Upcoming Performances

February 12, 2012: Roots + Wings Share Love Benefit

The Share Love event will be held on Sunday, February 12th from 2-5pm at Pink Dog Creative. All proceeds from the Share Love event will help support the Roots + Wings School of Art general scholarship fund, the visiting artist fund, and the Asheville Community Design Lab program.

There will be a live dance performance, and a silent art auction of works from a number of talented local artists. Additionally, all studio artists of Pink Dog Creative will have their doors open! A number of hands-on art making opportunities for all ages will be scattered throughout the Pink Dog Buildings during the event:

• Unique card-making and letter writing for upcoming Valentine’s Day – stamps provided
• Scrap t-shirt art site – artists using sewing machines to help piece the works together
• Collage and mixed media site
• Watercolor and oil pastel site
• Live, Interactive Painting site – anyone will be able to make their mark on a series of five canvases – all of which will be auctioned off at the end of the event.
• Dance Performance!

February 18, 2012: Mardi Gras at Harrah’s Casino, Cherokee

With the Firecracker Jazz Band and Biodiesel.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

March 23, 2012: ArtSpace Charter School Cabaret

The Cabaret is Art Space’s annual fundraiser, which includes food, silent auction and a night of top quality performance in the areas of music, dance, storytelling, comedy and more. Lisa Zahiya will open the dance portion with a bellydance, followed by a bhangra/ hip hop duet with Christine Garvin and Diana McCall. A large troupe Bhangra piece will be the finale.

Diana Wortham Theater, 7-10pm.
 
 
   

Late March/Early April: Jazzy Showgirl Student Performance

Time/Place TBD. Stay tuned for details!

Ladies, before you sign up for another walk raising funds for them, be sure to read this to find out where your money is going. And check out Breast Cancer Action for other action opportunities that move forward finding a real cure.

Photo: quinn.anya

Having some health issues that you just can’t seem to shake? Can’t afford to go to the doctor, or whatever they’ve told you to do isn’t helping?

Maybe it’s your diet. Or lifestyle. Or a little of both.

Most of us can stand to tweak some things in order to have more energy, feel happier, look a little brighter. Because it’s possible to have better health. And it’s in your control. Sometimes, you just need a little guidance.

That’s where I come in.

I’m giving away a free “Quick Start” 30 minute session to one lucky reader. Think of it as a Valentine’s Day gift to you – I love the gift of helping others to feel their seriously-sassy best.

Here are the details of this type of coaching session from my Services page:

Quick Start: Have a couple of pressing health issues you want to tackle by shifting your diet and lifestyle, but not sure how? Try this 30-minute session, where we’ll discuss your concerns and possible underlying triggers, specific ideas for change, and goal setting.

And no, you don’t have to live near me to do this session, due to the magic that is known as Skype. (Though the law makes it so I can’t give away anything outside of North America, unfortunately.)

This session is normally $25, and is a good way to start tackling some of the bigger questions and issues you face. It’s always exciting to work with someone as we make connections missed just a bit on their own.

The winner will have up to six months to claim their consultation and to set up an appointment with me that fits their schedule.

What do you have to do, you ask? Just two, simple little things. Here you go:

How To Enter

Two steps. First, fill out this form:

Second, follow us on Twitter – if you haven’t already – and retweet this message:

I’m taking my health to the next level in 2012 by entering the LH wellness coaching giveaway. You can too! http://bit.ly/ySn58S #LHhealthcoaching

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook to learn about future contests, plus you’ll get to keep up with everything you need to know in the world of feeling sassy healthy (note: this is not necessary to be entered).

Winner will be chosen and notified on February 14th. Hey, you deserve some Valentine’s love, so hook yourself up now!

Official rules:
No purchase necessary. Open to North American residents only. Contest begins January 31, 2012 and ends February 14, 2011. One (1) prize package composed of a health coaching session will be awarded. Retail value does not exceed $30. Odds are dependent on amount of entries. Winner will be chosen at random from all entrees submitted and informed via email. Winner will be chosen on February 14, 2012 and notified that day. Winner will be listed on the site by February 15, 2012.

Um, yeah…

Anyway, this particular study notes that although many women’s hormones are impacted by caffeine, what the caffeine does depends on race. In Asian and black women, it increases estrogen levels, while in white women, caffeine lowers levels.

But those findings were true only for coffee – both green tea and soda was linked to higher estrogen levels in all women.

The study’s researchers say that “women should not worry about caffeine intake in the short term” but “more research was needed to see if there could be a cumulative impact over many years or decades” (yes, usually short term effects lead to long term consequences, so I’m guessing there are probably going to be a few).

My take? Recognize that as a woman, most things you put into your body are going to impact your hormones, and not just when you are pregnant. Think moderation daily.

Got a question you want answered? Just email me at christine@holisticwithhumor.com, and every Friday, I’ll answer one in the order it was received.

Question:

I’m starting to get tingling feet. No, not because I’m in a relationship, haha, but I’m thinking I am low on B vitamins as a vegetarian. I take a solid multivitamin with 100% of all the Bs already. But, should I start taking a complex too? Vitamins are hella expensive and so I don’t wanna waste the cash/OD from the Bs already in my multi, so wanted to see what you thought.

-M.E., New York City

Answer:

Off the top of my head, I would say it is probably low B12. Problem is, there actually isn’t a really good way to supplement it, because the body doesn’t absorb it from supplements (even sublingual, contrary to popular marketing). Getting vitamin B12 shots is the best way, and after a certain time, becomes almost necessary for veggies, as you get no real source of it (it hasn’t been proven that you get anywhere near an adequate source from sea vegetables and certainly not nutritional yeast).

Meat eaters should also pay attention to their B12 levels; like Vitamin D, which was once thought easily obtained and a very uncommon deficiency, vitamin B12 is starting to show up as a deficiency across ages and eating preferences.

B12 is not only important for the myelin sheath around your nerves, but also to ward off vitamin B12 deficiency anemia and for your thyroid. Memory loss, sluggishness, numbness in hands and feet, optic issues, and autoimmune disorders are all possible symptoms associated with low B12.

I’ve been trying to find the “next best thing” to shots, and it seems like a nasal spray is the way to go, since absorption through the nose is higher (though the spray highlighted is in the cyanocobalamin form, which has to be converted for use by the body, while the methylcobalamin form can be used directly – here is a mouth spray in this form). Problem is, you can only get nasal sprays by prescription.

I know the lab testing place Any Lab Test Now does B12 tests, and also shots, in some locations. You need a prescription from a doctor to get shots, but there are doctors that will write you the prescription and show you have to give yourself injections. This, of course, would be based off of lab testing. Certain weight loss centers are also employing B12 shots, as they have been linked to increased metabolism in those who are suffering from low B12, but there is no real concrete evidence that they help you to lose weight.

- Christine Garvin, MA, NE

Photo: Serge Melki

My friend Mary and I were talking the other day about the fact that both of us are always late. Not an hour late, or even 20 minutes; just 5 to 10 minutes late a majority of the time.

It stresses both of us out. Not the fact that we’re late, per se, but rather the fact that we know the person we’re meeting, or the event we are going to, has a more defined sense of time and what it means to be on it. Basically, we feel like it makes us look bad.

Which is funny, because if you dropped either of us in the middle of South America, or Africa, or most Western European countries other than Germany, we’d fall into the normal – or even too focused on time – category. We’d look bad for trying to adhere to a schedule.

Given, I can see the need for staying on schedule (though it sometimes reeks of American must-get-it-done-for-no-real-reason-other-than-to-say-it’s-done). But I also think it’s sad that we cut off so many deep and connected conversations, chances for increased development, and that we limit breakthroughs by our sometimes obsessive need to cram a lot in.

More importantly, though, is that we don’t recognize that when it comes to viewing time, there are essentially two types of people. And one view is not better than the other.

An article at HealthCompare breaks it down like this:

Linear Concept

People with a linear concept of time do well with schedules and set agendas and become anxious when they aren’t sure what will come next and are given vague or ambiguous timetables. They are generally prompt and methodical and thrive when given solid deadlines and a list of logically ordered tasks.

Amorphous Concept

For others time is a amorphous concept and their preference is to take things as they come and in no particular order. They tend to feel restricted by strict schedules and are comfortable going with the flow. For them, things will take as long as they take and delays or tangents are not usually a cause of stress or anxiety.

People with amorphous concepts of time can be prompt but their natural inclination is to get there when they get there, not out of disrespect but because their perception of time is more fluid and flexible. They do best when given a general idea of when something should be completed and not subjected to being micromanaged.

I actually think there is a third type, one that falls in middle, where being more timely when it is related to business matters is important, but more fluidity feels right in personal affairs (and yes, I may think that because this is how I see myself). \

The Importance of Time

Sometimes it's good to enjoy the scenery a bit longer / Photo: Caza_No_7

Why does it matter for you to know and understand what kind of “time viewer” you are? Well, both can cause stress if you don’t understand – and to a certain extent, accept – the other.

If you are a ‘linear’ or ‘on-time’ person, it can cause a great deal of irritation and hurt if you think someone else not showing up on time is a sign of disrespect. For the ‘amorphous’ or ‘out-of-time’ person, stress can stem from stern looks and passive-aggressive comments received when you show up late.

It’s also important to accept which side you fall on, and to let go of perceived or projected views of another because these can cause entirely too much hedonistic internal dialogue.

As many of us are trying to cut down on stress in our lives, it is important to note these areas that most people don’t think about when discussing stress. Interpersonal relationships cause the most stress of all, and since too much stress is about the most detrimental thing for your health, it’s important to weed out even the “smallest” of areas.

What’s the best way to deal with others who have a different approach to time than you?

• Particularly if you have a working relationship, be sure to be upfront as soon as possible about your natural inclination to time, but also point out positive attributes of what that approach does for your work. You may not be able to say during a job interview, “I can’t really be tied to a clock,” but once you’ve shown you are trustworthy and good at your job, it’s important to let an employer know how you work best.
• Even with family or friendships, it’s important to be open about how you move through life. The more you can be open – and even joke about your extreme punctuality or on the opposite, tardiness – the more people will accept you for who you are. If you try and always come up with excuses, you’ll just keep irritating those you love the most.

At ground level, this is one of those areas in life that it is important to go ahead and determine what category you fall in, and embrace whoever the hell you are.

Time defines us, our culture, and our planet, in a big way. The way you move through and with time is a way to showcase your spirit – grab it.

Photo: apdk

What does it mean when we teach our kids they have to work harder and harder just to survive?

That having a childhood where they get to run around with other kids just having fun is no longer an option?

That regurgitating information constantly leads to stunted creative thought?

It means many kids are highly stressed, overwhelmed, and depressed:

Just as we’ve done for ourselves as adults, we’ve eliminated nights, weekends, and holidays for kids by making them work right through them all. Unfortunately, much of this is repetitive busy work, which has shown little positive impact on achievement.

No Child Left Behind has been an almost complete failure. AP classes in Science have not increased performance in college for this subject area.

Depression in kids more than doubled from 1995 to 2002 (though this may partly be attributed to other reasons, such as higher rates of diagnosis, there is certainly a connection between the stress put on kids and feelings of sadness and failure).

What’s the antidote? It’s easy: Play.

Even big companies are starting to get that. But if you need more convincing, check out some studies on play.

Here’s some other ways you can take action.

Photo: Ian Sane's photostream

So far this year, I’ve read at least have a half dozen articles about expanding less out into the world, and focusing more on specific people, places, and work that mean something to the individual writing the piece (i.e. My Focus Word For 2012 Is…, Our Responsibility as Media Channels, The Artificiality of Time).

Perhaps the most brilliant and impactful article (considering it was in the New York Times) may be the one that showed up just at the end of 2011, The Joy of Quiet. As writer Pico Iyer writes:

Has it really come to this?

In barely one generation we’ve moved from exulting in the time-saving devices that have so expanded our lives to trying to get away from them — often in order to make more time. The more ways we have to connect, the more many of us seem desperate to unplug. Like teenagers, we appear to have gone from knowing nothing about the world to knowing too much all but overnight.

The too-fast pace at which we have moved – particularly over the last two years – has led to an all too-common feeling of burnout. We have computers that stay on all day long, phones that track us wherever we go (and that we can’t put down for five minutes even when we sit across from a friend at a cafe), social media networks that demand our attention at all hours.

Being constantly tapped-in and knowing what is happening to people on the other side of the country or the globe has not necessarily improved our lives, true connections, or well-being. While movements have toppled shady governments thanks in part to being linked in, we’ve become less connected to the human beings that sit directly beside us in full technicolor.

I don’t believe the answer is to shut down the computer and pitch it out the sun roof (though at times, I definitely think might be the best protest of all). Instead, it’s time to swing the pendulum back so that it ends up somewhere in the middle.

Balance. Use it for good, for efficiency, for your message. Then leave it alone and focus on building the real-life communities that surround you.

Focus inside. Enjoy the quiet. Sit in solitude. Free yourself from the constant adrenaline rush/addiction that is breaking your body down when you are constantly reading new things on the computer or iPhone or iPad.

If 2012 is really shepherding us into a new reality, let that reality be dependent on human interaction and love, so we can learn how to be better at this job of living.

You can’t project peace into the world, or hope for peace in the world, until you find peace in and with yourself.

You can’t project love into the world, or hope for love in the world, until you find love in and with yourself.

We don’t focus on all of those amazing qualities even close to enough of the time. We focus on what’s “wrong”.

That’s why Eve Ensler is the shit. I love how she weaves stories from different cultures to show us what really matters about being a woman:

LOVE – YOUR – TREE.