WE ARE MORE THAN INDIVIDUALS. WE ARE INTERCONNECTED
We are social creatures, designed to live and love amongst one another. We are meant to understand and appreciate each person, recognizing that there is a divine presence within every human life.
Every day we face challenges to this harmony and peace. While we cannot control the world and how it works, we can control how we direct our own energy towards friends, family, and others we meet on our path.
The effort we spend on one another is the effort that determines who we really are – and Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh has a wonderful take on how compassion and love help us to develop as human beings:
“When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.
Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce.
Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.
If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change” Thích Nhất Hạnh
Dry Brushing For Health
Dry brushing isn’t new. It’s rooted in many cultures and traditional medical and holistic approaches around the world, including Ayurveda, the ancient Indian practice that is more than 5,000 years old.
In Ayurveda, “Garshana”, the Sanskrit term for dry brushing, means “friction by rubbing.” It involves gently exfoliating dry skin with a soft or stiff bristled brush or raw silk gloves, working from the extremities in toward the core, according to Veena Haasl-Blilie, a certified Ayurvedic practitioner and founder of Saumya Ayurveda, an Ayurvedic wellness company in Corrales and Jemez, New Mexico.
It’s believed that there are many health benefits that come from exfoliating the skin. Practitioners of dry brushing rub a brush with coarse, natural-fiber bristles over their bodies in a particular pattern.
The idea is that the coarse fibers help to remove dead skin and improve the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins through the pores. Dry skin brushing benefits may include stimulating the lymphatic system, exfoliating the skin, removing toxins, increasing circulation, experiencing more energy, having more relaxation, and reducing cellulite.
While there is still little scientific evidence to support the benefits of dry brushing, there is an abundance of anecdotal evidence. The possible benefits include the following:
Stimulates the Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is a key part of the body’s immune system that helps to maintain fluid levels, protect your body against pathogens (any bacteria, virus, or other substance that can make you sick), and transport and remove waste products.
Brushing your skin can encourage the flow of lymph, which is made up of extra fluids that drain from cells and tissues, as well as proteins, minerals, fats, damaged cells, and pathogens. Lymph gets pumped throughout the vessels, organs, and nodes that comprise the lymphatic system and sometimes the pressure drops lower, such as when there’s more fluid in an area.
Exfoliation
The coarse bristles can brush away dry, dead skin cells, leaving your skin smooth and soft.
Relaxation
Similar to a massage, dry brushing may make you feel relaxed. To make the most of this benefit, practice dry brushing in a dark, quiet space.
Cellulite
Cellulite is a condition that mostly affects women. Areas affected by cellulite have a rippled or “cottage cheese” appearance. Dry brushing may help reduce the appearance of this tissue.
Gives You Energy
Dry brushing can potentially stimulate the nerve endings in the skin, which can leave you feeling refreshed and energized.
Because of its invigorating and stimulating effect, many people find that adding dry brushing to their morning routine actually wakes them up better than a cup of coffee.
What are the risks of dry brushing?
Some people should avoid dry brushing or proceed with caution. People with open or inflamed skin, including those with eczema and psoriasis, should avoid dry brushing over the inflamed area. You should also avoid dry brushing over an open wound. You could introduce bacteria to the wound, which could lead to infection. If you have had lymph nodes removed, ask your health practitioner for direction. If you are unsure if dry brushing is a risk for you, ask your health practitioner or doctor.
How to practice dry brushing
To dry brush, use a soft natural fiber brush with a long handle.
Follow these steps:
Use light pressure, 5 grams of weight on your skin when you are dry brushing.
Start at your feet and move up your body slowly.
Brush your midsection using wide, circular, clockwise motions only. Do not go counter clockwise.
Brush the sides of your neck lightly and slowly towards the chest. They make special small brushes for your face only.
Brush your arms after you have brushed your feet, mid-section and neck. You should brush upward towards your armpits slowly.
After dry brushing, take a cool shower to help remove the dry skin.
After your shower, dry off and then consider adding natural plant oil, to moisturize your skin. You can dry brush daily to encourage flow.
What supplies do I need?
All you need to dry brush at home is a soft brush with natural fiber bristles. You should also look for one with a long handle to help you reach every part of your body.
You may want to dry brush in the shower so that you can easily clean the area once you’re done. You may also want to have a moisturizer on hand, such as natural oil.
You should be able to find an inexpensive brush. Dry brushing kits are also available, though these are more expensive.
Dry brushes are available at health food stores or online.
If you don’t want to dry brush yourself, you may be able to find a local spa that offers dry brushing. If you have a treatment done at a spa, ask them how they clean the brushes and let them know about any areas they should avoid.
Brush maintenance
Make sure you rinse your brush after you have completed your brushing routine.
Dry it in an open, sunny area to prevent mildew.
Clean your brush once a week using soap and water.
You should also avoid sharing your brush with anyone. This can help prevent the risk for infection.
Resourced/ Healthline, and Everyday Health, Revised by Dorothy Green HHP, CRS, CS, IBW
Is a Water Fast Healthy ?
One of the most popular questions I receive is “ Should I fast for my health?” I personally have tried many types of fasting and with all the anecdotal and medical studies, fasting may be for you!
Fasting is a method of restricting food intake and has been practiced for thousands of years around the world.
Water fasting can offer several health benefits, including weight loss and a reduced risk of some chronic conditions.
What is water fasting?
Water fasting is a type of fast during which you cannot consume anything besides water.Most water fasts last 24–72 hours. You should not follow a water fast for longer than this without medical supervision.
Here are a few reasons why people try water fasting:
religious or spiritual reasons
to lose weight
for “detoxing”
for its health benefits
preparing for a medical procedure
The main reason why people try water fasting is to improve their health.
In fact, several studies have linked water fasting with some impressive health benefits, including a lower risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and diabetes.
It can help with some chronic diseases and stimulate autophagy, a process that helps your body break down and recycle old parts of your cells.
Popular diets like the lemon detox cleanse are modeled after the water fast. The lemon detox cleanse only lets you drink a mixture of lemon juice, water, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper several times per day for up to 7 days.
However, water fasting has many risks and can be very dangerous if followed for too long.
There are several groups of people who should not water fast without medical supervision.
This includes people with gout, diabetes (both types 1 and 2), and eating disorders, older adults, people who are pregnant and children.
How do you water fast?
If you have never water fasted before, it’s a good idea to spend 3–4 days preparing your body for being without food.
You can do this by eating smaller portions at each meal or by fasting for part of the day.
During a water fast, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything besides water.
Most people drink two to three liters of water per day depending on their weight during a water fast.
The water fast lasts for 24–72 hours.
Post-fast 1–3 days
After the water fast, you should resist the urge to eat a big meal.
This phase normally lasts a day, but people who fast for 3 or more days may need up to 3 days before they feel comfortable eating larger meals. This is because eating a large meal after a fast may cause uncomfortable symptoms.
Instead, break your fast with a smoothie or smaller meals. You can start introducing larger meals throughout the day as you feel more comfortable.
The post-fast phase is especially important after longer fasts. This is because you may be at risk of refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition in which the body undergoes rapid changes in fluid and electrolyte levels.
Benefits of water fasting:
Potential benefits of water fasting, both human and animal studies, have linked water fasting to a variety of health benefits.
Here are a few health benefits of water fasting.
In 48 people with overweight or obesity, it was found that water fasting for an average of 17 days under medical supervision led to reductions in systolic blood pressure. It was also associated with improvements in levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and inflammation.
Similarly, another studied concluded that water fasting could significantly reduce blood pressure levels and body weight in people with high blood pressure.
Fasting may improve insulin and leptin sensitivity which are important hormones that affect the body’s metabolism. Insulinhelps the body store nutrients from the bloodstream, while leptin helps the body feel full.
Greater sensitivity makes these hormones more effective.
For example, being more insulin sensitive means your body is more efficient at reducing its blood sugar levels and it could help your body process hunger signals more efficiently, and in turn, lower the risk of obesity.
It may lower the risk of several chronic diseases
Thirty healthy adults followed a water fast for 24 hours. After the fast, they had significantly lower blood levels of triglycerides. A risk factor for heart disease also suggests that water fasting may protect the heart against damage from free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage parts of cells. They are known to play a role in many chronic diseases.
In animals and humans, it has been found that water fasting may suppress genes that help cancer cells grow. It may also improve the effects of chemotherapy.
Dangers and risks of water fasting:
Although water fasting may have some benefits, it comes with health risks.
Here are a few dangers and risks associated with water fasting.
One may lose the wrong type of weight.
Because a water fast restricts calories, you will may lose a lot of weight quickly.
Unfortunately, a lot of the weight you lose in the beginning may come from water, carbs, and even a small amount of muscle mass.
You may become dehydrated.
Although it sounds strange, a water fast could make you dehydrated. This is because roughly 20–30% of your daily water intake comes from the foods you eat.
If you’re drinking the same amount of water but not eating foods, you might not be getting enough water.
Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, nausea, headaches, constipation, low blood pressure, and low productivity. To avoid dehydration, you may need to drink more than usual.
You may experience orthostatic hypotension. It is defined as a drop in blood pressure that happens when you suddenly stand up. It can leave you dizzy, lightheaded, and at risk of fainting.
If you experience orthostatic hypotension while fasting, you may need to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery. The dizziness and risk of fainting could lead to an accident.
If you experience these symptoms during a water fast, this type of fasting may not be a good option for you.
If you want to reap the benefits of fasting, but also want to lose weight, intermittent fasting and alternate day fasting are also effective approaches that are less risky than water fasting for 24–72 hours.
These fasts provide similar health benefits but can be followed for much longer periods as they allow you to eat food decreasing the risk of nutrient deficiencies.
Conclusion:
Water fasting is a popular method of fasting that may have some health benefits for you.
Water fasting also comes with several risks, especially if you fast for longer than 3 days or have medical conditions like gout or diabetes.
If you want the health benefits of fasting, you can also try other methods like intermittent fasting or alternate-day fasting. These fasts allow you to eat some food, making them easier to follow long term.
Either way you can see health results no matter which way you go.
By Health line Revised Dorothy Green HHP, CRS CS, IBW
VIBRATIONAL FREQUENCY OF CLOTHING
Did you know if you wear linen or wool it can help you heal and give you energy?
In 2003, a Jewish Doctor named Heidi Yellen discovered through a study that the human body has a signature frequency of 100 mHz.
She also discovered cotton has a frequency of 100 mHz.
Wool and Linen are considered “super fabrics”, measuring at 5000 mHz each, but when worn together they cancel each other out.
The reason for this could be that the energy field of wool flows from left to right, while that of linen flows in the opposite direction, from right to left.
According to the study, since the human body has a signature frequency of 100, it showed that if the frequency of the fabric is lower than 100, it actually puts a strain on the body.
A diseased, nearly dead person has a frequency of about 15, and that is where polyester, rayon, bamboo, spandex, lycra, elastane and silk register. Non-organic cotton registers a signature frequency of about 70. Conventional cotton uses 16%-25% more pesticides and herbicides than any other crop. Some of these chemicals are among the most deadly in the world.
Wearing low energy fabric constantly can lower the immune system and can cause inflammation, illness and even emotional issues.
What to wear for preventive health and healing
1. Linen, a natural fabric made of flax, is at 5000 mHz.
Some benefits of linen:
Sleeping in or on linen can help a person fall asleep faster and have deeper sleep. Deep sleep is an essential stage of the sleep cycle that is necessary for overall health and well-being.
It can improve your mood.
Rapid healing from surgeries can occur and is why hospitals have used linen sheets in the past.
Linen is resistant to fungus and bacteria.
It can be a barrier to some diseases.
It also can regulate body temperature, warm when cold and cools when warm.
2. Organic cotton is 70 to 110 mHz and considered a healthy fabric. There are articles showing that cotton can have a much higher signature frequency, even up to 400 mHz.
Some benefits of organic cotton:
Kind to skin
Organic cotton is the best choice for people with sensitive skin, allergies, and chemical sensitivities.
Lasting softness
Organic cotton is softer and more durable; going through less processing, with no chemicals to weaken fibers. Your clothes feel better and last longer.
Farmers’s health
Organic cotton is better for farmers and their families. They deserve to live free of toxic, carcinogenic chemicals.
Safe dyes
Organic cotton is colored with safe, low-impact dyes, and free of all finishing chemicals like formaldehyde.
Fair trade
Our organic cotton farmers are paid a fair price. At a time when global cotton prices are plummeting and cotton farmers around the world are taking their own lives in desperation, fair trade is the only ethical solution. If a cotton product seems outrageously cheap, then you know someone else has paid the price.
Better for the Earth
Prevents green house gases
Organic cotton produces around 46% less CO2e compared to conventional cotton. By crafting our clothing from 100% organic cotton, last year alone indigenous kept 45,600 lbs of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Cleaner waterways
Runoff from conventional cotton fields is bad news. Choosing organic keeps deadly chemicals out of waterways and off the land.
Promotes biodiversity
Organic cotton uses less water and encourages biodiversity. Growers typically use more rainwater for irrigation and rely on beneficial insects to control unwanted pests.
All- natural
When you choose organic cotton instead of synthetic fibers, you ensure that no micro-plastics are entering waterways through your everyday laundering. Plus, organic cotton is completely biodegradable.
3. Wool is 5000 mHz a super fabric.
Sheep’s wool is a complex fibre, making it one of the most versatile and functional animal products. Humans have been utilizing wool for thousands of years because of the many benefits this remarkable fibre offers. When it comes to the benefits and qualities of wool, the list is long.
Some benefits of wool:
Environmentally Sustainable
Each year sheep grow a new fleece, making wool a renewable resource. Wool is also biodegradable, providing soil nutrients as it decomposes naturally. As a natural product, wool requires less processing than man-made fibers.
Regulates and Insulates
The crimp and curl we see in wool serves a purpose. The air pockets created are what gives wool the ability to act as a natural insulator. Wool’s ability to absorb moisture from the air and transport it away from the body leaves your skin dry and comfortable, just as it does on sheep. Remarkably, it also works in reverse keeping you cool as well.
Reduces Body Odor
Unlike synthetic fabrics where a sweat build up becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, wool’s breathability and antimicrobial qualities reduce the risk of your clothes taking on unpleasant body odor. With wool’s natural moisture absorbing properties and ability to regulate temperature, you remain comfortable in a wider range of conditions. That’s why wool is a great choice for outdoor and exercise gear.
So the bottom line is to be mindful and conscious of your clothing choices when shopping for your wardrobe. More energy supports a happy, healthy life, which we encourage to all of our members.
Sourced, Lavi Shamoon, ~QhealthGuide, Indigenous, HdWool, Revised Dorothy Green HHP
WHAT IS CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY (CST) ?
CST is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system, comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.
By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to dis-ease, and is effective for a wide range of symptoms associated with pain and dysfunction, including:
. Migraine Headaches
Chronic Neck and Back Pain
Motor-Coordination Impairments
Colic
Central Nervous System Disorders
Orthopedic Problems
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Scoliosis
Infantile Disorders
Learning Disabilities
Chronic Fatigue
Emotional Difficulties
Stress and Tension-Related Problems
Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
Neurovascular or Immune Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Surgical Dysfunction
WHAT IS SOMATO RESPIRATORY INTEGRATION (SRI)?
SRI is grounded in reorganizational healing. It’s a powerful series of exercises using breath, awareness, touch and movement developed to help you connect your body and mind, and adapt with life more efficiently and positively.
Through working with thousands of patients over many decades, NSA founder, Dr. Donald Epstein, noticed predictable patterns in the way people move and breathe when they experience both negative and positive life events and created “The Twelve Stages”.
The Twelve Stages
He categorized a dozen unique rhythms, which he identified as The Twelve Stages of Healing. Collectively they make up the set of exercises called Somato Respiratory Integration.
It’s much harder to free yourself from tension by concentrating on an area of stress. It may actually increase the defense status of the body
We always start from an area of peace or ease, bringing its energy and memory to the area that is blocked or stressed or painful
The first three stages are helpful for those who are suffering physically, emotionally or mentally. We become aware of the rhythms and polarities of our suffering and also discover we are somehow involved in a process and are partially responsible for our distress, recognizing that it is associated with being stuck in a particular perspective.
The next four stages are associated with ‘breaking through’ and making significant life changes to conquer suffering. New ways to create change are discovered and resolution achieved.
The last five stages represent a more awakened consciousness. Having dealt with and resolved suffering in the 1st 7 stages, the individual is left with an enlightened and deeper sense of wellbeing. They are ready to participate in life in a more profound and satisfying way.
THE BENEFITS OF SRI:
Reconnect you to your body and begin feeling great again.
Enhance your bodywork session
Stay more connected and present in your body
Feel more focused and energized
Be more creative
Transcend physical pain, stress, depression and tiredness
Make significant and positive life changes
Maintain a greater depth of wellbeing
“We wear our stress response in our bodies as ‘defense postures.’ The structural distortions and tension patterns are a testimony to, and physical anchor for, events that overwhelm our body-minds.”
– Dr. Donald Epstein, Founder & Developer,
Network Spinal Analysis & Somato Respiratory Integration
WHAT IS REIKI ?
Reiki is a technique from Japan for processing stress, stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes a healing and can dissipates symptoms. It is administered by "laying on hands" in specific areas on the spine and body. It is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including the physical body, emotional body, the mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation, feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.
Reiki is a simple, natural, safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.
Some of the symptoms Reiki can assist with:
chronic pain
neurodegenerative disorders
fatigue syndromes
Cancer
Resourced “The international center for Reiki training”
GROUNDING THE HUMAN BODY AND THE HEALING BENEFITS OF EARTHING
HEALING BENEFITS OF GROUNDING
Scientific research over more than a decade indicates that your body can be protected and helped when you electrically reconnect to the Earth. That is, when you are grounded.
When grounded, the diurnal rhythm of the stress hormone, cortisol, begins to normalize. Cortisol is connected to your body’s stress response and helps control blood sugar levels, regulates metabolism, helps reduce inflammation, and assists with memory formulation.
In addition to a normalization of the cortisol rhythm, you can have improved circulation. When you are grounded, your circulation improves, aiding in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues in your body, including better blood flow to your face.
HOW TO RECONNECT TO THE EARTH
While the research on grounding for your health and well-being is relatively new, the practice is timeless. Past societies went barefoot or wore leather footwear made from hides that allowed the energy from the earth to rise up into their bodies. They were grounded.
Here’s the bottom line: You have lost your electrical roots, so to speak. You’re disconnected, and this disconnection may be a seriously overlooked cause of human pain and discomfort and the steeply rising incidence of chronic illness worldwide.
The good news is, you have the potential to reconnect. Weather and schedule permitting, go barefoot for a half-hour or so outside and see what a difference that makes on your pain or stress level. Sit, stand, or walk on soil, grass, sand, or concrete. These are all conductive surfaces from which your body can draw the earth’s energy. Wood, asphalt, and vinyl are not conductive.
Ideally, you want to sustain the Earthing experience incorporate this healing energy into your daily routine.
For many people, however, there isn’t time in their current busy schedule to go out barefoot. So, there are also indoor options. Invest in grounding products—which can be used while sleeping, relaxing, or working—such as conductive, Chairs, Bed pads, Floor and Chair mats.
Whatever route you take, get grounded and feel vibrant. Chopra Institute
