The following nutrients can be depleted by stress. If people make an attempt to supply them through their food they may be surprised at the diminished negative effects of winter blahs.

• People under stress require increased amounts of acetylcholine, formed from choline. (Choline foods: egg yolks, organ meats, brewer’s yeast, whole grains, soybeans, fish, legumes.
• When under stress, large amounts of ascorbic acid are lost, particularly from the adrenal cortex. (Constituents of protein are not properly formed when ascorbic acid supplies are diminished, an additional problem.) Ascorbic acid foods: citrus fruit, alfalfa sprouts, green vegetables, cantaloupe, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes, green peppers.
• Serotonin precursors improve mood disorders. (a precursor is a substance from which another substance is made.) Serotonin is a chemical messenger which transmits impulses between brain cells. Tryptophan is a significant precursor of serotonin. Tryptophan is necessary for the manufacture of serotonin. Tryptophan foods: nuts and seeds, organ meats, brown rice, carrots, beets, celery, endive, dandelion greens, fennel, snap beans, Brussels sprouts, chives, alfalfa.
• Stress depletes zinc. Stress may cause urine excretion of a substance called krytpopffole, which takes with it both zinc and vitamin B6. Zinc foods: sunflower seeds, seafood, organ meats, mushrooms, brewer’s yeast, soybeans, eggs, whole grain. B6 foods: yeast, whole grains organ meats, egg yolks legumes, green leafy vegetables, muscle meats.
• The metabolic effects of chromium deficiency are apparent when under stress. Chromium foods: clams, whole grains, brewer’s yeast.
• Stress often causes the urinary excretion of acids which chelate (grab) iron and other metals, removing them from the body. Iron foods: organ meats, egg yolks, fish, oysters clams, whole grains, beans, green vegetables.
• Pantothenic acid supports the adrenal gland. Pantothenic acid foods: organ meats, brewer’s yeast, eggs, legumes, sweet potatoes, whole grains, salmon.
• Magnesium is reduced when too many free fatty acids float around in your blood, a consequence of stress. Magnesium foods: vegetables, whole grains, raw dried beans and peas, seafood, nuts.
• Hormones secreted as a result of stress cause a decrease in the essential ratio of potassium and sodium. Potassium foods: lean meats, whole grains, vegetables, legumes, sunflower seeds, bananas. Warning: Only totally natural, totally unprocessed foods contain more potassium than sodium.

by Marianne Parady

Saints and sages have been singing the praises of belief for centuries. Christ provided the foundation, teaching us that all things are possible to those who believe. Norman Vincent Peale instructed millions in the power of positive thinking. Today, Dr. Wayne Dyer tells us that we will “see it when we believe it.” Countless metaphysical schools have based their philosophies on the power of belief. And while belief is an indispensable part of the manifestation process, another force wields an equal, if not greater power–that is the force called desire.

Without desire, creation as we know it would not exist. Progress, both individual and collective, would cease, bringing dissolution and stagnation to our most cherished endeavors. Without desire, life would lose its momentum, its ability to move forward toward new and exciting paths. In his play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams wrote, “The opposite of death is desire,” implying that the opposite of life desirelessness.

Many Eastern philosophies are based on the idea of desirelessness as the secret to obtaining happiness in life. Buddha himself expounded the idea that desire lies at the root of human suffering. Contrary interpretations not withstanding, I believe that the Buddha was speaking of attachment, a state quite distinct from desire.

As paradoxical as it seems, one can have intense desires without becoming too attached to their individual manifestation. For example, one can desire a successful career without being attached to the end result. Attachment to the end result is not necessary and can sometimes inhibit the process. For by focusing solely on the end result, we lose touch with the present moment, consequently draining all energy from the activity. When this occurs, we inadvertently strangle the desire, causing its delay or unfulfillment. It is important to remember that desires, like people need to remain free and unencumbered in order to be fully realized.

Understanding the origin of our desires may also help facilitate their manifestation. Many metaphysicians believe that our desires arise from the potentialities that are inherent within us. If this is true, we can assume that we would not have been given a desire that could not be fulfilled. Knowing this adds the power of belief to this potent mixture, thereby insuring a successful outcome.

The awareness and acknowledgment of a desire is also an essential component of the process. For if we do not recognize and accept our individual desires, we actually prevent their fulfillment. Not knowing what we want or denying the validity of a desire might thwart its attainment and may bring us what we don’t want.

Life is full of people, bitter and despairing, who believe their desires to be unrealistic and unattainable. The absolute first step to empowering our desires is to open our minds and hearts to their possibility, however remote and far removed from our present reality. Life is also full of people, exuberant and fulfilled, who expect life to grant their deepest desires, and it usually does.

Enthusiasm is another important ingredient necessary to ensure a concrete manifestation. For enthusiasm is generated by intense feeling, which empowers and ignites the desire with the potency of the emotional self. For desire without feeling is like a rocket without fuel. It just won’t get off the ground. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why many people complain about all that life has denied them. Perhaps it is they who have denied life by not utilizing the power of their emotions to help them get what they want.

We must desire something passionately in order to experience its reality. For there is nothing quite as powerful as a strong desire supported by passion and clarity. In one of his books, Dale Carnegie wrote, “if I could look into your mind and ascertain the strength of your desire and the light and shadow of your thought, I could foretell, almost with certainty, the swiftness of your progress toward your goal.” Therefore, it is imperative that we reconnect with our emotional like to enhance the potency of our desires. Opening ourselves up to the whole spectrum of emotions infuses our desires with vitality and depth. Enlivened and rejuvenated, we can then clear away any emotional blocks and touch the source of our being, where the wellspring of power lies.

Lack of feeling is not the only impediment to realizing our dreams. Lack of focus also impairs their fulfillment b sending mixed signals to the various corners of our being, causing chaos and confusion. As has been proven many times, a life without direction usually goes nowhere. The unfocused individual is blown about by the winds of fate, seeking refuge on myriad shores, but never discovering the course and current of their own life.

The Russian philosopher Gurdjieff developed some interesting theories regarding people with ambiguous desires. According to Gurdjieff, human beings are composed of a personality, the part we are consciously aware of, and an essence, that part which is eternal. Gurdjieff believed our personality to be comprised of many different identities, many of which conflict with each other, making it difficult to maintain a focused desire.

For example, suppose you would like to move ahead in your career. In your conscious mind you are clear about this desire and believe that this is truly what you want. Now let’s say that there is a part of yourself that is afraid of the added responsibility and would rather you stay where you are. This identity has its own agenda which, unless dealt with, could delay the promotion or prevent it altogether.

Gurdjieff also believed that desire is tantamount to prayer and taught that if you held a desire long enough, your intention would be communicated to higher realms of being, which would encourage its realization.

This concept, however, does not explain why certain prayers are not answered. To clarify this dilemma, Gurdjieff observed that most people are constantly shifting between the various identities that exist within their personality. Many of these identities possess conflicting desires which often cancel each other out. Unfortunately, disconnected and random desires fail to transmit a uniform message to the Universe, resulting in masses of unfulfilled desires and unanswered prayers.

William James recognized the importance of a consistent desire, as well, when he stated that, “if you care enough for a result, you will most certainly attain it. If you wish to be good, you will be good. If you wish to be rich, you will be rich. If you wish to be learned, you will be learned. Only then you must really wish these things and wish them with exclusiveness and not wish one hundred other incompatible things just as strongly.”

Sporadic desires are also inhibited from coming into being. For example, if we want a new home one day, then on the following day decide it would be too much trouble to move, then want it again a week later, the power of the desire is lost through our vacillation. To be truly effective, we must maintain this consistency on a daily basis, allowing nothing to deter us from accomplishing our good.

In order to prevent the difficulties unveiled by Gurdjieff, we must strive to be aware of the various levels of consciousness and try to integrate them. Ideally, the personality, the subconscious, and the essence should work together in symbiotic unity.

The personality, or ego, is the part of ourselves we are most conscious of. Desires which stem from the personality are usually apparent to us, and we strive to achieve them. Our personality consists of many selves, both true and false, that we have created to help us functions in the world. If, as Gurdjieff believed, the desires of these selves are in conflict with one another, complete realization could be impossible.

Intense self-exploration can help us uncover conflicting desires, thereby providing us with the opportunity for unification. Meditation, therapy, and other self-help practices can open the door to the hidden parts of our personality, allowing us to heal and transform them.

It is difficult, however, to rely on the personality alone to determine exactly what it is we want. Our conscious mind is often in the habit of deceiving us by making us think we want one thing when in truth we may want another. Our subconscious, the veiled mediator between the personality and the essence, may have other plans for us. For example, we may tell ourselves that we want to marry, while our subconscious may desire to remain single because of fear, loss of freedom, or other conflicting plans we may have for our live.

Unless we are in touch with the subconscious part of our being, we may believe that life doesn’t grant our desires, when in fact it does. Arthur Rubinstein, the pianist, wrote: “I have discovered as a result of what I can only call miracles that whenever my inner self desires something subconsciously, life will somehow grant it to me.”

Psychologists have been aware for years of the power the subconscious has to influence our lives. Unfortunately, many unhealthy messages have been implanted there that can create misery in our lives. For example, because of certain orthodox religious beliefs, we may believe that suffering ennobles and purifies us, which could generate an unconscious desire for suffering in our lives.

Family systems may encourage the growth of this unhealthy desire for misery by parading their admiration of a martyr-like existence. Perhaps someone in the family continually sacrifices themselves for others, by constantly denying their own needs. Perceived as a saint and told that “you’ll be rewarded in heaven,” this person receives admiration, as well as pity for their behavior, which is exactly what they subconsciously want.

Rewards in heaven notwithstanding, society in general rewards us with praise and acceptance, when we struggle through adversity. “Misery loves company,” or so the saying goes, as life presents us with corroboration of this unnerving statement. How many of us feel guilty when our lives are thriving and happy? Surprisingly, we may discover that our successes are less acknowledged than our failures. Certain friends and family members may rally round us when we are mourning a loss, yet be envious and distant when we achieve a long-desired goal. Just the anticipation of others’ ill will may deter us from reaching our deepest dreams. we may find our desire for acceptance stronger than our desire for the perceived goal, thereby perpetuating its unattainment. This, of course, would only occur if we subconsciously believed that we are accepted more for failure and mediocrity than for attainment and success.

Although it is a difficult truth to accept, many people may actually not want to achieve their goals. I once had a friend tell me that “it’s frightening to get what you want.” George Bernard Shaw knew what he was talking about when he said, “There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.”

Obviously, the primary desires in our lives outweigh the lesser, weaker desires. Therefore, it is imperative that we discover the desire that most represents our own unique nature. Shakespeare’s immortal line, “And this above all — to thine own self be true,” warns us against the folly of denying our essential character. This may cause us to seek something foreign to who we really are. When we look for a job, for example, based on money and security, rather than on what we love, we inadvertently work against the natural grain of our being.

In cases like this, we need to “purify” our desire by discovering our intrinsic desires and focusing ourselves in that direction. Part of our responsibility is to discover the desire that most represents ourselves and to cultivate it completely. By doing this, many conflicting, weaker desires fall away as our soul is fired with the spark of divine desire. Singleness of purpose is necessary to achieve our most cherished goals. When we finally discover ourselves and our deepest desires, we become intense and focused, which moves us onward toward attaining our goals.

We must look deeply into ourselves in order to determine what our primary desires are, for they are charting the course of our existence. To facilitate the procedure, we can look at what we have in our lives as mirroring our deepest desires. In other words, what we have is often what we want. As shocking as this may seem, there is an inordinate amount of truth in this statement. For instance, if we are experiencing poverty in our lives, there may be a subconscious part of us that desires poverty. Perhaps we believe that true spirituality requires poverty, as illustrated by some of the great spiritual leaders of the past. The idea of prosperity and abundance is frequently at odds with many traditional Christian teachings,, although churches have traditionally been beds of opulence and wealth.

Because of the subtle and hidden parts of our consciousness, we can be totally unaware of what desires we hold. Self-exploration and observation help to uncover these desires by bringing them in to the light of awareness where they can be transformed.

Nevertheless, we can bypass the various layers of our personality and subconscious and ascend to the level of our essence, where, as Gurdjieff believed, we unite with the eternal. Called by many names, this “essence” has been courted by philosophers, mystics, and theologians throughout the ages. Union with this infinite part of our being transcends the less ethereal levels, transforming them from the inside out.

In this way, we go beyond the subconscious to that place where God’s will joins with ours, thereby adding divine force to our desires. Here we uncover certain desires inherent to our being that are in line with God’s purpose for us. When we unfold God’s plan for us, our desires become unified on all levels, which greatly facilitates their manifestation.

One of the most important keys, however to bringing your desires to fruition is the ability to “let go.” This is tantamount to the Buddhist idea of nonattachment, which serves to relieve the suffering associated with striving, thereby helping us enjoy working toward our goals. Once we are clear about what we want, and release our attachment to it, unconscious and divine forces are then free to go to work. By forcing or trying too hard, we inhibit the creative flow, stopping the activity needed for manifestation. As soon as we “let go,” and allow the desire to exist unobstructed, manifestation usually follows naturally and spontaneously. How many times have we experienced giving up on something only to have it subsequently appear? This giving up is not the cessation of desire but the dispersion of it, which empowers it and helps it materialize more quickly.

Of course, all of the theories regarding desire are worthless unless we take some action. It has been said that “desire is the effort of the unexpressed possibility within seeking expression without through action.” For action adds the dimension of commitment to our desires, creating an unbeatable combination of elements. Action lets our entire self know that we mean business, that we are willing to work for what we want.

Now by work, I don’t mean struggle or desperation, but conscious, deliberate effort toward our goals. As many of us have discovered, desperation only restricts the energies necessary for manifestation, wearing us out in the process. Single people have often proven this point by looking for love with the energy of desperation as a guide. During these times, we usually come up “empty-handed,” rating ourselves and all the members of the opposite sex. When we let go of that urgency, however, we often find what we have been looking for, though not always in the way we expected.

It is also important to allow our desires to be fulfilled in their own way and in their own time. For although our ego may want something immediately, our higher self has a wisdom of its own and may be preparing us to handle the fulfillment of our dreams. Often times, we are not ready for a particular milestone to occur and must trust that the Universe knows what it is doing. Waiting is a necessary part of life. To learn to wait constructively, while maintaining and strengthening your desires, takes patience and a willing heart.

In her book, The Language of Letting Go, Melody Beattie talks about these waiting times as “times of reprogramming,” and sees them as an essential part of the whole creative process. According to Beattie, sometimes we need to be healed of many destructive patterns before we can reach our desired goals. She writes, “Don not ask for love unless you are ready to be healed enough to give and receive love. “Do not ask for joy unless you are ready to feel and release your pain, so you can feel joy. “Do not ask for success unless you are ready to conquer the behaviors that would sabotage success.”

The complex levels of desire consist of myriad twists and turns for the psyche, the mind, and the spirit. At times, the realization and unification of our inner most desires may seem distant, and we may become frustrated to the point of being disinterested. Yet, interested we must be for desire can work miracles, create night-mares, or maintain the status quo in our lives. We can use it, or it will use us in an unconscious and perhaps destructive way, creating a future far from our ideal reality.

Contrary to popular opinion, belief is not the only ingredient we need to manifest what we want in our lives. We first need something in which to believe. In this way, desire provides the foundation for the work of art we call our life. For it is desire that fires our beliefs and motivates us to move ever onward toward our highest potential and fulfillment.

University of Pittsburg investigators recently showed that stress induces a chemical reaction that promotes blood clotting- one of the prime causes of heart attacks. Deadline –type pressure causes the problem. “We’re talking about what happens when there’s time pressure and some frustration or interference in getting something done,” says psychologist, Susan Malkoff.

Continued stress over an extended period of time, without a break in the cycle, can have disastrous effects on physical and emotional health.

While there is no such thing a stress free living, dealing with stress in a positive manner can make all the difference.

Some of the physical benefits of prenatal massage are; reducing excess fluid, alleviating muscle pain, and releasing excess joint strain and tension. Of course, there are also emotional benefits. Having a massage can relax an expectant mother and allows her to take some time to enjoy the experience. So much time and energy goes into the preparation of the baby’s arrival, that-to-be may feel over worked, over tired ands in need of some TLC.

In addition to prenatal treatment, massage therapy is also effective in helping a woman’s body return to normal, after the baby’s birth.

Now, as beneficial as massage can be, there are circumstances that would contraindicate the use of massage during pregnancy. Always check with your doctor before getting a massage and share any important information with the massage therapist. A Few things to know are that no massage should be received during the first three months of pregnancy, and women with high blood pressure and diabetes may not be able to have a massage.

Thankfully, many of the contraindications for prenatal massage therapy are not long term.

During a prenatal massage, specific bolstering takes pressure off of the clients’ back and knees, which are very stressed when carting the extra weight of a growing baby. The client may also be bolstered in a side lying position to allow the therapist to treat the lower back, which is a common area foe prenatal discomfort.

Having the legs and feet massaged is also a welcomed treatment for a pregnant client, and although deep pressure and reflexology points should not be used during pregnancy, appropriate techniques can effectively relieve aches and relax muscles. You deserve a break, once the baby comes, time may not be easy to find. Remember that giving a massage gift certificate to an expecting, or new mom, is a great of health and relaxation that will be greatly appreciated.

But thanks to the increased popularity of prenatal massage, pregnancy today has become easier.

Women are becoming more aware of what massage has to offer.

Massage is contraindicated until after the first trimester, due to the danger of miscarriage during that time. But after that, massage can ease the pain and provide comfort during those nine long months.

In the second trimester, for example, when the baby sits high in the uterus and presses on the organs, massage around the diaphragm helps the mother relax and breathe more freely. Light work around the hips can reduce pressure on the bladder.

Around six months, when the hips really begin to spread, many complain of sciatica. Massage during this time can ease some of the constriction of the gluteus and piriformis muscles that lead to pain.

And as the woman’s center of gravity changes and her limbs swell, massage to the low back, legs, arms, and hands can be a wonderful relief.

At Massage and Reflexology, we haven’t met a pregnant woman who didn’t like it. They savor the moment, because they know at the end of nine months, moments of free time and quite are few and far between.

Laughter creates its own unique physiology state, with changes in the immune system opposite to those caused by stress. Laugh researcher Lee Berk, in a series of studies at Loma Linda University in California, measures the effects of laughter on the immune system.

Subjects were divided into two groups and hooked up to IVs. Half were shown a video of a stand-up comic, the other half sat quietly in a room. During the video and for half an hour afterwards, blood samples were drawn every 10 minutes.

The video group had significant increases in:

• Activated T Cells, primed to battle infection
• Natural killer cells, which attack tumors and microbes
• Immunoglobulin A-antibodies, which patrol respiratory tract
• Gamma interferon, a key immune system messenger
• Significantly decreased cortisol levels, a hormone that suppresses the immune system

The control Group showed no changes!

If you are an average size adult, you have about 3,000 square inches of skin. Since you were born, the surface area of your body increased seven times. Your skin is the largest external organ. The skin you now have is not the same skin you had a month ago. Every 24 to 30 days, you completely replace the top layer of your epidermis. It contains 41% of the total available water in the body and one-third of all the circulating blood.

One square inch of skin, (about the size of a quarter), contains…

• 20 million nerves
• 15 feet of blood vessels
• 72 feet of nerves
• 19,000 sensory cells at the end of nerve fibers
• 1,300 nerve ending that record pain
• 77 structures that are sensitive to heat
• 13 sensory structures for cold
• 160 structures that inform us that we are being touched
• 650 sweat glands, on average
• 95 sebaceous or oil glands

The answer to the above question is “YES”!

So, not only are you…

• Increasing circulation
• Easing muscle pain & stiffness and relaxing muscles
• Lowering blood pressure
• Improving range of motion
• Reducing and/or eliminating headaches
• Increasing endorphins (Nature’s natural pain killers)

But you are also receiving - Body moisturizing & exfoliating!

Massage heals by nurturing the body’s talent for healing by triggering and supporting the body’s own healing response. And, it just feels great!

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you know that one of the biggest challenges is reducing the incessant aches that settle in the muscles, tendons, and joints throughout the body. Just getting a good night’s sleep becomes a daily dilemma.

Understanding the physiological effects of fibromyalgia on the body will help you to appreciate why massage therapy can be an effective treatment. A major complaint of fibromyalgia sufferers is the chronic aching primarilary associated with the muscles. It is believed that stress related with the condition contributes to the increased tension in the muscles that in turn leads to this persistent pain.

Whenever a muscle is used- whether it is for work of from worry- it increases its tone (the degree of firmness or tension in the tissue). If this increased tone is sustains, it places certain demands on the muscle. When he muscle is held in this tensed position, it increases its need for oxygen, and subsequently, a need for more blood flow. In its current state, the muscle may not be capable of receiving this increased oxygen, which then manifests as aches and pain.

Additionally, the muscle may now have a much harder time disposing of its cellular wastes, which can exacerbate the painful condition. This is the beginning of a cycleof pain – increased muscular tension- pain that makes living with fibromyalgia such a challenge.

Since the muscles are now in a near constant state of increased tone, they begin to adapt to this new condition by changing structurally, developing areas of fibrous tissue. This leads to the affected muscles pulling on tendons- the tough tissue that joins the muscle to the bone. The tendons now experience the same cycle lack of oxygen, pain and change in structure at the muscles.

This constant condition of increased tone in the muscles burn a great amount of energy which helps to explain that steady fatigue that plagues most fibromyalgia sufferers.

Muscles in the body have opposing muscles. For example, one set of muscles contracts to bend your arm and an opposing set of muscles contracts to return it to a straight position. When certain muscles begin to undergo the changes described above, it can have an adverse effect on their opposing, muscle groups. While one muscle stays tense, the opposite muscle will grow weak, causing muscular imbalances throughout the body. These imbalances can contribute to a lack of coordination and uneven wear and tear on the joints.

You can see how these debilitating cycles can affect a fibromyalgia sufferer and worsen over time. Now, take a look at how regular massage sessions can help to bring relief.

When you receive a massage, it helps your body to function more optimally. For instance, those tense muscles are helped to relax and for a time return to a more normal state. Muscular release is the first step towards calming the mind and can help to reduce the body’s wasting of energy.

The flowing strokes of massage help to increase circulation that in turn carries oxygen and nutrients throughout your system and can aid in the removal of cellular waste and toxins.

Massage tends to bring a body into a more balanced, natural state, If you have fibromyalgia, this equates to a period of welcome relief.

What About Results?

A study conducted by the Touch Research Institute, Miami School of Medicine, in 1994 showed fibromyalgia responds well to massage. A portion of the study group received 30 minute massages twice a week for five weeks. The rheumatologist that evaluated the results determined that only the group receiving regular massage experienced decreased pain, fatigue, stiffness and improvements in the quality of sleep.

If you or a loved one, or an acquaintance have fibromyalgia, you should schedule a massage session to see for yourself how it can help.

Conditions and Symptoms Associated with Fibromyalgia

• Balance Problems
• Chronic Fatigue
• Cold Extremities
• Depression
• Frequent Urination
• Headaches
• Impaired memory
• Muscle aches
• Muscle twitching
• Sleep disorders

Scientists have found evidence that stress can suppress the immune system. It can cause a variety of disorders, including arthritis, high blood pressure, infections, allergies and some kinds of cancer. While researching stress and its effect on the immune system, scientists discovered an interrelationship between the mind and the body in causing disease and maintaining health.

There is convincing evidence that the brain communicates directly with the immune system and the immune system talks with the brain.

Each week, 95 million Americans suffer from some stress related symptoms for which they take medication. Stress is recognized as the number one killer today. While some stress is healthy and keeps us motivated, increased stress over a prolonged period of time is where the trouble begins.

According to the AMA, stress is the cause of 80 to 85% of all human illness and disease.

At the very least, stress has a detrimental effect on our health. American businesses lose an estimated $200-$300 billion per year to stress related productivity loss.  Additionally, 90% of all visits to doctors are for stress related disorders

In women, stress has been linked to:

• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Bad complexion
• Insomnia
• Disruption of the Menstrual Cycle
• Low libido
• Ulcers & Intestinal Issues
• Short Tempers & Headaches
• Comprised Immune System

Soure: “The American Institute of Stress in Yonkers, New York”

Researchers believe that trigger points form in areas of muscle where blood flow is impeded. A spasm can start the process by compressing arteries and nerves that course through muscle. When the arteries and nerves are sufficiently compressed, muscle fibers fed by those arteries and nerves become deprived of at least three chemicals vital to the muscle fibers’ energy metabolism – glucose, B vitamins and the thyroid hormone T3.

The number one benefit of Massage & Reflexology is stress reduction!