to get rid of things no longer useful for you, and create space and organization that is most pleasing to your eye. You do not have to go crazy, but I guarantee you will find comfort and relaxation in an atheistically pleasing environment you can be proud of.

Smell is important in your home. Consider getting an air cleaning plant (or two) to refresh the oxygen in your home. Better oxygenation has been proven to lead to clearer thinking, better body function, and organ function. Consider getting some aromatherapy in the form of an oil diffuser. I like this better than candles, because most candles are not only a fire risk, but are made with harmful chemicals. By getting a diffuser and set of oils, you can choose to set the fragrance according to your needs each day. If you are stressed and cannot sleep, for example, try lavender. If you are low energy, try orange oil. If you feel as though you may be starting to get sick, explore mints or tea tree oil. Aromatherapy is a very ancient art that utilizes the olfactory system to influence our moods and health. There are many places online where you can get free information.

Understand the importance of breathing. If you learn basic diagrammatic breathing techniques, which are essentially breathing in and out of your nose and deep into your belly, you can learn to shut down your fight or flight response, help yourself to relax, let go of stress and anxiety, and take a moment of down time. Do this type of breathing for 1 to 3 minutes before getting out of bed, any time the day gets ahead of you, or your anxiety is on the rise. The great thing is this type of mindfulness technique can be done anywhere, at any time, not just while lying down with your eyes shut.

Hearing is important. For centuries, the importance of sound vibrations on the mood have been researched and discussed. Try to choose only uplifting music that invokes positive feelings and not negative memories. Instead of the TV, turn on your favorite tunes and watch the mood change, the body lighten, and just plain have fun. As the saying goes, "dance as though nobody is watching!"

Touch is important when trying to create the home sanctuary. If you have blankets, sheets or furniture that you do not feel loved and cozy in, donate them and replace them with soft, pleasing textiles. If you can't afford new furniture, try getting large soft blankets and draping your couch or favorite chair with it. The results of a hug from your furniture are bound to relax you and suspend your stress.

Taste is important. You should feed your body right for optimum living. Always remember: garbage in, garbage out. If you are eating less-than-nutritious foods, your body cannot heal, thrive, or grow. In fact, it will have a hard time surviving and will instead feed "dis-ease". So, take the time to make great

choices. There are times to have treats, but do not make it a habit. Try to eat 24 grams or less of sugar per day, half your body weight in ounces of protein per day, and drink plenty of water. As an estimate, take your body weight and multiply it by 10; that is the basic number of calories you need per day to maintain your body weight.

Commit to positive talk. This is important because, once again: garbage in, garbage out! If you are lying, gossiping, and participating in hurtful speech, you are attracting it all back to you. Those actions are thought of as undesirable and unproductive.

The mentioned activities take time to learn and practice, but it is possible, and you will see amazing results. • 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Gwen Lawrence has been a practicing fitness professional since 1990. Her current practice includes private yoga trainings, class instruction, team instruction, her Power Yoga for Sports - sports specific training, TV appearances, writing, workshops and radio. Gwen's unique combination of dance, massage therapy, and yoga training experience, coupled with her extensive knowledge of anatomy and nutrition, provides her clients and athletes with overwhelming results. Over the years, Gwen has been the yoga instructor teams including: NY Giants, NY Knicks, NY Mets, NY Red Bulls, NY Rangers, NYC FC, members of the NY Yankees, as well as major colleges like: Columbia, Yale, Manhattan, UNC and more. Gwen owns her own Yoga school registered to certify students with 200 and 300-hour trainings, along with her online Power Yoga for Sports Teacher Training. gwenlawrence.com

Nick Benas grew up in Guilford, Connecticut. The author of Mental Health Emergencies, Warrior Wisdom, Tactical Mobility, and co-author of The Warrior's Book of Virtues, Benas is a former United States Marine Sergeant and Iraqi Combat Veteran with a background in Martial Arts (2nd Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon-Do and Green Belt Instructor in Marine Corps Martial Arts Program). Nick attended Southern Connecticut State University for his undergraduate degree in Sociology and his M.S. in Public Policy. He has been featured for his business success and entrepreneurship by more than 50 major media outlets, including Entrepreneur Magazine, Men's Health, ABC, FOX, ESPN, and CNBC.

Richard "Buzz" Bryan is currently the Outreach Coordinator for the West Palm Beach VA medical center. The co-author of The Warrior's Book of Virtues, Buzz previously served as the OEF/OIF Transition Patient Advocate (TPA) for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN4) based in Pittsburgh, PA for ten years, working specifically with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Buzz was a member of the Navy/Marine Corps team and retired from the United States Navy in July 2011 after 22 years of honorable service as a Fleet Marine Force Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman.