Essence & Qi

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An Ayurveda Diet for Stress Relief & Weight Loss

Ayurveda is an ancient healing tradition that views a person’s physical and emotional well-being as based on the proper balance of vital energies. Ayurveda and Oriental medicine share this fundamental belief in the importance of balanced energies. Both traditions view weight fluctuations in terms of how balanced a person’s mind, emotions, diet, digestion, metabolism and appetite are.

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Calm and Relaxation…There’s an App for That.  In a world full of chaos, it’s nice to have an easily accessible resource to give us peace of mind—even if it’s only temporary. These days, most of us carry our smartphones with us everywhere we go. This constant contact with our phones pays off in the sense that there are a number of apps dedicated to promoting calm and relaxation for stressed out iPhone and Android customers.  Check out these apps: Stress Tracker Platform: Android, Apple iPhone and iPad (free) The Stress Tracker app was created by a team of psychologists and researchers using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This app helps you to identify and relieve your daily pressures. You are able to track your moods and sources of tension to learn what makes you anxious. By identifying those moments, you can better deal with stressors and possibly end up avoiding them. GPS for the Soul Platform: Apple iPhone and iPad (free) This particular app was created by Arianna Huffington and Deepak Chopra. You place your fingertip over the lens of your camera and your phone measures your heart rate and variability. The app takes the time to factor in your age, weight, and gender in order to display your stress level (indicated along a color line). It then offers you ways to help lower stress such as listening to calming music or viewing relaxing photos. GPS for the Soul also provides its users with a pacer to help regulate breathing. Breathe2Relax Platform: Android, Apple iPhone and iPad (free) Breathing plays a crucial role in stress relief. Breathe2relax guides users through breathing exercises with clear and concise videos. Take advantage of your headphones and plug them in to inhale and exhale your way through a stressful situation. EarthlapsePlatform: Android ($.99), iPhone 4S (and above) and iPad (2 or above): free Earthlapse contains new-age sounding music that has a celestial feel. Pair the music with beautiful time-lapse photography of Earth captured by NASA and you’ve got yourself a little piece of heaven. The app allows users to control the speed of the images presented on the screen. Earthlapse is a perfect way to forget about the small things for a couple of minutes. Deep Relaxation Platform: iPhone (free) This app teaches the Silva Method of relaxation, which involves “centering” yourself through meditation. You can freely choose between a 30 or 20-minute relaxation track depending on how much time you have to put aside. Each track is lead by a woman named Laura, who has a soothing and comforting voice.  Speaking of our attachment to our smartphones, open up your Facebook app and “Like” us! We appreciate the support! -PCOM      

Calm and Relaxation…There’s an App for That.

In a world full of chaos, it’s nice to have an easily accessible resource to give us peace of mind—even if it’s only temporary. These days, most of us carry our smartphones with us everywhere we go. This constant contact with our phones pays off in the sense that there are a number of apps dedicated to promoting calm and relaxation for stressed out iPhone and Android customers.

Check out these apps:

Stress Tracker
Platform: Android, Apple iPhone and iPad (free)
The Stress Tracker app was created by a team of psychologists and researchers using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This app helps you to identify and relieve your daily pressures. You are able to track your moods and sources of tension to learn what makes you anxious. By identifying those moments, you can better deal with stressors and possibly end up avoiding them.

GPS for the Soul
Platform: Apple iPhone and iPad (free)
This particular app was created by Arianna Huffington and Deepak Chopra. You place your fingertip over the lens of your camera and your phone measures your heart rate and variability. The app takes the time to factor in your age, weight, and gender in order to display your stress level (indicated along a color line). It then offers you ways to help lower stress such as listening to calming music or viewing relaxing photos. GPS for the Soul also provides its users with a pacer to help regulate breathing.

Breathe2Relax
Platform: Android, Apple iPhone and iPad (free)
Breathing plays a crucial role in stress relief. Breathe2relax guides users through breathing exercises with clear and concise videos. Take advantage of your headphones and plug them in to inhale and exhale your way through a stressful situation.

Earthlapse
Platform: Android ($.99), iPhone 4S (and above) and iPad (2 or above): free
Earthlapse contains new-age sounding music that has a celestial feel. Pair the music with beautiful time-lapse photography of Earth captured by NASA and you’ve got yourself a little piece of heaven. The app allows users to control the speed of the images presented on the screen. Earthlapse is a perfect way to forget about the small things for a couple of minutes.

Deep Relaxation
Platform: iPhone (free)
This app teaches the Silva Method of relaxation, which involves “centering” yourself through meditation. You can freely choose between a 30 or 20-minute relaxation track depending on how much time you have to put aside. Each track is lead by a woman named Laura, who has a soothing and comforting voice.

Speaking of our attachment to our smartphones, open up your Facebook app and “Like” us! We appreciate the support!

-PCOM