Health & Fitness

Your work is tremendously important and all NLPers should learn it.
—Dr Richard Bandler

PPT has been designed as an addition to and an extension of Neuro-Linguistic-Programming (NLP) and other teachings of Dr Richard Bandler.

PPT is also valuable training if you are an already existing health practitioner, body worker or energy worker and want to add some new and highly effective methods to your skill base. Start achieving the phenomenal physical success made possible with PPT and discover how to produce some astonishing results of your own!

No experience necessary. This class is for everyone.

Medical research has linked the stuff in your mouth with systemic diseases. We know for a fact that gum disease can cause heart problems, stroke, diabetes and low pre term birth weight in newborns.  But did you know that 70-80% of the adult population has some form of gum disease?  Bleeding on brushing can be an indicator.  But gum disease can be very silent.  Gum disease can be treated successfully but once you have it you must maintain a very strict regime to make sure it does not come back…. because like any chronic condition, it can.  Treatment for this disease can be very conservative where we numb you up and remove the biofilm, bacteria, and toxins that are living in the gums.  This may take several visits.  For more significant disease stages, there is a new treatment involving laser therapy called the LANAP procedure.  There is no cutting, no stitches, and virtually no discomfort afterwards.  This laser is a new technology that only a few dentists in the country have obtained.  It takes special training to be certified in this procedure.

And did you know that those big black fillings in your mouth contain at lease 50% mercury?  Don’t let any dentist fool you.  Mercury is an extremely potent poison only second to arsenic.  Mercury is a neurotoxin, that is, it affects your nerves and can affect your brain too.  Medical research is a little sketchier on this subject but if you look more at the scientific and toxicology research (which is different) it is a no-brainer.  Why do the normal dentist and the American Dental Association refuse to recognize this?  Your guess is as good as mine. Could it be politically motivated?  Why is mercury regulated in fish, air and water but not in our mouths?  There is another reason to have your silver mercury fillings replaced.  My clinical experience finds that there is decay under 60% -70% of these old fillings. I also find there is silver mercury left underneath molar crowns or caps.  That is not good.  When you have dissimilar metals in your mouth, they may cause an unwanted electrical current that may also affect you.

Dr. Rothchild is a General Dentist in the Chicago land area who has been practicing holistic dentistry for over 25 years.  He is an international speaker on the subject and is on the faculty of two medical schools. You can contact him at (847) 884-1220.  Visit his web site.

Holistic health care, also known as complimentary alternative medicine (CAM), has continued to grow at unprecedented levels as traditional Western dogma is challenged by its own rising costs, the association of side affects, and a burgeoning field of alternative health care methods advocating prevention and treatment through organic food, herbs and traditional Eastern approaches such as acupuncture, reflexology, meditative practices and energy healing. Currently, in the U.S., CAM use has topped 40% with no sign of slowing down. In one study CAM use has even surpassed such time honored practices as the use of prayer (35%) for health related issues.

As someone who has worked in the holistic health field for over 12 years now, I have come to notice a very interesting pattern. The most devout Western medicine practitioners (Specialists, MDs and PhDs of medicine or pharmacology) tend to have a very left brain, “it must be scientifically proven,” approach to medicine and shy away from holistic health practices. Conversely, the most devout Eastern medicine practitioners (acupuncturists, reflexologists, energy healers, homeopaths, kinesiologists, etc.) tend to see traditional Western care and the pharmaceutical industry as more detrimental than beneficial to human health and founded on symptom treatment rather than the etiology of health problems. Interestingly enough, just as science has shown the many benefits provided by various pharmaceuticals, surgeries, and Western approaches, so too has science progressed enough to validate many CAM practices. So why does it seem neither group is willing to embrace the benefits of the other?

In this article I hope to present a method of evaluation and assessment of health concerns that will help the interested individual, the patient, and the health practitioner alike in determining the most effective method for achieving and maintaining optimum health. As many individuals are not willing to utilize one system or the other due to previous teachings, social bias, or a lack of education on the benefits of a system, it seems logical that adhering to the system the individual is comfortable with while gently integrating some of the benefits of the unfamiliar system may be the most effective and acceptable approach. This allows the health practitioner to conform to the beliefs and desires of the individual while doubling the number of modalities he or she may draw on for resolving any health concern.

Both holistic health care/CAM and traditional Western approaches cannot only coexist, but with appropriate attention to patients’ symptoms and the overall state of their health a more affective and truly holistic approach integrating the best of both systems can be implemented. The foundation of this approach is the concept of physiological load.

Physiological load is the sum total of all stressors on the body and is best evaluated by dividing the body into 4 primary systems of systems: musculo-skeletal system (physical structure), visceral system (internal organs), hormonal system, and limbic/emotional system (psychology). These four systems are each essential to our survival and are also intimately related in that they have the ability to reduce excessive stress in any one area by distributing this load into any one or all of the other systems. This protective mechanism insures that no singular system becomes overloaded to the point of total collapse of the whole.

Examples of this system of balancing at work are the Chinese acupuncture meridians and the way they relate organs to muscles and vice versa or the affects of any powerful emotional state on the hormonal system, most aspects of the visceral system (increased heart rate, changes in digestion, etc.) and physiology (posture). The above mentioned affects of emotional states on the rest of the systems will also occur secondary to any traumatic event originating with the structure or organs; such as a car accident or a heart attack. The key in all these examples it the body’s ability to dissipate stress and redistribute it throughout all the systems so that no one system is consumed or overloaded.

One way to think about physiological load is to envision each of the systems as a sink and all of the sinks being connected by one piping system. A stressful event affecting one or several systems would be like adding water to the appropriate sink or sinks and the piping system would be the body’s way of returning to the most appropriate level of homeostasis for longevity of the whole system. Keeping this analogy in mind, reduction of stress on any one system has the affect of indirectly reducing stress on all other systems. One of the most obvious examples of this at work would be the effectiveness of meditation or meditative type practices like yoga, tai chi, and Qigong as a CAM for most all health maladies. These relaxing and stimulating practices which impact the limbic/emotional system and then overflow benefits onto all of the other systems have been shown to aid in everything from cancer to arthritis. A Western medicine example would be the effects of any medication that alleviates a symptom and improves a person’s quality of life, thus increasing their ability to be active, or improving their psychology and thus having a concomitant affect on the other three systems.

The usefulness of this way of looking at things, for the individual seeking optimum health, the CAM practitioner, or the traditional Western doctor, is in determining where the greatest level of physiological load is BEFORE choosing one’s course of action. Because the weakest link in any system will always be the system’s downfall, identification and correction of the weakest link should ALWAYS be undertaken along with any medical or therapeutic approach. Consider that a person of great athletic skill will accomplish little in their sport if their psychology is counter to their physical prowess; or a person being treated in the traditional Western sense for post menopausal symptoms will not last long if degenerative kidney or liver condition is ignored.  Conversely, a knee or back surgery patient with a properly functioning digestive system and/or ideally aligned structural system will heal faster due to increased nutritional support and reduced structural stressors respectively. Correcting or eliminating any overwhelming stress on any one of the four systems, be it with Western medicine or the CAM approach will yield the most improvement to quality of life and symptom resolution of minor stressors on any of the other systems.

This model is also beneficial as it allows the individual working with others or looking to help one’s self a way of looking at the big picture and developing strategies that reduce load on ALL systems. Consider the enrichment, physiological and psychological benefits of hobbies, quality time spent with family, or other activities that you find not only fun, but truly stimulating! Think of those activities that transport you away from all cares and worries and bring peace not only to the mind but to the body as well. If you were to think back to when you were younger, when fun and relaxation was not something you planned for but rather something you allowed, what did you do? What brought you the most joy and happiness?

Whatever it was, do you still do it? Most will answer “no,” but these activities, that were once so common sense, so taken for granted, and so valuable, can yield the same or greater benefits today that they provided you as a child. Think of the four sinks and what effect rekindling a hobby or really taking time out for those that mean the most to you would have on the amount of stress pouring in to each of them. What effect would drinking more water, resolving long standing family feuds and releasing the emotional burden, or cleaning up your digestion and improving the quality of the food you eat have?

The answer is, it would have a HUGE effect so start now! The biggest lesson I have learned from the physiological load model is to discount nothing, weigh the affects of everything, and do all you can to drain those sinks so that those effects you can’t avoid can easily be distributed. Follow this approach for maximum vitality and longevity, and if you have symptoms, start this approach; the results will be immediately noticed and carry over to more areas of your health and vitality than you can imagine. May you live in health and happiness.

Jae Sabol is an exercise therapist and holistic lifestyle coach specializing in the integration of Eastern and Western medicine as the ideal approach to creating effective dietary and stress reduction programs, rehabilitation programs (neck, back, shoulder, and hip pain), and programs for general health and longevity.

Jae is a graduate of the four-year Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology (CHEK) Program and a certified CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach, Golf Biomechanic, National Academy of Sports Medicine Trainer, International Sports Sciences Association Trainer, and former Instructor for the National College of Exercise Professionals. Jae has also completed training in Neuromuscular Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Reiki, Hypnosis, Matrix Energetics, Massage Therapy and a host of other holistic practices.

To contact Jae Sabol directly call: (310) 755-4693    
For a full bio please visit: www.resonatehealth.com 

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Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Energy, But Were Too Tired To Ask (the book)

The most common health problem in America is not cancer or heart disease; it is fatigue. Why are so many Americans so tired all of the time? The answers are contained in this book. Dr. Varnas and Barbara Stepp have done an excellent job of explaining the causes of fatigue, offered solutions and they have done it in an easy-to-read and humorous style. Enjoy this book. You will learn a lot about your body, you will laugh, and you will increase your energy by following its elegantly simple advice.

Are you having a stressful day? Chances are you are or you will have shortly. When think about it, stress is around us all the time. That's why it's so important to understand stress and to learn how to manage it successfully.

To best appreciate what stress is and how it influences our lives, let's look at how stress helped our forefathers survive....

When primitive man walked through the forest, he often would encounter a predator such as a lion or bear. His heart rate would increase; his pupils would dilate; his blood would go out of his digestive system and into his arms and legs; his blood clotting ability would improve; he would become more aware, and his blood pressure would rise. At that point, he'd either pickup a stick and try to fight the animal or run like hell and find a safe place to hide. The physiological changes brought on by the adrenal glands would make the body more efficient at doing either of those things. It is called fight or flight response.

If he survived the ordeal, chances are it would be a while before such a strain was put on the adrenal glands and the rest of the body. He would have an opportunity to relax, eat nuts and berries, and a little bear steak (if he was lucky). In short, he would have a chance to recover.

Unfortunately, many people today find themselves under constant stress. When this occurs, the adrenal glands don't derive the benefits of a recovery period and the immune system function decreases. This results in a wide variety of health problems, including fatigue, colds, allergies high blood pressure, and digestive problems.

Worrying is another major cause of stress. Worry can be compared to interest paid in advance on money you haven't borrowed yet. Unfortunately, your adrenal glands don't know the difference between a real stressful situation or an imagined one. Therefore, worrying about nothing can cause just as much damage as an actual problem. Keep in mind that it's the amount of worry, not necessarily the size of the problem that stresses people out.

(The above is an excerpt from Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Energy, but Were too Tired to Ask, by Barbara Stepp and Paul Varnas)

Is Stress Good or Bad? Stress is often associated with the negative symptoms we've discussed.

However, without stress there wouldn't be motivation. In fact, peak performers in all walks of life thrive in stressful situations. Just imagine the stress that goes with closing the "big sale", launching a new product, or making the winning shot at the buzzer. From business to sports, peak performers use stress to help elevate their performance to new levels.

Peak performers understand that it's not stress, but how one perceives and deals with stress that counts. They have learned to harness the power stress provides and channel it to create peak states, for physical, mental and emotional performance.

Rick Pitino, coach of the Boston Celtics, has an interesting way of relating stress to peak performers. He feels that to be a peak performer, one must distinguish between stress and pressure. He describes pressure as something we put on ourselves when we set high standards of excellence and then struggle to meet those standards. Pitino says that, "Stress is negative energy that is caused by external forces when people aren't focused or prepared for challenges"

Peak performers know they are at their best only when they are sufficiently challenged. Challenge is related to situations where the person's skills are taxed to a new level while the chance of success is still a possibility. For peak performers to grow, they must put themselves in the Peak Performance Zone. This is where their capabilities are put to the most rigorous test and where the opportunity for success an failure are always present. If the task becomes too easy, stress is reduced, boredom sets in ad performance drops off. On the other hand, when failure is imminent, anxiety increases, people start to press, and performance deteriorates.

An interesting characteristic found in peak performers is the need for constant challenge. They find as their skills increase, they feel the need to seek out more challenging situations. In his book, Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmilalyi, explains why people seek out the zone. "One cannot enjoy doing the same thing at the same level for long. We grow either bored or frustrated; and then the desire to enjoy ourselves again pushes us to stretch our skills, or to discover new opportunities for using them". Peak Performance occurs in the Peak Performance Zone where skills are appropriately challenged by the skills at hand.

To further demonstrate how the balance of skills and challenge impact performance, simply compare the quality of performance in professional sports when it's an exhibition game to the championship. Or in business, compare a sales presentation to a large customer where the account is on the line to a cold call on a low volume prospect. In either situation, the contrast in performance is striking.

Managing Stress

Managing stress is like lifting weights to build muscle. In order to grow muscle. you must employ both progressive resistance and rest. If you continually use the same light weights, the muscle won't be stressed and won't grow. On the other hand, if you use heavy weights everyday and never let your muscle reuse, you will experience fatigue and the muscle will break down, instead of grow. The key is progressively add weights that consistently challenge your muscles to grow and provide them with the appropriate opportunity to rest.

This applies in sales, as well. For example, a new salesperson usually starts making calls on smaller accounts that are appropriate to his/her skills. As the salesperson's skills and confidence increases, the size and difficulty of the accounts increase.

There are four key rules to progressively manage your stress for peak performance:

1. Know your threshold for stress (What is your peak performance zone?)
2. Constantly raise your threshold by challenging yourself to new levels of performance.
3. Create intervals of rest between periods of peak demands. Remember, if you can't recuperate, physically and emotionally, you can lose the capacity to grow; and possibly,over time break down.
4. Control the controllables. This means, manage the stress in your life that you can control by:
   • getting sufficient rest
   • eating for proper nutrition
   • drink a minimum of 8-8 ounces of water daily
   • exercise regularly
   • stop worrying.*

*There is great wisdom in the serenity prayer. Remember:

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can and
Wisdom to know the difference.

(For more detail see the book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Energy, but Were too Tired to Ask.

Some simple techniques to manage or eliminate stress:

1. Listen to your body. If you feel tired, rest. Many Americans suffer from sleep deprivation, which causes your brain and body to be stressed. Take the time to rest.
2. Change your physiology. When you feel stress, simply get up and move around or stretch. This eases tension and reduces stress.
3. Do simple breathing exercises several times a day. Take five to ten deep cleansing breaths. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly.
4. Visualization. Many people can reduce their stress level instantly by simply changing their mental images. Just push the stressful one off into the distance and create mental images that you find soothing and comforting to help you relax mentally and physically.
5. Manage your self-talk. Most of us have a constant internal dialogue going on. Both the content and quality of voice used affects our stress level. Change your tonality to a pleasant one. Make the effort and change your words to more positive ones. For instance, "How can I feel better, now? What can I learn from this?", instead of,"Why do I feel so awful?", or, "Why does this always happen to me?"
6. Think positive. Remember that thought has power. Depak Chopra has said that our thoughts are impulses of energy and information that create molecules that may be healthy or unhealthy. Positive, pleasant thoughts, healthy molecules. Negative, sad thoughts, unhealthy molecules.
7. Laughter. Laughter can often be the best cure for stress because it releases the chemicals
   that do just that. Laughter is so effective at relieving stress that laughter meditation is taught for stress management. If you find you taking yourself too seriously, treat yourself to a good laugh.

   You'll be glad you did, and so will the people around you.

8. Meditation. There are many forms of meditation that involve finding quiet time to reflect and plan.This is especially effective when it's done before starting the business day. It time allows, add the evening meditation, as well. Meditation rejuvenates the mind and body. Twenty minutes of meditation can be equivalent to three or more hours of sleep.

Today, stress is not optional; it comes with the territory. To thrive and not just survive, our goal must be to understand stress, manage it, and most of all, respect its power. Successfully managing the stress in your life can enable you to achieve new heights. Failing to mange stress can lead to devastating consequences. Either way, the choice is ours. We can effectively manage stress..or stress will manage us.

As I near 65 and Dave is about to celebrate his 73rd birthday, I am reminded how important it is to take care of one's body, mind and spirit. Yesterday was the time to decide to be healthy; especially, if you intend to live a long and fulfilling life. When I think of how I abused my body at an early age, I cringe for a split second, and then quickly get delightfully surprised that I am still here and functioning pretty well for an old lady. Now I am aware that some of you are quite young. Great! I encourage you to take the steps now to set a long, healthy and fulfilling life in place. For those of us who are not so young, it is rarely too late to be healthier and more energetic.

So, I have a few, but not original ideas to mention.

I recently renewed my CPR training to keep my Rescue Diver's certification current. The training reminded me that people are at risk who:

• Smoke or experience second hand smoke
• Do not do physical exercise or live a sedentary lifestyle
• Are overweight
• Have high blood pressure
• Have high cholesterol
• Eat excessive fats

Carbohydrates also metabolize into fats, my doctor tells me. Another note, some say that drinking at least a gallon of water a day may prevent senility or old timer's disease. Fad diets don't work long term, but a balanced diet and push-aways do.

Keep your mind active by reading and problem solving. Meditate for spiritual well being.

If you want to be well and enjoy your life to the fullest, if you've had challenges in the past making adjustments in your behavior, and want to do so; you might use the Beach CD or tape to assist you. Remember that your Other-Than-Conscious wants you to be successful and is on your side. So let your OTC know what you want and he or she will be there for you.

Respectfully,

Barb