E-Newsletter:
How Reiki Masters Enjoy the Winter Holidays (12/08)
For our December E-Newsletter, I asked three Reiki Masters, "How do you keep your energy up during the winter holidays?" Here are their tips for overcoming dropping temperatures, wintertime sickness and holiday stress.
Breathe and Relax. Many people let the cold weather get to them by tensing up and forgetting to breathe normally. For years, people have seen me with less warm winter gear on than most and always ask if I'm cold: "Maybe a little," I respond, "but it doesn't bother me." That last bit is the key. If the cold doesn't bother you, if you don't let it bother you, your mind and body won't burn energy the way they do when you're frustrated or tense. So when you feel your shoulders shrug and your body tense up on itself in the cold, take a couple seconds to take a few deep breaths, relaxing your body with each exhale. If you find that visualization helps, try picturing a light blanket of energy falling down over you with each breath as well, both providing warmth and keeping out the cold.
—Jacques Marcotte, Reiki Master/Teacher, Chicago
Listen to your body's needs. In times of pressure and discomfort, we require more sleep to keep up our immunity to sickness and stress. If you feel sickness coming on or simply find yourself run down, take a clue from your body and stay in and rest. Your friends and family love you, and they want to see you healthy and happy, even if it means you miss a holiday event or have to leave early to get some rest. If you can't get a full night's sleep, try taking naps or simply meditating. Sit quietly with soft music and release the tension from your entire body by closing your eyes and focusing on your own inner peace and love. Imagine it radiating from your inner self until a glow of peace and love radiates from your skin and encompasses you.
—Maggie Drawert, Reiki Master, Santa Barbara
Take time to enjoy the season yourself. Appreciate the peaceful beauty of the snow, its calm crunch under your feet and the crisp cold air. Spend at least two hours every week doing something you enjoy - something you can lose yourself in that lets you forget all your worries. Every week, take time to eat a good hot meal prepared with love. It can be home-cooked or made by a chef, but not fast food. Fast food is not prepared with love. Remember that spending time with people we love is what makes holidays special, not decorations or gifts. Your house doesn't have to look like a magazine set, and those special gifts will be just as special if they're received in January. Put the shopping list aside and do something you love with someone you love.
—Erik LaBelle, Reiki Master/Teacher, Chicago Healing Studio
If you're saying, "But I can't find my inner peace, let alone make it blanket me, encompass me or share it with people I love," Reiki can help. A Reiki session will fill you with the healing energy you need, and Reiki classes teach you to control that energy. Call Erik LaBelle, Reiki Master/Teacher at 312-504-7693 or email erik@chicagohealingstudio.com to schedule a Reiki session or join our January class.
Anna Schibrowsky
Marketing and Reiki Class Practice Dummy
Chicago Healing Studio
