 Shinrin Yoku, or the sacred practice of forest bathing, refers to the "interconnectedness of the forest and being fully engulfed in the abundance that surrounds you." (Julia Plevin) We came across Rise Gatherings while doing our retreat partnership outreach. The more we read about the incredible healing and empowerment offerings they were providing, the more we wanted to connect. After a couple of conversations, we were hooked! Forest bathing would now become part of the healing that we practiced and the healing that we offered. Tami recently held space with us on Instagram Live and led us through a forest bath meditation. While some might laugh at the term "forest bath" and call it "just a walk in the woods," I urge you to ask yourself, when is the last time you entered the forest and completely connected with all of your senses?  Most of us have felt the uplifting physiological sensations of being outside. The peace, calm, and tranquility of being at the beach, or on a hike, or simply sitting and reading a book in our backyard. Those sensations are the actual chemical compounds and negative ions in the plants and soil that surround you. Phytoncides are plant derived essences that help the plant fight disease and since we have evolved harmoniously with trees, they help us fight disease too. "Phytoncides are antibacterial, they reduce stress fifty-three percent and lower blood pressure five to seven percent." - Florence Williams Our bodies are always trying to maintain balance, and there are certain things that may disrupt our body's ability to do so. Things such as stress, poor nutrition, or trauma can cause the body to feel stuck or backed up. Grounding or earthing, is a form of balancing that helps us achieve homeostasis in the body. Negative ions from the earth balance out the positively charged human body, and create a sense of peace and calm. You can soak in these negative ions by putting your hands or feet directly on the grass or soil. Negative ions can also be absorbed through concrete, just so long as you don't have rubber soled shoes on, you can absorb these benefits daily!  We can also practice forest bathing through our stomachs. By tuning in to what goes onto our plates and into our mouth we can reconnect with the healing powers of the earth and our food. When is the last time you noticed the specific characteristics of your food? Characteristics like texture, color, flavor, and appearance? Where did your food come from? What did it go through to get to your plate?
Implementing new practices can be challenging...but it doesn't have to be! Working with a coach gives you the tools, support, and connection to make the changes that are necessary for your health and wellness. Ready to connect? Let's do this together!
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 We don't believe in a "one size fits all" or a "one answer solves all" approach to health and wellness. Harmonize Your Health was built on the root principle of harmony. What does it mean to be in harmony? We recognize it in songs, or the way birds sing to one another, but how often do we consider the harmony inside our bodies? Or in relation to the world around us? In order to be in harmony with our bodies and our environment, we must tap into all of our senses, look at the entire essence of our being, and be open to and ready for evolution. As we tune in to our bodies and get more comfortable with change, we can start to be at peace and to heal. The definition of homeostasis is to be in a "relatively stable state of equilibrium or a tendency toward such a state between the different but interdependent elements or groups of elements of an organism, population, or group" (Merriam-Webster). Our personal healing journeys, though vastly different, stem from a similar root: disconnection from our bodies. We both experienced inflammation in our bodies, but the inflammation expressed itself in different ways. Cera battled severe cystic acne, while Carrie lost over 150 lbs in her early 20s and currently lives with chronic pain and fatigue. These were the symptoms that we had no idea how to control, until we learned that what we put in, on, and around our bodies affects their ability to be centered and balanced. This means everything our bodies go through:
So, how do we become more in tune with these rhythms?
We would love to connect with you more about how mindfulness and presence can change your relationship to your overall health and well being.
Our services and events offer more than just learning how and why eating plant-based can heal, it’s about compassion for all and our influence on the world around us. You play such an important role in the health of our community and environment. It is time to fully tap into this! If you're curious about how our program will look and feel for you, schedule your free alignment call with us today!  Toxins are a huge part of why many people don’t feel their best on a day-to-day basis.
Toxins are manmade and natural substances that are harmful to various biological processes. Toxins affect us, our pets, plant life, animals, and our water. There are three basic exposure pathways: inhalation, ingestion, & skin contact. We tend to focus on the food element (WE LOVE FOOD) of exposure, but your environment and the products you use are just as important. Non-organic ingredients are grown by using large amounts of pesticides, many of which have not been tested for their affects on the human body. Believe it or not although PCBs were banned in the 70s, they are still found in our natural environment and foods, like dark leafy greens, today! With the build up of so many different toxins in our environments, it is more important than ever to be proactive and protect yourself. How can you do this?
Your body has the power to heal, as long as you give it the tools it needs! |
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