Symptoms of Inner Peace

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to inner peace and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past       experience.

An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

A lost of interest in judging other people.

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

A loss of interest in conflict.

A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a serious symptom)

Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.

Frequent attacks of smiling.

An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to love them back.

Peace,

~ Carol

Mary's Crockpot Oatmeal

Sunday mornings are always special. Here is one of my Sunday morning recipes.

8 cups of pure water

2 cups of steel-cut oats

Combine ingredients and cook in a crockpot on low for approximately six hours.

Makes 8+ servings.

This is a super easy way to prepare healthy steel-cut oatmeal.  Great for a cold winter day’s brunch -- maybe before a cross-county ski outing.  I eat mine with a large amount of cinnamon (which has many health benefits including the regulation of blood sugar; it’s also a strong antioxidant and powerful anti-inflammatory), and a sprinkling of raw almonds bits.  These act to lower the glycymic load of the oatmeal.  I also add up to three teaspoons of chia seeds, even better for you than flax seeds! 

Tip:  After the cooked oatmeal cools, put individual servings into freezer bags.  You can have prepared oatmeal quickly by reheating a portion.

Enjoy!



The Amazing Human Body

Massage therapists are required to take anatomy and physiology courses as part of their training.  Knowledge of human anatomy is fundamental to effective bodywork, especially in therapeutic massage specialties.  The more I learn about the human body the more I appreciate how miraculous and amazing we are!  I feel reverence for every body I am honored to touch in providing the ancient art and science of manual therapy. 

I would like to share with you a few facts you may or may not already know about your amazing body.  The human body has 206 bones and 684 muscles (there are some anomalies). 

Muscle names are often daunting, and fun to say once you know how to pronounce them!  One of my favorites, sternocleidomastoid, is a very important anterior neck muscle.  Muscles are commonly named for their shape, size (i.e. maximus), the number of heads (i.e. tricep), the location, the action, the direction of the fibers, or the attachment site (i.e. sternocleidomastoid). 

Muscles can be painful or less mobile when they become tight, also known as hypertonic; or ischemic, when blood flow and oxygen are impeded and metabolic waste products are trapped; fibrotic; or, they develop trigger points.  These conditions can be addressed by therapeutic massage.

Holding us all together, literally, is fascia, connective tissue.  This can become adhered.  Myofascial release is a bodywork technique that addresses the adhesions that can restrict movement and range of motion. 

By far, one of the most amazing qualities of the human body is its innate ability to heal. Entire books have been written on this subject.  Of course, our bodies have a much better opportunity to heal if we provide adequate building blocks (a healthy diet), and don’t poison ourselves with chemicals, tobacco, food additives, etc. that interfere with the natural healing mechanisms. 

I sometimes refer to a massage as a tune-up.  Just like you take your car into a mechanic for regular maintenance, your body may need the same periodic attention to keep it operating in top condition.  You don’t have to wait for a mechanical breakdown!

Treat your amazing body with respect…Be Well!

Mary

Hatha Yoga



 I would like to help you understand a little about Hatha Yoga this morning.  The Sanskrit word "yoga" has been defined as the union of mind, body and spirit. The type of yoga that most Westerns are familiar with is the series of physical postures known as asanas. Asanas help to strengthen the body and to increase flexibility. This form of yoga is called Hatha yoga, but it is much more than a physical practice.  In Sanskrit the word ha means sun and the word tha means moon. And so Hatha implies the "union" of these opposites. Yoga helps to bring apparent opposites into a harmonious union, let's say a meeting in the middle. We all want to live happy, meaningful lives and yoga can help us do just that. It helps us balance the external world with our internal world - our true nature. The message of yoga is that the nature of that inner essence is happiness and bliss. The search for happiness is realized when you become connected to your inner self, in it's true perfection! Yoga creates such balance in your life that nothing in your external world can truly affect your true nature. It is such an amazing realization and something I want to share with everyone I know. If you have any questions about Hatha yoga, please feel free to e-mail me on the subject or come in for a class. Everyone is welcome, no matter what your physical capabilities are. Have a glorious day! Namaste. Stacey
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