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Guest Post: Time to Cleanse your Chakras

10 Jan

Thanks to Amanda for this guest post!

If you need help with chakra balancing, you will benefit from this chakra cleanse ritual.

Chakras are the energy centers of the soul. Are your chakras open or blocked? There are many reasons for the blocking of a chakra, including trauma, bad habits, and injury. If you handle the stress in your life in an improper manner, you could have a blocked chakra, resulting in physical and emotional health issues.

A person who is balanced is in touch with their physical needs and takes good care of their body, feeding their mind, spirit and body, healthy thoughts, emotions and nourishment. They are peaceful and serene; they are healthy and active. they are conscious of their feelings and the feelings of those around them, and they can facilitate their own processing of feelings as well as determine how to handle the feelings of the people in their sphere of influence. They are spiritually minded and feels that they are one with the universe. They speak their truth honestly and without hindrance, and they are able to listen to the needs and desires of others as well. They are creative and solution-oriented.

If your chakras are imbalanced, you can balance your chakras through a combination of yoga, meditation, color therapy and the use of stones.

Choose one stone from each of the following categories so you will have one stone for every chakra:

First Chakra – Black, Red or Brown Stone
Black Tourmaline – Good for when you feel your ability to survive is threatened
Hematite – Protects your emotional space if others feel invasive
Tiger’s Eye – Physical security

Second Chakra – Red or Orange Stone
Bloodstone – Energy
Carnelian – Sexual energy or creativity
Red Jasper – Flowing energy of earth
Ruby – Passion

Third Chakra – Yellow, Coral, Yellow-Green Stone
Argonite – Calming
Citrine – Manifest abundance
Golden Calcite – Personal empowerment
Malachite – Creativity, solar plexus

Fourth Chakra – Pink or Green Stone
Aventurine – Heart health
Emerald – Love
Green Tourmaline – Opens the creative aspect of the heart
Lepidolite – Calms the heart, relieves stress
Pink Calcite – Release emotional pain, learn to love again
Rose Quartz – Self Love

Fifth Chakra – Blue Stones
Aquamarine – Serenity while communicating
Blue Topaz – Fearless communication
Chrysocolla – Confidence in self expression
Larimar – Deep, vulnerable, honest communication

Sixth Chakra – Dark Blue or Purple Stones
Amethyst – Tranquility
Azurite – Release old beliefs and form new ones
Charoite – Overcome fear
Kyanite – Sense of Purpose

Seventh Chakra – White or Clear Stones
Clear Calcite – Spiritual perspective
Danburite – Serenity when life is difficult; eternal perspective
Herkimer Quartz – Dissolves chakra blockages

The one crystal you will really want to have for a chakra cleansing ritual is Herkimer quartz – this stone clears all chakra blockages.

You can either wear the stones or perform a ritual where you place the appropriate stone on the appropriate chakra and meditate. Follow this ritual with a regular yoga practice, ask your yoga instructor to teach you how to perform poses that will open and balance your chakras.

About the author: Amanda Tradwick is a grant researcher and writer for CollegeGrants.org. She has a Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware, and has recently finished research on grants for graduate students and free federal education grants.

beating those back to work blues…

3 Jan

After two awesome 4-day weekends and not much work the 3 days between the holidays, I woke up this morning with a bit of anxiety about heading back to the grind. I have one of those salaried jobs with lots of emails, meetings, annoying internal processes and the constant feeling that I should and could be doing more (I know I’m not alone in this…). I told myself I’d go through emails last night – I didn’t – and then that I’d wake up early to tackle my to-dos – again, didn’t happen.

But I’m not beating myself up about it. I work in wellness and I feel strongly about practicing what I preach around work-life balance because it really does matter.  If I’m tired or unfocused I won’t do a good job anyway. Rather than freak out and stress out (neither of which are good for my health or my sanity), I’m setting boundaries. The work day starts at 8am and ends at 5pm.  If that’s not enough time for all the important things I need to get done, I’ll set aside a few hours in the evening or early morning to catch up, but I won’t give away my whole life. I make realistic (this is important) to-do lists each morning of priorities and focus on those for the day, and I make sure to schedule in breaks and time for personal stuff after business hours.  I try and remember that others’ stress is not a reaction to me but to a situation, and find solutions rather than freak out about why some things don’t go as planned.

I love the field I’m in, just not always the day-to-day, so I try and step back and see the big picture when I’m feeling stressed. Life is too short not to spend time with people you love doing things you love. If your job isn’t exactly your idea of heaven, find ways to make it manageable while you work on the big picture. As one of my wise bosses always said, “Don’t let anyone take away your joy!”

It’s 7:59 here on the West Coast. Time to work! Here’s to a productive and healthy 2012, y’all!

 

 

 

Happy 3 Years!

8 Sep

It’s been three years since my first post on Balancing Wellness!  Most of my previous blogging adventures faded after a few months, so I’m very proud that I’m still here :)

Time sure does fly, and it’s been quite a ride!  In the three years since launching Balancing Wellness we moved from the East Coast to the West (Best) Coast and started a (canine) family, I completed certification programs in nutrition and yoga, I’ve worked as a wellness consultant for two industry-leading companies and as a yoga instructor for three local studios, and I’ve learned and grown sooo much.

There’s still so much I want to do!  I’m working on my latest goals and affirmations (another day, another post!), but really want to hear from you, the reader, about what you’re most interested in seeing on Balancing Wellness.  So have at it and let me know what you want.   And check out some old posts while you’re at it!

ps – The best way to get updates is to subscribe here and to “like” Balancing Wellness on Facebook!

relax! vacations are good for your health

2 Jul

We live in a crazy world. If you’re anything like me, you go from one thing to the next without taking much time to rest. Our technology-filled world keeps us constantly connected, so much so that we often forget to just be in the present. I sometimes feel like taking one day off will leave me feeling more stressed or behind than rested, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

My lovely little sister, Stephanie, passed along this article from Brenda Wilson on why vacations are so vital to our health and wellbeing. From lower blood pressure to improved connections with friends and family, relaxation and rest give our mind, body and spirit a welcome break.

A pic from our February trip to Puerto Rico. Ahh!

This weekend, I’m challenging myself – and you – to take some vacation. Even if it’s just a day, try to disconnect. Focus on living in the present, really being with the people (or nature or book, you get it) you have right here, right now. If you can do it, ditch your cell phone for the day (or at least put it at the bottom of your bag and only use it for emergencies).  We’re taking a stay-cation pool/BBQ day on Monday and I’m soo looking forward to laughing, swimming, eating and catching up with friends.

I hope you all have a very happy and safe 4th of July weekend and remember to relax!

sensible yogi says…

10 May

I found this flow chart on the Yogis Anonymous Facebook page and wanted to share.  It’s a great reminder to let go and not stress about things we have no control over, as hard as that may be sometimes.

 

2011 Yoga Teacher Telesummit

10 May


All you yogis (or aspiring yogis!) out there – be sure to check out the 2011 Yoga Teacher Telesummit.  It’s free and sounds like an amazing way to connect with world-renowned yoga teachers (Kathryn Budig, Ally Hamilton, Sadie Nardini, and Mark Whitwell, to name a few!) and the greater yoga community.

…”Telesummit is designed to motivate, inspire, and educate yoga teachers and dedicated students from all over the planet; to connect and share and inquire; to provide tools for teachers, studio owners, and other yoga-related entrepreneurs to become more authentic and more sustainable, to broaden their reach and focus their attention on what really matters; to create a dialogue between many different styles, traditions, and schools of Yoga to find our common ground, the shared pscyho-spiritual ‘trunk’ that roots the yogic tree into the cosmic ground of our being.”

I will definitely be participating and sharing my learnings!  Big thanks to Jamie Koonce of Superhero Healthcare for passing this along!

4 steps to sustain peak performance

18 Jan

I’m borrowing these from Keith Ferrazzi’s blog and because they’re so right on, they don’t need much commentary.  These tips come from Scott Peltin, author of Sink, Float, or Swim.  They’re great for both personal and organizational wellness programs.

 

1.    Mindset: You have over 60,000 thoughts a day. Reframe thoughts that drag you down. Instead of thinking “I’m overwhelmed, “ think “I am present.”

  

2.    Nutrition: FORTY PERCENT of how you feel right now is due to your last meal. Did you eat a meal that set you up for success? Make sure that every meal you eat fuels you properly for your activities of the next three to four hours.

(more…)

as one year ends, another begins

27 Dec

I love the New Year.  I think the New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day combo is probably my favorite holiday of the year!  Between the fun parties with friends, countdowns, sparkles, and the feeling of fresh newness that January 1st brings, it’s the perfect end to the holiday season.

2010 was an exciting and busy year for me.  I finished my nutritional consultant and yoga teacher certification programs, started a new job, got a new car, and traveled quite a bit (throughout the US for work and in Europe to vacation and visit family).  I wouldn’t change a thing, but I have to admit that the year left me exhausted!  I’m hoping that 2011 will get me even further on my journey toward balance.

I don’t really make resolutions for the new year, but I do like to set goals and write them down somewhere to hold myself accountable and this year you can help!  In 2011, I plan to… (more…)

trying to be a diamond

26 Jul

“A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.” -Unknown

Thanks to Tinybuddha.com for the above quote, which was exactly what I needed this morning.  It’s been a busy summer so far (as evidenced by my lack of posting – sorry!). While most of it has been very fun, with the fun has come work stress and exhaustion.  I guess I haven’t made enough time to rest and my body has realized that even as a fit 27 year-old, I can’t do it all. I feel broken – ouch!

I’m laid-out at home with a busted lower back, alternating ice and heat and trying to find a comfortable seated position while I wait for a visit from a highly recommended masseur.  A huge part of finding balance and handling stress in my life is learning to slow down, and today my body is making me do just that.

The good news is that I had an amazing weekend practicing yoga in LA with three wonderful women, and mentally and spiritually, I feel great! More on the LA yoga retreat to come – but lesson learned is that after three weeks of heavy travel and little to no exercise, a weekend filled with three tough yoga classes, a hike, and lots of driving might give your body a physical shock.

But all is well.  Hopefully some good food, reflection, lots of rest and this massage will turn me into a diamond by morning. :)

two weeks until yoga bootcamp!

13 Apr

I start my first week of yoga bootcamp (and my teacher training certification!) in two weeks. I’m super excited and thought that I’d share the answers to my yoga background questions (yes, even yoga sometimes involves homework).

1. Please write a brief paragraph on what yoga means to you and why you practice.

Yoga brings the world into balance for me.  Even when I’m having a crazy stressful day, it all melts away on the yoga mat and everything is good again. I initially started practicing yoga for the physical benefits, but I find myself returning for the total sense of wellness that yoga delivers. I always feel a sense of accomplishment and peace after practicing and the strength and flexibility I’ve gained from yoga – both physically and mentally – are invaluable.  In my career as a wellness consultant, I find myself advocating on behalf of yoga for all types of people from all different backgrounds and physical abilities and I truly feel that if more people practiced yoga we’d live in a happier, healthier world. (more…)

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