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!

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December 11, 2015 by Saltwater Massage Studio

Flashback Friday: From Breakfast Joint to Massage Studio

We know that GMG was a big Mamie’s Kitchen fan back in the day, so we’d thought you guys would get a kick out of seeing inside Saltwater Massage Studio. It’s pretty hard to believe that not too long ago, corn beef hash was being served in the same spot that our salt scrubs and candles are shelved. It’s a transformation you have to see to believe… In Joey’s words, “It’s pretty hard to believe there’s an oasis on Pleasant St., but you did it.”

Want to see it in person? Stop by on Men’s Night on 12.17 from 6 – 9 (we don’t discriminate!) Otherwise, we’re open by appointment 7 days a week. Call us at 978-390-7600 or visit our website to make an appointment. We hope to see you soon!

November 30, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

December 1st Community Reiki Share

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

Monthly Community Reiki Share – Tuesday. December 1st. 5:15 – 8:15 P.M. $20.00 Suggested Donation. Portion of the proceeds go to charity.

Join us for some relaxation for this holiday season. The holidays can be joyful, but can also create additional stress for many. A session of Reiki can help relieve stress and promotes a greater sense of well being.

Come for the whole evening to enjoy the beginning meditation and Japanese reiki practices of a mawashi (circle) and open reiju (attunement.) Or pre-register for a scheduled session of Reiki.

You can come for some or all of the evening and enjoy the sense of peace and calm, and healthy snacks and tea. You don’t have to be a Reiki practitioner to join in. Those attending often comment on “how welcomed” and “relaxed” they feel and “how peaceful” the evening is.

Where – Manchester Community Center. 40 Beach St. (Harbor Place) in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Every 1st Tuesday of the Month.

This month we are hoping to help increase awareness of Lung Cancer, which is the #1 cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the U.S., more than breast, colorectal and prostate cancer combined. Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment SAVES LIVES!

This month the charity we are teaming up with is www.LungForce.org and for those effected by Lung Cancer. Cheryl, a 34-year-old woman was diagnosed with lung cancer in October. A wife and mother of an 8 month old, Cheryl never smoked and lived a healthy lifestyle. She is currently in treatment and we wish her well.

You do not have to smoke to get lung cancer – exposure to radon gas and other chemicals and toxins in the environment are linked to lung cancer. Essex County and Cape Ann have a higher radon level than average, due to the large concentration of granite. Test Your Home or Place of Business – order a radon test kit! I got mine from the American Lung Association. You can also order them through the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency.)

If you currently smoke, STOP! As a registered nurse in critical care and cardiac rehabilitation, a former smoker, certified hypnotherapist and tobacco treatment specialist, a large part of my work has been helping people stop smoking and live healthier lives. Contact me for help to stop smoking or http://makesmokinghistory.org/1-800-quitnow.html. Take Back Your Health and Your Life! You’ll be glad you did.

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November 26, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

Practice Gratitude – It’s Good for Your Health

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

grat·i·tude ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

“she expressed her gratitude to the committee for their support”

Synonyms: gratefulness, thankfulness, thanks, appreciation, recognition, appreciation

A Sense of Gratitude Improves Your Health

Studies on gratitude support an association between gratitude and a sense of well being. One study by Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami, leaders in the field of research on gratitude showed that after keeping a ‘gratitude journal for 10 weeks, people were

more optimistic
felt better about their lives
began to exercise more
went to the doctor less often.

Practicing Gratitude Enhances Relationships

In one study, individuals who took time to express gratitude for their partner felt more positive toward the other person and felt more comfortable expressing concerns about their relationship.

Expressing Gratitude to Employees Motivates Them

People want to feel that they are doing a good job and are members of a team. The best way to promote teamwork and motivate employees is to treat staff as valued members of the team.

10 Ways to Practice Gratitude:

Count Your Blessings
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Thank Someone (Mentally or Out loud)
Write a Thank-You Note Once a Week
Practice Optimism
Daily Prayer
Daily Mindful Meditation
Promote Teamwork (at Home and Work)
Celebrate Successes
Perform Acts of Kindness

Sources and More Information –

Digdon, N and Koble, A. Effects of Constructive Worry, Imagery Distraction, and Gratitude Interventions on Sleep Quality: A Pilot Trial. July 2011. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Vol 3. No 2. pages 193–206

Emmons RA, et al. “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology(Feb. 2003): Vol. 84, No. 2, pp. 377–89.

Grant AM, et al. “A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way: Explaining Why Gratitude Expressions Motivate Prosocial Behavior,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (June 2010): Vol. 98, No. 6, pp. 946–55.

Lambert NM, et al. “Expressing Gratitude to a Partner Leads to More Relationship Maintenance Behavior,” Emotion (Feb. 2011): Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 52–60.

Layous, K, et al. Delivering Happiness: Translating Positive Psychology Intervention Research for Treating Major and Minor Depressive Disorders. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2011; 17 (8): 675

Roberts, H. (2005). Creating motivation, identifying incentives and enablers, and encouraging staff development. Community Eye Health, 18(56), 122–124

Sansone RA, et al. “Gratitude and Well Being: The Benefits of Appreciation,” Psychiatry (Nov. 2010): Vol. 7, No. 11, pp. 18–22.

Seligman MEP, et al. “Empirical Validation of Interventions,” American Psychologist (July–Aug. 2005): Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 410–21.

How to Keep a Daily Gratitude Journal– Write ‘3 things to be Grateful for’ Daily. Do this for 21 days and it becomes a habit.

Here are my ‘3 things to be grateful for today,’ –

1) I am Grateful for the Beauty of Last Night’s Full Moonrise Over the Ocean. (2) I am Grateful for Today’s Sunshine. (3) I am Grateful to Have Work That Brings Me Joy.

Easier to Feel Grateful When Living on Cape Ann. ~ Happy Thanksgiving. Karen

Recovery, Compassion and Wisdom

UpsideDownDEC

November 17, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

Help Stop Lung Cancer – ‘Lung Force Giving Day’

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

November 17th. Today is ‘Lung Force Giving Day’ at the American Lung Association. Join me in this effort to stop lung cancer! Donate or become a social ambassador and spread the word!

The Goal – Raise $$$ for innovations in research and personalized treatments against the #1 cancer killer – Lung Cancer.

Innovative Targeted Therapies for Lung Cancer have improved the outcome of lung cancer. Innovative research and personalized treatmentt are the goals for this fund-raiser.

The Facts –

Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of men and women.
Every five minutes, a woman in the U.S. is told she has lung cancer.
The lung cancer death rate in women increase in the last 37 years, while falling 24% among men.
More American women die from lung cancer than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer combined.
More American men die from lung cancer than colon cancer and prostate cancer combined.
People that smoke are at increased risk for lung cancer (And other cancers, heart disease, stroke, COPD.)
Anyone can get lung cancer; Non-smokers too.
Exposure to radon gas is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer. Like carbon monoxide, you cannot see or smell radon; it is colorless, odorless gas. To find out more about radon and how to order a test kit – http://www2.epa.gov/radon/find-radon-test-kit-or-measurement-and-mitigation-professional

Indoor Levels of Radon in Essex Are Higher Than the National Average Due to the Granite. – http://county-radon.info/MA/Essex.html

You don’t have to smoke to get lung cancer. Check out this video – http://www.lungforce.org/vision-video

Talk to your doctor about risks, prevention and early detection. Regardless of the cause of lung cancer – smoking, radon, asbestos, pollution – prevention and early detection can save lives.

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November 4, 2015 by eandrews2015

MAC has over 80 group fitness classes per week – find your favorite in our new video!

October 20, 2015 by Cape Ann Power Yoga

Introducing Cape Ann Power Yoga!

Change your life. Today.

Cape Ann Power Yoga is now open in Brown’s Mall in Downtown Gloucester. We teach Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga in a clean and heated (90-95 degrees) room with a view to the sky and out to the harbor. When you come to class you can expect to breathe, move, sweat, work, stretch, and let go of things that you have been holding on to. You can expect to be challenged – and that means that you’re getting stronger and actually improving yourself, not just thinking or talking about it. You’ll be practicing next to construction workers, secretaries, veterans, yoga teachers, mountain bikers, surfers, runners, weightlifters, teenagers, octogenarians, and a guy named Dirt.

That’s Dirt on the right. He loves power yoga.

Our teachers are all well trained to give inspiration to experienced yoga practitioners and guidance to beginners. Power yoga is safe, fun, and challenging. If you practice a lot it will change your life – which is why every class is only $10. We want you to come and practice, a lot. In just over a month of being open we can see bodies transforming, minds opening, and lives changing. Imagine what this practice can do for you.

For more information:

Visit our website:

http://www.CapeAnnPowerYoga.com/

Email: capeannpoweryoga@gmail.com

October 10, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

Breast and Liver Cancer Awareness Month – Special Offering at Dreamtime Wellness™

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

October is Awareness Month for Breast and Liver Cancer.

Did you know that there is a calendar signifying cancer awareness months? With more types of cancers than months in a year, multiple types of cancers are represented some months. Not all types of cancer are represented on this calendar. https://d2agz4bw2vcggl.cloudfront.net/choosehope/uploads/user/files/CA_Awareness_Calendar3.pdf

How many people face a diagnosis of cancer?

Here are some statistics from 2015 – http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@editorial/documents/document/acspc-044552.pdf Here you will also find information about ways to prevent and treat cancer, and good news about prevention and survival rates.

The Good News, According to the American Cancer Society –

A substantial proportion of cancers could be prevented
All cancers caused by tobacco use and heavy alcohol consumption could be prevented.
Many of the more than 3 million skin cancer cases that are diagnosed annually could be prevented by protecting skin from excessive sun exposure and avoiding indoor tanning.
Screening can prevent colorectal and cervical cancers through early detection and removal of precancerous lesions.
Screening is known to reduce (death rates) for cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, and lung (with long-term and/or heavy smokers)
Healthy Lifestyles (healthy weight, healthy nutrition, exercise, no smoking, minimal alcohol) can help prevent cancer
Improvement in survival rates over the past 30 years reflects both the earlier diagnosis of certain cancers and improvements in treatment.

Prevention and Early Detection Saves Lives – Ask your doctor about ways to prevent, screen for, and treat cancer.

Mammogram Fact Sheet – http://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/mammograms-fact-sheet

What to Expect From a Mammogram –

Information about Liver Cancer – http://www.cancer.gov/types/liver/patient/adult-liver-treatment-pdq

A diagnosis of cancer and having to undergo treatment may cause anxiety and depression and effects families as well as patients.

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/copingwithcancerineverydaylife/a-message-of-hope-emotional-impact-of-cancer

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15295777

Ask your doctor or nurse about ways to cope and deal with the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

**Reiki may be helpful for decreasing stress and anxiety in patients receiving treatment for cancer. This study indicates a significant decrease in anxiety after a Reiki Session, and potential for improved comfort – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21998438

Read further for SPECIAL OFFERINGS at Dreamtime Wellness™ this October –

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October 3, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

October Community Reiki Share to Help Support Children in Africa

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind & Spirit

Tuesday. October 6th. ‘Community Reiki Share’ in Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Join us in Supporting the Kangemi Charity and Children of Nairobi, Kenya. Having just returned from a sabbatical in Africa, it seems appropriate that this month’s Reiki Share is donating proceeds to an African charity. All are welcomed to attend to enjoy a Reiki Session while supporting this worthy cause!

This month’s choice of charities was inspired by Advanced Western and Japanese Reiki Practitioner (Komyo Okuden/3rd Degree) and FOB Suzanne Sweeney, owner of Energize Body and Mind here in Gloucester. Suzanne’s mother-in-law Prafulla Ganatraa, coordinates the Kangemi Charity in Kenya, helping to feed, clothe and educate children in an impoverished area of Nairobi.

Reiki Teacher Prafulla Ganatraa helping children in Nairobi, Kenya

Suzanne’s husband Mehul Ganatra had this to say about The Kangemi Charity “this is a grass-roots charity started by my mother (a Reiki master) and a few of her Reiki friends three and a half years ago. The goal is to feed the children of the Kangemi slums (located in Nairobi, Kenya). The slums have a population of about 120,000 with no access to basic facilities (e.g. sewerage, medical). What started out with feeding 50 kids every Sunday has now grown to over 300! In addition to one meal a week, they also occasionally provide some clothing (school uniforms) and blankets. Thanks to some generous donations, the charity now pays the school tuition for 74 kids in primary school and 3 students in secondary school. There is definitely a need to do more. Please note that 100% of the donations my mother receives go towards helping the kids.”

In her efforts to help the children, Prafulla Ganatraa is also teaching them Reiki, demonstrated in this photo. Join us in helping support the wonderful work she is doing!

Kangemi child offering Reiki 12074487_1057218587662087_4089829940452143502_n

Kangemi Child Offering Reiki in Nairobi Kenya

To Attend this Month’s Reiki Share or to Donate to the Kangemi Charity, Email info@DreamtimeWellnessc.com or Contact Suzanne Sweeney via Email -EnergizeBodyandMind@gmail.com.

You can come as an observer, to donate, join in a meditation, and/or enjoy a Reiki Session. Participate in some or all of the evening and enjoy the sense of peace, comfort and calm that Reiki provides.

‘Community Reiki Share.’ Tuesday. October 6th. 5:15 pm – 8:15 pm at the Manchester Community Center. 40 Beach St. Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. On the MBTA Train line; wheelchair accessible. Reiki Sessions ‘By Donation.’ $20.00 suggested donation. ($10.00 for Seniors.)