Peace of Mind: Tips to Quiet the Mind and Relieve Stress

Have you ever felt like your brain will not be quiet?  I’ve had a real struggle with this for a lot of my life.  Whether my mind is obsessed with worries or involved in creative brainstorming, sometimes it will not leave me alone!  While I get a real high when my brain starts off on a creative spiral, I’m not so crazy about the nervous system overload that comes with it.  Anxiety and sleeplessness get old very fast.   Over the last few years, I’ve done a  much better job of stopping myself before I get caught in a mental frenzy of activity.  Today, I have a confession to make…I fell off the wagon. 

Thankfully, Spirit intervened, bringing me a vision to get me back on track.  As I’ve talked to many others who have been suffering with the same problem, I thought I should share what I learned. 

So here’s my vision…The first thing I saw was a nest of sea turtle eggs.  I watched as they all hatched and these adorable, tiny turtles started making their way to the ocean.  I felt this wonderful elation followed by panic.  How could I possibly get all these wonderful creatures to the ocean safely? 

The message was that I couldn’t.  The reality is that only a few sea turtle hatchlings actually live to become full grown sea turtles.  The same is true for my ”brilliant” ideas. Only a few of those ideas are meant to manifest right now and I’ll have plenty of time to nurture them to fruition (at least I will if I stop running frantically around the beach trying to scoop up baby turtles!).   

In case you’ve found yourself with an unending to do list and a brain that won’t turn off, I thought I’d post a few tips to bring back your peace of mind.  Give them a try!   

TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE WITHOUT ANXIETY AND STRESS

Pay attention to your body.  The best defense to help yourself avoid moving into a stressed out, anxious state of being, is to notice how your body feels.  Get in the habit of regular check ins.  Ask yourself:  How does my stomach feel?  How about my muscles?  Is my jaw tense?  If you are feeling any discomfort, then take a deep breath and work on relaxing your muscles.  Make yourself set aside what you are working on until your body returns to a more relaxed state.  Believe me, it is worth the time.

Turn off your work mind by 7PM.  It is really important to get a good night sleep.  One of the keys to sleeping well is to avoid giving your mind lots of juicy things to think about right before you are telling it to shut down for the night.  Make a firm cut off time (at least a couple hours before you go to sleep) to drop any serious topics or work items and stick to it.  Do something relaxing before you fall asleep.  I find it helpful to visualize all the stresses of the day washing off me in a gentle lake or at the beach.  Pick something that is soothing to you and make it part of your nighttime ritual. 

Exercise.  I’ve never been a very gung ho exerciser, but a couple of years of living with anxiety completely changed my opinion about its importance.  The bottom line is that exercising reduces stress hormones.  A walk outside.  Time on an exercise machine.  Yoga.  Playing a sport.  All of these things help to get you out of your head and into a more relaxed and comfortable body. 

Yoga Mudras.  I think Sabrina Mesko should hire me to handle her publicity.  Honestly, I am a HUGE fan of yoga mudras and I own all of Sabrina’s products (check out my Amazon store in the blogroll if you’d like to get your own copies).  Her three minute hand postures are amazingly powerful.  They really do help to shift the energy, calm the body and the mind, and bring you to a peaceful state of being.  I can’t recommend them highly enough.

Listen to Relaxation CD’s and/or peaceful music.  I escaped my two years of anxiety Hell through the wonders of a technique called nervous system settling.  When I finally understood that what was happening was simply nervous system overload and my constant mental gymnastics to bring it under control were actually increasing my anxiety, I had what I needed to end the cycle.  I learned about this technique from Gary Peterson, an author and nervous system expert.  He has a great CD to help you settle your nervous system.  You can purchase it at http://www.Energiabooks.com or  learn more about it on his website:  http://www.StarInstitute.us.  Besides his CD, I find relaxing music to be very helpful to soothe my overactive mind.  Enya is a favorite artist of mine.  Find something you enjoy and put it on the next time you find yourself overthinking. 

Get some help.  Sometimes it helps to talk with someone objective to get things back in perspective.  Talk with a good friend, a counselor, or make an appointment with me!  As I’ve explained, I’ve had lots of practice with this, not only with myself but with many clients.   To purchase a life coaching reading, visit my website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com. 

 Here’s to peace of mind for us all!

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach who empowers her clients to overcome feelings of powerlessness and to make changes to create a life they love.  To learn more about her services and products, visit her website: http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.  Nancy is also the owner Sanctuary at the Crossroads and Crossroads Coaching.

Advertise Your Holistic Product for FREE

Hello Everyone!

I’ve always wanted to have my own holistic store, but I didn’t want to deal with all the paperwork and shipping.  Now, I’ve come up with a way to have my store without all the work!  The new Sanctuary Marketplace is an online store offering unique products that promote holistic health, natural living, spiritual and personal growth, creativity, and community outreach. 

To kick off the launch for this store, I am offering a special promotion.  Sign up to advertise your holistic product by 7/30/2009 and receive the first three months FREE!

The Marketplace is a virtual store on this website where holistic products can be purchased directly.  A product will be advertised with a 25 word description, small photo, website link, and Paypal link.   After the trial period, you will have the option to continue advertising for $5/month (three month commitment required). 

For more information and to sign up visit the advertising page (see tab at top of this page).     

I’m looking forward to sharing your product in my new store!

Have a great day!

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach and owner of Empowering Lightworkers, Crossroads Coaching, and Sanctuary at the Crossroads.  For more information about her services visit her member page or her websites.   She can be reached by email: Nancy@EmpoweringLightworkers.com

Your Health, Your Choice

Written by Debbie Kacic, LMT, Birth Doula, Reiki Master

With all the stress in our lives today, the one thing to focus on now more than ever is our health. We can’t afford to get sick and take time off work, or to let stress wear our bodies down. To many sufferers seek solutions that are synthetic, short lived, and don’t produce the permanent effects that we are looking for. To think clearly and stay healthy, we must make the choice to take care of ourselves.

When stress becomes a regular part of our lives it results in a decline of our health. It will cause us to be angry, unable to sleep, irritable, fearful and downright depressed. In fact, scientific studies indicate that up to 80 percent of all illnesses are due in part to stress.  In a heightened state of stress our sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our “fight or flight” response, is in a constant state of arousal. It produces the hormones cortisol and adrenaline to help us cope with the stress. When faced with a truly stressful event this is helpful, but over a long period of time this every day stress response can produce chronic dysfunction in almost any system in the body. Managing stress and stopping its harmful effects are critical to our over all health.

One of the very best ways to take care of your health and reduce your stress levels is to get a massage. Massage is not a luxury item. It is a natural remedy with many important health benefits for both mental and physical well being. A regular massage can reduce anxiety, calm the nervous system, promote a sense of relaxation and emotional well being, reduce tension, increase self esteem, increase deep sleep and boost alertness. For physical well being, massage improves blood circulation, relieves muscle cramps, aids in pain management, can slow the heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and block the nervous system’s pain receptors.

From infants to teenagers, athletes to grandparents, massage offers a natural way to heal from stress and injury. Don’t wait until you’re in pain to start massage treatments. Unlock your body’s natural healing capabilities.  Getting a massage will make you feel a whole lot better both mentally and physically for hours and even days to come.  There are so many people who depend upon you everyday. Take care of yourself!

Debbie is a medically licensed Massage Therapist and owner of Nature’s Touch Massage and Wellness Center.  For more information on massage and how it can help you please give her a call at 330-721-9357, or e-mail naturestouch4u@aol.com, or visit her website at http://www.ntwellnesscenter.com/ for information on the different types of massage and other treatments offered at Nature’s Touch.

July Retreat for Caregivers

A Musical Journey into Self

A day retreat for personal and professional caregivers

Join us for a day of peace, reflection, and relaxed enjoyment of nature.  

Sponsored by Healing Touch of Northeast Ohio

Sunday, July 12, 2009

10:30 AM to 5 PM

Featured presenter

Tammy Tarleton, Certified Music Practitioner

Tammy has been a performing artist since 1977. She began her musical career with Cleveland’s world traveled Singing Angels. She received a scholarship to attend Kent State University. In addition to singing in church, at weddings and other special events and celebrations, Tammy has performed at the Apollo Theater. She is also a self-published poet. Tammy’s continued musical journey has led her to become a Certified Music Practitioner. She will share her stories with music at the bedside and lead the group through a journey of music in body, mind, and spirit.

 A flexible schedule for the day…

10:30 Come early for quiet, reflective time. You will have an opportunity to walk the trails or the two labyrinths, as well as to give or receive a Healing Touch treatment.

12:00 Registration, Lunch, and Used Book Sale  —You may bring your own lunch or order a box lunch for $8.00. (Sandwich, potato salad, and dessert must be ordered at time of reservation.) Snacks and beverages will be provided throughout the day.

1:00 –3:30 Program – Tammy Tarleton

3:30 – 5:00 You may stay after the program to take advantage of the trails and labyrinths, for quiet, reflective time, or to give or receive Healing Touch.

 Location: The Blessed Foundation, Medina, OH

6605 River Styx Road Medina Ohio 44256

http://www.blessed-foundation.com/aboutuscontact.html

 

$25 ** Registration due by July 1** $30 thereafter

For registration and information contact Ruth Thayer

 empowerment2@sbcglobal.net, 440-885-4744.

We would appreciate any donations of books, CD’s, and such for the used book sale. Monies raised

are used for scholarships for local Healing Touch classes.

Create Joy…Try Something New!

After a month of hearing about the Swine Flu and the economic recession, I’ve decided it is time to change the topic!  After all, focusing on things that make us afraid only creates more fear.  This month, I invite you to focus on things that bring you joy. 

During the time of my divorce, I read the book Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  Each day I read a passage which encouraged me to rediscover my authentic self and create a life I loved.  One of the passages was about trying something new at least once a month.  I followed her advice and what GOOD advice it was!  Not only did I meet a lot of wonderful people, but I also found some new things that empowered and healed me.  Many of the Sanctuary at the Crossroads members are people I met during that time. 

Ready to give it a try?  Great!  Here are a few of my favorites…pick one (or more) to try for the month of May (and consider making a commitment to do this every month!):

1. Visit a new garden center:  This past weekend, I went to Quailcrest Farm in Wooster (http://www.quailcrest.com/).  I had the BEST time looking (and smelling) all the beautiful herbs and flowers.  What a wonderful place!  I also got this cool heron (see picture below!).  Visit Quailcrest or look for a new place to try near you.  Pick out a new flower or herb to plant.  There are so many varieties out there you are bound to find one that you will love!

2.  Try a Bodywork session or Exercise Class:  There’s nothing like having your body feel relaxed and energized!  Here are some types to try and my favorite practitioners…

Intuitive Massage:  Massage and energetic balancing with intuitive insight by Lori Byrnes!  http://www.thehealerstouch.com

Stone Massage:  Imagine warm stones stroking your body and kneading away all tension and stress!  Heaven! http://www.ntwellnesscenter.com

Elemental Reflexology:  A foot rub to die for!  Very energetically balancing!  http://www.AquarianElements.com

Polarity Therapy:  Very powerful and great for restoring energetic balancing!  http://www.AquarianElements.com

Healing Touch Therapy:  Energy therapy developed by a registered nurse.  A great way to restore balance and well-being!  http://www.HealingTouchMedina.com

Reiki:  Healing energy to sooth and balance your system!  http://www.NTWellnessCenter.com

Yoga:  Great for restoring well-being and harmony on all levels—physical, emotional, spiritual and mental!  The Hawk Yoga, Copley, OH– (330) 606 4468

Myofascial Release Therapy:  A gentle massage that softens the myofascial tissue for deep relaxation and well-being!  Lori Chapin, LMT (216)-272-7229

3. Explore Nature:  I’m a huge fan of the great outdoors…especially this time of year.  One of my favorite activities is finding a new trail or a new park to go explore.  This time of year, there is so much to see!  A few favorites in Ohio….

Magee Marsh/Crane Creek State Park (http://www.netwalk.com/~vireo/Magee.html): A great place to see the brightly colored warblers this month!

Conkle’s Hollow State Park (http://www.hockinghillspark.com/Conkles_Hollow.asp):  Amazing rim trail and gorge trail…plus close to all the other wonderful hikes at Hocking Hills State Park

Pine Lane Trail (Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area): Off of Center Road (303) near Peninsula.  This trail has lots of ravines and great views!  For other great trails in CVNRA, check out this link:  http://www.trails.com/national-park-trails.aspx?keyword=Cuyahoga+Valley+National+Park&state=OH

Hinckley Lake Metropark (Hinckley, OH):  Great trail around the lake and also check out Whipp’s Ledges! 
http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGM072-006&Source=YSSP&oc=6000&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_catalogtrail&track=1

4.    Experience an Intuitive Reading:  This has always been one of my favorite things to do!  A great way to discover your own personal spiritual support team and be empowered and inspired to live your life purpose.  To learn more about the Life Coaching readings I offer, visit my website: http://www.empoweringlightworkers.com/Readings.html.  I also have an intuitive coaching club that has an opening this month.  It’s a great way to make friendships with like-minded people and get monthly Divine guidance and coaching tips.  Give me a call if you’d like to sample a class!

5.  Visit local Gardens/Historic sites/Labyrinths:  I love Holden Arboretum and Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens.  If you visit Stan Hywett be sure to go on the Nooks and Crannies tour.  It was a blast getting to go into all the off limit places!  Locally, visit the beautiful Blessed Foundation in Medina and walk two labyrinths and enjoy the lovely trails through the woods. 

6.  Take a new class or a complete a new creative project: There are so many different types of classes out there to sample!  Michael’s offers several classes.  Sanctuary member, Karen Burke has lots of fiber arts classes to choose from.  I’m also a big fan of needle felting.  You can purchase your own kits here: http://www.placesintimefarm.com/retailstore.html

7.  Create a new look.  I recently redesigned the front garden bed by our house.  I had the best time coming up with an idea and then finding the items to pull it all together.  You can do this with your home, garden, or even with yourself.  Look for new art or photographs to decorate your walls (maybe get a new spring family photo taken…Allen Seremak does an excellent job if you are in Northeast Ohio-http://www.AllenSeremakPhoto.com).  Try a new hairstyle or scent.  Wear a new color.  I love the Savannah Moon products (http://www.SavannahMoon.com) if you are looking for a new scent to wear!  Holistic Health Consultant, Paula Vetter, has a new weight loss program out too, if you are looking to slim down.  Send her an email if you’d like to learn more (Paula@ProfoundWellness.com).

8.   Volunteer:  Do you have a cause you are passionate about?  Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and make a difference.  I started the Highland Community Support Network to help out kids and families going through financial hardship.  To join this group, visit: http://www.highlandcsn.org.  There are lots of other opportunities to volunteer no matter where you live.  Contact the organization or park system you are interested in and see what opportunities are available!

9.   Discover your Bliss!:  One of the most exciting things I did was embark on a whole new career during the year after my divorce.  The exploration of where my passions and interests were, led to my current career as an Intuitive Life Coach and holistic business owner.  To explore your career dreams, try a session with Career Coach, Cathy Posner (http://www.TransitionConsultingAndCoaching.com)!

Enjoy whatever you choose to try this month! 

Blessings to you and yours!

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach offering Life Coaching Readings, Divinely Guided Reading, Products, and Intuitive Coaching Clubs.  She is the owner of Crossroads Coaching (http://www.CrossroadsCoachingOnline.com), Sanctuary at the Crossroads, and Empowering Lightworkers (http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com).  Visit her websites for free gifts and to learn more!

Just for Today…Loving the Day You Are In

Jones Gap State Park, SC

My husband and I just took a short trip South this past weekend.  Usually, I spend a lot of time anticipating a vacation which makes it especially hard when the trip is over and it is time to come back home.  I didn’t have as much time to anticipate this time around (we weren’t 100% sure we were going until the last minute), but I still found myself reluctant when it came time to head back to responsibilities and snowy weather!  

This got me to thinking.  What is the spiritual lesson to be learned here?  What occurred to me is the importance of living in each day, instead of living in tomorrow or yesterday.  Below are a few simple ideas to help you make the most of each moment.  I hope you find them helpful!    

1.  Just for today… This statement came from my Reiki training.  It asks that you do a series of things “Just for Today.”  I find that this serves me well in moments when I feel sad or unsettled.  I ask myself, can I get through this moment I’m in?  Can I get through just this day?   I may not relish the moment, but usually I find that it isn’t the moment or even the day that is causing my sadness.  It’s tomorrow or yesterday.  So step one is to ask yourself to do just the moment you are in…just this particular day…and let the future days be dealt with when they arrive. 

2.  Daydream:  When one thing ends and I can’t see what is coming next, it often helps to let myself dream.  Try asking yourself, What would I like to have as my reality today?  Even if you can’t bring it into being in this moment, you can feel the joy of it through your imagination.  Have you ever felt like you can’t dream?  When that happens to me, I know that I’m not letting myself admit what I truly want.  Ask yourself if you lived in a world without limitation, what would your world look like?  Where would you live?  Who would you be with?  What would you be doing?  Then let yourself daydream.  Feel the joy of it and trust that even if you have no idea how that could ever exist, that somewhere out there, the Angels are working to bring you the feeling you just experienced.  They are guiding you gently towards exactly that which you seek…even if it is something you haven’t thought to seek.  It’s the feeling that matters….the joy…let yourself rest in that in whatever form it comes.  And more will come to you. 

3.  Do the Day:  My dear and wise friend Lori Byrnes (http://www.thehealerstouch.com) often says this very thing to me.  When you don’t feel that things are the way you want them to be and you find yourself frustrated or sad, one thing you can do is just “do the day.”  What needs to be done right now?  What is before you to do?  Do that.  After all, we each get only the moment we are in and it is up to us what type of moment that is.  We can sit and feel miserable, or we can get up and do what is before us to do and look for the joy to be found in that.  The choice of how we respond to our day is always ours, no matter what our outer circumstances. 

4.  Find Simple Pleasures:  Did you notice the bird sitting outside your window?  How about the tender new wildflower growing up out of the ground?  What about the silly show on tv or the warm cup of tea you are holding?  There is always something to love.  Sometimes we just have to look at the small things to find it.  Love the people around you.  Love the Earth.  Love God.  Love yourself.  Loving is the path to peace and to joy…and it isn’t as hard as it sometimes seems.

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

So here is to a beautiful day…TODAY!

Blessings to you and yours!

Nancy

Nancy Nicholas is an Intuitive Life Coach.  She offers Life Coaching Readings, Divinely Guided Messages by email, Divinely You Readings, Intuitive Coaching Clubs, and other products to inspire and empower you.  For a free Divine Purpose Survey and to learn more about her services, visit her website:  http://www.EmpoweringLightworkers.com.

Book Review: Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life

I highly value the advice life coach Gail Blanke offers through her column in Real Simple magazine.  I was even more excited to read she has recently authored a book titled Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life. (Springboard Press, 2009).  It was mentioned in the April issue of Real Simple with the challenge to get rid of fifty things that are no longer serving your life, including actual junk or old mindsets.  To celebrate the start of spring, I plan on doing just that and encourage you to do the same.  You will feel lighter!

This book can be purchased through Amazon by clicking HERE.

Contributed by Cathy Posner, Transition Consulting and Coaching/Crossroads Coaching/Sanctuary at the Crossroads www.transitionconsultingandcoaching.com

SPRING CLEANING BODY, MIND AND SPRIT

With spring here we often feel a need to give our homes a thorough cleaning. Why not our bodies as well? A very important part of keeping ourselves in great health is ridding our bodies of unwanted impurities. Most people are extremely toxic from all the chemicals, additives, preservatives, and heavy metals that enter our bodies. In order to achieve the best level of health we must remove these harmful contaminants. The best way to do that is with detoxification and purification treatments.

A good purification program starts by utilizing whole food supplements, organic fruits and vegtables, purified water and detoxification treatments that actually help excrete the toxins out of the body. We must remove these items from the inside out, and in order to do this our internal cleaning system must be addressed. These wonderful organs involved with ridding our bodies of toxins work 24/7 to keep us healthy no matter how bad we treat them. We need to help them stay healthy, too. Now is a great time to help your liver, colon, kidneys, lymph system, lungs and skin by giving them a good spring cleaning. We offer several therapies here at Nature’s Touch that can help you with your spring cleaning program!

Just one Massage Therapy session can increase the circulation of blood and lymph flow, increase oxygen capacity of the blood, speeds up recovery from fatigue that occurs after exercise by flushing out built up toxins in the muscle, help to relax and balance muscle which improves posture and promotes more efficient movement. Massage can also improve your skin condition by improving the function of the sebaceous and sweat glands which keep the skin lubricated. It will also affect internal organs by stimulating nerves that supply internal organs, and increase the body’s secretions and excretions which suggest that the metabolic rate increases.

Reflexology is a form of bodywork that focuses primarily on the hands and feet using a unique blend of thumb and finger pressure on reflex areas used to promote the body’s return to a more natural state of balance. By applying pressure to a specific area, a Reflexologist may be able to affect the gland, organ or body system that is believed to correspond with that particular reflex area. The organs of purification would be affected by a treatment as well. Reflexology will benefit clients by promoting natural healing of body, mind and spirit.

Reiki is a Japanese touch therapy for relaxation and pain relief that also promotes healing. Although Reiki is hands-on, unlike massage it is administered through a very gentle touch. While the patient is seated or lying down and fully clothed, the practitioner’s hand are placed along energy centers and pathways on the head, neck, shoulders, upper chest, abdomen, legs, and feet It is a healing approach that channels healing energy to the recipient. Traditionally it has been used as a very gentle yet effective way to relieve physical and emotional pain and can promote spiritual clarity. Reiki also speeds the healing process and balances the body’s energy. Reiki works on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels by restoring the lost balance between the mind, body and spirit.

Steam Therapy treatments are offered right on the massage table. Steam baths have been recognized for centuries as an effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions including weight loss, detoxification, beautiful skin, stress relief, cellulite reduction, joint pain relief, sore muscles, relieve allergies and asthma, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and boosts the immune s ystem. Steam baths create an “artificial fever” which causes your body to perspire. You will sweat and as your pores open, the body purges itself of toxins and other wastes. When your body temperature reaches from 101-103 degree, it’s a signal to your immune system to swing into action. Most pathogens that enter the body can’t withstand the high temperatures so your elevated body temperature either destroys or weakens them. Your pulse rate speeds up resulting in increased blood circulation. Your blood pressure remains stable since the heat also causes blood vessels to expand, making way for increased blood flow. Your bloodstream carries nutrients to your skin that both enhance and revitalize it.

The outcome of your purification program will astound you. Your skin will be clearer, your physical appearance will improve, and your energy levels will increase. If you had digestion problems, they may resolve along with any constipation you may have experienced. Your overall health will be better and you will have probably lost some weight. Your liver thanks you, your colon thanks you, as do your kidneys, lymph system, lungs and skin!

For a free brochure on how these therapies can help your specific problem, contact Debbie at Nature’s Touch Massage & Wellness Center (330) 721-9357, e-mail NaturesTouch4U@aol.com or visit our website at www.NTWellnessCenter.com.

April Relaxation Products Sale

During the month of April 2009, we are running a fabulous sale
on our LavenMint™ Silk Dupioni Relaxation Products.
Be sure to visit our website for all of the details.
 

Enjoy!

Karen Seremak, owner
 

Savannah Moon

Natural Relaxation, Bath & Body Care

www.SavannahMoon.com 

 

April Wedding Photography Special

Serving Northeast Ohio and the Sandusky area. Destination weddings welcome!
www.AllenSeremakPhoto.com