About Rose
June 10, 2019 § Leave a comment
I was born in Thailand. when I was young, my grandma likes to take me to Wat Pho; the famous Thai temple that teach massage and also have massage service. My grandma had a massage and she told me to sit and watch how they massage and when I go home I can work for her.
I did not like it at the time because I was too young about 5 maybe and my grandma was too big (in my eyes).
Every day I have to massage my grandma for many years.
Now, I have to thanks her for that.
Then when I older I open a spa in Hua Hin, Thailand. I had the business for 13 years. And I have to close the shop after I knew that I won’t go back to Thailand.
So..I when am in the US, I went to massage school in Illinois, graduated in 2012 “Clinical massage therapy”
I want to share my knowledge of my Massage experience in Asian style and western combination included my Buddhist study. Let’s say that, I will share anything I know that maybe benefit to you.
I don’t want to leave this world without sharing my experience. Thank you~ you all that help my dream come true.
Rose
Update April 2023 : I’m going to have my new location in Winfield IL, the Naperville location still open and have services as usual. Just me will work in Winfield @ Light Heart Center address 0s165 S. Church St., Winfield, IL 60190 Opening soon in May 2023 for booking with me please text to 630 815 4584
Vipassana Meditation
May 16, 2018 § Leave a comment
A young woman practicing Vipassana meditation
Vipassana is one of the oldest meditation techniques in India. Long lost to humanity, it was ‘rediscovered’ more than 2500 years ago by the Buddha, which he used as a method to attain enlightenment.
Seeing things as they really are
Vipassana means “seeing things as they really are”: this is the process of self-purification through self-observation. You begin by observing your normal and natural breath in order to focus the mind. Once your attention is fine tuned, you begin observing the changing nature of the body and mind, thus experiencing the universal truths of impermanence, suffering and the non-self. It’s this realization through direct experience that constitutes the work of purification. The path as a whole (Dhamma) is a universal remedy for universal problems and is in no way related to an established religion or sect. Therefore, it can be practiced freely, regardless of race, background or religion, anywhere and at any time, and it will also prove beneficial to all.
Vipassana meditation is not:
• A form of intellectual or philosophical entertainment;
• A cure, a form of excuse to take holidays or to meet people;
• A way to escape the vicissitudes of life.
Vipassana meditation is:
• A technique that aims to eliminate suffering;
• A kind of lifestyle that allows you to enjoy a positive role in society;
• A kind of mental purification that allows you to face, in a calm and balanced way, the problems and tensions of life.
An old stone statue of the Buddha practicing Vipassana meditation
Target the source of your suffering
Vipassana meditation aims for the highest spiritual goals: total liberation and enlightenment. Since the goal is never the cure for physical diseases, mental purification can have the positive side effect of eliminating many psychosomatic diseases. In fact, the practice of Vipassana meditation dissolves the three causes of all our sufferings: greed, aversion and ignorance. With regular practice, Vipassana meditation releases the tensions that you develop in the daily life and loosens the knots created by the old habit of reacting in an excessive way to pleasant or unpleasant situations.
The Middle Way: The Vipassana Path
Excessive reactions to life’s events, either good or bad, positive or negative, is of the great sources of our misery. Real happiness is experienced through stillness and equanimity, and not through excitement. Although this takes a lot of practice, Vipassana meditation allows us to experience every event with a similar form of reaction, one which is not swayd in any direction.
Although Vipassana meditation was developed or reintroduced as a technique by the Buddha, its practice is not restricted to Buddhists alone. There is absolutely no question of religious conversion: the technique is based on the principle that all human beings share the same problems, and that eliminating these problems must be applicable universally. People from a wide variety of religious backgrounds experienced the benefits of Vipassana meditation and found no contradiction with their faith.
The correct hand position of Vipassana meditation
HOW TO PRACTICE VIPASSANA MEDITATION
Sit in a comfortable but alert position. The traditional and popular lotus position is not necessary but it is encouraged… What matters is that you are in a comfortable position. This may be with your legs extended in front of you or on a chair. Your hands should be a specific position: place your right hand in your left hand, and let them rest on your legs.
Then stay that way for 40 minutes. The spine and neck must be straight. Close your eyes and breathe normally. Stay as still as possible, only change your posture if it is absolutely necessary. You will experience discomforts and aches[ but these are part of the process.
The essential thing to observe is the movement of the belly, just above the navel, with each inspiration and exhalation. This is not a concentration technique, so your attention will be solicited by many other things, such as pains, thoughts, sounds, etc.
In the practice of Vipassana meditation, nothing is considered a distraction. In other words, when something happens, stop watching your breath, focus your attention on the moment’s event until you can return to the breath. These may be thoughts that cross your mind, feelings, judgments, physical sensations, impressions caused by external stimuli, and so on.
The important point is vigilance and not the object of attention. So be careful not to identify yourself with what enters your consciousness. Just stay aware and simply observe.
This technique is not necessarily obvious to learn and practice; it can calm the mind as much as it can be an obstacle if it’s not adapted to you. Try it, and if you feel good, continue. But if you don’t, then stop and try another, more active method, such as walking mediation.
Meditation and personal discipline
Of course, the work of self-purification through introspection is never easy. We must work intensely. You will achieve results through your efforts; no one else can work for you. That is why meditation will only be appropriate for those who want to work seriously and observe the discipline, which actually exists for their own good and protection; Discipline is an integral part of the practice of meditation.
It is said that habit takes between 20 and 30 days to be done and undone. At first, these daily 40 minutes will look long and difficult, but after a few weeks, the practice will begin to settle into your routine and your mind will begin to change. The continuity of the practice in isolation is the secret of the success of this technique.
The Chicago Vegan
May 15, 2018 § Leave a comment
A Quick Guide To All Things Vegetarian In The City
Explore the vegan life in the windy city. They grow, they eat, they drink, they shop, they read, they wear… Vegetables, fruits, plants, algae and cereals, these products given to us by Mother Earth that many have chosen over meat, fish or poultry. Are there many vegetarians and vegans in Chicago? More than you think: vegetarians and vegans are here and live the good life in our fair city.
We usually focus on Thai massage, meditation and herbal remedies, but nutrition is responsible for 80% of our health. It would therefore be silly for us to ignore this hugely important element of our life.
The Vegan Jargon
Vegetarian, vegan, fruitarian… What’s all this? There’s more to not eating meat than one would expect. One might eat eggs, drink milk, only eat fruit or consume all fruit and vegetables in their raw form.
Vegetarian
Vegetarianism means not eating meat products, this fact is well known. But besides consuming vegetables and fruit, a vegetarian might also eat some animal products, such as eggs, milk and honey. The vegetarian does not eat meat or fish, or any of their by-products such as gelatin or beef and chicken stock.
Don’t confuse…
A vegetarian and a rabbit: a vegetarian eats plants, certainly, but these plants are not only composed of the obvious green leafy vegetables and bright fruit. Vegetarians also eat algae, mushrooms, seeds, yeasts, roots…
Lacto-ovo vegetarian
On top of fruit, roots, nuts, seeds and vegetables, the lacto-ovo vegetarian eats eggs and drinks milk. People with a sweet tooth will delighted as cakes are allowed. Furthermore, there can be 2 Lacto-ovo vegetarian sub categories… You’ll encounter the lacto-vegetarian (who consumes plants and milk) and the ovo-vegetarian (who consumes plants and eggs). Not too lost I hope?
Vegan
The vegan never eats any animal products and only consumes plant based products. Say goodbye to eggs, milk, honey, cheese, seafood, which are enjoyed by vegetarians. You might think that it doesn’t leave much, but think again, the choice can actually be quiet surprising! On top only consuming fruits, roots, seeds, nuts and vegetables, the vegan is usually very aware of any kind of cruelty performed towards animals. He or she will often stay away from places that might exploit certain animals such as sea parks, where orcas and dolphins are trained to perform tricks, and elephants camps, where tourists enjoy rides on poorly treated elephants.
Raw Vegan
Raw veganism is the strictest lifestyle in all of the vegetarian categories. It’s essentially the same as veganism with the exception that all foods are consumed raw.
Let’s Eat
Where to shop for food and eat vegan in Chicago
Grocery Markets
Food Smart
Probably one of oldest grocery store in Logan Square, Food Smart has a great selection of vegan, organic, local, gluten-free products.
Good Foods Vegan / Vegetarian Deli
Everything is in the name; this deli (which also has a restaurant), offers vegan and vegetarian dishes, desserts and drinks, to enjoy on the spot or to take away.
Green Grocer Chicago
A small neighborhood store that has everything to make your average vegan happy; great, local and organic products, all presented by an adorable staff.
Whole Foods Market
Located all over the US, as well as in Canada and the UK, Whole Foods is now infamous for high quality produce and its wide selection of vegan and vegetarian products. Organic honey, raw apple cider vinegar, gluten-free breads, goat’s milk, Whole Foods has it all. There are currently 15 Whole Food Markets in the Chicago area.
Traders Joe’s
Another American favorite with more than 450 stores in the US, 17 of which are in Chicago, Trader Joe’s offers vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or fat-free products. “Fake” chicken beef without beef, vegan mozzarella, free range chicken eggs, Trader Joe’s is essentially in the same league as Whole Foods..
Vegan Essentials
For who prefer to do their shopping from the comfort of their home. Vegan Essentials is now the most important online vegan store in the US and offers everything from food, to books and DVDs and to supplements.
Some of Chicago’s favorite vegetarian restaurants
Native Foods Café
Launched in California in 1994, Native Foods Café is America’s very first fast-vegan restaurant, serving fine and fresh cuisine. You can enjoy dishes from around the world, burgers, chili, wraps, Moroccan salads… Four locations in the Chicago area, Native Foods also offers a catering service as well as delivery.
Karyn’s
Founded in 1983 by health expert Karyn Calabrese, Karyn’s mission is to transform the vegan lifestyle into sexy, while glorifying the power of nature and its wonders. She now has 4 restaurants and 1 spa in the Chicago area.
Kitchen 17
Located just a stone’s throw from Belmont Harbor, Kitchen 17 serves all sorts of delicious foods you would of never thought possible for a vegan cafe: pizzas and burgers, that have nothing to envy to the “real ones”.
Urban Vegan
Urban Vegan offers vegan Thai dishes with delicious Asian flavors. You don’t live in the neighborhood? No problem… For a small fee, Urban Vegan will deliver your favorite dishes to your door.
Shop Vegan
Lush Cosmetics
Lush is now relatively famous for its natural and vegan beauty products and treatments. For 30 years, this British brand has branded itself around the fight against cosmetics being tested on animals and is boycotting all the companies that practice this.
MooShoes
In spite of the name, no leather is used in the manufacturing of these shoes. In fact, MooShoes is more than just shoes… The store also offers bags, wallets, belts, t-shirts and sweatshirts, jackets and accessories all made of synthetic microfiber polyurethane. And, as a bonus, veggie lovers can find books and DVDs to help them become a bit more vegan. MooShoes doesn’t yet have a Chicago location but its online store is pretty awesome.
Vaute Couture Fashion
This independent fashion house created by a former fashion model and Chicago native Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart offers stylish designer creations, crafted of recycled and recyclable fibers.
The vegan state of mind: online ressources
Being vegan is much more than just a diet; it’s a whole state of mind, by which adepts clearly and simply indicate their refusal to use any product derived from animals.
American Vegan Society
The American Vegan Society posts interesting facts about the vegan lifestyle.
VegSource
There is also the VegSource, a true media outlet that covers a large variety of topics touching veganism, such as health, fashion, conferences and events. Want some crispy info on vegan celebrities? It’s also on VegSource.
Vegan Beauty Review
Learn everything about the ways to be beautiful naturally. The Vegan Beauty Review blog offers great tips about make-up, fashion, hair care as well as as host of information to live a cruelty-free life.
Vegan Chicago
The ultimate guide for anything and everything that’s vegan in the Chicago area. This great online database lists vegan businesses according their activity, ‘veganity’ and their location in the city. You can also suggests new businesses for them to list..
Chicago Vegan
Many of us obtain information via social media and for this Facebook group pages are extremely useful. Chicago Vegans is such a group and anyone can join this group in order to inquire about all things vegetarian in the area.
PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR CHICAGO BASED BUSINESS FEATURED ON THIS PAGE
Thai Massage: What’s The Ideal Frequency?
May 9, 2018 § Leave a comment
A woman receiving a Thai Massage
Can receiving a Thai massage too often be a detriment to your health? Can you damage your muscle, ligaments and nerves by receiving frequent massages? Apart from the known contraindications, and when performed appropriately by a trained therapist, Thai massages have almost no side effects. Also, the question of the ideal frequency is rarely addressed, but what about it?
Well-being ad infinitum
Do you have the time (and the means) to get a Thai massage almost every day, but are worried about possible side effects? Common sense dictates that relaxing massages, beauty massages or body health massages can be practiced and received at will. And the consensus echoes this: Thai massages as well as other ones can even become a daily experience. This is true as long as you don’t use accessories, such as oils, during the session. Let’s note that the most miraculous essential oils can be toxic in large quantities. So, yes to long sessions, but you have to be reasonable about using oils. This is great news for fans of Thai massages since the traditional form of it is practiced dry, without the need for any oils.
Want to maximize the benefits of your massage sessions without multiplying the weekly sessions? Know that the effects of a massage session can last up to a month. To maintain the body and prolong the feeling of well-being, you can allow yourself regular massages without worry. Thai massages are known to give real boosts to your blood flow. In the long run, they also have a beneficial effect on the immune system.
The right rhythm for a therapeutic massage
It becomes a bit more complicated when massage sessions are practiced for the intention of being curative. The deep muscles and tissue work should not be performed more than four times a day. This is because the body needs time to respond to a treatment; in other words, your muscles need rest in order to recover. With therapeutic massages, treatment methods can sometimes be very painful. In this case, the frequency of the sessions can be reduced. The number of minimal sessions for a therapy can not be fixed. Often, therapists schedule fairly close sessions at the beginning of a treatment, when signs of progress are usually slow. The pace of treatment is reduced as soon as you and your therapist witness encouraging results. Your massage sessions are increasingly spaced as the healing progresses. In some cases, the therapist recommends maintenance sessions after stopping the treatment. They take place quarterly or twice a year.
What about muscle, ligament and nerve damage resulting from frequent massages?
We expose our body to injury on a continuous basis. In fact, most of us have endured a debilitating pulled muscle by simply doing the wrong move. Having said this, messages of any sort practiced by unqualified individuals could result in damage. This is demonstration of how both sensitive and fragile the human body is. Remember that Thai massages not only work on your muscles but also your nervous system, which is the main source of your strength. Knowing this knowledge should encourage you to choose an experienced Thai massage therapist with a spotless reputation. If you decide to receive frequent and regular treatments, we highly recommend that you stick with one therapist. She will work with you in order to tailor your massage sessions with your body’s intricacies.
How Thai Massage Helps Your Nervous System
March 20, 2018 § 1 Comment
The nervous system regulates all other systems of the body. Using Thai Massage to calm the nerves indirectly improves the functioning of all your organs.
Our autonomic nervous system, which controls the automatic functions of our body such as our heartbeat and digestion, consists of two types of fibers:
- The sympathetic nervous system
- The parasympathetic nervous system
The brain controls these two systems.
The sympathetic nervous system is activated when we face an emergency, shock or trauma. Our body automatically gets into the “fight or flight” mode:
- Your breathing accelerates to provide more oxygen to the blood
- Your heart rate and blood pressure increase to carry more blood to the muscles
- Muscles contract to be able to cope with the action
- The adrenal glands secrete adrenaline into the bloodstream to strengthen and maintain the activity of the sympathetic nervous system
- The digestive system slows down, to save energy
Meanwhile the brain also triggers a chemical reaction: stress hormones are secreted, the main one being cortisol, which gives the body more energy.
When stress is eliminated, the brain switches to the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the system involved in the normal functioning of our body systems. When the parasympathetic nervous system is triggered, the sympathetic nervous system begins to rest.
During periods of low stress, you experience the following:
- Your heart rate and blood pressure go down
- Your blood pressure stabilizes
- Your muscles relax
- You digestion goes back to normal
Your body’s response to stress is originally designed for a short time, or to deal with an external (physical) situation. However, chronic stress (psychological or emotional) is more and more frequent nowadays. Financial problems, long-term illness in the family, or unsatisfactory work can all be causes of chronic stress.
During chronic stress, the brain can no longer trigger the activities of the parasympatic nervous system, and the body’s capacity to return to the state of rest and repair is greatly impaired or stops altogether:
- Cortisol decreases the functions of the immune system
- The sympathetic nervous system maintains high heart rate
- Your blood pressure rises
- Your muscles remain tense and painful as they are loaded with lactic acid and because of limited fluid circulation
- Your digestive system is stops working
- Your immune system can no longer fight infections or illness
- Your adrenal glands are exhausted
- Your body becomes more sensitive to cardiovascular disease
- Your muscles and hormonal glands get tired because of constant stimulation, which can lead to stomach ulcers
So how to relax the nervous system? Can massage help?
When you receive a massage, “touch” messages are sent to your brain. Your brain then decides if the contact is positive. It does so by comparing it to similar experiences from your past.
If the touch is perceived as a positive experience, the parasympatic nervous system is activated and cortisol levels are reduced. The body returns to its state of rest and restoration.
As you receive massage therapy, the following occurs:
- Breathing and blood circulation slow down
- Anxiety decreases
- Your stomach may even gurgle as a sign that your digestive system is functioning normally again
In addition to having an indirect effect on the autonomic nervous and hormonal systems, a Thai Massage also has a direct effect on the body’s systems that have suffered from chronic stress:
- Blood circulation is stimulated, improving nutrient transport and waste drainage
- The touch received through massage stimulates and stretches muscle fibers to relax them and relieve aches and pains. A Thai Massage also removes lactic acid and other wastes to leave room for oxygen and nutrients required by the muscles.
After a treatment, you will feel more relaxed, with less tension, and your sleep will be improved. Your body as well as your mind will begin recovering from the effects of the prolonged stress response.
Regular massage treatments can help prevent chronic stress and promote long-term balance.
Lemon Detox Part 1: Introduction
March 13, 2018 § Leave a comment
The Master Cleanse Diet, also called ‘Lemon Detox’, has been around for decades. It was originally made popular by nutritionist Stanley Burroughs, a strong advocate of a natural approach to health and one of the first to promote the idea that the body has the natural ability to heal itself.
In this first part of a 3-part series about the lemon detoxification program, we will introduce you to a method that will result in great health benefits.
The results encountered with the Lemon Detox were simply extraordinary. There have been instances of problems associated with chronic disease, some of which have been suffering for years, disappeared in just 10 days.
The Lemon Detox involves drinking a lemon juice mixture that will help your body eliminate waste that has accumulated over time. There is more to it, and we will explain it in detail later on in this article, but you should know that it is a safe and effective way to achieve a balanced health. It’s also a great way to lose weight fast and a great start off point to a much healthier diet and lifestyle.
Doing the Lemon Detox can help you lose weight by eliminating internal waste. The number of pounds lost varies a lot from one person to another, but for some, the number can be huge. But the real benefits in terms of weight loss appear once you have completed the detox program. After finishing the Lemon Detox, most people find that they don’t have to force themselves to eat better; refusing unhealthy food becomes natural. In fact, processed foods high in calories will make you sick. You will suddenly crave for foods rich in nutrients, such as raw vegetables. Your appetite will also adapt, requiring less foods to feel satiated.
Why you need to detox your body?
We poison ourselves slowly. The food we eat is covered with pesticides and there are chemicals in the water we drink. In some cities, the air is so saturated with pollutants during certain days that authorities recommend staying home. Not eliminating the environmental poisons that accumulate in your body could even rob you of a couple years. It could also mean a lifetime of chronic pain, fatigue, obesity, and a plethora of other health issues. A Lemon Detox can help eliminate waste accumulated in your body. To better understand the Lemon Detox, you must first understand that it is based on detoxification.
Put simply, your body is filled with a lot of garbage that is very difficult for your system to eliminate normally. At this very moment, many people are walking with kilos of dense fecal matter piled up in their bowels. These are perfect breathing grounds for bacteria to proliferate, and if you do not eliminate this, you can slowly poison yourself. You will begin to have symptoms such as skin issues, extreme fatigue and loss of libido.
Here’s the source of this slow poisoning:
- Processed foods
- Sugar
- Saturated fats and trans fats
- Artificial sweeteners
- No or very few raw vegetables
- Toxins associated with alcohol, coffee and smoking
- Not enough water
Through heavy branding and marketing, modern eating habits have evolved to become a bad combination of overly sugary, fatty and salty foods that overwhelm the body. Add too little water and the horrible life style habits that we’ve come accustomed to around the world, such nights out drinking, coffee and too little sleep, the results are disastrous. This is where the Lemon Detox comes into play. Although this may be reminiscent of something that a heavy drinker would use to unwind, it is really only about helping your body to free itself from this waste.
Following the Detox Lemon could result in the following:
- Increase your energy levels
- Help you to break your bad habits
- Flush your body of harmful toxins
- Promote weight loss through increased energy levels and a faster metabolic rate
- Strengthen your immune system and protect you against diseases. Detoxification will reset your body.
In part 2 of this 3-part series, we will explore how to go about the Lemon Detox programme.
Deal with your anger
December 11, 2017 § Leave a comment
We all have anger issues. Sometimes as we get angry, we act in a regretful and painful ways that have the potential to destroy our future. How should we deal with these emotions? And what to do to put ourselves in a neutral or positive state of mind as soon as possible?
Don’t stay angry for too long
We’ve already discussed ways to relax your body and mind, but these methods produce results over several weeks of regular practice. In this article, you will discover ways to diffuse your anger rapidly and efficiently, in just a few seconds or minutes.
In a state of anger, we become quite clumsy at distinguishing the good from the bad and we easily become blinded by feelings of hate and frustration, and make rash decisions, some of which can have dire consequences for our general well being and of others. No matter what is your level of education, your employment or your status in society, the poisonous effects of anger spare no one and none of us are protected from committing grotesque acts of stupidity.
Calm down and stop anger before it gets hold of you
Here are the methods that will help you reach a calmer state of mind in just a few minutes:
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Deep Breathing
Deep breathing is a remarkable technique that can easily induce a state of calm and relaxation in less than a minute.
Close your eyes, and begin paying attention to your breath (I always tell my husband “breath… honey breath”). Take the longest breath possible and inhale as much air your lungs can take in… Hold your breath for 4 or 5 seconds and release in a long exhalation. Repeat this cycle of deep breathing several times for the next few minutes. In the state of anger, our breathing becomes shallow and short… Deep breathing enables you to guide your body back to calmness and even, with lots of practice, into the beginning stages of meditation.
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Take concrete and physical action
Confront anger with action.
This can include:
- Hitting a punching bag… A pillow or cushion will do.
- Practicing a solo sport that is easily accessible… Running is great for this as are other fast paced physical activities such as swimming of biking. It should be easy to execute so that you could begin practicing it without having to make elaborate plans with other people.
- Writing down your angry thoughts using every single possible negative word you can think of and then burn this sheet of paper
- Talking to a positive person. Find someone in your entourage that you can confide to and share your thoughts and feelings with. Having someone who will listen to us is a great way to put things in perspective. Make sure to also actively listen to this person’s feedback and own personal issues that he or she might want to share with you.
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Find the positive in your source of anger
Try to find positive things about the person who is the source of your anger. I suggest imagining being in this person’s shoes, what it is to be living his or her life on a daily basis, or to be experiencing this moment. Think about this: every given situation offers an opportunity to grow and learn; if this is the only positive aspect of any possible conflict, then you know, before hand, that you can walk away from any given negative situation with a positive outcome. At the end of the day, there are no real bad experiences, but only lessons…. Accept and embrace the good as well as the bad that come your way by remaining opportunistic. You might be interested to learn that many successful businessmen and women purposely make huge mistakes in order to learn from them.
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Imagine the outcome of your violent actions
Pause for a moment if you can and imagine the full extent of your physical anger. What will happen after you bit someone? Some people have spent years in jail for taking part in small fights that had horrendous outcomes. A physical confrontation could very well result in huge legal issues and cause irreparable damage, outcomes that would vastly outweigh the reasons for your anger. Such an outcome could also result in other losses which you hadn’t suspect could be possible… The loss of friends, family members, your job and future professional opportunities, for example, are real and frequent outcomes to such events.
Meditation: the ultimate anger eraser
My top suggestion to have ultimate control over anger is to practice meditation on a regular basis. Of course, meditation is not something that you learn in a few minutes, but once you will have been meditating for a few weeks, you will be able to switch yourself ‘on’ in just a few seconds. The more you practice the less you will feel anger rising; meditation produces the remarkable effect of dissipating one’s anger and it illuminate the path to a place of equanimity. There are several guide meditation classes online, whatever style that suites you. There are more 40 types of meditations but I personally like this particular technique which is perfectly described by Kim Eng on Eckhart Tolle’s channel. If you develop the habit of getting in touch with your feelings everyday you will begin to see the world differently. Keep practicing, don’t give up. It can be difficult at the start, but the discipline is worth the effort. I practice meditation in the morning or at night before sleeping. Also, the regular practice of yoga asanas is a great way to get in touch with your body and to develop your ability to focus.
Please share your experiences in managing your anger. I love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
I will give further explanations about meditation in an other post.
Rose
Rose Thai Massage
Chicago, Ill.
Please view the contact page in order to get in touch with me.
8 Ways to Instantly Calm Yourself
July 17, 2012 § 4 Comments
We all have felt anxiety before. No matter how confident and relaxed you are, you know what it’s like to be nervous before an interview, trembling before a speech, or cold and clammy over the pending results of your graded quiz.
The point of this article is to provide you with eight different ways to release this tension. There are more powerful ways in which you can relax (as we will provide in our products) however this article provides eight ways you can use anywhere. Hardly anyone will actually notice that you are using them. You will not have to sit in a meditation position on the floor, or chant mantras to relax yourself… so no worries.
Also, notice the title of this article is not “…Calm Yourself Down”. We don’t calm down. We calm up.
Calming yourself involves not detaching yourself from your environment, but integrating yourself with it while you mentally move inward to obtain steadiness. You should not feel tired or detached. You should simply become “in the zone”: Alert, focused and relaxed.
Chair Press-Up
This one’s great for if you are waiting to give a speech or if you are nervous in a group setting. Simply put your feet flat on the floor. Put your hands on the arms of your chair. If your chair doesn’t have arms, place them on the edges of the seat. Brace yourself. Now, take a deep breath, and push up with your arms and feet as you exhale. Lock your arms – let your torso hang from your locked arms for a moment while you finish exhaling… long and deep. Go limp, but remain locked in the up position. Now sit back down. You feel like a noodle, and everything is cool.
Breathing
Breathing is absolutely crucial to calming yourself. I recommend you do some in-depth research on Eastern styles of breathing, and how to breathe powerfully with your diaphragm. Breathe in strongly and slowly through your nose as you expand your diaphragm. Your stomach should rise, not your chest. Now, blow it out strongly and steadily through your mouth. Repeat this a few times. You can feel the tension leaving your body.
Spread Legs
This one may not seem like much, but it has serious subconscious value. When most people are relaxed (particularly us guys) we have a tendency to spread our legs slightly and take up more space. By consciously spreading your legs while sitting (or standing) you will take up more space, which is what we generally do when we are comfortable in a setting. Perform the action, and the feeling of comfort will follow.
Slouch Slightly
Yes, slouching is bad for your posture. Slouching for years will curve your spine. Slouching for a few minutes will not. This is another habit most people demonstrate when they are relaxed and comfortable: They slouch. So, next time you feel antsy about a situation, allow yourself to lean back your head and slouch slightly in your chair. Once again, the feeling will follow the action.
Power Hands
Powerful people are often calm, relaxed and comfortable in their actions. When they sit around a table, they often do one of two things with their hands: Steepling, or the hands-behind-the-head. To steeple, put your elbows on the table, and steeple your hands in front of your face – like the bad guy does in the movie when he’s going “M’yesss…. Muwahaha…. I can see it all coming together so perfectly…” Think of yourself as the bad guy when you steeple your hands. You know you are going to win. You steeple your hands as you turn over your master plan inside your head. Everything is falling into place so perfectly. Muwhaha. For more of a “corporate” power / relaxation effect, lean back in your chair and put your hands behind your head, lacing your fingers together. This is how bosses sit when they are talking to people who work for them. It has profound effects in making you feel more powerful and relaxed.
Anchoring
This is an incredible psychological tool we will cover in more depth in our products. Your subconscious mind anchors certain actions / stimuli with certain feelings and responses. Psychological anchors and triggers are used everywhere. It is the reason behind many strong emotional connections. If you had a song played at your wedding, hearing the song played at a later date may make you cry. The emotional event was your wedding, and you heard a song during it (the anchor). Thus, the song became tied to the feelings you felt during your wedding. Uponhearing the song again (the trigger) you feel the same feelings again.
Another example is if you became very ill once from a certain drink, you may become sick simply from smelling the drink in the future. The emotional event was becoming very ill, and the anchor was the drink. Therefore, smelling the drink in the future could make you sick very quickly. Anchors are used everywhere, in positive and negative emotions. To use them to calm yourself, develop a specific anchor every time you are calm. My anchor is to place my hand palm-down on my thigh. Every time I am relaxed, I do this, to reinforce the anchor. Then when I need to be calm, I simply fire the trigger (palm on the thigh) and my mind recreates the emotion tied to that anchor – which is relaxation. Pick an anchor you don’t use that much, such as touching your ear, or putting your hand on your knee. Do it whenever you are relaxed, and when you need to become relaxed, doing it will help to put you in that mental state.
Kill Internal Dialogue
There are many ways to do this, but here’s one good technique: If you are talking yourself into a worrisome state, or worrying while talking to someone during a conversation, do this immediately. Defocus your eyes, and open your peripheral vision. Look at two areas ahead of you, to each side. Picture your conscious thoughts in those areas. Now, draw your gaze up from both points at 45 degreeangles until they meet in the high-center of your vision. Next bring the gaze straight down, so it is directly in front of you (a person’s face if you are talking to them). Now, picture your gaze coming straight back to your own head, as you return your consciousness to your own mind. Not only does it help increase focus, but the simple effort required to perform the exercise will often stop any distracting internal dialogue you are having at the time.
Centering
If you feel a general anxiety of your whole body, such as being self-conscious of your hands, feet, or body position, this exercise can work wonders. Close your eyes. Take a few deep, long breaths: in through your nose and out through your mouth. Place your tongue on your front pallet, directly above the backside of your upper teeth- this is effective in stimulating cross-lobe integration (and relaxation) in the brain. Picture a point far in front of you. Project your thoughts there in your mind. Continue breathing, and keep your thoughts there, until you are fully relaxed and have forgotten about clammy hands, sweaty feet, or mismatched socks. Once you are relaxed, slowly bring the point in front of you closer as you return to a fully aware state.
Tips on How to Reverse the Effect of Karma
May 4, 2012 § Leave a comment
Karma is a series of cause and effect. It is a cycle of certain actions and their subsequent results. Your own experiences can yield to certain joy and pain not only to yourself but also to others associated with you.
Oftentimes, we link God with Karma. This may due to a fact that we can see Him as the One who can give out punishments when we do wrong and give rewards when we do well. Karma goes hand in hand with the golden rule “Do not do unto others, what you do not want others to do unto you”.
Karma not only concerns punishments, vengeance or rewards; it is the effect of the deeds you created in the past, present and future. Usually, we see Karma to be the good and the bad. Good karma is satisfying or what you desire. An example of good karma is eating the best food, traveling to the best part of the world or having a multitude of friends because of being helpful. Bad karma is the unnecessary events and unpleasant such as suffering from poverty and diseases among members of the family due perhaps to having an unmerciful life and one involving crimes.
How then will you take advantage of the Karmic laws? Being cyclical, it never ends, which is why we should take hold of the good benefits it can give. Here are some tips of handling Karma:
1. If you are recently having a favorable status, you have enough money and an opportunity to expand, take advantage by investing your fortune in good and fair businesses. Any business which is a product of sweat and blood and not due to some illegal transactions will bring forth more wealth.
2. Being in a not so good situation like poverty should not be treated as a disadvantage. This should be a motivator for you to be ambitious and move to reach your goals. “This too may pass”, as God implies and your own perseverance can progress your future and your Karma.
3. Karma is a repetitive process; you should be aware about it. When having opportunities to grow like a good job offer, grab it.
4. Karma can be a means of preventing you to be in trouble. If someone is trying to persuade you to snatch or brawl, you might as well think first of the causes it will bring. Be on the right side always and open your mind for all the consequences an act can bring.
5. Inhibit yourself from complaining and putting the blame on other people. Negative thoughts produce negative vibrations that will eventually affect your views in life. Karma can be advantageous by providing you an understanding and a positive outlook in life.
6. Pray and count your blessings. God is the provider of all graces. He knows all that troubles us and that makes us happy. Counting your blessings and thanking God always is a good way to have a smooth life and a good Karma.
When analyzed, Karma is advantageous to any person practicing it. It is a way of looking upon your weakness and seeking for ways to strengthen your character, to feed your soul and to have a positive outlook in life. Life’s shortcomings are not altogether bad. Hardships are necessary for you to be patient and to gain strength; poverty is present to allow us to be generous and opportunities are meager to allow us to grow. However, treating every body fairly and doing good deeds will always bring back blessings to you.
What is Thai Yoga massage?
April 16, 2012 § Leave a comment
Thai massage is the most famous Asian massage, more energizing and rigorous than more classic forms of massage.
Thai massage is also called Thai yoga massage because the therapist uses hands, knees, legs, and feet to move you into a series of yoga-like stretches. Many people say Thai massage is like doing yoga without any work.
Muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure are also used during treatment. People describe Thai massage as both relaxing and energizing.
Thai massage is usually done on a padded mat on the floor and no oil is applied, you are usually asked to wear comfortable clothing. Thai massage can be using oil if preferred which is know as Thai Oil Massage.
Many people find that Thai massage has the following benefits, relaxes, reduces stress, improves circulation, increases energy, increases flexibility, improves range of motion, centers the mind and body.
There are many health benefits to receiving massage therapy on a regular basis:
• Relaxes Muscles.
• Improves Flexibility and Range of Motion.
• Improves Posture.
• Improves Circulation.
• Relieves Tension-Related Headaches.
• Strengthens The Immune System.
• Enhances Post-Operative Rehabilitation.
• Improves Rehabilitation After Injury.
• Help athletes of any level prepare for and recover from, strenuous workouts.
• Reduce spasms and cramping.
• Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Relieves Stress.
• Encourages Relaxation.
• Lowers Blood Pressure.
• Helps Manage Pain.
Massage is not recommended for certain people:
infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds.
immediately after surgery.
immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor.
prone to blood clots. There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged. If you have heart disease, check with your doctor before having a massage.
pregnant women should check with their doctor first if they are considering getting a massage. Massage in pregnant women should be done by massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage.
massage should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed skin, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, or areas of recent fractures.
Additional tips:
Don’t eat a heavy meal before the massage.
Allow your self 10 minutes early to complete the necessary forms and you can have a few minutes to rest and relax before starting the massage.
Be sure that your massage therapist has your complete health history because people with certain conditions should not have a massage.
If you feel discomfort at any time, let your massage therapist know.
Health and Wellness 