Study finds Tai Chi helps people with Parkinson’s

October 30, 2012 By parisa

Study finds Tai Chi helps people with Parkinson’s

The Chinese exercise of Tai Chi improved balance and lowered the risk of falls in a study of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Symptoms of the brain disorder include tremors and stiff, jerky movements that can affect walking and other activities. Medications and surgery can help, and doctors often recommend exercise or physical therapy.

Tai Chi, with it’s slow, graceful movements, has been shown to improve strength and aid stability in older people, and has been studied for a number of ailments. In the latest study, led by Fuzhong Li of the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, Tai Chi was tested in 195 people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s.

The participants attended twice-weekly group classes of either Tai Chi or two other kinds of exercise– stretching and resistance training, which included steps and lunges with ankle weights and a weighted vest.

After six months of classes, the Tai Chi group did significantly better than the stretching group in tests of balance, control, walking and other measures. Compared with resistance training, the Tai Chi group did better in balance, control and stride, and about the same in other tests.

The findings are in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study was paid for by the the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Associate Press

Morning Crane teams up with Living Social! Special Deal until Friday

October 29, 2012 By parisa

One Month of Unlimited Fitness Classes for $25 (value $150, 83% savings)

You’ve heard the same adage a thousand times — the early bird gets the worm. Score the proverbial worm when you hurry up and snatch today’s deal from Morning Crane Healing Arts & Fitness Center: Pay $25 (regularly $150) for one month of unlimited group fitness classes that can help balance your day and well-being. Choose from tension-melting hour-long classes like Mat Pilates, Qigong, TRX Suspension, TRX Cardio Kickboxing, Tai Chi, and Beginning Belly Dancing. Work your core muscles with Chris Shelton and his team of experienced trainers in this beautiful, newly expanded Willow Glen facility. You’ll strengthen your mind and body with today’s deal before the early bird even sees it coming.

Click here to purchase -> http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/13-san-jose/deals/432978-one-month-of-unlimited-fitness-classes

Effectiveness of Acupuncture? By Brenda Billings M.Sc

October 28, 2012 By parisa

Effectiveness of Acupuncture? By Brenda Billings M.Sc

Acupuncture treatments proven successful

When western medicine fails to adequately alleviate a patient’s pain, many turn to acupuncture or other forms of alternative medicine to find relief. As practiced for more than 2,500 years, acupuncture is widely accepted as a remedy for a variety of diseases, and reliance on this art as an alternative treatment has increased worldwide particularly since the 1970s. Moreover, acupuncture has been shown to improve neurological disorders, severe to moderate dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), and to relieve chronic pain in children and adolescents. By example, a comparative study in which patients with ischemic cerebro-vascular disease, also known commonly as a stoke, who were treated with acupuncture, were compared with those treated with conventional drugs (Chen, et al. 1990). The researchers then assessed the patients’ nerve functions using the electroencephalographic map and the somatosensory evoked procedure. The results demonstrated significantly better health outcomes among patients who were treated with acupuncture than among their counterparts treated with traditional medicine. These results may be related to the way the brain functions and how those networks operate.

As noted by Qin, Bai, Dai, Liu, & Dong, (2011) “Stimulating different acupoints for treating various clinical conditions is usually accompanied with multidimensional physiological as well as psychological responses, indicating that the peripheral acupoint-brain interaction may engage complex neural substrates. The brain regions are organized into interleaved networks to accomplish various functions or healing effects when a neural intervention is triggered.”

In other research, acupuncture was administered to a group of patients suffering from severe to moderate dysmenorrhea, also known as menstrual cramps (Lorno, 2008). Dysmenorrhea can be classified as primary or secondary. The pain associated with dysmenorrhea can impair working activities and other functions. The objective of the study was to measure the efficacy of acupuncture in a number of women who had primary and secondary dysmenorrhea that was resistant to non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID). The efficacy of acupuncture was then measured according to pain control and impact on NSAID consumption. The results of the application of acupuncture revealed a substantial pain reduction in 13 out of 15 patients; even among those whose pain had been resistant to NSAID. The pain control that was obtained at the end of the treatment was maintained for at least 6 months in 50% of cases.

These results confirmed that acupuncture treatments provides not only more than just a temporary symptomatic effect, but that acupuncture may be indicated to treat dysmenorrhea related pain; particularly in individuals in whom NSAID are contraindicated. Furthermore, the significant reduction of pain suggested that acupuncture had a true therapeutic effect because a placebo effect of any type of treatment is unlikely to occur in more than 50% of cases. Moreover, acupuncture’s short term effects on Dysmenorrhea are helpful in decreasing pain, as noted by Chung at el 2012 findings indicates that acupoint stimulation, especially noninvasive acupoint stimulation, could have good short term effects on pain of primary dysmenorrhea.

Inference in some studies was somewhat restricted due to low methodological rigor. We suggest well-designed, methodologically rigorous, exhaustive trial, evaluating both short and long-term effects on pain and other outcomes in comparison with the available standard treatments. Acupuncture has also been proven useful on children. Lin and associates conducted a study among 53 children and adolescents aged between 2 and 18 years to determine the benefits of acupuncture on children and adolescents suffering from chronic pain as well as chronic fatigue due to diverse health conditions (Lin, Bioteau & Lee, 2003). After administering acupuncture, the children reported significant reductions in pain in the visual analog scale (VAS) ratings. From the findings in the aforementioned studies, it is obvious that acupuncture has considerable promise as a treatment modality. For this reason, additional research continues to be conducted to try and establish physiologic rationale for incorporating acupuncture into ordinary care.

Acupuncture undoubtedly has many benefits, so whats stopping doctors from referring patients to an acupuncturist? As noted by Abrams (2012) “The bigger trouble, if acupuncture’s effectiveness can’t be explained by the placebo effect, may be that we don’t have a good alternative for how it might work … attempts have been made to look beyond traditional Chinese concepts of balanced qi and body channels to theories about triggering the release endorphins and the anatomic locations of loose connective tissues, but no robust evidence exists for any of the proposed plausible explanations.”

Although, we do not fully understand how acupuncture works, evidence has proven its benefits. We still have more research to perform on this topic, but I for one am not dismissing its promise as an alternative to traditional forms of pain alievement.

References

Abrams, L. (2012, September 11). Biological Implausibility Aside, Acupuncture Works. The Atlantic Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/09/biological-implausibility-aside-acupuncture-works/262224/

Atlantic.Chari, P, et al. (1988). Acupuncture therapy in allergic rhinitis. American Journal of Acupuncture, 16(2):143–147.

Chen, D.Z. et al. (1990). Evaluation of therapeutic effects of acupuncture in treat in ischaemic cerebrovascular disease. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 10 (9):526–528

Chung, Yu-Chu; Chen, Hsing-Hsia; Yeh, Mei-Ling. Acupoint stimulation intervention for people with primary dysmenorrhea: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials Complementary Therapies in Medicine20. 5 (Oct 2012): 353-63.

Lin, Y., Bioteau, A. B., & Lee, A. C. (2003). Acupuncture for the management of pediatric pain: a pilot study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 14, 45–46

Lorno, V. (2008). Acupuncture treatment of dysmenorrhea resistant to conventional medical treatment. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 5(2): 227–230. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nem020

Qin, Wei; Bai, Lijun; Dai, Jianping; Liu, Peng; Dong, Minghao; et al. The temporal-spatial encoding of acupuncture effects in the brain Molecular Pain 7. 1 (2011): 19.

5 Element Tai Chi

October 22, 2012 By parisa

5 Element Tai Chi with Chris Shelton @ Willow Glen Yoga

Saturday, October 27, 2012 1:30-4pm

Register @ www.WillowGlenYoga.com/index.php/classes/workshops

This ancient art of Tai Chi is a powerful and effective way to increase your health, vitality, awareness and athletic performance. Come learn the breathing techniques, gentle movements and meditations of Tai Chi.

Tuesday Evening Pilates Classes have Started!

October 9, 2012 By parisa

Strengthen & Lengthen Pilates Mat: Tuesdays @ 7:15pm

Come join Tammi Rose for a workout that will strengthen your core and stretch you muscles. Tammi is a fitness expert and is guaranteed to give you a fantastic workout. Click here to sign up!

Continuing our discovery of Consciousness CLASSES with Maggi Quinlan, Ph.D.

October 3, 2012 By parisa

CLASSES with Maggi Quinlan, Ph.D. continuing our discovery of Consciousness

EMOTIONS: What They Tell Us About Ourselves Thursday, October 11, 6:45-8:45pm – Emotions are how our Spirit communicates with us. They tell us who we are, and what is happening in any given moment. But we are not encouraged to feel or given enough instruction to develop our emotional mastery. When we learn how to listen to the deep wisdom our emotions hold, we allow them to provide the powerful guidance they contain. This class will begin developing that skill and will deepen in successive weeks as we dive into individual emotions.

ANGER: The Emotion of Protection Thursday, October 18, 6:45-8:45pm– This is one of the most misused and misunderstood emotions in our lives and society. Learn how to listen more deeply for the information and guidance this powerful emotion is trying to teach you. Stop being afraid of your anger and learn to use it as a guiding force.

FEAR: The Emotion of Survival Thursday October 25, 6:45-8:45pm– We are taught to ignore Fear, and yet our world pummels us with it constantly. This makes listening to this primary emotion very difficult. Learn how to discern what is imposed fear, and what is your Wisdom Fear guiding you into the safety of your Life.

Each class will take place Thursday from 6:45 to 8:45 pm with a cost of $20 each. Please register in advance!

Fall is here! Face Reading, new Pilates class, & more; October 2012

October 2, 2012 By parisa

SEASONAL GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION

Fall is upon us. Kids are back in school. It is a time to prepare to slow down, find a new rhythm, and get to know yourself better. Try a new class. Go exploring. With Halloween approaching it is a great time to practice self-restraint. Be strong; limit your sugar intake. Reach your maximum potential!

A supplement we recommend during this season is Lactobacillus Acidophilus. This is a naturally occurring, beneficial bacteria which supports the health of the intestinal tract. L. acidophilus maintains a healthy microflora environment by protecting the body against an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. You can order it from our online store or come in to pick it up. If you have other supplement or vitamin needs or inquiries, please feel free to contact us. Our main supplier for vitamins and supplements is Pure Encapsulations, which is available only through licensed healthcare providers.

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Chinese Face Reading (Class 1) with Chris Shelton Sat. Oct. 6, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm or Mon., Oct. 8, 7:30-9:30pm.

Have you ever wondered if someone is a flirt or if they work well with others?! These are some of the questions that will be answered in the course.

Topics covered in class 1 include:
• Facial Geometry; for example what indicates if someone is a leader or a social butterfly.
• Facial zones; how to tell if a person makes decisions based upon intellect, gut instinct or logic.

This is a great class. Don’t miss this opportunity! $45 pre-register, $55 at the door; click here to register.

You can attend this class remotely via Webex. Email [email protected] or call (408)391-2846 to attend remotely.

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New Pilates Mat Class starting Tues. Oct. 9. at 7:15pm.

Come join Tammi Rose for a workout that will strengthen your core and stretch you muscles. Tammi is a fitness expert and is guaranteed to give you a fantastic workout. Click here to sign up!

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CLASSES with Maggi Quinlan, Ph.D. continuing our discovery of Consciousness

Each class will take place Thursday from 6:45 to 8:45 pm with a cost of $20 each. Please register in advance!

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5 Element Tai Chi with Chris Shelton @ Willow Glen Yoga, Sat. Oct. 27, 1:30-4pm

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Center and Balance Meditation CD by Chris Shelton

This audio meditation is focused on strengthening your kidneys. This work stems from Chinese Medicine, whose teachings tell us that our overall constitution (health and life span) is based on the strength and vitality of the kidneys. The Center & Balance Meditation will strengthen your kidneys by focusing on your lower abdomen, also known as the Tan Tie (pronounced Don Te-en). The primary purpose of the first meditation is to rid excess energy from the head caused by over thinking and to restore strength and vitality. The second meditation focuses on preventing disease before it starts by guided visualization on the front, back and center of your body. Get ready to become tuned-in what is going on inside your body!

You can order the Center and Balance Meditation CD by clicking here or picking one up at Morning Crane. The cost for the CD $11.99. You can also download it from iTunes Store, by typing in Chris Shelton in the search bar.

Dedicated to increasing the awareness of all people.

Love & gratitude,

-Chris & Parisa Shelton

Chinese Face Reading (Class 1) with Chris Shelton

September 25, 2012 By parisa

Chinese Face Reading (Class 1) with Chris Shelton

This class will cover facial geometries and specific facial lines. You will learn how to tell if a person is a thinker, a practical person, or a gut-instinct person. Then learn how to apply that to your life and communications.

Same class two days: Saturday, 10/6/2012, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm & Monday, 10/8/2012, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Topics covered in class 1 include:
• Water Traits
• Facial Geometry
• Facial zones; how to tell if a person makes decisions based upon practicality, gut instinct or thinking about it logically.

The workshop is $45 in advance and $55 at the door. This is very valuable information so don’t miss out.

Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain

September 4, 2012 By parisa

Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain Finding Balance and Making Peace With Kim Allen

5 week course, Oct 2 – Oct 30

Tuesdays 7:15 – 9:00 pm

Cost: $90

This 5-week introductory course in mindfulness meditation focuses on the issues encountered when living with chronic pain. It is an opportunity to work directly with the current conditions of your life, to create a healthy relationship with your body and mind, and to discover an internal resource – mindfulness – that can support you in all aspects of life.

In this course, you will develop and refine your natural ability to bring clear attention to all aspects of experience, including those that seem difficult to be with. Through guided meditations, instructions, and dialogue, we will cultivate mindfulness of breath, sensations, emotions, thoughts, and actions. This series includes exercises that enhance mindfulness, support the establishment of a daily meditation practice, and highlight balanced awareness in the different aspects of our life.

The class will be in a small-group format, a safe space for exploring feelings, challenges, and appreciation with regard to our bodies, minds, and lives. Sessions may include a segment of mindful movement (qi gong).

Our NEW Newsletter- September 2012- Relax, nurture yourself!

September 4, 2012 By parisa

Our NEW Newsletter- September 2012- Relax, nurture yourself!

Volume 1

We are changing our newsletter!! We want to provide you with more information that will help you in your life every time you open it. So, even if you can’t come to Morning Crane, our newsletter is going to give you information that will support you in your healing and your life. We welcome any suggestions or feedback to make this more informative for you.

Remember, Morning Crane Healing Arts and Fitness Center is dedicated to increasing the health awareness of all. We want to provide you with healing on every level of your being: physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual. The root meaning of the word “heal” means “holy” and “wholeness”, so HEALING is coming into your Holy Wholeness, whatever that means for you. To facilitate your increased awareness, we have a variety of doorways and possibilities for you, with highly skilled healers and teachers to support your journey, in your choice of disciplines and approaches and styles of working:

Chris Shelton, MQT CEO, Medical Qi Gong and Sifu (teacher) of Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Cardio Kickboxing

Parisa Shelton, FAFS COO, Personal Training, Pilates Instructor, TRX training

Kari Knapstad, L.Ac. Acupuncturist, Cranial Sacral, and Nampudripad Allergy Elimination Technique Practitioner

Katheryne Tobin-James Certified Massage Therapist

Maggi Quinlan, Ph.D. Spiritual Counseling, Transformational Guidance

Marika Berman Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner

Kim Allen Sifu of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Mindful Meditation

May Torres Certified Massage Therapist and Bellydance instructor

Ajanae Edwards Pilates and Dance Instructor

Dawn Trump Pilates Instructor

Tammi Rose Pilates Instructor

Lulu OMiley Shelton Mental Health Companion

Click here to see detailed staff profiles. We are here to help you experience the best of your life. Whether you are inspired to make your body stronger and more fit, heal from disease or imbalance in the physical body, increase your energy level or transform your life in general, we have people who can support you in that journey. That is why we are so unique, because as the Healing Arts and Fitness Center, all of your needs can get met under one roof. We offer classes, practices and teachings on many subjects to help you develop your awareness on all levels. This makes your life easier, with less stress, and more fun!

SEASONAL GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION As we move into Fall, it is a time of Harvest in both the inner and outer worlds. Look at what you wanted to create in Life, see what you have managed to manifest, and what is left undone that needs your attention. Notice the changes in your life, who has stayed and who has arrived, who has moved away physically or emotionally. As we move towards the Fall Equinox on September 22, it is a time to become aware of the balance or notice the imbalances in your life. The Equinox is a time when light and dark are equal, preparing us for Winter and moving into the dark time of the year. This is a time to prepare to slow down, find a new rhythm, get to know yourself better, discover more of your gifts and how they want to come out into the world.

Fall is a good time to begin simple rituals to anchor this changing energy in our lives. Take time to reflect and offer gratitude for what is working in your life, in order to know what energy you want to support and grow. Also it is just as important to acknowledge what is not working for you. Make life adjustments that are needed in your outer situations or relationships, as well as inner attitudes and beliefs, in order to bring better balance and harmony to your life. Chris Shelton’s brand new Center & Balance Meditation CD is a great way to slow down and turn inward, helping to balance and increase your energy. Maggi Quinlan can also help you to look at what wants to develop in the coming year and support you in learning how to consciously grow those new elements in your life.

Physically, we move out of the Fire Element of Summer and transition into the Earth Element. To support this change Chinese Medicine encourages us to pay attention the Earth Element by nurturing your Stomach and Spleen. NOW is the time to nurture your stomach by eating more yellow fruits and vegetables. Yams, butternut squash, and bananas are some of the recommended foods. Avoid eating on the go; take the time to sit and relax and stay in the present. Call Kari Knapstad for some relaxing Cranial Sacral work or have a Therapeutic Massage with Katheryne Tobin-James to nurture your stomach and spleen.

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Upcoming Workshops:

Core Awareness with Liz Koch, September 28-30th.

The workshop is open to everyone and focuses on the Psoas (pronounced “so-az”) muscle. Call 408.391.2846 for details. Certification Hours: 12 NCBTMB Liz Koch is an international somatic educator, and creator of Core Awareness focusing on developing human potential. She is a the author of “The Psoas Book”, “Unraveling Scoliosis CD, Core Awareness”, “Enhancing Yoga, Pilates, Exercise & Dance”, and the “Psoas & Back Pain”

Chinese Face Reading (Class 1) with Chris Shelton Saturday October 6, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Discover the secrets of the face. Topics covered in class 1 include:

• Water Traits

• Facial Geometry

• Facial zones; tell if a person makes decisions based upon practicality, gut instinct or thinking about it logically.

Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain with Kimberly Allen, Tuesdays October 2-30, 7:15-9pm.

This 5 week course in mindful meditation focuses on issues encountered when living with chronic pain. Create a healthy relationship with your body and mind, and discover an internal resource-mindfulness- to support all avenues of your life.Using guided meditation, instructions, and dialogue, we will cultivate mindfulness, establish daily a mediation practice and highlight balanced awareness. Small-group format. Click here to register

CLASSES with Maggi Quinlan, Ph.D. continuing our discovery of Consciousness

Thursdays 6:45 to 8:45 pm, $20 each. Space is limited, advanced registration required.

EMOTIONS: What They Tell Us About Ourselves Thursday, October 11 – Emotions are how our Spirit communicates with us. They tell us who we are, and what is happening in any given moment. But we are not encouraged to feel or given enough instruction to develop our emotional mastery. When we learn how to listen to the deep wisdom our emotions hold, we allow them to provide the powerful guidance they contain. This class will begin developing that skill and will deepen in successive weeks as we dive into individual emotions.

ANGER: The Emotion of Protection Thursday, October 18, – This is one of the most misused and misunderstood emotions in our lives and society. Learn how to listen more deeply for the information and guidance this powerful emotion is trying to teach you. Stop being afraid of your anger and learn to use it as a guiding force.

FEAR: The Emotion of Survival Thursday October 25 – We are taught to ignore Fear, and yet our world pummels us with it constantly. This makes listening to this primary emotion very difficult. Learn how to discern what is imposed fear, and what is your Wisdom Fear guiding you into the safety of your Life.

OUR NEW CD IS HERE!

Introducing our new Center and Balance Meditation CD by Chris Shelton This audio meditation is focused on strengthening your kidneys. Get ready to become tuned-in what is going on inside your body! You can order the Center and Balance Meditation CD by clicking here or picking one up at Morning Crane. The cost for the CD $11.99. You can also download it from iTunes Store, by typing in Chris Shelton in the search bar.

Dedicated to increasing the awareness of all people.

Click here to like Chris Shelton on facebook

Love & gratitude,

-Chris & Parisa Shelton