There are thousands of skin care products on the market today. Many people are switching to organic skin care in addition to food items because they are aware that chemicals and toxins are quite easily absorbed by the skin. Skin care manufacturers are highly aware of this trend and are beginning to market their skin care products as “natural”. The term “natural” on skin care or food products is an unregulated term and does not mean a thing. Many of the synthetic items that are put into the products for skin care are actually carcinogenic and eventually build in your body until you get cancer and diseases in the later years.

If you cannot afford organic skin care or wish to stick with your tried and true items then read the labels carefully. Here is a list of potentially dangerous chemicals commonly found in skin care items.
Two ingredients that are used as preservatives are called imidazolidinyl and formaldahyde. The imidazolidinyl urea is the ingredient that is used in fingernail polish, fingernail hardeners, and makeup. These two ingredients are both related to negative reactions of the skin. Any perfume that is made from synthetic ingredients should not be used on the body. You should try to find perfumes that only have natural ingredients in them or are made from essential oils and essences to use on your skin.

Methyl Paraben is a preservative that is used excessively in products and is thought to be irritating to the skin. Xenoestrogen is an estrogen disruptor and carcinogen that impedes fertility and may cause cysts in the breast. You need to be careful with butyl, ethyl, and propyl paraben also. Isopropyl alcohol can give you an anti-bacterial cleaning but you should be aware that it comes from petroleum. It is not one of the things you should use for your all-natural ingredients.

Methylisothiazolinone is also a preservative used in skin products. There are no things known about this particular ingredient except that it is not natural. Paraffin is also a petroleum product and should be avoided in the products you put on your skin and the candles you use. It is also used in products such as creams for the face, products to remove hair, pencils used for the eyebrows and lips, and more.

Propylene glycol is also made from petroleum and comes from glycerin that is made from vegetables and is common for moisturizing the skin. Sodium lauryl sulphate is a detergent that is used for cleaning, will leave the skin feeling dry, and will irritate the skin. It is a part of the sulfur family.

The right thing for you to do is to either purchase certified organic skin care products or use only natural ingredients and make own skin care products. Mother Nature gives you the best ingredients that you can use for natural skin care for your face and skin. You can use things like honey for a good moisturizer. You can add oatmeal and yogurt to the honey and you will have made yourself the best exfoliant you can get. Hemp oil is also a wonderful thing for you to use to hydrate your face. Tea tree oil is wonderful for your skin all over and works to kill germs. It can also be great for treating blemishes and cuts.

The best thing about organic products for your skin is that it is easier for you to make it right at home than it is to buy it. It will help you to have more time and money and will give you the best for your body that you can.

Author: Judy Wellsworth
About the author:
Find more info on Anti Aging Skin Care Products and Facial Skin Care. Bestskincarereviews.com is a comprehensive resource to get help to protect your skin and more about skin care.

Additional resources:
Check the safety of your commercial skin care and cosmetics at Skin Deep

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/sunshinecity/786584004/

Now we can go back outside (if we believe the sun is dangerous to begin with) or at least avoid a sunburn, with the help of Skin Deep’s new sunscreen report. Skin Deep cuts through the mystery ingredients and thousands of brands to bring us a simple and easy to understand rating system for beauty and personal care products.

Zero is the safest product rating they offer, 1 the second safest and so on, with 10 being the most hazardous. Stick with zeros and ones and you will have no problem. The ten safest sunscreens they report are:

1. (0)Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock, SPF 30
2. (0)Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF 30+
3. (0)California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+
4. (0) Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30
5. (1) Marie Veronique Skin Therapy Sun Serum
6. (1) Lavera Sunscreen Neutral, SPF 40
7. (1) Vanicream Sunscreen, SPF 35
8. (1) UV Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+
9. (1) Sun Science Sport Formula, SPF 30
10. (1) Soleo Organics Sunscreen all natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Check out the Sunscreen Report for 2008 at Skin Deep to learn more about specific products and the top 10 recommended brands.

By: Afterglow Cosmetics

Over 90% of all ingredients in commercially available cosmetics are of synthetic origin and directly linked to serious health risks like cancer, infertility, kidney and liver disease and severe skin issues.

Skin Deep’s Report which recommends Natural Cosmetics has identified over 900 chemicals commonly available for use in cosmetics that have toxic substances and are dangerous to your health.

Environmental Working Group report called, “Skin Deep” found that almost 90 percent of the more than 10,000 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated by government regulators. At the same time of the 20,000 different off-the-shelf cosmetic products that are for sales in the US, over 80% of the products surveyed contained one or more ingredients that have caused documented adverse reactions in humans and animals in the past.

Most of the large cosmetic and personal-care companies will tell you not to worry. They agree that there are many chemicals in their products, but say that the quantities are small and will not affect you. At first glance this seems reasonable. Unfortunately, this is a sugar coated public relations response and does not identify the true issue at hand. Medical science has proven that humans exposed over time to very small quantities of harmful chemicals do indeed suffer the consequences.

“Due to gaping loopholes in federal law, companies can put virtually any ingredient into personal care products. Even worse, the government does not require pre-market safety tests for any of them.” Cosmeticsdatabase.com

Medical science has proven that even the thin patches we stick to our arms or stomach with very small amounts of pharmaceutical chemicals can very effectively deliver chemicals into the bloodstream, totally changing the body’s chemistry. Trans-dermal patches containing small traces of nicotine can effectively deliver chemicals directly into the bloodstream to alter tobacco cravings. The new contraceptive alternative to the “Pill” is a patch which contains very low levels of hormones and still has the ability to stop a woman from getting pregnant.

Little is known about the long term effects of the petroleum chemicals and synthetic products that we rub into our skin on a daily basis in the form of cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, etc. At this point scientists and researchers know that these chemicals pose a threat to human health and fertility and have been found in our bodies and breast milk.

Chemicals found in cosmetics and personal-care products are linked to birth defects, hormone disruption and reduced fertility not to mention more pervasive cosmetic damage such as rashes, mild to severe acne and eczema. Many people use cosmetics and lotions to cure skin issues. Ironically, the products they are using and hoping for a cure are the very same products that are causing the problem.

Your skin absorbs nutrients and chemicals as much if not more than taking food internally. Play it safest by only putting products on your skin that you feel comfortable eating. There are plenty of recipes for homemade cosmetics and personal care products using ingredients found in your kitchen. If that doesn’t appeal to you then seek out organic.

Additional Resources:
Skin Deep
Shop for Organic Cosmetics
Afterglow Cosmetics

Source: www.PRWeb.com
Img Source: http://flickr.com/photos/bramvera/38928752/

Author: Mike Stronghill

You want to be healthy, look good and smell good, so whats with all the over the counter skin care products? You eat organic foods, you drive a hybrid vehicle, and then you plaster yourself with chemicals!! Whats up with that?

Here is the scoop. We have all been using these products that we have been told to use by advertisers for years. Have you looked at the labels and read the ingredients of these products? Wow, you will be shocked to see the amount of chemicals that are being used. Maybe you are comfortable with that because the chemicals used are at levels that the US government has stated as safe. Are you good with that? I mean, have the US standards ever been wrong?? Think about all the medicines that you hear about that are advertised on TV and then a few months later you will see ads in papers and on TV stating that this product has been pulled from the market because they have discovered all these people getting sick and dying from using them. Does that make your ears perk up?

“Our skin has adapted to protect us from Mother Nature’s onslaught, but it is also designed to let things in as well. Back before the industrial age came along, the types of chemicals that touched our skin were pretty much those that the Earth made on her own. Today it’s a different story. What you are putting on your skin day after day, year after year, may be doing much more harm than good.” Suisskin.com

Yes, we are using chemicals on our bodies everyday and sometimes many times throughout the day. How often do you was your hands? Have you read what is in the soap that you are using? You might be surprised. You might be angry once you do.

So, yes, organic skin care products such as organic shampoo, organic deodorant, organic makeup and many more might appear to be a little more expensive than regular off the shelf products. But, I want you to think about this. What can happen from long term exposure to chemicals? Have you heard of cancer, bone diseases, all kinds of ailments. Now ask yourself what the medical expenses might be for a serious ailment? I do not know about you, but I have read about people having their family bankrupted due to an illness. So, which is more expensive, the long term use of chemical products or the long term use of organic skin care products? I think that you will agree with me that the use of organic skin care products is way cheaper than any of your other choices. Think about your loved ones, your children.

It is time for us to take action by doing our part. Our part can be a little as purchasing organic skin care products that are your for you, good for your family and good for the environment. I hope that you will think about this the next time you put on make up or the next time that you are bathing your children in a tub. A simple choice can make a huge difference.

Commercial skincare and cosmetic products are loaded with chemicals and they are absorbed quickly and easily through our skin. They are not regulated by the government individually and no one has ever studied cumulative, combined use of these chemicals. While there are many fabulous organic, cruelty free products on the market today, they are still too expensive for many people. Please don’t let cost be a reason to continue to buy commercially prepared products for your skin. Many skin care and beauty products can be prepared right in your own kitchen.

Buy: Pangea Organics Shower Gel - Egyptian Basil & Mint

Click here for an alphabetized list of chemicals commonly used in the beauty industry

About the author:
For a place to find organic skin care products that have been certified by the United States Government (USDA) as being organic, please visit: Healthy You Today

Are hair dyes safe? Are they safe to use if they don’t touch your scalp or skin? What about those toxic fumes? These are many questions that women who color their hair and cannot bear the thought of mousy or gray locks, have to know.

It is important to remember first of all, that just because you do not see or feel an immediate reaction, that a chemical is not harming you. Some chemicals build up in your body and add to your chemical body burden, causing cancer or other disease years later. Chemicals may also cause seemingly unrelated problems, such as infertility that you will never associate with the beauty or cleaning products you were exposed to throughout your lifetime. When you use chemicals on or near your body, you are essentially performing a science experiment on yourself and your family that you will never know the results of.

That is why you should not put products on your skin or breathe the fumes of products that you are not willing to eat. This is especially true if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding, because a developing fetus or newborn baby is especially vulnerable to toxic chemicals. Just because you have colored your hair without an immediate reaction does not mean that there are no potential dangers. If there is a possibility that your newborn will suffer reproductive difficulties in twenty years or have cancer in forty because you colored your hair while pregnant or breastfeeding, would you still do it?

Hair dye, like other cosmetics and personal care products, is not regulated for safety. The government is not looking out for your welfare so it is up to you to research the products that you wish to use to determine if they are safe to use or not. Roughly 400 out of the 456 hair colors ranked at the Skin Deep cosmetics database of the Environmental Working Group are considered high hazard, which means they contain toxic ingredients linked to cancer, developmentive and reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, organ toxicity, not to mention allergies and irritation of the eyes, skin or lungs.

Whats a girl to do? Women are programmed at every turn to avoid the appearance of aging. We lust after luscious Aniston-esque bronde (yes bronde) high and low lighted shimmering locks. This is a conundrum of the highest magnitude. If you are a women who has always colored your hair, the thought of simply going natural one day is unthinkable. Friends and family would have opinions and comments, much of which will be unsolicited and possibly not so nice. If you are largely gray under your color, then you may face a certain amount of discrimination in the workplace. Forget about being seen as an attractive woman when you are out on the street unless you live in a commune.

Fortunately there are safer options for coloring your hair that will leave less of an impact on your body burden and the earth and will also allow you to wear your hair with confidence and pride. It is important to remember that no amount of color can compensate for a poor haircut. The first rule of hair care is to get a really great cut. The second rule is to keep your hair in great condition. If you have healthy hair and a fabulous cut, then hair color becomes a complement rather than the center stage on your head.

Generally speaking, the more permanent the color, the more toxic the product is. Semi-permanent and temporary colors are much less toxic than permanent colors. Darker colors have been shown to be more toxic than blonde and red shades. Hennas, herbal dyes, vegetable dyes and food based ingredients are the least toxic of all and can leave your hair luscious, healthy and full of shine. If you do insist on a permanent color then there are some smart ways to reduce your exposure to the toxins from hair dyes.

Safe Salon Hair Color
Salons are a safer environment than your home for hair coloring in some ways and a more toxic environment in other ways. because they often highlight/lowlight sections of hair rather than the whole head and the solution rarely touches the scalp. Salons are also usually larger and better ventilated than your bathroom is. You may still get all over hair coloring at a salon by request or prior to the highlights. If you receive all over color plus highlights then you are getting the double whammy of chemicals. You are also exposed to the fumes of every other person getting their hair chemically treated that day.

The easiest way to minimize your chemical exposure at the hair salon is to seek out a chemical free, odor free or herbal hair salon that caters to patients with multiple chemical sensitivity, allergies or cancer. This will also benefit you when you are visiting the salon for a cut because you will not be exposed to the secondhand coloring toxins.

You can also seek out an environmentally friendly salon because many of the same chemicals that harm your body also harm the earth either in the manufacture or disposal process. Many salon employees now suffer from multiple chemical sensitivity themselves or they are trying to avoid the cancers that they are more predisposed to than non-salon workers.

Search for salons that use Ecocolors, Hybrid or European brands. Some salons use infrared technology to open up the hair shaft to absorb color rather than peroxides and ammonias. Tell the salon that you suffer from MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) and they can point you in the right direction if they are unable to accommodate your needs.

Safer Home Hair Color:
You cannot beat the price and convenience of home hair coloring. While you miss out on the spa treatments, the cappuccino and the professional highlights, you can give yourself a quick boost and cover your gray for less than $20, wearing your pajamas, in less than an hour.

In addition to being exceptionally toxic however, home hair dyes can leave your hair one dimensional with flat, lifeless unicolor that has been clearly colored at home. Natural, healthy hair has multiple colors and tones that the salons are always trying to emulate.

A great solution to the toxic, unicolor home dyes are henna based dyes which can also cover your gray. Henna is plant based, totally safe and non-toxic. Henna enhances your natural color rather than totally covering it, which allows some of your natural highlights to come through. Henna coats and seals the hair shaft so it not only products your hair from environmental and weather related damage, but it also makes your hair gleam.

Look for home based hair dyes that are henna or herb based, and do not contain PPD, ammonia, peroxide, heavy metals, pesticides or other chemicals. In addition, you probably want to seek a product that is environmentally friendly and not tested on animals. Another way of choosing a safe brand, is to check the Cosmetics Database for products that are rated low hazard (0-2) on the safety scale such as the Light Mountain line of hair colors.

Herbal Home Hair Color
A variety of herbs have been used throughout history to color hair. Using herbs, food or infusions is the safest, non-toxic and gentle way to color your hair. The changes to your hair are often more subtle, take much more time to see a noticeable difference and are frequently temporary. While the rinses and infusions will often condition your hair, you can also add some Vitamin E, Wheatgerm Oil, Avocado Oil or any other hair healthy oil to your rinses for extra shine and conditioning.

There is a great selection of shampoos, conditioners and styling products on the market today that will enhance and protect every color of hair from brunette to gray. This is a much more convenient alternative to creating your own infusions and rinses but most of these products still come with a toxic pricetag. You can check the cosmeticsdatabase to see if you want to take that risk otherwise whip up an infusion and treat yourself to old-school hair enhancing with no toxic additions to your body burden. Create an infusion by boiling the herbs in water then cooling and straining prior to using the rinse.

Brunette Rinses:

• Rinse your hair with the cooled water left after boiling unpeeled potatoes.
• Rinse with teas made from Rosemary, Sage, Raspberry leaves, Parsley, or Catnip
• Rinse with black Coffee or black Tea
• Rinse with an infusion of Tea, Walnuts and Coffee
• Rinse with and infustion of Apple Cider Vinegar, Rosemary and Coffee .

Blonde Rinses:

• Rinse with infusions or teas made from Saffron, Turmeric, Calendula (marigold), Mullein.
• Rinse with an infusion of Avena Sativa (oat straw), Licorice Root and Saffron
• Rinse with Chamomile tea
• Boil chopped rhubarb in water then cool, strain and rinse hair with water.

Red Hair Rinses:

• Rinse hair with cool, strong black Coffee
• Rinse with teas made from Rosehips, Red Hibiscus, Caledula or Saffron

Gray Hair Rinses:

• Use a Hollyhock infusion or Betony rinse to remove the yellow from gray hair.

Find great recipes for hair infusions and rinses at Geocities/Heartland/Prarie, longlocks.com and Vegfamily.

Visit AMuchBetterStore.com to find the safest hair coloring products for Brunettes, Blondes, Redheads and Graceful Grays.

Visit any drugstore and the shelves will be full to bursting with pills, lotions and potions claiming to halt - or at least slow down - the aging process. The products themselves vary widely but they all have one thing in common - and that’s a hefty price tag.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can make your own anti aging creams in the comfort of your own home. You just need to know what ingredients to use, and where to find them.

Refrigerator, Pantry… Or Garden?
You can actually obtain ingredients to make your own anti aging creams in a few different places, and if you enjoy producing home made creams you’ll soon have a wide selection of ingredients to choose from.

Safflower oil is a good ingredient to have, as it doubles as both cooking oil and a natural antioxidant when applied to the skin to moisturize it. Keeping your skin properly moisturized is the best way to make sure it doesn’t age prematurely. Avocado oil is another good bet for achieving this, and both oils can be used as a base to add other ingredients to. Oils are actually more easily absorbed than creams as well.

If you are serious about wanting to make your own anti aging creams you need to incorporate them into your whole beauty routine. Get rid of dead skin cells by exfoliating regularly. You can use crushed sea salt, oatmeal or cornmeal for this. Citrus fruits are also ideal as they help to break down the dead cells. Lemons are wonderful - your face will sting slightly but the results are worth it!

To make your own anti aging creams successfully it’s worth spending some time exploring which ingredients are right for you. As with any store bought anti aging cream, home made ones can irritate your skin if they are particularly sensitive, and it’s best to try a patch test for any new ingredient you are going to try.

Go For Variety
Make your own anti aging creams from a variety of different ingredients to begin with - try some different combinations to see what works best for your skin tone. Always select fresh products to gain the most vitamins and minerals as you can from them. This is one of the best advantages to making creams at home.

Remember the keys to keeping a young looking skin for longer - cleanse, tone and moisturize regularly. Doing this with natural products will help you save money - and wrinkles!

About the Author:

To learn more about antiaging, please visit our website: http://www.doantiaging.com.

Buy the Natural Beauty Recipe Book
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Our hectic schedules are crammed with crises, to-do lists, issues marked urgent and overflowing in trays… Far away from everyday events, at your core, lies a place of quiet, calm, serenity, and stillness… Feeling connected to life and your core can be an everyday and effortless activity.

Should you meditate? The short answer is “Yes!” So if that’s all you wanted to find out, you can stop reading right now. But I hope you don’t because next I’m going to give you my take on the what?, why?, when?, where?, and how? of meditation.

First I’ll warn you that I’m not a purist when it comes to meditation, so if you’re looking for a lecture on Buddhist spiritual principles regarding meditation, you’ve come to the wrong place. I’m a busy, working parent who uses meditation to calm myself, to bring peace and happiness into my heart, and to bring awareness and clarity into my life. If you’re looking for an approach less wrapped in spirituality and more tailored to a modern, hectic life, then I hope this article helps you.

What
There are lots of formal definitions out there for what meditation is, but what it comes down to is a basic focusing of attention and quieting of the superficial thoughts of the mind. It’s becoming conscious of what’s going on in your head rather than being on auto-pilot as usual. Meditation is a chance to:

* get in contact with the inner stillness that exists beneath the level of your thoughts

* bring your calm attention to an issue or feeling you want to resolve

* stay calm at anytime under any situation

* relax your mind and body

* connect, on the spiritual side, with the creative energy of life.

And guess what - you already do a form of meditation all the time. You focus attention on replaying the argument you had with your spouse, or on how fat you are, or on how little money you have. These are the types of negative things that your mind turns to when you’re asleep at the switch, when you’re not consciously paying attention to what you’re thinking.

When you decide to meditate, you choose to be consciously aware of where your attention goes and you can choose to let go of thoughts that don’t support you in a positive way. When you decide to meditate, you can also choose to become quiet inside - something your thinking mind rarely lets you do.

Why
Here’s a short list of the benefits of meditation, although there are many more:

1. Reduces stress

2. Can help with depression, fears and conflicted emotions

3. Improves self-confidence

4. Helps cultivate peace and happiness

5. Slows aging, improves memory, helps with healing the body, strengthens the immune system, and relieves headaches

6. Allows you to bring calmness to any situation

7. On the spiritual side, many who promote meditation state that it is a way to consciously connect to the creative force of the Universe or God

8. Allows you to focus your creative energy to attract the things you desire into your life.

When and Where
Anytime! Anywhere! Yes, you can set aside a specific time for meditation and sit in quiet contemplation for an hour or more in a room that you designed using feng shui, but you don’t have to. I know that method certainly isn’t an option in my life right now, but I still benefit greatly from meditation.

You can meditate in the shower in the morning, when you’re in line at the grocery store, for 20 minutes during lunch, for a few minutes before bed, whenever - the options are endless.

Many meditation proponents suggest setting aside 10-20 minutes right when you wake up in the morning and right before bed. Those are good choices if they fit your schedule. Those times do not fit my schedule so I take 15 minutes during my day at work to meditate and I slip in “mini-meditations” throughout my day when I’m standing in a line or waiting at a traffic light or anytime I feel tension building in my body.

How
There are as many ways to meditate as there are gurus and experts to tell you about them. If you’re new to meditation, one of the most important things I want to tell you is that there are no rules except relax! Meditation is not a job or a competition. It’s a path to calmness, gentleness, kindness, and relaxation.

Years ago when I first considered meditation, one of the biggest obstacles I thought I had was the relentless voice chattering away in my head, the endless thoughts. I could rarely stop them so I thought I was a failure at meditation most of the time. I remember going to a two-day silent meditation retreat where a teacher guided us in meditations. By the end of the second day, I finally experienced a quieting of my mind. I went home feeling incredibly joyous and peaceful. But by the next day my doubts returned. If it took me two days in silent meditation to get to a point where my mind was quiet, how was I ever going to fit meditation into my life?

I’ve since learned that you don’t have to silence your thoughts to meditate. You can simply become aware of the fact that you are thinking and then let the thoughts float away. You don’t have to beat yourself up over the fact that you can’t stop the thoughts. In fact, it’s better if you accept the fact that your mind can be a busy place and just turn your attention to what you want to focus on over and over again when your mind starts to stray. With practice, you’ll find it easier to let go of the inner distractions and bring your mind to where you want it to be whether that’s to inner silence or to focus on a specific issue.

There is no specific way you have to sit or stand to meditate. Sit, stand, walk, lay on your stomach at the beach and watch the waves - whatever works for you is fine. Don’t limit yourself because you think you have to be sitting a certain way - that’s just an excuse for not meditating.

How to meditate will probably depend on your purpose. I vary how I meditate depending on what I want to gain from the meditation. If I’m stressed, I choose to focus on my breathing or on consciously relaxing different parts of my body. If I have a goal I’m trying to achieve, I focus on sending energy to that goal. If I want to connect with the inner peace that I know is somewhere inside of me, I focus on the silence in my mind and try to let all thought float away.

Here are a few different meditation techniques that I use depending on the situation and what I hope will be the result:

* Breathing meditation:
I like to put my attention on my breath as it comes in and out of my nose. I gently follow my breath and notice how it moves naturally into and out of my body. I find this technique instantly calming. Others suggest noticing your breath as it passes from your chest down into your diaphragm or belly and then back up. When my attention drifts, I gently bring it back. If I have some thoughts, I simply note that I’m “thinking” and shift attention back to the breath while allowing the thoughts to drift away. I use breathing meditation to calm myself, relieve stress, feel happier and more at peace, to clear my mind, and to connect with the stillness of the Universe. This can be done in a longer meditation session or in mini-meditations anytime during your day. If you find yourself getting upset at something, focus for a second on your breath and you’ll find it gives you some space in your emotional turmoil.

* Visualization meditation:
If you have an issue that you feel needs your mental and emotional attention, visualization meditation might help. Breathe slowly and use your imagination. If you have a goal, focus on the goal as if it were already complete - imagine how you will feel when it’s complete and feel this positive feeling inside of you. If you have a person who you’re angry with, imagine a positive energy inside yourself as a bright white light of kindness, and then surround an image of that person with the light while consciously saying “I forgive you for any pain you’ve caused me.” (When you forgive people and release your anger, it helps you release negative energy stored inside of you, it allows you to react more calmly to that person, and it allows you to find better solutions to any additional problems with them.) I use visualization meditations for goals, improving relationships, and energizing myself. If I feel I have low energy, I imagine that white light of positive energy flowing through my body.

* Awareness meditation:
This is simply the process of becoming consciously aware of your actions, your body, or your surroundings. This is an easy way to reduce stress, bring stillness to your mind, and bring calm understanding to almost any situation. It can also be done anywhere, anytime for a few seconds or for much longer periods. The technique is to simply notice what is happening. I like to use this when I need to relax or slow down, or when I start feeling worried or uptight about something. The point is to calm the mind and allow you to consciously decide where to put your attention rather than allowing your untamed thoughts to keep running the show.

1. If you choose action awareness, focus attention on exactly what you’re doing and how you experience it. If you’re walking, become aware of how the sidewalk looks and how it feels when you put your foot down to take a step. Become aware of the temperature of the air and the sounds in your environment. If you are washing dishes, become aware of how you hold the sponge and what the water feels like running across your hands.

2. If you choose body awareness, try to feel the energy flowing in your body. Can you feel the energy in your hands? There is life pulsing through your hands so there is definitely energy there! How about feeling energy in your legs or your shoulders? Can you locate any tension in your body and bring awareness to it? Notice how it feels.

3. If you choose awareness of your surroundings, notice where you are, what you see, what it sounds like, what the temperature is, and whether there is silence that you can find between the sounds.

Common Meditation Pitfalls

“I can’t stop thinking!” This is really common. You don’t have to stop thinking. Allow the thoughts to be there, return your attention to where you want it, and let the thoughts float away.

“My to-do list is running through my head and I’m coming up with things I don’t want to forget.” Keep a note pad next to you. Write down the item and then let it go from your mind. It will be on the pad when you’re done.

“I don’t have time for this.” Surely you have 2 minutes while waiting at the traffic light or in line at the store. In fact, if you do a mini breathing meditation while waiting in line at the store, you’re much less likely to get annoyed when the person in front of you is paying in pennies.

“I keep falling asleep.” Try changing the time that you meditate, your position (sitting or standing rather than reclining), or accept that maybe you need more sleep and go ahead and take a nap.

Adding meditation to your life can be truly rewarding and there is always space for it. It can help you become more peaceful, healthy, self-confident, kind, relaxed and creative. It can help you come to know yourself better and become more powerfully connected to your life. Take a few minutes, breathe slowly, and give it a chance!

About the Author:
Judy Braley is a personal development author, an attorney, and a parent. Her blog with free articles, resources, and information on inspiration for your life can be found at http://www.GrowFromWithin.com. Copyright © 2007 Wherett Inc.This article may be freely distributed if this resource box is attached.

Buy the Laughing Buddha Zabuton Meditation Cushion
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If you are like many people you live life to the fullest and take each day as a new day. You take care of yourself and your children as best as you can.

What if I told you that your home may be filled with toxins that are harmful to you and your children? Many people have no clue about the dangers that are present in their homes and the effects of chemicals and toxins.

Americans suffer from more degenerate disease then ever before. There is a definite link between the “Epidemic of Degenerative Disease” and the increase in the development of synthetic ingredients used in personal care products and home care products.

Many people do not consider their home to be a toxic waste dump and the facts may surprise them. The average home today contains 62 toxic chemicals. That is more than a chemistry lab! More than 72,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced since World War II, and those are the same chemicals that have been found in many homes across the nation!

Here are some facts about products that are found in many homes.

• Bleach has been linked to reproductive problems in men and learning and behavioral problems in children.
• Everyday household cleaners are the number one cause of poisoning children.
• Behavioral problems have been linked to exposure to toxic chemicals and molds.
• Carpet cleaner solution is extremely toxic to children. The fumes given off by carpet cleaners can cause cancer and liver damage.
• Laundry detergents, household cleaners and pesticides have been linked to breast cancer.
• Glass cleaners often may contain ammonia. Fumes from ammonia can irritate skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
• Toilet Bowl Cleaners are one of the most dangerous cleaning products. Can contain chlorine and hydrochloric acid. Harmful to health simply by breathing during use.
• Formaldehyde, phenol, benzene and toluene are found in common household cleaners, cosmetics, beverages, fabrics and cigarette smoke. These chemicals are cancer causing and toxic to the immune system.
• An EPA study stated that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.

These are proven facts and back-up the real dangers in many products in our homes. If you use store bought window cleaner, disinfectants, carpet cleaners, make-up , degreasers or stain removers, you should be aware that all have been found to contain very dangerous chemicals and toxins. These toxins have been linked to cancer, immune system disorders, liver damage, and many other very common health issues many American’s face today.

So, what can people do to protect themselves and their families? Remove all toxic products from their homes! By removing those products and utilizing natural or organic made products, you will increase your chances of a healthy life and improve your health greatly!

About the Author:

Safe Wellness Products combines the best of science & nature come together to create healthy lives and toxin free homes! If you are concerned about you or your families health and wellness, we can help you create a more earth friendly home and eliminate toxins from your home! Visit http://www.safewellnessproducts.

Buy: The Healthy Home, An Attic to Basement Guide to Non-Toxic Living
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