Afterwards

Once again I have another tale to share because yes God continues to work wonders in my life and I am blessed with so much gratitude. Anyways, this is the third day after my fast and I have been enjoying my food with the suprise that my body has definitely changed after my one month of fasting. I am not sre if my stomach is smaller or something is going on with my intestines but I know that I trained myself to eat less and be complete with smaller portions than before. I am more than thankful for this change and to be rescued from the American apetite that can be the main cause for all of the terrible health conditions.

Just to let you know that while I was on my fast I had no problems when it came to getting rid of toxins and waste that was no benefit to my body.

I may have been on the greedy side a little from enjoying food from one of my favorite restaurants and than going to a cookout afterwards. All within a five hour period I had yams, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, fried fish, baked beans, potato salad, half of a turkey burger and one fried chicken leg to "celebrate" Labor Day or just enjoy a American holiday. Well to my amazement the food did not sit well with me at all, because I was completely stuffed that in the midnight hour around 12:10 AM I akoke to pain right at the top- middle part of my ribcage. I did not even know what was going but I just knew the pain was excruciating and so bad calling 911 was the first option that came to mind. I just thought of the possiblities of this pain as maybe being caused from Gas or something going on with my small intestines. Well than I realized the fact that I do not even like hospitals, and being stuck in the Emergency Room is something I don't want to deal with so I called on my creator, the one and only Lord who is my heavenly savior. I said, " Oh Lord, my God I ask of you to take this pain away from me. Oh please I do not know where this is coming from and I just want this to go away." Of course God is so good and always on time with answering prayers that right away I knew what to do. The simple solution was that their was waste in me waiting to get out and all that was needed was a bowel movement. I mean wow amazing how after that the pain was instantly gone and this was something that could not be removed on my own, it took me asking my Lord for help.


I know it was not only me on my own alone that got me through my fast and of course I received help from my higher, most intelligent heavenly creator to remove the internal waste that was causing me pain. I find this story kind of funny and put a smile on my face to just think, " Oh God to get rid of this pain all that I needed was to sit on the toilet and take a s*&t!".


I tell you I was happy and filled with tears of joy because my God knows how much I love to avoid hospitals and being around sick people. How amazing to know and believe in the most powerful being to solve your problems which happened for me in the midnight hour. When you feel you can't go on or just need a extra push their is no help like that from God, his son and the Holy Spirit.

Maybe this story may have  a reader responding in a way as maybe Jasmine Darling should have used the bathroom before falling asleep or........the truth is I didn't feel the need to use the bathroom before falling asleep.


The bottom line or moral of this is that one of the best benefits of fasting:


1. No constipation

2. Decreases or lessens appearance of cellulite

3.Trimmer waist

4.Slimmer thighs

5.Radiant skin with smaller pores

6. sweeter blood which helps the mosquitos


Here are 10 other benefits of fasting.

Not my photo

Good Terms: Massage

I always get asked if I do full body massages when I tell people what I do, but really I am not a massage therapist, I am a Esthetician. However, being a graduate from The Aveda Institute the curriculum does  involve all the benefits of Massage not only for the face but with the body as well. I do foot, neck, facial, back, arms and hand massages.



Touch is so important and when we feel contact on our skin that is stimulating and gentle than blood pressure can be lowered. When it comes to a Facial Massage the main benefits are  improving the muscular tissue of the face, lowering blood pressure, increase blood circulation, purifies skin and removes waste from the tissue and stimulates the lymphatic system.



1. Endorphins: Proteins with potent pain-reducing properties that occur naturally in the brain.

2. Blood pressure: Pressure exerted by the blood upon blood vessel walls, which indicate an individual's health.

3. Cortisol: A stress hormone secreted to bolster the immune system.

4. Norepinephrine: A neurotransmitter that enhances alertness in times of stress.

5. Vagus nerve: The major communications link from the brain stem to the organs in the neck, throat, chest and abdomen.


When it comes to a body massage most of the benefits occur in the Musculoskeletal System of course which helps with:

• Increasing metabolism
• Reduces spasm, tension and cramping
• helps muscles recover more quickly from exertion and fatigue.
• improve muscle tone and prevent the delay of muscular atrophy resulting from inactivity
• Increase joint range of motion
• Releases tight muscles and tendons
• Increases ease and efficiency of movement 

In the Circulatory System the benefits are:

• Decreases pain due to chemical irritation of free nerve endings from reducing lack of blood.
• Increases nutrition of tissues and the number of red blood cells in circulation.
• Helps facilitate tissue healing

In the Digestive/Excretory Systems:

• Increases the excretion of fluids and waste products of protein metabolism, inorganic phosphorus through the kidneys.
• Can reduce cramping or spasm in the digestive tract and ease elimination of the colon by improving tone.
• Supports healthy digestion through relaxation and stress reduction

In the Lymphatic System:

• Increases the lymphatic flow as well as the tissue fluid

•  Enhances the immune and filtering activities of the lymphatic system

The effects of the Mental/Emotional state are great for anyone's well-being: 

• Improvement in clarity and alertness
• Reduces anxiety
• Facilitate emotional release and reduction in general stress levels
• Promotes general feeling of well-being

In the Nervous System: 

• Reduce nerve root compression
• Decreases nerve entrapment through the release of soft tissue or muscular binding
• Helps balance the autonomic nervous system
• Stimulates touch, pressure and proprioceptive receptors of the skin and underlying tissues.

One of the most important is Respiratory System:

• Deepens and normalizes the breathing rate through relaxation
• Can assist in the relief of congestion in the lungs through percussive and compressive movements
• Releases tension in the breathing structures, both in the rib cage as well as the breathing muscles

Than for the Skin and Connective Tissue:

• Assist with the metabolic balance in muscle tissue
• Enhances suppleness and elasticity
• Improves the surface skin circulation and pliability of the fascia
• Increases the sebaceous gland excretions
• Moisturizes the skin with good massage oils
• Removes dead skin
• Reduces tension in the skin and adjoining tissues
• Stimulates sensory receptors
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  All of the photos are not mines and not only can adults enjoy massages but babies, kids and everything in between.

Day 3

On day 3 which was this past Saturday I really enjoyed some frozen yogurt in the flavors of Coconut and Peanut Butter. My fast is all about cutting out meats completely as well as seafood and heavy carbs. I'm not completely sure what seperates ice cream from frozen yogurt but I know that if yogurt is apart of the equation than that is a plus for your health.

GY

I may not be into yogurt all that much but greek yogurt is great and especially the new BenJerry's Greek Frozen yogurt. Amazing I can get the probiotics I need while enjoying icecream. 

The flavors

Can eat this for breakfast, lunch or dinner with no problem.

yummy

This is a great snack and also good for the face.

YO

Yoga overdrive is the only gear that I want to be in and have been trying to understand lately. When I first started college I attempted to get into it because it was a way to workout, because you really can break a sweat and I sweat quick when it comes to yoga which is not common for me when I workout.

Now that I am getting older and time catches up to me I realize that there are so many energy forces that can knock me off of balance. Besides meditation yoga is the key to me having balance in my life which makes perfect sense since I am into Eastern medicine and all the healing practices the Eastern Hemisphere has to offer. 

A DVD released by  Yoga Journal with Natasha Rizopoulos is Session one, a Step-by-Step guide  and Bikram Yoga has allowed me to get reacquainted with what I have been missing out on.  So now I discovered who started Bikram Yoga, Bikram Choudhury himself and his book has so many great poses that help those with cancer and other diseases such as obesity.  Bikram yoga has 26 poses to practice as well as two signature breathing techniques.

With discipline and practice all the yoga practices can be done at home with no need for a teacher just a book or dvd.

Reactions of Chakra

From my solar plexus all the way to my throat Chakra I have been through some changes and more aware of what my body can tolerate since three months ago. In the beginning of March I kind of felt like I might be dying from some type of trauma going on in my stomach because of course I love being dramatic. Turns out I was just having a reaction from drinking only Almond Milk to tasting some cow's milk which really put me through a unpleasant time. I had so much gas and indigestion I was under the impression I was dying and being tortured with stomach pains I have never felt before, as though someone was stabbing me in my stomach. I would take whatever I could that had to do with Gas such as Gas-X and Pepto Bismol to find out I just need the right Probiotics. I am not big into yogurt so taking Pearls and drinking only Blue Diamond Almond Milk and occasionally Soy Milk has saved my life. So the moral of this is that I have no to low tolerance of milk coming from a animal but I still can enjoy cheese and butter.

This entry is just a lesson in Chakras five, four and three which one has to really pay close attention to. Everything started for me in my Chakra five which is the solar plexus that is very important, which involves the stomach and digestive system. The pain that I was going through made me feel as though I was bleeding internally or something, and I had to go to the worst scenario possible such as me having a ulcer. Really it would have not been that surprising if I did have a stomach ulcer because all the symptoms seemed to be there. I survived and turns out that lactose intolerance was and is the reality for me.



I know my body pretty well that once or twice a year I am promised a cold that sends me into cough attacks and sneezing of course with all the common symptoms. The start of this cold threw me for a surprise because it started off with my throat swelling as though I could not breathe and a real threat to me waking up the next day or not. The coughs were pretty strong and had me ready for the worst diagnosis from the doctor of Acute Bronchitis or something. With everything that hurts or does not last forever, time will heal all. So for the past three months I may have been unbalanced in my will power, love-compassion drive and spiritual drive. To sum this all up it seems my body has been counting down from the elements of Fire, Air and Ether (Heaven or Space) and I am working on receiving the message.

Now to the present I find myself in shock or just being extra dramatic because of how my physical is dealing with this chest cold I have. This all has to to with my Thymus and Thyroid gland which correlate with the fourth and fifth chakras. 

Chocolatey

   June is National Candy month so it only makes sense that I would go over some the health benefits of Chocolate which is such a delightful treat. Cacao is chocolate in the raw form before it is processed to be sweetened along with other additives and find out more about the health benefits here. None of these photos are mine.

White- Chocolate

Cacao tree

I was missing in action on Wellness Wednesday because I needed some relaxation and rest so of course I enjoyed my time taken out to sleep from a traumatic Tuesday spent in Tara Thai in Bethesda Row. The good thing though is that Bethesda Row has so much more to enjoy, especially for the month of June.

Call this White Cocoa, pure sweetness

Eyes behind the back

This is what they would call a beat face...yummy I guess

To make sure my face is cleansed and pores clear there is nothing like a clay mask that smells sweet like chocolate.

Safe meat

For a beautiful Sunday such as today I decided to go with a taste of the Middle East and I was determined to have some lamb for dinner. I missed out on some grilled lamb last Sunday while at the Greek Festival but now for the first time I tried my hand at cooking it. I already marinated my lamb for a while before I would search some recipes and the perfect one which I choose first was the Lemon & Oregano Lamb Chops from eatingwell.com. 

The way I prepared my food was similar but I did not have Tahini sauce which will be something I have to try next time. How amazing I choose, lemon juice, oregano, some cinnamon, hot sauce, a little salt and pepper to let my lamb shoulders to marinate in before I found such a delightful recipe. Lamb Chops are more juicier that the leaner lamb shoulders. Out of all the meats I believe lamb to be the most safest of meats because of the way they are raised compared to the other meats, you can learn more here. This how you can handle lamb safely and to prevent any cross contamination I found at this about.com page. So my lamb came from a Halal meat market and a Kosher market is safe when purchasing lamb as well. Oh and if you are not convinced or have not known what you been missing, check out this page.



Once the meal is complete it will be served with Jasmine rice, zucchini and squash. Which the lamb is roasted or just before it was put into the oven I added one small chopped onion, two chopped carrots, half of a green bell pepper and less than a half of a yellow bell pepper chopped. My lamb was cooked in Almond Oil as well as the squash and zucchini. Also, to keep up the whole middle eastern dinner going a slice of Pan Challah is served with a serving of  Lemon and Oregano Lamb.

This is my more vegetable infused and spicier version before it was put in the oven and after.

On my plate, dinner is served.

With this safe meat which is famously known as lamb you will be taken on a trip to the Middle East.

Diuretics

Natural diuretics comes from drinking a lot of water and eating foods that have a high water content. Amazing what eating a nice complete bowl of oatmeal can do for cleansing, it has been awhile since I ate oatmeal I must admit and a good thing because my urination is just like water. When a lot of fluids are taken in than that makes urine look more clearer and a good sign, take a look at this webpage to view details. Having a well balanced and healthy diet can help prevent risks to the skin's appearance and bodies functioning. 

The main fruit that falls under this is watermelon which helps flush out toxins. Tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce, garlic, lettuce, carrots, oats, beets asparagus and and brussel sprouts. Most of these vegetables help with the break down of waste which effects the kidneys and pancreas.

All the health benefits of getting rid of excess fluid in the body help with weight loss, heart health and lower blood pressure.


A link to describe all the natural diuretics that make a healthy diet.


Here is a list of natural diuretics.

Also, water pills are a good way to treat edema which is the swelling of skin and other organs caused from a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The causes of this can be eating too much salt, yes a sunburn, heart failure, kidney disease and live problems. Releasing the excess fluids and toxins from the body is a necessity.

(All the photos below were not taken or created by me.)

Okay for vegans and vegetarians

Be Well...one with Meditation

Looking to clear out unnecessary train of thoughts or bad vibrations and energy that you can interpret than make sure you relax and meditate along to this. What a difference meditation makes when relieving imaginary stress to inhale and exhale good vibrations.

Art of Wellness

There are so many health benefits of art to the well being of people and the communities we live in. Being able to express one's self is very important and what better way than art, which is natural because the subconscious mind is able to flow freely. Art comes from the thoughts and the hidden interpretations of someone's viewpoints. There would not be the word Earth without "art" and how appropriate because art gives more meaning or just makes life fulfilling.

I was able to take a look at a well seasoned artist, Stan Squirewell working on his mural project for the Unity Health Care clinic in NE DC. What a difference the mural painting has made to the children's waiting area in the Minnesota Avenue location making the buildings interior much brighter. This project was completed on May 18, 2013 and you can see more of Mr. Squirewell work at his webpage. 

The first time I took a look at the mural I just wanted to see what it was all about, and ended up being inspired after leaving. Browsed the local beauty supply store and decided I would get creative for my next hairstyle and met a recent graduate named Sir Justin whose locks were kind of my inspiration. My attempt was sufficient but I did not have the patience to make small parts and have my locks layered.

What a "whimsical' Saturday it was when I went to pay a visit and the second time was to pay my respects because I had to help with the painting. As a artist you are a creator and how you envision the outcome that is what will be and if I was the artist in charge of the mural than how I wanted things to look would be different. With art there comes a type of freedom that nothing else offers that I know of which makes for great healing and pleasure.

To view more about what Unity Health Care clinics are up to you can go here.


Oh, I just love Whimsical and Wellness Wednesdays.

Whimsical manicure that is not my photo.

A soft blue tone with confetti

love this polish....whimsical on my toes.

Roller Coaster of Love...on a whim

Stan and his brother painting finishing touches to mural in children's waiting area