Haiti needs our Help

Ok, here's the deal - the Canadian government has agreed to match Canadians donations up to $50 million towards to efforts to help in Haiti. I really want to take them up on that offer and raise money for a country that has been struck by everything from extraordinary poverty (they are the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere), war, and now this devastating earthquake.

I live in Alberta, and since I was a small child I have felt an immense gratitude for that. We are prosperous, natural disasters are rare and limited in their destruction, we have plenty of natural resources and beauty, and, this may sound silly, but we have no rats and that makes me ridiculously happy (yes, for all you international blog readers - we have "rat patrol" in Alberta and we are rat-free. In fact, I did not see my first rat until I was 30, in India). Living in all of this natural and man-made luxury, I cannot begin to imagine (or begin to reconcile) the devastation that Haitians are experiencing right now.

All of that being said, we want to do something. We contacted the Red Cross and are set up to accept donations on their behalf. If you are in Edmonton and want to donate, here is our offer -

Between January 21, 2010 and February 6, 2010, Prana Holistic will be fund raising for the Red Cross:

• For every session booked here (except 30 minute sessions), we will donate $20 of that money to the Red Cross effort in Haiti. (for information on our services, see our website at www.pranaholistic.ca)
  
• For every infrared sauna session booked, we will donate $10
  
• If you would like to contribute more, we will also be more than happy to accept personal donations. All donations over $10 are eligible for a receipt from the Red Cross (to be mailed later).
  

And, perhaps just as important as the financial aid, we will be holding a "Group Meditate-y for Haiti" event (silly name, yes, but tragedy does not preclude cuteness!) on February 6 at 4:30 pm. Here we will meditate on and send love to our fellow friends in Haiti. This may sound like a silly, idealistic and trite effort, but there are numerous studies, published in respected journals, that support the idea that joining together to meditate can have amazing effects on the lives of others - even lower the crime rate in cities by 22%!

So however you want to be involved, please get involved. We really can band together and create a better life in Haiti and make this devastation a blessing instead of a tragedy.

Much love, health, happiness and success to everyone!

Kristi Shmyr

Reiki gets some Cred!

Reiki is a not very well understood healing technique. It also just happens to be my #1 favourite alternative health modality. Nothing beats it for pure and utter relaxation. The three months in which I learned reiki was a time of unbelievable peace and tranquility. I have yet to find an ache or pain that reiki has not eliminated (that's right, ELIMINATED, not lessened or made better, but completely annihilated).

All of that being said, reiki is still a hard sell to people. It seems weird and irrational and a little too "woo woo" for most people's liking. That's why I was so excited to see that Dr. Oz, the television doctor extraordinaire, actually promoted it as his number one thing to try in 2010 for your health! Imagine that - a well-established doctor to the masses, and he is promoting our little ol' reiki!

Check out the video here.

Looking for a reiki practitioner? Throw a rock - you will probably hit one ;) But seriously, practitioners abound, so ask around for a recommendation (if you are in Edmonton, Alberta, I happen to recommend myself and my fellow practitioners at Prana, but I may be biased!) and start your trip to "Reiki Space" as soon as possible!

To your health, happiness and success!

Kristi Shmyr

Healthy Food Trades, continued!

In a previous post, I talked about healthy food trades you can make to gently alter your diet to a more healthy version of itself. Let's continue that discussion with another upgrade I encourage you to make!

4. Trade your soft drinks for a natural spritzer!

Soft drinks are amazingly bad for you. I have heard amazing success stories of clients and friends losing 20 or 30 pounds in a year JUST from eliminating soft drinks! And don't think diet pop is any better - the artificial sweeteners have been shown in studies to cause weight GAIN! Purdue University's Ingestive Behavior Research Center reported that zero-calorie saccharin caused rats to eat more, gain more weight and store more fat than rats fed sugar. Artificial sweeteners are also linked to side-effects like joint pain and depression, as well as potentially permanent brain cell damage. In addition, the fizziness you love leaches calcium from your bones and creates an acidic environment in the body, which creates an ideal environment for inflammation and disease.

So for the sake of your waistband and your overall health, without sacrificing taste, buy naturally carbonated mineral water and add a little raw honey and lemon juice. It is refreshing, and very healthy. The mineral water adds trace minerals to your diet that help maintain a healthy body, the lemon is detoxifying and alkalizing (the opposite of acidic), and the honey contains enzymes and minerals that promote a healthy immune and digestive system (just don't overdo the honey - it is still a sugar!)

Add this simple drink upgrade to the suggestions I already made, and you are well on your way to a healthy diet! Watch the Bloggity-Blog for more trade suggestions. Until then, to your health!


Kristi Shmyr
Prana Holistic
10138 121st Edmonton
780.454.5299
www.pranaholistic.ca