Wellness Blog

What the year of The Wood Dragon, and…sneak peek into our March Facial Rejuvenation Special.

Welcome the Year of the Wood Dragon!

Chinese New Year falls on February 10th this year, ushering us out of the gentle spirit of the water rabbit and into the growth, change, and majesty of the wood dragon. All across China, people of all social strata make the trek, sometimes near, sometimes very far, home to be with their families. Did you know that Chinese New Year brings about the largest annual migration of people in the world? Book your travel well in advance!

The dragon holds a special place in Chinese culture, being considered a mythical and somewhat god-like creature. Therefore, high value is placed on being born in dragon years, as you too are considered somewhat mythical if born during this auspicious time.

Dragons are considered noble and kind, their energy ushering in transformation and change. This effect will be extra strong this year, as the dragon’s associated element for the year, wood, is about growth, learning, and evolution. While we strive to grow as a species, change can be difficult, even when it is beneficial for us.

Wood energy and the Liver Qi are one in the same. Much in the same way that the wood Read More

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Love Yourself and Cupping This February

Love Cupping?  We do too.

For the month of February we are debuting heart shaped cups into our practice.
Heart shaped cups on back
We hope you are excited as we are to start using these cups!  Cupping often leaves a light pink or red circle mark.  It is painless (really!) and shows that the treatment is working. With heart shaped cups it’s going to look, you guessed it, like a heart. How cute is that?

While these heart shaped cups are similar to our regular circle shaped cups, we hope those little hearts remind you to love yourself a bit more and take care of yourself this Valentine’s Day.

Want to nerd out and know more?  Read on and let’s break down the history of cupping and its different shapes or materials through the years. Read More

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Would you talk to your 5 year old self like that? Unlocking the Power of Self-Compassion: From Self-Criticism to Self-Love

I was with my daughter this weekend, and we, as many do, took some selfies.  When looking at them I made a comment like ‘looks like I have a weird head in these pictures!’.  She turned, looked me in the eye, and said something I taught her years ago ‘would you talk like that to your 5 year old self?’  It stopped me, of course I wouldn’t.  And I would never had even had those thoughts about my daughter, I would only see how amazing she is.

Have you ever felt it? The ease with which we offer compassion to others, yet the struggle to extend that same kindness to ourselves? Rick Hanson, in his book “Resilient,” defines compassion as “the recognition of pain with the desire to relieve it.” Imagine treating yourself like you would a best friend: supportive, understanding, and radiating warmth. This shift from self-criticism to self-love can be transformative.

In Chinese Medicine, compassion is deeply connected to the Earth element, symbolizing our core and grounding. A balanced Earth element manifests as healthy compassion towards ourselves and others. Imbalance shows up as difficulty giving or receiving compassion, constantly seeking it, or being overly compassionate without boundaries. Interestingly, Read More

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Coconut Oil Fudge (Paleo, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan)

This recipe serves you health and wellness with your chocolate bomb craving. Quick and easy to make, naturally sweetened, and loaded with healthy fat, this fudge is the perfect Valentine’s dinner accompaniment!

 

Ingredients
  • 1 cup organic coconut oil, solid
  • ¼ cup canned coconut milk
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup raw honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract
Instructions
  1. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment or wax paper and set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix the coconut oil and coconut milk together on medium-high speed for 5-6 minutes until glossy and thick. (Alternatively, use a hand-held mixer and a mixing bowl.)
  3. Add the cocoa powder, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and mix thoroughly until smooth and well combined.
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
  5. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes or until just set.
  6. Once set, remove the fudge from the pan and place on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into small squares. Store in an airtight container in the fridge
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