There's nothing like doing little things to take care of your body, after all, it's the only one you've got! But who knew how handy it can be all around the house!
9 Reasons to Use Epsom Salt  (Try out the stress relief method TONIGHT) by TheAlternativeDaily.com

Epsom salt is a mineral compound comprised of magnesium and sulfate, and gets its named from a saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England. Epsom salt has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a number of ailments and also has many beauty, gardening and household uses.

Both magnesium and sulfate are readily absorbed into the skin which makes the health benefits readily accessible. Over 325 enzymes in the body are regulated by magnesium which also helps reduce inflammation, alleviates hardening of the arteries and improves muscle and nerve function. Sulfates improve the rate at which nutrients are absorbed and help to flush out toxins.

Here are just a few of the many wonderful benefits of Epsom salts we uncovered:

Ease Stress

If you are stressed, you may be deficient in magnesium and you may have elevated adrenaline. When Epsom salt is dissolved in warm water it is absorbed through the skin and can naturally replenish lost magnesium. This magnesium helps the body produce serotonin, which is a mood elevating chemical in the brain.

Magnesium also increases energy and stamina by encouraging the production of ATP – the energy powerhouse of the cell. Bathing in Epsom salt three times a week can help increase your energy, improve your mood and reduce the negative impacts of elevated adrenaline. Use 2 cups of Epsom salt in each full bath.

Eliminate Toxins

The sulphates in Epsom salt draw heavy metals and other toxins from cells which can ease muscle pain and improve cellular function. Adding Epsom salt to your bathwater pulls salt out of your body along with harmful toxins. Add 2 cups of Epsom salt to a warm bath and soak for at least 10 minutes for detoxification.

Relieve Pain and Cramps in Muscles

If you have sore muscles, migraine headaches or bronchial asthma, you may want to try an Epsom salt bath. It can relieve both pain and inflammation. If you are on your feet all day you may want to soak them in warm Epsom salt. It can also help neutralize foot odor.

For Beauty

Try the following beauty treatments that use Epsom salt:

Exfoliating Facial Cleanser - Mix a small handful of Epsom salt with a tablespoon of coconut oil and rub on your face. Rinse and pat dry.

Blackhead Remover - Add a teaspoon of salt and 3 drops of iodine into half a cup of boiling water. Apply mixture to blackheads using a cotton ball.

Skin Mask - For normal to oily skin, mix 1 tablespoon of cognac, 1 organic egg, 1/4 cup of nonfat dry milk, the juice of one lemon and half a teaspoon of Epsom salt together. Dampen your skin and place the mixture on your face – avoiding the eye area. Allow the mask to harden and set for about ten minutes – rinse and pat dry.

Home and Garden

Use Epsom salt around your home and garden:

Clean Bathroom Tiles - Get those dim and dirty tiles in your bathroom clean by mixing equal parts of Epsom salt with liquid dish detergent. Scrub tiles with the mixture and rinse well.

Fertilize Plants – Plants need nutrients including magnesium and sulfur in order to grow their best. Sprinkling Epsom salt once a week on houseplants, flowers and vegetables will provide them with nutrients they need to thrive.

Greener Grass – Magnesium is necessary for seed germination and is vital for the production of chlorophyll which plants use to change sunlight into food and helps the soil absorb phosphorus and nitrogen.

Sulfur also contributes to chlorophyll production and, as mentioned above, makes nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found in fertilizers more effective. To help your grass be as healthy as it can, apply 3 pounds of Epsom Salts for every 1,250 square feet of lawn using a spreader. You can also dilute it in water and apply with a sprayer.

Enjoy all of these benefits of inexpensive old-school Epsom Salt!

-The Alternative Daily

Thanks to Fit over 40 for turning me on to this!

I can't believe how much I've been harping on the benefits of moving your body over the last 30+ years!
I mean, what's so good about it? 

I'm in the middle of the biggest physical move I've made in--ever. And I'm grumpy.....
OK....the first time of many that my Navy family moved when I was 3 was probably worse. 

I've been cozy in my office at Circle Healthcare for almost 27 years; and before that moving was no big deal: I did massage in all sorts of venues for 10 years, including the break room at Zell's Cafe, and before that moved a bazillion times for work or just for the heck of it.

Still, this feels bigger than moving my home, because here, I've worked with a bunch of fabulous people, not all of whom are moving with me. That means one heart-rending moment after another. Even the folks I'm moving with have reorganized, and our relationship is changed.  

Oh, and did I mention we sold the building and it's going to be demolished? Our spacious, peaceful waiting room graced with Dawna Bell nature photos--the one some clients come early just to sit in--down to a couple brave photos here and there. Our beautiful mural wall by Carol Basch, untouched all this time by graffiti--gone by October.

Gimme a break!

So what am I learning....

1. Help is there if I look for it and ask for it. I'm not a planner, but I have lots of friends who are. So I ask. And they are just delighted to help me create order out of chaos!
2. Change means physical change in our brains: repositioning of dendrites from wide open receptor sites to little buds of receptor sites. It's uncomfortable and it's work!
3. I don't have to know the right order, I just have to start. The first pile that catches my eye is the one I deal with. Then, amazingly, that pile is done.
4. Daily meditation helps. And I mean daily. It starts me on an even keel. I do a practice morning and night. I use it to chill and to focus. As Oprah Winfrey says, "You only need to do the next right move." It builds a habit, and once a habit is firmly in place, I start to love it, and then to get hungry for it and then I do it again.
5. Exercise and getting enough rest helps. Every day, as my yoga teacher, Leigh from Unfold, says, your body is different and needs different things. More rest one day, more exercise another. It helps to get into the habit of listening to your body.
6. Being silly and taking play breaks helps. Even if it feels like more work. Moving doesn't have to be one continuous slog. My mind can go to totally different places, and I do different things. When I come back to the task, I'm refreshed. 
7. Chocolate doesn't help as much as one would hope. Sigh....   But then again, a drop of Peppermint Essential Oil does.
8. Acknowledge the ending with an event. "Do not go gently into that good night." Thank you, Dylan Thomas.  Everyone who's worked at "old Circle Healthcare" is invited to come say goodbye. So far we're having music and dancing, and my favorite thing is writing wishes on the walls of our soon-to-be-demolished building for the new residents of this space--5 wishes in each room for the 5 stories of building that will go up.
9. Celebrate the beginning. Acknowledge the beginning with an event. Partay!!....Twister, anyone?? Once we're up and running we're gonna have us some fun! You can come, too!
10. Being mindful of my body's alignment makes all of the above easier (How weird is that? But it's true). Taking a moment  (see #5) at each new task to find my optimal alignment supports my thoughts, feelings and actions to be at their best.

​If you want more help with #10, make an appointment with me. I love helping people gain the skills to help themselves to a wonderful life. 
Call or text me at 503-709-9983. Let's get this show on the road.....