... and yet, as a case in point, some of us are starting to feel the stirrings of spring due to the unseasonably warm weather.

Usually, near the end of February, many people begin to feel a sense of restlessness, agitation, irritation, 'cabin fever' as it were... even if there's snow on the ground, the itch to get outside become apparent.

Or the dreaded spring colds and flus start to surface.

It is quite possible that our bodies are feeling the shift in the seasons before our calendars acknowledge it, and this is perfectly natural.

Before the crocuses and tulips become visible in the ground, the bulbs and seeds are stirred into life, summoning great stores of energy accumulated during the late summer and fall in order to sprout through their casings and make their way through frozen ground up to the sunlight.

This same vigorous energy is within our own biology, and it can manifest in different ways for different people - though rarely is it acknowledged for being appropriate and natural.

Oriental medical theories believe that the liver and gall bladder are at their height of activity this time of year, and often why cleansing is recommended, to support the body in releasing the accumulations of the winter season ... spring cleaning, if you will. And it is our inherent 'spring cleaning' mechanism that often brings on whoppers of a head cold, or other illness, in the body's attempt to clean house.

We invite you to join us on Sunday, February 26th as we present a mini-symposium on how to navigate the shift into spring with ease.

Please visit our events page for more details!

(contributed by Natalie Lawton, M.Ed. Certified Health Coach)

The body is amazing.

It knows when to go to sleep, wake up, go to the bathroom, maintain 98.6 degrees and tighten the eyes when the light gets bright. It knows the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth. our heart never misses a beat. Your lungs are always breathing. The body is a super-computer and it never makes mistakes.

Look at the foods, deficits and behaviors in your life that are the underlying causes of your cravings. Many people view cravings as weaknesses, but really they are important messages meant to assist you in maintaining balance.

When you experience a craving, deconstruct it. Ask yourself, what does my body want and why?

The eight primary causes of cravings are:

1. Lack of primary food. Being dissatisfied with a relationship or having an inappropriate exercise routine, (too much, too little or the wrong type), being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice may cause emotinal eating. Eating can be a substitute for entertainment or to fill the void of insufficient primary food.

2. Water. Lack of water can send the message that you are thirsty and on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration can manifest as a mild hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a craving is drink a full glass of water. Excess water can also cause cravings, so be sure that your water intake is well balanced.

3. Yin/yang imbalance. Certain foods have more yin qualities (expansive) while other foods have more yang qualities (contractive). Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes cravings in order to maintain balance. For example, a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving for meat (yang). Eating too many raw foods (yin) may cause cravings for extremely coked (dehydrated) foods, or vice versa.

4. Inside coming out. Often times, cravings come from foods that we have recently eaten, foods eaten by our ancestors, or foods from our childhoods. A clever way to satisfy these cravings is to eat a healthier version of one's ancestral or childhood foods.

5. Seasons. Often the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season. In the spring, people crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus foods. In the summer, people crave cooling foods like fruit, raw foods and ice cream, and in the fall people crave grounding foods like squash, onions, and nuts. During winter, many crave hot and heat-producing foods, like meant, oil and fat. Cravings can also be associated with the holidays for foods like turkey, eggnog, and sweets.

6. Lack of nutrients. If the body had inadequate nutrients, it will produce odd cravings. For example, inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings, and overall inadequate nutrition produces cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy, like caffeine.

7. Hormones. When women experience menstruation, pregnancy or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings.

8. De-evolution. When things are going extremely well, sometimes a self-sabotage syndrome happens. We crave foods that throw us off, they creating more cravings to balance ourselves. This often happens from low-blood sugar and may result in strong mood swings.

(Need some help in de-constructing your cravings? Contact Natalie at 610-564-4548, or visit her website to download a consultation form.)

Are you 30? (40? 50?) but feel like you're 80?

Do you remember when you had greater flexibility, more energy, and freedom from chronic pain?

Can you imagine what you'd be doing differently with your life if you felt that way again? Have you given up hope of ever regaining your vitality?

Have you resigned yourself to a possible future of pain-killers, medications or surgery? Or a life of 'never-again-being-quite-the-same' after a procedure that was supposed to solve your problem?

Are you the kind of person that would follow a consistent exercise routine if you have regular support?

Do you want greater control over your own health, and understanding of your own body?

Are you willing to explore a different perspective from which to view your health, in a fun and informative setting?

Conventional approaches to chronic pain conditions, usually involving pain-killers or invasive procedures, are not always effective as they often overlook the root cause of the problem.

Many common issues - tension headaches; neck, back and shoulder pain; hip, knee and foot pain; even internal discomforts such as digestive or menstrual issues - are a result of how we habitually move our bodies and physically carry our stress patterns.

Over time, these patterns or postures, become injuries with compensating patterns laid over them.

In addition to this, what is almost always overlooked is the role that fascia (connective tissue) plays in these injuries, reinforcing these patterns, and affecting the body as a whole.

What is needed is a means of undoing the patterns - directly addressing the fascia, not only as structural support tissue, but as a medium of communication through the entire body...

.... a form of exercise that goes beyond the motions, into a deeper awareness of how we move, allowing for long-standing issues to be released, and greater flexibility to be achieved.

We're William Bryan and Gina Loree Marks and we're bodyworkers (massage therapy and shiatsu, respectively). We have been teaching our clients how to care for themselves with the Eight Pieces of Brocade... a style of Qigong, which is an ancient form of Chinese exercise developed to increase longevity, while promoting health and vitality well into old age.

But don't just take our word for it! Read what others have experienced....

This January, we will be offering a ten-week series, "Posturing for Health"  ... a hands-on presentation of the Eight Pieces of Brocade, translated through our understanding of Western anatomy in a relaxed and informative way.

You will learn both a standing and sitting set of exercises, through the use of powerpoint presentations, hand-outs and discussion, as well as a copy of Dr Yang, Jwing-Ming's book, "Eight Simple Qigong Exercises for Health", which is included in the class price.

Enough time is given in each class to discuss insights, challenges and questions you may have, as well as encouragement to track your progress throughout the series.
 

We are offering the next class here:


**Saturday afternoons, from 12:30 - 2:00 pm, beginning January 14th 2012, at Lionville Holistic Health Center in Exton**

The class investment is $205, prepaid, (but register before January 7th for early bird pricing of $195!) and includes the book, "Eight Simple Qigong Exercises for Health", and a spiffy folder of hand-outs and support materials.

For Frequently Asked Questions about Qigong, or our class, click here.

=>To register online, click here<=

For more questions, or to register with either Bill or Gina personally:

Gina: gina@embodygrace.com 610-304-5120

Bill: triscale@verizon.net 484-798-8029

... however, if you've been playing along at home, you'll know that as of Labor Day weekend, the two estranged halves were joined - for better or worse :) - as well as connecting the LHHC to the Book Room of the Pharmacy, making us a truly holistic center.

This event in itself led to lots of other questionable 'hole-istic' puns ...things about 'doorways to wellness', and 'interconnectedness', which we just had to publicize by way of an invitation to celebrate with us.

So, the week of November 6th through the 12th, we're teaming up with the Lionville Natural Pharmacy's 32nd Anniversary Sale, ... welcoming the community to tour our space, meet the therapists, and perhaps win a fabulous prize!

Throughout the week, LHHC therapists will be on hand in the Center, as well as in the Pharmacy, to introduce themselves, answer your questions, and, when possible, offer chair massage.

On Saturday, November 12th, between 10 and 4, we'll have healthy snacks and beverages available in the Center, as well as a raffle going for one of three gift baskets (containing cd's, gift certificates and other goodies) in exchange for a bag of non-perishables for the Lord's Pantry in Downingtown.

Seminars and demos will be held on Saturday in Room 319, as follows:

~ 10:00 -11:00 am: Ben Briggs' will be airing his radio show, "Health Focus", in which he'll     be chatting with the LHHC therapists.

~ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Mike Briggs will give a talk on "Supplements for Common Ailments in Pets"

~ 1:00 - 1:45 pm: Bill Bryan and Gina Loree Marks will demonstrate "A Head to Toe Self-Massage Routine"

~ 2:00 - 4:00, Various exciting demos!

2:00 - 2:30: Cindy Ayton - Belly Dance

2:30 - 3:00: Natalie Lawton, Health Coach - Green Smoothies Made Simple

3:00 - 3:30: Dr. Toni Janiec, DC - Network Chiropractic

3:00 - 4:00: Christa Saltzman - Acupuncture

So, come on out on the 12th, or anytime that week, and discover this little-known gem in the heart of Chester County!

Homeopathy, a 200 year old system of natural medicine, is internationally recognized as an alternative and complementary therapy. Holistic, scientifically-based, safe to use, and inexpensive.

Homeopathy treats acute illnesses as well as chronic diseases. It is a complementary modality to other therapies such as herbal medicine, nutritional programs, acupuncture, and mind-body medicine.

Homeopathy has been recognized for its success in treating historic epidemics including flu, malaria, cholera and typhoid.

 This 40-hour course is for those professionals and non-professionals:

• in health/mental health care fields
• seeking alternatives for family health care
• searching for safer, more effective medicine

Class dates and times are:

9:00am - 5:00 pm, Oct. 8th, Nov. 5th, Dec. 3rd, Jan. 7th, Feb. 4th, Mar. 3rd

Course fee:

$650, payable through the American Medical College of Homeopathy

For more information, please call Dr. Bindu Vijayakumar at 610-450-4621, or email her at: dr_binduvijay@yahoo.in

*This course is licensed through the Arizona Private Postsecondary Board of Education. This course has been recognized and approved by the American Institute of Homeopathy and the Arizona Board of Homeopathic and Integrated Medical examiner.*

Well, maybe it's better FOR you than coffee, but hey, even I'm not ready to give that up completely.

I will say, though, it does have a way of energizing you in a way that caffeine just doesn't. And when you've been doing it for a little while, you really can feel the sensation of current - qi - flowing through your body. You feel open and relaxed - not tight, constricted and fatigued... or jittery.

And .... it doesn't give you coffee breath!

Join us!

Life can feel pretty hectic, and some days, like we're barely holding onto the reins.

The practice of qigong, by its very nature, causes us to slow down, pay attention, breathe and move slowly. Not easy for everyone, I know, but with some practice, it will allow for a deeper sense of control which will eventually move out from beyond that 15 to 20 minutes of exercise into something you can call upon any time of the day, regardless of your situation.

5 days left to register!

Can I get an 'Amen'?

(... and a HUGE thank you to Bill for taking on this project singlehandedly over what could have been a relaxing three-day weekend!)

The view from the Lionville Pharmacy Book Room into #312

#312 looking into the Pharmacy Book Room

Bill 'schmutzing' the corners...

Talk about dedication.