Fri-yay!

Oh, the days of the week and how they can change our moods! However, does the job you have also determine the excitement to "get up and go"? Absolutely it does! I have the pleasure to do what I love, teach people that daily movement, eating well and spirirutal wellness. It's really a lifestyle change and a gift that you can give to yourself, every damn day! However, I'm not going to lie when I say that there is nothing I'd rather do than to stay snuggled up to my man, in our warm bed and just let the day slip away, from time to time. Once the week gets going, it seems that for most people that by Wednesday we've accepted that the work week is moving along and soon enough it will be Fri-yay and that Thursday is practically Fri-yay. By doing this, are we truly being in the present moment? I think not, so when your week starts, whenever that might be...just be. Just let the next day be the next day and the day after that be that day. Stop wishing your life away because this life is too precious and too short. Today is just today and today you will have lots of things and events and moments that make it great. Be in those moments, feel everything that goes along with those moments but don't put an attachment to those happenings...just observe, learn and grow. Enjoy today-yay! 

Much love and happiness....Shannon

healthierathome.ca

Blissful gratitude: Sometimes I'm wrong...

Blissful gratitude: Sometimes I'm wrong...: The greatest gift, for me, are the people in my life. One of the more recent souls that I've been blessed to meet is Ken Langille. We me...

Sometimes I'm wrong...

The greatest gift, for me, are the people in my life. One of the more recent souls that I've been blessed to meet is Ken Langille. We met over a year and a bit ago and I've had the honour to stand next to him. He has brought out the best (and worst) in me but I am completely happy with that. He supports my decisions but also challenges me to face my mistakes, without forcing me or judging me. The most recent was my lack of truly being okay with whatever we say to each other and not using it against that person, at a later date. How often do we take information and use it to manipulate a discussion or situation? We've all done it, whether we'd like to admit it or not but the truth is, when we do that over an extended period of time, we can lose the trust of 'non-judgment' from our partner, friend, family member. I only hope that I can repair and rebuild what it is that I've demolished and that he'll help me with the construction, as he always has. Thank you for loving me and annoying the $h*t out of me. I love you, forever and a day. xx

Princess and Prince

Should every little girl not have her Prince Charming, Knight, Champion? I think so. Where have gone the days of a man being a gentlemen; holding doors, pulling out chairs, putting a lady's coat on? I'm trying to figure out where society has turned men into boys. Why have ladies stopped being ladies; not accepting when a man holds a door open, gracefully. Come back men, there are still ladies out there. Where has all the love and respect gone for each other?

What is love?

Love is bigger than you are....why; the only thing you can do is invite love in, you can not dictate, control or make love what you "WANT" it to be. Love is like a hurricane; completely unpredictable and irrefutable. We can find ourselves loving people we don't even like...how crazy is that? Love can not be bought or sold and you can't make someone love you. You can't prevent it from happening, no amount of money can make it go away or come in. You can't market for love or put substance to it, it's not tangible or tactile. Sex can be bought, so can marriages even orgasm's can have a price on them but love can not be bought.

Love is not a reward, it can't be turned off. Love points out consequences of hurting oneself or others and brings along its friends; anger, pain and grief, to be expressed and released. Love does not hold back. Love cares what happens to you, what becomes of you. Love connects us all. Love knows that the "other" is oneself. Love can not be manipulated or restrained.

Love...

FAMILIAR

"Don't hold together what must fall apart. The familiar life crumbles so the new life can begin." -Bryant McGill

This was my fear in the familiar; in my marriage, in my relationship after my marriage…however, I've finally started listening to what my fear was. The fear of being alone and that never thinking that I deserved the best. I figured out that I was really afraid of being lonely but if you love yourself, you are never alone. I also realized that I do deserve the best, whether someone wants to give me the best parts is up to themselves is up to them and I can't blame myself for wanting more. I should never settle, meaning that I felt I wasn't worthy of the best but I am and I'm figuring that out. I was comfortable in the familiar but living in that, out of fear. I underlined liar because thats what we tell ourselves when we are living in the familiar, lies. Stop being a liar to yourself. Love yourself and know that you are worthy and deserving of all happiness.

Namaste my loves
xx

AHA!

In life I think we are truly blessed if we have 'aha' moments and can fully allow them to resonate and be observed…it happened and I wanted to share. I see a psychotherapist who is lovely, Dorothy Ratusney and we often work on may things but yesterday she encouraged me to refocus on my ideal mate list. I had two observations; one I don't want a mate, at least not right now, I want a friend. Second, who and what I am, is what I want in that mate or partner…so for now, I am my ideal mate! :)

Now truly looking at yourself and the things that you bring to your relationships, are the nitty-gritty and changing any of the things that aren't optimal are the bits that take courage. To face the fears that you have within yourself and to not hide from them. My past relationships had brought up insecurities that I thought I dealt with long again but when in the chaos, I became the chaos. Take refuge in a calm center and a heart full of gratitude.

To quote The Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele, "Contentment is falling in love with your life".

The Yamas and Niyamas AHIMSA Self-loving

Ahhhhh self-love…truly hard for all of us. Best part in the book…"we would never purchase a can of red paint and expect it to be the colour blue when we apply it to our walls"…..Our walls around us, the exterior of us. If we can not work from a place of non-violence, self-love, courage and compassion…why should we expect anything but from those around us. Truly having the courage to see ourselves as we are, in all our parts and to embrace them without judgements or expectation. To be kind to ourselves and to forgive ourselves can truly apply forgiveness, love, non-judgement and non-expectation to those around us…in whole non-violence. 

I have forgiven my past, seeing only that the weaknesses have made me stronger, the mistakes gave me the power to learn more about myself and the sadness encouraged joy. My courage to stand alone has already shown to be grand! My daughter told me she's happier that I'm not with my ex boyfriend anymore. I asked why, she said because you seems happier. She has also been coming with me to my Restorative Thai Yoga classes and is now taking a genuine interest in them and wants to help me teach them. I'm creating a beautiful little lotus for a very muddy world…I couldn't be prouder!

Much love xxxx

AHIMSA: Non-violence

I am working on reading The Yamas and Niyamas with a group of wonderful people and I thought, how appropriate to share with everyone! :)

The Yamas and Niyamas are the 10 foundational yogic thoughts or personal observances. They give you the guidelines during your journey, as tools for your karmic backpack. This fulfilment can bring you towards the ownership of your life; by etching out the actions, attitude and thoughts of your beautiful undertaking.

AHIMSA: Non-violence or compassion for all living things, is where we being on this path. AHIMSA literally means to do "no-harm", which invites us to shine bright. Kindness, friendliness and thoughtful consideration of all things, which in hand applies to our duties and responsibilities too. 

My mentor brought up something that struck a cord with me and I quote, "Thinking we know what is better for others becomes a subtle way we do violence. When we take it upon ourselves to "help" the other person, we whittle away their sense of autonomy". The definition of autonomy is; "freedom to determine one's own actions, behaviours, etc". This means that WE are determining, expecting and judging OTHERS. Therefore when we live with non-violence, we understand that courage is not fear but rather the ability to be afraid, without being paralyzed. Therefore while courage may drive YOU forward, it could be completely debilitating for OTHERS.

*The Yamas and Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele

Love, bliss, joy….enjoy the journey. xx

Restorative Thai Yoga…my delicious love, to support you.

Come as you are, to a place of support. Let me guide and lead you through a journey of self exploration, of finding what your body is longing for. For support, for love, for understanding and most of all, patience. Lets slow it down and create the upmost stillness in our body, mind and soul. Lets allow ourselves to listen, with our heart, lets turn down the noise. I'm here to comfort and embrace you, without judgement or expectation…come as you are and rediscover who you are. Love, bliss and support…Shannon xx

JOURNEY CONTINUES…YOUR THOUGHTS?

After another discussion with a friend, it is amazing how many of us rely on someone else to make us happy…why? Why can we not make ourselves happy? I'm asking you to post your comments on why you feel this is. :)
Lets share and grow together!

MOVING FORWARD….THE JOURNEY.

In the last few days, I've had the opportunity to be part of some very insightful conversations, in regards to separations or long-term marriages/relationships ending.

When a long-term relationship draws to an end, it seems there are so many different emotions that everyone goes through but it's interesting how each step and the length of each step can be so different, from one person to another. First, one person or both people, have to make the decision to end it. Even that first step can seem like a daunting task and it becomes such an emotional warfare, if not for the individual, for both people. If both people have come to a mutual agreement, it seems easier to move forward, to "let go". However, one observation I've made is this; if one person made the choice, alone, the other may not be ready to look toward the future. They can become intwined in the past; what the relationship use to be, what the individual meant to that person and the importance of the life they built together. These are all anchors that weigh us down and can lead to the destruction of the individual. 

It can be the breaking point between lifting your spirit, or disintegrating your soul. 

How does the individual succeed, in continuing their journey? Being with yourself and being comfortable in your skin. Finding the stillness and appreciation for YOU. Immerse yourself in love for yourself; through stillness. Be calm and the love will come.

How to handle situations that disrupt your clarity and calmness? Know that you are NOT ALONE, EVER! Being alone can be one of the scariest moments but it's a blessing to your worth, you are never alone. You are beautiful and strong and amazing! The THOUGHT of being alone scares us more then actually BEING ALONE, so remember that. Also being mindful that you don't let the other person walk all over you, take advantage or disrespect you. We can sometimes find the loneliness too much and we would sacrifice our own happiness to be unhappy in what we know and take comfort in it, even if it's wrong because we ultimately don't want to be "alone".

What drives you forward, within a new relationship? Look at the things in the relationship and in the person you were with, that didn't work. While no one is perfect, neither are you. Admit your faults and change them, that's the first step because if you can't help yourself to grow and change, you clearly will find an individual who can't either. If there are things that require work, DO THE WORK! Find a path that works for you; meditation, exercise, proper nutrition, self-help books, therapy, hypnosis and/or medication (short-term). Whatever helps you achieve your BLISS!!!

These are only the first few steps and I'll share as we all continue the journey. Strap on your backpack and lets pack it full of love, for OURSELVES!

FALL BLISS

I love Fall! The smells, the tastes, the sights, the sounds….they are all delicious and enriched by the beauty. The multi-coloured leaves on the trees, the copious amounts of soups that fill your belly and stimulate your taste buds and the festival of scents wafting through your house; pumpkin and chai!! What do you love most about Fall?

Staying clear in the mud….

Reflecting on the weekend, brought about an observation of other peoples murky attitudes and the challenge of staying clear. If people are unwilling to grow and explore themselves, I notice that they become stuck in the mud. They take their negative traits and attitudes and project them onto others. Is it to make the other person feel uncomfortable or does misery enjoy company? If something makes someone truly happy and they aren't hurting anyone, I see no need to take away that happiness from them.

My struggle is to realize that they are unhappy and are insecure which is not a reflection of me. I'm loving and caring and do my best to make people feel welcome and supported. I remind myself to stay strong in the clarity of who I am and to let the others hang out in their own mud…I choose to be a lotus amongst them.

Thankful for the many blessings...

Thanksgiving 2014…a time to be thankful. Should we remind ourselves to be thankful, more often? Most definately. It seems that everything is about speed and efficiency not stillness and labour of love. How can we get things done faster to cram more things into our day, week, month, year but are we missing the quality of our friendships, the love and patience for our family and the true meaning of a REALationship. There's nothing real about them anymore. We've become disconnected to human beings and more connected to machines that give us nothing in return, except idle information. The blood, sweat and tears that are involved in loyal, caring and compassionate REALationships…are being lost. So I come to you with this….be more thankful and spend more time on the REALationships that empower you to grow, to be strong, to be weak and to be loved.

My personal thanks, go out to all the people that have supported me through a year that tested me, on so many levels. Separation of my almost 9 years of marriage, the dramatic changes for my daughter and myself, major hip surgery, moving into a new home, the joys of hormone changes, the death of my Grandma (best friend) and a million little things in between. Without you all, I don't know where I would be.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Be safe this Thanksgiving and may we are REALly reconnect!

Blessings and gratitude,
Shannon
xx

Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements - AMENORRHEA

The absence of menstruation during any cycle of life is amenorrhea. If a adolescent has not started their period by the age of 16, this is considered primary amenorrhea; for those that have not had a period for 3 or more months that is considered secondary amenorrhea. The is usually no serious cause to secondary amenorrhea and is more common than primary. For example, pregnancy is a cause of secondary amenorrhea. Depending on the cause of amenorrhea, women can experience additional conditions, such as, headache, vision changes, excessive hair growth on the face and/or torso, and a milky discharge from their nipples.

Don't think that getting rid of your period as a good thing because there is a downside. Bone density loss and the increased risk of osteoporosis could be a major concern, especially is you experience amenorrhea for more than 3-4 months. Get adequate calcium, magnesium and vitamin D and talk to your doctor about how to maintain your bone health.

Weight training is another way to help maintain bone density. Contact me today to get started!

In Prescription Alternatives, Professor Earl Mindell and Virginia Hopkins detail these findings: "In a recent study on bone density and exercise older women who did high-intensity weight training two days per week for a year were able to increase their bone density by one percent, while a control group of women who did not exercise had a bone density decrease of 1.8 to 2.5 percent. The women who exercised also had improved muscle strength and better balance, while both decreased in the non-exercising group."

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/010528.html#ixzz1uI2kVxNL

Causes/Risk Factors:
For primary amenorrhea, the cause is usually unknown  but could possibly include dysfunction of the ovaries, abnormal formation of the reproductive organs and problems with the pituitary gland and/or brain and the central nervous system. There are far more contributing attributes to secondary amenorrhea such as, the use of contraceptives, breast-feeding, stress, medication (e.g. antidepressants, anti-psychotics, some chemotherapy drugs), chronic illness, hormonal imbalance, poly cystic, ovary syndrome, low body weight, excessive exercise, thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism), pituitary tumor, scars on the uterus (due to Caesarean section or uterine fibroids), and premature menopause.

Prevention and Treatment:
If you are experiencing amenorrhea, you should go see a gynecologist to determine the cause. Amenorrhea is not a disease but a sign, so treatment involves addressing the underlying issues. Your doctor may recommend a hormone evaluation and/or complete physical examination. Determine if its hypothyroidism or hormonal balance, with natural supplements (I carry the FemMED line) or if stress reduction and improved nutrition are needed, can go a long way to correcting amenorrhea.

Must haves:

• Calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. You need to protect yourself against bone loss, no matter what the cause of the amenorrhea is, by taking these bone-sustaining supplements. Recommended doses: calcium-1,000mg daily, in divided doses; magnesium, 500mg in divided doses and 2 hours after calcium; and vitamin D, 400IU daily.
• Caste tree berry. This herb balances prolactin (high prolactin levels are a sign), helps regulate the menstrual cycle, and increases progesterone production. An effective dose is 40 drops of extract in water, taken daily for 6 months.

Other options:

• Vitamin B6. Please contact me for further information if the above treatments show no significant improvement after 6-8 weeks. I can also provide recipes and more information.

Shannon Jonas
PTS, RHN, OAS
healthierathome@hotmail.com
416-617-2523
*Natural News (August 6, 2005 article)

Vitamins, Herbs, and Supplements-ADRENAL FATIGUE

Adrenal fatigue is a syndrome (a collection of signs and symptoms) that point to overburdened adrenal glands that can't do what they are suppose to do...efficiently produce HORMONES. There are generally 3 stages of fatigued adrenals:

• Stage 1: The adrenals begin by responding to stress by increasing the secretion of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol;
• Stage 2: When stress is chronic or persistent (driving in traffic, kids being bratty, being sick or ill, not eating properly, exercising, your significant other and you fighting) it causes excessive production of certain hormones, especially cortisol, in an attempt to minimize the damage to the body, caused by the stress;
• Stage 3: When the glands can't make enough cortisol to keep up to Western societies major stresses, they become fatigued and cortisol levels drop excessively low.

Many symptoms and signs can arise during this time, that can range from mild to severe.

Cortisol's most important function is to HELP THE BODY RESPOND TO STRESS! Any kind of stress, be it physical (surgery, illness), emotional and/or environmental, by converting proteins into energy, fighting inflammation and releasing glycogen for energy (which in turn your muscles aren't getting). It also helps fight infection, maintain blood pressure (boss yelling at you, driving in traffic, not making enough money), and REGULATE METABOLISM of fats, proteins and carbohydrates (this is why I am so PICKY about your meal plan and proper eating). When your body works away at these stresses for a short time, that's fine, the body will respond well BUT if there is CHRONIC stress, your cortisol levels will remain high, then the cortisol attacks the body and weakens the immune system. The result ADRENAL FATIGUE! Statistics show that approximately 80% of people in North America experience adrenal fatigue at least once during their lifetime. It can last anywhere from a few days, to a week and for others it can linger for months or years. You can ask your doctor to perform a simple test, the ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) challenge test. When this hormone, which is made by the pituitary gland is injected into the body, an increase in adrenal hormone should occur. If it does not, adrenal fatigue is probable.

Causes/Risk Factors:
As discussed, stressors such as nutritional deficiencies, chronic physical and/or emotional stress, exposure to environmental toxins (e.g. secondhand smoke, household solvents, pesticides, food preservatives), use of stimulants (e.g. caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sugar, cocaine), chronic infections, especially respiratory (e.g. bronchitis, pneumonia) and genetics, can all play a roll in adrenal fatigue.

Fatigue can leave you tired, muscle weakness, swollen fingers and/or toes, low blood pressure, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, intolerance to cold, sleep disturbances, depression, and allergies, among other symptoms. The good news; it can be prevented and treated successfully using a natural approach!

Prevention and Treatment:
As hockey coaches say your best defense is your offense. With that said, your best offense is nutritious diet, adequate sleep, conscientious stress reduction and management and avoidance of toxins (alcohol, smoking, drugs). Temporary adrenal stress can easily be address with lifestyle changes and  supplementation. In permanent causes, removal of the pituitary or adrenal glands, congenital adrenal hyperplasia or Addison's disease, require hormone replacement but can also benefit from nutritional supplements. The biggest prevention is learning to manage, control and minimize your stress.

Must haves:

• Vitamin C.  Recommended 3,000 mg daily can help reduce elevated cortisol levels, psychological stress, and blood pressure.
• DHEA.  As mention earlier, stressed adrenals lose their ability to produce adequate DHEA. Supplementation with DHEA may also help protect against overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Have your levels tested before beginning supplementation. The typical recommended dose is 20-50mg per day.
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). Plays a key role in adrenal health and is necessary for the production of cortisol. The recommended dose is 1,500mg daily.
• Magnesium. This mineral plays a major role in adrenal function and you should supplement with magnesium aspartate. Recommended dosage 100 to 300mg daily.

Other Options:

•  L-theanine, Asian Ginseng and Melatonin. Please contact me for further information if the above treatments show no significant improvement after 6-8 weeks. I can also provide recipes and more information.

Shannon Jonas
PTS, RHN, OAS
healthierathome@hotmail.com
416-617-2523
*Food and Healing by AnneMarie Colbin

Vitamins, Herbs, and Supplements-ACNE

As promised, this is the start to your health and wellness. This week we'll address ACNE.

Pimples, bumps, cysts, redness and inflammation...fun! Every day people wake up to acne, also known as acne vulgaris. It even sounds vulgar! It is a chronic skin condition that affects approximately 85% of Canadian teenagers and up to 12% women and 3% men will continue to have acne until their mid 40's. Acne can range from mild to severe, it all begins the same way: oil glands (sebaceous glands) in the skin secrete an oily substance (sebum) into the hair follicles. The sebum lubricates the hair and skin, but if too much sebum is produced, it can block the skin pores and trap dead skin cells. A plug then forms and develops into a closed dome (whitehead) or open dome (blackhead). If bacteria gets into the dome, the skin becomes inflamed and pimples form. Sometimes pimples fill with pus and invade deep into the skin, forming the painful scars known as cysts. When pustules and cysts form scar tissue when they heal, they can leave pits in the skin.

Causes:

Acne usually appears during adolescence and is largely caused by hormonal changes. The hormone change stimulates the sebaceous glands to increase sebum production, a process that usually subsides by the age of 20. It is not uncommon for acne to appear for the first time in adults though and in this case it may be a genetic disposition, hormonal changes (related to menstruation or high testosterone levels), reaction to certain cosmetics and from use of certain medications, such as, lithium, corticosteroids, oral contraceptives and phenytoin. Poor diets, nutrient depleated food, fat, protein and sugar excess, mineral-water excess and organ malfunction (usually kidney or liver).

Prevention and Treatments:

You can reduce the severity of acne and take steps to decreasing the impact it has if you:

• Avoid picking, popping or irritating the pimples.
• Eat a whole-foods diet that includes for to five servings of green vegetables daily as chlorophyll is good for the skin and also eat lots of fiber. This is extremely important as our organs of elimination are NOT in fine working order. The fact that these and many other conditions clear up after the removal of dairy products, indicates that cow's milk and its derivatives because of their high content of buildup elements or protein and calcium, may be closely associated with them.*
• Use mild soap when washing your face and avoid harsh cleaners or scrubs.
• Avoid use of cosmetics that contain oil, which can clog your pores, or those that contain lanolin, isopropyl myristate, laureth-4, D&C red dyes and sodium lauryl sulfate.
• Wash hair frequently.

All natural supplements and treatments can take a longer time to move with your body, so be patient and give 6-8weeks to see results.

Must haves:

• Tea tree oil is a must! When it is applied to acne, it may reduce bacteria and improve inflammatory symptoms. Tea tree oil has fewer side effects, compared with benzoyl peroxide. Apply a drop or two to each lesions three times daily or use 5% gel twice daily. Personal note: For myself I use Tea Tree Oil Facial Moisturizer by @mosphere and I LOVE IT! Also, I take Progesterone because my levels were slightly low and I find that has helped balance my hormones too.
• Vitamin A or beta-carotene. Suggested amount would be "up to 25,000 IU daily of vitamin A is considered safe for postmenopausal women; a comparable dose of beta-carotene is 30,000mcg. For women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant, take no more than 10,000 IU daily of vitamin A or 6,000 mcg or beta-carotene."
• Vitamin B complex. Two to three times daily, take 25 to 50 mg. "Also include extra vitamin B6 and take 25 mg twice daily for severe acne, once daily for mild to moderate acne." If you find that acne flairs up only happen during your menstrual cycles, take 50 mg of vitamin B6 daily.

Other Options:

Copper, Zinc and Aloe Vera are also other options. Please contact me for further information if the above treatments show no significant improvement after 6-8 weeks. I can also provide recipes and more information.

Shannon Jonas
PTS, RHN, OAS
healthierathome@hotmail.com
416-617-2523
*Food and Healing by AnneMarie Colbin

Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements - A to Z

I love to hear and see people taking control of their health. I have been getting more and more questions about alternatives to prescribed medications, so I have decided that on a weekly basis, I will provide information. The information will include suggested vitamins, herbs and supplements that can benefit you, the individual. If you have any questions or would like further information, do not hesitate to ask. We'll cover everything from ACNE to VAGINITIS. Remember that everything I blog is only a suggestion and you should find out more information, either from me or another reliable source, if you have any questions or doubts.

Believe...Achieve!: Happy Healthy Heart Day!

Believe...Achieve!: Happy Healthy Heart Day!: On this very special day, of love, the most important thing is our heart! Most people don't think of what's on the inside, only what's seen ...