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Well Being Newsletter
December 2007
Vol. 2 No. 12
WELCOME
Blessings to you as you celebrate Hanukah, Christmas, the winter solstice, Kwanza or simply the closing of another year. May the peace of the season permeate each cell of your body.
This month's article asks the question, "What's on your plate?" during this busy time of year. I trust you will take a moment to be nourished by reading it.
I've added a wonderful assessment tool, the Holistic Lifestyle Questionnaire, to my Body & Soul-Based Nourishment practice. See the Nourishment Coaching section below to learn more and to take advantage of the January special sessions I am offering on the phone or at my Greenlake office in Seattle.
You are cordially invited to attend my workshop, Gentle Strategies for Enhancing Your Wellness, and book signing at East West Bookshop on Saturday, December 15 from 1:00 - 3:30 pm. The details are on my website.
In wellness,
Susan Tate, M.A.
Editor
www.wawellness.com
WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE?
I am my best person when I have less on my plate.
Elizabeth Gilbert
Do you find yourself getting caught up in the frenzied energy that is quite palpable during the holiday season? It's difficult to avoid, as the TV projects sale after sale and the stores are packed with appealing gift ideas. This can easily become a time of doing too much, spending too much and often eating too much.
Earlier this month, Elizabeth Gilbert, best-selling author of one of my favorite books, Eat, Pray, Love, was on the Oprah show. She shared a statement that has had a powerful impact on me. She stated simply, "I am my best person when I have less on my plate." I instantly saw my metaphorical plate as having WAY too much stuff on it! For the past few months, I have often found myself jumping from one activity to another, or like a hamster spinning with wild abandon on a wheel that wasn't really taking me anywhere!
Next I brought to mind an image of my dinner plate and smiled, realizing how I have gradually and pleasantly made a shift from eating more at lunchtime (when food digests better) and less at dinner. Then I thought about my emotional plate and observed that I am getting better at watching my emotions come and go and getting less attached to them. And finally, I conjured up an image of my spiritual plate and felt full of blessings, love and gratitude . . . and felt quite satisfied.
I want to be the best person I can be, so especially during this season, I plan to say "yes" when I mean yes, "no" when I mean no, and to be kinder to myself by dancing off the hamster wheel and keeping things more simple and meaningful.
What's on your plate this month? Are you happy with your choices? It's a great time of year to assess whether you want to continue at the pace you have chosen, or whether you want to mindfully get in there and make a few adjustments. Hmm, I just realized that if you slip an "e" to the word "pace" it becomes "peace." That is my holiday and every day wish for you. Peace.
NOURISHMENT COACHING
I love supporting people who want to live, eat and move with grace. Through Nourishment Coaching, I provide innovative solutions and soulful support for highly motivated clients who want to:
- eat with pleasure
- shape shift (lose weight)
- move for fitness and fun
- enhance energy
- manage stress
- cultivate overall wellness
In collaboration with the National Wellness Institute, I now have available the HLQ - Holistic Lifestyle Questionnaire. It is a 50-question assessment encompassing the full spectrum of wellness. It is based on the six-dimensional model of wellness (social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual and emotional) and emphasizes the importance of creating balance in one's life. I am offering special discounted sessions in January to introduce clients to this assessment to support their wellness journey and intention-setting for 2008. Introductory sessions in January will be at a special rate of $50 for 50 minutes. Please call me for an appointment (425) 238-2885 to take advantage of this offer. Telephone and in-person appointments are available.
VISA and Master Cards accepted.
You can learn more at our website.
LOSE THE CRAVINGS
If you crave carbohydrates or sugar, you are not alone. When we consume high-glycemic foods, it causes an over stimulation of the release of insulin. The more we eat, the more we crave. Medical studies show that over 85% of the carbohydrates we consume in the Western world are foods that have a high-glycemic value. If you love bagels, breads, crackers, pasta, potatoes, rice and sugar--did I say, you are not alone? Fortunately, there is a way to reset the body at a cellular level to break the cycle.
I eat a good variety of wholesome foods, but for the last five years I have over-used chocolate to sooth my soul. My chocolate habit was clearly associated with the sweetness missing after experiencing a very painful divorce. I still LOVE chocolate, but I no longer need to eat it daily or in the amounts I was consuming. I finally realized that as high as my blood sugar spiked, it fell to a matching low and it did not fit in with my overall level of health and fitness. I was eating well, doing Nia several times week, enjoying a great spiritual practice and was still chasing down many meals with my favorite chocolate! It also kept me feeling constantly hungry.
In early April, I discovered a program that has successfully reduced my craving for high-glycemic foods. This clinically tested 5-day behavior modification program, recommended by Christiane Northrup, MD, has totally reset my metabolism. It's been four months now and I am sustaining its benefits. It is also proving to be successful in jumpstarting healthier eating habits in my clients. Please email me at susan@wawellness.com if you would like to know more.
WELLNESS WISDOM
Thank you for your wonderful response to my latest book, Wellness Wisdom: 31 Ways to Nourish Your Mind, Body & Spirit. I am appreciative of the support at the book signing events and through your email messages. The book is available at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and www.iuniverse.com. You can also order it at your local bookstore. Let me know if you want a signed copy to give to someone as a gift.
NIA CLASS SCHEDULE
YES, I will be teaching on Christmas Eve and
New Year's Eve at 6 pm! Come and dance in JOY!
My teaching schedule is available at:
www.wawellness.com/Nia
Nia classes worldwide: www.NiaNow.com
Seattle classes: www.NiaSeattle.com
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & SPECIAL CLASSES
Complete descriptions available on our website.
Gentle Strategies for Enhancing Your Wellness (Seattle)
Saturday, December 16, 2007
1:00 - 3:30 pm
East West Bookshop
Nia at Women of Wisdom Conference (Seattle)
Saturday, February 16, 2008
North Seattle Community College
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Intro to Nia (Seattle)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The Dance Space
1:00 - 3:30 pm
Cruise to Learn - Western Caribbean
March 1 - 8, 2009
Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
There is a voice inside which speaks and says: "This is the real me!"
~ William James
I welcome your comments and would love to hear how this newsletter supports your wellness journey. Please email me at susan@wawellness.com
Please take a few moments to add this address to your email address book in order to give the Well Being Newsletter a better chance of reaching you.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is meant to support and guide you as you make choices to enhance your well-being. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Contact a qualified healthcare professional if you need medical assistance.
Feel free to reproduce, copy or distribute
this newsletter with people you know who want to enhance
their well-being. When doing so, please forward it in its
entirety, including our contact and copyright information.
If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Susan Tate is required. Joyful wellness is communicable! Thank
you for spreading the word.
Copyright © 2007.
Washington Wellness Associates.
All rights reserved.
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