Category Archives: blissful living

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The Blissful Way To Jumpstart Your Day

 

This is the Vata season

As the season changes, what’s going on around us? The temperature is dropping, leaves are changing colors and falling, and we feel change within. Vata — light, airy, dry and governing movement — has great qualities. In our bodies, when Vata is in balance it is expressed as mental alertness, ability to fall asleep easily, good circulation, calm demeanor, balanced digestion and elimination, and balanced body temperature. But oh boy! When Vata is out of balance, we may notice that we are tired and forgetful, spaced out; we may experience difficulty falling asleep, occasional constipation, poor circulation (cold feet & hands), or occasional feelings of anxiousness and worry. So, how do we find that balance during the winter when Vata is in full effect? To counteract its uneven, variable nature, one of the best antidotes to balance Vata is regular routine! If you know you are a Vata dosha then you are a head of the game and if you don’t know your Dosha keep reading to find out how you can learn what your dosha is.  (Those with Vata disorders often find themselves in a rush, always in a hurry. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to structure a more relaxed daily routine. Take it easy and slow down; enjoy abhyanga, warm baths and turning off electronics — disengage. This is important for mental, emotional and physical health!) However if you are not a vata the information in this article is still very important to you no matter what dosha you may be.

Start the morning with the intention to cultivate balance. When we take the time to invest in our Ayurvedic daily routine, we are jump-starting our day in the most powerful way — balanced and ready for anything!

Here are the goodies…

 Make a Plan

To be successful, routine needs a plan. So map out the morning according to your own personal schedule. For example, if you have to be at work at 8:30 a.m., it’s easy to fit this routine in if you wake up by 6:00 a.m. An early wake-up call, with the rising sun, is smooth when accompanied by an early bedtime. Ayurveda recommends going to bed by 10:00 p.m. during the drowsy Kapha time of night (6:00 – 10:00 p.m.).

Ayurvedic Daily Routine

  1. Wake up in the morning before 6:00 a.m.
  2. If easy and natural… eliminate: empty bowel and bladder. Don’t strain. Ayurveda never wants us to resist healthy natural urges, or strain by trying to force them.
  3. Wash your face.
  4. Brush your teeth and scrape your tongue (Tongue scraping, really… don’t roll your eyes! See instructions below).
  5. Afterward, this is a good time to drink a cup of water.
  6. Perform Abhyanga — warm Ayurvedic oil self-massage.
  7. It’s best to wait 10-15 minutes for the oil to soak in between your massage and bath. If you don’t have time, immediately jumping in the shower is OK. The waiting time while letting the oil soak in could also be spent swishing oil in your mouth, known as oil pulling.
  8. Bathe or shower. Use warm rather than hot water.
  9. Perform Yoga Asanas and breathing, called Pranayama.
  10. Meditate for twenty minutes.
  11. Eat a light breakfast — a stewed apple or pear and/or warm cereal are ideal.
  12. Then… work or school — you are ready to do this!

Take these recommendations one-step at a time, and don’t feel overwhelmed. And remember to cultivate a habit of taking it easy and slowing down. Balance that Vata!

Here are the specifics on these Ayurvedic morning routines:

Elimination

According to Ayurvedic principles, it is preferred to evacuate the bowels in the morning. Our body’s clock leans toward following the cycles of nature. During the nighttime, lunar energy is more predominant, so our body focuses on calming and cooling. In the morning, when the sun rises, our body goes into absorption phase when Agni — the active, burning and transforming solar energy — dominates. If, during the day, we carry around the waste material we created at night, we may absorb some of that waste material (toxins) back into our system, weakening immunity and leaving us feeling fatigued, drowsy and irritable during the day. Feeling energetic and relaxed are signs of proper evacuation. Twice a day is normal, but at least once a day is essential. Bowel movements affect our entire physiology, so don’t ignore urges and don’t wait! Through routine and a balanced diet, we can tune into our body’s internal clock and make regular elimination a part of our daily routine.

The use of nature’s intelligence, Ayurvedic herbs, can help smooth the elimination process into regularity.  To assist with this process try drinking a cup of warm water with a little lemon juice or a drop or two of lemon essential oil.

Tongue Scraping

“Ok, ok…. scrape my tongue?” We guarantee you, do it for one week and you will never quit. It is like brushing your teeth. Once you start, your mouth just doesn’t feel clean without doing it. It is also a great “meter” for ama, or digestive impurities (the result of incomplete or inefficient digestion). If you have a lot of residue, then think about your diet and routine and make changes. Tongue scraping has long been an important part of the recommended Ayurvedic daily routine. If you have ever noticed a film or coating (which can range in color from clear to white, yellow, or green) on your tongue in the morning, your body may have a build-up of ama that can compromise your digestive and immune systems. This simple, yet important, method of cleaning the tongue removes ama, the toxic coating or film, before the body reabsorbs it.

Here’s How to Scrape Your Tongue:

  • After brushing your teeth first thing in the morning, grab your tongue cleaner. The Tongue Cleaner is traditional sterling silver and designed for ease and efficiency. In a bind, the front of a silver spoon can be used in place of a tongue cleaner. (Why silver? Silver is known for its antibacterial properties.)
  • Relax your tongue so that the scraper contacts maximum surface area, and place the scraper as far back on your tongue as comfortable. Gently yet firmly, scrape the entire surface from back to front.
  • Rinse the scraper well with hot water after each use.
  • Repeat this process 3-5 times, until your tongue looks clean, and pinkish or red in color.
  • Be careful as not to scrape the tongue too hard, destroying your taste buds. Gentle pressure is all that is needed to scrape the tongue.

Oil Pulling

Sesame and coconut oils are regularly used in Ayurveda to detoxify or “pull” toxins from the skin that they are applied to — so no surprise here that oil pulling can be done with either of these oils. This simple routine involves swishing (not gargling) one tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 2 to 20 minutes – whatever is comfortable. It’s not as bad as it sounds! It feels great, draws out bacteria and has been shown to promote healthy gums and teeth and reduce tartar build-up.

Embrace oil pulling as part of your daily teeth-cleaning routine, and remember these few things:

  • Swish the oil gently. If your jaw or mouth starts aching, slow down. Go easy on yourself!
  • Avoid swallowing the oil while swishing.
  • Once you are done pulling, spit the oil into the trash or outside, not in the sink, because over time the oil may clog pipes.
  • After spitting, rinse your mouth with water before consuming any beverages.

Abhyanga

Self oil massage, Abhyanga; helps calm the mind and nervous system. Daily Abhyanga is especially important for Vata, as it helps alleviate dry skin that is often a result of Vata imbalance. The skin is one of the primary seats of Vata dosha, so massaging your body every morning with warm, Vata-pacifying such as Sesame can go a long way toward soothing the entire nervous system and emotions. It’s just a matter of taking however many minutes you can spare — from 2 to 20 — to give your skin some love! It’s a powerful tool before or after a shower, and has healing qualities: increased circulation, toxin release, and stimulation of nerve endings.

Here’s How to Perform Abhyanga:

  • Place a small amount of warm oil in the palm of your hand for each point listed below (using small amounts will help you avoid feeling too oily).
  • Start with massaging the face and outer part of the ears.
  • Massage both the front and back of the neck and the upper part of the spine.
  • Massage the arms, using a back-and-forth motion over the long bones and a circular motion over the joints.
  • Use a circular motion to massage over the heart and a clockwise motion over the abdomen.
  • Massage the legs, using the same long motion over the leg bones and a circular motion over the joints.
  • Last but not least, massage the feet. Use the open part of your hand to massage vigorously back-and-forth over the soles.
  • After massaging your whole body, you can use a natural-bristle body brush with a vigorous motion upward toward your heart on the front and back of your feet, legs, arms, back and tummy.

Yoga Asanas

Yoga asanas are the preferred Ayurvedic way to exercise, because practiced properly they do not put undue strain on any one part of the physiology. Yoga asanas increase blood flow to vital organs, stimulate marma points (points in our bodies where concentrated prana is located) and activate the relaxation response, which is beneficial to the digestive system and all the systems of the body essential for good health.

Meditation

According to Ayurveda, we metabolize not just food, but with all our five senses. During Meditation all the senses are engaged and we experience a unique, silent state of awareness that becomes part of who we are. While all parts of the daily routine are important, the Meditation aspect is the most effective way to reduce stress. Just 20 minutes twice a day has the potential to regulate cortisol, the stress hormone, and increase serotonin, which is a sign of relaxation — ultimately reducing stress and feelings of anxiety. For a free guided meditation to: gifts4bliss.com

Ayurvedic Breakfast

Regular meals are an essential part of the Ayurvedic routine, with three warm, cooked meals a day. It’s preferred to eat them at the same time every day, as Vata digestion tends to be irregular. Start the day with an energizing meal to build an appetite for lunch, stimulate regular bowel movement, increase vitality and alertness, and provide a light but satisfying breakfast.

Go to gifts4bliss.com to get energizing Ayurvedic recipes that will help you to optimize your day in a positive and energizing way.

As I mentioned earlier knowing your dosha can assist you tremendously in knowing how to jumpstart your day. To find out your dosha click here: www.freegiftsfromrochele.com

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

www.rochelelawson.com
www.healthhealingwellness.com
www.blissful-living.net
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Food to Avoid Before You Go to Sleep to Get a Good Night’s Rest

In the last article on sleep [Increase Your Happiness and Productivity with Better Sleep], I mentioned that certain foods can keep you from getting good quality sleep. When you know what these foods are and avoid them, you’ll have a much better chance of falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting a restful seven to eight hours each night.

Keep in mind that some of the foods on this list are healthy foods, and I’m not saying they should be cut completely from your diet. All I’m saying is that they should be avoided before bedtime.

Please always speak with your physician or health care provider before making significant changes to your diet, particularly if you’re suffering from disease.

Why Sleep is Important

The body utilizes sleep time to restore itself completely so it can operate at optimum levels during waking hours. If something needs to be repaired in the body, it will take place while we are asleep.

People who are dealing with a disease process especially need quality sleep time to correct the problems that are occurring in the body, but also to be able to properly absorb the nutrients coming in through food.

Here are things to do, and foods to avoid, prior to going to bed so that you can ensure the best night’s rest possible…

Don’t Eat Anything at Least 2 Hours Before Bed. When you consume foods or beverages other than water less than 2 hours before laying down to sleep, your body will have to work hard to process the food and drink during sleep time. That time is supposed to be reserved for restoration.

Avoid Oats. Oats are great for breakfast, however when they are eaten at night their high fiber content can lead to digestive irritation, so avoid them in the later parts of the day.

Avoid Leafy Green Vegetables. These foods are natural diuretics and detoxifiers and they’re full of nutrients. However, because of this, they can cause us to wake up in the night to use the restroom. This also includes cabbage and beans. It’s simply easier for these foods to move through the body during the day because we’re up and active.

Avoid Ice Cream. This frosty treat is full of sugar and carbohydrates that act as stimulants. Ice cream contains natural energy, and bedtime is not the right time of day to take in energy.

Avoid Curry. The active component in curries can irritate the stomach, act as a stimulant and harm sleep patterns because they raise the body’s temperature. Waking up because you’re too hot is not helpful to sleep, so be sure to stay away from curry for 2-3 hours before bed.

Avoid Fruit. As beneficial as fruit is to our health, it still contains sugar, which acts as a stimulant that can interrupt sleep patterns. If you like smoothies, move them to earlier hours in the day so your body doesn’t have to fight off the sugar stimulation.

Avoid Cakes, Cookies and Other Processed Sweets. The combination of carbs and sugar in these sweet treats makes it hard for the body to relax. People reach for candy bars at 3 pm when their energy starts to dip because the sugar gets into the blood stream and stimulates everything… so an 8 pm candy bar is definitely not on the menu!

Avoid Red Meat. When eaten close to bedtime, red meat will not be digested properly. Some alternatives to the need for protein could be turkey or yogurt.

Avoid Pizza (and Other Greasy Fatty Foods). French fries, onion rings, nachos and similar greasy foods place a lot of stress on the stomach, especially before bedtime. Heartburn and indigestion can occur, particularly if these greasy foods are combined with beer.

Avoid Dark Chocolate. Now this is a food that has many benefits, however, when it comes to the evening hours it’s best to avoid dark chocolate due to its caffeine content. Eat dark chocolate during the day, as far away from bedtime as possible.

Avoid Alcohol. A nightcap may help you fall asleep, but it will not help you stay asleep. When people consume alcohol before bed, not only do they have trouble staying asleep, but they also wake up feeling more tired the next morning.

Avoid Caffeine. Stay away from caffeine before bed! People don’t realize that caffeine is in a lot of the everyday foods they consume: colas, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, energy drinks, candy bars, and even green tea. If you must have a warm drink before bed, try a hot cup of chamomile tea or hot water with lemon.

If you experience insomnia (or even if you don’t), avoid all the foods on this list before bed for a week and watch your quality of sleep improve drastically!

Want more natural health tips, straight from my desk? Click HERE [LINK: Free Gifts from Rochele] to receive more great information on how to improve your health, naturally.

Also, please pick up your free gifts here: http://www.gifts4free.com/

Namaste,
Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS</strong>
The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

www.rochelelawson.com
www.healthhealingwellness.com
www.blissful-living.net
www.youtube.com/rochelelawson
www.facebook.com/rochelelawson
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Increase Your Happiness and Productivity with Better Sleep

Did you know that sleep is one of the three pillars of Ayurveda? Along with eating and sex, sleep is considered one of the most important aspects of health and wellbeing.

Many scientific studies have shown that good, consistent sleep is vital to overall health and wellbeing. If you’re not sleeping well, eventually it will take a toll on your body and you will begin to manifest disease.

Today, let’s look at some of the main reasons people in the 21st century aren’t getting enough quality sleep, and what you can do to improve your chances of getting a great night’s rest.

Blame it on Technology Habits

These days, we have a lot of exciting technology around us all the time: advanced computers, smart phones and more television programming available 24 hours a day than you could imagine! If you are having trouble going to sleep or falling asleep, taking a look at your technology usage (particularly at night) is very important.

Does your phone tweet, bing, dingle or twinkle at you while you’re trying to sleep? Do you stare at a blue screen within several hours of hitting the pillow? These two habits alone can make a huge difference in your ability to go to sleep and stay asleep.

Make sure to avoid using screens a couple hours before bed, and turn your phone to silent before you go to sleep to avoid being woken up by email dings.

Blame it on Time Zone Changes

If you travel to multiple time zones during the week, you may have difficulty falling into a restful sleep pattern. For instance, if you’re on the East Coast for the first part of the week, then the central part of the country, and finally on the West Coast – well, that can be a big problem!

You may not be able to correct the fact that you have to travel, but you can do things to help you sleep better.

The cells in the body work on a 24-hour clock. Naturally, we’re programmed to be awake when it’s light out and asleep when it’s dark out. If you are traveling to multiple time zones, you must immediately adjust to the time zone in which you will be sleeping that night.

For instance, if you live on the West Coast and you’re visiting the East Coast, the clock will read 6 pm ET when your body thinks it’s 3 pm PT. Fall in line with the reading on the clock. Make your routine as regular as possible for the new time zone. If you normally eat dinner at 6 pm PT, eat it at 6 pm in whatever time zone you’ll be sleeping.

Your body will synch up and within a day or a day and a half it will adjust to that zone. It can be challenging, depending on your schedule, but it’s not impossible.

Blame it on the Alcohol Consumption

Many people use alcohol to try and fall asleep. It’s true that alcohol has a sedative quality that makes you fall asleep more easily, but studies have shown that drinking before bed interrupts sleep patterns significantly. With alcohol in your blood stream, you’ll wake up in the moments when your sleep cycle is changing.

This is exactly why people wake up after a night of drinking – even if they get a nice long sleep – still feeling groggy.

The Best Sleep Habits

To get the best night’s rest, try this routine about two hours before bedtime: turn off all electronics, dim the lights in the bedroom and listen to some relaxing music. Take a nice hot shower or bath and maybe even diffuse a little bit of lavender essential oil.

The most important thing you can do to help you get better sleep is create healthy habits that promote relaxation and address the root causes of insomnia, if any.

Would you like to connect with me one-on-one to find personalized ways of getting better sleep? Click HERE [Contact Page] to set up a time to speak with me privately. I work with clients to help them reach their greatest health potential, naturally and healthfully.

Also, please pick up your free gifts here: www.gifts4free.com

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect Sin título

www.rochelelawson.com
www.healthhealingwellness.com
www.blissful-living.net
www.youtube.com/rochelelawson
www.facebook.com/rochelelawson
www.stressassessmentmagic.com
www.freegiftsfromrochele.com
www.linkedin.com/rochelelawson

 

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Boost Your Immune System During Cold and Flu Season

The winter months are notorious for heralding the cold and flu season: more viruses are floating around, we spend time with other people who are sick, and there’s a big push for people to get the flu shot (of which I am not a fan). This is why it’s a great time of year to talk about what’s needed to build a healthy immune system.

The flu shot is not your only option to avoid contracting a virus this season. There are some fantastic and very powerful natural and healthy ways to boost your immune system so you don’t have to do any of the things that are pushed on us by the medical and pharmaceutical industry.

Follow these tips to stay really healthy and vibrant during this busy season!

Tip #1: Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap and water for 10-15 seconds – not using hand sanitizer – is the best thing you can do to prevent getting a cold or the flu.

Along these lines, avoid touching your mouth, eyes or any other place where a virus can enter your system easily before you have washed your hands well.

Even if you already wash your hands frequently, make a point to do it more often, and be sure to wash hard-to-reach places, like below the fingernails, where bacteria thrive.

Tip #2: Take Zinc with Vitamin C

Zinc is a trace mineral found in every tissue of the body and important for cell division. When most people have their Zinc levels tested they find out that they are low. I suggest a combination of Zinc and Vitamin C to keep the body working at an optimum level.

Another way to keep Zinc levels healthy is to add a multi-vitamin to your daily routine. Doctors don’t necessarily endorse vitamins, though they know how important they are (doctors often would rather push a pharmaceutical drug).

Tip #3: Take a Multi-Vitamin

A multi-vitamin is a really great option because even if you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, it can be difficult to get all the nutrients you need. Choose a good multi-vitamin that contains Vitamins C, A and all the B complexes. Add a bit of Magnesium and an Omega-3 supplement as well to give your body a complete boost.

Tip #4: Add Some Good Bacteria

The bacteria in the tummy are very important in order for your immune system to function properly. It’s natural to have good bacteria inhabit the stomach, and in fact, you want the “good” bacteria to outnumber the “bad” bacteria.

Add yogurt to your diet to increase the bacteria in your stomach. I also recommend a drink called Yakult, which contains good bacteria. The drink has live cultures in it, the bits of goodness that your body really likes.

Tip #5: Take in More Fiber

I can’t say enough about fiber! Fiber is so beneficial for the overall health of the immune system that we should all be eating more of it. It’s easy to do: just increase the leafy greens you consume on a day-to-day basis. You’ll get the extra vitamins and minerals from the vegetables and you’ll receive detoxifying benefits as well.

When you eat more fiber, you keep your colon cleansed so dangerous toxins don’t build up and get into your bloodstream.

Tip #6: Clean the Air

Essential oils like Wintergreen, Peppermint or Cedar wood will actually act as an air purifier when you diffuse them into the air, potentially eliminating the bacteria that may be floating in your home (say, from someone who sneezed without covering his or her mouth and nose).

Tip #7: Good a Good Night’s Rest Every Night

Americans in particular tend to underestimate how important it is for the body to get a good night of rest, every single night. Even losing a few hours once a week will affect how your immune system functions.

This season, if you take on these seven tips you will see great improvement of your immune system and very likely avoid contracting any viruses that may be floating around your space!

Are you looking for more ways to improve your health without resorting to pharmaceutical drugs? Click HERE [LINK: Free Gifts from Rochele] to learn some of my top ways to naturally increase your health and vitality!

 

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Want to Be More Creative? Get Some Zzz’s!

Last month, I’ve written a lot about how important it is to get adequate sleep. Are You Truly Getting Enough Sleep? I’ve talked about how sleep helps you fight and prevent disease, how it helps you look better and how it can boost your mood and help you manage your weight.

But there’s one thing I haven’t written about yet this month, although it may be one of the most fun and rewarding aspects of getting your quality sleep, and that is…

Getting good sleep helps you think more creatively!

 

Stress or Challenges? Bring it On!

People who regularly get the sleep they need are much more able to handle the stress and challenges that may arise in their everyday lives. It’s inevitable that you’ll feel stress at some point, even if you’re one of the most organized people in town. If you’ve gotten enough sleep, the obstacles won’t feel like as big a deal because your mind can more easily see the bigger picture.

You’ll have more self-control, more enthusiasm and more clarity and focus.

It’s been proven over and over again that people who get a good night’s rest have an easier time solving problems, sorting through complicated issues, and dealing with emotions. 10 times out of 10, the person who slept well can curtail any challenge that comes their way in a much more effective manner.

 

Creative Thinking & Memory Boosts

Part of the reason that good sleepers are better at handling problems is that their creative facility and their memory abilities are in tip-top shape. You can strengthen memories or practices that you learn during the day when you sleep at night, giving yourself a better overall sense of the big picture when you awaken the next morning.

When I was in college I would study right before going to bed. When I was sleeping, my memory processed the material and I was better able to retain the information the next day.

Since sleep so successfully helps us remember things, it is a great tool to use if you’re trying to learn something new (physical or mental). Of course, you can learn the new thing up to a certain point with daily practice, but when you sleep on it you’ll learn it better. No one can explain this, but when you sleep, something happens to the memory cells that helps the information stay put!

In addition to memory, sleep will get your creative juices flowing. How many times have you gotten a great night of sleep and woken up the next morning with an amazing idea?

Sometimes after I sleep really well, I take a pen and paper and write down all my incredible ideas to make sure they’re captured. I’ll sit back and think, “Where is this coming from? Was it hidden away in a trunk in my brain that sleep just happened to unlock?”

Sleep helps the brain reorganize and restructure things you may have learned during the day to come up with new, creative ideas that it wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

 

Know Your Number

It’s important to know how much sleep you need to make yourself function best because it will truly affect your quality of life. Some people only need 6 hours of sleep, and other people need 9 hours of sleep to accomplish the same level of restfulness.

This week, I encourage you to pay close attention to your sleep habits: how many hours do you need to wake up feeling wonderfully refreshed? How many hours is too little, or too many?

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If you’re ready to make some changes to improve your health naturally, let’s talk. Click HERE to schedule some complimentary private time with me and I’ll do everything I can to help you live your best and healthiest life.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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If You Suffer from Disease or Illness, Sleep Should be Your #1 Priority

People often believe that sleeping is something you do when you feel super tired. They don’t realize that sleep processes are actually vital to keeping the body healthy and disease-free.

Sleep goes way beyond getting rid of the bags under your eyes and putting you in a better mood: getting an adequate amount of quality sleep is essential for lifting your mood, managing your weight and creating a healthy lifestyle.

In fact, sleep is one of the most important aspects of healing. If you suffer from some sort of illness or disease process, good, quality sleep should be your first priority in getting well.

 

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During Sleep, the Body Heals Itself

You might have noticed that when you get a cold or the flu, you want to curl up in bed and sleep for hours. This is because when we sleep, the body is healing itself: since we’re not moving around and active, energy is funneled toward processing nutrients and fighting bacteria.

 

When you sleep, the immune system gets a big boost.

In fact, it has been shown that people who sleep better actually live longer lives. This may be in part because sleep helps to curb inflammation in the body – and inflammation can lead to heart disease, diabetes and premature aging.

Research has shown that people who get less than 6 hours of sleep nightly tend to have higher levels of inflammatory blood proteins, which can also lead to heart attack.

 

Sleep is Preventative

In general, people who sleep well are much less prone to disease or illness. This is not only because their body has the time it needs to restore the immune system and rejuvenate itself, but it’s also because when we sleep well, we have the mental facility to make better choices during the day.

When we don’t sleep well, we reach for candy bars or soda in the afternoon to fight daytime sleepiness. Or by the time we get home after work, we’re so exhausted that the idea of going on an evening walk or visiting the gym just feels imposible.

It’s been proven over and over again with regards to sleep: people that don’t get a good night’s rest cannot think as clearly the next day. 10 times out of 10, the person that has gotten the best sleep is going to be able to function better.

They can handle stress more easily, they can manage challenges that come their way, and they’re calmer throughout the day.

Not only that, but they look brighter, healthier and they’re much happier so people want to be around them!

 

I’m always surprised when I realize how we take sleep for granted. If you’re truly committed to living a healthy and long life, invest some time and energy into your sleep habits. Create some strong practices that leave you feeling cared for and nurtured, and you will enjoy the longevity you desire.

Want to find out how to achieve your sleep goals, naturally? Click HERE to set up a time to speak with me one-on-one and we’ll pinpoint how you can get better rest every night.

 

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Can’t Sleep? Here are 3 Common Reasons You’re Unable to Fall into a Deep Slumber

Have you ever noticed that the impact of missing even ONE good night of sleep can reverberate through your life for days? Sleep is so important for our bodies that it’s considered one of the main pillars of Ayurveda, an Eastern Indian holistic health modality that teaches your body to be well, naturally.

It is true that during this time of year, the autumn, our bodies tend to be thrown slightly off balance with the changing of the seasons.

However, if you’re feeling a little wacky from lack of quality sleep, it is likely due to one of these three common issues that plague modern Americans.

 

Reason Number 1: Electronic Notifications.

Sometimes trouble sleeping can be due to hormonal changes. In fact, my menopausal and pre-menopausal clients come to me on a regular basis concerned that the change in their body is affecting their sleep, and sometimes that is the case… but very often, trouble sleeping well is caused by electronics in the bedroom.

imagesOPVZLGRKThese days, we have access to wonderful technology that didn’t even exist 20 years ago. People fail to realize that all this technology, although it is great for our lives during the daytime to a certain extent, will wreck havoc on our rest periods at night.

For example, let’s say you keep your cell phone in the bedroom when you sleep at night. Every time someone tweets, posts on social media or sends you a message, the phone vibrates or makes a sound that stirs you.

When you’re constantly being awakened by these noises, the quality of sleep drops dramatically because you’re breaking it up into cycles that are not efficient for your body. You’re not allowing the body to complete a full, natural sleep cycle.

 

Reason Number 2: Electronic Energy Fields.

Not only do the notifications from the phone create problems, but the blue light emitted from the technology creates an issue wiondas-cerebralesth the energetic field in our bedrooms.

Your cellphone, iPad, Nook, television or any other electronic screen or device emits certain a certain type of blue light that interferes with the natural levels in our bodies and our natural meridian planes. This can create disturbances in the organic flow and processes of our body.

We’re not supposed to have all these blue lights shining at us right before bed or when we’re attempting to sleep.

 

Reason Number 3: Eating or Drinking Right Before Bed.

Other challenges to sleep include eating a heavy meal too late at night, which creates challenges for digestión.

banquete6During sleep, our bodies work at their most efficient levels to prepare for the next day. If you eat a rich meal before sleeping, you’re taking away the time it should have to relax and process nutrients. Now, the body actually has to work to digest the food, and when you’re in working mode, you’re not getting the rejuvenation the body desires and needs to function optimally.

Not only eating food, but drinking certain beverages will keep you tossing and turning. Any caffeinated beverage after 7 pm will stimulate your mind, and drinking alcohol, although many people believe it helps them sleep, will actually keep your body from entering and staying in a restful state through the night.

To get your best sleep, create a dark, quiet environment. Your bedroom should be peaceful (with no electronics) and kept at a moderate temperature. If you avoid these top three things that keep us prone to restless sleep, you may see a huge improvement in your nightly rest!

Are you looking for natural solutions for sleep disorders or problems? I would love to talk to you about how I can help. Click here to set up a complimentary call with me and I’ll give you some steps to take right away to get more restful sleep.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Are You Truly Getting Enough Sleep?

Good sleep is crucial to keeping your body balanced and fully functional, and yet, as summer begins to wind down and our bodies transition to autumn, we often begin to feel like something is “off.”

This is because we have shorter daylight hours and longer nighttime hours. Even though Mother Nature beckons us to bed with the setting sun, our bodies are used to being awake for longer periods of time. This mismatch can cause us to feel a little imbalance around this time of year.

In addition to this confusing change in daylight hours, as we age, our bodies generally require less sleep than when we were younger. Because of this, most adults don’t realize how important it is for them to get a really good night’s sleep every night. It can greatly affect their happiness, health and wellbeing.

Are you getting enough sleep? Quality vs. Quantity.

Sleep is one of those interesting things in life where the quality is actually more important than the quantity!

The higher quality sleep you get, the better you’re able to function. It doesn’t mean that you have to sleep for a full 8 hours – in fact, you may be a person who only needs 6 hours of quality sleep to feel completely rested.

The National Sleep Foundation found that even though people think they’re getting the right sleep, the majority of people actually aren’t. Their sleep bank accounts run short even if they’re getting enough hours of sleep but they’re not getting the right quality of sleep!

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They studied 40 million Americans that suffered from 60-70 different sleep disorders (insomnia, tossing and turning, sleep apnea, etc.) and found that, although 60% of adults report having chronic sleep problems, most of them go undiagnosed.

They think they’re sleeping well because they lay in bed for 8 hours, but actually, their body never drops into the deep REM cycles it needs to completely restore itself.

Are You Getting Enough Good Sleep?

Researchers estimate that more than 40% of adults experience some sort of daytime sleepiness, and 20% of adults in America report problems with sleeping for greater than a few days per week.

When left untreated (meaning, when the adults don’t take action to get more sleep at night), it begins to affect their daytime activities.

When you look at this data, you can see that sleep issues are a HUGE problem! Not only that, but daytime sleepiness can cause employees to perform poorly at work, become more forgetful and – this is a big one – eventually develop more serious health problems.

Do any of these things sounds like you? Are you getting enough good sleep?

If we don’t get good, quality sleep, we simply cannot function properly. Our mental, physical and emotional systems will become taxed, overwhelmed and eventually begin to break down.

This is a great time of year to really examine your sleep habits. How much sleep do you normally get at night? Do you feel rested in the morning, or do you wake up groggy and cranky? Have you created a routine that you regularly follow when it’s time for bed, or do you fall asleep to the televisión?

Your sleep habits will greatly impact your quality of life. Begin to notice your patterns, and tune into this blog next week for specific tips for things you can do right away to improve your sleeping.

Are you looking for natural solutions for sleep disorders or problems? I would love to talk to you about how I can help. Click here to set up a complimentary call with me to talk about what you can do today to sleep better tonight.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Uncover Your Innate Happiness, Naturally.

Most people experience some sort of depression at some point in their lives. Sometimes the unhappy feelings last for shorter and more manageable amounts of time, but sometimes unhappiness and a general feeling of “gloom” can last for weeks, months or even years.

Often people want to be happy but they don’t know which key will unlock their happiness and surround them with love and lightness. It can be incredibly frustrating.

The truth is our brains are equipped to unlock the door to happiness. We just have to know which key to use in order to release it!

 

Experience Happiness Naturally

Science shows that each of us has the innate ability to release our natural anti-depressants without the aid of pharmaceutical drugs. With some work facilitated by health care providers like me, we can discover how to be happy without the use of medication.

Our natural ability for happiness is actually more powerful than any kind of narcotic drug: it’s available any time because it lies within you, and like a muscle, you can learn over time to use it effectively.

Self-judgment, negative thoughts and self-criticism are most often the culprits that cause people to feel unhappy or depressed. Many people may feel that, at some point in their lives, they let themselves down; these repetitive and crushing thought patterns make it very difficult to experience joy and happiness.

 

Anti-Depressants Ultimately Make the Situation Worse

When people are feeling chronically unhappy, they will often act out or do things that are inappropriate. Excessive alcohol use, drug abuse and sex addiction are some of the more common ways people act out that may lead them to be prescribed an anti-depressant like Prozac or Wellbutrin.

3Ironically, people tend toward addictive behavior in an attempt to relieve their depression, but what ends up happening in the long run is the opposite. Each time they engage in the addiction, they push happiness farther away. It’s like sludge. It becomes more and more difficult to get through the sludge when you think that it is the key to your happiness.

Often, the prescription drugs that are meant to solve the problem of depression only become the next addiction. If possible, it is best to seek natural remedies for depression.

 

Mindful Meditation to Tap into Happiness

Meditating regularly is one of the keys to experiencing happiness and relief from depression. It allows us to improve our moods by eliminating or limiting negative self-talk that can be harmful.

Find a quiet space, and sit comfortably for at least ten minutes a day. Take the time to connect with yourself and notice any thoughts that come and go. You may soon be able to pinpoint negative thoughts that keep you stuck in a place of unhappiness – and that’s the first key to releasing them and experiencing joy.

4Mindfulness is so important because it helps us practice self-compassion, connect with our purpose, strengthen our coping skills and release feel-good endorphins that improve overall well being.

Little by little, by practicing good habits like meditating, exercising, playing with children or animals, and doing things we love with the people we love, we strengthen our ability to connect with our happiness. It is the key to unlocking the gates of sustained, day-to-day joy.

 

Could you benefit from experiencing more joy in your life? If you would like to have a complimentary call with me to talk about natural ways to relieve depression and tap into your natural happiness, let’s talk. Click HERE to connect with me.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Natural Solutions for Coping with Pain

There are more than 100 million adults in the United States that deal with some sort of pain every single day. More than half of these people feel that they have little or no control over their pain… and countless others have turned to narcotic medication to manage the discomfort on a daily basis.

Some people have been on medication for so long and their tolerance is so high that the medicine does absolutely nothing for their pain.

In all my years of being a health care professional, I’ve seen a lot more people suffer from pain due to various issues than from Diabetes, heart disease and cancer. That’s a lot of pain!

It seems like I’ve been getting a higher than usual number of requests from my clients for herbal pain ointment, so this week I’d like to share some holistic steps you can take to help manage pain in your life.

 

Is Your Pain Chronic or Acute?

businesswoman migraineEssentially, pain is the body’s way of telling the brain that something is not quite right. It may be an indication that we’re out of alignment, there’s something growing in the body that shouldn’t be there or an adjustment is needed. It’s a clue that we need to pay attention to correct something.

There are two types of pain: acute pain and chronic pain.

Acute pain is when you’re walking down the street and you bump your ankle. You’ll think, “Ouch, that hurts!” The sharp pain you feel in that moment in your ankle is acute.

Chronic pain is when you’ve bumped your ankle, it’s painful, but you don’t get it checked by a doctor. Maybe you’ve fractured a bone, but you don’t know because you haven’t seen a professional. Despite the continued pain, you never go to see anyone and you have an ongoing aching sensation in your ankle for months or even years.

After so much time, it’s possible that you’ll forget how you hurt your ankle in the first place. The fracture will likely heal improperly and the body will be out of alignment, which will cause ongoing pain.

In general, any pain that lasts longer than 6 weeks is considered chronic pain.

 

Natural Solutions to Relieve Pain

Finding pain relief is important. When people suffer from ongoing pain, they can’t concentrate as well, their sleep becomes interrupted and their natural energy resources are quickly depleted.

Mindful Meditation. Many of us try to ignore or “work through” pain, but when we pay attention to and acknowledge our pain, it helps shift our consciousness. Mindful meditation reminds us that instead of trying to only solve the pain with an outside solution, we can also work on it from the inside. Studies suggest that the greatest benefit of mindful meditation is an enhanced ability to cope with any physical discomfort that may occur.

Many people experience anger, irritability and moodiness when they suffer from chronic pain. When you begin to practice mindfulness, you’ll find that coping with pain is easier. You will likely also find that irritability, anger and depression are reduced as the body and mind work together more harmoniously.

Self-Care Massage. Take good care of yourself when you’re experiencing pain through massage. Use coconut, almond or sesame oil and start with your feet: rub them lovingly and thank them for supporting you. Next, move on to your ankles, your legs, your knees, and continue until you reach the top of your head. With each new body part, give thanks and show appreciation.

At the end of your meditation, thank the Universe for allowing you to have time to check in with your body and go about your day. You will feel better.

2Are you looking for natural solutions to manage chronic pain? I would love to talk to you about how I can help. Click HERE to set up a complimentary call with me to talk about what you can do today to find relief from your pain.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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