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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

Santa Monica Pier- Relaxation Video

Herbal Therapy

Herbal therapy, or Chinese herbs, include Chinese Patent Formulas, Chinese herbal decoctions, Herbal powders, and syrups.  Chinese Patent Formulas are pre-made herbal formulas in tablet or pill form. Chinese herbal decoctions result in "teas" that are known for the strong taste and aroma and involve a lengthy preparation.  Herbal powders can also make tea when mixed with hot water and are easier to prepare.  Syrups are soothing preparations used for sore throats and coughs. Included in herbal therapy are compresses, liniments, plasters, and salves which are preparations used for external application.

Botanical Medicine

Botanical Medicine are plants and substances that come from plants and are used to treat or prevent disease.  Botanical Medicine includes plant parts such as bark, roots, seeds and stems.

A Peaceful Soak

A Peaceful Soak

By George Nascimento

Chiropractic

Chiropractic, or chiropractic medicine, focuses on the restoration, preservation, and optimization of health by non-invasive, hands on, natural care.  Chiropractic is a complete system of healthcare that primarily manipulates the spine and the framework of the body.

Naturopathy

Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, promotes wellness by identifying unique aspects of each patient, then employing natural therapies that are non-toxic to restore structural, physiological, and psychological balance.   

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) defines naturopathic medicine as:

"A distinct system of primary health care-an art, science, philosophy, and practice of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles upon which its practice is based. These principles are continually re-examined in the light of scientific advances. The techniques of naturopathic medicine include modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods" (AANP, 1998).

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic Medicine strives to create harmony between the mind, body, and spirit, making it entirely holistic.  This harmony is believed to prevent illness, treat acute conditions, and contributes to a long, healthy life.  Considered the world's oldest healthcare system, Ayurvedic Medicine is named for the Sanskrit word Ayurveda which means "science of life."

Homeopathy

Homeopathy, or homeopathic medicine, strives to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself by giving highly diluted substances in very small doses.  Used for wellness, prevention, and to treat a variety of diseases and conditions, homeopathy derives its remedies from natural substances that come from minerals, plants, or animals.

Osteopathy

Osteopathy, or osteopathic medicine, considers the whole body and focuses on preventive care.  A variety of manual approaches and techniques are used in osteopathy to ensure that the normal free flow and actions of the body are being performed.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses on the cultivation of harmony within our lives as the way to achieve health and well-being.  TCM believes that disharmony leads to collapse, illness, and disease, while harmony leads to sustainability, health, and well-being.

24-hr Silent Retreat

Step 1: Choose your day

Plan ahead and choose a day that you don’t have to be at the office, or available ‘on call.’ A weekend or regular day off works best.

Step 2: Let others know

Post it on your Facebook page, record a special voicemail message, and setup a vacation email response letting friends, family and colleagues know that you’re unavailable to talk during this time. Make arrangements with your household, particularly your partner and children, so that everyone understands and respects your choice.

Step 3: Set up guidelines for the day

We suggest forgoing media - email, television, texting, etc. for the entire period of your silent retreat. Will you write notes? How will you deal with emergencies? Are gestures or sign language okay? Make a list of your own guidelines for the day and share it with your family so everyone is on board.

Step 4: Consider how you’ll spend the time

Mindful activities like yoga, meditation and journaling are natural choices during a day of silence. Spending time outdoors, or doing a beloved creative activity are also excellent ideas. Will you venture out in public? Or try to stay in solitude? Thinking and planning ahead will make the experience go more smoothly.

Step 5: Reflect

What did you learn about yourself while in silence? What was challenging? What surprised you? Spend the last hour of your day contemplating the experience.



This post was taken from HealingLifestyles.com.

5 Steps to Happiness

Be grateful

Insofar as our actions and state of mind help shape our own reality, make the choice to identify and celebrate the love and blessings in your life, whether that’s your health, your home, or your neighbor’s child who smiles at you every time you meet.

Consider your surroundings

Sometimes, our lives seem so hectic and out of control that choosing to be happy is an overwhelming prospect. It’s liberating to know and accept that your response to any life challenge is yours, completely, to choose. This includes distancing, or removing yourself completely, from negative people. And while we’re mentioning movement, remember all those studies that have shown the positive effects of exercise on improving mood. Instead of sitting at home worrying or feeling sorry for yourself, take yourself outside for a long walk.

Keep it simple

Happiness isn’t really such a complicated thing. When savored, simple moments—a bowl of hot soup on a cold winter day, listening to music that lifts your spirits on the way to work, a perfect cup of tea before bed—can help shape your outlook. Wealth can purchase a lot of stuff, but happiness really isn’t one of them. 

Put things in perspective

Find a spot where you can look up at the sky. Picture the beautiful blue Earth, suspended in the universe, spinning slowly around the Sun, surrounded by billions of stars and other planets. Suddenly, the argument you had with your sister, or the mean clerk at the market, lose momentum and importance, and are scaled back to what they really are: small blips in the day that have no lasting importance, isolated moments in a world so vast and astounding, that they’re easy to let go of. Which brings us, once again, to consciously making the choice to be happy. It’s up to you. 

Step outside your own drama

Doing something for someone else can be an instant mood-improver. Help a neighbor shovel snow from their driveway, or offer to shop for someone who has a hard time getting around. There are countless opportunities to help others in every community, and the effort doesn’t have to be monumental in its proportions. Simple acts of kindness are often the most rewarding.

This post was written by Debra Bokur.  To read the entire post, click here: HealingLifestyles.com.

6 Easy Ways to Work Healthier

Reduce stress, tension and toxins at work

Most of us spend a third of our lives at work! Make it a place that’s good for you. From improving your ergonomics to reducing eye strain and releasing stress fast, these six tips and solutions can make your corner of the office a healthier place to be.


1. Sit up straight
... on the Balance Ball®, designed by a chiropractor to coax your spine into perfect alignment. Also encourages “active sitting,” meaning you’ll tone core muscles and burn more calories just sitting there! Talk about multi-tasking!


2. See the light 
... and reduce eye strain with proper lighting.  Try an energy saving bulb and a light that swivels to put light right where you need it.


3. Clear the air
... and outsmart allergies, asthma, colds and flu.  Try an air purifier to remove the pollution particles that are most harmful to your health such as bacteria, dust, dander, pollen, smoke, mold and fungus spores.


4. Hydrate often
Adorn your desk with a gleaming, planet-smart style statement and you’ll never go back to plastic. A Stainless Steel Water Bottle lasts nearly forever and won’t absorb tastes or odors. 


5. Unkink your neck and back
... in a flash with stretches and breathing exercises you can do right at your desk.


6. Remain calm
... even when things get crazy.  Try some breathing and focusing exercises to help you reboot quickly.


The original post was written by Arielle Ford.  To read the complete post, click here: blog.gaiam.com.  

Lentil

Lentils sustain blood sugar balance because of the low glycemic index and complex carbohydrate complex.  

Coming in several varieties, including red split, green and brown, lentils are an excellent source of soluble fiber, which help to lower high cholesterol and insoluble fiber which helps keep the bowel regular.