Today's Scenic View

Quote of the Day

If we walk in nature, we serve nature

If we walk in the spirit we serve the spirit

          If we walk with the soul, we serve the soul

~Lorraine Schwarz (Lady L)

Poem

While walking through the woods one day,

I came across the beauty of nature.

The Wilds of the world

Beckoned me forth with the wave

of grassy tendrils, shadowed paths, brilliant flowers,

and I;

I answered by journeying forth…

While walking through the woods one day,

I came across the other realm.

The Invisible of the world

Called to me with the glitter

of dew drops, bird song, whispering winds,

and I;

I danced ever onward…

While walking through the woods one day,

I came across the One.

The Love of the world

Summoned me close with open

arms, heart, soul,

and I;

I embraced eternally…

                  Alika P. (Health is Spiritual ©)  

Native and Wild

:) Smile (:

What's the longest word in the world?  Give up?  Well I'll tell you at the end.  

Smiling is universal and more important an action than you may understand.  There has been numerous studies done on the benefits of smiling, who smiles, and when we start smiling.  Besides some fun facts regarding the smile I have included a video done by a Ted Talker Ron Gutman and his explanation of the importance of smiles. 

1. Babies are born with the ability to smile: Babies learn a lot of behaviors and sounds from watching those around them, but scientists believe that all babies are born with the ability, since even blind babies smile and ultrasound pictures have depicted fetuses smiling.
2. Babies start smiling as newborns: Most doctors believe that real smiles occur when babies are awake at the age of four-to-six weeks, but babies start smiling in their sleep as soon as they’re born.
3. It’s a universal sign of happiness: While handshakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance –even cannibals smile.
4. Smiles are the most easily recognizable facial expression: People can recognize smiles from up to 300 feet away, making it the most easily recognizable facial expression.
5. Smiles are contagious: In a study conducted in Sweden, test subjects who looked at others smiling, whether in photographs or in person, had difficulty frowning and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own.  It’s not just a saying: smiling really is contagious.
6. Forcing yourself to smile can boost your mood: based off of Psychology research if you’re in a bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by forcing yourself to smile.
7. It boosts your immune system: Stressed? Try relaxing with a smile.  Smiling causes your body to immediately release endorphins; even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better, release stress, and can improve your physical health by allowing your body to be more relaxed; when you smile this contributes to good health and a stronger immune system.
8. It’s easier to smile than to frown: Scientists have discovered that your body has to work harder and use more muscles to frown than it does to smile.
9. Smiles use from 5 to 53 facial muscles: Just smiling can require your body to use up to 53 muscles, but some smiles only use 5 muscle movements.
10. There are 19 different types of smiles: UC-San Francisco researcher identified 19 types of smiles and put them into two categories: polite “social” smiles which engage fewer muscles, and sincere “felt” smiles that use more muscles on both sides of the face.
11. We still smile at work: While we smile less at work than we do at home, 30% of subjects in a research study smiled five to 20 times a day, and 28% smiled over 20 times per day at the office.
12. Smiling helps you get promoted: Smiles make a person seem more attractive, sociable and confident, and people who smile more are more likely to get a promotion.
13. Women smile more than men: Generally, women smile more than men, but when they participate in similar work or social roles, they smile the same amount. This finding leads scientists to believe that gender roles are quite flexible. Boy babies, though, smile less than girl babies, who also make more eye contact.
14. Finally: Smiles are more attractive than makeup: A research study conducted by Orbit Complete discovered that 69% of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup.

Even Animals Smile

Now that you know how important smiling is here is the answer to my first question: the longest word in the world is SMILES –why? because there is a mile between the S’s.

LAUGH! LOVE! SMILE!

Today's Scenic View

Today's Scenic View

While we cheer on all those participating in the Olympics, let us not forget that our skills for such feats had been and continue to be inspired by nature -the first and true Olympians.

Image:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-for-Wildlife-and-Nature/279792438707552

That Latin Beat!

Zumba!  It was seen on the last season of "Biggest Loser," discussed on CNN as a way to get children motivated into being more active i.e. Exercise Can Be FUN!  

So what is Zumba?  

Well, it is a Latin inspired dance-fitness program.  Unlike other group fitness or group dance-fitness crazes Zumba is a different kind of Hot Colombian import that combines the cha-cha with funky Latin beats created by the celebrity fitness trainer Alberto "Beto" Perez. The upbeat music keeps you on your feet and the dance moves get you grooving and sweating. The moves required to do the Latin dances such as the Cha-Cha or the Merengue make use of core and leg muscles adding strength and toning.  

Where can you find Zumba?

There are programs that can be purchased for large amounts of money, there are classes offered at most health clubs, Video consoles such as the Wii have a "game" version, if you are curious and not ready to spend the money to try out this new fitness fad there are some good 9and some not so good) videos on YouTube.  If you are unfamiliar with Latin dance moves a good fitness video and even the Wii game have tutorials on how to do the moves which can give you the practice to build up to actually being able to do the fitness routine if you feel you're just not there.  The important thing:  Have fun! Go at your pace not the pace of the instructor or others if you do partake of a group setting, and smile! Get out there and try something New!

Resoureces:

LiveStrong.com (2012). The History of Zumba. Found on 8/1/12 @ http://www.livestrong.com/article/337316-the-history-of-zumba-exercise/#ixzz22LYyYgGZ

Zumba.com (2012). About Zumba Fitness. Found 5/13/2012 @  http://www.zumba.com/en-US/