Welcome to NirvanaLand

My new favorite blog!

2010-12-30T16:26:00.000-08:00

So my wonderful buddy Linda Pongonis has this awesome blog called, "32 Days, 32 Things".
In it, Linda tries something new everyday....check it out!
http://32new.blogspot.com/

Yoga for Thick Jawns Workshop

2010-09-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

Sanctuary Wholistic Arts
2737 Cambridge St
Philadelphia, PA
Saturday October 23, 2010
1:30pm – 3:30pm

Yoga for Thick Jawns is a fun, interactive workshop aimed at empowering and educating curvy women!
No experience with yoga necessary! All levels of experience welcome! Come dressed to move.

Workshop will be led by
Misia Denea, Certified Yoga Instructor & Holistic Health Counselor
Vanessa Hazzard-Tillman, Certified Massage Therapist & Reiki Master
Workshop Includes:

Third Chakra based yoga sequence

Thai Yoga Massage partnering (pictured above)

Guided meditation

Resource packet

Information on our 6-month holistic health program

Cost: $20 before October 9, $30 after

To Register: email us at yogaforthickjawns@gmail.com or call

Vanessa 267-237-6924 or Misia 267-456-5155

Space is limited so sign up today!

Healthy Living Corner: The Right Diet

2010-04-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

Everyone from hippies to scientists knows that eating right is important. But what does a healthy diet look like? Is it meat-free? Organic? Macrobiotic? Eating right can be as simple as listening to your body and giving it what it needs. It may also mean subtracting foods that your body doesn't tolerate.
I asked 3 women with different diets what worked for them. I hope that reading their responses inspires you to explore your dietary needs and eat accordingly!
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Jennifer Fanega, CHHC: Omnivore Diet
Sometimes, when people discover that I am a Diet & Lifestyle Counselor, they assume I’m vegan. I suppose it’s normal to equate healthy eating with not eating animal products and to a certain extent I believe that to be true. However, I also believe that there is no one diet for everyone. I am an omnivore because I know my body needs the energy I get from eating animal protein. The majority of meals I eat are vegan & vegetarian and when I do eat animal products, I try to make sure they are of the best quality.

For the most part, I eat seasonally. In the colder Winter season, I tend to eat meats and dairy products since they are concentrated forms of energy that my body needs to stay warm. During these months I like to eat stews, root vegetables and foods that really “stick to your ribs”. Come Springtime, I enjoy lighter foods like leafy greens, salads and fresh vegetables. Summer is the time of abundance when it comes to food and fresh vegetables and fruit are aplenty. I always crave cooling foods like smoothies, sushi and other raw foods.

So the key for me is balance. So often, we tune out to the needs of our bodies and follow the latest trends in “it” foods that scientists deem healthy because of their specific nutrient content. I don’t believe a scientist on the payroll of some huge food corporation has my best interest in mind; that’s my job. I try to follow Michael Pollan’s food rule of “Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food”. This ensures I eat real, whole foods that come from nature and my body was designed to digest.

To learn more about me and what a Diet & Lifestyle Counselor does, visit my blog at www.jenniferfanega.com. I offer consultations to determine how I can help you tune in to the needs of your body and start eating a healthy diet and living a life of balance.

Jennifer Fanega is a Diet & Lifestyle Counselor working in Philadelphia, PA. She works with people who want to eat better, make healthier choices and live a more mindful, balanced life. She especially connects with people who are just now starting their healthy transformations. Many clients eat fast/processed food and want to start eating a whole foods diet, but may not be sure where to begin. Visit www.jenniferfanega.com for recipes, healthy lifestyle tips and important info on food that will help you to live your best life.

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Danielle Stimpson, RM/T: Gluten and Soy-free Diet
Back in 2006, while I was first learning Reiki (a Japanese form of energy healing) I noticed that any time I treat my stomach and lower abdomen, the area would become hot and begin to "gurgle". I realized that my body was trying to tell me something. Over the years I had developed allergies to peanuts & tree nuts, and many fruits and vegetables, so I paid close attention to my diet, and began to research all of my digestive and overall health symptoms. The first plausible answer was Celiac Disease, an inability to digest-or even remotely tolerate-Gluten. Gluten is a naturally occurring protein found in wheat, barley, rye, kamut, spelt and triticale. It is also present in a number of additives found in processed foods-as are many of the things I am allergic to. About 6 months later, I removed Soy from my diet-and away went my randomly appearing rashes and headaches. My diet consists of lots of beans, greens, root veggies, gluten free grains (millet, quinoa, rice and amaranth), and lean cuts of meat and fish. I cook exclusively with Olive and Canola oils, make everything from scratch, and switched from beer to red wine. Since this dietary change, I have lost weight, heal faster after injury, and have tons more energy...and lots more willpower to say no to junkfood!

Danielle Stimpson is 2008 Master Teacher graduate of The Reiki School + Clinic of Philadelphia. She has also been studying and working with gemstones and crystals since childhood, and has been presenting workshops & classes about them since 2007. Her practice, Learn Reiki Philadelphia, seeks to neutralize class, race, and other social factors that prevent or limit access the healing art of Reiki by offering comprehensive training and professional treatments-all affordably. In addition to teaching Reiki at Philadelphia Community Acupuncture, Hawthorne Yoga & Reiki, The William Way LGBT Community Center and providing Crystal Training at The Reiki School + Clinic of Philadelphia, Danielle has assisted with the Reiki education and training of volunteers within Philadelphia’s animal welfare system.

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Vanessa Hazzard-Tillman, CMT: Vegetarian Diet

I've been a vegetarian since 2001. What drove me to make this major life change (and believe me I used to LOVE some meat!) was something I saw on television. I was watching the news and they were showing food and kitchen conditions in restaurants. There was one piece in particular that really stuck with me. A family ordered food from Church's Chicken. When they got home, there was a fried chicken head, beak and all, in their box! The chicken's face was stuck in horror. Up until that point in my life (I was 19 at the time) I never really thought about how my food got to my plate. "Supermarket chicken" was totally different to me than "running around in some random farm chicken". Watching that news report I was forced to make that connection; that what could have been someone's pet was now my food. Not only was it my food, but before it got to the table it was butchered and tortured and before that possibly injected with all kinds of junk. In short, I was grossed out.

I became a vegetarian from that point on. It was tough at first because all of my family and friends ate meat so I didn't really know how to get started. I remember at first eating pizza and french fries all the time! After talking with a co-worker I found out he was a vegetarian and he gave me great foods to try and stores to shop at. I got really creative with veggies and tofu and eventually lost a ton of weight and my skin cleared up considerably! Overall, I learned to take care of myself. By frequenting health food stores (at that point most supermarkets didn't have veggie burgers), I started buying other vitamins and supplements that I was never exposed to before. I learned to cook and bake awesome delicious foods from scratch. I've been adventurous and tried all kinds of foods from India, Ethiopia, and the Mediterranean.

Vegetarianism expanded how I think of life-all life, not just humans. It has taught me discipline and has given me confidence as it was the first major life decision I made completely on my own. It feels good to know that 9 years later I still live that lifestyle.

Vanessa Hazzard-Tillman has been a Certified Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner since 2005. She is co-founder of the Philadelphia Bodywork Collective and NirvanaLand Essentials, natural artisan bodycare products. She is a student herbalist and has co-hosted workshops on massage and reiki in the Philadelphia area.

www.nirvanalandmassage.com 800-438-9040

Thai Massage: Movement & Meditation

2010-03-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

Thai Yoga Massage uses assisted yoga stretches, range of motion, meditation, acupressure, and massage for both relaxation and rejuvenation. It was created by Dr. Jivaka Komarpaj, physician to Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. Thai massage has roots in ayurveda and buddhism and is one of four branches of Traditional Thai Medicine (manipulation, medicine, diet, and spiritual ceremonies).

It is ideal for any body type and/or level of flexibility as the practitioner caters the session to your needs and goals.

A typical session is performed fully clothed and on a mat or futon on the floor. The therapist uses her/his elbows, hands, feet, knees, and/or forearms to help work the muscles of the client.

Among many benefits, Thai Yoga Massage can increase flexibility, helps reduce stress, improves circulation of blood and lymph, and creates an overall awareness of one’s physical and mental body. It can also be helpful with specific conditions like sciatica and asthma.

For more on Thai Yoga Massage and to experience this ancient bodywork,

contact
Vanessa Hazzard-Tillman, Certified Massage Therapist, Reiki Master/Teacher
vanessa@nirvanalandmassage.com 267-237-6924

Why is Arnica One of My Favorite Plants?

2009-09-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

Ever since massage school I have been really drawn to arnica. It is probably because there are tons of products that massage therapists use that contain arnica, and with good reason! Arnica’s anti-inflammatory properties are an immediate draw to those in my line of work. It not only is great for the client, it makes our job easier!

I began my herbal studies a few months after having my son. One of the first products I made was arnica oil. That oil helped me get through painful bouts of sciatica, as well as helped my husband’s achy back (he lifts heavy boxes and musical equipment for a living). I still use it today on my family and clients. Using those arnica products has helped me become less dependent upon over-the-counter medicine to help with minor to moderate aches and pains.

Arnica is a plant that has been used for hundreds of years to treat muscle pains. Arnica Montana is indigenous to Europe but there are species that grow in the US as well. It is recommended for external use but there are homeopathic remedies that you can take internally (I would do that ONLY under the care of an experienced homeopathic professional. Arnica can be toxic if you take the wrong dosage internally.)

Arnica is indicated for a wide array of muscle/joint conditions such as:

· Rheumatism

· Arthritis

· Sprains

· Strains

· Bruising

· Sore and over-worked muscles

· Stomach cramps

· Sore feet

Arnica is contraindicated for:

· Women who are pregnant (it can cause uterine contractions)

· People allergic to ragweed (they may have an allergic reaction to arnica as well)

Arnica is also not to be overused as it may cause or worsen eczema or other dermatitis. Be sure to use the recommended dosage on the product you are purchasing.

For quality arnica products, check out www.nirvanalandwellness.com

Green Clay: Not Just For Spa Go-ers!

2009-09-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

Green Clay, commonly known as French Green Clay (although it can come from other countries as well), is a fixture at high end spas and resorts...and with good reason! This wonderful clay has awesome natural astringent properties. It is full of minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium, dolomite, silica, manganese, phosporous, silicon, copper, and selenium. Decomposed plant material gives the clay its beautiful green color.

Used as a face mask or spot treatment, it can help to dry up acne, excess oils and impurities from the skin.

For use as face mask:
-Mix clay into a paste using water or a hydrosol (i.e. rose water)
-(OPTIONAL) Add essential oils (lavender, clary sage, peppermint are great additions!)
-Apply to face and neck area
-Let dry (normally takes about 15-20 minutes)
-Rinse off and apply a light moisturizer

Green clay is not only good for beauty, it is excellent first aid as well. French green clay treats rashes like poison ivy and poison oak.

If you ever encounter poison ivy/oak:
-Mix green clay with water and/or apple cider vinegar (preferred) until it makes a paste.
-Apply to exposed area
-Let air dry COMPLETELY
-Rinse completely and apply a liniment.

Though used in fancy spas, the clay can be affordable. NirvanaLand Essentials offers an French Green Clay Kit for only $7.00!

www.nirvanalandwellness.com