	SEARCH Advanced Search
Blog SHOPPING CART MY ACCOUNT

Current Articles | Categories | Search | Syndication

Friday, May 01, 2009

New Harbinger Bookstore opens today!

New Harbinger's bookstore is opening tonight. Some of the guests are authors, local publishers, media, and of course NHP employees. Check out our tweets tonight for more about the event.

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Friday, May 01, 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Illness Patrol

We’ve all done it. Dragged ourselves to work even though we’re experiencing flu-like symptoms or perhaps the worst case of allergies has just kicked in. You’re congested, achy, and sniffly, but you show up to work anyway. You just can’t bear the thought of getting more behind, and they need you, you insist. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to quit in the middle of the shift and head straight for bed. But what if you can’t? What if you can’t afford to miss even one day’s work? Take five minutes to be mindful of every course of action that you can take to heal your illness. Below are reminders to be gentle with yourself and to move slowly and cautiously when you’re sick. Keep a cup of calming herbal tea beside you all day. Get some fresh air and feel the sun on your face. Give yourself permission to sit down, get comfortable, close your eyes, and remember that even a few minutes of rest will conserve energy. Replenish your body...

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Thursday, April 30, 2009

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Keeping Hope Afloat

Hope is an inside job. Although poet Alexander Pope said, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast,” hope springs faster and more consistently when we consciously encourage and consistently practice keeping hope afloat in our hearts and souls. In order to keep hope alive, it’s extremely important that we monitor what we allow ourselves to see, hear, and feel, especially in regards to the media. Because our subconscious minds accept as real not only our personal experiences but also those we watch or imagine vividly, it’s up to us to choose mindfully and wisely what we watch and read. Because images imprint deeply, the disturbing pictures and commentary favored by the media can act as an emotional acid, etching the pain and suffering we witness into our own psyches. Such images can pull the plug on our reserves of hope. Limiting your exposure to sensationalism of all kinds is wise. Allow yourself to be as informed as you feel the need to be but not deformed by overexposure and overs...

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Create an Exercise Program that Promotes Bone Health

I [author Annemarie Colbin, Ph.D.] genuinely believe that in order to create an effective exercise habit, you must think about what you can sustain not for weeks, but for decades. What sort of movement and exercise can you do that you'll enjoy and that won't elicit the mule response? What feels good to your body? In terms of bone health, three types of exercise are known to be helpful: weight-bearing exercise, strength training, and flexibility. As to the specifics, you have to choose forms of these types of exercise that are fun or sustainable for you and that incorporate as many of those details as possible. Weight-Bearing Exercise Weight-bearing exercise isn't as complicated as it may sound. It can be as simple as walking, hiking, dancing, or climbing stairs. Your own body weight will suffice; it isn't necessary to introduce additional weight. Walking is excellent for bone health because it's the form of movement that most efficiently puts just enough gentle strain on the...

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Monday, April 27, 2009

On Becoming Unbalanced in Midlife

By guest blogger Janet Horn, M.D. I’ve become unbalanced. This didn’t develop slowly; rather, it seemed to happen overnight. Two things occurred right around the time I realized this problem. Perhaps they even caused me to realize it. The first thing occurred with Teddy, my dog. Teddy is a standard poodle of sixty pounds and 9 years, with a prancing gait and a beautiful red coat. One of the first things you would notice about him is his posture, at both rest and in motion. At rest, he looks like a sculpture – head erect, front legs placed directly in front of him, sometimes crossed, sometimes not – holding this position completely still for long periods of time. When walking or running, he is wonderfully coordinated, no one body part moving more or less than any other part. It was with some upset, then, when one day I noticed him falling as he walked. Not just a simple fall – more like crumpling. His entire body simply folded and collapsed. At first I thought he must’ve tr...

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Monday, April 27, 2009

Friday, April 24, 2009

Beautiful Bellies

We know strong abdomens are good for our backs and spines, so we do our push-ups and abdominal curls. Our rectus abdominus and obliques are strong but, oh dear, the belly’s still there. Maybe it’s telling us we should honor the mature belly. The round, full stomach is the place from which life springs. It is our little incubator, our all-important center, our hub. As mothers we used it in the way it was intended. During pregnancy, the bigger the belly, the better. Husbands and big brothers, even perfect strangers would touch our bellies and bend over and talk to the creature inside. Then once the baby was out, we started in again complaining about our damn stomachs. It starts early. We think it’s adorable the way little kids walk with their stomachs out for balance. We love those bellies. Then we force those jolly little tummies into designer jeans and the poor kid starts thinking, “I gotta do something about this gut.” No matter how much we women exercise, there will always b...

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Friday, April 24, 2009

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Loving-kindness toward difficult emotions: Be still

If you're restless and don't know what to do with yourself, stay where you are. Just be still, be quiet. Let the eagerness to do something cool down. Let the pull of the outside world release its grip on you. Just as the sediment in a bottle settles to the bottom, so will your emotions if you let them be still. Wherever you are in this moment, stay there. Don't go anywhere. You are right where you need to be. Bring your attention to your breath. Take three or four deep breaths. When you inhale, let it be deep. When you exhale, let the breath out slowly. Now repeat the following phrases to yourself a few times. Every time you say the words, let them penetrate your restlessness. May I have courage. May I trust myself. May I have patience. May I be free from fear. Remember, you are right where you need to be. from The Gift of Loving-Kindness: 100 Meditations on Compassion, Generosi...

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Thursday, April 23, 2009

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The Joy of the World

The energy flowing between you, your body, and your connections with the body of the world can be consciously appreciated - if you pay close enough attention. Let this practice of mindful listening to a larger body tune you in to the joy of the world. The next time you are part of an audience or group of people who are laughing, decide to explore the energetic connections of joy. Set your intention. For example, "May this practice inspire and enliven me." Direct your mindful attention to the sounds of laughter; notice the loudness, the high and low tones, the rising and fading sounds, and the quiet spaces. As thoughts or stories arise in your mind, let them go without following them. Notice the sensations in your body as the laughter flows around you. Enjoy the moment as your body feels the joyful energy flowing through it. Take comfort in the sounds of joy. You are part of this laughter and human c...

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Page 19 of 20