Are Vacations good for your soul?

Time off allows you to regain control of your mental and spiritual health while building relationships with family and friends.  As I am preparing for a weekend yocation with the fabulous Julie Dohrman in the Catskills region, I decided to do some research on the benefits of vacationing. 

Much has been written about the deadly effects of burnout, workplace stress, absenteeism, and even “presenteeism” or showing up for work but being so listless or sick as to be in effect present and absent at the same time. Cardiovascular disease and hypertension are aggravated by workplace stress. 

Indeed, vacations are more important than ever, as they allow you to regain control of your physical, mental and spiritual health, not to mention cement relationships with your family and friends. “Vacations have the potential to break into the stress cycle,” writes Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in Psychology Today. 

Not all vacations, however, are equally effective when it comes to inducing rest, relaxation, and refreshment. Here, Krauss Whitbourne provides her top very practical tips for a vacation that accomplishes all three:

1. Plan ahead. Do your online research and make sure you know what's available in your vacation destination and come up with an itinerary. Planning ahead will also minimize family stress.

2. Know your destination's rules and regulations. If abroad, know your country's safety rules and regulations. 

3. Don't feel bad because you're going on vacation. The point of a vacation is to rid yourself of as much guilt as possible. But if it really bothers you that, say, you can afford a holiday but a friend or colleague can't, you can elect to donate some of your travel budget to a charitable cause.

4. Head off email anxiety. If you are one of those people who hate coming home to hundreds or thousands of emails, allot yourself a small portion of each day to stopping at an internet café or having a peek at your laptop. 

5. Make your vacation a true adventure.  Research shows that an active vacation involving new challenges is the most beneficial. New activities will build new synapses and give you memorable, bonding experiences with your fellow vacationers. 

6. Pack smart. That means being prepared for sick, getting a sunburn, and losing your glasses. Leave enough extra room in your case for souvenirs, and buy them. 

Whether you are traveling far or planning a“stay-cation,” these tips will help you get the most rest and rejuvenation out of your holiday.

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and filed under inspiration, Organization, Spirituality, wellness and tagged vacation relaxation time off.

Humble on and humble up

"Humilde" is the Spanish word for humble.  Growing up in Panama in the 80's, being 'humilde' was the politically-correct way of saying you were poor.  So you can understand my confusion growing up when one was asked to be humble and to be driven and successful.  Fast forward me arriving in America to face a nation of exuberant confidence.  It literally took me four years living in the USA before I encounter the word "humble" in a book (OK I was studying engineering, but still).

After living here for twenty years, I must say confidence is one of the added traits of being an American, of which I am very proud, and Confidence is key to getting ahead in life. It helps you do better at work, in relationships, and in interviews. Overconfidence, however, can make you seem like a genuine, how can I say this humbly?  asshole . We all know that one person that thinks they are the strongest, smartest, and just all around best at everything. Truthfully, we all dislike that person to some degree.

So, while confidence is essential, it's important to stay humble as well (the two aren't as contradictory as I used to think). Remember the tale of the Emperor's New Clothes: It's okay to be wrong about something and, more importantly, it's okay to admit that to others. This shows that you not only value your opinion and decisions, but that you also value the opinions and decisions of those around you.

People respond well to humility because it shows that you place yourself at the same level as them, and not above them. Plus, it has other benefits too. Psyblog has an eye-opening list of these benefits that can occur in your personal and professional life. Here are just a few:

Soothe the Soul: Humble people are better able to cope with anxiety about their mortality. Instead of erecting self-defenses against death, humble people tend to find it provides a useful perspective on life and how it should be lived. When it's not all about you, it makes death easier to contemplate.Higher Self-Control: Having high self-control is one key to a successful life. Oddly, perhaps, studies have found that an obsession with the self can paradoxically lead to lower self-control. The humble, though, because they place less importance on the self, exhibit higher self-control in many situations. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that humble people tend to know their limits.More Helpful: Humble people are, on average, more helpful than people who are conceited or egotistical. In a study by LaBouff et al. (2011), participants who were more humble, were more likely to offer help, and offered more of their time, to those in need. Unsurprisingly, humble people have also been found to be more generous.

The full post lists even more benefits, and is worth a look.

That last one, "More Helpful," can be especially useful to you. To experience the life we want, we often need help—and what better way to get that help than from those we've helped already?  So even if you're a little overconfident on the inside, practicing humility can actually get you ahead.


Posted on June 13, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and filed under inspiration, Spirituality, wellness and tagged humble success help.

Natural solution is overlooked while MRSA cases double in five years

Sometimes smart and scientifically proved solutions aren't made available to the public just because there isn't a capital gain.  I find that unfair. Recently I learned about  a MRSA infection case in a local hospital, which was poorly handled and decided to do so some research on the subject. And you know how I love sharing. 

According to materials released July 26, 2012 by the University of Chicago Press Journals the number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections doubled in academic medical centers from 2003 to 2008.  According to Scott Johnson with the Holistic Health Examiner,  "even though these infections dramatically rise worldwide, conventional medicine largely ignores an effective natural solution — essential oils.  And one Utah company — Young Living Essential Oils — is leading the way in pioneering research to bring more attention to these potent remedies."

MRSA is a term used to describe staph infections that have adapted and become resistant to the first line antibiotics that typically cure staph infections. Once inside the body, a staph infection can quickly spread to bones, joints and organs, which can be life threatening.

These so-called “superbugs” have been called a significant and multifaceted health threat that places “a significant human and economic burden on society” by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.  According to Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization, "things as common as strep throat or a child's scratched knee could once again kill," as more bacteria evolve to become resistant.

The growing body of evidence suggests that unmatched tools in the fight against MRSA can be found in essential oils. These potent botanical extracts exhibit significant antiviral and antibacterial effects that have been clinically proven in hundreds of scientific studies. In their pure form, essential oils readily kill bacteria — including MRSA — and viruses. More importantly, research suggests they kill MRSA without promoting bacterial resistance and they are free of the side-effects common to antibiotics.

The following is a list of some of the most well-researched essential oils for their ability to destroy MRSA and other pathogens.

My go-to blend of essential oils, which combines a good amount of the essential oils mentioned above is Thieves, sold exclusively by Young Living.  If you are interested in learning more about this natural way of staying healthy please contact me or visit my aromatherapy page to learn how to order therapeutic grade essential oils.


Posted on May 18, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and filed under aromatherapy, essential oils, wellness and tagged MRSA essential oils practical uses for essential oils Thieves.

Dum & Dangerous: Why it is time to check our technology use

It isn’t technology alone, but our relationship with technology that determines our experience of life.  Take my iPhone, in that little rectangle I can look at my calendar, locate my contacts’ information, I can receive and answer my mail, and solve dinner table debates with just a finger touch.  So, yes, I do love my iPhone, as I love any other technical device that enhances my experience of life.  What isn’t a loving relationship, but a hot-mess-entanglement is people’s compulsive obsession of being attached to smart phones or other technologies.  Chances are, unless you’re living deep in the mountains or at a meditation retreat (located deep in the mountains, staffed by geriatric monks), your world is populated by people glued to cellphones.  And apparently this obsession is not only making these people waste time, it is making them stupid, it’s killing them and it’s brewing a generation of careless parents.

Here are some tech obsession studies that prompted me to write this post and that will illustrate my point:

  • A Kent State University study found that of the 500 students observed, “high frequency cell phone users tended to have lower GPA, higher anxiety, and lower satisfaction with life (happiness) relative to their peers who used the cell phone less often.”

  • According to the National Safety Council, there is a cellphone related car accident every 30 seconds (~335K this year alone). The NSC reported 3331 distracted related deaths in 2011; 12% (350 fatalities) were explicitly attributed to cellphones. Experts believe that number is far higher given that 50% of fatalities were for reasons unknown.

  • Studies conducted at the University of Essex found that the presence of a cellphone, even when not used, affected subject’s ability to connect on a deep level and find empathy for his or her partner.

  • A University of Maryland study found that people who used a cellphone, even for a short period, were less likely to engage in “prosocial” behavior, which is defined as behavior intended to benefit another person or society as a whole.

  • A Boston Medical Center study observed how cellphone use affected parenting. They found that 40 out of the 55 caregivers studied used their phones during meals, and that children were more likely to act out with caregivers in direct proportion to the level of the caregiver’s absorption with the phone.

So what do we do to avoid falling in the cellphone/technology trap?

  • Cultivate awareness. Check yourself frequently to see if your use of technology is taking you away from the present moment. Sometimes the present moment calls for a phone call or checking your GPS. But quite often, what’s going on around us in our immediate environment–talking to friends, practicing yoga, walking in the park, doing a work task, doing nothing–is more important than whatever we’re doing on our phones. If you’re mindlessly using technology, stop.

  • Go techless. Leave your phone at home. Don’t pack a tablet. Get away from backlit screens. It might feel uncomfortable for a while. Your brain is detoxing. If people like your spouse are accustomed to reaching you at any time, let them know you won’t have your phone. It’s okay. The world will not fall off its axis.

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and tagged cellphones technology behavior addiction.

Life Assurance from E.B. White

We are all familiar with feeling uncertain, frustrated and purposeless, when all we need are words of encouragement and support to get out of the funk.  E. B. White, the beloved children's book author of Charlotte's Web, wrote this letter to his niece on the occasion of her own funk.  His words are reassurance that a life lived fruitfully and honestly needn't be difficult or very far from reach:

"I know just how you feel, Judy. Frustration is youth's middle name, and you mustn't worry too much about it. Eventually things clarify themselves and life begins to divulge a steadier destination. In a way, our lives take form through a simple process of elimination. We discard what we don't like, walk away from what seems to inspirit us. My first job was with the United Press, but I knew within half an hour that my heart was not in it and that I would never be any good at gathering straight news under great difficulties and with the clock always running out.

Your majoring in English was no mistake, even though you do not become a critic or a publisher's assistant or a playwright or a novelist. English and English literature are the rock bottom of our lives, no matter what we do, and we should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry. 'To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.' I agree with Mr. Thoreau himself a victim of youthful frustration. You seem to me a girl whose head is on straight and I don't worry about you, whether you are majoring in English or in bingo. Joe, my son majored in English for two years at Cornell, then realized that what he really liked was boats. He transferred to M.I.T., took a degree in Naval Architecture and now owns and operates a boatyard in Brooklin — hauling, storing, and repairing and building boats. Keeps him busy 24 hours of the day, and keeps him outdoors, where he prefers to be.

We've just had three great gales here and are still picking up the pieces and sawing up the fallen trees. Aunt K. is not well, and there isn't much the doctors can do for her, as her trouble is in her arteries.

Thanks for your nice letter — I wish I could write you a better reply, but your question is essentially unanswerable, except by yourself, and you supplied the answer when you said you wanted to live fruitfully and honestly. If you truly want that you will assuredly bear fruit and be an adornment to the orchard whatever it turns out to be.

With love,
Uncle Andy

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and filed under inspiration, Spirituality and tagged purpose joy encouragement.

Are We Ready to Share Our Toys?

Pley’s has big ambitions for renting the small blocks. From their site:

Pley is a socially-responsible company that aims to change the way families consume products and spend time together. Leveraging collaborative consumption, we aim to raise a more creative and skillful generation that follows the principles of open-ended play while emphasizing the benefits of sharing, reducing waste and giving back to the community. Every set that Pley rents saves a tree over the lifetime of its rental. Todate, Pley had reduced waste by eliminating the wasteful production of 90,200 pounds of ABS plastic which resulted in a reduction of 3.9 million pounds of C02 emission.

And I just think this is cool.

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and tagged sharing behavior declutter.

A gentle, effective approach to cleansing

Many health experts recommend cleansing as a normal, preventive practice, yet a majority of people only cleanse after they are sick or diseased.  The key to a successful cleanse is to find a program that will help you eases the process with a simple, energizing program that helps you say goodbye to the obstacles and excuses that prevent you from cleansing.  I have tried various gentle cleanses and I found Young Living 5-Day Nutritive Cleanse to be a great one.  I do about three of these a year (Young Living recommends four).  All you need arrives in a box,  you replace your meals with nutritional supplements, ingest Essential Oil capsules and you can snack through the day.  That easy.

Why to cleanse at all?

Modern diets have degenerated into high calories, low-to-no nutrients, very little fiber, and dangerously high levels of sweeteners.  According to experts, these quickly digested “foods” flood the bloodstream, causing insulin levels to soar. High levels of insulin are associated with increased inflammation. Recent research indicates that inflammation is at the root of all chronic diseases. Excess blood sugar and insulin surges eventually lead to chronic problems like diabetes and cardiovascular damage. In addition, high blood sugar and insulin often play a pivotal role in the following problems: hypertension and kidney damage, weak and brittle vessels and veins, and a number of serious chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. One noticeable symptom of excessive insulin and high blood sugar is abdominal obesity.

About two-thirds of American adults are overweight. One third are clinically obese. This condition also increases your risk for heart disease, cholesterol imbalance, cancer, female infertility, and gallstones. Excess insulin and high blood sugar creates a vicious cycle. You crave simple carbohydrates because they enter the blood quickly. Then, a surplus of insulin is produced which causes more hunger.  In response to hunger, you eat more. Overeating causes more body fat to accumulate and it activates more insulin. This merry-go-round of insulin spikes leaves you tired, hungry, and unfocused.    So a cleanse is a basic way to reboot your system so you are energized, and experiencing life better!

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and filed under aromatherapy, essential oils, wellness and tagged cleanse nutrition Young Living.

How to Quit Coffee Painlessly!

Chances are that if you are doing a detoxifying cleanse, trying to resolve a sleeping problem or  visiting an Ashram you will need to quit coffee.   At least during your cleanse and/or your visit.  I am not writing about the pros & cons of coffee (I love coffee too much & I have experienced both the pros and cons for years).  This is just a practical way of giving up coffee as painless as possible.  Whether you want to do it momentarily or permanently is up to you.

If you are a coffee drinker and have tried to quit it before you know that it can be a very uncomfortable, if not painful, process.  So the main step to do this successfully is to do it in stages and slowly.  Start by weaning yourself off main offenders such as colas (even Diet Coke! or any soda for that matter), energy drinks, and chocolate.  Even some over the counter medications such as Anacin and Excedrin contain caffeine.  

That alone may take a week or so.  Once you are only consuming coffee it takes about a week or two depending on how many cups of coffee you consume on a daily bases.   Here’s a painless strategy to unhook from the caffeine drip:

Day 1: Today, have your usual amount of coffee. Yes, that is part of the process.

Day 2 – Day 3: Blend your regular coffee with 50% decaf (preferably certified organic). Drink that for the next three days.  Have at hand your favorite headache cure whether it's aspirin or peppermint essential oil. 

Day 4- Day 6: Have 25% regular coffee, 75% decaf.  By day 5 or 6, try to consume only one cup a day of this blend.

Day 7: Start drinking pure decaf. Yay, you are on decaf now.  However that is not caffeine free.

Day 9 - Day 12 : Continue drinking decaf.  Some people may need to this for a whole week depending on their addiction.

Day 13 - Day 14:  Most of the coffee drinking habit is, well, habit.  Begin to use a coffee substitute.  I tried INCA successfully.  There are many other in the market.  Find them at your local health food store.  Just remember these are not coffee and taste nothing like coffee.  You are trying to avoid caffein so think of it as a ritual placebo not coffee, you will be disappointed if you think it's replacing coffee.   Now you are caffeine free!

Kicking the caffeine habit can be incredibly difficult, but well worth your while. Your sleep will be longer and of higher quality,  quitting before you start a detox cleanse would make the cleanse a lot easier & quitting before going to an ashram will make waking up at 5 am a lot easier without coffee.   

Please let me know if you have any questions.  I am here to help.

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and filed under essential oils, inspiration, wellness and tagged coffee quit coffee detox cleanse.

Mother and Child (or why we do yoga)

Sat Chit Ananda is a beautiful pointer to our true nature and as many of my teachers point out, it is the essence of why we practice yoga.

It is usually translated as Sat meaning Truth, Existence or Pure Being, Chit meaning Consciousness and Ananda meaning Bliss.

Sat Chit Ananda can be a single word describing being awake.  Sometime an image is all we need.

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez.

Grace in Disagreement: Brene Brown's guidelines for feedback

It's not disagreement, but graceful disagreement that makes the world go round. And it is rediscovering that grace that Brené Brown articulates so well in her guidelines for engaged feedback:

" I know I am ready to give feedback when:

I'm ready to sit next to you rather than across from you.I'm willing to put the problem in front of us rather than between us (or sliding it toward you).I'm ready to listen ask questions, and accept that I may not fully understand the issue.I want to acknowledge what you do well instead of picking apart your mistakes.I recognize your strengths and how you can use them to address your challenges.I can hold you accountable without shaming or blaming you.I'm willing to own my part.I can genuinely thank you for your efforts rather than criticize you for your failings.I can talk about how resolving these challenges will lead to your growth and opportunity.I can model the vulnerability and openness that I expect to see from you." Disharmony and discomfort can be grounds for transformation once grace and compassion are in the mix. What we need now more than ever is the capacity to both hear and speak honestly together. Go ahead disagree, but do it in Grace!

 

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez.

Put Down Phone, Save Lives

To take this challenge, navigate to the Tap Project’s site (uniceftapproject.org) on your phone. The site uses your phone’s accelerometer to see if you’re actually leaving it alone. You must actually put the phone down–no reading or moving it whatsoever–or there will be no donation. We would add that you might take this challenge when you wouldn’t be normally leaving your phone alone–e.g. sleeping, yard work, etc.

While our phones pack many marvels, they also pack some not-so-desirable side-effects; some have argued that our phone-addiction is eroding our ability to pay attention to anything for sustained periods, and they might be decreasing ability to be present with our immediate environment. If you feel yourself experiencing these, or other, conditions, the Tap Project can help you regain your focus while making a positive impact for someone in need.

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez.

Want Happy Feets? Aromatheray blend to energize your step!

As we move into warmer days, awaken your senses with clean, refreshing scents.  Citrus aromas are naturally cleansing and energizing- think lemon, grapefruit, orange.  Peppermint, lime, ginger, eucalyptus and rosemary scents, to name a few, are all used to uplift the spirit and recharge the mind and body.  While reading Barbara Close's The Spa Deck, I ran into this great foot soother recipe which is just what my winter-tired feet are barking for.

Before I give you the recipe, make sure to look for pure therapeutic grade essential oils.  Don't use synthetic fragrances, only pure essential oils retain the healing properties of the plants from which they are derived.  I have a link to my favorite essential oil brand in my webpage

Rosemary Citron Sea Salt Foot Smoother

Want happy feet?  Try this after wearing uncomfortable shoes or standing for long periods.  It works its magic in part by helping to break up lactic acid deposits that causes feet to ache.

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl; set aside.  Soak feet in warm water for 10 minutes to soften the skin.  Rub mixture onto feet, concentrating on the rough patches.  Wrap feet in plastic and swaddle in a towel.  Leave on for 15 minutes.  Rinse with warm water.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Eduardo Martinez and filed under aromatherapy, essential oils, inspiration, wellness and tagged grapefruit aromatherapy rosemary essential oils lemon recipe aromatherapy blend.