Yoga Love

   For over 2 years now, I have been head-over-barefeet in love with yoga!  I'm sure by now you have heard that a yoga practice is good for your health.  Yoga has countless benefits that includes increased flexibility and strength, relaxation, improves your heart health, decreases stress, and so much more.

   When I first started yoga, I found that I felt more at peace after each class.  I left each class with a "yoga glow".  I was addicted to the feel good state that yoga produced.  I had no idea that by practicing yoga, I was improving my physical body, my emotional state, and deepening my spiritual connection.

   Yoga is based on postures or "asanas" that are either held for many breaths or flowed through with breath to movement.  Each posture assists in opening chakras (energy centers) that are aligned along your spinal column.   The opening of these chakras is what produces the balancing of your mind, body, and spirit.  With your breath, you are moving the flow of energy (also known as Prana or Qi) throughout your body.

   When you are holding different postures, different muscle groups are activated.  This produces an increase in strength, muscle tone, and a lengthening of the muscle fibers.  Many of the postures require you to hold your own body weight in new ways which helps to develop muscle memory.   My balance significantly improved with yoga.  I suddenly could balance my entire body on just my hands in Crow Pose, or balance on one leg while pulling the other one behind me towards my head in Dancers Pose.  I even discovered how to balance on my forearms and head to do a Headstand!

   I use to find that after working out at the gym I would have stiffness in my joints.  Once I began a yoga practice, I stopped experiencing this joint pain.  I improved my joint mobility along with my flexibility.  I used to gauge my flexibility on being able to touch my toes.  I now know that I can touch my toes, wrap my arms behind my legs and bring my entire torso against my legs in a Forward Fold all thanks to yoga.  Back pain that once plagued me on a daily basis, evaporated into thin air as I practiced back strengthening postures.

   Yoga focuses most importantly on the breath.  When you are focusing deeply on your inhale and exhale, your mind is calm and clear.  You are mindfully practicing yoga breath to breath.  You are living in the moment, in the now.   Ugayi breath (yogic breath) has helped to increase my lung capacity.  I found that when I did other forms of aerobic activity, the evolution of my Ugayi breath helped me to get through more strenuous activities without feeling shortness of breath.  Ugayi breath also helped me to be a better Healing Touch Practitioner as I was better able to cultivate universal energy to use during treatments.

   The stress reduction and relaxation that yoga produces is truly an amazing benefit.  Focusing on the here and now during a yoga class, stops you from thinking about all the troubles you have in your life.  Even if the stress relief is for just one hour, thats an hour of well-being your body needs and deserves.  At the end of each yoga class, your body rests flat on the floor in Savasana.  You have 2-5 minutes of quiet, blissful, serenity where your mind can go blank and retreat to a meditative state.  My spiritual connection to something greater than myself has deepened to a level I never knew was possible.

   At the beginning of each yoga class, the instructor will usually ask that you to set an intention.  An intention is a goal, dedication, or purpose that you aim to achieve from your yoga practice.  This can be an intention you set for yourself or for someone else you know.  Depending on how I feel each day, my intentions can differ greatly.  Somedays my intention is to maintain balance.  Balance in my personal life, in my day to day activities, and in my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual state.  Other times, my intention is to spread love, peace, and happiness to those around me and in the world.  Setting an intention for my yoga practice helps me to focus and dedicate my moving meditation to something important in my life.

   I've learned countless lessons during my yoga classes.  The most important is that this is my yoga PRACTICE, not yoga perfect.   It's ok if I can't figure out that arm-balance or inversion.  I can always try again later.  I may fall out of a balancing posture, but that just means I need to honor my body where it is that day.  Non-judgment and acceptance are common themes in a yoga room.   When I am on my mat, I am improving my mind, body and spirit and that's all that matters.  By showing up, I have already accomplished so much that day.

   Yoga has given me so many beautiful benefits, I can't help but dedicate my love to my yoga practice.  Yoga has helped me to become a better person, connect with a community of like-minded, peaceful yogis, and given me the tools to live a healthy, happy life full of gratitude.

  Are you ready to start your yoga practice?

How a Traumatic Brain Injury turned me into an Energy Healer

   One month shy of my 30th birthday, I was living my life in pure chaos. I was working the night shift in a busy Intensive Care Unit in San Diego as a Registered Nurse. I had just spent months studying, not sleeping, for my Critical Care RN exam, which thankfully, I passed. My relationships with my friends were filled with tension and my relationship with my boyfriend was coming to a bitter end. I was running on empty. I was drinking too much and dependent on sleeping medication with my schedule always changing between days and nights.

   The night following my break up with my boyfriend, I just wanted to get a good night of sleep. I took an Ambien to help me fall asleep. However, I made the dreaded mistake that many make when taking such a powerful sleeping medication. I stayed awake. I decided to make a sandwich and get a glass of water, which I accidentally spilt. The next thing I know, I am in my hospital room with a pounding headache and could only see out of one eye. The lights were too bright, my vision was pixelated, and I was pretty sure my head was going to explode.

   The doctor told me that I had suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury and had been unconscious for the past 12 hours. My roommate found me at 7am, unconscious, badly bruised all over my body, and bleeding from my mouth and my nose. It appeared I had slipped in the water I had spilt and hit my head on a hard surface in the kitchen. In a stupor, I proceeded to fall all over my apartment attempting to get help and fell multiple times, hitting my head against hard surfaces at least 5 more times. I had 2 black eyes and 59 bruises on my body.

   The next 6 months, I suffered with unbearable migraines and ice-pick headaches, photophobia (light sensitivity), dizziness, a stutter, aphasia (difficulty getting my words out), extreme fatigue, depression, anxiety, and more. I was taking multiple different medications to try and manage my symptoms. The medications barely took the edge off my extreme headaches. I was diagnosed with Post Concussive Syndrome. This is the condition made famous by NFL players who have been promoting concussion awareness. Even as an ICU nurse, I had no idea how debilitating Post Concussive Syndrome could be. My neurologist anticipated it would take over a year to feel like myself, but it was also possible I might never fully recover. I felt like I had no hope, no end in sight to my condition, and no relief from my constant headaches.

   I made a brief attempt at returning to work a few months after my accident. During this time, my coworker Sierra was hoping she could help me with my pain. She had just taken a Healing Touch Level 1 class and thought that this pain technique might help diminish my headaches.

   Healing Touch is a relaxing, nurturing energy therapy that is based on the concept of the body having a biofield. Energy (also known as Chi or Prana) flows through and around our bodies through energy centers called Chakras. When energy along these pathways becomes congested or depleted, the person experiences symptoms such as pain, inflammation, anxiety, stress, etc. The practitioner uses their hands in a heart-centered, intentional way to direct the flow of energy, release the congested energy, and put the energy field back in its original smooth flowing alignment. With the body in perfect harmony, relaxation occurs and the body has the ability to heal itself.

   Each night at work, Sierra and I would go into an empty room during our break and she would practice her Healing Touch techniques on me. I immediately connected with the treatment, felt my headaches diminish, and had more energy afterwards. I would be able to continue my shift in the ICU and have just enough energy to drive home in the morning. The treatment effects would last only a day or so due to my unhealthy lifestyle, which included trying to fight my bodies natural sleep-wake cycle by working the overnight shift.

   On my days off from work, there were times I could barely get out of bed. I had unbearable migraines. My energy level was severely depleted. Despite all of this, I would still try and be a normal 30-year old woman. I would meet a friend for a drink, watch my football team on Sundays, or go out to eat. Each event would cause severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, and the stimulation of all the activity going on around me would cause me to zone out. I would stare off into space as my overloaded brain would shut down as it just couldn’t handle the stimulation. Each attempt at being "normal" would set me back even further.

   7 weeks after returning to work, a visit to the neurologist changed everything. She placed me back on disability for 3 more months against my wishes. She saw how depleted I had become in the past few months. Instead of making progress in my recovery, I was regressing. My multiple medications to control my headaches were at the maximum dosages and I was still constantly in excruciating pain. I was at the end of my rope. I was utterly depressed and lost without my job. My friends were disappearing because I couldn’t keep up with their social lifestyle and my depression was becoming a drag. I didn’t know how much longer I could suffer this way. My thoughts were constantly negative and pessimistic.

   It was at this time that Sierra had urged me to take Healing Touch Level 1 to learn how to heal myself. I laughed, “Heal myself? I can barely get out of bed, how on earth am I going to heal myself?” I decided she was right. I needed to take this class.

   In my 2 -day Healing Touch Level 1 class, I spent the weekend learning about chakras, energy, positive intentions, and about loving yourself. I was able to give and receive multiple treatments all weekend long. I learned how to do a self-chakra connection on myself which helped to open and balance all of my chakras and energy field. Every time I received a treatment, I felt rejuvenated, peaceful, and re-energized. It was eye-opening to see how a positive intention, a loving heart, and the flow of energy through your hands could provide such deep relaxation and pain relief. By Sunday evening, I was glowing! My depression had lifted, I barely had a headache, and I had so much energy! I was happy, hopeful, and suddenly full of life!

   My healing began immediately. It dawned on me that I was sabotaging my recovery from my brain injury by living my life out of balance and refusing to listen to what my body was telling me. I started living my life in perfect harmony, treating myself with twice daily self-chakra connections, repeating positive affirmations, journaling, eating a healthy diet, meditating, and reading anything I could find on Energy Medicine, Holistic Medicine, and Personal/Spiritual Development. I began a yoga practice that helped me to gain strength physically, as well as mentally. I aligned my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being and realized that all along I had the innate ability to heal myself. I exchanged treatments regularly with Sierra, at support groups, and with new friends from each Healing Touch class I took. My symptoms from my brain injury were rapidly disappearing and I felt amazing! I realized that from chaos comes clarity.

   6 months after I took Healing Touch Level 1, I had worked my way up to taking Healing Touch Level 4 and started my 1-year apprenticeship with a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner as my mentor. I had healed completely from my brain injury and felt so blessed to embark on this incredible journey of self-healing. During my apprenticeship, I completed over 100 documented Healing Touch sessions, multiple reading and writing requirements, and began a community project providing Healing Touch to homeless veterans. I used Healing Touch everyday in the hospital with my patients and coworkers. 

   When my apprenticeship was complete, I took Healing Touch Level 5 (the final level of the Healing Touch certificate program) and completed further homework to achieve certification. Receiving my pin as a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner was one of the most special moments in my life. It symbolized the strength, perseverance, and dedication to my healing journey. I became an Energy Healer spreading healing light and love to those I touched. The saying “everything happens for a reason” suddenly made perfect sense to me. My brain injury had become a true blessing in disguise. Finding Healing Touch saved my life.

   Today, I have a Healing Touch Practice, Healing Nurses in San Diego with my best friend Sierra, who had helped me to heal and encouraged me to take my first Healing Touch class. I continue to work in a Surgical ICU and have been busy promoting and teaching other nurses about Healing Touch. My patient’s experience less pain, less anxiety, and a faster recovery from receiving Healing Touch treatments while in the hospital. My dream is to become the Healing Touch Nurse at my hospital so that I can consult daily on patients in severe pain that will benefit the most from this relaxing, nurturing energy therapy. I have spoken in many different settings about my healing journey in hopes of helping others in chronic pain.

   Healing Touch has become my passion in life. Spreading this treatment to all who are looking for optimal health and wellness has become my mission. Healing Touch is being taught throughout the country and is being used widely in hospitals due to the effectiveness of helping patients to heal. To experience a treatment for yourself, visit my website Healing Nurses to schedule a Healing Touch session. To find a class near you and begin your own healing journey visit www.healingtouchinternational.org.

Receiving my Certified Healing Touch Practitioner pin from my mentor Donna Cahill

7 Essential Tips for Wellness

I frequently get asked for suggestions on what I do to maintain my health and wellness.  Although this is not a complete list, I would say that it is the core of my routine.  By following these 7 essential tips on optimal wellness, you can find a balanced physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

1.  Yoga-  Yoga is known to lower stress, decrease anxiety, and promote a greater sense of peace.  All of that is just from a mental perspective.  The physical benefits of yoga include building lean muscle mass, improving flexibility, and gaining strength and endurance.  Yoga can decrease your blood pressure as well as your cholesterol.  Yoga focuses on asanas or postures that open different energy centers in your body- your chakras.  Basically, yoga is amazing.  It is a powerhouse activity that balances your mind, body, and spirit.


2.  Epsom salt baths- After that first yoga class you take, no better way to follow up a detoxifying yoga class than with a detoxifying epsom salt bath. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate.   Some of the countless health benefits of epsom salt include: relaxing the nervous system, curing skin problems, soothing back pain and aching limbs, easing muscle strain, healing cuts, treating cold and congestion, and drawing toxins from the body. One of the simplest ways to ease stress and stress-related problems is to soak in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of Epsom Salt added. It has the beneficial properties that can soothe the body, mind and soul.  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils and it becomes a heavenly retreat!


3.  Healing Touch-  As a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner, of course I am going to mention Healing Touch.  Healing Touch is a relaxing, nurturing energy therapy where a practitioner uses their hands to release congested energy in the body and biofield around the body.  Healing Touch focuses on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, so it is a total therapy.  If you have pain, your stressed out, or grieving the loss of a loved one, a Healing Touch treatment will help you through all of these life issues.

All healing is self healing.  We all have this innate ability to heal ourselves.  One way this can be done is through a Self Chakra Connection.  Follow along with the picture and hold each one for about a minute.  Imagine healing energy being sent from your hands directly to the part of the body your are touching.  This technique opens all of the major and minor chakras in the body and will have you feeling your best in no time.     I make sure to do a treatment on myself at least once daily.   Usually it is before a yoga class while I lay on my mat and right before I fall asleep.  I usually fall asleep before I finish all of the pictures...what a great side effect of Healing Touch....a good night's sleep!  To schedule your appointment for Healing Touch, visit my website  www.healingnurses.com.

4.  Nutritional Healing-  Diet and Nutrition play a huge role in your wellness.  You are what you eat....so if you are eating tons of fried, fatty, and processed foods, you are not going to feel very good.  Sticking to foods as close to their original form is the best, so think veggies, fruits, whole grains, and lean chicken or fish.  I personally start my day by drinking a green juice, a mixture of green leafy vegetables and green apple.  By drinking this on an empty stomach, all of the nutrients will go directly into my cells and infuse my body with some goodness.  I also enjoy drinking fruit and veggie smoothies   mixed with greek yogurt for that protein punch.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a glass of wine and some dark chocolate every now and then.  But moderation is key!


5.  Nature-  Have you ever walked along the beach or through the woods on a hike and felt stressed out??  Mother Nature with all of her glory has many calming, soothing effects.  Get outside!  Look around at all the beauty nature holds and appreciate it!  Go hug a tree.  No, really, go hug a tree and see how amazing it feels.  I play a lot of music during my Healing Touch treatments that have nature sounds and many times my client will comment how they felt like they were out in nature and it was so peaceful.  They realize how long it had been since they actually heard the sound of real ocean waves or a bird calling.  Try to spend more time in nature and find a calm, relaxing, peaceful mindset.


6.  Gratitude-  Studies have shown that people who practice gratitude tend to be happier, have fewer physical ailments,  are more optimistic, better able to cope with life stressors, and sleep better.  The University of California: Davis, recently completed a Research Study on Gratitude and its results will have you running to your nearest journal to start writing about what you are grateful for on a daily basis.  Sometimes, I will start naming off things I'm grateful for while I'm driving.  The time goes by so fast!   I feel so calm and at peace when I realize all that I am truly thankful for on a regular basis.


7.  Love-  Perhaps the most important tip for optimal wellness is Love.  I know you all love your family and friends, but the kind of love I am talking about here is Self-love.  Truly loving yourself is one of the most healing things you can do for yourself.  Letting go of negative talk, self-doubt, and resentment for previous mistakes will help you to find that self-love.  You are perfect just the way you are and deserve all the love this world has to offer.  So go ahead, look in the mirror and tell yourself, "I love you."  Your path to wellness is on its way.

What would your 7 Essential tips for Wellness be???  How do you maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit??  Leave your tips in the comment section and see how many positive changes you can help another person make on their path to optimal health and wellness.

The Basics of Chakras

    It seems like where ever you go these days, you hear that same word over and over again.....CHAKRAS.  Your yoga instructor told you that one of your chakras needed opening.   The owner of a new age store suggested a certain stone would boost one of your chakras.   Dr. Oz did a whole show on chakras and what foods to eat to enhance each chakra. What do they all know that we don't know???    Do they have some type of x-ray vision to see these magical chakras that I didn't even know were there?   What exactly is a chakra??
       
   A chakra is an energy center in our body.  We have 7 main chakras that line up the middle of our body along our central nervous system and each chakra correlates with a major endocrine gland.  Chakra in Sanskrit means "spinning wheel".  Our chakras spin clockwise when they are healthy, open, and functioning properly.   Energy or Chi, moves through these chakras and flows throughout our whole bodies.  Think of how our blood flows through our veins and arteries.  Energy flows through its own channels called meridians or nadi's to all of the chakras within our body.  We have minor chakras in all of our organs, joints, palms, and soles of our feet as well.  That's a whole lot of chakras!
   
   The problems we deal with on a daily basis, such as pain, headaches and anxiety occur when our chakras become congested, depleted, or blocked.  Sure, you could take a Tylenol or a Xanax and mask your pain or anxiety, but that wouldn't get down to the root of the problem.  It only puts a bandaid on the situation.  Over time, that congested energy becomes a long lasting physical problem in our body that can become a serious illness or disease.
 
   So what can you do to open your chakras and keep them healthy and energized.  Yoga is the most common example out there.  The different postures you hold in a yoga class is designed to open the different chakras.  Meditation can also help in balancing and opening your chakras.  5 minutes of quiet time is a great way to start off if you are a newbie to meditating.
   
   The most effective way to open and balance your chakras would be to receive hands on energy work.  Healing Touch is one of the most widely recognized and regulated forms of energy work.  Practitioners have to go through 5 Levels of training, a one year mentorship, and certification guidelines to get their title.  Even better, most Certified Healing Touch Practitioners are Nurses!  Who better to help you find your way to wellness.  For more information about Healing Touch or to schedule an appointment, check out my site.   www.healingnurses.com