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Issue Number 15 - May 2002

In this months issue of "Naturally Happy"


Laughter Therapy: Giggle your way to happiness!

Laughter Therapy, as developed by Dr. Madan Kataria, popularly known as "Giggling Guru", a physician from Bombay, India, is group laughter, where anyone can laugh for 15-30 minutes everyday without resorting to jokes. Laughter Therapy combines ancient Yoga techniques with the science of laughter to bring numerous health, social, community and workplace benefits.

When we laugh we stop thinking, and we access our meditate space. Laughter is a natural state designed to relieve us from the burden of ourselves. Stimulated laughter has the same benefits as a real laugh, in keeping with NLP thinking of motion creating emotion.

In the 1950's people used to laugh 18 minutes a day but today we laugh not more than 6 minutes per day despite huge rises in the standard of living. Children can laugh up to 300-400 times in a day but when we grow as an adult it comes down to just 15 times a day.

You must have heard the famous line, "laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone". When we laugh, not only will people come to us, we feel closer to others around us at the same time. Therefore, it is not surprising that Laughter Therapy Clubs are becoming close-knit communities, open forums for expression and a non-threatening, non-religious, non-political space that attracts sharing, caring people from all walks of life, cultures and age-groups.

In the workplace, a recent Hays Personnel survey found that laughter correlated to increased productivity. Companies in the US are sending their staff on humour training courses to incorporate an element of lightheartedness into the workforce thus reducing levels of stress and boosting morale. In Osaka Japan, the conservative banking sector is sending their employees to Laughter Clubs.

The Laughter Club of Brisbane although relatively new has attracted huge interest.
Regular weekly public session are held in New Farm Park, meeting at the Rotunda, at 9.45am Saturdays for registration, session begins at 10am. These sessions are by donation ($5 on average) as a community service.

Coming soon are Laughter Clubs within the Education Dept, Brisbane State High School, Mental Health Qld, the Brisbane City Council, some aged care facilities and charities.

Susan Welch, the Club's founder, has worked with private counsellors, diversional therapists, natural therapists, life coaches, psychologists, doctors and concerned citizens to help set up Laughter Therapy Clubs in their own practices or neighbourhoods.

Susan welcomes opportunities for setting up Laughter Clubs in the public and private sectors, including gyms, fitness centres, corrective services, hospitals, emergency workers, and corporate. She can be contacted on [email protected] 3268 1036, or 0413 651 643.

Zen Chi Massagers: Proven success story!

Zen Chi is a unique non-impact exercise movement that stimulates venous and lymphatic return, as well as the digestive tract, all whilst lying down.

Making it the easiest exercise routine. Just 15 minutes exercise a day will improve energy levels, body appearance and create an overwhelming sensation of well being.
In our busy shedules, taking time out is crucial in maintaining your health and energy levels. Whether it is exercise, meditation or simply eating correctly, we must do something. Time restraints make exercise routines difficult to maintain, but Zen Chi is able to solve the difficulty. All it takes is fifteen minutes morning and night to maintain the recommended thirty minutes of daily exercise, any additional form of exercise is an extra-added bonus! So why not try Zen Chi to gain benefits of regular exercise, easy and simple.

Exercise Made Easy
The beneficial effects of chi (energy) stimulating exercise usually related to martial arts, yoga and other strict disciplines, is now within reach. The Zen Chi Aerobic Massager combines modern technologies with the essential principles to produce a high quality massager, which will give you a vast range of health and beauty benefits.

How Does It Work

Lying with your feet in the Zen Chi cradle, simply set the timer for the desired length of exercise, this will start the exercise movement. Relax, clear your mind and you will feel your whole body rock from side to side as if you are being massaged all over. The more you relax the greater the sensation. The results of this non-impact exercise movement are excellent.

Beneficial Effects
The Zen Chi has a stimulating effect on venous and lymphatic circulation, as well as an incredible stimulus to the digestive tract, which boosts a sluggish metabolism and enhances digestion. The increased blood flow to the capillary banks in all extremities creates a marvellous tingling sensation, resulting in harmonising effects, which assists in relieving the symptoms of insomnia, nervous tension, as well as some circulatory problems.

Zen Chi everything you want to be
To gain the benefits of regular exercise such as increased energy levels, a slimmer body, enhanced self confidence and that great sense of well being, order your Zen Chi Aerobic Massager now

For further information on the Zen Chi Massager click here www.zenchi.com.au

Take control of your life: Discover the Magic of Making Long-Lasting Changes Yourself

You face difficult times every day. There are many pressures on you at home and work in this fast-paced world, and often you find you are living the life that someone else expects you to live, not the life YOU really want to live. Maybe you haven't even been able to stop long enough to realise this, or work out exactly what you do want from life.

If you stepped back for a moment, might you see that you are often being reactive to situations, with your life always appearing to be influenced and controlled by external events, circumstances and people? How great would it FEEL to actually be in control; to be able to recognise deep within yourself exactly what it is that you want to be, do and have in your life and know how to achieve that.

There are many places you can turn to for help, but from all the options it can be very difficult to make the "correct" choice for you. Perhaps you don't even feel comfortable asking others for help.

One place that is often overlooked is within yourself. A part of you really does have all the answers but you just need to know how to access that part. You may even already have a sense that this is true but don't know how to go about it.

Wouldn't it be fantastic, even "magical", if there was something that could help you with this in the privacy of your own home and at your own pace; something that could show you how and why life works as it does, and guide you to understand how you really do have the power to create the life YOU want; that would allow you to grow as a person and enhance any area of your life immediately and permanently. Wouldn't you want some of that magic? It can be found in the life-changing personal empowerment self-study courses (and seminars) called The DELFIN Knowledge System.

Feeling overwhelmed by life? Take control now. Transform your life. Achieve balance and peace. Understand the real meaning and purpose of your life and start taking positive steps in that direction now.

Insight Resources
Phone: (07) 3325 4965 weekdays preferably between 10:30am and 2:30pm
Click here for more details:

 

Health Buzz: The latest news on all things good for you!

Brought to you by www.mindandbody.com.au


Hanging over

It's never a good idea to drink in excess, but if you're indulging a bit of celebration, there are herbs and nutrients that can provide a little damage control. B vitamins are a good start - a recent study showed that a dose of B1 makes a big difference after a big night out. Milk thistle and dandelion are famous liver tonic herbs, and can support this crucial organ as it processes a party's worth of alcohol.

The shrinking planet

For thousands of years people have turned to their local plant life for answers to their health needs, so it's not surprising that herbal solutions for flagging stamina can be found across the globe. Throughout Asia, Korean ginseng is prized for its tonic action and is used as a natural way to enhance endurance. At the opposite corner of the Pacific Ocean, a very different herb, guarana, is used for the same type of stamina boost.

But we live on a shrinking planet, and today, these diverse herbal traditions have found their way to the West, providing us with a range of natural stamina choices.

Natural Beauty

There are few features as attractive as shiny hair, radiant skin and a clear complexion, and strong nails. And while these are on your outside, the key to keeping them healthy lies on the inside. Nutrients like vitamins A, C and E play an important role in nourishing these key ingredients of natural beauty, but there's one nutrient that stands out. Silica is sometimes called "the beauty mineral" for the support it gives to healthy hair, skin, and nails.

A plant called horsetail, or equisetum, is one of nature's best organic sources of silica, and is available in tablet form at pharmacies and health food stores.

Winter mineral salts

If herbal relief doesn't meet your winter needs, there's a little-known mineral combination that may be the answer. Combining the simple salts potassium chloride and iron phosphate helps relieve catarrh, inflammation, and the mild fevers of colds, and tablets can be found at health food stores and pharmacies.

 

www.mindandbody.com.au

 

Short and Sweet: Date and Pecan Rock Cakes

Ingredients :
1 cup maize cornflour*
1 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup Australian Skim Milk Powder
2 teaspoons baking powder**
1/3 cup castor sugar
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
100g Australian Butter
1 cup pitted dates, chopped
1/2 cup pecan nuts, chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup Australian Milk



Method :
Sift flours, milk powder, baking powder, sugar and spice into a mixing bowl. Rub in butter until evenly dispersed. Fold in remaining ingredients and mix well. Place spoonfuls of mixture onto buttered trays and bake at 190°C for 15 minutes or until golden. Note: Biscuit mixture may be frozen prior to cooking. * Check brands as some cornflour is made from wheat starch. ** Some commercial baking powders may contain traces of gluten, to make your own baking powder combine 2 parts cream of tartar with 1 part bicarbonate of soda and sift.

Carbohydrates : 19 g
Energy : 464 kJ
Calcium : 32 mg
Protein : 2 g
Iron : mg
Fat : 3 g

 

Laughter is the best medicine!

A dog is separated from his guardian and finds himself lost in the
middle of the jungle. He sees a tiger approaching him and fears for
his life. He turns his back on the tiger, licks his chops and says,
"Wow! That tiger sure was tasty. I wonder if there are any more
around here." Hearing this, the tiger runs away. Hiding in the
bushes nearby, a monkey sees this whole scene unfold. He follows
after the tiger to tell him what the dog did. The tiger is visibly
upset so he tells the monkey to hop on his back and heads back toward
the dog. The dog sees the tiger and monkey coming through the bushes.
Again, he turns his back toward them and he says, "Where is that
monkey? I sent him over an hour ago to bring back another tiger."

 

Quote of the month

Determine never to be idle...It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)



 

 

 

Mediballs Giveaway : 10 packs up for grabs!

Congratulations to the 10 winners of the Smartmen/Smartwomen packs. This month we are giving away 3 Mediballs!

click here for more details

 

In the next issue of "Naturally Happy"

  • Skin Management: New and effective!
  • Reiki: More popular than ever!
  • Health Buzz:The latest news on all things good for you!
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