by Betsy S. Franz
For me, it was my first glimpse of a hummingbird that did it. For others, it may be the beauty of butterflies or the joyful music of songbirds or a frog chorus. Some people love to sit and watch the playful antics of squirrels scampering through the trees. Whatever the reason or [...]
by Maggie Spilner
Wonderful walks are both relaxing and invigorating, but if you want to kick butt, literally—building strong glutes and thighs; strengthening your core, which helps improve posture and tighten abs; and stepping up to cardiovascular fitness quickly and efficiently—try stair climbing. Wayne Wescott, Ph.D., renowned exercise physiologist, military fitness consultant and author of Get [...]
by Lee Walker
The ancient healing practice of massage therapy is playing an important role today in the emerging golden age of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Surprisingly, it remains comparatively underrepresented in U.S. medical school curricula, while Massage Today reports that “Insurance reimbursement for massage therapy is at an all-time high.”
From the time that Hippocrates, [...]
by Jacqui DeBique
Singing to children helps promote their development, so go ahead and give a “moo moo” here and a “moo moo” there; do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around. When it comes to children’s songs, it turns out that this really is what it’s all about—simple, silly lyrics that are fun to sing [...]
by S. Alison Chabonais
Healthy energy habits, applied to gender awareness, result in extraordinary relationships, say Paul and Patty Richards, whose 59 “Energetic Facts of Life” emanate from their own experience. They teach these principles through the Senté Center they co-founded in the United States and New Zealand.
Both are trained seers who formerly enjoyed dynamic careers [...]
by Enda Junkins
Be aware. When the corners of our mouth turn up involuntarily and we must swallow unsolicited giggles, we may be giving way to laughter addiction.
The high that we gain when we laugh until we hold our sides, roll about on the floor and feel the tears streaming down our cheeks is addicting. So, [...]
by Blaine Greteman
Laughter predates the development of language. Almost all mammals do it, and it’s one of the first things babies learn.
“One of the unique characteristics of mammals is that we play,” advises Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of Born to Be Good: The Science of a [...]
by Judith Fertig
“Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first,” counseled writer Ernestine Ulmer in her now famous bon mot.
What is it about desserts that can bring a smile to even the grumpiest adult? Woody Allen has even compared comedy to dessert, commenting that it is “a bit like meringue.”
Desserts are meant to be lighthearted. The very [...]
by Stanley Coren
Universally known and appreciated for their playful, uninhibited nature, dogs’ penchant for play generally reflects these creatures’ more or less juvenile minds; they have been bred to remain much like their wolf puppy forebears for all of their lives. It’s part of what makes them unconditionally loving companions that like to frolic and [...]
by Kari Joys
In today’s tough economic times, many people are facing very difficult life situations. Mounting uncertainties seem to permeate the atmosphere of thought because so many have already lost their jobs and their homes. It’s not easy to stay cool, calm and collected when you don’t know what to expect tomorrow.
You may feel that [...]
