Performance coaching is a type of therapy that has become very popular over the last five years. The term performance coaching first became fashionable in the United States where, together with Neuro Linguistic Programming, it became part of a regenerated sensational wave of greatly proactive therapy modalities.

In many ways both Lifestyle Coaching and NLP are a reaction against certain variants of the Humanistic movement, in particular Humanistic Counselling. A problem of the humanistic and person centred approach is that it is awfully reactive and not extremely proactive. Although all that works magnificent with some people, with other customers long periods of impasse or low return for time and effort occur. Lifestyle coaching and NLP are both human-centred therapy in stance, spending effort on improving a clients well-being rather than looking into the depths of childhood, as in traditional psychoanalysis. Their emphasis is, however, deliberately proactive and their to resolve your problems.

Coaching is not about preaching to the client what to do. This is a common misconception. Some therapists are legitimately successful in their business careers and then make the cross over to lifestyle coaching, thinking that they will merely be required to divulge their pearls of brilliant wisdom with the lifestyle coaching customer. This is more like mentoring an apprentice in a specific environment. Coaching is instead about life as a holistic view. Change your life today with Life Coaching.

Baldness in guys affects 6.5 million in the United Kingdom, the most common sort of hair loss is genetic male pattern baldness. The loss of hair could begin as early as 20 and develop emotional turmoil.

Hair loss is generally genetic and might target boys as well as women. The hair loss appears due to the hair follicles on the head getting smaller and the hair strands falling out altogether. Hair loss frequently follows a hair loss pattern around the hair line and furthermore at the crown of your scalp.

Hair loss is not a horrible disease and does not affect your health, although your emotional health will probably become affected through low self esteem.

There are 3 outstanding prime treatments for losing your hair, Minoxidil, Finasteride and Strand by Strand from Advanced Hair Studio. The first main hair loss treatment is a topical cream that goes on the scalp and can be acquired from online chemists. The hair loss treatment Minoxidil works by slowing down the rate of baldness, simply brilliant. The second treatment works by blocking the conversion of the baldness hormone. The eye-opening Strand by Strand hair restoration technique from Advanced Hair Studio, also known as AHS, uses the very latest hair restoration technology and involves new hair regrowth appearing on the head strand by strand over a brief amount of time. With both the Minoxidil and Finasteride treatments they need to be forever applied and taken for the hair effects to keep working. If you need help with baldness visit Advanced Hair Studio today.

For yet another example of the fabulous natural and organic goodies available at Scin Boutique, Notting hill, we need look no further than their small but successful range of serums and facial oils. First up we have the Suki Carrot, Myrrh and Sandalwood Facial Serum. This is what the Scin boutique website thinks: “Facial serum with carrot, myrrh & sandalwood for dry/combinational skin. A rich night time moisturiser, particularily effective in the cold winter months when all skin types are drier, or on sun damaged skin and rosacea. Suki’s pure, potent, unadulterated mositure serums balance oil production, ease skin problems such as eczema, acne, rosacea, and other chronic conditions, & replenishes without clogging your pores”. Tantalizing indeed! What’s else is up for grabs? Take the Taer Icelandic Active Firming Serum as another fine example. Again the Scin boutique website is very complimentary: “A superior serum, rich in antioxidants, to firm, brighten and protect the skin from the effects of stress and pollution. Containing mineral-rich algae extracts, potent organic Icelandic herbs and an exceptionally active blend of rosehip, lotus and geranium essential oils. With the help of hyaluronic acid and hydrolysed silk, the skin instantly appears plumper and smoother. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive”. Could this range get any better? The Suki Blue Chamomile and Echinacea Facial Serum will certainly try and oblige. The Scin Boutique website has this much to say: “Facial serum with blue chamomile and echinacea for oil/combinational skin. Highly effective on acne and blemished skin. This serum can be used day and night. Great for normal and combination skin types as a light moisturiser. Suki’s pure, potent, unadulterated mositure serums balance oil production, ease skin problems such as eczema, acne, rosacea, and other chronic conditions, & replenishes without clogging your pores.” It just another example of the fabulous products and services that Scin Boutique have to offer. All natural and organic - as is the Scin Boutique philosophy - they’re good for you, and make it easy to pamper and preen yourself. What’s even more delightful, though, is that you can now buy them all with spa coupons and beauty vouchers, which can be bought online or in store, and can indeed be spent online or in-spa. So, with these products represented the importance of pampering after a long, hard day, the spa coupons represent the ease and relax of a stress-free shop. The facial oils and serums are just a case in point; Scin Boutique offers a wide range of lovely products, in a variety of fields, including massage oils, products for new mums, plus foot creams, and even specialist products like the Rodial Tummy Tuck. Right through the lines there is that same commitment to organic and natural ingredients, so pampering couldn’t be more ethical. And spa coupons make it easy too. Wonderful!

I always thought of myself as a klutz. Always falling, skinned knees were common. Isn’t there a time in the aging process when you grow out of that…like the teens? People referred to me as the most uncoordinated person they knew. It was a joke, to which I got a little sensitive. It was also common for people to ask me if I was from the South. I had a Southern drawl although I was from Iowa. It hurt me when I heard someone comment on my garbled speech. It never occurred to me that an actual medical problem existed. This was ridiculous of me, especially since my Grandmother and many other family members had a genetic disease that affected walking and speech. The others in my family were affected at an older age. I guess I just never believed that myself, being only 32 could have Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia.

I decided that I was getting so stiff and clumsy that something must be wrong. I walked like Frankenstien. I was totally shot by the end of the day unless I had lain around all day, which is basically impossible, being a mother. It was time to find out what the problem was, I knew it was not Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. The first two doctors had heard of HSP, but that was the extent of their knowedge. I searched and found a neurologist who had seen one other patient with HSP. She was the one. I was to have an MRI of the brain to rule out MS, which has symptoms similar to HSP. She reviewed the lovely pictures of my brain and gave me a neurological test. I know I could have done better, if given the chance to study. Dr. Rankin also asked me questions about my family history. With no MS, a failed neurological test and a positive family history, the diagnosis was in…I had HSP. I was secretly hoping that I was to be given a mimeographed sheet of exercises and I would return to normal. That was not the case.

HSP is a group of neuromuscular disorders that prevent messages from the brain from getting to their destination in a timely manner. When your brain tells your foot to move and it doesn’t, but your momentum is going forward, you fall. The ends of the longest nerves degenerate. Imagine a slow progressing spinal cord injury. Toe-drop (not lifting the front of the feet), coordination problems, fatigue, muscle weakness, muscle cramping, stiffness, circulation problems, balance and incontinence are symptoms. Unfortunately there are forms that affect speech, swallowing, vision, and hearing, among others.

It was extreme denial at it’s finest, that I never had the slightest inclination toward thinking I was a victim of a genetic neurologic problem. A nurse from Dr. Fink’s office at the University of Michigan enlightened me as to what the symptoms were and that they could strike at any age. Even babies in some families can have this disease, I never knew this. Since this disease is so rare there simply is not much information available. The reason for talking to Dr. Fink’s office was that they are trying to find a cure for HSP and being a relative of one of the affected, I was asked to participate, which I gladly obliged. Dr. Fink is one of the leading HSP researchers.

Right now there is no cure for HSP. Hopefully there will be soon, before my son shows any symptoms. That is definitely the worst part, knowing that I could pass this on. He has a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder.

The prognosis is different for everyone, in my family people end up in wheelchairs. I am at the point that I am beginning to use a cane or walker, depending on how much walking I have to do.

The moral of this story is to take off the denial glasses. If you think something may be wrong…check it out. Most things can be cured if treated promptly.

Jackie Wellman, author of Spiritual Clarity, http://www.hoppy.bravehost.com, http://spiritualclarity.blogspot.com

Do you think your posture is poor? Have you tried a course of posture exercises to correct it? Most people would say they feel their posture could be better but why does it become poor and what is the best way to improve it?

Modern living means we probably are not as active as previous generations. We spend long hours sitting at desks, in cars or when relaxing, slumping in front of the TV. In these situations you are not using your muscles as nature originally intended. Parts of your body get overworked such as your neck and shoulders whilst others will get weaker, invariably the lower back. Poor posture has been recognized as a factor in health for many years resulting in the development of posture exercises to correct it.

However, this approach may be misguided as the focus on specific muscles for improving posture could affect your body’s natural support reflexes.

Your body has built-in postural reflexes to coordinate muscular activity for support and movement. If your posture has deteriorated it is likely these reflexes are not being allowed to work properly. Stress may be causing you to stiffen your neck and tighten your shoulders. These actions will override your natural mechanisms for balance and movement. Constant inappropriate use of these muscles will eventually corrupt how you move. It becomes a catch-22 problem. The more you move in a poor way, the better you get at moving this way until it feels right.

Whilst I appreciate the popularity of exercises to improve posture, including core stability routines, I believe they result in unnecessary tension in the body. Should we have to work core muscles individually to get our body to stand tall? Did nature intend this as the best way to stand?

In my role as a teacher of The Alexander Technique I see many people who suffer as a result of poor posture. I also see just as many who are suffering as a result of their attempts to correct it! Adding a little extra tension in order to stand properly will not improve your posture - it just adds to the strain on your muscles and joints. Rather than trying to stand and sit in a way you feel is correct, you can learn how to remove the unnecessary stress in your body and allow your postural reflexes to work as nature intended.

So forget about posture and learn about Poise.

Poise is a lost skill from our youth. When you have poise you use far less effort and your body will support itself with ease allowing you to move, breathe and function more freely. Poise is evident in top athletes and performers. Think of Muhammad Ali or Fred Astaire in their prime and that gives you a great example of freedom in movement. I doubt if they used exercises to improve their posture!

Poise can only be regained by first taking out the tension in your body and appreciating the push you get from the ground. When you are on top of the world and walk with a spring in your step, you are poised. When you can sit at your desk and feel no tension in your neck, shoulders and back - you are poised. Trying to improve your posture by trying harder will take you further away from your natural poised state. So don’t try - let whatever is beneath you push up and think of letting go to sit, stand and walk taller and you will be on your way to a return to poise.

Roy Palmer is a teacher of The Alexander Technique and has studied performance enhancement in sport for the last 10 years. In 2001 he published a book called ‘The Performance Paradox: Challenging the conventional methods of sports training and exercise’ and is currently working on a new project about The Zone. More information about his unique approach to training can be found at http://www.fitness-programs-for-life.com

SOY IS NOT HEALTHY FOOD: In fact, it is exactly the opposite.
Read on to find out why and what it actually does to your body.

So, how much soy did Asians eat? Not much, even though we, as a
society have been led by expert mass marketing to think
otherwise. Soy has never, ever been a food staple in Asian
history. The exception was that the poor often used the soybean
to fill their empty bellies during times of famine. Even then,
the soybeans were prepared in such a way as to neutralize the
natural and inherent soy toxins thus proving that even ancient
Asians understood the soybean better than we do today.

Soy is touted as the original protein source for those persuing
a vegetarian lifestyle. To consume a serving of tofu and a
couple of glasses of soy milk has become commonplace for many
Americans. This is absolutely in excess of the amount of soy
that Asians consume. In native Asia, from where so much of this
“research” is purported to have originated, a tablespoon or two
of soy is simply used as a condiment. According to K. C. Chang,
the editor of ” Food in Chinese Culture” the total caloric
intake of soy in the Chinese diet during the 1930’s was only 1.5
percent as compared to 65 percent for pork products.

The huge concern about consuming large amounts of soy products
lies in the mega dosing of isoflavones. If consumers follow the
nutritional advice of Protein Technologies International
(manufactures of soy isolated protein) their daily genistein
intake (an isoflavin found in soy) could exceed 200 milligrams
per day. It goes without saying this level of genistein intake
should be avoided.

Up until only two decades ago, soy was considered unfit to eat.
By Asians mind you! To see the hold soy products have on the USA
marketplace is truly a miracle. Agricultural literature clearly
depicts the soybean and its first and foremost use as a crop
rotation plant used to fix nitrogen in the soil. Soybeans did
not serve as any form of food until the advent of the Chow
Dynasty. During this period, fermentation techniques brought us
some of the soy edibles we see today such as tempeh, soy sauce
and natto. In the second century B.C., the Chinese discovered a
porridge of cooked soybeans could be precipitated with calcium
sulphate or magnesium sulphate (Plaster of Paris or Epsom salts)
to make tofu. Sound healthy?

The Chinese did not eat unfermented soybeans as they did other
legumes because the soybean contains large amounts of
antinutrients (toxins). First among them is heamagglutinin, a
clot promoting substance that makes red blood cells clump
together. Soy is rich in enzyme inhibitors that block the action
of much needed enzymes required to digest proteins. These
inhibitors are not deactivated during cooking. They can cause
gastric distress and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake.
Protein inhibitors and haemagglutinin are scientifically proven
to inhibit growth, as evidenced in studies of weanling rats who
eventually failed to thrive.

Soy contains goitrogens, plant chemicals that inhibit thyroid
function. AND 99% percent of the soy we consume is genetically
modified, otherwise known as GMO. Soy has one of the highest
percentages of contamination by pesticides of any of our foods.
Soy is rich in phytic acid, a chemical that blocks the uptake of
essential minerals. Soy has the highest phytate levels of all
the grains and legumes. The phytates have been found to be
resistant even to to long slow cooking in an effort to denature
them. There exist hundreds of research articles on phytic acid
and their effects, including binding with certain nutrients,
like iron, to inhibit their absorption.

The marketing push for more soy products has been relentless and
global. Public relations firms help convert research projects
into newspaper articles and advertising copy. It has worked like
a charm. Soy protein is now found in a majority of supermarket
breads. Soy can be found blended in the regular old corn
tortilla. Try to find a salad dressing in a health food store
whose first ingredient is not soy oil. Advertising for a new soy
enriched loaf from Allied Bakeries in Britain targets menopausal
women seeking relief from hot flashes. It goes on and on.

For more information on the great soy misinformation please
consult the well written and respected book entitled The Whole
Soy Story by Dr. Kaayla Daniel.

There is no scientific dispute any longer that what you eat can
effect your mood - whether you feel up, or down. Although your
food choices may seem based on taste or other conscious
criteria, there is evidence that people often make unconscious
food choices that change brain chemistry to put them in a better
mood. They unwittingly “self-medicate” with food
antidepressants. Additionally, chronic depression has been
linked to a long term subtle deficiency of certain nutrients
that can go unnoticed and uncorrected by the body for long
periods.

Except for caffeine and sugar, few food substances have been
meticulously studied to determine how they manipulate mood.
However, it seems clear that food substances effect
neurotransmitters, the brains cell communicators. One such
neurotransmitter that has been tied to depression, as well as to
violence, is serotonin. It is known to lift the mood generally,
and dramatically in some people. Many doctors equate low brain
serotonin with psychiatric symptoms. Getting more serotonin into
the brain, or stimulating serotonin activity, sometimes relieves
depression. That’s why those with the winter blues often turn to
sugar. Winter blues - or S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder),
effects millions. It is caused by a lack of sunlight and people
who are depressed in this way tend to crave carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates (complex sugars), re-energizes them, and puts them
in a better mood. If you get depressed during the cold, long,
dark winters, and crave sweets and carbohydrates, the biggest
nutrition tip is not to deprive your body of what it craves. If
you do, you are likely to sink even lower into the depression.

As anyone who uses it knows, caffeine is the most widely used
psychoactive drug in the world. It has huge mood lifting powers.
Caffeine produces feelings of well-being, sometimes even
euphoria, which is probably what makes people want to administer
it. Those hooked on caffeine automatically seek to give
themselves enough to five them a feeling of contentedness and a
reduction in anxiety. Caffeine is also a mild antidepressant,
and has proved itself safe over many years. However, care should
be applied when consuming caffeine. Excess can wreck your mood,
disturb your sleep and trigger anxiety, depending upon your
individual tolerance of the drug.

Has anyone ever told you that greens are good for your mood? It
has been proven that a lack of folic acid can foster psychiatric
disorders, particularly in women, including depression but also
dementia and schizophrenia. Folic acid is a B vitamin found
plentifully in green leafy vegetables. It is also found in heavy
concentration in beans and pulses. That folic acid can act as an
antidepressant is no secret among nutritionists - it is one of
the best nutrition
tips anyone who has ever had depression can receive.
Eliminating the deficiency often cures the depression. Low
levels of folic acid in the brain cause levels of serotonin to
sink. A dose of 200 - 500 micrograms of folic acid a day may
well help fight depression in susceptible people. This amount is
easily obtainable from a varied diet, and since high doses of
folic acid are toxic, caution is advised when self medicating.

Our fore-fathers knew these invaluable nutrition tips by
instinct. They viewed optimum nutrition as insurance against
future illness. Food is awesome in its ability to effect our
well-being, and as a result, the quality of our lives.

Creating a personal aerobics exercise program to supplement your
health regime is very beneficial to most people. Your choices
must satisfy you both mentally as well as physically. Individual
tastes must be taken into account if the regime is likely to be
a success, and long-lasting. There are a number of health tips
which you will find invaluable in making your decision as to
which exercise routine suits your needs, and can be incorporated
into your daily life.

Walking is excellent for general health, and is probably the
best choice for people who have been inactive for many years. It
is convenient, inexpensive and easy. Health tips for walkers
include measuring your walk by time, not by mileage, and to
challenge yourself but don’t overdo it. Walk comfortably and
naturally, maintaining good posture following your natural gait.
Walking requires no equipment apart from a good pair of walking
shoes. People who walk for exercise have the lowest drop out
rate of all.

Jogging is excellent for weight control and cardiovascular
conditioning. Many people love to jog, but joggers must guard
against injury. Jogging stresses both knees and ankles. Tips
include to begin slowly, monitor your intensity level and never
run “through the pain”. Get a good pair of running shoes which
provide support and shock absorbtion. Wear loose and comfortably
fitting clothes. Measure your progress by the time you spend
jogging, rather than the distance covered.

Water based exercises are easy for most people, and a gentle way
to get back into the habit of exercising. Water walking is a
good aerobic activity and is tremendously rehabilitating. The
buoyancy of the water allows you to move your arms and legs in a
controlled fashion, thus reducing orthopedic concerns. Pool
aerobics gives a good cardiovascular workout by using water as
the medium of resistance during twenty to thirty minutes of
continuous and rhythmic exercise.

Swimming is also a great choice for aerobic conditioning. You
don’t have to be a great swimmer in order to get a good workout.
The strengthening and toning benefits of lap swimming are well
documented. Health tips include varying your strokes to work all
of the major muscle groups in the body, and investing in good
quality eye goggles for comfort and relief from chlorine. Also,
consider using ear-plugs, especially if you are prone to ear
infections, or if water in your ears bothers you. As with most
of these aerobic exercises, the best health tip of all is to
start slowly, and built up your intensity over time.

Whichever aerobics regime you select; implementing the health
tips will ensure that you gain all the benefits of the exercise,
in a safe manner. You will enhance your life, and health, while
doing something you enjoy - the best health tip of all!

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We’ve all been there… One minute your listening intently as your mother in law tells you for the tenth time about the people she met on her recent holiday… or to the boss as he delivers a presentation on improving productivity levels (yawn!)

One minute you’re listening… the next you’re planning the colour scheme of the new kitchen or what you’re going to be eating for dinner tonight! Basically, your mind has wandered!

It’s called ’stream of consciousness’ and it happens to us all!

Our minds are designed to work like that, flowing from one thought to the next. It’s the basis of intelligent human thought… of creativity… even of survival. Our brains have to react quickly to changing stimuli and they have to be thinking on many different levels at once.

Of course that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to pay attention and stick to the subject at hand! We should control our thought patterns sufficiently so we can learn, so we can live. We should be able to apply this control, this discipline, over our wandering minds.

But what about people who experience the kind of disturbing thought patterns where they see themselves hurting themselves? Or harming loved ones? Or acting totally out of character, for instance in a sexual way? Or behaving in an inappropriately violent or aggressive manner?

These people have NO CONTROL over their thoughts. They cannot help what they picture in their minds.

Sound familiar at all?

These people suffer from ANXIETY. They may not know it, but anxiety is the CAUSE of these disturbing thoughts. These clients invariably think they’ve become anxious as a result of having disturbing thoughts. That’s NEVER the case.

Anxiety causes them. An anxious mind is constantly considering ‘what if’ scenarios and, together with a vivid imagination, this is what fuels these disturbing thoughts.

I’ve spoken with many people who have these thoughts. I myself experienced them during my anxiety so I know what I’m talking about!

People who experience disturbing thoughts become confused, scared and isolated. They worry that they’ll act on these thoughts. So by limiting their experience of life, they believe they’ll somehow control these thoughts and stop them in their tracks.

No. That’s not going to happen.

The ONLY way to stop these thoughts is to stop the CAUSE of them - ANXIETY.

So many people experience disturbing thoughts. They think of jumping from high places… harming their loved ones… hurting themselves. They’re controlled by fear because the thoughts can be so intense.

Others experience less distressing thoughts. They may find their minds obsessing over music. They may repeat words over and over… or count… or display irrational behavioural patterns. They lack control over their minds.

But however it manifests itself, these thoughts are simply another symptom of anxiety.

If you are experiencing the kind of thoughts which leave you distressed, the most important thing to remember is that you are not going to act on them! You are not a bad person! They have no control over you! Once you remove the cause of them - the anxiety - they’ll just go away. It really is that simple!

I only wish it was as simple to keep my mind from wandering when I’m listening to my mother-in-law!

About the Author

Charles Linden specialises in the treatment of anxiety symptoms. Learn how to cure yourself of Anxiety quickly, permanently and get Free access to a valuable interview done with Charles by the BBC visit: http://beatanxiety.amazon-4u.com