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Archive for the ‘Integrative Medicine’ Category

Hormones play an uneven gender role in brain health; are linked to higher Alzheimer’s disease in women than men – The Reporter

Sunday, February 2nd, 2020

When graphic designer Traci Klatkas anxiety began ratcheting up this summer, she knew she had to act.

The Pottsville woman, 40, was increasingly stressed by work and financial demands, including upkeep of the home she owns, but she didnt want to resort to medication.

So she added monthly reiki a traditional Asian energy healing practice to a self-care routine that already included regular exercise and massage.

The world we live in, its just stressful, said Klatka, who drives from Pottsville to Spring Township for services at the Salt Lounge. For me, stress starts as something emotional, and then it becomes physical as well.

Just as massage can relieve tension in tight muscles, it and other forms of stress relief can drive down the presence of key hormones that keep the brain in a heightened state.

Controlling stress may be especially important for women, according to an emerging body of research.

A study published in the journal Neurology in late 2018 found that people with higher cortisol levels had worse memory and visual perception, and they also had less gray matter in areas of their brains that control vision, memory and judgment.

The results were worst among middle-aged women.

And ladies, the bad news doesnt end there.

Older women who reported having stressful life experiences during their middle years were more likely to have greater memory decline later in life, according to a National Institute of Aging study published by Johns Hopkins researchers last summer.

The researchers said their findings add to evidence that stress hormones play an uneven gender role in brain health and align with already documented higher rates of Alzheimer's disease in women than men.

While the Johns Hopkins study looked at those who suffered traumatic events, it also asked participants about life experiences such as a marriage, divorce, death of a loved one, job loss, severe injury or sickness, a child moving out, retirement or birth of a child.

Munro said that that long-term stress, such as that experienced during a divorce, may more negatively impact brain function than short-term, traumatic events.

With so many mid-lifers stressed by daily demands including one in seven people trapped in the sandwich generation who are caring for both a child and an aging parent that could all be taken as bad news.

But theres no need to add more to your list of things to worry about.

"We can't get rid of stressors, but we might adjust the way we respond to stress, and have a real effect on brain function as we age," said Dr. Cynthia Munro, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "And although our study did not show the same association for men, it sheds further light on the effects of stress response on the brain with potential application to both men and women.

Feel it

Though the long-term effects of stress may be different on men and women, everyone can feel it their mind and body.

Registered nurse Paula Martin opened a Massage Envy franchise in Wyomissing after coming to appreciate the way regular sessions helped her muscles recover from tough spinning, running or Cross Fit workouts. For many of her clients, a regular massage is also part of a stress-relief routine that calms the mind.

Though she sees just as many male as female clients maybe more women tend to complain about headache more often. Those may be exacerbated by stress.

Regardless of gender, tension is often stored in the same areas: shoulders, back and neck. But women, Martin said, may not visit for a workout as often and then have more to be worked out during a visit.

We spread ourselves too thin, said Martin, who offers memberships and recommends monthly visits. But Massage really does have a cumulative effect. Its something that you can practice on a more regular basis, much like meditation or yoga.

Massage releases endorphins that counter the anxiety-inducing effects of cortisol. For some customers, add-ons like aromatherapy oils or hot stones may up the calm factor. Soothing music, low lighting and warmth also prompt the body to relax.

Identifying things that help promote relaxation and making them part of a regular routine can help lower cortisol levels, reduce physical tension that can lead to injury or physical limitations and set individuals up for better long-term health.

Klatka continues to seek the right combination of tools. She cut back on some of her more high-intensity workouts, which research has found can trigger more cortisol to be released. Instead, she does yoga several times a week and walks on her treadmill or outside when weather allows.

Alleviated symptoms

Though she was skeptical about Reiki, she found the first visit alleviated symptoms such as a racing heartbeat and racing thoughts for more than three weeks.

From the moment I laid down on the table, I could feel the change in my body, Klatka said. You go into this relaxed state where youre not quite asleep but not quite awake. It just happens naturally for me.

Theres no magic bullet when it comes to managing stress.

Ampersand Integrative Wellness opened in Wyomissing in December. Practitioners there offer a variety of services personal training, nutrition counseling, massage and yoga that can all lead to stress relief.

Yoga and meditation instructor Ariana Miley said she sees differences in how men and women store tension in their bodies. Men often repress their stress and that manifests in tension in their bodies, limiting flexibility. Women, she said, may be more open to talking about their emotions but they still carry significant tension in their hip flexors.

Her Yin yoga class includes 3- to 5-minute poses that allow the hips and the rest of the body to relax and allow the mind an opportunity to follow.

A lot of times, with breathwork and meditation, that trauma, including everyday stress, can come to the surface, Miley said. Even if its 10 minutes a day or an hour a week, people who commit to a practice are more able to focus and concentrate on the task at hand.

At Salt Lounge, just down the road, owner Rachel Eskin has continued to broaden her wellness offerings. In 2020, she is focusing events and classes around guided meditation practices.

Klatka continues to drive nearly an hour to get to her appointments after finding a place where she is comfortable that provides a service that works for her.

If its a chronic condition for you and youre not sleeping, its going to affect your memory, your body, your organs, she said. Its worth the $50 or whatever, and its better than spending it at the doctors office.

Contact Kimberly Marselas: specialsections@readingeagle.com.

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Hormones play an uneven gender role in brain health; are linked to higher Alzheimer's disease in women than men - The Reporter

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Power of regenerative medicine – KCTV Kansas City

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

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Leadership Cape Cod Announces CLI Class of 2020 – Cape Cod Today

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Cape Cod, MA- Leadership Cape Cod is excited announce the launch of the 28th annual Community Leadership Institute and the class of 2020. Between January and May, 26 professionals and developing leaders will attend 11 sessions across Cape Cod meeting and learning from prominent community leaders in business, healthcare, the arts, education, social services and more. While participating in the course participants will also work together to develop and engage in community service projects benefiting local non-profit organizations on Cape Cod.

The Community Leadership Institute (CLI) is the foremost program offered by Leadership Cape Cod and has run since 1992. CLI has fostered the growth of existing and potential community leaders on Cape Cod and graduated more than 700 people who have learned about leadership from prominent community leaders. This rigorous and diverse program is presented annually from January to June immerses participants in all areas of the Cape Cod community and professional fields, including: healthcare, social services, education, business, government, law, environment, media and the arts. Participants learn about current and developing issues facing Cape Cod and the Islands, how to become more involved in providing the leadership needed to help address these challenges.

Class members complete a community service project to benefit a local non-profit and a commencement ceremony is held in June. Through this course and community service participants gain access to individuals working to solve the Capes most pressing issues. Students are encouraged to think about their role in creating solutions to local and regional challenges. CLI alumni include local and state politicians, business and nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, health care professionals and members of the media.

Leadership Cape Cods Community Leadership Institute (CLI) class of 2020 is comprised of: Rochelle Ricki Ackell (Cape Abilities), Kayla Baier (AmeriCorps Cape Cod), Jamie Brids (My Generation Energy), Courtney Butler (Town of Wellfleet), Andrew Coleman (YMCA of Cape Cod), Kim Devine (Cape Cod 5), Stephen Dignam (The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod), Kathryn Eident (WCAI-FM), Nivia Fagundes (Integrative Medicine Holistic Wellness Center), Richard Falzone, Christine Hochkeppel (Salty Broad Studios), Tamora Israel (The Cordial Eye Gallery and Artist Space), Stephen Katzenback (Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital), Emily Kelly-Joseph (Cape Wellness Collaborative), Anne Mayo, Tarraza Millard (Cape & Islands Workforce Board), Margeaux Prendergast Weber (Cotuit Center for the Arts), James Quitadamo (The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod), Pamela Sears (The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod), Lisa Simundson (Orleans Chamber of Commerce), Jeffrey Skeiber (Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital), Blane Toedt (The West End), Emily Tullock (Cape Media News), Tara Wallace, Danielle Wilson (May Institute), Steven Xiarhos (Yarmouth Police Department).

The first session of the 2020 class took place on January 9th at Joint Base Cape Cod with presentations from Colonel Virginia I. Gaglio Chief of Staff and Air Component Commander, Massachusetts Air National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General (Air) for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State Military Division, Judy Walden Scarafile - Managing Director of the Major Crisis Relief Fund, Matthew Burke Co-President of Cape Cod 5.

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Leadership Cape Cod Announces CLI Class of 2020 - Cape Cod Today

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Researchers: Myths may worsen low back pain and promote ineffective treatments – The Union Leader

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Common myths about low back pain could lead to more pain, ineffective care and unwarranted anxiety, researchers say.

Low back pain is the worlds leading cause of disability, and its often associated with costly care that can sometimes be harmful, Peter OSullivan and colleagues write in an editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Myths about back pain are common and can be reinforced by the media and well-meaning clinicians, the authors note.

This misinformation can lead people to fear back pain, respond to it in unhelpful ways and drive poor health care, OSullivan said in an email. Myths often cause negative emotional responses such as fear, distress and loss of hope, he added, as well as behaviors like over-protecting the back and avoiding movement, activity and work.

OSullivan, a specialist physiotherapist with the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, told Reuters Health that almost daily he comes across patients who hold unhelpful beliefs.

In their editorial, OSullivan and his colleagues identify 10 common myths about low back pain and counter each of them with back pain facts that are supported by evidence.

Among the myths are the idea that low back pain will become persistent and will worsen with age, that pain is always a sign of tissue damage and requires rest, and that scans and invasive procedures are always needed to diagnose and treat low back pain.

In fact, the authors write, the evidence says that persistent back pain can be scary, but its rarely dangerous or life-threatening and its unlikely to leave you in a wheelchair.

Getting older is not a cause of back pain, they add, and evidence-based treatments can help at any age. Persistent low back pain is rarely related to tissue damage and scans rarely show the cause of back pain.

Low back pain is not caused by poor posture while sitting, standing and bending, and its also not caused by weak core muscles. Injections, surgery and strong drugs usually arent effective for persistent back pain in the long term. Finding low-risk ways to control pain is key.

Dr. Houman Danesh, director of Integrative Pain Management at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, said its common in his experience, too, to find patients holding beliefs like those in the list of myths.

I usually have to spend a portion of my office visit untangling them, the most common being patients who say they have a herniated disc from 20 years ago and have chronic back pain. That is a rare occurrence, Danesh, who was not involved in the editorial, told Reuters Health in an email.

It is sad and frustrating when patients take on a false identity based on a myth and lose a large part of their quality of life.

Danesh disagreed, however, with some of the authors advice. For instance, there are cases when strong medications, injections or surgery can be used to treat low back pain, so that is not entirely a myth, he said.

There are times these treatments are necessary, and a medical evaluation is needed to determine the best course of treatment.

OSullivan said research into understanding back pain has increased, but societal beliefs and clinical practice were slow to catch up.

Clinicians and doctors must spend time to ask patients what they understand about their back pain its cause, consequences and how best to care for it and then provide practical ways to manage it, he said.

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Researchers: Myths may worsen low back pain and promote ineffective treatments - The Union Leader

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Nutrition: A look at nuts that are not nuts – Duluth News Tribune

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Gary from Carmel writes, You have helped me out in the past so thought Id get your opinion on this. On a recent show, a doctor was talking about which foods to eat and which to avoid. He said that you should be eating nuts, but dont eat cashews, as they are not a nut, but rather a seed, and contain high levels of lectin. I always thought that cashews were a tree nut just like walnuts, etc. Can you shed some light on this for me?

Dear Gary,

In this case, Im afraid my opinion would not be worth much. I needed the expertise of horticulturist, Pat Regan, who humbly describes himself as a friend who spends a lot of time pondering plant parts and identification.

Pat explains that the names we commonly use often distort the scientific terms for plant parts. Fruit and vegetable are typically considered the worst abused but nut probably comes in first place, he says.

All true nuts are seeds, but not all seeds are nuts, says Pat.

Kind of like all trees are plants but not all plants are trees?

Absolutely.

So a nut is a type of seed. Got it.

Botanically, he continues, a nut is a dry fruit with one seed and a thick hard shell. Think of acorns, hazelnuts, chestnuts or hickory nuts. On the other hand, cashews come from a fleshy fruit, not a hard shell. They are more like plums, apricots, cherries and olives.

Cashews, says the Integrative Medicine Department at UC Davis, are technically not a nut. Although they grow on trees, they are really seeds that grow from a strange-looking fruit called a cashew apple.

Incidentally, Pat continues, peanuts (a legume), walnuts, almonds and pecans are not true (botanical) nuts, either. Nor are pine nuts, pistachio nuts and Brazil nuts, and yet most would call me a nut for saying so.

As for lectins, these are proteins that occur naturally in most raw plants, including cashews. The good news is that cooking destroys the activity of these proteins one reason why cashews are always sold roasted or steamed.

The other reason is that raw cashews are enclosed in a shell that contains a resin called urushiol, the same rash-causing substance found in poison ivy. Heat inactivates urushiol another reason cashews are always sold shelled and roasted or steamed.

One last word about nuts in general, including the not true nuts. They are a good source of protein, micronutrients, healthful fats and disease-fighting antioxidants. And according to the Micronutrient Information Center at Oregon State University, consuming a variety of nuts on a regular basis is associated with a lower risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

To which Pat adds, It does not sound like eating cashew seeds is such a bad idea. Thank you, friend.

Barbara Quinn is a registered dietitian nutritionist affiliated with the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

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Meet Ebi, the Brand Bringing Self-Care to the Postpartum Experience – Vogue

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

When Breighl Robbins gave birth to her daughter nearly three years ago, she experienced what many new moms come up against: My awareness and attention was completely on Phyllis to such an extreme that I wasnt taking care of myself anymore, recalls the 30-year-old, who realized that while she was fortunate enough to have help with her baby, she herself suddenly felt ill-equipped to handle the emotional and physical challenges of the postpartum period. What was missing was someone communicating to me or giving me the tools that I needed to take care of myself well. Now, after consulting with doctors and doulas alike, Robbins, who began her career in public health and integrative medicine, has set out to fill that void with the launch of Ebi (family in Yoruba), a line of wellness essentials made with the fourth trimester in mind.

Self-care is a vital piece of having a healthy and holistic postpartum experience, Robbins explains, gesturing toward her trio of plant-based products, which are formulated with balancing botanical ingredients safe enough for your mini-me. Bottled by hand in her Boston studio, an oil blend of sunflower, sesame seed, and almond can be used for C-section scars, itchy nipples, and diaper rash or, simply, a much-needed massage, while the nutritive oat tops found in the tisane support healthy milk production and energy levels. Consider too Ebis take on the traditional sitz bath, which can help heal perineal tissue post-pregnancythough anyone is sure to delight in its relaxing herbal blend and amber-hued glass packaging: It looks very good in your bathroom, Robbins, wearing a ruffled Batsheva frock, says with a laugh.

Robbins is taking Ebi beyond the vanity as well, thanks to organic cotton nursing pads and underwear, complete with an invisible leak-proof liner and a compression band thats made from Repreve, an eco-friendly fabric containing recycled materials; this spring, she will also partner with Domino Kirkes Carriage House Birth as well as Doula Trainings International to better equip mothers-to-be: Youre stepping into this new role, she muses. Its not the body you once knew; youre not the person you once knew. I think taking the time to pause and acknowledge that is something a lot more women are starting to become aware of.

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Meet Ebi, the Brand Bringing Self-Care to the Postpartum Experience - Vogue

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Guava Health Benefits: Here’s Why Health Experts Are Talking About Vitamin C-Rich Amrud – NDTV News

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Guava benefits: One guava offers 200% of daily recommended intake of Vitamin C

Guava benefits: Guava, as nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar mentions, is a local fruit which is in season right now. Guava or amrud is a Vitamin C-rich fruit with lots of antioxidants, potassium and fibre. Eating guava every day can be beneficial for your blood sugar levels, heart health, digestive system and also weight loss. Lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho recently took to Instagram to talk about guava, mentioning how the fruit is great for boosting immunity and energy levels. So let's see why all health experts are talking about this seasonal fruit.

One of the most essential nutrients that guava contains is Vitamin C. It is the one nutrient that can boost your immunity enough to keep you healthy and disease-free. Nutritionist Nmami Agarwal says that one guava offers 200% of daily recommended intake of Vitamin C.

"Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that prevents from free radical damage and keeps the skin supple and glowing. It also contains lycopene, powerful antioxidant which has been scientifically proven protect against certain types of cancer," Nmami tells DoctorNDTV.

Vitamin C-rich guava can boost your immunity and help you be disease-freePhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Nutritionist Recommended Foods For Quicker Healing, Stronger Immunity And Improved Overall Health

Guavas are naturally low in glycemic index. Thismakes them a perfect choice for diabetics, Nmami adds. "Guavas are also rich in fibre. Including them in your diet can improve digestive health and keep constipation at a bay," she says.

The best part about guava is that its not just the fruit which provides with health benefits, its leaves are equally beneficial. Nmami informs that guavas contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. "Guava leaves are also a perfect antidote for diarrhoea," she informs.

Also read:Inflammation: What Are The Risks Of High Inflammation In The Body?

As mentioned above, you can have guava as a mid-meal snack. You can eat the whole fruit without peeling the skin. "You can add guava to a smoothie or combine guava slices with cottage cheese cubes," recommends Nmami.

You can prepare guava chutney with guava leavesPhoto Credit: iStock

For consuming guava leaves, you can brew them in a tea or blend them to form a guava chutney.

This season, enjoy guavas without guilt. Make sure you eat at least one every day!

Also read:Turmeric Tea: Amazing Health Benefits You Cannot Afford To Miss; Learn How To Make Turmeric Tea

(Nmami Agarwal is nutritionist at Nmami Life)

(Rujuta Diwekar is a nutritionist based in Mumbai)

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Paeonol Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion Through | CMAR – Dove Medical Press

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Chien-Shan Cheng, 1, 2,* Jing-Xian Chen, 3, 4,* Jian Tang, 1, 2 Ya-Wen Geng, 1, 2 Lan Zheng, 3, 4 Ling-Ling Lv, 3 Lian-Yu Chen, 1, 2 Zhen Chen 1, 2

1Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, Peoples Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, Peoples Republic of China; 3Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, Peoples Republic of China; 4Workstation of Xia Xiang, National Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, Peoples Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Zhen Chen; Lian-Yu ChenDepartment of Integrated Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, Peoples Republic of ChinaTel +86-21-6417-5590 ext. 83628Email cz120@mail.sh.cn; lianyu_chen@hotmail.com

Purpose: Paeonol, a natural product derived from the root of Cynanchum paniculatum (Bunge) K. Schum and the root of Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. (Ranunculaceae) has attracted extensive attention for its anti-cancer proliferation effect in recent years. The present study examined the role of paeonol in suppressing migration and invasion in pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting TGF- 1/Smad signaling.Methods: Cell viability was evaluated by MTT and colonial formation assay. Migration and invasion capabilities were examined by cell scratch-wound healing assay and the Boyden chamber invasion assay. Western Blot and qRT-PCR were used to measure the protein and RNA levels of vimentin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and TGF- 1/Smad signaling.Results: At non-cytotoxic dose, 100 &Mgr; and 150 &Mgr; of paeonol showed significant anti-migration and anti-invasion effects on Panc-1 and Capan-1 cells (p< 0.01). Paeonol inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal-transition by upregulating E-cadherin, and down regulating N-cadherin and vimentin expressions. Paeonol inhibited TGF- 1/Smad signaling pathway by downregulating TGF- 1, p-Smad2/Smad2 and p-Smad3/Smad3 expressions. Further, TGF- 1 attenuated the anti-migration and anti-invasion capacities of paeonol in Panc-1 and Capan-1 cells.Conclusion: These findings revealed that paeonol could suppress proliferation and inhibit migration and invasion in Panc-1 and Capan-1 cells by inhibiting the TGF- 1/Smad pathway and might be a promising novel anti-pancreatic cancer drug.

Keywords: paeonol, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, TGF- 1/Smad signaling, epithelial-mesenchymal-transition, Cynanchum paniculatum

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Newly minted professors of distinction to be celebrated – CU Boulder Today

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Four members of the University of Colorado Boulder facultyhave been named 2019Professors of Distinction by the College of Arts and Sciences in recognition of their exceptional service, teaching and research.

The new professors of distinction areNoel Clarkof physics,Stephen Graham Jonesof English,Robert Pasnauof philosophy, andKenneth P. Wright Jr.of integrative physiology.

This reveredtitleis reserved for scholars and artists of national and international acclaim whose college peers also recognize as exceptionally talented teachers and colleagues. Honorees of this award hold this title for the remainder of their careers in the College of Arts and Sciences at CU Boulder.

The four will be honored onMonday, Feb. 3,at 3:30 p.m. in the CASE Auditorium/Chancellors Hall. At the free and public event, Clark, Jones and Wright will give a public presentation based on his research or scholarly work. Pasnau is unable to attend the event this year but will give his presentation next year.

Wright, Pasnau, Clark, and Jones. (left to right).

Noel Clark, whose talk is titledSplashing Around in Soft Matter,received his PhD in Physics from MIT in 1970. He subsequently held the positions of research fellow and assistant professor of applied physics at Harvard, before moving to CU Boulder in 1977.

Research in Clark's group is directed toward understanding and using the properties of condensed phases, ranging from experiments on the fundamental physics of phase transitions, such as melting, to the development of liquid crystal electro-optic light valves.

His primary experimental tools are laser light scattering, electrooptics, video microscopy and high resolution synchrotron X-ray scattering. Much of the research is on the physics of liquid crystals, phases of matter having structure intermediate to that of liquids and solids, and on the physics of colloids, suspensions of one material in another that exhibit order on large length scales.

Stephen Graham Jones, whose Feb. 3 talk is titledBeing Indian is Not a Superpower,is the Ivena Baldwin Professor of English. He received his PhD in Creative Writing (Fiction) from Florida State University in 1998, and came to CU in 2008. At that time, he had five novels and one story collection published.

Since then he's published 11 more novels, five more story collections, and some novellas and comic books and chap books, and he's currently got north of 300 stories published. He has been an NEA recipient, has won the Texas Institute of Letters Award for Fiction, the Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural Fiction, a Bram Stoker Award, four This is Horror Awards, and hes been a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Wonderland Book Award, and the Colorado Book Award.

Hes also made Bloody Disgustings Top Ten Horror Novels, and will soon receive the Western Literature Association's Distinguished Achievement Award. At CU Boulder he's won the Carolyn Woodward Pope Prize for Faculty Publication, the Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence in Research Award, and the Kayden Book Award, and he's a faculty affiliate with the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies, the Center for the American West, and the Department of Ethnic Studies.

Aside from teaching fiction and screenwriting workshops, Jones teaches courses on comic books, the haunted house, the slasher, the zombie and the werewolf. His fiction navigates the spaces between the commercial and the literary, often using the tropes of horror and fantasy and science fiction and the western and noir in unconventional ways. He says he's not running out of stories anytime soon, either.

Kenneth P. Wright Jr., whose talk is titledSleep for Optimal Health and Performance,is a professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology and the director of the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at CU-Boulder.

Wright received a BS in psychology from the University of Arizona (1990) and a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from Bowling Green State University (1996). Following postdoctoral training in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hospital, he served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School prior to joining the faculty at CU Boulder in 2002.

Wright has more than 25 years of experience in sleep and circadian research, has led individual and multicenter/transdisciplinary team projects, and has participated in multicenter clinical trials. His research aims to understand the physiology of sleep and circadian rhythms in humans and the health and safety consequences of sleep and circadian disruptionsuch as, metabolic dysregulation, impaired cognition, and compromised performance.

Wrights research also explores strategies to promote sleep, enhance alertness and maintain health and safety when sleep and circadian rhythms are challenged, as well as treatment strategies for patients with sleep and circadian related disorders.

He is a frequently invited speaker and media contact and has published more than 115 peer-reviewed articles. Wright manages a large undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate training program in sleep and circadian physiology at CU Boulder.

Wright has served in leadership, consulting, and advisory roles for government, professional, community, and commercial stakeholders, such as, the Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board of the National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the Board of Directors of the Sleep Research Society. He also serves as a reviewer for numerous national and international granting agencies and scientific journals.

Robert Pasnauhas taught in the Department of Philosophy since 1999. His research concentrates on the history of philosophy, particularly the end of the Middle Ages and the beginnings of the modern era.

He is the editor of theCambridge History of Medieval Philosophyand ofOxford Studies in Medieval Philosophy. His most recent book,After Certainty: A History of Our Epistemic Ideals and Illusions(OUP 2017), is based on his Isaiah Berlin Lectures, delivered at Oxford University in 2014.

Pasnau is the founding director of the Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization.

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Bowie tribute concert raises funds for NorthShore Integrative Medicine Therapies at Kellogg Cancer Center – Chicago Daily Herald

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

Sons of the Silent Age, a David Bowie tribute band, performed to a sold out crowd on Saturday, Jan. 11, at Metro Chicago. They were joined by special guest, actor Michael Shannon.

The event raised more than $65,000 for integrative medicine therapies for NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) Kellogg Cancer Center adult and pediatric patients.

Sons of the Silent Age is composed of nine Chicago musicians, when Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Ministry) and Matt Walker (Filter, Smashing Pumpkins and Morrissey's band) joined forces in 2012 to pay tribute to their hero David Bowie.

For the third year, the concert is benefitting the NorthShore Integrative Medicine program, as one of the largest and most-well established programs in the country.

Each of the parties involved in the benefit concert -- from the Sons of the Silent Age bandmates, to the owner of Metro, to the NorthShore Integrative Medicine team -- share a common bond of commitment to the cause, and for some, cancer survivorship.

NorthShore's Integrative Medicine Program uses safe, evidence-based complementary therapies and communicating fully with patients' traditional western medicine physicians and specialists optimizes each patient's health and a heightened sense of well-being. Learn more about NorthShore's Integrative Medicine Program or support the cause at foundation.northshore.org/imconcert.

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Integrative Pet Vet column: Homeopathy love it or hate it, but what is it? – Glenwood Springs Post Independent

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

Whether you love homeopathy or view it with skepticism depends on your experience with it and your understanding of its history and how it is thought to work. This discussion will not attempt to defend or degenerate homeopathic medicine but rather to provide background information. The goal is to provide brief information that forms the basis of an informed discussion and deeper exploration.

Homeopathic medicine has often been confused with holistic or complementary medicine. While homeopathy can be a part of the holistic approach, homeopathy and holistic have different meanings. Homeopathic medicine is a distinct discipline with an interesting history, proposed mechanism of action, and health care application.

Historically, the concept of homeopathy arose from the work and insights of Dr. Hahnemann, a German physician that lived and worked around 1800. He developed the concepts that would form the basis of homeopathy because of dissatisfaction with the medical approaches in common use at that time. These approaches included the use of arsenic, mercury, purging, bloodletting and administration of stimulants and narcotics. Infectious disease was common and frequently fatal. Surgeries were often fatal and performed without anesthesia.

The rationale for the homeopathic approach was based on the idea that like cures like. In other words Dr. Hahnemann believed that minute concentrations of a toxin could cure the symptoms caused by a much larger dose of that toxin. This theory was similar to the emerging practice of vaccination, where small doses of a germ were given by inoculation to prevent the disease.

Dr. Hahnemann believed that minute concentrations of a toxin could cure the symptoms caused by a much larger dose of that toxin.

Dr. Hahnemann worked to study and validate the homeopathy by developing a uniform process for creating a homeopathic medicine and then evaluating the effects on people. The preparation process involves dilution and succussion. One interesting component of studying the effect of the homeopathic medicine was to administer homeopathic medicines to healthy volunteers and have them record the details of their experience. This process became known as a proving. Once the pattern of the effects of the homeopathic medicine was recognized, homeopathic medicines were matched to the illness pattern of the patient with the belief that the homeopathic medicine, when given at the appropriate potency, would move the disease out of the body consistent with the idea that like cures like.

Over time, the observations of patients provided more details about the health effects of individual homeopathic medicines and more homeopathic medicines became available. This growing number of homeopathic medicines combined with an increased understanding of their effects led to the need for a systematic way to select the correct homeopathic medicine. This became known as repertorization.

The use of homeopathic medicines in patients lead to multiple approaches that include the classical and clinical methods. Classical homeopathy involves the selection of a homeopathic medicine by repertorizing, giving the selected homeopathic medicine, and then monitoring the effect. For some, this approach focuses on giving one homeopathic medicine at a time and monitoring. This process has complications because of the number of homeopathic medicines available and because there are many different potencies (strength) for each. The clinical approach focuses, in part, on selecting homeopathic medicines based on diagnosis of the illness and removal of toxins. Homeopathic medicines are often used in combinations.

Regardless of the approach, proper selection of the homeopathic medicine(s) is critical along with the appropriate potency. Ideally the potency is chosen based on the severity of the illness, but consideration must also be given to the vitality of the patient. Avoiding a healing crisis in a debilitated patient can be essential. Recognition of the response to homeopathic medicines can be challenging initially because changes can be subtle and evolve over time depending on the potency of the homeopathic medicine and the severity of the problem. Lack of response generally relates to incorrect homeopathic medicine selection, wrong potency, insufficient dosing, and when patients have complex disease patterns that require multiple homeopathic medicines used in a logical sequence.

Homeopathy can be challenging to use optimally. If you have questions about the use of homeopathic medicines in your pet, contact a veterinary homeopath.

Ron Carsten, DVM, PhD, CVA, CCRT was one of the first veterinarians in Colorado to use the integrative approach, has lectured widely to veterinarians, and has been a pioneer in the therapeutic use of food concentrates to manage clinical problems. He is also the founder of Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE). In addition to his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, he holds a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology and is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. He practices integrative veterinary medicine in Glenwood Springs.

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Count Basie and HMH Riverview Medical Center present HeartHealthExpo, Starring Joy Bauer, A free community event! – TAPinto.net

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

ALL ARE WELCOME IN THE COMMUNITY TO ATTEND THIS FREE EVENT.

SUN FEB 9 1PM

Tickets: Download your FREE tickets now by clicking on BUY TICKETS

A free, community event and celebration of AMERICAN HEART MONTH starring NBC TODAY show expert, best-selling author and leading health authority JOY BAUER

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Hackensack MeridianHealthPhysicians Panel Sponsored by The Womens Heart Fund

Moderator Alla Rabinovich, MBA, is Chief Operating Officer, Hackensack MeridianHealthCenter for Discovery and InnovationDr. Evelyn Minaya Ob/Gyn- Womens HealthDr. Rajney Bais- Internal MedicineDr. Dawn Calderon CardiologyDr. David Leopold Integrative Health and Medicine (other members of the IHM team to participate in days activities TBA)Claire Carter, PhD is a faculty member and researcher at the Hackensack MeridianHealthCenter for Discovery and InnovationDr. Ravi Diwan Cardiology

Teddy Bear Clinic interactive educational program for children

Demo of DiVinci surgical robot technology

Physical Therapy and Cardiac Rehabilitation information

BMI Screenings Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Glucose, Stroke Risk Assessment, BMI, and Pulse. Fasting is not required.

Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, is one of the nations leading health authorities. She is the nutrition and healthy lifestyle expert for NBCsTODAYshow and the host of NBCsHealth + Happiness. Joy is also a monthly columnist forWomans Daymagazine, the official nutritionist for the New York City Ballet and the creator of JoyBauer.com. Joy is a #1New York Timesbestselling author with 13 bestselling books to her credit. Her latest book,Joys Simple Food Remedies, explores the healing power of food and features natural, holistic remedies for the most common every day ailments, including bloating, headaches, anxiety and stress, low energy, brain fog and high cholesterol.

Her newest and upcoming childrens book,Yummy Yoga, hits stands on October 8th, 2019 and communicates a true passion of Joys encouraging young kids to try healthy new foods and energizing exercise in a playful and engaging format.

In the earlier part of her career, Joy was the Director of Nutrition and Fitness for the Department of Pediatric Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, as well as the clinical dietitian for their neurosurgical team. One of Joys most rewarding experiences was creating and implementing Heart Smart Kids, a health program for underprivileged children living in Harlem. Prior to making the jump to media, she taught Anatomy & Physiology and Sports Nutrition at NYUs School of Continuing Education, as she worked to build what would soon become the largest private nutrition center in the country.

Passionate about delivering scientifically sound, realistic information to millions of Americans, Joy has received countless awards including theNational Media Excellence Awardfrom two of the most esteemed organizations, theAcademy of Nutrition and Dieteticsand theAmerican Society of Nutrition Science. She is also continuously featured in prominent publications includingThe New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, People, US Weekly, Parade,etc.

When shes not dishing out health info or sharing delicious recipes on TV, youll find Joy making a mess in her kitchen or spending quality time at home with her husband, three kids, and fur-baby, Gatsby.

Tickets: Download your FREE tickets now by clicking on BUY TICKETS

Presented by Count Basie Center for the Arts & Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center

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Manage Your Mind to Manage Your Heart: Why Transcendental Meditation is Vital for Heart Health – Thrive Global

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

My colleagues and I have long been concerned about the high rates of cardiovascular disease in the US that have spread throughout the world. Despite advances in modern medicine, heart attacks and strokes are the leading cause of death globally. One of the reasons for these high rates is the epidemic of stress in modern society. Early in my career, I studied the connection between psychological stress and high blood pressure and heart disease. This was a negative effect of the mind-body connection. About 30 years ago, I decided to investigate how the mind-body-heart connection could be positively managed with effective stress reduction, particularly the Transcendental Meditation technique.

During that time, we and our colleagues at major academic medical centers in the US, such as Columbia University Medical Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Cedars Sinai Medical Center and Charles Drew University, received funding from the National Institutes of Health and foundations to study effects of mind-body intervention with Transcendental Meditation in high-risk groups, like African Americans with high blood pressure or established heart disease. The results of this series of well-controlled studies, known as randomized controlled trials, showed that practice of Transcendental Meditation lowered high blood pressure, reduced insulin resistance (aka metabolic syndrome), reduced atherosclerosis, and prevented abnormal enlargement of the heart (called left ventricular hypertrophy) in one of most recent studies. Some of our published pilot studies suggested improvements in blood flow to the heart and benefits to patients with heart failure.

A landmark study that brought all these findings together followed 200 patients with known heart disease over an average of five years. Half practiced Transcendental Meditation and half attended a class about cardiovascular factors. All participants continued their usual medicines and medical care. At the end of the study, the results showed that the meditating participants had a 48% lower rate of death, heart attack and stroke compared to controls. We believe that this remarkable result was due to redacted risk factors such as high blood pressure, psychological stress, and possibly cardiac enlargement. The results of reduced mortality in long-term TM practitioners were replicated in a separate study of older participants with high blood pressure. All of these studies have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals, many in top ones like the American Heart Association and American Medical Association.

Based on these findings an American Heart Association scientific statement acknowledged these scientific studies and recommended that Transcendental Meditation be considered in the treatment of all patients with high blood pressure. And thats a lot of people according to the most recent guidelines, nearly half of all adults in the US. The research is continuing, but I would say that if youre at risk for heart disease and thats most men and women consider managing your mind and body with Transcendental Meditation. Its easy to learn and practice, has extensive scientific evidence, and has other positive benefits for mental and physical health. It could save your life. For more information, visit https://www.tm.org.

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Column: Medical innovation in WNY continues, with wide implications – Buffalo News

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

Forget chicken wings for a moment when it comes to Buffalo inventions.

Dr. Frank Hastings Hamilton tried the first successful skin graft here in 1854 at Sisters Hospital.

Wilson Greatbatch created the first implantable pacemaker in 1958, while tinkering in his barn.

Groundbreaking research in the 1970s by researcher T. Ming Chu at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center led to the creation of the standard screening test for prostate cancer.

Researchers in the region today predict more groundbreaking innovations to come.

Collectively, we have transformed Western New York from a place with individual pockets of research excellence, each doing their own thing, into a rich and stimulating community, powered by researchers and innovators building on each others expertise and taking their work in new directions, said Dr. Michael E. Cain, dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus in spaces that include the Jacobs Institute, UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and Roswell Park help make it so.

The Jacobs Institute is named for Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs, a world-renowned neurologist who advanced multiple sclerosis care. A drug his work in Buffalo helped develop is made in Boston because this region didnt have the medical infrastructure to carry out full development and manufacturing.

We're bringing some of the best innovative startup ideas in the world to Buffalo, cultivating them here, and trying to get these technology companies to advance to the prototype stage with the hope that theyll someday commercialize their technologies here, said William J. Maggio, the institute's CEO.

In 2016, the institute was designated a 3D Printing Center of Excellence in Health Care by Israeli-based Stratasys Ltd., a leading 3D printing manufacturer. In early 2018, the institute created an Idea to Reality Center, known as i2R, to foster collaboration between entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers and researchers.

UB and Kaleida Health established what is now known as the Clinical and Translational Science Institute in 2012, on the floors above the Jacobs and Gates Vascular institutes and alongside Buffalo General Medical Center, to bring researchers from several university departments closer to doctors and patients.

One successful outcome: University departments of biomedical informatics and microbiology are investigating using low-level electrical stimulation to thwart infection at prosthetic device sites (think knee and hip joint replacements), an effort bolstered by a $500,000 Department of Defense grant to work with Garwood Medical Devices, a Buffalo company, to fast track an FDA-approved device to market.

Roswell Park continues innovation it started in 1898, when it became the first hospital in the nation completely focused on cancer.

Last June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, based on the work of researcher Ben Seon, approved Polivy, a chemotherapy/immunotherapy course for patients with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A team led by Dr. Kunle Odunsi, executive director of the Center for Immunotherapy, continues work on a process to remove patient cancer cells, re-engineer them and inject them into the same patients to bolster an immune defense against cancer.

Lung, brain, ovarian, breast, melanoma and sarcoma tumors are among those that could one day succumb to these "cellular immunotherapies" being developed at Roswell and by Odunsi and others in spinoff company Tactiva Therapeutics, also on the medical campus.

Meanwhile, Dr. Carl Morrison, Roswell Park senior vice president of scientific development and integrative medicine, directs the lab at a Buffalo subsidiary he helped found, OmniSeq, which tests the genetic makeup of cancer tumor biopsies to give oncologists a better sense of what treatments will be least and most effective.

Precision medicine was born out of lung cancer and melanoma, two major cancer killers which, when found in late stages, usually limited survival to six months.

Today in melanoma, in 35% to 40% of people were starting to think about the word cure, Morrison said. "And at least now, a significant percentage of lung cancer [patients], probably up to 30% to 40%, are pushing along into a chronic disease where your survival is in the range of at least five years.

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The Divine Feminine and the Power to Change the World – SFGate

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

By Deepak Chopra, MD

The time has come to think about womens power and not just womens rights. When the New York Times editorial board recently split over which Democratic presidential candidate to endorse, the debate was over two women, and eventually both Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar were selected. This is a sign of our collective exhaustion with a president who expresses the most extreme and worst aspects of masculine behavior. The best hope for turning the tide is said to be the suburban womens vote, which already showed its power in the 2018 mid-term elections.

But something much deeper is going on. Masculine behavior has run its course as the model for power. The arms race, world wars, civil conflicts, and an insane buildup of atomic bombs symbolize masculine aggression reaching some kind of apex that is also a dead end. The urge to fight and to turn competitors into enemies, nations into armed fortresses, and everyone into winners and losers wont save a planet that needs emergency medicine.

We find ourselves in a drastic state of imbalance because one entire half of the human psyche, the feminine, has been suppressed, violated, or ignored. The human mind isnt a chaotic morass. For at least 30,000 years, dating back to the rapid evolution of the higher brain, Homo sapiens has lived by themes and motifs that guide our actions. The pioneering psychiatrist Carl Jung called these concentrated themes archetypes, but there is no need for special jargonat this moment every person taps into the same themes tht permeate civilization back to its roots.

As modern people we see ourselves as beyond mythology, and in fact superior to myths, which feel superstitious and irrational. But if you look at the Greek goddessesAphrodite, Hera, Athena, Demeter, and moreeach symbolizes a divine feminine energy that must be included in a complete human being, no matter of what gender, or even without gender if that is a conscious choice.

The most basic listing of the divine feminine indicates instantly what is missing on the world stage right now. The leading qualities of the feminine are

Mothering, the source of tenderness, affection, nonjudgmental acceptance, and nurturing.

Abundance, the freely given gifts of food and water supplied by the earth.

Beauty in every form.

Sexual charm and attraction.

Inspiration, in the form of intuition, insight, and the muses that inspire art and music.

Peace, the impulse to live as a family in harmony.

If the ancient Greeks, Indians, and Chinese could identify and express all of the qualities, not to mention valuing them as divine attributes, how advanced are we who turn our backs on them? There is a concerted call for more women leaders because the rampant behavior of out-of-control masculine energies cannot be tolerated any longer. But the whole point of calling feminine energies divine is that they apply to everyone.

The most reviled leaders in modern history are Hitler and Stalin, neither of whom had the slightest trace of the feminine and whose pure masculinity doomed tens of millions of people to death and suffering. The most revered leaders were Lincoln and Gandhi, both of them repositories of peace and reconciliation. (They both wore shawls,, a gesture toward womens dress, and Gandhi sat beside a loom, which became the central symbol of Indias flag.)

The choice to express masculine and feminine energies has been unbalanced for a long time. As one psychologist wryly noted, from kindergarten onward boys are trained to be winners who wield power while girls gain their worth by attracting men who are winners and wield power. Daring to break out of the mold of the second sex has carried social disapproval and rejection as a constant threat.

All of this is well known, and the modern womens movement has strived to redress the imbalances that society has tolerated and encouraged. But even when more women assume leadership roles, as they are doing and will continue to, if men dont respect the feminine archetype, they will never allow it to be part of themselves. The painful truth is that the same men who were motived to kill 100,000,000 people in the twentieth century are just as wiling to kill the planet.

The so-called goddess movement has been vital for several decades but still exists on the fringes. Its most basic aim is to give a woman a sense of self-esteem and worth in her own right, not as an adjunct to a man. This message has widely taken hold in developed countries and has seeped, with aching slowness, into the less privileged world. The next step should be simultaneously personal, social, and spiritual. It should be a movement toward wholeness for everyone.

You cannot make yourself whole; you can only realize the wholeness that has always been inside you. We all live right now in separation, not primarily because of political divisions but because we are divided in ourselves. The divided self tries to live as if one half of itself, the masculine, stands for the whole. It doesnt and never will.

Everyone needs to take steps to express the suppressed aspects of wholeness. Right now the suppressed aspects are feminine, which has been true for centuries. But wholeness cant be destroyed, only hidden. You are the agent of peace, nurturing, abundance, beauty, and inspiration. You either express these values or you dont. The choice involves a conscious decision, and when enough people make the decision, the world will change. Everyone needs to look to the divine feminine. This is the dominant challenge that faces every society, and the future of humanity depends upon meeting the challenge as consciously and as soon as possible.

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. He is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves a senior scientist at Gallup Organization. Chopra is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 90th book and national bestseller, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential (Harmony Books), unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

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Learning Which Type of Meditation is Best for Your Wellbeing – Chiang Rai Times

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

In the past few years, meditation has become a highly recommended and widely practiced solution to all sorts of physical and mental health issues. If you are interested in meditation but have no idea where to begin, you certainly arent alone. Many of people become overwhelmed in choosing the right type of meditation and have trouble deciding which one is best for them.

In this practice, you will be lead through a meditation that aims to encourage feelings of love and kindness towards everything in your life. This includes negative feelings of anxiety, stress or anger. You will begin by trying to open your mind into a receptive state that allows you to receive love and kindness. You will then send messages of love and kindness out into the world to specific people or feelings.

This type of meditation can help those struggling with feelings of frustration, resentment or with a particular noxious relationship.

One of the most popular forms of meditation, mindfulness aims to bring awareness and acceptance to the practitioner. The guide will lead you a series of instructions that encourage you to remain present in the current moment. This type of meditation can also be practiced unguided, and many people choose to practice mindfulness throughout their day as they go about their daily tasks.

This type of meditation can help with anxiety caused by dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It has also been proven to help improve negativity, focus and memory.

You may find a body scan is included in other forms of meditation, but it is also available on its own. In this meditation, you will focus on your breath before working to release various areas of tension throughout the body. Ideally, the practice leads to a state of both physical and mental relaxation.

This type of meditation can help with stress and insomnia.

Kundalini is both a form of meditation and yoga. It is a moving form of meditation in which you will move through a series of postures while focusing the mind on the breath and on a series of mantras.

This type of meditation can help with bodily pain, depression and anxiety.

Transcendental meditation may be what first comes to mind when you imagine meditation. It involves sitting in a still position while attempting to remove oneself, or transcend, above the immediate circumstances and the immediate state of being. You will focus your mind on a single mantra or a repeated word or phrase. In most cases, the teacher will determine this mantra.

This type of meditation can lead to spiritual experiences and mindfulness.

Hopefully this list has helped you to determine which type of meditation might be best for you. If you are still unsure which form of meditation will help you personally. Its also a good idea to try visiting an integrated healthcare center. Where they can address any physical or mental ailments you may have simultaneously.

Click here for more information about integrative medicine doctors from Phoenix.

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Dr. Dori Borjesson named dean of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine – WSU News

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

Dr. Dori Borjesson

PULLMAN, Wash. Dr. Dori Borjesson, chair of the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, has been selected as the new dean of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Borjesson was chosen following a nationwide search to replace Dr. Bryan Slinker, who had announced plans to retire before being tapped to serve as interim provost. She will assume her new responsibilities leading WSUs cutting-edge veterinary, biosciences and global health departments on July 20.

The strength of Washington State Universitys research and its potential to impact communities locally and across the globe impressed me during the interview process, as did its dynamic clinical programs and the Washington-Idaho-Montana-Utah Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine, Borjesson said.

Im looking forward to building on Dr. Slinkers tremendous tenure of leadership, she continued. The enthusiasm for WSU among the community is impressive, and I look forward to building on that momentum.

In addition to her role as a department chair and full professor at UC Davis, Borjesson works as a clinical pathologist and is actively engaged in clinical service and laboratory test development. She served as the inaugural director of the Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures from 2015 to 2019 and continues to direct the Clinical Regenerative Medicine Laboratory.

Dr. Borjesson brings an important combination of strengths and experience to make her the right leader for the college, Slinker said. Shes a long-serving, highly regarded, and very effective academic leader, and an excellent clinician/scientist, at an aspirational peer institution. This background, combined with her intellectual rigor, openness, and compassion make her a great fit to lead the college in its next phase of growth and development as one of the nations top veterinary colleges.

Borjesson said shes thrilled to meet with WSU students, staff and faculty, as well as meeting with college and university stakeholders in the near future.

Being from the Pacific Northwest, this feels like a homecoming, said Borjesson, who was raised in Portland, Ore. Increasing engagement and outreach across the state is a top priority for me upon taking up this new role. In addition to engagement and strategic planning, Im also eager to face some of the critical issues facing members of the veterinary profession, including student debt and enhancing the well-being of our faculty, students and staff.

Among her more notable research contributions is using large animal models of disease to study cell therapy for inflammatory diseases.

Borjesson holds two patents in the area of mesenchymal stem cells and immunomodulation and has contributed to more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, and in 2014 received the Zoetis Research Excellence Award. Alongside her own work, she has mentored more than three dozen veterinary residents and graduate students.

She and her colleague Dr. Aijun Wangs work with stem cells was highlighted in an extensive piece in the Los Angeles Times in 2018 about UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Borjesson received her undergraduate education from the Colorado College in 1988, her Master in Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from UC Davis in 1995. She completed a residency at UC Davis in clinical pathology in 1999, followed by her PhD in comparative pathology at the Center for Comparative Medicine at UC Davis in 2002.

After completing her PhD, Borjesson accepted an assistant professorship at the University of Minnesota, where she worked for four years before returning to UC Davis as an associate professor in 2006. She became a full professor in 2012. She has led the Integrative Pathobiology Graduate Group at UC Davis and is actively engaged in veterinary and graduate student curriculum development, teaching and mentoring.

Established in 1899, the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine is proud of its distinguished past as one of the oldest veterinary colleges in the United States. It is equally proud of its contemporary leadership nationally in offering programs for student wellness, its Teaching Academy, which leads its commitment to advancing the state of the art in both health professions and STEM education, and its research and graduate education programs. The breadth of research to discover foundational knowledge and to conduct research targeted to improve animal and human health both domestically and around the world places it in the top 10% of veterinary colleges in receipt of competitive federal research funding.

Phil Weiler, vicepresident for marketing and communications, 5093351221, phil.weiler@wsu.edu

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‘The Goop Lab’ and other controversial documentaries: Why Netflix is facing criticism for promoting ‘pseudoscience’ – Yahoo Lifestyle

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

Netflix is stirring up controversy by giving Gwyneth Paltrow a platform to share what several critics are calling pseudoscience with her new show, The Goop Lab, which debuted this week.

The show, which Netflix files under provocative and quirky, is described as the following: Leading with curiosity, Gwyneth Paltrow and her goop team look at psychedelics, energy work and other challenging wellness topics.

The topics being tackled in the series range from energy healing, psychic mediums and orgasm workshops to taking psychedelics as a form of therapy and plunging into freezing water to stimulate the immune system.

Along with the Daily Beast calling the show a nightmare, Time writer Judy Berman writes: As with the brand itself, whats disturbing about the show is that when you combine Gwyneths aura of trustworthiness with a mishmash of real science, New Age nonsense, vague female empowerment rhetoric, naked commercialism and some startling knowledge gaps in areas where Goop claims expertise, the result has its unique dangers.

Related Video: Gwyneth Paltrows The Goop Lab: Fact-Checking the Health Claims

But in the shows defense, some of the featured wellness practices are supported by science. In one episode, for example, it appears that Paltrow is getting a PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, facial (what some call a vampire facial, which is a trademarked term) an anti-aging treatment thats popular with celebrities.

With the facial, venous blood is taken from the patient and separated into the cellular component and the plasma component, Nava Greenfield, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, explains to Yahoo Lifestyle. The plasma is then injected or topically applied back to the patient in specific locations. It can be used for hair loss, or in combination with microneedling for the face. Microneedling is a popular procedure where tiny needles are used to induce a specific kind of injury to the first and second layer of skin, promoting collagen synthesis. When used in combination with PRP, superior results are often obtained.

Although it may sound out there, the facial stimulates the production of collagen to help tighten, smooth, and improve skin tone, according to the Cleveland Clinic. As with any injection, the treatment does carry a small risk of bleeding, pain or infection, but is considered safe.

In another episode, people really, Goops employees who have volunteered to try these experimental wellness treatments take psychedelic drugs, leaving one employee sobbing on the floor and then later saying, I went through years of therapy in about five hours.

David Spiegel, MD, director of the Stanford Center for Integrative Medicine, tells Yahoo Lifestyle that theres actually some interesting research on the psychotherapeutic effects of psychedelics (such as MDMA and magic mushrooms), with one 2018 National Institutes of Health study calling the therapy potentially life-preserving. Some clinical trials are showing it helps with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in people nearing the end of life, he says. It can help people come to terms with impending death.

But Spiegel emphasizes that psychedelic drugs need to be used in a controlled setting and in combination with psychotherapy for these mental health benefits.

Gwyneth Paltrow getting a PRP (or platelet rich plasma) facial on an episode of Netflix's The Goop Lab. (Screenshot: Netflix)

Still, plenty criticize The Goop Lab (or really, anything Goop or Gwyneth Paltrow-related, for that matter), and question the legitimacy and safety of some of the practices in the series, pointing out the lack of objective experts. But while many may view the decision as an oversight, Elise Loehnen, chief content officer at Goop and executive producer of The Goop Lab, suggested to Fast Company that it was deliberate: We felt like we would be manufacturing drama by trying to find a detractor.

Timothy Caulfield, research chair in health law and policy and professor in the Faculty of Law and School of Public Health at the University of Alberta in Canada has been vocal about his criticism of The Goop Lab, writing on Twitter that the series is an infomercial for [Paltrows] pseudoscience business a business worth an estimated $250 million.

The topics covered are classic wellness woo: a mashup of the supernatural, spiritual and science-y, Caulfield tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Some topics, like the cold therapy, use the familiar strategy of a powerful testimonial the 'inventor Wim Hof with an extreme experience cold! and a dash of scientific speculation to make it seem credible.

Spiegel is also wary of the series, telling Yahoo Lifestyle: Goop is her company so its an infomercial, basically. Shes a great actress, but that doesn't make her an expert on these so-called treatments. Its fine to explore things as long as you dont pretend your exploration is more than what it is. I dont like the pretense of it being a scientific examination.

Several other doctors, most notably Jennifer Gunter, MD, have repeatedly called out Paltrow and Goop in the past for what Business Insider calls scientifically indefensible and potentially harmful health information and products, including the now-famous jade and rose quartz vaginal eggs. Goop claimed the stone eggs provided health benefits when inserted vaginally namely, balance their hormones, regulate menstrual cycles, prevent uterine prolapse and increase bladder control, according to the Los Angeles Times. But after a lawsuit was filed by 10 state prosecutors in California over advertisements not backed by competent and reliable scientific evidence, the company ended up paying $145,000 in civil penalties. (Jade eggs, $66, are currently unavailable on the site.)

Goop has some fine advice, for example, [in] an article on sleep on their site, Gunter said in a statement provided to Yahoo Lifestyle. They also distribute some dangerous advice, for example drinking goats milk to treat parasites (the parasites are non-existent). When good information is next to harmful and presented in the same way, how can people distinguish? In addition, they sell useless and potentially harmful products, such as supplements.

Gunter continued: Finally, they have used their international platform to advance harmful ideas, many of which are medical conspiracy theories. For example, bras cause breast cancer (they don't), fears about vaccine safety and concerns about fluoride, adding, The supplements are not supported by science. At all. The idea that a medium can help with health is as anti-science as one can be; it is the definition of snake oil. So you'll have to ask Goop for the science behind their myriad of false claims.

Critics are concerned that those misleading claims will now have an even bigger platform on The Goop Lab, with Netflixs 167 million subscribers worldwide. Ars Technicas Beth Mole writes that, on the show, Paltrows ignorance and lack of critical thinking skills are on full display as a parade of questionable experts with the noted exception of sex educator Betty Dodson, PhD and ridiculous claims about health and science march across the small screen unchallenged.

Caulfield tells Yahoo Lifestyle, The spreading of misinformation can have a real impact. Just being exposed to this nonsense can make it seem more plausible, especially if it is packaged in a memorable manner.

He adds, I also think that a show like this adds more noise to an already confused health information environment. In this age of misinformation, it is disappointing to see an entity like Goop, which has a long history of profiting from misinformation, have the opportunity to push more pseudoscience. We shouldn't forget that Goop and Gwyneth benefit financially from the growth of their brand, which is what this show does. It is an infomercial for Goop, not an independent science-informed documentary.

Critics have also called out Netflix, saying this isnt the first time the streaming service has created controversy with its health documentaries. As HuffPost U.K. (HuffPost U.K. and Yahoo are owned by the same parent company, Verizon Media) put it: The streaming service has a history of producing irresponsible health programs that could potentially affect viewers.

In 2019, RealClearScience.com posted a list of multiple shows that have aired on Netflix, which the publication dubbed anti-science documentaries, while the American Council on Science and Health shared their own list back in 2017. The documentaries called out include What the Health, Cowspiracy and The Magic Pill.

In What the Health, Vox wrote that the film cherry-picks studies about nutrition and often exaggerates their findings or reports them out of context, to drive home his case for veganism and cranks the food fear sirens to irresponsibly high levels, such as claiming that eating processed meats is as bad for you as smoking.

As Vox points out, theres a causal link between eating processed meat and certain types of cancer in humans, chiefly colorectal cancer. But the actual risk is quite modest and far, far smaller than the cancer risks from smoking. According to the World Health Organization, processed meat has been classified in the same category as causes of cancer such as tobacco smoking and asbestos... but this does NOT mean that they are all equally dangerous.

In The Magic Pill, Australian chef Pete Evans claims that the popular keto diet can treat type 2 diabetes, cancer and autism. Michael Gannon, then president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), called The Magic Pill hurtful, harmful and mean and compared it to the controversial film, Vaxxed, telling the West Australian in 2017 that both films were competing in the awards for the films least likely to contribute to public health.

In 2018, the current AMA president, Tony Bartone, MD, shared his own opinion about The Magic Pill, telling the Sydney Morning Herald: All forms of media have to take a responsible attitude when trying to spread a message of wellness. Netflix should do the responsible thing. They shouldn't screen it. The risk of misinformation... is too great.

While noting that Netflix has some incredible documentaries, HuffPosts Todd Van Luling (HuffPost and Yahoo are owned by the same parent company, Verizon Media) writes that many of the documentaries the streaming service adds each month make dubious claims that wouldnt withstand scrutiny from a fact-checker.

But in at least one case, Netflix appears to have listened to critics by pulling the documentary, Root Cause, in March 2019, which came under fire after several medical organizations, including the American Dental Association, said the film falsely links the root canal procedure to breast cancer and heart disease, employing baseless claims gleaned from discredited 1920s research, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Yahoo Lifestyle reached out to Netflix for comment but has not yet heard back.

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Research thrives at Mindfulness Center – The Brown Daily Herald

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

As students take a step into another year and another semester, exams and busy schedules, the Mindfulness Center at Brown continues to connect University researchers from diverse areas of study.

The Mindfulness Centers mission is to develop research and provide evidence-based mindfulness programs that are inspiring and accessible to communities worldwide, said Eric Loucks, director of the Mindfulness Center and associate professor of epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences and medicine. Its principal aims are in research, mindfulness programs, training experts in the field and collaborating with other organizations to produce system-wide impacts, he added.

Mindfulness involves increasing peoples awareness of their emotions and bodily reactions so that they may alter their behavior as needed, said Jud Brewer, the director of research and innovation at the Mindfulness Center and associate professor of behavioral and social sciences at the School of Public Health. Mindfulness training is there to help people live better lives, and that involves changing both physical behavior, (and)also mental behaviors, like judging ourselves or worrying.

Since the Center opened in the Jewelry District in 2017, it has connected investigators who incorporate mindfulness into their research, The Herald previously reported. These researchers come from various Brown-affiliated institutions, including the School of Public Health, Warren Alpert Medical School and neighboring hospitals.

A study on the effects of mindfulness on blood pressure was published in November. The results from the clinical trial were part of a larger project funded by a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health in 2015, The Herald previously reported. The project team, consisting of researchers from multiple disciplines and universities, conducted systematic reviews on how mindfulness influences self-regulation and self-awareness, Loucks said. He was one of the principal investigators of the study.

If hypertension, or high blood pressure, is not properly controlled as is the case in about half of people with the condition it can cause stroke and heart disease, which are the biggest killers in the world, Loucks said. The study sought to determine whether mindfulness skills like self-awareness, emotional regulation and meditation could reduce hypertension when applied to medical regimens that affect blood pressure, such as exercise and eating, he added.

Participants of the study, who had been unable to regulate their blood pressure through physical activity, diet or medications alone, underwent nine weeks of mindfulness training. Afterwards, they were asked to incorporate the techniques into other daily behaviors of their choosing, Loucks said. Prior research on the reduction of blood pressure through mindfulness without the application to other behaviors yielded inconsistent, and less significant, findings, Loucks said. But this clinical trial resulted in a significant drop in average blood pressure among the participants, and these decreases were noticeable as early as three months following the program.

Whereas the intention of this first trial was geared towards determining the acceptability and efficacy of the mindfulness interventions, the research team is currently finishing a second, randomly controlled clinical trial for which Loucks hopes to have results by this summer. This study includes a control group that did not undergo mindfulness training a component that was absent from the first trial. If this subsequent study confirms the results of the November study, the next steps may include improving the efficacy and efficiency of the studied mindfulness techniques, and offering this kind of program to the public, he added.

Director of Integrative Cardiology and Prevention and Associate Professor Monica Aggarwal at the University of Florida, who was not involved in the study, researches the effects of nutrition and lifestyle on cardiovascular health. Seeing more studies showing an integrative approach to managing cardiovascular risk factors is excellent, Aggarwal wrote in an email to The Herald. I believe we will be seeing more and more studies showing that an integrative approach works in the coming years.

But seeing more metabolic parameters of stress and more clinical parameters would have been great, Aggarwal wrote.

Another principal investigator of this project, Willoughby Britton, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior and of behavioral and social sciences, has also researched meditation. Britton directs the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory with Visiting Professor of Religious Studies Jared Lindahl.

After Britton came across a counterintuitive and surprising finding in a previous study that meditation reduced sleep she has further investigated potential consequences of mindfulness.

As part of the Varieties of Contemplative Experience project the largest study ever conducted on negative meditation experiences Britton studied meditation teachers and 60 meditators who were experiencing difficulties resulting from meditation, she said. Britton has also been investigating the bodily and mental effects associated with various meditation practices and how outcomes may differ among people with varying personalities or conditions, she added.

From a clinical perspective, Brandon Gaudiano, a psychologist and associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior and of behavioral and social sciences, conducts research at Butler Hospital. His work involves the application of acceptance and commitment therapy an approach that alters peoples behavior using their values in those with psychotic disorders and depression, Gaudiano said.

He has partnered with Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Psychiatry and Human Behavior David Williams on an ongoing investigation using mindfulness to help increase physical activity in those who have depression, Loucks said.

The Center has been innovative in its incorporation of technologies such as digital therapeutics and functional MRI an imaging technique that can be used to show how meditation affects brain activity, Brewer said.

In his own lab, Brewer investigates meditations impact on the brain and mindfulness apps effects on health. For example, the Unwinding Anxiety program used a mindfulness application targeting anxiety, and the results revealed significant reductions in anxiety after a couple of months, he added. The findings illustrate how mindfulness training reduces peoples susceptibility to their emotions, which alleviates anxiety, Brewer said.

Amidst the stresses of college, the free Mindfulness-Based College program at the Mindfulness Center has showed positive results in a clinical trial, Loucks said.

In its research, the Mindfulness Center has also addressed diversity.

After expanding to the west from eastern cultures, wealthy communities have become the primary beneficiary of mindfulness programming, said Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences and of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Jeffrey Proulx.

But Proulx, who joined the Mindfulness Center Sept. 2019, works to bring mindfulness research to underserved populations. Proulx came to the University because the Mindfulness Center here is one of the premier locations of people who guide the policies of mindfulness around the world, he said. Proulx, who is Native American, has focused on bringing mindfulness to Native American communities to alleviate prevailing distress and intergenerational trauma, he added. Stress can elevate heart rate, reduce brain volume and negatively impact the immune system, Proulx said.

Unlike other researchers studying mindfulness in Native American communities, Proulx is creating unique interventions for them, he said. His current projects include studies of mindfulness programs with Native American communities in Oregon and California, the Eastern Band Cherokee in North Carolina, and the Narragansett Tribe in Rhode Island. Proulx receives feedback from communities in attempt to find parallels between Native American traditions like berry picking, dancing and meditation and mindfulness practices, he said.

Proulx focuses his work on bringing mindfulness interventions in really respectful ways to Native American communities His ability to navigate through diversity and inclusion is inspiring, Loucks said.

Im just excited that Im at Brown and at the Mindfulness Center, especially because of their commitment to diversity, Proulx said. The Mindfulness Center is filled with people that have such an open focus on the future and on being inclusive.

Although the researchers affiliated with the Mindfulness Center are based in many different locations, the establishment has enabled collaboration amongst the researchers and between them and mindfulness educators, Loucks said. We have very strong mindfulness research, but then we also have very strong mindfulness teacher training programs so theres a lot of synergies between those two.

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Rebuilding the YMCA – MPNnow.com

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

The opening of one of the largest YMCAs in the nation in Pittsford comes as Ys in Clifton Springs and elsewhere undergo major overhauls

From the splashy new $40 million YMCA in Pittsford to a revamp of the oldest YMCA building still used in the nation, in Clifton Springs, YMCAs across the region are undergoing big changes.

The next-generation YMCA is evident at the Schottland Family Branch, which opened last fall at the corner of Clover Street and Jefferson Road in Pittsford. The 140,000-square-foot facility on 20 acres offers everything from a golf and sports simulator to a gigantic aquatic center with a pirate shipwreck-themed splash pad, whirlpool and current channel. In an exercise your mind center, find sound and recording booths for music and video production not to mention a whole host of health and wellness programs and the latest in fitness equipment.

Its not your grandfathers YMCA, but the Schottland Family Branch one of the largest in the country is a prime example of what the organization founded in England in 1844 has been up to in recent years.

It doesnt stop there. YMCAs in rural communities are stepping up, too, to upgrade outdated buildings and revamp how they deliver programs and services.

Modern Y for historic village

The Palace Theatre in Clifton Springs, an early 20th-century building that oncehoused a theater downtown, has been part of the Clifton Springs YMCA for decades. Reconstruction of the facility, which is set to begin April 1, will create a modern wellness center with a fully accessible welcoming lobby and space ideal for personal training, indoor sports and youth fitness programs. Without compromising historic architectural features, the 3,300-square-foot renovation of the Palace will be the first phase of a $1.5 million upgrade that includes the YMCAs original building across Crane Street that dates back to 1879.

A $300,000 state grant recently announced by the Regional Economic Development Council is the icing on the cake, said Todd Freelove, executive director of the Clifton Springs Family YMCA. The grant puts the Y closer to meeting its fundraising goal for the Palace renovation, Freelove said. The Clifton Springs Y is eyeing renovation of its original building to tentatively begin this fall. The 5,500-square-foot upgrade of the original YMCA building will triple the size of the weight room and create a spacious area for child care, among other programs.

Freelove talked about the community support that has made the project possible as he showed off the aging facilities with uneven floors, narrow hallways and fitness machines crammed together.

A native of Phelps, Freelove said the Y has been part of his life for a long time. He has worked at other YMCAs in the area and now calls the Clifton Springs YMCA home.

This is my place to be, he said.

Situated above the desk in his office, a bulletin board is filled with photos of kids, cards and drawings. He said he sees the YMCA fulfilling its mission of serving the community and promoting core values respect, responsibility, honesty and caring and he is excited to be part of that.

Not just a health club

At the Geneva Family YMCA, a $750,000 state grant announced in 2018 is going toward a 9,600-square-foot expansion and renovation of its facility on Williams Street. It will create more space for health and wellness programs that include chronic disease prevention and recovery. The Y will continue to play a role in economic development through expanded on-the-job training and certification programs for youths.

The YMCA is not just a health club, said Charles Evangelista, chairman of the Geneva Ys Capital Campaign Steering Committee. We really listen to what the community needs and weve aligned our programs for those needs.

The fastest growing demographic is senior citizens and so more space and programs need to be devoted to this group, Evangelista said. At the same time, the Y provides programs for all ages and the entire family, he added. A nonprofit organization, the Y provides scholarships and financial help so people who couldnt otherwise afford the Y benefit, he said. Evangelista mentioned that this is especially important in Geneva where the poverty rate is higher than many other communities.

If Ys are not out there doing work for the community and making sure everyone has access, regardless of ability to pay, we might as well be just another gym down the street, he said.

Evangelista said the $4.5 million upgrade of the Geneva Y is a necessity to have a modern facility that meets the needs. He sees the goal within reach and a possible groundbreaking this spring.

Look to the future

Back in the 1990s, Laurie OShaughnessy visited a YMCA in North Carolina that partnered with the medical community. The concept is catching on with YMCAs in New York state, said OShaughnessy, CEO of the Canandaigua Family YMCA. Though New York is late to the game, it has allowed us the opportunity to perfect those relationships, she said.

The YMCA of Greater Rochester, which oversees 11 area Y branches including the new Schottland Family Branch, is behind this concept of marrying Y fitness and wellness offerings with healthcare. A collaborative agreement announced in 2018 gives area residents greater access to UR Medicine wellness programs and clinical services at all YMCA of Greater Rochester sites. The Schottland branch includes a 15,000-square-foot wellness hub with medical services for Y members and the community at large.

The Canandaigua Y, which is an independent YMCA and so not under the Greater Rochester umbrella, is also working to strengthen community health and well-being, OShaughnessy said.

Integrative health is a trend nationally and the YMCA of Greater Rochester and UR Medicine are proud to be part of that trend, she said. In the future, Canandaigua would welcome that opportunity.

The Geneva Y, also one of 48 independent YMCAs in the state, is exploring a partnership with a healthcare system, Evangelista said. As part of its renovation and expansion, the Geneva Y has had discussions with UR Medicine Thompson Health and Finger Lakes Health, to see which partnership would make the best fit, he said. Evangelista said it makes sense to have a one-stop shop where you can visit a healthcare provider and benefit from health and wellness programs.

Recent developments at the Canandaigua Y include a two-year management agreement that was signed this Jan. 1 with the YMCA of Greater Rochester. The YMCA of Greater Rochester will provide the Canandaigua Y with consultation and help in areas including membership, programs, marketing, fundraising, IT, human resources and property management.

Rich Buch, who has been the Canandaigua YMCAs director of business and finance for seven years, is now employed by the YMCA of Greater Rochester as the Canandaigua branch director. OShaughnessy and Buch are working closely leading up to OShaughnessys retirement March 31.

Discussions are also underway regarding use of a recent $20,000 state grant through the Regional Economic Development Council to upgrade Canandaigua Y facilities. OShaughnessy said she is excited for the future of the YMCA, where she has worked for three decades.

We are constantly looking at all options to better the Y, serve the community and ensure long-term sustainability, OShaughnessy said.

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