Root Whole Body

TOUCH: The power of touch simply makes you healthier

websupport — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:57:10 +0000

Modern medicine recognizes that the power of touch simply makes you healthier. Consistent bodywork reduces stress, boosts our immune system and has a profound effect in our ability to stay connected to our ‘self’ and our fellow humans. And in our high tech culture, we may have to work harder to honor our innate human need for touch.

+ pause and connect

+ give someone a hug today

+ release with a therapeutic massage

+ take a break from text and email for a day

+ connect with your toes in your yoga practice

+ peel away the layers of chronic pain

+ explore your skin for anything unusual

+ examine your body in the shower

+ truly connect with your food

+ make something by hand

Ways to incorporate TOUCH in over the next 60 days:

+ TWO-FER $150 [ Choice of two one-hour massage or organic facials ]

Limit two per person. Expires June 30^th.

+ TOUCH: Health & Wellness Event – Thursday, June 7^th at 7pm

Join us for mini-massage, acupuncture and a variety of health screenings by our

clinic team to insure your optimum health.

+ Personal instruction for those new to yoga or those wanting to deepen

their practice

+ Hormone testing + Weight Loss with Dr. Vida Talebi

Balanced hormones are key to your well-being. Checking your levels, specifically

the stress hormone cortisol, can have dramatic affect on your weight, energy level

and mood. Get in touch with your body and find new energy today.

+ Partner’s Massage Clinic – Thursday, June 28^th at 7pm

Limited to 8 couples. Advance registration required.

Benefits of Consistent Massage

websupport — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:59:07 +0000

The healing benefits of massage go far beyond just alleviating sore muscles. As humans, we thrive on positive touch. We have all heard of prematurely born babies who begin thriving with a loving massage. When did we think that we outgrew that need for touch?

Unfortunately, in the modern world with advances in technology, we experience less and less physical human contact. In many other cultures, people still greet each other with big hugs and kisses on the cheek – but in our society, it seems much more common to send friends a quick text or chat message saying hello. Combine this with a mentality of fear regarding germs, assault, and with many people not being comfortable with their body in general, and we have become a touch-phobic society. Without touch, it is easy for people to feel a sense of loneliness and isolation.

Did you know that touch is the first sense that is developed in a fetus? It is also the last sense to go with old age. And in the in-between years, a safe and positive touch can do wonders for you, both on a physical and mental level. Forget the once-a-year birthday massage. Treating yourself to a regular massage, at least once a month can be one of the most powerful ways to keep yourself vibrantly healthy.

Experts say that up to 90% of disease can be traced back to being stress-related in some way. Massage can undoubtedly help manage stress, and bring your body back to a state of balance. Some physical benefits of regular massage include improved range of motion in both muscles and joints, enhanced immunity due to lymph flow stimulation, increased digestion and muscle tone, promotion of tissue regeneration, and improvement of the condition of the body’s largest organ (your skin). A good massage can help to detoxify the body. Think of it this way – your body is made up of mostly water. And what is the state of water when it has been left without movement? It ends up like algae-infested swamp water! On the other hand, water that has been encouraged to move freely is more like a crystal clear, rushing mountain spring. Getting a deep massage can get your circulation going on a very deep level, helping to clear out old debris and purifying your body. When toxins are disposed of quickly, disease can be fought off more effectively and healing after injury is readily advanced.

On a mental level, massage releases endorphins, improving your mood and outlook on life. It can remarkably lessen depression and anxiety. Honestly, is there no life problem that doesn’t seem at least manageable when you are in a post-massage state of bliss?

So as helpful and nice as a once-in-a-blue-moon massage is, you deserve to benefit from more regular massages. Do yourself a favor, set up some monthly appointments in advance, and make the rest of your life work around your ‘you’ time for once. YOU should be your biggest priority, because if you don’t take care of yourself, how can you expect to take care of anything or anyone else?

PARTNERS MASSAGE CLINIC

websupport — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:40:17 +0000

TOUCH: HEALTH + WELLNESS EVENT

websupport — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:38:54 +0000

LABOR + BIRTH PREPARATION

websupport — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:36:27 +0000

YOGA BASICS

websupport — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:22:33 +0000

That’s in my body? Toxins Enter Directly through Your Skin vs. Mouth

websupport — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:56:06 +0000

In the past, people used to think that the skin was somehow an impenetrable barrier that blocked anything from either exiting or entering the body. While it does provide a sort of protection from the elements of the world, and does a good job of keeping most bodily fluids inside of us, it certainly allows things to enter freely.

Many scientists agree that up to 60% of what you put on your skin gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream. The scary part is that absorption of toxins through the skin is even more dangerous than absorbing them through your mouth. At least toxins that you eat get a chance to go through the kidneys and liver, which have special enzymes that can help to break them down and flush them through your system. But toxins that enter through your skin go through no such process, unfortunately, and go directly into blood circulation, immediately flowing through your veins. They begin to build up, and can be stored in your body fat or your brain for years to come, causing all sorts of harm to the body.

Many skin care products, as beautiful as their packaging may be, or however much they tout that they contain ‘organic’ this or ‘all-natural’ that, still contain such things as petroleum products (really, now, who honestly wants this on their skin?), sodium laureth sulfate (which contains four known carcinogens), propylene glycol (a solvent also found in paint and brake fluid, how lovely), and parabens (linked solidly to breast cancer). In most countries, including the US, there are still no regulated and enforced guidelines for beauty products. Do you know that only 13% of the more than 10,000 ingredients found in personal care products have ever been tested for safety by cosmetic industry reviewers? And think about it – a product can be truthfully labeled “Made with Organic Ingredients” even if only the last two of the twenty ingredients used were actually organic.

Don’t take your chances on something as important as your health. What you feed your skin daily through your skin care routine has the power to heal you or harm you. Don’t you deserve to know what you are pumping into your bloodstream? Bring in your current skin care products for evaluation and our estheticians will help you determine what you might be putting into your body.

Eminence Organics Skin Care (available at Root) products are concentrated with 85-95% active ingredients (still alive and fresh) versus the large amounts of water, chemicals, preservatives and only 4-12% active ingredients of other skin care lines. Eminence has 7x more the active ingredients than a moisturizer found in your local natural food store. Not one ounce of parabens, mineral oils, petroleum, artificial preservatives, fillers or fragrances can be found in their products.

What you put on your skin is as important as what you put into your body. Come see our organic skin care experts today. It’s never too late to feed your skin right.

Do you really know what’s in your personal care products?

websupport — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:54:14 +0000

Many people do not know that the FDA classifies personal care products, such as deodorants, shampoos, and skin care, but it does not regulate them. Almost 80 years ago, the FDA granted self-regulation to the Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Fragrance Association, as scary as that is. The direct result is that the industry is not held very accountable by anyone, and they put products on the market that are full of known toxins.

We aren’t talking about mild toxins, which would be bad enough – the skin and hair care products that are filling the shelves nowadays are made from things that are known to cause birth defects, neurotoxicity, and many forms of cancer. But because these ingredients are cheap and readily available, and make the companies a lot of profit, so most companies don’t seem to think twice about using them.

Most cleaning products will contain Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulfate, which is rapidly absorbed directly into the bloodstream and retained in the eyes, brain, heart and liver. It is interesting to know that SLS is also used in car garages as a powerful degreasing agent – is that really what you need to be putting on your sensitive skin just because it is a cheap ingredient for companies to use? Among other things such as disrupting the endocrine system and causing some forms of cancer, it also blocks choline absorption, which is mandatory for healthy brain development.

Another doozie to look out for is propylene glycol. Oh, the irony… although it shows up in many shampoos and cleansers, on its material safety data sheet it warns that it should not come into contact with human skin. Propylene glycol is commonly used in engine coolants and antifreeze, paints and varnishes, and tire sealants. It has been known to cause liver damage and kidney abnormalities.

There is so much information online, you really should take the time to research what you are putting on and into your body. To start, here is a simple list of ingredients that you should avoid at all costs: butyl acetate (found in nail polish), parabens, cocamide DEA/lauramide DEA, methyl or ethyl ANYTHING, diazolidinyl urea, or butylated hydroxytolune.

If someone handed you a bottle of a funny colored liquid, and told you it contained a little aluminum chlorohydrate, some triethanolomene, all mixed up with some petroleum based mineral oil, would you drink it? (But what if they made it a pretty shade of gold and had it smelling like yummy vanilla beans?) Would you give it to your kids to drink? Obviously not! You need to realize that by putting it on your skin, it indeed does still go into your body. In fact, it goes straight into your bloodstream, without the chance to get broken down and filtered out by the liver and kidneys.

Basically, if you can’t pronounce it or you can’t picture what that product looks like in nature, it should be a red flag. Some of the best skin and hair care products are the most simple – think organic coconut oil, or rosehip oil. A simple castile soap does wonders for cleansing, and works for even the most sensitive skin. Toothpaste can be made of baking soda and sea salt, with some crumbled mint thrown in for a fresh taste.

With cancer on the rise (who doesn’t know someone with cancer nowadays?), it’s time to start seriously questioning why our generation and even young babies are having to experience the disease in intensities and quantities that no generation before them had to endure. While there are countless carcinogenic toxins in the environment, it makes sense to try to drastically limit the ones that you have control over. It is one thing to unknowingly use carcinogenic products…but information is power and now you know. Go clean out your cupboards today and start taking better care of yourself and those you love.

Pause and Question what’s going on in your body

websupport — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:26:38 +0000

If only we would take the time to stop and listen to our body, really listen with non-judgment and love, it would tell us most everything we need to know on to keep it in good health. When our body reaches the point of disease or we feel a lot of anxiety or depression, it is usually because we ignored gentle warning signs for days, months, or unfortunately even years. We allowed the situation to escalate to something much more dramatic than what it started out as, and the entire time we had countless opportunities to nip small problems in the bud.

It can be as simple as checking in with yourself once a day. Make a routine to do a full physical and mental scan, either first thing in the morning before you even crawl out of bed, or last thing at night when you begin to unwind for the night. It is important to look with curious awareness and to question, but to never judge. You may be surprised at the powerful, intuitive wisdom that you hold within you about you health. And the more you practice self-awareness, the more you will begin to trust in the process and in the answers that arise.

Scan your body, starting from your toes and work your way up. As you pass each part of your body, really notice the area. Does it feel tight, inflamed, weak? Where are you holding tension? Are you able to relax it? Check in with yourself mentally. Can you honestly say that you feel clear and vibrant in all aspects of your life? Do you feel that you are on your correct path in life? What is holding you back? Ask the questions, then create a safe and silent space for an answer to arise.

As you begin to practice this on a daily basis, you will become better at becoming in-tune with yourself, and you will hear more clearly the answers that arise. You can then begin to take this practice of self-awareness into more moments of your daily life. If you notice you get a headache at work, instantly take a good look at what the root cause may be. Is it that you are trying to burn the candle at both ends? That you need to stand up for yourself and delegate some responsibilities? Or that you are unhappy in general with your profession and your body is trying to tell you it is time to get your act together, make a change and get yourself on a path that suits you better? You can then respond much more quickly, and you will be dealing directly with the root cause of a problem.

It is the natural state of our body to try to stay in and maintain balance. The universe actually wants us on a path that ignites our soul and spirit, and sends us signals every day to help guide us there if only we would listen. Things go awry when we get small signals that we are getting out of balance, or off of our path, and we consciously or unconsciously ignore those. So check in with yourself mentally and physically, be honest about the findings, and respond with love to get on your way to a stronger, clearer, more fulfilled YOU.

How does your Lifestyle Affect Your Posture?

websupport — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:25:03 +0000

What are the effects of your lifestyle on your posture?

How you carry yourself throughout every moment of the day adds up, and can make the difference between a pain-free, strong body and a body full of aches and pains. Your body starts to mold, adapt, and compensate for all of your less-than-ideal habits when it comes to posture. You may go to a yoga class and spend an hour very conscious of your alignment, which is great, but all of those other hours during the week maintaining bad alignment certainly add up too. Here are some of the most common times when people lose good posture alignment:

While sleeping: Have you ever woken up with tightness or kinks? You should wake up feeling rested and renewed! Choose a firm mattress which supports your spine, and try not to use too poofy of a pillow (it will just raise your neck at a strange angle, not in alignment with your spine). If possible, try not to sleep on your stomach, as it can put undue pressure on your unsupported back.

While driving: Make sure to adjust your seat so that you can reach the pedals without stretching or crowding. Arrange your headrest so that you can rest your head and neck upon it – that’s what it is there for. Place a small towel or lumbar roll in between your low back and the seat to help support your low back. Catch yourself if you have the tendency to lean forward while driving, as this causes strain on your neck. And make sure to give yourself permission to take lots of breaks where you can get out, walk, and stretch.

Carrying heavy bags: Most of us end up carrying our groceries or other bags on our dominant side, which can lead to imbalances. Instead, split up groceries into two evenly weighted bags, and carry one in each hand. With a backpack, take the time to place the straps on both shoulders – no slinging the bag over just one!

At the computer: Invest in a good, supportive chair. Position your monitor so that it is at eye level, so you don’t have to look down or up. Keep your feet flat on the floor, with your weight distributed evenly over both hips. Good posture isn’t just for a computer monitor – while texting, try to have just your eyes look down at your screen, not your whole head, which strains your neck.

Bad posture can lead to all sorts of aches and pains, including back pain, neck pain, tension headaches, and diminished breathing. It also makes you look years older than what you are!

Chiropractic care is an important part of correcting bad habits and maintaining good posture. It is non-invasive, gentle, yet is a powerful tool to help align your body’s framework. When the vertebrae are misaligned, this can disrupt neurological communications between your brain and the cells, tissues, and organs. Your muscles and ligaments also do not have a good chance of being aligned if the framework that they are on is messed up!

So take the time to align. Your present self will enjoy the release of tension and the integration you will feel, and I promise that your future, older self with thank you greatly for the foresight and care.