MASSAGE AND YOGA MAGAZINE
THAI MASSAGE: Traditional Wisdom For The Modern World
Hottest Wellness Trends For 2018 5 Essential Oils To Keep You Healthy All Winter Long
JANUARY 2018
Contents: 5 Essential Oils To Keep You Healthy All Winter Long ................... page 1 Hottest Wellness Trends for 2018 .................................................... page 5 The Meaning Behind The Hamsa Hand ........................................... page 8 Thai Massage: Traditional Wisdom For The Modern World ......... page 10 Pearls Of Wisdom : Yin and Yang and The Space In Between ..... page 14 Editor: Susan Anderson Assistant Editor: Jennifer Briggs-Cole Hugs, kisses and blessings to our wonderful contributors: Jennifer Briggs-Cole Devon Johnstone Lisa Dowling
5 Essential Oils To Keep You Healthy All Winter Long p. 1
We’ve chosen these 5 essential oils for their powerful imune boosting benefits which will keep you healthy and energized all winter. Tea Tree - Melaleuca
Helichrysum Immortelle Even its name sounds fabulous! • Native to France and Corsica • Warm, fresh, herbaceous fragrance • Known as an antiviral, helichrysum helps support the immune system. • Eases colds and coughs and fights insomnia. • Decongestant • Fights sinus and ear infections. Usage : Direct bottle inhalation for colds.
Who hasn’t heard about the curative qualities of Tea Tree Oil? Well, the Australians certainly have! The Melaleuca plant was used daily by the early natives in Australia and New Zealand. Eventually, word spread worldwide of Tea Tree’s purifying, and disinfecting qualities. It is now frequently used topically for cleansing, rejuvenating skin, and cleaning surfaces. • • • • •
A powerful oil for the immune system Antimicrobial Antiviral Decongestant Expectorant
Usage: Direct Palm Inhalation or Steam Inhalation or Diffuser. (see directions below)
Note: Putting essential oils directly in an amber coloured bottle allows for easy storage and travel. You can take them wherever you go. Try this undiluted blend for fast-acting relief of congestion. Ingredients: • 6 drops of rosemary essential oil • 4 drops of helichrysum essential oil Directions: In a 10 ml dark cobalt or amber essential oil glass bottle, combine the two oils. Waft bottle under nose, inhaling deeply three to four times daily, as needed. Gently shake bottle before inhaling to blend.
Eucalyptus Globulus
Frankincense
Once again, native to the land of plenty - Australia, Tasmania, and many nearby islands. Eucalyptus not only smells amazing but has super-power effects on respiratory conditions.
Make this easy DIY Winter Room Spray. It is inviting, uplifting, and will promote a happy environment during the winter season.
• Most often used in a direct inhalation as an expectorant to break up and remove mucus from the lungs. • Fights colds, flu, coughs and bronchitis • Expectorant (breaks up mucus) • Decongestant • Antiviral • Antitussive (cough suppressant) *A powerful oil, should be avoided by anyone with high blood pressure or epilepsy . Avoid Eucalyptus Globulus use with children . Usage: Direct Palm Inhalation or Steam Inhalation p.2
Ingredients: • 15 drops Frankincense oil • 15 drops Grapefruit oil • 30 drops Douglas Fir oil Distilled Water • Directions: In glass spray bottle add essential oils and top off with water. To use, shake the bottle then spray. Note: Depending on the size of your spray bottle you may wish to use more or less, but make sure to keep the ratio of twice the amount of Douglas Fir to equal parts Frankincense and Grapefruit.
Pine - Pinus sylvestris Have you ever noticed how the smell of freshly cut Christmas trees makes you feel happy!? Pine essential oil offers the same uplifting and refreshing aroma. • First investigated by Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, Pine shares many of the same properties as Eucalyptus Globulus, and the action of both oils is enhanced when they are blended. • Enhances relaxation • Relieves joint or muscle pain associated with sprains, strains & rheumatoid. • Arthritis • Reduces the symptoms of cold & cough. Direct palm inhalation : A safe method for using essential oil. Ingredients: • 2-3 drops of any essential oil
Directions: Add essential oil to a tissue, place tissue in palm of hands, and inhale deeply two to three times through the nose. Do this twice daily.
Direct Bottle Inhalation for Colds: This undiluted blend is great for congestion relief. Ingredients: • 6 drops of rosemary essential oil • 4 drops of helichrysum essential oil
Directions: In a 10 ml, amber glass bottle, add the two oils and shake gently. Wave bottle under nose, inhaling deeply three to four times daily, as needed.
Steam Inhalation: An excellent way to bring therapeutic oil molecules into the air. Ingredients: • 2-3 drops of any essential oil • 2 cups steaming hot water Directions: Add essential oil to steaming hot water in a basin. Cover your head with a towel and place your head above the basin. Breathe through your nose from a comfortable distance, exhaling through your mouth. Keep your eyes closed. In a Diffuser: Diffusing Tea Tree oil can help purify and freshen the air in your home. When diffusing Melaleuca oil on its own, use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice. p. 3
Try this revitalizing diffuser blend that will freshen and purify any room. Ingredients: 1. Add two drops of Lemon 2. Two drops of Eucalyptus 3. One drop of Melaleuca 4. One drop of Peppermint to your diffuser for a rejuvenating blend that will cleanse the air and purify any room.
Disclaimer & Safety Advice Disclaimer The information provided in this blog post is for personal use and interest only. It is not intended to offer professional medical advice or treatment for any condition. You should not use this information to treat health conditions or to self-diagnose. We recommend that you consult your physician if you have any health concerns. If you have any health problems, are taking any medication, or you are pregnant you should seek advice from your healthcare provider prior to using aromatherapy. Contact a professional certified aromatherapist before using essential oils with children.
Safety Advice Essential oils are highly concentrated, powerful liquids. Their potency must be respected, and they can be toxic if used incorrectly. The way you handle, and use, essential oils is very important. Please read the following advice to help ensure that you use essential oils safely, and effectively. • Essential oils are flammable. • Keep out of the reach of children. • If you have a medical condition and are taking any medication, or undergoing any type of medical treatment, you should check with your doctor and a qualified aromatherapist to ensure that it is safe to use aromatherapy in conjunction with your prescribed treatment. • Certain essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy. Please seek professional advice prior to using aromatherapy while pregnant. • Always consult a qualified aromatherapist before using essential oils with babies and children. • Never take essential oils orally and avoid all contact with the mouth area and eyes. • Essential oils should never be applied undiluted to the skin as they can cause irritation. • Certain essential oils and spices can cause skin irritation for people with sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin we recommend performing a small patch test prior to using any new oil or product. • * Few essential oils such as Bergamot and other citrus oils are phototoxic, which means they can cause skin sensitization and skin discolouration in bright sunlight. These oils should be not be applied to the skin before direct exposure to sunlight.
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Sources: 1. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-tea-treeoil 2. https://www.britannica.com/plant/Eucalyptus 3. https://draxe.com/helichrysum-essential-oil/ 4. https://draxe.com/what-is-frankincense/ 5. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/diy-holiday-roomspray 6. https://www.youngliving.com/en_CA/products/pine-essential-oil 7. and 8. https://www.chopra.com/articles/4-aromatherapy-recipes-to-boost-your- immune-system#sm.0192kjgi1ae9dbz11f02pm3udnhm8 9. https://www.baseformula.com/disclaimer
Hottest Wellness Trends For 2018
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HOTTEST WELLNESS TRENDS FOR 2018
2018 is all about slowing down, as opposed to living at maximum intensity. We’re learning to be more mindful of what’s happening today, and how important self care is for all aspects of our health. There are a lot of exciting new wellness, and beauty trends this year. But the ones that really stand out may surprise you! 1. Moringa Although parts of India and Africa have understood the amazing health benefits of the Moringa Tree, only now are we incorporating this marvelous super-green-food into our lives. Touted as a powerful antioxidant, Moringa is also used as an anti-inflammatory, and may be beneficial for lowering blood sugar levels, as well as cholesterol. Nutritionally packed with more iron, and protein than spinach, this rockstar veggie has an impressive amount of Calcium, Potassium, and Vitamin C per serving. Moringa is available in a powder format, and can be added to water along with a teaspoon of honey, and a squeeze of lemon to taste. Ground leaves can be used as a medicinal tea. Moringa Oil is being used in beauty products because of its ability to promote healthy skin, and shining hair.
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2. Intermittent Fasting Sounds intimidating, but the the diet is actually not that difficult! Our bodies are already fasting (and recovering) during our sleeping hours. Intermittent Fasting simply withholds food intake for an extra 2 - 4 hours and allows you to eat your meals during an 8 hour window. For example, if you have breakfast at 10am, your last meal would be eaten by 6pm giving your body 16 hours fasting. Benefits may include weight loss, longevity, and an increase in HGH (Human Growth Hormone) which does wonders for keeping our skin and tissues supple and youthful and for boosting energy. Hugh Jackman and Tim Ferris (Author, The 4-Hour Body) are avid followers of Intermittent Fasting. 3. SELF CARE Self care has taken center stage in wellness prevention . Over the last several years we have become hyper-connected to people, information, world events ...... you get where I’m going with this. If we aren’t learning something new every 20 minutes, we feel as though we’ve fallen behind. Living at such high intensity takes its toll physically, mentally, and spiritually. 2018 is the year we reclaim our sanity, and our health, through plenty of self care. Yes, it’s the year of being “selfish”, if you want to call it that. Keep in mind that when you’re healthy and happy, you can give more to your family, friends and are more productive at work.
No longer is self care perceived as a luxury. Taking better care of ourselves is essential to aging well, reducing the risk of disease, and maintaining a higher quality of living. Massage, meditation, and energy healing are all on the list of self care strategies. Do what you love most: dancing, swimming, creative projects the list is endless. 4. Protective SKIN CARE For Environmental and Technological Pollutants You’re going to see new products on the shelves designed to protect our skin from environmental pollutants such as smog, UV rays, free radicals, and blue light from computer screens. You may see buzz-worthy terms such as “skin-barrier-supporter” and “microbiome enhancing” which help protect the lipid layer of our skin. Reparative serums will be available to reverse the damage of environmental toxicity which leads to redness, acne and premature aging. 5. 90 Is The New 30 (Just kidding... well, sort of) Populations in the developed world are living longer than our ancestors could have ever hoped. Longevity has become as much a priority as anti-aging. Adopting healthier lifestyle habits may help us age gracefully, minimize or avoid disease, and increase our quality of living by keeping us vital and robust.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits For Longevity 1. Number one is exercise! Find an activity you like and start doing it, regularly. Dancing, swimming and walking are excellent activities to start, and you can enjoy for a lifetime. 2. Remember what Hippocrates said about “Let Food Be Thy Medicine”? Well, he wasn’t joking! Nutrition is vitally important to healthy aging, and minimizing the threat of disease, and deterioration. Supplementation is also a great idea if you’re not getting enough nutrients in your diet. 3. Weight lifting - 2 to 3 times a week not only keeps your muscles, and joints strong, it helps to stimulate HGH (Human Growth Hormone) that deteriorates as we get older. 4. Socializing and even caring for a pet - as you get older these things can keep you mentally, and emotionally healthy, and may decrease the chances of depression. 5. Mental Acuity - Consistently stimulating your brain with reading, games that challenge your thinking, and learning new concepts on a daily basis help keep your brain healthy, and open to new ideas.
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The Meaning Behind The Hamsa Hand Written by: Jennifer Briggs-Cole
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The Hamsa Hand seems to be everywhere these days. You can see this symbol on t-shirts, journals, tapestries and jewelry. Yet, where does it come from, and what is the true meaning of this ancient symbol? The Hamsa Hand has been present throughout history. It made its first appearance in the Middle East, originating in Mesopotamia (which is modern day Iraq) in the form of an amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. The symbol predates Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Hamsa has a wide variety of different spellings which include hamesh, chamsa and khamsa. In Judaism it is identified as the Hand of Miriam, Aaron and Moses’ sister. In Islam it is known as the Hand of Fatima. And in Levantine Christianity it was known as the hand of Mother May after Jesus’ mother. In all faiths it is a symbol of good fortune. Its meaning has a variety of interpretations depending on the culture. The word hamsa derives its name from the five fingers on the hand. In Hebrew the number five is hamesh, and the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Hey, one of God’s holy names. Hamesh is representative of the five books of the Torah. In Judaism it is also interpreted to be the Hand of Miriam, and symbolic of the owner’s five senses in an effort to praise God. In Arabic it is khamesh. Within the Sunni culture the Hamsa Hand is associated with the Five Pillars of Islam. For Shi’tes it symbolizes the Five People of the Cloak. And in the Islamic faith it symbolizes The Hand of Fatima who was the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed.
However, in Hinduism and Buddhism it takes on a very unique meaning due to its symbology. For Hindus and Buddhists it symbolizes the interplay of the chakras. This term refers to wheels of energy throughout the body. There are seven main chakras, which align the spine, starting from the base of the spine through to the crown of the head. Represented in the fingers on the Hamsa Hand are five of the chakras, the five senses associated with each, and the mudras that affect them.
Each finger has its own energy : Thumb - Fire element, solar plexus chakra. Forefinger - Air element, heart chakra. Middle Finger - Ethereal elements, throat chakra. Ring Finger - Earth element, root chakra. Pinkie Finger - Water element, sacral chakra. These energies can be combined to change the flow of energy in the body and heal psychological and physical ailments. In Buddhism it symbolizes the chakras to a lesser extent, but the mudras are still important, nonetheless. There are two main styles of this symbol. One is shaped like a regular hand and the other has two symmetrical thumbs. The other being the most popular of the two styles. The wearer of the symbol can wear it facing up, or down. It is believed to give the owner success, harmony, and protection from the Ayin Ha’ra, also known as the evil eye . The evil eye is considered to be the sum of destructive energies that come from negative emotions in the world. Regardless of your belief system the Hamsa Hand is a beautiful, well intended symbol. Namaste
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Thai Massage - Traditional Wisdom for the Modern World When I first met and fell in love with Thai Massage it was in a small class in Montreal of about a dozen students. It was a short intro workshop but by the end of two hours I knew I had found a discipline I could sink my teeth into for the rest of my life. The teacher moved with the effortless grace of a martial arts master (it turned out he was one). I saw all the flow of martial arts, the elegance of yoga and the stillness of meditation. I went to the teacher after and said: “I want to learn everything.� Many are impressed by the contortionistic images of Thai Massage on Google, which can give people the idea that this practice is highly exotic or somehow exclusive to the ultra-bendy. But the reality is simpler and much more practical. Although lacking a written history, the general consensus is that Thai Massage grew out of the roots of Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) as used by Buddhist monks travelling on the wake of the wave of Buddhism from India to Southeast Asia over 2,000 years ago. Herbalism, Hatha Yoga and massage were simple skills that required little equipment and they could easily be carried on difficult journeys across the Asian continent. Empowered with these practical tools, the monks could avoid illness, p. 10
It’s no surprise then that principles of Buddhist philosophy lie at the heart of Thai Massage. Mindfulness, equanimity and loving-kindness or “metta” guide the practitioner to work from bodhichitta or “Buddha-mind”. The movements themselves resemble a merger between Taiji (Tai Chi) and yoga, where the receiver is passively moved somewhat like a puppet through a sequence resembling yoga postures. They receive the benefit of the movement without engaging with strain or effort. It is for this reason than Thai Massage is sometimes referred to as “lazy yoga”, though I prefer to avoid this pejorative since even when it is passive, healing oneself is hard work. Antiquity aside, Thai Massage has continued to be popular because it is relatively easy to learn and because it has proven itself effective therapeutically. In the modern age, one can argue, Thai Massage is more valuable than ever for one simple reason: movement. The thing that we as a culture tend to lack more than any previous generation. As an RMT who uses Thai Massage and other movementbased techniques, my goal is to improve people’s lives by helping them move more and move better. The adage “movement is medicine” rings true. Aside from a few sport injuries and trauma, the vast majority of people who show up in the clinic have chronic pain and stiffness which can often be related back to sedentarism, or to dysfunctional patterns of movement which have have lost their natural form. Thai Massage is a phenomenal tool to deal both with chronically stiff tissue and with the off-kilter motor programs that encourage and maintain that stiffness. In essence, I manually guide a body through a healthy range of motion (or at least one that better approximates what a client wants to achieve), while engaging the nervous system with a flurry of stimulus intended to help the brain repattern its relationship with joints and muscles. The meditative aspect of Thai Massage simply helps to sedate the clients’ sympathetic nervous system to make them more open to that repatterning. The result: the receiver feels both relaxed and energized, light and often able to shed some tension and immobility. Aside from manual therapists, yoga teachers and other movement professionals can take advantage of learning at least a foundation in Thai Massage. The basic skills take a few days to pick up, and can contribute a lot hands-on skill and to practitioners comfort levels with touching and moving bodies. Even those who work outside of the health and wellness field find that Thai Massage is accessible and that it allows them to connect with friends and family in a therapeutic and grounding way.
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My love of Thai Massage continues to grow and develop and I learn new things every day. The more I learn, the more I appreciate the potential that this very old practise has to make a very simple, but very real, difference in people’s lives.
Devin Johnstone is a registered massage therapist in Ottawa and teaches Thai Massage as the owner of the Ottawa School of Thai Massage. He is also yoga teacher, natural movement coach and enthusiastic parkour practitioner. Learn more at devinjohnstone.com
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Cupping Therapy is one of the oldest healing traditions known to mankind. Today, we see some of the worlds most influential people returning to what we've always known...
The Cupping Project The Cupping Project is a 3 level cupping therapy training program, please see the description below: Level 1: Basic understanding of history and uses of cupping therapy. In this six hour course, students become comfortable using two kinds cupping vessels, three methods of cupping, three depths of cupping, indications, contraindications, safety and cleaning currently available live, and online Level 2: Understanding cupping reactions, what the cupping marks mean in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (heat, cold, stagnation, wind) and how it is explained in contemporary MSK concepts, in depth practice treating several MSK conditions, differential diagnosis, advanced techniques. currently available live, online coming soon! Level 3: With support from the instructors and mentors, students develop a case study with the focus on a specific condition. This level is carried out on a virtual platform. On completion, students will have the opportunity to join the International Cupping Network, with the designation of Certified Integrated Cupping Practitioner (CIC). level 3 is conducted in an online format
WHY CUPPING? Build your practise! Save your hands! Get amazing results!
WHAT THE PRACTITIONERS ARE SAYING... "the most fun massaging I've ever had!" Robena "clear and straightforward teaching" Suzanne "I use it every day" Susan "Clients love cupping!" Stacey "cupping is literally saving my hands..." Carrie "...it works! and my clients love it!" Shannon
Live and online courses are available... if you would like a course in your area, please contact us to see if we can make arrangements.
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PEARLS OF WISDOM
YIN AND YANG AND THE SPACE IN BETWEEN WRITTEN BY : LISA DOWLING Registered Acupuncturist, Founder,The Cupping Revolution
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It’s always a challenge to find a quick and easy way to explain the concept of Yin and Yang to the Western mind. We are trained, very early to measure everything in quantifiable, comparable, and measurable increments. The entire mathematical and scientific system in the West has been based on these clearly identified concepts …… until recently. As of late, science has expanded into the realm of quantum physics, which is so challenging for the binary trained mind to conceive.
If we look at the yin/yang symbol which is an adaptation from the Tao, we see two shapes – one is white and the other is black. Within each colour exists the opposite. This is a two-dimensional attempt to demonstrate exactly what I am explaining here… that there is no absolute, and that everything is dynamic, moving, and always changing. At the time this symbol was adapted, there was no way to create a three dimensional object that could more clearly identify this constant process of change.
Quantum physics is much more aligned with Eastern thinking. The answers all exist in the space in between where we think the answers lie. In fact, nothing is ever completely black and white. We imagine that Yin and Yang are black and white too, but it is not actually the case.
Within the concept of constant change, most of us has had the experience at least once in our life when everything changed so quickly, it was difficult to identify the moment it happened– the space between two heartbeats is when life completely changed. The moment a baby is created, when love happens, a first, or last breath. Sometimes change is slow, so slow that we can’t even see it happening. Sometimes we get frustrated in the process of change because it often seems to take so long. Then, when we look back at things, we do in fact see tiny increments of change that happen between two heartbeats.
In Eastern Medicine, as soon as complete Yin is achieved, it by nature transforms into Yang, and vice versa. Like quantum physics, at first it seems counter-intuitive until you gain a deeper understanding. This is where everything starts to makes sense. Although difficult in the beginning, those who move through it gain a deeper understanding. We now know that everything is made of particles which are constantly in motion. In our last piece, we discussed the concept of Qi, and that the best way to describe Qi is to imagine this concept. Before your mind gets completely confused, we should take a step back and look at some examples of how these concepts work in a more simple manner. Maybe you know a little about Yin and Yang or maybe you don’t. At any rate, we are not here to change your mind about any current theoretical or philosophical ideas that you may have, but merely to help you see things from a slightly different lens. For the basis of comparison we can say the following with regards to yin and yang: We can assess each individual concept as either yin or yang. It gives us a baseline from which to measure all things. However, when we are assessing, we are always looking at the specific subjects in front of us. In this case, we can say that yin and yang are always flowing into each other, always changing. For example, we say that nighttime is yin time, however that time early in the morning, just before the sun rises would be considered the time of the night when the yin is sinking, and the yang is rising. Therefore, we can say that 5 am is a time that would be more yang in nature than, say 12 am when the moon is high in the sky. Day and night time is a perfect example of how yin and yang are constantly flowing into each other, we can see that there are no absolutes.
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We can suffer a lot through our expectations of change, and in the process we sometimes stifle the process, because change comes from a smooth energy flow. Life is change, and as they say the only constant is change. Yin and Yang are the process of change, moving from stillness to action, night to day, masculine to feminine, interior to exterior. It is part of all cycles of life, those that surround us, and those within.