For several years now, my husband and I have desperately wanted to have a child. After 4 years of "working on it," we went to see doctors who told us that our sperm count was low, that my ovulation was irregular ("your ovaries are a little sad and inactive-looking"), and that without intervention, our chances of getting pregnant naturally were less than 2%. We were asked to start the process of assisted fertility by me first getting an HSG (hysterosalpingogram), wherein they inject dye into my uterus to test for fibroids and obstructions of the fallopian tubes. When I heard that I had to take antibiotics for 3 to 9 days prior to this (to prevent infection from the dye), I balked and decided not to go the assisted route. My husband, being a devout Roman Catholic, also had serious issues of his own, as assisted fertility (especially IVF) ran contra to his deeply held beliefs.
So, this past June, I decided to see an ND, Dr. Connie Hernandez, of Palo Alto. She had me take a full blood panel, whereupon she gave me the advice that a) my Vitamin D levels were "out-of-sight" low, and b) that we can use herbs and natural supplements to greatly strengthen the communication between my brain and my ovaries (to get myself to ovulate). I started taking 5000 IUs of vitamin D daily, and a regimen of herbs and pills that ranged from inoffensive to downright nasty (especially the maca root - that was vile). Then, in October, I started seeing Dr. Kim Millman, MD/PhD, who supplemented my regimen from Dr. Connie with additional aids like calcium lactate (to normalize my thyroid). Dr. Kim also theorized that a large scar on my right leg was impeding a few of the fertility meridians that women have, and helped me by using laser therapy and other natural oils to re-activate those meridians.
And voila, by early November, I was pregnant! For me, who thought I could not have children naturally and was looking down the road of adoption, this was a true miracle. I know in my heart that it was seeing the two holistic physicians that made a difference for me...why else would it be 4 years with no results, and then 5 months after seeing them, poof, I'm pregnant? In any case, I am truly ecstatic, overjoyed, and ready to proclaim to the world that natural medicine can work. What can it hurt, anyway? If you've been trying for a while to get pregnant, and traditional methods aren't working for you, I would suggest taking a look at alternatives from the holistic world. In the meantime, I'm happy happy happy!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Pavia Prayers for Haiti--and Ways to Help
At Pavia we believe consciously caring for yourself is the first step to having the most to offer the world. But as we all watch the magnitude of devastation in Haiti unfold on our television and computer screens, it's easy to fall into feelings of despair and helplessness. It is important, however, not to underestimate the power of sending healing energy and prayers to everyone effected by this disaster. When you want to translate your prayer into material assistance, there are many wonderful ways to help get aid to the Haitian people. This excellent link from the Huffington Post gives a list of top charities and organizations prepared to give assistance in the form of volunteers, food, clean water, sanitation, and much-needed medical assistance. See the article on ways you can help here.
I especially love the easy and innovative option provided by Yele Haiti. Yele Haiti is a charity founded by the hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean. Their site, Yele.org describes the organizations focus: "Projects are designed to make a difference in the fields of education, health, environment and community development." You can donate five dollars to Yele Haiti for earthquake relief just by texting "Haiti" to 501501 on your cell phone. The five dolllar charge will be added to your cell phone bill. You can donate up to six times from your phone, or go to their site to give larger amounts.
An expert in emergency response, the International Rescue Committee offers the same text donation service. Simply text "Haiti" to 25383 on your phone, or donate here. Call the San Jose chapter of IRC for more information at (408) 453-3536. I love to see technology used in the service of making it so easy for people to help one another all over the world.
I especially love the easy and innovative option provided by Yele Haiti. Yele Haiti is a charity founded by the hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean. Their site, Yele.org describes the organizations focus: "Projects are designed to make a difference in the fields of education, health, environment and community development." You can donate five dollars to Yele Haiti for earthquake relief just by texting "Haiti" to 501501 on your cell phone. The five dolllar charge will be added to your cell phone bill. You can donate up to six times from your phone, or go to their site to give larger amounts.
An expert in emergency response, the International Rescue Committee offers the same text donation service. Simply text "Haiti" to 25383 on your phone, or donate here. Call the San Jose chapter of IRC for more information at (408) 453-3536. I love to see technology used in the service of making it so easy for people to help one another all over the world.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
"Eat, Pray, Love" author has a new book on marriage!
I am so excited that Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the best-selling and truly wonderful book, "Eat, Pray, Love," has a new book out! "Committed," follows her challenging personal journey from confirmed divorcee to happily married (again). It also contains a great deal of research into the institution of marriage from cultural and historical perspectives. If this book is anything like her first one, it will provide some seriously fun laughing-out-loud moments as well. I can't wait to read it.
I found this great interview with Gilbert about "Committed," on CNN.com:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/01/05/elizabeth.gilbert.marriage.book/index.html?eref=rss_latest&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS%3A+Most+Recent%29
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving and Angel Gifts
I wish all of you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Give the gift of "your time" to YOU this wonderful season. What I mean is create quiet time .. meditative time for this season and all seasons of your life.
Then the next step is to give of your time to others. Shopping for someone that is house bound or have a situation that makes it hard to get shopping done (kids, elderly parents, etc.), walking a pet, cooking a meal, or reading a book to someone that cannot read or may be ill. Angel gifts of "your" time does not have to be every week. If you do not know who or how to help, just go "WITHIN", and your heart will reveal the answer.
Be an ANGEL and love yourself, and GIFT your time to others.
Many Blessings
Then the next step is to give of your time to others. Shopping for someone that is house bound or have a situation that makes it hard to get shopping done (kids, elderly parents, etc.), walking a pet, cooking a meal, or reading a book to someone that cannot read or may be ill. Angel gifts of "your" time does not have to be every week. If you do not know who or how to help, just go "WITHIN", and your heart will reveal the answer.
Be an ANGEL and love yourself, and GIFT your time to others.
Many Blessings
Saturday, November 21, 2009
ASTROLOGY EMPOWERMENT - Part 1
This is the first blog addressing where the planets are “NOW”, and what affect they have on all of us. You will be amazed at what the planets are lining up for you now and in the future. Have fun as I navigate and educate you on some of the interesting planetary alignments, signs and aspects. This information is even more powerful when compared to the planetary alignments within your “birth astrology chart”. Empower yourself with the information, and use it to your advantage.
Before I list what the planets are doing now, I want to give you the basics of Astrology. The following information is important to help you “know” what you are reading. I encourage you to print out each fact sheet for future reference.
PLANETS
Sun - On the first page of Genesis it says, "God made the Sun to rule the day and the Moon to rule the night and to be for signs and wonders." To the ancients, the Sun was known as Shamash, Ra, Apollo "breaker of family curses" and Tonatiuh, "dispenser of fate". The Sun gives you light and life. It also represents how and where you shine. The Sun is the star of self-expression, ego-identity, leadership, honor, glory and pride.
Moon - is an instinctual force. It is an ever-changing symbol of your emotional life including such things as home, family, mother, dreams, feelings, the public, women and your early childhood. The Moon represents your environment, the one you were born into and the one you create for yourself. It also talks about your support system, and your "involuntary nervous system." More than that, the Moon symbolizes your unconscious life. The Moon represents what happens while you're sleeping. The Moon is the intermediary between the Earth and the universe, and you're somewhere in the middle. Because of this positioning, understanding how the Moon figures in your life is essential for happiness and personal growth. One thing that was very striking to the astronauts on the moon was that they were able to look back and view the Earth.
Mercury - is the conceptual force. It is a symbol of your mental life and such things as your mind, ideas, analytical abilities, as well as your sense and style of communication. Mercury describes patterns of thought, of learning and of assessing reality. Consequently it affects your self image and the force of your thought. Mercury also represents the respiratory system. Mercury is youthful and it is the symbol of wit and levity.
Venus - is the force of affinity. Venus represents a good part of what you attract, cherish, enjoy and are receptive to. Venus describes much of what makes your life worth living: love, civilized sex, seduction and creativity. Venus is also an indicator for many of the qualities you look for in a mate and your sense of femininity. More than a symbol of your values, Venus represents beauty, devotion to pleasure, appreciation of art and romantic longings. Venus rules such things as skin, hair & kidneys.
Mars - is the force of motivation and mobilization. It is a symbol of your drive, action and energy. The placement of Mars in your chart influences the condition of your muscular system. Mars is associated with a lot of "A" words: aggression, anger, arousal, ardor, and appropriate assertiveness. Mars also represents things that are urgent, things that trigger your temper, and things that you furiously pursue. Mars indicates many of your issues with men and the "male ego."
Jupiter - is the force of encouragement and expansion. Jupiter is the biggest planet and possibly a sun in the making. No matter what, Jupiter measures up big. It is a symbol of your success, luck, optimism, generosity, blessings, good fortune, adventure and opportunities for growth. Life is a bowl of cherries and more is never enough for Jupiter. In its expansive sense, Jupiter also represents how you can become over-inflated, hot, greedy, over-zealous, righteous and extravagant.
Saturn - is the force of discipline and boundarys. Saturn defines your duties, responsibilities and the structure of your life. Saturn also represents the heavy hand of authority, fear, inhibitions, constrictions, restrictions, reservations, anxiety and limits imposed. It is a symbol for the force of gravity. Words like "must" and "can't" relate to Saturn.
Uranus - is the force of liberation. It's no accident that Uranus was rediscovered in the period between the American and French revolutions with their emphasis upon liberty. Uranus is where you change unexpectedly and are surprised. It's where you are unusual, eccentric and extraordinary. Uranus represents the new ideas that you are open to and where you are disinclined toward cohesion.
Neptune - represents fads, impressionability, style, glamor, imagination and inspiration. Neptune, Poseidon, "The Artful Creator" also represents your charisma, creativity, and your spiritual life. Neptune is a symbol of your immune system, parts of your aura and subtle body. Neptune is the force of deep space and the force of consciousness expansion.
Pluto - is a symbol of what the ancients used to call the "secret parts," including reproductive and elimination systems. Pluto is the force of cleansing. Pluto represents trust and violation of trust, control, obsessions and power struggles. Pluto is the force of intense transformation.
Before I list what the planets are doing now, I want to give you the basics of Astrology. The following information is important to help you “know” what you are reading. I encourage you to print out each fact sheet for future reference.
PLANETS
Sun - On the first page of Genesis it says, "God made the Sun to rule the day and the Moon to rule the night and to be for signs and wonders." To the ancients, the Sun was known as Shamash, Ra, Apollo "breaker of family curses" and Tonatiuh, "dispenser of fate". The Sun gives you light and life. It also represents how and where you shine. The Sun is the star of self-expression, ego-identity, leadership, honor, glory and pride.
Moon - is an instinctual force. It is an ever-changing symbol of your emotional life including such things as home, family, mother, dreams, feelings, the public, women and your early childhood. The Moon represents your environment, the one you were born into and the one you create for yourself. It also talks about your support system, and your "involuntary nervous system." More than that, the Moon symbolizes your unconscious life. The Moon represents what happens while you're sleeping. The Moon is the intermediary between the Earth and the universe, and you're somewhere in the middle. Because of this positioning, understanding how the Moon figures in your life is essential for happiness and personal growth. One thing that was very striking to the astronauts on the moon was that they were able to look back and view the Earth.
Mercury - is the conceptual force. It is a symbol of your mental life and such things as your mind, ideas, analytical abilities, as well as your sense and style of communication. Mercury describes patterns of thought, of learning and of assessing reality. Consequently it affects your self image and the force of your thought. Mercury also represents the respiratory system. Mercury is youthful and it is the symbol of wit and levity.
Venus - is the force of affinity. Venus represents a good part of what you attract, cherish, enjoy and are receptive to. Venus describes much of what makes your life worth living: love, civilized sex, seduction and creativity. Venus is also an indicator for many of the qualities you look for in a mate and your sense of femininity. More than a symbol of your values, Venus represents beauty, devotion to pleasure, appreciation of art and romantic longings. Venus rules such things as skin, hair & kidneys.
Mars - is the force of motivation and mobilization. It is a symbol of your drive, action and energy. The placement of Mars in your chart influences the condition of your muscular system. Mars is associated with a lot of "A" words: aggression, anger, arousal, ardor, and appropriate assertiveness. Mars also represents things that are urgent, things that trigger your temper, and things that you furiously pursue. Mars indicates many of your issues with men and the "male ego."
Jupiter - is the force of encouragement and expansion. Jupiter is the biggest planet and possibly a sun in the making. No matter what, Jupiter measures up big. It is a symbol of your success, luck, optimism, generosity, blessings, good fortune, adventure and opportunities for growth. Life is a bowl of cherries and more is never enough for Jupiter. In its expansive sense, Jupiter also represents how you can become over-inflated, hot, greedy, over-zealous, righteous and extravagant.
Saturn - is the force of discipline and boundarys. Saturn defines your duties, responsibilities and the structure of your life. Saturn also represents the heavy hand of authority, fear, inhibitions, constrictions, restrictions, reservations, anxiety and limits imposed. It is a symbol for the force of gravity. Words like "must" and "can't" relate to Saturn.
Uranus - is the force of liberation. It's no accident that Uranus was rediscovered in the period between the American and French revolutions with their emphasis upon liberty. Uranus is where you change unexpectedly and are surprised. It's where you are unusual, eccentric and extraordinary. Uranus represents the new ideas that you are open to and where you are disinclined toward cohesion.
Neptune - represents fads, impressionability, style, glamor, imagination and inspiration. Neptune, Poseidon, "The Artful Creator" also represents your charisma, creativity, and your spiritual life. Neptune is a symbol of your immune system, parts of your aura and subtle body. Neptune is the force of deep space and the force of consciousness expansion.
Pluto - is a symbol of what the ancients used to call the "secret parts," including reproductive and elimination systems. Pluto is the force of cleansing. Pluto represents trust and violation of trust, control, obsessions and power struggles. Pluto is the force of intense transformation.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Have a Hedonist Holiday!
For a lot of people the word Hedonism seems to conjure up images of
wild Bacchanals with toga-clad guests swilling giant chalices of wine and
engaging in shocking behavior. Sometimes the word has a more commonplace but negative connotation that brings to mind a person who pursues their own enjoyment heedless of the repercussions or effects on those around them.
Browsing through a local bookshop recently, I caught sight of a bright red compact volume called The Hedonism Handbook, Mastering the Lost Arts of Leisure and Pleasure by Michael Flocker. The cover of the book bore vintage illustrations of a cluster of grapes and a flapper-esque lady luxuriating on a chaise lounge in a nightie and enjoying a cigarette in a long elegant holder. Though I have asthma and generally revile smoking, the fact that she was so brazenly savoring her glamorous and carefree repose really appealed to me.
In this smart and very funny book Flocker takes on the American pandemic more perilous than Swine Flu: Workaholism. He points out how so many of us are running so hard in the hamster wheel of all our duties and responsibilities and the pursuit of success, that we never notice that there's no end in sight. You may have heard that one before, but truly, the time to stop and smell those proverbial roses is today, and every day. Just deliberately adding a little personal pleasure into your daily life can lead to more fun, less stress, a happier outlook, and generally being more of a joy to be around. The book takes it a step further with factoids (who knew that those hyper-productive Japanese have 15 days of paid vacation required by law while the US has none!) and practical tips and to help bring out the inner hedonist in everyone.
There is no better time to spice up your life with a little Hedonism than the holiday season. When I think about all the hustle, the hassle, the shopping, the traveling, and entertaining that comes along with "the most wonderful" time of year, I can feel the knots in my back having a family gathering of their own. So this year I'm prescribing myself some pleasure and a pinch of indulgence when I start to hyperventilate with humbug. I'm going to slow down, take a deep breath, take a long walk, get a massage, and offer myself a glass of red wine...and a bon bon or two.
wild Bacchanals with toga-clad guests swilling giant chalices of wine and
engaging in shocking behavior. Sometimes the word has a more commonplace but negative connotation that brings to mind a person who pursues their own enjoyment heedless of the repercussions or effects on those around them.
Browsing through a local bookshop recently, I caught sight of a bright red compact volume called The Hedonism Handbook, Mastering the Lost Arts of Leisure and Pleasure by Michael Flocker. The cover of the book bore vintage illustrations of a cluster of grapes and a flapper-esque lady luxuriating on a chaise lounge in a nightie and enjoying a cigarette in a long elegant holder. Though I have asthma and generally revile smoking, the fact that she was so brazenly savoring her glamorous and carefree repose really appealed to me.
In this smart and very funny book Flocker takes on the American pandemic more perilous than Swine Flu: Workaholism. He points out how so many of us are running so hard in the hamster wheel of all our duties and responsibilities and the pursuit of success, that we never notice that there's no end in sight. You may have heard that one before, but truly, the time to stop and smell those proverbial roses is today, and every day. Just deliberately adding a little personal pleasure into your daily life can lead to more fun, less stress, a happier outlook, and generally being more of a joy to be around. The book takes it a step further with factoids (who knew that those hyper-productive Japanese have 15 days of paid vacation required by law while the US has none!) and practical tips and to help bring out the inner hedonist in everyone.
There is no better time to spice up your life with a little Hedonism than the holiday season. When I think about all the hustle, the hassle, the shopping, the traveling, and entertaining that comes along with "the most wonderful" time of year, I can feel the knots in my back having a family gathering of their own. So this year I'm prescribing myself some pleasure and a pinch of indulgence when I start to hyperventilate with humbug. I'm going to slow down, take a deep breath, take a long walk, get a massage, and offer myself a glass of red wine...and a bon bon or two.
Random Acts of Kindness
From Angela Passarelli, Pavia Esthetician:
At a recent staff meeting, I had an idea for a great way for Pavia to show how much we LOVE and APPRECIATE our clients. It's a new program at the spa that we're calling, "Random Acts of Kindness". Starting December 1st, each time you visit Pavia for a service, you can put your name in our fish bowl for a chance to win a FREE service with us the following month. What better way to get into the spirit of giving (and receiving!) for the holidays?
Each month we will feature a different service for Random Acts of Kindness, including: an hour long facial, a 45 minute upper body massage, acupuncture, tarot reading and a custom aromatherapy blend. These are just a FEW of the great services that will be offered. The more times you visit - the better chance you have of winning.
Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch?
At a recent staff meeting, I had an idea for a great way for Pavia to show how much we LOVE and APPRECIATE our clients. It's a new program at the spa that we're calling, "Random Acts of Kindness". Starting December 1st, each time you visit Pavia for a service, you can put your name in our fish bowl for a chance to win a FREE service with us the following month. What better way to get into the spirit of giving (and receiving!) for the holidays?
Each month we will feature a different service for Random Acts of Kindness, including: an hour long facial, a 45 minute upper body massage, acupuncture, tarot reading and a custom aromatherapy blend. These are just a FEW of the great services that will be offered. The more times you visit - the better chance you have of winning.
Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch?
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