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| White Tea is Best for Your Health |
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by Irwan Lee
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For centuries, the Chinese society has consumed different types of tea as part of their diet. Not many people are aware that white tea has many more benefits when compared to any other type of tea including green tea.
White tea comes from leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. The leaves are harvested early while very young to obtain the buds that are still covered in very fine silvery white hairs that give white tea its name. The highest quality is harvested by hand picking in the spring time, usually between late March and early April.
The leaves and buds are then gently air dried for a few hours without going through the fermentation process as black tea. As it is handled and processed very minimally, white tea retains a high proportion of antioxidants. White tea is rare and will be more expensive than green or black tea.
The highest quality white tea is called "Silver Needle." It consists exclusively of undamaged and unopened buds. Other types of white tea incorporate young leaves that are no longer buds with the white silvery hair: Emperor's White Tea, Noble-Long Life Eyebrow, Tribute Eyebrow, Snow bud, Song Yang, White Peony.
Antioxidant benefits of white tea are abundant. It scavenges the free radicals that accelerate the aging process and damage tissue. Research has also shown that white tea reduces hypertension which can lead to more serious health problems such as stroke and other cardiovascular related diseases.
White tea is also antibacterial. It will help to kill bacteria and germs in the mouth aiding in the prevention of periodontal and gum diseases. Consuming white tea regularly will strengthen your bones preventing osteoporosis and may help fight lifestyle diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and liver disease. |
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| TESTIMONIALS & REFERRALS |
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Thank you to all of you who have told us how much A Healing Touch Massage has helped you. We'd love to have you write us a brief note (email is fine) and help us tell others about our work.
Remember our Referral Program: for everyone you refer to us that receives a massage we'll send you a $5.00 certificate toward your next massage. There's no expiration on these and no limit on how many you can earn. You can use them right away or save them up for a special day. |
| Go Ahead, Keep Worrying!
The Art of Negative Thinking |
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by Joyce Lee |
Have you listened to the news lately? You would have to bury your head in the sand to not be bombarded with all the issues that you have no control over, issues that can cause tremendous fear, uncertainty and doubt.
Feeling safe is the most basic of human needs. The need for shelter, for food, for personal safety comes before everything else. Every human has the right to have these needs met.
How well do you sleep at night when you start thinking globally?
When we feel our primal need for safety threatened, it causes a fear that settles deep in our hearts. We see the rest of our life through the lens of fear.
This horrible, gnawing feeling is compounded by our lack of control. As individuals, we do not feel that we can fix global warming, bring down the price of gas, stop the insanity in the Middle East or fix the global economy.
How about another perspective? Would you like to reclaim your positive attitude? Would you like to sleep better?
Try a little exercise:
Think of the people in the world as a bunch of random dots on a page. These people/dots either have an "N" for negative focusers or "P" for positive focusers, or they have a "?" for undecided focusers.
Right now, we are very aware that there are a lot of Negative focusers... just listen to them everywhere... they talk about all the problems in the world... they are stressed out, they worry, complain, fret...
They look at the world through a lens of fear and cynicism. They talk about problems constantly.
By the Law of Attraction, these Negative Focusers and their negative thought have a lot of attraction power. Together, they make a strong negative magnet.
Now: Consider those people you know who, even though they are paying the same price for gas etc, are focused on their gratitude for living in a culture where they have the freedom and abundance to go places or even to own a vehicle. They see the positive aspects of life. They express gratitude for the many blessings of abundance they enjoy.
They look at the world through the lens of positive focus, solution thinking, forward movement.
These are the Positive Focusers... they too, are sprinkled everywhere...
By the Law of Attraction and in direct proportion to their numbers, they are a strong positive magnet.
Then there are the undecided folks who sit in the middle and have not much magnetic power at all because they don't focus one way or another.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have these people flock to the positive focus of the world?
Wouldn't it be wonderful if they started focusing on the healing of the planet?
Wouldn't it be wonderful if they turned their attention to thoughts of peace?
Wouldn't it be wonderful to change those unfocused folks to positive focusers?
What could our world become with a dominantly positive focus?
So, what are you? Part of the problem, part of the solution, or just an unfocused, undecided, weak magnet?
Get started right now. Choose your attitude. Write a gratitude list. Pay attention to what is right with the world, and take you attention off of what is wrong.
Attract the positive... You will benefit and so will the whole world.
Namaste
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About the Author
Joyce Lee is an experienced and certified Life Empowerment Coach, Woman's Wellness Guide and Law of Attraction Practitioner. There is a FREE gift of "20 PROFOUND AND PROVOCATIVE JOURNAL PROMPTS" waiting for you at joyceleelifecoach.com/prompts.html
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 A Healing Touch Massage
A Healing Touch Massage
More than just a name... it's a promise!
Dan O'Clair & Roxie Reimer
480-215-9471 or 602-568-1531
PO Box 3788
Gilbert, AZ 85299
Providing in-home therapeutic massage to the metropolitan Phoenix area since 2003.
Call for an appointment today! |
We're back! As I write this we are in the final stages of making a house a home. We have a functional kitchen! The countertops and sink were installed last Friday. A big thank you to our good friend Will Primack (A professional handyman available for hire.)for all of his handyman help. Thanks also go out to our new neighbor and great friend Mary Painter (A professional painter available for hire - residential exterior and interior.) for all of her help with painting. Paul & Terri Teeple were able to borrow a moving truck complete with a hydraulic lift gate. Marty & Diane Martinez have stored our new sofa and loveseat (forever!) and many other friends and family also contributed with help for our move... Thank you! Also a thank you goes out to Scott Dobbins of Independence Countertops for rushing our order and delivering our countertop on his way home!
Warren Buffet shared a key investment maxim with the world the other day, "A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." I think that this applies to much more than just buying investments. Alot of people are fearful right now, and there are certainly plenty of reasons for concern, but this can also be a time of great opportunity. I remember hearing a story of a man who complained about having to walk several blocks to the bus stop until one day he met a man who had no feet, then he was grateful he could walk. Oftentimes our problems are more a matter of perspective than anything else. Let's remember what's really important and essential.
There's no doubt that these are stressful times. And there's no doubt that massage helps to reduce stress in many ways. Now more than ever massage can be a tool that you use to chart your course. Now is the time to be "greedy" and invest in yourself. A massage (or two) will help you to relax, refocus, and revitalize. Don't put it off any longer. Give us a call today! |
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| Stretches and Exercises for Low Back Pain Relief |
by Brenda Miller
The majority of your body's stability is provided by your spine. The spine gets its strength from your core muscles. It only makes sense that the stronger and healthier your core muscles are, the more stability they will provide your spine.
One important thing to understand before starting a new stretching routine for your low back, pain is not good. When you feel pain, you are either doing something wrong, or you are not healthy enough to perform the stretch. The whole mentality of "pain is good" or "no pain no gain" is completely wrong here. If you are feeling pain then you are likely causing further damage to the already injured section of your back. Even if you are a veteran to exercise and stretching it is important that you check with your doctor before starting any new routine to be sure that your body can handle it. This is even more important if you are not an active person who is embarking on a life altering fitness goal.
Here are a few low back stretches that will hopefully help to alleviate your back pain by helping you strengthen weak muscles of the back and core (abdominals and obliques).
Cat/Cow
If you were to visualize the motion a cat makes when it stretches then you should have no problem with this popular yoga stretch for the low back.
Position - On your hands and knees with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. This stretch can either be performed while on your bed or on the floor. If on the floor, I would recommend the use of a mat to save your knees a bit of pain.
1. Slowly angle your head toward the ceiling (or the sky if you are doing this outside!) while letting your belly drop towards the floor (bed or ground as well) be sure not to angle your head or drop your stomach so far that it causes pain (pain is bad). You should start to feel a gentle stretch.
2. Once you feel the stretch, reverse the direction you were moving and instead of tilting your head up and belly down, pull your chin towards your chest while at the same time arching your back. Again move through this motion until you feel a comfortable stretch.
Repetitions - 5 to 10 times, each time trying to increase your range of motion.
Advanced Breathing - Once you get the hang of this stretch you can start to add to its effectiveness by synchronizing your breathing with motion.
1. During step one, inhale
2. During step two, slowly exhale as you tuck in your chin.
The Pelvic Tilt
Position - Flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat against the floor.
Once you have gotten into position constrict your abdominal and butt muscles while at the same time trying to push the small of your back towards the floor. Hold this stretch to a count of five and then slowly relax.
Repetitions - 5 to 15
The Twist
Position - Flat on your back with your arms outstretched on each side of your body.
1. While inhaling, bend your knees and draw them in towards your chest in one smooth motion.
2. Keeping your knees together, slowly exhale while lowering your knees back to the floor angling to the right as much as you can without causing pain.
3. Repeat the process lowering your knees to the left instead of the right.
Repetitions - 5 on each side while progressively trying to angle your knees further each time.
While stretching is good, it's even better when you also add exercise. The tortoise and the hare analogy is probably the best way to approach low back strengthening exercises in the beginning. When initially undertaking a back strengthening routine many people tend to overdo. This often leads to back strain and possible injury creating a negative experience and discouraging you from continuing with your goals. Building strong core muscles can't be rushed, but with a little patience the end goal can be accomplished.
Warming up
Before you start exercising it is important to warm up the target muscles. You can do this by using a machine such as an elliptical trainer, treadmill, or stationary exercise bike, or you can walk on the spot. You should do this for at least five minutes.
Tip - To feel your abdominal muscles contract you can cough once or twice. This helps you know you are affecting the proper muscles during the low back strengthening exercises.
Note - You should always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise routine to make sure that it is safe for you. During these low back exercises you should not feel pain. If you feel pain it is important to stop and consult with your physician before continuing.
The Bridge
Target - Core muscles (the abdominal muscles)
Position - Flat on your back with your knees bent at a ninety degree angle and your feet flat against the floor.
1. Tighten your abs (cough muscles) while you raise your buttocks off the floor
2. Lift to the point that your shoulders and knees become aligned
3. Hold for 5 seconds and slowly lower yourself back to the floor
Repetitions - 5
The Plank
Target - back and abdominal muscles
Position - Lying on your stomach with your elbows and forearms on the floor.
1. While assuming a push-up position balance yourself with your toes and elbows.
2. Keep your back and legs straight while holding for ten seconds.
Note - If you find you are having a hard time with your balance, you can begin by using your knees instead of your toes. Once you feel more comfortable you can work your way up to the toes.
Advanced - lay on your side and push up to elbow and side of foot, repeat for both sides.
Repetitions - 5 (as your strength improves increase to 10)
Abdominal Crunch
Target - Abs
Position - lying on your back with your knees slightly bent and back flat to the floor
1. Exhale while raising your torso towards your knees (lift just your head and shoulders from the floor (a full sit-up will place strain on your back)
2. Inhale while lowering yourself back to the floor
Repetitions - 10 (increase as you gain abdominal strength)
Reverse Abdominal Crunch
Target - Lower abs
Position - Lying flat on your back with your feet in the air and your knees bent at a ninety degree angle. Hands placed under your buttocks and back flat to the floor
1. Lift your buttocks a few inches above your hands while tightening you abdominal muscles
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2. Hold for 3 - 5 seconds
3. Lower your buttocks back onto your hands
Repetitions - 5 (increase to 15 as your strength increases)
Rotational Abdominal Crunch
Target - Obliques
Position - lying on your back with your knees slightly bent and back flat to the floor
This is a modified abdominal crunch. Follow the directions for the abdominal crunch, but instead of raising the torso in a straight direction you angle to the left side. On the following crunch you will angle to the right side.
Repetitions - 5 each side
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Fall is finally here! We hope you're enjoying this beautiful time of year. It's great for poolside or outdoor massage, but hurry 'cause you know the evenings will soon be getting chilly. Roxie and I look forward to seeing you for your next massage real soon!
A Healing Touch Massage |
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