tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31118708671975536652024-02-08T05:27:22.541-08:00Expand Community Wellness
Multi-disciplinary artist and wellness consultant Jennifer Benorden shares personal and professional experiences to drum up wellness of body, mind, and spirit.jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-54650475332229812222016-04-18T21:14:00.001-07:002016-04-18T21:14:13.254-07:00Self-care in times of grievingToday my heart feels heavy.<br />
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I know that may not be the most enlightening way to start my blog-post, but it is real talk from a wise woman and I know that many are going through similar struggles.<br />
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How do we care for ourselves when our hearts are heavy with grief and sadness?<br />
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Everyone has a different way of dealing with it: some sleep extra long hours and just "stay under the covers".....some have trouble falling asleep and zone out on screen time.......some binge out on "comfort foods".......some lash out with anger and alienate those around them.......some feel overwhelmed with emotion and despair, like they may never see the light of day within their hearts again......<br />
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What are some healthy ways to care for ourselves when we feel lost, confused, or are mourning for the loss of loved ones?<br />
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For me, even though the tendency to isolate can be compelling, it is important to find community somehow. When we are seen and witnessed exactly how we are in any given moment, the healing can slowly begin to take root within our hearts.<br />
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How do you care for yourself in these times? Share an experience when you didn't want to leAve the house (or even if you wondered whether you could leave the house), but then your perspective shifted and you came back feeling a new space for breath within your system. <br />
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Nothing can replace eye to eye contact with another human being. But Cyber witnessing can work wonders too!!<br />
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No matter what, keep your head up, you are not alone.....<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-34840998829561025482016-03-31T11:01:00.000-07:002016-03-31T17:46:34.726-07:00i know enough to know that i don't know enoughToday I went down to the RYSE Youth Center in downtown Richmond, CA, just a couple of miles from where I live. <br />
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I had been wanting to stop in there because of the impact of a film I saw last year called, "Romeo is Bleeding", centered around a theatrical re-enactment of Romeo and Juliet, but set in modern-day Richmond.<br />
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I have lived in Richmond for just over 4 years, and before that more places in the Bay Area than I can count. Before moving here I didn't really know much about this town, other than that it had a history of gang violence, was the "home" of Chevron, and that the place I found was gonna be a lot safer than the part of Oakland I had been living in prior.<br />
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The central figure and co-writer of "Romeo is Bleeding" is a young man named Donte Clark. Donte's story and his poetry has really had a profound affect on me. His writing is like nothing I have ever heard before. He is living the reality while telling it through rhyme and I was very effected by his skills. Today, I got to meet Donte and shake his hand and it was my honor to do so. Since the release of the film, he has been named the Poet Laureate of Richmond, and is developing further projects.<br />
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The history of gang violence I learned showed me so much about what I don't understand about the world. It showed me that the histories here in Richmond are deeply personal and have a family legacy that goes back decades. It showed me so much about how my day to day struggles and challenges are seriously completely inconsequential considering the fear some people face on a day to day basis just to walk to the store or get in and out of their houses. <br />
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The thing is -- sure -- it's not my "fault" that these realities exist. I only recently moved into this area and started calling it my home. There is a rather large boulder in my yard that I believe to have held sacred energies for people for many, many, many years before I ever knew of this hillside!<br />
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I love getting on my bike and riding out to the bay, to Point Richmond, along the greenway, out San Pablo Dam Road and into the hills. It's amazing to be able to walk outside my house and wind up over at Wild Cat Canyon, a massive open space preserve that connects to an even bigger open space preserve.<br />
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But that's just it: my experience of this place is one of a total white-priveleged outsider. I am not directly affected by the realities of this gang violence in any way. I was able to take over the lease of a pretty great house and property, and since then my view of the entire SF Bay Area has changed dramatically as a result of the expansive vista!<br />
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This right here is of such importance for me and others to begin to understand: being blissfully ignorant of the histories of violence and racial inequity in my community is what white privilege looks like! And because it doesn't affect me directly, it is super easy to ignore it.<br />
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As a white woman, I could just continue along as I was, going to Target and to Kaiser and to see my accountant at Macdonald and 27th. Up until watching the film, I had absolutely ZERO context for what was happening in the neighborhoods I drive through.<br />
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I had no idea how dangerous it is for people of one part of Richmond to be seen in another part of Richmond -- parts of the area that I myself pass through with only the mildest of concerns that someone might notice how nice my bike is......<br />
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So the fact that this newby white girl from Kansas suddenly learned the history of the place where she lives is hardly interesting. Who cares? <br />
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That there are alternatives to violence being presented to at-risk youth -- that matters. That there are people organizing around the arts to express the pain and suffering that gun violence means to their bodies, to their minds, to their spirits, to their hopes and dreams -- that really matters. <br />
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The RYSE center is a place like many other community youth centers: it is a safe place with cool programs to keep kids off the streets and nurture their talents and visions, and I have already learned so much from one of their rising stars.<br />
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One of the directors of RYSE took my card and told me that they often times have "Self-care Sessions", where kids are taught different ways to manage stress and trauma. I am hoping to talk with him and see what of my skills might be of service!<br />
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Offering time down at RYSE Center will hopefully give me an opportunity to give back to my community and to get to know some of the amazing people who call Richmond home.<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-54078368056651673332016-01-14T16:34:00.000-08:002016-01-18T12:01:18.103-08:00Online Scheduling! Plus: snap the sugar habit with meGreetings and salutations to all who come by this blog!<br />
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Today I write with a short note from a wonderfully rainy San Francisco bay area, and I could not be more thrilled to announce some recent changes in my business.<br />
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For starters, I now have on-line scheduling! Check it out at my soon-to-be-released brand spanking new website: <b> www.jupitermassageandwellness.com</b><br />
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<b>Massage news:</b><br />
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You will notice above that I have made a rate adjustment effective January 1. These new rates are reflected above and I believe are competitive in my industry for someone with my experience.<br />
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I have added Saturday mornings to my schedule, as you will see, and that has been great for several folks already.<br />
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In addition! I am now seeing clients at the Alameda Hospital, the second Tuesday of each month. This has been a fun full-circle for me, as my very first job out of college was working in a hospital in Kansas City, MO. I have always dreamed of working on the stressed-out staff in this environment!<br />
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If you know of any other organizations whether hospitals, companies, or corporations, that want to offer chair massage on-site, let me know.<br />
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Lastly, every few months I like to offer the <b>"Snap the Habit"</b> cleanse for anyone who is wanting to develop a sustained healthy relationship to carbs and sugars. If you're anything like me, sugar is there when I feel down and blue, meaning: emotional eating tendencies! <br />
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Join me and my colleague Mayah Hegre as we offer our third Snap the Habit cleanse.<br />
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With this cleanse we have supported many others to break their addictions to carbs and sugars, and bring loving attention to those automatic unconscious eating tendencies. It's only 5-days and it really works. The cost is under $200 (see details below).<br />
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To join simply send me an email at my new email address: jennifer@jupitermassageandwellness.com!<br />
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Thank you so much for your time and attention, and your business, and I hope to see many of you in the near future.<br />
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Jenny JUP<br />
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Here are the details for the Snap the Habit cleanse;<br />
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5-day cleanse begins Monday, Feb 1.<br />
Each day you will enjoy 3 delicious protein shakes and bars (safe for diabetics), lots of water, and certain key vegetable snacks that we will discuss. You can learn more about the cleanse by going to my website at www.jennyjup.usana.com and clicking on "Healthy Weight". <br />
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At the end of the 5 days you will feel an incredible surge of new energy and a sense of empowerment and fortitude to carry on with these new habits! Plus: recipes from Nikki Stephens, Holistic Health Coach. YES! <br />
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On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we'll have a 30-minute group coaching call with Mayah Hegre, who will walk us through our EFT practice. (Learn more about EFT here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFKVVP8KXd4" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.76px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>watch?v=VFKVVP8KXd4</a><br />
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Purchase your Reset kit by Jan 25<br />
(contact me directly to place your order)<br />
Cost: $122.50 plus shipping and tax<br />
EFT Coaching: $50 to Mayah Hegre<br />
<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-18718354257059982412015-12-29T15:14:00.000-08:002016-01-01T12:31:30.935-08:00Ode to Harbin Hot SpringsI feel like I could write several entries in my Ode to Harbin Hot Springs, and if you've ever been there I'm sure you can understand! For any of you who have never been there, it is a large piece of property in Lake County, CA which has been for many decades an internationally loved clothing optional hot spring and teaching resort. It recently was consumed by fire and yes, will absolutely be re-built. But, it will never be what it was......and so here is a tribute to a place that gave me so much:<br />
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Oh Harbin! For nearly 20 years you have been my place. The place where it became ok to have the body I was given......<br />
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The first time the towel came off I'm thinking to myself, "whoa, I"m really going to do this just - hang out naked with a bunch of strangers - ???!!!"<br />
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But then I looked around, and I saw the glorious sagging shoulders, the tanned wrinkles of a tall man's hind side.....the rolls of fat....and I realized what the hell -- you mean, it's ok? it's just fine?? to be imperfect??<br />
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And that was the whole point or rather, the perfection in each unique expression of human embodiment was "ok", no shame to have a body, no reason to hide it's just bodies with souls inside trying so hard to find some balance, to work it out, to be "normal", or to not stand out at least.<br />
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Like many people I grew up in an environment which seemed to place shame on the body, particularly as it relates to anything remotely sensual. So it's interesting that I ended up doing massage therapy for nearly 20 years, learning how to be in my body, while assisting another in being in their body, providing therapeutic touch, learning about breath and holding patterns, subtle realms and --- all of these things having to do with the body.<br />
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Being nude at a hot springs is really no big deal, it's absolutely respectful and people are for the most part mindful, in my experience. I found the experience to be wonderfully healing, every single time. And so I returned to your shores my dear beloved Harbin, on countless occasions, to soak in the simple safety of "I'm ok just the way I am". My way of being in my body is alright. It's ok. I'm ok. My body is ok. The world may not be ok, life might be tough at the moment, but, I'm here now, in this glorious place, so, it's cool, I'm good.........<br />
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And then there was also: your water.<br />
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That water, the holy buoyant bounce of minerals carving aerated particles of love on my skin, the slightest slime of earth sliding on my shins, gently protected by the overhanging branches of a healthy happy fig tree, its leaves like giant, fleshy, chlorophyll hands waving in the dappled sun. <br />
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The water holds me like a pillow, all soft and smooth, there's no need to move it's just the perfect temperature. There is no time or space, I am a fig dropped in water by the tree of life....hanging loose in the moment, breathing up and down, integrating, listening, hearing, the zen eye of third mind unfocus......<br />
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Then comes an impulse to heat up......I move like a cherub bounding in slow-motion towards the corner, flanked on one side by the fig tree and a giant bouquet of resplendent flowers splayed out against a cobalt blue wall, I float up the half-moon stair and duck into the doorway to the hot pool room, and hydrate.<br />
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That hot pool is no joke. It is 4 and a half feet deep -- or more? -- and full of natural spring water that is very, very hot. It is safe, but you must stay hydrated and you must know your limits. For me, it took quite a while to descend. I had to acclimate at every step, making sure no one needed in or out, giving myself plenty of time, allowing first my feet, waiting waiting waiting.....then my shins, oh wow, this is hot, then my hips, ok whoa, this is amazing, i can do it, and finally allowing myself to submerge up to my neck.<br />
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Then: the basking glow of our agreed SILENCE.......<br />
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This was the sacred home to so many, the cascade of muscles just - releasing their hold on my bones just -- letting go of the holding on -- my knees a prayer of now, my arms floating as if in space -- which is where my mind is, my jaw hanging slack like a weighted sack. I am in my own experience with laser focus, all my cells are organizing for my survival, trusting myself to know when it's been long enough (which, for me is not too long usually).....<br />
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The moment I know, ok, it's time to get out....I just slowly begin to move into action toward the dragon-crafted metal rail. I love the feeling of grabbing it and pulling myself through that hot water, completely limp and landing my gentle feet on the first step like i was set down by gravity, a weightless form with a name and then pop! up from the heat like a rubber ducky would if it got knocked over, steam coming off my back......<br />
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Hydrate.<br />
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With ease and an inner wonder I move past the kind anonymous being in the doorway and turn right into the cool wide stair leading up to the cold pool. The gentle forest overhang is damp and forgiving, eager to hear my silent glee as the steam leaves my skin and I reach for the end of the heavy metal chime, its quiet clang an anthem to the divine.<br />
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Exposed to the sky I step onto the wooden platform surrounded by saints and angels hiding behind leaves and branches, guarded by Kwan Yin and the occasional deer with their big, brown, wondering eyes. I find my way to the cold pool, its silent white stairway brisking me in, colding my breath away, the ancient freeze..... <br />
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The perfect bouquet of fresh flowers awaits me in its goddess vase, her ceramic smile so bright it stings, my breath sucked into my chest in shock, the flowers screaming "colors"!!! against a knowing white wall. <br />
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My legs are ok, can handle it, but my torso gets so scared!!! of that cold so I make myself, with one big bounce and a breath, dunk under and immediately emerge up the stairs and out, now brought into the stillest point of all, the perfect contrasted cellular structure where my mind is a vast empty sky.....<br />
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I take comfort in the silent solace of soaking souls, blissing inside, dipped in the ancient inferno and the sacrament of cold.<br />
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All old souls transform repeatedly upon receipt of this place one is taken when you contrast back and forth, hot/cold, hot/cold, it brings a new kind of center, a now quite contented indeed, so relaxed I have really none whatsoever a need, just, eternal present on the bench....in front of the goddess statue.....ancient wisdom informs the rest, and sweet silence emerges within my sense of self.......<br />
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Thank you oh Harbin, with your communal kitchen and your carpeted porches, your well-worn trails and gardens, your immaculate Temple, your restaurant, your wild turkeys, your store, your library and your creek, your camp-grounds and your showers, for your comfort and your yoga classes: until we meet again old friend! jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-51509952946637768592015-09-26T13:13:00.001-07:002015-09-26T20:32:44.837-07:00news from the tableOne of the things I love about massage therapy is the immediate transformation that takes place within the system of my client.<br />
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There are few fields of work where the impact of your skills and training can be so immediately apparent!<br />
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On Wednesday I was given an opportunity to work with a woman who is having a lot of nerve pain in her lower leg. She has been seeing a chiropractor, doing yoga, and generally paying attention (rather than ignoring it and hoping it will just "go away" like many choose to do). <br />
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She had a one-hour session, and wanted some "relaxation" work, but requested that we spend most of the session supporting her knee/leg area. <br />
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The area did not present as very inflamed, but my client said it was hyper sensitive to touch and could suddenly supercharge a pain sensation down into her foot. So I was of course approaching the area with a lot of caution and communication.<br />
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My overall strategy was to just tune into the heat in the knee joint, see if I could feel any hot spots or tissue bulges, and also attempt very gentle bone manipulations, very slight traction, and as always, Reiki.<br />
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With my client face-down, I gently lifted her femur off the table, with the lower leg gently bent, so I could give the joint a weightless sensation as I began to do a very slow, subtle rotation of the knee. As always I was checking in every step of the way with my client to ensure that she was comfortable with the maneuver.<br />
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She reported feeling comfortable with the movements, as well as relieved that she was comfortable with the movements! So that was a good start.<br />
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Once we got her onto her back and I had more ready access to the front of the knee and the side of her leg, I began with some Reiki through the sheet. Right away I noticed a bunch of tears wanting to push through my eyeballs onto my cheeks! <br />
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This didn't surprise me too much, as I am an empath and at times I do seem to get in touch with emotions held unknowingly within my clients.<br />
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But because I had good rapport with her and felt that she would want to know, I did tell her that I was feeling a lot of sadness in that moment, and she seemed to really appreciate that. I could feel her body get a little bit heavier on the table, and I found a small area of "extra tissue" lateral to the patellar tendon. It seemed to hold the key to her troubles, and I said to her, "this is the spot, isn't it". She immediately acknowledged, YES! That is where it seems to originate. <br />
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With that knowledge I just took a nice deep breath and held the joint gently on either side. I felt that we could conceivably relieve the area by slowly grabbing hold of the tibia and the fibula and just gently offering the tiniest bit of traction. Again, making sure my client was comfortable and following the cues of her breath and her energy I was able to feel her body get heavier yet again on the table, a sign that tension is relieving and healing can occur.<br />
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In addition I did work the muscles of the lower leg ever so gently, to just push circulation through and into the knee joint, as well as working her foot and doing some rotations of the ankle and point work through the sole of the foot.<br />
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I still don't really know what is wrong with her leg. It may be a bursa, it may be arthritis, it may be a nerve impingement, or something else entirely.<br />
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But after the session I could see that she had made a large step towards a more relaxed, supported system, and she said she was feeling a lot of optimism that her leg could be normal again. She said the session was "magical and superior" and wanted to book the second session in her 4-pack for just a couple of days later.<br />
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With the client's full knowledge I called the chiropractor who has been working with her, and just let him know what we had done in our session, how it made her feel, and asked him when he had a moment to check his records for her and let me know if he had any good ideas for further treatment.<br />
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This type of exchange is what keeps me in the business after 18 years and counting. I love supporting people in their experience of being in a body. It can be puzzling! <br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-10870330876084954242015-08-07T07:47:00.003-07:002015-08-31T10:42:59.443-07:00Summer Newsletter<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Greetings clients, colleagues, and community members!</span></div>
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In this newsletter you will find information about a seasonal women's group I am offering, new massage therapy offerings, and an upcoming cleanse!!! </div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Self-Care Sundays: 12-week women's group for increased vitality</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you know any women who may be interested in Self-care Sundays, please feel free to forward this message on! </span></i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Are you a woman feeling like you need time to connect with yourself in new ways? Are you struggling to understand the messages from your body? Do you or anyone you know struggle with your monthly cycle? Do you have endometriosis, uterine fibroids, heavy bleeding, intense cramping, or are dealing with a general loss of vitality and depletion?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Meeting for 6 alternating Sundays at a comfortable home in Richmond we will go through the Steps for Vibrant Health as put forth in Dr. Christiane Northrup's book, <u>Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom.</u> We will share a nutritious, wholesome meal together in mindful silence, and each woman will be given the opportunity to retreat into solace for alone time, and to be seen and witnessed within the group in a conscientious sharing circle. Uncover your personal health story to understand your body's wisdom more clearly, look into your personal beliefs around value, worth, and contribution. Do it with other women who are committed to personal growth and taking charge of their health in an empowered way! </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In 12-weeks we will have a much better understanding of our bodies, a fuller connection to our inner guidance, and a plan of action in place to reclaim our natural vitality.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">For anyone who is interested in this group I am offering the first meet up at no obligation so you can come, meet me, and feel into whether this is going to be a good fit for your needs.</span><br />
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<b>Cost:</b> $250 up front. Installment, sliding-scale available;<br />
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<b>Where</b>: East Richmond Heights, 94805 <b>When</b>: 10am - 1pm every alternating Sunday beginning Sept. 13 - Nov. 22 <br />
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<b>To register:</b> contact me directly at <a href="mailto:jenniferbenorden@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">jenniferbenorden@gmail.com</a> <wbr></wbr>for a consultation. You may pay with a personal check, cash, or via Paypal. </div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Massage Therapy: El Cerrito, Oakland, corporate, and in-home offerings</span></div>
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I have been working at the Ojas Wellness Center at the El Cerrito Plaza for a year and a half! THANK YOU so much to Nicole Becker from Ojas Yoga Studio who invited me into her studio. It is an honor to work with such a wonderful teacher. Check out the studio if you haven't been there yet! <a href="http://www.ojasyogacenter.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.ojasyogacenter.com </a> </div>
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FYI: My office is down the hallway quite a ways from the yoga studio, towards the Joanne's Fabric's end of the building: Ojas Wellness Center, Office # 729. </div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Series Packages </span></div>
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These are my top-sellers right now. Get a discount by purchasing a 4-pack series of 30-min, 60-min or 90-min sessions. It's a nice way to commit to your on-going self-care, while reaping a savings at the same time! </div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Wednesday afternoons, Oakland</span></div>
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I have started seeing clients in Oakland on Wednesday afternoons over on Grand Avenue near the lake. If you are interested to set up a session with me over there my normal rates apply.</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Corporate Massage</span></div>
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Back in 1996 when I very first began working as a massage therapist, I started out in the corporate sector, working for Excite.com, Yahoo.com, and eventually Google! </div>
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I am interested to get back into that setting. Ideally an employer will see the value of bringing in a massage therapist regularly and will subsidize it for their employees. After all, massage therapy <i>helps to avoid repetitive stress injuries, helps with migraines and headaches, keeps people feeling energized and appreciated</i>, and can go a long way towards increased productivity and the not-so-proverbial, "bottom line" of any company.</div>
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If you know of any companies who would like to bring in a seasoned massage therapist for regular employee appreciation, please do let me know!</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">My new passion: Scar-tissue</span></div>
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Over the past couple of years I have really gotten interested in working with scar-tissue. If you know anyone who has had a recent or not-so-recent surgery and still has tightness around their scar, or even tenderness if it's a recent scar, I have begun to see wonderful results with this. </div>
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For a very recent injury which is tender and fragile, this is my favorite time to work with clients because the subtle energy work helps the tissue to relax and breathe better! A very, very delicate touch is applied which is almost like a feather, and I can almost watch as the area relaxes. This allows for a speedier recovery and over time I've been privileged to work with a couple of clients to see their scars become more supple and soft. </div>
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Maybe I can help you with yours! Call me and we can talk about it.</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">In-home Massage</span></div>
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As always, I love bringing my table to a client's home to set up a spa day for them and/or their family members. I offer one-hour, 90-minute, and two-hour in-home massages for up to 3 people at a time. There is a travel fee attached to all out-call massage sessions.</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Availability:</span></div>
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Ojas Wellness Center - Thursdays 2:30-9pm; Saturdays 2:30-7pm</div>
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In-home massage - Saturdays 11-2; Sundays 11-4; Wednesday 5-8</div>
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Oakland massage - Wednesdays 2-7pm</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Rates</span></div>
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<i>Please note I will be increasing my rates in the fall</i></div>
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30-min: $40</div>
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60-min: $85</div>
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90-min: $125</div>
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2-hr: $160</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">To schedule: </span></div>
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<a href="mailto:jenniferbenorden@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">jenniferbenorden@gmail.com</a></div>
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<a href="tel:650.796.1924" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+16507961924">650.796.1924</a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Snap the Habit</span></div>
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In the fall my colleague Mayah Hegre and I are getting excited to offer a 21-day cleanse incorporating EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). We have offered this cleanse as a 5-day cleanse in the past, but are looking forward to providing more support to help people truly break their addictions to carbs and sugars!!! Stay tuned for more information.</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">Jupiter Wellness</span></div>
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I am currently developing a new website!!!! So excited. It will have on-line scheduling and more information about my women's groups, my cleanse, my massage therapy work and more. I am hoping to release this in the fall so stay tuned!</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">********************</span></div>
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In summary, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your self-care strategy. It is my honor and privilege, and I look forward to serving you throughout the rest of 2015 and beyond.....</div>
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Warm regards,</div>
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Jennifer</div>
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<a href="tel:650.796.1924" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+16507961924">650.796.1924</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<a href="http://www.bwellness.massagetherapy.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.bwellness.massagetherapy.<wbr></wbr>com </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.expandwellness.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.expandwellness.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<a href="http://www.jennyjup.usana.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.jennyjup.usana.com</a></div>
jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-79145045072833414452015-03-07T13:32:00.002-08:002015-03-08T15:41:25.660-07:00Massage Therapy: Making ContactOn Thursday I did a brief presentation about my work as a massage therapist for my colleagues in my networking group. I was so nervous for some reason! But folks seemed to like it so I thought I would share it with you all here:<br />
<br />
We are spinning in space inside an atmosphere of gravitational force.<br />
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Our bodies, just like a tree, are perfectly designed to operate gracefully inside gravity. But learned behaviors, unconscious habits, injury, family legacy -- all these things play into what you might call "holding patterns".<br />
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My job, as a Massage Therapist, is to make contact with these holding patterns, to raise awareness of these areas within the system of my client, to awaken circulation through stuck places within the body.<br />
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For me, discussing the many different layers of embodiment is a complex, multi-dimensional exploration. <br />
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There is the *cosmic* reality: gravity. Indeed, gravity and postural imbalance are I believe the two biggest factors leading to pain within the body.<br />
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Then there is the *energetic* reality: The magnetic field around every living being, creating, if you will, an individual atmosphere.<br />
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Then there is the *physical* reality: blood, bone, nerve, muscle, organ, connective tissue, and breath, among many other things.<br />
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Then, the *historical* reality: did this person have an easy birth into this world? Have they broken any limbs? Have they torn any ligaments? Have they been cut or bruised and have they had any stitches? <br />
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And finally there is the *spiritual* dimension: what gives meaning to a person's life? What fulfills them? What makes them super sad? Have they been loved? Cared for? Have they created what they came here to create?<br />
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All these stories live within our bodies.<br />
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In my work, I always start and end my sessions the same way: I ask my client to take a nice, deep, cleansing breath, and I do so as well. Then we take another. During this time I am bringing my mind into alignment with unconditional regard -- the foundation of my work. For me, unconditional regard is bringing myself into a neutral state of mind, a place of acceptance, compassion, and respectful witness.<br />
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I bring my hands a few inches above my client's back, and I bring my awareness to my breath, I align my posture, I feel the ground beneath my feet and I enter into my client's personal atmosphere, making contact with the surface, yes….but with an awareness of that gravitational field, the physical pressure which actually holds all of us on planet earth.<br />
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And then, all the connections start getting made, how the hips hold up the ribs with a spine running right through to the brain, a bowling ball on a flexible stick. We're bi-pedal so everything criss-crosses, left knee, right nip, left shoulder, right neck, left jaw……<br />
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The mind kinda starts to dissolve, the right now makes a much longer pause, muscles letting go of all their holding, moments hold together by an organic human being, in a body, from a body, of a body, and breathing…..<br />
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Awaken to the now with massage therapy!<br />
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After nearly 20 years in this profession I can say that I am still endlessly fascinated, excited by, and inspired by the possibilities of healing in the human body.<br />
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Clinical deep tissue has taught me practical functional knowledge that I can apply to athletes and weekend warriors.<br />
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Reiki and energy work has taught me how the subtler planes often hold deep release within the tissue.<br />
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Injury and surgery have taught me how it feels when pain shoots through the body, bringing compassion and empathy, as well as a felt sense of how soft tissue manipulation can speed healing.<br />
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A great referral for me is someone looking to commit to their self-care and personal growth through massage therapy.<br />
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I now offer 50% all my treatments for anyone dealing with chemotherapy or cancer.<br />
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I am selling a lot of series packages these days, and through the month of March am offering one 25-min add-on to a 60- or 90-minute 4-pack.<br />
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My office is located at 729 El Cerrito Plaza, and my office hours are Thursdays and Saturdays, 2:30-9pm. I am available for corporate gigs and out-call/in-home sessions on other days.<br />
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Do your body/mind a favor: book a session today!<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-10317855128696512642015-01-05T14:10:00.001-08:002015-01-05T14:15:14.834-08:00Snap the Habit: let's go!!Are you one of the millions of people around the world who have resolved to "eat better" in 2015?<br />
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According to a Diabetes Statistic Report published in June of 2014, over 29 million people have diabetes, which is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. <br />
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If you're anything like me, you have pretty good habits, *most of the time*. But then........something will happen in your life, and you may fall into a binging habit, or what is known as, "emotional eating".<br />
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It is a very common way to cope with the ups and downs of life, but the consequences can be fatal, as the above statistics demonstrate.<br />
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With "Snap the Habit" my colleague Mayah Hegre and I are offering a power-packed solution to this cycle, offering personal coaching, a 5-day supply of foods which are proven to break the craving for carbs and sugars, plus 3 group coaching calls with one of the world's leading teachers of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).<br />
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<h4>
The Cleanse</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The 5-day cleanse is
safe for diabetics, and provides a sustained energy with a
'no-deprivation' model throughout the 5 days. This cleanse is meant to
create a long-term platform for eating, to support folks in creating
lasting lifestyle changes, and to reduce the chances of developing
diabetes and other degenerative conditions to begin with. (see below for
a link to a video for more information on the Reset cleanse)</span></h4>
<br />
<b>The Emotional Freedom Technique</b><br />
<span class="fsl"><span class="text_exposed_show"> <br /> EFT (also
known as "the tapping method"), works with the Traditional Chinese
Medicine meridian points to help rewire and reset our minds around any
particular human issue. For Snap the Habit, we are training its powerful
attention on our relationship to food and eating. (see link below for
more information on EFT)<br /> <br /> <b>Snap the Habit</b> includes: <br /> <br /> * The Reset Kit (5-day supply of shakes, bars, and vitamins)<br /> * 3 group coaching calls with EFT<br /> * 2 one-on-one coaching calls (before and after the cleanse)<br /> * recipes and meal-planning ideas<br /> * 50% off massage therapy and EFT sessions <br /> <br /> <b>Total cost:</b> $175 (give or take for shipping/tax)<br /> <br /> <b>Registration deadline: January 9</b><br /> <b>Course dates: January 19 - 23</b><br /> <br /> To learn more about Reset:<br /> <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usana.com%2Fwebhosting%2Fjennyjup%3Fpage%3Dpage4&h=-AQEd4lzh&enc=AZOU-IANWnnc8dojtezfEGclhSS-TnK5MPEuYzhazw-X2KAVYCK3IyY5NWKkThrYoC4&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.usana.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>webhosting/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>jennyjup?page=page4</a><br /> <br /> Learn more about EFT here:<br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVFKVVP8KXd4&h=AAQHo5yuj&enc=AZM8ZC6qP2QBoKnTaJYVpb62q_SpgXM1rstYRlR3Wb68dT87ESlI6JXY79VHRGbh_CI&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>watch?v=VFKVVP8KXd4</a><br /> <br /> About the Snap the Habit course leaders:<br /> <br />
Jennifer Benorden, B.A., has been working in the field of "wellness"
for nearly 20 years. She is a licensed massage therapist, women's group
facilitator, wellness coach, and Shamanic practitioner. She works with
clients in her office at the Ojas Wellness Center in El Cerrito and in
the surrounding area. She strongly believes in the power of witness and
group support to speed healing. <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.expandwellness.blogspot.com%2F&h=iAQHXsWX5&enc=AZPcEMPXcJUCpwPtXaZN12ZIBfp8R6F1JRk1qzjlLHMntz7eEqOgSHtf3-kch0n4VmE&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.expandwellness.blogspo<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>t.com</a>; <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jennyjup.usana.com%2F&h=aAQEI33vp&enc=AZOOs8li5xz-R5aDsKk_fRM5ASUvjR_Lbgl1IfzdzFJWcg_L5ysRPrqXOjuUPxJNQvA&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.jennyjup.usana.com</a><br /> <br />
Mayah Hegre, B.A.,Licensed Massage Therapist 17 years, Certified
Holistic Health Coach 12 years, and Certified Adv. Emotional Freedom
Technique practitioner 8 years. She brings the wisdom from her own
healing journey and experience from working with many people from all
over the world. Mayah is a compassionate person here to support your
transformation, empowerment, and growth. She provides individual and
group coaching.</span></span>jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-42020256615619376062014-12-30T13:52:00.001-08:002015-01-05T13:24:20.966-08:00Breath, Justice, PTSD, and WellnessBreath.<br />
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It is the most fundamental necessity to sustain life.<br />
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Without breath flowing in and out of our lungs continuously, we die.<br />
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As a massage therapist, breath is one of the most basic ways I begin to attune myself with my clients. When I see that they are holding their breath, I may coach them to take a nice big gulp of fresh air.<br />
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By the same token, when I see that my client is taking a nice deep breath on his or her own, it lets me know that they are taking it in, that they are letting it out, and that they are there with me, experiencing the work.<br />
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As for myself, I notice that I am nearly constantly holding my breath, both in and outside of the massage room.<br />
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For me to take a full diaphragmatic breath without effort is very rare.<br />
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I have been deepening my meditation practice and asking for insights into what is causing this phenomenon, but I have a sneaking suspicion I know what it is:<br />
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PTSD.<br />
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As a sensitive person, an empath, and a "healer", I most definitely notice that certain events whether personal or more collective will have an impact on my energy field, my spirit, my psyche, as well as in my breath.<br />
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Having spent my formative years in a violent household, I know that my system may never recover a fully neutral neurological state. And for that reason, events outside of my personal realm may have a more acute impact on my system than they do on others.<br />
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All this to say, I believe that we here in the United States of America, we citizens who populate this land, who share a common history, whose roots were uprooted and re-rooted here, we who call this land home, we who are known globally simply as, "Americans", I believe we are all suffering a form of PTSD.<br />
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As a nation, we are currently more known for the violence within our police departments and the recently released Torture Report than we are for any other actions done in the name of "Democracy". <br />
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If you pay attention even just a little bit, you will have heard the names Oscar Grant, Trayvon Martin, you will have heard of Mike Brown, of Eric Garner. You will have heard of Newtown, of Columbine, of Andy Lopez.<br />
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You will have heard of Monsanto, of Chevron, of Wounded Knee. You will have heard of Martin Luther King, JR., and you will have heard of Exxon Mobile. <br />
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Our national story is riddled with bullet holes, environmental destruction, racism, violence, broken treaties, and genocide.<br />
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So back to the breath. Mine, yours, ours.<br />
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When you hear of a school shooting, what is the first thing you do? When anything remotely shocking happens, what is that we do?<br />
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We take a deep, sharp inhalation. Typically we hold it in for a minute and our eyes might dart around a little bit while our brows are furrowed.<br />
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Now granted, this doesn't mean you have PTSD! It just means you heard something shocking and took a deep breath. But -- where does it go from there? How do we process the shock? How do you? How do I? <br />
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For myself, the day the courts allowed the cop who killed Eric Garner to walk free, I began to have a pretty hard time breathing.<br />
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It came right on the heels of the cop who killed Mike Brown being allowed to walk free as well, with Ferguson still burning, and I felt the walls closing in on my spirit.<br />
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How could this be happening?<br />
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Eric Garner wasn't doing anything criminal whatsoever. A cop came up to him, put him in an illegal choke hold, strangled him to death in public, and walked away without even getting a trial.<br />
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My community has been out on the streets, blockading traffic, shutting down public transportation, protesting the Department of Justice, chanting and holding signs to let it be known that this was not ok. <br />
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Eric Garner couldn't breathe.<br />
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He died telling the world he couldn't breathe and now we are left, breathing, yes, but -- how well?<br />
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Today, as the year comes to an end, and the reality of events in your personal life and/or those of our world would ask of you to hold your breath, do yourself, and all of us here in our bodies, a favor, and try to take a nice, deep breath.<br />
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The meme, "#icantbreathe" is sweeping social media globally, and it is an apt way to honor the tragedy of Garner's death and the state of our nation. <br />
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How you respond to the racial tensions in our country is up to you. I know for myself I am actively seeking ways I can be a better white ally.<br />
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But, maybe, when you allow the breath to come fully into your body and to release it fully out, just that one act, the most basic fundamental necessity for life, bringing yourself into harmony within your own body, will allow you to be more capable to respond to life's events with more grounding, with more oxygen and grace. Do it for Eric. Do it for Trayvon. Do it for your own children. Breathe fully so that you can be a fully embodied human being, awake, alive, paying attention, and responding appropriately to the events of your day.<br />
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Meditation practice is one of the best ways I know of to not only deepen the breath, but also to just calm the mind. To bring stillness into a typically very busy freeway of thought is a radical action unto itself! <br />
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I wish a Happy New Year to all and may we bring healing and higher vibrations both for ourselves and all our relations.........one breath at a time.....<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-57353028237902289152014-09-20T15:59:00.002-07:002014-09-20T16:05:22.426-07:00Life is for living. Bodies are really helpful for that!When a client walks into my office for massage therapy, I have one main objective, every single time: to bring them more fully into their body while they are in my care.<br />
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They may come in because their spine is out of alignment or they are exhausted from having young children or they have TMJ or they just lost a parent or they are training for a triathlon or they have repetitive stress from being a professional musician or they just had knee replacement surgery or they were rear-ended and are suffering from whiplash or they have a nerve impingement that is inflamed and painful or migraines or plantar fasciatis or frozen shoulder or carpal tunnel.......<br />
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So I listen, and I hear, and I tell them my spiel, and I leave the room and ask them to get on the table. While they are doing so, I wash my hands, and ground myself.<br />
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There is a *human being* in the other room, and I am about to touch them!<br />
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It's pretty remarkable.<br />
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When you think about all the energy that it takes to be a human being, all the years it takes to develop into a mature person, in a functioning (or -- somewhat functioning) body, with a mind that works, lungs that keep the whole thing oxygenated, blood pulsing through all those veins, out to the outer reaches of the fingers and toes...........<br />
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Meanwhile there is a story associated with that body -- an identity -- a personality -- a history. There have been let-downs, there have been injuries, there have been healthy choices and not-so-healthy choices. There have been celebrations, crushing blows, betrayals, shame, confusion, and -- achievements, joy, bliss......all mixed together. It's human life, after all!<br />
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I genuinely view my work as a huge honor and privilege, for mine is the only profession in which we are given the legal right to touch people therapeutically. Our professional training involves learning the different systems of the body: muscular, skeletal, fascial, and to a certain extend the nervous system, and beyond that, there are as many different modalities and techniques as there are stars in the sky.<br />
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For me, approaching my client on the table begins by entering their energy field mindfully by taking a couple of nice deep breaths, and asking them to do the same. In this way, we are beginning to bring ourselves more fully into that very moment, and with any luck in the next hour or so, I am going to be providing not only relief from their particular ailment, but also an honest and more thorough connection within themselves. It could be called sensate awareness, internal awakenings, 'aha' moments that help them to inform how their lived experience is being expressed on the physical plane.<br />
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This is why I call my work, "nurturing deep-tissue", as I bring an energetic component to all of my work whether it's what could be called "clinical", or whether it's what is known as "subtle".<br />
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From Olympic athletes, musicians, exhausted parents, or just busy adults on a given day, most of my clients report that my work is unique. I asked one of my clients to try to explain how so the other day, and she said, "It was more Zen than most massages". By the depth of her breathing by the end of the massage, I would say that we accomplished more than simply relieving the impingement in her ulnar nerve.....but we also achieved my ultimate goal: bringing her more fully into her body.<br />
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aaaaaaah. Such a realm we live in!<br />
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After 18 years in this profession, I am going strong and thrilled to be learning, growing, and deepening my own felt experience along the way.<br />
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Currently I am booking clients in El Cerrito on Thursday afternoons and evenings, occasional in-home sessions, and beginning in October I will be booking on Saturdays in El Cerrito as well.<br />
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Stay tuned for my new menu of services! And contact me directly to schedule a session. It would be my honor and privilege to work with you.<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-28905100627220581712014-08-16T18:37:00.001-07:002014-12-11T13:38:36.262-08:00Snap the HabitOne of the best things I've found about being in a body is the consumption of food. Right??! mmmmm chocolate............<br />
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But if you're anything like me it can be hard to know when to stop sometimes -- even though I know I shouldn't!!!! <br />
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While eating food can be one of life's greatest pleasures, it can also be a source of frustration, shame, and personal torment, as we are faced with a plethora of croissants, pizzas, brownies, bagels, pastas, barbecues and candies. Just knowing what's good for us doesn't seem to be enough for a lot of us who struggle to "eat right". </div>
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For the longest time I felt like I was eating pretty well but couldn't maintain a healthy weight. I would eat an egg with a piece of toast for breakfast, a salad for lunch, a fruit snack mid-afternoon, and a chicken stir-fry with rice for dinner, and while it sounds good on paper, later that night I might feel compelled to eat 5 chocolate-chip cookies......</div>
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In the morning I would wake up feeling hung-over from all the sugar and discouraged, embarrassed, and not to mention a few pounds heavier.<br />
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Many people are like me and eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, try to get organic as much as possible, and eat healthy portions (most of the time....).<br />
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But certainly the classic American diet looks something like this: coffee with bagel or pastry for breakfast, pizza and salad for lunch, candybar mid afternoon, meat and potatoes for dinner (and sometimes dessert after that). <br />
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What this standard diet and variations of it does is spike and drop the blood sugar, going from blissed out and 'high' to a feeling of being critically hungry within a couple of hours. Do you know what I"m talking about? If I eat something that burns quickly -- such as a bagel or a pastry -- within an hour or two I feel like I'm STARVING. </div>
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Actually, the body really does think it's starving, because the spike in blood sugar causes such a surge that when it drops, it drops hard. So most people choose to eat something that's going to boost their energy right away -- and end up spiking up that blood sugar yet again. Then the blood sugar drops and we feel like we're starving, and the cycle never ends.</div>
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The tendency to over-eat, binge, or eat foods that taste great but lack nutritional substance can lead to a plethora of health challenges through the development of insulin resistance -- a precursor to many of the world's leading diseases such as heart-disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke, vascular disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, fatty liver, and more. <br />
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That's why I'm so excited to be offering my new program: "Snap the Habit" -- a 5-day dietary cleanse which helps to reset the body's glycemic index (check out the video below to learn more about this proven cleanse), combined with an energy psychology tool known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), which helps to reset our emotional stories in general, and around food and eating specifically for this course (see video below to learn more).<br />
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In the last 6 months I've lost a total of about 15 pounds consistently, and I know that doing the AIDS Lifecycle and biking my butt off helped a lot (see earlier post on this blog). Since doing this cleanse a few times over the past couple of years, I can say that I am a whole lot more consistent now about my eating choices than I used to be. For me doing this cleanse is not so much about having a skinnier waist (although -- cool bonus!!), as it is about avoiding serious health problems down the road. I have a history of heart disease, diabetes and stroke in my family after all.....</div>
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It's common knowledge that eating and food choices can be intricately linked with emotional ups and downs. Who doesn't want "comfort food" after a rough day at work or "a treat" after a long week? With Snap the Habit, we will be interrupting the craving tendency on a cellular level, effectively making it much easier to make a healthy choice, and giving ourselves a much stronger chance to remain healthy and vibrant throughout our lives!! <br />
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Combining EFT with the 5-day cleanse provides the double whammy effect by addressing the underlying beliefs which drive our food choices, while simultaneously normalizing blood-sugar levels with yummy shakes, bars, vitamins, and coaching to support participants throughout. <br />
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Snap the Habit is an exciting pairing and I'm so excited to be launching it this month!!!</div>
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With this course participants will receive:<br />
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* 2 one-on-one coaching sessions<br />
* 3 group EFT sessions<br />
* 5-day supply of shakes, bars, and vitamins<br />
* 50% off massage therapy and EFT sessions from course teachers<br />
* proprietary training videos in EFT from one of the world's leading experts<br />
* private facebook group for ongoing support to sustain a low-glycemic diet <br />
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Total cost: $175 (includes products + coaching)<br />
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Registration Deadline: Friday, December 26<br />
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Dates of Course: Monday, January 4 - Friday, January 8<br />
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To register please contact me directly at jenniferbenorden@gmail.com to schedule your first coaching session and order your cleanse.<br />
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To learn more about the cleanse:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.usana.com/webhosting/jennyjup?page=page4" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.usana.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>webhosting/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>jennyjup?page=page4</a></span><br />
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To learn more about the science behind EFT and how it can re-wire our thinking:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFKVVP8KXd4" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=VFKVVP8KXd4</a></span><br />
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Course leaders:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jennifer Jupiter Benorden, B.A., musician, filmmaker, and licensed massage therapist 18 years, Wellness Consultant 8 years, women's group facilitator 15 years, Shamanic practitioner, 10 years. She believes strongly in the body's ability to heal, and also in the power of witness and group support to speed healing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.expandwellness.blogspot.com%2F&h=FAQHMaD0C&enc=AZOK8Wv5gBAwscFx2R8ZxEi-7nOTIj3zcJAVLQLRzOD3sVd2U0hYnZeFh-jfZMiWfJQ&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.expandwellness.blogspo<wbr></wbr>t.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.jennyjup.usana.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.jennyjup.usana.com; www.holycrapthefilm.com </a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mayah Hegre, B.A.,Licensed Massage Therapist 17 years, Certified Holistic Health Coach 12 years, and Certified Adv. Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner 8 years. She brings the wisdom from her own healing journey and experience from working with many people from all over the world. Mayah is a compassionate person here to support your transformation, empowerment, and growth. She provides individual and group sessions in San Francisco Bay Area. www.wellnessmentorsf.com </span><br />
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jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-27942998558776390182014-07-28T17:44:00.001-07:002014-08-07T15:16:57.614-07:00My uterus. That bitch! I don't miss her.....It was 1991 the first time my uterus tried to kill me. The second time was about 10 years later in 2001 when I had a seizure-like menstrual cramp.....<br />
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I had just ridden my bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the California AIDS Ride (with my best friend EVER Tonia Lach), and had started my period on the morning of the last day of the 7-day ride. At that point I was still having pretty regular periods, but usually had a lot of cramping on my first day.<br />
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Amazingly, I finished the ride without any cramps (though I did cry my eyeballs out the whole last day because i couldn't believe I rode my bicycle to LA!!!! hormones? perhaps....). But that evening when shopping for dinner preparations with my friends I had a really scary cramp. I felt like someone had just grabbed my womb and squeezed it very hard and it took my breath away. It only lasted for a second but I went outside and sat down on the sidewalk. I'm kind of looking around like, 'What the heck is happening??' It happened one more time while I was sitting there. My entire uterus clenched down on itself like a very strong jaw, locking (hmmmm, symbolic? I know that not speaking one's truth can lead to a lot of different physical ailments.....).<br />
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I didn't tell any of my friends that night. I didn't tell anybody about it and I did not call a doctor - even though I knew that was very abnormal. But it was also very abnormal for me to ride 560 miles in a single week. Since I had just completed a full week of very intense physical fitness (because I am a bad-ass athlete!!!!), I just kind of let it go..... <br />
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Over the course of the next few years, my monthly cycle became an increasingly prominent player in the scope of my life. I had been told I had fibroids in 1991, when I had an ectopic pregnancy that nearly killed me. The doctor said I was very lucky to be alive and good luck and oh yeah - you have fibroids on your uterus but they are very common and not to worry about them.<br />
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"What are they?", I naturally asked.<br />
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"Benign growths", he said. " One in three women have them. Shouldn't be a problem. Just keep an eye on them."<br />
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It would have been so nice if the doctor at that time had told me that while one in three women will develop fibroids, some of them will also have extreme complications as a result. <br />
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I was definitely one of them. I remember one cramp in particular that came over me while I was walking down the hallway to the bathroom. It crippled me to the floor.<br />
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Where do uterine fibroids come from? Why have they become so prevalent? We know that they are caused by excess estrogen -- but a lot of research (and my instincts) tells me environmental toxins in our air, water, food, and body products are at least partly to blame. One in three women have fibroids which can lead to sterility. In my thinking, that is epidemic proportions of something that could result in human extinction!! (Maybe that's why we always see these apocalyptic films foretelling the end of times....).<br />
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One doctor I was seeing almost demanded that I have a hysterectomy. She was concerned I might become anemic (which I eventually did.....), and she was concerned I might develop cancer (which is VERY rare when it comes to fibroids). But even though I didn't really think I wanted children (since my first child sorta tried to kill me.....), I wanted to save my uterus and avoid what I felt was an over-used procedure for something that could be healed naturally. It didn't help that she was cold and pushy and didn't seem interested in me as a person. <br />
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In all the reading I was doing (Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, by Dr. Christiane Northrup, and A Path of Practice, by Bri Maya Tiwari, were my favorites) I learned that there were so many ways to heal naturally from fibroids. I delved into all of them by changing my diet, by pursuing my passions, drinking certain teas and doing hot compresses and acupuncture and eliminating coffee and caffeine altogether and changing my body-care products and by doing certain yoga poses and by writing in my journal, having more sex, doing breathing exercises, spending more time in nature, and more.<br />
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The things that seemed to make the biggest difference in my experience were: high-quality (as in, not store-bought) vitamins, regular exercise, learning how not to rush, no caffeine of any kind while bleeding, and doing my best to keep my environment drama and stress-free during my cycle. <br />
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There were months that seemed like I was going to be normal again. There were times where I would have a pretty easy cycle with no big bleeds and no scary cramps at all! But by 2011, 10 years after the first scary cramp, I started to have more bleeding, more clots, more intense cramps, and longer cycles.<br />
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I was still hoping I could recover my uterus and get back to normal, and began writing a uterus journal. I would ask my uterus what she needed. I was attempting to tune in but often times what I found was a blank stare looking back at me. I was depleted in every sense of the word, and I think by then I was just exhausted trying to build a bridge to a dying island......<br />
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In April, 2012 I finally realized the time had come. I needed to have the surgery. It had become completely unmanageable, and by May I actually had to have a blood transfusion because I almost passed out from severe anemia. <br />
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I met a surgeon who was young, hip, and an expert in laparascopic hysterectomies. The first time I went to her office a huge clot passed onto the floor while I was waiting in the exam room. She came in as I was heading towards the napkins to try to clean it up. I was completely mortified (shame from bleeding goes deep) but she put me at ease right away if you can believe it, and reassured me that she was the woman for the job.<br />
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We scheduled the surgery for 2 months out and I had to have 3 more blood transfusions during this time. I became very familiar with the nurses at the transfusion clinic, as the procedure took several hours at a time.<br />
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A few days before my surgery I gathered my close friends together and invited them to my "fibroid shower". I decided that I wanted to have a blessingway like my friends did who were having babies, for the fibroids that I was going to "birth".<br />
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The so-called shower was really more of a mindful ceremony. My mom had flown out to support me after the surgery, and I was so glad she was here. It made a huge difference for me! My best friend helped me create the ceremony. We asked each person to come wearing something that represented their feminine, and to bring a special bead for me. I read some of the writing I had been doing to and from my uterus, and introduced everyone and how much they meant to me.<br />
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Then each person expressed their intentions for me with my surgery, and breathed their intentions into the bead they had brought. One of my friends strung the beads onto a strand, and I put it inside of a bag to have with me during the surgery.<br />
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In reading Dr. Northrup's suggestions to prepare for surgery, I was inspired to ask my surgeon to participate in setting a clear intention for a safe, successful surgery, and she was completely agreeable. The night before the surgery I wrote out several statements for her to read before she made the first incision, before she started removing the uterus, and after the last stitch was sewn.<br />
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Before falling asleep I wrote one last time in my uterus journal and thanked her for all of the lessons she had taught me. I asked her if she had anything she wanted to tell me or ask of me, and the one thing she wanted was that I share my journey, that I share my lessons, that I teach what I have learned to others.<br />
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The morning of my surgery I awoke with an almost ecstatic feeling. I was ready in every way. I had the support of my community, I had a very competent surgeon, I had made peace with my uterus, was ready to let her go, felt that she was in agreement with the decision, and was just about as stoked as I could possibly be to put an end to the blood-letting that had (ahem) colored my life for far too long.....<br />
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I offer this blog post to honor the request my uterus made of me. So: for all who suffer from uterine disorders, for all who live with those who suffer uterine disorders, for all who are attempting to make sense of their monthly cycles, to all who witnessed my extreme bleeding, to all who saw my face getting paler, and paler, and paler as the anemia became more and more advanced, to those who seek natural solutions, to my community who came around me so close when I needed them, to those who may not understand what some women are going through, this is for you.<br />
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A couple of months ago I did the AIDS ride for the second time (with my amazing sister and her partner!!!!!! Team Jupter what??? see previous blog post). It was the perfect full circle.......<br />
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Even though I'm revealing a lot of very personal information here, it feels good to share my story. I want folks to know that they are not alone, and that there are ways to manage their symptoms. I am so happy to talk with anyone who wants to compare notes on what they have found is working for them, questions they have about different approaches. I am available to support anyone wanting to prepare for surgery or to discuss some of their options. I believe that if I had incorporated some of the habits I did to heal the fibroids earlier on, they may not have advanced the way they did!<br />
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I do not miss my uterus. I do not miss the bleeding whatsoever (are you kidding me??). Instead I feel, still, to this day, a huge relief that I parted ways with that organ. Was she a bitch? Sort of because she almost killed me. But it's not her fault, so I forgive her. She was a real fighter! May she rest in peace......<br />
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www.drnorthrup.com<br />
www.mayatiwari.com<br />
www.jennyjup.usana.com <br />
www.facebook.com/ExpandCommunityWellness<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-16117693014909744232014-05-01T16:47:00.001-07:002014-05-02T09:50:53.227-07:00I'm doing the AIDS Lifecycle!!!In just shy of one month I will be embarking on a very exciting journey. My sister Suzanne, her partner Christie, and I will begin riding our bicycles (along with about 2500 other riders) from San Francisco to Los Angeles.<br />
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The AIDS Lifecycle is a 545-mile supported ride beginning June 1. We'll start at San Francisco's Cow Palace, and travel down the summer coast of California and the cilantro-scented fields of the Central Valley -- and over many, many, MANY hills......to arrive in Los Angeles on June 7.<br />
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This ride is a massive undertaking and is an opportunity for every rider to test their limits, increase their fitness, and raise money to support the SF AIDS Foundation and the LA LGBT Center -- two organizations leading the charge in the global AIDS epidemic.<br />
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Did you know that over 1.1 million people in the US are HIV positive? Globally over 33 million people are struggling with this virus, and there is currently no known cure. But there are organizations which offer support, resources, jobs, and medicine, and the AIDS lifecycle supports two of the best right here in California.<br />
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This will be my second time riding in the event, as I did it back in 2001 with my dear friend Tonia Lach. We did all our training on our own and showed up on Day 1 having never met anyone else on the ride!! But this time, my team mates live in Eugene, OR, so I've been mostly riding in the awesome official ALC training rides and have also done dozens of rides with friends and solo. <br />
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In this time I've seen my fitness level increase from practically bonking out on my very first ALC training ride (with two ride leaders following me all the way up to the Golden Gate bridge through Sausalito -- a notorious ascent at the top of which I nearly chucked it), to riding 60-miles solo over two other notorious ascents in the East Bay: the 3 Bears and Grizzly Peak, and feeling super strong at the end. <br />
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One of the most remarkable things for me this time around with this ride is, at least so far anyway, I've had very minimal pain in my knees. This is remarkable primarily because I've had two major knee injuries (a broken tibia at the knee back in 1996, and a torn ACL on the other knee a few years later. The ACL has never been surgically repaired).<br />
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When I did the ride in 2001, I definitely struggled with knee pain. It's a bit of a paradox, because riding can be very good for strengthening the quadraceps and the hamstrings and certainly the calf muscles as well. But it also puts a lot of strain on the knee joint if you're not careful.<br />
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This time around I'm managing my knee and over-all fitness with a combination of things: high-quality vitamins, yoga, and the styrofoam roller.<br />
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The vitamins I take are the very same vitamins taken by Olympic athletes the world over, and I can tell you they are definitely making a difference. When I started training in September, I was having some serious pain after riding -- the next day or even later that night. I would experience excruciating pain when getting up from sitting, and would have to walk a bit before it would start to subside.<br />
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Since starting the supplement routine, I've noticed that doesn't really happen at all.<br />
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This is what I am taking: Procosa, a wonderful joint formula; ProflavonolC, a mega-antioxidant and natural anti-inflammatory, L-glutamine for muscle recovery, and a high-powered multi-vitamin in addition to a fish oil supplement, and calcium.<br />
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If you're a weekend warrior, a professional athlete, or just someone who struggles with joint pain, you may find these vitamins support you as well! You can check them out at my website here: www.jennyjup.usana.com.<br />
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The foam roller is also crucial. I use it to keep my back open after all the leaning forward, and also to roll out my quads, hamstrings, and the calf muscles as well. It really helps to keep the muscles more supple after working them so hard!<br />
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In addition, I am doing yoga daily, drinking a lot of water, cutting back on all dairy products, and increasing my commitment to sleep. <br />
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These things have all been making a huge difference and I'm thrilled to be almost ready!! <br />
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I am asking 100 people to support my ride with $20 minimum donations so that I can finish my fundraising within the next week. Currently I'm about 42% of the way there!!! <br />
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We're offering raffle tickets for every $20 donated and the raffle prizes include a case of Oakshire beer, some very special wine, artwork, bodywork treatments, and more.<br />
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Will you be one of my 100? You can make your <a href="http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=2998016&pg=personal&fr_id=1630">donations here.</a><br />
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Thank you so much and stay strong! If you're of sound body and mind, it's your choice to do so...... <br />
<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-90639978099318053892014-02-11T13:51:00.002-08:002014-05-01T16:29:33.201-07:00Family Spa DayThis year marks my 18th year as a therapeutic massage therapist, and throughout this time I have had the distinct honor and pleasure of working with thousands of clients in many different environments: spas, corporate board rooms, in-home, and in private offices.<br />
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Certainly one of the best things about my work is the feedback I often get that I "make people feel better". Hearing that is a wonderful bonus but what my clients may not realize is that, quite often, the energetic exchange is mutual. In other words, when I have a client who is very receptive to my work, takes it in, and allows it to change her somehow, there is something similar happening for me within my own internal world. <br />
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While I am helping another person to unwind their tension, the tension within my own system begins to unwind as well! It is a delightful part of the work that only other therapists can really understand.<br />
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There has never been a better example of this mutually healing dynamic than I have with a mother-daughter team who have been bringing me into their home now for over a year on a monthly basis for what has become known as, "Family Spa Day".<br />
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On Saturday, I showed up at their house and everything was set up just the way we like it: a couple of extra blankets on the couch in case it gets chilly, two cups of water set out with a candle lit, and a great station playing on internet radio. <br />
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The mom was first to receive yesterday, and it was so much fun to work with her as she had a terrible break in her wrist last winter, and it is healing so well!!! I am very proud of her progress. There is really nothing more satisfying to me as a massage therapist than for someone with a severe injury to trust me enough to work with it. It is the greatest privilege of all!!! She went into a deep, quiet place throughout our two-hour massage.<br />
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Working with her daughter has always been very special, and our session yesterday was no exception. She is one of the rare people who see colors and auras, and during our sessions she often has multi-dimensional information showing up. Something about her deep receptivity always seems to allow for me to witness or transform something within my own physical/energetic dimensions.<br />
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I feel like I grow as a person just spending time with these two ladies, and after our sessions yesterday, they booked Family Spa Day for the next 4 months!!! I left their house feeling so blessed and full and rich and beyond grateful. <br />
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The truth is I burst into tears as I drove away. It is just so rewarding when you see your skills, experience, training, and heart-work met with so much enthusiasm and gratitude, and to be compensated well and to be asked back again and again. <br />
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I cried out of gratitude, out of sheer heart-opening and love for these two women, and for the beauty of the path I have walked now for 18 years, the path of providing therapeutic touch to human beings, and some non-human animals as well including horses, dogs, cats, (and one very lucky coyote -- a story for another time). <br />
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Happy Valentine's Day all! May you receive the best massage of your lives.....<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-29926767261045201492013-12-17T01:08:00.001-08:002013-12-17T01:08:52.447-08:00Where do you feel it? School shootingsI don't know if anyone's noticed.....but it seems like we might have an epidemic of violence breaking out in schools throughout the country.<br />
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The phenomenon is deeply disturbing and one that deserves a great deal of attention in our national discourse. <br />
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I have a lot of ideas about what I think is helping to create the conditions for these acts of terror. <br />
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But what I'm interested in right now is this:<br />
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Where does this live in your body?<br />
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Where does it live in mine?<br />
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All of us are having to process the information, digest the information if you will, to absorb the information into our brains. But where does it go from there?<br />
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Unfortunately I don't believe that it just disappears into thin air. <br />
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I believe that this information that is part of our collective consciousness is being interwoven into our very cells! It is irrefutably a part of our collective and our personal experiences, and yet, where can we go to discuss the impact of this information on our systems? Where can we go to release the shock of these reports? <br />
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Make no mistake: school shootings are causing a shock to our systems on some level, certainly some people are more sensitive to it than others. <br />
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For example, one thing it is doing to our systems is making us numb. It's a great way to deal with shock! Very clever design. Of course when intense things happen, it's a survival instinct to go numb, to go into automatic, to "get busy".<br />
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But when events of this nature begin to become common occurrence, is it a <i>good</i> sign we don't feel it as intensely as the first one, or the second one......or the third?<br />
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How can we pay attention to the news these days and not go either numb or completely crazy?<br />
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Reflections for our times. There are no easy answers. <br />
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But I encourage us to look for ways to support each other to stay more present, to stay more embodied, through these types of events, in which we are all collectively unwitting participants.<br />
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Therapeutic touch is a great way to manage this type of stress and I would particularly seek out a Cranio-sacral therapist (I am not certified although I know some of the theory and points). Cranio-sacral works directly on the nervous system and has a very calming effect on the body over-all.<br />
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How do you manage these types of events in your life? Do you talk about it with people? Do you feel like you hold this type of stress shock in a particular part of your body? I look forward to reading your comments below.<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-7476431272399874952013-12-05T17:06:00.001-08:002014-09-02T14:19:19.726-07:00Parkinson's and therapeutic touchToday I am seeing a woman for the second time at my new office in El Cerrito. (Ojas yoga Studio, 707 El Cerrito Plaza -- above Trader Joe's). I was one of the first people in her life that she told: she had just been diagnosed with Parkinson's.<br />
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I've worked with one other person with Parkinson's before. That person had pretty advanced tremors at the time that we started our session. But when we finished the session, the tremors had completely calmed down.<br />
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The effect of therapeutic touch on the nervous system cannot be emphasized enough.<br />
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The truth is, a lot of muscular tension is related to anxiety, stress, and emotional holding patterns. These issues can often times be better served by addressing the nervous system, not the muscles..... <br />
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However, I am finding more and more that with Parkinson's, deeper work can help to awaken the connection between the limbs and the brain, healing at last temporarily one of the conditions of this complicated condition.<br />
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During my first session with the client I will be seeing later today, she had only very slight tremors to begin with, but they did seem to calm down during our session as well. I hope to see that they have not gotten any worse!<br />
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Based on my research at www.sanoviv.com, I will be recommending that she make sure she is taking plenty of B12, which helps maintain a good and healthy nervous system, I will make sure she is taking digestive enzymes or a good probiotic, to strengthen digestion, and finally, I am going to recommend that she take as many antioxidants as possible, as they are proven to fight free radicals and keep cells healthy longer.<br />
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Do you or any one you know have Parkinson's? I would be interested to hear their story and whether they have found therapeutic touch to be a beneficial part of their treatment program. <br />
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Motor function -- you forget that it's there until the moment it's gone.........<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-67235118220683152632013-10-29T18:04:00.000-07:002013-10-29T19:49:55.937-07:00Foot Pain: A Window into the Soul<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“<i>The foot is a miracle of architecture” </i>~ Leonardo DaVinci</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This past Sunday I had the pleasure of attending a workshop over at Loka Yoga in Oakland, run by the wonderful Alice Jouneau. The workshop focused entirely on the foot, primarily how to move through life without pain in the feet.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Often times it is assumed that getting older must be accompanied by a tendency toward stiffness and achiness in the joints. But with Alice’s assistance, I feel pretty excited about the future of life with my feet. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’ll be honest with you: they’ve been really hurting me lately.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That’s why I begged her to let me into the workshop after it had already been closed. My feet have been very sore, and particularly when i get up from having been sitting, for a few years now, and usually alternating locations from one foot to the other or from one part of the foot to another.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For me I have pain around the lateral metatarsals alternating on both feet. Someone jumped on my left foot one time while dancing, both of us were barefoot, and this person jumped on me while skipping around a room -- quite accidentally of course! But it left a lasting impression on my nervous system, on my muscles, and on my bones there.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I had it x-rayed, and no visible breakage had occurred, so that’s good. But it just sometimes aches a great deal and so what I’ve come to realize is that -- these injuries, these incidents, these moments in time in which our bodies are demanded to respond to pain - to recover - to heal -- these “moments” in the body, if you will, become lasting teachers on how to make a come-back! They become the intersections of time, history, and awareness, and they seem to know a great deal about us.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pain points in the body are chalk-full of information about how we respond to pain, how we can choose to ignore pain, how we exacerbate pain, how we manage pain, how we adapt. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I find it to be the case often times in my work that people will say to me, “Oh my right shoulder is killing me”, but then when we get into working together we find that actually the LEFT side was the one that was holding more tension. In those times I wonder if the pain signals are meant to be some sort of an echo calling to the other side of the body to wake up, across the canyon of bone and nerve and blood and memory all the way over to the other side of a person’s torso where everything is trained in the opposite direction, and calling, “wake up! wake up!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The pain sings the song of imbalance. It tells the story of discord, it harkens the way. It tells us exactly what is happening. We just need to understand how to respond!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A lot of pain in the body is caused exclusively from imbalance in the habits of posture and use. When we can correct the habits the pain almost always goes away. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">To learn how to feel better, how to allow the pain to guide us into healthier habits of usage, we must pay attention. We must adhere to the message we are being given, that there is an imbalance somewhere that must be addressed. Whatever it is, just trust that it can be corrected. Get interested in that area. Go to a yoga class, to a physical therapist, to a massage therapist, and get input on how to respond to the pain. Do what they tell you, trial and error, find the ones that work best for you, start feeling less pain, celebrate the joy of proper movement with alignment and balance, and move forward through time without the hindrance of pain!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In Alice Juneau’s workshop, I finally got the kind of information that has this kind of lasting impact. How to properly walk and bear weight on one’s feet is surely one of the most basic ways to avoid pain in the body.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The feet are carrying us through time and they really do have the miraculous architecture Leonardo DaVinci proclaimed!!!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Understanding the flexibility inherent to the structure of the foot, how much movement is available within the body of the foot that most people have lost over years and years of inactivity. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Try this exercise</b>: close your eyes and slowly begin to pick up and put down each of your toes one by one without moving any other toes.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There are a few people out there who can do this right away and bravo!!! if you’re one of them. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">MOST PEOPLE won’t be able to do this and that’s ok. It’s just a wonderful thing to know that your feet have as much dexterity as your hands do, and when you begin articulating more of their capacity, and when you activate their potential, they start to feel better. The workshop was 2 days ago and I’m already having more success with this exercise......just think after 50 more years!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The beauty of the workshop was that I felt an awakening within the many, many joints within the foot, I felt the space returning, and since then have also been practicing conscious walking, applying the lessons I learned from the workshop, and giving more attention to the way in which I am using my feet.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Also, as always happens, whenever I have a new awakening of awareness within my own body, it shows up in my work as a massage therapist where suddenly I have more insights into how to help other folks with their bodies! So now I’m extra interested in working with people’s feet .</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Amazing! Feet are just simply amazing. There are 26 bones in there!! Get interested in them. They will thank you for it......</span><br />
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www.lokayogaoakland.com</div>
jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-85005467262024401662013-09-05T13:55:00.003-07:002013-09-05T13:55:53.028-07:00the sky is falling! Back in January, 2010, there was a huge earthquake which shook the city of Port au Prince, Haiti, in such a violent fashion that hundreds of poorly-constructed concrete buildings crumbled in an instant, crushing people, trapping others, injuring more, and sending the country into deeper chaos.<br />
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This is not news to anyone, but for me, it seemed like that earthquake shook my very soul.<br />
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At that time I had traveled twice to Haiti and had many friends living and working there. That morning I had spent time on a phone call with a very close friend who was struggling with some work concerns, and so my mind was already in Haiti.<br />
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When I heard about the earthquake, it seemed like time stood still. And, for me, here in my body, in my mind, and in my spirit, it took about a year before everything started to flow again.<br />
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I was beside myself. I could not think about anything else. Literally, I could not think about anything else besides the country of Haiti, my friends in Haiti, the disaster relief that was not getting to people, a country already on its knees getting hit over the head by this earthquake.<br />
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I was holding my breath all the time, I felt confused by my priorities. Breathe for myself, or worry about Haiti seemed like my only choices.<br />
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It was a terribly unhealthy response and I learned a great deal about myself through the process. <br />
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I know it is cliche, but they say to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping any children when flying on an airplane. I know that in order to be present to "help" anyone or to be of any use at all, I need to be of sound mind, I need to be relatively healthy and strong, I need to be vibrant and capable.<br />
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The earthquake of Haiti helped me to see that I am quick to set aside my own needs when faced with disaster, and slowly now more than 3 years later I am learning to allow myself to prioritize my own health over everything else there is to worry about in the world -- if only so that I can be more prepared to respond to it!<br />
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Currently our country is on the verge of bombing Syria. I don't have a close personal friend living in Syria right now, but that doesn't diminish the reality that millions of people do.<br />
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When things happen that seem out of our control, what is the best way to take care of ourselves?<br />
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I learned that it was ok to have a nice hot bath, even though *most people in the world* will never be offered that privilege. I learned that it is ok for me to enjoy a good laugh and a home-cooked meal, even though *most people in the world* struggle to feed their families on a daily basis.<br />
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These insights might seem elementary to some of my readers, but for me, it has been a big turning point in my self-care. Many of my friends and colleagues are on the front-lines of resistance against the war machine, are putting their time, money, and resources toward environmental recovery, are giving their life-force toward making the world a safer place for people of all colors, genders, and sexual orientations. <br />
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How can we best care for ourselves in the midst of these huge global concerns? <br />
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I know many folks don't pay attention for exactly this reason -- it's too exhausting to pay attention! It's too depressing. It's too overwhelming.<br />
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To pay attention and to stay healthy at the same time is my objective and my desire, and why I am launching my new business, Expand Community Wellness.<br />
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Stay tuned for more and let me know how you take care of yourself when the world throws you a curve ball in the comments below. <br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-27583438530756049062013-08-29T00:23:00.000-07:002013-08-29T00:30:09.069-07:00Therapeutic TouchYesterday I had a client pull me aside after her 50-minute massage and ask me, "Can you explain to me what it is that you are doing?"<br />
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She had come to see me 2 weeks prior, and had been very anxious going into the massage, because she had a spasm and didn't want it to be aggravated by the session. I completely understand that, as this very thing has happened to me! I understood that she was feeling guarded -- a bit nervous that she would get re-injured.</div>
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But I actually really love working with traumatized tissue, parts of the body that are upset, injured, angry, hurting. There is a way that I believe the tissue wants to be acknowledged. It wants to be seen and heard, just like the rest of us. I guess you could say my work essentially affects the nervous system as well as the breath and the body mind. But I do not do cranio-sacral, nor do I officially do Reiki, nor do I do trigger-point, nor do I do any particular tradition exclusively. I do my own unique blend of these and many other types of work -- as do all of my colleagues in the biz! It's a great line of work for creative folks, as there a gazillion different ways to approach working with the human body.</div>
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I actually call my work, "nurturing deep-tissue" (and by "deep" I don't necessarily mean working deeply into the body of the muscle. In some situations very light touch can have a very deep impact!), and the session worked great for my client, as she came back two weeks later and pulled me aside to ask where my work is coming from. She has received a lot of massages, and was just genuinely curious about my work. </div>
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I work very, very slowly. It is not for everyone. The way I look at it, there is so much information in every little tiny "moment" in the body. Every single part of us knows our story, knows our history, knows our fears, and knows our lessons. The last joint on my right index finger is going to have a unique set of information as compared to - say -- my jaw or the top of the trapesius or my left ankle. If I move too fast, I don't get to find out what that joint on the right index finger might have to say! It can help me understand what's going on with the elbow, and with the shoulder -- with my client.</div>
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For me, therapeutic touch is a huge privilege. My very first teacher, Johanna Putnoi, taught me to hold a space of unconditional regard for my clients. Coming to the table for me is a humbling experience. No matter what, living in a body is complicated! We have sooooo many choices about how to hold ourselves, what to do with our heads, our hips, our feet. We are constantly straining our bodies -- most of us -- all the time -- just walking around! We have developed terrible habits based on many different factors cultural, familial, injury-related, etc. Now add to that the normal stresses of life, job loss, birth, death, financial pressures, depression, disease. Hopefully my clients come away feeling a little more ready to face it all..........</div>
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I'd be curious of my readers who receives regular bodywork and if you find it to be supportive of your healing process! Comment below. </div>
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jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3111870867197553665.post-39264663672699310352013-08-05T19:21:00.001-07:002013-08-05T19:21:23.838-07:00Vitamin DThis past spring I had the pleasure of working the USANA booth at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament in Palm Springs. It was hot and humid and the tennis was awesome. It was fun to get to see the game close up and to meet and talk to the sports fans in person about their health.<br />
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USANA is the official supplier of vitamins for the tennis players, as professional athletes have to be extra careful what supplements they take. Athletes were testing positive for banned substances just from taking their over-the-counter vitamins!! Pro athletes have lost their trophies and their ability to compete from taking these vitamins.<br />
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What this means is that most vitamins are full of fillers and banned substances. The companies can get away with it because nobody is testing them.<br />
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This sad reality became abundantly clear when I started talking to a woman who is dealing with breast cancer. Her doctor has told her she is deficient in Vitamin D, as most folks are, but every time she tried a vitamin D supplement, she would have a terrible break out.<br />
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Understandably she assumed it was a reaction to the vitamin D itself, but we suggested that she may actually be having a reaction to the fillers instead! She agreed to try USANA's Vitamin D to test our theory.<br />
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Sure enough, after a couple of weeks i followed up with her and to her amazement, she was not having the breakouts!! She was surprised but I was not. I hear stories like this *all the time*.<br />
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Do you know if you are getting enough Vitamin D? Do you know if you can trust your vitamins? <br />
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If there is no "potency guarantee" on the label, or if your vitamins are from a regular store or even a health food store, there is an almost guarantee that what is on the label is not in each pill inside. <br />
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But don't take my word for it! Check out the Nutrisearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements, put out by the Canadian government. It is a comprehensive analysis done every few years and provides a rating from 0-5, 0 being lowest of the low, 5 being highest.<br />
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The vitamins that get a zero rating are just a waste of your money. If you love to flush money down the toilet, then keep taking them! There are 4 companies that have gotten the highest rating every year since this guide has come out. <br />
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www.comparativeguide.com<br />
www.jennyjup.usana.com<br />
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<br />jenny JUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512250901791142691noreply@blogger.com2