Your Energery, Your Change, Your Choice

Have you ever heard this before... 

"Be the change you want to see"?

What do you think it means?

I've heard people say it before, people who seemed to want to make a difference in this world. People who seemed to be ready to initiate the change, but what I witnessed was these same people pushing other people to change. It really seems to me that "Be the change you want to see" actually means, exactly what it says ... you make the change you think everyone else needs to be making. You do it first and you keep doing it. It's more of a lead by example type of a phrase, whether anyone else makes the change or not.

Choosing to invest your energy into the change you believe in is an intention of balance for yourself. My teacher once told me that the wrong man can do the right thing but it would still be wrong because his intention was wrong but the right man can do the wrong thing and it would still be the right thing because his intention was right. Intention is a powerful, powerful tool but it still needs balance. Own your own intention do not project it on others.

If your intention is to eat healthier, don't jump on the bandwagon about how everyone else should eat healthier, use that energy on yourself and make your own changes in your own life to incorporate better food choices.

An example of an intentional change we are initiating is to grow some of our own food and herbs. Our goal is to become more self sustaining, to become a more intentional property. We already make our own herbal tinctures, now we can begin making them from our very own plants. This is the change we want to see for us!

Do you have change you want to see? 
Then be it ... be the change you want to see, and let us know how it's going!


Love & Light,
Amber

Finding the Right Massage Therapist

As a massage therapist I know the importance of "practicing what I preach". Fortunately I'm in the right place, a place where there are amazing bodywork therapists. I have had massage treatments from many different therapists, in many different places and have come to realize how talented, gifted and knowledgeable our therapists right here at Healing Waters Resort are. Each therapist has his/her own techniques and specialties, but each one also has a way of understanding a person's body and what is going on with it that often surprises even our long-time clients.

Julee Woodhall - massage genius!

On Mother's Day, I had a massage with one of my favorite massage therapists, Julee Woodhall - absolute genius. Julee is gifted, knowledgeable, intuitive, kind and accepting. It is so important to get on a table where you do not feel judged, but instead you feel safe and cared for while receiving your treatment. The thing I like most about Julee's work is that I can completely trust that she is doing exactly what I need. There have been times in the past with other therapists when I have had to kind of micromanage what the therapist is doing to actually have the treatment be effective for me. That is never a comfortable or relaxing experience and with Julee I never have that concern. Julee customizes her vast knowledge and years of experience to me specifically during my treatment as she does with each client.

In your search for a massage therapist it is important to find someone who really makes you feel comfortable, cared for and confident in the work that you are receiving. Yes, massage is relaxing and it should be, but there is so much more to a really good massage than relaxation. It is a tool for life, something that you can use to manage your wellness on a regular basis. 

Thank you Julee!

Hmm, let's see which therapist I can catch for a massage before the next blog ;) 

Love & Light,

Amber

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO ME ON THE WAY TO…

    “Who farted?” Like a brick to the head, it was the smell that first hit the Smith family as they drove into the picturesque mountain town of Pagosa Springs, their windows up, air conditioner on, accusing one another of the offense, chocking on the toxic indiscretion. They rolled down their windows in desperate pursuit of fresh air, nostril inhaling, finding no relief.   
     “Goodness, I do believe the smell is coming from the town,” said the mother, her brow furrowed, shaking her head as she added, “and such a pretty town, too.”
     The father snorted. “This is going to be one stinking vacation.”
     “I’m going to barf,” cried eight-year-old Jimmy from the backseat, dripping with dramatics.
     “Hold your breath, son,” suggested the father.
     “Um, Dad, he’s turning blue,” said the daughter.
     Checking in to the Healing Waters Resort and Spa, they were told of the sulfur in the water, a contributing factor to the smell, an acquired smell, but they would get used to it.      
     “The more it stinks, the better you feel,” sang the big Kahuna, our charming and comical desk clerk and entertainment director, strumming his ukulele.
     Indeed, it proved to be true. The Smith family spent the entire weekend soaking in our  healing pool, basking in its heated waters, their circulatory systems stimulated, their immune systems improved, feeling alive with ecstasy, limber, relaxed, strong in mind and spirit—a peg firmly planted to their nostrils for the duration of their stay, provided by housekeeping at no extra cost.
     Here at the Healing Waters, we aim to please: no request is too outrageous. 

 

Teena A. Roemer 

Healing Waters Wellness Center, LMT/CMT

  

 

Outdoor Spring Projects Create an Inviting Space

We love spring! It brings a new energy and a new excitement that makes us want to move forward. And, we are ready to move forward ... we've been dreaming up some great projects all winter long and now it's time to get our hands in the dirt and get started! Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

We have discovered the art of palleting ... we have been gathering used pallets and are in the process of creating some planters, herb gardens, pallet gardens, recycle bins and furniture to give our space some added character. We are doing this so we can practice what we preach when it comes to Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. We are using used tires and used pallets to create herb gardens with the intention of using our own herbs in our Simply Herbs herbal tincture line. Not only are we creating more aesthetically pleasing grounds but also we are creating a more sustainable space that fits better with who we are.

Pictures will be posted as we move further along in our adventure, plus we'd love to see what you're doing in your own Reuse, Reduce, Recycle adventure. Like us on Facebook and share ideas and pictures of what you're doing - we'd love to hear your suggestions!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Kanaka, Julee & Amber

The Blessings of a Toothache?

Image courtesy of computerclipart.com

Toothache .... 
just the word makes you cringe, right? It did me too.  I knew it was coming, I had that little twinge giving me advance warning for about two weeks. And then it hit ... the pounding, actually waking me up. I immediately got up and applied some oregano oil directly on the tooth and went back to bed. The oregano oil worked, but at its best would last only about half an hour at a time and then I'd have to apply more of the oil. It was a mostly sleepless night. The next day I added garlic to the regimen to help bring down any infection. I continued with the oregano oil and kept watch on the various symptoms as they arose, by day four the whole right side of my face hurt and I could feel the swollen glands. I finally made a call to the dentist. Sure enough the tooth needed to come out.

My initial consultation with a local dentist ended in an office fee just for a refferal to an out of town dentist to actually do the work. Leaving the office very frustrated and still in pain I walked into Pagosa Dental and they were able to get me in and taken care of that very day.  In the end I ended up with a tooth extraction, not a root canal and a very traumatized mouth that I am still treating.

It is my goal in all of my health issues to treat myself holistically. This tooth issue has been an interesting experience for me. I am still treating the pain with various natural and emotional modalities. I can't say at this time that I have figured out my body's exact balance with these treatments and I have resorted a few times to Ibuprofen. I struggle with this decision, because I know there is a holistic reason for the continuing pain.

Here are some of the things that I have tried, some of the things that I am looking into trying and some of the things that have been suggested for me to try - yes, I do feel a bit like a guinea pig, but I look forward to finding holistic answers that can help everyone.

• Different essential oils: oregano, tea tree, clove, thieves oil, winter green oil
• Herbs: White willow and lobelia for pain, white oak for tightening the gums, echinacea for the numbing effect, garlic and golden seal for infection. (You can take a clove of garlic, cut it in half and place it on the gum, just at the base of the tooth, to help draw out infection. It may burn the gum a little, but if you rub olive oil on the gum first, it will ease that.)
• Energy Boost 70, an ancient plant mass that is an awesome source of minerals
• Oil pulling  - an ayurvedic technique for oral health
• I am going to be trying an ultrasound vibrational therapy. Current research states that this can help in the regeneration of tooth material. Between you and me, I'm going to try and regrow my tooth! I'll keep you informed of the progress!

I would love to hear what you have tried. What has worked and what has not worked? 

'til next time,

Julee

(with a little help from Kanaka)

Banking on an Energy Invesment

Have you wondered lately where your energy is going? 

• Do you find yourself absolutely spent by the end of the day? 
• Where are you investing your energy? (Yes it is an investment!)
• Are you investing it in drama, misery, dysfunctional relationships? 
• Spending energy is like spending money - what are you getting for the purchase? 
• Do you realize that you can choose where to invest your energy and where not to?  

Many times we are not consciously choosing to spend that energy, but we are simply leaking it out because that is what we know and have known - bad habits. Becoming aware that this is an actual system of the human body is the first step. 

Here's an experiment that you can do ... Next time you are facing a situation that you know will result in an undesirable interaction ... choose  to put your energy into it differently. Choose not to react but instead take a breath and take the time you need to formulate a response and decide how much of your energy to invest in the situation at all. Sounds simple, right? It's not quite as easy as it sounds, but by choosing to put some thought into where your energy is going and how it is going out you will find yourself not so exhausted at the end of the day. Once you start this practice, don't give up on it, it will take some time to get used to doing it.

Qi Gong and meditation are two lifestyle tools that can help you manage your bio-energetic system. Watch for more information on our Qi Gong and meditation groups - forming now, starting soon! 

Love & Light,

Amber

Allergy Season Alternative

Allergy season is here! If you are someone who suffers during this time of year with watery, itchy eyes; runny or stuffy nose; foggy brain; nagging cough you know exactly what it means to hear those words. Don't run to your medicine cabinet this year, looking for the latest, greatest box of "allergy medicine". We have all natural tinctures and herbal blends that will alleviate these symptoms without dosing your body with synthetic unknowns. 

Our most recent discovery has been a cough syrup that we developed for the winter cold and flu season. The cough syrup had great results not only directly related to cough relief but also the relief of stuffiness, achiness and other cold and flu symptoms. Since then we have rediscovered how effective it is against allergy-like symptoms as well.

Other holistic tools to use for relief of allergy symptoms include:

• Reflexology of the toes
• Massaging the toe shaft and tips
• Essential oils
• Staying away from dairy products
• Drinking lots of water with lemon

All of these support your body during times of seasonal challenge.

Feel good!

Love & Light,
Amber

Scorpion Sting Recovery ... and Discovery

Sunday morning I received a text from a friend who is also a client. She had left Pagosa on Saturday headed to Arizona for a spring break escape, looking forward to some fun, some sun and some relaxation. Immediately on her arrival, Saturday night, she met with the unexpected, painful sting of a scorpion. The sting was to her foot and caused a lot of pain. Luckily she had already been taking one of our Simply Herbs... Nettles tinctures which is what I would have given her immediately anyway. The scorpion bite, like some spider bites, bee stings, ant stings etc... causes the body to react to the poison. As Nettles feeds the liver my friend's reaction to the sting was not as severe as it could have been. I also suggested Apis Mellificus, which is a homeopathic bee venom to be taken internally and tea tree oil and nettles tincture to be applied directly to the sting. By that evening she was back on track and enjoying her time away.

 

As bug season comes back into play, let me suggest a few things...

1. Tea Tree Essential Oil, Apis Mellificus and Nettles are your must-have, first aid for bug bites and stings. 
2. Seeing that your body gets the required nutrition that it needs can keep you from becoming palatable to bugs. Come in and lets develop a nutritional plan customized for you and see for yourself what we mean!

Here's a little piece of information that you may not know ... when recognizing the wonders of nature  scorpions, shape shifters, bring a message of change. Hmmm. Sometimes when looking at something "bad" that has happened, take time to look for the message in it.

Love & Light,

Amber

Holistic Spring Cleanse Utilizing HCG & Its Fat-Blasting Qualities

In May 2010, I lost 53 pounds using the HCG homeopathic drops and diet plan. Over time several pounds crept back on and my pants got tighter. I decided to take a step back and reevaluate the program. I realized that just doing the HCG protocol, while effective for the weight loss, did not address the bio energetics or emotional aspects of weight loss. It is my experience that eating and weight loss, are tied very directly to our emotions many of which have not been processed and are blocking our natural energy flows. 

 

During this time I developed the HCG Fat-Blasting Cleanse program. Using this new model, this spring I decided to try it out! I customized my plan to start with the HCG drops for 10 days then I switched to a 72 hour fast and am now back on the HCG drops for the last two weeks of this phase. (Okay, don't get scared, the fast is something unique that I do a variation of every year in the spring - not something that we would regularly incorporate into the HCG protocol!) Already I am down a pant size. I am feeling the effects of my detox, feeling good and clear-minded. I have been receiving regular body work, chiropractic treatments and am practicing Qi Gong. I use all of these wellness tools to help manage my bio energetic system.

 If you have been struggling with weight loss and/or maintenance, consider that there is more to weight loss than just the diet you're on. We customize our program to each individual including bio energetic body work and vibrational therapies to help you achieve your weight loss and wellness goals. The bio energetics and vibrational therapies are key to this process as they address the energy released from the fat cells after the fat is lost, better ensuring a complete pattern change and your success in maintaining your weight. Until you are able to address, holistically, the habits and patterns involved in your weight gain, those habits and patterns are still in place.

Stay in touch, I'll post again in a couple of weeks and let you know how my process is going!

Love & Light,

Amber

Julee's burn update!

Here's an update on the burn I had on my neck!  In case you missed the first blog, here is the link Fast Acting, Natural First-Aid for Burns.   The first picture is day 7 after the initial burn.  The second picture is day 14.  It has healed really quickly considering  how deep it was.  After a few days, I made up a different salve that just had olive oil, Comfrey,Calendula, and  St. Johns Wort. I used that to keep it from drying out too much.

One week

Two weeks

I know, to some of you, making my own products may seem like a lot of work, when one can just go to the store and buy one of the many ready made products already available.   You may ask yourself, why does she go to all the trouble?  So, to answer that, I will say that I have spent a lot of years coming to this place.  I have read many ingredient labels, that contained these long words that were unfamiliar to me.  I asked myself... if I can't pronounce it, and have no idea what these things are, do I really want to be putting them on my skin?  If  these things can be absorbed into my system through my skin, do I really want to put something on my skin that I would feel uncomfortable putting in my mouth?  My answer to both of those questions is NO!  Hence, the journey began, developing my own deodorant, lotions, salves, etc.

Is it obvious to you yet, how passionate I am about this stuff?  If you are interested in incorporating natural products into you own life, you can do it!  If you need some support, and direction, we would love to chat with you.  Call our front desk for Wellness Center hours.  Amber and I would be happy to help.

Introducing Our All-Natural Line of Herbal Tinctures

In January of this year we introduced our new line of herbal tinctures, Simply Herbs... The process started last summer with the realization that we were having to send our clients throughout the Four Corners area in search of various herbs to support their wellness. We decided the best option would be to create our own line!

Our line currently consists of 50 individual herbs; known as simples. The simples can be used individually or combined to address each client's specific needs. For example, today, my boss Angel, came in with a sore throat. With a quick assessment and muscle checking we were able to determine that she needed a combination of Goldenseal and Elderberry. Goldenseal has been noted to be one of the most effective healing herbs and is excellent for serious throat problems. Elderberry is a kick for the immune system with cooling and healing effects which are great on a hot, sore throat.

What is your body asking for right now? 

Are you sneezing? 

Are you coughing? 

Is your body achy? 

Are you struggling with headaches? 

We offer a holistic approach to these everyday things that your body says to you and alternative ways for answering it. Find out how to feed your body to address what's going on with it, instead of searching your medicine cabinet.

'Til next time!

Amber

Fast Acting, Natural First-Aid for Burns

48 hours after initial burn.

Hey guys, this is Julee! So, I decided to try something new with my hair. This included using a curling iron and you'd think that by now I would know that I do not have good hand eye coordination, but being the eternal optimist I tried it anyway. Needless to say I ended up with a huge second degree burn on my neck that quickly resulted in a large, quarter-sized blister.

What a crazy blessing, because only three months ago I had made up a burn/wound salve that has been in the cupboard just waiting to be used. Right away I applied the salve to the burn and placed a bandage over it. A huge bandage, by the way. Within the first couple of hours the pain was greatly diminished and you know how intense the pain from a burn can be. That night I removed the bandage and let it air out some. I then applied an herbal oil infusion that I also had on hand to keep the burn area moist. The next morning, so 24 hours later, the blister broke but there was zero pain. I am now at 48 hours later and the burn is already to the more dried up and itchy phase of healing and still pain free! This salve can also be used on wounds, scrapes, cuts or any of those types of things. It is naturally antibacterial and very healing.

Here's a quick recipe for the salve I used that you can make yourself! Or, if you'd rather not make it, we can make some up for you at the Wellness Center.
 
Burn Salve Ingredients

• Raw Honey
• Comfrey Leaf or Root Powder
• Wheat Germ Oil (other possible oils ... olive, coconut, castor ... or experiment with others!)

Use equal parts of all ingredients, mix together and apply.

The final salve is kind of sticky. When you apply it, put on a thick layer - you don't need to rub it in, just cover it with a bandage to hold it in place.

So, now I've shared with you my embarrassing hair story. Feel free to help me to not feel so all alone in this and share your own story here! If you do make up some salve, give us some feedback on your results and let us know what you used it for.