For the new year… wishing you all you dream for yourself.
Wishing you wellness in body, mind and soul…
May you be seen, heard and accepted just as you are…
And, may you always know peace, joy, love and hope…

Be well, Lynn

This is a typology test compiled by the work of Carl Jung and Isabel Meyers.

According to Carl Jung’s typology all people can be classified using the following three criteria:  

• Extraversion – Introversion
• Sensing – Intuition
• Thinking – Feeling

 

The fourth criterion, Judging – Perceiving defines how a person implements the information he or she has processed. Judging means that a person organizes all his life events and acts strictly according to his plans. Perceiving means that he or she is inclined to improvise and seek alternatives.

The different combinations of the criteria determine sixteen possible types. Every type can be assigned a name (or formula) according to the first letters of the combination of the four criteria.

Upon completing Jung Typology Test you will obtain your type formula, strengths of the preferences and the type description. It may help you to identify your life style in general and with respect to the specific areas of activity. You will also obtain the list of the most suitable career choices based on your personality

After you get the scores of your test, you will see 3 links to descriptions of that personality type…

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

On a packed train home with a friend, after a full day seminar on healing trauma,  the few of us left in the car were silenced from a woman’s cries. She was not loud, but the pain and sadness in her voice cut through all the side conversations and hurt. I am not sure exactly what it was that wounded her so deeply but it sounded like people were unkind to her because she was different and she felt no one was nice to her, particularly those in her family. And it wasn’t said as a whine or as a plea for attention or pity from the person on the other end of her call. No, the level of anguish in her voice felt like a raw and deep wound.

It seemed like it was a hurt everyone on that train had felt at some point in their life, because as we walked off the train, I saw everyone look over at her on the phone with a tear or sadness in their eye and it looked like a few people contemplated giving her a hug.

I share this as I have had several conversations this week about how an act of kindness or love not only mattered but transformed us. We met a friend when we felt alone; we felt lost and someone reached out a hand; we were down, not ready to move through and someone accepted it or someone simply sat with us in silence through our pain and grief, or even in our greatest moment of joy and pride – someone shared and celebrated our joy. In some of those same conversations we discussed all the recent stories of children who have been bullied and abused by their peers for being different. Now, while it did not seem this woman was bullied, she was clearly distressed.

I do not have much to say about it…it was only a reminder that we may not always realize the emotional or mental state of those we love and in this technological age it is not always easy to assess someone’s inner world, as a quick post or smiley face does not tell us much – we cannot hear tone in a comment, we cannot see a sparkle or lack thereof in someone’s eyes and all too often we are too busy to pick up the phone or meet in person and really connect with another.

And sometimes, we do not see those close to us clearly as we have preconceived ideas of who they are and how they behave. We may know our relationship to them and yet not clearly see them as their own person.

Life is fragile and precious. We are very blessed if we have at least one person in our life who sees us and loves us unconditionally. And, when we are able to love another unconditionally – see them and love them for who they are – without any expectation – it is a huge gift to us as well.

The experience on the train combined with another more personal and heart wrenching moment I shared with someone this week was just a reminder to never let an opportunity pass to tell people you love that you love them, what they mean to you, what you love about them and/ or  how grateful you are to have them in your life.

In Peace and Wellness, Lynn

I am about to suggest the benefits of cold water showers and I can already hear the protests (believe me I say them as well) as it just started to get quite cold here in NY.

So I am going to get straight to the benefits of alternating between hot and cold water.

1. Alternating between hot and cold can improve blood CIRCULATION: Hot water stimulates blood flow to the body’s surface and cold water stimulates blood flow to the body’s internal organs, glands and all parts of the body. Essentially it helps move toxins out and brings oxygen and nutrients into the body. Ideally, it would be best to alternate several times  and it is best to end with cold or cool water. Gasp! I know winter is coming but there benefits of having good circulation extend to all aspects of the body as it allows fresh blood to be delivered.
2. It is believed cold water strengthens IMMUNITY. Studies done in England in 1993 showed that cold water increased white blood cells known to prevent virus and infection. It was believed that this was due to the fact that as the body tried to warm itself, it increased its metabolic rate which in turn activated the immune system to release more white blood cells.
3. Alternating between hot and cold water benefits your SKIN. Hot water opens your pores and as discussed before allows the toxins to exit the body however; you want to close the pores before you leave to prevent them from becoming clogged by oil, dirt and other environmental factors. This process can help prevent acne as well as reduce swelling (due to cold water constricting the blood vessels) and reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes.
4. Cold water benefits your HAIR. Cold water closes the hair cuticle which helps strengthen hair. Strengthening the hair follicles helps prevent it from being pulled out as you brush and is said to help slow down hair loss. There are also reports  that it helps slow down graying of the hair (though there are no formal studies).
5. It may replace your morning COFFEE! If you want an immediate wake up, while it may not be as enjoyable as your morning cup of coffee, I do believe it is quite an energizing way to start your day.  Experiment with it – it may make you scream, laugh even but I do feel that ending the shower with cool or cold water will give you a different perspective on the start of your day. It can lift your mood, provide greater focus, and invigorate and energize you for the day. There are many stories of how in ancient times this practice was a purification and cleansing practice for the spirit.  Many healers believe it is a good way to clear negative energy from your system.

It is best to end the shower with cold water for many of the reasons mentioned above. However, if you are not ready for that especially as winter approaches, start slow – get the water as cool as you can stand and ease into it. And by all means do not burn or scald nor freeze yourself. This is not a test to see how extreme you can push or how much you can tolerate. Treat it is as a form of gentle and nurturing therapy for your body and do what makes sense for you.

And finally, If you have medical conditions, be sure that the switch to cold showers is right for you and your health and discuss with your doctor. A sudden burst of cold water may be quite a shock and not necessarily beneficial to someone suffering from a heart condition, fever or from migraines.

I do not usually like to post quotes as I feel that is not the reason you come here…and it will not be a frequent occurrence. However, last night, as the clock ticked on relentlessly, my mind was whirling with thoughts I felt compelled to write. It started with the quote below, which led to how losing anyone you love more than anything in the world breaks your heart and changes you in ways that are difficult to accurately measure because what you miss is who they were – their laugh, a twinkle in their eyes, someone who knew you so well no words had to be exchanged, help when you needed a hand, some intangible uniqueness of their being and your own sacred relationship with them. This thought thread finally led to ‘The Secret’ and other similar beliefs, that in my opinion, dismiss the mystery, the beauty and the pain of life, and instead declare that what you think and put energy towards is what you create – that positive thinking simply can will away illness, can keep you safe from disasters and if somehow something catastrophic or painful befalls you, then your energy or beliefs brought it forward to you. This last piece revved me up, keeping me wide awake all evening and may lead to a series of posts to follow. My posts won’t be any sort of rants on this subject. Instead, I hope to share that from my perspective, sometimes life sends you a curveball; one you never saw coming, dreamt or thought of in your wildest imagination and perhaps it knocks you down or even breaks your heart or spirit. Those moments have the power to transform you and it is hard to say or know what the meaning is and maybe you never figure out why – but hopefully, similar to the breathtaking white lotus that emerges from the muck, you are able to find beauty and growth as well as hope, warmth, peace and love as you find your way out of the darkness. And the truth is, no matter how you choose to process it, is entirely up to you. And, even in those darkest times when your thoughts or energy may not be emanating positivity, you may be surprised by the support, love, compassion and beauty of others that surrounds you and keeps you afloat.

From a wellness perspective, this topic is of great interest to me as I believe trauma -physical, emotional and mental, in addition to a myriad of other factors impact the cells of our body and thus have the ability to affect our health due to something I will discuss in a  future post called cellular memory.

So here is the quote that led to this stream of thoughts one sleepless night ….

“This world is infinitely layered and mysterious. Every day of our lives, we see far more than we can comprehend, and because the failure to comprehend disquiets us, we lie to ourselves about what we see. We want a simple world, but we live in one that is magnificently complex. Rather than acknowledge the exquisite roundness of creation, we take it in thin slices, and we view each slice through tinted, distorting lenses that further diminish its beauty and obscure truths that await recognition. Complexity implies meaning, and we are afraid of meaning.

The life of a seamstress is no smaller than the life of a queen, the life of a child with Downs Syndrome no less filled with promise than the life of a philosopher, because the only significant measure of your life is the positive effect you have on others, either by conscious acts of will or unconscious example. Every smallest act of kindness – even just words of hope when they are needed, the remembrance of a birthday, the compliment that engenders a smile – has the potential to change the recipient’s life….The mystery of life is the source of its wonder, and the wonder of life is what makes it so worth living.”

- Dean Koontz

In Peace and Wellness, Lynn

The Huang Di Nei Jing, one of the chief medical books of Traditional Chinese Medicine discusses health as it relates to living harmoniously with the seasons; “Those who knew the way of keeping good health in ancient times always kept their behavior in daily life in accordance with nature” **

In Feng Shui, the transition to fall is about moving away from the care-free and yang (heat, activity) energy of the summer towards the slower more inward yin (cooler, slower) energy of winter.

In the Five Elements Theory of Chinese Medicine, Autumn is associated with the organs of the lung, large intestine and skin. These organs represent the energy of the season;  a time for taking in fresh and clear air and letting go of that which no longer serve you. The fall is a time of dryness and all 3 organs (lung, large intestine and skin) can be sensitive to the cold and dry air. Imbalances in these organ systems, which are responsible for respiration and elimination, can give rise to an array of symptoms, including colds, coughs, sore throats, allergies, asthma, sinus congestion, dry skin and mouth, brittle hair and nails and constipation.

With this is mind, to make the transition easier on you and your health:

• It  is important to stay hydrated. Since Autumn is a time of dryness, be sure to drink enough water (room temperature), or warm tea.  Hot water with lemon is a great way to start the morning as it cleans the palette and warms the digestive tract.
• It is  nutritionally wise to eat foods that are in harvest for Autumn (beets, broccoli, burdock root, carrots, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, pumpkin, winter squash, apples, pears, duck, turkey, venison, pacific salmon, scallops). It is also time to start transitioning away from the cold raw foods of summer, such as salads, watermelon and raw vegetables, and instead incorporate slow cooked stews and soups, and cooked seasonal vegetables.
• It is a good time to begin focusing more on your breath. With the frenetic energies of back to work, school and daily routines, we can forget to breathe.  Breathing deep into the abdomen is both grounding and calming for your energy.
• The fall is a good time to clear up the clutter. Clutter tends to represent things where we resist putting our energy thus causing a stagnation of energy. A sense of stagnation in the body, mind and even nature prevents energy from flowing smoothly. With that in mind it is a good time of year to clean up your desk, file paperwork, and organize closets and storage space. It is a great time to also let go of grief, old attachments and emotional baggage. We all have times where we feel hurt, sad, angry, or wronged, however, if you find yourself dwelling on some past hurt or anger, this can cause a stagnation of energy in the body which may lead to illness. It is a good time of year to clear your mind, free up space and practice forgiveness. It is also a time to reflect, look inward and begin conserving energy for the cold winter months.
• It would be wise to carry around a sweater, jacket or scarf at this time of year.  It may feel warm on some of these glorious fall days, and it is tempting to still dress as if it is summer because the sun can feel warm; however, it is important to remember that at this time of year it is cold in the shade and the temperature can drastically change once the sun starts to go down. So, it would be best to care for your body and health by covering your feet with socks and closed shoe, leaving your house with your hair 100% dry, and carrying along extra layers for those cooler hours of the day.
• It is a good time to exercise or take a walk outside and allow yourself to catch a little sunlight each day. It can be a time of year where people feel a little blue or depressed as the sun fades earlier each day so in addition to time in the sun, you may want to add a high quality omega fish oil (or Krill oil) and add a little extra Vitamin D (though you should have your levels tested with your doctor to see how much you require).
• And finally, it is a great time of year to see your acupuncturist, especially if you are susceptible to any of the symptoms associated with the season (mentioned above). An acupuncture treatment can strengthen your protective Qi (energy) and help build up your body’s resistance and immunity.

In Peace and Wellness, Lynn

** The classical text goes on to say:

“In the three months of autumn all things in nature reach their full maturity. The grains ripen and harvesting occurs. The heavenly energy cools, as does the weather. The wind begins to stir. This is the changing or pivoting point when the yang, or active, phase turns into its opposite, the yin, or passive, phase. One should retire with the sunset and arise with the dawn. Just as the weather in autumn turns harsh, so does the emotional climate. It is therefore important to remain calm and peaceful, refraining from depression so that one can make the transition to winter smoothly. This is the time to gather one’s spirit and energy, be more focused, and not allow desires to run wild. One must keep the lung energy free full, clean, and quiet. This means practicing breathing exercises to enhance lung Qi. Also, one should refrain from smoking.”

In the process of posting a blog about how to nurture and take care of yourself as we transition to autumn, I became distracted by the summer weather and a vicious computer spyware that infected my computer. In the meantime, I began reading  ‘a big little life- a Memoir of a Joyful Dog’ by Dean Koontz. In this memoir, Dean shares the beautiful relationship he shared with his Golden. In doing so, he recounts what most dog owners already know – dogs are are loyal companions,  love unconditionally and transform us in ways we never thought possible.

As a child, I experienced a loss so heartbreaking, it no doubt changed me and how I viewed the world. I believe what contributed to my healing, in addition to the profound love of family and an angelic friend, included the love of two exceptional Golden Retrievers. I am clear they were in my life to make me feel safe, learn how to trust again, be loved unconditionally, and help me heal. 

My current dog, though magnificent, is more complex (and why I believe she is a Gemini even though her birth records state differently).  Clearly, while not a model of good dog behavior, she has been a gift to me in more ways than you care to read.  “Oh, you are Roxie’s mom” is the usual response when I pick her up from boarding. I cringe thinking what did she eat or do that made her stand out. Instead I am informed people remember her because she is always happy and so full of life. This always makes me smile. We should all be so lucky.

I was touched beyond words by Koontz’s relationship with his dog, Trixie.  I stopped several times to re-read a passage that I found beautiful. So instead of bombarding you with annoying quotes,  I would like to suggest, if you are someone who has been deeply affected by the love of a dog, do yourself a favor and get Dean Koontz’s book. It will affirm all you believe about owning/ loving a dog.

In honor of all the dogs I have been blessed to love and who have transformed me with their love …

Lynn

Before I get into a specific health post, I wanted to convey the following message to those of you reading. I, by no means, ever wish to come across preachy…people who know me well will confirm this fact. I do like to share information that I find interesting so people can be informed and make decisions that work best for them. And it is just that…information. As an example, I do not advocate any one way of eating. Through my own digestive challenge…I soon learned what worked for many, did not work for me. I tried every possible way of eating and the only one that came remotely close to working for me included having animal protein and very little gluten, higher good fats and lots of fruits and veggies. I tried raw foods, vegetarian, vegan – all 3 made me feel worse. In fact, 2 months into being a vegetarian, I got shingles…in my eye (I was 27), which illustrated to me that my immune system became extremely weak due to the change in my eating.

To expand on this further, I went to a raw foods retreat (which shall remain nameless) for 3 weeks. I enjoyed it and had no real issue with the food, although it is not a lifestyle believed I would follow forever. When I arrived, they did a live blood analysis. Essentially, they prick your finger for blood and examine it under a microscope to see what your blood cells look like. In that first viewing, they said my blood looked fantastic (who knew?!?) – well formed, not clumped together, etc. After 3 weeks of raw foods, they performed live blood cell analysis again and told me my blood looked like that of someone who had a terminal illness. And, they accused me of eating a burger! (This was hilarious to me – instead of seeing the facts in front of them – they chose to blame me for not fitting into what they believed to be true!) In addition, the actual blood work showed my cholesterol, which had been 140, went up significantly. I will not get into further detail as it is not my intent to discourage raw foods. There is no doubt in my mind, raw foods work very well for some people. There were many people at the retreat who looked and felt better when the 3 weeks was up. I was not one of them. And my digestion, which was the only reason I gave raw foods a shot in the first place, was worse than ever. Clearly, this way of eating did not work for me.

This all simply reinforced my belief that we are all unique beings who require different foods, supplements, exercise, etc, to feel well. I believe it is not for anyone to push their way of eating on others. If they choose to eat a certain way because it supports their lifestyle and they feel fantastic that is their choice and how fortunate they found a way that works for them. The work of Dr D’Adamo (and many other doctors), has shown that one person’s food is another person’s poison. We are entitled to have our own responsible food choices that support our optimal health. I, of course, encourage eating whole foods, more organic, less processed, less sugar, more vegetables etc. And, I want people to be informed as to what is exactly in their food. But, to say there is one right way of eating for everyone seems preposterous to me.

Please know anything I share…is always information I have learned…and only share for you to decide if it is something that resonates with you and is something you wish to explore further. There are some topics I will write about that may contain information you may not wish to know at this point. I know I made certain changes only when I was ready – not simply when someone felt I should hear it and change my ways! The more people do that, the more I tune them out. There will be some posts about organic eating, chemicals in products that would be better avoided, cell phones, etc- certain topics that I find have been important for me to learn. And, I will share them from time to time for those who may be interested. This way you can choose if these are avenues you feel ready to explore for yourself.

In peace and wellness, Lynn

If you are trying to buy more organic, I have included a list from the Environmental Working Group of the 12 most and 12 least contaminated foods. You can lower your pesticide consumption by nearly 80%  by avoiding these 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables, according to EWG calculations.

12 Most Contaminated:

Apples, Celery, Cherries, Grapes, Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Strawberries, Spinach, Sweet Bell Peppers

12 Least Contaminated

Asparagus, Avocado, Bananas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kiwi, Mango, Onions, Papaya, Pineapples, Sweet Corn, Sweet Peas 

 For the EWG’s complete calculations click here

Many people have asked me what led me to practice Acupuncture…

I may address the larger story of what led me to study holistic health in a future post. In a nutshell, I had my own chronic health challenges as a teenager that led me on a path of finding a solution since I was dismissed by many in the medical field.

So, if you are interested, here is why I chose to study/practice Acupuncture:

1) The philosophy behind Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture honors the role the patient has in healing. A part of why Acupuncture works is due to the fact that it responds to the stimulation of the needles with a healing response. The fact that acupuncture stimulates the body to heal itself truly resonates with my idea of healing which includes; the patient is the healer and the acupuncturist, (health practitioner, doctor) is a facilitator of that healing and (ideally) provides a space for healing to occur.

2) Acupuncture has a long history of healing in the Eastern culture. Acupuncture has been used safely and effectively for over  thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition, hundreds of clinical trials conducted over the last two decades have shown it to be remarkably safe and effective in treating a wide variety of health complaints from low back pain to infertility. Personally, I needed to have a strong science base that I could understand and study, which also fit into my belief of how the body works and heals.

3) I was always intrigued by the mind and how it operated. Over the years, I became interested in the mind-body-emotional connection.  We are a whole being not simply individual body parts functioning in their own little orbit;  Our emotional, mental and physical states all have an effect on the cells of our body and our health. Two patients may come in to see me for back pain, and yet their treatments may prove to be vastly different. Chinese medicine takes into account the whole person when forming a diagnosis for a specific symtom(s).  The underlying mechanism that made their body susceptible to pain in a certain area will most likely be unique; one person may be experiencing a major stress in their life (divorce, illness) while another may be under no stress emotionally but worked too hard and then slept in a cold room. We are unique beings and I believe in the health field we should be treated as such.

4) And finally, I love the core belief of finding balance in the constant ebb and flow of life. In Chinese Medicine, illness of any kind represents an imbalance of energy in the body. The goal of acupuncture treatment is to restore the body to its natural balance to achieve optimal health. This is the basis for my logo. The yin-yang sign represents (in a quick definition) balance within the whole; and the symbol inside of the logo means accepting optimal wellness.