Best Self Help

Product Recommendation – Balance Ball Chair System

Balance Ball Chair System
Where to buy: www.gaiam.com
Review by: ACHMom

A balance ball is an excellent tool to improve your overall strength and flexibility. If you have tried exercising with a stability ball, you will know of the challenges to keep your balance and not fall off, thereby encouraging proper alignment of your spine and body. It gives you core stability, strengthens your abs and back muscles and overall helps you to tone your body.

In addition to the balance ball, the Balance Ball Chair System comes with a base, sitting on lockable and easy-glide casters. The exercise ball fits snugly on the base, but can also be used by itself. Given the height of the base, it is most suitable for people up to 5’11ft height. Also included in the purchase are an air pump, exercise guide, DVD and workout tools (resistance cord and toning band).

I like the fact that the balance ball is made from eco-friendly materials and is free from latex and most common harmful phthalates. The ball comes in four different colors: sage, charcoal, pool and plum.

Overall, this balance ball chair system is great to exercise with, but it can also be used in your office as an office chair. It forces you to sit straight and improve your posture, thereby lessening back pain and other posture-related pain. It is certainly worth investing in the balance ball chair, if you are interested in improving your core strength, alignment and balance.

See today’s best deal on the Balance Ball Chair, by Gaiam here.

How to Buy Less and Be Happier

The notion of buying less and being happier runs contrary to the American concept of “more is better.” As more and more people become disillusioned with all their “stuff,” the idea that buying less can actually make you happier is beginning to take hold. Here are some suggestions on how you can buy less and be happier.

1. Distinguish between needs and wants. Before making a purchase, ask yourself why you are buying it. How will your life be better with that particular item in your home? Can you afford it? Does it have a practical use?

2. Spend time, not money, with your family and friends. This is the key to being happier with buying less – you will cultivate more meaningful relationships instead of spending money on stuff.

3. Learn to refurbish and fix used items, and learn to create and build. Often, these times of creativity can also be times when you come together with friends and family to get a job done. In other words, DIY can help you be happier!

4. Pay cash or write a check whenever you buy something. This is a safeguard against debt, which is one of the biggest robbers of happiness there is. You will be much happier buying less if it means less debt.

5. Change your perspective about the role of stuff in your life. Think about the big picture before making purchases – will owning this computer game make me a better person? If I buy this electronic gizmo, will the world be the better for it?

6. Think in terms of relationships, not things. This requires a shift in priorities. You will need to learn to put people ahead of material items. If you accomplish this, life will be much more fulfilling.

7. Take time to find out what true happiness means to you. When you are not trying to fill some imagined void with material things, it gives you some breathing room to figure out just what makes you tick. Accumulating stuff is probably not what really makes you happy. Dig deep and learn something about yourself. Keep a journal, meditate, spend time alone.

When you begin to cultivate relationships instead of buying more and more stuff, you will likely find that you are much happier.

Life Changing Yoga Retreats

What is a yoga retreat? Like any other retreat, it is a place where you can go and get away from it all. The difference is that here, your focus is yoga.

Yoga is a type of activity that is spiritual in nature. Yes, it has physical benefits for the body through the positions maintained and stretching of the body, but the mind is the principal target. If you can teach your mind to relax, then your body will follow suit.

Yoga retreats are gaining in popularity as a “true vacation.” How many of us have gone on vacations that were so busy and stressful that we needed a few days off when we returned to recuperate from the vacation? With a yoga retreat, it is all about getting in touch with your inner self and learning to meditate and quieten your mind.

There are different types of yogic practice taught in the United States. Retreats are places where you can go to unwind and also practice your yoga. They are not unlike ashrams but without the work component.

You can find a yoga retreat by asking your yoga instructor. They may even run yoga retreats themselves. If you are a faithful practitioner they may offer you a discount for coming and giving it a try.

What can you expect at a yoga retreat? Well, you can expect to be up early. Yoga practitioners like to rise early and take advantage of the view of the sunrise and the peacefulness. There are also classes typically in the evenings as well.

Check out what type of facilities is offered at your retreat. Some are quite spartan, staying in rustic accommodations in the woods to get closer to nature. If camping is not for you and neither are the bugs, you may want to choose something a little more modern.

Some yoga retreats are run like spas. In addition to the yoga instruction classes, there are also massage treatments, body wraps, mud baths and other pampering services to cater to the entire body inside and out. These will be pricier, but if you don’t mind laying out the extra cash it can be quite a nice experience.

Food is often included in the price. It is healthier fare that cleanses your body and nourishes at the same time.

Where is the yoga retreat? We hinted that some are more like roughing it, but others can be in exotic locations. There are also mountain retreats with a studio feel. It all depends on where you will feel the most comfortable.

Ask around to find reputable centers that are close to your area. It can enhance your practice of the art of yoga to study in an environment with other students who are also devoted to yoga.

Acupressure

Are you feeling poorly and want relief?

Before you reach for over-the-counter medications, try a soothing acupressure massage.

Accupressure is a form of ancient Chinese medicine that is used to heal the body of pain and discomfort.

Here in the Western world, many of us are discovering that this type of holistic healing can work with traditional medicine to deal with ailments without all of the harsh side effects of some treatments.

What is Acupressure?

Maybe you have heard about acupuncture. Acupressure is similar except instead of small needles, pressure is delivered via the fingertips to achieve the same kind of result.

Before we go further, here is some background on the technique. The belief behind acupressure is that the body is made up of energy. When the body is well, the energy flows unobstructed along certain channels called meridians. If the energy, or chi, is obstructed in some way, then we begin to feel ill in different areas of the body or the mind.

The body was created to heal itself. Acupressure is designed to help it do just that. By applying pressure at certain points according to touch and meridian maps, the chi can be freed and then the body will do the rest.

Benefits of Acupressure

Acupressure can be performed in a variety of positions: standing, sitting or lying down. For better comfort, lying down provides access to all areas that may be affected by blocked energy lines.

The massage therapist has been trained to feel and recognize when there is a blockage such as a tensed or knotted muscle. Here, blood flow may also be blocked. By kneading that area with the right amount of pressure, not only is the muscle restored to proper function, but toxins are also released to flow to the parts of the body where they are processed and excreted.

Some clients feel relief almost immediately, especially if the blocked area has been that way for some time. Massages last about fifteen minutes. You may be advised to drink lots of water to replenish the body after the removal of toxins. The first time there may also be some discomfort, but nothing should be painful to you.

Acupressure has been known to alleviate certain common symptoms we deal with everyday. The most obvious is muscle pain and joint pain. When the body is stressed, we can carry that in these two places. Gentle massage can release those muscles for improved circulation and pain relief. Releasing blockages in the area of the neck and shoulders can help reduce headache pain and other head problems like sinus trouble.

Other conditions that acupressure may be able to help you alleviate include:
* Menstrual cramps
* Morning sickness
* Fatigue
* Diarrhea and other bowel troubles
* Oral pain

Acupressure Books for Further Study and Accupressure Training:

Acupressure Potent Points: A Guide to Self Care for Common Ailments

The Acupressure Atlas

Menopause Acupressure: Natural, Safe & Easy Relief

Hay House Seminars

Here are new 2010 seminars from Hay House. These can be truly life-changing, and – with options to fit any budget, they are surprisingly affordable.


Movers and Shakers with Cheryl Richardson

Angel Day Events with Doreen Virtue

Making the Shift from Ambition to Meaning – Wayne Dyer’s 2010 Live Tour

I Can Do It! Caribbean Cruise with 8 of your favorite Hay House authors

Registration is now open for the:

I Can Do it! 2011 at Sea – Caribbean

You Can Heal Your Life At Sea® Caribbean Cruise

When: January 28–February 4, 2011

You Can Heal Your Life: Learn from your favorite Hay House authors in eight 2-hour keynote addresses, including Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Gregg Braden, Sonia Choquette, John Holland, Denise Linn, Caroline Myss, Cheryl Richardson, and Brian Weiss, M.D.

Learn more about this opportunity here >

Wayne Dyer: New cities added to tour, plus 20% off his books and products

Wayne Dyer’s 2010 Live Tour

Dr. Wayne Dyer is one of the most inspiring and insightful authors and speakers in the world today. His wisdom has helped me through numerous rough patches in my personal life.

If you want to start living a more peaceful life – with more intention, you owe it to yourself to see Dr. Wayne W. Dyer in a live seminar.

Dr. Dyer has recently added cities to his 2010 tour, which is based on his latest book The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning.

You can get more in-depth knowledge on how to start living a more balanced and peaceful life by registering for Wayne Dyer’s all-new lecture here.

(Plus, keep in mind that you can get 20% off Wayne Dyer’s book here – plus a free 2-hour lecture with purchase.

Resistance Training Benefits

It used to be that many of us (especially women) felt resistance training was only for body builders or those big stocky guys in the gym. In fact, many of us worry that by adding resistance training to our fitness routine we’ll bulk up or look unattractive.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Resistance training is not only a way to achieve your dream body but to also achieve optimum health.

Here are a few other reasons why resistance training is good for you:

#1 – It builds bone mass. Doctors and fitness experts agree: resistance training is necessary to keep our bones healthy and strong. This is a particularly important area for women. By adding some resistance training to our exercise routine, we help build our bone mass and delay or avoid the onset of osteoporosis.

And you don’t have to spend hours in the gym to achieve the positive effects of resistance training. Simply adding some push ups and a few other weight-bearing exercises to your routine will make a difference.

#2 – It burns more fat. Pound for pound, you burn more fat when you use resistance training than just cardiovascular exercise alone. While cardio is good for your heart, lungs and body, resistance training will help you tone and strengthen your whole system.

This means that you’ll burn more overall calories by resistance training. You boost your metabolism to the point where you burn calories for several hours post workout. If you want to burn more fat and tone your body, then resistance training is a must.

#3 – It helps reduce cellulite. When you lift weights your muscles grow into the space surrounding them. In order to grow, your muscles need space. This means that any fat currently in the space your muscles need will be dissolved through training and replaced by toned, tight muscles.

This is good news for cellulite sufferers. If fat cells don’t have space to hang around on your thighs, then they’ll start to melt away. By toning your body with resistance training you can reduce cellulite.

Resistance training has many benefits. If you’d like to burn more fat, build healthy bones and have a tight, toned body, then you may want to consider adding a few resistance-training exercises to your routine.

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Brian Tracy: The Law of Saving

Financial freedom comes to the person who saves ten percent or more of his income throughout his lifetime.

One of the smartest things that you can ever do for yourself is to develop the habit of saving part of your salary, every single paycheck. Individuals, families and even societies are stable and prosperous to the degree to which they have high savings rates. Savings today are what guarantee the security and the possibilities of tomorrow.

Start With Yourself
The first corollary of the Law of Saving comes from the book The Richest Man in Babylon by George Classon. It is to “Pay yourself first.”

Begin today to save ten percent of your earnings, off the top, and never touch it. This is your fund for long-term financial accumulation and you never use it for any other reason except to assure your financial future.

Develop New Habits Regarding Money
The remarkable thing is that when you pay yourself first, and force yourself to live on the other ninety percent, you will soon become accustomed to it. You are a creature of habit. When you regularly put away ten percent of your earnings, you soon become comfortable living on the other ninety percent. Many people start by saving ten percent of their income and then graduate to saving fifteen percent, twenty percent, and even more. And their financial lives change dramatically as a result. So will yours.

Take Every Advantage
The second corollary of the Law of Saving says, “Take advantage of tax deferred savings and investment plans.” Because of high and even multiple tax rates, money that is saved or invested without being taxed accumulates at a rate of 30% to 40% faster than money that is subject to taxation. Self-made millionaires, according to Dr Thomas Stanley’s book The Millionaire Next Door, are almost obsessive about accumulating their funds in assets such as real estate, self owned businesses and equities that increase in value without triggering tax liabilities.

Invest in company pension and retirement plans, 401(k) plans, IRA’s, Keough Plans, Roth IRA’s, Education Investment Accounts, stock option programs and whatever else has been approved by the IRS for long term financial accumulation. Make every dollar count!

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do to apply this law immediately:

First, begin today to put away ten percent of your earnings. Set up a special account for this purpose and treat your contributions to this account with the same respect that you do your rent or mortgage payments each month.

Second, become a lifelong student of money. Read the best books, take courses and subscribe to the most helpful magazines. Know what you are doing so you can always make intelligent decisions when you invest your funds.

How Can You Attract More Wealth and Abundance?
We are now surrounded by more wealth than at any time in our history. The real question is how do YOU gain this abundance? Brian Tracy can show you how! Become a money magnet, immediately increase your income and learn wealth building secrets. Get the knowledge you need to make your financial future an outstanding one with The Unbreakable Laws of Money Package.

Click here to get yours today!

Copyright Brian Tracy. Reprinted with permission.

Save up to 50% on Hay House events and seminars

October 2, 2009 – Excuses Begone! – Chicago, IL
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
In this all-new lecture, Wayne will take you through the seven questions that constitute the Excuses Begone paradigm, and show you how it worked for him and how it can work for you. If you are truly serious about changing any long-established habits of thought that have led you to use excuses as your rationale for staying on the same self-defeating path, then you are encouraged to follow the principles and practices presented in this lecture!

October 3 & 11, 2009 – Many Lives, Many Masters – Atlanta, GA & Sacramento, CA
Brian L. Weiss, M.D.
Dr. Brian Weiss astonished the world of psychiatry with the theories of past-life regression therapy detailed in his best-selling book, Many Lives, Many Masters. Brian has become known as the nation’s foremost expert in the field. This highly experiential intensive workshop explores the latest in hypnotic regression therapy.

October 3, 2009 – The Answer is Simple… – Atlanta, GA
Sonia Choquette
In this uplifting and powerful all-day workshop, six-sensory instructor and intuitive Sonia Choquette teaches you ten simple yet necessary steps that will allow you to make a connection with your authentic Spirit and experience your truth. Fuel your Spirit with the healing power of creativity and laughter and learn to choose to be true to yourself no matter what!

October 4 & 11, 2009 – You Can Heal Your Life Conference - New York, NY & Seattle, WA
Louise Hay, Gregg Braden, Suze Orman, David Hamilton, Cheryl Richardson, Caroline Myss, & Bruce Lipton
Louise Hay invites you to take the next step of your journey at the new You Can Heal Your Life Conference where you will discover the immense power of your thoughts and beliefs and learn that by changing just one thought, you can improve the quality of your life. See Louise Hay and four more of the most inspiring teachers of our time in New York and Seattle this fall!

October 13 & 18, 2009 -Defy Gravity! – Chicago, IL & New York, NY
Caroline Myss
In this workshop, visionary author and intuitive Caroline Myss introduces the subject of her new book, Defy Gravity, which explores the mystical qualities involved in the experience of healing.

October 16-18, 2009 – Mediumship – Santa Monica, CA
Lisa Williams
An entire weekend with Lisa Williams—Medium and Clairvoyant, star of Life among the Dead and Voices from the Other Side—where she will share with you the techniques and skills that will help you connect with the Other Side.

October 17, 2009 – A Day for Women – Boston, MA
Dr. Christiane Northrup, Cheryl Richardson
Join us for an intimate conversation with women’s health pioneer Dr. Christiane Northrup and lifestyle expert Cheryl Richardson, as they take your questions and discuss the pitfalls and pleasures of practicing good self-care. SAVE 50% when you use priority code BOSTON at check-out! Offer valid for online purchases only. Not valid on previous orders. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
Offer expires 10/15/2009.

October 23-25, 2009 – Excuses Begone! – Maui, HI
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
In this weekend intensive, Wayne will take you through the seven questions that constitute the Excuses Begone paradigm and show you how this paradigm worked on him and how it can work for you. Wayne will show you how you can increase your prosperity, experience vibrant health, find meaning in all you do, and live your destiny—simply by changing the way you think.

October 24, 2009 – Choice Point 2012 – Boston, MA
Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D.
If you know where to look in the past, you’ll know what to expect, when the same conditions repeat in the future! In this powerful multimedia presentation filled with new discoveries, true-life accounts, and crystal clear examples, discover for yourself how to wake up from the collective nightmare of history’s war, lack, and suffering to a life of courage and grace! SAVE 50% when you use priority code BOSTON at check-out! Offer valid for online purchases only. Not valid on previous orders. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires 10/22/2009.

November 19-22, 2009 – I Can Do It! Tampa Conference!
Over 35 Authors
Preferred Seating is already sold out! We still have plenty of General Admission tickets available so don’t pass up this opportunity to earn commission when your customers join their favorite authors for a weekend retreat in Tampa, Florida November 19 – 22, 2009. Your customers will save 50% on a Pre-Conference Workshop when they order a Full Conference Pass.