Keep Moving Forward

Families and individuals face multiple challenges daily from physical to financial.  My family is no exception!  When I ask my husband “What are we going to do?”  Without hesitation his immediate response is always “just keep moving forward.”  It seems like such a superficial response doesn’t it? Actually, it is very sound advice.  When you are not sure what to do, continue to act in a way that brings you closer to resolution: even if you are not sure what that resolution may be.

I know it sounds strange, but most of us have or are currently suffering from “Atlas Syndrome”.  Atlas was the Greek God charged with holding up the sky.  His task was huge and there was no apparent way of getting out from underneath his terrible burden.  Thus, the Atlas Syndrome is the thought or feeling of being overwhelmed with no end in sight, no way out.    

According to Hans TenDam, Author of “People Make the World”, one way to combat the Atlas syndrome is to minimize this feeling of powerlessness.   The more we act to resolve a stressful situation the more we feel empowered.  “Just Keep Moving Forward”. 

Whatever your challenge, New Life is here to help you keep moving forward.  We have a variety of services to help keep the creative juices flowing from yoga to massage to meditation and more.  Our goal is to help you “Keep Moving Forward”!

Melissa Jarufe, LMT

June 2015

Join Mesha Moor and a few of your neighbors in a life changing course in Mantra Meditation.  It begins this Sunday or Monday  (May 31st/June 1st).  It is truly 6 weeks that will change your life!

http://hanstendam.blogspot.com/2013/08/feeling-responsible-but-powerless-atlas.html

http://www.madelinemiller.com/tag/hercules/

Six Week Mantra Meditation Course!

  

Have you ever wanted to develop your own meditation practice but just did not know how to start? 

You are cordially invited to join Mesha Moor in this six week Mantra Meditation Course that will teach you to have control of your life rather than letting your life control you. Mesha will teach you mantras to help you feel energized and reduce your stress and anxiety.

Through mantra meditation positive vibrations are created that bring us peace and joy. In the first class we will plant a seed.

Join us to find out why planting a seed is the perfect metaphor for our meditation class.

Classes are once per week on either of the following days:

Sunday May 31st - Sunday July 5th

Monday June 1st - Monday July 6th

 Cost: $108 for 6 week course

Click Here to Enroll Today!

APRIL IS NATIONAL HUMOR MONTH, SO “UP YOUR LAUGHTER QUOTIENT.”

LAUGH LONG AND LOUD. A robust rib- rattler improves not only your mood, but also your health. The physical act of laughing helps you stay alert, makes it easier to cope and lets you maintain your sanity when the world gets a little crazy. 

ADMIT YOU’RE HUMAN...laugh at yourself. People who have mastered Living-101 take their work seriously but not themselves. Knowing the difference gives you the keys to the kingdom.

UP YOUR LAUGHTER QUOTIENT. Nothing may be more important to your health and happiness. It has been said the average American laughs 15 times daily. SO eat your broccoli and get a megadose of Vitamin L every day. 

GENERATE MIRTH wherever you go. Good humor is the best social lubricant. It smoothes understanding, communication and cooperation. Make it your mission to elicit as many smiles as you can each day. 

HELP YOURSELF SUCCEED without stressing out. Humor is nature’s antidote for tension. Let it be your secret weapon when you’re up to your eyeballs in alligators. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s free. No other stress buster can make this claim! 

TAKE YOUR FUNNY BONE TO WORK (or to the Senior Center). Instigate laughter on the job. Treating co-workers with respect and a sense of mirth does miracles for teamwork and trust. 

EMBRACE THE NOTION that humor is NOT incompatible with dignity and stature. Humor is the hole that lets the hot air out of a stuffed shirt. Follow the lead of Lincoln, Reagan and JFK who knew that humor is vital in overcoming adversity. 

REMEMBER THAT LAUGHTER and longevity go hand in hand. Grumps don’t live longer—it just seems like it. A buoyant outlook may be more important than oat bran and pushups, and it’s a lot easier to take. So get in the zone: Love life, laugh a lot, last longer. 


Reprinted with permission. © 2004 by Larry Wilde, author of When You’re Up To Your Eyeballs in Alligators-Jester Press, and founder of National Humor  Compliments of Steve Wilson, Director, National Humor Month (April) - 1-800-NOW-LAFF 


http://www.humormonth.com/LAUGHTER-poster.pdf

Couples Massage

The Relationship Benefits of a Couples Massage

If there’s one i can say with certainty about my man it’s that he enjoys a good massage. And heck, I don’t blame him; I’m a sucker for a great rubdown too. I’ve written several articles in the past about all the health benefits of massages (trust me, there’s a whole laundry list of ‘em!). This time, however, I wanted to explore a lesser talked about aspect: the relationship benefits of a couples massage.

Specifically, I wanted to find out firsthand how — or if — a couples massage could help our love life, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Thus, as any good researcher would do, I spoke with a few experts and booked an appointment for us over at the renownedExhale Spa in Hollywood. Read on to see if our actual experience supported the facts!

The facts: A couples massage helps you reconnect.

Often, couples are busy and find little time to be alone without worrying about what they need to get done or haven’t gotten done that day, notes Esther Boykin, a licensed marriage and family therapist and co-founder of Group Therapy Associates. “But during a massage session, people are almost instinctually driven to let go of the past and the future and turn their attention to the present moment. This practice of being fully engaged in an activity together that can help couples reconnect, and with a little effort, they can bring that same level of mindful awareness to their time outside of the massage,” she says.

In our experience this is…pretty darn accurate!

We were 20 minutes late getting to Exhale (that’s LA traffic for you), so I remember bickering a bit back and forth on the way there about that. As soon as we got changed into our bathrobes and were lying in a bed full of pillows waiting for our massage therapists back in the spa’s zen lounge, all of our worries seemed to melt away. Seriously, it was like we weren’t annoyed at each other at all anymore and our massages hadn’t even started! We just wanted to cuddle up on that ridiculously cozy bed, relaxed and giddy with anticipation at the thought of a much-needed hour-long massage. I have to say, the argument from earlier that morning was never mentioned again.

The facts: A couples massage increases feeling of affection.

According to Stef Safran, dating expert and owner of Chicago matchmaking and social networking service Stef and the City, massages stimulate the release of many feel-good hormones, which boost feelings of intimacy and affection. “Most notably, touch increases oxytocin (otherwise known as the ‘cuddle-chemical’), as well as serotonin and dopamine,” he explains. “So basically, a couple's massage is pretty much a scientific love potion.”

In our experience this is…so true.

As I mentioned above, we were feeling super snuggly prior to the whole massage part. After an amazing full body rubdown though, it’s no surprise that we literally couldn’t quit smiling or keep our hands off of each other. We shared a quick kiss (okay, like five), before heading straight back to the zen lounge for some more cuddle time. If we hadn’t been starving, we probably would have stayed at Exhale all day! Ah, the relaxation…

The Facts: A couples massage makes you want to get it on.

“A massage causes all of the muscles in your body to relax, which, in turn, relaxes your mind,” points out Carole Lieberman, M.D., relationship expert and author of Bad Girls: Why Men Love Them & How Good Girls Can Learn Their Secrets. “This makes you feel less anxious about being with your partner on an emotional and a sexual level. Plus, massages stop short of orgasm (or at least they’re supposed to), leaving you hovering on the brink and ready for your lover to complete the act.”

In our experience this is…right on point.

Um, not going to lie. My boyfriend did propose we do it right there on the table afterward. We didn’t of course, but things definitely heated up in the bedroom later on that day!

The Facts: A couples massage encourages bonding.

“Research tells us that partners who continue to inject novelty into their relationships have closer, more rewarding bonds,” details couples therapist Dr. Holly Cox of Lotus Therapy Center in Raleigh, NC. “I think couples massage, for couples in which both partners find the idea interesting, can offer an avenue to that shared adventure.”

In our experience this is…spot on.

My boyfriend and I have always made it a habit to try new things together, whether it be a couples massage or a restaurant that just opened up in town. This helps spice things up in our relationship and brings us closer. Two weeks later and we’re still yapping about how awesome our massages at Exhale were (seriously, can we go back already?). It’s an experience we’ll never forget and a fond memory we’ll hold near and dear to our hearts.

http://www.thefashionspot.com/life/328285-the-relationship-benefits-of-a-couples-massage/

Weekly Meditations

"Find the Silence Within"

Beginning December 14, 2014

With Mesha Moor

Through meditation we take a personal journey to discover our own truth, power, and wisdom. In class, the goal of this meditation is to be comfortable and relaxed. The Meditation class is 60 minutes.

Mesha Moor studied and lived in India from 200 to 2012 and is a certified teacher and healer of this ancient knowledge.

All are welcome. No experience needed.

Each Class is $12.00

Sundays from 1:30pm to 2:30pm

Location: New Life Massage & Whole Living Solutions

379 Lear Road (Learwood Square Plaza)

Avon Lake, Ohio 44035

All of December get your first class for only $9.00

Call 330-818-5536 or email mesha@meshamoor.com to reserve your spot

Happy & Healthy Through the Holidays (and after!)

Who doesn't want to be Happy and Healthy for the Holidays? And how about after the holidays? On average, American adults gain 10 pounds over the holidays and struggle to take it off after the holidays. Since excess weight is a prime risk factor for chronic disease and cancers, we need to stay on track and enjoy new healthy habits instead of falling into old "traditions." 

Join Registered Dietitian, Tanna Torkelson, for a workshop focused on staying on track through the holiday season. Not only will you get geared up for healthy holiday celebrations but you will gain new healthy habits, recipes, and tricks that are much more enjoyable than dieting after the New Year!

Workshops last 60 minutes and cost $20 per participant. There will be a complementary session for 1 hour following the main workshop to discuss general healthy eating guidelines that will be geared toward specialty diets. We will address diabetes, heart disease, food allergies, and how to stay on top of your nutritional recommendations through the holiday season. Register for the first workshop and stay for the second if you would like.

December 7th at 2:30pm

Register online at www.threadsofwellness.com 

or call (612) 361-9642

Stay happy & healthy with new traditions 

Emotional Freedom Technique

What is the Emotional Freedom Technique?

The Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, is the psychological acupressure technique I routinely use in my practice and most highly recommend to optimize your emotional health. Although it is still often overlooked, emotional health is absolutely essential to your physical health and healing - no matter how devoted you are to the proper diet and lifestyle, you will not achieve your body's ideal healing and preventative powers if emotional barriers stand in your way.

EFT is very easy to learn, and will help you:

• Remove Negative Emotions
• Reduce Food Cravings
• Reduce or Eliminate Pain
• Implement Positive Goals

EFT is a form of psychological acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments for over five thousand years, but without the invasiveness of needles. Instead, simple tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on the head and chest while you think about your specific problem - whether it is a traumatic event, an addiction, pain, etc. -- and voice positive affirmations.
This combination of tapping the energy meridians and voicing positive affirmation works to clear the "short-circuit" - the emotional block -- from your body's bioenergy system, thus restoring your mind and body's balance, which is essential for optimal health and the healing of physical disease.
Some people are initially wary of these principles that EFT is based on - the electromagnetic energy that flows through the body and regulates our health is only recently becoming recognized in the West. Others are initially taken aback by (and sometimes amused by) the EFT tapping and affirmation methodology, whose basics you will learn here.
But keep in mind that, more than any traditional or alternative method I have used or researched, EFT works. I have witnessed the results in my patients since deciding to use EFT exclusively in June of 2001. Indeed, because of its very high rate of success, the use of EFT has spread rapidly, and medical practitioners employing EFT can now be found in every corner of the country and world.
This manual will provide an overview on how and where to tap, and the proper affirmation techniques, so that you can begin using EFT immediately to help yourself and others. It will also provide an introduction to some advanced EFT techniques and principles you can employ.

There are two basic areas to learn in order to use EFT: the tapping locations and technique, and the positive affirmations. These areas, as well as some advanced EFT principles and techniques, are covered in the following sections.
You should be able to successfully treat many problems by diligently applying the following instructions.
If you are not getting the results you would like, or you have a particularly traumatic issue, please do not give up! Instead, consider consulting with an EFT professional. You may check out this clinical EFT certified practitioner database for some guidelines on selecting an EFT therapist, and to find a list of EFT practitioners throughout the U.S. and the world. Many of these therapists even offer a free 15-minute phone session in which you can ask them questions to see if you connect.

Proper EFT Tapping

The basic EFT sequence is straightforward and generally takes my patients only a few minutes to learn. They have the slight advantage of me personally showing them the tapping points, but you should be able to pick up these points relatively quickly. With a little practice, you will be performing each round in under a minute.
NOTE: While it is important to tap the correct area, you need not worry about being absolutely precise, as tapping the general area is sufficient.

It's All in the Fingertips

The first thing to understand is that you will be tapping with your fingers. There are a number of acupuncture meridians on your fingertips, and when you tap with your fingertips you are also likely using not only the meridians you are tapping on, but also the ones on your fingers.
Traditional EFT has you tapping with the fingertips of your index finger and middle finger and with only one hand. Either hand works just as well. Most of the tapping points exist on either side of the body, so it doesn't matter which side you use, nor does it matter if you switch sides during the tapping. For example, you can tap under your right eye and, later in the tapping, under your left arm.
I modified this approach slightly by having you use both hands and all your fingers, so that they are gently relaxed and form a slightly curved natural line. The use of more fingers allows you to access more of the acupuncture points. When you use all your fingers you will cover a larger area than just tapping with one or two fingertips, and this will allow you to cover the tapping points more easily.
However, many obtain quite successful results with the traditional one-handed two-finger approach. You can use either method, but I tend to use my modified version in an effort to be more complete.
Ideally, you will want to use your fingertips, not your finger pads as they have more meridian points. However, if you have long fingernails you should use your finger pads.
You should also remove your watch and bracelets, as that will interfere with your use of the wrist meridian tapping.

Tap Solidly - But Don't Hurt Yourself!

You should tap solidly, but never so hard as to hurt or bruise yourself.
If you decide to use both hands, I recommend slightly alternating the tapping so that each hand is slightly out of phase with the other and you are not tapping with both hands simultaneously. This provides a kinesthetic variant of the alternating eye movement work that is done in EMDR and may have some slight additional benefit.
When you tap on the points outlined below, you will tap about 5-7 times. The actual number is not critical, but ideally should be about the length of time it takes for one full breath. There is probably a distinct benefit for tapping through one complete respiration cycle.
Please notice that these tapping points proceed down the body. That is, each tapping point is below the one before it. That should make it a snap to memorize. A few trips through it and it should be yours forever. However, unlike TFT, the sequence is not critical. You can tap the points in any order and sequence, just so long as all the points are covered. It just is easier to go from top to bottom to make sure you remember to do them all.

Remove your Glasses and Watch Prior to Tapping

Glasses and watches can mechanically and electromagnetically interfere with EF, so I advise everyone to remove them prior to tapping. For quick sessions conducted upon yourself, this is not critical, as you can easily tap around them, but I think there is always a benefit to removing them when possible.

Using EFT in Public: Eliminating any Embarrassment

Many people are concerned about embarrassing themselves by using EFT in public, especially when implementing my revision of it, which really makes one stand out in a crowd.
After a while of using and perfecting the technique - in private quarters, if you prefer - you will be able to use only two fingers of one hand, and to say the affirmation softly under your breath or silently. This way you can do EFT in just about any social setting, and if people even notice what you are doing at all, it will appear to them that you are merely thinking.

For the full article go to :  http://eft.mercola.com/