Health and Wellness with Allison

It's been an emotional winter season for me. And it is in times like these, that I am grateful for my meditation practice. I am reading Pema Chodron's  When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times.  In her book, Chodron shares meditation techniques and tremendous insight into the lessons we can learn from difficult times. The Buddha said that a person can meditate at any time and all the time. One can meditate while walking, sitting, standing, or eating by completing tasks mindfully and cultivating awareness in daily life. But we can not bring objective awareness into our actions if at first we do not have a safe place to start. A formal seated meditation practice can be that place for us. As Chodron explains, the cushion is "the safest and most nurturing place" to practice neither indulging in nor repressing our emotions. It is on the cushion where we can learn how to just be with  strong emotions like anger.  I have found that sitting each morning o...

Rosemary One of my teachers once told me that the medicine I need grows in my own backyard.  So yesterday, when I was feeling under the weather, I took a walk out back and found a  Rosemary bush. The smell of the Rosemary plant immediately had an affect on my mood. With each inhale of its wonderful fragrance, I felt more calm and centered.   Rosemary is one of the most useful herbs, with culinary, medicinal, and aromatherapy uses. Rosemary...  - improves memory - quickens the senses -increases circulation to the brain -alleviates headaches, hangovers & indigestion  - helps insomnia -calm nerves - decreases stress - stops bad dreams - strengthens the heart  - invokes wisdom, love & loyalty Uses of  Rosemary :  - Add the leaves, essential oil or hydrosol to a bath to soothe achy joints and help the body relax. - Apply diluted essential oil to alleviate sprains or sci...