In this episode of Feel Good Living TV I interview local business coach, Jennifer Kauffman about how she benefits from a quiet sitting practice.  The benefits of a silent practice are hard to quantify and something you have to truly experience to believe. In this segment Jen shares her struggles, how she overcame them as well as some of the benefits she’s experienced both personally and professionally as a result of her practice.  And I might add, her practice is different depending on her needs: sometimes she focuses on her breathing in more of a meditation, sometimes she visualizes her day, sometimes she seeks answers to a question.  Whichever form of silence she chooses, she says her productivity goes up on those days.

You may not think you don’t have time for a silent practice, but the truth is, you may be missing out on more by not having one.  Listen and watch the interview below.

Having trouble viewing the video? Click here.

I’ve been car dancing for as long as I can remember.  It is a safe place for my inner rock star to emerge.  So when friends Katie West of the Levity Project and Lance Ekum of the Jungle of Life asked folks to participate in a car dancing micro-movement by sending in a short video clip of ourselves car dancing, I couldn’t refuse (I’m on around 3:16 in the video).  Katie is using the video as part of her mission to create social change through laughter, play and celebration.

That certainly is feel-good living.  Watch the video below or click here to view the video directly

Note: I wasn’t actually driving when I shot it – too dangerous when you’re alone in the car!  Enjoy and feel free to pass it along. Who couldn’t use a little more fun, lightness and car dancing in their life?

Have you recently become the caregiver of an aging or ill person?  On this episode of Feel Good Living TV, I interview Hingham-based Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney Leanna Hamill about her new program designed to help you feel less overwhelmed if you’ve recently found yourself in the position of caregiver.  Leanna’s program will help you identify the action steps you need to take to make sure everyone involved is taken care of, including you as the caregiver.

Leanna works with families primarily in Eastern Massachusetts.  If you are not in this area, I encourage you to read her blog or get in touch with her and she might be able to refer you elsewhere.  Her blog offers a lot of valuable information about Elder Law and Estate Planning.  Plus, Leanna is a great person to work with – compassionate and caring.

The interview is 10 minutes and provides a bit more information about her “Overwhelmed” program, which you can read more about on her site Hamill Law Office and then click the tab “Overwhelmed?“  You can also call her at Phone: 781.749.2284.

When you and your family are well taken care of, that is feel-good living.

Have you ever been so sick you ask yourself, “Why am I sick?” or maybe it’s more like a desperate,”Why me?”

I spent the last few days with what was either the flu, norovirus or some other illness I wouldn’t wish on anyone.  Not “feel-good living”.

A few days prior, I began reading You Are What You Say: A Harvard Doctor’s Six-Step Proven Program for Transforming Stress Through the Power of Language by Matthew Budd, MD and Larry Rothstein, Ed.D.

Back Story

In the first chapter the author (Dr. Budd) describes his experience at a “transformational life” weekend workshop, of which he was initially skeptical.

As the seminar leader shouts out the ground rules, some as strict as “don’t speak until called upon”, the author notices a women start to cough and wheeze.  She’s having what appears to be an asthma attack.  As he approaches to help, she yells to the leader, “Don’t tell me what to do!” Long story short: Turns out the seminar leader reminded this woman of her father.  After this realization, she sat in her chair sobbing, releasing the old emotions.  Her coughing and wheezing ceased and her breath returned to normal. (for more details, read the book!)

He was reminded of a day from his youth when he came home from school not feeling well. When he arrived home his grandmother asked, “Why are you sick?” Several minutes passed before he broke down explaining that he was bullied during an after school baseball game.  After “sipping soup” and sleeping for 4 hours, he awoke feeling much better and ready to play ball again.

Could our emotions create our sickness?

My education and training in practices like Reiki, Yoga and other holistic healing methods lead me to say yes, our emotions can make us sick, on a large or small scale.  For example, have you ever had to present a talk to a group, felt fine all day, and suddenly, minutes before you’re up to speak you start coughing?  No sign of a cough all day?

As I pondered this question, “Why am I sick?” for myself, two answers immediately came to mind, both stress-related.  One theory had to do with my recent eating habits and another about my need to do too many things at once.

It’s no secret that stress is linked to various illnesses.  So why couldn’t my recent attack be stress induced?  It’s a hard thing to swallow, isn’t it?  To think we “do” this to ourselves.  And yet, if we do, does that mean we can “undo” it?  Powerful thought.

I look forward to reading more in Dr. Budd’s book about emotions, stress and illness and doing some research on my own.  But in the meantime, I throw the question out to you to get you thinking a little and to start the conversation.

Have you ever wondered, “Why am I sick?

What do you think about the link between stress and illness? Do you believe in it?

Read more from WebMd.com about the link between stress and illness.

Today’s Stretch Break! will help you stretch the chest, shoulders and even your wrists.  Today I offer two variations – one from a seated position and one standing. The standing version offers a deeper stretch, the seated version is great for those with back issues who need the support.  You know how you feel, choose the one most appropriate for you (seated version is demonstrated first).  You will need to be seated near a table or desktop for this one. Remember to breathe! And always remember, stretching is feel-good living.

Note: The Stretch Break! series is designed for the average healthy adult. Please always consult a physician before starting any exercise/movement program. If you have back, wrist or shoulder pain/injury these stretches may not be right for you. If you are unsure, please check with your doctor before participating in these exercises.

Enjoy!

Are you caring for an Alzheimer’s patient who lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts?  If so, you might be eligible for a grant from the Alzheimer’s Partnership of the South Shore.

Taken from the grant application:

Purpose:  The Care Assistance Program (CAP) of the Alzheimer’s Partnership serving over 20 South Shore communities provides matching funds for short term respite care to benefit people with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders and their family caregivers.  The program is intended to relieve the physical and emotional stress of the family caregiver, who must cope with around-the-clock care of a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder, and provide a person with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder with a health social intervention that will maximize their abilities.  CAP enables and encourages these caregivers to seek help and assistance to enable continuing to be an effective care partner. The program is intended to give care partners the much needed opportunity to replenish their energies through personal pursuits, health care, and family or social activities.

This is an amazing opportunity for caregivers and from what I’ve been told, one that not many know about.  Caregivers spend so much time caring for others, they don’t have time and often financial resources to take care of themselves.  This grant helps.  If you or someone you know is caring for an Alzheimer’s patient who lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts, please pass this information along.  Caregivers need care, too!

Click here to download Word version of the application and find out if you qualify.

For more information about the Alzheimer’s Partnership of the South Shore contact:

The Alzheimer’s Partnership South Shore
P.O Box  336, Pembroke, MA 02358

Or visit the Alzheimer’s Association website for a listing of local partnerships.

Welcome to your weekly stretch break.  By request this week’s stretch is for the lower back, and you don’t even have to leave your chair.  For those of you with tight lower backs/hamstrings or high blood pressure, I offer a modification version first.   This is definitely one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Note:  The Stretch Break series is designed for the average healthy adult.  Please always consult a physician before starting any exercise/movement program. If you have lower back injury/issues or high blood pressure this stretch may not be right for you.  If you are unsure, please check with your doctor before participating in these or any exercises.

The March issue of South Shore Living Magazine is out and I’m featured as a stress management expert talking about workplace stress and finding balance – the natural way.  The article is quick (stress free reading!) and I hope you take moment to read it. Click here to read the article Ready…Set…Relax.

Yoga class in Hanover

Also, for those of you in the South Shore Massachusetts area my yoga class in Hanover started a new session.

Tuesdays, 8:30am – 9:30am
720 Washington St, Hanover (Heart of Reiki Center)
$60 pre-paid or $13 to drop in any time during the 6 week session.

Learn more about the class in Hanover or email me for details/registration.

Note:  Question of the Week is a new weekly series designed to help create more awareness and conversation about various aspects of your health and well-being.  I hope you join in the conversation.

I was recently interviewed on Money Matters Radio by host Chuck Nilosek.  (You can listen to the full 30 minute interview here.)  We started our conversation talking about managing workplace stress, then we talked about yoga then wellness in general. We even talked a little bit about the movie Food Inc and while we didn’t go deep into a discussion the idea was mentioned: is food marketing misleading?

I haven’t been able to get that thought out of my head ever since.

And that leads me to this weeks question:

Is food marketing misleading to the consumer?

I was reminded of a study that was published in the January 2010 Journal of the American Dietetic Association about the number of calories in some of the food you eat and how in many instances caloric consumption may be up to 20% more than what is reported.

The press release stated:

Measured energy values of 29 quick-serve and sit-down restaurant foods averaged 18% more calories than the stated values. Likewise, measured energy values of 10 frozen meals purchased from supermarkets averaged 8% more calories than stated on the label.

Then I read a post from Evita Ochel a holistic health counselor and biologist at Evolving Wellness about foods that seem healthy but are not and again I became curious about whether food marketing is misleading. 

Admittedly I am a label reader. I do not take the claims on the front of a food package at face value, regardless of what they tell me – High fiber, low in calories, good source of vitamins/minerals – and I have a few rules I never stray from when food shopping including:  food stays on the shelf if it contains high fructose corn syrup or ingredients I can’t pronounce.

Knowing what is in your food helps you look and feel your best – and that is a critical part of feel-good living.

What about you?  Do you read food labels?  What are your thoughts on how food is marketed to the consumer?

Please join the conversation and share your thoughts, comments and knowledge below.

Today’s local feel good living highlight is with the Reverend Cathi Burke, co-owner of the Heart of Reiki/Heavenly Messenger Center in Hanover, MA.

I met Cathi through a networking referral and we instantly hit it off. I had the pleasure of interviewing her about one of her many skills , EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique.  EFT is a healing method that involves tapping various points on the body.  During our conversation Cathi teaches us (yes, there is practice involved!) tapping points to help manage fear, anxiety, stress, build confidence and even curb food cravings!  The interview runs about 20 minutes long, but in a lot of it you actually get to practice tapping.  If you’ve never heard of EFT or if you have and are curious, this segment may help answer some questions. I hope you check it out.

For more information about Cathi Burke:

Heart of Reiki Center
720 Washington St, Hanover MA
781-871-1740
email: angels8888 (at) comcast (dot) net