Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Not The Way To Get Votes

Posted by terrepruitt on May 24, 2014

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaI really don’t understand political campaigning.  We have a landline, yeah, we still do.  It probably rings two maybe three times a week.  During the last month is has probably rung at least eight times a day.  It is recordings for propositions and candidates.  It is rambling about . . . . I don’t know what because we don’t listen.  I refuse to answer the phone.  When they leave a message it just gets deleted.  Do you listen to any of that?  Do you know anyone that does?  And what about the mailers.  We have received a pile of big huge glossy propaganda.  The pile is over an inch thick.  And it is all very confusing.  The mailers sent out to get votes are very confusing.

First of all I have not read them.  I glanced at them when I was thinking about looking at them and using them to help me vote.  I was sorting them.  I was trying to decipher what it is they are trying to tell me to vote for or WHO for that matter.  Or in some case who for what . . . but they are not clear.  Some do not clearly state what the person is running for.  Perhaps they assume we know.

In the process of trying to figure out what the mailers were trying to get me to vote about, I noticed that a a major portion of the stuff was not informing me of what the candidate will do or what he or she stands for, but it is just information to discredit the other candidate.  Hmmm . . . I guess THAT in itself tells me some things I need to know about the candidate, correct?  It is as if their platform is not strong enough or he/she does not have any clear cut ideas or goals so they attack their opponent.  There actually was A LOT of that.  One candidate in particular seemed to be targeted.  So that must mean his/her opponent doesn’t have anything he/she wasn’t to share with us about him or herself.  Too busy slamming the opponent.  I’m thinking, “Your hands are too dirty from all that mud you are mudslinging.”

Then we received a handful of duplicate flyers.  Arrgh!  I think the ones we only received ONE of was wasteful enough and now there are some that were received in duplicate?

Now, I really think it is funny (I am being sarcastic) when the candidate has environmental issues they are “concerned” about.  “Let’s rid the planet of waste!”  Ummmmm . . . yeah, again in this case actions speak louder than your huge glossy print ad because you have just contributed to the landfill.  I mean, seriously, I know I am not special and I am not the only one that received over a measurable stacked inch of garbage.  So really, you are going to tell me you are concerned about the environment?

And then there are ones that say the candidate is all about helping kids and education.  Well, the $38,500.00 spent on the mailing could have gone a long way.  I know many teachers that have to spend their own money on supplies for their classrooms.  I think $38,500.00 could have bought a heck of a lot of supplies.  Now, granted the flyer did say the mailing was paid for by a group who supported the candidate, but still . . . . THEY could have spent the $38 grand on supplies.  I bet that money could have bought a lot of second hand instruments.  You might say, “Yeah, but it wouldn’t pay the salary of a music teacher.”  You’re right and maybe you have heard of the internet?  There are plenty of videos online that could help a kid that HAD an instrument to practice with learning how to play.  And some kids they don’t even need instruction they just need the instrument.  The group or the candidate could have gone to Oriental Trading company and got stickers made that said, “Donated by XXXXXX”.  And the school would have instruments.  But instead I have a garbage full of shiny paper.

I know that voting is a privilege, but campaigning is a joke.

What do you think?  Do you receive the phone calls?  Do you get a mailbox full of shiny propaganda?  Does it help you vote?

 

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Salsa Chicken

Posted by terrepruitt on May 22, 2014

So my niece is learning to enjoy cooking — at least I think she is learning to enjoy cooking.  She keeps telling me about one of her favorite recipes right now.  Salsa Chicken.  I am not sure where she got the recipe, probably Pinterest since she is young and it is all the rage with people right now.  I know I have seen the recipe in the past, but I have never really liked tomatoes enough to try it.  You might be familiar with me and tomatoes.  I have grown a little more tolerate of them.  Also recently I purchased a salsa from the deli section and it was very good.  It was a garlic salsa.  So I was thinking that it would be great in my niece’s recipe.  But, of course, when I went to the store they didn’t have it.  I bought a different one, it was a “medium” salsa and it proved to be too hot for me.  But I just took a little of it off my chicken and it was fine.  Super yummy in fact.  I see why my niece likes this recipe.  It is super flavorful.  It is easy and really yummy.  So here is how I made the Salsa Chicken.
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Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaSALSA CHICKEN:

~4 boneless, skinless thin chicken breast filets
~one package of taco seasoning
~two cloves of garlic, minced
~16 ounces of salsa
~1 cup cheddar cheese
~Cilantro (optional)
~Sour cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 375.
Place chicken breast in a 9×13 (or similar) baking dish. Season both sides of chicken with taco seasoning.  Sprinkle garlic on chicken.  Cover with salsa.  Bake for 20 minutes, until chicken is almost fully cooked. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until melted and chicken is fully cooked. To serve, top with cilantro and sour cream if desired.

Serve over rice.

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The store I was at only had thin breast filets.  That is why I used them instead of regular chicken breast halves.  So with the THIN filet I cut the baking time from the original “25-35 minutes” to just 20.  Nothing ruins a great chicken recipe like over-cooked chicken.  So, keep in mind that if you are using thicker breasts the time will probably be a little longer than 20 minutes.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaAlso the recipe my niece gave me called for 4 tablespoons of taco seasoning.  I measured out the package and I thought it was only 2.5 to three.  But whatever it was . . . it fully covered the chicken.  So this can be another one of those things that you can adjust to your liking.

I didn’t measure the salsa.  I just put enough on to cover all of the meat.  I had a 20 ounce container and I used most of it.  So I am guessing it was about 16 ounces.  Again, adjust for your tastes.

And since I had imagined using the garlic salsa, I put garlic on the chicken.  Not a necessary ingredient.

I did use the cilantro, but I don’t eat sour cream.  I bet if I did it would have helped cool down the “too hot” salsa.  My hubby loves sour cream and he used it.

My niece said she served the chicken with “FarmHouse Mexican rice and corn”.  I don’t even know what that is.  I just used plain white rice.  I spooned the liquid from the pan onto the rice.  So the rice was salsa-y.

It was very good.  My hubby loved it so now I have another recipe to add to my menu regulars.  It is so easy.

I wanna thank my niece for motivating me to try this.  My husband also wants to thank her because — again, super yummy.  And since it is so easy it will be a regular dish here at our house.

So . . . what’s for dinner?

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle Yoga

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle Yoga

 

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle Yoga

Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Quick Mouth Fix

Posted by terrepruitt on May 20, 2014

Oh sweet relief.  Do you ever have something that bothers you . . . say a paper cut . . . and every time you wash your hand, put on lotion, or just move your finger you are reminded of it?  For days it plagues you, then one day . . . MAYBE, not even every time you realize, “Hey!  My finger doesn’t hurt any longer.  Hmmm.  When did that happen?”  But you are just so happy to be done with it it really doesn’t matter.  Do you ever do anything to hasten the healing?  My latest “owwie” was a cut in my mouth.  OW!  I love French Bread, but sometimes it cuts up my mouth.  And you may have experienced a mouth cut before or a sore or something, it seems that things just keep migrating towards it and making it worse.  Plus, I can’t . . . I don’t know if YOU have this problem, I can’t seem to leave it alone.  I am always “examining it” with my tongue.  “Is the cut still ther—–owww!  Yup!  Still there.”  My goal is to make it go away as fast as I can.  Silly me, that doesn’t necessarily mean I stop eating what did it in the first place, but that does mean I will take other measures to heal it.  It needs to be sterilized.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaFirst of all you know that the mouth is host to a consortium of bacteria.  Some of the bacteria aid in digestion.  Some bacteria protect our teeth and gums.  Some cause bad breath and even tooth decay and gum disease.  But no matter what, the environment as a whole is not an easy place for sores and cuts to heal.  I know there are people who pull oil which is a more holistic way to oral health.  There are also some who might employ the use of essential oils.  I am not at that point with my essential oil use.  What I do works for me.  It might gross some people out.  I haven’t told my husband, but when I was doing it I kept thinking, “Oh, he would be so grossed out.”  But I know that it helped clean the cut and I believe it helped it heal faster and therefore bringing relief faster.

I use something most of us have in our medicine cabinet.  Plain and simple rubbing alcohol.  I don’t gargle with it.  I simply put it on a q-tip and then put the alcohol on the cut.  The reason I am posting about this is because just yesterday I realized that I didn’t need to do that as I was getting ready to leave.  So it was one of those times when I did it for a two days and then I didn’t need to do it any longer.  I also use mouthwash.  If you want to help a cut heal don’t use the sugary types of mouthwash it needs to be LISTERINE®.  I prefer the green kind, but the gold is even stronger.

I do remember my husband having a cut in his mouth from — French Bread — and I told him to gargle and he had some syrupy type of mouthwash and I told him that it needed to be the kind that makes your mouth tingle and I let him use mine.  But then when he talked to his oral hygienist and she confirmed my instruction he went out and bought the gold kind.  Yeowza.

So for me, when I cut my mouth or bite my cheek to help my body heal it fast I use rubbing alcohol and strong mouthwash.  The rubbing alcohol does not taste good, but I would rather suffer that taste for a minute and heal the cut faster than have that pain in my mouth.  And if you gargle right after it helps take the taste away.  I have also used Sea Breeze® in my mouth?  Do you know what that is?  It is an astringent I used to use to clean my face.  Now I use it for bites and cuts.

So there you have my little helpful tip.  What do you do when you cut your mouth?  Do you just let it go away on its own?  Does your tongue constantly bother it?  Share with us your household helpful tip.

 

Posted in Helpful Hints | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Nia/Yoga, Similarities And Connections

Posted by terrepruitt on May 17, 2014

I was in a yoga workshop all day.  The day was beautiful and I was in Santa Cruz, but I was inside all day.  Well, most of the day.  I was in a class about “How do we make our yoga practice and our approach to teaching yoga more meaningful?”  A lot of people do yoga just for the physical exercise of it.  But some people are interested in making it more of practice.  Some people are interested in exploring the deeper aspects of it.  I often compare Nia to yoga because it is the same thing in that both are a great workouts in and by themselves, but there is the part that I call the “practice” where it is more than just doing the exercises it is it taking some of the “deeper aspects” out into the world.  Or even applying them in the class.  But first you have to be exposed to the deeper aspects.  This class touched upon that and throughout the class I smiled at the similarities between it and Nia.

Yes, Nia has taken aspects of yoga and used them to make the mix that is Nia, but I am not certain that all of the similarities were used on purpose.  As an example, several people have told me that they do not do yoga because it is a religion.  I have experienced debate on this.  I have read articles that exclaim angrily that Westerners have taken their religion and made it into an exercise.  Then I have had yoga instructors/owners of yoga studios vehemently deny that yoga has anything to do with religion.  I have had people say they will not come to Nia because we talk about “Spirit” and in a song or two there is an “Om.”

Today it was said that some people do use yoga to connect to God.  But “there is no God in Nia” (as quoted from Carlos Rosas during my Nia White Belt Intensive in 2008.)  Today’s workshop started out with the religious aspect.  Briefly exploring how to teach and stay true to oneself.

During the class there was a lot of talk about awareness and being present.  Something that is understandable when in a yoga class.  Sensing the body while moving through and holding asanas.  This is also something we employ in a Nia class.  Being able to dance in the now.  At one point Nia was NIA = Now I Am.  So during both types of workouts there is an emphasis on moving with awareness and being in the present.  Being aware of how your body moves.  Noticing the bends and flexes, the circles and lines.  Being present and not thinking about our to-do list we have to accomplish after class.  And, this is where I consider it a practice . . . where you take those ideals out into your everyday life.  Be aware of what you are doing while you are doing it and BEING in the moment.  (By the way:  This is particularly challenging for me right now.  As you might imagine.)

Then the topic of listening to students to learn what they needs was discussed.  It went along with teaching people as opposed to teaching poses.  I particularly loved this because just last week I told my students we were going to start doing a particular group of poses and they looked at me and said, “Why?”  And I said because you told me you needed to.  They hadn’t actually told me they needed to so I explained to them that what they told me led me to that conclusion.  As a teacher you might be able to relate to the eye rolls I received.  Of course, as I feel I do this (teach people), I know there is always room for improvement so I will continue to listen.

Most often I ask my Nia students if they are having any issues or would like to focus on anything in particular during the class.  I feel that allowing them to pick the focus or take part in picking it helps me teach to them and their needs.  I felt that was a Nia connection to this part of the yoga workshop.

In the workshop, I also kept hearing talk from the students about no judgment and self acceptance.  Two things which are also taught and emphasized in Nia.  No Judgment is part of witnessing which is a stage in Free Dance.  While dancing just witness what is happening but don’t judge.  Could be something like, “I kick to shin height.”  Instead of, “I am in such bad shape I can’t get my leg higher than my shin.”  Non-judgment.  Accept what you can do and work to do more if that is your desire.

It was a nice day.  And this about sums it up.  Plenty of things to think about and work on.

What did you do today?

Posted in Nia, Yoga/PiYo/Pilates | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Your Choice To Choose Then Tweak To Sustain Or Increase

Posted by terrepruitt on May 15, 2014

You might have seen my post Are You Happy – It’s Your Choice that used the “poster” created by Alex Kopblin.  It is a flow chart asking if you are happy with simple instructions on how to stay or become happy.  Well, I just connected that to Nia.  More accurately to two Nia Principles.  I was looking through my Blue Belt Book of Alchemy and it dawned on me that the triad for Principle #1 is kind of like Alex’s flow chart.  He asks the question “Are you happy?” whereas in Nia we choose it.  His flow chart goes through simple steps to get to happy, whereas the Nia triad leads us to sensation and guides us to “tweak” in order to “sustain” or “increase” our Universal Joy.  While I have been thinking about choosing “happy” and joy, I hadn’t thought about either of these ideals/posters.  Even though I have Alex’s on my wall, directly in my face.  And I certainly hadn’t thought about how they are slightly connected/the same, until right now.

I often feel that Nia and its principles apply to life.  That is why it is a practice and not just a cardio dance workout.  As I have said many times . . . it IS a cardio dance workout, and if that is all you want to get out of it . . . GREAT.  You will get a GREAT workout.  But if you want to learn more about it and see how it applies to life you will find things like this.

You will find that Nia and its principle align up with a lot of memes out there on Facebook  The information aligns up with so many things because it is body center and it makes sense.  Nia is not necessarily the creator of many of these things, but they do have an amazing way of packaging it up.  One way they package it up so well is to relate it to movement.  There we are back to the cardio dance workout.

Anyway . . . I was a bit surprised to realize both of these ideas pretty much matched up.  But then after my initial, “Oh wow!” I realized, as I stated above, Nia connects to a lot of things.  While happy and Joy – as in the Universal Joy might not be the same thing, both of these things (the poster and Nia’s principle) are telling us that we are in control.  We are in control of our happiness and we are in control of connecting to the Universal Joy.  Neither is always easy at all times . . . but they are both always available to us.

I also believe that sometimes we do not choose emotions, sometimes they just happen.  There are times in life when we might need to just let them be and experience them.  But that might not be where we want to stay and be all the time.

There are many ways to experience the emotion of happiness and there are many ways to connect to the Joy.  What is really amazing is that the ways to do so might not be the same for every one . . . everyBODY is different.

What do you think?  I am just thinking out loud and marveling at the Nia connection to things.  As I wonder – at times – about my choice of Joy.

How are you about finding your own happiness?  What do you do to experience your “happy”?  What do you do to connect to Joy?

Posted in Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Some Like It Hot

Posted by terrepruitt on May 13, 2014

The average body temperature of a healthy, resting adult human being is stated to be at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius.  I say average because some people have a slightly higher temperature that is normal for them and some have a slightly lower temperature that is normal for them.  So 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius is average.  I like what Wiki says:  ” Despite what many schoolchildren are taught, there is no single number that represents a normal or healthy temperature for all people under all circumstances using any place of measurement.”  Information gleaned from several sources remind us that changes in hormone levels can change the body temperature. Also that the different ways temperature is taken can indicate a different reading.  Oral is where you get the average “normal” of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius, where an ear or rectal measure could be higher, and an armpit measure lower.  Our weather is too hot for me right now, so I was thinking of body temperature and just thought I note some information.  It is interesting to me.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaWhen my mom was first in the hospital a couple of years ago when she had a lobe of her lung removed I first saw the forehead swipe thermometer.  I was amazed.  I said to the nurse, “What did you just do?  Are you kidding me?”  I had never seen that before.  She picked it up and was done with it before I fully comprehended what she did.  I thought that was super cool.  Then not too long after I took my cat to the vet and they had an ear thermometer . . . which is GREAT for an animal.  Taking an animal’s temperature is the second thing (they weigh them first) that happens at a doctor visit and normally it does not set the right mood.  So the ear thermometer is great.

Body temperature can change throughout the day, changing almost a full degree F.  It can also change according to its needs, if it is hungry or sleepy its temperature can change.  There can also be slight differences from day-to-day.  Outside variables also affect body temperature . . . if it is cold or hot outside the body could reflect that.  Each body has a “normal” range for it.

I find the difference in heat tolerance to be interesting.  I do not like heat . . . at all.  To me it is too hot when the temperature is over 75°, but that also depends on if there is not wind.  This past weekend the car thermometer said 72° F but there was a wind and it was perfect to me.  I loved it.  I wish I would have gone outside.  My husband likes the temperature warmer.  Many people like the sun and heat.  Many do not.  I find the differences interesting.   I often wonder if it has to do with sweating.  If I am slightly warm I am sweaty and I don’t like to sweat unless I am working out, like doing Nia.  And I know many people who don’t sweat.  So they are fine when it is 80° whereas I am too hot and sweaty in that heat.  I don’t think my temperature runs high, but I don’t know.  I cannot remember the last time I had my temperature taken.  And normally I don’t take it unless I think I have a fever so that doesn’t help know what my “normal”.

This is the first day of our “hot spell”.  I hope it cools down by the weekend.  As they say it will.

So do you know if your body’s temperature is a little higher than the “average”?  Is it lower?  Do you like hot weather?  What do you consider hot?

*Some information was from WebMD.com

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Generations Sharing Music

Posted by terrepruitt on May 10, 2014

I imagine I am like all dance exercise teachers, in that when I hear music I enjoy I think about how I can bring it to my Nia class.  I think about creating choreography to it.  I was thinking the other day about what music would appeal to one of my classes.  My train of thought took me on a little journey. First off – before I share my journey – this is not a rant about how modern technology has caused huge chasms between people because while there are some disconnects there are some great connections. This IS a little about how things have changed and how we miss out on somethings but it is more of a ride down a memory rail line then a rant. Many of you that lived through the time period that I am about to mention, have probably heard the “remember when” about when you had to listen to the radio “all” day before you could hear that song (ya know, whichever one you wanted to hear) again.  There was no device to turn to that could play it instantly. Unless you held your cassette recorder up to the radio and recorded it, you had to wait for it to be played on the radio. There was also the accidental sharing of music that today’s technology prevents happening.

When I wanted to listen to my music I had to go into the living room and play my records. I usually had to ask if I could.  Then I would turn on the stereo with the turntable for the whole house to hear. I am not saying that I played it loud, I am just saying that it was played through speakers so everyone had to suffer through me playing my latest obsession over and over and over.  That is why I had to ask permission to play my music.  If I was playing it, the people present would have to listen to it.  So I am sure my mom got to “know” my music. I shared with her that “latest” tune. The pop music. Now-a-days people have personal devices with which to listen to their music, so it could be that parents never actually hear what their kids are listening to. They don’t get to connect on that level.

Not that parents and kids ever connect on the same level when it comes to music, but sometimes it could happen.  I imagine my parents became very familiar with some of my music.  I bet they even learned some of the lyrics via pure repetition.  I bet that they even grew to like some of it.  With these thoughts rolling through my mind, like a leisure train, it made me think that this might be the case with some of my students.  I would love to bring music to my Nia classes that reminded them of connections with their children.  The connections could even be so tenuous as them not even really liking the song but the sense of familiarity and family would allow their bodies to connect to it.  They could move and enjoy the sensation of movement without really thinking about it.  They would be able to associate memories to the music.

Ha.  These are the thoughts of a Nia Teacher wanting to MOVE her students.  But, as I first mentioned, I bet other cardio dance workout teachers think the same way.  What do you think?  Do you think songs like that could get you moving?  Do you think songs with that type of connection could allow you to dance?

Posted in Exercise and Working Out, Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Always Something Good!

Posted by terrepruitt on May 8, 2014

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaSo . . . . how are you all doing?  Are you still filling that Goodie Jar?  I am.  This is one of the things I have put in my jar . . . hence the crease in the middle of it.  I wrote on the back and folded it up and added to the jar of good things.  A friend sent it to me in a card.  It is a great motto!  Yeah, remember the Good Things Jar . . . it is an “exercise” in recognizing and being aware of the good things that happen every day even among the things that cause us sorrow.  When my mom got sick I asked her, I said, “Mom, I know you are sick and it is a very sad and scary thing, but is it ok if I am still happy about things?”  I didn’t want her to think I wasn’t sad or concerned about her if she saw me smiling and enjoying life.  She gave me permission to still be happy.  She said it was good to still acknowledge and be grateful for the good things.  And really, to me, that is what life is all about.  There is always going to be things that can bring us down.  There is death, destruction, betrayal, hurt . . . all of those things that can detract from the things that make us happy.  But focusing on the uplifting things is what gets me through.  Making note of the good things is what I want to do!

Now just because I have a jar with notes regarding the things that I consider good things that make me smile, doesn’t mean I don’t take time to be sad or be mad or concentrate on the things that don’t make me smile.  All of that is part of life too.  We all have situations and issues to deal with.  I allow myself the necessary time with emotions and situations.  Often times, I can even learn and grow from those things.  But because there are times that aren’t just rainbows and unicorns,  I have a jar.  The jar helps remind me to find the smiles in the times when I have other “stuff” going on.

I have received notes and cards and a lot of love . . . . all “Goodie-Jar worthy”.  Someone thinking about me is ALWAYS a good thing.  Makes me smile that people care and they take the time to let me know.  Also it is a great push for me to do the same.  Sometimes I think, “Oh, I wanna to let someone know I am thinking about them.”  Then I think, “Aww.  I don’t want to bother them, because I don’t really have anything to say, except ‘I’m thinking about you.'”  Then I remember how much it meant to me and I do it!

So good things can spread.  🙂

Also I found that the first time I did the jar I really enjoyed reading the good things at the end of the year.  It was fun – for me – to have that little review and the reminder of the good things that happened throughout the year.

Are you still putting things in your Goodie Jar?  How is it going?  When is the last time someone let you know they were thinking about you?  When is the last time you let someone know you were thinking about them?

Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

More On Ylang Ylang

Posted by terrepruitt on May 6, 2014

I was looking at my collection of essential oils and I found it interesting.  The ones I use the most are peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus.  The ones I use the least are Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, and Frankincese.  They are also the three that I only have one bottle of.  I bought a set that contained peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus.  I used it and bought another set.  I used those three out of the set and bought another set.  At least I THOUGHT I bought a set, but I must have duplicated my order and ended up with two sets.  Which is fine because of the three I use all the time.  Plus I have used them in my sugar scrub so that uses them up more quickly.  But I was interested in learning more about the three I don’t use often.  Also I happen to see some information on Ylang Ylang.  So I decided to do more research and report about it.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaI find it most interesting that the bottle of the brand I purchased states ” . . . Ylang-ylang Essential Oil is best suited for use in the perfumery and skincare industries.”  I know that when you mix scents with other scents you can come up with something delicious, but . . . seriously???  Have you ever smelled Ylang Ylang?  It is an odd scent.  I can’t really describe it.  The words that came to mind made it sound good , but I wouldn’t really call it a good smell.  It REMINDS me of smoke flavor.  I know that is odd to assign a scent a flavor, but that is what I think of.  I have not tasted it.  I am not that brave.  In addition to smoke flavor I think of a wet barrel.  Not wet wood, but a wet barrel that might be a bit moldy.  So odd, that is what it smells like to me a smokey wet moldy barrel . . . yet it is used in the perfume industry.  And I even used it in the sugar scrub.

The bottle also states:  ” Ylang-ylang Essential Oil can assist with problems such as high blood pressure, rapid breathing, nervous conditions, as well as impotence and frigidity.”  I can see why it might help with rapid breathing because when you smell it you stop breathing to keep the scent out.  Ok, it is not really THAT bad, but I also think I am used to it.

A few different doTERRA sources have information stating it can help with “Anxiety, Arrythmia, High Blood Pressure, Lack of Libido for Men and Women, Restlessness.”  And “helps balance hormones, promotes healthy skin and hair, and lifts mood while having a calming effect.”

Another company’s website states: ” . . . . it may help with releasing feelings of anger, tension, and nervous irritability.”

🙂  Which could be a result of correcting the “lack of Libido”.

I had included it in the scrub to help relieve stress.

Aroma Web says: “Ylang Ylang Oil is a rather interesting essential oil as its distillation varies a bit from most other oils, and this can affect the composition and aroma of the oil.”   Perhaps I need to smell a different version.

Summary of benefits:

Helps with:
high blood pressure
rapid breathing
nervous conditions
impotence and frigidity
anxiety
arrhythmia
lack of libido for men and women
restlessness
balance hormones
releasing feelings of anger, tension, and nervous irritability

Also promotes healthy skin and hair and lifts mood while having a calming effect

Of course, these are claims and I would recommend visiting a medical professional to make certain there is not a serious medical condition causing any of the above symptoms.  I also would like to remind readers that every one is different and every body is different and something that might help one person might not help another.  I personally know that I am healthy enough with no underlying medical condition, that I can use this oil for these symptoms if need be.  I think it could help release feelings of anger, tension, and nervous irritability if I have them.

If you use essential oils, do you use Ylang Ylang?  What do you use it for?  How do you use it?  Do you like the smell?  How would you describe it (the smell)?

Posted in Essential Oils | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Sleeping With A New Partner

Posted by terrepruitt on May 3, 2014

So I have a new bed partner.  One that my husband doesn’t actually mind me having.  Remember when I said my back was in pain, but it wasn’t muscle pain?  One day I couldn’t even lift my elbows up out to the side.  I was worried about how I was going to teach my Thursday morning Nia class.  Doing Nia and using the foam roller helped.  So I did a post about using a foam roller to roll it out so I would remember to use it.  Click HERE for that.  It worked great.  I had to roll it out or roll on the foam roller often, but it worked.  Then I started thinking . . . “Why is my back bothering me in the first place?”  I started paying attention.  I noticed that after I slept in a specific position was when my back hurt.  And that same position also hurt my shoulder.  I think my hips were being effected by this position too!  It is a cross between an on-your-side position and an on-your-stomach position.  Where I kind fold my upper body in half.  I came to the conclusion that I needed to stop folding in on myself.  I thought if I slept more on my side with my upper body “open” instead of the half-side-half- stomach-fold it might help.  So I am sleeping with my foam roller.

🙂  Yes, I know they make body pillows so that might work, but why get ANOTHER thing when I can use something I have?  Plus I think a pillow might be soft enough to still allow me to fold more than I want, whereas the roller keeps me propped up.  I don’t fold at all.  So I slept with my foam roller for a few nights and my back pain stopped.

So, now, I sleep on my side with my leg on the roller.  The roller keeps my hips more in alignment.  I say “more” because I don’t think they are IN alignment but more so than when I let my leg rest on the bed.  And I have the roller down low enough so that the arm on the side I am lying on has a place to be and I actually use the roller (almost the “top” of it) to keep my body propped up.  My “top” arm which rest on the roller doesn’t allow me to fold in on myself and rest my shoulder/arm on the bed.

Honestly the roller is not all that comfortable and so the hardness of it would keep me awake at first.  But not having my back hurt all day was worth it.  Plus the first few nights I would actually wake up a bit to move the roller to the other side when I switched sides.  Now . . . since my back feels better, if I want to turn over I have been leaving the roller only on one side.  I think that not folding over on at least one side is helping.

I am now using my foam roller as a preventative tool and not just a restorative tool.  Nice.

How do you sleep?  Do you have a lot of pillows?  Do you have a body pillow?  Do you wake up sometimes with a crick?  Do you wake up with pains in your shoulder(s)/hip(s)?

 

Posted in Foam Rollers | Tagged: , , , , , , | 14 Comments »

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