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July 2006


	In This Edition... Freedom of Choice Are You a Hostage to Your Fears? Are Your Beverages Stressing You Out? Beat Heart Disease by Eating Your Vegetables The Truth about Tan Scrub Up for Summer Happy (Face) Hour on Mondays Sizzlin’ Summer Service Specials at SCNY Summer Events at SCNY

Freedom of Choice

“Freedom is man's capacity to take a hand in his own development. It is our capacity to mold ourselves.” — Dr. Rollo May

July is here and summer is unfolding into days of glorious warmth and sunshine. Our thoughts inevitably wander to the holiday celebrated at the beginning of the month. The Declaration of Independence is the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and freedom. There are many ways we express our freedom, and yet it all boils down to choice. When we have choices we are able to feel and express freedom.

Many of us make choices as a daily part of our lives. For example we make simple choices as to what to wear, or where to go for dinner, and more complex choices in reference to our careers, our vacations and even our lovers. Yet most of us feel we have no choice when it comes to our bodies or we simple accept the state of wellness we are living in day to day. We may play a mental tape that exerts its influence on our body saying, “as you get older, your body will break down” or “I just have to live with this pain, symptom or condition”. “Its too much work to change how I feel” This denial of choice leads to a feeling of being powerless, of being stuck, of having no choice.

Ask yourself: are the choices you make truly yours or someone else’s? Are you choosing what you really want, or are you following a decision made years earlier that you really want to change? Are you afraid to change? Is there a tape playing over and over in your head telling you that it’s too late to change? Sometimes making a choice for change may lead to outcomes that are in some way painful. But the real pain is that of denying your own freedom. It is staying in a state of non-movement, unwilling or even unable to make a change, or to consider a new choice.

The exercises of Somato Respiratory Integration (SRI), offer an opportunity to live in freedom; to stop and observe your feelings, make more conscious choices and to be aware of new and improved options available in every area of your life. Through your focused attention, touch, movement and breath you will discover areas of your body that remember their freedom. Nourishing the areas of freedom will allow you to transform those areas of your body that are locked up, imprisoned, and painful.

I invite you to experience SRI - whether you are a beginner or you have been practicing for years. Through these exercises we will remind your body just how joyful freedom can be!

Louis Abate, D.C., Wellness Educator and SRI Facilitator

Learn more about SRI

Are You a Hostage to Your Fears?

“Where fear is allowed to reign, dreams are left to die.”

Everyone feels afraid at one time or another, but to have everything we want in life we have to push through our fears and do what needs to be done. I know it’s sometimes scary to even think of doing things that scare us - but what is even more frightening is to think about coming to the end of our time on this planet having never watched our heart’s greatest desires realized. We must free ourselves from the constraints of fear, and allow our dreams to fully manifest.

In case you have not considered it previously, as human beings we really only have two fears...

Click here read the entire article.

Are you ready to liberate yourself from your fears? To begin, take this quiz.

Are Your Beverages Stressing You Out?

Americans are constantly looking to alleviate their stress. Think of how much time and money you spend trying to “relax”. Now and then, many of us have “a couple of beers” or “a cocktail or two” after work to unwind after a hectic day. Then, you may try to balance the groggy effects of alcohol the next day with a cup of coffee. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone! These are all very common strategies to deal with feelings of overwhelm and anxiety.

The surprising truth is that you may be causing your body additional stress with these “stress-relieving” activities. While the media encourages you to drink more red wine to benefit your heart health or drink coffee as a source of antioxidants, rarely does the reporter include a disclaimer that warns of the toxic effects of alcohol and coffee on your body. Could you improve your current relaxation strategies to benefit your overall wellness?

Stress management is a very large part of progress toward any health goal - large or small. “Taking away” strategies that are deeply and systematically ingrained in your life can be very frustrating and can seriously backfire, adding more stress. Instead of “quitting” coffee and alcohol for good, I recommend finding more health-supportive beverages that will eventually “crowd out” or lessen the reliance on other, less health-supportive beverages.

Juicing is especially fun this time of year. Pick out your favorite seasonal, organic fruits and veggies from the local farmers market and juice them or blend them with yogurt and ice into a smoothie. You will reap the benefits of the vitamins, antioxidants, and phyto-nutrients from the fresh produce.

Craving the social aspect of beverages? Create a party or picnic around juices and fresh produce. Ask everyone to bring something to share and meet in a beautiful park or beach. If you’re on the town, juice and smoothie bars are popping up all over the map. Create a date to meet a pal at one of your favorites juice bars after work or to re-hydrate after a work-out.

Need another alternative? There are so many types of herbal teas - it is an adventure to try different kinds and choose your favorites! Green, black or white teas offer a milder version of the “pick-me-up” found in caffeinated coffee. Effects of caffeine from tea is much gentler and, in moderate quantities, can help you wean a coffee addiction.

Creating new, health-supportive habits can be challenging. Having a support person and a success strategy is the key to making your goal a reality. Who is your support person? I would love to be your partner in strategizing your wellness through crowding out the lifestyle and eating patterns in your life that no longer serve you. Let’s create an exciting plan that you will love to follow, step by step to success! Call to make an appointment with your Holistic Health Counselor today. I look forward to working with you!

Megan Franzen Carlos, Certified Holistic Health Counselor

More on Holistic Health Counseling

Beat Heart Disease by Eating Your Vegetables

Mice fed a diet rich in vegetables were less likely to develop atherosclerosis, fatty deposits in the arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke.

In the study, researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine used mice specially bred to develop atherosclerosis. Half were fed a diet with no vegetables and the other half were fed a vegetable-rich diet, including broccoli, green beans, corn, peas and carrots.

Sixteen weeks later, mice fed vegetables had 38 percent less buildup of fatty plaques in their arteries, along with a reduction in total cholesterol and body weight.

Further, mice that ate a vegetable-rich diet had a 37 percent reduction in a marker of inflammation called serum amyloid, which suggests the vegetables may fight inflammation. (Inflammation in the arteries is linked to atherosclerosis.)

Although it's not known whether these results hold true for humans as well, it is known that fruits and vegetables fight heart disease in humans. However, on average most people only eat three out of the five (minimum) recommended servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Journal of Nutrition, July 2006, Vol. 136, No. 7: 1886-1889

BBC News: June 18, 2006

EurekAlert: June 17, 2006

The Truth about Tan

Did you know that:

the sun and its ultraviolet rays are responsible for 80-85% of our skin’s aging?
most people incur up to 80% of their lifetime sun exposure by age 18?
tanning is the skin’s response to an injury?
tanning booths are not a “safer” way to tan?
sun protection is important year round - even on a cloudy day?
ALL skin types need protection?

Many people are unaware of the harmful effects of the sun and its ultraviolet rays. For those who are aware, they may have many misconceptions about sunscreen, sun damage and their own skin safety.

There is no “safe” tan. Ultraviolet Rays consist of two harmful rays - UVA rays that break down the collagen in your skin, creating a saggy appearance; and UVB rays that cause sunburn. Your skin produces additional melanin to balance the damaging UV rays. Although a tan is often mistaken as a sign of good health, this is actually the skin’s defense mechanism. Even tanning booths emit UVA radiation, which pose both short and long-term risks such as sunburns, skin cancer, eye damage, and premature aging.

Sun protection is important year round. Harmful rays are more intense in the summer and are increased by wind and reflections from water. In the winter, snow can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s rays. It is also important to keep in mind that even on a cloudy day UV radiation reaches the earth.

ALL skin types need protection. It is commonly thought that people with darker skin don’t need sunscreen. Even though darker skin can tolerate sun exposure, it is still susceptible to sun damage, freckling and moles. More than 90% of all skin cancers occur on sun-exposed skin.

How can you protect yourself today?

Avoid “peak” sunlight hours (10am - 4pm) when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
Seek shade when possible.
Wear protective clothing (e.g., wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses).
Avoid prolonged periods of sun exposure.
Use a “broad spectrum” sunscreen* that blocks out both the UVA and UVB rays.
Don’t forget to cover all exposed areas such as hands, décolleté, and lips.

* Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30 is a perfect day moisturizer that is non-greasy and suitable for all skin types. Not only does this Sun Lotion protect the skin but it “feeds” your skin numerous vitamins and antioxidants to help repair and reduce any further skin damage. If you can’t avoid being in the sun, at least you can feel confident that you are protecting yourself by adhering to the above recommendations.

There are many fabulous benefits of being in the sun for shorter periods of time. Being outside for about an hour can get you a healthy dose of Vitamin D, which has proven helpful in preventing cancer and is recommended, along with moderate exercise, to fight osteoporosis. While it is possible to overdose on this vitamin when taken as an oral supplement, it is impossible to overdose from sun exposure! So don’t hide from the sun - enjoy in moderation and apply sun lotion for extra protection.

An additional way to care for your skin this summer is with a nourishing vitamin packed Sea Glow Signature Facial. Rejuvenate and bring balance back to your sun-kissed skin. Click here to find out how you can save $20 on your next facial!

Erica Orenstein, Licensed Esthetician