Endorphins can be your own private "narcotic!" They can affect us like codeine or morphine, but without the addiction. Understanding this can then help you increase a sense of euphoria in your life. Endorphins are neurotransmitters, chemicals that pass along signals from one neuron to the next.  They originate in various parts of your body and interact mainly with receptors in cells found in regions of the brain responsible for blocking pain and controlling emotion. While endorphins block pain, they're also responsible for our feelings of pleasure, and these feelings of pleasure exist to let us know when we've had [...]

Only a little more than an hour's drive from Los Angeles is a valley that features beautiful scenery, ubiquitous citrus groves, world-famous spas, hiking and biking trails, and a charming little historic town full of restaurants, shops and galleries. It's Ojai - and it's the perfect spot for a quick getaway from the Los Angeles area. Start your day by renting a bike for 2 hours (about $25) at The Mob Shop in downtown Ojai. They'll give you an easy-to-follow map of a scenic, 10-mile, paved bike path loop that meanders around the edge of town and goes up a little into [...]