Featured Tonic of the Month for November: Female Tonic

Female Tonic has a number of uses but overall it is a great hormone enhancer.  Some of its uses include fertility enhancing, painful or irregular periods, PCOS, and menopausal symptoms.  This tonic contains herbs that help to warm the reproductive organs and has a mild anti-spasmodic action on uterine muscles.   It also acts as a uterine cleanser which helps to remove incompletely flushed menstrual fluids from month to month.  One of the herbs contained in this tonic, Mexican Wild Yam, is one of the best herbs to help regulate the menstrual cycle because it contains the steroid diosgenin.  This steroid is 75% similar to the hormone molecules of estrogen and progesterone.  These in turn work to supply the ovaries with required hormones.  Additionally, the Mexican Wild Yam helps to alleviate severe hormonal fluctuations of menopause and PMS.

There are a number of contraindications with this tonic so it is very important that you speak with a Maya Abdominal Therapy practitioner so they can review each of these with you.  The Female Tonic should not be used in conjunction with any Chinese herbs, birth control, IVF related hormones, hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy or breast feeding.

Female Tonic is our featured tonic and is 10% off during the month of November. Please feel free to contact any Maya Abdominal Therapy practitioners at any of our CNY Healing Arts locations for further information.  Click here for contact information at our Syracuse, Rochester and Latham locations.

Our Tonics are now available online here.

Quitting Smoking with Acupuncture

At present, 70% of adult smokers in the U.S. report that they want to quit smoking. Millions of these people try to quit every year. They suffer from an addiction to an organic compound called nicotine. In fact, research suggests that nicotine is as addictive as many other drugs, including alcohol, cocaine, and heroine.

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture originated in China over 5,000 years ago as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force, known as qi or chi (chee), believed to flow through channels in your body. Qi should be in harmonious balance for one to be in good health. When qi is not in balance, one gets sick. The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture states, “These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up in others.”

Are the needles scary?
The needles used in acupuncture are hair-thin. Typically, between 5 and 20 of them are superficially inserted into various points in the ears and body to influence the restore balance to the flow of qi. You may feel a slight prick or sting upon insertion, but should feel no pain thereafter. When a needle reaches the correct depth, you may feel a deep, aching sensation. Your practitioner may gently manipulate, move or twirl, the needles once they are in place. Another option is electrical stimulation of the needles.

So, how does acupuncture help me quit smoking?
A typical patient is treated one to two times a week for the first 4-6 treatments, then once a month for 4-6 months. These treatments last from seconds to an hour, but typically 20 to 30 minutes, and are surrounded by many theories about how acupuncture actually works. Several theories are that acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing powers or the release of pain-relieving endorphins and that it influences the autonomic nerve system.

Treatments take all of your symptoms into account and aim at balancing the energy within the body in order to optimize health. Acupuncturists will focus on jitters, cravings, irritability and restlessness. After a treatment, some people feel deeply relaxed, while others feel invigorated and energized.

In general, acupuncture can help you relax, diverting stress that causes you to smoke. Furthermore, it can significantly reduce nicotine cravings and balance your body, which can give you a leg up during detoxification.

If you would like more information on acupuncture or how we can help you quit smoking below are phone numbers for our CNY Healing Arts Centers in Syracuse, Rochester and Latham, NY as well as the email addresses for acupuncturists at each location. We are here to help you on your goal to quit smoking!

SYRACUSE:
Phone 315.671.5755
Donald Clarke, L.Ac. email dclarke@cnyhealingarts.com

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ROCHESTER:
Phone 585.244.1280
Shelley Szymko-Carroll, L.Ac. email sszymko-carroll@cnyhealingarts.com

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LATHAM:
Phone 518-724-5750
Rebecca Rice M.S., L.Ac. email rrice@cnyhealingarts.com

More Than Just a Facial!

Immediately upon entering CNY Healing Arts for a facial I am greeted with soothing music, a warm atmosphere and a smiling receptionist.  After checking in, the cheery young lady at the front desk escorts me to the waiting room.  As I sit on a comfortable couch (not a stiff chair like in most waiting rooms!), I notice that the lighting and colors of the room are warm and inviting, with original art on the walls, and the shelves lined with books about the power of positive thinking; again this is very unlike most waiting rooms I’ve ever been to.  The young lady also offers me a cup of tea or coffee while I wait.  As much as I enjoyed this beautiful, comfortable lounge, my wait was short and soon my esthetician showed me the way to our private treatment room, which also had warm colors and soothing music.

After changing into a robe, the treatment began.  The esthetician explained that there are many benefits to getting regular facials.  Regular facials not only cleanse and brighten your complexion, but they have anit-aging benefits, and can help with skin issues like acne.  She suggested that I receive a light chemical peel as well in addition to the regular facial.  The chemical peel would help restore a more youthful appearance to skin, reduce wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, sun-damage, and blotchy patches.  My work involves me being exposed to the elements (sun, wind, etc.) as well a lot of dirt that can really clog my pores so I seemed to be a good candidate for this procedure.  The chemical peel is just a treatment in which an acid solution is used to remove the damaged outer layers of the skin (same idea as exfoliating!). Typically administered as a facial peel, a chemical peel enhances and smooths the texture of the skin.  After explaining the benefits and the reasons why she thought the chemical would work well for me, the esthetician said that it might feel “tingly” on my skin.  I honestly didn’t even notice any tingling sensation.  While we waited for the peel to run it’s course, I was treated to a hand massage.  Facial, peel, and massage all in one! A girl could get used to this!

The relaxing treatment ended with the esthetician asking if I had any questions and with her going over a few after treatment skin care routines that I needed to keep in mind.  I felt relaxed, renewed, and that the esthetician really cared about my well being.  As you can imagine, before leaving for the day I made sure to schedule my next facial appointment!

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CNY Healing Arts offers facials at all locations: Syracuse, Albany and Rochester. Click here for contact information for the center nearest you. We hope to see you soon!!

The Health Benefits of Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulder Stand)

You probably did it all the time as a kid, but for some reason you stopped experiencing the joys of hanging upside down as you got older. Inversions are amongst the most beneficial and therapeutic posters in yoga and even yogis in their 90’s are still doing it! CNY Healing Arts Center invites you to experience the magical healing benefits of the so-called “queen” of yoga inversions, salamba sarvangasana. Attend a yoga class at the CNY Healing Arts Center nearest you and we will help you explore the healing benefits of yoga. Check out our class schedules here.

Getting Into Shoulder Stand:
Shoulder stand is not for everyone and some may find it very difficult to get into. If this is the case, it is always better to have a yoga instructor help you get into it safely.

If you have a tweak in your neck, you will want to use a folded blanket support under your shoulders so that your neck is allowed to remain relatively free rather than scrunched onto the floor.

Lie down on your back with your arms on the floor, palms down and bend your knees into towards you. Flip your legs over your head so that your back is off the floor. The shoulders remain on the floor and you are using them to balance. Make sure that your shoulder blades are tucked in underneath you and that your elbows are close together (you can do this by interlacing the fingers underneath you and pulling the shoulders and elbow together). Simultaneously bend your arms at the elbow and bring them in to support your back, with your fingers facing up towards the ceiling. Activate your pelvic floor muscles to help support your neck and back.

As a beginner, you can come into half shoulder stand by placing your knees onto your forehead. For the full pose extend the legs up towards the sky, while supporting the back. Eventually, your body should be at a 90-degree angle to the floor with the balls of your feet pointing towards the ceiling. Hold for at least 20 breaths, breathing in and out through your nose.

To come out extend the legs back over your head and roll out of it vertebrae by vertebrae. Once your whole spine is flat on the floor, you can release the feet back down to the ground.

The Benefits of Shoulder Stand:

•    Inverted poses are extremely important because they reverse the action of gravity on the body and get the blood and lymph flowing in opposite directions.
•    On an emotional level shoulder stand helps turn everything on its head and helps us see things from a different angle.
•    It helps boost self-confidence.
•    Because of the increased blood flow to the top of the body, shoulder stand can help improve brain function and cognition and reduce anxiety and depression.
•    It takes pressure off the heart, which has to work less to get blood flowing to the brain.
•    Helps with lung function by improving blood flow to the area, making it useful for people suffering from respiratory tract disorders.
•    After a yoga class, inversions help to divert blood from the legs into the abdominal region, which means a fresh flow of oxygenated blood to the organs. This has applications in improving both digestive and reproductive functions.

The Health Benefits of Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)

CNY Healing Arts Center is presenting you with a series of yoga poses to help boost your health and well-being. Bound angle pose, also known as baddha konasana, is a therapeutic hip and groin opener that can also help boost your fertility.

Getting into Baddha Konasana:
Sit with your legs straight out in front of you. Raise your pelvis with a block or a blanket if your hips are tight. Bend your knees and pull your feet towards as close towards your pelvis as you can, with the soles of the feet touching each other. Drop your knees towards the floor and push the feet together.  With your index and middle finger and thumb grab the big toes of each foot. Lengthen through the front of the torso to the sternum as you pull your body down towards the floor.

The aim of the posture is to get your knees on the floor and your head in front of your feet with your torso flat over your legs. There is no need for this to happen overnight; you will get benefits from every stage of this pose. As you fold forward in this posture, lead with the heart until you reach the edge of your flexibility then let the back round and drop the head. Never force your knees down. Instead release the heads of the thighbones toward the floor. When this action leads, the knees follow. Stay in baddha konasana for 1 to 5 minutes or at least 20 breaths, breathing constantly in and through the nose and you gently release into the pose.

The Benefits of Baddha Konasana:

• Strengthens and improves flexibility in the inner thighs, groins and the knees
• Helps prepare the hips and groins for meditative seated poses, which require more flexibility in these areas
• Helps to sooth menstrual discomfort and digestive complaints
• Stimulates the abdominal organs, potentially improving the health of the ovaries, prostate gland, kidneys and bladder.
• Alleviates fatigue, according to traditional yoga texts
• Helps open up the lower back and relieves sciatica
• Metaphysically opens up the groin area helping to relieve sexual inhibitions and guilt.

We have full yoga class schedules at all of our CNY Healing Arts Center locations. Click here to view them and we hope to see you soon!

Meditating to Start and End Your Day

Early morning is a great time to meditate.  Before you even rise out of bed, when the house is quiet before other activities, energies, anxieties, etc. start to vibrate around you, you should use the opportunity to put out your positive energy, intention, and vibration for the day.  Laying quietly in bed and visualizing how you’d like your day to go is the best way to start your day in a positive way.  Imagine your warm cup of coffee waiting for you, your drive to work going smoothly, accomplishing each task at work perfectly, and coming home to a comforting loving atmosphere.  If you have a significant event taking place that day, like a presentation at work for example, picture yourself performing that perfectly.  The more positivity you put into your intentions for the day the more likely your day will go just as you’d like it to.

At the end of your day, when you are getting ready to go to sleep for the night, you should meditate once more.  Let your mind relax and be at ease with how the day went.  Accept any challenges that presented themselves to you as positive, new learning experiences that you will grow from.  After your mind has come to peace with the day’s events let your mind drift into how you’d like tomorrow to go.  Think of all the great things you have going on the next day and how, ideally, you’d like them to play out. Have fun with this! It is your fantasy, your desire, which in turn creates your reality!  Own it! Make it YOURS! Don’t worry about the “how” (the specifics of exactly how each tiny detail will work itself out) just enjoy the thoughts of what you’d like to have occur and the universe will work out the how. Sometimes the how comes in the most unexpected ways!

When you enjoy your thoughts you are attracting them to you in a very powerful way.  Meditating each morning and each night can be a very powerful tool in creating your reality from your own thoughts and desires.

Yoga and Reflexology

How often during the day to we give gratitude for our hands and feet? I would not be typing this article, were it not for the mobility and flexibility of my hands. I would not be practicing yoga, walking, standing or dancing daily without the use of my fabulous two feet!

Ancient yogis were aware of the subtle energies or prana flowing through the body. Without the distractions of technology and industrialization, their lives were simple, and their daily routines involved self-body massage, yogic cleansing practices, and breathing techniques (pranayama), combined with yoga and meditation practice. In our busy culture, most of us barely have time for a few minutes of stretching or breathing in the morning, let alone hours of body and mind balancing exercises!

- Care for your Hands and Feet -

Today, Reflexology is a practice that is used to boost the immune system and bring the body back into balance. People who go to Reflexologists receive a full hour or half hour treatment on just their hands and feet. The hands and feet are said to be small maps of the entire body. Therefore, receiving a Reflexology session can be like receiving a full body massage…with slightly different effects. The science of Reflexology targets the reflexes instead of working directly on the corresponding body part. Through this, you are stimulating the body from within, whereas massage soothes the muscles from without. By stimulating the reflex of a troubled area, the body promotes healing in that area.

- Combining Yoga and Reflexology -

One of my very 1st experiences with Reflexology was when I first began to study yoga. I would do daily practices in Deepak Chopra’s book, Perfect Health, where he instructed self-body massage, like the ancient yogis practiced. Part of this self-massage was foot and hand massage. I remember enjoying the sensation of massaging my own feet, wondering why I’d never attempted it before? Just the foot and hand massage alone helped deepen my own yoga practice—letting me feel my two feet more firmly planted on the ground, and my two hands as well.

- Benefits -
Both Yoga and Reflexology are Holistic, working on integrating and restoring balance to the body, mind, and spirit. Yoga balances the body and mind by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing you to come out of stress mode and into a state of relaxation and rejuvenation.

Reflexology boosts the immune system and alleviates chronic body conditions, such as:

• Sinus /Allergies
• Migraines
• Thyroid issues
• Body Pain / Back Pain
• Anxiety / Depression
• Frequent Headaches
• Loss of Appetite
• Constipation
• Tiredness / Loss of Energy
• Tension / Stress
• Shoulder Pain
• Swelling of legs / Varicose veins
• Urinary Problems
• Insomnia
• Cervical Pain
• Menopause
• Numbness of hands and fingers
• Mental and Emotional Disorders

A yoga class that combines some basic Reflexology techniques will allow you to really tune into your body in a deeper way and release some deep held tension or chronic issues.

October Workshop: Foot Yoga…Reflexology for your Body & Soul!

If you’ve been to one of my classes, you know I’m totally passionate about feet! They are after all our support, our grounding, and play a significant role in our standing bodily balance and mobility. If you know about Reflexology, you know that all the organs/parts of the body are connected to the feet. In this one and a half hour workshop, we will have a yoga class dedicated to the feet– YOUR feet! You will leave feeling more grounded, connected and supported by the earth and, of course, your own two feet! You will also gain tools on how to care for your feet and build a more solid yoga practice using your toes and every bit of your foot!
If you’re not a foot person, don’t worry, you will leave with a new passion for your own feet!
Space is limited, so reserve now if you want a spot! Call us at 585.244.1280
Cost: $18
Where: CNY Healing Arts, 2244 East ave. Rochester, NY
When: Saturday October 9th, 1-2:30pm

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Sarah Lamb, RYT and Reiki master teaches yoga at CNY Healing Arts Center in Rochester.

Simplify Your Holiday Shopping

Simplify your Holiday shopping by giving the gift of health in the form of a CNY Healing Arts Holiday Gift Certificate. These are available at all three locations: Syracuse, Albany and Rochester. Click here for location information.

For your purchasing ease, we also have Gift Cards available online. Click here to buy.

HOLIDAY DEALS!
We are pleased to announce that this holiday season our Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal is back. We have so many clients that enjoy taking advantage of this special that we have brought it back to life for the holidays. Below are our specials this holiday season:

Buy 2 Get 1 Free:

This package deal will be offered starting Black Friday (11/26/2010) and ending January 7, 2011.
It can be used for any combination of services including massage, acupuncture, classic facial, Reiki or a private yoga session!! (not all of these services are offered at all locations)
This is a limited time offer so be sure to take advantage of these savings while they last!

Gift Card Special:

November 1st through December 31st you will receive a $20 coupon with the purchase of any $100 Gift Card.

These specials are not to be used with other discounts or specials.

Come Experience a Body Treatment at CNY Healing Arts

For those of you who have never had a body treatment, this article is for you. CNY Healing Arts in Rochester, NY is now offering body treatments and body wraps. What is a body wrap, and why is this important to me you might ask? Not only are these the ultimate spa treatment, they are also very beneficial. CNY offers four different types of  body treatments.

The first is a Salt Glow. This is about an hour long. In this treatment we exfoliate the entire body using natural sea salts. When removing the salt from your body we use hot towels, then hydrate with a moisturizing body cream. This treatment leaves your whole body exfoliated and your pores refreshed and breathing.

The second is called a Rosemary Mint Body Treatment. This treatment is very similar to the one above except we use all of our Aveda rosemary mint body products. These products are formulated to awaken the body’s senses. These invigorating aromas help to stimulate and recharge the mind and body while receiving a body cleanse, full exfoliation, and light body massage.

Our third treatment is the ultimate spa body wrap. It is our Caribbean Therapy  Body Wrap. In this treatment you will receive a sensory journey using vanilla, tangerine, and sandalwood aromas during the entire treatment. After exfoliating you then receive a seaweed masque on the entire body. This will detoxify and hydrate through out the body. While wrapped you will receive a mini facial cleanse and hydration following a balancing scalp massage. After being hot toweled off you will then shower off using our Caribbean Body Wash. Finally I will hydrate the body using our Caribbean Body Lotion. This treatment is our #1 spa service. You will never experience anything like this. I guarantee it! This treatment is about an hour and a half long, so prepare to be pampered.

And last but not least is our Classic Back Facial. This is literally a facial for your back. Like our Aveda classic facials you still receive tons of balancing massage. In Aveda we believe you can not truly balance someone without starting from the top of the head to the bottom of their feet. Our backs are so hard to reach so they never feel fully cleansed. In this treatment you will receive a deep cleanse, exfoliation, detoxing massage, a treatment masque, and finally a treatment cream. This also includes massage on the scalp, hands and arms, back, also lower legs and feet. If you need extractions we can also add that in as well.

I know you will absolutely love any one of our wonderful treatments. The fall and winter months are coming up so there is no better time to pamper yourselves. Shed the old and bring out the new you. Call CNY Healing Arts today to book your appointment.

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

Spice Up Your Week with a CNY Healing Arts Center Spa Party

As the weekend approaches, I find myself debating over the few trite activities that I always end up doing with family and friends on my time off. In no particular order, the weekend usually revolves around seeing a movie, going out to eat, a night out on the town, or enjoying the weather outside. With winter approaching, my choices are growing slimmer!

CNY Healing Arts Center at 2244 East Avenue in Rochester offers a refreshing change of scenery for the weary, stressed and bored! Their Wellness Spa in Rochester offers Spa Parties to small groups of people looking to spice up their day with a pedicure, manicure, facial, massage, acupuncture treatment, and more! Spa parties are normally booked within CNY business hours, but can be accommodated if requested outside of these. The spa rental fee is waived for CNY Spa Parties, as long as all members of the party are receiving treatments that day.

The best part of the package is that the person who books a CNY Spa Party for 6 or more people receives their services for free! Clients can bring food, wine and refreshments galore, and set up their party throughout the downstairs level of the spa, free to roam and visit with friends and family.

Setting up a CNY Spa Party is easy and hassle-free. Clients contact Jessie Briel, CNY’s Event Planner, to plan a date and time for the party. Briel works with clients closely to cater to their party’s needs, regarding services requested for the special day. From that point, clients call 585-244-1280 ext. 2 to pre-pay and register for the party, so that everything is taken care of ahead of time.

On the day of your CNY Spa Party, a Wellness Specialist will greet each client at the door and lead them up to CNY’s tastefully-decorated changing room.Party members slip out of their clothing into soft, comfy CNY slippers and robes. Clients are escorted to the lower level of the Spa, where they are free to relax, visit with friends, and are called up individually at the time of their treatments.

When your CNY Spa Party comes to an end, your guests will feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on anything life has in store for them! So, break the mold of your weekly routine and book a CNY Spa Party for your favorites! It’ll be a breath of fresh air that you won’t forget for weeks to come.

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Jessie Briel
CNY Healing Arts Center, Rochester, NY
jbriel@cnyhealingarts.com
585.244.1280