Join Dr. Pea's and Capital Metro for the Metro Rail Open House at Saltillo Plaza, Sat. Feb. 14 from 10 -2 pm. While you're checking out the new Swiss trains, drop by Dr. Pea's to say hi, sign up for a massage by the minute ($1) by Sarah, register to win a "Give Peas a Chance" pea shirt and AcuGraph®, or buy a last minute gift certificate for a healing massage experience for you or special Valentine.

Metro Rail is scheduled to begin offering service from Downtown to Leander, March 30th. (allsystemsgo.capmetro.org)

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Love, and Health Care Reform, this column will focus on Heart Health. It is a small attempt to present information not readily available to the general public and is usually backed up by research, a little common sense and love for NOT knowing anything for sure.

On the subject of NOT knowing, feel free to link to this lovely video and remember to come back to Dr. Pea's e-journal for more inspiration:

www.youtube.com

DID YOU NOT KNOW?

THAT: Lack of joy or excessive joy, redness between the eyebrows or a weak voice are associated with heart deficiencies.(Traditional Chinese Medical Theory)

THAT: The American Heart Association is recommending that rescuers give twice as many chest compressions, 30 instead of 15, for every two rescue breaths. (Associated Press. Dallas, Nov. 28, 2005)

THAT: Women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men because they often don't recognize and ignore the more subtle signs. Women experience signs that can mimic indigestion and may include sweating, jaw or shoulder pain, and other signs. www.americanheart.org

THAT: Whole corn nourishes your heart and its physical and psychological functions. Eating good quality, open- pollinated, organic, and non-genetically engineered corn is preferable.

THAT: "Half of all heart attacks take place in people with normal cholesterol levels!" (Stephen MacMahon, Norman Sharpe, Greg Gamble, Hamish Hart, John Scott, John Simes, and Harvey White. Effects of Lowering Average or Below-Average Cholesterol Levels on the Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis: Results of the LIPID Atherosclerosis Substudy Circulation 1998 97: 1784 - 1790 and other studies.)

THAT: Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are now proving to be a considerable risk to your health. Statin drugs can produce such serious side-effects that doctors insist on blood tests at least twice per year to detect early stages of liver damage. (Omar MA, Wilson JP. FDA Adverse Event Reports on Statin- Associated Rhabdomy-olysis. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Feb, 2002; 36 (2): 288-295 and other studies.)

Chi Gong is a simple, yet profound healing practice from Asia. In this class, you will learn and practice movements that circulate vital energy throughout your body, decrease fatigue and release tension.

HEALING CHI GONG CLASSES

WHEN: Mondays, March 2 - April 27 (no class 3/30)
WHERE: Soma Vida 1210 Rosewood (www.somavidaaustin.com)
HOW MUCH: $130 ($120 preregister by 2/26) $16 single

Preregistration recommended. Call (512) 478-4732 or admin@drpea.com. First class free, space permitting.

Paddy Tawada has been practicing martial and movement arts for more than 25 years. She has a first degree blackbelt in Aikido.

Bring a willing partner or good friend and learn 2 -3 effective techniques and acupressure points. Dr. Pea and Sarah Farwell, LMT, will demonstrate and guide you and your partner to gently eliminate headaches, release tension, and improve the quality of your sleep. Beginners and clumsy folks are especially welcome.

WHEN: Tues. Feb. 24 7 - 8:30 pm
WHERE: 1601 E. Fifth St. # 105
HOW MUCH: No charge

Registration required. Space is limited. Call (512) 478- 4732 or admin@drpea.com.

Sarah Farwell, RMT, (pictured with Diego), has been practicing massage therapy for 7 years. In addition to deep tissue massage, she also offers Craniosacral Therapy and Lymphatic drainage.