Acupuncture: Calm, De-stress, Lighten the Load

While I was visiting a friend today I noticed a picture she had on her wall by Diego Rivera. In it a man was hunched down, what was seen of his face looked like he was strained by the normalcy of work; he was carrying a large basket of beautiful white lilies on his back.  From this painting I gathered a metaphor of life having that same sense of burden.  At times something so inherently beautiful can seem like a heavy load.  This is a perfectly normal and human experience. Fortunately there are many tools available to ease the burdens, some of which are created by our stagnant thoughts and emotions and some through illness.

One of the tools available at CNY Healing Arts is acupuncture.  One of the benefits of acupuncture is its ability to create space for the client.  When life is overwhelming acupuncture can be a valuable treatment option.  It calms the mind and eases the stress we feel in the body.  The treatments allow you to release the sense of angst, fear and despair.

Along with easing the discomforts generated by stress and difficulty, acupuncture provides many physiological benefits.  The stimulation of acupuncture points has been shown to regulate blood circulation, which aids in the recovery from injury, chronic pain, surgery, and provides more efficient blood flow to the ovaries and uterus.

Supported by studies, acupuncture has been shown to regulate the hormones including FSH, LH, estrogen and testosterone.  A review of research from 1970 to 2009 advocated the use of acupuncture for PCOS on the grounds that it can increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, reduce ovarian cysts, increase insulin sensitivity, decrease blood glucose and insulin levels, and reduce cortisol and assist in weight loss.

Science is demonstrating that acupuncture, like life, is full of possibility.

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Rebecca Rice M.S., L.Ac.
Acupuncturist at CNY Healing Arts Center, Latham, NY
Email me at rrice@cnyhealingarts.com
518.724.5750

Smart Label Reading

Eating right can be challenging.  One way to make healthy eating easier is to be a label reader.  Label reading can be tricky; there is a lot to look at.  On the front of a package, you will find the health claims that the company wants you to be the most aware of. However, for all of the nutrition information, you need to turn the package over and read the nutrition label.

When reading a label, start at the top.  The first information you will see is the serving size.  This may be the most important fact on the label, since the rest of the information is based off of this serving size.  Servings per container will tell you how many servings you can expect from the total package.

Calorie, fat grams and carbohydrate grams are important to pay attention to.    Saturated fat should be as low as possible.  It is the saturated fat in foods that can raise your cholesterol, not the cholesterol in foods.  Try to get at least 3 grams of fiber per serving, which not only helps decrease your cholesterol, but helps decrease your risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and certain cancers.  Each person has a different nutrient needs for the day, so it is best to meet with a registered dietitian to find out your daily allowances.  An easy way to know if you are eating too much of one nutrient or not enough of another is to use the Daily Value.

The Daily Values are the recommended intake of nutrients based on a 2000 calorie diet.  Any percentage that is 20% or more means that it is a significant source of that nutrient.  So, if you were looking at fiber, 20% or more is a good thing, but if you were looking at sodium, 20% or more is not so good.  Any nutrient that is 5% or less, means that it is not a significant source of that nutrient.  We want to see less than 5% in fat, saturated fat, trans fat and sodium.

There is a lot more information that you can get off a food label.  The above information will get you started.  To learn more, call to schedule an appointment with me in the Syracuse CNY Healing Arts Center.

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Heather Neely, RD, CDN
CNY Healing Arts Center
hneely@cnyhealingarts.com
(315) 671-5755

What is Reiki?

CNY Healing Arts in Rochester now offers Reiki!
The Complementary and Alternative Medicine branch of the National Institutes of Health (US) classifies Reiki as a form of energy medicine. A Japanese word, Reiki has been translated to mean the “universal life force.” Specifically, rei refers to the greater spirit of energy that surrounds the cosmos; and ki refers to the life energy which is part of every being and thing. Reiki practitioners are attuned to tap into and channel this life force energy in order to activate the body’s natural healing abilities.

The human body contains hundreds of areas where there is focused and concentrated energies. When you receive Reiki, the focus is usually on the seven major energy centers or chakras (Sanskrit for wheel). The seven chakras correspond to the the body’s principle glands and organs. While using specific hand positions either above or on these areas, Reiki practitioners access the life force energy. Reiki, then, is meant to help us return to balance, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It supports wellness and strengthens our natural ability to heal by encouraging that balance.

History of Reiki
Reiki originated in the early 1900s in Japan with lay Buddhist monk, Mikao Usui. Drawing on experience and knowledge combined with profound enlightenment during a 21-day fasting retreat, Usui developed a system of natural healing. By 1922 he started a healing society named “Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.” Shortly after, he opened a clinic to give and teach Reiki Between 1922 and his death in 1926, Usui taught over 2000 students, training a handful to be teachers to spread this simple healing system to people worldwide.

This passing on of Reiki from one to another is referred to as lineage. If you “have Reiki” you are part of a succession of teachers leading back to the founder.

Receiving a Reiki Treatment
Reiki treatments traditionally occur on a massage table. A one hour treatment involves the client lying both face up and face down. During the course of the hour long or half hour treatment, the Reiki practitioner is guided by certain hand placements, above on directly on the body. Many times, clients request a certain intention or focus for the session. However, anyone can receive a Reiki treatment, and even if there is not a specific request for treatment—the practitioners hands will be guided to the right areas.

Receiving Reiki can be a very meditative and magical experience for both the practitioner and the client. No two sessions are alike. The most commonly reported results of a Reiki treatment are: a sense of calm and relaxation, a higher level of awareness, better sleep, more ease of movement, more creativity, and a sense of being recharged and revitalized.

Reiki can do no harm! It goes where it needs to go for the highest healing of the client. The energy also continues even after the client has left the healing room. Reiki practitioners can also send Reiki healings from a distance if someone is in need and hours, days or even oceans away!

Come and experience a Reiki session for yourself at CNY Healing Arts Center!

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Sarah Lamb, RYT and Reiki Master, practices Reiki at CNY in Rochester, NY.
2244 East Ave, Rochester, NY
585.244.1280

Brow Sculpting and Waxing at CNY Healing Arts Center

I would like to let you know that CNY Healing Arts in Rochester now offers Brow Sculpting. This type of waxing is an art. Every body has their own face shape, bone structure, and there own individual direction of  hair growth. My job as an Esthetics Specialist is to help to train your brows to best shape your personal face shape. I will help guide you in tweezing tips,  also shaping with brow fillers. We use browscara which is a makeup that looks natural, and not like its painted on. I take pride in my work so all brow appointments are at least a half hour long. This includes waxing trimming and brow shaping with brow tint. Your brows shape your entire face so it’s time to frame yours.

If you are looking for any other type of waxing treatment I also offer those as well. From legs, to bikinis, face, arms, backs, chests, and underarms as well. The great thing about body waxing is you don’t have to shave for weeks. With waxing, your hair is removed by the root so you don’t have that annoying shadow like when you shave. Waxing also helps to prolong hair growth. When your hair does grow back it’s a lot smoother in texture as well.

My wax preference is a hard wax. This wax adheres to the hair with less stress on the skin, so there is less irritation and redness. I also have a lavender cream wax for the stubborn hair. This is also a sensitive wax leaving the skin less irritated. I have taken quite a few advanced waxing classes, so your experience will be a pleasant one.

Hope to see you soon!
Meranda Thomas
Esthetician, CNY Healing Arts, Rochester, NY
585.244.1280

Supine Hypotension: Lying on your back during pregnancy

by Christa Tyson – Yoga Instructor, Birth Doula and Mom at CNY Healing Arts in Rochester, NY

I teach Prenatal Yoga at CNY Healing Arts in Rochester, NY.  Frequently I hear students ask if it is safe to practice supine (on the back) yoga poses.   Many doctors tell pregnant women not to rest or exercise on the back during pregnancy.  Lying on the back during pregnancy after 20-22 weeks gestation can create a pooling of blood in the lower legs.  How does this happen?  The growing uterus may rest on the vena cava and aorta that transport blood to and from the heart.  But did you know that more women feel the effects of this hypotension from standing upright?  I bet your doctor didn’t tell you to stop standing!

Standing upright and still during the third trimester can reduce maternal cardiac output by as much as 18%.  Lying in a supine position (on the back) with legs extended can reduce cardiac output by as much as 9% in the second and third trimester. (Women’s Fitness Program Development, Ann F. Crowlin)  In order to keep your body safe during pregnancy you will need to develop confidence to listen to your body and act accordingly.  If standing still starts to feel uncomfortable move and sway the hips, shift your weight or better yet.. sit down.  If lying on your back starts to feel uncomfortable roll to your left side.  Lying on the left side during pregnancy brings more blood flow to the uterus.

To avoid hypotensive syndromes during my yoga classes I educate my students and encourage them to listen to their body.  First we discuss hypotension, what it feels like and what causes it.  Then I always give the students a choice to participate in the standing and supine positions or choose other poses.   If students choose to do supine poses we spend no more than 3 minutes in the pose and I encourage the women to roll to their left side if any discomfort is felt.  Studies show that 3-5 minutes of exercise in supine positions had no adverse effects. (Women’s Fitness Program Development, Ann F. Crowlin).

I encourage you to talk with your doctor or midwife and discuss the signs and symptoms of hypotensive syndrome. Although I am trained to keep women safe in my prenatal yoga classes, your doctor knows you much better than I do.  Trust their advice and remember we can always find yoga poses specific to your needs and comfort level in my prenatal yoga classes!  There will always be choices.  Hope to see you soon.

Namaste,
Christa

CNY Healing Arts Center
2244 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610
585.244.1280

Feeling Your Best with CNY Healing Arts Center

Feeling Your Best Before and After Competition:
Now that you are only a few days away from the next Skinnyman Triathlon, you may want to consider a few techniques of getting rid of those extra aches and pains before and after you participate.  Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Arnica oil is an anti-inflammatory and pain relieving oil that is used for muscle and joint pain.   It can also be used on injuries to the soft tissue such as bruises and sprains by reducing swelling. Arnica has also been found to prevent muscle stiffness and reduce pain when applied before and after training.  By using the arnica on the site of an injury, it will help to stimulate the area with blood which in turn forces a faster healing time.  Simply massage the oil externally on the skin before and after workouts.

Castor oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant oil that has been used for centuries for its numerous healing benefits.  Castor oil packs can help to reduce adhesions in the abdomen and sacral area, as well as, any lingering muscle soreness or bruising. To make a castor oil pack, massage the castor oil on to the skin, cover it with a small towel, wrap saran wrap over the towel, and finally place moist heat on top.  The saran wrap and towel will help to insulate the area and the moist heat will help to relax the muscles further.  Use this technique 3-4 times a week for 20-30 minutes.

Epsom salt baths are very effective in dealing with muscle soreness, joint pain, arthritis and to reduce inflammation.  Epsom salt is high in magnesium which plays an important role in muscle control and electrical impulses.  Magnesium levels have dropped significantly in our bodies due to changes in agricultural farming and our diets.  If you have an allergy to sulfur, are pregnant, have high blood pressure or suffer from cardiovascular disease, Epsom salt baths should be avoided.  Place two cups of Epsom salt into your bath and soak for 12 minutes, 3 times a week.

Finally, do not forget the benefits of massage and acupuncture to rid yourself of not only any aches and pains but also those pre-race jitters.  You have invested so much time and energy into getting in the best physical shape, why not take the time to prepare yourself mentally as well.  Good luck on race day, have fun and look for the CNY Healing Arts massage team to assist you after the Skinnyman!

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Erika Lutwin, BS, LMT at CNY Healing Arts in Syracuse,NY
315-671-5755        elutwin@cnyhealingarts.com