Working In Harmony

Musical training might guard against mental decline and result in more efficient information processing (Neuropsychologia, Dr. Ines Jentzsch and colleagues)

 

Popeye Power Greens

When we have this jar of vegetable goodness at the project office, we always get the "what in the world is that" look.  Some ask and we tell them it is a salad in a glass; spinach, ginger, garlic, cucumbers and a medley of apples.  We have convinced a few of the guys to taste it and much to their surprise they like it.  Others have taken a further step to exercise and shed pounds.

Famous Arena Extreme Makeover

Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks, is getting a complete top to bottom renovation.  We planned a new stadium for the Atlanta Braves as part of a team of Olympic Games designers.  http://www.slamonline.com/online/news-rumors/other-news/2013/10/inside-madison-square-gardens-construction-photos/#1

Just Beneath Your Feet

These brave souls are working nine stories underneath the streets of Manhattan.  This project is similar to the work we did with a team to expand rail system routes and build stations to go with them. For more photographs http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/18/19012073-photographer-documents-subway-construction-nine-stories-below-manhattan

Safe and Secure

Many of us conduct personal and professional business on our wireless devices.  A new product called the OFF Pocket™ is a privacy accessory for mobile phones that blocks wireless signals.  Simply place your phone inside the case, close it and the phone is off. Untrackable. Unhackable. Undistractable.

A Debt of Gratitude

This self-portrait is of our very first internship mentor.  We owe Mr. Conley a debt of gratitude for giving us the industry basics on which our joy of building has stood.  We are appreciative of the champions, coaches, confidants and cheerleaders that gave us the opportunity to experience a career in construction, engineering and architecture. 



 

It's Getting Hot In Here

Our range of visual and vocabulary cues dictate the degree to which we effectively communicate in a team setting at work or with our family at home.

A Most Wonderful Time

The holiday season is upon us.  Food and beverage storage, preparation, timing and temperature are so important to the success of your dinners, parties and receptions.  Make sure you and your guests celebrate this most wonderful time of the year safely.

Let The Sunshine In

Check your UV index by zip code at this link http://www2.epa.gov/sunwise/uv-index or on a mobile app http://www.epa.gov/enviro/mobile/.  The UV Index provides a daily forecast of the expected risk of overexposure to the sun. The Index predicts UV intensity levels on a scale of 1 to 11+, where 1 indicates a minimal risk of overexposure and 11+ means a very high risk.

Create The Clean

Designers, as they add beauty to our world, are subject to many types of hazards including physical accidents/pain, respiratory problems, chemical/gas exposure as well as soft tissue, electrical and fire injury.  Proper handling, storage, protection and disposal must be observed with all equipment and materials.

What Did You Say?

Researchers have identified ear infections, medications, obesity and smoking as contributors to hearing loss in addition to noise exposure.  Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from hearing loss and 60 percent of the people with hearing loss are either in the work force or in educational settings – John Hopkins Medicine

On The Front Lines

Nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites across the nation on any given day. The fatal injury rate for the construction industry is higher than the national average in this category for all industries. - OSHA

Go Forth And Be Great

“Doing” and “Being” are two pillars of personal and professional success.  Action and practice propels us towards our goals.  The foundational text of Yoga prescribes adherence to eight "limbs" or steps to quiet one's mind and achieve solitude.  In the Yoga Sutras, the last three limbs represent the results of the application of the first five limbs. Although our life’s work is often a collaborative effort, there are times when it requires singular focus and drive. 

The Eight Limbs

Yama - Universal morality

Niyama - Personal codes and observances
Asanas - Body postures and physical movement
Pranayama -  Breathing exercises and control of prana
Pratyahara - Control/withdrawal of the senses
Dharana - Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness and focused attention
Dhyana - Devotion, Meditation  
Samadhi - Absorption, enlightenment and union with the divine

When You Have To Take The Pill

With all the healthcare dialogue and changes going on, here is a resource to help you save money on your prescriptions if you need them.  Shop around for your prescriptions with the help of this website http://www.goodrx.com/.  It tracks the prices of thousands of drugs, finds the best prices in your area and provides discount coupons.  The site also gives you descriptions, side effects and photographs of the drug.

They Took Our Jobs

Programmers, engineers and developers are working on higher forms of robotic intelligence that delve into the creative arts such as painters, journalist, and comedians.  Automation will likely touch all jobs, from manual labor to knowledge work.  Experts predict that true artificial intelligence will very likely be here around 2040.

To Stay Or Not To Stay..That Is The Question

Happier employees are healthier and want to stay in their jobs one to three years instead of the average six to twelve months. Employee happiness is one key to company retention, long term success and overall human contentment.  Employers can be a catalyst for their employee’s happiness with first-rate employee incentives, focused career advancement programs, substantial benefits, and achievable work-life balance.

Keep Calm. Carry On.

Consider adding yoga to your self care activities each day.  Yoga Journal states that the benefits include increased calm, flexibility and strength as well as a  decrease in pain, weight and stress.  So take time to stretch...the pose is called updog or cobra.  This pose can strengthen your back after a long day of sitting at your desk.

Clean As A Whistle

One of the most frequently cited regulations in the workplace centers on chemicals in our places of employment.  The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) with 4 effective dates for compliance phased in over a 4 year period.  December 2013 provisions include employees are trained on label element and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) format.  Check with your Safety or Engineering department to see if your workplace is compliant.

The Present Palate

The selection, preparation, presentation, appreciation and digestion of our food can improve the mental and emotional vibes that drive our goals, dreams, ideas and plans as we consciously build ourselves on all levels.

Like Pulling Eye Teeth

Teeth, gum and mouth care can impact bones, joints, organs, glands and tissue.  Studies also suggest that oral bacteria might play a role in some diseases and lowers the body’s resistance to infection.  So get that flossing, brushing and those check-ups in.  It may be one key to your total good health.

Eat Your Weeds: Dandelion

I just love dandelions. Most of my neighbors want to remove them from their lawn but they are strong and hardy plants that are on this earth to feed your mind, body and soul. Did you know that you can eat the leaves, flowers and roots. Use the leaves in a salad or cooked with other leafy greens such as collards, kale and cabbage. The roots are used as a tea or coffee replacement. The flowers in salads, tea or pan fry. This plant can heal your liver the major cleansing organ of your body - so eat some weeds.

 

It's All In Your Head

Challenge yourself to learn and teach new things.  Reading, writing, games and other brain stimulating activities can preserve memory, regardless of age.  Cognitive activity across the life span has an association with slower late-life cognitive decline.

Help Yourself

Tobacco, Alcohol, Sugar and Caffeine addictions have been shown to be helped by a combination of nutritional yeast, alfalfa, evening primrose, bee pollen, green food, multi-vitamins, herbs and minerals.

Because We Care About You

We have an on-going commitment to making the world a better place one-on-one and face-to-face. We volunteer goods, services, time, and donations with numerous non-profit and for-profit partners.  Some examples of our activities are listed below.

Participated in city-wide fitness awareness challenge
Hosted information station at community health expo
Adopted local school and raised funds to renovate library and purchase material
Served food at community recreation center
Painted house and donated housewares and clothing to group home
Raised funds and walked in children's health event
Read children’s literature for literacy event
Served breakfast with a community feeding program
Collected baby clothing and accessories for distribution to at-risk newborns

 

 

Thankful For You

Expressing gratitude, focusing on positive events and praise of others can shift how we see and experience the world around us.

Happy Memorial Day

The TEAMS Institute salutes and appreciates the women and men of the armed services that have sacrificed to keep this country safe for us all, especially our children.
  

 

We Need To Talk

People who reported having a traumatic experience and who kept the experience a secret had far more health problems than people who talked openly.  When we share and experience any sense of connection, our brains release the hormone oxytocin.  Oxytocin is a hormone that increases feelings of well-being and happiness.

 

And The Teacher Shall Appear

We have had the distinct pleasure for a few years to share words, wisdom and wit with lovely young women on their journey to womanhood.  The TEAMS Institute supports the work of Sisters In Society Taking Action and their annual Rites of Passage Program that occurs every fall.

 

A Word With You

Function words can detect emotion, thoughts and who we believe we are in the world.  Function words include pronouns (I, she, it), articles (a, an, the), prepositions (up, with), auxiliary verbs (is, don't), negations (no, never), conjunctions (but, and), quantifiers (few, most) and common adverbs (very, really).

You Deserve It

Everyone wants to feel valued, important and special. Compliment, affirm and uplift those who touch your life from day to day.  Genuine acts of praise and recognition can motivate and influence.

Creative Collaboration

The TEAMS Institute is excited about the collaboration with Nja Onê's Mind Body and Soul Saturday; a tranquil blending of all the arts to heal, enlighten and inspire your mind, body and soul.  Nja Onê (En-jah Oh-nee) is an Internationally recognized artist of a One-Woman Stage Show based on her Mixed Media, as well as an artist of Sculptures, Vases, Murals, Children’s Book Illustrator, Jewelry Creator, and Art Instructor.

Pleasant Side Effects

Hugging helps the body's immune system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.

Window To The Soul

Eye gazing is an extremely intense experience because it is a direct soul connection. Your left eye is known as the most direct window to your soul.

You Are So Deep

People who engage in more meaningful and deeper conversations tend to be happier than those that don't.

The Touch, The Feel

The most sensitive areas of your body are your hands, lips, face, neck, tongue, fingertips and feet.

Laugh Through It All

Sometimes we interact with control issues, personal baggage or dark, heavy, negative actions. Shield yourself in the situation by folding your arms, leaving, mentally disengaging or laughing.

My Soul Sings

Surround yourself with people who make your soul sing.  Stay aware of those who may prey on your kindness and goodness be they narcissists, psychopaths, anti-socials or sociopaths. Be sincere and be safe as you navigate this big beautiful world with an open heart and mind.

Well Kiss My Grits

Kissing results in a reduction of perceived stress, an increase in relationship satisfaction, a lowering of cholesterol levels, and has a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular system because the heart pumps faster and burns up to 2–3 calories per minute.
 

I Feel Good

Humor stimulates the areas of your brain that use dopamine, a "feel good" chemical. It also improves the memory by reducing stress, relaxing your muscles and increasing the flow of blood to your brain.

Remedy for Wireless World

Seaweeds like kelp can protect us from a wide range of toxic elements in the environment, including radiation by-products, converting them into harmless salts that our bodies can eliminate. Natural iodine in seaweeds can reduce by almost 80% radioactive iodine-131 that is absorbed by the thyroid. Seaweeds are so effective that even the former U.S. Atomic Energy Commission recommended that people consume two to three ounces of seaweeds a week (or 2 tbsp. of algin supplements a day) for protection against radiation poisoning.

The Health Impact of Wireless

Flynn’s time in the military included a period of time the Russians experimented on U.S. embassy staff. Flynn said that the U.S. embassy in Moscow was bombarded with EMF six to eight hours a day five days a week by the Soviets at power levels that were 1/100 of what the U.S. and Canada permit now. They experimented with the same microwave frequencies that come off of standard household wireless appliances.



Between 1953 and 1976, the period of time the testing took place, two U.S. ambassadors died of cancer, one developed leukemia and eventually died from it; 16 women on the embassy staff developed breast cancer, and many others developed immune system disorders, high white blood cell counts, chronic fatigue, and muscle aches.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/health-hazards-linked-to-utility-meters/#otWvEQi1HCZj81IA.99

See Opportunity, Answers and Insights

Do you ever hear yourself saying “she should..”, “he ought to..”, “they need to..” when observing or interacting with others? Ah the game of judgment. We all play it. But have you ever considered that what we see is filtered. We all create “should”, ought to” and “need to” based on our own limited experience, understandings and beliefs. As a result we sometimes miss opportunities, answers, and insights. So the next time the desire consumes you to tell someone how they should, ought or need to be, consider these ways to reply. “it is what it is” • “bless his/her heart” •“that’s interesting” • “it is as it should be” • “so be it” • “all is well” • “and so it is” 

 

 

 

Love Walk for Life

The best gift you can give yourself for Valentine's Day is walking for life.  View this video for more information  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo&feature=youtube_gdata_player