Simple Ways to Decrease Stress and ELEVATE IMMUNE FUNCTION

Elevated levels of stress and anxiety wreak havoc on our health and depress our immune function. There are so many simple ways to continue to support your immune system.

Here are a few of our favorites:

1.Take a Bath: Fill your tub with Epsom Salts -which are loaded with magnesium and sulfate, both known to decrease stress and stimulate detoxification pathways. Add your favorite essential oil for the added benefit of aromatherapy. Don’t have a tub? A warm foot soak, filled with Epsom Salts has the same effect. Fill a pot or plastic tub with water, pour in your salts, add oils and soak your feet.

2. Spend Time in Nature: Thank you, Mother Nature, for sending us these sun-drenched days lately that lend themselves to getting outside. There is no better way to de-stress than breathing in the fresh air and immersing yourself in nature. Go for a walk, eat lunch at the beach, sit outside with a blanket and breath in the oxygen. It does wonders for your body, mind, spirit, stress level and immune function.

3. Practice Deep Breathing: Taking regular, deep breaths has a profoundly positive effect on the immune system. Here’s an easy breathing technique that’s easy to incorporate anytime of day:

-Sit or lie flat in a comfortable position.

-Put one hand on your belly just below your ribs and the other hand on your chest.

-Take a deep breath in through your nose, and let your belly push your hand out. Your chest should not move.

-Breathe out through pursed lips as if you were whistling. Feel the hand on your belly go in, and use it to push all the air out.

-Repeat 10 times.

4. Movement: Have a dance party, get out for a walk, do some jumping jacks. Regular movement enhances your immune system. If you don’t already have a regular movement routine, now is a great time to start one. How does your body like to move? Find ways you enjoy exercise - it makes it easier to stick with it when you're doing something you enjoy.

5. Rest: Proper rest and a good night’s sleep boost the effectiveness of specialized immune cells. Make sure you go to bed at a reasonable hour. Shut down electronics at least one hour before bed. The rays emitted from your electronics, including your phone, decrease the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. Start a 'bed-time ritual' so your body and mind know it's time to prepare for sleep.

6.Add Ginger, Turmeric and Garlic to everything. These powerhouse spices are incredibly effective immune boosters. Start cooking with these spices and enhance the flavor and nutritional benefit of your food.

LOVE; It starts with YOU

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Traditionally our focus is on showering those we love with love. While this is beautiful, more often than not we are better at loving others than we are at loving ourselves. Many of us are much more comfortable expressing love to others than we are expressing love to ourselves. But, the truth is - all love starts with self-love. Self-love is the prerequisite to receiving and giving the abundant flow of love around us.

The term self-love is popping up everywhere and is creating quite a buzz in the world of health and wellness. As a culture, we are beginning to recognize the value in loving ourselves and prioritizing our self-care. We have come to learn that without the practice of self-love, we cannot truly feel compassion and love for others. In fact, psychology studies attest that self-love and compassion are essential for mental wellness - helping keep anxiety and depression at bay. But, how do we cultivate self-love?

Self-love is both an act and an attitude. It takes practice and patience and builds out of our thoughts and actions. The most important thing to remember about your self-love practice is that it is just that - a practice. Some days it may feel easier than others, but eventually, it will start to flow through you.

Small Habits to Cultivate More Self-Love

Practice Self-Care: Self-Care doesn’t have to look like a massage every week or a luxurious bubble bath every night. (although we think those things are great!) Self-care is all about the little ways you nourish yourself on a daily basis; the act of showing love to yourself. It can be as simple as making a healthy, delicious breakfast to nourish your body. Perhaps you carve out a few minutes in your busy day to do a meditation or you bring yourself to bed a bit earlier. Self-care might look different for everyone, so explore how it is that you like to nourish every part of your being - every day.

Forgive Yourself: We hold ourselves to this unrealistic metric of perfection. Let it go. We are not perfect. Life is all about opportunities to learn and grow - that’s what mistakes are. If you struggle with this one, perhaps you can try to write down something you’re holding onto on a piece of paper. Take the paper and burn it, throw it in the fire, to symbolize the act of letting it go. When things bubble up, acknowledge these feelings and say to yourself, ‘I’m grateful for these mistakes and opportunities to learn and grow from them. I can let them go now.’

LOVE Your Body: Treating your body like the loving vessel it is will not only boost your self-love, but will elevate your mood, your energy and your well being. Nourish your body with nutrient-rich, wholesome foods. Drink clean water and teas. The better we treat our bodies, the better they will perform for us. And the better they perform, the better we will feel. Period.

Create a Self-Love Ritual: Identify something or some way you can love yourself on a daily basis. Maybe it’s applying your favorite lotion after the shower? Maybe it’s shutting the TV of 15 minutes earlier and preparing yourself for bed. Find a simple, practical way to practice a self-love ritual on a daily basis and do it religiously and mindfully.

Find Your Positive People: Surround yourself with people who make you feel good, love you for who you are and help raise you up. We all have those people in our lives who like to bring us down or inadvertently suck our energy. Find the people in your life who help you be the best version of yourself and keep them close.

Year of the Metal Rat

Happy Chinese New Year, 2020!

Year of the Metal Rat

by Karen Hayes, Licensed Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist, Diplomate in Chinese Medicine

On January 25th, we celebrate Chinese (Lunar) New Year, and welcome in the Year of the Metal Rat! 

In Chinese Astrology, The Rat is known for characteristics such as cleverness, wit, alertness, adaptability, wealth, fertility, and vitality.  

And as the Rat takes first position in the Chinese astrological 12-animal sequence, the Rat year places emphasis on new beginnings.

How would you like to begin this year?  Or begin anew?

What would you like to start doing, creating, being, considering, becoming? 

Are there areas in your life where you could use support in sustaining or in reawakening vitality?  

Do you remember a time when your wit and spirit were in their prime ~ and do you sense a longing to reconnect with this aspect of joy?  

Are there areas of creativity, fertility - physical or metaphorical - that you desire in order to feel more complete?

The year of the Rat heralds fertile ground for any or all of these ventures – so take heart!

And, to make things more interesting, or you might say clever, when we further consider the Year of the Rat, we must also consider the element assigned to Lunar 2020 ~ Metal.  Of the Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Metal is one of the most curious and perhaps elusive to describe.

Metal, like all elements, with their vices and virtues, is sometimes referred to as “The Wise Judge”.  

When you consider the exacting nature of metal in the form of a blade for example, it yields the power to slice through objects; it is decisive and irreversible in its action.  And because of this, benefits from careful (wise) discernment (judgment) before action is taken.

From a psycho-spiritual perspective, this may mean taking greater measures to consider with as much clarity as possible, how our intentions line up with our actions.  How our words match up with our behavior. And how it feels to connect with our integrity.

From a physical perspective, it may mean optimizing the function of our lungs and large intestine (the paired organs associated with the metal element).  Both organs systems, in quite differing ways, are responsible for taking in and letting go.  And when they are functioning optimally, will keep us feeling oxygenated and nourished as we welcome in the pure, as well as detoxified, as we surrender the excess. 

Acupuncture uses Metal in the form of miniscule needles, inserted at various locations according to our pattern diagnosis ~ suggestions to the body, mind and spirit for optimal harmony.  Chinese herbal formulas have their own way of doing the same.

I invite you harness the energy of the Metal Rat now upon us – as you invite new beginnings, engage your wit and intellect, invest in your creativity and vitality.  

See where it leads you! What a ride!  Perhaps even a maze, well worth embarking on. 

I’m here for you through all the turns, temporary dead ends, and brand new openings.  

Happy New Year!

Peace, Karen

Getting To Know You - Julianne Guyette, LMT

Q. You have over 20 years experience in the field of healing arts. Can you tell us a little about how you were led to this field and feel so compelled to help others?

A. My passion for helping others began when I was younger. I enjoyed helping my mom in the kitchen, learning how to help in the community through Girl Scouts, helping out in our local church, being a supportive friend, daughter, sister, aunt, co-worker, student and mother. In all areas of my life, I found joy while helping others.

After a mild car accident while in college, I had a difficult time concentrating with some pain I was experiencing. My doctor at the time suggested that I see a Chiropractor, who ended up sending me to a Massage Therapist. I was able to get such relief in my body from the Massage work. The Massage Therapist happened to be a teacher at the school I ended up at. I knew right away I was in the right field to explore all I could learn in the field of healing arts.

My journey led me to meet and learn from many talented, wise and knowledgeable professionals in the healing arts. After becoming a mother, my passion and interest for overall health strengthened. I wanted to know everything about the human body, mind and spirit; how it works, how to maintain health, how to keep it in alignment, and how to enjoy life in the process. My intuition to help in various ways enhanced naturally after becoming a mom. I began sharing what I learned along the way to help others with their health. Becoming a Massage Therapist was the beginning of my diverse journey in healing arts.

Q. Tell us a little about your Massage technique. What is a typical client session like with you?

My massage technique is tailored to the individual and their needs. The beginning of every session begins with a check in with the client so I can get a sense of what they need and what they want to achieve during the session. Once they are on the table, my hands and intuition take over. My sessions can be a combination of specific deep work, relaxing, medium pressure with passive stretching and healing Reiki energy to sooth the soul. I give my full attention and consideration during every session and offer suggestions with a care plan from a professional perspective on how to enhance their overall health.

Q. Along the way, you've also become a Minister. Tell us about this process and how it has influenced your work as a practitioner.

A. Yes, I became an Alliance of Divine Love Minister in 2012. After working in the healing arts for many years, I found my practice began to take a turn and a need for spiritual counseling presented itself. I worked closely with the Geriatric community and their families in Western MA doing bodywork and this transformed into ADL ministry. I began to practice a higher degree of love for myself in my personal and professional life, with my family and the community. I found myself assisting people in transitional moments when they needed support, guidance and step by step instructions to get to their next level of wellness. My daily ministry has deepened my compassion, understanding and ability to be fully present with people during their transitions, challenges and life celebrations.

Q. What do you love most about what you do?

A. I love being an inspiration and a solution seeker for those who are looking for assistance in overall wellness in body, mind or spirit. I love to learn and grow along the way being the teacher and the student equally. I love witnessing the healing transformation when people step into their power and align with their true self. It's an honor and a blessing to be a part of anyone’s healing journey or life celebration.

Q. You will be launching a coaching course in 2020. Do you want to tell us a little bit about what to expect?

A. Yes, I'm very excited about this. For quite some time I have been feeling the push to expand my healing arts into holistic health coaching for body, mind and spirit. My life experiences have given me the opportunity to learn how to live in harmony with my authentic self and be at peace throughout life challenges.

In 2020, I will offer a 12 week program which includes one on one life coaching/spiritual counseling, therapeutic bodywork, group empowerment workshops and more. It will be offered primarily to women and mothers. If you are in transition, facing a difficult life challenge, or have a desire to learn and be supported to live the life of your dreams, stay tuned as we roll out more details in the months to come.

You can also EMAIL the office to be the first to be notified of our launch date.

Q. As a mom to 5 kids, you are a busy woman. How do you find time for your own self-care?

A. This takes much creative planning and self love. There are many times when I want to put everyone's needs before my own but know from experience this is not the best way to approach self care. It takes discipline to schedule time for myself whether it's a walk in nature, 20 minutes of yoga, an acupuncture or massage session, healthy meal prep, time with a friend, journaling, listening to uplifting scriptures, meditation or getting to bed early. No matter what it is, I must do something for myself every day. I always feel better when I do. It’s also important for me to be a good role model for my children and my clients.

Q. You are fairly new to the Cape community. What is the best part of living here for you?

A. The Cape has always been a special vacation spot for my family and I. Deciding to move to the Cape and make it our year round home was the next natural step. I love raising my children here.

I love the hustle and bustle excitement summer brings and I also love the quiet off season which I think is the best time to get to know the locals. Living on Cape year round can be challenging but the community that comes together makes it all worth while. There is something very special about the people who reside year round on Cape Cod.

Julianne is available for appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays, + Thursdays.

For a limited time, Julianne is offering a complimentary upgrade to a Hot Stone Add-On OR a Warm Cinnamon Scalp Treatment with every 75 + 90 Minute session booked. Please indicate your selection at time of booking.

Offer expires 11.30.19

Acupuncture, Autumn & The Metal Element

Barn's burnt down -

now

I can see the moon.

-Mizuta Masahide (1657–1723) 

Unmistakably - on the winds (and rain) of change - Autumn has arrived. 

The slant of light, flora and fauna, our moods, schedules, physical states and spirits are all in flux - affecting us in sometimes subtle ways and other times with more of a fuss. 

Mizuta's haiku captures the essence of autumn through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) - the hallmarks of which are Letting Go of what has been lost or run its natural course and Allowing In the beauty of what remains in this moment.

In TCM, autumn is associated with the Metal Element. On the physical level this includes the Lungs, which inhale oxygen to nourish and exhale carbon dioxide to purify as we let go.  Metal is also associated with the Large Intestine, taking little imagination to make the connection with release! 

Physical conditions related to Metal may manifest as cold, flus, allergies, asthma, bronchitis, constipation, digestive disorders, and sinus or skin conditions.  

The emotion associated with Metal and thus the season upon us is Grief. Grief can be experienced subtly as nostalgia - the tender bitter sweetness for what once was.  Or may express itself more overtly as great sadness, depression or despair.  

Noticing with kindness where we may find ourselves along the delicate divide between Letting Go and Allowing In - whether physically, emotionally or spiritually - can help us discern when we may need some additional support.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help us experience more fully the fruits of this season while minimizing its vulnerabilities.  

This autumn, how can you best support the harvest?

I am here for you.

Peace, Karen

M.S. (T.O.M), 

Diplomate in Oriental Medicine

Karen Hayes holds a Masters Degree from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, CA, is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist in the Commonwealth of MA and a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine nationally. She brings with her 12 years of clinical experience.

She works with a full scope of health conditions including but not limited to: Mental Health, Addiction Recovery Support, Sleep Disorders and Insomnia, Asthma/Allergies, Digestive Disorders, Pain Management, Women’s Health, Fertility and Preventative Medicine.