Archive for the ‘Disability’ Category
Daily Stress and How it Can Affect Your Health
February 11th, 2010 | 
Author: Without realizing it, many of us spend the day in a constant state of stress. Now this isn’t saying that we are constantly being faced with life or death situations. It is the everyday stress that we are allowing to build up. Job and financial stress, family and relationship stress, etc. These daily stressors have can have harmful effects on your emotional and physical well being. But what is the reason our body reacts the way it does to stress?
Stress is what happens when we are faced with a problem. It goes back to the early days of man when many situations were life or death events. The body would react by pumping adrenaline throughout the body to allow for quick action to fight off the danger or run away from it. Although we rarely need to fight or flight reflex today, our body still reacts in the same way. Our heart beat quickens, our breathing is more rapid and our muscles become tense. We are poised for action, even if no action is needed.
Once the threat of danger is received by the brain, an entire alarm system is put into play. The brain sends a message to the sympathetic nervous system, which starts pumping stress hormones into the body so we can fight the threat. Adrenaline is the stress hormone that we are most familiar with, but norepinephrine and cortisol are also released as well. Just a note: cortisol is the stress hormone that is associated with hard to lose belly fat. Studies have shown that when we have high amounts of this stress hormone in our body we carry more weight in our abdominal area.
It is important to allow your body to be free of stress so it can recover, heal and rebuild. Using proven stress management techniques will allow you to lower your stress levels and increase your overall health. It is time to look at the stressors in your life and decide if they are really worth all they put your body through!
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Tags: Stress | 
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Using Scents to Elevate Mind, Body and Spirit
Scents can have a profound impact on our moods, health, and spiritual growth. Below, in very simple format, several 
flowers and oils have been listed with some of their emotional and spiritual benefits. These scents can be used in meditation or simply for “inspiring” certain moods or effects. Using scents can be as simple as having fresh flowers in your house or garden where you spend time, or you can buy essential oils from a store (not the oils that say “perfume,” buy the real oils) along with a diffuser or a burner with a candle. You can also add a small amount of essential oil to bath water (make sure oils are very diluted when coming in contact with the skin).Posted below are what experiences/feelings these scents can help us with, or promote within us.
Flowers
- Carnations - self love, passion
- Jasmine - self esteem, psychic development, dream work
- Lavender - inner guidance, spiritual contact
- Lily - spirituality, love, purity
- Lilac - travel, past lives
- Rose - heart awareness, love, beauty
Oils
- Ceder wood - connection to spirit
- Chamomile - inner peace
- Sage - Balance mind and emotions
- Eucalyptus - Clears negativity
- Lemon - Increases energy and clarity
- Marjoram - Calms an agitated mind
- Neroli - Opens heart and inspires creativity
- Rosemary - increase spiritual awareness
- Rosewood - enhances meditation
- Vetiver - aids in stillness
Scents can be used for many different things and can greatly help us in many areas of our lives, as can be seen from all the benefits listed.
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Tags: Body and Spirit, Mind |
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How to Honor Your Mind, Body and Soul
“Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives.”
William Shakespeare
Extreme self-care begins with easing your mind, calming your body, and feeding your soul.
Ease Your Mind :-Easing your mind involves being fully present and aware of this very moment. Eliminate the guilt and shame you carry with you from your past and put an end to the unfounded worries about your future. Create more time for gratitude, abundant thinking, a positive attitude and lots of laughter.
Till the soil and plant seeds of healthy intentions by:
* Creating a gratitude journal - Start making a daily list of what you are grateful for.
* Joy Spotting- Notice every little moment that fills you with joy.
* Reading motivational books and blogs - Check out my blog roll for some great inspirational mojo.
* Listening to uplifting music, podcasts and audio books.
* Being aware of your self-talk - Are you gentle and kind to yourself?
* Lightening up - Things do not have to be so frigging serious. Seriously!
* Lots and Lots of Laughter - Who are you sharing your time with? Do they make you laugh?
Calm Your Body :-As important as easing your mind is to your mental health, exercise and relaxation also play a key role in your well being. Our bodies are marvelous creations that carry us through life. You deserve extreme self care. Just like a beautiful flowering plant, your healthy body needs rich soil and water to create a full and healthy bloom.
Caring for and calming your body includes:
* Regular massage therapy - Bodywork should be a regular part of your health care.
* Relaxing baths - If you have a tub, get in it!
* Luxurious naps - You deserve an occasional nap.
* Moving your body - Walking, going to the gym, enrolling is a dance class, run, stretch, and play!
* Healthy nutrition - Plenty of water, fresh fruit, vegetables, whole foods.
* Care for your mental body image - I dare you to look in the mirror and greet yourself each morning with “Hello Gorgeous!” Be kind to your self by banishing negative body talk.
Nourish Your Soul :-Discovering true balance includes creating time to feed your spirit. Nurturing yourself spiritually allows you to ground yourself in your body keeping you anchored, healthy and alive. Caring for the soul includes eliminating the weeds that show up and choke out your natural soulful beauty.
Nourish your soul by:
* Banishing interruptions and making time to be still.
* Get in touch with your spirituality through peaceful time in prayer or meditation.
* Create a time for your creative pursuits - photography, journaling, art projects and music.
* Get unplugged - Turn off the television, radio, computer, pager and any other electronic device.
* Focus on your breath - Deep cleansing breaths in through you nose, filling your lungs to capacity and then letting it all go with a giant exhalation.
* Share your time with people who make you smile until your face hurts.
* Get out of the house and get close to nature - The miracle of water, woods and wildlife will rejuvenate your spirit.
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Tags: Body and Soul, Mind |
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The Eight Limbs of Yoga kripalu
Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. It focuses upon developing a healthy mind and body, and on attaining self-awareness. The various practices and disciplines of yoga are available to everyone, no matter what their culture or other paths they may follow. Yoga practice also involves developing awareness on a universal and personal level through the yamas and niyamas, a series of ethics and disciplines intended to cultivate living in harmony with others and in oneness with our true selves.
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and consists of ancient theories, observations and principles regarding the connection of the mind with the body. The ancient Indian sage systemized yoga philosophy into eight paths or limbs: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. These limbs each express a different aspect of yoga and combined make up the path or yoga practice that unites the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of our being.
Yama - Yama are ethical disciplines that relate to how we can live in a shared world with peace and integrity.
Niyama - These disciplines relate to the individual and focus on living a healthy, fulfilled and masterful life.
Asana - The word asana means ‘to be’, in the sense of being in a posture. The asanas were developed for the maintenance of a healthy mind and body, with each posture affecting the body, mind and emotions in a unique way and working as a pathway to balance and wellbeing.
Pranayama - In the practice of pranayama, we develop breathing techniques that increase oxygen intake and strengthen lung capacity while also increasing the absorption of prana, or life force. In its simplest form, pranayama involves deep, full breathing.
Dharana - Following on from pratyahara, dharana is the ability to be completely internally absorbed and focused. This practice of single-pointed concentration stills the mind and leads to profound quietness within.
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Tags: Yoga kripalu |
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