The 'Brain Gym' workout for all ages.

There is a new fad crossing the country. Individuals wanting to exercise their cognitive muscle are trying the new ‘Brain Gym’ concept. In a study published in 2006 in the American Medical Association a clinical trial involving 2,832 older adults found that “cognitive training” such as identifying patterns in a series of letters or words helped improve memory and reasoning skills. A more recent study of 487 adults aged 65 and older found that people who exercised with brain fitness software for 40 hours over eight weeks noted significant improvement in memory and attention skills.

The new NeuroActive Bike or “brain bike” has been reported to combine the benefits of physical activity while pumping more blood to your brain. This concept is also supposed to lower the risk of cognitive decline. All ages have been enjoying the “brain bike”. It is powered by your pedaling and has a wireless mouse for the games. The “brain bike” is currently being placed in fitness centers, schools and retirement homes.

Scientists continue to look for the causes and cures of age-related illnesses. While they seek the answers there are still several low cost ways that can keep us mentally fit. Low-tech games such as Checkers and Chess are favorites for all generations. The Crossword puzzles, Scrabble, and Sodoku puzzles continue to keep the brain sharp for problem-solving. Keeping socially active with book clubs, dancing and other hobbies are also great ways to keep the brain healthy.

Scientific research consistently reports that the brain has significant potential to acquire new knowledge at all ages. The neuroplasticity of the brain has the ability to change and map new neural pathways, stimulate new cell growth and deliver better blood flow and oxygen to the brain. This process should help to improve your short and long-term memory and accelerate your processing speed. Wichita, Kansas has their own ‘Brain Gym’ expert Dorothy Gray who is a licensed Brain Gym instructor and consultant. Contact her today to learn more about how to exercise your brain daily so you can have optimum mental health at any age.

Your College-Bound Student

It’s a proud day when you watch your child leave for college. As a parent you have been working toward this moment since your child was born. This transition from child to young adult can be exhausting and emotionally draining for the parent. You have done all the preparatory work with finances, dormitory room preparation and now you are ready to give your college-bound freshman a positive send-off.

Emotionally parents must be prepared to let go of their young adult and develop a new role of support. College is a huge economic investment for parents and student alike so discussing expectations should be done early in the preparation stage. Your college bound student should be able to balance their checkbook, know how to make their own doctor appointments and fill prescriptions as needed.

If your student calls you in a panic coach them through the choices that are available. This is an important learning situation for them to build confidence in themselves. Your student will be faced with many new dilemmas from roommates to college professors. Try not to become too involved with these concerns. Trust your student to resolve the concern to the best of their abilities. Let your student know you are proud of them and will be supportive in this time of transition. Send them e-mails and text messages to let them know you are thinking of them.

The days will pass quickly and your student will be home to visit on the holidays. You will see them grow to the adult you have always envisioned. It will be a memory to celebrate together.

Wichita Staycation

Webster dictionary has just added the new term staycation to the English language. It is defined as a vacation in which the vacationer stays at home or makes day trips to area attractions. A staycation is the perfect economical alternative to the conventional vacation that may take more cash flow than you are willing to spend with the status of our current economy.

The Wichita area is very family friendly and has a wide variety of activities to choose from and experience. If your family enjoys the outdoors there are several area lakes where you could go fishing or camping. You could ride your bikes to a local park and picnic or attend a free activity at your local library. There are several swimming pools throughout the city and area YMCA’s for all types of sports or relaxation. That evening try playing a baseball game or plan a barbeque with friends.

For other entertainment ideas you could visit the wide spectrum of museums that Wichita has to offer. Go to the Wichita Chamber of Commerce website for all the local choices. Depending on your family interests there is the Historic Old Cowtown Museum, Mid-American All-Indian Center, Exploration Place, Botanica Gardens and the Museum of World Treasures all located within a few minutes of each other. For animal lovers the Sedgwick County Zoo has several new exhibits to explore or try walking through the Great Plains Nature Center. When the stars come out head to the Lake Afton Public Observatory to learn more about the constellations or experience the Starlite Drive-In for a movie marathon.

For the shopaholic Wichita has a nice variety of shopping malls and stores throughout the city. There is Towne East and Towne West Square Malls that have a wide variety of stores if you want to add a few things to your wardrobe or redecorate a room. If you’re looking for those unique items you might try Clifton Square, Bradley Fair or the Waterfront for ideas. Don’t forget the Delano District downtown which offers a unique variety of shopping, dining, music and theatre entertainment.

Dining in Wichita has become a wonderful experience with every cuisine available from the major restaurant chains to the small business owner sharing their own special cultural dishes with us. After dinner the Warren Theatre offers movie choices throughout the city in luxury surroundings.

Becoming a tourist in your own community keeps your money at home and allows you the opportunity to try new activities that you may never have made time for before. So plan that staycation and start relaxing today. You’ll find that Wichita has a lot to offer for every age group in your family.

Marital Bliss

Couples that have been together for any length of time often forget what the original attraction was to each other. The day to day irritations of quirky habits begin a cycle of unresolved differences. The dirty laundry on the floor, dishes that need to be put away, a toilet that needs fixed become big issues when the partner feels neglected, unloved or not appreciated.

Relationships are a two-way street. If one partner nags relentlessly communication stops and the blame game begins. Most arguments are based with one partner’s concept of how things should be done from finances to laundry. Discussing these concerns with “I” statements will help diffuse the issue and open the partner to active listening. Sharing your needs in a respectful way and brainstorming at least two alternatives to try will allow couples to step out of the argument and begin to problem-solve the concerns.

Staying emotionally and intimately connected to your partner is difficult with the hectic pace of today. Couples should try to allocate one evening a week as their “date night” and take turns in planning an activity. It can be as simple as staying home and turning off all electronic devices so that you can both focus on each other without interruption. This lets your partner know that spending time together is a priority for you. When you fix their favorite meal, compliment their strengths, or purchase a thoughtful gift your partner will feel loved. That thoughtful gesture will bring a smile to their face and keep your relationship healthy.

Best wishes,

Gina

Getting a Good Night's Sleep

As we all experience the current recession there are many of us struggling to sleep through the night. When suffering with anxiety and depression or under extreme duress our mind will start processing our concerns while we are trying to fall asleep or wake us up after sleeping for a couple of hours. It is very difficult to problem solve concerns if we are fatiqued and irritable.

Prevention magazine reports simple steps that everyone can follow so that they can "sleep like a baby."

1. Make breakfast your heaviest meal.
2. Cut out the caffiene after 2PM.
3. Go outside when it is sunny to reset your awake-sleep cycle.
4. Drink your eight, 8 oz. glasses of water each day.
5. Exercise every day, preferably in the morning.
6. Take a 15 minute nap when needed.
7. Go to bed only when you are sleepy.
8. Move the television out of the bedroom.
9. Create a sleep schedule and stick to it.
10. Try herbal teas instead of sleeping pills.

If you have difficulty falling asleep and have for several months, you could be sleep deprived. Contact your local mental health professional to discuss your options.

Practice good self-care!

Gina

Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Our lifestyles today are packed with personal and professional deadlines. We can find ourselves overwhelmed with to do lists and racing against the clock to get that last project completed. Ruminating over these deadlines or obsessing about what needs to be completed can often lead to anxiety and depressive symptoms.

So if you are that type A personality that is prone to obsessing you might want to try the following interventions to stop the ruminating.
1. Put on the music and dance, watch a comedy, call a friend, clean the kitchen. Do a task that takes about 10 minutes. That is the minimum of time needed to break the cycle of thoughts.
2. Allow your self five minutes to ponder the list you have to tackle and then move on with your plan of action.
3. Meditate for a minute by taking that cleansing breath, closing your eyes and just focus on your breathing.
4. Ask yourself what is the worst thing that can happen in this situation. Accept that and then move forward to cope.
5. Use your support system to let you know when you are out of control.
6. Accept that you are human and will make mistakes. Sometimes we are kinder to a stranger than we are to ourselves.

Be sure to practice your self-care daily and seek professional help when your obsessive thoughts interfere with your sleep and quality of life.

Best wishes,
Gina

Hugs and Kisses Decrease Stress

A recent study from the journal of Psychosomatic Medicine reports that loving touches can lower our stress hormone cortisol by 7%. Anything from sex to holding hands can do the trick! You will become calmer every minute you are enjoying a pleasureable touch. The stress-snuggle connection was studied by Beate Ditzen PhD. who studied 51 couples for a week, asking them to record their activities and take saliva samples every three hours. The results were that intimacy reduced cortisol levels by improving their mood.

Studies have already proven that a loving touch can reduce blood pressure and have other health benefits. Angry hugs don't work, which is why only happily married couples benefit from longer and healthier lives. If you don't have a mate handy for hugs, try getting the benefit from family and friends as there have been other studies that have linked friendship with good health, longevity and less stess. So in these stressful economic times just borrow a hug and feel better!

Best wishes,

Gina