Memory and the Happiness Factor - today I discuss a major breakthrough in developing happiness in life!!!

I had recently published a video of memory enhancement techniques for adults and senior citizens. This was a direct result of my work with learning challenged students as well as students with ADHD - attention deficit disorder-. teaching memory techniques together with other learning strategies , test taking skills and integrating this with multi modality biofeedback , I became well versed in memory techniques and how they could be utilized in ADHD and students. Then when I returned to the USA from Israel I began working in a neuro diagnostic lab working with patients who had brain injuries, disease, and dementia. I was able to observe these people up close. This led to an invitation to teach memory techniques to patients with chemo brain and cancer. I learned about their memory needs and adapted a program for them. This then led to the next stop, offering memory enhancement workshops for senior citizens. What I discovered was that the memory needs of students , people with ADHD , people with chemo brain, and senior citizens, was different. Yes, the various memory techniques I use are the same ones used for all groups, however , the memory needs of the different groups are different. For instance , while a student might want to remember important historical dates , Kreb's cycle, the cranial nerves etc. a cancer patient might want to remember a simple recipe because their memory is so shot. A senior citizen, it happens has a lifestyle change and now will meet many new people at nursing homes and senior centers. A way to remember names is what is most important to them. .Thus, I came about to compile the memory techniques an adult and senior citizen might need and published a video " Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens.







To obtain video press on photo 



Now this is where my discovery about happiness comes in. AND this is fresh and new , even to me.

As a biofeedback educator , I would use relaxation techniques as well a guided imagery to help people with anxiety feel better as well as reducing psycho physiological stress. However , this might make you feel better and allow happiness to happen, but this in itself is not happiness. It is peace, health, and tranquility.

So,  as a result of the memory enhancement techniques, I would research older people who came for an EEG exam ( electroencephalograph)  , I would ask every patient over the age of 70 " what was their secret to an older life" Well it turned out that it was not what they ate , if they smoked, or what job they had. y cases the person did not know and even attributed it to good genes. yet , just by talking to the patient I could see, even in a health condition, that they were happy. I asked them if they were happy, and all the older people said yes. They did things that made them happy, they also looked to the future, and they kept active if this was through family or profession, So I wanted to remember what things in my life made me happy. but first of all, what did I even remember. Well, it turned out not much relatively speaking. Rather , until a certain age in my life , most the things I remembered were negative things that far out weighed what happy things I remembered . Now I had reasons to be sad, but I had many many reason to be happy. Yet, the sad things far outweighed the good things that I remembered . I had to make a special effort to remember those. Then I remember that in the book on natural techniques for ADHD I wrote there was a page and concept
"My Diary of Memories".

Press photo to obtain book. 

Well , it turns out that as a child - no one told me to remember the good times because I might need to remember them one day to make me happy. My happiness factor. And in this lies a secret to happiness in life. You must "remember to remember" . To be happy , you need a diary of happy memories, but you also have to have been told to make this diary . This is not the same as a photo album. This is much much more. This is an emotional safe, an emotive trigger, a diary of events and cues, a Happiness Factor. 

www.jasonalster.com

Great Christmas and Channukah gifts and suggestions for the ADHD dyslexic child !!!!

In the book and video " Being In Control" there are various relaxed concentration toys and objects
suggested for use . These can be great Christmas and Channukah ( hannukah) gifts.

A liquid timer.

 

Page links to liquid timers on Amazon.com!!!


Liquid Timers to choose from

Zen for ADD ADHD

Zen for ADD ADHD is a relaxed concentration video I made especially for people with ADHD and ADD. I consider relaxed concentration different than anxiety , or being tired. Rather , relaxed concentration helps people with attention deficit lean to focus more, sit still, reduce hyper-arousal. this is physiologically different than anxiety or nervousness. The video has relaxing scenes that are held for a period of time as well as on the spot exercises that are good for increasing focus as sitting quietly and concentration on a liquid timer. other exercises are listening to a metronome , self Reiki massage and more. This video can easily be rented and downloaded from Amazon.com or purchased. 

The video would also be useful for actually anyone else too. 

Zen for ADD ADHD

Memory enhancement video and workshops for senior citizens.

The story behind the making of the video “Day to Day memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens”. With Amazon.com and Createspace. Today I just gave a speed reading workshop to a memory enhancement group of senior citizens in Warterbury , Connecticut. One lady was over 90 years of age. As a group of about 12 ladies they read 1650 words. At the end of an hour they read a total of 1960 words per minute. The Senior Center staff was floored. What, in just one hour??? When I realized what I had just done I decided to write this article about what I am doing for memory improvement. I started out with a memory improvement test for students with ADHD and or test anxiety. When I was performing biofeedback sessions with students, I realized that the relaxation or medication, alone would never be enough. Now students with ADHD have memory issues, but mainly due to concentration issues. While students with test anxiety had a stress block not letting them remember for an exam. The children needed study strategies. The first study strategy I started with to add to the biofeedback sessions were memory techniques. These included memory for lists like the Roman Journey method and so on. After working with memory each year I studied another strategy to add. These included speed reading , mind mapping , time management , study strategies, handwriting correction , test taking strategies, and then essay writing. However , I never really focused on memory techniques alone rather as part of the complete strategies a high school student or university student needs. But then one day a few years back, I received a call from Middlesex Hospital to offer a memory workshop as a stand -alone for cancer patients who have “chemo brain”. I was told that these patients have memory issues. These people had a brain reason for having memory issues that was not dementia of old age. I gave my memory workshop for them and noticed that not really being students their memory needs were different. One patient wanted to remember a recipe’, another where they placed their spectacles. So their memory needs were day to day improvements in life quality. I had to focus on different techniques here. Then, I figured , well , if I can work with Chemo brain maybe I could work with epilepsy. So I offered to do a memory workshop for epilepsy sufferers in a epilepsy support group I run as part of my duties as a neuro- diagnostic technologists at an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. Well, it turned out that their memory needs were also unique. People with epilepsy, it turns out , have memory issues because many epilepsies are in the left temporal lobe which is the site of memory. Also , anti epileptic medication may interfere with memory and concentration . Then there are people who have epilepsy and had head trauma or brain surgery. Their memory needs were as simple as remembering to take a medication or keep an appointment. This then led to giving memory workshops at senior centers where I also gave art workshops. Well, and this was a surprise, their needs were also unique and different than students . Many seniors told me they wanted to remember names because they meet new people all the time at senior centers. They also wanted to remember the birthdays of their grandchildren. Another need was how to remember what you read as when you are retired as you have the time to read more. And, of course, everyone needs to remember where they parked their car. Most important I also teach how to remember numbers so that in an emergency if you need money from an ATM you can remember your password or code. That happened to me. I needed cash and I had to use a memory association technique to conjure up a vision of what number I needed. You would also need to remember a telephone number in case of emergency.

Heat sensitive biofeedback pencils for relaxed handwriting

heat sensitive biofeedback pencils for relaxed handwriting
These act like mood rings.
Using Biofeedback concepts . Five  heat sensitive pencils of different colors  that change color with touch for a more relaxed handwriting .Let's you know your handwriting hand is relaxed, changes color with warmer relaxed hands. Can also be used with the video " Anyone Can Improve Their Own Handwriting" or finger  biofeedback temperature strips also for purchase with eBay from Jason Mark Alster MSc.  Pencil colors range from blue , green pink, orange, scarlet.

New research shows that handwriting improves the way we learn

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?_r=0
New York Times Handwriting Article





http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RF9PNC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004RF9PNC&linkCode=as2&tag=rainbowcloudl-20&linkId=EV34VBPOMVYRPIQT

Dysgraphia

I recently posted a notice about my breakthrough video for helping improve handwriting " Anyone Can Improve Their Own Handwriting" and something funny happened on the way to the " Forum" . Instead of people in the group supporting the effort to put out a video to help dysgraphics , I got messages of No you can't, stop deceiving people" or , " it is impossible to help people with dysgraphia as I know I have done all the treatments and programs and they did not help" or " your video says "everyone can" how can that be? Or " you can't just treat dysgraphia you need to treat the whole person". Then when I went on to explain how the program works, they just were not interested. Then I remembered a suggestion a psychiatrist I once worked with as a biofeedback therapist said to me. " The lady had a headache now, when you treat that she will then have a back ache, she thrives on the sympathy and attention" . Yes , the support group members wanted support, a shoulder to cry on - a place to wine about how the schools did not provide extra support . The last thing they were looking for was a solution. However , turning a negative into a positive, I had to think hard about why my successful program was unique and even different than the other programs. I know of the high success rate my program has, but how do I convince others who already tried other amazing programs and failed, to try this one. So I though hard and these are the reasons. First of all it is a video program and not one in a workbook. This has the advantage of being visual. Then I looked at the history behind the making of the video. I myself had poor handwriting. If this was dysgraphia , and dysgraphia is suppose to be a brain disorder , then how is it I have lovely handwriting today. can the brain change? As a biofeedback therapist working with students with test anxiety and ADHD in the israel health system, I had ample access to students with poor handwriting. Then , as someone who could also not draw to save his life , I was able to correct that after age 40 and even become an art instructor. Other things the video has. it integrates many ideas and tools , so it does look at the whole person. The video combines relaxed concentration techniques, seeing like an artist techniques, some calligraphy skills, hand and arm stress busters , ergonomics of sitting and writing and the actual rules of better handwriting applied. Finally , and this is very important. I developed a way to correct and analyze a poor handwriting example so that the writer or parent can understand what Is happening. This is a unique screening , and probably should be patented , however I do have copyright through the video. and finally , the price and ease of using the video. Anyone can download it from Amazon.com for under 2.00 dollars , $ 5.00 to purchase online and 25 dollars - includes shipping for a hard CD copy. So check it out on Amazon.com " Anyone can Improve Their Own handwriting" and as I told a lady on the support group - I mean " Anyone" http://jasonalster.com/Handwriting_correction.php

Findings - Many senior citizen's need to remember names and faces as they meet new people in assisted living and senior citizen community centers

Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens

RainbowCloud (Producer)

List Price: $20.00

46 minutes, NTSC

UPC: 887936921636

Easy to use memory enhancement techniques. Based on years of experience working in study strategies, memory enhancement workshops, and brain mind research. The live demo techniques will help you remember items, names, faces, numbers, dates, pass codes, recipes, lists, birthdays. By Jason Mark Alster MSc author of Being In Control : Natural Solutions for ADHD, Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety. A RainbowCloud Production.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/405098

Do you need to remember a telephone number or credit card code? New video shows how.

Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens

RainbowCloud (Producer)

List Price: $20.00

46 minutes, NTSC

UPC: 887936921636

Easy to use memory enhancement techniques. Based on years of experience working in study strategies, memory enhancement workshops, and brain mind research. The live demo techniques will help you remember items, names, faces, numbers, dates, pass codes, recipes, lists, birthdays. By Jason Mark Alster MSc author of Being In Control : Natural Solutions for ADHD, Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety. A RainbowCloud Production.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/405098

Research report - many senior citizens want to remember grandchildren's birthdays - new memory video shows how

Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens

RainbowCloud (Producer)

List Price: $20.00

46 minutes, NTSC

UPC: 887936921636

Easy to use memory enhancement techniques. Based on years of experience working in study strategies, memory enhancement workshops, and brain mind research. The live demo techniques will help you remember items, names, faces, numbers, dates, pass codes, recipes, lists, birthdays. By Jason Mark Alster MSc author of Being In Control : Natural Solutions for ADHD, Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety. A RainbowCloud Production.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/405098

Are you having chemo therapy , and now having "chemo brain" memory issues - new video can help

Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens

RainbowCloud (Producer)

List Price: $20.00

46 minutes, NTSC

UPC: 887936921636

Easy to use memory enhancement techniques. Based on years of experience working in study strategies, memory enhancement workshops, and brain mind research. The live demo techniques will help you remember items, names, faces, numbers, dates, pass codes, recipes, lists, birthdays. By Jason Mark Alster MSc author of Being In Control : Natural Solutions for ADHD, Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety. A RainbowCloud Production.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/405098

Do you have ADHD and memory problems due to poor focus ? new video helps with that

Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens

RainbowCloud (Producer)

List Price: $20.00

46 minutes, NTSC

UPC: 887936921636

Easy to use memory enhancement techniques. Based on years of experience working in study strategies, memory enhancement workshops, and brain mind research. The live demo techniques will help you remember items, names, faces, numbers, dates, pass codes, recipes, lists, birthdays. By Jason Mark Alster MSc author of Being In Control : Natural Solutions for ADHD, Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety. A RainbowCloud Production.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/405098

Forgot where you parked your car - new video shows you how to remember

Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens

RainbowCloud (Producer)

List Price: $20.00

46 minutes, NTSC

UPC: 887936921636

Easy to use memory enhancement techniques. Based on years of experience working in study strategies, memory enhancement workshops, and brain mind research. The live demo techniques will help you remember items, names, faces, numbers, dates, pass codes, recipes, lists, birthdays. By Jason Mark Alster MSc author of Being In Control : Natural Solutions for ADHD, Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety. A RainbowCloud Production.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/405098

Memory enhancement techniques video for aging adults / senior citizens just released

Hi,
Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens

 I just released a video " Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques for Adults and Senior Citizens". Right now it is a DVD and I hope it will be a streaming video on Amazon.com soon.
After working with learning strategies in students of all ages and especially with students with learning challenges and or ADHD I began to receive requests to offer memory enhancement workshops for people with chemo brain , then with senior citizens, and then with people with epilepsy.

Each group has their own memory issues. The memory techniques are quite a few and many. However , the memory needs of someone with a medical condition like left temporal lobe epilepsy ,  chemo brain , ADHD , aging senior citizens , are not the same as a regular student in the classroom. Now that is what set myself apart from other medical professionals. While I am a tutor and help students with learning challenges, I also work in the field of  electro-neuro- diagnostics  ( EEG , EMG, sleep wake disorders, biofeedback) . Thus, I am able to understand the difference in memory issues for different groups. Once I began giving memory workshops for the different groups , I was able to gather information on what their specific needs are. Thus, I noticed , for instance , that the memory needs of  senior citizens might be important for things like what days are my grand childrens' birthdays? I also noticed that when senior citizens live in assisted living quarters then there is a need to remember names, recipe's , grocery lists , and where they parked their car. In contrast , a young student might need memory techniques for historical dates , or how to remember equations. A working adult would also have a need to remember client's names, pass codes , and where they parked.
Thus , I set up the easy to learn techniques and examples in the video specifically for working adults and senior citizens and this would be different than what a student would need.  Furthermore, while there are many videos of people giving lectures on memory techniques, I could not find examples of these methods being taught with actual real life examples. I also geared the techniques to day to day usage as the people who would want this video are not really going to try and break a world record at a memory championship. Although , I do not rule that out.
Enjoy.
Jason Mark Alster M.SC. 
www.jasonalster.com


https://www.createspace.com/405098
Day to Day Memory Enhancement Techniques

Memory techniques

This photo is from the book Being In Control by Jason Alster MSc
In this example of how to remember numbers by association each number has a representative picture that looks like the number. To remember a series of numbers you just make up a story connecting the photos of the numbers. For instance if I want to remember that Columbus discovered America in 1492 I can make a story from the photos for 1, 4, 9, 2. For example , Columbus is writing with a pen in his diary sitting on a chair . He sees a shooting star from his ship at night and then swans greeting the ship from land by day.
A good idea is to have a number of templates so that you may remember many numbers. So other photos that came up in memory classes I teach were 1=tie; 2=spectacles; 3=camel hump; 4= sail; 5=hand with 5 fingers; 6= someone hitch hiking or thumbs up; 7= a  roadside mailbox 8= a snowman ; 9= smoking a pipe; 0 = a ball.

New tutoring method for reading comprehension developed by RainbowCloud.

Cool - I am now using in my student tutoring sessions my newly developed "Reading Like an Author Technique" to help students understand what they are reading, and boy is it working. I used same technique for teaching art " seeing like and artist " from the book Creative Painting for the Young Artist". It basically is having the student understand why an author wrote a certain way , and why they used certain phrases , concepts, which also include ideas on how an author is also marketing his/her book.
Tutoring with Jason by SKYPE 

Biofeeback pencils for improving handwriting

These pencils change color when are hands are relaxed and warm, just like a moon stone or biofeedback dot. I originally had these pencils made up as an advert for my program to correct messy handwriting. It has my hand correction website on it. However, people liked the pencils for themselves because they change color when your hands become warmer and more relaxed. Thus, I include them with my handwriting CD video "Anyone Can Improve Their Own Handwriting". which to date I think is the best handwriting program for correcting messy handwriting especially for attention deficit disorder ADHD or dysgraphia or anxiety.

http://jasonalster.com/Handwriting_correction.php

Poor penmanship in doctors leads to legal costs / deaths

Poor penmanship 

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/health-care/article/Poor-penmanship-costs-doctor-380-000-4866905.php

So if you have ADHD , dysgraphia , or are a physician with sloppy handwriting , then download  the video
"Anyone Can Improve Their Own Handwriting"

Epilepsy Support Group Groton Connecticut. Memory Workshop

I just came back from offering a memory improvement workshop for the Epilepsy Support Group in Groton Connecticut. 19 people showed up, and it was a fun bunch.Epilepsy support groups Connecticut
Research has shown that people with Epilepsy have memory issues and seizures can even cause amnesia.
For fun we also had an epilepsy facts trivia quiz.
We learned techniques to remember new people , and numbers . This especially since you might want to remember a credit card password, an important date like your doctors appointment, or for a question on an exam. One member had a sever case of test anxiety and I let her know about my video of short  relaxed concentration techniques " Zen of ADD ADHD" ; and " Being In Control: Natural Solutions for ADHD , Dyslexia, and Test Anxiety". These may be downloaded from Amazon.com . More info at www.jasonalster.com www.jasonalster.com

SAT shakeup. The test should offer "worthy challenges, not artificial obstacles," said College Board President David Coleman at an event in Austin, Texas.

Speaking about the new SAT exam. "The test should offer "worthy challenges, not artificial obstacles," said College Board President David Coleman at an event in Austin, Texas." Makes me want to sue the SAT for making artificial obstacles in our lives. It just goes to show that exams were testing how well you took exams. Sure people who did well on the SAT's would probably do well in university. However, that is not to say that many who did not do well on the SAT would not have done well in college either. PS I am offering SAT and study strategy tutoring with a specialty in students who have ADD ADHD and or test anxiety. www.jasonalster.com I am now using SKYPE and can tutor students anywhere in the world at a reasonable cost.

Natural seated yoga type techniques for helping ADHD - radio interview

Interview with Miss ADD about research into developing natural relaxed concentration techniques for helping students with ADHD and Test Anxiety. 

Blog Talk Radio interview 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/missadd/2014/01/20/the-search-for-natural-techniques-for-adhd

In response to a question - do I have research results for the streaming video The Zen for ADD ADHD

Yes as a biofeedback therapist since 1990 , I worked with people who had all types of stress disorders as well as ADHD. I found that GSR biofeedback is a good physiological objective measure of relaxed concentration in ADHD and used this objective physiological measure to test what works for relaxation physiologically as well as relaxed concentration. From this information on hundreds of clients I produced the well received book and video Being In Control: Natural Solutions for ADHD , Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety as well as the video GSR Biofeedback Techniques for the Natural ADHD Practitioner. Later , I just took out the relaxation exercises and added some more so that there will be just a relaxed concentration video especially for ADHD. Techniques like looking at a Liquid Timer , metronome, holding the scenes for a few moments longer like watching water flow etc make up this video. So in reality it is part of a set of the three video mentioned and may be streamed from Amazon.com.
www.jasonalster.com

Galvanic Skin Response measure (GSR) as objective physiological measure in ADHD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCvfGml3owAGSR Biofeedback Techniques for the Natural ADHD Practitioner



This is the video GSR biofeedback techniques for the natural ADHD practitioner based on research done in Israel. It shows that the resting electro dermal activity can be used as an objective measure of relaxed concentration in ADHD. From this measure I was able to test the techniques I then developed in my video for ADHD --- "Being In Control : Natural Solutions for ADHD , Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety" as well as the video " Zen for ADD , ADHD " . These videos may be downloaded as a streaming download from Amazon.com

Today, in the USA , I offer tutoring and coaching services for students with ADHD. However, I would like to continue with this research on the GSR in ADHD if  I may find an ADHD researcher interested.
Today , research is looking at the  brain MRI in ADHD for medication applications. However, using the GSR , I was able to train people with ADHD to increase their relaxed concentration naturally.
My webpage for contact info and the different resources I offer.
www.jasonalster.com

Radio Interview about Natural Techniques for Helping ADHD.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/missadd/2014/01/20/the-search-for-natural-techniques-for-adhd
MissADD Blog Talk Radio Jan 19th 7PM EST



Please join me this coming Sunday, January 19, 2014, 4:00pm, PST, as I welcome Jason Alster to the program. Jason and I will be discussing natural techniques for ADHD. Jason joins us from the east coast, Conneticut, where he works as an ADD coach. Jason is an author, and created a movie, titled, "Being in Control: Natural Solutions for ADD, Dyslexia, and Test Anxiety." In addition to coaching, Jason helps his clients develop study strategies, relaxed concentration skills, memory techniques, time management, test taking strategies, and more. Please, call in and ask Jason questions, (917) 889-7025. It should be a wonderful show!!