On Sunday, March 21st, Health Care reform was passed by a vote of 219-212. A momentous day in history for sure, especially after decades of many failed attempts at reformation. We now have some of that “change” we voted for in the 2008 presidential election. Thank you, Mr. President, your staff and especially the congressional democrats who chose to do the right thing on behalf of the American people. It was a proud moment to see the majority of our Congressional leaders put people first, and their political careers second. As for the republican constituency who consider this bill to be un-American — guess what? You, too, will receive the benefits of HR 3590.

This is a turning point for our country. Health care no longer remains a luxury that is only for those who can afford it. Health care is a necessity for all people — shame on those who believe otherwise. Now we can begin the process of building on something that needed to be reformed decades ago. God Bless Our Country!

The Destinee Charity Foundation believe that in order to ensure the economic and social well being of each country, and subsequently, the world, we must start by investing in those most marginalized – our children – in addressing their basic human rights and needs.

“A child will forever benefit from primary education… “ as stated by Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General, United Nations, reporting on the progress of Millennium Development Goals 2008.

By 2015, the Millennium Development Goals hope to achieve universal primary education. According to their statistics: Globally, 570 million children are enrolled in school. The number of children of primary school age who were out of school fell from 103 million in 1999 to 73 million in 2006. In that year, primary school enrolment in developing countries reached 88 per cent on average, up from 83 per cent in 2000. In sub-Saharan Africa, the net primary school enrolment ratio has only recently reached 71 per cent, even after a significant jump in enrolment that began in 2000. Around 38 million children of primary school age in this region are still out of school. www.un.org/millenniumgoals.

Sadly, most of the indigenous communities in Cameroon in Western Africa lack the very basic educational facilities; therefore, the children remain uneducated and unskilled. An appalling ninety-nine percent (99%) of the children cannot read or write, and girls view their bodies, instead of their minds, as their only means of survival. Though the girls are the most marginalized and vulnerable members of these communities and though their future looks bleak, they are the most eager to learn and improve their lives.

To help them, Destinee Charity Foundation is in the process of constructing and equipping a fully functional basic primary school for the indigenous children of Kilombo-Kribi, in southern Cameroon. But right now, their resources are being stretched. Children in Kilombo desperately need your help now more than ever. The total cost of construction, equipment, and managing the school amounts to $50,000.00 USD. They’ve managed to start construction, raising almost half the budget of the project through government funding and private donations, but they need help making it the rest of the way.

With your extraordinary support, children can go to school for basic programs in math, reading, and writing; gain access to health care, better nutrition, and cleaner water; and ultimately help their communities find sustainable solutions for themselves. Please give in any way (money, supplies, clothing) and any amount that you can. Find out how you can help now by going to their website – www.destineecharity.org

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Bangalorecares, a non-profit organization, is the Official Charity Partner and host of the Sunfeast Marathon event. They are inviting all non-government organizations (NGOs) that want to raise funds for their charitable causes through this event, to register with Bangalore Cares as soon as possible.

New Life is one of the NGO’s that is involved with the Marathon event. Their mission is to elevate women and their children, who are below the socio-economic standard of living, into the mainstream of modern-day society. Education is one of the areas that New Life has been focussing a lot of attention on. It is their belief that a proper education gives the children the building tools that are necessary for their own well-being and personal growth. The children, as well as women, can contribute to their communities and to society in general.

New Life In Action

In order to strengthen the academic performance of the children undergoing primary education, New Life has conceived a special system of identifying problematic areas of weaknesses in the educational methodology of Government run schools. Through rigorous coaching and tracking of improvement of performance (with UMECS Software), it has targeted 10,680 children that require remedial assistance (studying 1st std to 8th std) in the current academic year.

Therefore, New Life has partnered with Bangalorecares for “Sunfeast World 10K Bangalore 2009″ in order to generate awareness and funding for their Education assistance programs. By participating in the marathon through New Life, and by making donations in the name of New Life you will be supporting the noble causes they are championing.

For more details about New Life please visit their website at: www.newlifemfi.org/

Submit an entry or donation now at the Bangalorecares website: http://bangalorecares.in/ But remember to donate in the name of New Life. We only have until the end of May to generate as much enthusiasm and support for the Sunfeast 10k Marathon in Bangalore.

Watch more videos at PETA.org

How long must this deplorable act of cruelty to turkeys continue? What kind of human finds the mass slaughtering and heinous treatment of these gentle creatures as being acceptable as a way to make a profit for the traditional Thanksgiving meal?

I implore you, take the time to click on the embedded video link and watch the horror show in how your packaged, de-boned, plucked, and ready to bake turkey becomes your main meal for Thanksgiving.

Why not gorge yourself with a huge helping of mashed potatoes, dressing and a tofu roast with tons of gravy? We all know how much Americans love to pork out on Turkey Day! So eat till your hearts content, but just be aware of what you’re eating and where it came from. If you truly desire to eat a turkey, then at least buy it from a reputable source.

Have A Happy Thanksgiving!

I can recall when our taxi driver turned the car down the drive-way to the Nirarta Center how my eyes widened in amazement when I saw an enormous statue of Ganesh, the Hindu deity, placed firmly at the entrance ready to greet all who had arrived. Ganesh is one of my favorite deities not only because he is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles but he is a man with an elephant’s head, and I love elephants. My first thought when I saw that beautiful statue was that I’ve entered the magic kingdom.

The Nirarta Center is built on a ridge that overlooks a long, winding river and is surrounded by lush-green, tropical plants, exotic flowers and terraced rice fields. There are six traditionally built bungalows that can accommodate up to 22 guests. Each bungalow has upstairs and downstairs and each offers a stunning view of the tropical landscape. In the backdrop of Nirarta, on a very clear day, you can see the peak of Mt. Gunung Agung, one of Bali’s most sacred volcanoes. Because Nirarta Center is situated higher up on the island the weather is cooler with gentle breezes and soft cumulus clouds that bring the tropical rains.

Nearby is the village of Sidemen that is within easy distance to some of Bali’s well-known attractions such as, Besakih Temple, the summit climb up Gunung Agung, Tenganan and other local villages known for creating traditional painting and weaving artistry. All of these are easy day trips and can be organized through one of the staff members at Nirarta. I went a little mad looking at all the beautiful handwoven silk and cotton cloths, jewelry, carvings and paintings that if I could have, I would have bought most everything in sight. And bargaining with the Warung keepers (shop-keepers), who enjoy the art of negotiating as much as the tourists do, was also part of the wonderful Bali experience.

The group organizer of the Wellness Retreat program facilitated a solid routine of early morning breathing and stretching exercises in the Great Hall plus mid-morning and afternoon Silat Kung Fu training, as well as some evening classes for advanced students. Breakfast was served at 7:30AM. It was either ala carte or buffet meals of traditional Balinese recipes prepared with Nirarta’s organically grown vegetables and fruit. After consuming a sumptuous and healthy breakfast each participant would venture out of the centre to go exploring nearby villages or sit down at the riverbank and enjoy a cool dip in the fresh clear water until the mid-morning workout session began.

After another good sweat from a vigorous workout we would return to our rooms, shower and rest a bit. At 12:15PM we would meet at the dining area for a luncheon feast of some more traditional Balinese food. Come early afternoon or late evening I would give a therapeutic massage to one of the attendees in a cute little hut situated on the ridge above the river. The sound of the cascading stream was better than listening to mood music and would literally lull the person into quick relaxation mode.

Part of the Wellness Retreat wasn’t only about having a great workout or receiving bodywork, we were also there to experience the Balinese way of life by participating in some of their traditional customs and rituals. On the first night we were entertained by a group of male Gamelan musicians and a traditional Legong dance performed by the nearby village girls and boys.

One day we were taken on an adventurous trek to a mountain temple where we would have to climb not only a mountain but ascend at least 1000 steps (or so it seemed) to reach the famous temple. What the Balinese call a gentle hike and was only supposed to take a half day to climb up and back, us westerners would call a “black-diamond ski run” which took most of the day to climb up and back. Yet that adventure was one of the most memorable and invigorating experiences of my time.

Our guides from the Nirarta center prepared a moveable feast so we could have lunch in the atmosphere of the mountain temple.

For each ceremony we attended or each temple we would visit we would have to wear the traditional attire of a kamben, a cloth (usually batik) wrapped around the waist (wrapped and tied differently by men and women). Women would have to wrap a sash tied around the waist, and the men would have to wear a headdress called an udeng. The Balinese follow the Hindu dharma path and on one of their religious holidays we were taken to the sacred temple on Mt. Agung to attend a ceremony. A heavy mist shrouded the peak of the temple giving it a mystical quality as worshippers ascended the ancient steps leading to the area of the main shrine. Once we were inside we found a place to sit on the ground and followed the example of our guide on what to do during the ritual. The atmosphere was super-charged with a feeling of love and great devotion. Throughout the entire temple the sweet fragrance of incense permeating the air induced me into a sublime state of mind. After the priest bestowed his blessings, we rose and went into another area of the temple and everywhere I looked there were dozens upon dozens of hand-woven baskets decorated with colorful flowers and filled with various food offerings. There was no shortage of those colorful displays which added to the ethereal atmosphere. The sacredness of participating in such an ancient ritual and receiving the blessing from the priest was truly an honor and an unforgettable experience I will always treasure.

Sunsets are especially grand in Bali as it occurs every evening around 5:30PM. Dinner time was an absolute delight and we all looked forward to this convivial atmosphere of great cuisine, affable conversations, and comfortable weather. But most importantly, each participant was precious and significant to the success of the Retreat as was the amazing generosity of the entire Nirarta staff. On our last night we engaged in a huge celebration with a delectable feast, dancing and being entertained by the staff members playing their traditional musical instruments.

Peter Wrycza, the owner and proprietor of Nirarta, is an affable English gentleman who along with his Balinese wife, Dayu, took exceptionally good care of us. Peter’s broad vision in creating an atmosphere of incredible beauty is further enhanced by his expertise in guiding people on a path of harmony and well-being.

My memories of Bali and Nirarta are indelible to say the least. If there isn’t a retreat taking place in Bali that you can join, then take some time for yourself to be by yourself in the magical paradise of Nirarta where Peter and his staff will look after you. Once you are there you can attend the twice-daily meditation practice that takes place in the meditation hall or have a private consultation with Peter who offers re-patterning or transformational coaching. For more information about Nirarta for Living Awareness visit their website at: www.awareness-bali.com

There is much to do in Bali or you can simply do nothing and just be present and alive in each moment in paradise. But this much I do know, be prepared to extend your Bali sojourn.

I will be back!

Autumn, the wisest and most benign sister of them all, is no more beautiful than her three sisters, yet she possesses a sublime beauty in her own right. She is also know by another name, which is Fall, but she prefers to be called Autumn — it has a nicer sound. With her auburn, wavy tresses she caresses everything with such warmth and care as she transforms nature into a splendid extravaganza of amber and ochre yellows, to umber and vermillion hues.

It’s time to put on my hat and coat and go out for a walk in the fresh, cold air to marvel at Winter’s work already at hand. And whilst I gaze at the snow-capped peaks glistening from the sun’s rays, I will wonder how Summer is getting along in the southern hemisphere, and how I look forward to when Spring arrives again. Also, I can’t help but already miss Autumn’s mild climate, and the way everything seems so tranquil during her presence. At the end of the day, I feel blessed every year to be able to receive the Four Seasons Sisters in my abode. Each sister has her own unique and precious weather to offer so we should receive them with respect when each of them arrives at their appropriate time.

Let us show our reverence for the Four Seasons Sisters in 2008 by creating a global awareness of Planet Earth, so that the Sisters’ temperaments are in harmony with the environment — for their very presence is what sustains us.

And, by all means have a joyous Holiday Season!

copyright by Adele L Nieto
December 21, 2007

After watching a video on youtube.com (a few of them) of Andrew Meyer being forced to the ground and tased, one has to wonder why it took six buffed police officers (2 policewomen) to restrain this young guy, and why did they have to tase him? No matter if his questions to Kerry seemed provocative and loaded, the problem here is the Gestapoesque way the police handled the situation. This young man was in no way posing a danger or threat to Senator Kerry or anyone for that matter, so why the brutality? What has our country come to when Peace Officers resort to such brutish means to keep the peace? I must have watched the Meyer video a dozen times in order to make sure I didn’t miss any small detail in this disastrous fracas. But I kept seeing the same tyrannical method of operandi used by the police. Meyer can be heard screaming out: “Help me, someone help me!” I’m confused here, aren’t the police supposed to assist someone in need of help?

The President of the University of Florida, J. Bernard Machen, described the event as “regretful” and said two officers in the incident were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Somehow, suspension is not the answer to the problem.

Now, I’m sure that the police, with all their training and skills, could have done something else to encourage Meyer to leave the premise in a peaceful way. He may be a prankster and an instigator but he didn’t deserve the roughshod treatment to which he was subjected. This incident is not the only shameful display of police brutality. There are dozens of reported police harassment cases. Yet, in every barrel of apples there are a few bad ones. I am not trying to judge the Police Association in general, but there seems to be a dark pattern of behavior and that is what I find eerily mysterious. Are they operating out of fear all the time? Have they seen too much violence and their minds are tainted with disgust and intolerance? Or are they on a power trip? There is a lot of power in wielding a badge and bearing a firearm. Just the sight of them walking a beat or cruising a neighborhood is enough to make an innocent person behave as if they did something wrong.

In the end, if there is something urgent and I need to call for police assistance. I will do so because I still trust them, and I also know that they risk their lives many times in the line of duty. However, a man or a woman who wears a badge and carries a firearm is supposed to be mentally, not just physically, fit to do so. The people who choose to become Peace Officers or Law Enforcers know the inherent risks involved with the job, but that does not place them above the law. Perhaps they should take some needed R&R and seek help when they are feeling too overwhelmed in doing their jobs properly. Keeping the peace seems impossible to achieve when the balance of power is skewed heavily on one side, then it becomes oppression. People always react to oppression in one way or another. I hope I don’t have to read or write anymore stories like this one, ever again. I hope that this is not wishful thinking.

About half the adults age 65 and older in the United States have most of their natural teeth, and the number of adults with natural teeth continues to grow, thanks to fluoride in drinking water and toothpaste, advances in dental care, and improved oral hygiene. You can improve your chances of keeping your teeth as you age by brushing and flossing daily, and by seeing your dentist every six months. I know many people who have lost some prominent teeth when they were still young adults, just by not taking care of them. So, we need to stop with the stereotyping that most old people wear dentures. Not true!

As adults age, do they tend to go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier than their younger counterparts?

As you age, your internal clock (your circadian rhythm) adjusts, making you sleepier early on in the evening. As a result, you might find that you go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. You’ll likely need the same amount of sleep as you age, but getting those same quality sleep hours is more difficult because you don’t sleep as soundly. As long as you’re waking rested and refreshed, your changing sleep schedule shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. If you’re having trouble sleeping, it could be something more than typical aging changes. Insomnia is the most common sleep problem, no matter what your age. Stick to a regular schedule — wake up and go to bed at the same time each day. Avoid napping more than 20 minutes during the day (that’s rather difficult to do if you live in siesta-taking countries, i.e., Spain, Mexico or any equatorial countries). Exercise can help you maintain your sleep schedule. Also try sleeping in a cool room, using eyeshades and reducing or eliminating the amount of caffeine, alcohol and other liquids you consume in the evening hours.

Does having sex become impossible at a certain age?

A satisfying sex life is possible for adults of any age. Older adults might find that medications, illness or injury causes problems when it comes to having sex. But most of these problems can be treated, either by treating your illness, changing your medication or changing sexual positions (can’t picture granny in any sexual position). Don’t abandon sex solely because of age (how about when sex abandons age?). See your doctor if you have concerns — don’t accept sexual difficulties as a sign that you’re too old for sex. You’re never too old!

Is forgetfulness a part of the aging process?

Though memory-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, are more common in older adults, these diseases can strike the younger generation as well. Just ask yourself when was the last time you had forgotten something? I know plenty of younger people who forget things, and that includes little ol’ me. There are many sharp-minded and quick-witted older adults who could out-think and out-wit the gray matter of some of the younger generation. Occasional memory lapses are common, but if you find you’re misplacing your keys or forgetting names and appointments more frequently, talk to your doctor about your concerns. Depression and anxiety can also cause memory problems. If you feel sad, lonely or worried, you might find it harder to concentrate. Talk to your doctor or a counselor about your feelings. In the meantime, keep your mind fit and agile by giving it a workout. Exercise your brain with a new hobby or skill — take up that musical instrument you never had the time to try. Or try playing games, such as crossword puzzles or chess.

Does constipation become more common as you age?

Constipation (passing harder stools less often) is more common in older adults. Most of the time constipation isn’t serious. Eating high-fiber foods, such as fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water and getting regular exercise can usually relieve constipation. Eating too much cheese makes me constipated, so I’ve been eating goat’s cheese, and using goat’s milk in cereal and tea. If you have fewer than three bowel movements a week you should see a doctor. Other signs of something more serious include: Difficulty passing stools. Stools that are lumpy or hard. A feeling of not being able to empty your bowels

Is joint pain just another sign of old age?

Many people with chronic joint pain assume their aches are just part of growing older, so they don’t see their doctors. Pain, swelling and stiffness in a joint that lasts for more than two weeks may be a sign of arthritis. See your doctor if joint pain bothers you. Identifying and treating arthritis early may mean less pain and disability in the future.

Does the aging process cause urinary incontinence?

At least one in every 10 people age 65 and older has urinary incontinence, and it’s even more common in older women. But it isn’t caused by aging. Instead, urinary incontinence can be caused by a number of conditions, such as urinary tract infections, weakened bladder muscles or certain medications. Most causes of urinary incontinence are treatable. Talk to your doctor about your concerns, especially if loss of bladder control is keeping you from enjoying everyday activities.

By age 55, do most people need eyeglasses at least part of the time?

The lenses in your eyes become stiffer and less elastic in your 40’s. This makes it more difficult to focus on nearby objects or small print. You may start holding reading material at arm’s length. You may also get headaches and eye fatigue from reading or other close work. The sharpness of your vision (your eyes’ ability to distinguish fine details) also gradually declines with age. If you’re noticing changes in your vision, schedule an eye exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Otherwise, have your eyes checked every two to four years, or every year if you already wear glasses. Your doctor may recommend more frequent eye exams if you’re at risk of certain eye diseases.

Does growing older make you feel sadder and more depressed than younger people?

While it may be a common-held belief that getting older means being less happy, depression isn’t caused by aging. Everyone feels sad from time to time, but feeling hopeless and worthless is a sign of something more serious. Help and treatments are available. Talk to your doctor about your feelings. There are plenty of 65 and older people who have their act together. They travel, they hike, they go on adventurous excursions, and it is my opinion, that the older you get the more insight you have about life. It’s when you give up on life that you get old. Old is just a word!

Information provided by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).

A new study is out claiming that men are just as chatty as women with women using only 3% more words each day than men, perhaps not in the same context, but nevertheless, it’s a close finish.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Matthias Mehl, a psychologist at the University of Arizona, in Tucson, Arizona, where 210 female and 186 male students were recruited as subjects for their work. The volunteers were each fitted with a digital device called the “electronically activated recorder” (EAR), which records 30 seconds of sound every 12.5 minutes. The students wore the device up to ten days as they went about their daily activities.

After collecting all the sound files, Mr. Mehl’s team estimated that women utter an average of 16,215 words per day, whereas men speak an average 15,669 words. There was at least one male who managed to utter just 500 words in a day, whilst the chattiest chap of the lot spoke a jaw-dropping 47,000 words in a day. Talk about the strong chatty type.

As Matthias Mehl stated in his article published in the journal, Science, “The stereotype of female talkativeness is deeply engrained in western folklore and often considered a scientific fact.” Mehl’s research findings could counter that assertion as well as the claim made by Louann Brizendine, a neuro-psychiatrist, that women speak 20,000 words each day and have a tendency to be more gossipy whilst the male gender utters only 7,000, thus less talkative.

According to linguist, Alice Freed at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey, who says that the caricature of the gossipy gal can have a truly negative effect: “The power of the stereotype is that women are considered to speak too much.” She says that this stereotype emerged as a way to devalue what women had to say.

I’m sure the origins of that caricature must have started long ago, perhaps in the days of our earliest civilizations. Even if we go back 50 years, we will see that our young men were conditioned to be physically competitive at a very early age, thus encouraging them to adopt a “winner take all” attitude in business, in sports, in politics and overall dominance. Whereas, the females at an early age were conditioned to be the nurturers, to look attractive, be well educated and to support the man, marry and raise children. Maybe the difference in conditioning engendered a specific speech pattern that had to fit in with the disparate type of environments. Men plotting, scheming, cajoling each other and women conversing, commensurating and gabby with other fem types. Men thinking that what women had to say was domestic and women thinking that what men had to say was too worldly to fit in with the daily chores of washing, cooking, cleaning, and minding the brood.

But what does it matter if women’s utterances are of a light nature about family, the latest health or fashion trends or about romance? Don’t you think this type of conversation is a lot better than plotting and scheming to commit acts of violence or cruelty against humanity, which in most cases are always carried out by men? I’m most certain women also discuss at length, the seriousness of the state our world is in, the possibility of more wars, about the endless struggle of the people in Africa, the middle-East and about “what is our purpose here?” just like men discuss.

What I do mind is when being talkative gets branded as being gossipy. Gossip is when one person reveals secrets or intimacies to another person about someone else behind their back, which of course the information gets lost in translation ending up being as far from the truth as the War in Iraq. So, I do not consider being talkative or chatty in the same vein as being gossipy. Although, I do know that there are women who are typical of the “gossipy old hen” like Gladys Kravitz was in the Bewitch sitcom. And there are those felines with long fangs and sharp claws that can be as lethal with malicious gossip as the old adage purports them to be — but men can be bitchy as well.

However, before the sisterhood can bask in glory that their male counterpart is just as chin-wagging as we were once reputed to be, the jury is still out. Mehl and his colleagues have concluded that further research is necessary in order to confirm that older men and women also talk about the same amount as the young students they had researched.

At the end of the day, whether it is an utterance of a man or a woman’s, or whether it is serious or light-hearted, let it be true and clear and not malicious or vengeful.

Happy Utterances!

Now, twenty-odd years later, the joke is on me. In fact, I’d be out all day in the garden if it weren’t for the nagging stiffness in my knees and lower back after stooping and bending down for hours on end.

At first, I used to think that all you needed to do was pull a few weeds, water every now and then, and let nature take its course. The nature part is correct. But one does need to know a few fundamental rules to get started. Thank goodness for the Internet for opening up a vast universe of helpful advice from the many gardening experts who have written and shared their knowledge so generously to help novices like me. There were many times when my husband would shake his head at me for some of the blunders I had committed in the long list of “do’s” and “don’ts. For instance, like planting seeds too close together, which would form a clump of roots, and cause overcrowding in pots or the garden patch. Or not using the right type of soil for a specific plant or tree, and then wonder why it wasn’t growing. But, then after many attempts and after careful planning, the fruits of my labor would begin to sprout in the form of an artichoke or broccoli plant, flourish as a Dahlia bush or an Acacia Cyanophylla tree, and the joy of watching them grow was all the reward that I needed.

There are many times when I wonder in awe at the divine intelligence, which is programmed into every living thing. Next time you see an Iris, look closely at its intricate, geometric design and radiant purple hue. Marvel at the pirouetting, ballerina shape of the fuschia flower. Be amazed when a seed that has fallen to the ground, germinates in the soil, and begins its metamorphosis into a piñon or cherry tree, and stretch your imagination at wonder at how the evening primrose knows to awaken when the sun goes down. Everyday, every hour, every minute, every second, a miracle is occurring. All we need to do is take the time to be still and observe.

Whenever a wave of emotional disturbance washes over me, I grab my hat, head for the garden and begin pulling weeds. Each weed is a negative thought. The more I pull, the calmer my mind becomes until not one mischievous thought enters the playground. All is quiet. All is well. Whether it is watering, planting, weeding or landscaping, gardening is part of my daily yoga.

As for the stiff back and knees, a few light stretches can alleviate the pain. Lie down flat on your back on a firm surface with your knees bent. Lift up your right leg by clasping your hands around the knee and gently pull the leg towards your chin, and at the same time lower your left leg down keeping it straight. Keep this position held for 30 seconds. Then lower the right leg down back to the first position while bending the other one back to the first position. Now bring both legs up by clasping your hands around the knees and gently lift your legs towards your chin. This aligns the spine back into neutral position. Repeat the first sequence with the left leg and then end with bringing both legs back up towards the chin again.

Another nice light stretch to alleviate stiff back pain is to stand with feet shoulder length apart, knees slightly bent. Clasp your wrists with both hands and then slowly bend over allowing your arms to hang down. Keep this position for 30 seconds or longer and repeat as often as you feel a tightness in your lower back. Bend your knees more to lessen the tightness or strain in your back. By all means, if you are experiencing severe back pain, please see a doctor and do not attempt to try and fix the problem on your own.

If you’re a constant gardener like me, bring out a small chair to sit in while weeding. Or when planting, bring an old cushion or towel to kneel on. There are many little things you can do to help prevent future back problems. We should not have to suffer from being in love with our garden. I wish someone would invent a pair of gloves you can wear that helps dig into the dirt in order to get at the roots of weeds. I end up having to pull off the gloves and dig in with my fingers. By the time I’m finished, my nails have enough dirt inside to grow another garden. Any ideas out there?