"Walking meditation is a simple way to connect with your spirit and mother earth in a very grounded way.

 Many of us take the benefits of walking for granted. Each day we limit the steps we take by driving or sitting for long periods of time. But walking even a few blocks a day has unlimited benefits – not only for our health, but our spirit as well, for as we walk, we connect with the earth.

 Even when walking on concrete, the earth is still beneath us, supporting us. Walking lets our body remember simpler times, when life was less complicated. This helps us slow down to the speed of our body and take the time to integrate the natural flow of life into our cellular tissue. Instead of running from place to place or thinking about how much more we can fit into our day, walking allows us to exist in the moment.

 Each step we take can lead us to becoming more mindful of ourselves and our feelings. Walking slows us down enough not only to pay attention to where we are in our body, but also to our breath. Taking time to simply notice our breath while we walk, through the length of our inhales and exhales, and becoming attuned to the way in which we breathe is taking a step towards mindfulness. When we become more mindful, we gradually increase our awareness of the environment around us and start to recognize that the normal flow of our thoughts and feelings are not always related to where we are in the present moment. Gradually we realize that the connection we have with the earth and the ground beneath our feet is all that is. By walking and practicing breathing mindfully we gain a sense of calm and tranquility -- the problems and troubles of the day slowly fade away because we are in the ‘now’.

The simplicity and ease of a walking practice allows us to create time, space and awareness of our surroundings and of the wonders that lie within. Taking a few moments to walk each day and become more aware of our breath will in turn open the door for the beauty of the world around us to filter in." M. Taylor

" Incorporating human touch in to our everyday lives is vital to the healing of our emotional and physical selves.

 Sometimes we might concentrate so much on our spiritual lives that we overlook the wonders of being present in our physical form. When we are more aware of the fact that our bodies are also important in terms of our personal growth, we may find it easier to nurture them. One of the most powerful ways to do this is through human touch, for a loving, comforting touch allows us to access the part of ourselves that yearns for a sense of oneness with the world around us. Even simple forms of touch connect us not just to our bodies but also to the energetic presence of other people.

 There are so many ways to incorporate touch in our daily lives, one of the easiest being a heartfelt embrace. Just making a point to hug someone on a daily basis and really feel our energy pass between each other can strengthen the bonds that keep us together. Hugs help us heal any hurt or upset we may have recently experienced by letting us release into the moment of the embrace and realize that no matter what happens to us, we have someone in our lives who supports and cares for us.

 Another nourishing form of touch is massage. While we may think of massage as a luxury, it is actually an ancient form of healing that enables us to open up our energetic pathways in order to receive unlimited energy from the universe. It doesn’t matter whether a simple massage comes from a loved one or a massage therapist, but by giving ourselves the gift of massage every once in a while, we are doing something healthy and beneficial for our bodies. Massage helps our bodies activate their own restorative powers, creating a wonderful way to engage fully in our own healing.

 Letting ourselves take advantage of the healing nature of touch creates space where we can truly live in and experience the world through our bodies, allowing us to completely immerse ourselves in the loving sense of joy and wonder that is our life. "
- by M.Taylor

Heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, uranium and aluminum may enter the human body through food, water, air, or by absorption through the skin. These toxins contribute to serious health problems in the human body. If you have dental fillings, have been vaccinated or have eaten seafood, then your body is most likely to be contaminated.

It’s important to cleanse our bodies on a cellular level. You can do this through eating cleansing foods (organic fruits and vegetables), drinking vegetable juices, taking natural supplements (like chlorella), sweating (through exercise, hot yoga or sauna), and by using breathing techniques.

One of my favorite ways to detox my body is to have green vegetable juice. It is a great routine to get into ... make it a priority to take care of your health. Green juice is my daily, drinkable health insurance, providing the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants my body needs.

This particular 'detox' juice is packed with detoxifying foods which strengthen the liver, bind the heavy metals in the body and help eliminate them.

Heavy Metal Detox Juice 

Serves 1

Ingredients
•2 small beets (or 1 large beet)
•4 cups chopped kale
•2 cups chopped celery
•1 medium cucumber
•1/2 lime
•1 bunch of parsley
•1 bunch of cilantro
•2 inches ginger
•1-2 tsp. chia seeds (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash all ingredients. Choose organic if possible.

2. Run all the ingredients (minus chia seeds) through the juicer, or blend all ingredients (minus chia seeds) in a blender if you don't have a juicer. If using a blender, and the juice is extremely thick, you can use a strainer to remove larger particles (optional). 

3. If using, add the chia seeds to your prepared juice, and leave to soak for about 10 minutes. Chia seeds contain water soluble fiber, which gives them a gel-like consistency once the seeds are soaked. This gel absorbs the toxins in your digestive tract, helping your body cleanse itself.

4. Enjoy!

http://www.doyouyoga.com/the-yoga-of-being-a-dad/

An interesting story by Brad Korpalski, about being a yogi and parenting children of any age.

"A child is imprinted with many influences... and all of this shapes a personality"
"When there's a mindfulness approach to living, it ultimately becomes the personality of the child to truly manifest and become who they are -- not trying to become a doctor or a lawyer, but trying to discover their gifts."
Sonia Sequeira, Ph.D., Translational Research Assistant Manager at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

 I have recently extended and grown my medicine bundle to include Integrative Holistic Wellness, Holistic Healing Treatments and Alternative Medicines as a voice  for myself, my sons, future genrations, you, and all people to integrate as part of our Western medicine health care & daily life self-care. 
I have taken my fire and passion for wellness to the next level.
I am committted to Educate, Empower and Inspire you in taking charge of your wellness ~ Mind, Body & SOul ~ and to treat your vessels with honour and gratitude to be able to walk on Mother Earth in harmony at all levels.
My goal is to play this message forward to  Universe with my gifts and synergy of other like minded medicine allies who all share the vision of  Carolynn Younghusband's Elixir Wellness.
Please visit my Elixir Wellness website at elixirwellness.ca/
Elixir Wellness YouTube channel www.youtube.com/watch?v=46HD0MDOpWw
Contact Carolynn by email at carolynn@elixirwellness.ca