Relaxation Meditation

10 Easy Ideas for Relaxation

When was the last time you really relaxed?  Is your mind constantly busy?  Do you ever just take time to relax and do nothing?  I don't mean do mindless activity like watch TV or sit on Facebook!  Those are not mind quieting and often, believe it or not, add to stress.  Not always and that depends on you but sometimes. Here are some ideas for relieving stress and opening yourself up to more creativity.

1. Meditate - just do it.  Guided relaxation, quieting your mind, mindfulness, following your breath, mantra.  If you don't know a lot about mediation, I'll do another blog on that.  In the meantime - you can just go to YouTube.  You'll find lots.  You don't have to even do this for a long time.  You can do a couple of minutes several times a day.  It really works!!

2. Exercise - get moving but not too hard.  If you are doing anaerobic exercise (where you can't carry on a conversation), you are actually adding to your stress level because it releases cortisol, the stress hormone.

3. Yoga.  Yes, this is exercise but I give it a category of it's own when it comes to stress relief because it is so effective.

4. Laugh - laughing is amazing for your body.  It helps reduce stress and heal on all levels.

5. Connect more.  This is really best done in person and really connecting.  Connecting on the computer really keeps us isolated since we are often alone there. Allow yourself to be with people and really be vulnerable and be a true friend.  Release judgement and connect. Every one of us is alike in many ways.  We all need love and we all have feelings and emotions.

6. Hug more.  We all need physical contact to thrive.  Hugging has so many benefits and it doesn't cost a thing! Shoot for 12 hugs minimum each day.

7. Forgive.  Forgive others and yourself.  You have to let go of anything that may have hurt you so that you can move on and that means forgiving others and yourself.  Forgiving is not condoning and is instrumental to your health.  If it seems like a stretch, start with the affirmation, "I am willing to begin to forgive."

8. Music - listen to music that makes you feel good.

9. Smile.  Smiling alone (even if you don't feel like it) releases chemicals in the brain that combat the stress hormones.  Often when a smile is returned, it makes us feel even better and further reduces our stress levels.

10. Take a relaxing bath.  Not a shower but a bath.  Allow the warm water to relax all your muscles.  Maybe turn off the lights and light some candles.  This goes perfectly with listening to relaxing music or a guided meditation.  Add some lavender and Epsom salt to make it a detox bath.  Enjoy.


If you do something special for yourself everyday, you'll notice the difference.  Let me know how it goes!!

Have You Had Your Blueberries Today?

Most people think eating healthy is complicated and takes too much time.  It is true that processed junk food is often more readily available and doesn't require any preparation  But it really isn't that difficult to add healthy food into your daily routine and start eliminating some of the foods that are not good for you and that eventually lead to illness.

Let's start with blueberries.



Did you know that blueberries...

• are low in fat (1 cup of blueberries has about 80 calories and basically no fat) (I don't actually recommend a low fat diet. We need healthy fats in our diet for optimal health but I'll discuss that another day.)  
• banish belly fat
• prevent cancer by attacking free radicals, causing cancer cell death, and blocking the growth of tumor cells
• strengthen your immune system
• soften skin with their antioxidants
• are high in fiber which is crucial for healthy digestion
• lower the risk of age related macular degeneration which is the leading cause of vision loss in older people
• decrease the chances of heart attack in women
• reverse age-related memory loss due to their flavonoids
• prevent and heal urinary tract infections (UTIs) because they contain compounds that prevent bacteria from sticking to bladder walls
• lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes

You can easily add blueberries to your diet by having them plain or adding the to cereal or smoothies.  I would highly recommend organic.  I have read that if you are not eating organic, the wild blueberries may be a better choice.  I also firmly belief that if it comes down to eating non-organic blueberries (or any fruit or vegetable) or not eating them, the benefits of eating them are worth eating them versus not.  

There are probably even additional benefits but you can see that this is a super healthy food which is very easy to add to your diet. 

Benefits of Broccoli

I have talked to many people who haven't even tried broccoli because they assume they won't like it because of the way it looks or they had it once and didn't like it.  One thing I stress over and over again with my clients (and my kids) is that if you try a food and don't like it, try it prepared differently.  Many times even
trying it prepared the same way multiple times will change if you like it or not.

I love broccoli in general but I my favorite ways to have it are raw with hummus, steamed with a little olive oil and lemon juice, steamed on a salad, and roasted with lots of healthy seasonings.  I want to point out that my son, whose arm I have to twist to eat or try vegetables, actually loves when I roast broccoli.

So here are just a few reasons to eat more broccoli:

• Helps prevent cancer.  (A nutrient in broccoli called, sulforaphane, actually targets and kills cancer cells!)
• Fights Heart Disease
• Fights Diabetes
• Improves your immune system.
• Decreases overeating.  (Broccoli fills you up more quickly.  It's hard to eat too many calories of just broccoli.)
• Good source of protein. 
• Contains the following vitamins and nutrients:
•  Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin B6
• Folate
• Beta-carotene
• Selenium
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Zinc

So eat some broccoli today!  If you don't like it, try it again another day and prepare it differently!  Enjoy!