The Zen of Healing

As an added benefit of teaching for Starbucks corporate offices, their Wellness Division Manager seems to give the instructors dibs on some of the various corporate health fairs in the area. The booth is paid for, parking is validated, and you’re given the chance to expose people who might not otherwise take the plunge into [...]

Last Saturday night I was visiting with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Justin (as were our dogs). Justin is the CEO of Marx Foods. He (and his two brothers) make up the fifth generation in the Marx family business, offering only the finest quality foods, ranging from meat and mushrooms to truffles and [...]

Nature brings us into the Late Summer Season and the Earth Element. A key concept that it has to teach us is about nourishment. Yummy food is ONE way we nourish ourselves… so fill your belly with healthy delectable favorites and feed your soul!

As the leaves change and fall, I’m reminded of one of the Buddha’s core teachings – ALL things from moment to moment are impermanent, always changing. Each moment of life is another opportunity to receive, let go, start fresh!

Meridians that govern energy of Autumn (Metal) in our bodies are Lung and Colon. Physiologically, the Lungs are in charge of receiving our air – inspiration on one level. On a deeper level, in charge of receiving connection to Spirit or Highest Self. Allowing for clarity, acknowledgment of our own unique roles and gifts in [...]

With this time of year being about nourishment, one of the simplest things we can do is CHEW. Many traditions teach the benefits of 50-100 “chews” per bite. First, it is much easier on our entire system when we’re not asking it to break down huge pieces of food. Second, it encourages needing less in [...]

One of the aspects of the Spleen meridian is all about “movement”. It distributes the raw Qi broken cultivated by the Stomach to every corner of our body, mind, spirit… allowing us to really integrate our experiences. This is a great time of year to get something done that perhaps was being putting off. Especially [...]

The energetic taste of Earth is “sweet”. And so the functions of our Spleen/Stomach meridians can be kick-started by eating a bit of sweet food in the morning. Now, I’m not talking about a sugar-filled rampage! But more like a piece of fruit, or perhaps some agave (honey-like but with a lower glycemic index) lightly [...]

The Late Summer – a time of harvest – gathering nourishment and sustenance, an internal storehouse, so that we can smoothly transition through the autumn and winter leading to a flourishing rebirth in spring. We feed our bodies with food, our minds with the sights, sounds, colors, smells all around us, and our spirit with [...]

As our Stomach receives, chews, and processes food, our mind does as well… have you ever felt like you’re just chewing on the same thoughts? Being grounded in the Earth can reign in a mind that tends to overchew and actually allow new thoughts… and experiences to come in. When was the last time you [...]