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San Marco Plaza, Lakewood Ranch

8209 Natures Way, Suite 221

Bradenton FL 34202

(941) 373-3955

Acupuncture … Your Next Supplement

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People are always looking for the magic bullet to better health.

It might be a new diet, a bunch of supplements, a magic shake or a workout routine that really makes you sweat. But there are times, frequent enough, when those good-faith efforts don’t yield the amazing results you hoped for.

The body still hurts, the energy remains low and the weight just won’t go away. Sleep hasn’t gotten any better while stress and anxiety are as high as ever.

Putting aside for a moment the nitty-gritty details about diet, exercise and mental/emotional peace that matter to a licensed acupuncturist, the real problem for many people is simple.

Their energy is blocked.

The regulatory functions that govern our health  – blood circulation, hormones, digestion and the nervous system etc… – are being internally mismanaged by the same factors you’re trying to overcome. These pathways, and the energy meridians that are connected to them, just don’t flow.

In situations like these, expand your focus beyond exercise, diet and supplements and spend a little money on acupuncture. There’s nothing better than an acupuncture treatment for unhinging a person’s internal and external forces so they can operate at a higher level. The one you aspire to.

Acupuncture is all about flow. That’s not to say changes in diet, supplements and exercise don’t help. But recognizing the importance of flow in overall mental and physiological function plays into one of acupuncture’s strongest hands: making the mind and body more receptive to healthy changes.

To be fit, for example, a person needs to have a smooth-functioning digestive system to absorb healthier food and lose weight. They need relaxation, stronger blood circulation and sleep for energy and sustained performance.

There’s also a stifling condition many people have that sums up the effect of all the previously mentioned problems.

For lack of a better description, it can be called “feeling heavy.”

Much of the time it’s a byproduct of being overweight, the metabolic residue of a slow digestive system. In Traditional Chinese Medicine we call it dampness. But oddly enough, even trim people can experience a sense of inertia that results from the accumulation of the negative factors previously mentioned. You might call it the blahs.

Consequently, after an acupuncture session many people feel lighter, not just more relaxed and alert.

Give this a try. Continue modifying your diet and supplements. Keep working out. But throw in some acupuncture treatments for general relaxation and energy flow. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Josh Zimmer is a Nationally Certified, State Licensed Acupuncture Physician.  He graduated from the East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota, FL in 2008.  Josh is the acupuncturist at Four Pillars, providing natural healing for pain relief and digestive issues. He also treats symptoms of cancer, stroke and neuropathy. Four Pillars is located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, email Info@FourPillasFlorida.com or visit FourPillarsFlorida.com

Heart-Chat: An Interview with The Heart

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Heart-Chat: An Interview with The Heart

By Lydia Gracing, Certified HeartMath Coach

The following is a transcript from a recent interview with The Heart conducted by Lydia Gracing, Joyologist and certified Institute of HeartMath® coach.

Imagine the scene: a broadcast studio where the host is seated across form her guest, The Heart. Not just any heart, but The Heart who is appearing as a spokesperson of the same heart that we all possess.

Interviewer:  Hello and Welcome. Today we have a very unique guest who many of you know, either consciously or not. Our guest is known around the globe and has an amazing capacity for knowing trillions of people. Our guest goes by many names and today we will call her: The Heart.  Welcome!

The Heart: Thank you. What a joy to be here!

Interviewer: We all know you in one way or another. But can you tell us a little about yourself?

The Heart: Yes, of course!  I’m happy to.

I came into being through the union of cells and I never had to figure out what my purpose was.  I’m generally thought of as a big muscle located left of center in the chest. Even though I’m not the biggest muscle, I have the privilege of doing a lot of work. On average I beat 80 times per minute, that’s 4,800 beats per hour, 115,200 beats per day and more than 42 million per year. So that roughly calculates to over 3 billion beats by age 75.

That’s the mechanical part of me. But there’s more to me than that!

Interviewer: Really? Tell us, what are three things about you that most of us may be surprised to know?

The Heart: Well, I think this is a pretty cool thing about me. I’m the first organ to form when the body is beginning to develop. As a muscular pump, I have the job of circulating blood. Circulation is what propels the vital nutrients to get to the other organs and systems so they can develop.

Secondly, I have a complex nervous system that allows me to communicate with the brain. I have 40,000 neurons that sense, feel and remember. I communicate to the brain through those neurons and through hormones that travel from the heart to the brain.

And third, I am an electrical organ and I send signals that are 40-60 times stronger than the brain. Research has shown that the electromagnetic field carries at least 2.5 watts of power for every beat of the heart and that is broadcast all around us. Like a radio signal, each beat is a wave of energy and carries a frequency. That frequency can be positive, like love or appreciation. And it has a positive effect on others. Or the frequency can be negative, like anger or frustration and it broadcasts off of us and can also be picked up by others.

Interviewer: Why is that important?

The Heart: Because when you feel a certain way, you are radiating that feeling out to the people around you, in the workplace, at home, in the grocery store. Everywhere. With advanced equipment, research has shown that the heart’s magnetic energy is 5,000 times more powerful than the brain and can be measured up to 6 feet away from the body.  So the heart can be seen as a connective organ that not only communicates to the brain but to other people and animals too.

Interviewer: It sounds like you have a lot of jobs. What do you feel best about?

The Heart: I love being in partnership with you. I love when we are in sync. My purpose is fulfilled when we can create harmony and coherence. Every person has the resource and capacity to experience that sweet spot of peace, creativity, clarity of purpose and love. But circumstances often separate us and we get disconnected, which makes me express emotions of sadness, depression or even fear.

Interviewer: How do we develop a relationship with our own heart?

The Heart:  With some very simple and yet deceptively powerful practices you and your heart can develop a relationship. If you want to be able to experience more balance, harmony, peace and love in all aspects of your life, you can with practical practices that were developed by The Institute of HeartMath®. When you learn and use some basic tools you will empower and potentially transform your life.

We’ve all experienced those times of feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, worried or afraid. What if you had a resource at your disposal that could transform those disruptive feelings into a sense of calm and peace? How would your life be enriched? Lydia Gracing is offering a SPECIAL HeartMath program – Building Personal Resilience.

During the 5 week program, you will learn how to access your heart’s intelligence to reduce stress, experience more vitality, increase mental clarity and fulfillment. As a group you will learn practical practices to use in your daily life. The Group program includes:

  • Five 2-hour Group sessions scheduled weekly.
  • A personal HeartMath Guidebook.
  • Learning with a small group of at least 3 and no more than 10 people.

DATES:

February 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23.

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

For more information and to reserve your spot call (941)373-3955

This can also be done in a small group of 3 or more participants by scheduling 5 weekly appointments for the group rate of $444 or $625 one-on-one.


Lydia Gracing is a Joyologist with a mission to engage others to be their own joyologist! She is a certified Institute of HeartMath Coach®, Angel Intuitive and Energy Medicine Practitioner. She provides intuitive counseling, education and energy therapies to uplift, inspire and heal the heart.  To learn more, or to book an appointment or program with Lydia Gracing, contact Four Pillars, call 941-373-3955, email Info@FourPillasFlorida.com or visit www.FourPillarsFlorida.com Located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch.

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

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By Darlene Coleman

It’s the weekend, and I’m driving down the road, listening to the radio as Tina Turner belts out “What’s love got to do with it.”  As I sing along, I realize that we are coming into February, the month of love. The month of roses and chocolates, and candlelit dinners.  The month where some brave souls will drop to one knee and profess their undying devotion to another, all in the name of love.  There are literally thousands of songs, books, and movies written about it. There are numerous dating sites where one can log on in hopes of attaining it.  There are workshops and retreats and even magic spells all designed to help us find the one thing everyone is searching for…love.

With so much access to love, it’s a wonder that anyone could even go a minute without experiencing it, and yet for many, it remains elusive.

Since the beginning of time, people have had the need to feel connected.  A longing for someone or something to reflect back to us, our worthiness, our desirability, someone to tell us we are okay.  It only makes sense then that love must be innate within us all.

So, let’s take a closer look at it.

Initially, there is the kind of love that a parent may have for a child or a child for their parent.  This type of love is typically what’s considered unconditional, even though many times still remains so. How many of us agree to things unwanted to please the parent or child?  From early on we learn not to upset the apple cart if we want to get along and receive love.

Also, there is the love we may feel for our furry friends. This type of love is even more unconditional and many times its easier to love our pets than our partners. For instance, we can easily forgive a pet for peeing on our new rug, but if our partner pees on the carpet of our heart, are we as willing to accept it?

Then, of course, there is romantic love, the kind of love that makes our hearts skip a beat. The sort of sentimentality and emotion that causes Kings to abdicate their thrones. That feeling that causes one to give up virtually everything to have that one person they can possess and claim as their own.  The first time I felt this kind of love, I was in the second grade, his name was Benny.  He approached me at recess and professed his undying love for me, in response I let him take my turn on the merry-go-round.  Sadly after just 2 days, it was over. Benny had fallen in love with someone else, and I was left with a broken heart, the first of many I’m afraid,  but was that really love?

Yes, it was one form of it. While it was simple and innocent, it was the beginnings of that type of heart opening. After all, love must start somewhere, and unless you are born a mystic or Saint, love begins in the lower Chakras, those energy systems designed for procreation.  This type of love is the kind that with the right partner, not only makes you feel all warm and fuzzy but will push our buttons of insecurity and ego and at times drive us crazy.  It is the kind of love that is mostly conditional, and challenges and calls us towards something greater than ourselves.  But what exactly?

As we struggle with the dynamics of personal relationships, we are actually being taught things such as tolerance, forgiveness, harmony, and self-awareness. Even the worst relationships are a gift if we can allow ourselves to learn from them.

But there is something else. Something bigger, something more meaningful.

What if instead of falling in love we were able to rise to it?

Imagine what the world would be like if we were able to recognize that love isn’t just a month, or flowers and chocolates, or possessing another, but is more a state of being, a level of consciousness.  A goal we can aspire to, and with intention and practice, possibly one day achieve.

Love is all of the above. It is around us, everywhere all of the time. It is here and now. Love is in the Sun that rises each day to shine down upon the earth that provides us food and nourishment. It is in the smile from a passing stranger.  It is in helping someone to cross the street or holding the door open. It is in the acceptance and tolerance of others, even if they are different than us. It is in the acceptance of yourself. Love is in the everyday mundane acts of life, and life itself is love. It flourishes in the soil of kindness and compassion. Love is you, and you are it.  Plant the seeds of love wherever you find yourself, and cultivate it if you want to reap an abundant harvest.  It isn’t always easy, but it is what we are here to learn.

So, what’s love got to do with it?

Absolutely everything.

Darlene Coleman, Certified Life Coach and Hypnotherapist specializing in modalities designed to identify and remove emotional blocks while implementing a plan for success. She is available for individual appointments at Four Pillars located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, email Info@FourPillasFlorida.com or visit FourPillarsFlorida.com.

Why Do I Feel Stuck? 

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Why Do I Feel Stuck?     

By Shana Rosenthal, Certified Consulting Hypnotist

I hear from my clients so often that they have a feeling that they can’t even explain, it’s sometimes described as an emotional block, feeling stuck or a lack of something. They know they don’t like this feeling, they know that they are not living their best life, they feel something is holding them back but have difficulty articulating exactly what it is, they can just feel it. In fact statistics suggest that only 3 out of 10 people are genuinely happy with their lives.

Identifying the feeling is the first step but doing something about it is where the magic happens, however all too often the “doing something” is the hardest part. Seeking help means they have to admit to someone else there is a problem in the first place, and like it or not, ego can get in the way. I guarantee once that is overcome, life begins to turn around. We are all human, not one of us is perfect, and no they are not crazy knowing there is something holding them back without necessarily knowing exactly what it is.

Why We Get Stuck

Can you identify with this feeling? Let me explain what is going on; your current feeling states, moods and levels of stress are formed by emotional responses and subsequent chemical reactions to specific events in your life. These events and chemical reactions are stored in your cellular, physical and emotional memories, and when something in the present day looks or feels similar to the old event, you react again as if you have encountered the original event. When this happens you enter a naturally occurring hypnotic state which keeps you stuck, frozen, unable to move forward. This is the feeling that is so familiar to you and many others and the reason why you can’t just talk yourself out of this rut.

Your subconscious mind is just like a computer, it has endless capacity and is responsible for storing every event and feeling you attached to that event based on how you perceived your surroundings at that moment in time. When you remember those events, you relive the same feelings you attached to them at the time, which creates the “stuckness” – but here’s the secret; memories are not real, they are just recordings from the past.  Your subconscious mind does not know the difference between reality and imagination which is why the feelings come flooding back as if you were actually reliving the event, your subconscious mind moves into protection mode by preventing you from moving forward, which creates the feelings of being stuck or being emotionally blocked. So what can you do about it?

How Can I Get Unstuck?

What if you could re-write the memory (or recording) and detach from the emotions and feelings related to it? Imagine for a moment how that would positively affect your life. You really do have the power to release yourself from the burdens of your past, which will free you from whatever is holding you back. Hypnosis allows communication with the subconscious, which enables a skilled Hypnotist to guide you to reframe that recording, resulting in a release of the feelings and emotions attached to it and voilà that stuck feeling disappears, you are left feeling like you have nothing standing in your way to truly live your life without limits.

Hypnosis can significantly impact the direction and quality of your life. If you would like to become more focused, make progress, enjoy a greater feeling of self-worth, feel more relaxed around others and authentically feel great from the inside out then, Hypnosis really is for you.

Don’t hesitate, get in touch to have your questions answered, or better still, book an appointment and start the process to get unstuck!

Shana Rosenthal is a Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Neuro Linguistic Practitioner, Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner and is Stress Management Certified and runs her clinic at Four Pillars, guiding her clients to make profound improvements in their lives. She teaches powerful tools that enable the recipient to overcome their issues, enabling self-empowerment, control and ultimately relief. Four Pillars is located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, email Info@FourPillasFlorida.com or visit FourPillarsFlorida.com.

Finding Balance

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Finding Balance:

Stress can be defined as “the brain’s response to any demand” according to the National Institute of Mental Health.  When people face demands-physical or emotional- the brain releases chemicals and hormones to help the body deal with those demands.  This response can be helpful, but if prolonged, it can begin to affect a person’s health and well-being.

Many people think their day-to-day stress has nothing to do with them physically, that stress and physical health are separate entities when they really aren’t.  When we feel stressed, physically or mentally, it begins to affect our bodies.  We become caught up in our limbic brains, which puts us in constant fight-or-flight mode.

As part of the fight or flight response, heart rate and blood pressure increase.  People develop a heightened awareness of their surroundings, and they become anxious.  These changes occur to prepare the body to react in a dangerous situation, but if left untreated for a long period, as in response to chronic stress, they can eventually lead to panic.

Often people start to associate panic with the situation they were in when it occurred.  For example, they’re in Walmart when suddenly they start to have a panic attack.  Now, they are afraid to go to Walmart.  They’re afraid there’s going to be a catastrophe, and they’re not going to be able to survive it.

Then, more negative or inaccurate thinking begins, and their condition spirals from there.  They begin to deteriorate physically.  Many of my patients will come to me after they have been to the emergency room with heart palpitations, sweating and other symptoms, thinking they’re having a heart attack.

When the heart symptoms they experience are not cardiac events, it becomes apparent their symptoms are manifestations of the stress and panic they feel.  I address these issues using several proven approaches.

For one, I help clients challenge their inaccurate thoughts.  They might think if they don’t get a hundred things done in a day, the day is going to end in a catastrophe.  This is an example of an inaccurate thought.  The fact that they’re running a few minutes late is not the end of the world.

In addition to challenging their thinking, I help patients stabilize their health with diet and exercise.  Studies show that sugar makes anxiety worse, so eliminating high sugar processed foods from their diet often helps greatly.

I also help patients understand that they need emotional balance, physical health and spiritual awareness.  That’s simply time they take when they’re not on the phone or the computer, and they’re just quiet and still and present.  Often, I have patients do some type of meditation or sit outside and look at the sky or appreciate the music they are listening to.  This can take them from the sympathetic nervous system into the parasympathetic, which is where they feel relaxed, calm and at peace.

Counseling can be an effective tool in combating the effects of stress.  If people are wiling to do the work, stress is something that can be greatly improved in a short amount of time.  It is something I have tremendous success with in very few sessions.

 

*Denise Schonwald is a registered nurse as well as a licensed mental health counselor practicing at Four Pillars located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, email Info@FourPillasFlorida.com or visit www.fourpillarsflorida.com/counseling

Four Pillars Expands Its Wellness Services

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Four Pillars Expands Its Wellness Services

From conception 3 years ago, Cheri Christiansen – Owner of Four Pillars – dreamed of creating a team of wellness experts to provide support and guidance in helping the community through any obstacle, decision or loss and achieve a more harmonious, happy, and successful life. She has carefully selected some of the areas most respected specialists who possess a wealth of experience, education, useful tools and techniques and is overjoyed to introduce them.

Shana Rosenthal, Certified Consulting Hypnotist

Shana Rosenthal qualified as a Clinical & Medical Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist in the UK following her Psychology Degree at The Middlesex University in London. She now uses her training, experience and knowledge as a Certified Consulting Hypnotist within the Code of Ethics of the National Guild of Hypnotists here in Florida. Other Modalities that she practices and is Certified in are Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Emotional Freedom Technique (Meridian Tapping).

She specializes in helping her clients make profound improvements in their lives by helping them overcome all kinds of emotional issues, blocks, fears and habits.

Shana teaches powerful tools that enable people to recognize symptoms and ultimately guide them through the correct steps to alleviate the initial indicators, cope with, manage and remain focused so that they will lead a better more contented future. Shana has had amazing success for 10 years working with people who want to conquer their worries and fears, remove their habits and improve their self-control and confidence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lydia Gracing, Certified HeartMath Coach®

Lydia Gracing is a Joyologist with a mission to engage others to be their own joyologist! She is a certified Institute of HeartMath Coach®, Angel Intuitive and Energy Medicine Practitioner, as well as a certified Practitioner of Appreciative Inquiry from the Corporation for Positive Change. Serving as a heart-centered guide, she provides intuitive counseling, education and energy therapies. Her customized services help her clients connect with their true essence – what’s most important to them and transform their lives to be in more alignment with who they really are.  Clients find that when they learn how to remove the blocks that separate them from experiencing more fulfillment and joy, they are better equipped to respond to challenges and live their authentic life.

Her soul’s purpose is to uplift, inspire and help individuals reconnect with their birthright of joy, creativity, and fulfillment.  She helps people who want to:

  • consistently experience peace – relief – clarity of purpose – fulfillment and Joy.
  • break free from the cesspool of stress to experience vivacious vitality.
  • take responsibility and be empowered to transform themselves.

Lydia has over 30 years in the field of personal and organizational transformation. She is an expert in translating large initiatives into practical learning solutions and high impact organization development processes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darlene Coleman, Certified Life Coach and Hypnotherapist

Darlene Coleman is a certified Life Coach, Professional Speaker, and Instructor specializing in modalities designed to identify and remove emotional blocks while implementing a plan for success.

Her extensive studies in coaching and holistic healing incorporates techniques which are designed to recognize and correct dysfunctional, life-inhibiting patterns as well as address cycles of illness, feelings of fear, confusion, and anxiety in order to gain the increased self-awareness and understanding that can lead to greater health, wholeness, and feeling truly connected with ourselves and others.

Specializing in Hypnosis, Reiki, Emotional Freedom Technique, (EFT), Neuro- Linquistics and Neuro-Feedback, Darlene offers 2 locations in Sarasota FL, as well as supporting clients around the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denise Schonwald, RN, LMHC 

In her 25 years working as a registered nurse (RN) in the intensive care unit (ICU), Denise Schonwald cared for patients who were often in dire circumstances. She saw the patients and their families struggling with stress, anxiety, fear, and many other intense emotions.  Affected by this challenging environment, Denise learned various techniques to support mental and emotional well-being, along with taking care of the physical needs of a patient. Her success in finding balance in treating the whole person led her to her calling as a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). By integrating mental health and physical health into a cohesive treatment plan, Denise provides a more holistic approach to her patients. These synergistic treatment methodologies support client healing more effectively than traditional counseling.

Denise has expertise in helping clients through a variety of struggles, including marital strife, adolescent behavior issues, familial relationship issues, childhood trauma, anxiety, depression and more. To assist in her method, she draws upon sometimes unconventional sources, including Max, a certified therapy dog, who is especially helpful with working with children, adolescents, and traumatized women. Understanding the connection between the mind, body and spirit, Denise helps clients to explore each avenue, to achieve their own optimum level of health and wellness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you are seeking hypnosis, coaching, or counseling Four Pillars has a well-trained, caring, and competent resource available to help.  Free consultations are available to determine which provider is best for you. Four Pillars is located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 941-373-3955, email Info@FourPillasFlorida.com or visit FourPillarsFlorida.com.

Chakra Yoga

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Chakra Yoga by Christine Davenport, RYT 500

Four Pillars Yoga and Wellness is pleased to offer Chakra Yoga on Thursday evenings. This exciting, new class – an addition to schedule the of yoga and fitness offerings at Four Pillars — is the latest example the spa’s commitment to expanding creative healthy opportunities for the community.  Chakra Yoga, an approach to studying the Chakras by learning during a yoga class, combines fascinating information with poses and meditation.  In the beautiful studio at San Marco Plaza, students are immersed in a complete sensory experience.  Inhaling blends of essential oils, to balance and align one of the seven chakra centers, listening to carefully chosen music and poetry, learning about the history and relevance of each chakra while engaging in a practice of yoga poses specifically selected to target the physical and emotional territory of each center.

Chakras have a rich history in Eastern cultures. The Sanskrit term can be translated in English to wheel. The seven invisible, energetic dimensions are illustrated as round, spinning disks of energy that span the spectrum of a rainbow. Contemporary interest in this ancient knowledge has expanded across the globe.  Anodea Judith, a Western expert on Chakras and author of Chakra Yoga, describes the Chakras as a “Rainbow bridge that forms the architecture of the soul.” She teaches that yoga practice is a remarkable and effective way to explore the inner workings of one’s nature.

Each chakra represents a spiritual life lesson. Discovering the personal natures of our chakras can lead to a more in-depth understanding of our personal and spiritual power. This insight helps us learn how to overcome obstacles, let go of emotional blockages and walk a path towards higher consciousness. A Root Chakra themed class offers students an opportunity to explore feelings of safety, security and connection to the earth.  An exploration of the Throat Chakra might lead to discoveries of obstacles to speaking personal truth or an aversion to listening deeply to others and awaken a desire to pay attention to how one communicates with others.

Yoga means union. Chakra yoga unites consciousness and movement to explore a dynamic understanding of the self. The yoga mat is an experiment station for life outside the studio. Because the energies of the Chakra System influence our experience of daily life in profound and authentic ways, it is particularly fascinating to learn to work with and through them in yoga practice. Ancient Tantric yogis understood that the path to a more profound and unified experience of life we must effect change from within — never ceasing to pursue our higher selves.

Join Christine Davenport, RYT 500 and the Four Pillars Staff on Thursday 5:30 to 6:30 pm for a step by step study of your chakras your personal “Rainbow Bridge.”

Christine also generously leads a FREE Oncology Yoga class each week on Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 pm that combines breath work with yoga postures that are carefully chosen to support the physical and emotional needs of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Christine is a graduate of Heartwood Yoga and Retreat Center in Bradenton, where she completed her 500-hour yoga​ certification. In 2016, Christine completed her 200-hour teacher training at Lotus Garden School of Yoga in New Milford, CT.​ Certified to teach Chair Yoga, Yin Yoga, Senior Yoga, and Trauma Sensitive classes, Christine has a special interest in teaching beginners and seniors. ​Her Gentle Yoga Class is Tuesday mornings at 10:45.  Four Pillars Yoga & Fitness is located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 203, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, email Info@FourPillasFlorida.com or visit FourPillarsFlorida.com/yoga

Lifting Humanity

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Lifting Humanity, by Josh Zimmer, L.Ac., DOM

Natural healing, in its many forms, should be more appreciated as a major vehicle for human progress, because the medical system that dominates society is often taking us further away from ourselves while keeping us alive.

Progress so often is associated with science and the cool-headed analysis of information. The quid pro quo is the pharmaceutical industry and over-specialization, along with a promise machine that tells people there’s a pill and a scalpel for everything.

Of course, the reality doesn’t come close to meeting the marquee and drugs, when they’re working or not working, come with a boatload of unwanted side effects. Unfortunately, the combination of insurance, medical school education, big pharma and governmental policy makes it extremely hard to avoid this monster of a system.

In our obsessive drive for greater health, not enough is said about the deeply restorative nature of natural wellness and the healing arts, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic and ayurveda, not to mention meditation, homeopathy, essential oils and reiki. They are increasingly discussed but not in the most beneficial way. At best, natural modalities are mentioned like lesser partners, which misses the point about their effectiveness and, not to be ignored, the ability to empower patients.

This is said with humility. None of the above, including my own practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, are guaranteed to solve every medical problem. But by tapping into the self-healing powers in all of us, a mind-body-spirit connection that’s too often ignored in Western Medicine, they can bring us closer to our true selves pills and surgery alone.

If getting in touch with our true nature – respectfully, successfully and with love – is a sign of greater humanity, then natural healing deserves a larger embrace.

It’s obligatory to state that modern mainstream medicine often helps keep us alive. But too often the result is an artifice of good health when the patient’s status really is pretty mediocre. We’re treated like machines where parts can be removed and replaced or issues treated without appreciating the mind-body-spirit nexus that guides the big picture of health.

Discussing how different forms of medicine treat disease isn’t necessarily the main issue here.

As prevalent as those two conditions are, the real issue people are dealing with is their state of sub-optimal health.

What’s overwhelmingly common these days are conditions based around chronic inflammation with roots in diet, lack of exercise, overwork and separation from nature, combined with a plethora of mental-emotional stressors such as anger and anxiety.

It’s like a fog over one’s essential being. Most people try to make the best of it. But even so-called high performers are subject to the disconnect that leaves them wondering why they don’t feel better.

The common denominators I see are:

  • low energy
  • pain
  • anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Digestive issues
  • Drops in mental clarity

How can we elevate ourselves to higher levels when we’re encumbered by both discomfort and the blahs?

Treating these issues solely with mainstream medicine rarely works. Some operations for pain help, I’ve come to admit, although a lot still seem unnecessary. Drugs can be helpful, as well, but they’re often overused and come with a long list of negative side effects.

One of them is mental fog.

People lose a sense of control when they’re over reliant on drugs, surgery and the bureaucracy of mainstream medicine. On the other hand, the effective use of natural modalities puts more power in people’s hands, generating the potential to overcome what ails them inside. They can find faith in their bodies, minds and spirits that they’d forgotten about or never really known. In this way, natural medicine becomes a vehicle of self-exploration that not only heals physically but also expands our understanding of the world.

Results are what counts at the end of the day. But if a rising humanity depends on raising our consciousness one person at a time, then natural medicine should never be very far away from our hearts and minds.

Josh Zimmer is a Nationally Certified, State Licensed Acupuncture Physician.  He is a 2008 graduate of the East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota, FL.  Josh is the acupuncturist at Four Pillars, providing natural healing for pain relief and digestive issues. He also treats symptoms of cancer, stroke and neuropathy. Four Pillars is located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, email Info@FourPillasFlorida.com or visit FourPillarsFlorida.com

Relieve Chronic Pain and Postural Imbalances with Neuromuscular Massage (Trigger Point Therapy)

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Relieve Chronic Pain and Postural Imbalances with Neuromuscular Massage (Trigger Point Therapy)

–Lynne Donahue LMT 

Many movements can cause our bodies to develop an imbalance of the musculoskeletal system, very often causing ongoing pain in an area of the body. Golf swings, computer work, driving, posture, tennis, running, lack of stretching, lifting heavy objects or just picking up your child can create distortions in your posture and chronic pain in muscles. The pain is actually caused by ischemia, or lack of blood flow within the muscle.

Neuromuscular therapy (also called trigger point therapy) is a form of therapeutic massage that focuses on relieving pain and dysfunction originating from specific areas in the tendons, muscles and fascia tissue. Neuromuscular therapy addresses trigger points, areas of the muscle in which there is a contracture of muscular tissue–think of a tiny snag in a knit sweater. Blood and nutrients are lacking in that part of the muscle and therefore the muscle spindle is unable to relax.  Trigger points cause pain, fatigue and weakness in the muscle.  Trigger points also cause a phenomenon called referral pain to areas away from the tight muscle. During a neuromuscular massage, a therapist will use compression, friction, and other proven techniques on specific areas, sometimes away from the painful area, to encourage muscles to release constriction and create normal blood flow. After the muscle is released, the normal functioning of the muscle begins as blood and oxygen flow are restored.

Anyone can benefit from neuromuscular therapy, especially those who suffer from particular health dysfunctions, such as acute or chronic pain, postural imbalances, strains, chronic stress or stiffness from current or old injuries. Some of the common health problems that this integrative massage can be helpful in treating include anxiety, headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck stiffness, TJM, tingling in the arms and hands, chronic knee pain, sciatica, shoulder pain and more.

Neuromuscular therapy offers the benefits of a relaxation massage while also identifying and releasing trigger points to alleviate the root cause of a muscle problem.  Among the many benefits of this medically focused massage, it will help you:

  • Reduce chronic pain in muscles, tendons and joints
  • Free up tight areas that may be causing limited range of motion, overall achiness or pain upon movement
  • Correct posture distortions such as rounded or elevated shoulders, stiff neck, spinal curves and uneven hips/legs.
  • Improve blood flow to areas with knots and sore muscles to enhance healing in these areas
  • Improve your overall health and energy levels

Lynne Donahue LMT is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified in Neuromuscular Therapy. She is a massage therapist, and health coach at Four Pillars providing Neuromuscular Therapy, Therapeutic Massage, Himalayan Hot Stone Massage, Reiki and Nutrition Coaching Sessions. Four Pillars is located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, contact us via email at Info@FourPillarsFlorida.com or visit our website at www.FourPillarsFlorida.com

Re-Balance your Immune System –- with Reiki

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Re-Balance your Immune System –- with Reiki

By Pat Crawford, RN, MSN

There is a new epidemic in the U.S. – inflammation!  Researchers and physicians have linked chronic inflammation to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s dementia, and autoimmune disorders.  Chronic inflammation is promoted and worsened by lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, excess weight, lack of exercise, inadequate sleep, alcohol and substance use, and smoking.

Chronic Inflammation

Acute inflammation (over days to weeks) occurs when our immune system sends its cleanup crews to handle “messes” we get into — helping us heal from injury or protecting us from bacteria, viruses, carcinogens, and toxins.  Chronic inflammation (over months to years) results from the lifestyle factors listed above, and also from chronic stress via the sustained release of cortisol, and from our thoughts and emotions, which are stored as chemicals in our bodies. Over time, inflammation can have a detrimental effect on our health, resulting in “dis-ease” characterized by chronic pain (physical, emotional and/or spiritual pain), depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue. Over a period of many years, our immune system may become overprotective, attacking our normal cells, resulting in autoimmune disorders such as asthma, arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, vasculitis, and fibromyalgia.  But there’s hope!  Chronic inflammation is treatable and in many cases reversible. We just need help to clean up our act and re-balance our immune system.

Re-Balance with Reiki

As a nurse, I am trained to care for the whole person with physical, mental, spiritual and emotional needs.  My nursing practice promotes a holistic model of health and wellness, viewing dis-ease as an imbalance of body, mind, spirit and emotions.  I have practiced many healing modalities as a nurse, and several years ago answered the calling to pursue formal training in Reiki, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation.  Rei means universal, divine or higher consciousness and Ki means life force energy within all living things.  Reiki healing energy work promotes self-healing through balancing of the mind, body, spirit and emotions.

As a Reiki Master, I assist clients to re-balance by helping them release whatever is no longer serving them well — physical symptoms, thoughts, memories, emotions, spiritual distress. By releasing, you create space — for change, for wellness and balance, for self-healing, for spiritual growth.  During a 60-90-minute Reiki session, you remain fully clothed and lie on a massage table. I gently place my hands on, or a few inches above, various parts of your body as you draw in just the right amount of Reiki energy to accelerate your self-healing abilities.

Benefits of Reiki

Reiki works because it is divine universal energy, and your body, mind and spirit know how to direct this energy where it is most needed for your greatest healing.  You will notice the full effects of Reiki within 24 hours of your session, and the benefits may last a few weeks.  Healing results are unique to each person, and benefits may include:

  • deep relaxation
  • release of stress and tension
  • improved sleep
  • reduced pain and inflammation
  • increased energy
  • balance of the immune system
  • inner peace and sense of well-being
  • spiritual growth and creativity

Despite my nursing science background, it is difficult to explain exactly how Reiki works.  But I have seen and heard the remarkable benefits experienced by my clients.  After just three sessions, a client with fibromyalgia and lupus who had chronic fatigue and head-to-toe pain was able to run up her stairs at home for the first time in years and was pain-free for two weeks after each session.  Another client with advanced dementia had not spoken nor made eye contact with his family in several years, and after a single Reiki session he looked his wife in the eyes and spoke several sentences that made perfect sense. Most of my clients tell me that they now sleep better than they have in years, that they may have the same issues at work and with their partner but they don’t feel anxious or angry, instead they feel at peace and joyful.

Pat Crawford, RN, MSN is a Certified Usui Reiki Master/Teacher with Advanced Certification in Animal Reiki, and has been a nurse for over 40 years, specializing in cancer and hospice care.  Pat offers individual Reiki sessions and trainings at Four Pillars of Health, guiding clients to activate their innate healing abilities and balance their spirit, mind, body and emotions. Four Pillars is located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, contact us via email at Info@FourPillarsFlorida.com or visit our website at www.FourPillarsFlorida.com