Category Archives: health and wellness

blissful living, health and wellness, healthy living

Be Mindfully Present in Love

People often think that once we become intimate with another person, it will be peaches ‘n cream, lovey-dovey, last-forever kind of love. We expect that the prince found his princess; they’re going to ride off in the sunset, live a fairytale lifestyle and be happy forever.

But that’s not quite reality. In romantic relationships, intimacy can’t be cooked up all at once; it has to build and grow and there are many actions and habits we can take on a daily basis to demonstrate our tenderness toward the other person.

Take the Other into Consideration

imagesIn partnership, one of the most important things is to take the other person into consideration and pay close attention to detail. Sometimes we believe that we will be happy “if only my partner fulfills my needs…” but in this instance, the act of giving can be just as fulfilling if not more fulfilling than the act of receiving.

Asking questions like, “How will this action affect my partner? If I make this choice, will it affect him or her positively or negatively?” is a great first step to taking the other person into consideration.

Something as simply as making dinner for your loved one can build intimacy and trust between two people. When we bring kindness to anything we’re working on, and especially intimate partnerships, it creates a feeling of closeness, desire and being wanted. It facilitates love.

Complete Communication

Communication is about so much more than words, and body language is vital when it comes to the long-term success of a relationship. Bring mindfulness into your interactions with your partner: how do you feel when you’re speaking to your beloved? Do you make eye contact, or don’t you? Do you talk about how you feel, or do you stick to logistics?

So many of our modern conveniences make quick communication easier, but take away the subtle nuance of our interactions. Simply choosing to pick up the phone when you need to communicate with a loved one – even if it’s just to tell him or her what time you’re meeting for dinner – can make a world of difference.

When you have a phone call with another person, you can physically hear that person’s voice. Unconsciously, you may begin to visualize how that person looked when you last saw them; how they smelled, perhaps how they felt when you touched them.

Now, just by picking up the phone, so many more of your physical senses have become engaged!

Set Aside the Distractions

One of my friends has a wonderful boyfriend. When they’re together, he demands that she not work because he doesn’t want her to do anything but focus her attention completely on him. He does the same for her when they’re together.

At first, this was a challenge for her. She thought, “Well, I have to work! How else can I make money and support myself?”

He pointed out that yes, of course she needed to work, but not when they’ve specifically set aside time to be together. The two of them don’t live together, so when they choose to spend time together, it makes sense that they would focus 100% on the other person to build intimacy and trust.

Now when they spend time together, they choose to prioritize each other. Work gets done during work time, but they both now know that tenderness and intimacy can only blossom when they invest the time and energy into each other.

Take a Moment

Today, take a few minutes to think about how you will honor your partner. Maybe you’ll set aside time to really listen to them and ask about their day, or maybe you’ll look closely at them and notice something that you hadn’t noticed before.

If you’re looking for ways to bring more mindfulness into your romantic relationship, click HERE to access the complimentary Bliss Kit!

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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blissful living, health and wellness, healthy living

Mindfulness in the Work Place

In the last article, I talked about what it means to be mindful and what tremendous benefit mindfulness can be in your home life (read the article HERE)

When we work, we have one agenda: to do our job, and to do our job well. That can feel like a lot of pressure in our modern world that constantly demands everything be faster, smarter and cheaper.

How can you keep your sanity (and inner peacefulness) as you navigate through these challenges?

Is the Success Worth the Sacrifice?

WF_20120906_NEWS02_120909979Work is stressful, there’s no doubt about it. No matter what job you hold, there’s always the pressure to do well and earn your keep. We always want to achieve results and reap the rewards but sometimes the effort required of us can feel so overwhelming that we find ourselves in a constant state of stress.

Many times workers will sacrifice their emotional and physical well-being in an effort to achieve what we perceive to be success in the work place. It isn’t until something happens – sickness, lack of sleep, traumatic emotional event, excessive conflict between co-workers – that we begin to realize it’s time to take a different approach.

Recognize the Challenge and Approach it Mindfully

If you’re feeling stressed at work and experiencing conflict with your coworkers, it’s important to first recognize the challenge you’re facing. Most often, there will be a difference of opinion or ideals, but that difference can be resolved if both people are willing to acknowledge the value of the other’s input and contribution.

When you encounter obstacles like this, notice how you’re feeling inside. Take a few minutes to listen to yourself unconditionally… and then offer the same act of kindness to the other person. Listen to him or her as you would wish someone to listen to you in a conflict, and allow that person to express their aspirations, concerns or worries that are coming up.

Reframe the Problem

It’s always good to reframe the problem in order to constructively create a solution. Negative emotions can sometimes transform simple problems into threats, challenges and major ordeals when they don’t really have to be that big of an issue.

Invite others to creatively reshape their challenges and redefine their goals in collaboration with you. Look at the situation objectively: is this road block actually a road block?

Here’s an example of what this looks like in action:

Not too long ago, one of my friends gave a presentation at work. It was well received, and the company decided to integrate his suggestions. However, although they used his ideas, they didn’t give him any credit, promotion or acknowledgement for his contribution. At this point, it would have been easy for him to turn the situation into a big problem, but instead, he reframed the situation by telling himself, “I didn’t get recognized for the wonderful job I did… but deep down inside, I know I did the best I could and I was successful at achieving my goal of making a positive impact on the company.”

Now, he has a constructive belief built around the experience instead of bringing himself and others down with negative thoughts and talk.

It always takes an effort to be mindful in our lives, but you also always have a choice. Choose to stand in your power as a positive, mindful employee and you’ll see big changes in the way others interact with you in the workplace!

What practices do you implement to stay mindful at work? Leave a comment below to add your two cents!

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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blissful living, health and wellness

Live Your Dream – Part 2

In my last blog post [LINK], I shared a few preliminary steps with you about how to get started living your dream. You already have access to your own wisdom; you just have to tap into it!

We talked about the importance of journaling to dive deep and figure out what excites you and where you get stuck. Next, we talked about setting an intention and confiding your dreams to the friends who will certainly hold you accountable.

Let’s pick up where we left off…

Step 3: Set Goals and Plan Them Out

When you’re building a long-term plan of action, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many steps we have to take along the way. The key to enduring the ups and downs of your journey is to establish a regular system for approaching your goals. Once goal setting becomes a habit, it’s easy to fall back into it. You’ll look at your goals and intentions and be able to course correct to get back on the path if you veer off.

imagesStart by writing down three things you want to do today that fall in line with living your dream. Sounds simple and like it might not work, right? The simplicity of listing three things will propel you forward and keep you accountable to yourself. Monitor your results; identify the times of the day when you’re the most productive. Eat, sleep and treat your body well as you go along.

At the end of the week, reflect and ask what you learned over the past seven days; what did you do really well and what were your challenges? You’ll start to notice patterns. Use that pattern awareness as information to keep you motivated to accomplish those dreams even faster.

Step 4: Seek Support

It’s so important to have a community of people around you that supports you and understands your goals. Don’t be afraid to share what you want to do with others. Eventually you’ll find yourself completely surrounded with like-minded people, as the Universe is always bringing us whatever we put out. When you clarify and declare your dream, you’ll start encountering people that can help you live it.

I knew a woman who was contemplating leaving teaching in order to design and make jewelry. It was scary for her – she was a salaried, tenured teacher. How could she leave this profession for her dream and be able to live off it? She told her plans to some co-workers and friends. News of her desire and talent eventually got beyond her inner circle to an external circle of people she didn’t even know. People bought her jewelry through the friends she’d shared her dream with, her support group.

She was getting so much business that she was able to go from full-time teaching to part-time and then was able to leave it altogether. She now has a full jewelry business. She wasn’t afraid to let others know what her dream was and surrounded herself with supportive people.

It doesn’t make you a weak person to ask for help. Ask from a place of strength; if you appear frayed or vulnerable when asking for assistance, you’ll attract similar people.

Make a choice to live your dream; don’t straddle the line. If your dream is grandiose or seems farfetched or unrealistic to other people, who cares? It’s not their dream. It’s yours. So make a choice and take these steps to go forth and live your dream.

Dare to be bold, and share your dream in the comments below!

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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blissful living, health and wellness

Live Your Dream – Part 1

Think back to when you were a little kid. Did you have a dream of becoming a nurse, doctor, successful artist, actress or engineer? As we grow up we can get distracted by ideas that other people feel are best for us but that don’t fit what our dream lives could be.

Most of us are bombarded by other people’s opinions about what we should be doing or how we should be living. But there is no “should.” Whose standards are we listening to?

My Mercedes Benz Story

When I was in high school I declared to all my friends that I’d be driving a Mercedes Benz by the time I was 30. I went to college and forgot all about my intention, let alone the fact that I’d shared it with my friends.

15 years later I re-connected with one of those high school buddies. While we were catching up on the phone she said, “So are you driving a Mercedes yet?” I was about 31 or 32 and I said, “Yes, I am; how did you know that?”

I’d completely forgotten that it had been a dream of mine. But because I’d shared my dream it was out in the Universe and returned to me with powerful energy. Here and in my next blog I’ll share a few steps to get you started living your dream.

Step 1: Make the Unconscious Conscious

Unknown-1Find out what you already know about yourself. When something’s missing in your life, deep down you know it even if it’s not completely conscious yet. Notice what you’re resisting when it comes to living your dreams. Ask yourself, “What would I tell my best friend about living my dream? What am I hiding from or afraid to do?” Ask these questions, take out your journal and write down what comes to you. This will help you understand what you already know.

Go back later and read what you wrote. This will give you an opportunity to examine what might be holding you back or discover what you’re frightened of or are excited about. You’ll gain clarity about the next action steps.

You may need to do this process a couple of times since some of the information will be hidden beneath the surface. The really beneficial insights rest at the buddhic level, meaning deep inside us.

Step 2: Set Your Intention & Confide Your Dreams to Friends

If you’ve identified your dreams and they still feel like nothing more than a fantasy, set an intention to help you move forward. As long as your dream benefits others, setting an intention will bring you into alignment with your dharma, your purpose. That’s your heart’s desire. Intention gives energy and direction to action and eliminates the other options that may be bright shiny distractions as you pursue your dream.

I strongly suggest you confide in your friends when you’ve clarified your dreams. It could be two months, 12 weeks or 21 years from now, but they will keep you accountable because you mentioned something to them that’s important to you. Everyone wants you to live your dream!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog post next week. I’ll outline some additional steps I want to share with you about how to go for and LIVE your dream!

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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blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating

Mindfulness at Home

When I come home in the evening, I typically say hi to everyone, look around the house and see a lot that hasn’t been done. I start mindlessly sweeping the floor, dusting or cleaning the bathroom…

A few hours later I’ve got a sparkling house but haven’t interacted with anyone in my home.

Do you feel bombarded on a daily basis by busy work? If left unchecked, these distractions can disconnect us from our primary relationships. I want to share some insights with you about how to bring attention and mindfulness into your key relationships.

Use Dinnertime to Connect

In our busy society, many people don’t sit down with the family to talk about what happened during the day, the problems and issues that arose or how they may be feeling. Dinnertime is fragmented in many households because the kids may have already eaten or the husband comes home late.

My family saw me at home but somehow I wasn’t part of their lives. I asked myself how I could change that. I’m so used to believing that I’m being mindful, but I was surprised to realize that I was actually operating from the other end of the spectrum!

We have to choose over and over again to be fully present with our families, whether the encounter is casual or lengthy. Dinner is a great time to increase engagement because sitting around the dinner table really invites connection. Meals have been important throughout history as a primary way family, friends and associates interact and bond. When you make mealtime a mindful experience for your intimate circle, you’re able to deepen your relationships even further.

Create Connection Rituals

Experiment with assigning different family members little tasks like setting the table, Unknownlighting candles or making a salad dressing. Say a little prayer or give thanks before you eat. This will prepare the body to receive the food. To keep interruptions at bay, make unplugging from phones and smart devices a house rule.

When you’re trying to form a new habit, consistency is important. Decide on a start time for dinner and commit to it, no matter what. You may have to shift by a few minutes when you take into account that schedules can go awry, but make the effort to maintain this as a sacred time. Don’t let the commitment fade into oblivion. Once you start neglecting it, it’s easier to ditch family dinner the next time. Then you lose that mindful connection at home.

Mindful Listening

As each person around the table speaks, the others can consciously engage with their food. While someone has the floor, don’t interrupt but be mindfully present to what that person is saying and simultaneously engaged in the process of eating your meal. This will help the body fully absorb the food’s nutrients.

Regardless of whether the person speaking needs to be vulnerable or not, there’s a way to engage with those you love. Attentiveness and a lack of interruptions bring mindfulness to the group effort.

What ritual can you create to get your family on board to experience a mindful dinnertime? Let me know in the comments!

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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ayurveda, health and wellness, healthy living

How to Strengthen Your Ojas

In a previous blog post, I defined ojas, agni and ama, the three building blocks that contribute to a healthy immune system (read it HERE). Now let’s jump in and talk about specific steps you can take to strengthen your ojas!

Worry – A Great Way to Ruin Your Day

It happens to all of us. First thing in the morning, we might find ourselves worrying about our day, compulsively checking email or Facebook or thinking about problems. This habit sets us up to not have a good day. A worried, depressed state also disrupts our ojas, particularly if it becomes a chronic habit.

Rather than hit the ground running, create a slower-paced morning ritual that allows you to connect to the part of your body and mind that’s happy to be alive. Make a choice to consider the beauty of what the day has to offer without worrying about everything else around you.

The Morning Ritual

This is what I do on a daily basis when I’m not traveling. To set the tone to handle daily life, I wake up in bed and take a couple of slow, deep breaths. I give thanks for the day and slowly get up. In the bathroom, I wash my face and go through my elimination process.

I recommend using healthy oils on your skin. Use an oil like sesame prior to getting in the shower, then reapply after you get out. It nourishes the skin and helps curtail dryness. Sesame oil is a little bit heavier and nurtures all the body tissues. Lighter oils that I suggest are almond or sunflower. For fall and winter, make coconut oil your last choice if you can’t find the others. It works just as well, but tends to have a cooling effect on the skin so it’s best suited for the warm weather months.

images-1Tea and Meditation

Once I’m up, showered and dressed, I light a candle and maybe some incense. I sit down and meditate for a few minutes and finish the ritual with a cup of tea. Somehow a lovely, steaming cup of tea anchors me to go forth confidently through my day.

Try it yourself for a week and see if you notice how the tone you set in the morning lasts throughout the day to maintain that calm.

How do you usually start your day and is it setting the tone you really want? Let me know in the comments!

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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ayurveda, health and wellness, healthy living

Know Your Ojas!

This is the first of four posts to investigate the topic of ojas. Let’s dive in!

What is it?

In Ayurveda, ojas is the end product of good digestion and metabolism and is believed to connect consciousness and matter. In the West it’s more commonly referred to as your immune system or your immunity.

When we talk about strengthening your ojas, we mean building your immune system. A strong ojas keeps you free from illness and disease. Ayurveda is all about balancing your mind and body to prevent illness.

Our Inner Fire

images One of the most important principals in Ayurveda is the maintenance of the health of your agni, or digestive fire. If you don’t have strong digestive fire, you can’t efficiently absorb the nutrients and elements you take in.

A strong agni helps us digest properly and also process all aspects of life including the experiences and memories we have and the impressions we pick up from our environment. Efficiently burning food also staves off excess weight.

Strong vs. Weak

Strong agni, including our day-to-day experiences in life, creates a more balanced state, which aids in the prevention of illness. Weak agni doesn’t properly absorb nutrients and creates toxic buildup, waste and residue. That buildup is called ama (toxins), which get stuck in the colon and putrefy. Yuck.

Ojas, agni and ama go hand-in-hand to create a healthy, balanced body. Strong ojas helps us experience the nectar of life – now you understand what they are and why they’re important.

Next week, I’ll give you some tips you can start using right away to strengthen your ojas, so stay tuned!

What steps do you take to keep yourself in a balanced state? Share your comments below!

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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ayurveda, health and wellness, healthy eating

7 Foods that Unlock Your Hidden Energy Stores

In our high technological, fast pace moving society it has become quite a challenge to get enough rest, be as healthy as we would like to be and eat what is good for our bodies. It has become so easy to replenish our bodies with artificial energy enhancers that are not good for our health or our well-being. There are Starbucks coffee shops on every street corner, there are more energy drinks on the market than ever before and the fast food industry is booming.

I have written this article to assist you with finding alternative, natural food sources that will release and unlock the hidden energy within you, naturally. These foods will not only sustain your energy throughout the day but are very beneficial and nutritive for your body and mind as well.

If you are ready to free yourself from the grips of the artificial ways that you use to increase your energy; if you are ready to naturally unlock your hidden energy stores that allow you to have sustained energy all day or if you are ready to free yourself from experiencing the crash and burn syndrome that you get when you use sugar, caffeine and other substances to boost your energy, then this article is for you.

Enjoy!

Our ancestors recognized the natural healing power of foods and utilized them in all sorts of ways to treat and cure ailments. Over the past few centuries more information has become available regarding the use of foods, herbs and spices in healing and maintaining wellness. In fact, research has begun to confirm the therapeutic benefits of foods, herbs and spices through the use of scientific exploration and documentation. Within this research it has been proven that some foods, herbs and spices have been found to work better than drugs and without the adverse side effects.

Experts now agree that eating a diet rich in natural, health-giving foods can help us ward off common complaints, such as colds, coughs and infections, as well as to protect us against chronic degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease and arthritis. It is really possible to eat your way to good health and improve the way you look and feel. It is believed in Ayurveda that the food a person eats should be the most organic, freshest and purest food as possible. It is the “prana” within the food that is ingested that is utilized in keeping the digestive system and body in balance allowing nutrients to be properly absorbed and energy to be properly released.

In Ayurveda choosing what to eat depends on many factors such as what your dosha (body type) is, the season of the year, the location you are in, the blend of taste and ingredients of the food that your are eating, however, an important secret that is well known but often overlooked is that eating the freshest and most organic food possible is the first secret in unlocking the natural hidden energy that lies within you. Another secret to unlocking hidden energy stores is the blending of herbs and spices. Herbs and spices add taste and aroma to food while boosting the nutrient content in the meal and aiding in the digestive process of the meal.

The reason I mention Ayurveda is that digestion plays a very important part in the health of the individual; the food we eat affects us differently depending upon our dosha and the key to knowing what is right, healthy and energizing to your body is knowing your dosha and how the food you eat will affect it. All of the food we eat contains some sort of energy, which affects us in each in many different ways. It is this energy within the food we ingest that can be either harmful to the body or beneficial to the body by allowing the body to operate at an optimal level with sustained energy. The foods mentioned in this report are good for all individuals no matter what dosha type they may be.

Energy Unlocking Food #1 ~Lemon

The lemon contains a wealth of health enhancing properties and is one of the most versatile of all fruits.

Like other citrus fruits, lemons are powerhouses of antioxidants. Vitamin C helps to boost the immune system, assist in the healing of wounds and strengthen the walls of blood capillaries. The high level of vitamin C in lemons also means that they are good for healthy skin and gums. They are a good source of flavonoids, such as quecetin, which boost the effects of vitamin C and are particularly important for the health of blood vessels and to prevent varicose veins.

As lemons are a natural stimulant, an additional benefit from naturally energizing the body is that lemons can also be used for detoxification purposes. Despite the sourness of lemon juice, it is a popular drink when diluted in water. Another benefit of lemon is that during a brief Detox fast, it can assist with calming the appetite and freshening the breath. Being one of the most concentrated sources of vitamin C helps to make it a perfect solution that kills post exercise dry throat and mouth. Drinking fresh squeezed lemon juice with warm water and drinking it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning will jump start your metabolism and unlock the hidden energy stores that lie within you naturally. Skip the caffeine and give lemons a try.

Energy Unlocking Food #2 ~Banana

Bananas are the ultimate fast food and they provide a potent mix of vitamins, mineralsimagesb and carbohydrates. Bananas are rich in healthy carbohydrates and are the ideal food to eat when you crave comfort foods, as they feel enjoyable, self-indulgent and they are filled with nutrients that soothe and lift your mood and allow the energy within the body to be naturally released.

Bananas contain high levels of B-vitamins, which the body needs to produce energy. These include vitamin B5, which aids the formation of the immune system’s killer cells and vitamin B6, which improves the body’s ability to clear away waste matter and reduces fatigue. Bananas are high in potassium, which regulates electrical activity of the heart, body fluids and nerve function. This fruit is so powerful it also maintains healthy muscle function, lowers blood pressure and protects against heart disease by maintaining fluid balance and preventing plaque from sticking to arterial walls.

Ripe bananas contain the ideal carbohydrate combination to replace muscle glycogen before or during exercise, making them a valuable food for athletes. Glucose, the most easily digested sugar, is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream for instant energy, while the fructose in bananas is absorbed more slowly, providing a steady supply of fuel over time. In Ayurveda bananas are considered a Sattvic food and extremely beneficial for people of a Vata Dosha.

Energy Unlocking Food #3 ~ Asparagus

imagesAsparagus has been renowned since ancient times both as an aphrodisiac and medicinally for its healing properties. High in nutrients, low in calories, and rich in flavor, asparagus has a wealth of health enhancing benefits one of which happens to be energetically beneficial to the body.

Asparagus act as a natural diuretic encouraging the body to flush out toxins via the internal filtering system of the kidneys. With its active compound, asparagin stimulating the kidneys, bladder and liver, asparagus is a powerful detoxifier. Its cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties make it useful for easing acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. The benefit of this natural detoxifier is that when toxins are removed from the body, the body is able to operate more effectively and at an optimal level. There is no stagnation in the processes of the body thus the nutrients ingested are able to be metabolized and utilized to their maximum level basically keeping the fire within the body burning efficiently and providing the body with the energy it needs.

Eating asparagus is said to give a natural high. The spears taste delicious and supply numerous minerals and vitamins such as many of the B-vitamins that play a central role in supporting brain function and the nervous system. If a person is running short on a supply of B-vitamins they can feel tired, depressed, anxious or constantly on edge. Eating asparagus can combat that feeling by keeping energy levels high and supporting mental and emotional health. Asparagus are beneficial for all three doshas in Ayurveda, Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Energy Unlocking Food #4 ~ White Potato

The potato is the world’s number one vegetable crop and is immensely versatile. This staple food is packed with vitamins and many other health-giving nutrients. Potatoes are one of the cheapest and most readily available sources of vitamin-C, a nutrient that is vital for keeping the immune system healthy and keeping energy stores readily available for future usage. New potatoes are richer in vitamin C than older ones. Most of the fiber that aids digestion and lowers cholesterol is found in the skin. Full of potassium, potatoes can help control high blood pressure.

When it comes to getting fit and looking for a source of energy, don’t overlook the value of eating potatoes. They are rich in vitamin B6, which is essential to releasing the body’s glycogen stores (energy stores). Potatoes are pack with complex carbohydrates, the best form of energy food. Complex carbohydrates play two roles that are essential to fitness, first they provide slow burning fuel that gives you enough energy to complete your workout or game without burning out halfway through and secondly potatoes help the body to maintain the muscle that the body has built. White Potatoes are great for all three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Energy Unlocking Food #5 ~ Broccoli

Broccoli is a powerhouse of the antioxidant vitamin C, which is crucial for immune response. It is full of fiber, which is vital for a healthy digestive system and has detoxifying properties to help cleanse the liver. A healthy digestive system and a clean liver are keys to the body being able to tap into the energy that it needs when it needs it. Broccoli is rich in iron, calcium and magnesium. It contains a number of chemical compounds including indoles, carotenoids and the vitamin A precursor, beta-carotene known to inhibit the activation of cancer cells.

As well as aiding the body’s detoxification processes, broccoli is rich in sulforaphane, which strengthens cells to resist damage and fights the development of tumors. It has been found to improve digestion by fighting the tough bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which eats away at the stomach lining and can create ulcers.

Packed with nutrients, broccoli is a brilliant energy reviver. It is also rich in zinc that enhances mental alertness, vitamin B5 that helps the body to metabolize fats into energy and folic acid that encourages the production of serotonin, a mood-lifting chemical in the brain. Broccoli is excellent for the Pitta and Kapha doshas.

Energy Unlocking Food #6 ~ Lentils

The lentil is one the most oldest and staple foods in many countries. It is rich in antioxidants and is one of the most nutritious and digestible foods that exist. Whether red, green or brown, lentils are a good source of protein that we need to keep our skin, hair, teeth and nails strong and healthy. They contain high levels of B-vitamins particularly B3 and B12 that help with everything from poor memory to lack of energy to arthritis.

Lentils are loaded with fiber that promotes a healthy digestive system and can help to regulate colon function as well as boosting heart health and the circulatory system. Lentils are excellent for stabilizing blood sugar levels which makes them a terrific food source for people suffering from diabetes.

Providing the perfect combination of nutrients to starve off hunger pangs and spark energy, lentils are a great snack to have prior to exercising or playing sports. Lentils are rich in complex carbohydrates which the body turns into to glucose providing a steady source of energy to maintain stamina. In fact one study found that eating lentils three hours before exercising could help to increase endurance significantly over other carbohydrates. Lentils contain very little fat.

Lentils are full of folic acid, an energy boosting vitamin that plays a key role in the production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter in the brain associated with feelings of happiness. Lentils are especially good for people of the Vata and Pitta dosha.

Energy Unlocking Food # 7 ~ Almond

Almonds contain healthy oils and other vitality enhancing nutrients. Nibbling on almonds provides nutrients and energy for people who workout with less risk of piling on unwanted pounds.

Almonds are the top source of the cancer preventing antioxidant vitamin E. They contain monounsaturated fats and plant sterols, which help to reduce the risk of heart disease and the phytochemical quercetin and kaempferol, which helps to protect against cancer. Almonds are a good source of protein, needed for healthy growth and the repair of cells, making these nuts great for vegetarians.

Almonds contain more fiber than any other nut, which makes them excellent for promoting healthy digestion through the efficient elimination of waste material. They are full of calcium, zinc, magnesium and potassium. While zinc strengthens immunity and improves wound healing, magnesium increases energy and potassium reduces blood pressure, protecting against heart disease.

Almonds are a great snack for people that are dieting. In a Harvard study people who ate almonds lost 50 percent more weight than the people that did not eat almonds. Almonds are rich in monounsaturated fats that help you to feel full longer, keep blood sugar levels steady and prevent hunger pangs. A dozen almonds contain 90 calories along with a burst of protein and nutrients that combine to increase energy levels which make them an excellent snack for athletes and people that need sustained energy. Almonds are an excellent snack for all three dosha types in Ayurveda, Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

As you can see there are many foods that you can eat that are good for both your mind and body. They are filled with many nutrients that allow your body to stay healthy and well and operate with maximum efficiency. By incorporating the above foods into your diet you can unlock the hidden energy that lies within you naturally and begin your journey to freeing yourself from ingesting substances that may increase your energy in the short term but do damage to your body in the long term.

Ready to learn what your dosha (body type) is and take it a step further to learn what foods to eat that are most beneficial for maximizing the energy within you? It is easy to get started.

Connect with me at: info@healthhealingwellness.com to learn more about you!

I hope that you have found the information useful and will incorporate the energy releasing foods into your everyday diet. It has been my pleasure to share this information with you and may your holistic health and wellness journey begin.

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

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

Namaste,

Rochele Lawson

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS
The Queen of Feeling Fabulous
The Wellness Architect

 

 

 

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

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ayurveda, health and wellness, healthy living

5 Steps to Wellness

Step 1 – Eat Wholesome Food – The Sattvic Way

An important concept in Ayurveda is how you eat. Eating is considered a major therapeutic tool and one of the most important things that you can do to help yourself from an Ayurvedic perspective.

A healthy diet not only boosts overall wellness but also helps prevent disease. In Ayurveda, the goal is to have healthy digestion and elimination and to be free of sickness and disease. It is believed that one way to achieve this is to have what we call in Ayurveda, a Sattvic diet. A Sattvic diet is a diet that promotes a clear and peaceful mind.

It consists of fresh foods and avoids fiery and / or spoiled foods. Sattvic foods are fresh and light. And it is important to note that fresh and pure foods are free of additives, preservatives and pesticides. As things that are similar in nature increase one another, the foods that make up the sattvic diet are themselves peaceful (non-stimulating) and clear (free from impurities). Sattvic foods are properly prepared according to traditional methods, which mean no “microwave cooking.”

It is believed in Ayurveda that a range of illnesses, including heart disease, arthritis, and some cancers, are caused by chronic inflammation in the body which can be caused by eating foods that are not Sattvic.

It is a known fact that, while genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors like stress and lack of exercise promote inflammation, poor diet and digestion; the main contributor is the consumption of unhealthy food. For instance berries, oranges, tomatoes, kale and spinach contain disease fighting antioxidants. Slow to digest whole grain carbohydrates like oats, whole wheat, barley and quinoa are ideal foods because they provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as well as fiber which aids in the elimination process. These are examples of foods that are naturally beneficial to the body. So don’t shy away from these foods, eat up and allow your body to enjoy the benefits that these foods naturally provide.

CocoStep 2 – Choose the Right Beverages

Hydration is the most vital thing that we can do for our bodies. All of our cells need to be properly hydrated in order to function properly. Although water is best, it is possible to have flavorful drinks that are natural beverages largely water based and free of artificial sweeteners. One drink that comes to mind is coconut water. Coconut water is a natural source of hydration that is high in potassium and is naturally sweetened. This natural source of hydration can be drank alone or added to other fruits to make a nice, healthy smoothie. Soda is an absolute no-no. It can deplete the body of electrolytes due to the diuretic effect that it has on the kidneys.

Green teas and herbal teas are another good source for natural hydration, however it should be noted that some green teas contain caffeine and may have a diuretic effect as well. As for a dairy nice healthy choice to try would by unsweetened almond milk. Although almond milk is not as nutrient rich as regular cow’s milk, almonds are very nutritive and thus makes almond milk an excellent choice for a low calorie, non-dairy alternative.

Step 3 – Boost Health with Essential Nutrients

Even if the majority of the foods you are eating are unprocessed or certified organic, you probably could use a little assistance in getting what you need. Supplements and medicinal plant ingredients can help bridge the gap. Some important supplements to take a look at are Omega-3 fatty acids for brain and heart health, Vitamin D to improve bone strength, mood, endocrine and cognitive function and magnesium to support the nervous system and promote muscle relaxation.

Step 4 –Work Out for Big Payoffs

No health and wellness regime is complete without some form of exercise. A good workout, whether it is a Bikram Yoga session, a power walk through the park, an uphill bike ride, an elliptical session or a good jog, can improve mood, strengthen the heart and lungs, reduce stress, and promote weight loss to name a few perks.

It is important to exercise at least 45 minutes, three times a week. For a balanced routine, include 20 minutes of resistance training twice a week, such as squats, core work such as Pilates to build muscle, maintain bone density and promote good posture. Reap additional benefits by exercising outdoors which helps to improve energy and bring clarity to your mind.

Step 5 – Calm the Mind with Meditation

Spiritual health is just as important as diet and exercise. Meditation in particular can lower stress and help regulate emotions. It is the best thing to calm the mind, nerves and emotions. Meditation relates to the spiritual aspect of life. According to Ayurveda the soul is the source of life and health. We must live according to the purpose of our soul in order to have peace and well-being. Disease generally indicates that we have lost contact with our soul and its creative force. To counteract this and to restore balance to our minds, meditation should be incorporated into your daily life. It has been proven to restore brain synapses and increase vitality.

There are many types of meditations to explore such as: seated meditation, mindful meditation, walking meditation, breath meditation and moving meditations (like yoga and tai chi). Both types are terrific for active people in search of stress relief and offer the opportunity to practice alone or in a group setting.

By incorporating the 5 Steps of Wellness into your daily life you will experience improvements in your overall health and wellness.

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

Namaste,

Rochele Lawson

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS
The Queen of Feeling Fabulous
The Wellness Architect
www.healthhealingwellness.com
www.rochelelawson.com
www.blissful-living.net
www.facebook.com/rochelelawson
www.youtube.com/rochelelawson
www.freegiftsfromrochele.com
www.stressassessmentmagic.com

For a free chat with The Queen of Feeling Fabulous AKA The Wellness Architect contact me at: info@healthhealingwellness.com

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health and wellness, stress reduction

How to Stay Blissful While Driving: Part 2

This blog post is Part 2 of a series on mindful driving. Last week, I shared three tips for being a cool-headed traveler (click HERE).

Focus, Focus, Focus

You might have started your trip by centering your mind, breathing deeply and securing any important objects that could fly away. But what if, after you’ve been on the road for a while, you and your spouse or kids get into an argument?

Keep your mind focused on the roadway to stay actively engaged with driving. It helps to deflect any distractions that come up. If at any point something chaotic (such as an accident) stresses you out, you can return to a deep breathing process (take three to five long, slow, deep breaths).

Outside Events Aren’t the Boss of You

When we need to get somewhere on time and are delayed by unexpected traffic or accidents, our energy feels sapped. Somehow we feel we should have been in control of it, should have known better or left earlier. If you’re feeling like this, just know that there’s some reason the Universe is asking you to engage in a slowing down process.

Unknown-1If you feel agitated by anything happening on the road that you have no control over, the best thing you can do is realize: you have no control! It is what it is. This mindset liberates us and helps release tension and pressure.

As long as you’re safe and sound in your car, everything will turn out fine. Arriving a little late is better than not arriving at all. Consider that there might be a reason for the delays that’s beyond your knowledge. It helps us relax and develop a keen sense of concentration. Let go of needing to be in charge, crank up the radio and actively absorb your favorite music.

Music Soothes

Many people listen to talk radio while they commute and if the topic is inflammatory, you may find yourself becoming tense. Change the channel to music you like! The mind will relax and when the mind relaxes, the body does, too.

Once you’ve passed through the traffic or roadside chaos, you can always come back to your talk show. Music taps in to the feel-good centers of the brain, which release more of those relaxing neurotransmitters.

Avoid Grumpy Fellow Travelers

There’s nothing worse than an angry driver doing something nasty that could injure you, themselves or both of you. Stay mindfully aware of those exhibiting aggressive behavior (such as speeding up near you, tailgating or flipping you off as they pass by).

If you see another driver getting visibly angry because you’re driving too slowly and they’re tailgating, move over if you can. Go ahead and let them race ahead of you. That will ease their stress and yours. You won’t change their driving behavior by being stubborn and letting them ride your tail – it’ll just make them angrier. Later you can always scoot back into the lane you’d prefer to drive in.

One final tip

Spray some citrus essential oils in your car to maintain a yummy, stress-free, loving environment. Happy driving!

Want to learn even more about staying blissful no matter what happens? Click HERE to receive my free bliss tips today.

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

Namaste,

Rochele Lawson

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS
The Queen of Feeling Fabulous
The Wellness Architect

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

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