Reflexology For The Spirit

spirituality of one's health

3 Ways Self-Care Helps + 5 Things to Ease Your Toxic Overload

                                   

Self-care is part of my daily life.  Practicing self-care develops personal happiness.  It honors a balance between personal life and career.

Self-care offers things that are important in daily life.  But, that’s not all.  Self-care activities diminish burnout, stress, and fatigue.

Occasionally, I review my physical, mental, and spiritual toxicity to boost my self-care agenda.  Actually, a toxicity review is good for everyone, whether or not self-care is the issue.

To pamper myself, I’ll declare a detox week.

Your body continually self-cleans.  But, sometimes this process needs a focus and boost because of the hordes of chemicals confronting the liver, lungs, kidneys, fat cells, intestines, bloodstream, and skin.

Toxins come in many forms:  too much sugar, caffeine, and processed foods.

They also invade us through pesticides in the produce we eat, formaldehyde in carpets and cosmetics, plastics, and paper products.

I’ll start off a detox week with a water flush, drinking filtered water to cleanse my tissues. (I normally drink filtered water but, with  a detox week, I’ll add a variety of waters which I get at the health food store.  I also drink some of the Saratoga Springs Waters.)  And, I’ll alternate my water with herbal teas to support my liver, lymphatic system, bowels, urinary tract and skin.

DRINK 8 GLASSES OF WATER

DRINK 2 CUPS OF HERBAL TEA

For a fresh-air treat, I go to my local garden center and buy a new plant to help detox my home.  I love ferns. Truthfully, I love any plant that I can grow.  I started growing houseplants during the pandemic.  I definitely don’t have a green thumb but I’ve managed to collect plants which are surviving in my home.  The oxygen they produce is important.

GET A PLANT FOR FRESH AIR

My detox week includes a daily cleansing walk,  a short 20-30 minute walk I take in my neighborhood to breathe fresh air and enjoy my community.

TAKE A 20-MINUTE WALK

Finally, I include breathing properly to dispel toxins and wastes.  When I celebrate a detox week, I set aside time each day to practice deep, slow, rhythmic breathing.  This clears my mind, lifts my energy, and boosts my mood.

TAKE 10 CLEANSING BREATHS

SCHEDULE A WEEKLY REIKI OR REFLEXOLOGY SESSION

Reiki and Reflexology work well with a detox week.  Include one session for the week or, if time permits, include a daily session.

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Find out more about Thurman Greco at www.thurmangreco.com.  You can purchase Thurman’s books in both ebook and paperbook form.  ENJOY! 

So far, “A Healer’s Handbook” has gone out to readers in over 30 countries.

Explore more about self-care in “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” YOUTUBE productions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS STATE PARK 

PS –  Because I live in the Hudson Valley of New York, I’m close enough to Saratoga Springs to benefit from the many mineral springs located throughout the Saratoga State Park.  If you ever get the chance to visit this area, just north of Albany, be sure to visit a few of the springs.  Maps are available as well as descriptions of the waters found at each one.

Tours of the springs are scheduled regularly.  Join in the fun if you are in the area!

www.parks.ny.gov

 

Your Sleep Sanctuary

heart with wings

Better sleep includes getting enough sleep at night and  waking  gently in the morning.  That’s what alarm clocks and cell phone alarms are for.  Use them to remind you to begin to calm down in the evening and to gently wake you in the morning.

Sleep Encouraging  Techniques for you

As you journey down the path toward a better night’s sleep, don’t think of your bedroom as just a bedroom.  Think of it as your sleep sanctuary.

Some people report they get to sleep easier if they use a diffuser   with a lavender essential oil.  You may want to try this.  Lavender is one of the most popular and calming essential oils out there but not everyone likes it.

If you like lavender, you can use it knowing that studies find lavender essential oil improves your mood, decreases the heart rate, lowers the skin temperature and   blood pressure a bit.

A bonus here is that lavender is not one of the most expensive essential oils.  So, this may be an economical solution for you.

Do you have any plants in your bedroom?  If not, you may want to add one or two.  They purify the air as  they reduce mold,  filter toxins, release oxygen at night.  And, plants are fun to look at.

Lower Lighting is Important for a Good Night’s Rest.

As you prepare for sleep each night, lower the lights in your sleep sanctuary.  Bright lights  just before getting into bed can trick you into wakefulness.  You need light as you get ready for bed, but you just don’t need so much.

When You are Ready to go to Sleep, Turn out the Lights.

Then, when you get into your bed, set your intention.  My intention is always for a deep, healing, relaxing sleep so that I will wake up refreshed in the morning when it is time to get up.

Follow your intention with a short breathing exercise .

Begin this sleep breathing by getting comfortable in your bed.  Take a deep breath and hold it for an extra moment.  When you release this breath, focus on releasing  all tension and worries.  Blow them far away.  With the next breath, let go of any discomfort your body is holding.  With every exhale, focus on the word “relax”.

Breathe in peace…breathe out relax.

Hold your breath for a moment and then repeat:  Breathe in peace…breathe out relax.

Now, breathe in peace…breathe out relax.

Finally, enjoy your final peace breath and then breathe out relax.

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

Thurman Greco