Emotions have an important influence on our physical health, and it’s critical to deal effectively with the feelings that accompany the everyday ups and downs of life. Here are nine steps to help manage your emotions:

1. Use your emotions and bodily responses to recognize when you are under stress.

2. Write down your thoughts and feelings about what is causing your stress.

3. Control whatever aspect of the stress that you can.

4. Don’t make mountains out of molehills. When difficult situations arise, it is important to assess how bad they really are before going into panic mode.

5. Redefine the Problem.

6. Develop behaviors that distract you from stress.

7. Reach out to a friend or family member.

8. Exercise Regularly. Regular exercise is good for your physical and emotional health.

9. Meditate and Relax.

With these 9 steps you will be well on your way to managing your emotions.

Transcendental Meditation
Lilian Lontra, llontra@tm.org

Watch out coffee, tea is making a comeback! Did you know, Canadians drink almost 10 billion cups of tea each year? That’s 120 cups more than in 2006. Next to water, tea is world’s most consumed beverage! And it is projected that consumption will jump 40% by 2020! Each type of tea has its own characteristics including a different taste and differing health benefits. Green tea is the most popular type of tea with several health benefits including weight loss and anti-inflammatory properties. White teas are the most delicate of teas, with an unmatched lightness and eminence. Black tea is your “standard” tea, which is typically used when making Iced Tea. Rooibos tea, or Red Tea, is a flavorful, caffeine-free tea that has wonderful skin-loving properties. Herbal Tea and Fruit Tea, like Rooibos tea, are caffeine-free are great served cold! Perfect for entertaining on the patio! Happy Sipping!

Steeped Tea
www.Mysteepedtea.com/LISATUSTIN

Essential oils are simply organic compounds extracted from plants with tremendous healing properties. Using essential oils for healing purposes is called aromatherapy, which seeks to improve physical, mental and emotional health. Essential oils can be used to help treat a wide range of conditions, including colds, infections, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure. These oils are extracted from flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, fruit and twigs. By concentrating the oils of these plants you are literally separating the most powerful healing compounds of a plant into a single, multi-purpose oil. Essential oils are a natural and safe way to improve your health, cure ailments, and soothe your body and mind. There are a wide number of essential oils available, each with its own healing property. Tea Tree, Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Rose, Oregano, Frankincense, Cypress, Ginger, Sandalwood – Just to name a few!

There is a lot of information regarding toxic ingredients in skin care and cosmetic lines that we purchase. At times, I feel like no matter what brand I purchase, I am taking a risk. There are key words that we are aware of; additives like parabens, sulfates, toluene, and formaldehyde are only a few of the chemicals that manufacturers use to create everyday items. What people do not realize is that these toxic chemicals are endocrine disruptors; they can mimic estrogen and possibly contribute to breast cancers. Causemetics has brought together eleven of Canada’s natural and non-toxic companies to produce a line that is safe and high quality. An automatic donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund is made when you purchase Causemetics.

The Unexpected Gift
www.theunexpectedgift.ca

Reiki is a hands-on healing system originating in 1800’s Japan. It is a gentle, non-invasive technique used to balance one’s body, mind and spirit. Some may not realize its benefits for animals. Animals are far more sensitive than we can imagine. As an Animal Reiki Master and Communicator of ten years, I can tell you that most animals feel that it is their duty to carry the stresses of their people. Reiki dispels bottled negative energies that if left untreated, often manifest into physical dis-eases. Reiki is highly beneficial for introducing shelter-adopted animals into new homes, or helping to introduce newly homed animals to current animal residents. Additional benefits of Animal Reiki include: a decrease in anxiety, obesity, lethargy, depression, an acceleration in healing time from wounds, and a strong sense of peace among a great many others.

Jill Saifer, Soulstice Spirit Healing
www.soulsticespirithealing.wordpress.com