Tips for Winter Happiness

February 7th, 2012

This month we interviewed local favs and our good buddies Ali Brody, Holistic Health Coach and Owner of Healthy Glow, and Dhyana Vitarelli, Owner of Dhyana Yoga, asking them for quick tips on how to stay happy and healthy this winter. Even though it’s unseasonably warm, the winter still effects us all.  Read through to the end for a fancy but easy Ayurvedic recipe’ from Dhyana!  Many Thanks to Dhyana and Ali for taking time to talk to our lovely community!

The Magical Ali Brody

The Very Pregnant and Lovely Dhyana

Here’s how the conversation went:

Kim: What can we do to stay healthy and nourished for the second half of the winter?

Ali:  Create a nurturing morning ritual, something that will get you feeling energized, clear and bright. Try cooking some new recipes, ones chock full of veggies especially, sweet potatoes, which help your skin stay moisturized, garlic & brussels sprouts, which boost your immune system. Keep active fun activities going, get creative. As always take care or yourself, listen to your intuition.

Dhyana: This Winter in Philadelphia has been so mild, it’s almost easy to overlook the changes in emphasis that Ayurveda asks us to make to stay aligned with the seasons. To preserve balance (“Sama” in Sanskrit) through seasonal changes, we must follow more than just a calendar date and aim to be in tune with what Nature is showing us. With this technically being Vata season (late Fall through Winter), although it has been a relatively easy one to navigate so far, one main thing you will want to do is simply stick to a regular daily Ayurvedic Routine (known as “Dinacharya”) and then stay aligned by making complementary adjustments to pacify the subtle effects Vata Season is having on you. In a simple form, your Dinacharya routine year round can consist of the following: 1. Rise before the Sun 2. Take care of Bathroom needs 3. Sit for 20-30 minutes of Meditation 4. Brush teeth & scrape tongue 5. Exercise, such as Yoga or a brisk walk. There is certainly a lot more you can add to this routine over time, but if you’re just starting out, this is a very practical list.

Kim: Is there anything to keep in mind about this season that we may not be aware of ?

Ali: In the darker winter months it is important to focus on getting vitamin D so bundle up and get outside. Eat foods high in vitamin D like good quality catfish, sardines, salmon, shitake & button mushrooms and eggs.

Dhyana: It is encouraged at this time of year to cultivate balance through routine, which means aiming to rise and go to sleep at the same time every day, Meditate and do Yoga at regular times, and eat at regular times as well. This will curb stress and anxiety, keep you from struggling through the long days of Winter, and help you sleep better, among other benefits. Strive to stick to a steady, supportive schedule.

Kim:  Can you share any simple tips that we can implement right away?

Ali: All of these practices can be implemented right away. Two easy ways to rejuvenate in any moment are to take four deep cleansing breathes and then stretch.

Dhyana: Some seasonal additions you can work into this routine right now are performing a Self Abhyanga (oil massage), eating meals with an emphasis on sweet, sour and salty tastes, and seeking out opportunities to stay in a routine. To perform Self Abhyanga, you will need 10-20 minutes of time, and some organic oil that is pacifying to your mind/body. I would suggest across the board an oil that is generally Vata pacifying, since this is a Vata time of year; Vata balancing oil may be made of Coconut, Almond, or Safflower oils for example, and may have Vata balancing scents such as Patchouli, Vetiver or Basil infused in it. I like to do my self Abhy after a shower and/or before bed (as I am almost 7 months pregnant right now, I feel best when I Abhy twice a day) and then leave the oil on to absorb for 10 minutes or so. You can wear an organic cotton robe or towel while you let the oil soak in if needed. Ideally, warm your oil by placing the bottle in warm water for a bit before applying it, and then massage into your skin liberally, and I mean don’t skimp on the oil!  Start with your scalp and work you way down, making long strokes on your limbs and long parts, and circular strokes on your joints and round parts. I like to massage vigorously, but do what feels best for you. If you need to skip the scalp part some days for practical reasons, just be sure to treat yourself to it when you can, it’s not to be missed! Likewise, spend some good time on your feet. Abhyanga is one of the most important tools in Ayurveda to activate your inner healing potential and keep yourself feeling, and looking, full of vitality! 

Follow your Abhy by drinking some warm Herbal Tea or Chai Tea with Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cardamon spices. In terms of your eating habits, Ayurveda dictates that a balanced diet contains all 6 tastes, sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent, at every meal. During this Winter, Vata, season, you can look for meals that have a delicious, grounding blend of spices like Cardamom, Cumin, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Salt.

I have included a recipe below from a favorite cookbook of mine, “Eat, Taste, Heal”  which is designed to calm Vata. I hope you enjoy it, and highly recommend this Ayurvedic cookbook!

Vata Balancing Mixed Vegetable Miso

Ingredients :
2 teaspoons ghee
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon asafetida*
1 bok choy, sliced crosswise into thin strips
1 medium carrot sliced
1/2 red pepper, stemmed, seeded, and sliced into thin strips
1/2 cup thinly sliced leek rings
12 fenugreek leaves
4 okra pods, sliced
3 tablespoons thinly sliced leek rings
2 tablespoons Bragg’s amino acids
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley
8 cups Vegetable Stock or 2 organic stock cubes & 8 cups of filtered water
2 teaspoons of miso paste
Small handful dried rice noodles

*a traditional Ayurvedic spice with a taste similar to garlic that increases appetite and improves digestion.

Directions :
1. In a saucepan, heat the ghee over low heat and saute the ginger until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in the asafetida and then the rest of the ingredients except the noodles. Raise the heat, bring the liquid to a boil, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Stir in the noodles. Simmer for 20 minutes more. Ladle into heated bowls and serve immediately!

Kim: Wow, thanks guys! I’m so glad I know you….. I can’t wait to try some of these yummy tips.
Peace and Blessings!

 

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5 Ways To Remind Yourself That Reiki Practice Is Sacred Not Serious

November 5th, 2011

By Kim Fleisher

When I first began my Reiki Master Teacher Training in 1997, my teacher’s children were quite young. One day I was at their house and I snapped a candid, extremely close-up picture of Yonaton (her second to youngest) picking his nose and smiling.

I eventually developed the image (no digital cameras back then) and printed a 5 x 7 which I stapled to the inside cover of my then Reiki journal. I put a caption over the top of the image which read, “Reiki, Sacred Not Serious.”

This image and thought has carried me through all of my Reiki journey.

If you ask any elder from a deep healing tradition, they will tell you that taking things too seriously is bad for your health.  As spiritual practitioners we might be interested in reaching enlightenment, or becoming a ‘being of light.’  I’m here to tell you that you don’t get any lighter by being too serious.

Our practice is one of the most sacred things we can do. It gives us support and nourishment for living our daily lives as best we can. Just for today, I encourage you to play, and to explore your Reiki practice in a less-than-serious way. This does not have to compromise your dedication or commitment to being a credible practitioner. See what it feels like to lighten up and have fun with your practice.

Here are some ideas:

1. Give yourself a Reiki treatment while listening to your favorite music (not the peaceful, new-agey stuff).

2. Give a Reiki treatment to a willing 3 yr old or a puppy. Let go of attachment to what you think the session should look like.

3. Find a Reiki practitioner from another style of practice and take them out to lunch.

4. Create a Reiki joke. Here’s my favorite:  What does a Reiki practitioner need to practice on someone else?  An attunement.  Get it? Attune-mint. So their breath doesn’t smell. Hilarious!

5. The most radical one:  Let go of any ideas that you have about your Reiki practice, and just place your hands on yourself. See what happens.

Let me know how it goes, and feel free to share your ideas on being sacred-not-serious in the comments!

Yonaton in 2006 - still not serious!

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My Self-Reiki Treatments are Boring: Exploring daily Reiki practice’s benefits and misgivings

August 12th, 2011

Here are some common comments I often hear when I ask someone if they practice daily Reiki self-treatment:

“It’s more powerful when I get a session, I can feel more.”

“I like giving Reiki to others better.”

“I don’t have time to do it, I’m too busy.”

“I don’t feel anything.”

This doesn’t exactly make a great case for making a daily commitment to practice, right? Wrong. Daily practice has both short and long-term, cumulative benefits that transcend what we may or may not feel in the moment.  If we examine ourselves over time, over many days or weeks of daily self-practice, we will likely notice a great difference.  We have to examine our approach, our hopes and our expectations, instead of merely what we feel in the moment.

How can you tell if you had a good Reiki self-treatment? If you did it, I can guarantee it was good.  It’s a practice. It will rarely be whatever your idea is of perfect.

I have a daily practice, and it ebbs and flows like any relationship. Sometimes I like practicing, sometimes it seems boring, sometimes I’ve felt like nothing happened and I’ve wondered if I’ve wasted my time. I’ve asked myself, “What happened? Why can’t I feel things all the time? Maybe I need to find something else? Am I doing something wrong, or is this just not the right thing?”

I’ve learned, with the help of my teacher, to practice through these questions. Not to ignore them, but to practice through them, to bring them to myself as I place my hands on myself. To just be with whatever is happening, or not happening. To let it come up and to let it go.  And get up and do it again the next day.

When I first started practicing I wanted to know if it worked?  My teacher said that I could only know if I practiced.  She explained, “Give Reiki practice a try. Be like Usui, practice every day for 21 days, and see what happens.” Only then can you see if it really works. You have to be like Nike; just do it.”

Those first 21 days of practice were boring.  I didn’t feel anything like I’d hoped or expected. I didn’t notice anything particular during my treatments. I thought it didn’t work. All the while, my life changed radically.  Before Reiki, I thought of healing as physical. By the end of the 21 days I found levels of relaxation, rejuvenation, creativity, and emotional balance that I hadn’t experienced since childhood. It never occurred to me that spending daily time by myself, free of distraction, could be helpful in and of itself.

Over the course of 16 years of practice, I’ve discovered that periods of perceived boredom typically precede a new positive change, awareness or phase of growth.  Like deposits in an interest bearing bank account, the cumulative results are profound, although the individual deposits may seem inconsequential.

It’s nice to come to a place where I can accept and love the journey for the journey’s sake, and to remember that each time I practice I come back to myself. I’ve learned to go with the flow and trust the process.  I often think that healing isn’t something that happens to us, but rather what’s naturally there, what’s left when we drop all of our armor, resistances, and defenses against our resonance with all that is.

We live in a fast-paced world. It’s as if we’re all going along together on the moving sidewalk at the airport.  The pace is accelerated, but we don’t notice it’s not natural until we step off.  Although self-Reiki practice may not always seem exciting, it is a daily dose of slowing down, coming back to yourself, recalibrating, and resetting. It trains us, slowly, to be more at ease within ourselves and with our life.  Please, practice through your ups and downs, your ebbs and flows, and your busy mind.  …Let me know how it goes.

-Kimberly Fleisher, RMT, M.Ed

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11th Street – the story of the 1st full time Integrated Therapist in Philadelphia’s conventional healthcare system

July 18th, 2011

This month we’re pleased to introduce guest writer Arlene McCullough. Arlene is a Reiki practitioner, grad of our school, and employee at The 11th Family Street Health Center of Drexel University (11th Street).  We asked her to share the story of creating a full time (with benefits), salaried position  of  Integrated Therapy Practitioner at 11th Street.  This position slowly grew from an interest in Reiki to a wide demand for wellness services in the community.  It’s a great example of truly integrated cared in conventional medicine.

Imagine going to your primary care doctor for your annual exam or blood pressure check. At The 11th Family Street Health Center, in Philadelphia, one also has the option of seeing a Integrated Therapist for Reiki treatment. How did this come about? It was facilitated through the skillfulness of Reiki practitioner Jenny Bohrman. In 2007, Bohrman worked at 11th Street as a fitness coordinator along side of the physical therapist. She was also studying to be a Reiki Master Practitioner at The Reiki School + Clinic. Jenny approached 11th Street’s director, Patricia Garrity, with the premise of introducing Reiki to the center.

Garrity agreed, and as Bohrman began working with patients who had high blood pressure, MS and those recovering from strokes, the word got out. Patients desired more knowledge about Reiki, and the staff at 11th Street also began to inquire about receiving sessions. What started as an occasional added service slowly became a daily program. Both patients and staff reported that Reiki helped with stress reduction and relaxation.

Time slots were put in place for staff to schedule appointments. These sessions enriched the staff; the workplace was calmer and flowed with better teamwork. As a result of these Reiki sessions, committees were established to forge better communications and ideas amongst staff. Jenny, who is now studying to become a physician, reported that it was easy to initiate a Reiki program at 11th Street.  She found the staff open and supportive regarding patient wellness.

When Jenny left 11th Street to go to medical school, the administration recruited practitioners to continue what was started. Tania Alexandra, a former staff member at The Reiki School + Clinic, was hired to perform Reiki and massage, and to offer Yoga classes. Yoga became very popular and patients and staff began requesting more wellness services for 11th Street. When Tania departed for a move out-of-state, Helaina Johnson (also a staff member and Reiki School grad) entered, offering weekly Reiki and massage. Helaina was hired as an interim employee.  The desire for wellness services became so paramount, a position was created for a full-time Complementary Integrated Therapist (CIT). This therapist would receive a salary and benefits. As the search for a full-time, paid CIT got underway, Helaina filled-in so services would not lapse.

In 2010, after many months of selective interviews, Kathleen Guidotti was offered the CIT position. Certified in many modalities including massage, reflexology, Reiki, yoga, and meditation, Guidotti had been a practitioner for many years. At 11th Street she works alongside nurse practitioners as well as health/physical therapists. Patients may request her services individually, or as a part of a visit to another health care provider. Some of Kathleen’s services include stress reduction, breathing techniques, massage, Reiki treatment and yoga classes.

Kathleen posts positive affirmations throughout the space, in the restrooms, or found on a door inviting you to breathe, smile or have a peaceful moment. Staff meetings are introduced with meditation or deep breaths. Who knew this would come to pass? When Reiki was introduced at 11th Street Family Health Center so was wellness. Reiki created a space for openness to other modalities. It fit with the center’s philosophy of people healing themselves, their community and the planet. From the research I’ve done, it is my understanding that this is the first full-time, paid position for an Integrated Therapies practitioner in any medical or health care setting in Philadelphia.

The journey of bringing Reiki to 11th Street was relatively seamless. At the time, I didn’t know all that was involved. While exploring the evolution of the CIT position, I found an appreciation of the hard work and efforts to initiate the Reiki process. Patients as well as staff have become more educated as well as proactive when participating in community wellness. Patient’s lives have been transformed, witnessed first hand by myself. This has made me value working at 11th Street Health Center; my experience of this process has also influenced my own decision to become a Reiki practitioner. After reviewing articles where Reiki is offered in hospitals and clinics, its influence is becoming definitive. It appears that as time goes on complementary care will be a standard in the future.

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What Oprah Taught Me About Being A Good Reiki Professional

May 20th, 2011

Many years ago I was teaching a Reiki class with George Barrick, co-founder of The Reiki School + Clinic. He was trying to describe to the students, fledgling practitioners, how to engage in a pre and post-session dialogue with clients. “Be like Oprah!” he remarked. “Think about why she’s so good at what she does. She’s a great listener, and she also knows how to ask good questions that draw out essential information from the people she’s interviewing.”

To this day I hear George’s voice ringing in my ear when I mentor students. I’ve learned that asking good questions is one of the most important skills a Reiki professional can cultivate. The ability to ask good questions, however, comes only as a result of  knowing how to listen.  Listening means more than just hearing.  In addition to understanding what a person is saying, I look for clues in body language and facial expressions. Listening means knowing what’s being left out.  That’s why Oprah is so good.  She understands how to hear what’s not being said, and to ask clarifying questions when needed. This is so vital. It not only helps a practitioner best understand a client’s wants, needs and concerns, it also helps redirect a client to make sense of their own healing experience.

Consider the following scenario:

Pre-Session: Judy arrives at her first Reiki session with Nan, a professional practitioner. During their pre-session conversation, Nan asks Judy if she’s ever received Reiki before?  Judy explains that she received Reiki a handful of times from a practitioner she loves dearly, who no longer lives in the area.  Nan, wanting more information, inquires about that practitioner’s style of practice. This essential question opens up a dialogue about Judy’s hopes and expectations for her treatment, based on her previous experience.  It turns out that Nan and the other practitioner have vastly different treatment styles.  Nan is able to explain the differences between the two practices, let Judy know what to expect/not expect  from the session, and remind  Judy that every session is unique.

During the session: Judy looks uncomfortable. (Nan senses this because her eyes are open during the session!) Although Nan already explained that Judy’s comfort is of the utmost importance, Nan still wonders if all is well? Not wanting to ignore this, Nan asks, ” Judy, is everything okay? You look uncomfortable, so I’m just checking in.”  Judy sheepishly replies with a big grin, “I’m embarrassed. At one point during the session I became overwhelmed with joy, and it made me really feel like laughing, but I didn’t want to offend you. I’ve been trying to hold it in and be serious! I’m so sorry. ”

Nan laughs, and assures Judy that it’s okay to smile or laugh during a treatment.  She explains that some people fall asleep and snore, others pass gas, and occasionally some people laugh or cry.  She reiterates that it’s all welcomed, normal, and okay. They both have a good laugh and go back to the treatment feeling refreshed and happy.

Post-Session: Judy asks Nan, “Why did I feel so much joy and  laughter when you placed your hand on my stomach? That was so weird! Did you sense anything there? What does it mean?” Nan is able to redirect Judy back to making sense of her own experience.  Her reply is simple. She smiles and asks, “Judy, does it mean anything to you? ” Judy explains that she has been feeling really stressed and repressed lately. She takes things way too seriously sometimes, and the joy and laughter that ensued from the session reminded her that she could be both responsible and happy at the same time.

Nan reiterates that Reiki is balancing, and most people say that they feel like themselves again after treatment. She suggests that Judy take time after the session to journal about her experience, and pay attention to how she feels in the days following.

–

Oprah (and George) reminded me how to listen to those I share my Reiki practice with, be it students, clients, or the general public wanting information about Reiki. I’ve spent years learning how to listen and ask good questions that create a richer, clearer, and more meaningful experience for those I touch. Our training programs, and private consultations help practitioners build these skills. Has there been a time when you’ve been called to be like Oprah, to listen, and ask a question that made a Reiki experience better?

-Kimberly Fleisher, RMT, M.Ed, Director of The Reiki School + Clinic

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Labor of Love

March 4th, 2011

Yesterday I visited The Vacuum Spot, a tiny, local shop at Front and Snyder, owned by the super-nice John Cropley. He fixes all things vacuum related. Even vintage vacuums.

Photo by Lisa Sams

John is a pilot. He has other marketable skills, yet he chooses to drive everyday to South Philly from his home in Langhorne to run a hole-in-the-wall business. He struggles financially to stay open, but it’s his passion; he loves meeting people face to face and connecting, getting to know them. He also believes that vacuums should be fixed and not discarded if possible. He mindfully chose his tiny location because of the parking, the access from all parts of the city, and the low overhead. He likes people and he likes the dying art of vacuum repair, so he carries on, with a big, friendly grin for all who enter his shop.

John’s services are affordable. He’ll tell you the truth (because he has integrity) if it’s more expensive to fix your vacuum than replace it. He represents the small business owner of yesteryear, the butcher, the local grocery store owner, the mailman that your family gave a present to at Xmas-time.

John also represents the local economy.  He represents green living, and not wasting, but in a very down-to-earth, and not showy way. Most importantly, he represents the idea that I live as a business owner – not to manipulate people into buying services or things they don’t need.  We both agree that we love what we do, we educate people about what we offer, and then we let them make their own decisions.  We agree that if we have to lose our integrity trying to sell what we love, than we’d rather not do it.  We’d rather sleep well at night than feel like we did something wrong or dishonorable.

My visit to the local vacuum repair shop renewed not only my vacuum, but my faith in humanity.  Next time your vacuum fails, go see John and tell him I say “Hello.”

- by Kim Fleisher

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Winter Reflections

January 31st, 2011

Wow! January has flown by! The Reiki School + Clinic is excitedly preparing for a move down the street to fabric row (727 South 4th Street, 2nd floor), as well as a new semester of classes. The city is enveloped in a thick coating of snow. Everything seems pure and crisp. People have been having a lot of fun playing and connecting with one another. Kids love the time off from school. Of course, it also presents challenges for us in our everyday activities. I hope you are staying warm and safe in this winter wonderland.

As winter progresses everything is moving slower. Nature has given us a little more to handle than most of us are used to, but we can still take time to review the past year and envision any goals for the year ahead.  Some of us have made resolutions for change, and personally, I really enjoy this atmosphere of renewal and reflection. Reiki has been an amazing aid in the process. Practicing helps me connect to my inner self. Sometimes during a treatment, I receive a vision or gentle suggestion for healing in some form. I am so blessed to have it with me wherever I go and for whatever I encounter there. If you have a practice as well, I employ you to take this time to look deeply within and embrace your own inner knowing. Reiki has been able to help so many within our community.

At the school we have utilized our Reiki practice, along with other tools, to help us plan our move to a new home. Everything from the ground up was given loving attention and thought.  A long while ago our staff made a group vision board of words and images we hoped to manifest in our new location. We practiced Reiki on ourselves and offered it to our future home. Eventually we found a new space and it is perfect! During the renovations we went to   the space and practiced Reiki there, offering the balancing vibrations to the building.

Cleansing the space with Reiki helped a lot. I hope the contractors enjoyed the good vibes. Now we are preparing to pack our things, paint with care and organize the space. Although the move-in date is almost here, we will take our time. We want the transition to be as smooth and gentle as Reiki practice itself. Isn’t that an amazing attribute of the practice? It’s so, so gentle. It never pushes us or snaps things back into place. Rather, it gives us support and guidance for our greatest healing good. I love that.  Although our move was delayed, and we had to change our schedule, the transition will not affect our classes beginning or our availability for clients. Everything is working out and we are staying flexible. Our Reiki practice has helped us remain calm and balanced.

We can use assistance filling our new home with love. Please join us in celebrating at our grand opening on the spring equinox, March 20th!

We also have a registry (http://www.myregistry.com/public/thereikischool) if you wish to donate a needed item.

- By Terence Newkumet, RMT, Instructor at The Reiki School + Clinic

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Spiritual Practice as Practice

November 1st, 2010

A few months ago I was chatting with Ennis Carter, one of of my inspiring colleagues, and founder of Design For Social Impact. We were talking about our respective spiritual practices- yoga, reiki, meditation, and discussing the impact they’ve had on our lives. The conversation quickly turned to a discussion on the value of practice, and the benefits that arise from engaging in a practice over a committed length of time.

We talked about how these endeavors really are practice for ‘real’ life. When I am on the mat, or on the cushion, the discipline, activity, and letting go remind me of the qualities I want to exercise in the rest of my life.

When I practice yoga asanas, I learn about staying in the present moment. I exercise control of the breath, and uniting my mind and body movements with my breath’s natural cycle. I practice using simultaneous control and letting go to move through difficult moments; I practice being efficient with my actions. As far as I can tell, these are all excellent tools to carry over to the rest of my life, and to my interactions with others. Why wouldn’t I want to practice, in preparation for bringing these qualities over to my relationships with my family and friends, or into my business doings?

When I practice reiki self treatment I give myself space to just ‘be.’ I allow my body to relax, and my breathing to deepen. I create a space where I can feel all of my feelings without suppressing, judging or reacting to them. Most importantly, during my reiki treatments I often feel myself return to myself, and I experience a sense of connection to my heart, and to all that surrounds me. The world feels right, my defenses soften, and my compassion and understanding increase. Sometimes it feels like finding my true north. I remember the place that I want to come from when I am in the rest of my life, and the feelings carry over. The more I am able to experience (practice) being in this space during my reiki self treatment, the more this space is easily accessed when I’m with others, or at work, or on the phone with my mom.

Words can be tricky. I’m not sure how these spiritual endeavors were translated from eastern language to be called ‘practices’ in English. I’m am sure glad they were. This concept works well for me. How about you?

-By Kim Fleisher, RMT, M.Ed, Director of The Reiki School + Clinic

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