A Change of Season

This Holistic Life has undergone a renovation and relocation. That's right. We're expanding! And now offer Holistic and Integrative Consulting services to Women throughout Pregnancy and Early Motherhood.

In addition to consulting services, there is a resource center and, of course, a blog.  Because duplicate content is frowned upon on the world wide web, you will gradually notice that content from thisholisticlife.blogspot.com is no longer available at this location, however; it will be available on the new website: www.thisholisticlife.com.

What a pleasure it has been to share this space with you. Thank you for your support, for following, for sharing and for allowing me to grow personally and professionally. I would love for you to check out the new site and content (immediately), and be sure to share it with the moms and moms-to-be in your life.

Please stay connected:

Twitter: @ThsHolisticLife & @TracieBraylock
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThisHolisticLife
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/TracieBraylock

Tracie Braylock, MSN, BSN, RN
Holistic Nurse Educator & Lifestyle Consultant

Curly Kale

Post Natal Fitness for Mother and Baby

Exercise tips to shed post-pregnancy pounds. 

Having a baby and raising your family changes your life and certainly your body. But does that mean forever? Most women gain around 30 pounds during pregnancy and shed about 20 pounds within the first month after delivery. The last infamous and dreaded 10 pounds can be difficult to get off. While exercise can help you return to your pre-pregnancy weight, as well as help you manage the stress and strain of having a new baby in your life, you may wonder how you are going get back into shape and fit exercise into your new life with a baby.

• First, be patient and gentle with yourself.  Start slowly.
• Second, get creative.  If you start thinking of exercise as an active lifestyle for you and your baby, you'll be able to do more than you think. 
• Third, get involved and get support.  Look for mother and baby exercise groups in your area

Some Common Sense Tips for the first 6 weeks:

• Breathe slowly and deeply when you exercise, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth - this will help you to relax
• Tighten your abdominal and buttocks muscles to help protect your lower back
• Listen to your body and stop if you have increased vaginal bleeding, feel pain or get shortness of breath
• Exercise in 10-minute intervals throughout the day
• Exercise with your baby and enjoy!

Our baby will be four months old this week, so I found this post right on target and worth sharing with you. Please click here to read the entire post written by Deb Paige for blog.gaiam.com.

Bring Autumn Inside

Here are a few easy ways to welcome the fall season in your home:

• Exchange crisp cotton bedding for cozy flannels with lots of warm layers.
• Replace summer fruit with pumpkins and gourds as natural decoration.
• Introduce darker, earthy tones in towels, pillows, and even rugs.
• Give everything a good cleaning, and re-evaluate your possessions.  Just as nature releases her bounty, it feels good to let go of outdated items (and behaviors).

To read the entire post, written by Cheryl Terrace for blog.gaiam.com, click here.

Image Source: wili_hybrid via flickr.com

Vegan Pumpkin Roll

Enjoy this Delicious Vegan Pumpkin Roll Recipe from The Vegan Zombie.

Yoga for Bedtime

Please enjoy this relaxing yoga sequence to help you prepare for a wonderful nights sleep.

The Meditation Challenge

I'm taking place in the 21 Day Meditation Challenge with Deepak Chopra, which begins today.  I meditate frequently and use a variety of meditation methods and I'm participating in the challenge to increase and enhance my current practice.

Here is an example of a meditation session with Deepak Chopra:



If you are interested in joining the meditation challenge, click here.

Nature Relaxation

Put your feet up and unwind with the Ultimate Nature Relaxation video.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Try something new for breakfast. This recipe is quick, easy and includes some power packed nutrients.

Morning Yoga for Flexibility

Feeling a bit tense?  Enjoy Morning Yoga for Flexibility with Tara Stiles.

Basil Smoothie

Check out this delicious Basil Smoothie recipe by Giada from the Food Network.

 

I'm Back

It's hard to believe that it's been six months since I took a break from This Holistic Life.  I miss being here.  I took some much needed time off to begin a few new projects, map out the future of This Holistic Life, and spend time with my family.  We have a new precious baby boy and life is grand.

I thank you for your patience and welcome you to stay tuned to the upcoming events.  It's great to be back!

Spring Cleaning!

Hey there Everyone!  We will be taking the month of April off from blogging on This Holistic Life.  It's time to do some spring cleaning and life organizing.  It's all a part of remaining balanced and refreshed.  Thanks for your loyalty over this past year.  It's been amazing growing, learning, and sharing with you.  We challenge you to do some spring cleaning in your own life.  Look around at your environment as well as inside of yourself, then decide what needs a makeover and take action.  We'll see you soon!

-This Holistic Life

Hey Everyone!  Please hang in there with us while we make some changes to our site.

Tap Into Your Inner Artist

A process of discovery — this is what the creative journey is all about for me. It’s not about processing a vast array of fancy techniques, having an amazing idea, being born with special talents or knowing exactly what you are going to do before you start. Nope. For me, creativity starts with a desire to release something that is usually kept inside — a yearning to express yourself without words and the acknowledgement that it is important to let this thing out. From there, all you truly need is an open and curious mind, trust in yourself and the materials, time and space to create. I know the last two (time and space) often serve as great excuses to not start, but as with anything in life, it’s all about prioritizing. You can make time and space if you choose to prioritize your creative health.

I know it’s easy to believe that only a select group of special people can actually be artists. I used to believe that too. However, I am now thoroughly convinced that all human beings are artists; we were all born with immeasurable amounts of creative potential just waiting to be released. Children tap into their creative powers easily. However, society has a slick way of convincing us that we do not have the skills, talent or ideas needed to follow a creative path. I believe it’s about time we start reclaiming what is naturally ours and activating our creative forces!

If you don’t already have art supplies tucked away somewhere, start by taking a trip to your local art supply store. Enter with an open mind and allow your intuition to guide you to the supplies you are supposed to work with — charcoal, oil pastels, colored pens, paint, clay? What is calling to you? Don’t think too hard. Just gather some supplies and get out of there. The next step is to set aside some creative time (start with an hour) and a space to create (this could simply be your kitchen table).

When you are ready to start, put on some music you love, light a candle and write an intention. Perhaps it’s something like, “I create with ease and joy” or “Creating is nurturing my soul.” Remember this is a process of discovery, so approach it as that. Learn about your new tools by trying them out in different ways. PLAY. Remember, you don’t have to know what you’re doing and it doesn’t have to look “good.” Think of yourself as an explorer in uncharted territory. You are not supposed to know what lies ahead. Can you find joy in simply exploring and playing with color, line and shapes? Again, listen to your intuition as you reach for different tools. How does the pen want to move across the paper? What colors are calling your name? Listen closely and surrender fully. There are no mistakes. There are only new discoveries to be made and a wide-open path leading you back to yourself.

This post was written by Flora Bowley, Painter, Teacher, Author, and Inspirationalist for HealingLifestyles.com.

Blueberry Crisp

Ingredients

8 cups blueberries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 can frozen white grape juice
2 cups water
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3 cups of oats
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup honey

Directions

Add lemon peel to water. Mix cornstarch into grape juice. Add blueberries to mixture. Place in bottom of pan. In a separate bowl, combine remaining four ingredients. Crumple on top of fruit mixture. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until lightly brown.

This recipe was provided by Deerfield Spa for HealingLifestyles.com.

Lavender Spritz

Makes a great air freshener as well and is a wonderful alternative to the toxic-laden commercial air fresheners that permeate the market and our lives. I use the lavender spritz on carpets, curtains, upholstered furniture, the car’s interior, my closet, and even the litter box, to instantly perk up and revive tired and stuffy feeling spaces. The uses of the spritz, like lavender oil itself, really are endless.

Add water to a spray bottle and add lavender (ratio of about 10 drops to a cup).

Depending on your mood and the season, you can make also make a spritz with rosemary, lemon, bergamot, sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine, cinnamon, clove, frankincense, myrrh, or just about any essential oil you find pleasing. If someone in the house is coming down with a cold, try adding eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, or tea tree oil to help ease congestion and open up the nasal passages.

Now simply sit (or lay) back and get ready to breathe in the goodness!

This post was written by Holly K. for HealingLifestyles.com.

Inside-Out Healing

Inside-Out Healing:

Transforming Your Life Through the Power of Presence

Richard Moss

Sounds of Healing

Sounds of Healing:

A Physician Reveals the Therapeutic Power of Sound, Voice, and Music

Mitchell L. Gaynor, M.D.

Coming to Our Senses

Coming to Our Senses:

Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness

Jon Kabat-Zinn