Self Care: How do you take care of yourself?
Three examples of self-care - how are you treating your body?
I want to speak about the ways that I take care of myself. I'd like to offer you three (3) ways that you can introduce self-care into your routine. I'm not perfect, to say the least, but I make an effort to take stock of my body, mind, and spirit and make adjustments where needed. Just this past week I participated in a "Chanting the Chakras" workshop. Our facilitator, Adrienne Gammel, a wonderful crystal vendor, and reiki master, presented her patrons with this free class as a holiday thank you. Chakras are energy centers in the body: root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. We toned through the chakra colors, vowel resonant sounds, and Bija seed sounds for over an hour. Toning is a way to help restore balance and flow to your chakra system. It was great and I found myself feeling very energized and grounded by the end of the session. Chanting mantras is similar to sound healing but using your voice as the instrument.
Here is a youtube video that will walk you through the Bija seed sounds and the associated Chakras. Enjoy!
Another self-care practice that keeps me "straight" (pun intended) and functioning is my weekly session with my chiropractor, Dr. Vincent Malba. We've been working together for years and if I'm not feeling myself when I arrive, I certainly do when I leave. For those who don't know much about chiropractic, here's something you should know. Chiropractic care is an excellent way to keep your body at its peak performance through nutrition, adjustment, and overall wellness. Dr. Vinnie is a joy to work with and he cares so much for his patients and the community, and the world. He is often called upon to speak at chiropractic seminars and travels abroad to teach chiropractic skills. He runs food and toy drives for local churches and has meditation sessions in the office.
Here's a link where you can learn more about Dr. Vinnie and his practice. https://www.drmalba.com/
Dr. Malba's Office My final suggestion for self-care is Restorative Yoga. Here I would like to pay homage to Nabeelah Abdul-Ghafur who recently joined the ancestors. She was a great friend and wonderful yoga teacher whose only concern was your well-being. Her classes entailed the requisite postures along with self-expression through storytelling, readings, and poems. She was a bit unorthodox, but so loved by all her students. Her class was focused on the more mature student and the postures, supported by props such as chairs, folded blankets, and bolsters, were used to relax the body and reduce stress. She was an active member of a healing women's circle I belong to and the founder of the World Peace Prayer group that still continues to meet. The mission of the group is to promote individual, community, and world peace through verbal affirmation; reflections, stories, and poems. If you'd like to join the group, which meets on Tuesday evenings, please drop me a line and I'll put you in touch with them.
Please schedule those self-care appointments.
Of course, I know that there are so many different forms of self-care. I just encourage you to find what works for you; whether it be meditation, walking or jogging, reading a book, or gathering with friends. Explore! Color outside the lines.
In addition, before this year ends, please schedule all your medical and/or holistic appointments: dentist, internist, ob/gyn, colonoscopy, dermatologist, eye doctor, psychologist, naturopath, herbalist, chiropractor, mammogram, gastroenterologist, allergist, and bone density screening, to name a few. Don't put them off any longer.
We want you to experience the new year, happy and healthy.
Leave a comment and let me know if this information has been helpful and what other types of topics you'd like me to cover. I hope you'll join me again. Just click on my name above to follow me.
Peace and Herbal Blessings,
Gloria
Disclaimer:
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