Buyer Be-Aware: Safe Cosmetics and You
10 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
All of us at Healing Earth Resources have been so inspired by Ombelina’s blog that we thought we’d try our hands at blogging, too! Ombelina has graciously agreed to share her soapbox!
We thought our first blog should address something close to our hearts: safe personal care products.
Many products on the market today are toxic to the body, containing dangerous chemicals like sodium laureth sulfate and compounds like formaldehyde, a mysterious contaminant that can cause asthma, dermatitis, headaches. Formaldehyde might even increase one’s risk for cancers of the brain and lymphatic system. The list of toxins and their effects goes on and on.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, there are more than 56 cosmetic ingredients associated with the contaminant 1,4 dioxane, a byproduct of a petro-chemical process that uses a known breast carcinogen to make chemicals less harsh (oh, the irony!) For more information on these toxins, please visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website.
There are many options for those who want to avoid toxins. The best way to stay safe is to buy products from someone you know or make them yourself, so you can ask personally about ingredients and processing. Another option is seeking out USDA certified organic products. Do your research to discover the best products before you go shopping. If your favorite products are not safe, write to the company to tell them why you are taking your dollars elsewhere.
Our very own Klecka Naturals and Trust in True Nature lines include high quality natural ingredients. We use essential oils that are either certified organic, cultivated without chemicals or wild-harvested by fairly paid farmers who work with our diligent distributor. Our sources are carefully chosen to make sure that the ethics of our suppliers and quality of their products meet our high standards.
We are working with the USDA to re-certify the Klecka Naturals line as organic, with the exception of the Happy blend.
Happy has a miniscule amount of the alluring Jasmine Absolute. Flower absolutes like Rose and Jasmine are often precluded from organic certification due to the use of Hexane, which helps preserve the delicate petals. Even though the amount of Hexane in our Jasmine Absolute is less than 4 to 12 parts per million, it technically violates Organic Standards. We say ‘Hooray’ to the USDA for sticking to their guns, even if it means our Happy blend can’t be certified.
We believe in honest, transparent communication with our customers and clients because we care. We’d love your feedback!
Yoga Days are on the Way!
16 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
I am full of song and light as feather today upon hearing that Edie’s Monday yoga classes will recommence on Monday, September 12, at the Integrative Health Center of Chapel Hill!
It has been a busy Summer, and it will be wonderful to ease into Fall with this rejuvenating series.
Continuing Education credits for Massage Therapists are also available!
Come join us on September 12 at 5:45 for Edie’s low-key, gentle approach to yoga. More information is available on the Healing Earth Resources website. This class is great for beginners, or those who just want to relax and deepen their practice.
I hope to see you on September 12 for some relaxing yoga fun!
Chipmunk in Love
20 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
It was so hot early last week that I barely had the energy to flutter past my doorstep. One afternoon, I was happily lounging in a magnolia flower, absorbing the sweet scent of the new blossom, when my chipmunk friend, Cheeks, scurried up the tree and sat down beside me.
I had never seen him so flustered in all our years of friendship. His tiny fingers worked incessantly as he sat before me with starry eyes, nervously nibbling on his bottom lip. Cheeks is a no-nonsense sort, so I was a bit surprised when he breathlessly exclaimed that he had fallen in love.
He was gathering pecans from the tree near the bird house when suddenly a sweet, nutty aroma permeated the air. He followed his nose through the ivy until he discovered the source of the smell, forgetting about the pecans altogether.
In front of the garage was a woman with long hair squatting before a large barrel, filling buckets with sunflower oil. Usually chipmunks disappear when humans come around, but Cheeks said he was powerless to move away from the enchanting aroma. So he sat there, spellbound, gazing at the keeper of the oil. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, seeming to glisten in the sunlight as the luxurious golden oil flowed.
My guess was that Cheeks had seen my blog buddy, Sarah, who helps with the production of the Klecka Naturals and Trust in True Nature body oils. I grinned as he chattered on and on about how she must be the nicest, most beautiful human on the planet. Apparently the chipmunk, usually loathe to encounter a cumbersome human, had become enamored by the one who was doling out sunflower oil.
I giggled at the thought of Cheeks, drunk from the nutty aroma, staring wistfully at Sarah as she sat working. I don’t think he was as much in love with her as he was intoxicated by the oil, but he didn’t seem to realize that. I almost fell from my perch because I was laughing so hard.
In his defense, the base oil is made from the purest sunflower oil to be found, with no additives. You don’t have to be a chipmunk to be enchanted by that, but it helps!
Later, I practiced my poker face as Sarah told me the story of the chipmunk who watched her make base oil without moving a muscle. She had never seen one sit so still in the presence of a human. She laughed and said, ‘It looked like he wanted to marry me!” Little did she know!
Yoga Excursion 7: The Crown Chakra
12 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
I was back on my mat, Monday, for the last class of this Chakra Yoga series.
Edie announced that she will take a sabbatical from teaching yoga this Summer and, while we were sad that the classes would end for the season, we were happy that Edie decided to take some time off to relax, regroup and enjoy the Summer!
The Crown chakra is our connection to the Divine. It is the channel through which light and spirit cascades into the body, filling us with inspiration, love and wonder.
Throughout this series, Edie has helped us open each chakra with thoughtful poses, imagination and meditation. What began with a grounding exploration of the earthly Root Chakra has blossomed into an exhilarating dance with the divine Crown Chakra.
Most people spend a lot of time in the tangible reality of existence, doing everything necessary to keep the body safe, sheltered and fed. Sometimes we spend so much time in reality that we forget to nurture the divine essence within us, the soul.
To turn the grounded yogis’ world view upside down, Edie lead us through some inversions! As we moved through the various back bends, my eyes settled on the upside-down view of the room. I felt blood, oxygen and energy surging up to the top of my head. As the energy moved upward, or downward rather, my body responded with lovely little pops.
Next, Edie said we would do some handstands. I walked over to the wall and, before I knew it, I found myself in Handstand with my back pressing firmly against the wall.
As we descended, Edie passed along words of wisdom, describing yoga as “meditation in motion” as we surrendered into Child’s Pose. I stretched my arms toward the front of the room and felt a confirmation of Edie’s words as I sank deeply into my shoulders.
We raised our hands toward the light and bowed deeply into Yoga Mudra, bringing the crowns of our heads to the floor. Yoga Mudra is a great way to open up the Crown chakra, and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this yoga practice as my shoulders sank lower, resting gently on my pointed ears.
In that moment, I felt connected with the whole universe. I was one with the wind as it blew through dancing tree branches; one with the other yogis as they put feet forward on their journey; one with Edie and this beautiful offering of yoga she placed in our hands and hearts. The corners of my mouth rose with my arms as we released the pose.
As though Edie could see into my heart, she began talking about yoga as the union of the body, mind and spirit. The seventh chakra connects us to the mystery of life, the life force within ourselves and the big WOW.
I closed my mouth, which had fallen agape as I contemplated the enormity of the Universe. As a fairy, I am used to feeling small, but at that moment I felt particularly minute, yet magnificent at the same time. That is the power of yoga, I suppose, to help us humble, honor and hone our searching souls.
I went into a deep meditation during Savasana, charting the territory behind my eyes with a renewed sense of purpose. Edie’s voice gently called us back and the series came to a beautiful close.
While the others said their goodbyes and thanked Edie, I expressed my gratitude by leaving a soft yellow buttercup in her yoga basket. Until the fall, yogis, Namasté.
Resistance: When to Dodge and When to Delve
27 May 2011 2 Comments
Batten down the hatches and find a safe place to wait out this sudden spring storm! I was zooming around the bountiful gardens at Healing Earth Resources, when the storm drove me in to sit on Sarah’s shoulder and talk for a while.
I have thought a lot about yoga class and the trouble I have in Half-Moon pose. Whenever we extend into Half Moon, I find myself counting the seconds until it is over.
Now, as the hail comes down in a torrent and I cower inside, I am thinking again of my resistance.
Instinct often protects us from harm, telling us to avoid an unsavory character or urging us to take cover from a storm. My instinct tells me to drop out of Half Moon pose. Why do I resist? A yoga pose can’t possibly be bad for me, can it?
In Half Moon pose, one extends the arms out to the sides, then leans over reaching one hand to the sky and the other to the ground. The feet plant firmly and the head dips to one side, creating a “nice stretch” on the other side of the body. It is a pose that often pops up in Edie’s class.
Week after week, I secretly hope that Edie will skip Half Moon so I can avoid my discomfort. When I told Sarah about my dilemma she said that sometimes resistance provides a great opportunity for self-study and expansion. She referred me to a Yoga Journal article that I will share with you, too:
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2580
After reading the article, I realized that sometimes we resist things that are ultimately good for us because we are afraid. Humans and fairies alike can become very attached to their belief systems and habits, making it difficult to embrace what we resist.
Resistance comes in many forms – letting someone new into your life after a broken heart, acknowledging an idea that shakes your world view or, in my case, sinking into Half Moon.
When I looked at my resistance with fresh eyes, I began to wonder if I have trouble with Half Moon because it relies on a strong foundation in the feet. I spend most of my time in blissful flight. Maybe I should spend more time with my feet on the ground; embracing my Root Chakra.
Maybe Edie will gently challenge me again next week with Half Moon. I think I am finally ready to delve into my resistance, after dodging it for weeks.
Edie’s Upcoming Chakra Class!
09 May 2011 Leave a Comment
There’s a buzz around Healing Earth Resources about Edie’s upcoming chakra class at the River Mill in Saxapahaw on May 21 and 22. Sarah has agreed to let me tag along and I’m ecstatic!
I’ve heard that Edie’s chakra classes are a great introduction for beginners, while offering those who are familiar with the concepts an opportunity to expand their knowledge and deeper their connection to the energetic body. The class also offers 14 NCBTMB continuing education credits for massage therapists!
The weekend workshop will appeal to all kinds of learners by approaching the topics in various ways including movement, journal entries, art, poetry, sensory experiences and more. I have enjoyed Edie’s Chakra Yoga Series so much that I know this workshop will be a thrill!
If you want to join the fun or learn more about the workshop, follow this link:
Yoga Excursion 6: The Third Eye Chakra
20 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
Monday’s yoga class came at the perfect time to restore balance to my chakras. In recent weeks, I have dwelled solely in the realm of my Root Chakra, trying to secure a successful harvest in the summer. I was glad to be back on my mat in the quiet space of the Chapel Hill Integrative Medicine Building.
I settled into a spot close to the window, carefully hiding my mat behind a bench to remain unseen. From my seat, I could see young Red Maples reaching their waxy red buds skyward. Farther away were pines so vibrant from recent rain spells that I could almost smell their exhilarating scent.
I suddenly snapped out of my daydream and laughed. The piney scent was not a result of my vivid imagination, it was the Clarity blend that Edie was spritzing around the room! I let the awakening blend of Balsam Fir Needle and Clary Sage take me into a quiet, centering meditation as class began.
The Third Eye Chakra is the center of intuition and dreams. This area of the energetic body sends messages to the lower chakras so they can enact the visions of the subconscious mind, serving as a pathway from the divine to the physical realms.
We began by waking up the body, chakra by chakra. I heard little pops from my neck to my hips as we moved into plank pose and then lowered our bellies to the mat to slither like snakes, dropping one elbow and shoulder, then the other, like yogi sidewinders racing through the desert.
I could feel my awareness rising with my hips as I stretched into Downward Facing Dog. We moved out of Downward Facing Dog and Edie pulled us into Warrior I, asking us to visualize an invisible barrier in the middle of our mats. The imaginary barrier represented a real barrier in our lives and we were to surmount the barrier with a strong, confident Hoo-ah!
I visualized my dear magnolia leaf that beckoned me to stay in its comforting folds when there was so much work to do. I would surmount the temptation to sleep and play the days away while my diligent neighbors collected seeds, tended plants and hauled stones to line our pathways.
Edie said visualization is a great tool for making dreams come true. Believing in yourself and working hard are the first steps toward clarity of purpose and resolve. Edie led us through a progression of poses called The Breath of Joy, which quickly became my favorite yoga move to date.
For Breath of Joy, one raises the arms to the sides with a half-inhale then up to the sky to finish the inhale before a cleansing, full exhale to bend forward, surrendering your body to gravity. Going through this series several times left my mind clear and bright, and my heart joyful.
Next, Edie asked us to pause, closing our eyes, to receive the new feeling in our bodies. This is a standard instruction in her classes, and I have come to appreciate those opportunities to truly feel a difference in my body from one pose the next. Yoga makes the body feel longer, and movements more fluid. Now that we were joyful, we were ready to move into balancing poses.
As we planted ourselves in Tree pose, I tried to keep my wings still and rely solely on my feet for support to receive the full benefit of the pose. What a nice challenge! We visualized roots growing out of our feet into the ground, helping us to stand tall with arms raised.
From Tree, we leaned into Warrior III, extending one leg back and arms to the sides as though we would fly away. The other yogis looked so happy, flying with their imaginary wings, something I could do on a whim as a fairy. I vowed to never again take the gift of flight for granted.
We cooled down our bodies with progressively easier poses before sinking to our mats for Savasana. Edie came around and tucked everyone in under their blankets as she encouraged us to use our vision and newfound clarity to manifest our dreams into realities. I flew all the way home!
Aromatherapy Magic
12 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Healing
Today the sky is overcast and the wind spins me around each time I try to make my morning rounds, catching my wings and sending me spiraling up toward the big pine tree that has dusted the Healing Earth grounds with soft yellow pollen.
What better day to sit on Sarah’s shoulder and dictate a blog?
I have thought a lot about an aromatherapy workshop that Edie and Sarah did a few weeks ago at Emerge: A Child’s Place for a group of occupational therapists who offer speech therapy, sensory development and confidence building exercises for children. The practitioners approach includes stimulating the senses, so they wanted to learn how to incorporate the sense of smell in that process.
I learned wonderful things at the workshop about the magical sense of smell!
The nose is the fastest route to the limbic brain, the oldest part of the brain. Some people call this area the “reptilian brain” because it dictates instinctual processes like regulating the body’s temperature, activating the fight-or-flight response and notifying the body when it is time to eat or sleep.
The limbic brain also stores memories and regulates emotion. Since the olfactory system reaches the limbic brain so quickly, aromatherapy can be quite effective in relieving stress in the emotional and physical bodies.
The sense of smell is closely tied to memories. If you have ever thought of grandma’s kitchen as the smell of freshly baked bread wafted by, then you have experienced this deep connection. The limbic brain catalogues memories with aromas, and the combination of the two affects how we process the world around us.
I have seen healing aromas work time and again at Healing Earth Resources. People arrive looking distraught and pinched by the troubles of human life, drained of their vital energy. They are enveloped by soothing aromas as they walk through the front door and I watch their faces relax as they sit on the couch, awaiting massage.
After visiting with a healer, they emerge glowing and restored. Sometimes as they will buy a bottle of healing essences to help them return to that blissful state on days when they cannot come in for a session.
Nature offers an endless supply of healing opportunities for those open to its power to soothe and replenish one’s vital energy. Healing Earth Resources connects patrons to these opportunities in various ways including aromas, sounds and stones.
Edie creates custom aromatherapy oils or room sprays for massage and body care. Richard provides hot stone massages and makes CDs containing the soothing sounds used during a session. Sarah offers consultations for those who seek to integrate healing aromas in daily life and creates custom aromatherapy blends for use on the pressure points. There are also natural elements used by other therapists. And the smell of the house – divine!
You can email Edie (edie@healingearthresources.net) or Sarah (sarah@kleckanaturals.com) to learn more about the aromatic possibilities!
Yoga Excursion 5: The Throat Chakra
06 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
The fairies around Healing Earth Resources have been so busy tending to the young shoots popping up all over the gardens surrounding the healing house! Sometimes during this hectic time of year, tensions arise and disagreements are inevitable, despite the collaborative nature of fairy folk.
Monday’s yoga class was just what I needed to open up my throat and help me communicate appropriately and effectively through the Spring bustle.
The yogis settled on their mats before Edie as she spritzed the Harmony blend around the room and explained that the Throat Chakra governs not only speaking, an obvious cohort of communication, but also listening, the key to any successful exchange.
As Edie moved to her mat, she said that she had a special treat for us: monks in a box! I giggled at the idea of tiny monks in miniature robes meditating in the boombox. The monks rang out ohms in long soothing tones and soon we would be, too!
We began chanting ohms and continued, at our own pace and with varying tones, for several minutes. We were like an orchestra of crickets in a field, chiming together, yet alone.
Then we began moving through invigorating poses, pausing at each extension to ring out three ohms. Our ohms resonated through the room as we reached toward the sky, flattened our shoulders on our mats and curved our spines in graceful arches.
Edie softly prompted us and the ohms mingled together, flooding the room with a sense of communion among the yogis and unity with everything on the other side of the door.
A final ohm in Savasana ended the session. I can still feel that powerful resonance in my body, and it strengthens my resolve to recognize my connection with others and communicate compassionately.
Yoga Excursion 4: The Heart Chakra
24 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
I anointed myself with the essential oils of Lemon and Bergamot before climbing into Edie’s yoga basket to hitchhike to the Monday evening yoga class. These are heart-opening essences, just right for this week’s exploration of the heart chakra through poses, breathing and meditation.
Edie began with simple poses to wake up our bodies, with each pose being dedicated to enlivening a particular chakra. The two-year-old grounding exercise, a staple in Edie’s classes, always lightens the mood and strengthens the camaraderie of the yogis.It is hard to keep your jaw clenched with tension and pretense while bouncing up and down with loose limbs, vocalizing like a toddler!
We were all smiles after the grounding exercise, ready for the heartening session ahead.
Heart-opening exercises are a funny thing, sometimes evoking a sense of elation and other times leaving one pensive. These poses sometimes break through old emotional blockages, which is sometimes uncomfortable at first, but ultimately cultivates peace of mind and well-being.
Judgment and resentment can become fast friends in the hearts of humans, given the high expectations laid upon them and the pressures of the busy modern world. Planting seeds of love and acceptance allows the heart to blossom fully, like the lotus flower that sprouts underwater in the muddy depths, then stretches toward the warm embrace of the sun to bloom.
After our bodies and hearts were nice and warm, we moved into Fish and then Camel pose. I heard (and felt!) wonderful little pops as my spine curved backwards and my eyes rested on the upside down view of the wall. Righting ourselves, we raised our arms overhead and bowed deeply into Yoga Mudra, sending our noses toward the mat and opening our hearts to the earth that gives us physical and spiritual sustenance.
During Savasana, silent tears slipped from my eyes as the tension of the day flowed down through my mat and back into the earth. Edie always encourages the group to stay in the final meditation as long as needed, and on this occasion I felt compelled to do so. Matters of the heart are always complicated, and I was grateful for the opportunity to expel some of the fear and tension that had built up in my heart.
