• CHA, The Canadian Hypnotherapy Association and WEL, World Elder Land, promoting a better understanding of the mind-body connection beyond a myth... understanding whole-person wellness, health and happiness for a better quality of life.

• Book Presentation and Signing at Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, Washington.

• Kathy Ward nominated to join the World Poet Society in Larissa, Greece for her book "Poems and Reflections For A Better Life."
  
  
• WEL Store now available... click here
  

• Body Wisdom Series: The Psycho-neuro-immunology of Happiness.
  
  - How the natural wisdom of the mind-body is interlinked and bidirectional?
  
  - How this makes a difference on our immune system and overall health.
  

It has been a real pleasure to contribute with a meaningful article for the holiday issues of the Canadian Hypnotherapy Association, CHA, about the Neurophysiology of Happiness, a cultivation of behaviors and ways of thinking which promote health and whole-person wellness. Learn more about the mind-body connection. Nurturing the importance and influence of 'the mind' in the betterment our our physical body, health and wellness of our spirit, has always been a major focus of CHA and WEL.

You can read the holiday issue of the CHA newsletter by clicking here.

Kathy Ward will present her book “Journal For A Better Life”. How to better take care of your physical, mental and spiritual well-being by acknowledging all aspects of whole-person wellness, and your connection and interrelation with the environment, your extended body. How to focus on a better quality of life by implementing practical and simple ways as part of your daily life-style.

Also an introduction to her third book published this month, "Poems and Reflections For A Better Life" which is a continuation of the Journal For A Better Life.

Date:	Friday, January 12, 2007
Time:	7:30 p.m.
Location:	Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave, Spokane, Washington.
Category:	Health, Wellness,
Summary:	What is wellness, whole-person living, and how to start your own Journal or personal wellness plan for a better quality of life.
Telephone:	R.S.V.P. 240-393-5456
Website:	www.kathyjward.com/blog www.auntiesbooks.com

Dimitris P. Kraniotis
Président de W.P.S.
Poète et Docteur Médical
2, rue Panagoulis, 41222 Larissa, Grèce
Société Mondiale des Poètes - ΠΑΓΚΟΣΜΙΑ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΠΟΙΗΤΩΝ

Dear Kathy,

Please accept this invitation to become a member of the World Poet Society, W.P.S.a new Literary Organization for contemporary poets from all around the world, in all languages. Five of your poems have been chosen to be included in our data. Your poems are very beautiful. Best regards,

Dimitris P Kraniotis,
Greek Poet and Medical Doctor
December 23, 2006

The Psycho-neuro-immunology of Happiness.

Psycho-neuro-immunology (PNI) is the scientific study of the interaction among emotions, the brain, and the immune system: How the mind-body is interlinked and bidirectional (affects that work both ways). How emotions like happiness, joy, fear, resentment and more have a negative or positive affect on; or make a difference on our immune system and overall health.

The body responds to stress by releasing hormones (fluids that stimulate specific cells into action), like adrenaline or cortisol. Cortisol is an important hormone in the body that; helps to regulate blood sugar, facilitate proper glucose metabolism, helps release insulin for blood sugar maintenance, heighten memory functions and lowers sensitivity to pain. However, higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream associated with chronic stress, have negative effects such as; impaired cognitive performance, suppressed of thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia, decrease of bone density and muscle tissue, higher blood pressure and lower immunity and inflammatory responses in the body. The hypothalamus located in the center of the brain, (below the thalamus and posterior to the optic chiasma), links the nervous system to the endocrine system that secretes chemicals ‘instant messengers’ into the bloodstream to affect distant cells within specific vital organs like; lungs, brain, heart, skin, kidneys and the intestine.) Typical endocrine glands are; pituitary gland, thyroid, and adrenal glands. These glands secrete neurohormones, which are linked to the limbic system, which is primarily involved in the control of emotions and (emotional association with memory.)

For ease of understanding of how this works, here is an example; life events such as divorce, loss of spouse, changes, unemployment, loneliness are not predictors for disease, but the way the individual choses to deal with these events is what seems to be a predictor of disease development.

Stress hormones activate your body to deal with an immediate, physical threat. Stress hormones release blood sugar and rush it to your muscles. They speed up the heart and breathing rate, etc. During a stress reaction, your immune system is temporarily ‘obstructed’, ‘retarded’ or ‘hampered.’ There have been research studies of people that develop cancer. These studies found an interrelation with developing cancer among individuals who showed exaggerated perfectionism, social conformism, repression of feelings or emotions, fatigue, stress, depression, loneliness, social isolation, rigid defensiveness or anger...

(more about this article and poems can be found in the book "Poems and Reflections For A Better life."