The Only Resolution You Need to Keep!

Keep this ONE resolution,

so all others can fall into place.

Get Acupuncture!

Here’s why…

Why are resolutions hard to keep?

Resolutions can seem futile and many people don’t want to put that pressure on themselves. Yet, somewhere in the back of our minds the changes we would like to make niggle away: exercise more, eat healthier, be more patient, less stressed, laugh more, drink less, spend better, quit smoking, be nicer and on and on… You want to make those changes, but it’s as if your wagon’s wheels can’t get out of the ruts they are comfortable in.

Why? It can take massive repetitions to create lasting change. Trying to shift things when your energy is depleted, blocked or chaotic can make even small changes seem like climbing Mt. Everest.

I invite you to make this one resolution and watch how your life can change. 

Change Your Energy, Change Your Life

Your energy (or ‘Chi’ in Chinese Medicine) is the steering wheel to the rest of your life. If it knows where it is going and how to easily get there, it can lead you to the places within yourself where you would like to go.

There are only a few ways to replenish your Chi and bring you to a place of calm repose. One or two years of eating right, sleeping as much as you want, not working and eliminating stress can do it, but who has that luxury?

Eastern energy based exercises such as Tai Chi and Chi Kung can do that when practiced daily, but you still need to have enough Chi and motivation to do your exercises. So, you may need a ‘jump start’ to even start a daily routine.

This brings us to the path of least resistance and ease – Receive Acupuncture!

Why? Acupuncture needles deeply harmonize the lines of energy that course through your body. Imagine these lines as rivers; they should be flowing peacefully. Not flooding, not in a drought and not damed up.

Is it a magic bullet? Yes and no. YES! By committing to regular treatments until your energy balances and starts to rebound. No, if you expect a lifetime of wear and tear to be completely changed in one session.

Here is the beauty: Once your Chi is flowing smoothly, you’ll have more energy and motivation to make lifestyle choices that serve your well-being (and keep those resolutions)!

An investment in your Chi is a long-term investment in your life!

Insurance Coverage and HSAs

It’s a new year and if your plan did not previously cover all or part of the cost of your visits, it may now. I can contact your insurance carrier to determine your latest eligibility.

Acupuncture is HSA eligible. You can pay for your treatments using your HSA account.

Contact Info

Angela is back in New York City! She maintains a practice combining acupuncture, herbal medicine and yoga instruction. She is currently accepting new patients.

www.bewellnyc.com

bewellnyc@gmail.com

www.acupuncturenyc.net

 

 

Soul Massage – A reminder that body, mind and spirit are one.

It was only Monday, the barometric pressure was dropping and my spirits were sinking along with it. Another snowstorm was moving in. For the last couple of weeks, besides the snow and cold, I was adding things to my to do list at a faster pace than I could cross them off. Taxes, ugh! Dentist, double ugg!

 

The extra hours at my computer were wreaking havoc on my right neck and shoulder, so I received a couple of massages to work out the incessant hours of typing. They helped, but I still needed to apply a heating pad and do self-massage at bedtime to keep the pain from creeping back in.

 

That afternoon, I got a text from my friend, Roberta: Did I want to stop by for an early dinner? She was making green chile, one of my favorite dishes. My first impulse was to respond with, “I wish I could, but I’m too swamped.” But the words ‘green chile’ made me think twice. As the afternoon progressed and I was sitting in a café at my computer, my body aching, I finally texted her back, “Now that is an offer I can’t refuse.”

At 5:00 I was relieved to close my computer. When I walked into Roberta’s welcoming kitchen, the aroma hit me like a tonic. We started talking about everything except work. As much as I love the excitement and creativity of starting the Boulder Massage Therapy Institute, in my enthusiasm, I was losing balance in my life. Something I always preached to my students about.

I sat on the kitchen stool while Roberta prepared our dinner. She had been working just as hard on her own projects, so we were both happy for the distraction. We toasted to friendship and began eating. Halfway through my savory bowl of ‘green gold’, I noticed that the tension in my neck and shoulder was unexpectedly melting away, like butter on a warm plate.

By the time I got into my car a couple of hours later, I was amazed that I was virtually pain-free. That night, I slumbered like a bear, awoke the next morning with less pain than I had had in weeks, ready to face another snowy day and grateful for the reminder that body, mind and spirit are indeed one.

Octogenarian Massage

Betty is an octogenarian. She is the mother of one of my oldest friends, Susan. And she is suffering from the later stages of dementia. Susan asked me to give her mom a massage and I agreed. When I placed my hands on Betty, I sensed the history held in her body; the joys and disappointments from which no life escapes.

Photo by Tristan Le on Pexels.com

Betty was around my age when I first met her almost 30 years ago. I was a young woman, recently out of massage school. She was a woman in her mid-life; gracious, sharp, kind and upright. Massaging her shoulders, now significantly rounder over, raised compassion of how time waits for no one. As my hands moved fluidly across that area, over and I over I heard her say, “That feels so good. That feels so good.”

From years of experience, my hands massaged effortlessly as I let my mind wander back in time – 84 years ago. Has there been another generation who has seen the amount of change in the way we live life? A youth going back to an era of shared televisions and telephone party lines, if there were any at all. I understood how life could be confusing to Betty.

When I moved the sheet away from her legs, exposing the purplish lines of spider veins tattooing her skin, I wondered what world I might face if I live another 30 years.

By this time, Betty had stopped repeating how good the massage felt. Instead, I watched the rise and fall of her chest, indicating she was in a peaceful slumber. As I massaged toes that are now permanently curled and twisted, I admired the beauty of her red painted toenails.

It was interesting to note how massaging a body of so many years, heightened my interest and awareness of the details; some of which I had no longer paid attention to in working with bodies less worn by life. I felt my heart open to both the fragility and resiliency of the human body and mind. 84 years. Not many other humans, or mechanical objects, can boast that.

As I closed the massage, I was grateful for being trained in a job where so often I receive as much as I give.

 

 

 

 

 

The Boulder Massage Therapy Institute

The power of touch and the birth of a massage school…

With the opening of Boulder’s new massage school, the Boulder Massage Therapy Institute, some interesting questions arise: Is this a resurrection of the school that closed? Will it be in the same building? Why are you motivated to do this?

Let’s start with saying that this is a brand new school, influenced by, but not affiliated with any other school in Boulder. For me, and for many others, the closing of the massage school that served Boulder for 38 years was sad news. As a student, and then as a faculty member, the school impacted my life in profound ways that are still with me today.

Boulder’s new massage school

The beauty of a massage school education is the way it deeply, and positively, impacts the lives of its attendees. I still get love notes from former students of mine that reach back 20 years. And, like me, I hear how grateful they are to have had the opportunity to study massage. This speaks volumes to the undeniable power of touch.

One study on touch that dates back to the 1950’s is Harry Harlow’s controversial (and then revolutionary) studies of Rhesus monkeys. Baby monkeys chose to cling to wire mothers covered in cloth, who did not provide them with food, over uncovered wire mothers who did. He identified how this attachment to the cloth mother provided nourishment on a psychological level. Touch is food: nourishment of the less visible aspects of who we are as human beings.

This isn’t to say attending massage school is all a smooth journey. Touch, with all its power, can also probe at us in unexpected ways and people’s comfort zones can be challenged. Additionally, there are the academic rigors of anatomy, physiology and pathology. Despite these challenges, there is a glow and a transformation for the vast majority of participants of a massage therapy program.

I entered massage school at age 22 and have had a career that weaves the healing arts with educational and administrative roles ever since. About 10 years after graduating, I opened a massage school. It was successful from day one, but I was still young and had other goals and adventures ahead. Professionally, I went on to attend an Oriental Medicine (OM) program and then worked in upper level administration roles at two OM schools.

That is all to steer the reader back to the initial question: Why open a massage school? One reason is that while I learned a lot during my time at OM schools, and in my work for the national organization who accredits them (ACAOM), I noticed myself looking around for that glow, that metamorphosis I had grown so accustomed to seeing.

The second reason, sorry, I’m going to use a cliché here (watch my ruby slippers): There is no place like home. And I mean this in two regards; in coming back to what so dramatically and beneficially shaped the form of my life, and in returning to the town that, I believe, might still be feeling the impact of what has been lost.

Alumni lost their home base, future students lost an awesome place to study, and the community of Boulder lost a terrific teaching clinic, which positively impacted the lives (and bodies) of so many who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford massage.

The Boulder Massage Therapy Institute is honored to continue the tradition of offering a community clinic while educating some of the finest therapists in the United States, right here in this special place, Boulder, Colorado.

UPDATE: Angela ran BMTI until 2018 when she sold it in order to move back to New York City where she is closer to family. She now has a practice offering acupuncture, herbal medicine and yoga instruction. Visit www.acupuncturenyc.net for more information.

Detoxification Program – Day Ten

Yeah! I made it! The final day of my detoxification program has arrived. It is a bit anticlimactic because like day one, day ten is a transition day, meaning I don’t take any more medical food or AdvaClear. The focus at this stage is to gradually reintroduce suspect foods back into the diet.

If you have the patience, this can be a side benefit of doing the detox. Each 24-48 hours add a new food and take note of how you feel. For example, if you think you might have a wheat intolerance/allergy, eat something with wheat and notice how your body responds over the next day or two. If you have an adverse reaction, then you have pinpointed the culprit. If not, try introducing another food, like dairy. Again, wait and see what happens. It does take diligence, but if you have been suffering, it will be worth it.

The liver is the toxin filter for the body and this doing this program is similar to changing the air filter on an air conditioner or car – your body will run better and more efficiently. Chinese Medicine says that if the chi, or energy, in the liver is not flowing properly both the body and the emotions get stuck. Freeing up the liver from toxic burden also helps free up anger and frustration that are the challenges of the liver. Instead, you may have more clarity and vision or just feel more laid back.

Overall, I feel that doing this detox was worth the effort and really not difficult, just an adjustment from the usual routine. The major results for me have been 1) normalized stomach acidity with a decrease in acid-reflux symptoms, 2) clarity of thinking, 3) better elimination and 4) a feeling of revitalization. It is also the perfect opportunity to reset your dietary choices.

If you are inspired to do this specific detoxification program, I can  help you get the right products along with the complete written program to follow. If you do a detox, please add to the comments to each day’s blog post. It would be fun to hear how it goes.

Thanks for joining me these ten days!

Detoxification Program – Day Nine

It is day nine of my detoxification program and I have mixed feeling about it ending. I am enjoying waking up more refreshed and being more clear-headed, but I have to admit that a hamburger is sounding pretty good right now!

Today I decided to take the detoxification process one step further by getting a colonic. I had always wanted to try one, but it was something I was hesitant about. I received it at Provence Wellness Center in Manhattan and had a positive experience.

Colonics are a way to help move along the elimination process and give the colon a thorough cleansing. Some say that the process dates back to ancient Egypt when colonics were performed in the Nile river. Thankfully, they have come a long way since then and are a more advanced, sterile process. Benefits are said to include removing old, hardened, stuck waste material, improving ph balance, and helping with constipation.

Before we got started, my therapist thoroughly explained the process. She warned it would be more weird, unusual, or different, rather than painful. I agree, it was unlike anything I had experienced. Like most treatments, the therapist has a lot to do with the experience and mine was terrific. The appointment lasted an hour and for 45 minutes of that I was hooked up to the machine while she massaged my abdomen.

Afterwards I felt lighter and definitely ‘cleaned out’. The therapist recommended I come back for one more to help finish the process. I haven’t decided if I will do that yet.

Today I was able to add back legumes and nuts plus some grains (quinoa, millet and buckwheat). I have also cut back to two scoops of the protein powder and continued with one AdvaClear per scoop. I made a millet breakfast porridge, had nuts for snacks and ate black beans and veggies for my main meals. I have just about crossed the finish line!

Detoxification Program – Day Eight

It is day eight and the fun part of the detox begins. I have a sense of accomplishment for getting through the harder days, and I get to add some variety back into my diet.

The reintroduction of food is about as slow as was the elimination, except in reverse order. Today I can add white rice, all vegetables and all fruits.

The first thing I ate was a slice of juicy cantaloupe. Mmmmm, it tasted heavenly. Then I made porridge of white rice with banana and raisins for natural sweetness, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. I used about twice the usual amount of water to make it more congee-like. Congee (also known as Jook) is Chinese medicine’s version of ‘medical food’.

The base for congee is rice that has been cooked for extended periods of time in up to six times the amount of water typically used. Various types of herbs, meats, fruits, nuts or veggies are added, depending on the desired effect.

Congee is perfect for people who have weak digestive systems or are convalescing. The premise is that it is so easily digested that the body’s energies can be used to focus on healing. I didn’t have the patience to wait for mine to cook all day, so after about 30 minutes, I thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

Later in the day I made a simple version of guacamole with avocado and tomato, then dipped baby carrots in it for a yummy snack. For dinner, I had rice with mixed sautéed veggies and added blueberries to my shakes.

Today I decreased my medical food to two scoops three times a day, and am still taking one AdvaClear per scoop. In addition to a renewed clarity of thinking, today I am feeling a bit giddy. I’m not sure what that is about, but it is kind of fun!

Detoxification Program – Day Seven

Doing a detox program can create temporary symptoms as toxins leave your body. A few items that might impact how you feel during a detox are:

1. Your overall health going into it.
2. Your diet. If you normally consume lots of processed or fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, or conventionally raised vegetables, meats and animal products, you may be more toxic. Even if you eat a 100% organic diet, but work with harsh chemicals on a daily basis, you may have a lot to detox.
3. Your past. While you might be eating ‘clean’ now, what about the past 20, 30 or 40+ years?
4. How often you detox. The more frequently you detox, the less you have to get rid of.

It is day seven of my detox and I am noticing a couple of shifts. I have had a few minor headaches, but I occasionally get headaches, so they may or may not be related to the detox. My acidic stomach has been calmer and I have been waking up more refreshed, yet at the same time, I don’t feel like being very active.

Today I’m following the same dietary guidelines as days five and six. I need a treat, so I make Brussels sprouts. I know, I know, I used to despise the little guys myself until I tried them roasted. Cut into quarters, and place in a heavy baking pan. Toss lightly with olive oil and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until soft and browned, maybe even a little crisp. Remove from oven and lightly sprinkle with thick balsamic vinegar and salt. You might be surprised.

Even though I know I can eat as much of the designated foods as I want, but my desire to eat has faded. Tomorrow I will start adding foods back and I have to admit, I am looking forward to it!

 

Detoxification Program – Day Six

It is day six of my detox program and I am over the hump! Today and tomorrow have the same limited food choices as Day Five. To my surprise, an interesting side-effect of restricting what I eat has been a feeling of gratitude. Most of the time, I take it for granted that I have such a large selection of readily available, clean, nutritious food. This is something that many people in the world don’t have.

According to the United Nation’s World Food Programme, 842 million people world-wide struggle with hunger every day. A staggering 3.1 million children die from nutrient related illnesses each year. This implies that people not only eat insufficient quantities of food, but what they are eating isn’t supplying the basic requirements needed to keep their bodies functioning properly. Daunting.

As I am in the middle of this detox, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to eat the same one or two items every day, day after day, year after year. I didn’t mean for this to turn into an advertisement to help feed the children, or to sponsor a child here in the US or abroad, although I do think it is an awesome way to contribute. Several organizations exist to help. Through Children’s International, it costs $22 per month to sponser a child, which might be less than is spent on lattes and frappuccinos.

Back to the detox: I am eating broccoli and kale for my meals, and snacking on organic pears, all of which I have access to an endless supply of. As I eat, I think of the reality of food across the planet and realize that a few days of this, for my own self-health promoting reasons, really isn’t anything to moan about. I am grateful for the abundance in my life.

Nonetheless, a little bored with just kale and broccoli, today I’ve added salads of spinach with green and red lettuce. I toss lightly with some olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt. And, of course, still drinking my medical food protein shake four times a day, with one AdvaClear per scoop and minimizing my activities.

 

Detoxification Program – Day Five

Today is the halfway point of my 10-day detox program and it is here where the rubber meets the road. For the next three days, the program permits a limited variety of food. As I mentioned in To Detox, or not to Detox? this is not about fasting or an extreme purge, but it still can get a little intense here in the middle!

During days 5-7, the program permits only the following foods:

• Raw Greens – This is limited to spinach, endive, plus romaine, green and red lettuces.
• Cruciferous Vegetables – This means veggies that belong to the Cruciferous family, which includes kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
• Apples and Pears – These can be whole or juiced. If you buy bottled or canned juice, check the label to make sure there isn’t any added sugar, fructose, etc. If you want to give it a sweeter flavor, try using stevia.

The protein powder is increased to two scoops, four times a day. One AdvaClear is still taken per scoop of protein powder. Metagenics refers to the UltraClear Plus PH as ‘medical food’ because the product not only supplies 15 grams of protein per two scoop serving, but is designed to aid in liver detoxification by providing micro- and macro-nutrients specifically geared for that job.

It is also well-balanced in terms of providing the nutrients to help your body eliminate toxins. I personally haven’t experienced any major changes in my elimination process. If that occurs, it could be more from increasing fruit and vegetable intake, rather than anything in the product designed to purge. So, while the food intake is narrow, proper nutrients are supplied by the medical food.

Okay, it might not prove to be the most exciting day in terms of mouth-watering deliciousness, but for a few days, I can handle it!