Effectively immediately; our old telephone numbers are being changed to (707) 975-0899. Please make a note of the new number and as always we look forward to hearing from you!

We have been looking at fear all wrong because we put a negative spin on one of our greatest survival mechanisms. Think about the physical symptoms you experience when you perceive a threat. Your face may flush, your body may get hot, you may feel your heart pounding in your chest and your hands may shake. We tend to look at this natural body response as a problem because we have been conditioned to think that this means we are scared, frightened, and unable to respond...victims. Nothing could be further from the truth! It's simply a matter of perspective.

So, let's see about changing our perspective from a negative to a positive. Everyone has an internal mechanism that is in place to help us survive. When we perceive a threat our bodies produce powerful chemicals that saturate our human machine. The body's response is an involuntary, hormonally induced heart rate increase that produces the symptoms we associate with fear. The problem is not the body's response to the event, but our linking it to the emotion of fear.

The truth is this natural physiological response is what has helped us survive for eons. When a Saber Tooth Tiger jumped out and attacked, this response gave us superhuman strength, a tremendous burst of energy that allowed us to run elbow to biscuit hole, escape and survive. It is no different today. You must recognize "fear" for what it really is; a powerful, positive body reaction to help us survive. Your body is literally priming your internal pump to give you exactly what you need in your time of crisis. You will be able to run faster, jump higher and fight with amazing strength. All of the senses; taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing will be significantly enhanced and especially your sixth sense of intuition. Best of all, you will be able to think and react at much higher levels, processing information and making decisions in record time.

If you can begin to see the natural "fear" response as a survival tool you will not be overwhelmed by this powerful experience and instead you will be empowered to survive.

One of my many hats is running the physical fitness program for our intensive basic police academy here in Santa Rosa, California. Our classes have the typical people attracted to a career in law enforcement, most averaging in their 20's, and a few come into the academy in great physical shape. They are very proud of their fitness, and rightly so because they have worked hard to achieve it. But many of them are proud to the point of arrogance. That's where my buddy, Christy Wilson, comes into play. At about the half-way point in the program I bring Christy in to expose the class to 90 minutes of Pilates, a core conditioning workout program.

What is great is when they see Christy they just assume we are going to do a "chick workout", blow it off as no big deal and get ready to humor me with yet another strange fitness experience. That attitude lasts about three minutes as we begin the 30 minute warm-up process. Picture the scene ... Christy is going through the warm-up with perfect form and my 20 year-olds are already shaking, begging, pleading and groveling for the torture to end. Yep, you can bench 315 but you can't hold up your own bodyweight? Mind blowing about sums it up.

I have preached for years about the benefits of core conditioning using just the bodyweight as resistance. It is, by far, the most functional of all strength conditioning because it is gentle on the joints and builds true functional strength and muscular endurance which is perfect in any survival situation, exactly what you need. Christy is, pound for pound, one of the strongest people I know and she could literally fight at full strength for hours because of her conditioning. Most people last in a fight about 60 to 90 seconds and they are gassed. Then what?

If you have never experienced a Pilate's workout...test yourself and you will find out exactly how strong you really are.

In 1998 a baby female Eagle was brought into Sarvey Wildlife Center with sever injuries. The Eagle, later to be named Freedom, could not stand. Her wings were broken, the left in four places. She was emaciated, covered in lice and given very little chance of survival. That's where Mr. Jeff Guidry came into the picture.

Jeff and the team at Sarvey decided to give Freedom a chance at living. Jeff was quite literally around her every day, talking to her, sending his energy by urging her to live...to fight. Jeff tube fed her for weeks as she would just lay there looking at him with her big brown eyes. As this went on for six weeks a tremendous bond formed between Jeff and Freedom, but they were nearing a critical decision point in Freedom's rehab.

Because Freedom had shown little to no improvement over the course of the six weeks and it appeared that death was winning the battle, the decision was made to euthanize Freedom if she could not stand within one week. There is a fine line between rehab and torture and everyone felt if she could not improve by Friday of the next week she would be put down.

Needless to say, this tore Jeff up. On Thursday he almost could not bring himself to go see Freedom, but when he walked in the door he saw that everyone at the center was smiling. Jeff immediately went back to Freedom's cage to see her standing, on her own; a big, beautiful Eagle. Freedom was ready to live!

Because Freedom would never be able to fly again she could not be released into the wild. Jeff was assigned the job of training her and he was able to then visit schools and programs showing off Freedom. Cool story huh? Well, the best is yet to come.

In the spring of 2000 Jeff was diagnosed with a stage 3 non-hodgkins lymphoma. 8 months of chemo left Jeff beat up, but on days where he felt good enough he would visit Freedom and take her out for walks, their bond as tight as ever. Jeff was stunned when he would experience vivid dreams where Freedom would help him fight the cancer. This happened over and over again during Jeff's fight with cancer and in the end he also found his will to stand and live. Jeff beat his death sentence and in November 2000 he was told he was cancer free.

That morning, after receiving the good news, Jeff went to Sarvey to take Freedom out for a walk. They went to the top of a hill and gazed out on the view. Freedom looked Jeff directly into his eyes and then wrapped both her wings around him. Jeff could feel the wings pressing against his back as he was literally hugged...engulfed in the wings of an Eagle! Freedom touched her beak to his nose and the two held this embrace as time slipped away. Two soul mates linked in the magical dance of life.

We never know where our source of inspiration will come from in this life, but if we are receptive we will, without a doubt, find our strength to stand when life issues a challenge.

Many blessings to you!

By Lynn Ravazzini, Owner - Nutrition Within: (707) 292-1284

New research tells us there's a lot more to consider when planning our daily diets than just avoiding a deficiency. You truly are what you eat and that starts with how food and other natural substances that complement the diet affect your cells and influence your health.

Signal Interference. Eating processed foods and other unhealthy dietary habits can interfere with the dietary signals sent to cells throughout the body, which can lead to premature aging and disease. But with an eating plan that addresses unhealthy dietary patterns, you can help manage symptoms and perhaps even halt or reverse the progression of illness. Eating plans can also be tailored to specific conditions to maximize healthy signals, such as to help regulate blood sugar or reduce inflammation, for example.

Strengthening the Signal. The growing field of research in nutritional genomics-or nutrigenomics-has demonstrated the effects that nutrients and plant substances can have on modifying gene function. These discoveries have led to the development of research-based nutraceuticals and medical foods that complement dietary approaches to address today's top health concerns.

Groundbreaking research suggests that certain plant components can selectively modify the activity of enzymes called kinases, which have the ability to translate dietary signals to positively influence numerous aspects of health. These plant-derived substances are referred to as selective kinase response modulators (SKRMs). They function by regulating cellular processes, especially those involved in the transmission of signals within cells. When an unhealthy diet makes cell signaling less clear, SKRMs may help increase the volume of the messages in ways that positively influence cellular processes for preservation or restoration of health.

Here are some of the SKRMs that have been discovered so far:

• Reduced iso-alpha acids (RIAA), derived from Humulus lupulus L. (hops), favorably influence glucose utilization and insulin signaling. Hops have also been used for centuries in traditional medicine, and components derived from hops have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Tetrahydro-iso-alpha acids (THIAA), also derived from H. lupulus L. (hops), have been extensively researched and shown to help favorably regulate kinase activity involved in joint tissue health.
• Acacia nilotica (acacia tree) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and has been shown to positively influence kinase signaling in fat-storing cells involved in glucose utilization and insulin signaling.

These research-based nutritional substances offer a new avenue for a natural approach to wellness for a variety of conditions. In fact, in a preliminary clinical study at the Functional Medicine Research CenterSM, the clinical research arm of Metagenics, a combination of RIAA and acacia was shown to improve fasting insulin and blood lipid parameters, such as triglycerides.

Send a Healthy Message. Healthier eating and other modifiable lifestyle factors can help you achieve your optimal health. A variety of nutritional approaches shown to be without serious adverse effects can be tailored to your specific health concerns and help you feel your best.

If you'd like to know more about how to incorporate lifestyle changes and targeted nutrition including SKRMs, please contact my office to set up an appointment. We'll work with you to design a program that will help you promote long-term health.

This month's mantra for your affirming pleasure: "I am strong beyond measure and I choose to live, thrive and survive!"

Now, sit or lie back comfortably. Take three deep breaths, pausing after you inhale and then exhale fully and completely. After you have taken your first three breaths, just breathe normally. Close your eyes and let any tension you may be holding in your muscles just begin to melt away. After you feel centered and your breath begins to quite down, repeat the mantra; "I am strong beyond measure and I choose to live, thrive and survive!" Say this mantra with conviction and visualize yourself living your life in harmony and peace!

As many times as you can throughout your day, stop what you are doing, take one deep breath and repeat this mantra. You can do this when the phone rings, or when you look at your watch, or anytime you feel the need to just slow down for a brief moment and focus. The power of setting a positive intention throughout your day should not be underestimated. It can literally change your life. Make this short time commitment everyday and begin on the path of empowerment.

The contents of this monthly email are not to be considered as medical advice. Always consult a physician before beginning, or changing any wellness program.

Rodger Ruge
Ready Force Inc.
8688 Lakewood Dr, #212,
Windsor, CA 96592
(707) 975-0899
www.readyforce.net
www.readywarrior.com