Reflexology For The Spirit

spirituality of one's health

Reiki Healing and your Chakras

Reiki therapy is a specific healing modality used throughout the planet.

Reiki means “Universal Life Energy” and is the word used to describe this system of healing.  Reiki is a light touch given to a clothed body to improve the overall wellbeing of the recipient.  Using an intention, the Reiki practitioner gives healing energy to an accepting receiver.

The healing energy flows through the hands of the practitioner.

I feel that the Reiki we practice today is old.  Its origins are shrouded in the mists of time.

Dr. Mikao Usui developed and used the healing modality we use today.  He  operated clinics in Japan in the 20th century.  Dr. Usui is not only remembered because of the Reiki he developed but also because of his spiritual lifestyle.

Dr. Usui worked with others in his clinic and in his spiritual practice.  Two people include Dr. Chujiro Hayashi and Hawayo Takata.

Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the United States after World War II

It is said that Dr. Usui meditated on one of his five principles daily:

Original Reiki Precepts

 Just for Today,

I will not worry

I will not be angry.

I will do my work honestly.

I will count and be grateful for all my many blessings.

I will be kind to every living creature.

When I offer a Reiki session focused on balancing the chakras of the recipient, my client is usually seated or lying face-up on a massage table or other flat surface.

I offer my client a blanket and eye pillow if it’s appropriate.

After setting the intention, I invoke the symbols:  Standing at the head of my client, I draw first the ChoKuRei, then SeiHeKi, then HonShaZeShoNen.  Finally, I repeat the ChoKuRei again.

I place my hands on the shoulders of my client.

So far, this part of the session should take 5-10 minutes.  However, this time length can change with the practitioner. Each practitioner works in a different way so the time will not always be the same for everyone.

I then move to the side of the client and go to the first chakra.

I balance the primary chakras beginning with the root chakra.  I balance each chakra by hovering my hands over each chakra about 2 to 6 inches above each chakra.  I usually spend about 5 minutes on each one although these times can change depending on the client.

I am an old massage therapist and believe that touching my client will help me do my job better in many situations.  As a massage therapist, I feel that I gain a better understanding of what is happening.

However, this is a personal situation and will be determined by your training, and previous experience with not only Reiki but other healing modalities.

A Reiki session works with the physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual levels of a person’s body.  On a physical level, many people appreciate the warmth generated by a Reiki practitioner’s hands. On a mental level, the client is often comforted by knowing where the practitioner’s hands are at all times.

Respect your client privacy at all times.  It’s important to do the right thing at that moment.  Some people do not want to be touched at all, no matter what.

Always respect your client’s privacy.  Chakra balancing is extremely intimate work.  And, Reiki energy naturally finds its own path, going exactly where it is needed.

The first chakra to be balanced is the root chakra.   When I balance this chakra, I place my hands outside the person’s hips where they  meet at the base of the spine.  This chakra is your client’s connection to the physical world.  Trust is an important issue here.

The second, or sacral chakra is located about 1-2 inches below the navel.   This chakra is the seat of creativity and inspiration.

After balancing the second chakra I move on to the third or solar-plexus chakra.   This is where the upper chakras and lower chakras meet.  The solar-plexus chakra is found just above your waistline, where your client feels the chakra as “butterflies”.  This chakra is where your client finds her power.

Moving on from the third chakra to the fourth chakra, balance your client’s heart chakra – the center of love, healing, and compassion.    Your client’s heart chakra is located in the central chest.

After balancing your client’s fourth chakra, move up to the fifth, or throat chakra.  This chakra houses voice and self-expression. As expected, this chakra is located in the throat.

The fifth chakra, the third-eye chakra, is located in the forehead in the area of the eyebrows.  The third-eye chakra focuses on intuition and awareness.

The next chakra, the crown chakra, is found toward the top of the head.  This is where the higher self and the divine come together.

After balancing each chakra and finally coming to the crown chakra I focus for a few moments at my client’s feet.  After all, I’ve come to a full circle along my client’s body.  It has been a session of shifts and adjustments – many not yet known by the client.  It may take several days for your client to begin to understand what is happening.

A Reiki chakra balancing session can often be repeated more than once or twice in a lifetime.  Your client may want to have several weekly or monthly sessions. A few of your chakras may want to be balanced several times until they are happy in their new place.

Whatever the outcome of the chakra balancing session, a few minutes spent at your client’s feet for grounding purposes are a good idea.  The options here are many.  Have you taken any reflexology classes?

No?

There’s a video out there that might inspire you.  You probably won’t spend more than about 5-10 minutes on your client’s feet.  You are there to offer a path back to present time for your client.

The are many classes waiting for you on YOUTUBE.  Some are mine and some are produced by other teachers.  But, whichever one you choose, the idea is to gently finish your session.

One final suggestion: a chakra balancing Reiki session, or a regular Reiki session, are both good for the body and the soul.  Every person needs some Reiki every week or so.  If you feel you don’t have the budget for this, learn Reiki and partner up with another practitioner.

You can connect with me on Facebook.  If you have friends who might enjoy this post, please forward it to your favorite social media network and to your friends.

If you’re looking for more, check out my books.  www.thurmangreco.com.

THANKS AGAIN!

Who Shouldn’t Receive a Reflexology Session, and Why (Contraindications)

My introduction to contraindications began at my first massage therapy class at the Potomac Myotherapy Institute in Washington, D.C back in 1979.

Our first class began on an autumn evening with about 40 students.  By the second class, that number had shrunk to a few over 20.  Missing students were culled because of contraindications.

A contraindication list changes based on several factors:

Wellness and reflexology writers each have lists based on their experiences and training.

Healers each have a list.  My experience in this field tells me that this list is highly individualized, again based on each healer’s experiences and training.

Teachers in both schools and continuing education seminars  have opinions.  These professionals teach from a list compiled not only by themselves but by the school owners and the states where they teach.

When I first began practicing massage, Kerrith McKechnie cautioned us to not treat cancer patients, or anyone with fever, or a rash.  And the list continued beyond that.

Later, when I studied reflexology, Marge d’Urso’s list was different.

Mary Ruth VanLandingham’s Reiki therapy list had no contraindications.

Over the past three plus decades, I have a list of my own.  This list has changed over time based on my experiences, and classes taken.

And, of course, this list begins with

CANCER PATIENTS

As a student at PMTI, we were cautioned against working on cancer patients at all.

Years later, I know reflexology offers much for a cancer patient:  relief from pain, stress, and nausea.

When I first offered reflexology to a cancer patient, she received her reflexology sessions 48 hours after chemotherapy.  The theory was that she was toxic for 48 hours after receiving her chemotherapy.

I waited the 48 hours to protect myself.

The first time I offered reflexology sessions to a cancer patient, I did it because she asked.  We discussed the situation and she felt that she had no options left.

To put her situation bluntly, I was offering reflexology to a terminally ill client. She wanted the relief offered from pain, stress, and nausea.

Now, of course, fewer and fewer cancer patients receive chemotherapy.

What’s important here is the journey reflexology and other healing modalities have taken as we learned more about cancer.

Years later, at a seminar at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, I learned that reflexology, massage, and Reiki therapy are appropriate for cancer patients whenever they want to receive a session.

For me, cancer is no longer a reason to refuse a reflexology session to a client.

PREGNANT WOMEN  

I do not offer reflexology sessions to pregnant women experiencing the first trimester of an unstable pregnancy.

Nothing is more wonderful than a reflexology session offered to a woman in her 7th month of pregnancy and has not seen her feet for a couple of months and still has 2 months to go.

The rule I follow:  avoid offering reflexology in the first trimester and stay on the bottom of the feet when you offer sessions thereafter.

If you have any concerns, switch to Reiki therapy.  Reiki therapy is wonderful for pregnant women at any stage of the pregnancy.  With a regular Reiki therapy client, you can offer sessions weekly and can offer to go with your client into the labor and delivery stages of the birth process.  Then, of course, you have two clients.

CLIENTS WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Infectious disease sufferers should not receive reflexology for your protection.  If you decide to offer a session to someone in a contagious condition, consider some options:  gloves, mask, etc.

SEVERE CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

This is a good time to use your Reiki therapy skills.

GANGRENE

Gangrene occurs when a person’s cells begin to die in a particular place when there is no circulation in a certain place in the body.  Gangrene is fairly rare but can be seen in cases of advanced diabetes.  This situation requires a physician’s attention.

ADVANCED OSTEOPOROSIS

Persons suffering with mild osteoporosis or osteopenia benefit from reflexology sessions.  Use a light touch and a short session taking care not to fracture bones.

The red flag begins to fly when a new client approaches you with advanced osteoporosis.  By then, it’s too late for your services without permission from the physician.

EXTENSIVE ATHLETE’S FOOT, ETC. 

Whenever there is a rash, an open sore, athlete’s foot, etc., offer hand reflexology instead of working the feet.  If you are uncomfortable offering hand reflexology to a person who has a contagious or infectious condition, use gloves.

ADVANCED DIABETES

Clients with mild diabetes respond well to reflexology sessions offered to both hands and feet.  Use gentle pressure when working the pancreas.  Use a lighter pressure in general for diabetics because their skin may be thinner or more sensitive and bruise easily.  Also, reduce sessions to 30 minutes or less for new clients.

HEAVILY MEDICATED CLIENTS

Persons taking a lot of medicine may have a buildup of toxins.  Because reflexology sessions offer a natural detoxing action you need to take care not to overload the person.  Offer a light thouch and shorter session.

SEVERE SWELLING

Swelling may indicate an internal injury, such as torn ligaments caused by a sprain, strain or fracture.  Do not work an ankle, or foot that is swollen and painful.   Once a medical professional has ruled out any underlying conditions, you can use your reflexology skills.

OPEN SORES OR CUTS

Cover blisters and cuts to keep them free from bacterial infections.  Sometimes open sores may indicate an underlying, chronic condition, such as diabetes.  The sores may also be related to contagious skin disorders.

BREAKS OR SPRAINS

Wait for permission from a physician.  And, do not remove a cast or bandaging to offer reflexology.  Work with what tissue is available to you and focus on a gentle touch and slow movements.

This may be a good option for Reiki.

FEVER

Fever is not a health issue.  It is a symptom of an infection somewhere in your body.

For me, fever is one of the most important symptoms you may experience.  It can indicate a heart attack, tumor, trauma, or a reaction to a vaccine.

Reflexology offers homeostasis which is important when a person has a fever.  Returning your body to an ideal temperature is one of the best outcomes a person with fever.

Giving a reflexology session to a person with a fever can be a healing situation once you understand the cause.

FEAR OR ANXIETY

The final item on my list is highly personal.  If I suspect a person is afraid of receiving  reflexology or is experiencing anxious emotions about being on my table, I offer to cancel or postpone the session.

Sometimes, people who have never received bodywork or healing are unsure about being ready for  a session.  This is not the time to change someone’s mind or feelings.

They can always reschedule the session at a time when they feel calmer about their session.

Throughout the years that I’ve offered healing sessions, I’ve had only two people arrive for appointments.  I knew the minute I saw them that something wasn’t “right”.

I followed my intuition and offered to cancel or reschedule the appointment.  Both people were relieved to receive my offer.  And I was happy I offered to cancel or reschedule.  The moment the words left my mouth I knew they were the right  words.

 

Thank you for reading this article!

None of the above contraindications occur often.  But when they do happen, I like to feel I am following guidelines learned in classes throughout the years.

Please refer this post to your preferred social media network and share it with a friend.

Some information in this post was shared from “Healer’s Handbook”.  More extensive information regarding contraindications may be found in prior blog posts and on presentations on YOUTUBE.

If you have any further questions or remarks, I can be reached at thurmangreco@gmail.com.

Thanks again,

Thurman

 

 

 

 

 

Reiki: When Your Diet Changes Your Destiny – a Reader Request Article

A Reiki  moment surfaced several years ago when a co-worker embarked on a diet.  100+ pounds overweight,  when she told her husband her plans, he didn’t hesitate :

“NO. I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU IF YOU GO ON A DIET. ”

My co-worker was rewriting her destiny and he simply didn’t  want to share her experience.

It was time for Reiki.

Diets are all about  weight loss and spiritual offloading.

As your diet progresses,  you first become more conscious of yourself and others.

Second, you become responsible for your own healing.

Third,  you make changes to support  your wellbeing.

Many times, when you release your past, you understand how it connects with   your present  situation.

Do you want to make necessary changes in your life?  This moment offers three paths.

First, this  moment sometimes stops the diet completely.  Second, your weight loss may pause for several days.  Or, third, the weight loss continues on.

Whatever happens, this is a good time to add regular Reiki sessions to your schedule.

When it comes to Reiki therapy, most of us never give it a second thought  – until we need it.

Why do you need Reiki?  What can it do for you?  Again, the situation offers three options:

Do you know  about Reiki?  Have you received Reiki in the past?  Do you receive sessions now?

Jump right in!  Take a Reiki 1 class.  Then a Reiki 2 class.

That’s how I learned Reiki.  I knew I needed it but didn’t even really know what it was.  I looked around for a teacher and scheduled an introductory (Reiki 1) class from Mary Ruth Van Landingham at Terra Christa in Vienna, Virginia.

For starters,  Reiki offered me a spiritual support system when I needed it.  Neither religion nor cult, Reiki is a destiny tool  giving  me much when I was open to its light touch.

Second, I found Reiki when it was time to change my old patterns and declare freedom from some baggage I’d been dragging around for years.  I wanted to  see beyond a limited reality.

It worked.  I saw  an expanded one, filled with light.

When I became a  Reiki practitioner, I sent the light.

Third, you won’t read much about Reiki in diet books, but it’s there for you.  It works well and smooths the transition to your new life when you rewrite your destiny.

What more can you ask for?

Thank you for reading this article.

Please forward it to your preferred social media network.

Please share this blog post with your friends.

Thurman Greco

P.S. This post was a special request.  If you have a reader request, please contact me at thurmangreco@gmail.com.

It’s Here! A Wellness for All Reflexology Video

It’s time!

THE VIDEO IS AVAILABLE NOW!

What began as reflexology class notes years ago has now become an informative and entertaining video  just waiting for you!

One evening several months ago Karen White, Arlene Ferrieri and I drove out to Palenville to my publisher’s studio and very casually produced this video.  Our intention is to offer a dialogue about reflexology which is easy to follow and use.

I hope you like it!

And, the price is sooo right.  Simply go to

www.thurmangreco.com and click on videos.

There it is!  It’s waiting for you and your donation.  Every penny is destined to feed the hungry.  No one received any payment for providing this video.

It is our hope that you will enjoy this video and find it informative as well as entertaining.

Please refer this blog post to your preferred social media network.

It is my dream that people will be as happy with this video as they are with the book,  which is going into its third edition.

If you like this video, I hope you’ll send thoughts of gratitude to Karen and Arlene and everyone at Turning Mill who gave of their time with love.

Thurman Greco

 

A Reiki Practitioner’s User Manual – Part 2

When I studied Reiki, Mary Ruth Van Landingham’s classes and handouts were  my user’s manual.  They didn’t even begin to approach all the things Reiki can do for us all.   I think Mary Ruth Van Landingham did that intentionally  because we each write our own user’s manual.

Reiki is a unique and individual  experience for each of us.  Our attunements are the user’s manual for each of us.

I learned to practice Reiki on my massage therapy clients.  Each one got a 10-minute Reiki boost at the end of the massage therapy session.  Because Reiki was still unknown  in my area, none of them had ever heard of Reiki.  Their introduction to Reiki came during the last ten minutes of  a massage therapy session so it came at a moment when they were blissed out, pain free, and totally relaxed.  Needless to say, they all loved their Reiki.

This was good for me also because I was new to Reiki and was fearful about the results.  It took a while for me to  become accustomed to how Reiki worked.

I worried that they might not receive a proper introduction.  So, what happened was that both my clients and I learned together.  For starters, we  learned to recognize  my warm hands  when I introduced Reiki into a session.

Over time, I learned that my hands warmed up whether they were on another person’s body, or my body, or a plant, or a car.  Or whatever.

I learned to trust Reiki.  This was a huge life lesson for me.  I suspect it is also an important lesson for others as well.  Many people go through life never learning to trust people, places, or things.

When I teach Reiki, I don’t think I even mention the word  trust.  The word floats above the classroom like a gorgeous cumulative cloud.  It’s there for all to see.

A wonderful thing to do is practice self-Reiki  to experience a regenerative sleep, easy your headache pain, feel comfortable in your body, or simply feel grounded.

Actually, it’s not necessary to do anything with Reiki.  Just enjoy having received your Reiki attunement(s).  Rest.  Heal.  Let Reiki be with you.

You do not give up anything to learn Reiki.  Reiki does not  test you in any way.   Reiki is not a cult.  It does not come between you and your religious beliefs.  You do not need to change any of your core beliefs.

Instead, Reiki opens doors and windows of learning, opportunity, and enlightenment for you…if that is what you want.  For some, changes are apparent,  immediate,  and outward.  For others, changes are slow, careful, discreet.  It all depends on you, your situation, your life path.

Some students, after receiving their attunements, internalize their new skills.  Reiki is private, intimate, internal.

Other students  use their newfound skills,  practice Reiki and give sessions at every opportunity.

Neither way is better than the other.  In all cases, Reiki assists you on your path.  For me, there is nothing more beautiful than to travel one’s life path.

Thank you for reading this blog post.  Please refer it to your preferred social media network.

Thurman Greco

heart with wings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reiki – Is it in your toolbox? – Part 1

In these stressful times, we all need a toolbox because we’re all healers.  And, we never know when we might need to use our healing tools.

Reiki is a basic healing tool that works almost anywhere, anytime.

Many of you reading this blog use Reiki.  But, many don’t.  Reiki was the basic skill which put me on my healing path.  That’s not to say that I wasn’t healing.  I’d been a massage therapist since the 1980’s.  But, there’s a difference.

Before Reiki and after Reiki.

I’ll never forget the first time I heard the word:  Reiki.

I was at a weekend continuing education class in Clinton, New York, at a place called Spring Farm CARES.  There were about two dozen students in the class.  As we each introduced ourselves to the group, every student, except me, mentioned Reiki.  They were all either Reiki practitioners,  Reiki Masters, or Reiki Master Teachers.

I had no idea what that was.  But, as I returned to my home in the Washington, D.C. metro area on Sunday, I decided to learn about Reiki.  Reiki, at that time, was not mentioned much in my area.  To be perfectly honest, it wasn’t mentioned at all.  I called around.

I eventually  found two friends who  practiced Reiki.  One of them, a massage therapist,  was a Reiki Master Teacher for years  and never shared her secret.   The other friend  studied Reiki but wasn’t using it because she believed that it healed people whether or not they wanted to be healed.

I found Mary Ruth Van Landingham in Vienna, Va. She had a shop, Terra Christa, with a classroom in a building behind the store.  I learned nine different kinds of  Reiki in that little building behind Terra Christa.  She taught most of them.

At that time, there were few to no books about Reiki.  Mary Ruth’s classes were filled with handouts.  Now, when I teach Reiki, I offer handouts and  encourage   students to read any Reiki book that attracts them.  Book stores everywhere carry several titles.  Overall, there are hundreds  to choose from.

I spent a good bit of the next two years studying in the little classroom nestled behind the store.  Mary Ruth invited other trainers to give classes.  I studied under Tom Rigler,  Rev. Dan Chesbro, and many others before I finally moved to New York State.

“Reiki is a light touch offered to a clothed body.” is the definition Pamela Miles offered at a class at the New York Open Center.

Over the years,  I learned that everyone who practices Reiki describes it differently.  I invite my students to define the Reiki experience.  Everyone has a different description and definition.

The word Reiki means Universal Life Force Energy.  Practitioners refer  to Dr. Mikao Usui, the man who brought Reiki into the 20th century.  He practiced in Japan prior to World War II.

Other prominent Reiki teachers during this time include Mrs. Hawaya Takata, and Dr. Hayashi.

I like to include   Frank Arjava Petter who, at the end of the 20th century, wrote a Reiki handbook “The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui.”

Reiki   works on the physical level when the practitioner uses her warm hands.

The Reiki symbols work on the mental level.

Emotionally, Reiki sessions bring peace and calm.

The Reiki practitioner as well as the session itself, offer healing which impacts the energetic body.

But, beyond working on the different levels of a person, Reiki heals without  judging.  The healing energy of Reiki doesn’t care whether a person is religious or spiritual or not.  The healing path  of a person receiving or giving Reiki is nondenominational, positive, accepting.

Reiki heals.

Reiki never makes exceptions  because of one’s beliefs, health condition, situation in time, lifestyle.

Reiki doesn’t ask about one’s religious or spiritual beliefs.  Reiki never cares whether a person is Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu…or anything else.

I have an invocation which I use often when offering Reiki to someone.  It’s not original with me.  And, I’ve used this prayer often for many years.  I offer an apology here.  I don’t know where it came from.

Whatever or wherever its origin, I send gratitude to the writer of this prayer.  (Maybe, after reading this blog post, someone will know where it originated and share the information with me.):

I call upon the essence of the Healing Buddha and the Master Spirits of Reiki.

(At this point, I include any and all names that seem appropriate.  I may include Jesus, St. Michael, St. Anthony).

I ask that my hands and heart be illuminated by the light of your unconditional love.  I ask that this session proceed for ………………’s highest good.  Amen

When I’m offering Lightarian Reiki, I go a step further.  I include a request to seal the room in the prayer.

Reiki accepts.

Reiki does not ask that you give up anything in order to use its energy.  Mary Ruth Van Landingham was a practicing Catholic.  My friend Kathy  is a devout Episcopalian.  I teach  Reiki to people of all faiths.

Reiki sets no one’s beliefs aside.

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

Please join me for part two of this series of posts about Reiki.

Thurman Greco

angel with flowers

 

Wellness and Healing for Ourselves and Our Planet During the Spring Solstice

To promote wellness and healing throughout the planet,  and on March 19th, find a time and place that fits your schedule.

Sit quietly for a few moments and visualize a world where positive renewal and growth exists  for all beings.  Allow wellness and healing to become a reality for all.

Plant  spiritual seeds to nurture your goals and dreams.  Get to know your potential  and reflect on all the wonderful opportunities in the world for growth and hope throughout our planet.

Set an intention  honoring  this mystical and magical change of seasons creating space for your spiritual growth.

Check in with yourself now.  Give your spirit the support it needs and seeks to bring wellness and healing to all beings on our planet.

Quiet your mind as you bathe in this new energy of spring.  Invite universal balance into our world.

Thank you

Thurman Greco

Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.

Practical Wellness: 10 Tips You Can Use

With this article , you and I move into part two of  practical wellness tips in the longevity series.  The focus  shifts  to information  less disease focused.   My hope is that you’ll adopt a few, or maybe more than a few,  healthy habits and avoid or discard the habits in your life which lead to illness.

The best way to have a long and healthy life is to prevent disease  and promote homeostasis while you adopt  practical wellness tips which resonate with you.

As you  adopt new wellness habits, you empower yourself and   take control of your body and your health.  You’ll be in charge of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self.  Practical wellness tips offered in these articles are often easy to adapt to your daily life.

Seeking a long and healthy life is an everyday proposition made easier when you adapt practical wellness tips which may  change through time.  You can always make improvements   as new theories and practices become the norm.

As you adopt new habits, I hope you’ll consider the long term effects of the new directions you’re taking in your life.

Your body  constantly moves and shifts  which means  you are different every single day from your cellular level on up.  These new tips you adopt can change  your life in small or large ways as your body self regulates toward wellness.

Adapt these practical wellness tips and changes to your age.

As a reflexologist and Reiki practitioner, this ability to change, move, develop means much to me.  That is the heart of healing with the modalities I’ve been studying my  whole adult life.

All of this points toward homeostasis – the balance of all body systems.

CHOOSE YOUR FATS WISELY – One of the most challenging  things I’ve done with this wellness blog is tackle oils.  If you go to the early blog posts, you’ll find articles reflecting how complicated life can get as you stand in front of the grocery shelf and choose a cooking oil.

The bottom line in cooking :  Go with organic oils.    Stay away from saturated fats whenever possible.

That means I buy  organic olive oil.

I avoid saturated  fats .   Whipping cream is not a staple in my diet and I don’t eat much red meat.

Beyond that, things get a bit dicey.  I don’t eat margarine because of the chemicals.  I do eat  butter.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids can be consumed by pills or by the spoonful.  Choose your Omega 3 Fatty Acids carefully because they can be contaminated.  I buy mine at the Village Apothecary here in Woodstock at 79 Tinker Street.  I rely on my pharmacist, Neal Smoller, to educate me about which and how many supplements I should take.

How you deal with fats and oils in your diet is up to you, your health, and how comfortable you are with manufactured foods.

Personally, I’m not comfortable with manufactured foods so there’s not a lot of oil variety in my kitchen pantry.

WHAT ABOUT MINERALS? – The body uses many minerals and they don’t get near the attention that vitamins receive.  Four minerals to concentrate on right now include Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Selenium.

Calcium is found in broccoli, dairy products, pinto beans, and spinach.  If you’re concerned about osteoporosis, this mineral is for you.  Eating foods high in calcium is important.

Magnesium is not found in our diets often.  Unless you eat apples, bananas, beans, brown rice,  leafy green vegetables, and nuts, you should take a supplement.

Magnesium holds off heart problems, strokes, and lack of energy.

Selenium boosts the immune system.  Any mineral boosting the immune system is a friend of mine.

Potassium is extremely important and is found in bananas.  I eat a banana twice a week.  Potassium combats hypertension, depression, muscle weakness, and fatigue.

BEWARE OF THE HOSPITAL! – We are all probably going to be in a hospital once or twice (or even more) before it’s all over.  Lots of things can go wrong in a hospital.  It’s your job as the  patient to know as much as you can about the hospital you are going to be in, the doctor who is going to treat you there,  and the condition you are trying to get treated.

I have reflexology clients who visit my table regularly because they feel it’s important for their overall wellness.  They don’t ever plan to be in a hospital.

Regular reflexology sessions definitely promote homeostasis which is good for disease prevention.  But, for a person to categorically plan to never be a   hospital patient can be an unwise move.  You never know when an accident can put you in an emergency room.

It’s important to know about hospitals and to be insured .  It’s important to have a health care professional that you visit at least annually so you don’t get caught in a situation where you don’t know who can help you or how to communicate with the professionals there.

Hospital is its own language. If you don’t do these things to know the language, you may not  have the vocabulary or understanding to make the best decision for your own health’s sake.

A healthcare advocate is important if you have a major encounter in a hospital  setting.  When you are injured in an accident, or are ill, you may not be alert enough to protect yourself.  And, if you haven’t kept up with modern medicine, you may not be strong   enough to protect your self.

INJURIES, FALLS,  AND  CAR ACCIDENTS – For every person who dies in an accident, fifty or so are injured and live. These fifty or so people may sustain minor injuries or multiple injuries or major injuries. A few of them will be disabled and/or have their lives shortened by the injuries received during the accident.

If you are interested in a long and healthy life, you do not want to be a part of those statistics.  Because most injuries are preventable,  accident awareness can be important to you.

Are you interested in avoiding accidents?  If so, think  back on the things your family and teachers cautioned you about when you were young.

Never drive buzzed.

Always wear your seat belt.

Never swim alone.

Keep stairways free of clutter.

Put non-skid strips in your bathtub.

I think you get the drift here.

DON’T BLAME YOUR GENES! – They count but the choices you make in your daily life count more.   You are in charge of you.  Your longevity is all about knowing that the things you do today affect your future.

If you read  about something which everyone says is good for you and you disagree,  follow up on your feelings.  Ask questions. Get to the heart of the matter.

GET TO KNOW YOURSELF. – Spend a couple of months getting to know yourself and your body better.  Ask yourself some questions and pay attention to the answers you share.  Take some notes.  The goal is to get a close look at your body.  It is unique, the only one like it in the world.

How do you feel in general?

How well are you sleeping?

Do you have any aches and pains?  If so, where are they?

Do you feel healthy?

Is it hard for you to get out of bed in the morning?

How bad is your stress level?

Are you happy?

What do you  want to change in your life?

Ask  your own questions.  based on your individual  age, physiology,  values, beliefs, and  your own personal circumstances.

TAKE SOME MEASUREMENTS! – This should be fun if you are into apps.  Or, if you’re into a fitness watch.  Mine keeps me active throughout the day as it reminds me when I’ve been sitting too long.

With a Fitbit or a Garmin, you can track  everything  you do throughout the day.  This may not be such a bad thing.  The point is that you become more aware of your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual self.

Once you  track  your body’s clocks, you can control  your homeostasis patterns.  Your can track your waking/sleeping cycles,  eating times,  physical activity  patterns,  and medication schedules.

When you do this, your body will function much more efficiently.  It  will  have the opportunity to become finely tuned.

EAT REAL FOOD –  If you can’t understand the words on the ingredients list, the product you are holding in your hand is probably not food.  Most likely, it is a selection of chemicals that have been manufactured and blended for human consumption.

Stay away from these manufactured products if you are interested in health and longevity.

Ideally, the food you eat will be just that:  food. Select foods that are fresh or flash frozen.This means you will shop mostly from the produce aisle or frozen food aisle.

MAKE THE PRODUCE MANAGER, THE BUTCHER,   AND THE WOMAN BEHIND THE FISH COUNTER YOUR BEST FRIENDS –  They will tell you where the food came from, which selections are the best buys.  They know the farmers and ranchers who supply the supermarket with the food you are buying.

When you go to the farmer’s market, get to know the people selling the food in the stalls.  These are the people who are supplying you with the best available, locally grown  foods.

You just can’t get better than this.

EAT THE FOOD THAT WORKS FOR YOU –  Every time I go into my local book store, I see a new selection of cookbooks promoting another new diet/eating lifestyle.  Their practical wellness tips may or may not be included in these cook books.  It all depends on the ingredients that the author suggests in the recipes.  The truth is that I support the diets that depend on fresh, locally grown food.

Important for any diet you adopt:  You must enjoy what you eat.  Traditional diets will outrank any diet that relies on manufactured ingredients.  Processed food is not good for anyone.

Thank you for reading this article.  I hope you enjoyed it.  And, I hope you’ll share it with your preferred social media network.

Thurman Greco

Woodstock, New York

 

 

 

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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