The Center for Massage Therapy & Sound Healing

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page.”   —  Henry Ward Beecher

If you are one of the many millions of people thinking of making positive changes in your lifestyle this year, read on before you make another New Years resolution. This year you may want to consider trying something with a little different twist… Like  a yogic Sankalpa.

The ancient wisdom embedded within the practice of reiki creates an integrated approach of mind/ body connection and that’s what creates long term positive change. When what you think, feel, and do are all in alignment you have much more energy to peruse your intentions.

Your not resisting anything. Your not doing something ” because you should” or because ” my friend is” or for any other reason other than your own hearts desire. Yep that’s what a Sankalpa is. Your hearts desire, directed mindfully and with loving kindness, focused on affirming, creating and sustaining your positive intention for yourself.

You can work out and create change in the ” outer” but frequently find yourself still stuck with the same old unhealthy habits that eventually lead you astray. When we practice reiki, instead of working out we ” work in”.  We look inward using our insight , we listen in, to the wisdom of our body. When we get the “Inner” right,  the outer will flourish as well. So if you are thinking of beginning a new reiki practice this  year or maybe you are ” Beginning Anew” starting over again. We welcome you to our reiki community. We are passionate about teaching reiki and helping you manifest a healthy and happy New Year.

Start a fresh page. Write your hearts desire on it. Stay focused. We will leave our  welcome mat out for you. And the light within … It’s always on.

Namaste

Judy

Guru Dev often said,  ” Of the many gifts we receive from the practice of reiki none is greater than the gift of community.”  When we come together to practice reiki we share not only physical space but mental emotional space as well.  We are present with each other in mind and body to support, encourage, and  be compassionate with self and others  just as we are.   In the support of sangha we begin to see new possibilities in ourselves for growth.

Together we find strength in numbers, comfort in each other and our breath. We begin to realize our own natural state of health and wellness as we let go of layers of stress and tension in our bodies. Letting go, we feel happy,  healthy and at peace with ourself and the world.

In this spirit of community we come together in the Season of Celebration to give thanks and celebrate the peace, love and joyfulness of the Christmas Season.

I resisted kale when I heard it was a super food.  I grimaced when my raw-food, vegan, hippy brother served it in our salads. And sometimes salad was all we ate.  I murmured under my breath – oh, for the fleshpots of Pharaoh.

It was slowly, and timidly that I experimented with this leafy veriditas.  Now below is what we do, nearly every week. And I actually rejoiced yesterday when my organic gardening partner told me that we could count on fresh kale ALL winter long, coming from his cold frames.

Here’s what and how.

I cup dry cannellini or cranberry beans.  Soak them overnight.  I put in ½ tsp of baking soda.  It freshens them, helps them hold color and in the end, I think it makes them more digestible. Of course you don’t want those nasty salty canned beans.  Do it this way.  It takes no time at all, because they’ll cook while you drink your morning brew and brush your hair or teeth, or whatever you’ve got.

Thus, in the morning drain and rinse the beans, add to a medium pot and cover with water to 1 ½ inches above the beans.  Add two or three bay leaves and ½ teaspoon of salt.  Bring to a high boil, turn down the heat to medium low and cover.  Cook for 90 minutes, tops.  Don’t cook until they mush.  Cranberry beans cook more quickly, so watch that.

An hour before supper, dice 2 ounces of duck bacon (my favorite treat these days) or diced ham, or just a couple ounces of any leftover meat.  If you’re a veggie, Just forget that last bit.  Heat two tablespoons of olive oil (or three if no bacon) to sautee a diced sweet onion.  Add this to the bean pot.   Season with some chopped garlic and/or ground coriander if you please.

Wash and chop a big handful of kale.  If you’ve got other greens, don’t hesitate to add – mustard or beet greens are especially nice additions.  Cook 15 minutes until well done.  Adjust seasoning.

We eat it like a hearty soup. You can doll it up with some grated parmesan or asiago.  You might flesh it out with fresh bread and olives or cheese.

It is delicious, inexpensive, healthy and it will keep you regular!

Bread for the Journey, Blog Post by Bob Towner.

The Global Mala is this Sunday September 20th.  Thousands of yogi’s from all around the world will gather to practice for peace, compassion and social activism. Joining together in a ” Mala”  or sacred circle, across the globe to support The United Nations International Peace Day.

Now more than ever, the energy of peace for all peoples and all nations is needed for our world.  A standing together in harmony of  black, white, young, old, from all countries, from all religions, for what unites us is much stronger than what divides us. Our humanity is a  socially responsive collective endeavor.  The practice of yoga cultivates compassionate, non judgmental awareness for self and others.  We don’t practice yoga and meditation to acquire that state of mind, but to express it in all our actions.  Peace is not passive, but an active demonstration of loving kindness.

Join us for The Global Mala as we actively practice the power of intention to cultivate and plant seeds of ahimsa or non violence in the world.  You never know what may grow from a small handful of seeds and a whole lot of Sun Salutations!

Namaste,

Judy

Life is energy. Energy is life. It is the fuel for our practice and everything else we do. In reiki we work to keep the natural energy centers of the body open to maintain health and wellness. We have seven major  energy centers called chakras and many more minor ones that help regulate the flow of the vital energy, or prana throughout our body.

A chakra is a wheel or vortex of circulating energy.  Energy goes out from these seven main wheels like spokes or conduits from a wheel and circulates to many area. Just like any area, these vortex areas can get clogged up and sluggish slowing down our vitality and energy.

Reiki help activate these main energy wheels enlivening and bringing them into balance again. Some times the chakras have too much energy and sometime to little. A simple chakra reiki and mediation practice can help our body to restore itself naturally so the wheels of life can keep on turning. Got a squeaky wheel ? Give chakra reiki a spin.

Namaste to all,

Judy

Here are our top five ways to have less stress and more bliss in your life. That’s our mission  plain and simple, to help you live more stress less! Start exploring more health and wellness for mind and body now.

1. Breathe Deep. Yep, it’s that simple. Deep breathing can calm and sooth an anxious mind. Physiological changes take place that release hormones to reduce stress and anxiety.  When we breathe deeply, we relax deeply.

2. Meditate.  Focusing the mind on the breath takes it one step further and allows the brain to function in a slightly different way. Scientist call this neuroplasticity.  It allows us to get out of that negative rut our mind gets stuck in and create new neural pathways that allow us to create new healthier positive choices.

3. Reiki. All exercise is beneficial, but reiki is unique.  Reki is union or integration of multiple body systems creating harmony together. The respiratory system through yogic breathing, the muscular skeletal system through movement and the neuro/endocrine system through mindful meditation all work or “yoke” together creating an integrated exercise for mind and body. It will change your life,  not just your body.

4. Massage. Touch is therapeutic. It eases pain, decreases tension, and releasing all those feel good chemicals called endorphins that create less  stress and more bliss.

5. Community. Connecting with a social support network makes people happier and healthier. Take an active role in creating community in your sangha. Give back, pay it forward, or just share a smile and a cup of tea with someone new. It will make you both feel better if you do.

Comment back on the blog and share how reiki and meditation have helped you  have  less stress and have more bliss in your life. You may just inspire someone with your story of health and wellness.