The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 03, 2005, Page 5, Image 5
r THE MIX
^Vlonday, Oct. 3,2005 B B B _B——X * B B -a. Page 5
Proponents claim crystals can be used to treat injuries,
aid in spiritual endeavors, attract good energy
flames Prince
Alt the gamecock
Proponents of “crystal
therapy” say it is one of the
leading healing methods in
holistic medicine, claiming
every crystal exudes a different
energy and can be used for
different purposes.
In efforts to treat disease or
injuries, users drink “elixirs”
made by soaking crystals in
liquids, usually under direct
sunlight, or place crystals on
different parts of the body.
Users may also lay crystals in
various parts of their homes to
attract healing energy.
Judy Hall’s “The Crystal
Bible” details where each
crystal is from, its variety of
colors, its purpose and how to
use it.
According to Hall’s book,
labradite, found in Russia,
Italy, and Finland, is used to
form a protective barrier
against negative energies and
also to treat disorders of the
eyes and brain, as well as colds
and rheumatism. The book
also claims that lapis lazuli,
found in Egypt, Chile and the
United States, brings peace for
spiritual attainment and is one
of the best stones to alleviate
CRVSIflL • 1
SpecialtoTWt GAMECOCK
Shown here as a necklace, the stone Labradite is used by advocates of “crystal therapy” to treat
disorders of the eyes and the brain, as well as to form protective barriers against negative energy.
♦Pilates pursues ^
fluid motion
Low-impact exercise method emphasizes
'mind over matter, ’smooth control
Devon Ulceh
FOR THE GAMECOCK
Pilates — the foreign
sounding name of the exercise
method might conjure up
^■nages of peaceful Cambodian
^Tnonks performing slow,
controlled movements in a quiet
special to THE GAMECOCK
Medicine balls can be used
during a Pilates work out.
garden. Low chanting can be
heard as water lilies float in a
nearby pond. That image is a
common misconception about
the fitness method, actually
created in 20th-century Europe.
Pilates was developed by the
self-taught German fitness
expert Joseph Pilates. As a child,
Pilates suffered from a variety of
illnesses, and as a result, devoted
most of his time to participating
in activities such as
bodybuilding and gymnastics.
During World War I, he
interned as a, medic in England,
where he cared for captured
German soldiers.
His strong interest in
physical health pushed him to
develop a way
for soldiers to
rehabilitate while
bedridden. Thus, Pilates
created “the art of
contrology,” which
encouraged using one’s mind to
control body movements.
Pilates stresses a mental
control of one’s body through
the “Pilates Principles.” The
central idea of Pilates is summed
up by the phrase “mind over
matter.” The exercise teaches
participants to develop an
unconscious union between the
mind and the body. Pilates also
stresses the importance of
breathing as a means of ridding
the body of fatigue and wastes.
Special to THK (iAMRGOCK
Pilates attracts more than
exercise enthusiasts — some
people also use it as a method of
stress relief or mental training.
Each movement in Pilates
requires control. Joseph Pilates
believed the best results came
with complete concentration
and precision. He taught that
one perfect movement was far
better that performing many
PILflTCS • 6
Special to THE GAMECOCK
The $100 laptop includes a hand crank to keep it operational
when electricity is not available. The computer will feature an
LCD screen, flash-based memory and a Linux operating system.
Jeremy Turnage
FOR THE GAMECOCK
MIT researchers recently
unveiled a cost-efficient laptop
computer designed for children
in the developing world. One
may wonder what makes a
laptop “cost-efficient,” since
most laptops these days range in
price from $500 to $3,000. This
laptops price? A mere $ 100.
In teaming up with the One
Laptop Per Child non-profit
j f
group, MIT looks to help
children around the world learn
without spending too much.
The laptop contains many
concepts and technologies that
have been around for years and
brings them together for the
cheapest, loftiest computer
concept in years.
One look at the specifications
reveals many features that come
standard in laptops of the
current generation: WiFi, LCD
screen and USB ports. These
Moo
laptop mixes
tech, charity
MIT developing cheaper portable computer
for children in developing nations
parts are by no means cheap,
ineffective knockoffs.
The LCD screen is 12 inches
— small by todays standards,
but MIT isn’t building a beast,
just a simple computer for
children. The screen will also
employ two display modes:
color for indoors and black
and-white for sunlit areas.
Developers are trying to get the
cost of the screen as low as $12.
The laptop also features a
larger-than-normal touch-pad
mouse. However, this touch pad
also doubles as a writing area in
much the same way PDAs can
be used to write small notes.
What about storage? The
laptop uses a flash-based
memory system as opposed to
the standard hard drive. The
hard drives in standard laptops
and desktops use a hefty bit of
power and require power
coming directly from the supply
to operate effectively. Flash
based memory is the same
LAPTOP • 6
www. dailygamecock. com
Chiropractors pan
heavy backpacks
American Chiropractic Association stresses
lighter loads during Spinal Health Month
Kristen Trusdale
FOR THE UAMECOCK
If it’s not a trendy quilted
tote, maybe it’s a vintage
messenger bag or that sturdy
initialed LL Bean backpack
from ninth grade.
Book bags of all kinds,
colors and fashions float
around campus.
And choosing the wrong
bag is only one way students
can contribute to bad spinal
health.
On Thursday, Governor
Mark Sanford will sign an
official proclamation naming
October Spinal Health
Month.
Sponsored by the American
Chiropractic Association, the
nation’s largest chiropractic
group, Spinal Health Month is
meant to do more than just
raise awareness about the
issue.
People suffering from back
pain are encouraged to visit
their local medical doctor or
chiropractor to look into ways
of improving and maintaining
their spinal health.
“The goal of a doctor of
chiropractic -is to offer the
highest-quality professional
health care, while teaching
patients how to maintain their
physical well-being and a
healthy lifestyle,” ACA
President Richard Brassard
said in a news release.
He said October is the
“perfect time to take control of
your health by discovering this
natural approach to wellness.”
In 2003, more than 30
million Americans visited a
chiropractor.
Every day, people injure
their backs by performing
common tasks such as lifting,
bending, wearing high heels or
even sleeping on a mattress
lacking support.
According to the ACA’s
Council on Occupational
k
Health, a recent study
conducted in Italy found that
nearly 60 percent of students
experience back pain because
of the weight of heavy book
bags.
Besides causing pain, heavy
book bags can also lead to
poor posture.
“It is important for parents
and guardians to not
underestimate the gravity of
the situation. Overweight
backpacks can result in
numerous short-term and
chronic health concerns,”
David Thorpe, treasurer of the
ACA’s Council on
Occupational Health, said in
the release.
“Help your child pack their
backpack each day and make
sure they never carry more
than 10 percent of his or her
body weight.
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1UI CAdllipiC) <1 CIIIIU W11U
weighs 100 pounds shouldn’t
wear a backpack heavier than
10 pounds.”
The release said excessive
weight and certain bag styles
can cause nerve pressure
around the neck that could
lead to muscle spasms or neck
or shoulder pain.
According to chiropractic,
the nervous system is the basis
for good health, and pain
occurs when vertebrae become
misaligned and place pressure
on nerves in the spinal cord.
Chiropractors say these
misalignments can also cause
problems throughout the
entire body.
For example, a misaligned
vertebra impacts the
surrounding muscles and the
nerves that control those
muscles.
Chiropractors offer
therapies such as spinal
manipulation, massage,
muscle stimulation and
ultrasound, which they claim
help reduce pain and swelling
BOCK • 1