NeilMed Nasal Rinse

Just the other day, I recommended to a yoga client that she purchase a NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit to help her (and her sinuses) get through the fall. It jogged my memory that this is by far one of my Wellness Junkie favorites. I know the neti pot has been demonstrated on Oprah and Dr. Oz, but the folks at NeilMed have developed such an easier way to get the same result. Instead of a pot, you have a squeeze bottle that has a hole on the top. You fill the bottle with warm water and drop in a sinus rinse packet.  You lean over your sink and gently squeeze the water up one nostril and it comes out through the other nostril. Alternate sides until the bottle is empty. I know this sounds strange…but we clean all other parts of our body….it makes sense to clean the nose too…

The first time I did this, it felt odd…kind of like getting water up your nose in the pool…but it gets more comfortable. And the results are great.  In the fall and spring when pollen and mold are high, I make sure to do my sinus rinse every morning.  My nose is less congested, I have fewer headaches and don’t feel my typical sinus pressure of the season.

To learn more, go to www.neilmed.com. You can find them sometimes at Costco and usually at Walgreens or CVS.

P90x

P90x is a DVD 90 day workout system that works different parts of the body on different days and alternates strength training and cardio workouts, plus a little yoga and martial arts.  For more information and the full sales pitch check out www.beachbody.com.

My experience:
This past summer, my husband and I watched the P90x infomercial and had talked to several acquaintances who had started doing the workouts. We also have a reasonably priced gym membership but were finding it difficult to get there on a consistent basis.  Plus, it seemed like a great idea to get up early, workout together and have the rest of our day. We took the plunge and ordered our P90x system.

The first week was challenging….we were getting used to the movements and I was getting used to my new 6 a.m. wake-up call.  The first 30 days really flew by and were fun.  I lost a few pounds (nice side benefit) and really felt more energetic throughout the rest of the day.  I really love the strength training DVDs.  When I go to the gym, I’m usually not focused or diligent enough to go through all the weight-lifting exercises I should.  The DVDs are fun and set at a pace that keeps you interested and your body working.  The cardio workouts Plyometrics and Kenpo are both good…Plyometrics can be a bit challenging for folks with knee concerns. There are a lot of high impact jumps and twisting jumps.  The key here is to listen to your body and modify as needed (also expressed by Tony on the DVDs).

My only critic is (big surprise) the yoga class.  The yoga dvd is 90 minutes long, while the rest of the workouts are about an hour or less.  I would have liked to have a shorter option – even an hour class would be great.   The P90x yoga can be intense for those new to yoga…As a yoga teacher, my advice  would be to listen to your body and not push it.  For practical purposes, I found myself improvising with my “p90x-like” yoga in a 45-55 minute class instead. We rarely use that DVD.

So now that I’ve just finished my 90 days (I know I have fuzzy math — but we took a vacation, I had a week-long migraine, other distractions, etc.),  I’m not stopping! I really do love having the variety of different workouts and a system that I know works.  Plus, through the Kansas winter, I don’t need to leave the house for a great workout.  For both of us, we’ve lost weight, our clothes fit better, we’re more toned and we just feel better.

We all know by now that exercise is great for our physical and mental health — we feel better when we do it.  I think the difference with P90x, is that you start to see results pretty quickly which motivates you to keep going.  And then it just feeds on itself….a healthy habit is born!

Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage

What is Lomilomi?

Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage was first practiced by the kahunas and family elders of Hawai’i. Today, lomi is practiced by massage therapists and is performed with prayerful intentions and blessings, deep breathing, music of the islands, hot stones, and guided visualization.  Sessions are usually 90 minutes – 2 hours or can be more of a retreat and last multiple days.

My experience

So I picked the gloomiest fall day in Kansas to treat myself to a Hawaiian Lomilomi massage.  I figured this would be a good thing. Listening to a little ukulele during a massage just might transport my brain away from the gloom & gray of the Midwest into the warm paradise of the islands…It was worth a shot.

I’ve known my Lomi practitioner Tamara Creighton for awhile, but I had never taken the time to experience this type of massage.  I can usually justify a 60 minute massage for overall wellness…but 90 minutes? It seemed like too much of an indulgence…but I got past this…fairly quickly.

This was unlike any massage I had ever experienced.  And I mean that in a good way.  With most massages, I find myself practicing my relaxation techniques to settle and still my mind during the massage.  I usually try not to “think” too much – so that my body & mind can relax and let go. This massage was very different.  As Tamara mentioned at the beginning she would be focused on my external self (my muscles, tissues, body) and I would be encouraged to focus on my internal self (thoughts, feelings, reflections)….I’m paraphrasing that – but that’s what I took away.  So, while Tamara worked with rhythmic, but firm massage techniques and hot stones, she guided my through visualization exercises to reflect on my internal wellness.  What was I carrying around that I needed to let go of today? What stories from my life needed some re-writes or changes? What stories were perfect just as they were and should be cherished?  These were just some of the questions that I heard during my massage…Amazingly, as I would reflect on these things…holding on to some things and letting others go, tension in my body would release and emotions would well up and subside.  I left with my body, mind and spirit feeling nurtured and refreshed.  I also left with a greater awareness of the links between our thoughts and emotions and how those show themselves in the body.  For example, when I have a lot on my plate in terms of responsibilities, obligations, burdens…I feel that load in my shoulders and upper back.   As Tamara noticed this as well and commented, it was a good reminder for me to take time to care for myself and manage that load before I have too much to carry.

For more information

• In Kansas City: http://www.tcreighton.com/hawaiianlomilomimassage.html

• To find a Lomilomi practitioner in your area:

http://www.lomilomi.org/directory

GYROTONIC® Stretches

I stumbled upon Gyrotonics® at a local wellness center, Plaza Wellspring and thought I’d give it a try. Described as being founded on the key principles of yoga, martial arts, gymnastics, and ballet, I thought this was definitely something worth exploring. GYROTONIC® stretches and strengthens muscles and the connective tissue around your joints. Its powerful system of gentle, fluid movement increases endurance, balance, flexibility and coordination.

GYROTONIC® Machine

My introductory session ($45) was one hour and my encouraging instructor, Jane began by guiding me through warm-up movements with my upper torso, arms, core and legs.

One thing I found interesting about Gyrotonic® stretches, was that it uses circular movement, rather than the linear, isolated movement of conventional machines (think pilates reformer, for example). So…instead of engaging the muscles one way and relaxing the other way…you’re engaging through the entire movement…that seems more efficient to me… interesting.

As someone who danced growing up, did the dance team thing, now teaching yoga, I would normally consider myself well-coordinated with body movement – even having an aptitude to pick up new movements quickly. But on this morning, I felt like my arms and legs were strangers and my core muscles and pelvis had gone on strike.  I found these stretches very helpful and interesting because they were requiring me to move in a very different way – which is always a great thing not only for the body but also the mind.  However, it was a very good lesson in letting go of my expectations and my ego as well…I was learning something new that wasn’t coming so easily (good medicine for all of us to be challenged outside of our beloved hobbies and skills).

After the warm-up, we did quicker circular movements and bicycles with the legs and then very challenging (but effective) core exercises.  The hour went by quickly and I left feeling more energetic after my workout.

During my stretches, I asked Jane about her typical client.  She sees dancers, professional athletes and those who are active in some discipline (running, cycling, tennis) but who are looking to cross-train and get the flexibility and core strength GYROTONIC® stretches have to offer.  She also sees folks who are working through conditions such as sciatica, MS, and arthritis.

The wellness junkie verdict? I really enjoyed this.  I’ve listed it as a fix, because I’m not sure I’d incorporate it into my weekly routine but it would definitely be something I would do again and recommend to clients.

For more general info on GYROTONIC® Stretches: CLICK HERE

For those in Kansas City, to contact Jane at Plaza Wellspring: 816-560-0530

Hemp Protein Powder

This is truly a wellness junkie favorite — I even have my husband craving these smoothies!  Enjoy!

I’ve been looking for a great tasting, healthy source of protein for my morning smoothies and I found one that I want to share: Nutiva Hemp Protein Powder + Fiber is superb!  I wanted to stay away from the whey and soy protein powders, so I tried this one.  It tastes good, isn’t grainy and doesn’t have any after taste.

I have one in the morning to give me a boost, especially when I have morning classes to teach.  When I was on a  cleanse, I would have a couple of hemp powder smoothies a day and they really kept my energy level going.  I know some may have some questions about hemp — here’s more information for you who may be snickering:

From the Nutiva Website

Here’s my usual smoothie recipe:

1 cup V8 Fusion Pom/Blueberry (or home juiced carrots & apple)

2 T. Hemp Protein Powder + Fiber (the label says 2-4 T. per serving)

1 Banana

1 cup frozen berries

(and if I have it on-hand) a handful of baby spinach or other greens

You’ll want to drink right away – that’s the best. Enjoy!

Cold Stone Therapy: Relief for Headaches

After last week and my mega-migraine, I thought I’d try a few more natural remedies for headaches (including migraines) and sinus relief.  Yesterday, I had a Cold Stone Therapy session.  From what I understand, this is a fairly new technique developed by a massage therapist in Ft. Worth, TX.  See more below for resources.  In Kansas City, it cost $35 and lasted about 30 minutes.

Here’s how it went:

I’m lying on a heated massage table, fully clothed with warm cloths wrapped around my feet. Michelle, my massage therapist begins with some migraine-relieving aromatherapy oil on my forehead and a head, neck & shoulder massage.

Then, she places cold (but not uncomfortably cold) marble stones on my forehead, sinuses, eyes, chin and behind my neck.  I usually don’t like to be cold and would think that this many cold stones on my face would actually induce a headache but happily, it did not. The heated table and warm cloths help to keep the rest of my body warm.  Then, she presses two more marble stones at my temples.  Relaxation….tension melting away….sinuses opening up…. ah, relief…

After removing the stones, she left me to relax for another 5 minutes or so with a cold facial cloth over my eyes.  The first thing I noticed when I sat up was how much more easily I could breathe!  I definitely felt  a lot of sinus congestion & pressure (crazy September weather in Kansas!) when I walked in, and now I could breathe clearly.

This is definitely something I would do again – especially if I could time my appointment with the onset of a headache or change in weather for allergy sufferers like myself…(not always possible). For those of us looking for more natural relief for migraines, other headaches and sinus trouble, this should be on your list to give it a tru…Ladies, be sure to go in for your appointment without make-up (especially eye make-up).

In the KC metro, I went to Michelle Warner, LMT at www.wellnessworkskc.com

For more general information and to find a practitioner near you: www.naturalmigrainesolutions.com or www.kellylott.com

All week long, I’ve been anticipating my appointment and joking that I’m going in for Cold Stone Creamery Therapy…. those of you with this franchise in your town might humor me with a chuckle… I will say that Cold Stone Therapy beats ice cream any day for headache & sinus pressure relief… plus, ice cream can give you “brain freeze”. Enjoy!

wellness junkie

Migraine Madness

So…week 2 of my wellness junkie project got a bit waylaid by my worst experience with a migraine. Unfortunately the day before I unknowingly experienced at least 6 common migraine triggers: pet dander from dog show, chinese food, red wine, dark chocolate, high mold day, high pollen day and stress…so after 1 ER visit, 6 different drugs (including a steroid which meant crazy wellness junkie & no sleep), 4 days in a bedroom cave (sweet husband put aluminum foil on our windows – sure the neighbors were excited about that!) and a week of cancelled yoga classes, I’ve emerged – still a little foggy but for the most part, recovered.

There are many alternative therapies that are said to help relieve/prevent migraines: chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture…unfortunately, I couldn’t get in to my beloved acupuncturist in my time of need…but I have an appointment Friday…will report on that next week…

NAET

My Wellness Junkie Experience:

My first experience with NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique) happened over 7 years ago.  I was on a girls’ trip with my college friends in Santa Fe, NM.  It was a bachelorette spa weekend (I was the bride).  My friend Tracy is a wellness junkie as well and had been doing NAET treatments for awhile.  So she thought she’d pass it along to us.  Part of the allergy testing and treatment involved holding a vial of the substance you’re being tested/treated for.  But for our impromptu/demonstration purposes, my friend proceeded to muscle test us in a Santa Fe bar by merely saying the words (“wheat”, “mold”, “dust”) to evaluate our wellness levels. I came away thinking this is too weird for me. Maybe I wasn’t a certified wellness junkie quite yet.

Fast forward 6 years – after dabbling in holistic therapies, acupuncture, nutritional changes, etc…a holistic wellness practitioner that I respected & admired suggested that I try NAET.  The real experience of testing and treatment was far different and much more effective than our musings in Santa Fe.  And yes, it’s a little strange.  As you hold certain substances in your hand and hold out a strong arm, the NAET practitioner will try to press your arm down. All the will in the world won’t keep your arm lifted if it’s a substance that’s negatively affecting you. Strange.  Then, once you have the list of things that you need to be “treated for”, each week you get treated for 1 or 2 things on the list.  The treatment involves holding the said vials of items, deep breathing, holding the vials a little longer and then a little acupressure work.  After you leave the office you have an avoidance period — a certain number of hours where you are to avoid those substances or components.

Each treatment period is different. Some don’t seem to affect me at all…others feel like they will never end. But…eventually they do. And when I ‘clear’ the thing I’m being treated for, it’s like a veil lifting.

For me, I don’t have true food allergies – but more food intolerances and environmental allergies. Yes,  it might seem strange, but as my husband continues to say (I’ve been doing NAET almost a year), you can’t argue with the results.  I’ve seen improvements in my ability to eat almost all foods in moderation (whereas before I had a lengthy list to avoid).  I’ve seen improvements in my hormone balance, digestion, fewer to no headaches, less fatigue, more energy and I’ve lost about 10 lbs (this may have more to do with more energy & more exercise – but either way – I’m not complaining!)

NAET has definitely become part of my regular wellness routine…graduated up from just an occasional wellness junkie fix.

Resources:

For more info: www.naet.com You can learn more technical information about NAET, and who may benefit from treatment. You can also search for a practitioner near you.

In Kansas City, I go to Sandra Karr with offices in Mission & Lee’s Summit: pkarr@kc.rr.com 913 – 432-3602. She also does attunement, craniosacral therapy and lymphatic drainage.

Hello world!

I’ve been calling myself a wellness junkie for awhile.  Even my yoga clients and husband are chiming in on the nickname when I come home with a new green juice to drink or a brochure from the latest hydrotherapy place….I figure it may be better than other junkie categories.  While it can be hard on the budget – I love learning about new health & wellness therapies, experiencing new things and finding a few nuggets in the process that actually work and are beneficial.

I thought if I committed to blog about each new wellness product, discipline or service I tried, it would keep me focused and provide a bit more structure to my aimless search for all things healthy & wise.

So that’s the plan…one wellness fix each week – for all of you wellness junkies that share my passion for health & vitality.