A FEW LITTLE TIPS AND THOUGHTS TO GET YOU THROUGH…..
With love to anyone reading this and in the hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy (and stay that way), I thought I would share with you some of the things I’m doing on a daily basis to keep myself calm, centered, healthy and comfortable. I hope you will find something useful or inspiring that you can incorporate into your daily routine, and I’m of course more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
Daily Routines:
As anyone who knows me knows, I have been studying Ayurveda for the last couple of years and in fact am just about to complete my Ayurvedic Health Counselor Certification. Many of my basic daily routines are influenced by Ayurvedic philosophies which have withstood the test of thousands of years.
First thing in the morning, as soon as I get out of bed, I go into the bathroom and scrape my tongue with a tongue scraper and then rinse my mouth. Tongue scraping clears toxins, bacteria and dead cells from the tongue; scrape the tongue a number of times and then rinse with water. You can get a tongue scraper anywhere on line.
I then use my Nasya Oil – Nasya is the Ayurvedic practice of lubricating the nasal passages with herb-infused oil. It not only moisturizes but additionally clears and protects the nasal cavity, supports the intake of breath and promotes mental clarity.
I am currently using this oil: Aromabliss https://www.aromabliss.com/product-page/nasya-oil but also like this one from Banyan Botanicals: https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/nasya-oil-7/. (NOTE: I AM NOT PROFITTING IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM BY REFERRING YOU TO ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED OR LINKED TO HERE.)
Just tilt your head back and put a drop or two into each nostril and sniff in deeply a few times; just have a tissue on hand to wipe off any excess.
Next I meditate. I have been meditating for years but about six months ago took the plunge and went through the TM training program which finally got me to meditate twice per day, usually for 20 minutes per session. These sessions are truly an oasis in my day. You can meditate anywhere really but mostly I go sit in an armchair in my bedroom with a big fluffy blanket, some crystals to hold and more nearby, a candle, etc. Its especially nice to feel like you’re entering a sacred space if at all possible.
To lead into my morning meditation session I start with a few minutes of prayer – as someone very wise once said: “Prayer is you talking to God; meditation is you listening to God.” Obviously prayer is very personal, but I always include some expressions of gratitude, and lately I’ve included a universal prayer using a mala. Malas are used in Buddhism to count repetitions of mantras (short sacred phrases). Traditional malas have 108 beads crafted from seeds, gemstones, or wood, and are often finished with an additional “guru” bead and a special knot and/or tassel. I have been mentally chanting the mantra “Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hum”. This is the Siri Gaitri Mantra which offers radiant divine healing for yourself, others and the world; obviously so crucial right now. I hold the mala in my hands and say the mantra once per each of the 108 beads. Its actually a lovely lead in to the meditation itself. (If you would like to purchase a mala and would like some resources, just let me know – I can send you some.)
Food/Nutrition:
After meditation, I head into the kitchen and before eating anything I squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a cup of warm water and drink it down with some probiotic capsules. The warm water with lemon is another Ayurvedic mainstay and serves to detoxify your system and kickstart your metabolism.
I try to always have something warm for breakfast which I know flies in the face of smoothie/celery juice culture. I used to make mysef smoothies occsionally for breakfast but quickly realized that they gave my a stomach ache no matter what I made them with – almond milk, coconut milk, no milk…..this is because having something cold especially so early in the day squelches the digestive fire or “agni” as its known in the Ayurvedic world where it is central to the body’s functioning.
I’m avoiding dairy and sugar as much as I can in order to lessen inflammation in my body.
I then take my supplements including a variety of immunity supports, such as:
Osha Root – helps to prevent cold, flu, etc. but don’t take if you’re pregnant
Herbal Defense by Herbally Grounded: https://www.herballygrounded.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=herbal+defense
Liposomal Vitamin C – I’ve been taking Lypo-Spheric by LivOn Labs, 2000 mg per day (two packets) as it is more easily absorbed than capsules but its a bit difficult to find at the moment.
I’ve also been making this elixir and taking a shot twice per day:
1T apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Pinches of ground cinnamon, coriander, cumin, turmeric, ginger and oregano
1t honey
Followed by water to combat acidity.
I then gargle with salt water and have a zinc lozenge.
Exercise:
I like to exercise soon after breakfast as if I don’t I won’t do it. I’m very stringent about doing something every day, especially now. At least a few times a week I’ve been getting out for a hike but one has to be careful as to where at the moment unfortunately. Nevertheless, needless to say, it’s vitally important to get yourself outside at least for a little bit every day; I find that I get disoriented and ungrounded if I don’t.
If I’m not headed outside I utilize one of the online exercise programs which are excellent – my favorites at the moment are Buti Yoga and Physique 57 but there are tons, and especially now almost every studio has wonderful online offerings. Again, if you need suggestions other than what I’ve mentioned here I’m happy to help.
Self-care:
More Ayurvedic practices to nourish and detox include dry-brushing the skin and Abhyanga which is self-massage with warm herb-infused oil also to detox and balance the body, all of which of course keeps your immunity stronger. I don’t do these as often as I should but they feel wonderful. The oil can be a bit messy and you need to be prepared to leave it on for a bit before bathing or showering but its a beautiful practice to treat yourself to especially when you have more time on your hands.
I also love to incorporate essential oils into my daily routine. I use a lot of the Doterra oils but not theirs exclusively; I also like Vibrant Blue Oils, Zyanya Aromatherapy and various others. Some of the ones I like are Frankincense for overall functioning (and its quite antiseptic so a put a little in my nose after I shower these days), Helichrysum for brain functioning (and its great for the skin), Doterra’s On Guard and Melaleuca for immunity, Vibrant Blue Oils’ Parasympathetic Oil for balancing, Vetiver for sleep (others prefer Lavendar); the list goes on. (If you would like to schedule an aromatherapy consultation session with me for more personalized suggestions I’m here to help!) I also like to diffuse oils in my house as they smell wonderful, clear the air, and offer their various benefits in that manner as well.
And of course, having crystals around me is integral to my daily life. As most of you know, I not only make jewelry with crystals but have incorporated them into most aspects of my life at home – holding them while I sleep and meditate, having arrangements of them all around the house, etc. Of course you have to do whatever you’re comfortable with and this is a vast subject as far as I’m concerned, but if interested I’m here to consult with you if you want to start out working with them.
Sleep:
Sleep can be tough right now – personally, I can usually get to sleep but generally wake up during the night at least a couple of times to pee and sometimes can’t get back to sleep especially lately. I can always read and this often does the trick but I find that the middle of the night is an excellent time to do some self-care such as doing Reiki on myself, breathwork or listening to meditative music.
The kind of breathwork I do and am certified in is quite active as it starts out but is excellent for oxygenating the body while ridding it of anxiety. It may kick up emotions but ultimately leads to deep relaxation/sleep. Of course it can be done during the daytime as well. If you’re interested in learning it let’s schedule a FaceTime session and I’ll be happy to teach it to you.
With regard to the meditative music, there is an incredible wealth of it on YouTube, such as from Meditative Mind, Power Thoughts Meditation, Brainwave Music, so many others. There are lots that go for 8, 9, 10 hours and more, so you could ostensibly put your headphones on, drift off to sleep and that’s it (hopefully). A variety of these incorporate the Solfeggio frequencies, of which there are nine, and all which are said to support physical and emotional healing.
Regardless of what I do I love to hold crystal palm stones while I sleep – they always help to soothe.
Inspiration:
My mind has been completely blown and my heart blown open by the myriad of ways people have found to give of themselves and their knowledge during this crazy time. Here are some of my favorites:
Poetry – check out @davidjwhyte on Instagram. David is my favorite contemporary poet and he has been offering what he calls microbursts of poetry, reciting one of his poem each day. So beautiful.
Food – my dear friend Elana Horwich has been offering free online cooking classes. She is an absolute hoot and offers the most delicious, healthy, easy recipes. She will light and laughter into your day every day. Check out her website, http://www.elanahorwich.com and Elana’s instagram, @elanahorwich.
Music – check out @yoyoma on Instagram. He has been playing a brief piece on his instagram every day.
Health/Ayurveda – check out @lilavatidevi on Instagram – the founder/owner of Aromabliss, mentioned above; she has been a presence on instagram especially since the coronavirus broke out. I’m getting a huge kick out of her and love her products.
Reiki – check out @laraelliott on Instagram – Lara is my Reiki teacher and the wife of my breathwork teacher David Elliott; she is also truly one of the loveliest people on the planet. Her posts are such a breath of fresh air and she has been offering online community Reiki sessions for a nominal fee – highly recommend.
Faith/Spirituality – check out Carolyn Myss and Rabbi Wolpe (Sinai Temple) on YouTube. Their perspectives are brilliant, moving, compassionate and always food for thought.
Also my friend Eilish Bouchier in Australia has been offering daily inspiration and Kundalini meditations at @immaterialbydesign – always love her perspective on things.
Astrology – if this is your thing there are some terrific people out there. The astrological perspective on what’s going on is absolutely fascinating. My favorites at the moment are Michael Lennox on Instagram, Facebook, and his daily missives are well worth $8/month; I also like Theresa Reed, Gahl Sasson, Dani Beinstein, Heidi Rose Robbins, and for Vedic Astrology @ayanaastrology on Instagram.
Tarot – If you’re more of a tarot person, again, Theresa Reed, Jessi Huntenburg, Lindsay Mack – all have brilliant insights as to what is going from the tarot perspective.
Podcasts – I absolutely love Family Secrets with Dani Shapiro which grew out of her incredible book, Inheritance. The stories are incredibly moving and I love Dani’s manner, thoughtfullness and intelligence.
I also love NormaLife with Norma Kamali. Norma, for those who don’t know, is a clothing designer whom I have been a fan of all of my adult life. What many don’t know is that she is a veritable expert in all things health related, especially women’s health, and her insatiable curiosity has led her to many fascinating people in the holistic health care world, some of whom she interviews on this podcast. She is unbelievably vibrant with incredible energy at 74; one of my idols.
The Ghee Spot Podcast by my fabulous Ayurveda teacher, Katie Silcox is a great resource for those wanting to stick their toes into the fascinating world of Ayurveda. Katie is such a light and breath of fresh air while being infinitely knowledgeable.
I so hope you have enjoyed this and have some take-aways. Again, if you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the above further just let me know – I am here!
Wishing you much love and light and the best of health.
Warmest, Nicole
FIVE ESSENTIAL OILS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR DAILY LIFE IN 2020
December 1, 2019 – From Iyasu Colonic’s December 2019 Newsletter
Hello! Happy December and Happy Holiday Season – we’re deep in it already! Although we all have a lot going on, now’s a terrific time to think about incorporating some new habits into our daily practices to support and enhance our energy and to be ready for what is, according to all of my astrological sources, going to be an incredible year.
An easy, fun and delicious practice to incorporate is the usage of aromatherapy – essential oils, and here are a few of my go-to’s.
First of all, before I get to my list, be sure that you choose high-quality essential oils without filler of any kind – read the labels and/or purchase your oils from a company you love and trust. Although I purchase my oils from a number of different companies for different purposes, I find Doterra to be excellent and comprehensive but you can have a lot of fun experimenting for yourself. (Happy to consult with you if you’d like!)
So here goes:
1) Peppermint – This fresh and uplifting oil can be used in so many ways: Yes, to uplift and help wake you up – I like to put it on the back of my neck in the morning and in the diffuser I run in my kitchen while I’m eating breakfast and reading the newspaper (yes I still do that). A couple of drops of Peppermint oil can also be put in your drinking water – it’s so refreshing and it can help to calm your tummy. It may also be rubbed on your temples if you have a headache.
2) Lemon – Lemon oil is another one for the morning (or anytime) diffuser – in fact, more often than not I put Lemon and Peppermint oils in my diffuser together. This is a terrific combo to start the day with. The same combo can be used in your drinking water; Lemon is well known for its cleansing effects and sipping at Lemon (or Lemon/Peppermint) water all day is an excellent substitute for or addition to drinking fresh Lemon water first thing in the morning (an Ayurvedic staple) and will keep you refreshed, hydrated and feeling clean from the inside all day long.
3) Frankincense – This magical and historical oil has a myriad of uses. It’s excellent for your skin and I like to put a few drops on my face either under or over my moisturizer (probably best to test on the back of your hand before putting on your face if you’re sensitive or tend to be allergic). I also like to put on a drop on the back of my neck at the base of the occiput (top of the spine) and a couple of drops on the bottom of my feet to keep my brain functioning ultimately. Frankincense can also help you sleep so placement of a couple of drops in these areas before bedtime might be useful for you as well.
4) Helichrysum – while a bit on the expensive side, I love to use this oil on my face along with my Frankincense as it is soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory. I also like the drop at the top of the back of my neck for brain functioning.
5) Vetiver – I love Vetiver to help me sleep. While Lavendar is more commonly known to help with sleep and is very popular, it’s not my favorite scent and I haven’t found it to be particularly helpful in this regard personally. I love Vetiver’s earthy scent on the other hand and put it on my wrists, temples, feet, and back of the neck right before bed – it really seems to help.
I hope you’ve found this to be interesting, helpful and inspiring! My best wishes for very happy holidays, and remember, if you need some last minute gifts there are some beautiful crystal jewelry pieces as well as unmounted crystals at Stephanie’s office; and if you like what you see but not exactly what you’re looking for, reach out – I’ll be happy to help! I’m also scheduling my Life Enhancement Sessions through the holidays and for next year – I’m here if you need me, if you want to treat yourself or if you want to try something new – just email me at nicole@nvisionbynicolefoos.com or call or text (310)995-3729.
Warmest, Nicole
SARAH E. THOMAS OF UPPER CLARITY’S VLOGCAST ON, ESSENTIALLY, POWER PIECE PENDANTS!
Well worth a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4vSobfGSvw. If your yearning is inspired for one I would so love to make it for you!!
NICOLE’S CORNER – NOVEMBER 2019
November 1, 2019 – from Iyasu Colonics November Newsletter
So….it was approaching the end of the month when I always start thinking about what I want to write about for this newsletter, but I was a bit distracted by various celebrations for my 60th(!!!) birthday for which I’m very grateful (the celebrations and the birthday!), and I figured I had plenty of time to come up with my article during the beginning of this week….BUT at 3:00 am yesterday morning we were evacuated from our home in Brentwood due to the Getty Fire. My husband and I had about half an hour to gather what we thought most necessary to bring and our dogs and get out, which we did to the tune of hearing “Evacuate, evacuate” via bullhorn as we left – needless to say, very frightening, stressful and surreal. I’m now ensconced at my parents’ house a few miles away from my home and am hoping that the winds that are expected to kick up tonight don’t cause much more damage than the eight homes that have been lost so far; of course my heart goes out to those homeowners and their families.
Having this experience made me think, as I have many times in my life, about the profound importance of self-care, including the ability to self-soothe in difficult, stressful times. I have found that learning and developing a toolbox of soothing modalities and methods has helped me to remain calm and relatively clear-headed when these events occur, which they inevitably will from time to time.
These include:
1) Meditation, as regularly as possible (ideally daily) even if just for a
a few minutes.I have been meditating for many years, although the form which it takes has evolved over the years. Lately, I have been trying to meditate for half an hour in the early morning right after I get up; I do some deep breathing and prayer to get into it and sink in. Of course some days are harder than others. Very recently, all signs have been pointing to TM, and I’m very much looking forward to my TM training at the beginning of the month. In TM one is encouraged to meditate twice per day for at least 20 minutes and I’m sure there will be an adjustment period before I can fully incorporate that change into my practice, but I’ll be very interested to see what that brings. In any event, during meditation I try to enhance my experience by holding crystals in my hands which pertain to what I want to work on that particular day – grounding, deepening my intuition, creativity, heart opening, etc. I try to incorporate crystals into many of my self-care practices.
Incorporating meditation into my life has unquestionably brought me to being calmer and less reactive – it’s a wonderful, essential tool.
2) Eating supportive, nurturing foods – As I’ve gotten older, and as
I’ve studied food as medicine as part of my Ayurveda training, my appreciation for how crucial eating well is to how I feel every day. My sensitivity has grown, which has served to keep me on my toes more, so to speak, in that I can’t get away which much indulging without feeling bad. In the long run, I know I demand a lot of myself and love having a lot of energy, so I focus on eating food that sustains me and helps me to feel my best which of course results in less stress on the body.
3) Sleep – This is a challenge for me and has been my whole life; I
know this is the case for many people as well. So I’ve developed my toolbox within my more general toolbox, just for sleep issues. These include:
– Reading to help get me to sleep. I love to read and find that doing so before trying to go to sleep distracts the first layer of my consciousness and serves to turn off the monkey mind. Reading can also help if I wake up in the middle of the night with my mind racing, but there are bunch of other things I like to try first.
– Listening (with headphones) to soothing music. One of my favorites is a Tibetan bowls track but there is so much out there to choose from. Another is one of the nine or ten hour Solfeggio frequency tracks readily accessible on YouTube;f some of which clear the chakras, some of which detox the system, and some of which are amazing for heart opening. It’s fun to try different ones and develop your own go-to library.
– Breathwork – I use a particular technique that hyper-oxygenates the blood and then leads to deep relaxation. I incorporate this technique into most of my Life Enhancement Sessions and am happy to do sessions that focus on learning this technique. I’ll often use essential oils to open my chakras before I do this technique and/or hold crystals in my hands to enhance the experience.
– Reiki – I’ll often do Reiki on myself in the middle of the night to self-sooth which never fails to get me back to sleep. Treating yourself to regular Reiki sessions can have a similar effect.
4) Self-Care – Taking care of yourself is not an indulgence (although it should feel good!) – it’s a necessity. Regular body work to keep your system clean and clear is so important to keep you at your best, even if it means interrupting your busy day. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
Have a wonderful month – warmest, Nicole
Consider…A Fall Ayurvedic Cleanse to Re-set Your Body, And Special October Offer
October 1, 2019 – from Iyasu Colonics October Newsletter
Hi Everyone – Happy October and Happy Fall!
Fall is truly far and away my favorite time of year. I love the cooler weather (ok so we don’t really have that yet here in Southern California but it will get here eventually), the change of light (its subtle but I can see it), Fall clothes…..Anyway, part of Ayurvedic tradition (which believes that good digestion is the foundation for excellent health) is to do cleanses at the change of season to prepare the body for the coming shifts in weather, the way we eat, etc, and the most important times to cleanse are considered to be the transition of Winter into Spring and secondarily the transition of Summer into Fall. I love the idea of honoring the shift into my favorite season by engaging in a few days of cleansing. So if you feel the same and are up for something different, here’s a relatively simple protocol you could follow for just three days.
This cleanse is based on eating Kitchari, a traditional Ayurvedic dish which is the cornerstone of Ayurvedic detoxification. It does not include fasting or going hungry at all.
1) First of all, before you start your cleanse, which ideally would take place when you have relatively few obligations (assuming that’s even possible for you), say for a week before you start, remove the following from your diet:
Alcohol
Recreational Drugs
Coffee (Matcha tea is ok)
Gluten
Sugar
Dairy
Fried Foods
Packaged Foods
It would be great to be able to limit yourself to the following:
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Grains
• Organic tempeh or tofu
• Wild-caught salmon or organic chicken (if non-vegetarian)
• Herbal teas
• Stevia
2) For the Kitchari recipe you will need, per day:
– 2 cups quinoa
– 1 cup yellow split Mung beans or Dal. (Most natural grocery stores will have these, as well as Indian supermarkets; or you can order them from Banyan Botanicals at
http://www.banyanbotanicals.com.
– 6 cups filtered water
– 2 tbsp. Ghee or Coconut oil (organic, extra virgin)
– Kombu, the Japanese sea vegetable. You can find it on Amazon, in the Japanese aisle of
WholeFoods or at your local Asian supermarket
– 1 red onion, chopped
– 2 tsp.Turmeric
– 1 tsp.Cumin
– 1 tsp.Mustard Seeds
– 1 tsp.Sea salt
– Greens (kale, spinach, broccoli, chard)
• Garnish: Lime and cilantro
Optional Spices:
• 1/2 tbsp. grated fresh ginger or ginger paste
• 1 tsp. fennel seeds
• 4 Cardamom pods or 2 tsp.
• 1 Cinnamon stick or 2 tsp.
• 1 tsp. Coriander (recommended for extra detox)
• 1 tsp. Cayenne pepper or green chilies
3) To make the Kitchari, first of all, soak the mung beans overnight or at least 6 hours for optimal digestion; rinse and drain the mung beans and wash the quinoa.
– In a large pan (you’ll be making everything in this pan so pick a large one), heat the 2 tbsp.ghee or coconut oil. Sauté the mustard seeds until you hear a popping sound.
– Add the chopped onions to the pan and sauté until translucent.
– Add the 6 cups of water, the mung beans, quinoa, kombu and spices to the pan (basically everything except the greens.)
– Bring to boil and then reduce heat and let simmer for 30-40minutes or until well cooked to a soft and creamy consistency.
– Stir in the greens for a few minutes when you are ready to eat, as you don’t want to overcook them.
– Serve in a bowl, eating mindfully. Squeeze a lime, garnish with cilantro and enjoy!
4) You’ll be eating Kitchari for your breakfast, lunch and dinner for the three days of the cleanse. This is called a mono-diet and the theory is that eating this way enables the body to digest that food better than if you were eating a wide range of ingredients at the same time. Your body is less confused with just one type of food can secrete the right amount of acid to break down only that food.
5) Try to avoid snacking (as much herbal tea as you want is fine) or any strenuous activity. Rather try your best to relax and nurture yourself during this relatively short period of time.
6) By the end of the three-day period you will feel a renewed sense of balance, inner-peace and calmness, all from giving your mind and body a break.
Your digestion will improve, your thoughts become clearer and your body begins to heal itself naturally, just by giving it a chance.You also may experience clearer and more vibrant skin, better sleep, lack of anxiety and reduced sugar cravings. If you love the results and want to continue with the cleanse a little longer, go for it!
7) After you’re done with the cleanse, slowly begin integrating more foods back into your diet, starting with more cooked vegetables and eventually adding raw vegetables back in. Listen to your body as to what feels right.
This is a general cleanse great for all three of the Ayurvedic body types I spoke about last month. For a cleanse more tailored to your body type or to work together to improve your digestion (and therefore your life!) on a more comprehensive basis; or for any other of my Life Enhancement Sessions (which you can read about here:
https://www.nvisionbynicolefoos.com/life-transformation-sessions/), please contact me at either
nicole@nvisionbynicolefoos.com or (310)995-3729 (call or text). I would love to meet and work with you!
And, since I love Fall so much, if you contact me to schedule a session during the month of October (the session does not have to take place within the month), at the time of your session I will gift you a starter set of crystals for your purse, desk, nightstand, etc. consisting of:
Rose Quartz to open the heart
Clear Quartz for enhanced, amplified energy
Aventurine for good fortune
Chevron Amethyst to enhance spirituality
Tiger’s Eye for protection and balance
Carnelian for creativity
Get them while they last!
All the best to you in the meantime – Warmest, Nicole
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What is Ayurveda?
September 1, 2019 – from Iyasu Colonics September Newsletter
The word “Ayurveda” literally means “the knowledge of life”; i.e. how to live life in the best possible way, and views digestion as the key to excellent health. It is a “back-to-basics” approach to living and yet is highly magical and profound. Its roots stem from the oldest spiritual texts of ancient India, the Vedas, and is thought to be humanity’s most ancient healing science. It is deeply self-nurturing and self-empowering and introduces balance into every aspect of your life.
Central to living one’s best life from the Ayurvedic point of view is the balancing of the “agni” – i.e. the digestive fire, which is a life-long challenge for most, and requires constant monitoring as it can change based on what we eat, how we sleep, how we deal with the challenges in our lives, the time of day, the time of year, and so many other factors. The state of our digestive fire also is a factor of our “dosha”, our body type. According to Ayurveda there are three basic body types – “Vata” – usually fairly spare and slim; “Pitta” – medium frame, compact; and “Kapha” – heavier, denser build. However the doshas are about so much more than just build – they contemplate your personality type and habits as well.
Curious about what dosha you might be? There are many quizzes online: but here’s one I particularly like: https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/body-type/Dosha-Quiz?gclid=CjwKCAjwzJjrBRBvEiwA867bykPDMg_acNF_oqZORR5TUuQ1wDLJb0jSYL-KFXUG3E6ZYWiOEbWY6BoCx38QAvD_BwE.
Ayurvedic counseling, one of the services I offer, will provide you with a myriad of ways in which to nurture yourself so as to stoke and maintain your digestive fire, learn about how your body works, and implement changes in your life via which you will create a healthier and happier future.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions; I look forward to meeting and working with you!
I can be reached at nicole@nvisionbynicolefoos.com or call or text me at (310)995-3729.
Warmest, Nicole
Six Stones to Start Off Your Crystal Collection
August 1, 2019 – from Iyasu Colonics August 2019 Newsletter
If you’re new to the fascinating world of crystals you can quickly become overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of all there is to learn and know. I, for one, have been fascinated by stones for essentially my entire life, and felt myself to be fairly knowledgeable well before I started making crystal jewelry as to the properties of many of them, but I sure have learned an enormous amount since then and am quite aware that I’ve only scratched the surface. In fact, those of you who know me personally know that I’m a pretty big social media fan, but what you probably don’t know is that my favorite Facebook Group as of late is called “Rocks, Fossils and Minerals Identification” – you can post a picture of a stone you want to identify and you’ll immediately get all kinds of responses and opinions. Way too much fun. I always look at the comments even if I think I know the answer just to test myself. Anyone can join if interested!
Anyway, I thought it might be helpful to post about a “starter kit” of stones to have in your arsenal if you’re just beginning to put together a collection – whether in jewelry form or otherwise. (All of these are pieces handmade by me; some are still available and I have many other stones in all of these categories. I also have many crystals of all of these types (and many more) available for non-jewelry purposes, some of which are on display at Stephanie’s office.) Here goes:
1. Smokey Quartz for Grounding and Protection – Smokey Quartz comes in an enormous range of colors, from almost clear to deep transparent brown.
Wearing or carrying Smokey Quartz is said to keep you calm, balanced and centered and to ward off negativity, fear and darkness. And we can all use that these days.
2. Carnelian for Creativity – This beautiful orange-red stone is said to help you “find your passion” as well as to build confidence and courage to move forward in manifesting whatever that passion turns out to be.
3. Citrine for Abundance and Success – Citrines can also range widely in color, again from almost clear looking to deep golden to almost brown-ish. Some have quite a bit of rutilation (hair-like interior growths which look amazing and add to the inner life of the stone).
Citrine is said to attract abundance on all levels and also helps with creativity and manifestation. As an added bonus, the rutile serves to amplify the energy of the stone.
4. Rose Quartz for Heart Opening and Forgiveness – Think pink whether the palest petal variety or a medium rose; it’s gorgeous whether polished or raw.
Rose Quartz also protects the vulnerable heart and soothes the hurt of loss as well as supports self-love and acceptance.
5. Amethyst, the Spirituality Stone – Amethyst comes not only in delicious purple tones but also, as I recently learned, in shades of gray ranging into black. (Many of the Druzy rings and pendants I’ve made are in this color range).
Amethyst has purifying energy and helps to connect you with your spirituality as well as to release addictive behaviors. It’s an excellent meditation stone.
6. Clear Quartz for Balanced and Harmonized Energy and Amplification – By far the most popular of all crystals, Clear Quartz ‘s exquisite clarity brings balance and enhances the energies of all other stones.
As stunning as the clarity is, the inclusions make each stone that much more interesting.
This is a good jumping off point for beginning a crystal collection or for filling in the blanks. I hope you’ve found this to be helpful and informative and of course I’m happy to address any questions you might have or to help you put together your own collection.
As always I can be reached at (310)995-3729 (call or text) or nicole@nvisionbynicolefoos.com, and I look forward to meeting and working with you!
Warmest, Nicole
How Does Crystal Healing Work and What Does it Have To Do With Chakras?
July 1, 2019 – from Iyasu Colonics July 2019 Newsletter
Hello and happy almost 4th of July! Wishing you all a safe, happy and healthy one with friends and family; maybe we’ll finally be getting some sunshine soon!
Let’s start this discussion off by defining what a crystal is, from a scientific standpoint. A crystal is a solid consisting of atoms which are arranged in a specific repeating pattern. These patterns are called crystal systems. There are actually seven crystal systems: isometric, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, triclinic, hexagonal, and trigonal. Each is distinguished by the geometric shape of the cell which is repeated throughout the solid to form the crystal itself.
Fundamentally, everything in the universe is made of energy and different forms of matter and rays of light vibrate at different vibrational frequencies. Crystals vibrate at different frequencies depending on their matter, system, size, thickness and color (light frequency) and the frequency of each individual crystal (and crystal type) is constant as opposed to us humans whose frequencies change all the time depending on our stress levels, what we’ve been eating, how much we’ve been sleeping, our mood, and many other factors.
The proven scientific theory is that the energy field of crystals interacts with the energy field of the human body, raising the frequency and vibration of the body to that of the crystal being utilized – a process called “Entrainment”. This process works whether one is wearing or holding the crystal, has it placed on their body, or is sitting or lying next to it. (This process also pertains to the use of sound frequencies and essential oils, both of which I incorporate into my Life Enhancement Sessions. More on those topics in future newsletters!)
In any event, as I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, I am certified in Crystal Healing, among other modalities, and Chakra healing and balancing using crystals is the fourth component of my basic Life Enhancement Sessions.
“Chakra” is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel. Chakras are essentially the energy centers of the body, according to Buddhist and Hindu tradition. There are seven main Chakras which correspond to large nerve centers in the physical body, each with their own color, sound (mantra), and characteristics. They are located along the central channel of the body, from the base of the spine to the top of the head.
Here is a brief description of the seven Chakras:
1. Root Chakra: Our foundation, stability, security and basic needs. Located at the base of the spine. Associated with the color Red.
2. Sacral Chakra: Our center of creativity and sexuality. Located a couple of inches below the navel. Associated with the color Orange.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra: The source of our personal power. Located at the navel area. Associated with the color Yellow.
4. Heart Chakra: Our center of love, connection and forgiveness, the Heart Chakra also unites the lower three Chakras which pertain to matter and the upper three Chakras which pertain to spirit. Located at the heart, and associated with the color Pink.
5. Throat Chakra: The source of verbal expression and the extent to which we are able to speak our individual truth. Located at the base of the throat. Associated with the color Sky Blue.
6. Third Eye Chakra: The Third Eye is the center of our intuition and it is located between the eyebrows. Associated with the color Indigo.
7. Crown Chakra: Our center of enlightenment and spiritual connection to our highest self and the Divine. Located at the top of the head. Associated with the color Purple.
Ideally one’s Chakras are aligned and balanced, which allows energy to flow as it should. But living in modern society it is quite easy for them to become unbalanced.
During my Life Enhancement Sessions I use crystals that serve to balance each of the Chakras. For example – the Root Chakra is about our foundation, security, stability, etc. so I use grounding stones such as Hematite or red stones such as Red Jasper. While my client is lying on their back relaxing, I test out where each individual Chakra is at with my pendulum before placing the stones on the areas of the Chakras and see where the imbalances or stagnant areas are. I then place the stones on the Chakra areas and give them a few minutes to do their thing and then retest with my pendulum, repeating the process until is all is as it should be. I then remove the stones and move into the Reiki portion of the Session to do deeper healing work.
I also offer Life Enhancement Sessions which focus solely on Crystal Healing including grid work to focus on a client’s particular issues, but I’ll save a discussion on that for a future newsletter as well!
I’m of course more than happy to discuss your needs with you if you think you might be interested in a Life Enhancement Session. Also, if you’ve been in Stephanie’s office lately you may have noticed that there is now a selection of NVision by Nicole Foos Power Pieces available for purchase as well as some crystals for you to start or add to your home/office/purse/car collection or of course for gifts. I’d love to answer any questions you might have about them, to make a customized Power Piece just for you, or to work with you to find you crystals to enhance your daily life or that or your family and friends.
As always I can be reached at (310)995-3729 (call or text) or nicole@nvisionbynicolefoos.com, and I look forward to meeting and working with you!
Warmest, Nicole
What is a Life Enhancement Session Anyway?
June 1, 2019 – from Iyasu Colonics June 2019 Newsletter
Hello, happy June and Happy Summer! I’ve so enjoyed meeting those of Stephanie’s clients I’ve worked with so far, and so looking forward to working with any of you interested in treating yourself to a Life Enhancement Session (or Sessions) with me.
I chose the name “Life Enhancement Sessions” for what I offer as it is essentially an umbrella term for the variety of modalities I am trained in and bring elements of into every session, and these sessions are also a vehicle for you as the client to have me focus on what is of most interest to you.
My basic Life Enhancement Session consists of the following:
* A few minutes of discussion about your current experience of how you’re feeling in your body and any areas of pain, stress or difficulty, or anything that’s coming up for you in your life that you’d like to focus on.
* Easing you into the session with a body scan meditation and deep breathing, with the application of aromatic oils to help you relax and open up.
* A few minutes of pranayama yoga breathing to clear and open further.
* Chakra clearing using my pendulum and crystals for healing and balancing.
* Reiki to further clear and balance (I will discuss Reiki further below).
* Gently helping you to ground and emerge from your session.
* Pulling Tarot cards to further illuminate where you are in your life and offer some guidance towards your next steps.
Reiki is a universal white light energy which activates the natural healing processes of the body and restores physical and emotional well-being. It brings about the alignment of energies and releases energy blockages leading to harmony and balance. It is also a tool for the growth of consciousness.
Reiki is channeled through the hands of a practitioner such as myself who has personally been initiated and attuned into Reiki, a process via which the Reiki energy path is set into motion.
During a Reiki session I will be using light, non-invasive touch on you to channel the Reiki energy through my hands to a series of locations on your feet, knees, head and front and back of your torso, with a focus on any areas where you might be experiencing pain or difficulty including your limbs.
Many fall asleep during a Reiki session which is never a bad thing; it just means you’re really relaxed which is part of the goal! You will also most likely feel clearer, refreshed, a reduction in pain, comforted and nurtured. The results can feel quite subtle but they tend to become more obvious the more sessions you do.)
Alternatively, I can also do, for example:
* A session focused only on Tarot card reading
* A session incorporating most of that mentioned above but primarily focused on the pranayama yoga breathing technique which is one I utilize often either instead of or in addition to meditation or to help me sleep.
* Sessions incorporating Ayurveda wellness and/or yoga therapy protocols and ways in which to make these practices a part of your daily routine.
I’m absolutely up for being creative in terms of focusing on whatever you would like to explore or whatever we decide together would be most beneficial for you. You can read more about what I have to offer on my website: http://www.nvisionbynicolefoos.com.
I am offering my Life Enhancement sessions at Stephanie’s office on Thursdays. Each session takes about an hour and a half and will cost $175.
To schedule please contact me at nicole@nvisionbynicolefoos.com or (310)995-3729.
I so look forward to meeting and working with you! Nicole
NVision By Nicole Foos Power Piece Jewelry and Crystals Are Coming to Iyasu in June!
June 1, 2019 – from Iyasu Colonics June 2019 Newsletter
If you have visited my website (and if you haven’t, please have a look! – http://www.nvisionbynicolefoos.com), you’ve seen that in addition to my Life Enhancement Sessions I offer what I call Power Piece jewelry made up of crystals of various kinds with a variety of healing/enhancement properties and, generally, sterling silver. (I also have available some sterling silver pendants, bracelets and earrings, many of which are unisex, which I have designed myself.) I have both designed these pieces and do all of the silver smithing myself.
My intent behind designing these pieces was for the wearer to have a talisman (or a wardrobe of them) to wear and support them in whatever way or ways they might like or feel they need.
Starting at the beginning of June, a selection of my Power Pieces will be available for purchase at Stephanie’s office, located in a display case in the front room.
(Please note that I also do custom pieces and would be delighted to consult with you about a special Power Piece just for you, and can cast in whatever metal you like.)
I will also have available in the case a variety of crystals for you to use at home, in a selection of shapes – points for healing, gridding and display; palm stones for holding and comforting (I love to hold them while I’m sleeping!), etc. I am always more than happy to answer any questions you might have about the crystals or to consult with you about them, their properties and uses, and their care.
