Walking the Path to GUIDED RELAXATION

Join me as we walk along the beach while listening to the sounds of waves splash about as we move ahead. Oh so peaceful. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that all the time? Letting go of the worries that keep you down is a guaranteed way to relieve stress and move to guided relaxation. You can walk along that beach anytime you choose. There are videos and CDs with the sounds of the ocean playing on the track, and the videotapes has coaches to help with learning to do this. You can use the guides as a tool to reach your guided relaxation stage. 

Stressed and worried (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What is stress and tension?

Stress and tension is bad for your health as well as your mind. Stress is very controlling and will control your mind and make you go into a deep depression then you will have to get medical altercation as well as mentally attendee. Medically there is a lot that can go wrong, as well. Some of things that go wrong is you get high blood pressure, aches and pains, headaches, as well maybe you can have a heart attach or even a stroke.

Where can I get the information I need to get help?

Dealing with stress and tension is easy nowadays. You can find many helpful guides that teach you how to relax. However, you have to try some things to see if they will work for you. Everyone is different so it depends on you as a person. Some of things that you might want to try are hot baths, spas, scented candles, aromatherapy; yoga is good for you to do as well. 

Yoga is a self-teaching program that you can get the information out of a book or some form of videos. It is good for your health as well as your mind. Yoga is good for your mind it helps you to learn how to control your thoughts and breathing in which this will help you to relax all parts of your body. Some places that you can get this information is at your local store or sometimes you can go to your local family dollar or Wal-Mart they have spots that you can go to see if they have what you need. If you are unable to find what you need, you may want to visit sites that you can go to on the Internet to get information on relaxing.

Some people take stress better then others. However, regardless stress is stress and no matter what it is not, it can affect your life dramatically. Before it is to late and it takes total control over you and your body do something now. For some people it comes natural to worry about many things then others. 

For us that worry so much we need to manage our worries and allow room for peace. If you need to worry then make it wild and worry about something worth worrying about.

How to manage worry: 

Worry is a mean mechanism that will only destroy you. If you take control of worries, you will soon see stress slow. Keep the golden rule in mind, i.e. sufficient for each day and you will learn to relax your worries. You can also use the guide to live one day at a time to relieve stress. You have many choices, and making those choices your own will guide you to relaxation. If you find it difficult to manage on your own, visit the Internet to open your mind to suggestions. When you have an open mind you will find your guided relaxation. 

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The Anugraha REIKI

Mikao Usui 臼井甕男 (1865–1926)

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anugraha Reiki is one of the many forms of the popular Reiki system of healing.

Reiki has its origins traced back to Japan where the practice was developed by a Tendai Budhhist named Mikao Usui in 1922. He was said to have discovered the technique after a 21-day retreat on Mount Kurama.

After undergoing meditation, fasting and prayer during the retreat, Usiu claimed to have received some mystical revelation and was handed down the knowledge as well as the spiritual power for healing.

Reiki has been known to be fairly easy and simple to use. Everyone is said to be able to employ the system to achieve spiritual healing of self as well as others. Teaching the system usually involves three parts which are better known as degrees. The first degree usually teaches the basic theories and procedures with using Reiki energy.

This energy is said to pass through a channel in the body which can be opened by way of four "attunements" given by the Reiki master to a student. The first degree of training also involves the learning of certain hand placements that allow the Reiki energy to heal people.

The second degree of the Reiki training involves the use of the Reiki symbols and how they can be used to enhance healing. Students are also taught how to provide distant healing. This will allow people to be able to heal others without being physically present. The third degree of the Reiki training involves making the student become a Reiki master. As a Reiki master, a person may now be able to attune others to Reiki and teach the system to others.

Different forms of Reiki now exist and each one of them provides different ways of providing spiritual healing. One of them is the Anugraha Reiki which is a mystical healing art that originated in India. The word "Anugraha" means Grace, which is considered as one of the five functions of the Divine that ultimately leads to Liberation or "Mukti". Anugraha can also refer to the Power of Revelation. On another level, the word can also relate to Mercy.

Just like the Japanese form of Reiki, the first level of Anugraha Reiki focuses on self healing, self awareness, replenishment and perfecting relationship. A Diksha or attunement is given to help activate seldom used parts of the brain. A simple yet advanced spiritual practice is taught to help transform a person's consciousness and result to deep states of awareness within 30 days.

The second level of the Anugraha Reiki focuses on healing others. During this period, sacred sounds are being taught that is said to help invoke positive consciousness. An advanced form of meditation is also taught. A type of special mantra used to invoke the presence is taught along with the techniques for doing healing work both through personal and long distance means.

The third degree initiation of Anugraha Reiki involves the teaching of the esoteric use of important Reiki symbols that can be used for different means such as for astral projection, meditation, altering time or space, bridging the worlds of life and death, and easing the transition process. There are two additional master symbols are also revealed.  For a student to succeed and qualify for the third degree of teaching, he or she should already be relatively clear of his or her own physical and psychological suffering

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Who Uses ORIGAMI in Society Today?

The art of origami dates back to the 1600's. First practiced by the Chinese and Japanese, the art of paper folding was and continues to be popular in many cultures. When it was originally started, origami instructions were passed on verbally. Over the years the details and steps required for origami projects have been written down and/or relayed through diagrams. Folding paper may not seem to be very challenging but as the projects advance, origami can in fact be quire complicated and complex. 

Origami star (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Who uses origami in society today? No doubt there are many people who still do origami simply as a pass-time or hobby. For children and adults alike this activity can provide hours of enjoyment. Origami is great on rainy days and snow days. Once starting a project, it's difficult to stop until the desired result is achieved. It may take several attempts but eventually the results will be top-notch.

Origami has grown in popularity as a teaching tool. Educators and teachers are using origami in the classroom. This activity has proven to be effective in teaching children to be patient and attentive. Both of these skills are necessary in a group as well as in every day living. Origami also teaches children about problems solving and other aspects of mathematics that are relative to life. It also encourages children to set goals and work toward achieving them. 

Psychologists and physicians use origami as a therapeutic tool. It has proven to be successful in the treatment of mental health patients. It helps the patients to become more relaxed in their environment and with their doctor. Besides filling many lonely hours in the hospital, origami teaches patients to get along with and help one another. The art of paper folding can actually bring people out of their shell and encourage them to participate in conversation and group activities. 

Parents use origami at home to help their children develop different skills. This activity can help children develop their reading and writing skills. For young children it can help them learn how to use both hands together. Origami teaches concentration, patience and problem solving, all imperative to the growth and development of children. Besides the educational and behavioral advantages of origami, parents can use this activity to occupy a child who's bored or lonely. It's an inexpensive activity that a parent and child or children can do together. This means time spent together and an opportunity to build a good parent/child relationship. 

When people first began practicing the art of origami, they probably had no idea of the amazing benefits this activity would produce. Likely initially used as a decoration or simply a way to kill a few hours, origami has been transformed into an activity that has many magnificent uses. There are books written about the art of origami and its benefits for various situations. The Internet has loads of information about the origami. If you'd like to learn more about this great activity, log onto the worldwide web and start learning.

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Why MUSCLES Get Sore

Illustration of the pain pathway in René Descartes' Traite de l'homme (Treatise of Man) 1664. The long fiber running from the foot to the cavity in the head is pulled by the heat and releases a fluid that makes the muscles contract.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As people age, they begin to complain more of pains in their muscles and joints. They seem to stiffen up with age, and such commonplace activities as bending over for the morning paper can make them wince.

Such pain can grip so fiercely that they are sure it begins deep in their bones. But the real cause of stiffness and soreness lies not in the joints or bones, according to research at the Johns Hopkins Medical School, but in the muscles and connective tissues that move the joints.

The frictional resistance generated by the two rubbing surfaces of bones in the joints is negligible, even in joints damaged by arthritis.

Flexibility is the medical term used to describe the range of a joint’s motion from full movement in one direction to full movement in the other. The greater the range of movement, the more flexible the joint.

If you bend forward at the hips and touch your toes with your fingertips, you have good flexibility, or range of motion of the hip joints. But can you bend over easily with a minimal expenditure of energy and force? The exertion required to flex a joint is just as important as its range of possible motion.

Different factors limit the flexibility and ease of movement in different joints and muscles. In the elbow and knee, the bony structure itself sets a definite limit. In other joints, such as the ankle, hip, and back, the soft tissue—muscle and connective tissue—limit the motion range.

The problem of inflexible joints and muscles is similar to the difficulty of opening and closing a gate because of a rarely used and rusty hinge that has become balky.

Hence, if people do not regularly move their muscles and joints through their full ranges of motion, they lose some of their potential. That is why when these people will try to move a joint after a long period of inactivity, they feel pain, and that discourages further use

What happens next is that the muscles become shortened with prolonged disuse and produces spasms and cramps that can be irritating and extremely painful. The immobilization of muscles, as researchers have demonstrated with laboratory animals, brings about biochemical changes in the tissue.

However, other factors trigger sore muscles. Here are some of them:

1. Too much exercise

Have you always believed on the saying, “No pain, no gain?” If you do, then, it is not so surprising if you have already experienced sore muscles.

The problem with most people is that they exercise too much thinking that it is the fastest and the surest way to lose weight. Until they ache, they tend to ignore their muscles and connective tissue, even though they are what quite literally holds the body together.

2. Aging and inactivity

Connective tissue binds muscle to bone by tendons, binds bone to bone by ligaments, and covers and unites muscles with sheaths called fasciae. With age, the tendons, ligaments, and fasciae become less extensible. The tendons, with their densely packed fibers, are the most difficult to stretch. The easiest are the fasciae. But if they are not stretched to improve joint mobility, the fasciae shorten, placing undue pressure on the nerve pathways in the muscle fasciae. Many aches and pains are the result of nerve impulses traveling along these pressured pathways.

3. Immobility

Sore muscles or muscle pain can be excruciating, owing to the body’s reaction to a cramp or ache. In this reaction, called the splinting reflex, the body automatically immobilizes a sore muscle by making it contract. Thus, a sore muscle can set off a vicious cycle pain.

First, an unused muscle becomes sore from exercise or being held in an unusual position. The body then responds with the splinting reflex, shortening the connective tissue around the muscle. This cause more pain, and eventually the whole area is aching. One of the most common sites for this problem is the lower back.

4. Spasm theory

In the physiology laboratory at the University of Southern California, some people have set out to learn more about this cycle of pain.

Using some device, they measured electrical activity in the muscles. The researchers knew that normal, well-relaxed muscles produce no electrical activity, whereas, muscles that are not fully relaxed show considerable activity.

In one experiment, the researchers measured these electrical signals in the muscles of persons with athletic injuries, first with the muscle immobilized, and then, after the muscle had been stretched.

In almost every case, exercises that stretched or lengthened the muscle diminished electrical activity and relieved pain, either totally or partially.

These experiments led to the “spasm theory,” an explanation of the development and persistence of muscle pain in the absence of any obvious cause, such as traumatic injury.

According to this theory, a muscle that is overworked or used in a strange position becomes fatigued and as a result, sore muscles.

Hence, it is extremely important to know the limitations and capacity of the muscles in order to avoid sore muscles. This goes to show that there is no truth in the saying, “No pain, no gain.” What matters most is on how people stay fit by exercising regularly at a normal range than once rarely but on a rigid routine.

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Different BUDDHIST MEDITATION Techniques

There are a number of different Buddhist meditation techniques that followers and many meditation enthusiasts practice. Despite their differences, the techniques are all generally based on developing two things- mindfulness and concentration. Attentiveness to the movements of the body and to the ever changing states of mind is to be developed in order to identify the real concept of self. 

Buddhist Meditation Monk in Wat Huai Chalong Rat Bamrung (Phra Ajaan Daeng Siribhatto)
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Objectivity in this case can be a valuable aid to clear thinking. With objectivity comes concentration, the ability to focus the mind and keep in focused on a single point or object.

Many Buddhist schools employ different techniques in meditation. Some may focus on such practices as breathing meditation while others on movements. The diversity can be so wide ranging that there are a multitude of variations available. Most Buddhist techniques can be school specific. Only a few masters aim to combine and categorize the techniques from several Buddhist traditions.

One of the known meditation techniques is that being practiced by Western Order meditation master Kamalashila. The teacher identifies that there are five basic methods to be used as a traditional set for meditation. Each method can be used as an antidote to one of the five primary obstructions to Enlightenment- distraction, hatred, craving, conceit and ignorance. 

One of the five basic methods is the mindfulness of breathing. This involves the practice of tranquility meditations. This method helps to counteract distraction and aims to develop better concentration. Another of the five basic methods laid out is the Metta Bhavana. This method includes the four brahma viharas and is used to counteract sentimental attachment or hatred. This method aims to develop loving kindness in a person. 

Another of the five basic methods in Buddhist meditation is the contemplation of impermanence. This method can help counteract craving and develop inner peace and the feeling of freedom. The six element practice is based on meditation involving the six elements- earth, water, space, air, fire and consciousness. The six element practice method of meditation counteracts craving and develop instead some clarity in a person regarding to self. The fifth basic method of meditation is the contemplation of conditionality which aims to counteract ignorance and instead develop wisdom and compassion. There are also other Buddhist meditation techniques not identified by the five basic methods. This includes different methods of visualizations, meditation by sitting and the walking meditation. 

Another of the many techniques used in Buddhist meditation include the five types of Zen as grouped by Kuei-feng. In this case, the Zen practices were grouped according to five categories. Although mostly common for Zen practitioners, the techniques are also applicable to Buddhist meditation methods. One of the types is the "bonpu" or "ordinary" meditation that is done to achieve physical and mental well-being in absence of any spiritual goal. There is also the "gedo" or "outside way" which is meditation that is used for non-Buddhist purposes. The third is the "shojo" or "small vehicle" which is meditation used in pursuit of self-liberation or nirvana. 

The fourth of the Zen Buddhist meditation techniques as grouped by Kuei-feng is the "daijo" or "great vehicle" which is the meditation in pursuit of achieving self-realization to experience the unity of all things. Then there is also the "saijojo" or "supreme vehicle" which is the meditation aimed to realize the Buddha nature as imminent in all beings. 

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Procedures Taken For Natural BODY DETOX

Setting up a cleansing or detox program is not an easy task. You need to undergo various procedures. It includes health history evaluation, physical examinations, biochemistry tests, mineral level tests, dietary analysis and other related specific tests to diagnose your entire health status. These are helpful in determining the appropriate natural procedure that you should take to clean up your body.

Spotted forms of Aloe vera are sometimes known as Aloe vera var. chinensis. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Take note, analyzing your present health status, disease, and symptoms as a result of your lifestyle, familial or inherent patterns, and diets can help in creating a body detox plan that is best suited for you. Remember, any healing procedure needs a plan that must be followed accordingly to achieve positive results.

1. Proper Diet. People who are lacking energy and nutrients need a diet which is high in protein and nutrients for improving their health. Mineral deficiencies, fatigue, and low functions of organs should have a much supportive diet. However, in this particular circumstance, short cleaning of the body for three days can help in eliminating old debris. It also prepares your body for building healthier blocks.

If you feel congested with travel, stresses, and different foods, drink juices or eat lightly for a few days. It can display a huge difference. You could also eat low protein foods, high-rich-carbohydrate foods, and vegetarian foods for a couple of years. Mild detox can consist of vegetable meals which add proteins in your body. Fresh fish with a lot of vegetables can also energize you.

2. Using natural herbs. There are different body organs which are prone to the high development of toxins. One of them is your colon. Keep in mind that large intestines can accommodate much toxicity which can result to its sluggish functioning. So, detox programs are created to solve this problem. Fiber supplements cleansing diet are incorporated for cleaning and toning colons. It includes herbal laxatives like psyllium seed husk used alone or combined with agents such as betonite clay, acidophilus culture, and Aloe Vera powder. Enemas using herbs, diluted coffee, or water can be used for cleaning your liver, another important organ of your body.

3. Regular exercise. Exercise stimulates sweating thus it eliminates toxic wastes through your skin. It improves general metabolism and aids in your overall detoxification. Aerobic exercise done regularly can maintain your body to stay non-toxic because you are prevented from bad habits. However, exercising can also increase toxic productions in your body so it must always be accompanied with antioxidants, adequate fluids, mineral and vitamins replenishment as well as other related detox principles.

4. Regular bathing.  It is very essential in cleaning your skin from accumulated toxins. Sweats and saunas are most often used in purifying your body via more enhanced skin elimination. Dry brushing your skin using the right skin brush is often suggested before bathing.

5. Massage therapy. It is very useful in supporting detox programs. It stimulates body functions and elimination promoting a more relaxed feeling clearing you from worries, tensions, and mental stresses.

6. Recharging, relaxing, and resting. This is important in the rejuvenation process. It helps your body in rebalancing your attitude and mind which sometimes interferes in natural homeostasis. Practicing yoga is a powerful exercise related to breathing regulation and awareness helping you to obtain a more balanced and active aura.

Choose the right procedure you need to incorporate to clean your body from toxins in the proper way. It can make you feel much better and healthier.

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TAI CHI SWORD: A Connection Between the Human and the Weapon

After one year of practicing Tai Chi, it is time to introduce your mind, body and spirit to the king of weapons used in martial arts: the sword. Learning the sword would only mean that you have already conquered a lot of things in your life and some in-betweens. It will also mean that you are ready to face one of the toughest areas in your Tai Chi training. The sword will be taught only if you have successfully mastered every form; that will be the time that your mind, body, and soul will be ready to accept the sword and make you feel comfortable about it.

Photo by stevendepolo

At the beginning, Tai Chi will teach students the use of three weapons namely: tao (knife or broadsword), chien (straight sword), chang (spear or staff). Setting Tai Chi aside, these three are also used in different kinds of martial arts combat. It is used according to its range. Long-range weapons like the staff and spear are often used in the battlefield, while short-range weapons like the straight sword and broadsword are designed for a personal one-on-one combat.

The sword – a relatively light and small short-range weapon is considered as the king of combat because of its properties that can make your opponents run for their lives. Before, the sword is used as a symbol of power and is used for violence. Today, it’s a different story. People is now learning to handle the sword as a weapon used in exercises for the development of self-discipline in terms of mind and body connection.

The introduction of Tai Chi in the present society is a great medium where one can practice the usage of the sword. Some are attracted to learn because of the idea of how a weapon as deadly as this can be manipulated into one graceful and harmless act.

About the Sword

The chien or short sword has a length that is measured for about 3 ft. It is composed of a double-edged blade that has a range of 28 – 30 inches long and is about 1 – 2 inches wide. The handle is approximately 8 – 9 inches wherein a hole is found at the end of its hilt where a tassel or knot is commonly attached. The tip is sharpened and can make a person bleed in an instant.

In the traditional sense, the chien is crafted according to the user’s size, balance and comfort to the material. Today, there are wide varieties of swords that mass-produced in a non-functional and lighter sense that are used for practice and in competitions.

Before learning the sword, it is more advisable to learn the knife because of its simplicity and it is unlikely for the wielders to injure or cut themselves for the weapon only has one edge that’s sharp. Experts of Tai Chi give due respect to the sword and consider it as the weapon that only elite warriors and scholars can use. Unlike tao, which they considered as a soldier’s weapon.

Here are some points to remember when handling the sword:

1. Be familiar with the weapon at hand. Understand all possible aspects about it like its attacking parts.

2. Be one with the sword. Make it your best buddy. Practice it everyday like it was a long-time job.

3. Look at the sword as if it was a tool and not a display object that you can hang decoratively on the wall.

4. Whenever your in the presence of the sword, move with purpose and grace.

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HYPNOSIS, a part of life

Hypnosis has been used for thousands of years in almost all cultures of the world. The technique was invented mostly for healing purposes, but, over time, it changed and evolved towards something better. Not even the very popular magnetic eyes and the trick with the pendulum are used anymore. The one hundred-year-old way of trance induction has been replaced by more effective and applicable techniques of hypnosis.

Hypnosis Group Rehermann (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Weather you believe it or not, hypnosis is used almost everyday on you and perhaps by you without even being aware of it. The once called “art” of hypnosis is now available for anyone to learn and it is 100% effective. There are hundreds of ways to perform hypnosis. Just think of commercials and cinema, of loosing weight, of releasing stress, of quitting smoking, of increasing self-esteem, of getting good grades or a job, of eliminating bad thoughts and obsessions from your life. 

Hypnosis can be therapeutic or it can be a way of life. You can either choose a professional to guide you or you can train yourself. Either way hypnosis doesn’t induce the well known from movies trance. The person under hypnosis is always conscious and in control of everything.

Hypnosis can help people reach their goals, just like manipulation. Because the human mind can be divided in the subconscious part and conscious part, and because each is different in functions, it means there are more ways of working with your brain. Hypnosis uses the subconscious, because, unlike the conscious, which directs an activity, it controls it. The unconscious psychical aspects, which don’t require involvement or control, can be dealt with through hypnosis.

Its popularity is increasing daily because of the major changes that can be done with it easily and quickly. Academic applications of hypnosis like: the apprehension of communication skills, memory development and removal of mental blocks, the elimination of stage fright and class participation fear can be very useful for children, but for grown-ups as well. Hypnosis is great for those who need to enhance their motivation and improve their performances by overcoming their fears of public speech, of tests, of failure. Sometimes, the hypnosis helps you uncover the real mental problem and fix it.

The therapeutic effects of hypnosis are most appreciated by persons with addictions, emotional and stress disorders obsessions and habits. Without help the persons who suffer because of these problems don’t stand chance. Most know the torment of the desire or drive to commit the habit. Smoking, drinking and the unusual addictions to working or watching TV can be

cured with hypnosis by changing the subconscious motivation. For some, quitting is easy, but for others it can be difficult no matter what method they use. However, hypnosis makes the process easier because it goes to the ruts of the problem.

Interpersonal relationships are influenced by human behavior. In both carrier and romance the way we act and what we say is of high importance. The subliminal and supraliminal language is decisive in how you want people to see you. It is possible, with the help of hypnosis, to induce a certain image of yourself to those around you, but, because we can not be sure how others think and how much we can control their actions, hypnosis can change your image of yourself. This might even be better. After all, the most important is what you think of yourself. This way, through hypnosis, you will change yourself and the subliminal messages sent to others “controlling” them.

In conclusion, if hypnosis isn’t in your life already, it should be. The benefits can be huge and the amazing thing is that it helps you help yourself. It doesn’t matter what age you are, what you work or how many issues you have to solve, hypnosis is the healthiest therapy, guaranteed to give results.

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AUTISM Symptoms – Detect Them Early

A boy with autism. 

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Autism is a brain disorder that begins in early childhood, usually within the first three years of life and persists throughout adulthood. It affects crucial areas of development and exhibits following symptoms like:

·learning difficulties i.e. he lacks in ability to learn inductively from surrounding events,·communication or speech problems,·difficulty relating to people, marked by a lack of awareness of the feelings of others, indifferent to parents·lack of social interaction,·short attention span,·not exhibiting creative or imaginative play,·performing actions that are often repetitive and unchanging like twirling objects or rocking,·reacting extremely to changes in the immediate environment.

Autistic children appear to lack the ability to see things from another person's perspective, a behavior cited as exclusive to human beings above the age of five and possibly in some primates.

Autistic traits continue into adulthood, but vary in severity. Some adults with autism do well, earning college degrees and living independently. Others never develop the skills of daily living, and may be incorrectly diagnosed with a variety of psychiatric illnesses.

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder with an unknown origin. It is a bioneurological disorder and not a mental illness, which affects the functioning of the brain. Some theories suggest that it may be caused by genetics, viral and/or chemical exposure during pregnancy. Diagnosis is based on a list of psychiatric criteria as well as a series of standardized clinical tests are also used.

Surprisingly some autistic individuals may be outstandingly good at some kinds of mental manipulations for example, arithmetical calculations, music, drawing etc.

With intense therapy, practice and schooling, some children diagnosed with autism can improve their social and other skills to the point where they can fully participate in mainstream education and social events, but there are no indications that a cure from autism is possible with current technology or advances in medicine.

Asperger's syndrome and developmental delay syndromes are two of the related categories of Autism. These syndromes exist because of brain circuitry problems.

A key indicator to physicians making a proper assessment for autism would include looking for symptoms found in ‘sensory integration dysfunction’, where children will exhibit problems such as oversensitivity or under-reactivity to touch, movement, sights, or sounds; physical clumsiness; poor body awareness; a tendency to be easily distracted; impulsive physical or verbal behavior; an activity level that is unusually high or low; not unwinding or calming oneself; difficulty learning new movements; difficulty in making transitions from one situation to another. Autistic people may experience difficulty in hearing certain people’s voice while others’ are louder than usual.

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ADDICTIVE FOODS and their Harmful Consequences

Most of us are fond of at least one product that has the effect of a stimulant and that eventually becomes an addiction. These products include exercise stimulant drinks (they come in cans and look like cola), fizzy aerated drinks, tobacco, betel nut, betel leaf, strong coffee, strong tea, mahuang (an ephedrine-like compound consumed in china), and alcohol.

A phoenix wing shaped- betel leaf plate in Vietnam. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Before I tell you why we shouldn’t consume these products, I’d like to deal with the question of why we do consume them in the first place.

There’s no one who doesn’t know that products like these, consumed in excess, can severely harm our bodies. Yet, we still find them hard to resist. The need to eat stimulant food is a simple human weakness that has existed for ages: humans (and many animals) have always indulged in foods that give a sort of emotional high. In clinical terms, this means rapid heart beat, a little sweating, dilation or constriction of the pupils of the eye, a warm flush on the face, and a sense of greater sensitivity, concentration and perception.

These sensations of ‘high’ die down within a few hours, and we are left feeling listless and low. This leads to a craving for that food again, to experience the high one more time. And there we are going round and round in a vicious circle.

The physiology of addictions is as follows:

When you eat an addictive food, it stimulates the hormone like substances found at the end of your nerves, which triggers an avalanche of similar stimulatory substances and you experiences a high. As the substances near the nerves are depleted, you get into the low phase, which leads you to crave that food again. This yo-yo phase of nerve stimulation and depletion leads to a pattern of addiction.

Consuming addictive foods is one of the oldest unhealthy food practices and, despite a revolution in health consciousness; it shows no signs of dying out.

Below are some side effects of certain addictive foods.

Alcohol Addiction: Erosion of stomach and intestinal lining, liver damage, nutritional deficiency.

Tobacco: Erosion of gum and tongue can lead to cancer of the buccal mucosa.

Betel nut: Leads to the discoloration of teeth, erosion of the lining of the mouth, and cancer of the mouth and upper tract. It also leads to heart problems among people who already have a weak heart.

Ma huang: It contains ephedrine and leads to heart problems.

Aerated drinks: High doses of caffeine.

Caffeine and xanthine: Found in tea, coffee. These become harmful only in very high doses; don’t consume more than five cups a day.

Mixed drug reactions: People who consume medications for the heart, hypertension and asthma have to be very careful about the interactions of the drugs with stimulant foods, as mixing the two can be fatal. After years of experience, all doctors know how difficult it is to break the food addictions of their patients. So like them, I can only advise a good compromise. If you can’t break the addiction, then at least you should practice moderation.

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The Spiritual FENG SHUI

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is an ancient Chinese art whose name translates from the Chinese as “wind and water.” Feng Shui is a lyrical phrase that poetically evokes the heart of this ancient practice.

Wind and water are, first and foremost, natural elements (two of the five elements that comprise all of nature). Wind is the earth’s breath, and water is the invigorating lifeblood of everything that exists on our planet.

Feng Shui crystal - (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Both wind and water have tremendous energy that drives Feng Shui's practices and techniques to fill your life with positive energies. Feng Shui, at its very core is a means of arranging the basic elements of life—and all the things that you surround yourself with on a daily basis— to create the optimal and harmonious flow of vital life energy, just like the flow of water and wind.

How Feng Shui works

 Feng Shui is no magic. It is a collection of practical, time-tested solutions based on the fundamental properties of elements that are used to change the negative aspects and introduce the positive aspects of each element to your living environment—and change your life for the better.

Feng Shui has had a huge impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the globe—and you can have its benefits work for you! By simply changing the interior of your home, changing the colors of your walls, or relocating the furniture in your bedroom, you can enjoy the positive effects of Feng Shui.

Feng Shui information – some Key Points

Good Feng Shui requires an open mind, heart and spirit.

Feng Shui releases negativity from your house and life. It opens up a whole new space within you for positive thoughts, love, contentment and prosperity. Don’t let negativity enter when you practice Feng Shui.

Holding onto negative emotions and past anger can only hinder you from making progress through Feng Shui and creating a wonderful future for yourself.

Practicing good karma is a cornerstone of Feng Shui. Be generous and give of yourself in order to receive in kind from the universe and others around you.

You are living a life that is ill-suited to you, your personality, your dreams, your family, your essential self…and your home is symbolic of this.

Feng Shui helps you to enhance your living space by changing one or more elements in the room. As you learn more about Feng Shui, you will begin to understand the significance of each and every practice that is related to Feng Shui.

By embracing Feng Shui, you embrace the fact that you deserve balance, harmony, and spiritual fulfillment. You deserve empowerment and clarity. So, let Feng Shui help you reach out and take hold of all those things—you, your life, and your future all stand to benefit immensely if you do!

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Remember that Feng Shui is not only about changing your physical surroundings, but it is also about changing yourself from within. The Spiritual Feng Shui is a spiritual technique that transforms you at both physical and metaphysical level.

Physical Feng Shui — just moving around furniture — is incomplete without the support of mental and emotional Feng Shui. Until you practice Feng Shui in its totality it is of little use!

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LOW-CARB Diets and DIABETES

In a low-carb diet, the carbohydrate intake is limited to about 5 to 10 percent, such that protein and fats take precedence in one’s eating habits, to be able to keep sated and avoid bouts of hunger. It is in maintaining that feeling of fullness that one is able to avoid craving for sweets, and this is a good reason for diabetics to adopt a diet that is low in carbohydrates to control their condition. Following this type of diet prevents excessive consumption of carbohydrates, which leads to higher levels of blood sugar.

Typical Atkins diet meal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to properly take in starch and sugar. For a diet to work in favor of a diabetic, it has to be low in fat, high in fiber, and packed with minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. Keeping to the kinds of food with low glycemic index is also important. Foods that are permitted in low-carb diets are meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, fish, and some selected vegetables.

Although some sources say that to eliminate carbohydrates altogether is not recommended for diabetics, as carbohydrates in the diet are vital, because they serve as the main resource of energy and nutrients within our bodies. In a diabetic’s diet, carbohydrates in excessive amounts may be frowned at, but authorities recommend a daily dosage of not less than 130 grams. On the other hand, studies have shown that the low-carb diet caused no undesirable effects on the levels of insulin, glucose, blood pressure or cholesterol. It is also worthwhile to note that one can alter a diet according to his or her specific needs. In this regard, before following any diet, be sure to check with your physician to make sure you will be getting all the right nutrients that will help you control your condition. Doing so will also help you pinpoint areas of the regimen that you should alter for a more appropriate eating habit.

The effects of limiting the amount of carbohydrates in your diet manifest as loss of weight due to a lesser calorie intake, or the successful maintenance of your ideal weight. Remember that with weight loss, the body’s blood sugar and insulin levels naturally improve. Even just a 10 percent weight loss is a substantial improvement towards being in better control of diabetes.

Also, when weight loss is part of your goal of achieving better health to make your condition more bearable, then a carefully planned diet is best paired with an exercise routine that is easy enough to follow. Daily walks and a couple of dozen repetitions with free weights are good low-impact exercises you can adopt. Regular exercise doesn’t only help combat diabetes; it also promotes a sense of well-being that helps you maintain the right attitude towards living a healthier life for good.

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Celtic REIKI, Drawing Energy from Nature

A design from the Book of Kells. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Energy flows fro m the hands of a practitioner towards the person being healed. This is how reiki healing is conducted. Using the life force energy that is present in and all around us to heal and re-establish balance in one’s being is one of the basic beliefs of reiki.

And taking this life force energy a little further, practitioners have entered into realizations and developed several reiki techniques to promote healing faster. One of which is a version called Celtic reiki.

Celtic reiki utilizes the energy flows present on Earth and specific plants.  Practitioners of this reiki use not only the universal “life force” energy present in all things but also the specific energy found in nature to heal those who needs healing.

This reiki system comes from the religious beliefs of early Celts. To the early Celts, trees are important aspects of their religion believing that trees have their own spirits. They gave the trees such high regards that they even patterned their writing system based on the trees.

The Celts’ Ogham, which is the ancient writing of Celtic people, uses symbols or letters that are cut as a series of notches and symbolizes different kinds of trees. Each letter represents a different kind of tree, specifically chosen for qualities that can be linked to spiritual concepts.

Some of the trees that are represented in the Celtic alphabet include the silver fir, birch, hawthorn, heather, ash, oak, willow, elder, yew, grove, ivy, hazel, and honeysuckle. Practitioners of Celtic reiki use the symbols from the Ogham.  This reiki also follows the Celtic philosophy of bravery, honor, integrity, valor and reverence.

But even though Celtic reiki draws influences from ancient Celtic religion, the practice itself is not a religious one.  But rather it is a therapy that aims to treat the mind, body and spirit. It is not connected to any religion and as such can be passed down to everybody regardless of age, race, gender, and culture.

Celtic reiki was created by Martyn Pentecost. It was developed further Julie Norman. Practitioners of this reiki see this technique as a beautiful and earthy form. Having foundations on earth energy, this reiki has to channel the energy vibrations from the earth, specific plants, trees and the ocean through the root chakra as opposed to the crown chakra that is where conventional reiki channels the energy.

The techniques developed by Pentecost between 1998 and 2000 are used for therapy and goal creations. Combining the concept of the original reiki and the various Celtic beliefs and rituals, the Celtikc reiki techniques were created to handle day to day activities like tackling issues of prosperity, finance, work, and building relationships.

People who are interested in plants, trees, and tree and plant legend or lore, are often drawn to the Celtic reiki belief. Men in particular are drawn closer to the Celtic reiki because it seems that this reiki has more masculine types of energy. But in reality, Celtic reiki is regarded as an equal among the other kinds of reikis.

The Celtic reiki treatment usually lasts for an hour and involves placing the hands in strategic locations and in specific sequences that will elicit a deep state of relaxation.

A student achieving attunement means having been open to the tree and plant energies, the ethics of stuff, the various Celtic symbols, hand placements, moon phases, and the various aspects of soul journeying, retrieval, and realization.

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The Elegance Of CELTIC HARPS

Celtic harp 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The harp is a musical instrument that has a lot of strings wherein the strings of this instrument are in a perpendicularly positioned to its soundboard. There are various types of harps and they also have varying characteristics but they all basically have a neck, strings and a resonator. There is this one called a frame harp that has a pillar, while those that do not have pillars are known as open harps. This musical instrument also comes in different sizes which also varies how it can be played.

One specific example of a small harp is the famously called Celtic harp or also referred to as lever harp, folk harp or even Irish harp. Lever harps are so called because the levers are used as a mechanism to change keys. These levers are attached to the harp and they are pushed against the strings so that they will become shorter and it will also cause the string to sharpen. These Celtic harps are usually the ones used for training before advancing to a Concert Harp. However they are also a very beautiful instrument to play with and they are also used by professional harpists all over the world.

When I think of harps, only one thing comes to my mind and that is an angel, a cupid or a beautiful lady that looks so pure and pristine playing this instrument. It creates such a beautiful music and it especially evokes beautiful imagery and deep emotions. This heavenly made instrument however, comes with a very expensive price that sometimes you just think that you would rather enjoy listening to it being played rather than than playing it yourself. Harps with time tested brands and are synonymous with top quality craftsmanship and high performance can range from ten thousand dollars for beginner or student type harps to sixty thousand dollars for the limited, custom built harp models.

For every problem, they say, is a solution; and for our expensive harp problems there are used Celtic harps widely available in your local store or if not in the Internet. You have a wide variety of used Celtic harps to choose from, you will have no problem at all picking out the perfect set that will suit your taste and preference. With these instruments already available to people with different budgets, playing a Celtic harp will no longer be exclusive to the cupid.

By Simon Schafferman Simon Schafferman loves to write about used harps and this article is about used celtic harps. Article Source: EzineArticles

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