I decided to do the very much publicized "Master Cleanse" some time ago but my body and mind were not willing to commit. This was sometime in the winter when it was cold and dry and really the last thing my body needed was to be sucking down gallons of a lemonade-only diet! In the winter, our bodies crave warmth and comfort. We find it in soups and in rich, hearty meals with plenty of carbs. I remember many of my spa colleagues struggling to get down their cold leafy salads during this time. Now that spring is near, our bodies crave what's cool and refreshing but as I said in the previous post "Spring Forward into Your Healing", we must first clear the winter clutter.
As March rolled around this year I found myself feeling extra tired with muscle and joint pain along with having headaches. I felt like a walking bucket of toxins! And of course I was still struggling to lose that last ten pounds that sits right around my middle - all ten pounds of it - AArgh! I can't really blame that on the "baby" anymore because she's almost two years-old. My husband was also experiencing the same effects of too much rich and sugary foods of the past season - we knew things had to change.
We would start out with a detox cleanse. Years ago I was put on an ayurvedic detox program for three weeks to clear up my skin but my body had never looked so good! The detox diet consisted of fruits, veggies, tofu, rice and pasta (believe it or not!), beans, raw honey, vegan soups, yeast and wheat free waffles, vegan sausage, dried fruit. I COULD NOT have the following: NO bread, vinegar, yeast, animal anything (meat, fish, dairy, eggs, etc.) nuts, sugar, condiments, bananas, tomatoes in moderation. By week two all I wanted was chicken! I was in major withdrawal but I stuck to it and by the end of week three - 21 days - I was a brand new woman. Not only had my face cleared up but my body hadn't looked that good in years. My bowel movements had no smell and neither did my sweat, I had so much energy and did not need my usual 9-10 hours of sleep to feel well rested - 6-7 hours were great. Since then I've slipped back into bad eating habits but I know that there is a remedy in proper nutrition just waiting for me and all of us who seek it and I will return.
Visit our website at www.zensoulspa.com
Friday, March 9, 2007
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Spring Forward into Your Healing!
Spring is right around the corner and that means only one thing... Spring Cleaning! It's time to clear out the stagnation and congestion of winter's heavy foods and inactivity, and cleanse. This time of year represents all things new and reborn. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring relates to the Wood element which embodies the energy of our liver and gallbladder. The liver is in charge of the smooth flow of energy ("Chi") in our bodies and for cleansing and storing the blood. But when the liver is pushed into dis-ease by accumulated toxic foods, wastes and emotions (anger is the emotion stored in the liver), the liver's function is hindered resulting in fatigue, muscle stiffness, pain/soreness, allergies, headaches, and hormonal imbalance. In chronic stages, liver dysfunction can result in depression, anemia, chronic fatigue and immune system deficiency.
Take this time to do a wonderful detox diet to start anew, feel light and refreshed and prepare your body for health and wealth in the upcoming season. Remember if we don't do it, colds, allergies, and fevers will take over as our body's way of getting rid of any debilitating wastes. Detox diets on the other hand, have been shown to improve energy, skin, and attitude. Not to mention eliminating many unexplained ailments like certain joint, nerve and muscle pain, headaches, and constipation.
Warm or hot salt baths (dead sea or Epsom) are an amazing addition to your cleansing regimen, particularly after a stressful day. An entire 4lb container (housed in the half-gallon container) of Epsom salt or 1lb of dead sea salt poured into a hot bath will flush your muscles of metabolic wastes and help you detox through the skin. Immerse your entire body - neck included - and soak for 15-60 minutes. Baths combined with sauna and steam will provide optimal results. Remember regular massage as well, it further assists in flushing toxins, increases your alertness and mental clarity and makes you feel wonderfully renewed!
So spring forward and take the first step into your healing through detoxification. To read more about detox diets and the benefits of massage click on the links below:
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/dietarytherapy/a/Detox_Diet_Plan.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2001_May/ai_73959324
http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/research.htm
Visit my website at http://www.zensoulspa.com/
*Pregnant and nursing mothers should not follow any of these suggestions and people with diabetes and high blood pressure should avoid salt baths. Always consult your physician before beginning any diet or cleansing program.
Take this time to do a wonderful detox diet to start anew, feel light and refreshed and prepare your body for health and wealth in the upcoming season. Remember if we don't do it, colds, allergies, and fevers will take over as our body's way of getting rid of any debilitating wastes. Detox diets on the other hand, have been shown to improve energy, skin, and attitude. Not to mention eliminating many unexplained ailments like certain joint, nerve and muscle pain, headaches, and constipation.
Warm or hot salt baths (dead sea or Epsom) are an amazing addition to your cleansing regimen, particularly after a stressful day. An entire 4lb container (housed in the half-gallon container) of Epsom salt or 1lb of dead sea salt poured into a hot bath will flush your muscles of metabolic wastes and help you detox through the skin. Immerse your entire body - neck included - and soak for 15-60 minutes. Baths combined with sauna and steam will provide optimal results. Remember regular massage as well, it further assists in flushing toxins, increases your alertness and mental clarity and makes you feel wonderfully renewed!
So spring forward and take the first step into your healing through detoxification. To read more about detox diets and the benefits of massage click on the links below:
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/dietarytherapy/a/Detox_Diet_Plan.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2001_May/ai_73959324
http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/research.htm
Visit my website at http://www.zensoulspa.com/
*Pregnant and nursing mothers should not follow any of these suggestions and people with diabetes and high blood pressure should avoid salt baths. Always consult your physician before beginning any diet or cleansing program.
Oprah Gets Acupuncture?!!!!
Welcome to my massage and acupuncture blog! I'm committed to bringing you the latest news and information on these healing modalities. Feel free to add your comments as you see fit.
Recently, worldwide attention and awareness was brought to acupuncture on The Oprah Winfrey Show - my absolute favorite show!
Recurring guest expert, Dr. Oz, validated the benefits of acupuncture and "alternative medicine" as a whole on a recent February show this year, stating its extremely long standing effectiveness in treating many common health conditions.
Oprah, in spite of her fear of needles, received her first acupuncture treatment from a New York Licensed Acupuncturist LIVE in front of a studio audience while a lucky audience member got treated backstage for constant "radiating shoulder pain". Oprah marveled at the painless insertion of the needles while Angela, the audience member who got treated for her shoulder pain backstage, had immediate results! She told the audience that the constant pain she was experiencing had left as a direct result of the simple acupuncture treatment she received. Check out this clip from the show to get the full story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWXPed6PMNk
Click link below for my website:
http://www.zensoulspa.com/
Recently, worldwide attention and awareness was brought to acupuncture on The Oprah Winfrey Show - my absolute favorite show!
Recurring guest expert, Dr. Oz, validated the benefits of acupuncture and "alternative medicine" as a whole on a recent February show this year, stating its extremely long standing effectiveness in treating many common health conditions.
Oprah, in spite of her fear of needles, received her first acupuncture treatment from a New York Licensed Acupuncturist LIVE in front of a studio audience while a lucky audience member got treated backstage for constant "radiating shoulder pain". Oprah marveled at the painless insertion of the needles while Angela, the audience member who got treated for her shoulder pain backstage, had immediate results! She told the audience that the constant pain she was experiencing had left as a direct result of the simple acupuncture treatment she received. Check out this clip from the show to get the full story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWXPed6PMNk
Click link below for my website:
http://www.zensoulspa.com/
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