This Friday, we celebrate the onset of spring with the rare astronomical occurrence of an equinox, solar eclipse and supermoon all on the same date. During this symbolic period of rebirth and transformation, we take time to say goodbye to what no longer serves us—harsh winter weather, physical clutter and the limiting thoughts of fear, doubt and regret that may have been holding us back from a … [Read more...]
After one of the most brutal winters in northeast United States, we’re finally seeing the light of spring at the end of the tunnel. With a February that was the coldest month on record in Connecticut, we pushed through roughly six weeks of snowstorms and bitter freezing temperatures. Not surprisingly, people I knew in the area were felled by flu and colds left and right—including myself. Loath to … [Read more...]
Increasing numbers of teens and young adults are using self-injury as a strategy for dealing with negative emotions. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative study found the number of teenagers who self-harmed in England had tripled in the last decade. The 2013-2014 survey found 20 percent of 15-year-olds had self-harmed over the past year, as compared to 6.9 percent of 15- and … [Read more...]
Last month, romantic love was celebrated across the nation and in other parts of the world. Today, Mind-Body Shift takes time to honor the gift of unconditional love, the expression of caring for others without the expectation of reciprocation or reward. MBS especially celebrates the people who selflessly care for others living with debilitating chronic disease, particularly the caregivers of … [Read more...]
Anyone who has lived with the crippling fatigue, un-refreshing sleep and cognitive problems (affecting memory and concentration) of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) can confirm it is a very real, debilitating physical illness. Unfortunately, for many years, not everyone else has agreed. Long dismissed in the medical community as a psychological condition—or simply as a prolonged state of … [Read more...]
Modern research is constantly revealing more about the amazing world of the human microbiome and its implications on health. The microbiome is the community of “good” and “bad” tiny microorganisms that live in our skin and mucus membranes—including the gut and mouth. While many of these microbes are innocuous, some may be harmful to our health, and others we depend on to protect us from … [Read more...]
If your child is consistently complaining of pain in the stomach, he or she might not just be bellyaching to get out of a day at school. An estimated 38,000 children and teens in the United States live with Crohn’s disease, which causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. While Crohn’s disease can occur at any age, it tends to be most prevalent in teens and young adults, ages … [Read more...]
Everywhere we turn, old beauty ideals are being shattered and redefined to embrace the magnificent diversity of humanity. Nose-pierced, tattooed Tess (Munster) Holliday is turning heads as the first size 24 woman signed to a major modeling agency, and last week’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue features a plus-sized supermodel (albeit, in an ad) for the first time. Supermodel Carmen Del’Orefice … [Read more...]
This morning, bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote the much beloved memoir Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, asked a favor of her readers on Facebook. Almost daily, she shares inspiration and wisdom that I and countless others feel called to share with friends. Today was no different. Glibert shared a candid, unpolished photo of … [Read more...]
The doctors of the band N.E.D. (No Evidence of Disease) are turning up the volume on the healing power of music by reaching out to women with gynecologic cancers and raising awareness of these lesser-known diseases. The Emmy Award-winning, self-titled documentary, which follows the six gynecologic oncology surgeons who span the country and the women they treat, aims to educate an even bigger … [Read more...]