Creating Your Health

Creating Your Health Tip ~Turn on, Tune in, and Drop out! (accessing your inner "Trickster")

2009-11-14T09:53:00.009-05:00

"Trickster is a major figure in American Indian folk Wisdom. Also in Sufi Tales … a certain type of "rascal"-with a grin and a wink (and wisdom beyond wisdom)".

All archetypes have both positive and negative charges. The negative "trickster" can be devious, and destructive. This negative aspect is the cruel joker, often using sarcasm to poke fun as he rebels against authority. The trickster is a thorn in the side of the overly serious, and creates convoluted schemes, that may or may not work, plays with the Laws of the Universe and is sometimes his own worst enemy.

However, The trickster archetype within us exists for an important reason!

He exists to question, and urges us to not blindly accept authority. He appears when a way of thinking becomes outmoded needs to be torn down built anew. (*Think of how many systems are breaking down today~healthcare, for example). When the "positive" trickster appears, the creative "rascal" can be very appealing and urge us to Lighten up!, and begin to use our imagination.

The Trickster can be a humorous creator, and a truth teller, a story teller. When the trickster uses "irony" instead of sarcasm, he is incredibly appealing, and assists us with the transformation that humanity is going through at that time.

"We seem most accessible to the synchronistic gifts of the Trickster when we ourselves are at or near boundaries or are experiencing transition states, periods of major life transitions seem to be occasioned by an abundance of meaningful coincidence. Personal growth sees not only to facilitate synchronicity, but in turn to be facilitated by it. As an archetype, the Trickster, the boundary dweller, finds expression through human imagination and experience." http://www.crystalinks.com/trickster.html

Today's Creating Your Health Tip: Access your own "inner trickster" by lightening up, finding humor, questioning outmoded rules, ways of thinking, and using your imagination and creativity.

Namaste.
Chris

You can get all the Creating Your Health tips by: signing up for the Creating Your Health bi-weekly newsletter or by; joining the Creating Your Health facebook group!

Renart the fox, drawn by en:Ernest Griset, from a children's book published in 1869. Original image found here, apparently an online museum catalog. Image cropped, deskewed, and corrected for yellowing and fading from photo of book. Date 1869(1869) Source Ernest Griset Permission(Reusing this image) PD-ART. License information This is a faithful photographic reproduction of an original two-dimensional work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason:
Public domain This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.
This applies to the United States, Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years.

Dance Movement Therapy!

2009-10-31T08:19:00.001-04:00

Dance Movement Therapy

Dance Movement Therapy is one of the Creative Arts Therapies. The Creative Arts Therapies also include: art therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, and psychodrama. Creative Arts Therapists are licensed in New York State, and use these modalities and the creative process in rehabilitative, psychiatric, medical, community, and educational agencies.

What is Dance/Movement Therapy?
(information provided by www.adta.org
dance/movement therapy fact sheet, and dance/movement therapy brochure)

Dance/Movement Therapy Is:

Psychotherapy or counseling that uses movement to address emotional, social, cognitive, and physical needs of individuals.

Who benefits from Dance/movement therapy?
people with developmental, medical, social, physical and psychological impairments. Those struggling with relationship issues, stress management issues, creative blocks, mood disorders, addiction, parenting difficulties, time management, going through a difficult life transition.

Where is Dance/Movement therapy practiced?
Practiced in mental health rehabilitation, medical and, educational settings, nursing homes, day care, forensic, disease prevention, health promotion programs, and in private practice.

Used with people of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds in individual, couples, family, and group therapy formats.

What kind of training is required?
Dance/Movement Therapy Professionals:

Dance/Movement Therapists enter the profession with a Master's degree.

"Registered Dance Movement Therapist" (R-DMT)* is the entry level credential and indicates clinicians who have a master's degree including 700 hundred hours of supervised clinical internship.

"Board Certified Dance Movement Therapist", (BC-DMT)* is the advanced credential. It indicates a clinician who has additionally completed 3,640 hours of supervised clinical work, and passed a rigorous examination.

* Note R-DMT and BC-DMT are awarded by the Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board. Dance/movement therapists may also hold state licenses and doctoral degrees.

I've never heard of it before, how large is the field and how long have there been Dance/Movement Therapists?

ADTA has members in 48 states and U.S. territories and 30 countries. For more about ADTA click here. For over 50 years, Dance/Movement Therapists have pioneered the understanding of how body and mind interact in health and in illness.

Will I have to Dance?
You won't have to do anything. A dance/movement therapist focuses on movement behavior as it emerges in the therapeutic relationship. Expressive, communicative, and adaptive behaviors are used for group and individual treatment.
Body movement as the core component of dance simultaneously provides the means of assessment and the mode of intervention for dance/movement therapy.

Sometimes, Dance is used as a metaphor, to communicate about our lives. We all have movement preferences. What a dance therapist will typically do is: take some time to establish a working, trusting relationship; assess your movement preferences, and limitations. They will then build upon your strengths, and work with you toward your particular treatment goal to expand your movement repertoire.
To maximize health, we need a large range of ways to cope or respond to both internal and external stressors.
Dance Movement Therapy is a very comprehensive modality for treatment. Approximately 93% of all communication is nonverbal. "Our issues are in our tissues~ and in our movement preferences, physiology and kinesthesia (way we sense our muscle tension). A dance movement therapist is highly trained, and can work with you both non-verbally and verbally, to address your issues: mind, body, and spirit.
To learn more about Dance/Movement Therapy click on the dance therapy link to the left.

If you have any questions, you can email me directly: cfmatteson@hotmail.com

Book Recommendation: Pleasure Healing!

2009-10-26T19:42:00.010-04:00

Recently, I've shared about my own health setback, and mentioned some of the modalities that I've found to be helpful in my recovery. The book: Pleasure Healing: Mindful Practices & Sacred Spa Rituals for Self-Nurturing, has been a wonderful companion for me throughout the last 6 weeks. This book, by Mary Beth Janssen, is such a pleasure to read, it seems to evoke the relaxation response from me just by turning the pages.
During my recovery, I've immersed myself in mindfulness meditation, yoga classes, and daily walks in nature. The book focuses on the importance of mindfulness for raising awareness of the sacred in everyday. Allowing yourself to be the nonjudgmental witness of experience, you quiet the critical voice, and I find myself becoming more attuned to spirit. This connectedness with spirit enables you to begin to cultivate compassion and allows you to feel appreciation and gratitude.
I love the book, too for its focus on pleasure for healing. With my own clients, I often discuss how use of the five senses: taste, touch, smell, sight, and hearing can be beneficial for self soothing and tolerating distress. Pleasure Healing delves into ways to use your senses in healing rituals that you can begin to incorporate in your own daily lives! It's just great! Click on the link above and get your copy today!
To your health,
Chris

Creating your health tip~ Do something pleasurable today; Pleasure enhances the immune system!

Quote: "We need to consciously choose the route of pleasure, the route of health."
~Dr.Christiane Northrup

You can call me Ma'am, but don't call me a Cougar!

2009-10-23T23:16:00.003-04:00

I can't stop thinking about it. It happens to every woman. I just didn't think it would happen so soon. Yes, some denial on my part, I'm sure. But you heard it here, "I've officially become a Ma'am." And I'm (sort of) ok with that, just please don't call me a Cougar. After working out the other morning, I stopped at a vegetarian cafe that I recently heard about, populated with University students. I was pretty confused by the menu as it seemed to be written on several different chalk boards around the restaurant. There were lots of colorful hand written signs, too; like "no dairy, no eggs, flourless, gluten free. I'm not a big meat eater, and I've certainly been to vegetarian restaurants before, but let's just say, I never had a Thanksgiving with Tofurky. I had never heard of many of these items; for example, "seiten", which I was later told was like a "wheat meat". I knew I was in need of a translator. 'Um, ok", I said, "Here comes someone" ...the someone coming toward me was a good looking 20 something tall thin guy with a nose ring, and dreads. He's coming towards me, and asks politely, "First time, here?". "Yeh," I said smiling, "I"m going to need a minute or two." Then he said to me, "The last time I took my mom in here, she liked the TLT (i.e., tofu, lettuce, and tomato). The first time, she got the chick pea sandwich, but what she really liked was the..... I didn't hear anymore of what he was saying, because my ability to process language shut down. I was stuck on that sentence, "The last time he took his mother here." His mother. His mother. His mother." I start doing the math, yep I could be his mother, oh my god! I could be the mother of this college student. I was stupified... I just went ahead and ordered the TLT because my mind was spinning. Thoughts were racing, "What the hell happened? "Wasn't I just 20 yrs old a minute ago?" "I wonder if everyone in this cafe is thinking I could be their mother". "I used to be a Miss, now I'm a Ma'am!" Soon enough, I got a grip, and remained conversational while I waited for my sandwich. I'm pretty sure no one suspected the abrupt identity crisis that had erupted for me. It took me a few moments but, slowly I started to totally reinterpret this whole scene. I laughed to myself, as I remembered that I wasn't coming from working out at a gym. I was coming from Cardiac Rehab this morning. I was lucky to be alive!!! I started to begin to feel a true shift in my perception, and became really grateful that I was able to have the time to go pick up lunch, grateful for the workout earlier, and Hell, grateful to be here at all! On the drive home, I thought about how much I bemoaned some of the changes in my body throughout this year. My heart condition thrust me into early menopause, which came fast, and hit hard. I have not been particularly accepting of the hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia. My hair and skin has gotten thinner, I bruise easy because of the blood thinners and get dizzy when I stand up too fast. My short term memory is getting hammered and I can't find my car in the parking lot unless I pro-actively make copious notes to myself about which aisle, how far, and any clues surrounding the area where it's located. My irritability is palpable. And on top of this, I've started staring at my neck in the mirror each day, checking on the proverbial "waddle" to see if its getting more substantial and noticeable to others. Yes, I've started going through the "change". The "change" when 20 something males make references to their mothers when speaking to you. It's when you contribute an anecdote to a conversation and someone says, "I wasn't alive in the 70's (or pick your particular decade...).!" Well, you know what?.. So What?! I don't give a shit!! After all, what's the alternative to aging? There isn't one. Never mind that the "first person voted off Survivor" is almost always the "older woman", and that you begin to slowly disappear in our society as a middle aged woman. I don't care. Honestly, I don't. Being viewed as a sex object isn't all that fun either, although let's be honest, sometimes you can get some great free stuff (i.e., drinks, opened doors, dinners, theater tickets, oh, yeh, and you can sometimes get out of some pesky traffic tickets, too. One time, I actually got a private plane ride! ..but I digress.) I guess I'll miss the freebies, but it will work out OK cause I've got my own money now. Yes, stereotypes abound, and it's a stone cold fact that we aren't particularly nice to aging women in our society. I sure as hell don't want to be younger. I've done that. And I've learned a lot along the way. I don't want to be older either, that can wait. I just want to enjoy where I am and age naturally as my body does. Don't get me wrong, I want to be as healthy, fit, strong, and sharp as possible, and I do want to look attractive. What I'm talking about is wanting to look attractive for my age. How many products do you have in your bathroom that claim to be 'anti-aging"? We could start embracing the term: pro-aging as opposed to anti-aging. What I'm talking about is aging with grace, wisdom, confidence, and sophistication. Not "fighting" it or desperately trying to hang onto youth.

By now, I'm sure you have all heard the term, "Cougars". You can call me Ma'am, but please don't call me a Cougar. This name is offensive on many levels! Supposedly, it originally meant women in their 40's or 50's that "still" look attractive to the opposite sex, and date younger men. At times, it now refers to any "over 40" woman that you would find "dateable". A cougar is defined as a "stalk and ambush" territorial predator! Nice.
Typically the stereotype refers to the patriarchy's view of an attractive female; that meaning: big boobs, body of a pre-pubescent boy, bleached teeth, dyed hair, no wrinkles (thanks to botox, restylane, or any of the other age delaying injectables), collagen enhanced lips. A woman who wears their sexuality openly but with a sense of desperation that you can actually smell. Yes, this brand of predator hunts a large variety of prey, but in particular, younger men whom they can manipulate easily.
Wow! Sounds flattering to me!
I never dated younger men even when I was young. It's not something that I find appealing. But of course it's every woman's prerogative whom she is attracted to.
Now, one of my best friends who is single, seems to date men quite a bit younger than her. To anyone who knows her, she most definitely doesn't fit this "cougar" profile even though at first glance, she would seem to meet society's criteria. Recently during one of our hilarious phone conversations, she explained that she consciously prefers younger men due to sexual appetites matching up. "That", she said, and "I have the sense of humor of a 14 year old boy, so it generally works out". I laughed at this, and noted, of course, her choices are made consciously and this is how I want to age. I'm not subscribing to some societal pressure to cling to youth. Instead of feeling panicked about growing older, and trying to scrounge for the magic pill, injection, procedure that will keep her looking younger, my friend choses to forego all this bullshit because she says, "I don't need a man for anything, I create my own stability. I make conscious choices about who I want to spend time with, and if they or anyone else for that matter has a problem with my age, looks, language, or quirks....Well then, Fuck'em!" Never one to mince words, its always a refreshing treat to catch up with her!

I may complain at times, but I want to appreciate growing older while its happening. You know, I've written about it before, Mindfulness! I know, I may have lost you now, you're like, "Right!, You appreciate aches and pains, and night sweats, hot flashes?" To that, I'd have to answer, "Ultimately, Yes", because it still means, "I'm here", and that's where I want to be.

So the other day, I was a bit conflicted about possibly being viewed as a "mom" of a college student. My initial reaction was shock, and indignation, but soon enough, I realized, it wasn't so bad, and seriously, Who the f*&$ cares?... ...
In the words of my dear friend, F*&% it! I'm officially a ma'am. I'm growing older, and I'm glad! Everyone does. And one last thing...my TLT sucked!
Tofu sandwich? .... bleeech! I ended up throwing most of it out.
It's about conscious choices, chicks! Are you making them?

Dove Pro-age Campaign

2009-10-22T23:57:00.001-04:00

Facebook | Food For Thought: The Relationship Between Your Brain and Your Weight

2009-10-04T21:56:00.037-04:00

Join me as my guest on this free call:
Join Dr. Christiane Northrup, renowned speaker, New York Times' Best-Selling Author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, among others, and co-founder of Team Northrup for a FREE TELEGATHERING entitled:

Food For Thought: The Relationship Between Your Mind and Your Weight
Tuesday, October 6th from 8:00 - 9:00pmEST

Be inspired, educated, and uplifted in this one-hour, intimate gathering with one of the world's most well-respected voices in women's health and the mind/body/spirit connection. Learn how you can change your relationship to food and your weight through changing your thoughts. Discover the freedom and joy that are possible when you cultivate awareness around the way your thoughts create your body.
Please RSVP to me by: messaging me via facebook, or email me: cfmatteson@hotmail.com

THEN,to find out how to enjoy inspiration and community like this on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis with Team Northrup, join us for:

Creating Health and Prosperity with Team Northrup
hosted by Penny and Phil Kirk, Co-Founders of Team Northrup, Dr. Christiane Northrup's sister and brother in-law, USANA One-Star Diamond Directors and Million Dollar Club Members,from 9:00 - 10:00pm EST

WHAT IS TEAM NORTHRUP?
Founded in 2002, Team Northrup is a league of entrepreneurial men and women who are philosophically aligned with the work of women’s wellness pioneer, world-renowned author, and one of the country’s most respected authorities on women’s health, Dr. Christiane Northrup. After becoming acutely aware of the link between health and personal finances in her own and her patients' lives, Dr. Northrup along with her sister and brother-in-law, Penny and Phil Kirk, and her daughter, Kate Northrup Moller, created Team Northrup. In Team Northrup, we use Conscious Network Marketing as a practical model for learning about and applying the Laws of Prosperity, the Law of Attraction and the mind/body/spirit connection. We cultivate optimal physical health, financial freedom, and personal growth through collaboration with our product and business partner, USANA Health Sciences, with whom we are independent associates.

I hope you'll join me on this call as my guest. Please RSVP to me and I'll send you all the call in information. Dr. Northrup is a world renowned speaker, author, and leader in the mind,body,spirit connection.
To you Health,
~Chris

*View the slideshow below for Dr. Northrup books and audio cd's. The Creating Your Health store features all products, books, resources mentioned in the Creating Your Health blog.

The Importance of the Heart

2009-10-04T16:14:00.015-04:00

As part of my own recovery, and creating of my own health, I want to use this blog to share with you any interesting activities, processes, information, and resources that I've found healing:

Here is an interesting snippet from Deepak Chopra regarding the importance of the heart. In it, he says that the number one risk factor for premature death from cardiovascular disease is hostility, mistrust, cynicism. This is a risk factor that is controllable.
I know personally that in the past, I have spent too much time in an environment of hostility and cynicism.
A recent report from Ohio State University evaluated whether or not emotional stress affected healing. Forty-two married couples participated in the research project in which they received small blisters on their skin (ouch!) and then engaged in either a loving, supportive conversation or an angry, hostile disagreement. The researchers measured the concentration of immunological chemicals in the blood and tracked how long it took for the wounds to heal. The results showed that one hostile interaction slowed healing by almost twenty-four hours.

For today,
1. Intend to create an environment of compassion, love, and acceptance.
2. Practice the law of detachment by letting others be who they are, and take a few minutes
to meditate for peace.
3. Put your attention on your heart and inwardly repeat these four words:
Peace, Harmony, Laughter, Love.

To your health,
Chris

Now more than ever...

2009-09-19T19:33:00.004-04:00

Today I got home from the hospital, from having had a heart attack Thursday morning. 5 stents to the LAD, completely blocked. I had one in 2004 (pretty significant)and one in 2006 (luckily a smaller one). Once I made it through 2008, I thought, "Ok, this is not a pattern..I'm going to be fine". Truth is, this was the biggest, most deadly one yet, and I'd be lying if I said that it hasn't shaken me to my core. My initial thought was, "Take down the damn website, and Facebook group", its impossible to "Create Your Health", this is a fraudulent claim! As I further observed my thoughts and feelings today, I realized that "Now more than ever" I have to use what I have already learned and applied in my life about Health and Wellness. If I hadn't been in such good health, this would have been deadly. I'm really tired, but sat out in the sunshine today, read, and listened to music. I don't know why this happened. I'm not sure that I'm in a place to really convey any lessons learned, express any big claims of wisdom (maybe I never will be). What I do know right now is that gratitude, love, and moment to moment experiencing without judgment have been what's helped, and the support I've received has been powerfully moving, and has nourished my heart. Thank you.

American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) Informational Slide Show (2009)

2009-09-03T22:35:00.001-04:00

An overview of the Dance Therapy Profession, video created by Christina Devereaux.

Gardening: a holistically healthy hobby

2009-06-22T08:15:00.003-04:00

Gardening is Healthy!
Growing up, my mother worked at a local flower/garden shop, and many of my favorite memories of her are of the two of us weeding, and tending to the flowers. It's when I felt the closest to her. I absolutely love all of tasks associated with gardening, (only wish I had a bigger space..ahh some day), but even if you don't have a spacious yard, you can always garden in window boxes, or containers. Gardening is cool, too! The stores are filled with all sorts of tools, plants, and many other accoutrements for this "growing" hobby of interest.
Here are just some of the health benefits: 1. it's exercise! digging, planting, weeding...builds endurance, flexibility, and strength. 2. burns calories. I read that 1 hour of gardening is almost the equivalent of jogging 3 or 4 miles! 3. You get the nutritional benefits of growing fresh vegetables, fruits. 4. It is a stress buster! I love using the gardening metaphors; (ex., clearing, getting rid of the spent, dead
leaves to make room for new growth). In a quiet corner of the garden we can bury the worries of the day. 5. It increases your property value! 6. It's good for the environment. Trees and plants help to clean toxins from the air and produce lot of
oxygen. 7. Getting outside, enjoying a bit of the sun (safely) can give your body some of the vitamin D that it needs. 8. Gardening can be a meditation, teaching us much about beauty, love, natural history, lasting values, and
the seasons of our lives.
So the health tip of the day: get outside and tend your gardens!; and if you don't have one, consider some container planting (it's how I plant my tomatoes), and visit your local gardens and farmers market for fresh vegetables, fruits, and many options for creatively landscaping your outdoor environment!
Have a great day!
~Chris

"Gardening is a labour full of tranquility and satisfaction; natural and instructive, and as such contributes to the most serious contemplation, experience, health and longevity. - John Evelyn, 1666

Gabrielle Roth - "Embodiment"

2009-06-05T20:42:00.001-04:00

Dance is a catalyst for change...it is a transformational modality.
Here, Gabrielle Roth (The 5 Rhythms), explains why we need to stop being "talking heads". Embodiment is the Key!
Enjoy.
~Chris

Healthy For Life Program

2009-05-30T12:20:00.000-04:00

The Healthy For Life Program
The Healthy for Life Program is cutting –edge and based entirely on medical research.The goal is to get the body into an anti-inflammatory state. Every disease starts in the cell and is a result of some type of inflammation. We live in a toxic world with high stress levels, the smoke and pollution we breathe, the high glycemic foods we eat, the trans fats, and the chemicals in our foods. All this puts the body into an inflammatory state, the precursor to disease. The Healthy for Life Program is cutting –edge and based entirely on medical research.
What we accomplish with the Healthy Lifestyle Program is:
1. We reduce the oxidative stress in the body with the antioxidants;
2. We supply the essential, healthy fats;
3. We provide the proper amount of fiber, which helps the body cleanse of toxins; and
4. We help stabilize blood sugar levels, which also aids in reducing inflammation in the body.

The program includes 3 components: You will learn the importance of combining a Healthy Diet that does not spike your blood sugar, a Modest Exercise Program, and Cellular Nutrition.

The program includes:
1. Education: Dr. Ray Strand will send you detailed instructions each week via email to inform you and instruct you about the scientific evidence that supports your new recommended lifestyle changes.
2. Accountability: There are 3 choices of programs depending on your personal health concerns, preferences, and goals: The Coached Program, The Self-directed Program, and The Program for the Competitive Athlete. For each of these programs, You will record every meal, your daily exercise activity, and your consumption of the recommended cellular nutrition on your Personal Lifestyle Journal provided on this web site. It will take you less than two minutes a day to record this information, which will be reviewed by your Personal Healthy Lifestyle Coach each week. Your personal coach will be able to identify the most important areas that you need to address during the following week. If you choose the self directed program, your Personal Lifestyle Journal will be automatically graded, which will guide you in where you need to improve the most.
3. Motivation and Support: You will also receive a daily motivational and educational email direct from Dr. Strand. These messages will be filled with practical advice along with encouragement. In addition, you will receive 12 weekly trainings that will guide you into simple but specific lifestyle change. You will also receive a daily motivational and educational email direct from Dr. Strand. He is the founder of the program. These messages will be filled with practical advice along with encouragement. They will also help motivate you to make the lifestyle changes that are necessary to achieve your goal of better health and a leaner body.

In addition, You also will be able to interact with other participants and Ezine subscribers on our facebook group, “Creating Your Health”, and receive my twice monthly Ezine on Creating Your Health: mind, body, and soul. As certified team leader,I will be available to answer any questions that are not answered through the daily emails, or weekly trainings.

**Remember, there is 20% discount off the program in the Creating Your Health FREE Ezine. With your coupon code from my free Ezine!

This is a tremendously valuable program, and it is what I personally used back in 2004 when I suffered a heart attack at the age of 37. I wanted to make it accessible to most people this summer. This lifestyle program is clinically proven to work if you follow it!

Fill out my form!

Is this the year that you
Create the Health you deserve?
Start Today!!
You will automatically be signed up for the free Creating Your Health biweekly Newsletter, and receive the 20% off coupon for the Healthy For Life program. See you on the call!

To Your Health.
Christine

Christine Matteson
LCAT, LMHC, ADTR
Licensed Creative Arts Psychotherapist
Creative Arts Counseling and Consulting
www.creatingyourhealth.org
cfmatteson@hotmail.com

Create Your Health with acts of kindness

2009-05-15T21:44:00.020-04:00

I haven't posted as often this past month, as I have been working diligently on doing some big spring cleaning tasks around my home, office, yard, computer, (you name it), in an attempt to create more time and space and energy for pursuing my passions! It feels so good to be able to allow in fresh, new energy that is creative and envigorating. Today, I wanted to write a bit about Acts of Kindness and Generosity.

The other day, I found a box of cd's (I'd forgotten I had) , and listened to one of them on my drive into work. It had to do with the concept of "Generosity", and how this relates to the chakra's or the 7 energy centers in the body according to yogic traditions. (Forgive me, as I don't have the exact name, or author.)

The part of the cd that I listened to was where the First Chakra, or the Muladhara (root) chakra, was explained and identified. Next, the concept of generosity as it is initiated from the first chakra was identified. It's located at the base of the spine, and it governs your survival instincts, and the ability to ground yourself. It was said that one who acts in harmony with this energy, then you will use your energy wisely, being careful not to waste it and not to overindulge. It's about learning to regulate and modulate food, drink, sleep, etc...as these basic functions of living are necessary to feel grounded and centered in your physical body, i.e., secure. If one acts out, motivated by 1st chakra energy (insecurity), the result is often the blind, and senseless anger that results when someone is fearful and insecure, sort of like an animal that is cornered. There does seem to be a pervasive fear induced insecurity running rampant through our society right now. Regarding the root chakra: the Desire is for Survival; the color most associated with this chakra is Red; the Attributes are Patience and Greed; and the activities associated with the first chakra are: collecting and saving.
Ok, so how is this related to "Generosity"? Basically, Generosity initiated from the root chakra is the giving of food, and/or shelter. It's the "letting a struggling friend camp out on your sofa for a few nights" or "sharing your lunch with a co-worker who forgot his."
Generosity is revered in all cultures as one of the highest qualities of the human heart. Generosity literally means to generate, or to create generating life giving opportunities. Without generosity, one can become cynical, alienated, and despairing. Immediately, I recognized that the days I feel drained, and as if my spirit has been squashed, are usually when I've spent too long in that stingy, "tit for tat", "nothing in this world is free", energy. Sometimes it seems rare to see acts of generosity in our culture, where those who are giving don't want or demand something in return.
On the other hand, there are gratefully plenty of days when I see one unconditional act of kindness, or generosity after another. Whether it be, someone in a check out line offering to kick in change for someone running short, or someone picking something up for a person who didn't realize they'd dropped something. On these days, my spirit soars.
The cd went on to explain that when first chakra giving is combined with heart centered (4th chakra) feeling, the person feels gratitude, feels respected, and authentically seen by the other person, and not pitied, judged, or made to feel as if this act of generosity that they are receiving is conditional, and that they will have to find a way to pay this person back, not because they themselves are motivated from the heart chakra, but because they fear the consequences of not doing so.
So merely dropping off a basket of food to a church at Christmas time, while still unquestionably an act of service; can mean so much more depending on the motivation, and where the act is initiated from. If it is initiated out of sense of "This is just something we do, come on and get in the car, hurry up", and then you begrudingly complete the task using profanity at the inane drivers on the way to the church, then the act of giving is tainted. What if, for example, a family who was picking up a basket was in the church at the time you arrived, and you angrily dropped your "donation" down, asking for a receipt? The family who may have seen this, then had to pick up that basket would most definately feel belittled, and diminished.
Generosity requires us to see beyond ourselves. It diminishes our self-centered egoism, even when our ego tries to co-opt and take credit for our generosity, attempting to inflate itself . An example of this self-centered egoism that rears up was demonstrated in an old episode of "The Larry David Show", that I recently watched.
Here's the link:
Episode summary: Larry's having a wing named after him in honor of a large donation he made. When he and his wife arrive at the cermony, Larry sees that the other wing was donated by "Anonymous," he gets upset. Now it looks like he just did it for the credit. His distress escalates when Cheryl tells him Ted (Dansen) is Anonymous, and, in fact, everyone seems to know this, including Senator Boxer, who's giving the opening remarks. "It's faux anonymity", Larry insists. Later, Larry has a disagreement with a board member at the event. They argue and the man finally tells Larry he's taking his name off the wing. Larry couldn't be happier. "Put anonymous!" he shouts. At the end of the episode, Larry is shown being chased down the street by a gang of teens, he tried to go into the NRDC building fro safety but the doors are locked and the guard won't let him in. "I'm Larry David. That's my wing!" he begs. But the guard only sees "Anonymous" on the wall.

I remember reading that the first 3 chakras, or the lower chakras are ego driven, and the generosity that emerges from them does bring about a change. (i.e., a family will have food for a Christmas dinner). When generosity is initiated from the upper chakra's; the 4th (heart) chakra through the 7th, the result can bring change and true transformation.
When you open your heart, the giving is imbued with sincerity; all who witness the act feel respected, and seen fully, and the result is transformation in one form or another. You may not even be aware of how powerful a gesture one unconditional act of kindness could be for someone who has lost hope and faith.

Here is one example: Once, several years ago, I crossed paths with a woman who looked familiar although I couldn't remember her name, and she stopped me and said to me: "You might not remember me, but I remember you from a long time ago. I was in your dance therapy group. One day, during the group, you saw me, trying to disappear in the corner, and came over to ask if you could hold onto my resistance and shame for a little while so I could have a break and feel relieved enough to be able to move freely during the group. That was the first time, I had felt released from that burden, and I will never forget that. "You're the lady who took away my shame!" she said. "After that class", she continued, "I realized it was possible to create more moments like that for myself, and gradually, I began to heal. I just wanted to thank you for all you do". This warmed and touched my own heart in a deep way. Her act of generosity, i.e., sharing this story with me, was transformational for me. As it was, I had moved to this particular city for a job in my field only to be laid off 6 months later, and I was in a place of questioning my career path. This encounter stands out for me because her acknowledging the importance of that group that I led, re-confirmed my own commitment to my field. That night, I remember going home and beginning to look through my old notebooks, and photo albums and being able to slowly get back in touch with that underlying feeling of passion and purpose for dance therapy that I had felt cut off from during those few months.
Generosity decreases ego's hold on us. The more you practice being generous, the more selfless you become!
To Your Health,

~Chris

2009-05-03T09:54:00.008-04:00

Book Recommendation:

Quantum Wellness by Kathy Freston, a New York Times bestseller, is a book that describes how to go about making a significant increase in the health of the mind, body, and spirit. It addresses what it means to be truly healthy in a holistic sense. The forward is by Dr. Mehmet Oz, and the book has been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, Marianne Williamson, and Ellen DeGeneres, giving it instant cult-like status.

I found it to be a wonderful book in that it touts the notions that “Quantum Wellness evolves from the day to day small and incremental changes or shifts that we make”, “We are all connected to source each of us made up vibrating energy". We, therefore, are all “interconnected to every other being”, Freston theorizes.

I found some of the prescriptions to be familiar and as Publisher’s Weekly describes, “Buddhist-lite”and the book also spends a lot of time talking about the benefits of vegetarianism. With regards to my own path to conscious living, I am not quite there, but I certainly agree with the health benefits of a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. I also find that I am leaning more and more in this direction in my own life. This book helped me become more conscious of the spiritual component of eating, and this alone was worth the read!

Although, nothing new, I enjoyed the book very much, and agree completely with the book’s attention to incremental change, as well as with Freston’s 8 pillars of wellness: Meditation, Visualization, Fun Activities, Conscious Eating, Exercise, Self-Work, Spiritual Practice, and Service. The book does a good job of explaining how each of these “pillars” contributes to conscious health and wellness!

(*Quantum: a sudden and significant change; an abrupt transition.)

To your health
~Chris

*to purchase now, just click on the link above!

Too funny for words!

2009-03-14T07:26:00.000-04:00

Get Healthy For Life

2009-03-13T22:47:00.001-04:00

2009-02-22T12:00:00.001-05:00

The Health Benefits of Love!

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent,

protects you from age.

- Anais Nin

How Love Keeps Us Healthy
Love doesn't only keep us happy-it helps to Create Health!
What are the health benefits of love, intimacy, sex ?

1. Love Lowers Stress, Reduces Pain, and Promotes Sleep!
According to a study from the University of North Carolina, Hugging dramatically lowers blood pressure and boost blood levels of oxytocin (a relaxing hormone that plays a role in breastfeeding and orgasms). Daily frequent hugging has a similar effect of many leading blood pressure medications. Kathleen Light, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry at UNC. What is interesting is that men did not get the blood pressure benefits from frequent hugging, although they do get the same health gains from steady sex as we do from snuggling. Having sex and orgasms increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which helps us bond and build trust. "Oxytocin allows us to feel the urge to nurture and to bond," according to Light.
In a study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, As the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines. So if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, you can thank those higher oxytocin levels.
The oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep, according to research.
Getting enough sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure.

2. Having Sex Improves Cardiovascular Health
A 2007 study from the University of Pittsburgh: Women in good marriages have a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those in high-stress relationships.
In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, scientists found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.A 2002 study from the University of Bristol in England found that men who had sex two or more times a week cut their risk of having a fatal heart attack in half.

3. Sex Strengthens Immunity!

According to a University of Iowa study: Ovarian cancer patients who had satisfying, connected relationships had more vigorous "natural killer" cell activity (i.e. white blood cells that kill cancerous cells, strengthen the body's immune system.) at the site of the tumor. And a recent study from the National Cancer Institute found that men who ejaculate frequently may be protecting themselves against prostate cancer. The recommendation was 21 ejaculations per month! Whoa!

A couple of other health benefits:

Sex burns calories! Dependent on the vigorous nature of the love-making, one ½ hour session burns about 85 calories. If you multiply this by 42 half-hour sessions, you will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. (And you can always double up, that's 21 hour long sessions!) whoo hoo!
Sex Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles
For women, Sex strengthens your Kegels or pelvic floor muscles. When you have strong Kegels, you enjoy more pleasure, (and you decrease the risk of incontinence in later life).
Sex boosts self-esteem

Boosting self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex, collected by University of Texas researchers and published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. According to Gina Ogden, PhD, a sex therapist and marriage and family therapist in Cambridge Mass., "Great sex begins with self-esteem, and it raises self-esteem. If the sex is loving, connected, and desired, it raises it."

Soon maybe Doctor's will be prescribing hot steamy sex, and a romantic get-away just like they prescribe healthy diet, exercise, and rest! That's a pretty fabulous prescription! (Mmmm, Now to get the insurance companies to kick in....)

Happy Valentines Day,

~Chris

2009-02-14T17:06:00.006-05:00

Love is All Around.
10 Definitions of Love:
1. Love is... a novel by Toni Morrison.

2. Love is.... a ballad by John Lennon.

3. Love is.... an album by The Cult.

4. Love means... zero points in a game of tennis

5. Love means... to sleep together or to have intercourse with.
"They made love under the stars.'
6. Love is... an action of knowing and appreciation.

7. Love... can also be a deep like for something pleasurable. "I love dark chocolate".

8. Love is... a profound and caring attraction toward someone
9. Love: represents a range of human emotions and experiences related to the sense of

affection and sexual attraction and...
10. Love is energy that lives in the heart!

3 Types of Love:
1. Eros
Eros is said to be the most egocentric of the three types. It is the stereotypical "Romantic" love. This is sensual love, ruled primarily by libido.

2. Philia
Philia which is loosely translated to mean friendship, was broken down into three different types by Aristotle in his "Nichomachean Ethics". He broke it down based on motive for forming them.
A. friendships of utility: these include acquaintances, and relationships such as a buyer and a seller. There is no real regard for the person.
B. friendships of pleasure: these include relationships where you share a hobby or common interest. An example would be 2 friends that go out drinking, or people who play on a sports team together. These friendships often end when they no longer share the common interest. (like if one of the two stops drinking.)
C. friendships of the good: These relationships are often referred to as "true friendships". Both truly enjoy each other's characters. These can endure because the motive is genuine caring for the person.
Aristotle wrote that for the most part the bonds of philia are symmetrical, however there are instances where no reciprocity exists an example of this my include the bond a father may have for his son.
3. Agape

Many have described this as love that is divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. It is interesting that many ancient manuscripts do not have this word. However, many Christians define it as the self-sacrificing love that God has for humanity.

6 Love Styles:
Love Styles or models of how people love were identified by John Lee in 1973. They were also known as "colors" of love. These were later expanded upon by Clyde Hendrick and Susan Hendrick of Texas Tech University in the mid 1980's. These are:
1. Eros - a passionate physical and emotional love based on aesthetic enjoyment.
advantage: the sentimentality of it. It feels good.
disadvantage: The disadvantage is the inevitable decay in attraction. In its extreme, eros can resemble naivete.

movie example: "The Notebook"
"We have the right chemistry".
2. Ludus - a love that is played as a game or sport; conquest. Ludus lovers are players, usually see marriage as a trap.
advantage: the ludus lover usually has great technique.
disadvantage: most likely to commit infidelity.
movie example: "Dangerous Liasons"
'What my partner doesn't know won't hurt her/him."
3. Storge - an affectionate love that slowly develops from friendship, based on similarity. Often even if two storges lovers break up they can still remain friends.
advantage: high level of intimacy and trust
disadvantage: can experience lack of passion
movie example: "When Harry Met Sally".
"Our love is best because it grew out of a friendship".
4. Pragma - love that is driven by the head, not the heart; undemonstrative. This is practical, rational, with well thought out expectations. "The shopping list lover".
advantage: may avoid infidelity to avoid consequences. (There would be a price to pay; i.e., loss of status, financial loss, etc.)
disadvantage: undemonstrativeness and lack of emotion. In its extreme form, pragma can become prostitution.
movie example: "Ordinary People".
"I married him because he would be a good provider." "I married her because she can help me look good to others, which can enhance my career".
5. Mania - highly volatile love; obsession; fueled by low self-esteem
advantage: the high level of intensity
disadvantage: jealousy, obsessiveness.
movie example: "Fatal Attraction"
"I'm pretty sure my lover is cheating on me, and I am just sick about it"
6. Agape - selfless altruistic love; spiritual; motherly love
advantage: it's generous nature.
disadvantage: it can be quilt inducing, making one feel incompetent and like a martyr.
movie example: "Penelope in Odyssey"
'I would suffer anything rather than have my lover suffer".

References:
Hendrick, C. and S. Hendrick. 1986. "A Theory and Method of Love." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50:392-402. Hendrick, S. S. and C. Hendrick. 1987. "Love and Sexual Attitudes, Self-disclosure and Sensation-seeking." Journal of Social and Personal relationships, 4:281-297. Mallandain, I. and M. F. Davies. 1994. "The Colors of Love: Personality Correlates of Lovestyles." Personality and Individual Differences, 17:557-560
Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable.- Henry Ward Beecher

Great news to share!

2009-02-03T23:38:00.005-05:00

The Creating Your Health newsletter or Ezine is now featured on "Best Ezines"! The newsletter is FREE! and you can sign up easily to get on the mailing list and start receiving this bi-monthly newsletter NOW by clicking on the link to the right. (It's the blue button!)
If you have a topic item or specific health question that you would like to see featured on an upcoming edition, contact me @ cfmatteson@hotmail.com. I'd love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Chris

Create Your Health: mind, body, and soul.

Lessons from Geese

2009-01-20T22:03:00.019-05:00

Lessons From Geese
1. As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the other geese that follow.
2. By flying in a “V” formation the whole flock adds 71 percent of extra flying range.
3. When a goose falls out of formation it, feels the drag and resistance of flying alone.
4. Every goose quickly moves back into “V” formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the other geese in front.
5. When the lead goose tires, it drops back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
6. The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up with their speed. 7. When a goose gets sick, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to assist and protect it.

"Lessons from Geese" was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network and was based on the work of Milton Olson.

I love when I get these serendipitous urgings from the universe to investigate certain themes, images, etc.. that start showing up in my life. Today, I received this wonderful video, describing the lessons we can learn from Geese. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I've always loved geese, for example, on an earlier blog post, I included a picture of a flock flying in V formation, accompanied by a poem from David Whyte entitled, "The Journey". The other day, I was cross country skiing, and really experienced a thrill of coming across a huge flock of geese gathered at the one end of the lake that was not yet frozen. I couldn't help but marvel at the dazzling array of honks, quacks, and other sounds from the geese communicating together on that beautiful winter day. I've included a picture, below.

Create Your Health, by becoming conscious of the symbols, metaphors, and themes that begin to show up in your life, to begin to digest and integrate the lessons and messages they represent for you in your life.

Namaste,
Chris

FYI: Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are the most familiar geese in Alaska and across North America. They are classified into over 15 subspecies varying in size and shading. All have a distinctive black head and neck with a white cheek patch; most have a full or partial white ring at the base of the neck, brownish wings, back and sides, white to grayish-brown breast and belly, white rump patch, and black legs and feet. Common characteristics of all geese include similar coloration of males and females, life-long pair bonds with mates (although those that lose mates will re-pair), first breeding at 2-3 years of age, well-adapted for walking on land, feed primarily by grazing on vegetation, and they are very social except during nesting. Pairs generally establish a nesting territory, produce four to five eggs per nest, and raise their young as a family unit. Later, families often combine to form “creches” guarded by several parents. As with most other waterfowl, geese are flightless for about a month in mid-summer, while new wing feathers are grown. Predators of Canada geese and their eggs vary widely among areas and include foxes, coyotes, wolves, bears, wolverines, gulls, eagles, and ravens. Canada geese are popular and accessible to many wildlife watchers, even in urban areas. They are prized by hunters across the continent

Ambition to Meaning

2009-01-07T22:04:00.005-05:00

Hay House Presents Ambition to Meaning A Life Changing Film fromDr. Wayne W. Dyer.

Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development. He’s the author of 30 books, has created numerous audio programs and videos, and has appeared on thousands of television and radio shows. Wayne holds a doctorate in educational counseling from Wayne State University and was an associate professor at St. John’s University in New York. Website: www.DrWayneDyer.com

Indulge your senses!

2008-12-17T23:16:00.006-05:00

The Holidays!

A wonderful time to use

self soothing with the 5 senses to manage stress

Many "coping skills" to tolerate stress involve self soothing strategies. What more stressful time of year is there than the Holiday season: coping with bad weather, relatives, having company, financial woes, traveling, crowds, etc.. you get the picture. While winter can be stressful for many, some of the best self soothing strategies are available to us during this time of year. The Holidays are a vertible feast for the senses. The more your senses are activated by pleasurable stimuli, the more relaxed you can become. Of course, When engaging in this strategy of self soothing with the 5 senses, make sure to focus completely on the task at hand. That is, be mindful of your senses and what you are experiencing, and anytime you are distracted, simply bring your attention back to what you are doing. Here are some different examples of indulging your senses to activate the relaxation response and decrease stress:

1. Sense of Sight
Treat your eyes to the beautiful site of a lovely decorated home. Turn off all the lights and just enjoy the beauty of your Christmas tree. I love to go walking to look at the Christmas lights around our neighborhood. A friend of mine said that she enjoys decorating her porch and garden space with candles, and strings of little white lights. I love the Christmas Luminaries, they are charming, traditional, and beautiful. Candlelight seems to evoke a sense of the sacred and it fulfills our need for beauty and meaning.

2. Sense of Taste. How about making a big pot of warm hearty soup, or stew? A cup of hot tea or hot chocolate can also be very soothing and satisfying. There are plenty of opportunities to try different hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and party food. Enjoy and savor your food. Seriously. Eat slowly and mindfully so you can really appreciate the experience of activating your taste buds, nourishing and nurturing yourself.

3. Sense of Smell. Examples of some of the wonderful smells of the season are: pine trees, cinnamon, cloves, and of course... the smell of Christmas cookies. If you are not a baker, there are tons of scented candles, and room fresheners today that smell like apple pie, vanilla, gingerbread, etc.. Some people enjoy burning incense, and one of the most popular types, especially this time of year is frankincense. Frankincense essential oil has been used in spiritual practices. The aroma is said to have a positive effect on the nervous system, reducing tension, and it has long been regarded as an antidepressant. I read that Frankincense oil contains sesquiterpenes, and they stimulate the limbic system, hypothalamus, pineal, and pituitary glands.
4. Sense of Hearing. There are plenty of holiday CD's out this time of year. Let the sounds of the season play throughout your home, or in your car if you prefer. A lot of great music is released around Christmas time. So go to your local music shop (buy locally!) pick up a new (or used!) cd and Rock Around Your Christmas Tree!
5. Sense of Touch. Oooh. What can be better than snuggling around a crackling fire, with a comfortable warm blanket, plush pillows, and your favorite someone? Awesome! This time of year, your local day spa is offering specials for services like massages, facials, pedicures, etc.. Gift certificates for spa services are always welcome presents for friends, co-workers, family, etc.

Create Your Health by taking the time to enjoy the sensory delights of the season.

Peace,

2008-12-12T20:06:00.011-05:00

Health Tip of the Week:
Why do I need nutritional supplements?
We live in a stressful world. Everyday our bodies are exposed to radiation, stress, toxic chemicals in our food, water, and environment. Oxidative stress is a condition that occurs when the amount of free radicals in the body exceeds the available supply of the body's antioxidants. When this occurs, free radicals cannot be neutralized. What happens as a result of this imbalance is cell damage, tissue breakdown, and immune system will become compromised.
What are free radicals? They are highly unstable molecules that interact quickly and aggressively with other molecules in our bodies to create abnormal cells. The major sources of dietary free radicals are chemically-altered fats from commercial vegetable oils, vegetable shortening and all oils heated to very high temperatures, i.e. trans fats. Excessive sugar intake can also contribute to free radical damage, as can artificial food colorings and flavorings, smog, preservatives in processed foods, alcohol, cigarette smoke, chlorinated drinking water, pesticides, radiation, cleaning fluids, heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, and assorted chemicals such as solvent traces found in processed foods and aromatic hydrocarbons (such as benzene and naphthalene). Both physical and emotional stress also prompt the release of endogenous cortisol, an adrenal hormone that reduces inflammation, but also suppresses the immune system.

How to combat Oxidative Stress?
1. Avoid the various stressors listed above.
2. An organic diet rich in antioxidants, get rid of trans fats and processed foods. Plenty of fresh vegetables, and fruit. Drink green tea. Have a *single glass of red wine a day. (more than two and the health benefits are lost due to the effects of the alcohol). The more plant based your diet is, the better!
3. Nutritional supplementation.
The scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of nutritional supplements is solid and growing daily, and more health care professionals than ever before are now siding with the conclusions drawn from the two review articles published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that are listed below:
Fairfield KM, Fletcher RH. Vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults: scientific review. JAMA 2002; 287:3116-3126.
Fletcher RH, Fairfield KM. Vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults: clinical applications. JAMA 2002; 287:3127-3129.
A majority of the illnesses that afflict us are related to nutritional factors (a diet high in animal fat, protein, and cholesterol, and low in fiber ), lifestyle (tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol consumption), and the environment (chemical carcinogens, ozone depletion, air pollution, and industrial toxins).
A person can look "apparently" healthy, existing on minimal nutrient intakes for years and not be aware of the cellular damage that is being done from oxidative stress and from suboptimal intake level of some vitamins (above the RDA levels). Degenerative diseases develop over a lifetime as do many chronic illnesses. Here are a couple examples:

1. Suboptimal levels of vitamins B6 and B12 are a risk factor for cardiovvascular disease, neural tube defects, colon and breast cancer.
2. Low levels of vitamin D contributes to osteopenia.
3. Low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (A, E, and C) may increase the risk for several chronic diseases.

Nutritional Supplementation can help counteract poor nutrition and to prevent the damage caused by this environmental onslaught and the innumerable challenges to our immune systems that is ongoing. I have to reiterate this last statement: Not only can nutritional supplementation counteract poor nutrition, but it can prevent future damage to our immune systems caused by various stressors.
Create Your Health by giving yourself the gift of nutrition -your cells will love you for it!

Sincerely,

Chris
* USANA's nutritional supplements are designed to provide advanced levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are difficult to obtain from diet alone; levels that we could all use, everyday, to promote a lifetime of good health. USANA voluntarily meets pharmaceutical grade standards, and U.S.P. guidelines for potency, uniformity, and disintegration. (*This basically means that you are getting what you are paying for, and that the company has integrity, providing what they say they do..simply number 1 ranked nutritional supplements. (*They were ranked number 1 in the Comparative guide to nutritional supplements).The USANA Essentials are formulated to do more than defend against deficiency diseases; they are designed to promote optimal health.* The Essentials contain greater amounts of almost all the necessary vitamins and minerals than are prescribed by the RDA.

© 2008 Creative Arts Counseling and Consulting
*This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.
All material provided on the Creating Your Health website is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health.

*Recommended: HEALTHPAK 100

The HealthPak 100™ from USANA Health Sciences is a comprehensive and convenient selection for providing you with all of the essential nutrients necessary for maintaining your good health!
The Healthpak comes in convenient AM and PM packs and includes a full daily dose of the Essentials (mega antioxidant plus chelated mineral supplements), Active Calcium™ (a core USANA optimizer) and the exclusive AO Booster™ supplements.
The HealthPak 100 supports:
a healthy heart
healthy bones and joints
healthy eyes
healthy lungs.
Patented Olivol can only be found in USANA products
I've been taking the Healthpak for over three years now. I trust Usana health Sciences because they voluntarily meet pharmaceutical grade standards, they are listed in the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR), and because they are ranked number 1 in the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements.

The HealthPak 100 ™
Item # 100

56 Packets
Price: $107.00

Volume: 100

To Purchase:
USANAHEALTHPAK100

Christine Matteson
LCAT, LMHC, ADTR, NCC
Creative Arts Counseling and Consulting
Independent USANA Health Sciences Distributor
Team Northrup

(315) 263-6790

email: cfmatteson@hotmail.com

Giving Thanks!

2008-11-26T09:34:00.048-05:00

Gratitude: thankfulness, appreciation
- a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

There has been research conducted that when individuals are induced to feel grateful, they are more likely to behave prosocially toward others. (Tsang, 2006) (Bartlett & DeSteno, 2006)

Gratitude may also serve to reinforce future prosocial behavior in benefactors. (Carey, Clicque, Leighton, & Milton, 1976).

Research has also suggested that feelings of gratitude may be beneficial to subjective emotional well-being (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). People who tend to experience gratitude more frequently than others also tend to be happier, more helpful and forgiving, and less depressed than their less grateful counterparts (Kashdan, Uswatte, & Julian, 2006; McCullough, Emmons, & Tsang, 2002; Watkins, Woodward, Stone, & Kolts, 2003)

Gratitude Journal:
One way to begin cultivating a greater sense of gratitude in your life is by keeping a daily "Gratitude Journal". In Sarah Ban Breathnach's 1995 book, Simple Abundance: a daybook of comfort and joy, She identified six spiritual principles which play through the essays and give meaning to her days. They are gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty, and joy. According to Sarah, the gratitude journal has to be the first step on the Simple Abundance path or it just won't work for you. "Simplicity, order, harmony, beauty, and joy--all the other principles that can transform your life will not blossom and flourish without gratitude". Further, she prescribes, writing down I write down five things every day that you are grateful for.
I think it is a wonderful tool to begin to develop a greater sense of appreciation, and wellbeing in your life.

Recommended Reading:
The two books by Sue Bender, "Plain and Simple", and "Everyday Sacred" are absolutely wonderful and inspiring in that they really allow the reader to gain awareness and appreciation for the sense of simplicity, commitment, and contentment that comes from mindfulness, and self acceptance. She draws the reader's attention to the small miracles that are present in our seemingly ordinary everyday lives.

In Plain and Simple, Bender shares the lessons she learned while in the presence of the Amish people. In Everyday Sacred, the author writes about the process of bringing what she learned from the Amish back into her own life.
*All three of these books, along with the journals that accompany them can be found by clicking on the carousel at the bottom of this post.

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Chris

References:

1. Barlett, M.Y., & DeSteno, D. (2006). Gratitude and prosocial behavior: Helping when it costs you. Psychological Science, 17, 319-325.

2. Carey, J. R., Clicque, S. H., Leighton, B. A., & Milton, F. (1976). A test of positive reinforcement of customers. Journal of Marketing, 40, 98-100.

3. Emmons, R.A. (2007). Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. New York: Houghton-Mifflin.

4. Emmons, R. A. & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life.

5. Tsang, J. (2006a). The effects of helper intention on gratitude and indebtedness. Motivation and Emotion, 30, 198-204.

6. Tsang, J. (2006b). Gratitude and prosocial behavior: An experimental test of gratitude. Cognition and Emotion, 20, 138-148.

7. Watkins, P. C., Woodward, K., Stone, T., & Kolts, R. L. (2003). Gratitude and happiness: Development of a measure of gratitude, and relationships with subjective well-being. Social Behavior and Personality, 31, 431-452.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Chris

References:
1. Barlett, M.Y., & DeSteno, D. (2006). Gratitude and prosocial behavior: Helping when it costs you. Psychological Science, 17, 319-325.

2. Carey, J. R., Clicque, S. H., Leighton, B. A., & Milton, F. (1976). A test of positive reinforcement of customers. Journal of Marketing, 40, 98-100.
3. Emmons, R.A. (2007). Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. New York: Houghton-Mifflin. ALRC Newskitchen
4. Emmons, R. A. & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 377-389. (electronic copy)
5. Kashdan, T.B., Uswatte, G., & Julian, T. (2006). Gratitude and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in Vietnam War veterans. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 177-199.
6. McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 112-127.
7. McCullough, M. E., Tsang, J. & Emmons, R. A. (2004). Gratitude in intermediate affective terrain: Links of grateful moods to individual differences and daily emotional experience. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86,295-309. (electronic copy)
8. Tsang, J. (2006a). The effects of helper intention on gratitude and indebtedness. Motivation and Emotion, 30, 198-204.
9. Tsang, J. (2006b). Gratitude and prosocial behavior: An experimental test of gratitude. Cognition and Emotion, 20, 138-148.
10. Watkins, P. C., Woodward, K., Stone, T., & Kolts, R. L. (2003). Gratitude and happiness: Development of a measure of gratitude, and relationships with subjective well-being. Social Behavior and Personality, 31, 431-452.

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French

Seasonal Affective Disorder

2008-11-09T11:30:00.041-05:00

Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a mood disorder, in which a person experiences depression repeatedly, year after year, during the same season each year. SAD occurs most frequently during the winter months. Poets have often written about the sense of loss, and the lethargy that accompanies the fall and winter. Most of us notice feeling more tired, and perhaps put on a little weight during this time. People with SAD experience an exaggerated sense of the "winter blues'.
Symptoms:
1. Oversleeping
2. Craving carbohydrates
3. Loss of interest in activities
4. Low energy
5. Depressed mood

Causes:
It's been theorized that SAD is caused by the lack of light. Lack of light may cause problems with your circadian rhythms. *Circadian rhythm is the body's "biological clock," or 24-hour cycle. A body's circadian rhythms can be affected by light or darkness, which can make the body think it is time to sleep or wake up.
The 24-hour circadian rhythm controls functions such as:
1. Sleeping and waking.

2. Body temperature.
3. The balance of body fluids.
4. The way other body systems function.

Who gets it?
1. People who live in areas where winter days are very short or there are big changes in the amount of daylight in different seasons. It's been documented that incidences of SAD increase with increasing latitude up to a point. It does not continue increasing all the way to the poles.
2. There seems to be interplay between an individual's innate vulnerability and her light exposure.
3. Women. About 70-80% of those with SAD are women.
4. People between the ages of 15 and 55. The risk of getting SAD for the first time goes down as you age.

5. People who have a close relative with SAD.

Treatments:

1. Light Therapy: 2 types are usually prescribed: 1. Bright light treatment: sitting in front of a "light box" (*I recommend the SunBox company http://www.sunbox.com/ ) usually for about a 1/2 hour and typically in the morning. The light boxes have 10,000 lux illumination and have filtered out the UV or ultraviolet light for safety. *There is no evidence that full spectrum lights are beneficial. (i.e., your plant lights will not cure SAD) and 2. Dawn simulation--a dim light goes on in the morning as you sleep, and gets brighter over time (like a sunrise!)

2. Get outside! One study showed that outside is often brighter than light box light, and that spending an hour outside showed beneficial results for participants

3. Antidepressants: these can improve the balance of the brain chemicals that affect mood. (*should be used as a last result after having tried other methods of treatment) Typically in our fast-paced lives, people have been taking a pill as a way to get relief from SAD. People report difficulties with taking the time to sit in front of a light box for 30 minutes a day and or finding time to go out in nature for an hour a day on a regular basis (Alas, a sign of the times!)

4. Counseling/Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy helps by: 1. looking at the cognitive distortions (the negative assumptions and expectations) of the individual. 2. identifying relationship difficulties and patterns of interaction to increase interpersonal effectiveness. 3. Identifying energy patterns and being able to pro-actively plan for seasonal mood fluctuations. *Research has shown that cognitive psychotherapy does help relieve depression faster and more completely than no therapy.

5. Daily Exercise: helps increase endorphins, so you feel good. *Ideally, if you exercise daily outdoors, you get the health benefits of the exercise and the light therapy from being outdoors, you also get the spiritual benefits from being out in nature.

6. Eating a balanced diet! always important for good health. You effectively can boost your levels of this serotonin by eating tryptophan rich foods. The best natural sources of tryptophan can be found in fish, turkey, chicken, bananas, milk, eggs, nuts, and avocados. Vitamin D may be needed in the fall and winter months as exposure to the sun is the most important source of this vitamin for humans. Vitamin D is essential for normal bone and tooth development. It acts like a hormone in that it plays a role in regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Vitamin D plays a continuing role in maintaining a stable nervous system, normal heart activity, and normal blood clotting. A role for vitamin D in immune system modulation is currently being studied. In the most recent revision of the RDAs, the recommended dietary intake for certain age groups was increased as much as 50%.

For additional information:

1. http://www.usana.com/media/File/dotCom/company/science/components/Vitamin_D.pdf
* Disclaimer: The information provided in these "Technical Bulletins" (the link above) is strictly educational. It may not be used to promote USANA products, nor is it intended as medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders, consult your health care professional. This information may be copied and freely distributed only if all text remains intact and unchanged.
2. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D (from the National Institute of Health)

7. A newer recommendation for SAD is: Ionized Air Administration. Charles Wallach, 64, works in Washington, D.C., and is a consultant to the Food and Drug Administration. He has served as a consultant to may government agencies and industries to create a more healthy indoor working environment. Negative ions are typically found in the natural environment at the seashore, near waterfalls and in pine forests, Wallach explained. "Every place people like to be is rich in negative ions," Wallach said. Dozens of studies have documented the benefits of exposure to relatively high concentrations of negative ions produced by high density negative ion generators. Studies published in respected journals have concluded that negative ions can have a profoundly beneficial effect on both the mind and body. For specific scientific studies, click:http://www.negative-ion-generators.com/ion_studies.php