Chakras and Acupressure

Have you ever tried acupressure or acupuncture?  Thanks to Livestrong.com for this blog about the Chakras and how acupressure can affect them.  Have you had a good/bad experience with acupressure or acupuncture?  We'd love to hear about it!  

What are Chakras?

According to Eastern Indian philosophy, chakras are energy centers located in each person's body. The teachings of chakras originate in yoga, an ancient system of holistic health. The term chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning "wheel" or "turning." Of each of the seven chakras, each one has a specific energy or focus. Starting from your perineum is the root chakra, then the sacral, navel, heart, throat, forehead and crown. When one of the chakras is imbalanced, emotional or physical stress may occur.

Overview

Both chakras, or energy centers, and acupressure, a therapeutic pressure point practice, stem from Eastern holistic medicine traditions. While the philosophy of the chakra system originates in India and acupressure in Asia, both have the ability to complement each other. Since both methods are considered alternative medicine, consult with your doctor before practicing either.

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What is Acupressure?

Acupressure is an ancient healing method developed more than 5,000 years ago. Developed in Asia, acupressure stimulates pressure points located in your body. The science is based on traditional Chinese medicine and is similar to acupuncture, without the use of needles. Acupressure can be used to relieve pain, detoxify the body and increase libido. Once the ailment is determined and the pressure point located, 20 pounds of pressure is applied through the tip of the finger for 15 to 20 seconds.

Chakras and Acupressure

The science of acupressure can be used to balance your chakras. Once the imbalance is determined, the specific meridian, or energy pathway, can be located. On the meridian, there are several acupressure points that can be stimulated to bring relief to your condition. For example, if you are suffering from a broken heart, acupressure points on the outside edge of the arms and small fingers should be stimulated.

Additional Tips and Considerations

Acupressure and chakra therapy can also be performed using crystals or stones to intensify the effect. Consult with an acupressure practitioner for more information. Chakra therapy and acupressure and considered alternative medicine, so check with your healthcare provider before beginning either one.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/530192-chakras-acupressure/#ixzz1Wcdfg2MR

Arriving...Arrived!

I love this article from Psychology Today.  When will we feel like we are enough?  We already are!  Learning to enjoy today and all the experiences that brought us here can be harder than it seems if we continue to look forward at where we really think we should be.  Take a moment to read this article, celebrate your accomplishments, and yourself!  And have a great weekend!  

Relax, You've Arrived

We spend so much of our time trying to get somewhere.

Published on August 26, 2011 by Rick Hanson, Ph.D. in Your Wise Brain

Are we there yet?The PracticeRelax, you've arrived.Why?
We spend so much of our time trying to get somewhere.
Part of this comes from our biological nature. To survive, animals - including us - have to be goal-directed, leaning into the future.
It's certainly healthy to pursue wholesome aims, like paying the rent on time, raising children well, healing old pain, or improving education.
But it's also important to see how this focus on the future - on endless striving, on getting the next task done, on climbing the next mountain - can get confused and stressful.
It's confused because the brain:
· Overestimates both the pleasure of future gains and the pain of future losses. (This evolved to motivate our ancient ancestors to chase carrots hard and really dodge sticks.)

• Makes the future seem like a real thing when in fact it doesn't actually exist and never will. There is onlynow, forever and always.
• Overlooks or minimizes the alrightness of this moment - including the many things already resolved or accomplished - in order to keep you looking for the next threat or opportunity. (For more on how the brain makes us stressed and fearful, see Buddha's Brain.)

Further, this pursuit of the next thing is confused because the mind tends to transfer unfulfilled needs from childhood into the present, such as to be safe, worthy, attractive, successful, or loved.These longings often take on a life of their own - even after the original issues have been largely or even wholly resolved. Then we're like the proverbial donkey trying to get a carrot held out in front of it on a pole: no matter how long we chase it, it's always still ahead, never attained. For example, for years I pursued achievement due to underlying feelings of inadequacy; how many accomplishments does a person need to feel like a worthwhile person?

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Besides being confused and confusing, striving is stressful. You've got to fire up, activating the fight-or-flight sympathetic nervous system and its related stress hormones. There's a sense of pressure, of worry about a future that's inherently uncertain, of entrapment on a neverending treadmill. There's a lack of soothing and balance that would come from recognizing the truth of things:

You've actually already arrived.
How?
Recognize the simple fact that you got here, in this place, and now, in this moment. It may not be perfect. But think of the many things you have certainly done to come here. At a minimum, you survived high school! You've taken many steps, solved many problems, put many tasks and challenges behind you.
The word, "arrive," comes from roots that mean "to reach the shore." Once you land, of course, life is not over, since the next moment will be a new arrival. But sinking into the sense of having arrived, of having crossed the finish line of this moment, is calming, happy, and deserved. And knowing you've arrived, you now are more able to turn your attention toward being of true service to others.
To deepen the sense of arrival, help yourself relax into this moment. From time to time, you could softly say in your mind: arriving . . . arrived . . . arriving . . .
Draw on your body to strengthen this experience. Let each breath land in your awareness: arriving . . . arrived . . . arriving . . . Be aware of the bite landing in the mouth, the meal consumed, the body fed. As you walk, notice that, with each step, you have reached another place. Know that your hand has reached a cup, that the eye has received a sunset, that the smile of a friend has landed in your heart.
Consider old longings, old drives, that truly may be fulfilled, at least to a reasonable extent. (And if not fulfilled, maybe it's time to let something go and move on.) Can you lighten up about these? Or can you accept that you have arrived at a place this moment that contains unfulfilled goalsand unmet needs? It's still an arrival. Plus it's a "shore" that probably many good things about it no matter what's still undone?.
In the deepest sense, reflect on the fact that each moment arrives complete in itself. Each wave lands on the shore of Now complete in its own right.
Arriving . . . arrived . . . arriving . . .
Arrived.

No Matter How Slow You Go, You're Still Lapping Everyone on the Couch!

How awesome is that quote!  I love it!  I think we all tend to be a bit hard on ourselves, always pushing to be better, stronger, leaner, faster, thinner, more productive, more this, more that!  So how do we feel when we have an off day?  Do we lose some self-worth when we don't have as much energy as we'd like?  Do we feel cheated when life gets in the way of our regular routine?  That we must still cram in a run at midnight despite our body telling us to give it a rest for the night?  

Maybe we need to swap our perspective a little! I love that this blog post from Livestrong.com encourages us to remember that small baby steps that will make the biggest difference over time.  Here are some great ways to make small changes in your diet that will take our health forward leaps and bounds!

9 Food Swaps WILL Save Your Life

Friday, August 19, 2011  |  From Mohr Results, Inc

Yesterday I posted something on Facebook that I saw a friend of mine post "No Matter How Slow You Go, You’re Still Lapping Everyone on the Couch."

We always say not to compare yourself to anyone else …

… you’re the only person you can compare yourself to.

But this saying brought on a different meaning.  To me, it basically says "simply get started." 

It doesn’t matter where you are, it matters where you are going.

And the same goes for your diet.

We can debate the "best" diet.  We can split hairs and talk about nutrient timing, the best sugar to eat (or not eat), the choosing the right carbs & fats, if dairy is good, etc.  The list can go on.

But when you’re trying to make change … or improvements … it’s the small baby steps that count.

Focusing on behaviors, not outcomes, will lead to permanent success.

That being said, here are 9 SIMPLE Ways to Clean Up Your Diet …

… not drastic overhauls, but rather simple switches and swaps, that when done consistently over time, will lead to positive outcomes.

1. Swap out 1 current snack with a piece of your favorite fruit.  Nothing major, but surely powerful overtime.  Do you have that go to snack each day?  Maybe you’ve rationalized that as "I worked out hard, so ‘earned’ this today" or it’s your afternoon go to snack when you’re in a tired slump at the office.  You’ll have to plan ahead for this one, but throw an extra apple, orange, etc in your bag so you’re sure to add it to your diet.
2. Swap 1 current side dish for a veggie.  Even if you already have a veggie side, add another.  Out to eat?  Ask to substitute the starch for the veggie of the day.  At home, rather than the normal rice, potato, quinoa, etc add a colorful veggie.  Again, small, but powerful.
3. Swap your high carb breakfast with eggs.  If a bowl of cereal, bagel, muffin, scone, or Pop Tart normally shows its ugly head in the AM, swap it out for eggs.  The protein in the eggs will help fill you up and it’s been shown that when you choose eggs vs. a bagel for breakfast, you’ll lose (or maintain) weight more easily.  And when we look at the research, people are eating just 10% of their protein in the AM and eating most of it at night.  The best approach would be to spread it out evenly throughout the day, though, for the best results.  If you think you don’t have time to make eggs in the AM, make hardboiled eggs the night before, peel them and eat them in the morning with a piece of fruit. 
4. Swap Chips/Pretzels with Nuts.  Just the other day someone said "I can’t eat nuts, they have too many calories."  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  Nuts — pistachios, walnuts, almonds, etc — are amazing for you.  Eating 1-2 handfuls of nuts each day (1-2 oz) will not only help with weight loss, but will improve your health dramatically.  And not only that, but the protein and fat in nuts will help fill you more than the fiberless carbs in the pretzels or chips you’re eating. 
5. Swap Fiberless Carbs for Lean Protein.  We certainly don’t believe you should avoid carbs.  But we do think you should avoid the fiberless, overly processed ones … and when you swap out these with a healthy protein, it will help fill you up and give your working muscles what they need to repair and recover.  Start with #3 above — swapping high carb breakfast with eggs — and then continue on from there.
6. Swap 1 Meal Each Day with a Huge Salad.  Don’t think that we’re asking you to only eat like a bird and pick at a small side salad; when we say "HUGE" we mean it like I show you in this video.  This salad should be loaded with colorful veggies, lean protein, a handful of nuts and maybe some beans.  Making this one swap can cover most of the others on this list!  Pretty simple, right?  The key here, though, is to watch all that you put on the salad — everything listed above?  Perfect.  Creamy dressing, cheese, bacon bits, croutons, low mein noodles, etc.  Not so much.  That’s making a good thing bad.
7. Swap Solid Fats with Olive or Canola Oil.  Solid fats are typically saturated fats.  And while not all solid fats are created equally (big difference between coconut oil and shortening, for example), as a general rule of thumb substituting an oil like olive or canola for solid fats is a smart move for most Americans who over eat saturated and trans fats.  Notice I didn’t say ADD these oils — it’s swap out these oils — big difference.  Just because olive oil is healthy, doesn’t mean it should be added to every food on the planet.  That’s another message of a good message gone bad.
8. Swap Red Meat, Chicken and Turkey with Fish.  Red meat, chicken and turkey can be great for you … but the right types of fish are even better.  We are not eating close to enough omega-3 fats.  You get those in fish like wild salmon, wild tuna, barramundi, sardines, anchovies and many others.  We need a LOT more omega-3′s and a lot less other fats.  THIS is the most powerful out of all 9 in our opinion considering 96,000 deaths per year are attributed to omega-3 deficiency.  So change up your protein sources to add more fish weekly.
9. Swap Calorie Containing Liquids for Calorie Free Options.  We drink enough liquid calories to gain nearly 1 lb PER WEEK!  Seriously.  But we’re also not fans of diet drinks that are loaded with artificial sweeteners.  Best option?  Water.  If you find that boring, try seltzer with a squeeze of your favorite fruit.  Even water with sliced fruit or veggies gives it a nice flavor that will make you think you’re in a beautiful spa.  This could easily have the biggest impact on your weight out of all 9 swaps. 

What do you think?  9 Simple Swaps that can change your life.

You’ll feel better.  Have more energy.  Weigh less.  Be leaner.  Be stronger.  And think more clearly among other things.  So, yes, these 9 food swaps WILL literally change (and save) your life.

Here’s the key.  We’re not suggesting today you drop everything and try to implement all 9 of these.  Again, think about the quote at the beginning of today’s blog – "No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everyone on the couch."

One step at a time, focusing on the behaviors rather than the outcomes, will get you to where you want to be.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/related-diet-blogs/?bbPostId=B74GrWlKiZZvB8CHiKVRAhmHA7KmR3tISDxCz8CAVdeO4Gb3&bbParentWidgetId=B9S0fZjeDiSD1sd9l870chM&utm_source=augustnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110822#ixzz1Vu2Gi7kP

Coconut milk popsicles!

Thanks to the Glamour magazine blog for this awesome treat!  Especially because I've been looking for non-dairy ice cream--I'm so excited to try this!  

Afternoon Snack: Have a Can of Light Coconut Milk? Make This Amazing Treat

If you're craving something along the lines of ice cream, grab a can of light coconut milk and throw this together...

Coconut Milk Pops, as Yadsia of Honest Cooking describes, are easy and so good. 

Use light coconut milk and mix with a little honey, then freeze in ice pop molds 

for a really amazing treat when you're craving ice cream.

Enjoy!

P.S. More healthy snack ideas!

Read More http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2011/08/afternoon-snack-have-a-can-of.html#ixzz1VQUgpwQk

What is Ragnar??? ESPN breaks it down for all of us...

Check out this awesome video from ESPN that details the Ragnar race here in Utah, known as the "Wasatch Back".  We have some crazy clients that will be running the Ragnar race in Nevada come October.  Maybe you've seen Ragnar stickers on cars and wondered what it all means?  Well, it's a relay race run over a period of 24 hours with a team of 12 members, totaling close to 200 miles!

This video gives you a great look at what it's like to run the race without having to actually do it! ;)

Watch as team "Nevernude" experiences The Wasatch Back...

(If the video link isn't playing, click on the title below and it will link you to the original article)

Sunday, August 14, 2011ESPN looks at running craziness of Ragnar Relays

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ESPN looks at the phenomenon of the Ragnar Relay.

Summer Eating!

So I started taking baby steps to eat less sugar, less gluten, and less dairy, and to eat organic as much as possible.  I've always been pretty good at eating all things in moderation, but as of late I've felt the need to just TRY to improve even more.  I'm also not an all-or-nothing person, thus the 'baby steps' to achieve this goal.  It's been about a month and I'm starting to feel better, I'm cooking more, and making better use of the food I purchase.

A couple of things have helped me through this change:

I signed up for Tagge's Famous Fruit CSA box weekly here
Because I don't have a garden, this allows me to pick up organic, locally grown produce every week!  Tagge's gives me the ripest crops for that week, and I then eat them up raw, steamed, and used in new recipes.  I love it!  They have a pick up down the street from our studio, which makes it really convenient for me to pick up, but they have other pick-ups all across the valley.  I know there are lots of other co-ops and farms where you can get locally grown produce, which I think is great not only for your own health, but great for our local economy!  I love the local farmer's market to pick up extra produce, as well, and to support local artisans.

I also LOVE this website I found for recipes that are gluten and sugar-free!  Yesterday I made the recipe for homemade banana cherry frozen yogurt and it was so yummy!  The only ingredients are Yogurt, frozen bananas, and frozen cherries.  Tart, but just sweet enough :)

PLEASE share with us if you have other great ideas to help cook/eat healthier options.  Do you use a co-op? Do you know of a great website or have a great recipe to share?  What about restaurants that offer a great variety of gluten-free, sugar-free, or dairy-free options?

Attitude is Altitude: A Must-Watch Story

Thanks to the Daily Spark blog for this awesome post!  I definitely found it inspiring and hope you do, too!

Attitude is Altitude: A Must-Watch Story

By: Stepfanie Romine : 8/8/2011 6:00 PM    19 comments : 2,015 Views

My friend, Caitlin, often shares heartwarming links and stories. She's a blogger-turned-author andmotivational speaker. Last Friday she shared this one. Whoa. I loved it!

Having been born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic suffered bullying, depressionand loneliness. Instead of letting this get him down, he fought back--by doing things people said he never could and inspiring others in the process. The Australia native earned a college degree and moved to the US, where he operates the nonprofit Attitude is Altitude. He's also recently engaged.

From Attitude is Altitude: "Imagine being born without arms. No arms to wrap around someone, no hands to experience touch, or to hold another hand with. Or what about being born without legs? Having no ability to dance, walk, run, or even stand on two feet. Now put both of those scenarios together: no arms and no legs. What would you do? How would that effect (sic) your everyday life?"

Watch Nick's inspiration video now:

One of the best quotes: "It's a lie to think that you're not good enough. It's a lie to think that you're not worthy."

Bunny Bradley Scholarship Recipient 2011

We are so pleased to announce the recipient of the Bunny Bradley Pilates Scholarship 2011--Congratulations to Kim Desautels!

Kim found Pilates during her long road to recovery from cancer, and especially enjoyed taking classes from Bunny Bradley.  Here is a small excerpt from Kim's winning essay:

"As an occupational therapist that specializes in neurology (for almost 25 years), I have witnessed how the human body can create new neural pathways and heal in ways that sometimes defies traditional medicine in both the young and old.

My dream is to empower other women (and men!) who have experienced cancer or other debilitating diseases through special Pilates classes designed for them. It would be an extreme honor and privilege to be awarded this scholarship and carry on Bunny’s legacy, believing women with cancer can be whole again, as Bunny believed in me."

We thank everyone who submitted their essays for the scholarship.  Everyone's story left an impression and it was a difficult decision to make. We will be offering the scholarship again next year, and we encourage those who applied this year to reapply.