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This Week's Tip

How to increase your energy in 9 easy steps

Step 1:  "Breathe"
Step 2:  "Rest and Relaxation"
Step 3:  "Reset Your Aura Daily"
Step 4:  "The Power of Water"
Step 5:  "Reduce Your Stress"
Step 6:  "Exercise"
Step 7:  "Food"
Step 8:  "Structural Care"
Step 9:  "Goals and Dreams"

Step 1: Breathe

According to the ancient masters, the length of your life is measured in breaths. The slower your breath, the fewer breaths you "use up", the longer you live.

Think about what happens when you get stressed or excited. You start to breath faster to pump more oxygen into your body so you're "ready to go."

By slowing your breath down you change your nervous system from sympathetic dominance (fight or flight) to parasympathetic dominance (relaxation and repair).

Normally we breathe 16-20 times per minute. Try consciously slowing your breath down to 6 times a minute or less.  It's actually very simple.  Sit comfortably cross legged on the floor or in a chair with your feet placed equally on the floor.  Sit up to make your spine as straight as possible.

Through your nostrils take a long, slow, deep breath in. Take about 5 seconds to inhale. Then exhale slowly through the nostrils, again taking about 5 seconds. This will change your rate of breathing to 6 times a minute. 

Use a timer and practice this breath for 3 minutes.  When you've finished, inhale deeply and hold the breath for at least 15 seconds while you stretch your arms up to the ceiling.  Gently exhale to finish.

Once you've practiced slower breathing in a controlled setting (when you're relaxed and comfortable) it will be easier to remember to slow your breathing down when life gets upsetting. Slower breath--more relaxed--easier to handle life.  And more relaxed means more energy.

Try this technique daily for a couple of weeks and see the results!

Bonus Tip

Breathing Away Your Stress

There are many breathing techniques to enhance your energy.  Sometimes, when you're confronted with deadlines or a huge stressor, you don't have time to sit down and breathe and relax for an extended period of time.

Here's an ancient technique (as taught by Kundalini Yoga Master Yogi Bhajan) that will quickly change your ability to deal with stress and give you a huge boost of energy.

Start by getting a tissue and blowing you nose.  Throughout this technique be sure to keep your mouth slightly open to prevent pressure from building up in your ears.  Sit down--you might get light headed when you do this.

Through your nose, inhale as deeply as possible.  Then forcefully exhale  all your breath through your nose (keep the mouth open).  It should be a hard and fast exhale like an explosion from a cannon.  Do this inhale/exhale ten times.

 Stress?  What stress?!

Herbs to You

Make Sure You Can Breathe

Pollution, pollen, out gassing of toxic substances in the home and workplace.  Your lungs and sinuses almost don't stand a chance.

I have found two caffeine free teas that work to open the lungs and sinuses, decrease the amount of mucous in the body, and relax the tightness and coughing that comes with allergic reactions and colds.

Traditional Medicinals makes a tea called "Breathe Easy."  Yogi Tea makes a similar tea called "Breathe Deep Tea."  The teas are known as herbal decongestants and I've found they usually work in minutes.

Both teas contain ma huang, also known as Ephedra.  You've probably seen Ephedra in many weight loss formulas.  When used by itself, Ephedra has very stimulating properties including making the heart race.  The weight loss products work by speeding up your metabolism.

Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines have known for centuries that the stimulating effect of Ephedra can be minimized by combining it with helper herbs, making it safer to use.

In these teas you should the beneficial effects of Ephedra including opening up the bronchioles and sinuses are enhanced by the helper herbs and the "speedy" effects should be minimized.  (However, it is not recommended that you take Ephedra containing products in conjunction with other substances that have a known stimulant effect.)

Mention this newsletter and ask Laura, Missi or Christina for $.50 off your next box of Breathe Deep Tea.

 Check out more information about Yogi Tea at their website:  http://www.yogitea.com

 Traditional Medicinals website is:  http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/

     *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration