If the image above is a little blurry, here's the original 




Bad, huh?
Yes, in general, stress is bad.  A little is ok, but most of us have waaaay more than a little stress in our lives.

So how does HeartMath work? What is it doing?

It's harnessing your innate heart-brain connection, and using that internal power for good (relaxation and restoration) instead of evil (panic attacks and out of control emotions). 

Trippy, huh?

It is optimizing the communication between your nervous, cognitive hormone and immune systems to balance out any mis-signaling.  

Through this process you will learn to identify and remove all internal signals that, perhaps subconsciously, are working against you instead of for you. 

The end result? 

Common effects are increased happiness, more positive outlook on life, little or no stress reaction from what was before stress-inducing issues (work, relationships, finances), a full release from prior feelings of overwhelm and burnout and the ability to finally overcome a physical or hormonal issue (like those listed in the graphic above) just to name a few.

This technique is simple, powerful, and transformative.  Everyone should give it a try.

How does this whole process work? 
You can learn from the decades of research and look up conditions and information important to you on the HeartMath website.  They offer biofeedback devices to anyone, though working with a healthcare professional such as myself ensures proper monitoring, assistance and its optimal placement within a comprehensive wellness approach.

I use HeartMath biofeedback during office visits and program check-ins for those who could benefit from its use as well as offer shorter stand-alone sessions. 

To best learn and implement the biofeedback techniques in your everyday life above and beyond the few times I guide you through the process. 

Most patients benefit from an initial round of 4-6 sessions which will be part of an all-inclusive integrative plan where all your healthcare issues are addressed and attended to.

My current weight loss and stress reduction program, 'slim down & happy up,' includes HeartMath sessions during as many of the bi-monthly check-ins as you'd like.

That means up to 6 HeartMath sessions are automatically included in the program, no extra cost at all!

The next 'slim down & happy up' program will run 3 months, starting September 9th.

Registration begins on our next session Monday, August 19th, check out the full details here.

To your good health,  

I love HeartMath.

It's the only computer program that I can think of that I'd call a life saver.  Others are useful, helpful or necessary for business operations.  But not live savers.

HeartMath is.  It's for real. Myself and all my formerly-stressed-out patients who have experienced the biofeedback training using the HeartMath system can attest to this.

At first, there was the emWave as a desktop or handheld version.  I use the desktop version with myself and my patients (I do practice what I preach!).  I usually have one or two handheld devices on hand for those patients who are most eager and committed to relieving their stress that they enthusiastically continue biofeedback training in their own time away from my office.

Then a month ago I learned about the Inner Balance Sensor: the next generation version for the iPhone, iPad and iTouch.  Check out the video all about it, and get brushed up on this innovative technology in under 3 minutes.

It turns iPhones into biofeedback devices.  That is seriously cool.  Anyone can now access and use this technology in their daily lives.  I've long been looking for a way to bring my in-office biofeedback sessions on the road.  It's difficult to explain in words a concept that's instantly understood by just watching and experiencing biofeedback in action.  Now when I'm out and about at meetings, presentations and other public events, I'll be able to fire up my iPad and have a scaled-down version ready to demonstrate on demand.

I recently saw that Dave Asprey, the Bulletproof guy, recently endorsed the Inner Balance Sensor as well as provided a very comprehensive overview of how it works.  He's known for dismantling the entire way that we eat, and reconstructing his Bulletproof diet based entirely on research findings for optimal human performance and activity.  Check out his diet guidelines, they're pretty spot-on. 

As Dave Asprey's writings can be trusted to be firmly rooted in the scientific research, his articles are well worth a read: How to Biohack Your Courage, How HeartMath Training Helps You Live Longer, and Six Ways To Hack Your Nervous System. His theme is "biohacking" your body's physiology through the use of science, if you can't tell.

Well, that's my exciting news today, though there's much more in the works.  But that will be exciting news for another day.

To your good health,

More on this topic:Just who do I think I am, anyways?
Stress in the news
Gain (health) without the pain
Stress: what is it good for?

     Do you deal with stress, anxiety and tension in your body day in and day out?  Many do.  Some are able to not let stressful events, people and situation get to them, but most of us end up feeling emotionally drained at the end of a work day.

     Several years ago I was introduced to HeartMath, a type of biofeedback which teaches users to reconnect with their body and emotions through use of heart rate patterns.  The effects are usually immediate and profound.  Simple techniques are learned and practiced for as little as a minute or two a day.  Doing this allows for reintegration of the underlying physiology of the cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous system.  It balances you from the ground up.  And living from a place of balance is what we could all use a little more of.

   Some of the many health and emotional issues which can be addressed at their foundation by HeartMath: hypertension, stress/anxiety, depression, pain management, anger and emotional volatility, fatigue or feeling burned out, assistance in optimal weight management, better immune system response, and moving beyond a sense of overwhelm and inability to time manage.

     Look for our announcements later the month as we will soon begin offering HeartMath training sessions, either as part of an office visit with Dr. Angela, or as a stand alone appointment.  A short series of training is recommended, with daily practice done between weekly appointments.  We are excited to be offering this simple, easy tool which addresses some of the most hidden and hard to treat illnesses.
     
     After seeing the profound effects using HeartMath on patients and myself, I can't wait to being HeartMath sessions here at Rose City Health Clinic.  

To your good health,

Research looking at Tai chi versus heart failure-related education in recently published  in the Archives of Internal Medicine (LA Times summary article here).  When looking at lowering depression, increasing vigor, mood, quality of life and daily activities, who came out ahead?

Tai chi, on all counts!

This form of movement is part exercise, part meditation and part stress reducer.  While practicing tai chi, one is moving, balancing and culminating the energy within and beyond the practitioner.

The control group for the tai chi research, education on heart failure, actually caused increased levels of depression and decreased levels of vigor by the participants.

So if you're looking to add a movement/meditative practice to your schedule, consider looking into local tai chi classes.  If you're looking to maximize the tai chi ambiance, Portland's downtown chinese garden (recently renamed Lan Su) has weekly group tai chi practice, free with admission (information here).

Get that chi flowing, your body will thank you!

Comments? Questions? I'd love to hear it!
-Angela