While the worlds of sports and fitness are intertwined, it was not until the 1970s that popular culture was ready to accept fitness as eagerly as it had accepted sports. Fitness had not yet taken on its importance for improving health, and popular opinion likened fitness to work and manual labor. In the 1940s and 1950s, few participated in fitness willingly. Among those who did were Jack LaLanne, Victor Tanny, Joseph Gold, Joseph Weider, and Les and Abbye “Pudgy” Stockton. These fitness pioneers, among others, drew people to the beach in Santa Monica, California-the original Muscle Beach. Visitors came to watch their feats of strength and acrobatic displays. More and more viewers became participants, and these people, originally on the fringe, became a part of the cultural mainstream. Jack LaLanne, Vic Tanny, and Joe Gold all started gym chains with bodybuilding as their main focus. Due toPage 602 the influence of Abbye “Pudgy” Stockton, women were introduced to the muscularity and strength that came with bodybuilding. No longer reserved for just for “strongmen,” bodybuilding brought about a change in the mindsets of all those who visited Muscle Beach.

From the seeds planted at the Santa Monica came Venice Beach, the home to bodybuilding legends Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, and many, many more. Venice Beach in the 1970s brought with it a fitness explosion across the globe. Not only did bodybuilding become mainstream, but the popular opinion of fitness changed dramatically. Americans in the 1970s would do anything to improve their health and fitness.

Sports and athletics grew in the 1970s as well. Women became increasingly more interest in participating in sports; however, very little funding was available for the development of woman’s athletics. A landmark law was passed in 1972. Part of a series of educational amendments, “Title IX,” legislated gender equity in athletics. Not only were women becoming more active and more physically fit, a law now existed that called for equal funding and equal opportunity for female athletes. On 21 September 1973, female tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the first-ever winner-take-all “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match. The hoopla surrounding this event-and its outcome-provided even more incentive for women to become involved with sports and fitness. By 1977, a record 87.5 million U.S. adults over the age of eighteen claimed to be involved in some sort of athletic activity.

The fitness industry continued its growth into the 1980s. Gym owners tailored their facilities to attract customers and new gyms opened around the United States and around the world. A healthy lifestyle was becoming a part of popular culture. No longer was it unfashionable to be athletic, strong, or healthy. With the development of new technology, health and fitness were able to make their way into homes. Fitness tapes became available in the early 1980s and continue to encourage those to whom a gym or health facility may not be accessible. Innovators such as Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons were able to bring their exercise programs to a new population. Joe Weider became a significant force in bringing health, fitness, and bodybuilding as close as the mailbox through his magazines and pamphlets. Because of fitness pioneers such as Weider, Gold, Fonda, and Simmons, fitness continues to play a significant role in modern society. The importance of being in good health and physically fit has made and continues to have an impact.

Watching someone who is absorbed in the art of scrapbooking, the observer gets a feeling that there is more taking place than participation in a hobby. Immersed in photographs and memorabilia, the hobbyist appears to rise above the current stress of life as the task provides a mental break from the demands of the day. Shared with loved ones or friends, scrapbooking is also an avenue for spending quality time together while sharing ideas behind a single purpose.

But don’t just accept the words of an insider. Indeed the Craft and Hobby Association emphasizes the “therapeutic benefits” of this particular hobby. According to estimates by the association, people in 35 percent of U.S. households both enjoy scrapbooking a regular basis and enjoy the therapetuic rewards. In addition, there is a benefit that should not be overlooked: The pride in a finished product, or the complete scrapbook itself.

The benefits of scrapbooking have long been embraced by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which launched a therapeutic scrapbooking program for parents 10 years ago. Now a study published in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, which analyzed the influence of the scrapbooking sessions, found that they promote hopefulness and help parents expand their support network. The study highlights a previously unknown benefit of scrapbooking.

“Even though the craft of scrapbooking is widespread, its use as a tool for mental health professionals is just developing,” stated Paul McCarthy, a St. Jude social worker. “I hope our experience at St. Jude encourages others to try it in diverse settings with a variety of different groups, both young and old.”

Plainly, the association and St. Jude are convinced of the lifetime benefits of scrapbooking. While there are most likely too many to list all of them, these benefits usually fall into one of five areas.

The first is the benefit of giving, or the joy one feels when one creates a unique piece that requires great thought and the sharing of memories.

The next is the recording of events for people in the past, and future, to remember important occasions and life events that help to define individuals and families in unique ways.

The quiet and reflective mindset that accompanies scrapbooking is a third benefit. In a culture where medication is often a first resort for addressing anxiety, scrapbooking provides a meaningful and soothing break from the stresses of life.

The benefit of normalizing traumatic events, such as divorce, illness and death by putting memories in a cohesive yet expressive order, is a fourth benefit. In this way, scrapbooking promotes not just self-expression, but self-healing and a sense of inner peace, as the people at St. Jude have discovered.

In conclusion, there is the benefit of self-worth in putting the finishing touches on a signature project, which, like the human being who created it, is an inimitable creation. And this benefit, as any seasoned scrapbooker will confirm, is one of the greatest benefits of all: It is a fun, rewarding hobby that provides hours of enjoyment after the book is complete.

We reviewed and used the Life Fitness X3-5 elliptical trainer over a period of 3 weeks. We also interviewed Life Fitness X3-5 owners as well as several people who had used the elliptical trainer in the gym or fitness center. The X3-5 is a step up from the old X3-0 model and has many top of the line features. However for an MSRP of about $2900.00 it is beyond the budget of the average home fitness equipment buyer. We found that the Life Fitness elliptical trainers top feature was the very smooth ride comes from its rear flywheel that incorporates the Life Fitness “Link6” drive system.

The Life Fitness X3-5 elliptical trainers 19-inch stride fits most people. Our largest tester is a power lifter at 6’2″ and 285 lbs and he felt the trainer was relatively stable. Pedal placement is good and allows comfortable foot placement. X3-5 owners and users were pleasantly impressed with how quiet this elliptical trainer is even during an intensive workout it remained one of the quietist ellipticals that we have tested. One owner did complain that this model was hard to move.

There are many quality features on the Life Fitness X3-5 that we like including the wireless heart rate controlled workout system that allows you to target specific workout intensity. Basically your hearts response to the workout, controls the resistance levels you experience during the workout. Basically it is a plug and play workout program tailored to your specific body.

The Life Fitness X3-5 elliptical trainers console contains the My Personal Trainer software that allows you focus on lower body workouts or total body workouts. We heard several comments on these features with the most common being that it worked well once you spent the time to figure out the system. Most people were using one of the 12 standard workout programs to achieve the workout intensity they desired. We rated the upper body workout and the handlebars as just average on this elliptical.

Most of the Life Fitness X3-5 owners we interviewed purchased their elliptical trainers on-line. The units were delivered and set up by the owners with few problems. Damaged or non functioning consoles seem to be the biggest complaint we heard. Customer service was rated as fair in resolving setup and warranty issues. The Life Fitness warranty for cross traines includes a lifetime on the frame, 2-years on the electrical and mechanical parts, 1-year on labor. An extended warranty is recommended for all elliptical trainers.

We recommend the Life Fitness X3-5 elliptical trainer for home and light commercial use, however it is probably too expensive for most in home applications. It has many features that will satisfy the most dedicated cardio fitness buf. Due to the relatively high cost for an in home elliptical trainer, we recommend that you spend the time to physically test ride any fitness equipment at least once before you make your purchase. Find a dealer, fitness center or local Y that has the Life Fitness X3-5 set up and complete an intense workout. we also suggest that you question X3-5 users at these fitness centers as well. Only then will you know for sure that the Life Fitness X3-5 will meet your fitness needs.

Traditional Chinese health beliefs adopt a holistic view emphasizing the importance of environmental factors in increasing risk of disease. According to Quah (1985), these factors influence the balance of body’s harmony, yin and yang. These are two opposite but complementary forces and, together with qi (vital energy), they control the universe and explain the relationship between people and their surroundings. Imbalance in these two forces, or in the qi, results in illness.

In order to restore the balance, traditional remedial practices may be needed. For example, excess `hot’ energy can be counterbalanced by cooling herbal teas, and vice versa. These beliefs are deeply ingrained among the Chinese, and have been found to be unchanged following migration to Singapore.

Lee, et. al. (2004), found that patients with specific chronic diseases, namely arthritis, musculoskeletal diseases and stroke, were more likely to use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This was strongly determined by the ‘chronic disease triad’, perceived satisfaction with care and cultural health beliefs.

Hence the use of TCM is not associated with the quality of doctor-patient interaction. Astin (1998) also agreed that it was seen as being more compatible with the patients’ values, spiritual and religious philosophy, or beliefs regarding the nature and meaning of health and illness.

In traditional Chinese culture, taking medication is thought to be aversive, hence medications tend to be taken only until symptoms are relieved and then discontinued; if symptoms are not obvious, medications will probably never be taken.

Apart from parental cultural beliefs, minor side effects of certain antibiotics such as stomach upset may contribute to the poor adherence of medication. The use of “leftover”, “shared” antibiotics and over-the-counter purchase of antibiotics by parents are common situations in the community.

They think that their children suffer from the same illnesses judging by the similar symptoms, so they would give the “leftover” or “shared” antibiotics to their children and only bring them to their doctors if there is no improvement (Chang & Tang, 2006). This may cause their conditions to deteriorate and may necessitate aggressive treatments later which may have unnecessary side effects.

However, there are small groups of Chinese who also blamed ill-health or misfortunes on supernatural forces, or on divine retribution, or on the malevolence of a ‘witch’ or ‘sorcerer’ (Helman, 1994). Such groups will usually seek cures from their religions.

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health has drawn up the TCM Practitioners’ Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines to prevent any unscrupulous practitioners from preying on their patients and taking advantage of their beliefs, for example, molesting ignorant patients.

The degree of acculturation has been evidenced in the following case. An old man was brought into our hospital with a week-long history of malaise, nausea and vomiting, and sudden jaundice. He was diagnosed to have an obstructive mass in the liver.

A biopsy revealed hepatocellular carcinoma. The serological test suggested chronic active hepatitis B. When the news broke to his son that his father had cancer, he requested not to disclose that to his father.

When we discussed end of life issues such as hospice care and “do-not-resuscitate” (DNR) orders, the son tried to divert the discussion to other issues such as when his father could go home.

Cultural Issues that may be involved in this case are:

The Chinese tend to protect the elderly from bad news.

Believing in karma – the older folk believe that discussing illnesses or death/dying is bad luck. They think that talking about something bad will cause it to come true.

There is an increased incidence of liver cancer resulting from Hepatitis B due to delayed treatment in the elderly, as it may take a long time for them to accept the initial diagnosis.

Reference:

Astin JA. (1998). Why patients use alternative medicine. J Am Med Assoc 1998; 279: 1548-1553.

Chan, G. C. & Tang, S. F. (2006) Parental knowledge, attitudes and antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory tract infection in children attending a primary healthcare clinic in Malaysia. Singapore Medical Journal, 47(4):266

Helman, C. G. (1990) Culture, Health and Illness. Wright, London.

Quah, S. R. (1985) The Health Belief Model and preventive health behaviour in Singapore. Social Science and Medicine, 21, 351-363.

Lee GBW, Charn TC, Chew ZH and Ng TP. (2004). Complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with chronic diseases in primary care is associated with perceived quality of care and cultural beliefs. Family Practice, 21(6): 654-660.

Most people want to be fit but that raises a question. What does it mean to be fit? The answer is fairly simple. To be fit, one must have physical capability in four areas: aerobic capacity, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition.

1. Aerobic Capacity. Aerobic capacity, which is also known as cardiorespiratory fitness, refers to the health and function of the heart, lungs and circulatory system. Simply stated, aerobic fitness is the ability of the cardiorespiratory system to deliver an adequate supply of oxygen to exercising muscles. As your aerobic capacity increases, your ability to participate in more intense and longer lasting exercise also increases (e.g., walking, running, swimming and bicycling). It can be argued that aerobic capacity is the most important of the four elements of fitness because of the health benefits it bestows. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, increased aerobic capacity leads to reduced blood pressure, decreased total cholesterol, increased HDL (good) cholesterol, decreased body fat, increased heart function and decreased risk of Type 2 diabetes.

2. Muscular Strength and Endurance. Muscular strength is the maximum amount of force a muscle or muscle group can generate during a single contraction. Muscular endurance is the number of repeated contractions a muscle or muscle group can perform without tiring. Both are important components of overall fitness because increasing your strength through various types of resistance training (e.g., weightlifting) leads to increased bone strength, decreased bone loss, decreased muscle loss, increased tendon and ligament strength, increased physical capacity, improved metabolic function (e.g., burn more calories at rest), and decreased risk of injury.

3. Flexibility. Flexibility is the range of motion within a joint. Increased flexibility provides a variety of benefits such as decreased risk of injury, increased flow of blood and nutrients to joint structures, increased neuromuscular coordination, decreased risk of low back pain, improved posture and reduced muscular tension.

4. Body Composition. Body composition refers to the relative percentage of body weight that consists of body fat and fat-free mass (everything other than fat such as muscles, organs, blood, bones and water). Generally speaking, the lower your body fat percentage the better because of the diseases linked to excess body fat such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and sleep disorders. I am often asked, “Can you be fat and fit?” The answer is an overwhelming NO. A significant element of fitness is the possession of a healthy body fat percentage because increased fat leads to decreased athletic performance and increased risk of disease (although it is possible to be overweight and healthy since health is merely the absence of disease or illness). According to the American Council on Exercise, the average body-fat percentage for men is 18-24%. For fit men the percentage is 14-17%. The average percentage for women is 25-31%; however fit women will be in the range of 21-24%. Body-fat percentages above 25% for men and 32% for women are considered obese.

Archaeologists have used teeth since long to reveal information related to lifestyle, cause of death, and ancient civilizations. However, a recent study reported by the Daily Mail suggested that teeth can also give us information about the future. Researchers have found that teeth can predict the susceptibility to mental health disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, in children.

The lost milk teeth of six-year-olds were scrutinized and it was found that children with thin enamel might be at the risk of developing attention deficient issues. Lead author, Dr. Erin Dunn, a psychiatrist at the Massachusetts General Hospital, said that while a discovery like this could be commonplace for archaeologists, it is extraordinary in psychiatry as it opens the gate to an entirely new outlook for screening mental health disorders, which are on the rise.

Differences in dimension and teeth quality better predictors of mental health

Dr. Dunn stated that it was something they had never seen or thought of before. Her team comprised anthropologists, public health practitioners, and archaeologists and she presented her work at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAs) in Washington.

The researchers asked 37 parents from California to donate the teeth of their 6-year-olds when they fell off. Each tooth was examined using high resolution imaging. This analysis was later extrapolated to study the behavior of kids. Compared to other biomarkers that a psychiatrist would look for usually, teeth quality and differences in dimension were found to be better predictors of mental health.

Scientists across fields need to work together

Dr. Dunn shared that it was important that scientists across fields worked together as it would add more dimensions to a research. She added that scientists usually had a tendency to get isolated and worked with people from the same field. For example, psychiatrists worked only with psychiatrists and psychologists worked only with psychologists. People generally refrained from moving across disciplines or exploring other related facets in a research.

Dr. Dunn stated that this study is a proof of the fact that there is a need for more interdisciplinary science and how more efforts can provide one with the opportunities to view things from different angles which might be completely unexpected.

Warning signs of a mental illness in adolescents and teens

Sometimes, it can be really difficult to tell if a child or teen’s behavior is a normal part of growing up or something else. If the symptoms lasts for weeks or months, it warrants a visit to a healthcare professional. Some of the warning signs of a mental illness are:

• Feeling extremely anxious and worried all the time
• Throwing tantrums and getting irritable
• Having frequent headaches, stomachaches and other unexplained aches
• Trouble sleeping with frequent nightmares
• Low or no energy
• Avoiding friends
• Smoking, drinking or using drugs
• Engaging in self-harm and other risky behaviors
• Losing interest in things used to enjoy previously
• Having trouble doing well in school or sports

Road to recovery

Good mental health is important for the overall well-being of children as well as teens, as these are their growing years and they shape the future personality of the child. For many adults experiencing mental health problems, the symptoms were present when they were growing up but were undiagnosed or ignored. It is therefore, important that a mental health disorder is detected early and receives timely diagnosis.

Health And Fitness:

Mostly people do not realize, the importance of good health. As someone said, Health is wealth. Better health is essential for daily tasks. When discussing about health, many people consider the condition of their bodies and forget about their minds. While, health is not only being free from physical aspects. It also means being healthy in mind too. An unhealthy mind brings about an unhealthy body. Good mental health helps you to benefit as much as possible from life and enjoy it. Good mental health offers you a feeling of well-being and the inner strength needed in times of bad position. Everyone knows how to care for their bodies. This is done almost every day by the great part of people. Exercise and eating the proper foods are the right ways of keeping the body healthy. A healthy mind requires a lot of work, in addition, a combination of the right foods and exercise.

The following factors which will greatly affect your health.

Exercise As Young Adults Lowers Heart Health Decades Later:

Young adults who exercise may have a lower risk of cardiovascular illness and higher survival chances decades later. Fitness has long been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease in older adults. The new study, in any case, that workout routines started years before cardiovascular problems are usually encountered may help keep them from creating in any case.

Lifting Weights Builds Mental Muscle That Gives You Health:

Older adults who have psychological disability or could be at risk towards the weight room. A study by researchers in Australia has found that dynamic quality preparing is useful in boosting brain power. The study tested 100 adults aged 55 and older who had been determined to have mellow psychological weakness. According to the Mayo Clinic, MCI affects memory, thinking and also judgment behind normal levels of age-related decline. The condition may build a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Dieting Success May Lead To Better Health:

Ability to self-manage a healthy body weight may depend on individual brain structure, say scientists in a recent study looking connections between executive control and reward areas in the brain.

Obesity and dieting:

Obesity and dieting are progressively basic in contemporary society, and many dieters struggle to lose excess weight. An examination paper in Cognitive Neuroscience reports that eating less may be easier for some people.

Chronic dieters:

Chronic dieters are known to indicate increase reactions to food in executive control and reward areas of the brain. Additionally having depleted cognitive control and higher tendency to over reward themselves with high- calorie foods in real-life conditions.

Eating healthy, after all, is not about losing your ability to enjoy your life. It’s a reason of gaining so many things that will affect you for the rest of your life: a longer life, the ability to enjoy foods that it does for you.

I agree whole-heartedly with the saying “Health Is Wealth”. If a person is not healthy then he or she will find it very difficult or even impossible to enjoy life, even though he or she may be very rich.

If I am asked to choose one from two of the following things, which will I prefer: health without wealth, or, wealth without health? Without hesitation I will choose the former. There is no doubt.

Wealth is generally associated with how much money a person has, that is, how rich he is. An uncle of mine is very rich. He has just about everything anyone can hope for, and some things no one dares to hope for. That is how rich he is. He lives in a huge mansion guarded by huge dobermans and sophisticated burglar alarms. He has expensive cars, furniture, paintings and other rich man’s toys. Well, he has everything except good health.

Everywhere he goes he carries with him a bag of medicine. He has to take pills everyday for his weak heart, diabetes and hypertension. He is about sixty years old and has spent his life accumulating wealth. Without doubt he has succeeded in becoming very rich. However he has also succeeded in becoming very unhealthy too. He laments about his lack of health and says that how he wished that he was young and healthy again. Unfortunately, he cannot regain his health again.

This example of wealth without health is not what I want to follow. It is ridiculous to have so much material wealth but being unable to enjoy it. What is the use of money when one has to take so much medicine everyday just to stay alive? How can one enjoy life when one’s body is weakened by disease and pain? No wonder my uncle laments so.

Health without wealth is far better. That is what I have now. I do not have to worry even a bit about what I can eat or do. I eat and do what I like because my body is healthy. Of course I do not abuse it by taking drugs or overexerting myself. I take good care of my body. In that way I stay healthy.

With health I can go about my work with joy. If I become rich, then that is fine. Then again, I may lose my riches, but that is all right too. I can always do the things I enjoy whether I am rich or not. I can play games, swim in the sea, climb hills, eat delicious fruits and appreciate the things of this beautiful Earth. This is indeed wealth – to be healthy and joyous.

It’s long been said that money can’t buy everything and most will agree if they are truly being honest throwing silliness aside. Money can’t buy you true love. Money can’t buy back your youth or bring back loved ones that have passed on. And additionally, money can’t buy fitness no matter how much you shell out of your pocket.

To make that point clear, all the money in the world cannot automatically create that perfect physique regardless of how much you are willing to pay. Sure money can pay for a private gym membership or even allow you to build your own gym in your backyard. Money will also allow you to hire a 24 hour a day personal trainer along with a chef to be at your beckoning call whenever you need a healthy meal prepared.

Money can also pay for weight reduction surgeries or “tummy tucks” which can give the appearance of a reduction in weight. However even in this case the person is not fit, they just have less fat – completely different case.

However even with these things that money can potentially buy, they will not magically get you fit. The sweat and effort will still have to come from you and that is something money cannot buy.

You have to earn fitness and that is the beauty of it. No matter how rich or poor a person is, fitness is something that judges not on how financially well off you are.

If you’ve ever seen Brad Pitt in the movie Troy, Henry Cavill in Man of Steel, or Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the Avengers, these famous actors had to workout constantly and eat nutritiously for a number of months in order to develop the physique needed for their roles.

Don’t believe me? YouTube or Google their workout and nutritional regiments and you’ll see what they had to do in order to get in shape. Even these rich, famous actors had to put in the time to get fit.

Once you come to terms with this fact, you will see that money cannot buy fitness, it is something that has to be earned. If it helps motivate you, just maintain the mantra “If Brad had to do it, I can do it!”

Take it upon your shoulders and commit yourself wholeheartedly to a fitness plan. Be willing to exercise 4-6 days per week for a certain amount of time even if it’s just for 20-30 minutes when beginning.

Everyone has to start somewhere, but the point of the matter is to start.

Naturally this habit will take some getting used to, but the better you stick with your fitness plan, the quicker this will truly become an important part of your life. Once you adhere to your workout routine for a certain amount of time, you will realize that money really can’t buy fitness. You’ll only get fit through hard work and determination.

Don’t forget about the importance of tying healthy nutrition into your fitness plan so your weight loss results will be amplified even more so. Once you are able to combine both of these healthy habits regularly, losing weight and getting fit will come much more rapidly than you ever thought possible.

So with each running stride you take, lap in the pool, or mile on an exercise bike, keep in mind that you can’t buy fitness, you have to earn it. As tough as that may sound right now at this moment, know that at the end of this journey you will revel in what you will have accomplished, proud that you did it all on your own.

For those of you operating a business as a holistic practitioner or services provider, you ought to consider where you are allotting the money in your valuable marketing budget. Every business, even those operating under the direction of spirit, can benefit from a proper marketing campaign that connects you with your target market.

Target Market for Holistic Health

Are you advertising to your target market? For that matter, have you identified the demographics that make up your ideal client?

If you want to be successful in your healing business, you must be marketing to that specific percentage of the population who are a) aware that they can change their circumstances, b) willing to make improvements in their life, and c) willing to pay for your help.

Your ideal person is a 25-55 year old woman who is open-minded, health-oriented, and well-educated. How often are your advertising campaigns reaching this ideal person? Based on common practice in the holistic health industry, there’s a high percentage chance that you are inadvertently marketing to other healers and holistic health practitioners.

Connect with your Target Market

If you want to run a successful practice, you must consistently attract new clients. Here are a few key suggestions to help you connect with the segment of the population that qualifies as your target market.

1. Word-of-mouth will always be an excellent source of new business because your existing clients are sharing their positive experiences with their peers. Reward your clients for making referrals.
2. Quit marketing to other healers in your networking groups. Your colleagues will support you, and may possibly pass your information along to their clientele, but overwhelmingly, this is wasted effort and money on your part.
3. Unless you form a coalition of healers and practitioners who are cross-promoting each other’s businesses. The increased visibility to fresh eyes expands your reach to individuals who are already interested in improving their health.
4. Offer discounts through a coalition of healers to tempt their clientele to at least give your services a try.
5. Join a network that is committed to advertising to your target market.
6. Share your promotional materials around hospitals, doctors offices, and other health facilities.

As a holistic health practitioner, one of your main goals is to assist others in improving their lives. Your approach to business is slightly different than the typical model, but it does not mean that you avoid taking steps to build a successful practice. The time spent connecting with your target market should be considered an investment in the future of your business.