A Breath of Fresh Air

It is Springtime! Time to roll down your windows on the car and breath fresh air.. Oh you say you have allergies and the pollen bothers you or maybe it's the dust or the exhaust. Enough is enough. Perhaps it's time for you to understand allergies but most of all your lungs. Go ahead right NOW, stop and put both your hands on top of your lungs. I know. I know you can't put your hands on your lungs only a doctor in surgery can do that. You see your lungs are protected by your ribs and muscles, then layers of tissue and skin. And if you do not breath you die! However, seldom does anyone think about their lungs. I had a great nephew with a disease called Cystic Fibrosis. This can be life-threatening but today can be treated in many ways even lung transplants. Isn't that amazing? This is a disease that may have mucus that is too think and sweat that is too salty. If the mucus is think it clogs the lungs and it is hard to breath. It can also block the pancreas which is used in the process of digestion.

Most people become aware of their lungs after they have climbed the stairs and then stood still holding on to something because they are short of breath. Shortness of breath and allergies are part of many diseases so these symptoms are "red flags." In other words what is your body telling you when you have shortness of breath? Chances are it is saying exercise, exercise, get fresh air, learn to breath, cut down on the mucus from foods that create acid and mucus within your body, loose weight and most of all drink more water.

We as a society have never been taught the symptoms of our body that contribute to disease so I will enlighten you NOW. It has been said that allergies are inherited. Yes that is possible. As a child I couldn't stand wool clothing and my body itched like mad, I always seemed to have swollen glands which appeared to tell me I was having mumps for the tenth time. As an adult I too sneezed way too much and my eyes teared. I had allergy treatments and lived on a medication as needed. What I hadn't learned was to drink lots of water and exercise more and get fresh air. Once I did this on a regular basis I realized that the body needs to replace water always for the organs to function properly. I haven't had allergies since. The lungs need 11-12 ounces of water a day merely so they are capable of functioning. The mucus from foods also creates some allergies.......... I will address that next month so stay tuned. Meanwhile go to Nutrition Monday/Facebook for LifeStyle information. Until then keep breathing and drinking water daily. Half your weight in ounces daily to maintain to function.

Carolyn Finch
Speech Pathologist and Body Language and Communication LifeStyle Expert.
That means there will be a spark in your next meeting when Carolyn is there speaking.
Programs available are: Oops! Your Body Language is Showing, Eating Can be Fun When You Learn How and Taking Care of You by Moving-Eating-Thinking well. CALL NOW for more information.
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Happy Valentine's Day

by Carolyn Finch

Life has its ups and downs and when we are down we are feeling sorry for ourselves. When we are up we want to share ourselves with others. Isn’t it interesting that the reading of a heart beat also goes up and down hmm-mm? Then comes a day in February that is called Valentine's Day. Did it start with the card companies? No it started in 260 AD. It happened during the rule of the Roman Empire, and the beginning of Christianity. Now picture the Romans in their Togas.and think what it might have been like at the pagan Lupercalia Fertility Festival.

To begin the festival according to the History Channel, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman Priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome were thought to have been cared for by the she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. The men would then cut the goat hide into strips, dip then into the sacrificial blood and go into the streets gently slapping the women and the crop fields with the goat hides. Roman women were not fearful but welcomed  the touch of the hide because it was believed to make then more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day according to legend, women of the city would put their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would each pick a name and become paired for a year with their chosen woman. Sometimes these relationships would lead to marriage.

The celebration was tolerated by the early Christians but when there was more power the Christian church  named the Lupa celebration St. Valentine's Day to Christianize it more. By the Middle Ages Love found it's way into the yearly celebration of  St. Valentine's Day and the first written valentine greeting was in 1400. Who was St. Valentine? That is a lively discussion you may wish to have after you Google it. There was always much confusion and controversy about the day and the saint so in 1969 the Roman Catholic Church removed the Saint and the retailer took over. 

You may be a part of the 120  billion dollars spent on this holiday every year in the United States. This is spent on candy, flowers and gifts. (jewelry wins out.) So go ahead and share yourself with others through whatever means you wish. For me love hugs are the best. Think about what is the very best gift you can receive? It is another day of life. So breathe deeply, put your hand over your heart, feel it beat and think about the ups and and downs in your life and move on with gratitude. Now reach around your body with both arms and give yourself the biggest hug you have ever had, you deserve it!      Happy Valentine's Day.

      “She’ll hold them in the palm of her hand”

Let Carolyn hold your audience in the palm of her hand…“Carolyn was dynamic, exciting and very knowledgeable. She knows how to keep her audience involved,
I recommend her without any reservation”                  George Tomka,   Meeting of Lutheran Educators

  Carolyn Finch    Master Teacher - Coach - Speaker     
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 Oops! Your Body Language is Showing!                              
  What are others thinking? How’s my health?  Who’s Lying?                                   

             Communicate or Suffocate                                         
 What’s your Communication Fitness Score? Learn New Skills                    www.carolynfinch.com    bodylanguagexpert@gmail.com
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To Breathe or Not To Breathe? That is the question!

Breathe

Of course you know the answer.  If you don’t breathe you die.  We can live without food for weeks. We can live without water for several days but we can only live without air for about 6 minutes. Then the brain cells start to die.  If you are in a profession where you depend on your voice to sell a  product, ideas and benefits then a quick survey of your skills of breathing need to be assessed.

One of the ways I check breathing in my presentations and Speeches is to have audience members stand with the back of their legs against their chairs. Go ahead, stand up now and feel that chair behind your legs. That’s because when you breath gets thin you will want to sit down immediately, we don’t want any fainting! Your breath is your life and your vitality yet most people never think about breath as a reflection of their health. Here’s the test! While standing you will exhale all that “used air.” Let it make a noise as it escapes through the little round hole as you blow out the carbon dioxide. Then open your mouth and breathe in the oxygen filled air and let it make a noise across your vocal folds. Silently count as the air rushes in. When you can no longer breathe in, sit down and release your air.

 If you are breathing well your count would be 20 or more counts during the inhale. The average person has a count between 7 and 10. If you were in this range than remember to go outside every day and breathe outdoor air. Indoor air contains other peoples used air, pollutants including: paint and plastic fumes, chemicals, smoke, animal and people odors, cooking odors and 100 other substances that you can think of if you want to. IF your breath is on the weaker side practice diaphragmatic breathing

Almost anyone can learn to breathe with diaphragm muscle support. It does take practice. When you breathe deeply, you breathe automatically through your nose.  A good way to start developing the diaphragm, the largest muscle in the body, is to lie on the floor and pile books on your diaphragm.  Close your mouth and breathe deeply through your nose.  Watch carefully as the books rise and fall.  Continue until you feel the diaphragm pulling and strengthening.  When you are outside walking, keep your mouth closed as you inhale nasally on a count of – one, two, three then exhale on a count of one, two, and three. Remember when you are presenting information to others if you are nervous or tense breathe! Now doesn’t this help you breathe more easily?

Carolyn Finch                                                                  carolyn@carolynfinch.com 

Communication LifeStyle Expert™ Speaker                               WWW.carolynfinch.com

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                     Isn't it time to change your communication so you can change your life?