Are you being mindful of your needs? As we (in the northern hemisphere) move towards colder, shorter days, it is a good idea to create healthy routines to maintain balance.
Are you getting proper nutrition?
Eat warming, nourishing foods like homemade root vegetable soups, and stews, or try a warming Kitchari for a gentle seasonal cleanse.

Are you moving your body to keep your lymph flowing? Your lymph cleanses your blood and system as it circulates through your body. Unlike blood, lymph needs you to move for it to move. Try gentle yoga, walking, or a rebounder is excellent for lymphatic system health. Always check with a doctor before starting any new exercise. And remember to drink plenty of water!


Are you getting quality, consistent sleep? Movement and proper nutrition will help with getting better sleep. Try not to eat 2 hours before bed. Getting up and going to sleep every night can also help with the quality of your slumber. Need help to unwind? Try a guided meditation (check out the Spotify page) to help slow down thoughts and find cozy comfort.

Have tips you’d like to share? Let me know!

Shadow

𝖢𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂e𝗇𝖼𝖾 π—π—‚π—†π–Ύπ—Œ π—ˆπ–Ώ π–½π–Ίπ—‹π—„π—‡π–Ύπ—Œπ—Œ 𝖾𝗂𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 π–Ώπ—‹π—ˆπ—† π—Œπ—‚π—π—Žπ–Ίπ—π—‚π—ˆπ—‡π—Œ π—ˆπ—Žπ—π—Œπ—‚π–½π–Ύ π—ˆf π—Žπ—Œ π—ˆπ—‹ 𝖺 π—‹π—‚π—Œπ—‚π—‡π—€ π—ˆπ–Ώ 𝗍𝗁𝖾 π–½π–Ίπ—‹π—„π—‡π–Ύπ—Œπ—Œ 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇. π– π—…π—π—π—ˆπ—Žπ—€π— 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 π—†π—‚π–½π—Œπ— π—ˆπ–Ώ π—π—π–Ύπ—Œπ–Ύ π—π—‚π—†π–Ύπ—Œ 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖼𝖺𝗇 π—Œπ–Ύπ–Ύπ—† π—…π—ˆπ—Œπ— π—ˆπ—‹ π—π—ˆπ—‰π–Ύπ—…π–Ύπ—Œπ—Œ, 𝗂𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖻𝖾 𝖺 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 π–Ώπ—ˆπ—‹ π—Žπ—‡π–½π–Ύπ—‹π—Œπ—π–Ίπ—‡π–½π—‚π—‡π—€ 𝖺𝗇𝖽 π—€π—‹π—ˆπ—π—π—.
𝖢𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗂𝗇𝗏𝗂𝗍𝖾 π—π—π–Ύπ—Œπ–Ύ π–Ώπ–Ύπ–Ύπ—…π—‚π—‡π—€π—Œ π—π—ˆ π—Œπ—π–Ίπ—’, 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀 π—ˆπ—Žπ—, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗅𝗒 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 π—π—ˆ 𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗅 π—Žπ—Œ.
𝖢𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 π—π—ˆ 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝖾𝗋 π—π—‚π—†π–Ύπ—Œ 𝗂𝗇 π—ˆπ—‹π–½π–Ύπ—‹ π—π—ˆ 𝖻𝖾 π—π—π—ˆπ—…π–Ύ. 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 π—‚π—Œ π—‡π—ˆ 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 π—π—‚π—π—π—ˆπ—Žπ— 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄. π–­π—ˆ 𝖽a𝗒 π—π—‚π—π—π—ˆπ—Žπ— 𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍. 𝖑𝖺𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 π—ˆπ–Ώ π—ˆπ—Žπ—‹ 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄 π—‚π—Œ 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗏𝖾. 𝖨𝗍 π—‚π—Œ π—ˆπ—Žπ—‹ π–½π–Ίπ—‹π—„π—‡π–Ύπ—Œπ—Œ 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 π–Ίπ—…π—…π—ˆπ—π—Œ 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 π—π—ˆ π—Œπ—π—‚π—‡π–Ύ π—π—π—‹π—ˆπ—Žπ—€π—.

Reiki

Happy now, beautiful souls! It is a crisp, cold morning here in upstate NY- the perfect day to cozy up with a cup of tea, a good book, or get started on a new blog post! I do like to hibernate a bit more in the winter. My body and mind crave warmth, comfort, and seclusion. I have learned over the years to pay serious attention to my body as the body mirrors the mind. This process of understanding the mind-body-spirit connection has been made more apparent with Reiki.

Photo by Anete Lusina on Pexels.com

So first, let us take a look at what Reiki is and the science-backed benefits it provides. REIKI (pronounced Ray Key) is a stress reduction and relaxation technique where through the laying of hands, the practitioner channels Universal energy through the body to assist in removing emotional blockages, stress, and anxiety. REIKI energy balances & works on the four levels of existence: Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual. Reiki activates the parasympathetic nervous system allowing for more profound relaxation and renewal.

The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) regulates functions outside of voluntary control, such as the cardiac muscles, digestion, and relaxation. When we can activate or be in touch with the PNS, we can reduce stress levels and, in turn, lower heart rate and blood pressure and raise our levels of joy.

Let’s look at an example. We have all been in a situation where our sympathetic nervous system (AKA Flight or Fight response) is activated, like when we get cut off in traffic; a flood of adrenaline ups our heart rate and breathing. Unfortunately, this system is in overdrive with our modern way of life. We tend to respond in traffic the way our ancestors would have responded to being chased by a tiger. These constant reactions create unregulated stress in our bodies. Long term, this can have serious health effects.

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

Scientific research has shown that we can reduce the stress reaction by activating our PNS with various techniques such as Reiki. During a Reiki treatment with me, the client lays comfortably, clothed, on a massage table, and is guided into a relaxed state with meditation. You will be asked to gently focus on the present using your breath to bring you back to the moment when your mind drifts. While you enjoy healing music such as solfeggio frequencies, I will first access your energy by placing my hands on your shoulders, followed by hand placements at specific energetic points on the body. You may feel a subtle shift of consciousness or release of emotion, warmth, or tingling sensation as REIKI energy flows through your body. Once the treatment is complete, you may feel relaxed, refreshed, or exhausted. I will advise you to drink plenty of pure water to aid in detoxifying your energetic body.

I routinely perform self-treatments to assist in healing my own health issues or dis-ease. I have found that my state of mind greatly influences the levels of pain I experience, for our body is a reflection of the mind. Our thoughts precede our actions and our physicality. Reiki has helped me to slow down, to find presence, and to be instead of do(ing). Now when I experience pain, I know it is due to an imbalance in my mind-body-spirit system. I can actively participate in my treatment and healing. Migraines and stomach upset frequently have less to do with physical dis-ease than mental dis-ease. Stress and trauma can cause flare-ups in my IBS, fibromyalgia, and endometriosis. Being aware of my mental state allows me to see the patterns of cause and effect. This awareness takes time to cultivate but offers one a chance to begin healing from within.

When we learn to cultivate practice for our mental well-being, our physical body follows suit. Healing modalities such as Reiki, breath work, meditation, and Qi Gong can all help us become in touch with our mind-body-spirit connection. We must heal wholly at each level to live a balanced life. If you would like to know more or would like to begin on a healing path, don’t hesitate to contact me for a free 15-minute consultation.

Namaste.