Thrive, Standing Tall
No matter how much it gets abused, the body can restore balance. The first rule is to stop interfering with nature. – Deepak Chopra Succeed and Soar‘s Thrive! shares insights that can improve life’s quality. This post presents “Posture, More Than Standing Straight.” The Cleveland Clinic defines posture as how we hold our bodies when sitting or moving, which can affect our health. Harvard Medical School says good posture is: Chin parallel to the floor Knees even and pointing straight ahead Body weight distributed evenly on both feet Read more In addition, Medline,The National Library of Medicine, writes that poor posture—slouching and slumping—can: Misalign the musculoskeletal system Wear away the spine Cause neck, shoulder, and back pain Make it harder to breathe and digest food Medline’s posture-improvement recommendations include, Stay active Maintain healthy weight Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes When sitting for long periods, Medline suggests, Take brief walks Keep feet on floor with ankles in front of knees Keep elbows close to body Make sure back is fully supported Barrington Orthopedic Services reminds that good posture: keeps bones and joints in optimal alignment and decreases wear and tear on supportive structures engages abdominal muscles, creating a sturdy and supportive core for entire body focuses on keeping body weight centered over the feet.” NOTE: Because so much more information about posture and overall health is available, check linked articles for more guides. Also see this post’s video [below]. The Importance of Good Posture, Even When Sitting Click Here to View Length: 4 Minutes See Also: Why It’s Important to Maintain Good Posture [1 Minute] Benefits of Good Posture [4 Minutes] This TEDx Murat DalKilinc is an animation that starts when clicked. Perfect Posture in 100 Seconds [6 Minutes] What Happens When You Sit Too Long [2 Minutes] This video is at bottom of article. Shop Succeed & Soar’s Mugs Ceramic Dishwasher and Microwave safe Two sizes: 11 oz and 15 oz View All Mugs Thanks for shopping!
Forest Bathing
The radiance in some places is so great as to be fairly dazzling… every crystal, every flower a window opening into heaven, a mirror reflecting the Creator. Source Unknown Sequoia, cedar, evergreen and other trees have been harvested for buildings, furniture and firewood. Apple, orange, olive, almond and other trees are grown in vast plantations for food. Now, more realize time among lots of living trees can heal hearts, minds and spirits. In the 1980s, when Japanese left green and forested areas for work in cities and technology, stress-related illness and disease skyrocketed. When the government searched for causes, one survey asked, “What happens when humans are exposed to forested environments?” As a result, Blake Ellis, a manager for the Chico State Ecotherapy Program, found, “forest bathing helps us recover from stress and trauma by reducing our adrenaline and cortisol levels, and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.” She added, “Forest bathing also decreases blood pressure, improves cardiovascular and respiratory function, and improves our sleep quality, mood, attention, academic performance, creativity and immune function.” To try Forest Bathing NPR recommends, Find a quiet place with lots of trees Allow two hours, though fifteen minutes in the woods can help Choose calming activities that slow the heart. Stroll. Sit, Practice yoga or tai chi. Inhale deeply. Trees release phytoncides, chemicals that can reduce stress hormones and increase leukocytes, the white blood cells that fight bacteria, viruses, fungi and infections. For more information, here are this post’s Resources: National Geographic, “Forest-Bathing Nature Walk Health” NPR, “A Guide to Forest Bathing” United States Department of Agriculture, “The Healing Power of Nature” University of Minnesota, “How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing?” How Forests Heal People Click Here to View More Great Videos: PBS, The Healing Nature of Nature, 7 minutes TEDx: The Truth About the Healing Power of Trees, 14 Minutes Healing Forest, Guided Meditation, 37 minutes COMMENT Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Shop Sandra’s Radiant Tree Books Beautiful, Uplifting, Inspiring, Encouraging
The Wish Granter
Consider Til I loved, I never lived — enough. — Emily Dickinson These special posts offer a little video, often less than five minutes. Some are selected to inspire. Some to amaze. Some to fascinate, even shock. All are chosen to fulfill Succeed and Soar’s mission: To lift the heart and spirit, our awareness and humanity. For Valentine’s week, please enjoy this charming, Oscar-nominated story. While viewing, imagine applying for this character’s job: Wish Granter. Time to smile! Click Here to View. The Wish Granter 4 minutes, 49 seconds. This Month, Warm Your Body, Mind and Spirit with Coffee Mugs from Succeed & Soar ‘s “Eleanor’s Insights” Collection. Visit the “Eleanor’s Insights” posts. Mugs are: Ceramic Dishwasher and microwave safe Available in two sizes [11 ounce and 15 ounce] See All Mugs Shop All Collections HERE. Thanks for your support!