EFT - Tapping Technique for Dystonia

I was blessed to receive a gift the other day from my girlfriends mother. She handed me a bag with a book and a cd on EFT, or Tapping. I watched the video and although I know that Dystonia is a neurological disorder that as of now there are no known reasons what causes it and there are no known cures, I do believe that there are so many things we can try to help ease the muscle spasms that I get. Just think of the sensory trick. When I feel a spasm coming on in my neck, all I have to do is gently place my hand on my neck and that slight touch immediately releases the spasm. Why is that? Is there something with the energy we are releasing with our hand that is connecting with our nervous system? This is so new to me, but I'm definitely going to research this further.



Read below. I've copied this from Successful Living Using EFT.

"EFT is based on an emotional form of acupuncture without any needles. Acupuncture has been around and practiced for 5000 years. Another name for EFT is "Tapping". The process involves tapping on certain meridian points around the body while concentrating on a particular distressing issue. This is known as tuning in to the bad experience, memory or negative emotion.

Theory behind EFT
The theory behind this process is that as one example, a distressing memory from the past is causing a negative feeling which manifests as blockage in the energy system. EFT helps to free the blockage and restore your body to its natural balanced energy flow. The point of this process is to help alleviate or minimize the problem or issue. Although it may sound complex, EFT is simple to understand and quick to complete."




Below is something I copied and pasted from a girl who posted on a cervical Dystonia forum.

"I was diagnosed with Cervical Dystonia back in September in my neck and shoulders. I had a constant head tremor and I couldn't really walk for longer than a few moments. Having received my first lots of Botox the tremor went but my neck was stuck back and to the right, and my shoulders and back were forced forwards. I couldn't even lift my hands above my head or walk for more than a few steps. It really was such a dark time, so I'd like to share three things that have really, really helped me.

Firstly, I went to see a neuro physio, so a physiotherapist specialising in neurological conditions. I really can't say enough how much of a difference this made. After four weeks of seeing her I was able to turn my neck around and after a while my posture returned to normal. However, I still suffered from spasms and I was unable to walk without my head turning completely to the right. A friend of mine suggested EFT. It's a bit like acupuncture but without needles. You simply tap on different parts of the body and focus on whatever is causing you pain. I really hadn't expected much from it, but I was in so much pain I thought I'd give it a go. Honestly, even after just a couple of days I noticed the difference. Not only did I feel much more positive about things but my spasms had pretty much stopped and I was able to walk, for the first time, without looking completely over to the right. I am now able to walk as well as ever and I can even go running again. I do still have Botox injections, but if I don't continue with my EFT or physio, I notice things get progressively worse. If you are interested in finding out more about EFT, here are a few links: www.eftfree.net has a free manual and there are many articles at www.eftuniverse.com. And this is the practitioner I spoke to http://www.more-freedom.co.uk/more-freedom/Welcome.html who was amazing.

Finally, the other thing that has really helped is meditation. I had never really set aside time for anything like meditating but, again, it really made such a difference. It just means you can slow down your thinking a bit and actually concentrate on what your body is doing. This is the site that I use http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/ It's really good because it talks you through what you need to do but it doesn't take up much time.

With all these things, you have to incorporate them into your daily routine because they're not a quick fix. But they've helped me so much and I remember how absolutely overwhelmed I felt, even back in January. I hope they work for you too.

Just to add, I'm not affiliated to any of these people or organisations - they're just the ones that helped me."



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Chia Pudding...Not That Bad!!!!

I've finally made the chia pudding from one of the recipes from my earlier posts. I have to say that it wasn't bad at all. I actually liked it!





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The Zen of River Rock Stacking

I've searched the web and cannot get a concrete answer as to why people stack rocks. I've learned that people do it all over the world. Some stack rocks for religious practice, some stack rocks for relaxation and a part of meditation, and then there are some that are artists who stack rock sculptures that are absolutely beautiful to see.

If anyone knows the tru meaning or other meaning of rock stacking, please let me know. As of now the river rocks that I've gathered while tubing in the river are going to be used as a decoration in my home, and a wonderful remembrance of the fun I had with my family that day.









Above is a photo of my river rocks.

Tubing Down Esopus River Is Awesome!!!!

Theres nothing more fun than planning last minute trips. Last night my husband told me and Raymond to set the alarm early, because we were going to take a trip upstate and go tubing down the Esopus River! I have to admit that I was nervous because I've heard that you could get hurt if you flip over and hit the rocks. Needless to say, we got up this morning and started our drive.

The weather was absolutely perfect for tubing, and the views of the trees and mountains were absolutley breathtaking. It would have been worth the trip just to drive up there to sit and just look at the views. We get our tubes, put on our life jackets...and yes, I wore a helmet and a wetsuit. I looked absolutely hysterical, but after standing there and hearing the long list of things that your head could possibly bang into, you would wear a helmet too. The wetsuit I could have done without, but it also would prevent me from getting scraped by the rocks if I fell in the water...so this was the first time in my life where I would sacrifice looking good for safety!!!! Lol

The bus drops us off on a path where we have to carry our tubes in the cold water. Ugh!!!! Here we go! In the first 2 minutes, my husband was the first to flip over into the water. Lol The water was choppy in some sections and calm and peaceful in others. We had a blast as we were flying down the choppy parts. There were times where we got stuck between rocks and had to push our way around them, while water was gushing around us. Omg, we couldn't stop laughing!

At the end of the river, we walked back up a rocky path. I stopped and picked up some river rocks, so I can stack them at home. (I will blog another post about stacking stones.)

This experience was so special to me. I couldn't thank Bobby enough for taking me and Raymond there. It's a perfect way to end the summer and start school on Tuesday.

The Great Egg Debate

Finally I found an article on Livestrong.com that agrees with me that eating a whole egg, not just the egg white, is actually healthy for you...and you won't gain weight!

EDITOR'S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING POST IS BY LIVESTRONG.COM NUTRITION ADVISOR MIKE ROUSSELL, AUTHOR OF "THE 6 PILLARS OF NUTRITION." FOR MORE GREAT INFORMATION FROM DR. MIKE, VISIT HIM AT MIKEROUSSELL.COM.

Myth: Eggs make you fat

Truth: Eggs are a great food for weight loss

You may have heard that eating eggs will make you fat as 60 percent of the calories in eggs come from fat. However, eating fat doesn’t make you fat and eggs are a calorie-controlled food designed to maximize weight loss not prevent it. One egg is only 70 calories, with a great balance of 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat. The protein/fat combination of increases satiety hormones (the ones that tell your brain you are full). The protein in eggs also causes your body to release the hormone glucagon, which encourages your body to release and use stored carbohydrates and fat.

To prove the point, compare eggs to rice cakes—a timeless “diet” food. Two rice cakes also contain 70 calories, but with no protein or fat. Those calories come from 14 grams of high glycemic, fat-cell stuffing, refined carbohydrates, which makes it a much less desirable choice. 

Myth: You should only eat egg whites

Truth: Enjoy the entire egg (yolk included)

The ‘egg white only’ movement was birthed out of the mass movement to remove as much cholesterol and fat from the American diet as a way to fight heart disease and obesity. An egg white contains all protein (3.5 grams per egg); the rest of the nutrients, protein, and fat are hiding in the yolk, which means the yellow is the most nutritious part. Egg yolks contain 240mg of leucine, the amino acid single handedly responsible for flipping your genetic muscle building switch. But egg yolks are much more than just a muscle building nutrient. They also include choline (essential for cell membrane function), cholesterol (which serve as the molecular framework for multiple hormones in the body), vitamin A , vitamin D, and vitamin E. You can also get eggs that come from chickens who were fed omega-3 rich feed, the omega-3s in their feed enriches the omega-3 fats in the yolk, giving you as much as also contain 150mg of the long chain omega-3 fat DHA . Enjoy the entire egg to take advantage of all the nutritional benefits.

Myth: Eggs raise your cholesterol

Truth: Eggs don’t impact cholesterol levels

Reducing blood cholesterol levels has been a major public health mission for decades. It would make complete sense that if you wanted to decrease the amount of cholesterol in your blood stream then you should reduce the amount of cholesterol that you are eating. That’s why eggs have typically been touted as dangerous, as it contain approximately 200 mg per serving. 

The problem: Dietary cholesterol doesn’t actually raise cholesterol as much as you might think. In fact, only 30 percent of people experience significant increases in cholesterol levels following a diet high in cholesterol. Researchers from Harvard looked at the dietary habits of more than 100,000 people and concluded that daily egg consumption in healthy individuals didn’t increase risk of coronary heart disease. What’s more, a study from the University of Connecticut found that eating 3 eggs per day as part of a low carbohydrate improved HDL (‘good’) cholesterol without any negative health effects.

Dolphins In The Ocean!!!!

I went to the beach yesterday and as soon as I found a spot to plant myself down, I saw everyone running towards the water, yelling, "Look at the dolphins!!!!" so of course I got up and ran towards the water also. It was such an amazing sight to see. They looked as if they were playing with one another, or putting on a show for us.
Although this excitement only lasted about 5 minutes before they were long gone, it put me in such a better mood than I already was.



(I stopped on the side of the road and took a photo of the beach from a distance)

Sometimes little unexpected surprises can make huge changes in our lives. I never saw dolphins swimming at any beach I've been to on Long Island, so this was a real treat.

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Support of Family and Friends

There's no better feeling when you have support from your family and friends in life. Going back to school after I've just graduated a couple of months ago, is not the easiest decision to make. Its hard to believe that in a couple of weeks I will be reading, studying, and being tested again. However, my friends and family have already started to cheer me on and I'm getting even more excited to start my new adventure.

I know I'm making the right choice about going back to school again, and will be so proud of myself when I'm finished with the program and receive the certification.

Life is too short to focus on the excuses we make as to why we shouldn't do something. I have to keep focusing on how many people I will be helping, and how good that will make me feel!!!!

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