Center for Infinite Health

Cleanse Club gets its Game On!

2011-02-08T08:05:24Z

Greetings Healthy Readers!

Want a fun and effective way to lose weight, get in shape and cause a shift in your emotional well-being?

The Cleanse Club is a powerful, community-based health forum for people to learn the tools they need to uplevel their wellness, physically, emotionally and mentally. And now we’re taking it too a whole new level!

It’s the Game On Lifestyle Challenge, a fun and affordable competition that has teams vying for the highest score and creating valuable lifestyle changes in the process. Members accrue daily points for:

~balanced meals ~communication

~generous water intake ~7 hours sleep

~20 minutes of exercise ~beginning a new good habit

~dropping bad habits

This is a game worth playing, and people are jumping in from all over because the rules make it simple to create a holistic approach to all aspects of your health. Invite your roommates, your husband or wife, get your postmaster or boss to join in with you. Now is definitely the time to declare your Game On!

Contact LeAnne@MyInfiniteHealth.com to find out how you can play.

Cleansing the Mind; A Chakra Purification

2010-11-15T20:24:41Z

Written below is a simple chakra cleansing meditation that will facilitate a body and spirit cleansing, allowing for the unity or ‘yog’ among the many levels of your consciousness.

Notice each chakra blockage, call it into your mind with as specific of detail or memories as possible, be present to it and then use your mind to dissolve your attachment/stagnation.

Begin to notice incompletions or blockages you have with regard to the chakra centers:

1st Chakra is the Root chakra is located at the base of your tailbone, and it is associated with the color red. This is where we are connected to family, community and planet-notice where you feel unable to grow in these areas, notice what in your past is unresolved here, what past upset might be associated with this area. Then breathe into this area, imagine a pool of red light in this area, and as you release past tension see the pool of red light becoming calm and relaxed.

2nd Chakra is our Power center and is located in the center of our reproductive organs and corresponds to the color orange. Here we find the center of our thoughts and behaviors around sexuality, creativity, money. Notice concerns or blocks to your self expression in these areas, notice any recurring financial struggle or challenge being intimate with another. Call into your mind any memory or old family story that may be associated with lack of creativity. Imagine a pool of orange light at the uro-genital area, see the pool becoming more peaceful as you release these blockages one breath at a time, until you feel a new sense of peace in this area of your body.

3rd Chakra is the Solar Plexus, located at the level of the diaphragm and connected to the color yellow. This is the center of our sense of idenity and self worth: reflect on the level of self love you have been willing to receive and experience. Spend a good amount of time releasing from here any sense of not deserving love, not belonging/fitting in; also release any poor digestion and the use of foods or drinks to feel loved. Become present to any challenges in expressing your emotions. Breath into this 3rd chakra, imagine a yellow pool of light here. Call into this pool any of these old patterns, and then release them, one by one, seeing the yellow light becoming brighter and more clear.

4th chakra is the heart center in the middle of your chest, associated with the color green. The Heart chakra allows us an unending supply of love and joy. Bring to your awareness the blocks to love, any sense of judgment or resentment, any sense of shame. Bring these negative feelings into this emerald green pool of light, and one by one let them go…imagine your heart floating lightly within your chest, practice sending the light from your heart out from your chest like the ripple in a pond of water- see people nearby being surrounded by this loving light-giving this love is the best way to grow our heart;

5th chakra is the blue colored throat Chakra, the communication center and the place where we share our voice with the world. Notice any resistance to saying what you want to say, any place where you are shy or where you hesitate to speak your mind. Look into your memories and see what event or what thought might be blocking this self expression. Call these old stagnated patterns into the blue pool at the center of your throat and breath through them, releasing them, seeing the pool of light relaxing into stillness.

6th Chakra is the 3rd eye located between the eyebrows and is the reception station for intuition. It is associated with an Indigo or violet color and ruled by the Pituitary gland, the master hormone gland of your body. Begin to see where you are attached to the way things should look, the way people should behave or think. Release old stale images of yourself, of others, come to a clear and peaceful pool of Violet light at the center of your eyebrows and imagine this eye opening;

7th Chakra is the crown and our connection to the infinite source. This is embodied by a glorious pure white light just above the crown of our heads. This chakra allows us to move beyond the realm of self and individual so that we may access the connection to the universal life force. Spend time letting go of all earthly attachments to people, to family, to friendships, to future and allow yourself to move into a timeless unity beyond your current understanding, allow the universal love force to gently and lovingly penetrate your being with beauty, peace and light.

Release your Achilles Heel

2010-07-19T01:06:15Z

5 Healing & Strengthening Moves for

the Calves and the Achilles Tendon

1.Standing Calf Stretch

Calf pain can be caused by many reasons including tight, weak muscles of the lower leg (gastrocnemius or soleus), or a calf muscle injury such as a calf strain or pull. This stretching program can help reduce calf pain and prevent future calf injury.

How to Do the Standing Calf Stretch

Stand about an arm’s-length from the wall.
Lean forward and place both hands on the wall about shoulder width apart.
Extend one foot (the side to be stretched) behind you with heel on the ground and one foot closer to the wall.
Lean into wall with your hips until you feel a stretch in the calf of the extended leg.
Hold this stretch for about 30 seconds and change sides.
For a deeper stretch, move your foot farther back.
This stretch is similar to the Achilles tendon heel stretch, however by keeping your knee straight you focus the stretch on the calf rather than the Achilles.

2. Standing Soleus Stretch

This is a very simple stretch you can do while standing. This stretch targets the soleus muscle as well as the Achilles tendon in the lower leg. Here’s how to do it correctly.

How to Do the Standing Soleus Stretch

Take a half step forward.
Keep your weight evenly distributed on both feet and slowly bend your knees and sink down toward the ground.
Keep your heels on the ground.
You will feel a stretch in the back leg, just above the heel.
Continue to sink down slowly with your hips to deepen the stretch.
Hold this stretch for about 30 seconds and change sides.
By bending your knee this stretch targets the soleus and Achilles tendon rather than the gastrocnemius (calf) muscle.

3. Full Body Calf and Achilles Stretch

This is a more advanced way to stretch the back of the entire lower leg including the calf (gastrocnemius), soleus, Achilles and, to some extent, the hamstrings.

How to Do the Full Body Calf and Achilles Stretch

If you are familiar with yoga, this stretch is very similar to the downward facing dog pose.
Begin the stretch on your hands and knees.
Slowly lift your knees off the floor and lift your hips up.
Keeping one knee bend, straighten the other knee and push the heel down to the ground until you feel a stretch in the calf.
Your heel may or may not reach the ground depending upon your flexibility — don’t force the stretch.
Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
Repeat the switch on the other leg.

4. Standing Achilles Tendon Heel Stretch

This simple stretch, sometimes called the Achilles tendon stretch, stretches the tendons and muscles of the lower leg. Here’s how to do it correctly.

How to Do the Standing Achilles Tendon Heel Stretch

Stand about an arm’s-length from a wall or another sturdy object.
Lean forward and place both hands on the wall about shoulder width apart.
Extend one foot (the side to be stretched) behind you with your knee bend and heel on the ground.
Keep the other foot closer to the wall.
Lean into wall slightly and bend the knee of the heel to be stretched (keeping the heel down) until you feel a stretch in the back of the lower leg (just above the heel).
Sink down slowly with your hips to deepen the stretch.
Hold this stretch for about 30 seconds and change sides.
This stretch is similar to the calf stretch, however by bending your knee you focus the stretch on the Achilles rather than the calf.

5. Foam Roller Exercise for the Calf

Using a foam roller to perform self massage and myofascial release not only stretches muscles and tendons but it also breaks down soft tissue adhesions and scar tissue. This particular use of the roller targets the muscles and soft tissues of the lower leg.

How to use a Foam Roller on the Calves

Position the roller under the calves.
Using your hands for support, slowly roll from the knee down to the ankle pausing on any tight or sore spots.
Experiment with your toe position (in/out or pointed/flexed) to work the entire muscle group.
Increase or decrease pressure by using one or both legs at a time, or placing one leg on the other for even more pressure.

Find this and more information on how to support your body at:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/flexibilityandstretching/ss/calfstretch.htm

Vision: the Key to Cleanse Club Success

2010-07-12T02:19:58Z

The Compass: Strengthening Our Intention
The power of having a clear vision of where you’d like the cleanse to take you is as important as a compass on a boat. Without a compass you’ll only feel tossed about by waves of cravings with visions of elaborate meals once it’s all over. But your body is your boat: it’s yours for life; and your journey is ongoing. So we use the compass of clear intentions and a powerful vision of where we’re headed to get you to your healthiest self, and strengthen your approach to food using the 21 day purification program. After 21 days you get your sea legs and become the confident captain of your vessel, able to navigate and eat anywhere in the world and feel amazing too.

Self-Commercials: Learning how to sell yourself to YOU
The truth is we all create our lives at a subconscious level every day by using mental images, which translate into conscious thoughts, intentions and then actions. When preparing to go on a trip, we first mentally walk ourselves through the journey to see what we might need to bring with us. This is very helpful for our daily lives, but its importance goes beyond simply packing our bags.
You see our subconscious mind is receptive to symbols and images, which is why advertisers are so keen to flash images and repeat commercials.

In this Visioning exercise, we will write our own commercial advertising to all of our senses how our future self will be. The reality is we do this all the time without thinking about it, and with our untrained use of this ability we often get mixed results. More often than not, the average person holds visions in their mind of what they are afraid will occur, rather than creating how they would like it to go. It is a skill of the wise to create and write these continuous “Self Commercials” from a positive and empowering place…and you are about to practice this skill.

Begin to see with your mind’s eye the results you want for your body, mind and spirit. Write down as you create so you can refer back to it. Imagine yourself in 3 months time doing an activity and feeling physically strong, mentally alert with a calm spirit and an open heart. Your visioning will work best if it is realistic & achievable within the given time frame. Visualize this ‘day in the life of you’ in detail, including all senses; what does your body feel like, smell like, look like? Imagine your organs humming or your ligaments/joints are sighing in relief. What do you want your thoughts to be filled with? On your best day, what emotions are you experiencing? Create this vision as a 3 dimensional reality, write it down, and review this 1-2 x’s per day holding in your heart that it has already occurred.

If you follow these instructions closely, this impression will begin to impact you at a subconscious level and soon your conscious mind will not know the difference between what has already been happening in your life, and what you are writing into creation. This is a self commercial and it will absolutely advertise to your body, mind and spirit the best product money can’t buy, and that is you at your highest and greatest Self.

Green Tea Truth

2010-07-07T06:51:34Z

Green tea does contain caffeine, though the doseage is typically lower than other caffeinated drinks, such as coffee. The research is mixed as to the actual abilities of Green tea to promote health, but preliminary studies have shown green tea to have an effect on cholesterol and triglyceride levels, to prevent cold and flu symptoms, and to decrease viral load. It is even used in a topical extract form for effectively treating genital herpes.

For the actual MedlinePlus article visit:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-green_tea.html

For a table of caffeine content read below or visit: http://www.medicinalfoodnews.com/vol10/2006/green_tea.htm

Drinking Green Tea a Way to Avoid Caffeine?

~ May 2006 No.204 ~

Many people are trying to get away from their daily coffee fix, and are turning to tea, in particular green tea, as a healthy alternative. For over 4,000 years the Chinese have been consuming green tea, in part, because of its perceived health benefits. The list of diseases that are believed to be prevented or improved include cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. Drinking green tea is said to lower blood cholesterol levels and fight infections.

But if you are switching to green tea to avoid the caffeine, it might not be as simple as you think. Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, but is also notorious as a source of caffeine. Indeed, many people drink coffee just to get a jolt and to delay fatigue. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, the cardiac muscle, and the respiratory system. Because of this stimulatory effect, caffeine loading is now banned for many competitive athletes. Caffeine is also a diuretic (a drug that increases the rate of urine excretion). Signs of over consumption of caffeine include irritability, sleeplessness, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, or loss of appetite. Women are cautioned to reduce their caffeine intake during pregnancy.

Green tea, unless it is decaffeinated, also contains caffeine. Normal green tea itself may contain more caffeine than coffee, but the length of infusion with hot water, and the number of time you use the green tea leaves can greatly reduce your caffeine intake. Experiments have shown that tea after a first 5 minute brew contains 32 mg caffeine. But if the same leaves are then used for a second and then a third five minute brew, the caffeine drops to 12 mg and then 4 mg.

In all cases, it should be remembered to never brew or drink green tea with boiling water. In some countries, water heating pots have temperature controls to heat water for green tea preparation. The high temperature can destroy valuable therapeutic compounds found in green tea,

Table 1:
Caffeine Content of Some Common Drinks (per 100 ml)
Coffee brewed from grounds	40 mg¹
Espresso coffee	212 mg¹
Instant coffee	26 mg¹
Coffee liqueur(63 proof)	26 mg¹
Lipton black Tea (bag	33 mg²
Green tea (loose leaves)	32 mg²

Reference

Monique B. Hicks, Y-H. Peggy Hsieh and Leonard N. Bell. 1996. Tea preparation and its influence on methylxanthine concentration . Food Research International 29: 325-330.
USDA Agricultural Research Service

Downtown Santa Barbara Location

2010-11-15T20:35:11Z

Greetings from the acupuncture office of LeAnne K.Thomason. There are a lot of exciting changes afoot. LeAnne’s healing practice has a new name, a new location and new opportunities for expanding your health and wholeness.

Downtown Location

We are excited to announce a move to a beautiful new healing space in downtown Santa Barbara! LeAnne is now practicing as Center for Infinite Health at 14 West Micheltorena Street in downtown Santa Barbara between State and Chapala Streets. This is a serene building with beautiful garden and free 90 minute parking in front of the building.

Center for Infinite Health’s healing services

Here at the ~~ Center for Infinite Health ~~ we stand for each individual arriving at his or her own center and awakening to infinite levels of physical, mental and spiritual health, opening doors to infinite possibilities.

Explore your infinite health with our:

~Japanese or Chinese medical massage to return body balance by removing stagnation

~Personalized yoga sessions that strengthen your body and calm your spirit

~Acupuncture for healing from injuries, and harmonizing your organs and hormones

~Cleanse Club and Holistic Chinese Dietary Therapy to bring health from the inside out

~Chinese Herbs tailored to support your body and it’s needs

~Wellness and Lifestyle consulting that brings clarity, ease and powerful results to your life

Looking forward to seeing you at our new space!

Call today and take advantage of our special rates and your Infinite Health!

Cleanse Club

2010-07-15T02:00:28Z

Join the Cleanse Club & FEEL LIKE A ’10′ IN 2010!!!

Would you like to have more energy? Increased vitality and sense of peace?

Are you committed to your health?

Would you benefit from a clear mind and a feeling of lightness in your body?

If any part of you answered yes to these questions, than the Spring cleanse is right for you. Join the Cleanse Club and see how light and free your body and mind can feel.

Partnership: Benefit from working with people who have experience cleansing ~

Explore your body’s innate healing abilities~

Accountability: Feel empowered and clear about the next steps you need to take to achieve your health goals

Community: Meet other people who are committed to “Being a ’10′ in 2010″!

Excitement about your body and it’s health is key to living a life of freedom, joy and satisfaction!

What: Cleanse Club-find out what level of cleansing is right for you by calling (805) 637-3118
When: Cleanse Club meets 2-3x’s per year, & with a minimum of 4 participants, more Cleanses can be added
Where: Center for Infinite Health & LeAnne’s office~ 14 W. Micheltorena Street, Santa Barbara 93101
Cost: Bunny Slope Cleanse & Intermediate Run last 2-3 weeks and Cost $80*
Power Level and Master Level cleanse last 4 weeks and Cost $230*
*All Cleanse Costs includes herbs +tax, complete & ongoing instruction during the entire cleanse, weekly Cleanse Club classes & journal for tracking progress, health supplements

CLEANSE CLUB BENEFITS-It pays to be a Cleanse Club member! Treatment Discounts- All new Cleanse Club members receive a special 10% discount on Acupuncture & Wellness coaching sessions during the course of our cleanse. Contact us today and take a stand for having the best feeling body you’ve ever had.

Call us at (805) 637-3118 or email us to register for the Cleanse Club at leanne@myinfinitehealth.com.

We so look forward to exploring together and are proud to be your partners in health,

LeAnne K. Thomason, L.Ac.

Be your own Health Club and join the Cleanse Club today!