 With all the stresses brought by the modern world, it is only common for people to look for alternatives in relieving their stress. Aside from steering towards to medications and other treatments that give the promise of comfort and relaxations, people are now leaning to ancient methods of relieving stress such as Reiki.
The Japanese word "Reiki" refers to a unique technique that is used for reducing stress. Ultimately used to relieve aches brought by too much stress, Reiki is also used to aid relaxation and healing; not only of the person's physical body but his or her soul and spirit as well. Administered by "laying on hands," this technique for healing is believed to be effective through the use of an invisible force of life energy that flows in every living and breathing individual. This energy can be sent distantly. In the concept of Reiki, it is believed that when the level of a person's life force energy is incredibly low, he or she will likely to be stressed out more often and have a higher tendency to get sick or ill compared to those people with high level of life energy force. In Reiki, it is also proven that those people who are living healthy, stress-free and happy lives possess high level of life force energy which enable them to have positive outlook in life. These people also have greater capability to face the challenges of everyday living. Developed by Mikao Usui, a Japanese Tendai Buddhist in the year 1922. Since its discovery, Reiki has evolved in various forms and has been practiced by numerous Reiki masters across the globe. Reiki as a means of healing Because it uses the innate warmth and energy in a person, this energy is then converted to a "purer" form of energy—free from the busy schedule and toxicities of modern living. People who have tried Reiki say that the technique does not only treat the person's physical body but also alleviates the burden in emotions, lessens the clutter of the mind, and nourishes a deteriorated spirit. When a person is free from all these physical and emotional burdens, he or she will benefit from a relaxed in almost all kinds of environment because the feelings of calmness and serenity are infused within his or her system. Unlike other techniques for relaxation, Reiki is one of the most simple and all natural means of healing a person's spirit. In fact, it is so safe that almost all people can make use of it. When used properly and trained religiously, Reiki can be an answer to all the health and emotional problems of people. But, in order to make use of the Reiki properly, one must attend a class where the ability is transferred. Using "attunement" conducted by a Reiki master, one can easily learn to convert his or her innate energy into a healthy and beneficial use. Here, the student is guided by the master in tapping the limitless source of energy and use it to improve his or her quality of life.  When it comes to spiritual healing, Kundalini Reiki is considered by many people as one of most basic yet effective means of today. This is because the practice involves simple and easily understood structures that anybody can practice.
Many people—who are into spiritual healing—are into Kundalini Reiki because it is far more easier that the practice of the traditional Reiki. Since Kundalini Reiki is derived from the traditional Reiki, majority of its techniques, means of treatments, and principles are pretty much the same. Only that Kundalini Reiki uses simpler methods to achieve spiritual healing in a faster and more convenient manner. How Kundalini Reiki works When we say Kundalini, it usually refers to the opening of various "healing channels" and "chakras" that give people easy access in gaining the energy of the Earth. Here, the "root chakra" serves as the center of energy that paves the way for the Kundalini energy to enter. Also referred to as the "Kundalini fire," Kundalini energy is said to flow throughout the person's body and taps into the body's "main energy channel." Once the energy has reached the "main energy channel," the Kundalini Reiki will now exit the "crown chakra," and comes back in a form of cycle. In Kundalini Reiki, the energy that has been released from a person through a channel enters the "root chakra," passes through the "crown chakra"—which is usually located on top of a person's head—and stays there for a period of time. During its stay in the "crown chakra," the Kundalini Reiki cleanses the "chakras" in different parts of the body and channels it all throughout the system. Here’s the step-by-step procedure how Kundalini Reiki works: 1. The first step in making Kundalini Reiki work is by opening the channels where Reiki energy will flow. This step is called the "first attunement." This process also prepares the person for the second awakening of the Kundalini Reiki. Here, the person's chakras in the hand, crown, and hand are opened and strengthened at the same time to complete the first phase. This first step is said to be the equivalent of Usui's Reiki 1 to 3 attunements which most people who practice traditional Reiki use. 2. The second step in making Kundalini Reiki work is the strengthening of the channels. After the initial awakening of the Kundalini Reiki, the channels, where the life force energy is, should be strengthened so it can accommodate the channeled energy. When the channels are strengthened, it ensures the receiving of the energy in a gentle and surely manner. This process also paves that way for igniting the Kundalini energy and enables it to reach its minimum chakra. 3. The third step in making Kundalini Reiki work is strengthening the channels where the Kundalini fire will reach its maximum limit. Once this is done, the Kundalini Reiki will then perform its task of cleansing the person's spirituality while strengthening and nurturing it. For the Kundalini Reiki to work more effectively, the person who's practicing it may also include extra attunements including "balance," and the use of "Diamond Reiki," "Crystalline Reiki," "DNA Reiki," "Birth Trauma Reiki," "Location Reiki," and "Past Life Reiki."  By: Paige Johnson
Forget year-long objectives that you simply don’t have the time or willpower to master. Instead, look to each morning as an opportunity to renew and revive your commitment to yourself and those you love.The most common New Year’s resolutions are also the easiest to break. These include those pertaining to weight loss, money management, relaxation, travel, and drug and alcohol use. But, why are they so hard to master? The reason is simple: they are too difficult to change overnight and don’t allow for the celebration of small victories. Here, we present the top three resolutions and offer advice on how to master them one morning at a time. Weight loss In the United States, more than 66% of adults are overweight, with about half of these in the obese category. It’s no wonder that weight loss is the number one goal of men and women on January 1st, after weeks of holiday indulgences. Instead of determining that you’re going to lose 25 pounds this year, commit each morning to have a healthy breakfast. You can swap out bacon and eggs for a healthy dose of Greek yogurt, fruit, and heart-healthy oatmeal. Instead of deciding to go to the gym five days a week, take an evening walk with your family or park as far away from the entrance as possible while out running errands. Stop smoking/drink less You already know that drinking, smoking, and using drugs are bad for your mental and physical health and can even lead to an addiction problem. However, these habits are often ingrained in our psyches and become part of our day-to-day lives and they can be the hardest habits to break. Try walking away from one smoke break each day until your habit is manageable instead of throwing out an entire carton of cigarettes the first day of the year. Swap alcoholic drinks with virgin varieties, which will offer you the taste and sensation without the harmful side effects. Make a list of health benefits you will enjoy once these toxins have been eliminated from your body. Put this list in a visible location, such as on your desk, the refrigerator, or the bathroom mirror. Remember, these actions are not just an investment in yourself but also have a positive effect on your friends and family. Save money Many New Year’s resolutions begin with ambitious aspirations of saving for a lavish vacation, new car, or other big-ticket item. These goals can soon be overwhelmed with the daily task of paying bills, especially for those that live paycheck-to-paycheck. Lower your stress levels by refocusing away from the end goal. Instead, make a chart of smaller savings milestones, which will help you gradually step up and meet your objectives. One of the easiest ways to save money is by having a small portion of your paycheck automatically routed to the savings account. You may also consider working an occasional side job. You can set this money aside and be that much closer to achieving your financial goals. Setting goals for yourself as an exercise in mental and physical discipline. It is just as rewarding as it is challenging. Listing smaller objectives will help you feel better about your decision and will offer you a tangible way to visualize your accomplishments. Don’t let small setbacks get you down and learn to look at failure as an opportunity to reevaluate your intentions. Create an environment that is conducive to success by taking some time for yourself each day. Meditate, draw, write, or simply have a cup of coffee in the fresh morning air. Whatever you need to do to clear your mind, do it so that you can start your day with the focus you need to succeed.  Whether you are newbie or an experienced stone collector, these are definitely the most useful, must have stones that will get you by and offer some amazing, healing, energy to help along the way.
Amethyst is a great meditation stone and it helps sooth the nerves. It works in the emotional, spiritual, and physical planes to promote calm, balance, and peace. It is also used to eliminate impatience. This is a universal protection stone that protects you in traveling, against thieves, and from energy vampires. It is a stone of strength and perseverance as it helps with addictions but also brings happiness to those in need. It is great for all 7 chakras. This stone is also great for relieving stress. Carnelian is a stone to rid oneself of anger, jealousy, and fear. It helps with aiding in creativity, dealing with past lives, finding a mate, and for memory. It is also a stone for manifestion and good luck. Carnelian is said to help with sores, rejuvenate tissues and cells, rheumatism, kidney stones and other kidney problems, gall stones, colds, pollen allergies, and neuralgia. This stone helps the sacral chakra. Sodalite is a stone that works in groups. It helps with logic, communication, and rationality. It is also known as the truth stone. It is a stone of knowledge so it helps with learning and thinking. This stone is said to be beneficial for the glands, diabetes, digestive system, lymphatic cancer, relieving insomnia, and decreasing calcium deficiency. It is also used in crystal healing for quicker relief of head colds. It helps the throat chakra. Clear Quartz is an all around all purpose stone. It is one of a kind because it does so much.. It repels against negativity because of the its known light prisms that shine through. It helps purify and clarify things. Known to balance relationships. It can aid in studying, creativity, astral travel, manifestation, channeling, dream recall and dream work. It can possibly be effective for chronic fatigue, arthritis, bone injuries, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, intestinal troubles. It also is said to improve mental and physical energy, stamina, and physical strength. This stone helps all 7 chakras. Rose Quartz is a love stone because of its gentleness and compassion. This stone is great for the heart chakra and for unconditional love in any situation or outcome. This stone helps bring inner warmth, but it also lowers stress and soothes those around it. This stone is great for during the grieving process. This stone is know to bring forgiveness, comfort, peace, and self worth. It is known to heal the heart chakra Lapis Lazuli helps create a spiritual connection between both worlds. This stone provides strong protection stone and helps aid in manifestation. It also helps with meditation. It can bring mental and emotional virility and strengthen the mind. It also is said to enhance creativity. Its energy can help organize daily life as well as organizing and quieting a busy or restless mind. lessening confusion, and increasing concentration. Lapis gives strength and ability to overcome abuse issues, trauma, rape recovery, as well as depression and grief by bringing spiritual love. Lapis is said to help with sinus ailments, cancer, headaches, nervous system, speech problems, pituitary gland, body strength, virility, pain relief, heart, immune system, RLS, spleen, bones, autism, depression, epilepsy, seizures, eye and vertigo vision problems, sleep disorders including insomnia, fibromyalgia, feminine reproductive system including PMS, thyroid, RNA/DNA damage, and tuberculosis. This stone aids the throat and 3rd eye chakra. Bloodstone is great for centering and grounding. This stone brings success, abundance, prosperity, and helps with legal issues. Its energies remove confusion and anxiety. Bloodstone is said by intuitive sources to be helpful in treating anemia and other diseases of the blood, blood pressure, bleeding, cardiovascular system, cramps,diabetes, lupus, colds, endocrine system, kidney, bladder, physical strength issues, flu, physical traumas, and post-surgical issues. Obsidian is an awesome grounding stone that repels negativity and provides protection in any situation. This stone is great for the root chakra to remove fear when situations arise. It also helps from other people. This stone is known for cutting cords. Obsidian is said to benefit the stomach, intestines, muscle tissue, and can rid one of bacterial or viral infections. It sharpens and focuses internal and external vision, and helps get in touch with buried issues before they explode. Malachite assists in making these transformational changes with a gentleness of the heart, easing the transition from one state to the other. It is also known as a traveler's stone. This stone brings good fortune and prosperity by bringing confidence to get things done in the workforce. It aids in courage and also helps with protection especially during pregnancy and childbirth, and protection for children. It is said to help adrenal glandsasthma, arthritis, pregnancy, childbirth, acid reflux (GERD), immune system, epilepsy and seizures, headaches, circulatory system, bones, skin disorders, vertigo, teeth, gums, rising throat problems, tissue regeneration, and tumors. It is also used for general healing by way of transforming illness and dis-ease to a state of well-being. This stone aids the heart chakra. Tiger's Eye is a stone known for wisdom and clarity. It is helps with grounding. It enhances integrity, willpower, self-confidence, practicality and correct use of power. It is a stone that enhances good luck, and brings prosperity, often in the form of money. This stone is also great for the root chakra. Aventurine helps with creativity, and imagination by giving mental clarity. It brings prosperity and brings friendships. It gives a calm energy that balances things. It is a stone of luck and said to help when gambling or playing games. It brings strength. It is said to be beneficial for blood, circulatory system, balancing blood pressure, sinus problems, nausea, headaches, general health, allergies, eczema, fever, and sleep disorders. Note that healing crystal meanings are spiritual supports to healing and are not prescriptions or health care information.  A rose by any other name is not a rose. The Romans, who scented their wine with rose petals, connected the flower with Venus, the goddess of love. Rose water has been around for many centuries and has many healing properties. You can use it as a skin toner, in your bath, wear it as a natural perfume, and as a face refresher to freshen your face throughout the day. Rose water has traditionally been used to relieve occasional indigestion and constipation, ease menstrual bleeding, and reduce redness and swelling. Rose water also fights harmful organisms and can help ease coughing and throat irritation. In aromatherapy, rose water helps to soothe headaches and calm the nerves.
Here is a DIY recipe to create your own. Ingredients *Organic Roses (as many as you like-I used 7 stems) *Distilled water (enough to cover the rose petals- I used about 1.5 litres) 1)Remove petals from stems and run them under luke-warm water to remove any leftover residue. 2)Add petals to a large pot and top with enough distilled water to just cover (no more or you'll dilute your rosewater). over medium-low heat bring the water to a simmer and cover. 3)Let simmer for 20-30 minutes or until petals have lost their color and are a pale pink. 4)Strain the mixture to separate the petals from the water. Discard petals and place water in a glass jar to store.  Grounding is a process of dynamic contact with the Earth, with its edge, boundaries, and limitations. Grounding is an important exercise that helps us to be solid in the things that we do and helps us from getting winded with the chaos going on around us. It allows us to release any energies that don't serve our higher self or the blocks that prevent us from receiving the things we should get or want out of life. Grounding helps us to manifest things in our lives because we are rooted strongly and it gives us the confidence and the willpower to achieve anything we set our hearts and minds to. When ungrounded, we are left feeling fearful of everything, constantly worried with doubt, anxiety, and no ambitions because of low self-esteem. Also,it makes us feel emotions that may not be our own but rather those around us because we pick up everything around us. For example, you may go to work happy and in a great mood but by the end of the day you could be angry and frustrated. These emotions could necessarily not be yours but rather the emotions of the boss you work for because they were in a bad mood and taking it out on you. Other signs that include being ungrounded are:
Even if you don't have a higher source or aren't spiritual, it still well worth to be grounded because Grounding/Earthing is all about the awareness that we are still in a physical body. Grounding is effective because of the following:
A simple little exercise that can help you ground yourself is to imagine your legs as the roots of a thick, solid Oak tree that is sinking into the soil of Mother Earth and firmly rooting your roots into the core of the Earth. Or, you can simply imagine yourself as a huge mountain that can not be moved and your foundation is firmly set into Gia (earth). You can also picture the root chakra color red. If you are not able to ground yourself this way there are other methods. Sometimes, it is hard for people to ground themselves with these examples because it is easier to imagine ourselves coming from above to the earth. That is fine also because we need our crown chakra in alignment with our root chakra in order to be grounded. Our crown chakra is what connects us to our higher selves and our divine. You can imagine a bright, white light is flooding your crown chakra and this light starts to flood from the crown all the way to your feet, the root chakra, grounding you into the Earth. There are other ways you can ground yourself with activities like yoga, walking barefooted, gardening, fitness, carrying crystals with you, being around nature and animals, eating healthy, and drinking water. Once you start grounding yourself, the possibilities are endless!  You ever get that uncertain feeling in your stomach when you are jumping into the unknown, when you are try something new, or when you aren't expecting what is coming your way. Sometimes, this could be something simple or other times it could be something that it entirely HUGE! These little or huge things can give us a negative or positive impression causing us to either never try things out again or letting it become our favorite pass time. There are tons of different activities that do this for us and yoga is and should be one of them. Yoga has so many health benefits, on both a physical and spiritual level, that it would be a tragedy for anyone to miss out on them because they made a silly avoidable mistake on their first day. Here are the 3 most common beginner mistakes and here is how you can avoid them.
Mistake #1: Not knowing what you want from Yoga? The reality is that there are a variety of different styles and forms of Yoga. Each has it's own different type of attractions. Ask yourself what it was about Yoga in general that attracted you and then you can investigate a style that caters more specifically to it. You may like to set goals, they can either be physical, mental or spiritual. If you do then it's a good idea to discuss them with the instructor of any class that you take before you begin. Yoga instructors are usually very approachable and happy to talk about their passion. They will be able to talk to you about your goals for the class and let you know if you are aiming to high and where to start. Make sure your goals include a time frame so it becomes something that is measurable. Mistake #2: Jumping in Head on First! Most people having decided to give Yoga a try, many take a running leap and jump in to a 12 month stage by stage class. These classes are usually an upfront payment arrangement and progress from one level to the next as the weeks progress. They are a fantastic way of learning Yoga and becoming very good at it, but it's quite possibly you will choose a class that is not ideal for you so make sure that you speak to the instructor before jumping the gun. The best way around this is to join a Yoga beginner class, also known as a drop in class. Rates are usually reasonable and you can get special rates for being a first timer. If you do these classes for a few weeks you will notice a high turnover of students as new people join and old people move on. These classes are designed to give you a very broad feel for the different types of Yoga. The level of the students in the class usually varie greatly so you can expect the instructor to keep the classes at a beginner's level but offer some type of challenge. The other key benefit of doing this is that the classes are pay as you go so there is no big financial strain on your wallet while you decide the type and style of yoga that best suits you. You are also not obligated to attend every class. With longer courses, you can fall behind quickly if you miss a week or two in a row. With the pay as you go classes, you will find that while each class is different the level stays quite low but challenging in other areas to cater all the newer people joining in. Mistake #3: Choosing the wrong teacher. A lot of times, having the wrong instructor will either cause you to come back or leave for good. Everyone teaches different and you may not find that perfect instructor the first time. It could take several tries to find that right one. You should not give up yoga just because the first time went bad for you. Every teacher has a different flow or personality. However, when choosing your instructor, make sure to ask questions about their background and history to gain insight on the knowledge that they know.  Pigeon is a great yoga pose to release tight hips helping to release the hip flexors, glutes, inner groin, the quads, and often relieving sciatica. This pose also helps relieve stress that we put on our hips from everyday stress. Just like we tense our upper backs when we are under tension so do our hips. This pose helps isolate those muscles in the hip area. You would think that there would be no other pose compared to regular pigeon. However, guess again! There is and it is called double pigeon. Double pigeon is also known as fire log pose, knee to ankle pose, and square pose. If you are already intermediate to advanced in pigeon and your hips are pretty flexible then you can always try to challenge yourself with double pigeon. Double pigeon is more intense and does require hip opening instead of causing your hips to open like regular pigeon does. There are also some slight differences. Double pigeon is good for the following:
To get into this pose, do the following:
  As humans we have a bunch of factors that contribute to our health. In fact so many, that there are to many to list. However, the #1 main thing that triggers all of these issues, hard to contain, and starts a domino effect is and always will be stress. Stress is the number one enemy that we deal with everyday. It is a harmful emotional state or tension within the body. Any tension that we put on our bodies automatically opens us to any medical, emotional or psychological issues. Our bodies can only take so much. We live with it constantly with our hectic work schedules, family life, personal lives, current situations, and personal mentality. It doesn't seem to ever go away but then again if it did life would be pretty repetitious. If you are one of those ones that think you are not stressed. Think again! We can be stressed out without even realizing it. There is not a full proof way to live life without it. In fact, it is really more about how you deal with it. There are bad coping skills that you could be using without noticing. Bad coping skills consist of:
Fortunately, there are great coping skills that you can acquire. You can change old habits. Never forget that! It can be hard at first but if you keep at it you can change them eventually. Good stress management skills include:
It's like I tell people, yoga is our manual to life. It's not only for physical benefits but mentally and emotionally too. Yoga brings awareness. Each pose brings a feeling and sensation of what we are feeling. It let's us know what our body is saying to us and what our bodies feel like during a stressful situation. If you are not sure how to start and would like to start with yoga, you can always start with Asanas first. During yoga, we give ourselves and our minds a piece of ease. Yoga teaches us to flow with any situation, get rid of negativity, and learn to be happier where we are. Everyone has the ability to cope and stay calm. It is just a matter if you want to and if you allow yourself to. Awareness, prana (oxygen), and meditation are the BEST skills to use to cope with stress because it is free and no prescription is required. It prepares us for what's next to come, how to deal with things, and keep an overall mind, body, and soul. Namaste and Many blessings!
 Most people enjoy the taste of fish. It is the best source of protein and is high in omega oils which is great for the following medical issues:
When buying fish, make sure that it's one not high in mercury. Not all fishes are bad because of mercury but also because of their diet or their environment. For example, catfish are the bottom feeders which means they are usually oily and have a dirty taste or smell to them because they eat the leftovers and whatever else they can catch. However, it is good to buy wild caught because farm raised are the ones with a comprised diet and environments. They are packed like sardines in one little area and their waste are usually what they eat as well as chicken waste which is what farmers feed them. Another example, tilapia. It is the worst fish out of all in my opinion. This fish is the most common amd often bought in households because it is affordable. It is like one site says " tilapia is the chicken of the sea". This fish is low in omega oils, contains the worse kind of fat, is worse than eating bacon, they eat worse than any other fish that are farm raised, and are full of hormones to help them get bigger causing their reproductive organs from growing. So, they have no sex! What is healthy about that! This methyltestosterone chemical in their system is bad for the liver and cause liver toxicity. So, next time you are shopping and you are unsure where your fish came from, should you buy it, is it wild caught, or is it healthy enough for you and your family, make sure that you do your research. There's tons of information and opinions about which ones are. You just have to go through it and decide for yourself. |
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