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Creating True Wealth Through Great Health

Yin Yoga Post Race Series

6/13/2017

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An essential part to any athletic training program

You’ve crossed that finish line, soak it all in!!!

The way your body performed during the race, and the way you feel now is most likely the result of a regular athletic training, and nutrition program.

Just as important as training your body on a regular basis when your getting ready for a triathlon, marathon, or any other athletic activity, is making sure you set aside the time to decompress all the pounding, tension, and pressure put on your body. ​

The thing is most people are not even aware of how their bodies are being affected from such continuous training. Are you?
performing-full-body-scan-can-help-find-areas-of-tension

Full-body Scan ​

To bring awareness to areas in your body, and find where you may be holding some tension you may want to try mentally scanning your whole body. This can be done sitting, or standing, but you may feel the best results come from when you lay flat.

When you begin your full-body scan you can start with the top of your head, and scan down through your body to your toes, or you can start with your toes, and work your way up to the top of your head. You can start this scan going in one direction, then continuing it scanning back in the other direction.

There is no real right way or wrong way to do this. The point of this exercise is to bring your focus to areas in the body where you may be holding tension, notice it, and then mentally allow that body part to relax, let go, and completely let gravity do the work.

After completing the full-body scan it would be great to reevaluate how your body feels. Does it feel any different? Are areas that were hurting or tight, feel better or loosened now? Do you still feel some tension in certain areas of the body?

If you’re still feeling some stiffness, or restriction in some areas, you may want to try our Yin Yoga Full-Body Post Race series we put together with our lovely athletes in mind.
yin-yoga-can-help-athletes-perform-and-recover-faster

Full-body Yin Yoga Post Race Series

  • Improve flexibility
  • Decrease stiffness
  • Natural release of tension in your Fascia
  • Calm connectedness of body and mind

This series is designed to help you bring awareness to areas of your body where you may be holding tension, or receiving a lot of pressure that is creating stiffness or pain. 

After performing this series, you should feel an improvement in your joints, flexibility, also a release through your fascia, and an overall sensation of calm. 

You want to be gentle, and patient through this process allowing the simple weight of your body to help lengthen your muscles, and decompress your joints. Make sure to take the time to breathe full, deep breaths. Usually a full breath can be measured by a 4-6 second inhale, followed by a 4-6 second exhale. If you notice you are struggling to breathe, then back off on the pose until your breathing returns to a relaxed effortless cycle.
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10 Pose Yin Yoga Sequence
  1. Kneeling Toe Pose
  2. Seated Genie
  3. Horse
  4. Half Cross Legged Frog
  5. Metal Triangle
  6. Stump
  7. Twisting Stump
  8. Stretching Wood
  9. Reclined Root
  10. Resting
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Click to print this sequence.
*If you are unfamiliar with these poses, and would like to see how this sequence flows, please watch the Post Race Yin Yoga video.
*Optional props to use through this series are blocks, a yoga mat, and a foam roller, or rolled blanket, or towel.

This series can be completed once, and cycled back through as many times as needed for you to feel an improvement throughout your body.

Master & Founder of Yin Yoga

Yin yoga has really gained popularity. If you’ve looked into it, or have practiced it yourself, you may feel that this series is slightly different from the norm.

This series was designed from the poses taught by the Master, and Founder of Yin Yoga, Paulie Zink. 
Yin Yoga is an art form not an exact science. The purpose of Yin yoga is to take us out of the systems of social convention, indoctrination and mechanistic ways of thinking, not to reinforce them by demanding conformity to rigid, limited paradigms. Yoga does not require scientific approval or validation. Intellectualizing the practice of yoga serves to obstruct a deeper understanding of its essence. The real power to authorize truth is contained within each and every one of us. ~ Paulie and Maria Zink

Message from the Author

Lilah Bazarte
Nationally Certified and Licensed Therapeutic Massage Therapist
Owner of Pampering Pros
www.PamperingPros.com​

My mission is to help others have “True Wealth Through Great Health”. I hope this article, and Yin Yoga series can help you do that. If you would like to set up a consultation, and reserve your own restorative treatment please fill out this form, or call (844) 868-6946.

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Natural Alternatives For ADHD

9/30/2016

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natural-alternatives-for-adhd

​​What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition that affects children and adults. It is a behavioral disorder wherein the person with ADHD finds it difficult to sustain attention, impulsive behavior and hyperactivity. With the ongoing development in the medical world, prescription drugs are made available for children, and adults suffering from this condition. 

With prolonged use, many of the recommended prescriptions can cause mental and physical harm. Some of the side effects reported include insomnia, weight loss, heart problems, depression, and suicidal thoughts or actions.  

Fortunately, a child or adult can minimise their intake of prescription drugs to lessen the side effects. Where can you go if that is not enough? It may be helpful to know that there are natural alternatives. 

Studies show that there are natural remedies, and food ingredients to avoid as a way to naturally help ADHD. It’s been noted that people suffering from ADHD have tried the following to help calm their minds and bring about a calmness back into their lives.   
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Sleep Better

Sleep is one of the common problems of people suffering with ADHD. To help ease this problem, it can be beneficial to get into the practice of good sleeping habits. This could include switching off bright lights in the room, such as a TV, mobile phone, or tablet. The light emitted by these devices(*1) can make it difficult to go to sleep.

It can also be helpful to avoid caffeine, and other stimulants after lunch so that the mind will not be energized when it’s time to go to sleep. Another suggestion, to aid in getting a night of rest, is to exercise regularly. A day filled with activities can help the mind and body to be still at night .  

A warm bath, or meditation before going to bed can be a great way to relax the mind and body. Sometimes even reading a book(paper book, not on an electrical device) can help one to fall asleep.

​Reduce Anxiety

​You may want to try booking a Yoga or Tai-Chi class. There are studies that indicate how yoga helps people with ADHD. We have included a yoga video(*2) you may like to try at the end of this article. It was reported that a research conducted in 2013 on boys, who were taking up yoga, showed notable improvements in their social skills and anxiety issues. Similar to yoga, studies also suggest Tai-Chi has helped people with ADHD. These may be a few activities you would like to try, as one thing may work better for you than others. 
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Balanced Diet

​It is unfortunate that most of our food today is composed of food dyes, artificial products, and additives. It’s best to maintain a balance diet. The intake of food additives should be limited, or avoided. It was reported that these additives can aggravate attention problems which may lead to feelings of anxiety or hyperactivity. 

​Improve Attention and Focus

As science continues its research, there have been many new techniques and tools developed that can help one to increase their attention span, and focus. Neurofeedback(*3) has received a lot of attention with it’s positive results on helping the brain. This is a non-invasive assessment tool that provides information about the brain’s condition. It helps train the weaker portions of the brain through the control of brainwaves. Through regular treatments, the ability to focus has been strengthened. 

There are many other natural ways to help ADHD out there, these are just a few. So whether it is you, or someone you know that is suffering from this condition, please have patience, love, and respect for them, and yourself. Please share this article if you feel it has helped you, or can help someone you know. 

(*)Articles and video for reference: 
​1. https://sleep.org/articles/ways-technology-affects-sleep
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJbRpHZr_d0
You can watch this video and more on our 30 Days of Yoga on our YouTube channel. 
3. http://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/neurofeedback#NotWidelyAccepted7
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Redesign Your Mind

9/1/2016

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Brain Strength

4 Ways to Build a Resilient Brain

Resilience can be defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. There are many activities that can help one to maintain a healthy mental, and physical resilience. One activity may seem to work for you better than others. Feel free to try them all, and see which one holds the magic for you. 

Memory Lane

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​Doesn’t it feel great looking back, reflecting on situations in life that seemed impossible to overcome at the time, and realizing where you are today? You’re alive, strong, and happy! How did you get here? 

Those memories may have faded away making it hard to really remember them. This may at first seem like a great thing, but what happens when that dark, gloomy cloud finds its way following you around all day, all week, perhaps even all month?  Maybe you’re facing a challenge right now that just feels like it is taking everything you have to just go on with your normal daily activities. This is when recollection of those difficult times you have experienced in the past can help. Taking the time to look back, and see how you overcame the challenges can help you gain confidence that you can, and will come out on top again.

PEER PRESSURE

Most of the time when one thinks of peer pressure your mind probably goes back to grade school. Remember listening to counselors talk about how peer pressure could lead youths to partake in drugs or underage drinking?  There is no doubt that those we surround ourselves with can influence the way we think and act. But peer pressure doesn't always have a negative impact on our lives. 

Do you know someone that everytime you see them they have a smile on their face? Or maybe you know someone whose life is really hectic but yet they seem unfazed and super content. If you don't then try to make it your aim to find someone that is. When we choose to regularly associate with ones who seem to be at peace with themselves, and happy in life that too can impact our thinking. 

Self-Love

​Naturally you would not think this to be to hard to do, but for some it can be a real challenge. For those of you who may feel like that is you, please please please know that you are 100% worth it. 

You may not see yourself as being worth it, but there is something you can do to change that self image. It involves some self examination, honesty, and something to write with. The self examination is to be positive. Think about what you love about yourself. This can be a physical attribute or characteristic. Try coming up with 3-5 things you love about yourself, and write them down. Throughout the day you can review these self loving statements. Each day you can try to come up with 3-5 new things you love about yourself. Seriously if you try this you should feel amazing in just a few days. 

Someone who knows the power derived from this sort of exercise is the poet Audre Lorde. She was born in New York and grew up in an environment where people were often suspicious of those darker skinned than them. This even included her mother's view towards her. As you can imagine this led her to having a poor self image, and often times feeling as an outcast. She was able to draw strength, and positive affirmation through her writing."Caring for myself in not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation" - Audre Lorde.

Positively Strong

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​If life seems to be getting the best of you, and you feel like nothing's going your way try to see what you can learn from the situation. There may be a hidden gem in the seemingly unnecessary suffering you are going through. 

These are just a few ways to help get your mind to recover quickly from what may seem like a tsunami of difficult events. Given the opportunity, your brain can be trained to self-love, & start trusting in yourself knowing that you are very capable of making the changes that may be needed to accomplish your true potential, and move obstacles that may be in your way. 

More articles on ways to achieve "Great Wealth Through Great Health" can be found here. To receive notification on topics similar to this article please subscribe. As always we hoped you have enjoyed and benefited in some way from reading this article. Please like and share if you have. 
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Stress - Sometimes All You Need To Do Is "Shake It Off"

5/10/2016

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massage-shake-off-stress
​Dogs seem to know how this works, sometimes almost too well. When you see a dog vivaciously shaking its entire body, it has been translated to mean that they just went through something that was a bit intense for them, or they needed to calm down. It almost seems to be a way for them to reset.
Soft Reboot

Have you experienced a shortening of breath, lack of sleep, tight shoulders, or even a short fuse temperament when under stress? Maybe you’re experiencing that now. We hope this article can bring you some relief.
​It’s true, we may feel that we relate better to our furry friends more than we do to our fellow sapiens. How can we use what they have seemed to master, to help us shake off our stress? 

5 Steps to Relieve Your Stress

massage-laugh
Laugh

Laughter has been proven to decrease stress hormones. There is even an official name for the exercise of laughter called “Laughercise”.
​Knowing that not everyone has the same sense of humor, it’s best to try something that gets that lol (laugh out loud) effect for you. It could be the comic section in the daily journal, or your monthly planner jokes of the day, or maybe a clip from your favorite stand-up comedian. Try what works best for you.
​Another thing about laughter is that it is contagious. Have you watched a show, and noticed they have added in a group of people laughing, and maybe you wouldn’t have laughed, but they were laughing so you began to do so? Don’t be afraid to be the one spreading laughter around, it’s great for all who catch it.
Full-Body Scan
​
Our bodies are amazing under pressure. We may not always feel that way, but it’s true. So much that you may not even be aware of how much stress your body is actually under until you do something that brings it relief. ​
​Have you been in one position so long, maybe at your desk, that your shoulders now are permanently stuck up in your neck? A full-body scan can help you become aware of where your body may be holding the stress. Again this can be different for you than it is for someone else. The process can begin with you closing your eyes, or simply drawing your attention inward to your body. Then try focusing on one body part at a time starting from your toes and visually move all the way to your head, or vice versa. Sometimes it helps to squeeze/flex a body part then let it rest completely. You may discover that you were already flexing that body part, and you will be able to experience a little relief when you let go.
massage-diva
Simple Surroundings

The environment we find ourselves in day to day can really have an effect on the way we feel. Life can get crammed with many things we feel we need, need to keep, need to hold onto. Those feelings can often lead to our workplace, home, and probably even more so our cars being crammed with unnecessary things. ​

​When we can have clean, organized spaces to live, work, and travel our mood tends to improve. Maybe it’s time for all those receipts, sticky notes, coffee cups you have lingering on your desk, or in your car to go find a new home, so you can start fresh. 
Lavish Yourself With Love

There are personality types out there that are super generous, always caring, would give you the shirt off their back, even if that meant they would lose everything thing they had. Unfortunately they also are the ones that often get left by themselves to deal with the hard times when they come. This maybe you, or someone you know. Are you the one that everyone goes to, to vent? Stress can really build up when that happens.​
​True love of others involves loving yourself. That may mean that you’ll have to get use to saying the word “NO”. This is not to say that you can’t do nice things for people, but it’s good to pay attention to when saying yes could cause you more harm than good.
Dance

Last but not least. Dancing!! There is just something about dancing like no one is watching that is freeing. If you’re like most, you probably don’t like to admit that you may have shaken everything you got listening to Taylor Swifts - Shake it off song. It’s o.k. we won’t tell anyone. ​
​For years, dancing has been used as an outlet for creativity and stress reduction. Don’t like to dance, that’s o.k. there still is benefit from listening to music. Listening to music that makes you feel good from the inside, can help life look, and feel a little brighter on the outside.
massage-princess
​We hope you have enjoyed this article, and will find some of these steps useful in helping you shake the stress off. Please leave your antidote to stress in the comment section below, we would love to hear how you get relief when feeling stressed out. 
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WHAT IS HOT STONE MASSAGE?​

12/2/2015

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massage-hot-stones

What Is Hot Stone Massage?​

​Hot stone massage is a treatment that provides the body with great comfort and relief. As the name “hot stone massage” indicates, the stones used throughout this treatment will be heated. Stones that are heated for this kind of treatment should only be heated in a professional stone warmer. The temperature of the water should be verified by a calibrated thermometer (110° - 130° F). There should always be good communication between the therapist and client to make sure that the temperature of the stones are not too hot.


​Why Would I Choose To Receive This Treatment?  
​

​Would you like relief from stiff & sore muscles? Are you having trouble sleeping? Is the outside weather cold? Would you like to find a way to allow your body to relax at a deep level? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then hot stone massage may be just what you are looking for!


​How Does Hot Stone Help To Heal The Body?

​Hot stone massage therapy can help melt away the tension held within your body. Areas of the body that hold a lot of tension can be worked more deeply after having been properly warmed up by the stones. Pain caused from sports injuries, such as a sprain or tennis elbow, can often be reduced after having a hot stone massage therapy treatment. 

What Type Of Stone Is Used In A Hot Stone Massage?

massage-hot-stones-back
When it comes to using stones for a massage treatment, there are quite a variety to choose from. Since we are speaking about hot stone massage specifically here, an ideal stone to use would be basalt. These stones are able to retain heat for an extended period of time, which makes it a very desirous stone. To provide a constant warmth throughout the whole treatment, with fluidity, it is best to use such a stone that is high in iron, silica, and magnesium. 

​

What Are Some Reasons You Would Not Want To Receive Hot Stone Massage?

​If you are currently pregnant, have diabetes, cancerous tumors, open wounds, bruises, broken skin, or high blood pressure, it would be recommended that you do not receive this treatment. If you are currently seeing a doctor for any medical reasons, it is best, as with most therapy, that that you consult them prior to receiving a hot stone massage. When you are approved by your doctor to have a hot stone massage, it is in your best interest to make sure your therapist is aware of any medical conditions you may have, or for which you are being treated.


​Does Pampering Pros Offer Hot Stone Massage?

​
​Pampering Pros does not offer this service in our current menu. However, we would like to announce that we will be offering this come the new year of 2016. Please subscribe to make sure you are informed when this happens, and to benefit from any special offers.
massage-hot-stone-girl
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Fight the Flu

10/31/2015

 
massage-flu-season
No one likes being sick, and flu season is right around the corner, have you thought about how can you protect your family? Flu season can begin in late November and end sometime in March. The symptoms and severity can vary. Some may experience some or all of the following:
  • Lack of energy
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Nausea
  • Muscle tension, sensitivity
  • Nasal congestion
  • High temperature
  • Sore throat

Boost Your Immune System

massage-boost-immune
Music – Scientific studies have been made to explore the benefits that listening to about 30 minutes of relaxing music can have on the body. They have found that after listening to soft music there had been an increase in levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA), an infection fighting antibody. You can try a little morning wake  up call to some mother nature sound track to help keep your mind happy and soul soothed.

massage-head


​Massage –The University of Miami, School of Medicine, has found that regular massage sessions encourages the level of activity and amount of the body’s “killer cells”. Receiving regular massage helps reduce Cortisol levels, and increase levels of serotonin in the blood and brain, this too has a positive effect on the immune system. 
Lots of liquid – When you regularly consume water, tea, or coffee (8 glasses or more), you encourage your body to keep the mucous membranes moist that help trap viruses. Then you can expel them easier from your body, by choice of gentle nose blowing, or swallowing to be destroyed your stomach acids.
​
massage-water

Beat The Bug

Personal Space – When ones you know are sick, the nurse inside you may want to bring them some soup and keep them company. This is not recommended. When one is sick, it's best for them to rest, and stay away from infecting others. If a workmate shows up to work sick, you should feel comfortable keeping to your own personal space.
massage-flu
Classic cleaning – Disinfect high traffic, common work areas, and keep your hands washed!!!

​Gentle blow – Nasal congestion can really leave you feeling miserable. It may be difficult to breath, but heavy blowing would not be the best response. When your sinus cavities are already under so much pressure, blowing your nose hard can force the infection deeper into the sinus cavities. Instead try softly blowing your nose. 
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​Rest – Your body works better when well rested. It is able to fight invaders better when it not runs on just a few hours of sleep. When you’re sleeping, your body is still at work trying to find areas that may need healing. Try to maintain a regular sleeping pattern, and length of time for at least 7 hours/night.
​
Maintaining a balanced daily activity level and diet can also help keep your body’s immune system in shape. These are just a few of the many ways to keep you and your family’s prepared for this coming season of the flu. If you have family secrets/traditions to fighting the flu, please share in the comments box below.

cocoa Butter

7/14/2015

 
massage-cocoa-butter-process


Where does cocoa butter come from? 

If you can take a look above, you can see a glimpse of how this wonderful creation came into existence. 

massage-cocoa-butter-sapling
Often, it begins its life in a fiber basket.

Cacao trees can grow up to 60 feet in height.
massage-cocoa-butter-tree
massage-cocoa-butter-buds
The tree produces either white or pink flowers that must be pollinated in order for the fruit (pod) to grow. 
massage-cocoa-butter-pods
* Only 3-10% of the thousands of flowers end up producing fruit.
Lets begin with the Theobroma Cacao (cocoa tree). It can thrive and best produce fruit in warm and shady tropical regions of the world that run along the equator.

massage-cocoa-butter-world

massage-cocoa-butter-teeth
After the pods are harvested, they are then split opened to show the treasure inside. The fruit contains juice, pulp, and 50-60 cocoa seeds. At this stage in the cocoa seeds' life, they are white looking, and contain a jelly membrane around them. They resemble white, over-sized corn kernels, rather than the cocao nibs or cocoa powder we may picture in our minds.
massage-cocoa-butter-fermentatin
Once the seeds are separated from the pods, fermentation begins. The seeds are  often placed in wooden boxes, or raked out into piles, then covered with bananas leaves. This process can take anywhere from 2-14 days.

massage-cocoa-butter-raw


This changes its appearance to something we may be more familiar with. Removing the now dried outer shell will reveal chocolate in its purest raw form!


From this point forward, there are many different roads that this new raw chocolate could travel. There are innumerable processes that it can undergo to create an array of desired products.
massage-cocoa-butter-chocolate
The process of how cocoa butter is made will be discussed in our next post. 
Until then, enjoy your new-found appreciation for one of life's most delectable gifts, by trying some today
.
massage-chocolate

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