Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of being fully present. In our day of technical addiction and multitasking, this is actually more challenging than ever before, which is probably why mindfulness is becoming so mainstream. There is a desperate need to feel more connected and content. For some, this practice comes naturally. Those who are really present in the kitchen, preparing loving meals and eating with consciousness, already do this practice instinctively. Those who immerse … [Read more...] about Mindfulness: What it is; How it Works
Understanding the Effects of Noise Pollution
Noise, or unwanted sound, is one of the most common environmental exposures in the United States. In 1981, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that nearly 100 million people in the United States (about 50% of the population) had annual exposures to traffic noise that were high enough to be harmful to health. How Does the Body Respond to Noise? Despite the widespread prevalence of noise exposure, noise has historically been treated differently from pollutants of a … [Read more...] about Understanding the Effects of Noise Pollution
Talking Points for Your First Family Vacation Abroad
You’re taking the family abroad soon? This is the first time? How exciting! To keep everyone relaxed and happy, there are a few things you can do before you depart on your epic family adventure. To give you some peace of mind, prepare your children for different cultures and plan ahead for unforeseeable circumstances. Purchasing travel insurance for you and your entire family when you start booking your vacation will cover your entire clan from the time you leave your home, until you return. … [Read more...] about Talking Points for Your First Family Vacation Abroad
Cold March Winds Beg for Hot Stone Massage
No doubt. March weather has its mood swings – it can be warm, it can be cold; it can be sunny, it can be snowy; it can be unseasonably warm; it can be bitter cold. However, the most noticeable and consistent weather factor in March seems to be the strong winds. The promise of spring seems to be blown from reach with breezy, windy and, of course, gusty days. Most of us are ready to get outside and start summer activities; yet, many of us find our muscles and joints aching and our bodies longing … [Read more...] about Cold March Winds Beg for Hot Stone Massage
Spring Migration is Right Around the Corner
The annual phenomenon of bird migration is right around the corner. Each spring, millions and millions of birds move north from their winter range in the tropics to exploit the long summer days we enjoy here in North America. Arizona is uniquely positioned to witness a lot of this migration activity because of the geographical location of our state. Most of the migratory bird species that summer in western North America spend their winters down in the tropics. Their migration route brings … [Read more...] about Spring Migration is Right Around the Corner
When Bad People Happen to Good Jobs
My mom once told me, “Nature’s laws are God’s laws, and they must be followed.” In her wisdom, she recognized the need to respect and adhere to the forces that aren’t going to change one iota – like gravity. One of my favorites is balance. This Law of Nature is demonstrated everywhere in the Universe: day and night, hills and valleys, good and evil, push and pull, plain and peanut. If there’s a depression, like a wash in the desert, at some point, it will fill with water. That’s just how it … [Read more...] about When Bad People Happen to Good Jobs
Honoring the Power of ATHENA
Colleen A. Smith, Ph.D., believes it’s extremely important to support women in their professional interests and career choices, especially in male-dominated fields. “This support demonstrates to our society that there are options for women that both women and men may have never considered possible until they see women succeeding in these areas. We need to tell these stories so that we continue to change the narrative around how people view gender and the world in which we live.” Smith, … [Read more...] about Honoring the Power of ATHENA
Can Sugar Water Ease Your Pain?
I know, I know. It sounds very odd to think that sugar water can help with pain and strength, right? The sugar water I’m talking about is dextrose and it can help with musculoskeletal pain as well as nerve pain. With more and more people seeking non-opioid options for pain relief, it’s worth exploring the power of dextrose and its ability to decrease or eliminate pain. Musculoskeletal pain If you’ve overused or injured a tendon and have pain, a dextrose injection in the form of … [Read more...] about Can Sugar Water Ease Your Pain?
Greenhouse Gas Detection to Help Improve Air Quality
Professor Kevin Gurney of NAU’s School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems is building a detailed three-dimensional map of the urban Washington, D.C. area that will reveal every source of greenhouse gas being emitted into the atmosphere down to individual buildings, like the Pentagon, and roads such as Pennsylvania Ave. Gurney, an atmospheric scientist, says this will be an important tool for the city to use to reduce carbon emissions, assess progress and improve air quality. The … [Read more...] about Greenhouse Gas Detection to Help Improve Air Quality
Dark Skies on the Rise
Dark skies are on the rise, as travelers across the planet seek out places where they can get clear views of the stars. So say the travel experts at Lonely Planet who have named dark skies a continuing travel trend. As the world’s first International Dark Sky Community, Flagstaff and others in Northern Arizona are tapping into the astrotourism trend. “Flagstaff provides amazing dark skies for stargazing, and more and more people will travel to our destination to enjoy Lowell Observatory, star … [Read more...] about Dark Skies on the Rise