Startling Stress Statistics . . . Reflexology for Stress Reduction

This photo from Stock Vault photos is entitled, "Releasing the Demons." That is a STRESSFUL thought. In my humble opinion this photo is a depiction of STRESS. . . and STRESS is our topic here!


Look at these STRESS statistics compiled for a recent REFLEXOLOGY presentation.

*7 out of every 10 people who die each year had been living with a chronic illness.
*1 out of every 2 of us in now living with a chronic illness.
*For 3 of every 4 of those with a chronic illness, STRESS may be a contributing factor.
(American Medical Association)

*A full 43% of US adults suffer adverse effects from STRESS.
(American Psychological Association)

*More than 80% of physician office visits are associated with unresolved stress issues.
*Stress is a big factor in more than 75% of all illnesses diagnosed today with many studies putting this figure closer to 90%.
(www.About.com)

*Depression, only one type of stress reaction, is predicted to be the leading occupational disease of the 21st centruy, responsible for more days lost than any other single factor.
*$300 Billion, or $7,500 per employee, is spent annually in the US on stress-related compensation claims, reduced productivity, absenteeism, health insurance costs, direct medical expenses (nearly 50% higher for workers who report stress), and employee turnover.
(www.stressdirections.com)

Are those statistics startling and unsettling to you? After my mind has been blown by them, I'm equally saddened by the same.

How did our culture get to the point where so many are so stressed out? There are many reasons, to be sure, and no simple answers to reversing these disheartening trends. Fact is continuous chronic stress potentially leads to low thyroid function, adrenal fatigue, and eventually adreanal exhaustion where our "fight or flight" glands can no longer keep up with the demands placed upon them. The adrenals, created to kick in during those occasional moments of fright or unusually stressful situations, are being called into full-time active duty. They most likely will not be able to keep pace with the continuous chronic stress attacking from many directions, which many lead to many more health challenges on every level of body, mind and spirit.

While serious lifestyle changes may certainly be called for, and this writer strongly believes most all of us would be healthier for those choices, as stated above there are no simple answers. One excellent tool for controlling stress is REFLEXOLOGY. RELAXATION & STRESS REDUCTION ARE REFLEXOLOGY'S NUMBER ONE BENEFIT. With all of this in mind, it is easy to see how all systems of the body may be positively affected by this therapeutic caring touch.

To learn more about REFLEXOLOGY's benefits for STRESS and MUCH MORE visit About.com's article, "Cancel Out Stress with Reflexology."

Living in the Memphis, TN area? To schedule your own stress relieving REFLEXOLGY session, please visit our Footsteps In Eden site. In other locations a good source for locating professional reflexologists in your area is the website of Reflexology Association of America.

Frazzled -- Just a Bit!!!

Continuously amazed at God's sense of humor. Last Sunday I was asked to help lead our women's Sunday Morning Bible Study. The topic: The Frazzled Female. As I prayed about and contemplated this all week things were going pretty smoothly. You're thinking, "Yeah right, you're about to get knocked on your keester just about the time you think it's going so well!"

Of course, that is correct. I found myself in near tears, and at the same time laughing out loud at how ridiculous my whole unraveled week looked in the bigger scheme of things. I did make the phone call to accept the invitation. I knew that all of the week's events were just "material" to share in class.

This illustration pretty much sums up how I felt yesterday (although I did get things in a bit clearer perspective eventually). Today was a better day. Looking forward to tomorrow! The ever present question still in my mind however: "Just how do we set priorities and boundaries that keep us on a more even keel in our perpetual motion world?" Perhaps that is food for thought for more blog entries. I'll meet you there!

Valor® - A Staple in my Aromatherapy Collection

Valor®, is a proprietary blend of therapeutic grade essential oils from Young Living. Young Living offers over 100 different essential oils and essential oil blends. This specific blend reached out and caught my attention in a BIG BIG way . . . That experience, which I'll share today, not only grabbed my attention, it hooked me on the oils that I love so much. Young Living also incorporates these therapeutic grade oils into a host of personal care products, dietary supplements, and household products that are non-toxic, eco-friendly, and wonderful to use.

Now for my personal story of Valor® -- A bit long, but I truly wished to share the whole traumatic experience for you to know how truly blessed I felt upon the discovery of this great essential oil.

Three years ago this past December -- it was the day after Christmas -- the Mid-South section of the county was recovering from a major ice storm & a devastating tsunami was hitting Thailand. That was the day!

Our son and daughter-in-law were returning home to Nashville from celebrating Christmas with her family in Chicago. The ice storm had struck as they were leaving Nashville and they became stranded in their car overnight on the interstate in Kentucky. It was a quite traumatic experience. They would be arriving home in time for our son to return to work the next day. Our daughter-in-law had a bit more time. The plan was to meet them at a pre-determined location and bring her back to Memphis for the week. Our son would join us for New Year's!

It was 65 and sunny in Memphis when I left driving my daughter's all-wheel drive Honda Accord. My very old and very squirrely car didn't seem to be appropriate since we weren't sure what conditions I would encounter. The trip was fairly smooth, but the entire time I drove an overwhelming heavy feeling pushed at my back. . . It was a dark, dark feeling. For me personally it felt almost sinister. Knowing my daughter would have worship CD's in the car, I fumbled around looking for them as I drove. NOTHING! Feeling compelled to continuously move forward, I never stopped to really look for them, even though I knew that playing that music would be of great benefit for keeping any invisible, but marauding characters from being very effective.

At last reaching my destination, I opened the door, stepped out, looked around, and there they were right behind the driver's seat. Of course! Where were they while I needed them.

So, now I'm waiting quite some time for son and daughter-in-law to arrive. Their projected ETA was an hour or so off. . . AND family Christmas party was that evening. We planned to be back in Memphis in time to attend.

Back on the road, this feeling swept over me once again. I never mentioned it. We just talked and shared and kept moving. I spoke with my husband as we came closer to Memphis. We discussed my intended route to the party and that we were still coming even though we would be a little late now. He suggested a different route, but never mentioned that it was because the warm temperatures and sunshine had not been effective in removing all the ice from the streets.

We exited the interstate and were headed up the highway toward the tree lined country road that would take us to the party. Hesitation would certainly be a great word here as I neared that intersection. I could see that it didn't look very friendly. Seconds before my daughter called and was saying they were ready to exchange the gifts, and what did I wish her to do about this one or that. So, I was preoccupied as well. That feeling came bearing down on my harder than ever, along with a couple of other vehicles. A hasty decision to turn instead of just going straight home was an incredible mistake!

I knew it immediately after turning. There was no where to turn around. We navigated through the first half mile or so when the car began spinning. There were lots of trees and a small lake at the bottom of a hill in the direction we were headed. I couldn't see them in the dark, but I knew they were there.

Now, I really choose to give God much glory here! The enemy may have won the battle here as we crashed broadside into some of those trees and bounced out completely turned around across a slick as glass driveway. But he didn't win, really! I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the way the car was moving that angels were all around us positioning that car in such a way that neither of us would be seriously injured. Anyone who saw the car would have never believed that, or even that our daughter-in-law was alive!

No serious ihttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifnjuries, but definitely some stained and twisted muscles plagued us. After a few days we each had some cranial sacral and trager massage. This in and of itself was an enormous blessing. Even after being detangled I was feeling the strain of those previously kinked places in my neck and shoulders for days to come.

My limited collection (at the time) of aromatherapy oils included Valor®. I had absolutely no idea what to do with it, but I remembered that Valor® had been introduced to me as "a chiropractor in a bottle."

I began to apply Valor® to my neck and shoulders and was amazed at the relaxation this brought to this part of my body and how the pain subsided. Of course, I thought, I'm just getting better. After a couple of weeks my supply was exhausted. The few days it took me to obtain some more were all it took for me to realize that this little bottle contained some very precious healing abilities for me.

Distilled from spruce, blue tansy, rosewood & frankincense -- Valor® is truly a gift of God's creation. I've not been without it again!

Young Living's catalog describes it in part like this:

"Valor® is an empowering combination of terapeutic-grade essential oils that works with both the pysical and spiritual aspects of the body to increase feelings of strength, courage, and self-esteem in the face of adversity. . . "

Since then, I've learned of Valor's® use on the feet for a very relaxing experience. I often use it in my reflexology practice and on my own feet, neck, and shoulders to bring about a balanced and relaxed state of being.

Destress With These Suggestions

”Tranquility is life to the body, and contention is rottenness to the bones.” These incredibly wise words of King Solomon (at least in part) are seen at the top of this blog every time you visit. They also ring so true.

Last week was not a tranquil one in the life of our family, and my body has felt it . . . particularily in exhaustion and what appeared to me as diminished mental capabilities at times. Anyone else been there?!? The events our family faced last week – some blissful and some quite sorrowful – were all ones we are unable to avoid.

While we welcomed a beautiful new granddaughter into our lives, bringing us much joy, demands on our time and energy were truly stretched. Last week we also lost a beloved uncle, and readmitted my mother-in-law to the hospital once again as we watch her life diminishing.

Stress is all around us. Sometimes, as in the situations above, it takes all that we have to make it through. Then our bodies let us know they are exhausted and in need of rest and recovery before we plow back into the daily routines.

When stresses arise from our daily routines and become a constant and repetitive pattern in our lives, however, how often do we begin to see our own bodies become a bit rotten? There are headaches, backaches, high blood pressure, addictions, heart disease, nightmares, digestive problems, and the list goes on . . . you know all about it. As a professional Reflexologist and an Aromatherapist I’d like to take a few lines here to offer some suggestions for bringing some added tranquility to your life.

1. Reflexology helps bring balance to all the systems of the body inducing what, for many, is an incredible state of relaxation.

2. Diffusing Young Living Essential Oils such as Lavender, Peace & Calming, Orange, and others may bring a wonderful sense of relaxation, sleepfulness, and well being.

3. Use of essential oils on the feet by warm compress, vitaflex techniques, and reflexology may also be very helpful in bringing about relaxation.

4. One of my favorite quick refreshes and lift to my spirit is a spritz on my face of miessence® Rose Monsoon Hydrating mist. It’s soft, soothing, and refreshing cool, . . . all of that coupled with with the sweet scent & health benefits from the rose petals.

5. For specific information on any of the ideas mentioned above, you may contact me through my Reflexology website, Footsteps In Eden; through my Young Living Essential Oil site, Heaven Scent Essentials; or through my ONEGroup™ organic cosmetic and skincare site, Lynn’s Organic Choices.

6. And one more, not from any professional stand point – just an observation. My daughter-in-law had been struggling with nightmares, some of which were convincingly real. Since discontinuing watching the news and movies that may be oppressive to her spirit, the nightmares have stopped.

Lush Meadows and Drink from Quiet Pools

Surrounded by so much chaos . . . stress and frustrations on the left and on the right . . . in front and rear too . . . take the time to sit . . . and rest . . . focusing your eyes on the one who securely holds your hand . . . perhaps meditate on the words penned by a famous shepherd . . . they may tickle sweet emotions long forgotten . . . speak soothing life to your parched spirit . . . If these words of the 23rd Psalm sound a little different, they are . . . smile! Take a fresh look . . .

From THE MESSAGE -- Psalm 23

GOD, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows; you find me quiet pools to drink from.

True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.

You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of GOD for the rest of my life.

I pray you will find your lush meadow and quiet pools today.

Photo courtesy of BigFoto.