The Power of Prickly Pear

Have you ever noticed the red and yellow bulbs growing on cacti? Did you know that these colorful little gems are prickly pear, a nutritious superfood that grows abundantly in our desert? They sprout from the fantail cactus and ripen from July through September. However, they earn their name, and harvesting can be a bit… Read more »

Living Wellness with Jennifer

Enrichment from Our Elders

This summer held a special place in my heart. It was a time of many memorable experiences and, notably trips with family, including my 87-year-old mom. I share my home with my mother; therefore, I see her regularly. I realized from recent summer trips, that even though I see her frequently, the current experience of… Read more »

Effectiveness of the Elemental Diet

There are many popular diets – Zone, ketogenic, Mediterranean, DASH, Whole30 and more. But what if you’ve tried these programs and still have health problems that fail to go away, or stubborn pounds that refuse to come off? You may need to try the lesser-known, but very effective, elemental diet. The main constituents of food… Read more »

Falling in Love with Yourself

The practice of self-love is a practice of falling in love with yourself. You may think it is merely a new age trend to try and overcome pain from our past or to reprogram our ancestral DNA; however, the concept has been around for centuries. It is a sacred, intentional practice that has been taught… Read more »

Welcome to the Art of Better Listening

Do you have a best friend? I’ve known mine since we were in middle school. We’re two independent, intelligent, hipster women in their 60s raised in LA. You’d think we would have learned the fine art of listening to each other, but spending five days together last month showed us that communication is complicated, even… Read more »

Managing Menopausal Symptoms in Cancer Survivorship

Managing menopausal side effects is more important than ever, as it affects the quality of life in cancer “thrivership.”  Many women and men face years of side effects from cancer treatment resulting from the surgical removal of ovaries and hormone deprivation therapy (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, etc.) in hormone receptor-positive cancers such as breast, endometrial, ovarian… Read more »

The Benefits of Tai Chi at Any Age

Tai Chi Chuan has been practiced by millions of people across the globe for centuries. Tai chi, at its most basic, is a set of movements based on martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine, which are memorized and practiced slowly and with intention. This “meditation in motion” deliberately focuses both your mind and body on… Read more »

The Free and Easy Wanderer

Wouldn’t it be nice to glide through life without a care in the world like a free and easy wanderer? It is certainly a nice dream, but not reality for most of us. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we have a famous herbal formula called Xiao Yao San, which means “free and easy wanderer.” It… Read more »

Self-Love and Approval

Over the years, research has shown us that those who struggle with self-love or self-approval have usually experienced some form of struggle in their childhood, which in return has impacted their self-trust, self-worth, and even self-motivation. This experience is not necessarily from abuse; it could have been neglect or lack of acknowledgement during the fundamental… Read more »

Meditation: A Natural Rebalancing

If we look at the practice of meditation from a distance, we notice that this process of rebalancing our body, mind and spirit is something natural. In fact, it is the most natural process for us human beings to recharge and recover. It takes place every night while we sleep. We rest our mind and… Read more »

Cultivating Patience and Self-Discipline

In a world of instant gratification, I have learned that developing patience can be short-lived and cause you to throw self-discipline out the window. And, yes, sadly, those two ways of being go hand in hand, regardless of the perspective you may hold.  Many people are more likely to give up or suppress an emotion… Read more »

What is the Best Drinking Container?

With temperatures rising in the Coachella Valley, it’s important to stay hydrated. Drinking enough water — at least 60 oz per day — is critical in this regard. But just as important as how much water you drink is the container from which you drink.  The convenience of bottled water has helped Americans increase their… Read more »

The Art of Relaxation

The art of relaxation comes naturally for some people, while for others, it is hard to turn off the chatter in their minds. You don’t need to sit in a lotus position and meditate; however, this is one way to start the feeling of easing out of fight or flight and into the parasympathetic response… Read more »

Reducing Food Cravings Naturally

Which one of the following is your favorite food? 1) pizza, 2) chocolate desserts, 3) chips, 4) cookies, 5) fries or 6) ice cream.  Did you have trouble picking just one? If so, it’s no surprise. These are the most addictive foods, according to the Yale Food Addiction Survey. It’s not uncommon to crave these… Read more »

The Velcro Power of Giving Thanks

Do you want to feel better physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Then give thanks in the morning.  When you give thanks for a great day as soon as you wake, your subconscious mind primes you to actually have a great day. When you thank your body for healing from disease or injury while sick, your… Read more »