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6
May 2013
Aromatherapy for Allergies
posted in: Aromatherapy, Body & Spirit, Lifecoaching, Mind Body & Spirit
by Lifeologist Wilna Renee
AAAAACHOOOO… It seems to me that allergy season this year has been one big sneeze after another! And I am done with dry mouth and sedation caused by allergy medication! So I did what any aromatherapist would do, I searched for an essential oil protocol that would eliminate my itchy watery eyes, reduce my fits of sneezing and alleviate my sinus headache. What I found to meet my needs intrigued me. Using lemon, lavender, and peppermint essential oils I have been able to stop taking allergy medication and am able to comfortably enjoy this beautiful time of year in the desert!
Using Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils, I put 3-5 drops of each oil, peppermint, lavender, and lemon, into a shot glass with about an ounce of water and down it two to three times a day. Then throughout the day, as needed, I will rub a couple of drops of the essential oils diluted in a carrier oil between my hands, then cup my hands to inhale, followed by rubbing the oil on the back of my neck. Not all essential oils are created equal, and not all essential oils can be taken internally, so it is imperative if you are going to try this allergy relief protocol I have discovered, that you use only Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils. Click here if you want to order some Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oils. If you are taking any medication or have any medical conditions, speak to your physician before trying this allergy relief protocol.
Together in Wellness,
23
Apr 2013
Set Me Free
posted in: Mind Body & Spirit
By Lifeologist Christopher Johnson
‘Along with our hidden gifts, we may also encounter things we aren’t proud of. In preparing to meet our shadow, we must be willing to feel shame as well as a great deal of self-compassion. So how do you uncover your shadow?’
~ Ann Elizabeth Grace ~
My dreams brought me to you again. You showed up right when I thought I had lost you for good. My heart was exposed and you snuck in to play. You enjoy twisting my heart until there is nothing left for me. Holding my breath to see what you will do next. My decisions are wrapped around you, like my life and every thought in my mind.
My smile drives you crazy, because how can I be happy with out you?
The reality is that I have lived many years before you, and I will live many years after you.
I am done with Games. My life has been a game dangling in front of me waiting for me to realize how great I am. You stand in front of me with that Dark smirk on your face. Piercing me with your eyes as if you have defeated me and have power over me. I have my power. I get reeled back in every time to your charm and your tricks. I see clear now that you are here to teach me a lesson. I am learning to love myself more than you could ever try. I am learning to trust myself from being lied to by you. I am learning to hold my head up high and not let you control my every move. I am through with the strings holding me up. The puppeteer has been exposed and I see you for who you really are. I release you with love. You taught me well. I own myself. I control my feelings and my actions.
You have helped me realize who I do not want to be. I am one step closer to my truth. I am one step closer to my Purpose.
I fell back in. I will no longer fall for it again.
Take your lies.
Take your hate.
Take your tricks.
Never come back again.
You have hurt me for the last time.
My heart is growing and my life is full of love. There is no longer room for your game.
Take your charm and give it to someone who cares. I no longer feel the need to listen to that lie.
No more hurt.
No more hate.
My life is mine to live
And not yours to take.
You are a monster that would feed on my happiness.
I am done giving. My attention is too precious to be wasted freely and not returned.
I release you into the world to one day look at your self and to learn that the games will become old. The day you grow up and leave behind the illusions, you will feel the love that can radiate.
Life is too precious to exist in a thick, dark, gloomy fog.
Find your light. Find your love. Find your purpose.
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9
Apr 2013
Deep Tissue Massage is Your Friend
posted in: Body & Spirit
By Lifeologist Jasmine Miles, LMT & Aesthetician
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy a massage. The peaceful environment, soothing music, having someone pay specific attention to you, the relaxing touch…it’s an hour, or more, of pure bliss!! There’s no denying the benefits of massage, even if you only use it as a stress reliever. However, have you tried the deep tissue massage that really gets in there to work the knots out? It’s a wonderful asset for you athletes in assisting in keeping your muscles, ligaments and tendons in good working order. The massage is intense and can even border on uncomfortable, however the benefits reaped are tremendous. It’s like a good oiling of your muscles as the attention focuses all that wonderful concentration of blood to the area allowing healing. Deep tissue massage was designed to loosen muscle tension and relieve stress. An added benefit of such massage is that it can smooth out scar tissue. The focus is on connective tissues and the deepest layers of muscle mass in the body. Interestingly, while massage itself has been around for centuries, deep tissue massage is actually less than 200 years old.
Experts believe Deep Tissue Massage—which involves focusing prolonged pressure on the inner layers of muscle tissue to break up adhesion’s or “knots” was first used by the ancient Egyptians. Its modern incarnation goes back to mid-19th century Canada where physicians used it to address specific medical conditions such as whiplash. Although it was brought to the United States in the late 1800s, it wasn’t well-known until Canadian physician Therese Phimmer established rules for the technique in her 1949 book, “Muscles—Your Invisible Bonds.” Since then, Deep Tissue Massage has slowly been adopted by sports medicine practitioners and muscular therapists as a way to deal with soft tissue injuries and chronic pain.
Read on for more information and if your questions still aren’t answered, then give me a call! I’d be happy to help you decide what massage would be of the greatest benefit for you! Talk with you soon – 602.321.9434.
What is Deep Tissue Massage?
Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders.
Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain.
How Does Deep Tissue Massage Work?
When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation.
Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles.
Will Deep Tissue Massage Hurt?
At certain points during the massage, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain.
It is important to tell the massage therapist when things hurt and if any soreness or pain youecperience is outside your comfort range.
There is usually some stiffness or pain after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so. The massage therapist may recommend applying ice to the area after the massage.
Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage
Unlike classic massage therapy, which is used for relaxation, deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as:
29
Mar 2013
Who Dimmed the Light?
posted in: Body & Spirit, Lifecoaching, Mind, Spirituality
By Lifeologist Wilna Renee Walke
As a “recovering negative thinker,” I sometimes struggle with keeping a positive outlook while traveling through a tunnel of hardship. I do my best to focus on the light shinning bright at the end of the tunnel, however, every once in awhile it seems as though the light has been shut off! Recently the light dimmed at the end of the tunnel called Parenting when my son’s doctor used the word Aspergers in the same sentence with the phrase “your son.” This really shouldn’t have come as a surprise considering he was given the labels Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Pervasive Development Disorder None Other Specified (PDD-NOS) when he was five. However, a week later, just writing about this subject has my heart filling with grief and a sense of frustration is trying to invade.
From the moment I learned that my son did not fit the behavioral mold of a typical child, I have studied, learned, and incorporated various parenting techniques that have been shown to help children similar to my child grow into productive adults. I have advocated for my son to the best of my ability within the school system. Unfortunately, his school refuses to offer the medically recommended support such as occupational therapy because he is performing academically above benchmark. Living in a rural area, such services are pretty much non-existent outside the school system. So… I… the single mother who works fulltime, am left to provide these services.
The transition into pre-adolescents is proving to be taxing time. It feels as if every day I am treading through miry clay, my nerves are shot and I wonder how much longer they can take of all the LOUD noises my son constantly makes. Then, out of the blue he’ll do something that truly melts my heart. Recently, when I came home from the grocery store, he greeted me at the door pleading me to sit down and listen to a song. He said, “Mama, you have to listen to this song, I dedicate it to you because I love you!” The song? Celine Dion’s Because You Loved Me. The moment I heard the lyrics I was sobbing. I was sobbing because of the great love one little person could have for me, and the fact that just moments earlier, as I was driving home, I was filled with dread of facing yet another evening full of parenting struggles. Spirit knew I needed a little light in my tunnel of parenting, and my son listened.
When the light in your tunnel goes out, what do you do to get it shining again? As for me, I am practicing turning things I have no control over to a higher power, learning more about Aspergers Syndrome, and revisiting expectations I have of myself as a parent and tossing out the unrealistic ones.
no comments20
Mar 2013
Challenge to Change
posted in: Lifecoaching, Mind Body & Spirit
By Lifeologist Christopher Johnson
True life is lived when tiny changes occur. ~ Leo Tolstoy
I had never heard of an Environmental Cleanse until recently. The idea of this fascinated me so much that I started to assess my life and my environment to see how this theory fit in my life. I have to say that I was surprised by the “Ah ha’s” that I have discovered.
My first realization that I observed is that I carry many bags with me. There are my two school bags, my work bag, my personal bag, as well as my two bags I use for Clinic/facilitating. I have six bags total and usually carry 3 to 4 of them at a time or leave them in my car until I need them. From an outsider looking in, the initial thought is: “he has a lot of bags.” Part of me considered that this could portray me as having a lot of “baggage” in my life. When I am stressed or feel anxious I tend to feel it most in my shoulders. Carrying these bags for a long period of time physically makes my shoulders sore. This also led me to the question of: Why do I need so many bags? There is something inside me that wants to feel prepared and having these bags is a sense of security for me.
The next observation that I had was to look at my bedroom and see how it could relate to my life. My bedroom feels cluttered and disorganized to me. I have been feeling busy and unorganized in life. My plan was to manage my time better to ‘fix’ my feeling of being overwhelmed. Like my bedroom, my life feels too cluttered to even find time to plan my weeks out effectively. I can still function in my room however it feels like as soon as I clean and clear my room, it gets cluttered again within a matter of hours. I am also still able to function day to day and get tasks complete, when needed, however there’s always the feeling of being overwhelmed. Is it my life that is causing the clutter or is it my room that is causing the overwhelming life?
I had an experience when I was at work when I was helping a customer who was carrying around a giant sized dog that she had won. While at my store she also ended up buying a stuffed dog as well as a couple of plush peeps. After offering her a bag, the customer politely refused and turned to walk out of the store carrying her four items with no bag. My first thought was: “why would she not want a bag to carry all of these items that she is struggling to carry?” This was a great lesson for me as it shows up in my life and in my bedroom. I collect material things that are hard for me to “let go of”. My room is cluttered with this stuff that is there to ‘help me’ feel whole and worthy. The more I look at this stuff I notice how it’s actually weighing me down; I am burying myself alive with gadgets, CD’s, Knick knacks, and DVD’s.
The idea of an environmental cleanse is to free up that space for new things that are meant to be in your life. I am literally holding back the natural process of allowing the universe to provide what is meant for me. So are you are looking for change in your life? No matter how big or small, then clean an area of your environment and see how parts of your life change for the better.
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26
Feb 2013
Have You Had Your Swedish This Week?
posted in: Mind Body & Spirit
By Lifeologist Jasmine Miles, LMT, Licensed Aesthetician
Although I offer a variety of massage techniques, Swedish massage therapy is the modality that comes to mind when most people think about massage. As the best-known type of bodywork performed today, one of the primary goals of the Swedish massage technique is to relax the entire body. However, this therapy goes beyond relaxation. Swedish massage is exceptionally beneficial for shortening recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes; which is why it is so important to drink lots of water before and after your massage. It also increases circulation without increasing heart load, increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension.
Both Swedish massage and Physical Therapy were pioneered by a Swedish physiologist, Pehr Henrik Ling (1776-1839) at the University of Stockholm.The term “Swedish Massage” refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. The massage involves the use of kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration and may provide relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems. Other possible benefits include stimulation of circulation, an increase in muscle tone, and a balance of the musculo-skeletal systems. However the most sought after benefit is stress relief.
Once upon a time, massage was considered a luxury, now it’s a recommended part of your health routine. As the Mayo Clinic explains, there are several types of massage, from deep-tissue therapies to gentle Swedish treatments. They don’t replace medical treatment, but they can benefit your body and mind if you have them done on a regular basis. Do the research and then do yourself a mind/body/spirit benefit and routinely schedule in your massage!!
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