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Being Sick with Gratitude

2/18/2015

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     This past weekend I was very sick - at least for me, a person who hardly ever gets sick and hasn’t required a doctor for a decade or so (knock on wood). A sore throat blossomed into not being able to talk, leading to full congestion in my head, chest, and lungs. The body...no energy, brain fog, weepy. Basically feeling pretty ucky. On a regular weekend, this would have been enough but this fell exactly during the time of a four day retreat I’d been co-organizing for a year. Ya, bummer! Deciding I needed to take care of myself and not add to the spreading of more germs, I left the retreat to go home two days early. Really sad for me but with I knew the Sangha (retreatant community) would continue seamlessly, creating immeasurable love and open heart, mirroring the retreat theme. Even as I lay in bed at home, I felt very held by them. Deep gratitude.
     Lying in my bed, snuggled with my blanket, cough drops, extra-soft tissues, water, and Nyquil, I had nothing to do but rest. Sleep, roll over, rest some more. For a day and a half I did this, trying to eat something in between but unable to taste anything. The pressure in my head was immense, eyes barely being able to open beyond a squint.  Even with the coma-induced state that Nyquil provides, one can only do so much sleeping. Laying there in between sleep sessions, what to do? Reading hurt the eyes...watching Hulu compressed the forehead... staring into space seemed like a good option until the eyes dried to a prune-like quality.
     What I did find of interest was my body; noticing the aches in the left knee that radiating down to the second toe when I stayed on that side too long, pulsating tension points in the lower back, how the space in between my midback and lumbar seemed open and free, how my left ear rung at a denser pitch than the right, how my hair hurt mostly at the curve of my head, and how the pressure and congestion slowly crept from the right rear nostril to the open space on the left side when I turned my head to the left. Also of observation was how my mind still told me to try and eat (yes, mother) even though I couldn’t taste a single thing, noticing that too much napping really was not part of my body’s vocabulary, that there are a variety of coughs each with their own multi-faceted process, and finally narrowing in on where a cough actually begins.
     It was all very fascinating, this flowing river of body being. It gave me a wonderful connection to how my physical body supported and championed itself during a time of distress. I saw the interconnectedness between all parts and realized that, under a guise of what might be perceived as illness, was actually lots of healing going on. It was working really hard and I could feel the cells enlisting one another on the path of homeostasis and recovery...the cells that made up my body’s Sangha. Deep gratitude.
     There are so many times during my life that I haven’t liked or appreciated my body. There were even times when I down-right hated it and did some pretty destructive things, especially in my younger years. It didn’t do what I wanted; be thinner here and curvier there, walk fast enough, stay flexible without constant stretching, keep the muscle tone after a week away from the gym, be vibrant every day. So many of us complain about our body when in fact it is WE who create it as it is. We do things everyday that damage or support it - by what we eat, how we exercise, if over medicate, and especially what our thought pattern is around self-image. Our body knows if we love it or not. Just like Dr. Emoto’s water crystals, the cells of our body vibrate back to us how we feel about it. A body of Happy and Appreciation lives much more gloriously than Ugly and Hate.
     As I age and notice the physical changes more prominently,
I’m coming to appreciate the sheer magnitude and intricacy of this vessel of ours. With over 50 trillion cells to coordinate, it’s beyond mind-blowing all the things it takes care of 24/7. Without instruction, it works so hard to get back to equilibrium and harmony. My recent experiment of a few days of illness has awoken me to that again. Deep gratitude. I’m not going to dare complain if mine needed a few days off to rest. Well deserved, I’d say, especially as I know I’m not always the easiest or cooperative one to deal with.
     When I get well again, I hope I continue to appreciate the non-sickness for longer than a few days. It really is great to have this lovely vessel of mine. It’s the only one I’ve got so best take care!

With many blessings for peaceful days,
Shanti


Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Certified
Practitioner Eden Energy Medicine
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007


Which body would you prefer to live in?
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Don’t Let Winter Make You SAD

2/9/2015

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     We’ve still got lots of winter coming our way and at this point, some of us with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) may be in the thick of it. Even though we’ve passed the point of the shortest day, we may still be experiencing low energy, moodiness, sadness or depression, craving for carbs, feeling off-balance and lethargic, or low-grade anxiety. And while it continues to snow (and I’m about done with the shoveling), I’m thankful for the snow to brighten the days.
     I’ve had SAD for decades. I can gauge the frequency of sun by the decline in my mood and enthusiasm, by the heaviness I might feel in my brain, and by increased agitation. By day three with no sun, the effects start to creep in. This also means that, for whatever reason, I may have missed a few days or pieces of my general wellness practice which involves exercise, energy routine, and meditation. Luckily I’ve got my sunlamp right on my desk, staring at me, supporting my brain in melatonin and serotonin production. I guess turning it on would help (insert smile). I also make sure to up my Vit D supplement and firm up anything missing in my wellness practice. It also helps me to recognize the stage I’m at and to take of myself with kindness. In a few days, I’ll be feeling much better.
     My mindfulness and meditation practice certainly supports bouncing back into being myself again. Not rejecting how I feel but instead creating awareness and compassion around it. Sitting quietly, feeling my breath in the stillness, helps me to love my body and brain more instead of fighting and resisting what it’s doing. I love to visualize going into all of my cells to bring in light and freshness. I can also let myself cry if I need that release or give myself a hug. Whatever feels right, don’t you agree? Mindfulness and meditation also help to soothe the stress reactions that can appear with this low-grade sense of agitation - always a good thing. I can embrace myself just the way I am right now. By not rejecting my experience, I come closer to changing my situation with ease versus the personal rejection we often offer ourselves.
     And while I’m simply sharing my experience, Dr. Norman Rosenthal, a world-renown psychiatrist who coined the term SAD, agrees. (More here.)  He has researched the effects of meditation on SAD and has shown wonderful results. In addition to stimulating the pineal gland and releasing melatonin, meditation calms both the body and the mind, increasing the potential for happiness and satisfaction and decreasing stress response.

What are some other ways you can decrease the effects of SAD?
  • Get direct sunlight or at least a sunlamp. 30 minutes a day will do wonders in putting that smile back on your face.
  • Get outside and move the body. It’s great for stress, will keep you strong and healthy during the winter, adds fresh air, and all around feels great. Remember, there’s no such thing as poor weather, only poor clothing.
  • Keep your nutrition clean and green. Skip the processed foods, heavy carbs, and sugars that we tend to crave more in the wintertime.
  • Seek counsel if you need someone to talk to. Don’t “grin and bear it” on your own. Lots of folks are here to help.
  • Contact your physician for a full check-up. Make sure there’s nothing else going on and that you get the necessary referrals and support. Talk about Vit D supplement, even if only in the winter time.
  • Increase your skills around managing your stress. Need a good coach for that? I happen to know a great one.

     While we may not be able to prevent SAD, I believe we can do a good job in decreasing the effects by being proactive. I know years ago it put me into deep winter depressions and now I recognize its onset as a few days of feeling off. My daily regiment, which includes many of the above, along with an energy medicine routine, have worked wonders.
     So while this winter feels never ending, embrace all that you can. Soon enough it will all change with melting snow and blue skies.

With many blessings for peaceful days,
Shanti


Need more support? Check out the upcoming Mindfulness & Meditation class or connect with me for personalized coaching.

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Love Expands in Community

2/3/2015

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     Woohoo!! I am SO excited!! I'm just getting back from Phoenix, Arizona (no, not see see the Pats win - what a crazy game!) where I finished an intensive two year Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) certification program. It's been an amazing journey meeting fantastic and fabulous practitioners from all over the world, creating my energy tribe, and gaining lots of confidence in helping others take care of themselves in a new way.
     If you haven't heard of it, EEM works with the body's physical, energetic, and emotional systems through the use of ancient techniques most familiar to us as in Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and kinesiology. In non-invasive and gentle ways, it helps you rebalance and harmonize back to your original self. Whether the desire is to support overall health or related to a specific concern like pain, reoccurring illness or life scheme, anxiety, or poor sleep, EEM is a great toolset. It's quite amazing how subtle energies flow and I agree with a common response of "wow, that was really cool". I hope you'll take advantage of this new addition to 8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC. Many of you have already experienced the power of this work and I am grateful for your love and trust.
     After Phoenix I spent some amazing days in Sedona with three of my best energy buds, embracing the energy of this special place and getting even more connected to these lovely ladies. Shopping for crystals, hiking the terrain, doing Tai Chi at the vortexes in Boynton Canyon, and going horseback riding were some of our adventures but, most importantly, was just spending time with one another.
     It's interesting that, beyond the desire to bring forth this energy work, each one of us is coming from a different place in our lives and has a completely different rhythm energy of how we approach the world. As well, four females in one room for five days every three months...there's bound to be some major issues, yet really there weren't. We've always been able to love and support one another, to see the gifts that each offers, and to appreciate the awarenesses that are created when we don't necessarily mesh in the moment. It's also been quite lovely to see how each one of us has strengthened over these past two years as we've shared and practiced this energy medicine with one another. Our systems are cleaner and clearer, allowing each one of us to be more solid and grounded in our true essence. It's been really quite wonderful.
     Reflecting on this 'tribe', I look around my life and see others that have come together as well. My Sangha of Buddhists and mindfulness practitioners, my kids and family, and the close friends that I cherish deeply. I also have the group of supporters who took care of my house while I was gone; plowing my driveway, checking my house daily for mechanical disruptions, transporting me to and from the airport, and checking in with me on a regular basis. It's wonderful to have these communities, especially for me where my beginning life felt isolated and alone, invisible.
     Who are the tribes in your life? How are you taken care of and supported, not in a co-dependent way but in a shared and nurtured way, where your authentic self is safe to grow and develop? While I love my time alone, community is a vital part of my personal joy. It keeps me vibrant and feeling alive. We are social beings and sharing this humanity is an important piece in getting to know ourselves. Our essence is reflected back when we are with others. And in return, we offer a bit of ourselves to provide companionship, caring, and presence for another.
     Your tribe doesn't have to be large or distinct. It can be made up of your neighbors, a pet, part of a community service network, or coworkers. It can be one person who you can rely on to be there at 2:00am should the need arise.
     As we enter the month of Love (our calendar's way of opening us up during the cold of winter), seek out your community and reconnect if the dark days have kept you sheltered and inside. Notice the blessings they provide in simply being there and take care to nurture them back as you've been nurtured. Take note of how you've become a better being because of them and offer lots of gratitude. I know I've been graced with your presence and am deeply grateful for this tribe.
     And always feel invited to gather in community at 8 limbs Holistic Health. Classes, workshops, and events are always happening so feel free to join and create more tribe energy. It brings joy and supports all of us when you do.

With many blessings for peaceful days,
Shanti

P.S. For more about Eden Energy Medicine, see here or here to check out upcoming public classes. You can also schedule personal sessions to address your particular issues and needs; call 603-228-9007 or email me.

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    Author - Shanti Douglas

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Shanti Douglas: Mindfulness, Optimize, & HeartMath® Certified Trainer and Coach
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC         603.228.9007         Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
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