Living in a space that is not connected to oneself can be detrimental to our mental and emotional health. Feeling trapped in an environment that doesn't align with our values and beliefs can be overwhelming. However, imagine living in a space of peace and love where you feel comfortable and free to grow. Many of us would choose this option, yet we often find ourselves stuck in between spaces, unsure of how to move forward.
The anti-aging effect of intermittent fasting is quite profound. It slows down the aging process and has been found to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation ( 1 ). IF can also suppress genes that accelerate the risk of age-related chronic disease like cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes ( 2 ).
Love and self-respect are two fundamental pillars of our well-being, and they are cultivated from our earliest experiences. However, it's not uncommon to find ourselves yearning for a love that doesn't match our worth, perpetuating a cycle of disappointment and dissatisfaction. This cycle only sows seeds of discord in our future relationships.
Dear Wonderful Friends,
I hope this message finds you in a state of peace and tranquillity. Today, I have the pleasure of sharing something truly magical with you – an experience and a practice that has profoundly touched my heart and soul. Imagine being enveloped in a world of calmness and serenity, like floating on a cloud. That's the essence of mindfulness, and I want to introduce you to a special way to embrace it – through the STOP method.
S: Stop and Pause Before Reacting
Life has a way of surprising us, much like a thrilling rollercoaster ride. In those moments, I invite you to STOP! Picture yourself as a sturdy tree, its roots anchored deep into the ground. Despite swaying in the wind, your core remains unwavering. Taking a pause is akin to pressing a pause button in your mind. It's the beginning of something magical, where mindfulness begins to flourish.
T: Take Three Deep Breaths
Now, let's focus on something incredibly important – your breath! Your breath is akin to a magical wand, capable of bringing calmness to your being. Take three deep breaths. Inhale slowly, filling your lungs with the fresh, invigorating air around you. Then, exhale gently, releasing any worries that may have taken residence within you. With each breath, you usher in harmony with your body, mind, and soul. It's akin to a peaceful lullaby, soothing your entire being.
O: Observe Your Mind Getting Quiet/Calmer
While you breathe, observe something truly remarkable unfolding. Your busy thoughts, akin to waves in the ocean, begin to settle down. The cacophonous chatter in your mind gradually fades away, making room for clear thoughts and inner peace. This calmness is akin to discovering a hidden treasure within yourself. Embrace this serene moment with curiosity and let it fill your heart with warmth.
P: Proceed with an Aware Response
Now that you're wrapped in a cocoon of calm and peace, it's time to respond to the world around you. But hold on, this isn't just any response – it's mindful! With your senses awake and alert, you can handle any situation with grace and kindness. Instead of reacting impulsively, respond with understanding and love. Your words and actions become gentle ripples of harmony, contributing to making the world a better place.
My dear friends, there you have it – the art of STOP. It's not merely a practice; it's a way of life. Imagine every moment as an opportunity to be mindful, to STOP, and to reconnect with your true self. You hold the key to this peaceful place within you. With STOP, you can unlock the door anytime, anywhere.
I had the privilege of reconnecting with a wise soul named Deepak Chopra, an experience that profoundly impacted my perspective. Deepak shared wisdom about our minds, the vastness of the universe, and the importance of love, joy, and creativity. His words resonated deeply, reminding me of the beauty of our world and our interconnectedness.
I hope you find solace and inspiration in the STOP method, just as I have. Wishing you moments filled with inner peace, wisdom, and boundless love. Remember, the universe resides within your breath, and you are extraordinary just the way you are.
With happiness, curiosity, and love,
Garnet Santicruz
Wellness Enthusiast
Introduction:
In the world of healthcare, addressing complex health issues often requires a holistic approach that uncovers hidden connections within the body. This case study explores the transformative potential of Matrix Repatterning in treating the debilitating symptoms experienced by a woman in her 30s who had multiple concussions.
Setting the Scene:
Meet a woman in her 30s facing significant challenges due to her concussions. She deals with painful feet, dizziness, balance troubles, and coordination issues. The search for effective treatment options has left her bedridden and emotionally drained.
Discovering the Connection:
After several sessions, a breakthrough occurred. We uncovered a previously overlooked correlation between Sarah's symptoms and her stomach. Taking a holistic approach, we recognized the intricate interconnectedness of the body's systems.
The Role of the Stomach:
Through further examination, we identified tension in Sarah's stomach region and implemented targeted treatments to alleviate the pressure. This meticulous approach yielded notable results, her foot pain reduced from a 7 out of 10 to a manageable 2 out of 10.
Unveiling the Hidden Connections:
The revelation of the vital relationship between the stomach's tone and the body's overall information flow was groundbreaking. By addressing the root cause rather than solely focusing on surface-level pain, we underscored the significance of achieving balance in various body areas.
Conclusion:
This captivating case study highlights the potential of Matrix Repatterning as a catalyst for transformative healing. Sarah's story showcases the ability of this therapeutic approach to uncover hidden connections between seemingly unrelated symptoms and their underlying causes. If you are grappling with unresolved health challenges, considering Matrix Repatterning may guide you towards a holistic path to wellness.
Remember, your body is a complex system interconnected in ways yet to be fully understood. Exploring these hidden connections could hold the key to unlocking your healing potential.
Keep it Balanced
Garnet Santicruz CMRP CPTS PTA RMT
Moaliving Therapy Clinic
Today, I want to share a little secret with you—one that could transform your health and well-being. It's a mineral that doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves, but it's a true superstar in the world of nutrition. It's called MAGNESIUM.
You may have heard of magnesium in passing, but I promise you, it's a game-changer. I've been on a journey to prioritize my own health, and I couldn't ignore the incredible benefits of this unsung hero any longer.
Why does Magnesium matter so much?
Magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in your body. Yes, you read that right—300! It supports everything from your heart health to your mood, from your bones to your muscles, and from your brain to your gut. This mineral is the ultimate multitasker.
What can Magnesium do for you?
Boost your Energy: Magnesium is like a natural energy booster. It helps your body convert food into energy, making you feel more vibrant and alive.
Calm your Mind: Are you dealing with stress and anxiety? Magnesium has the power to calm your nervous system, promoting relaxation and better sleep.
Heart Health. It's not just about the love in your heart; it's also about its health. Magnesium helps maintain a steady heartbeat and supports overall cardiovascular health.
Strong Bones. Magnesium works in harmony with calcium to keep your bones strong. It's like the dynamic duo of bone health!
Gut Love. A healthy gut is crucial for overall wellness, and magnesium can play a role in keeping your digestive system in top shape.
So, how can you get more of this magical mineral in your life? You can find it in nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains. Magnesium supplements are available but always consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplements to your routine.
Remember, your health is your greatest wealth, and magnesium is a key player in that journey. Prioritize yourself because you are worth it!
Keep it Balanced
by Ryan Hayes RMT
A new year. A new variant. A new challenge. A new stress. While the global upheaval persists, many people continue to struggle with isolation from friends and family, scheduling conflicts of homeschooling children, and a topsy-turvy work environment, finding ways to create consistency can be difficult. There seems to be less and less that we can rely upon for stability. One thing that needs to remain constant through this turbulent time is our sense of self.
As the responsibilities of the individual continue to mount, we can easily find ourselves sinking beneath the surface of functional physical and mental health. Now, more than ever is the time to put ourselves first. How can we be either a supportive spouse, sibling, parent, teacher, or coworker if we are struggling to stay afloat? What can we offer to others if we refuse to pay attention to our own needs?
Many of us are quite adept at putting everybody else and their needs before our own. Further, the responsibilities of the average individual often exceed the energetic output available to effectively manage the altered pandemic lifestyle of today. However, there are many people out there whose job is to help declutter the brain, relieve tension from the body, and help restore a better balance between the body and the mind.
Today’s society necessitates active reflection over our state of health. We need to make sure to take some time to put ourselves first. The time for this does exist. We do not have to create time. We have to allocate time. It is neither impossible nor unreasonable to take an hour or two a month to have our batteries recharged. It is essential to seek out a healthcare provider to help in the areas we are finding ourselves deficient or need support.
This help can come in the form of a talk therapist, a massage therapist, a personal trainer, an acupuncturist, an osteopath, etc. There are many different venues and practitioners to help with the multitude of strains that we are put through daily. Even a car needs an oil change every 5000km. We are no different. Unfortunately, we drive our bodies until they run out of gas. This is not ideal in the long run.
We must resolve to invest in our health. If our health suffers then all aspects of our existence are diminished. A mind cannot function optimally if it is distracted by the woes of the body. Further, the hamster wheel in the head can grind the body to a halt. To function effectively in the home and society our body must function effectively from the inside out. A healthy individual can be a productive individual.
We save for our retirement, we save for our children’s education, we save for a home, we save for a trip. When these moments arrive how can we enjoy them if our health is less than functional? Part of saving for the future is investing in our health today. Make massage therapy a part of your support network. Your daily productivity, your sleep, and your ability to manage stress will improve. Your body and mind will thank you.
Over the past few months, I have been going back to some of the research that I have collected to increase the ability of the brain to be optimal. Ever since spending a bit of time with Dr. Norman Doidge for a course that we were both taking called Matrix Repatterning, I have kept my eyes and ears open to new approaches or old methods that can keep the mind finely tuned. Over the years and hundreds of articles and books to keep up to date it seems that having awareness about the mind is more important than ever. We are chemically prone to be emotional. We react to stimuli that create sadness, anxiety, happiness, and such that our phones are able to evoke.
(photo by James Lee)
For the brain to seek change something drastic has to happen. According to research for someone trying to change a habit such as smoking greatly increases when someone close dies or gets diagnosed related to smoking. We ignore or choose the possibility of cancer or death happening to us or the people we are around. Once it does come in contact within our circle a higher chance of quitting a habit occurs. We are operating only at a minimal percentage when we react through emotions and stressors. The emotional or if it was to be mapped on the brain, the limbic system is great for fight or flight but you probably know this is not so great for everyday living. The number #1 killer for humans is not stress but instead inflammation. When the nervous system responds like a blowfish by expanding to protect itself every day leads to a decrease in circulation and proper firing in the body. If you want a body that performs better must first start in the brain. We have to be diligent in how we let things in our thoughts for this can lead us to make costly mistakes. Guess what though it’s not your fault. The increase of sugars in everything and of course genetically modified products are one of the main causes for the brain to not respond at the highest peak. Here’s a little trick for you. According to research by having fats in the morning, GOOD FATS such as MCT (coconut oil), avocado, olive oil (cold), and other high-performing fuel for the brain keep you from not snapping at the person that just cut you off in line.
So from now till that next person that cuts off….pause…..breath……and like Mr. Castanza say these words, ‘Serenity NOW!!’ or increase your intake of some Good Fats to keep your brain and emotions in check.
Keep it Balanced
Garnet
Garnet Santicruz RMT, CMRP, CPTS
It’s not just a matter of knowing where parts are in the body but being able to acknowledge what must be treated first like a hierarchy of things. It’s been over a decade of working with bodies that needed to be soothed, relaxed, healed, and put back together and I can honestly say that it is still challenging to know what method to apply to get to the solution.
'I find myself closing my eyes when my mind is trying to take over.'
There is an art to working one on one with people through manual therapy but the real connection happens when you feel what is happening under the skin. In the beginning, my practice of massage was very technical and clinical. Every client was like taking my practical exam over and over again. Now a decade past, the technical and clinical overlap with intuition. Now I find myself closing my eyes when my mind is trying to take over. This method, borrowed from a blind man massaging in a local mall in the Philippines, enables me to feel this medium called the body. It's like putting your hands in water, where air and water are separated through a very thin line. A lot can be said about thin lines in the body and one example is how pain and pleasure travel down the same neuropathway. I find that my eyes shut allow my other senses to be heightened or at least less noisy. The blind man from the Philippines was able to tell a lot about my body. Just by touching my neck and shoulders without any formal training in Anatomy or Neurology, he was able to trace where my body was restricted. He also noticed that I was not breathing properly like I was stressed. Fast forward to now I would put myself in that exact situation by turning off a bias of judgment during treatment which is my eyes. It can be deceiving sometimes when we are always using our eyes to judge and as simple as quieting the mind my having fewer works for me. At this point, I can follow the rhythm of the body like listening to a song with its many changes of sound. The body has a rhythm whether you say, ' I have two left feet but still the body says 'I have rhythm just not on the dance floor.'
'I have rhythm just not on the dance floor.'
Understanding, that the body is rhythmical, like air going in and out of your lungs or the beats of your heart, timing is everything. To plug into the hardware is what it’s like to connect with someone’s body. Feeling and intuitiveness is of importance. The analysis of a disorganized body, which pain often presents itself, comes through a collaboration of the mind and what your connections (hands, arms, etc.) is giving you. The approach comes latter on what to do next. A plan on how to treat the body is a good start but the actual treating happens when total immersion occur and essentially you are able to feel every part of the body from head to toe.
