Monday, May 17, 2010

Events at Pavia: The Power of Group Energy

Last night was the fourth class in Brian Rainie's series of energy work events at Pavia. Ten women gathered together to learn more about spirit guides and the different energies and entities that surround us in our lives and how they can effect us. Brian has always told us that once a critical mass is reached at about seven people, a group can run its own energy, and the potential for new experiences, perceptions, and even new levels of healing truly takes off.

I have personally experienced how easy it felt to do healing work in the group setting of my Bodytalk classes and Reiki shares, whereas one-on-one work can sometimes feel like more of a challenge. In last night's class I was particularly aware of what an amazing opportunity group work presents. In the fun and welcoming environment of classes at Pavia, we all seem to be that much more capable of "getting out of our own way" and looking past blockages and beliefs that cloud our intuition.

I'm sure that most of the participants (myself included, certainly) started out the class thinking something along the lines of, "But I can't see spirit guides! How the heck will I know what's going on?" But when the entire class began to focus their energies together on these readings, the results were absolutely amazing.

Somehow it's just that much easier to pipe up and say that in your mind's eye you see a very little old man with a stick standing right in front of your classmate's face when your other classmate is sitting next to you, saying "Yea, he's a tiny old man, with a stick!" And it was a beautiful thing to say to the person getting the reading, "He is SO proud of you."

Not only were we helping each other know to our spirit guides, but to know ourselves more deeply. We weren't just building confidence in our own intuitive abilities, we were opening doors to whole other worlds.

Please contact us if you'd like to know more about our events at Pavia and our Soul Therapy energy work offerings.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

3 Things Make a Person Ugly...

1. Tanning
2. Smoking
3. Drinking

Since May is melanoma awareness month, I want to talk about #1: Tanning. I still remember my best friend in college sunbathing every weekend with a can of Crisco at her side. This particular friend is no dummy either - she went to Stanford undergrad, blew away her LSATs, and went on to attend and graduate from Yale law school. But, for some reason, she couldn't get it through her head that sunbathing IS dumb. Sunbathing with Crisco on is just...spectacularly stupid. Sorry Lisa, I love you, but there it is.

Let's start with the basics: What is melanoma?


Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. The disease begins in skin cells called "melanocytes." These cells make melanin, which gives skin its pigment and also protects the deeper layers of the skin from the sun’s UV rays. When skin receives too much UV light, melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become cancerous melanoma.

How do you spot Melanoma?

In many cases, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole. Melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole. Most melanomas have a black or blue-black area and may appear abnormal.

For men, melanoma often appears between the shoulders and hips, on the head, and the neck. Women most commonly find melanoma on the lower legs, palms of hands, on the soles of feet, and even under the fingernails or toenails. Although these are the most common places on the body for melanomas to appear, they can appear anywhere on the skin, so it is important to perform routine self-examinations and get an annual head-to-toe skin check from your dermatologist.

And if you find something that looks suspicious, don't hesitate to contact your doctor.

Did you know that...

* UV exposure is greatest when the sun is highest in the sky between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It is also greatest in the summer, at higher altitudes, and nearer the equator.
* Up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate light clouds, mist and fog.
* Fresh snow reflects back about 85 percent of the sun’s rays; water reflects back about 5 percent of the sun’s rays; concrete reflects back 10 to 12 percent of the sun’s rays.
* Protecting your skin during the first 18 years of life can reduce the risk of some types of skin cancer by up to 78 percent.
* Studies have confirmed that sun exposure is responsible for the development of at least two-thirds of all melanomas.

Please, what people don't know CAN kill them. Spread the word to your friends, family, and loved ones about the dangers of melanoma. Wear a full-spectrum sunscreen of AT LEAST SPF 30 every day, whether you're inside or outside. Put this on your children and loved ones as well. If they don't like the greasiness of sunscreen, there are powder sunscreens (we use the Colorescience brand at Pavia) that work as well. My husband won't let me put on a cream sunscreen, but a powder one he will tolerate.

This disease accounts for more than 65,000 new cases, and claims more than 11,000 lives each year. But with early detection, this disease can be stopped.

I wish I'd known to say these things to Lisa. I think I still will call her up and tell her.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

A Holistic Medical Approach to Allergies: May 24, 2010, 6:30pm

Dr. Kim Millman, MD/PhD, is a Board-certified Internist trained in the traditional Western ways, but wholly converted to holistic methods of diagnosis, treatment, and therapy. Dr. Kim, who operates the Millman Clinic in San Jose, CA, has agreed to give us a FREE seminar at Pavia on allergies on Monday night, May 24th, from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Just in time, too, because my allergies have recently attacked me full force, and I could use some help getting rid of them. Here are some of her perspectives on allergies, and how she might approach them.

Dr. Kim, what is an allergy?
You may know that itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing are symptoms of allergies, but you may not realize that allergies can also cause aches and pains, irritability, anxiety, and mental fogginess. In fact, since allergies can affect any organ and any cell in our body, virtually any problem could be caused by an allergic response.

Why do we get allergies?
The body is always trying to heal itself and produces allergic responses in an effort to neutralize or eliminate something that it has recognized as being foreign or toxic, i.e., an allergen. The allergic response gets rid of the allergen, but in the process, the immune system also generates histamine and other chemicals that produce the well -known histamine reaction that results in itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, sniffling, and post-nasal drip.

Allergens can take many forms, including foods, pollens, dandruff, saliva, chemicals, and metals. We screen for over 120 different foods and environmental allergens in our screening process.

How do you feel about conventional methods of diagnosing and treating allergies?
Conventional medicine uses “scratch tests” to identify allergens. It is an insensitive method compared to ours. Allergy shots are given in an attempt to desensitize the body, but typically they are not very effective. On the other hand, allergy medications decrease the production of histamine and leukotriene, components of the immune system that cause the allergic reactions, but depressing components of the immune system is, in general, not a good idea. Medications are all or none, they do not work well in a system that is meant for adaptation. That is why there are so many side effects with allergy medications, including groggy, hang-over like symptoms, and the inability to concentrate.

That explains why I always feel like I got hit by a bus after I take a pill!
Exactly. And then, once the allergic reaction is “under control,” the patient is told to avoid the allergen indefinitely. Treatment in this manner is merely palliative. The allergy still exists.

So, how do YOU approach treating allergies?
I use something called the "Natural Allergy Elimination Technique," which works with the energy system of the body so that it is becomes more compatible with the allergen. As a result, the allergen no longer causes a negative reaction, and the symptoms from the incompatibility disappear. It is like an energetic reset button.

This technique is a procedure that utilizes muscle testing, cold lasers and Qi energy flow. I have personally experienced a profound improvement in my allergies as a result of my treatments - I have had an increase in my mental capacity, a general lightness in my body and mind, and less of the usual sneezing, sniffling and chest tightness. I will demonstrate this technique at Pavia on Monday night, 5/24, and I hope people give it a chance to see if it helps them as much as it has helped me.

I can't wait. I want to volunteer to be the demonstration dummy!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Sani-Tea not Vani-Tea

It seems like everyone these days is talking up tea. What is all the fuss about?
Well, from what I’ve learned, green and white teas not only have less caffeine and are less acid-forming than coffee, but they also contain powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Polyphenols help your body to detoxify and regenerate.

Recently we had a visit from our fabulous Eminence Organics sales rep. She told us all about their exciting new line of products called Immuni-Tea. These products contain green, white and red rooibos tea. Each tea has it’s own special vitamin and mineral properties that contribute to the potency of these products. I also learned that white tea actually comes from the same plant as green tea. White tea is made from the unopened leaf buds of the green tea plant and contain even higher concentrations of the potent polyphenol antioxidants than green tea.

Rooibos tea has no caffeine and in the Eminence skin products, it offers the refining and healing powers of alpha hydroxy acid and zinc. Green tea has been proven to boost the immune system, and new studies are finding that it also can have the miraculous effect of helping your body to burn fat. I am especially excited about THAT property. You can read more about it here, in an article from Dr. Mercola.

In addition to smoothing, healing, and strengthening your skin topically with the new Eminence line, there are easy ways to ingest the benefits of tea with out having to drink piping hot pots and pots of it. Many of you already enjoy our Pure Inventions tea extracts in your water before your services at Pavia. Did you know that those little bottles are jam-packed with all concentrated antioxidants of green tea and none of the caffeine?

Pure Inventions even offers a special extract focused on assisting with weight loss. Who knows, we may have some at Pavia just in time for the beach and those infamous bikinis.