Mindful Book Review ~ 10 Day Ayurveda Detox: Achieve Optimal Health & Wellbeing e-Guide

Start the New Year off right with tips from Christaine Erspamer in her "how to detox guide!

"A Guide to Ayurvedic Cleansing for Optimal Health & Wellbeing" by Christiane Erspamer, LMT, RYT

                                    

Book Review by Wiesje Brion, Chief Editor

What good is a healthy regime without our cleanse?!

This book is so easy to read, even for beginners. Christiane offers some great pointers on how to prepare your body for the cleanse and I love that it gives you a step by step guide to the cleanse process from beginning to end. This book is complete with recipes specifically for your ten day cleanse. It can't get any easier than this without the author coming to your door and doing it for you!


The other great benefit to this guide is that it is online. You can read it on your reader or copy it to PDF and even print it out. Perfect for those of us learning on-the-go types!


This e-book is so inexpensive that you could buy a few as gifts for your closest loved ones.

Buy it today!

Why Cleanse?

Guest Author; Melinda Baxter

Everywhere you turn these days there is information to be had and products to be purchased for cleansing. Most of instinctively realize that a cleanse could be a good thing for us. Most of us eat too much sugar and processed foods and drink more alcohol than is recommended by the FDA. So what does a cleanse actually accomplish and should you do one? I’ve done a myriad of cleanses personally so I know what I like to offer as a Health Coach. For me a cleanse is a way to calm inflammation in the body first and foremost. Many of us have inflammation in our bodies that we can’t necessarily feel. Systemic inflammation is the precursor to so many modern diseases ranging from Cancer to M.S. By reducing inflammatory foods our body can begin to repair itself and heal systems that are being taxed by the inflammation. A primary system that becomes damaged by our lifestyles and diets is the digestive system. Doing a whole foods based cleanse that allows you to eat and not starve but still reduce inflammation and reduce or remove negative symptoms is a lovely gift to your body!

January Cleanse: https://m.facebook.com/events/342569729218325


Melinda Baxter is a CHHC, CYT, LMT, FDN practicing in Woolwich, ME. To learn more about her and her cleanses please go to www.melindabaxter.com.

Surf To Heal

Guest Author Daniel Bolton, LMHC

Sometimes a problem has been a problem for so long it is difficult to recognize it. Even if you do recognize it the idea, alone, feels overwhelming. It’s also possible that you've thought about it for so long or that it is part of a repetitive pattern of thinking, that sitting around and talking about it, in and of itself, may not be enough to shake things up and get things moving in your life. In fact, if it is part of an anxiety process, talking about it repetitively may make the anxiety worse. Exercise has been shown in extensive research, some using brain scans, to significantly reduce anxiety.



As a therapist I can recommend every client that in addition to regular talk therapy they also take action and get into an exercise routine, and advise that those with low confidence in themselves do something they had in their mind they'd never be able to do. Changing the whole scene where we do the work, and actively applying these strategies is another option, which is what I've been doing most recently with Surf to Heal. I find that clients’ motivation outside the session wanes and it has long been documented that lack of progress in therapy is related to clients not applying similar recommendations independently outside of the session.



Part of the concept behind Surf to Heal is that immersing oneself in the water, and being part of the process of nature is healing in and of itself. This is also a concept inherent in Adventure Therapy, which has become quite popular in the last decade. Outside of the the inherent therapeutic effects of being in the ocean or connecting with nature, surfing is a great metaphor for life and overcoming hardships involved in it. It takes persistence and teaches each surfer, novice and veteran alike, that each challenge is an opportunity to either give up or learn from and become stronger. Surfing is also a great way to overcome fear. Who is not afraid being out in the open ocean, especially when a wave is walling up in front of you, while you are out there alone floating on a board. I believe most people think surfing is something they are not able to do. I certainly had this thought, but by going out and doing it, even on my worst days when all I did was fall, I overcame many self-limiting beliefs. Surfing was a large part of my own healing process a few years ago. Bottom line, why would I not make available something that I found so profoundly healing to others just because it seemed out of the norm?



My life and my practice is about overcoming fear, pain and adversity and coming out a stronger and more resilient person from it. This is what I want to share with people in need of guidance to navigate the fear, pain, and adversity they've experienced in their own life. I certainly don't believe that surfing can heal all wounds in and of itself, but there are certainly a lot of people who feel this way. In combination with guidance from a therapist, there is amazing potential to provide what people need to heal.

Daniel Bolton, LMHC

Surf To Heal

Do you struggle with your weight and don’t know why?

 Dosha Quiz

Guest Author; Claudia Richey

This is one of the most common complaints I hear in my practice.

Weight issues and obesity have become an epidemic in our hemisphere. Most weight loss programs are a band aid that delivers a temporary fix with results that won’t last.

Yet your soul already knows there is a better solution to the problem.

Introducing Ayurveda. This ancient healing system from India has identified that there are different body types which react differently to food, lifestyle, and surroundings. Each of these body types, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, gain weight for different reasons, carry it in different areas of their body, and have different challenges in maintaining a healthy weight.

The Vata type, when unbalanced, tends to carry more weight around the hips, thighs, and lower abs. Pitta puts it on evenly, where as Kapha tends to gain it all round the torso and midsection.

Each of these types responds to different dietary measures, there is no one-fits-all approach.

Someone aiming to achieve a healthy body weight should follow a clean diet of fresh and easy to digest foods, including warm soups, stews and porridges. Avoiding processed food is just as important as getting nutrients from vibrant fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

To activate healthy digestion and a sluggish metabolism, try this tea that’s appropriate for all three Dosha Types:

Boil one liter of water with 1 tsp each crushed Fennel, Cumin and Coriander seed. Add 2-3 pieces of thinly sliced fresh Ginger. Let the tea simmer for ten minutes. Remove from heat and add Green Tea, 1 teabag or 1 tsp lose tea. Let steep for another 5 minutes, then fill your tea into a thermos and sip throughout the day.

Finding and maintaining your ideal body weight doesn’t have to be a struggle. Knowing your body and who you are plays a big role in your success.

Use your challenges and turn them into an enjoyable journey to discovering yourself!

By Claudia Richey, AWC, R.PT., R.AT., NWS, RYT

http://www.doshafit.com

Take the Dosha quiz to begin your path to a new you! 

Dosha Quiz

Authentic Ayurvedic Body Treatments ~ A Guide to Get You Started

Guest Author; Christiane Erspamer

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old healing system from India. The foundation of traditional Ayurveda is the belief that everything in the universe is composed of five elements: air, fire, earth, water, and ether, which intermix to form three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) that govern a person's body type, mental and emotional characteristics, and personality. Here is a brief introduction to some of the Ayurvedic treatments available today!



Abhyanga: A traditional Ayurvedic massage to bring balance to the doshas, increase circulation, and aid detoxification.

Garshana: The therapist wears raw silk gloves, briskly massaging the client. This vigorous treatment increases circulation, energy, toxin removal, and weight loss.

Kati basti: A massage using heat and specific medicated oils to address low-back pain and rigidity of the lower spine.

Pinda: The client is massaged using muslin bags full of rice, milk, and herbs. This is very relaxing and has a particular and unmistakable fragrance.

Pizzichilli: Large amounts of warm oil are poured over the body while the therapist performs massage. This treatment decreases muscle pain and brings flexibility to joints.

Swedana: An herbal steam treatment usually given after a massage. It is used for detoxification and balancing for vata and kapha types.

Udvartana: An invigorating massage delivered with the application of herbal paste, which increases circulation, stimulates weight loss, supports detoxification, and cleanses, exfoliates, and tones the skin.

Christiane Erspamer of Holistic Path, Licensed Massage Therapist, 

Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Panchakarma Technician  

*For more on Christiane and Holistic Path visit http://holisticpathduluth.com

9 Tricks to Stop Worrying As Much

 Guest Author, Sandy Getzky

Worrying is a normal response to stress, but normal doesn't always mean it’s harmless. Spending too much time in this state of mind can lead you down the road to anxiety and cause a number of health issues. You could end up getting sick more often, getting less sleep and eating too much or too little. Thankfully, there are several ways for you to stop yourself from worrying so much.

Try these tips to keep the worrying at bay and start feeling calmer and more in control:

Practice mindfulness: 

This basically boils down to being more aware of your thoughts. Although this might sound like encouragement to continue worrying, it actually means that you passively let the thoughts go through your mind without letting them get to you.

Schedule time to worry:

Give yourself 30 minutes a day to focus on what’s bothering you, no matter how big or small those worries are. Whether it’s a fight with a friend, a big project at work or a bad case toenail fungus, don’t let those worries intrude on your thoughts at any other time of the day. During your worry session, come up with solutions to handle your problems.

Put it in writing:

Jot down your troubles on paper instead of leaving them floating around in your head. Being able to see your worries written out can help you deal with them more effectively. 

Say “om”: 

Set aside time for meditation on a daily basis. Meditating helps you feel less anxious and can help you worry less.

Give yourself a break:

Striving to live healthy is a noble goal, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t always do it. Skipping a workout session or eating an unhealthy snack on occasion isn't something to worry about. 

Don’t worry about worrying: 

You can’t always help feeling worried, and dwelling on the fact that you’re worrying isn’t going to help. Trying to stop yourself from doing any kind of worrying could actually backfire and make you more anxious.

Take technological timeouts:

Resist the urge to check your phone, email and social media sites several times throughout the day. Stay unplugged by doing something else, like going outside, taking a nap or reading a book instead.

Get physically active:

Doing a workout is a great way to ease anxiety and stay healthy. Exercise causes your brain to release more of the “feel good” chemical called serotonin.

Us your hands: 

If you tend to worry about serious issues or a traumatic event from your past, keeping your hands busy could prevent these thoughts from taking over your brain.

If doing all of the above seems overwhelming, just pick a few tips that appeal to you the most. You might find that your worries slip away more from practicing one of these tricks, or it might take a few to help you feel less anxious on a regular basis. Just remember that your goal is to worry less overall, not stop entirely. A little bit of worry can be a good thing if it makes you more productive at tackling problems.

The author Sandy Getzky is an associate editor at ProveMyMeds, a public health and education start-up focused on producing helpful resources concerning the treatment of common ailments.

The Pill Problem

 How to Protect Your Health from the Side Effects of Oral Contraceptives by Ross Pelton, R.Ph., CCN The Natural Pharmacist

The extensive list of side effects are unreal! Are we really leaving our health into the hands of pharmacists who only have their pockets as their priority rather than genuine interest in health?!

Know your body and know the truth
Side effect come in subtle waves or as obvious symptoms. Pay attention to how you feel, your body has your best interest as homeostasis is its ultimate job. Discuss with your physician the side effects that you notice, which may be the just the information your physician needs to determine if the medication you are prescribed is right for you. Health issues to be aware of may consist of:

• Fatigue
• Blood Clots
• Birth Defects

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To learn more order your copy of The Pill Problem today! 
The book gives you the information you need to make the best decisions on oral contraceptives. Ask yourself, do I really need these pills? Are there alternatives? Many times alternatives are immediate and have less side effects if any. Be mindful of what you put in your body, many drugs made by pharmaceutical companies are actually more harmful and only cover up annoying symptoms. The idea that you can be cured by a pill is false. Of course there are some cases that medication is necessary in this case, if alternative medications such as Naturopathic, Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and other options are not helpful then synthetic alopathic pharmaceuticals may be in order. It is in your best interest to get as many physician opinions as possible, be sure to let your primary Doctor know before you plan to change your prescription plan. 

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Here are a few links recommended by Ross Pelton. He is a great resource, and invites you to read these articles about some of the side effects associated with birth control pills. His goal is to educate women about the side effects of birth control pills and to let you know that there are some effective things that can be done to prevent these problems.

1) Birth control pills & depression

2) Sexual side effects of birth control pills

3) Increased risk of birth defects

4) Low energy

5) Insomnia


Connect with Ross Pelton  rosspelton@naturalpharmacist.net

* Disclaimer: This information is strictly educational. Mindful Magazine, www.mindfulmag.com, employees, and guest authors do not have an opinion on your heal and how you handle it, nor do we take responsibility for your actions and how you interpret this book review. It is always in your best interest to discuss your health plan with your physician.