Giving back feels good

One of the best ways to relieve yourself from the stresses in life is by giving to others. When you help others it takes the focus off of you and your problems and shifts the focus to the needs of others.

Helping others brings about change in the community and a peace to you and someone in need. Below are 10 ways to volunteer and give the gift of yourself to others:

1.Walkathons-
Walkathons are charity walks. The only thing required is desire, determination and some good walking shoes. To participate contact the charity of your choice who is hosting the walk to register. Once you register you will be asked to get sponsors to donate money on behalf of you walking. Sponsors can be anyone- your family members, co-workers, church members, local businesses etc. Donations can be anywhere from $1.00 to as much as your sponsor is willing to donate.

2.Local Nursing Home-
Many residents of  nursing homes don’t have anyone to visit them and would love a visit from a warm and friendly person. It would only require an hour or two of your time a week and it would really make a difference to an elderly resident who does not have family or someone to look after them. Check with you local nursing home to find out how to volunteer at their center.

3.Boys and Girls Club-
Many of the youth today are in need of activities to keep them out of trouble and someone to guide them so that they stay grounded and out of harms way. Your local boys and girls club does just that by providing sports and fun activities for children in the area. The club is always in need of responsible, patient adults who are willing to help. Check your local yellow pages to find the center near you and give them a call to find out how to volunteer.

4.Local Church Ministries-
The church is a place where people can go to find help in a variety of areas. Put your spiritual gifts to good use at your local church by joining a church ministry. There are many areas that you can be of help in- youth ministry, usher board ministry, missions ministry, prison ministry, music ministry, just to name a few. Check with your local church to see where you can be of the most help.

5.Local Food Bank-
This is a wonderful charity where you can help those in your community get the food they need. All it takes is a phone call to your local food bank to get started.

6.Homeless Shelter-
Help those who need shelter to get the food and shelter they need. Think of the difference you will make to those in your community by devoting a couple of hours a week of your time to this charity.

7.Girls and Boy Scouts of America-
What a fun charity. Responsible and patient volunteers are always appreciated. It requires only a few hours of your time a week meeting with the children. You would play games, participate in badge earning activities, go on local outings and more. Check with your local Boys Scouts or Girls Scouts office to find out about the volunteer opportunities in your area.

8.Domestic Violence Centers-
There is a great need in our country to protect those suffering from physical abuse. Volunteer opportunities are available in the shelters and to answer domestic violence hotlines. Contact your local shelter today to find out how you can help.

9.Rape Crisis Center-
Rape is a serious crime and rape victims need all the help and support that they can get to recover from this form of abuse. Volunteers are needed to work in local crisis centers and on crisis hotlines. There may be special training that is needed for this type of charity due to the circumstances of the service. Check with your local rape crisis center to find out how you can help.

10.Pet Shelters-
Pets need love too! There are many pet shelters that are in need of volunteers to care for sick and homeless pets and to help them to find good homes. If you love pets and enjoy working with them this is a great charity for you.

The opportunities to volunteer in your community are endless. Still not sure where you can volunteer? Visit www.volunteermatch.org to match your skills with one of the many charities in your area. Giving of yourself to others in such a positive way is one of the bests gifts you can give to yourself and others.

Erica Brooks – About the Author:
Erica Brooks operates http://www.richlyscentedsoycandles.com and http://www.gourmetsoycandlefundraiser.com which helps groups and organizations to raise money for special causes.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/stress-management-articles/stress-relief-through-charity-270806.html#ixzz18iHIRJdG

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

Ward off colds this winter

A study published this month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that a penchant for exercise may have a lot to do with making it to work on a daily basis.

Dr. David Nieman, a professor in the College of Health Sciences at Appalachian State University, says, “Exercise is probably the most power thing you can do to reduce your sick days this winter.”

According to a news release from ASU, Nieman and his colleagues have spent more than 20 years studying the effects of exercise, diet, weight, gender and education levels on one’s health. Regular exercise was shown to have the greatest influence.

A brisk walk for 30-45 minutes a day increases the number of immune system cells that circulate in the body, Nieman says. Although these levels decline within a few hours, each bout of exercise is likely to enhance surveillance of harmful viruses and bacteria, and reduce the number and severity of upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold.

So get moving this winter season to ward off colds. Stay healthy!

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

Stress free shopping

The days of driving to all the stores and dealing with the hectic crowds to get your holiday gifts are over. With the invention of the internet came an easier way to shop. Cyber Monday has become as popular as Black Friday. Cyber Monday is known as the Monday following Thanksgiving which allows online shoppers to get some great deals.

I don’t know about everyone else, but I really dislike shopping. You could even say I hate it. I abhor everything about it…crowds, lines, driving to the stores, agony of what to get..you name it.

This year I decided I would do little store shopping if any at all. My one favorite site is amazon.com. Amazon is perfect. You can subscribe to Amazon Prime and receive free two day shipping (this is well worth the subscription cost and I highly recommend it). You also don’t have to pay any sales tax which is awesome and can save you big bucks. Amazon will offer deals on different items at different times therefore it is important to check th site often if searching for certain things. For example I was able to buy some great BluRays for only $8 because they were offering certain titles on sale.

I also enjoy the comfort of shopping by myself in the comfort of my own home, on my own time. I don’t have to schedule in shopping during store hours or return to stores to keep checking to see if what I want is in stock. Most sites will alert you with an e-mail when what you want to buy is back in stock if they currently don’t have it. You may be hard pressed to find this kind of customer service at the mall stores.

So you can have the frantic rush of the crowds fighting over gifts. I’ll stay in my pajamas sipping my tea and browse the sales online.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

Spooky arm pain

Ever wake up to your arms going numb or feeling heavy? Sometimes it is just caused by sleeping on your arm and compressing it, but not always. This strange pain in the arms is can be caused by a shoulder muscle that has tightened up and triggers this response. The Scalene muscle  group has a “trigger point” where your neck meets the shoulder. It is called a trigger point because it is an area on the body that is sending a pain signal or feeling to another area.

The Scalene muscle group is found deep in the lower neck. It flexes the neck to the side and helps to lift the rib cage when you inhale sharply. Trigger point induced tension in this muscle may entrap several nerves as they exit the neck region. This entrapment is likely to produce pain, numbness and tingling sensations down the arm. Because the Scalene muscle group functions to aid breathing, its trigger points can cause arm pain while coughing. It can feel knotted up and sore when it is engaged or stimulated.

So how do you relieve this spooky sensation? Often a good Deep Tissue Massage or Trigger Point Therapy massage can relieve this stressed muscle group. Your therapist with apply firm pressure often holding on the trigger point or knotted area until he or she feels the muscle release. It can be a little uncomfortable at first, but after the tight area is worked out and massaged this area won’t feel as sensitive.

Your massage therapist cares about your comfort and will ask you for feedback during and after the massage. Be honest about how your muscles are feeling. If it hurts, speak up because generally if the pressure is too great the muscles will react by tightening up. And tightening up is the opposite response that you want. Your goal is to get the muscles to relax so they stop triggering the pain or numbness response in the arms.

For more information about trigger points go to:

http://www.painwhisperer.com/ptpath/ptpath/trigger-point-pain/arm-pain-causes.html

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

Headache relief is in your hands

Relieving a painful headache can be very simple. Feeling better is in your hands, literally! There are a few pressure points you can utilize on your hands.

There is a pressure point in the fleshy part between the thumb and index finger. This acupressure point is called The Adjoining Valley. To press this point, squeeze the center of the webbing toward the bone on your index finger.  After one minute, release and repeat on the other hand. This technique is not recommended for pregnant women because by pressing this point it can cause uterine contractions which can cause premature labor.

In Reflexology, the thumb represents the head. You can also massage the pad of the thumb for 20-30 seconds to help relieve headache tension. If you feel a sore spot, massage it with circular pressure. Repeat on the other thumb.

So the next time you or your friend complains of a headache try your hand at massaging it out with these techniques. Don’t be a victim. You can take control of your pain and stress!

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

Drink tea to unwind

Most of the drinks we all have are designed to rev-up, psych-up and pep-up. Enough caffeine already! Try something that will calm you instead.

Tea can help those relax from everyday stress. There are many different teas that can help. Three common kinds are: Passionflower tea, Chamomile and Peppermint tea.

Passion flower is known to have multiple uses: it has been given to children to aid concentration in school and is particularly effective for deep and restful sleep. The tea is used to relax muscles, calm nerves and ease pain. Passion flower tea can be made by infusing 1 tablespoon of dried herbs in 1 cup boiling water. Let the mixture steep for about 10 min. Drink the tea near bedtime to induce restful sleep. The tea is quite aromatic and flavorful.

Chamomile tea is a popular tea to help with relaxation before bedtime. Its flowers and leaves have been brewed for centuries and drank as a fragrant and flavorful tea. It can boost the immune system and fights infections associated with colds. Drinking it can relive muscle spasms, mentrual cramps in women as well as relaxing the nerves.

Peppermint tea is a favorite for those with stomaches. Peppermint has menthol, as it’s active ingredient. To relieve stomachaches drink one cup of peppermint tea after meals.  To help heal sore throats just gargle with it several times per day.

So instead of popping a pill to ease your stress and jitters, try a cup of tea! Your body will thank you. For more information on all kinds of teas please visit: http://www.teabenefits.com/

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida


Exercise to beat stress

Many of us feel like we are overworked and overtired and we are over it! It seems difficult to squeeze in the time to schlep to the gym or take a walk before you start the work grind all over again, but just a few minutes every day can increase your circulation, help with pain and improve your attitude.

The trick is to find ways to fit exercise in so it isn’t another stressful thing to do. The best way to exercise for those who lack time is to make time throughout the day in short intervals. Here are some easy ways to burn some calories.

  1. Leave for work five minutes early. Park your car as far away in the lot as possible so that you have a little walk to the entrance.
  2. If there are elevators at work or at meetings/appointments never take them. Always take the stairs. Use the stairs like you are late for something even if you aren’t. By moving a little faster than usual you will get your heart rate up so you will burn extra calories.
  3. Take short breaks throughout the day. Instead of using your break to get coffee or play on facebook, pretend you left something important in your car. (Or leave something in there in the morning so you can get it later) Then go to your car to get it. The extra walking to your car and back is some extra cardio. Plus the fresh air will do you good.
  4. If you work at a desk you will need to stretch. You can do this when you are reading/sending e-mails.  While sitting at your computer chair cross one leg over the other so that the lower part of your bent leg and knee form a 90 degree angle. Then bend over slightly. You will feel the stretch in the upper part of your hamstring. Repeat with the other leg.
  5. If you have a lot of things to put in your car or to bring home from work you can take each one in individually. That way instead of being all over loaded with both arms full, you can save your back and shoulders and score some additional cardio time.

There are many ways to get exercise doing regular things. You might think of some other ones yourself when you consider errands or chores that you need to do for your household. All these movements will help you burn calories here and there and positively impact your health. Just refrain from eating any extra calories that will negate all your hard work.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Help for the insomniac

Why do we get sleepy at night time?

It is because our bodies produce a sleep hormone called Melatonin. Melatonin is  made naturally by your body’s pineal gland – a pea-sized gland located just above the middle of the brain. During the day the pineal is inactive. When the sun goes down and darkness occurs, the pineal is “turned on” and begins to actively produce melatonin, which is released into the blood. Usually, this occurs around 9 p.m. As a result, melatonin levels in the blood rise sharply and you begin to feel less alert. Sleep becomes more inviting. Melatonin levels in the blood stay elevated for about 12 hours – all through the night – before the light of a new day when they fall back to low daytime levels by about 9 a.m. Daytime levels of melatonin are barely detectable.

A normal healthy brain produces about 2.5 mg of melatonin every 24 hrs. The problem is like everything else as we age our melatonin begins to decline. You can eat certain foods to boost your levels. Some helpful foods are: oats, corn, rice, ginger, tomatoes, bananas, barley, and cherries.

Having trouble getting to sleep?

Melatonin don’ts:

  • Excess exposure to light during evening hours. Mother Nature brings dusk for a reason!
  • Use of certain prescription and over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin and other NSAIDs, anti-anxiety and anti-depressants, blood pressure medications and steroids such as prednisone.
  • Evening exercise, which decreases melatonin up to 3 hours post-workout.
  • Excess intake of vitamin B12 (doses over 3,000 mcg may inhibit melatonin production).

What to do?

  • Wind down at night with dim lighting. Avoid watching tv, playing on smart phones, or reading.
  • Meditate or sit quietly before bedtime.
  • Avoid exercising in the evenings.
  • Avoid eating around bedtime. If you need a snack try something like oatmeal or a banana.
  • If taking a B-vitamin complex, take in the mornings with food. Avoid extra B-vitamins at night.

Th amount of melatonin released at night varies by individual,  although children on average have higher levels than adults. When levels of melatonin are too low or there is inadequate melatonin throughout the night, sleep can become a challenge. Experts agree that the time-honored practice of counting sheep or doing another such monotonous task may help induce sleep. So…if you can’t sleep, you CAN try counting sheep as it may actually help. At any rate sleep tight and don’t let the bed bug’s bite!

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Stress free cleaning

White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. Cleaning with white distilled vinegar is a smart way to avoid using harsh chemicals. You’ll also be glad to know that it is environmentally friendly and very economical. Here are  a few uses for using vinegar for stress free cleaning at home.

Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing clean.

Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.

Want more tips? Visit http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/ for more info.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

It’s not about them, it’s about you!

It’s summer time which means it’s….wedding season! You can tell by all the T.V programming: Bridezillas, Platinum Weddings, and Bride Wars to name a few. What many of these shows have in common is drama. I suppose that is what keeps the ratings up.  Despite all the yelling and tantrum throwing as seen on these programs, a wedding is a beautiful time for two people to show that they are committed to each other as witnessed by their friends and family.

But then how do you keep the stress levels even? If you’re a bride to be or even a groom to be those involved in the wedding (and even those not involved) can cause your blood pressure to soar. I was recently married and it was a fairly drama free event. My advice on this matter is to decide what you what and stick with it. Family members are always going to have an opinion and friends love to give their two cents when decisions are to be made.

My husband, then fiancé and I really just wanted a small wedding. Having family around  is nice, but the extra expense and the overwhelm felt by large groupings did not appeal to us. We decided just immediate family which ended up being just ten guests. Perfect! Some family members seemed a bit disappointed by not being invited, but they soon got over it. The stress we did feel was when we were wavering about the guest list. Should we invite more? Won’t they get upset if they aren’t allowed to come? But when we stuck to our guns and followed through with our initial decision, calm came.

A kind of mantra that I would repeat in my head whenever “outside” stress threatened was, It’s not about them, it’s about you! For it to feel like a happy occasion and for my soon to be husband and myself to enjoy the event and the vacation, (yay Honeymoon!) we needed to be a bit selfish. Besides it was us that were getting married and not all our family and friends, so our opinions were the most important.

And if you are the one dishing out the non-solicited opinions, remember it’s not your special day – its’ theirs!

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips