We can always use some “Me” time to relax and refocus during the day. Right?

Try a short break for a cup of hot tea to slow down, get more energy and feel better?

You can call it a tea meditation or pretend that you are at a royal tea party and indulge in a piece of guilt free dessert.

Studies show that just the process of drinking tea is a powerful stress remedy technique. It will lower your blood pressure, reduce anxiety, balance hormones.

So let’s enjoy some Tea Time!

And don’t forget that each type of tea comes with its own extra benefits.

Drink up! Its Tea Time for Natural Weight Loss, Detox and Anti-Aging

• Green Tea helps us enhance our immune system and fight cancer.
• Black Tea reduces high cholesterol levels.
• White Tea is considered to be an anti-aging remedy.
• Oolong Tea has fat-blocking antioxidants.
• Herbal Teas can help us get more energy, better sleep, and be used for detox.

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.” - Thich Nat Hahn

So, what will your favorite tea for your tea party?

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor

More than 75% of health problems are related to stress. We know that one of the best stress-relief tools and techniques is a body massage.

I would like to share with you the article “Massage-You Can Do It Yourself” by Michael Tasker where he explains how easily you can self-massage your body. These tips are very helpful for cancer patients to reduce stress and anxiety.

“Qi Gong Tapping is a form of self-massage is commonly used by many Qi Gong and Tai Chi practitioners while warming up before their meditative practices. This can be adopted as a method to energize yourself first thing in the morning or perhaps before a physical workout.

Start by forming your hands into a loose fist so that you can firmly tap your body from head to toe along the meridian pathways. The first step is to tap along your arms both inside and outside. Then tap your torso down the front of your chest, continuing down to the front of your thighs. Repeat the tapping on the inside, outside, and back of your legs to cover the entire lower body. Finally, tap along your neck and behind your back to cover the remaining areas. This practice can be repeated several times, until your feel your body warm up from the increased blood flow. Remember, one of the benefits of massage is to facilitate the increase in blood flow.

Abdominal self-massage is best used after meals to improve digestion or by women during their menstrual cycle. To perform abdominal massage, place one hand over the other as they lay above your naval. Breathe deeply as your move your hands together in a circular-motion around your belly in a clock-wise direction. The clock-wise direction is synchronous with the digestive pathway of your colon. Repeat this motion for several minutes focusing your mind on your hands and breathe to warm your abdomen and improve circulation.

Reflexology is a system of treatment where specific points on the hands and feet are used to improve the health and functioning of the entire body. You can benefit from this practice even without a through understanding of reflexology charts. Use some basic massage oil or hand lotion to gently rub all of your fingers and toes. Continue to rub your palms and the soles of your feet, including the back of your hand and tops of your feet. Pay attention to any tender spots you find so that you can focus more on these areas. You will soon discover which places feel the best and which ones need more attention. By adopting a massage session each day, the tension that is accumulated in these areas through the day can be relieved.

An overall ear massage can greatly benefit our health. With the use of your thumb and index finger you need to rub the outer edge of the ear, which is also called the helix. Follow the helix down the ear until you reach your earlobe. Pull gently on your earlobe several times. Move above your ear lobe and begin to massage each of the remaining areas of your ear. The tragus, which is located just above your earlobe, is very helpful to activate the mind and relieve headaches.“read more

What about you? Have you ever tried reflexology, a self- foot massage or an ear massage on yourself or a partner?

P.S. Click to listen to our interview with Shoshanna Katzman, Chinese Medicine Specialist on Benefits of Qigong.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Counselor and Coach

Try this anytime of the day you need a relaxing sleep or stress remedy. It’s Free!

Did you know that a foot therapy foot massage can increase your energy, balance your emotions, improve your  blood and lymph circulation, relieve your aches and pains, reduce stress illness, be used with other stress remedies, be used for holistic weight loss detox, headache relief, constipation relief, and as a natural sleep remedy for your sleep needs.

Use the foot diagram below for foot rubbing tips you can use on yourself or your partner. For my husband, a foot rub acts as foot therapy that helps him relax and reduce stress illness after a hectic day at work.

You can start by gently rubbing the base of your first (little) toe. Continue at the base of the second toe. Next, apply slight pressure between the first and second toes. Then, rub between the third and forth toe. Next, massage, stretch and pull the big toe gently and rub each side of the nails. Finally, massage the ball of your foot in a circular motion, followed by circling around your ankle joint with both hands in a clockwise motion.

Foot massages can also improve the circulation and energy level of your body. Repeat the same steps on your other foot. You can do this feet massage in the evening a couple of times a week to give your tired feet a break.

Use the foot chart to find the areas where you can perform your foot massages:

Breathe, smile and be happy.

©Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health Coach, Counselor and Women’s Radio Host

NaturalCounselor.com

Are you a modern woman that puts too much pressure on herself? Did you listen to my interview with Christine Arylo, an inspirational catalyst and leading self-love expert about Feminine Super Powers on how we can activate them to slow down and relax a little bit in order to survive in this fast paced 21st century? 

Slow down, relax, take care of yourself …

Try this deep relaxation technique stress remedy exercise I adopted from www.Chetday.com newsletter.

Close your eyes, take several deep breaths, and relax.

Touch your thumb to your index finger. As you do, think of a time when you felt an exhilarated, healthy physical or mental fatigue such as from jogging or skiing or from successfully completing an important project.

Touch your thumb to your middle finger. As you do, think of a time when you had a loving experience.

Touch your thumb to your ring finger. As you do, think about one of your successes in life or valued praise that you received

Touch your thumb to your little finger. As you do, visualize the most beautiful and relaxing place that you have ever been (or make up such a place if you want). Allow yourself to stay in that place for awhile.

How are you feeling right now? Are you relaxed and happy? If not, you might want to listen to my Holistic Health and Wellness Radio Show for Women “Feel and Look Fabulous with Irina”

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach, Counselor and Radio Show Host