Feeling unbalanced, run down, stressed out, or anxious about life in general? Meditation is a wonderful way to recharge and rejuvenate. Meditation has been shown to offer many health benefits* as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Spring is the perfect time to up your intake of greens. The grass is turning green, the trees are blossoming and green shoots are coming up all over. Nature is reminding us to eat our greens! Greens help cleanse and detoxify our bodies, increase our energy and make us feel more in tune with the season. Greens also have a high fiber and nutrient content - calcium, magnesium, iron, folic acid, as well as antioxidant vitamins A, B, C and E. Read the rest of this entry »

I used to suffer from year-round allergies that were at their worst in the springtime. I was on a corticosteroid inhaler and took antihistamines for six months out of the year. I had frequent colds, sinus infections and headaches. I decided to get off the medications and fight the allergies the natural way. This is the protocol that I have followed for the last six years. I can’t promise that it will work for everyone, but I can say that I am now medication and allergy free. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve recently discovered the grain Amaranth, which is high in protein, iron and calcium as well as wheat and gluten-free. It is a nice breakfast alternative to oatmeal. I put the same add-ins that I put in my oatmeal - making it even yummier and more nutritious! I find adding protein and good fats (Omega-3s) to my breakfast keeps me full longer and my energy nicely balanced. Read the rest of this entry »

I recently spent a week in Sedona visiting a friend. It is always good to get away on vacation, but I was especially happy to find myself catching up on important self-care - hiking, feeling my connection with nature, breathing the fresh clear mountain air and eating lots of healthy good food. It’s easy to forget how much I need these things!

I had a lot of yummy food inspiration while I was there. We made a trip to the Bliss Cafe almost every day. Their food is organic, vegan, mainly raw and made with love - absolutely delicious! Their raw sushi and nut cheeses were amazing and the raw cacao was to die for!

I’ve been particularly fascinated by nut cheeses since I’m always trying to balance my love of cheese with my need to eat less dairy (it makes me congested!). My first foray into the world of nut cheese was a delicious sunflower seed cheese that was a big hit at a recent girlie get-together (see recipe below).

Since there isn’t any raw cacao in my neighborhood, I’ve also been experimenting in my kitchen with making my own raw cacao treats. When I discover the best combination of flavors I am looking forward to spreading my newfound love of raw cacao around Boston. Oh yes, the taste tests are going well so far! Maybe a little too well…

This recipe is raw, vegan and a great dish to bring to a party! It is also super easy to make. It can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.


Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup Nama Shoyu
3-4 garlic cloves, peeled
3 cups raw sunflower seeds, very finely ground in a food processor

Directions
In a food processor combine all of the ingredients, adding the sunflower seeds last. Blend thoroughly until the resulting cheese is smooth and uniform.

Wrap with kale or collard greens. Dip with carrots. Spread on rice crackers. Yum!

Note:
Low sodium tamari can be substituted for Nama Shoyu.

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 »