Listen Up: Opportunities For Music Therapy Abound!

Hot time, summer in the city! I LOVE Edmonton summers. There's always so much to do - always another event right around the corner, buskers, lovely merchandise to be seen and bought from street vendors and so much opportunity to hear live music.

Music therapy is actually a field all on it's own, being applied frequently for cognitive and behavioral problems, to develop motor skills, to enhance the well-being of those with long term illnesses and the elderly, to enhance relaxation and in recovery work for those that have experienced strokes. Besides it's official therapeutic applications, we've surely all applied music as an antidote to the myriad of life's challenges. In the past, Rage Against the Machine was my angry music, while Sarah MacLachlan spoke to my - perhaps overly dramatic - emotional life and the Lemonheads tended to my happy-go-lucky outlook. Things have changed and new music is always on the horizon, though my appreciation for all music runs deep.

I know you know what I mean. When the beat or the artistic combination of each instrument in a piece of music just takes you away. Music is, always has been and will continue to be enchanting and transformational for the human spirit. It gives our hearts, minds and souls a voice, not to mention brings life and being to our creative inclinations. And as if that wasn't enough, it moves us to heights that, at times, remain inexplicable. It entices profound emotion and facilitates experiences where entire rooms or fields-full of strangers suddenly become one.

Take advantage of The City Of Champions' summer events, many of which include great, live music. Here's a little glimpse of what you could take in to create your very own, local music therapy:

Edmonton International Jazz Festival
Canada Day - Celebrate Canada 2010 Events
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival
Capital Ex
Blueberry Bluegrass and Country Music Festival
Cariwest: Edmonton's Caribbean Arts Festival
Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Alfalfa the Wonder Herb!!

I've recently been doing some research on alfalfa as I have been recommending it for clients, have recently written a column about it and have been taking it in tea format myself.

Alfalfa means "the father of all foods", which, surely, is a hefty name to live up to. Considering the myriad of ways in which alfalfa lends itself therapeutically, I'm convinced that it easily lives up to its name.

Alfalfa has historically been used as a feed for horses and cows. Alfalfa is a legume, believe it or not, and currently the most cultivated legume in the whole world! Alfalfa grows very deeply in the soil, it's roots therefore able to access many nutrients which are available to us when we take alfalfa therapeutically. Alfalfa has a full spectrum of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. According to Robert Rogers' (my herbology guru), alfalfa has 3 times the calcium of milk, 5 times the magnesium and 40 times the iron!! Further, the vitamin C content is 4 times that of citrus juice (when consumed fresh), and a valuable source of vitamin K, necessary for blood clotting and essential to a healthy digestive system. Alfalfa also has an incredibly high protein content, which is the primary reason that it's fed to dairy cows. Alfalfa is a resilient plant and an excellent tonic, meaning that it tones and strengthens all the systems of the body. Alfalfa is a wonderful strengthening herb for those that are weak, underweight or recovering from an illness. Alfalfa is wonderful for the digestive system, especially considering the fact that it contains a wide range of digestive enzymes and is known to create bacterial balance in the lower digestive tract. Alfalfa is excellent for the cardiovascular system in that it dissolves cholesterol. It also inhibits fungus, reduces blood sugar levels, balances hormones and alkalizes the blood, making for a more alkaline internal environment that is so conducive to optimal health. Alfalfa also improves the flow and quality of breast milk, boosts the immune system, decreases the incidence of female cancers and binds to carcinogens in the bowel, speeding their elimination from the body. I'm pretty sure those are enough reasons to justify everyone ingesting alfalfa daily!

It is always my recommendation that when possible, herbs be taken in tincture format as there is more fresh herb readily available for the body's use and tinctures are also easier for the body to assimilate. However, alfalfa is pretty tough to find in tincture format here in Edmonton - I've tried! The second best way to ingest herbs is by drinking them as tea. I recommend Chickadee Farm, a local company that produces dried alfalfa leaves. Chickadee Farm brand is available at Planet Organic markets. Put 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb in a tea ball, allow to steep for about 10 minutes and drink! I like the taste, but some people find alfalfa to be quite grassy, so feel free to mix it with any other herbal tea such as ginger or peppermint to mask the grassy taste. Enjoy!

Alfalfa seeds, in particular, ought to be avoided by those suffering from any autoimmune condition while alfalfa supplementation in general ought to be avoided by those with lupus, specifically.

For more thorough recommendations on what herbs would be best for YOU, YOUR body and YOUR unique set of circumstances, please book an herbology consult with myself. I would be happy to recommend the perfect herb or herbs particular to you.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

My Friend John Asaraf, chilling with me!

Here I am, chilling with my new friend John Asaraf, of The Secret fame, in San Diego.

That's just how I roll!

Kristi Shmyr

"Boo Hoo, I'm Sick!" : The Difference Between An Infant & An Adult Experiencing the Same Sickness

I had a very interesting and introspective experience recently when myself and my son were sick at the same time, presumably with the same illness. Caleb (my little guy) got sick first as he's teething, which compromises little people's immune systems. He got a cold accompanied by a persistent cough that got worse at night. Soon after, I found myself similarly sick with a very sore throat, swollen glands, fatigue, muscle aches and periodic headaches. I'm not entirely sure whether or not Caleb shared my symptoms as he's currently unable to tell me, but I suspect he had an easier time with our sickness than I did. How do I know? Well, despite the fact that Caleb's nose was constantly leaking and he spent more than one night coughing frequently (this was before I invested in some awesome homeopathic cough medicine), he always woke up fresh, energized and on-the-go the moment his feet touched the ground. I, on the contraty, found myself slow-moving, groggy, somewhat debilitated and in need of much herbal, infrared sauna, manual lymphatic drainage, massage and hot baths support. I was moaning to myself and forever mentally confirming that I didn't feel good. The fact that this was the case really made me reflect on the difference between a child and an adult being under the weather. Two things seemed glaringly obvious to me:

1. As adults, we typically have more accumulated toxins in our bodies from years of lifestyle choices and years of having been exposed to chemicals. I grew up amidst a very conventional mind-set where taking pain medications and pursuing prescriptions, including lots of antibiotics, for ails was common. Not to mention the fact that as the years progressed, I participated in surely too much alcohol consumption. More stored toxins equals a more adverse experience of health, especially when one falls ill. This is a perfect supportive truth for the value of periodic cleansing. And trust me, I am CHOMPING AT THE BIT to do a cleanse, as soon as Caleb's done with breastfeeding.

2. Our perception of illness surely exacerbates our experience of illness. Notice that above, I mentioned the fact that during our sickness, I was "forever mentally confirming that I didn't feel good". Well, as we know, what we believe to be true more often than not manifests itself into our reality. I'm positive that Caleb didn't spend his days thinking to himself: "Waaa, waaa...I don't feel good!" I'm sure he wasn't thinking much at all, but rather just going with the flow of life, moving from one toy to the next, one experience to the next, always fully present in each passing moment, never painfully aware of the fact that he had a runny nose and whatever other symptoms he may have been experiencing.

This is reflective of Kristi's recent blog "Happy Like a Dog", where she makes the point that animals and children are perfect teachers to us about being present in each passing moment. This recent experience of mine is another beautiful reminder not only of present-moment living, but of the importance of cleansing our bodily temples. Here's a simple analogy: think of a fish tank. If you never clean your fish tank, how can you expect the ecosystem within to thrive? Chances are the water will become mucky and the fish may even die. Likewise, we need to clean our bodies out every now and then so that we can have a more optimal experience of life and not be so run down when common colds hit.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Your Ego is Your Amigo!

Most self-help books, programs and experts will tell you that in order to achieve a truly happy life, you need to forgo the evil "ego".

Unless you intend to live your days on a mountain top in the lotus position
DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS GARBAGE!

If you want to live a life integrated into society, ANY society, you need to appreciate and respect your ego and work WITH it, not against it.

Working against it will only force your ego to work against you and sabotage your efforts, something I think we are all familiar with (has your head ever convinced you, mid-diet, that it doesn't matter if you eat a whole bag of cookies? That's your ego sabotaging you!)

So how do you avoid this? You have to respect the ego, and the survival brain, and enroll it in your goal.

We will go into this in much greater detail in our September Goal Ninja Bootcamp, including exercises on enrolling your ego, but in the meantime, here's something to keep in mind:

Get clear on what you fear would happen if you pursue or achieve a goal. Those fears are your ego's way of keeping you safe and are there for your safety and protection. Once you start listening to your fears with respect and acknowledging the important role they play in your life, you will have a better chance of your ego allowing you to proceed with your dreams.

If you are interested in achieving your goals and dreams, please go to www.goalninjas.com for more information on our upcoming Goal Ninjas Bootcamp.

Kristi Shmyr
Prana Holistic