I have spent the last week in and around Krakow in Poland. This is the nearest big town to Auschwitz and Birkenau. One of my sons is doing research there - on why young people choose to visit Auschwitz, so I took the opportunity to go there too. I've always been curious about the place, and a couple of years ago I read Victor Frankel's "Man's Search For Meaning" which I found very moving. In preparaion for my visit my son recommended I read Primo Levi's "If This Is A Man" and "The Truce". Again moving and thought-rpovoking books.
I was nervous about visiting the actual place, but went anyway. The display cabinets - spectacles, human hair, shoes, documents, shaving brushes, clothes has a numbing effect. Standing in one of the gas chambers .. viewing the place and the gallows where a camp commandant had been hung after the war .. standing in front of a wall where the inmates were shot ... seeing the punishment cells - as if just being there wasn't punishment enough ..
The most disturbing bit for me though was at the end when I climbed into one of the guard towers at Birkenau - I shivered and felt sick. It took me a few minutes to realise why - suddenly I no longer imagined myself as an inmate, now I was one of the people who perpetutated the horror.
I'm still processing my feelings about my visit, but in some strange way that I can't quite get to grips with yet irt affirms life and not death.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Verbal Questioning Skills For Kinesiologists
this book is published in German by VAK Verlags GmbH. I have just received a request from them to let the University of Dortmund have a copy of the manuscript to make a braille version of the book. Of course, I said "yes"
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
CAM Case studies
I've started putting more case studies on http://www.healthandgoodness.com but I'm a bit frustrated as I have a lot of kinesiology ones (particularly health kinesiology) but not so many of other therapies. I know there are lots of good practitioners and amazing stories out there, but I need to hear about them, so if you're reading this and your a therapist think about your clients and send me a storyor two. If you've ever been to a practitioner and got a positive story to tell I'd like to hear about that too ..
Thursday, April 13, 2006
today's piece of inspiration
Inspiration of the Day:
A dangerously obese man has captured the heart of America by walking alone across the country to lose weight and find his soul. Steve Vaught was in a car accident in which two people died, sending him into years of depression and comfort eating. Hitting 400+ pounds, he realized that he would die if he carried on. After a year and more than 2300 miles on the road, his journey has become a symbolic quest for a better way of living. In response to a $5m commercial offer, he says, 'But how much does my integrity cost? I have done this walk to get my integrity back. I am not going to sell it.'
http://charityfocus.org/php-bin/qad.php?n=2334
A dangerously obese man has captured the heart of America by walking alone across the country to lose weight and find his soul. Steve Vaught was in a car accident in which two people died, sending him into years of depression and comfort eating. Hitting 400+ pounds, he realized that he would die if he carried on. After a year and more than 2300 miles on the road, his journey has become a symbolic quest for a better way of living. In response to a $5m commercial offer, he says, 'But how much does my integrity cost? I have done this walk to get my integrity back. I am not going to sell it.'
http://charityfocus.org/php-bin/qad.php?n=2334
Friday, April 07, 2006
Abundance
I've just read an interesting article from Kalinda Rose Stevenson on abundance. Here's a bit that made me smile:
the ones who live in abundance know how to receive. Those who live in lack don't.
One of the real reasons so many of us struggle with lack in our lives is that we internalized the words, "It is more blessed to give than receive." This Bible verse, taken out of context, sets up a value judgment: Giving is better than receiving.
I'm not going to do the critical work involved in telling you what the Greek words mean, or putting in these words in their biblical context. Let's just look at the words themselves and ask what is wrong with this kind of universalizing statement.
Consider breathing. You breathe in and you breathe out. Somehow, we all got the idea that it is okay to receive when we breathe. What if you decide that it is better to breathe out than to breathe in? You can't live very long before you realize that breathing is a cycle. If you want to continue to live, you need to receive air into your lungs as much as you need to breathe it out.
If you want to read more, here's the link:
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=165037
the ones who live in abundance know how to receive. Those who live in lack don't.
One of the real reasons so many of us struggle with lack in our lives is that we internalized the words, "It is more blessed to give than receive." This Bible verse, taken out of context, sets up a value judgment: Giving is better than receiving.
I'm not going to do the critical work involved in telling you what the Greek words mean, or putting in these words in their biblical context. Let's just look at the words themselves and ask what is wrong with this kind of universalizing statement.
Consider breathing. You breathe in and you breathe out. Somehow, we all got the idea that it is okay to receive when we breathe. What if you decide that it is better to breathe out than to breathe in? You can't live very long before you realize that breathing is a cycle. If you want to continue to live, you need to receive air into your lungs as much as you need to breathe it out.
If you want to read more, here's the link:
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=165037
Animal Testing Of Drugs
A catastrophic drug safety trial which left six healthy volunteers
fighting for their lives with multiple organ failure was the result
of "a powerful pharmacological effect of the product in humans",
found the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
The "unprecedented reaction" in the first human phase I safety trial
of the drug TGN1412 had not been seen in animal tests at much
higher doses, yet was not due to a dosing error, product
contamination or manufacturing problems.
Click below for the full story on NewScientist.com/news:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8956
So, surprise, suprise, animals and humans do not necessarily react in the same way to drugs. Do you remember thalidomide which was safe on pregnant rodents but not on pregnant women.
I believe that animal testing is fundamentally wrong, and that it's not as useful as some people beleive it is.
fighting for their lives with multiple organ failure was the result
of "a powerful pharmacological effect of the product in humans",
found the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
The "unprecedented reaction" in the first human phase I safety trial
of the drug TGN1412 had not been seen in animal tests at much
higher doses, yet was not due to a dosing error, product
contamination or manufacturing problems.
Click below for the full story on NewScientist.com/news:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8956
So, surprise, suprise, animals and humans do not necessarily react in the same way to drugs. Do you remember thalidomide which was safe on pregnant rodents but not on pregnant women.
I believe that animal testing is fundamentally wrong, and that it's not as useful as some people beleive it is.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Bikini Body Here I Come
Lynn van Dyke writes upbeat sensible advice for women who want to be fit and healthy. Here's a good example:
Bikini Body Here I Come- 5 Great Reasons Not to Jump Into the Fad Diet or Crazed Workout Routine
by Lynn VanDyke
Summer is fast approaching. This is the time of year where everyone who fell off the New Year's weight loss bandwagon suddenly becomes frozen with fear. They realize that they have not met their goals to have a bikini body by this summer. Panic sets in and unfortunately so do bad decisions.Warmer weather and beach vacation plans are a sign of fad diets, intense workouts, and miracle fat loss pills. People looking to slim down by summer need results and they need them fast! I am here to give you 5 great reasons not to jump into the fad diet or crazed workout routine.
1) You Will Destroy Your Metabolism. Any diet that restricts your caloric intake, eliminates a food group or contains the word "cabbage" will not work. Not eating 5-6 small healthy meals per day will hurt your metabolism. It will slow down and become sluggish. The only way to rev it back up is to eat more healthy foods in the right amounts.
2) You Will Gain Back the Weight- Plus Some. It's happened before. As soon as you stop taking the miracle pill or as soon as you stop doing cardio for an hour every day the weight comes piling back on- plus some. You must make a lifestyle change to keep unwanted fat away for good.
3) You Will Be Quite Moody. Not eating or restricting your calories will leave you moody and sleepy. Sure you may have lost 3 pounds, but no one wants to be around you. Losing fat the healthy way will leave you feeling refreshed, energized and absolutely glowing with charm.
4) You Will Be Heading In the Wrong Direction. Not only is excessive exercise bad for you, but it also takes time away from reaching your goals. 3 weeks of over-exercising is 3 weeks not working out responsibly. It moves you further away from your goal of a bikini body.
5) You'll Be Known as a Yo-Yo Queen. You know what I am talking about. People will know that you are taking the easy way out. They will also know that in 3 weeks you will not be working out anymore. They may even place bets on how much fat you gain after you realize restricting calories and over-exercising is not a long-lasting or permanent solution to fat loss. Prove them wrong!Deep down we all know that the only way to permanently lose fat is to adopt a healthy and fit lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle means eating enough healthy food throughout the day. It involves carbs, proteins and healthy fats. A healthy lifestyle also means a responsible and safe workout program. A great program will include strength training, cardio and regular rest days.It is possible to melt the fat and have a bikini body by summer. There is no secret workout plan, there is no miraculous pill, and there is no new diet that will give you long lasting happiness. If you are serious about fat loss then do it right this time around. Get a great plan and get moving. Summer is coming!
Lynn VanDyke is the head trainer at http://www.strength-training-woman.com . Her wildly popular ebook, Melt the Fat, comes complete with over 100 exercises, 160 daily menus, 63 ways to stick with it, 100 strength training routines, 800 healthy meal suggestions and loads more. Learn more by visiting: http://www.Melt-the-Fat.com
Bikini Body Here I Come- 5 Great Reasons Not to Jump Into the Fad Diet or Crazed Workout Routine
by Lynn VanDyke
Summer is fast approaching. This is the time of year where everyone who fell off the New Year's weight loss bandwagon suddenly becomes frozen with fear. They realize that they have not met their goals to have a bikini body by this summer. Panic sets in and unfortunately so do bad decisions.Warmer weather and beach vacation plans are a sign of fad diets, intense workouts, and miracle fat loss pills. People looking to slim down by summer need results and they need them fast! I am here to give you 5 great reasons not to jump into the fad diet or crazed workout routine.
1) You Will Destroy Your Metabolism. Any diet that restricts your caloric intake, eliminates a food group or contains the word "cabbage" will not work. Not eating 5-6 small healthy meals per day will hurt your metabolism. It will slow down and become sluggish. The only way to rev it back up is to eat more healthy foods in the right amounts.
2) You Will Gain Back the Weight- Plus Some. It's happened before. As soon as you stop taking the miracle pill or as soon as you stop doing cardio for an hour every day the weight comes piling back on- plus some. You must make a lifestyle change to keep unwanted fat away for good.
3) You Will Be Quite Moody. Not eating or restricting your calories will leave you moody and sleepy. Sure you may have lost 3 pounds, but no one wants to be around you. Losing fat the healthy way will leave you feeling refreshed, energized and absolutely glowing with charm.
4) You Will Be Heading In the Wrong Direction. Not only is excessive exercise bad for you, but it also takes time away from reaching your goals. 3 weeks of over-exercising is 3 weeks not working out responsibly. It moves you further away from your goal of a bikini body.
5) You'll Be Known as a Yo-Yo Queen. You know what I am talking about. People will know that you are taking the easy way out. They will also know that in 3 weeks you will not be working out anymore. They may even place bets on how much fat you gain after you realize restricting calories and over-exercising is not a long-lasting or permanent solution to fat loss. Prove them wrong!Deep down we all know that the only way to permanently lose fat is to adopt a healthy and fit lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle means eating enough healthy food throughout the day. It involves carbs, proteins and healthy fats. A healthy lifestyle also means a responsible and safe workout program. A great program will include strength training, cardio and regular rest days.It is possible to melt the fat and have a bikini body by summer. There is no secret workout plan, there is no miraculous pill, and there is no new diet that will give you long lasting happiness. If you are serious about fat loss then do it right this time around. Get a great plan and get moving. Summer is coming!
Lynn VanDyke is the head trainer at http://www.strength-training-woman.com . Her wildly popular ebook, Melt the Fat, comes complete with over 100 exercises, 160 daily menus, 63 ways to stick with it, 100 strength training routines, 800 healthy meal suggestions and loads more. Learn more by visiting: http://www.Melt-the-Fat.com
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