Heart Forgiveness/ Core Health™: 

Every Yom Kippur* I write a similar blurb.  I literally understand Forgiveness BECAUSE of this class.  I was introduced to it in 2011, and I credit my marriage with learning this.  Here is my edited version of my writing this year:  

Forgiveness.  What is it?  Why do we do it?  Forgiveness is more about you, the person forgiving, than the person forgiven.  It's about you letting go of that which isn't serving you.  When you are angry, YOUR energy changes, not the person you are angry with.  When that person walks into a room, YOU are the one affected, not them.  In essence you have given your power to that person.  In forgiving them, you regain your own power AND you set them free.  This is both an emotional and physical release.  Both feed into each other.  

Anger is the emotion people hold onto the longest.  It feels 'good'.  You were 'right'.  The other person was 'wrong'.  But we truly do a disservice to ourselves when we nurse anger towards others.  This does not, by any means, make what other people did okay.  But it does recognize the light of each person and how we are all connected through the universe and things that are greater than us individually. 

You also need to forgive yourself.  For your own mistakes.  You can literally disempower yourself with self loathing.  With the “could haves”, “would haves”, “should haves”.  You are whole in every moment.

Finally, people nurse anger towards God (or if you aren't religious, the universe, etc).  This generally presents as the need to control every situation.  Belief that you are lovable only if you meet a certain set of criteria.    It's a certain hardness.  This is actually another part of SELF forgiveness.  We need to forgive ourselves for the belief that everything isn't magical and according to a higher order.  It helps us realign with God (or the Universe) and with the strongest versions of ourselves.

I've often said people's relationship with God is reflected in how they treat people around them.  Let's love and forgive each other.

This Specific Workshop: 

This is a 4 part guided series, where we talk through each concept, and using applied kinesiology observe how the body changes after each meditation.

We will start with Anger at Others and then move into Anger at Self.  At that point, we will take a break and have snacks together, and then move onto the last part of the day, Anger at God.  It is not important that you believe in God.  There is also zero experience with meditation needed.  The guided meditations are between 10-18 minutes long and there is a bonus we will do at the end (should we have time).

Each participant will go home with a workbook. I will email the meditations to every participant and check in over the next three weeks.  With the workbook, you can spend one week for each of the three types of meditation we practiced together. This will enable you to really clear out each type of anger.  After three weeks we can do a hybrid of meeting in person and online to finish the last part of the series, or I can email that to you.  The first three parts must be done live.  

This series called Core Health was developed by Ed Carlson.  More information on his work can be found at https://corehealth.us/

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*This class is in no way associated with ANY religion and was developed by a man who is not religious

Ear needles or ear acupuncture, also known as auriculotherapy, is a type of acupuncture that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the ear in order to promote healing and alleviate certain health conditions. While ear acupuncture has traditionally been used to treat a wide range of ailments, including addiction, pain, and anxiety, it is also becoming increasingly popular as a method of weight loss. In a study from 2015,(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4599151/) researchers found that “the difference in weight before treatment and after…was significant for all participants.” In this blog post, we will explore ways that ear acupuncture can help with weight loss and how it works.

Ear acupuncture is based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which views the ear as a microcosm of the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the ear contains over 200 acupuncture points that correspond to different parts of the body. By stimulating these points with needles, practitioners of ear acupuncture aim to restore balance and harmony to the body's energy flow.

One of the key ways that ear acupuncture is believed to help with weight loss is by regulating appetite and metabolism. Many people struggle with weight gain due to unhealthy eating habits, such as overeating or cravings for unhealthy foods. Ear acupuncture is thought to help reduce cravings and increase feelings of satiety, making it easier for individuals to stick to a healthy diet and lose weight. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382021001207  https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2019/06280/auricular_acupressure_for_overweight_and_obese.51.aspx ) 

In addition to regulating appetite and metabolism, ear acupuncture is also thought to help with weight loss by reducing stress and anxiety. Chronic stress and anxiety can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as emotional eating, which can contribute to weight gain and higher levels of cortisol. By reducing stress and anxiety, ear acupuncture helps individuals to adopt healthier coping mechanisms and maintain a healthy weight.

Ear acupuncture is also believed to help with weight loss by increasing energy levels and improving overall health. By increasing circulation and promoting the release of endorphins, ear acupuncture can help individuals to feel more energized and motivated to engage in physical activity, which is an important component of a healthy weight loss program.

So how does ear acupuncture work exactly?

During an ear acupuncture session, a practitioner will insert thin needles into specific points on the ear. These points are one of the few protocols I use, with no intake necessary.  The needles are usually left in place for about 20-30 minutes, during which time the individual may experience a sensation of warmth or tingling in the ear.

Ear acupuncture can be combined with mindful eating and/or exercise for weight loss.

I like to encourage my patients to download a food/exercise journal.  I will happily chat with you about choices in that journal, however, I have found the simple act of keeping the journal is an effective way to alter eating patterns.

In conclusion, ear acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment option for those looking to lose weight. By regulating appetite and metabolism, reducing stress and anxiety, and increasing energy levels, ear acupuncture can help individuals to adopt healthier habits and achieve their weight loss goals. 

Endorphins are the body’s way of flooding your system with a natural high. While running is one way of increasing endorphins, leading medical publications including Healthline credit Acupuncture as a top way of achieving the same great feeling. That’s good new since my husband and I used to run every morning here in Bradley Beach, but now as you can see puppy Eden is the one running up and down the Jersey Shore and our main form of exercise is calling for her: “Eden, come. Good girl.”

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I have good news and bad news. I'd ask which you want to hear first, but blog posts don't really work like that.

First the bad news: work is a hotbed of potential stressors (but you already knew that). In white-color jobs, that might manifest as unrealistic deadlines, or added responsibilities without added $$$. Maybe it's also unhelpful or back-stabby coworkers (yes, the acupuncturist just said back-stabby like it's a bad thing). Blue-collar jobs share the above and, "lucky" them sometimes also add things like unpredictable scheduling and or concerns about safety.

According to the CDC, work-related stress is the leading workplace health problem and a major occupational health risk, ranking above physical inactivity and obesity. And it's gotten worse. Today's New York Times reported that "the General Social Survey of 2016...found that 50 percent of respondents are consistently exhausted because of work, compared with 18 percent two decades ago."

There are more scary stats, but I think we can skip to the good news.

The same Times article featured ways to recognize burnout from Dr. Maslach (creator of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual) and ended with tips that workers and companies can do to prevent burnout.*

That may not sound like great news, but the important thing is that the conversation is happening. Employees are getting smarter about their own needs and evaluating jobs, at least in part, based on protecting their own well being. Companies are doing a better job (pun intended) at promoting health, sometimes through health fairs or outings, sometimes by paying for gym memberships, sometimes (good idea alert) by inviting people like me in to give stress talks and ear acupuncture demonstrations (#don'tliketonamedrop #wework #foursquare #MUFG Bank).

Let's hope this trend continues, so we can reverse the disturbing trend of extra stress and exhaustion reported on above.

*Deep breathing was (correctly) mentioned as something that helps your parasympathetic system. Acupuncture is a much better way to activate your parasympathetic system.

Yaoqi LAI

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We all like to travel light, but even if you've earned your Packing Queen (or King) crown, mastered the art of minimalism (by finding outfits with maximum flexibility), and Still managed to look fly, you're not in the clear. If you're human (superheroes can skip to the next post) chances are you're lugging around a good proverbial 10 pounds of worry: Did I lock the door? Turn off the stove? Remember the sun screen? And where are those kids? Part of having (#cliché alert) fun in the sun is having less to worry about. So while it's not the season, take a page out of Santa's book and make a list, check it twice, and then...relax knowing that it's all under control! See the great check-list above and make your own version. #listicles #notjustforclickbait

STIL

Turns out that having a BFF is also a good Rx. A new study reported on Quartz tracked 169 participants over a 10 year period starting when they were 15. Those who had a close friend developed a better sense of self-worth and were less likely to be anxious or depressed than their counterparts (who may have been more popular, but didn't have a "bestie").

“As technology makes it increasingly easy to build a social network of superficial friends, focusing time and attention on cultivating close connections with a few individuals should be a priority,” Joseph Allen, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia and co-author the study, said in a statement

Or, quality is more important than quantity.

Kristopher Roller

Your mother was right. Again. It pays to be nice (and to wear clean underwear, but that's for another post). As reported by Everyday Health, a new study tracked 50 Swiss citizens who were paid for their time. Half committed to spend the money on others, half on themselves. Then their brains were scanned, including the ventral striatum aka the brain's happy place.  The results were clear: the "brain activity associated with happiness, along with self-reported happiness, increased simply after making a commitment to be generous to others".

(Since the study was out of Switzerland, it might be helpful to let them know that watches, chocolate and money all make excellent gifts -you're welcome.) 

Back in 2016, two earlier studies looked at whether our brains are hardwired to be altruistic (spoiler alert, yes, especially when our ability to empathize is working.)

All of which is to say, it's good for you to be good.

Evan Kirby

(Photo by Julia Caesar on Unsplash)

Multiple studies presented at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association this week had good news for yoga devotees.  Whether it was reducing negative thoughts and emotional eating or easing chronic depression, as well as stress and anxiety, people who practiced yoga saw significant benefits. Hot yoga was particularly effective, so either check your local 'hood for Bikram classes or keep it in mind for the next time your subway car is the one with broken A/C.

August 3rd is National Watermelon Day and while that may not roll off the tongue (insert food joke here)...watermelon is the perfect summer snack. It has anywhere from 8 to 25 health benefits. The most surprising? Studies suggest it can acts as a natural viagra. Even its seeds and rind are good for you. So whether (thank you picture above) you want to just grab a watermelon and take a bite, or you're inspired to create a contest-winning watermelon and goat cheese salad, there's a slew of fun and tasty treats for you to enjoy.  Another great idea? Consider making some fun "dippers"  as a ready snack for kids (or the kid at heart). Last but definitely not least, you can always wet your whistle in the form of a boozy watermelon-tinted lemonade. In the immortal words of Dave Matthews:

Well apples are sweet and peaches are good
Rabbits so very very fine
But give me oh give me
Oh how I wish you would
Some of that watermelon smiling on the vine

(Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash)

A new study "tracking the well-being of thousands of residents of the English county of Norfolk" highlights just how helpful having a dog can be in encouraging a more active lifestyle, especially for seniors.

"We know that physical activity levels decline as we age, but we’re less sure about the most effective things we can do to help people maintain their activity as they get older," said lead author Yu-Tzu Wu from the University of Cambridge.

The study found that "On average, people who owned dogs were sedentary for 30 minutes less per day than those who didn't have canine companions." On cold or rainy days, the difference was even starker: "Dog owners were 20 percent more active in bad weather than non-dog owners."

As project lead Andy Jones from University of East Anglia's Norwich School of Medicine, concludes: "Being driven by something other than our own needs might be a really potent motivator and we need to find ways of tapping into it when designing exercise interventions in the future.”

To read the full article on mother nature network, click here: https://goo.gl/UMygFM 

This has been a great, and greatly empowering, week for women. Life is a work in progress and so are we. By we, in this case, I mean women and I definitely include myself. Women who are otherwise smart and strong, but every now and then we slip up -- or into -- what society expects, and that's not healthy or pretty although society says it's both.

Can I hear a Like if you agree? Thanks.

This week featured two really great articles about women, especially women in the summer. The first was a nice profile of Asos on the Huffington Post site. Asos is selling their swimsuits by showing real women with real stretch marks -- or, as the stretch marks were brilliantly renamed by Allison Kimmey on Facebook, "glitter stripes." Then today (okay fine, that's just when I saw it), Healthline had a fabulous piece which, in essence said, if you have a body, then you are already swimsuit-ready. It called on us to #banthebikinibody (I added the hashtag). Bodies come in all shapes and sizes and we all have our own healthy weight and needs. Focus your goals (fitness, health, weight) around what doctors and our own research reveals, not as one more attempt to keep up with the Joneses or the woman next to you in barre class.

The more we accept ourselves, the sexier and happier we will be, whether we happen to be in a bikini, a burkini, or anything in between!

The results of our first ever survey are in. We asked for your favorite ways to destress, something that has only become more important in light of new findings which also tie stress to added risk of dementia (see goo.gl/LEQjrn ). The winner? Spending time in nature, something that also can work for people at any budget in almost all living situations. Exercise was a close second, while listening to music tied with the catch-all Other where suggestions included talking to a friend, shopping, acupuncture (blushing) or having a glass of wine (see Friday's post: that's good for you too). Dead-last? Getting a massage. Thanks to all for participating and sharing what works for you.

Aka, both glasses are for me, why do you ask? For as long as I can remember, people have talked about how a glass of wine a day can be good for you. Mainly French people, but they are trend setters. Also their accent is tres chic. Now, after studying a lot of drinking and looking at a lot of people, the story gets even better.  Bottom line, after looking at nearly 2 million people (the researchers swear they were sober and it wasn't just five blurry people who looked like...), they had more good news.

Moderate drinkers are:

*44% less likely to die from a sudden cardiovascular-related event than those who don't drink.

*32% less likely to have a heart attack.

*22% less likely to have peripheral artery disease.

*12% less likely to have a stroke.

So raise a glass to science and enjoy. Better yet, raise two. I know I will. You?

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Some fruits contain a ton of unexpected – and unwanted – sugar.

Here are a few summer fruits that are always a hit, without making your sugar intake take (too great) a hit:

Peaches are great, as is watermelon or melons like cantaloupe.

The lime in your Corona is also fine –lemon and lime typically have under 1.5 grams of sugar per fruit.

Berries are also a satisfying summer treat: raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and cranberries all have less sugar than blueberries and are delicious!

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Here's hoping more Emergency Rooms introduce acupuncture for pain relief. The world's largest randomized controlled trial of the use of acupuncture in emergency departments has found the treatment is a safe and effective alternative to pain-relieving drugs for some patients.

IT WAS ALSO PREFERRED BY PATIENTS POLLED following treatment. There were three groups --and 48 hours post treatment, 82.8 per cent of acupuncture-only patients said they would probably or definitely repeat their treatment, compared with 80.8 per cent in the combined group (acupuncture plus pharmacotherapy), and 78.2 per cent in the pharmacotherapy-only group. https://goo.gl/jPMn3h

A new bill in the senate would make acupuncture much more available in  VA facilities. So smart and needed. Please share if you agree so that this gets the proper attention. https://goo.gl/4Wgb3W