theCloud

Our up-and-down and all around weather in Colorado can actually impact your vibe.

Whether you struggle with natural day-to-day worries or a clinically diagnosed disorder, you may need support for common anxiety.

Conventional treatments like medicine and psychotherapy are popular ways of dealing with anxiety, but there are many natural approaches — including some fairly simple (and perhaps unexpected) lifestyle adjustments that work well with our Colorado lifestyle.

Here are a few of the most common natural remedies for anxiety:

1.   Diet:

What goes in is what comes out.

A well-balanced diet is one of the most important and well-known facets of dealing with stress and anxiety.

It’s also crucial to drink plenty of water and limit trips to Starbucks and, well booze (especially alone).

Both of which can spike anxiety.

You might even consider some alternatives from our friends at Light Shade in Colorado

You may find increasing minerals like zinc and magnesium helpful too.

And maybe?

Just maybe it’s time for a nice juicy steak!

2.  Supplements: 

There are certain herbs and vitamins known to support our bodies as they deal with stress.

Keep in mind that some herbs can negatively interact with medicines, so please discuss supplements with your doctor.

3.  Exercise: 

Regular workouts can decrease tension, elevate and stabilize mood, support sleep, and improve self-esteem.

Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.

Yoga can also reduce stress and anxiety because it involves breathing techniques, relaxation, and taming the body’s stress response through a lower heart rate and blood pressure.

The great thing about yoga? You can do it anywhere.

4.  Music, Meditation & Prayer:

This powerful combination can help the body and mind regulate what might be a stress point in your life. A quiet time to begin your daily journey is key.

Music can impact your groove and make you feel good at the same time (you will never tire of that favorite song on the radio).

Lastly, no one is an island.

Make time for a nice chat, coffee or phone call with someone you care about daily.

It’s called: The best friend method.

The Academy Award Winning movie and classic music of Queen just might be the remedy!

Director Peter Changs breathtaking IMAX film Cuba is in its final days at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

If you’ve not seen the film or exhibit, it’s very well worth the short trip into Denver to catch the final week and there are still plenty of tickets available.

After a special screening last weekend, the Cloud caught up with the inspired director Peter Chang about his masterpiece work: Cuba.

What inspired you to make this film?

I knew very little about this country only 90 miles of the coast of the U.S. but from what little I’d seen in films I knew I had to go. And when I did I couldn’t put my camera down. There was something special around every corner. I’m attracted to textures and character.

I don’t find much inspiration in new skyscrapers or the latest cars. I like handmade things, vintage things, lived in things, old buildings with interesting histories. It’s so unusual to interact with strangers these days what with everyone staring into smart phones.

In Cuba I talk to more people in a day than in a week here at home, it makes everything an adventure. You have to ask for directions because there’s no GPS, and you may never get where you meant to go but you will make a new friend or see a great band. I wanted to provide a glimpse of the passionate people and vibrant culture there.

What was the biggest challenge in creating this wonderful motion picture?

Getting all the permits and visas for a film of this scale with this many locations had never taken place in Cuba before.

There were a great deal of unpredictable variables to navigate.

During the course of filming, there were two major hurricanes. Both Cuba and the U.S. changed Presidents and both the Pope and the Rolling Stones visited the island causing whole neighborhoods to be locked down for security purposes. We also filmed in a protected marine park which is highly restricted. And got special permission to film aerials in military airspace.

Do you have any additional projects in the works featuring Cuba?

Yes, we have an feature length film as well as a TV series.

We can hardly wait!

Peter H. Chang is an award-winning director, producer, and cinematographer based in San Francisco, California. A pioneer in the use of large format 3D motion-control time-lapse capture systems, Peter’s cinematography for IMAX and giant screens includes National Geographic’s JERUSALEM, PANAMA, MacGillivray Freeman’s NATIONAL PARKS ADVENTURE, and PLANET POWER.

Editors Note: The film is simply breathtaking. Rich with vibrant color, images and a spectacular music soundtrack. Well worth the visit to another treasure: The Denver Museum of Nature and Science.