Hitting Send

There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.

I have a confession to make. I am happily dancing my way through life. It makes me laugh when I stop to think about just how many things I dance my way through; and, as I’ve allowed myself more freedom of expression at the core of my being, the amount of dancing exponentially increases as well. It’s really quite Awesome. Perhaps you’ve seen me dancing in my car at stop lights? Or, down the aisles at the supermarket? *giggle*

Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body.

As both an avid music Lover and one who has always enjoyed some form of physical movement, whether it be dancing, hiking, biking, swimming or some other activity, it was pretty inevitable that dance would make its way into my daily life. Even as a child, I was drawn towards the combination of music and freedom of movement. I took tap, jazz, ballet, gymnastics and participated in various group dance activities as well, fascinated by the different forms movement can take. When a girlfriend introduced me to Sacred dance a couple of years ago, it was an excellent fit for me and I was hooked.

Man must speak, then sing, then dance. The speaking is the brain, the thinking man. The singing is the emotion. The dancing is the Dionysian ecstasy which carries away all.

The ancients knew the importance of dance, and it is frequently depicted in cave drawings. Across time and cultures, dance has been revered for its power to transform, healing the body, mind and spirit, bringing community together in joyous bonding, and allowing us to see a deeper level of self. Dance has been used for worship, celebration, story-telling, healing, bonding, meditation, evoking visions, and more. Within most industrialized nations dance has lost its Beautiful esoteric roots; the gifts of rhythmic movement being reduced to a form of entertainment. The form of Sacred dance in which I have been participating is based upon the tenets of Shamanism, which takes the dancer on an inner journey allowing for a reconnection with spirit which is both blissful and healing. With intentions set prior to beginning, the dancer gently surrenders to the rhythms, allowing movements to express intuitively. The dance becomes not only a place to express one’s intention through movement, but also to listen for feedback and guidance on that intention from deeper sources of being.

Dancing faces you towards Heaven, whichever direction you turn.

I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.

Life is a dance, a blending of energies coming together, an ebb and flow, and a balancing act. By consciously combing music and movement, old stagnant energies are released from the body, freeing us from stuck feelings and liberating us so that we can embrace the next moment in life without hang ups of the past. It also feels really, really good to move the body. Dance is a gift to which people seem to be reawakening and I highly encourage you, BeLoved reader, to turn on some music and move your body, allowing for the organic unfolding which will occur. If you can find a group with which to dance, all the better, as coming together with joint intention brings another level to the power of transformative dance. Go out and explore what your local community offers, as it is well worth the Beautiful journey which will be carried forth into your everyday life, enriching your life, as as it has mine, in such Wonderful ways.

Love and Blessings,
Antonia

Well, I don’t know about you, but the order of the day for myself and many of those I know is spelled R-E-S-T. And with strong winds blowing outdoors, I’m content to wrap a down comforter around myself and watch Nature’s show of trees tossing to and fro, the many Fall leaves fluttering a mad dance to the already littered ground, cozied up indoors. Wind advisory, indeed! With the many weather changes we’ve seen the past couple of weeks, I wasn’t surprised as each of those around me, one by one became sick. I suspected my symptoms to be allergy related, but regardless of the causes, we’re all being called to take better care of ourselves and to rest.

I admit that I have an old belief system locked away in my mind that links cold weather, a chilled body or wet hair with getting sick. Every study I have read clearly shows that there is no correlation between chilling the body or hair and colds, and to say so would be erroneous. However, it has been my personal experience that when my body gets cold, it makes me very uncomfortable. My body has to work harder to keep me warm, and to reduce the stress caused by the discomfort. I therefore have found that I stand a better chance of staying well this time of year if I do things which keep me warm, such as putting flannel sheets on the bed, along with an extra blanket, and always carrying a warm sweater or coat, for those inevitable unexpected temperature changes during the day. I also highly recommend hot baths, to which one can add salts to relax aching muscles, eucalyptus oil for respiratory issues, or lavender to de-stress, and of course some bubbles for relaxation and pure indulgent fun!

There is no question that our ability to cope with stress is one of the major factors in our body’s immune system functioning well and our ability to stay well. With fewer daylight hours, many of us are experiencing a decrease in energy levels, and are realizing that we cannot continue pushing ourselves as we did throughout the Summer. It’s time to slow down, get a full eight hours of sleep, and continue our healthy habits such as exercise, meditation, and breath work. The fuel we put into our system is also of the utmost importance, as our bodies can only do so much with what we provide. By intaking nutritious foods, such as fruits and veggies, and by flushing our system with plenty of pure water, we stand a far better chance of keeping strong and healthy.

There are some other natural ways that we can assist our bodies in staying healthy and/or healing faster. Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, and can be liberally added to food to give the immune a boost. In my family, we have a “feel better” cold recipe using chopped up onion, garlic, and ginger, to which we add hot water, lemon, honey and a touch of cayenne pepper. It doesn’t taste good, but after drinking the liquid and eating as much of the goodies at the bottom of the cup as can be stomached, there is usually a relief of symptoms and the duration of cold is often reduced. As a preventative measure, take a good high potency multivitamin-mineral from a health food store, naturopathic physician or other natural health practitioner, daily, with at least 1000 mg. vitamin C, 50,000 IU vitamin A (unless pregnant), 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg. zinc and 25+ mg. of the B vitamins. Studies concur that vitamin C reduces symptoms and duration of colds, so be certain to include this in your regimen. There has also been positive results with zinc use, but it seems to be most effective when taken at the onset, so take at first signs of cold symptoms. To be effective zinc must be sucked on, not swallowed, and should be taken in frequent, smaller doses, such as a quarter lozenge every half an hour. Stop taking immediately if nausea occurs.

Herbal remedies are popular in my household. I would much rather rely upon a tea made of marshmallow root, licorice root, and elm bark to soothe my sore throat than to use chemical sprays. I enjoy chamomile for my upset tummy, to relax and soothe me, or to help me sleep. Peppermint tea is a mild stimulant, but also soothes the tummy and nasal passages. Herbs high in mucilage, such as slippery elm, mallow, and marshmallow, are often helpful for symptomatic relief of coughs and irritated throats. Red raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry leaves contain astringent tannins which can be helpful for soothing sore throats. I’ve also heard of sage tea being gargled to soothe a sore throat. And, of course we cannot forget the honey, propolis, and slippery elm lozenges to soothe that throat and cough. These remedies all have substantial anecdotal evidence, and many have been used for centuries in other cultures.

I will make mention of a couple of other herbs I have used. Echinacea is believed to work primarily through immune stimulation and while studies have shown that regular use is not effective in prevention of colds, 3-5ml every two hours can be taken at the onset or to speed recovery of symptoms in both adults and children. It’s been my experience that echinacea is a worthwhile herb in which to invest, and seems to help my immune system when it needs some extra help. I do not recommend goldenseal. While it can be effect in reducing sore throat, the alkaloids from which our immune would benefit occur in small quantities, it should be taken for only short periods of time, and goldenseal is threatened in the wild due to over harvesting, so it’s best to take Oregon grape or another berberine-containing herb in its place for those cold symptoms. Besides, I just gave you my family ‘cure’, what more could you need?

The answer to that is REST! Well, okay, and washing your hands a whole heckava lot! Need I remind you that we get sick by touching germs and putting those germ-infested fingers into our eyes, nose, and mouth? Ick! I know! So, wash your hands often, but not with an anti-bacterial soap because that is causing more harm than good. Then apply a good hand cream, because it’s that time of the year too! Hey, I love Fall and the upcoming Holiday Season a lot, and just want to enjoy it with the people I hold dear in my heart. We will take greater pleasure if we’re rested up and feeling our best! Healthy Fall All!

It’s a crisp Fall morning, with little hint of Sun from under a thick blanket of fog, but the birds and squirrels are busily going about their morning’s activities. Nests long ago built, they reinvest their energies into Winter preparations, just as Mother Earth returns what is not harvested back into Herself prior to Her dormancy. I, too, have been reinvesting my energies into myself, by taking up a new exercise regimen! I couldn’t have chosen a better time of year to start hiking my neighborhood trails, as it’s cooler, there are fewer people, fewer bugs, more wildlife, including migrating birds and I am going to be so grateful that I got my internal furnace burning higher come Wintertime, especially come Holiday cookies! *giggle* Let’s face it, starting that New Year’s Resolutional exercise program in the dead of Winter stands as likely a chance of success as Palin in Mensa. Hehe

We all have different reasons for moving our bodies; the motivation need only matter to you, as it’ll be your driving force. Whether you wish to lose weight, strengthen and tone, prepare for an event or race, or look great when Holiday Season arrives, you have to find a form of movement that you will enjoy and for which you will be motivated to participate in. I have found that the best way to enjoy Fall is to exercise outdoors, but I also know that it needs to be convenient and enjoyable for you. Make it fun! There are so many different forms of exercise out there from which each individual, with their different personalities and motivations, can enjoy. Would you prefer walking/jogging/running/hiking/biking, and would you prefer to do it solo, or with a friend? Are you more comfortable at a gym? Or at home? Perhaps you used to do yoga or pilates and have always meant to get back into a routine. Maybe you can only get motivated by using a personal trainer. Find what you will enjoy, is convenient and will drive you. Remember that it takes at least 21 days to establish a routine, so start now and during Halloween, chocolate bar/candy time, you’ll already be there!

My girlfriend and I both took up our exercise routines with partners and we’ve found this to have many benefits. She and her boyfriend enjoy working out at the gym together after work, both doing their own respective routines and then meeting up in the jacuzzi before heading home. It has not only been a lovely bonding experience, but they keep each other motivated, have mutual appreciation for the strengthening and toning occurring, and ummm, I hear it may have some other benefits as well. I have found that hiking the local mountains with a friend has helped move me into new comfort zones. The first time we hiked one of the local trails we heard a decent size snake slither by us, had a fox cross our path, and saw the cutest bunny hopping along! Okay, that last example doesn’t really illustrate how I broke through my fears, but he was very cute and deserving of mention! When my friend’s busy schedule wouldn’t allow time for hiking this week, I put on my tennis shoes and headed out for the local hill by myself. Man, saying that it’s steep just doesn’t explain its vertical ascension, but I assure you that it’s a great workout which is getting me into shape quite quickly. One is rewarded upon reaching the top by sweeping views and a great sense of accomplishment!

For those who wish to join me in re~investing in their neighborhood streets/hills/mountains/trails, there are a few things to remember in order to make your trekking more enjoyable and safe. First of all, be comfortable! When that morning chill gives way to the bright sunshine, you’re going to be grateful you wore comfortable, light-weight layers. Don’t forget the sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat which can keep you warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon and lip balm. Perhaps you want to take binoculars. If you’re really hiking trails, be prepared with raingear which will protect you from the wind, carry water and healthy nibbles to keep the furnace running nice and hot. Just because it’s dark out doesn’t mean you can’t go for a walk, but be safe by knowing your neighborhood, putting on a reflective vest and carrying a flashlight. When cycling, affix a light to your helmet or bike. You can also hit the trails just prior to Sunrise and you will be rewarded by a symphony of songbirds singing and the bustle of wildlife activity! It’s quite lovely! Happy Fall Re~Investment!

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been researching toxic-free ways to live my life, for both myself and our beautiful Mother Earth. One very clear way to do this is to begin eating more organic foods. Organic means that the fruits and vegetables were grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, are not genetically modified, and are not irradiated. Clearly, man-made toxic pesticides are bad for both our bodies, and our air, earth and water, not to mention the effects these pesticides have on low-wage farm workers having to work around them. And, I know that organics are more expensive, and that is because it is more labour intensive and because organic farmers are not subsidized by the government, like conventional farms. However, as global citizens, we can begin making the shift towards what is right for ourselves and our planet, and by increasing the demand for organic products, we will also reduce costs! But, where to begin?

The Environmental Working Group, (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., has developed a list called the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, which they say you should always buy organic, if possible, because their conventionally grown counterparts are laden with pesticides. I especially recommend this list for pregnant and nursing women and for small children. Pesticides can adversely affect people, but this is especially true during vulnerable periods of fetal development. Childhood exposure can also have long lasting effects. After all, the body mass index of a child is much less than a fully grown adult and therefore it takes far fewer non-organic berries, for example, to inflict harm on a little one. And, whatever a nursing mother ingests, is going to show up in her breast milk.

Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, the “dirty dozen” ranks produce from worst to best. That peach at the top of the list received a score of 100, meaning that it is ladden with pesticides that you cannot remove. Buy organic peaches! The next on the list, apples. The FDA found that more than 93% of conventionally grown apples tested still had pesticide residues on them after being thoroughly washed.

At the other end of the spectrum, here are the fruits and veggies least ladden with pesticides:

*onions
*avocados
*sweet corn
*pineapples
*mangos
*sweet peas
*asparagus
*kiwi
*bananas
*cabbage
*broccoli
*eggplant

Washing produce in cold water reduces levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling reduces exposure but also takes valuable nutrients with it. It is recommended that you thoroughly wash all produce in cold water, even if you are going to peel it. Commercial spray washes have not been evaluated by the FDA as of yet, but I am including a home-made version below. It is called a “veggie” spray, but is meant for both fruits and vegetables. The grapefruit seed extract can be purchased at a health food store.

Veggie Cleaner Spray (by Sophie Uliano)

Ingredients:

* 1 Cup water
* 1 Cup distilled white vinegar
* 1 Tablespoon baking soda
* 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract

Combine all ingredients in a large container. Then transfer to a spray bottle with a pump. Spray mixture on produce, and rinse thoroughly after 5 to 10 minutes. Enjoy!

We all know that we should be eating at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables. These nutrient-dense foods are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber which will provide our bodies with healthy fuel and they taste great! If we can begin replacing the chemical ladden versions, it will be better for us and help create a healthier world. If you can purchase them locally, all the better, as it is healthier for the body, supports the community, and reduces the need to ship produce half-way around the world. A tremendous amount of fossil fuel is used to transport foods such long distances. Combustion of these fuels releases carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to global climate change, acid rain, smog and air pollution. Local foods from small farms usually undergo minimal processing, are produced in relatively small quantities, and are distributed within a few dozen miles of where they originate. Thus, they are better for us and the environment. A win-win situation! Happy, healthy eating, my friends!

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