Live Your Dream – Part 3

This is the third installment of a series of articles on how to step into the flow of life to accomplish your dream (read Part I HERE , read Part 2 HERE).

Essentially, there are three main components of living your dream: first, you must define the dream, next, you must say “YES!” to your dream, and finally, you must remember the intention you had when you stated your dream. Let’s dive in.

Define Your Dream

We all have dreams and ambitions, but for many people the specifics of the dream are fuzzy. We’d like to think that we have defined our dream, but in truth, we still only have a vague understanding of what we really want.

It’s important to know exactly what your dream is – otherwise, how will you be able to tell if you’ve achieved it or not? When working to get clear on your dream, try this:

Close Your Eyes.

Sit alone in a peaceful place and close your eyes. Ask yourself, “What would I do if money were not an object?” Give yourself a few minutes, do some deep breathing, and let yourself be with the question until something pops up in your head.

Write Ideas Down.

Once something comes up (and something will), write it down. It might even be a series of ideas – write them down! Notice which of the ideas appeals to you most, and expand on that one. Use detail, and use the present tense with statements like, “I work with creative people and I share my gifts. I love what I do.”

Feel it in Your Body.

Read out loud what you wrote, and notice what sensations come up in your body. Which parts of your dream feel best? Which parts may not be truly what you want? This will help you create a more real experience for yourself, and get more clear about what it is you actually want.

No matter what you’ve written, you will always have the opportunity to course-correct as you go – nothing is set in stone!

Say ‘YES!’ to Your Dream

Now that you’ve created this beautiful vision for what you want to do, post it where you can see it every single day. Let it become a source of inspiration for you so that you can go forth carrying that wonderful expectation! It will come knocking, and now your job is to say, “YES!” to this dream.

Positive affirmations are a powerful way to say, “YES!” to your dream. Here’s an example:

“I am the queen of feeling fabulous. I have fabulous days and I have fabulous moments in each day. I love, love, love feeling fabulous in my mind, body and spirit.”

Notice that this affirmation is written in the present tense. Your dream is a choice that you can make now, in the moment, regardless of where you are on your journey. Say “YES!” to the present moment with the wording in your affirmation.

Remember Your Intention

And finally, remember the meaning of your dream. Sometimes we can get off track and lose focus of what we’re working on when all the initial euphoria wears off. Don’t be surprised if that sense of elation is replaced with some familiar discontent and negative voices: that’s a natural aspect of challenge that will occur.

Return to the paper where you wrote down your dream. That’s the truth – that’s the powerful intention behind your desire. Read it as often as possible to reinforce your confidence in your dream!

How are you living your dream, or not living your dream? What could you do today to powerfully step into the dream life you want and deserve? Leave a comment below to join the conversation!

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

ayurveda, blissful living, healthy living, stress reduction

Creating Inner Peace, Ojas-Style

This is the last of four blog posts about ojas, the Ayurvedic term for your immune system (read last week’s post HERE. Let’s take a look at practices that foster inner peace.

Silence and Self-Reflection

We can get so critical of ourselves if we feel we aren’t achieving enough or being grateful for who we are. This is something I do a lot. Instead of criticizing yourself for not living up to your own expectations, remember to reflect and go into peaceful silence.

Something as simple as relaxation actually replenishes the ojas. Take a little time for yourself during the day to find silence. That rest can help you maintain vital inner and outer beauty. It doesn’t have to take a long time; two to five minutes is plenty. Sit in silence (with your eyes closed if you can) and strengthen your ability to engage in self-reflection. You can do it in the car, radio off, or if you’re in the bathroom do a slow, deep breathing practice for a minute or two.

Appreciating yourself helps cultivate a more positive mental state, which allows you to build ojas in a naturally graceful way. Even if there are people in your life you’d rather kill, be grateful because they’re here to teach you something!

When you’re grateful for those experiences instead of being critical or beating yourself up, you’ll feel happier, for one, and that feeds the ojas, which gives a lasting sense of contentment. Whenever you’re in a grateful state you step away from the opposite.

Gratitude tends to magnetize more contentment into your life, and when you’re content that’s a phenomenal way to naturally build up ojas.

A Peaceful Pose

Peaceful poses reinforce healthy ojas. If you practice one peaceful yoga pose a day before you go to bed, in class during the day or during your morning ritual, you’ll build your ojas.

I like to do child’s pose – anyone familiar with yoga knows child’s pose. The more relaxed you get, the deeper you sink into the yoga mat – it feels wonderful. Another great pose is shavasana, when you lie prone for several minutes. The longer you do it the more relaxed you get. It also just feels great.

Evening Calm Down Routine

This a wind-down ritual that helps you sleep very well at night. Fill the bath with warm water and add one to three cups of Epsom salts. You can find versions made with lavender, milk and honey or eucalyptus. I recommend the lavender, and then add a tablespoon of honey, two cups of whole milk and a few drops of lavender essential oil under the running water.

You can also add other essential oils depending on what your dosha is: for vata dosha, use rose or geranium; for pitta dosha, use frankincense and for kapha, use juniper. Light a candle and sit in the bath for 20 minutes. Optionally, you could light an incense stick if you want.

I guarantee if you do this evening calm down ritual, you will sleep phenomenally well, whether you’ve just been to the gym or had a stressful day. Not only will you sleep really well, you’ll be building ojas and will smell super yummy!

What healthy rituals do you do to decompress? Share your practices 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

ayurveda, blissful living, healthy living

Ojas – Stoking Your Digestive Fire

In this third of four blogs about our ojas (read the previous blog post HERE), I’m going to focus on a vital component of building a strong digestive fire: how and what we eat. Let’s go!

Food, Glorious Food

A conscious, mindful eating practice and healthy digestion helps us build our ojas. Be very selective about what you put into your bodies to keep strong during cold and flu season.

Although there are now ‘healthier’ options available at restaurants like McDonald’s or Jack in the Box, do your best to avoid food grabbed on the fly, especially fast food. Get the highest quality, organic, non-GMO food you can afford.

Become One with Your Meal

Don’t wolf it down! These days, people often don’t connect with their food. Taking the time to be mindful sets you up to receive the food properly and actually stokes the digestive fire.

Take a few minutes to be thankful for your food. As you eat your yummy meal, the digestive fire gets hotter, allowing food to be metabolized in an appropriate way. Then you won’t have pieces of undigested food sitting in your body creating ama (toxins) that then get pushed through the digestive tract.

What’s the benefit? Keeping the body in balance blocks illness from coming in. Illness only happens when we’re in an imbalanced state or not taking in proper nutrition. Healthy food is your prime energy source.

Some especially healthy foods include organic milk, almonds, sesame, honey, rice, pineapple, mango, kale and spinach. It’s not necessary to eat these foods exclusively but incorporating more of them into your diet increases the quality of your nutrition.

Good Fat

Cooking with clarified butter, known as ghee, builds ojas. You’ll get the yummy taste of butter without the unhealthy fats. Omega 3s, mono- and poly-unsaturated fats are great sources of healthy fat, and remember to use coconut oil for cooking. Olive, almond, chia and flaxseed are also excellent oils to not only build ojas, but they’re great for heart health as well. Women with a higher intake of healthy fat have firmer, smoother skin!

A Magical Recipe

Stay away from white or any processed sugars. They promote inflammation, which can lead to a whole host of diseases, and will decrease your ojas. Use stevia or agave instead, or add mango or coconut to your plate so you can have a sweet without adding something bad to your diet.

When I talk about sweets, know that I really had to work on it because I’m a sugar addict! Rice pudding contains the good fats I talked about and gives you the sweetness you want. Gather these ingredients:

½ cup basmati rice
4 cups organic milk (I prefer almond or coconut milk because I’m lactose intolerant)
4-6 cardamom seeds – bruise them a little to allow the essential spice to come out
1 cinnamon stick (or 1/8th to ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder)
2–4 TBS honey or organic agave syrup
1 handful of pistachios or almonds. Almonds are good for all doshas.

Rinse off the raw rice. In a heavy-bottomed pan, add the rice, milk, cardamom and cinnamon and bring to a boil over low heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring frequently to ensure it doesn’t burn. Check the texture and cook until the mixture is slightly thick but easy to stir. Remove the cinnamon stick and the cardamom pods (unless you used the powders). Stir in the agave or honey and let it cool. Toss in the nuts. I also like to add raisins or goji berries.

When I was pregnant with my daughter this was the only thing I could eat in the morning that didn’t cause morning sickness and was very nurturing to both of us. Funny that now my daughter doesn’t like rice pudding!

Do you have a favorite healthy go-to snack that’s healthy and satisfying? Share in the comments below how you build healthy ojas!

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

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.

Tea 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

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

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

ayurveda, healthy living, stress reduction

About Ayurveda

I am always getting asked about Ayurveda and what the Doshas are and why it is important to know this information, so I decided to write an article explaining the Doshas and how this information can assist you.

Ayurveda assists the body in journeying back to optimal health by balancing the five elements in the body and mind through the use of herbs, diet, colors, aromas, lifestyle changes, yoga, and meditation along with other five sense therapies. The rejuvenative and cleansing therapies (Panchakarma) help nourish our bodies while calming our minds from the stresses of modern daily life.

Your inner nature is called your constitution or prakruti, and is an individual blend of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Your unique balance of these three energies was determined at the moment of conception and is with you the rest of your life. It determines what is in harmony with your nature and what will cause you to become out of balance, sick, and diseased. Knowledge of your constitution is essential to developing optimal health. Your constitution determines how you react to various foods, colors, aromas, and general life habits.

Recently, Ayurveda has had a profound impact upon the world of health care. Popular books by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and others have called attention to the potential of this ancient healing system. Along with the potential to heal chronic diseases, Ayurveda promises to improve health and increase longevity.

Ayurveda is considered the healing side of Yoga. Likewise, Yoga is the spiritual side of Ayurveda. Both Ayurveda and Yoga strive to help a person re-connect to their true nature through direct experience. Together, they encompass a complete approach to the well being of the body, the mind, and the spirit.

About the Doshas

Your constitution or Prakruti is the fundamental and unique balance of three basic energies called doshas. These are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The balance in each individual is different; hence, each individual has his or her own special set of challenges and gifts. For this reason no two programs are identical, and each person’s path toward optimal health is unique.

Vata

The Vata dosha is said to be made up of the air and ether elements. This means that it has qualities that are similar to these elements. Vata is very much like the wind – it is light, cool, dry and mobile. In the body those people with a Vata nature experience more of these qualities. Their bodies tend to be light, their bones thin, and their skin and hair dry. They often move and speak quickly. When out of balance, they may lose weight, become constipated, and have weakness in their immune and nervous systems.

These qualities are also reflected in the personality. Those with a Vata nature tend to be talkative, enthusiastic, creative, flexible, and energetic. Yet when out of balance, they may also become easily confused and overwhelmed, have difficulty focusing or making decisions, and have trouble sleeping. This becomes more apparent when they are under stress. They are challenged by cool emotions like worry, fear and anxiety.

In order to bring balance to Vata, programs are designed that emphasize the opposing qualities of warmth, heaviness (nourishment), moistness and stability. In the diet this is reflected in the consumption of cooked grains such as rice and cooked vegetables as well as the intake of warm milk with spices. Pungent herbs like ginger that increase internal heat and nourishing herbs like ashwagandha bring balance to Vata.

Pitta

The Pitta dosha is said to be made up of the fire and water elements. Fire is more predominant, and those people with a predominant Pitta nature have many of the qualities of fire within them. Pitta tends to be hot, sharp and penetrating. It is also somewhat volatile and oily. The oily nature of Pitta is related to the secondary component of water. People with a Pitta nature reflect these qualities. They tend to feel warm, have somewhat oily skin, penetrating eyes, and sharp features. They tend to have moderate weight and good musculature. When out of balance, they tend toward diarrhea, infections, skin rashes, and weakness in the liver, spleen, and blood.

These qualities are also reflected in their personalities. Pitta people tend to be highly focused, competitive, capable, courageous, energetic, and clear communicators, who get right to the point. They like to solve problems, and, when under stress, they dig in their heels. However, they can also become overly intense and speak with a sharp tongue. They make great friends but feared enemies. Emotionally, they are challenged by the heated emotions of anger, resentment, and jealousy.

In order to bring balance to Pitta, programs are designed to emphasize the opposing qualities of coolness, heaviness (nourishing) and dryness. Cool spices like fennel are recommended in the diet along with foods such as raw vegetables, cooked rice, and wheat as well as most beans. Sweet herbs like Shatavari are used to nourish the body, while bitters like dandelion root temper the fire.

Kapha

Within the Kapha dosha there is a predominance of the water and earth elements. Like these elements Kapha tends to be cool, moist, stable, and heavy. In the body these qualities manifest as dense, heavy bones; lustrous, supple skin; low metabolism; and large, stocky frames. In addition, those with a Kapha nature tend to feel cool. When out of balance, Kapha individuals are prone to gaining weight and tend to have weaknesses in their lungs and sinuses, where there is an accumulation of mucous. Those of Kapha nature are also most prone to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The elements of water and earth are also manifested in the personality. The heavy, stable nature of Kapha is reflected in a steady personality that is not prone to quick fluctuations. Those with a Kapha nature handle stress very well, often not even noticing that it exists. They don’t like change, are generally conservative, and would prefer to keep things just the way they are. Those with a Kapha nature are also comfort seekers. This relates to the soft, watery nature of Kapha. Too much comfort, however, can lead to a lack of motivation and a feeling of becoming stuck. When Kapha is out of balance, the heavy emotions of depression and lethargy result.

In order to bring balance to a Kapha nature, the opposing qualities of lightness, dryness, and warmth are recommended. Grains such as quinoa and amaranth are recommended as well as hot spices like cayenne pepper. Lots of vegetables and very little nuts or dairy are prescribed. Cleansing herbs like guggul and pungents like clove bring balance to Kapha. For more information on how Ayurveda can help you contact me at:

info@healthhealingwellness.com

Wishing you much health, healing and wellness!

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
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

ayurveda, healthy living, stress reduction

5 Stress Relievers to help you feel FABULOUS

As we began to settle into the New Year, I want to offer you some tips so that you can enjoy this year without feeling stressed and overwhelmed. We all have a lot to do nowadays and sometimes when we add just one additional thing on our already very full to do list, we can become extremely stressed and overwhelmed. Well rest assured that Rochel Marie Lawson, The Queen of Feeling Fabulous AKA The Wellness Architect is here to guide you so that you can feel fabulous in all areas of your life.

There are many events in life that can cause stress. The more involved you become in your life the more opportunities present themselves that can simply push you over the edge. For example having to work longer hours at work, being in school and facing the pressure of taking mid-terms or final exams, worrying about the economy and whether or not your financial situation is stable, or maybe dealing with the challenges of raising children in our fast pace society, whatever it is it may be just enough to set you up for a stressful episode.

Here are 5 GREAT ways to relieve stress so that you can feel fabulous:

Breathing exercises – Deep breathing is an easy stress reliever that has numerous benefits for the body, including oxygenating the blood, which wakes up your brain, relaxes your muscles and quiets the mind. Breathing exercises are especially helpful because you can do them anywhere at anytime and they work so quickly that you now have the tool to de-stress in an instant.
Meditation – Meditation builds on deep breathing and takes it a step further. When you meditate, your brain enters an area of functioning that is similar to sleep, but carries some added benefits you cannot achieve in any other state, including the release of certain hormones that promote health. Also the mental focus on nothingness keeps your mind from working overtime and increasing your stress level.
Guided Imagery – It takes slightly more time to practice guided imagery, but this is a great way to leave your stress behind for a while and relax your body. Some find it easier to practice this than meditation, as lots of us find it more doable to focus on something rather than on nothing. You can play natural sounds in the background as you practice, to promote a more immersive experience.
Visualizations – Building on guided imagery, you can also imagine yourself achieving goals like becoming healthier and more relaxed, doing well at task and handling conflict in better ways. Also, visualize yourself doing well on tasks you are trying to master, this actually functions like physical practice, so you can improve your performance through visualizations as well.
Self Hypnosis – Self Hypnosis incorporates some of the features of guided imagery and visualizations, with the added benefit of enable you to communicate directly with your subconscious mind to enhance your abilities, more easily give up bad habits, feel less pain, more effectively develop healthier habits and even find answers to questions that may not be clear to your waking mind. It takes some practice and training, but it is well worth it.

The above 5 tips should get you well on your way to relieving the stress and overwhelm in your life. Stay tuned for next week’s article that will include 5 more GREAT tips that you can use to keep your stress at bay. Between the two articles you will have 10 GREAT tips that will help you to reduce or eliminate stress and overwhelm out of your life immediately so that you can enjoy this year with ease and less stress.

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
The Wellness Architect

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.

Step 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,

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

ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

The Sacred Experience of Cooking

Is cooking good for the soul?

When I was a little girl, I would sometimes watch my grandmother cook. She was one of the best cooks I knew and always seem to have a smile on her face whenever she was cooking. I remember one time asking her why she was smiling and she told me “because cooking is good for the soul, child.” As I grew up and began to cook for my family I would often remember that conversation that I had with my grandmother and the smile that she had on her face when she cooked.

The wise people in the world say that cooking is good for the soul because it is a spiritual thing to do. It is a way to thank and show appreciation to the Divine for the food that we have to eat. When we cook for others, the experience of cooking becomes an even more profoundly spiritual thing to do. In many cultures cooking is a sacred experience and mindfulness on the food is adhered to while cooking by not talking but rather praying in silence and even pausing to give thanks while chopping, peeling or stirring. This is believed to assist with cultivating a selfless intention and being honorable and respectful for the gift of food from the Divine.

When we cook in a joyful and peaceful state of mind, we bring the essence of that into the food that we are preparing. It is wonderful to integrate mindfulness and love into the experience of cooking because it deepens the cooking experience and enhances the quality and flavor of the food. It is because of this awareness that we are able to cultivate a unique experience each time we cook a meal.

When a person cooks a meal for another they are practicing what we call in Ayurveda, Seva. Seva is a Sanskrit word referring to the practice of serving others with no expectation of reward or recognition. Practicing Seva helps us see that every person is an aspect of the Divine therefore any action that benefits others, no matter how menial is a service to the Divine.

Kitchens are often the most used, best-loved room in the house. They possess a gravitational pull that brings together friends and family, labor and laughter, sustenance and celebration. That lovableness is often exhibited in the wonderful meals that come out of the kitchen. Most good cooks have the belief that cooking is for whomever you are preparing the meal for and not for the cook. Most cooks understand that being a good cook in the kitchen is a true selfless service and comes from the love of wanting to serve others.

What will you cook today to show your love?

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

International Best Selling Author
Tel: 209-640-3154
Fax: 209-833-6869
Direct: 209-321-6001
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Wishing you Peace to your Mind, Wellness to your Body and Tranquility to your Spirit

ayurveda, blissful living, healthy eating, healthy living

Why a Gentle Detox is Perfect Now

This is the perfect opportunity to slow down and tune in to yourself.

Though we may eat lighter in the summertime, our bodies can still build up multiple toxins from rushing to pack in a ton of activities. Certain dietary habits, keeping the kids occupied and technology overload all contribute to the build up.

The juncture between the heat of the summer and winter’s cold provides a perfect opportunity to recognize bad habits and then embrace healthier ones as you transition into fall and winter. I recommend that people synchronize four detoxes a year with each change of seasons. Fall is a natural time of transition when we want to feel more vibrant and clear.

Doing a gentle detox will not only facilitate the removal of toxins from your body, it will strengthen your immune system against wintertime viruses.

7-Day Detox

I offer three specific detox programs, from gentle to very deep and intense. A gentle detox program will reset your body and mind, and my 7-Day Detox program is safe, effective and based on Ayurvedic principles.

Popular cleanses that ask you to take extreme measures are not designed to support you in the long run. They’re meant to help you purge quickly.

When you detox too quickly, you remove some (but not the majority of) toxins so it leaves your body in an imbalanced state.

In my 7-Day Detox program, your body will cleanse itself physically and mentally but you’ll also lose some weight. I’ve had clients lose anywhere from five to ten pounds. Most importantly, you’re nourishing your body with yummy food. Continue reading →

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Blissful Living 4U

Information on using Ayurveda for your health and wellness

Category Archives: healthy living

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Why a Gentle Detox is Perfect Now