Lucie | Naturegrooves

Earn Online by Blogging

by Lucie | Sep 12, 2020 | Tools

Would you like to set up a blog about something that interests you, such as your hobby, and gradually start monetising your blog while creating your own content? This is what I do, and in this post I’d like to share a few tips on how to earn online by blogging.

Affiliate Marketing in a Nutshell

There are several ways to earn money from your blog, for example by using affiliate marketing within your blog. Once you have your blog set up and filled with interesting content (which can be anything that can help other people, either by providing them with useful information, solving a problem for them, or entertaining them) you can start earning money by affiliate marketing.

How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?

Affiliate marketing is done by first joining an affiliate program such as Amazon, and adding your special affiliate links to a product or service into the text of your blog or in an image. When a visitor of your site clicks on the link and makes a purchase using that link, you will earn a small commission at no extra cost to the visitor.

The money you receive will be paid by your affiliate program (e.g. Amazon) as a little ‘thank you’ for sending the visitor of your site to their site.

How to Recognise an Affiliate Blog

You may have noticed that some blog articles use an affiliate disclosure, similar to this one:

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through my links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The full disclosure can be accessed here.

If you see such a disclosure, it means that the author of the article (or the owner of the website) is a member of an affiliate program and uses trackable links which may earn him a commission for products recommended by him and purchased by his site visitor.

No Buying Products Upfront or Shipping

What I like about this system is that you as an affiliate marketer/blogger don’t have to buy and store any physical products. You are just a middle man recommending/advertising the products.

What Products or Services to Promote?

Ideally, you should promote products that you trust, have tried and tested, or would recommend to people you care about. Your business will be much more successful if your heart is in it, and if you are honest and transparent about your affiliate business.

A Learning Platform for Affiliate Marketing

If you would like to learn about blogging and affiliate marketing I highly recommend joining a marketing platform called Wealthy Affiliate.

They offer a free starter membership which includes the first ten lessons of their course in affiliate marketing called Online Entrepreneur Certification.

I have taken this course and it has helped me build my website, start and maintain my online business, and become a part of a great community of fellow internet marketers, who are always very helpful and ready to offer advice and guidance. Here is an outline of the free course:

Wealthy Affiliate course outcomes and learning benefits

The First 10 Lessons Can Kickstart Your Business

I highly recommend trying these 10 free lessons. The training will provide you with all the knowledge needed to start your own online business and learn about affiliate marketing foundations. What I love about Wealthy Affiliate is that signing up with them is completely non-obligatory and you can keep your free account for as long as you wish, without giving them any credit card details. You can always upgrade to a Premium membership later if you wish, but the free Starter Membership is an excellent testing ground of the world of affiliate marketing and I would recommend to take your time and see how it all resonates with you.

Good luck and feel free to ask any questions in the comments below, or let me know your thoughts on blogging and online marketing in general. Bye for now!

Free starter membership with Wealthy Affiliate

BY LUCIE DUN

Let’s keep in touch:

in alliance with

Best Handheld Percussion Massager

by Lucie | Sep 10, 2020 | Reviews, Uncategorized

In this review, I’ll be talking about the pros and cons of the Hangsun Percussion Massager. I have been using regularly for treating my muscles, especially in the back and shoulder areas. If you have been looking for the best handheld percussion massager, then keep on reading! I will also mention how to use it safely to prevent a possible unpleasant experience, and give you a special tip for a deep, highly enjoyable massage with multiple benefits for your health.

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase through my links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The full disclosure can be accessed here. Thank you for your support!

Product: Hangsun Percussion Handheld Massager MG400

Available from: Amazon US / Amazon UK

Main Benefits: Pain Relief/Relaxation

Price: £24.99

Power Source: Corded Electric

Guarentee: 1-year

My Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Percussion Massagers

There’s nothing like fully unwinding and relaxing at the end of a long day with a deep massage. Although it’s not always possible to have a professional treatment by a physio, there are affordable and convenient ways to have a quality massage at home with either massage chairs or handheld devices. Among the most effective types are so-called percussion massagers, and the Hangsun Percussion Massager is one of the most highly rated ones.

The Difference Between Percussive and Vibration Massage

This device is called ‘Percussive Therapy Massager’ or ‘Deep Percussion Hammer Massager’. It is different from a standard vibration massager. So which of them is better? It is a matter of personal preference. Gentle vibration may be all you need to relax. However, if you like your muscles being massaged really deep, (especially your back muscles) then I’d recommend getting a percussive-therapy massager like Hangsun Percussion Massager because percussion is more powerful and effective than ordinary vibration. The real difference between percussive and vibration massage therapy is that percussive therapy can reach about 60% deeper into the muscle than the standard vibration massagers.

An Overview of Hangsun Percussion Massager

The Hangsun percussion massager is a mains-powered held-held device that is capable of a deep, restorative massage. You can also use the percussion massager for a back, shoulder, leg, foot, and neck massage.

Main Features – Summary

Height: 16.9″/43cm; Head width: 6.6″/16.5; Head depth: 5.3/13.4cm
Long power chord – 98″/249cm
Dual head percussion
3 removable and interchangeable nodes
Variable Speed Control
Ergomomic, lightweight design
3500 pulses per minute
Stepless speed (can be regulated during without interruption)
Red light

Main Features – Highlights

A Powerful Motor

The massager produces incredible 3,500 pulses per minute, which guarantees a highly effective, deep, soothing massage, that can penetrate even a very stiff and tight muscle.

Variable Speed Control

You can change the speed of the percussive action from moderately slow to a high-speed percussion. What I like about this feature is that this can be done without interruption while using the massager. Simply slide the button up or down, according to your preference.

Three Removable and Interchangeable Massage Nodes

This is one of my favourite features of the Hangsun massager: It comes with a set of three removable and interchangeable attachments/nodes, so you can customize your massage treatment by choosing the preferred type of a node.

You can choose from:

1) Original Massage Node – ideal for general whole-body massage.

2) Salient Point Massage Node – designed to focus on specific points, e.g. acupressure points.

3) Pillow Massage Node – brush-like attachment that can be used for stimulating your palms, feet, calves and other areas of your choice.

Dual Head Percussion

Having two massage nodes is more effective than a single head massager, especially when having a full-back, deep-tissue massage.

Extra Long Power Cord

The 98-inch extra long power cord means you don’t have to limit yourself to having your massage near the ower supply, but get a great massage on the sofa or on your bed.

How to Use a Percussion Massager

Place the massager on a required area. This should always be your muscles, never an area with bones. Unlike some other massagers, you don’t need to push the device down to make the massage deep and effective; the Hangsun percussion massager provides all the necessary force by just placing it on the body.

The Best Areas to Massage

There are multiple areas you can treat with the Hangsun percussion massager, such as:

Neck and Shoulders (trapezius and deltoid muscles)
Upper and Centre of Back (rhomboids and latissimus dorsi muscles)
Arms (biceps, triceps & forearm muscles)
Lower Back and Buttocks (erector spinae and gluteus muscles)
Thighs (quadriceps, abductors and hamstrings)
Calves (soleus and gastrocnemius muscles)
Soles of your feet

A Special Tip for Massaging Your Back

If you don’t have anyone with you and want to massage your back, you can still use the massager by yourself: Just hold it over your shoulder and massage the parts of your back that you can reach.

However, you will benefit from the Hangsun massager most if you have someone who can slowly run it down your back (with your spine in the middle of the two nodes) while you are lying down on your belly and fully relaxing.

This technique is frequently used in Energy Medicine healing sessions, where it is called Spinal Flush. It is a highly relaxing and rejuvenating treatment, because it works with multiple neurolymphatic points, that, when stimulated, positively affect a number of organs and systems in the body.

You can check my article Two Simple Techniques for Deep Relaxation where I describe the procedure, and where you can watch Donna Eden and David Feinstein demonstrating the technique in a video called How to Connect with Your Partner Using Energy medicine.

PROS:

Ergonomic Design and Light Weight

Thanks to its ergonomic shape and light weight, the massager is easy to use and comfortable to hold. The device is moderately light, yet still capable of a deep, powerful massage thanks to its powerful motor and the percussive feature. The three sets of interchangeable attachments is a huge plus as well.

Extremely Effective

I’ve been using it every time my back feels tired or sore and the machine always gives me a deep, soothing massage which results in the feeling of relief and deep relaxation. My husband loves it too, and we treat each other with the Hangsun almost on a daily basis. (Warning: It can get rather addictive!)

Very Affordable

Taking into consideration its power, effectiveness, and sleek, elegant design, I think the price is a complete bargain. I have purchased several of these because they will make great Christmas presents.

CONS:

The Back Massage Requires Another Person to Hold the Device

If you have a partner who can do the massage for you then it’s ideal, but if you don’t, you cannot fully enjoy a proper back massage. You can still reach behind your shoulders with it, but it’s impossible to have a full-length back treatment without someone holding the massager for you.

Power-Dependent

The Hangsun massager is not battery operated, so it’s not possible to use it outside or very far from a power source unless you have an extension. (However, the cord is long enough for comfortable use at home.)

Can Cause Pain if Used Improperly

The massaging can get quite intense, especially at the muscles near your spine. If you have a partner massaging your back, they have to be careful not to run the vibrating nodes into your spine or other bony areas such as your scapula. The percussive action is quite intense and contact with a bone can be painful.

I would recommend to always place the massager on the body before switching it on, otherwise it can start jumping about and hit a bone. Once in contact with the skin, you can always ease the action up by sliding the adjustable speed slider to a lower setting.

Conclusion

The Hangsun Percussive Therapy Massager is one of my favourite devices for deep musle treatment and it always makes me feel rejuvenated and relaxed. Based on its effectiveness, multiple features, and lovely design, I would personally recommend it.

However, this massager may not be ideal for people who like just a very gentle, vibrating massage. It’s also not suitable for the ones who prefer wireless devices.

If you are considering getting this massager, be extra careful about the correct use, especially during the first few times. It is a powerful device, and can cause pain if you use it carelessly and let it hit a bony area on your (or someone else’s) body.

Hangsun Percussion Handheld Massager MG400

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK

Share Your Thoughts

I would also love to hear about your own experience with massagers. Have you been using a similar handheld device, or do you prefer massage chairs or a hands-on treatment? Let me know your thoughts or ask any questions in the comments below and I look forward to getting back to you soon. Take care!

The Kidney Meridian

by Lucie | Sep 3, 2020 | Energy Medicine, Mind, Body & Spirit, Uncategorized

The Kidney Meridian – Description
The Pathway of Kidney Meridian
Symptoms of Kidney Meridian Out of Balance
Techniques for Balancing Kidney Meridian
Tracing Kidney Meridian
Flushing Kidney Meridian
Sedating Kidney Meridian
Strenghtening Kidney Meridian
Three-pointing Kidney Meridian

In this post, I will share several ancient-healing techniques for working with the Kidney meridian. They are very simple yet powerful, and you will be able to try them immediately. These techniques cause a shift of energy which might energise you, relieve you from physical pain or diminish fearful feelings.

Reservoir of Energy and Centre of Courage

Traditional Chinese medicine regards the Kidney meridian as a reservoir of energy, as well as the centre of courage and willpower. Conversely, a dysfunction in Kidney meridian can result in feeling extremely tired, being overcome by emotions of fear or paranoia, or symptoms and ailments such as asthma, chronic inflammation, or tinnitus.

The good news is that we have tools to keep the Kidney meridian in balance, and thus enjoy a healthy energy flow, vitality, willpower, and courage to move forward in life.

The Pathway of Kidney Meridian

The pathway of the Kidney meridian starts under your foot, on its first acupressure point where energy enters the body. The point is called Kidney 1 (or K1). In the old Chinese medical terminology, which is much more poetic than modern medicine, the point is known as ‘The Wellspring of Life’, ‘Bubbling Spring’, or ‘Gushing Spring’.

Pressing or massaging it can bring you ‘back to life’. In fact, the master practitioner of energy medicine, Donna Eden, has described a situation when an unconscious, dying person was brought back to life after this technique was applied. (Energy Medicine, by Donna Eden, pg 125)

The Kidney meridian pathway then circles around your ankle, goes up via the back of the legs, and reemerges at the front of the body.

The meridian then flows up your body all the way under your clavicle. It finishes on the last (and very important) set of acupressure points called K 27.

The K27 are very important points, because they are is a junction point for all the other meridians and you can influence how you feel by working with these points. The K 27 are considered the “energy switch” of the body: If you thump or deeply massage these points, it will stimulate the energies of all the other meridians and get your body’s energy moving.

You will find these points right under the collarbone, near the U-shaped notch. Massage these points vigorously to bring fresh energy to your body. Remember this next time you’re feeling tired! Thump or deeply massage these points and you will soon feel the difference.

Please note: Although this diagram shows the pathway on only one side of the body for clarity purposes, in reality it runs on both sides of the body, right and left, in a pair. So if you’re massaging the K27, you’ll be massaging a set of two points (as in the picture below). The path of the Kidney meridian is marked in red colour.

Ancient Prints Showing Meridians

I find it fascinating to compare modern acupuncture/acupressure diagrams with ancient Chinese prints and paintings. Nowadays, we have devices that can detect meridians and their acupoints, and they are almost exactly the same as depicted ion the thousands’ of years-old medical illustrations. There are also people who can see energies, such as Donna Eden, who was born with this ability. She had seen meridian pathways even before she learned about them!

If Kidney Meridian is Out of Balance

In the traditional Chinese medicine, the emotion associated with Kidney meridian is fear.

When we experience a strong emotion of fright, our kidneys will struggle to hold their energy and we can even end up experiencing involuntary urination. (You’ve surely heard the phrase ‘I nearly peed myself’!)

Dealing with long-term fear can often result in kidney issues.

The other challenges associated with imbalance in the Kidney meridian are fear, edema, eye problems, tinnitus, lung problems, dry tongue, lumbago, constipation, diarrhoea, lower back pain during period, shoulder pain, and pain along the course of the meridian and its associated muscles.

However, working with the Kidney meridian and its acupressure points can often help you relieve pain and improve your health condition, and emerge from loneliness, depression, and fear.

Techniques for Balancing Kidney Meridian

If you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned above, try the following techniques:

Trace Kidney meridian
Flush Kidney meridian
Work with the acupressure points of Kidney meridian

Tracing Kidney Meridian

Tracing Kidney meridian will help you get your energy going and remove toxins out of your body.

Donna Eden’s daughter Dondi shows you how to trace Kidney meridian.

Flushing Kidney Meridian

How to flush a meridian:

Trace it backward once
Trace it forward three times

Working with the Acupressure Points of Kidney Meridian

There are three ways we can work with the acupressure points:

Sedate
Strengthen
Use the Three-Point Technique

Below I am showing diagrams that will teach you how to sedate or strengthen the Kidney meridian, according to your needs. If you are in pain, it usually means that there is too much accumulated energy in your Kidney meridian, so holding the sedating points of the Kidney meridian would be your choice. It will also help release toxins from the meridian.

Sedating Kidney Meridian

I have successfully used this technique to help a friend with strong lower back pain during her period. If you suffer from back pain (whatever the cause), or shoulder pain, do try this technique.

Step 1 – Sedate the Kidney Meridian:

Sedate (relax) the Kidney meridian by sending its excess energy to the next meridian, which is Liver. You’ll see how the flow works on the wheel diagram (The Five Elements Wheel) further down.

The Procedure:

Gently hold the following two points (Kidney 1 and Liver 1) for 2 – 3 minutes. Use the tips of your fingers (preferably the index or the middle finger).

Do this one side of the body first, (e.g. on your right foot).

Repeat the same procedure on the other side of the body (your left foot), also for 2 – 3 minutes.

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Water element (Kidney meridian) flows into Wood element (Liver meridian).

This means that Kidney meridian is freed from excess energy by sending it to Liver meridian.

Or you can view it the other way – the helpful friend Liver is ‘hoovering’ excess energy from the overcharged Kidney meridian, this helping the Kidney meridian to relax. (This often diminishes pain in our body, like in the case of my friend with the back pain.)

You can see this happening on the wheel (from blue to green, inside the circle):

Step 2 – Stabilise the Energy Flow by Holding the Control Points:

Now we need to stop the flow of energy from the previous point. We need to stabilize the shift in energy, and we’ll do this by holding the so-called control points.

The Procedure:

Gently hold the following two points (Kidney 3 and Spleen 3) for 1,5 minutes.

As in the previous step, do this on both sides of the body; on the right foot first, then on the left foot. (Or vice versa.)

What is happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Earth element (Spleen) controls Water element (Kidney).

This means that ‘good cop’ Spleen meridian will ‘stop’ the flow of energy from the previous step, thus preventing the Kidney meridian from having too much energy taken away. This wise intervention of the controlling element (Earth) will stabilise the energies.

You can see this happening on the wheel (from yellow to blue, inside the circle):

Strengthening Kidney Meridian

Step 1 – Strengthen the Kidney Meridian

Strengthen the Kidney meridian by borrowing some energy from the previous meridian (i.e. Lung meridian).

The Procedure:

Gently hold the following two points (Kidney 7 and Lung 8) for 2 – 3 minutes. Use the tips of your fingers (preferably the index or the middle finger).

Do this one side of the body first, (e.g. your right side) and then repeat the same procedure on the other side of the body, also for 2 – 3 minutes.

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Metal element (Lung) flows into Water element (Kidney).

This means that Lung meridian is strengthening the neighbouring Kidney meridian by sending its energy into it (flowing into it).

Or you can view it the other way – Kidney is ‘borrowing’ some energy from its neighbouring Lung meridian.

You can see this happening on the wheel (from light grey to blue, inside the circle):

Step 2 – Stabilise the energy flow by holding the control points:

Gently hold the following two points (Kidney 3 and Spleen 3) for about 1,5 minutes.

As in the previous step, do this on both sides of the body.

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Earth element (Spleen) controls Water element (Kidney).

You can see this happening on the wheel (from yellow to blue, inside the circle).

You may have noticed that this is the same procedure as when we were holding the control points after the Sedating procedure in the first example. The control points are always the same after sedating and strengthening a meridian.

Three-Pointing Kidney Meridian

The Three Point Technique is a combination of sedating and strengthening a meridian in one session. Sometimes a meridian needs to be cleared of stale or toxic energies first in order to receive strengthening energies. This means that we sedate it first to move the old energies out, and then strengthen it. In the end, we use the control points to stabilise the shift.

We often use the Three-Point technique to treat hormonal imbalances, such as during PMS or menopause.

Step 1 – Sedate the Kidney Meridian:

Sedate (relax) the Kidney meridian by sending its excess energy to the next meridian, which is Liver. You’ll see how the flow works on the wheel diagram (The Five Elements Wheel) further down.

The Procedure:

Gently hold the following two points (Kidney 1 and Liver 1) for 2 minutes. Use the tips of your fingers (preferably the index or the middle finger).

Do this one side of the body first, (e.g. on your right foot).

Repeat the same procedure on the other side of the body (your left foot), also for 2 minutes.

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Water element (Kidney meridian) flows into Wood element (Liver meridian).

This means that Kidney meridian is freed from excess energy by sending it to Liver meridian.

You can see this happening on the wheel (from blue to green, inside the circle):

Step 2 – Strengthen the Kidney Meridian

Strengthen the Kidney meridian by borrowing some energy from the previous meridian (i.e. Lung meridian).

The Procedure:

Gently hold the following two points (Kidney 7 and Lung 8) for 2 minutes. Use the tips of your fingers (preferably the index or the middle finger).

Do this one side of the body first, (e.g. your right side) and then repeat the same procedure on the other side of the body, also for 2 minutes.

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Metal element (Lung) flows into Water element (Kidney).

This means that Lung meridian is strengthening the neighbouring Kidney meridian by sending its energy into it (flowing into it).

Or you can view it the other way – Kidney is ‘borrowing’ some energy from its neighbouring Lung meridian.

You can see this happening on the wheel (from light grey to blue, inside the circle):

Step 3 – Stabilise the energy flow by holding the control points:

Now we need to stop the flow of energy from the previous two points. We need to stabilize the shift in energy, and we’ll do this by holding the control points.

The Procedure:

Gently hold the following two points (Kidney 3 and Spleen 3) for 1 minute.

As in the previous step, do this on both sides of the body; on the right foot first, then on the left foot. (Or vice versa.)

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Earth element (Spleen) controls Water element (Kidney).

You can see this happening on the wheel (from yellow to blue, inside the circle).

Learn More About Meridians and Acupressure Points

I hope you enjoyed reading about ‘The Wellspring of Life’, the mighty Kidney meridian. If you’d like to learn about all the ancient Chinese poetic names of the acupressure points, I highly recommend getting the folding laminated chart pictured below. It shows every single acupressure point on our body, so it’s a brilliant study guide. I found it incredibly useful during my Energy Medicine Foundation Course.

Share Your Thoughts

I would also love to hear about your experience – have you used the techniques mentioned here, and with what results? Or have you got any other questions or comments? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and I look forward to getting back to you soon. To your amazing health!

ZIVA Online Review

by Lucie | Aug 31, 2020 | Reviews

Product: ZivaOnline – a 15 days’ online training

Price: $399

Guarantee: 30-day Money-back Guarantee

My Rating: 8.9 out of 10

It goes without saying that meditation has become a highly popular practice. We hear about Google CEOs daily meditation practice to increase their productivity, stressed-out entrepreneurs trying to detox their system, and people from all walks of life who meditate to find inner peace. Whatever the reason for meditating is, it is always recommended to find an experienced teacher who can guide us through our first steps.

This is a review of Ziva Online – an online mediation course by Emily Fletcher, the author of the best-selling Stress Less Accomplish More who has developed an online meditation course that lasts 15 days.

Having first read the highly informative and enjoyable book, I enrolled in Emily’s course in January 2020 and benefited from her tachings on many levels. Taking this course and following the instructions step by step has had a great effect on my health and wellbeing, and I will be talking about the specific benefits in this review.

There are some aspects you need to consider before taking this course and I will be listing both pros and cons of this course, so you can get an idea if the course is for you or not.

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through my links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The full disclosure can be accessed here. Thank you for your support!

The Course Content

Ziva Online takes 15 days to complete. You will receive an instructional video each day which you have to complete in order to unlock the next day’s video. You cannot unlock the next day’s video in one day. I like this approach because it supports proper learning. You will concentrate a lot at just one video a day, which means that in the long run you will learn more and retain more information. You will also look forward to the next day’s video.

The videos are very engaging and full of interesting information. Emily Fletcher is clearly an expert with plenty of experience. She studied meditation and meditation teaching in India Her instructor course lasted three years, which is very clear in her teaching. I felt I was in good hands throughout the whole course.

Upon completion of the course, you’ll receive a certificate, with which you will be able to take Emily’s live training in her studio in New York. (The live training now requires the completion of the online course).

What makes Ziva Online different from other meditation courses is the inclusion of threedifferent techniques: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Manifesting. Emily Fletcher clearly explains the difference between mindfulness and manifesting and guides the learner through both.

The course finishes with manifesting, which is getting clear on what we want in life and making our dreams become reality. Emily teaches specific visualisation techniques to achieve our goals.

The 15 Days’ Course Outline:

DAY 1 – Beginner’s Mind

DAY 2 – Come to Your Senses

DAY 3 – Patience is a VirtueDAY 4 – First Day of Meditation Training

DAY 4 – First Day of Meditation Training

DAY 5 – The 5 Most Common Things During Meditation

DAY 6 – Alarms, interruptions, and rules – Oh My!

DAY 7 – Make a Promise to Yourself…and Keep it

DAY 8 – The Bubble Diagram

DAY 9 – The Importance of Twice a Day

DAY 10 – Creation, Maintenance, & Destruction

DAY 11 – Higher States of Consciousness

DAY 12 – How to Make Ziva Non-Negotiable

DAY 13 – Thoughts Become Things (Manifesting )

DAY 14 – The 3 Keys to Manifesting

DAY 15 – YOU DID IT!

Pros:

Learning to meditate regularly leads to clear results, such as:

Better Sleep
Better immunity – fewer colds
Better mood, less reactivity
Improved productivity

I personally credit the course for impacting my life in the following ways:

Deeper and More Restful Sleep

Amazingly, my need of 9 hours of sleep decreased to 7, and I no longer experience the crashed of energy in the afternoons

More Energy and Focus

I have noticed that since I’ve started meditating regularly that I am able to read with more concentration.

Increased Productivity

Thanks to recharging my body’s energy with meditating twice a day, I get many more tasks accomplished in the day. My days also feel longer thanks to sleeping less (but still feeling rested). I am also experiencing more ‘flow’ states when working.

Being Less Reactive or Confrontational

that when I get into a tense situation that would normally lead to confrontation, I am able to stay calmer and more grounded, and my need to react defensively is minimal.

Feeling More Connected to Others

Mediation has the amazing ability to release the so-called bliss chemicals into your brain. Amongst these chemicals are oxytocin (the bonding hormone) and anandamide (also dubbed ‘the bliss molecule).

If your body is flooded with these feel-good chemicals, it will be natural to feel a loving connection with others. You will also be able to forgive more easily! Again, I am talking about my own experience. This aspect of the biochemical reward of frequent meditation is truly amazing and can save and heal many relationships!

A Huge Decrease in Negative Thought-Patterns

To my astonishment, I have experienced a really noticeable drop in the involuntary, automatic negative thoughts and inner critical commentaries (of ourselves and other people) that used to bring me down a lot. This is one of the greatest benefits of having taken the course.

Reduced Need for Caffeine or Alcohol

Don’t take me wrong, I still really like both! However, I’ve noticed that their effect on my body is much stronger since I started meditating, so I need a considerably smaller quantity of both. I’m also convinced that the fact that my sleep is much better now can be attributed to my natural reduction of caffeine and alcohol.

I Stopped Biting My Nails

I’m happy to say that my annoying habit of biting my nails has stopped! I used to bite my nails whenever I felt nervous and on edge, often after drinking coffee.

If you’d like to read more in-depth about all the ‘perks’ of mediation, check my post on the physical and psychological benefits of meditation!

Cons:

This course is expensive. For many people, $399 is a lot of money, and the price may put them of and prompt them to search for free Youtube meditation videos instead. Although I am very happy to have invested this amount into improving multiple aspects of my life, I still have to point this out. It’s a pity that this price aspect may deter quite a few people from taking the course.

What I also dislike is the 6-month limit of access to the course content, the private Facebook group, and the live calls with Emily. You’ll only get 6 months of access, after which you can upgrade, but personally, I just don’t like that feature. I have done other courses, such as the Mindvalley course Eden Energy Medicine and Jim’s Kwik Superbrain and SuperReading. With these, I have lifetime access to both the course content and all the live video calls and private Facebook groups. This generous approach is exactly why I have recommended many of my friends to join their programs.

I do understand that Emily Fletcher’s aim as a professional meditation teacher is to help us become independent meditators who don’t have to repeatedly come back to the course material and follow her along with the meditations, but I still think it would be nice to be able to revisit the course (and have access to the Facebook group and the encouraging live calls) without having to pay for it repeatedly every 6 months.

Having said all that, you can try the whole course for 30 days with a money-back guarantee which I think is pretty great, because in the space of 30 days you will you can learn to meditate and start experiencing many of the physical and psychological benefits. The course is only 15 days so you will have plenty of time to decide whether the training was worth it or whether you prefer to cancel the payment.

Conclusion:

I’ve been pretty frank in this review in terms of my opinion about the price and the 6-month access limit. However, all this can’t change the fact that taking the Ziva Online course has been one of the best investments in my life – exactly as what other reviews say about her course (which you can read here.)

With the overwhelming amount of information on the internet, it is difficult to choose the right teacher or a course. Often we just download a meditation app and stop using it a few days later, with no results. The fact is – Ziva Mediation works, and it may even surprise you how well it works. If you want to become more productive, have much more done, sleep better and in many cases need fewer hours to feel fully rested, feel calmer and more stable emotionally, I recommend you give Ziva Online a try.

BY LUCIE DUN

This site has been built with DIVI, by Elegant Themes.

RECOMMENDED SECTIONS:

in alliance with

Transformational education to awaken your full potential

∼ and ∼

Soulful and sustainable clothing from natural fabrics

How to Relieve PMS

by Lucie | Aug 24, 2020 | Mind, Body & Spirit, Popular, Uncategorized

In this post you’ll learn how to relieve PMS using natural methods. I’ll be sharing techniques that I have found helpful for alleviating the typical, often unpleasant symptoms of PMS.

What is PMT or PMS

PMT and PMS refer to the same thing. PMT is an abbreviation of premenstrual tension, while PMS means premenstrual syndrome. I will be using the term PMS just because I use this term more often, although I often feel that the word ‘syndrome’ makes this completely natural process of female body sound like an ailment or a disease.

Yes, it can be unpleasant, but it’s not necessary to stigmatise the specific time of the natural monthly cycle. It’s not something we should be fighting against, try to stop it, but rather fully accept it, adjust to it, anticipate it, allow ourselves to ease up a bit during that time, and learn techniques for alleviating the emotional tension and physical discomfort.

Tips & Tools for PMS Relief

Neurovascular Hold

This simple exercise helps restore calm and reduce the jittery feeling. Place your palm on your forehead, the other at the back. The master practitioner of energy medicine, Donna Eden, explains and demonstrates it here:

Mellow Mudra

The word Mudra comes from Sanskrit and means ‘seal’, ‘gesture’ or ‘mark’. Yoga mudras, practiced in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, are symbolic gestures of the hands and fingers. They facilitate the flow of subtle energies in the body.

The exercise ‘Mellow Mudra’ is a combination of the previous exercise (The Neurovascular Hold) and a mudra, which activates specific energy pathways connected to the emotions of ‘letting go’, and helping with the release of grief.

This posture will also help you become less reactive, which, needless to say, is much needed during the premenstrual tension.

Donna Eden is describing this exercise in the following video:

Triple Warmer Smoothie

This is a super-simple yet effective technique which help you relax, lower your anxiety, and help relieve tension from your body.

It is based on a backward-tracing a meridian that governs the fight or flight response. After doing this, you will feel Doing this will more centered, grounded, and relaxed.

The technique is presented by an expert in the field of energy medicine, Prune Harris.

Blow Out

This technique called ‘Blow Out’ will help you release the built-up chemicals of stress from your body. By doing this simple exercise you will be engaging three important energy systems which will assist you with getting rid of stress (and possibly even preventing illness, because a large number of illnesses are stress-related). You will find it in this video (which I’ve already inserted to show the Neurovascular Hold) from 3:20 onwards.

Balance Your Meridians (Energy Pathways)

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, hormonal imbalances during PMS can be improved by calming and refreshing specific energetic pathways in your body, also called meridians or channels.

This can be done by tracing the meridians with your hands, or holding specific acupressure points.

Acupressure can clear the meridians of stale and toxic energies, ease the emotions as well as physical pain, and help the body return to a state of balance.

Donna Eden recommends focusing on a number of meridians during PMS.

For emotional problems such as stress, anxiety, sadness, and gloominess she recommends:

Calming (sedating) the Triple Warmer meridian
Strengthening the Spleen meridian

For the physical symptoms of PMS, she recommends focusing on the following meridians:

Kidney (for back pain)
Liver (for groin pain)
Stomach (for breast tenderness and cramps)
Small Intestine (for pain in the upper back combines with cramps)
Large Intestine (for pain in the lower back)
Circulation Sex (if your period is late)

Here is an example of how to work with your meridians:

If you experience tension or pain in your back during PMS or your period, a great way of relieving the pain is to sedate your Kidney meridian.

You may wonder how could a back pain be connected to the kidneys; This is because the kidneys have to filter more blood and hormones than usual and become full, overcharged and stressed, which leads to pain in the surrounding area.

So, sedating the Kidney meridian relaxes the kidneys by removing excess, tense energy, and provides relief to the nearby area – i.e. your back.

You sedate the Kidney meridian very easily by holding specific acupressure points. I have described the procedure (and other useful techniques) in my post called The Kidney Meridian.

I shall gradually add posts devoted to all the other meridians, including their sedating and strengthening points, so watch this space! ;).

Vitamin and Mineral-rich Foods and Supplements

Studies have shown that certain vitamins and minerals can assist with easing PMS symptoms from mood swings, anxiety, or insomnia, to breast tenderness and water retention.

These are:

Vitamin B-6 – found in chickpeas, oats, bananas, tuna, salmon, poultry
Magnesium – found in nuts and seeds, avocado, bananas, green leafy vegetables, legumes and seafood

Limit Your Caffeine and Alcohol Intake

It is a good idea to watch out for caffeine and alcohol during that week when you are more sensitive. If coffee usually lifts you up and gets you going, it could make you edgy and anxious instead. If an alcoholic drink usually cheers up up or relaxes you in your non-premenstrual days, it can have the very opposite during the sensitive week, making you easily angry or depressed! I am talking about my own experience.

Your Body Wants to Relax

If you notice that you’re within the week prior to your period then it’s time to honour it. Allow yourself an indulgent hot bath with relaxing essential oils and candles. Curl on the sofa with a cup of soothing herbal tea and a good book or a nice movie. All these little treats are well deserved and necessary.

By easing off for these few days, you will become more aligned with the natural rhytms of your body, and you’ll enjoy regaining your full strength and activity twice as much when this passes.

Allow Yourself to Go Within

Also, if it’s possible, try not to schedule any full-on social events, parties, family visits, etc during this period, because you may not enjoy it as much as you would at other times. Your body is inviting you to go within, get more introspective and quieter – basically, spend more time with yourself than with others. If others see you as ‘grumpy’, let them do so. It’s important to get synchronized with your body and recharge your batteries, so you can spring back to your active, cheerful, and extrovert self again soon.

Last But Not Least…

Anticipate PMS – Ideally With Your Partner!

What I highly recommend (because it’s worked wonders in my case) is to set a notification in your calendar about a week prior to your anticipated period. This little trick has saved me a lot of unpleasant surprises and disconcerted guilty feelings about my sudden mood drops, and low states.

It is comforting to get assured that the bad mood it’s not ‘you’, but your fluctuating hormonal levels, and if you learn to listen to your body, it will start ‘collaborating’ with you. For example, as soon as I feel that something is ‘not right’ in my world, that I feel on edge, irritable, or vulnerable, I look at my calendar and often get the reassurance I needed!

If you feel like, tell the people around you (the ones that may get most affected) that you happen to be in that sensitive week. Tell your partner about it.

The more open you are about this topic, the more you’ll be helping to destigmatize the ‘dreaded PMS’, especially if you treat the whole thing with humour.

Next time your loved ones see you burst into tears for seemingly no reason, they won’t think that they have done something wrong, but will know that a chemical storm inside you is to blame instead.

Your Own Experience

I hope you’ve found this post helpful. If you have any tips or ideas to share, do leave a comment below – I’d love to hear about your (or your partner’s, or friend’s) way of dealing with PMS.

Earn Online by Blogging

Affiliate Marketing in a Nutshell

How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?

How to Recognise an Affiliate Blog

No Buying Products Upfront or Shipping

What Products or Services to Promote?

A Learning Platform for Affiliate Marketing

The First 10 Lessons Can Kickstart Your Business

Best Handheld Percussion Massager

Percussion Massagers

The Difference Between Percussive and Vibration Massage

An Overview of Hangsun Percussion Massager

Main Features – Summary

Main Features – Highlights

A Powerful Motor

Variable Speed Control

Three Removable and Interchangeable Massage Nodes

Dual Head Percussion

Extra Long Power Cord

How to Use a Percussion Massager

The Best Areas to Massage

A Special Tip for Massaging Your Back

PROS:

Ergonomic Design and Light Weight

Extremely Effective

Very Affordable

CONS:

The Back Massage Requires Another Person to Hold the Device

Power-Dependent

Can Cause Pain if Used Improperly

Conclusion

Share Your Thoughts

The Kidney Meridian

Contents:

Reservoir of Energy and Centre of Courage

The Pathway of Kidney Meridian

Ancient Prints Showing Meridians

If Kidney Meridian is Out of Balance

Techniques for Balancing Kidney Meridian

Tracing Kidney Meridian

Flushing Kidney Meridian

Working with the Acupressure Points of Kidney Meridian

Sedating Kidney Meridian

Step 1 – Sedate the Kidney Meridian:

The Procedure:

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Step 2 – Stabilise the Energy Flow by Holding the Control Points:

The Procedure:

What is happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Strengthening Kidney Meridian

Step 1 – Strengthen the Kidney Meridian

The Procedure:

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Step 2 – Stabilise the energy flow by holding the control points:

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Three-Pointing Kidney Meridian

Step 1 – Sedate the Kidney Meridian:

The Procedure:

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Step 2 – Strengthen the Kidney Meridian

The Procedure:

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Step 3 – Stabilise the energy flow by holding the control points:

The Procedure:

What Is Happening on The Five Elements Wheel:

Learn More About Meridians and Acupressure Points

Share Your Thoughts

ZIVA Online Review

The Course Content

The 15 Days’ Course Outline:

Pros:

Deeper and More Restful Sleep

More Energy and Focus

Increased Productivity

Being Less Reactive or Confrontational

Feeling More Connected to Others

A Huge Decrease in Negative Thought-Patterns

Reduced Need for Caffeine or Alcohol

I Stopped Biting My Nails

Cons: