WellnessCoach.com

Welcome to the second post in this latest product review series. Today, I’ve reviewed a second DVD in the Mayo Clinic/GAIAM Wellness Solutions series from the GAIAM catalog. While the product I reviewed in the prior post is a helpful wellness tool for those with chronic back pain, this product is a breath of fresh air for those of us entering, or currently dancing with, menopause.

Menopause came knocking on my door seven years ago. (Actually, banging on the door was more like it.) Since I was in my early 40’s at the time, she was an unexpected visitor. But I have since learned that mine was not an unusual age for hosting such a visit!

I have been fortunate enough to work with a great naturopath and nutritionist, as well as an acupuncturist, and am quite pleased with the results and my relationship with this powerful stage of my life and all it brings to me. That said, I am always looking for ways to strengthen my relationship with menopause. Which is why I was excited to test a new resource and am delighted to be able to share it with you.

Mayo Clinic’s Wellness Solutions for Menopause

Product Description:
“Mayo Clinic, one of the top medical centers in the country, and GAIAM, the health and wellness experts, team up to bring you this groundbreaking, integrated health action plan designed specifically to help you become attuned to your body during this transition.”
– from the product’s back cover

Contents: DVD (90 minutes) and BONUS: 52-page My Stress Solution booklet.

Price: $20.00 U.S.

WellnessCoach.com Rating key
☺ ☺ ☺ = Great product. I’m using it, love it and I highly recommend it for those who seek a wellness solution to the issue or condition the product addresses.
☺ ☺ = Good product. I’m using it, or parts of it, for now, and/or if it addresses a wellness need you have, definitely consider giving it a try.
☺ = It has merit, but I’m not personally using it. Use with caution.
☹ = Don’t bother.

WellnessCoach Assessment:

For women who want an integrated approach to embracing the life transition from peri-menopause through menopause, this DVD supplies helpful resources and information. The Mayo Clinic team teaches that menopause is a natural life stage and not a medical disorder, which is a sound and accurate point of view.

By the end of the DVD, you will have met knowledgeable and caring experts, learned nutritional tips for eating well at this phase of life, taken a refreshing meditation break and had a restorative yoga session. The bonus booklet, My Stress Solution, gives tips for managing stress, which is critical for keeping your body healthy during times of transition. (As with any program, be sure to consult with your doctor to be sure this program is right for you.)

Strengths of the product/content:
1. Philosophy that menopause is a natural stage of life.

2. Integrated approach (expert information, tips for healthy diet, gentle and restorative yoga and meditation)

3. The My Stress Solution booklet is comprehensive and since managing stress is extremely valuable during menopause, this is a great tool. It’s almost identical to the bonus booklet in the above reviewed product, but the inside front and back covers have important notes specific to menopause in this case.

4. Dr. Lynne Shuster, M.D. is awesome. She is knowledgeable, warm, and an approachable expert. She is a great addition to this DVD and provides the core medical and emotional information. Because she is a woman, and either at or nearing this stage of life herself, you might feel like I did which is that you’d like to have her along for the duration of this transition.

5. The dietitian in this DVD is also a woman, seeming to be at or nearing this stage of life as well. She provides solid and helpful tips for a plant-based diet and dietary healthy choices during menopause.

6. Yoga expert, Colleen Saidman, guides you through meditation and restorative yoga and does so with the compassion of someone who understands the terrain of the menopause transition. The yoga session was filmed in a beautiful setting, gentle music is in the background, and you feel like you are actually taking an outdoor, lakeside class with Colleen.

7. The DVD (as is each of them in this series) is presented in eco-friendly packaging.

Weaknesses of the product:
1. While I appreciated the welcome and overview by Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Brent Bauer in the prior product I reviewed, I had a different reaction to his introduction on this DVD. I honestly would have preferred the welcome to come from Dr. Lynne Shuster.

I just had a hard time hearing Dr. Brent Bauer tell me how menopause is a natural part of life. It felt a bit like having my Dad, uncle, or brother tell me about menstruation (which they didn’t) rather than my Mom, aunt, or big sister. Call me old fashioned or even gender-biased if you will, it’s just my preference to hear about changes to my female body from other women.

2. I have a small dislike for the terminology used to describe Part 1. It is called: Understanding Your Condition. I don’t think of menopause as a condition like I do back pain or arthritis. I’d rather it was called: Understanding Menopause. Not a big deal, but not exactly aligned with their philosophy that menopause is a natural change.

3. The eco-friendly packaging used for all the DVDs in this series presents the same dilemma it did in the above review – great for the environment but can potentially scratch the DVDs. Be careful when removing the DVD or placing it into the package.

My Personal Experience:
I wish I would have had this program right from the start of the menopause transition – it was seven years ago when peri-menopause was first dancing through my life and having this DVD then would have been helpful. But it still is relevant to the stages I’m in right now and I’m grateful I came across the DVD.

Because of my experience with the first product I reviewed in this series, I knew to watch this DVD in its entirety the first time through, without participating in the yoga or meditation right away. This let me see what props were needed and gather them ahead of time.

As before, Part 1 contained the overview of Mayo Clinic’s integrative approach. This DVD also contained an outstanding discussion by Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Lynne Shuster, who presents the physiological and psychological components of menopause, hormone therapy options, and a reminder that each woman will experience menopause in a different way. I really enjoyed listening to her and took a few notes to share and discuss with my own health care practitioner.

While the dietary information in Part 2 wasn’t new to me, I liked the presentation (plus the dietician is close in age to me and so her credibility to discuss menopause was strong). Additionally, Dr. Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic “took me grocery shopping” to choose healthy foods (as he did in the Back Care DVD.) I only wish he could have done my actual shopping☺

The yoga and meditation by Colleen Saidman was refreshing. I did it first thing in the morning and liked how it eased me into the day. I modified a few of the poses to accommodate my back and my specific physiology. I already do yoga, but there are a few restorative poses that I’ll work into my routine.

I liked pretty much everything about this DVD — from the expert information to the soothing meditation, the music, the peaceful settings, and the bonus stress management guide. This will still be useful to me for many more years to come and also a nice gift for my baby-boomer friends.

Overall Product Rating: ☺ ☺ ☺

Hope you have found the last two reviews helpful in your own wellness journey, or for the someones who are close to you. Let me know your own experience of the products when you have a minute.

What else have you found helpful in your own wellness journey?

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Here’s to wellness…in body, mind and spirit! In this 2-post series, I’ve reviewed two new Wellness Tools for you. I’ve tested, tried, read, watched and reviewed both products thoroughly. I’ll be giving you my professional and personal experience and provide an overall rating for each product.

As I’ve done before in this blog, I’ll be using the following key:

Rating key
☺ ☺ ☺ = Great product. I’m using it, love it and I highly recommend it for those who seek a wellness solution to the issue the product addresses.
☺ ☺ = Good product. I’m using it, or parts of it, for now, and/or if it addresses a wellness need you have, definitely consider giving it a try.
☺ = It has merit, but I’m not personally using it. Use with caution.
☹ = Don’t bother.

Overview of the Products Reviewed:

The two products (both DVDs) you’ll learn about in this 2-post series come from the Gaiam on-line catalog, a source I use and trust for selecting helpful wellness tools. Gaiam has teamed up with the Mayo Clinic to produce a new series of DVDs: Wellness Solutions from Gaiam and Mayo Clinic. Let me give you a brief snapshot of the Wellness Solutions series overall.

At the time of this review, the series contains 10 products. Each one focuses on a different chronic condition, from Arthritis to Fibromyalgia. They all feature integrated health action plans designed to help you manage health challenges and take charge of your health.

Each DVD in the series begins with 30-minutes of conversational presentations by several Mayo Clinic Specialists. Next, a Mayo Clinic dietitian teaches what to eat and what to avoid with respect to the specific condition that the DVD addresses. Finally, a yoga expert guides you through a 40-minute yoga segment, containing condition-specific relaxation poses and meditation exercises.

I’ve selected the following DVD for the first review:

1. Mayo Clinic’s Wellness Solutions for Back Pain

Product Description:
“Mayo Clinic, one of the top medical centers in the country, and GAIAM, the health and wellness experts, team up to bring you this groundbreaking, integrated health action plan designed specifically to relieve back pain.”
– from the product’s back cover

Contents: DVD (93 mins) and BONUS: 52-page My Stress Solution booklet.

Price: $20.00 U.S.

WellnessCoach Assessment

This DVD is a wonderful tool to help you cultivate better health and supplement your current back care program. The information, dietary tips, and back-health specific yoga stretches are expertly presented. And the bonus booklet, My Stress Solution, makes this a truly integrated program. (As with any program, be sure to consult with your doctor to be sure this is right for you.)

Strengths of the product/content:
1. The integrated approach is comprehensive (expert information, tips for healthy diet, gentle yoga and meditation)
2. The My Stress Solution booklet contains a thorough stress management action plan including stress assessments, and relaxation tips. It’s easy to understand and use, and contains a 1-page summary of the key tips presented on the DVD.
3. Dr. Bret Bauer presents a warm, personable, and expertly informative overview of the Mayo Clinic’s integrative treatment approach.
4. The detailed physiological information about back care and back pain are thorough and yet easy to understand.
5. The Grocery shopping tips for selecting nutritious foods convey the importance of making healthy choices.
6. The dietitian gives helpful tips for portion control and an overview of a plant-based diet.
7. Rodney Yee is a nationally known yoga instructor and having his participation here further adds to the value of this program. The poses are great for beginners and more importantly are specific to back care and stress relief.
8. The DVD is presented in eco-friendly packaging.

Weaknesses of the product/content:
1. While the dietitian presents absolutely impeccable and expert advice, she appears to be quite young and this may be an obstacle for some in accepting her credibility.
2. The eco-friendly packaging can potentially scratch the DVDs. Be careful when removing the DVD or placing it into the package.

My Personal Experience:
As someone whose back has been through many challenges, I’ve been a big proponent of healthy back strategies for many years. I was excited to try this program.

I watched the 3-part DVD in two stages.
First I watched Parts 1 and 2 for information. I got a solid overview of the integrative approach and Mayo Clinic experts discussed back care physiology, options, dietary strategies and food selection tips.

As a nutrition educator, the dietary information wasn’t new to me, but I enjoyed the presentation and found it to be affirming of what advice I follow myself. While I do eat a blood-type diet for a Type O, (I consume grass fed beef and organic free-range poultry), overall, my diet is predominantly plant-based as the DVD suggests it should be.

I liked that alternative approaches to back care, such as acupuncture, were also included in the strategies presented, as it fits with my belief in integrated programs. Parts 1 and 2 left me feeling very informed and ready for part 3.

I watched part 3, the yoga and meditation segment, later in the day.
I changed into my sweats and carved out 40 minutes for a yoga and meditation session, and followed along as I watched Part 3 (Soothing Therapies).

The meditations were peaceful. For the yoga component, I had my yoga mat in place, but I had to stop a few times throughout and go grab a few props from around the house. These included 2 blankets, a yoga strap and a yoga block to sit on. A better strategy would have been to watch the whole routine first and then I’d have known what I needed. The poses were gentle and felt great on my back. Some of them were new to me and I liked that.

I spent some time the following day, using the Bonus My Stress Solution action guide booklet. The assessments are good tools for evaluating stress levels and coping styles, and I got some good feedback. I liked the last page summary of key tips on the DVD.

I plan on keeping the yoga stretches in my daily stretching regime and keeping the booklet for future reference. Since my diet is already aligned with the suggestions, and I already use the modality of acupuncture, I figure I will stay the course. I also know what my brother, who sports a chronically challenged back himself, is getting for his birthday:)

Overall Product Rating: ☺ ☺+

Tune in on Thursday this week for a review of another DVD I’m testing out in this series, Wellness Solutions for Menopause.

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This afternoon I went to my favorite cafe. Took nothing but money, my driver’s license and my car keys. Thought I’d take a time out from all things work related.

I got my iced green tea, settled into a comfy chair, and did nothing but stare into oblivion. I’m sure there were whirring blenders, a strong aroma of dark roast coffee, and a cool breeze produced by the overhead fan…I’ve experienced them all, many times before. But today, I just needed to chill out. I did. For a good 15 minutes.

And then I heard a voice rise from the group of people who sat at the table beside me. “What’s been on your mind lately?” I heard a young woman’s voice ask. I turned, thinking she was talking to me. She wasn’t. She was talking to her group of friends. I turned back to my iced tea and, having borrowed her question, mulled it over for a while.

“What’s been on my mind lately?” I asked myself. Posing the question to my own self made me smile. My own “answers” to the question included everything from “maybe Oregon would be a good vacation spot this year” to “I’m wondering if my own fitness regime needs tweaking?” I even thought about several business decisions I’d sworn I wouldn’t bring with me to the cafe. Doing so with detachment was actually enjoyable.

After I left I realized that just exploring the terrain of my mind, without insisting that I had to do anything about what I was pondering, held the key to that enjoyment…

So what about you…what’s on your mind?

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Where We Left Off…And What’s Recently Sprouted

In the first post of this series, I provided key facts about the importance of the Amazonian rainforest and one particular type of palm tree that grows there. In the second installment, I touted the merits of that palm tree’s prize berry – the Acai. Now, I’m making good on my promise at the conclusion of that post, and giving you my recent personal experience of an amazing product made from the Acai berry.

First Things First…A Bit of History

As many of you know, either from reading my book, glancing through my “About” page here on the blog, or knowing me in person, I have intimately learned that wellness from the inside out is possible, even when dealing with major health challenges. Residual effects of a near-fatal car accident as well as symptoms and a western diagnosis of MS, have not curbed, but fueled my commitment to cultivating increased levels of wellness.

That commitment helped me find the blend of wellness modalities that work for me, including: homeopathy, osteopathy, acupuncture, nutritional supplements, meditation, yoga, weights, and swimming. The combination of all of these works well for me, especially when I approach the entire realm of wellness with an attitude of love and gratitude for the body I have.

During the last year however, as the dance with menopause entered my life, my energy level dropped and my sleep pattern was interrupted with mild insomnia. Adding B-12 shots to the picture helped increase my energy level but restless nights were frequent.

Enter MonaVie

For the last 4 months, I’ve been drinking the incredible antioxidant-rich juice blend called MonaVie. With the Acai berry as its “crown jewel”, MonaVie is powerful blend of 19 health-promoting fruits from the four corners of the earth. The “Active” version that I drink, also contains a plant-derived source of glucosamine and esterified fats to promote joint health. I promise to direct you to much more information about the product itself at the end of this post, but my focus here is to share my personal experience of drinking MonaVie.

In a Nutshell…I’m Energized and Well-Rested!

At the two-week mark of drinking Monavie, absorbing the properties of the acai berry, and quenching my body’s need for anti-oxidants and phytonutrients in a way its never known, my energy started to increase. By the end of a month, I didn’t need B-12 shots. I began having good, solid full-nights of sleep, more dreams, and was waking in the morning feeling deeply rested. After 4 months I can honestly say I’ve now adopted MonaVie into my wellness regime for the long-run and am happy knowing I’m giving my body the anti-oxidants, phytonutrients, and essential fats it has been missing.

It’s a Family Thing Now

Along the way, I encouraged my husband to get on the bandwagon and start drinking Monavie. Since he’d been bothered for ages with shoulder discomfort, I wondered what experience he’d have. After 2 months, he realized that his aches and pains had vanished and he could move his shoulder with greater range of motion. He’s also had deeper sleep and more dreams, and wakes more refreshed.

We have most of our family drinking the juice, including Steve’s 83-year-old parents, as well as my 2-year-old nephew, and soon they will all be drinking MonaVie.

How About You?

Monavie’s unique blend of 19 fruits, with Acai as the crown jewel, is a tremendous anti-oxidant. And, as I’ve already said in the prior post, acai – that small purple berry from the rainforest — can have all sorts of “healing” properties. But it’s essential I say can because the MonaVie company makes no claims to that effect. They simply share the juice with others, show them findings from scientists and let each one of us make up our own mind about the physical health benefits. Only you will know if it’s right for you after trying it for yourself. Ready to place an order and try it out?

More Info

Click on “Nutrition Products” here or on my blog’s tool bar at the top of the page, and you will be transported to my full informational site on MonaVie. There, you will find Monavie Product Information, answers to FAQs, and be able to order the juice.

Yes, I now sell Monavie. After my own experience, it’s the only product I am willing to put my professional energy behind. Once at my Monavie site, if the spirit moves you, you can also explore the Business Opportunity. Use the password: freedom.

Feel Free to Call Me: 925-933-7445

I’d be glad to tell you more about the juice and my experience, place your order for you, and/or discuss the incredible Monavie Business Opportunity (which I’ll discuss in another post one day soon.)

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Where we left off…

The first post of this series focused on the importance of the Amazonian rainforest, the vital role it plays on the planet and a bit about a particular palm tree that grows there. I concluded the post with this fact:

“These same trees also yield the dark purple Acai berry (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee), which has high nutritional value and antioxidant benefits.”

In this post, you’ll be learning more about Acai — a true Wellness Gift from the Amazon.

Acai – What’s the buzz about?

Everywhere you look you see something compelling about Acai. Oprah.com lists Acai as “the world’s No. 1 superfood”. The London Times says, “Acai (has) the nutritional content that makes other fruits blush with inadequacy.” Every major juice company is on the bandwagon and you even see Acai juice blends for sale at Costco. But how do you get to the heart of the matter? How do you learn about the berry itself?

From confusion to clarity

My intention in this post is to help you sort out the facts about the powerful nutritional implications of that small purple berry — the Acai berry!

In putting the following section together, I got information about Acai from naturalstandard.com (a scientific subscription service), scoured my notes from nutrition school, dissected Wikipedia’s entry on Acai Palm, and read the book “Acai—An Extraordinary Antioxidant-Rich Palm Fruit” by Alexander G. Schauss, PhD., FACN. I hope what I’ve uncovered and synthesized helps increase your understanding of Acai.

Acai and Antioxidants 101:
17 Facts You Need to Know

1. The Acai berry grows on a palm tree in the Amazon, known by its Latin name as Euterpe oleracea. The indigenous people living in the Brazilian Amazon call the berry and the palm tree, “Acai”.

2. Acai pulp is mixed into numerous foods by indigenous peoples of the Brazilian Amazon, and consumed at almost every meal. Additionally, these native people drink up to 64 ounces of fresh Acai juice/pulp daily, a practice that has been documented to go back at least two centuries.

3. The dark purple pigmented Acai berry is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential omega fatty acids.

4. The Açai berry’s fatty acid profile is similar to olive oil. Specifically, its essential fatty acid & omega profile includes:

• 60% Oleic (omega 9) - a monounsaturated essential fatty acid which helps to lower LDL (harmful cholesterol), while maintaining HDL (beneficial cholesterol).

• 12% Linoleic (omega 6) - a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid which has also been found to lower LDL, while maintaining HDL.

5. Acai has a protein profile similar to an egg.

6. Acai contains the leading source of anthocyanins–often reported as 30 times that of the protective potential of red wine.

7. Anthocyanins are known for their strong anti-inflammatory qualities.

8. Acai is an excellent source of dietary fiber.

9. Acai has a low glycemic index.

10. Acai contains large amount of trace minerals (Co, Cr, Cu, Mo) and macro minerals (Ca, Fe), and generous amount of vitamins including vitamin E.

11. Acai has more than 16 phytonutrients and antioxidants. A strong concentration of antioxidants helps combat premature aging.

12. Antioxidants help eliminate free radicals in the body. Free radicals are produced by the body in response to oxidative stress. These free radicals react with proteins, lipids and DNA in the body and cause oxidation. Oxidation of these biomolecules can cause damage, disrupt function, lead to aging and/or lead to disease.

13. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capaciy (ORAC) assay measures the antioxidant capacity of a food for its ability to manage the peroxyl radical, which is the most dominant free radical produced in the body.

14. The higher the ORAC score, the stronger a food is in its antioxidant capacity. Dr. Alexander Schauss, PhD, FACN says we could just call the units of ORAC the “anti-aging points”.

15. The USDA has analyzed the antioxidant capacity of 278 fruits, vegetables, nuts, and plant foods, including Acai, using the ORAC.

16. Freeze-drying is the superior method of preserving the nutritional, phytochemical and antioxidant capacity of Acai.

17. At an ORAC score of 1,027 units per gram, freeze-dried Acai is the highest reported ORAC of ANY food reported in the scientific literature. (Blueberries and cranberries, well-known antioxidants, score 90 ORAC units by comparison.)

Freeze-Dried Acai boosts nutritional wellness

When I wrote a product review back in February about the Republic of Tea’s® Green Tea with Acai, I reported about my limited experience with the tea blend. I hadn’t yet explored the specific world of Acai to the extent I have now. I knew that Acai was considered to be a superfood and knew it was high in antioxidants, but I hadn’t been a consistent consumer or done any extensive research. Well, things are different today. I have done the research on Acai, and I am a grateful and much-benefited consumer.

I can say now that we are indeed blessed. We are lucky to be able to consume the freeze-dried pulp and juice from the powerful little purple Acai berry. With advances in technology and distribution, we are able to do so just as the indigenous people of the Amazon have been doing for ages. This powerful antioxidant is just what we need to boost our nutritional wellness levels.

Next Post

Tune in for Part Three of this series later this week and I’ll tell you about my personal experience with Acai.

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“If you are thinking 1 year ahead, sow seeds.
If you are thinking 10 years ahead, plant trees.
If you are thinking 100 years ahead, educate the people.”
http://www.savetherainforest.org

Introduction
What began as a simple post about a small purple berry from the tropical rainforest of the Amazon, has grown into a 3-part series. I found I couldn’t just talk about one berry without starting from a much bigger perspective.

No Small Matter
See, for me, anything pertaining to the Amazonian rainforest opens up a conversation that is almost as expansive, powerful and important to our existence as the entire region itself. So welcome to Wellness from the Amazon, Part One: Seven Things You Should Know About the Rainforest.

Entering the Territory
I enter this conversation with the same respect and awe that I would enter the rainforest were I traveling there with you today. I did my best to be thorough in my research, to check my facts, and to remain as neutral as possible throughout the series. Any errors are my own and I welcome input that will help me correct them.

Pachamama Alliance
My awe and respect for the tropical rainforests of the Amazon began many years ago when my husband Steve and I were introduced to The Pachamama Alliance. We were so moved by their commitment to partnering with the Achuar, (the indigenous people of Ecuador’s rainforest region), we made our own commitment to contribute what we could from that moment on. Pachamama’s mission statement appears below:

Continued Education
Our commitment and understanding about the rainforest has grown through the years. In addition to the work of Pachamama in Ecuador, we’ve also learned about other rainforest areas of the Amazon and efforts underway that help preserve the Brazilian rainforest. Through it all, we’ve come across a number of facts and resources that would be our honor to pass along. The list appears below:

 

7 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE RAINFOREST

1. The Amazon rainforest covers over a billion acres and encompasses areas in the Eastern Andean region of Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia. If the rainforest were a country, it would be the ninth largest in the world.

2. More than 20 percent of the world’s oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest. It is often referred to as the “Lungs of our Planet” because it provides the essential environmental world service of continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen.

3. More than 50% of the world’s estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical rainforests. One-fifth of the world’s fresh water is in the Amazon Basin.

4. The U.S. National Cancer Institute has identified more than 2000 plants that are active against cancer cells. 70% of these plants are found in the rainforest. Twenty-five percent of the active ingredients in today’s cancer-fighting drugs come from organisms found only in the rainforest.

5. Human-caused deforestation (including logging, mining, heart-of-palm harvesting) is destroying our rainforests. If such deforestation continues at current rates, scientists estimate nearly 80 to 90 percent of rainforest ecosystems will be destroyed by the year 2020. Research shows that this destruction is the main force driving a species extinction rate unmatched in 65 million years.

6. Harvesting the 100-foot Euterpe oleracea palm trees in the Brazilian rainforest or in Ecuador for hearts-of-palm is a big contributor to deforestation there. Once the heart-of-palm is cut from the tree (for sale at market), death of the entire tree is not far behind.

7. These same trees also yield the dark purple Acai berry (pronounced ah-sigh-ee), which has high nutritional value and antioxidant benefits. Teaching people that harvesting the berries, instead of the heart-of-palm, will help protect and perpetuate the remarkable ecosystem known as the Amazon in which Acai palm trees grow.

Resources for Learning More

A. Websites:

The Pachamama Alliance –
http://www.Pachamama.org

The Nature Conservancy -
http://www.nature.org/rainforests/explore/facts.html

Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Tree project –
http://www.plantabillion.org/

SavetheRainforest.org
http://www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest_007.htm

B. Books:

Lessons of the Rainforest
by Suzanne Head, Robert Heinzman
Published by Sierra Club Books
ISBN: 0871566826

Rainforest
By Ben Morgan, author, The Rainforest Foundation, foreword, and Thomas Marent, photographer
Published by DK adult
ISBN: 978-075661940

C. On-line Video:
Story of Pachamama Alliance
http://www.pachamama.org/content/view/262/97/

The next installment of this series will pick up from here - with a discussion about the powerful nutritional implications of the Acai berry!

To Your Wellness,
Erica

P.S. I’d be delighted if you’d like to share additional resources pertaining to the rainforests of the Amazon with us. Of course, I adore all comments!

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Even though I come from a family of avid golfers, and grew up with the game surrounding me, I am not a golfer.

What I do have though is a profound respect for those who do play, a love for the aesthetics of beautiful golf courses and an unexplainable obsession for watching masterful golfers and gleaning lessons I can apply to my own life.

So yes, I was glued to the TV for days watching Tiger Woods win this latest U.S. Open. Especially the round on Father’s Day, the play off round on Monday and the subsequent sudden-death game that resulted in his win. The man never ceases to amaze me.

I’ve been thinking about what I’ve learned from watching Tiger play this past week and how I will put it to use. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

1. I’m not privy to the inside of Tiger’s head…if I were, I’d guess that his mindset FROM THE OUTSET of this U.S. Open was: “I’ve WON the 2008 U.S. Open”.

2. Like a pilot with a specific destination (let’s say Kansas), he knew where he was headed. He had a clear intention. In fact he already saw in his mind’s eye that he had arrived at his destination.

3. Also like a pilot, he had to do course-correction along the way. I imagine when a shot didn’t go as planned, even let’s say an hour before the tournament ended, he didn’t say to himself, “Oh crap, I’m not going to win now”, any more than the pilot would say,”Oh crap, I’m not going to land in Kansas” when the wind shifted a bit and the course had to be altered an hour before landing. I’ll bet instead Tiger’s thinking went something like:

4. “Okay, now what? Since I see myself as ALREADY HAVING WON THIS THING and I project to an hour from now when I am holding that trophy, WHAT DID I DO AT THIS POINT SO I WOUND UP WINNING?”

5. And then he just did the next thing he had to do…he did the next thing that his “winning script” (which was written in terms of the future) already said had happened to get him the trophy. He put ALL HIS FOCUS ON THE SHOT HE WAS TAKING AT THE MOMENT, knowing IT WAS IN SERVICE TO THE GOAL HE HAD ALREADY ACHIEVED IN SOME FUTURE STATE. In the present, he isn’t griping that he has to get out of the sand trap or rough (okay, maybe for a split second) but then, he immediately focuses and just gets out because he knows that’s what will have happened in the script of his already having won that trophy.

6. I truly think he enjoyed the process. (Okay, maybe not the knee pain, but certainly the chance to focus and apply his skill.)

7. In my own life, I have a few “trophies” that I want to attain or cultivate. Some are intangible trophies like peace and joy. Others are tangible like a clear business goal and a fitness goal. I am committed to spending time each day seeing the future “script” of myself as already in possession of these things.

8. And I am committed to simultaneously focusing on each task in front of me that is a part of that “script” with mindfulness.

9. I am committed to shortening the time I spend griping about unexpected sand traps. (I mean really, yes I might be bummed, but how much preciouis time do I want to hang out there?)

10. I’m committed to refocusing on the needed course correction that is already a part of my future success script. (My friend and financial mentor, Loral Langemeir, calls this future pacing.)

11. I’m committed to enjoying the process.

I sure have no inkling whatsoever to pick up a golf club, but God, I love golf. And thanks, Tiger. You’re the best business and wellness mentor I’ve ever “hired”.

How about you? Love to hear if any of this makes sense in your life…

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Wellness - a small word with big implications. So big, that some people are overwhelmed by the idea. Overwhelmed because they think they have to take big steps, make major shifts, and do so all at once, right now. It’s no wonder.

Just reading the front cover of a popular wellness magazine this morning, I saw admonitions that I, while reading this one issue, should: “Change the Way I Eat; Change the Way I Exercise; Improve My Meditation Techniques; Revamp My Yoga Practice; Hire a Personal Trainer; Achieve My Ideal Weight; Stay Calm.” Yikes!

Of course, you could get equally overwhelmed by reading every single post I’ve put on this blog and expect yourself to implement everything – and implement all of the tips all today no less. But that’s not the way I approach wellness in my own life, and it’s not the way I want to promote wellness here. I’m a big believer in keeping things meaningful and simple.

Keep it simple.
You can begin to make a difference in the wellness of your life and business with your next breath. You already have the blueprint for doing so within you. With simple attention and a commitment to your inner nature, you can begin today to uncover or rediscover that blueprint.

5 Simple Ways to Bring Wellness into Your Life

1. Honor your breath.
Right now. Without changing a thing, what do you notice about your breath? Is it shallow? Fast? Slow? Your breath is the source of your life. Taking time to notice it each day, in the midst of business and personal life tasks, is a powerful way to honor your inner nature.

2. Clarify your values.
What’s important? Personally and professionally, what do you value? Efficiency? Joy? Education? Recognition? Identify your Top 3 Values and post them on your calendar or dashboard. Refer to this list as you make choices throughout your day, especially the choices you know will impact your overall wellness level.

3. Make a mini-assessment in 1 hour. Assess your life, your business and your actions.
Are your values evident in your personal and professional life? Are you walking your talk? Take your Top 3 Values and spend an honest hour with yourself as you assess your life and business. Is there one small but high-leveraging change you can make? When and how will you do it? Go ahead. Shift something right now.

4. Discover what you love.
What makes your heart sing? What fills your soul at this stage in your life? Sometimes we get stuck in routines and wake up to find we are far away from doing what we love. Tame the Gremlin® that tells you that discovering what you love takes a lot of work. Keep it simple. If you had plenty of time and money, what would you be doing? Why? Take some time to write your answer (or speak it into a tape recorder). Find a way this week to start doing something you love. Review this tip often.

5. Focus on your strengths.
What do you do well? What comes easily? Are you overlooking any personal or professional strength that others see? List your Top 5 Strengths. Now ask 2 people (whose opinions you respect) to do the same for you—have them include any character attributes, business practices, or life skills they admire. Combine the information. Keep the final list handy and review your strengths often.

Bonus Tip: Read Something Inspirational
It’s amazing to me that the simple act of reading a short haiku, a small poem, an ancient fable, or an inspiring essay, can open up new space in the day. Find a collection of your old favorites, or discover a new one. Place Seven Sacred Attitudes® on your nightstand for easy morning or evening inspiration.

Invitation: Choose to take one of these simple tips and start cultivating wellness with your next breath!

Keep us posted: I haven’t done a few of these myself in awhile, so I’ll be looking at #5 today. How about you?

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What’s a picture of a skull and crossbones doing on a Wellness blog?

Well, I hope you know me well enough by now to know I’m not big on scare tactics, and tend instead to focus on the things we CAN do to increase our wellness quotients…but today, I’d like to opt for providing a useful warning. It comes from a situation I faced this morning.

Today, I asked my new assistant to be sure to choose the organic produce when she did our grocery shopping. She had only been on the job an hour, wasn’t used to our shopping M.O. and had a question for me as I handed her the list of things I wanted her to get. “What if they don’t have organics for every item on the list?” she asked. “Should I get the conventionally grown instead, or skip the item all together?”

It just so happened I had two lists tucked into a cookbook that I’d put there a while back — lists of pesticide-ladened foods and those less likely to be as dangerous if not organic. They were given to me by a nutrition colleague, Gerry Tribble. I’ve pretty much committed them to memory, but it dawned on me that my assistant wasn’t the only one who could benefit from seeing the lists. I handed her the paper copies and made this one for you:

Researchers from a variety of backgrounds agree that these are the 12 most pesticide laden foods:

The Dangerous Dozen
Apples, Celery, Grapes (imported),
Peaches, Potatoes, Spinach,
Bell Peppers, Cherries, Nectarines,
Pears, Red Raspberries, Strawberries.

Avoid these foods when you cannot get them as Certified Organic*. I also avoid non-organic root veggies such as carrots and onions because the commercial pesticides leach into the soil and stick around for a long time.

Commercial pesticides are linked to disrupting nervous, mental and hormone functions. Chemical Pesticides can also increase the risk for developing leukemia, brain and soft tissue cancers.

Here’s a list of foods that are OK not to buy organic as few chemicals are
used during the growing process:

Few Chemicals Used During Growing Process
Asparagus, Bananas, Broccoli,
Citrus, Kiwi, Melons,
Papaya, Peas (sweet), Avocados,
Blueberries, Cauliflower, Grapes (Calif),
Mangos, Pineapples

by Gerri Tribble, N.D.

*As long as I’ve wandered on over to the “Certified Organic” territory, I thought I’d pass along a small tip. Organic.org has a useful article to help you make sense of organic labeling. Hope it, along with my lists, to make your grocery selection a bit easier this week.

Now off to eat some Organic pears and walnuts. How about you…what’s your healthy snack of choice today?

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This is the first post in the “I’ve Been
Wondering…” category. I created the category for short posts about those everyday moments that capture my attention now and again.

One of those moments occurred this morning. While standing in the kitchen, drinking the last of the glass of juice in my hand, I glanced out the window and wondered…

As they’ve been doing for many months now, the people across the street are building a new home on their lot. I’ve watched as each stage–from the bulldozer to the current addition of windows–unfolds. With each nail hammered in, each board set in place, I’ve been witnessing a dream take shape. Nothing delights me more.

As I put my juice glass down, I realized we are all building something. Every action, every word spoken or written, is contributing to our own (metaphorical) construction projects. When it comes to wellness, we can look ahead to the day and keep in mind the wellness level we want to create in body, mind, and spirit and link our actions to that dream. We can ask ourselves if a specific action, or in-action is a useful “board” in our “wellness construction project” or if it isn’t called for in the “blueprint.”

As I walked out of the kitchen, I realized the metaphor was useful to me. I’m often telling myself I’m not doing enough in my own wellness plan and forget to acknowledge the small steps I take. I shifted my perspective and saw that the juice was a small but vital part of my dream to be healthy and live a vital life for many many years.

I’d been wondering how that construction site would inform me…

What about you? When it comes to wellness, what are you building? Does the metaphor help you?

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