The connection between our emotions and our health and happiness cannot be ignored or denied. We may seem fine on the surface, but the painful experiences of our past that we have buried deep inside will eventually take their toll. If you are interested in living in harmony and balance, and in restoring or maintaining your health, wealth, and good relationships, you must learn to release and heal the emotional wounds that are creating disease or discomfort in some area of your life.

The emotions that we deem too scary or embarrassing don't just go away. We may try to forget about them through drugs or alcohol, overeating, gambling, shopping therapy, or any other addictive or destructive behavior, but they still don't go away. We need the courage to face the emotional wounds we have always tried to run from.

Daily OM is one of my favorite websites and when I was sent an e-mail about this online course, I felt it would be wonderful to share with you. The course is very inexpensive only $24.95 and if you can't afford that they give you an option to donate $10.

In this on-line course from Deborah King, a noted health and wellness expert, you will learn 8 key lessons to help you recognize and heal your wounds.

This 8-week course contains powerful lessons that include precise information about how to work with your emotions. Audio guided meditations will take you through the 7 energy centers (chakras) of the body to help you cleanse the emotional wounds from each center. Specific action exercises will give you clear guidance on how to actively recognize and release the wounds that you need to heal in order to fulfill your highest potential in life.

TOPICS COVERED

· Exploring our emotional wounds
· What do I feel?
· Relationships: The mirror of our emotions
· What do I think?
· Is it my fault if I'm sick?
· Heart of my heart
· Emotional health
· The best way to heal emotional wounds

In this course, as well as in her upcoming book, Truth Heals, coming out in 2009, Deborah explores the powerful relationship between the suppression of painful emotions and their impact on our health and happiness, and illustrates how each of us can transform our lives.

If you decide to do this online course and find that you need some additional support in Healing Your Emotions, Simple Balance has a variety of wonderful and caring practitioners to support and guide you.

Shelly Watson, LICSW - Shelly uses Emotional Freedom Technique, a powerful tool to help you release emotional issues.

Donna Messina, CHHC - Donna is a spiritual teacher, meditation facilitator and soul therapy practitioner. She also does classes on Chakras.

Herb Pearce, M. Ed. - Herb is a therapist specializing in relationship counseling and Enneagram Workshops.

Wendy Saydah, LMT - Wendy is a licensed massage therapist who offers craniosacral therapy.

Click here to sign-up for this online course.

by Kelly Bollman

Summer brings about a variety of delicious, fresh fruits at the lowest prices you will get all year. This makes it easy to get in the recommended three to five servings of fruits per day.

There are a multitude of vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body in every fruit, but each fruit or fruit group also has its own defining health promoting characteristics.

Here are some of the more common summer fruit groups and what sets them apart from the rest:

Berries

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries all are very high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is mainly used to strengthen the immune system. If you find yourself getting sick quite often, you might want to up your berry intake.

Each berry individually has great health benefits. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and help prevent urinary tract infections. They are also considered a super food and are known for their ability to improve circulation and increase the body's infection fighting capabilities.

Strawberries and raspberries contain a type of phenolic acid that may reduce the risk of cancer by preventing damage to cells caused by various air pollutants.

Melons

These are the best fruits to eat when you have had a long day in the sun. Along with a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, K, C, and B1 and the mineral niacin, melons contain a large amount of water. Eating these fruits along with drinking lots of water will help to fight dehydration during the hot, summer months.

Cantaloupe has an abundance of carotene, which helps your body make vitamin A, which is known to help fight cancer.

Red fleshed watermelons are richest in lycopene (currently being studied for anticancer properties) and yellow ones have the most beta-carotene.

Mangoes and Pineapples

Mangoes are not only delicious they are also rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. They are high in fiber but low in calories and sodium. Mangoes are also rich in vitamin A and have good amounts of vitamins B and C as well as Potassium, Calcium and Iron.

Pineapple actually contains an enzyme that has been used to help cardiovascular disease. This enzyme can also aid in digestion and reduce inflammation. So, next time you feel heart burn coming on, or if you have a history of heart or digestive problems, you might want to increase the amount of pineapple in your diet.

To keep fruit healthy and fresh longer, here are a few tips. First, look for locally grown fruit at the farmer's market or grocery store, it hasn't traveled hundreds of miles so it will have more disease fighting antioxidants. Second, wait to wash your fruit just before serving (this helps prevent mold growth). Third, buy and store fruit carefully.

For berries, remove the bruised or moldy berries and store the rest in the container they came in. Air circulates and helps prevent decay.

For watermelon, leave the whole watermelon on the counter for up to 5 days after you buy it, its lycopene and beta-carotene levels can increase by 179 percent during that time, according to a 2006 Journal of Food and Agriculture Chemistry Study. Cube and refrigerate leftovers in a covered container.

Leave uncut cantaloupe at room temperature for two to four days; the fruit will not become sweeter, but it will turn softer and juicier. If during that time the cantaloupe has not reached its peak ripeness, it was picked immature and will not be worth eating. Once ripened (or cut), cantaloupe should be refrigerated and used within about two days. Put cut pieces in a closed container.

If you are buying mango that you plan on eating right away, smell for a sweet, tropical ambrosial scent coming from the stem end. Give a light but firm squeeze. The flesh should have some give. If the mango is being bought for later use, it should be firmer fleshed with a tight skin and its colour may be a little dull. To ripen, it should be kept at room temperature open to the air for several days. The mango is ready to eat when the skin is brightly coloured, the flesh is soft and the aroma is sweet. Mangoes should not be refrigerated during the ripening process. Fully ripe mangoes can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

Fresh pineapple is quite perishable. It bruises easily in spite of its seemingly armored exterior, will ferment if kept at room temperature for too long. If storing at room temperature, use within two days. Storing at room temperature will increase the acidity level of the pineapple, but will not improve sweetness. You can extend the lifespan tby three to five days by refrigerating the whole pineapple in a perforated plastic bag. Once trimmed and cut, be sure the pineapple is covered in an airtight container, refrigerate and use within five to seven days. Let the fruit return to room temperature before eating to improve flavor.

Makes 8 Ice Pops
Vegan

Coconut milk and banana give these ice pops a creamy consistency without dairy or soy. Be sure to puree' the mixture until very smooth so ice pops don't contain crunchy bits that may be too icy for sensitive teeth.

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
1 large banana sliced
3/4 cup light coconut milk
1/4 - 1/2 cup agave nectar

Directions:

Puree all ingredients in blender 1 to 2 minutes, or until mixture is smooth. Ladle into ice pop molds, and freeze at least 4 hours. Run molds under warm water to unmold.

This smoothie recipe has something for everyone. See a fruit you don't like or don't have, then replace it with something you do have or do like.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Watermelon, Cut Up
1 Cup Cantaloupe Or Honeydew
1 Cup Pineapple, Cut Up
1 Cup Mango, Cut Up
1 Cup Strawberries, Halved
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar
1 Cup Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
Crushed Ice

Directions:

Mix all ingredients except ice. Fill blender container 1/2 full of mixture. Add crushed ice to fill to the top. Cover and blend on high speed until of a uniform consistency. Repeat with remaining mixture. Serve immediately. Garnish with fruit, if desired.

To learn more about the practitoners at Simple Balance click here.

Click here to go to the Calendar on our website. You can check out upcoming talks, classes and events.

Don't Miss the ....
Maynard Monster Road Race and Wellness Fest September 7, 2008 11 am - 3 pm.
Click here to find out more.

Simple Balance is coordinating the Wellness Fest. If you would like to participate in the Wellness Fest you can click here for the Participation Form.

A Complimentary Health History Consulation
A Complimentary Cleansing Information Session
A Free Pain Assessment