Originally posted June 22, 2015. Expressive Art – A Mindbody Practice Using mandalas as a healing expressive art form is a merging of Eastern and Western practices and thought. “Mandala” is Sanskrit for “circle” and is a spiritual symbol used ritualistically to represent universal wholeness. It is used a focal point in meditative practice. In Western practice, the mandala has been adopted as a tool for healing and self-discovery. The endless interlocking patterns can be

The Lovingkindness (Metta) meditation is a practice of cultivating self-compassion and expansive care for oneself and others. For many mothers, it offers a gentle way to soften self-criticism, slow down, and reconnect with an inner sense of kindness during demanding seasons of life. I’ve created a free version of the Lovingkindness meditation for you to listen to whenever you need to. I practice Lovingkindness meditation several times a week, and if course, under stress is wh

Most people will agree that organic products are safer, both for the consumer and the environment. If you have certain skin conditions that are irritated by synthetic ingredients, using organic products may also help you to control the symptoms. However, determining whether a product is truly organic and/or vegan-friendly can be challenging. Product labels are often misleading and even products that aren’t organic may be described as all-natural or even use the word org

Originally posted July 21, 2014. Perinatal Therapist Spotlight: Robin Muskal, Ph.D. Please welcome my colleague from Morristown, New...

Originally posted July 7, 2014. The issue about the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil in our food supply has been bugging me for some time. We’ve all heard about the all-encompassing health benefits of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). How, borrowing from aromatherapist and herbalist lingo, the phytonutrients in this extraordinary plant oil supports our terrain – promotes healing on multiple levels: our body, mind and spirit. We’ve all heard about the anti-inflammatory

Originally posted May 12, 2014. Parenting is a developmental right of passage and requires commitment, patience and personal growth! ...

Originally posted March 19, 2014. This is a guest post from a friend of mine across the pond who loves to garden as much as I do! My...

Originally posted March 17, 2014. Are you looking for a way to detoxify and take your wellness goals up a notch? Try vegetable juicing!...

This article reviews a 2014 research study examining lavender aromatherapy as a complementary comfort measure during childbirth. It is provided for educational purposes and does not replace individualized clinical guidance. In 2014, Maasumeh Kaviani, Faculty Member at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and her team of research scholars conducted a study to see the effects of using lavender aromatherapy during childbirth on pain intensity perception, duratio

Activating LI4 is said to promote descending qi. It’s used to relieve pain, to help promote let down when nursing, to promote childbirth by stimulating the uterus.

But what about the “smaller” stresses? Such as daily work stress? There are many types of stress in a pregnant woman’s daily life, such as partner stress, financial stress, job stress, worries about childcare and anxiety about the pain of childbirth.

Oceans Eleven Johns Hopkins Research Team Validates Mindbody Medicine for Depression & Anxiety (Redux!) Originally posted February 28,...

Originally posted February 24, 2014. With the crazy weather we’ve all been having, the temperatures up and down and all, there’s been a lot of sneezing around the office this week, so I decided to take whip up a batch of immune support salve for my family. I’m sending one over to my son at his college dorm! First, get your stuff together: Ingredients: 1 ½ oz white beeswax 1 oz virgin organic unrefined shea butter 1 oz organic coconut oil 1 oz jojoba oil 10 drops Ravensa

Originally posted February 20, 2014. Have you had it with office life? Do you want a job that is personally rewarding? Are you looking...

This interview is part of a professional spotlight series highlighting diverse perspectives in mind–body and perinatal care. Views expressed are those of the interviewee. Please welcome my colleague from across the pond! Dr. Diane Speier, a holistic psychotherapist and birth and postnatal professional to BirthTouch ® is guest posting today! Diane is also a birth psychologist, specializing in the psychology of parenthood, the psycho-physiology of birth, postnatal depres

Originally posted November 20, 2013. Late November afternoon. Fall is a powerful season. The leaves fall from the trees like tears from my eyes. The breeze stirs the spirits of the past living in the long shadows. Once again I feel my embodied youth. My horse and I gallop as one In the amber harvest sunset. Crows flit like black pieces of paper scattered on the wind. In an instant, his shoulders move left out from under me. Unseated, I feel the air under me.. ..somehow I st

Originally posted June 26, 2013. #lifelist Birdwatching! I’m a lifelong birdwatcher. I started when I was 12, on Long Island where I...

Originally posted June 5, 2013. Gardening is my favorite spring “mindbody relaxation therapy”! I love spring in the garden, the plants are beginning to push out from the soil. Here are some shots from around my garden. It’s a work in progress, I live in deer country and it’s a struggle to find landscaping plants they don’t love as breakfast, lunch and dinner! I have a hellebore garden; this is the largest one I have, it is at least twenty years old, my aunt gave it to m

Originally posted May 22, 2013. This is my creative arts workspace. 52 years ago, my mom, who is now 92, created this beautiful needlepoint cushion cover for her antique chair. I now use this chair when I work on my creative projects. Mom had this chair in her bedroom for many years before she created the cushion. I remember the chair when I was a small child. My mom was very creative. She did many quilts and needlepoints. I like to think I inherited my creativity a