let it flow..

"Things you force break"

My husband is working towards a goal at his work that will require our family to make some big changes. It is a big deal and in an attempt to control the situation I was just thinking that he should email his boss right this minute and get answers.. give me a time line so I can obsess and plan it all out and make it all happen NOW!!! Right as I was thinking about that the thought came to me that, "things you force, break" I was also trying to pull the lid off a pencil and as I pulled and forced it off.. it broke

How often do you receive a lesson as clear as that?!

This is not a new idea for me either, rather a repeating theme that I am deciding to honor and practice.

I wanted a boston terrier but, we were not ready for it. I pushed and searched and made it happen. We got a sweet girl who was completely nuts and ultimately  a bad fit for us and we were a bad fit for her. We ended up re-homing her, and that is no fun. When we were ready, out of no where we were given the sweetest boston you will ever meet. I forced it and well, it broke.

I have many more examples but I won't bore you with the details. Think of your own moments of forcing things to happen or not happen or what have you. Then think about freeing yourself from the need to force things. If it needs to be forced there's a good chance it may break so think long and hard about allowing it to play out a natural course to the desired and natural outcome.

~M

Wellness Wednesday

I just started reading a book called Oby's Wisdom by Dr. Mark William Cochran. I have to start by saying, the cover is not my favorite, but they say not to judge a book....
I really like this book so far.

This year alone my husband and I have spent nearly $1,000 on healthcare costs. ON TOP of paying for insurance AND we are both healthy individuals. Receiving bills repeatedly that are not covered by our insurance has been discouraging, getting close to nothing out of these office visits that we are paying for is down right depressing!

In comes Oby's Wisdom and an insane allergic reaction that appeared on my eye lids that has led me to evaluate my bodies toxicity levels. I am beginning to find that my body is feeling incredibly toxic lately and it is starting to let me know. Oby's wisdom is encouraging me and supporting my desire to listen to these signs and skip the doctors visit.

Dr. Cochran states in his book that our bodies have an innate intelligence. He revels in the idea of a fever and how wonderful it is that our bodies can heal without intervention. He also talks about our "sick" care system as opposed to a health care system. He brings up a story about a couple who could not afford insurance and felt happy and healthy and alive, they ensured their health by bringing forth life. They eventually acquired health insurance and have notice a decline in their health. They stopped working toward wellness and life because they thought they had a safety net.

Dr Cochran encourages us to enjoy a healthy lifestyle not because it will bring about lower blood pressure or weight loss or overcome fibromyalgia. He encourages us to enjoy healthy food, exercise and a spiritual practice just because they are good for you. "Wellness is a journey, not a destination".

I have been on this journey for some time, many of us have. From here on out, I am finding bliss, naturally.


I have been naturally migrating towards making my own skin care product, almost like a craving.  From lotions to deoderant to shampoo and conditioner... to laundry detergent and cleaning supplies.

We have been improving our family diet a little each day, convincing my kids that vegetables are awesome has not been easy but we will get there! Convincing myself hasn't been easy either! Hummus helps.

I have been reincorporating meditation, breathwork and quiet peaceful times for me and working on these same ideas with my children.

I naturally tend to see problems and issues that arise in y body and my life as ways to improve or change my outlook on things. I am thankful for this outlook and happy to hear this idea echoed in the pages of the book. I am looking forward to embracing my body's innate healing ability and bring forth life!
Can you think of ways you can support your body by changing the way you think, feel, act and live? If you have some great ideas I would love to hear them!

~M

A Message to Women From a Man: You Are Not "Crazy"

Huffington Post Article

This is a fantastic article. It is long but well worth the time. Enjoy.

~M

Happy Thanksgiving

Whatever kind of family tradition's you embrace this holiday season, I hope you have a beautiful day full of gratitude and laughter!
If you have a few minutes, read this great article about Gratitude

Thanks for reading,
~M

Indian Head Massage

I spend so much time thinking and talking about Ashiatsu that I often leave Indian head Massage out.

I want to fix that right here and now! Indian Head Massage is AMAZING!

It will leave you feeling relaxed, alert and focused. Perfect for a quick recharge during the work day and it is only 30 minutes long so you don't have to feel guilty for taking the time. Quite the contrary, because you will be more relaxed and yet alert and focused, you will be far more productive anyhow.

So next time you feel like you need a massage but you just don't think you have the time, schedule an Indian Head Massage. You won't regret it and you may even decide to add it in to your wellness routine regularly.

Placing a dollar value on good health. from wholeliving.com

Q. I started going to a massage therapist for some back pain about six months ago. It costs $70 for an hour massage, and I have appointments every other week. It's helped the pain a great deal, but I was shocked to tally up my bills recently to find that I'd already spent almost $1,000! I'd like to keep going, but I'd also like to avoid going broke. Any thoughts on what I should do?
-- Jenny C., Modesto, California

A. Anytime something gets up over $1,000 a year, you start to think of how much of your salary that amounts to -- never a great feeling. But you also have to ask yourself, "What do I value more, my money or my well-being?" It's a question I had to ask myself at one time. When I first started my career, I wound up with a horrible case of carpal tunnel syndrome. I could barely move my hands, much less type. My doctor wanted to put me in casts up to my elbows. I talked him out of it by promising to visit an acupuncturist and perhaps combine that with massage. My health-care plan didn't cover either one, but I went anyway. As a consequence, I regained the complete use of my hands, avoided surgery and pills, and never felt better.
My point is, sometimes the expense is worth it. You wouldn't forgo groceries or heating your home just to save money, and, at some point, you need to put your health care into the same nonnegotiable category. Just as water pipes will freeze in winter if you don't turn on the heat, not taking care of your back could have its costs: doctor visits, painkiller prescriptions, or physical therapy if the pain gets out of hand. Think of massage as a necessary expense, and you'll find a way to work it into your budget, no matter what.
One way to make it a little more affordable: See if your employer offers a health savings account (and if they don't, ask them to reconsider; HSAs are a great way to make health care more affordable). Basically, these plans allow you to set aside a portion of your pre-tax salary for health-care expenses -- up to $2,900 for individuals and $5,800 for families in 2008. You choose the amount you want to set aside, your employer puts it into a special account, and you use that money for your health-care needs without ever paying taxes on it. Your back massages will likely qualify if your doctor or chiropractor is willing to recommend them for you.
As long as you have a comfortable income and no significant debt, the money you're spending on massages each month isn't really a huge price to pay for your well-being. So I say go ahead and take care of yourself, and stop feeling so guilty. Being healthy is definitely worth it.
Text by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Placing a Dollar Value on Good Health

Did you know massage can help relieve allergy symptoms?

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HOW MASSAGE CAN HELP RELIEVE ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

David Lies, a massage therapist in Wichita, Kansas, remembers his honeymoon well: The lush, nascent flowers and trees of early May in Eureka Springs, Arkansas; time relaxing with his new wife, Linda; the rustic honeymoon cottage—and his allergies, triggered by the colorful blooms around him. “I used to say that I was allergic to everything under the sun,” Lies says.

Lies discovered an unexpected ally in his allergy battle: The honeymoon cottage’s landlord, who was also a massage therapist. “He offered to give my wife and me massages,” says Lies, who finally said yes when his swollen eyes, nonstop sneezing and coughing fits started to put a damper on his honeymoon.

Lies remembers the horrible pain as the therapist dug his elbow into his back along the muscles and trigger points long contracted from coughing, sneezing and related stress. Just as he was about to cry uncle, the therapist removed his elbow—or so Lies thought as he thanked him. His wife, who was watching the session, laughed. “He hasn’t moved his elbow at all,” she told Lies. The muscles had simply finally relaxed.

After the massage, Lies made it through the week with just a few sniffles, his first nondrug-induced relief in years. He returned to Wichita inspired, enrolling in massage school and eventually opening A Servant’s Hands, a full-service massage therapy clinic with a special interest in allergies.

RELAXING THE SYMPTOMS

Many Americans rely primarily on conventional treatments, including antihistamines and steroids, both of which can have some adverse side effects. Massage therapists, however, can help relieve some allergy symptoms by reducing stress, increasing circulation, releasing muscle tension and reprogramming the body’s panic reaction, which can exacerbate symptoms.

"It’s not to take away from the biological, inflammatory component of the disorder,” says Rosalind Wright, MD, a pulmonist on staff at the Harvard Medical School. “But if you use complementary modalities, including massage therapy, you could optimize the results.”

Few studies researching massage therapy and allergy relief exist, but we do know massage helps with stress, as shown in the 1992 Touch Research Institute study where 30-minute body massages on depressed adolescents decreased saliva cortisol levels. And stress definitely impacts allergies. A 2008 Harvard Medical School study co-authored by Wright showed that mothers-to-be who expose their unborn children to stress may increase these kids’ vulnerability to allergies and asthma.

So, just getting clients to relax may help their allergies. “Most experienced massage therapists know the immediate relief from sinus congestion that can result from just lying face down,” Lies says. This position gives you a chance to work on the upper back and shoulders, where many sinus trigger points are located.
Source: Parts of this article were excerpted from Clare La Plante's piece in mtj® (Massage Therapy Journal®) Summer 2009.