What is the Clean Program?

Ok. You guys know how into health I am. My friend and chiropractor-in-training Ariel Provasoli introduced me to The Clean Program. Here's a little intro video:

Hoping that all of you begin to rethink some, if not all, of your food choices. I have. It has made a world of difference!

To better living,

+Erika

Bigger Soft Drinks? Really?!

On my way home yesterday, I saw a couple of ads for soft drinks offering more for the same amount of money. I cringed. It's usually underprivileged families and young students who buy this stuff. It was 1.25 liters for $0.99 or 20oz for the same price. They are addictive, have no nutritional value, and they are horrible for your health! Remember, You Are What You Eat...

Want a few reasons why colas are unsafe? (Full Article: Soft drinks: Unsafe Beverages)
The carbonation in all soft drinks causes calcium loss in the bones through a three-stage process:

1. The carbonation irritates the stomach.
2. The stomach "cures" the irritation the only way it knows how. It adds the only antacid at its disposal: calcium. It gets this from the blood.
3. The blood, now low on calcium, replenishes its supply from the bones. If it did not do this, muscular and brain function would be severely impaired.

This substance also causes a drawdown on the store of calcium. So, soft drinks soften your bones (actually, they make them weak and brittle) in three ways: 

1. Carbonation reduces the calcium in the bones.
2. Phosphoric acid reduces the calcium in the bones.
3. The beverage replaces a calcium-containing alternative, such as milk or water. Milk and water are not excellent calcium sources, but they are sources.

And now you know why bone damage formerly apparent only in the very old is now showing up in teenagers.

The picture gets worse when you add sugar to the soft drink. The sugar, dissolved in liquid, is quickly carried to the bloodstream, where its presence in overload quantities signals the pancreas to go into overdrive. Diet ones are even worse. Those artificial sweeteners are detrimental.
 
Next time your are considering indulging in some soda pop, think. Maybe some iced tea or lemonade would be a better option. Informed decisions, especially about your health, will reap nothing but goodness. Besides, nothing beats good ole, life-giving and life-supporting H2O. Water rules!
 
Here's to staying refreshed and hydrated properly,
+Erika

 

Natural Health

I have been noticing lately how my focus is mostly on the physical body. Don't get me wrong, my fascination with the spirit, mental, and emotional side of our selves is very strong. However, I am finding that the body is the one part that gets very neglected. Either lack of information, or lack of motivation, leaves us in a state of imbalance and at the hands of doctors who do little but prescribe mindlessly.

The more I learn, the more that I realize that the body is one of the easiest things to correct and "make healthy". My approach is one of natural, holistic, organic eating, herbal therapy, vitamin & mineral supplementation, mindful exercise, and energy healing.  The thing is: the body can affect our spirit, our mind, and our emotions. It is our vessel throughout life!

Since I began my Pilates instructor training, I have been more consistent with my workouts, and have noticed an incredible positive difference in my mood. That combined with more nutrition education, convinced me that the body is an incredible powerhouse! What a beautiful physical gift to have. It's design is perfect.

Although we are not given a manual on how to effectively take care of it, to be happy, healthy, and free of disease is possible.

From now on, I'll begin to focus more on this area as a educator and coach. I'm really looking forward helping people transform and improve their well being.


Love yourselves. Love the body that you are in.


You have no idea how blessed you are! (And if you do, stay in gratitude!)

Many Blessings,
+Erika

You Are What You Eat

Heart Disease. Diabetes. Cancer. Obesity. These and many other common ailments are easily prevented with a change in diet. The problem is that people don't know how to eat, how to cook, or read labels. We are suffering from epidemics because of our fast-paced, convenience-driven consumer society. Can you imagine a life without pain or illness?

Here's a video with great information on Raw Living Foods from Chef Matthew Kenney:

Our health is our biggest asset! We need to educate ourselves and take charge of our well being. We have been incorrectly informed by mass media and advertisements for far too long. You know what's right for you. There's no "One Fits All" diet, recipe or prescription, but eating living food reaps nothing but benefits. Enjoying more fresh, raw fruits and vegetables will immediately create positive results.

Get in touch with your body and learn to listen to it. A long, healthy life will be your reward!

Thrive!
+Erika

________________________________________________________
Erika Matos is a transformational agent, a certified health and nutrition educator, intuitive healer, and life coach helping people shift in the right direction by critically rethinking everything assumed to be true about what it means to be a happy, healthy, prosperous being. To learn more about her work visit http://www.realitymanifest.com

Are You Focusing on the Clock?

Clock time is a social construction. While we oblige by it, we must also find time to disconnect from it.  I want to share in this post some very useful insight from Eckhart Tolle:

The elimination of time from your consciousness is the elimination of ego. It is the only true spiritual practice. Here are three exercises to help you move in this direction:


Step out of the time dimension as much as possible in everyday life. Become friendly toward the present moment. Make it your practice to withdraw attention from past and future whenever they are not needed.


Be present as the watcher of your mind—of your thoughts and emotions as well as your reactions in various situations. Be at least as interested in your reactions as in the situation or person that causes you to react.


Use your senses fully. Be where you are. Look around. Just look, don't interpret. Be aware of the silent presence of each thing. Be aware of the space that allows everything to be. Listen to the sounds; don't judge them. Listen to the silence beneath the sounds. Touch something—anything—and feel and acknowledge its Being. Allow the "isness" of all things. Move deeply into the Now.

– Eckhart Tolle

It is true that time will pass, and that there will be many things around us to remind us of just that.  In your daily hustle, make sure that you slow down from time to time to enjoy the flowers along the path.  Rushing all the time depletes us of essential life force, making us inefficient and clumsy. Take a few moments to connect with your breath: five consecutive breaths will oxygenate your body and begin to release tension.

Life is passing us by. Are you enjoying every moment as much as possible?

I Am, as are you...

+Erika

________________________________________________________
Erika Matos is a transformational agent, a certified health and nutrition educator, intuitive healer, and life coach helping people shift in the right direction by critically rethinking everything assumed to be true about what it means to be a happy, healthy, prosperous being. To learn more about her work visit http://www.realitymanifest.com

Pilates Training!

In four days I begin my Pilates instructor certification! Thrilled and scared at the same time. While I had years of classical dance training in the past, I have never taught movement. It's new territory, but I'm excited to finally do it. I had been considering it for about a year now, and the moment has now arrived.

Here's why I love this so much:
Pilates' Six principles are: concentration, control, center, flow/efficiency of movement, precision and breathing.

It's a very simple method that really strengthens your core, increases flexibility and gives you really good sense of control of your body, instead of just being at its mercy! One can gain coordination in the legs, abdominals, arms and back, in addition to strength and endurance. Each time you exercise, you have to concentrate on what you´re doing and focus your entire body on the correct movements in order to reap all the awesome benefits. Much like yoga, the most important thing is to breathe. The discipline learned can definitely be applied to all other areas of life.

Pilates has been very helpful for me. I suffered a few lower back injuries, and this was the best therapy I received. My goal is to be as prepared to serve my clients as possible, as well as keep myself balanced and focused. To keep growing and learning...


Our bodies are the temples that will support us through our entire journey.  Let's shower them with love, proper care and maintenance.

+Erika

_______________________________________________________
Erika Matos is a transformational agent, a certified health and nutrition educator, intuitive healer, and life coach helping people shift in the right direction by critically rethinking everything assumed to be true about what it means to be a happy, healthy, prosperous being. To learn more about her work visit http://www.realitymanifest.com