Water therapy - rehabing a back injury

If you suffer from back aches or a back injury, I can not say enough good things about water therapy. This is different from water aerobics which has its own benefits. Water therapy - like land-based physical therapy - is provided by a licensed physical therapists. So before you begin, you need a referral from a doctor and don't expect to be in the pool the first day. The first day is reserved for a full evalation.

What you can expect from water therapy.
Based on my own experience, the sessions begin with a warm up where you walk through water - heel to toe keeping your abs engaged for several laps This is then followed by side steps for another set of laps followed by walking backwards. Then the physical therapists gives instructions on various exercises which are typically are done in two sets, 15 reps on each side. This all sounds easy but if you do it in perfect form - and go twice a week and try to practice in between, you will feel stronger and will notice better range of motion and increased endurance. The flexability issue takes awhile.

It's been really interesting to meet other patients and learn of their injuries and how well they are responding to aqua therapy. There is one woman who has had her upper and lower vertabrae replaced - wow - I called her the million dollar woman. She had her surgery at Cedars Sinai 4 months ago and showed me the "zipper" in the back of her neck. I was amazed.

So if you have a back problem and were not aware of this option - I encourage you to find out more about aqua therapy.

Turkish Delights

Istanbul is a treasure trove of sensory experiences. Look and you will see amazing historic sites like Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque. Taste the sweetness of lokum (Turkish delight), baklava or halva and you tastebuds will thank you. Listen to the beautiful and exotic call to prayer, take a moment to say your own prayer and you will feel doubley blessed. Feel the heat emmanting from the marble slab of the hamman amd you will be relaxed and cleansed. Smell the aroma of the apple tea that served as you shop at the Grand Bazaar and you will feel welcome.

My trip to Turkey was filled with new experiences and I felt very fortunate to see as much as I did in a short amount of time.

I was thrilled upon checking into my hotel room with a partial water view to the left and a view of a mosque to my right. The hotel had a spectalar roof top patio perfect for panaramic photo opportunities of the water and the Blue Mosque. I did my homework on the internet, checked out http://www.tripadvisor.com/ and called Best Western central reservation to book my stay at the Best Western President. I would, however, recommend to book online at the hotel's website - they have better deals on tours, airport transfer etc. The General Manager did everything to ensure my stay was a good one and therefore, I think this is worth mentioning.

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Girl on a Bus

As I was driving home today, I sat at a red light behind a school bus. It was a long light. I started to notice the girl sitting on the back of the bus was in a wheelchair and her head kept bobbing back and forth. May the sun was hitting her and it was uncomfortable? Maybe she was talking to someone? I kept observing. What I then saw, tugged at my heart strings. She was crying. I scanned the bus to see if there was anyone to help her. It look liked she was the sole passenger at the back of the bus and I kept thinking - how can I help her? Strange as this may sound, I tried to help her by talking to her silently in my car. "It's ok....it will be ok...you are almost home." The bus continued on and I arrived home wishing I could have done more.

The Women's Conference 2008

I've followed The Women's Conference the last 2 or 3 years in large part because of Maria Shriver. Her speeches are so compelling, compassionate and filled with first hand life accounts that are so personal and intimate - you want to hear more.

You realize she is a real and an admirable person. She spoke at length about her love of family and in particular her love for her mother who is the foundation of her very being. This I can relate to. She elaborated on her fear of her mother dying and of her fear of going out on stage for a particular event. and that made me think about a conversation at a dinner party. I was interested to hear such an accomplished speaker such as Maria Shriver share her view about overcoming such universal fears . It goes to show - we are all human.

Christiane Amanpour is a longstanding favorite journalist of mine. I wish I had my laptop available to share her presentation. She spoke about Afganistan and how for a time, as a result of US support, women were able to enjoy more social and educational freedoms but when American turned their attention to Iraq, those social advancements dimished. This was of interest to me because I just met a physician from Afganistan who is actively seeking to expand hospital services in his home country. These topics don't usually come up in day to day conversation.

Condoleeza Rice...some discussion points:

• The glass ceiling will go away when women help women.
• It's ok to be the first and not have a role model that looks like you. Example: Sally Ride Realize You can find a role model in any age, color, ethnicity and religion.
• You have to find the road that works for you - there is no particular route - you have to create your own way.
• One's failure can lead to redirection in which you can be wildly successful. Example: Condoleeze Rice's failure as a concert pianist and her passion for studying Russian. She acknolweged as a Black girl from Alabama with no Russian blood, had never been to Russia, it didn't make conventional sense.
• Don't let conventionalism stop you.
• Condoleeza Rice - why she is single - she hasn't met anyone to date that she wanted to marry and spend her life with was met with applause. I must admit - I quitely applauded in my living room - as I feel the same. But - I sure am looking forward to meeting a life partner who is a great husband, a best friend, a savvy business partner, and activities companion. Too much to ask? I don't think so!
  
  For more information go to http://www.womensconference.org/

The Women's Conference Pledge

As each year passes faster than the next (just as my mother said it would) it has become increasingly important to live a good and full life.

Days and months fly by and you wonder, where did the time go? What have I done recently that is important? The pledge below is part of the Women's Conference. Read it. It is certainly worth sharing and really thinking about.


1 I pledge to "show up" in my life as myself, not as an imitation of anyone else.
2 I pledge to avoid using the word "just" to describe myself. For example, I won't say, "I'm just a mother," "I'm just a student" or "I'm just an ordinary person."
3 I pledge to give myself 10 minutes of silence and stillness everyday to get in touch with my heart and hear my own voice.
4 I pledge to use my voice to connect my dreams to my actions.
5 I pledge to use my voice to empower myself and others.
6 I pledge to serve my community at least once a year in a way that will benefit others.
7 I pledge to ask myself: "Who am I? What do I believe in? What am I grateful for? What do I want my life to stand for?"
8 I pledge to sit down and write my own mission statement.
9 I pledge to live my own legacy.
10 I pledge to pass it on.