"Think Pink" - A Cliche or For Real?

With October coming to an end, so does Breast Cancer Awareness month. Numerous companies embrace the 'Think Pink' movement by adopting some form of pink merchandise available to consumers.

While most companies support Breast Cancer Awareness month, not all consumers are aware of the fact that many of these companies actually do more harm than good. Information has been shed on the fact that some companies slap on a pink ribbon during this month although their products may contain toxic ingredients that increase cancer risks.


Read the labels of products carefully and don't assume that any company advertising with a pink Breast Cancer ribbon, doesn't pose any health risks.


However, some companies have been proven their dedication to prevention. You can see some of them at the Breast Cancer Fund's website.


Moving into November, the focus will be on several other types of Cancer such as pancreatic and lung. Those facing these diagnoses also need our support.


Written by Altimont Parker, SUNY New Paltz Intern for Roots & Wings

Two More Ways To Relax At Our Country Getaway

There are lots of ways in which you can spend time at the Roots & Wings Country Getaway. Here are two more that you may find enjoyable. Last week we suggested that you walk the labyrinth and treat yourself to a massage. This week we suggest:

Experience The Effects of Guided Imagery

While enjoying the relaxing environment and natural beauty of your Country Getaway at Roots & Wings, you can sample guided imagery and meditation CD's. It will help you rekindle your inner balance. OM!

Schedule An Energy Balancing Session
While massage is the most popular, our replenishing energy balancing session is also deeply relaxing. A healers touch channels a strong current of life force or chi. This works wonders as there are no oils involved and the participant remains fully clothed, either sitting or laying on a massage table. 

Check back next week where we'll have two more ways for you to spend your time the best at our Country Getaway!

Written by Altimont Parker, SUNY New Paltz Intern for Roots & Wings

Rejuvenation Break: Write From Your Heart - Create Your Own Journal

Remember how wonderful it feels to be warmly welcomed with open arms by another. In a split second, the power of the affectionate gesture comes flooding into you straight from the heart of your loving friend.

When you take time to write to yourself with honesty and innocence from your heart, you are extending a similar gesture of openness and love towards yourself.

The act of writing freely about what is happening in your life can be profoundly significant. Writing gives you time for reflection, and thinking about what you have written may slow you down a bit and give you fresh insights. You may well discover that you are expressing much more than you expected, surprising even yourself.

You may embark on a rich inward journey where the person you get to know is you. Note the date and anything else that affects the writing process so that over time you get an overview of how simultaneously you are building a foundation to support you from beneath and gaining a new experience from above. 

Here are some helpful tips from my book Aftershock that may help you begin using writing in a journal as a means of reflection:

• Sit quietly with a blank sheet of paper, a beautiful notebook or your journal in front of you

• Breathe gently and when you are ready, allow your thoughts and feelings to flow from your heart through your hands on to the paper in this moment

• Express yourself freely in whatever way you wish; write, draw with colored crayons, pens or pencils

• Become aware of both what has happened during the day, and your feelings about it

• Consider writing a mini-memoir

• Contemplate special thoughts, blessings and wishes you'd wish to pass on to your loved ones and gently begin to write

Written by Altimont Parker, SUNY New Paltz Intern for Roots & Wings

Ways to Spend Your Time at our Country Getaway

At Roots & Wings’ Country Getaway in New Paltz, NY, you can replenish the body, quiet the mind and rejuvenate the soul in an enchanting landscape. Your host Puja Thomson will welcome you warmly. Take advantage of the opportunities for healing and adventure at Roots & Wings’ Country Getaway in all seasons.

Here’s what we recommend.

Treat yourself!

Roots & Wings encourages you to relax. At Roots & Wings' Country Getaway, you can book a massage, a hands-on-healing session for energy balancing, a Bach flower essence consultation, and enjoy the sauna. Puja Thomson is a counselor, healing facilitator, educator and minister of natural healing in the Healing Light Center Church.

Walk the Labyrinth

Labyrinths are based on ancient geometric patterns considered sacred. Labyrinths are used by many cultures and spiritual traditions to bring discovery, insight, peace and happiness. The Roots & Wings labyrinth is open year-round, weather permitting. Walking the Labyrinth can help you reconnect with nature, earth’s energy and yourself.

Check back next week where we'll have two more ways for you to spend your time the best at our Country Getaway!


Written by Altimont Parker, SUNY New Paltz Intern for Roots & Wings

Rejuvenation Break: Be Open to Creativity

Whether you appreciate the beauty  others have created or create beauty as an expressive outlet for your own imagination, it is now known that such activities have great nurturing power.

Through creativity you can become more aware and connected to the beauty or wonder of the world - and yourself. Your creativity need not be beautiful, artistic or perfect. Many people enjoy the sensation of molding clay, mixing colors together with wet pain or playing their favorite instrument.

Here are some tips from my book Aftershock that can help you become more open to creativity:

• Remember a hobby or some kind of creativity you enjoyed as a child. Let yourself play with that again in the spirit of a child

• Find a creativity group you'd enjoy in which you will learn something new

• Play waltz music and allow it to open your heart. If you can, dance

• As you listen to classical music allow it to flow right into you and the areas of your body that are most in need of healing   

• Every day choose some colored crayons and let your hands freely express your mood

• Sing along to the  music that you love

Written by Altimont Parker, SUNY New Paltz Intern for Roots & Wings

Wedding Season

With the leaves descending from the trees with hues of orange, red and yellow, the wedding season has also come into full color. I am fortunate to unite couples from many different perspectives and walks of life who wish to pledge themselves to one another in marriage.

Gorgeous Fall Day

They enjoy working with me to co-create a ceremony that is meaningful to them, thus making their special day as unforgettable as possible. Creating a personal experience in this way has produced many many memorable days over the years.  

Chronogram Magazine did a good job of highlighting the importance of reflecting the personality of the couples in weddings in an article they did February 2014. With a wonderful fall photograph by Maggie Heinzel-Neel of another wedding I officiated.

Clear Skies and Sunshine

The weather has been generally fabulous this fall. But there have been days when I remind a couple if disappointed that the sun isnt shining, that indigenous cultures see rain as a blessing, which washes away and purifies the past so that a clear new future can unfold.

Written by Altimont Parker, SUNY New Paltz Intern for Roots & Wings

SUNY New Paltz Career Fair

I had the pleasure to attend a career fair this week at SUNY New Paltz with the hopes to find interns who wish to find more experience in the publishing world. I got a chance to speak with a number of students with an array of talents from editing to graphic design.

It is always a treat to be on the New Paltz campus as I am able to connect with a variety of different people, in an effort to spread awareness of the importance of health and wellness.

My current intern Altimont and I

Curious students asking questions 

Overall it was a great turnout as many students seemed interested in learning more about the positive influence health and wellness can have on your life. I'm thankful for any opportunity I get to interact with the community of New Paltz and I look forward to contacting students to intern.

Written by Altimont Parker, SUNY New Paltz Intern for Roots & Wings

Rejuvenation Break: Using Guided Imagery

Listening to guided imagery or creative visualization studios can increase health, leading to experiencing a specific feeling such as tranquility, deepen relaxation and bring balance to the body, mind, emotions and spirit.

Through the use of selected images, you can focus very specifically and purposefully towards a chosen goal, since imagery precedes action.

Visualization works best when you are able to relax at a time and place without the pressure of external demands. If you surrender to the guidance of words and background music, you will be able to enter a deeply relaxed, diffuse state, where the psyche will provide your own images of what is being suggested.

  

Here are some tips from my book Aftershock to further improve your capacity to use guided imagery to your advantage:

• Turn off the ringer on your phone and asked to not be disturbed

• Sit comfortably on a chair or lie on your bed

• Shut our eyes and let go into a few deep, full, cleansing breaths

• Put your hand on your heart and belly, a place where you can feel the breath coming in and out

• Set the condition that you will only go to a place or a situation that feels very nourishing and safe for you where you can let go of burdens you are carrying

• Through your gentle breathing, continue to release any tensions you no longer want and no longer need

• Call to mind your favorite beach, or create an imaginary beach in your mind. See yourself comfortably sitting in a beach chair on the sand or floating on the calm water.You have nothing else to do and nowhere else to be in these moments

For some people imagery is easy. If you are among one of these who can't quite seem to focus or quiet the mind enough to become aware of imagery, don't worry. It is a skill that develops over time with practice. Once you get it down, the benefits will directly reflect into your daily life.


Written by Altimont Parker, SUNY New Paltz Intern for Roots & Wings