We are so excited to be offering our first ever Reiki training at Pumps! Sign up now, as there is limited space available!!

To register on-line: https://squareup.com/market/mollycoeling

Energy Self-Care Workshop! Coming to Pumps March 14th!

Did you miss this workshop the first time around? Well, you're in luck!

To register on-line: https://squareup.com/market/mollycoeling

What is Reiki?

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

You may have heard the word "Reiki" before, but chances are that even if you've received a Reiki session before, you'd have trouble answering the question "What is Reiki?".


So then... what is Reiki? 
- Reiki is an holistic healing practice that supports overall balance, reduces stress and supports the immune system.
 - Treatment consistes of placing the practitioner's hands lightly on or near the recipient's body to facilitate energy transfer.
 - Reiki has measurable electrical & magnetic qualities that have been shown to fall within the frequency range known to stimulate human tissue repair.
 - Reiki is not a substitute for medical care, nor is it a religion.


What can Reiki help with?
 - Because it calms the autonomic nervous system (i.e. counteracts the "fight or flight" state), as well as boosts immune function, Reiki helps with a variety of common complaints, including but not limited to:

• pain
• stress
• depression
• anxiety
• insomnia
• PTSD
• fibromyalgia
• side effects of chemo

 - As of 2008, over 800 hospitals in the U.S. offered Reiki, most often for pre- and post-op care, as well as during chemotherapy infusions.

Reiki demos at a recent workshop in Chicago

What does Reiki feel like?

 - Commonly reported experiences include:

• meditative or dreamlike state, i.e. deep relaxation
• sensations such as heat, buzzing, tingling or lightness
• pain relief
• a state of "focused calm" (who doesn't want that?!?)

How can I learn more?  

 - Check out this Saturday's Energy Self-Care interactive workshop (there are still a couple of spots left!), where you will learn the basics of the human energy field and will walk away with some great new tools and techniques to implement in your daily life! Plus you will receive a special bonus -- a mini Reiki session!

 - Private Reiki sessions are now offered at Pumps (ask Ian!).

 - Stay tuned for future Reiki trainings; in an initial one-day training you will learn to tap into your own natural healing abilities and become a powerful channel for Reiki energy. 

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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.

Chronic stress and your health

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

Chronic stress can lead to weight gain, poor sleep and a feeling of burnout. In less than two weeks a new and exciting workshop will be coming to Pumps! In this workshop you'll learn all about how to take care of your own energy field and protect yourself from "energy vampires." You'll also learn about Reiki and will get the chance to receive a free Reiki session. You will walk away from this workshop with new knowledge and concrete tools that will help you to better manage everyday stressors that can cause you to get trapped in a cycle of chronic stress. 

So how exactly does stress relate to our physical health? Our brains are programmed to prioritize survival over and above everything else, providing us with an incredible capacity to protect ourselves. When our brains sense mortal danger, or even severe emotional or physical pain that could be too much for us to handle, they send a signal to our bodies to go into defense mode. Basically, they do what they need to do to keep us alive.

As I was driving home the other night, a car came speeding out of an alleyway as I was passing by. Had I not honked, cueing the rapidly approaching driver to brake suddenly, the driver’s side of my car would have likely been jackknifed. My body reacted to this life threatening experience in a very logical way, in exactly the same way that our bodies react to virtually all scary experiences. As a sudden shot of adrenaline ran through my bloodstream, my heart rate increased, my muscles tensed, the hairs on my neck and arms stood on end, my pupils undoubtedly dilated, and my breathing sped up. Within less than a second, I went into what is commonly known as “fight or flight” mode, a state of high alert during which physiological processes that are not necessary for immediate survival, such as digestion, are temporarily shut down.

My brain hit the “on” switch on my sympathetic nervous system, and I was in survival mode.

Within less than another second, I was back into “rest and digest” mode; as the adrenaline stopped pumping, my parasympathetic nervous system was back in the driver’s seat, slowing down my heart rate, allowing my muscles to relax, and slowing my breathing to its normal rhythm. Once my brain confirmed that I was safe, I felt a tingling sensation of relief from head to toe and was able to reflect on what had just happened. But in the second or so during which my safety was in jeopardy, I didn’t feel anything but a sense of intense vigilance, a sort of hyper-focus.

The autonomic nervous system is made up of the sympathetic (“fight of flight”) and parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) sub-systems. Both can be activated simultaneously, but one of them is generally in the driver’s seat. Unlike the consciously controlled central nervous system, the autonomic nervous system reacts to internal and external stimuli without our conscious input. This sort of “auto-pilot” setup works quite well for the most part, allowing our brains to focus on tasks besides the control of internal organs or instinctive responses to danger.

The trouble comes in when trauma is so intense, overwhelming, or sustained that our “fight or flight” response gets stuck in the “on” position, overriding our body’s need to “rest and digest.”

This can be caused by chronic job or relationship stress, loss of a loved one, being the victim of a violent crime, unresolved childhood trauma, or feeling constantly overwhelmed by the fast pace of life. In your brain’s attempt to protect you, your body may suffer from a variety of physical and psychological symptoms stemming from an overactive sympathetic nervous system and underactive parasympathetic counterpart. Imagine a milder yet constant version of the hyper vigilant state that I experienced as I honked my car’s horn and prepared for a collision.

Sustained over long periods of time, such a state can lead to anxiety, depression, learning issues, chronic exhaustion, insomnia, aches and pains, an inability to absorb nutrients from food, overweight, poor blood sugar regulation, and ultimately serious illnesses like diabetes.

If you suspect that your sympathetic nervous system is hogging the driver’s seat, what can you do?

Basically, you must look for a way to get the parasympathetic nervous system back in the driver’s seat, with the sympathetic nervous system kicking in only when appropriate in the present moment, like when you are actually in danger.

Removing unnecessary stressors from our lives and incorporating calming activities is one of the keys to achieving this type of balance between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system. Checking in with our bodies to see what’s happening with our heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension can tell us who is in the driver’s seat at any given moment. In turn, this awareness gives us clues as to which activities initiate a stress response and which initiate a calming response.

Some of us, and I venture to say the majority of us, continue to hold onto traumatic experiences that no longer threaten us, but because we couldn’t manage them at the time they occurred, we have never fully moved on. More and more research shows that we hold onto these experiences in our bodies, in our cell tissue, in the way we hold our muscles, in our posture, in the way we react to benign stimuli.

Our bodies quite literally hold onto the past.

While engaging in calming activities is certainly helpful for many people who carry trauma in their bodies, sometimes it is helpful, and even necessary, to do more. Talk therapy is one place to start and can be extremely healing on psychological and/or emotional levels. However, as psychotherapist Babette Rothschild points out in her seminal work, The Body Remembers, “Emotions, though interpreted and named by the mind, are integrally an experience of the body.”

Energy work can help release even decades-old trauma on deep physical and emotional levels. Indeed more and more psychologists are referring patients to Reiki practitioners and other energy workers as a complement to traditional talk therapy.

And the beautiful thing about energy work is that we all have the ability to practice energetic self-care and healing. 

Want to learn more? Check out this workshop coming to Pumps on Saturday, February 7th!

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.

Energy Self-Care Workshop! Coming to Pumps February 7th!

To register on-line: https://squareup.com/market/mollycoeling

How fit are your chakras?

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

We learned last week that chakras are spinning wheels of energy found throughout the body and that there are seven primary chakras, each of which 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. 

The chakras run from the base of the spine to the top of the head.
Check out descriptions of each of them below.

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. Although the energetic vibration of the chakras is too high for them to be easily perceived in the physical world, with proper training and practice, they can be sensed and assessed. 

However, you may be able to guess which of your chakras are over-active or under-active based on their descriptions provided below. In addition to the symptoms of imbalance listed for each chakra, illness or injury in any of the physical areas associated with that chakra also indicate an imbalance. There are a variety of ways in which chakras can be brought back into balance, including energy healing techniques such as Reiki*; other ways to rebalance specific chakras are listed below.

1st Chakra = Root Chakra

• Location: base of spine (coccyx/tailbone)
• Physical: adrenals, spine, skeleton, legs, feet
• Life lessons/influences: survival, security, community
• Symptoms of imbalance: lack of abundance, sense of scarcity (under-active); greed, aggression (over-active)
• Rebalancing: daily routines, physical exercise, facing basic fears, organized home

2nd Chakra = Sacral Chakra

• Location: lower abdomen, between navel and pubic bone
• Physical: hips, low back, bladder, liver, large intestine, reproductive organs
• Life lessons/influences: sensuality, creativity, sexuality, emotions
• Symptoms of imbalance: avoid experiencing emotions, stuck in your head, and even addictive behavior
• Rebalancing: play, sing, dance, laugh, cry, self-care, baths, physical exercise, creative expression

3rd Chakra = Solar Plexus

• Location: above navel, upper stomach area
• Physical: pancreas, stomach, upper intestines, gallbladder and liver, midback
• Life lessons/influences: willpower, self-esteem, humor
• Symptoms of imbalance: easily overpowered, lacking focus and direction (under-active); harsh and defensive (over-active)
• Rebalancing: learn something new, reflect on your positive qualities, laugh, stand up for yourself, sunbathe

4th Chakra = Heart Chakra

• Location: center of chest
• Physical: heart, lungs, diaphragm, chest, arms,hands, thymus gland
• Life lessons/influences: love, forgiveness, compassion, self-acceptance
• Symptoms of imbalance: intimacy issues (under-active); poor boundaries, overly empathic (over-active)
• Rebalancing: practice self-love, maintain healthy boundaries, get a massage, hug someone, do breathwork, spend time in nature

5th Chakra = Throat Chakra

• Location: throat
• Physical: mouth & throat, jaw, neck, shoulders, ears, esophagus, trachea, and thyroid gland
• Life lessons/influences: communication, relationships, trust
• Symptoms of imbalance: not speaking your truth, failing to truly listen or understand, unequal dynamic in relationships
• Rebalancing: listen to music, sing, practice speaking your truth, listen, engage in meaningful conversations

6th Chakra = Third Eye

• Location: center of forehead
• Physical: head, brain, nervous system, sensory organs, pituitary gland
• Life lessons/influences: intuition, clarity, insight
• Symptoms of imbalance: difficulty focusing, being ungrounded, sleep disorders
• Rebalancing: positive visualization, star gazing, staying balanced between groundedness and intuition

7th Chakra = Crown Chakra

• Location: top of head
• Physical: brain, spinal cord, nervous system, pineal gland
• Life lessons/influences: higher consciousness, spirituality
• Symptoms of imbalance: anxiety, lack of faith, headaches, mental illness
• Rebalancing: meditation, write down visions or intentions, pay attention to dreams, become open to all possibility

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.

Quarterly Newsletter (Winter)

Quarterly Newsletter

Get to Know: Ian Bowen

Head Trainer/Owner

NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Reiki Level 2 Practitioner

RESET Practitioner

TRX  Qualifed Group Instructor

At a young age, I was involved in many different sports and without knowing it, my passion for health and fitness was sparked back then and has been evolving and growing with me ever since. Six years ago I was diagnosed with a rare disease that attacked my spinal cord and compromised my nervous system. Having to undergo spinal cord surgery to determine the correct course of treatment I was left partially paralyzed. With my spinal cord damaged from disease and the surgery to diagnose it, I could not feel or move anything from my chest down to my toes. My surgeon told me that I would probably regain the ability to walk, but would need a cane or crutches to do so. When I asked if I'd be able to run again the answer was most likely not. Given a prognosis for recovery that at best left me with a shadow of my former physical capabilities, I decided that my future was going to be different. And I set my sights on full recovery.

During my rehabilitation I worked diligently to re-learn how to do everything from sitting up in bed, to balancing on two feet unassisted to walking. Along the way I dealt with weight gain from inactivity and side effects of medication, the inability to ambulate on my own, frustration with my situation and the set backs, stumbles and falls that come along with learning how to stand and walk again (something I could do before without giving any thought). 

I am happy to say that with a lot of hard work and determination I've been able to regain most of the abilities I had lost after my surgery. Defying my doctors’ prognosis not only have I re-learned how to walk unassisted, I have run three 1/2 marathons and plan on running my fourth this spring. As I mentioned before, beating the odds and accomplishing what I have thus far has taken hard work and determination. That being said, I believe a positive mental attitude, a willingness to never give up and a strong support system are keys to success. 

After knowing what it is like to have my health compromised, and the challenges one faces to get it back, I have a unique perspective into the roadblocks my clients deal with as they work to improve and sustain their health and fitness.  My passion comes from knowing that fitness affects my life and happiness and I'm paying that forward to you.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

– Gandhi

Call or E-mail Today to set up a consultation: 219-548-3480

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Announcements

Tai Chi is back!

Tai chi improves balance and, according to some studies, reduces falls. Proprioception — the ability to sense the position of one's body in space — declines with age. Tai chi helps train this sense, which is a function of sensory neurons in the inner ear and stretch receptors in the muscles and ligaments. Tai chi also improves muscle strength and flexibility, which makes it easier to recover from a stumble.

Starting January 8th, T'ai Chi is returning to Pumps. Click here to see when. The second section or what some consider the intermediate level of Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan will be taught. If you are new to T'ai Chi, don't worry, you can still reap the benefits of this ancient practice even if you haven't done the first section.

Healthy Conscience Continues......

Start the New Year with a Healthy Conscience! This 5-week program incorporates not only exercise, but also necessary nutritional information to help you achieve a balanced diet.  Each week, participants engage in 1-hour of group exercise followed by a 1/2 hour discussion about nutrition, where they learn what the body needs to maintain good health, manage weight and function efficiently. Combined with our Biggest Winner challenge where participants pay into a collective pot depending how much weight they have lost, gained or maintained each week. At the end of each program  session, participants are seeing results and getting paid. You know a program is working when we are seeing an average loss of 1-4% body weight in just 5 weeks. E-mail us and save your spot now! 

Class Info:

Mondays: 6:30 pm - 8 pm

Next Start Date: January 5th

Cost: $60

Contact us for more information and to register: 

Email - pumpstrainingandpilates@gmail.com

Phone - 219-548-3480

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What's Coming?

We are pleased to be adding these classes and programs to better serve you.

Pilates Reformer Class

We have extended our Pilates services to now include Pilates Reformer Class! Get instruction from our certified Pilates trainers on our reformers and begin to see gains in core strength, flexibility, lean muscle, concentration and breathing.

Health and Fitness Coach Program

Are you tired of not seeing any results from your exercise plan? It’s hard to know where you’re going if you don’t know how to get there.  It may be because you haven’t set any goals, but it’s hard to set fitness goals if you don’t know where to start.  Let our Health & Fitness Coach be your guide. Your personal Health & Fitness Coach will give you a complete Fitness Assessment.  Based upon your Fitness Assessment results & personal goals, a customized fitness class plan will be developed.  Your Health & Fitness Coach will meet with you periodically to reevaluate your progress, help keep you on track to your goals and offer health/fitness related tips.  

Reiki Workshop

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. We are excited to offer our first Reiki workshop, where participants will have a chance to experience and practice sensing energy and using energy techniques to boost their own health. Learn how we are all energetic beings who have a largely untapped avenue for healing, healthy living, and self-care. We can all work with energy in very simple ways to produce powerful results for ourselves and others. Check out a previous blog post here to learn more about what is energy and why does it matter.

Healthy Eating Documentary Series

We will be viewing documentary films covering nutrition, our food industry and how food effects our bodies. We are opening our doors to the community start conversations and help inform you about what you are eating, and how it can effect your health. 

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Look for more information on these upcoming events on our Blog, Website, Facebook and Email!!

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Save Some Green!

Click here to see how you can save BIG money with our January promotions!!

Nutrition, Fitness, and YOU!!

This Fat Loss Tip Works

You are completely fed up...and we don't blame you.

For ages you've been eating healthy and exercising, and yet still haven't met your fat loss goal.

What's the deal?

This is a quandary that all dedicated fat-loss-seekers find themselves facing, sooner or later.

Why won't the weight come off? You are doing everything you can think of to make it happen.

It's time to come face-to-face with an ugly truth about yourself...and until you do you'll always be stuck in this place where healthy eating and exercise do not get you that amazing body you want.

There's one simple thing standing between you and a slimmed down, amazingly fit body. One. Simple. Thing.

And here it is...You eat too many calories.

That's it.

Solve this problem and your dream body will quickly and easily become reality.

Did you know that even healthy calories add up to extra pounds when we let them go unchecked.

Back to Basics: Why Calorie Counting Works
You may have heard about the professor from Kansas State University, Mark Haub, who performed a famous junk food diet. Professor Haub proved a powerful lesson for anyone who still has weight to lose, so let's listen up.

In a demonstrative experiment for his nutrition class, Professor Haub ate a diet of pure junk food for 2 months. I'm talking candy bars and packaged snacks – the kinds of things you find in a snack machine.

You'd expect him to gain weight, right? Well, there was one catch. He was only allowed to eat 1800 calories each day. Yes, those calories were pure junk, but the limit was firmly put at 1800 calories.

Before the experiment, Professor Haub's typical calorie intake was closer to 2600 calories. So his junk food diet put him at an 800 calorie per day deficit.

Boy did that calorie deficit pay off. Within 2 months he had dropped 30 pounds, bringing his BMI from overweight down to normal.

No, we are NOT recommending a junk food diet as your answer for fat loss. What we are pointing out is how powerful a reduction in calories is when it comes to lowering your body weight.

Do you know how many calories you eat each day?

If you're not sure, don't worry. You're about to learn the one fat loss tool that will change everything for you. First we need to get to the bottom of how many calories you're eating each day.

Yes, even those healthy calories.

Before you start whining, let me explain. Food journaling doesn't involved lugging around a journal, writing down each food item throughout the day then looking everything up at the end of the day to manually tally calories like it used to.

These days food journaling has gone digital, and tracking your calories only takes seconds of your time.

Here's what we need you to do:

#1: Download a food journal application to your smart phone. At the touch of your fingers you'll be able to look up food items and instantly see your running calorie tally.

#2: Meet with your doctor to find a daily calorie count that will allow for safe weight loss and then diligently maintain that number. Eat healthy, fresh foods and when you decide to indulge, make sure to do so within your target calorie range.

#3: Meet with one of our trainers for a consistent and challenging exercise routine. Our exercise programs are specifically crafted to get you into amazing shape as quickly as possible.

These three, simple steps will give you structure and clarity that you need when it comes to making food choices and will quickly result in pounds lost and goals achieved.

Once your goal weight is met, your target calorie range will be adjusted for maintenance.

We'd love to hear from you. Call or email today to get started.

The Healthy Calorie Trap

We see it happen all the time, but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking...

Well-meaning folks, like yourself, losing the battle of the bulge to a bunch of excess healthy calories.

When it comes to gaining and maintaining fat, ANY extra calorie does damage. No matter if it's whole grain or processed, sugar-free or sugar-full.

Pay attention to your total calorie intake. It really does matter.

We would love to help you figure out your ideal calorie range. Call or email us today and we will get started.

Hearty Chicken Casserole

Casseroles like this are a lifesaver on busy weeknights, and unlike most casserole recipes, this one is dairy, grain and gluten free. The tender, hearty veggies and chicken are mixed with tomatoes and basil then topped with a sprinkle of toasted ground nuts and nutritional yeast. You get to enjoy delicious flavor while filling up on protein, veggies and fiber that powers your body and energizes your day. Servings: 8 

Here's what you need...

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 3 Tablespoons pine nuts
• 3 Tablespoons pecans, chopped
• 3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
• dash of sea salt
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 bell peppers, chopped
• 2 eggplants, chopped
• 2 cups roasted chicken, cubed
• 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 3 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a casserole dish with coconut oil.
2. In a small skillet, place the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and pecans. Saute until golden brown. Remove from heat and pulse in a food processor with the nutritional yeast and dash of salt. Set the nut mixture aside.
3. In a large skillet, place the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook for 5 minutes. Add the pepper and eggplant and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
4. Mix in the chicken, tomatoes, basil and wine. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Spread the chicken and veggie mixture into the prepared casserole pan. Evenly sprinkle the nut mixture over the top of the casserole. Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 223 calories, 7g fat, 320mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate, 9g fiber, and 19g protein. 

Special Thanks

We would like to extend a special thanks to all of you who contributed to the food collection for the Immanuel Food Pantry. We were able to add healthy items to the pantry shelves and help feed members of our community.

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.