If you ask most adults why they don’t get the vitamins they need as part of their daily food intake, they’ll likely tell you that they just don’t have the time to eat like they should. It’s true that eating right does take some time and effort, but it’s also true that you can develop and maintain healthier eating habits without any drastic changes. Take a look at some facts and some alterations that can make a big difference in how you eat, and how you feel about what you eat.
Think the only healthy food is food that’s served on a plate that you eat with a fork? The truth is that many foods that are very rich in vitamins that your body needs everyday are available for your consumption on the go. And with some minor changes, even your fast foods can be healthy choices when you’re considering vitamins.
A cheeseburger from your favorite fast food place doesn’t have to be something you only indulge in now and then. While there are some other issues to consider (the amount of grease and salt, for example), a cheeseburger can provide you with many of the vitamins you need. A regular cheeseburger with a double patty gives you about 30 percent of your body’s B12 needs for the day and the dill pickles are a source of Vitamin K.
Instead of ordering French Fries to go with your burger, choose a salad. That doesn’t mean that you have to stop what you’re doing and sit down to eat the salad. Pile those veggies on the burger! The tomatoes are a source of Vitamin C, and the lettuce and mayonnaise has Vitamin K. Add it all up and a cheeseburger isn’t a bad choice when you’re trying to get the daily requirement of some necessary vitamins. Even a fast food taco can be a good source of Vitamin B12.
Sandwiches are generally not associated with healthy eating, but the same “cheeseburger rule” applies to any sandwich. Pile on the jalapeno or bell peppers for Vitamin C. Oils are also a good source of vitamins. Sunflower oil is very high in Vitamin E, for example.
Many foods that aren’t naturally high in vitamin content are fortified with vitamins. Most dairy products are fortified with Vitamin D. Taking just the time for a bowl of vitamin-fortified cereal in the morning can provide you with all the vitamins you need for the entire day. The next time you’re ready to dismiss a particular food as just empty calories, take a minute to evaluate what you’re really eating. You may be surprised to find the vitamin content is higher than you thought, or you may find that some simple changes can rectify the vitamin-poor choices.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Massage Information For Consumers
What should someone expect during a massage?
- The massage therapist will ask questions about what prompted you to get a massage.
- The massage therapist will want background information about your physical condition, medical history, lifestyle, stress levels and any painful areas.
- The massage therapist will ask what your health goals are and will discuss how massage may help you achieve those goals.
- During a one-on-one massage, you will be asked to remove clothing to your level of comfort. Clothing is not removed during “chair” massages.
Consumers also should consider the following tips to help them find a massage therapist who is trained and qualified.
- Are you licensed to practice massage? (35 states have passed legislation to regulate massage therapy)
- Are you a member of the American Massage Therapy Association?
- Are you Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork?
Massage May Help Ease Your Pain
Millions of Americans are all too familiar with pain. There can be countless trips to the doctor or chiropractor, pain medications, sleepless nights and the burden of making it through the day while enduring pain.
Have you tried massage?
A recent survey by the American Hospital Association shows that nearly 82 percent of hospitals that use some form of complementary or alternative care use massage therapy, with 70 percent of those hospitals using massage for pain management and pain relief.
A consumer survey commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association? (AMTA) reveals that more people than ever are seeking massage to manage and relieve pain. The survey shows that nearly half, 47 percent, of those polled have had a massage specifically for pain relief.
A 2003 survey of 1,998 massage clients showed that 63 percent believed massage therapy provided them greater pain relief than chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy or other bodywork.
Clinical research has shown massage therapy can:
- Be more effective for chronic back pain than other complementary therapies.
- Promote relaxation and alleviate the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients.
- Reduce post-traumatic headaches better than cold pack treatments.
- Lessen pain and muscle spasms in patients who have undergone heart bypass surgery when part of hospital-based surgery treatment.
- Stimulate the brain to produce endorphins.
- Improve confidence by encouraging patients to effectively cope with their pain.
If you have chronic pain, talk to your doctor about adding massage by a qualified massage therapist to your pain management program. Finding a trained and qualified massage therapist is important, so look for a member of AMTA.
- The massage therapist will ask questions about what prompted you to get a massage.
- The massage therapist will want background information about your physical condition, medical history, lifestyle, stress levels and any painful areas.
- The massage therapist will ask what your health goals are and will discuss how massage may help you achieve those goals.
- During a one-on-one massage, you will be asked to remove clothing to your level of comfort. Clothing is not removed during “chair” massages.
Consumers also should consider the following tips to help them find a massage therapist who is trained and qualified.
- Are you licensed to practice massage? (35 states have passed legislation to regulate massage therapy)
- Are you a member of the American Massage Therapy Association?
- Are you Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork?
Massage May Help Ease Your Pain
Millions of Americans are all too familiar with pain. There can be countless trips to the doctor or chiropractor, pain medications, sleepless nights and the burden of making it through the day while enduring pain.
Have you tried massage?
A recent survey by the American Hospital Association shows that nearly 82 percent of hospitals that use some form of complementary or alternative care use massage therapy, with 70 percent of those hospitals using massage for pain management and pain relief.
A consumer survey commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association? (AMTA) reveals that more people than ever are seeking massage to manage and relieve pain. The survey shows that nearly half, 47 percent, of those polled have had a massage specifically for pain relief.
A 2003 survey of 1,998 massage clients showed that 63 percent believed massage therapy provided them greater pain relief than chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy or other bodywork.
Clinical research has shown massage therapy can:
- Be more effective for chronic back pain than other complementary therapies.
- Promote relaxation and alleviate the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients.
- Reduce post-traumatic headaches better than cold pack treatments.
- Lessen pain and muscle spasms in patients who have undergone heart bypass surgery when part of hospital-based surgery treatment.
- Stimulate the brain to produce endorphins.
- Improve confidence by encouraging patients to effectively cope with their pain.
If you have chronic pain, talk to your doctor about adding massage by a qualified massage therapist to your pain management program. Finding a trained and qualified massage therapist is important, so look for a member of AMTA.
How To Diet
The secret of how to diet isn’t a complicated process. Many people have forgotten that cutting calories means losing weight. Now, you can do this without being hungry!
Wouldn’t it be great if life came with a “How To” manual? Some people think the same is true of dieting. With so many fad diets on the market and so many rules to follow, many people wonder how to diet and lose weight properly.
It can become confusing and overwhelming for a dieter. While some diets praise the virtues of low fat pasta, other diets may view that same pasta as something kin to poison. Carbohydrates are terrible, right? One diet may say to dine on a baked potato rather with fat-free margarine while the other diet says you’d be better off eating a steak. One diet views a turkey sandwich as a healthy choice while the other diet says bread is off limits. It’s understandable why people become confused on how to diet.
When it comes to knowing how to diet, the best strategy is the easiest one. Regardless of all the recent fad diets or the hype you may be hearing about one type of food being a better choice than another, it all boils down to one simple, often overlooked scientific fact. If you’re looking to lose weight, you probably already know how to diet. It’s by the easiest, simplest method … by cutting calories.
If you haven’t heard of this concept in a while, you’re not alone. With all the new diets claiming calories aren’t so important, it’s easy to forget how to diet best. Science, however, can’t be argued. A calorie is the measure of energy we gain from food. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. So, it doesn’t matter if you have a baked potato for lunch. It doesn’t matter if you have a piece of steak. When figuring out how to diet, you need to start counting your calories.
Some people may be thinking, “That can’t be true. If I ate Hershey bars instead of salads, I’d be sure to gain weight.” You’re right and wrong. Although a Hershey bar isn’t a healthy choice, one calorie from a Hershey bar is the same type of calorie as one calorie from a turkey sandwich. Granted, dining on Hershey bars isn’t how to diet because you’d be racking up a load of calories, but it’s important to realize that calories don’t come in different varieties. It takes just as much work to burn off one calorie of turkey as one calorie of chocolate.
So what’s the best solution on how to diet, and more importantly what’s the sure answer to the pressing issue of how to diet without being hungry? Although cutting calories to lose weight seems great in theory, it’s hard to drastically decrease your food intake when you have a growling stomach.
Now, you can easily follow the best plan on how to diet without being hungry, without dealing with the side effects that accompany diet pills, and without spending a fortune stocking your refrigerator with health food. Although this concept is one that’s new to the market, Hoodia Gordonii, a cactus-like plant with appetite suppressing properties, has actually been around for centuries. Although not originally intended as an answer for how to lose weight, Bushmen ate this plant on long journeys in the African desert to ward off hunger. When animal testing was done on this vegetable in the 1990’s to determine whether it was toxic, the results were surprising. The animals that ingested Hoodia actually lost weight. More studies revealed that Hoodia Gordonii contained an ingredient that cuts the appetite by up to 2,000 calories a day making it easy to lose calories and achieve that physique you’ve always dreamed of. Finally it’s easy to know how to diet without being hungry and without spending a fortune.
Wouldn’t it be great if life came with a “How To” manual? Some people think the same is true of dieting. With so many fad diets on the market and so many rules to follow, many people wonder how to diet and lose weight properly.
It can become confusing and overwhelming for a dieter. While some diets praise the virtues of low fat pasta, other diets may view that same pasta as something kin to poison. Carbohydrates are terrible, right? One diet may say to dine on a baked potato rather with fat-free margarine while the other diet says you’d be better off eating a steak. One diet views a turkey sandwich as a healthy choice while the other diet says bread is off limits. It’s understandable why people become confused on how to diet.
When it comes to knowing how to diet, the best strategy is the easiest one. Regardless of all the recent fad diets or the hype you may be hearing about one type of food being a better choice than another, it all boils down to one simple, often overlooked scientific fact. If you’re looking to lose weight, you probably already know how to diet. It’s by the easiest, simplest method … by cutting calories.
If you haven’t heard of this concept in a while, you’re not alone. With all the new diets claiming calories aren’t so important, it’s easy to forget how to diet best. Science, however, can’t be argued. A calorie is the measure of energy we gain from food. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. So, it doesn’t matter if you have a baked potato for lunch. It doesn’t matter if you have a piece of steak. When figuring out how to diet, you need to start counting your calories.
Some people may be thinking, “That can’t be true. If I ate Hershey bars instead of salads, I’d be sure to gain weight.” You’re right and wrong. Although a Hershey bar isn’t a healthy choice, one calorie from a Hershey bar is the same type of calorie as one calorie from a turkey sandwich. Granted, dining on Hershey bars isn’t how to diet because you’d be racking up a load of calories, but it’s important to realize that calories don’t come in different varieties. It takes just as much work to burn off one calorie of turkey as one calorie of chocolate.
So what’s the best solution on how to diet, and more importantly what’s the sure answer to the pressing issue of how to diet without being hungry? Although cutting calories to lose weight seems great in theory, it’s hard to drastically decrease your food intake when you have a growling stomach.
Now, you can easily follow the best plan on how to diet without being hungry, without dealing with the side effects that accompany diet pills, and without spending a fortune stocking your refrigerator with health food. Although this concept is one that’s new to the market, Hoodia Gordonii, a cactus-like plant with appetite suppressing properties, has actually been around for centuries. Although not originally intended as an answer for how to lose weight, Bushmen ate this plant on long journeys in the African desert to ward off hunger. When animal testing was done on this vegetable in the 1990’s to determine whether it was toxic, the results were surprising. The animals that ingested Hoodia actually lost weight. More studies revealed that Hoodia Gordonii contained an ingredient that cuts the appetite by up to 2,000 calories a day making it easy to lose calories and achieve that physique you’ve always dreamed of. Finally it’s easy to know how to diet without being hungry and without spending a fortune.
What you should know before buying Steroids
Steroids are synthetic hormones that serve the purpose of treating various medical conditions. Anabolic steroids are a version of testosterone, the male hormone, and upon their discovery, were used to treat puberty delays, infertility and low testosterone levels. With further research, scientists concluded that they could also use these steroids for treating chronic wasting conditions caused by cancer or AIDS. But as the years rolled by, researchers concluded that steroids had the ability to increase anabolism and could stimulate cell growth. Thus, they began finding use whenever bone or muscle growth needed to be stimulated.
But, many sportsmen, bodybuilders, models, highschoolers etc. began purchasing these steroids in large quantities to help them gain muscle and strength faster. Later, certain steroids were manipulated to serve even fat burning and weight gaining needs. The major steroids on sale are: Anadrol, Clenbuterol, Deca-Durabolin, Anavar, Dianabol and Winstrol. Though there are many others, these dominate the entire anabolic steroid market as they serve the purposes of aspiring bodybuilders and athletes.
To further aid sportsmen, steroid companies now sell various “stacks” of steroids. These are combinations of two or more steroids which are consumed at once to provide combined effects. Some common stacks are: Ultimate cutting stack, strength stack, competition stack etc. Steroids used in stacks have amazing capabilities such as burning fat instantly and adding many pounds of muscle at the same time.
However, many athletes choose to buy steroids and dose themselves without any form of proper medical guidance. What happens in these cases is a load of harmful side-effects that occur due to steroid overdose. This is the major problem with steroids today. In order to prevent overdose, sporting organizations like the Olympics, FIFA etc. have put bans on the use of steroids. Also, many countries have imposed restrictions on the manufacture and sale of anabolic steroids.
Steroids can be found on sale both online and offline. However, it is wise to buy them only upon medical prescription.
Steroids for sale
Steroids are synthetic derivatives of hormones which serve various medical treatment purposes. Anabolic steroids are derived from the testosterone hormone, which gives them the ability to enhance muscle and bone growth through manipulation of protein synthesis in cells, reduce extra fat instantly and increase the strength and performance of the body.
Initially, steroids were developed as natural medicines and doctors used them for curing low testosterone levelss. Later on, it was discovered that they could be converted into synthetic drugs and doctors began to use them in chronic waste treatment of Cancer and HIV/AIDS. As research carried on, scientists found that steroids had the amazing ability to boost growth instantly and add significantly to strength. Not only this, they were could also be used for burning down excess fat.
As soon as this news surfaced, people began purchasing steroids. Sportsmen considered steroids a boon for their careers and continued to buy them extensively in their obsession to emerge on top. Steroids like Clenbuterol, Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol, Equipoise, Anadrol, Winstrol, Trenbolone, etc. did and still do account for a large portion of steroid sales. These drugs are sold in stacks, or specific combinations, like the cutting stack, competition stack, strength stack, etc. These steroids have been found to have remarkable capabilities of increasing adding strength, speed and even muscle mass in short periods of time. Some of them could even increase the muscle growth and strength considerably without adding any bodyweight. It is also very common to use steroids for burning fat and curing injuries immediately.
Unfortunately, all of these benefits led to immense abuse of steroids in the form of overdose. Such overdose without medical guidance leads to a variety of harmful repercussions which include infertility, emotional imbalances, severe damage to the liver, premature baldness, increased acne levels, Impotence, enlarged breasts in men due to imbalance in estrogen levels, deepening of voice and enlargement of the clitoris in women, elevated blood pressure, increased LDL cholesterol levels etc. These side effects sometimes even took the life of sportsmen who’d become steroid addicts.
To prevent these disasters, many countries have imposed restrictions on the manufacture and sale of steroids
Steroids are for sale both online and offline. One can purchase them online or from legitimate and licensed dealers. It is illegal in some countries to purchase anabolic steroids without prescription.
But, many sportsmen, bodybuilders, models, highschoolers etc. began purchasing these steroids in large quantities to help them gain muscle and strength faster. Later, certain steroids were manipulated to serve even fat burning and weight gaining needs. The major steroids on sale are: Anadrol, Clenbuterol, Deca-Durabolin, Anavar, Dianabol and Winstrol. Though there are many others, these dominate the entire anabolic steroid market as they serve the purposes of aspiring bodybuilders and athletes.
To further aid sportsmen, steroid companies now sell various “stacks” of steroids. These are combinations of two or more steroids which are consumed at once to provide combined effects. Some common stacks are: Ultimate cutting stack, strength stack, competition stack etc. Steroids used in stacks have amazing capabilities such as burning fat instantly and adding many pounds of muscle at the same time.
However, many athletes choose to buy steroids and dose themselves without any form of proper medical guidance. What happens in these cases is a load of harmful side-effects that occur due to steroid overdose. This is the major problem with steroids today. In order to prevent overdose, sporting organizations like the Olympics, FIFA etc. have put bans on the use of steroids. Also, many countries have imposed restrictions on the manufacture and sale of anabolic steroids.
Steroids can be found on sale both online and offline. However, it is wise to buy them only upon medical prescription.
Steroids for sale
Steroids are synthetic derivatives of hormones which serve various medical treatment purposes. Anabolic steroids are derived from the testosterone hormone, which gives them the ability to enhance muscle and bone growth through manipulation of protein synthesis in cells, reduce extra fat instantly and increase the strength and performance of the body.
Initially, steroids were developed as natural medicines and doctors used them for curing low testosterone levelss. Later on, it was discovered that they could be converted into synthetic drugs and doctors began to use them in chronic waste treatment of Cancer and HIV/AIDS. As research carried on, scientists found that steroids had the amazing ability to boost growth instantly and add significantly to strength. Not only this, they were could also be used for burning down excess fat.
As soon as this news surfaced, people began purchasing steroids. Sportsmen considered steroids a boon for their careers and continued to buy them extensively in their obsession to emerge on top. Steroids like Clenbuterol, Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol, Equipoise, Anadrol, Winstrol, Trenbolone, etc. did and still do account for a large portion of steroid sales. These drugs are sold in stacks, or specific combinations, like the cutting stack, competition stack, strength stack, etc. These steroids have been found to have remarkable capabilities of increasing adding strength, speed and even muscle mass in short periods of time. Some of them could even increase the muscle growth and strength considerably without adding any bodyweight. It is also very common to use steroids for burning fat and curing injuries immediately.
Unfortunately, all of these benefits led to immense abuse of steroids in the form of overdose. Such overdose without medical guidance leads to a variety of harmful repercussions which include infertility, emotional imbalances, severe damage to the liver, premature baldness, increased acne levels, Impotence, enlarged breasts in men due to imbalance in estrogen levels, deepening of voice and enlargement of the clitoris in women, elevated blood pressure, increased LDL cholesterol levels etc. These side effects sometimes even took the life of sportsmen who’d become steroid addicts.
To prevent these disasters, many countries have imposed restrictions on the manufacture and sale of steroids
Steroids are for sale both online and offline. One can purchase them online or from legitimate and licensed dealers. It is illegal in some countries to purchase anabolic steroids without prescription.
Dealing with the end of life and the decisions that accompany it bring critical challenges for everyone involved.
Dealing with the end of life and the decisions that accompany it bring critical challenges for everyone involved-patients, families, friends and physicians. In fact, "managing" the progression toward death, particularly when a dire diagnosis has been made, can be a highly complex process. Each person involved is often challenged in a different way.
Communication is the first objective, and it should start with the physicians. In their role, physicians are often tasked to bridge the chasm between lifesaving and life-enhancing care; thus, they often struggle to balance hopefulness with truthfulness. Determining "how much information," "within what space of time" and "with what degree of directness for this particular patient" requires a skillful commitment that matures with age and experience.
A physician's guidance must be highly personalized and must consider prognosis, the risks and benefits of various interventions, the patient's symptom burden, the timeline ahead, the age and stage of life of the patient, and the quality of the patient's support system.
At the same time, it's common for the patient and his or her loved ones to narrowly focus on life preservation, especially when a diagnosis is first made. They must also deal with shock, which can give way to a complex analysis that often intersects with guilt, regret and anger. Fear must be managed and channeled. This stage of confusion can last some time, but a sharp decline, results of diagnostic studies, or an internal awareness usually signals a transition and leads patients and loved ones to finally recognize and understand that death is approaching.
Once acceptance arrives, end-of-life decision-making naturally follows. Ongoing denial that death is approaching only compresses the timeline for these decisions, adds anxiety, and undermines the sense of control over one's own destiny.
With acceptance, the ultimate objectives become quality of life and comfort for the remainder of days, weeks or months. Physicians, hospice, family and other caregivers can focus on assessing the patient's physical symptoms, psychological and spiritual needs, and defining end-of-life goals. How important might it be for a patient to attend a granddaughter's wedding or see one last Christmas, and are these realistic goals to pursue?
In order to plan a death with dignity, we need to acknowledge death as a part of life-an experience to be embraced rather than ignored when the time comes. Will you be ready?
Mike Magee, M.D., is a Senior Fellow in the Humanities to the World Medical Association, director of the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, and host of the weekly Web cast "Health Politics with Dr. Mike Magee."
Communication is the first objective, and it should start with the physicians. In their role, physicians are often tasked to bridge the chasm between lifesaving and life-enhancing care; thus, they often struggle to balance hopefulness with truthfulness. Determining "how much information," "within what space of time" and "with what degree of directness for this particular patient" requires a skillful commitment that matures with age and experience.
A physician's guidance must be highly personalized and must consider prognosis, the risks and benefits of various interventions, the patient's symptom burden, the timeline ahead, the age and stage of life of the patient, and the quality of the patient's support system.
At the same time, it's common for the patient and his or her loved ones to narrowly focus on life preservation, especially when a diagnosis is first made. They must also deal with shock, which can give way to a complex analysis that often intersects with guilt, regret and anger. Fear must be managed and channeled. This stage of confusion can last some time, but a sharp decline, results of diagnostic studies, or an internal awareness usually signals a transition and leads patients and loved ones to finally recognize and understand that death is approaching.
Once acceptance arrives, end-of-life decision-making naturally follows. Ongoing denial that death is approaching only compresses the timeline for these decisions, adds anxiety, and undermines the sense of control over one's own destiny.
With acceptance, the ultimate objectives become quality of life and comfort for the remainder of days, weeks or months. Physicians, hospice, family and other caregivers can focus on assessing the patient's physical symptoms, psychological and spiritual needs, and defining end-of-life goals. How important might it be for a patient to attend a granddaughter's wedding or see one last Christmas, and are these realistic goals to pursue?
In order to plan a death with dignity, we need to acknowledge death as a part of life-an experience to be embraced rather than ignored when the time comes. Will you be ready?
Mike Magee, M.D., is a Senior Fellow in the Humanities to the World Medical Association, director of the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, and host of the weekly Web cast "Health Politics with Dr. Mike Magee."
Some Things You Want to Know About Massage
Most Americans know that massage therapy can help relieve stress and pain, reduce blood pressure and boost the immune system. And, more people than ever are trying massage for the first time.
Perhaps you received a gift certificate for massage. Maybe work's been stressful, and you've thought about getting a massage to unwind. Or maybe you're already a fan of massage and want to try a different type of massage.
Whatever your reasons, there are some basic things you should know to get the most from your massage.
There are many terms for types of massage. The American Massage Therapy Association or designates the various methods as massage modalities. Ask your massage therapist what massage modality will give you the results you want.
The most popular include:
* Swedish massage: The most common type of massage, to relax and energize you.
* Deep tissue massage: For muscle damage from an injury, such as whiplash or back strain.
* Sports massage: To help prevent athletic injury, keep the body flexible and heal the body should injury occur.
* Chair massage: Massage of the upper body, while fully clothed and seated in a special portable chair.
Finding a qualified massage therapist is also important. Ask your massage therapist about his or her credentials. And remember, each massage and bodywork modality requires specialized training.
AMTA, which requires members meet education standards, recommends asking the following questions:
* Did you graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation or from an AMTA member school?
* Are you licensed or registered as a massage therapist in this state? Not all states license massage therapists.
* Are you a member of AMTA?
* Are you certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork?
* Do you have training in any specific massage modalities?
Perhaps you received a gift certificate for massage. Maybe work's been stressful, and you've thought about getting a massage to unwind. Or maybe you're already a fan of massage and want to try a different type of massage.
Whatever your reasons, there are some basic things you should know to get the most from your massage.
There are many terms for types of massage. The American Massage Therapy Association or designates the various methods as massage modalities. Ask your massage therapist what massage modality will give you the results you want.
The most popular include:
* Swedish massage: The most common type of massage, to relax and energize you.
* Deep tissue massage: For muscle damage from an injury, such as whiplash or back strain.
* Sports massage: To help prevent athletic injury, keep the body flexible and heal the body should injury occur.
* Chair massage: Massage of the upper body, while fully clothed and seated in a special portable chair.
Finding a qualified massage therapist is also important. Ask your massage therapist about his or her credentials. And remember, each massage and bodywork modality requires specialized training.
AMTA, which requires members meet education standards, recommends asking the following questions:
* Did you graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation or from an AMTA member school?
* Are you licensed or registered as a massage therapist in this state? Not all states license massage therapists.
* Are you a member of AMTA?
* Are you certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork?
* Do you have training in any specific massage modalities?
"A Better You" Your 7 days program to self-improvement
I seem to lost count on how many times I've read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and personally I don't), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless people, living the fairytale life of riches and glamour. I suppose we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.
There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self.
So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.
1. Know your purpose
Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.
This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there's always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.
2. Know your values
What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals for 2005 - check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it.
The number shouldn't discourage you, instead it should motivate you to do more than you can ever dreamed of.
3. Know your needs
Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top four needs and get them met before it's too late!
4. Know your passions
You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be. Express yourself and honor the people who has inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.
5. Live from the inside out
Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most of us city slickers it's hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. In my case I often just sit in a dimly lit room and play some classical music. There's sound, yes, but music does soothe the savage beast.
6. Honor your strengths
What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.
7. Serve others
When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit - your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them.
Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn't always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room. The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.
There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self.
So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.
1. Know your purpose
Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.
This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there's always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.
2. Know your values
What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals for 2005 - check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it.
The number shouldn't discourage you, instead it should motivate you to do more than you can ever dreamed of.
3. Know your needs
Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top four needs and get them met before it's too late!
4. Know your passions
You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be. Express yourself and honor the people who has inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.
5. Live from the inside out
Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most of us city slickers it's hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. In my case I often just sit in a dimly lit room and play some classical music. There's sound, yes, but music does soothe the savage beast.
6. Honor your strengths
What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.
7. Serve others
When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit - your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them.
Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn't always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room. The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.
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