Mind Your Body Blog

Soda? No Thank You!

2012-02-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

Our Massage & CranioSacral Therapist Jen, had serious feelings for Mountain Dew. It was the only soda that she really truly could say that she "loved". Then she and her Husband began 2012 with the resolution that they were 100% cutting out fast food. No more late night Burger King, adios Taco Bell, goodbye dear, redheaded Wendy. January also brought Jen to the Jumpstart Cleanse, where for 5 days she was going to be vegan, gluten free, no processed or refined sugar, no caffeine, just whole foods and healthy eating. Afterwards, she made the choice that even though she would return to occasional meat, dairy, and the the odd caffeinated tea or coffee, that she would not return to soda. Jen wondered if she should have a final "fling" with The Dew. They'd been together for so long, shared so many good times. But she realized the relationship was toxic, and it would be better for her if she never saw Dew again.

We all "know" that soda is bad for us. But what do we really know about the harmful effects it can have on us? Our friend Susan Altman, Health Coach posted this on Facebook today:

Millions of people are hooked on soda. Are you one of them? Here are 3 surprising facts you may not have known about soda, and may help you in your journey to kick it for good. 1) Non-diet soda fattens up your organs. 2) Artificial sweeteners and food dyes in diet soda have been linked to brain damage and hyperactivity. 3) Soda contains flame retardants. Some popular soda brands, including Mountain Dew (oh no!! - Jen), use brominated vegetable oil—a toxic flame retardant—to keep the artificial flavoring from separating from the rest of the liquid. 4) The long term effects of drinking soda are unknown. Some recent findings suggest that genetically engineered crops, like the high fructose corn syrup found in soda, are linked to digestive tract damage, accelerated aging, and even infertility. If you are hooked on soda, you owe it to yourself to try and get off it. When you are ready, go cold turkey and see if you even miss it after one week without it. *Pieces taken from a Yahoo health article by David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding

There are many articles, videos and books about the negative effects of soda, and we encourage you to do your own research and hopefully make a positive choice for your health! But for now we leave you with this cute video called "Soda? No Thank You!"

So What’s All this Fuss about Yoga Wrecking Your Body?

2012-01-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

By now, you’ve probably read, or at least heard the commotion around the New York Times article, “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body.” (Photo left via NYT). I must admit that when I first read the piece and started getting questions from friends about it, I was worried that it would give people an unfair and skewed impression of yoga. As a yoga practitioner and instructor, but also as a student of the practice, I was fearful that the healing and life changing potential yoga offers to many would be overlooked as a result of focusing on the negative experiences of a few. And of course, yoga, like most physical endeavors, can pose risks if practiced without care, caution, and proper supervision.

Yet yoga is an experience far greater than the physical poses (asanas) described in the article. Yoga is a practice of bridging the mind and the body, often using the breath as the catalyst for this integration. My yoga instructor Roman Szpond starts his classes by urging us to bring our attention away from “our thinking minds and into our feeling bodies.” Breath alone can be a practice of yoga!

But I’m getting a head of myself…back to the article.

In reading it over several times, I found that Glenn Black, the yoga instructor interviewed for the article, actually answered the questions regarding the conflicted topic, favorably in regards to the true meaning of yoga. Mr. Black spoke of often presenting this rhetorical question to his students during a rigorous yoga class: “Is this yoga?” He would then pause and answer the question himself: “It is if you’re paying attention.” I couldn’t be more in agreement with this statement. Yoga is a practice that cultivates self-awareness, on both a physical and emotional level. It is about learning and being attuned to the rhythms and limitations of our own bodies. This does not come easily to everyone at first!

Here Mr. Black and I are again in agreement. Several times throughout the article, he referenced the harmful implications of letting one’s ego take the wheel in the practice of yoga (or life in general, in my opinion). He says: “Awareness is more important than rushing through a series of postures just to say you’d done them...today many schools of yoga are just about pushing people…teachers jumping on people, pushing and pulling and saying ‘You should be able to do this by now.’ It has to do with their egos; if you do [asana] with ego or obsession, you’ll end up causing problems.” I would also argue that this is not what yoga is or should be about. Possibly contradicting his own words of caution, though, Mr. Black admitted that he has also told his students that he will make the classes as hard as possible and it’s “up to you to make it easy on yourself.” This is a heavy responsibility to put on your students, especially those new to yoga and eager to learn and improve.

Being aware of, and in tune with our own bodies is a constant challenge, and is something that takes time and practice. Beginning students may not have that initial body awareness and should look to their instructors as a guide and support, rather than feeling solely responsible for this process. Even seasoned practitioners need to frequently remind themselves of at awareness and the likelihood that the needs of their bodies will look different each time they’re on the mat. Furthermore, when people are faced with physical or psychological trauma, or other emotional anxiety and stress, it can be even more difficult to be fully present and patient with your body. Here is when the breath is so fundamentally important. By teaching students how to truly breathe, new space is opened in the body and mind, and the movement of the physical postures is done with more ease, following the individual rhythms of each student.

The author of the New York Times article, William Broad, admitted that he had a naïve concept of yoga that it “was a source of healing and never harm.” This, of course, is an extreme way of looking at yoga and life in general. Anything done in excess or with the absence of attention can be harmful. If you look at any athletic sport, there is a host of possible injuries an athlete can face. Living your life out of balance or with rigid intensity can also present injury – injuries on both a physical and psychological level. I once had a roommate in college who ate so many carrots (rich in antioxidants and vitamin A – all good things!) that her hands turned orange! The true essence of yoga fosters a sense of living that is balanced, holistic, and full of vitality.

It is my opinion that there are several yoga practitioners and instructors that should embrace a greater sense of humility. In the words of author Kevin Hall, “We plant seeds of success by getting grounded and rooted in humility.” Humility is about being teachable, and being open to continual learning and expanding. I know personally, that yoga has provided an extensive platform for this learning and expanding to take place in my life, and I consider a privilege to be able guide others in this process as well.

~Emily Lapolice, LICSW & Yoga Instructor

Book An Appointment for Individualized

or private group Yoga with Emily HERE.

Happy 2012 from MYB!

2012-01-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

We've all done it, or at least we've all been asked about it: 'what is your new year's resolution'? This tradition of getting a fresh start to break bad habits, form new and healthy patterns, comes from our innate desire to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. This is a good thing! Sadly, these well-intentioned resolutions fall away and get neglected: by March we've forgotten we even made these little goals.

Mind Your Body Holistic Health is having an overhaul on new year's resolutions, and declares 2012...

The Year to Follow Your Dreams.

"When you follow the dream in your heart, you're energized, inspired, & motivated". ~J.F. Demartini

We want everyone to live their dreams, and feel energized, inspired, motivated, fulfilled... This is what Mind Your Body is all about - achieving balance and an optimal state of health to help you reach these dreams!

Here's what we're going to do:

Each week, on our Facebook page, we'll post our MYB Health Resolution to encourage small changes in our everyday lives. We'll make suggestions from one of six categories: Healthy Eating, Active Life, Mindfulness, Stress reduction, Healthy Environment, and Wellness. Participate in each week's Health Resolution to keep actively following your health goals and life dreams - Don't let those New Year's Resolutions fail! Reply with your insight to the activity or just when you've completed it, and be an active member in the Mind Your Body community.

Not on facebook? We'll also email the week's Resolutions when you sign up for the email list by clicking HERE to email us!

This week's MYB Health Resolution? Let us know you're participating on our facebook page, or through email!

Happy New Year & Congratulations on

Following your Dreams in 2012!

In Health & Living the Dream,

The MYB team

CranioSacral & Performance Massage with Jen!

2011-12-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to announce the addition of Jen Kenneally Brennan, Massage Therapist and Craniosacral Practitioner! I first met Jen through the Cortiva Institutue of Massage where she now TAs (teacher assistant) and when she formed Bloom Massage Therapy here in Newton MA. Now Bloom and Jen are part of Mind Your Body Holistic Health.

Jen is a diverse and skilled Therapist who gets nothing but rave reviews from her clients. She has developed a specialized massage for dancers, singers and other performers, and recently added Craniosacral Therapy to her offerings. I sat down with Jen to ask a few questions so we can get to know her and her services better:

MYB: What do you love most about being a Massage Therapist?

JEN: I enjoy seeing my clients improve, feel better and realize that it is possible. When it comes to my performers, there is nothing I like hearing better than "After you work on me, my turns are sharper." or "I can sing better, I feel freer in my breathing.". I really enjoy helping people realize their body’s potential.

MYB: How did you first find your way to Massage and CranioSacral?

JEN: Coming from a a background in performing arts, being an actor, singer and dancer, I have first hand knowledge of what it feels like to be in that body, about to go on stage and have a pain that you have to ignore, or treat as “normal”. Performers, especially actors and dancers, treat pain as part of the job but don’t necessarily seek treatment for it. In a way as a dancer, there's a certain mindset related to injury – the notion that it is acceptable to create the pain, and just live with it. Maybe it's our "battle wounds", a source of pride in the work we do.

I reached my personal breaking point a few years back. I was playing a lead role in the show "Hair" and it was tech week, where we rehearsed every day for hours on end. I had unbearable pain in my ribs and lower back, I couldn’t bend or twist my torso, or fill my lungs enough to sing. That was the final straw. The pain was unbearable and the show was only a few days away! I went to a chiropractor and a massage therapist right away. The relief I felt in those initial sessions made me well enough to do the full run of my show. I've stuck with bodywork ever since! After a few months of getting regular bodywork done, and seeing the undeniable results, I decided that this was the field I needed to be in.

MYB: You’ve developed a specialized Massage treatment for performers – can you tell us more about that?

JEN: The singers massage starts as any other session would with relaxing muscular tension in the back and then we work more specifically intercostally, incorporating breathing into the diaphragm, abdominals and arms, shoulder, then releasing muscles of the throat and the hyoid. We finish with neck and head. This is a complete upper body release in order to allow the ribs and diaphragm to expand to their fullest potential and release any stuck areas that the singer may be holding. This opens the ‘feeling’ in the throat and vocal placement becomes freer, resulting in better access to such things as high notes, and ‘belting’ becomes easier. Essentially, vocal performance is enhanced.

The dancer’s massage is more specific to the style of dance for the client – involving similar techniques to the singer massage in respect to abs, ribs etc. Dancers tend to have a lot of lower back and hip issues, so that’s something consistent with many of the sessions because they can’t access it on their own. Depending on the specific issue – leg, arm –I customize the treatment for what the dancer needs. With my experience in many forms of dance, I know that the way you carry your body in ballet will be different from modern, or tap and so on... so it's really a personal treatment based on each dancer’s needs.

MYB: You're adding a new modality to your services, can you tell us more about Craniosacral Therapy?

JEN: When I tell friends, family, or clients that I am beginning to practice CranioSacral Therapy; I usually hear “Cranio-what? What is that?”. A “Cliff Notes” style explanation is a daunting task, as CST is quite complex and its benefits are hard to put into a sentence or two. The Upledger Institute says:

“CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance.”

Ok, but that’s not enough...I want to tell clients about the amazing CranioSacral system in our bodies. I want to tell them about how by freeing up “Stuck” bones, we can undo years of trauma. Imagine the body is like the game Jenga. Every time we effect it negatively, we slide one of the blocks slightly out of place and eventually, that tower is going to fall down. From the very first minutes of our lives, we are experiencing trauma to our bodies. We experience childhood bumps and bruises, broken bones, car accidents, surgeries, emotional trauma, poor posture. We create compensation patterns to hide or mask pain or dysfunction in our bodies. Everything from the largest muscle to the tiniest cell is effected by all of these factors, 24 hours a day, 365 a year. A CST therapist has the tools to help your body heal itself from the inside out. I am so excited to be bringing this modality to Mind Your Body, and encourage everyone to give it a try. I believe that [Massage and Craniosacral] therapies compliment each other in such a way that radical change can and should be seen in clients. I will be offering CST sessions in stand-alone 60 minute, “trial” 30 minute, and Massage/Cranio combo 90 minute sessions.

Thank-you Jen for your letting us get to know you better!

Do you have more questions for Jen? You can email her at jen@mindyourbodywellness.com to get them answered and find out more information directly from Jen about how she can work with you specifically.

Jen is currently taking on new clients for both Massage and Craniosacral Therapies, or a combination of both! Check out her schedule HERE to make an appointment.

Join me in welcoming Jen Kenneally Brennan to the Mind Your Body Holistic Health Team!

Emily Lapolice is now at MYB!

2011-12-13T16:49:00.000-08:00

Emily Lapolice LICSW Yoga

I'm pleased to announce the addition of Emily Lapolice, LICSW and Yoga Instructor! I first met Emily through a colleague, who knew she would be a perfect fit with the Mind Your Body philosophy and mission. Emily embodies both the Mind and Body aspects healing and holistic health, practicing Psychotherapy and Yoga individually, and combining the two Therapies for clients who want and need both! I sat down with Emily to ask a few questions so we can get to know her and her services better:

MYB: How did you first become interested in Yoga?

EMILY: I first was introduced to yoga in a standard gym setting. I had just graduated college and was taking a year off before moving to New York City. It was a transitional year, and yoga found me at a great time. I had heard of yoga before and had taken some Eastern philosophy classes in college, but didn’t know a great deal about it. It was first just a way for me to stay in shape and experience relaxation on a different level. My practice of yoga later developed after moving to New York City. I practiced at many different studios in the city and eventually started practicing under a well-known guru who studied in India for much of his life. My physical practice developed significantly, but I became distracted by the “guru-culture,” feeling I had to modify my beliefs and practices to coincide with that of my guru. This eventually shifted for me, and I befriended yoga in an individual way. My practice became personal, with focus directed inward, letting go of expectations and relating to my body and spirit in a completely new way. I hope to be able to help people find their own, individual experience of yoga too!

MYB: What do you love most about practicing Yoga and about Yoga itself?

EMILY: For me, it’s the sense of physical and emotional expansion that I feel after I practice yoga. In yoga, we move our bodies in ways that are atypical from our standard body movements – which for most of us consist of sitting, standing, walking and laying down. We are allowing our bodies to move and open in new ways - and what accompanies us through this movement is our breath. We begin to move our breath, not only through our lungs, but also throughout our entire body. After I practice yoga, even for only 15 minutes, I can feel my breath literally pulsing in spaces I was not aware my breath could reach - from the pores of my forehead to the tips of my fingers. New space is actually created in the body, and our breath finds its way into this new space. With this opened physical space, emotional space is also expanded. Relationships with ourselves and others can be strengthened and developed with new awareness and intention.

MYB: In your opinion, what are the greatest health benefits to doing Yoga?

EMILY: When we practice yoga, our physical bodies move – but so do our internal bodies. So thinking about this literally: blood is moving expansively through our bodies during yoga (increasing cardio-vascular health); toxins are moving out of our bodies (increasing immune functioning); breath is traveling and expanding through our bodies increasing the flow of oxygenated blood to all organs (improving respiratory health and overall internal organ functioning); muscles and joints are moving in new ways (releasing lactic acid build up); endorphins are released, and stress related hormones are lowered (reducing stress and anxiety, and improving mood). So simply put, the greatest health benefit of yoga is the internal and external movement of our bodies and all the results that come from this movement. And it just feels great! You’ll feel younger, more vibrant, and more self-aware.

MYB: What advice do you have for people who have never tried Yoga?

EMILY: To let go of any and all expectations. Yoga is a practice that is truly accessible to everyone, regardless of age, flexibility or experience. The foundations of yoga began as a meditation practice and the asanas (poses) developed from there. Breath is central to yoga – and since breathing is something we all do – yoga truly is for anyone! Especially at Mind Your Body, your yoga practice will be individually created and tailored to your needs. And even when the 'larger' class format starts at the center, class sizes will never exceed 12 people. I hope to create an intimate and reflective practice of yoga at Mind Your Body that brings people a sense of peace, and creates a safe and welcoming environment.

MYB: You’re amongst the few people trained in Trauma-sensitive Yoga; can you tell us more about this new Therapeutic field?

EMILY: Trauma-sensitive yoga is a new treatment approach that allows trauma survivors to have a present moment experience both physically and emotionally. Tools will be given to help clients re-inhabit their bodies in a new way. Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD - one of the leading pioneers of this practice says that it’s “imperative to befriend one’s bodily sensations to overcome the imprints of trauma.” Traumatic memories can be stored in the physical body, and it has been found that the most effective treatments for individuals who have suffered from trauma should include the body in the healing process. I trained with David Emerson, RTY & Elizabeth Hopper, PhD who sum up trauma-sensitive yoga perfectly:

“What trauma-sensitive yoga offers that is distinct from many other physical practices is a structured, supportive, and self-paced medium for survivors to make choices in relation to their bodies and their experience that are kind, gentle, and caring – all of the things that were missing during the trauma.”

MYB: Who can benefit from trauma-sensitive Yoga?

EMILY: Though this practice was founded with trauma survivors and those suffering from PTSD in mind, anyone can benefit from this gentle, supportive form of yoga. Those suffering from depression, anxiety or other forms of stress can greatly benefit from its effects. Also, individuals who may not be ready to try yoga on their own or in the group setting can use this practice as an introduction to yoga in a safe and supportive individual setting. It’s really a form of yoga that empowers people to listen to their own bodies and set a pace that is comfortable for them, with my support and guidance throughout the practice. It is more intimate than “standard class yoga” formats, and the development of a trusting and safe relationship with me will help individuals through this process and enhance the experience.

MYB: You’re also a clinical psychotherapist. Despite your belief and practice of yoga and holistic styles of treatment, do you still see the benefit of standard “talk therapy”?

EMILY: Absolutely!! My foundational training and the bulk of my professional experiences are with “traditional” clinical psychotherapy. I have experience with children, adults, and families. It is profoundly helpful to establish a therapeutic relationship with someone where thoughts, fears, and other feelings of distress can be voiced and explored without judgment. Over the years, I have found it additionally beneficial to include the body in the healing process. However, this is not always helpful for everyone. I want to empower my clients to find their own voice, in whatever way feels most comfortable for them. I help clients give words and language to emotional and psychological distress. But I am also able to help clients find the “language of their bodies” as well. This choice will be entirely up to the individual client. Sessions can start with talking alone and may gradually move to incorporate bodywork and mindfulness techniques based on need and desire, or can simply include the talking relationship alone. I may work with a client in a 1:1 or group yoga setting and he or she may want to also been seen for therapy services, or vise versa. I believe very strongly in the power of both of these treatment modalities, which can be experienced separately or combined.

MYB: Tell us more about yourself.

EMILY: I first of all just want to say how privileged, happy, and honored I am to be a part of this amazing team. I have always wanted to combine my passion for therapy and yoga, and couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity. I feel this is the start of a long and wonderful relationship with the Mind Your Body community.

I’ve been in the Boston area for about 1 ½ years, after living in New York City for 6 years. It was a mindful decision on my part to move closer to family and find more grounding in my life. Plus I missed trees! I love to cook, shop organically (when I can afford it), be outdoors and express myself in various creative ways. I’ve been writing for many years, and this is often a powerful form of self-reflection and expression for me. I love music, playing a bit of guitar myself, and going to many different performing venues as often as I can! Music is an amazing avenue for reflection, healing, energizing, or relaxation. You can plan on hearing some great mixes in my yoga classes! I often have many people come up to me after class asking what certain songs were – so I’m happy to share my music anytime! So whether we’re grooving on the yoga mat, practicing in the 1:1 setting, or mindfully relating and connecting in the therapeutic relationship, I look forward to meeting you and feel privileged to be a part of your healing and health.

Thank-you Emily for your insight and for letting us get to know you better!

Do you have more questions for Emily? You can email her at emily@mindyourbodywellness.com to get them answered and find out more information directly from Emily about how she can work with you specifically.

Emily is currently taking on new clients for both Yoga and Talk-Therapy, or a combination of both! Check out her schedule HERE to make an appointment.

Join me in welcoming Emily Lapolice to the Mind Your Body Holistic Health Team!

Welcome to the Mind Your Body Blog!

2011-11-17T20:11:00.000-08:00

Mind Your Body Holistic Health began as a small, one-Therapist clinic by me (Mitzie Ladd), in London Canada, specializing in Holistic-Medical Massage Therapy and Reiki . As fate would have it, two years after opening, Mind Your Body relocated to Newton MA! And now two years after that, having established a wonderful client base of individuals and families dedicated to their health and well-being, Mind Your Body is ready to expand.

With this expansion comes a new logo and look, many new services, Therapists, and ways to connect with you! This blog is just one of those opportunities to connect and share information and insights related to all things Mindful.

In the posts ahead, look for Mind Your Body news and updates, health tips, the latest research into CAM Therapies, thoughts from our Therapists, and so much more.

I'm so excited to share my enthusiasm for Health and Wellness with all of you!

~Mitzie
LMT, Owner of Mind Your Body Holistic Health