Chronic inflammation has been on mind. Why? Because recently, I’ve been working with A LOT of people who are struggling with chronic pain and depression. No surprises that those two who up hand-in-hand. But the truth is, they’re not alone.

The Year was 1994, and I was a bicycling dread-head with a desperate urge to grow my consciousness, heal my body, and figure out why the holy heavens I was here on earth.

I had not yet entered my 20’s, and although I had lived in at least five states, all of them were in the Midwest — which by the way, is awesome for oh-so-many reasons. But none the less, my belly ached with a desire to find something different — to be something different.

This is such a simple and delicious recipe! Recently I invited my partner’s mother over to teach me the ins-and-outs of making this classic Polish Soup. Once fall hits, I find that a mug of this nourishing goodness soothes my palate and warms my soul. I tend to make a batch of this every other week throughout the cooler months.

Are you moving through your day without fully living? It is easy to pass through daily activities and wait for something to happen — to wake us up and grab our attention. I have fallen into this mindless trap, caught in a place where I feel as if my subconscious was always preparing for something else.

One way to fully live today is by being mindful and practicing a bit of everyday awareness. I realize this is easier said than done — awareness is a habit that’s not easily picked up.  So, I thought I would share with you one of my favorite mindfulness rituals to help you appreciate the mundane and to live more fully into the moment.

A big part of aging gracefully is being willing to change how you think. One of the easiest facets of shifting our thoughts is to shift how our thinking about movement and to become a thinking body. Remember, how you treat your body is inseparable from how you cope with other aspects of life.

Let me start by saying I LOVE roasted roots and veggies of all sorts. The earthiness of roasted broccoli makes my inner goddess swoon. In the Springtime, this glorious green crop joins in the flames of our grill for a bit of tasty magic. In fall, the earthy fumes of florets meet fire, oven style, fills our house with a scent that acts as an aphrodisiac for the palate.

Mental health issues have a significant impact on society. Some suggest that their influence is more significant than any other chronic disease, including heart disease or diabetes. And if you suffer from persistent pain, then you're four times as likely to have depression or anxiety than those who are pain-free.

There are so many factors involved in complex conditions like mental health issues and persistent pain. But today, we're going to look at just one of these factors — inflammation.

Finally, a good excuse to lie down and do nothing! Ok. Maybe not quite nothing.

Exploring the art of Body Scans is a wonderful way of developing skills such as embodied awareness (i.e., being able to sense yourself), concentration, and focused attention. Plus, body scanning can is an effective ‘pre-movement’ strategy or end of the day stress-reduction practice.

This Flourless Orange Cake recipe hails from my days of living in San Diego, CA. There were times when we had more oranges than we could possibly eat or juice. It’s simple to make and scented with whole sweet oranges, vanilla, and almonds.

The first thing you’ll notice, and love, about this cake is the floral and citrus aroma. As you take your first bite, the crunch of the almonds and then the super moist decadence cake will delight your oral senses. The flavors are dynamic and not overpowered by sweetness.

We have all been told that aging brings with it aches, pains, and loss of function. Many of us have even accepted the fact that joint pain is inevitable and that we will someday have to give up doing those things that bring us the most joy.

But what if there’s another way?

The video, Understanding Pain + What To Do About It In Less Than 5 Minutes, offers an excellent overview of understanding pain, especially chronic pain. I help people with complex pain implement the lifestyle changes necessary to help them to move beyond pain. 

Most people who experience complex pain do best when addressing their pain on many fronts — most of which are in this video. This video highlights many of my professional perspective on working with pain. It's spot on with a Feldenkraisian approach to moving, learning, growing, and healing.

I don’t know about you, but I like to keep busy. And when I’m not out and about, my thoughts tend to be all over the place.

Topping it off, my memory isn’t what it used to be! So trying to get things accomplished was tough. Especially when it came to remembering my Feldenkrais goals, the most important ones needing my attention.

The question became: How could I trigger my awareness to help focus on what I wanted to do each day?

When life is full, it’s also busy. And my life is gloriously full these days. I’m betting your life can be hectic too. So if you’re like me, then you are always on the lookout for super simple recipes of grab-and-go goodness. Well, these nourishing Lemon & Cashew Energy Bites (a.k.a. Bliss Balls) fit the bill! They’re nutrient and calorie-dense to keep you fueled throughout the day.

Every once in a while, I find one of those quotes that has a way of working me – shifting me slowly but consistently over time — echoing in everything that I do. Somehow the Robert Frost quote from A Servant’s Servant has been one of those unique passages that continue to whisper to me when my motivation is low, and my curiosity has waned.

Blood sugar is literally that: the sugar in your blood. Your blood contains all kinds of important nutrients and other substances that you need to be healthy, including glucose (i.e., sugar), a crucial energy source for your brain and your red blood cells. Blood is the liquid transporter that distributes these compounds to all parts of our bodies.

Sugar (a type of carbohydrate) is one of our body’s main fuels. The other two fuels are fat and protein. I call it “fuel” because our cells literally burn it to do work. It’s this “biochemical” burning of fuel in all of our cells that is our metabolism.

So, How Does Blood Sugar Get Too High? 

Are you one of the many that commute to work every day. I do. My office is nearly 25 minutes from my home. At first, I dreaded the commute, but now I LOVE it.

You see, I figured out that this time is a FANTASTIC opportunity to practice a bit of mindfulness. Plus, it has blessed me with the time to develop several simple everyday awareness practices that can help you reduce your stress and find greater comfort. Now, doesn’t that sound like a nice way to start and end your workday?

I am intrigued by how we develop our self-image over our lifetime and how we can consciously choose to shift that image.

I am currently on my fifth read of Awareness Through Movement by Moshe Feldenkrais. I read this book for the first time nearly fifteen years ago, and I am in awe as to what shifts in perspective and what stands out whenever I return to a great book.

Did you know that conscious attention can actually change your brain and your whole life experience?

You see, your thoughts create patterns and images in your mind that directly influence your body and vice versa. It’s all a matter of where you put your attention. For instance, you might look at the horizon or the feel of the ground beneath your feet, is going to produce a completely different chemical reaction, and inspire a different physical stance then if you focus on what you lack or what is wrong.

The brilliance of w-sitting and learning how to play for another way.

I have come across several articles recently that suggest that you tell your child NO or that you insist your child sit differently every time you find her sitting in the “W” position. But I am here to say that the No-No approach deprives both you and your child of valuable learning.