Yoga

Guns & Poses 2021

Liz James · October 25, 2021 ·

Our 4th annual Guns ‘n Poses is in the books! This is my favorite event of the year…. it was a vision Terry (one of my bff’s) and I had 5 years ago, and each year it just gets better and better as we work to empower women in all the ways! Every year, the topic content is slightly different but three things remain the same:
yoga / stretching
💥 gun safety / marksmanship / confidence building with firearms
👩Health and wellness topics that are science based with a primary focus on self empowerment. #theapplicationofknowledgeispower We are the CEO’s of ourselves and our homes and as such, we need to learn how to run our “company” as efficiently and effectively as posssible so that we can live vibrantly and our “company” can thrive and prosper🙌. Living a life of “meh or okay-ness” is not how we are supposed to live according to the word of God.
We are always sold out at this event…. next year, our 5th annual, is already in planning stages and we are strongly considering a “retreat style” 2-3 day event. It’s time to kick it up a notch for year 5! 💥❤💥❤💥
About 4 years ago, I asked God to help give me a business plan/model that would honor Him, allow me to serve others using the gifts He has given me, and empower others to do the same.
The result was not so much a plan, but a daily🙏 prayer:
“Lord, bring me people who need healing… whether that be physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, or in community.” Each year, Guns ‘n Poses is a celebration and reminder for me, and hopefully, for others too, that God is faithful in all the ways if only we seek Him and come together in a supportive and loving community.
I am blessed beyond measure, and I hope that paying it forward inspires others to do the same. THIS is how we change the world😘.
xoxo~ liz
#caringissharing
#thanksYL
#4thannualGunsnPoses
#useyoursuperpowersforgood

Posture – part 2

Liz James · September 6, 2021 ·

“Posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.” ~ American Journal of Pain Management 1994, 4:36-39
*Proper posture will always be a work in progress with “life” and gravity working against the goal. Beginning at a very young age, poor posture can lead to abnormal growth of the spine which leads to increased strain on muscles, ligaments, joints, and bones, and will lead to joint degeneration and spinal arthritis later in life.
Life goes on. Physical trauma in the form of accidents or injuries occur. Childbirth happens. We are now the most sedentary humans in all of history. Sitting with poor posture for hours at a time takes its toll on the body. Cell phones, laptops, and desk jobs have not been kind to our backs. More than 70% of the US population is overweight and/or has a diet that is not nutritionally supportive of bones, ligaments and muscles. Chronic carrying of a heavy or improperly placed load takes its toll (ex: a military serviceman carrying a heavy pack 👨‍✈️, a woman with a large heavy purse👜, a construction worker who lifts heavy materials daily). Emotions also play an enormous role in poor posture. Certainly shoulders sag under the weight of intangible burdens, but inside the body, emotions affect us at the cellular level. Did you know that unresolved drama and trauma will certainly affect posture, especially in the lower back. This often results in lower back pain which often tips the upper torso slightly forward.
Tips for Improved Posture
*Become aware of your posture and check yourself throughout the day (use the posture test in Part I to get started). Good posture should feel natural!
*Get some “Vitamin M”…. Movement! Stand up and move every hour especially if you have a desk job.(This improves productivity too!)
*Adjust your keyboard to elbow height. Wrists should remain straight as you type.
*Make sure your chair is also at the right height. Knees and hips should be level and feet should be flat on the floor.
*Avoid crossing your legs above the knee.
*Use your cell phone at eye level. Bending the head forward constantly applies extraordinary pressure on the spine. Up to 60 lbs of pressure is applied to the neck depending upon how far forward you are bending.
*Place your computer monitor at eye level.
*Tighten and exercise core muscles. Yoga and other forms of exercise! Again, Vitamin M 😉
*Consider your footwear. Does it help or hinder your posture?
*Utilize health professionals! Physical therapists, chiropractors, professional fitness trainers, yoga instructors, etc.
*Practice deep breathing. This is also a great time to fully utilize your favorite essential oils! Some of my personal favorites are Valor, Peace & Calming, Sacred Mountain, and White Angelica.
*Practice “Y, W, T” exercises for healthy shoulder posture. The letters simply refer to where the arms will be in relation to your body. You can find out more information about this very simple arm exercise series by searching “ Y W T shoulder exercises” on your favorite search engine. As you practice these exercises, keep a bottle of Panaway or Deep Relief handy……. You might be surprised how sore your muscles may be at the beginning of practicing these simple exercises!
*Become aware of how impactful emotions can be on your posture, and learn to release those which do not serve you in a beneficial way. Young Living has blessed millions of homes with aromas that are powerfully impactful to mind, body, and spirit. Some of my personal favorites for deep emotions are Release, Trauma Life, Frankincense, Stress Away, Forgiveness, and Inner Child. Western medicine has done a great disservice to mankind by isolating the treatment of body dysfunction from mind and spirit. They cannot be separated if true healing is to occur.
If you’ve never considered using oils for emotions, start with any essential oil or oil blend that you are drawn to. Using your mind and setting intention is an important piece of the puzzle.
Tell me, which oil(s) are you most drawn to?
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info
#sharingiscaring
#goodmedicineishowweholdourselves
#ThanksYL
#goodmedicine

Yoga as Mindset Training

Liz James · May 21, 2021 ·

Yoga practice teaches the mind as well as the body. Did you know that 95-99% of chronic disease outcome is based on the mindset of the patient….. not the skillset of the doctor?
Mindset is an environmental influence on our very genetics. People often blame their genetics for their health woes, when in reality, genes play a very small role. 95% of gene expression is controlled by environmental influence.
Come to yoga….. change your mindset…. change your health! If you are local (McKinney Texas area), message me for details!
xoxo~ liz
#McKinneyFBBCYoga
#MckinneyFBBC
#yogaismedicine

Health Clues in Your Skin #1

Liz James · January 26, 2021 ·

We’ve moved on to new terrain! Skin holds sooo many clues friends. Please continue to be mindful of the difference between a singular clue and a diagnosis! A clue by itself may mean next to nothing, but if you can pair multiple clues together, the savvy personal health detective can often head off big health concerns by being proactive and using the right tools and lifestyle habits to get back on track!
Bags and Circles around the eyes👀 are separate clues, but often paired together. Common causes of dark circles include stress, anemia, dehydration, fatigue, allergies, nasal congestion, a parasite load, chronic eye strain, thinning of skin, and unhealthy habits.
Chronic stress and fatigue often (and usually) go hand in hand. It’s awfully hard to get a good night’s sleep if you are under a great deal of stress. Conversely, if you are missing out on sleep for whatever reason, a chronically stressed body will ultimately result. We, in the Young Living community, have an arsenal of tools to help us sleep and keep our bodies and minds balanced even during stressful seasons. My bedtime regimen always includes oils (Tranquil or Rutavala are my go to!) to support healthy sleeping habits, and my nightly pre-bedtime ImmuPro supports both sleep and immune system function. I also mitigate stress with regular exercise, plenty of time outdoors, prayerful meditation time and faith based yoga.
Thinning of the skin happens naturally as we age simply because collagen production begins decreasing after about the age of 25…….the older we get the less our body produces! A couple of key ingredients that our body needs for collagen production include Vitamin C complex (hint: Super C Chewables for the win!) and elemental sulfur (hint: Sulfurzyme ). Pair this clue with a quick look at your fingernails and make note of any evidence of pitting!
Perhaps you are feeling your dark circles might be clues related to allergies or chronic congestion? Allergies always have a digestive dysfunction component, and it may behoove you to look into Young Living’s AllerZyme capsules for digestive enzyme support. I’ve personally also found several essential oils that work quite well in our home for seasonal respiratory support when used topically, diffused, or taken internally (in vitality form)….. What have you found that works for you?
As we discussed over in the fingernails section, parasites are not an uncommon first world problem. Check your fingernails for Beau’s lines for an additional clue!
Puffiness under the eyes is often a sign of inflammation or water retention. How might you pair puffiness with other signs of inflammation in the body?
Xanthelasma is the formation of cholesterol deposits around the eyes. While it can occasionally be hereditary, most often it is a clue that cholesterol levels are high. Recent research has also linked xanthelasma to type II diabetes. If you have found this clue around your eyes, I suggest reaching out to your favorite healthcare provider to schedule labwork to evaluate both cholesterol and blood sugar levels. (If you don’t have a healthcare provider handy, message me, and I can walk you thru setting up labwork analysis!) Both high cholesterol and type II diabetes are largely correctable with changes to lifestyle and eating habits….. So be encouraged! You are the CEO of your own body, and that gives you the power to make healthy changes!
Are you starting to put clues together? It’s kinda fun, isn’t it? Agatha Christie would be proud!
Stay tuned for more skin clues coming your way…..
xoxo~ liz

(holler if you need labwork or are interested in any of the above mentioned products. I’d love to help you help yourself!)

#caringissharing
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#skininthegame
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#ThanksYL

Frozen Shoulder & Hormones

Liz James · December 8, 2020 ·

If you are in the 40 to 60 something age category (as I am), have you noticed that a number of friends or acquaintances of similar age have complained of shoulder joint pain and stiffness? I used to assume that this was the result of normal wear and tear as we age, and sometimes that is the case. Often tho, I run into people who have shoulder pain and stiffness who cannot recall having had a memorable recent injury. Idiopathic (ie: unknown cause) frozen shoulder usually starts out with a dull or achy pain in only one shoulder, with pain that may extend to the shoulder muscles that wrap around the front of the arm that ultimately leads to long term limited mobility of that joint. It’s a painful and frustrating disorder because there isn’t really a known cure, and it nearly always “unfreezes” on its own within 6 months to 2 years, although injections to surgery are often recommended by western medicine.
Idiopathic frozen shoulder (called “50 year old shoulder” in Eastern Medicine) happens much more often in women than in men, usually between the age of 40 and 60yrs old…… coincidentally around the time hormone production really wanes… specifically estrogen.
When estrogen production decreases significantly, the flexibility of our connective tissue is affected. We may see it visibly as crepey looking skin, but make no mistake…. Your joints are being affected too….. In this case, specifically the shoulder capsule.
Learning what I’ve learned over the last many years, I’ve chosen not to go down this path by doing the following things:
💪Regular full motion exercise (lots of shoulder work)
💪Yoga (faith based for me)
💪Supporting my hormones fully thru perimenopause (early stage) and menopause. I use Progessence Plus (on my forearms and on the carotid artery points on my neck nightly, and I also alternate between PD 80/20 and Femigen (one capsule a day works for me). According to my labwork, tho I am in menopause, my estrogen and progesterone levels have been maintained at healthy levels to keep my body functioning well. (I highly recommend hormone/thyroid labwork on at least a yearly basis if you are wanting physical confirmation of what’s working and what’s not working for you!… if you do not have a way to get this done, please message me and I can help you.)
We are all built very differently, and are at different stages in our lives. If you support your hormones with a Young Living product(s)….. Tell me, what have you found that works for you, and how do you use it?
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info (for access to education beyond the basics)
#sharingiscaring
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowledge
#caringforyourselfsoyoucancareforothers
#ThanksYL