October 17, 2016 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

Reiki for Seniors at the Rose Baker Senior Center, October 21

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

Reiki for Seniors at the Rose Baker Senior Center. Sept. 16th and every ‘3rd Friday’ of the month. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm. 15 minute chair reiki sessions for a nominal donation. Sign up in advance by calling – Rose Baker Senior Center Ph: ( 978) 281-9765.

Rose Baker Senior Center – 6 Manuel F. Lewis Street Gloucester, MA

Note: For people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or Dementia, family health agents may sign a simple consent form for their loved ones to receive Reiki. This Reiki Program for Seniors is coordinated by a registered nurse and Reiki will be offered by experienced, advanced Reiki Providers that are licensed or certified, and insured. Attention is paid to safety, hygiene and confidentiality. People receiving Reiki may feel free to stop a session at any time. Most people report feeling “very relaxed,” “calm” and “peaceful.” According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Reiki is considered generally safe and has the potential benefits of relief of stress and anxiety, improved comfort and increased calm.

Reiki (ray-kee) – A Japanese Healing Method/Art offered through gentle touch or non-touch, creates a quick relaxing and calming effect.

Introduction to Reiki – Last year’s ‘Introduction to Reiki’ Talk at Central Grammar Senior Housing in Gloucester MA was well received and featured in the Gloucester Daily Times. Residents of Central Grammar participated in a ‘needs assessment.’ With a 30% return rate, 62% of the residents indicated that they would like a Reiki program. Seventeen residents attended our ‘Intro to Reiki Talk’ and 16 out of 17 (94%) indicated they would like a Reiki Program.

Gloucester Seniors – stop by the Rose Baker Senior Center for a brief session of Reiki with me and Advanced (3rd Degree/Okuden) Reiki Practitioner Suzanne Sweeney. Enjoy the peace, comfort and calm Reiki has to offer.

Testimonial After a Reiki Session With a Patient with Alzheimer’s – “This conversation is beautiful. I think I love you.” (From a gentleman with Alzheimer’s who initially was sitting alone, disengaged then, after a brief Reiki Session he began to speak. The nursing director of the facility said “I have been here 2 years and never heard him speak before.”)

It was if a ‘window had opened,’ enough for him to relate some of his life story. This experience was one of many that makes my works so JOYful. ~ Karen Pischke BSN, RN, Reiki Teacher

Things to Consider When Seeking Complementary and Integrative Therapies – Continue reading →

September 15, 2016 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

Reiki for Seniors at the Rose Baker Senior Center, 3rd Fridays

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

NEW – Reiki for Seniors at the Rose Baker Senior Center. Sept. 16th and every ‘3rd Friday’ of the month. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm. 15 minute chair reiki sessions for a nominal donation. Sign up in advance by calling – Rose Baker Senior Center 6 Manuel F. Lewis Street Gloucester, MA 01930. Ph: ( 978) 281-9765. Hours Monday – Friday 9:00am – 4:00 pm.

Note: For those people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or Dementia, family health agents may sign a simple consent form for their loved ones to receive Reiki. This Reiki Program for Seniors is coordinated by a registered nurse and Reiki will be offered by experienced, advanced Reiki Providers that are licensed or certified, and insured. Attention is paid to safety, hygiene and confidentiality. People receiving Reiki may feel free to stop a session at any time. Most people report feeling “very relaxed,” “calm” and “peaceful.” According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Reiki is considered generally safe and has the potential benefits of relief of stress and anxiety, improved comfort and increased calm.

Reiki (ray-kee) – A Japanese Healing Method/Art offered through gentle touch or non-touch, creates a quick relaxing and calming effect.

Testimonial After a Reiki Session With a Patient with Alzheimer’s – “This conversation is beautiful. I think I love you.” (From a gentleman with Alzheimer’s who initially was sitting alone and disengaged then, after a brief Reiki Session he began to speak. The nursing director of the facility said “I have been here 2 years and never heard him speak before.”) It was if a ‘window had opened,’ enough for him to relate some of his life story.

Things to Consider When Seeking Complementary and Integrative Therapies – Continue reading →

December 12, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

De-Stress During the Holiday Season … and Beyond

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

Got Stress??

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You are not alone. And the Holiday Season can be an especially stressful time for many with added financial strain, grief and sadness over those we have loved and lost, and overwhelming, over-commitments.

According to the 2014 annual Stress in America™ survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) the Top 4 sources of stress are –

Money, Work, Family Responsibilities, and Health Concerns.

The APA study also found –

72% of Americans reported feeling stressed about money at least some of the time during the past month.
22% said that they experienced extreme stress about money during the past month
Parents, younger generations and lower-income households (less than $50,000.00 annual income) have higher stress than others overall
Some people are putting their health care needs on hold because of financial concerns.
Stress about money impacts relationships
22% say they are not doing enough to manage their stress.
American stress levels have been trending down since the annual survey first began in 2007, but still “higher than healthy levels.”

Here’s Some Good News –

Americans who have some emotional support report lower stress levels
Help is Available!

If you are experiencing negative stress in your life, or feel overwhelmed by stress seek help! Talk to your doctor. Ask about professional counseling. Look into resources in the community. Talk to family and friends for emotional support.

Remember – You are not alone! Stress is a normal and unavoidable part of life. Some stress is even considered positive, such as the stress that motivates us to accomplish a task. But too much negative stress can negatively affect your emotional and physical health and wellbeing. Especially when it occurs on a daily basis.

Stress Response – The response to stress can be physical and emotional tension, pain, lowered immune response, and inflammation. Chronic stress can lead to chronic disease including high blood pressure, endocrine, metabolic, autoimmune, and mental health disorders.

RELAX and DE-STRESS – The opposite of the stress response is the relaxation response. Methods to relax and de-stress include: acupuncture, art therapy, deep breathing, exercise, hypnosis, laughter/humor, massage, mindfulness, meditation, music and dance, reading, reiki, tai chi, and yoga. Consider incorporating complementary and integrative therapies into your ‘wellness care plan.’ Learn techniques that you can incorporate daily for ‘best results.’

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REMEMBER to BREATHE. When stressed, people often breathe more shallow or even hold their breath. Breathing relaxation techniques are simple to learn, fast and effective to use, and available 24/7.

WALK or DRIVE by the OCEAN. Views of the water can change your psychology and physiology. Just ask Joey who is lucky to enjoy the View from the Dock every day! Take a drive along BackShore Gloucester or walk Good Harbor or Singing Beach and you will a relief of tension and experience your blood pressure lowering.

Lucky to Live on Cape Ann!

Continue reading →