Physical Health Archives - Page 4 of 10

My family used to travel to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania often in the summer months. We made lots of great memories going to places like Memorytown, Whispering Hills, and trips to the many parks, lakes, and gorgeous waterfall spots. I remember going to the lake and having fun on the paddle boats with my brother and sisters. We always went to the same American Indian store every time we visited to pick up little souvenirs. I didn’t really appreciate it back then but the Poconos has so much to offer.

Find Peace in the Poconos

The Pocono Mountains are located in Pike County and the Delaware Water Gap which is a quick ride from Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. This serene destination offers many activities but the scenery has to be my favorite. In other words, if you are in need of relieving stress and want to visit a calm destination, this may be the perfect road trip for you!

I hadn’t been back to the Poconos since I was younger before going to college. Then about 7 years ago, I started dating my boyfriend who also shared the love of the Poconos. We had been friends for a while and went to the same college in Connecticut. We actually grew up about 15 minutes away from each other in New Jersey plus we vacationed in the same area as well! His family had built a cute vacation house near the NJ border of the Poconos. I couldn’t believe that growing up I was so close to him. What are the odds! His family’s vacation house is only 10 minutes from the same parks and stores I went to as a kid.

Dingmans Ferry Welcome Center

He took me there a few months after we started dating and I fell in love with the area all over again. I have always loved road tripping and visiting the welcome centers! We visit with the kids a few times per year in the summer and winter. Visiting in any season is relaxing and enjoyable.

This past May on Memorial Day, we got engaged right in front of the lake he grew up going to! It was a really special day because the kids were with us and they all asked me together. I was completely shocked and surprised! 🙂

Unwind and Relax

Just a short walk down a gravel road from the house is this beautiful lake. We go here every time we visit. It is a great place to meditate and just sit on the beach for some peace and quiet. In addition, we like to take walks and go for bike rides around the lake. The air is so fresh and pure up there!

I always enjoy taking pictures and videos of this area to watch when I am back home to remind me of the peaceful trip. Just watching the short videos bring me happiness and help me unwind.

Favorite Parks and Waterfalls in the Poconos

We visit a few times per year for a little rest and relaxation. From where we live in Connecticut it is only a 2 1/2 hour ride. The summer is a great time to visit. We enjoy going to see the waterfalls at the nearby Dingmans Falls and also George W. Childs State Park which unfortunately has been closed for a while due to storms a couple of years ago. However, I did quickly sneak in for just a few pictures last time because I missed it so much.

I enjoy going to see the waterfalls. My favorite pictures to take are of the brooks and waterfalls because that makes me feel happy and relaxed. The hiking trails are easy and not that crowded.

The vacation house is located in a quiet community surrounded by beauty. We usually just hang out at the house and go to the lake which is a quick walk down the road. There is a cute little beach there to sit on and picnic at. You can also go fishing in a boat or right off the dock. The kids like to go on the 4 wheeler and ride bikes around the development. It really is a place to just unwind and relax. However, there is a lot to do in the area like boating, biking, skiing, shopping, hiking trails, parks, tubing, rafting, adventure courses, ziplining, wineries and so much more.

Nothing like sitting by a fire pit to unwind at the end of the day. The kids love roasting marshmallows and making smores. It is a great quality family or a romantic getaway for sure.

On our way back last time we went another way because we were driving to NJ so we had to go over this old historic bridge. They actually have a person standing in the middle of the road to collect $1 to cross over.

Even the ride home is beautiful and there are so many great spots to stop for amazing pictures!

In conclusion, I hope you can get to the Poconos one day and experience the serenity and fun activities this area of Pennsylvania has to offer. Each time we go I feel so calm and refreshed and I always sleep better as well. The Poconos Mountains is definitely a place to add to your bucket list!

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

Insights on The Road to Healing Book

By Jill Ciampi

On July 30, 2020

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Lifestyle Blog, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

At one time or another, we all have experienced something negative that’s happened in our lives. That’s life. Ups and downs. Healing from traumas, abuse, rejection or any negative experience is essential in moving forward. Working through it and letting go will help you live a productive, healthy, and positive life. This process is by no means easy. It actually takes a lot of work and is not very comfortable at times. So how do you do it then?

The Road to Healing, by Brianna Fitzgerald, details her story of healing and her expertise and training as a licensed therapist. Without giving too much away, I will share some of her insights and my thoughts on the content of the book. If you enjoy learning about ways to help yourself become a better person this may be the next book for you to read.

Think About These Questions

Let me ask you this. Ever feel like you are not good enough? Or feel like you are stuck in old patterns of thinking and can’t move forward? Do you feel sad or consistently negative? Do you find yourself repeating old patterns over and over again? Have you considered that your behaviors and attitudes affect your relationships? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there may be something from your past or present to let go of and heal from. These are the topics covered in The Road to Healing and I want to share some of what stood out to me in this book.

The Road to Healing by Brianna Fitzgerald, LMSW

This book is chock full of simple techniques and methods on how to change your perspective and shift your thinking to heal from trauma or abuse. Brianna offers many tips on how to recover from the damage of a negative experience and turn it into a positive life lesson. She proves it is possible to control your emotions and break free from negativity. In choosing to decide to seek help and change her future, she avoided hanging onto the past trauma experienced as a child. She would not let it destroy her life.

Brianna discusses different ways to break the cycle and how to LET GO. She shares amazing healing affirmations and simple ways to stay ENCOURAGED through the process. A suggestion that resonated with me is how you can add one word when you ask “why” questions to people that will remove all judgment. This will change your perspective! Furthermore, I love the content on the power of journaling and how it can help uncover old patterns and free you of negative thinking.

Knowledge is Powerful

Also, I found several gems of knowledge in the 15 chapters of The Road to Healing. It flows nicely and will only take a couple of hours to read. However, I took my time to soak in all of the helpful advice. I found myself writing notes in the blank pages offered at the end of the book so I could remember what really moved me. There was so much in every chapter that I could identify with. Here are just some of my favorite quotes from the book that helps to explain the magnitude of why it’s so important to start your own healing journey.

My Favorite Quotes from the Book

“Change is the catalyst, which enables us to enter the next phase in life.”

“We are meant to grow and learn and go through the many phases of life to advance to the levels that are open and available to new opportunities.”

“The sooner you can accept changes regardless of how painful they may feel, the sooner you can move forward and receive those blessings that are brought to you.”

“Gratitude is a very high vibration that attracts more of what it is you want in your life.”

“Communicating your needs to others around you is not only vital for your protection and your healing journey; it is vital for your self-love practice.”

And My Favorite…

“Feeling our emotions gives us the empowerment to control them, and to respond instead of reacting to circumstances and things that trigger us.”

My Thoughts on the Book

I have followed Brianna’s blog for a while and have thoroughly enjoyed reading every post. So when I heard that she wrote a book I knew that I just had to read it. This book illustrates a courageous look into her struggles with abuse and neglect as a child and how she bravely overcame it. She sought out the help she needed and turned her life around. Brianna’s personal story is empowering, honest, and inspiring. She gives practical advice that is straight forward and helpful for anyone struggling to heal from something.

Her experience and training as a licensed therapist gives the book even more validity and stands out as a very impressive read for all. The techniques and methods of healing in this book are life-changing. It feels as though you are in the therapy room with her!

Although I have never experienced abuse in my life thankfully, I can relate to having to heal from rejection and other physical and emotional traumas. The Road to Healing is extremely powerful and will give you another perspective on how to change habits and heal from whatever has hurt you.

Take your time reading this book because there is a lot to unpack but it is worth every minute. I will refer back to it for continued inspiration and practical self-help advice.

Grab a copy of The Road to Healing here!

I also suggest subscribing to her blog for more tips and insight on healing and self-help. To read more about Brianna and her blog visit her website https://analytichealer.com/.

Whatever your experience has been in life, there is always a way out. You have the choice to change it. This book may just be the first step in your own healing journey. God always has a better plan but you need to be an active part in making the positive changes you deserve. Much love and blessings to all!

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

How Your Hormones & Chakras Are Related

By Jill Ciampi

On July 17, 2020

In Emotional Health, Lifestyle Blog, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

What do you know about the mind/body connection? There is a lot of evidence out there that what happens in our body affects our mind and the other way around. I am living proof of it. I know that this is a real phenomenon because I have experienced it myself and with 15 years of experience as a Massage Therapist.

Did you know that there are energy centers of the body called chakras? They were discovered way back in India and are related to the religion of Hinduism. Many energy healers work on or over these points in the body to unblock the flow of energy and claim to heal both physical and emotional issues. In addition, these points in the body not only relate to our emotions but what’s happening physiologically as well.

There is a relationship between these spiritual energy centers and the endocrine system. I have a brief understanding of chakras from massage therapy school but never realized how they relate to our physical body until recently. The following information is a summary of what I learned in one of my continuing education courses at the National Institute of Whole Health about The Endocrine System & 7 Chakras taught by Dr. Georgianna Donadio.

The Endocrine System

The Endocrine system is basically a network of glands that produce the many hormones that help your body function. There are several glands that send out these hormones to communicate with the rest of your body. They pretty much control what happens and when this system does not work correctly, it has a major impact on your health. In other words, we are whole human beings and there is a powerful connection between our mind and body. For instance, the endocrine system has intimate connections to the nervous system which is in control of everything.

Photo Credit – consumerhealthdigest.com

Hear me out. This may blow your mind about how everything is connected. It really is!

The 7 Basic Chakras

Photo Credit www.healthline.com

So how do these relate to each other? Notice the location of the glands and the where the chakras are. Well sit back and take this in. In other words, there is a direct correlation between thoughts, emotions, and the neurotransmitters that send messages to every cell in our body. In addition, I will also cover how these relate to the virtues and sins/behaviors as well as to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs which depict our basic psychological and physiological needs.

Maslow’s Hierarchy

Photo Credit- https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

The Big Picture

Pineal Gland & Crown Chakra

This gland picks up all of the nonverbal communication and makes the hormone to help you sleep. It is related to our higher consciousness and how we see the world. There is a close connection to the nervous system. The chakra symbolizes trust and acceptance.

Virtue: Humility

Sin: Pride

Maslow’s Theory: Universal conscious

Pituitary Gland & Third Eye Chakra

This is the master gland which is the dispatcher of all hormones. Related to the awareness of more than yourself. The eye that sees and knows all. The essence of life! The spiritual aspect of health.

Virtue: Integrity

Sin: Sloth

Maslow’s Theory: Global conscious

Thyroid & Throat Chakra

This regulates the rate of our metabolism and the ability to self regulate. Our voice and how we communicate with the world and express ourselves. Has a very important partnership with our nervous system.

Virtue: Fortitude

Sin: Fear/Worry

Maslow’s Theory: Self-Actualization

Thymus Gland & Heart Chakra

This gland produces our T cells which are essential in immunity. Related to self-esteem and love for oneself and others. The environmental aspect of health.

Virtue: Kindness/Hope

Sin: Envy/Jealousy

Maslow’s Theory: Self-esteem, self-protection

Pancreas & Solar Plexus

This is the hardest working gland in the digestive system producing insulin and enzymes. The pancreas controls the level of sugar in your body. Known as the center and plays a huge part in nourishment. The nutritional aspect of health.

Virtue: Temperance/Balance

Sin: Gluttony

Maslow’s Theory: Belonging

Adrenal Glands & Sacral Chakra

These glands are responsible for the fight or flight response and control the release of stress hormones among many other functions like your metabolism. Related to seeking pleasure and enjoyment. The emotional aspect of health.

Virtue: Charity

Sin: Greed

Maslow’s Theory: Safety & Security

Reproductive Glands & Root Chakra

These sex glands are in control of things reproduction. When you are stressed the reproductive system shuts down and prevents these hormones from being fully utilized. Related to survival and safety and the foundation for life. The physical aspect of health.

Virtue: Chastity/Faith

Sin: Lust

Maslow’s Theory: Survival

The fact is that the endocrine system and the hormones and organs in it are all interconnected. We can understand the relationships between the chakras and each of the 7 endocrine glands and how they are related to each other. They all need each other to function properly. And when one is not working correctly, it has a profound effect on the others. When a chakra is congested or out of balance it suggests there is a problem with that gland that relates to it. So there you have it.

If you get anything out of this I hope it will be that we have some control over health and our behaviors and attitudes can have a direct impact on what happens to us. Therefore, the power of the belief in healing is truly mysterious but it does have an effect on us physically and emotionally. Above all, let this information empower you to start considering how you can change your lifestyle for the better. In conclusion, we are truly whole human beings and everything is connected to everything!

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

USA Travel Bucket List

By Jill Ciampi

On April 21, 2020

In Anxiety & Depression, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Lifestyle Blog, Physical Health, Stress Management

What’s your USA travel bucket list?

Since we have been stuck at home, I found myself daydreaming about where I would want to travel once this is all over. I realized that there is a long list of places I have not been to yet. Traveling and taking vacations play a huge part in our physical and emotional health. Therefore, being able to escape from everyday life is a great way to recharge and rest your mind and body so you can manage stress. In addition, traveling helps you to experience different cultures and explore places and traditions you wouldn’t normally be exposed to. This is good for your soul! If you are fortunate to have the means to travel, it can be one of the best things you can do for your health.

Disney Cruise to the Caribbean

Lately, I have been reminiscing and looking through old photos of the trips I have been on. I have always loved capturing moments wherever I go. Photos have a way of taking you right back to that moment in time and can bring a lot of joy. Either way, it is a fun activity to immerse yourself in anything that doesn’t involve watching TV. Although, I do love passing the time watching the Travel Channel!

My USA Travel Journey

The pool at Melia Caribe Resort- Punta Canta

As a kid, my family did not travel far but we did explore many local destinations in the Tri-State area. We took many trips down to the Jersey Shore from Pt. Pleasant to Long Beach Island, one of my favorites! Being a family of four did not always allow us to travel to far and exotic places but that’s ok. We spent a lot of time on the amazing Jersey beaches and amusement parks. In addition, we visited upstate NY and the Poconos mountains which are filled with lots of activities and beautiful landscapes.

We got the opportunity to visit Disney World a few times when I was younger so that was a real treat! There were lots of road trips and so many interesting stops along the way. Besides Florida, I didn’t travel on a plane again until I was a senior in college to go on spring break in Cancun, Mexico. Now that would be a great post but let’s leave that for another time. It may take a while to even remember what happened on that trip… but I can tell you that the pictures were amazing!

Childs State Park- Poconos

Disney Cruise & Castaway Cay

Travel Memories with Family & Friends

My sister and I were travel partners for a while and we had lots of adventures. We vacationed in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Captiva Island, Sedona, Nashville, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and the Bahamas. We always talked about doing a cross country RV trip but never got around to it. However, it is definitely still on my list!

Venetian Canal- Vegas

Red Rock Canyon in Sedona

Grand Canyon

My friends and I also shared a lot of adventures down the Jersey shore, California, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Caribbean cruise to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Barbados, Dominica, Martinique, and southern Florida. I always wanted to travel more with my friends but that got harder once they settled down and had kids. My college friends are planning a trip to Aruba to celebrate all of us turning 50 in a few years so that will be epic!

Long Beach Island- Jersey Shore

Captiva Island, Florida

Love & Travel

In the last several years, I have been able to travel with my fiance and his kids which is always an adventure! What sticks out the most is the Disney cruise that went to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, and Cozumel. To be honest, the cruise was so great I would go back even without the kids! The unforgettable memory from that trip was climbing Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. That was a terrifying but incredibly beautiful climb!

Our family went to Disney World last year and Universal Studios a few years ago. Fun times! My favorite vacation so far with another couple to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. We stayed at an adult-only resort, Melia Caribe Tropicale, and it was the most relaxing trip to date. I remember not wanting to come back home! My fiance and I plan to go to Italy at some point in the next 5 years which is still my #1 bucket list destination and always will be!

Bay Lake Towers- Disney

Universal Studios- Florida

Animal Kingdom- Disney

Cinderella’s Castle- Magic Kingdom in Disney

USA Travel

Looking back at pictures got me thinking about where I have been and also where I haven’t been yet. There are so many places I want to see right here in the good ole USA. Since I have made connections with several travel bloggers, I realize how many places I have yet to go. I spent some time writing a new travel bucket list for the USA. Of course, I would love to see every state eventually- maybe on that RV road trip!

My Top 25 USA Bucket List

Outer Banks- North Carolina
Yosemite National Park- California
Yellowstone National Park- Wyoming
Glacier Caves- Alaska
Niagra Falls- New York
Lake Tahoe- California
Great Smokey Mountains- Tennessee
Acadia National Park- Maine
Napa Valley-California
Historic Savannah- Georgia
Key West, Florida
Northern Lights- Alaska
Hawaii- beaches and volcanoes
Georgia Aquarium- Atlanta
Alcatraz- San Francisco
Glacier National Park- Montana
Natural Bridge Caverns- Texas
University of Michigan Football Stadium
Zion National Park- Utah
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame- Ohio
Jack Daniels Distillery- Tennessee
Smithsonian National Museum- Washington, DC
Graceland- Tennessee
Dude Ranch- anywhere in the West!
Basilica of the National Shrine- Washington, DC

Below is a list of the US states and how many I have been to. My count is currently at 21….what’s your number?

Alabama

Alaska

How many US States have you been to and what are your favorites? Stay tuned for my next list of where I would love to travel outside of the USA. In conclusion, work on your bucket list and keep dreaming of your favorite destinations. We will get back out there sooner or later!

Lake George- NY

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

My To-Do Lists to Stay Motivated

By Jill Ciampi

On March 30, 2020

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Nutritional Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

Do You Write To-Do Lists?

What is so great about writing out to-do lists? In times like these, it is so important to have some kind of plan to stay positive and give yourself a fighting chance to overcome stress and anxiety. Last week, I shared 25 Ways to Survive Stressful Times to help give you ideas on what to do while stuck at home. I have so many different ideas on how to spend my time since I had to shut down my massage therapy office. I miss working on my clients and the feeling of satisfaction when I can provide one hour of stress and pain relief for them.

When I am not working on my blog or coaching business, I like to still keep myself busy and work on my personal growth. One of my passions is to learn new things and find exciting hobbies to keep me busy. For example, I create to-do lists to keep my mind organized so I can remember everything I want to do.

Each day brings new challenges whether it’s helping the kids with their homework, cleaning up after their messes, finding ways to keep them busy, and getting used to the new “normal” of this extra time together.

As an introvert, I need more alone time than the average person to recharge and be able to cope with the stressors of each day. So, every day I try to focus on how I can be a better “bonus” mom and partner so that we can all live in harmony. Some days it is truly exhausting! However, I try to remember the positive and that we are all healthy and blessed with a nice home to live in and have love in our hearts and wonderful friends and family.

Insights on my Daily To-Do List

Each day I wake up and read devotionals from my 2 favorite books that my mom gave me, Jesus Calling and Joyce Meyer’s Starting Your Day Right. Doing this gives me the strength to face the new day with the armor of God. It helps me set the mood of the day and helps lower the anxiety that is always simmering. I am not a morning person at all so I need some extra time before I leave the bedroom to get my head right before interacting with anyone else.

Once I feel ok to start my day, I usually eat breakfast within an hour of waking up. I have been trying to stick to a regular schedule of eating so I don’t go off track and binge. Additionally, I always try to work out in the morning to get it over with. Structure works well for me!

After my morning routine, I check my e-mails and then scroll through my business social media accounts. I have been trying to spread caring and hopeful messages each day on my social media. Then I check my website for any new comments on my posts so I can interact with the people who follow me.

Being a business owner, you really always have to stay connected a large part of the day to stay in touch with clients and followers. I don’t mind doing this because I love connecting with old and new friends!

How I Stay Motivated

Making time to work out and cook healthy meals is also an important part of my day. I try to get work projects done before dinner and then have the rest of the night to spend time with family and unwind.

In the last few weeks of being home, I have had extra time to sort out what needs to be worked on and any other projects that have been held up in the wings. It is important for me to feel somewhat productive each day and I like to be able to check stuff off my list! Here’s some stuff that I do to keep my mind busy and feel productive to ward off anxious thoughts from creeping in.

My Business To-Do List

Develop new online group and DIY coaching programs
Learn about Google Analytics to grow my e-mail list
Take a class on SEO for my website
Update my old blog posts and optimize for SEO
Research new topics for my blog and conduct interviews with health professionals
Update my business books and expenses
Finish my taxes
Stay in touch with my massage therapy clients during the shutdown
Clean up my business social media accounts
Create a media kit for my blogging business on Canva
Use PicMonkey to create photos for my blog
Take a Pinterest class on how to build my following
Clean up my shared drive folders and organize my files
Take the 10K Traffic Challenge course to grow my blog following
Update my website content and try out new themes

My Personal To-Do List

Clean the house over and over again!
Organize the kitchen cabinets
Shop for healthy food and some treats too!
Bring food over to the food pantry
Clean out my car
Find a new personal growth class to take
Read more books. I am currently reading a very inspirational book Tim Tebow’s- This is the Day
Keep up with laundry
Sort through vacation photos and do something with them!
Take off pictures from my phone and upload to the computer
Make a new recipe every few days
Keep posting positive messages daily on social media accounts
Help kids with homework
Stay active every single day and sweat out any toxins
Go outside every day for fresh air
Watch some new Netflix shows – excited for the new season of Ozark!
Watch Mass on Facebook live every Sunday morning
Listen to one guided meditation daily
Play more board games with the kids
Learn about gardening and photography
Check-in with family and friends. My college friends have been doing a Zoom “happy hour” every week and it is so nice to see their faces and vent!
Last but not least- spend quality time with my family and always eat at least dinner together so we can chat. Relationships will surely be tested during this forced time together but praying that it will bring us all closer and stronger!

Write Out Your Goals

Have you been putting something off until a later time to work on?

Now is a great time to start working on your goals. Why not use this time and make progress on becoming a better version of yourself. You may not be a fan of writing to-do lists and that is ok! I am just sharing what helps me. What may help is looking at each of those 5 Aspects of Whole Health that I have shared in older posts– Physical, Emotional, Nutritional, Environmental, and Spiritual™©.

Take a look at how you can improve your life from that perspective and I promise you will come up with lots to keep you busy. What are some things you have been doing at home that have helped you pass the time? Work on your to-do list today! Whatever it is, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. This too will pass 🙂

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.