The Sun Radiates Life Into Everything!
Some Of The Sun's Awesome Gifts:
- warms us every day even when we can't see the glorious sun (When you lift the corner of the cloud, the sun is ALWAYS shining."Eli, my 14 year old at 8 had figured this one out!), this solar warmth drives weather patterns
- stimulates photosynthesis
- stimulates Vitamin D production in your skin and many other living being's skin as well. Vitamin D is needed for bone health, skin health, mood health, immune health (think cancer, MS, metabolic disease-diabetes, & auto-immune disease prevention)
- promotes the production of melatonin so you can sleep well every night and the production of serotonin so you fell happy & energetic during the day
The list of the sun's contributions to human and planetary health is a very long one. Without the sun... we would not be here; everything would not be here! It is time for some Common Sun Sense.
Some Of The Sun's Awesome Gifts:
- warms us every day even when we can't see the glorious sun (When you lift the corner of the cloud, the sun is ALWAYS shining." Eli, my 14 year old at 8 had figured this one out!), this solar warmth drives weather patterns
- stimulates photosynthesis
- stimulates Vitamin D production in your skin and many other living being's skin as well. Vitamin D is needed for bone health, skin health, mood health, immune health (think cancer, MS, metabolic disease-diabetes, & auto-immune disease prevention)
- promotes the production of melatonin so you can sleep well every night and the production of serotonin so you fell happy & energetic during the day
The list of the sun's contributions to human and planetary health is a very long one. Without the sun... we would not be here; everything would not be here! It is time for some Common Sun Sense.
Yoga Sun Salutations to the Rising Sun
Getting out in the morning sun helps you move through the day with flow, ease, and grace and supports sleeping better every night. All living things are meant to be exposed to the sun's light all day; from sun rise to sun set. (obviously being wise to not burning our skin... but more on that in a minute). Think of the cultures who begin their days with some form of AM exercise (movement magic eCourse), prayer, or meditation that is outside and facing east to the rising sun. Wisdom from the ages kept people healthy, wealthy (before wealth was measured in dollars and cents), and wise.
Being Sun Wise:
- Get out every day and get sunlight on your eyes and your bare skin
- Avoid sun screens that are chemical based. The chemicals that prevent sunscreen are toxic, period. Most sun screen bases (the actual lotion the sun screening chemicals are in) are loaded with many other toxic chemicals. Check out Environmental Working Groups information on toxins in your cosmetics and body care products...http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
- If you must use a sunscreen find one that is in an all natural lotion base and uses zinc and/or titanium dioxide for the sunscreen function. Avoid nano-particle sunscreens.
- When you have spent your time in the sun to promote health but avoid over exposure, sun burn, and sun damage... find shade and cover with clothing and a hat.
- The high hot times of the day are approximately 10 AM to 2 PM depending where you are in the world (proximity to the equator) and the time of year. Be smart, use common sense, and get healthy sun exposure. Your vibrant health depends on it. Think of a plant and its need for sun. Put that plant in the closet and shut the door. How many days until that plant is dead? Bottom line: we need the sun... the sun makes us happy!
Sun Related Blog Posts:
Naked Sun Time!
Creating Inner SunShine!
Natural Skin Care For Prevention And Healing Sun Damage
Join My Movement Magic eCourse to
- increase your inner movement wisdom,
- inspire yourself to make movement a daily priority,
- learn the many benefits of movement to each and every body part and system (all of your amazing body cells),
- and support your body in its need to move.
As Dr. Mark Hyman states: Exercise (Movement Magic!) is the biggest drug to reverse or prevent heart disease. Here is the link to his video explaining this: click here. If you want to hear just the part of exercise (it is a 10 minute video on food, supplements, & lifestyle) scroll to 6:30 and you will be at the start of his exercise chat.
The benefits of daily movement, moving all day long, are profound and beckoning you much like the sun is beckoning you outside! Moving, outside in the sun, is a double body healing bonus.
Click here to check it out and join this body, mind, and spirit moving eClass: Movement Magic eCourse Class tuition this week is $30, (5 bucks off for Sun Celebrating) and if you have taken any other eCourse with me, I offer this course at $25 for you.
Need more motivation to move? Check out this 96 year old man and what moving his body has done for him: Click here
5 Reasons Chewing IS A Most Important Part Of Eating & Digestion
The story is that engaging those pearly whites in the chew process is the most important initial step you can take for the health of your digestive tract and your bodaciously beautiful body cells. Think how many people chuck food into their faces at break neck speed, chomp on it 5-6 times, and then swallow large chucks of food.
Pay attention the next time you engage in eating a meal. Are you a chewer or a chunk swallower? All these years picking on cows for their endless "cud chewing" and it seems they had it right all along.
Get Chewing Your Cud People And Here Is Why:
1. Chewing begins carbohydrate* digestion: which prevents reflux as you are revving up the digestive tract with your chewing. The more you chew your food, the more messages are sent to the gut to get the digestive juices flowing.
The story is that engaging those pearly whites in the chew process is the most important initial step you can take for the health of your digestive tract and your bodaciously beautiful body cells. Think how many people chuck food into their faces at break neck speed, chomp on it 5-6 times, and then swallow large chucks of food.
Pay attention the next time you engage in eating a meal. Are you a chewer or a chunk swallower? All these years picking on cows for their endless "cud chewing" and it seems those beautiful cows had it right all along.
Get chewing your cud people and here is why:
1. Chewing begins carbohydrate digestion: which prevents reflux as you are revving up the digestive tract with your chewing. The more you chew your food, the more messages are sent to the gut to get the digestive juices flowing. That means optimal hydrochloric acid for stomach digestion of food. Good digestion in the stomach sets the stage for good digestion throughout the digestive tract.
Little chewing = little time for messaging the GI tract to send out digestive juices = impeded digestion.
Most reflux is NOT an over abundance of stomach acids but in fact a lack of stomach acid (food sits in stomach not digesting and body's wisdom says "hey this stuff is rotting right here... let's get rid of it.” At this point the easiest way to get rid of stomach contents is up and out. Yup, reflux.).
2. Chewing food well feeds your beautiful gut microbes: You waste $$$ taking probiotics if you are not going to offer them kindness and feed them well. Be the gut bug hostess (or host) with the most-ess! Chew your food well. Doing so breaks down the food fibers, the starches, which feed the gut bugs you want surviving and thriving in your gut.
3. Chewing well prevents leaky gut: See above for how chewing feeds the happy, healthy gut bugs. When we are not feeding the "good" gut microbes to maintain a healthy and balanced microbial population, we can create an inflamed and irritated gut lining. This leads to leaky gut syndrome and contributes to many chronic, lifestyle related, health problems.
Belly ache or gut health... you decide!
4. Chewing food slowly and well promotes relaxation: eating fast, swallowing food practically whole, creates a stress response in the body. Stress causes body tissues (muscles, organs etc) to tense, contributes to poor digestion, and chronic fight or flight response throughout body. This digestive tract and body tensing also contributes to constipation.
Chewing IS yoga for the digestive tract, nervous system, and really your whole body. You know how I love, love, love my yoga. Type Yoga into the search bar, below, and I will inspire you with the many body, mind, and spirit benefits of a daily Yoga practice.
5. Chewing food well means food is then swallowed in a liquid state this means your body, digestive tract, is better able to digest and pull the nutrients out of the food.
This means your body cells are being better nourished by the whole foods you spend your hard earned money on. This is very important my friends. The more nutrients we can pull out of the food we eat, the healthier we will be. It is all about what nutrients actually got to your body cells. Poorly chewed food cannot be digested well and therefore the actual nutrition does not reach your intended body cells. Yes, your health pays dearly over the years.
Chew all food into liquid consistency. 30-50 chews per bite or gulp of food (Gulp: I am thinking about smoothies, creamed soups, etc. that are gulped down without any conscious thought of actually chewing.)
If food is already a liquid or mushy consistency (soup, puddings, smoothies) take 20 to 30 conscious chews. If food is solid, take 50 conscious chews.
Example: blueberries and skins of berries require 50 chews. The soft inner part of berry will chew up quickly and naturally move down throat... keep chewing that blueberry skin 50 times. Yes, the cud will get smaller and smaller and the habit of swallowing before adequate chewing has taken place will be right there in your face (literally). Resist and keep chewing as the skins of blueberries are loaded with micro-nutrients and complex carbohydrates (fibers) that feed those gut bugs IF you chew it up well for your gut bugs to be able to use them. Trust me; the gut bugs (microbes) do not have teeth to do the chew job if you leave it unfinished. For goodness sake, show those gut bugs (who do so much for you) some genuine hospitality and chew, chew, chew!
Get Chewing & Get Healthy.
Which End of the Battery Are You?
Weight Loss, Vibrant Health, Dis - Ease of the body... How do they all fit together in some sort of sensible way? And, what does the battery have to do with it all?
Reasonable questions, hang with me on this one and I will explain.
I work with people, daily, on their health & well being through my online classes and 1 on 1 consultations. These people, my clients and students, are motivated to change their lives, relief ill health symptoms, and live in a dis - ease free body.
The steps to getting to this space of ease in the body (lack of dis - ease) are similar for all problems:
- tease out the root causes of the problems
- remove the causes of the problem
- heal the digestive tract of inflammation of the gut lining, lack of balance in the gut microbes, remove food sensitivities...
- calm the immune system
- nourish the liver
- balance nutritional intake, balance blood sugar , & balance body weight
- add in healthy lifestyle habits (daily movement, botanicals-herbs, etc.), including whole food eating, that will nourish the body cells and whole body back to a state of ease
- understand this is a lifestyle and commit to living these changes... well, for life.
Each of these steps are personalized for each individual's specific needs based on their body's bio-chemistry and their own personality needs.
Let's get to that battery!
I have two teen boys. Teens can be snarly, negative word spouting fountains from time to time. We were having a dinner time discussion on the role of mind set in creating disease and healing the body.
Spread Love Where Ever You Go. Let No One Ever Come To You Without Leaving Happier. Mother Teresa.
Basically, which end of the battery are you? Positive or negative? What do you surround yourself with:
- negative or positive people?
- negative or positive words, thoughts, and actions?
- negative or positive media, screen time?
When we work to change our lives for healing, we must remember the power of the ends of our personal batteries.
Negative words, conversations, thoughts, actions, people, news, social media crap, etc. are just as toxic to our body cells as:
- heavy metals toxins
- agricultural chemicals, pesticides and the like,
- synthetic ingredients in factory made food
- factory made food itself
- chlorine
- etc. etc. etc.
Every negative experience, no matter how brief, creates negative vibrational frequencies in our miraculous & beautiful body cells. Just like other toxic impacts, these negative frequencies cause inflammation that lead to ill health, dis - ease in the body. Negativity contributes to a weaker immune system and the impacts of a weakened immune system: ill health in all areas (acute issues such as colds and flu to chronic inflammatory issues of lifestyle diseases, auto-immune responses, and cancer.
Your Everyday Positivity Prescription:
- Every AM think of 1 kind thing you can do for someone else. Even tiny little acts of kindness have a huge positive ripple in your world and the world at large.
- A positive act of kindness for self (10 minutes of yoga anyone?).
- Be aware of negative thoughts creeping into your mind & stop them dead in their tracks. Replace them immediately with positive thoughts. Generating positive thoughts will become a habit quickly.
- Negative people... move away. Surround yourself with positive people.
- Negative conversations? Find a way to subvert to positive or excuse yourself from the conversation to go do a random act of kindness.
- Everyday remind yourself of 1 thing you are grateful for.
- Every night as you lie down to sleep: remind yourself of that thing you are grateful for and something good that happened that day.
- Remind yourself of the grateful thing every AM.
Gratitude is the attitude of happy folk!
The power of thought is the magic of the mind! Lord Byron
Much love and gratitude for you being here & reading this! Paula
The sign on my front door:
Gratitude Is A Form of Self-Love
Life is what happens when we are busy planning our lives.
A comment made to me yesterday inspired this post.
Comment: Nothing in life ever turns out the way we plan it to, want it to.
I do not believe this to be true and I think when we put our focus on not getting what we planned or wanted, this is all we are going to see.
If we face life with gratitude for all we do have and all that does turn out as planned, our vision of the day and life is so different.
I remember a girlfriend's x-husband said this to her when she was pregnant: "Expect nothing from me and everything you get will be a gift." I confess, at the time I thought "what an asshole he is!" Many years later I can see the wisdom of his words (not that it was so wise to say to your pregnant wife!)
When we expect nothing out of the day or a given situation and open our arms with gratitude to all that does happen, our world is colored in a completely different way. Brilliant technicolor of joy. Gratitude is the attitude of joy - it colors everything in a new light.
Let the doors of life be open to synchronicity. Let your heart be open to synchronicity. As cliche' as it sounds most things do work out for the best. We may not see this in a given moment but hind sight usually tells a different story. Find the magic in life unfolding in every moment.
Gratitude brings peace. Gratitude is self-love. Listen to your heart, it knows.
My Bathroom Wall Quote
PS After writing and posting this last evening, one of my morning inspirational emails came through with this: (Serendipity rocks!)
Wanting The Work
I confess. I am an observer of people. I think it is part of the path I walk on this earth. I observe to try and find solutions for people as they struggle with life's challenges. In my previous blog post I spoke of Working With What We Already Have. On this note, I want to remind you that each and every one of us, has inside of ourselves, ALL that we need to heal; to reach every goal we have for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. We just need to work with what we have, call up our strengths (and we have far more than we think or give ourselves credit for having), and put into action the steps we personally need to create a healthier lifestyle.
OK, so first... my floor, back to working with what I had and my promised update. Here are finished pictures of the floor. Not bad for 100+ year old floors that the pro floor guy told me my best option was to bag them and start over!
Perfect? No.
Shabby chic? Yes.
I am happy!
Working in health care (true health care and not just disease symptom management) for 30 years and most recently for 20+ years in personal health education, I have made discoveries. We often have amazing goals for ourselves. We know where we want to be with our health, our body weight, and our physical wellness (emotional & spiritual wellness as well). Our end goals are very clear to us and we do truly want to attain these goals. Most of us have pretty good ideas about what we need to do to get to our goals.
Here's where things get sticky: wanting the work that leads us to these goals of health, weight loss, healing, physical fitness, emotional and spiritual happiness, etc.
In order to be successful at reaching our goals, we have to want to do the work to get there. This means changing the way we eat, what we eat, and our lifestyle habits little by little, step by step (or making sweeping changes if that is how you best function) and sticking with our changes to reach our goals and beyond. Maintaining health means living these newly incorporated eating and lifestyle habits for life, changing them up a bit as the seasons of the years and our lives evolve and need something different. (An example would be slowing down to embrace aging gracefully: giving you body more recovery time between fitness routines and allowing for more sleep at night than when you were 20!)
Reaching and maintaining our goals, for life, is a true "on top of the world" feeling!
The work comes in when we have to suffer a little to meet the challenge of change. I will give an example here in weight loss. In order to lose weight we have to change the way we eat, get rid of the garbage factory made food, and learn to eat less. With this comes the struggle to get through the feeling hungry challenges. If you are used to eating large meals, the challenge will be to leave the table feeling less than full and relaxing, breathing, and moving through this feeling knowing you will be ok, you will survive without feeling stuffed and full all of the time. Going hungry is the work of losing weight for some people. Wanting this work makes reaching the goal of weight loss easier and more acceptable for you to accept the challenges that lay before you.
This is true of many forms of lifestyle change to improve (yes, even heal) lifestyle diseases. To reach the goal of saying goodbye to diabetic, cholesterol, or hypertension medication and ill health symptoms, we must want the work that lies between the present dis - ease in the body and achieving the goal: major eating and lifestyle changes, living completely without sweeteners, and being OK with this and the impacting consequences of our changes.
My job as a natural health educator RN is to give you tools to support you through the WORK of making change and achieving goals. I have raved about the power of yoga to heal on numerous occasions. I am throwing it out to you again because that is just the kind of gal I am... repeat, repeat, repeat until someone actually listens to me! (I keep thinking this will someday work with my kids!)
Why I Love Yoga And Other Thoughts On Whole Food, Whole Health Healing
5 Shocking Ways Yoga Causes You To Lose Weight
The above three blog posts are inspiring posts on the benefits of yoga. I encourage you to explore what makes your mind, heart, and soul sing so that the path of the work comes more easily to and for you every day. Maybe for you it is meditation, prayer, martial arts, Qi gong, walks in the woods, etc. Find your personal soul medicine and practice it daily. Wanting the work will become second nature.
Much love, Paula
PS Upcoming Fall Online Class:
Herbs For Enhancing Your Natural Health
PPS Beloved Beet Recipe!
Substance part of the beet dish:
6 small to medium local & organic beets, gently steamed (save and drink the steam water)
2/3 can organic chickpeas
1 handful each of organic walnuts and pecans
1/2 handful organic pine nuts
Dressing:
2/3 to 3/4 cup full fat yogurt, from pasture raised cows / goats / sheep, etc.
2 tsp. local maple syrup
Fresh herbs of your liking: Basil, Oregano, Mint, Spearmint, Thyme, Tarragon, Chives , Garlic chives, Rosemary (I used all of these from my herb/weed garden out in front of my home)
Serve on a bed of local, organic, baby greens & sprinkle or slather with chunks of soft goat cheese
Life IS A Symphony
Life is a symphony meant to flow in harmony with self and all life on this planet.
When we live in this harmony with nature (we are nature) the music of the universe becomes the dance of life.
So many of us work against this flow, thinking we are wiser than the laws of nature; perhaps that we are above the laws of nature.
I invite you to do this:
- Sit or lie down in a comfortable position,
- Close your eyes,
- Take 10 slow, deep belly breaths (breathing from the belly makes the diaphragm drop down and allows your lungs to fully expand, your breath of life!),
- Envision yourself in the flow of life, all things in harmony,
- Allow this vision to stay with you as you continue to deep breathe,
- Start at your head and visualize each and every body organ & body part, one by one, until you reach your toes; visualize them alive with love, life force energy, that glowing white light,
- Finish up with 10 more slow deep breaths.
- Slowly bring yourself back to the present moment.
Your body, mind, and spirit should feel refreshed and alive, ready to meet the day's challenges with peace.
Anytime you arrive at a snag in your day, pause for just a moment, deep breathe and visualize the white light running from the center of your head to your toes. This is a quickie mindfulness meditation to bring calm and patience to the moment.
Remember your body is an amazing healing organism, part of the harmony of the universe. Allowing yourself to be in this harmony creates a healing effect in each and every body cell.
Healing Blessings, Paula
