This Neighborhood Nurtures

In all my 24 years of service to my community, as a full service day spa, I have never experienced the level of stress that we, as a people, are currently feeling. Fear does not mean lack of faith. So don’t judge yourself if from time to time you face a fleeting fear here and there. September 11th will never be forgotten. For those of us on our spiritual path and striving to live our God purpose it is natural for us to justify the shifts––they had to manifest some how, some way, but this? WOW, what a shock. Fear and faith can co-exist. Moving through the fear to contribute your gifts, strengths and talents is very important. As a team, A Path to Perfect Health Training Center held eight "free" treatment days where we opened our doors and invited people to come in for our stress reducing services. We were pleased to see so many people take advantage of our offer, we were grateful for the opportunity to contribute our services to the destressing of our community.

Our Vision as A Path to Perfect Health Training Center is:

...to put the healing power of essential oils into the hands of an educated public.

...to promote the healing properties of essential oils through beneficial and enjoyable alternative health practices.

...to explore potential of essential oils and conduct or promote analytical and empirical research in the field, equal to the standards of the medical community.

...to provide quality and excellence in all areas of the endeavor including product, service, and responsibility to the client.

To accomplish these ends, we decided to become the neighborhood nurtures. We believe pampering is not just for the rich and famous. Our prices are irresistible, so you will treat yourself often, because your health depends upon it. It is a fact, that a stress management program including massage, facials and body treatments will increase the body’s immune system.

The use of therapeutic grade essential oils can amplify these benefits and we are committed to using the highest quality essential oils in our treatments and custom made products. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils which have been distilled from plants, fruits, flowers, roots, seeds, leaves and grasses. Not only do they affect our moods and dispositions, but essential oils are effective in protecting against bacteria, virus, and fungus. They create an environment where these annoyances can not survive. Because of their small molecular structure, essential oils penetrate deep into our skins tissue, bringing oxygen, and other raw nutrients to our cells. Each essential oil contains 200-800 chemical constituents and healing properties. The essential oils provide our cells with all the raw materials that stimulate cell rejuvenation––improving our health.

So, if you are feeling disruptions in your health, experiencing stress in your life, or would just like to relax and do something nice for yourself...then we have just the answer. Give us a call for your aromatherapy massage, facial, body scrub, body wrap or reflexology treatment...prices designed with you in mind...no stressors here. Allow our trained therapists to nurture you!

STRESS AND HOW TO COMBAT IT

Stress is a popular buzz word. Hans Selye, the originator of the stress theory, described stress as "the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made on it." Stress can be a mental or physical response to an imaginary or real demand. It occurs when people are exposed to change. The events which cause stress are called stressors. Stressors are the cause, and stress is the effect. Change is stress and therefore, influences daily living. Being able to control or adjust to change is often challenging, stimulating and rewarding, which can contribute to a sense of well-being. If you respond to change poorly, however, the result can be disruptive to your health.

We are all unique in our response to stress. What one person finds stressful may not cause stress in another. This results from the unique information each person applies in making decisions about the seriousness of a situation.

It doesn’t matter if the stressor is a positive or negative one, the body reacts the same. Positive stressors enhance longevity, productivity and life satisfaction. For example, the excitement of a first date, first day on a new job, or the feeling you get when exercising results in stress. There are individuals who are known as risk takers who routinely participate in activities that induce this type of stress.

Harmful unpleasant stress is called distress. If distress is not controlled, it can result in physical and emotional disruption, illness and even death. Examples of the origin of stress are chronic pain, lack of meaningful relationships, physical confrontation, anxiety and depression.

Clearly, the effect of unresolved stress can build up, until the body begins to break down. Some of the major diseases that have some origin in unresolved stress are hypertension, stroke, heart disease, kidney disorders, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulitis. Other distress-inducing disorders include migraine headaches, allergies, asthma, hay fever, anxiety, insomnia, impotence and menstrual irregularities. The dependency-related behaviors of cigarette smoking, overeating and under-eating, and physical underactivity relate in part to unresolved stress.

The immune system, which protects the body from infections, may be weakened by stress, making you more susceptible to common illness such as colds and flu. We are all very different in our relationship to stress, but once under the influence of a stressor, our bodies respond in similar ways.

• Your heart rate increases • Your throat becomes dry

• Your palms sweat • You feel dizzy or lightheaded • You may feel nauseous.

If you can learn to understand your personal stressors, you can come up with a game plan to de-stress your life. Here are some examples of how stressors can affect us.

• Upset because of the unexpected • Unable to control important things in your life

• Nervous/stressed due to the pace of life • Unable to cope with daily responsibilities

• Angered w/situations beyond your control • Overwhelmed due to difficulty overload

Three Stages the Body Moves through when Confronted by Stressors.

• Body Alert — This stage is controlled by the hormonal and nervous system functions and quickly prepares the body for the fight-or-flight response.

• Recovery — This stage reflects the body’s attempt to return to normal. The fight-or-flight adrenal surge can’t last for long, and, if the stressor isn’t removed quickly, the body will attempt to reduce the intensity of the initial response. Specific organs (such as the stomach) become the focus. When the stressor is manageable, the recovery stage begins.

• Exhaustion — As the body adjusts, often the result is overload. Specific organs and body systems that were called upon during the recovery stage will eventually give in to exhaustion. The hormone levels may rise again, and in extreme cases, death can result. It is the job of our liver to filter and cleanse our bloodstream of the excess hormone levels. When we stress out, we usually grab for junk food, because the chemicals are like a drugs and temporarily seem to help us through the hardship period. There is so much extra strain on the liver, as it tries to rid the body of the harmful chemicals taken in when we eat junk food, that it makes it all the more difficult to balance out the stress-released hormones.

Therefore, it is especially helpful to eat according to the most beneficial foods for your blood type in the perfect combinations for proper digestion during your high stress experiences so the liver can concentrate on the stress hormone elimination. (Next month: How to Eat for Your Blood Type)

December 2001

This Neighborhood Nurtures

by Deb Devar