These are a Few of My Favorite Things – Part II

The great thing about life is that there are so many choices.  If you ask me next year what my favorite things are you will find a completely different list.  That is how one grows; by learning, stretching and trying new things.  I invite you to try some of my favorite things.  They may become yours….

Dandelion Sun Tea

1.        Dandelion Sun Tea – I have been enjoying making Dandelion Sun Tea.  I just take a few organic dandelion tea bags, put them in a jar which has been filled with filtered water, and place in the hot sun for a few hours.  I drink this tea plain or put as a base in my smoothies.  Dandelion tea is perfect to drink this time of the year to assist the body in detoxification.   Dandelion root stimulates the liver to increase bile flow, which serves two functions; first it helps to carry waste out of the body and second it helps to break down fats during digestion.  This tea has a woodsy flavor and is very refreshing.



Sage Smude Stick



2.       Smudging – Smudging is a process that has been around for quite some time.  In fact, Native American tribes traditionally lit bundles of sage to purify people and places.  The process of smudging will sweep away negative energy from your home.  Light the sage, starting at the back of the house, and walk around each room paying particular attention to windows and doors.  Please work toward the front of the house with the intention of sweeping the negative energy out the door.  Today, you can purchase sage bundles at most health food stores.  (*I like to keep the sage bundle in one hand and in the other hand a glass bowl in case any of the ash sparks downward.  Always be careful with fire.) 

3.       Escaping to a beautiful place – Lately, I’ve been trying to find very quiet, secluded places to either read or sit and reflect.  Look at the beauty surrounding me!  It sure beats working indoors on a computer all day.  Please make some time to search for your own private retreat.  It will invigorate you.

A quiet retreat

4.       Integrative Nutrition – In January, I decided to go back to school to get certified in Health Coaching.  To be honest, I didn’t think I would like it and figured I would just regurgitate what they wanted to hear and be done with it.  To my surprise, I absolutely love it!  Who would of thought?!!  I actually look forward to the assignments each week!  IIN is a very progressive school and one that you should consider attending if you either want to go into the Health Coaching field or just want to learn how to eat healthy and/or live a healthy lifestyle.  If you don’t have the time for school, you can hire Health Coaches like myself  to teach you what you need to know in order to live a healthy lifestyle in today’s world.  Integrative Nutrition is offering a free book.  All you have to do is fill your information and one will be mailed to you.  Follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/NutritionSchool/app_190322544333196?ref=ts

Integrative Nutrition



Mixed Greens with Flower Petals
Sang Lee Farms



5.       Greens with Flower Petals – I am so very lucky to have a wonderful organic farm near me called Sang Lee Farms.( http://www.sangleefarms.com/)    They grow a variety of mixed greens which they pick fresh, clean and then bag for sale.  Included in those greens are edible flower petals.  Eating flower petals dates far back in our history but is not so popular today.  In the 1930’s Edward Bach wrote how flowers each have their own vibration and can help to raise your emotional state.  Check out this website:  http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm  Please don’t eat any flowers from a florist or those that have been sprayed with any pesticide.  Also, do a bit of research and make sure the petals are edible. 

*Follow this link to see another list of my favorite things:  http://innerbeautyworkshops.blogspot.com/2011/07/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things.html

Inner Beauty Workshops offers in person coaching as well as telephone coaching.  Please contact christine@innerbeautyworkshops.com or (631)355-9442 for details…

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smudge_stick

Witness the Law of Attraction in Action

"It's doesn't matter what you look like on the outside,
you are always young at heart."

The “Law of Attraction Philosophy” considered the “New Thought Movement” really isn’t so new.  It stems back to biblical times with references in the Bible.  If one “seeks” the information, one will “find” mountains of ancient and old writings on the subject matter.   According to Wikipedia, the Law of Attraction is “a theory that like attracts like, and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results.”  Today, I want to share with you a story that happened to me when I was 19.  I’m attributing the outcome of this story to the Law of Attraction in Action.

At the age of 19, I was working every teenage girl’s dream.  I had a part-time job in a cosmetics store that sold make-up, perfume, hair products and the like.  One day an attractive woman walked into the store and asked for my help.  She was about 5’ 2”, had dark hair and eyes and was very much in shape.  She was dressed beautifully from what I can remember.  I proceeded to help her and, during our conversation, she told me that she was a doctor.  I was surprised because she didn’t look old enough to be a doctor.  I told her so.  Her reply, and I will never forget, was “I take really good care of myself.  I eat healthy and I exercise.  I’m in my 40’s.”  I was completely floored when she told me she was in her 40’s.  I wouldn’t have pegged her a day over 25.  She told me that I could look as good as her as long as I took care of myself. 

I have kept that conversation in my head for the past 28 years.  I have done my best to take the very best care of myself.  In addition, I would frequently tell myself that “when I’m in my 40’s I want people to have no idea how old I am.  I want to look as good as that woman.”  Unbeknownst to me, I was sending a message to all my cells to age slowly.  I attracted my still youthful appearance based on a mental message and picture of something that happened to me when I was only 19 years old.  I sent out the vibration into the Universe by a mental visualization and the Universe responded by granted me my wish because as per the definition of the Law of Attraction…. “Like attracts like.”

Since I am almost out of my 40’s, I need a new visualization.  I am now looking at people in their 60’s and 70’s and repeating that I want to look as good as they do.  I invite you to try this….It works!

If you are new to hearing about the Law of Attraction, I invite you to start with reading “The Secret,”  by  Rhonda Byrne.  You can pick up a used book for only $1.99 http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Rhonda-Byrne/dp/1582701709/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337296929&sr=1-1.  From this book, follow the trail backwards and keep reading about the subject.  You will be amazed at what you learn….:)

"I'm on the top of the world..."

"Forever Young"

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_attraction

Inner Beauty Workshops offers in person coaching as well as telephone coaching.  Please contact christine@innerbeautyworkshops.com or (631)355-9442 for details…

New this week!  Meet Dolly!!



How Light and Music Can Energize Your Aura & Chakras

How many of you know that you have an Aura?  Or how about seven main energy centers in the body called Chakras?  It usually requires a trained eye to see somebody’s aura.  Most people cannot see them, however, just because we cannot see them, doesn’t mean that they do not exist.  An Aura is a protective shell of pure energy that surrounds the human body, usually in the shape of an egg.  This energy is made up of matter which has not been condensed to a solid form.  This energy also includes a rainbow of color.  There is no clear consensus as to what each color represents with the exception of the colors black and gray.  These colors usually represent illness in some form.  Aura’s can vary in size.  I was told that mine was on the larger side, stemming out quite a distance from my body.  The Aura Imaging machine certainly captures the rainbow of colors surrounding my body.  The photo below is one taken of my Aura a few years ago. 

Picture of Aura taken several years ago
*Please note the few dark spots you see is actually stuck on top of the photo.

An Aura reminds me of the clouds surrounding a mountain; the mountain representing the solid mass (i.e., the physical body) and the clouds representing the noncompressed energy (the Aura). 

In addition to our Aura, our body has seven main areas of energy called Chakras.  The Chakras start at the very top of the human head and run down the spine.  Healthy Chakras spin clockwise to create energy which is then utilized by the physical body.  Our Chakras sometimes slow down, get blocked or spin in the opposite direction.  It’s important to keep this energy moving.

Picture from http://www.allthingshealing.com/

There are many ways to keep the flow of energy moving around the body.  You can try acupuncture, reiki, yoga, meditation or some kind of light/energy work.  Here is a simple meditative exercise you can do at home.  You can visualize your seven major energy centers rotating freely and in harmony.               

Find a place where you can lie down and relax where nobody can disturb you.  Feel free to light a candle or dimly light the room.  Play the music below softly in the background.  Close your eyes and completely relax your body.  Now visualize all the Chakras.  Starting with the Root Chakra, imagine a small ball of light spinning to the music.  Enjoy the experience as that ball of energy spins at your root.  Now move up to the Sacral Chakra and imagine the two Chakras spinning together in harmony and light.  Do the same visualization with the other Chakras in order: Solar, Heart, Throat, Third Eye and Crown until you see all seven Chakras spinning and dancing in harmony and light.  Now imagine your Aura, sparkling with a rainbow of color.  Keep this visual for as long as you like and repeat this words: “My Energy Flows Freely.” “I am filled with dancing light.” Gradually, open your eyes …..

Once energy flows freely throughout the body and your aura shines, you will begin to attract  different opportunities and you will meet new people.  This information is priceless!

Strike a pose!

REFERENCES

http://www.asc-alchemy.com/chakra.html

http://www.allthingshealing.com/Tarot/The-Chakra-Lube-Job-Using-the-Tarot-as-a-Tool-of-Healing/4584

Harbour, Dorothy; "Energy Vampires," Destiny Books, Rochester 2002

Inner Beauty Workshops offers
in person coaching as well as telephone coaching.  Please contact christine@innerbeautyworkshops.com or (631)355-9442 for details…



May 2012 Challenge – Clean Out Your Drawers!

It's a tough job!  Someone has to do it!

Cleaning out your drawers is one of those pesky jobs that seem like such a waste of time.  However, how frustrating is it to look for something and not be able to find it because it is buried under papers and not clearly visible?  How much time do you waste trying to find something that should take you only a matter of seconds?  I have a neighbor who starts cleaning each room by cleaning the drawers.  She likes to work from the inside-out.  I’m sure she’s the only person I know who cleans like this.  Of course, her mother taught her well…she is now 81!  I know for myself, by the time I finish cleaning a room, the last think I want to do is start opening up drawers.  In fact, most of the time, I “file away” papers (i.e. coupons) in a drawer that I think may be useful in the future, only to forget about them.  A few years down the road, when I finally do clean out the drawer, they have expired two years ago.  If you have “junk” drawers, it’s time to SORT, THROW OUT & ORGANIZE!

Ugh!

Tearing my hair out...but still smiling :)

Did you know, when you get rid of the old, it makes way for the new.  It’s a clearing that is reflective of our psyche.  When our surroundings are mess, it is indicative of our emotional state.  If we live in chaos and clutter, our mind is usually suffering from the same – chaos and clutter.  When you begin to “clear out” it gives you a sense of balance and control.  If your car is a mess, clean it and see how much better you feel the next time you sit in it.  By cleaning our drawers, we are actually cleaning the crevices of our brain making way for the new to enter our lives. 

Here’s the challenge for the month of May….Pick the room in your house that has the messiest drawers and clean them out.  Continue to pick one room a week and clean out the drawers.   Notice I did not say closets.  That is a whole other ball of wax.  Let’s wait until the fall for that one.  It’s too nice outside to spend countless hours cleaning and organizing a closet.

Let’s see your drawers!!

Hard at work!

Look what I found....a present from my son!

*Don’t forget to throw papers in the recycling bin.  Remember, that your trash is someone’s treasure.  Instead of throwing items out that will sit in our landfills, please find an owner.  You can place “free” items on Craigslist or try freecycle.com. 

Inner Beauty Workshops offers

in person coaching as well as telephone coaching.  Please contact christine@innerbeautyworkshops.com or (631)355-9442 for details…