Are you still a “sweet sweet good good girl”

In What the Body Remembers http://www.shaunasinghbaldwin.com/ReviewsWTBR.html by Indo-Canadian author, Shauna Singh Baldwin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shauna_Singh_Baldwin, a “sweet sweet good good girl” is what young girls are taught to strive for so they can become brides.

Are you guilty of perpetuating the “sweet sweet good good girl” persona in the women you care about?

This delightful book objectively delves into the complexities of Indian society in the 1930’s and 40’s.

This book is an engaging way to learn about a critical time in the formation of India and Pakistan, the fluctuating relationship of India’s 3 main religions from a woman’s perspective when women were still second class.

The body does not just remember the violence and humiliation of race and religion but also precarious fortune of females, who were mere possessions, valued for their agreeableness, usefulness and beauty.

But this is not a heroine’s story with men as the villains. Sardarji, a forty year old man, who marries a sixteen year old, Roop while still married to his first wife, Satya, is not simply caricatured as an insensitive brute. Heis a sophisticated kind man trying to fulfill his basic human desires as well as being the hope of a better world to come. Roop and/or Satya, women of different temperaments and backgrounds, are clearly neither victims or heroines.

The book also shows us how little things have really changed as politics and religions still divide us; even though the differences among us are really from a common source.

And while there is much change in the political and public perception of women, we still strive for standardized beauty but now with the help of science as in plastic surgery, injections and laser technology.

So instead of increase our wisdom and creating an authentic personalized beauty through achievement and awareness, we use our time, money and energy and even risk our health to satisfy the age old female desire to be “beautiful” in the male perspective.

And if we do not choose to be a standardized beauty, many of us still feel we need to be a male idealized partner that is useful with a pleasant personality, be a “sweet sweet good good girl”. As we become mothers many of us find our daughters have easily embrace this too. Much of which is not our doing.

While this urge to prepare ourselves to remain in a past role when most of us have never experienced being second class citizens, is disconcerting – as a Fifty almost Sixty year old - I find this karmic memory proof of reincarnation and therefore all the self improvement we strive for is beneficial in all of our lifetimes :)

Professional Hairstyling for the Natural Woman

Are you like me and want natural and organic hair care?

Right now with the cold weather, my hair is really not helping me look like a "proper" mature woman. Since I prefer comfort before glamour - I am suffering from "Hat Head" .

Add dull graying hair and you have someone in dire need of haircare products.

But it's not so easy for those of us who want NATURAL haircare products beyond shampoo and conditioner.. There are few good styling products that give us a professional polished look as the chemical laden ones do.

To keep my dead straight hair under control, I was a dedicated user of John Masters Sweet Orange + Silk Protein Styling Gel http://www.pureandsimple.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1065&category_id=385&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=27

But his reformulated "new improved" version was unsuitable for my determined strong willed hair.

I found with my extensive search that NATURAL, I mean truly natural, and PROFESSIONAL are an oxymoron when it comes to hair styling products so I was back with John Masters.

But my coarse hair needed so much of the Bourbon Vanilla + Tangerine Texturizer http://www.pureandsimple.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=219&category_id=385&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=27 that it was sticky to touch.

My last resort in the line was the Hair Pomade http://www.pureandsimple.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=533&category_id=385&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=27.
Again my hair needed so much product to be managed that even if I was okay with the slick look, my fringe ("bangs" to Gen X and Y) still fell over my eyes. Cool for the twenty somethings-- annoying to us fifty somethings.

I know that my staff who are uncompromisingly discriminating about their skincare are secretly using haircare products that have unwanted chemicals like phthalates to keep their hair looking sleek. And if I could tolerate the scent of these convenient products, I may have given up and joined their ranks.

So what can we LOHAS'ers do to maintain our health and the health of the planet?

I decided mix up my own "custom" product. I softened the effect of the John Masters Sweet Orange + Silk Protein Styling Gel http://www.pureandsimple.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1065&category_id=385&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=27 with his Bourbon Vanilla + Tangerine Texturizer http://www.pureandsimple.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=219&category_id=385&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=27 .

Eureka! I now have a styling product that gives me a neat professional look without the an unattractive feel.

So I encourage you to not compromise and be creative too.

Gilles Marin :

A great teacher is a treasure. And Master Gilles is a great and humble teacher.

In my evangelistic manner I tried to share my new experience with Chi Nei Tsang and the Way of the Tao to my 27 year old daughter. I felt her "Too Alternative " shield go up.

How do you communicate information that can transform a life for the better when you just barely comprehend the principle of chi as energy encapsulated with information? and have an innately rambling communications style?

My chance encounter with Gilles began with very practical goal of increasing the effectiveness of stomach massage we were giving clients in the Lymphomania Facial. Yes, stomach massage in a facial, but I am rambling.

I got that and I got much more. I learned about the real source of health. Gilles teaches us to not “fix” clients. Real healing comes from awareness and a change in attitude. So with each illness there is the opportunity of life improvement.

At first, the words “Way of the Tao” sounded both quaint and cliché so I had some resistent to his teaching . But Gilles patiently explained the energy information connection with the physical world we live in and finally the connection of mind body spirit became more than a great concept.

Gilles magically helped us who are not scientifically or mathematically inclined understand the intersection of Einstein’s law of relativity and the Way of the Tao.

Learning is not all mental. Classes are dominated with practice of Chi Kung, meditations that helped us increase our health and to increase our hands abilities to heal and with practice of Chi NeiTsang the touched and massaged of abdominal organs for health and detoxification.


Working too much in the mental realm can take us from the present moment so during class Gilles reminds us to feel the earth and ground before each Chi Kung practice.

The 6 days of classes were as much about our own healing as it was about us learning to heal. as he taught us how to sleep better, increase our Chi, energize our Chakras and of course Chi Nei Tsang theory and practice.

Since my time in San Francisco was limited, I supplemented my studies with treatments from both Gilles and Cynthia to better understand both sides of the treatments.

I come home a much better person/therapist/teacher. This is because ;

• I spend time to do my practice.
• I have improved digestion.
• I am more loving towards those I love and myself.

If you cannot visit him – I recommend you buy his books or CD’s at http://www.chineitsang.com/cnti/Books_and_Media.html

I have his CD’s to help me continue with my Chi Kung practices.

You can also get the following books based on his lessons from Amazon.ca

1. Healing from Within with Chi Nei Tsang http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Within-Chi-Nei-Tsang/dp/1556433093/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295796347&sr=1-1
2. Five Elements six Conditions : A Taoist Approach to emotional, Psychological and Internal Alchemy http://www.amazon.com/Five-Elements-Six-Conditions-Psychology/dp/1556435932/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295796347&sr=1-3

The Sun is the best medicine

Forget about Prozac and get your serotonin straight from the sun.

There are Chi Kung Practices that can improve your improve your moods and your sleep experience.

Sunning Chi Kung is basically going outside and facing up directly towards the sun and allow your eyes to feel its warmth and light.. All you need is 3 minutes and 3 times a day. I get my 2 for 1 by doing Bone Breathing.

Oops – I know we are all suppose to be hiding from the sun with hats, sunglasses and SPF due to fear of sun damage leading to skin cancer.

Both beliefs can be true. Remember that “it depends”.

Master Gilles Marin explains that we sunburn when we have an acidic body ph. We all know Acid PH is not good for our health. I for one have been drinking gallons of water with chlorophyll and have the greenish tinged teeth to prove it. I alos have been avoiding acidic foods. But all to no avail. My PH tests with PH paper always have me in the acid range and my skin usually burn before those many shade lighter (with less melanin for sun protection).

He also discourages the use of sunglasses which fools our body into believing it is dark out and therefore does not prepare to protect skin with increased melanin production to prevent burning. According to him sunglasses are a potential skin cancer trigger.

Most people who are acidic in nature or have sensitive skin and have light sensitive eyes. My sunning practice has reduced my eyes’ light sensitivity so I no longer need to wear sunglasses.

The sun increases our ability to produce serotonin which makes our moods more positive and lessens depression. It also reduces Body Acidic PH. It also gives us better sleep as the serotonin turns to Melatonin at night.

For those who do not easily fall asleep; no computer work or TV watching 1 hour before bedtime.

To practice this Chi Kung with the teachings and guidance of Master Gilles Marin; get the Sunning Chi Kung CD at http://www.chineitsang.com/cnti/Sunning.html

Chi Nei Tsang - What is?

Chi Nei Tsang is holistic healing by self awareness and change. It focuses physical work on the abdomen is the emotional second brain. All undigested/unprocessed emotions accumulate here. The treatments awaken us to them when we are ready to process them.

The treatments are the physical massage of the organs in the abdomen. The therapist is the facilitator as the client leads the process with the help of the sensations felt.

Chi Nei Tsang is obviously helpful for improving digestion but I have less back and neck/shoulder pain. And there are personal accounts even more remote body parts from the abdomen than mine. It also helps us mentally and emotionally. Gilles Marin, our instructor, emphasizes we cannot "fix" anyone or "heal " anything but we can stimulate the awareness that will help one to learn how to change one's attitude so that one can heal whatever it is one wants in his/her life.

I discovered Chi Nei Tsang by chance when I got tired of going to TCM’s and Naturopaths to find a solution to my poor digestion and increasing food allergies. During my biofeedback allergy treatments with Dana Zangari, a Registered Holistic Allergist and Nutritionist, http://www.pandechiropractic.ca/Dana-Zangari/dana-zangari.html. It became clear my allergies were about sweet (sugar conversion) as sweeteners, grains, legumes and vegetables and fruits with moderate to sugar content.

I was diagnosed conventionally to have high blood sugar. TCM’s have always talked about my spleen pancreas deficiency but all (and there were many ) seemed unable to improve it as my internal heat counteracted their potions.

So I rolled up my sleeves and prepared to touch and hopefully detox and strengthen my spleen/pancreas directly. Since I had only a vague idea where the spleen and pancreas was, I looked for a organ healing book to help me and fortunately found Gilles Marins book “Healing from Within with Chi Nei Tsang” which did much more. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Within-Chi-Nei-Tsang/dp/1556433093/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295796347&sr=1-1

From that chance find, my life changed, my health improved and more importantly less emotional obstruction in my relationships and communion with others.

We use a short version to help detox the abdominal organs in Pure + simple's Lymphomaniac Facial Treatment http://www.pureandsimple.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=101&Itemid=42#LymphomaniacFacial and I become a student of Master Gilles Marin http://www.chineitsang.com/cnti/Gilles_Marin.html .

I believe the biggest impact to how I behave and think came when I was finally was able to strengthen my Base Chakra and create a feeling of stability and security that therapists, life partners and possessions could not do. It was so simple, yet so unattainable until now. The feeling of stability and security brought me increased self-esteem and self love during the second Microcosmic Orbit Chi Kung exercise with Master Gilles Marin.

Yes, my desire to use organ massage for healing came with the side effect of a deep sense of safety. But this is only the beginning.

May your life journey be so fruitful.

For the best definition of Chi Nei Tsang go to Master Mantak Chia’s site at http://www.chi-nei-tsang-official-site.com/introduction.html

Kapha Time : Balancing health and beauty to Winter's energy

When is Kapha Time?

There is a Kapha time of day which is 6:00am to 10am and again in the evening at 6:00pm to 10pm.

There is the Kapha time of our lives which is from birth to about 20 years old – for some it is 18 for others 25. As in everything Ayurveda or Asian; – it depends.

The weather can be Kapha anytime of the year but the season that is considered Kapha is winter to the beginning of spring. Now again this depends --- on geography.

In Toronto, Kapha Season is usually around end of December to about May. That is winter to early spring.

In San Francisco, due to the difference of temperature of the breezes of the ocean being forced together with the air of the land, Kapha season can seem continuous.


What is Kapha Time?

Kapha Time occurs when the energy of Kapha is dominant in the environment. In Toronto it is commonly cold and high humidity weather. Secondary characteristics are heavy, slow and unchanging.

In Toronto Kapha energy’s dominance is felt in winter when it is cold and with wet heavy snow.

In other locals like water front cities like, San Francisco and London, the fog is a very visible and constant Kapha feature.

How does Kapha Times affect us?

Well it depends. We all have dominant Doshas; Vata, Pitta, Kapha. For Dosha characteristics go to http://our-metamorphosis.blogspot.com/2009/04/ayurvedic-doshas.html

We can all have Dosha imbalances. This means that when a Dosha whether it is our dominant one or not can dominate causing symptoms reflecting the negative characteristics of the Dosha.

Then --- we have all different degrees of all the Doshas so while we have dominant Doshas and we can have imbalances, at anytime another Doshas can influence our behavior , attitude and health.

So to use the following effectively you need to know yourself and understand the relativity of the influence Kapha will have on you at any given situation and time in this season.

Generally it is the following.

Vata:

The high humidity environment will allow Vata’s to indulge in those dry foods which those of us who easily dehydrate avoid. These foods will have less impact.

The external moisture will give Vata skin a break. While circulation can be slowed by the cold, skin is less dry than in the previous months.

Kapha energy can slow Vata’s down and Vata may sleep more. All good things for this very frenetic and busy person.

Pitta:

The cold temperature can allow Pittas to indulge in the spicy foods that tend to give them heat, redness, inflammation and irritability.

The cold may reduce inflammation of the skin. But for Pitta Kaphas or Kpaha Pittas this may be a time that is ripe for blemishes and flare ups from accumulation.

Kapha’s patient energy can lower Pitta’s stress level by lessening competitiveness and the desire to overachieve.

Kapha;

Kaphas need to balance the environmental influences with diet and activity.

Kaphas need to eat stimulating foods so adding spices like ginger, cinnamon and peppers is helpful. They need to avoid heavy, sweet and fatty foods like dairy, grains, nuts and red meat.

To keep their complexions beautiful they need to stimulate blood flow with exfoliants and light serums and moisturizers.

To prevent depression, lethargy, over dependency, over possessiveness and feeling stuff with energetic exercise like aerobics, martial arts and running.

Balancing Vata in Autumn

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Dry Skin and Absent Mindedness are part of middle age because they both are the result of the same energy.

The days are getting shorter. The weather is telling us to sleep longer. While you are beginning to become more absentminded or feeling spacey your Vata is becoming unbalanced and sleep is an excellent way to regain groundedness.

It is harvest time for hearty ground vegetables like potatoes, carrots yams and for nourishing gourds like squash and pumpkin. These are excellent food to nourish and moisten our insides.

While you may be oblivious to your internal dehydration and the lapses of mental acuity may be overlooked or forgotten, excess Vata in the windy turbulent autumn environment gets you right in your face. There in your mirror is dry dull skin that looks years older than just a week ago.

My secret to the fountain of youth is to wear a hydrating gel mask to sleep. Night time is rejuvenation and repair time. While skin is in protection mode in the day time it is hard at work repairing damaged skin cells and producing new ones through the night.

Make sure you wash your skin of pollutants and dirt first. A real convenience is Pure + simple Skin Smoothing Collagen Mask. No need to fuss with toners and serums before apply it. Just apply it straight after you cleanse and you wake up looking fresh and your skin looks plump.

During the day, apply a high quality serum like Collagen Elastin Plus before a richer moisturizer like Martina Gebhardt’s Evening Primrose Face Cream. This cream is natural, rich and great for those of us loosing our Estrogen,

For a skincare routine that is customized to your skin’s needs and to your personal preferences, visit one of Pure + simple’s 4 locations and enlist the help of a natural skincare specialist to create your own special routine to beautiful skin even in fall and winter.

Whether you follow my routine or develop one more suitable to you, commit to keeping it until next March. If you don’t waste energy second guessing your decision you will have one less thing cluttering up your active mind.

Now that you feel better about yourself, you can look at ways to balance the excess Vata in the environment and in you. No matter what Dosha is your main Dosha, you are in the Vata stage of your life (forty plus years old). This strong creative energy can lead you to increased spiritualism but also contributes to your forgetfulness, indecisiveness and dryness.

Increase your time for healing metabolism and energizing with more sleep as days grow shorter. After September 21 days are proportionally shorter with intensity of sunlight

Create more routine in your life. Vatas need to discipline themselves in conserving energy with less change and impulse with regular routines.

I have taken more time away from work. I found that somehow there is no great urgency over this. Hmmm, so I am not so indispensable.

You will find that planning is easier once you edit the list of activities on your to do list. Trying to plan them all in is so Vata.

Rest and eat a hearty meal before you make your choices as excess Vata will increase your indecisiveness.

Then after you have completed your plan, warm and hydrate yourself by treating yourself to a steamy hot sauna.