 .Hello Dear Community, I am incredibly grateful for the gift of clear, clean air for these past two days. I have spent hours in nature since yesterday, connecting to the natural world with all of my senses. My olfactory function is quickly returning. It is such a gift to notice and differentiate scents of nature after weeks of smelling smoke and the inside of a sweaty mask. I hope those of you experiencing the summer fire season are finding ways for self-care; getting away at times if possible and getting outfitted with good masks and air purifiers of some kind. We all understand how challenging the fires have been. Unfortunately, I have had to cancel all of my Forest Bathing Walks since early July and have been unable to schedule any in August due to the unpredictability of the smoke. I am praying for early rains this year to fully snuff the last of the fires and allow us all back to the outdoors. The good news is that I have a great air purifier. The clean air has made my Reiki sessions a doubly blissful and relaxing escape from the stress of the smoke. I am very happy and grateful to announce that in July, I completed my 6-month practicum through The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and am now Certified as a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. This certification feels like an essential coming together of the circle of my healing and teaching work that I have been building and refining over the past many years. I am so excited to bring Nature and Forest Therapy into my practice as a Whole Health Educator™ and add it to my facilitation of Mind-Body Stress Regulation as well as my Reiki Energy Healing and teaching. I have changed my practice name to "Wild Wellness Guide" from Forest Bathing Ashland. My practice has been a work in progress and since early June, "Wild Wellness Guide" has been has been strongly speaking to me. I feel it aptly describes me and my practice as I guide others on their path to wellness through facilitation, education and healing. The "Wild" world of nature is where I am deeply connected and a central core of my wellness work. My work as a Whole Health Educator focuses on whole person wellness and disease prevention. It integrates evidence-based practices for physical, emotional, nutritional, environmental and spiritual wellness. In my practice, through my own experience and those of my clients, I have discovered as science now demonstrates, that the stress of modern life leads to much of the disease in our society. Research is showing that stress is increased from sedentary time spent indoors; screen time and being cut-off from our roots in the natural world.  Growing Roots and Spreading Branches At the core of my work is calming the sympathetic nervous system to regulate stress. I am so excited to be able to offer Forest Therapy, Mind-Body Stress Regulation and Reiki Healing to help my clients develop a personal practice to manage stress levels for optimum wellness.
Nature and Forest Therapy, (also called Shinrin Yoku/Forest Bathing), is a facilitated, mindful sensory immersion in nature, for slowing down, deeply letting go of stress, unplugging and connecting to the natural world, oneself and to others in a new way. Once practiced with facilitation, it can be easily integrated into one's life as a regular practice. Forest Therapy is offered for public groups, private groups and for individuals and couples. Mind-Body Stress Regulation includes Guided Sensory-Nature Imagery, Breathwork, Gratitude Practice, Mind-Body Techniques and Nature Immersion. It includes "Body Hacks" (practices) to help support the Vagus Nerve, one of the cranial nerves which connects the brainstem to the body, linking the neck, heart, lungs, and the abdomen to the brain. A balanced Vagus Nerve supports a healthy parasympathetic nervous system. I offer this work in individual sessions as well as sessions combined with Reiki. Reiki Energy Healing is a very calming form of energy work which deeply relaxes the sympathetic nervous system. It helps support stress levels, mood, pain, sleep and anxiety. When the sympathetic nervous system calms down, the physical, emotional and energy body is able to relax and come back into balance. Besides individual healing sessions, I offer classes for Usui Reiki, Levels 1,2 & 3 and a half-day class called, "Reiki for Self-Care." (Updated info here for 2019) I look forward to seeing you in the foresta and Parks in beautiful Boise, Idaho where I relocated to in February. I sold my home and said goodbye to my longtime home in Oregon, heading for new adventures. Call or contact me through my website to schedule Forest Therapy Walks, Stress Regulation Facilitation and Reiki sessions or Classes. Be Well, Sari
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Gratitude Practice and Qigong Shaking Last month, I shared practices for reducing stress, increasing and moving stagnant energy and balancing mood. In Part Two of this series, I offer two very simple and powerful practices for increasing mood, calming your nervous system and releasing stagnant energy and stuck emotions. In Part-One, I shared Dry Skin Brushing, Contrast Showers Vagus nerve Stimulation. In this post, I share Gratitude Practice and Qigong Shaking.  Count Your Blessings-Gratitude Gratitude Practice When I began this practice 5 years ago I had no idea what I was getting into. A teacher of mine suggested a simple practice of "Thanks" and asking for "Help". Each day, I began following my meditation practice with a verbal practice of "Thanks" and "Help"." Vocalizing opens the throat chakra and can allow one to dislodge stuck energy in that energy center which needs to move. In doing the practice, I begin very simply with my "thank you's". It is not as if I am searching for something new each day to be thankful for- the object of my gratitude makes itself very apparent. My daily gratitude is typically for many of the same things- over and over. The more I consciously express my gratitude, I seem to develop ever-increasing awareness for all the gifts in my life. Every time I offer gratitude it is like I have voiced it for the very first time, experiencing new realizations and emotion connected to the feeling. I could go on for hours during my practice as there is so much to be grateful for. Next, I ask for "Help". I verbally ask for help in great detail regarding my personal situation, for family, friends and painful situations on the planet. As I have developed my practice, the more it flows through with ease, connecting me to a deeply emotional place. In my experience, tears often flow and I have found it essential to fully allow for crying and sobbing; letting go of whatever needs to release. Keep a box of tissues nearby. Crying clears out old, stagnant emotions and energy, allowing for healing on the deepest of levels. After 5 years of this practice, I often still find myself deeply moved to tears and I have made friends with this aspect of my emotional self. I LOVE feeling my feelings. After crying, when I finish my practice, I feel peaceful, energized and ready to begin my day. Soon after beginning this practice, I noticed a dramatic lift in my daily mood and experienced a powerful sense of well-being. Evidence-based research on gratitude practice demonstrates its powerful mood-lifting effect. Throughout the day, the practice takes on a life of its own; showing up in every situation, conversation and interaction. When I experience difficult people or frustrating situations, I step into my place of "grateful heart-mind". Here I open my heart and stretch deeply and think, "I am so grateful you are here, on the planet; you have so much to teach me." When I do this, I can breathe; my Sympathetic Nervous System calms and imagined separation dissolves; my "grateful heart-mind" guides me to connection, understanding and acceptance of what is, as I let go of judgment- no matter how challenging the person or the situation. It is a sacred gift to move into this place of peace; remain present and do the work that so necessary to heal and repair what is broken, inside and out. Ways to Cultivate Gratitude as a Practice Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one thoughts about the gifts you’ve received each day. Verbal Gratitude Practice. Verbalize all the things you are thankful for, followed by asking for help for yourself or for others. ( From Anne Lamott- "Help, Thanks, Wow- Three Essential Prayers" Pray. People who are religious can use prayer to cultivate gratitude. Count your blessings. Pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings — reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. Perhaps pick a number — such as three to five things — that you identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you. Write a thank-you note. You can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Try writing at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, write one to yourself. Thank someone mentally. No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual. Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as “peace”), it is also possible to focus on what you’re grateful for (the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.).  The Silk Book of Qigong Practices Qigong Shaking
Qigong (pronounced chee gung) is a traditional Chinese energy medicine practice which combines breathing, movement, and meditation. The origins of Qigong in China go back over 4000 years. When in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, it is common to see people of all ages, especially many elderly, practicing early in the morning in the public parks. I began practicing Qigong more than four years ago, eventually learning forms from three different lineages. Many forms of Qigong include a warm-up practice of "Shaking." Shaking is a movement that almost everyone can do, anytime and anyplace. It costs no money and requires no special equipment. Shaking helps ease stress, anxiety and an overactive mind. It helps move your body's energy and prevents it from becoming stuck and stagnant in your physical as well as your energetic body. Qigong shaking also supports the movement of bodily fluids and detoxification. Shaking can address stagnant energy which can contribute to many health issues, including: sore muscles, inflamed joints, digestive issues, anxiety, fluid retention, stress, mood imbalance and immune issues. qigong shaking is a simple and very powerful method to get energy flowing, calm your nervous system and to energize. How to Shake To begin, pull up onto your toes and as is comfortable for you, begin moving heels of feet up and down. Next, move your arms out and begin shaking your hands back and forth and allow the movement to travel up your arms into your shoulders, relaxing and loosening the muscles as you shake. Let the movement move down into your chest, waist hips and knees. Shake out any tightness and feel as if your skin and muscles are gliding over your organs and bones. As you shake, feel free to let out any vocal sounds that are wanting to release. Sense the feeling of energy moving through your moving body and vocalizations. Feel the release of tension, stuck thoughts and feelings. Remember to stay loose and relaxed as you shake. I typically shake for about 10 minutes each day, but initially you may want to shake for 3-6 minutes and gradually increase. Some people may only desire is 3-6 minutes at a time. Others prefer a good long shake of about 12-15 minutes to energize, move the body and release stuck energy. Remember to breathe with ease and vocalize as you desire. The goal of qigong shaking is to move every part of your body to get energy moving. Once you get in the flow, shaking is quite invigorating and calming at the same time. If any area of your body feels painful or uncomfortable while shaking, slow down into a gentler shake. If you have mobility issues, shake the body parts that work for you. To finish your shaking practice, come to a gentle stop; plant you feet on the ground (or floor) about shoulder width apart; let your arms hang; feel your breathing settle and your energy calm. Take notice how you are feeling after the practice as compared to before. Once you begin this daily practice, you may discover you don't ever want to stop. Many Blessings for Happiness, Balanced Energy and Vitality- Sari  The Chakras Do you feel yourself dragging and fatigued even though you work-out, eat healthy and try stay in balance? Perhaps your energy body needs a jump-start. The Energy Body An NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) article, written in 2005, titled, "The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine", states, "According to Eastern medical systems, the body contains channels through which flows an invisible but nutritive energy called chi (or Qi), loosely translated to mean vital energy or life force. Furthermore, there is a purported energy surrounding the body, referred to as subtle energy. Subtle energy both informs and transcends the faculties of the five senses. It is taken into the body via openings, called chakras, and translated into a form of energy that the body can use, literally use, at the cellular level. Just as the pineal (gland) is the energy transducer for environmental information, the chakras are the energy transducers for subtle energy and are integrally connected to the body's endocrine system. Subtle energy is a healing energy that anyone can learn to perceive and utilize. It is a crucial, but often missing, component in health care." Furthermore, the article refers to subtle energy as, "The foundation of integral physiology" which supported by evidence-based research, "steps beyond the so-called body-mind connection to recognize the importance of experiences traditionally called intuitive or spiritual." Combining the important contributions of Western medicine with the knowledge of ancient energy systems, such as chakra and meridian systems, used for centuries in Classical Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine, the theory of integral physiology is a forerunner to the solid science beginning to emerge around the human energy system. Basically, science is now researching the "non-physical" aspects of healing, which seems to be the next frontier in medical research. As a Reiki Practitioner, I have first-hand experience working with the energy body which we each live with 24/7. Reiki can be done on yourself or given to you by a practitioner. Besides Reiki and several other forms of hands-on energy healing work, there are many simple practices available to us all to help awaken, balance and move stuck or stagnant energy. Could energetic practices for those who have been dealing with years of fatigue and health issues with no resolution, potentially be the missing link? Energetic Practices Spring is here and many use this time to clean out the old stagnant glup and schmutz on many levels. There are several simple, yet powerful practices I use in my daily practice of "Energy Hygiene". In this blog, I offer the beginnings of a long list of practices and will share more in upcoming blogs. 1. Dry Skin Brushing Your skin is your largest organ and works to protect your body from environmental exposure, including many toxins. Dry skin brushing done daily, before showering, energizes, awakens and stimulates the body, increases circulation, removes dead skin cells, softens and cleans the skin and stimulates the lymphatic system to remove cellular waste. As well as promoting lymph drainage, dry skin brushing also stimulates the production of collagen, helping to tighten skin and decrease formation of cellulite.  Skin Brush The Tools: Long-handled natural bristle brushes are available in the body care section of natural food stores, spas or online. There are special brushes and loofah sponges specifically for the tender skin on your face. Check out these brands- Earth Therapeutics loofah facial exfoliating pads and long-handled brushes and Yerba Prima Tampico brushes. Yerba Prima bristles are harder than the softer Earth Therapeutic bristles. The Technique: This can be done while standing in the tub before your shower. Using the brush, always begin at the feet, moving up the body toward the heart (be gentle around tender skin, such as breasts, nipples and face). Use circular motions as you move up the body. When brushing the arms, begin at the fingertips and brush up toward the shoulders. Facial skin is tender, so it can be gently brushed or loofah'd a few of times a week. After brushing, during your shower, make sure to only use natural, chemical-free soaps. Though our skin, our body's largest organ, serves to protect us, it can absorb toxic chemicals, so best to use gentle, organic soaps. 2. Contrast Showers (Alternating Hot & Cold Shower)  Contrast Shower Follow your skin brushing with an invigorating Contrast Shower. I was prescribed this practice 3 years ago by a physician who was treating me for adrenal fatigue. This routine is simple, invigorating and addicting. Even on cold winter days, early in the morning in my chilly bathroom, I am driven to do it. What exactly am I doing? I do my ritual shampooing, soaping up and rinsing in hot water and then I bring on the contrast. The Method: I turn the water as hot as I can safely take it and alternate, letting the hot water hit different parts of my body for 50 seconds. Next, I adjust the water to as cold as I can take it for another 50 seconds, allowing the water to hit several different parts of my body. Repeat this for a total of 3 sets, ending with cold. The key is not to torture yourself with water so cold that you will never do this again. Try to go a little colder with each successive set. I often begin the first set with cool cold vs. cold cold and I never go ice cold. For many, cool cold may do the trick. Each body knows it's own capacity. You may find as you adjust to the practice, you choose to go colder and colder. This practice is a beautiful time to get your throat chakra open and sing, scream and shout out during the colds sets. This practice wakes up your body from the inside out, in the most invigorating way. Health Benefits of Contrast Showers Include: Increased Energy Increased Immunity Improved Blood Circulation Moves Stagnant Energy Increased Metabolism Builds Willpower Activates Brown Fat, resulting in an increase in energy and calories burned to keep your body warm. Increased Mood Improved Endocrine and Lymphatic Function Promotes Deep Breathing Stimulates Vagus Nerve When drying off, use the towel to deeply massage your skin. If desired, follow with gentle, organic oils or lotions. Some of my favorites include, Andalou, Alaffia or Acure Brands. You can also blend your own body oils with some added essential oils. My go to homemade blends are argan oil with essential rose and lavender for my face and neck and coconut oil for my body. 3. Vagus Nerve Stimulation  Stimulating The Vagus Nerve plays an essential role in reducing inflammation in the body. Inflammation can lead to many chronic health conditions, including fatigue, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, loss of appetite, pain, sleep issues, low energy, and poor concentration. When the vagus nerve is not functioning properly health issues may result. The word vagus means “wanderer." The vagus nerve wanders throughout the body, connecting from the brain to neck, ears, tongue, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus. It connects to the stomach, intestines, lungs, heart, gallbladder, spleen, liver, pancreas, kidney, ureters and female reproductive organs.
Use your contrast shower to stimulate your vagus nerve, by letting the cold water splash on your face. Any exposure to sudden cold increases vagus nerve activation. Studies show that when your body adjusts to sudden cold, your sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response) calms down. This response is mediated by the vagus nerve. When this nerve is stimulated, it helps your whole system calm down and come into balance. More Ways to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve: Contrast Showers (cold water on face and body) Singing Chanting Mantra Practice Gargling Slow Deep Breathing- The 4-7-8 Breathing Practice The above practices make for a doable and powerful entrance into the world of nurturing your energy body, which in turn supports your Physical, Emotional, Nutritional, Environmental and Spiritual wellness. Stayed tuned (up) for more energy tune-up practices. Many Blessings, Sari  When was the last time you cried? Have you ever cried in public? When you feel the urge to cry, do you allow yourself the release or do you stuff your feelings? For almost five years I have been doing a daily verbal gratitude practice. During my practice as I express what I am thankful for, I also ask for help where it is needed for myself, my family, friends, the planet, situations around the world and more. I typically do this practice in the privacy of my home, sitting at my meditation alter. On many days, as I speak my thank-you's, emotion wells up from deep within and tears and sobbing flow forth with wild abandon. These are not tears of sadness, but tears of emotional release accompanied by a deep sense of relief and joy. As a highly sensitive empath, tears offer me a way to let go of the energies, feelings and thoughts I pick up each day when my own energy boundaries are down or in a weakened place. Moving the fluid of the tears out of my body is a powerful cleansing; a detoxifying of what is not mine to hold. I love this practice and so value the resulting sense of balance, wholeness, happiness and the residing presence of deep connection with something much greater than myself. Moving the fluid of the tears out of my body is a powerful cleansing; a detoxifying of what is not mine to hold. I love this practice and so value the resulting sense of balance, wholeness, happiness and the residing presence of deep connection with something much greater than myself. This morning, I was near Lithia Park and decided to take a walk between rain showers. As I walked below the upper duck pond, I came to a curvy, moss-covered oak tree and decided to do my qigong practice under the tree's tangled branches. Once highly energized by my practice, I walked back up the trail along the rushing creek, and noticed as my daily gratitude began to pour from my lips. I felt the pulse of the forest; its root systems; heard the birds and rushing waters; saw the deep, dark mossy green and brown hues of the plants and trees and smelled the damp mustiness of the wet earth mixed with decomposing bark mulch. Gratitude continued to flow, and I asked for help where needed. Tears ran down my face and I felt their urgency as they washed away what needed to flush out of my system. I stepped onto an isolated bridge where two branches of the creek crossed with great roaring power. I cried full-on and let my tears blend with the creek. After a few minutes, my tears stopped and more gratitude poured from my lips. I soon felt full and whole in my prayer and letting go and headed down the trail. When I cry, my eyes get puffy and my nose turns red like Rudolph's. I walked down the trail feeling quite uplifted and knew my face was still red and puffy. I usually make a point to say hello as I pass other's, especially when I am walking solo and not distracted by conversation with a friend. As I passed some walkers, I noticed they instantly looked down or away when they saw my red face. I'm guessing they either felt a need to give me respectful privacy or felt uncomfortable seeing a stranger who had obviously been crying. This happened with about 6 people I passed, but one elderly couple immediately made a point to smile, look me in the eyes and say hello. It was a lovely connection. According to an article in The Medical Daily from May 2015, crying releases toxins, kills bacteria, improves vision and mood, relieves stress and boosts communication. Our society does not encourage this form of expression. Often those who cry are considered weak, depressed or unstable. In reality, healthy tears can help keep us strong, happy and balanced. According to an article in The Medical Daily from May 2015, crying releases toxins, kills bacteria, improves vision and mood, relieves stress and boosts communication. Our society does not encourage this form of expression. Often those who cry are considered weak, depressed or unstable. In reality, healthy tears can help keep us strong, happy and balanced.
I invite you to make friends with your feelings; shedding your tears when called to do so, and holding loving space for others who have discovered this powerful modality for physical and mental health. Many Blessings, Sari  The essence of Whole Health Education is self-care. The true foundation of health is to know oneself and from that center, the desire for self-care is cultivated. Whole Health Coaching allows you to see and understand the aspects of your life which work together in either creating health and vitality or contributing to chronic illness and lack of energy. The Five Aspects of Health™, Physical, Emotional, Nutritional, Environmental and Spiritual, overlap. Awareness of how these aspects contribute to your wellness is the first step towards self-care. Some good questions to ask yourself to see your picture more clearly:
"The true foundation of health is to know oneself and from that center, the desire for self-care is cultivated." To know ourselves and see our own big picture, it is essential to develop practices to quiet our over-active minds. In my coaching practice, in addition to evidence-based health education, I facilitate you in centering, grounding, focusing and quieting your mind, to become present with yourself and deeply relax. Techniques include, Relaxation Breathing, Gratitude Practice, Guided Imagery, Mantra/Positive Affirmation, Meditation, Mind-Body Medicine techniques, Progressive Muscle Relaxation and energetic practices. All the above practices are simple, yet powerful. Following initial facilitation, they easily integrate into your daily life. Through practice, you discover which technique(s) are a natural fit for your lifestyle. Another option I offer and have found to be a powerful tool for self-care is Self-Reiki. Imagine being able to use your hands wherever you are, to calm, de-stress and put yourself in a blissful state of relaxation. I originally became a Reiki practitioner with the intention of using this healing modality on others. I learned immediately, when practicing daily Self-Reiki, that I was soothing my over-activated Fight or Flight Response; giving my body deeply calming, healing energy. Self-Reiki allows you to center in the healing warmth of your own hands. As well, many of the other relaxation practices I use, such as gratitude, meditation, mantra and guided imagery tend to flow directly into and work synergystically with Self-Reiki. A simple 20-30 minutes upon waking or before bed, offer the gift of deep connection with self. In this "Reiki" time, I have been gifted with seeing a bigger picture of my life and have come to powerful realizations; finding the creative solutions I've been searching for. As well as Reiki Healing Sessions and certification classes, I now offer half-day, "Reiki for Self-Healing" classes, with the focus on self-care, rather than treating clients. Additional benefits of Reiki include, immune, pain and sleep support; blood pressure regulation, easing medication side-effects, assisting in surgery recovery and healing; removing blocked energy and increased vitality. Call me and check out my website to learn more about my Coaching Sessions, Reiki Healing Sessions and Reiki Classes. Many Blessings for a beautiful, balanced and healthy 2017, Sari   Second Degree Reiki Students and their assistants I am doing it- after hearing from several of you who want Reiki Certification training, but don't have the time for my 2-day workshops, I am now offering First and Second Degree Reiki Classes as a one-day immersion for 1-2 students. As well, I am offering, "Reiki for Self-Healing". This half-day class is for those whose goal is to become attuned to Reiki for their own self-healing. Not everyone is looking to work on others as a practitioner. This class is a gentle introduction to Reiki healing energy. You will learn about Reiki energy; become attuned to Reiki and learn hand positions to practice daily self-healing. Self-Reiki is a powerful tool for blissful relaxation, stress-reduction and sleep support. Used as a daily practice, Reiki is balancing, meditative and supports well-being on many levels. This half-day class is offered for 1-2 students. Yesterday, I taught a Second Degree Class, with two awesome students/healers. We focused on the mental/emotional aspects of Reiki; worked on eachother, as well as learning Reiki Distance Healing. Second Degree Reiki training goes into more depth and specifics as to the chakras, the body organs, and their emotional counterparts. Further practice is offered with scanning, how to apply the symbols for personal healing, Distance Healing, and for manifesting, and even for creating your future. This knowledge enables the practitioner to address a vast array of conditions- physical, emotional, and mental for one’s self care, and for others. Call me to schedule First or Second Degree Certification Training or to schedule a Reiki for Self-Care Class. Many Blessings, Sari P.S. Gift Certificates are now available. Call for more information, to gift family or friends with Reiki Sessions, Reiki Classes or Whole Health Coaching and Stress Reduction Sessions.   The holidays are upon us and the cold weather has arrived. Many of us are over-stressed and weary. We have just come through the most intense election season some have ever experienced. Holiday gatherings are scheduled and December can be a wonderful time of friends, family and warm connecting. It also may come with excess in terms of energy output; over indulgence with food and drink and often, a decrease in immune function. High stress levels are shown to contribute to daily and long-term health issues. Now is the perfect time to nourish and treat yourself with kindness, which in turn reduces stress and calms the sympathetic nervous system. Reiki offers a bliss-filled way to melt your stress away and clear blocked energy which can result in illness. It supports deep relaxation, reduces anxiety, supports the immune system, restful sleep, increased vitality, pain relief; regulates blood pressure and helps to balance body, mind and spirit. For the month of December, I am offering single, One-Hour Reiki sessions, for $55 (normally $65). As well, "Reiki Bliss-3" and "Reiki Bliss-6" Series, session bundled packages are available on an ongoing basis. Gift certificates for the holidays are now available. Reiki, offers blissful, deep, healing relaxation and is a lovely offering to friends and family. Call me for details.  Happy Holidays and Many Blessings to All,
Sari  Warming Coconut Shiitake Red Chicken Curry The Autumn chill has arrived in The Valley of The Rogue with heavy rains tempered by some days of honey-warm sunshine. The trees are shining Autumn jewels of red, orange, yellow, green and brown. Early today, I practiced Morning Medical Qigong with my Ashland Mogadao community. A few of us were barefoot in wet, cold grass. It turns out that a community of worms was invited by our warm feet and squeezed up for some morning toe Qi-cuddling. The worms were exceptionally long and fat. I know by now you may be very concerned and wondering, "What do worms have to do with a curry recipe?" It is about the connection of energy, heat and digestion. The worms rushed to the heat of our feet and to our moving bodies, as we created heat and moved energy through our Qigong forms. When our 60 minute practice was complete, I was energized, grounded (like a worm) and deeply connected to our beautiful circle. I arrived home and gave my feet a lovely, hot soak and felt a burning desire to make a large pot of warming red curry. Now is the time to be eating deeply warming foods, especially for those of us living in cooler climates. Our body's need heat. Alex Tan , a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner and educator, states it very well in this description taken from his piece about cooked vs. raw food-"The Chinese believe the catalyst for digestive transformation is heat and warmth. We are indeed warm-blooded creatures and optimal digestion occurs at a slightly higher temperature than body temperature 36.7°C. For this reason, most of the people, most of the time should eat mostly cooked and warming foods. This is also partly due to ‘civilized life’ where we do far less physical activity and more mental processing than our body was designed for – the energy is in our head rather than our digestive organs – the fire rises upwards, rather than staying down below where it should be fueling the furnace under the pot, down in the kidneys. If excessive amounts of cold or raw foods are eaten, the body has to waste valuable energy raising the temperature of the food to allow the digestive processes to work. Prolonged or excessive use of chilled or raw food weakens the ‘digestive fire’. In the West, nutritional information (about protein, fat, minerals, vitamins etc) is obtained in a laboratory by analyzing foods, separating them into their basic ingredients in a test tube, before they enter the body. In the East, food is described as acting on the body in a certain way (warming, cooling, salty, sour etc), by observing the energetic action inside the human body and the behavior of the body after a food has been consumed. The Chinese way of seeing the process of digestion is seen not so much in terms of gross revenue (raw nutrients) but much more about net profit (Qi and Blood)." Feeling the chill of the morning, I was reminded of the solid nutritional advice from my acupuncturist, to eat warming foods as much as possible in cold weather. I needed to answer the call to make a big, steaming pot of warming curry and stoke my digestive fire. This curry is absolutely delightful and leaves one with a warm after-glow. Warming Coconut Shitake, Red Chicken Curry 2 cups fresh shiitake mushrooms, cleaned and sliced 1 large Yukon gold potato, sliced into small chunks 1 large carrot, sliced 1 # fresh green beans- cut into pieces 1 large red pepper- small pieces 2 heaping tablespoons fresh ginger, minced 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves (Use any fresh basil if you don't have Thai basil) 2 tablespoons Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste (more curry paste as desired) 2 Cans Coconut Milk (full fat) 2 Organic boneless chicken breasts- halved length-wise and thinly sliced 2 Tablespoons Coconut Sugar - or to taste Himalayan Sea Salt to taste 2 1/2 cups filtered water Cooked Rice or Rice Stick Noodles- optional In a large pot add shitake slices and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes while prepping the remaining veggies. Next, add potato chunks to the pot as soon as they are cut, in order to cook well. Add the coconut milk, ginger, basil and curry paste about 20 minutes from when water first came to a boil. Blend in the curry paste well with a fork or a small whisk. Continue simmering on low heat. When potatoes and shiitakes are nice and tender, add the carrots green beans, red pepper pieces and coconut sugar. When all veggies are tender and still colorful (do not overcook), add the sliced chicken and stir while simmering. The chicken will cook very fast. Once chicken is fully cooked, but still tender, salt to taste. Serve either as a soup or with hot rice or rice stick noodles. Serve steamy and hot in a bowls- slurp it up with a soup spoon in one hand and chop sticks in the other. Makes 6 servings  Hidden Springs Wellness Center Pond - a cool Autumn morning in Ashland  Author's feet, Boulder, ColoradoThe below testimonial is from a client I have been working with over a course of several treatments of Distant Reiki.
Although I understand the value of alternative therapies, and I have used them on occasion, I've always been skeptical. I am not certain how much is actual benefit and how much is placebo. When I decided to try Reiki, out of desperation I might add, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I pretty much expected nothing. No effect whatsoever. I didn't even have Reiki in person. I arranged for two sessions of distance Reiki. Eight months ago I suffered a severe Lisfranc injury to my right foot. At the time of the injury my medical doctor did not recommend any treatment, and despite the pain, I didn't understand just how severe these injuries are. Over the past eight months I've experienced increasing pain which limits my activities and causes me much distress- both physically and emotionally as I cannot participate in the sports and outdoor activities I most enjoy. I recently learned that because the injury was not treated appropriately last year, it is becoming progressively worse and I'm developing arthritis in my foot. I was given two options- surgery followed by three to six months of non-weight-bearing plus a full year's recovery, or a non-weight-bearing cast for two to three months with no guarantee of any improvement. In other words, I might wear the cast for three months, have it removed, step on the foot and be no better off than I was when the cast was applied. I don't want surgery. The surgery is difficult and complications are not unusual. Right now a cast is not a good option as I'll be out of the country for a couple weeks. Out of desperation I decided to try Reiki. As I said, I didn't know what to expect, especially with distance Reiki. I contacted Sari Telpner and we set up an appointment time. To be honest, during the thirty minute session I really wasn't paying much attention to my foot because I didn't expect to feel a thing. I assumed Reiki was hokum. It's that simple. So what did I feel? And this was very unexpected- extremely relaxed, hungry, aroused senses, high and sleepy. I definitely felt something. Most important, my foot felt better. The pain did not entirely go away, but it felt better. When I went hiking the next day I was not in agony. And it continued to improve the following day. I requested a second session. I have to be honest, again I barely paid attention to my foot. And yet I experienced a significant event during the Distant session. Suffice it to say, the day after the second treatment, my foot improved to the point where I forgot about it. I'd been living with severe pain (7-8 on a scale of 1-10) for months and I ran errands, went to the store, took a hike, and never thought about my foot because it didn't hurt! Is the pain gone altogether? No. I still have some pain, but overall the pain is diminishing- overall the trend is positive. Despite my healthy skepticism I am improving. I was so impressed with Sari, I scheduled two more treatments and I'm now beginning foot massage - the pain was so severe before the Reiki treatments, I was terrified to have anyone manipulate my foot. I couldn't even bear to have a sheet or blanket touch my foot at night. Now I can have a gentle foot massage and it is not painful. I'm still a skeptic. But I plan to continue Reiki with Sari Telpner. My experience has been quite remarkable. Heidi Barr, R.N. Headwaters, Sacramento River, Mount Shasta, Ca. Experiencing chronic pain on a daily basis, can trigger a powerful fear reaction. As the expectation of pain settles in as a presence in one's consciousness, fear can become a daily, silent, unwelcome companion.
"Bodymind" science of the brain and brain hormone activity, explain the close connection between thought, physical symptoms and immune dysfunction. According to evidence-based research, by Dr. Candace Pert, PhD., every thought sends out neuropeptides (brain proteins) to receptor cites throughout the body. Dr. Pert explains, “A feeling sparked in our mind-or body-will translate as a peptide being released somewhere. [Organs, tissues, skin, muscle and endocrine glands], they all have peptide receptors on them and can access and store emotional information. This means the emotional memory is stored in many places in the body, not primarily in the brain. You can access emotional memory anywhere in the peptide/receptor network, in any number of ways. I think unexpressed emotions are literally lodged in the body. The real true emotions that need to be expressed are in the body, trying to move up and be expressed and thereby integrated, made whole, and healed". Dr. Pert's research demonstrated the body's information system has two major elements, neuropeptides (made of amino acids which grow from DNA and are made from hormones) and receptors which they fit into. The neuropeptides are produced by nerve cells in the brain. They lock into their receptor cites throughout the body and cause either something to take place or prevent a reaction. In her book, "The Molecules of Emotion", Candace Pert states, "the body is having a conversation which appears to be remarkably flexible, varied and subtle. For example, all the immune cells carry all the receptors identified so far, which means, presumably, that they can be affected by a wide range of messages." Dr. Pert concludes that "The mind and body are bound together in a conversation of neuropeptides, and can be considered an integrated entity called, "bodymind". We, our body, our mind, are in essence one unit, one fully integrated, wise operating system." So, how does this relate to Reiki and pain? When one takes into consideration the bodymind connection, the missing puzzle pieces are discovered. Consider the pain of a chronic condition or pain resulting from an accident or injury. Every time we feel the pain, there is an associated fear with it which is paired with associated thoughts about the pain. Here are some sample thoughts: "This is so painful", "It keeps getting worse", "Will I be like this for the rest of my life?", "I can't go on like this", "No one has been able to help me". What if we took into consideration how every thought affects every other part of our body; our organs, immune system, joints, bones and muscles? According to the science of bodymind medicine, this is exactly what is happening- the mind is causing a bodily reaction. What if during the pain, one would recite, like a mantra, "I'm safe, I'm safe, I'm safe", over and over and over. It's an experiment worth trying. In my Reiki practice, I work with several clients who have been dealing with long-term chronic pain issues which have seriously affected every part of their lives- everyday. They arrive with stories from their many physicians and therapists, such as, "This is chronic", "You'll just have to live with it", or "We can't find anything wrong and the pain may be in your head". The pain may have begun in the body through some sort of inflammatory condition or injury or in the mind as a result of stressful thinking. There is never only one factor. As the pain continues, fear and frightening thoughts about the pain feed the bodymind neuropeptide receptor loop. As well, there may likely be physical, nutritional, emotional, environmental and spiritual issues that need attention-all of which can affect the bodymind connection. Reiki research demonstrates that Reiki energy puts the recipient into an incredibly deep state of relaxation. During a Reiki session, the recipient is able to sink deeply into a condition which allows the Reiki energy to move through the entire bodymind. The deep relaxation combines with the Reiki energy, moving through the entire body. The mind leaves overload mode and drops into a place of deep quiet. This deep mental quiet and letting go of stressful thoughts, combines with the deep physical experience of relaxation during a Reiki treatment. This allows The Reiki to pour through one, moving energy blocks along the way. What if some of these blocks are actually emotions stuck throughout the body which were originally created or exacerbated by our thoughts- all part of the neurotransmitter/ receptor system? In a Reiki session, many fall into a profoundly blissful state. Some recipients may be in a deep state and when my hands get to a certain point, they are aroused, noticing a sense of intensity or heightened emotion- either good feelings or very complex feelings. I talk them through these areas and teach relaxation breathing when needed. It is in these places where the recipient is feeling energy blockages moving, and working their way out. And most often, the blocked energy moves while the recipient is deeply lost in their blissful "Reiki Sleep". Many clients who have been struggling with chronic pain, low vitality and various health conditions, have returned after one or two sessions with incredible breakthroughs, much gratitude and glowing smiles on their faces. Helping others regain their functionality is a joy. I am so grateful for bodymind science, Usui Holy Fire Reiki, and the ability to share it with those in need. |