drop me a line from time to time and let me know how you’re doing

here is a quick laugh for yall

Tang Soo Do is a way of life and an art. Most people see Martial Arts as a violent sport like what you see on T.V. but Martial Arts is a style of life and teaches how to control one’s mind and body.

Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art which teaches empty hand and foot fighting, fighting forms, self-defense, and weapons. Tang Soo Do also teaches people to live a healthy and harmonious life. This ancient martial art traces its lineage back 2,000 years to the Korean peninsula.

In today’s society, there is no doubt that martial arts training is on the rise and that people are becoming more interested in learning self-defense skills. Tang Soo Do is an extremely effective method of self-defense. But there are many other reasons why men, women and children from all walks of life have taken up Tang Soo Do training. This ancient form of martial art is known for having the most effective training methods for self-discipline, self-confidence, physical fitness, stress management and the ultimate form of self-defense techniques. 35% of the World Tang Soo Do Association’s total membership includes women, children and older adult students. Their students range in age from 4 years old to 78 years old.

Roseburg is lucky to have it’s own Academy located on Vine St. near Safeway. The Instuctor is named John Auer and he loves to have new students. Roseburg is part of the Region 4 in the WTSDA.

I also added this because depending on which instuctors and which school you came from, the way you execute form can be very different from other schools and it is very cool to see these differences when people go to compete in the Championships and go to the Regional Clinics.

Whatever brings each of us to Tang Soo Do, we all set goals in our training; BLACK BELT or MASTER. But, Belts only symbolize the goal, they are not the goal itself. The real value of Tang Soo Do is not the belt you earn, but the changes that occur within you, in your quest for them. These changes include the betterment of your mind, body and spirit and the development of individual character and respect for others. The true goal of Tang Soo Do training is to use the lessons you learn in the studio to enrich every part of your life.

Sitting comfortably but upright, feel your weight on the chair or cushion and relax into it. Imagine breathing in and out through your navel, taking a few deep breaths to settle in. Let your attention gather at a point at the base of your spine, imagine it as a point of energy. Notice what sensations you feel there.

1. Move your attention to the crown of the head, imagine a point of energy there. Notice what sensations you feel. Feel these two points align, connected by a line of light, inside the body near the spine. Allow energy to move freely between these two points.

2. Let your attention come to rest at a point of balance along this line, deep within you, at the center of your being.

3. From this center of your being, imagine the line of light extending downward through your legs and feet, relaxing the toes and sinking into the earth. Breathing out, let all tension and fatigue run down this line into the earth.

4. Breathing in, imagine drawing up, through the soles of your feet, fresh, transformed earth energy. Allow it to fill your whole body from the feet up to the crown of your head, bringing a feeling of being supported and cradled by the solidity of the earth. Return your attention and your breathing to the center of your being. Imagine the line of light rising to the crown of your head and above, out into the clear blue sky, to the heavens. Breathe in fresh air.

5. Allow light and clearness from the heavens to radiate down the line of light to fill the whole body. Breathe into the center of your being and feel the two energies, from the earth and the sky, mingling. From this center let your attention be on your breath moving in and out (using one of the focuses suggested above).

Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. It starts in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside most bones. Bone marrow is where blood cells are made.

When you are healthy, your bone marrow makes:

• White blood cells, which help your body fight infection.
• Red Blood Cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of your body.
• Platelets, which help your blood clot.

When you have leukemia, the bone marrow starts to make a lot of abnormal white blood cells, called leukemia cells. They don’t do the work of normal white blood cells, they grow faster than normal cells, and they don’t stop growing when they should.

Over time, leukemia cells can crowd out the normal blood cells. This can lead to serious problems such as  anemia, bleeding, and infections. Leukemia cells can also spread to the lymph nodes or other organs and cause swelling or pain.

There are several different types of leukemia. In general, leukemia is grouped by how fast it gets worse and what kind of white blood cell it affects.

• It may be acute or chronic. Acute leukemia gets worse very fast and may make you feel sick right away. Chronic leukemia gets worse slowly and may not cause symptoms for years.
• It may be lymphocytic or myelogenous. Lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) leukemia affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. Myelogenous leukemia affects white blood cells called myelocytes.

The four main types of leukemia are:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL. ALL is the most common leukemia in children. Adults can also get it.
• Acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML. AML affects both children and adults.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL. CLL is the most common leukemia in adults, mostly those who are older than 55. Children almost never get it. It sometimes runs in families.
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML. CML occurs mostly in adults.

Experts don’t know what causes leukemia. But some things are known to increase the risk of some kinds of leukemia. These things are called risk factors. You are more likely to get leukemia if you:

• Were exposed to large amounts of radiation.
• Were exposed to certain chemicals at work, such as benzene.
• Had some types of chemotherapy to treat another cancer.
• Have Down syndrome or some other genetic problems.
• Smoke.

But most people who have these risk factors don’t get leukemia. And most people who get leukemia do not have any known risk factors.

Symptoms may depend on what type of leukemia you have, but common symptoms include:

• Fever and night sweats.
• Headaches.
• Bruising or bleeding easily.
• Bone or joint pain.
• A swollen or painful belly from an enlarged spleen.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, or groin.
• Getting a lot of infections.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Losing weight and not feeling hungry.

There are some treatments available to people with Leukemia.

What type of treatment you need will depend on many things, including what kind of leukemia you have, how far along it is, and your age and overall health.

• If you have acute leukemia, you will need quick treatment to stop the rapid growth of leukemia cells. In many cases, acute leukemia can be cured. Some doctors prefer the term “remission” to “cure,” because there is a chance the cancer could come back.
• If you have chronic leukemia, you may not need to be treated until you have symptoms. Chronic leukemia can rarely be cured, but treatment can help control the disease.

Treatments for leukemia include:

• Chemotherapy, which uses powerful medicines to kill cancer cells. This is the main treatment for most types of leukemia.
• Radiation treatments. Radiation therapy uses high-dose X-rays to destroy cancer cells and shrink swollen lymph nodes or an enlarged spleen. It may also be used before a stem cell transplant.
• Stem cell transplant. Donated stem cells can rebuild your supply of normal blood cells and boost your immune system. Before the transplant, radiation or chemotherapy is used to destroy cells in bone marrow and make room for donated cells.
• Biological therapy. This is the use of special medicines that improve your body’s natural defenses against cancer.

For some people, clinical trials are a treatment option. Clinical trials are research projects to test new medicines and other treatments. Often people with chronic leukemia take part in these studies.

Depression
Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study with 30 depressed people over 80 years of age and found that participants in a weekly music therapy group were less anxious, less distressed and had higher self-esteem (Friedman, Healing Power of the Drum, 1994).

Cancer
Subjects who participated in a clinical trial using the HealthRhythms protocol showed an increase in natural killer cell activity and an enhanced immune system. While this does not indicate a cure for cancer, such results may be of benefit for those facing this disease. (Bittman, Berk, Felten, Westengard, Simonton, Pappas, Ninehouser, 2001, Alternative Therapies, vol. 7, no. 1).

Alzheimer’s Disease
According to Clair, Bernstein and Johnson (1995), Alzheimer’s patients who drum can connect better with loved ones. The predictability of rhythm may provide the framework for repetitive responses that make few cognitive demands on people with dementia.

Parkinson’s Diseases and Stroke
Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, according to Michael Thaurt, director of Colorado State University’s Center of Biomedical Research in Music. Researchers have also discovered that hearing slow, steady rhythms, such as drumbeats, helps Parkinson patients move more steadily (Friedman, Healing Power of the Drum, 1994).

Chronic Pain
Chronic pain has a devastating propensity for progressively draining quality of life. Technology and pharmacology are falling short of the mark needed to improve quality of life and reduce pain, according to Dr. Barry Bittman in the Pain Practitioner. (Lingerman, H. 1995, Music and You. In the Healing Energies of Music. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House).

HealthtBeat of Living Rhythms
www.livingrhythms.com
336-774-3898

Schizophrenia is a group of serious brain disorders in which reality is interpreted abnormally. Schizophrenia results in hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking and behavior. People with schizophrenia withdraw from the people and activities in the world around them, retreating into an inner world marked by psychosis.

Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia isn’t the same as a split personality or multiple personality. While the word “schizophrenia” does means “split-mind,” it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking.

Schizophrenia is a chronic condition, requiring lifelong treatment. But thanks to new medications, schizophrenia symptoms can often be successfully managed, allowing people with the condition to lead productive, enjoyable lives.

There are several types of schizophrenia, so signs and symptoms vary. In general, schizophrenia symptoms include:

• Beliefs not based on reality (delusions), such as the belief that there’s a conspiracy against you
• Seeing or hearing things that don’t exist (hallucinations), especially voices
• Incoherent speech
• Neglect of personal hygiene
• Lack of emotions
• Emotions inappropriate to the situation
• Angry outbursts
• Catatonic behavior
• A persistent feeling of being watched
• Trouble functioning at school and work
• Social isolation
• Clumsy, uncoordinated movements 

Negative signs and symptoms represent a loss or decrease in emotions or behavioral abilities. They may include:

• Loss of interest in everyday activities
• Appearing to lack emotion
• Reduced ability to plan or carry out activities
• Neglecting hygiene
• Social withdrawal
• Loss of motivation

Positive signs and symptoms are unusual thoughts and perceptions that often involve a loss of contact with reality. These symptoms may come and go. They may include:

• Hallucinations, or sensing things that aren’t real. In schizophrenia, hearing voices is a common hallucination. These voices may seem to give you instructions on how to act, and they sometimes may include harming others.
• Delusions, or beliefs that have no basis in reality. For example, you may believe that the television is directing your behavior or that outside forces are controlling your thoughts.
• Thought disorders, or difficulty speaking and organizing thoughts, such as stopping in midsentence or jumbling together meaningless words, sometimes known as “word salad.”
• Movement disorders, such as repeating movements, clumsiness or involuntary movements.

Cognitive symptoms involve problems with memory and attention. These symptoms may be the most disabling in schizophrenia because they interfere with the ability to perform routine daily tasks. They include:

• Problems making sense of information
• Difficulty paying attention
• Memory problems

If you have any symptoms of schizophrenia, seek medical help as soon as possible. Schizophrenia doesn’t get better on its own, and in fact, usually worsens without treatment. However, if you’re like some people with schizophrenia, you may not recognize that you need help or that you even have symptoms. Family and friends, or people at work or school, may be the ones who initially suggest you seek help. Try to listen to them, as they have your best interests at heart.

Getting treatment from a mental health provider with experience in schizophrenia can help you learn ways to manage your symptoms so that you have the best chance to continue on with a productive and happy life. If you’re reluctant to seek treatment, try to work up the courage to confide in someone, whether it’s a friend or loved one, a health care professional, a faith leader or someone else you trust. They can help you take the first steps to successful treatment.

(Information provided by MayoClinic.com)