HOW DO I BEGIN?

“You begin by always expecting good things to happen.”
-- Tom Hopkins

It's not just in the 01/01 of the date, and it's not just in the preparation for having a new family member, and it's not just in the need to grow the Centre. It's all that TOO, of course! It's especially in the very moments when I open my eyes each day and realize that I'm back and have a brand-new opportunity to do something fabulous. A chance to fix something wrong, a chance to start something new, a chance to just BE and NOT do. Before getting out of bed, I expect something wonderful to happen and then I meditate for a while just to focus on myself and how I'm feeling. Usually something comes up, and, if I pay attention to it, it guides my day. And something wonderful, in one way or another, DOES happen. A surprise visit or phone call! A stolen kiss or hug in the middle of the day! A new idea or the energy to work on an old one! Right now, expect something wonderful to happen to you today.  At the end of the day, write and let me know what it is!

Speaking of wonderful things, we ended 2011 with great celebration. Our month-long Friday 5 à 9 Open House free presentations for our clients and the community was a great success. We met many new neighbors and we learned a lot while having lots of fun. We thank all of our clients and colleagues for a wonderful year of connecting and sharing.

To begin 2012, we're continuing with our most popular offerings. Libby's groups start soon, so don't miss out on the opportunity to get to know your wonderful self better. In some free presentations, Kit is going to show you how the body-mind Alexander technique can help you make some significant changes in your life, whether physical or mental/emotional. Sandra will continue to guide us in our February Exploring My Relationship With Food Retreat Weekend and get us ready for our Dextox Week in May. Also, Sheryl & Nancy are going to increase the number of Aroma Funshops to give you more opportunities to learn about how essential oils can enrich your life. Anne Marie is resuming her morning yoga classes this month; the groups are small so that you can get maximum attention.

And we have a great line-up of new activities that you have asked for. And we are all here to support you and share with you as you begin something new. Want to use more natural products in your life? Why not explore essential oils??! This month's hands-on workshop will show you how aromatherapy is so scent-sationally effective against winter colds; the proof is in the trying. Want to use clarify your direction for 2012? Why not explore using a vision board to do so??! It's an enjoyable way to clarify and realize your path. Want to be sure to keep some of the resolutions that you've already made? Why not let the Alexander Technique assist you??! Want to change something about how you're eating? Why not explore raw foods??! Purna has created four classes especially for us to let us know how healthy, simple, and fun eating more raw foods can be; the proof is in the tasting!

Speaking about food, if you would like to explore why you eat things that you know are not beneficial to your health, please join us for our very popular BHHC WEEKEND RETREAT: EXPLORING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD. This is an opportunity for you to start looking a some old habits in a new way. And you will see why we are known for our fabulous smoothies! This will probably be the last exploration weekend before we hold our detox weekend in May (More details about that coming!), so please sign up now.

What great opportunities for you to BEGIN 2012 on a healthier, more supported footing. We look forward to having you join us. And watch for the way in which we are going to celebrate the whole month of Love in February!

Have a Scent-Sational Month!
Sheryl Beller-Kenner, nd, EdD, CH, CAHP, RCRT
Director & Naturopath

ESSENTIAL AROMATHERAPY
Winter Cold Protection
Sheryl Beller-Kenner, Aromatherapist

Now's the time of year in Montreal in which we have to bundle up, from head to toe, in order to protect ourselves from the cold temperatures outside.  But no amount of clothing (short of wearing a face mask at all times) can protect us from the germs of a common cold. 

The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system and affects primarily the nose. The symptoms of a cold are caused by the body's immune responses to the virus; in other words, they are the body's way of getting rid of the invading virus. Symptoms, which are virus specific, may include cough, sore throat, runny or congested nose, fatigue, headache, and, rarely in adults, a fever. Cold viruses are contagious, typically transmitted by either airborne droplets or contact with infected nasal secretions or contaminated objects. If you do nothing, these symptoms usually last from 7 days to 3 weeks.

Essential oils from different plant families contain constituents that have proven antiviral properties specific for particular virus strains. In addition, essential oils can increase the efficiency of a body's immune response as well as alter infected cells in a way that can make them hostile to virus replication. 

As an aromatherapist, I see cold protection as a two-pronged approach. First, rid an environment of cold viruses by diffusing a blend of anitviral essential oils such as tea tree, juniper, eucalyptus, thyme, lavender, rosemary, clove, cinnamon bark, anise, lemongrass, and geranium. Second, increase your immune response by topical application of immunostimulant essential oils such as frankincense, bergamot, rosemary, and eucalyptus. Ideally, find a blend such as Montreal Thieves Blend, made and sold at the Centre, which contains both antivirals and immunostimulants.

For more information about using essential oils to protect you and your family this winter, sign up for our Aroma funshop: Using Aromatherapy To Protect Yourself Against Colds & Flu This Winter. Dr. Sheryl Beller-Kenner, certified aromatherapist, will teach you about the best techniques to use easily and safely; You will make your own blend to take home and use. [See sidebar]

All of the above-mentioned oils are available in the Centre and are on sale this month.

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
In The Stillness Of New Beginnings
Libby Parker, Psychosynthesis Wellness Counsellor

In the stillness of new beginnings, wishing you moments of arriving at your destination - every day.

In the stillness of new beginnings, often there is a pause before stepping into action; a pause which doesn’t always coincide with midnight, December 31st. While some of my desired changes have already begun, not all of my vision or hopes for the upcoming year have come into clarity. It seems that after the business of the holidays, I want to savour this passage into this new year, into this new beginning.

Today I awoke to a silent dark morning, and as I left my house in predawn light, I was overcome with the beauty of the air full of lightly falling cyrstal snow under the glow of the streetlights. The air was full of magic and as I drank this in, I realized that we are still in the season of retreat and incubation; we are still in the midst of quietness and stillness. I reminded myself, slow down and look at nature, there is still time to awaken to the next stage of your life. This is the cycle of beauty us northerners are blessed with; vivid, vibrant, sensual landmarks for our soul; we know in this cold, down to our bones, that nature is in stillness, we also remember in our bones, that the awakening will soon be upon us.

I was also struck this morning with the realization that in this stillness, I had arrived at my destination. Whatever goals I have created (or will create) for myself for the future will be intended to bring me more fully into moments like this; moments when, slowed down to the rhythm of nature, I arrive at my destination; a fully lived present moment.

As we all embark upon the new year, this time of new beginnings, my personal lesson has been this; moments of stillness are just (even more?) important than moments of moving forward. We are travelling to reach our goals, our destinations, but where do we want to arrive? I suggest that we want to arrive home; a place within us where we can embrace our selves, our lives just as they are now.

Wishing you a Happy New Year, with moments of arriving at your destination today and every day.

MINDFUL MOVEMENT
Healthy Eating, Changing Habits
and the Alexander Technique
Kit Racette, Alexander Teacher
& Body-Centred Psychotherapist

It is 4 in the afternoon, the time of day when I am “hungry”, at least that is the name I give to the feeling I have. For years I have dealt with excess weight. I have tried all sorts of remedies from replacement meals to body wraps to programs that require me to write down what I eat and have it vetted by some one else. Finally this past year I took another look at the symptom – being over weight and rather than dealing with the symptom I looked for the cause.

So as I say, it is 4 in the afternoon and I am “hungry”. My normal procedure is to eradicate the feeling as fast as possible by opening the nearest cupboard or the refrigerator and taking out the first thing that comes to my attention. Habitually this involves cheese, bread, crackers, chips, cookies, a cup of tea with milk and sugar and getting it inside me as fast as I can and eating until the feeling has gone away. Frequently having pushed away this feeling of “hunger” I was overwhelmed with a new feeling of being bloated, heavy, tired and listless but in the rush to get rid of “hunger” I had no memory of the consequences...

I am a mindfulness teacher and an Alexander Technique teacher. Dealing with habit is at the heart of the Alexander Technique. Mindfulness is about paying conscious attention in the present. Both involve stopping, pausing and noticing what is going on. I can talk the talk but I realised last August that I wasn’t walking the walk when it came to my own eating habits. I was not pausing and listening to my body tell me if I was hungry or tired or bored. I was certainly not aware of making choices that my body liked in terms of food. On making changes to my diet it seemed clear to me that the Alexander Technique was an extremely useful skill to have up my sleeve to help me change these habits too. The ability to pause, think through the available options to make an informed, conscious choice, and follow through on the steps needed to make the changes was completely applicable and invaluable to me as I addressed my eating habits.

Since August, I have learnt to have appropriate choices ready for that 4pm rush. I have significantly reduced my intake of sugar, bread and dairy products and I eat loads more fruit and vegetables and drink more water. I have lost weight and I feel better, have more energy and am generally happier.

Life goes on, and I am still learning and forming new habits – but if I need or want to change one, I can rely on the Alexander Technique to help me see it through.

Do you have habits you want to change? What do you struggle with? I am in the habit business so give me a call.

VITAL NUTRITION
Peaceful Beginnings…
Sandra Power, RHN, NNCP, Holistic Nutritional Consultant

This year I have decided to fully embrace the concept of New Year’s resolutions but without all the usual stress or fear of failure. In the last few months I have come to understand that what I am ultimately working towards – what I ultimately desire - is peace: Peace in my home, peace in my relationships, peace in the world, etc. So, to that end, the New Year’s resolutions I have chosen for myself are all undertaken with that end goal in sight. I will exercise more and eat well because it will offer me peace in my body; I will meditate daily because it will offer me peace of mind; I will work hard because it will offer me peace financially and I will step out of my comfort zone a bit more often because, in doing so, I might just inspire others to seek out their heart’s ultimate desire. This year I plan to cherish every precious moment and will try to focus on the journey instead of the destination.

The beginning of each New Year is such a great time to reflect on all that you accomplished in the previous year and think about what you’d like to do differently going forward. If you haven’t done so already, why not set aside some time this weekend to really think about your goals for 2012? Write them down, come up with a realistic plan and get started!

If improving your health is on your list for 2012, I encourage you to put away the diet books. The dieting industry is the only industry in the world that thrives on its failures! Instead I encourage you to be one thing only: Kind to your self and your body.

• Drink more water. One of the easiest things you can do to begin losing weight by flushing out all the excess toxins.
• Make better food choices from a place of love instead of guilt. Ask yourself: Is this helping my body or hindering my body?
• Calm your mind and body: Take 10 minutes each day to meditate.
• Get fresh air: We spend too much time cooped up inside, especially during the winter. Take a walk at lunchtime or put on some snow pants and go outside and make snow angels!
• Enjoy the wonderful life you’re already living. Laugh like children do: uncontrollably and from your belly.
• Ask for help: As a holistic nutritional consultant, I can design a complete nutrition plan based on your priorities and needs. You can’t change everything overnight so we can work together to set priorities, go for some quick wins to keep you motivated and work on some long-term plans that will leave you feeling healthier and happier for years to come. Also, BelArôme will be hosting its next ‘Exploring your Relationship with Food’ event on February 4th and 5th. Why not join us?
• Identify and eliminate any unhealthy beliefs you have about food and your relationship with it. If you turn to food to satisfy emotions instead of hunger, we need to talk! For more info about the Mind Detox Method, please visit: http://www.natural-nutrition.ca/mind-detox-services--fees.html.

I know that beginning something new can sometimes be quite daunting, and so I thought I’d finish by sharing with you a very short (only 3 minutes!) video clip on You Tube. It’s a talk given by Matt Cutts entitled Try Something New for 30 Days: http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html

YOGA & YOU
Renewal
Annemarie Delaney

Can you feel renewal in the bleak midwinter? You can connect to moving toward the light as the days get longer after the solstice. You can experience renewal by connecting to your inner light and inner compassion for 10 to 15 minutes a day by meditating on your own, or by integrating meditation into your yoga practice.

Out of silent subtle mystery
Emerge images.
These images coalesce into forms.
Within each form is contained a seed and essence of life.
Thus do all things emerge and expand out of darkness and emptiness.
--From the Tao te Ching

RAW COOKIN'
One Step At A Time…
Purna Bhattacharya

Hi everyone! I'm a Raw Vegan, and this month, I will be running a month-long series at BelArome about how to stay on a raw vegan diet during winter. Believe it or not, it IS possible to warm up raw foods! Each week, a new topic will be explored, and I would love to see your faces light up in the first class when you learn how easy it can be to not only make and eat deliciously nutritious raw foods but to make them warm. The second and third classes in the series will draw back to information mentioned in the first class, so it is highly recommended you attend the first class in order to get all the juicy details! Of course, you won't want to miss the last class on February 9th, 2012. This special Valentine's Day class includes tons of fast, easy and mouth-wateringly, sinful-tasting recipes that include many ingredients which are known to be strong aphrodisiacs.

So come join us on the beachfront this Winter and get cozy by the water with your favorite tropical smoothie in hand!

In the meantime, here is a nutrient-dense and absolutely yummy holiday granola cereal to enjoy on a cold, Canadian morning:

RAWk'n Around the Christmas Granola Tree

Ingredients:

• 1 bartlett pear
• Hemp seed milk (or any nut/seed milk)
• 2 TB dried goji berries
• 1/3 cup raw sprouted buckwheat groats (non-sprouted is fine, but less nutritious)
• 2 TB sunflower seeds
• 1 tsp hemp seeds
• 1 – 2 TB agave (or honey, not vegan)
• ½ - 1 tsp ground cinnamon (as desired)

Directions:

• Chop the pear into small pieces.
• Put all the ingredients (except the pear and nut/seed milk) in a special bowl. Mix until it is a little sticky.
• Taste it and add more agave and cinnamon if desired.
• When the desired taste has been achieved, add hemp milk (or any nut/seed milk).
• Place a cute spoon in the bowl.
• Sit by the window and watch Mother Nature at its best during the holidays while you munch away in delight.

I wish you all a calm, beautiful and vibrant year in 2012!

Another Weekend, Added By Popular Demand!

BHHC WEEKEND RETREAT:
EXPLORING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD
Sat, Feb 4, 2012& Sun, Feb 5, 2012 9AM-6PM

Join us to find out why diets don't work and what can!

Before you choose to go on one diet or another again, whether to lose weight or to change your eating habits or to improve your digestion, join us for two full days of looking at our food choices as a reflection of how we choose to live our lives. Before setting your next food goal, explore your relationship with food and expand your awareness of how you nourish your body - as well your mind and soul. Do you use food to meet a deeper need than hunger for nutrition? Do you feel that your mind and body are disconnected when it comes to eating? 2 Days! 10 Meals! 6 Practitioners! 6 Workshops! Food Preparation on the spot! Journaling! Body Movement! Meditation! Support! Connection! If you would like to join us as we learn to look at food with a renewed vision, please sign up now; registration closes Nov. 17th and seats are limited.