Introducing YouQuest, An App for Self-Discovery

I always like hearing about brand-new apps, and here's one that's just been released. It's called YouQuest, and it was created by a company called 500 BC. In fact, when I clicked on the 500 BC site, I was greeted by a line which read, "Update your life, not your status," and I have to admit that this caught my interest!

The idea of the YouQuest app is that it is a game of self-discovery. As you use the app, you explore history and imagine your own ancient past. The app incorporates timeless wisdom from ancestors like Buddha. The app gives you a two-fold journey: discovering the past, and discovering yourself.

When we think about smartphones, the first thing we think of isn't generally inner wisdom or self-discovery, is it? YouQuest wants you to start using your phone for different purposes, rather than always skimming the surface of our usual activities of instant messaging, looking at viral videos, and so on.

YouQuest utilizes an algorithm and starts by guiding the user, over time, through a series of quizzes and offering targeted wisdom based on the user's responses.

The app was inspired by 500 BC's founder, Carol Phelan-Marsh, reflecting on her daughter's experience surviving cancer. She said, "My daughter survived bone cancer, and had to dig deep to do it (we all did). We used every tool, ancient and modern, to help her successfully battle osteosarcoma. I swore if she came through this that I'd launch a product to help others find their inner warriors."

You can download the app via iTunes and Google Play.

Introducing INRTracker, a Tool for People Who Take Warfarin

Do you or does someone close to you take Warfarin (Coumadin)? It's a very commonly prescribed blood-thinner. Personally, I've had more than one relative who has been on this medication, and it's one of those meds where you have to keep on top of your follow-up appointments for blood draws to make sure that you have the correct level of medication in your body.

INRTracker is personal health management tool for people who take Warfarin, and the name of the tool comes from the INR Test that patients get to check their level of Warfarin. INRTracker is a free web app that lets you enter your personal health data and generate reports to keep track of your medication level and try to figure out why you might be having any fluctuations in your drug therapy. You can use the app to enter lots of data that factors into your health, such as what you eat and what your blood pressure is.

INRTracker was co-founded by someone who is on Warfarin therapy for a genetic blood clotting disorder (Veronica), and someone who learned code specifically to build the website (Pavan). Oh, and they are also a couple. :) In other words, the site is brought to you by people who care about people who need to take Warfarin.

In addition to their app, Veronica and Pavan share other resources useful to patients. For example, check out their Warfarin diet guide. And check out this article about blood clot symptoms in the leg.

This screenshot also gives you a good idea of the app.

I think this is definitely a resource worth exploring if you are managing Warfarin therapy!

Meet Gregory Clark, Owner of Clean Air Plus

Gregory Clark is the owner of Clean Air Plus, a company specializing in portable medical-grade HEPA air purifiers. The three brands that we offer (IQAir, Amaircare and Austin Air) are considered best in class, and provide optimal filtration of fine dust particles, allergens and microorganisms. Many of our clients (or their family members) suffer from allergies, asthma or other respiratory illness. In addition to residential clients, we sell to businesses, including medical centers and manufacturing facilities.

Follow Clear Air Plus on Facebook and Twitter for some informative posts about health and indoor air quality. The image below shows the company's most popular air purifier, "The Austin Air HealthMate Jr."

1. How did you first become interested in the topic of air purification?

I first became interested in the topic of air purification while living in one of the nation's most polluted cities: Fresno, CA. This city, located in California's central valley, is notorious for having some of the worst particulate pollution and ozone in the country. Unfortunately, most of the dirty air gets transported from the Bay Area, where it becomes trapped between the Sierra Nevada and Coastal ranges. For many of the Valley's residents, this negatively impacts their respiratory health. I remember growing up and seeing many of my fellow classmates with their inhalers. Incidentally, Fresno has one of the highest childhood asthma rates in the nation, with recent estimates indicating that one in every six children suffers from this disease. Thankfully, I never had any major problems, though always had some degree of sinus discomfort, as well as frequent bronchitis.

In 2002, while still residing in Fresno, I began my search for a quality air purifier for the home. Like so many people, I invested in an inexpensive store-brand model that really did not seem to produce any tangible results. I continued on with my search for an effective purifier, and visited a local dealer of higher-end HEPA air purifiers. After his demonstration of the various models, I wound up purchasing the IQAir HealthPro Plus and Austin Air HealthMate Jr. Within a week of use, I noticed a major difference in the home's air quality. For the first time in years, I could breathe out of both nostrils. In addition, my sleeping was much better with less instances of waking up during the night. I began recommending these products to friends and family, and was sending quite a few customers to the local dealer.

While this dealer served local customers only (at the time), I began to realize that there was a demand for such a dealer that could serve the entire country via internet. That's how www.cleanairplus.com was founded.

2. When it comes to choosing an air purifier for a home or business, what do you suggest that someone consider in figuring out what product might be a good fit?

Regardless of the situation, the most important factor when purchasing an air purifier is that it features a medical-grade HEPA filter and some form of activated carbon. Medical grade HEPA filtration means that the filter has a large surface area (usually over 30 sq ft) and filters particles down to .3 microns at the 99.97% rate. In addition, HEPA filters particles down to .1 microns at the 95% rate. HEPA eliminates airborne dust particles, pet dander, mold spores, pollen, and attached viruses. Activated carbon is specially treated to eliminate gaseous chemicals, tobacco smoke, and noxious odors. All models that we sell feature a medical grade HEPA filter, and all but three models (designed mostly for hospitals) contain generous amounts of activated carbon.

Another consideration is the type of contaminants that are in the air. Certain environments contain very high levels of particulates or chemicals, and therefore would benefit by the use of a model specifically designed for this purpose. Most models that we sell provide all-purpose filtration of a wide range of contaminants. However, if living in an environment with high levels of certain contaminants, such as formaldehyde off-gassing or airborne mold spores, it's always a good idea that the customer consult with our team of air purification experts to ensure that they are investing in a unit that will deliver effective results.

Certainly the size of the room is an important factor when determining which air purifier to purchase. For smaller-sized rooms (such as a bedroom), most environments would only require a small to mid-sized unit. For larger spaces (such as living areas), they would typically need a larger unit to ensure optimal air quality. The size of the unit also corresponds which the filtration capacity, as well as the CFM (cubic feet per minute). Smaller models typically feature less filtration per square footage, and utilize a fan that is not as powerful, while larger units contain a greater filtration surface area and a more powerful fan.

The mantra "you get what you pay for" especially applies to air purification. Lesser-priced models are simply ineffective as they contain minimal filtration. That's why our company exists--to offer only the top quality models that deliver genuine air cleaning results.

3. Why is indoor air quality so important--is it possible that many of our homes/offices have air quality issues that we're not aware of?

Indoor air quality is of utmost importance. According to a number of national organizations, including the American Lung Association and the EPA, studies have shown that the air quality in our indoor settings, including homes and offices, is more of a health concern than the air quality outdoors. With most of their time spent indoors, people can be exposed to high levels of pollutants, especially in areas with poorly designed, maintained, or operated ventilation systems, along with the presence of pollutant sources. In addition, there has been a large increase in the use of synthetic building materials and furnishings, as well as household cleaning, personal care, and pesticide products that contain potentially harmful chemicals. To make matters worse, in recent years, homes, offices, and other types of buildings have been made tighter to save on energy use and costs.

Sadly, most people are unaware of the risks of living in such an environment. Just because you can't see or smell the contaminants in the air doesn't mean that they don't exist. Rather, it's something that usually exists at levels that are oftentimes undetectable. Nevertheless, exposure to allergens or chemicals for long periods of time can have a negative effect on one's health. The health effects of poor indoor air can result in many symptoms, including throat irritation, sinus congestion, red eyes, coughing, wheezing, and respiratory illness.

4. How much maintenance do your products require in terms of replacing filters, etc?

Our products are exceptionally easy to maintain. Most importantly, all air purifiers offered by our company utilize long-lasting filters. For example, the Austin air purifier features an all-in-one filter rated to last five years under normal residential conditions. The IQAir and Amaircare models contain HEPA filters that last an average of three to four years, and activated carbon components that need to be replaced every two years on average. These units have a much longer filtration lifespan as compared to store brands, which typically require filter changes every few months. For all of our air purifier units, filter replacement is very easy, and all replacements ship with pictorial instructions.

5. What are HEPA filters, and why do you recommend them?

HEPA filters were first introduced by the US Government during World War II. They were seeking ways to protect researchers at the Manhattan Institute from radiation particles. During the 1950s through the 1980s, HEPA filtration was primarily used for industrial and commercial purposes. By the early 90s, brands like Austin Air and Amaircare began production of portable HEPA air purifiers. Almost immediately, their systems became very popular, especially within the allergy and asthma community. Nowadays, anyone can benefit from the use of a HEPA-filtered air purifier; after all, most people understand the relationship between breathing clean air and good health.

As previously mentioned, all of our air purifiers feature a medical grade HEPA filter. This ensures complete removal of airborne allergens and irritants, including fine dust, pet dander, mold spores, pollen, soot, and microorganisms. In addition, all of our models are expertly produced in the USA, Canada, or Switzerland using the best components available. All models that we offer come with five-year warranties as well. Above all, the representatives at Clean Air Plus are familiar with all product offerings, and are always happy to assist others in their search for the right air filtration system.

Thanks, Gregory!

Meet Dr. Diane A. Thompson, Medical Doctor and Radio Host

Dr. Diane A. Thompson is a physician, author, speaker, and radio host of the popular and syndicated Health Talk with Dr. Diane MD, which is aired on FMG Radio, Blog Talk Radio, and most recently on "Atlanta's Incredible Radio" 1570 AM WIGO. Her goal in having a radio show is to share inspirational health information that could change people's health and inspire them to live a successful life.

Learn more about Dr. Diane by visiting her website as well as her Facebook page.

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?

As a child, I suffered from Asthma. An asthma attack can give the scary sensation of catching your last breath. During those moments, a visit to the emergency department or pediatrician's office always seemed to make things better. Those early experiences caused me to associate a doctor with making people's lives better, and that was exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

When I first arrived in this country from Jamaica, my mom and I experienced many challenges, including not having a home in which to live. This experience along with many other obstacles made it feel as though medicine was not feasible. I still loved the idea of being a part of a person's health and helping to improve their life, but I wanted to do it without the time and money it would cost to pursue medicine. I decided to become a nurse instead. Although nursing provided great experiences, I found myself still thinking about going on to pursue medicine. After many years as a nurse and accepting that life should not be lived with regrets, I returned to school and studied medicine.

2. Why do you choose to address more than just physical health?

Simply because human beings are complex and health is not simply about being physically healthy. I have often said if a person is physically healthy yet his or her relationships are in dis-array, he or she will be unhappy, stressed, and in my opinion, not truly healthy. When I look at the person in his or her healthiest state, I take a holistic view in order to see how everything impacts on his or her health.

3. How did you first get involved in hosting a radio show, and what do you most enjoy about doing your show?

I became aware that some of my patients who struggled with their health and wellness either didn't have adequate information, had information that was incorrect, or had the correct information but were not motivated to take action. I started a program of community health talks called "Health Talk with Dr. Diane MD," as a way of sharing information with people with the hope that I could help to prevent many of them from becoming patients. This allowed me go out to the communities and reach many more people all at once. Hosting a radio show simply provided another vehicle to share information to a larger audience with goal of improving health and changing lives. The radio show, Health Talk with Dr. Diane MD was born, and is now aired on FMG Radio Network, "Atlanta's Incredible Radio" 1570 AM WIGO, and Blog Talk Radio. The interviews are also available on iTunes and are uploaded to my YouTube channel, DrDianeMD, so people may listen at their leisure. We are also in the process of moving to other markets.

4. Would you give us some examples of things people can learn from listening to your show?

I think the great thing about the show is that it shares health information with an inspirational twist. It is not punitive, and it meets people wherever they are. As a health professional and radio host, I am able to have conversations with health experts and thought leaders in order to get the answers to questions most people want to know. I interview guests who are experts in their fields, and we cover information on many diseases, stress, diet and weight management, fitness, skincare, hair care, relationships, spirituality, money management, and purpose and passion. We also cover the latest health news and research findings that impact your health and life. After listening to the show, you will learn new health information and you will become inspired to take action and improve your life.

5. If you could give people just three pieces of advice to improve their health, what would you say?

First, I would say it starts with a decision. We know that we can preach health until we are blue in the face, but nothing will happen until the person decides. It is important that listeners understand that health is wealth, and making healthy changes is an important investment that is not always easy. I would also recommend for people to take small but consistent steps. If a person has never worked out, deciding to go to the gym every day for two hours daily is a big goal that he or she is unlikely to keep, and this may lead to frustration. When baby steps are taken with consistency, that person stands a better chance of succeeding. Finally, get an accountability partner. If you are not accustomed to eating healthily or exercising, it is easy to fall off the wagon and not get back on. Having an accountability partner provides someone who can help keep you honest and provide encouragement, which will increase you chance of succeeding.

Thanks, Dr. Diane!

Introducing Spa Flow Mobile Massage of Atlanta Georgia

At my day job, there are mobile massage therapists who come to our workplace to offer chair massage, and I've seen chair massage at the airport, too. So I'm familiar with the idea of massage therapists who travel to residential and business locations to provide massage. But what I haven't heard of before is the idea of massage therapists offering spa parties, which is a unique service provided by Spa Flow Mobile Massage and Wellness of Atlanta.

For events like birthday parties, bridal showers, and more, Spa Flow offers services like foot massage, express mani/pedi treatments, table massage, and more. In other words, you can book an event at the venue of your choice and give your guests the special gift of wellness treatments.

In general, Spa Flow has found a great niche for their services because they allow customers in the Atlanta, GA area to have access to professional massage therapists while avoiding traffic, finding a place to park, etc. Plus, if you want a massage to be a stress-relieving activity, it makes sense to have a massage in the restful comfort of your own home. Reservations are generally available within 24 hours, and same-day appointments are sometimes available, too.

Learn more about Spa Flow by visiting their Facebook page and checking out the video below.

Forever Living Products: A Different Kind of Company

Forever Living Products was founded in 1978 on little more than dreams and hard work. It was designed to help anyone who wanted a better future to attain it on their own. As of this writing, over 9.5 million distributors worldwide have discovered the power of Forever Living's once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Millions of people are enjoying more fulfilling, healthier, and wealthier lives, thanks to a small business that began with only a dream.

The supplements offered through Forever Living are designed with healthy, energetic living in mind. The supplements come in different forms such as powders, capsules, and energy drinks--the idea is to support your nutrient levels throughout the day. Aloe vera is one of the key ingredients in their products, but check out their website to learn more about the different natural ingredients they utilized.

More than 30 years later after the company was started, Forever Living is a multi-billion dollar company with a presence in over 145 countries. They manufacture and sell dozens of exclusive, beneficial wellness products based on one of nature's purest gifts--aloe vera. Their business opportunity compensates people for sharing their products with others.

Better health. More wealth. A secure future.

Meet Laura Rude, Author and Hypnotherapist

Laura Rude is an author, a Washington State certified hypnotherapist, and the founder of the website Postpartum-Living.com, a resource for new mothers and their families who find themselves dealing with postpartum depression.

Because of the immense number of women who struggle with the disorder and the devastating effect it has on new mothers and their families, Laura began researching the topic and bringing together information and creating a place to share stories and resources. Laura has worked with a vast number of clients in her hypnotherapy practice and witnessed how a natural and utterly side-effect-free therapy like hypnosis can benefit those suffering with various afflictions of both body and mind.

Laura is an avid student of the subconscious mind and has researched natural methods for dealing with depression, stress, and anxiety. She discovered that many new moms preferred a natural, drug-free approach to treating their postpartum depression but found little available to them. Through her extensive research, she has written a book called Creating Postpartum Wellness and created an easy-to-follow six-week program, implementing natural and holistic methods for combating this disorder. Her book is available on Amazon in paperback and for the Kindle.

Laura is married with one son and lives near Seattle, Washington.

1. When did you start your Postpartum Living website, and what has the response from readers/visitors been?

I began postpartum-living.com in May of 2011. The response from my visitors has been great. I began the site because I found a genuine lack of information and resources for women who wanted to implement natural remedies for overcoming their postpartum depression and anxiety. The moms who visit my site really appreciate it.

2. What particular insights have you gained into postpartum depression through your work as a hypnotherapist?

My work as a hypnotherapist is interesting and so rewarding. I work with many people struggling with depression, anxiety, fears, and insomnia, to name a few common issues. This has led me to understanding more about these issues and how using hypnotherapy and natural treatments can alleviate them. Many postpartum moms are affected by these issues.

3. What motivated you to write your book, Creating Postpartum Wellness?

I wanted to make all the research I had done and the information I had studied available to the moms who needed it and could benefit from it, so I decided to write a book of natural treatments and create a simple and easy-to-implement program.

4. In writing the book, how did you combine your perspectives as a mom yourself and as a clinician? Once you're a mom, you have a great perspective on many of these issues. Having experienced depression myself also allowed me to really empathize and understand on a personal level some of the feelings of despair and shame, as well as the stigma associated with depression. As a hypnotherapist, I was able to explain hypnosis and its effectiveness, and dispel some of the common misconceptions about it.

5. I'm thinking that natural treatments for depression must be especially important for breastfeeding moms, and I'm curious to know more: what are some of the benefits of natural treatment methods?

Yes, breastfeeding moms find natural treatments for depression valuable for sure--rather than taking pharmaceuticals. In addition to that, almost all of these natural treatment steps in the book can be followed in the privacy of a mom's home. I have found that many moms don't want to share their pain or shame with others--they just want it to end! This is a great choice for those women, as well as those who prefer a natural route to healing.

Thanks, Laura!

Leap, Live, Learn: A Blog on Personal Growth

I recently happened upon leap, live, learn, an interesting site by a blogger from Australia named Kate. She writes about the different things she's been doing and learning as she focuses on making small yet significant changes in her life. When I asked her about the purpose of her blog, she said, "It is a project of sorts to help myself live as healthy, simply, and freely as I can."

I found useful posts on healthy eating and fitness. Kate has an engaging style where she combines her own experience with links and information from other sources. Recent posts include an easy recipe for coconut mango popsicles. Kate writes about giving up sugar, and she makes it sound delicious with her guidelines for baking a chocolate cheesecake without sugar.

In particular, I like a post from November of 2012 when she discusses her longtime love of Diet Coke, or in her words, "a story... about a girl and a bad relationship."

I can recommend Kate's blog to other readers like myself who find inspiration in other people sharing their own stories of making efforts toward personal wellness through everyday choices.

Meet Leandra J. Kalsy, Author

Leandra J. Kalsy lives near New York and enjoys writing, reading, learning, traveling, crafting, and helping others to feel better by healing their relationships with food and learning methods to relieve stress. The author of The Woman's Guide To Building Self-Esteem, Feeling Good, And Getting In Shape With Belly Dance, Ms. Kalsy has a particular interest in writing about the many aspects of health, from physical to emotional to spiritual.

1. What motivated you to start writing about health and wellness?

Since my background is in health and wellness, namely nutrition, this is the direction which my writing naturally takes. Although I have other writing interests such as poetry and short stories, I love writing in the health and wellness genre because I feel you can address what really influences people's quality of life on a daily basis. These topics include emotional health, nutrition, exercise, spiritual health, stress relief and much more. Because we all share these aspects of life in common, I find that this serves to connect me even deeper to my target audience, because we've all been there. And if I've been there like you've been, then the advice I give has that much more authenticity to you, the reader.

2. As a writer, what are some specific things that you do (or specific techniques you use in your work) to forge strong connections with your readers through your words?

There are several practices I embrace in order to create writing that is worthy of my readers. These include:
a. Creating as ambient and quiet a writing environment as possible, so that I can deeply connect to that inner writing aspect of myself and deliver my best work.
b. Retreating in nature or in a calm space when I'm not writing so that I am re-energized and in the optimal mental state to write from my heart.
c. Constantly jotting down ideas with the old fashioned pen and paper.
d. Reading a lot of non-fiction on self-transformation and inspirational books.
e. Acting as the guinea pig for much of the advice I offer to my audience, by constantly exposing and immersing myself in many healing modalities and aids, stress relief techniques, holistic nutrition and wellness paradigms.
f. Always taking the approach of open-mindedness in my writing.
g. Making sure to always set the intention to help create meaningful change with my words, so that the reader's life can be enhanced by what I put out in my books.

3. Could you describe why you chose to publish in e-book format and how that format has been a good fit for your books?

I think that the e-book format of publishing is fitting with the way the world has been transformed by the internet and the introduction of multiple e-book reader platforms, especially the Kindle. Also, as a writer, using the e-book format allows me to self-publish and to focus more on my writing. I don't have to expend a large portion of my energy soliciting publishers and agents, and sending out manuscripts. I get to write on my terms, and although getting myself to become known is a challenge at times, it feels good to be fully in charge of what direction my writing takes. In addition, because I am directing my own marketing, and not someone else or a corporate marketing campaign, I get to connect more intimately with my readership and with the writing community in general.

4. What would be your advice to women who are curious about belly dance but feel a little shy about trying it?

I say go for it. Belly dance doesn't require an audience for you to become proficient at it, so there is no need for shyness. And taking classes in not my focus in the book, because I know that this can be daunting for a lot of women. The only audience while leaning belly dance you really need is yourself in the privacy of your bedroom or any comfortable space for you; and the only person you need looking back at you (at least initially) is also yourself, probably in front of a mirror.

I know that the image of belly dance we often have in our heads is of a skimpily clothed, slim, sexy woman in some Hollywood film gyrating her hips and dancing in front of a mostly male audience. Some people even equate belly dancing with exotic dancing like in a gentleman's club.

One of my goals with this book is to erase and transform this perception, and allow women in particular to see the beauty, art, and effective form of exercise that belly dance really is. They can belly dance in their sweat suit, t-shirt and tights, or home dress if they like and still feel sexy.

I grew up being one of the shyest kids in the class, and I also have been shy for much of my adult life. But when I'm belly dancing, there is no shyness, and it has given me more confidence in other aspects of my life as well. Belly Dance is the natural "happy pill, an emotional uplifter and stress reducer, and a wonderful form of exercise for women that hardly anyone is telling us about. This is the time more than ever for women to take back their power, and use their feminine grace to get what they want in life. Belly dance is a quick outlet to let your feminine grace shine and help you become more confident as a woman in your body, your well being, and your life.

5. In your own life, how do you balance work, family, and health/wellness?

To me I'm on an ongoing transformational journey every day to achieve and maintain balance and harmony in my life, and I'm just taking my readers along for the ride with my writing. I find balance by surrounding myself with gentleness as much as possible with such things like immersing myself in nature whether it be taking walks, using essential oils to uplift my mood, or using holistic products as much as possible. I also listen to soothing music often, especially instrumentals and brain wave technology creations from places like Evolution Ezine and Daily Om. I am constantly listening to webinars from leaders in self-transformation, and I read on a daily basis anything that allows me to feel good or better in that moment. Of course I belly dance to instantly uplift my mood and use writing as a therapeutic outlet. But I find that the simplest way to experience balance for me is when I allow myself solitude and retreat regularly to enjoy time with myself and recharge my batteries. Then I can be ready to face the world again.

Thanks, Leandra!