A few weeks ago we had a play date at the park with one of my friends who is also a mama- Her second of 2 daughters is just a few days older than my Scarlett. My friend told me how she’s started to use CBD oil for chronic pain she’s had for years, and noticed it has also helped her “Mama anger”. When she mentioned that term, I thought “Phew, I’m not the only one who experiences such a feeling!”. It makes sense that us mamas feel this anger from time to time- Before we birthed, or otherwise acquired these tiny humans, we had much more control of our lives than we do now. When that tiny human realizes they have their own willpower and they begin to utilize it, this can be especially infuriating when they’re doing the exact opposite of what you need them to do!
I am not promoting the use of CBD oil, although I do believe it is beneficial to many people for a variety of ailments and issues when used properly. I do also strongly believe in the benefits of meditation- This, coupled with placing Scarlett in timeout, is my most used method for dealing with my mama rage. If I don’t take some deep breaths and give both me and her some time to ourselves, I’m liable to turn green, sprout incredibly thick muscles, speak incoherently, and throw my toddler out the window. All kidding aside, meditation is much simpler than it sometimes is made out to be- There are common misconceptions about what exactly it is or what it should look like. Many believe meditation has to or should be done for about 15-20 minutes in a quiet space, while you’re seated on a cushion in a cross-legged position, with or without ambient or some other tranquil music playing, and candles burning. While that all sounds lovely and I do sometimes meditate in this fashion, for many of us, especially us mamas, it is not the most realistic method to do this practice regularly. Meditation is all about being mindful of your breath and thoughts. Taking a deep breath while letting go of whatever thoughts are causing you discomfort is a meditation. That’s right, taking just one conscious breath is a meditation! How many times a day do you take a deep breath to simply re-center and regroup? That’s how many times you’ve meditated today! Meditation is an excellent tool for self-care, accessible for everyone. It can be as brief as one breath, or longer if you have the time available to you. Play music, or don’t. Sit, stand, lie down. Meditate outside in the sunshine, or in a dimly lit room. The details don’t really matter and more you are wrapped up about them, the more difficult it is to reap the benefits of the practice- The only right way to meditate is to remain mindful throughout. Beyond simply taking several conscious breaths throughout the day, there are so many different styles of meditation, offered both in group settings and for you as an individual- You just have to find the method which speaks truest to you. We all are always better-off when moving from a more mindful state! What are some of your meditation methods? If you're a mom, or otherwise preoccupied, how do you carve out time, even if just for a moment, to make sure you remain in a state of balance and wellbeing? I'd love to hear from you! Namaste', Christina Hi everyone!
For this month of July, I've been focusing on sharing on New Mothers' Wellness, and specifically about Feeding Your Newborn. Pictured above, from left to right: me with my babes, my friend Tania & her babes, and my friend Verena and her son. I shared the stories from each of us via my Instagram and Facebook Page over 3 days- As you can tell by my posts, feeding your newborn comes in a number of different ways. Sometimes it happens more naturally, and sometimes it takes a little bit more work and patience. However it looks for that individual mother and her child(ren), it is enough, and it is BEST! Please check out my Instagram, or CMB Bodywork Facebook Page to read our stories. While you're there, I certainly appreciate a like on each social network!☺ I look forward to continuing the umbrella topic of New Mothers' Wellness into August, and I plan to focus on A Mothers' Self-Care as the subtopic. Please stay tuned for posts on each of my networks centered around these topics! Much Love and Thanks, ❀CB❀ Hi everyone!
As promised, I am writing a blog post to follow-up with this month's topic, New Mothers' Wellness, and this week's current theme, Feeding Your Newborn. I have been pretty active on Instagram, since pretty much its initial launch, first with my personal account, and now also with my business one. During the years of using this social medium, the trend of using hashtags has come about- The better to find a bunch of posts on that particular subject. Facebook also started to utilize this tool, and a couple of years ago, one of my friends shared a post about a mom telling of her experience and trouble with breastfeeding, almost unintentionally starving her son to death. In the article, she went on about how #BreastIsBest isn't always the case, targeting this hashtag, and instead calling attention to her own of #FedIsBest. While doing research for this blog, of course this being a controversial topic, I came across all kinds of articles, blogs, and feelings about the "best" or "most acceptable" way to feed your baby. I've also learned how cruel some women are and don't support other moms when it is very much needed- That breaks my heart! I am a believer that it takes a village, and if you're someone who thinks you're all high and mighty because you breastfed your kid until he was in Kindergarten while you judge the mom next to you because she needed to give her kid formula for whatever reason, you need to chill the hell out! Now that we know how I feel, let's move on... Anyway, while researching, I came across the hashtag of what I titled this post: Fed is Best, Whether Bottle or Breast. Quite a few people feel "Fed is best." goes without saying- Of course you need to feed your kid, yourself, etc. All humans need nutrition in order to survive. I can definitely get on board with that belief! #FedIsBestWhetherBottleOrBreast, is most inclusive and appropriate, I believe. Even though I am a massage therapist, Reiki practitioner, Yoga teacher, all around hippy-dippy chick, I cannot support the idea that "Breast is best." completely. Yes, from the standpoint that it's the most natural, biological method, that is the case. If you look back to before formula was created, however, babies either died because they couldn't nurse for whatever reason, or mothers sought out wet nurses to supplement. Yes, the case of a baby not being able to nurse back then may not have been as common as it is now, but women currently play a much different role in society than they did then. These new roles bring with them different kinds of stress, which can decrease milk supply. Also, c-sections weren't done then either- Having this surgery is often another cause of having a scant supply, or none at all. We live in a very different time than when, perhaps, breast was best, and this needs to be acknowledged. There is an infinite number of reasons why a babe may not be able to nurse, or why a mother may not want to. As a breastfeeding Mama, I can tell you that it's hard work, takes up a lot of your time, interferes with your personal space and boundaries, and requires dedication. If there is even the slightest hiccup to throw off the delicate balance nursing requires, I can see why moms give up. Not only do you and your babe have to be ready physically to do it, but also very much emotionally and mentally- If all those pieces don't line up and breastfeeding doesn't work, this needs to be accepted with grace by that mama, and her community. I was not a breastfed baby due to my mother's chronic health issues, and I turned out perfectly fine! It is not the worst if a baby doesn't get breastfed, but #BreastIsBest sort of implies that, in my opinion, especially after reading some of the articles I came across. I am currently looking to go down the path of becoming a lactation consultant. I do wish to be one, however, who practices most of the ideals I've shared with you here. I have much more to say on this topic, and so I will continue it into next week, along with Part 2 of this blog post. Thank you all going with me on this journey so far, and I look forward to sharing more with you! Please feel free to share my blog, and add your comments to this one. I always appreciate another Mama's journey, so if you wish to share your story with me here, or privately, please do so! Thanks again and may you all be well, Christina As many of you know, I am expecting my second child the end of May. As our family is growing, I have been shifting some of the spaces in our home to accommodate this growth. Our current guest room will become Scarlett's new space, her current bedroom will be the new nursery for our little man, and our bonus room upstairs will be partly used to accommodate guests. While transitioning these spaces, I have done some purging (Spring is an excellent time of year for this!), and also rediscovered some lost treasures in my home- One of those treasures is "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. With good reason, this book has become a staple on a friend, Kim's reading list for her Yoga teacher training since I took it, but because of her love for the book, I wound up reading it not long after my 200 hour training. Since then, I speak a lot to this book when talking with friends, Yoga students, and clients. I even gave away the first copy I had to someone I felt needed it more!
If you're not familiar with The Four Agreements, I strongly suggest you read it. It is written in a way that I believe can resonate with a person of any background or culture- These teachings are valuable tools for anyone's life! There is also a book by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Fifth Agreement which I own, but have yet to read. I'll happily share about it once I do read it. Truthfully, I am not reading as much as I once was since having babes. Instead of "nap when the baby naps", read when the baby naps?? Ha! If you've read The Four Agreements or are familiar with what they are, how do you apply them to your life? Do you catch yourself using one agreement more or easier than the others, and which one is the hardest for you to utilize? Would love to hear how you apply these teachings as I'm always willing to learn from my audience! Much Love and may you all be well! CB I've been sharing an agreement each Friday via my Instagram over the last few weeks. Please check out today's and be sure to follow me: https://www.instagram.com/cmbbodywork/ You can learn more about The Four Agreements: http://www.toltecspirit.com/ https://www.miguelruiz.com/ Hey all,
Over the last few weeks I've shared that I took a Kinesiology Taping course to become certified to do this work. My interest in K-tape started while I was in high school (2000-2004) and playing sports- I have been taped for a number of issues with many different kinds of tape. For me, the most effective in treating injuries and enhancing performance has been any kind of Kinesio Taping, when done correctly. This taping has been around since the 1970s, but became more mainstream in when Kerri Walsh Jennings sported some on her shoulder during her beach volleyball games in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. I like Kinesio taping best because it is much less restrictive than any kind of bandaging, when full range of motion is still indicated to help the individual heal. As someone who has very sensitive skin, I also find it is one of the least abrasive taping methods. Because the K-tape is supportive, but doesn't restrict range of motion, clients and patients can continue to do physical therapy and other exercises beneficial to recovery. Aside from offering support, because of the way the tape adheres to the skin, it lifts up the skin, allowing for space under the surface to promote proper circulation and increased blood flow, offering healing to an otherwise ischemic (Lacking blood flow.) area. There is taping specific to reducing pain, decreasing inflammation, breaking up scar tissue, and enhancing athletic performance. I am lucky enough, working with The Charlotte Hornets, to see this applied in a variety of ways with the team- The guys really love it too! The tape usually lasts at least 3-5 days, even through showering and sleeping- Some brands of tape and activity do affect the longevity of it remaining on the skin, however. Because of the tape not needing to be removed and reapplied each time a person sleeps, showers, or works out, this is another reason why this method is so attractive to practitioners. Massage Therapists, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Athletic Trainers are all people who can train in this work and use it with their patients and clients. During the last several years I have continued to use taping as a way to treat some of my chronic injuries. Because I was only self-educated, aside from the little review of it I had in massage school, I've only practiced K-taping on myself until recently. Since taking the course in early February, I have done some practical work on 3 of my regular massage clients- All have had very good outcomes and offered me excellent feedback! I preferred to do some trial runs before I did the work regularly, and while I am sure I will continue to make some mistakes, I am confident I can help my clients using this wonderful tool regularly- It also gives me another way to help beyond the four walls of my home office or the arena, and for that I am grateful! If you're wishing to know more or book a session, please message me or comment on this post. I am always happy to help!! Thanks for reading and may you all be well! Much Love, Christina Hello everyone,
I realize I haven't written a new blog post in 7 months! Much has happened for me within that time and I stepped away from my web site and YouTube for a while. In September, I found out I am expecting my second child (A little boy due in May!), in October, I started working as a therapist for The Charlotte Hornets, and then the holidays happened and Scarlett's 2nd birthday, which I hosted a get-together for each event. It was all a bit crazy!! The topic of self-care, in its many versions, seems to be the trending topic for me, my clients, my students, my family/friends, and my colleagues lately. During my semi-hiatus from social media (I still shared some on Instagram and Facebook.), I started seeing a therapist simply for my own mental well-being. I give out A LOT as a Bodyworker, Yoga Teacher, daughter, friend, Mama, and partner. When my cup runs empty, I can't continue to be all those things and give to my fullest potential. Luckily, I do have an amazing partner, but that's not always enough and so I sought out help from the outside and I am grateful to have my therapist. I also have been getting bodywork much more regularly, saying "no", and setting healthy boundaries when necessary. These are certainly simple things you can do to keep your cup from running out! Myself and a couple of my clients have also been going through the process of having some "tough talks" with certain people in our lives in order to honor our truth and maintain an energetic balance. Those chats are never fun, but completely necessary! I always do my best to use them as a learning tool and a growth opportunity for me and that other person (Or people.)... To view it that way can make this difficult process a little easier! Even though Valentine's Day has come and gone, how can you continue to move from a Loving place and energy? Can you do this for yourself and also for those around you? If you need any ideas, please fell free to reach out to me- I am happy to help any time!! I hope you enjoy the rest of your LOVE month and I promise to me back sooner this time around ❤ Much Love and Light, Christina If you've already been with me, welcome back!! And, if you're visiting for the first time or have only just tuned into my YouTube channel, welcome- This is actually a great time to begin :) In my first video (Welcome to CMB Bodywork), I mentioned that I enjoy teaching series-based topics. Personality-wise I can be very scattered and squirrelly, so a series is an excellent means for keeping me more focused when teaching others. I have chosen to start with a Chakra Series, beginning from the Root Chakra (Muladhara) and moving up the body. I have selected to do it this way because we live very much in a society where we stay in our brains and our head, rather than connecting to the rest of our being. Also, Muladhara symbolizes trust and foundation, so what would be a better place to start than this? For this topic I have already posted my first video, a meditation- The element of the Muladhara is earth and so this meditation focuses on our connection to it and the trees. It is also a balancing meditation, which I felt was a good thing to establish as we go on this journey of aligining our chakra system. In the coming weeks, I will also share more videos on how we can physically care for this area of the body and also offer other holistic practices to maintain Root Chakra balance. Thank you for placing your trust in me to guide you and taking the time to read this post! I often get asked by clients, students, friends, and family what I do in order to take care of my body when I am feeling under-the-weather. I am super sensitive to medications (Especially antibiotics.) and so I use a natural and holistic approach whenever possible. **I am not a doctor, so please take what I am about to share just as part of your research and apply it if you feel it is best for you. If you are in need of a doctor for a proper diagnosis or for medication, please see your care provider.** This blog post complements the YouTube video I just uploaded. In the video, I go into detail about some of the home remedies I use when I have a cold, or similar symptoms, like those from sinus or allergy trouble. The first thing I do to help ward off a cold is change up my tea-drinking routine. I normally drink caffeinated tea in the mornings, but I switch to peppermint when I'm not feeling well, adding honey to help sooth a sore throat- The honey I use is as local as possible, which also seems to help allergy issues I deal with since moving to the southeast. If you like sweetener in your coffee or tea, honey or agave are great alternatives to white sugar! When I don't feel too well, the next thing I do is mix-up my essential oil application. I enjoy essential oils on a regular basis as a substitute for perfume, diffused to help me relax and focus, using them with clients, among other applications. When I have a cold, I will use them in a variety of ways: I'll apply melaleuca (tea tree) & basil on the outside of my ears and along the muscle which can compress the Eustachian tubes in order to prevent infection and pull out any inflammation. Eucalyptus or something similar on a wet washcloth hung in a warm shower is great for clearing up congestion! A warm, damp washcloth with the same oils applied to the face, along with the use of saline spray is a great alternative to the Neti pot if you're not a fan of pouring liquid into your nose (Like me). Immune-supporting oils/blends diffused or rubbed into the bottoms of your feet before putting on socks are a great help for any ailment! *Tips for when applying oils: Lighter/gentle massage when applying topically is better for aiding in the movement of the lymphatic system, which often promotes quicker recovery- More pressure isn't always best! Also, please be sure to use a carrier oil (Coconut, olive oil, grape seed, just to name a few.) when using essential oils because when applied neat (Without a carrier oil.) they can cause skin irritation, which can be minor or severe. Remember, less is more when it comes to the use of these oils/blends- They are very potent! These are just some of the natural things I do to aid my body in recovering from illness. Of course, I do my best to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and eat as clean as possible. If you have any further questions, or have something to add, please feel free to leave a comment. I appreciate the feedback! For more detail, please check out my YouTube video: Happy Sunday and Happy Father's Day to all the different kinds of Dads out there!!
In the last few days, I have recommitted to my own self-care and to certain aspects of CMB Bodywork, both of which I had given less priority as I began to care for my daughter. With her now sleeping later in the mornings, taking longer naps, and becoming more independent I am gaining more time to re-prioritize certain things and also remembering the person I was before I became a mama. I do my best to live with integrity, but as I have become a mother, I feel like even some of that has taken a backseat when it comes to my commitment to CMB Bodywork. At the same time however, I truly believe I needed this time to ask myself what not only this business means to me, but also what direction I need to take it for all of you. While still living on Long Island and starting my journey in Massage Therapy I had a vision of one day owning my own wellness center- It is still a huge dream of mine to have a brick and mortar location for this concept. I now know, however, that this part of my dream needs to come after what I am looking to nurture and cultivate now. Presently, I am making the promise to connect more on social media (Instagram, Facebook, my web site, and even YouTube) in order to offer various wellness practices via each of these mediums. This blog post is a continuation of the plans and the commitment I have made over the last few days. Also, in the next couple of days, I will be making a YouTube video continuing to go into depth about the direction I am heading with all of this. I am very much looking forward to making this video because for those of you who don't know much about me yet, in a way, this is a chance to put a face and a voice to what you are reading here in front of you. I am grateful for those who have crossed my path, still walk it with me, and for those I am still destined to meet- You all have taught me and nurtured me so much and I look forward to the lessons which still lie ahead! I am incredibly thankful for my Love, Danny and the support he not only shows me, but also our sweet baby girl <3 Much Love, Christina Today is my 32nd birthday and I am being flooded with much love via social media, texts, and phone calls. I am grateful! Most days, however, I do unplug from at least social media or do the bare minimum of just checking my notifications- When you're self-employed, these mediums are often a means for you to keep growing, or stay established. Facebook, etc. is also a nice way to remain connected to family and friends where there is quite a physical distance.
Even through the love I am being extended on this day, I am witnessing much hate and separation on the internet. On a day I should be feeling so very blessed and happy to have made it another trip around the sun, I am saddened and left disappointed by some of those surrounding me on my journey. Why are we living in a world of us vs. them?? Why do we not live in the truth that we are all in this together? We live in a world that has so much gray, simply black and white is an illusion! My wish on this day is for all to see their neighbor, their family members, even their children as they see themselves. All of us who grace this earth with our presence, living and breathing, we all matter! We matter as individuals, but first collectively as the human race... Stop creating separation and cultivating hate and start advocating for love. LISTEN to what our children are telling us! Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu- May ALL beings everywhere be happy and free from suffering. May the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life somehow contribute to this happiness and freedom for all. This must be so! |
Author-Christina is a Bodywork Therapist and Yoga Teacher in the Charlotte, NC area with a passion for writing. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog!! Archives
August 2019
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