Theresa Franklin, NCTMB, LMT, RYT, CMT

Olivia Kelly, NCTMB, LMT

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Reiki treats the whole person - the body, emotions, mind and spirit - creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and well-being.  

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery. Reiki has been proven through various research to have excellent effects on infants with colic and for children who have been diagnosed with autism.

Chasity holds a nursing degree, a Bachelor's in Social Work and a Masters in Counseling. She is in the process of becoming a licensed Counselor and eventually will see clients for individual and family counseling services.

With her combined practice, clients will gain relief from issues such as depression, stress, anxiety, abuse and trauma and physical conditions such as arthritis, insomnia, PMS and discomfort associated with pregnancy.

Chasity is married and has two children ages 14 and 6. Her family enjoys outdoor activities including boating and camping.

Beginning in September, Chasity will be available by appointment only on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. The introductory price is $40.00 and each session lasts one hour.

 You can read about the different styles of Tai Chi Chuan (a form of Qigong) or you can experience them for yourself.   

Tai Chi Chuan 

Intro to Yang style (8 classes, $48) starts:  

Monday, Aug. 20, 5:30-6:30 pm

Intro to Chen style (10 classes, $60) starts:   

Monday, Aug. 27, 6:30-7:30 pm  

Wednesday, August 29, 10-11 am

Advanced Chen (10 classes, $60) starts: 

Monday, Aug. 27,  7:30 - 8:30 pm  

Wednesday, Aug. 29 , 11:00 am - 12:00pm 

Tang Soo Do Karate for teens and adults (ongoing, $80/month) 

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

You can read more about Jerry Whitten and Chen Tai Chi Chuan in the July 2011 newsletter.    

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 If you ask ten people to describe capoeira (CAPO WADA) you will most likely hear ten very different answers. Capoeira has been described as a martial art, a dance, an art form, a form of self-defense or any hybrid of these. Many people often use more than one of these definitions in the same breath when describing this form of movement that combines spins, turns, precisely-aimed kicks, evasive defense moves, and breathtaking acrobatics into a rich fabric of motion, percussion and song.

Our capoeira instructor is Graduado Cebolinha (Matt Hawkins) and he's one of the principal instructors at Capoeira St. Louis.  Cebolinha began training with Capoeira St. Louis in 2003 and has been a vital part of its growth. Cebolinha has traveled intensely to further his knowledge of Capoeira and has trained in New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois, among other cities.  

Cebolinha has taught classes at Club Fitness in Alton and is currently teaching at the YMCA Carondelet Rec Plex as well as for Be Well Now.   

Capoeira classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-9:30 pm. The cost is $40 a month.

Here's a link to a 4-minute video of Capoeira Luanda of St. Louis, a non-profit organization dedicated to the growth and development of Capoeira in the St. Louis area.

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Can skin aging be reversed? 

No matter what you hear, what you read, or what you want to believe, skin aging cannot be reversed. But there are steps you can take to control the situation.

The appearance and signs of skin aging can be minimized, and further skin aging can be controlled. New scientific research has uncovered ingredients that work on a biochemical level to control skin aging, all while minimizing current signs of skin aging. Some of these ingredients include antioxidant vitamins C and E, Glucosamine, peptides, Lactic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, and of course, daily use of an SPF.

Schedule a 1-hour facial (only $60!) or consult with aesthetician Kristi Watson about a customized regimen with Dermalogica's Age Smart products to help control the signs of skin aging.  

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The blueprint

The practitioner stands on one leg with the sole of the other foot pressed into the standing leg's inner thigh. The hands are pressed together at heart level or above the head.    

How to do it

1. Stand in Tadasana.
2. Shift your weight onto your right foot and bend your left knee, bringing the left heel up to the inner right thigh         

3. Press the heel of your left foot into your right thigh  

4. Reach the crown of your head up  

5. Press down into both heels and rise from the arches of your feet

6. Bring your hands together in front of your heart gaze forward  
7. Hold for one minute

At this point

• The toes of the bent knee are pointing down
• The four corners of your standing leg's foot are engaged and pressed evenly into the floor
• Your rib cage is lifted out of the pelvis
• Your chin is parallel to the floor

8. To come out of Tree Pose, lower your bent leg to the floor and return to Tadasana. Repeat the pose on the other side.

• Keep your pelvis level and parallel to the floor
• Keep your toes relaxed, don't try to grip the floor with them

Don't:   

• Stick your tailbone out or overarch your back
• Tilt your pelvis to one side or the other; center it over the standing leg

Benefits

• Improves balance  
• Strengthens the legs and spine
• Enhances balance and focus
• Relieves flat feet
• Stretches the groins and inner thighs
• Calms the mind

Contraindications    

• Headache
• Insomnia  
• Leg or hip pain or injury
• High blood pressure

Beginners tips and modifications

If your raised foot slides down the inner standing thigh, put a folded sticky mat between the raised-foot sole and the standing inner thigh.  

You can also do the pose near a wall if you feel unsteady.