SchoolofCT

The School of Complementary Therapies

The Easy Way to Choose Happy & Get Healthy

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Do you ever sit and daydream? Imagining living the Happy Life? Making pictures in your mind’s eye about…

  • living with higher self-confidence and self-worth
  • enjoying better health and great sleep
  • having more energy
  • achieving your goals
  • becoming popular and having lots of friends
  • achieving more of what you truly want
  • balancing the different areas of your life
  • being truly Happy!

If you can do any of the above, you can begin to improve your life and Choose Happy with hypnotherapy! Really! Let me tell you how…

Hypnotherapy is a Complementary Alternate Medicine therapy that allows you to reach levels of deep relaxation. When you are relaxed the conscious and the sub-conscious mind are very close together. You simply have to relax and think of new ways of being for your mind to make changes.

My aim is to help you help yourself.

Hypnotherapy is not about one person controlling another’s mind, but about a sensitive and caring relationship developed between therapist and client, in which a true understanding of each client’s goals, ideals and objectives are established. I am dedicated to helping each client achieve their objectives in the shortest possible time, in accord with their best interests.

Hypnotherapy or Clinical Hypnosis can be used to help in an almost unlimited number of ways, and is especially useful in behavior modification (big words that mean ‘changing your habits’):

  • relaxing,
  • relieving anxiety and depression,
  • quit smoking,
  • changing eating habits,
  • overcoming fears and phobias,
  • improving memory and study habits
  • and much more.

My studies in hypnotherapy have led me to believe it to be one of the simplest tools of change we can use. Currently,  I am working with clients who have anxiety, depression, phobias, weight issues and sleep problems. Each and every one is feeling better using hypnotherapy! And that is how to Choose Happy!

Hypnotherapy can allow you to escape from your typical patterns of response and behavior, allowing you to achieve greater flexibility and choice.

It works by allowing you to relax deeply, so giving you the ability to choose new ways of doing, being and thinking, without being controlled by past experiences.

I want you to be able to achieve your objectives and Choose Happy in the shortest possible time, with your best interests in mind.

When you make an appointment with me because you are ready to feel better in any area of your life, whether it body, mind, emotions or spirit, hypnotherapy is one thing we consider. Sessions are personalized and highly enjoyable experiences.

Thank you for being ready to change and ready to Choose Happy. I look forward to helping you achieve your full potential! To make an appointment to try a hypnotherapy session or begin a series of life-changing sessions, please contact me.

Keep it Up!

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Stopping for a break ~ herbal tea and some fruit ~ keeping up my blood sugar!

It’s important for you to know and be aware about blood sugar. Blood sugar stabilizing is important for reducing stress and lessening feelings of anxiety. And there are many other benefits you will find from maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Click here for more information.

As defined in the dictionary, blood sugar is the glucose in blood that rises and falls depending upon what we eat. All carbohydrates are ultimately converted to glucose to be used by the body as fuel for the brain and muscles.

When we are feeling low on energy we often crave sugar or caffeine. Caffeine appears to release stored glucose. Instinctively we know that these substances will raise our energy (or sugar) level quickly.

So, what’s wrong with that? The problem is that this high concentration overloads the system, causing the levels to swing up above normal giving  us a lift, then fall rapidly to way below normal. Then we feel even more tired and crave more sugar or caffeine…so, we have another cup of coffee, glass of coke, sugary snack…our energy swings up again and crashes down again…over and over!

Riding on the chemical roller coaster leads to irritability, depression, anxiety, confusion and fatigue. It actually becomes an addiction cycle! We are not nurturing and taking care of ourselves when we are in this pattern.

Ideally we want a strong, steady level of energy all day long. We want to avoid the swings up and down by eating healthy food in healthy amounts. We need to avoid sugar and caffeine, and instead eat whole foods that are digested slowly.

These are complex carbohydrates: fruits, vegetables, grains. These foods slowly release their energy into the body. As a Natural Health Consultant I suggest most people need to eat three meals a day and two to three snacks, so your body is receiving quality energy all day.

  • Start kicking coffee by using good quality decaffeinated coffee. You will have the taste without the caffeine. If you are a heavy coffee user, wean yourself off by cutting the number of cups you drink daily. Caffeine withdrawal produces bad headaches and other side effects that may give you an excuse to give up. Go slowly, this is a process of loving yourself, not punishing. Try herbal teas. There are hundreds on the market, buy sample packs and find your favourites. Try coffee substitutes, you may find you like them.
  • And drink water! At least six glasses daily. Don’t like water? Try fizzy spring water with ice and a slice of lemon in a beautiful glass. Put some pleasant tasting chlorophyll into the water-Nature’s Sunshine has a spearmint oil added. Take a 1.5 litre bottle with you in the morning and promise yourself you’ll finish it by bedtime, then finish it by noon and feel pleased with yourself!

If you would like to learn more about “Eating Well as Part of Loving Yourself” and integrating good eating habits into your life, give me a call or drop me a line and we’ll set you up with an appointment and get you started on a personalized wellness program or take the fabulous SCT Course Nutrition 101.

And remember the important thing about blood sugar ~ keep it up!

May 2012 You Can Heal Your Life

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This month we are doing sharing something a little different with you. One of our School of Complementary Therapies’ students has given permission to share her book report. The book report was part of the Anatomy & Physiology course. All students who complete A&P, Reflexology Instructor Training and the Certified Natural Health Practitioner training are required to read the book You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay. This book is a classic in the holistic health and wellness field and I encourage you to pick up a copy and read it.

‘In her book Ms. Hay focuses on changing thought patterns to improve your health and life over all. She teaches manifestation through positive thought. This book helps it’s readers to recognize and acknowledge current thought patterns that are acting in ways opposite to that which we truly want to feel and bring into our lives. Louise Hay also goes into detail on the specific thought pattern that lies under physical ailments, including a chart to break it all down (which is from her book Heal Your Body). As part of this chart she includes the thought(s) that can be used to break the current pattern.

I have to admit that I had a lot of trouble (resistance) reading this book, which I did find surprising as I am a firm believer in active manifestation. But through this I got the chance, with the help of this book, to really look at where I had been straying from my path of manifesting. I was forced to be present in my thoughts, which can be very uncomfortable. As I carried on with the book I did eventually come to a place of gratitude with the awareness Ms. Hay’s book brought to me. This experience reminded me that lessons come when we need them, not always (or rarely) when we want them.

In the past, I have read other books on the Law of Attraction and active manifestation. So, I admit I thought this book would be a ‘walk in the park’ for me as the others had sparked a connection with me. It wasn’t. The tone the book was written in did not resonate with me. I felt as though I was a little girl being lectured, which riled up the rebel in me. But once I finally finished the book I realized that this was a very effective technique. I wanted to “show” the book itself that I could indeed change my thought patterns. This book would not beat me, I would finish it and I would benefit from it.

I did really enjoy the personal connection to herself that Louise Hay brings into the book. Through parts of the book it was this connection that kept me going. Through her stories of her journey I was inspired to bring these changes into my life everyday. Finishing the book with her personal story was a good way to end. I felt it took away the sensation of “who are you to tell me these things”. It brought proof to her book if any reader should need it.

I am grateful that I read this book, as hard as it was for me to get through. I have learned, and am continuing to learn, from it. It has helped me to keep the awareness of my thoughts present. I feel I am back on my path of active manifestation.

Submitted by a student. Received and shared with permission and gratitude.

April 2012 What to eat? What have you got to lose?

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Have you noticed that it is becoming more and more confusing to decide what to eat? It seems that a new study or a new fad diet comes out every day. One day we are avoiding too much protein as it’s hard on the kidneys, and then the next we are loading up on protein heavy diets to lose weight. One day we are taking all dairy out of our diet so we are free of congestion, and the next day we are eating yogurt three times a day to improve our colon health. Are you confused?

Gluten-Free Spagetti| Eating Healthy|

SCT Founder Jacqueline Fairbrass tucking into a fabulous gluten-free

Have you noticed that it is becoming more and more confusing to decide what to eat? It seems that a new study or a new fad diet comes out every day. One day we are avoiding too much protein as it’s hard on the kidneys, and then the next we are loading up on protein heavy diets to lose weight. One day we are taking all dairy out of our diet so we are free of congestion, and the next day we are eating yogurt three times a day to improve our colon health. Are you confused?

Over the years I worked as a naturopath, I found that diets and fad diets were occasionally useful but most of the time left people out of balance. So, I developed Nutrition 101 to help people learn to eat well and follow a balanced diet. Whether you want to maintain a healthy weight or lose a few pounds, understanding what our bodies need to ingest and paying attention to how we feel when we have eaten is in my opinion the key to healthy body weight.

This month I’ve spent some time with people on what I call ‘fad diets’. That is, diets that cut calories to less than

1000 a day and cut out one particular food group. When we cut down our calories to a very low level (seriously, one friend of mine is currently ingesting under 500 calories a day while working out!) our body goes into ketosis. This means that we use our stored energy and we lose weight. The question is, whether this is healthy for us. Initially, we get a sense of euphoria from it, which people attribute to increased energy. It’s actually a body function from ancient times ~ we get energized to find more food because we are starving ourselves. When we go back to normal eating, the weight goes back on faster than ever as the body celebrates not starving!

Quite simply, removing one particular food group from our diet can lead us into ill health through unbalance. We don’t get the body’s nutritional requirements met unless we eat from all the food groups.

So, what should we do? Perhaps you are looking to lose a few pounds, or you’d like to be healthier or you’d simply like to stop being confused. I recommend that you take the Nutrition 101 course. It’s experiential, which means that while you study and learn you are guided to record your nutritional experiences. Take this course to help yourself and to help your family and loved ones. It’s easy to follow and learn and you’ll be able to take charge of your eating habits.

In the meantime here are some of my tips to make eating right easier:

  1. Drink more water. We often confuse hunger and thirst, so drink your water, hydrate your body and see if you need to eat as much.
  2. Take a daily multi-vitamin. Make it a good quality one from food sources.
  3. Eat a rainbow. Make sure your plate has various colors on it. Food colors represent nutritional components.
  4. Eat fruit and veggies daily. 
  5. Eat a variety of foods. Make sure you eat from all the food groups.
  6. And the most important! Slow down and enjoy your food. Don’t eat while you drive, while you watch TV or standing in the kitchen because you are in a hurry. Paying attention to what you eat cuts calorie intake like nothing else.

As our food supply is being chemically changed and modified you owe it to yourself to take charge of your eating habits. Want to go a step further? Then start today on one of our Feeling Absolutely Fabulous revolutionary new weight loss programs. So start today! What have you got to lose?

Without our health nothing else really matters.

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It’s not a new thought, but it is a very important reminder. This January is National Preventive Health Screening Month in the US. Whether or not you are in the US it’s a great time of year to review our health and healthy living priorities. As we set our New Year’s Resolutions and look to the fresh start of a new year let’s make our health and well-being our number one priority.

What does ‘health’ mean to you? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’.

At Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC we believe our individual health is made up of four components: body, mind, spirit and emotions. Holistic health care focuses on all aspects of whom we are and who we be. When all these are functioning in a balanced and life supportive way we are healthy. All aspects of health are reliant on each other and the journey to health is not linear. The place to begin is getting honest and real with you. Are you healthy? What areas of your health need adjusting, tweaking, changing? If you don’t know where to begin it’s a really good idea to start with your physical aspect: your body.

For example: Obesity is on the increase, while unhealthy body images are pushed at us all over the media. Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on our health. This in turns leads to reduced life expectancy and the potential of increased health problems. Being overweight can lead to all sorts of health issues including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep problems and even some types of cancer! It can also affect our mental and emotional states leading to depression and a sense of social disapproval or stigma.

We suggest you begin with taking a good look at your habits: the food you eat, when you eat, how much exercise you get, how much alcohol you ingest, sleep patterns, hobbies, whether work is fulfilling. Really look at how health supporting your lifestyle is. Yes, this year, let’s get real and decide to make the changes that will have us all living healthy and fulfilling lives. Without our health nothing else really matters.

I am taking clients by Skype and telephone appointments so you can start immediately to live your fabulous life. SCT has courses and programs to help you become happier and healthier, including distance education. Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC has a series of CDs designed to support you in your quest to live a more healthy life. Don’t know where to begin? Email me to schedule a free 15 minute health consultation.

Live Your Fabulous Life NOW. If not, WHEN?

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

Bah-Humbug and all that jazz!

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For so many of us the holiday season is a series of trials and tribulations that we endure each year. Even if you love the holidays I suggest you read on for some ideas about how to truly enjoy yourself this year. For years I have worked with clients and students to explore why so many of us dread the holiday season each year and why we feel so guilty about that dread.

Initially people talk of the ‘expectation’, which comes in several formats. We expect so much from ourselves! We expect to find the perfect gifts, attend or host the perfect events and expect to enjoy our family and friends. Most insidiously beneath this surface expectation is the underlying expecting ourselves to be full of some mystery holiday spirit and sense of love and peace for all.

As a kid I had a wonderfully naive belief that on Christmas day, ¦a sort of ‘for one day only’ there was no crime or hate or cruelty on the planet. I believe the actual belief initially came from hearing about ‘cease fires’ in the 1st and 2nd World Wars. I then added on my family’s own ‘cease fire’: My parents would do their best not to argue and relatives would be civil at the family gatherings. As my family of origin is highly emotive and flamboyant this sense of civility was a unusual blessing–truly ‘ceasefire’ sums it up nicely! And I believed that the world was a wonderfully safe place on Christmas Day. I remember this belief being totally destroyed one Christmas when I heard of a violent crime being committed by a shop Santa. Yet, still there persists within me a sense of ‘it should be safe’ on Christmas.

Maybe by now you are connecting with one of your ‘holiday beliefs’ and the impact it has had on you through the years?

So my gift to you this holiday season is the gift of peace and allowance. Allow yourself to be at ease with the season. Sometimes all we need is permission to let us off the hook of expectation.

Think about this: how peaceful and loving is your family gathering? It can be an awful lot of pressure to put a group of people into a room or home; people who don’t usually get together but feel because it’s the holidays that they should. What if instead of expecting people to behave in certain ways, we allow them to simply be who they truly be–and that includes ourselves! And if the bottom-line is you don’t really want to be with these people then go be with some people you do want to be with instead. Or spend some time with yourself. Allow you to do what you want to do and to be with people you really do care about!

What about decorating for the holidays? If it brings you joy, do it and have the most fun you can have! However, if it feels tedious and drags you down simply don’t bother to do it. Or find a friend or family member who loves to decorate and invite them to do it for you, and of course to put it all away afterwards.

The same can apply to cooking. If you love to cook, then cook up a storm. If you love to entertain than throw the best parties you can. And if you don’t like to cook there are still lots of other options: let someone who does love cooking to do it, whether that be a family member, friend or a local shop where you can buy pre-prepared yumminess. Don’t like to have people over, then don’t. Love going to parties but don’t like throwing parties, accept every invitation you get and take a fabulous hostess gift. The exchange is complete!

Forget the traditions that don’t work for you and start to change and embrace new traditions that fill your life with ease, joy and glory. Don’t worry about what others will think; most likely they will thank you in the long run. So often when we worry about hurting the feelings of others we are just projecting our own fears on them. For example, last year my husband and I chose not to go to his mother’s family Christmas. We had our reasons and let the family know. After the initial shock it turned out that his mum used the opportunity to do what she really wanted to do: she went off to a coastal hotel with her husband for a few days. It turned out she felt that if she stopped doing Christmas dinner everyone would be upset with her, but after all the years of being the entertainer she really just wanted a quiet Christmas with her husband and someone else doing all the cooking!!! My sister-in-law headed south for a vacation with her husband a day early. Everyone was happy! Check your traditions and ask yourself ‘is this a tradition or is this just a habit’.

So this year I encourage you to have an absolutely fabulous holiday season. Remember my CDs and SCT’s Distance Learning Courses make wonderful healing gifts. And I also offer Gift Certificates for one-on-one fabulocity coaching!

Have a magical holiday.
Blessings and keep well,
Jacqueline Fairbrass RRPr
Licensed Hypnotherapist Health Consultant
Founder, School of Complementary Therapies

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

Change it up to feel good this Autumn!

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As we ease into the Fall and start enjoying the changes of Autumn we can often feel like life is in transition. Whether that’s dealing with back to school, to feeling like changing our eating habits, it’s easy to lose ‘self-care’ in the shuffle. This month we are looking at recapturing self-care. Now I know that sometimes the very thought of re-assessing taking care of you can be a bit overwhelming. The first thing to do is decide you are worth caring for, and now that decision has been made here are some of the ways I self-care.

Decorating

Look around your home or your work space. Does it need a tune-up to reflect who you truly be?

Start by de-cluttering and getting organized. If you are not using something all the time put it into a container, label it and put it away. If you have lots of bits and bobs you use often, don’t leave them in a heap or decide to tidy everything away and then can’t find them. Get yourself some baskets. Whether pretty ones that you leave out or cheap dollar-store ones that you pop into drawers and cupboards; baskets are a great way to keep things looking neat and tidy. And you can still find everything! Pick one room to work on and you will soon notice how you feel lighter when you enter that room.

Use your favorite color. Quick, think…what’s your favorite color? Are you wearing it? How about bringing some of that fave color energy into your home or office? Painting a room is an inexpensive, quick and instantly gratifying way of giving your space a boost. Even painting one feature wall can make your space be fabulous. Not into painting? How about some new window treatments and pillows? Not brave enough to take your favorite color onto the wall? Get some new candles, pillows or cushions…or a nice new piece of artwork for the wall.

Bring in fresh flowers and plants. Bring the great outdoors in with you and get some plants and treat yourself to flowers. Even a tiny posy of flowers beside your bed, on the kitchen table, next to the bathroom sink can really lift your spirits. And throw away the fake flowers and plants…they are merely dust collectors.

Using the fave color idea, get flowers in your favorite colors or reflect the season with your choices.

Create a focal point for your room. Do you have a fireplace or a great view? If so, it’s easy, if not…how about creating one. You can use the above idea of painting a feature wall in a different color to the rest of the room, or use a piece of artwork. Now arrange your furniture so that you are facing the focal point. Not in a row, like in a waiting room, but arrange your furniture so you can see your focal point. Now you will love what you are looking at!

Create a cozy nook. Intimate space in a room makes you feel safe and secure. A small chair, table and lamp in the corner of a room, with a cozy blanket and pillow and voila! You now have a lovely little reading corner. Again, use your favorite color to make the space extra special. And is there room for a little flower posy on your little table?

Treat yourself to new bedding. It’s lovely to have winter and summer bedding. I aspire to have changes for each season, but for now, winter and summer works. It gives my bedroom a whole new lift when I change the bedding and that gives me a lift too! Flip your mattress and give it a good vacuum. If you enjoy ritual, try using a smudge stick to clear the energy. I personally like to use a rose-water hydrosol to give the bed a good spritz; not only clean smelling but also anti-bacterial! And a natural hydrosol doesn’t have the adverse side-effects of those nasty toxic fresh fabric sprays. New sheets, new duvet cover, new pillows and shams…woohoo! I even change my curtains to match.

And take time for spiritual practice. Take time for yourself each and every day to connect with spirit. Whether that’s the Creator, God, Goddess, the Force, Universal Life Force Energy, Your Higher Self, whatever is meaningful to you. Meditate, pray, stop and give thanks. Remember to have faith in the magic of this beautiful planet and to pause for a while each day to connect with the spiritual aspect of you. Perhaps that little cozy nook you’ve created will become a lovely place to meditate or pray. Each time you enjoy your new home or office space, be aware and give thanks for how blessed you are. Enjoy your flowers and plants and remember the connection to our planet.

It’s never too late or too early to take care of you. If you don’t take care of you, who will? So, make it a promise to you that you’ll pay more attention to what nurtures and nourishes you and make sure you become present in your own life. If you need some help, don’t hesitate to contact me.

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Top Ten Rules for Looking Good and Feeling Great

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(Rule 6 to 10-check August 2010 for 1 to 5)

As summer comes to a close many of us decide to begin new projects. This year how about making you, the wonderful you the new project you work on. Use these simple tips to start making the positive changes you wish to see in your life and by Christmas you’ll really be on the way to Feeling Absolutely Fabulous!

6. Quit the junk.

Lose the junk food. The best way to get off the junk food wagon is to go through your cupboards and do a little spring cleaning. If there is stuff in your cupboard that tempts you, then the easiest way to is to not keep it around. Find out what sucks you into unhealthy snacking. Is it the need for something crunchy and salty? Then make sure you stock the fridge with crispy vegetables and a yummy salsa dip. Don’t overdo the fat-filled dips! Or does something sweet and creamy tempt you to get into unhealthy eating habits? Instead of a full-fat ice-cream dessert, try 2% Greek yoghurt, mix in some honey or preserves and enjoy.

Dead calories and preservatives don’t make you feel good. The body has to work extra hard to get them out of your body and they can leave you feeling tired and too much sugar or salt leads to health complications.

Drive by the drive-through. A little planning and you can skip the fast food joints. My husband has long been a junk-food addict, now two years of marriage later he heads out the door each morning with a home-made sandwich or a salad and some fresh fruit for lunch. Not only is he feeling better physically, he’s feeling better about himself and is saving money each month. All it takes is a little planning and getting out of bed five minutes earlier!

7. Stop skipping meals.

Working as a CAM Health Consultant for eighteen years I’ve probably heard every excuse for missing meals: ‘I didn’t get up in time, I don’t feel hungry till later in the day, I was too busy, there was no time, I figure if I skip meals I’ll lose the excess weight I carry.’ You’ve probably heard them or used them too! Missing meals causes fluctuations in your body’s energy reserves and can really mess up your metabolism. Again, like number 6, a little planning can help. I plan my evening meals for the week ahead and then go do the grocery shopping. Keep a few frozen items on hand for when things get hectic. Carry a high quality protein snack with you. I personally like to keep a small bag of almonds and raisins in my purse, especially when I’m traveling.

I recommend three meals a day and two snacks. Some people like to break their meals into five or six mini-meals spread through out the day. Whichever way works for you, you’ll feel better, have more energy and improve your digestion by eating regularly. And let’s face it, if we try skipping meals as a weight-loss aid, we only end up eating more or eating junk, so let’s not do it anymore.

8. Laughter is the best medicine

One of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to enjoy life and laugh often. Remember the old saying ‘angels can fly because they take themselves lightly’? Take it to heart and lighten-up-figuratively and literally. Studies indicate that those who take time to enjoy the little things in life actually live longer, more productive and healthier lives and this means they don’t overeat!

I’m not much of a TV watcher, but I do enjoy sitting down, putting my feet up and enjoying a movie. Most of the movies I have in my collection are comedies or feel-good stories. Do you have a few favorite movies that you can watch over and over again that make you laugh every time you see them? Invest in having them in your collection.

Hang out with friends who like to laugh. Go through your list of friendships and evaluate who makes you feel great when you are around them. Then go ahead and start weeding out those who drag you down.

When we laugh we send natural chemicals around the body that uplift our mood. We breathe more deeply and oxygenate our blood. And we have a sense of being able to cope with all that life throws our way! A good laugh shared with some good friends is one of the simplest ways to feel absolutely fabulous.

9. Spend more time in bed.

This works in a couple of ways: healthy, good quality sleep makes you feel absolutely fabulous and so does some sexy-time!

Studies indicate that most of us are not getting enough quality sleep. If you have trouble with this one, try establishing a bed-time routine. Never, ever take the laptop or work to bed with you. Make sure your bedroom is a peaceful, harmonious place, conducive to quality rest and you’ll reinforce your sleep routines.

Take the TV out of the bedroom. Again, studies indicate that couples who have a TV in the bedroom make love less often than those who don’t. Find time, again it make take a little planning, to enjoy having a body. Being sexual is a very important part of being human and you deserve to feel good.

Last, but not least:

10. Develop a support network.

Over the years as I became an expert in helping people to over-come anxiety, one of the major things I discovered is that having emotional support is so important to our overall health and wellness, including our sense of worth and self-esteem.

Whether you are trying hard to lose weight, want to exercise more, or just want to lead a healthier lifestyle, surrounding yourself with like-minded people is the support network you need. Think about how successful the 12-Step Programs are. They are so successful because whatever the issue they address they encourage attendance at meetings with like-minded people.

I have a list of friends I go to when life hands out its pear-shaped moments. Having one friend to go to (or to your spouse or significant other) isn’t the right approach. No one person can be everything to you. Get yourself a list. If I pick up the phone and the first friend isn’t available to chat with, I move on the next and so on. That way no-one becomes burdened with me and I feel I can always turn to someone for some support!

Well done, by reading this far you know that you are ready to make the changes to be a healthier you! Remember, I am here to help you. Just call for an appointment (206) 201-2764 or drop me a line by email. Let’s get started today. Live Your Fabulous Life NOW. If not, WHEN?

  • Stay fabulous,
    Jacqueline Fairbrass CEO Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC
    Founder, School of Complementary Therapies
    Certified Hypnotherapist and CAM Health Consultant
You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

Jacqueline’s Top Ten Secrets to Happiness! Part one

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I am one of life’s optimists. That’s not to say I don’t have my moments of self-doubt etc. but basically I have a positive outlook on life. Have you ever wondered how some people stay cheery, even when things in life are not going so well? I am going to share with you ten simple secrets of happy people to help you. This month we are going to explore my top five secrets!

1. Celebrate good times!

Happy people make every day a holiday! Just think for a moment and feel how excited you get when you are planning a vacation. When we are on holiday, whether exploring a new place, simply chilling out or doing something daring and out of our comfort zone-we are excited and we feel celebratory. Now, what if everyday could feel like that? Life can whiz by and we can get so bogged in the ‘day-to-day’ that we can feel as if life is leaving us behind. Choose to do something today that feels like a vacation. Even if it’s just stopping to have a cup of coffee-don’t walk around with the coffee in your hand-actually stop and relax, breathe deep, enjoy your coffee and watch the world go by. Taking only ten minutes to pause and celebrate life will lift your spirits. And who knows, it just might become a new habit!

2. Smile

And the world smiles with you. Have you ever seen a gray, sad face opposite you on the bus or beside you in a line-up and thought ‘gee, I’d like to be that person?’ No, I thought not. It’s a natural feeling to not want to be around people who look miserable. So if you decide to make yourself appear cheerful you’ll soon start to feel it, and then you’ll attract others who are cheerful. And the bonus here is that happy people have a natural inner glow and appear to look younger. Take a moment right now to check in the mirror: are you a naturally happy looking person? If not, decide to change that right now and start smiling!

3. Find a reason to laugh!

Seriously, haha! One thing that has been mentioned to me time and again by clients and colleagues over the years is that it doesn’t take long to be in my company and we end up laughing. Even when things are gloomy, and let’s face it we all have set-backs now and again-that’s life, you can look for the humor in situations. If this one is difficult for you, try detaching a little and look at your life as if it is a movie script. Or as my friend Dave used to say to me ‘I love getting updates on your life-you live in soap opera!’ Imagine a cinema audience watching your life-transfixed by your fate. You can even add a movie-trailer voice over for extra effect. You can’t help but giggle. And remember when you do this exercise that all the best movies have happy endings. Even if you are in the midst of what seems like hell, one of my tips is to go into the misery. ‘Have the best pity party in the world’-you’ll go so far over the top you’ll start laughing! And if all else fails, take a‘time-out’ and go watch an up-lifting movie or re-read a book that makes you feel good and forget about things for a while.

4. Think sexy!

Woohoo! Feeling sexy is a fantastic way to boost your happiness levels. All sorts of things go on with your hormones when you are feeling sexy-sex is an expression of feeling. So go ahead, think sexy thoughts and feel alive. And of course, orgasm is a great way of boosting tension-releasing estrogen and releasing endorphins that give a natural ‘high’. Feeling sexy is highly personal and subjective, so don’t obsess about it, just give yourself permission to feel like a sexy person. A tip here for those of you who have difficulty with this-think about a movie star who is at the top of their game and imagine what it would be like to be them or remember a time when you were feeling attractive, flirty and sexy. Then fake it ’til you make it!

5. Bounce back!

When I was a youngster there were these toys in England called ‘weebles’. They were pretty much egg-shaped creatures and they sang a little song ‘weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!’ When I get flattened by a brutal life experience I sing this little ditty to myself. It’s a natural part of life’s experiences to sometimes feel bad; the trick is to not stay down. Look for the good behind the bad. For example, I was having a whine about having to stay in the house from 1 to 5 today waiting for a repair man to arrive. This isn’t how I planned my day! However, the sun is shining and I’m now sitting with my lap-top on the deck writing my next article, with a nice cup of tea and some biscuits. Simple, really!

If it feels good, do it! I hope you find these tips useful and if you have any contributions to make please let me know and we’ll pass them along to others at SCT. Next month we’ll explore my other five secrets to happiness. In the meantime, keep well and do contact me for an appointment if you would like to explore your own inner happiness further. I am taking phone appointments Monday to Fridays now and would love to help. How may I be of contribution to your life?

 

Make the Most of your Summer

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Now that summer is here, for most of us. Or at least it’s on its way…here is a useful little list of new habits to consider adopting for enhancing your health and well-being while enjoying the season: Replace sodas or soft drinks with tea or water

The occasional soda won’t do you any harm, but regular ingestion is not good for you. Food for thought: Aspartame has brought more complaints to the FDA than any other additive-ever according to Dr. William Campbell Douglas. In 1957 Dr. William Coda Martin classified refined sugar as a poison because it has been depleted of its life forces, vitamins and minerals. Hmm…a couple of the reasons why I keep a jug of water in the fridge with either some lemon slices and a sprig of peppermint or lime slices and a vanilla pod. Tasty, refreshing and none of the chemicals to worry about! Many herb teas chill quite nicely and you add a dash of fruit juice to make it a little more special. And you’ll be saving money as well as saving your health!

Get a good water filter
You can then stop filling landfills with plastic bottles and help the environment. If you must drink tap water at least let it sit in the fridge in a glass jug so that it can off-gas. I suggest a minimum of eight glasses of water or herb tea daily. That’s eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day. You may substitute herb teas, no caffeine please! So, if you drink coffee, tea, colas, etc, they don’t count as part of your eight glasses. Drink eight glasses of water as well as your other fluids, or cut out some of the others and drink water instead. Those of you who know me know that I have a great complexion-I drink my water daily. It flushes out toxins. Don’t tell me it makes you run to the bathroom too often-your body will get used to it and gradually you won’t have to go so often. And as I always say, moving your body is good for you-get up from your desk and walk to the bathroom! If you want to be Feeling Absolutely Fabulous you will have to move your body!

Commit to eating raw fruit or serving of vegetables at every meal
A well-balanced diet is comprised of a variety of foods. The biggest difficulty people have around eating well is that they eat without consciousness. Try adding a raw fruit or veggie with each meal and you’ll start becoming aware of how and what you are eating. Looking for a suggestion? Try a sliced banana and/or strawberries on your wholegrain breakfast cereal. Add some celery or carrot to your lunch time sandwich for a nice crunchy addition. And at supper time how about a ripe peach for dessert? Not as difficult as you might have imagined!

Add an extra 5 minutes a day to your exercise routine
Add just 5 minutes a day to your exercise routine. Don’t have an exercise routine? Start with 5 minutes a day! Woohoo!

Enjoy a little sunshine
The UVB rays from the sun are bursting with protective vitamin D. Vitamin D is an important nutrient for your bones, your heart, your immune system and your happiness. It is even said to be proving an important contender in the fight against heart disease and diabetes. So get outside and enjoy the healthful benefits of the sun! Do not exceed the safe daily limits. Just remember to take care by putting on a hat and the proper clothing, and when using a sunscreen it’s suggested that it contain a physical sun block, such as titanium dioxide.

Park away from the store
When shopping, instead of trying to find a parking spot close to the grocery store or the mall, park a little farther away. You’ll get more walking exercise and a little more sunshine.

Get enough sleep
Plan your schedule so that you can get at least eight hours of sleep for at least two or three nights a week. Or more! Recent studies and surveys are indicating that most people, that’s most not some, most people are sleep deprived. The costs to our health and well-being are huge.

And a final thought for this month:
Time to begin something new?
This is a fabulous time to begin a new correspondence course with SCT. You can sit on the deck reading and studying while sipping a nice cool glass of water, feet up, relaxing and enjoying yourself. Tempted? Enroll now in one of our courses or programs. Not sure which one? Then give me a call at             206.201.2764       for a free fifteen minute consultation. As we say at Feeling Absolutely Fabulous…Live YOUR Fabulous Life NOW…if not, WHEN?

Keep smiling and keep in touch,

Jacqueline Fairbrass
CEO, Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC
Founder, School of Complementary Therapies

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

Welcome To The School Of Complementary Therapies

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Hi, I’m Jacqueline Fairbrass—licensed Hypnotherapist, holistic wellness therapist, vivacious health coach, and founder of the School of Complementary Therapies.