Whole Life Magazine

December 2013/January 2014

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art & soul BOOKS Ayn Cates Sullivan, PhD Sparkle and the Light There are three ways to meet negativity: you can buy into it and let it bring you down, you can turn away from it, or you can work to transform it. Sometimes it takes a child to teach us that lesson. In Sparkle and the Light, the second book in a series for young readers inspired by the author's real-life daughter, we follow our heroine's challenges as a "special" person—the light shining from Sparkle's forehead makes her the victim of bullying. As guided by her wise grandmother, she learns to understand the source of the negative energy pointed in her direction. Izzy advises: "Just go outside and give the words and thoughts to the sun for recycling." Later, when a crisis happens, Sparkle doesn't hesitate to turn it all around and help her tormenter. This magical story will put a smile on your face, and also teach a very valuable lesson to young people about sharing their special light with the world. (Infinite Light Publishing) —Carrie Ann Winthrop Janna Lowell Noodles for Dumbbells Water Exercise, Weight Management & More T en minutes into Noodles for Dumbbells I was out of my chair and sitting on the floor. Twenty minutes in I was contorting into pretzel poses in my attempt to continue reading on a Kindle while still getting some exercise. By the time a half hour had elapsed I was ready to sign up at the gym so I could use the pool. Aquatic therapy is perhaps the most under-utilized activity at most gyms. I used to think of it as geared for people lacking in strength, but as you will see from reading Janna Lowell's book, it's the perfect medium for creating the opposite. Lowell explains why water is ideal for a workout, then goes on to detail various aquatic exercises—some based on yoga and Pilates—that will get your body and breath into shape. Not only are you less likely to injure yourself in water, you'll burn one-third more calories. Lowell is a great cheerleader! An "accidental athlete" herself, she understands the challenge of starting a new program, reminding us that it takes 21 days to break a habit. She offers exercises with noodles and dumbbells in deep water and shallow but where she really got me was the section on "functional fitness." Of course it's important to be fit, and we 30 enjoy having our clothes fit well, but what could be more important than having the strength to do the things you want and handle yourself in just about any situation? Her book doesn't stop at exercise, but is full of useful information on supplements, healthy eating and an overall plan for vitality to 100. If you want a strong nudge in the right direction for the New Year, this could be the perfect book for you. —CAW wholelifetimesmagazine.com WLT-DEC-JAN-11-24-10pm.indd 30 11/24/13 10:34 PM

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