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Creating Your Own Opportunities For Change By Guest Author Valeria Teles

~ Gina Briganti ~ Leave a comment

Valeria Teles has great ideas to help you make the most of your life and the calm reassurance that we can do it!

 

Valeria Teles

Here are some of the ways to create your own opportunities to change:

 

#1: TAKING BETTER CARE OF YOUR PHYSICAL SELF

 

  • Eating in a healthier manner, exercising, getting enough sleep.

 

  • Believing in yourself more.

 

  • Giving yourself credit for all the healthy and positive things you do or have done.

 

  • Learning to accept yourself for what is in your heart—for the principles and virtues you know you have.

 

  • Letting the child in you express herself/himself—letting her/him come out and play!

 

  • Becoming your own best friend.

 

  • Treating yourself with kindness.

 

Here is a conversation I have with my body, mind, and soul while doing Tai Chi tapping:

 

“I am sorry… (for the hurt I have caused you…)

I am grateful for your strength and resilience… (thank you for hanging in there…)

I love you… (for who you are… just the way you are…)”

 

 

#2: PRACTICING GRATITUDE

 

  • If you want to experience happiness, all you need to do is be grateful for what you have.

 

  • Make appreciation a daily practice.

 

  • Try to show those around you how much they mean to you (in your own way; it doesn’t have to be through words). Focus on what you like about them. We don’t have to like someone as a whole to appreciate them.

 

  • Be genuinely appreciative of the smallest things that “others” do for you.

 

  • When exposed to people’s negative behaviors/responses, practice not taking what they do or say personally. Rather, practice being grateful for the lessons you are learning regarding how NOT to act or behave.

 

 

#3: PRACTICING ACCEPTANCE

 

  • Self-acceptance is imperative for changing the way you think of yourself.

 

  • Embrace your imperfections, your silliness, your awkwardness—accept every little part of you, one by one.

 

  • It’s fine to make mistakes. When you make them, be patient or laugh before judging yourself.

 

  • Think of when you were a child; when you didn’t judge yourself and just enjoyed the freedom to be you.

 

  • You acknowledge that every negative thought you still have about yourself and “others” has been a practice you have engaged in your entire life. You are not trying to eliminate these thoughts. Rather, you are trying to create new, healthy, and positive ones that, by manifesting them as a new reality, replace the old ones.

 

  • If you can’t replace old, negative thoughts, integrate them with healthy and positive experiences. This was exactly what I did when I wrote the Fit for Joy My new, exciting career as an author was fostered by telling the story of my life, which, basically, had been a “ball” of negative experiences.

 

This changed everything. I was even able to be grateful for those negative experiences, for without them I wouldn’t be experiencing a kind of deeper understanding about myself, life, and “others.”

 

 

The “Loving” ourselves practice starts by learning to identify where your fears are hiding, while trying not to consciously face them with other kinds of disguised fear—for example, jumping out of a plane because you are afraid of heights. Rather, begin by practicing virtues associated with “Love” awareness—acceptance, gratitude, patience, kindness, understanding, and letting go—among others.

 

Everything is practice.

 

Living in fear takes the practice of allowing negative responses to govern your life—an “asleep” state.

 

Living with “Love” awareness requires you to practice remaining awakened in the dream of life.

 

Think about the dreams we have while we sleep. Life that we understand as reality is not much different.

 

Your dream is creating your reality. You have no control over where it takes you and how you get where you find yourself.

 

This is no different from emotional feelings when you let them guide your life. But when you are “awakened” in the dream of life, you are where you want to be (in the moment) and you also know how you got there.

 

Valeria Teles (pen-name) aka Valeria Koopman, was a fitness trainer and first-prize fitness competitor who became the author of the Fit for Joy book to share the connection between holistic health and spirituality.

 

In Fit for Joy, she starts a conversation about the “true” meaning of health through her professional and personal experiences.

 

Teles is also a non-duality author who  recently published a new book on Love awareness. This work is comprised of thoughts on self-care, non-dual living, self-inquiry, and relational awareness. It brings to light how self-knowledge ignites the process of defining what “Love” is in our lives.

 

As a podcast host, Valeria explores meaningful truths, ideas, and insights about physical, mental and spiritual health to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us toward a new way of being well.

 

Valeria coaches self-love for well-being and promotes the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to anyone she comes across. She eats mindfully, exercises regularly and enjoys living by nature.

 

She resides in New York with her husband Christopher.

 

Website: fitforjoy.org

Email: info@fitforjoy.org

For coaching services: https://fitforjoy.org/coaching

 

A Note On Love By Guest Author Valeria Teles

~ Gina Briganti ~ Leave a comment

Many thanks to Valeria Teles for guest posting today! I truly enjoy her sparkly energy and fresh take on wellness.

 

 

 

The Love I speak of is all there is—that is, what our bodies, minds, and “souls” long for or wish to return to.

 

The Love I speak of is the force that drives us to act in a selfless way when connecting with “others,” or to remain still when chaos is around us.

 

It’s the force that drives birds to fly and trees to be silent.

 

The Love I speak of is the “no-thing” from which “every-thing” arises.

 

The message in this book is about “Love” awareness.

 

“Love” awareness cannot be pointed out within you because it is simultaneously every part of you and yet none of you. Awareness knows that you are conscious, but consciousness doesn’t know that you are aware.

 

It’s like waking up in the middle of a dream. It’s knowing that you are dreaming, yet being awake.  You still have to play by the rules of the dream, which are created by the different levels of your consciousness.

 

Even if you are able to keep yourself “awakened” in the dream, the dream still feels very “real” to you on some level. And so, there will be room for fear that comes from any kind of perceived danger that threatens what is “real” to you. When awakened in the dream, any other kind of fear is confusion derived from the absence of “Love” awareness; the understanding of who we are. You’ve forgotten that you are dreaming.

 

Life is the unimaginable experience of being, in which we find delight through the acceptance of its mystery.

 

We are in a body, using its built-in tools of navigation to explore the objective reality that matches itself. We also have a mind projecting layers upon layers of subjective realities to match its ability to create and to become.

 

Those who are ”Love” aware understand the nature of the body as well as the nature of the mind.

 

My spiritual experiences and explorations have confirmed that life is what is happening now.

 

By practicing “Love” awareness, I find that the mind is constantly trying to take “me” somewhere beyond this moment. “I” keep bringing it back to where the body is. This simple practice affirms a fundamental truth: The body is the most “real” illusion created by the mind.

 

Your main practice is to be aware of where the mind is trying to take you. There is no place to go, no destination to arrive at, no enlightenment to achieve. You are “Love” awareness. You are “it”—nature in its ultimate creative perfection.

 

Being “Love” aware includes embracing the experience of life at all levels. There is a deep presence in the form of feelings such as acceptance, appreciation, and awe derived from “Love” awareness and its clarity.

 

Your mind still tries to create a better dream; better-conditioned realities. When you are “Love” aware, your actions (your dreams) are much more refined, relaxed, and enjoyable. There is a sense that you are in charge of your dreams, although you are not. Actions are still conditioned to our conscious and subconscious states, but they have been elevated to match our spiritual understanding. The deeper this understanding is, the more joy we derive from the smallest and simplest things in life, and the more peaceful we are during difficult situations.

 

“Love” awareness is not a philosophy, a method, or a path. It’s a knowing untouched by the body and the mind. However, through body and mind, we can use philosophies, methods, and paths to understand “Love.” Once it is understood, there is no need for philosophies, methods, and/or paths.

 

We are liberated!

 

Valeria Teles

Valeria Teles (pen-name) aka Valeria Koopman, was a fitness trainer and first-prize fitness competitor who became the author of the Fit for Joy book to share the connection between holistic health and spirituality.

 

In Fit for Joy, she starts a conversation about the “true” meaning of health through her professional and personal experiences.

 

Teles is also a non-duality author who  recently published a new book on Love awareness. This work is comprised of thoughts on self-care, non-dual living, self-inquiry, and relational awareness. It brings to light how self-knowledge ignites the process of defining what “Love” is in our lives.

 

As a podcast host, Valeria explores meaningful truths, ideas, and insights about physical, mental and spiritual health to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us toward a new way of being well.

 

Valeria coaches self-love for well-being and promotes the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to anyone she comes across. She eats mindfully, exercises regularly and enjoys living by nature.

 

She resides in New York with her husband Christopher.

 

Website: fitforjoy.org

Email: info@fitforjoy.org

For coaching services: https://fitforjoy.org/coaching

Spotlight: Distance Reiki

~ Gina Briganti ~ Leave a comment

Reiki practitioners generally believe that all things are made of a form of energy. If that energy isn’t balanced, the person, animal, plant, or what have you, doesn’t feel right. That’s when a Reiki practitioner could be called on to help the receiver put the energy back into balance. I am also fond of calling it a relaxation therapy because that is the effect it has on me when I receive it.

A distance Reiki session can take place in person, over the phone, or even on the other side of the Earth with no physical contact between the sender and the receiver; which brings me to the subject of this post.

How well does distance Reiki really work? If you call me for help with something that is bothering you, whether the bother is a physical, mental, or emotional one, is there something I can do that will make a difference for you?

I have asked two of my clients to share their experiences with distance Reiki.  This is what they had to say:

 

What do you experience during a distance Reiki session?
Client 1 answered: “Even when taking a distance Reiki session I can feel the energy surround me. It’s a wonderful relieving feeling to know that distant Reiki can really work.”
Client 2 answered: “Release of illness, burdens, fears, hate, anger, and many other unwanted feelings.”

 

How do you feel after a distance Reiki session?
Client 1 answered: “I feel very sleepy for about two hours then I start to clean my home and everything else I can. I also feel re-energized.”
Client 2 answered: “Light spirit, love, joy, peace, and a feeling of well being.”

 

 

Do you feel that distance Reiki “does” anything?
Client 1 answered: “Absolutely. It makes my world an even easier place to live in. I really can build up the stress level in my life.”
Client 2 answered: “Absolutely.”

 

Do you recommend distance Reiki to others?
Client 1 answered: “I have, yes. I usually tell people about it because of the way it makes me feel about myself.”
Client 2 answered: “Positively.”

 

How many distance Reiki sessions have you experienced?
Client 1 answered: “Wow! I’m really not sure, but I think I have received at least twelve.”
Client 2 answered: “Approximately 20.”

 

Will you use distance Reiki in the future?
Client 1 answered: “Only if I need it. I do a lot of meditating on my own time, plus yoga classes.”
Client 2 answered: “Without a doubt.”

 

Now for some background. Client 1 grew up in an extremely abusive home and experienced more physical, mental, and emotional abuse than I would have believed possible. Client 1 has, with the aid of Reiki and other practices, gone on to live what most people would consider a normal life.

Client 2 has experienced devastating losses including all siblings, three children, both parents, and a spouse of more than forty years. Client 2  lives what most people would consider to be a normal life. They would never guess at the levels of loss that came before they met.

Distance Reiki is one of the most miraculous experiences I’ve ever had. If you have the opportunity to receive it, I strongly encourage you to try it.  The technique is taught during level II training.

Please feel free to share your thoughts with me in the comments below.

If you’re a Reiki practitioner, Level II or higher, and you would like to explore new techniques, check out my ART manual. Available on Amazon.com.

REIKI III (ART) MANUAL (3)

As always, thank you for the time we spend together.

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5-Star Book Review: Alkaline Diet: Soup Recipes by Elena Garcia

~ Gina Briganti ~ Leave a comment

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Whether you’re looking for basic information about what an alkaline diet is or good soup recipes or a system to get your health back on track, we think you will be happy with the information in this book.
The recipes range between comfy old favorites like ginger carrot, minestrone, vegetable barley, and white bean and kale, to the unique green soup and farro chili.
Please note that you will not see food photos in the Kindle version. We don’t know if the print version includes photos or not.

Gina has followed the concept of the alkaline diet since she started studying at the Edison Institute of Nutrition in 2003, where she received her certificate in nutrition and Bachelor’s degree in Applied Nutrition in 2005. She worked in a day spa where the owner insisted that all nutrition plans follow the tenets of the alkaline diet, which taught her even more about the benefits.

From personal and professional experience, Gina can confirm that eating as recommended by the tenets of alkaline nutrition does make a difference for most of the clients she has coached. The why is simple: alkaline foods are mostly raw fruits and vegetables. If you increase the amount of raw fruits and vegetables in your daily life, you are greatly increasing your water intake, your enzyme intake, your fiber intake, your vitamin and mineral intake, and your antioxidant intake. There’s no mystery as to why that leads to helping you feel better.

Cooking does change the pH (potential hydrogen) of foods but following an alkaline diet does allow for cooking vegetables. Good news, you don’t have to go raw unless you want to!

This book will definitely get you started or add to your recipe collection. Enjoy!

 

 

 

As always, thank you for the time you spend with us!

Gina and Nina

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Let’s Talk About Reiki I Class!

~ Gina Briganti ~ Leave a comment

Specifically…

Reiki Class Experiences (1)

Gina’s answer to this question from her Reiki I class, way back in 2006, is two answers. We all know how much she likes and better than or. Her top two memories from the class were:

  1. Finding out how easy self-Reiki is.
  2. The disk (remember, it was 2006! We used floppies) Cyhndi (her teacher) gave her to print out pages and pages of interesting information about Reiki. She still has those pages in her Reiki notebook. If you’ve taken an in-person class with The Reiki Cafe, you’ve seen the green binder she carries them in.

Nina says that her favorite part of Reiki I was taking the class with her cousin and the fascinating revelations Reiki brought while the class shared their attunement experiences and what brought them to Reiki in the first place.

We’d love to hear about what your favorite part of Reiki I was. Tell us in the comments!

 

We are taking names for our next Reiki I classes in the Dallas, Texas area.

If you are ready to start your Reiki journey, contact us here or through e-mail: thereikicafe@gmail.com for more information.

 

As always, thank you for the time you spend with us!

Gina and Nina

 

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Here’s One of the Ways We Beat Our Sugar Cravings

~ Gina Briganti ~ 1 Comment

We ate blueberry muffins, peanut butter cookies, coconut cream pie, pecan pies, and more; all without refined sugar and totally satisfying.

Maybe you’ve heard of Larabar? They’ve been around for a long time, getting it just right.

You know how we love to pass on a good tip for living a healthy, balanced life.  Today we have twelve.

We added Reiki to the bars before tasting. We know that made them even better!

 

Here are Antonina’s Larabar rankings:

Call me cheesy, but I feel like Larabars need commercials with us, the exhausted humans, wondering: what would be a quick, healthy snack? Enter the magical Larabar! There are Larabar commercials. I’ve seen them – they’re cute!

I grab Larabars (I keep them in the snack section of my pantry) for snack and for breakfast. I’ve tried an array of Larabars. Ones with added sugar, but most of them are added sugar-free. For this review we focused only on the ones without refined sugar.

Right on the package these gems say they are non-GMO, gluten free, vegan (big plus), dairy free, and soy free. That opens a pretty big market nowadays with special diets.

You can find them through our Amazon affiliate links here for you convenience (if one was available), or at a lot of chain stores like Trader Joes, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, and even Walmart. I’ve been lucky to even find some boxes of them at the 99 Cent Only stores. GASP!

Here are my top 12 Larabars!

12. Blueberry Muffin
-Just 5 Ingredients: Cashews, Dates, Apples, Blueberries, and Vanilla Extract
This did not taste like a muffin AT ALL to me. My daughter seems to enjoy them very well.

11. Carrot Cake
-Just 9 Ingredients: Dates, Almonds, Walnuts, Raisins, Pineapple, Unsweetened Coconut, Carrots, Cinnamon, and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.
This does taste like a carrot cake indeed.

10. Key Lime Pie
-Just 6 Ingredients: Dates, Cashews, Almonds, Unsweetened coconut, Lime Juice Concentrate, and Dried Lime Juice Concentrate.
I used to be a big fan of key lime pies, and this Larabar doesn’t exactly deliver on the flavor. If you like things that do taste like lime, I would still highly recommend this one. Green dye free besides the packaging.

9. Pecan Pie
-Just 3 Ingredients: Dates, Pecans, and Almonds
When I was a vegetarian I really liked those Two-Bite Brownie brand pecan pies. It took a couple more bites for me but the pie was decadent. This Larabar does not let you down. It is pleasantly moist and chewy. I’m not going to entirely say gooey but it is on its way there.

8. Chocolate Coconut Chew
-Just 5 Ingredients: Dates, Almonds, Walnuts, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Unsweetened Coconut. I would like to note that the cocoa is Fair Trade Certified by Fair Trade USA.
I am a HUGE fan of anything chocolate coconut. Anything Almond Joy please. Since I have kicked added sugar and kissed it goodbye I do not get the pleasure of indulging in anything chocolate coconut as often. Until the chocolate coconut chew came into my life. It sometimes has full almonds to munch on in there (yay good fats).

7. Cherry Pie
-Just 3 Ingredients: Dates, Almonds, and Unsweetened Cherries
Funny story about this one during a staff meeting. There was the question: “What is one thing you can’t live without under $10?” written on a white board. Everyone signed in and I wrote my name happily and “Larabars” next to it. My manager at the time had told us that some of us needed to explain what some of the things were because he didn’t know what a “Larabar” was. Immediate laughter but I was like “OMG! Let me show you!”…I slipped one into his locker after I discovered a box of the Cherry Pie Larabars with a note on it from him. <3. No, he never told me if he liked it or not! I really think these hit the flavor of cherry pie right on the nail. They can be a tad sour at times depending on how ripe the cherries were during production of the bar. I like it. One of my favorites!

6. Coconut Cream Pie
-Just 5 Ingredients: Dates, Unsweetened Coconut, Almonds, Cashews, and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.
Let me just say this: with being vegan – there goes any chance of ANYTHING cream pie. Unless you get into your kitchen and whip up some coconut cream! We’re talking non-perishable here though. Probably a little bit of a hassle to make a vegan coconut cream pie. I would try it, but could I do it without added sugar? Something I would have to figure out. I was first eating this one on my way to work and a good quarter of it dropped on the floor in front of a group of people. I felt comical thinking I should have fallen to my knees and yelled “Noooo!”, but I resisted the urge. Nonetheless, it was a freaking good Larabar.

5. Lemon Bar
-Just 6 Ingredients: Dates, Cashews, Almonds, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Dried Lemon Juice Concentrate, and Lemon Oil.
I have always been a fan of anything lemon flavored or scented. The traditional baked dessert, the lemon bar, usually contains gelatin and powdered sugar. Not exactly compliant to my diet. Larabar to the rescue.

4. Cashew Cookie
-Just 2 Ingredients: Cashews and dates
This bar used to be my absolute favorite. I love cashew everything. Cashews, cashew milk, cashew cheese, etc. Until I found the cashew cookie Larabars. Yum! They even have the Larabar mini duo pack of cashew cookie and apple pie. Perfect for in my purse, going out to dinner with an empty stomach, and for kids.

3. PB&J
-Just 4 Ingredients: Dates, Peanuts, Unsweetened Cherries, and sea salt.
This is a whole new twist on fast and flavor. Don’t get me wrong, I love the occasional PB&J. It is comfort food and sometimes it is seen as junk food. I am ALL for the occasional vegan junk food. This bar manages the texture and flavor of eating a sandwich. I don’t know how, but it does. Great for your kids. Especially the ones that don’t like the crust.

2. Peanut Butter Cookie
-Just 3 Ingredients: Dates, Peanuts, and Sea Salt
I am so guilty of that occasional peanut butter spoon at midnight. I used to stir a spoonful of peanut butter into chocolate non-dairy milk and eat it that way. Then I would drink the rest of the glass of the chocolate milk. Full of sugar. Both the peanut butter and the non-dairy chocolate milks are full of sugar. I haven’t looked for an unsweetened non-dairy chocolate milk. I love the peanut butter flavor I get when I take one bite of this bar. Yummy in my tummy.

1. Apple Pie
-Just 6 ingredients: Dates, Almonds, Unsweetened Apples, Raisins, and Cinnamon.
Holy crap! The stories I have to choose from to put into a review that will be posted on the internet. I will pick the one that is the funniest. About twice a year I go through airport security with my daughter when she goes to and from her daddy’s house. The last time, I hadn’t entirely planned to go through airport security, but they had granted my mother and me with gate passes. I was worried about the sensible things that TSA would take. My Flonase? My food? Yes, they will take your snacks. I had Larabars in my purse. My mother had Larabars in her purse. I ended up sharing one with my daughter and then giving the rest of mine to my mom who had agreed to stay behind because there were several things to not take into security in both of our bags. The bar that I ate was, you guessed it, apple pie. The blend of apples and cinnamon makes it taste like a baked apple pie.

There you have it! Just in case you wanted to know what I, Antonina, thought of the Larabars. Hope to write more about other things soon for you. Until then, peace, love, and happiness.

 

Thanks, Nina! Now here’s my top twelve Larabars!

 

12. Blueberry Muffin.

The bar totally tastes like blueberries and is one I will grab when I’m craving blueberries and have to run out the door.

11. Carrot Cake.

Really reminds me of carrot cake! Sweet, cinnamon, and chewy.  It would rank higher if number one wasn’t so amazing.

10. Cashew Cookie.

I much prefer the peanut butter cookie, but this one is a must for Antonina and Lilli. The cashew flavor is mild and a little one note.

9. Cherry Pie.

Totally reminds me of a cherry pie! When I’m in the mood for one, this is what I reach for.

8. Chocolate Coconut Chew.

It is chewy and there’s lots of chocolate, but if you’re looking for the classic candy pairing of these two flavors you won’t find as much coconut. Still, good for a chocolate fix.

7. Key Lime.

I like this better than key lime pie. Seriously. Tangy and fun to eat.

6. Peanut Butter & Jelly.

What a pleasant surprise! This is one of the rare Larabars I didn’t know about before our taste test. It has tart cherries and sweet peanut flavor. So yum!

5. Apple Pie.

Cinnamon and apple. Who could ask for more? We always have these on hand. Well, we try to but they disappear pretty fast!

4. Coconut Cream Pie.

Looking for coconut flavor? You’ll find it right here. So good! These do not last long!

3. Lemon bar.

It is as close to a lemon bar as I can imagine without adding powdered sugar to it. Tangy and sweet. I love the texture.

2. Peanut Butter Cookie.

This bar is exactly what you expect from it – loaded with peanut butter flavor.

1.  Pecan Pie!

It’s my favorite by a fair margin. Sweet, gooey pecan flavor. Now you know how to bribe me!

 

Thanks for reading, and we’d love to hear what your favorite Larabar is!

 

Gina and Antonina

 

 

 

 

Product Review – Hskyhan Pitcher Water Filter

~ Gina Briganti ~ 1 Comment

Here’s the answer to one of the most common questions I am asked – what water do I drink. Here’s the super easy answer – I use this pitcher filtration system.

Like many Amazon shoppers I looked on Amazon and chose a system with good reviews and a price that matched up with what I thought was reasonable. Lucky for me, the pitcher turned out to be a winner. On the first try!

It’s so awesome I gave one to my daughter for her place and she loves it, too.

The features I like best about this pitcher are the most important to me: the water tastes clean and the filter is easy to use. I change it once and month since it’s mostly just for me and Lucy. My next favorite feature is how fast it filters. Bonus, it looks good enough to sit on the counter or the table.

Here is my amazon affiliate link for the pitcher, which comes with two filters.

Here’s my amazon affiliate link for a two-pack of replacement filters.

Drinking a minimum of 50 ounces of water daily is important for my health.

Do you drink enough water?

 

As always, thank you for the time you spend with me!

Gina

 

P.S. You know what else helps with living a balanced life? This book!

K.I.S. Cover for KindleContains amazon affiliate link

What You Need to Know About Probiotics, According to Reviews.com

~ Gina Briganti ~ 2 Comments

pexels-photo-576831

 

What You Need to Know About Probiotics

Since there’s still not a lot of research on probiotics, the research team at Reviews.com recently spent months studying and testing 277 top-rated supplements on the market to determine which strains are most effective for various issues. Here are some of their findings.

Although the idea of beneficial bacteria has been around since the late 1800s, and probiotic supplements have been around since the 1930s, there haven’t been many human clinical trials. We do know that probiotics produce enzymes that help break down chemicals that the normal human gut has a hard time with, such as the oligosaccharides in legumes. That digestive assistance results in less gastrointestinal distress and better absorption of nutrients.

A small but growing body of research on our gut tenants suggests that hacking your microbiome can not only improve the digestive process, but also contribute to a laundry list of ancillary health benefits. We’re talking weight loss, lower cholesterol, decreased anxiety, improved immune function, fewer seasonal allergy symptoms, and relief from a host of gastrointestinal maladies, from irritable bowel syndrome to traveler’s diarrhea.

 

The Bottom Line

The science is still young, but we know a few things: Probiotics work better in a pack; prebiotics mixed in with probiotics are just a marketing ploy because there isn’t enough prebiotic to make a difference; and shelf life matters most. Look for multi-strain products and check for a “viability guarantee” through the expiration date to make sure your probiotics will be in full force when you take them.

 

Through the course of our research, we came across a number of studies that indicated some lesser-known benefits of taking probiotic supplements, like decreased anxiety. We put together our top picks based on which strains had solid evidence backing up a connection:

 

Anxiety and Allergies

Relevant strains: L. Casei, L. Rhamnosus, Paracasei

 

Weight Loss

Relevant strains: B. Brevis, B. Lactis, L. Acidophilus, L. Gasseri, L. Rhamnosus GG

 

Lactose Intolerance

Relevant strains: L. Bulgaricus, S. Thermophilus

 

Lowering Cholesterol

Relevant strains: B. Lactis, E. Faecium, L. Acidophilus, L. Curvatus, L. Fermentum, L. Plantarum, L. Reuteri

 

Women’s Health

Relevant strains: Bacillus Coagulans, L. Fermentum, L. Rhamnosus GG

 

Take Action 

Start small. Generally, it’s best to start out with a lower CFU count and ramp up as needed. Starting out with the high-proof stuff can cause unpleasant physical side effects, like cramps and bloating, as well as monetary ones — higher potency supplements are almost universally more expensive. Of course, follow your doctor’s guidance. The verdict on ideal colony count is still out.

 

Take your probiotic with a meal. This raises the pH in your stomach, which means more bacteria will make it through to your gut, including the few non-acid-resistant strains like S. Thermophilus. And take them with plenty of water; that will further dilute the acidity of gastric juices.

 

Get your prebiotics in. There are tons of the simple carbs probiotics love in whole fruits and vegetables, including onions, garlic, bananas, asparagus, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, and artichokes. If you’re worried you might not be getting between five to 20 grams per day, consider taking a prebiotic supplement, usually a powder or drink mix.

 

Keep up your probiotic routine. Probiotics stick around for a while, though for how long isn’t precisely clear. You have to keep taking them to continue to reap the benefits.

 

To see the rest of their guide to probiotics, go to http://www.reviews.com/probiotic-supplement/

 

 

 

Thank you for the time you spend with me!

Gina

 

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Advanced Reiki Training (ART) Technique – Control Panel

~ Gina Briganti ~ 1 Comment
control panel

I love teaching the Control Panel technique, because it is so easily understood by students of all levels of intuitive development, and because it is so effective. How effective? Try it and share your experience!

As I mention in The Reiki Cafe Reiki III (ART) Manual, this technique is not exclusive to Reiki III students. I teach it to students as early as Level II (Practitioner) if they request it, or if it is a good fit for that class.

Control Panel technique is usually offered in Level III (ART) because Level II concentrates on becoming a practitioner. Level III (ART) is where we hone our skills to be the most effective we can be in helping others and ourselves.

If you are ready to learn the Control Panel technique and want to set up a one-on-one workshop, e-mail me at thereikicafe@gmail.com so we can schedule your in-person or virtual workshop. You will need to have completed at least one level of Reiki study to take the workshop.

Which Knobs or Dials are on Your Control Panel?

Try looking at your control panel in your next meditation. I’d love to see what you can learn about yourself, and how the control panel can help you in your daily life and Reiki practice!

Control Panel is one of many techniques in The Reiki Cafe Reiki III (ART) Manual. The manual is available now in paperback and for Kindle. It’s free on Kindle Unlimited.

ART III (ART) Manual
The Reiki Cafe Reiki III (ART Manual)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/add_to_books_widget_frame/35701335?atmb_widget%5Bbutton%5D=atmb_widget_1.png

As always, thank you for the time we spend together!

Gina

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