Crisis Contact List

Thanks to our friends at NAMI Roaring Fork Valley for putting this list of resources together.  You never know when you'll need them, until you do.

How About a Good Cuppa?

The holidays are over?  No, not for our minds or bodies they aren’t.

The effects of stress don’t end when the stressors do.  And, the stressors haven’t ended!  There is the whole process of taking down and putting away the decorations; all of the January 1st chores like changing calendars, closing out 2015; thank you notes to write; AND January is typically the coldest month of our year.

While all these are normal for this time of year, they are also stressors – they generate stress.  (By the way, stress is defined as an organism’s reaction to its environment.  So, basically, that’s everything.)  The challenge to dealing with stress is to reduce it where we can, and nurture our Spirit, Mind and Body to help keep ourselves in good health.

The very best way is to NURTURE our Selves.  Primarily, that means – RELAX.  A cup of tea is one of the very best ways I know to do both of these.

The relaxing begins with the ritual of preparing tea.  Taking a moment to choose the tea that will feel just right, getting out all of the accompaniments that will make it perfect for you – honey, milk, lemon, perhaps a small snack to go with the tea.  Imagine, sitting with your hands wrapped around a warm cup. Feels good, doesn’t it?  Imagine the relaxing smell – you get to pick your favorites!  Feel the warm liquid warming your mouth and throat. YESSSSS!

When you use herbal teas, you bring a complexity to your experience.  You not only get the benefits of ingesting the herb, you also use aromatherapy by just smelling the fragrance.

Here are a few of my favorite teas

Need an energy boost along with your relaxing moments?  Try green tea.  The stronger you brew it, the more caffeine.

Chamomile is beneficial for anxiety, depression and digestion.  What a cool bunch of benefits – tastes good too.

Licorice is a soothing agent that helps digestion, acid reflux and indigestion – all of which go along with stress.

Pomegranate/Hibiscus - Pomegranate is rich in antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory and promotes good heart health.  Hibiscus studies show it may help lower blood pressure and reduce high cholesterol.  Together, they just taste good!

How do you choose which one your Spirit is asking for?  For me, it is simple.  I open the tea drawer and choose the first one that catches my attention.  You can absolutely trust your higher knowing to choose the perfect tea for the moment.

So, brew a cuppa.  Play with the process.  Most of all, have FUN.

Carmen Iacino is an energy healer, psychotherapist and spiritual adventurer.  He is committed to living in Love and JOY and can be reached at 970-309-3467,  carmeniacino@earthlink.net,  or www.embraceascension.com

BLAB - Is It Right for Your Business?

Listen & Watch below as Kimberly Henrie and Dr. Stephanie Stanfield discuss the ways that Blab might increase your exposure to new and existing clientele and help you educate your clients, community and the general population.

Some of the points made include:

• Blab is LIVE and Open to the public - you'll reach outside your existing client list
• It is an easy way to record video and make it available for replay via your website, email list, social media etc.
• Great for Q & A discussions
• Great for Panel discussions
• Great for Webinar-style broadcasts and educational formats
• It's FREE and very simple to set up.
• You'll want to have fairly new computer, smartphone or tablet with video capabilities
• Practice by visiting some other Blabs first before hosting your own
• When you are ready to host your own Blab, have a 2nd person on as co-host to help keep the conversation rolling.

A New Mom Finds a Niche in the Roaring Fork Valley

When Summer Pine moved to the valley newly pregnant and not knowing a soul, she was relieved to find the Moms for Moms Communities in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. Through these online social sites she found connection and support with other moms and soon grew a crop of friends in her new home.





When her son was about 6 months old, Summer jumped at the opportunity to purchase the Glenwood Moms for Moms business and it has been a thriving endeavor for her ever since. Summer is passionate about offering and being a part of this FREE local, online community. 

Glenwood moms for moms offers local moms the opportunity to connect, share, and receive day-to-day support that Summer says we all need more often than we like to admit. It's about genuine connections.

While the Moms for Moms Communities are nationwide, each community site is owned by a local mom.

The social aspect of Moms for Moms allows for event postings, niche group activities and a discussion forum where moms can ask for parenting advice, referrals to local professionals (physicians, dentists, etc.) Moms participate in micro-groups from knitting to exercise and service work to book clubs and food allergies. The membership site is moderated and provides a safe and private environment for sharing.

Some of the events mentioned in the podcast include:
Dr. Johnson’s Easter Baskets for Child Victim’s of Crime
Meal Trains-Good Karma Mamas
Mudderella
Nursing Nook at Strawberry Days
Health and Wellness Expo

As Summer says, “none of us are the same”, so she provides many opportunities for people to engage in their own way. As for the benefits Summer has received in her affiliation with Moms for Moms, she says "it has been my sanity."

To support this endeavor, Glenwood Moms for Moms offers advertising to local businesses who want to reach out to moms in their community. Mom-owned businesses get some special perks.

To learn more, visit www.glenwoodmomsformoms.com or email Summer Pine atsummer@glenwoodmomsformoms.com

Other links:

www.rfwellness.com
www.healthandwellnessexpogws.com

Go Outside and Play!

Thank You Organic Consumers Association "Un-glue those eyes from the screen! With rapidly evolving technology readily available at your child’s fingertips, it's more important than ever to encourage them to play outdoors." Read more: http://orgcns.org/1qD1HBy

Lift-Up Needs a Volunteer Lift Up

We need some new volunteers at our food pantries in Glenwood Springs, Rifle and Parachute, and at the thrift stores in Rifle and Parachute. If you have some time to spare, just a few hours per month would really help, and you'll enjoy it! Give us a call at 625-4496 and we'll find the right time and place for you. (Please pass this along to anyone you know that might also be interested.) Lift-Up

Separateness, Violence, Wholeness

Thank You A Revolt - Digital Anarchy

Children's Learning Gardens Needs Your Help!

Thank You Growing Food Forward

Love, Love This Idea: Accessible Gardening

Thank You, Grow Food, Not Lawns

Five reasons to visit Glenwood’s Downtown Market Every Tuesday This Summer

The Tuesday farmers’ market known as Glenwood’s Downtown Market opens June 10, at Centennial Park at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue. Celebrating 10 years, the Downtown Market is a thriving summer staple in the hot springs town.

SOURCE

1.       Taste the season. Try olive oils, freshly baked bread, Colorado wines and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Vendors are eager to showcase and share their locally grown and lovingly made products.  Many offer samples to try. Top crops to try in the early months of summer are tender lettuces, arugula and apricots; as the season matures look for cherries, eggplant, green beans, basil and tomatoes.

2.       Learn something new. Cooking demos are a mainstay of the Downtown Market, gather round and learn how to prepare a variety of food that’s fresh, fast, healthy and most importantly -- delicious. Check out Christina Gore’s lesson on vegan cooking at the inaugural Market.

3.       Free music. Throughout the 14-week season the Market hosts musical entertainment. The season opener features award-winning songwriter and performer, Frank Martin playing everything from Texas swinging waltzes to Louisiana Zydeco.








4.       Because variety adds spice. There’s always something special going on at the Market. Find out what’s happening on a particular Tuesday at www.glenwoodmarket.com or just show up to see what’s going on. A highlight of June 10th Market is Glenwood Springs Garden Club’s annual plant sale. The Glenwood Springs Parks Department will also be giving away tree seedlings until they’re gone!





5.       Connect with the community. The atmosphere at the Market is low key and friendly. It’s a great place to connect with people – visitors and locals alike. Why not ask a local for recommendations on other great things do in Glenwood Springs?

Find out more about the 2014 Glenwood Downtown Market including a list of vendors, music lineup, demo schedule and more at www.glenwoodmarket.com.  Learn more about all of Glenwood’s summer events and activities at www.visitglenwood.com.

ABOUT GLENWOOD SPRINGS:
For more information and to book reservations please visit www.visitglenwood.com; 888-445-3696. Glenwood Springs is located between Aspen and Vail, Colorado, 160 miles (257 kilometers) west of Denver or 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Grand Junction on Interstate 70 off exit 116.

SOURCE

How Not to Be Offended

There is an ancient and well-kept secret to happiness which the Great Ones have known for centuries. 

They rarely talk about it, but they use it all the time, and it is fundamental to good mental health. This secret is called The Fine Art of Not Being Offended. In order to truly be a master of this art, one must be able to see that every statement, action and reaction of another human being is the sum result of their total life experience to date. In other words, the majority of people in our world say and do what they do from their own set of fears, conclusions, defenses and attempts to survive. Most of it, even when aimed directly at us, has nothing to do with us. Usually, it has more to do with all the other times, and in particular the first few times, that this person experienced a similar situation, usually when they were young.

Yes, this is psychodynamic. But let’s face it, we live in a world where psychodynamics are what make the world go around. An individual who wishes to live successfully in the world as a spiritual person really needs to understand that psychology is as spiritual as prayer. In fact, the word psychology literally means the study of the soul.

All of that said, almost nothing is personal. Even with our closest loved ones, our beloved partners, our children and our friends. We are all swimming in the projections and filters of each other’s life experiences and often we are just the stand-ins, the chess pieces of life to which our loved ones have their own built-in reactions. This is not to dehumanize life or take away the intimacy from our relationships, but mainly for us to know that almost every time we get offended, we are actually just in a misunderstanding. A true embodiment of this idea actually allows for more intimacy and less suffering throughout all of our relationships. When we know that we are just the one who happens to be standing in the right place at the right psychodynamic time for someone to say or do what they are doing—we don’t have to take life personally. If it weren’t us, it would likely be someone else.

 
This frees us to be a little more detached from the reactions of people around us. How often do we react to a statement of another by being offended rather than seeing that the other might actually be hurting? CLICK TO CONTINUE AT SOURCE

Planting in the Forest Garden

Come learn to plant vegetables with your children! Fat City Farmers offers one hour workshops for families at the Roaring Fork High School garden.

 

We will tour the greenhouse and garden, show children how to plant in the forest garden, share gardening tips, harvest something to taste and read a garden story. Please bring your water bottle and sun hats. All ages, all people welcome. Se habla español.
 

Come to any one workshop or all, the next 4 Saturdays: May 31, June 7, June 14, June 21
9:30-10:30 or 10:45-11:45
 

$5 donation to the youth gardening program, or free or whatever you can afford.
 

A forest garden (http://www.beaconfoodforest.org/ ) is a permaculture model that plants trees, berries, perennial herbs, and annual vegetables in a mix so that they each will grow optimally. It mimics a natural woodland.
People who come for a workshop orientation are welcome to adopt an area of the forest garden for their own use to plant and harvest what they wish in that area. It is essentially a community garden, and there is no charge. We want people to plant and use the space.
Call Illène: 274-1622 for more information

What You Can Tell By Looking at a Fat Person

Thank You Gender & Society

Teaching Mindfulness in Schools

Actress Goldie Hawn is bringing her MindUP program to schools around the world. Very cool report with a Roaring Fork Valley connection. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.

Local Author Expo

Thank You Glenwood Springs Branch Library

Natural Ways to Treat Anxiety – Diet and Lifestyle Changes

 

There are a number of reasons women can feel anxiety from time to time: stress, hormonal imbalance, diet, and other lifestyle factors can all play a role.

Unfortunately, for many people who seek treatment for anxiety, they are simply prescribed “quick fixes” that only mask the symptoms without dealing with the root cause. The good news is that there are natural ways to treat anxiety that focus on dealing with whatever is causing it in the first place.

If you’re hoping to use natural ways to treat anxiety rather than simply masking the symptoms, read on to learn how to recognize anxiety, pinpoint what might be causing it, and address the root issue directly.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety shows itself in a number of ways, so it can be a little hard to define – especially if you are the one going through it yourself. According to an article for the University of Illinois at Chicago at www.uic.edu:
 ”Sometimes anxiety is accompanied by an episode of intense panic, dread, or fear in which an individual may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, racing heart, dizziness, and/or stomach discomfort. Anxiety can manifest as unwanted, repetitive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop. Sometimes anxiety is specifically tied to a certain situation, like speaking in public, riding in an elevator, or encountering a dangerous animal.”
Not all anxiety, however, is tied to certain situations. In fact, the symptoms described might arise in someone who is dealing with anxiety seemingly out of nowhere. Other symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty relaxing or sitting still
• Mood swings
• Difficulty concentrating
• Soreness or aching muscles
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Avoiding situations that you were once able to handle
• Sweating
• Gastrointestinal problems

Looking at Diet

For some people, a poor diet or food intolerance is to blame for feelings of anxiety. Common culprits include food additives like MSG or artificial colors, caffeine, sugar, and gluten in those who are insensitive. Avoiding these and looking into food sensitivities may be all you need to do to get relief.
As  a general rule, adding plenty of raw, organic fruits and vegetables is a great step you can take for your health. Try to mainly eat foods that are as close to their original source as possible – refined grains and highly processed foods are better avoided.

Habits that Heal Anxiety  CLICK TO CONTINUE AT SOURCE

Inspiration

Thank You boom 99.7

Call for Vendors, Glenwood Springs

Call for Vendors for Health & Wellness Expo

Glenwood Springs, CO - Vendor and sponsorship applications are currently being accepted for the third annual Health & Wellness Expo in Glenwood Springs.  The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Ramada Inn & Suites.

The Health & Wellness Expo is being produced locally in hopes of providing information and education about integrative health and preventative wellness solutions that are available throughout the valley.  The event will feature more than 30 educational vendor booths, informative speakers and interactive activities for all ages.

For more information about this event or to obtain a booth vendor application, visit www.healthandwellnessexpogws.com.

Food Democracy

Thank you Food Democracy Now!

Ron Finley plants vegetable gardens in South Central LA -- in abandoned lots, traffic medians, along the curbs. Why? For fun, for defiance, for beauty and to offer some alternative to fast food in a community where "the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys." Watch Ron here: http://youtu.be/EzZzZ_qpZ4w #UrbanGardening #Gardening #FastFood

Carbondale Community Food Co-op

Carbondale Community Food Co-op

Source: Carbondale Community Food Co-op

"The Carbondale Community Food Co-op is dedicated to providing as many local, natural options as possible for our community's health as well as supplying other popular organic products and bulk foods right here in our town."

"We are a member-owned natural food co-op-- everyone is welcome to shop! Support local food and the local economy!"

RFWellness loves this Carbondale, Colorado resource be sure to visit the newsletter and read the "Consider Becoming a Member" information at the bottom of the page.

Check out the Facebook page here: Carbondale Community Food Co-op

Check out the Newsletter here: Newsletter