San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 03, 2012

The self help and personal development industry is huge. With people looking for different ways to improve and change in a down economy it's no wonder sales of self help books, Cd and seminars are better than ever.

You have probably read a book, listened to a CD or been to one of these very conferences. But is it all smiles behind closed doors?

That's what Point Loma resident and author Matt Belcher wanted to discover.

I have always had a healthy fascination with the personal development industry that started in the UK. I have read a lot of books from the likes of Tony Robbins, Dale Carnegie and Brian Tracy to name a few. But what I always wanted to know is what goes on behind the scenes. Are these people really living what they preach? That's the basis of my fiction/thriller 'Mr Personal Development'.

Belcher created a fast paced story that features a UK based 'guru', James Skye who is on the up and from the outside is very successful. Behind the scenes he is a womanizer, alcoholic, liar and almost bankrupt.

The book is currently on sale at Amazon for only 99 cents. It's a quick read and should be a lot of fun for anyone interested in this industry.

To get your copy search on Amazon or visit Matt's blog. ----

Matt Belcher is a San Diego based self published author originally form the UK. He's a marketing consultant that successfully turned his hand to writing because he wanted to tell stories. Matt is a proud Englishman, animal lover and Rugby supporter. He can be contacted on his blog at http://www.mattbelcherwrites.blogspot.com or 619 259 0387.

Originally posted here:
Is the Self Help Industry All it's Cracked Up to Be?

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Manduka, purveyor of high performance yoga gear and the #1 choice of yoga teachers worldwide, announced today the debut of Journey On, its first complete line of innovative, naturally crafted, versatile bags designed to tote all of yoga's essentials. Taking its inspiration from the adventure yogis experience both on and off the mat, the Journey On collection includes six unique bags providing ample support whether heading to the studio or trekking across the globe.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120802/LA50989)

"For most practitioners, yoga is a personal journey and their gear a foundation for support," said Manduka CEO, Sky Meltzer. "Our goal with Journey On was to provide a family of high quality bags that were consciously and stylishly designed to carry mats, towels and props with ease. The collection is a great addition to our purpose driven, revolutionary, eco-friendly line of yoga gear."

The Journey On Collection includes: the Roadtrippera durable duffle with special mat compartment, the Seekera handbag/satchel/versatile mat carrier, the Wanderera finely crafted, roomy tote for all the essentials, the Daytrippertop loading, adjustable shoulder mat bag, the Commuterhands free, durable carrier with gravity cinch closure, and the Go-Gettergrab and go sling that secures any sized mat.

Original, practical, comfortable and made of natural cotton and linens, the line features antique brass hardware detailing. From the studio to the road, the Journey On collection showcases a love of yoga and a commitment to the planet, without sacrificing style or performance.

To help support the launch of the new collection, Manduka will celebrate the journeys of its fans by giving away pieces from the line on its Facebook page.

To view the entire collection: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/167ba369

For more information, please visit: http://www.manduka.com/Europe join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mandukayoga or follow us @MandukaYoga

About Manduka

Founded in 1997, Manduka was built on the simple idea that a better yoga mat can make a world of difference. Manduka strives to support and enrich the yoga community by providing premium quality mats and products while respecting employees, customers, materials, and the environment. Created for and by yoga enthusiasts, Manduka's technical and purpose-driven product designs meet and often exceed the distinct needs of all practitioners. Today Manduka's products, which include yoga mats, towels, yoga straps, water bottles, and bags, are sold in more than 35 countries around the world. Not only focusing on superior design, Manduka also promotes their ethos of quality, thoughtfulness and sustainability in all realms of their business.

Originally posted here:
Journey On: Manduka® Launches New Yoga Bag Line For The Studio, The Retreat And Any Road In Between

A WHOPPING 2,220 participants joined a yoga session at the Great Eastern Yoga for Life event, which set a record for the largest participation in a yoga session under the Malaysia Book of Records recently.

About 20 yoga instructors guided the participants to perform the 45-minute session near The Strand in Kota Damansara.

Members of the public, schools, universities, societies, organisations, yogis, and including Mix FMs deejays JD and Dilly and My FMs deejay Wan Wai Fun were amongst the crowd of participants for the event.

Great Eastern Life Assurance (M) Bhd director and chief executive officer Datuk Koh Yaw Hui said, Yoga for Life is one of the major events under our Great Programme, which aims to promote healthy lifestyles and meaningful relationships.

Yoga is about having a healthy lifestyle and bringing in your family, children, friends, and parents to build a meaningful relationship.

Our existence is not only important to us but also to the people surrounding us, as Koh elaborated from what he meant by meaningful relationship.

Turning intentions into actions was the inspiration behind the Yoga for Life event. We wanted to host a public activity that is unconventional, yet interesting and fun enough to entice people to use it as their first step towards healthier and better living, he added.

A total of RM44,400 was collected from the registration fees and donated to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA).

BCWA chief executive officer Ranjit Kaur said the event was a good opening for the public to know that yoga has versatility in its facility.

To most people who hear the word yoga, they think that it will be a very complicated activity.

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Yoga session enters records

The BYU basketball team pose with Coach Rose and a family participating in the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation's annual Christmas party, December 14, 2011

Jonathan Hardy, BYU

PROVO, Utah The BYU mens basketball coaching staff will participate in the American Cancer Societys Relay for Life on Aug. 10 and 11 at Provo High School.

Head coach Dave Rose will kick off the event with a speech and the Survivors Lap, where cancer survivors lead the way around the track while being honored and applauded by all participants.

The coaching staff has entered a team in this years Relay for Life to assist in the fundraising efforts of the American Cancer Society and to honor Emily Austin, a teenager from Orem who has battled Leukemia since she was 5 years old.

The Roses met Emily and her family through the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation, an organization that provides Christmas gifts to families with children fighting cancer. Dave and Cheryl and the BYU basketball team have supported the foundation for more than a decade.

Dave Rose battled a rare form of pancreatic cancer during the summer of 2009 and every member of the coaching staff has a close relative who has battled cancer or lost their life to the disease. Cheryl Rose lost her sister Janet to breast cancer just last year. Dave Rose was scheduled to speak at the opening of the Relay for Life in Provo last year but had to cancel to attend Janets funeral.

How to Donate Donations can be made to any member of the BYU Basketball Relay for Life team or online atwww.relayforlife.org. One hundred percent of all donations will be used to support cancer patients and cancer research.

About Relay for Life - The goal of Relay for Life is to "create a world where more people survive cancer so they can celebrate another birthday. This year more than 11 million people will be able to do that thanks to the support of millions of dedicated Relay participants."

Relay for Life is an overnight relay-style event held in communities throughout the world and is the primary fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Members of each team take turns walking around a track for the duration of the event. Food, games and activities provide entertainment and fundraising opportunities in a family-friendly environment for the entire community.

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BYU basketball coaches to participate in Relay for Life

An expansive estate on the near-Northwestside is making good on a long-standing promise to open its doors to the broader community as The Fitness Farm, a nonprofit focused on reducing childhood obesity.

"This was Mom's vision," says Joan SerVaas, camp director and president and publisher of The Saturday Evening Post. "Our goal was always to take this property and devote it to children's health."

That goal of Dr. Corey SerVaas, the former publisher of The Post, and her husband, longtime City-County Council President BuertSerVaas, was once the cause of controversy. Criticism of the family's transfer of this property to not-for-profit corporations they controlled, while apparently still deriving substantial personal use of the property and its facilities, was the subject of a feature article in this publication("Beurt's Backyard," March 16-23, 2000).

The SerVaas estate is now abuzz with the activities once limited to drawing-board concepts. Now in its second year of operation, the Forever-Fit summer camp is helping children to shed weight and body mass and learn habits that will hopefully lead to healthier lifestyles.

The morning scene at Forever-Fit Summer Camp is almost identical to one playing out at other day camps all around the community. About three dozen kids sit at several tables in a large airy dining hall, eating breakfast, laughing, and discussing the day's plans for bike riding, tennis, and a hike.

A few signs betray this camp's special mission. The calories for the morning's breakfast English muffin, cantaloupe, eggs are written on a flip chart at the front of the hall, all the easier for the kids to record the food into their daily meal and exercise journals. Later in the day, the adjoining kitchen area will host the campers' parents for a nutrition seminar and a cooking demonstration.

Almost all of the kids here at the 24-acre Fitness Farm are coping with weight issues. Forever-Fit is designed to help them and their families adjust their lifestyle and eating habits.

"The epidemic of childhood obesity is mind-boggling," Dr. Sandeep Gupta, director of Riley Hospital for Children's POWER Program and a consultant to the camp, said. "This epidemic can't be addressed in a hospital or doctor's office, it has to be addressed in the community."

Gupta's research on the Forever-Fit camp strategies is scheduled to be published in a scientific journal in a few months.

The six-week camp, staffed in part by dieticians and fitness experts, is sponsored by the Saturday Evening Post Society and Children's Better Health Institute. The camp caters to children aged 8-12 and its $100-per-week cost is often offset by financial assistance.

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Fitness Farm realizes SerVaas vision

(MoneyWatch) Although most Americans aren't confident about their ability to retire, people in other countries are even more pessimistic about their retirement prospects, according to a recent survey by Accenture.

Well, duh! I'd be pessimistic, too, if I lived in Mexico, Russia, or Spain. The consulting firm found that 92 percent, 92 percent, and 91 percent, respectively, of respondents in those countries were doubtful about their retirements. South Korea registered the highest level of pessimism, at 95 percent.

That makes sense. As the survey shows, people living in countries with struggling economies and that are experiencing political turmoil can't be expected to feel particularly optimistic about what the future will bring.

Worried about outliving your money? Americans aren't alone 8 ways to fight the system -- and profit Survey: Fewer than 1 in 4 trust financial system

On the other hand, democracy, freedom of speech, and respect for the law are characteristic of the countries with the lowest levels of pessimism about retirement. The countries with the lowest levels of pessimism are the U.K., Germany, Australia, and the U.S, with pessimism levels at 65 percent, 66 percent, 69 percent, and 70 percent respectively.

Besides being just interesting stuff to talk about at your next family or neighborhood get-together, what do these survey results mean to you? When you think about the observations I just made, it's easy to see that an important part of your retirement planning is voting and supporting a country that's run based on the rule of law (as opposed to countries run by dictators or the privileged elite). That's because only countries with strong economies and citizens with high confidence in its legal and financial systems can afford to have a large portion of their population not working, yet still consuming a significant part of the national output.

With that in mind, it's essential that we provide support for Social Security and Medicare, and think about the level of taxes needed to support these valuable programs. It's also important to consider income disparity when thinking about income taxes. And it's critical to think about our health care delivery system and the appropriate amount of government intervention that's needed to provide care for our citizens.

Another essential element to consider: the appropriate amount of regulation that's needed to balance consumer protection with support for innovation and service. Even though many people automatically disparage excessive regulation, we need laws and regulations to rein in the most damaging practices at financial institutions. We only need to look at the most recent scandal over global banks manipulating the London interbank offered rate for reasons why people don't trust the financial system. It's clear that a respect for the law was missing in those situations. For our own protection, we need to have laws that are both respected and enforced.

In spite of the retirement challenges that we face, when I think about how other countries are currently faring, I'm very glad that I'm living and retiring in the good 'ol USA! Thanks for listening -- and see you at the voting booth!

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Americans fear retirement less than other people

FORT MILL, S.C., Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Honeywell (HON) today unveiled its first enterprise digital assistant with an Android operating system (OS), offering mobile workers a device with the same platform that many use in their personal lives. The Dolphin 7800 Android is a rugged handheld computer with fast and accurate data capture and navigation capabilities, making it ideal for a delivery driver or sales representative whose work day involves multiple customer stops. Honeywell Scanning & Mobility and Microsoft Corp. also signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for Honeywell's products running on the Android or Chrome OS platforms. Although specific terms of the agreement are confidential, Microsoft will receive royalties from Honeywell under the agreement.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120802/NY50799)

"Our core business strategy is to offer solutions to meet the needs of the software development community," said John Waldron, president of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. "To provide our customers with the best range of tools for success, we signed a license agreement with Microsoft that will allow Honeywell to offer the Android-based Dolphin 7800 to our network of partners around the world."

"We are pleased to have reached a patent agreement with Honeywell covering its Android devices under Microsoft's worldwide patent portfolio," said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. "Through this agreement Honeywell joins Microsoft's Android patent licensing program and demonstrates its responsible approach to the management of intellectual property."

What sets the Dolphin 7800 Android apart from other products are security features to give businesses peace of mind. Companies who issue the device to their employees have the ability to remotely secure a lost device. With Honeywell's Remote MasterMind 3.0 device management software, businesses also can enroll and configure devices, track company assets and enforce strong password protection.

"Many of our customers want to enjoy using their work devices as much as their personal mobile phones and tablets," said Taylor Smith, director of product management, Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. "With the Android-based Dolphin 7800 we are able to offer that same user experience with the enterprise security that our customers expect from Honeywell."

To support the software community, Honeywell launched a Developer Program for Android OS compatible devices, giving independent software vendors (ISVs) and end-users a voice in the development of Honeywell products that will use the Android OS. Program participants had the opportunity to develop and test Android-specific applications on Honeywell's newest mobile device, prior to launch.

"We see demand for enterprise level, integrated GPS software solutions, like our CoPilot Live Professional, based on the Android platform. The Dolphin 7800 puts Honeywell in a strong position to capitalize on Android deployments within the enterprise," said Dan Popkin, vice president of business development of enterprise solutions at ALK Technologies.

"Our retail customers are closely aligned with the trends in the consumer device market, and at the same time, need performance and durability. These factors were drivers for us to participate in the Honeywell Developer Program for Android," said Gene Cornell, president, Cornell-Mayo Associates.

"Our ServiceACE application supports the Dolphin 7800 Android, with our TransportACE and RouteACE apps soon to follow, providing service, transportation, and consumer goods companies with a solution for streamlining their mobile operations," said Don Grust, CEO of Apacheta.

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Honeywell Introduces First Android-based Enterprise Digital Assistant

A recent study reveals that business is the most popular field of study for undergraduate and graduate online students.

One out of every three students who enroll in an online education program study business, according to a recent report about online students in 2012 by The Learning House, Inc. and Aslanian Market Research, which included survey responses from 1,500 current and prospective online students nationwide.

Thirty-four percent of survey respondents reported that they're studying or plan to study in the field of business; and fields of study in health professions and social sciences rounded out the top three most popular areas with 16 percent of online students currently studying or planning to study in each discipline.

[See why top MBA programs are embracing online education.]

This trend is consistent in traditional U.S. higher education as well, with subjects in the business field accounting for roughly 20 percent of all bachelor's degrees awarded annuallymaking it the nation's most popular field of study.

More than 90 percent of online students noted that their primary motivation for joining an online program involved their careers: 46 percent reported that their motivation was to advance in their current career, while 29 percent hoped to change careers.

"Changes in people's careers most often directed them to further education," the study's authors write. "Failing to rise to the next level or increase income drives many people back to school to gain the credentials they need to succeed."

[Explore free options for an online education.]

Online students are also motivated to consider online programs or institutions that have a nearby campus or service center, according to the report. In fact, about 80 percent of online students reside within 100 miles of a campus or service center of the program they attend.

"Online students seriously consider physical location when selecting an institution," the report's authors write. "Institutions that offer online programs should promote their programs to local residents within 100 miles of campus."

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Study: Business Most Popular Field of Study Among Online Students

WELLSVILLE It almost looked like scenes out of a movie.

Throughout Cache Valley this week, livestock-hauling trucks were stopped for inspection at the state border. Veterinarians in biosecurity moon suits examined animals. A command center was established where the states chief veterinarian and Homeland Security officials received briefings.

While it wasnt a rehearsal for the next major medical thriller film, it was a rehearsal for something much more: The containment of the next foreign animal disease (FAD) to hit Cache Valley or the state of Utah.

Veterinarians and public safety responders from Utah and Idaho came together at the Caine Dairy Teaching and Research Center over three days to conduct a large-scale FAD exercise, sponsored by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

The exercise, from July 31 through Aug. 2, included classroom training on topics of biosecurity on the farm, strengthening community agro-security planning, livestock inspection, pathogenic control and more.

It was the first time the UDAF has actually staged such an exercise. The UDAF reviews its procedures at formal meetings every year.

If you think about a disease outbreak coming to Cache Valley, and if we were only to contain it to Cache Valley, and it didnt go anywhere else, (the FAD) would still have devastating effects, said Bruce King, Utahs chief veterinarian, during a media briefing during the exercise Wednesday. Id predict 24 hours later, before we can even get our arms around this disease, probably most of the dairies in Cache Valley would be infected ... because of all of the (interaction) between agriculture we have today in a worldwide farming industry.

Foreign animal diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow) and foot-and-mouth-disease can damage consumer confidence in the vibrant U.S. food supply market. Officials say the combined value of both states livestock revenue tops $4 billion $3.2 billion for Idaho and $1 billion for Utah.

A FAD can also lead to costly trade embargoes by foreign countries, King said.

Its a disease that scares us in this business because if we diagnose it in the United States, no matter where it happens, we could automatically lose all of the export market, King said of foot-and-mouth disease. The price of meat, the price of milk would all go in the crapper, for lack of a better term.

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Veterinarians, public safety responders rehearse animal disease outbreak in Cache County

Published: Aug. 1, 2012 at 11:07 PM

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health has issued a video demonstrating how yoga works and suggesting it may be beneficial for low-back pain.

"This video provides important information on the safety and usefulness of yoga and also insights into how scientists study this commonly used health practice," Dr. Josephine P. Briggs, director of National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, said in a statement.

There is a growing body of evidence yoga may be beneficial for low-back pain, the NCCAM said. It is generally considered to be safe in healthy people when practiced appropriately, under the guidance of a well-trained instructor, but those with high blood pressure, glaucoma and sciatica, or women who are pregnant should modify or avoid some yoga poses, Briggs said.

"Everyone's body is different, and yoga postures should be modified based on individual abilities. Inform your instructor about any medical issues you have, and ask about the physical demands of yoga," Briggs said. "If you're thinking about practicing yoga, be sure to talk to your healthcare providers. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health."

The video, available at http://nccam.nih.gov/video/yoga, highlights the work of two researchers -- George Salem of the University of Southern California, who uses innovative technology to examine how older adults use their muscles and joints in certain yoga postures; and Karen Sherman of Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, who focuses on how yoga may be a beneficial for people with chronic low-back pain.

Continued here:
NIH video reveals science behind yoga