Tag Archives: wellness

Find Your Voice When Choosing a Wellness Practitioner

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by Pamela LaBelle, Founder, Restore

I have some work to do on my confidence – like many of us, it’s a work in progress. One area I feel I’m fully confident in is how I choose a wellness practitioner. Over the years, I’ve felt belittled, guilted and unheard by some practitioners. Whether a chiropractor, general practitioner, massage therapist or an acupuncturist, etc. – I now know I have a choice.

I don’t know if this revelation came after I had my son – because it’s so much easier to be a voice for your child – or, if I just became fed up with the system. Today, my voice is loud and clear when I choose to work with someone on my health and well being.Here are a few things I’ve learned about choosing a wellness practitioner:

  • If something doesn’t feel right, no matter what it is, don’t go back. If you can’t relate to someone on the first meeting or consultation – you never will. Don’t over analyze, just move on.
  • Get referrals. Ask your friends, look for credible resources and ask for those answers you need to know.
  • Check out the receptionist. If he or she is unpleasant, it’s a reflection of the practice. Keep that in mind as you consult with the practitioner.
  • Express yourself. It’s your body. Don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise. You know your body better than anyone. If they don’t ask questions about your history, emotions, environment, etc. – then they aren’t looking at the big picture of your well being.
  • Your wellness journey is a collaboration. If the practitioner just wants to hear your symptoms and doesn’t allow you to become part of the process – they are not in it FOR YOU!
  • Holistic? Alternative? Complementary? These terms have become part of our healthcare model – GREAT. But be cautious, just because of a label or credentials, it doesn’t mean they will be the right fit for you. Do your research.

Most of all, I think it’s important to get back to the basics and listen to your core. Think of your health as your child – become its voice. Nothing is black or white. What works for you may not work for someone else – and vice versa. That’s what makes us unique and that’s what makes us special. Treat your health and well being that way.

 

 

 

Pamela LaBelle has a B.A. in marketing from Concordia University and and M.A. in holistic health studies from St. Catherine University. Pam’s extensive background in marketing and communications, branding and positioning, online marketing and event planning, as well as her vision, are the driving forces behind Restore. Connect with Pam and Restore at restorehealing.com, Facebook, Twitter and Linked in.

 

 

 

The Power of Going Inward AND Going Outward

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guest post by Lois Eliason and Katie McShane of Post- Accessories, Minneapolis

We continue to learn and hear how powerful it can be to turn inward to deal with stress, illness and pain. Tai Chi and meditation are medically proven ways to improve overall health and well being. Women, in particular, embrace this process as a powerful way to benefit the mind, body and soul. To confirm this process of self reflection, words like  “hope”, “faith”, and “believe” are often seen on necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry. While inward reflection is indeed healthy and important, we also want to share the importance of the spoken word. And what we mean is – “REALLY speaking your mind!”

Studies reveal that discretionary use of profanity helps to reduce feelings of physical pain, especially if practiced by women. According to Steven Pinker, Harvard psychologist and author of The Stuff of Thought, “swearing retains more of an emotional punch [for women] because it [is usually not] overused”. Certainly, no one likes to see any one swearing up a storm on a daily basis. But an occasional bout of profanity can be powerful and healthy.

Karin Jacobson’s collection of custom-engraved pendants, made exclusively for Post- Accessories, speaks to the cathartic power of slightly naughty words. Inspired by traditional cuts of diamonds, the pendants show off beautiful and precise facets on their front side. But turn them over, and you’ll find engraved words and phrases created to EMPOWER the wearer. Are you ready to truly speak your mind? Then let it out with a “F*ck Yeah!” or “Badass!” Or, do you want a constant reminder of your inner strength and confidence? Then possibly “Fearless” or “Foxy” is what you need to keep close to your heart.

Whatever word or phrase you choose, it’s about giving yourself the freedom to be your authentic self in a healthy, outward manner. With the Neo-Poetic Jewelry collection by Karin Jacobson for Post- you can uniquely “Tell it like it is” – without all the dirty looks.

Post- Accessories and Karin Jacobson will launch their Neo-Poetic Jewelry Collection on Saturday, February 9, from 5-10pm. Open to the public, the event will be held on the second floor of Moto-i sake brewery and restaurant. The space includes a private cash bar and cozy seating areas. Complimentary appetizers will be served from 6:30-8pm.

The jewelry is priced between $50-85. Special to the launch party will be a free gift with purchase of a silver or gold charm that shoppers can stamp with a personalized message. These truly one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry will make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

 

The name “Post-“ is adopted from renegade artistic movements that challenged the status quo. In this spirit, Katie and Lois’ mission is to maintain the vitality of the independent designer and artist in local communities by growing the conversation between the traditional arts and fashion.

Over the last 6 years, Post- has accomplished this by collaborating with talented artists, artisans, and designers to create unique handbags and accessories that are inspired by artists and trends from the Italian Renaissance to Post-Modernist movement.

Post- is committed to supporting domestic and local economies by sourcing all materials and labor in the U.S. and Minneapolis, MN. Learn more about Post- at www.postdash.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

References:
Stephens, R. and Umland, C., “Swearing as a Response to Pain – Effect of Daily Swearing Frequency.” Volume 12, Issue(2011): Pages 1274-81, http://www.jpain.org, Jan. 2013.

Can You Sustain Your New Year’s Resolution?

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by Brenda Booth, Chief Inspiration Officer, Holistic Health & Fitness Coach, Body One Wellness

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight or get fit and healthy in 2013? Unfortunately, for the majority of us, there’s more to getting in shape and losing weight than just hitting the gym.

Many factors attribute to success in losing weight, getting fit and sustaining wellness. Some crucial factors include your readiness to make behavioral changes and setting an importance on self-care by looking at areas such as: nutrition, sleep, stress levels, as well as your confidence in your ability to make change. The New Year can feel like a fresh start and be a great time to reflect and make a commitment to change. At Body One Wellness, we provide a service that combines a gentle blend of personal training and health coaching to provide the education, tools and motivation people need to reach and sustain lifestyle goals for the long-term.

Below are 10 tips to help you uncover your own unique strategies to make a change for good this year:

1)  Start where you are. 5-10 minutes of physical activity a day may be all you need to start. Do things you enjoy or may get excited about trying. Making small steps makes creating habits easier so you are not OVERwhelmed and DEmotivated.

2)  Decide to change. A predictor of success is to make a commitment by saying it out loud, mentioning it to others, or writing it down.

3)  Get clear on why this change is Important to YOU! Place your focus here rather than on what you can’t or don’t want to do. This is integral in your journey to change. Keep your focus on this when you feel you can’t keep going.

4)  Create S.M.A.R.T. short and long-term goals. These are: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-oriented and connected to an amount of Time. Also, decide how you will reward your success. Rewards will help you remain motivated, particularly if you are seeking a lifestyle change, which can take up to 21 months – where creating habits takes about 21 days.

5)  Change negative self-talk. What would your best friend say to encourage you? Say it to yourself. Your personal thoughts and actions are within your control. Having a positive attitude and being grateful affects whether you have a good or bad day and how you perceive the world around you. When you act positively, you will see positive results.

6)  Journal. We call ours a “Wellness Journal”  because clients use it to track their overall health and wellness. This journal records events that happen and may help pinpoint behaviors, stressors or other health issues. Writing things down helps people visualize their own patterns and, for many, can be extremely eye-opening.

7)  Reduce stress by finding something that feels good for you. These can be as simple as relaxed breathing techniques, meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, massage or simply a stroll through the park. The key is to find what works for you to settle YOUR mind.

8)  Sleep 7-9 hours a night. Sleep is the time when your body recovers from its daily activity preparing you for an energized and productive day.

9)  Do your workout/physical activity where you feel comfortable. Is it at home, outdoors or a gym? Although I’m a fitness trainer, sometimes I like to go to the gym when I know no one else is there. I’m human – I get self-conscious too!

10) Find a friend and hire a trainer together. Even a few sessions can teach you what you need to do at the gym or at home. Familiarity and receiving personalized education on how to exercise correctly can be liberating and a huge confidence builder.

I hope you find these tips helpful as you move forward on your 2013 fitness goals. I wish you all the wonders great health and happiness can bring you in the New Year!

-Brenda

Body One Wellness is offering a highly limited deal for to help you achieve your 2013 New Year’s fitness goals. CLICK HERE to learn more and get 53% off a 2 Session Comprehensive In Home Fitness Package.

 

Brenda Booth, Owner, Chief Inspiration Officer, Holistic Health & Fitness Coach, NASM- CPT of Body One Wellness, LLC, is a former advertising executive turned fitness and wellness entrepreneur. She has been in the fitness industry since high school where she started her career teaching group fitness classes at a Women’s Workout World. Brenda is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, where her areas of expertise center around weight and lifestyle management; with a total health perspective. She is also an Intrinsic Coach ® and soon to be certified Wellness Coach as her training starts January 2013 from WellCoaches.

Brenda spends her free time weight training, hitting a spinning or cardio class, volunteering and fostering/training Siberian Huskies for M.U.S.H.R. (Minnesota Unwanted Siberian Husky Rescue) and looking for four leaf clovers (yes they are out there). She has been featured Fitness Celebrity at the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show, Fox 9 TV Trainer, ShopNBC Fitness Guest Host and highlighted in Oxygen Magazine’s “Future of Fitness”. Connect with Brenda on Facebook and Twitter. Also follow her blog at getfitminneapolis.wordpress.com.

Creating Goals is Easy; Keeping Them is Another Story

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by Emily Kline, Certified Integrative Health Coach, Ananda Health and Wellness

“It’s easy to quit smoking. I’ve done it hundreds of times.” – Mark Twain

We have all set wellness goals and New Year’s resolutions at one time or another. It begins with that overzealous burst of energy and excitement, and tends to quickly and quietly fizzle out. A few weeks, months or perhaps years go by, and we do it all over again, circling around and around this enticing yet seemingly unattainable goal or dream. So once again, as the great poet Langston Hughes says, it becomes “a dream deferred” — ”festering,” “crusting” and “stinking like rotten meat.”

As an Integrative Health Coach, I strive to help you make your goals and dreams become a reality. This involves an engaging and dynamic partnership between coach and client that begins with a “Discovery Session” which allows you to uncover your most meaningful dreams and aspirations through the power of visualization. Through this self-discovery process you are able to paint a vivid picture of the life you want to be living. The old adage rings true: ‘You can’t get to where you want to go if you don’t know where you are going;’ therefore, visualization is a key first step.

Second, I help you see what matters most in achieving a particular goal. If you connect your goal to a core value then you will have more motivation to achieve it.

Third, now that you have clarified your vision and values, you are ready to create your own unique personalized health plan with concrete goals and action steps.

With this, we address what challenges and barriers are preventing you from achieving your goals and dreams. This is the juicy part where we get into the nitty gritty of what is keeping you stuck. We look at your inner critic or saboteur and shifting perspective. This is the point where I challenge you to break your old patterns, step out of your comfort zone, and dare to think and do differently.

Lastly, we brainstorm ideas to further support you on your journey to optimal health and wellness. We come up with resources, a support system, and creative ways for you to remain accountable and maintain your goals.

As an Integrative Health Coach, I give you the tools, resources and insights to move toward your health and life goals with consistency and excitement. I guide you to live in alignment with your deepest values since your goals and dreams are not distant glimmering stars but rather something alive and breathing that already exists within you.

For a limited time, for ONLY $32 (reg. $65), get a ONE-ON-ONE Integrative Health Discovery Session with Emily and create a personalized wellness plan. Click here to learn more!

Emily Kline of Ananda Health and Wellness completed professional training and certification in Integrative Health Coaching at Duke Integrative Medicine. She offers one-on-one coaching sessions via phone or in person at Tao Natural Foods in Minneapolis. Emily is also available to provide workplace wellness programs and individual wellness programs for busy professional women who are looking to restore balance, vitality and joy.

Emily is a certified yoga teacher and a former High School English Teacher with a Masters in Education and a Masters in English Literature. With writing experience and over ten years of teaching experience in the United States and abroad, Emily brings clear communication skills and a love for language to her work as an Integrative Health Coach and Workshop Facilitator. Her experience living in Italy and teaching students from around the world has also given her a broad perspective in how other cultures approach health, nutrition, and living with joy and vitality. You can connect with Emily at emilykline123@gmail.com or on Facebook.

 

Want to Get Fit? Keep it Simple and Make it Work for YOU

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by Galen Wood, CEO, Move Fitness

Diet plans, fitness routines and exercise fads are everywhere. One article sings the praises of eating like a caveman and lifting heavy weights slowly while a TV celebrity talks about their amazing results eating only plants and running marathons. With this kind of information overload, how do you know what works best to achieve your fitness goals?

 

Sustainable and healthy weight loss can only be achieved through consistency, variety and progression. It’s not only about cutting calories and it’s certainly not necessary to spend two hours a day at the gym and live a life devoid of pleasure. Want to maintain your weight?

 

Consistently stick to your chosen exercise routine for as long as you want to keep the weight off. Want to achieve new results? Add variety to your nutrition and exercise routine and ramp up to more difficult workouts (and eat even better) to continuously reach new fitness and weight loss heights.

There is no perfect way for everyone to exercise, there’s only what is best for you, your body and your lifestyle. Working with a personal trainer or health coach can help you achieve your health goals with the least amount of effort possible. Because, let’s face it, sometimes exercise can suck and it’s great to achieve your desired results with less effort. Your body can only adapt to a few changes at a time and a trainer or coach makes sure you have opportunities to progress steadily and consistently set out and reach new health and fitness goals.

Tips to Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals:

  • Get a full body postural assessment to discover your areas of tightness and flexibility, strength and weakness, etc. Base your workouts on this assessment.
  • Begin any nutritional or dietary change with a food journal. Write down everything you eat and drink, the time of day and your feelings/mood while you’re eating/drinking.
  • Make sure your nutrition program and workout routine fit into your personality type. If you’re a “people person,” working out solo may not provide the interaction and support you need to be motivated and continue.
  • Reward yourself for meeting goals, but make sure it’s a healthy reward. Did you manage to eat five servings of fruit and vegetables today? Awesome, now you can buy that book you’ve been dying to read.

The best way to achieve your fitness goals is to work within the parameters of your personality and your body. Make sure that whatever you do works for you, don’t try to fit yourself into someone else’s routine.

Galen Wood is CEO of Move Fitness and regularly appears on Fox 9 to share his fitness tips. He and the Move Fitness trainers help you achieve your fitness goals in the comfort of your own home. Check out Galen’s Weekly Deal – a personalized in-home training session exclusively designed for the Restore community!

Making Healthy Choices That Best Fit Your Lifestyle

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by Lorri Weisen, Founder, Greenbody Greenplanet

Trying to make healthy choices for you and your family is not always an easy thing to do. It seems that we’re constantly bombarded from every direction with voices telling us what to do, what products to use, how to eat, how to live – it becomes difficult to know what, exactly, is the right thing to do. From the early morning newscast until the time our heads hit the pillow at night we’ve likely heard at least 20 different opinions on one simple subject.

While this can be overwhelming, and in some cases even annoying, I believe we should celebrate the fact that we have so much information available to us and that there are so many alternatives on the shelves. You may spend a bit more time reading labels or doing research online, but you’re also enormously empowered to make the best choices for you, your family, your lifestyle and budget.

The key is to listen to your gut and use common sense. Believe it or not, there was a time (not that long ago) where we all used to grease up with olive oil or baby oil and lay around on metallic blankets to reflect the sun and give us that coveted all-over tan. Or, as was more often the case, an all-over burn. We didn’t have choices then, there were no sunscreens available, and we didn’t know any better. Thank goodness we do now.

The power to choose is one of the most incredible gifts we possess. Embrace it and allow it to work on your behalf. Here are a few tips to help you make healthy choices that best fit your lifestyle:

  • Do your research, but don’t go overboard. Getting obsessed with making the “perfect choice” will backfire and leave you overwhelmed and empty handed.
  • Don’t second guess yourself. Once you’ve made a choice, know that you’ve done the best that you can for the circumstances you’re in.
  • Believe in the choices you make. It builds confidence and helps you make better choices in the future.
  • Don’t judge. What’s best for you may not work for someone else.

For myself, I try to live a chemical-free lifestyle and avoid putting chemical-laden cosmetics and lotions on my body at all costs. But if I was on a beach in the middle of a sunny afternoon and had only a tube of chemical sunscreen, I would happily slather it all over my body. The choice between burning, risking sun damage or skin cancer or using a chemical-based product is a great example of making the best choice at the time and I’d feel good about that.

The next time you’re faced with a choice, whether it’s a product or a life-impacting service, remember that YOU decide what’s best for you. How do you avoid getting overwhelmed by choice?

Lorri Weisen is the founder and CEO of Greenbody Greenplanet Organic Hair Care and an advocate for safe cosmetics. Her husband’s battle with cancer inspired her to create her organic line and her passion is to help others live a toxin-free lifestyle. Visit Greenbody Greenplanet at www.greenbodygreenplanet.com. Also, get connected with GBGP on Facebook.

The Secret to a Surgery-free Face Lift

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When so many of us were younger, we looked in the mirror and said, “When I’m older, I’ll celebrate my wrinkles because they’re a map of a lifetime of smiles and laughs.” Now that we’re older, however, those creases may not seem nearly as dignified or nostalgic to some of us.

“Worry lines” on our foreheads, “crow’s feet” under our eyes, “smile/frown lines” or “parenthesis” next to our mouths, sagging jowls – none of these phrases describe how young, beautiful and vibrant we feel on the inside. And when we feel that way, why shouldn’t we look the way we feel?

Surgical procedures are expensive and drastic, chemical injections can be painful and both can have dangerous side effects. But acupuncture can offer a completely natural, affordable way to rejuvenate your face without any recovery time.
So, what can you get when you use acupuncture for a surgery-free “face lift?”

* Improved facial color and moisturized skin due to an increase in blood flow and lymph circulation.

* Increased collagen production and improved muscle tone.

* Minimized wrinkles and fine lines.

* Reduction in puffiness.

* Relaxation and stress relief which shows in tighter pores and brighter eyes.

Cosmetic acupuncture is an excellent natural alternative to surgery. For more information and to find out if you’re a good candidate, visit WinerAcupuncture.com. Do you feel facial rejuvenation could help you in your journey to age gracefully? Why or why not?