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So much news at Harmony Way!

3/28/2014

 
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     There has been a lot of news recently at Harmony Way!  First, have you seen our new Flash website?  Please go to:  www.harmonywayhealing.com to see the new site.  It's lovely and relaxing, if we don't say so ourselves.  The new website is still the main site and is at the same address as it was previously, but now has a whole new look and feel.  Check it out!

     Next, Harmony Way is now offering a FREE monthly health e-newsletter, available for all who want to receive interesting fitness and wellness articles about a wide array of topics, updates about workshops and other news at Harmony Way, delicious recipes, and amazing exercise videos and tips on the first of every month in their inbox.  If you would like to receive our newsletter, please send us your name and email address via harmonywayhealing@gmail.com or through our contact form on the main website or on this blog site.  The Harmony Way newsletter is formed through a partnership with the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, which is the most popular, cutting edge, health-oriented association in the country.  To see Michelle Croze's (owner of Harmony Way) profile and other helpful information on the IDEA site, please go to:  

http://www.ideafit.com/profile/michelle-croze

     Aside from the new website and newsletter, Michelle has recently been interviewed on the "Oneness and Wellness" program with Dot Walsh and Marcia Reddington-Lawton, produced by Dan Hallessey, in Dedham, Massachusetts.  This was an honor that was also so much fun!  The 25-minute show has over 600,000 viewers in the Greater Boston area and is shown on a weekly basis through Dedham's cable television.  If you are interested in watching Michelle's interview or in seeing some of the program's other episodes, please go to:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLMbGHCVFyM

     Michelle Croze also recently became a licensed Zumba Instructor and is currently looking for ideal locations to host her half-hour Zumba classes during the week.  She is now also certified at the professional healthcare provider level for CPR/AED/BLS/Oxygen.  Zumba is a really fun way to get exercise.  It feels a lot more like dancing at a party to great music from all over the world than working out.  You don't need any special skills or even to be coordinated.  All you do is follow the moves of the teacher and lose yourself in the music.  All ages, abilities, and levels of fitness are welcome, from beginners to advanced.  If you'd like to learn more about Zumba or Michelle's upcoming class schedule, location, and price per class, please go to:  http://michellecroze.zumba.com/

     There is just so much happening at Harmony Way lately.  If you want to keep up with everything, please come back to our main website or this blog often...or better yet, sign up to receive our monthly newsletter via email!  Wishing all a happy, healthy spring, filled with new beginnings and lots of fun and relaxation!


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How can Reiki help?

8/22/2013

 
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     Reiki (aka Usui Reiki) can help with literally everything.  It is an ancient form of healing that has been passed down from teacher to student for many years over generations and has proven itself time and again to be effective as a healing modality.  It is one of the gentlest forms of alternative healing available and assists the body with balancing energy and relaxing, along with helping the body to heal itself naturally.  It can be applied to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual situations and problems for healing purposes. 

     There can often be gentle pressure or "laying on of hands" with this style of healing.  However, touch is not necessary for Reiki to work, as it can also be sent over great distances to assist with a wide variety of issues and situations.  It has been used to assist the healing process for everything from allergies, headaches, injuries, insomnia, fertility issues, addiction recovery, depression and anxiety, and even serious terminal illnesses.  Reiki can also help to improve and heal the energy in spaces and homes.  Again, it works on literally everything and can bring great pain relief, emotionally or physically, for those who experience it with a qualified practitioner in a session.

     Many people have asked me how exactly Reiki works.  I will give a simple overview here.  If we examine the body and how it functions, both our hearts and brains create electricity and utilize electrical impulses to send messages throughout the body.  When there is a problem with those messages or the electrical connections, pain, numbness, weakness, anxiety, depression, or even serious illness can occur as a result.  Reiki works with the body and its electrical field (often in conjunction with applying gentle pressure to the same areas that acupressure/reflexology or acupuncture would work with) to bring about total wellness and increased healing time.  Reiki essentially encourages the body to effectively heal itself from the inside out.  As an added benefit, many people experience a great sense of calm or warmth and profound relaxation upon receiving a Reiki treatment session.
 
Here are just a few of the areas in which I have personally utilized Reiki energy healing work to assist clients with great, even miraculous results:
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Just a few of the many situations that Reiki can help!
     Reiki works well on its own or in conjunction with other forms of alternative healing.  For those who don't like needles or more involved or complicated forms of alternative healing, Reiki is truly a wonderful option.  It is safe for everyone, even children and animals, and works with our body's natural processes to assist with gentle healing.  It brings positive energy and fabulous results.  It is also safe to use in combination with regular medical treatment, even for serious medical conditions involving invasive treatments, like chemotherapy.  Reiki can actually help diminish the side effects that treatments like these can sometimes cause.

     If you would like to learn more about Reiki and how it helps and heals, or to schedule an appointment for a Reiki session or even to learn Reiki from a qualified teacher as a healing practitioner, please feel free to contact Michelle at Harmony Way.  You can reach her through any of the links on the "Contact Us" page here or at www.harmonywayhealing.com or via email at harmonywayhealing@gmail.com.
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Some simple but effective help for insomnia...

10/17/2011

 
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Insomnia and other sleep disorders unfortunately affect many people of all ages.  The average person requires roughly 7-8 hours of quality sleep (for some it's a bit more, others, a bit less than that) to feel fully alert and refreshed.  Deep sleep is important for being able to cope with the everyday stressors in our lives. 

If you are frequently tired or need to nap during the day, feel easily stressed out, have difficulty concentrating or staying alert and focused, have trouble falling asleep, wake up several times at night or wake up in the "wee hours" of morning, unable to fall back to sleep, you may be struggling with insomnia or perhaps with another sleep disorder.

Here are some tips for helping you get a good night's rest without sleeping pills:

1.  Don't eat in large amounts or exercise heavily at least 2-3 hours before bedtime.  But, do make sure your stomach isn't completely empty when it's time for bed and that you get at least 30-45 minutes of exercise a minimum of three times per week.

2.  Create a routine for yourself every day and night--Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning so your body resets its internal clock.

3.  Don't read in bed if you can't sleep or lay there tossing and turning.  If you are having trouble sleeping, get up out of bed, go into another room, and do something else until you start to feel more relaxed or sleepy.  Then, go back to bed when you feel you might be able to fall asleep.

4.  At least one hour before bedtime, shut off your phone, email/internet, and anything that causes you stress.  Sit down, relax, dim the lights, change into PJs, breathe deeply, take a bath, read, or light some candles and play soft music.  This creates a soft ambiance that allows you to unwind and get ready to sleep.  Create some type of ritual you enjoy before bed that is "you" time.

5.  Try to eliminate caffeine and other stimulants from your diet as much as possible.  (Some seemingly innocent medications, like certain decongestants, can also keep you awake, believe it or not!) Or, if it is too difficult to forego caffeine entirely, Try to keep it to 1-2 cups maximum before noon, so the caffeine will be worn off by bedtime.  Believe it or not, alcohol, though it is a depressant, can make you sleepy initially, but keep you awake later in the night and dehydrate you after it wears off a bit.  So, you may want to keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum if possible, too.

6.  Some foods that you could try eating as natural home remedies (again, no less than 2-3 hours before bed so you don't get reflux issues, which can also keep you awake) contain natural tryptophan, a chemical that helps you relax.  Others have a slightly higher fat content, which can also encourage you to feel sleepy.  Here are a few to try:  Bananas, Peanut Butter, Milk, Turkey, Honey, Anise...and any other comfort type foods that are not going to destroy your diet or have caffeine in them.  Make sure you have adequate B vitamins and other nutrition in your diet, too.  This can be important. 

7.  You may want to try herbal remedies.  Just make sure to check with you doctor to make sure they are safe for you with any medication or other herbal remedies you may be taking.  Many come in tea form.  Some to try:  Chamomile, Valerian, Tulsi, Kava Kava, Lavender

8.  Aromatherapy is also wonderful to aid in restful sleep.  Some scents that people find relaxing:  Lavender, Vanilla, Geranium, Neroli, Sandalwood...Any scent you find comforting will help you to become more relaxed.  Many come in the form of candles, lotions, soaps, scented oil, etc.

9.  Have you tried any other compliementary therapies?  Massage Therapy, Accupressure, Accupuncture, Reiki, Biofeedback, Chiropractic, Meditation, and Reflexology are all incredibly helpful to many people suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders. 

The important thing is finding a routine and regimen that works for you and doesn't cause you more stress!  If you try everything above with no luck, you may want to talk with your doctor about your sleep patterns. 

Not sure if you have insomnia or another sleep disorder or want to know more about the symptoms and where to find help?  Here is a link with a quiz that may be good for you to try to help determine what type of sleep disorder you may be suffering from:  http://www.njsleepdisorderscenter.com/sleep_quiz.htm

Here is another online quiz that is just about insomnia:  http://www.a-good-night-sleep.com/insomnia-quiz.html

You can also feel free to check out the links page on our website for more information about a wide variety of alternative/complimentary healing modalities that may help...or try our free meditation to see if it helps you relax and get some rest:  www.harmonywayhealing.com

Stress...It's everywhere! How do you deal with it?

10/12/2011

 
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There are MANY causes for stress.  Some of them are external...others are caused by our own minds when we internalize certain situations or see them as major obstacles that we must overcome.  Our mindset has a lot to do with how much stress we have and how we deal with it. 

Every day issues, like home, bills, school, work, kids, driving here and there, etc. can cause many people to feel fried, at the end of their rope, and burned out by the end of a busy day.  Here are some basic and practical, but important tips that can help you arm yourself against stress by being proactive:

    1.  Eat a balanced diet, preferably with small, frequent meals (5 x's/day) that include each of the food groups.

    2.  Get regular exercise every day or at least 3 x's per week.  This can be gentle exercise, like walking or yoga.  You can even sometimes be "sneaky" about working this into your day by taking the stairs instead of an elevator.

    3.  Avoid sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and other substances that can actually trigger a cycle that causes your body even more stress.

    4.  Get enough rest each night (7-8 hours, depending on your needs) and try to have a regular bedtime and morning routine each day.

    5.  MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF EVERY,SINGLE DAY!  It doesn't matter if you are a mom or dad or student or work overtime.  This is the most important thing you can do to deal with stress and prevent it.  Make "YOU TIME" every day, even if it is only for five or ten minutes.  It doesn't matter if you read, have a bubble bath, meditate, or just go for a walk outside.  Anything you enjoy doing will help!

    6.  Remember to breathe!  Frequently when we are feeling stress or anxiety of any kind, we unconsciously hold our breath or begin to breathe in a more shallow way.  This actually causes your body more stress, as you are supplying it with less oxygen when you hold your breath or breathe in a shallow way.  If you start to feel stressed out or overwhelmed, pause for a moment, close your eyes, take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds before exhaling.  Getting outside for a breath of fresh air can also help.

    7.  Drink plenty of good quality water.  Keeping your body hydrated can help to prevent headaches and many illnesses that your immune system has to fight off.  Drinking enough water (6-8 glasses per day, depending on your age, how active you are, and the temperature) can help to filter out and flush your system of toxins. Do you get bored with plain water?  If so, try drinking decaf tea or other non-alcoholic clear fluids that don't contain sugar or caffeine, like apple juice.

    8.  Smile and find reasons to laugh as often as possible.  It has been scientifically proven that when we smile, it elevates our mood and the level of endorphins (feel good chemicals) in the brain...even if it is a "fake" smile!  Laughter, especially the deep, belly kind of laugh, is also endorphin raising and very cleansing for our internal organs.  You may even find that by smiling and laughing more, you find it harder to take things as seriously...which will consequently reduce your stress level as an added bonus!

Looking for a way to let go of some of your stress for a few minutes?  Why not try the brief, free meditation on our main website?  There is also a relaxing image gallery on the site.  Here is the link:  www.harmonywayhealing.com

Not sure about how much stress you are feeling compared to what is considered a "healthy" level...or are you concerned about your stress level or the stress of someone you know and care about?  Here is a link to a quick interactive self test that will tally your stress score for you immediately:  http://www.lessons4living.com/stress_test.htm

If you find that you would like more advice about stress relief and prevention or that you want help or support, please don't hesitate to contact us. 
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    Michelle Croze, Author of this blog and Owner/Practitioner of Harmony Way

    Author   
    For more information about the author of this blog, Michelle Croze, or about Harmony Way, please see our "About Us" page.

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