================================= If You're Gonna Do Coffee... consider "The Eleven Keys to Coffee Potential Maximisation" by Chris Pringer, July '02, Updated Oct 23 2006 with Important New Findings (Surprizingly Good) Here's what I've found to work for all the best reasons. I come from an educated natural health perspective - combined with a reality-based approach based on optimal maximisation of both short term (high energy) and long-term (sustained health) effects. There are three or four reasons for which people should think twice about drinking coffee, but which, for the most part, can be compensated for with a little extra effort. I tend to do what will maximize the caffeine potential of the coffee to get the best effects, as well as insure that the "peak" falls off so gradually that I don't even notice it, and that by bed time I will sleep like a log -- all the while feeling confident about my long-term health. WARNING: The disadvantage of this approach is that for some people the fast and strong high achieved may be just to sudden and/or cause jitteriness. There are other keys here however, that may help any kind of coffee drinker adjust his/her habits to gain better health, even if one only drinks it on special occasions. Other potential long-term dangers, can be prevented and/or compensated for by *most* people. These and related are named in the last of the eleven keys below - and the accompanying article "Coffee Talk - Will Joe Be the Next Big Name in Health Food?" by Susanna Baird, Sept '06. First I'll just list the 11 Key items and factors that I believe work best or are best to be considered. And then I'll talk about why I chose these. Also important here are the related factors and how you can adjust them to meet your own situation and needs. Many of these are very related, but I wanted each them to stand out in the list below. The Eleven Keys to Coffee Potential Maximisation: * FRENCH PRESS Coffee Maker (or equivalent) This is best by far * OPTIMAL USE - considerations for French Press or other means Can make a difference * ORGANICALLY grown Coffee Beans Can make ALL the difference * STORAGE & grinding of Beans Keep Frozen & moisture proof, grind just prior to use * TIMING of coffee intake related to other Food & Nutrient intake Alone, with no food or supplements, especially sugar or milk * SUPPLEMENTS for balance of mind and body Ginseng (or Don Quai) & B-Complex for Adrenal Support. Pantothenic Acid especially for Adrenals, but B's in general for neurotransmitter support. * CALCIUM & CAFFEINE Factors in general Keep these intakes separate if you want the best of each * DAIRY products Just don't, especially with coffee * Best foods for COMBINING with (last doses of) caffeine Almonds & dried fruit, but not dried fruit alone * FLAVORINGS Only takes a few grounds to add that sparkle * POTENTIAL DANGERS (All of which, save the first, can be prevented and/or compensated for by *most* people): 1st, it forms a physiological HABIT for which the payment comes in headaches when withdrawing from long-term use of caffiene. 2nd, ACIDITY (affected measurably by most factors listed here) is probably THE main insult to body health, short and long term, for most people. 3rd, caffiene contributes to HYPERTENSION, but it not the cause of it. 4th, caffiene taxes or overworks the ADRENAL glands. Blood sugar levels (and related diseases) effect or are effected by the previous two. 5th, UN-FILTERED coffee, such as European boiled or French Press can contribute to the "Cholesterol-Raising Factor," as related to the Homeocysteine factor - Unless it is FILTERED afterwards. (It doesn't take much trouble to do this, and doesn't harm the flavor in my opinion. **§**References below. On any given day, you may not be able to maximize each key's contribution. And in case of conflict between short-term and long-term considerations, I favor the latter, believing overall balance to be the bottom line in all things. The FRENCH PRESS Coffee Maker Coffee Maker is best by far, due to it's relatively quick and convenient ability to extract the most caffeine and flavor with the least acid formation. While expresso machine may be quicker (depending on who cleans it and how), it uses extreme heat which adds some to acid formation. A little known method, and probably the absolutely most healthy one, is cold water extraction. But it does take time and can be inconvenient for those on the go. Again, I suggest FILTERING it afterwards. I just use (and re-use a few times or more) unbleached paper filters - until I find one of those "gold" (metal) filters to save money in the long run. It doesn't take much trouble to do this, very little additional clean-up, and doesn't harm the flavor in my opinion. References below. Considerations for OPTIMAL USE: Heat the water to almost boiling, and let the water extract the coffee for (don't plunge the filter down until after) 5-10 minutes. These two may vary, depending on your desire/need for strength, how hot you like your coffee, and how much coffee you drink. Keep the coffee covered during extraction, and if you take a while to drink your coffee but like it hot, put it in a thermos or carafe, but do NOT keep heat applied to it. The source of the water can make a difference -- if you've always drank filtered water, you know that straight Seattle water, if not iced or flavored, smells like very much like garbage. ORGANICALLY grown Coffee Beans are not only less acidic, but do not put further strain on the liver, kidney, lymphatic, and other systems involved in eliminating or tolerating the pesticides, herbicides, etc -- especially when this is the first and/or only liquid for the first hour or two of the day. TIMING of coffee intake related to other Food & Nutrient intake can make all the difference for strength of caffeine effect. When drank with food, there is both a moderating of the speed of effect but also weakens the overall effect somewhat. Food taken with coffee tends to retain acidity in the stomach, simply because food takes time to digest. There is also more chance of the caffeine being "locked up" when around other food content, particularly calcium. Milk contains calcium of course (more on this in the next paragragh). All the notorious effects of sugar are amplified in the presence of the super fuel injector, caffeine. This translates to mood peaks and valleys, much greater danger of hypoglycemia or worse in the not so distant long run, as well as greatly increased stomach and overall acidity in both short and long run. Most supplements do better when taken along with food, both to soften the stomach reaction to them and to moderate the body's assimilation and use of them over time. CALCIUM & CAFFEINE love each other. This is a big part of why caffeine works as it does in the nervous system and musculature. Caffeine hooks up with Calcium and prevents it from moderating or ratcheting back the speed of chemical reactions. However, before they are actually assimilated into the cells, they must be digested and assimilated in the gut. Any molecules of caffeine and calcium that hook up there will not be usable by the rest of the body. Soy milk contains a wonderful amount of calcium and is less acidic than DAIRY milk (not to mention many more nutrients than dairy milk), but will still detract from the effect of the caffeine if taken within an hour or so of drinking it. For good sleep and strong bones and all the other important effects of calcium, Calcium supplements would be best to be taken when you either want to get ready for sleep (say, an hour or two before), or when you want to deter the effects of caffeine. SUPPLEMENTS that will provide a balance - for the hard effects that caffeine may have on the adrenal and other glands of the body, especially in the long run, include Ginseng (or Don Quai for women) and B-Complex vitamins. This just goes along with the principle of "What is taken, must be given back". I take my Ginseng in the morning with lemon water. The lemon water is for quickening the supplements' process as well as for tonifying the liver first thing in the morning (5-10 minutes before drinking my coffee). There may be other supplements that will support your particular needs related to the effects of caffeine -- I suggest consulting a naturopath, a trained naturopathic nutritionist, or a qualified herbalist as appropriate to help you decide about this, especially if you take medications or have other special health circumstances. Ginseng (Panax or Konjac-Mannan), among other things, is considered an effective blood glucose modulator (ref: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/suppl_5/370S) while improving cognitive performance (ref: http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/4/357). STORAGE & GRINDING: For Freshness (and strength of effect): Keep beans (and especially ground coffee) in the freezer compartment in a moisture proof bag or container, if possible, grind the beans just prior to use. COMBINING: If you're going to eat something during or near to time of your coffee drinking, the best foods for COMBINING with caffeine are unsalted almonds. Why? They are the least acidic nut by far -- in fact, they are the only nut to digest alkaline. They are nutritious -- even the fat is of the best kind. Nuts, especially almonds, digest well with, and moderate finely the sugar effects of, dried fruit. I can go all day on a few handfuls of almonds and raisins, often beginning them just after or during the last cup of coffee. They're great for quick and easy but sustained energy levels - whether at my home/office, on the road, or at work somewhere else. FLAVORINGS -- I actually grind just a few flavored beans in with the others -- It only takes a few grounds to add a little variety and make the taste bud sparkle. ACIDITY, as the above notes may indicate, is affected measurably by most factors listed here. It not only doesn't feel good, but effects the efficiency and long-term health of many of the body's systems and organs. In fact, of all the complaints issued about coffee, it is THE only lasting one the medical community can talk much about, other than how coffee can assist sugar and hypertension in their effects on the blood, heart, and mood swings. And the overall health of hard core coffee drinkers is why I've written this, not to recommend coffee per say. Whether for you coffee's drug effect is self-prescribed, or doctor prescribed in lieu of other serotonin enhancers, it is a drug and a habit, however benign. But I write this to help prevent coffee drinkers from helping to create or contributing to their existing or future health problems. On 6/20/02 (on NPR) I heard confirmation of what we all suspected (as she also said) -- Seattlites drink more coffee to compensate for the lack of sunlight here, both of which effects our serotonin levels, and thus our mood management. This and other recent coffee related talk shows have convinced me it's more than about time that I write this article. Lastly, some say that the energy one projects into the coffee - during or after its making - can also effect its acidity (But the same goes for most any other food, but especially liquids, by the way). If you'd like references for that possibly bold statement, you may email me at Chaliser@chalicebridge.com and I'll provide them. Also, below my sig and urls, I've provided references and a great article by Susanna Baird. Christopher Pringer Long-Time Student (Preventative Health Maintenance & Body-Mind Awareness, Psychology & Consciousness) Reiki Master, Ordained Minister Seattle, WA 206-286-0899 / Chaliser@chalicebridge.com * Professional Home Page: http://www.chalicebridge.com * Information: http://www.chalicebridge.com/Sci-HealthFul-Lvg.html * Information: http://www.chalicebridge.com/TransitionDiet.html (there is nothing for sale on any of these pages, by the way) ========== REFERENCES found re UN-FILTERED coffee 10'06, -cp =============== *=<§>=* The Cholesterol-Raising Factor From Coffee Beans http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.nutr.17.1.305?cookieSet=1&journalCode=nutr: "Some coffee brewing techniques raise the serum concentration of total and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol in humans, whereas others do not. The responsible factors are the diterpene lipids cafestol and kahweol, which make up about 1% (wt:wt) of coffee beans. Diterpenes are extracted by hot water but are retained by a paper filter. This explains why filtered coffee does not affect cholesterol, whereas Scandinavian 'boiled,' cafetiere, and Turkish coffees do. We describe the identification of the cholesterol-raising factors, their effects on blood levels of lipids and liver function enzymes, and their impact on public health, based on papers published up to December 1996." -- Abstract, Annual Review of Nutrition, Vol. 17: 305-324 (Volume publication date July 1997), R. Urgert and and ­ M. B. Katan ­ Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen Agricultural University, Bomenweg 2, Wageningen, 6703 HD, The Netherlands *=<§>=* Unfiltered Coffee Increases Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/71/2/480: "...Conclusions: Unfiltered coffee increases plasma homocysteine concentrations in volunteers with normal initial concentrations. It is unclear whether the effect is caused by the cholesterol-raising diterpenes present exclusively in unfiltered coffee or by factors that are also present in filtered coffee." -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 71, No. 2, 480-484 © 2000 American Society for Clinical Nutrition; Marina J Grubben, Godfried H Boers, Henk J Blom, Roelinka Broekhuizen, Romy de Jong, Leonie van Rijt, Eke de Ruijter, Dorien W Swinkels, Fokko M Nagengast and Martijn B Katan; From the Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Nijmegen, Netherlands, and the Department of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Agricultural University Wageningen, Netherlands. *=<§>=* Google Search (French-press and cholesterol): http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=French-press%20and%20cholesterol&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Search ============================================= "Coffee Talk - Will Joe Be the Next Big Name in Health Food?" by Susanna Baird in Taste For Life / buyorganic! Sept '06 [BIG THANK YOU's to this prolific writer, and recommendations to this very informative magazine by people who seem to care for people. -cp] Those of us who drink a few of the 1.1 billion cups of coffee consumed each day describe our habit as a guilty pleasure. This aromatic beverage is often lumped with alcohol and cigarettes in the bad-for-you-but-legal category, and it's been blamed for ills ranging from fibrocystic breasts to cancer. But the roughly 19,000 coffee studies conducted in the past few decades suggest that coffee conveys numerous benefits upon those who partake. ===The Beneficial Bean Coffee contains several micronutrients including potassium, niacin, and magnesium, as well as antioxidants—super substances that protect the body from the damaging effects of oxidation. In tests performed at the University of Scranton, coffee contained more antioxidants than the mighty blueberry and beneficial broccoli. Herein lies a major source of coffee's healthful wallop. Antioxidants are associated with a slew of health benefits, including reduced risk of both heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants may play a role in coffee's ability to increase insulin sensitivity and protect against Type 2 diabetes and related conditions. A long-term Harvard study found the more coffee you drink the better, when it comes to diabetes. A few cups a day slightly reduced the risk of Type 2 diabetes, but drinking at least six cups conveyed a 30 percent risk reduction for women and 54 percent for men. Both decaf and regular seem to offer these benefits. Caffeine, often cited as the "big bad" in coffee, actually bestows health benefits as well: Consumption helps treat asthma, may slow long-term weight gain, probably fights depression, and soothes headaches. (Over-the-counter pain relievers contain a hefty dose of caffeine, equivalent to a large cup of coffee.) British research suggests that caffeine in coffee even enhances nerve cell activity in the brain, potentially helping to protect against memory loss. Other recent coffee studies support its role in preventing additional diseasesand conditions. Several studies imply that caffeine in coffee and other beverages significantly reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease. In one Hawaiian study of 8,000 Japanese-American men, coffee drinkers were roughly 50 percent less likely to develop the disease. Evidence also indicates that coffee protects against cirrhosis as well as cancers of the liver and colon. Drinking at least two cups a day can cut your risk of gallstones by 50 percent. Coffee even assists basic hydration; in 2004, the Institute of Medicine determined that it hydrates thirsty bodies as well as water. ===A Bad Rap Despite all the positive research, coffee's reputation bears the stain of years of negative publicity, some of it warranted, some of it disproved. Coffee consumers are more likely to drink alcohol and smoke; some researchers suspect that these two habits, and not the coffee, may be responsible for increased health problems in test subjects. Coffee and tea were linked to osteoporosis in earlier studies; a Swedish study published this year concludes that coffee does increase the risk of fracture — but only in women who drink at least four cups a day and who are not getting enough calcium. As for women worried about breast cancer or fibrocystic breasts, the link between these conditions and coffee is slim, as is the supposed connection between coffee and pancreatic cancer. Those who imbibe too much "joe" may have experienced the caffeine jitters. Coffee can act as a stimulant, temporarily raising blood pressure (especially in the infrequent caffeine drinker) and sometimes leading to restlessness, anxiety, nervousness, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia. Large quantities of coffee can factor into the risk of high blood pressure and blood clots in the brain, as well as clogged arteries. A number of studies, however, indicate that coffee isn't as bad for the heart as often assumed. In fact, one small study of heart failure patients revealed that these patients could exercise longer and more vigorously after ingesting caffeine, while other research suggests that coffee reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. One chemical in coffee, cafestol, can raise cholesterol, but this is found primarily in European brewed (boiling ground beans) or French-press brewed coffee. American percolating and filtering methods don't have the same effect, as long as the coffee is "regular" instead of "decaf." ===Buy Organic Organic coffee sales are on the rise, hitting $89 million in the United States last year. While some researchers suspect that pesticides used in conventional coffee production may be to blame for some of the drink's negative health effects, little evidence exists at present that organic coffee conveys greater individual health advantages than nonorganic varieties. However, the benefits to coffee growers and to the environment are myriad. And, says the Organic Trade Association's Holly Givens, "if the environment is in a better state, it's better for public health." By growing organic, coffee farmers: • avoid pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and genetically modified materials • create habitat for wildlife • provide seasonal employment in rural areas. For a truly guilt-free brew, buy organic. ========== Side Bars And Resources from "Coffee Talk" =============== What about Unleaded? While many conventional coffees are decaffeinated using methylene chloride, producers of decaffeinated organic coffee must follow organic guidelines. The most typical means of organically decaffeinating coffee is the Swiss process, which uses only water. When to Say "NO Joe!" Although the evidence doesn't strongly support the notion that coffee and heart disease are linked, In at least one study coffee had a slightly adverse effect on those with a family history of this disease. Those worried about high blood pressure, clogged arteries, or blood clots in the brain should limit consumption. Gout and reflux sufferers also might benefit from reduced intake. Evidence doesn't support the popular notion that caffeine can harm a growing fetus, but neither is the research strong enough to confirm safety. If you're pregnant, skip or limit caffeine intake. Some people experience discomfort — upset stomach, heartburn — after drinking coffee and should cut back. Coffee sold in the United States bears many labels. A few worth choosing include: * Friendly: Producers meet standards of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. All Bird-Friendly coffee is organic. * Fair Trade: Farmers producing this coffee earn a living wage, regardless of market performance. * Not all Fair-Trade coffee is organic. * Organic: This coffee is grown by farmers committed to keeping soil healthy, on land farmed without toxic and persistent pesticides, with a buffer between organic coffee and nonorganic crops. * Shade grown: Coffee bushes are grown under shade trees, a natural and environmentally friendly method SELECTED SOURCES "Caffeine Could Protect against Memory Loss," Food Navigator, 7/12/06 • "Changes in Caffeine Intake and Long-term Weight Change in Men and Women" by Esther Lopez-Garcia, DrPH, et al., 3/06; "Consumption of Coffee Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Death Attributed to Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Diseases..." by L. F Andersen, MD, et al., 5/06. Am 1 Clin Nutr • "Coffee and the Environment"; "Facts about Coffee," www.ota.com • "Coffee Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus..." by M. A. Pereira, PhD, et al., Arch Intern Med, 6/26/06 • "Coffee: The New Health Food?" by Sid Kirchheimer, WebMD, 3/4/05 • Personal communication: Holly Givens, Public Affairs Advisor, Organic Trade Association, 6/06 Christopher Pringer Long-Time Student (Preventative Health Maintenance & Body-Mind Awareness, Psychology & Consciousness) Reiki Master, Ordained Minister Seattle, WA 206-286-0899 / chaliser@iinet.com * Professional Home Page: http://www.chalicebridge.com * Information: http://www.chalicebridge.com/Sci-HealthFul-Lvg.html * Information: http://www.chalicebridge.com/TransitionDiet.html (there is nothing for sale on any of these pages, by the way) <========= Open Window This Wide For Best Results Reading the Below ==========> _____________________________________________________________________ ¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ AUTHOR INFORMATION, COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS/POLICY & DISCLAIMER [4'08] Chris Pringer, Reiki Master Chalice Productions * Specialist in Energy-Body-Work (Integrative Art & Writing) * Personal Coach in Mind-Body By Appt Only: 206-286-0899 Preventative Health Awareness Seattle, WA 98119 * Ordained Minister Chaliser@iinet.com Chalice Bridging Ministries: Body-Mind-Soul Integration for a Healthy Planet =========== ///\\\ ============= Essays, Art, Professional Info, Links, FTP via: Body-Mind-Chalice Integration Website: http://www.chalicebridge.com: Essays, Poetry, and Art for Bridging the Mind-Body Connection, "Body-Parenting", Psycho-Spiritual Self-Healing, Consciousness, Theology, Practical Emotional Intelligence, and Psycho-Social Trends & Ideas for Evolving. http://www.chalicebridge.com/Chalice-Integration-Index.html: (Chalice Art, Mandalas, Sacred Geometry, & Related Philosophy: via http://www.chalicebridge.com/4C-Publishing.html: Chalice Creations & Concept Charting - Desktop Publishing for Vibrant Greeting Cards, Logos, Display Ads, Promotional Presentations, Charts & Web Books, Mandala & Prayer Cards __________________________________________ COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS/POLICY & DISCLAIMER: REPRODUCTION: I welcome my writing/artwork being reproduced, provided that it is in it's original and complete form (or an editing or excerpt by agreement with the author), and contact info are intact and readable ("Chris Pringer, chaliser@iinet.com, www.chalicebridge.com"), and so long as the following conditions are applied: a) Hardcopy reproduction is ok so long as it is for personal or non-profit organizational use only; b) Distribution and posting on web pages, blogs, and forums with my permission (mostly because I want to know where it's been put, and I'd be most honored to be asked). c) Any distribution of my writings or artwork must be w/o charge unless with prior agreement in writing with the author. d) The only exception to that regards the World Healing Prayers (at http://www.chalicebridge.com/WorldHlgPrayrOnSacredGeo.htm), which I encourage people to make all the copies they think will be used effectively - without obligation to get my permission or even contact me. DISCLAIMER: None of my writing, chalice art, or PolyPsyArt is intended to be, to replace, or discourage the appropriate use of, medical attention and/or treatment, but as educationally informative for the purpose of overall health enhancement and preventative maintenance. So far as I know, I have not quoted any other person without saying so. I have emulated a number of writers and teachers, so I wouldn't be surprised if many of my statements have very similar words and meanings as they. In any case, I have always tried to say what I believed. If you find that I have plagiarized anyone to any degree, please let me know -- by noting the complete published reference, and including the full quote and a few sentences of text before and after). This given, I will duly correct the writing. AUTHORSHIP: Unless otherwise noted under the titles, all essays, artwork, prayers, pages at my web site (as at my previous site at AOL), and with exception of some of the solid color and cloudy-sky color backgrounds and logo/headers for others' sites as noted) has been composed, rendered, and/or web-authored © by myself, Christopher Pringer, practitioner in Body-Mind Integration since 1984, and ordained minister (Chalice-Bridging Ministries) since 1987. Most of the personal health-oriented essays at this site were written in the early 90's, and tend to use a more generalized in approach than I would when working with an individual. ________________ Professional Bio I began my studies in multi-level self-healing when in the service, in Thailand in the Winter of '73. The focus then was on self-help psychology, consciousness, and eastern and western mystical perspectives. This continued through my university studies in Norman, OK '74-'79. 1980 took me into naturopathic studies, primarily nutrition and herbology when I lived in Oklahoma City. Not seeing the naturopathic doctor route as affordable at the time, I found direction via a five-evening massage course, Fall '83. That led to a six month professional practice, followed up with the training in Sante Fe, NM, '84-'85 (described in the next paragraph). Since then I have practiced massage and/or healing facilitation for others, initially in Santa Fe, NM (during/after my training), then San Louis Obispo, CA, and Seattle, WA. This includes exploring personal challenges and self-healing methodology. A session may include various energy work modalities, Body/Energy-Awareness based Preventative Health Maintenance Instruction, or only Reiki or relaxation work in total silence. A client chooses based on whatever stress, pain, or concerns are present at that session. A client may request a "Body Pattern Reading," as well as various massage/bodywork therapies, all of which techniques are listed & described in my brochure. Individual, program, and 3-6 week interval-based rates are available. My interests have primarily centered in three areas: 1) Body-Centered Psycho-Spiritual Process (as in "Hakomi" style of) counseling and bodywork, including as assessing an individual for the most efficient means of addressing connective tissue injury, short and long term, and the most efficient application of the results of that assessment (on physical and/or emotional levels); 2) in The Basic How's And Why's Of Psycho-Emotional Storage In The Body-Mind, and in the related fascia memory storage dynamics - referring to the technical aspects of neuro-physical interface between connective tissue, emotion, and the brain); 3) "Chalice-Bridging" style chakra balancing - based in the perspective that the chalice, far more than just a cup in this interpretation, is about the human embodiment of Spirit into the three "lower bodies" (mental, emotional, and physical) which compose the "Body-Mind". Which is also a "cauldron" for the balancing and integrating of Humanity with the Divine - individually and communally. My training includes over 1370 hours of classes and practicum, including with the New Mexico Academy of Massage and Advanced Healing Arts in Santa Fe, NM (1984-85), and with various accredited bodywork and therapy workshops (`86-present), as well as 100 hours training with the Alchemical Hypnotherapy Institute (1989), over 100+ hrs apprenticeship with healing practitioner Robert "Mitra" (`85-`86), and 150 hours apprenticeship with Silena Heron in Herbal Studies (`83-`84). For the detailed version my training, you may go to the latter half of my Reiki Therapy Practice Brochure. Which also includes (and relates context for) links to essays elaborating on aspects of imbalance and injury, assessment, and healing. ________________________________ Some Body-Mind Quotes From Chris BODY-MIND AWARENESS, at the core of preventive health awareness, is one of the most simple, efficacious, & cost-effective forms of HEALTH INSURANCE there can be. Hence, massage is far from just "a luxury item," and bodywork therapies can be indispensable for the healing of certain conditions. MUSCLES RELATE TO ATTACHMENTS - to what we use to take our stance, to hold our place, to perceive and respond to our environment, and to extend who we are and/or want to be. Or used to be (in too many cases, perhaps). That speaks not only to the body's condition and function, but to how it communicates awareness of where one is along one's path (of becoming who one truly is). THE BODY IS . . . among other amazing things, a unique communications system --intimately linked with one's TOTALITY. Establishing rapport with one's body can be a PATH to self realization. ONE OF MY DREAMS is a society where/in all children are taught how to feel/see/read their own body-mind communications such that preventive health maintenance eventually becomes second nature. And actually, for the most part, they would be encouraged to re-awaken and build upon what I believe to be a NATURAL INCLINATION - conscious self-healing and continuous expansion of awareness.