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!

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?

Muscle cramps!

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Recently I was asked about muscle cramps and what it means ~ that awful ‘charley horse’ feeling that occurs in a muscle.When a muscle engages or contracts, it shortens. A spasm is an involuntary contraction of a muscle and you just can’t simply will it to relax!

Muscles spasm when the normal balance of potassium and sodium (electrolytes) in the muscle cells is disturbed for a longer period of time than the muscles usually can handle. So, even something like a Reflexology session can cause muscle spasms as the circulation is improved during the treatment.

There are a number of things that may contribute to an imbalance of electrolytes:

  •  Dehydration, from inadequate fluid intake or excessive sweating
  •  Vigorous exercise, especially if you don’t stretch before and after
  • Potassium and/or calcium deficiency

So why may a cramp occur during a foot reflexology session?

Muscles that have been overly taut for a period of time, including the lower leg and sole of the foot, relax during a reflexology session. This may disrupt the electrolyte balance and may cause a muscle to cramp.

If you are a Reflexologist and this happens when you are giving a treatment, the first thing is ‘don’t panic”. The solution is simple. To relax any muscle in the body, you actively engage the antagonistic or opposing muscle, which will increase circulation to the affected muscle and allow it to lengthen and relax. If you are receiving a Reflexology treatment and this happens to you, relax, breathe and allow the trained professional to take care of you.

What I do when a Reflexology client on my table cramps up is to immediately place the palm of my hand on the dorsal side of their foot and ask them to strongly pull their foot towards their face (dorsi-flex). At the same time my hand resists their motion, attempting to pull their foot towards my face (plantar-flex). Obviously, this is done with sensitivity to the flexibility of the client, which I have assessed at the very beginning of the treatment session. This combined action engages the foot flexor muscles and lengthens the extensor and intrinsic foot muscles. The hold is held for a couple of seconds and then both the client and I relax our efforts. We immediately do it again, and continue to repeat the sequence of engagement and relaxation until the cramping stops (usually three or four repetitions is all it takes).

I was recently told of an acupressure to alleviate cramping. While performing the movements described above, you wuld ask your client to apply pressure with their index finger between their lip and nose, two-thirds of the way up and to hold that point firmly until the cramp subsides. I haven’t tried it yet, but am game next time this happens!

Adequate hydration, regular foot reflexology, massage of the muscles that tend to cramp, a diet high in potassium and calcium, and daily stretching can prevent the re-occurrence of muscle cramps. And my personal favorite, drink a glass of carrot juice each day until your condition improves ~ seriously! Carrot juice contains all types of electrolytes and is yummy. I’ve even encouraged clients to drink a cup before bed to fix their night cramps.

So now you know how to fix those pesky muscle cramps!

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.

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.

The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC 10 Rules for Looking Good and Feeling Great!

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We are in our summer clothes and our bathing suits now and maybe not as happy with the way we feel as we could be. This month I’m sharing some ‘golden rules’ to follow when we make the decision to tone up and start Feeling Absolutely Fabulous about ourselves and our lives. So let’s make ‘yo-yo’ dieting a thing of the past, and make some healthy lifestyle choices:
The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC 10 Rules for Looking Good and Feeling Great!

  1. Commit to a Healthier Life
    Stop now! You are never going to ‘diet’ again! Choose to commit to a new lifestyle. We all know that dieting is not a solution. If you diet to lose or to gain weight as soon as you stop dieting you return to old eating patterns. When you stop, the pounds start to creep back on or off again, and before your know it you are back to your old weight. Or, making you feel worse still about yourself, your weight may have crept even higher or lower! The first step in Feeling Absolutely Fabulous is making that commitment to yourself to make healthy choices and change your life to one of happiness and fabulocity.
  2. Move it or Lose it!
    Some form of movement is necessary to keep your body healthy. If you have committed to making healthy changes to stay healthy, you are going to have to move your body. Regular exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. And, there are so many choices. What do you like to do? Find it and do it, often. I don’t mean you have to go to the gym and hire yourself a personal trainer. However, if that’s what does it for you, go right ahead and do it! There are lots of options, have you learned to Belly Dance, Salsa or Tango? Ever wanted to learn to ride a horse or to fence? The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous golden rule for exercise is that is should be fun—if you hate it you will quit! Find out what is fun and do it, often.
  3. Drink Water
    Drink water. We suggest a minimum of eight glasses daily. That’s eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day. You may substitute herb teas, no caffeine please! 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. Water also helps your digestive tract work well and your bowel movements stay regular. This is especially important now you are ready to eat for health as you will most likely be getting more fiber in your diet. Water bulks fiber up and moves it out! It will also take the edge off your appetite as you change your diet-yes, the simple act of drinking a glass of cool refreshing water will help you through the cravings! Don’t like it cold-then drink it warm. Don’t like the taste-put a slice of lemon in. 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 said above, moving your body is good for you-get up from your desk and walk to the bathroom! If you want to Feel Absolutely Fabulous you will have to move your body!
  4. Write it Down
    One of the easiest ways to self monitor what you eat is to keep a little journal and write it down. If it goes in your mouth record it! No, it does not take a lot of effort-remember this is now part of your new lifestyle. This can cause a great deal of resistance, but to become healthy and happy and Feeling Absolutely Fabulous you have to get honest with yourself. AbFabbers are often surprised by how much or little good stuff they consume at first. You may know how it goes…honestly, I don’t really eat that much I don’t know why I gain weight…I must have a really slow metabolism…I eat well all day and only snack a little in the evening…write it all down for one week and see where you overindulge and where you under indulge. You can see for yourself how healthy your diet is and if in doubt you can send it in to me and we can review and see where you can make changes. Record your exercise too! Often the simple act of recording can stop us grabbing unhealthy food and inspire us to exercise. Try it! What do you have to lose?
  5. Manage Your Stress
    Stress is a natural part of the human experience however we all know that too much stress is extremely detrimental to our health and well-being. Finding healthy ways to manage your stress is an important part in your new healthy lifestyle. Often when under too much stress we will over eat, comfort-eat, binge, skip meals, eat an unbalanced diet. Emotional roller-coaster eating leads to surges and drops in blood sugar, which can make us feel even worse. The hormone cortisol starts packing a layer of fat on our tummy and we feel bad. See, where I’m going with this? Take a good look at what stresses you out and see if you can make some changes. When did you last have some time just for you? I suggest getting an aromatherapy massage, a reiki session or a reflexology at least once a month for maintenance. When under extra stress I go more often. The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous Progressive Relaxation CDs are great, easy to use tools for reducing stress and helping you get back to your fabulous self!

Well done, by reading this far I know that you are seriously thinking about making changes to a healthier you! Next month, we’ll look at the next five steps. In the meantime, start by doing the first five and together we’ll gently make changes. Remember, I am here to help you. Just call for an appointment             (206) 201-2764       or drop me a line by email jf@jacquelinefairbrass.com Stay fabulous, 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.

Spring Cleaning from the Inside Out

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As the winter layers come off and as the warmer weather arrives, hurrah, we pull out last year’s summery wardrobe and we often realize we have put on more than few extra layers of clothes. Hiding in sweaters we might not have realized a few extra pounds have crept their way on until we start pulling on the shorts! Sound familiar?

To that end, quite a few clients have been in contact about weight loss and the number of ‘cleanses’ on the market. Whether you have a few winter pounds to shed or are looking for a totally new way of living that improves your health and your body awareness, the idea of a ‘jump start’ is sooo appealing! And, just in case you were wondering about what a cleanse should be like and how effective one might be I’ve decided to share my thoughts and research.

Most of the cleanses on the market place and the internet do work very well to give you a quick boost of weight loss. Woohoo, I hear you shout. However, it’s because they are mostly laxative. Beware the ‘completely natural weight loss’ fix. You are mostly likely picking up a box of laxatives-and quite harsh ones at that! They will go through you like ‘a dose of salts’ and you will come out lighter, but will most likely mess up your entire digestive system. For example, many contain Wormwood, which is used to worm animals and can be extremely toxic. I don’t like the idea of using toxins to detox. There are a huge number of these weight loss scams on the market. Many of them work on a multi-level-marketing (used to be pyramid sales) basis with a membership and sales to friends. Your body can be further distressed by taking supplements that contain a whole heap of herbal stimulants to rev up the metabolism!

If you decide to get professional help and go to a naturopathic doctor beware that many naturopaths sell the MLM cleanses and can steer you towards something quite harsh, so shop around before you sign up with one! A good nutritionist is a much better idea. Or better still, unless you have a serious health problem, use your own common sense, do a little research and check out what experiences others have had.

If you like the idea of a cleanse (and this is a good time of year to do one) here are a few I have suggested over the years, going from harshest to gentlest:
Nature’s Sunshine is a MLM company with a good reputation. You can buy directly on-line and not sign-up to sell. The following information is from their site:
‘Dieter’s Cleanse is a safe, simple, convenient cleansing program. Product elements provide dietary fiber, support the production of digestive enzymes and bile, nourish the liver and glandular system, promote detoxification and support the body’s weight-management mechanisms. Each box of Dieter’s Cleanse contains 14 AM packets, 14 NOON packets and 14 PM packets.

Kick off your weight-loss program by using Dieter’s Cleanse for one week. Then begin your weight-management program. The second-week supply of Dieter’s Cleanse can be used during recommended rest periods of other weight-loss programs. This product may also be used by any adult desiring a two-week cleanse. This product could produce bowel movements during the night or in the morning.’

This product contains cascara sagrada, buckthorn and Turkey rhubarb, which are all major laxatives and are definitely not to be used regularly; the body begins to tolerate them and you need to increase consumption to maintain results.

I have done dieter’s cleanse a few times and had to half the amount as it caused cramping and diarrhea. Again, this product contains a high laxative component.

If you really wants to do something major to kick start a weight loss program or feel kinda sluggish, I much prefer the gentle approach of option number two:

Vogel’s De-Tox Box
This is a 10 day natural product program, which contains Calendula Complex, Frangula Complex, Milk Thistle Complex and Solidago Complex. Working on far more than the laxative approach this simple program cleanses gets the liver and kidneys tuned up too. Pollution, pesticides, food additives and drugs contain toxins that can accumulate in your body over time, diminishing normal functions and thereby potentially increasing the risk of disease. Your body may be expending energy fighting these toxins; resulting in loss of vitality, a feeling of sluggishness and even chronic fatigue. It’s therefore not a bad idea to periodically renew and rejuvenate through internal cleansing.

From the website: ‘Formulated by Alfred Vogel, famous Swiss Naturopath, the detox box 10-day program cleanses without fasting or interrupting your normal daily routine. Based on Bioforce’s proprietary herbal preparations, the detox box cleanses toxins from the body by stimulating digestion, activating gland activity in the intestines, and increasing bile and urine elimination. Toxins present in the body are expelled in a mild and natural way through the kidneys and intestines. Because it’s important to eat well while using the detox box, a diet plan is provided to enhance the program’s overall effectiveness.’

There is a laxative component, but it’s only part of the program. The diet plan is simple fruit, veggies, meat–no sugar or processed products. I like this cleanse as it addresses more than the colon and is easy to do. With a harsh cleanse you don’t feel like going to work and you end up very grumpy with headaches and iccky detox syptoms. This simple cleanse is more gentle. I have also broken it into two five days, which I don’t think gives the same results, but you can cleanse Mon to Fri and take the weekend off then go back on. I’ve never found Vogel cleanses to upset my natural body flora and have suggested to clients for years because of its simplicity and the way it fits into daily life. It’s available in most Health Food stores or may be purchased on-line. I do not in any way recommend the Wild Rose cleanse, which health food stores staff often suggest. My brother used to do this one, so I tried it when I stayed with him. It was far too harsh and really messed me up! I had a very nasty de-tox and quit after ten days because I had the runs so bad!!! It messed up my internal flora and took a long while for me to get back to normal b-ms. Beware though that the health food stores tend to love it and to push it. And of course, it does work for many people.

Finally, here’s a simple and easy cleanse (so you might think). You eat nothing but mung beans, rice and vegetables for 14 days. I’ve never made it beyond day 8 because the sheer boredom drove me insane. But it’s cheap and easy to do. I let clients break it a little with a few raisins and the occasional baked apple. This diet allows the body to cleanse while giving the digestive system a rest apparently. It’s a yogic thing. It works, but takes tremendous will power. I do have clients who do a three-day version just to give their body a break.

Phew! Tons of information for you! In short, I suggest doing the Vogel and using it to clean up the body and the diet. Remember, the body is self-cleaning and self-repairing. Non traditional naturopaths do tend to think of the body as dirty and needing to be purged, poked and puked to get it squeaky clean. I come from the school of thought that says love and accept yourself back to health.

Health Warnings: See your primary health care provider prior to use of any cleanse or any major diet change. Do not go on any type of cleanse other than eating well and being good to yourself if you are pregnant or nursing, any medical condition exists, or when taking any medication. Read and follow any product recommendations carefully. Always remember that cleanses are intended for prolonged use. Do not use a cleanse if you have diarrhea, loose stools, or abdominal pain are present or develop as use of these products may worsen these conditions and be harmful to your health. Chronic diarrhea can result in serious illness. If there is any discomfort dosages may be lowered. Keep your cleanse products out of sight and reach of children.

For a long term approach to be comfortable in your body and having lots of energy I highly recommend SCT’s Nutrition 101 course. Even if you have no intention of working in Holistic Health Care this course is an excellent experiential approach to learning what to eat and when based on tuning into your body and eating a healthy diet.

And do let me know how any of these suggestions work for you. I love to hear feedback and you may have something to share with our readers.

Want a little more help, then check out the free information we post on the Feeling Absolutely Fabulous website and you can always contact me for a free 15 minute consultation to decide whether we could work together to help you on the way to Feeling Absolutely Fabulous.

What contribution can I be to you?

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.

This Time Next Year

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“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

Does this sound familiar? We tend to start the New Year setting Resolutions for the year to come, i.e. I will lose 20 lbs, I will go to the gym, I will give up smoking, I will start a new career path, etc. And by the end of January, or sometimes by the end of January 1, we have given them up and life goes back to normal. At some points during the year, we’ll re-hash our dreams and wishes for the year to come, but for most of us at the end of the year we are exactly the same as we were a year ago! How would you like to change this? If you are interested in some simple steps to help you make some permanent changes in your happiness, health and well-being for the year to come, then read on.

Start here: If this year, you are still challenged by the same issues you were dealing with last year, what are you going to do differently in the year to come to move beyond them? Take a moment to imagine where you could be NOW if only you had overcome these problems last year!

1)         The first step is to accept. The way things are is the way things are. Do you look in the mirror and hold in your tummy? Do you not look in the mirror at all? (And that can be a metaphorical mirror!) Are you being honest with yourself? Pick something that you have been ‘sweeping under the rug’ and get honest. Choose one thing about you that you would like to change and begin by accepting that is who you are right now.
“The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it’s the same problem you had last year.” – John Foster Dulles
(My CD Acceptance is designed to help you with this step: All improvements in life begin with accepting that things aren’t working the way we would like them to. By accepting that life is one way we are not locking ourselves into that way for ever, we are taking the first step to change. The Acceptance CD takes you on a guided journey to allow yourself to “let go” of the way things are and create an opening in your life to let in the new.)

2)         Decide what change you would like to make. Where would you like to be this time next year? Really, take a moment and think about this. If we go back to the ‘losing weight’ analogy—what would you realistically like to see changed by this time next year: January 2011. Instead of looking at numbers, go with ‘how would you like to feel’. For example, how would you feel if you were wearing something that was well-fitted and you were feeling healthy and attractive?
If you have been thinking about taking some courses to add to your profession or to start changing your career path, what is holding you back? Imagine how it feels to be doing something you love for a living.

3)         It’s time to take action. Make the commitment to you that ‘it’s time to take control of life and start making some serious decisions about what kind of life you want to live’. This is the easy part; decide to change one thing and then start to make the change! This can be joyful, exciting and easy.

The most important thing to remember is: You have to choose to make a conscious decision to make something different happen. That’s all you have to do is make the decision. In your mind, once you have made a decision that’s it. There is no back door escape hatch. You simply cut yourself off from any other possible option.
If you are not sure what that feels like, think back to a time you were certain about something. Perhaps the day you decided to marry your partner, the day you decided to train in a particular job path, the day you decided ‘yes, this is where I want to live’. Now think about what you want to change in your life—does it feel like ‘yes’?

4)         Follow through! When you have found something you are prepared to change and made the conscious decision to make the change, it gets easier and easier to follow through. People, circumstances, thoughts, ideas and solutions will suddenly begin to show up as the Universe aligns and makes the path for you. All you have to do is pay attention.
So, I ask you again, ’where do you want to be this time next year?’
Here are some affirmations to help you along the way:

  • This year I agree to do only the things I intend to follow through with
  • This year I am making ME a priority

If these affirmations don’t feel right for you, create the ones that do. The important thing to remember is that ‘you have to mean it’! Believe and know!

If you feel the time is right to start making changes and you would like some help you can either contact me for personal one-on-one coaching and facilitating to help you make these changes, or you can purchase my CDs and start working with me by listening daily and allowing your subconscious mind to start the process.
I sincerely wish you the best year ever! May your wishes and dreams come true! Start, by believing you can change. Gentle change leads to permanent results.

What does January 2011 look like?

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 Habit of Happiness

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It is a few days into 2009, and already many of us have broken some of our New Year’s Resolutions. Each year, many of us see or feel January as a “new beginning”, a time to make a clean start. So, we decide to go on a diet, go on a cleanse, begin an exercise program, take time for relaxation, begin a class or hobby. Sound familiar? And a few weeks (or days, or even hours) in and the enthusiasm wears off. We start to slip, then we start to feel bad about ourselves and the next thing you know, we’re doing life as usual. We forget our dreams of how we want to live our lives and move into the drudgery of just “getting on with things”. We shut our feelings down to get on with the daily routines and forget what makes us happy.

So how about this year forgetting the “resolutions” and trying something new? This idea began with the Advanced Lightworkers Group in November. I was in Ottawa to meet with the group in person (sometimes we meet on-line for long distance conference meetings) and we had a fun time in November. We focused our energy and intentions for the next month on “what makes you happy?” It ran on into December, and continues to bring us light and laughter this month.

Looking around we see so many people are getting caught up in the depressing story of the monetary recession, while forgetting to celebrate the joys we already have in life: to notice our joys takes us into noticing what makes us happy, and giving thanks; being grateful for the joy in life.

Try this: begin today by imagining you have a clean slate. That’s right. Let’s pretend we are starting afresh. Take a little time to think about what makes you happy. What are the things in life that you would keep on this clean slate? What would your ideal life look like? Not, “I will be happy when.” That’s a whole different story. What makes you happy now? How does more happiness in your life look like? Confused? Here’s an example of what we are working (or playing) with as Lightworkers over the last couple of months:

Instead of being caught in the moment, we decided to look ahead. What will life look like in a year? Not, how are we going to get there, just a sense of what life will be like one year from now. What would you like your life to be like in a year from now? We decided to do a ‘manifestation board.’  When I get them I’ll send back a form email explaining how to do a manifestation board) around this. To do this we need to know how life looks, but more importantly I believe is how your life feels. Instead of starting with the visualization aspect, we started with the feeling. How does life feel in a year? This is where we begin to live in happiness as a habit. From there, you can find the pictures and affirmations for your manifestation board. The fun thing about working with feelings is that we are having them constantly and we can change them anytime we want! If we sit and read sad stories we become sad. If we read a happy story we become happy. So, how about you start treating your life like this?

What happened is that as each member of Lightworkers sat in meditation with this idea, they realized how many things in life they already have, do, feel, that make them happy. It’s like the traditions and ritualswe talked about in December. Do what makes you feel good and get rid of the rest! Okay, slow down! I’m not suggesting you quit your job because you don’t like it. I’m suggesting you find the pieces in the job that you do like, and focus your attention on them instead of what is making you sad about your job.

What makes you happy? One member shared that it was his wife and family, friends, co-workers, his job, the Lightworkers group and so on. For another, the new pet cat, her husband’s support, the lightness of yoga class. A new member shared how ‘gratitude’ had changed her life and by simply “giving thanks for her many blessings” each day she has embraced happiness as a habit in her life and has become more peaceful. Are you starting to get the idea?

So, this month I challenge to discover “what makes you happy?” And if you have any insights you’d like to share with me, please drop me a line and let me know.

And remember, The 3rd CD in our progressive relaxation series, the Feeling Absolutely Fabulous–Throw Your Weight Away CD and personalized weight loss plan is available this month–watch for the Special Newsletter later this month for details.”

Keep well,
Jacqueline

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

jacqui

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