It's my first full spring and summer in my new house, and my vegetable garden is green and healthy, with the first buds appearing! I feel something akin parental pride as I watch it flourish and grow. I spent 8-10 hours laboring to bring that plot of healthy, grass and weed free soil into the world, and I vigilantly protect the plants from the encroaching weeds and pests.

As I stood up from weeding my vegetable garden the other day, I felt a little dizzy and dehydrated and was aware of some protesting joints. I was so focused on the task, that I had not realized how long I had been in the heat, kneeling and crawling around in the dirt. Every day I remind people to pay attention to their bodies, to be sure to hydrate and stretch to keep their muscles oxygenated and keep the toxins from building up. As I walked stiffly away from my garden, headed inside to drink a few glasses of water, I realized that I needed to take my own advice.

In the warm summer months, as we spend more and more time outdoors, we travel to vacation destinations, and our schedules are thrown into limbo, it is easy to forget to take care of ourselves. Though it may not be as convenient to maintain our wellness rituals during this time, massage therapy can play a big role thriving through the summer. This time of year, there are massage benefits that are particularly helpful, such as:

• stress and anxiety relief - especially for parents with kids at home all day, 
• releasing sore neck, back and shoulder muscles after long car trips or cramped airline flights,
• strengthening the immune system, by aiding in detoxifying the body - especially after an afternoon of indulging in beverages and junk food on the lake or on the patio at your favorite bar,
• reducing swelling and water retention - especially in pregnant women or those spending all day on their feet in the heat,
• promoting clear thinking, good sleeping patterns and daytime alertness
• improved circulation - especially for those working at a desk all day, in an air conditioned office
• improved joint mobility and muscle function - especially for those musicians on tour all summer

In addition to these and many other potential benefits, my clients in the coming months will likely also end up with a few cucumbers and tomatoes from my garden to take home and put into a healthy salad. I look forward to the all the ways I can help make the summer a time of relaxation and wellness, for those around me and for myself.

Peace - a gift you give yourself

It’s that time of year again...when temperatures drop and germs are passed around like juicy gossip. Meanwhile, the business year is coming to a close as the holiday season kicks into full swing. The world goes insane, while we sing songs about peace and good cheer, through gritted teeth. Although to some it may very well be the most wonderful time of the year, it can also be the most stressful time of the year.

I have heard some people claim that they thrive on stress, but that is a misuse of the word “thrive”. It has been proven that stress has negative effects on the circulatory system, the digestive system and the immune system. When the immune system is repressed and taxed, it is more difficult for the body to defend itself from infection, and we all know that rest is necessary for healing. Though we all have different ways of coping with stress, the majority of them seem to incorporate an element of excess or overindulgence. Stress appears, and we react by trying to pretend it is not there; we sometimes create more stress to keep it company; or we might attempt to smother it with alcohol, medication, food or even shopping. For a time, some of these coping techniques may work (though they often create more potentially stressful situations in the process), that is, until our health begins to suffer.

It’s the most inconvenient time of the year to get sick. It is a stress compounder, yet illness, whether acute or the common cold, forces us to be present. It pulls us out of our head - where we do all that managing, avoiding, or burying of stress - and back into our bodies. It insists that we attend to our physical needs in a ways we often do not or will not, especially our need for rest and peace…

This year, let’s do more than just sing songs about peace. It is the best Holiday gift you can give yourself, and your body will thank you!

Why a Doula?

Birth is the first major life event that all three of you, the mother, child and spouse or birth partner, will experience together. It will leave an indelible imprint in your mind. Especially as the mother, you may be surprised when years from now, you will still be able to recount the details of the event. Not only will you recall each part of the process, but the memories of your emotions during the experience will also stick with you.

The thing about birth is, though it is an amazing experience after which you will never be the same, it can also be intense and sometimes unpredictable. I always strongly encourage women to empower themselves by learning all they can about pregnancy and the birth process, as that can only positively impact your experience. However, it is still impossible to predict how your specific pregnancy and birth will unfold. That is why having someone that provides continuous emotional, physical and informational support during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum can really help. That is basically what a doula does.

THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A TRAINED DOULA

50% reduction in the cesarean rate
25% shorter labor
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in oxytocin use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery

This information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can HelpYou Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).

LINKS & RESOURCES

http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/

http://simpleorganic.net/how-to-keep-birth-simple-safe-healthy-in-a-hospital/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/babyproject/2011/07/18/138467694/hypnobirthing-visualizing-a-gentle-drug-free-birth

http://academicobgyn.com/2009/12/03/delayed-cord-clamping-should-be-standard-practice-in-obstetrics/

http://www.themidwifenextdoor.com/?p=1339

\http://publications.paho.org/english/Chapter_2_OP+195.pdf


http://psychiatristparent.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/skin-to-skin-contact-after-birth/


http://www.pregnancybaby411.com/kangaroo-care-benefits-skin-to-skin-contact/

suggested reading

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, by Henci Goer

Gentle Birth Choices (book and/or video), by Barbara Harper


Your Best Birth: Know All Your Options, Discover the Natural Choices, and Take Back the Birth Experience, by Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein


Birthing From Within, by Pam England and Rob Horowitz

HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method: A natural approach to a safe, easier, more comfortable birthing, by Marie F. Mongan

The Pregnancy Book: A Month-By-Month Guide, by Williams Sears M.D., Martha Sears, Linda Hughey Holt

The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two, by William Sears, Martha Sears, Robert Sears, and James Sears;

Natural Baby and Childcare, by Lauren Feder, M.D.;


A Natural Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, by Dean Raffelock


The Nursing Mother's Companion, by Kathleen Huggins



How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Adele Faber &; Elaine Mazlish;


Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements, by

Phyllis A. Balch CNC