NATURE'S WAY TO HELP EASE FLU SYMPTOMS

TARA EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL

Now, more than ever, you are looking for ways to cope with the stronger strains of flu and other viruses you face today. TARA Eucalyptus Essential Oil is a balancing anti-viral decongestant excellent for inhalation therapy and chest colds.

Fill a bowl with steamy water and add 2-4 drops of TARA Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Drape a towel over your head, lean over the steam and breathe deeply and evenly.

STAY WARM & LOWER YOUR ENERGY BILL!

It's easier to change your body temperature than the room temperature, not to mention more eco-friendly. Instead of turning up the heat, use these tried and true methods and let TARA help you save on your energy bills!

WARM UP WITH AN HERBAL-EASE® UNI-PACK

Place it across your lower back while working, reading or watching TV. Also, place a warm Uni-Pack under the covers for about 5-10 minutes, then crawl into a toasty warm bed...sweet dreamzzz!

TAKE A HOT BATH WITH IMMUNE BOOSTER BATH SALTS

A great way to relax your muscles and warm your body, especially after a stressful day, while also boosting your immune system.

I just returned from Sundance Resort where I developed a new concept and treatment menu for their spa. What a wonderful spa team led by Adrianna Stephan! It was very special to be in this magical, snow-covered canyon to breathe in the crispness of the air and walk snow covered paths lined with pine and fir trees.

Being at Sundance always reminds me of my connection to the Earth due to the powerful energy in that space. It’s from the rich history and heritage, and the environmental stewardship the Redford family that has ensured for so many years, inspired by the spirit of the ancient Land, the natural elements and the vital life force they exude. I share the urge to want to protect it and to honor how sacred the Earth is.

One way to honor the Earth is to be conscious of the energy of seasonal change and the rhythms of Nature. Winter is a time for hibernation...so hard in modern society. Consider it a time for reflection - to reflect upon what you created in your life this past year and what you want to put forward for the coming year.

What are your intentions? For me, it is a balance of personal well-being. And being in Nature always inspires me. It is my temple where I receive inspiration, rekindle my connection to the Divine and where I open up to the possibilities of what I want to create in my life.

Tara's Touch Stones for Living At Peak

Wake Up – Stay conscious and aware rather than going numb.  Some people numb themselves with alcohol, food, drugs, TV or digital entertainment.  To really live life at peak, we must be awake and aware of our world – the inner world, our microcosm, and the outer world, our macrocosm.   Take time to allow your mind to connect with your body and be aware of what’s going on.   Observe the observer. Being awake, you can observe your emotions, both negative and positive, your physical sensations, cravings and desires - all that moves us in life.  Being awake allows you to make conscious choices, to choose a new path, to choose positive over negative, to choose what supports you rather than what undermines your greatest opportunities in life.

Make Up – Make peace with the past.  Resolve inner conflicts and make up with yourself rather than fighting with yourself.  Forgiveness is a heartfelt way of healing the past and restoring harmony.  Recognize the lessons learned from trials by fire and trust that it all has served a higher purpose on your path.  Making peace with yourself and others allows you to be in the present instead of living in the past.  And being in the present allows you to embrace and savor the moments of now, which are precious pearls of life.

Live It Up - Identify what things in life give you the most joy.  What are you passionate about?  Include those things in your life NOW.   When we’re engaged in activities that we enjoy and are excited about, we feel most vital and alive.  Weaving that which you love to do in with your responsibilities and “have to’s,” will bring more balance and pleasure to your life.

Time Out - It’s essential to make space for reflection by unplugging from our digital world.  Savasana, or corpse pose in yoga, represents a time of surrender after exertion.  Giving ourselves down time, or conscious rest, allows the body to restore and the mind to calm.  We need time out from our “fight or flight mode”, the persistent urge to make things happen, to do it all, and from being “at battle” out in the world with our defenses up.  Time out is refuge for the soul.  It’s a time to drop defenses, slow down and recharge.

Get Out - Take time to be in Nature, to reconnect with the Divinity of the Universe. The splendor of natural wonders is awe-inspiring and expands our view of life.  Breathing fresh air, moving our bodies and reaching out to the world, gives us a greater appreciation for our individual lives and for our planet.  We have a relationship with all things in the Universe; by exploring what is beyond our daily realm, we cultivate an appreciation for things beyond our own self-focused being.

Clean Out - Let go of old entanglements and anything that doesn’t serve you anymore. Old “baggage” is like toxins and waste products in your system.  It serves no purpose other than to bog you down, congest you and cloud your vision. The physical and mental run parallel in this principle. Cleansing the body in a gentle way, through a simplified diet and detoxifying herbs and supplements will help rid the body of that which doesn’t support optimal physiological function.  In turn, cleansing the mind of negative thoughts and destructive patterns will create new space for invoking positive thoughtful affirmation and clear intention.

Right On – Doing what is right serves the highest good. Acting with integrity and upholding ethical behavior cultivates positive energy, which is rewarding and fulfilling to heart and soul. Doing good in the world sows seeds of goodness that will support the best in mankind.  Doing what is right is doing no harm.  Doing what is right is clear, clean and empowering.

Shine On - Live in the light. Be the bright light. Be an inspiration to others. Let your light shine. Your beauty will radiate from the vibrancy within.

STAY WARM IN WINTER WITH HERBAL-EASE® PILLOWS

Cold weather has a significant impact on your health and staying warm helps boost your immune system. Filled with 100% natural Aromatherapy herbs, our Herbal-Ease® pillows, packs, booties and mitts are the perfect choice for staying warm during the harsh winter weather. Exceptionally durable and made with earth-friendly materials and packaging.

Realigning Energy

As we move past the hectic Holiday season and welcome in the New Year, this is the most important time to realign our energy so we can go out into the world and manifest our visions and dreams. We are all so busy with family and work, yet making sure we are doing the supportive things that help us maintain our balance is critical to being effective in all that we do.

Some of my intentions for moving into the New Year with health and vitality include:

• Remembering to breathe to release stress and tension held in the body and mind and to alkaline the blood, which oxygenates the body
• Making sure I have quiet meditation moments where I say affirmations or prayers throughout the day
• Moving my body in ways that strengthen and stretch it to support my physical alignment, which ultimately helps my core, center and overall balance in life

What are the ways you realign? Share with me at tara@taraspa.com.

TARA Helps Save Bees

TARA is sponsoring a beehive in Colorado to help further the cause of protecting the precious bee population. 

As most of us know, bees are a critical link in the sustainability of our ecosystem and Bumble Valley founded a great cause that we wanted to support. Their bee hive farm is 40 miles from any other agriculture to protect the bees from pesticides and also to prevent cross pollination with GMO crops. Bumble Valley is nuturing and growing the bee population!

Tara and Amber were at the August SpaBuzz Emerging Leaders event in Denver  that introduced Bumble Valley. The SpaBuzz group built beehive boxes and it was so inspiring Tara decided to donate to Bumble Valley and become a Sponsor for a hive. We will be excited to get photos of our hive and our Bee Family throughout the year!

Energy Balancing Technique

Years ago, in my early 20’s, I was a hippy living in a geodesic dome that I built at a Northern California hot springs property. I slept on a hay bed and the dome had triangular skylights that allowed the moon to shine through and illuminate my space. I would hike on moonlit paths and lay in meadows bathed by the soft light. I always say that this was one of the best years of my life, being immersed in Nature and it’s natural rhythms. It was there that I learned about the power of lunar energy, which in Ayurveda, is considered the Feminine expression and is cooling, soothing and sedating. According to Ayurveda, the Sun expresses Masculine energy, with active energy that is intense and warming.

In Ayurvedic healing we bring awareness to the balance of Solar and Lunar energy that resides within us in our inner universe, the microcosm, and the outer-universe or macrocosm. We practice specific yoga postures and pranayama breath exercises and gem therapy and dietary guidelines to restore balance of our energetic, physical and emotional aspects of our whole being. This is what true wholistic health strives for - a balance of Active and Passive, Masculine and Feminine, Hot and Cold, Hard and Soft, Yang and Yin.

One very simple but powerful balancing technique can be practiced at your desk, or on a yoga mat, or while lying in bed before you start your day. It is alternate nostril breathing. The basic concept is to inhale through the left, exhale through the right. Then inhale through the right and exhale through the left. Use your thumb and ring fingers to open and close the nostrils, as you inhale fully and exhale slowly. You will find that this calms down the nervous system but also awakens the energy. It is a balance of left and right sides of the brain and of the energy meridians of the body. The left side in Sanskrit is called “ida” and right side is called “pingula.” This ancient balancing technique is simple yet powerful. Try it, for a series of 8 breaths. And notice how you feel. I trust it will be beneficial and supportive to all!

Healing Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of the most delicious and healthiest spices on the planet as well as one of the oldest spices known to man. It’s loaded with antioxidants, is an anti-inflammatory, can lower blood sugar levels, reduce risk factors for heart disease, protect against cancer and, especially appropriate for this season, helps fight respiratory infections.

There are two types of cinnamon: Ceylon, which is referred to as the “true” cinnamon, and Caisia, which is the one commonly found in our markets. Because of the large amount of the compound “coumarin” found in the Caisia variety, it is not recommended to be taken in large doses.

HOME TIPS
Courtesy of Mercola.com, here are some of the benefits of Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil. Because of its potency, It’s recommended that whenever applied topically, it is blended with a carrier oil or lotion. Its germicidal properties make it an excellent disinfectant for cleaning appliances and all the surfaces in your home.

• For a mouthwash, add 1-2 drops of Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil to water and gargle. 
• In a diffuser, Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil will ease chest congestion and bronchitis. 
• For a mood elevator, combine 3 drops Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil, 3 drops Bergamot and 3 drop Ylang Ylang. 
• Cinnamon is one of the “secret” ingredients in our Bindi Ayurvedic Body Oil. Whether for self-massage or spa massage, it will ease muscular aches, help reduce stress and provide an energy boost. This unique ingredient also improves circulation, aids in removing blood impurities and helps fight viral infections, coughs and colds. 

HEALTH TIPS 
Thanks to Health.com for these suggestions using Ground Cinnamon:

• Add a teaspoon of cinnamon to a filter with your ground coffee, or add to steamed milk along with some honey and cocoa powder for a delicious latte. Tea drinkers, enjoy a cup of TARA Ayurveda Vata or Pitta Organic Tea, both of which contain cinnamon. 
• Sprinkle cinnamon on a bowl of warm oatmeal along with some chopped walnuts and maple syrup. For a low cal, fat busting treat, sprinkle cinnamon on slices of baked apple. 
• For a throat soother and to calm a scratchy cough, soak cinnamon sticks in cold water for several hours, and then sip. A water soluble fiber in cinnamon called mucilage, coats and soothes the throat. 
• Cinnamon is a featured herb in TARA Herbal-Ease® Uni Packs and Neck Pillows. Heat the pillows and enjoy the warming and soothing benefits of moist heat therapy. 

FOR THE FEET
Anti-oxidant rich cinnamon softens rough, tired skin. Here's a great recipe for a footbath from Elizabeth TenHouten's book, Cooking Well-Beautiful Skin:

• Juice of 5 lemons 
• 1 T olive oil 
• 1/4 cup whole milk 
• 1/2 cup water 
• 2 T ground cinnamon (or add 7-10 drops Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil)

Soak feet for 15 minutes.