If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils provide plants with protection against environmental threats and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health-care practices.

Essential oils are both exciting and promising when it comes to taking care of your own and your family’s health. Whether you’re applying essential oils topically, enjoying the aromatic benefits through diffusing, or taking essential oils internally, the positive effects of essential oils are boundless.

To learn more about doTerra Essential Oils and how you can benefit from them please check out my doTerra site.

I’m in week 5 with my recovery and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience with the anterior hip replacement surgery. My mind was expecting something much more difficult and different from what is actually happening.  Do I dare say it’s been easy?  Okay, let me say, the surgery and the recovery process is better than what I had imagined! Everyone asks if I’m pain-free…? Well, the post-surgery pain is entirely different than the before surgery pain. It’s now about healing rather than suffering. The pain from suffering is GONE!  I was up testing out my new hip the next day after the procedure, walking with a walker. It was bit of a struggle but I did it! I had a 2 day stay in the hospital to prepare me for my venture home for the next three weeks of home care.  

During my recovery time, I had lots of opportunity for quiet contemplation. I reviewed my life and realized how much energy I put into managing the pain. How it became the driving force as to what I would and wouldn’t do. I felt depressed, ashamed and embarrassed that my body, particularly my hip was deteriorating. I wondered how this happened to me… I’m healthy, vibrant…  a healer and holistic health teacher, oh, and a fifty-something woman. This happens to humans! I decided to use an ancient mantra one of my teachers gave me a long time ago. “EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY, I’M GETTING BETTER AND BETTER”.  With the right support, physically and mentally, the body knows what to do to heal itself! My visiting nurse and physical therapist came 3 times a week.  They both concurred I’m strong and have a positive attitude.

On separate occasions, they both mentioned healing is a state of mind and that my attitude was excellent.  I thought to myself, I’ve had years of preparation and practice at cultivating a positive attitude. And yet again,  I realized my life has presented me with this opportunity to walk my talk. So as I steadily forged through the healing process, I meditated several times a day. I drank bone broth for deep nourishment and ate other yummy and healthy treats. I did my exercises that help me feel stronger, yet never pushed the process. I rested and rested more. I repeated in my mind again and again, EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY, I’M GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. The first 2 weeks I received nurturing and love from text messages, prayers, calls, and a loving home support system and lots of ice.  I consciously decided that it’s my time to heal deeply.  It wasn’t until week three that I started being more social. I was still conserving my energy for my healing. Now having boasted a bit, I admit after only 1 month I’m not exactly ready to run a marathon but I’m well on my way. I’m feeling antsy. I set up a massage appointment for my healing body and ready to get back in my world. I walking better and better, I can drive again and I’m slowly starting to see clients and resume my weekly and monthly classes.

Spring is in the air and I have a new bounce in my step. The right perspective makes the impossible possible. I’m available for sessions. Receive a $10 off on your next appointment when you mention you read my recovery report! Come get a spring tune up and add bounce in your step! Check out my website for services, classes & events I’m holding in April and May.  

Blessings.

As we near the end of the first month of the New Year, it’s most likely that our resolutions are still at the forefront of our minds. Whether you have succeeded in becoming healthier, vowed to go to the gym more often or have been a better person for the past few weeks, we all know that our resolutions only last so long.
 
So why not take a different approach? Instead making of a New Year’s resolution, which I am sure is the same as last year’s and the year before that, make the decision instead to make a lifestyle change.
 
For instance, substitute the everyday diet and make a real change to eat healthier and live a more holistic life. Clean out your refrigerator and cupboards of all the junk food and go shopping – this time, being more mindful of the feel-good foods. Reach for the protein and whole grains instead of the cake mixes. Think organic.
 
Additionally, make it a priority to be active each day. This doesn’t mean that you have to go for a five mile run every night – being active doesn’t mean that you have to physically exhaust yourself. Consider taking up the practice of yoga. Not only will you feel energized and an overall sense of well-being, but you’ll also open yourself up to a life of healing and growth.
 
These may seem like small adjustments but trust me when I say that they will have a big impact on your path towards a monumental life change. Think of all the benefits that will come from making conscious decisions to live happy and healthy. They are endless. Maybe this time you will be able to keep that New Year’s resolution.

Amrit Yoga was developed by Yogi Amrit Desai and is defined as a style of Hatha Yoga that “integrates meditative awareness with awakened prana of the body.” A combination of bodywork (Hatha) and mind work (Raja), Amrit Yoga focuses on movement and body sensations with the intention of joining the mind, body and spirit.
 
In his self-published book, Yogi Amrit Desai described the three stages of Amrit Yoga:
 
The Three Stages of Amrit Yoga:

1.   Willful Practice- During the first stage, you will learn to do the postures properly and without force. Movements should be slow and focused, with an emphasis on attention to detail. The stage also focuses on self-acceptance and respect of personal capabilities.

2.   Will and Surrender- In the second stage, we sustain the postures for longer periods. Focusing inward, we calm our mental and emotional conflicts. “Following Desai's instruction, one can "melt, merge, and disappear" into the internal energy experience.”

3.   Surrender- The spontaneous movements of this stage differentiate it from the first two stages. Our body is able to let go and guide our posture, with little to no thinking. Our body’s movements directed by prana characterize this stage.

To learn more about the Armrit Yoga classes that I teach, please feel free to contact me today by calling (847) 477-3069, or email me for more information.

When we find ourselves in an overwhelming state of stress, our brains naturally drift towards the idea of getting a professional massage. We already know that getting a massage is a phenomenal feeling but your brain is probably picking up on something more than just the physical sensation itself. If you’ve ever gotten a professional massage in the past, your brain is probably recognizing this practice as a true source for reducing your stress levels.

In an article posted by Livestrong, we read that, “Massage can help relax tight and painful muscles, improve range of motion in the joints, enhance circulation and lower stress levels. This is important because stress is considered a risk factor for many chronic diseases, and stress can make any symptoms you have worse.”

When you start to stress out, your brain can sense it. A number of reactions will then be set off throughout the body, such as a raised heart rate, an increase in blood pressure, tightening of the muscles and decreased activity in other areas in order to conserve energy. If this feeling of stress lasts for an extended amount of time, it can mean negative consequences for the body, which is why finding ways to deal with the stress (such as massage therapy) is so important.

This article continues on to say, “Part of managing stress is taking time to shift the mind away from everyday worries and to allow the body and mind to relax. The time spent in a massage can be used to focus on relaxing the body.” So the next time that you are overwhelmed and stressed out and feel as though you can’t justify getting a professional massage, think about it more as feel-good medicine. Massage therapy is proven to have positive effects of elevating stress from your mind, muscles and overall life. As a licensed massage therapist, Awakening Wellness owner, Laura Jachim is ready to help you take the first step towards a healthier, stress-free lifestyle today.

At first glance, it would seem as though the Awakening Wellness business is about massages, yoga techniques and wellness coaching. Now while those three components are essential pieces to the puzzle, what we are truly about is the path towards a holistic lifestyle and ways to reduce your stress level. It has always been our philosophy that prevention is the absolute best medicine.
 
Too many people wait around for their stress level  to consume them; only taking the steps towards a happier, healthier (and less stress-filled) life when the situation has gone too far. We urge you to make the change today, rather than tomorrow, to better your own life.
 
As the first step, consider taking up one of the yoga classes Laura Offer's in Glenview at Be Optimal Wellness Center  or in Northbrook at The House of Ayurveda. You may also want to consider a package of one-on-one sessions and receive personalized instruction. Overall, yoga is a great way to release your body of unwanted stress and tension. Each session will increase your ability to be more aware, more accepting and most importantly, will bring you more peace of mind. 
 
The next step towards stress prevention would be our wellness coaching programs, which are designed to help you meet your health, wellness and life goals. We consider this process to be your journey home to your best Self as you commit to creating accountability for change to happen in your life. The greatest way to get away from all of the stress is to set yourself on a healthier, more balanced path. We can help you get there.
 
And then, who doesn’t enjoy a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating massage? A therapeutic massage from Awakening Wellness reduces stress by promoting deeper, easier breathing and relieving your body from unnecessary tension. All three of these components work together to aid in your journey towards stress reduction. Trust us when we say that you don’t want to wait for the stress to consume you.
 
Make the first step towards easing the stress away and give Laura of Awakening Wellness a call today. We guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

In today’s society, we see a lot of people taking up the art of yoga solely for the fact that it has become the “trendy” thing to do. Celebrities from the world over have advocated the practice and in an effort to emulate their idols, fans fun out to the local store, buy a mat and give it a try. To them, yoga is a hobby, but for those of us in the know, we understand its greater influence – especially when it comes to the art of Classical Hatha Yoga.

As defined by hatha-yoga.org, this particular practice is “an ancient Indian system for keeping the body in an optimal physical condition. Originally developed to liberate mind from the burden of the body in order to pursue spiritual ends, Hatha Yoga is especially well suited for people doing intellectual work.”

So while you may look at yoga as just another way to stay fit and active, you’ll notice that it differs in a couple of ways from your typical workout regimen:

1. Goals – Why do you spend time at the gym lifting weights and sprinting full force on the treadmill? It’s because our culture tells us that we need to develop strength and endurance; perfect our body’s shape so that we can increase our sexual attractiveness. With Hatha Yoga, you’re encouraged to do the opposite and completely liberate your mind from body consciousness.
2. Methods – In most other physically exerting activities, you’re participating in intense cardio – constantly moving. With yoga however, you’re performing asanas, static postures in an effort to develop overall flexibility, health of the joints and strength of the spine. The positions you find yourself in during a Hatha Yoga session may not be comfortable, but you work through the negative reactions you are feeling, in order to show yourself that you can get past it on a mental level.

 
Your physical body is simply a shell for the soul on its journey to perfection, and while yoga may help to make you stronger and more physically attractive, it is certainly not its purpose. Each of our yoga classes takes complete advantage of the Classic Hatha style. Join us for one of our classes and feel the difference for yourself