Reflexology For The Spirit

spirituality of one's health

Maintain Your Good Health: Some Guidelines

For me, much disease is preventable  when you maintain your good health.  Staying healthy doesn’t take a lot of time.  Small changes can make big differences.

Positive lifestyle habits contribute to a lifetime of good health.  This blog is filled with suggestions.  Throughout our lives we all make choices about how we are going to live our lives on a day to day basis.  These choices directly impact how and when our lives will end.

Developing a working relationship with your healthcare professional is essential.  Many people enjoy good health for years and feel they don’t need a doctor.  This can’t be further from the truth.  When an accident or illness strikes, you need to know a health care professional, his/her contact information, and you need to have had an appointment within the last year.

People who are never sick haven’t a clue about what to do when a bone is broken or a head is concussed.  They don’t speak hospital and they suddenly find themselves in a foreign land unable to read the directional signs.

Become aware of your body and how it works.  Know what to do when medical attention is needed.  Learn  first aid skills.

Learn to get a healthy night’s sleep.  Sleep is a core element of your good health.  It goes right along with knowing about your body and how it works.  Now, add healthy eating and good physical activity.  When you combine these stepping stones, you have a basic plan to maintain your wellness.

For me, there are several causes of disease.  Some are nutritional.  The first nutritional cause of disease is created by DEFICIENCIES in your diet.  Culprits here are sugar, white flour, processed foods, and added chemicals.

Half our population has DIGESTIVE ISSUES.  Many people have resigned themselves to living with them for the remainder of their lives.  Your body is made to heal your digestive issues because you have a built in abdominal brain which communicates with your cranial brain when there’s a problem.

This is where  prebiotics and probiotics  come in.  And where things like regular reflexology sessions  enter the picture.  And Reiki therapy.  And chakra healing.  Appropriate bodywork has a place in  maintaining your health and wellness life.

Our bodies can be toxic, all the way down to your CELLULAR  LEVEL.  Read the labels on the foods you buy.  If you can’t pronounce a word or words you read on the ingredients list, put the item back on the shelf.

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION is big on the list of cause of disease.  As you work to develop good health, you’ll get up close and personal with chronic inflammation if you go about this the right way.

When it comes to your good health, it all comes down to this:  Eat whole foods.  Eat nuts.  Use olive oils.  Eat grass fed meats.

A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE will age you as fast as anything.  As I walk down a sidewalk, I see people who move and those who can’t.  Be the one who moves, not the one who doesn’t .  10,000 steps every day is a good start.

POOR SLEEP HABITS are huge on the list of habits which cause disease.  Sleep  regenerates.  Sleep organizes.  Sleep rehabilitates.  Sleep is therapy.

Get enough of it.

When it comes to PRESCRIPTIVE AND OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES,  take only the minimum you need.  The same holds true for medicinal herbs.  The bottom line is that anything that can change your body for the better can also change it for the worse if it’s not appropriate for you, your health issues, your body, your age.

We all need a reason to get up in the morning – every morning.  SMILES are necessary to your good health.

SOME BASIC WELLNESS GUIDELINES:

Good quality, nourishing food is essential.  This statement does not promote one diet for all.  The diet nourishing you may not nourish me at all.

The part of the statement, good quality, is the one size for all part.  In order that what you eat does the best for your wellness, health, and physical fitness, it must be good quality.

Pure air and water are essential.

All of us need adequate warmth and shelter.

We each need a reason to get up every day.

Balancing work, play, and rest is important.

Everyone needs a positive sense of self worth.  We all need positive feelings about our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical selves.

Thank you for reading this post.  Please forward it to your favorite social media network.

Enjoy your continued good health!

Thurman Greco

Spiritually, your back is your support for life.

Spiritually, your back gives you strength.  It honors you.  Your spine contains your central system and your central blood supply.  You register every experience, feeling, impression, and thought in your spine.

Your lower back holds financial support and your core beliefs.

Your middle back supports your move forward in life as you release the past.  Your middle back holds love.

Your upper back deals with your emotional support of others and self.  It deals with guilt, shame, fear, anger, resentment.

Back aches are spiritual events.  What may offer relief for one person may not work for another.  In spite of all the modern, 21st century techniques, cures, and therapies available for back injuries and health injuries, you may respond positively to reflexology, Reiki therapy, and Chakra healing.

Lifestyle changes will help if you discover physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual causes of your discomfort.  When that happens, you can make adjustments to get rid of the pain.  Then, you can figure out what you need to do to keep the pain and discomfort from returning.

These changes may include things like developing a posture encouraging spinal alignment.  You may learn specific exercises offering you relief.

Several times throughout your day, talk to your back.  Is it in pain?  Does stretching help?  Are your shoulders scrunched up against your neck?

As time passes, you’ll find you are learning the language of your spine.  Once you learn this, you can listen to what your spine says to you and follow its instructions.

To avoid back pain, respect your spine and don’t overwork it.  The three basic rules of respect include proper lifting techniques, exercises to build strong back muscles, and proper fitting low heeled shoes.  Following these three guidelines, you’ll prevent accidents and reduce spinal alignment stress.

When you consult with a physician about your back pain, select a person who gives you confidence.  If you seek a massage therapist, acupuncturist, physical therapist, schedule your appointments so they’re 24 to 48 hours of one another to take advantage of synchronicity.

Yoga helps.  I’m fortunate that there are many yoga teachers in my area.  Through the years, I’ve found two teachers who know about spinal health and focus their classes on this specialty.  Carolyn Abedor teaches Iyengar Yoga when she focuses on therapeutic spine health.  Kathy Karey teaches yoga and focuses on repairing injured spines.

Massage and physical therapy are beneficial for chronic pain.  Chiropractors work to improve your condition without adding more strain to the spine.

If you don’t know a yoga teacher, massage therapist, chiropractor or physical therapist, this is a good time to look for one.

CHAKRAS:

Lower back pain focuses on the first chakra.  Middle back issues focus on second and third chakras.  Your upper back deals with fourth and fifth chakras.

REFLEXOLOGY SYSTEMS TO WORK:

nervous system, muscular system, urinary system, skeletal system, sciatic nerve, liver and solar plexus

ESSENTIAL OILS:

basil, clove, cypress,  eucalyptus, fennel, ginger, lavender, marjoram, nutmeg, peppermint, ravinsara, Roman chamomile, rosemary, spearmint, thyme, vetiver

OTHER THINGS YOU MAY TRY:

Throughout your day, check your posture, your seating positions, and the height and angle of your work surfaces.

Thank you for reading this blog post.

Please share this post with your preferred social media network.

Thanks again.

Thurman Greco

Longevity Breathing – an Easy Step to Better Health

I often go through a good bit of my day without even thinking about how I’m breathing, forgetting completely that the easiest and most powerful way to stay healthy and promote good longevity is breathing right.

When we’re faced with traffic snarls, an unhappy coworker, a missed deadline at work, lack of exercise, or children with stuffy noses, automatic stress responses are all too common.  Our breathing becomes shallow, rapid.

Heart rates speed up, neck muscles tighten, teeth grind, and on and on.

There is something you can do.

You can learn – and practice –  proper longevity breathing techniques.

There are many different  breathing techniques.  I use one, in particular, a the moment I realize that stress is staring me in the face.

I always use it when I’m in a doctor’s office and I know I’m going to get my blood pressure checked.  I don’t have White Coat Syndrome, but my blood pressure definitely rises when the cuff is  put on my arm.  Sometimes, my blood pressure even rises when I walk into the doctor’s office.

So, I just cut this increase off at the pass.  I use this longevity breathing technique anytime I need to calm myself and control my emotions.  Here is what I do.  And, you can do it too.

I breathe in deeply through my  nose while mentally telling myself it’s time to be calm and lower my blood pressure.

When you breathe in deeply through your nose, focus the origin of this inhale  deep in your abdomen.  Hold this deep breath for a few seconds.

Then, exhale slowly as you breathe out.  Remind yourself that you are breathing out stress.  Let your inner self know that you are  lowering your blood pressure when you exhale this deep breath.

This deep inhale and exhale pattern works in traffic, in the doctor’s office, at work.  It works anywhere you see stress running straight toward you.

Take about four inhale-exhales and mentally check in with your body.  Observe how your body is calming itself.

Take about four  more inhale-exhales if you need.  The goal here is to be calm, grounded, solid, alert.

You  can train these inhale-exhales to work for you.  Practice them when you aren’t super stressed.  Practice them several times daily at randomly selected moments.  The goal is to become comfortable with the results of this breathing pattern.

Thank you for reading this article.  Please share it with your preferred social media network.

Thurman Greco

Woodstock, New York

 

 

 

 

Winter Solstice Meditation – December 21, 2018

On December 21st,  the  date of the annual Winter Solstice, please take a moment wherever you are to join in with all mankind to focus  on a vision  of peace and healing for all beings on Planet Earth.

December 21st is the day when all beings on Planet Earth begin again  with  annual re-birth.  All beings on Planet Earth honor the turning point of the year.  We use our new energy for peace and healing throughout the planet.

In celebration of this annual Winter Solstice Meditation, find a quiet place where you feel safe and can focus on the annual renewal of all beings on Planet Earth.

As you get calm, focus on the re-birth happening all around us all.

May the collective energy of all living beings join together in love and gratitude and use our newly reborn energy for peace and harmony in all lives on the Planet Earth.

With the celebration of this year’s Winter Solstice, may all beings on Planet Earth know we are connected and may we all work together with mutual respect and harmony.

May all beings focus on  the continuing deepening and understanding offered by the re-birth of the Planet Earth through the Winter Solstice.

With the Winter Solstice, may all beings on Planet Earth join together in focusing on spiritual healing for all living things.

Encourage your breathing to become centered and grounded.  Breathe in a breath  composed of  positive healing,  love, understanding, and respect for all beings on Planet Earth.

As you exhale, let go of all things negative.  Release all feelings of negativity which may possibly impact your life and that of your loved ones in the coming year.

As you inhale, focus on positive aspects of your life which you can improve during the coming year.

Exhale to release all feelings of negativity which may not support the rebirth offered by the Winter Solstice.

With this meditation, breathe in centering and grounding feelings which will benefit all living beings on earth.

Visualize a healed planet.  Visualize a clean, uplifting environment for all beings on our earth.  See a glorious sphere .  There is radiant blue water.  The lands have no borders.  All beings traveling do so in perfect harmony on a perfect path.

When it is time for you to leave this place of perfection and serenity, you may choose to bring this feeling of peace back with you to the outer world.

Return to your surroundings now.  Be awake, alert, and feel wonderful…in perfect peace where you are.

 

Thank you.  Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.

Please share this article with everyone you know.

Thurman Greco

Woodstock, New York

Wellness: 10 Tips for a Longer Life

Longevity depends a lot on  wellness throughout your life.  So, working to prevent disease helps promote a longer life.  There are many things you can do to promote wellness in your life.  It goes without saying that including Reflexology for the Spirit and Reiki Therapy sessions regularly are important.

PREVENTING COLON CANCER has a dietary component.    Dietary calcium,   selenium and vitamin D are important  for your overall wellness.

Another  thing that may can help prevent colon cancer is the regular use of aspirin.

So, beyond vitamins, and aspirin, what can a person do?  Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables !

And, finally, getting the dreaded colonoscopy regularly is important.  Colonoscopies are good for early detection and polyp removal  both of which are crucial.    Some people simply don’t want to get a colonoscopy.  I’ve been getting colonoscopies since I was in my 40’s.  The physician, over time, has removed several polyps and that was important.  Wellness testing is high on the list if you’re interested in living a long, active life.

Colonoscopies  have gotten easier  through the years.  And, the prep has actually gotten to be less dreaded   because my Dr. lets me drink vanilla milkshakes on the day before!  Go Colonoscopies!  I was actually a little tiny bit disappointed when my physician told me I don’t have to have another one for years.  I’m not scheduled for another one until I’m 85.

Not wanting to wait until I’m 85 for a yummy, thick milkshake, I’ve decided I can get a milkshake whenever I have to get a medical test or procedure.  I love that new rule!  Medical testing is much, much easier when followed by a delicious, thick milkshake.

PROSTATE CANCER – If a man lives long enough, he’ll either die with prostate cancer or because of it.  So, prostate cancer is in the future for many men.  Prostate cancer is a lifestyle disease, not a genetic one.

So, what can you do?  Vitamins are important prevention habits – especially selenium.  Seafood instead of beef is a good choice.  Fruits and vegetables are important.  To summarize this, a good diet is necessary for longevity wellness.

NEVER WORK BEFORE BREAKFAST –  A good breakfast, eaten every morning can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity.  If you’re  interested in wellness, breakfast is on the menu – every day.  First thing.

This is your chance to load up on high-fiber grains, antioxidant-laden fruits,  and whole grain cereals.

A favored breakfast is the world-famous Muesli breakfast.  This will stay with you for hours until it is time for lunch.  And, it’s yummy, too!

BREAST CANCER –  This is a challenge for many women.  Breast cancer has a definite spiritual component.

Reduced to its lowest common denominator, this means  you should do everything possible to keep from running on empty.  I wrote more about this in my book “A Healer’s Handbook”.

A good thing to do is go with early diagnosis and every medical treatment offered whether allopathic, complimentary, or integrative.  Fight breast cancer with every tool offered to you.

Early diagnosis means getting mammograms and breast exams regularly.  No cancelling.  Early detection and treatment is important to your continued wellness.

Keep up with research on cancer preventing diets and exercise.  This means, at the very least, eating lots of fruits and vegetables and exercising regularly.

STRONG LEGS are your best insurance policy for a long, active life.  Two of the best exercises are pedaling the stationary bike and using the leg press machine.

Climb stairs for five minutes every daily.

Balance yourself on one leg daily:  Stand on one leg for fifteen seconds, then alternate legs.

And, finally,  stand up and sit down twenty times in succession.

LOAD UP  – on vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains every day.  Go for as much variety in texture,  and color, possible.   Avoid processed foods as much as possible.

Try not to eat any foods loaded with chemicals and artificial anything.  Chemical laden foods are not good for wellness.

TAKE THE RISK – Eat cold water fish one to three times a month.  This means you should eat about one serving of salmon, trout, herring,  or sardines per week.  Unfortunately, the accumulated heavy metals make eating the fish more often  a health risk.  However, on the plus side, eating the cold water fish once a week can offer real  wellness health benefits.

Avoid farmed fish if you can.  No doubt some  farms are clean but many are not and you have no way of knowing without visiting.

AVOID ALZHEIMER’S – Alzheimer’s is one disease which we all want to avoid at all costs.  There are some things you  can do to prevent the onset of this disease.

Reduce your intake of saturated fats.

Make physical  activity a part of every day.

Spinach and other dark leaf vegetables are said to help prevent the onset of the disease.

Antioxidant rich foods are important.

Turmeric is an important spice to add to your arsenal.

Maintain an active social life .

Learn new things .

WATCH YOUR BACK –  Statistics tell us  that most of us will experience back pain at some point in life.  This can be a problem for you if you’re not focused on your wellness.

Back pain has a spiritual component which you can’t ignore.   Stress is often involved in back pain.  I wrote about this in “A Healer’s Handbook”.

Back pain impacts on your wellness and longevity expectations when it brings on depression,  immobility, and  disability.

One thing you can do is work to maintain strong core muscles.  Strong muscles in the stomach and back will go a long way to a better recovery if you do experience back injury and pain.

Posture is important.  Take yoga classes with a teacher  interested in your posture.

Maintain a good weight.  Obesity is a strain on your back which you don’t need.

Drink plenty of water to maintain joint hydration.  This may seem like a silly suggestion but your joints  use a lot of water and need you to continually  replenish it throughout the  day – everyday.

The bottom line here is this:  Your longevity wellness depends  on a strong, healthy spine.

EAT LESS MEAT –  I’m certainly not telling you that you have to become a vegetarian, although that may be something that works for you.  However, eating less meat is important if you are interested in longevity and wellness.

Eating  large amounts of meat  regularly plays a part in contributing to diseases you probably want to avoid if your  goal is longevity and wellness.  Meat is implicated in most of the lifestyle diseases found in our culture:  cancer, heart disease, stroke, dementia.

THANK YOU  for being interested in your good health for the long term.  Thank you for reading this blog.   Thank you for seeking a healthier life.  For sure,  a healthier life should make your longevity and wellness plans  a real option.

Please share this article with your favorite social media network.

Thanks!

Thurman Greco

Woodstock, NY

 

 

10 Easy Ways to Live a Longer Life

Living a longer life is a commitment to a specific lifestyle which promotes good health. Your first step to living a longer life is making this commitment to long-term good health and longevity.

You begin this path to live a longer life and have long term good health when you realize and understand  you can’t just blame your genes for your health.  Your continued good health depends on developing habits and practicing  useful  things regularly that  support your commitment.

Develop your plan for a longer life now.  Plan how your life will be when you are in your 80’s, 90’s, or even 100.  Will you be alert and active with friends?  Will you be living alone?  Will you be mentally alert?

Imagine yourself as a healthy person living  a longer life.  Focus on this goal.  Be ready to make changes in your lifestyle  to achieve the results you want.

Make regular reflexology sessions a part of your life.

For starters, review  your diet.  Are you consuming generous servings of  vegetables and fruits?  Do you eat lean protein every day?  Do you eat whole grain foods, brown rice, nuts, and legumes?   (I’ll cover the diet portion of  a longevity  lifestyle in future posts.)

Meanwhile…

Take care to prevent overeating.  If you eat a proper diet in the proper amounts, you should have energy, you will slow the aging process, and you will postpone or prevent chronic diseases.

If you can prevent overeating, your body will be able to handle more types of stress, something that’s important if you are concerned about living a long life.

Develop a daily walking routine.  Walking 10,000 steps each day will increase blood flow to the brain  resulting in an improved memory.  How can you do this?  Walk more.  Walk during your lunch hour.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Make it a goal to get off your seat and on your feet.  Choose volunteer activities which require walking.

Take your vitamins!  But, not just any vitamins.  You don’t want to waste your money on nutrients you don’t need.  Do  some research.  Make your knowledge current before you decide which vitamins to take.  I’ll share more information about minerals and vitamins in future blog posts.  For now, I suggest you look into vitamin D3.  Find out for yourself if  that’s a vitamin you need.    When you take your vitamins, take them with food to promote absorption.

Take an aspirin a day…if your healthcare provider says it’s okay.  I believe  aspirin in moderation on a daily basis can help prevent diseases such as heart attack  and some form of cancer.  But, again, don’t take my word on this.

Hope you are enjoying this new series of posts on longevity!  If so, please share them with your preferred social media network.

Thanks for reading!

Thurman Greco

10 Wellness Tips to Improve your Fitness

Fitness is a journey.  It is  a way of thinking, moving, believing, acting.  Fitness is forever.

The most important, bottom line, rule about fitness is to Be Active!.  There are many, many different kinds of exercise and diet.  But, whatever lifestyle you choose, the most important thing is to Move!.

Regular exercise fights physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual decline.  Whatever you do, include several brisk walks each week.  Over time, this regular brisk walk can improve your fitness and  “add years to your life and life to your years”.

Concerned about your risk of stroke?  Add a daily walk to your life.

Are you getting too many colds?  Exercise regularly and moderately to boost your immunity and improve your fitness.

Whenever  possible, take the stairs.  You’ll use more calories and build muscles at the same time.

Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty.  When exercising, drink 4 to 6 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes.

Do you have osteoarthritis?  The best thing you can do is exercise.  Check with your physician or physical therapist.  Contact the Arthritis Foundation.  Then, exercise, exercise, exercise.

Worried about falling?  Protect yourself by developing the strongest thigh muscles you can.  Strong thigh muscles will reduce the injury you might experience from a fall.

Don’t have time for exercise?  Turn your coffee break into  10-minute workouts.  These short breaks can offer a lot of fitness for not a lot of work.  You can climb stairs for 10 minutes.  Or, you can jump rope or have a quick run.  Park your car 10 minutes from the office and walk those 10 minutes.

Drink as much water in the cold as in the heat.

Replace worn exercise shoes.  Your fitness shoes are worn out long before you see wear on the outer sole or upper shoe.

Thank you for reading this article.  Please refer this to your preferred social media network.

Thanks again!

Thurman Greco

10 Wellness Tips for Better Health

Wellness is something we should all be interested in.  We can all increase our health awareness through wellness..

Following are ten easy things you can do to  promote your wellness.

Not all muffins are created equal.  Read the labels so you choose a  muffin which is more nutrition and less junk.  Look for a muffin which has less than 500 calories and at least contains whole wheat flour in addition to eggs, butter, and other healthy ingredients.

Like baked potatoes?  To get the most nutrients from your favorite food,  eat the skin too.  Ounce for ounce, the skin is where you’ll get more fiber, iron, potassium and B vitamins.  This is wellness in action!

Eat foods rich in vitamin C every day.  Besides oranges, the best sources of vitamin C are asparagus, blackberries, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, mustard greens, peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes.  These foods help protect against cancer and other diseases.

While you’re at it, eat at least five other fruits and vegetables daily.  Make sure these  five servings are high in antioxidants.

If you’re concerned about urinary tract infections, drink ten ounces of cranberry juice cocktail daily.  While this won’t substitute for medication, cranberry juice cocktail taken daily will help reduce infection rates over time.

Looking for low-fat cookies?  Try fig bars.  They’re both low in fat and high in fiber.

Like to bake cakes and brownies?  You can reduce the fat in the recipe when you substitute applesauce or fruit puree for the oil, margarine, or butter in the recipe.

Low-fat milks are not created equal.  If your concern is fat content, go for nonfat or 1 %.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are tasty, nutritious snacks.  Frozen bananas, strawberries, strawberries are delicious!

Try a new fruit or vegetable every month.  At the end of a year, you’ll know a lot more about food than you do now.  And, the chances are that you’ll have new favorite foods!

Read labels on frozen breakfasts.  Some are very high in fat.  Others are also very high in calories.  Go for the less fatty products.

So!  Here you have ten suggestions with a bonus thrown in for good measure.  I’ll be sending along other easy wellness tips along in coming blog posts.  Hope you enjoy them all!

Thanks for reading this blog and thank you for reading this article.  Please forward it to your friends. through your favorite social media network.

Thanks again!

Thurman Greco

Your Sleep as a Spiritual and Healing Event

angel with cat

For all that’s written and spoken about sleep, we all know on some level that sleep is a complex, spiritual event necessary to maintain our health and keep the body and soul together.

I was recently quite ill with a “sinus infection of global proportions” as described to me by a healing friend.  My first tip off was when I decided on a Wednesday afternoon that I suddenly needed to rest.  Fortunately, I followed my body’s demands and crawled in bed.  I promptly went to sleep and woke up on Sunday morning.

On Sunday morning, I was quite tired but felt better.  I drank a lot of water, ate fresh fruit, and made it to the doctor’s office on Monday to find out what my problem was.  Within a couple of hours, I had had enough blood tests, x-rays, and other scans to learn that I not only had the enormous sinus infection but I also had pneumonia.

I also had a physician who was angry at me, a daughter nurse who was angry at me, and several other medical professionals who were angry.

I doubt if I’ll have this experience repeat itself again.  And, I’m certain that this sleep, while highly therapeutic, may have needed some breaks for hydration, etc.

Nevertheless, I’m also convinced that, on some level, the sleep helped my situation.

I was fortunate because I fell  asleep without trouble.  Sleep is not always available to people who are ill or suffering with troubled health for whatever reason.

And, sometimes people are ill and need nothing more than a good night’s sleep to make things better.  So, encouraging a good night’s sleep on a regular basis is a good thing.  Sleep, experienced regularly, is important for wellness and good health in general.

What provision do you make for a regular sleep schedule which includes enough sleep every night?  Are you able to include enough hours to offer therapy to your self and lifestyle?

Is your pillow adequate for the job?

Truthfully, I’ve blogged many times and will blog many times more about all the things a person can do to get enough sleep.  Keep after your sleep until you are able to support your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

The first step involves honoring your self and your need to sleep well in order to live well.

Thanks for reading this blog post.  Please refer it to your favorite social media network.

Thurman Greco

Artwork provided by Jennette Nearhood