Tag Archives: ayurveda

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Healthy Ways to Stop Headache Pain

Did you know that almost a fifth of the people presenting to the emergency department go there for headache pain and for women between the ages of 18 to 44, I jumps to a third of the visits. Wow when I read this it was mind boggling to me.  You see severe headaches and migraines can leave you in agony, but even mild headaches can be painful enough to negatively affect your life. And stress, hormones and life can play a major part in bringing a headache on.

Instead of focusing on the headache pain and causes, I am going to focus on natural treatments for your headache pain.

The first remedy that I would like to talk about is the Boswellia tree. This ancient tree contains a resin that has potent anti-inflammatory properties. This tree resin has been included in studies treating people with cluster headaches, which occurred over the course of weeks, month, or even years. Cluster headaches are so intense that they have often been called the “suicide headaches.” The wonderful thing is that the Boswellia tree resin has been shown to provide long –lasting pain relief and has also been shown to decrease the intensity and frequency of these headaches.

Next there’s Butterbur. This is a perennial shrub and has been used to treat pain relief and headache prevention. This beauty has been shown to prevent migraine headaches, in clinical research studies. Butterbur taken twice per day has been shown to decrease the frequency of migraine headaches.  Please note that some Butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which may cause liver damage, so be careful when selecting your supplement to ensure you get a supplement that’s free of these harmful compounds.

Lastly, I want to share this goody for decreasing headache pain and you are going to flip when you find out. Ready? Well it is the good old vitamin B complex. B vitamins have become a popular treatment for the reduction or the severity of migraines and headaches. B vitamins contain riboflavin that has been deemed effective for the prevention of migraines. In addition vitamin B-6 has been shown to decrease headaches associates with the menstrual cycle.  Vitamin B-6 may even help decrease headaches associated with oral contraceptives.

All of these are available as supplements at your natural health stores. It is always suggested that you check with your healthcare provider for the correct dosage to take for you.

Wishing you peace, wellness and tranquility!

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

Host of Blissful Living Show

www.rochelelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

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Releasing Overwhelm By Establishing a Daily Routine

How does your day start off? When you wake up and step out of bed do you go into full gear? Wake up, check the cell phone, shower, grab a quick bite to eat, a cup of coffee, pack up the kids, rush out the door, drop the kids off at daycare or school and then drive in bumper to bumper traffic to get to work, hoping that you make it on time? Do you ever ask, why do I always feels to rush and overwhelm? If so stay tuned, I have a gift for you.

While it may be difficult to find time for yourself, Ayurveda promotes the vital need for certain daily activities to keep you at your healthiest. One of the most prominent ancient texts of Ayurveda, the Caraka Samhita, describes in detail a lengthy daily routine to keep one free from the ravages of imbalanced doshas, illness and poor aging. This can be simplified for the modern lifestyle while still reaping many of the life enhancing benefits.

In this article, I will give you 10 steps that have allowed so many people to take control and positively manage the hustle and bustle of daily life. The components of this routine come largely from the more detailed routine as taught in Ayurveda. Even if you cannot follow it exactly adapting it in whatever way you can will bring a noticeable difference to your day and to your well being.

The importance of a consistent daily routine can’t be underestimated. It sets the tone for your entire day, bringing a sense of calm and nourishment. It give the mind, body and spirit the chance to ground and cleanse, to start afresh Routine itself brings harmony, especially to a vata natured person; it also reminds pitta that there is need to put aside the drive to continuously “Go, Go, Go!” in order to rejuvenate oneself, and routine asks kapha to push past the inertia and laziness to not do anything for oneself. Routine allows you to rid the system of foreign materials that could otherwise become problematic, resetting any potential imbalance in doshas on a daily basis. Elements of the daily routine support a number of the bodily systems, including the nervous system, respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems.

Does this sound like something you would like to do for yourself? Then go ahead and get started, what are you waiting for? If you can’t incorporate the whole routine to begin with then pick one or two steps and move forward on your Ayurvedic journey to wellness; then slowly incorporate another step at a time, as you feel more comfortable.

  1. Wake up at a routine time early in the morning preferably before or at sunrise.
  2. Clean the eyes, mouth and face.
  3. Have a bowel movement.
  4. Brush your teeth.
  5. Clean your tongue.
  6. Perform a self-massage (Abhyanga) with warm oil.
  7. Take a warm bath or shower.
  8. Take 30 minutes for a self-enhancing practice such as meditation, pranayama, yoga, prayer or journaling.
  9. Eat regular meals.
  10. Keep a regular bedtime.

If you are in need of some spontaneity outside of this routine, Ayurveda makes room for that by accepting the fact that the spirit needs to revel in creativity and freedom. Select opportunities that bring you this joy and leave you feeling richer for having had the experience. Ayurveda asks that you indulge in moderation so as not to overwhelm your system and allow you the chance to rejuvenate following the departure from your daily routine.  And to do that you simply return to step 1 of your daily routine.

Wishing you peace, well-being and tranquility!

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

www.rochlelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.blissful-living.net

http://www.stressassessmentmagic.com

Twitter: @rochelelawson

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The Top Ten Detoxifying Foods – Part 2  

 

In The Top Ten Detoxifying Foods part 1 article, you were introduced to the first five detoxifying foods The Top Ten Detoxifying Foods – Part 2 In this article, you are going to learn the remaining five detoxifying foods that naturally detoxify your body and how they work.

  1. Garlic – Garlic contains allicin, which is created when garlic is crushed and it converts into a sculpture-based compound when it enters the body. Toxins such as mercury, certain food additives and chemical versions of the hormone oestrogen binds with sulphur, enabling the body to excrete the whole package. Sulphur also helps keep the body alkaline which can help fight cravings caused by nicotine addiction.
  2. Kiwi Fruit – Kiwi contains the powerful antioxidant Vitamin C that helps the body manufacture the vital detoxifier glutathione. A study published in the American Journal of Nutrition found that when people were given 500mg of vitamin C a day levels of glutathione increased by 50% in just 2 weeks.
  3. Prunes – There are the ultimate antioxidant food, and provide twice as many antioxidants as blueberries, they’re nearest competitor. They are also important detoxifiers for other reasons. This fruit contains tartaric acid, a natural laxative and dihydropheyl isatin, which trigger the intestine to contract. This and tartaric acid combined reduce the time feces stays in the system, thereby reducing the risk of toxic reabsorption.
  4. Seaweed – Studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, have shown that seaweeds will bind in the body with radioactive waste. These wastes can reach us via food that has been grown where water or soil has been contaminated. Seaweed contains in high doses the minerals of iron, iodine, calcium and magnesium. Seaweed also contains something called alginates that have ben shown to bind to heavy metals in our body and helps prepare them for excretion from the body.
  5. Watercress – Watercress increases detox enzymes in the body, and may act directly on particular toxins. When smokers were given 170g (6 ounces) of watercress a day at the Norwich Food Research Centre in the UK, they excreted higher than average levels of known carcinogens in their urine. Watercress contains chlorophyll, which helps builds healthy red blood cells and boost circulation.

In fact water is so important, I mention it again in this article.

Water – Water is needed to flush toxins through our system, yet most of us spend the day dehydrated. You have probably heard that eight glasses of water a day is the required amount, but just aim to drink a glass of something as often as you can. Remember that its not just plain water that hydrates you. Coconut water is an excellent source to utilize for hydrating the body. It is full of electrolytes that the body uses and needs and it is very cooling to the body. You can also eat high water containing foods such as watermelon, celery, cucumber, pears, and grapes to boost your water supply and to provide vitamins to your body.

When you begin to incorporate these foods into your daily diet, you help your body to maintain a state of balance that leads to a feeling of wellbeing. You will not only feel fabulous, fit and well you will look it too. (www.fabfitwellgiftpack.com) People around you will notice your vibrancy and will want to know your secret. And lastly, my favorite benefit is your waistline will thank you.

To further enhance and enjoy a natural detoxification check out: www.the7daydetox.net.

Helping you to enhance your well-being!

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

www.rochlelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.blissful-living.net

http://www.stressassessmentmagic.com

Twitter: @rochelelawson

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The Top Five Detoxifying Foods – Part 1                  

Detoxifying the body can be a relative easy thing to do. In fact it is not necessary to starve yourself, do fad detoxes that may do more damage than good or have the detoxification be an extremely difficult thing to do. In fact you can detox your body by eating food that naturally assists your body with the detoxification process. Below is a list of the first five detoxifying foods and how they work.

  1. Apple – Scientist in the Ukraine have used apples to purify the area around Chernobyl after the nuclear leak. Apples contain Vitamin C and quercetin, antioxidant nutrients that lower fat/cholesterol levels. Pectin, a fiber also found in citrus fruits, beets and berries that binds heavy metals (such as lead and mercury) in the colon and encourages their excretion. It also helps the body excrete food additives, including tartrazine, which is linked to hyperactivity, migraine headaches and asthma in children.
  2. Avocado – Avocados contain Glutathione, an antioxidant that fights free radicals. This combines with fat-soluble toxins, particularly alcohol, to make them water-soluble. Levels of glutathione decrease as we age (one reason why hangovers worsen as we get older): researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, USA, found that elderly people whose levels of glutathione were higher, were healthier. They were also less likely to suffer from arthritis, which many experts believe is a disease aggravated by excess toxicity.
  3. Artichoke – The Artichoke increases bile production. One of the jobs of bile is to carry toxins to the bowel where they can be excreted. According to research, artichoke can increase bile flow by 127% 30 minutes after being eaten. Artichokes contain antioxidant nutrients that are shown to decrease damage to the liver caused by free radicals when the artichoke extracts are present in the system.
  4. Beetroot– beetroot has been used for many years by Roman civilizations as a blood-purifying tonic. Ingredients in it may also absorb toxic metals. At Leadville, a polluted mine site in Colorado, USA, beets and other crops such as carrot and banana are being used to filer 70% of pollutants from water. Beetroot contains methionine, which helps to purify natural waste products from the body. Batanin, which helps the rate at which the liver can break down fatty acids. This takes pressure off the organ, allowing it to fight more dangerous toxins.
  5. Cruciferous Vegetables – Cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, spinach and cauliflower all cruciferous vegetables and are very powerful detoxifiers that neutralize particular toxins. As study at Cornell University in USA found that brussel sprouts inhibited aflatoxin, a toxic mold linked to liver cancer. Cruciferous vegetables have also neutralized nitrosamines, produced by cigarette smoke. They also contain glucosinolates, which prompts the liver to produce vital enzymes.

Water – Water is needed to flush toxins through our system, yet most of us spend the day dehydrated. You have probably heard that eight glasses of water a day is the required amount, but just aim to drink a glass of something as often as you can. Remember that its not just plain water that hydrates you. Coconut water is an excellent source to utilize for hydrating the body. It is full of electrolytes that the body uses and needs and it is very cooling to the body. You can also eat high water containing foods such as watermelon, celery, cucumber, pears, and grapes to boost your water supply and to provide vitamins to your body.

Other Useful Detox Foods

Alfalfa, Asparagus, Bananas, Bran Cereals, Brazil nuts, Carrots, Eggs, Tofu

Have fun with this list and try to incorporate as many of the above foods as possible. Watch how your body responds by giving you more energy, vibrancy and clarity. You will feel amazing.

Wishing you healthy energy, vibrancy and clarity!

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

www.rochlelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.blissful-living.net

http://www.stressassessmentmagic.com

Twitter: @rochelelawson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochele.lawson.5

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Welcome Fall

When autumn arrives we definitely know that change is in the air. Leaves began to turn colors and fall off the trees. The air feels crisp and dry and in Ayurveda, we say Vata dosha tends to increase, which may lead to imbalances. This is likely to remain until February, when changes occur once again.

You may have noticed that you are prone to go out of balance in the fall; its restless, sweeping qualities can disrupt your physiology and psychology. Occasional constipation, dry skin, irregular appetite, difficulty sleeping, stress and fatigue, to name a few can cause you to feel out-of-sync. The predominance of the elements, especially the wind can cause all of these problems and more. The season of fall can bring with it great excitement for change but can also be quite overwhelming to us all with the advent of the holiday season. I would like to offer you some suggestions to help you transition into the fall season without too much disruption to your normal flow of life.

With fall being the onset of dry and cold days and nights, the first tip I would like for you to consider is a diet that is warming, nourishing and comforting to the body and soul.

Following you will find other ways to help keep you balanced and well during this season.

6 Ways to Maintain Balance This Fall

  1. First and foremost, you must regulate your mealtimes. Have lunch between 12 and 2 p.m., and dinner early in the evening. Don’t skip or neglect breakfast. This simple schedule will regulate your metabolism and hunger cycles, generate healthy agni (digestive fire), and help reduce the accumulation of toxins. I recommend herbal formulas for my clients that assist with toning the digestive tract, promotes healthy elimination and increases assimilation of all nutrients.
  2. Start by going to bed early – ideally by 10 p.m. Get in the habit regardless of the hours you have been keeping. Your body will thank you in the morning.
  3. It is important to pay attention to your diet. If you experience a lot of gas or air digestive challenges then opt for warm, unctuous foods cooked with healthy oils and spices.
  4. Eating leftovers, raw foods, or processed and canned foods will create an imbalance. Fall foods should include hot soups, as well as freshly cooked and lightly spiced split-mung Dahl. In the morning, have a warm stewed apple, or cream of wheat cereal or oatmeal with warm almond milk. For midday meals, try sautéing vegetables in ghee and warming spices. Get wholesome nutrition with whole wheat bread or chapatti. If you’re hungry between meals, snack on almonds, dates or fresh fruit.  Warm a cup of almond milk, flavored with a little cardamom, cinnamon or nutmeg or a warm cup of almond milk with a bit of ginger and a touch of honey (be sure the milk is lukewarm before adding honey) or even a little nutmeg before bedtime will enhance the quality of your slumber.
  5. Because the fall season is drying, skin that is neglected in this season tends to wrinkle and age faster. Give your body a daily massage with Organic Sesame Oil and support facial skin with the lipids and healing properties found in vitamin C and the B-complex will help to stop the aging process. With the rich body of the natural organic products and the usage of healing herbs and vitamins you will be able to pamper your skin and keep it soft and subtle during the fall and the winter.
  6. Imbalances in the fall can cause an increase in restlessness, anxious feelings and day-to-day mental stress. Making time for light yoga exercises, a brisk walk in nature and meditation will help combat those stresses. To calm the mind and emotions, connect with nature by taking short walks outdoors, weather permitting and find time to be quiet for a few minutes each day. If you can try to meditate for 15-30 minutes each day that’s great however if you can only get 5 minutes in that is perfect too. By doing these vitality enhancing things you will not only support your natural resistance to emotional stress and fatigue but you will be aiding your body to increase its immunity.

Happy Fall!

Wishing you much health and wellness!

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

www.rochlelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.blissful-living.net

http://www.stressassessmentmagic.com

Twitter: @rochelelawson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochele.lawson.5

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Blissful Ways to Cultivate Calm – Part 2

In my recent article, Blissful Ways to Cultivate Calm (Blissful Ways to Cultivate Calm) I shared 7 blissful tips on how to utilize mindfulness to cultivate calm. I had so much fun writing that article that I decided to share 6 additional ways to assist you with practicing mindfulness that leads to cultivating calm and eliminating stress.

If you haven’t already guessed, my goal is to help you discover how to live a life of Bliss. In living a life of bliss, having excellent health and well-being is key. When you begin to feel better you begin to be able to enjoy life just a little bit more. The busyness of life can cause you to be stretched and pulled in many directions leading to tension, anxiety and stress. Cultivating mindfulness in to one’s daily living is a wonderful way to combat the painful effects of stress while enhancing your physical and mental well-being.

The six Blissful tips in the article can be combined with the original seven tips for a total of 13. Try utilizing the tips for 13 day repeating once for a total of 26 days and see the difference they can make in your life.

6 Blissful Tips to Cultivate Calm

  1. WATCH THE RAIN FALL.

Notice the path of the rain as it falls toward the ground. If you are in a place that snows, try watching the snow instead. Let the puddles inspire you.

  1. BE PATIENT.

Instead of wishing for the day, the week, the year to hurry by so you can get to something better, savor each moment, whether big or small.

  1. TODAY AS YOU WORK, TAKE A MOMENT.

To think not about the task, but about those who will benefit from your task, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

  1. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR THOUGHTS.

Don’t try to change them, just be aware of them and then let them go without judgment.

  1. TURN OFF ALL SCREENS FOR THE DAY.

No television, no phone, no computer. Be at peace with not being connected.

  1. APPRECIATE A PET.

Take your dog for a walk and notice her joy as she explores your neighborhood. Play with your cat and appreciate his focus. Watch your goldfish and marvel at its grace. If you don’t share your life with a pet, borrow a friend’s or spend some time at a local animal shelter.

While engaging in the Blissful tips to practicing mindfulness while cultivating calm, be easy on yourself and have fun experiencing the benefits from each practice. The more you practice the easier it gets to cultivate calm.

Enjoy!

 

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

Host of Blissful Living

Twitter: @rochelelawson

Instagram: rochelelawson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ rochele.lawson.5

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Blissful Ways to Cultivate Calm

We live in a society that is constantly on the go. Do you ever feel like your life is just passing you by and there is nothing that you can do to slow it down? Ayurveda teaches the practice of being mindful with what you do and how you live your life. Living a balanced, mindful and calm life can lead to health, well-being, longevity, vitality and Bliss.  Living a balanced life involves being mindful of what you do in your day-to-day life. It is this mindfulness that leads to cultivating calm in the mind and the body.

Mindfulness is the practice of living in the present, paying attention and accepting your life without judgment. Practicing mindfulness can help you become less stressed, improve your memory and attention and enhance your relationships as well as your well-being.

Below you will find seven tips to help you cultivate calm and bring more bliss into your life. Have fun practicing the blissful tips and feel free to experiment with the tips such as using 2 tips a day. At the end of each day take some time to reflect on how often you used the tip and how it made you feel throughout the day. The more you practice using the tips in your day to day living, the calmer your life will become and the easier it will be for you to eliminate stress from your mind, body and life.

BLISSFULNESS TIPS TO CULTIVATE CALM EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK:

  1. FIND OUR THE EXACT MOMENT OF THE SUNSET IN YOUR AREA.

For two minutes before and two minutes after, simply watch the sun set without thinking about what happened today or what will happen tomorrow.

  1. BREATHE

At various times thought the day, take a few second to focus on your breath entering and leaving your body.

  1. GO TO THE WATER

Whether it’s a pond, a river, a lake, or an ocean, take a moment to watch the water move.

  1. ABSTAIN FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, WHETHER IT’S FACEBOOK, TWITTER, OR ANY OTHER SOCIAL APP.

Instead make today about face-to-face connections.

  1. FOR TWO MINUTES TODAY, TAKE A SERENITY BREAK.

Close your eyes and breathe deeply while focusing on how your body is feeling. Need help? Go to (add link for Blissful Living Article)

  1. WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH OTHERS TODAY, LET GO OF HOW THEY MAY AFFECT YOU.

Instead, think of how what you will say and what you will do affects them.

  1. USING THREE BLANK PIECES OF PAPER, WRITE ABOUT WHATEVER COMES TO MIND.

It doesn’t have to be good. Just write about something. Don’t stop until you’ve filled your three pages.

Mindfulness helps to cultivate calm which leads to cultivating Bliss, that enhances our physical, mental and emotional well-being. The beauty of being in a calm, balanced state is that it is enchanting, tantalizing and hypnotic guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

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

Host of Blissful Living

Twitter: @rochelelawson

Instagram: rochelelawson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ rochele.lawson.5

Www.blissful-living.net

 

 

 

 

 

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Blissful Living

Living a blissful life is easier than you think. Once you know what blissful living is and how easy it is to obtain it, you will want to live this way. The quickest way to live a Blissful life is to eliminate stress.

You may be thinking, “ eliminate stress, is that even possible,” and if so how do I accomplish that? You know as well as I do that our society is built upon the battle with stress. Just the thought of the word “stress” causes a stress reaction in most all human beings. So how can the battle of eliminating stress be won without stressing you out?

Here are five things that you can do everyday to win the battle with eliminating stress:

  1. Take a Walk

Our life has become more and more sedentary. We are sitting, standing of lying down for longer periods of time. This can cause an imbalance in our balance of mental to physical energy expended creating stress within. Taking a walk for at least 10 minutes in nature will release feel good endorphins within your body elevating your mental clarity, mental bliss while invigorating your body.

  1. Eat Lunch Somewhere Pleasant

Lunchtime is a wonderful time to take a break and remove yourself from the confines of your desk. Find a place that’s relaxing, quiet and peaceful to eat your lunch or go to lunch with co-workers and release the pent up energy.  And while at lunch engage in pleasant and positive conversations or thoughts. Refrain from complaining, criticizing and gossiping. This helps to set a blissful tone for the remainder of the workday.

  1. Relax Your Muscles with a Body Scan

Progressive muscle relaxation can help you notice where you’re holding stress. It doesn’t take long and it’s simple to do: Lie down comfortably on your back with your legs straight. Close your eyes. Start by tensing muscles in your feet, and then relax.  Continue the process working your way up your body doing the same thing in sequence from your feet to your head, starting with the right side of your body. Often it’s only by experiencing muscle tension and letting it go that we become aware of just how much tension our bodies are retaining.

  1. Minimize Multitasking

Studies have shown that multitasking is not as efficient or effective as it once was thought to be. Jumping around from one thing to another to another in a constant state of partial attention is exhausting, inefficient and highly stressful. Try giving full attention to one thing at a time and watch your efficiency, effectiveness and Bliss increase.

  1. Get Your Face Out Of Your Phone

Set boundaries on when, where and how you will use your phone. Beware of the “dominating phone.” This is a phone that dominates your life to the point that your phone is in your hands more than not. Try eliminating your phone usage after 8:30pm and not using it before 7:00am and lastly putting your phone away during meals, parties or interacting with your family.

When we choose the path to bliss, we begin to enjoy our journey. Taking small steps to bring Bliss into our life is exactly what we are meant to do. It’s our destiny to live a life of Bliss and by learning what to do to accomplish the goal of Bliss, makes the journey even more special.

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

Host of Blissful Living

Twitter: @rochelelawson

Instagram: rochelelawson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ rochele.lawson.5

Www.blissful-living.net

 

 

 

 

 

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Reverse Mourning the Mornings

How many of you dread waking up in the morning? No matter how much sleep you get you simply hate getting up in the morning and not because you are tired but rather because it is the morning? We have all been there. It’s morning and when that dreaded alarm clock goes off you muster up all the ump you have in you and you either hit the snooze button or you get up.

Sadly most of us are sleep deprived due to various reasons from insomnia to over stimulation of the mind. When we are plague with sleep challenges it is difficult for our brains and bodies that have been asleep for hours, to shift from sleep to wake at the sound of an alarm.  Often times a busy day lies ahead so we must struggle to get a grip on our immediate racing thoughts upon waking up. Having a morning mindfulness routine and practice can help awaken the brain and bring balance and focus to your morning. You may even find with a regular routine of morning mindfulness, you begin to enjoy waking up for the quiet and peaceful moments that starts your day.

Here are a few blissful tips to help you enjoy waking up in the morning.

Upon Waking Up Observe Your Breath

Feel your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Focus on this breath and allow your mind to engage in the process of inhaling and exhaling. If your mind wanders in to other thoughts such as how you would like to just stay in bed, simply note the thought, take 5 more deep breaths in and release them out then rise and get out of bed.

Let The Sunshine In

Upon arising out of bed, before you do anything else such as going to the bathroom or taking a shower, open up the blinds and curtains in your room and let the sunshine in. If the day is a cloudy day do not fret, still open up your window dressings and let the day light in. This has an immediate effect on your brain stimulating the receptors in the brain that differentiate day and night. The light awakens the brain, which then sends signals to the body to wake up and get ready for the day.

Find A Comfortable Spot

Once you have opened up your windows, find a comfortable spot to sit near the window, stretch your arms over your head and then relax them at your sides and let the warmth of the sunshine hit your face so that it can awaken the circulation in your face.  Thus further enhancing the mindfulness waking up process.

Observe The Weather

Look out the window and bath your face in the natural light. Take a moment to observe the weather outside as you gaze out your window from your comfortable spot. Notice if the day is sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy or foggy? What color is the sky? How bright is the sunshining?

Become aware of your feelings, positive or negative about the current weather situation outside. Notice what arises in your mind as you allow yourself to experience the weather in this manner. Take a deep breath in and release it out.

Stand Up And Start Your Day

Plant your feet firmly on the ground and sit there for a moment or two. Notice the texture of the floor. Is it carpeted, hard wood or tile? Does it feel cold? Hot? Stand straight up, stretch your arms up high above your head and take a deep breath in and exhale out, lower your arms and get moving toward your Blissful Day!

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

Your Skin’s Biggest Enemy and Friends

Your Skin’s Biggest Enemy

Everyday stress can make you look older but you have the power to stop this from happening. Everyday I amaze people when I tell them how old I am. They often think that I am at least 20 years younger than I am. I often hear that my skin looks amazing. What I learned a long time ago is not to let stress or anxiety take a toll on my health and well being and my skin. You can often tell just by looking at someone how much stress they have had in their lives and how much of a toll it has taken on their wellbeing, just by looking at their face.

You see each one of us at one point and time in our lives has suffered from the stress provoked acne breakout.  This happens because stress and anxiety triggers hormones and neurotransmitters that inflame the skin and causes the skin to become a breeding ground for acne.  When your brain senses psychological stress it turns on the stress related hormones. The result is an acne producing cocktail of adrenaline, cortisol, free radicals triggering angiotensin and inflammation generating cytokines that courses through your body eroding your skin’s plumping collagen and sacred defenses.  When this happens during short-term stress or anxiety, it is not too much of a problem. The trouble is when stress and anxiety become a chronic problem, which often goes unnoticed.

The chronic state of stress continues bathing of the skin in the stress hormones, which begins to damage your complexion from the inside out. Over time the increased exposure to cortisol can inhibit the growth of fibroblast cells, that make new collagen, but it doesn’t slow the breakdown of old tissue. This may lead to skin tissue lost at an accelerated rate.  Chronic stress also boosts the production of free radicals and reduces protective antioxidants making your skin more vulnerable to wrinkles, pigmentation spots and dullness.

Skin inflammation often occurs in response to emotional stress and the inflammatory process damages and ages skin. Your immune system is not meant to be turned up 24/7 and than constant low grade inflammation may further degrade collagen and hinder skin’s ability to replenish. Plus inflammation compromises your skin’s barrier function, which can leave your complexion drier, duller and more prone to irritation. When you live in a constant state of stress it becomes harder for your skin to repair itself naturally, form healthy collagen and elastin and heal the damaged areas.

Your Skin’s Biggest Friends

So now you may be wondering how in the world can I prevent this from happening when often times I don’t even realize that I am stressed, well let me share with you some of the methods I use to keep my skin looking fabulous while keeping stress and anxiety at bay.

We all know that exercise is good for you in so many ways in that it boost circulation and relieves stress. In fact, exercise decrease cortisol levels and inflammation and you actually look younger, fresher and healthier after you exercise. Exercising for even 10 minutes has been shown to have a significant effect on the appearance of your skin.

Something that has wonderfully soothing effects on the mind and the body is listening to some soothing music. Soothing music is known to reduce cortisol and inflammation. So go ahead an indulge in some soothing music by turning on your computer playlist and let the melodies of the music relax your mind and your body and heal your skin from the inside out.

Being in nature or surrounded by green space has a soothing effect on the brain as well and can reduce cortisol and anxiety in adults. Taking a walk in nature can do wonders to relax the mind. A relaxed mind equals decreased stress hormones and happier skin.

At the end of the day, take a minute to write down three things that you are grateful for. Practicing gratitude is one of the simplest ways to beat stress and feel happier. You don’t have to do a 10-day silent retreat to make significant impact on stress and how you let it affect you and the way you look.

My Zenful solution to you for improving the way your skin looks and feels is exercise, music and gratitude. These three little things can reduce the hormones that lead to dull, tired looking skin, wrinkles, sagging and aging skin.

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 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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