by Erin Gaus (eringaus.com)

It was one of those restless nights in my family where we were all fighting a terrible head cold. My three year old ended up in our bed, as three year olds with colds are wont to do, and we all had a pretty horrible night’s sleep.

Well, except the three year old, who awoke miraculously healed and ready to EAT.  I rolled out of bed to take his breakfast order.

“Carrots and Wanch Dwessing”, he said confidently.

I paused. Because, you see, I have pretty firm ideas about what qualifies as breakfast food and what doesn’t, and “Carrots and Wanch Dwessing” was pretty much off the breakfast radar.

I have these rigid ideas about a lot of things. What spoon I use to make scrambled eggs. Where the throw pillows go on the couch. How the beds are made.

When my husband protests I explain that it’s all in an effort to make our lives more ORGANIZED and therefore, simple.

I’ve not just a need, but a drive to “put things in their place” and “keep things in order”.  I’ve amassed an impressive collection of menu planning apps, day planners and to-do list organizers. I’m a sucker for advertisements that target “busy moms.”  My perfect day revolved around the mantra: “a place for everything and everything in its place.”  The idea that I should “embrace the chaos” was not one I subscribed to. Although honestly, I didn’t know why. I just knew that it seemed like I was amassing a lot of stuff in the name of simplicity.

The idea carried over into my treatments with Anita. I would hit the table with a mission; “I need fixed HERE. Let’s do this.” And she would get to work. I would fidget impatiently as her hands would hit the farthest point away from where I hurt. She would say gently “Does this feel tight?” “Well, yeah,” I would reply, “But Anita, it hurts HERE.” With a sly smile that basically said “patience grasshopper” she would move through her routine, working and gently stretching and as I relaxed into the treatment I realized that why, YES that is really solving the problem, isn’t it? Silly grasshopper.

So, if going with the flow in my pain therapy treatment had such amazing results, why not give it a shot in, well, LIFE?

Back to that morning breakfast situation.

As I stood there in an early morning congestion-induced haze. I had an epiphany.

WHY NOT?

“Carrots and Wanch it is!” I said.

I carried a little toddler sized portion of carrots and ranch, along with two very grown up sized coffees, back up the stairs (because – GASP! – we were going to eat IN BED!). Our usual breakfast was full of such BIG things; full of “must eat this” and “hurry and finish”, but today it full of giggles, morning cartoons, cute dogs stealing carrots, and all manner of wonderful things.

No overthinking. No tantrums.

Simplicity found in embracing the chaos. Not fighting it. Who knew?

It’s neither too early nor too late to focus on Spring—a hallmark of fresh starts and new beginnings. Many of us “spring clean” our homes in order to clear out the old, outdated items and prepare for a lighter, cleaner environment. As the weather changes, we often get outside more or begin exercise programs to improve the appearance of our bodies for summer wardrobes.

Spring is an excellent time to take inventory of how our bodies “feel” and address pain or physical limitations that stunt our freedom of movement. Clients regularly tell me that they have had pain or stiffness for years, and believe that they have to live with it but most of the time this is NOT the case. Even long-term, stubborn pain or restricted mobility can be greatly improved with simple, conservative measures.

The first step is weighing the pros and cons of maintaining the status quo vs. seeking change.  This is a personal decision and change never seems to come easily for any of us. However, low grade, constant pain will eventually wear you down, physically and emotionally; the stress and inflammation linked to chronic pain may even lead to serious health crises down the road. Stiffness and restricted mobility will not spontaneously resolve either. Old sprains and strains tend to leave behind a residual stiffness that is barely noticeable at first, but “suddenly” appears when lifting a heavy object or trying a new activity. The stiffer we feel the less we move, and the less we move the stiffer we become over time. This cycle perpetuates itself unless we find the way to break out of it. The truth of the matter is that some focused bodywork and easy self-treatment techniques can free movement and alleviate pain quite readily. Once pain and stiffness start to resolve, the body feels lighter and is able to move freely again. Believe it!

The next step involves taking action to make a change. Many viable options exist to deal with pain that do not involve taking pills or undergoing surgery. Talking with a wellness professional is an excellent place to start, as is reaching out to a friend or relative who has dealt with a similar challenge successfully. Figuring out what can work for you takes a bit of exploring, and it is certainly worth the effort. Most people will be happy to share their experiences, their advice or their skills when asked.

Interested in learning more about healthy transformation? Change is a topic on many people’s minds, and this blog post from friend and wellness advocate Sharise Hemby addresses the issue of how to approach change and what steps to take to stop thinking about it and make it happen!

“Motivation” means: “having a strong reason to act or accomplish something.”

All week I knew I needed to sit down and write this blog, but I waited…and waited…and waited. I was waiting for the inspiration—the “motivation” to do it.  I read articles, spoke to friends and colleagues, jotted notes, and then realization struck: I needed to actually sit down and write, without worrying about run-on sentences or even expressing my ideas precisely, JUST SIT DOWN AND DO IT.

In that moment I realized that motivation gives you the REASON to pursue a goal, but only ACTION will take you there.

Whether your goal is eliminating chronic pain, eating healthier, improving your fitness, or something else, you need to start now and keep taking consistent actions toward your objective. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Write down your goal, and why you want it. Prominently placed Post-it notes, as well as a vision board can bring your objectives to life.
2. Set realistic, short term goals that can be achieved in the immediate future; success fuels more success;
3. The mind is extraordinarily powerful, so use it to your advantage. Picture yourself doing what you wish you could. Think about what you would do if you knew you couldn’t fail. Relaxation therapies, meditation, yoga, and many other techniques exist to help retrain the brain.
4. Don’t wait for motivation. It actually works the other way around. Get to work on your goal and the energy of your own actions will inspire more of the same.
5. Use a proven plan and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Seek out others who have already achieved what you want– they will probably be more than happy to help. Self-help audio books are also a great resource and you can listen to them anywhere and anytime.

Now, my challenge to you…

What have you been trying to accomplish but blaming your “lack of motivation” for your lack of progress? Is it tackling a health issue, making a lifestyle change, or improving your diet and exercise habits? Today, try just one of my action items to get you started, and I promise that the small step forward, that ACTION, will give you the MOTIVATION you need to achieve your goals.

Need a little more help? Check out our new video series, #MotivateMe. In it, we talk to some of our friends to learn their secrets for getting and staying motivated. This month, we feature Melissa Vertosick, certified holistic health coach and owner of The Whole Life Approach.

Turmeric is a wonderful natural anti-inflammatory ingredient that can easily be added to a variety of recipes. Recently, we shared one of our favorites, “Golden Milk”. This soup, served with the easy-to-make parmesan crackers,  is a another great way to incorporate the golden spice into your everyday diet.

Creamy Carrot and Turmeric Soup

Parmesan Crackers

I’ve been reading a lot about the inflammation fighting power of Turmeric lately. Turmeric is the special ingredient in your curry that makes it yellow. It turns out that it is also a potent natural anti-inflammatory as well.

There are quite a few ways to take advantage of the power of Turmeric, but the tastiest is probably a drink known as “Golden Milk”.  Made many different ways golden milk is a great way to not only include turmeric in your diet, but when taken at night it is an excellent promoter of sleep.

While you can use a blend of coconut and almond mil in the drink, I used coconut milk alone mostly because that was what was readily available in my pantry! The addition of black pepper can enhance the anti-inflammatory abilities of Turmeric as well, although I didn’t choose to add it in this time. I also used a powdered ginger, but fresh sliced ginger would have made a better addition if strained out prior to drinking.  Not a fan a coconut milk? Use water and make a tea!

“Golden Milk”

Makes one serving

• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• ¼ teaspoon powdered ginger root (or a few thinly sliced and peeled rounds of fresh ginger root)

Whisk ingredients in a small pan over medium heat until simmering. Pour into a cup and enjoy (strain if using fresh ginger)

I am pleased to introduce a new technique here at Power of Touch Wellness: Massage Cupping.

Massage cupping is a modified version of “Cupping Therapy” which has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. In Massage Cupping, the cups create suction and negative pressure. They may be “parked” in a stationary position, picked up and pulled across the skin in a gliding motion, or manipulated in a variety of other ways, depending on the treatment goal. Some of the benefits of cupping include:

• Calming the nervous system
• Drawing out metabolic waste and toxins
• Increasing circulation and hydration of the tissue
• Relaxing taut tense muscles and knots

Clients often describe the sensation of the cupping technique as a warm and “tingling” feeling, often lasting long after the session is complete. The therapy itself is so relaxing that I often find patients drifting off to sleep on the table!

Massage Cupping complements all of our other treatments, from Pain Therapy to AromaTouch. It is quickly becoming one of my “go-to” therapies because of the positive, relaxing effect it has on the nervous system. When the nervous system is calm, the rest of the body will follow suit. Tight hamstrings, sore necks and backs and resistant, long-term issues readily give way after cupping.

For those who have seen the celebrities showing off their cupping marks a/k/a “cup kisses,” have no fear—cupping does not always leave marks, and specific techniques can be used to avoid them altogether. Also, these marks are evidence of healing, not pain or trauma.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with us, please contact me today!