Make Your Own Relaxing Space

November 30th, 2009 By: Brittany

Naples Grande Resort and Club in Naples

Kithaus Meditation Room

Killenure Castle

Meditation Room at the Bellagio

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Happy Holidays

November 30th, 2009 By: Brittany

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Yoga For Breast Health

November 29th, 2009 By: Brittany

I found this article in Body and Soul awhile back. It talks about how the therapy of yoga can be beneficial for woman who suffer with breast cancer.

Yoga may help ease pain and replenish energy in women coping with breast cancer, suggests a small study from Duke University Medical Center.

For two months, 13 women with cancer that had spread beyond the breast practiced gentle poses, meditation, and breathing exercises regularly. On the days after they did yoga, the women were remarkably more relaxed and experienced less pain and fatigue.

Yoga’s ability to lessen stress is key to its positive impact on the body, says Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., director of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Integrative Medicine Program. “When they’re diagnosed, many women still have to be active mothers and continue to work,” Cohen says. “Doing an activity that lets them focus on themselves is really useful.”

Source: Whole Living

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Heart Strengthening Meditation

November 28th, 2009 By: Brittany

Take a few minutes to synchronize your breath with your beat to reduce stress instantly. Susanna Bair, cofounder of the Institute for Applied Meditation in Tucson, Arizona, and coauthor of “Energize Your Heart,” designed this meditation to invigorate the heart with conscious breathing and loving intention. “I’ve worked with people who have lowered their own blood pressure just by doing this exercise,” Bair says.

How to Do It
Adopt a Noble Stance
Sit upright, chest forward, shoulders back, spine straight, and head level.

Hone Your Focus
Close your eyes and become aware of your breath flowing in and out. You can put your hands on your heart or rest them by your sides.

Listen for Your Heartbeat
Draw in a deep breath and hold it for a moment. Become aware of your heart pulsing inside you (this may take some practice); then exhale. If you can’t hear your heartbeat, feel for your pulse in your chest or on the inside of your wrist.

Synchronize Your Breath
Allow your breath to fall in sync with your heart. Try inhaling for eight heartbeats and then exhaling for eight. Continue this for five to 10 minutes.

Repeat
Try this meditation once in the morning to energize you and again in the evening to clear tension and create a renewed calm.

Source: Whole Living

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Wonderful Recipes

November 27th, 2009 By: Brittany

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 1/2 cups lentils
• 3/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 2 orange, red, or yellow (or a mix) bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch dices
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan of boiling salted water, cook lentils until crisp-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop further cooking, and drain again.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl whisk together lemon zest, lemon juice, oil, mustard, and tarragon. Add drained lentils, bell peppers, and scallions; season well with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Asparagus and Crab Salad

• 1/2 pound cooked lump crab meat ( if you can’t tolerate crab substitute it for fish)
• 1/2 tablespoon rice wine
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 Thai chile, finely minced
• 1 green onion, minced
• 1 pound thin asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths
• 1/4 cup honey-roasted chopped nuts of your choice

Directions

1. Combine crabmeat, rice wine, soy sauce, lemon juice, chili, and green onion.
2. Blanch asparagus in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until bright green, about 1 minute. Drain and rinse with cold water until chilled.
3. Toss asparagus and crab meat mixture in a salad bowl. Top with nuts and serve.

These are two recipes are amazingly good and healthy. We have tried them in our house and have had much success!

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Thinking Of Being Thankful

November 26th, 2009 By: Brittany

Happy Thanksgiving!

” It isn’t what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.”

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.”
- Cicero

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
- Epictetus

“Just a “thank you” is a mighty powerful prayer. Says it all.”
- Rosie Cash

“There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.”
- Author Unknown

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       – Oscar Wilde

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Story Of David Smith

November 25th, 2009 By: Brittany

If you have not heard of David Smith, he was the man who took it upon himself along with his coach and now best friend, Chris Powell to loose 400 pounds. Their story has been picked up by TLC and has hit home for many Americans. They have made it their mission to help others as well as the youth stay healthy.

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