drerindenil

New Blog in Progress

DrErinDenil — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:28:37 +0000

I am working on a new website and blog. The information from this blog will be transferred over. I am getting the kinks out of my new website. There may be a temporary lull in content coming in, but know that there will be more on my new website very soon. Thank you for your patience.

Infant Cross-Crawl Exercises

DrErinDenil — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:37:06 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Crawling is a very important milestone for babies. As a parent, we want the very best for our children. We also get excited about the stages of development that occur in our children’s lives. Here are some helpful tips in making sure that your child will get the very best from their crawling experience.

According to http://www.craniosacral-therapy-healing.com/baby-crawling.html:

“How can I Help my Baby to Crawl Correctly?
There are a number of things that you can do to help Baby crawl correctly. These include:

Allow your baby to lie on their tummy on the floor as often as possible. Try not to carry baby in your arms all the time as they need time on the floor to develop crawling skills.

At around 6 months babies will reach the developmental milestone where they will be happy to sit unsupported. You can now place toys a little out of their reach to encourage your baby to move onto arms and reach out.

Soon baby will be moving to an “all fours position”. If they find it difficult to hold this position, put a support (rolled up towel) underneath baby’s upper body and allow their arms to hang over the front. This helps strengthen their arms and allows baby to look around.

Now baby’s body is parallel to the floor and arms and legs are straight. He can now rock back and forth. Get down on the floor directly in front of your baby. Babies learn and develop by doing and experiencing, so let him see your face as you talk and encourage him to move forward.

Baby will become mobile when he uses his knees to push himself forward. Some babies get stuck here as they slide on wooden floors! Try giving your baby some crawling time on a carpet floor.” [...]

To facilitate more cross-crawl patterns, according to happinesspages.com learn more about How to Cross-Crawl Your Baby:

“Choose a suitable time when you and your baby are both calm and relaxed. Ensure you are both comfortable too. Taking hold your baby’s hand and the opposite foot (e.g. left hand and right foot) gently bring them together and return to their original position.” [...]

Tummy Time and Infant Development (webmd.com)

Cross-Crawl Exercises

DrErinDenil — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:22:45 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

If you have not heard of cross-crawl exercises, then you are really missing out. You are missing out at the gym, for improved coördination and balance. You are missing out on creativity, from facilitating the use of both hemispheres in the brain evenly. While at the gym, you can add some exercises that stimulate your brain as well as your physical appearance.

What is cross-crawl? According to naturalhealthtechniques.com:

“The Cross Crawl is simply a cross-lateral walking in place exercise. By touching the right elbow to the left knee and then the left elbow to the right knee, large areas of both brain hemispheres are activated at the same time. Cross Crawling, like walking and being totally present to the motion of walking, facilitates balanced nerve activation across the corpus callosum (that part in your brain that connects the right half to the left half.) When done on a regular basis, more nerve networks form and more connection are made in the corpus callosum, thus making communication between the two hemispheres faster and more integrated for high level reasoning. ” [...]

What are some of the benefits of doing cross crawl exercises? According to energybalancing.com, some reasons to start doing cross-crawl exercises are as follows:

“Cross-crawl dysfunction is associated with the following:

Learning disabilities

Lack of coordination

Inability or difficult to read

No concept of balance

Clumsiness

Stuttering

Seeing or saying words backwards

Dropping objects

Tripping a lot [...]

How can cross-crawl patterns be used for creativity, as well as some exercises that can be done that are less physical? According to happinesspages.com, an activity that is available that don’t involve whole body exercises include:

“How to do Lazy 8s

Time: 1 minute OK. so they look easy, but don’t be fooled. Not everyone can do them immediately, either by being shown or by verbal instructions.

Begin with a piece of paper at least A4 in LANDSCAPE in front of you

Begin in the centre of the paper, keeping your nose pointed towards the central point

Move the pen, pencil or your finger away from you in an upward direction

Move to the left – circle up and over, down and around, back up – to cross over at the mid point

Continue up and over to the right

Circle over, down and around and come back up through the mid point again on your way to circling to the left once more

Continue to draw ‘Lazy 8′s or Infinity sign’ in this way for 1 minute” [...]

Check out the link above for more information and other great exercises to do. Happinesspages.com also gives exercises to do with your baby to promote proper cross-crawl movements with your kids. Crawling is a very important activity that children do, and you can read more at the links above.

Tactile Localization (diaryofapsychmajor.wordpress.com)
What happens when your brain is split in two – and you survive? (io9.com)
Corpus Callosum : The Brain Bridge (trushin.wordpress.com)

Chakras

DrErinDenil — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:14:11 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

As I started studying complimentary and alternative medicine, I ran across the 7 chakras. When I first heard the word chakra, I had no idea what it meant.

The definition of a chakra according to the Encyclopedia Britannica online, eb.com,

“chakra, also spelled Cakra, Sanskrit C̣akra , (“wheel”), any of a number of psychic-energy centres of the body, prominent in the occult physiological practices of certain forms of Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism. The chakras are conceived of as focal points where psychic forces and bodily functions merge with and interact with each other. Among the supposed 88,000 chakras in the human body, six major ones located roughly along the spinal cord and another one located just above the crown of the skull are of principal importance. Each of these seven major chakras (in Buddhism, four) is … (100 of 171 words)” [...]

According to Wikipedia:

“Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices which, according to traditional Indian medicine, are believed to exist in the surface of the subtle body of living beings.^[2] The chakras are said to be “force centers” or whorls of energy permeating, from a point on the physical body, the layers of the subtle bodies in an ever-increasing fan-shaped formation. Rotating vortices of subtle matter, they are considered the focal points for the reception and transmission of energies.^[3] Different systems posit a varying number of chakras; the most well-known system in the West is that of seven chakras.” [...]

The common 7 chakras include: root/base, sacral/spleen, navel/ solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye/ brow, and crown. If you have never heard of a chakra, or are curious, follow the links below to learn more. I took the test to check on how balanced my chakras were and I think it was right.

To find information on the chakras and what they mean, visit:

http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/introduction.php

http://ecoki.com/chakra101/

http://www.chakraenergy.com/seven.html

To take a free online test on how balanced your chakras are, visit:

http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/chakratest.php

Prana (moonladyyoga.wordpress.com)
Taste the Rainbow (mk2love.wordpress.com)
What Are The Benefits to Balancing Your Chakras? (lightworkersgifts.wordpress.com)
Spiritual Science – Chakras (coreonnewenergyenglish.wordpress.com)
Yoga and Chakras – Anahatasana “The Heart Chakra” (kukhahnyoga.com)
Chakra energy system (windowsofmeditation.wordpress.com)

Japa Meditation

DrErinDenil — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:53:28 +0000

I just finished reading, The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer. This was a phenomenal read. I also listened to his audio book entitled Excuses Begone. A common thread throughout his work was his emphasis on meditation. He talked about Japa meditation.

According to http://www.freemeditations.com/japa-meditation.html

“Japa Meditation involves chanting of a mantra, which in most instances are composed of Sanskrit letters which are so arranged so as to evoke a certain response from within the individual. The vibrations of such mantras are extremely effective in creating a very significant change in attitudes and mind-set of individuals. It helps in focusing one’s energies so as to achieve a sense of calmness within oneself.”

The website later describes, “Usually the best ways in which one can practise Japa Meditation is by sitting cross-legged on a sheet or cloth on the ground, and chant the mantra by beading the rosary of 108 beads with concentration, perseverance, and dedication. “

After trying this form of meditation, I found it to be very relaxing and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to practicing with a rosary of beads.

With how busy people are today, it would only make sense that we have to learn to take some time for ourselves and be still. Our kids need to learn this as well. I did a little experiment with my 3-year-old daughter. She was bouncing off the walls, so I brought out a singing bowl. She enjoyed the sound and wanted to do it too. We all went from chaos to a much more relaxed state. I was very pleased.

First Birth, First Labor

DrErinDenil — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:31:40 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

There are so many emotions that go along with giving birth to a baby. Anxiety about the process is to be expected. We hear horror stories of the pain during labor, of c-sections etc. It seems like once you are pregnant, all the negative stories from others start. Giving birth for the first time was most nerve-racking to me because it seemed like there was no way to prepare for the unknown. As a doctor, I knew what to expect from the science part, but I had no idea what to expect from how labor would feel. I did a lot of research on the type of labor that I wanted. I attended a birthing class with my husband. For me, the education that he received from that class was tremendously helpful. The class we attended was taught by a woman who formerly taught Bradley Birthing Classes. Bradley Birthing Classes approach labor and birth very naturally. My husband gained appreciation for why I wanted to have a home birth and what the advantages to home birthing could be. I followed the 10 recommendations that I am giving as an excerpt below to the letter.

I knew that I wanted to have a natural home birth, would only hire a midwife that supported that decision, hired a doula that I was comfortable with, took a birthing class, read books, and made my birth plan etc.

With all my planning, the thing that I forgot to do on the first labor was listen to my body.

10 Steps to Natural Childbirth by Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE

Choose a supportive practitioner. No matter whether you use a doctor or midwife, be sure that your practitioner has a lot of experience in caring for women who want to have an unmedicated birth. Midwives usually specialize in this type ofbirth. How to choose your practitioner.

Select a place of birth that will help you. While home births and birth centers provide you with the best locations for a natural birth because they specialize in natural birth, you can have a natural birth in a hospital setting. Good planning, proper preparation and good support are essential, no matter where you give birth. Birth centers or home birth can be a great option for you.

Have a birth plan. A birth plan is a way for you to effectively communicate your preferences for your birth with your practitioner, the staff who is caring for you during labor and your birth team. How to write a birth plan.[...]

These 10 recommendations were really great. I am a huge advocate of making educated decisions about healthcare and finding out all the facts. What I would like to stress to moms to be is that during the moment when labor starts, do your best to go with what your body and your instincts are telling you. My first labor was a lot longer than it needed to be because I didn’t go with my body enough.

My second child turned out to be an unassisted, unattended birth and it was the best experience of my life. The second time, I listened to my body, I already knew how to deliver a baby, so when the midwife was on her way and my husband was snow-blowing the driveway for her to park, I had my son. I discovered that I don’t like a lot of people around my while I am giving birth. I allowed for too many friends to be present during the birth of my first child and I would have changed that.

Stages of Labor and Delivery (enfamil.com)
The Birth Interview Project | Beth’s Birth Center, Waterbirth (thejoyofthis.wordpress.com)

Body, Mind, and Spirit

DrErinDenil — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:44:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

We are fortunate to live during a time where the art of developing mind, body and spirit are being re-discovered. I see a shift in the mainstream awareness of how the world works. It is very fascinating to watch the world crave wisdom. We have been blessed with great inspirational, motivational, and spiritual teachers throughout the years, and with the internet, we are able to reach so much history at our fingertips. We have people that study psychology, energy, how the brain works, how cells work etc. I am very excited, and blessed to be among so many great teachers.

According to Silva Mind Body Healing:

“The Mind Body Connection implies that the mind can play a role in positively or negatively influencing a person’s body and health. Proponents believe that your body responses are not merely caused by bodily responses, as there is interplay between the mind and the body. Your thoughts and emotions can bring about physical manifestations. For example, a happy memory or emotion may somehow make you feel lighter or relaxed. On the other hand, a negative thought or upsetting situation may cause you to feel cold, clammy and may make your heart race or palms sweaty.” http://www.silvamindbodyhealing.com/articles/mind-body-healing/the-mind-body-connection/

Spiritual Growth: The Spiritual Challenge of Modern Times (socyberty.com)

Dream Board 2012

DrErinDenil — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:30:11 +0000

Every year, I try to createa new dream board. Sometimes, I create a new vision board every six months. I have been making boards for several years now. Everything that I read about dream boards talks about making sure that you are very specific with what you put on a dream board because if you put a black vehicle on the board when you really want a green one, you will most likely get the black one instead. I have made dream boards at a couple of different seminars that I have been to. The problem that I have with making a dream board from a magazine is that I never seem to like the choices that I have in front of me. I like to use google images to search for exactly what I am looking for. I have a lot of choices here. I allow for a half hour here, or an hour there to look for things that I like. I can print out my dream board on a regular size piece of paper so that I can have a copy at home or at work. I have really liked using my computer for a dream board instead of looking for images in magazines. So if you aren’t very crafty and want to make a dream board, I recommend using your computer to create what you are looking for.

Positive, fun activity for kids (drerindenil.wordpress.com)
Dream (greatitudes.wordpress.com)

Learning to Exercise

DrErinDenil — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:46:40 +0000

I have been a fan of working out since I became a tri-athlete in high school. I wasn’t always athletic, In fact, there was a time when I completely hated exercise. In elementary school, when forced to run the mile in school, I would have to stop due to cramps, not breathing well, etc every two to four hundred yards. My face would look like a lobster when I was done. I would play tag, bike ride, etc. but I never liked running. In junior high, I discovered basketball. I really liked basketball, and from there, physical fitness and health became important to me. I didn’t make the 7th grade team for basketball. I got cut in 8th grade when I tried out for volleyball, so I decided to change things. I was determined to make the basketball team in 8th grade, and play high school volleyball. I knew that I needed to do something drastic, so I joined the cross-country team. I couldn’t even run a half a mile when I started, and by the end of the season, I was running a mile and a half without stopping. For me this accomplishment was huge. I made the 8th grade basketball team and the freshman volleyball team the next year, I belive as a result of my willingness to improve.

What I discovered during this process was that I could meet my goals. My goal wasn’t to be the fastest runner, but it was to change my life so that I could do things that I truly enjoyed (playing basketball) and have better health. I went on to play high school volleyball, basketball, and compete in track & field. Although I was mediocre in volleyball and basketball, I discovered that I was very good at throwing shot-put and discus. I competed at state competition for throwing my senior year of high school.

In college, I continued weight training, and discovered yoga. I didn’t know what to think about yoga when I first tried it. It was incredibly challenging, but in a different way then I was used to. I had to learn to balance effort and relaxation. I had no idea what I was missing. Yoga would have helped me in high school so much had I tried it earlier.

Today, I do a combination of many activities. I like to have variety in my life, so I like to mix up what I do to work out. Occasionally I will find myself in a work-out slump. I had one this last week. I felt exhausted and didn’t want to do anything. I put fast paced music on and started moving. I felt so great afterward! Even today after being so regimented, I still need reminders that sometimes, I just need to push myself physically when I am in a slump and go back to being that junior high student that needed to join the cross-country team to move to the next level.

Keep in mind that having a strained tendon or sprained ligaments is not the time to just keep pushing forward. I was feeling overall tired, and working out gave me the energy that I was craving. Please consult your physician before beginning any workout regime.

Image via Wikipedia

I still don’t like plain running today, but I was able to learn a valuable lesson in junior high that carried with me. I have a lot of people tell me that they don’t like to exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to be running, or lifting weights. There are a lot of fun activities to do that get a person moving without feeling like exercise.

Activities May Include:

Running
Weight Training
Basketball
Volleyball
Track
Softball
Baseball
Soccer
Football
Dance
Hiking
Yard Work
Splitting Wood
Walking
Kettlebell Exercises
Wii Fit/ X-Box connect
Tennis
Hockey
Aerobics
Tae Bo
Yoga
Rollerblading
Ice skating
Plyometrics/ Jump Training
Figure Skating
Wrestling
Raking leaves
Shoveling Snow
Martial Arts
Pilates
Jumping Rope
Swimming
Water Aerobics
Gymnastics
Ballet/ Tap/ Jazz
Elliptical Machines

Speed Reading

DrErinDenil — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:12:35 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Speed reading tips by get-good-grades.com:

“I originally blogged about speed reading tips and since so many people request them, I decided to start listing them here.

Here’s an astounding fact – readers make more money – a lot more! Even in tough economic times. According to a number of recent studies, business people who read at least seven business books a year earn over 2.3 times more than those who read only one book per year. Why? One reason is they have a constant flow of new ideas and strategies they can use to help their careers, their teams and their companies. A study by Bersin & Associates found that while 74.9% of all managers understand the correlation between reading and competitive advantage, they simply don’t have the time to read more books. The problem … who has time to do all that reading? The solution… Learn to speed read! It’s easy and guaranteed!” [...]

This article describes some very helpful tips on speed reading, I recommend reading it.

drerindenil

New Blog in Progress

Infant Cross-Crawl Exercises

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Cross-Crawl Exercises

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Chakras

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Japa Meditation

First Birth, First Labor

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Body, Mind, and Spirit

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Dream Board 2012

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