An introduction to the "chakra" system

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

Well hello, and welcome to my third article in a series of guest posts! My goal with these posts is to help familiarize and pre-educate you prior to a workshop I'll be offering in February at your very own Pumps Fitness! This workshop will give you a chance to experience and practice sensing energy and using energy techniques to boost your own health. More details will be coming soon; in the meantime stay tuned for a new blog post every Monday that will focus on energy and self-care. Check out my first two posts to get caught up:

Protect yourself from "energy vampires" with "energetic self-care"

What is energy and why does it matter?

If you are new to the world of "chakras" and "energy healing," I am so excited to share this information with you! Why? Because there is so much room for you to learn, grow, heal and thrive using these concepts and tools. When I first learned about energy healing, I realized that what I always suspected and felt was there, just under the surface, a whole layer to life that no one had taught me about -- that it is not only there but that I could actually begin to feel it and work with it to change my life! 

And now, back to the topic at hand: chakras. Chakras are spinning wheels of energy found throughout the body; in fact the word "chakra" is Sanskrit for "wheel" or "vortex." While humans have over one hundred chakras throughout the body, there are seven primary chakras and each one correlates with key physical and non-physical aspects of ourselves. When these chakras are healthy, open and balanced we in turn feel healthy, open and balanced. When we are feeling unwell, blocked or just plain "off," chances are that one or more of our seven primary chakras is out of balance. 

Each primary chakra is associated with specific aspects of your overall well-being and functioning in the world. In essence, chakras are impacted by your life experiences, and perhaps more importantly, by how you respond to those life experiences -- your thoughts, your emotions and your actions. Each chakra is also associated with one of the glands of the endocrine system; these glands are responsible for regulating the production and distribution of hormones into the bloodstream, playing a major role in major role in growth, development, and physical and mental health. 

So how do the chakras relate to your physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual health? Let me provide an example.

The first chakra, also known as the root chakra, is located at the base of the spine near your coccyx (or tailbone) and relates to your survival and security needs. On a physical level the root chakra is associated with the health of your skeletal system, colon, bladder, legs and feet. It is also associated with the adrenal glands of the endocrine system, which governs the "fight or flight" response. A person with a healthy root chakra will tend to feel safe in the world and will have a strong belief that they will have everything they need. A person with an unhealthy root chakra may feel a sense of lack rather than abundance, or they may be on the other extreme and function from a place of greed.

Such an imbalance may have resulted from an insecure childhood, for example having to move often, not feeling safe in their home, or not having enough money. Fear underlies both of the extreme reactions to an imbalanced root chakra, which is associated with the adrenal glands and their "fight or flight" response, which can lead to an imbalance in stress hormones. Taken to the physical level, a person with an imbalanced first chakra may tend to have spinal or skeletal issues or issues with the legs and feet.

In essence the chakras provide a sort of road map to your overall health, offering a link between your life experiences and your physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual health. Next week's post will provide specific information on each chakra and will help you begin to assess the health of each of your chakras, how this could relate to your overall well-being, and what you can do about it. Stay tuned!

About the Author: Molly Coeling, LMT, RMT, MPH is a Reiki* practitioner and teacher, as well as a clinical massage therapist. Her private practice is in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Check out her website here. 

*Reiki is an energetically based holistic healing practice that supports overall balance, reduces stress and supports the immune system. Reiki can help to relieve a variety of emotional, psychological and physical ailments including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia and pain.

What is energy and why does it matter?

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

I am beyond thrilled that my good friends here at Pumps Fitness embrace and embody a holistic approach to health. I support their goal of providing opportunities for you to learn about and experience yourself as an energetic being as part of a holistic approach to fitness and self-care. Currently Pumps offers Tai Chi, Yoga, a "Stretch & Meditate" class and private Reiki sessions. In February I'll be jumping on the bandwagon and offering a workshop that will give you a chance to experience and practice sensing energy and using energy techniques to boost your own health. Details about this exciting workshop will be coming soon, and in the meantime stay tuned for a new blog post every Monday that will focus on energy and self-care.

Last week I posted about how to protect yourself from "energy vampires" and described for you some self-care techniques to practice. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting every Monday with the goal of providing some basic education on this whole concept of "energy."

But first it's important to clarify what I mean when I talk about "energy." So today I'll try to break down this relatively broad concept in this relatively short blog post. 

Our energy extends beyond our physical body;
this is known as one's aura, biomagnetic energy field, or simply your personal space

The core and fundamental concept that is key to understanding energy is that everything is made of energy; in fact everything IS energy. The phone, tablet or computer that you are reading this on mis made of eneergy. The air you are breathing is also energy. The ground underneath you is energy. And most importantly, YOU are energy -- your physical body, your thoughts, your emotions, and everything that is a part of you is pure energy.

So let's get a bit more concrete. Energy vibrates over a wide range of frequencies. The higher the frequency, the faster the energy is vibrating; similarly, lower frequency means slower vibration. In order for objects such as a tree, bicycle, and your own body to be perceived as solid, they must vibrate at a very low frequency; in fact, the energy that makes up physical objects is moving so slowly that it appears to not be moving at all. Hence our perception that solid objects are static and not moving. 

It follows that energies that are vibrating at higher frequencies are not perceived as solid objects; however, this does not mean that those energies are not real and that they do not impact us and our world. For example, radio waves are very real, but we can't see or touch them; they are vibrating at a high enough frequency to be able to travel very quickly and, for all intensive purposes, invisibly.

An interesting example of energy we can't see but that we can still sense is the mechanism underlying "telepathic communication." This can be as simple as reading a good friend's mind or as trippy as feeling an unmistakable premonition that something tragic has happened to a loved one and finding out that they were having a heart attack at that exact moment. These occurrences are not inexplicable coincidences; they are the natural consequence of being energetically bonded to someone. We are tapped into these people energetically, and we are literally feeling the intense energy they are emitting.

So what is so exciting about all of this? Well basically, if we are all energetic beings we have a largely untapped avenue for healing, healthy living, and self-care. It turns out that we can all work with energy in very simple ways to produce powerful results. For some simple examples of how to begin to work with your own energy and protect yourself from "energy vampires," check out last week's blog post here.

About the Author: Molly Coeling, LMT, RMT, MPH is a Reiki* practitioner and teacher, as well as a clinical massage therapist. Her private practice is in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Check out her website here. 

*Reiki is an energetically based holistic healing practice that supports overall balance, reduces stress and supports the immune system. Reiki can help to relieve a variety of emotional, psychological and physical ailments including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia and pain.

Too much hustle and bustle this holiday season?

Protect yourself from "Energy Vampires" with "Energetic Self-Care"

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

Do you feel like your energy is being drained lately? Do you ever wonder what you can do to protect yourself from the "energy vampires" in your life, i.e. those people, events, and tasks that seem to suck the life force right out of you?

As energetic beings, we are susceptible to all of the energy around us; in other words, we are "energy permeable." Despite this susceptibility, it is often difficult to notice in the moment when your energy is being needlessly drained. So step #1 is to simply NOTICE.

Noticing is easier when you are present in the moment and are able to tap into what you are feeling in your body. Some signs that your energy is being drained include:

- muscles tightening up
- holding your breath
- gritting your teeth
- a knot in your stomach
- feeling angry or impatient

If you are able to catch the "energy vampire" in the moment, congratulations! This is half the battle. If you can't make a quick exit to physically separate yourself from the "energy vampire," have no fear; there are other options.

First, simply breathe and try to relax your body and your mental state. Then, as a preventive measure, try one of these two simple techniques.

1) Draw your energy in: Imagine your energy field, which extends several feet around you; some people like to think of this as your "personal space." Using your intention and/or imagination, draw your field in so that it hovers just over your skin. Keep your energy in close to yourself rather than putting it out there for anyone or anything to draw from. 

2) Become a mirror: Again, imagine your energy field. But instead of drawing it in close to your skin, imagine it staying right where it is and becoming reflective, like a mirror. Use this mirror to deflect and reflect unwanted energy. 

Does all of this sound hokey? A bit far fetched? Perhaps. BUT if you have read this far, it is likely you are feeling the very real effects of needless energy drain, so why not try to feel the effects of conscious energetic protection? I challenge you to at least give it a try.

About the Author: Molly Coeling, LMT, RMT, MPH is a Reiki* practitioner and teacher, as well as a clinical massage therapist. Her private practice is in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Check out her website here. 

*Reiki is an energetically based holistic healing practice that supports overall balance, reduces stress and supports the immune system. Reiki can help to relieve a variety of emotional, psychological and physical ailments including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia and pain.

Don't Believe These 5 Myths These myths sabotage results and keep people miles from their goal weight. The truth is that strength training is one of the best things you can do for your health, fitness and appearance. Don’t fall for one of these 5 myths and miss out on tremendous potential results. Strength Training Myth #1: Muscle Can Turn Into Fat  Why would anyone want to build muscle if they think it could morph into fat over time? Don’t worry; this myth is seriously false. Muscle tissue is muscle tissue. Fat tissue is fat tissue. One will never become the other. Strength Training Myth #2: Strength Training Makes Women Bulk Up  Sure, strength training increases the amount of muscle on your body, so many women take this to mean that their body will become body-builder-esque. Not quite the look you’re going for… The truth is that the female body simply doesn’t naturally contain large enough levels of testosterone to put on bulk muscle without a very focused and dedicated effort. Rest assured, ladies, the effort you spend on strength training will get you closer to that lean, toned look you want. Strength Training Myth #3: Strength Train Enough and You Can Eat Anything  To many people throw away their hard-earned fitness results by eating too much of the wrong stuff. Even if you strength train daily at an intense rate, your total calories still matter. To top it off, most people overestimate how many calories they burn as well as underestimate how many calories they eat. Talk about a fattening combo. For best results, maintain a calorie-controlled diet filled with fresh, wholesome ingredients in addition to a regular, challenging strength training routine. Strength Training Myth #4: Strength Training Does Not Burn Fat  This one couldn’t be more false. Muscle is actually your number one ally against fat gains. One pound of muscle burns 10-20 calories each day, just living and breathing. Regular strength training helps you increase your muscle mass as well as preserve existing muscle mass, turning you into a fat burning machine. Strength Training Myth #5: High Reps And Light Weights For Toning  This myth, made popular in the 90’s, says that very high repetitions of very light weights would result in a toned physique. Sorry, not true. These high repetitions will increase your muscular endurance but will not add strength or tone. In order to truly challenge your muscles, heavier weights with lower repetitions are a must. Start with an 8-10 repetition range and push your muscles with each set. Include strength training as a part of your fitness routine and finally achieve a fit and toned body. Our custom-made fitness programs remove all of the guesswork for you. We know what works, and we make it our mission to see you reach your goals. Call or email today and we’ll get you started on the program that’s best for you. For Best Results... Want to get the most from your workouts? Follow these 5 tips: Be Consistent: exercise at least 4 times each week. Be Challenged: change your routine often. Be Patient: don’t forget that true fitness results take time. Be Excited: find an exercise program that you love. Be Coached: call in a professional, like us, for real results. Call or email today! Call Today For Your Free Consultation! Email: pumpstrainingandpilates@gmail.com Phone: 219-548-3480 Website: Pumps Fitness

MONTHLY CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT ON……  Vera Bobek!

DECEMBER 2014

My name is Vera Bobek. I have been coming to Pumps Fitness for more than 3 years.  I have 3 children, 5 grandchildren and live on a farm 25 miles from Valparaiso.  My daughter, Julie, saw my posture deteriorate including:  rounded shoulders and a noticeable forward lean.  She surfed the Internet for a fitness studio within 30 miles and found Pumps Fitness.  Then Julie called and interviewed the owner/pilates trainer inquiring about the pilates program, certifications, experience and environment.  She was pleased and purchased me a pilates private training package.

Now, it was up to me to make the move and try pilates.  I was reluctant and kept putting it off for this would be a new experience for a 68 year old.  A fitness studio for me?- I’m a farm wife who knows plenty about manual labor and farming but not much about fitness. Yet, I knew my body was in need of more exercise and mobility.  I wanted to be able to pick up that piece of paper that fell on the floor like I used to when I was 20 years younger not just look at it and try to figure out how to pick it up or ignore it.

 So, I finally took the big scary leap and tried a private pilates session.  What an experience!  The session was fun, hard and rewarding.  I left feeling confident and alive.   I was not intimated or scared for the second session.  Don’t get me wrong, pilates is difficult.  I had so much to learn and understand about my body and muscles.   But I was determined.  I was starting to wake up muscles that I didn’t even know I had.  This experience and process just amazed me.   Immediately, I began to feel better about myself, my body movement was becoming more natural, my coordination was improving, my flexibility was taking shape and pounds started to drop off.  Today, I feel more fit and healthy.  I don’t take any medications.  I can pick up that fallen piece of paper.   My grandkids and I can play softball or soccer when they come to visit.  I am grateful and happy that I decided to follow my daughters lead and try pilates at Pumps Fitness.

Staying fit and healthy takes commitment, time and hard work.  I enjoy going to Pumps Fitness twice a week participating in either a private or partner pilates session.  Mary, my pilates trainer, has helped me achieve my fitness goals.  She works with my limitations while still pushing me to new fitness levels.  She is always patient and encouraging which I greatly appreciate. 

I strongly recommend Pump Fitness to all my friends and family.   This studio has great trainers who look after your needs and goals.  The classes and facility is great for all ages and fitness levels. 

Monthly Member Spotlight

SPOTLIGHT ON……  Liz Chael!

November 2014!!

My name is Elizabeth Chael.  I am the daughter of German immigrants and grew up in Chicago.  I came to Valparaiso to attend Valparaiso University and graduated with a BS in nursing.  While at VU, I met my amazing husband, Paul.  We have 4 awesome children (actually 8, if you include their spouses and significant others) and 3 beautiful grandchildren.  I have been privileged to work as a nurse, in multiple medical arenas, for 38 years.  My patients and co-workers are an extended part of my family.  Add my brother and his family as well as my husband's sister and her family, a multitude of friends and their families, and you can see that I am very blessed.

I have been coming to Pumps for over 4 years now.  Despite the fact that I studied the human body and health practices for so many years, I have learned so much and grown at Pumps.  I struggled my whole life with weight and health issues.  I have tried every diet and belonged to numerous gyms.  Pumps is so different. Not only does it offer Pilates (the class that brought me here), but it has helped me feel safe and focus on optimal health and well being for my body and mind.  My instructors are knowledgeable and supportive and I look forward to Pumps everyday.  I guess I better add Pumps to my long list of blessings.

SPOTLIGHT ON……  MARILYN STEVENS!

OCTOBER 2014!!

I grew up in East Chicago, Indiana with my five brothers.  I graduated from Roosevelt High School many years ago.  Back then girls weren’t encouraged to attend college.  They either got a job or got married.  I did both! 

My first job was for a small life insurance company making $1.00 per hour.  After a year, I applied at Inland Steel and worked in #3 cold mill shipping.  I also married my high school sweetheart that year.  After several years, we moved to Merrillville and bout a house.  It was then that I began my first Aerobics class taught once a week in a church hall. 

My marriage ended after 13 years and I lived with my best girl friend until I married again.  My husband had two children, Scott and Melissa, and I now have not only a son and daughter, but also three grandsons.  We moved to Valparaiso, and I started to attend group classes at Fitness Barn.  I continued there until they closed.  I then went to Valpo Fitness, which changed hands several times before totally closing.  Meanwhile, I retired from Inland Steel with 30 years and went to work for Midwest Steel as a contractor on a special shipping system.

I now looked for a new fitness club and found Pumps!  They have a variety of classes and times and all the instructors are great.  The facility is very pleasant and I enjoy coming here meeting both new and old friends.

I am totally retired now and have been a widow for 10 years, so I take 9 classes a week to help with strength, balance and also meditation.  I hope to have a long and healthy relationship with Pumps and everyone I meet here!

September Spotlight on Martha Sharp!

SPOTLIGHT ON.....MARTHA SHARP!!

For more than 12 years Pumps Fitness  has been a part of my life.  I have attended other facilities and programs but never found the right fit.  During this time of my life, my two boys had entered middle school and fifth grade.  I found myself with a little more time to re-focus some attention on myself and Pumps Fitness was a wonderful spot to land. 

I grew up on the edge of Valparaiso.  I lived in Center Township on one of the last remaining farms, a Dairy farm, in the township. I attended Purdue University and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education.  In 1985, the summer after graduation I began my Master’s Degree at Valpo University and was hired as a first grade teacher by Valpo schools.  I wound up teaching at Hayes Leonard Elementary where I attended Elementary school as a child.

David and I were married in June of 1985.  In 1987 we bought our first home in Morgan Township.  Together with my husband, we bought a small business, The Teacher Store, in 1989.  Our first son, Steven, was born in August of 1990.  Our business began to bloom and our second son Andrew was born in 1993.  That was plenty in a six year period, but life really gets even busier with kids, business and all the fun that comes with it!

Somewhere during PTO, Room Mom and athletic schedules I discovered Pumps Fitness. What began as exercise and a move to healthier lifestyle became fun and enjoyable, something I looked forward to each week.  Working out and exercise became a social gathering as well, due to the friendly and supportive atmosphere.  I’ve gained many friends and acquaintances.  We have shared joys and sorrows together.  These friendships and their support have been an added benefit to my membership.  In 2011, on Mother’s Day, I had unbearable pain in my right arm due to a bulging disc in my neck.  Again, the strength and stamina which Pumps Fitness had provided me made my recovery move along better than expected.  Again, support from my exercise friends and personal training allowed me to feel better quicker.

I am currently enjoying my experience at Pumps Fitness under the leadership of Ian and Michelle.  They have brought an added level of adrenaline to the business and still manage to keep the strong core values of their predecessor, Sandie Hendrix.   Workouts can be challenging and soothing.  There is enough variety of classes offered that I can always find one to fit my mood and energy level.  The programs are always rewarding.

My boys are now in their twenties and we are in the last year of paying college tuition.  David and I still must work hard in our business, but we are also enjoying our renewed time together.  Each week, as we make our plans, he knows that my visits to Pumps are always great for me! Thank you Pumps Fitness.

Monthly Spotlight

AUGUST SPOTLIGHT is on KIRSTEN KAISER

I currently live in Valparaiso and have lived here for 9 years now.  I work as an attorney for Allen Law Offices and practice in Personal Injury, Worker's Compensation, Social Security Disability and Criminal Defense.  I'm currently in my 6th year of practice.  I also donate pro bono legal services to the Porter County Animal Shelter to transfer ownership of abused animals to the Shelter so they can be adopted out to loving homes.  I got engaged in October 2013 to the love of my life, Brian, and we are getting married on October 25, 2014 in a big, fat Greek wedding!  We own 2 pit bulls, Jax and Wrigley, and a cat named Milo.  

I worked out previously, but wanted to kick it into high gear when I became engaged.  I've been working out at Pumps since November 2013, when I signed up for personal training sessions with Ian.  I do training sessions with Ian in the AM 3 days a week and then try to hit 2-3 Group Classes on days that I am not at personal training.  I love working out at Pumps because it is a personal, motivating setting.  I always feel welcome and like a part of the Pumps' family. All of the trainers, especially Ian, are there to push you and maximize your workout.  

I definitely have faced challenges, as I battle hypothyroidism and am trying to get my medication regulated, which makes weight loss extremely hard.  I hit plateaus for weeks on end, but always have Ian in my ear continuing to push me and keep me focused.  The hard work is paying off, slowly but surely, as I ordered my wedding dress 2 sizes too small back in January and fit into it in May when I went for my first fitting.  My new goal is to get down 2 more sizes before the wedding to have it altered down even more!

I highly recommend Pumps to anyone who wants to start or continue on their fitness journey.  From personal training to any group class you can imagine, you won't be disappointed.....and I can guarantee you will definitely leave sweaty, sore and with a new group of supportive friends!  =)

Summer Newsletter

Get to Know: Pat Twilla

I am a certified NASM Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist.  I am also a certified TRX trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, SCW Fitness certified in Pilates Mat, and Reformer trained through Balanced Body University.  I recently received my certification in MOTR (core roller) thru Balanced Body University and Sandie Hendrix, and am studying the Cadillac under Sandie as well. My fitness career spans 22 years and counting.

I have been active in sports and fitness all my life, and with good reason.  Growing up in a three bedroom home with five sisters and one brother, we found ourselves playing outdoors all day, every day, year-round.  I’d like to think it was because of our love for sports and nature, but it probably had something to do with close quarters and our mom’s sanity.  Imagine seven very active children ages 2 thru 14 years old.  It tires me just thinking about it!  As we’ve grown up and had children of our own, we all refer to our mother as “the Saint”!  Besides being patient, loving, and kind, she was health conscious and always exercised.  Our dad kept fit with manual labor, hunting, fishing, and gardening.  His love of nature spilled over into our lives.  We grew up helping him in the garden daily and canning the fresh produce with our mom.  We were organic before organic was popular!

I was very active in high school sports:  basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track, and even field hockey.  I was a cheerleader, which seems to be the common denominator with many fitness instructors.  We must lead, I suppose!  Oddly enough, I was an introvert.  I loved to read and was an A student, graduating 3^rd in my class.  My love for physical activities seemed to pull me out of my shell, and I believe made me a well-rounded individual.  I am a life long learner, reading everything I can get my hands on about health and fitness. 

I am also an avid gardener.  After my divorce I went to work as a 1^st grade teachers’ aide at my daughter’s school and I landscaped in the summers with my best friend from high school, who owned a landscape business.  I also taught Step Aerobics at the YMCA in the evenings.  That marked the beginning of my fitness career.  Several years later I decided to pursue fitness full time.  I guess I have always been fortunate to love my work.  I met John, the man of my dreams, working out at the Y.  We’re still gardening together, 20 years later.  Our two dogs, Max and Bella, and our way too many cats round out our household.

I mentioned I have a daughter, Abby, and she and her husband Chet have two beautiful daughters, Ashlyn, who’s five and Ella, three.  After leaving my position as Health and Fitness Director at the Y, I began my new career as a full time grandma, which has been the best job of my life, along with motherhood, of course!  I cared for both girls while their parents worked until they entered full time preschool last fall.  I still pick them up twice a week after my morning classes and trainings to spend the day together, mostly outdoors.  For me, one of the greatest joys on earth is to see life through the eyes of a child.  They are such a joy to be with! Children are a great reminder to stop and smell the roses, and isn’t that what life should be about, after all?

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Announcements

Help us Wish Sandie Well!

Come to Pumps on Friday, August 1st at 5:30 pm for a Well Wishing celebration for Sandie!

  

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Pumps Happenings

• Summer is in full swing and so is Pumps!  Our summer schedule is up and running and we have added new and exciting classes to the schedule.  Check out our MOTR circuit class and our Stretch and Meditate class.  

•        Over the next two months, the Group Fitness room will be painted along with the bathrooms!  

• Our T-shirts are in and available for purchase.  

• Introducing our Client of the Month Program!  Each month, a client will be chosen at random and highlighted!  Stay tuned for the first selection in August...

Save Some Green!

• We are rolling out a standing referral discount for Pumps Group Fitness participants.  If you participate in our Group Fitness classes, you can receive $10 off of your next month of Group by referring a friend to participate in our monthly package!  This is not a one time discount...keep referring and you keep saving.  

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What is Reiki?

by Erica Lebrandt

When I first heard about it maybe 20 years ago, it was from my sister—a nurse practitioner who saw reiki being used in the hospital where she worked.

She reported to my very skeptical younger self that she had seen miraculous things happen.

It would take a long journey of self healing before I had an inkling of what she meant.

Officially, “Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It’s administered by laying on hands and can be easily learned by anyone.”

In reality, reiki is so much more.

Here I sit once again, in this lovely old home on the North Shore, ready for my long anticipated level-two reiki training.

Outside, the sound of dogs occasionally barking and the joyous shrieks of children playing on the neighboring playground. It is an unapologetically bright summer day, the kind of day that makes going indoors seems criminal, unless you have something very important to do—and I most certainly do.

We, my two fellow students, my teacher and I, gaze at each other eagerly. We know good things are about to happen.

First, a meditation.

To allow reiki (also known as as healing energy) to flow through the body more energetically, we ground ourselves by imagining a cord extending from the base of our spine to the center of the earth. We breathe the power of the earth up through that cord and into our bodies, through the spine, the belly, the heart and the head. Hovering above us, we envision a radiant sun which beams down a pyramid of golden light, and encapsulates us entirely.
We are suspended between these two great forces, plugged in all all sides, and the sense of connection is absolute.

After who-knows-how-long, we reluctantly leave our meditation to discuss the practical pieces of level two.

These include sacred symbols which we are to master and use as a way to channel reiki more powerfully, and other techniques intended to give us greater access to the always flowing positive energy that wraps in vibrational rivers around everything that has existed, does exist or will exist.

We learn how to send reiki to the past, to the future and across physical distances.

We learn how to clear rooms and objects of negative energy and how to bless things in our day to day lives.

Reiki can be called upon almost indiscriminately we discover, put to use in any situation imaginable.

As we sit there, talking, learning and applying reiki in myriad ways to ourselves, to the room, to each other and to distant friends, I am suffused by a sense of belonging. Not belonging in the way of belonging to an exclusive club, (which reiki practitioners can ironically appear to be), but of belonging to the universe.

All the techniques we use to flow reiki are really just ways for us to break down walls and remember what we already know—all things are one.

Understanding this is to understand the same principle taught to yogis, the only difference is that in yoga, we call it “om.”
We are all part of a dynamic system of energy and if we allow ourselves to be swept up in it, seemingly magical things can happen.

Things like helping a barren woman become pregnant, or a veteran find relief from debilitating migraines, or an insomniac sleep consistently through the night. (All events that I know first hand to have transpired.)

Many people hem and haw at the idea of reiki—how is it possible to simply lay our hands on someone and help them heal? Or stranger still, to not even touch them, or perhaps never meet them and still be the agent of powerful healing?

Nonetheless, like love (which would be another apt word to describe this phenomenon), reiki is real.

Sometimes, when we realize our human minds are simply not equipped to comprehend the totality or vastness of an idea, we must simply sit back and accept that it is true.

There can be danger in faith, indeed, and people across the centuries have been manipulated to bad ends as they remain stuck in their own ignorance, but that can not be the case with reiki.

Reiki is not political, reiki is not a club, reiki does not conflict with anything or demand any particular set of behaviors or beliefs.

True reiki practitioners are concerned solely with helping to bring about the greatest good.

No, they don’t pretend to know what that is—there is no ego in real reiki. They set aside all personal expectations and simply act as an agent for positivity, hoping to bring light into the darkness and love where there is fear.

When I hugged my teacher after our last level two session ended, I thought how lucky I was to have peeked into the machinery upon which the illusions of our lives have been built. The machinery is beautiful and elegant and always working away efficiently.

We, as spirits, are much more than we generally perceive we are, part of a thrumming, ever expanding whole, whose destiny is yet unknown, but whose vibration continually rises and whose fabric is woven in love.

The gift reiki offers is the ability to connect those dots—if even for the space of a few breaths—and to be healed by the knowledge that we are love, and that we are loved.

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Nutrition, Fitness, and YOU!!

Find healthy ways to use fruit in your diet!

When Fruit Sabotages Results (From John Hall Studios)

Most of us consider fruit to be healthy – something that we can enjoy without restraint. And while fresh fruit does contain essential vitamins, minerals and fiber, the market place has been flooded with "fruit products" that are sabotaging your fat loss results.

Is any product with the word "fruit" in the name a valid way to meet your fruit quota? Nope. Here's what I mean:

Problem Fruit #1: Juice

Fresh fruit juice can be wonderful. It has great flavor, great color, and good amounts of important vitamins and minerals. At least it does when it is actually fruit juice. Unfortunately, many drinks labeled as fruit juice, contain a very low amount of actual fruit juice. For these hardly-fruit fruit juices, sugar and water make up the bulk of the contents, robbing you of the important benefits of all-natural fruit juice and leaving you primed and ready to fill your fat cells.

Always keep fruit juice indulgences to a minimum, as even the fruit-only kind is loaded with simple sugars.

Problem Fruit #2: The Fruit Smoothie
Now, now, don't get all up in arms. Smoothies have long been considered a healthy treat, but this often a misconception. It's not that all fruit smoothies are unhealthy. In fact, a smoothie can give you a big boost of vitamins and minerals that help you feel energetic and ready to face the day. However, it's very easy to add more sugar than is found in many desserts, losing all the healthy benefits and putting you at risk for fat storage.

To keep your smoothie lean and healthy, don't add ice cream or frozen yogurt, processed sweeteners, or other items that are high in sugar and filled with empty calories. Keep your smoothie nothing but fruit, ice, juice, yogurt, and a nice scoop of protein powder to ensure it is high on the health chart.

Problem Fruit #3: Fruit-Filled Desserts
Lots of desserts are based around fruit. Cheesecake, pie, and upside down cake just to name a few. Though most of these desserts are unhealthy, there are a few healthy fruit-based desserts to enjoy. Fruit parfait and fruit sorbet are usually lower in sugar and calories than most desserts. And if you just have to have your cake and eat it with berries too, a light angel food will do just fine. Just make sure the slice of cake is thin.

Problem Fruit #4: Fruit-Flavored Cereals
Hopefully eating bowl after bowl of fruity cereals that leave your milk pink and orange is only a problem for your kids. But if you're still hooked on cereals that claim to have some semblance of fruit, while being filled with added sugars and calories, it's time for a change. Yes, these cereals may taste good, but sugar-laden breakfast cereals are ruining your fitness results—even if they supposedly have real fruit flavors. Wean yourself from the fruity cereals by chopping some real fruit into a bowl of healthy, sugar-free, whole grain cereal.

Stick with the Real Deal. The best way to avoid unhealthy fruit flavored products is to only eat raw, whole fruits and avoid packaged fruit in any shape or form. This will keep you on track with your fitness and fat loss goal.

Don't forget that true fitness success comes from a combination of a consistent, challenging exercise routine coupled with a diet of wholesome, unprocessed foods.

I'm here to help you meet your fitness and weight loss goals.

Call or email today to get started on a fitness program that will have you seeing results before this year's end.

Whole, Raw Fruit: The Benefits

There's a reason that health care providers and fitness experts recommend a balanced diet with plenty of fruits. Quite a few reasons, actually. Here are a few things you'll consume when eating a piece of your favorite fruit:

• Fiber, which helps maintain gastrointestinal regularity and reduces the risk of heart disease.
• Folate, which helps reduce a pregnant woman's risk for giving birth to a child with defects in the brain or spinal cord.
• Potassium, which helps your body maintain a healthy blood pressure.
• Vitamin A, which helps your body fight off infections and maintain healthy eyes and skin.
• Vitamin C, which helps your teeth stay healthy and assists your body in the healing process when you experience a cut or wound.

Cinnamon Baked Apple Chips

Most packaged dried fruits contain added cane sugar, but here's a recipe for baked apple chips that uses only a touch of wholesome sweeteners and a sprinkle of cinnamon. No need for a dehydrator either, these tasty chips are made in the oven! Enjoy this as a delicious dessert or pack a bagful for an on-the-go snack. Servings: 5

Here's what you need:

• 6 apples (try Pink Lady or Honeycrisp)
• 6 cups fruit-only juice (try pear juice)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Ground cinnamon
• Sea salt
• Coconut Crystals

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Core and then thinly slice 6 apples (skins are fine!)
2. Boil the apples for 5 minutes in a pot with the fruit juice and cinnamon sticks.
3. Remove from the juice, pat dry and arrange the apple slices on a cooling rack placed on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon, sea salt and coconut crystals. Place in the preheated oven for 1 to 2 hours. Remove from heat once crispy.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 114 calories, 0g fat, 60mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 1g protein

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