health and wellness – Page 2 – Resilient Edge Wellness

Tap Into This Secret Source of Strength

May 28, 2014May 27, 2014kvanness01

One of the most exciting discoveries of the last 200 years is that
each of us has the ability to change our life by changing our
thinking.

Our attitudes of mind, our typical ways of thinking, our way of
looking at our life and our world….each of these impacts us
every day, in ways both obvious and unseen.

We live and operate in the physical world. Yet physical force or
effort is the lowest form of energy. Mental and spiritual forces
release the higher form of energy.

Your inner world of mind and spirit helps to drive and determine
your outer world of circumstances and results. If there’s some
aspect of your life that you would like to change or improve,
look to your inner world first.

A great way to do this is to sit still and be quiet for a few
minutes each day. Meditate, pray, or simply relax and let your
thoughts roam for a bit.

Release your worries, relax, and quietly think about what you
would like to bring into your life. You can think broadly
over various areas of your life….or you can focus on a
particular area that is vexing you, and picture the changes
and new reality you would like to have appear in that area.

We are all seeking “peace, sweet peace” as that old Christian
hymn says. We intuitively crave and seek peace of mind, because
we intuitively know that a peaceful state of mind leads more
easily to health, happiness, abundance, and spiritual growth.

Many people equate peace of mind with some ultimate or end
state of being – something we all aspire to, but never quite
attain, given our busy lives, the pressures of responsibilities,
the never ending quest for more.

Here’s a little secret: the people who are the most peaceful
are the most powerful.

In your peace lies your power.

In his book, “As A Man Thinketh”, James Allen writes about
the strength that comes with serenity:

“Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom…
self-control is strength; right thought is mastery; calmness
is power.”

You want to get into a calm, peaceful, serene state of mind,
particularly in times of stress and strain.

But wait a minute, Karen. When I’m stressed and strained is
exactly when I find it most difficult to become calm and
collected.

Ah yes, I know. I’ve been there! Just thinking you SHOULD
be calm and serene is a lot easier than actually BECOMING
calm and serene.

There’s an old saying, or story actually, in Chi Kung. A
student asks the Chi Kung master how often should she practice
in order to make progress. The master tells her she should
practice every day for 15 minutes.

But I lead a very busy life including work and other
responsibilities, says the student. What if I don’t have time
to practice every day?

“Ah,” says the master, “At times when you are very busy and
don’t have time, you should practice 45 minutes every day!”

In other words, the less time you have to focus on yourself,
to take a time out and get peaceful….the more you need to
TAKE the time and gift yourself with a few minutes of
peace.

Here’s where integration of your mental, emotional and physical
powers comes in. Combining breathing and energy exercises
with specific types of visualization, affirmations and
positive emotions can help you to master your emotional
state and carve out a zone of calmness, even in the midst
of chaos.

When your inner and outer selves begin to operate together in
a more organized and synchronous way, then you’ve really
started tapping into significant power.

The strength and mastery of your peaceful state of mind is
like a healing balm for the situation. It helps bring order
and right results.

Remember this: When you are in a peaceful state of mind, you
are the master of the situation, no matter how negative it
seems.

I often use the Prayer of Serenity as my cue to re-orient
my own thinking, focus and energy back to a more peaceful
and calm state.

Here is a way of interpreting that famous prayer, providing
additional meaning which I find quite helpful when I am
facing a particularly tough day or situation:

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change”
(calmness is power);

“Change the things I can” (Self-control is strength);

“And the wisdom to know the difference” (right thought leads
to mastery).

In such mastery is your strength and power for good.

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. You can receive and benefit from even more breathing and energy
exercises and instruction, and deeper insights into the physical,
psychological and spiritual dimensions of abundant energy, health
and fitness – by signing up for my FREE monthly print newsletter,
the “Best Breathing Exercises Letter”.

In the next few issues, I will be exploring the fascinating
psychological and metaphysical background which informs and
contributes to the effectiveness of breathing and visualization.
And I will share more details on several of the most productive,
yet easy to learn, exercises that I have enjoyed over the years.

To input or update your mailing address info, go to
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/bbe_nl_signup.html.

Here’s Something New for You

May 7, 2014kvanness01

People are raving about the “Inner Smile” technique I shared with
you in my previous blog posts.

Readers have been emailing me to tell me how much they enjoy this
exercise, and how wonderful they feel after doing it for just a
few minutes.

Truth be told, I gave you a high level synopsis of the exercise. I
focused on the key points, the major steps, and then relied on you
to fill in the gaps.

How?

Through your own experience, of course!

There’s a lot of mumbo jumbo out there about breathing and energy
exercises, about “secret” techniques and methods, about how you
have to study and practice for a long time before you get to the
really good stuff.

The reality is this: you can pick up quite a bit of technique and
skill by starting at a basic level, practicing and experiencing
at that level, then building from there.

It’s similar to teaching any new skill to anyone, from music to
martial arts to macrame.

First, you provide a basic foundation of knowledge, initial skills,
and a few key techniques.

You then have the student practice these, over and over, so they
actually experience them and therefore learn them. The experience
part is critical. Just reading about something won’t make you good
at it, or allow you to understand it.

Actually DOING THE THING, even if it’s at a basic level, pushes you
forward toward competency and, eventually, skilfulness.

At the same time, an instructor will work to ensure their student is
progressing in increments or steps that make sense: steps that
challenge the student just a little to keep it interesting, but
don’t ovewhelm so much that the student gives up.

I know from experience teaching martial arts and breathing exercises
that too much time spent in explanation is boring.You have to
explain the basics, then let the student work with it and practice.

Once they have some experience, you then add the next layer of
explanation, detail or complexity.

Move the performance level and knowledge base up, step by step….
and you have a winning formula for progress and learning.

So, back to the “Inner Smile” and other, similar exercises.

I can teach and explain quite a number of wonderful exercises to
you in these email tips. However, because of the length at which
I have to keep these (so you will actually read them), I sometimes
struggle with how much detail to include.

How best to resolve this?

Well, for one thing, I have created a number of information
products which go into greater depth on specific areas of
breathing, energy cultivation, stress management, and flexibility.
Visit http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/products.html to
see a complete listing.

Here’s another thing I used to do: early on, when I first started
the Best Breathing website, I published a short, two to four page
newsletter that I sent out each month to my customers.

Yes, a PRINT newsletter which I mailed out.

I know I know, not common in this day of digital everything. But
I tried it out anyways.

And I was pleasantly surprised at the response. My customers
loved it!

They loved that I could devote more space to really digging into
a specific topic, or even cover off a couple of topics, in more
detail than I usually can through an email message.

And I loved being able to share even more information, insights
and inspiration with my customers.

I eventually stopped doing the print letter. Not sure why, now
that I think of it.

But, I’ve decided to start up me ol’ letter again. And you,
my friend, are the beneficiary. IF you are interested.

As I said, the ”Best Breathing Exercises Letter” will be written
for you and mailed to you each month.

It’s like a letter I would write to a good friend, one who wants
to learn more about improving health and energy levels,
transforming stress, being more focused and confident, and
becoming more resilient.

And, because it’s a print newsletter, I don’t have to edit myself
quite as much as I sometimes have to when writing online. So I can tell
you what I really think!

So, how do you get on my list?

Here’s the deal:

I used to limit receipt to customers only. But I very much
appreciate your following and reading this here blog o’ mine.
So I’ve decided to open up this new version of the “Letter”
to you, Dear Reader.

If you’ve been followinging my blog and would like to receive the
”Best Breathing Exercises Letter”, simply give me your mailing
adress and you will be on the list.

Here is the link to provide your current mailing information:

http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/bbe_nl_signup.html.

I’m only opening sign up for the Letter for a few days. I want
people are are truly interested and will actually USE and therefore
BENEFIT FROM the information I will be providing.

I’m betting you are one of those people. You want even more information,
insights and inspiration to help you live the full, active, joyful life
you deserve! So goeth noweth and provide your mailing information at
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/bbe_nl_signup.html.

It will take you less than a minute. Go there now and git er done.

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. Yes, you too can receive and benefit from even more breathing
and energy exercises and instruction, and deeper insights
into the physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions of
abundant energy, health and fitness – by signing up for my FREE
monthly print newsletter, the ”Best Breathing Exercises Letter”.

To input your mailing address info, go to
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/bbe_nl_signup.html.

Fun and Fascinating Exercise, Part 2

April 28, 2014April 28, 2014kvanness01

Can you actually smile your way to better health, improved self-
confidence, enhanced energy levels, and peace of mind?

Two thousand years or so of experience says Yes!

In my previous message, I started you off on a fun and fascinating
exercise – The “Inner Smile” exercise which is foundational to
certain eastern energy practices, such as Chi kung (qi gong) and
certain meditation practices.

I like the Inner Smile technique because it’s an easy, natural
way to introduce higher level mental and psychological approaches
into your breathing practice.

As I mentioned before, the Inner Smile can get pretty complicated.
In fact, a number of chi kung techniques or approaches can get
complicated – sometimes so much so that they become almost
unusable, unless you plan on devoting your full time to their
exploration.

However, over my years of learning, studying, practicing and
teaching, I have discovered that there is often a simpler,
more readily available, but equally energizing and empowering
way to approach the most beneficial techniques.

The Inner Smile is a really fun one, and therefore – again,
from experience – it’s one that you are more likely to practice
and do on a regular basis – not only because it’s easy and
enjoyable, but also because you will begin to reap benefits
within a short time.

I say it’s fun because you are using a power you already possess –
the ability to daydream. It’s fascinating, because the more you
relax, let go and play around with it, the better results you’ll
get.

So remember: approach from a perspective of playfulness, positive
expectancy, and relaxation.

To recap quickly: once you’re relaxed and breathing into your
dan tien or lower abdomen, smile into that spot.

Actually picture a smiley face in your dan tien. I also recommend
smiling for real – I’ve found it’s very helpful to smile softly to
yourself as you smile into your body.

Let that smile radiate happiness, calm, contentment.

Feel your smile bathe your organs and every system in your body in
radiant healing energy.

Continue to breathe gently and deeply into your dan tien as you
smile. After only two to three minutes, you should be feeling great!

There are several ways to amplify the Inner Smile technique. One of
the most accessible is to project the smile out in front of you.

Basically, visualize the smile in your dan tien / lower abdomen
being projected out from that power center to a spot two to three
feet in front of you.

If you’re into the Batman movies or comics, picture Commissioner
Gordon firing up his beacon and illuminating the night sky with
the Batman Signal.

In this case, you can picture the universal smiley face. See it
bright and shiny, smiling back at you. Then, smile back at it.
Yes, actually smile – broaden your soft smile to a big, toothy
smile. Feel the energy amplify – breathe it in.

Then see how you feel.

I’ve had people do this exercise, as described, and feel absolutely
transformed after just five minutes or so. It truly is a wonder!
And I like the fact that it’s easy to learn and do. Even if you
don’t get every detail, you will still reap the benefits. It’s
that good!

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. In my next post, I will let you know how you can get even
more breathing and energy exercises, insights and instruction
from yours truly. AND I will explore some of the fascinating
psychological and metaphysical background which informs and
contributes to the effectiveness of combining breathing and
visualization.

Here’s A Fun, Fascinating Way to Progress In Your Breathing Practice

April 25, 2014kvanness01

During the 1800s Western society moved into what has been called
“The Industrial Age”, an age of tremendous mechanical and electrical
strides that helped to automate many labor-intensive tasks.

Then, in the mid to late 1900s, we entered what was called “The
Information Age”, in which the development of computers, advanced
management practices, and decreased time to travel enhanced our
ability to store data, develop new products and solutions, and
achieve even more automation in industry and in our daily lives.

Now we are said to be in “The Knowledge Age”, in which we have
developed even more powerful tools for accumulating and accessing
information, analyzing and transforming data, and making it easier
for people to communicate, collaborate, and learn. We’re also
more connected physically because it’s become much easier and
cheaper to travel – not just across country, but all over the
globe.

As economic society has progressed, its emphasis has changed from
the purely physical and mechanical to the mental and informational.
Knowledge and knowledge workers are more important than ever.

We can draw a parallel to this progression when we look at
breathing exercises.

Within the western paradigm, breathing and energy practices over
the past century-plus have progressed from a purely physical
or mechanical emphasis to an approach which also incorporates
mental and psychological tools. In many cases, these mental and
psychological approaches have been borrowed from, or at a minimum
informed by, Eastern breathing and energy practices.

I often refer to the late 1800s through early 1900s as a kind of
“golden age” pf physical culture. Breathing exercises were one of
the cornerstones of programs typically recommended for enhancing
strength, health and vitality.

In these early days, the exercises were pretty much all
mechanical, and were designed to help people learn how to
breathe fully, open up their lungs, and develop the muscles
and connective tissues associated with breathing.

Breathing was also heavily emphasized in the performance of
exercises, ranging from walking to lifting weights.

These types of exercises can be invaluable, and are a great
foundation for an effective breathing and health practice. In
fact, I used mostly mechanical breathing and stretching exercises
to improve, then eventually rid myself of, a severe case of
asthma.

However, once you have made progress in mechanical exercises and
methods, established your foundation, and experienced excellent
results – you invariably thirst for more.

In terms of progression, there are several different ways you
can go. One that I highly recommend – the “next level up”, so to
speak, in your breathing practice – is to begin to use your
imagination.

Coupling breathing with specific types of visualization and
imaging can be extremely powerful, serving as the foundation for
incredible improvement in specific areas of your life.

It is also fun AND fascinating!

Fun because you are using a power you already possess – the
ability to daydream.

Fascinating, because the more you relax, let go and play around
with it, the better results you’ll get.

Here’s one of my favorite approaches: “Your Inner Smile”.

Inner Smile practice is an important approach in various types
of chi kung (qi gong) and meditation methods. It can actually
get pretty involved in some systems! I want to share a simple
“Inner Smile” technique you can start using right now.

First, take a minute or two to calm and steady your breathing.
Use box breathing (which we discussed a couple of tips ago),
or other form of counting, to help you extend your inhale
and exhale. Relax as you do this, don’t force anything. Let
your breathing relax your body.

Once you feel somewhat calm and relaxed, begin to breathe
specifically into your lower abdomen – your hara, or dan tien –
which is your physical center of gravity and also an important
energy center.

Inhale into and out of this energy center, which is about
two inches below your navel and 1 to 2 inches under the surface.

Here’s a little trick: It often helps to imagine a golden energy
ball in that spot, twirling and radiating. If you concentrate
long enough, you will begin to feel warmth or other sensation
in that area.

Now, let’s get to the Smile. Once you’ve got that energy ball
twirling and spinning – at least in your mind’s eye – smile
into that spot.

That’s right, smile into it. Actually picture a smiley face
in your dan tien. I also recommend smiling for real – I’ve
found it’s very helpful to smile softly to yourself as you
smile into your body.

Let that smile radiate happiness, calm, contentment. Let it
radiate the feeling that you are OK – in fact, you are perfect
just the way you are. Let it radiate health and healing
throughout your body.

Your smile loves you unconditionally. Your smile gives you a
feeling of joy. Your smile gives you energy and confidence.

Feel your smile bathe your organs and every system in your
body in radiant healing energy.

I know this exercise seems a little out there. But trust me,
it works.

Try it out, and be sure to relax and have fun with it. Spend
3 to 5 minutes smiling into your dan tien. Put a little smile
on your face too. Then see how you feel.

I guarantee you will be in an elevated state.

Now, would you like to know more about this technique, plus
a way to amplify it? Like I said, it can get pretty
sophisticated….but I will share a couple of recommendations
that can really power this up for you.

See you in my next message. In the meantime, keep smilin’!

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. Breathing is the direct and instantaneous way to tap into
the life force, the vital energy that flows through each of us.
Performed properly, deep breathing coupled with dynamic
exercises is a powerful method for accessing and flowing your
internal power: power for thinking, power for solving problems,
power for enhancing your health, and so much more.

Making a small investment of time each day, or every other day,
in dynamic energy exercises – like the ones I teach you in “The
Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II: The
Dynamic Energy Routine” – will instantly enhance your internal
energy and focus. To learn more, click here.

To Concentrate Better, Be A Square

April 9, 2014kvanness01

Did you know there exists a rich tradition within human history of
integrating breathing practices and techniques into specific
disciplines, including those that support health and fitness…
enhanced mental or physical performance….and even religious and
spiritual practices, such as prayer and meditation.

For example, learning how to breathe properly and fully,
using your entire breathing apparatus, can help you quickly
and easily focus on any kind of mental or physical work you
are about to engage in.

Learning how to calm, slow and deepen your breathing can help
you overcome feelings of anxiety, stress, or anger which may
impede your ability to solve problems or overcome the typical
stresses of modern life.

Coupling breathing with specific types of visualization and
imaging can be even more powerful, serving as the foundation
for incredible improvement in specific areas of your life.

Today let’s focus on a simple but highly effective breathing
exercise that can help you stop stress or overwhelm in its
tracks and enable you to focus or concentrate better on the
task at hand.

Yes, this is for all of you “adult ADD’ers” – as in Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD).

I’ve got some experience with this. Our son Miguel has a
moderate to severe form of ADHD. We are constantly working with
him on developing and implementing simple strategies to help
him stay focused on his schoolwork or whatever task he is engaged
with….AND to regain focus or concentration more quickly when
he is distracted.

I know some adults with ADD too. My better half whs never
officially been diagnosed, but ADD certainly explains some
behaviors we see today (and explains a lot of thing from
chilhood as well). My brother WAS diagnosed with adult ADD.
Again, explains a lot from his childhood (especially from a
sister’s perspective!)

Now, I know there are some folks out there who claim that ADD
or ADHD does not exist, and that parents and school staff are
just looking for a way to medicate the kids so they sit still
and behave like they are “supposed to”.

Well, I can tell you it’s for real. We deal with it every day.

However, it’s possible to deal successfully with it, with the
right combination of behavioral strategies, clear and specific
consequences (both positive and negative), and, in some cases,
with carefully tested and prescribed medications.

The explosive increase in the number of kids diagnosed with ADD
or ADHD is mirrored by the increase in the number of adults
finally getting diagnosed.

However, from my viewpoint, the pace and expectations of the
modern world make every one of us ADD’ers, or at least sometime
ADD’ers.

Ever-present smart phones, iPads, and laptops mean we are
interrupted often with a new email, new tweat, new ping,
or whatever. And our internal wiring compels us to respond to
that ping or dong or song (whatever you have set up for your
alerts) because we are wired to (1) respond to rings and pings;
and (2) to move toward the novel, the break in the routine.

The result is constant interruption, leading to being less
productive and feeling like you can’t focus…leading to feelings
of overwhelm and not being able to get your work or other tasks
completed when you should….resulting in more stress and
strain and even less focus and concentration, and so on and on
in a terrible downward spiral. Unless….

Unless you arrest this process, nip it in the bud. And it’s
relatively easy to do, if you’re willing to take a few simple
steps.

First off, you’ve got to get a handle on the interruptions. With
few exceptions, you don’t have to answer every phone call, and
you don’t have to answer every email or tweat or twat or text
that comes in. So why are you chaining yourself to electronic
notification jail?

Instead, try scheduling specific times when you will check your
devices for emails, texts and so forth, and respond to the ones
you need to during those times. For example, many productivity
experts recommend checking email only two to three times per day.

Not only are you more efficient at working through and responding
to your emails. You’ll also get more work done because you are
focusing on the task at hand for blocks of time, and not allowing
yourself to be pulled away from it to check emails.

Only you can help yourself begin to detox from your electronics
dependency. However, I can help you with a second important
step:

Using your breathing to help you regain control and focus.

In martial arts, particularly in more traditional styles, breath
control is taught throughout the training.

One of the best, yet amazingly simple, breathing exercises I
have used over the years is called “box breathing”.

Basically, you follow the 4 sides of a box or square to control
and regulate your breathing. It’s best to start out using a
count of 4. Here’s how:

-Breathe in for a count of 4; hold gently for a count of 4;
exhale for a count of 4; hold gently for a count of 4.

Seems easy, right? Well, it is deceptively simple. But it’s
packed with benefits.

Breathing and holding for counts of 4 doesn’t seem that challenging.
But you’d be surprised at how erratic and shallow your breathing
typically is – especially if you are feeling stressed, rushed, or
overwhelmed, or if you are working out hard and pushing yourself.

The simple act of controlling your breathing, both in terms of
pace and regularity, allows you to assert control over your
physiological reponse.

To really benefit, be sure to breathe in deeply, using your
diaphragm, and take a full breath.

When I say breathe deeply, don’t go overboard and try to suck
in a huge amount of air. This usually results in tightening
up and trying too hard, which is the opposite of what you want
to do.

Rather, breathe into your lower abdomen as you inhale. Allow
your stomach and sides to expand out. Hold gently, then
exhale fully. Again, don’t strain. Just make sure you have
pushed out all the air, then hold.

This method of breathing is quite enjoyable. It enables you to
regain mental control, reduce all that monkey chatter, and
focus and concentrate better. You’ll feel more in control and
experience quite a mental and physical boost.

AS you gain experience with box breathing, experiment with
changing the counts you use. For eaxmple, extend the amount of
time you hold your breath. Breath in for a count of 4, hold
for a count of 8 or 12, breathe out for a count of 8.

This specific count is a technique one of my Tae Kwon Do
instructors emphasized. We did it often during seated
meditation. It really helps you focus inwardly and gain
mental control.It’s also wonderful for developing greater
lung power.

Technically you’re not following the box or square anymore,
it becomes more like a rectangle or quadrilateral. But you get
the picture.

You should devote part of your time each day to the cultivation
of breath control and power. Making a small investment of time
in dynamic energy exercises – like the ones I teach you in “The
Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II: The
Dynamic Energy Routine” will enhance the results you get from
exercise, as well as your internal energy and focus.

Breathing is the direct and instantaneous way to tap into the
life force, the vital energy that flows through each of us.

Performed properly, deep breathing coupled with dynamic
exercises is a powerful method for accessing and flowing your
internal power.

This type of dynamic exercise creates harmony between the breath
and the physical. Not only are you strengthening the muscles
associated with breathing. You also are creating and
increasing a sense of harmony and relaxation across both mind
and body.

It’s health-enhancing and life-extending. I strongly encourage
you to tap into the benefits that await you from investing just
a few minutes a day – or a few minutes at the start of your
regular workouts.

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Let’s Count Our Blessings, Shall We?

March 11, 2014kvanness01

Just about everyone who has ever flown in a commercial jet has
probably, every now and then, given at least a passing thought
to the unthinkable: their plane blowing up or falling out of the
sky. Especially after 9/11.

Fortunately, it almost never happens. In fact, plane crashes are
exceedingly rare, especially in proportion to the thousands of
flights that occur each day.

But for the 239 people aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, it
did. And, as I’m writing this now, no one has any idea yet about
how it happened. Plenty of hypotheses, but no real evidence or
indication yet.

I feel for the poor souls who have been lost, merely because
they were on that flight. I feel for the families, friends and
coworkers of those who have been lost. I can only imagine how
terrible the waiting must be.

This one struck home for me. I’m a reformed road warrior and have
traveled all over the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and Asia for
both work and pleasure.

I’ve flown out of Kuala Lumpur on that exact same flight path.

At the time, I was heading home after a stint in Asia. Even
though I had a long trip ahead of me, I was looking forward to
seeing my family and sleeping in my own bed.

I imagine many of the travelers on Flight 370 were doing the
same thing – heading home after a business trip. Or they were
heading out on business, or to go visit family.

Would that there were some good answers as to why tragedies like
this happen, but there are not.

All we can do is feel for those who are lost, say a prayer for
their loved ones, and then count our blessings.

No matter what your present circumstances – even if you’re going
through a difficult time in your life – bless your present
circumstances and be thankful that you are alive.

This practice of blessing is an ancient, but rarely taught,
success principal. Its roots go back to early Biblical teachings,
as well as ancient success teachings in various cultures including
ancient Egypt and Babylonia.

In fact, the art of blessing has been called “the ancient secret
for happy living”.

The ancients felt that a blessing carried great power to do good.
Blessing is a powerful way to bring forth the good in any
situation, condition, or person.

Jesus taught to judge not according to appearances, but to judge
according to “right judgement” – that is, seeing the good and
thereby bringing out the best in a condition or person.

This runs counter to the way most of us are wired. I mean, its
easy to bless and give thanks for the good things in life. And
it’s important to do so.

But it’s much more difficult to bless the so-called “bad” things
in life. Whether we’re facing a challenging situation, financial
lack, a health problem, an irritating co-worker, a crappy boss,
misbehaving kids, feeling lonely….

Whatever the challenge may be, we tend to want to complain about
it, to dwell on the negative, and to put ourselves down for
being victim to it. We see the negative (as we perceive it) in
others and dwell on that, instead of seeing the whole person
and the potential within that fellow human being.

Well, I can vouch that there’s a better way. Not that I’ve
mastered this or anything – I’ve still got a long way to go.
But I can tell you that anytime I have faced a big challenge,
when I’ve complained and whined and fretted about it, it’s
just become worse (“worster and worster” as my son puts it).

On the other hand, when I have taken the time to step back,
take a deep breath, and bless the situation, it has almost always
become better. And even when I haven’t seen any substantial,
immediate change, I’ve FELT BETTER about the situation – which
is very empowering.

A great application of this principle is in the area of your
health. You may be dissatisfied with where you’re at right
now in terms of your fitness, your weight, or dealing with an
acute or chronic health condition.

You may have been cursing the situation, your bad luck, your
inability to successfully deal with it, and on and on.

Stop that right now! Place a moratorium on cursing and
complaining. It doesn’t help you solve your problem, and
it sure doesn’t make you feel better. All it does is mire
you, mentally and emotionally, in the bad circumstance or
situation.

Try this instead: bless the situation. Bless yourself. Give
thanks for the testing and the trying time, because you
know it is making you better, stronger, and more capable.

As you bless the situation, basically acknowledge the good
you know will come out of it: the improvement that is on its
way; the important lesson learned which will serve you well
in the future; the goodness you are coaxing out of it.

In other words, take things as they are, but establish the
positive expectation of how things will be.

Here’s a personal example: I’ve been candid about my own
struggles with my weight at different times of my life,
as well as my struggles with asthma.

At times I’ve been pretty hard on myself: condemning myself
for letting my weight creep up; for allowing myself to get out
of shape; for procrastinating on a true effort to exercise
and eat better so I could get to a healthier weight.

You know, it’s OK to be honest with yourself and give yourself
a little kick in the booty once in awhile.

But putting yourself down, criticizing and condemning does no
good at all. It doesn’t empower you to improve the situation.
it only drives you down.

In retrospect, I can clearly see that when I made true progress,
re-invested in my health and fitness regimen, lost the weight
and got in great shape….only happened AFTER I stopped
condemning myself, accepted where I was, and turned my thoughts
and my emotions to the good I knew could come out of the situation.

Part of the good I have realized has been compassion and
empathy for other people.

I’m not one of those super skinny, airbrushed fitness trainers
or models you see on book and magazine covers. I’m a real
person who has struggled with weight and health issues! So I
can definitely relate and have compassion for others who are
in the same boat.

If your mind has been trained to criticize, you may not always
wish to bless and behold the good. It can be a challenge to make
the shift – AND stick to it! But as you persist in training your
thoughts to bless, it becomes easier. And as you see happy
results in your life, you’ll realize your efforts are worthwhile.

Don’t underestimate the power of blessing! It’s a simple but
powerful way to release great good into your life. It can work
to improve every area of your life, if you’ll just give it a
try.

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Don’t Fall Prey to the “Law of Diminishing Intent”

February 28, 2014kvanness01

For the first time in his young life, my son Miguel is playing
baseball. His team has their first scrimmage this morning.

Prior to this year, he never expressed any interest in playing
“pee wee” or little league baseball. Oh sure, we’ve thrown around
the ball with him in the backyard and played wiffle ball. And
he’s been to our baseball mecca, Fenway Park, to see a Red Sox
game.

Now he’s participating in a more organized way.

When he made the decision to sign up for little league, I told him
he would be at a disadvantage to some of the other boys who have
played already. But that should not deter him. The important thing
would be to work on the fundamentals and begin to learn more about
how the game is played.

Which means….

PRACTICE!

So, the day we signed him up, we started to practice.

We agreed to regular practice as a habit. Not only did Miguel
make the commitment to show up – on time – at every practice.
He’s also committed to practice on his “off” days at home.

I’ve insisted on this approach because it offers such a
wonderful tool for success, progress and transformation.

It’s part psychology, part discipline, part leveraging the
power of momentum: the momentum you get from the simple act of
making a decision to do something.

And the best time to act is…..immediately after you have made
that decision.

Engaging in genuine discipline requires that you develop the
ability to take action. You don’t need to be hasty if it
isn’t required, but you don’t want to lose much time either.

Here’s the time to act: when the idea is hot and the emotion
is strong.

When did Miguel and I go out back and start throwing around
the baseball?

The minute we got home from baseball signups.

Since then, we’ve not had to prompt or remind a single time.

Miguel has been the one asking us to go out back and throw the
ball, or work with him on his batting.

It’s become part of his routine now.

Here’s the secret: Take action as soon as possible, before the
feeling passes and before the idea dims.

If you don’t, here’s what happens:

You fall prey to what famous motivational speaker and successful
businessman, Jim Rohn, called the “Law of Diminishing Intent”.

As Jim said, “We intend to take action when the idea strikes us.
We intend to do something when the emotion is high. But if we
don’t translate that intention into action fairly soon, the
urgency starts to diminish. A month from now the passion is cold.
A year from now it can’t be found.”

So take action. Set up a discipline when the emotions are high
and the idea is strong, clear, and powerful. You’ve got to take
action; otherwise the emotion soon passes.

Unless….

Unless you apply it to a disciplined activity.

Discipline enables you to capture the emotion and the wisdom and
translate them into action.

The key is to increase your motivation by quickly setting up the
disciplines. By doing so, you’ve started a whole new life process.

Discipline leads to self-worth and self-esteem.

As Miguel continues to develop his discipline by practicing
and playing and keeping his commitment to show up – on time and
ready to play – to all practices and games, he will develop far
more self-esteem than any amount of praise or encouragement
we can provide as parents.

Of course, our praise and encouragement are important. But when
he sees the fruits of his labors, and experiences the satisfaction
of persevering through an activity, even when it’s not fun or
seems hard (which inevitably it will sometimes), Miguel will have
learned such an important lesson.

How about you?

Did you make the decision at the start of the year – maybe as
part of your New Year’s resolutions – to “finally” get in shape
this year? Then…did you do something about it immediately?

Did the new exercise routine or diet you started seem to just…
fizzle. Or did you not even really get started?

Have you been struggling with some not-so-good habits – habits
you know are sapping your energy, preventing you from reaching
your goals, stealing away your life – maybe even killing you,
bit by bit, which is the case with poor eating and exercise
habits?

Are you unsure of where to start? Do you feel overwhelmed by
everything you could be doing, or should be doing?

Well, you may be suffering from the “Law of Diminishing Intent”.

And I’ve got just the remedy – an excellent place to start, to
help you get the ball rolling.

First: Make the DECISION to get in better shape, to get healthy,
to recapture your energy.

Second: Take ACTION and get my new Special Report, “Ten Universal
Strategies for Optimal Fitness”. It gives you a well-rounded,
highly effective approach to exercise and fitness.

Third: As soon as you order your own copy of the Report, DO
something good for yourself? Stretch, do some pushups, go for
a walk….breathe!

Those seemingly small actions will help you get started on your
own path to self-discipline, self-esteem, and better health
and energy.

Visit http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/fitnessstrat.html
to get more information.

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. A good exercise routine can literally rocket launch you to
improved health and fitness, higher energy levels, better brain
and cognitive function, and enhanced productivity.

I wrote my latest Special Report, “Ten Universal Strategies for
Optimal Fitness”, to help you get started. I cover – in
a concise, easy to understand, and easy to implement way – the
most important elements of an efficient, effective and ENJOYABLE
approach to getting fitter and feeling healthier than you ever
imagined.

The information in this report will point you in the right
direction and show you exactly what to do to get maximum
results.

To read more about it, or to claim your copy today (plus a
special bonus offer), go to
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/fitnessstrat.html.

One of the Wisest Things Ronald Reagan Ever Said

February 25, 2014kvanness01

There are simple solutions to our problems – just not easy ones.”

-Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States of America

In my home office, hung on the wall above and to the left of my
desk area, is a framed commemorative portrait of Ronald Reagan,
which also includes his official stamp and stamp ingot from the
US Postal Service, plus a couple of other keepsakes.

I didn’t agree with Reagan on all of his policies. For example, I
was very disappointed with the Iran-Contra scandal (bringing cakes
and making deals with the Ayatollahs of Iran? Really Ronbo?) And
his delay in driving significant government spending to study and
fight the emerging scourge of AIDS was unforgivable.

However, Ronald Reagan is one of the U.S. presidents I respect
the most. He held to his principles, developed over years of
experience in private enterprise and government. He believed in
America, the promise of her, and that she – and we – could be
great again, could continue to make a meaningful and (mostly)
positive difference in the world again. He believed that the
U.S. and our allies could and would overcome in the Cold
War – and he took steps to help make sure this indeed happened.

And he was a great communicator. He stuck to simple themes,
repeated over and over again. He told stories, he related to
people. He believed the best way was to communicate directly
with us, because he knew we were smarter than the pollsters
and politicians and industrial complex give us credit for.

Many took his simple approach and simple themes as weaknesses,
as signs that he lacked intellectual capacity or curiosity.

Actually, if you read any of his letters, or accounts from
the folks who worked most closely with him, you get a much
different picture.

Well, I’m not here to talk politics. You probably get enough
of that BS from the news media, don’t you? Especially here
in the U.S., where it seems like we are already getting
sucked into “Campaign 2016” as the potential presidential
candidates (and potential potentials) jockey for early position.

I mention Reagan because of the quotation above: “There are
simple solutions to our problems – just not easy ones.”

This applies to many areas of challenge we face in our lives.

Including improving our health and fitness.

The exercise and diet industry thrive on making things more
complex than they really area. I mean, they have to, otherwise
what would be their excuse for publishing twenty new diet
books around the beginning of this year?

(This is just an estimate by the way, based on my doing a
quick count the last time I was in a Barnes & Noble. I’m sure
the actual number of diet and exercise books was even higher.)

Well, as Reagan said, there are simple answers, straightforward
approaches that make sense.

But here’s the catch: they are not necessarily easy.

Now, here’s a question for you:

How would you like to spend less time exercising…do less
exercising when you are working out…and still get great
results?

How would you like an approach to fitness and getting in shape
that can actually fit into your schedule, no matter how hectic
your schedule is?

In today’s society, everyone from parents to executives to
business owners to students are busy. So the prospect of trading
long, boring cardio sessions of 45 minutes to an hour, three to
four times per week (the traditional area people focus on) for
several shorter, more effective, FUNNER workouts per week…is
a no-brainer for many people!

The trick to keeping your workouts short, yet still achieve good
results, is to:

(1) exercise with sufficiently high intensity, to the point where
you are really huffing and puffing; and

(2) focus most of your efforts on certain types of exercises.

It’s a simple approach, actually.

But you do have to work at it. Put in some elbow grease. Make
an effort.

To point #1: Obviously this means pushing yourself. However, to
work at a sufficiently high level of intensity necessitates
using an interval, or pulsing, approach.

Interval Training involves working hard for a short period of
time, followed by either a complete rest or a slower pace of
the target activity. For example, you run at a good clip for
one minute (the work interval), then run more slowly or walk
for two minutes (the rest interval). That’s one set.

Or, you perform repetitions of a compound movement, such as a
squat or pushup, and push yourself to just short of momentary
muscular failure (that is, you can’t do another repetition
without cheating, breaking down in form, or your movement becomes
super slow). Then you rest. That’s one set.

Put together a sufficient number of sets of high intensity
effort, and you’ve got yourself a super workout! And the good
news is, you only need about 20 minutes to complete such as
workout. In fact, if you are really pushing yourself, you
probably won’t want to do more than 20 minutes!

I think people shy away from high intensity training because
they associate it with highly intense levels of effort and think
it is too tough for them to do.

But the truth is, just about anyone can successfully adapt this
type of training, no matter their present level of fitness.

The key is to set the intensity and duration of your work
interval at a level sufficient to push yourself — but not
push yourself over the edge.

Just about every activity I can think of lends itself to interval
training. It just takes a little creativity.

For example, strength training is naturally interval in nature.
You perform sets of repetitions of exercises, interspersed with
rest periods.

Walking and running are also naturals for intervals. Simply walk
or run faster for a period of time, interspersed with periods of
walking or running more slowly.

Certain breathing exercises are interval in nature. Typically,
each exercise is done for a certain number of repetitions. You
pause briefly (rest interval) and move on to the next one. Also,
breathing floods your system with oxygen, creating immediate
surges in energy levels and metabolism.

Now, to point #2: Notice that the type of exercising – walking,
sprinting, resistance training – as well as the types of
movements – squats and pushups – I mention are either full body
movement OR compound exercises.

Compound exercises involve multiple body parts. They tend to be
the most effective exercises because they involve the large
muscle groups, such as your thighs, hips, chest and back. These
muscles require more energy and focus to work hard. Focusing on
them means you can train your entire body with fewer movements.

In addition, compound exercises make much more significant
demands on your entire system, especially if you push
yourself…meaning more calories burned not only during
exercise, but post-exercise.

In fact, a short but high intensity exercise session, focused
on as few as five exercises, can actually elevate your metabolism
for 24 to 48 hours AFTER the exercise session.

Imagine what this could mean to your efforts to get into better
shape, burn off some fat, or get stronger?

It helps to know a few “secrets” to really maximize the results you
can achieve. I share this – and more – with you in my latest
Special Report, ”Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal Fitness”.

This report is an easy-to-read, easy-to-apply distillation of
my many years of learning, experimenting, failing and succeeding
in the areas of enhancing fitness and health.

I cover – in a very concise and hard-hitting way – the most
important elements of a rational, efficient, and effective
approach to getting fitter and feeling healthier than you
ever imagined.

If you’re just starting out and getting back into shape, or
perhaps beginning an exercise program for the first time, this
report will point you in the right direction and show you
exactly what to do to get maximum results.

If you’re already exercising and in pretty good shape, the
information in this report will help you take your fitness
program and results to the next level.

These strategies are universal. They are time-tested. They will
work for you, no matter what your current level of fitness is
today. And they will help you get results, fast.

To read more about this report, or to order your copy right
now, click HERE.

You Can Do It!

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Your Body Is Your Temple. Are You Respecting It?

February 11, 2014kvanness01

It’s been said, “The body is the temple of the soul”.

Throughout the millenia, spiritual and religious practices have embraced this message and placed great importance on the health and fitness of the body.

As the Apostle Paul said, “You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The spirit is in you and is a gift from God.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Legend has it the great teacher Bodidharma, who traveled from India to China and started teaching the Shaolin monks how to meditate, was bummed out by the terrible physical condition of the monks. They spent all their time meditating or copying scrolls and therefore could not keep up.

Bodidharma developed a set of energy exercises to help the monks develop physical health, vitality and longevity.This set is the root of one of the most popular Qi Gong (Chi Kung) series, called “The Eight Pieces of Brocade” or “The Eight Treasures”.

Another great example is yoga. Most people associate yoga with the asanas, or postures, where you assume and hold positions to develop flexibility and strength. But the postures are only one of eight major areas of yoga practice. They are actually meant to support the deeper practices of breathing, energy development, and spiritual development.

The common thread here is that it’s tough to be a high-minded, well-developed, spiritual, enlightened person when your temple needs some renovation. It’s tough to do well in the world on a consistent basis – which requires so much energy, enthusiasm, passion and purpose – if you don’t treat your body well so it can do your bidding.

I’ve been writing a lot lately about the benefits of regular exercise. It’s so important to enabling all the things you want to do – and need to do – especially as our lives seem to get more and more hectic and crowded.

And, if you’re like me, as you get older you also start thinking more about quality of life issues. You want to thrive, feel good and be healthy today….AND you want to maintain enough strength and fitness to help keep your independence and ensure better quality of life as you get older.

Yes, exercise is truly the fountain of youth for your body. However, if you follow the conventional wisdom conveyed by the powers that be, you may miss out on the wonderful benefits you could – and should – be enjoying.

It’s been proven again and again: regular exercise and maintaining at least a base level of fitness can help keep your body young and healthy.

You’re probably thinking, “OK Karen, I know all this. I get it! I need to get off my behind and start exercising.”

You know this….but will you act on it?

If you’re like many adults, probably not.

In most of my programs and writings, I teach and emphasize breathing and energy exercises as a direct path to enhanced health, vitality and energy. However, I want you to be well informed about other aspects of a healthy lifestyle. I have a lot to share with you, based on my own research, study and experience training and working out…AND as a competitor, a martial arts instructor, and a personal trainer.

If you’re wondering how best to get started with a fitness program, then I’ve got a great resource for you.

It’s my latest special report, “Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal Fitness“.

This report is an easy-to-read, easy-to-apply distillation of my many years of learning, experimenting, failing and succeeding in the areas of enhancing fitness and health.

I cover – in a very concise and hard-hitting way – the most important elements of a rational, efficient, and effective approach to getting fitter and feeling healthier than you ever imagined.

If you’re just starting out and getting back into shape, or perhaps beginning an exercise program for the first time, this report will point you in the right direction and show you exactly what to do to get maximum results.

If you’re already exercising and in pretty good shape, the information in this report will help you take your fitness program and results to the next level.

These strategies are universal. They are time-tested. They will work for you, no matter what your current level of fitness is today. And they will help you get results, fast.

Copies have been flying out of here. In fact, I have broken my original “rule” and had some additional copies made of the report. Which means I have a few more available at the low price of only $19.95 (and I cover the shipping and handling). I usually only offer this kind of special deal to my email newsletter subscribers and customers. But this is so important, I want to share it with you too!

If you’d like more information, you can visit the Best Breathing Exercises website at http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/fitnessstrat.html and read all about it.

You’ll also have the option of a discount on a complementary program too! It’s worth checking it out just to take advantage of this “bundled” offer.

Superior health and vigor are within your grasp – no matter what your age or current condition! Let me show you how.

Order “Ten Universal Strategies for Optimal Fitness” today!

It’s never too late…you’re never too out of shape…you’re never too old, or too busy, or too whatever….to begin today to get in great shape, and to reclaim the health and energy of both body and mind that you deserve.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”

http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

“If You Want to Be Thin, Do What Thin People Do”

February 5, 2014kvanness01

Over 20 years ago, I was doing some research at the regional library in the town where I lived. I decided to take a break from my work and do some browsing amongst the bookshelves.

I perused the shelves, here and there pulling out a few books that looked interesting.

Then I found a small paperback book that looked particularly interesting, especially given where I was at that point in my life.

The book was about losing weight.

I was interested in this topic at that point in time, because I was overweight….had tried various diets and sporadic exercise routines….would lose a few pounds, then rebound right back to where I had started.

So I was sceptical about reading yet another weight loss book.

However, this one was different.

It wasn’t a typical weight loss or “latest greatest diet with a fancy name” book.

It didn’t tout a specific diet plan. It wasn’t half-filled with the fluff most diet books contain, such as page after page of recipes you’ll never use or calorie lists you can find anywhere.

Also, this book wasn’t by a well-known fitness authority.

In fact, the author made it clear he didn’t know much about exercise at all.

In the book, the author tells the story of how he had been overweight, even close to obese, for a number of years. And how shitty his life was because of the weight.

He discussed some of the health problems he had experienced as a result of being overweight. But he spent most of his time discussing the psychological issues – the pain he felt – because he was ashamed of his appearance, of the fact he had no discipine, and of his inability to stick with anything.

He also conveyed the desperation he felt, that the best years of his life were passing away, indeed HAD passed away, and he was missing out because he felt imprisoned by his weight and his appearance.

Diets had failed him. And those failures had snowballed in his mind. He felt he would never be able to lose the weight, get healthy, and feel good again.

If you’ve ever had a weight problem, or are experiencing one now, you know exactly what he’s talking about.

His story certainly resonated with me!

Then, the author had a flash of insight.

He decided that the best way to get thin and stay thin….was to eat and act like thin people do.

In fact, this basic idea is close to the title of the book, as I recall…something like “If You Want to Be Thin, Do What Thin People Do”.

Simple concept. Blindingly obvious. Wy hadn’t I thought of that?

The author went on to chronicle his adventures in observing and speaking with the thin people he knew in his life – friends, co-workers, people he met, people he read about – and how he adapted their lifestyle habits into the fabric of his own life.

And eventually, over time, he lost the weight.

Not only that, but as of his writing this book, he had kept off the weight for years.

I’d say his approach was an effective one. And not just because the author achieved good results.

I know from personal experience, because I decided on that very day to follow his advice.

The key idea was – IS – to act like a thin person. Which means being less obsessive about food; making better choices about food; and basically eating a little less and not pigging out and bingeing.

This doesn’t mean you deprive yourself, or label certain foods as “forbidden”. (Doing this only exacerbates cravings and obsessive feelings about food.) It really means some common sense and moderation.

Activity is also part of the mix. If you’re heavy, you’re probably not exercising as much or moving around as much. It’s critical, especially early on, to get moving!

Activity – physical exercise, as well as involvement in hobbies or interests, is also useful in helping you focus outside yourself and not think so much about food.

This approach of “act as if” has been validated in psychological research.

You may have tapped into this resource yourself. For example, if you’ve ever felt depressed or in a bad mood, you may have put a smile on your face and acted cheerful with your co-workers – perhaps because you didn’t want to be labeled as a sourpuss at work.

After a short time of smiling and acting “as if”, you probably found you actually were in a better mood.

The author made it clear that acting as if he was a thin person was not always easy. He would sometimes, often mindlessly, slip back into his old habits.

BUt he would quickly catch himself and not berate himself over it. He would simply correct.

The basic question he continued to ask himself was, “Would a thin person eat this? And, if they would, how big a portion would they eat?”

Also, “Would a thin person participate in [fill in the blank with an activity you may have been avoiding or afraid to do because of your weight]? If so, then I should too, within my current capabilities.”

Seems simple, doesn’t it? But simple isn’t always easy. And simple can sometimes take time.

I followed this basic premise and, over time, I lost the weight I wanted to lose. I got in great shape. I went on to re-engage in activities I had put aside, such as martial arts (which I had dropped after high school).

Plus I ventured forth into new activities, like scuba diving and running in 10Ks and 8Ks.

But I’ll tell you now, the most difficult part was the start.

Because, if you’re doing it right – and not falling victim to some crash diet or weight loss gimmick – it will take a little time before you see results.

Don’t get discouraged by slow results, or seeming lack of progress up front. It’s been my experience that you will start to FEEL better before you actually SEE better in the mirror, or on the scale.

To keep yourself motivated, consider this:

Weight lost quickly will just as quickly reappear. A sudden, drastic decrease in calories will set off alarm bells in your body and brain.

On the other hand, slow and steady weight loss ensures you are losing fat, not lean mass, as well as bypassing your body’s natural urge to compensate and cause you to pig out.

Also – Fitness gains achieved quickly based on some crash course in exercising can also disappear quickly – usually because you are unable to sustain the effort or the time investment required.

On the other hand, slow and steady increase wins the race, because, over time, you are building a foundation of aerobic capacity and strength.

You Can Do It!

“Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”

http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com