ADVENTURES IN IRON GIRL

~~~Iron Girl 2012~~~

My little dramatic moment- There I was: standing on the wet, cold sand, the morning of the race.  The sun had just come up and I was staring at the chilly Lake.  Nervous, and feeling more tired than I have ever been, my mind raced with everything  I wanted to overcome...

Going in I was physically and mentally drained.  I missed the last week of my training due to asthmatic bronchitis. 5 prescriptions, and a shot in the bottom wasn't helping. My second trip to the doctor (3 days before IG), I was put on two inhalers and was feeling very weak (physically and mentally). This was NOT a fun way to go into your first Tri.  To make matters worse, I was unable to fall asleep the night before, due to the steroids and anxiety (sorry to my two good friends who I shared a hotel room with!!).

Iron Girl was much more than a race... crossing that finish line was extremely emotional for many reasons! Sometimes we go through tough times in life that are very hard to process.  Sometimes we experience hurts that run too deep.  But you know when you you squeeze out a sponge ...and it is then able to soak up more??  For me, this was squeezing out the old and breathing in the new.

Iron Girl was an amazing experience that allowed me to face many fears.  And the BEST part: my daughters told me after, "Mommy... you're SO STRONG, you can do anything" (and I believed them).

I am so grateful I was able to do this event (especially with 2 friends who are amazing women) and am excited about what's next.  

2009 was my first 5K
2010 was my first 10K
2011 was my first Half Marathon
2012 was my first Tri - Iron Girl
So... I am wanting to do something new for 2013...  Half Ironman.  WHO'S WITH ME???

Note:
I started these remedies right before and I think they really helped.  Next time I get an upper respiratory infection I will go straight to:

Old Indian Wild Cherry Bark Syrup -1T every 2 hours.

Old Indian Wild Cherry Bark Syrup Link

High doses of Vitamin D. 

 

Getting kicked while swimming is not fun

Sabrina in the sea of bikes

My two good friends Kristin and Sabrina.
Thanks Kristin and Chris for the ticket and bike!!!!!

Thanks Mom and Avery for being there!

And time:
1:48:33 ~ top 7% ~ I'll take it!

HALF MARATHON SEASON

It is finally half marathon training season!  I LOVE fall and winter running!! 

LINKS

Atlanta Track Club

Active

Big Peach and Natural Strides Running Shoes

TRAINING SCHEDULES

Hal Higdon'S HALF MARATHON TRAINING PLAN - I like how he does the minutes of runs vs. the miles.  I used his training program last year for the 2011 Silver Comet Half.  

Jeff Galloway for WALK/RUN HALF MARATHON TRAINING PLAN

TRAINING BOOK

The Runners Handbook by Bob Glover

Article from the book

TIPS

~Think positive. 
~Listen to your body.

~Do not try anything new the week before, or on, race day.  Practice things you will do and use (like a Gu) on your long run days.

~Hydrate well the whole training time, especially the week before. 

~Recovery begins before the event.

~Helpful supplements: NOW All Natural Whey Protein Isolate, Vitamin C, Omega-3 EFA's and astaxanthin.

~Runners can get sick, right before or after an event.  Oregano oil can help boost immunity as race day nears.
~Drink 3-4 swigs of pickle juice, through out the day, the day before a half to prevent cramping durring the race. 
~Sleeping before an event doesn't always happen. Even if you don't feel nervous- there's just something about the night before having to get up at 4:30-6am for a race, that keeps you up at night. I recently tried Theanine Serene with GABA (thanks to "the stressful summer of 2012") and it is very relaxing!! This all natural supplement eases extreme anxiety (and helps you sleep at night). I LOVE it! 
~An ice bath, after running 13 miles, can help!

SPEED WORK, I train with a HR monitor

4 HOUR BODY - Great book to have on hand!
4HB, INTERVAL WORK
800m @ 5K race pace
Rest until heartrate is at 120
Repeat 8-10 times or until HR does not drop below 120 within 2 minutes
HILL REPEATS - An awesome workout!
Pick a hill, run as hard and fast as you can up it, jog down it --Repeat 5-6 times. 
HIIT - I do Body for Life HIIT (I tape a sheet to the treadmill that lists what MPH for every minute- because, between the music and huffing and puffing, you won't know where you are supposed to be. Last HIIT my HR reached a new max of 205).

I do a 1/2 mile warm up run. Reset treadmill so your time is at 0 minutes. Do HIIT.  Finish with a 1/2 cool down. 

BFL- 1: (6.3)-6.7-7.2-7.7-8.2- minute 19 (8.7)

BFL- 2: (6.4)-6.8-7.3-7.8-8.3- minute 19 (8.8)

BFL- 3: (6.5)-6.9-7.4-7.9-8.4- minute 19 (8.9)

BFL- 4: (6.6)-7.0-7.5-8.0-8.5- minute 19 (9.0)

BFL- 5: ...so on...

For example BFL, HIIT 1: (if you did a 1/2 mile warm up, make sure TM is reset to 0).

1-2 warm up(6.3)

2-3 (6.7)

3-4 (7.2)

4-5 (7.7)

5-6 (8.2)

6-7 (6.7)

7-8 (7.2)

8-9 (7.7)

9-10 (8.2)

10-11 (6.7)

11-12 (7.2)

12-13 (7.7)

13-14 (8.2)

14-15 (6.7)

15-16 (7.2)

16-17 (7.7)

17-18 (8.2)

18-19 high (8.7)  **supposed to have failure.  If you can finish minute 19, you need to go to BFL 2, 3, 4, 5...

19-20 cool down(6.3)
~And more speed work options.. fartlek, tempo... 

P90X and Half Training

Sunday - P90X2 CORE + LONG RUN
SPEED Monday - P90X BACK AND BI + SPEED WORK (Body For Life HIIT, hill repeats, intervals, tempo, fartlek...)
Tuesday - P90X2 PLYOCIDE - NO RUN DAY
Wednesday - SPIN + RUN= BRICK
Thursday - CHEST AND ARMS + RUN
Friday - LEGS AND BACK + RUN
Saturday - YOGA - NO RUN DAY

                 

Evera’s  Recovery Smoothie
~Breakfast, pre-run, mid-meals or recovery ~

 WATER: 12-16oz of water

 SOFT FRUIT: ½ banana or ½ avocado

 FRUIT: ½ - ¾ C frozen berries (Trader Joe’s Very Cherry blend &/or 8-12 frozen dark cherries "Montmorency" cherries)

 20-25g PROTEIN: Protein powder (Chocolate whey, pea, egg or hemp)  I use NOW all natural Pure Isolate

 SUPERFOODS: 1 scoop of greens powder (Amazing Grass or Green Vibrance),  the chocolate is AWESOME! AMAZING GRASS INFO - Also, handfuls of organic spinach

       HEALTHY FAT: such as: 1-3 t coconut oil, Udo’s oil, safflower oil or flax.. Fat oils the machine. 

~For that extra kick & for pre-recovery: mix 1 t Maca powder with 8 oz water- drink before smoothie

~For recovery: take 6g Spirullina plus 6g Chlorella- with water

~For energy and extra nutrients: Add 1 T Salba seeds OR soak 1 T of Salba in 12oz water overnight to make Salba Milk and use in place of water

~For extra carbs after a long run or when making a meal: Add 1 T peanut butter and ½ C rolled oats

Important Note: drink around the same time as taking Omega-3 fish oil (DHA/EPA) EFA’s 

NOTES:

~Astaxanthin: For longevity, anti aging, improved brain and heart function, endurance, performance and recovery. A deep red-colored phytonutrient synthesized by microalgae called Haematococcus. It is what gives Salmon, and other seafood, their pink color and allows them the endurance and power to swim against the current- without it, they cannot. It also increases life span and repairs tissue damage. When harvested from the algae and concentrated into a liquid, astaxanthin becomes the most powerful antioxidant known in the natural world.  Start taking 4 mg, 3-4 times a day, 12 weeks before endurance activity.  Fat soluble, so take with fish oil.

~Greens: (Chlorella and Spirulina) alkaline the body and rid of lactic acid and waste. They also: repair damaged muscles and provide essential amino acids; along with being a natural anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. I take these alone and in Green Vibrance or Amazing Grass green food. 

~Maca: (tastes HORRIBLE) is also an excellent food to help speed recovery and promote energy. Grown in the Peruvian highlands, maca is a turnip-like root vegetable. Available at many health food stores in powdered form, maca helps to nourish and rejuvenate the adrenal glands. After training or any other type of stress, the adrenals become fatigued. Stress, either mental or physical, affects the hypothalamus, causing the adrenal glands to increase the production of cortisol (the stress hormone). As we were not designed to function under long-term stress, continued high levels of cortisol have a detrimental effect upon our health. Maca is a powerful adaptogen, which by definition is a substance (food or nutritive herb), which brings the body to a heightened state of resistance to disease through physiological and emotional health. Plants known as "adaptogens" are known to: raise the non-specific resistance to disease, be capable of normalizing functions in the body even in disease states, be non-toxic and harmless to any organ of the body, and be safe for ingestion for long periods as a nutritive for preventative purposes. Also it is “natures Viagra”!

~Salba and White Chia: are the richest whole food source of Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber found in nature. Two tablespoons of these tiny little white seeds deliver a daily dose of: fiber, protein, calcium, ALA EFA’s and more.

~Extra Virgin Coconut Oil: (I use this on/in everything) is a powerful, nutritious, raw food with many healing uses. Coconut oil is 64% medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which burn as energy quickly rather storing in the body as fat (especially belly fat) like the long-chains.

~Dark Cherries:  The phytochemicals (in particular: anthocyanins) found in dark Montmorency cherries have anti-inflammatory and antioxidating properties, which the research has shown to be effective in helping people recover from strenuous physical activity.

~Protein: will help with muscle repair.

~Drinking pickle juice the day before will help you not to cramp up during the race.  Don’t know if this is true or not, but it works and has become my pre race tradition!

~Starting a week before the race drink extra water.

~REMEMBER: Recovery begins before the race does.

SWEET SPINACH BROWN RICE PASTA

1 sweet onion, diced

1 package of organic mushrooms, diced

1-2 T minced garlic 

1 t dried basil

1 t dried oregano

1/2 of a Bag of Trader Joe's frozen, loose leaf, chopped organic spinach 

3 fresh diced tomatoes (or 1 can diced tomatoes, drained and rinsed)

1 big can plum tomatoes with basil, puree in blender

1 T organic brown sugar 

1/2 of a Bag Trader Joe Brown Rice Fusilli Pasta, cooked for 10 minutes

1 C Trader Joe 4% low-fat Cottage Cheese, top just before serving

Salt and pepper to taste

~Add onions, mushrooms and garlic to 1 T EVOO and 1 T butter

~Add diced mushrooms and herbs.  Saute until veggies are soft.

~Add frozen spinach and cook through

~Cook brown rice pasta for ten minutes and let sit.

~Puree plum tomatoes in the blender and add in brown sugar.  Let sit.

~Add in tomatoes, pasta, puree and salt to sauteed veggies.

~Serve in a big bowl and top with cottage cheese.

~May add: 1 lb Publix Greenwise Mild Italian Organic Chicken Sausage (cook in oven on 350 for 45 minutes to an hour, then dice up and add to pasta).

"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD"

I happened upon Sue Becker's CD: "The Bread of Idleness" and it resonated with me.  The C.D., free at Bread Beckers, discusses: some of the nutritional science behind wheat grains, the many health benefits of freshly milled flour along with biblical correlations regarding food. Building a stronger immunity, living with more energy and relieving constipation are just some of the physical benefits discussed. I was ready to go GLUTEN FREE until I heard Sue Becker speak and was encouraged to look deeper. I highly recommend listening to the CD and doing a little research.

"Of the 44 known essential nutrients needed by our bodies and naturally obtained from foods, only 4 are missing from wheat-- vitamin A, B_12, and C, and the mineral iodine."  Bread, made with freshly milled wheat, contains almost all of your daily essential nutrients needed.  It is so important to mill and bake right away.  Within 3 days of milling flour 90% of the nutrients are lost due to oxidation. Once the bread is baked, with the fresh milled grains/beans, the healthful nutrients are locked in!  One point in the lecture, which spoke to me, was one regarding what wheat producers do with the germ and bran of the grains (after they separate it to make the soft white flour).  Producers (doing what is best for their pocketbook) sell the germ and bran to cattle ranchers for high protein feed.  When asked, "Well, what would happen if you gave the people the germ and bran- and gave the cattle the white flour??" The rancher replied, "Well.....(pause).....the cattle would die". 

Think about that:

The
       Cattle
                 Would
                             Die

Now... don't get me wrong, I love my Sunbeam bread, but 95% of the time, I buy "whole grain".  Recently I told someone, that I felt it was all so processed- I might as well eat the yummy Sunbeam for my fresh tomato sandwiches... maybe my gut feeling was correct. 

"Today, commercially milled flour, whether whole grain, whole wheat or white, is all milled the same way...In the past 10 years or so, with the increasing demand for a return to whole grain flour a legal standard was developed for products labeled "whole grain".  "Whole grain" therefore is a legal term and must meet a legal standard of fiber to flour ratio.  Commercially milled whole grain flour, however, is "produced" by recombining the bran and germ with the white flour according to this legal standard.  This is not necessarily the product you would get if you simply ground the grain and used the flour in its entirety with out any separating and recombining." 

But this is more than just about bread.  The CD, and article discuss the importance of "gathering the manna". I found the article to be informative as well as thought provoking. "Lord seeing the multitudes and being deeply moved – he had compassion on them because they were bewildered, harassed, distressed and dejected – like sheep without a shepherd”. ~Matthew 9:36

MY THOUGHTS

There are two parts, the physical part and the spiritual part, of what it means to make bread. Our energies are put in so many different places these days.  We (and food) are stretched thin.  So much of what we are/eat is broken down, over processed, and low quality.  We are all so "busy". 

Something we need is missing.  I don't think I'm alone in feeling a bit "over-processed" "bewildered" and "distressed" lately. Maybe the answer to many emotional and physical aliments is right in front of us? We create whatever life we choose to have for ourselves. Are we choosing whole? Or settling for pieces? Are we giving whole? Or giving pieces? We should take the time to create our own food and protect our most precious resources: food and water. We should spend the bulk of our money on healthy, organic food.  If wholesome food is "too expensive"...while I afford an iPhone and cable...... then I need to seriously rethink my priorities. 

God created the food we need, in perfect design. With GMO's on the rise we are doing damage to the Earth's food that we will not be able to undo.  I believe we are facing a time when getting back to basics may be a necessity- for the good of us and the good of the Earth's food supply.  Now, I'm not saying milling my own grains and baking homemade bread is the answer to the worlds (or even my) problems but I do believe it offers many healthful benefits we need- especially with heart disease, cancer and obesity on the rise.  

"Give us this day our daily bread".  Separation causes weakness ...but whole is strong.  A bucket of grains can last for 100's, even thousands, of years.  Kernels of wheat found in Egyptian pyramids were able to sprout 4,000 years after being buried! Wheat is one of the only foods that is both the fruit and the seed.  It only spoils after being milled and separated.  

Few of us question the quality (and seek to know what's really in our food and water).  It is OUR duty to take on the responsibility of providing food (and protection) for ourselves and our family. Not because we are fearful, but instead because we are responsible for co-creating a beautiful, good, safe and abundant world. 

Something to think about: We look to the government for guidance, the grocery store for food and the police for protection.  I am grateful for these services, but what if these things, which we have become so dependent and reliant on... are one day not there?  If the grocery stores were closed for a couple weeks... Could we provide for ourselves and our family? Ya gotta admit- it's not the worst idea in the world to know how to fend for yourself. 35 pounds of organic wheat (with essential nutrients stored within the grain), REAL salt, 12 lbs of honey, and a good water filter offer comfort if the power were out for a week or so.  Ok... that was gloomy.  Back to fun bread making with the kids... 

I mill my own grains (and beans) which allows me to feed my family whole grains with nutrients. We have not bought any store bought bread, muffins, pancakes, grits ... and can tell a huge difference!  We eat whole grains at EVERY meal. 

Together, we are creating wholesome food, 

precious memories and turning something simple, 

like eating bread,  into something spiritual.  

Basic Bread Recipe 

1 1/2 C HOT water

1/3 C EVOO

1/3 C local honey

2 t REAL salt

4-4 1/2 C fresh milled flour (3 C grains = 4 C flour)

1 T rice bran

1/2 C flax or Salba, optional

1 T active dry yeast

~Grind flour: (I use 2 C Hard Red, and 1 C Kamut) 

~Stir: hot water, honey, oil, and salt.  Add half the flour and the rice bran.  Stir well.  Add 1 T yeast and 2 more cups of flour and mix until you have soft dough.
~Kneed the dough on a flour surface for 5-6 minutes.
~Place in glass bowl, cover with flour cloth and let rise in a warm place (set outside or use proofing setting on oven).

~When the dough has risen to double the size, punch down (my kids favorite part) and kneed a couple times.

~Let rise again to double the size.

~Punch down and shape. Place in a 2lb bread pan (I use USA Brand).  Let rise a 3rd time.

~Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Cool a bit, remove from pan.  Spread a bit of butter or EVOO on the top and sprinkle with pink Himalayan or REAL salt.  Continue to cool on a rack for hours.

MUFFINS

Mix dry:

1 1/3 C grains: Hard red, Ezekiel blend, Hard white, Spelt, Kamut (=2 C fresh milled flour)

1 t REAL salt

1 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1/2 C honey or Sucanat with honey

Mix and add liquids:

1 cup buttermilk (1 Cup sweet-milk plus 1 T Apple Cider vinegar and let sit until thick)

1 egg

1/2 C safflower oil or applesauce

1 t vanilla or almond extract

PUMPKIN:

Add 1-2 C organic  mashed pumpkin and 1 t pumpkin spice, Trader Joe's and 1/2 C chocolate chips (Trader Joe's)

BANANA:

1-2 C mashed banana and 1/2 C chocolate chips (Trader Joe's)

BLUEBERRY:

1 C blueberries, mashed

CHEESE:

No extract, add 2 C cheese and some herbs (rosemary, parsley... )

~Mix wet and dry ingredients and stir.  Bake in 12 cup USA muffin pan at 400 for 17 minutes. 

PANCAKES 

makes a ton, 1/2 recipe for small crowds

Mix dry:

2 C grains: Hard red, Ezekiel blend, Hard white, Spelt, Kamut (=3 C fresh milled flour)

1 t REAL salt

1 t baking powder

2 t baking soda

Mix and add liquids:

3 cup buttermilk (1 Cup sweetmilk plus 1 T Apple Cider vinegar and let sit until thick)

4 egg

1/3 C oil 

1 t vanilla or almond extract

MY KIDS LOVE THIS LITTLE BREAD

1 1/4 cups hot water (105-115F)

2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey
2 cup whole wheat flour- freshly milled (1 1/3 C grains)
1 cup whole rolled oats (not instant oats)
1 ½ teaspoons REAL sea salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted, for brushing

~In a medium bowl, sprinkle the yeast onto the warm water and stir until the yeast dissolves. Stir in the honey and set aside for a few minutes, until the yeast blooms and swells a bit - 5 - 10 minutes.
~In the meantime, mix the flour, oats, and salt in a large bowl. Add the wet mixture to the dry and stir very well.
~Brush an 8-cup loaf pan generously with some of the melted butter. Turn the dough into the tin, cover with a clean, slightly damp cloth, and set in a warm place for 30 minutes, to rise.
~Preheat the oven to 350, with a rack in the middle. When ready, bake the bread for 35-40 minutes, until golden and pulling away from the sides of the pan. I finish things up by leaving the bread under the broiler for just a heartbeat - to give the top a bit deeper color. Remove from oven, and turn the bread out of the pan quickly.
~Let it cool on a rack so it doesn't steam in the pan. Serve warm, slathered with butter.

BREAKFAST BANANA CAKE
By Bread Beckers

1 and 1/3 C freshly milled soft wheat flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 large egg
3 T melted butter
1/3 C honey
2 large mashed bananas
1 t vanilla or almond extract

~Stir together dry ingredients.  Combine egg, butter, honey, bananas and vanilla and beat until well blended.
~Add dry and web minutes and beat until blended.  Spread batter into greased 9" pan. 
~Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool in pan. Remove from pan and cool on rack.   

CRANBERRY BREAD ~ My Favorite!!!

From the kitchen of my Grandma, Barbara Veith

4 C whole wheat flour, freshly milled (3 C grains)                  

2 t baking soda                                                  

2 t REAL salt                                                     

1/2 C Sucanat                                                   
1/2 C honey, sage or light   (or Sucant with honey)                                                  

2 eggs, beaten

1 t vanilla
1 1/3 C milk
A stick of butter, (1/2 C) melted
2 C cranberries
Chopped pecans (optional)

~Mix dry ingredients before adding wet ingredients.

~Pour into (2) 4x8 greased and floured loaf pans.

~Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until wooden toothpick comes out clean.

~Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pans. Keep in refrigerator and serve with cream cheese!  

  

 

 

  

   

Food Matters

Food, INC.

Hungry For Change

Bread Beckers

CHAKRAS

"PEACE - it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.  It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." -Unknown  


Along with many other people, I believe physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health are all tightly intertwined. Psychosomatic Wellness is so important.  Whole = mind, body, emotions and spirit in harmony. Recently, I experienced some "challenging times" (as we all do) which allowed for a bit of exploration and a little new found awareness. I was familiar with the energy systems called Chakras, but wanting to know more, I attended a "Lighting up the Chakras" workshop.  I found the workshop to be very interesting and extremely helpful so I decided to keep on with my studies and practice of it. Yoga, Chakra work, music, incense, prayer, meditation and getting back to some basics allowed me to "RESET".  How wonderful to have such a diverse and plentiful world with so many different ways to look at things.  

Chakras: 
***Chakra is Sanskrit for "wheel" (spinning) or "disk" (spinning light) and signifies one of the seven major energy centers in the body.
***Each of the centers correlates to major nerve ganglia branching forth from the spinal colomn.
***There are 9 (7 major) centers of energy that effect your well being.
***The energy flows on paths known as meridians which have pressure points.  See below, tapping play for kids.  
***The Chakras correlate to specific: colors, sounds, parts of body, emotions, glands and organs, senses, Earth elements, particular types of food, and more.   
***The 7 Chakras form the energetic basis of your: security, power, relationships, love, truth, insight, and enlightenment.

My Experience

Emotionally, The 1st/ROOT Chakra (Muladhara) has to do with: survival, stability, security, safety, feelings about home, simplicity, taking care of yourself/others, practical needs, standing up for yourself and one's right to be here. Indications the Root Chakra may be "off" or blocked, are experiencing feelings of: fear, anxiety and the "FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE". This resonated with me.  

The body parts associated with the root Chakra are:
~The adrenal gland- To help regulate the gland and Cortisol levels, take: an adaptogen (maca root or licorice root) and extra vitamin C. Eat: extra protein, salmon 2x week, nuts, deep ocean fish and red foods.  Avoid caffeine  Additional adaptogenic herbs include: Siberian Ginseng, Astragalus, Ashwagandha, Schizandra, Wild Yam, and Dandelion Root. Click here to read about Adrenal Imbalance
~Legs, bones- Minerals including Magnesium /Calcium Magnesium, Calm by Peter Gillham
~Colon- TRIPHALA for an immunity booster, a blood cleanser, detox, weight loss, sluggish metabolism, to strengthen hair roots/for hair growth, and for stress relief. The word ‘triphala’ comes from Sanskrit and literally means ‘three fruits.’ This name comes from the fact that triphala is comprised of three Ayurvedic components: Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), all of which are known to have beneficial effects on our health. However, these three ingredients are known to be even more powerful when taken together than when taken alone. Therefore, these three ingredients are traditionally mixed together to form triphala. I take: Planetary Herbs Triphala.
~Skin issues and/or Hair loss- Take: Triphala, Biotin and Silica

I found it interesting that, women who experience a hair issues, may have an unbalanced Root Chakra regarding feelings about security and home. 

Physically, not only have I had some hair issues lately, I have had a bad "twitch" in my leg for 3 years ROOTing down from an annular tear and two pinched nerves at the base of my spine. The placement of the tear causes involuntary nerve firings that: wakes me up at night, is painful and causes spasms/ numbness/ tingling and weakness down my right leg. I actually video taped my calf last week because you can see it moving, pulsing and twitching like there's an alien in there.  I have been on medicine, (which I quickly quit), was sent to physical therapy, was tested for MS, had an cortisone epidural (bad idea), and was recommended back surgery (no thanks).  3 orthopedics and my neurologist told me there was not much I could do about the firing nerve.  Eventually, if I started to have loss of feeling, I would need surgery to try and avoid any sort of paralysis in that area (NOT something I was interested in "waiting" for).   
We are more than just our physical body, so why would we ever only treat just our physical body?  Since doing some deep breathing/meditative Chakra work (which I will continue to do and learn about), I have had little to no involuntary nerve firing!  Impressive and interesting to say the least.

Improving a three year old back/leg ailment: AWESOME!! 
Feeling relaxed, balanced and more at peace: EVEN BETTER!!! 

Are you in touch with your Chakras?

Have you ever had a "gut feeling" about something that's later turned out to be true? Or "butterflies in your stomach"? Ever have "open-hearted" conversation? Ever encountered a situation that's made you "hot under the collar"? Or a person who is "a pain in the neck"? Ever had a thought, "off the top of your head"? Usually you naturally touch, guard, crouch or lean in to a Chakra that is effected.  Even an old emotional or physical injury, can cause a lean, tilt or subtle natural guarding of a a blocked Chakra.  I am learning to pay attention to areas of my body that tingle, hurt, and/or cause my hands/attention to a certain area.  

Chakra meditations, healing music (quartz crystal bowls), visualizations and Yoga can help balance your Chakras. One very simple way is to sit or lay clam and relaxed. Clear your mind and become very still.  I love the calm relaxing music of Crystal Bowls or Deuter in the background. Incense (a scent I love), also helps me to relax. First, touch the 1st/Root Chakra and breath very slow and deep, imagining bright spinning red light filling the space of the area as the Chakra opens. Next, move to the 2nd/Sacral/orange... Continue, with meditation as you move from Root to Crown. 

You can also energize your Chakras by stimulating the associated sense, for example: smell-1st/root Chakra. Surrounding yourself with the color of the particular Chakra can also energize it.  You can do this by eating that color food, wearing the color and even taking a "color bath". Sunlight also helps energize your Chakras.   

DEEP THOUGHT MUSIC: 
Gandalf- Blossoms Falling Like Snow on iTunes
Deuter's Sound of Invisible Water (MY FAVORITE) and Escape from Gravity and Kindred Spirits (the whole CD on iTunes)

SOUND THERAPY:
Brainwave music, ALPHA, BETA, THETA, Steven Halpren
Healing music, Steven Halpren - Crystal bowls
24 hours of Classical music  (316 songs for 9.99 on iTunes)

International Therapy of Sound Association - Don Simmons

TAPPING:
Tapping Play, My kids taught me how to do this and I LOVE it!!