Budget creates havoc at Lowell - The Lowell

Yo£a students raise their Arms in an ancient form
of exercise at lyengar Yoga Institute d San
Francisco.
Let the aroma enclose you
in a world of ease and reRef
El Holistic methods provide results BeneSdal to mental health
R
By Mdindu Huang
ED EVES, TIRED muscles stress, SUMS, ami
STRESS charaoeru-c many Lowellites. In attempting
to escape this horrid disease, sonic ex-
hausted people aie trying hoiuiic treatments such as
aromathcrtpy, meditation, spas and saunas, and listening
to musi^
Aromatherapy, the hotter form of menu] ih&apy.
features scented candles, nw«Sdg« and baths with stenta. 1 .
oDi, And potpourri burners. Certain scents alter moods
and provide therapeutic effects.
"Aromatherapy is not a new form of mental therapy,"
UuneKnunb.nunsscrat Bare Been tialsolStonestown
said. "It is thousands and thousands of years old. It is a
motr natural, holistic Approach to mental health than using
medicine like syntfjeticurug*.*
It works on two levels: through the sense of smell,
stimulating the brain to produce responses throughout
the body, and through absorption into the skin, according
(o the BmatheTQpycF>xalo$.
**Ehe oik are extracts from herb plants. Its property is
to aid and stimulate the body." Kramb said.
Xronwtberapy with massage was used for medical
purposes in Europe before and during World War 1. according
to the March 1993 issue of the Banwr. Andcm
as many vials of seen Kd oils were Hound in their tomb*.
Wheh scented cJttdies bum, they fill a room with fragrance-Just
sit back and let the thigraiicc tehx you."said
Alicia Sorwno, a M)wu feel betitr.: It's like a
natural imcUing tluitg. U ^Uns you down aivl rcJaxo
Meditation '^ . ; ":
Meditation! mental vacations, and music guarantee
first 'find a restful and comlorub(c position. Qoic your
eyes and dim the lights, suggests An of Relaxation by
\\'hcn you ineditate/your mind should wander frcdy.
If you envision a scene o( failing rain, that image nuy iciriind
you of a MuirrfalKwhicli in turn may remind y&u
of a nice vjcationyou took. Med:U>ion runs pleasant
i;Josiind nu-morifi «nn.yhly ttitt'i «th olher.Theft 1 idrai
should not be linked in any.way u> utn present world.
"It Imediution) is really retudngand calming," said
.vaphomore Monica Kwan. "You ma kid; back and for-
-gel about die stress of life." Kv.-jn n.icdiuies alvut undsapes
and peaceful settings. "Mcoiution helped to imprpvt
my conctrtration during class," she said.
,.Menial yacalioii> art (ucJiUiiuu *cuioru where a
particularly pleasant [wmocy-fc recalled. These mCTnories
should he calming sccncssuch aj Undioipes. Once
>ou iuw ihf «aw in your mind, concentrate on it. Inuj;inc^nu
arc really there, hearing nil the sounds and seeing
aJJ the sight!; Do i*»! force yourself t--> remember. These
something ?niy adds ns
Music
• Musis can
caJw. you regardless
of what
kind tt ii. \\1iat
ir,;itlcrs is how
you listen to iu
l'ick a melody
om of your
memory or play
a song. Listen to
the rittanri fall of the cotes, thcbeat, the way die chords
ran together. Picture the significance uf the sounds in
your mtnd and foflo**' them. Conc^ntrsie on the music
and tiii)\k.of nothing ct*r.
Natural Wonders in Stcnestowa sefc relaxation tapes
and CDs, The music is * mixture of natural sounds, such
as rain, dolphin songs. and btnisongs. mixes with the
sounds of flutn and harps.
"The music is soothing, calm and peaceful," jaid
sophomore Ying Hua, who listens to «tape titled Water
Marks, whid) mixrd nature sounds like rain with flutes
and piano.
"The ocean sounds here are very popular;," Andrew
Boyd. salesperson at Natural
Wonders, said.
Spas and saunas
Spar, and saunas arc another
way to relax. A typical
program at KabuVi Hot
Springs in ' „
Japantown in
SJ» Francisco
includes an
unlimited use
of the hot tub, steam cabinet, and cold showers as well»
a private shi*t>u massage by a profsuional massager.
According to Zella Dunn, reactionist at Kabuld Hot
Spring*, a shiauu tnatsagL- relaxes certain muscles, "The
massageis mnsxa^e on certain pressure points on your
body. They rjute their thumbs to knead out the stress
and tension in your muscles," Dunn sod.
'It worked really well bccaiuc it made all .my musdes
"••»*..1JM Nlalt Dalton said. . >
Tlic pn-i'iams at KabitV Hot Springs range In price
IriMii 510 for u«r of ihc facilities to $65 for uic of the £a-
y^ y
i is t)«; htticr way to rtfuif AndSat
Smell the scents
Basil: Fights headaclie: mental fadgue, digesi
tion,5trett; stimulates memory
K Gniumon; Bghts colds and flu, warms achy
, Diuidci. simulates cuculnliontarou&op!iyu
cal senses
(Eucalyptus: Fights colds, flu, respiratory
problems, arthritis; increases concentration
La>tnden Fights burns, insect bites, headaches,
blemishes, sunburn; calms and soothes
Lemon: Gtrmiciue, air disinfectant; reduces
tension headaches, depression, and, mental
3 Marjoram: Sedative, u-laxcs miisde cramps;
^ alms stith the mind, soothes nervr, and in-
Otange: Disinfectant.aids digestion; stimulatrscreativity'"