Mother's Day 2016 Giveaway

In honor of Mother’s Day, A Touch of Prana is offering a special giveaway for a lucky mom. We will be offering a free energy modality session. The winner can choose either an hour of Reiki, Reflexology or an Essential Oils Session. All you have to do is go to A Touch of Prana’s Facebook page, like our page (if you haven’t already), and share this blog article from our Facebook page to your Facebook timeline. Once you have completed, comment on our original post of this blog on our Facebook page and you will be entered for a chance to win. Enter to win as a gift for your mother, a gift for a special mom in your life, or enter yourself as a gift to yourself this Mother’s Day!

We thought it would be helpful to give a little information about each modality so you can learn more about our services, as well as, investigate what service you would like if you are the lucky winner!

Reiki:
Enjoy a relaxing private Reiki session. Reiki is a form of integrated medicine that helps the body/mind re-establish a state of balance. Reiki is done with gentle hands on or off of the body, helping move energy through our body’s chakra system unblocking energy pathways restoring the body’s natural healing ability. If you have been feeling tired, stressed or just out of sorts, we highly recommend a session to bring
peace and grounding. You will find Reiki a wonderful gift to yourself.

Reflexology:
De-stress and relax with a private Reflexology session. Soak your feet in a warm foot bath then relax while your feet are treated to a wonderful Reflexology session. Reflexology works with the reflexes in the feet and hands releasing uric acid build-up while increasing circulation, nerve and energy supply and the best part is it feels so wonderful. You will love the way it works away your stress and tension and your happy feet will love it too!

Essential Oils Session:
Open up your senses with a private Essential Oils session. Smell the aromas of the essential oils while they are rubbed into your energy zones on your back from your sacrum to the crown of your head. Special blends of Essential Oils are used to support your immune system, reduce inflammation and bring overall balance to your body.

Treat yourself to an individual session of Reiki, Reflexology, and Essential Oil or try a combination of methods to replenish your energy, relax and ground you.

*Giveaway information/requirements: The gift of a free session of Reiki, Reflexology, or Essential Oils at our home studio in Rochester Hills . Only one winner and the winner must be a mother or give as a gift to a mother or expecting mother (sorry Dads and non-parents, we promise to offer a giveaway for you another time). We will choose the lucky winner on Wednesday, May 4th. The winner will be privately messaged to obtain a valid address or email so we are able to get your gift certificate to you. Gift certificates are good for one year from date issued.





Good luck!

Peace and Love,


Betsy and Jesse

Action for Happiness- Mindfulness and Learning

There is more to life when you stop to notice

                Have you ever noticed you drove to work and cannot remember the actual drive or you parked your car at the store parking lot and came out of the store to realize you have no idea where you parked?  These are examples of being on autopilot or mindlessness.  In today’s busy lifestyles we often lose ourselves in autopilot, not paying attention to the present moment, failing to notice the beauty of life, or what our bodies are telling us.  When we let our minds wander we become vulnerable to anxiety, stress, depression, and tend to react to life instead of really living life.

Being present in the moment, being mindful, is one of Action for Happiness’ ten keys to happiness.  “Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.  It also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them.” (Greater Good, http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness/definition) Practicing mindfulness helps us get in tune with our feelings and stops us from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

The Action for Happiness suggests to take some time out, even just five minutes, to be in the moment and breathe.  Notice and appreciate all the good things around you every day, the blue sky, the spring flowers, the smell of coffee, hearing the birds outside or children laughing, the warmth of the sun on your skin.   Slow down and turn off the electronics and notice all the wonderful things life has to offer.

“Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen – that stillness becomes a radiance.” by Morgan Freeman

                                                                                           

Find time to lose yourself in what you love

                Another key to happier living is learning new things.  Trying out new things helps us stay engaged, gives us a sense of accomplishment and boosts our self-confidence.  Researchers have documented that education and learning new things improves health and longevity.  When people engage in doing and learning new things, researchers have found that their happiness and well-being improves.

Learning new things and staying active becomes even more valuable as we get older.  According to an article by Huffington Post Healthy Living, scientists believe there is a beneficial relationship between lifelong learning and staying socially active with mental well-being and happiness later in life.  A study by Jacquelyn James at the Sloan Center of Aging Work has been overseeing a study on the benefits of older people who continued to work, either paid work or volunteering found their engagement gave them a sense of purpose and increased happiness.

               

The Action for Happiness gives us few suggestions to try to increase happiness by sharing our learning with friends, joining a club, or learning to play an instrument or a new sport.  Perhaps try switching up your day by reading a new newspaper, trying a new food, or visiting a new place.  Learning something new every day no matter how small affects us in a positive way.

               

“As long as you live, keep learning how to live.” By Seneca

Peace,

Betsy and Jesse

Action for Happiness – www.actionforhappiness.org

http://mrsmindfulness.com/what-is-mindfulness/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/10/learning-happiness_n_1415568.html

                                                                                           

Action for Happiness: When we are together everything is better

                “People with strong relationships are happier, healthier and live longer”…connecting with people is one of Action for Happiness’ Ten Keys to Happier Living.  Our family and friends support us and love us through all the ups and downs in our lives.  They give our life meaning and increase our feeling of self-worth.  Relationships are also our biggest channel to give love.  Giving love to others through kindness, encouragement, support, and gratitude brings us happiness.

                I am very grateful to have such wonderful family and friends.  It is our family and friends that get us through those tough times in life.  You lean on them to get you up and going again.  It is important to reach out to those people who may not have a family and connect with them; lending them a helping hand, listening ear, big hug.  The Action for Happiness recommends making three extra connections each day by stopping to chat with someone in the store, waving to a neighbor, or learning the name of someone new.  Making more time for the people who matter and building our social network increases our sense of belonging.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” by Maya Angelou

                                                                                           

Exercising – Take care of your body

                Another key to happier living is exercise.  Have you ever noticed when you go for a walk in nature how great it makes you feel or that uplifting feeling you get after a good workout?  Our body and minds are connected.  Being active makes us happier.  It can lift our mood and help us out of depression.  There are many studies on exercise and mood.  It has been proven that physical activity stimulates the release of chemicals in the brain called endorphins.  Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body.  Some researchers believe that exercise acts as a diversion from negative thoughts, others believe exercise enhances our mood by personal growth and social interaction.  We don’t have to run marathons or do extreme sports to be happy; all we need to do is turn off the technology and get moving. 

                Start being more active today by taking a walk or maybe climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator, play in the garden, turn some music on and do some dancing, practice your yoga poses, any activity that gets you up and moving.  Combining exercise with nutritious food, lots of water, and catching up on your sleep will help to lift your spirits.  Inviting a friend, neighbor or family member to exercise with you will only add to the happiness!

“The power for happiness, for good, for everything we need of life is within each one of us.  The power is there – unlimited power.” By Robert Collier

Action for Happiness – www.actionforhappiness.org

R. Byrne.  The Power. 2010. New York

Peace,

Betsy and Jesse