Theresa Franklin, NCTMB, LMT, RYT, CMT

Olivia Kelly, NCTMB, LMT

 

Feature Article

There have been a number of studies in recent years on the intersection of gratitude and happiness, including those by Robert Emmons and Richard McCullough. Their landmark study disproved the notion that we all have a "set-point" level of happiness that cannot be changed.

 

For 10 years, beginning in the late 1980s, Emmons' research had focused on happiness and goal strivings. Then in 1998 he attended a conference on what were considered the "sources of human strength" - wisdom, spirituality, humility, hope, love and gratitude. In what he calls a "serendipitous" moment, he was assigned gratitude because his chosen topic - humility - had already been taken.

 

The conference was the beginning of his research on gratitude and he found it to be "a deeper, more complex phenomenon that plays a crucial role in human happiness." He and McCullough began a series of experiments and found there are a number of measurable psychological, interpersonal and physical benefits stemming from the regular engagement of practicing gratitude. Their results found that some people's lives were transformed by this practice while others reported them as being measurably happier and more pleasant to be around.

 

Emmons relayed their findings in "Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier" and opens it with experimental evidence showing how gratefulness can increase happiness by 25 percent.

 

In his book, Emmons said he thinks of gratitude in two stages. The first is acknowledgement of goodness in our lives. All things taken together, life is good and has elements that make life worth living.  

 

Second, gratitude is recognizing that the sources of this goodness lie at least partially outside ourselves. The object of gratitude is directed toward others. This, he said, is a significant difference between gratitude and other emotional dispositions. We can be happy, angry, pleased with ourselves, but we don't say we are grateful for ourselves.

 

 One of Emmons' experiments involved participants keeping a daily gratitude journal.  

 

Here are some other tips for developing an 'attitude of gratitude':

• Think small. Don't wait for the big-ticket items such as winning the lottery that may never happen. Be grateful for the seemingly inconsequential things in your life - the sun shining through the trees, the turtle you saw on the side of the road, the sweet kiss from your toddler.

• Meditate. Meditation can open your mind to new ways of looking at the world and has many other benefits such as decreased moodiness and increased happiness. That can lead to increased gratefulness.

• Practice mindfulness. Staying in the moment makes it more likely for us to recognize when an opportunity to practice gratitude has presented itself.

• Feel the appreciation first. Focusing on the specifics of what you are grateful for deepens your sincerity and makes your gratitude more authentic rather than just lip service.  

 

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Join us for FREE Karma Yoga classes every Saturday!  

 

Starting  December 1, 4:00-5:00 p.m. we will be offering a free karma yoga class free to the public (donations accepted) as a way for us to give back to the community. Space is limited to 15 students so be sure to arrive early! 

 

We have yoga mats readily available to use...all you need to bring is yourself and your willingness to grow and create overall unity between body and mind.

 

The style will primarily be Hatha and, on occasion, Vinyasa (flow) may be incorporated throughout as the class will flow with the energy of the students. 

 

Check out our up-to-date schedule on our website. 

 

 

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No tricks here, just a treat for your skin using an iconic ingredient of the season - pumpkin - to reveal glowing skin.

 

We all know the health benefits of eating pumpkins - it's chock-full of Vitamin A to help our eyesight, it's a great source of fiber that keeps us feeling full longer and it's rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene, believed to help prevent cancer.

 

Pumpkin contains a lot of amazing properties that benefit the skin in many different ways. So how does pumpkin help skin?

 

The same free-radical-neutralizing powers of the carotenoids in pumpkin that may keep cancer cells at bay can also help keep the skin wrinkle-free, according to Health magazine.

 

 How else does pumpkin help?
 

Pumpkin:

* is packed with fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which increase cell turnover that brightens and smooths the skin

 

* contains antioxidant Vitamin A and Vitamin C that help soften and soothe the skin and boost collagen production to prevent the signs of aging

 

* has seeds that are high in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E. These are necessary to maintain good barrier function of the skin. They also regulate sebum, great for an oily skin.

 

* has a molecular structure that is small that can penetrate deeper into the skin when used topically to treat a dull complexion, aging skin and pigmentation.

 

Dermalogica has three products that contain pumpkin to help keep your skin healthy and beautiful.  

 

Powerfoliant-2-exfoliant contains pumpkin ferment to help brighten skin and remove pigmented cells. Pure Light SPF30 day time moisturizer includes encapsulated Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which are only released when in contact with ultraviolet (UV) rays to provide enhanced protection. Pure Night is a night time moisturizer treatment with pumpkin that will also help to hydrate, smooth and reinforce the skin's barrier while you sleep.

 

Contact Kristi Watson at 462-3900 for help keeping your skin fresh and healthy this fall.  

 

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Asana Zone

The blueprint   

The yogi lies on the floor with one leg raised and back flat on the floor, holding the big toe of the raised leg between the thumb and index and middle fingers.  

 

 

How to do it

1. Lie on your back, legs engaged and toes spread.  

2. Exhale and bend your left knee, drawing your thigh to your chest.  Keep your right thigh pressed into the floor.    

3. Grasp your left big toe between the thumb and first two fingers of your left hand.Inhale.  

4. Exhale and extend your left leg up. 

5. Inhale and gently pull your foot closer to your head, increasing the stretch.   
6. Hold for 1 minute to 2 minutes, then release with an exhalation. Repeat with your right leg. 

 

 Do:

• extend from your pelvis through your left sole 
• press your shoulder blades into  the floor  
• keep your hips squared and pressed to the floor  

 

Don't:   

•  arch your back

Benefits

• Strengthens the knees
• Stretches hips, thighs, calves, hamstrings and groin
• Improves digestion 
• Increases flexibility in the back
• Relieves sciatica and backache

 

Contraindications   

• Headache
• High blood pressure 
• Recent knee surgery   

Beginners tips and modifications

 

Use a block or strap if you need help with this pose. You can rest your lower-leg heel off the floor on the block to lessen the stretch or, if you can't reach your toe, loop a strap over the sole of your foot and hold the strap. 

   

Variation

With your left leg extended, turn the leg outward from the hip joint and lower your leg to the floor. Use a block under your foot if necessary.   

 

 

 Yoga and Depression Workshop 

 

When we're feeling alone, alienated, anxious or depressed, we've lost our connection to who we are.  

 

Reconnect with your true nature in a Yoga and Depression workshop on Saturday, Dec. 1, 9-11 a.m.   

 

Call today to register!