Using Yoga to Manage ADD

Exercise is a powerful tool for ADD management. Medical professionals recommend that adults get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (such as running or biking) 3-5 times per week to improve their general health. For ADDers, this type of exercise is particularly beneficial, because it may balance production of neurotransmitters and reduce stress levels. Another form of exercise that ADDers are finding valuable is yoga. When practiced regularly, yoga offers numerous health benefits, such as increased strength and flexibility, and decreased blood pressure and cholesterol levels. However, the greater benefits of yoga are arguably the psychological ones. Yoga combines physical activity with self-awareness, which promotes a mind-body connection that many ADDers lack.

When ADDers report challenges with impulsivity and hyperactivity, they often describe feeling like they don't have control over their own bodies. They find themselves speaking before thinking their thoughts through, and often regret their words. They constantly fidget, unaware that their bubbling energy can be disruptive to others in work and social situations. And they feel as if they simply cannot stop the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in their heads.

Yoga can help ADDers learn how to forge a mind-body connection that promotes self-awareness and self-control. Yoga practitioners are taught deep breathing and relaxation techniques that help center the mind in the present moment. Practitioners are also guided into holding different postures, called asanas. Each asana is held for an extended period of time, as the practitioner focuses on holding the best posture that they can, while breathing calmly and deeply. The asanas promote stretching, strengthening, and balancing, as the deep breathing promotes relaxation and mental awareness.

It is important to remember that yoga is not meant to be stressful or taxing on the body. People should be encouraged to concentrate only on themselves and not the others in the class, and to do only what feels comfortable. A practitioner should never feel pressured to perform. If an ADDer finds him/herself at a yoga class that moves too quickly, or focuses heavily on strength training, they will not reap the intended benefits, and may find themselves overwhelmed. The best place to find yoga instruction is at a yoga center, where the instructors practice yoga as a way of life, and teach both the physical and psychological components.

Yoga can help ADDers feel calm, centered, in control, and in touch with their bodies. Practiced regularly, ADDers will find that yoga is a powerful mental and physical refresher that they can retreat to when feeling out of control or overwhelmed.

Jennifer Koretsky is a Professional ADD Management Coach who helps adults manage their ADD and move forward in life. She encourages clients to increase self-awareness, focus on strengths and talents, and create realistic action plans. She offers a 90-day intensive skill-building program, workshops, and private coaching. Her work has been featured in numerous media, including The New York Times Magazine and The Times (UK). To subscribe to Jennifer's free email newsletter, The ADD Management Guide, please visit http://www.addmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm

Where to Find Lodging and Accommodation in Whistler, BC

Are you thinking about a great place to go for a winter holiday? For avid skiers or anyone looking for a cozy winter getaway, the many chalet and condo rentals around the Whstler Ski Resort in British Columbia can be a great way to relax this winter. The Whistler Ski Resort is located in the province of British Columbia, in a natural mountain environment. Around the resort there are a wealth of luxurious condos, townhouses and chalets available to rent. Many of these can be found online and booked easily.

When you are looking for a rental in Whistler, there are many options at your disposal. You may want to look for lodgings that include the array of amenities available. Some offer relaxing facilities like hot tubs and saunas, or home entertainment rooms with large screen televisions and surround sound speakers. You can choose a Whistler condo rental by size, by the number of renters or by bedrooms, with up to 6 bedroom, 5 bath chalet rentals available. You may also want the detailed facilities such as refrigerator/freezer space, washer/dryer, storage, or decks and barbeques for cooking.

Some Whistler rentals are located specifically for great mountain views. Others are set directly by the ski lifts, and some advertise ski-in ski-out access. Others are located on or around golf courses for convenient access to the greens in the golf season. You may want to look at the pictorial listings available on many sites to get a picture of how your Whistler condo rental looks from the inside; many have been newly renovated and are beautifully decorated for a really nice atmosphere.

So if you are interested in a great way to relax this year, consider Whistler, British Columbia, and take advantage of its great winter resort and comfortable lodgings. It just might be what you were looking for.

Great choice of Whistler chalets and townhomes offering fireplaces private hot tub and every amenity for a great holiday in http://www.skiwhistler.co.uk. You can find additional resources in the website for other whistler chalets as well.

Mind, Body, Spirit Healing vs Traditional Psychotherapy/Psychoanalysis

The word "psychology" is the combination of two terms - study (ology) and soul (psyche), or mind. The derivation of the word from Latin gives it this clear and obvious meaning:

The study of the soul or mind.

This meaning has been altered over the years until today, this is not what the word means at all. The subject of psychology, as studied in colleges and universities, currently has very little relationship with the mind, and absolutely nothing to do with the soul or spirit.

It is important to understand that words and ideas are supposed to refer to something. "The tree in the yard" refers to an actual thing that can be seen, touched and experienced. "The walking his dog at dawn" refers to an actual event that can be seen, observed and experienced. The realm of mind is an actual realm that can be experienced, and at one time there were words that accurately referred to this realm.

Dictionaries define "Psyche" as:

The spirit or soul.
The human mind.
In psychoanalysis, the mind functioning as the center of thought, emotion, and behavior.

Dictionaries define "Soul" as:

The spiritual or immortal elements in a person. A person's mental or moral or emotional nature. Traditional psychotherapy/psychoanalysis fails to address the all-important relationship to one's true spiritual nature.

Traditional spiritual practice often bypasses -and thus fails to transform - the psychological conditional patterns and unconscious beliefs that arise from our personal histories and adaptations.

In modern psychotherapy we treat symptoms because symptoms can be quantified and identified, or so it is claimed by traditional modern medical and psychiatric practices.

Thus Emotional Pain is described in terms of symptoms-Depression, Anger, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Self-Esteem issues, Mood Swings, Compulsive Behavior, Chronic and Acute Fear, Self-Injury, Suicidal Thoughts, Shame, Guilt, Eating Disorders, or Addictions) does not heal itself. Time, marriages, children, success, wealth, buying a bigger house, or faster car, changing jobs or relocating will not CURE it. The damage is sometimes very deep, pervasive and profound. It is a soul injury. The person has been robbed of his or her integrity, core identity and trust.

Emotional, Physical or Sexual trauma in childhood is 'violence' that does not require force. The child is thrown into a 'state of shock.' For some the memories remain conscious, while others drive them beneath the conscious level. The coping mechanisms the child used are carried into adulthood and impact the person's life on every level-Emotional, Physical, Mental, Behavioral, Spiritual, Sexual and Relationships. While these coping mechanisms were appropriate then, they are a 'problem' in adulthood.

Traditional mental health professionals ask: "What is wrong with you?" or "What happened to you?" Asking, "What is wrong with you?" or "What happened to you?" implies blame, sickness and fault. Asking, "What did you experience growing up?" -allows the person to begin the process of discovering the source of their pain and healing the wounds.

Traditional psychotherapy/psychoanalysis neglects the fact that we feel, sense, and experience global political mass consciousness, as well as our individual consciousness, like never before. A Mind, Body, Spirit approach addresses all three, therefore opening the door to true balance and healing.

Well-being comes from the understanding of the Self, the family, the local community in which we live, and the global community of which we are part. We are each one heart of the Whole; each heart here to express its unique piece of the Whole. Knowing Self creates a sense of "I as a piece of this Whole," different and one at the same time. The process of understanding the Self, the family, the local community and the global community has its foundation rooted in metaphysics.

Metaphysics is the science, which investigates first causes of all existence and knowledge. It seeks to explain the nature of being, the origin and structure of the world, in relationship between the ethereal and the physical. Metaphysics holds that the soul or spirit and the physical body are one yet separate; here the applied psychology of religion comes to bear. The metaphysician's teachings help soothe the emotional and physical problems of youth and maturity, illness and death. Herein, a transformational process occurs between the work of the Facilitator and that of the individual. Because the metaphysician or doctor of metaphysics can serve as both a facilitator as well as a source of spiritual comfort, he or she espouses universal spirituality through holistic health.

Metaphysical Healing a.k.a. Transpersonal Healing is the process of reconnecting the person with their inner being. Reconnecting can be achieved through meditation, introspection and over time accessing our inner self, however, few people have the discipline, inclination or know how to affect this process. Therefore, employing the help of a professional who practices Mind, Body Spirit Healing/Transpersonal Healing will quickly establish the foundation for empowerment, self-esteem, peace of mind and on-going spiritual and emotional growth.

The facilitation of the process is exceedingly easy. The person sits in a slightly reclined position with eyes closed while the facilitator assists the person to access their "Higher self." The "Higher self" refers to the part of you that has the highest possible perspective of who and what you are and why you decided to be here this lifetime. Your higher self loves you more than you can possibly love yourself consciously, and strives constantly to direct your personality self. The "personality self" is who we think we need to be in order to be safe here; the opinions and instincts of our personality self have developed since the moment we individualized in the womb, and perhaps before.

The higher self has somewhat of a higher perspective of our human "doings" here. This can be likened to a view of our life path and actions from a helicopter above us. This higher self is akin to our "soul self." I like to call it the "all seeing self"...constantly moving us around on this chessboard of life. This soul self or "higher self" knows just exactly what we need to do at any moment and strives to tell us through such things as dreams and instincts. Connecting with this "higher self" consciously is very empowering. Working with this metaphysical principle is often called "transpersonal" because it transports us to a direct contact with the highest part of ourselves. Consciously connecting the higher self, the subconscious mind, and the conscious mind allows us to have a balanced and complete metaphysical healing. (The subconscious mind is the inductive computer that cannot deduct, but merely remembers all perceptions we have ever had, from any lifetime.)

Metaphysical and Mind, Body, Spirit Healing

In metaphysical healing, the Facilitator assists the person to connect with the three major parts of themselves-mind, body, spirit, and to go back to the inner child, or "child of the inner light." All things came from light, so internally we are all light, no matter what camouflage (depression, anxiety, panic attacks, anger, shame, guilt, sadness, eating disorders, substance abuse, etc.) we have adopted to keep our "inner child" safe. We ourselves often do not know any of this consciously, but when you learn it, and consciously give this "trilogy" our empowerment to act in our lives, amazing healing occurs. This is true spiritual healing.

We have many bodies that all empathize and work to help one another. The physical is the lowest or most "base" of these bodies, so that when these different bodies have problems that hurt us, they eventually show up in this body. Since all the bodies help each other by drawing attention to some special part of us, we cannot avoid dealing with a problem. The soul directs the attention there by running the "most powerful" emotional experience over and over again - at least vibrationally - so that we will eventually "get it" and look for the original cause...

In this the soul reclaiming technique of looking for the damaged "inner child" becomes very important. This is because when we are hurt too badly we sort of "splinter off" or "cocoon" into the child we are at that moment of the most hurt and dis-empowered self. The person we are just continues on doing the best we can to grow and develop. When we become strong enough, the soul urge to become "whole " again becomes empowered, seeks out the means by which we can "reclaim" this "inner child," who seeks to help us become whole again.

Metaphysical healing is a very simple process, though its explanation is lengthy. We consciously know of this child part of us and it's pain inside. Unfortunately, we are seldom given the tools with which to reclaim this part of us and unite this inner child with the person we have become now... This transpersonal healing is very complete, much easier and more efficient than you can believe, and wonderfully fulfilling. This is the original abandonment: when we separate off from ourselves because we simply are seeking to learn and grow and the lesson seems way too hard, we become "segmented off," less powerful, and believe we have to be victims. We are all very powerful, incredible "beings of Light," and it is time we took control of that loving power and help each other heal and recognize the beauty of all our "inner child self;" help them become reclaimed and we, therefore, become whole, healed, beautiful beings with a higher perspective of our true spiritual wholeness. Only then, can we accomplish what we have come here to do and recognize our soul's real purpose for being here at this time.

The benefits of healing are all encompassing. In working with people for 23 years, I have learned, no matter how urgent or grim a person's predicament seems to be, I know without doubt if they are WILLING to do the mental work of going within to release old beliefs, feelings, thought patterns and forgiving, anything can be healed. The belief that some issues or conditions are 'incurable' whether it is emotions or physical illness, which is so frightening to so many people, only means that the particular issue or condition cannot be cured by 'outer' methods and that the person needs to GO WITHIN to effect the healing.

Whether the issue is anger, sadness, fear, guilt, shame, or humiliation there is a negative thought pattern that produces them-thus these consistent thinking patterns create our experiences. A condition can be as annoying as acne or as dreaded and frightening as the 'C' word-Cancer. By changing our thought patterns, we can change our experience, thus healing the condition. The issue or condition came from the inner trauma the person experienced and can be healed-never to return again.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing for Individuals, Special Issues and Professional Coaching. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.gen-assist.com

Leave a Better Voice Mail Message

Yesterday I received a call from a financial planner named Richard doing a cold call. My policy is to always return those calls which help me to understand why I would personally benefit from doing business with a sales person. This one didn't, so it ended up getting deleted.

This is what he said.

"Hello, Scott. My name is Richard ______ and I'm with ABC Financial in Phoenix, Arizona. We do 401K's for employers. My number is 480-555-1212. Please call me back."

That was it. Nothing compelling. No benefit for me in there somewhere. Nothing to incite me to return the call.

The next time you are making a cold call and leaving a message for a prospect, consider these four steps in the call.

First, state your name and your phone number first. The prospect usually has a pen in his or her hand when checking voice mail, so if you start with your phone number at least you'll get on the list of people whose calls might get returned.

Second, tell him what is unique about your firm. This sales person could have said something like "Our business takes the headache out of financial management for companies by being the sole outsource provider of employee investment programs. In other words, we do all the work, and make you look like a hero with your employees." Within your unique selling proposition, or elevator speech, there must be a personal benefit for the end user. For example, when I leave a message for a sales manager for my sales training, I say "I improve sales performance of organizations by showing sales reps how to become more disciplined, more focused, and how to sell from the heart." The focus of my USP is on them, not me. I start with their benefit, and then tell them how I do it. The personal benefit of your features is more important than your features, and nobody cares what you do, only how that benefits them.

Third, drop a name or two. Use Robert Cialdini's principle of social proof in getting your calls returned. In his book Influence: Science and Practice, Dr. Cialdini explains the six reasons why people are influenced and puts them in the form of malleable principles. (For a free special report outlining those six principles, email me at scott@scottlove.com and I'll send you the executive summary). "We work with organizations such as Pineapple Computers?" If you work with a competitor of your prospect, state that name in your voice mail. Remember that trust is a byproduct of rapport, and rapport is a byproduct of common areas of interest. By establishing a common bond with someone you have never even talked with before, you are leveraging the principles of social proof and rapport to increase the likelihood of a call back.

Fourth, give them a time to call back, such as between three and five o'clock. This makes you sound busy, and if you are busy you are important.

Bonus tip: Tell them that if you don't hear from them by Wednesday (assuming it's a Monday), then tell them that you will put another call in to them on that day. This keeps you from appearing desperate and increases the likelihood of a call back because that person knows that you are serious about talking with them.

And if you every run across a guy named Richard in Phoenix who does financial planning, please forward this article to him.

Copyright ? 2004 Scott Love

Scott Love improves employee performance by showing managers how to put meaning back into work, how to build authentic employee motivation, and how to lead. To have him speak at your annual franchise, association, or corporate meeting, call him at 828-225-7700. To access his leadership resources and archive of leadership articles, visit www.scottlove.com.

How To Get Press To Come To You

Have you ever noticed how the same people's names always seem to appear in magazines and newspapers articles which quote them as a source of info and advice on their own particular subject, whether it is web functionality and design, cosmetic surgery or investment banking?

They don't just get there by accident. They, or their PR Company, have put in a pretty concerted effort to become an expert in their field. And here's how you can become one too...

1. Your first step is to define your niche. Don't just choose the whole of your industry. Choosing a particular area that has relevance for people's lives (or their money!) means that you will be more appealing to a journalist or editor. For instance if you are a life coach choosing one area of coaching (say helping people find a new job) is going to be more successful than trying to set yourself up as an expert on everything. Likewise if you deal with investing people's money, talking about investing for your children's education and further education will bring you better results as specific situations and articles will bring you into the mind of the journalists.

2. Get your press release written ? who you are and what you do should be summed up clearly and precisely. If you can't handle writing a press release get hold of a copywriter or contact me for details of my press release writing service. Make sure it has a vibrant and attention grabbing first paragraph as many journalists are too pressed for time to read beyond it.

3. Identify your target publications. This might involve some research into what your potential clients read, watch and check out on-line. Don't be distracted by the thought of getting into gorgeous glossies or huge consumer publications if your clients are more likely to be swayed by something they read in the trade press. Focus.

4. Sort out your press release (or get me to do it for you!) and send it, together with your tip of the month/week on investments, caring for your teeth, getting new clients, or whatever your particular niche may be. Experts have to be adept at putting difficult ideas and concepts into layman's language so keep tips practical and easy to read. When sending to journalists keep it in the body of an email, no attachments, no fancy pictures or logos.

5. Make a date in your diary to send a new one out every month/week. Don't forget to include your press release at the same time.

6. Make sure you have your extras (photograph, biography, logo) ready to go at all times if requested by a journalist.

7. Give the press a valid number, possibly even your mobile, where it's going to be easy for them to reach you without having to navigate switchboards or assistants.

8. Don't forget radio. Even if you think that you're unlikely to reach a large number of your potential clients by appearing on a particular show (and you can usually do this from home or the office if time is a problem), it's great to be able to say "as heard on.." and it's good practical media practice for you. Finally, even though your clients may not be listening, potential press contacts often are!

9. Advertise the fact that you are available for media comments and articles in as many places as possible ? on your website, on your business card, in your email signature - and use your published tips to create a portfolio (both online and in a nice funky folder!) to further enhance your reputation as an expert.

Copyright ? Paula Gardner 2004. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Paula Gardner is a PR and marketing coach who works with people who are passionate and serious about getting their business noticed by the media. You can read more articles on PR and marketing at http://www.doyourownpr.com.

Internet Dangers - Protecting Children from Internet Jeopardy

Parents are in a unique position to "monitor" their children's internet activities and to observe their behavior with respect to any actions generated by the child's internet use. If children are hiding something from a parent, usually an astute parent will sense that something is askew... in these times it may well be internet associated. This is a delicate balance of empowerment and trust. And it is a wise parent that verbalizes this balance and discusses it openly with the child, especially teen age children.

The internet is a powerful tool for schoolwork and knowledge. It is, at the same time, a significant danger, offering pornography to underage children and the real danger of a personal contact with an undesirable internet "friend."

Here are some ways that a parent can thwart the jeopardy:

1. The computer needs to be in a family room, not in the child's bedroom.

2. Parents should get computer smart and learn how the internet functions.

3. Be aware of your child's use of the computer.

4. Ask your children about their online friends.

5. Obtain programs that will block undesirable, "adult" sites.

6. Pedophiles use teen and preteen chat rooms to prey on children. Do not let your child enter any personal information in a chat environment. Chat rooms allow for one on one conversations... do not permit your children to engage in such conversations.

7. Be sure your child reports anything unusual that they observe on the internet, and, certainly never to answer any rude or offensive e-mails or messages.

8. Be sure your child knows that it is very dangerous to actually meet anyone that they have talked with on the internet.

9. Do not allow your child to send or receive any pictures on the internet from anyone not personally known to you.

10. Do not allow your child any "late night" sessions on the internet.

There are many jeopardies in which children can be trapped. Many are discussed in a new book by Dr. Stuart J. Malkin, "Empowering Children." More information at: http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-2331-6

Dr. Malkin holds a B.Sc. in Business and a Masters and Ph.D. in Religion. He has made hundreds of visits to schools with a moving and effective motivational presentation, urging teens to do their personal best. His mentoring programs have empowered many, many children. His quest for years has been to teach the power of Right Action, working towards the goal of a better world.

Stevia 100% Natural Herbal Sweetener

Artificial sweeteners are developed in organic chemistry labs. Stevia grows wild in the rain forests.

Finally, a sweetener that I think has yet to show any real toxicity. It has been used for centuries by the Guarani Indians both as a sweetener and a medicinal. It does not have any calories, is suitable for diabetics and does not cause cavities. It is obtained from the leaves of the stevia shrub which grows wild in the Amambay Mountain region of Paraquay.

Introduced in Japan in 1970.

Stevia was first introduced to Japan in 1970 and by 1988 it represented 41% of the sweetener market in Japan. To date, there have been no ill effects or health related problems. It is also used in Japan, to sweeten other foods such as ice cream, bread, candy, pickles, seafood, vegetables and soft drinks. The safety of stevia is accepted in Japan. Besides being grown in Japan, it is now grown in China, Germany, Malaysia, Israel and South Korea.

1991 Stevia Banned by the FDA

Sometime in the late 1980's an anonymous interest filed a trade complaint against stevia when it began to show up in the US. One of the companies using stevia at that time was Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea Company. The FDA ordered them to stop producing their teas, which they said were "adulterated." Another tea company, Traditional Medicinals, had their entire inventory of teas containing stevia confiscated by the FDA in an unexpected raid. The FDA even ordered a "book burning" in Texas, of stevia related books. Fortunately, the ACLU and the public heard of this and the FDA backed down.

1995 The FDA reverses its decision (halfway)

Stevia can now be sold as a nutritional supplement, but not as a food additive / sweetener. It is available in health food and vitamin stores usually in the vitamin department. It can also be bought online. So far there do not seem to be any real problems with stevia. There were some poorly conducted studies done with enormous quantities of stevia administered to some lab animals with resultant ?mutagens and problems with carbohydrate metabolism. Generally, studies that are done to find something wrong with a product, will either find something wrong by utilizing poorly designed experiments or invent some questionable findings. Besides, what study done in a laboratory is more significant than hundreds of years of use in South America and well over thirty years of use in Japan, with no known ill effects on human health.

Stevia is even known to have good medicinal properties.

In fact, stevia has been shown to have good medicinal properties in well designed studies, such as lowering blood pressure and improving glucose tolerance in diabetics.

Today's Health Tip

If you like to have added sweetness in your teas, coffee and other foods, definitely consider stevia. It appears to be a whole lot safer than any of the other sweeteners both sugar based and artificial, that we have recently reviewed.

Reference

Stryer Biochemistry Fourth Edition

The Practical Hippie http://www.practicalhippie.com/stevia.htm

The url above contains a lot of good information on stevia and has a lot of good links.

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The MericleDiet

The MericleDiet makes it easy to go without any added sugars or sweeteners. To visit the MericleDiet follow the link below:

http://DrMericle.com

Thanks for your attention.

Copyright 2005 John Mericle M.D. All Rights Reserved

http://DrMericle.com is devoted to achieving optimal health and peak performance through diet and lifestyle change. Dr. Mericle brings together a unique blend of formal training in organic chemistry and biochemistry, medical education, 29 marathons, 3 Hawaii Ironman competitions and a lot of practical real life experience.