chi


chi, or energy, iny,, in the body b stimulat- ing key points along its energy merid- ians, or pathways. While acupuncture uses needles that puncture the skin and requires a visit to a professional, acupressure stimulates via points on the


n the body by stimulat-


ing key points along its energy merid ians, or pathw y


s. While acupuncture -


uses needles that puncture the skin and requires a visit to a professional, acupressure stimulates via points on the skin’s surface and can be part of a self- skin’s surface and can be part of a self- care practice.care practice.


“When acupressure points are “When acupressure points are


stimulated, they release muscular ten- enhance the bod


to aid healing,” explains Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., founder of the Acupres- sure Institute, in Berkeley, California, and author of Acupressure’s Potent oints: A Guide to Self-Care for Com- mon Ailments. To


h, Ph.D., foundf


sure Institute, in Berkeley and author of Points:


mon Ailments. A Guide t


d s life force energy der of ththe Acupres- cupressure’’s otent


y,, California, to Selff--Care for o -mC


To relax the neck and relieve ten- sion headaches, use the point at the base of the skull, just w


o relax the neck and relie e tenv -


sion headaches, use the point at the base of the skull, just where the head attaches to the neck. Feel for the hollow between the two thick, v


attaches to the nec Fk. eel for the hollo between the two thick, vertical muscle masses—finding and pressing it will probably elicit a sigh. Put one or both thumbs in that ho o


pressure for one to two minutes. Refr


Refresh


Perhaps the problem isn’t stress, but a feeling of weariness or listlessness. According to Atlanta psychiatrist Marks, a medical doctor and author of the new book, of the new book, Master Yo


erhaps the problem isn’t stress, but a feeling of weariness or listlessness. According to Atla a


b anta psychiatrist Tracey


Marks, a medical doctor and author book, Master Your Sleep:Your Sleep:


Proven Methods Simplified, the con- tinuous flow of electronic informationtinuous flow of el in our smartphone lifestyles may be in our smartphone lifestyles may be overstimulating our brains. The first step to refreshing and replenishing is to log off. In short, she says, “Off-hours create better on-hours.


en Methods Simplified, the con- e ectronic information


erstimulating our br he first step


to refreshing and replenishing is to log off. In short, she says, “Off-hours create better on-hours.”


Go Solo Go Solo


Psychologist Ester Schaler Buchholz, ., author of


believes that “alo need. She suppo


orts this belief with onetime” is a basic


Psychologist Ester Schaler Buchholz, Ph.D., author of The Call of Solitude, believes that “alonetime” is a basic need. She supports this belief with a series of infant studies, analysis of historical and anthropological data, and resear


and rest bolster tthe immune system. “When we don’t get enough solitude,” she observes. “We get out of touch with ourselves; we get forgetful; we get sloppy.” We may also get angry, anxiousy,, anxious and depressed.


a series of infant studies, analysis of historical and anthropological data, and research examining how meditation and rest bolster the immune system. “When we don’t get enough solitude, she observes. “We get out of touc with ourselves; we get forgetful; we get slopp


examining how meditation e may


and depressed. Ta


Take a daily, refreshing, mini-re-y,, refreshing, mini-re-


treat by stepping away from the rest offrom the rest of www.naturalawakenings-houston.com


treat b stepping a acey


masses—finding and pressing it will probably elicit a sigh. Put one or both thumbs in that hollow and apply gentleoll w and apply gentle pressure for one to two minutes.


stimulated, they release muscular ten- sion, promote circulation of blood andsion, promote circulation of blood and enhance the body’s life force energy to aid healing,” explains Michael Reed G hPh


Sleep Sle eep


“Sleep ends up being one ofl“S eep ends up b ho


et, a resear


those things we see as expendable,t ose things we s says Marks. Ye stutudi


studies from Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine and other research institutions shows that it is crucial to your mental and physical health, as well as many of the body’s ma


ys Marks. Yet, a growing body of dies from Harv vision of Sleep institutio


crucial to y he


y


ealth, as well as many of the body’ major restorative functions, includingfunctions, incl tissue repair, muscle growth and protein synthesis. New findings by Beth Israel eaconess Medical Center even sho at the brain uses sleep to consolain uses sleep to consolidateidate memories and make them more acces- b e when we’re a ake.


tissue repair De


ajor restorati r,


c uding wth and protein


synthesis. New findings b Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center even show that the brtha me sibl


emories and make them more sible when we’re awake.


ad as


operating on a 16-hour battery, e acces-


“We should really think of ourselves as operating on a 16-hour battery,” Marks advises, because we must recharge our- selves in order to performwell. Signs of sleep depri ation include irritablemoods and an inability to concentrate.


vises, because wemust recharge our- selves in order to perform well. Signs of sleep deprivation include irritable moods and an inability to concentrate.


rout routine starts an hour beforehand. Putine starts an hour beforehand. Put away the work and turn off the com- puter. Stop drinking fluids. Take a warm bath or footbath and don pajamas. Read,


Marks’ Countdown to Bedtime y the work and turn offff the com-


Marks’ Countdown to Bedtime puter. Stop drinking fluids. Ta ake a warm


bath or footbath and don pajamas. Read, meditate or l meditate or listen to music to windisten to music to wind down. Adjust the bedroom temperature o between 68 and 74 degrees and turn offff all lights and electronics, co ering their LED displays. If it takes more than


down. Adjust the bedroom temperature t to between 68 and 74 degrees and turn off all lights and electronics, covering their LED displays. If it takes more than 30 minutes to fal 30 minutes to fall asleep, get out of bedl asleep, get out of bed and do something relaxing until you feel drowsy.


y. “If your mind is busy, write y, Get Outside Get Outside


Time and again, it has been proven that nature heals. One resear her, Un


rom the


the braitthat make us feel goodG ting outside is even better. Integrative Psychiatrist Henry Emmons, a physi- cian and author ofcian and author of The Chemis try of


Psychiatrist Henry Emmons, a phy -si The Chemistry of


n outside is even better. Integ p


hins in d. Get- grati


ime and again, it has been pro en that nature heals. One researcher, from ther, fr Uni ersity of Southern California, hasniversity of Southern California, has found that even just gazing at a natural lan


found that even just gazing at a natur al landscape, sunset or grove of trees from a window can acti ate endorph the b in h


and do something relaxing until y feel drowsy. “If your mind is busy, write out your thoughts on a problem-solving orksheet,” she suggests.


out your thoughts on a problem-solving worksheet,” she suggests.


y Marks r


”


Joy, explains that sunlight provides us with vitamin


D, which he notes, “ plays a


role in many physiological processes, including moods. tion: at least 30 m


without glasses, which can filter out healing components of sunlight. Neuroimmunologist and physi-


cian Esther Sternberg, author of ing Sp


Spaces: Th


“We should really think of ourselves Well-Being, points to an extensi of resear


role in many physiological processes, including moods.” Emmons’ prescrip-s ” Emmons’ prescrip- tion: at least 30 minutes outside daily,y, without glasses, which can filter out healing components of sunlight. Neuroimmunologist and physi-


minutes outside daily


cian Esther Sternberg, author of Heal Heal-- ing Spaces: The Science of Place and Wellell-Being, points to an extensive body of research showing that the colors, pat- terns and scents of natural environments affffect mental and physical well-being. She recommends spending time in gar- dens and growing your own plants, even if only a window box of herbs.


The Science of Place and showing that the colors, pat-


bod


terns and scents of natural environments affect mental and physical well-being. She recommends spending time in gar- dens and growing your own plants, even if only a window box of herbs.


r Release


Release Yo


something holding ou back. Some- times what you need is to let go o hatever’’s weighing you down—ev i if you don’t quite knowwhat it is. Here are feel-good ways to let go of physical and emotional stagnation.


You can’t mot move forward if y something holding y


forward if you’ve got n you back. Some-


times what you need is to let go off whatever s weigh


hing you down—even


f you don’t quite know what it is. Here are feel-good w ys to let go of physical and emotional stagnation.


Make Noise Make Noise


Many Eastern and Western sacred tradi- tions utilize the healing power of sound through chants, songs, hymns and


Many Eastern and


healing is solid. m as; but the


H Toealer


ndscape, sunset or gro e of trees from a window can activate endorphins in the brain that make us feel good. Get- ting


estern sacred tra -di


tions utilize the healing power of sound through chants, songs, hymns and mantras; but the science behind soundantr healing is solid. According to Sound Healer Tom Kenyon, the repetitive pat- terns of music and chant stimulate the reticular activating system in the brain, which can induce a mild, trancelike state. Making sounds and music is ev m ansformatti e than just listening. he w y music he


terns of music an reticular acti atin


ore tr


science behind sound According to Sound en on, the repetiti c


ng system in the br nd hant stimulate the


hllps us release


pat- ain,


hich can induce a mild, trancelike state. Making sounds and music is even more transformative than just listening. “The way music helps us release is that it helps us remember a little bi is that it helps us remember a little bitt more of who we are,” advises soprano and Sound Shaman Norma Gentile,


more of who we are,” ad vises sopr and Sound Shaman Norma Gentile,


February 2011 25 got


t the world for 15 minutes. Find a room with a doorin and turn off all elec- tronics… then read a book, write a le er,, meditate, or jr, meditate, or just close y is


he an


nd turn off all e nd a room with e orld for 15w


tronics… then re a book, write a let- tter


close your eyes and l listen to the silence.


ten to the silen o our e es ay


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