, Jonathan started offering himself to Jerry as a sounding board. After Jonathan helped Jerry solve a couple of sticky problems, Jerry stopped seeing him as a threat and started giving him higher profile assignments and more latitude to contribute in ways beyond his “analyst” role.

Sally

As an associate editor, Sally was at the bottom of the food chain at the magazine where she works. Her online savvy, however, eclipsed her older colleagues’ who readily agreed when she offered to take over developing a Twitter presence for the publication. Sally also enjoyed teaching her colleagues how to use faster, more reliable online tools. Before long, they sought her input and invited her into digital strategy meetings. Sally is now in charge of the publication’s social media strategy.

Both Jonathan and Sally are leaders in ways that have nothing to do with their titles. Importantly, their leadership behaviors did not in any way usurp the managerial authority of their bosses.

While a department might have only one manager, anyone can emerge as a leader in their area of expertise. You can brand yourself as a leader by practicing leadership behaviors and making sure everything about you projects consistency, integrity and authenticity.

True leaders:
• Look for and see the big picture. This means asking questions and picking brains until you understand where the company wants to go and how your job function fits. Sally saw social media as a hole in her magazine’s strategy and she filled it.

• Understand the difference between leading and managing. Warren Bennis says the difference between leaders and managers is that managers do things right but leaders do the right thing. It isn’t about trying to do your boss’ job. It’s about helping your boss and the team succeed.

• Understand their own strengths and offer them to the team. No one succeeds by playing to their own weaknesses. Be honest with yourself about what you do well and volunteer for projects that lend themselves to your gifts.

• Take the time to build professional relationships. All business relationships are built on trust. We trust those who take the time to get to know us and understand what we are trying to achieve. In person, eating lunch with a colleague can be the most important hour of your day. Virtually, reach out through email and social media, but also pick up the phone.

• Communicate clearly, honestly and often. Many a misunderstanding is averted by reflecting back (in person, on the phone, or by email or text) what you believe the two of you just agreed. Leaders make sure they aren’t leading down the wrong path.

• Identify problems and opportunities, then offer solutions. It is easier to identify a problem than to offer a solution. The latter separates leaders from the pack.

• Initiate difficult conversations. This is where bravery and emotional maturity brand you as a leader. Patrick Lencioni, in “The Five Temptations of a CEO” suggests you must act on clarity, not certainty, rather than pay the price for procrastinating.

• Take both personal responsibility and the actions necessary to rectify mistakes. Leaders take risks knowing they won’t all work. Even the best baseball players only hit the ball a third of the time.

• Seek feedback and make course corrections accordingly. A true leader knows that she has blind spots. Those with the courage to capitalize on others’ perspectives are destined for greatness.

Checklist for thinking like a leader:

 Do I attract followers when I present new ideas? If not, how can I become a more compelling communicator?
 Do I understand the needs of my organization and the problems it is trying to solve? If not, where can I learn about them so I can offer my strengths as part of a solution?
 Do colleagues and senior management seek out my expertise? If not, what can I do to promote my capabilities?
 Do I have a strategy for keeping my knowledge fresh and up to date? If not, where can I access external courses to add value to my role?
 Do I manage relationships and serve as a role model? If not, how can I engage others to connect with me?
 Do I hold my head high even when things are uncertain? If not, what do I need to do to demonstrate calmness and confidence?

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with amazing leaders. The ones who most impressed me were those who, regardless of their titles, inspired others because of what they stood for.

At the Usheroff Institute, we believe the business need for true leadership has never been greater. We also know that leadership and personal branding work hand in hand. For more information, visit http://www.usheroff.com.

It begins in our thoughts

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Choose your words, for they become actions.
Study your actions, for they become your behavior.
Examine your behavior, for it becomes your character.
Understand your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Wish for the New Year - Commit to You!

Blessed day all ~
Hoping this day finds you positively reminiscing about 2010 and strategically planning goals for 2011, finding fun ways to commit to YOU in 2011.

Lets face it, every year we approach the new year with a little dread and excitement. For some of us, that dread may be found in the lack of planning for the coming year. If this is you, take charge! Don't allow yourself to be a passive participant in your life any longer. It is easy to just sit back and ride the "current" of life, rather than built a boat and be your own captain. You are the only person getting in the way of your goals. You can be the captain of your own boat. It is time to stop allowing yourself to be passive in your goal setting.

There is so much change occurring in this world that is beyond our control. So, what do you have control or influence over?

1. Your health (regular wellness checkups at Dr., adherence to medication, regular physical fitness - reduces depression, anxiety, risk of diabetes/heart disease/cancer/obesity)
2. Your nutrition (reduce or eliminate fast food, increase consumption of fresh vegetables & fruit, watch portion sizes, take vitamins)
3. Your personal relationships (spouse, family, friends)
4. Your professional relationships (boss, co-workers)
5. Your personal development (education, self-improvement - online programs, self-help books & DVD's, find a mentor to help you!)
6. Your financial situation (how/where you spend money, how/where you save money, employment [most instances])
7. Your happiness (identify what makes you unhappy and take steps to change it - new job, get out of a relationship, take a vacation)

Empower yourself to be a better you in 2011. There is always room for improvement. Pick your top 3 and make it happen. Include your spouse/family/friends in your goal setting as they can serve as your accountability partners.

"I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus, positive or negative."
-Law of Attraction

So, grab your tools and lets get to building! I have faith in you!
Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn
--
Dawn Lang, MA
Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach
Perception Access, Inc.

Follow me! http://www.twitter.com/Dawn_Lang

Acceptance

Hoping this day finds you excited for the holidays, eager to relax, and accepting of where you are in your life right now.

Acceptance -
At the end of each year we usually look back and reflect on 1) what we have accomplished, 2) what we haven't accomplished yet, and 3) what we feel we cannot accomplish/change. Many emotions surround each of these scenarios, yet it is easy to focus on the negative instead of the positive - what hasn't been accomplished or what we cannot change.

I encourage you to focus on the positive and accept who you are at this very moment, as everything that has happened in your life thus far has brought you to this point today. Your experiences mold you and shape you into the person/parent/leader/spirit you have become. Your experiences shape your thoughts, attitudes and behaviors (both good and bad) - yet, you have ownership in the words you speak and the actions you take. Choose to make those words and actions positive, thoughtful, influential and honorable.

"I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus, whether positive or negative."
~ The Law of Attraction

Plan for the future - absolutely! Yet, be flexible enough for the unknown as change is always constant. Find something positive in all that you do, and in every human encounter. God always finds creative ways for us to learn from one another, and accept one another - including acceptance of ourselves.

Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn

Positive Thoughts for 2011 and Beyond

Blessed day all ~

Hoping this day finds.....
-your wallet full of pictures of loved ones (as people are more precious than money)
-your body in good health and skilled to take on the days tasks (for without your health you have nothing)
-your heart full compassion for those who have less than you (no matter how little you think you have, no doubt there are others less fortunate)
-your spirit warmed by loving family and friends (as clothes are simple commodities that can easily be replaced)

As we wrap up 2010 it is appropriate to reflex on the past year with sorrow, excitement, thankfulness, graciousness and more. We lost friends, jobs and family along the way - yet we gained renewed spirit and resilience for life and its many circles. Where one door closes another one opens. There is a purpose behind hardship and sorrow, whether it be a call to action for the greater good or simply to help us see opportunity where we didn't previously. Our growth and development through this process may vary, however, know that you will come out stronger in the end - as long as you don't give up! Maintain a positive attitude, or seek out others who can help guide you in a positive direction. It is ok to ask for help.

So, with renewed spirit, what are your hopes and dreams for 2011 and beyond? Write them down. Take action steps to get there, one way or another. You can always modify along the way. Don't allow the work "can't" to be part of your vocabulary. Switch to "I can" and "I will" and guess what? Things will begin to change for the better.

I have faith in you!

Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn
--
langdc@gmail.com
http://www.healthyperceptions.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/dawn_lang

Yoga for Holiday Sanity

Blessed day all ~

Holidays are a wonderful time of year spent with family and friends, however they can also cause stress and anxiety. Bring your yoga practice into your holiday by incorporating these simple tips:

1. breathe deeply - when we get anxious about food, family, traveling we often have shallow breathing. Breathing deeply can help center our focus, reduce stress and help us be present in the moment.

2. be mindful of what you eat and drink - the holidays bless us with an array of food and beverages that are delicious, but packed full of added calories, sugar and fat that can make us feel sluggish and lethargic. Gravitate to the vegetables first and fill yourself up on energy food - food that comes from the earth (vegetables, oats, range free turkey/chicken). Your body will thank you.

3. yoga for circulation and stress management - don't have time to get to a class, try these sequences to help you get through the moment, day or weekend:
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/sequence_builder/print_sequence/?action=custom&yj=sequence_print&id=20646
If you cannot open the attachment, focus on a simple sun salutation or simple Vinyasa flow.

Simple Vinyasa Flow:
child's pose
cat pose
cow pose
downward facing dog
plank
downward facing dog
child's pose
cobra
downward facing dog
child's pose
(repeat 5-6 times)


Many many blessings to you and your family. Safe travels :)
~Dawn

Common Misconceptions About Yoga

By Timothy McCall, M.D.

If you are suffering from a chronic condition or looking for an overall preventive health plan, you may want to consider yoga. But before you embark, there are a number of misconceptions that I’d like to clear up:

1. Yoga is only for stress relief. Yoga is indeed a powerful stress buster. Even a single session can make you feel calmer. Since stress is a factor in a host of medical conditions--from high blood pressure to infertility--yoga can indeed help. But yoga is much more. A regular yoga program can strengthen muscles, deepen breathing, improve balance and enhance flexibility. Yoga has been shown in studies to help people with asthma, arthritis, depression, heart disease and many other problems. And even if a condition like cancer isn’t caused by stress, getting diagnosed and undergoing treatment can be stressful and yoga can, at the very least, help with that.

2. Yoga is a religion. Although yoga came out of ancient India it is not a form of Hinduism or a covert way to propagate any religion. In fact, yoga is happily practiced by Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Moslems, atheists and agnostics alike. There is certainly a spiritual side to yoga but you don’t have to subscribe to any particular beliefs to benefit from it. If chanting Om or some other aspect isn’t for you, I’ve never seen a teacher object to a student skipping it.

3. Only the young and supple need apply. In India, I saw yoga therapy centers treat people with all kinds of physical, mental and emotional disabilities. It has been used successfully on schizophrenics, the mentally retarded and people who are bound to bed or wheelchairs. All that’s required is some mental awareness and the will to give it a try.

4. Yoga therapy is the same as taking a yoga class. Most yoga therapy is done one-on-one or in small groups with experienced teachers. The average yoga teacher in a health club, however, isn’t likely to know enough to be able to do therapeutic yoga safely and well. While general classes may be great preventive medicine, many are too demanding for someone with a serious medical condition. If you have any doubts, be sure to speak with the teacher and ask about her yoga experience, what techniques she employs and her experience in working with people like you.

5. Yoga is a quick fix. Every single yoga expert I met in India stressed the need for the student to practice, even if only for a few minutes a day. The effect is cumulative over a long period of time as you slowly gain more control over your body and mind.

Yoga may be strong medicine but it is slow medicine. And you get back in proportion to what you put in.