The "BEST BREATHING EXERCISES" Health, Fitness & Personal Power Blog

Happy New Year

Hope you're enjoying the last day of 2007. And
getting ready to leap into an awesome 2008.

In fact,2008 is a Leap Year. So it's a good year
to move forward in the direction of your dreams.
The calendar gives us an extra day to get
everything done.

As we approach this brand new start we are
blessed with every 365 days, I encourage you to
think big and think fresh.

If the past year has been full of success,
use it as a springboard for further success.

If the past year has been not-so-great, or more
likely, a mixture of success and failure, don't
let any disappointment hamper you.

Use any mistakes or mishaps as stepping stones
toward enhanced insight into yourself. What do you
typically allow to trip yourself up. What
limiting thoughts are holding you back.

And be sure to think big for the coming year.
You never know, this could be the year you
"finally get serious" and make substantial
improvements to your health and fitness.

This could be the year that someone special
comes into your life - or re-enters your
life after many years.

This could be the year you get that monkey
off your back - whatever that monkey may be -
and begin to move through the world with
more freedom, confidence and spirit.

And, as a reminder, you can start your New Year
off right by embarking on a fitness and health
adventure. Discover how deep breathing and
energy exercises can improve your stamina,
transform stress, and put you in touch with
your inner power.

I'm still offering 20 percent off any and
every program, through tomorrow (New Year's
Day). There's no special page for this one,
because the 20 percent savings is good for every
program available through the Best Breathing
Exercises web site.

So, while you're thinking about all the great
stuff you're gonna do in the coming year, be sure
to leap over to http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com
and order the program that can help jump start
your health, fitness and personal power.

Whatever your particular goals and dreams
are for the coming year, please accept my best
wishes for an awesome 2008.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**

Start Dreaming and Scheming Now

What are your dreams for the coming year.

Have you taken some time to think about 2008 - other
than how and where you are going to ring it in?

Yesterday I talked about the importance of doing
planning and goal setting now, before the year
starts.

This way, you can hit the ground running when
the champagne runs out on your New Year's
celebration.

If you're taking vacation, you've got the time
and space to do it. So you have no excuse.

Even if you're working, this week is usually a
pretty low-key time of year, and you're
probably not as busy as usual. Depends on your
job, of course. Nevertheless, I'm not letting
you off the hook. Make the time and do it!

Most people make resolutions having to do with
losing weight or some type of financial goal.
And those are not bad places to start.

But it's good to have balance in your goals.
Look across all the areas of your life and think
about the outcomes you would like to see in each
of them.

Some areas to consider include: health and fitness;
relationships; career or business; financial;
personal development; contribution and service;
and spirituality.

You can have specific goals for any and every
area of your life. And one of the most, if not
THE most important area, is your health.

In fact, I believe that setting a goal or goals
pertaining to your health and fitness is critical
to having a positive and constructive year.

If your health or fitness is lousy, there's a
good chance your energy levels and enthusiasm
will be lousy too. It's tough to take on the
world when you don't have any juice.

On the other hand, if your health and fitness
levels are high, you will have the energy,
confidence, and sense of well-being that
help propel you forward to even your most
challenging goals and dreams.

If you're still not convinced, here's a little
game you can play to get you thinking, dreaming
and scheming:

Spend a few minutes thinking about the coming year.
Pretend it's a year from now, and you are looking
back over 2008.

What kind of year will you be reviewing? What
will you feel really awesome about having
achieved or completed. Which of your dreams
will have become a reality. Which of your dreams
will you will be that much closer to.

In the meantime, be sure to check out my New Year
special - just for Daily Tips subscribers.

To show my gratitude to you for being a part of
my life - AND to help you get off to a great start
in 2008, I'm running a special for the next couple
of days. I rarely ever run a special, so I
wanted to make this a good one.

When you order any program or combination of
programs, you will automatically receive 20 percent
off your purchase.

There's no special page for this one, because
the 20 percent off is good for every program
available through the Best Breathing Exercises
web site.

So, while you're thinking about all the great
stuff you're gonna do in the coming year, be sure
to hop over to http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com
to find the program that is right for you.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. I'm doing something I haven't done before: I'm
offering 20 percent off on everything. Yep, order
any program, or combination of programs, and you
will get 20 percent off your purchase, right at
checkout.

No mailing in rebates, no having to use a coupon,
no exclusions on certain items. Simply select the
program or programs that resonate with you, that
will help jumpstart your commitment and enthusiasm
for the New Year - and off you go.

Head over to http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com
to get more information on all of the Best Breathing
Exercises programs.

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**

A New Year's Special Just For You

Hello there!

I had a wonderful holiday break with my family and
friends. And I sure hope you did the same.

Thanks to each one of you who took the time to email
holiday greetings. I can't respond to every message
I receive, but I want you to know that I really
appreciate your messages.

I also want you to know how much I appreciate you.
It makes my day when I hear from someone who has
benefited from following one of my programs, or
has read something in one of my daily tips that
resonated with them.

With all the holiday cheer and gift giving, it's
the perfect time of year to think about all that
you are grateful for.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful emotions.
Make sure you use it to your advantage, every
single day.

Right now is also the perfect time to take stock
of the past year and plan ahead for 2008.

Think about the good things, as well as the
not-so-good things, that came into your life during
the past year.

Think also about what you did (or did not do) to
achieve those good things, or to bring about or allow
those not-so-good things.

We learn from our mistakes as well as our
successes, so it's good to spend a few minutes
on each.

If you're like most people, you are your own
worst critic. So, I recommend you spend more time
congratulating yourself on the good things -- the
things you achieved this past year.

And there ARE good things - no matter how bad
your year may have been. You may have to think
a little bit, but they're there.

Next, take time to think about what you would
like to achieve or bring into your life in 2008.

Now, I'm not talking about making New Year's
resolutions. Resolutions are for amateurs.

I'm talking about setting goals for yourself.

Humans are inherently goal-oriented. So setting,
planning for, and working toward goals are natural,
powerful mechanisms for moving forward in life. Goals
are critical to your process of constructive change
and growth.

If goals don't get you excited, think about
making promises to yourself. For some people,
a goal seems too objective or too mechanical.

But making a promise takes on a richer meaning.
A promise is something you truly intend to follow
through on, something you will honor, no matter
what.

So, make a few promises to yourself for the coming
year, and see if that sets your sails just right.

To show my gratitude to you, and to help you
get off to a great start in 2008, I'm running a
special for the next couple of days.

I'm doing something I haven't done before: I'm
offering 20 percent off on everything.

Yep, order any program, or combination of programs,
and you will get 20 percent off your purchase,
right at checkout.

No mailing in rebates, no having to use a coupon,
no exclusions on certain items (can you tell I've
been doing some shopping lately).

Just select the program or programs that resonate
with you, that will help jumpstart your
commitment and enthusiasm for the New Year -
and off you go.

Head over to http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com
and check out the bounty that awaits you.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. I have more good stuff planned for you this
coming year. More daily tips, covering a variety of
topics related to breathing, health and fitness, and
enhancing your personal power and confidence. And
more great products and programs to help you reach
the most important of your health and fitness goals.

In the meantime, you can get 20 percent off any
program or combination of programs by visiting
the Best Breathing Exercises website at
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com . I'll
only be running this special for a day or so, so
don't delay - get started early on your awesome
2008!

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**

My Best Wishes To You

Well, the holiday invasion started Friday. First
wave of family arrived.

Next wave came Saturday, when friends of the family -
who are practically family - arrived. Then on
Saturday night, we hosted a holiday shindig here for
family and some friends who live in the area.

Yesterday was relatively calm, with a visit to
Santa for the kids, a long run on the trails (and
some wonderful solitude) for yours truly, and a nice
dinner together.

Even though my house is not my own for six 
days or so, I can say with certainty that I
prefer to have lots of people around.

It's more fun for my son, of course. Which is the
most important consideration when it comes to
Christmas.

But it's also because I've spent a few lonely
Christmases in my life. Years when I couldn't
be home. Years when I couldn't be with the one
I love.

So I feel for people who are alone, or who have
lost a loved one and sorely miss their presence,
especially at this time of year.

Because at its heart, this is a holiday of joy.
Some 2000 years ago, a light shone unto the world,
and a promise was made. This is a holiday of joy, and
therefore a holiday that requires sharing.

As Mark Twain said, "To get the full value of a
joy you must have somebody to divide it with".

It's like the old aphorism that goes, "Happiness
grows by division".

In other words, you can't have true joy or happiness
by chasing them.

You experience true joy and happiness by sharing
them with others. In the sharing, they grow. In the
sharing, you are made whole.

So, even if you are not surrounded by loved ones,
think about how you might share the holiday
with others.

Could be as simple as giving a nice cheerful
greeting to whomever you meet or pass in the
street.

Could be as altruistic as volunteering in a
homeless shelter or kitchen serving holiday meals
to those less fortunate.

In fact, my best friend spends her Christmas
morning this way, serving meals at a homeless
shelter downtown.

This was a custom her mother started years ago,
when my friend and her brothers were young and,
in her mother's view, getting a bit spoiled.

My friend lost her mom a few years ago. She and
her mom were close, and she really misses her
at this time of year.

But taking her own daughters to the homeless
shelter on Christmas Day brings her close to
her mom again, as she honors the tradition she
started.

So follow those old traditions. Keep them aglow,
even if just in your heart and memories. And,
perhaps, start a new tradition this year.

Most of all, enjoy yourself and please realize
how wonderful you are. Count your blessings.
Give thanks for getting through another year.
Look forward with optimism and a fresh attitude
to the New Year that is just days away.

And please accept my very best wishes to you
for a wonderful holiday. I truly appreciate
your reading these tips and perhaps even investing
in one or more of my programs.

I have lots more in the chute for 2008, so get
ready. In the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy
Holidays. I'll speak with you again in a few days.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**

Pressed For Time, Make The Time

Well, it's been one of those weeks.

Full of the final shopping and preparations before
the holidays actually commence.

The thought of trying to shop, either at the mall
or the grocery store, on the last weekend before
Christmas inspired me to get done everything I had
left to do this past week.

Whew! Talk about some running around.

Actually, I did better this year about spacing
things out from day to day, and week to week. So
I felt ahead of the game when this week commenced.

Nevertheless, I've still been feeling that last
minute crush. Guess there's no way to completely
beat it.

Despite the crazy schedule, I still managed to
get in some good workouts.

How about you? How did you do.

I know how tough it can be to fit in exercise
when you are trying to close out work for the
year, as well as shop and party and all the other
fun (and sometimes frenetic) stuff that comes
with the holidays.

But you've got to make a little time for yourself
too!

People get so stressed out around the holidays,
for a variety of reasons. Exercise - even light
exercise, even just a few minutes of exercise -
can help kick that stress to the curb.

When you consistently train on a regular basis,
you can get by with shorter workouts. And you
don't have to kill yourself in each workout.

In fact, training regularly, for even a short
period of time, every day or every other
day - getting into that virtuous pattern of
action - enables you to make as good or better
progress than if you try to do a couple of
marathon workouts during the week, or on
the weekends.

This is one reason I keep my programs fairly
short. In each of my programs or courses, I
teach you series of exercises that can be
completed in 15 minutes or less.

This goes for the deceptively simple but
powerful exercises in the Secret Power of
Dynamic Energy Exercise Course - both volumes -
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html .

And it goes for the metabolism and energy-boosting
exercise routine I give you in the Fire Up Your
Metabolism Program -
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/metabolism.html .

I know, 15 minutes has become a cliche.

But I know how I operate. And it's the same
way most people operate.

If I'm a little tired or pressed for time, the
thought of a two hour workout can seem quite
daunting. So I blow it off.

On the other hand, if I tell myself that I will
just do something - some deep breathing, some
stretching, some calisthenics or dynamic
tension movements, etc. - for 10 or 15 minutes,
just to take the edge off and relax...well,
before you know it, 15 minutes has become 20
has become 30, and so on.

I end up getting in a great session. And I
feel better psychologically to boot.

Why?

Because following through on a daily dose of
physical activity - even if it's only a short
one - gives you a sense of control and discipline.

No matter how haywire your day or week is going,
no matter how far behind you feel, no matter if
the holidays are bittersweet and involve some
loneliness or pain...you can always take those
few moments for yourself to get centered and enjoy
the refuge of some focused, healthy physical
exertion.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**

Get The Results You Want Faster

The tremendously energizing and restorative effects
of deep breathing and dynamic energy exercise can
help you get the results you want in all areas of
your life.

When it comes to physical activity, you can amplify
and accelerate the effects of weight training,
bodyweight exercise, aerobic exercise, and stretching
and flexibility exercises, with proper breathing.

The result is a much more effective and efficient
fitness regimen that leaves you feeling energized,
builds you up, and improves mental clarity and focus -
so you are more energetic and efficient throughout
your day.

This Dynamic Energy Exercise approach, which is
introduced in the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy
Exercise Course, Volumes I & II -
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html -
involves integrating breath training, breath control,
and breathing patterns into regular exercise.

It also leverages simple but powerful exercises and
techniques to get your internal energy flowing and
strengthen and temper your muscles - from the inside
out.

You don't have to believe in the concept of Chi
(internal energy), or energy flowing, to experience
the benefits for yourself.

But sometimes we Westerners require physical or
scientific proof.

The concept of Chi (Qi) has been studied, and is
becoming increasingly accepted, under western medical
parameters.

And many doctors and other health practitioners
are beginning to respect the existence of energy
meridians and the effectiveness of eastern practices,
such as acupuncture, meditation and chi kung (qi gong)
as useful and powerful adjuncts to conventional
medicine.

The fact is, the same concepts of internal energy,
flowing and enhancing your energy, and so forth,
were alive and well in the western world, even
through the early decades of the 20th century.

Terms such as "vital nerve force" and "vital energy"
abound in many of the physical culture and health
enhancement publications of the early 1900's. In fact,
there is a wealth of practical and inspiring knowledge
in books and courses from that time, many published
in the U.S. and Europe.

I'm not sure what exactly caused western medicine
to move away from these universal understandings and
practices, but unfortunately, it did...to our
detriment, I think.

Of course, experiencing enhanced energy levels,
mental clarity and increased confidence and enjoyment
can be triggered by many things.

Any time you have been totally engrossed in an enjoyable,
challenging or rewarding activity, you have experienced
that state of flow. You kept going for hours without
being aware of the time, and without experiencing any
fatigue or tiredness.

Imagine being able to induce such a state, whenever
you needed or wanted to, to enhance your efforts or
experience.

Whether you want to add a dimension to your exercise
routine...or jump start your efforts at losing weight...or
improve your ability to concentrate or be creative...all
these things (and many more) can be enhanced with
dynamic energy exercise.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com

P.S. For a limited time, I'm offering a special price on
the "Dynamic Energy Special". Get both volumes of the
Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course for one
low price. Following these two routines will get your
circuits open, your energy flowing, and your personal
power and confidence soaring. Just the ticker to get
you through the holidays and into a hopping New Year.

To get your own copy of the "Special", go to
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/DESpecial_orderpage.html

How To Liberate Yourself From Holiday Madness

There are some simple, natural, effective things
you can do to keep yourself on an even keel and
feeling peaceful, even during times of great
busyness and stress, like during the holidays.

Yesterday I talked about the most obvious choice -
obvious if you read these tips, that is - several
cycles of calm, deep, conscious breathing.

Taking a few moments to simply sit (or stand),
forget about the to-do list, and breathe
consciously is a sure thing.

It's kinda like rebooting your computer when it
gets caught up in one of those endless loops
and stops responding.

So the next time you find yourself beginning to
go loopy - regardless of the cause - try some
breathing.

In addition to your breathing, you'll find 
that you have your own natural, instinctive
"tactics" that help calm and focus you. Many of
these are universal, and evidence of our own
innate abilities to rejuvenate and heal ourselves -
if we will only listen to our own bodies and
psyches.

Here's a physical one:

Ever notice how you rub your eyes and the
ridge above your eyes, just under your eyebrows,
when you are sleepy or fatigued.

You may think this is just some habit developed
as a way to soothe tired eyes.

Actually, it is an action with a definite
physiological basis. You see, the area around
your eyes is full of pressure points - vital
spots that are focal points for internal
energy.

Rubbing the area above your eyes, along the
ridge of your eyebrows and even to the sides
and along your temples, naturally and
effectively hits a number of vital spots. And
it can almost instantly improve your energy
and clarity.

Here's a mental move:

Set priorities, and then follow through on them.

Look at all the things you think you have to
do, or should do, or would like to do. And
then decide which are the most important -
the must-do's.

This is a little harder than it seems. Because
when you set a priority, you have to make a
choice. You have to choose one thing over
another.

But this is also very liberating. Because,
by making the choice, you accept the reality
that there are limitations to just how much
you can do in a given period of time.

This is a key point.

You want to do it all. You feel like you have
to do all the shopping, and send out all the
cards, and attend all the parties you are
invited to, and do all the decorating, and
so on and so forth.

And,if you're like me in years past, you
go into overdrive to get it all done -
and lose sight of the most wonderful holiday
of the year.

On the other hand, when you accept limits,
you'll experience liberation.

You can't do everything. But you can do
one thing, and then another, and then
another.

Deciding on the really important things to
get done, and then picking them off- one
after the other - helps you get more done,
sustains your energy levels, and is way
more enjoyable than moving manically
through the season.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. If you are looking for a positive addition
to your daily health habits and exercise routine,
you should check out the Secret Power of Dynamic
Energy Exercise Course, Volume II. The exercises
are accessible to all, regardless of your present
condition. And they are self-reinforcing - they
"grow" with you as your condition and health
improve. For more information, or to get your
own copy of the program manual and DVD, visit
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html .

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**

Find Peace Right Where You Are Standing

Here we are, down to the final 10 days, and final
two weekends, before Christmas.

I'm noticing the stress increase amongst the people
I know.

Trying to get everything done and wrapped up for
the year at work. Trying to get all the shopping,
baking and wrapping done. Hitting the parties and
lunches - some because you want to, some because
you have to.

How does that song go..."It's the most wonderful
time of the year".

Well, just in case you are one of the multi-millions
feeling the stress right now, let me share with
you a couple of thoughts on reducing that stress -
right here, right now.

I'm a goal-oriented person. Nothing terrible
about that. In fact, most would say that's a good
thing.

But some years back, I found myself losing sight
of the forest for the trees when it came to the
holidays.

I was so focused on the to-do lists, the lists of
gifts I had to purchase, the parties I had to (or
wanted to) attend, the preparations, etc, that
I lost sight of what this holiday is supposed
to be all about.

Even if you aren't a Christian, you can still
participate and enjoy Christmas. In many respects,
it has become as much a secular event, open to
people of all religious persuasions, if they
choose to participate.

In fact, I have Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist friends
who tell me that Christmas is one of their favorite
holidays.

Anyways, here I was, running around and getting
so stressed and bent out of shape about all I had
to do, that I missed out on the enjoyment of
what the holidays are all about.

It seems like I saw less of my friends and family,
did fewer of the things that give me joy, and
greeted the New Year feeling exhausted rather
than refreshed, invigorated and enthusiastic.

So, I made a pact with myself that I have pretty
much managed to keep.

I resolved to slow down the Christmas hoo haw,
focus in on those activities that were the most
important...and actually enjoy the season.

My son's arrival on the scene helped emphasize
that point. Now Christmas is really focused
on him. And this helps me see the holiday
anew, from a child's eyes.

It also helps bring back that sense of wonder
and awe, excitement and anticipation.

Aside from this, I also make sure that I adhere
as much as possible to my regular habits
and routines.

It's darn near impossible to maintain them
perfectly, and you shouldn't even try. If you
do, you are setting yourself up for even more
stress due to inflated expectations.

But simple things, like doing my exercises
in the morning, help keep me on track.

In fact, I highly recommend starting your day
with some deep breathing and energy exercises -
like the ones I teach you in the Secret Power
of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II -
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html
- and you will enjoy higher levels of energy and
enthusiam, and be more focused and productive
throughout the day.

You can also use your breathing any time
during the day to help calm and soothe
yourself.

Take a few moments to simply sit or stand
quietly, and breathe deeply and gently. Let go
of the to-do list and the shopping list. Simply
focus on your breathing for 8 to 10 cycles.

You'll be amazed at how this simple practice
can calm your mind and help you better concentrate
and organize yourself around what you need to do.

There are other, natural things you can do
to keep yourself on an even keel and feeling
peaceful, even during times of great busyness
and stress. I'll talk more about this in your
next tip.

In the meantime, I leave you with one of my
favorite quotes from Morihei Ueshiba, the
founder of Aikido:

"One does not need buildings, money, power, or
status to practice the art of peace. Heaven is
right where you are standing..."

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. If you are looking for a positive addition
to your daily health habits and exercise routine,
you should check out the Secret Power of Dynamic
Energy Exercise Course, Volume II. The exercises
are accessible to all, regardless of your present
condition. And they are self-reinforcing - they
"grow" with you as your condition and health
improve. For more information, or to get your
own copy of the program manual and DVD, visit
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html .

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**

Magic Snow

My three year old son, Miguel, watched "Frosty the
Snowman" for the first time last night.

Part of Frosty's story is that he is made out of
"magic" snow. As we all know, the first snow of
the season is magic. And, in Frosty's case, the
first snow is also Christmas snow, which is like
double magic.

Miguel and I talked about the snow and how we
couldn't wait for the first snow of the season.

In one of those wonderful coincidences, we got
our first snow this morning. It started early,
so there was already a coating on the ground
and driveway when we woke up.

You should have seen my son's face when he
looked out the window and saw "magic" snow.

Unfortunately, we're not getting enough to
build a snowman of Frosty's stature. But it
sure is fun to play in. And I have to admit,
there really is something magical about the
first snowfall of the season.

Especially when viewed through the eyes of a
three year old!

My advice for everyone - young, old (but young
at heart) or in between - is to get outside as
much as possible, even in the winter. Especially
in the winter.

Whether it's for a walk or a run, or to go skiing,
or just to play outside in the snow.

The clean, fresh air is good for you. And the
sunshine (when it's shining) is good for you.

Of course, many people tend to avoid outside
activity when it's cold out. Winter means
time to hunker down and drink lots of hot
chocolate.

Yes, it's true that the cold, dry air can cause
problems for some people. But if you're careful,
you can avoid these problems and still enjoy the
benefits of getting some fresh air.

Keep in mind that our indoor environments -- homes
and offices -- are oftentimes more polluted than
the outdoors. Homes and offices are full of chemicals,
dust and dust mites, cleaning product residue, and
so forth.

Not to mention that many modern homes and office
buildings are not well ventilated and do not
do a good job of cycling in fresh air.

To counteract this, you gotta get outside and
partake of some honest to goodness fresh air
and sunshine.

I like to run and walk outside as much as I can,
even in winter.Here are a few things I always keep
in mind - and recommend to you to help make your
outdoor activities or exercise more pleasant
when it's cold out:

-Choose a level of activity that allows you to
breathe only through your nose. Jog instead of run,
or walk instead of jog. Breathing through your
nose helps to warm and humidify the air before it
reaches your lungs. Protect your lungs. They're
your friends.

-If it's really cold out, or you feel the dry air
"searing" the back of your throat, place a scarf
or mask over your mouth and nose. Wrap your scarf
lightly so you don't feel like your mouth is tightly
covered. This extra layers helps to further
warm the air.

-Drink lots of water before and after your activity.
You may not notice how much you are perspiring when
you are out in the cold. And the heated indoor air
is usually dry and can drain you of fluids without
your even being aware of it.

So,you need to drink plenty of fluids. Better
hydration means your lungs can better handle the
cold, dry air.

-Dress in layers. Generally speaking, you should
head out of the house or apartment wearing less
than you think you'll need, because your body
warms very quickly when you are moving.

-Work on developing your lung capacity and
breathing year round. This leads to better
health, improved fitness,and the ability to
take changes in weather, as well as other types
of stress, in stride. The series of breathing
and movements I teach in the Secret Power of
Dynamic Energy Exercise Course are ideal for
this (go to http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html
for more information).

There's almost always a way to work around the
weather in order to stay active and fit.Learning
how to adapt and work around current conditions
enables you to more consistently follow
a healthy lifestyle.

It also helps you enjoy life and all the little
spontaneous things that can pop up -- like
playing in magic snow.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**

Unnecessary Medication

Assuming medicines and treatments must be OK
because they are out there in the stores
and pharmacies, or because they have been
around for years, is a dangerous assumption...not
only for kids, but for us adults too.

Yet we've become a society of pill pushers and
pill takers.

Seems like there's a medicine for just about
everything now.

A friend of mine is an anthropologist and he
recently attended a conference here in
Washington.

When I think about an anthropology conference,
I can't help but picture scientists and
professors in their suits or campus casual,
milling around statues of cavemen and women,
and talking about the latest set of bones
or mummies that were discovered.

If you are an anthropologist, I know there is
much more to the discipline than cavemen.

Yes, I subscribe to National Geographic, and
its one of my son's favorite magazines. That
makes me a near expert.

Just kidding.

OK, back to my friend and this conference. He
said that- surprisingly to him - the most
interesting panel he attended was one called
"The Insecure American".

I won't go into all of the areas of insecurity
that the studies and surveys and so forth
have picked up on.

Suffice to say, the totality of the areas
painted us out to be pretty wimpy.

Thats a story for another day.

The one part of the discussion that got my
attention was the presentation on health care.

THe professor who has studied this made the
point that health care has been redefined,
from the preventative approach prevalent
through the early 1900s, to more of a risk
reduction approach.

In other words, most of the drugs prescribed
and medical treatments offered are not to make
the patient well again. They are prescribed
or recommended to reduce the chance that the
person will become ill.

It's sort of like the ideal and principle
of preventive medicine being turned on its
head. Normally, you want to do things to stay
healthy and fit, so you can avoid taking
medicines. This new approach is to push pills
no matter what.

This guy said that the average American fills
13 prescriptions a year.

Thirteen a year! I don't think I take 13
aspirin in a year.

For example, healthy people are prescribed
beta blockers to lower their blood pressure, or
statins to lower their cholesterol. (I discuss
some of the issues with statins, and natural
ways to mprove your cholesterol profile, in
the special report,"High Cholesterol: How To
Fight In Naturally", available at
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/cholesterol_fix.html)

The assumption is that everyone is inherently
prone to illness, and no expense should be spared
in terms of the costs of developing new and better
drugs...or in terms of the heavy payload these
drugs carry with them, including the nasty side
effects.

The irony is that most people with high
cholesterol or elevated blood pressure will
not get sick, anyways.

The other irony is that simpler, natural
methods are available to treat most of the
chronic illnesses that are so prevalent in our
modern society.

We have to consider natural alternatives that
support the body's own inner ability to heal
and rejuvenate.

Before refexively reaching for the meds, take
a moment and reach instead for some self-knowledge.

Your breathing offers an excellent way to do
this.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. One of the highest,most effective forms of
natural healing can be accessed through your
breathing. Conscious breathing coupled with
dynamic, gentle movements is the perfect
tonic for so many of today's ailments. If
you're interested in promoting your own
body's internal powers of healing and
rejuvenation, you'll want to discover more
about the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy
Exercise Course, Volume I: Invigorate and
Rejuvenate. Go to
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy1.html
to read more about it.

Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007

**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**