Aromatherapy Mysteries Unraveled

July 9, 2009 · Filed Under Feature · Comment 

Aromatherapy is one of the world’s most ancient healing arts.  The ancient Egyptians used the essential oils from plant materials in their offerings to their gods and in their embalming process.  There is evidence of aromatherapy in Chinese medicine manuscripts and there are numerous accounts of aromatherapy in the Bible.

Aromatherapy is the art and science of using pure essential oils to calm, balance and rejuvenate the skin, mind, body and spirit.  Essential oils are extracted from natural botanical materials.  The most common extraction method is steam distillation.  The chemical properties of the essential oils have the power to relax the nervous system, stimulate circulation, lift depression, reduce inflammation and ease aches and pains.  The essential oils are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and are analgesic.   Essential oils are highly concentrated.  They can not be applied directly on the skin.  They must be diluted with a carrier oil – an unscented massage oil, or a vegetable oil.  Not all oils are safe for all people.  Anyone pregnant needs to be especially careful about the essential oils she is using.  There are a number of oils that are not safe for young children and frail older adults.  People with certain medical conditions should consult an aromatherapist before using certain essential oils.

There are four pathways of aromatherapy that can be used in order to gain the most benefit from the essential oils.

  • Aesthetic: Essential oils can revitalize and rejuvenate skin of all ages.  This is also the pathway for burns and skin disorders.
  • Olfactory/psychological: Essential oils can enhance emotional well-being.
  • Massage: Essential oils, combined with touch, have considerable benefits for the mind and body.
  • Therapeutic: The antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the essential oils encourage natural healing from within.

Aromatherapy is a powerful healing modality.  Consulting an aromatherapist is the best way to start on this aromatic journey. For more information about Aromatherapy, contact Patricia Faust of be! innovative wellness solutions, http://www.besimplybe.com.

If you are interested in learning more about Aromatherapy, please join us in West Chester on Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 PM for an Aromatherapy experience.  The cost is $5.00 per person, and reservations are required by calling Julie at 779.7360.

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Intuition Development Series

July 1, 2009 · Filed Under Events, Feature · Comment 

Have you ever thought of someone and out of the blue they contact you? Maybe you just want to learn how to be tuned into yourself and others. Intuitive Deborah Herron will lead you on a journey filled with personal growth and development.  Deborah will teach the group how to be more in touch with one’s self through a series of intuitive exercises. Classes are Thursdays in July, beginning July 9, at 7:00 PM at the West Chester Prime Club, 9090 Cox Road. Cost is $15/class. To register contact Julie McCarthy at 779-7360.

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5K Run/Walk in West Chester

June 17, 2009 · Filed Under Events, Feature · Comment 

Ready for a fun time this fall when the leaves are turning and the temperature is perfect? Want to try out those new walking shoes? Join us for the 3rd annual Oh My Achin’ Arches 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Voice of America Park. Registration will begin at 7:30 AM, with a 9:00 AM start time. This year’s race is presented by the Barrington and Heritagespring at West Chester, with all proceeds benefiting Partners in Prime. The $20 entrance fee covers both the race and breakfast. For more information, call 867-1998.

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The Perils of Ageism: Not Just for Seniors Anymore

April 6, 2009 · Filed Under Feature · Comment 

Ageism is still rampant in America, and many older people themselves trade in unflattering stereotypes of the elderly, including helplessness and incompetence. Such caricatures are not only false and cruel, they are also unhealthy. Research has shown that old people who believe in negative age stereotypes tend to fulfill them.

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We’ve long known that one factor in healthy aging is to have a positive attidude about growing older. A new study shows that this applies to younger adults, as well!
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And it may not just be the elderly who are harmed by ageism. A new study in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests that young, healthy people who stereotype old people may themselves be at risk of heart disease many years down the road.

Researchers Becca Levy and Martin D. Slade of the Yale School of Public Health, along with Alan B. Zonderman and Luigi Ferrucci from the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, examined data on hundreds of men and women who have been studied for almost four decades as part of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Back in 1968, Read more

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Oh, I wish I had said. . .Or. . I didn’t have time to think!

March 2, 2009 · Filed Under Feature · Comment 

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Have you ever been in a tense conversation and then a few hours later you think, “Why didn’t I say….” During this class you will learn how to always access your brilliance even in a difficult situation. We will study how our minds and bodies react to tense situations and then learn some simple techniques that keep our minds fully engaged and present. So that we can bring the best of who we are to every situation. Don’t let frustration keep you from being precise and making your point. Read more

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Elderly Transportation Needing Support

December 5, 2008 · Filed Under Feature · 1 Comment 


Transportation service provides rides to seniors 65 and older, and for many people, these rides determine the difference between dependence and independence.

Seniors who remain at home but no longer drive, depend on transportation for doctor visits, pharmacy stops, dialysis appointments, grocery trips and visits to the post office. Read more

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4 Types of Exercise for Adults

December 4, 2008 · Filed Under Feature · Comment 


Improve your balance, endurance, flexibility and strength via exercise

For adults who want to stay healthy and independent, there are four types of exercises recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH): Read more

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3 Simple Steps to Optimizing Health, Losing Weight and Increasing Energy Holistically

November 19, 2008 · Filed Under Feature · Comment 

Being healthy has to be who you are, not what you do. When you have integrated health into your lifestyle, positive physical and mental benefits are a natural by-product of your commitment to long term personal care. In developing a lifestyle of health, it is essential to create a clear road map to guide your actions. Here are three simple concepts to help you get started on this journey:

  1. Power Breathing: Pinch one side of your nose shut, and then inhale through the open nostril. Complete the breath by exhaling through the mouth. Do four single nostril breathes per side. A study conducted by Richard Brown, MD and Patricia Gerbarg, MD revealed that yogic deep-breathing techniques were extremely effective in handling depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. Not bad results for something that can so effortlessly be performed and incorporated into our lives.
  2. Break a Sweat: Power walk, jog, jump rope, etc…choose a physical activity that will stimulate your heart rate and make the sweat pour. Work a minimum of 10 minutes per day performing rigorous activity that will induce sweat; don’t start the clock until you have those simmering beads flowing. Sweating exfoliates the skin reducing acne, eliminates surface toxin and of course regulates body temperature allowing the system to maintain homeostasis. Build a clean eternal environment by staying fit and active.
  3. Water, Water, Water: Focus on consuming 80 to 96oz. of water per day. This breaks down to 5 or 6 sixteen ounce bottles of water. Good clean h20 is unquestionably the greatest natural diuretic helping to keep the digestive track clean and flush toxic residue left by foods that have passed through the intestines. Remember water retention is not caused by too much water; it is caused by too little…so if you are feeling bloated, drink up!
Zak Nordyke, CEO & Founder

Zak Home Fitness LLC
www.zakhomefitness.com

“We Make it Easy to Live Healthy”

Mobile: 513-623-8422

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Walking Tips for Seniors

October 10, 2008 · Filed Under Feature · Comment 



Walking may be the best fitness activity for many seniors given the relatively low physical risks and the enormous long-term health benefits. As a low impact exercise, walking is easy to do and easy on the body. Regular exercise can lower the risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease and – in general – prolong life. Increasing the walking distance from just one to two miles produces even greater results. Studies have found that taking brisk half-hour walks, just six times a month appeared to cut the risk of death by 44%, and even occasional exercisers were 30 % less likely to die than sedentary folks.

Benefits of Walking

  • Controls weight, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. A brisk walk can burn up to 100 calories per mile or 300 calories per hour. Walking is the perfect complement to a sensible diet to lose weight and keep it off.

  • Improves cardiovascular fitness and circulation. Walking gets the heart beating faster to transport oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the muscles; and increases the size and improves the efficiency of tiny vessels that supply blood for cellular respiration.

  • Facilitates medical rehabilitation and recovery from many ailments, including heart attack.

  • Generates a sense of well-being, and can relieve depression, anxiety and stress by naturally producing endorphins, the body’s natural tranquilizer.

Getting Started

Consult your primary care physician – especially if you have a family history of heart disease, poor circulation or diabetes. Get fit for a proper walking/running shoe. Today’s running shoes are lightweight, breathable, and 3-5 times more cushioned than older fashioned walking shoes so be open minded to the benefits provided by a properly fit, lightweight exercise shoe. Start your program with moderation in mind. You should be able to hold a conversation as you walk. If you are out of breath, slow down until you build up your stamina. Drink plenty of fluids, even on cool days. Find a walking partner and enjoy yourselves!

Paul Heintz
Mojo Running
9318 Union Centre Blvd
West Chester OH 45069

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Recovering from an illness or just not feeling quite right lately?

October 3, 2008 · Filed Under Feature · Comment 

Then you may be a candidate for Lymphatic Drainage.

Your lymphatic system assists your body in removing toxins and cellular waste by circulating a nearly colorless liquid called “lymph” to glands and toxin-filtering organs. Generally, you are aware of your lymphatic system when your lymph nodes become swollen during illness.
Your lymphatic system is comprised of nodes and vessels and follows a circulatory path similar to your circulating blood. However, unlike blood, lymph flows without the assistance of a beating pump, and relies on breathing, muscular activity, and adjacent blood vessels to provide proper flow.

During stress, injury, or illness the flow of your lymph fluid can become compromised, and as a result, lead to a build-up of fluid leaving you feeling fatigued, constipated, arthritic, and headachy along with numerous other symptoms. To restore normal lymphatic flow, a manual therapy called Lymphatic Drainage performed by a therapist trained in Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT) can help bring you back to good health. Lymphatic Drainage uses very light, slow strokes to assist in restoring proper lymphatic circulation to a sluggish lymph flow.

To learn more about Lymphatic Drainage and whether it might be right for you, talk to your doctor or call Jacky Groenewegen LMT for a free consultation.

Previous posts by Jacky Groenewegen:
Therapeutic Bathing

Jacky Groenewegen is a Licensed Massage Therapist who has a private practice in West Chester, Ohio. She is trained in many modalities and takes pride in tailor making individual protocols for each of her clients. A large portion of Jacky’s clients are boomers. Go to the “testimonial” page of her web site to see the comments of several of her satisfied clients.

Jacky Groenewegen LMT

Mindful Wellness Massage and Bodywork

8919 Brookside Court * Suite 104*

West Chester, Ohio 45069

Modalities: Clinical Neuromuscular Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Healing Touch, Guided Imagery, Hot Stone Massage, Relaxation Massage, Pregnancy Massage, On-site Chair Massage, Aromatherapy, Lymphatic Drainage, CranioSacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Accupressure

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