Start a New Ritual as Summer Begins

I don't know about you, but sometimes I need tangible reminders to take care of my inner self daily. It is so easy to be distracted by the needs of everyone else and forget to put on your own metaphorical oxygen mask each day. And yet we all know what happens when we don't take care of our most precious resources (our own bodies, hearts, and minds). We can easily start to spin out of control and these resources can easily breakdown without our time and attention to maintain our best selves. Believe me, I join you in this constant struggle to love myself enough for daily self care. And I am not talking about bubble baths and eating bon bons all day, I am talking about practices backed by science and experience that show a quality of life improvement by doing them. Things like daily exercise, exposure to nature, eating a clean or plant-based diet and my personal favorite, meditation. According to Psychology Today, here are just a few of the benefits of a mindfulness meditation practice:

*Increases immune function

*Decreases Pain

*Decreases Inflammation at the Cellular Level

*Increases Positive Emotion/Decreases Depression/Decreases Anxiety/Decreases Stress

*Changes Your Brain: Increases grey matter; Increases volume in areas related to emotion regulation, positive emotions & self-control; Increases cortical thickness in areas related to paying attention

*It Improves Your Productivity

*Increases your focus & attention

*Improves your ability to multitask

*Improves your memory

*Improves your ability to be creative & think outside the box

So this coming Saturday, May 25, from 10 am to noon, we have an opportunity for a make and take tangible reminder for you to engage in a daily practice of meditation. Dr. Jodi Ashbrook will guide you in understanding of both the history and meaning associated with essential oils. You will then choose essential oils that most align with your needs and then hand pour your own candle. After the candle making process is complete, you will be guided through a meditation practice journeying all seven chakras, exploring opportunities for opening and clearing. You will leave with your own handmade intention candle to encourage and support your personal meditation and wellness ritual so that you may Light Hope off the mat and into your daily lives.

Sign up here to attend.