Dear Monique,

Will Reiki or Reflexology help my growing insomnia? I am looking for some natural ways to help me sleep and would like to know if you can help.

Please write back soon,

Name Withheld

Thanks so much for writing.

To put it simply, I have seen positive changes in sleep patterns following both Reiki and Reflexology sessions. This is because these two modalities tap into the relaxation response in our bodies known as the rest and digest or Parasympathetic Nervous Response. When this response is activated in our bodies, we move towards our internal healing processes that bring us closer and closer to a balanced state of wellness. I have seen amazing results after just one session and have a few clients who see me specifically to keep their sleep cycle on track.

That being said, when you come to see me, there are going to be a few things that I am going to want to get to the bottom of. Here are a couple of the questions I would typically ask before we would get started on your session and why I would ask them:

Have you seen your family MD, a Naturopath, TCM(Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurvedic Doctor about this?

Missing a few hours of sleep a night can add up quickly reducing brain, motor and immune function. This isn’t something you want to mess with. If you haven’t seen a doctor about this yet, I will recommend you meet with the Doctor of your choosing sooner than later. It is wise to let them know you are already pursuing Reiki/ Reflexology* as a natural means of tackling this problem. They will take this knowledge and expand upon your sleep regime, based on their expertise.

*A growing number of doctors and specialists are beginning to understand the value of Complementary Care Services, as they witness them in action and as they look into studies which outline the complementary benefits of these gentle and natural modalities

Do you drink Alcohol?

This is a trigger that becomes more obvious the older we get. Even if you only have a glass a night, cut it out for a few weeks, you may notice your sleep pattern changing within a few days and you can spend the rest of those few weeks catching up on sleep. If you notice this is a major cause of your current sleep issues, you may want to re-evaluate your glass a day routine. Speak with your MD, ND or Nutritionist for alternatives if your once a day regime is in place for the much talked about benefits of moderate drinking (1 serving a day of wine)

How stressed are you?

Stress can greatly affect our sleep since the stress response triggers the Sympathetic Nervous Response aka fright and flight. It is important if you are suffering extreme stress that you visit your doctor for a physical and work to incorporate as many types of relaxation into your life as you have time for. Beyond the treatment you will receive from me, you will get some take home thoughts on how you might actively pursue reducing the stress levels in your life.

Are you on any medications?

Medications can be very helpful for some of the health issues you are dealing with, but the can reek havoc on sleep among other facets of your life. Having this conversation IS NOT about denying your doctors recommended prescription. It is about having a full understanding regarding where you are at the moment, and dealing with your sleep issues accordingly.

Of course, the conversation will go beyond these 3 questions, reflecting what you are personally dealing with.  I will recommend the treatment (Reiki, Reflexology or R&R) that I feel you will find the best fit for your current situation and we will move forward, ensuring you are building not only a deeper nightly sleep, but a growing understanding of your body, it’s potential power and/or limitations.

I look forward to facilitating your journey towards a better night sleep and better body awareness.

-Monique

monique@key2calm.com

(Book for an R&R treatment & we can discuss how your personal session will use either modality when you arrive)

Sleep. Who doesn’t love it?

To curl up under warm covers and doze off into a dream filled wonderland of fantastical dreams and deep moments of perfect slumber. Ahhhhhhh!

Beyond the pure pleasure of sleep, there are many things about this bliss filled state that make it essential. While the power of sleep is something that we rarely think about, the effects it has within our body, mind and soul are something worth taking note of.

Here is why treating yourself to an early bedtime, is more than just heavenly:

Sleep engages your Parasympathetic Nervous Response (better know as your Rest & Digest response)*. When we activate this response during sleep, our body starts a process of repair within all body systems from the wear and tear of the stresses of the day. Adequate sleep allows for the recovery time required from our daily stresses.

When we do not adequately maintain body balance, our body systems can not adequately reduce swelling, repair damage to our cellular structure, allows for balance of hormonal flow, and subsequent bolstering of our immune system.

*This response is the opposite reaction to fright and flight (sympathetic response) when your adrenals are secreting adrenaline and you are on high alert

Scientific investigation has linked the following problems, in part, with a lack of sleep:

Getting worn down can lead to an increase in colds and flus

Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to cardiovascular inflammation which can potentially lead to heart attacks, stoke and diabetes.

Reduction in brain function, memory retention, mental health and stable motor function.

Weight gain due to the fact that your body is not getting the required time to deal with excess stress factors

The great news?

By connecting with chosen members of your Dream Team*  you can move from a place of insomnia, or regular sleep deprivation to a place of more balanced and deeper healthy sleep patterns. Practical advice and tools provided by your team can begin to reverse many of the symptoms and side effects of lack of sleep within the first few days of restored sleep.

*Doctors (Family MDs, Naturopath, Ayervetic and TCM Doctors), Massage and Energy Therapists (including Reiki, Reflexology, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch and more) all have natural ways of helping you restore sleep balance.

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Stay Tuned.  Next Monday I explore another Burning Question. This one is all about Insomnia. – Monique

Do you ever remember wondering why you were yawning when that big wide mouthed sensation last grabbed you? Most of us think it must mean we are bored, tired, or both. But as we wake from our long winter’s slumber, I think that it is a fine time to get to the bottom of this oh so catchy thing we call yawning.

Now, interest in this topic is nothing new. For centuries, the yawn has been a focus of attention and fascination. While many theories have been explored including Hippocrates theory that the yawn was a way for the body to expel toxins after an illness, here are a couple of the most favored theories of our time:

Bored to Tears

It’s true, when it comes to yawning, most of us do think it has to do with being bored and when bored we often yawn until tears seep out of the corners of our eyes. While boredom is a popular theory, it doesn’t explain why animals yawn, prenatal babies yawn or athletes yawn before a competition.

Just Cool it!

This newer theory on cool suggests that that big dose of air you are inhaling is acting as a cooling agent for your brain.  A cooler brain according to the researchers equals a clearer thinking brain. Perhaps this is why we call irrational people hot heads. If they’d only yawn, they’d think a lot more clearly… and rationally?

Tag, You’re It

Yawning is irrefutably contagious. Right? Some of the latest research is noting that mirroring a yawn may actually be linked to empathy and those who lack empathy, like autistic children, also lack the knee jerk reaction of mirroring a yawn.

The mysterious lure of the yawn is something I am sure that will continue to fascinate scientists and create interesting scientific examination for many centuries to come. I for one would still like to know definitively why all vertebrates (including fish) yawn, why dogs find yawning contagious and why while reading this article you found yourself yawning?

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Remember, April Blogs are explaining aspects of our winter slumber. Next up…

What a Snore! Everything you need to know about snoring, including ways to have a quieter night. (Shhhh)

Welcome to Spring.

Not only did it become official at the end of last month… With the amount of bulbs pushing their heads up to the surface and growing number of days above freezing the outlook can be nothing but Spring-tastic. This month in celebration of waking from our winter slumber, we will explore a variety of sleep inspired blog posts. Be sure to join me for this and more as we roll into Spring with a well rested smile on our faces. Enjoy.

Monique

1st April ’13

Monday Blog: Why do we Yawn?
Find out plenty of Yawning facts in this blog that is anything but a yawn.

Don’t let yourself get fooled… stay alert, stay in bed or keep a good sense of humor… until noon when the shenanigans come to a close.

Also, Happy Easter Monday to those who celebrate it.

6:30-8:30pm,  2nd April ’13

Final Healing Journey Level 2 Class (8/8)

9am-10:30am, 6, 13,20,27th April

Monique is participating in a 7 week EFT Class.

11am-12:30pm,  April 11th

Cervical Cancer Support Group Meeting @ Wellspring

This is the inaugural meeting for this group. If you know of anyone who has had, or is currently dealing with, a diagnosis of Cervical Cancer then please refer them to Wellspring to become members and attend this support group that will be headed by myself and the wonderful Linda Hack.

15th April ’13

The HUB: Ki-Stone’s Free In-box Newsletter is delivered today. Don’t miss out on the latest news, Subscribe Now!

6:30-8pm; 16th, 23rd, 3oth of April

3 of 4 Healing Journey Level 1 Classes commence. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow experientially along your own journey in life and healing. Recommended for all persons going through the Cancer Journey and their Caregivers. Open to Wellspring Calgary Members. (Membership is free, Call Wellspring Calgary to Join: 403-521-5292) Facilitator: Monique DeNault, Co-Facilitator: Barbara E,

10am-11:30am; 17th, 24th of April

2 of 4 Healing Journey Level 1 Classes commence. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow experientially along your own journey in life and healing. Recommended for all persons going through the Cancer Journey and their Caregivers. Open to Wellspring Calgary Members. (Membership is free, Call Wellspring Calgary to Join: 403-521-5292) Facilitator: Monique DeNault

 1pm-4pm, 19th & 26th April

Monique is participating in a two week BloomScript Workshop on Business Process.

22nd April ’13

Monday Blog: The Power of a Good Night’s Sleep
Find out all the good reasons you have to call it a night sooner than later.

29th April ’13

Monday Blog: Burning Question.

Time again for this month’s burning question

Dear Monique,

I recently heard about Reiki from a friend and she told me I should book a session with you. I am rather skeptical, but trust my friend. Before I book a session, can you tell me if I have to believe in Reiki for it to work?

Name Withheld

Thank you so much for moving through your skepticism enough to write me. I trust that the following will answer your question.

Your belief does control the outcome of any situation, but not like you might think.

Let me explain…

The issue of belief is not about the therapy or modality, it stems from a persons core belief in their ability to be well at all. If a person strongly believes they are doomed to be ill and/or they somehow deserve a negative outcome in life, then all the pills, therapy and sound medical advise in the world will not help that person. If the person is open to the possibility of healing* and being well, then their brain and body are going to take a positive approach and strive for health & balance. There has been a lot of research done into the power of positive thinking, the placebo affect and the scientific belief that the brain has the ability to wire itself to work in relation to what a person thinks. All of this research points to the same conclusion, that when we give ourselves permission to heal and be well, then our brains & bodies utilize therapies we give it, be they alternative or western and get the job done.

Note: When expecting healing from any practice, environmental factors, plus the severity and historical longevity of an illness need to be taken into account. Also, the saying “The best of both worlds” should always come into play when it comes to your health and well being. A person should seek the “best” means of healing from both Western Medicine and Complimentary Therapies to restore their health. The “Best” is a personal choice based on knowing the options available to you.

and I will look forward to continuing the conversation in person at the time of your session.

Wishing you well,

Monique

ps. For more on this topic please refer to the Oct. ’09 Blog:

This is Your Brain on R&R  for more information and links to articles.

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Don’t forget, we deliver a new blog every Monday.

Until then, be sure to sign up to receive Ki-Stone’s in-box newsletter The HUB

Can you learn to love Mondays? By gaining mastery over the potential pitfalls, I believe we can.  Learning how to Master Monday is 90% in the preparation and the rest is simply follow through. Take the dread out of your head by following these simple steps to creating better Mondays…

Friday Wrap Up

Spend the last half hour of your Friday work week focused on making Monday a snap.  Create a W5 list:

Who: You need to connect with the following week

What: Goals you want and need to meet

Where: You are at and where you plan to go

When: Deadlines and details

Why: Write yourself a mission statement. Inspiration and drive for a successful week ahead

Sunday Prep

Just by limiting a few hours of your sleep on Sunday morning, you can ease fatigue the rest of the week by:

►Grocery shopping & prepping for a week of healthful breakfasts on the run, energizing brown bag lunches and simply delicious dinners.

►Doing your major house clean so that you only have to take on half hour touch up/ clean ups through-out the week

►Prep a weeks worth of work clothes so that you can eliminate that early morning panic for something to wear

Monday Magic

Start each week of right by:

►Set the alarm 10 minutes earlier than normal and get a few stretches in before you hit the showers. You’ll feel amazing for it.

►Follow through using that Friday W5 list to kick-start your Monday brain and get you rolling on track.

►Get out for at least a half hour walk at lunch to both clear your head and help oxygenate your body!

Enjoy the changes you will notice in your life when you start looking at Monday’s differently.  After all, if you focus on doing the prep work right, you may just fall in love with the results.

Have a great Monday, every Monday.

Cheers.

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Remember, every Monday Ki-Stone delivers self-care gold in the form of a weekly self-care focused blog. Keep tuning in to make every aspect of your self the best it can be.

Are you mindful of your grumblings? You know, those moments that make you crinkle more than your nose at a happening or others.

When you are crinkling (and yes, that is a technical term), it is likely that you are being very rigid in your convictions.  Certain that what you are thinking, doing and perceiving is above that of another. Perhaps these moments would be less rigid if we were more mindful that things, quite often, are not as they appear.

This week I would love to share with you a little poem by Valerie Cox that illustrates this point perfectly.  Enjoy.

“A woman was waiting at an airport one night,

With several long hours before her flight.

She hunted for a book in the airport shops.

Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see,

That the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be.

Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between,

Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock,

As the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock.

She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,

Thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.”

With each cookie she took, he took one too,

When only one was left, she wondered what he would do.

With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh,

He took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other,

She snatched it from him and thought… oooh, brother.

This guy has some nerve and he’s also rude,

Why he didn’t even show any gratitude!

She had never known when she had been so galled,

And sighed with relief when her flight was called.

She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate,

Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat,

Then she sought her book, which was almost complete.

As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise,

There was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned in despair,

The others were his, and he tried to share.

Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,

That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.”

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“There is no truth, there is only perception” – Gustave Flaubert

Perception is everything.
Our perception of people, places and every little thing, quite literally creates what we think of as “Reality”. It’s not often that we put our perception into perspective which is why sometimes, our perception of things make all the difference in turning Mondays and March into complete madness. If you are someone who finds you have a negative view on March & Mondays, here is a handy little list of things to ask yourself:

What am I perceiving?

Being aware of how you are perceiving the world around you is often the first step. If you stop and become aware, especially when your day seems to be heading south, often you can identify how your view of your current surroundings are shaping the moment.

Do I have control over it?

For things like the weather and other people, you really don’t, so let it go. Of course you are allowed to get angry or frustrated, just don’t get stuck there. Give yourself 5 minutes for the ultimate pity party, or call a friend for a 5 minute rant and then move onto something you can actually create the outcome of.

How much do I want it?

Sometimes we complain about things that we can change without making the effort to make the change required. If you have the power to take control of an outcome, JUST DO IT! When you change an outcome, it will change your perception of the overall situation.

Focus on the things you can control, so that you can literally create the Monday or March that you want to experience. Sure, perhaps not everything is going to turn out the way you might like. But when you are looking at the situation through the eyes of a creator, your focus is on a positive approach and the things you can positively influence to make your future shine.

* Please note that “This” refers to whatever is bothering you in the moment

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Remember there is always more. Visit Ki-Stone every Monday for a new blog post featuring ways you can improve your self and how you perceive your world.

In many parts of Canada, March is such an interesting month. Not really spring and not really winter, March for many feels like a month of Mondays. Inconsistent weather creates an unpredictable and icy exterior that leaves many feeling hemmed in, unable to enjoy the outdoors and fresh air as they normally would. While the minor shift of Daylight Savings can have major effects on those suffering from depression.  In tune with this month overall Monday theme, Ki-Stone’s Monday blogs will give you nourishing ways to turn your Monday frown upside down. Enjoy a better March and join me weekly for all you can do, to look at Mondays (and March) in a whole new way.

Cheers,     

Monique

4 March ’13

Monday Blog: Mind over Monday

6:30pm-8:30pm; 5, 12, 19, 26 March ’13

Tuesday evenings classes 4 through 7 of 8 Healing Journey Level 2 Classes. Monique is co-facilitating this Core Wellspring Program for members of Wellspring.

8 March ’13

International Woman’s Day

10 March ’13

Daylight Savings: Be sure to “Spring” Ahead an hour before you turn out the lights on the evening of the 9th.

11 March ’13

Monday Blog: Mindful of Mondays

15 March ’13

The HUB arrives in In-boxes everywhere.

Not yet receiving Ki-Stone’s HUB of Self-Care & Ki-Stone News? Subscribe here… It’s Free

17 March ’13

St Patrick’s Day

If you are driving don’t drink, and if you are drinking don’t drive

18 March ’13

Monday Blog: Monday Mastery

20 March ’13

Spring Equinox… Yay! Spring is finally Sprung-ing

25 March ’13

Monday Blog: This Month’s Burning Question.

29 March ’13

Good Friday and a Statutory Holiday for all of Alberta and most of Canada (except Que.)

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Remember, Ki-Stone is ALL ABOUT YOU!  Helping you build a foundational self-care routine that will ultimately (& Simply) lead you to finding your Key to Calm.

Welcome to Ki-Stone’s Monthly Burning Question, where I answer real questions asked by real clients and blog readers. This Burning Question Blog spot was created to share a greater understanding of Self-care and the modalities of Reiki & Reflexology.  Enjoy.

Hello,

I just had a few questions I have never had reflexology done before but I am currently 40 weeks pregnant and people have told me this is the best way other then massage to help get things going.  I am scheduled to be induced next week so my question is can this help me?

Thanks

J.

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Hi J.,
Thank you for writing. The short of it is that Reflexology is very helpful during a pregnancy. It assists in dealing with the nausea of early pregnancy right down to eventual easing of child birthing. With only a week to go, I am guessing that only a single session would be managed before you are induced. Reflexology like most other complimentary practices is helpful in the moment to ease pain and swelling, but it is also cumulative. What I mean by this is that the sooner into your pregnancy that you start enjoying regular sessions, the deeper and more profound the assistance is that Reflexology can offer your body and baby’s transition into this world.
If you are asking if Reflexology will somehow naturally induce childbirth, it will not. The technique’s used are about easing discomfort, tension and swelling, to ease the unpleasant side effects of pregnancy and ease childbirth.
Please note that choosing to continue the use of Reflexology into your new motherhood, you will find that Reflexology assists in the speed of your birthing recovery and will assist your body in reaching balance in all aspects of body, mind & spirit including stress reduction. These are just a few of the benefits of receiving regular Reflexology sessions.
If you are interested in a session to see for yourself how this therapy works, I have a massage bed that allows for an adjustable reclined seated position. This and supportive pillows will ensure that you are resting in comfort for the duration of your session.
If you have any further questions, please write as I would love to continue this conversation with you.

Until then,
Good Health to you in these last few days of your final term.

Monique

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Remember! Each Monday, Ki-Stone Explores another way to improve your well-being through Self-Care. For even more on self-care tips and news, be sure to subscribe to our free monthly Self-Care Newsletter called The HUB. As a gift, you will receive a free copy of Ki-Stone’s Article and Checklist about how you can create your very own Dream Team today.  Subscribe Now!