REN DAO Wellness Center Monthly News Letter                                                                            November 2005
Main Article

Holiday Feast and Indigestion
November ushers in another season of holiday festivities and feasting. Year after year this season generate fond memories of family and friends bonded with feelings of thanksgiving and celebration. This season is also synonymous with overeating, over-indulgence and indigestion.
Indigestion (or Dyspepsia) has many symptoms including heartburn, nausea, stomachache, belching, flatulence etc. It may be accompanied by diarrhea or constipation. Common causes include eating to fast, ingesting to much spicy or fatty food, or simply overeating. Eating when angry, stressed or overly emotional may cause problems too. Less obvious is eating many different food types together. This can leave some foods undigested leading to bloating, flatulence and altered bowel transit time.
Proper digestion requires a few things; stomach acid, digestive enzymes, warmth and relaxation.
Stomach acid, digestive enzymes and the churning movement of the stomach and intestines break foods down into the basic nutrient absorbed by the body. Normal production of acid or enzymes may be reduced due to age, illness or stress. The ability to manufacture enough acid or enzymes can be overwhelmed by the shear volume of a meal. Taking supplements that support digestion can be helpful. The digestive process (especially the stomach) requires heat to work optimally. Drinking ice cold fluids, eating ice cream or cold, raw foods can diminish the digestive fire leading to poor digestion. Lastly, relaxation shifts energy and resources inward towards the digestive process.

Here are a few pointers to insure you eat well, digest well and enjoy your holiday meals:
•  Come to the table with the intention to fully enjoy your meal, the company you are with, and your surroundings.
•  Don’t worry about the weight you think you may gain.
•  Eat slowly and unhurried.
•  Chew your food well. Allow your sense of taste and smell to engage each bite.
•  Take smaller portions. Taking seconds is ok.
•  When you feel full, stop eating.
•  Stay away from foods you know will upset your stomach.
•  Avoid mixing raw easy to digest foods (like fruits and salads) with complex hard to digest foods (like red meats and thick starchy vegetables).
•  Avoid drinking excessive fluids with meals. Avoid iced or cold drinks.
•   Avoid talking with food in your mouth.

 Upcoming Events for November

  • 11/5  - Kyorei Bujinkan Dojo Promotion Test.

  • 11/8  - Start of Kid’s & Teens Judo Program.

  • 11/9  - Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Effective HCV Care.

  • 11/12 - Sugar, What is it and How Do We Consume It.

  • 11/16 - The Great American Smoke Out Tune-up.

  • 11/18 - Reiki Introduction and Group Healing.

  • 11.18 - Reiki Level I attunement and instruction.

  • 11/19 - Accelerated Healing 3001, Lecture and Attunement.


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    LATEST NEWS

    •  Shidoshi Warren Young and the Kyorei Bujinkan Dojo will hold their first student promotion test, Saturday Nov 5th at 10:00 am at the Ren Dao Wellness Center. All Kyorei Bujinkan, Bushi Kai and San Yama Bushi Dojo members and families are welcome to attend.

    •  Kids & Teens Judo class will start November 8th. Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm. Adults Judo classes will start at 6:30pm.
      We are also taking registrations for our Mondays 4:30pm Kids Yoga Class. Call to register or for more information.

    •  Body and Soul Essentials will hold a number of lectures this month in their store at 20 North Broadway. On Saturday, November 12th at 4:00 pm, Michael Kelly L.Ac. will give a talk on sugar, what is it and how does it appear in our consumable products. Excessive consumption of sugar is responsible for numerous health concerns. Understanding some of these issues will allow us to improve our health through healthier food choices. Please call Body and Soul Essentials directly at 914-375-7133, for information on their other events.

    •  The American Cancer Society (ACS) Great American Smokeout will be held November 17th. They ask each smoker to quit cigarettes for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever.
    We will hold a “Quit Smoking for a Day” tune-up, November 16th at 7:30pm to help prepare smokers for their day without cigarettes. We ask those who want to take part to please bring a cigarette and their desire to quit. The cost of this workshop is the price of a pack of cigarettes.

    THIS MONTH’S LECTURES

    11/9 Hepatitis Self Treatment with Massage and Acupuncture. Acupuncturist, Claudia McCormack will give a workshop on Complementary and Alternative Treatments for effective HCV (Hepatitis C) care. It is intended for patients, caretakers, family member and practitioners.
    The Workshop will be interactive and include demonstrations of acupuncture, acupressure and other alternative methods, to help manage common HCV complaints.   For more information.

    11/12 Sugar, What is it and How Do We Consume It.
    This lecture will be given at Body and Soul Essentials by Michael Kelly L.Ac. Please see Latest News Section for more information.
    Cost: Free. Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm

    11/16 The Great American Smokeout Tune-up. This one hour workshop will help participants to reduce or eliminate the cravings associated with cigarette smoking. Please see Latest News Section for more information.
    Cost: Price of a pack of cigarettes. Time: 7:30pm to 8:30pm

    11/18 Lecture, Demonstration and Level One Reiki Attunement
    Peter Goldbeck, Reiki Master and Energy Healer will give a two hour lecture and demonstration of the benefits, applications and practice of Reiki and Energy Healing. This will be followed by a Level 1 Reiki attunements and instruction class.  For more information.  For a good primer on Reiki.
    Cost: Lecture Free. Reiki I Class, $125. Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm

    11/19 Accelerated Healing 3001. An Advanced Energy Workshop. Peter Goldbeck will talk about his evolution as a healer and his unique synthesis of healing techniques. He will introduce participants to an energy training tool, the Pillars of Transformation and provide a group energy activation to empower and activate the hands of all participants. This activation stimulates and amplifies each participant’s individual potential to practice self-healing and energy healing to help family, friends, pets and plants.
    The activation process is open to Level II and III Reiki practitioners and to energy healers interested in enhancing there practice. View the workshop flyer or call for more information.  For more information.
    Cost: Lecture and Activation, $250 Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm

    TIP OF THE WEEK

    • Teas containing Peppermint, Lemon Balm or Chamomile help reduce gas and bloating.
    • Teas of Fennel Seed, Anise Seed and Ginger help relieve indigestion.
    • Umeboshi Plum (1 plum or 1/2 teaspoon of paste) found at health or Japanese food store will also relieve indigestion
    • Fresh Black Pepper or Cloves added to meals will increase stomach acid.
    • Consult with your holistic health provider for assistance with the purchase of digestive bitters and digestive enzymes supplements.

    Gift Ideas

    Give loved ones, family members and friends the gift of health and relaxation. Gift certificates are available for massage, reiki, acupuncture and other health services provided at the REN DAO Wellness Center. Gift certificates are also available for Yoga classes. Call for more information.

    Web Sites of the Month

    • Intelihealth Great American Smokeout
    • Fast Track Tools for the Business Savvy
    •     CSPI's Guide to Food Additives
    REN-DAO.COM

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