A PLACE FOR

All Things Integrative Health

June 3, 2023

FENG SHUI TO UPLIFT YOUR SPACE

Like the question of which came first; the chicken or the egg, understanding the link between external and mental or emotional environments is dynamic. One inevitably influences the other. Keeping up a clean living space is shown to promote calmness and a sense of control over day-to-day life. While your space doesn’t need to be immaculate, clutter has been found to contribute to depression, trouble focusing, confusion, and stress (Mental Health America, 2023). Anything that distracts you from the life you want to be living can be faced with compassion, and modifications can be made with intention.

A supportive environment can create feelings of relief from distraction and disruption while supporting energy, flow, mental health, and clarity. Learning the skills and benefits of creating harmonious and supportive external spaces is a great resource for overall life satisfaction, health, and well-being.

When making any changes, it’s helpful to have a strategy or framework to work with. Feng Shui, meaning wind and water, is the coveted Chinese art of space optimization, creating harmony between a person and their environment. It is a technique that relies on making physical adjustments to support changes one wants to manifest into their physical, mental, and emotional reality. For example, if you want to call in love, Feng Shui has recommendations for that. And if you want to bring more feelings of love into your existing relationship, Feng Shui can help with that, too.

Feng Shui offers a bridge between inner and outer states. People who practice Feng Shui principles can experience a reset of their internal and environmental spaces, building confidence and self-trust through intuition-building exercises of self-care and cultivating uplifting environments with intention.

Here are a few Feng Shui practices that are most always relevant and helpful:

  1. Keep your space tidy and clear of clutter—this includes closets, cabinets, and under the bed.

  2. Make sure you are facing or able to see the door from your bed, stove, and desk—this is called Command Position and creates a sense of security and welcomes opportunity.

  3. Welcome fresh air into your home daily by opening a window or your door with intention to clear stagnant energy and create more chi (energy) flow.

Feng Shui is helpful for support in the areas of health, career, family, finances, relationships, and other personal goals. As a Feng Shui practitioner and coach, I meet with clients virtually to understand their goals and struggles. With a blueprint or sketch of their home or office space, clients receive support and actionable suggestions for remedies, resources, and adjustments in support of achieving goals and enhancing overall well-being. You can find out more about my offerings and background on my website https://caseyhagermanhealth.com.

If you are ready to dive into Feng Shui and learn supportive practices, I am co-facilitating a 90-minute Feng Shui for Health class on June 8th, 2023!

I will be teaching alongside my Feng Shui teacher and mentor Cindy Garreton, along with Ayurveda Coach and Feng Shui Practitioner Astrid Uryson. We will be sharing approachable and actionable resources and wisdom for integrative health. A recording will be made available for those who are unable to attend live.

Get info & tickets here: https://www.cindygarretoninteriordesign.com/feng-shui-for-health-2023

May 23, 2023

MINDSET, MINDFULNESS, MANIFESTATION & HEALTH

Mindset is a powerful tool that accesses the power of the mind to support your life, health, and wellness outcomes.

Mindset is the set of attitudes or beliefs we hold. Mindset determines our attitudes and beliefs, which affect everything we do, feel, think, and experience. Our mindset influences our perceptions and how we move through the world.

Because of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change and grow, we can change our way of thinking and adopting growth and positive mindsets, which can greatly influence our experience of life in a positive way.

Mindfulness is a tool that can be used to support mindset shifts by creating a cushion of mental space to ease reactive response. Mindfulness is non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. Studies suggest that focusing on the present can have a positive impact on health and well-being. Mindfulness-based treatments have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. There’s also evidence that mindfulness can lower blood pressure and improve sleep. It may even help people cope with pain.

Mindfulness exercises that can be practiced at any time over the count of 3 breaths:

  • Notice what you are looking at—really noticing and appreciating the textures, colors, shades

  • Close or lower your eyes and noticing what you hear far away, and closest to you, like your breat

  • As you are moving, feeling the sensations in your body, paying attention to your feet as the different parts meet the ground for example

We are all manifesting our reality constantly whether we realize it or not. The outlook you have on life, the beliefs you have about yourself, others, and your circumstances all hold energy that can influence the qualities and outcomes that manifest in your life.

Taking a neurological approach to manifestation suggests that we manifest not from our conscious day-to-day thoughts, but our subconscious (https://tobemagnetic.com). Becoming aware of your mindset and making pivots to view things more generously and neutrally can affect your ability to manifest from a place of non-attachment and trust that things work out in their own divine timing. Even viewing stress as a positive rather than a negative has been proven to create better health outcomes (View this Ted Talk by Kelly McGonigal)

Getting clear and unapologetically owning what you really desire can support your ability to manifest from a place of authenticity, self-worth, and alignment. And getting support through therapy, coaching, or other resources can bring insight and understanding that can be hard to see on your own.

There is much to unpack around mindset, mindfulness, manifestation and health. This is just the tip on the iceberg. And there are many tools and resources that can support greater health, wellbeing. That’s the beauty of integrative health.

If you are interested in further understanding mindset, mindfulness, manifestation, and health, I will be co-facilitating a 90 minute class called Feng Shui for Health on June 8th with Feng Shui Educator (and my mentor) Cindy Garreton along with Ayurveda Coach and Feng Shui Practitioner Astrid Uryson. We will be sharing approachable and actionable resources and wisdom. A recording will be made available for those who are unable to attend live.

YOU WILL LEARN:

  1. How practicing Feng Shui is good holistic health.

  2. Feng Shui Adjustments to use right away for better health.

  3. Basic principles of the Ayurvedic Lifestyle.

  4. Basic understanding of Doshas and their expressions, and how they relate to the Elements of Feng Shui.

  5. How to harness the power of the mind with gratitude and compassion using mindfulness and mindset for great health.

I will be diving further into mindset, mindfulness, and manifestation offering information and resources to take with you and apply to your own life.

RSVP here: https://www.cindygarretoninteriordesign.com/feng-shui-for-health-2023

Take what resonates and leave the rest. You are whole and complete as you are. All the wisdom is within you.

May 15, 2023

What is INTEGRATIVE HEALTH

What is the difference between integrative and conventional approaches to health?

Integrative health focuses on the whole individual—mind, body, and spirit.

Generally, integrative health care emphasizes self-efficacy—one’s belief in themself to overcome challenges and actively participate in their own healing—and starts with self-initiated care and behavior change, gentle interventions, and leaves more invasive interventions as a last resort.

Surprisingly, only about 60% of conventional allopathic medicine is evidence-based and is mostly based on accepted protocols and historical practice. Conventional medicine tends to be a more reactive model that traditionally attempts to assist people with drugs or more invasive, costly interventions. Integrative health takes a preventative and responsive approach that offers more choices that are helpful in supporting health and well-being.

Popular integrative health healing systems include:

  • Naturopathic medicine

  • Chiropractic

  • Ayurveda

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine

  • Functional Medicine

  • A variety of health practices such as nutrition, diet, targeted supplementation, fitness and exercise, stress management, behavior change, health coaching, yoga, indigenous healing, and folk medicine

(https://www.ciis.edu/ciis-news-and-events/news/what-is-integrative-health)

As an Integrative Wellness Coach, I use a client-centered model to co-create and co-discover a personalized plan that supports the client’s vision of optimal health and wellness. By combining a whole person approach with evidence-based strategies, we can improve overall health and well-being.

Some free and low-cost ways to enjoy integrative health practices for stress relief and reduction are:

When it comes to integrative health, it is not a one size fits all. Enjoy exploring based on your personal preferences and get support when you need it. There is a world of healing practitioners and helpers out there.

April 22, 2023

Earth’s Immune System

In a book I came across in my studies of Integrative Health called Blessed Unrest, Paul Hawken talks about Earth’s immune system. The health of Earth is determined in large part by how we interact with it.

The movements of people working all over the world to clean rivers and wetlands, bring fish and animals back to their natural habitat, reinstate indigenous rights to land and water, fight the dumping of toxic waste in low-income neighborhoods, renovate housing, clear the air, preserve ancient forests, save wild and beautiful land for everyone are all working in their ways to act as Earth’s immune response to the ills that threaten our planetary home.

Earth Day is a great day to practice being the immune response for our planet as individuals.

Here are some ideas for how to celebrate:

  1. Walk, bike, or rollerblade instead of driving

  2. Tend to your plants—water them, re-pot plants, garden

  3. Make a meal of all fresh fruits and veggies

  4. Donate to an organization taking care of habitats you care about

  5. Bring your own bags to the store

  6. Bring your own mug to the cafe

Most importantly, enjoy the natural beauty where you are. Earth provides healing for our own immune systems. Spending 120 minutes per week outside in nature (about 20 minutes per day) is associated with better health and well-being.

Scientifically proven benefits include:

  • lower stress levels

  • reduced anxiety and depression

  • improved self-esteem

  • a boost in confidence

(https://www.healthline.com/health-news/spending-time-in-nature-is-good-for-you-new-research-explains-why)

And there are so many more. Wishing you time and places to enjoy Mama Earth today and every day!