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Tag Archives | self-care

6 ways to QUICKLY reduce stress, anxiety, and pain and increase your mana.

Stress triggers our flight and fight response

When we lose our job; have an emergency such as we have all been through, or there are large and unknown changes in our life our nervous system can interpret this as stress. Even in our daily life we are exposed to many types and amounts of stress, which then trigger our fight or flight response AKA sympathetic nervous system, including the release of stress hormones.

Did you know that almost every TV show nowadays triggers our fight or flight response with gory visuals, abrupt automobile accidents, and shocking scenes?

Did you know that our unconscious mind cannot differentiate between real and imagined stressors? In addition, frequent stressors of schedules, deadlines, relationship conflict, even a mild disagreement can cause internal strife. Being in traffic, loud and numerous layered sounds in the environment, even caffeine, and slight alterations in routines can all release stress hormones.
We have actually grown a little numb to the negative visual impressions we receive.
What happens is that we are exposed to so much stimulation in our daily lives that our nervous system becomes hyperactive. We don’t even notice it! Then, over time, this compounds and ages us, as a result, it takes a serious toll on our mental, emotional, and physical health… Read on to find out how to reverse this.
Studies show that stress actually shrinks the brain!
Bruce McEwen, a neuroscientist at Rockefeller University in New York says that “Stress causes neurons (brain cells) to shrink,” he goes on to say that “The wear and tear on the body from lots of stress changes the nervous system.” Moreover, “particularly worrying in the developing brain, which appears to be programmed by early stressful experience”.

What can we do?

Well, don’t worry, because remember, worrying shrinks your brain! There is a lot that we can do to help our bodies be at their optimum! A regular routine with daily exercise, adequate sleep, nourishing and healthy meals can all go a long way towards providing a healthy foundation, and more, read on…

Connection decreases stress.

In addition, we can easily self-regulate our own nervous system. AND we can also co-regulate with another human being (which is actually easier.) I provide suggestions for both below
   

In fact, I provide helpful information on being your best in all the emails I send.

These activities significantly decrease stress:

  • hugging
  • receiving massage
  • touch
  • talking with a friend
  • holding a baby or a pet
  • singing
  • even looking at beautiful, or cute pictures
  • That’s why I put pictures of one of my favorite people

If you are by yourself

When we are feeling out of sorts, or if other people are not available to talk to, or give us a hug, the best course of action is to turn inward instead. Most people learn how to soothe themselves as infants. In fact I observed my most recent born grandson, John self-soothing after he was literally born hours earlier. However, many of us forget to practice in our daily lives. Or, sometimes we are hard on ourselves or need to feel self-love when we feel anxiety or fear. These are the times to increase our self-love. I was on a water slide with the kids recently, it was steep. As I took the plunge onto the slide, I felt afraid, and noticed my belly, probably my whole body tightened up. I didn’t even make a conscious decision to soothe myself, it just happened. I said reassuring words to myself such as: “I am safe, this is OK, just flow with it in the same way I flow with life.” After that, I immediately relaxed and had fun! Oh, and the kids were proud of me too, in fact, they cheered when I splashed into the pool from the slide. Self-regulation is important and easy to do. Take some time to cultivate self- love with this easy practice. Try this self-soothing, cultivating self- love exercise for a few breaths.  

6 ways to QUICKLY reduce stress, anxiety, and pain and increase your mana.

Did you know that looking at cute pictures, is calming?

We want to be proficient at preventing stress, in addition, to quickly eliminating stress before it accumulates! These practices will help you do just that!

  1. Do this “I am Calm Meditation” with me
  2. 8-12 Hugs a day keeps the doctor away! Giving and receiving hugs reduces stress, chances of illness, increases feel-good hormone oxytocin? As a matter of fact family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth.”
  3. Massage and spa treatments are a great way to reduce stress, anxiety, and pain. Can’t go to a spa? That’s fine, even giving and receiving massage with loved ones helps too! Start with something simple, like a foot or shoulder massage.
  4. Don’t let little things build up in your relationships. Periodically take time to clear the air; try this Couple’s Communication Ritual with me.
  5. Try this advanced meditation practice “Meditation”
  6. Consider a 3-5 day Reset Retreat with us. Folks usually do a Reset Retreats during a life transition, or when they lose their “center.” The retreat begins with a consultation to determine specific needs. Then, participants receive 2-3 hours of treatments daily, and guidance for self-guided practices such as meditation, a Sugar & Gluten Cleanse. After that, they get other rejuvenation and stress management practices. Begin here with this consultation to assess your needs.

As we have seen, stress comes in many forms and can be cumulative, however, there are solutions!

Another key point is that it took a little while to accumulate, yet with just a little time, you can reduce your stress hormones and significantly increase your feel-good hormones thereby supporting your overall well-being. Remember, I am here for you. Thank you for visiting us, reading this, and taking the time and sweet attention to nourishing yourself! Please let me know how you are doing. I am looking forward to seeing you on your next in-person visit or online health consultation. With warm aloha, Darci Frankel In the very next (and upcoming) issues:
  • I share some of my best health secrets, gained over my 27 years of practicing Ayurvedic Medicine
  • Talk about some of my favorite insider Kauai beach activities
  • Look for my BIG giveaway soon.
  • How toxins might be making you SICK, FAT and TIRED
  • Special VIP invitation to an upcoming webinar “The Secrets of Cleansing
  • What kinds of heavy metals are HIDING in your bones, your fat or worse, your BRAIN?!
  • I also share one of my secret weapons in detecting heavy metal toxicity.

Darci Frankel has had a lifelong involvement in the healing arts. She is an experienced practitioner of Ayurvedic Medicine (the science of healing from India) a cleansing and rejuvenation specialist, a long-time massage therapist, and a yoga teacher. Darci began her Ayurvedic study in 1992 and then interned with America’s foremost expert of Ayurveda, Dr. Vasant Lad, at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico. She has been practicing Ayurvedic Medicine and providing cleansing and rejuvenation programs since 1994. Darci was invited to head up the Ayurveda Department of Complementary Medicine at Miami’s prestigious Mt. Sinai Hospital. She also served as an advisor for High-Health, Inc. Darci Frankel has been the managing owner of Hanalei Day Spa on Kauai for 16 years. Offering spa services, cleansing and rejuvenation retreats, (Pancha Karma), and a spa consultant. Some of her notable clients have included; Gloria Estefan, John Oats, Mickey Rourke, Dr. Brad Blanton, and Pierce Brosnan.
Darci has a strong commitment to healing and transformation which she expresses through her wisdom in Ayurveda.”
~ Deepak Chopra

My 5 Tips To Stay Healthy (and sane) this Holiday Season

My 5 Tips To Stay Healthy (and sane) this Holiday Season

Aloha this is Darci Frankel coming to you from Hanalei Day Spa here on Kauai. I hope this finds you well and surrounded by good company this holiday season.

Holidays can be a wonderful time for many, and a challenge for others, and for some, both! It may bring up grief, conflict, loneliness, anger, or any other range of human emotions. I’ve experienced it all and have 5 tips to fall back on this holiday season as emotions arise. Remember we can choose health at every moment (even right after we have a huge dessert).

My 5 Tips for Healthy Holidays:

  • Meditate. The holidays can bring up all sorts of emotions. I encourage you to stay grounded and balanced during the holiday season. Check out my “Be Calm Meditation.” I recorded this meditation while Kauai was in the direct path of a hurricane to support (myself) people in being calm. Instead of freaking out since a hurricane was on its way, I’m mostly joking. But this meditation uses time tested technology to help anyone stay calm and cool.  Check that out HERE
  • Start your new year off well.  Consider doing my Cleanse
    This cleanse will help you to learn about the toxins that may be at the root cause of your symptoms, cleanse those toxins from your body, track your progress and prevent them from getting in your body in the first place. [Who better to help you cleanse, than your spa owner, who has been helping people cleanse (and practicing Ayurvedic Medicine) for almost 30 years.]
  • Gratitude I am sure you have heard this one numerous times. But what does this actually mean? How do we just become grateful? Start with anything – the ability to breathe, to walk, to reach out and connect with another human, the fact that we have a body, etc. Make a list of what you feel grateful for and let it really sink in. (It starts with the little things.) This way, next time you feel grumpy, or upset, you can look at your gratitude list and uplift yourself. Let me know how it goes.
  • Communication with my own body.  I check in daily with my body, and multiple times a day when situations arise that may either excite me or stress me out. It is important to listen for cues and adjust accordingly – day by day.
  • If/when you get upset, how do you communicate that? Do you squirrel it away until you explode? Are you conflict avoidant? Do you pretend everything is ok when it isnt? In this short video I help distinguish “Clean Anger Vs Toxic Anger Which Do You Do?” Because inevitably our family pushes our buttons! Enjoy the holidays without bypassing important communications. Do a self assessment with this short video HERE

What emotions do the Holidays typically bring up for you? What are your New Year’s Intentions or goals? Reply to this email and let me know. I want to help you reach the health goals of your dreams.

We would love to see you on Kauai at Hanalei Day Spa in 2022. We have a team of highly experienced massage therapists waiting to pamper you.

Can’t make it to the island? We have got you covered.
I teach self-care. Learn more HERE
The past two years have been rough, and I want your 2022 to be fantastic.
Be in touch as much or as little as you’d like.
With Aloha,
Darci Frankel

 

 

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