For those of you who make music every day of your life, there is no need to read this.  We’ll focus on some more detailed physical activity techniques later on for you…

    For those who don’t sing with your own piano or guitar,  you have no idea of the stress relieving and soulful experiences you are missing in this one and only lifetime.  I lived for 29 years without a real base of making  music or singing in my life.  When I finally found the guitar and my voice 4 years ago, it was probably the biggest shift of my life.  It’s a physical vibration that can help soothe any personality.  

   As a doctor, a teacher, and a healer, I’d like to share my experience with my dramatic transition from non-musician to musician in a way that hopefully will change many peoples lives in infinite ways.  I’m going to share the exact  details of how I used the internet to teach myself guitar and exactly how I was able to play and sing my first two real songs in the first week of playing….

So without further delay,  I introduce to you:  

“Dr. Neal’s One Week Transformation Into a Full Blown Musician”

1)    Buy a reasonably priced guitar.

      Used guitars are everywhere and if you are shopping around for guitars, try to find someone to help you who knows what they are supposed to feel and sound like.   If you’re on your own,  consider getting help from the guys at the music store.  For a new one, you are looking for a simple guitar between 150-300 dollars.  Any less and you will throw it out.  Any more and you’re posing a little bit…

Special Tip:  If a regular sized guitar feels intimidating, uncomfortable, and doesn’t sit well in your lap at first,  you may have a beginner’s edge if you buy a junior guitar made originally for kids.  It’s easier to handle, easier to push down the strings, and easier to get over the hump for those who are scared to buy a guitar and not make it to the other side.  They are about 130 dollars. Fender and a couple other brands make them.  Check them out at you local guitar shop.

Accessories needed:   capo $20, picks $5, tuner $30  (buy the black Korg chromatic tuner.  The cheaper silver one is a waste of money.)

2)  Pick a Song

     This is the fun part.  choose a very popular classic rock, pop, or rock song that has been covered by many other guitarist before you.   The 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s have unlimited amount of choices that have very simple guitar interpretations.   

To find you version of the song to play on the guitar (or piano),  go to http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

Enter a song or band name in the top search with the appropriate category checked.  Choose a song that has many versions already written by other musicians.  Select the version that is in Chords and has a high rating with many votes. 

Here’s an example of one of the first songs I ever learned:   http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/u/u2/one_acoustic_crd.htm

Notice how this chords are placed on the lyrics usually close to where the chord should change.  You’ll have to use your familiarity with the song to help fill in the gaps.

3)  Chord Interpretation for Guitar (or piano)

The new ultimate-guitar site has actually been making all the chords expandable to show the finger postions.  

For a Closer look at where your fingers should go,  go to http://www.chordfind.com/

Notice the finger positions and whether to play an open string or not to play an open string.  (the piano chords can be found at the link at the bottom of the page)

Major chords are all chords with no other elaboration or description.  m  is a minor chord, etc…

–Those who catch the music fever will not put the guitar down until their fingers are sore and developing the needed caluses on the finger tips.   Those who don’t catch the fever and play only once or twice a week will have a much lower chance of making it over the hump.  If you sprint in life toward a destination, unbelievable things can happen.  Only a sprint will get you playing your first song by week one….  The rewards are massive if you make it.    I hope you do….

some side tips:

-fingernails ultra short on your string hand (left) so you can go completely vertical onto the real tip of your finger.

-Observe your own neck hunching and fix it when you can.  Try to keep the guitar upright after you’ve found your place.  It will allow you reach around the neck easier.

-Right hand (strum hand) can start with a pick or just your thumb. The right hand plays the familiar rhythm of the song you chose. (I’ll try to add a video of this later)

-don’t forget to check the top of the song to see if you need a capo and where to place it.

For those who make it over the hump, let us know how it feels…..

Be well, 

Dr. Neal

©2008   “Stress Relief #2 (Anyone Can Play Guitar)  by Dr. Neal Schwartz

   Acne can really put a damper on all the great things the world has to offer.  It sometimes feels like a punishment for enjoying oneself.  My biggest regret is staying away from the beach for fear of breaking out worse from the sun, sweat, lotions, etc.    The ocean and the beach have amazing, soulful healing properties that I was missing out on for years.  Don’t make the same mistake.

     My goal is for anyone to be able to spend a great day on the beach, eat well, and then relax with good company without paying real consequences for living their life.  

     My suggestion is to get this problem quickly handled, if not by me, then by someone else who also knows how to get it done properly.  Living in fear and avoiding huge influences like the beach will always become a regret.

Here’s a shot I took from my phone today….

Take care, 

-Dr. Neal

      Stress is a major aggravating factor of acne.  And acne is also a major source of stress.  Anyone caught in the middle of this circle can quickly get lost.  They see and feel their acne and experience extreme emotional stress which then aggravates their inflammatory condition.  The breakout worsens and the stress increases further.  

      When I talk about stress, my patients often tell me, “I wouldn’t have any real stress if my skin were normal.”   The problem is that skin doesn’t heal overnight and the stress needs to be broken immediately.  I teach all my patients that you have to take a detour around fixing this “acne-induced” stress.  Rather than waiting for your skin to heal before you feel less stressed out, immediately break the stress with fitness techniques that are unrelated to the skin.  Examples are yoga, cardio, biking outside, hiking, sports, martial arts, dancing, swimming, etc.  Anything that will clear your mind of thought.  Many people tell me, “I’m already doing that stuff.”  My response is always,  ”Fitness is an art.  You can’t master it or just get it done.  It’s an ever-evolving skill that needs to be taken to the next level if you are not gaining massive stress relieving rewards from it.”

It’s the deep self thought and self consciousness that you need to take a vacation from.  This clearing can not be done through the mind.  It can only be achieved through the body.  If you can learn to leave your mind behind and get in touch with the energy of the body, you will find yourself at a better biochemical stress level.  This lowered stress level is tangible, and will allow to the body to heal itself better.

©2008 Stress and Acne (which came first?)  by Dr. Neal Schwartz

   This first stress reducing technique is for those people in good cardiovascular health who have difficulty clearing their head.  Requirements:  A treadmill (preferably a newer version) and some imagination.  I do this after lifting weights at the gym.

**Warning**   this exercise is not for everyone!!  I will share with you how I clear my head as a former athlete and a fit adult.  Please be conscious of your cardiovascular health, your hips, your knees, your ankles, and your feet.  (Please see your doctor first before starting any strenuous activity)  Please adjust the routine here to get a taste of it before you embark on the real thing.   **Tip:  tread softly like you are running on water to save your joints from excessive impact.

That being said,  allow me to introduce “The Summit”

The summit was inspired by the boredom of running on a treadmill.  While I’ve always known that intense cardiovascular exercise is the key to decreasing stress, I’ve never found it enjoyable to run on a treadmill.  

Here’s how to make it kinda fun:   (set treadmill on manual)

Warm up:  set the incline on 2 and ramp up the speed over the next 5 minutes to a speed that is a demanding, yet comfortable jog. (6.2 for me)   (As a variation for those who desire, you can extend this aerobic warm up for as long as you’d like before starting the climb) 

At 5 minutes:    raise the incline to 4.0 and keep pace

At 7 minutes:   raise the incline to 6.0 and try to keep pace.  (If you find yourself cheating by holding onto the rails repeatedly, it’s time to “decrease the speed to whatever you need”

At 9 minutes:     raise incline again to 8.0  and keep the pace but always ”decrease the speed to whatever you need”

At 11 minutes:      raise incline to 10.0 and try to keep the pace.  ”decrease the speed to whatever you need”

At 12 minutes:        raise incline to 12.0 and keep ”decreasing the speed to whatever you need”  to keep steady without cheating

At 13 minutes:      raise incline to 14.0 and keep ”decreasing the speed to whatever you need”  to keep steady without cheating.

At 14 minutes:       raise incline to 15.0 and keep ”decreasing the speed to whatever you need”  to keep steady without cheating.  (I’m usually between 3-5 speed at this point)

minute 14-15:       Summit that bad boy and make it to the top of the mountain without using the rails.  (Keep reducing speed if you find yourself using the rails………walking/~jogging in place to the peak is ok if you can’t make it faster…..)   Extend past 15 minutes as desired….(I’m usually good at 15 minutes)

cool down:   bring incline down and cool off for a few minutes.  Don’t just jump off the machine.

If possible afterwards:  hit the steamroom/sauna/showers  and then find a local $1/minute massage practice for a 10-60 minute post-summit tune up.

Have a rewarding conscious meal and bask in the glory for the next several hours.  

If you’re workout was performed at the correct intensity level, you should feel like a completely different person for many hours….  (and it’s cummulative over weeks and months.  I do it every other day)

This exercise works for me because it keeps my deficits of attention busy hitting buttons the whole time. (it may annoy those around you with all the beeping…….  but, whatever…)

don’t be reckless with it,

Enjoy, 

-Dr. Neal

Here’s a popular definition to start off with:

{Hans Selye was one of the founding fathers of stress research. His view in 1956 was that “stress is not necessarily something bad – it all depends on how you take it. The stress of exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while that of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental.” Selye believed that the biochemical effects of stress would be experienced irrespective of whether the situation was positive or negative.

Since then, a great deal of further research has been conducted, and ideas have moved on. Stress is now viewed as a “bad thing”, with a range of harmful biochemical and long-term effects. These effects have rarely been observed in positive situations.

The most commonly accepted definition of stress (mainly attributed to Richard S Lazarus) is that stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that “demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.” In short, it’s what we feel when we think we’ve lost control of events.}

      In regards to medical conditions, it is my experience that the uncontrolled, chronic, biochemical reaction we call “stress” is the biggest aggravating factor of all chronic conditions.  Like other chronic conditions, Stress plays a major role in the propagation of chronic acne.  In this Blog category, we will be discussing the specific nature of stress in a chronic acne sufferer and many powerful ways to reduce it.