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Get Smart, Save Your Heart!

by Guest Blogger,Certified Health Coach, Sara Quetta
February is national Heart Month. Have you been working hard to make sure your ticker will last the long haul? These days, cardiovascular diseases are on the rise. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. In 2011, heart disease cost the United States $444 billion. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity. Risk factors of heart disease are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol use.

One risk factor that has been making waves is high blood pressure. 76.4 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. When the force of blood flow in the artery is too high, it causes the surrounding tissue to stretch beyond its limit,causing more serious problems. For instance, vascular weakness, vascular scarring, increased risk for blood clots, increased plaque build-up, tissue and organ damage from narrowed and blocked arteries, and increased workload on the circulatory system. The overall result, if left untreated, is heart failure, heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

This is only a snapshot of a very serious problem. But did you know that you can prevent heart disease? That’s right, with diet, exercise and stress management, you can be on your way to a healthier and happier life style. No one wants to spend their time in a doctor’s office, going through a battery of extensive tests.

A diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies and lean protein can help you achieve your goals for a healthy heart. Eliminate fatty meats, high sodium and processed foods. Not only will you be healthy on the inside, but you will feel your best, have more energy and live a long and happy life.

A certified health coach is trained to support you with these challenges, every step of the way. They offer diet and lifestyle suggestions, along with personal attention to your health goals. Good health is not only about the food you put in your mouth, it’s about your life as a whole…relationships, career, spirituality and exercise, just to name a few. If you are looking for more than a new diet fad, then I have a personalized program that is right for you. Health coaching offers a lifestyle change. It has been proven to help with many health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, acid reflux, and more.

Contact me today for a free 50 minute health consultation to see if this program is right for you.

Sara Quetta is a Certified Health Coach and Owner of Journey To A New You. She received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. When she’s not doing one on one coaching, she teaches wellness workshops at various locations around NH. She also received her bachelor’s degree in personal communications from Rhode Island College.

www.journeytoanewu.com
603-965-3725
journeytoanewyou@yahoo.com

References:
http://www.cdc.gov
www.heart.org

Healing Hands Chiropractic is a full-service family wellness center specializing in Webster certified prenatal & family chiropractic care, acupuncture, cognitive-behavioral therapy, reiki & aromatherapy, massage therapy, pregnancy & birth classes and breastfeeding support.

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Breast Cancer Awareness and Compassionate Listening

by Kristin Harrison, RMT
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I would like to acknowledge some thoughts that have been shared with me over the years while offering therapeutic touch to people living with cancer. My intention is that hearing these comments direct from the source may offer one some insight and compassion towards another’s point of view. These comments are not direct quotes but rather a collection of thoughts based on my personal experiences, and are not meant to speak for all people living with cancer. There is no judgment; these loving words are expressed with a higher purpose to create awareness.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, and honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around” ~Leo Buscaglia

Hearing that a loved one has cancer is a frightening and surreal moment. In the midst of emotions, one may not know what to say or how to react. The following are five statements that have been shared with me while offering Reiki and bodywork to people living with cancer.

1. Everything is going to be all right.


This doesn’t make me feel better. I know this may not necessarily be true and it just makes me feel dismissed and not heard.
What I really want to hear is that you’re going to be there for me through the good times and the bad, and that I am not going to go through this journey alone. Offer to help me so that I don’t have to ask you. I want compassion, not pity; comfort, not advice.

2. I am more than my cancer; please treat me kindly, not differently.


 If you don’t know what to say, it’s okay not to say anything at all. Just offer the comfort of your presence, a hug, or an arm around my shoulders. Allowing some silence without rushing to fill it, gives me a chance to say what’s on my mind, in my own time.
I like to hear success stories, not horror stories. And please remember that I can always use a good laugh.

3. Please don’t assume that because you may think I look good, that I must be feeling better.


 Unless you’ve been treated for the same type of cancer, have undergone exactly the same treatment, and have had the same response, you really don’t know how I feel.
You have no idea what it’s like, and it’s upsetting to me when you act like you do.
The sad truth is that my cancer can be progressive and I can still look fine.
What you may not know is that when I work, attend functions, and go about my life living with cancer, that I may spend a good deal of time preparing by taking extra naps or cutting out other activities.
Instead please ask me something like, “How are your mood and spirits holding up through this? This gives me a chance to tell you how I am feeling, if I choose to.

4. Congratulations, you’re done with your treatments!

As a caregiver or friend, you may feel excited when a course of treatment is done, but my feelings are much more mixed. During my treatment, I feel more so that I am taking action, and focusing on a solution. When my treatment is finished, I may feel anxious and uncertain – What’s next? What do I do now?

Instead, please give me a chance to express how I’m feeling. Or ask me “How are you feeling now that you’re finishing up with your treatments?” I need to know that you are not only listening to me, but that you hear me.

5. I want my caregiver to take good care of him/herself.

Thank you for being supportive and encouraging. Thank you for being there for me. Please take care of YOU! It’s ok – and I insist! – that you take time for yourself to see your friends, enjoy your hobbies, live YOUR life. Taking care of yourself allows you to be more present when you are with me, and I want you to know that I recognize that.

Additionally, here are some recommended sites worth checking out:
Please click daily to give Free Mammograms:
www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2


http://www.bebrightpink.com/programs/educate/little-bright-book


http://www.makingmemories.org/breast_cancer_info.html


Local Support Groups, Education Meetings, and Free Screening Sites:
http://cancer.dartmouth.edu/support_services/manchester_support_groups.html


http://www.nhbcc.org/resources/screening.htm



Kristin Harrison offers gentle and natural skilled therapeutic touch through Reiki and other holistic therapies within www.HealingHandsNH.com in Londonderry, NH.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, 50% of all “Think Pink” aromatherapy products will be donated to support breast cancer research. “Think Pink” is a soothing blend of lavender, geranium and sandalwood.
To learn more about Kristin, please visit  www.GratefulSpiritNH.com or call 603-935-9261.

Healing Hands Chiropractic is a full-service family wellness center in Londonderry, NH offering prenatal & pediatric chiropractic care, acupuncture, cognitive-behavioral therapy, reiki & aromatherapy, massage therapy and birth classes.

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Stress in September

by Shalon Da~Nai, LMT

back to school stressIts that time of year again. The carefree days of summer are gone. It can be a stressful time as schedules fill up and the pace of life seems to turn from a walk to a run. Everyone has experienced some kind of stress in their lives and many deal with it on a daily basis. Stress can be caused by a plethora of things; the daily demands of life, personal relationships and deadlines at work as well as bigger life changes and transitions ie the loss of a job or a loved one. Even positive things can cause stress like planning a wedding, the birth of a child or a child’s first day of school.

We all know what stress is, but how does it affect us and our body?  Noticeable physical responses to stress include an increase in heart rate, sweating, rapid breathing and heightening of the senses. These are all symptoms of the “Fight or Flight” response that nature has equipped us with for our own protection. Unfortunately our physiology can not tell the difference between a life or death situation and a rough day at the office. Anything that causes us stress will cause the same release of the hormones Adrenaline and Cortisol. Over time, heightened stress states can affect our moods, sleeping habits, eating habits and energy levels. Physical aches and pains may develop. Even our memory and ability to conceive can be impinged. If stressful conditions persist it may increase the risk of more severe disease ie: heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, depression and disorders of the autoimmune system.
So what are some ways we can manage our stress so that it does not weaken our Body and Mind?  There are many coping techniques available. The most basic and easy tool to reduce stress is simply to breathe. Slow, deep breaths can lower a fast heart rate and make you feel more calm. Exercise is not only good for your cardiovascular and muscular systems, it also reduces stress hormones and releases endorphins, which are those “feel good” hormones. Meditation can take the use of breath a step further and invites the mind to quiet. Letting go of stressful thoughts is the key to reducing stress levels, but it may not be as simple as it sounds. It is good to practice these methods. The more you do it, the more adept you will be at coping and will be able to balance yourself quickly.

Therapeutic services like Massage Therapy and Reiki (and of course chiropractic care) focus on lowering stress levels and can bring you to a deep state of calm. Massage packs all the benefits of breath, exercise and meditation into one synergistic experience that takes little effort for the recipient. Not only does it reduce stress hormones, Cortisol and Adrenaline, it also releases endorphins and reduces physical pain or tension.
It’s important to take stress seriously, as it can have some very harmful effects. Mastering your ability to manage your stress will make you healthier, happier and more emotionally balanced. You will be more productive at work or at school and your personal relationships will benefit as well. Everyone experiences stress differently. Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to experience it at all?

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Fertility Massage – Ancient Tools Creating a Healthy Future

By  Guest Blogger, Shalon Da~Nai LMT
Like all massage, fertility massage was practiced by ancient civilizations. Before the advent of surgical intervention and hormonal therapies, healers were helping women conceive naturally. Rooted in the culture, was an understanding of the body and what it needs to function with ease. They used all of what nature provided e.g., physical touch, movement, plant medicine, energy and intention or prayer. For example, the Practice of belly dancing was designed to strengthen the core, open the hips and stimulate blood flow so that women could become pregnant easily and have healthy pregnancies and births.
Massage therapists, like myself, are continuing these powerful methods of hands on healing that our ancestors pioneered. These tools are even more valuable in our fast paced, modern world. Stress can impede the natural function of the body in many ways, especially when it comes to the delicate balance of hormones required to create a baby. Not only is there more mental stress, but also more physical stress, as we are exposed to more toxins in our environment.
The goal of Fertility massage is to help create the ideal conditions in which conception can occur. Bringing the body into balance allows it to work more efficiently. A combination of modalities are used to treat the client wholly, physically as well as emotionally and energetically. During the massage, reflexology points correlating to the endocrine glands are stimulated to help regulate hormones. Acupressure points are activated to open the flow of Chi through the body, allowing the energy to nourish all organ systems. Abdominal massage treats both the digestive and reproductive organs. Circulating blood into the soft tissue helps eliminate toxins and support cellular health with oxygen. Massage of the colon cleanses it of stuck waste, which will ease pressure in the abdomen and aid in the absorption of nutrients. Massage of the ovaries and fallopian tubes works to break down excess tissue from endometriosis, cysts and fibroids, and helps to remove mucus that can block the tubes. This makes for easy passage of the egg during ovulation. Massage also breaks down scar tissue caused by infections or surgical procedures. Misalignment of the uterus can be corrected with this gentle massage technique. Aside from enhancing fertility, this therapy can also improve cramping or clotting during menstruation, ease symptoms of PMS and regulate a woman’s cycle.
Science has advanced our understanding of the body beyond that of our ancestors. Medical doctors can diagnose imbalances that contribute to infertility. They have various procedures to help couples conceive, such as hormones, surgery, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and more. Many couples choose natural methods focusing on diet, exercise, yoga, herbal medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage. Fertility massage enhances the success of both natural and medicinal approaches to regaining fertility. By creating a healthy environment for a baby to grow the chances of a full term pregnancy and healthy baby are increased.
Wanting to have a family is only natural. Unfortunately for some, it can be a long and stressful journey. Stress is one of the main things to avoid when trying to become pregnant. Massage gives us the opportunity to slow down, breathe, and get in touch with our bodies. It lowers the stress hormone cortisol and releases the love hormone oxytocin. Not only is it creating a better state of health for you and your future baby, but it feels good and makes you happy.
When it comes to fertility massage you must be an active participant in this process. This therapy does not end when you get off of the massage table. You will take with you, tools to continue healing yourself. With regular massage, women will find them selves feeling better and in most cases, achieving their dreams of motherhood.

Shalon Da~Nai, LMT offers massage therapy to Men, Women and Children. She is certified in Prenatal/ Postpartum massage. Her services can assist with pain, stress and infertility using various modalities. She also offers classes for families to learn hands on Labor support techniques and Infant Massage.
Shalon can be reached by phone at (603) 303-6968. Appointments can be booked online at ShalonLMT.com.
Shalon is available for massage at Healing Hands Chiropractic Family Wellness Center, 156 Harvey Rd. #2 Londonderry, NH 03053

Healing Hands Chiropractic Family Wellness Center is a full-service holistic family wellness center offering chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, nutrition, reiki, yoga & meditation, childbirth education, La Leche League breastfeeding support, RESOLVE fertility peer support groups. All of our practitioners specialize in fertility, prenatal, postpartum, pediatric and family wellness care.