Archive for April, 2010

The Essence of the Healing Power of Reiki

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

By Sue Coughtry, LMT, Reiki Master /Teacher

I found a wonderful article about Reiki in the May 2010 issue of Body and Soul magazine (Touch of Grace by Lynn Darling, page 72-75).  It very poignantly describes the anger that a woman experiences as she undergoes radiation treatment for her breast cancer.  Her descriptions are so very personal and vivid.  She is not a woman who puts much faith in alternative therapies but decides to see if Reiki can help her release some of her anger.  She describes what she experiences during her first Reiki session, and how it really did allow her to let the anger go, finding more peace and freedom and comfort than she had felt in a long time.   In her words “whatever Reiki is, and whether or not, by any quantifiable measure, it works, it works for me.”  I found the article to be very moving.  It shows how taking a chance and trying something new in times of great challenges can give you such gifts and tools to help you on your way.  A sidebar in this article also explains that New York’s Beth Israel Medical Center has “recently launched a program that includes Reiki as one of 5 interventions used to create an optimal healing environment on the cancer floor”.  Reiki is becoming more accepted and used by major medical centers all the time.  I have been working with Reiki for 14 years and can attest to its ability to bring peace and comfort, to relieve pain and stress, and to encourage healing, as well as to maintain your health.  It is a wonderful tool to explore, and you can learn to use it for yourself very easily.  Reiki started me, many years ago, on my path to healing myself to, now, helping others to find their own healing through working at the Center.   It is a powerful and profound tool of healing and transformation, and yet is so simple.  If you so desire, see where it can take you.

Spring Cleaning

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

By Jim Whiting, Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor

We often think of Spring as being associated with house cleaning, but it is also important to cleanse the body. Removing environmental, processed food, and everyday accumulated toxins is important for maintaining overall health.  Detoxing can help speed recovery and keep our systems in good working order.  Fasting is an excellent method for detoxing.

While most of us eat 3 square meals a day, limiting our intake can start to take toxins out of our systems and increase energy.  A weekly fast can be helpful for cleansing on a regular basis.  It may seem impossible to do, but going slowly can ease you into a routine.  Here are some ways you can work a weekly fast into your routine:

WEEK 1:  Pick one day of the week and skip one meal.

WEEK 2:  On the same day, skip two meals.  You can replace the meals with fruit or juice.  Drink  lots of water to flush impurities out of your system.

WEEK 3:  Skip all meals for the day only,  replacing meals with juice or fruit.

WEEK 4:  Leave out the fruit and simply have juice or water for that day.

It is essential to try not to jump in to the whole fast at once, rushing in has been the cause of many failed diets and cleansing routines.

If you get cravings, drink liquids; water, cranberry juice, or a naturally sweetened fruit juice. Coffee should be avoided as it can cause cravings, as well as deplete the body of nutrients.  Green tea is a good coffee substitute.

Let your body adjust to going without a meal before moving to the next level. It may take several weeks, and several stops and starts to get into a positive fasting routine, but the benefits can be well worth the work.

The day after fasting you will wake up energized, you will be able to deal with the temptation of snacking and resist foods your body naturally knows are not healthy. The brain/thoughts will be clearer and the senses heightened.

A cleansing fast helps to maintain or lose weight, and keeps the body running like a fine tuned engine, burning fuel efficiently.

There are many ways and types of fasting/cleansing methods you can use for different results. The practitioners here at the center can help you to choose a cleansing method that works for you. If you are on any medications or special dietary restrictions always consult your physician before starting a fast.

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