Walnut Helps Us Transition Into 2012 & Beyond With Grace & Ease!

Years ago, I was living in Scotland on a remote island called Iona. My mom came for a visit and we travelled to England and Ireland together, visiting relatives and seeing the beautiful sights. An associate of my father hosted us at the Marianella Centre in Dublin, and I fondly remember a majestic and very beautiful walnut tree on the grounds. At one point, I took my journal out to the walnut tree and spent some time with it, appreciating the sense of strength it imparted and leaning against it's sturdy trunk.

Walnut is a plant that lends itself to human conditions in many ways. As a food, perceiving the actual walnut is very telling as it relates to what it's good for. When you look at a walnut, notice how it appears as though a human brain. Sure enough, walnuts are a wonderful source of omega 3 fatty acids that nourish the brain and are very antioxidant, meaning that they scavenge disease-forming agents in the body.

As an herb, black walnut fights parasites and bacterial infections and stimulates the activity of the liver, gallbladder and digestive system, improving overall digestion.

As a flower essence, walnut is widely applicable, and I'll tell you why in a moment. First, let me briefly elaborate on what flower essences are and what they do. Flower essences are highly dilute floral infusions that work on an energetic level. This means that there are no chemical constituents in a flower essence, like root, stem or leaf. Flower essences are just that: essences of the flowering tops of plants. The philosophy of flower essences states that the energy of the flowers have been captured and preserved in a bottle. This energy works upon a person's energetic body, mostly affecting mental, emotional and spiritual components of being, affecting the physical in turn. Flower essences stimulate awareness, awareness being the key to change, movement and personal growth.

Walnut: for making healthy transitions
& gaining freedom from social
expectations or values of family
or community, past experiences
or beliefs in order to follow one's
own path and destiny.

Walnut is widely applicable as a flower essence because it helps us move seamlessly through transition. As I wrote earlier today in a newsletter, transition is change, and I am often reminded by my toddler son's dislike of change just how inherently we resist it. Well, that's what walnut is for - our resistance towards change. And being that change is really the only constant, walnut, as mentioned, is widely applicable. I remember the first time I used walnut flower essence. One day during my cycle with walnut, I stood in the shower and was acutely aware of just how okay it was that everything around me seemed to be in chaos as I transitioned from one stage of life to another. Suddenly, all the beautiful lessons and personal growth were at the forefront of my mind instead of the feelings of overwhelm that often accompany change.

When it comes to using plants for healing, there is a great deal of crossover between nutrition, herbology and flower essences - something I think is very beautiful and a magnificent expression from the plants themselves. This means that a particular application for walnut in herbology, for example, often relates to it's actions as a flower essence. That being said, how amazing that walnut feeds the brain while also improving digestion. This directly translates to the fact that walnut imparts a greater capacity to process and digest change. Thank you walnut!

I am left remembering one of the more poignant things my herbology teacher, Robert Rogers, taught me: notice how walnuts have a harder shell to break and often require a nutcracker. Always think of walnut when there are difficult patterns to break.
The perfect image and so fitting for walnut's application in flower essences.

So, think of walnut as you transition from 2011 to 2012 - if you are having difficulty leaving things behind and striking out anew, walnut. If you are moving in or out of a relationship, walnut. If you are starting a new job or leaving an old one, walnut. If you are moving house, moving cities or moving countries, walnut. Or if you are working on self-improvement and looking to leave self-defeatist patterns and habits behind, walnut.

Walnut could be the key to your success as you rise up to be the person you were intended to be in 2012.

Flower essences are available at all Optimum Health locations and are taken as follows: 4 drops under the tongue 4 times per day for a 28 day period. Please contact me at Prana Holistic if you would like to set up a complete flower essences session.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Holiday Giving

Someone very close to me was homeless for 3 years, the latter part of his experience as a homeless person being on the streets of L.A. These days, I look at homeless people in a different way, acutely aware of the fact that each one of them has a story. I love stories - I love hearing them, reading them and thinking about them. Over the years, I've gotten over the need to share and re-share my own victim stories from the past, though I have a nice collection of stories that relate to challenge, creation and growth and new stories unfold in my life every single day. I believe there is lots of power and potential to heal through our stories and what we can learn from them. A story is really only a victim story if we do not find the capacity to learn and grow from that story.

As it relates to homeless people, I've just been perusing the Mustard Seed website and there's a section on "stories", which I, of course, find very fascinating. As I perceive the homeless of Edmonton, I consider that maybe one guy started out as a wealthy business owner and lost everything to an addiction, winding up on the streets. Or maybe that woman, having come from a warm and loving family, got caught in a cycle of abuse that landed her homeless, unable to see her children. Or perhaps another guy on the street tried for years to enter a monastic order in California to no avail, so decided to take a prolonged walking pilgrimage between California and Mexico, only to end up on the streets of L.A., still unable to be accepted by the monastery. All of these stories inspire and amaze me and I only wish I could collect every one.

Regardless of what each homeless person's story is, the fact is, they've given up belongings, lodging and comfort - whether consciously or unconsciously - to pursue a much more simple and challenging life where making it day by day is the name of the game. A luxury for a homeless person is somewhere semi comfortable and warm to sleep or some warm, running water or a hot meal - all things most of us surely experience every day and likely take for granted.

I still really love the idea of re-gifting at Christmastime, as I blogged about last year. I feel that re-gifting is giving back to our precious earth, not to mention propagating a spirit of reduction as opposed to consumerism. This year, I maintain my love of re-gifting, while I have other things on the brain as well. Why not consider giving back to those who are without a home this holiday season by donating items, money or time to the Mustard Seed here in Edmonton? I am struck by compassion as I consider being without home and family at Christmastime - a time that is punctuated by a warm hearth and warm hearts that are made warm by joviality amongst family and friends.

Please check out The Mustard Seed to find out ways you can help during this holiday season. Personally, I'd like to get some Winter Backpacks (see very bottom of page) together. Please contact me at roberta.a.shepherd@gmail.com if you have any of the listed items for winter backpacks that you'd like to donate.

Happy holidays everyone! I would love to hear YOUR stories through the holiday season and/or in the new year. Flower Essences is a perfect way to share your story with a great listener (me!) and embark on a healing journey through the use of these ingestibles. Please call me at Prana Holistic (780.454.5299) if you'd like to learn more about flower essences - my absolute favorite thing to facilitate as a practitioner!

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Ho-Ho-Holistic

Remembering

Friday is Remembrance Day - a day to remember those who departed from this earth plane in an attempt to protect and serve the rights of you and me. Certainly Remembrance Day is punctuated by strong energies that relate to loss at the hands of war and the memories that living veterans carry in the present day. I also think that it lends itself to a more general remembering of those we've lost.

Loss is a bit of a challenging topic because there's so much emotion around it. Perhaps that's what I'd like to reflect on. I recently lost someone close to me and while it is a painful and emotionally charged experience, I am left thinking about how very human grief is. The more awakened part of me recognizes that all is well, that the person who was "lost" is not really lost, only changed in form - only his body is lost, our bodies being the most dense part of our beings. The human part of me struggles with remorse, regret, anger, sadness and longing. Surely the person who has departed is not feeling any of these challenging feelings - he's been set free of such dense and heavy emotion! So, why do I mourn? Do I mourn for the pain of the person who has departed? He no longer experiences pain. Do I mourn for the pain he experienced here on earth? But again, he's been set free of this pain. In my estimation, there's one primary reason that I'm mourning and that's for MY loss, not his. With him gone, I feel as though a part of me has been lost - that part of me that this person fulfilled - and pain sets up camp in that void, at least for now. We tend to grieve that which we perceive as being lost in our own lives, and that is very human of us. That being said, I think it's very important for us to honor our humanness and do what we need to do in order to BE human, moving these emotions through our bodies as productively as possible.

Meanwhile, our higher selves know that nothing has in fact been lost and that perhaps something has actually been gained. Those close to us that have departed have gained freedom and, down the road, we are able to gain strength, insight and empathy, which lends itself to our increased capacity to support those around us. Feelings that are associated with grief and loss are very heavy because we experience them in our bodies, which are also very heavy. Our spirits soar and are weightless. May we remember that once a person departs from this earth, their spirit is set free from the constraints of the body and everything is...probably pretty dreamy and amazing, to say the least.

Someone once told me that when love is "lost", as in the breakup of a relationship, that love lives on in other ways because, as love is energy, it can be neither created nor destroyed, only changed in form. It was comforting to me to consider that while my heart may have felt as though it was aching for love having been "lost", every love having been shared lives on and there really is nothing to mourn. Rather, I could celebrate that I had been blessed with the gift of experiencing love in that form for that period of time and celebrate how that same love shows up in my life in different ways.

This is a short reflection with a simple point: as we remember those that departed while protecting our country and those that have departed in other ways, may we also remember that their souls are not lost, but rather changed in form. Their souls are free from the weight of this earthly plane. May we find comfort in knowing that they now guide and protect us with a bird's eye view and that their peace is one that we do not yet know.  May we honor who they were on this earth and remember to celebrate the freedom they have now gained. Lest we forget.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Boundaries: A Story of Transition and Personal Growth

I had a very intense and transitional experience recently that I'd like to share. My son has been in care at a day home ever since I returned to work in February 2010. While at the outset of arranging care all seemed perfect and wonderful, things have progressively gotten "bad". I've realized that there are core values that myself and my care provider don't have in common. Since that realization, it's been a slow road of first acknowledging that truth and then doing something about it. 

In the summertime, my care provider suggested that we might be happier elsewhere where our needs would be better met. Amazing that it was her suggestion and not mine, even though I had thought of it many times. I started looking for alternate childcare facilities and got myself on 2 waiting lists for places that really fit what it is that I'm looking for for myself and my son. After confirming my spot on these 2 waiting lists, I felt pretty discouraged. It's a lot harder to find appropriate childcare in Edmonton than I ever imagined. I felt bound to the day home and proceeded by trying to be as positive as possible, despite feeling like my values were being compromised every time I arrived there to drop my son off. 

Most recently, an incident occurred that made me feel extremely uncomfortable and as though my son's welfare was being compromised - maybe in ways that I wasn't even aware of. In anger, I wanted to pull my son out of this person's home right away, never to return, but I didn't. I went back to the drawing board with the intention of exhausting my search for alternate childcare. I first checked in on the status of the 2 waiting lists, only for God to reach down and bless us with an opening for November 1st, specifically in my son's age category, at the bilingual Montessori childcare center 5 minutes walking distance from our home! After that was settled, I had a gnawing feeling in my gut - I felt so uncomfortable bringing my son back to the day home. But I did. 

On Friday, I called home to Grande Prairie to see if I had any other options, ie: if either of my parents could come spend some time in Edmonton to care for my son while I continued to go to work. My dad offered to come and yet, I was still on the fence. Why? In my head, I knew that the best thing to do was to pull my son from care at the day home, but I couldn't integrate that into my body to gain confidence around that possibility and I had immense guilt at the thought of doing so. My son has been under care at this home for a year and a half and all people are inherently good, aren't they? And people make mistakes and are allowed to make mistakes, isn't that true? On Friday night, after doing a meditation to gain clarity on which direction to take, I knew what I had to do - pull him from care for the last 2 weeks until he started at his new daycare - but the guilt was almost paralyzing! I thought I had done so much personal work around guilt in my life and yet, here it was, glaring me in the face and clubbing me on the shins.

Starting on Saturday morning, I decided to take Pink Yarrow (a flower essence) - 1-2 drops every 1-2 hours to try and speed emotional catharsis around personal boundaries. Pink Yarrow, specifically, is for those who tend towards taking responsibility for other people's feelings and experiences, thereby having a difficult time establishing emotional boundaries. I also implemented Emotional Freedom Technique and Kit Furey's methods for clearing. Late Sunday afternoon, my personal clouds started to clear and I felt more protected around my heart center. I recognized that this comes down to something as simple as the fact that parents and childcare providers absolutely ought to be on the same page, and we weren't. That, in itself, was enough reason to remove my son from care. Today's his last day.

There are a few points to this story:

1. I'm really in to gross honesty lately. As in, honesty that's potentially embarrassing. More than anything, this is regarding my being honest with my own self, something I've historically had a hard time with. As it relates to this story, let me say that I always - ALWAYS - thought that I would do ANYTHING in the moment to protect the welfare of my child. And I didn't. This points to the fact that whatever our core issues are - one of mine being poor establishment and maintenance of boundaries - no single person can change or improve those issues for us, just as we have no power to affect others' issues. While I thought that becoming a mother would resolve so many of my core issues, it's been my own decision to pursue personal work and activities that stimulate personal growth that has actually brushed the surface of rectifying any of my core issues. My son's presence in my life, alone, has done nothing to make me a better person. That being said, his presence has stimulated me to want to be a better person in order to set a positive example and, as a result, I've pursued many avenues towards change. 

May we stop claiming that "when I become a parent" or "once I'm in a fulfilling relationship" or "once I earn more money" etc. we will be happier and better people. All we have is now and the only one in your life with enough power to create change is you.

2. This p0int brings a side story to the table. I've been struggling with a recurring infection for some time. Being that it's a skin infection, Kristi recently mentioned that issues with skin point to boundary issues. Of course they do, our skin is the physical boundary on our bodies that protects us from the outside world. As things escalated with the childcare situation, the infection recurred, even after having taken a round of antibiotics - something I'm strongly averse to doing. As of today, all symptoms of infection are gone. This points to the fact that physical issues are not just physical. I am always in amazement at the miracle of holism. As I addressed and attempted to heal issues as they relate to emotional b0undaries in my life, the physical ailment that energetically related to boundaries resolved itself. 

May we recognize that every "issue" is a multi-layered one and may we seek to explore more than just the physical components of everything we feel challenged by. By this exploration, may we enjoy all the more personal growth and improvement.

3. Flower essences rock. They really do. They are the most subtle and yet the most profound therapeutic method I have EVER had the complete pleasure to work with. They are my favorite healing modality to facilitate for others and to experience personally. As you ingest flower essences, they open up amazing portholes of realization that you may never have dreamed were even possible. I like to refer to them as "counselors in a bottle". This comparison speaks to how a counselor's job is to diplomatically point out blind spots - parts about ourselves that are very real and that may undermine the true and highest expression of who we really are, but that we are consciously unaware of. The difference between a counselor and a flower essence is that flower essences stimulate your having these blind spots revealed to you in and of your own self - with a supporting role from God or the universe, of course. This makes the awareness process more empowering. 

May we open our hearts and our minds to modalities as profound and beautiful as flower essences, that they may enrich our journeys towards discovering and thereby bettering our own selves. And, as you read this, may you allow me the honour of living out my life's passion by sharing your story with me and gifting me with the opportunity to create a flower essences blend JUST FOR YOU.

If you feel you have any blockages you'd like to explore via flower essences, I would be absolutely tickled pink to hear from you. Thank you so much for reading.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

The Insight Inspired by Henry and the Chipping Cheddar Witch

Lately, my son's favorite DVD to watch is Angelina Ballerina - a young, British mouse wrapped up in her ideals of being a prima ballerina. I pretty much have all 4 stories on the borrowed DVD memorized. One of the stories is a Halloween story centered around an old, local tale about the Chipping Cheddar witch - Chipping Cheddar being the village Angelina and her family live in. Briefly, the tale states that the Chipping Cheddar witch shows up and turns the mice into stinky cheese. Angelina's father is telling the tale to Angelina, her friend Alice, and her cousin, Henry. Henry attaches to the story, later becoming convinced that he sees the witch when, in actual fact, it's Angelina's ballet teacher, Miss Lily, dressed up as a witch for Halloween. Henry becomes very worked up, enlisting the help of their friend William to track down the Chipping Cheddar witch and stop her from turning the village inhabitants to stinky cheese. William becomes convinced when at one point, they go to the village shop and when they don't see the shop keeper but instead see a big chunk of cheese on the counter, they assume the witch has done her nasty deed there, turning the shop keeper into stinky cheese. Of course, at the end of the episode, Henry and William realize that all the while, it's been Miss Lily dressed up as a witch and that the story is just that - a story.

A couple mornings ago, as I was getting ready for work, I listened to this particular episode play out in the living room and it got me to thinking. The Chipping Cheddar witch episode is very reflective of what we all do on a regular basis - make up stories in our heads and then create evidence all around us to prove our stories to be true. We are so much like Henry who, being so taken away by the story, walks out of Angelina's house, sees Miss Lily's witch hat sticking up above the fence posts and assumes that this must be none other than the Chipping Cheddar witch! From there, just like us, Henry fabricates all the more drama, visiting the village shop, seeing a chunk of cheese and no shopkeeper and building on the story all the more. Meanwhile, the shopkeeper was in the back, only to come out after Henry's departure and wonder what the noise had been all about.

I can think of so very many examples of how I've done this in my own life, and I'm sure you can relate too. Here's one: while I have only ever wanted a committed and loving primary relationship, based on some life experiences, I made up a story in my head that men only ever wanted to use me and that "all the good men are taken". What ensued was a barrage of non-committal men in my life who always left me waiting and wanting for more, when they'd never intended to pursue anything permanent with me to begin with! Because I'd established this story in my head, my being proceeded to find evidence of what I was telling myself was true and you can just guess how every single scenario played out as I met men over the years. Amidst this evidence, I also received the grandest of blessings in the form of my gorgeous son, not to mention all the personal growth that has happened as a result of my old, limiting belief. These days, I realize that there are plenty of men out there who are equally deserving of a committed, loving relationship as I am and that my trust in the success of my own life's journey will inevitably bring my belief to fruition...alongside some action, of course (see Calling In The One link below).

My own life is not the point but serves as a great example. The point is that you will always strive to prove yourself right when it comes to that which you believe to be true. If you believe that you always hit all the red lights when driving, then you will. Funny thing is, you might hit 4 out of 7 red lights, but you will be focused on those 4 red lights instead of those 3 green ones because of what you maintain in your thoughts. If you believe that the world is out to get you, then it will be. If you believe that all the good men are taken, then you will surely find a way to show that this is in fact true. If you think you are undeserving, then you will be. If you think that you're fat, then you will be. And if you think that the Chipping Cheddar witch is walking around in YOUR neighborhood, seeking to turn all your friends and family into stinky cheese, then she will be!

Thank you to author Katharine Holabird, creator of Angelina Ballerina and to her character Henry for reminding me of the power of thought and the intensity of what can happen when we so vehemently attach to something we believe to be true. 

I - again - have to cite a few different sources that have helped me to start shifting and changing the stories in my head. If you find that your stories are making for a challenging reality, help is available! Might I suggest that you scope out any or all of the following:

1. Kristi's Goal Ninjas programs
2. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) (which we offer here at Prana Holistic)
3. Flower Essences therapy (which I would be happy to facilitate for you here at Prana Holistic)
4. Kit Furey's work
5. Anything by Byron Katie
6. Calling In The One, by Katherine Woodward Thomas

Thank you for reading.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Michael Kalmanovitch: An Inspiration For Change

In April this year, I got to spend some time interviewing Michael Kalmanovitch - owner and founder of Earth's General Store here in Edmonton. While the purpose of the interview was to prepare a piece for print, it never got published, which I always thought was a shame. A shame because it's a good piece but more so because Kalmanovitch is deserving of every bit of publicity he gets. After reading Prana's most recent monthly newsletter in which Earth's General Store was mentioned, I decided that I'd very much like to share my original piece on Kalmanovitch, so here it is:

Michael Kalmanovitch displayed his usual, friendly demeanour when I met with him on an overcast Monday morning, inviting me to sit in the quiet corner of his store that is the library - an impressive collection of books and DVDs on social justice issues. I’ve long been a fan of Kalmanovitch’s establishment, Earth’s General Store, located at 9605 82^nd avenue. I first stumbled upon it at the old location, above Gordon Price Music on 108^th street and 82^nd avenue. I love visiting Earth’s General Store, so much so that in the past, I hauled my son up the many stairs to the old location in his stroller and back down again just to browse. Kalmanovitch was equally friendly back then, once offering to help me down the stairs with the stroller and often engaging in small talk. Modest and unpretentious, you’d never know he was the owner unless he told you so.

Kalmanovitch was born in Sarnia, Ontario, spent his teenage years on the Isle of Wight in England, and moved to Edmonton in 1973 for a summer job. Kalmanovitch doesn’t hesitate to tell me that from then, he worked in the oil sands in Fort MacMurray until 1977, after which he pursued work in the heavy equipment, mining and warehousing industries. His honesty is a reflection of authenticity and testament to what he stands for the most – change. 
Kalmanovitch’s personal movement towards change began when he was about 12 years old and perceived that his house was "lit up like a Christmas tree" - this had a profound affect on him. In 1969, he moved back to England where he contributed to gathering coal for his and his family’s energy needs. His actual change in consciousness really began to take hold when he read Canada as a Conserver Society, a report published by the Science Council of Canada over viewing the importance of implementing more sustainable policies for the future. Throughout the 80s, Kalmanovitch got into composting and bicycling as his primary form of transportation. In 1986, he got involved with the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters. In and around that time, he was doing workshops on a well-rounded approach to a more environmental lifestyle for the Environmental Resource Centre.

This brings us to 1990, a year that Kalmanovitch calls the start of the “second wave of environmentalism”. It was the 20^th anniversary of Earth Day, which drew in record numbers of interested earthlings. Kalmanovitch reflects, “People were hungry for the shift, realizing that we are all consumers and a lot of consumers are looking for better options”. At this point, Kalmanovitch drew up a plan for Earth’s General Store, which he conceptualized as being “a tool to help create change”. Earth’s General Store opened in 1991. The store had “tough times” and Kalmanovitch worked in Nunavut as a mineworker to make ends meet. The tough times have morphed into a flourishing and effective business that has expanded over 3 times its original size.
 
I asked Kalmanovitch how he stays grounded in the midst of city life and within a society driven by consumerism, to which he responded, “I don’t”. He explained that, “if I let it all in – all the sadness – it will kill me”. How then does Kalmanovitch deal with “all the sadness”? Action. Kalmanovitch affirms that “the antidote to sadness is action” and he’s always taking action. These actions don’t have to be huge to have an impact. Kalmanovitch is a firm believer that little changes can collectively affect the whole. He mentions the Hundredth Monkey Effect, a phenomenon that explains the potential for shifting of the collective consciousness once a portion of the population achieves a particular awareness. According to Kalmanovitch, small things we can all do to impart big change are composting, picking up litter, avoiding idling, which he considers to be “crippling”, “pre-thinking” by always carrying your own travel mug and bringing your own plate and cutlery to events like Heritage Days, sharing, so as to reduce consumption, eating organic and buying locally. Most stirring is Kalmanovitch’s suggestion that the greatest small move of all is to, “of course, love lots more. Because with love comes caring, compassion, empathy and nurturing.” 
 
Kalmanovitch speaks passionately on the topic of politics, throwing in a couple expletives to express how mind-boggling he finds politicians’ salaries to be when “they’re not even doing a good job!” On this note, we discuss that if he could rid the world of one thing, it would be avarice, which is defined as insatiable greed. Kalmanovitch is most offended by avarice at the expense of others. He encourages people to vote so as not to perpetuate the disenchanting status of our current political platforms and aspires to adopt a more positive approach, possibly even getting involved one day.
 
Considering Kalmanovitch’s ultimate sense of purpose, to inspire change, he can be proud of the impact he’s had in Edmonton. With many Edmontonians visiting Earth’s General Store and sharing how they’ve changed because of the store, Kalmanovitch will be missed if he decides to relocate to Ottawa where he believes he can influence even more change. Regardless of where he goes, based on the Hundredth Monkey phenomenon, Kalmanovitch’s efforts will be lasting and reverberate throughout the collective consciousness of Edmonton and beyond.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Killing Crazy Candida!

I've had quite a few clients recently report that they've struggled with chronic yeast infections over the years. Most recently, when I shared with a client how I eradicated chronic yeast in the past, she reflected on how my methods might be ones she'd be interested in pursuing as she gets really annoyed with taking the over-the-counter remedies, especially since they mess her system up for a few days afterwards. In deed, taking over-the-counter remedies like Canesten, Monistat, and the one-day oral remedy, Diflucan, are all solutions to riding yourself of symptoms of a yeast infection, but none of them relieve the root issue of the infection.

When you're at a point where you're getting frequent yeast infections, it means that the bacterial balance in your body is thrown off. There is an abundance of "bad" bacteria in the system and this "bad" bacteria has overthrown the "good" bacteria, creating a breeding ground for bacterial infections such as yeast. The source of the bacterial imbalance is in the digestive system and, if left untreated over time, the "bad" bacteria becomes systemic in nature, meaning that it's now traveling throughout your system and manifesting itself as a yeast infection, athlete's foot, jock itch, thrush, bladder infections and cystitis (irritation and inflammation of the bladder), skin rashes in skin folds including diaper rash, toe and fingernail fungus. Besides these more obvious manifestations, there are a plethora of symptoms related to systemic bacterial imbalance, commonly called candidiasis. Some of these symptoms include: sensitivity to smells, difficulty concentrating, intense sugar cravings, itchy skin and skin problems like acne and/or eczema, headaches, digestive problems and discomfort such as gas and bloating, chronic exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, rectal itching, depression, low sex drive, sinus problems and sore throats. The reason this bacterial imbalance happens at all is due to overuse of antibiotics and/or corticosteroids, both of which kill off the "good" bacteria in the gut and compromise the immune system, poor diet and lifestyle such as excessive consumption of alcohol, simple sugars and starches. Bacterial imbalance has also been associated with the use of birth control pills.

I'm here to tell 'ya to ditch the quick fix over-the-counter remedies! The only thing that will permanently rectify your chronic yeast problems is a candida cleanse with accompanying herbs and a lifestyle change! Yes, that's right, once again I'm the bearer of challenging news - there is no overnight solution to chronic yeast. The solution is doing some work over time. I did my first candida cleanse about 10 years ago and, knock on wood, I haven't had a single yeast infection since! When I DO get a slight twinge of one or some other symptoms that point to yeast, I alter my diet and use herbs to clear it up.

Here are the basics of a candida eradication program:

1. Only take antibiotics when absolutely necessary.
2. Use probiotics every day. Probiotics are healthy strains of bacteria in capsule format that will help to re-populate the "good" bacteria in the digestive tract.
3. Pursue a strict diet that eliminates all sugars and yeasts, including natural sugars as found in fruits and colored vegetables like carrots (basically any vegetable that's not green or white).
4. Take herbs that are anti-bacterial in nature that will work to kill off the "bad" bacteria.

Here at Prana Holistic, I do cleanse counseling, where I tailor make a cleanse just for you including herbs uniquely suited to your needs. After the cleanse is made up, I also provide guidance for you upon your cleanse program, meeting with you weekly or so in order to answer questions and offer support during your process. I would be happy to help you get rid of a build-up of "bad" bacteria in your system in order that your body function more optimally. If you suspect you have candidiasis, please give us a call today to set up your cleanse consult and/or your cleanse counseling package. 780.454.5299

*Please note - there are a lot of schools of thought on candida cleansing and you will find many on the internet. The cleanse guidelines that I offer each person are based on my own personal research, experience, my education in the field and a collection of opinions from my teachers and other trusted and reputable practitioners.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Doing The Work

I am pursuing yet another of Kristi's Goal Ninjas programs, Get More Sh-t Done. As an accompanying gift to those enrolled in the program, Kristi gave out the book Do The Work, by Steven Pressfield. I am on my second time through this awesome little ditty and am beginning to get more and more of a grasp on what it really means to do what it is that you actually want in life. Seems like it should be so simple - you want to do something that you know makes you happy, you do it, you're happy. End of story. Yeah, not so much. At least not in my world. My story goes more like this: I want to do something that I know makes me happy (let's call it "my goal"), I fantasize about it, I make up stories as to why and how I probably can't achieve my goal, I do some personal work to heal and improve myself, I start taking risks and making some moves towards my goal, I get on a roll, I'm feeling great and getting closer to my goal, I'm doing good so I tell myself that I deserve "a break", I start to slack off on doing the work, I fall completely off the wagon, I wallow in self-defeat, self-deprecation and self-loathing, I struggle for what feels like a long time to get back up, dust myself off and do more personal work to heal and improve myself, and the whole cycle starts all over again.

I am in the midst of repeating this cycle yet again in my life and am at the "struggle for what feels like a long time to get back up and dust myself off" stage, and dealing with some residual self-defeatist and self-deprecating thoughts and behaviors. I can tell that despite my repeating this redundant cycle, I've definitely progressed in the big picture because I have absolutely no desire to feed energy to the completely falling off the wagon and wallowing in my own crap stages. Previously, I would talk about my seeming failures as though they were a pervasive disease - and I suppose they can be if we spend too much time focusing on them. Of course, talking about my falls and the accompanying self-loathing only works to make those things persist. Just last night, I heard myself say: "I'm so sick of hearing myself talk!" - this was with regards to the potential of talking to anyone about what I have recently perceived to be a failure in my life. At this rate, I'd rather just do the work, which is what Pressfield's book is all about.

The stages of my cyclical story from "I'm doing good so I tell myself that I deserve "a break" to "I struggle for what feels like a long time to get back up" are all about resistance. AND, resistance is completely normal! Hurray! I'm "normal"! Pressfield notes that resistance is "most commonly elicited [in response to]...any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity." So...perfect, right? Anything we seek to do that is "good" and that seeks to improve ourselves will be met with incredible resistance. Sounds daunting. Part of me just wants to hang up my self-improvement kit and call it a day. For good. The other part of me is finally showing a desire to rise to the challenge. At the very least I can know that based on the amount of resistance I'm currently experiencing, I'm on the right track. Pressfield's "Rule of thumb" confirms that I'm on the right track: "The more important a call or action is to our soul's evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it."

Pressfield does a really good job of letting readers know that failure is not only normal, but a good sign. I mindfully wiped my brow when I read the following that absolutely deserves to stand on it's own:

"A crash means we have failed. We gave it everything we had and we came up short. A crash does not mean we are losers. A crash means we have to grow. A crash means we're at the threshold of learning something, which means we're getting better, we're acquiring the wisdom of our craft. A crash compels us to figure out what works and what doesn't work - and to understand the difference."

And the final point? Do the work. And keep doing the work. Keep getting up and brushing yourself off. Keep pursuing personal work to heal and improve yourself. Don't give up.
I've often wished there was a more glamorous final point. Something more along the lines of: pass go, collect $200, sit on the beach with a margarita and your goal will fall at your feet. But oh no, pursuing your unique calling and your personal and lasting happiness is like being 21 and working 3 jobs to save up to go traveling - you never rest. But once you get to Europe, it's all the more wonderful 'cause you did the work to get there! It was hard and long and you were tired, strung out and uncomfortable, but you did it! (Well I did anyways and in deed, Europe was awesome.)

If you'd like support doing your work, I'd certainly suggest investigating any of Kristi's Goal Ninjas programs as well as Steven Pressfield's book, Do The Work. Beyond those resources, there are a wealth of things you can do to heal and support yourself as you move more and more authentically towards the life of your dreams. Give us a call at Prana Holistic today to explore your options.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Toxins Are Making You Sick and Fat!

Well well...it's that time again, autumn. It seems to have come around really quickly this year, what with a fairly wet July and an August that just whizzed by while everybody was busy tending their gardens, drinking mojitos and playing hopscotch...what? Who in the hell plays hopscotch anymore these days?!

That's not the point - that was just a random thing I threw into the mixture to keep you on your toes. Anyway, I liked rainy July and have thus far made concerted efforts to absorb the August sun while I can. Despite a less than toasty summer of 2011, good times have still been had and autumn is a perfect time to detox. The body definitely accumulates toxins from over-indulgences, but it also accumulates toxins simply from day-to-day living.

One area of toxic exposure I'd like to bring focus to is xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are foreign estrogens - estrogens that do not come from your body but that mimic the action of estrogen within your body. Xenoestrogens cause problems because they mess up your delicate hormonal balance. When your endocrine system is out of balance from absorbing far too many xenoestrogens, this leads to weight gain and hoarding, especially around the mid-section (belly flab!), cravings, low energy, night sweats, early onset of puberty, higher risk of female cancers, difficulty conceiving, lowered testosterone levels in men, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, lowered immunity, irregular menstruation, constipation, insomnia, lowered capacity to deal with stress...and the list goes on - !! So where are xenoestrogens found? Unfortunately, my friends, they kind of abound (I completely did not intend for that to rhyme). Here's a list of things that contain xenoestrogens:

- Plastics marked with recycling codes 3, 6 or 7. If it's a plastic container we're talking about, the recycling code is found on the bottom of the container.
-Food preservatives, pesticides and genetically modified foods.
- A great deal of commercially prepared meat. This is because the animals are often fed both antibiotics and synthetic hormones.
- Skin care products and textiles, especially cotton!

So basically you're surrounded by xenoestrogens. What can you do?

First of all, let's get rid of all the toxins that have built up in your body over time due to overexposure to nasty xenoestrogens. A detox in autumn is just what the holistic health practitioner ordered! Cleansing the system by specific, sound nutrition and in combination with herbs is the perfect way to rejuvenate and decongest all systems of the body, leading to better overall function. I have every intention of doing a detox this autumn and I'd love to tailor make a cleanse for you too. Call us at Prana Holistic to book your cleanse consultation (780.454.5299).

Secondly, make a point to be mindful with your purchases, like plastic, skin care products and clothing. There are a lot of alternatives to plastic as well as safe versions of it.  There are also environmentally friendly and organic skin care products and clothing out there. They'll be pricey in comparison to their toxin laden counterparts, but supporting the manufacturing of those goods often means supporting smaller local business' too.

Finally, be very mindful of the quality of the food you put in your body. Organic is definitely pricier, and your body and health are worth every penny of what you'll pay buying organic.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic 

Gratitude Becomes You!

I was recently blessed to participate in Kristi's Goal Ninjas program for a second time. Our group completed the program a week ago tomorrow and, once again, it was fantastic and revealing. Kristi is an insightful, knowledgeable and skilled facilitator with a brilliant ability to add perspective to all facets of life and living.
On Sunday, after the completion of the program, I had a horrible time and, as a result, felt incredibly guilty that my son may not have been enjoying a day that could have been a lot more upbeat and fun. It was sabotage Sunday - the day after incredible and profound awareness' have been had and start to try and sink in. The insights and processes that had been facilitated for me by Kristi the day before were deep and difficult to embrace. While the purpose of profound awareness is to help create positive change, there seems to be a period of fighting and struggling against what is or what could be and we resist change - this resistance being very inherent and sometimes a real source of struggle for us. I know I am not immune to this struggle and while I don't want to focus on it, I am always doing my best to learn and grow from it.

When my son, Caleb, went down for a nap on that hard day, I contemplated how everything that was causing me stress, unease and anger had absolutely nothing to do with him and how he was so undeserving of the wrath of my mood. I knew that it was up to me to turn things around as it wasn't Caleb that had changed, but ME that's TRYING to change. One of the best things to do to incite change is to take action - something one of my great mentors always reminds us of (wink, Kristi). I sat down at my computer and visited Byron Katie's website, thework.com . There are some absolutely amazing videos on there of Byron Katie facilitating the work for others and her site is a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to make it through their struggles, myself included. I did the work on myself and issues as they related to Caleb and made it through the day with much less negativity.

On Monday night I read a chapter in a stunning book I'm reading right now by Katherine Woodward Thomas called Calling In The One. The chapter was all about gratitude. Woodward Thomas tells about how once, during a really low time in her life, she made a commitment to wake up half an hour earlier than usual every day for 30 days and write 5 pages on all the things in her life she was grateful for. 5 pages! Not 3 things or 5 things or 1 page, but 5 pages! She shares on how challenging it became and how, not long into the process, she had to start digging really deep to fill up those pages. I was really inspired by this and I thought about how, in the arena of positive living, we're often encouraged to keep a gratitude journal or to consider what it is we're grateful for every day, but Woodward Thomas really took it to another level. I decided to follow suit. On Tuesday, I challenged myself to be grateful all day long. Every single thing that I saw or that occurred to me or that I perceived or thought of, I found the reason that I was grateful for it. Even and especially the things that I felt most challenged by. My day, thoughts and my overall feelings and experience were completely memorable! Suddenly, everything around me was lit up and all I could see were good things and all I could reflect upon was how absolutely blessed I am. Challenges and low times became opportunities and anger became a chance for transformation. This experience has instilled in me a belief that when it comes to gratitude, we ought to take it to a new level. One of my great mentors, mentioned previously, says that when we really want to affect change, we have to work on it every day. With gratitude, I think it needs to be absolutely constant. Especially during low times and especially if you're REALLY looking to do something differently to create a new you.

This experiment is very reflective of Byron Katie's work and how she encourages people to turn their miseries around and find what it is they are grateful for in these things. In light of my experiment - which continues by the way - I am now challenging myself to find reasons why I'm grateful for the most upsetting, disruptive and difficult experiences of my life. While I continue to struggle to find reasons for a few things in particular, so far this has been an incredibly life-altering experiment.

If you're looking for ways to move and transform your misery, might I make a few recommendations:

1. The Gratitude Experiment (as described)
2. Kristi's Goal Ninjas program
3. The Work, by Byron Katie
4. Calling In The One, by Katherine Woodward Thomas

All of these pursuits, if done with intent and a genuine desire for change are REAL platforms for just that: positive change. I encourage you to BE the person of your wildest dreams. Today.

I am grateful for having written this blog post because it has helped me to reflect on my own journey towards greater awareness and personal change. Thank you for reading.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Josh Ritter Inspires You to Do What You Love and Love What You Do

Josh Ritter singing "for the love of it" - !

I love Josh Ritter. I've often played around with the thought of asking him to be my mentor. Why? Because I'm taken away by music like nothing else I know and Ritter's a musical genius who's passion is obvious and contagious! Last fall, Kristi and I attended a Josh Ritter concert at McDougall United church here in Edmonton and it remains one of the most inspirational live shows I've ever seen - and I've seen A LOT of live shows. Inspirational because no matter where you're sitting, you can feel the passion that Ritter has for his music. And, if you're sitting close enough, you can see the passion. Often singing with eyes closed and a giddy grin on his face, Ritter gives an impression of a kid in a candy shop as he delivers a most splendid and awesome performance.

A few days ago, I was listening to some of his music in my car and became very aware of these lyrics from his song Snow Is Gone: "But I'm singing for the love of it, have mercy on the man who sings to be adored..." It really struck me. What a message - are we doing what we're doing because we really love it and it really lights our fire or are we doing it because we think it may please others or position us in the spotlight? I invite you to ask yourself that very question about what it is that you do. Some of you may well know that you're not exactly passionate about what you do. First of all, why are you not doing something you love? Are you unsure as to what it is you'd really like to do in your life that lights your fire? If that's the case, ask yourself what your ultimate sense of purpose is here on earth - that may help. Also ask yourself what - in life - really makes you feel alive and gives you a sense of fulfillment. If you're feeling challenged around those questions, consider taking Wild Oat flower essence that addresses uncertainty about life direction.

Secondly, if you're not exactly fired up about what you're currently doing, why not try loving what you do and considering it a pit stop on your journey towards doing what you love. Chances are your "pit stop" has something very valuable and self-revealing to offer. We don't do anything for no reason and if you dig deep, you're sure to find many ways you could be grateful for the position you're currently in. And while you're digging deep and exploring the reasons to be grateful for your pit stop, challenge yourself to do one thing TODAY that will bring you closer to doing what you love. If, for example, you want to sing in front of people "for the love of it" - like Josh Ritter - maybe you could plan to attend and participate in one open stage down the road or make plans to record one song.

Finally, as if Ritter hasn't said enough in that one lyric, I reflect upon the following from the same song: "But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know..." This - in my estimation - is a melodic way of saying: risk. It takes risking to gain success, passion and love. It takes taking the risk to jump off the cliffs of life, trusting that the universe will catch you in order that you eventually gain what it is you truly desire and that which truly lights your fire. So Josh Ritter and I encourage you to risk loving what you do right now and moving towards doing what you love today. You deserve it.

I leave you with a beautiful and energetic version of Snow Is Gone by Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Past Indulgence Leads to Current Woes, ie: No More Beer for Roberta!

I recently completed an intensive and progressive nutritional cleanse program that I capped off with 3 consecutive colon hydrotherapy sessions. After completing the whole process, I felt pretty "clean", but also pretty sensitive. In the weeks following my cleanse process, every time I ate wheat, corn, sugar or anything refined (as in, not having come directly from the ground), even in moderation, I experienced uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms like gas, major bloating and bowel irregularity. I thought about how, having cleansed, my body "should" be digesting things better and more efficiently. I also considered the particular items that my body was clearly NOT digesting well - wheat, corn, sugar and refined foods.

So - here's the thing...well, there's 2 things actually:

1. Wheat, corn, sugar and refined foods are high offenders. Wheat and corn, in particular, rank pretty high on a list of the most common allergens, enticing allergic symptoms in a large population. Sugar and refined foods have a pretty "bad" reputation in the field of holistic health, having a tendency to wreak havoc in the internal system if not moderated over time and especially contributing to metabolic disorders like obesity, blood sugar irregularities, chronic problems with low energy and diabetes.

Considering this point, it seems clear that my body is sending me a message that it doesn't want these items. Fair enough - I can choose to heed this message or ignore it, ignoring it setting the stage for poor health. But I never had such strong adverse reactions to these items before, and I used to consume them frequently before having made concerted efforts to improve my nutrition and overall health in the last 5 years or so. In theory, if my body is balanced, I should be able to periodically indulge in some birthday cake, a beer or a warm plate of spaghetti and not suffer.

2. The second part of my first point IS my second point: "I used to consume [wheat, corn, sugar and refined foods] frequently" - that is the problem. My theory in the last sentence of my first point is based on balance. My body - as a result of overindulgence in the past - is no longer balanced. When a person repeatedly consumes offending foods, or any food for that matter, thereby throwing the concept of balance out the window (how can you be balanced if you eat the same things everyday?), the body begins to react to those foods.

When I first became a vegetarian about 11 years ago, I didn't research vegetarianism enough, nor did I make a point to include enough protein in my diet. My staple item was toast with margarine (barf! I cringe!). And let's not forget booze! Beer beer beer...wine wine wine...spirits, shooters, cocktails...you name it - if it had alcohol in it, I wanted it. I was loading up on simple carbohydrates at the expense of protein, and a good balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Gross!

I wrote a column on this topic back in April after taking a general interest in allergies and Dr. Carolee Bateson-Koch's book, Allergies: Disease In Disguise. Succinctly put by Bateson-Koch, “When you eat a food frequently, you are calling on specific enzymes to digest that food. When this eating pattern continues over days, weeks and years, you may create an enzyme deficiency for that food.” I have done precisely this thing and, as a result, my body is overly sensitive to wheat and corn, while refined foods, including sugary treats only add insult to injury since I also overindulged in these things - many refined, sugary foods containing high fructose corn syrup, derived from corn.

Here's my conclusion - if you haven't already developed food sensitivities, do yourself a favor and bring awareness into how balanced your diet is. If you're a vegetarian, make sure you're getting enough protein that is essential to all physiological processes. I've been craving chicken more and more since my last cleanse and have decided to eat organic, free-range poultry when my body asks for it. I guess that makes me a flexatarian? Further, make sure you're not relying on any one food as a staple - especially not refined and processed foods! Relying on broccoli, for example, is a far cry from relying on toast and beer! Even so, eat a variety of fresh fruits and fresh or lightly steamed vegetables. Focus on consuming grains in their most natural form - here's a good rule of thumb: if it hasn't come straight from the ground before you cook it and/or eat it (as in quinoa, rice, couscous, oats, amaranth, millet, etc.) then don't eat it, or keep it to an absolute dull roar in your diet. Integrate good fats into your regime by eating fish and oils. Avoid or moderate sugar and if and when you do eat sugar, make sure it comes from sugar cane, not high fructose corn syrup.

If, like me, you've already developed food sensitivities, eliminating the offending foods is your best bet for a period of time to give your body a chance to heal. You can also consider using digestive enzymes (available at any health food store) to give your digestion a boost. Eat pineapple and papaya, both of which contain natural enzymes. Probiotics help to re-establish bacterial balance and intestinal integrity, improving overall digestion. Finally, make a point to eat foods rich in vitamin C (or periodically use supplemental vitamin C) to help bolster the immune system.

If you would like help establishing whether or not you have food sensitivities or allergies and direction on how to best change your diet to improve your health, please contact us to set up your nutritional consult today.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Mother's Day & Father's Day Entice Thoughts on Resolving Old "Issues"

With Mother's Day behind us and Father's Day just around the corner, I'm left thinking about mother and father "issues". Surely we ALL probably have mother or father issues to some degree and these are vastly discussed in the practice of flower essences, my favorite modality to practice.

Flower essences are highly dilute floral infusions that work on an energetic level. This means that there are no chemical constituents in a flower essence, like root, stem or leaf. Flower essences are just that: essences of the flowering tops of plants. The philosophy of flower essences states that the energy of the flowers have been captured and preserved in a bottle. This energy - of any given flower - works upon a person's energetic body, mostly affecting mental, emotional and spiritual components of being, affecting the physical in turn. Flower essences stimulate awareness' around any one issue being addressed - awareness being the key to change, movement and personal growth.

My focus on the topic of mother and father issues is not to place blame on any one mother or father, but rather to draw awareness into wounds we may perceive or have experienced with relation to our parents. Children are sensitive beings and can easily perceive pain from any given event, comment or something they may have observed their parents doing or saying. I'll give you an example: I'm a bit impatient, especially if I'm pressed for time. With a 2-year-old in tow who always wants to do everything for himself without the awareness that his doing things like fastening his own seat belt takes 2-3 times longer than if I were to do it, I frequently struggle to stay calm and patient. If I loose my cool with him on a particular day under a particular set of circumstances, it may stick with him and he may formulate belief systems as a result, such as "there's no time for me" or "there's not enough time" or "I can't do anything right", etc. This is not because I'm a bad person, but because I'm a human being who makes mistakes. Another example is the myriad of people out there who struggle with an ongoing sense of abandonment due to the end of their parents' relationship by separation and/or divorce. There's a really good chance that separation or divorce may have been in the best interests of all involved, including the children, but the fact remains that most children of divorce are left with a feeling of abandonment and/or self-blame.

Everyone has varying degrees of mother and/or father issues, some being more intense than others, as in the case of abuse. Unfortunately, individuals who had great struggles in their relationships with their mothers may end up feeling quite empty inside. Meanwhile, individuals who were challenged in their relationships with their fathers may have difficulty with trust in adult life.

There are specific flower essences that can be applied to mother and father issues. Mariposa Lily is the flower essence most typically applied to "mother issues" while Baby Blue Eyes is the flower essence most typically applied to "father issues". These essences are considered to be "root" essences as they endeavor to touch the root of all issues as they relate to deficient or wounded relationships to the mother and/or father. It is my opinion that every single person, regardless of their childhood, could benefit from taking both Mariposa Lily and Baby Blue Eyes, but especially those who have had glaringly painful experiences related to their parents.

Other flower essences that address mother and father issues include Evening Primrose and Sunflower.

If you're interested in exploring any issues you have in your current life as they may relate to your relationships with your parents, I'd LOVE to facilitate a flower essences experience for you. As we heal our core wounds, we become truly healed and more effective in all aspects of our lives overall. Meanwhile, let's not forget to celebrate the parts our mothers and fathers have played in making us who we are today and all the enriching experiences they've played part in.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Awesome, Amazing Acupuncture & What It Can Do For You!

Over the past 3 weeks, one of my dear friends and favorite acupuncture practitioners (besides the beloved Adam Salzman) has been facilitating acupuncture/reiki combo sessions for me. At our first session, I expressed that I wanted to cleanse and strengthen my liver. I'd been having intuitive feelings that my liver was in need of support, as well as physical symptoms to indicate that it was congested. I'd become incredibly sensitive to alcohol, feeling hung-over after even one drink and experiencing a great deal of heat - sweating and hot flashes in the aftermath of having a social drink. I was also having difficulty sleeping, experiencing a lot of anger, frustration and outbursts (anger, as an emotion, is associated with the liver) and suffering from intense right shoulder blade pain, also associated with liver problems. At our second meeting, I was highly emotional and confidently let my friend pick the focus of the session - later I would find out that she placed some focus upon the liver in that session as well. Yesterday, at our third session, when my friend asked me what I'd like to focus upon, I automatically started to respond "liver", only to evaluate if that was really necessary. Upon reviewing what's been happening since we started this trio of sessions and what kind of results I've experienced, I realized that all of my liver-associated symptoms had disappeared! I had recently been able to enjoy a few social drinks without any adverse repurcussions, I was sleeping like a baby, not even waking in the night to use the bathroom as I frequently had in the past, I wasn't angry anymore and the right shoulder blade pain was gone!

I have two points to make in connection to this story.

1) Acupuncture is awesome! An ancient method rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture seeks to clear energetic meridians - paths through which life-energy, also called "qi" (pronounced "chi") is said to flow. When qi gets congested, organs, systems and glands that lie along the congested meridians can start to function less optimally. Insertion of acupuncture needles into specific points that lie along meridians helps to release congested energy, allowing it to flow freely, thereby nourishing organs, systems and glands.

2) Consistency and follow-up is incredibly important! When I do health coaching or ongoing cleanse counseling with clients, it almost always happens that the client is not entirely aware of the positive benefits they've gleaned from their healing journey under my guidance until we review together - touching on their original goals and the status of what was originally ailing them. My recent experience with acupuncture is a perfect illustration of how I overlooked the healing that had occurred for me through the application of acupuncture, while exemplifying the value of follow-up. Yesterday, when I realized that all my symptoms had disappeared, I ignorantly started to say "Wow - I haven't even really done anything specific to cleanse my liver...wait a minute...that's precisely what we've been doing here!" I had been so content to just chalk the sessions up to an opportunity to relax and take care of myself, that I lost sight of what it was actually doing for me. Pursuing consistent sessions and following up with your therapist clarifies progress, letting you know that what you're doing is worthwhile and effective.

Adam is our acupuncturist here at Prana Holistic. He's an amazingly skilled and sensitive therapist. Working largely from a place of intuition and with an immense amount of knowledge, Adam easily makes each person he sees feel comfortable and valued. If you feel like your body is not working quite as well as it could be, give us a call to set up an acupuncture appointment. Especially with my most recent acupuncture experience under my belt, I am not the least bit hesitant when I say that I know it will do you good and free up the energy needed to make you feel tip top!

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Tapping In To A Better Experience (Literally)

As we enter the melting period, ie: the end of winter, I reflect on how long and grueling it felt for me. Just this morning I mentioned to someone that January felt like at least 2 months to me, if not 3. I know I've experienced seasonal depression before and am left confused about how much of that may have been the cause of my low winter feelings. Either way, I intend to build up and be aware of a plethora of personal, stress-relieving resources for next winter, including the application of self-care and the willingness to ask for support when it's needed. 

One of the resources that I used this time, which I believe was a big part of helping me to pick myself up and keep going, was EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique. EFT is a branch of energy psychology. Energy psychology is a field that considers the relationship of energy systems to mental and emotional health, as well as behaviour. Founded by Gary Craig, an American engineering graduate and ordained minister, now retired, EFT’s guiding principle is that negative emotions disrupt the body’s energy. EFT manipulates the body’s energy field, with the goal of creating harmony and balance. 

EFT combines tapping on particular points, as recognized in traditional acupuncture, focusing on an emotionally debilitating issue and repeating affirming statements that promote acceptance of oneself despite challenges and shortcomings. The idea is that negative thoughts and feelings get stuck in the energetic system just as toxins periodically get "stuck" in the body, calling for a nutritional detoxification process. Consider EFT to be an emotional detoxification process. Quite simply, where a high emotional charge exists in association with a dysfunctional belief system ("I'm not good enough"), event or trauma, EFT, in application, works to diminish this emotional charge in order that you cope more effectively with life and your own personal healing. 

Me Tapping In To A Better Life!

For example, during the winter, I got caught up in feeling responsible for others' feelings - probably as a way of avoiding my own. For a while, I was consumed with what a few people in particular were thinking and feeling, especially in relation to me, and this became draining and defeatist. I was not able to properly function because I was allowing my obsessive thoughts to pervade every part of my life. Daily application of EFT helped to bring the emotional charge around my obsessiveness down so that I could objectively look at my situation and logically compute that hey, this is this person's journey and here's mine - I am only responsible for myself and obsessing about others who may or may not even have issues with me is a waste of precious energy that I need to heal myself and care for my son. This moved me to take care of things that needed to be taken care of inside my relationships in a matter-of-fact way, which brought healing and renewal.

EFT can also be applied to old, traumatic events that have never fully been healed such as death and loss, accidents and abuse. It's difficult to move forward when we haven't shed light into and healed the wounds of the past. This is not to encourage you to stew in past wounds but rather to shed light upon them, heal them and move forward. EFT is a phenomenal way of healing wounds both from the past and the present. It also helps to eliminate jitters around public speaking, difficult conversations, traveling or anything where fear seems to be taking over. 

One of the most beautiful things about EFT is that once you've learned it, you can add it to your personal tool box forever! I recommend having a session with a skilled EFT practitioner to start so that you can talk the process through and gain the skills necessary to use it on your own. Further, it's helpful to be with someone who can offer fresh perspectives to something that may be old and festering in your life. 

Sharon is our skilled EFT practitioner here at Prana Holistic. Please call us today if you'd like to learn how to apply EFT in order to rid yourself of possibly debilitating emotions that may be blocking you from thriving in your life.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

  

Becoming A Ninja At Life

I had the complete pleasure of being a participant in Kristi's fall Goal Ninjas program here at Prana, and I say with complete confidence and excitement that it changed my life! Let me tell you how.

First of all, I discovered that I'm not exactly in line with my true passion. In fact, I had even convinced myself that I "don't really identify with the word passion" - what a bunch of bollocks! I certainly DO identify with the word passion, I just hadn't aligned myself with something that makes me feel more passionate than anything else! By Kristi's skilled facilitation and questioning, as well as the processes that are presented through the Goal Ninjas program, I was able to discover where my true passion lies. Now, knowing what really entices passion within me, I can actively pursue that.


Secondly, I've been pursuing ongoing activities to change mental programs that I have that are no longer conducive to my personal success and advancement. These activities are designed to establish new mental programs that are positive and that contribute to my creating the life that I really desire instead of that which I formerly believed I deserved - far less than the best! One of these activities is called evidence journaling and here's how it works: every day for 90-days (new habits, including habitual thinking, should be established by practice over a 90-day period), I am recording evidence to prove the following new beliefs: 1) I am abundant, 2) I am attractive, 3) I am valuable, 4) I am worthwhile, and 5) I am complete (whole, perfect and complete just the way that I am). Amazing things are happening. I am pulling away from undermining thoughts and behaviors and finding all the more evidence to illustrate that leading an enriched and fulfilling life is my divine birth right! Moreover, I am actually beginning to embody the fact that I deserve the absolute best that IS available to me in this universe.

As far as I'm concerned, these are amazing and incredibly impactful paradigm shifts that may not have happened (or at least not as soon) had I not participated in the Goal Ninjas program. I believe that everyone deserves to know that they are worthy of the very best the world has to offer. I also strongly believe that each and every person who thinks otherwise of themselves or who isn't seeming to achieve what they really want or who's just plain unhappy can't afford NOT to pursue the Goal Ninjas program. And...I really don't care if I come across as being biased since Kristi is my friend and colleague - that's how fired up I am about what Goal Ninjas has to offer!

If you want to read more about the concepts of Goal Ninjas, check out my recent column in SEE Magazine: Un-Google Your Mind, or, if you want to know more about the program, check out goalninjas.com. If you'd like to sign up for the program, which I, obviously, highly encourage you to do, please contact Kristi at: kristi@pranaholistic.ca, or give us a call on 780.454.5299.

Happy 2011 everyone! Here's to your becoming a ninja at life!

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic