How To Revitalize Your Life With Healthy Chakras

Our chakras are the body’s seven energy centers and some believe that we can use this energy to maintain a physically healthy lifestyle.

Keeping our chakras aligned and healthy requires certain exercises, like those of the five Tibetan rites. Essential oils are also closely linked to maintaining healthy chakras.

  Awareness of our seven chakras can result in lasting benefits and keep our minds open and calm, improving our physical and mental health.

To keep the chakras flowing and healthy, I’ll outline some benefiting practices to each chakra.

1. The Root Chakra

Responsible for basic creative and survival-based instincts, the root chakra requires you to listen to your intuitions above all else, including the desire to give in to needless wants.

2. The Sacral Chakra

There are many practices we can do to keep this center of our sexuality, creativity, and emotion aligned and healthy.

The key to keeping the sacral chakra strong, however, is balance. Some believe it to be the most sensitive chakra, and listening to intuition will help keep all areas, creatively, emotionally, sexually, or mentally, balanced.

The benefits of aligning our thoughts, actions, and emotions in a balanced life will enhance our creativity and enthusiasm.

3. The Navel Chakra

Sitting behind our belly button, the navel chakra suffers most when we eat unhealthy foods. Keeping a healthy diet will balance this chakra and in turn balance all the others.

4. The Heart Chakra

It’s no surprise that love is the strongest practice in keeping the heart chakra healthy.

Loving our inner self is the most important aspect of balancing this chakra. This will help us spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

5. The Throat Chakra

The throat chakra feeds our self-expression through speaking and an even deeper, spiritual expression of who we are.

To keep it balanced and healthy, we need to keep our physical throat healthy. Eating healthy foods and protecting against infections will benefit our chakra as well.

6. The Third Eye Chakra

For some, the third eye chakra helps perceive spirit, but it can also help us see a truer form of the world around us.

Meditation is a great practice to keep this chakra balanced and can also help to keep us energized through the day and feeling mentally healthy.

7. The Crown Chakra

The last chakra, the crown chakra, is the purest of all and keeping it aligned will help us express ourselves and our creativity every day.

The easiest way to keep it healthy is through an enlightening conversation with a friend. Other practices could include meditation, or even dancing as a form of spiritual attunement.

Following a healthy lifestyle can help maintain healthy chakras. Being open and willing to balance the chakras could benefit in a strong and flowing life.

Source: http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/revitalize-your-life-with-chakras.html

11 Feel-Good Strategies That Only Take A Minute

By Melissa Ambrosini

 

It's so easy to get caught up playing the victim, to throw ourselves a pity party, and wallow in our misery — we're all guilty of it from time to time.
But that's no fun, is it? Years of conditioning have resulted in unhealthy habits like this. But did you know you could change those old icky habits right now? You can literally change your life in 60 seconds by doing any of these 11 things.

1. Reverse your negative thoughts, even if it doesn't feel natural.
Whenever you catch yourself repeating a negative thought in your mind, quickly switch it around to a positive thought. For example, a thought like My butt looks big in these jeans, can be replaced with I love and accept myself unconditionally.
This kind of simple shift will dramatically change your internal chemistry immediately.

2. Get your dance on — or any type of movement, really.
No matter how serious and stressful life gets, there's something very powerful about turning up some good beats and busting a few moves. This will get your endorphins pumping through your veins and flip any bad mood on its head. And if dancing isn't your jam, any type of movement you love will produce the same results.

3. Sing like Beyoncé.
Singing will quickly snap you out of your funk by releasing those feel-good endorphins. It's a really powerful mood-changing activity — you're breathing deeply, you're connected to the music, and you're in a state of flow. That's right — official permission to go grab yourself a hairbrush and bust out some Bey-Bey!

4. Meditate (in any way that works for you).
Meditation will instantly bring you back into your body and out of your head, and it's a great way to bring a sense of calm and relaxation to your life. The best news is that there are a ton of different ways to practice; all you have to do is find one that works for you.

5. Try affirmations.
Affirmations are a great way to break a negative cycle. Try I am worthy, I am love. Repeat it over and over again whenever you find yourself in a funk.
Please note that when you first start using affirmations, chances are you won't believe what you're saying. That's OK, but keep at it! You're trying to undo years of conditioning, so be persistent. Try repeating affirmations while you're driving, doing the dishes or standing in line at the bank. Get into the habit of repeating positive statements to yourself instead of nasty ones.

6. Start an internal gratitude habit, then take it public.
Before you jump out of bed each morning or close your eyes at night, rattle off as many things as you can that you're grateful for. You get extra bonus points for jotting them down in your journal and doing it twice a day. You can even get the whole family involved — we do it over the dinner table at night and on the way to school in the morning. It's a great way to bond with your family.

7. Start visualizing.
Visualizing what you want to do and create in your life is a great tool to keep you on task. Of course, you don't want to hang out in your head too much, as this means you aren't present. But by simply visualizing how you want your day to unfold or a particular project to go, you can set yourself up for an awesome day and a favorable outcome. Give it a whirl before you get out of bed each morning or at the end of your daily meditation session.
8. Laugh like a child.
Laughter really is the best medicine in the world. The reaction it has in your body is incredibly healing and rejuvenating. Make sure you crack a few big belly laughs at least once a day. If you struggle with this, try spending time around kids — they're great at giggling with abandon, and we can learn a lot from them about having fun.
9. Practice random acts of kindness.
With a simple random act of kindness, you can change someone's life. It doesn't have to take a lot of time or money. It can be as simple as smiling at the postal worker. Helping a senior across the road. Calling up a friend and asking if you can help with anything. These little moments of kindness go a long way to making you — and the people around you — feel awesome.
10. Flex your self-love muscle.
We can get so caught up in the stress of day-to-day life that we forget to take time out for us, to fill ourselves up. This is OK every once in a while, but if we do it repeatedly over weeks and weeks we can get depleted and burned out.
The solution? Do one thing every day that makes your heart sing. It could be taking a bath, savoring a cup of herbal tea in the sunshine, walking in nature or reading a good book on the beach. Whatever it is for you, make sure you commit to at least one act of self-love per day.
11. Connect with nature.
Mother Nature is incredibly calming and healing. Connecting with nature every day can really decrease your stress levels, get you out of your head and ground you in your body, helping you feel calm and stable.
Do you have any ways to change your internal chemistry? Share your tips!
Photo Credit: Getty Images
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-16281/11-feel-good-strategies-that-only-take-a-minute.html

YOGA & MEDITATION CAN RESHAPE YOUR BRAIN

KIRSTEN COWART

You can physically change your brain through Yoga and Meditation.  Science has found Neurobiological evidence to support what meditation experts have been claiming for years; That people are healthier and happier when they meditate.

“Neuroscientist Sara Lazar’s amazing brain scans show meditation can actually change the size of key regions of our brain, improving our memory and making us more empathetic, compassionate, and resilient under stress.”

As we age our brains loose grey matter.  However, if you meditate by age 50 you will have the same amount of gray matter as a 25 year old.  Meditation literally keeps your mind healthy and young!



tedxcambridge-sara-lazar-on-how-meditation-can-reshape-our-brains-youtube_dvd.original. The area of the brain that controls emotions, empathy and compassion actually grows in the brain when you practice yoga and meditate.  The region of the brain connected to our feelings becomes bigger and there are more connections there.  That is why meditators are more able to connect with the world around them, love everyone and are more able to find happiness.

Also the parts of the brain that respond the most to stress gets smaller with meditation.  This means that anxiety and depression naturally fade with a meditation practice.

Scientific evidence strongly supports meditation, with that in mind will you begin practicing yoga and meditation?  If you do already let us know in the comments how it has influenced your life.

Thank you for reading,

Kirsten
http://thespiritscience.net/categories/healing-2/

7 Simple Scientifically Proven Methods To Make You A Happier Person

Ever noticed you’re in a slump that’s lasting weeks, months or even years? Moodiness is common to the 20-something’s life. With all the life changes, long work hours, lack of sleep, poor eating habits and stress, it’s pretty easy to feel out of whack.

If you find yourself struggling with non-clinical moody slumps, it’s important to pinpoint an action plan so that you can turn your mood around.

The key is to remember that you are in active control over your life: It is up to you to make positive changes that will make you happier in your daily life. Here are seven ways to do it:

Smile

Try this: Smile in the mirror, first thing in the morning, then a couple more times during the day. Does your mood change? As it turns out, moving facial muscles in such a way that mimics smiling has been scientifically proven to boost your mood.

When you smile, there is a physiological response that influences areas of your brain that coincide with feeling happier sensations. So, certain facial expressions literally pinpoint specific portions of your brain. Get smiling, people.

---

Herbal Supplements

There is much wisdom in eastern medicine, including its focus on treating the whole human body instead of targeting specific parts. The wonderful thing about herbal remedies is that they help your body function at its best so that it can naturally heal itself.

Try maca root or St. John’s wort. Maca root is wonderful for combating high stress levels known to throw our bodies out of whack and St. John’s wort has been shown to be just as effective as anti-depressants for mild and moderate levels of clinical depression.

---

Drink Green Tea

Green tea, well known for its soothing and relaxing qualities, has also been shown to improve mood. 

A study conducted at Swinburne University investigated brain activity in relation to moods found that participants who consumed green tea showed greater relaxation, attention and higher mood levels.

---

H20

As you heard from your high school sports coach, dehydration can compromise athletic performances. Not only that, but new studies now show that hydration — or lack thereof — also influences the mood.

In a study, a hydrated group was compared with a dehydrated group and athletes who were dehydrated not only performed worse on athletic activities, but also reported more negative moods.

---

Exercise And Meditation

There is nothing quite like a runner’s high. Athletes have long noted the amazing benefits associated with working out, such as increased energy, relaxation and higher moods.

Recently, researchers began to investigate the correlation between exercise and mood; however, they are now finding that such a relation exists. Researchers have found that you can begin to feel a “mood-enhancement effect” after as few as five minutes of physical activity.

Similarly, meditation has also been shown to influence mood — studies have shown that meditation lowers cortisol levels, which is a primary instigator of anxiety. Whatever your method of choice may be, either option can be a fantastic tool to improve your mood.

---

Eat Those Veggies

Take if from Popeye, who is famously known for chugging a can of spinach prior to exerting his physical strength: Eat those greens! Recent research suggests that diets high in fruits and vegetables make people calmer, more energetic and happier.

---

Try Some Positive Thinking

Whether or not you agree with the positive thinking phenomenon, there is a lot of wisdom to be gained from focusing on your thoughts. As Henry Ford so wisely said,

The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can’t are both right. Which one are you?

If you focus all of your energy on negativity or what you can’t do, you won’t do it. But, if you instead focus on what you can do, you will find a way to do it.

http://elitedaily.com/life/scientifically-proven-ways-to-instantly-improve-your-mood/

Science Proves Hugging Trees Is Good for Health

It has now been confirmed by science that hugging trees can beneficially affect human health by altering vibrational frequency.

Hugging a tree may have gained popularity as a maligned hippy practice, but it has now been validated by science to be incredibly beneficial for both people and the planet. Contrary to popular belief, hugging – or even just being in the vicinity of – a tree can boost one’s health in several ways.

In a recently published book by author Matthew Silverstone, Blinded by Science, evidence confirming trees and their healthful benefits includes their effect on mental illnesses, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), concentration levels, reaction times, depression, and the ability to alleviate headaches.

According to countless studies cited within the book, children show extreme psychological and physiological effects in term of improved health and well-being when they interact with plants. It was recorded that children function better cognitively and emotionally in green environments and have more creative play in green areas.

A large public health report studying the association between green spaces and mental health also noted that “access to nature can significantly contribute to our mental capability and well being.”

What is it about nature that can cause significant alleviation of symptoms? Many might think it’s open green spaces that contribute to this effect, but Silverstone shows that it’s more than this theory; instead, he explains how it’s the vibrational properties of trees and plants that offer the health benefits – not just open spaces.

Because everything vibrates, different vibrations undoubtedly affect biological behaviors. According to Natural News, it has been proven that that if one were to drink a glass of water that has been treated with a 10Hz vibration, one’s blood coagulation rates will change immediately upon ingesting the treated water.

Similarly, trees affect human beings (and all other creatures) in the same way. When one touches a tree, its different vibrational pattern will affect various biological behaviors within the body.

Within Blinded by Science, such theory is backed up by hundreds of scientifically validated studies, providing overwhelming proof that tree hugging is not just for hippies, it’s for everyone.

Not only is clutching a giant, sturdy oak therapeutic and free, it could offer a plethora of benefits and save the populace a large amount in healthcare costs.

A similar report documenting the effects of nature and improving health reported that “safe, green spaces may be as effective as prescription drugs in treating some forms of mental illnesses.”

Human beings can only live outside of the laws of nature for so long before symptoms of disconnect be made manifest. With the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, it’s clear more attention deserves to be given to holistic practices such as this one, so that the cause of imbalance be alleviated and lifestyle-related illnesses dissipate.
http://earthweareone.com/science-proves-hugging-trees-is-good-for-health/

Gregg Braden - Quantum Healing of Tumour thru the Power of Thought & Feeling

We’ve been talking about how meditation and energy work can have a profound effect on the body and the mind, but this takes things to a whole new level. In this video below, chinese doctors actually practice a form of meditation as treatment for a Tumor…and by the end, the Tumor is gone!

Click play and see how they do it! ^_^

Gregg Braden - Quantum Healing of Tumour thru the Power of Thought & Feeling

How Meditation Affects The Brain

May 16, 2014 | by Lisa Winter

photo credit: Nadir Hashmi

Humans have meditated for thousands of years, for religious purposes or just to quiet the mind. There are many meditation techniques but for the most part they can be lumped into two broad categories: non directive (mind wanders freely) and concentrative (suppresses random thoughts). Any differences in how the body responds to each type have not been well known prior to this study. A new study led by Svend Davanger from the University of Oslo has investigated what happens in the brain during meditation versus casual resting. The results were published in an open access format in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

Acem meditation came about in the 1960s in Norway as a non-religious technique that focuses on mentally repeating a word in order to relax the mind and body. Acem does not seek to reach any particular state of consciousness, but instead allows thoughts to come and go from the mind as they become absorbed by the mantra. 

The study used 14 participants who are experienced in Acem and they underwent functional MRI (fMRI) to measure brain activity during three different states: nondirective meditation, such as Acem which allows fleeting thoughts provided the mantra is repeated; open monitoring, which allows the person to experience whatever random thoughts come into their head; and focused attention, in which the person deliberately tries to prevent random thoughts and focuses solely on their breathing. 

The ability to reduce the number of times the mind wanders during focused attention exercise has been heralded as a benefit of long-term experience with meditation. That assertion typically comes from those who self-report the amount of time they are on task, and not from studies that have actually tracked the amount of time the person meditating is able to focus thoughts. This study found that when the participants were asked to push a button and track when they were no longer thinking about their breath, the more experienced meditators didn’t really have much of an advantage over those that were newer to it. During the 20 minutes it took to complete the fMRI, the participants pressed their buttons about once every 80 seconds.

The results found that activity was significantly increased in the areas of the brain associated with emotions and memories during the non directive meditation, compared to the focused meditation. This was an unexpected result, as the it was assumed that actively concentrating would have increased brain activity.

"I was surprised that the activity of the brain was greatest when the person's thoughts wandered freely on their own, rather than when the brain worked to be more strongly focused," said lead author Jian Xu in a press release. "When the subjects stopped doing a specific task and were not really doing anything special, there was an increase in activity in the area of the brain where we process thoughts and feelings. It is described as a kind of resting network. And it was this area that was most active during nondirective meditation.”

"Meditation is an activity that is practiced by millions of people. It is important that we find out how this really works,” Davanger said. “In recent years there has been a sharp increase in international research on meditation. Several universities in the US spend a great deal of money to research in the field. So I think it is important that we are also active.”

The left images show the brain during concentrative meditation, while images to the right show the brain during nondirective meditation. Credit: Norwegian University of

Read more at http://www.iflscience.com/brain/how-meditation-affects-brain#VtOX8gKOpmqFmjeK.99