A Simple Way to Write and Achieve Goals for the New Year

A new year is upon us and many people have set good intentions on improving their health and well-being. However, all too often, after only a few short days or weeks of excitement, these good intentions are forgotten and better health just gets added to a long to-do list that never gets done. So what is the key to achieving better health and well-being in this new year? Simply put: Having goals. Although this may not sound like new advice, it may be prudent to actually follow this advice to be more successful in health matters.

MRK Naturals – All Natural Skin Care Products

Did you see the new beauty products being sold at Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga?  MRK Naturals is a new line of affordable, homemade, all natural skin care products for health and beauty.  These 100% natural, home-made beauty products with anti-aging properties won’t clog pores.  After first use you will notice your skin looking and feeling younger.  Mandy Renee Keilwitz, founded the product line from her motto: never put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your mouth.  Following in her sisters’ footsteps and for the sake of her children’s bodies, Mandy began making skin care products at home, using every day, natural, healthy ingredients, such as coconut, grape seed and vitamin E oils, naturally preserved with salt and sugar.

“When I made the decision to pursue a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family, I quickly realized it was not very cost effective for a ten-person household to go all natural, so I began investigating new ways of being healthy that would work within our budget, such as growing vegetables in my green house, planting berry bushes, fruit trees, goji berries, vegetable and flower gardens, and most recently creating my own skin care products,” explains Mandy.

MRK Naturals’ salt scrubs, sugar scrubs and lip balms are made in a variety of scents and flavors from eucalyptus to chocolate.  These products are made to order and shipped straight from the Keilwitz farm in the Lower Columbia River Valley of Washington State, to reach you in time for Holiday giving.  You can visit the website to learn more about these products and their maker Mandy at mrknaturlas.weebly.com.

Walnut Pecan Stuffing

This is probably one of my absolute favorite raw-food recipes because it has such a traditional, Thanksgiving flavor using only fresh, healthy ingredients! This is an exceptional dish for those who are trying to avoid bread and/or gluten.

If you only have one really healthy dish on your table this Thanksgiving, I highly recommend this one. Your guests will never even know that it’s good for them, and you’ll love the rave reviews you will undoubtedly receive at the end of the meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Walnuts, soaked 6 hours & rinsed
• 1 Cup Almonds, soaked 6 hours & rinsed
• 1 Cup Pecans, soaked 6 hours and rinsed
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh Sage
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh Oregano
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh Rosemary
• l/4 Cup Fresh Parsley
• 1 Large Red Onion, coarsely chopped
• 6 Stalks Celery, coarsely chopped
• 1 Apple, chopped fine by hand
• 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice + 1/2 Cup water to soak chopped apple in until ready to mix
• Sea Salt, to taste

Sunday Morning Yoga and Guided Meditations in Mount Laurel, NJ

The perfect way to start off your week! Dragonfly Yoga Healing Arts and Retreat Center and Pilates Core Center are now offering an all-level yoga class Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 9:45am, followed by a one-hour guided meditation at 10:00am in their Mount Laurel location. These classes are perfect for students of all levels of experience.

The all-level Yoga class will include modifications and variations to be offered for most poses so that everyone leaves their Yoga class refreshed, centered, and ready to start the week. The following guided meditation is for those who wish to grow in knowledge and peace of mind, achieving a deeper connection to the energies around them, while helping to deepen their Yoga experience.

Every student from beginner to experienced will be able to enjoy these classes and grow their practice

Healthy Pumpkin Pie

‘Tis the season for yummy pumpkin pie, and this raw version is not only sugar and chemical free, but is actually good for you!

Raw fruits and vegetables actually have all the enzymes that your body needs to digest them, so you don’t have to use up your own energy reserves in making enzymes, leaving you more time and energy to do the things you love.

Trust me when I say, this is just as good, if not better, than the cooked version that we’re used to. Enjoy!

~C.J. Cantrell

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 2 Cups Walnuts (soaked 4-6 hours)
• 1 Cup Dates (un-soaked & pitted)
• 1/2 Cup shredded Raw Coconut (optional)

Filling:

• 2-3 Cups cubed or shredded Pumpkin or Butternut Squash
• 1 to 1 1/2 Cups Dates, soaked at least one hour (longer if necessary)
• 2 Cups Cashews, soaked 4-6 hours (can substitute part of these with soaked and sprouted sunflower seeds)
• 2 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Ginger
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Cloves
• 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
• 1/4 Cup Water (may need more if using more than 2 cups squash)

The Role of Hypnosis in Reducing Anxiety Before and After Surgery

A lot of research has been performed using hypnosis either as a stress reducer or as a pain reliever. There are countless studies about the benefits hypnosis has had in these areas. Studies have been performed on cancer patients, people with phantom limb pain, child birth, and dental procedures. Hypnosis has been shown to help reduce anxiety and pain associated with medical procedures. Hypnotherapy has also helped in preparing for a medical procedure and it has also helped the recovery process.

In 1997, a study was performed in Belgium to see whether stress reducing techniques or hypnosis would have a greater effect on relieving stress and pain before, during, and after a medical procedure. The study consisted of sixty patients undergoing plastic surgery using local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. The sixty participants were divided into the stress reducing techniques group and the hypnosis group.

During the medical procedure, both the stress reducing techniques and the hypnosis was performed by the anesthesiologist. Also in the room during the procedures was a psychologist. The psychologist observed patient behavior. Each patient was asked to rate their levels of anxiety, pain, and control before, during, and after their surgery. After the surgery they were also asked to rate their level of nausea.

The Usefulness of Hypnosis in Pediatric Patients

Hypnosis has been shown as being an increasingly beneficial treatment for helping children with medical illnesses. Studies have shown that children in particular are very suggestible and have a good chance of benefiting from hypnosis.

A study was performed in a pediatric pulmonary center from 1998-2000. During this 30 month time period, 303 patients received hypnotherapy for a variety of symptoms and illnesses. All patients were having pulmonary problems including persistent cough, asthma, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Patients received hypnotherapy to help their pulmonary symptoms due to psychological issues, side effects of medication, and fear of treatment. Some patients received hypnosis even after medical treatment was administered, due to continuation of the symptoms…

Hypnosis Compared to Stress Reducing Strategy in Burn Patients

Any kind of burn, whether it is a first, second, or third degree burn, is painful. In addition to the pain felt from the burn, burn victims have to keep their wounds covered to help the healing process and prevent infection. Patients with severe burns have to go through frequent dressing changes to keep the burned area clean. This process is often very painful.

As you can imagine, being burned can cause a lot of anxiety and stress on the body, both physically and mentally. Anxiety comes from pain, fear of disfigurement, surgery, and the long healing process.

An article was published in the Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries about a study performed in 2001. The study compared the role hypnosis played on badly burned victims to the role stress reducing strategies played in relieving pain related to dressing changes and anxiety.

Guided Meditation Workshop – December 5, 2008

Learning the Art of Meditation

Group Guided Meditation Workshop

Friday, December 5, 2008
6:30pm – 8:00pm

Hosted by Dragonfly Yoga & Pilates Core Center
Location: 176 Route 70, Medford, NJ 08055
Cost: $20/person

Just as when we were children, learning to ride a bike, or read and write, what seemed to come so easily to those around us was completely foreign to us. We had to learn each of these practices and over time, perfected it in our own, unique way. It’s unfortunate that in today’s society we are not taught as children to tap into this amazingly powerful gift that we were all born with, this gift that is stored in the minds of each and every one of us. Luckily, it’s never too late!

Is there scientific evidence that microwaves are dangerous?

About 2 years ago a friend of mine told me that using microwaves to heat food could actually be dangerous and unhealthy. I wasn’t sure if the “evidence” was there or not, but I figured, what would it hurt to spend just one month doing my own experiment. What I found was not only did it NOT hurt, but I felt better than I had felt in years! I had more energy, felt more at ease mentally and emotionally, and even saw improvements in my skin, hair and nails.

Of course, there was that part of me that wondered if it was all just in my head. Knowing what I know about the power of the human mind, this was a definite possibility. In the end, however, I decided that it didn’t matter if it was all in my head, I wasn’t going to use the microwave anyway because I figured, if there was even a chance that it was hurting my health, why take that chance? Besides, food tasted better when I heated it up on the stove or in the toaster oven anyway so it was kind of a win/win.

Shortly after making this decision, my suspicions were confirmed when I went out to a local restaurant. I ordered “steamed” vegetables along with my meal in an effort to make healthier choices even when eating out. Turns out, “steamed” means “microwaved” in many restaurants these days and it didn’t take long before I felt that all too familiar feeling… my nemesis, the MIGRAINE!