Holiday Travel

December 9th, 2009

Perhaps that’s part of the thrill of it. It takes me some time to really decompress & RELAX HARDER. Seriously, I am a busy bee here in town- I always got something moving & shaking, whether it’s literally moving with salsa dancing or school, my toes are always dabbled in something. This is one main reason I take this time. Slowing down ALWAYS proves beneficial for me. I come out on the other size inspired in a fresh way, with new ideas & motivation. I am rested & grounded & often times quite peaceful. To get away from the busy city life, and connect with nature, is what really does it. Once I quit “doing things” I let nature take her effect. It doesn’t take much. The silence witnessing her is deafening, wherever I am. I really get to practice listening. Travel is like a deep exhale.  And no one can live just by breathing in. The practice of slowing down is an art, something that I will practice for a long time coming. I am grateful to have this time to relax harder in the coming weeks. I look forward to a fresh new year. Happy Holidays everyone.

Thriving Holidays

December 2nd, 2009
Thriving Holidays
Five Tips for the Natural Traveler
Planning a vacation or business trip? Consider packing a small kit of natural remedies before you go. Unfamiliar surroundings, unusual foods, and jet lag can make you vulnerable to viruses, stress, and gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Colorado Naturopathic Physician Michael Sutton suggests the following items:

1. Grapefruit Seed Extract This extract fights and prevents viruses and helps reduce symptoms of diarrhea and GI upset. It can even be used to decontaminate water (4-5 drops extract per quart of water). A few days before you leave, mix 4-5 drops with juice or water and drink it before bedtime, and continue for the duration of your trip. If you do catch a cold or flu, you can drink as much as 8-10 drops, 3-4 times a day.

2. Airborne Available in natural products stores, Airborne is an effervescent tablet containing herbs, antioxidants, vitamin C, and amino acids. It helps prevent and fight colds, as well as motion sickness, when traveling.

3. Melatonin To ease jet lag, Sutton suggests leaving your watch set for the time zone from which you’re departing. When your watch shows your normal bedtime, take 3-6mg of melatonin, then go to sleep to regulate yourself quickly and easily to the new time zone.

4. Bach Flower Rescue Remedy To calm nerves and reduce anxiety, place a few drops of this remedy under your tongue when you’re feeling anxious, or add 5-6 drops to your water bottle and drink throughout the day.

5. Water H2O is essential to healthy travel. Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol, as dehydration is a major cause of travel-related illness.

By packing a few natural remedies and paying attention to your body’s needs, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your trip.

Joyful Holidays

November 11th, 2009
With Grandma & the family
My grandma lives in this big house, the same house she’s lived in since my mama was a girl, with an incredible basement filled with all sorts of museum-like antiques!I dig around in there,  and we stay up late chatting in each others rooms, and we eat breakfast & drink coffee in our pajamas. There’s only a few times that men-spouses are around, like my Papa Ben and my Uncle Mike- and while they are FABULOUS, we lavish in our generational- gal- slumber party! Often times, I get to hear cool stories Nana will tell about her time in the Navy, her favorite heroines (Amelia Earhart). We also definitely make sure we play Scattegories and poker. And most of all, we all laugh A LOT. We have a blast! It is this tradition that is most memorable and valuable to me- just that relaxing- down time with the family. I feel SO grateful to have the family I have. It makes all the difference in the world! It’s awesome to look forward to quality time with the family despite the full life I lead. This season, I encourage us all to take more quality moments with the family- whatever your family looks like- whether it’s the one you were born into or the one you’ve chosen. It has made a huge difference in the quality of my life and definitely makes for joyful holidays.  Happy Turkey day everyone!

Benefits of Regular Massage

November 4th, 2009
The positive effects of regular massage can have far-reaching effects in many areas of your life.


At Home Massage therapy will also help families under stress create healthier households with clear-thinking and more relaxed moms and dads. Children are very sensitive and often pick up on tension in a household, parents who are taking care of themselves are more likely to be better caregivers and provide a sense of security to their kids. This goes for caregivers of aging parents and other family members.

At Work The health benefits of massage can help forestall illnesses and lost work time, especially when you may be asked to produce more with fewer resources. Decision-making skills will be better and your performance is likely to be improved with a clear focus and more energy.

A hint for the boss: Research shows employees exhibit less stress and improved performance when given twice-weekly, 15-minute massages in the office!

For Health Conditions Those with already existing health conditions can continue to reap benefits in the following ways. And proactively caring for health through massage may help reduce costly doctor visits and use of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Research shows:

- Massage can reduce sports-related soreness and improve circulation–good to know when you may be exercising more to reduce stress.

- Deep-tissue massage is effective in treating back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia patients receiving massage also have less pain, depression, anxiety, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep problems.

- Massage reduces symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

- Stroke patients show less anxiety and lower blood pressure with massage therapy.

- Massage is beneficial in reducing symptoms associated with arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, and premenstrual syndrome.

-Massage therapy is effective is reducing postsurgical pain.

- Oncology patients show less pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety and depression following massage therapy.

- Alzheimer’s patients exhibit reduced pacing, irritability and restlessness after neck and shoulder massage.

- Labor pain. Massage during labor appears to reduce stress and anxiety, relax muscles and help block pain. Some medical professionals believe massage also reduces tearing, shortens labor, reduces the need for medication and shortens hospital stays.

- Preterm babies receiving massage therapy gain more weight and have shorter hospital stays than infants not receiving massage.

There is now a body of research to support the benefits listed above. But there’s no greater testimonial than the person who is a regular receiver of massage. The first-hand experience of bodywork clients largely echo the same sentiment: bodywork enhances quality of life, and the return on your investment is great.

While bodywork feels like a luxurious mini-vacation, and you should by all means enjoy it, there is an actual physical need for massage. Maintaining a regular massage schedule will help you operate at your peak level–whether it be at work, at home, or at play. Invest in yourself, and book a massage today.

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Natural Exploration

October 28th, 2009

This past weekend, my mom and I weeded the entrance walkway and put new mulch down to keep those weeds from growing back. It was totally manual labor. I had the hoe and the shovel and was turning the pre-existing mulch and soil, then pulling out the enormous amounts of Burmunda grass! I gotta tell ya’, after we put that fresh mulch down and stepped backed to view our work completed, it was awesome to see the difference a little freshening up can do. The garden entrance looks so much more inviting and welcoming now!
This experience reminded me of how a little freshening up, even just a bit, can go a long way.  Over the years, I’ve freshened up bit by bit. I’ve tried on, discarded and added activities, routines and expressions. Each and every one, regardless of how long they lasted,  added something to my life and has shown me who I am. When I first started dancing again, I learned so much about boundaries, growing a garden, I get to learn so much about patience, going back to school is teaching me about discipline and diligence and through my massage business, I’m learning so much about creation. Each and every one of these expressions will continue to reveal something new to me about myself and will continue to contribute to who I am. This life is nothing more than a big ol’ learning experience! I can look around and see a lesson in everything. So..why don’t you try something new on today, go a different route today and experience something different-just watch what is revealed.

Green Thumb

October 6th, 2009

My ma and I just put in our winter veggies over the past weekend between the rain spells. We planted broccoli, cauliflower, greens, beats, brussel sprouts, carrots and peas- so many delicious veggies! Last year, my favorite vegetable was our carrot crop. We weren’t sure if the seeds were still good, so it was quite a pleasant surprise when we got a plethora of colored-carrot-goodness!

This garden has become a little project of my familys’ that we  join forces to care for. I must admit, it’s been a unique and wonderful experience to grow veggies, seed to plant, with all our bare hands. It’s brought my family and I connected on a new level- we have conversations about sustainability and gardens, and what it really means for us to “go green and organic”. And while going green is totally a new fad these days, I’ve had the opportunity to look below the fashion of it all into the heart of it.  Organic gardening has been inspiring me.

It’s been exciting and inspiring to see where our food comes from, to see how much money it can save on groceries and, best of all, to experience the organic taste difference! Gardening has also inspired me to teach others how- to garden- I’m involved with the Sustainable Food Center as a Garden Mentor- I’ve assisted Covington Middle School, Brown Elementary and Perez Elementary in creating vegetable gardens at their schools! Gardening is evolving into a multi- level learning experience for these youngsters and young at heart.(me)

This is also why I’m in support of Good Seed Organics, our Community Connection of the month. They are just as passionate about organic food, healthy eating and living and the el- natural process of it all.

Coolest Flight Attendant

September 22nd, 2009

A Sassy Connection

September 20th, 2009

This month, Plum Blossom Wellness is our sassy community connection!

Plum Blossom offers a better way. A simpler way. A way to purify, regenerate, heal and thrive through a unique and exceptional synergy, born of the purest, highest-quality products and dedicated holistic practitioners-all in one place, with one goal-to help you detoxify your body and your environment, attain physical and mental well-being, and maintain vibrant health.
We have multiple holistic services under one roof- massage, Rolfing, acupuncture, estheticians. The very finest products, tested for purity and efficacy- Dr. Haushka, soy candles, Rainforest herbs and more. Our clients love shopping with us because they know they can’t go wrong. Explore the Plum Blossom Wellness difference.

Plum Blossoms’ Mission

Plum Blossom Wellness exists to guide our customers in their quest for vibrant health-however each defines it-by empowering them through knowledge and convenient access to a special, synergistic environment that combines the purest, highest-quality products and the finest services available.

Learn more at Plum Blossom Wellness.com.

Glow

September 9th, 2009

I started trying vitamins and different minerals. I started drinking aloe vera juice and chlorophyll. I started using different products on my skin. I was totally taking it all in. My body was a science lab testing the question, ” How good/ different / healthier can this product make me feel?” It has been a unveiling ride ever sine. And I must admit, that these years of experimenting have really paid of- I feel healthier and stronger than ever, I’m very in tune with my bodies “do’s and dont’s”, and most importantly, I feel excited to create each day, filled with energy and charisma.

I am also aware, however, of certain stigmas surrounding the alternative wellness world, and to those stigmas- I say bah humbug. I have reaped the benefits of a variety of non-FDA approved supplements and various bodywork and all sorts of organic product. There is something very valuable in this world. I also see more and more people, clients, friends turning to the alternative health world because the western world of medicine has failed them in some way. This, of course, is a huge disappointment and, luckily, alternative modalities have made a significant difference in these individuals’ lives.

I am also aware that there is not a generalized wellness plan that will work for everyone. It is VERY clear to me that what works for one may not have the same effect on another. This brings me to my next point, respecting everyone’s own personal interests is a huge piece of my massage practice. While I can offer suggestion to individuals in this alternative world, the most important thing in my opinion, is empowering each individual to be at choice with their health decision- what I mean is, encouraging people to explore their options and then, supporting them in making the choice that suits them best- alternative or not.

I digress… so in line with our Community Connection- Plum Blossom Wellness- an alternative health care community, I am speaking to the value of trying something different if what wellness tools you’re utilizing aren’t working. You deserve to explore your options and see the possible value and glow the alternative world has to offer your mind, body and spirit!

be sure to check our Plum Blossom Wellness to jump start your transition!

U-Tube: Did You Know?

August 26th, 2009

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