 If you’re like me and love essential oils, then you can roll with the hot and humid dog days of summer. High heat and muggy days are part of midwest summers. As these summer days push the mercury in your thermostat up, it’s time to break out the peppermint essential oil.
Peppermint is one of my “go to” favorites because it is so diverse. It can be used for belly aches, headaches or even muscle aches and pains. It's also wonderful to open the airways if you are having respiratory issues. Put one drop in the palm of your hand, rub your palms together, then cup your palms over your nose and mouth like an oxygen mask and breathe in and out through the nostrils several times. Instantly, you will breathe a little deeper and easier with the help from peppermint essential oil. Be careful not to get it in your eyes. But just in case that happens use a small amount of carrier oil like coconut or olive oil to rinse the essential oil out of the eye. Never use water. Remember oil and water don't mix. Water will drive the oil in deeper. Just let your eye tear until it feels better. Did you know that peppermint has the ability to cool the body down when it gets overheated? Whether you are down with the flu and a fever spikes or the outdoor temperatures rise, the scorching heat can zap your energy. Peppermint essential oil is my “pick me up”, “wake me up” and “cool me down” essential oil of choice on hot summer days. Do it yourself "Cool-Down Spray" - what’s in it?
How to make this homemade Cool Down Spray? (I prefer amber or blue glass bottles)
For more info or to purchase doTerra Peppermint essential oil click here:
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 To feed your immune system follow these simple tips through the later part of the winter when your body is still susceptible to the colds and flu.
 Remember to take time to “smell the roses.” Summer in the Midwest seems to come and go in a flash. We all run wild to get outside and play, to attend summer events, gather with friends and family, take a much needed vacation or simply get in as much pleasure as possible. This is the natural pace of this season's cycle. Nature is bursting with beauty. Birds are chirping in full song and energy is naturally expanding. The glorious sun extends its light into the early evening hours, which gives the illusion there’s more time in a day. Give yourself full permission to ENJOY the light of each day. Make a decision to find your way to nature surroundings, like forests, parks or community gardens. Nature nourishes every cell of your being! It activates your life-force energy and replenishes the spirit.  Another way to get energized in body, mind and spirit is through the foods you eat during the summer months. It’s the perfect time of year to break free from processed and convenient foods you may be habitually used to. Nutrient dense "superfoods" of summer are second to none. As a holistic practitioner and coach, I encourage you make time for shopping at local farmers markets, not only is it better for the environment but it's fun! If the farmers market is out of reach, at the very least, purchase locally grown/close to home, in-season edibles at your grocery store. By purchasing local fresh veggies and fruits, you are getting great nutritional value and you will be contributing less to greenhouse emissions on the planet. So eat up! Experiment with summer veggies and fruits as your main course for your meals and enjoy the animal proteins on the side. It is simply shifting your perception about what’s on your plate. Check out these interesting food facts: Low carbon diet: In a 2014 study by Scarborough et al., the real-life diets of British people were surveyed and their dietary greenhouse gas footprint was estimated. Average dietary greenhouse-gas emissions per day (in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent) were:
Summer Special: July 1 - August 30
Schedule an appointment for 1 of the 3 "Featured Services" below and receive a FREE 30 minute add-on service, to your scheduled appointment. For example, if you schedule an aromatherapy massage you can try a 30 minute session of coaching or meditation instruction prior to getting on the table for your aromatherapy massage treatment. These three services complement one another to give you a taste of other services I provide to support your goals and lifestyle. Featured services: Intuitive Coaching with Emotion Code Process - This coaching session(s), I utilize the tools from Co-Active* coaching and The Emotion Code. We will uncover and discover what is keeping you from moving forward in the direction you truly desire to grow. Hidden treasures within you will be revealed as you begin to rewrite the script for your life-direction, purpose or passion. The Emotion Code Process helps to identify and release trapped emotions that have kept you stuck and sessions are designed and based on your individual needs. (Coaching sessions can be on phone or in person) Intuitive Coaching with Emotion Code Process session: - 60 minute - $100 package - 3 sessions: $285 emotion code only: 30 minutes - $75 Aromatherapy Massage - Rejuvenate with a soothing and relaxing massage combined with essential oils to address your imbalances and bring you back to your center naturally. Doterra Essential Oils as part of this treatment. 1 Hour Session - $90.00 Bring Mindfulness Home - Learn simple to practice meditation techniques to quiet your “monkey mind” so you can better manage stress that drives anxiety or depression. This one-on-one session will be designed specifically for your needs. Each session is 40 Minutes - $60.00 Includes instruction and practice.  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.  If you live in the Chicagoland area, you are probably feeling the effects of winter’s wonder. Winter white has covered all grounds, temperatures dropping and bone chilling winds blowing in every direction. Family and friends down with the flu…and you, trying to stay well without getting the germs that linger through and through. The best line of defense…no, not a flu shot but rather continued natural immune building remedies to stay healthy all winter long! Vitamin D, A Ray of Sunshine - Since the sun doesn't shine much during January and February, its important to get your vitamin D from other sources. A liquid vitamin D supplement is the best bet. It does wonders for the body and the mind. It provides absorption of calcium for strong bones, reduces inflammation, promotes strong immunity and gives you lots of energy. It’s nicknamed "The Sunshine Vitamin." So if you’re missing that ray of sunshine during the winter months, its likely you may be deficient in Vitamin D. It is estimated that 50% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Eat Organic - Load up on plenty of organic, healthy root veggies, greens and some fruits like apples, or frozen berries which provide many antioxidants to fight pesky winter germs. Replace the sugar laden carbs from holiday past with whole grains and beans. Try the hearty red lentil soup recipe below. It’s spicy enough to warm you from the inside. It’s filled with nutrients, easy to make and tastes delicious. Herbal Protections - There are many all-natural herbs that can do wonders for immune health. Keep these on hand for making a protective tea on cold winter nights. Elderberry, Echinacea, and astragalus or ginger are all good options. Cooking with extra garlic, turmeric, and ginger can also boost your immune health. Relaxation and Exercise - During the winter months the body tends to naturally get a bit sluggish. Make sure you are getting enough exercise balanced with enough rest. Both are important contributors to a healthy immune system. Incorporate some outdoor actives or routine workouts at the gym, take a yoga class. Combine your activities with regular massage treatments for better immune health and detoxification during the colder months. Both Exercise and massage detoxify the body of unwanted germs, increases circulation immunity for good health and both combat the effects of negative stress. Massage has an added benefit… It keeps the Winter Blues at Bay. Massage creates positive changes in the endocrine system where hormones are formed. Hormones affect mood, desire, depression, alertness, sleep, hunger, sense of touch; the balance of which are very important for the well-being. After receiving bodywork, cortisol levels are decreased (the nasty hormone responsible for stress!), and oxytocin levels are raised (the happy, contentmenthormone). What better way to cheer yourself up than with a massage! Then there’s always the ages old remedies: wash your hands, take extra doses of vitamin C, drink plenty of fresh water for continued hydration (I add a squeeze of fresh lemon for added flavor and to keep my system more alkaline). These are just a few easy to remember, natural remedies to keep you healthy all winter long. There are many other natural remedies to increase immunity in the winter months. Do your due diligence and investigate alternatives. You definitely don't need a flu shot to stay healthy. Most important, stay happy. Remember, happiness produces the "feel good" hormones that build healthy immunity, which fight against germs and keep you going strong through every season. Eat your veggies, drink your teas and book your massage appointments. And don’t worry, be happy...spring is only 10 weeks away! Yummy Red Lentil Soup:
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, cook the onion, ginger, garlic, and fenugreek until onion is tender. Mix the lentils, squash, and cilantro into the pot. Stir in the water, coconut milk, and tomato paste. Season with curry powder, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes, or until lentils and squash are tender. Enjoy! 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. |