Collaborative Working Policies Analysis

Collaborative Working Policies Analysis Introduction Q1. In this assignment, I will investigate and research policy and legislation surrounding collaborative working and the positives and negatives. Collaborative working is the term used when two or more organizations, agencies or government bodies come together and share knowledge and information to obtain positive outcomes. The focus is to address specific areas or achieve certain goals for positive results. Its how we contribute and interrelate with others to deliver a positive and well-managed service. It is person-cantered and not service cantered which was done in the past when people had to fit around a service, whereas now its the service that needs to fit the individual. Collaborative working can be achieved in small groups or larger groups such as health services working alongside education, social care. a smaller group can be local voluntary groups and community health. The scope of collaborative working is a way of improving and identifying the need for change where it is m ost needed. Over the years, interest in collaborative working has been growing, driven by the sectors drive for effectiveness and efficiency, public opinion and government policy [www. knowhownonprofit.org] The Scottish government has recognized that more must be done to tackle health and social care and working with the NHS and local council care services, in particular, the elderly, to enable them to remain in their own homes and receiving treatment without having to go into hospital. The Scottish government will transfer  £107 million from the NHS into health and social care partnerships as well as £100million to the integrated care fund, this will allow more money to be spent in community and primary services. [www.scot.gov] Q2. Legislation. Public Bodies [Joint Working] [Scotland]Act 2014: This act came into effect on April 1st, 2014.The main purpose was to strengthen the roles of care workers and clinicians to deliver a service that is person-cantered and to ensure that every individual is treated with respect and dignity and improve the wellbeing of the service user. All the Partnerships will be jointly accountable to Local Authorities, Ministers, NHS Board Chairs and the public for delivering the nationally agreed outcomes set out by the act. [www.scot.gov] Policy: Health and Wellbeing outcomes policy framework is set out to improving the quality of services that are integrated in health and social care ,ensuring that the all local authorities and local health boards have a very transparent understanding on each ones reasonability when working as part of an integrated service across Scotland and to implement positive improvements so that every individual that uses the health or care setting are given top quality service ensuring their experiences on using these services are positive ones for them and their families. There are nine outcomes that apply to integrated health and social care at present some of these are: 1. That people are able to improve their own wellbeing and health, live for longer. 2. health and social care services aim to improve the life and quality of people who use these services. 3. Health and social care services contribute to reducing health inequalities 4. People who use health and social care services have positive experiences of those services, and have their dignity respected [www.scot.gov]] This is only half of what the government proposes to implement to integrated services in health and social care across Scotland. In Scotland when there is a sudden death or accidental death there is usually further investigation to determine the exact cause and if the death could have been prevented in line with the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976, for the purpose of this assignment I have chosen the death of Declan Hainey Fatal accident inquiry into the death of Declan Hainey Declan died between 1st July 2009/31st august 2009.he was only 15months old when he was last seen alive, it was another 8 months before his body was discovered in Kimberly Hainey home march 2010 His mother Kimberly Hainey was found guilty of his murder, she was charged with murder and neglect, these charges were quashed in April 2013, and Kimberly Hainey was free. [www.bbc.uk.news] Kimberly was known to several agencies before and after the birth of Declan, as she had a history of drug and alcohol misuse. Declans cause of death is unascertained. However, the prolonged neglect of Declan by his mother and sole carer Kimberley Hainey was at least a contributory factor in his death. There was no collaborative working where there should have been, there was no consistency with health visitors/social workers Sherriff Anderson identified the following factors where the death of Declan might have been avoided à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If all agencies involved in the information gathering process pre-birth/post-birth had all information and medical records available to them, then child protection measures could have been put in place which would have resulted in close monitoring and assessment over a longer period and under closer scrutiny of social work and health visitors then the case would not have been closed without a formal inter-agency review. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If medical information relating to Kimberlys long history of alcohol and drug abuse and her psychiatric history had been passed to social work and health staff who had continuing responsibility for Declan, would have contributed to a more realistic assessment of the risks which existed in relation to Kimberlys ability to care for her son. [ www.scot-judiciary.org] Sherriff Anderson set out four factors and recommendations that are relevant to prevent a breakdown in communication and collaborative working in future, as he identified in Declans case Action to be taken when a notification of concern in relation to an unseen child is received by a social work department. Mandatory training of general practitioners in the guidance and protocols relating to child protection. Improve staffing levels in social work and health services The distribution of medical information to those working in cases where there are children of substance misusing parents or care. [ www.scot-judiciary.org] Sadly, it was too late for Declan, but hopefully, lessons and recommendations set out by Sherriff Anderson will be adhered in their full capacity. There have been improvements across the health and social care sector, but sadly it was too late for some. Q3. For collaborative working to be effective there are national and local organizations that promote collaborative working. These are the National care standards which were set up by Scottish ministers under Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001and formed the national care standards committee who had the help of several groups of people and families that used care services as well as professionals, local authorities, which resulted in the standards that were set to meet their needs, and services to create the standards and everyone working in the care setting is held accountable to.[www.gov.scot] Another national organisation promoting collaborative working is the JIT[The Joint Improvement Team] also the JIT action team who is governed by the Joint Improvement partnership board and is in partnership with NHS Scotland, the Scottish government and COSLA[Convention of Scottish Local Authorities]They provide a range of support to local care services and housing associations their missi on is for continues improvement creativity, effective collaboration with a wide range of services across Scotland.[www. Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.org.uk] One local organization I have identified is a community group called FAIR [Family Action in Rogerfield Easterhouse] who work with people of all ages and live in disadvantaged areas to bring them together and built positive relationships. They offer social, education and practical support to enhance their skills to gain employment, have healthier lifes, to achieve this they run different workshops daily to meet the needs of every individual such as SVQ classes, cooking clubs and an employability programme . These can only be achieved by the collaborative working of local businesses and health boards[fare-scotland.org] Another local organization is social work services who work with health professionals such as CAMHS, care providers, and families. These organizations are involved in collaborative working as this promot es the wellbeing and safeguarding of everyone who needs care, by identifying their needs, giving people receiving care a voice and be heard. By working together, it meets the needs of the individual and ensures the best quality of care that will fit around the individual and not the individual fitting around the service. It allows services to be able to share information that has a person-centred approach enabling a better outcome for the individual as each will have a shared knowledge and understanding of that individual. By working with all these agencies ensures that the persons needs can be met. Q.4.There is advantages and disadvantages when working collaboratively with other organizations. The advantages are everyone involved has one focus and thats to deliver the best possible care requirements for every person receiving or requiring a care service. By working together, it brings together a wide selection of skills and builds teams relationships enabling everyone to work better together and having more resources available to work with that will deliver a service that allows the individual to feel empowered in the service they receive. It works with individuals with a wide range of needs whether it be physical or mental, before people would have to go to lots of different agencies to meet their support needs, now that services have come together it enables more people not to feel overwhelmed by the number of agencies they would have had to go to, to seek the right support .There can also be disadvantages such as conflicts of interest as everyone has their own agendas and po licies to adhere to that may not coincide with a neighbouring organization and has financial restraints and who decides to make the final decisions as each has different values and beliefs this causing conflict amongst the employees. when delivering care regardless of your position, its not whats best for us but what will empower the individual to have a fulfilling life with barriers down and given opportunities for positive outcomes, regardless of their sex, gender, culture, religion or age Conclusion Q.5.Doing this assignment I have learned that collaborative working is a positive approach to providing services to people that work for them and with the organisations working together and sharing information it allows if any the risks and dangers that a person may endeavour to be recognised as early as possible and allowing the relevant agencies to act on the dangers and risks if the appropriate care is not sourced to accommodate a person needs and requirements it can have a detrimental effect on that individual and others. On researching the Declan Hainey case was a prime example of why its important that all the agencies involved with an individual who is at risk to themselves or others, be acted on immediately. Lessons are learned by mistakes that are made, even horrific ones such as Declan Haneys. What needs to be taken into consideration is its not about who has the most power and resources but to work equally to provide a service to individuals and remembering that every indi vidual is unique and require different services to meet their specific needs. Social care has been highlighted in the media on a negative perspective showing how some social care services dont work with other agencies and can lead to neglect and abuse to service users who may have no advocacy working on their behalf. There is also the good care settings that very rarely get the recognition in media showing how services can work together collaboratively to deliver a service with positive outcomes for everyone seeking help or advice .in the service I work with ,we work with a number of different agencies that have all the same scope to delivering a service that meets the needs of every young person we cater for, from CAHMS[Child Adolescent Mental Health Services]to local schools/colleges/dentists/skills development Scotland/drugs alcohol workers ,this is just a few of the services that every young person has access to on a daily basis. By working together effectively we are also learn ing from each other enhancing our knowledge in different areas we may not have access to if there was no collaborative working. REEFRENCE BBC (2013) Kimberley Hainey murder conviction quashed on appeal. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22183497 (Accessed: 6 March 2017). Connor, A., Maclennan, E. and Price, S. (eds.) (2009) Higher national certificate in social care student book. Oxford: Heinemann. Garfinkel, J. (2016) Working together to achieve your mission knowhow nonprofit. Available at: https://knowhownonprofit.org/organisation/collaboration/working-collaboratively/working-together-to-achieve-your-mission-ncvo# (Accessed: 20 February 2017). Government, S., House, S.A., Road, R. (2017) The Scottish government home page. Available at: http://www.gov.scot (Accessed: 25 February 2017). Home (2016) Moodle. Available at: http://moodle.westcollegescotland.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2237 (Accessed: 26 February 2017). Office, J. and Scotland (2017) Fatal accident inquiry into the death of Declan Hainey judgments sentences judiciary of Scotland. Available at: http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/10/1308/Fatal-Accident-Inquiry-into-the-death-of-Declan-Hainey (Accessed: 21 February 2017). Scotland, J. (2006a) Background joint improvement team (JIT). Available at: http://www.jitscotland.org.uk/about-jit/background/ (Accessed: 25 February 2017). Scotland, J. (2006b) JIT joint improvement team. Available at: http://www.jitscotland.org.uk/ (Accessed: 25 February 2017). User, S. (2001) Our history Scottish social services council. Available at: http://www.sssc.uk.com/about-the-sssc/what-is-the-sssc/our-history (Accessed: 25 February 2017).  £107m for health and social care integration (no date) Available at: https://beta.gov.scot/news/107m-for-health-and-social-care-integration/ (Accessed: 20 February 2017). Welcome

Examining the Impacts of Regular Bikram Yoga Practice on Health, Stress and Anxiety

EXAMINING THE IMPACTS OF REGULAR BIKRAM YOGA PRACTICE ON HEALTH, STRESS AND ANXIETY By DiAnne Garza Email: dianne. [email  protected] com Final Version Submitted to Dr. Luz Romay in partial fulfillment of the requirements for class Organizational Research and Assessment, ORGD 6330 December 7, 2011 Executive Summary Bikram yoga was developed thirty years ago by Bikram Choudhury, a renowned Hatha Yoga Master. It is a specific yoga practice that is carried out in 105? F at 40% humidity for 90 minutes.Some studies and practitioners have suggested that Bikram yoga practice has positive impacts on physical health as well as decreasing stress and anxiety. There were certain inclusion criteria for participation in this study. Age was not an exclusion and participants ranged in age from 18 to over 60 years of age. This study sought to interview active students of Bikram yoga who have been practicing consistently for at least the last eight weeks, at a minimum of three times per week.Student s meeting the requirements at the Bikram yoga studios in San Antonio were invited to complete the survey instrument from November 16 through November 26, 2011. Seventy-five students responded to the survey. The results indicated that there are significant positive results from regularly practicing Bikram yoga. Since Bikram yoga encourages students to hold poses in a â€Å"hot† room it increases heart rate and acts as a cardiovascular exercise without the high impact normally associated with cardio exercises.The results of the survey instrument yielded over 50% of respondents reporting an answer of â€Å"somewhat better† for all of the questions, indicating that most respondents see a benefit in their practice. Additionally, stress and anxiety decreased with over 80% of respondents reporting somewhat to much less anxious and stressed. Improvements to physical fitness were observed with over 90% reporting improved physical fitness and improvement to flexibility and balan ce. There was a decrease in weight with 51% reporting a weight loss and 49% reporting that they ate somewhat less.Therefore, Bikram yoga should be considered by the medical community as the first option for improving physical fitness including overall strength, balance, flexibility and decreasing weight. Introduction to the study Background of the Problem The main topic of this research was to determine the effect, if any, of Bikram Yoga on perceived stress and its impact on physical fitness. Bikram Choudhury developed this yoga thirty years. Choudhury was born in Calcutta and he began studying yoga at the age of four.By the time he was 14 he had won the National India Yoga Contest and there he remained undefeated for the next three years (Choudhury, 2007). Choudhury went on to weight lifting and eventually set a world record for weight lifting in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. As he continued his weight lifting practice he experienced a serious knee injury and was told by doctors he w ould never walk again. This led Choudhury back to his original yoga teacher to once again pursue yoga. Through regular practice he became completely healed and established what is now known as Bikram yoga.Although an exact number of Bikram yoga studio locations could not be identified, studios can be found in Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, Chile, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Italy, Austria, France, and Germany as well as all over the United States including Texas with three studios in San Antonio (â€Å"Studio Map View†, 2011). The main purpose of this study was to assess the post perceived stress levels of Bikram yoga students who have been regularly attending for at least eight weeks and at least three times per week.The study also intended to asses the impacts of practice on physical fitness level and general health of these students after regular practice. The topic of this research was to determine if Bikram yoga helps one manage anxiety and stress better and if it actually decreased perceived stress after a session. The Problem People experience stress from various aspects in their lives, at different levels and intensities. This stress contributes to feelings of anxiety as well as overall physical wellbeing.Additionally, many people have injuries, weakened muscles, experiences of shortness of breath during high cardiovascular activities, and many other ailments that prevent them from doing regular exercise. There is a form of yoga called Bikram Yoga that does not require high cardiovascular activity, yet it produces the same effects as if it did. The problem statement was: Does a regular practice of Bikram Yoga decrease stress and anxiety for people with uncomfortable levels of stress and anxiety as well as improve physical fitness? PurposeThe purpose of this research was to examine how people who practice Bikram yoga perceive its impact on decreasing their level of stress and increase physical fitness. It helped determine if regular prac tice of a 90 minute Bikram yoga session at least three times per week experienced in 105? F temperature with 40% humidity was beneficial or detrimental to the body. Initial Research Questions This initial plan included three research questions that represented the main objectives of the study. The three questions were: 1. What changes can one expect to see in their body as a result of regular and consistent Bikram yoga practice? . Does regular Bikram yoga practice significantly decrease weight? 3. How has perceived stress level been impacted or changed by regular and consistent Bikram yoga practice? Organizational Access The organization that was used for the study was Bikram Yoga – San Antonio. There are three studios in San Antonio of which the researcher had access to. At the end of each class email addresses were collected for those interested in participating in the survey and that met the requirements. Students received the study via email from SurveyMonkey. com.Schedul e of the Process The high level timeline was: †¢ November 13, 2011Completion of survey †¢ November 16 – 23, 2011Distribution of survey †¢ November 27, 2011Analysis of survey Assumptions There were two main assumptions in the study. First that the Bikram yoga studios in San Antonio would continue classes and the room would remain at 105? F and at 40% humidity. It was also assumed that participants responding to the survey were honest in meeting the requirements. Limitation The scope of the study was limited to students practicing in the San Antonio locations.Additionally, the medical condition and fitness level of those students participating in the study could not be determined in this study. Definitions Asana Defined as a physical posture. A yoga session is composed of various standing, seated, and lying asanas; Bikram yoga is a series of 26 asanas. Bikram Yoga A specific series of yoga asanas assembled by Bikram Choudhury (2007). A Bikram session is comprised of a series of 26 postures including two breathing exercise, requiring 90 minutes to complete, and takes place in a temperature-controlled room (approximately 105 degrees Fahrenheit, 40% humidity).Perceived Stress The degree to which situations in one’s life are appraised as stressful. Psychological stress has been defined as the extent to which persons perceive (appraise) that their demands exceed their ability to cope. Physical Fitness The participants’ level of general fitness (a state of health and well-being), and specific fitness (a task-oriented definition based on the ability to perform specific aspects of sports or occupations). Sanskrit The classical language of India and Hinduism. Yoga Literally means ‘to yoke’, to join mind and body.Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that couples physical postures with conscious attention to breathing, and meditative practice. Review of the preliminary research To understand what was already known about the im pacts of Bikram yoga on physical health a literature review was conducted on three current journal articles. The first article was entitled Yoga Effects on Stress and Health and was written by Dr. Tiffany Fields in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. Dr. Fields conducted a research effort on the effects of yoga poses on a human being with regard to many factors.Many existing empirically-based research efforts and studies were utilized to reach the conclusions in this research effort. Psychological conditions were examined including anxiety and depression, cardiovascular fitness and physiological levels. This included the effects on heart rate, blood pressure, weight loss and muscle strength. Dr. Fields cited several studies that yielded an enhanced mindfulness and a reduction in job stress. People who attended only two weekly 90 minute yoga sessions experienced a noted decrease in stress, anxiety, fatigue, depression, head and back pain with an increase in well-being.The e ffects of the yoga were found to be immediate, following only one session. At the end of one year of yoga cholesterol was reduced by 23% compared to 4% for those in standard treatment. A decrease in anginal episodes was observed in addition to decreased body weight. Surgeries were less frequently required in the group who practiced yoga. In each and every condition yoga was found to be of some benefit in varying degrees, but always noticeable. The physical effects were also reviewed which consisted of weight loss, balance and flexibility and leg strength.This study suggested that regular yoga practice can have amazing impacts on the human body and can also be considered a part of a prescription plan for various ailments. Regular yoga practice can help alleviate various forms of pain and symptoms of disease as well as feeling ill at ease. A Review of Yoga Programs for Four Leading Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases was the second article reviewed written by K. Yang found in Evidence Ba sed Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This research effort focused on four major risk factors in the human body that most contribute to chronic diseases and yoga’s impact on affecting those risk factors.Since there are four common medical conditions that lead to chronic disease in the United States the study sought to identify if yoga would help mitigate those conditions. The four risk factors noted are weight, blood glucose level, blood pressure and cholesterol level. The research included a review of thirty-two articles published between 1980 and April 2007 that were related to yoga and the four risk factors. The practice of yoga yielded an overall improvement in every one of the four risk factors. The improvement increased over time; as the yoga practice continued on a consistent basis the risk factors would measurably decrease.Of all of the articles and studies reviewed by Yang they all show that, â€Å"yoga has beneficial effects on body weight, BP, blood glucose level and cholesterol level. † (2007, pg. 489). Yang proposed that because of these benefits yoga intervention programs should be developed as a means to combat the four factors contributing to disease in the United States. Incorporating yoga into one’s lifestyle and as a part of a medical prescription plan can help one live a healthier life for a longer period of time. The treatment of chronic disease should take the benefits of yoga practice into consideration.The final article reviewed was An Examination of the Effectiveness of an 8-week Bikram Yoga Program on Mindfulness, Perceived Stress, and Physical Fitness conducted by Zoe Louise Hewett at Boise State University in 2010. Ms. Hewett set out to monitor participants in an eight week Bikram yoga practice to understand the impact of the practice on mindfulness, perceived stress and physical fitness. The participant’s consisted of fifty one men and women between the ages of 20-54 years. The students had to atte nd three Bikram yoga sessions per week, however they were encouraged to attend five.The results were measured two weeks into the study and again within one week of completion of the program. In the three areas of focus, that is mindfulness, perceived stress and physical fitness, all were improved by regular Bikram yoga attendance. This study revealed that Bikram yoga can improve one’s body in as little as eight weeks with a regular practice of only three times per week. Bikram yoga has been proven to positively affect psychological and physical health. Furthermore, regular Bikram yoga practice can measurably improve one’s physical fitness in the matter of eight weeks with an attendance of three times per week.Method of research The participants were from the Bikram yoga – San Antonio locations. To collect the data email addresses were collected from students after each class to disseminate the instrument via SurveyMonkey. com and the survey was also posted on th e Facebook page of the Bikram Yoga – San Antonio studio. Within one day there were over 60 respondents so the response rate was more than double what was hoped for. Once 75 respondents completed the survey it was closed. The data captured on SurveyMonkey. com with regard to Bikram yoga was transcribed into Microsoft Office Excel version 2003.This application was used to capture all of the survey questions with their respective responses and optional comments as they were entered by the respondents. Furthermore, Microsoft Office Word version 2003 was utilized to analyze the open-ended response to the last question on the survey. This allowed an easy way to highlight key words in each open ended response and classify them into various categories. Survey results The total number of responses was 75 total, 60 female (80%) and 15 male (20%). The age group of respondents ranged from 20 & under to 60 and above.The respondents have been practicing Bikram yoga for varying time frames. |1. Gender |   |Percent |Count | |   |Female |80 |60 | |   |Male |20 |15 | |   |   |  100 |75 | |2.Age Group |   |   |   | |   |20 & under |2. 7 |2 | |   |21 – 29 |22. 7 |17 | |   |30 – 40 |45. |34 | |   |41 – 50 |18. 7 |14 | |   |51 – 60 |6. 7 |5 | |   |60 & above |4 |3 | |   |   |100. 1 |75 | |3.Number of months/years practicing   | |   |1 – 3 months |16 |12 | |   |4 – 9 months |12 |9 | |   |9 – 12 months |12 |9 | |   |1 – 3 years |30. |23 | |   |3 – 5 years |13. 3 |10 | |   |Greater than 5 years |16 |12 | |   | |100 |75 | Figure 1 – Gender, Age & Length of Time Practicing Fifty percent or more respondents reported an answer of â€Å"somewhat better† for all of the questions, indicating that most respondents see a benefit in their practice. 4. Has your stress level changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? | |   |Much less stressed |58. 7 |44 | |   |Somewhat less stressed |34. 7 |26 | |   |   |93. |70 | |   |   |   |   | |5. Has your anxiety level changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? | |   |Much less instances of anxiety |49. 30% |37 | |   |Somewhat less instances of anxiety |33. 0% |25 | |   |   |82. 60% |62 | |   |   |   |   | |6. Has your physical fitness changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? | |   |Somewhat more physically fit |45. 0% |34 | |   |Much more physically fit |46. 70% |35 | |   |   |92. 00% |69 | |   |   |   |   | |7.Has your flexibility and balance changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? | |   | |Much better |Somewhat better | |   |Flexibility |66. 7% (50) |29. 3% (22) | |   |Balance |50. 7% (38) |40. % (30) | |   |   |   |   | |   |   |   |   | |8. Has your weight changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? | |   |Weight is not more or less since starting |28. 0% |21 | | |Bikram yoga | | | |   |Weight has somewhat decreased |50. 70% |38 | |   |   |78. 70% |59 | |   |   |   |   | |9.Have your eating habits changed as a result of practicing |   |   |   | |Bikram yoga? | | | | |   |Eating habits have not changed at all |32. 00% |24 | |   |Eat somewhat less |49. 30% |37 | |   |   |81. 0% |61 | Figure 2 – Improvement Indicators The first theme noted was stress and anxiety decreased with over 80% of respondents reporting somewhat to much less anxious and stressed. [pic] Figure 3 – Stress & Anxiety Level Improvements The second theme noted was an improvement to physical fitness with over 90% reporting improved physical fitness and improvement to flexibility and balance. [pic]Figure 4 – Physical Fitness Improvements The third theme was a decrease in weight with 51% reporting a weight loss and 49% reporting that they ate somewhat less. [pic]Figure 5 – Weight Loss & Eating Improvements The final theme is an overall fe eling of improvement as indicated by responses to the last open-ended question. Participants reported a deep sense of physical and mental calmness after yoga sessions and feeling less stressed overall. A deeper understanding of oneself and awareness of strengths along with feelings of happiness was also reported. The last question in the survey was, â€Å"What is the best or worst thing that has happened to you as a result of your Bikram Yoga practice? † All seventy-five responses were copied into Word.The responses were analyzed for general tone and themes as recommended by Church & Waclawski (p. 198). The first category, â€Å"healthier† is related to responses indicating a general healthier body while â€Å"major health benefit† is strictly related to responses indicated a major medical improvement. These open ended responses include cures of insomnia, elimination of back pain, spine pain relief that surgery did not cure, complete healing of injuries, sciatic a healing, neck pain removal that a chiropractor could never heal and others that were beyond the simple idea of being healthier. Please refer to the Appendix for a list of all open ended responses). The break down of responses was as follows: [pic] Figure 6 – Open Ended Responses by Category Conclusions and recommendations Results from the literature review and survey responses suggest that using yoga as a solution for medical issues, weight loss and overall feelings of well being and as a medical intervention is worthy of further research. Based on the results presented from the survey the following is a summary of the conclusions reached: 1. Practicing Bikram yoga yields many medical benefits that provide visible improvements. 2.Literature reviews combined with the survey indicate that practicing Bikram yoga can reverse negative medical diagnosis in many areas including physical, mental and alleviate serious conditions such as heart disease risk factors. 3. Bikram yoga can be a non-invasive holistic approach to curing dis-ease. Based on the above, a series of recommendations are offered: 1. A psychological context of the impacts of practicing Bikram yoga should be conducted. Investigate any parallels of slower, regulated breathing combined with increased mindfulness and a gentle physical exercise and focus with a more consistent relaxed state of mind. 2.Conduct a study to see if values change after a year of Bikram practice. Shifts in values may lead to a more relaxed and accepting state of mind. 3. Develop a series of intervention programs using Bikram yoga for specific problems or symptoms. Plan of Action Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years to improve physical and emotional well-being. Empirical research on yoga has been going on for quite some time as revealed by the literature reviews. The literature reviews and the survey results point to yoga being a benefit on many levels to include physiological and physical. Due to these results t he plan of action is: 1. To develop a prescription plan for the San Antonio medical community that includes Bikram yoga practice. Development of protocols should be conducted with medical doctors and practitioners along with Bikram yoga studio owners and advanced practitioners of Bikram yoga. 2. ) Conduct a pilot on a select number of candidates identified from the medical community and execute the prescription plan. Conduct analysis on the pilot to validate prescription plan’s effectiveness. 3. ) Develop various protocols based on results from the pilot for analysis and prescriptions should be developed for those symptoms related to balance and lexibility, stress and anxiety, depression as well as the need for weight loss. The results of this study have practical implications worthy of further research. This study has implications that the benefits of using Bikram yoga as a mind and body based exercise program are evident, and future research is essential for a more in depth medical understanding and appreciation for this form of yoga. References Bikram Yoga and Bikram's amazing story. (n. d. ). http://www. bikram-yoga-noosa-australia. com/WhatisBikramsBeginnerYoga. htm. Retrieved October 28, 2011, from http://www. bikram-yoga-noosa-australia. om/WhatisBikramsBeginnerYoga. htm Choudhury, B. (2007). Bikram Yoga. New York, NY: Harper Collins. Church, Allan H. , & Waclawski, Janine. (1998). Designing and Using Organizational Surveys: A Seven-Step Process. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Studio Map View. (n. d. ). Bikram's Yoga College of India. Retrieved October 29, 2011. Dale, Kathleen. , & Fox, Marilyn L. , (2008). Leadership Style and Organizational Commitment: Mediating Effect of Role Stress. Journal of Management Issues. (pp. 1-18). Retrieved January 29, 2009 from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_hb6703/is_1_20/ai_n29422403 Field, T. 2011). Yoga clinical research review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice,  17(1), 8. doi:10. 1016/j. ctcp . 2010. 09. 007 Retrieved from http://www. ctcpjournal. com/article/S1744-3881(10)00079-4/fulltext Fiorito, Jack. Bozeman, Dennis P. , Young, Angela. & Meurs, James A. , (2007). Organizational Commitment, Human Resource Practices, and Organizational Characteristics. Journal of Managerial Issues. (pp. 1-14). Retrieved January 29, 2009 from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_hb6703/is_2_19/ai_n29358398/pg_1? tag=content;col1 Hewett, Zoe Louise, â€Å"An Examination of the Effectiveness of an 8-weekBikram Yoga Program on Mindfulness, Perceived Stress, and Physical Fitness† (2010). Boise State University Theses and Dissertations. Paper 112. http://scholarworks. boisestate. edu/td/112 Park, Yang-Kyu, Lee, Chul-In, Kabist, Rudiger. (2008, July 1). â€Å"Human Needs as Predictors for Organizational Commitment and Job Involvement. † Management Review. (pp. 1-18) Retrieved January 29, 2009 from http://www. allbusiness. com/labor-employment/worker-categories-women-workers/11 729925-1. html Yang, K. (2007). A Review of Yoga Programs for Four Leading Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases.Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 4(4), 4. doi:10. 1093/ecam/nem154 Retrieved from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2176145/ Appendix A Survey Questions & Response Options 1. Select your gender. 2. Select your age group. 3. Select number of months/years practicing. 4. Has your stress level changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? 5. Has your anxiety level changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? 6. Has your physical fitness changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? 7. Has your flexibility and balance changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? . Has your weight changed since you have been practicing Bikram yoga? 9. Have your eating habits changed as a result of practicing Bikram yoga? 10. What is the best or worst thing that has happened to you as a result of your Bikram Yoga practice? Response Options Gender options: Female and Male Age group options: 1. 20 & under 2. 21 – 29 3. 30 – 40 4. 41 – 50 5. 51 – 60 6. 60 & above Number of months/years practicing options: 1. 1 – 3 months 2. 4 – 9 months 3. 9 – 12 months 4. 1 – 3 years 5. 3 – 5 years 6. Greater than 5 years Stress level changes since practicing Bikram yoga: 1.Much less stressed 2. Somewhat less stressed 3. Neither more or less stressed 4. Somewhat more stressed 5. Much more stressed Changes to anxiety level since practicing Bikram yoga options: 1. Much less instances of anxiety 2. Somewhat less instances of anxiety 3. Neither more or less instances of anxiety 4. Somewhat more instances of anxiety 5. Much more instances of anxiety Changes to physical fitness since practicing Bikram yoga options: 1. Much less physically fit 2. Somewhat less physically fit 3. Neither more or less physically fit 4. Somewhat more physically fit 5. Much more physically fitChanges t o flexibility and balance since practicing Bikram yoga options: The following are options across rows: 1. Flexibility 2. Balance The following are options across columns: 1. Much better 2. Somewhat better 3. Neither better nor worse 4. Somewhat worse 5. Much more worse Changes to weight since practicing Bikram yoga options: 1. Weight has significantly increased 2. Weight has somewhat increased 3. Weight is not more or less since starting Bikram yoga 4. Weight has somewhat decreased 5. Weight has significantly decreased Changes to eating habits as a result of practicing Bikram yoga options: . Eat much more 2. Eat somewhat more 3. Eating habits have not changed at all 4. Eat somewhat less 5. Eat much less The final question, â€Å"What is the best or worst thing that has happened to you as a result of your Bikram Yoga practice? † has an open ended form box for a response. Additionally, questions five through nine have an optional 50 character form field for a comment. Responder may only select one in each question. All questions have required responses. Appendix B The Bikram Yoga Sequence & Asana Names [pic] Figure 7 – The Bikram Yoga Sequence Appendix C Photos [pic]Figure 8 – Bikram Choudhury, born on February 10, 1946 Students are in Pose 13: Savasana [pic] Figure 9 – Pose 16: Bhujangasana [pic] Figure 10 – Pose 17: Salabhasana Appendix D Screen shot of Facebook invite for the survey [pic] Appendix E Open-ended responses |10. What is the best or worst thing that has happened to you as a result of your Bikram Yoga practice? | |Category |Response | |Healthier |Worst thing is when I miss a class or am unable to attend for some other reasons/obligations. | |Best thing Well, to be completely honest, Bikram has been the abolute best thing that could've | | |ever happened to me. I was going down a really bad path, and i have to say i feel that Bikram | | |has truly saved me life. Of course, I have to thank my God for that. But anywa y, I hope this | | |helps. Best of luck! | |Healthier |New experience in total body workout, see that there is something better than traditional gym | | |rat, sweat like never before†¦ ll good stuff. | |Mental improvement |Getting out there and trying something new and loving it! It has given me the confidence to try | | |new experiences | |Mental improvement |I learned about how my body responds to stress. I am a medical student and on the weeks where we| | |have testing blocks I found that I am generally unhealthy (lack of sleep, eat little and make | | |poor choices with food, and I allow stress and fear to be main motivators).These are all things| | |I learned about myself through my yoga. My ability to focus and balance declines and I am | | |overall an unhappy person. Life will always bring time of intense stress; however, our bodies | | |deserve our best regardless of the situation. Bikram opened my eyes to this stress habit and I | | |am beginning to make healthier choi ces during moments of heavy stress. | |Mental improvement |Best thing is that I have a new passion in my life.I cannot imagine my life without my | | |practice. | |Happier |Happiness and Peace | |Weight loss |Although I have always been taught the importance of water, I have never embraced and felt the | | |need for it as much as I have since practicing Bikram. I think that is a reason for some | | |weightloss, of course in addition to the torture chamber! | |Healthier |Feeling great overall! |Major health benefit |Hope, that my life was not over because of debilitating pain in spine due to degenerative disk | | |disease, that is now mostly gone. Hope that even after cervical spine surgery, I can stay fit | | |and and continue to practice and improve my practice as long as I live. Joy, appreciation for | | |life and health every day with a consistent practice. | |Mental improvement |Improved attitude. | |Happier |Realize what is really important in life. |Healthier |Fewer injuries running. Toned body. More patient. Realization that pain is temporary and makes | | |me stronger. I can do anything for one minute. | |Healthier |Bikram has become a practice I look forward to all day. I know I can leave my stress at the door| | |and will feel amazing when I leave. Bikram has given me much more energy and is forcing me to | | |hydrate my body. Loving this new way of life. | |Mental improvement |I notice that I am more disciplined. |Major health benefit |I suffer from migraine headaches 3-4 times a week. So long as I practice Bikram Yoga at least 3 | | |times a week I am completely headache free. It helps lower my stress and let my mind release the| | |tension of work. | |Major health benefit |I have been able to successfully get off of both anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication. I| | |was on a slew of medication for about 4 years due to severe panic attacks and depression. |Weight loss |Besides the weight loss, it would have to be that I do focus more on my b reath and focusing on | | |how my body reacts to different situations. | |Happier |I feel so much better and energized after a session and I just have this glow that makes me so | | |much happier after a class! | |Healthier |The best thing is being able to focus on myself for 90 minutes and to push myself to new limits. | | |And, the teachers and students are exceptional.I have learned to love the heat too! | |Major health benefit |it has healed my neck better than any chiropractor has been able | |Happier |Best thing is the way I treat my students thanks to Yoga†¦ they deserve that†¦. :). | |Happier |Better peace of mind. Good Too much time away from family. Worst | |Mental improvement |I feel amazing in the hot room, which has increased my confidence outside the room.The worst | | |thing- I have developed an addiction 🙂 | |Major health benefit |My back is stronger overall, but I seem to frequently be working through some ache, pain, or | | |injury. Could just be my age†¦. | |Healthier |Has vastly improved my life. | |Major health benefit |Since starting 5 yrs ago, I have gone from 5'7†³, 167 lbs to 136 lbs! I no longer have sciatica. | | |Old sports injuries have healed.Flexibility has improved. Overall health has improved. I eat | | |way better than I ever have. I stopped drinking alcohol. I feel great and have more confidence | | |that I did before Bikram. | |Weight loss |best thing is that i have lost 15lbs†¦.. i LOVE my body now | |Mental improvement |Best thing. Met some wonderful people and my daughter and I have a common challenge | |Mental improvement |Best is more ability to clear my mind and just do it. |Mental improvement |I love the me time I get. I love the challenge of facing myself in the mirror for 90 mins. When | | |is the last time you watched your body move for 90 mins? It is empowering, amazing, and allows | | |me to love my body. My only regret is that I didn't find it sooner. | |Healthier |I've practice d yoga for a long time and bikram yoga has changed my yoga practice tremendously | |Healthier |The muscle toning in my legs and arms is very visible. |Mental improvement |Finished the 60 day challenge which was super gratifying. A nice goal to work towards and | | |achieve. | |Major health benefit |I began to practice Bikram yoga to rehabilitate my ankle. After 6 months my ankle was healed. I | | |am intrigued by Bikram yoga, as a biochemistry major you can imagine the amount of research I | | |have done on Bikram yoga. I would like to know what you find. [email  protected] om | |Bad reaction |I got CA MRSA – superbug staph infection! | |Major health benefit |Almost complete elimination of back pain that I have suffered for approximately two decades. | |Healthier |The best thing is that is a great stress reliever and awesome facial moisturizer! | |Mental improvement |Best- friends, connections with the Bikram family. Worst- must carve out time for Bikram, or | | |else†¦. I'm grumpy!!! | |Spiritual improvement |Through yoga, I started to reconnect with my spiritual nature. |Healthier |The best thing is that I feel hopeful that I can be healthier and more comfortable in my body. | |Major health benefit |My runs of A-fib have stopped. | |Healthier |Energy up, stress down! | |Major health benefit |improved range of motion in arthritic joints. better balance and focus. Too many benefits to | | |list! | |Major health benefit |I have insomnia. Meds are the only things that, prior to Bikram, helped me fall asleep.After | | |the 8:15pm Bikram class, I crash and am out for at least 8 hours. | |Mental improvement |Just an overall better outlook and feeling positive about daily occurrences | |Healthier |I feel amazing practicing bikram yoga. My body feels cleansed | |Mental improvement |I have become addicted†¦ but to a good thing. I feel better, am in great shape, and am a much | | |happier and patient person because of Bikram. |Mental improvement |I l ike who I am becoming | |Spiritual improvement |I'm addicted to Bikram Yoga. It has been a Permanant Part of my life. The best thing that has | | |happened to me is, My Meditation has elevated to a deeply spiritual level&I crave this Yoga. I | | |can't miss a class. | |Mental improvement |My self confidence is improving. |Mental improvement |I like to tell people â€Å"I got me back†, bikram Yoga was introduced to me at a time when I pulled | | |myself out of a controlling & very unhealthy relationship. My sense of independence & security | | |was wiped out. As a result I stressed over every little thing because I was made to believe I | | |couldn't do anything without â€Å"him†. Bikram Yoga is a blessing because slowly I've been able to | | |let go of fear, stress, misery & depression.In short†¦ I found my smile! Thanks to BYSA! | |Healthier |The BEST thing that happens from practicing Bikram Yoga is how much more AMAZING you feel and | | |enjoy life even better ! | |Weight loss |Weightloss | |Healthier |It has contributed to improved attention to multiple aspects of fitness with overall gains | | |resulting. | |Healthier |Keeps me in great shape!! |Major health benefit |I got off of blood pressure medication after 3 months of practice. | |Mental improvement |Peace in mind, strength, balance, focus. | |Mental improvement |Best thing that happened is that I learned more self control. | |Weight loss |when I stop, I tend to gain weight and stress. | |Healthier |I flinally found my type of exersice since I stopped dancing ballet at 20 years, I? m 37 now | |Healthier |The best thing is that overall I feel better and stronger. |Mental improvement |I pay a lot more attention to what my body is telling me in all situations. | |Major health benefit |I am able to bend my knee better than in months prior. Also, the yoga has forced me to drink | | |more water throughout the day. | |Mental improvement |my self image and confidence has increased so much. this has spread to other areas of my life | | |and made so many things improve. i'm amazed daily at the positive effects of this yoga. | |Healthier |I am more physically confident. |Major health benefit |Everything changes!!!! My back pain has gone away, it provides me discipline when spending $, it| | |allows me to quiet the mind & sleep better, my joints start yelling at me when I don't go, my | | |core stands straighter, my shoulders are more defined, I am able to open my back & shoulders | | |more than ever before, it took away soreness after I ran a 1/2 marathon last year plus it was | | |the only way I trained for it, it keeps away sickness such as colds†¦ s that enough reasons? It| | |keeps my life happy & balanced. | |Mental improvement |Feel younger | |Mental improvement |I've noticed myself becoming more confident in poses creating better posture. I can feel a major| | |difference in how my posture has strengthened. | |Mental improvement |It makes me feel strong.When I get through a class I feel like I did something good for myself | | |which in turn allows me to be better for others. | |Happier |I feel healthier and happier than ever when I maintain a regular practice! | |Healthier |Im more flexible and I fell awesome. | |Healthier |Best-Not worrying about swimsuit season Worst-I sweat really easily.Even my shins sweat. | |Happier |I found happiness | |Happier |Feel better | |Mental improvement |Feel less stressed |

Photography The History and Everyday Use Essay - 1893 Words

â€Å"Art is not to be found by touring to Egypt, China, or Peru; if you cannot find it at your own door, you will never find it.† - Ralph Waldo Emerson . Although many might think that it is a waste of time and money, photography is a great hobby that people should try. However, even if someone has different opinions, they must consider that photography is steadily on its way to becoming a worldwide everyday use, and is already part of the American culture. Who has contributed to the making of the modern camera in earlier times? In ancient times, at approximately 5th century B.C., the beginning of the camera was the use of a camera obscura, Greek meaning â€Å"Dark room.† A camera obscura is a dark room that has a small hole in a wall or other†¦show more content†¦However, in 1727, a professor by the name of J. Schulze made the first known photosensitive compound . J. Schulze mixed chalk, nitric acid, and silver in a flask, and then noticed how the mixture dar kened on the side exposed to the most light, accidentally creating the first photographic compound. Later, in 1800, Thomas Wedgewood made what he called â€Å"sun pictures† by placing objects on a piece of leather treated with silver nitrate, which were the first photographs, although they faded and deteriorated if exposed to much light. In 1816, Nicà ©phore Nià ©pce combined the photosensitive paper with the camera obscura, which after multiple tries and multiple years, created a permanent image on the paper. In 1834, Henry Fox Talbot created a permanent image using paper soaked in silver chloride and fixed with a salt solution, which was an image negative. Talbot could make a positive image by contact printing the image onto another sheet of paper . There were many advancements to the photosensitive paper, as it started to be explored by more and more scientists and other people. Who has contributed to the modern camera from the 1850’s to the present day? In more r ecent times, the ideas that were built together to become a camera were compounded more rapidly. In 1851, Frederick Scott Archer, who was a sculptor from London, improvedShow MoreRelatedHistory of Photography Essay822 Words   |  4 PagesThe History of, and Impact of, Photography on our World Photography is a process frequently used in areas of media, art, and science as well as practical everyday use. It is used to inform society of different issues, used to document a wide range of things and is used to capture everyday memories for the years to come. It is used everywhere in todays society and through technology has advanced tremendously since its beginnings. The earliest cameras were simple devices that did not captureRead MoreThe Effect Of Photography On My Leisure Time927 Words   |  4 Pagescalled a camera. Every day, I use this device in a pastime known as photography. Photography is a hobby I enjoy in my leisure time because it allows me to express my artistic creativity, it utilizes technology, and it is timeless. Photography is a great pastime because it allows me to express my artistic creativity. Many see photography as an easy way to take a picture with a camera. However, it is actually one of the most complex forms of art. In general, photography is using a device to freeze timeRead MoreRise of Photography in the World of Art Essay1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe rise of photography began in the early 1830’s in France, and wasn’t very popular as most artists preferred a paintbrush and canvas to a new contraption that wasn’t popular and wasn’t manufactured locally or globally yet and that was fairly expensive to try to produce, and since this time it has been debated if photography deserves its place in the art world. Through the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s it grew in popularity and throughout time photography went from being badly received to a newRead MoreGarry Winogrand: The Godfather of Street Photography Essay1308 Words   |  6 Pagesc onsideration of photography as art. This change in the way photography was approached was in large part to photographers such as Garry Winogrand, who turned photography into an art. Winogrand symbolized a new generation of photographers on the rise in the mid-1960s known as â€Å"street photographers.† While each photo is of simple, everyday life, they each contain an individual message and meaning much deeper than what was seen through the lens. His impact is still being felt in photography today and hasRead MoreEssay about History of Photography1254 Words   |  6 PagesSince its inception, photography has been used to capture moments in time all around the world. This wonderful technology has existed since ancient times, and has only improved in recent history, changing society in the process. While we think of photography as a fairly modern invention, that is simply not true. In fact, there are documents on the underlying principle behind photography dating back to as early as the Fifth Century, B.C. The first recorded instance of a photographic image was foundRead MoreJulia Margaret Cameron Essay1322 Words   |  6 Pagesmothers and such the late 1850s presented a change in pace for one woman in specific. Photography was discovered in 1826 and soon after the phenomenon of photography was being experimented with and in turn brought new and different ways of photo taking not only as documenting real time, but also conceptualizing a scene in which an image would be taken. Julia Margaret Cameron will forever be recorded in the history books as one of the first female photographers to make significant contributions to aRead MoreGeorge Eastman and the Kodak Camera Essay1195 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Eastman’s improvements had the effect of moving photography from t he professional’s studio, where it had evolved from the realm of portraiture and art, to the world of the general consumer,†(Carlisle 247). Photography was a difficult hobby or profession to have in the mid- 1800s. It was difficult because it needed essential pieces of equipment in order to even come out with a decent picture. Cameras were normally five by eight inches, and all the equipment that was needed was a hassle to carry (BucklandRead Moreart assignment Essay examples952 Words   |  4 Pagesof artists. Photography Light bulbs Use of metal in construction There have been many inventions since the 19th century that has been incorporated in the artistic realm. Photography has created a new genre of art available to people. This invention allows people to see an image as it was meant to be which may have been something that could only be seen in the moment, like a fox and kits playing in the forest. Lights have affected almost every part of the average person’s everyday life and similarlyRead MoreThe History Of Photography : The Great Mayan City Of Tikal988 Words   |  4 PagesTHE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY The world has been made unforgettable with the creation of photography. As mankind rapidly evolved recording events became harder. Early history is only able to be pictured with using our imagination. Often times historians often clash about what the world looked like. Ancient civilizations from the Mayans and Aztecs have never been seen while they were in their pristine condition. The world is left with written descriptions and ruins not only of the cities themselvesRead MoreThe Teaching Of Things Like Photography1316 Words   |  6 Pagesteaching of things like photography provides an opportunity to prove wrong the assumption that everyone has a universal sexuality, and that sexuality is much more broad. Ashburn writes that providing a space for these other sexualities such as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender is only possible when we tear down the idea that everyone is heterosexual. The article is based on her extensive years lecturing in different art schools, but focuses on the teaching of photography in the classroom. She

Visit an Observatory, See the Stars, Planets, and Galaxies

Observatories are places where astronomers do their work. Modern facilities are filled with telescopes and instruments that capture the light from distant objects. These places are scattered around the planet, and people have been building them for thousands of years. Some observatories are not even on Earth, but instead orbit or planet or the Sun in a quest for more information about the sky. However, not every such observatory has a telescope. Older ones from prehistory are simply markers that help observers capture a view of a sky objects as it rises or sets. Early Sky-gazing Places Before the advent of telescopes, astronomers did their observing naked eye from wherever they could find a dark-sky site. In most cases, mountaintops did just fine, lifting them up above the surrounding landscapes and cities. Observatories date back to ancient times when people used rocks or sticks placed  in the ground to align with the rising and setting points of the Sun and important stars. Good examples of these early ones are the Big Horn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming, the Cahokia Mounds in Illinois, and Stonehenge  in England. Later on, people built temples to the Sun, Venus, and other objects. We can see the remains of many of these buildings in Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Pyramids in Egypt, and the remains of building on Machu Picchu in Peru. Each of these sites preserved a view of the heavens as a calendar. Essentially, they let their builders use the sky to determine the change of seasons and other important dates. Stonehenge in the UK was built as a way to observe alignments of sun and moon rises and sets. Orion Lawlor, Wikimedia Commons After the telescope was invented in the early 1600s, it wasnt long before people were building large ones and mounting them in buildings to protect them from the elements and support their enormous weights. Over the centuries, scientists learned to make better telescopes, outfit them with cameras and other instruments, and the serious study of the stars and planets and galaxies moved forward. Each leap in technology reaped an immediate reward: a better view of objects in the sky for astronomers to study. Galileo offering his telescope to three young women seated on a throne. Painting by unknown artist. Library of Congress. Modern Observatories Fast-forward to todays professional research facilities and we find advanced technology, Internet connectivities, and other equipment pushing huge amounts of data out to astronomers. Observatories exist for nearly every wavelength of light in the electromagnetic spectrum: from gamma rays to microwaves and beyond. Visible-light and infrared-sensitive observatories exist on high peaks throughout the world. Radio telescope dishes dot the landscapes, seeking out emissions from active galaxies, exploding stars, and more. Gamma-ray, x-ray, and ultraviolet observatories, as well as a few infrared-sensitive ones, orbit in space, where they can gather their data free of Earths heat and atmosphere as well as humanitys tendency to spread radio signals out in all directions. A setting full moon provides a backdrop for the Very Large Telescope complex in Paranal, Chile. This is one of several high-altitude observatories in South America alone. ESO   There are a great many famous observing facilities out there, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the infrared-sensitive  Spitzer Space Telescope, the planet-finding  Kepler Telescope, a gamma-ray explorer or two, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and a number of solar observatories all in space. If we count the probes to the planets, plus a telescope and some instruments on the International Space Station, space is bristling with our eyes and ears on the cosmos. A sample of telescopes (operating as of February 2013) at wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum. Several of these observatories observe more than one band of the EM spectrum. NASA The best known Earth-based observatories include the Gemini and Subaru telescopes on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, which sit on the mountain along with the twin Keck telescopes and a slew of radio and infrared facilities.  The southern hemisphere boasts the observatories of the European Southern Observatory collective, the Atacama Large-Millimeter Array radio telescopes, a collection of visible-light and radio observatories in Australia (including the telescopes at Siding Spring and Narrabri), plus telescopes in South Africa and on Antarctica. In the United States, the best-known observatories are on Kitt Peak in Arizona, the Lick, Palomar, and Mt. Wilson observatories in Southern California, and the Yerkes in Illinois. In Europe, observatories exist in France, Germany, England, and Ireland. Russia and China also have a number of institutions, as well as India and parts of the Middle East. There are too many to list here, but the sheer number testifies to the worldwide interest in astronomy . Want to Visit an Observatory? So, can regular people visit an observatory? Many facilities offer tours and some give peeks through a telescope on public nights. Among the best-known public facilities is Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, where visitors can look at the Sun during the day and look through a professional scope at night. Kitt Peak National Observatory offers public nights through much of the year, as does the Foothill Observatory in Los Altos Hills, California, Palomar Observatory (during the summer months), the University of Colorados Sommers-Bausch facility, a select number of the telescopes on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and many others. There is a complete list here.   Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, CA, is open to the public and provides stargazing opportunities, exhibits, and a planetarium for visitors to learn about the universe. Matthew Field,  via Creative Commons Attribution-Share-alike 3.0 license. Not only can visitors get a chance to see some fascinating objects through a telescope at these places, they get a full behind-the-scenes look at how a modern observatory works. Its well worth the time and effort, and makes a wonderful family activity!