There’s no denying it—having cancer (or any other life-threatening disease) definitely changes the way one looks at the future. So it’s only natural that, after a diagnosis of cancer, the nature of patients’ New Year’s resolutions changes as well. I can say that from my own experience (diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2016, treated… Read more »
Music is wonderful. It is often referred to as the universal language. We may listen to music for sheer joy, to dance, to change our moods, to enhance fond memories and to exercise. Music therapy, however, is much more. As an allied health profession, music therapy is defined as the focused and intentional use of… Read more »
Are you ready for a “new you” this year? It may be no surprise that the all-time leading resolution is to lose weight and get healthy. After indulging in festivities for the past four months, all those tasty, sugary treats and drinks have probably found their way to your waist line. We all tend to… Read more »
The lymphatic system is often referred to as the “river of life” as it flows with nutrients and substances that bathe our cells and flood the interstitial spaces under our skin. This vital system is key to sustaining homeostasis throughout our bodies, working silently and consistently to maintain fluid balance while serving as a main… Read more »
For many affected by high glucose levels, the A1C is a familiar blood test that measures the amount of glucose that attaches to or binds with hemoglobin found in red blood cells. High glucose levels in the blood stream are often indicators of pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2D) and greatly impact a person’s overall… Read more »
We all feel it! The turning of the page. A new beginning. And with the New Year often come resolutions; a focus on what we don’t want and a goal to change it. Last New Year’s Eve, when the clock struck midnight, my client Pamela resolved to lose 10 pounds. Like many of us, she… Read more »
“While many people possess the intent of their prayer, many others miss the corresponding emotions that go with it.” – Dr. Joe Dispenza Emotion is one of the most powerful forces available to humans to create optimum health, financial prosperity, and a joyful life. When harnessed through affirmation, intention and prayer, we can create a… Read more »
My mother instilled in me a wanderlust spirit and quest to travel the world through the eyes of the people who live in faraway lands. Following this sage advice, I have affirmed time and time again that traveling allows one to journey into a deeper part of self and an extension of knowledge from an… Read more »
I just caught a cold – a perfect time to write about the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approach to treating the common cold. The Shan Han Lun, a treatise on cough/cold and viral/bacterial infectious diseases, is considered the groundwork for TCM theory. TCM categorizes cold and flu in two stages with the first being wind… Read more »
This past summer I found myself deep in the heartland of the Amazon jungle at night, with a flashlight and a naturalist guide. This experience was as far as I have ever been out of my comfort zone; yet, it drew me closer to understanding how everything in life ultimately works together to collectively sustain… Read more »
Over the years, I have heard Deepak Chopra speak and was recently treated to another one of his nuggets. He said that a key aim of our yoga practice is to be able to “observe ourselves, without judging ourselves.” When we can drop into that inner space of self-reflection and inquiry, we begin to release… Read more »
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to you when you eat garlic, onions, eggs or cruciferous vegetables: gas, bloating, acid reflux, headaches, dry skin, muscle cramps, joint pain, anxiety, depression, chronic bronchitis, or fatigue? Personally, I had all of the above symptoms and suffered whenever I ate these or any other foods high in… Read more »
The hot summer days are finally behind us, and it is now the time of year when snowbirds make their way back to their desert homes, reminding us that we live in a culture of movement. We move from our childhood home to a place of our own. In time we find something larger with… Read more »
“In every culture and in every medical tradition before ours, healing was accomplished by moving energy.” – Albert Szent-Gyorgyl, MD, Nobel Laureate in Medicine When most people think of methods for achieving physical healing, medication, surgery, and other concrete modern modalities designed to bring the body back to health come to mind. However, one of… Read more »
There is something fresh brewing at the JW Marriott Desert Springs. Not only are they underway with a multi-million dollar renovation, but wellness is now being served to their 1,200 employees, local visitors, and international guests. The team leading the charge includes internal nutritionist Regina Basterrechea and Executive Chef Peter Smith who have incorporated changes… Read more »
Have you experienced a “pregnant pause moment” lately? You know, when you’re talking with someone who makes a comment about the state of our country that you might not agree with, and you’re at a loss for how to respond. Or, if not the pregnant pause, maybe you’ve felt like a stranger in a strange… Read more »
Whether we want to admit it or not, with age comes declining function of every major bodily system we have. The World Health Organization defines the aging population as 60 and older, but symptoms may start to show decades earlier. Common aging concerns should be addressed early when they are typically more manageable – or… Read more »
Finding meaning in one’s life is both sacred and elusive. These aren’t lessons we learn easily but as we age, we reflect upon them and seek to find a more purposeful life. While there is no one answer on how to do that, I suggest we look to the artist as a creative, life-expanding model.… Read more »
The quest to live a healthy and happy life has become a high priority for people now more than ever. While many are focusing their attention on physical, emotional and mental health, there is another aspect that many are exploring: spiritual health. All people have a spiritual side to them, but not everyone recognizes it.… Read more »
Gandhi proclaimed that happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are all in harmony. The most accessible theme we have at our fingertips to synergize these three aspects of self is an ancient tradition dating back to the 10th Century of Japan: a piece of paper and a pen.… Read more »