Even if it might be fashion-forward, wearing a loose and baggy t-shirt with leggings will not be beneficial if planning to attend yoga class. As a highly popular activity, yoga can be modified for all levels of fitness and all ages.

Enter lululemon. Founded by Chip Wilson, lululemon strives to replace the usage of cotton clothing with stretchy athletic fabrics. Wilson started out his business in 1998 by starting an underground yoga clothing movement. A design studio was born and converted to a yoga studio at night to help with the rent. Yoga instructors were asked to wear Wilson’s products and give feedback about the apparel.

It wasn’t until November of 2000 that lululemon’s first store opened in Vancover British Columbia, called Kitsilano. The store became extremely popular, that the owner could no longer settle with just one store, as he wished and now has stores or showrooms in the United States, Canada, Australia, and China.

Lululemon offers apparels for men and women ranging from undergarments to yoga mats, including scarves, leg warmers, bras, and pants. The men’s underwear and boxers have design features that enable the prevention of chafing and provide support while upside down in yoga class. Depending on where the jackets will be worn, lululemon provides wind-blocking or water-resistant abilities with venting and mesh panels for a variety of activities.

For the ladies of any stature, lululemons offers pants in low rise, high rise, slim leg, wide leg, and reversible. They also offer regular and tall lengths, complete with hidden waist pockets alongside funky, colorful bands that add a little spunk in each step.

No matter the weather or the gender, lululemon beckons individuals to wear or use their apparel while performing sun salutations.

lululemon.com

They have provided 50 years of service to their customers, manufacturing a mixture of different televisions. They invented the world’s first ever 60-inch plasma television. LG Televisions are offered in three types of display technology: LED, LCD, or Plasma. They also offer various designs, sizes, resolution, and 3D television. Their website is equipped with a series of questions that target televisions the consumer would be interested in. Their products have consistently ranked among the best in the past years. In the November 2010 issue of Consumer Reports, the LG Infinia (54 to 63 inches) received the highest overall score for plasma televisions.

LG strives to pay attention to their customers, as shown by their logo design which symbolizes the world, future, youth, humanity, and technology. The unique shaping of a human face comprised from the “L” and the “G” exemplify LG Electronics’ dedication to customers around the world. The company compiles a documented 114 local subsidiaries worldwide.

LG Electronics was originally founded in 1958 as GoldStar, and during the 60’s produced Korea’s first radios, TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. It wasn’t until 1995, when the company was renamed LG Electronics and acquired its first U.S. based Zenith.

Besides their own products, LG Electronics has also established itself as an industry leader, associating themselves with corporate entities such as Prada, Dolby, Microsoft, and Toyota. As of 2008, LG Electronics successfully achieved its new global brand identity claiming its “stylish design and smart technology, in products that fit our consumer’s lives.”

Offering a wide range of delicacies from dry aged steaks to heritage pork, whether it is a romantic night for two or a family affair, customers will find The Greenhouse Grill satisfies. Mouth-watering dishes expertly adorned with flowers to add a pop of color, Executive Chef Jim Grace graces Fairfield with his years of culinary experience to design fine food and create a comfortable ambience.   Executive Chef Jim Grace’s recent expertise included Feinstein’s and the Loews Regency Hotel on Park Avenue in New York City.  Opening his own restaurant, he combines his years of experience to introduce simple, yet imaginative dishes made from ingredients of the highest caliber.

Lunch and dinner is served seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. as well as an extensive wine list.  A bar and kids menu is also available. Patrons can choose from flavors of any season such as Pumpkin Ravioli with roast chestnut cream sauce to Roast Naturally Raised Chicken with orange garlic jus, mashed potatoes and turnips.  To top it all off, The Greenhouse Grill offers tantalizing desserts such as Stone Fruit and Apple Clafoutis adorned with their homemade ice cream and Pistachio Crusted Cheesecake.

The Greenhouse Grill wants to extend their cuisine to everyone’s home.  They are available to plan and cater any event whether it be a family celebration, a business meeting, or a club function.

The Greenhouse Grill

12 Unquowa Place

Fairfield, CT 06824

203.571.6131

Located in nearby Pound Ridge, NY, Pound Ridge Golf Club offers rolling fairways, well-manicured greens  and spectacular views of unspoiled wooded, rocky terrain. This 18-hole course appeals to both locals and  golf professionals alike.  Approximately 50 miles northeast of New York City and an easy 15 minute commute from Stamford, Connecticut, Pound Ridge encompasses the distinct New England- like atmosphere, providing a nearby getaway to seasoned golfers escaping the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Opening its doors in July of 2008, Pound Ridge Golf Club prides itself as the only Pete Dye course located in the Northeast. Legendary golf course architect, Pete Dye, has been considered one of the most influential individuals in his field for the last five decades.  Pound Ridge is not only one of his highly acclaimed high-end daily fee courses, but also his first design project in New York.   Some of his better known courses include: Harbor Town Golf Links located in Hilton Head, South Carolina; TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and the Ocean Golf Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Kevin Wang is extremely proud of his course which was ranked by Golf Digest as one of America’s best new courses of 2009. Mr. Wang had the pleasure of meeting with innovative Pete Dye and jumped on the opportunity to work with him for the design of his new course.  The eco-friendly design has not only appeased the owner of the course but the environmentally conscious town of Pound Ridge, NY.  Mr. Wang has been very particular throughout the development of the course, making sure to show appreciation and care to the land that has been in his family since 1980.

The club has recently constructed a 1,500 square foot out door patio made from the ultra-eco friendly building materials by VAST Composite Pavers, a company that produces green building products. They turn post-consumer recycled rubber and plastics into an eco-friendly composite masonry.  This new feature provides scenic views of numerous holes on the course and the beautiful Long Island Sound situated in the distance.  The patio provides a perfect spot for after round beverages, bites or small private events.

Distinct for its unique design and welcoming staff, Pound Ridge Golf Course is truly in a class of its own. The course comes highly rated, being compared to those prestigious golf clubs with costly membership fees. Pound Ridge offers a modern, conveniently located 18-hole course open to the public  that is sure to spark interests in not only the locals golfers, but golfers from all over the world.

During dinner conversation, you interrupt your company and obnoxiously answer someone before a question has been finished. As the people around you talk, in your head you are hearing the chatter as background noise, and find it difficult to listen. At some point in the night you start to get anxious and fidgety, finding it hard to sit and relax. After being reprimanded by your significant other for blurting out during the evening, you momentarily evaluate yourself, questioning if there is something wrong.

At times, you find yourself so hyper-focused on one task or problem that you exclude everything else around you that needs your attention. During the day you have incredible energy, and find yourself adapting to new information while still being very creative. Your co-workers, family and friends make you think you’re crazy, and accuse you of having ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder.

While most people envision an individual with ADD as a child bouncing off the walls, unable to sit in a chair, unruly, and unable to focus in a classroom, ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) affect children and adults alike. The current criteria necessary for the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD state that symptoms arise in early childhood before the age of seven, and that the behaviors are seen for at least six months.

Children with ADD/ADHD may have some of the following symptoms:

Have difficulty keeping attention

•Make careless mistakes

•Have trouble listening and a hard time following instructions

•Are forgetful and easily distracted

•Dislike tasks that require mental effort

•Squirm in the chair and fidget

•Talk excessively and can’t sustain quiet activity

•Blurt out answers before questions have been completed

•Interrupt others

•Run around and have difficulty remaining seated

Because everyone shows signs of these behaviors at one time or another, the guidelines for determining whether a person has ADD/ADHD are not based on a list of symptoms, nor on a Web-based quiz. This inadequate form of evaluating is only suggestive of ADD/ADHD, and can lead to a misdiagnosis, which in turn may lead to needless and perhaps harmful treatments, i.e., medication.

Is ADD/ADHD over-diagnosed or even misdiagnosed? Is a label of ADD/ADHD given because of intolerance to childhood playfulness? As a seasoned professional on this topic, and working with providers in the mental healthcare field, I have found that sometimes children are needlessly medicated by parents who are looking for some classroom advantage, whether it is additional time for testing, or other classroom accommodations in a competitive educational environment.

The Brain is the Problem

To prevent improper treatment due to poor diagnostic criteria, it is through an appropriate neurological and biochemical evaluation that the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD is made. Current research has shown that ADD/ADHD is a true neurological dysfunction found in the brain, where there is a misfiring of nerve cells and an imbalance in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Although the brain is not diseased in an individual with ADD/ADHD, there is a problem with the development of specific areas of the brain. The result is decreased processing of information within those specific areas. Now, a brief lesson on anatomy and physiology will help us understand how the specific regions of the brain function. The nerve cells or neurons of the brain are connected in dense networks that develop efficiency with each human experience. These neurons are the basic foundation of thought, behavior, cognition, and movement. The brain has four lobes on each side. If the neurons in these different lobes of the brain develop poorly, the probability of behavioral, cognitive, and academic deficits increases.

Research has shown that with ADD/ADHD there is decreased processing or functioning in the frontal lobe, the basal ganglia, and the cerebellum. The frontal lobe (behind your forehead) is responsible for executive functions that include planning, organizing, problem solving, selective attention, personality, and a variety of “higher cognitive functions” including behavior and emotions. The basal ganglia (in between the two hemispheres) is the part that shuts down brain neurons in the frontal cortex from causing spontaneous outbursts. In other words, the basal ganglia is the shut-off switch for the brain. If the nerve cells in the basal ganglia are weak, the brain can’t shut down; as a result, hyperactivity develops. This is the difference between ADD and ADHD. With ADD, the basal ganglia has not yet been involved; with ADHD the basal ganglia is unable to quiet the brain down from hyperactive moments. Last but not least, the cerebellum (found at the base of the skull) seems to be the key factor. Research has shown that children with ADD/ADHD have smaller cerebellums (up to 11% smaller) than non-affected children. It is important to note that the cerebellum is responsible for the development of the rest of the brain—specifically the frontal lobe, where we get focus and attention. The cerebellum also controls the coordination of all muscle movements, including those of the eyes and the spine which provide us with a sense of balance. Without proper cerebellar development, one will have problems not only with balance and coordination, but with thoughts and behaviors as well. Therefore, anything that affects this region will affect the way the brain develops. Through birth trauma, forceps delivery, and any of a number of prenatal stressors, there may be poor development in the cerebellum and thus in the brain, leading to ADD/ADHD.

Why is ADD/ADHD more prevalent now? Believe it or not, society is becoming more sedentary. Children have stationary technology put into their laps—TV and video games for recreation, and computers for school and social communication. Emphasis is put more on academics and less on physical activity and recess. With these cultural and technological changes, there is less stimulation from the body to the brain; as a consequence, there is a higher number of individuals being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.

When the brain has a weakness, there is a high probability of attention issues. Along with this weakness, there may also be an imbalance in brain chemicals or neurotransmitters. These NT’s are the biochemicals that enable nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other. The NT’s that are commonly imbalanced and contribute to ADD/ADHD symptoms are Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, GABA, PEA and Histamine. Neurotransmitters are created from protein and vitamins that come from the foods we ingest. Therefore, it is important to look at and modify the diet. When dealing with cognitive dysfunctions like ADD/ADHD, it is important to eat healthful foods and rid the diet of certain offensive foods that have been shown to affect executive function and behavior. This will set the stage for more normal brain chemistry.

Foods to eliminate:

• Refined white sugars (candy), white flours, and other empty-calorie foods

•Dairy – milk, cheese, yogurt

•Gluten (found in flour breads)

•Trans fats – anything cooked with hydrogenated vegetable oil, restaurant fried foods, cookies, crackers, cakes, margarine, and snack foods

•Artificial sweeteners

•Food dyes and soy

While most think ADD/ADHD is a childhood condition, it affects adults in the same manner. If not diagnosed and treated correctly in a child, the dysfunction will remain causing the symptoms of ADD/ADHD in adulthood. In adults, the symptoms must have been present since childhood and must affect one’s ability to function in daily life. These behaviors must create significant difficulty in at least two areas of life, such as home, social settings, school, or work.

We find that many people who have lived with ADD all their lives accept it as part of who they are. They have no idea that the pattern of problems may be related to a treatable disorder — more specifically, a weakness in the brain.

With the dramatic increase in the number of children affected by ADD, ADHD, Executive Function Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder, Dyslexia, Tourette’s Syndrome, and the other learning disabilities, many concerned parents struggle with how to help their children. The medical paradigm of drug intervention has been somewhat successful in relieving symptoms, but long-term changes have not been supported scientifically. Recent advances in brain research and imaging strongly support the specialty of Chiropractic Neurology, which focuses on evaluating the function of the brain and nervous system. Once an individual has been properly evaluated and diagnosed, a non-invasive, drug-free protocol should be implemented, restoring balance to the system and thereby relieving the symptoms.