Have you Floated today? And no I’m not talking about your typical float in a pool, the ocean, or even a bath tub. I’m referencing a brand new relaxation method called Floating.

Utilizing a revolutionary scientific approach to deep relaxation called R.E.S.T (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique), Flotation eliminates all sensory stress to the body allowing the mind and body to fall into the deepest state of relaxation on earth.

After hearing about this extraodinary method from a dancer friend of mine, I was intrigued, to say the least, and dug up some research. Here’s what I found!

If you’re looking to de-stress (and seriously who isn’t) then imagine falling into a calm state considered purer and more beneficial than sleep. This deep relaxation is created through the use of a sound and light proof floatation pod in which you float effortlessly on the surface of 10 inches of water that is saturated with 800lbs of medical grade Epsom salt and 100 million year old Himalayan salt. It is set to your skin temperature to give the sensation of floating “out of body”.

Apparently, “Scientists estimate that up to 90% of the brain’s normal workload is caused by the effects of gravity on muscles and the nervous system as well as sensory stimuli that needs to be processed.

The float tank screens out these external physical stimuli, creating a pure state of “sensory” relaxation. Under these unique conditions your body has a chance to restore its natural powers of self regulation, while you simply lie back and rediscover the latent abilities of a deeply relaxed mind.”

Sounds fantastic right?! Like I have mentioned before, there is a vast connection between the mind, body and spirit. Reducing tension in the body inevitably relaxes the mind and visa versa. While meditation and mindfulness calm the mind and in turn relax the body, floating creates an environment that reduces all stressors on the body, allowing you to fall into deep levels of consciousness. Floating actually activates parts of the brain and consciousness that only Zen monks and other yogi’s can access through deep meditation.

I have already scheduled my appointment at the Float Matrix here in San Francisco to give it a whirl. I’ll be sure to follow up and let you know how it goes! Check into it and see if any spa’s or holistic centers near you offer Floating. For only $75 dollars an hour (cheaper than a massage) I’m considering scheduling several appointments.

With how busy our lives are now days it’s critical to our health to have a place where we can have down time and get a restful nights sleep. The bedroom should be an oasis of calm and a place you can’t wait to retreat to every night. Feng Shui, the ancient art of placement, offers several tips for creating the perfect haven. From bed placement, to wall color, to imagery, the Feng Shui principles of creating chi (energy) flow around a home will have you sleeping like a baby and improving your relationships to boot! So let’s get started with some simple changes you can do to shape your dream bedroom.

Use The Command Position: Place your bed diagonally across from the entrance to the bedroom. So, when you are sitting in bed you can see the door, but not be in the direct flow of chi coming through the doorway. It’s subconsciously unsettling to not have a view of who (or what!) is coming into the room.

Clear Out From Under The Bed: Having back problems or trouble sleeping? Don’t blame the mattress necessarily. The type of objects you keep under the bed can effect your sleep and health. Bed related items are okay, but anything metal or disruptive like drawers can disturb energy. Use the drawers for long term storage and clear all the junk out to allow chi to move freely on all sides.

Remove Inappropriate Imagery: The bedroom is the room linked to relationships. If you are having trouble in your current relationship or wanting to meet someone, check out what imagery messages you’re sending yourself. Pictures of solitary people, animals, etc. is supporting the opposite message of a relationship. Pick art for the bedroom that has images of pairs (eg. pictures of you two on your last vacation, two birds, etc.).

Avoid Sha Chi: If possible, position the bed away from overhead beams. Heavy beams create pressure over the area directly beneath them. This pressure is called Sha Chi and can cause health problems. For example, if a beam is directly over your head at night you might suffer from headaches; over the knees and feet can create knee and leg problems; over the stomach can cause digestive problems; and beams running lengthwise over the bed can cause relationship problems (since it’s separating the couple). The lower the ceiling the greater the impact.

Shelving overhead can cause the same type of pressure and unease. Subconscious fear of objects falling on you at night can cause disrupted sleep. Another sha chi problem could come from behind the wall. Check out if you’ve got a ton of plumbing, an air conditioner, toilet or appliance on the other side of the wall behind the head of your bed. A toilet has a very draining energy, and any kind of waste water carries negative chi. A stove’s strong yang (fire) energy conflicts with the yin nature of sleep.

Use The Bedroom As A Bedroom: This means, try to keep the bedroom for strictly sleeping and relaxing. Having your desk or office in the bedroom brings (yang) or active energy into this (yin) or passive space. When you work at your desk you want to be in the command position, but the bed is already there. If you must have your office in the bedroom, turn off all the equipment and drape fabric over it before bed so as not to be reminded of work when you first wake up.

Same thing goes for workout equipment. While there might be no other place to stick that huge treadmill, having it in the bedroom can send off energy related to your strenuous workouts.

Activate Chi: Create more chi in the bedroom by bringing in live plants. Plants are a symbol of growth and health. Fresh flowers in white, pinks, and reds are perfect for the bedroom.

Set The Mood: For improved relationships and relaxation we turn the the element of Earth. Add these to ground and calm the room:
- Soft, luxurious fabrics (now you’ve got an excuse to buy those high thread count sheets!). Make the bed as comfortable as possible by adding down comforters, a foam mattress topper, lots of pillow and soft throws. Whatever soothes your soul.
-Use earth tones, and shades of pink, white, and red for the walls and decor. Blues and green are also very calming.
-Add a dimmer switch for that all important mood lighting
-A round mirror to signify unity
-Use aromatherapy. For calm use: chamomile, lavender, and lemon. For love use: freesia, gardenia, jasmine, and plumeria essential oils.

Implementing a few or all of these Feng Shui cures should have you sleeping better tonight! I’m looking forward to hitting the sack already.

Feng Shui is an incredible philosophy that can drastically change the energy of your home- directly effecting aspects of our lives like health, wealth, love, and personal growth. To learn more about Feng Shui check out some of my favorite books on the subject. Want more tips? Click here!

Source: Fast Feng Shui, by Stephanie Roberts

It seems as though I am constantly trying to find balance in my life. Just when I think I have my schedule set and can fit everything in something gets thrown out of wack. Finding down time lately has been nearly impossible. Sound familiar? Now more than any other time in history people are working longer hours and trying to fit all they can into the short hours of the day. Meantime their home and personal life suffers which only leads to more stress. We all need time to meet up with friends, have alone time, and just simply relax.
Now we find ourselves in the midst of the holiday season, which adds another whole level of stress to our lives. I can think of no better time to re-evaluate our lives and seek true balance. Now is the time to make a change! Yeah more sleep!

Here are some insightful ways to help us all find balance:

1. Set Boundaries: Commit to not working on your days off. The computer allows us to keep working even over the weekends, but at some point we have got to put our foot down and pick and choose what is most important to our success and health.

2. Accept Less Than Perfection: This is a biggy for me. Everything doesn’t always need to be perfect. It’s more important to keep your sanity and just do the best you can.

3. Delegate: Learn to give tasks away when you can and ask for help when you need it.

4. Be Mindful: Living in the moment is key to getting more out of life. Enjoy that quick laugh at the water cooler and cherish the time you have with your loved ones.

5. Don’t Worry: Instead of dwelling on a situation, decide what needs to be done and implement it.

6. Accept What You Can’t Change: All you can do is your best.

7. Take A Breather: Between your various “to-do’s” take ten minutes to chat up an old buddy or just sit outside in the sun. Taking a breather is necessary downtime before you launch into another project or errand. You’ll be more effective and diligent once you get going afterward.

8. Focus On The Positive: Energy flows where attention goes; whatever you focus on expands, so banish that negative thinking. Try to replace negative thoughts with positive ones as they pop up in your internal talk.

9. Be Kind To Yourself: We are not robots, only human. Sometimes our biggest critics are ourselves.

10. Lead A Healthy Lifestyle: Eating healthy, exercising daily, and sleeping a full 7-8 hours a night is essential to a balanced lifestyle.

11. Choose Peace Over Chaos: Ask yourself, how important will this be in six months? It will help put things in perspective.

12. Stop complaining: If you don’t like things in your life change them.

13. Be The Change You Want To See: Want more peace at work? Be more peaceful. Want more fun? Be more fun. Remember, attitudes are contagious - positive or negative - others will catch them.

14. Don’t Take Life So Seriously: Remember to laugh when things go wrong… and right.

15. Be grateful: Count your blessings every day, realizing that there are countless others who have not enough to eat or a roof over their heads.

Hypnotherapy has recently become popular in the fight against fat. Hypnosis has been used for decades to help with mainly insomnia, anxiety, stress, and acute and chronic pain. Today hypnotists are making loads of money by helping their clients quit smoking, lose weight, reduce fear and panic attacks, and increase confidence and self esteem.

On Monday, British song bird Lily Allen spoke out about her experience with hypnosis and how it helped her drop 4 dress sizes. After a few sessions she was eager to hit the gym and lead a healthier lifestyle.

“After the hypnotism, I want to go to the gym every day, otherwise I feel really bad. I just want to get more toned and healthy. I’m really good about everything at the moment — I’ve never been happier,” Lily chirped to the Daily Mail.

I wonder why she didn’t have her hypnotist, Susan Hepburn, help her quit smoking. That might be something else she wants to think about! It just goes to show you how powerful your mind is and that changing your internal thought process can do a world of good.

*Human’s have some pretty incredible super powers. You just haven’t found them yet…here are 18 wonders of the human body. Full of random body quirks that will help you reduce acid reflux, dizziness, and new techniques for stopping bloody noses. Who knew?

*For all those quiet moments while meditating, relaxing or just trying to get to sleep, enjoy a peaceful soundtrack of birds chirping or the sounds of a babbling brook. Check out this soundboard that offers uninterrupted natural sounds for free, right from your laptop speakers!

*Learn proper breathing techniques to enhance your life and health. This site’s main page offers an audio example of calm breathing that you can continuously breath along with. Awesome! So the next time you get upset or angry visit Breathetogether.net to take some deep breaths.

*Developing control over one’s appetite is half the battle when it comes to nutrition. Here are some great tips for nuturing healthy eating habits that won’t have you chewing gum to stay satisfied! Enjoy.