Spiritual Health Archives - Page 5 of 8

The Ultimate Self Care Gift Guide

On November 24, 2019

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

Find the perfect gift this season!

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No matter what time of year it is, we all want to find that perfect gift for our loved ones and not have anxiety over shopping. Wouldn’t it be nice to significantly lower the stress of gift-giving? Some of the best gifts I have received were things I can use to help in my own stress management efforts. I love gifts of relaxation and also gifts of experiences. Why not help someone else reach an improved level of health and wellness and offer them some well-deserved stress relief.

One of my favorite places to shop is Amazon. There is a huge variety of awesome and affordable gifts that you can shop for out of the comfort of your home. What’s better than that! Don’t mind at all skipping the crazy crowds and having gifts delivered to my front door! I put together this list of self-care gifts that I am sure will be the favorite presents at your family gathering this year.

Click on the images to check them out!

20 Stress Relief Gifts Your Family Will Love

1. My Favorite Massage Pillow to relax and restore your energy

2. Aromatherapy Wrap to soothe those stiff muscles and reduce pain

3. A Good Foam Roller to loosen up your body and increase flexibility

4. Exercise Resistance Bands to stretch those tense muscles

5. 24/7 Relief & Recovery Cream for quick and natural pain relief

6. Sound Machine to help you unwind and fall asleep

7. Essential Oil Diffuser to add lovely scents in your home

8. Epsom Salt Bath Bundle for achy muscles and joints

9. Foot Bath with Heat & Massage to relieve those tired feet

HoMedics Bubble Mate Foot Spa, Toe-Touch Control, Removable Pumice Stone, Fb-55

10. Essential Oil Roller Bottle to help calm your mood

11. Weighted Blanket to feel comfy, warm and safe

12. My Favorite Pillow to get a good night sleep

13. My Favorite Tablet to play games and read your favorite books plus more!

14. Alexa Smart Display Screen to look at recipes and listen to music plus a whole lot more

15. Virtual Reality Headset to play cool games and escape to your favorite destinations

16. Happy Light to lift your mood on cold and gloomy days

17. My Favorite Beach Chair with a Cooler to use on your favorite beach getaway or in your own backyard

Tommy Bahama 2020 Backpack Cooler Chair with Storage Pouch and Towel Bar

18. Amazon Gift Card for the quick and easy gift everyone loves

19. Massage Therapy Gift Certificates to relax your body, mind, and soul

20. Stress Solution Program- 6 Weeks of Private Wellness Coaching to help you cope with stress and have a toolset to manage your life better

May this season bring you nothing but stress-free shopping and pleasure! With this list, I know it will be hard not to indulge in yourself or give the gift of self-care to a loved one. Go for it — you deserve it!

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.

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A Relaxing Trip For Salt Therapy

By Jill Ciampi

On November 12, 2019

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

All opinions in this post are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

My Salt Therapy Visit

Over the weekend, I went to Soulshine Salt Cavern with my mom and sister who were visiting from New Jersey. I always like to plan something fun and relaxing for us to do together. They both have never experienced a salt cave before so I wanted to show them just how great it is. I had gone once before for salt therapy with some friends and it was a delightful experience.

Salt therapy is a fantastic self-care activity and helps you to reduce stress and unwind. I found the Soulshine Salt Cavern which was close to my house and very convenient. The Soulshine Salt Cavern is located in the Red Barn in Durham, Connecticut. What a great find! Besides the salt cavern, they have a variety of other holistic offerings including Reiki, Massage Therapy, Nutrition counseling, Psychotherapy, Wellness classes and so much more.

What is Salt Therapy?

Halotherapy has been around since the early 19th century and has many antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits. It is a natural way to detox your body and improve a variety of conditions. Besides the benefit of stress reduction, salt therapy is good for respiratory issues, allergies, colds, asthma, and a long list of skin conditions. Click here for more info on the history of salt therapy and how it works to detox the body. What I like most is that it is a drug and chemical-free way to improve your overall wellness!

My Experience at the Salt Cavern

Having Fibromyalgia and Anxiety, I try to stick with alternative means of healing and pain relief. Walking into the waiting room at Soulshine Salt Cavern, I could sense a feeling of calmness and healing. First of all, it smelled really good in there! I can only imagine they use some kind of essential oil blend that is pleasing to the senses.

The friendly staff explained what we could expect. First, we had to fill out a brief intake form where they ask about medical history and then we had to sign a typical waiver. Some conditions are contraindicated which is good to know ahead of time.

Before you walk into the cavern, you need to take your shoes off and wear white or light-colored socks. They have a space to store your belongings while you are in the salt room. There is always a staff member to watch your stuff so no need to worry.

Let the Unwinding Begin

As soon as I saw the salt cavern I immediately loved it. My first thought was how great would it be to give or receive massage therapy in this environment! We walked in and there was soothing spa music playing in the background. I loved the tree in the middle of the room. The antigravity chairs were extremely comfortable and a joy to lay in for the whole session.

It is a good idea to go with people you feel comfortable with and who have good energy. We were lucky to have the room completely to ourselves. I admit I did have a little anxiety at first but then settled down and started to relax. My thoughts were all over the place but they too also started to quiet down after a little while. A couple of times, I looked over at my sister and mom and they both seemed to be relaxed and enjoying it.

Once I closed my eyes and started focusing on the lovely music I began to unwind. My sister said she did fall asleep and caught a nice little nap. At one point, I felt a little pressure and some popping in my ears and also felt a little tingling in my hands. I was a little cold but that is typical for me so next time I would wear some heavier clothes.

Wrapping Up the Salt Therapy Session

During the session, you do hear the salt being dispersed into the room but the music drowns out that noise mostly. I noticed a little salt on my skin and I tasted some on my lips afterward. The feeling of walking on the pink Himalayan salt was amazing and it reminded me of being at the beach. My feet were so happy! After relaxing for 45 minutes, a staff member comes back into the room to inform you the session has ended. We took a few minutes to wake up and then went back to get our belongings in the cubbies provided.

We stopped to look at some of the events coming up as well as the holistic items for sale in the waiting room on our way out. They have you pay for the session beforehand which is a good idea because you feel a little out of it after! There was also a cute gift shop with more holistic gift items on the way out of the building.

Soulshine Cavern Salt Therapy

At Soulshine Cavern, the room accommodates a group of 10 or you can go as an individual. Each session costs $40 for 45 minutes. They have gift cards and packages available. Check them out on Facebook and Instagram! If you are in the area, make sure to visit them at 352 Main Street in Durham, CT. which is located less than 30 minutes north of New Haven, CT. For more info, visit their website at www.soulshinesaltcavern.com.

I highly recommend salt therapy as a complementary wellness activity. I hope to schedule another visit in a couple of months and will also attend some of their wellness events.

Here’s a picture of me, my mom, and my sister happy and relaxed after the salt therapy session!

Let me know if you have ever tried salt therapy and what you thought of it!

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!

Live Your Best Life – Reasons to Hire a Wellness Coach

By Jill Ciampi

On October 23, 2019

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

A Wellness coach guides their clients to live the best version of themselves. At some point in life, we all need a little extra help to overcome the obstacles. Suffering from Anxiety or struggling with chronic pain or illness? I know how you feel. My personal journey has been tough. However, I have come out the other side and want you to as well.

Have you ever thought of getting help and just didn’t know where to start? Besides being a Licensed Massage Therapist, I am also a certified Whole Health Educator™ and Wellness Coach.

My holistic approach focuses on the whole person which includes discussing lifestyle habits and the 5 Aspects of Whole Health including Physical, Emotional, Nutritional, Environmental, and Spiritual™©.

First, coaching sessions are customized for the client’s needs and have an emphasis on stress management. You may be thinking well what does that even mean? Let me clear it up a bit for you.

The Whole Health Coach interacts with their client in a mindful and respectful presence. In other words, the coach invites the client into the center of their healing process. Similarly, information is shared with clients at the level of understanding they are most comfortable with.

Moreover, a “big-picture” concept is the healing strategy that is used. For instance, the Wellness coach encourages the client to identify their needs and make changes they feel are appropriate.

Primary Tasks of a Wellness Coach

1. Provide a clear & simple explanation of the body systems & their relationship to the body as a whole.

2. Share the research of stress research pioneer, Hans Selye, MD, Ph.D., on stress adaptation. Also, teach the anatomy, physiology, and nutrition of how human beings adapt to their environment.

3. Act as an information resource, affording the client a wide range of information on current research, treatments, and self-care. The Whole Health Education® model does not direct the client by suggestion, recommendation, advice, or conclusion. This model invites them to discern with his/her physician, family, partner the strategy or strategies that, for the client, foster natural compliance.

4. Facilitate their client’s ownership and understanding of the cause and effect of health and disease. Also, simplifies health information so the client can make clearly informed health care decisions. Then the client can make transformational changes.

Someone in Your Corner

In my practice, I offer services geared towards middle-aged women who are overwhelmed with stress, anxiety, and suffer from chronic pain.

I teach them how to deal with the emotional struggles of having pain, anxiety, and a powerful mind/body connection. Therefore, the goal is for clients to manage stress better, gain a positive outlook, and age gracefully without depending on drugs. Above all, this type of transformational Coaching offers natural solutions to stress and chronic pain.

Sometimes, you just need a little help to help you overcome those obstacles that are holding you back from enjoying life. Learn how to overcome Anxiety and cope with the struggles of having chronic pain and illness.

Set up a complimentary Transformation Discovery Call with Jill DeMasi today!

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!

Look On The Bright Side

By Jill Ciampi

On September 18, 2019

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

At times, we all tend to think too much about what’s wrong with us, what’s not working in our lives, how we don’t feel well and what we are missing out on because of our illness or disability. Did you ever think about the other side… the bright side? It is not easy when you don’t feel well or are feeling defeated by your lack of health and wellness. I can tell you that I don’t much like being around positive people sometimes they really annoy me to be honest! I want to tell you about part 4 of the NIWH course I took with Dr. Bernie Siegel. It is eye opening, and as always, a positive boost for those of us who can’t seem to get out of our own way and are stuck in negative thought patterns. Take a look and challenge yourself to consider the following benefits that can come out of not feeling well.

10 Positive Benefits of Illness

* Greater self awareness– you may become more in touch with your mind and body and start to realize that what you do and say and how you live does have an impact on your physical health.

* Experience personal truths– illness may help you to figure out what’s important to you and what is a waste of your time.

* Transcendent experience of pain– feeling pain puts things into perspective and helps you to be grateful for your health.

* Confront fear and death– it helps you to face your fears of death and maybe realize you haven’t really been living life as you could be.

* Address personal needs– sometimes it takes an illness to make someone take better care of themselves and make their health a priority.

* Creates opportunity to say no to what you do not want in your life and yes to what you do.

* Explore spiritual and world view– makes you focus on what you believe spiritually and perhaps become closer to God and feel more at peace.

* Flee from disease to health- may help you to know that you have control over your health and can make lifestyle changes to improve your chances of living a long healthy life.

* Experience the futility of sickness– being vulnerable is a good way to teach us that life is precious and not to take advantage of it.

* Learn to do what makes you happy– don’t let others have power over your decisions and learn that you can do what you want and make your own destiny.

Siegel, B. Living With NIWH media course. Retrieved from http://ww.classroom.wholepersonhealthcare.org

My top three from the above list that I work on:

* Being vulnerable to others to help me in my times of need (not easy for me!)

* Getting closer to God to lean on for support and comfort and continuing to have faith that I will get better.

* Trying to live in the moments I do feel good and being grateful for all that God has blessed me with. Please comment below and let me know what you will work on.

Stay tuned for next weeks post discussing the last part of the Living with Illness course and discover helpful tips on how we can be a part of our own healing process. Much love to you always!

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!

Tips to Combat Anxiety While Traveling

By Jill Ciampi

On August 14, 2019

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

Just returned from a quick trip to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina with my boyfriend. Traveling always intensifies my anxiety although I love to see new places and enjoy going on vacation. I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel over the years but have not yet been to my dream place… Italy. In the meantime, I do my best to get away a couple times per year to an island or somewhere in the United States. There is so much to see right here in our beautiful USA!

Anyone who has Anxiety knows how you can feel about traveling. I put a lot of pressure on myself to have enough energy and to feel good on vacation. There are a lot of anticipatory anxious feelings about leaving home and going to an unknown place. Here’s just a sampling of the thoughts that go through my head… will I feel good enough to participate in activities, am I going to have any pain, what am I going to eat that’s not going to bother my stomach, am I going to be social enough, happy enough and not moody, will I have any anxiety attacks while on vacation and in front of other people? And hundreds of other thoughts. Who knows what I am talking about? It can be truly exhausting.

In the past, I have felt pretty good on vacations. Just being in a different environment and not having the daily responsibilities to worry about lowers my stress level quite a bit. It seems to depend on my emotional state and the circumstances in my life. The hope is to just have a small break from the chronic pain and low energy levels I feel most days. Unfortunately, I did not feel good for most of this trip to South Carolina. I tried not to let this get me down. But it was hard not to especially since I waited so long for a get away. There was a desperate need to get away from daily living and chores like laundry, cleaning the kids rooms and house and also my work. I needed a change a pace and scenery and alone time with my partner in life.

What I realized is that I just need to be grateful for the opportunity to get away and reset. We have had an intense couple of years and were not able to do much of what we wanted. So self care is high on the list for the rest of this year! My expectations are always high when I vacation for some reason. I was disappointed that I didn’t feel my best and that I had to take antibiotics which always make me feel more anxious and moody and really flares my IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Anyone else experience issues when you travel? I know I am not alone in this. Maybe it will help if I share some tips of what I do to keep my anxiety at bay while traveling.

Tips to Combat Anxiety While Traveling

Lower your expectations. Part of anxiety are those nagging anticipatory thoughts that build up in your head that are not true and most likely will never happen. Mind over matter (the use of willpower to overcome physical problems) is a powerful anti-anxiety tool and it works! Train yourself to replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. It takes practice!!

Be prepared. Have a plan for yourself if you feel anxious. Whatever works for you. Make sure to have that essential oil, your vitamins and prescription meds, Tums, your meditation app and so on.

Tell whoever you are traveling with your feelings and express your emotions. More than half the time, once you talk about your anxious feelings they will go away. Hopefully you have a supportive partner to travel with and talk to!

Distract yourself. Usually when we are involved in an activity we don’t have time for those anxious thoughts to overwhelm us. Keep yourself busy and just enjoy the time you are away. Remember to breathe!

Stay off electronics. Too much screen time increases anxiety. Put your electronics away and take in what is around you. I promise you will notice a lot more in nature and your surroundings if your head isn’t buried in a device. It will also improve your relationships and deepen your connections.

Try not to stray too far from what you normally eat or drink. It is no fun being hungover or having digestive issues when you are not at home. Enjoy some extra treats but don’t overindulge!

Traveling is amazing but can be stressful so try to find the good in everything and enjoy the break from everyday life. Comment with some of your own tips for traveling with Anxiety. Enjoy the journey and not the destination!