One of my favorite retreat locales is the Zen Mountain Center in Idyllwild, California. When teaching, I led several years of yoga retreats there, and have since regularly visited on my own. High in the San Jacinto Mountains that ring the Palm Springs desert area, this retreat center is the very model of Zen simplicity in action. It was here that I was first exposed to the aesthetic of Zen housekeeping.
The Zen Center is on a well system, so water is very precious and conservation is of utmost importance. Additionally, there are prolonged dry spells in the weather, when things can get very dusty. The approach to keeping things clean, is gentle, laid back, and pursued, like all things Zen, as a ritual part of the spiritual practice. Most everything we do in life is really just tasking, so why not approach all tasks as equal to each other in their importance? Cleaning can be meditation in action, … read more
At the centerpiece of the traditional Korean approach to health and wellness, is the prescriptive treatment of the Akasuri Body Scrub. Although Akasuri, is actually a Japanese word meaning ‘red’ (aka) and ‘to rub’ (suru), it became known as the Korean-style “red scrub” because of its origins on the Korean peninsula. In Korean culture, where bathing and cleanliness represent the spiritual experience of washing and purifying the soul, Akasuri begins with a brief visit to a steam room, sauna, or even a hot shower or bath, to first soften the skin in preparation for the scrub itself.
If you aren’t lucky enough to have a Korean spa in your town, you can still experience the health benefits and wonderful soft skin that a technique called “dry brushing” will give you. Variations of this treatment can be found at every fancy spa around the world in their efforts to pamper and rejuvenate their clients, but it’s something so deceptively … read more
In Honor of Earth Day – April 22, I could think of nothing more important than to share info about the food we eat. It is a true gift of our precious Earth that we are so blessed with such an amazing array of plants that we can eat, not only because they taste good – but as well, they are beautiful to look at, they heal and cure us, they impart nutrition so we can grow and think and do all the things we do as humans. Plants truly provide our existence.
As such, it is vital they be as pure as possible when they reach your plate. Here are some reminders of why it is important to go organic this Earth Day:
Organic products are produced and processed without the use of synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones, artificial ingredients and preservatives, and genetic engineering.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that … read more
Your Spring detoxing efforts can focus not just on the biological and physiological effects of cleansing and detoxing, but also in association with toxic or stressful emotions and energy that you might be holding onto. Lomi Lomi massage is the perfect vehicle for addressing emotional energy blockages and helping to release them in a very gentle and loving manner.
Lomi Lomi was first practiced by the ancient Polynesian healers, which followed a traditional philosophy called Huna. This ancient Polynesian philosophy stated that every single thing in the world seeks harmony and love. This is why Lomi Lomi is not considered effective unless the practitioner performs it with loving hands; this is why Lomi Lomi is often referred to as a “Loving Hands” massage.
The style of Lomi Lomi massage is characterized by its very large, broad strokes, as well as two-handed stokes that enlist the forearms and elbows. Lomi Lomi technique covers a broad area of the body and … read more
Continuing with some great Spring cleaning health, beauty and wellness tips:
As you may or may not be aware, learning how to deep breathe is a must for physical cleansing and health. But breathing exercises also form the foundation of many ancient practices that promote a deepening of consciousness—meditation, mindfulness, yoga, chi gong. In the Middle East the word for breath (ruach in Hebrew and ruhain in Aramaic) also means Spirit. The way in which we breathe is also the way in which we embody Spirit. Deep flowing breath is a sign of health, balance, and fullness of spirit. Short shallow breath indicates stress. Breath is the simplest most direct way to focus our energy and to connect with the center of awareness. Breathing through a stressful time is an effective way to let go of the tension that accumulates in the body. A few long deep breaths at a difficult moment can completely change the way we … read more
Here are two great smoothie recipes to aid in Spring cleansing and re-booting efforts. Try to source fresh, organic produce at local farmer’s markets if possible. If you can make the smoothie and drink it within 15 – 20 minutes, you’ll get a more beneficial result from the plant’s nutrients than if you let it sit in the fridge for several hours.
Spring Veggie Smoothie
Wild ancestors of the carrot most likely came from Afghanistan, the center of diversity of the wild carrot. Carrots support health liver, nails, skin and hair. The beta carotene in carrots cools the blood, noticeable as a cooling effect in the eyes, which can feel inflamed, itchy and irritated when the body releases fats during a cleansing effort.
Beets, Radish, and garlic cleanse the liver and gall bladder, organs and tissues that are working hard to breakdown stored fats, oils, and sugars. The pigment that … read more
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