Think going to the spa is just about feeling good for a day? Here a six additional benefits you can reap, at no extra cost.

I view going to a spa as giving my body an extra special thank you for all that is provided to me however I know that while I’m at the spa, my mind, body and spirit are absorbing so much more.

Education: Everything done at a spa is about what we take home with us. You might learn how to be more balanced in your body, you might learn how to cook a nutritious meal simply and elegantly. Either way you will leave feeling informed and empowered to make healthy changes in your life. Spas also provide a chance to learn about skin and body care in an individualized way. A spa provides a safe haven where we can educate ourselves about how to take the best care of ourselves.

Balance: Overworked and overwhelmed are two words that many of us would use describe ourselves. We are simply doing too much and are unable to feel truly calm, centered and focused. When people leave a spa they are usually more balanced because they have experienced some tranquility and peace. They are also motivated to try to maintain that effect because it feels so much better.

Self-Acceptance:  There aren’t many places that feel truly private, where we can take off the masks we wear for the world and strip down to our essence, but a spa is one of them. By going to a spa, you are taking time out of your busy life and invoking all your senses to stay grounded in the present moment.  Simply by deciding to visit a spa, we express a consciousness that our bodies deserve to honored and taken care of. This important acknowledgement can be the start of a new, healthier way of thinking about our physical selves.

Gratitude:  Most of us go through life with a tape playing in our heads that tells us all the things we are doing wrong and all the ways we don’t measure up. How often do we stop and do the opposite count up all the thing in our lives that we are thankful for? Visiting a spa provides a rare opportunity, a chance to reflect on our lives and what matters to us. A guided meditation ma lead us to a new appreciation for love and family as the anchor that makes everything else in life worthwhile. An energy healing might allow us to identify a source of pain and give us the insights and personal power to set about changing it.

Touch:  A good massage is about much more than relief for sore muscles, a healing tought can be a profound experience of personal connection, to others and to the world at large. Massage not only release a cascade of hormones that fight stress and anxiety, it offers us new awareness of our bodies and what they need. Our bodies talk to us all the time, but we don’t know how to listen until something really goes wrong and we are in terrible pain. Massage gives us the chance to catch things before that happens.

Well-Being:  Simply taking time to take care of ourselves is a revolutionary act for many of us. It requires a complete change in thinking from our usual priorities. The health benefits that come from visiting a spa are real and concrete, whether it’s the stress-fighting benefits of reflexology or the detoxification effects of a body wrap. Purging toxins and remineralizing the skin can make a real difference after just one treatment. More important, is the profound effect of taking time to focus on you own well-being, whether for just a few hours or a few days. In essence you are saying to yourself, I’m important too. I deserve to be cared for and any self-help expert will tell you that we can’t effectively help other unless we heal ourselves first.

Namaste,

Rochele Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

http://www.rochelelawson.com

http://www.healthhealingwellness.com

For a Free Stress Assessment go to: http://www.freegiftsfromrochele.com

http://webtalkradio.net/shows/blissful-living

Having difficulty sticking to lifting weights during your workout.

These 5 tips will help you stick with it so that you can feel good about what you’re doing and enjoy the end result of looking great!

1)  Be a Calendar Girl… Circle wedding, vacations, or any date on which you know you’ll want to show off a toned body. Then mark at least 2 days each week when you’ll life to prepare for the event.

2)  Alarm Yourself… Set your cell phone to test you a reminder on strength-training days. For visual encouragement, change your screen’s background to an inspiring image, like an athlete whose body you admire.

3)  Grin and Bare it… Wear shorts and a racer-back top on the days you lift. You’ll pay more attention to your form and even crank out extra reps if you can see the areas you are targeting.

4)  Pay it Forward… Put a couple of bucks in a jar every time you hit the weights. After a few months of regular workouts, you’ll have enough cash to buy yourself a reward, like a smaller pair of jeans.

5)  Create a Visual Cue… Once you notice definition, have a friend snap a photo of you in a flattering outfit and make it your Facebook profile picture. You’ll show off your success and be inspired to stick with your routine every time you sign in.

Happy Lifting!

Namaste,

Rochele Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

For a free Stress Assessement go to: http://www.freegiftsfromrochele.com

http://webtalkradio.net.shows/blissful-living

http://www.healthhealingwellness.com

http://www.rochelelawson.com

In Ayurveda, it is believed that the Divine provides with all that we need to take care of and treat our bodies. These natural ingredients consist of herbs and essential oils.

Some of the herbs use are:

Amla: High in vitamin C, this antibacterial Indian gooseberry fruit is useful in revitalizing the skin and hair and preventing gray strands. Internally it can help maintain eye and lung health.

Ashwagandha: Also known as winter cherry, this fruit is a good stress reliever, and also helps to boost the immune system and nourish muscles and bones.

Brahmi: This herb can relieve insomnia and stress, help prevent fluid retention and promote hair growth.

Gota Kola: A popular ingredient in anti-aging skin products, gota kola or Indian Pennywort, helps to increase circulation and promotes cell growth and skin regeneration.

Neem: A powerful antibacterial and healer, neem leaf is used topically to help treat psoriasis, eczema, acne, dry skin, dandruff and other skin irregularities. In India it is also a popular ingredient in toothpaste.

Saffron: Antibacterial saffron helps to brighten and even the complexion and hydrate the skin.

Tulsi: Rich in vitamin C, calcium and antioxidants, tulsi, also known as holy basil works as an anti-inflammatory to help both respiratory and skin disorders.

Essential Oils:

Scents that focus and center: frankincense, lavender, petitgrain, rosemary

Scents that energize: grapefruit, lemon, peppermint, pine

Scents that soothe and relax: cedar, orange, rose sandalwood

Developed by sages more than 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is a complete healing system that works to achieve balance in mind, body and spirit. The “Science of Life,” as it’s called, draws its inspiration from nature whose laws have always favored equilibrium and is today the basis for much of the spa and wellness work taking place in India and throughout the world.

An integral part of the ancient Vedas, or sacred texts, Ayurveda believes that the five elements in the universe – fire, water, earth, air, ether (space) are present in our physiology, and that it’s the imbalance of these elements that leads to illness. To help prevent or treat this, the practice uses a mix of science and philosophy to nourish and balance each of these components, resulting in total harmony.

The science itself is broken down into eight specialties (everything from internal medicine and allergies to psychology and beauty is addressed), but the practice always begins with the diagnosing of a client’s dosha, or body type. These doshas represent the five elements, and while a bit of each can be found in all of us, most people fall into one of three main categories, Vata, Pitta or Kapha. Once your dosha is determined, the practitioner will know what services and herbs will work best for you in helping you to achieve balance and harmony in your mind, body and spirit.

So based on the above information, I would say Ayurveda is definitely “old school medicine” operating and healing in a “new school world.”

To learn more, visit: www.healthhealingwellness.com

Wishing you much health and wellness!

Namaste,

Rochele Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

“The Queen of Feeling Fabulous”

For a FREE Stress Assessment go to: http://www.freegiftsfromrochele.com

When you are in a state of genuine creative inspiration, you are connected to a greater force. To be creatively inspired is to enter a zone where ideas, movements, words, music flow through you. The pleasure of true creativity comes from the fact that it connects you directly to the Self, to the innate creativity of the universal consciousness itself. When we are at our most creative, we are the most in touch with the Divine.  Inspired creativity can flow in a conversation when all the participants are open to being channels for something to come that is greater than any one individual can access. It can arise when you ask for inner guidance in solving a problem. Or it can come totally on its own, as a gift.

What does it take to experience the pleasure of being inspired? First, you have to be willing and able to surrender to it, to let go of the fears, doubts and beliefs that block you from receiving inspiration. Second, you need to have the skill and patience to translate the inspiration into action. And third, you need to be able to notice and avoid the pride that comes in when you are tempted to “own” the gifts of inspiration. Experiencing the  full depth of joy in inspiration demands that you let go of the feeling ” I did this,” and that you recognize that creative inspiration comes from the essence, from the Self. The practice for experiencing the pleasure of creativity is non-doer-ship: what Taoism call the action of non action.

Namaste,

Rochele M. Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

For thousands of years Yoga, the sister science of Ayurveda has been used as a way to get more in tuned with one’s spiritual self. It originated in India and takes a holistic approach to life, enabling you to experience balance inside and out.Yoga consists of a unique blend of physical exercises, psychological insight and philosophy. It can assist you with bringing your body, mind and spirit into balance.

Traditionally there are four paths of yoga. Most westerners believe that yoga is the act of performing asanas or various poses and stretches but yoga is much deeper than that. Although each of the four paths of yoga are complete disciplines within themselves, it is best to combine all four practices for the benefits of bringing harmony to the emotional, intellectual and physical aspects of your life. The four paths of yoga consist of Hatha and Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga.

For the purpose of this article we will be discussing how Hatha and Raja Yogarelease your hidden energy. This is the yogic path of body and mind control. It is best known for its practical aspects, particularly its asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing exercises). This path teaches ways of controlling the body and mind, including silent meditation and its practices gradually transform the energy of the body and mind into spiritual energy. It is through this harmonizing of energizing of the mind, body and spirit that the hidden energystores are released.

It is said that the practice of Yoga brings calmness to the mind at all times, brings restful sleep, it increases energy, vigor, vitality, longevity and high standard of health, it allows you to turn out higher quality of work, more effectively in a shorter period of time and it can help bring success to every area of life. In addition to these benefits which many have to do with increasing your energy,yoga also improves muscle elasticity, joint range of motion and flexibility. Through the controlled breathing, meditation and asanas (poses) relaxation of the mind and body begin to occur which is a powerful aid for relieving stress. Yoga has been used very successfully in the management of stress and can be used to reduce pain, lower blood pressure and heart rate and decrease anxiety and muscle tension.

Internally, Yoga benefits the organs through massage. The wide range of asanas or poses performed during a Yoga session massages many of the body’s internal organs. This massage action helps to stimulate the internal organs, increasing blood flow to the area and increasing the ability to ward off disease and improve the organ’s function. With the positive effects on muscle strength and flexibility as well as massaging of the internal organs, Yoga boost blood and lymph circulation throughout the body and immune function which results in faster excretion of harmful toxins. Still another benefit is the fact that due to the increase in blood circulation throughout the body increased nourishment and waste exchange is occurring at the cellular level. This leads to increased mental awareness, increased vitality and increased energy.

As a result of the stress reduction, detoxification, and improvements in strength and flexibility, it believed that those who practice Yoga are said to live longer, healthier and more energetic lives. Yoga is said to affect all areas of life, physiological, biological and mental. Yoga provides the body and mind with new, challenging stimuli that unlocks your awareness, stimulates your body and connects you to your spirit. This beautiful act of self love unlocks the hiddenenergy within you in such subtle, gentle and loving ways that you will feel balanced, clear, peaceful, healthy and happy.

Namaste,

Rochele M. Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

“She who hears music feels his solitude peopled at once,” wrote the post Robert Browning. And anyone who’s ever been uplifted by a favorite tune when feeling blue knows exactly what he meant.

For thousand of years, people have used sound and vibration, including music to relax, access deeper states of consciousness, and heal their bodies. Practices like chanting and drumming or using Tibetan singing bowls and Chinese meditation gongs, are just a few examples of how sound and vibration are incorporated into daily life. In nada yoga, the yoga of sound the human voice and classical Indian instruments are used as a path to self-realization, opening the spiritual channels and harmonizing the physical body. “The ultimate goal of nada yoga is self- realization through connecting with the anahata naada, the unstruck inner sound or the sound of our True Being.” says Shanti Shivani, a nada yoga teacher, vocalist, and sound healer.

Whether its chanting mantra or singing along with your favorite CD, sound and music have the power to change your mood, and maybe your health too. Research suggests that music can have beneficial effects on health ranging from reducing chronic pain to improving the recovery of stroke victims. “ The ancient traditions all say that we are sound, we are frequency,” say Shivani. “Western scientists are discovering that the ancient knowledge is correct.

The next time you are stuck in traffic, feeling stressed and overwhelmed, feeling under pressure or are just having a difficult day, pop in your favorite CD or turn on some soothing music and let the vibrations of the music soothe your mind, body and soul.
Feel the music and vibrations melting your stress away.

Namaste,

Rochele M. Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

As an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner I love sharing the wonderful qualities ofhealing that this beautiful science has to offer us. Today I would like to share with you some information regarding the healing of self – Abhyanga.

The Ayurvedic practice of self-Abhyanga or warm-oil massage, dosha oil specific, is a soothing treatment for all body types. Depending on the Dosha or body type of the person doing a self-Abhyanga, the oil used during the massage is specific to the needs of the dosha at that time.  Some excellent oils to use for self -Abhyanga are Organic Sesame, Coconut and Sunflower. As a self-care treatment, it is traditionally done in the morning, before bathing or showering and is especially useful as a daily ritual in the winter months. With Abhyanga the warm oil penetrates the skin; its lubricating quality is complete and balancing on all levels. It is very nourishing for the body.

Self-Abhyanga is used to help direct ama (toxins) from the tissues to the organs of elimination. Done regularly it can improve circulation and digestion,  it relaxes the nervous system, nourishes the skin, creates feeling of groundedness and focus and increases immunity and radiance which results from good digestion and strong immune function.

Plan to spend at least 10 minutes massaging the entire body after coating it in oil and then resting for at least 10 minutes before washing the oil off. If you do not have time to rest and let the oil sink in, try lubricating the body in oil before beginning the massage to give it more time to sit on your skin. Remember to be careful when getting into the bath tub or shower due to the oil on your skin. Do not put any oil on the bottom of you feet.

Once in the shower allow the warm water to run over your body for a few minutes before adding soap.

Enjoy the benefits of radiance and know that by performing a self -Abhyangamassage on yourself that you are committing an act of self love which is all encompassing and beneficial to the mind and the body.

Boost your Immune system, increase your circulation, and stimulatedetoxification naturally by giving yourself a self- Abhyanga today!

Enjoy and let the healing begin.

Namaste,

Rochele M. Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

As we begin to move through the winter season and after months of loading up on heavy, hardy and dense foods we may have developed some cravings that are beginning to manifest in areas like our waist, abdomen, hips and thighs. I wanted to take this time to share with you 9 secrets that will help you conquer your cravings, naturally.

Now if you are thinking that the above sounds a little like you or that you don’t have any cravings you just like to eat good wholesome food then I am here to tell you that if you do something that is not good for you long enough, you will begin to crave it. This is just the way our brain is set up and this is a result of having to survive in extreme situations during the history of man.

You probably think that admitting to the fact that you have cravings is a sign of weakness. What is actually happening is that your craving may be a sign that your brain’s rewards system has been hijacked. A brain’s rewards system is a complex network of brain systems and neurotransmitters that are critical to human survival. It drives us to seek out the things we need to stay alive and carry on the human race. Important chemicals involved with self control of cravings are Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA and Endorphins. Dopamine is a feel good chemical, Serotonin is the happy, anti-worry, flexibility chemical, GABA is the jumper starter to calm or relax the brain and the Endorphins act on the body in many ways controlling everything from breathing to judgment and emotions. Now listen to this secret, when these chemicals in the brain are balanced you can be focused, goal-oriented and have control over your cravings.

Now that you have a little better understanding of the system behind cravings, let’s get into the 9 strategies to assist you with controlling your cravings.

1. Keep Your Blood Sugar Balanced – Eat a nutritious breakfast every day, add a dash of cinnamon to your food or in warm water, have smaller meals throughout the day and stay away from simple sugars and refined carbohydrates. Go for the freshest food possible.
2. Stop The Use of Artificial Sweeteners – If you use these in your diet get rid of them now! This includes the use of diet sodas or soft drinks. Use a natural no-calorie sweetener instead like Stevia.
3. Manage Your Stress – Anything stressful can trigger certain hormones that activate your cravings. Chronic stress is the number 1 cause of disease. Find ways to manage your stress such as stress management classes. Deep breathing, Yoga and Meditation are wonderful for assisting with stress.
4. Outsmart Sneaky Triggers – To control your cravings, you have to control your triggers. Know the people, places and thing that fuel your cravings and plan ahead for your vulnerable times. For example carry a healthy snack with you that way if you get tempted to give in to a craving, you have something to snack on instead that is healthy.
5. Find Out About Your Constitution or Body Type – Knowing your body type is the key to your road map for proper eating for you. With this information you will know what is good for you and what you should avoid that will enhance your cravings even more. An Ayurveda Health Practitioner can assist you with finding out what your body type or constitution is.
6. Practice Willpower To Retrain Your Brain – Will power is like a muscle. You have to use it or lose it. Self-control is very important if you want to accomplish anything in life. No matter what the reason is for your lack of willpower, you can strengthen it but you need to practice doing this. Make it a habit to say no to the thing that are not good for you and over time, you will find it easier to do.
7. Get Moving – When you feel a craving coming on, get up and move. If you can take a fifteen minute brisk walk. If you can not take a walk then jogging in place or doing jumping jacks for 30 seconds will help to get your heart pumping and take your mind off of the craving. Try it, it really works.
8. Get Adequate Sleep – This is one of the main pillars of life in Ayurveda and is very important in how we feel and how we handle various situations that come into our lives. Important fact for you to know is that the lace of sleep increases food cravings. The less sleep you get the more cravings you have. Lack of sleep not only plays a role in cravings and weight but it also reduces overall brain function and increases irritability. If you want to curb cravings, get thinner, smarter, happier and have more energy aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
9. Take Herbs or Herbal Supplements To Control Cravings – Herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat the body. It is the most natural, wholesome source of medicine that exists here on earth. Herbs that have been used to curb cravings are Saffron, St. John’s Wort, Green Tea Leaf and Valerian Root to name a few.

By incorporating the 9 secrets to conquering your cravings into your life, I know that overtime you will begin to experience the magic that comes from having control in a natural and holistic way. Your mind will thank you by allowing you to stay focused and energized and your body will thank you by not packing on those extra pounds around the middle. Come Spring time you will be ready to spring forth with vibrancy and energy with peace of mind and control.

Namaste,

Rochele M. Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

Here is a little gift that I want to give to you that I have utlized in my life and the lives of my clients. It is a natural drink that has powerful antibiotic and antiviral properties in it which fights colds and flu. You can make this in small quantities and use when cold or flu symptoms appear.

Here is what you will need:

• 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh lemon balm or 1/2 teaspoon dried lemon balm
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground echinacea or astragalus
• 1/2 teaspoon of finely grated gingerroot or 1/4 teaspoon ground gingerroot
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped dried licorice or 1/4 teaspoon powdered licorice
• 4 cups of boiling water

In a non-reactive teapot, combine thyme, lemon balm, garlic, echinacea,ginger and licorice. Cover with boiling water and steep for 15 minutes. Strain into a clean jar, cover with lid. Store in refrigerator for up to 2 days. Drink 1/2 to 1 cup four times per day.

* Caution: Do not use if you have high blood pressure.

Enjoy this tea and allow it to bringing healing and wellness to your life.

Namaste,

Rochele M. Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS