For the past 15 years, April has been designated Stress Awareness Month. During this month, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country unite to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.

Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organization, Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society.

So, we intend to do our part in this movement by featuring songs that will help you to RELAX.

But, you can always check out A CALM PLACE on Acoustic Fuel Radio streaming 24/7. It's music that is "good for you" and will definitely help during TAX TIME!

In recognition of Stress Awareness Month, the team at Acoustic Fuel has collected some very important information on how stress can effect our health.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;

* 40% of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful;

* 25% view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives;

* Three fourths of employees believe that workers have more on-the-job stress than a
generation ago;

* 29% of workers felt quite a bit or extremely stressed at work;

* 26 percent of workers said they were "often or very often burned out or stressed by their
work";

* Job stress is more strongly associated with health complaints than financial or family
problems;

* 80% of workers feel stress on the job, nearly half say they need help in learning how to
manage stress and 42% say their coworkers need such help;

* 14% of respondents had felt like striking a coworker in the past year, but didn't;

* 25% have felt like screaming or shouting because of job stress, 10% are concerned about
an individual at work they fear could become violent;

* 9% are aware of an assault or violent act in their workplace and 18% had experienced
some sort of threat or verbal intimidation in the past year;

* 65% of workers said that workplace stress had caused difficulties and more than 10
percent described these as having major effects;

* 10% said they work in an atmosphere where physical violence has occurred because of job
stress and in this group, 42% report that yelling and other verbal abuse is common;

* 29% had yelled at co-workers because of workplace stress, 14% said they work where
machinery or equipment has been damaged because of workplace rage and 2% admitted
that they had actually personally struck someone;

* 19% or almost one in five respondents had quit a previous position because of job stress
and nearly one in four have been driven to tears because of workplace stress;

* 62% routinely find that they end the day with work-related neck pain, 44% reported
stressed-out eyes, 38% complained of hurting hands and 34% reported difficulty in sleeping
because they were too stressed-out;

* 12% had called in sick because of job stress;

* Over half said they often spend 12-hour days on work related duties and an equal number
frequently skip lunch because of the stress of job demands.

Additionally, we have also put together some calm and relaxing songs to help you deal with your job stress. So, this week we recommend Phillip Martin's "Good Day at Work" for your listening pleasure. This easy listening melodic groove will definitely take you to A Calm Place.


"Good Day at Work"
Philip Martin
Destination: A Calm Place

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"Take Off"
Yoko K.
Destination: A Calm Place

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About the Artist:
Born in Nagano, Japan, Yoko began the classical study of piano at the age of three. Having moved to more than ten places across Japan, Yoko studied the clarinet, saxophone, drums, and voice, and eventually started to sing in jazz venues and clubs at the age of sixteen. After moving to the United States on her own, Yoko has collaborated with producers worldwide such as T-Kolai in Sudan/US (Asahra Music), Light 4 Lines in Japan (KhaiMar Music), Holmes Ives in US (Ova Records), and Dalminjo in Norway (Deeplay Music), and performed in venues such as Club Five, Bar Nun, and DC9, and several art galleries.

In February 2005, Yoko faced the sudden loss of an important person in her life. It was this shock, ironically, which seems to have unlocked her innate potential as a composer and a producer. Ever since, she continues to write music everyday. Nicolas Laget, the founder of Asahra Music, once described Yoko as a "healer." "The definition of a healer," Nicolas says, "is such that ¡V only through healing others, she is able to heal herself."

Yoko is also keen on utilizing her music as a way of raising awareness of cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. Her ongoing projects include the community art project "Amahoro.net" which features the narrative of 1994 Rwanda Genocide, and collaboration with Gigi McKendric "Call for Conscience" for the crisis in Darfur. Yoko currently lives in Washington DC, USA.

Click on the AF Radio to hear more inspirational audio located on the top right of our site

"Take Off"
Yoko K.
Destination: A Calm Place

Press play to listen.

In recognition of Stress Awareness Month, the team at Acoustic Fuel has collected some very important tips for stressed-out taxpayers.

* Avoid last minute stress by filing early. I know it's a little late for this one, but I had to include it!

* If you have "formaphobia" like I do, invest in a good tax software program. It makes it a lot easier.

* Breaking the job into smaller tasks has really helped us avoid last minute stress.

* If you really don't know what you are doing or have any questions or need forms, check out www.irs.gov for help.

* Listen to some relaxing music and "Take Off" to A Calm Place with this ambient groove by Yoko K. - the perfect accompaniment for getting through this stressful process.

Click on the AF Radio to hear more inspirational audio located on the top right of our site

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- Amy R.

A couple of months ago I received a package in the mail from an independent label from back east. There were two CD's from saxophonist, Phillip Martin. I immediately popped one in and was blown away by what I heard. I was actually a little crabby that day, and his SaxAppeal and Pride and Joy was just what I needed to feel better. His music definitely took me to A Calm Place.

I was so impressed, I decided to get in touch with him. Here is a part of our conversation:

We recently featured "Good Day at Work" on our AF Daily Refill Newsletter. What is the story behind that song?
I wanted to write a song that depicted a typical day in the my life. Student doctor(dentist) by day, and at night I am a full fledged musician at night. Pulling this task off everyday is so crazy that I had to write a song about it.

Tell me about your background in music.
I started to play the piano at the age of 7. Eventually picked up the sax in 5th grade at the age of nine. I actually quit the sax for a year in the 6th grade. My twin brother, Chris, played my sax, but he quit in 7th grade. I soon took the sax back and haven't put it down since.

How long have you been playing?
To this date 18 years.

What are some of your earliest memories of music?
My earliest memory of music was listening to this really cool song at one of my parents' friend's house and really liking what I heard. It actually made me become interested in playing saxophone. Turns out that song was Songbird by Kenny G!

Who are some of your inspirations?
Some of my inspirations are my parents because they show my everyday that hard work and dedication really pays off in the long run. They started from nothing growing up very poor on the island of Jamaica and now they are very well off living in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. As far as my music goes, my inspiration has come from Grover Washington Jr, Kenny Garrett, Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz, and Everette Harp.

Explain the power of music.
The power of music is very hard to describe for me. Why a combination of sounds can bring out such emotion in people, I have no idea. Music is indeed powerful and life changing! Listening to it moves me also, but not as much as playing it. When I play music I leave the room. I may be there physically, but mentally I am definitely not!

Describe the type of music you do.
The kind of music that I do would be classified as smoothjazz/r&b. I would describe my particular sound as mature and refined.

Explain the type of effect you have on your listeners at a gig.
At my gigs the kind of effect that I have on my listeners is that most of the time they stop what they are doing and listen. After the show, they descibe my playing as soulful and breathtaking. It makes me happy when I move people enough that they have to tell me. This is another reason why I think music is so special and so powerful. I don't know anything else that could make someone that you have never seen in your life want to talk to you, or give you a hug, or kiss. Music moves people and that is what I do at my shows is move you.

I can dig it! So, what would you say is your mission as a musician?
My mission as a musician is to bring happiness and joy to everyone that hears my music and to help other causes by using my gift of music.

Ok. Last question. What's next for Phillip Martin?
What is next for me is to be on a stage near you. I am about to release my sophomore album Pride and Joy. I am hoping that this project will bring my music to places that I would have never dreamed of. I hope to see all of you at a show in your city!

To find out more about Phillip Martin, you can visit him on the web at www.phillipmartin.net.

To listen to "Good Day at Work", click here.

This life is fast paced. It seems as though we spend so much time getting it done now we often pass up opportunities to stop, unwind, and take in what's around us.

So if you are in that busy bee mode let us help you to stop and smell the roses for just a few moments with "Slowing the Ride" by Angel Foss. You will be surprised how refreshing, relaxing, and beautiful it can be.

"Slowing the Ride"
Angel Foss

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Sometimes in life we get unfocused and need others to give us a little shake and get us back on track. But there are other times when we are able to look deep with in ourselves and point ourselves in the right direction. So today we are dedicating "I Fly" by Entheos for those moments of self- realization. Enjoy....

Title: I Fly
Artist: Entheos

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We all tend to complain about what we don't have or how life is not fair to us from time to time. When things don't go exactly as planned we get all upset and start venting. But when we step back and look we can see that we have plenty. And things are already going well for us, we just want more. So for those of you who need a reminder of how fortunate you are listen to "Blind for a Day" by the Burning Bush it will help you to be thankful for the things you already have.

Title: Blind for a Day
Artist: Burning Bush

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Yesterday we had you bursting with energy and today we want to help you keep your fire lit with another up tempo song by Roger Scannura and Ritmo Flamenco titled Burnin' Up. So push play, fill up, and get the job done. And remember you can always hear more stimulating audio by checking out our AF Radio just click here.

Title: Burin' Up
Artist: Roger Scannura & Ritmo Flamenco

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Feel that spiritual connection.

Title: Feelin
Artist: Radio La Chusma

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