There are seven chakras in our bodies and they are the centers in which energy flows through. Blocked energy in our chakras can often lead to illness, so it’s important to understand what each chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely. The Crown Chakra is divine tingly energy, connecting us with divine light and guidance from the sky; it reminds us of how big we are, and that we have a team of guidance ready to invest in our earthly matters. A healthy crown is connected to the higher self, allowing us to...

It seems everywhere you look these days the terms ‘Green’ and ‘Eco-Friendly’ are thrown around so loosely it’s hard to determine what, if any, positive environmental impact we can make on the things we do every day. Take for example Green household cleaning products. Does ‘green’ mean they were produced in a facility that uses renewable energy or that the ingredients or packaging are more natural? Now don’t get me wrong, I’m THRILLED to see more and more companies taking the idea of sustainability more seriously but it’s becoming increasingly more difficult as a consumer to navigate how we...

According to a 2017 survey by Stress In America, 24% of adults reported extreme stress while more than one-third stated their stress increased over the past year. – American Psychological Association It is no secret that stress has become a normal part of life in this 21st century. However, what is not readily known is how much that stress is affecting your gut health. From physical damage of your digestive function to psychological warfare between your brain and gut, your stress load plays a big part in your gut and overall health. Know Your Inside Tract The digestive tract...

Imagine, after practicing for weeks, your daughter is saying grace for the very first time at your family’s Thanksgiving gathering. For you, the proudest moment of all was going to be the look on your mother’s face as your daughter so eloquently recites her words. Instead, your mother was expressionless. It was plain and simple. She couldn’t hear your daughter’s sweet voice from across the table. The moment was missed. It was gone. This scene is all too familiar in many homes during the holidays to the degree that some family members may choose to disengage from conversations after...

Stress is taken for granted these days as “part of life.” And while there is such a thing as “healthy” stress that helps us grow, most of our stress is chronic, damaging, and unhealthy. It could be costing you money, time or even your future. Here are 20 stress indicators that you may be experiencing in your daily life. Which ones can you relate to right now? Mental Symptoms Difficulty concentrating Trouble making decisions Negative outlook on life Anxious or racing thoughts Constant worrying Emotional Symptoms General moodiness Irritability or short temper Feeling lonely and isolated Agitation, anger, and...

Five years and 100 pounds later…how can that be? That’s what ran through my brain when I was approached about writing this article. It was January 2012, and I had just spent a very long weekend of sitting through my first class towards my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health and Counseling. On Sunday afternoon at 4:30, the instructor set a candle in the middle of the room and asked 32 of us to stare at the candle for 20 minutes. I had lists to make, groceries to pick up, and a to do list that wouldn’t quit…I refused...

There is no single explanation for how and why some people live much longer than others. But there is a place where more people live longer and healthier lives than anywhere else on earth: Okinawa, Japan. Scientists have been studying this group of seniors to see if we can learn how to live longer and more productive lives. The evidence based study is called The Okinawa Centenarian Study and spans over two decades. The findings are remarkable! They imply that, with some basic lifestyle changes, we Westerners, can increase our lifespan and ensure that our extra time here on...

The short answer to this question is: we’re not exactly sure. In fact, a single unifying cause of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) has yet to be established. What we do know is that there are many potential causes for RLS, including pregnancy, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, not to mention medications such as antihistamines, anti-depressants, and a certain class of high blood pressure medicine. RLS is considered a disruptive neurologic disorder, affecting approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population. It occurs in men and women, though the incidence is twice as high in women. RLS is not diagnosed through laboratory...

Family time, shopping trips, and fun! But what also comes with this time of year is lots of sugar, salt and fat! It’s all good, as long as you have a plan to keep consistent with healthy eating and effective exercise, so that you can indulge in the fun every once in a while and not feel deprived. We put so much stress on ourselves to be perfect at staying healthy and then one misstep sends us into a tailspin of overindulgence and punishment. There’s a better way and that’s why I’ve put together my top tips for nutrition,...

National Adoption Month is an initiative of the Children’s Bureau, the first federal agency within the U.S. Government, to focus exclusively on improving the lives of children and families. For over two decades, National Adoption Month has been promoted and celebrated every November in communities across the country. Many national, State, and local agencies as well as foster, kinship care, and adoptive family groups will help spread the word through programs, events, and activities that help raise awareness for thousands of children and youth in foster care who are waiting for permanent, loving families. Each year, the initiative focuses...

“Wholeness for humans depends on their ability to own their own shadow.”      ~ Carl Jung I have always been serious minded and practical. People who know me might say I’m conservative, conventional or downright square. Growing up in Catholic school, studying science in college, and working a corporate job prepared me for a stable course, and I didn’t stray far from it. That’s why it shocked my family a few months ago when I announced I was going to a festival in the Nevada desert called “Burning Man”. “You are a 54-year-old suburban mom for God’s sake!” “There will...

There are seven chakras in our bodies and they are the centers in which energy flows through. Blocked energy in our chakras can often lead to illness, so it’s important to understand what each chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely. The sixth chakra is known as the Third Eye. The color corresponding to the Third Eye is indigo and its location is just above the brow. The developmental stage is adolescence; the body parts governed are the head, brain, eyes, and the 5 senses. A healthy Third Eye is intuitive, perceptive, and...

I have a love/hate relationship with meat. I love how it keeps me satisfied and sustains my husband, a competitive cyclist. To be honest, it has just been easier to eat animal protein because I grew up with it and was used to centering my meals around it. But the more I learn about current industrial animal farming in our society, the more concerned I become. I lament its effects on the environment and water supply, its lack of sustainability, and the cruel and unhealthful way our industrialized meat is raised and harvested. I’m even concerned about the potential...

Have you met your inner child? I hadn’t. I went through life not even knowing I had an inner child. After all, my children are in their thirties, I have two lovely granddaughters and I am a professional woman and entrepreneur; seems grown up to me! In 2010, I made a decision to enroll in an 8-week EFT Tapping course focused on tapping into wealth, unaware of how many emotional mountains I would have to climb. But climb I did, totally unprepared for the vulnerability it would require to face such deeply rooted feelings that shook me to my...