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Holiday's Too Much?

Check out our special on SMILES below!!

This is a season of celebration and family. But it's also a season of less sunlight, crowded travel, and not so pleasant family interactions.

Holidays got you down? As you might expect, I have some suggestions. Did you know that there's an ancient Taoist technique called The Inner Smile that boosts your immune system, defeats depression, calms your nervous system thus relaxing muscles, and generally makes you healthier and happier?

I learned this technique from Master Mantak Chia, author of many Taoist healing books in many languages.

With his permission I recorded The Inner Smile in three versions. The first is a 28 minute journey through your whole body to light up every cell with a smile. The second is a 15 minute guided session to smile away distress. And the third is15 minutes to bring you into a state of joy or ecstasy.

Wouldn't this be a great investment to get you through the holidays? Wouldn't it be a great stocking stuffer for those near and dear to you?

To honor you for this holiday season, I'm offering the CD's and tapes at a special discount. They normally sell for $15 but I'm decreasing the price until January 15, 2007 to $12 (also helpful for those post-holiday blues) . If you buy two you can have both for $20.

Come by any time to pick them up in Albany. They'll be on the bookshelf just inside the front door. You can leave payment in the black "Payments for Dr Berry" box on the Nutriscan display shelf. Those who see me in my San Rafael office need to call me to let me knowyou'd like to take advantage of the SMILE offer.

May I also recommend PACE breathing? In this practice you inhale and exhale for equal lengths of time. The purpose of this exercise is to balance the stress and relaxation parts of your nervous system. When stressed, we usually spend more time in the inhale and breathe high and shallow in our chest. If you are really anxious you might even lengthen the exhale a bit longer than the inhale to calm yourself even more. I recommend focusing on this pattern for at least 5 minutes at a time. Try it any time of day.

A good way to use PACE breathing is when you're walking. That way you can inhale for say 4 steps then exhale for 4 steps. It makes a nice calming and energizing rhythm.

Because of the decreased amount of daylight in the winter months its also advisable to spend time outdoors every day-- in the middle part of the day -- tostock up onyour internally produced serotonin supply.

Serotonin is a natural anti-depressant. And you don't need to take an SSRI drug to create it. Just get more daylight time outside without a hat and preferably without your glasses. Daylight needs to soak into your brain through your skull and eyes in order for the serotonin to be produced. (DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN.)

Yes, daylight goes through your skull. Try putting a flashlight -- turned on -- in your mouth in a darkened room. You'll be able to see the light shining through your face!

Another benefit -- besides improved mood -- fromincreased serotonin production isincreased resistance to winter colds and flu.

As for those not so pleasant family interactions, well ... you can come in for a trauma healing session with me and in the moment, you can remember The Inner Smile. You know that old song, "When you smile the whole world smiles with you." If a relative is being crabby or abusive, gently set up that inner smile and see if it doesn't help change the expression on their face. If not, at least you have the warm glow of a smile within you.

May your smile continue throughout the whole year.

Happy Holidays!!