Although my mom force-fed me healthy food when I was growing up and I’ve been a vegetarian or pesca-tarian (fish-eating vegetarian) of some sort since college, I wasn’t always the healthiest eater. My vegetarian diet was filled with pasta, bread, cheese and unbearable sweet cravings. In 2002, in my Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) class at Boston Shiatsu School I was introduced to the book Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford. I began studying this veritable bible of nutrition and TCM knowledge and making changes to my diet. Read the rest of this entry »

I hear a lot of people say that they don’t have time to go to the grocery store or cook food for themselves or their family. Many people’s grocery carts seem to be filled with packaged food that is conveniently ready for the freezer until it is time to pop in the microwave for dinner.

Time is an interesting thing. We each have 24 hours in the day, no matter how rich or poor, young or old we are. What do we choose to do with those 24 hours? What do we have time for and what do we value? Do we have time to work overtime? Do we have time to watch television? What are the things that keep us so busy that we don’t have time to cook for ourselves? Read the rest of this entry »

A lot of my clients ask me how I got into this line of work. What made me want to become a massage therapist, study Shiatsu and open my own business?

I graduated college with a degree in Art History in the middle of a recession. There weren’t many jobs available and certainly not any that would pay my bills in my chosen major. So I began working administrative jobs - basically a fancy term for secretarial jobs. As I learned more skills, I began branching out into graphic design, multimedia, web design and finally project management. As I turned 30, I realized that I didn’t want to work in a cubicle interacting with a computer 50+ hours a week for the rest of my life. I was sick of office politics and working for a boss with different ideas than me. I realized that I wanted to work for myself. So I quit my job and started working freelance.  This was great for about a year, until I realized that I was still planted in front of a computer for most of the day and I couldn’t help but feel that the work I was doing was essentially meaningless. So I started looking around… what could I do that would be meaningful, based on interacting with people and allow me to work for myself? Read the rest of this entry »

Shiatsu is a traditional form of Japanese massage designed to enhance and restore health. Through the application of pressure and stretching techniques shiatsu alleviates stress, relieves muscle tension, eases joint stiffness and realigns the structure of the body. Pressure along energy pathways of the body moves stagnant energy, clears energy blocks and brings the body into balance. Shiatsu works on the body’s physical, emotional and spiritual planes. Treatment is deeply relaxing and has an overall calming effect, allowing the body the opportunity to heal itself. Following a Shiatsu session people often say that they feel relaxed, calm, and balanced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is clothing worn during a shiatsu treatment? Since we are applying pressure with our thumbs to acupressure points, it is much more comfortable for you if you are wearing loose clothing such as yoga or sweat pants and a long sleeved shirt. Read the rest of this entry »

This is one of my favorite macrobiotic recipes as it is super easy to make and sooo satisfying. Fall is a great time to make this recipe as you can get fresh local acorn squash from the Farmer’s Market. Aduki beans are very nourishing to the kidneys and adrenal glands while the squash is beneficial to the stomach, spleen and pancreas, helping to keep blood sugar even and stabilize your mood. A great way to combat sugar cravings! Kombu is a sea vegetable, which helps soften the beans making them more digestible and is also rich in minerals. Aduki beans are also one of the least gaseous of beans!

Ingredients:

• 4-6 inch piece of kombu (seaweed)
• 1 can aduki beans
• 2 cups hard winter squash (acorn or butternut) cut into chunks (unpeeled if organic)
• 1 teaspoon tamari soysauce

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Hooping is one of my favorite hobbies and fitness activities. I am part of the Boston Hoop Troop, a group of hoopers who meet weekly, teach classes and perform in the Boston area. I was introduced to hooping in the summer of ‘05. I could never hoop as a kid and the first time I attempted to keep a hoop around my waist at a festival I couldn’t do it either. I called myself a ‘hooptard’ for 2 months until my friend Jose got me to try it again. Success!
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I just came back from Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. This was the first conference for the Immersion program at Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I got to connect with 250 fellow health counselors, deepen my counseling skills, take great workshops on marketing, eat delicious vegetarian food and soak in the natural beauty of the area. The nights were absolutely gorgeous with a full moon and starry nights.
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Last April I decided that my bicycle would be my sole means of transportation. I have 2 offices, each of them are just 4 miles away from my home which makes bicycling a great option. It is faster than taking the bus, I don’t have to worry about the bus schedule and parking is not an issue. I don’t have to pay for gas and I feel good about doing my bit for the environment. Best of all, it’s fun!
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I finished off the summer with a visit to my mom’s on Eastern Long Island. I always joke around that I’ve been to Mom’s Fitness Camp, as we eat really healthy and exercise a lot. My mom is very active, especially in the summer. It is inspiring to see her swim for 50 minutes at a time in the bay.  I don’t try to swim as much as her, but I do get in the water for at least 25 minutes. We also play a lot of tennis. We’re not great tennis players, but it is so much fun and of course good exercise to run around the court. My mom can keep playing endlessly. After 2 hours on the court I told my mom I couldn’t possibly hit another ball! We went to the ocean every day where we took long walks and played in the waves.
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Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is not really a grain, but it tastes like a grain.  Quinoa has a light, fluffy texture when cooked, and its mild, slightly nutty flavor makes it a healthy and tasty alternative to white rice or couscous. Quinoa is high in protein, iron, magnesium, Vit. B6 and folate. It is also gluten-free.
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