Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 9, 2016

9

HEALTH & WEALTH

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 9, 2016 


THE JOY OF YOGA

ACUPUNCTURE FOR TENNIS ELBOW

 Study Suggests Treatment Is Effective, Even in Difficult 
Cases

 One of the most frequent injuries suffered by 
professional athletes and weekend warriors alike is 
epicondylitis, an inflammation of the muscles and 
tendons of the forearm.

 More commonly known as tennis elbow, it is caused 
by repeated twisting of the wrist or frequent rotation of 
the forearm, and can lead to a weakened grip, elbow pain, 
and damage to the tendons that connect to the humerus, 
the bone of the upper arm.

 Traditional treatment of tennis elbow consists of 
therapies such as braces, medications, heat, physical 
therapy and rest, the majority of which are effective in 
relieving pain but do very little to prevent the condition 
from recurring. Research from a pilot study presented at 
the annual meeting of the American Academy of Physical 
Medicine and Rehabilitation in San Francisco1 suggests 
that acupuncture not only relieves the symptoms of tennis 
elbow, it appears to resolve the condition completely.

 In the study, Dr. Peter Dorsher, a medical doctor 
certified in acupuncture, performed acupuncture 
on 22 patients with varying degrees of tennis elbow. 
Dorsher used “rounded” acupuncture needles, which are 
designed to pierce the skin and enter the muscle with as 
little damage as possible. All of the patients were treated 
with French energetic meridian therapy, with needles 
inserted at local points on the elbow in tight myofascial 
bands.

 Each patient was treated between 2-10 times. After 
an average of 3.9 treatments, a “maximal response” was 
achieved, with every patient reporting a disappearance 
of their symptoms. This response also appeared to 
last much longer than that usually seen in patients 
using painkillers, braces or other traditional methods. 
At a mean followup time of 8.5 months after receiving 
acupuncture, 17 patients (77.3%) experienced a 
resolution of their symptoms and had returned to full, 
normal activities; another two patients had returned to 
normal activities except those that involved heavy lifting 
in the affected arm.

 Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Dorsher’s 
study is that many patients had endured months of pain 
before turning to acupuncture. Subjects in the study 
group suffered symptoms an average of eight months; six 
patients had experienced symptoms for more than two 
years.

 Furthermore, nearly every patient who participated 
had previously attempted to cure their tennis elbow 
through conventional means, with some patients 
trying multiple therapies without success before trying 
acupuncture. Of the 22 subjects in the study, 14 had 
undergone “extensive hand therapy interventions”; 
17 had used an elbow brace or splint; seven received 
corticosteroid injections for pain relief; and one patient 
had elbow surgery, all without achieving the desired 
effect, before turning to acupuncture.

 In an interview with Reuters Health, Dorsher said that 
it was unclear why acupuncture seemed to help patients 
in the early and latter stages of tennis elbow but added 
that the needles appeared to immediately loosen the tight 
muscles around the elbow joint. Acupuncture was found 
to be so helpful, he noted, that he now performs it as a 
primary form of treatment.

 “This is an extremely powerful tool for pain,” he said.2

References

 http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/
article.php?id=27753

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

How do we know 
when the timing is 
right? Do we make 
our yoga practice a 
priority when we’re actually in pain? Or is it when we 
are stressed out and anxiety ridden? 

 Yoga can relieve both pain and anxiety. But what if 
we used it to INCREASE joy and peacefulness. Have 
more moments of tranquility. Anytime is a good time 
boost your yoga practice and self care. No permission 
needed. In fact, MORE gives you MORE. The more we 
take care of ourselves the greater, richer, fuller life will 
be. The more pleasant we are with the world around us. 

In the new year, it’s helpful to re-access and re-charge 
our intentions. What about the items on your “dreams” 
list? (Do you have a dreams and intentions list?) What 
priority and efforts are those ambitions given? 

 This question ‘if not now, when?’ struck me this week. 
Time passes whether we like it or not. The days, months 
and year will fly by. It’s our choice (and responsibility) to 
have a say what goes on in our life. We choose to embark 
on an educational endeavor, we choose alternate healing 
modalities, we choose to exercise and we choose what 
we eat. Each good choice leads to another good choice. 

 Going forward, what are the actions you can take to 
best support yourself and your intentions? Do yoga, 
seek wisdom and be around people who are seeking 
wisdom! Embark on something you’ve been wanting to 
do; don’t put it off any longer. 

 Namaste friends. My light salutes and honors your 
light. 

With Love, 

Keely Totten

Yoga Madre


BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


RETIREMENT PLANNING 
REALITY CHECK

 

The National Institute on Retirement Security 
states that the funds American workers have set 
aside for retirement are inadequate to the tune of 
trillions of dollars. Why? Well as the old adage 
goes, failing to plan is as good as planning to fail.

 One of the first pitfalls in retirement planning is 
giving up before you ever start. Many people look 
at projections of what will be needed to retire and 
conclude it is simply out of reach, so why even try? 
In conjunction with this defeatist attitude about 
saving, they may also think Social Security will 
provide them with a safety net. But the cold hard 
reality is, Social Security provides nothing more 
than a meager income at best. 

Do You Already Have One?

A lot of employers provide retirement plans, 
which, together with Social Security, will get you 
closer to that projected number. Employer-funded 
programs these days are mostly what are known 
as defined contribution plans, which means the 
only certainty is the amount of money that will 
be contributed by the employer. Employees, 
normally, also contribute to the plan. Often these 
are in 401(k) plans, with which most people are 
familiar.

Your first objective with these plans should be to 
contribute enough of your earnings to build up a 
nest egg that meets your projected goal. The next 
objective is simply to invest wisely. These plans 
are administered by investment brokers that offer 
various investment strategies with varying degrees 
of risk. When you are a number of years away from 
retiring, you can take more risk and build the 
nest egg. As you approach retirement, however, 
money should be moved to more conservative 
investments that will hold value.

 Other employers may offer defined benefit 
retirement plans. These plans specify a benefit 
that will be paid when a certain age and/or years 
of service plateau is reached. These plans are nice 
in that they relieve you of worrying about specific 
investments. They do not, however, typically 
pay a benefit that meets the projected retirement 
number.

Should You Do More?

Whether you are in a defined contribution plan, 
a defined benefit plan, or have no employer plan, 
the key is to start saving. Do not put it off until you 
are out of debt. Chances are you will never start. 
Take advantage of whatever tax-deferred saving 
instruments are available, such as Individual 
Retirement Accounts. But don’t be lulled into 
thinking that those IRA’s are a panacea, because 
you still have to pay tax on the withdrawals.

 Finally, do not underestimate how much you 
might actually need. These days, many parents 
are still supporting adult children. In addition, 
as life spans have increased, many retirees find 
themselves having to care for one or more parents 
whose own retirement income has become very 
dated. Health care costs are also volatile. Medicare 
will not cover all your health expenses, and you 
never know what your health care issues may be. 
Consider long-term care insurance to cover some 
of these gaps.

 Dedicated to your family’s wealth, health, and 
happiness,

A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a 
mission to help parents protect what they love most. 
His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointment 
to sit down and talk about ensuring a legacy of love 
and financial security for your family by calling 
626.587.3058 or visit www.GarlettLaw.com for 
more information.

ARTIST-DESIGNED TOYS BECOME PLAYFUL 
ADVOCATES FOR DIVERSITY AND ACCEPTANCE

PERFECT REJECT® creator, Nina R Salerno displays toys at Sierra Madre Library in Sierra 
Madre to heighten awareness of diversity by exploring the meaning of people’s differences.

Lovingly made from recycled toys, artist Nina R 
Salerno’s PERFECT REJECT® line of uniquely 
sculptural plush animals has found success in 
museum stores like MOCA as well as in collectors’ 
homes. A display at the Sierra Madre Library in 
Sierra Madre on January 5, 2016 through January 
31, 2016 with an assortment of soft sculptures to 
raise awareness of diversity while engaging the 
audience in a dialogue of embracing our difference. 
Leonora Moss, a floral and boutique shop in Sierra 
Madre will feature Nina R Salerno’s PERFECT 
REJECT® on January 12, 2016 through February. 
“I always like to say that imperfect means that 
I’m perfect, you’re perfect just the way we are,” 
says Nina. I wanted to create characters that seem 
unlikely on the surface, but deep down reflect the 
need to be ourselves even when we have to stand 
apart from the pack. And from that conviction, 
we can come together by accepting rather than 
rejecting our differences.” 

 It’s an approach Nina describes as “building 
community through play,” which she developed 
when she saw how much each PERFECT REJECT® 
resonated with adults both as quirky toys and 
potent reminders about embracing the differences 
that make us all deserving of value. The PERFECT 
REJECT® has partnered with CompassionWorks 
International (CWI) and will be donating 10% 
of the proceeds from their sales to support their 
mission. CWI envision a day when all animals are 
able to live their lives free from unnecessary harm 
and suffering. Join the Worldwide Rally For Cecil 
and speak out against trophy hunting on February 
6, 2016! www.cwint.org. 

About PERFECT REJECT® PERFECT REJECT® 
was invented by local Sierra Madre artist Nina 
Salerno when she rescued an abandoned toy and 
recreated it to reveal a surprisingly poignant 
vulnerability. From that unexpected insight 
came the understanding that what we think of as 
imperfection can actually be a source of strength 
and joy. This vision, which aligns with Nina’s 
artistic study of impermanence, has propelled 
her efforts to create unique sculptural pieces that 
blur the distinction between art and toy. Since 
launching PERFECT REJECT®, she has gained 
recognition through sales to private collectors 
as well as outlets such as the MOCA Store, l.a. 
Eyeworks, and Fallen Fruit. PERFECT REJECT® 
website is: www.perfectreject.com 

 PERFECT REJECT® Stories PERFECT 
REJECT® document stories of people who 
have suffered rejection but still are able to 
celebrate being different. The focus is on how 
our differences can separate us from others. It is 
those differences that make us special and that 
often become our strength. These daily stories 
can be viewed on Facebook, Instagram and at 
the PERFECT REJECT® website: https://www.
facebook.com/PerfectRejectStories/, http://
instagram.com/perfectrejectstories/. and http://
www.perfectreject.com/perfect-reject-stories/. Be 
the Xtra in ordinary.


BEST PRACTICES FOR EMAIL MARKETING

A good email campaign can drive revenue and profit and is an easy way to reach people who are 
interested in your product or service. Emails help to reinforce your brand, increase awareness and 
boost repeat business. Here are a few best practices:

• Use an email service provider like Constant Contact, they will make sure you comply with the law 
and offer mobile friendly templates that are easy to use. They also offer unlimited support.

• Keep your subject line below 50 characters

• Keep key actions above the scroll line 

• Make sure your email is mobile friendly

• Keep it simple. Use 3 pictures or less. Single subject emails with one picture, a few words and a 
compelling call to action tend to produce the best results.

• Make sure your images are clickable

• Focus on relevant content. Constant Contact finds that about 20 lines of text have the highest click-
through rates.

• Make it easy for your audience to share your emails. Provide social share icons and a forward to a 
friend button.

• Be consistent. Send an email at least once a month. Be consistent with your colors and language to 
reinforce your brand.

About MJ: MJ and her brother David own HUTdogs, a creative services and digital marketing business. 
“Like” them on Facebook for trending news in social media, internet marketing and other helpful tips, 
www.facebook.com/hutdogs.

 Sign up for their upcoming workshops at: www.hutdogs.com/workshops/schedule 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com