Good Communication Tips

Having effective communication can help us better understand a person or situation. It helps us resolve differences, build trust, build respect, and create better environments. Effective communication can improve relationships at home, work, and any other social situation. Knowing how to better your communication will also give you the ability to deepen your connections with others and improve teamwork, decision making, and problem solving.

• Listening- One of the most important aspects of communication is listening. By listening to whoever you are talking to it will help make the speak feel heard and understood. Some ways to have effective listening are to focus on the speaker, avoid interrupting, avoid seeming judgmental, and show your interest in the speaker.  This will help improve your listening skills, which is essential for good communication. 

• Nonverbal Communication -Another important aspect of good communication is nonverbal communication, both yours and reading the speaker’s. This includes all of the wordless communication we do when we speak to others, body language, facial expressions, body movement, eye contact, posture, tone of voice and even muscle tension and breathing. Tips on how to read nonverbal communication are; to practice observing people, be aware of individual differences, and look at nonverbal communication signals as a group. When using nonverbal communication yourself it is important to use signals that match up with you words; it should reinforce what is being said. Adjust your nonverbal signals according to the context; example would be the tone of your voice should be different when talking to a child as opposed to an adult. Also use body language to convey positive feelings.

• Stress Management-Another helpful tip for effective communication is managing your stress.  Having stress can disrupt your ability to think clearly and act appropriately. There are a few ways to help control your stress while communicating; recognize when you are stressed, take a moment to calm down, take a few breaths to relax, look for humor in the situation, be willing to compromise, and agree to disagree. These will help to manage your stress levels so you can better communicate.

Above are just a few tips explained on how to have good communication skills. Being a good communicator also depends on the type of person or group of persons you are talking to. There are a number of different ways to better your communication in specific situations.  For more information go to:    http://www.assetproject.info/learner_support/communication_skills.htm

Magnets on Pain

Recent studies have shown that magnets may work in helping relieve pain, but there is still more research to be done on how effective they are. Magnets work by increasing blood flow to the injured tissue. Increasing blood flow will increase the amount of oxygen and nutrients arriving at the injured tissue. This will help speed up the healing process.  Researchers have shown that a mild magnetic field can cause blood vessels in the body to dilate or constrict, increasing blood flow and suppressing inflammation.  Magnets also may help prevent muscle spasms, which causes many forms of pain, by interfering with muscle contractions. They also interfere with electrochemical reactions within the nerve cells, blocking their ability to transmit pain messages to the brain. 

Magnetic therapy is said to relieve pain from arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sinus and stress headaches, asthma, muscle spasms, strains, joint pain, and swelling. One benefit of using magnet therapy opposed to other relief methods is there are no negative side effects of using it. Not everyone should use magnet therapy. Those that are pregnant, have pacemaker or automatic defibrillator, or use and insulin pump should not use magnetic healing. 

When using a magnet therapy, the magnet should be applied directly over the painful area on the skin. They can be adhered by ordinary adhesive bandages. They also can be adhered by Transpore, a paper tape, which may work better.  It is important to get a strong enough magnet when choosing which one to use.  Magnets are measured in gauss; the average refrigerator magnet has a gauss of about 50. Most pain relieving magnets measure between 300-1000 gauss. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes: wrist and ankle jewelry, Velcro wraps, even magnet-filled pads to fit on your bed. These wraps and jewelry can be placed in several spots on your body to help speed up your healing process.

Healthy Recipe

 Strawberries-and-Cream Parfait

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup quick-cooking tapioca
• 3 cups low-fat milk, or unsweetened plain soymilk
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 6 sprigs fresh mint, for garnish

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Cooking Directions

Step 1

Grind tapioca in a blender or coffee grinder until it is a fine granular powder.

Step 2

Whisk milk (or soymilk), maple syrup, egg and the tapioca in a small heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from the heat, stir in vanilla and transfer to a medium bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface. Refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours or overnight.

Step 3

Whip cream using an electric mixer or whisk in a chilled bowl until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the tapioca mixture using a rubber spatula.

Step 4

Spoon 1/4 cup strawberries into each of six 8-ounce parfait glasses or wineglasses. Top each with 1/3 cup tapioca cream. Repeat with another layer of strawberries and tapioca cream. Garnish with the remaining berries and a sprig of mint.

Nutrition Info

• Serving: Per serving (makes 6)
• Calories: 256
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fat: 9g
• Protein: 6g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 3g
• Cholesterol: 63mg
• Potassium: 439mg

Read about our new ACCESS CARE MODEL!!

Agape Therapy is excited to officially introduce our new Access Care Model. 

 This model is a new comprehensive and even more personal approach to your health!

In a nutshell the Access Care Model is constructed of 3 phases. 
Phase 1: REHAB, is to help you through an injury and/or dysfunction to get your body functioning the best it can.  This is likely through Physical, Occupational, Speech or even Massage Therapy visits.

The therapist will eval and treat you and provide you a plan the best suits you based on their findings and your goals and potential.

Phase 2: RESTORE, this happens once you have rehabbed yourself and are ready for getting your body into good shape.  This phase likely is comprised of wellness coaching, personal training, massage, or reflexology.  There is still a physical focus, but this introduces a more mindful and environmental approach to restoring you to your potential.  The more angles you can hit your wellness from the better off you are to maintain the lifestyle you desire and deserve!

Once you have graduated from this phase, you have gained the tools to be independent.  We will send you on your way, but with an opportunity to touch base with you down the road to see how things are going.

Phase 3: RENEW, our goal is to get you as independent as possible; so many times people have forgotten what their potential is!  Through this Access Care Model our hope is that we have helped you to uncover what the possibilities are and then assist you with developing the tools to be successful in a healthy lifestyle.  Here you will be working with the plan that was set forth for you based on your progress, and we will give you some time to work on your own. However, you still can call and email us with questions and there will be a follow up after some time to make sure you are making progress.

Three of my FAVORITE parts about how we set this MODEL up are:
1. We wish we knew how to do everything to help you heal and gain health but we don't, so we have partnered with fantastic, intelligent, and compassionate practitioners who are ready to help build you up with us!  That is such a blessing for us to be able to offer.

2. The Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapies can be covered by insurance.  We accept most insurances.  However, not everyone has insurance and so many of us have high deductibles.  So, we have a cash pay option.  If you need to set up a payment plan, we can help you with that too.

3. If you don't even know if you need therapy, or you just need a session or two to get some guidance,  than we have two Access Levels that can help. These are easy, hassle free cash pay options to give you an evaluation and professional guidance to treat your injury/dysfunction.  Level 1 is 30 minutes and Level 2 is 60 minutes, both have a follow up appointment as part of the plan.  From here, you can get directed to one of the 3 Access Phase Plans if needed, no problem.

We thank you for your trust in us to offer you the best care possible.  As always I humbly ask, that if you have liked the care/service you have received from Agape Therapy, please refer a friend to us.  Thank you!  Any questions don't hesitate to email me!

Benefits of Meditation

When we are stressed our bodies prepare us by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, which is our “fight or flight” response. The sympathetic nervous system increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and causes our muscles to contract and tense up. It also will slow digestion.  When you relax, on the other hand, you are stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system; which has the opposite effect on the body. This is a state of rest, enjoyment, and physical renewal. When in this state your muscles can relax and food can be digested. Also your heart can slow down, the blood circulation will flow freely to body tissues and supply them with enough oxygen. 

Meditation is a great way to get into a relaxed state of mind. Meditation involved sitting in a relaxed position and clearing your mind. You may focus on a sound, your breathing, or nothing at all, whatever is comfortable to you. It is helpful, if you are a beginner, to have privacy and silence when you meditate. It isn’t the length of time you meditate that counts it is the regularity in meditating that makes the difference. Practicing meditation 10 to 15 minutes a day will help decrease your stress levels, improve your sleep, and increase your patience levels.

Meditation can help anyone benefit from children to elderly. It can help with a variety of mental and physical health problems. Meditation has been shown to help with:

• hypertension
• migraines
• fatigue
• digestive problems                                              
• chronic illness
• energy levels
• immunity
• fertility
• calmness