Reiki, running & raw foods

Hello lovely ones!

I appeared out of the shadows after a tough year and burrowed back into my mole hole again.
This year has been amazing however. Instead of hiding I have been busy working/training/dreaming/recovering and learning many new things.

One of the great tools that has helped my anxiety/phobia ridden mind is running.
I have always turned my nose up at runners, preferring to roll on the floor doing yoga, dancing or long walks. Being a parent has meant less time for luxurious yoga classes or scenic, long distance walks.
A dear friend took me for my first proper run ever. I bought an industrial strength shock absorbing sports bra in anticipation of the event (rather expensive, I must have known this would become a long term love affair).
We covered 8 kilometres on that run. I could hardly walk for a week afterwards but I felt like my light had been switched back on again.

Suddenly I was getting time to myself to sweat, push, let all the crazy thoughts out, feel the various parts of my body working together, test my so called limits and smash through them one at a time. The positive effects were numerous and I am still noticing new benefits as I go along. I charged myself with the goal of doing the Auckland half marathon this year. I dedicated most of my spare time to hitting the road and training hard. Having this kind of goal truly helped me to stay afloat and gave me a deep sense of purpose. 
The regular boost of endorphins and detoxifying sweat sessions resulted in a happier, healthier, fitter Mama who could run around with her daughter with a re-captured "care free" spirit.
The half marathon was one of the best days of my life! I felt like I was flying and finished well within my goal time.

Another wonderful thing in my life is reiki. I had completed the first and second reiki degrees and decided that this year I would train to be a reiki master. My wonderful teacher Uli had moved overseas but came back in August to do the training. There is a time of cleansing and reflection before, during and after the training. I enjoyed this immensely! I spent the fortnight before doing daily reiki sessions on myself, eating very simple plant based meals, lots of pure water and infusions and going to bed super early. For 21 days afterward I continued this routine. There was a lot to process and I felt a great release of old, useless stuff.
One of the great messages of reiki is "Healer, heal thy self".
By doing so, you create a positive ripple in the world.
Reiki is a wonderful treatment for anxiety and the effects of stress on the body. I am one of those people who has a very "physical" response to stress. Reiki has dramatically reduced the digestive distress and completely eliminated the shaking panic attacks I used to get. I would shake so violently I would be unable to walk and had no control over my muscles! So I have experienced first hand how effective reiki is in managing stress response and the cumulative beneficial effects it has on trauma recovery. My goal with the reiki master training is to begin to help others. Please do contact me if you would like to have a reiki session or to know more about it!

A little side note: Huia, my nearly 3 year old LOVES reiki. She asks for it on a regular basis. First, I ask her where she would like it and she will always take my hand and put it on her head while she closes her eyes. I have used reiki to help her sleep when she is teething or under the weather and she tends to like it just before bedtime. Bonus :)

And finally, raw foods! I ate a raw food diet for nearly 4 years until I was pregnant with my first child.
The more fresh/raw the food is, the happier/healthier/positive I am. It is not for everyone, and I don't think I will go back to eating only raw foods unless it is for healing purposes. I got into the habit of eating a lot more grains and heavy fats while I was training for the half marathon. This was quite disruptive on my poor tum tum and I found my energy levels drop significantly. I gently transitioned back to eating a high raw diet, still with plenty of cooked goodness in there, but the presence of dark leafy greens and mineral rich raw vegetables completely changes how I feel - physically and mentally.

I am greatly enjoying the approach of Christmas and reflecting upon the year that has been.
I highly encourage you all to get outside and move your precious bodies, eat nourishing, delicious, chocolate-laden foods and if you are stressed and worn out, do whatever you need to do to nurture yourselves. Massage, a swim in the sea, time alone with true friends, (come and see me for reiki!!), even just sitting with your feet on the grass for 10 minutes will do wonders.

Much love and peace to you all for the festive season.

Miss Le Harle

x

  


 

Epsom Salt Baths: Healing Time.

Ah the luxury and nourishment of a hot bath.
Something that busy folks and parents rarely have time for.
 
I hadn't had a bath in a very long time until a blocked duct (breast) sent me running for the epsom salts and the hottest water I could handle. Not only did these baths help heal my boobies, but as a pleasant side effect I noticed that my anxiety levels dropped significantly and I started to fall asleep hard and heavy at night.

I decided to continue bathing on a regular basis, increasing the amount of epsom salts and adding some immune boosting essential oils to the mix. I also discovered that if you cover yourself up with towels and a blanket after the event, you will continue to sweat things out as if in a sauna. After a month or so of regular soaking in epsom salts, I literally feel like a new person.
The deep drawing action of the salts combined with heat, steam and getting to have a lie down = the best kind of meditation that I have ever experienced. The mind is coaxed quiet and some lovely insights have occurred during the sweat out.

Here is a breakdown of these lovely salts and how to bathe yourself into love land:

• Epsom salt is hydrated magnesium sulfate.
• Magnesium and sulfate are often poorly absorbed through the stomach but easily absorbed through the skin. 
• Having sufficient magnesium and sulfate levels provide many health benefits, (here are some as listed on the website of the Epsom Salt Industry Council. See REF.)
• Improved heart and circulatory health
• Flushed toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Improved nerve function by electrolyte regulation. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
• Relieved stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
• Reduced inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
• Improved oxygen use.
• Improved absorption of nutrients.
• Prevention or easing of migraine headaches.

Having the best bath experience:

If you are pregnant, nursing, have a heart condition or any other medical condition, PLEASE talk to your doctor first before trying this. 
 

• Start small and work your way up. Use 1/2 to 1 cup of salts and only stay in the bath for 10-12 minutes. You will feel drowsy and tired, almost drunk, and if you stay in too long you will begin to re-absorb the toxins that have been drawn out. 
• You will reach a point where your body tells you "It's time to get out!!" Listen to that signal. 
• Set an alarm on your phone or battery alarm clock just in case. Even when my family are around, I always set an alarm to make sure I get out at the right time. 
• Play around with water temperature. I notice that if the water is not hot enough, I don't get as many benefits. If it is too hot, drain some water out or have a bucket on hand to scoop some out to put on the garden (epsom salts are great for the soil!). 
• Once you are ready, start working your way up to 2-3 cups of salts and staying in a little longer. I currently soak for 16-17 minutes and use really hot water. 
• Make sure you have a bottle of water next to the bath for any pangs of thirst.
• OPTIONAL: Lay some towels and a blanket on your bed or couch. Lie down and cover yourself with towel then blanket and continue to sweat for a further 5-30 minutes. Continue to drink water as you will have sweated a lot. 
• You can rinse under the shower afterwards, but some say to let the mineral rich water soak in.
• Having this bath close to bed will help you have a wonderful sleep.
• These baths are great if you need an immune boost. Great for fighting off and soothing ills and chills.

Enjoying some delicious "me time" will make a world of difference. This does not take long and is totally manageable within the working day - even as a parent. I find that asking for and making the time out is just as beneficial as the bath itself.

Happy soaking!


REF: http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/about/

Reviving the good stuff

Hello again.

I have taken a break from this little blog space for nearly a year. I have had an interesting adventure into the land of anxiety and phobias, which landed my ass in the phobic trust's anxiety clinic being treated for post traumatic stress disorder. Trauma that is not dealt with sufficiently will often manifest as OCD, irrational phobias and varying levels of depression. I have always had charming and quirky fears and rituals that were laughed off and brushed aside. The birth of my first child provided a well needed shake up that caused a lot of these to rise to the surface in full glory to take hold of my entire thought structure.

I went from being a joyous being to a ball of mess to having full blown panic attacks and left unable to leave the house a lot of the time. I was terrified to my bones. I was so scared to be in the outside world and to be around other people that I seemed to disappear. As a result I made no effort to make time to spend with friends and suffered a complete loss of social nourishment. I am still trying to recover these relationships! If you are a friend of mine and you are reading this - I apologise from the bottom of my heart for not being in touch. Friendship is the most important thing in the world to me and a life without friends is very lonely indeed.

After a little therapy, a lot of self work and support from my beloved partner and my wildly happy daughter, I am finally through the clouds. I still get the odd day where I find myself falling back into old patterns. The difference now is that I can see it for what it is and have the tools to pull myself out. I am so happy to have found joy again that I am incredibly reluctant to let it go.

I look forward to getting back to sharing the delicious things in life!
Stay tuned for recipes, tea appreciation and all things 'joy'