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The Implications of Bodywork
Human Touch Has Powerful Results
Cathy Ulrich
No matter the age, human touch plays a significant role in mental and physcial health.
A mind that is
stretched by a
new experience
can never go
back to its old
dimensions.
-O.W. Holmes
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C Murphy's
910 Parker Dr/Longmont/303-818-1077
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Monday & evenings in Longmont
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1026 Bannock, Denver
In this Issue
The Implications of Bodywork
Prevent the Afternoon Slump
Exercise Myths
Whether in giving or receiving, touch is
as essential to human survival as is food.
Infants deprived of touch, even when
they are getting adequate nutrition, will
fail to thrive. Elders isolated by loss of
partners and friends become depressed
not only because of the absence of social
interaction, but also because of the
simple loss of physical contact.
We calm our pets by stroking them, we
greet each other with a hug or a
handshake, and we soothe our children
by holding them. No other form of
connection is as powerful and universal
as touch. Taking a look at how this
sensation is connected to the brain
provides insight into the significance of
bodywork.
Skin and the Brain
The adult human lives inside an
envelope of about 18 square feet of skin.
Every inch houses thousands of nerve
endings and various kinds of sensory
receptors, all working to tell the brain
about its surroundings. The cold of an
ice cube, the softness of a cat's fur, a
warm breeze, the caress of a loved
one--all of these feelings are possible
because of our skin. Our skin tells us
about our environment and ourselves.
When we touch something with our
fingers, we're not only sensing the
object, we're also feeling our own skin,
our own boundaries.
In the first few days of an embryo's life,
the cells that eventually become a fully
formed baby divide into three layers.
The brain and skin come from the same
layer, and they develop together, not
only before birth, but well into the first
year of life. When a baby is held,
cuddled, and breast-fed, she's getting
crucial stimulation to build neural
connections between her skin and her
brain that will ultimately last her entire
lifetime.
Study after study has shown that touch is
not only important for development,
but is crucial to survival. James H.M.
Knox of Johns Hopkins Hospital
reported in 1915 that babies left in
orphanages and given proper nutrition
died at a rate of about 90 percent.
Other studies of the same era confirmed
Infant massage has shown great benefits in calming babies and helping pre-term infants thrive.
Continued from page 1
these findings and showed that those
babies who did survive were often
mentally handicapped and stunted in
their growth. These valuable studies
helped institutions understand the
importance of touch. When staff was
added to provide enough time for each
child to be held, handled, and touched,
mortality rates dropped dramatically.
Massage for Children
Those early statistical studies showed
how vital touch is to developing infants.
Researchers are also finding that giving
massage to premature infants can
improve their growth and overall health.
A study conducted by the Touch
Research Institute (TRI) at the
University of Miami found that when
stable premature babies were given five,
one-minute massages a day, they gained
47 percent more weight than their
counterparts who didn't get massage.
A 2001 study conducted by TRI showed
that when mothers gave their infants a
15-minute massage before bedtime,
these sleep-challenged kids went to sleep
more quickly and were more alert
during daytime hours.
Conversely, clinical research and
sociological studies link touch
deprivation with aggression. A 2002
study reported that adolescents with a
history of aggressive behavior showed
less aggression and were less anxious
after receiving a 20-minute massage
twice a week for five weeks.
Massage also reduces the symptoms of
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
so kids can concentrate better, and it's
even been found that the right kind of
touch can help kids with autism relate
better to teachers and family members.
Massage for Adults
Ongoing research by the Touch
Research Institute continues to prove
that massage is an important therapy for
many conditions. After a massage, levels
of the stress hormone cortisol drop in
saliva tests, examinations show an
improvement in alertness and
relaxation, depression scores decrease,
and mental focus improves.
The exponential growth of the bodywork
field is a testament to the value of safe,
therapeutic touch. Of course bodywork
can play an essential role in the healing
of specific chronic or acute orthopedic
conditions, but it also serves as a
powerful aide in improving the quality
of life for adults.
Stan, a former client, was going through
a nasty divorce. He had friends to
support him emotionally, but it seemed
that the thing he missed most was the
nurturing touch of his partner. He
credits weekly massage appointments,
along with seeing a counselor, to his
emotional recovery. Massage can be a
healthy way to get that much-needed
human contact.
Massage for Elders
People confined to nursing homes
rarely get more than daily hygienic care
in terms of touch. Yet elders need touch
as much as infants; studies show that
when they receive regular massage, the
elderly have less depression and anxiety,
experience better physical coordination,
and show a decrease of stress hormone
in their saliva.
Geriatric massage is a growing field
requiring specialized training, and many
massage therapists offer it in their
practices. Some nursing homes now
provide massage to their residents.
Elders appear to respond as well to
bodywork as, if not better than, their
younger counterparts.
Contact for All Ages
Before babies learn about their hands
and feet, they need the touch of loved
ones and caregivers. We retain that need
our entire lives. Remember to savor
touch the next time you're lying on a
massage table. Your therapist is not only
working out tight muscles, she's
contacting your entire nervous system,
calming you through pathways that were
put in place before you were born.
Avoid the drain office settings can bring on.
Prevent the Afternoon Slump
Some Tips for P.M. Energy
Jerry V. Teplitz
Exercise Myths
Fiction Vs. Fact
If you're like most people, you've
experienced the afternoon slump. You
know the feeling -- it's only 2 p.m., yet
you feel drained. Fortunately, you can
employ methods to reduce the slump's
frequency and shorten its duration.
Drink water.
Your body uses water even if you're not
exercising. If you wait until you feel
thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Keep
a water bottle handy all day.
Avoid sugar and simple carbohydrates.
While a mid-afternoon candy bar may
give you a quick rush, it actually worsens
the slump. Instead, choose protein-rich
foods and complex carbs.
Eat small meals.
Have six small meals over the course of
the day instead of three large ones. Big
meals cause the digestive process to
divert blood from your brain to use in
the digestive track.
Evaluate your lighting.
Most offices are lit with cool, white
fluorescent tubes, which have a terrible
effect on how people feel and function
at work. A better option is
full-spectrum, fluorescent tubes.
Take time for walks.
Walking gets your blood circulating,
helps you breathe better, and stimulates
your brain due to the increased blood
flow. Take a 5- or 10-minute walk
during the day.
Meditate.
Meditation is great for rejuvenating your
body. By meditating for 15 to 20
minutes twice a day, you're keeping your
body continually energized and rested.
Take time to breathe and stretch.
Deep breathing exercises give you an
energy boost. Also, stand up and stretch
to increase blood flow and stimulate the
lymphatic system.
Handle negativity.
Negative people and images can have a
draining effect on your energy. Make a
conscious effort to stay positive.
Although old fitness fictions like "no
pain, no gain" are fading fast, plenty of
misconceptions still exist. Following are
some of the most common myths,
counteracted by the latest research.
FICTION: You will burn more fat if
you exercise longer at a lower
intensity.
FACT: The most important focus in
exercise and weight control is how many
calories are burned during the activity.
The faster you walk, step or run, the
more calories you use per minute.
However, high-intensity exercise may be
more difficult to sustain.
FICTION: If you're not going to work
out hard and often, exercise is a waste
of time.
FACT: Any exercise is better than none.
For example, regular walking or
gardening for as little as an hour a week
has been shown to reduce the risk of
heart disease.
FICTION: If you exercise long and
hard enough, you will always get the
results you want.
FACT: In reality, genetics plays an
important role in how people respond
to exercise. Your development of
strength, speed, and endurance may be
very different from that of other people
you know.
FICTION: The health and fitness
benefits of mind-body exercise like t'ai
chi and yoga are questionable.
FACT: The benefits abound! T'ai Chi,
for example, has been shown to help
treat low-back pain and fibromyalgia.
Improved flexibility, strength, and stress
management are just some of the
benefits.
FICTION: Home workouts are fine,
but going to a gym is the best way to get
fit.
FACT: Some people find it easier to
stick to a home-based fitness program.
In spite of all the hype on trendy
exercise programs and facilities, the best
program for you is the one you will
participate in consistently.
This information was provided by
IDEA, www.ideafit.com.
Holding on to
anger is like
grasping a hot
coal with the
intent of
throwing it at
someone else;
you're the one
who gets burned.
-Buddha
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asparagus

This is why I love Asparagus!
Asparagus -Asparagus officinalis
The asparagus is a member of the lily family, which also includes onions, leeks and garlic.They have been cultivated for more than 2000 years in South of Europe. The green type is most common but you can also find white asparagus.
Health benefitsAsparagus are poor in calories and loaded with vitamins and minerals. They are a good source of folic acid, vitamin A, B vitamins and vitamin C.They are also a fair source of calcium and fiber.100 g of asparagus provide only 24 calories. The same amount provides 146 mg of vitamin B9 that is 1/3 of our recommended daily allowances.Vitamin B9 is particularly important for pregnant women since not enough of it can cause the birth of a baby with spina bifida.
Asparagus have detoxifying and diuretic effects. Their fibers help us clean out our gastrointestinal tract. They also help the body get rid of the excess water.Asparagus also contains the phytochemical glutathione, which has antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties.
There are old beliefs that asparagus could increase feelings of compassion and love, promote fertility, reduce menstrual cramping, and increase milk production in nursing mothers. In some countries they are also used as an aphrodisiac.
Some people notice a strong urine odor after eating asparagus. Asparagus contains a sulfur compound called a mercaptan which when broken down releases a funny scent.The odor will disappear when the asparagus is completely digested and absorbed.

Careful:This vegetable is not-recommended to people who suffer of cystitis, gut and arthritis. For this last disease, researchers are not sure if it would aggravate or reduce the pain.