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The people that come into our lives are sent to us to mirror the qualities we ourselves posses. This is a valuable learning tool to show us not only what
we need to work on, but what to admire about ourselves. So next time you run into somebody with negative or positive qualities, take a moment to look inside yourself and see what you can discover.

Goddess of the Earth: An idea connected to imagination, creativity & nature is coming your way.

It is so easy in these troubled times to forget that we are all children of the earth and we need to honor and respect our planet. In the coming days,
spend some time out in nature (walk in a park, go for a hike, etc) and feel the stress melt away. Your mind will open up to new possibilities and ideas
and you will feel a connection that goes back to your roots. You can honor our planet in simple ways, do what works best for you and watch the change.

God of the Arts: The artist within you is about to emerge.

We are all creative whether we believe it or not. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to do, don’t wait any longer. Pursue your creative side with
no judgment as to how talented you or anybody thinks you are. Being creative feeds both your soul and your inner child. Have fun with it!!

Have a very blessed and abundant month!
Angel

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As an intuitive reader, Angel Blue can use oracle cards, personal objects or simply by touching a client’s hands to communicate information that spirit has to give. She not only communicates with angels but also with guides or past loved ones that have messages. She believes in providing positive information to guide her clients in the most loving way possible. For more information about Angel’s intuitive readings or energetic healings, contact the Malaya Center online or at (925) 726-0300.

This is the number one comment I get when talking to people about eating healthier. Why is it that what should be one of the most important rituals of our day gets tossed aside from our priority list as easily as over ripe bananas get tossed in the garbage instead of being used for banana bread? If we “are what we eat”, then why don’t we devote more time and energy into eating well?

The truth is; life is fast. We live in a world where you can wake up in San Francisco, have lunch in Chicago and dance the night away in New York City. Information is exchanged, literally, at our fingertips in a matter of seconds. News of wildfires in Australia or natural disasters in China can reach you seconds after being reported. It’s no wonder people feel overwhelmed at everything happening in the world…you hear about it all, and fast!

For this reason especially, we need to grasp strongly to some routines in our lives that bring peace, gratefulness, and a sense of togetherness and connection. For thousands and thousands of years, humans have experienced these feelings over a shared meal. For those of you with children, Eating Together As A Family Creates Better Eating Habits Later In Life. This study shows yet another reason to ring that cowbell at dinner time.

Here are some tips to making mealtime one of your priorities:

1. Shut off the TV. This includes mealtimes, but the less TV you watch during the morning, day or evening allows you more time to prepare meals. Just cutting out one or two 1-hour shows per week can keep your fridge stocked with well-prepped snacks and easy meal additions.
2. Plan Ahead. Take an hour each week to plan out your meals for the week. They don’t all have to be home-made, but then you will know ahead of time which meals are to be made at home and which meals will be bought prepared. No more “5pm: Oh no! What’s for dinner?!?”
3. Plan of leftovers. Make double or triple of what you are cooking and have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. Did you know that we are one of few countries in which people have a different recipe or food for every meal? Most societies use part or all of a previous meal for the next one!
4. Freeze it. Many foods will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Even most of the nutrition is still intact as well! So stock up on freezer-safe glass containers and get a labeling pen for the date and meal name.
5. Involve your kiddos. Kids may slow down the cooking time a bit in the kitchen, but there are loads of benefits. First of all, they are more likely to eat the foods in which they helped prepare. Second, you get to spend quality time with them, something severely lacking for fast-paced families. Third, you will be teaching them that food does not only come from a box. They will begin to appreciate meals more and file away the knowledge that meals are created, not “opened” from a box. Later in life, they WILL thank you for this basic understanding and knowledge…I promise! (Mom – THANKS!!)
6. KEEP IT SIMPLE. Really, who has time to spend 3 hours in the kitchen preparing dinner? Well, I sure don’t. Most of my meals are prepared in about 30 minutes or less. The trick? A little planning ahead (for meal planning, soaking grains, groceries on hand), and setting the time aside (this is not the easiest thing!). Usually, something has got to go to make this time available. (Last time I checked the day was still only 24 hours…much to my dismay!) So, for me, just getting organized about the day cured that problem.
7. Next, KEEP IT SIMPLE! Steamed broccoli drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt and pepper accompanied by baked salmon in butter and garlic can be a whole meal prepared in about 20-25 minutes. And only about 5-10 minutes is active time in the kitchen!

So next time you think, “I just don’t have the time!”, I urge you to re-assess your priorities and make the time. Your life will be enriched in countless ways. Happy Meal Planning!

If you want some extra help with meal planning, I can assist you and your family in learning how to create and execute meal plans that meet your family’s nutritional and scheduling needs. Call (925) 951-7136 to start.

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Leah Vachani, Certified Nutritional Consultant, offers nutrition planning and advice to help with a variety of conditions and diagnoses, but her areas of specialization are preconception, prenatal, and postnatal nutrition in addition to children’s health. She believes in a holistic approach to wellness through diet, supplements, lifestyle, and mental awareness. Leah strives to help her clients find balance in their body to achieve optimum health and wellness.

Follow Leah Vachani on Twitter @HFWellness.

]]> 2 gailnott http://www.malayacenter.com http://malayacenter.com/blog/2009/08/18/body-communication/ 2009-08-19T06:04:40Z 2009-08-19T06:04:40Z
by Gina Tibbs, Holistic Health Practitioner
Loosen Up Bodywork
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I always try to teach my clients and students that pain is your friend. You may have heard me say this a time or two. Pain is one way our body communicates to us that something needs to change. We also get signals from our nervous system like muscle spasm or tightness, cramping, numbness, and discomfort.

We, as people, are very results driven. We like knowing that when we go home in the evening that we have accomplished something. So much so that we sometimes ignore the signals our nervous system is sending us so we can finish what we have started.

A question I’ve heard in the past is “why don’t children have knots?“. The simplest answer to that question I learned in a Thomas Hanna, Somatics training: Children stop doing what they’re doing when it hurts.

I want to encourage all of you to find that inner child. Not to stop accomplishing the goals we set for ourselves, but to stop trudging through the pain and refine the way we get things done.

By paying attention to the process of what we are doing, we have the ability to focus on how we are using our bodies and make adjustments so that we can do them comfortably.

If you’re not sure how to make adjustments to activities that cause you discomfort your always welcome to contact me with questions by phone or email.

Be well, be happy, and I hope you’re enjoying your summer.

Best,
Gina Tibbs

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Gina Tibbs, HHP, Instructor / Owner of Loosen Up Bodywork, has been practicing massage therapy since 1999. She started deeply rooted in eastern techniques and developed an interest in NeuroMuscular therapy and pre and postnatal massage. Gina’s approach to health and healing has always included some blend of eastern and western medicine. Her passion to teach, always learn more and to empower her clients and students with new and old techniques for healing grows every day. Contact the Malaya Center at 925.726.0300 to schedule an appointment or for more information on Gina’s Self-Healing classes.

]]> 0 gailnott http://www.malayacenter.com http://malayacenter.com/blog/2009/08/02/august-oracle-reading/ 2009-08-08T07:12:26Z 2009-08-02T23:08:33Z
by Angel Blue, Intuitive Reader & Reiki Master
~~~~~~

Congratulations all! You survived July and two eclipses for the month. Here’s what to expect for August: (as last month, I will name the oracle card, give its meaning and then give the advice told to me by spirit)

#1 Angel of Communication: Communicate clearly; don’t be afraid to tell it like it is.

Speaking your own truth is critical. When speaking from your heart, know that you will always be heard even if it may not seem so. Remember also to speak from a place of compassion and honor.

#2 God of Reflections: The qualities you see in others are simply your own reflection.

The people you come into contact with in your life are terrific mirrors of what you like as well as dislike about yourself. These people are great tools that can teach you not only what you can work on but also the beauty that lies within you.

#3 Angel of Vision: Someone is not revealing part of the story. Trust your feelings over what others say.

This is a great reminder on how to listen with your heart. If something someone
is saying doesn’t feel like truth to you, it isn’t your truth. Bless them for their information and trust your intuition above all else.


Have a very blessed and abundant month!
Angel


The oracle cards used for this reading is Angels, Gods, & Goddesses by Toni Carmine Salerno.

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Angel Blue’s healing work is her passion. By connecting with higher power, she brings her clients a peace and clarity that can change their lives. That is her life purpose. Angel would like to help you find yours. Or, let Angel help you find deep relaxation to relieve the stess everyday life can bring.

]]> 0 gailnott http://www.malayacenter.com http://malayacenter.com/blog/2009/07/26/how-to-eat-soul-food/ 2009-07-26T18:30:23Z 2009-07-26T18:10:24Z
by Leah Vachani, Certified Nutrition Consultant
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SOUL Food is Seasonal, Organic, Unrefined, and Local. By purchasing produce with these concepts in mind, you will treat your body to an abundance of nutrient rich and delicious tasting food while decreasing your carbon foot-print at the same time.

Here are some tips:

1. Find out what foods are fresh & seasonal near you at the National Resource Defense Council website.
2. Visit LocalHarvest.org to find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.
3. Eat Well Guide: a free online directory of thousands of family farms, restaurants, and other outlets for fresh, locally grown food in the US and Canada. Originally a database of sustainably-raised meat and dairy producers, its listings have expanded to include farmers’ markets, CSA programs, partner organizations, water-conscious ratings and vegetarian eateries. Visitors can search by location, keyword or category to find good food, download customized guides, or plan a trip with the innovative mapping tool Eat Well Everywhere.
4. Read about “The Dirty Dozen”, or the 12 most heavily pesticide sprayed fruits and vegetables that you should always buy organic!

By tying to eat SOUL food, you may discover new shops, farmer’s markets, restaurants and more!

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Are you interested in exploring new and exciting nutritious foods for you and your family but feel overwhelmed? Book an appointment for a Grocery Store Nutrition Navigation or In Home Pantry Clean-Out. Leah’s next 21-Detoxification Program at the Malaya Center starts August 10.

Follow Leah Vachani on Twitter @HFWellness.

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