Stress - Manage Stress | Increase Energy |Simple Solutions | Rommy Kirby, Holistic Health Coach, Yoga Personal Trainer, Essential Oil Educator

Sleep, it does a body, soul, and mind good

Rommy Kirby — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 19:47:57 +0000

I can remember my mother saying, “go to sleep, everything will look better in the morning.” As a young girl, whether I believed her or not, everything did look better in the morning.

Now as a woman over 50, I tell myself go to sleep, “Rommy, YOU will look better in the morning.” And, whether or not I totally believe myself, I generally do look better after a good night’s sleep. Not only is my appearance better, but my perspective, the way I see things is better. Everything really does look better after a good night’s sleep.

But, it’s not always easy to get a good night’s sleep. Sometimes, my mind just wont shut off, sometimes I wake up, over and over again. Then when it’s time to get up, my eyes want to stay shut. That’s when I know it is time to get back to good sleep habits.

Ayurveda, the Science of Life, provides with some truly wonderful, safe, non toxic sleep aids for beautiful radiant skin, vibrant outlook, and optimal wellness.

The art of caring for yourself before bed is very soothing to our central nervous systems. The art of cooking for ourselves sends a signal to our soul that we matter, we value our body, and we have a purpose.

You can improve your sleep by improving your nutrition, managing your screen time, and setting a schedule and sticking to it.

Try adding these six simple and highly effective steps to your regimen for 10 days.

An hour or 2 before bed, prepare for the next day. Set out your clothes, your purse and keys by the door. Look over your calendar for anything you may have forgotten.
Two hours before bed begin to dim the lights, turn off electronics, sit and watch the sun go down or listen to soothing, tranquil music. Do not watch the news or other violent troubling media.
If you experience chronic sleeplessness, adrenal fatigue, high stress, or are recovering from a long illness or surgery make yourself a rasayana, an Ayurvedic rejuvenative tonic. My favorite is Golden Milk. Download the recipe below.
A hour before bed, take care of personal hygiene. Brush your teeth, scrape your tongue, wash your face and wash your feet if you are not showering. Hot baths should be taken at least 2 hours before bed to allow the body to calm.
Engage in pleasant conversation, journaling, meditation, or read a not too interesting book.
Do some simple yoga poses. Seated forward folds and gentle twists are wonderful for promoting sleep. Try this gentle yoga sequence, suitable for morning or night.

Download your recipe here

GoldenMilk

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Put Your Oxygen Mask On First

Rommy Kirby — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:18:06 +0000

In today’s busy, hectic world, it’s a challenge to take care of ourselves.

Generally, the minute we wake up we don’t give our body, our health, and it’s needs, a second thought.

Seriously, what was your first thought this morning? I’ll bet it went something like this…

‘uh-oh, I hit snooze one to many times, I have got to stop that, why did I do that, I’m going to be late, I hate being late, at least I’m not the only one, Sherry is always late, crud, it’s raining out, gotta leave a little earlier, oh no, I totally forgot that I’m supposed to…, now I have make another stop, I’ll grab something in the drive through on my way, I wish I felt better, did I even sleep last night, I have got to start taking better care of myself, no time for that today, let’s see….maybe next week, where are my keys, oh for crying out loud”

Does that sound like your inner monologue?

If so, how does that make you feel?

When my monologue gets that panicked, I feel

POWERLESS and OUT OF CONTROL.

And then, I get RESENTFUL.

I resent everything I’ve said “yes” to.

Oh, and then, I resent everyone I’ve said ‘yes’ to.

AND then I feel GUILTY!

There is only one way to fix this, so get ready, you’re probably going to bristle against it like I sometimes do.

“Put YOUR oxygen mask on first.”

The one and only way that you will be able to handle everything that goes on in your life, your health, your relationships, and even your career is to take care of your physical health needs first.

Make your physical a priority so that you can enjoy doing everything you really want to do, take care of the people that mean the most to you, and be your radiant best.

Prioritize

Do you remember when Franklin Covey became a household word back in the ’80’s?

One of the tools and skills taught in this efficient organizational system is to prioritize action items.

It’s the same with your health, you have to prioritize the actions that will support your health first.

Number 1 – Rest to nourish.

Sleep is the number one method, but so is prioritizing quiet time. Yep, give your ears at least 5 minutes of quiet during your waking hours. Hearing is the one sense we cannot turn off.

Give your eyes a tech break. Our eyes feed us with such beautiful information, but they also need daily stillness.

Check out my 7 Super Self Care tips here.

Number 2 – Hydrate for optimal decision making.

Those thoughts are electrical impulses. Water is a fabulous conductor for electricity.

Check out my Smart Person’s Guide to Water here.

Number 3 – Eat to improve your energy.

This is where is can get sticky. Planning your weekly meals can seem like drudgery, but if you don’t plan it, you will end up eating that frozen pizza, picking up take out, or even worse, hitting vending machine or drive through.

Pull together a few healthy meals that are easy for you prepare and that you like to eat and rotate them through your week or month.

It really doesn’t take anymore time to prepare a chicken breast, roasted veggies and side of greens that it does to order it, go get it and bring it home.

The time is the same, the benefits are not.

Here’s an Ayurvedic Digestive that will jump start your digestion and metabolism.

Number 4 – Move appropriately for your energy level.

Going to the gym after a grueling day, burning up your reserve energy will only make you fat, grumpy, age faster, and then you’ll want that second, third and forth glass of wine.

Seriously, have you ever wondered why your friend the marathon runner has a belly and a rather large pair of saddle bags even though she only eats salads and runs about 12-24 miles a week? It’s because what she is doing is the opposite of what her body needs, so it isn’t really healthy at all.

This simple 7 minute yoga practice will change your life.

Number 5 – Stop saying Yes!!!

This is a toughie, I know. I want to say yes whenever possible. In fact, there are times that I say yes, when know for sure that following through will mean that I have to put something else on the back burner to simmer, hoping it doesn’t burn, over cook or get forgotten.

Begin to use the popular 1980’s slogan…

Saying no to things that make no sense for you, actually frees you up to say YES to the things that light you up. You will have more fun, you life will be more exciting to you and your radiance will be seen and felt by everyone around you.

When you begin to make your physical health a priority,

you will experience greater satisfaction in all areas of your life.

Go ahead, try it, I triple dog dare you!

Tell me…

What is the hardest part of taking care of yourself? Then give me one easy step you can take to make it easier.

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7 Super Self-Care Tips

Rommy Kirby — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 10:35:54 +0000

Is life feeling like a vicious game of Dodge Ball these days? You know, balls whirring past your head, hitting your hip, tripping you up at every turn or ouch…maybe even gut punching you?

It happens to all of us right?

Sometimes we are just so busy with work, kids, school or busy-ness that we don’t see what’s coming until, out of the blue, we are hit.

Usually that hit comes in the form of a cold or flu, sometimes it can be worse like pneumonia or an auto-immune flair up.

A few weeks ago, I let my life get frenetic. I had just finished a 5 day yoga training intensive and was leaving to spend time with my coach at a mastermind retreat. The day before I was to fly south for the retreat, I woke up feeling achy all over, low appetite and incredibly tired.

There was no way I was going to fly in that condition, nor was I going to miss this retreat, so I went into…

Super Self Care Mode

It WORKED!!! The next morning when I woke up at the not so civilized hour of 3:30 a.m., and I felt great!

Okay, I know, great is a stretch at that hour of the day, but I had no aches, I had an appetite and I wasn’t abnormally tired. Keep reading to find out exactly what I did to send this nasty bug on its way.

Super Self Care Mode isn’t about being indulgent with pleasure, though it is indeed pleasurable.

Super Self Care Mode is about honoring the sensations of your body so that you can stay well even at times of high stress.

If you are taking care of a sick loved one, a parent that can no longer care for themselves or feel like you are hanging on by your finger nails you owe it to your body and your health to take super-dupe good care of you.

There are a lot of people that rely on you, but you will not be able to support them if you are not committed to your health first.

So if it isn’t about being indulgent with pleasure, what is Super Self Care?

Super Self Care is about not harming your health with toxic things like

sugar (that tub Ben and Jerry’s may feel soothing, but it isn’t going to change your circumstance),
one too many glasses of wine (may make you ‘feel’ relaxed, but your sleep AND you skin is going to suffer),
all-nighters (are not only counter productive to creativity and productivity, they add flab around your belly and bags under your eyes) and
critical self talk (simply the most destructive habit you can engage in…science has proven that your cells hear every word or thought you say or think and they respond accordingly).

7 Super Self Care Mode Tips

to help you make through the rainy days of life.

# 1 Get to bed no later than 10:00 p.m.. Studies have shown that the more sleep you get before midnight, the better you sleep. Good sleep is vital to a slim waistline.

#2 Drink plenty of water. Your brain is 60% water by weight, drink up for optimal functioning.

#3 Eat as many whole, minimal processed foods as possible. It takes a lot of energy to digest today’s processed foods. Those crunchy chips may seem appealing, but they hold no nutritional value and create oxidation and inflammation in the body and they use way too much energy to digest. It’s like leaving the windows open and running the air conditioner. Stress will deplete your body of stored vitamins, trace elements and minerals.

#4 Be social. We all feel better when we are not alone. Call a friend or mentor, someone that won’t take mealy mouthed complaints from you, but will lend a compassionate ear.

#5 Practice gratitude. I know, I know…that is always said, but once again, studies have shown that when we take time to feel gratitude for even the smallest of things, like this next breath for instance, our immunity increases, our ability to manage stress goes up.

#6 Actively rest. What??? Yep, there is such a thing as active rest and no, it has nothing to do with video games or Downton Abby marathons, those pastimes are not restful to your mind, body or eyes. Active rest is deliberately resting with no visual or mental stimulation. If you’ve been in a yoga class, you have engaged in active rest at the end of class, it’s called Savasana. Meditation is a form of active rest that is being widely studied. The benefits are noticed not only in the physical body but also mental health and emotional stability.

#7 Only do the necessary. We often put more on our plates than we actually need to be responsible for. Focus on what absolutely needs to be done. Ask someone else to the rest or just let it go…the world won’t end if the laundry isn’t folded ‘just so’. I promise.

Tell me…

What is stressing you out these days?

Email me to learn my personal recommendations

Comments

Submitted by Wendy Cuba-Danca (not verified) on Mon, 03/18/2013 – 23:05

Those essential oils are terrific!! I have been taking flu bombs today and am drinking the water with lemon and on doing the On Guard too. ALL your tips are great! Thanks for the reminders. Sharing!! <3

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Submitted by Rommy Kirby on Tue, 03/19/2013 – 14:25

Thanks Wendy! I kept up with my Essential Oil regimen for 2 more days just to be sure and didn’t even have a single ache, cough, sore throat or feel tired. Stay well and feel good!

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Submitted by Angela Privin (not verified) on Mon, 03/18/2013 – 23:57

You are definitely speaking my language. Of your list above number 5 through 7 resonate with my personal experience. I think that active rest is what our body craves often and yet we deprives ourselves of this nutrient. If rest was a vitamin we would all be deficient! So rest, gratitude (creates positive attitude) and paring down out to do list are the healthiest things we can do for ourselves whether we are sick or not!

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Submitted by Rommy Kirby on Tue, 03/19/2013 – 14:30

I’m so glad you found value Angela! You’re so right, if we had a blood serum test for adequate rest we would all be deficient at times, I like how you state that…if rest was a vitamin. The great thing about is that we can get that without spending a single dime!

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Submitted by hayley hobson (not verified) on Tue, 03/19/2013 – 04:46

I used to ignore my body all the time and shove whatever I could get my hands on in my mouth, but then I developed food allergies and had digestive problems (anything that could go wrong did) and so I changed my entire life. Self care requires enormous mindfulness and proactive thinking. So many people go through life on autopilot, just acting, never taking a moment to consider what life would like look if they played an active role in everything they do. I use doTerra essential oils now to look after my health and my family’s well being. In addition to having a vegan diet and getting plenty of exercise, I take extra steps to ensure my health by taking my supplements and treating my ailments with essential oils. Essential oils (I kid you not, have change my life, the way I look at medicine and a holistic approach to life). Thanks for sharing this. I really appreciated what you wrote.

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Submitted by Rommy Kirby on Tue, 03/19/2013 – 14:36

Hayley, I totally get what your saying. The doTerra oils are both curative and supportive. Self Care really does take enormousness mindfulness, proactive thinking and… I’ll even add one to your list…commitment to be of service and fulfill our purpose. It is anything but selfish because the only way we can best care for others is to be sure we are on our A game. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Submitted by Jessica Lopez (not verified) on Tue, 03/19/2013 – 11:24

I LOVE these 7 steps! They are so simple, but somehow we all seem to constantly forget about them! Thank you for the awesome resource and for making a list so we can print it out and tape it on our fridge so we never forget! I love the active rest part as well. I know for myself, it’s hard to turn my brain off and usually when I’m resting there is always still the TV or noise stimulating my brain, thank you for the reminder!!

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Submitted by Rommy Kirby on Tue, 03/19/2013 – 14:45

Hi Jessica, thank you sooo much. Active rest has strong healing, restorative AND rejuvenating properties…no calories, no caffeine buzz and no sugar dumps! Our ears are the hardest working sensory organs…they are always on alert, even when we sleep, so giving them a break is super charging our rest.

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Submitted by Sue Eull | Eull… (not verified) on Wed, 03/20/2013 – 18:12

I especially liked tips 5 & 6! Looking for the things to give gratitude usually changes my entire perspective of the circumstances of the day. Tip 6 is a great reminder to sometimes shut out the noise of the day even in small ways such as turning off the TV, car radio, or finding a quiet spot for a few minutes. Great list!

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Submitted by Rommy Kirby on Wed, 03/20/2013 – 22:25

Thanks Sue, I’m glad you like it! And really, you’re right, it can be in those small ways you mentioned. I always have a song in my head and #6 makes me sing…the sound of silence…

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Submitted by Cathy / The Hea… (not verified) on Thu, 03/21/2013 – 00:13

I like your list of 7…especially # 1 to bed by 10:00…I have much better days when I get my beauty sleep. & GRATITUDE…that changes every thing! Thanks!

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Submitted by Rommy Kirby on Thu, 03/21/2013 – 16:47

#1 is probably my most challenging investment but the one that pays me the biggest dividends! For me too, Gratitude is a game changer…Thanks Cathy!

– See more at: http://rommy-kirby.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/blog/2013/03/7-super-self-care-mode-tips#sthash.leNuUc9j.dpuf

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Immune Boosting Strategy

Rommy Kirby — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 21:17:55 +0000

Who needs scary movies anymore?

I know I don’t, as a recovered Germaphobe, all I have to do is turn on the news and BAM…niggling little fears of real life, creepy, crawly unseen threats start gnawing on my ‘oM shanti’ state of mind.

While it can get really scary out there, there is a lot we can personally do to boost our immune system and support our body’s natural “Threat Protection” troops as our first line of defense.

We may still catch a few bugs, but our resiliency to them and our ability to recover will dramatically increase.

This is what I do when I feel that tell-tale tickle in the throat, general achey-ness or fatigue…

Become Aware ~ First I notice that I am not feeling well. I might notice that I’m getting tired faster, feel grumpy, stiff, or stuffy and congested. Because I know that my body never ever lies, it’s a great source of information.

So the next time you tune in and notice something is not just right, celebrate. Yep, listening to your body is one of the strongest things you can do for your health and happiness. You know your body better than anyone, even your doctor, so pay attention to it and treat it right.

Think Positive ~ Then I consciously choose to stay well . Do you remember that tag line, “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”? Well, it even more true when it comes to the state of health you want to enjoy. When our body speaks to us through sensations or symptoms we either a see this as a choice to stay as well as possible or we make a choice for the status quo.

Be Proactive ~ Then I take action. When my I feel something coming on, I start the day lots of H2O-bviously Better Skin (water), even more than usual, and follow that with a power breakfast of greens and protein. I get my essential oils out, the Lemon and a synergistic essential oil Protective Blend. I use the Lemon throughout the day for it’s natural detoxifying quality and I drop a few drops of Protective Blend in the back of my throat every 2 hours because it’s super high in anti-oxidants..

I eat only foods that I know would support my body and stay away from the white dietary devils, sugar, flour, and processed dairy. Bone broth is one of my favorite healing foods because it’s soothing, nourishing, warm and hydrating.

I also go into active-inaction. I rest and allow myself to be quiet and still. I take a nourishing bath with Essential Oils and Dead Sea Salts. I keep warm and don’t allow myself to get chilled feet or hands. I don’t rush to do anything, even if it takes all day, that is okay by me cause I am T-I-R-E-D. It takes a lot of energy to for the body to heal and even more to ward off microbial treats. If at all possible, I spend time cuddling with my hubby. (bonus hint here – cuddling boosts your immunity).

When you know that life is going to be more stressful…like that upcoming wedding, adult kids move back or parents in need of parenting, a sick spouse, lots of travel, moving house or a job change…be sure that you tune in to what your body is saying. Yes, it’s a balancing act and balance is dynamic.

Balance is fluid, supple, agile and it shifts in response to the circumstance…stiff, static and rigid balance, sweet one, there really is no such a thing.

Tell me…

Have you been ‘too busy’ and ignored your body only to end up sick? Do you have a Super Self Care tip to share with me? Comment below, you just might inspire someone!

Email me to learn about the resources I use and recommend.

resources

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21078173

The post Immune Boosting Strategy first appeared on Manage Stress | Increase Energy |Simple Solutions | Rommy Kirby, Holistic Health Coach, Yoga Personal Trainer, Essential Oil Educator.

EEW…what is THAT on my leg?

Rommy Kirby — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 18:43:45 +0000

It has been a really long first six months of the year.

Recently, hubby and I got away to the beach for some needed alone time. It was so nice to sit on the beach and enjoy the sun, sand and surf.

But one day, as I was walking back from the beach for a break I felt something clammy and wet on the back of my leg.

photo credit Jack Hackson via National Geographic

As I walked, I tried my best to gracefully wipe it away. It was right at the top of the leg, so you can imagine my concern about being rude in public. After two unsuccessful attempts, I decided I would retain my dignity, and walk the remaining 150 feet until I could investigate in private.

You see, as much as I love the ocean, the beach and the water, I’m still fearful of what may be lurking beneath the surface.

My mind began racing with thoughts that some wet sea creature had been attracted to the color of my swimsuit and attached itself to me, you know like a leach or something.

Then I noticed I felt the same thing at the top of the other leg as well. Eew, what is that, I kind of wanted to throw up because of the thoughts in my head, I imagined sea slugs, sea cucumbers (video below, they exist!) and sea leaches!!!

As soon as I got onto the enclosed porch I whipped off my cover up and turned around to look at my reflection in the glass door. YIKES!!!

There was no sea cucumber type thing sticking to me. YAY!

Instead, my butt was sitting, actually sagging and drooping, right there at the top of my legs!

How did that happen? Really I know, but here are my excuses, maybe you can relate…

You see in February my travel schedule got outrageously busy. At the beginning, I was on top of my food, my sleep and my self-care, but…well, you know, I’m human and I started to slip.

Tortilla chips became my go to meal, my yoga practice slacked off, fresh produce rotted in my fridge and sleep, well, I just wasn’t getting enough.

Then to top it off my hubby had a true health crisis. He nearly died. And during his recovery, one of his friends sent him a case of Graeter’s Ice Cream!!! Yes, I ate it, AND I ate it from the tub…sigh. So, I could blame Stuart for it, but I wont, he’s a really great friend and one of the nicest guys.

FYI – Ice cream is a comfort food for me, my grand mother always had it and it just makes me feel safe, like when I lived with her when my dad was in Thailand. You probably have a comfort food as well.

All of this made my stress levels rise.

You see, stress creates, gives birth to and enjoys the company of FAT. They are great pals and when you see one, the other one is really close by.

It’s the body’s way of taking over and dealing with stressful situations we can’t or won’t process. It goes back to the deepest part of our brain that is in charge of survival. Once upon a time everything was about survival, and fat is one way the body protects against famine or disease.

And you know where your body stores stress fat…in the belly area of all places. For my body type, the butt, hips and thighs. Now, that makes bathing suit season even more stressful. Oh, but wait, that’s not all, I looked down and saw something I hadn’t seen in a while, my very own muffin top.

The good news is that some strange ocean creature didn’t attach itself to me like I thought. AND my bathing suit didn’t shrink after all. I actually grew and now I’m ‘fluffy’.

The other truly powerful good news is that the body never, never ever lies.

It always reveals what we experience, and have or have not done. I’ve learned that watching for changes in your body, your energy level, skin, and face is a great way gaining information about your health.

Well, this one thing I know is that if you want something different, you’ve got to do something different.

Now, I’m taking more time to prepare healthy meals and snacks.

I’m enjoying the fresh produce from my CSA, rotting produce will no longer be happening at the Kirby Kastle.

I started an new 90 Day Fitness and Nutrition Challenge called TERRAfit! Join me on the next round.

…annnnnd for an added boost I’m even going to do another ‘slim and sassy’ wrap or two before I head to the beach with the family. I’ve done them in the past, and got some good results. They are different for the other wraps out there because they are non toxic and actually support the body to release rather than forcing the body. (instructions coming soon)

Tell me…

What is your comfort food? Do you know why?

WOW! the Sea Cucumber is just one big digestion organ!

Links and resources

Lose Weight Naturally

44 You Need to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep Well, Wake Refreshed

Join My TERRAFit Life

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44 Reasons Why You Need To Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Rommy Kirby — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:26:25 +0000

Once people find out I’m a Certified Holistic Health Coach, they tell me all sorts of things.

The other day I met a lady that told me she just could not sleep. Honestly, she was a wee bit proud of the fact that she didn’t need sleep “the way most people do.”

She is a wife and mother of 4, ages 11-20, has a successful, challenging career, and she is active in the community. When I asked what time she typically goes to bed she cheerily said, “oh anywhere between 11:30 and 1 (a.m.)”. WOW! Say it with me, chronic sleep deprivation.

Then, she told me about the personal trainer she recently hired. Her personal trainer has her up for 4:30 a.m for workouts, so she thought for sure she would be able to sleep better, but she isn’t. (I didn’t have the heart to tell her that her new 4 a.m. wake ups would not whittle her waist as hoped.)

She didn’t quite know what all the fuss was about, especially since she has been functioning fairly well. But, she is starting to notice hollows under her eyes, more hot flashes, and is concerned about inflammation because her doctor had warned her about it.

Actually, sleep affects our health on every level and lack of sleep can lead to serious complications.

“In a 2010 study of women ages 50 to 79, more deaths occurred in women who got less than five hours or more than six and a half hours of sleep per night.”

“As a result, sleep deficiency is not only harmful on a personal level, but it also can cause large-scale damage. For example, sleep deficiency has played a role in human errors linked to tragic accidents, such as nuclear reactor meltdowns, grounding of large ships, and aviation accidents.”

You don’t have to suffer, keep reading for my Get A Good Night’s Sleep Recipe.

Sleep deprivation is linked or leads to:

heart disease
stroke
diabetes
inflammation
pain
metal fog
micro-sleep
obesity
hormone imbalance
inability to focus
increased illness
low libido
wrinkles
skin disorders
anger
depression
impulsive or high risk behavior
binging
addiction
high blood pressure
muscle loss

Quality sleep results in:

healthy brain function
reduced inflammation
balanced emotions
improved immunity
craving control
cellular renewal
stress resiliency
clearer, radiant skin
sense of well-being
healthy weight
ability to make decisions
balanced libido
hormone balance
weight release
muscle mass
increased energy
creativity
productivity
improved memory
better stamina
longevity
improved physical performance
sharper attention

My “Get A Good Night’s Sleep” Recipe…I’m telling you I don’t even feel my hubby stir!

Drop 2 drops each of Calming Blend, Grounding Blend and 1 drop Vetiver into diffuser. (any residual left around the bottle collar I put on my neck and face…esp Vetiver because it tones the skin which is a bonus.
I put Grounding Blend, Clary Sage and Ylang Ylang on my feet and belly.
Get more...Sleep Well, Wake Refreshed

Links and resources

Work with me http://rommykirby.com/connect/free-consultation/
Essential Oils http://rommykirby.com/essential-oils/
http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongenergy/tp/healthy_sleep.htm
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20459221_3,00.html
http://www.webmd.com
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sdd/why.html

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Simple Strategy to Stay Healthy

Rommy Kirby — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 20:47:05 +0000

Just because everyone else in the house or at work has the crud doesn’t mean that you have to join them in their misery. To be honest, staying well when everyone around you is sick is a totally doable if you know what to do.

Over the Christmas holidays, my house seemed to be ground zero…

One daughter came home with a cough and sore throat, the other daughter complained of fatigue and sore throat, my nephew actually had strep and my hubby…my poor hubby was the sickest he has ever been in his adult life.

And I…well I managed to stay healthy using this simple strategy.

Staying well in the face of illness doesn’t take monumental effort but it does take determined focus and intention.

Start using this strategy now so that when everyone around you is dropping like flies with wicked colds and nasty flu, you can stay healthy.

This is exactly what I did to stay well…and I slept with one very sick, feverish, chill shaking, gnarly coughing machine.

Stay healthy strategy…

Make sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep. When you sleep your body is repairing itself. That’s why when you are sick, all you want to do is sleep. Sleep is THE most productive thing you can do to get well.

Stress happens. We all have stress! It’s how we process it and perceive that makes the difference. Remember, nothing lasts forever, the boss will get over it, the kids will get better, the cold and virus will go away. Give yourself at least 5 minutes a day of focusing on your breath or move your body in a meditative way to increase your stress resiliency.

If you do feel something coming on…go into rest mode. This means if it isn’t necessary to life support for yourself or your family, don’t do it. You have a sacred obligation to take care of yourself.

Stay hydrated. I know I say this all the time, but your cells need water to do their job well.

If you do feel something coming on…start right now to flush your body with hydration. This will also boost your mental power so that you can make better health decisions. It will help your body to process out virus and bacteria that may not have sunk their claws into you…yet.

I add a drop of Lemon, Lime and Grapefruit essential oil to my water when I know that my immune system is challenged.

Start eating more citrus fruits and drinking fresh juices to up your vitamin C levels. I recommend Just Cranberry from R.W. Knudsen. Here’s a recipe.

Be sure that your vitamin D levels remain optimal. A study done in 2010 shows that Vitamin D is an effective strategy against influenza. According to Dr. Mercola, optimal levels are therapeutic at 50-70 ng/ml year-round.

Get cultured. Stop eating sugar and start eating fermented foods with live cultures. These live cultures are full of beneficial bacteria that will fight harmful bacteria. Stack your team and populate your gut with them. My go to’s are, Inner Eco Original Coconut Water Kefir and Farmhouse Culture.

Studies have shown that cultured and fermented foods reduce fever, coughing, runny nose and antibiotic use in children. Just think what it will do for you.

Eating your probiotics is favorable to supplementing because bacteria in fermented and cultured foods will colonize your the lining of your digestive tract with more diverse strains of beneficial bacteria. BONUS – makes for great skin!

Basics that you know but probably over look when stressed and caring for others…

Wash your hands more often. Stop using that antibacterial soap because it’s killing the good bacteria on your skin as well. I use an Essential Oil Based Foaming Hand Wash in my home and in my yoga studio.

Take high quality animal based Omega-3 Fats. Good for the brain and for your immunity. I’ve been using a particular omega for a while now and noticed a sharp decline in illness, migraine and hot flash.

Use natural immune support. Oregano, melaleuca and thyme are just a few that will support your immunity against those tiny microscopic villains of illness. When everyone around me is sick, when they get essential oil application, I get essential oil application. Always.

Check out this video to see how awesome your body is at chasing down and eliminating those nasty villains.

Staying healthy and well is not rocket science, complex or expensive, but getting well can be time consuming, financially draining and difficult.

Tell me…

What 1 strategy from this article do you want to start doing to help you stay well? Already do these things…share your tip below.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/06/flu-attack.aspx#_edn6

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Leyer+G+Pediatrics

The post Simple Strategy to Stay Healthy first appeared on Manage Stress | Increase Energy |Simple Solutions | Rommy Kirby, Holistic Health Coach, Yoga Personal Trainer, Essential Oil Educator.

3 Elegant Holiday Strategies

Rommy Kirby — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 20:20:57 +0000

I love Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years!

But these celebrations, long nights and short days can make for one really long, stressed out holiday season that can set us up for blues and flu. Bah-humbug and Yuck!

Because I know how brutal stress can be, the havoc it can wreak on your health, your skin, and your relationships so I want to share with you my Holiday Survival Kit.

First, there are 3 elegant strategies……that will help you enjoy this holiday season more, however you celebrate and what ever you do.

These are simple, easy, action steps.

But here’s the thing…they are just as easy not to do, okay, so you really must set an intention to keep it easy, do the easy and reap the benefits.

Stay Hydrated. You know I harp on this, I know I harp on this. For very good reason. Here’s what happened to me a few weeks when I let travel get the best of me and didn’t stay hydrated. I got a migraine…a full blown, throw my guts up, everything hurts migraine. Because I was so dehydrated, it took me a few days to fully recover. Click here for my tips.

Get enough sleep. Seriously, sleep is important. There is truth in the term Beauty Sleep. Click here for my tips.

Lighten your load. Look at your to do list for today. Chances are there is at least 1 thing you can take off. Delete it, scratch it off and don’t give it another thought. No one will ever know and if your mother finds out, she’ll forgive you.

Remember chronic stress adds pounds and inches to the waistline and it weakens our immune system. Because of the added stress, we all need a little more support and self care this time of year.

Tell me…

What is your #1 tip to thriving during the holiday season?

The post 3 Elegant Holiday Strategies first appeared on Manage Stress | Increase Energy |Simple Solutions | Rommy Kirby, Holistic Health Coach, Yoga Personal Trainer, Essential Oil Educator.