Functional Medicine

In the past I have chosen not to write about this topic, but because I find it so central and important, I have decided to try to put into words what mental pain can mean.

Pain, whether physical or mental, is felt and experienced in different ways. It is often difficult to describe pain in words. I would describe pain as an effect of trauma. These are feelings that usually hurt your soul because of something specific that happened and/or affected you. It could be losing someone you love, an assault, prolonged periods of unbearable stress, being in physical pain or some other trauma. Common to all traumas is that not only can trauma haunt the mind, it can also affect the nervous system. Our nervous system learns to cling to trauma as a survival mechanism. This is why we often feel anxious and on guard when we anticipate another traumatic event (Levine, 2010), leading to debilitating symptoms included in what we call post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A few weeks ago, our youngest child started complaining that she had a sore throat and my first thought was: "Oh, no, not now!" I really didn't feel like everyone in the family was going to get sick and in the event of a sore throat also have to take antibiotics!

So instead of taking her to the doctor, I used my knowledge and compiled a list of what we did to boost her immune system, so that the healing process could begin.

The snow disappeared the day after it came, and it was once again grey and dreary outside. Instead of fussing about the weather, I thought I'd write a few lines about the stress of everyday life.

There is so much stress in the background of our lives today, I like to compare it to programs that you don't use, but that makes the computer get warm and buzzy. You can turn these programs off so your computer doesn't run out of battery quicker than necessary. The same goes for you and me. Get rid of the noise and focus on what's important. How do you do that, people usually ask me. There are different ways, of course, but I recommend that everyone meditate regularly, take walks in nature or just lie on the sofa for a while without anyone/anything disturbing them. It clears your mind and makes it easier to recharge properly! It's all about finding a way that works for you. After all, we're all different!

I love working with holistic health, because many health-related problems are actually preventable. The complexity of the holistic approach is challenging, as you have to get all the pieces of the puzzle and also put them in the right place to form a complete puzzle. At the same time, it is so amazingly cool that you can do so much about your lifestyle and life situation yourself. You make the decisions, you decide, you put the puzzle together and experience the results!

If the days go by too fast and you feel like you can't keep up, hit the pause button for a while! You need to stop by every now and then to check in and see how you're doing and how you're feeling! It's just at that moment when you feel you don't have time to do this that you really need to do it. The pause button is the best button ever invented. Sit down for a while, turn off the outside world, call it meditation if you like, and breathe. Give your body and mind time to just be for a while. Feel how your body feels. Are you tense somewhere? Does it hurt all over? Or does it feel very good? Are you happy? Do you feel sad? All feelings are okay, accept what is.

This is the third week in a row that I am home with sick children. Nothing serious, but still so much that it doesn't work to be in school or kindergarten. Combining VAB (short for taking care of sick children in Sweden) with starting up the business here in Sweden is not optimal. It's not easy to tick off meetings and phone calls when the youngest has a fever of 40 degrees. The idea is to be able to stay at home in Sweden when the children are sick, but unfortunately I haven't gotten into that system yet, and will be completely without income these days. And now there are a lot of VAB days coming up, we seem to be catching every autumn virus that exists in our vicinity.

Now I'm almost there! So far it's going as expected, some days I could write a novel and others I feel quite uninspired to write. That's precisely the challenge, to keep at it even when something else might be more appealing. To get into a routine, to get a few lines down despite inner resistance. Usually I get into periods where I write a lot (unpublished, so far) and then months can go by without me writing a word. So I thought it would be a little harder than it is with this challenge. Today, however, has been a day when I'd rather do something else than write:-)

Now I've been out and about at two different events and picked up a lot of inspiration! However, I find it incredibly interesting that they choose to have such a clear division of content at HarmoniExpo and All for Health (Allt för Hälsan in Swedish). HarmoniExpo was held in Solnahallen at the end of October, while All for Health was run together with Sthlm Food.

I am often struck by how a situation or event can be perceived in such different ways depending on who you ask. Most of the time we only assume how we think in a situation when something happens to us, we rarely think about how the other party thinks and feels in the same situation.

Exactly 4 years ago I wrote about this very thing - that everyone should put themselves in the shoes of the other person and try to see what he/she/they see: Yoga Sutras - Thoughtful words about knowing yourself.

Sometimes talking to someone you like and enjoy spending time with can give you so much energy. Today I had two such meetings in a row. Wow, I was so energized:-) I was so happy in my whole body, and the sun has been shining all day. Lovely!

Thought of the day:

Have you thought about how important friends can be on many levels?

I've just started going through old papers in my office and found a note that I remember so well when I was writing. I won't share when this was, but I thought I'd share what I wrote:

"If you have an opinion about something that you firmly believe in, then that opinion soon becomes your truth.

It has been raining and the sky has been grey for many, many days now. It affects me and it affects others. Fortunately, I can find one pleasure in the autumn weather and that is to light candles, lots of candles, to make it as cosy as it can get when there is autumn debris outside. And just before bedtime, it's almost a must to curl up on the couch wearing a fluffy sweater with a warm cup of tea on my lap.

Have you ever written or talked about yourself in the third person? It feels rather suspicious! Especially when you write about yourself for a sales purpose. Now that I'm building my business from the ground up, this was exactly the kind of task I was given earlier today:

"Johanna is a certified yoga and prenatal yoga teacher, holistic lifestyle coach and doula. She is passionate about all things related to preventative health, has a special focus on helping pregnant women, and sees yoga and nature as the best sources for re-energizing and maintaining a balance in everyday life."

Saturday morning I woke up in the middle of a dream. I was on a peninsula surrounded by warm coral blue water. There I was snorkelling and the most beautiful fish I had ever seen were swimming around me. It was so peaceful, beautiful and warm. A real paradise.

But I was only there in my dream, slowly waking up to another reality.

In my calendar today "Meeting with Johanna" was booked. Unfortunately, I did exactly what you absolutely should not do. I ignored that meeting and did something that I felt was more urgent. I tried to catch up and tick off things on my long to do list instead. Now I'm sitting here at night wondering how I could have been so stupid. That to do list will always be there, just with slightly different content from day to day. I would never ignore and disregard a meeting with someone else if it is booked in my calendar, so why did I not prioritize the meeting with myself today?

The moon affects us more than we might think. Even in ancient farming society, the light from the full moon was used for various outdoor activities such as harvesting, hunting and fishing.

Traditionally, the full moon has been thought to have supernatural properties, including the ability to summon sinister creatures and turn people into werewolves. Just the thought of it could induce insomnia, but several research reports suggest that sleep problems at full moon are not just a hoax.

What a neat word, energy creatures! We live in a world full of energy and we ourselves are also part of that world.

Earlier today, during a work project, I really felt how this energy clearly can change and how quickly it can happen. For a few days we have been sitting 10 people in a large office and there has been a very positive energy, despite a boring project. We've been working on it and somehow made the boring feel okay. Now, as the project draws to a close, we are suddenly told that we will not be reimbursed for the last day. Because we have worked so well, the tasks will end earlier than expected. When this news reached us in the office, it was as if the air had completely gone out of the room. You could almost feel the energy. Everyone started to work more slowly, the positive spirit just disappeared and no one felt motivated to do a good job anymore. The damage was already done when the employer found out how we, who were working, were taking it all. Despite attempts by the employer to repair the damage, it made no difference to the energy in the room.

Now I'm really starting to feel like I'm getting my business off the ground. I have many exciting meetings and conferences to look forward to this autumn! I just wonder if the Swedish market is ready for all my ideas, that remains to be seen:-)

Thought of the day:

What are you looking forward to this autumn?

Last Friday, my children and I picked Daddy D up at the train station. We see him walking at a distance and see that he is carrying something.

- Is it a flower? says V.

- No, I don't think so, I reply.

- You didn't ask him to buy a flower, Mum, so it's probably something else, says O.

It was something else he came carrying. It was not a flower.

I wasn't surprised this morning when I woke up and realized I had caught a bad cold! It's almost comical! I have had and have a huge stress load from various sources and the sum of these has broken down my immune system and after a few bad nights sleep, the cold breaks out. When I don't give my body the opportunity to rest and recover it immediately punishes me, bam! And I am grateful! Grateful because I am so sensitive and because I know how my body works.

Last night I wrote that I don't like full days and today I can only conclude that one consequence of full days is poor sleep. At least for me. And then hocus pocus I'm in a vicious cycle. I need time for recovery, otherwise I don't switch off at night and have trouble falling asleep and sleep restlessly. The next morning I wake up feeling like I never fell asleep and that's no fun. Especially when a busy schedule awaits again. Tonight will have to be an early night. Hopefully it will help to break the vicious cycle. And next week I'll have to try to plan better! Sleeping 8 hours every night has not been something I've managed during my autumn detox and it feels like a big failure. Because that part of the detox is at least as important as the food I eat!

I don't like fully booked days, when there is no time for a quiet moment. Today has been such a day. It works sometimes, but not in the long run. Unfortunately, this is exactly how a lot of people choose to live, because it is somehow the norm. That's the way it should be.

I disagree. We all have different choices. There are choices. There are things I must have and there are things I want. There are things I have to do and there are things I want to do. Ultimately, the choice is mine.

I am a trained Postpartum Doula. In California I was never asked what I offer when I work as a Postpartum Doula, now I get asked that question pretty much daily. And I understand why! Sweden has a very different social system built around pregnancy and childbirth compared to some other countries. BUT that doesn't mean Swedish women don't have the same basic needs as women in the US for example. After all, we are all women!

You can use your gut in many different ways, but one thing is for sure, you should never defy it. That's one of my basic principles.

A simple example from earlier today was when I came back after leaving the kids at school and preschool. As I entered the kitchen, my gut told me to check the bags from the US one more time, because that's where the missing Manuka honey lie. I don't know why my intuition was giving me these signals at the time, but I did what my intuition told me to do. And sure enough, at the bottom of one of the bags in another bag lies the honey! Just like that. As I had thought and searched before without getting anywhere. And how appropriate that it turned up just today, as the girls and I are struggling with a sore throat.

Some days are completely impossible. To do lists are long and numerous, the phone rings, important emails pop up that need a quick response, the mobile phone beeps countless times, daydreams take over, meetings interrupt the writing when it's flowing best etc etc.

The ability to focus and be present is the key to good productivity, at work and in everyday life. To focus is to narrow your attention to something specific, to keep your eyes on a specific goal. It is the key to concentration, efficiency and clarity. The problem is that attention is a limited resource and distractions are all around us. There are many different things competing for our attention all the time, and that poses a bigger problem today than ever before. The brain is not built to "have too many balls in the air" all the time.

I was just listening to a Ted Talk about how we humans develop and what is important in the early years of life. Several British studies show similar results, namely that it is important not to start life in poverty, because then you are more likely not to do well later in life. Furthermore, and even more importantly, all the studies show that parents play an extremely important role in the early years of a child's life. Whether you are poor or rich.

It's almost the weekend again. I'm going offline. All weekend. It will be so nice! The computer will not be used and the phone will be on flight mode. I wonder if I can do that?

Thought of the day:

Do you ever go offline?

This article is part of The 50 day challenge, where I challenge myself to write an article a day for 50 days! The articles can be about anything, short or long, but I can't miss a single day!

I just had a conversation with an elderly lady who visited the health centre for various complaints. She tells me about this pill here and that pill there and how she wants them to help her so badly. How she wants so much to feel better soon.

I think during the conversation that it is good that she has sought treatment, but I also wonder what she has done to feel better, so I simply ask:

It's time to boost my energy for autumn! During my Detox Light, I not only focus on diet, but I also make sure that movement, meditation and sleep are priorities. Every day for 3 weeks, the following is on the schedule:

Movement: 30 min

Meditation: 15 min

Sleep: 8 h

I do not specify the type of movement or meditation or when during the day this is done. I try to listen to the body and adapt to the mood of the day. A detox should not be too difficult, because then it is easy to give up.

New Energy Women's Retreat!

When: March 9-11, 2018

Where: Santa Cruz Mountains, California

Why: For You to Relax, Reflect and Recharge!

THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT!

Camp Salamander is a quiet and private retreat located deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California. I'll be hosting a small group of wonderful women at this beautiful isolated place, where you will be offered plenty of time for relaxation, personal reflection and to soak in the peaceful surrounding nature.

Everything turned out as I wished and I have now managed to book a long weekend at the wonderful Camp Salamander in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California. The place is extremely popular and is booked up more than a year in advance. I was just notified that I have access to the place thanks to a cancellation. Thanks for that!

How I miss Amazon Prime and Google Express! In California, I shopped online for almost everything except fresh produce and depending on where I ordered from, it usually took between 1-2 days to get what I ordered to my door and it worked 24/7! Amazon really pushes prices down, so it's also cheaper to shop online than it is in stores. Google Express has the same prices as in store. I didn't pay a shipping fee, but the services I used had an annual fee (which I easily earned when I used them). When something ran out at home, I simply reordered it. I didn't have to run around looking in different stores and I just bought what we needed. That way we saved both time and money.

Today it will be a late post. It has been a busy and rewarding day. Bringing the kids home relatively late from preschool and after school. Immediately get started on dinner. At the same time, the eldest daughter thinks she should surprise her siblings with dessert, as it's our name day today, both hers and mine. I give my approval and she takes out blueberries from the freezer. I demonstrate in an educational way how to transfer the frozen blueberries to the pie dish in an easy way, then I turn around to continue with dinner. It only takes 2 seconds before I hear a thud and the entire counter and kitchen floor are drenched in blueberries. Oops, is all she gets out. Mom, it didn't turn out the way you showed... There are blueberries everywhere! We're all hungry and tired. Not a good time to cause chaos.

Today is one of those days that has just flown by, without me feeling like I've gotten much done. Do you recognize yourself?

It's almost time to pick up the kids and then continue the day with cooking, driving kids to soccer and gym practice, laundry, dishes and picking up. In other words, just another day at the office.

I'm updating last year's autumn detox and it occurs to me that I need to do some proper research on good Swedish products and supplements, as much of what I used last year is unavailable here in Sweden. I've spent a lot of time finding the best in California that has high quality for a reasonable price and now I have to do the same again here. Something I have already learned, however, is that in general (unfortunately) what is most expensive is usually also the best. In that case, I have to decide which products and supplements I really need!

Today Facebook reminded me of a post I made exactly 5 years ago and it couldn't have been a better day for this post. Just as valuable today, as it was 5 years ago!

Women's Silent Retreat!

When: April 28-30, 2017

Where: Santa Cruz Mountains, California

Why: For You to Relax, Reflect and Recharge!

THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT!

Camp Salamander is a quiet and private retreat located deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California. I'll be hosting a small group of wonderful women at this beautiful isolated place, where you will be offered plenty of time for relaxation, personal reflection and to soak in the peaceful surrounding nature.

Physical pain is coming soon

Welcome to Newsletter #3!

Today I wanted to share the self-care techniques which I use and now implement in my everyday life. They are part of my everyday life, because I believe these techniques are what is needed to maintain daily health and happiness.

The first time I heard the abbreviation TLC, I had to check it up online! For those of you who haven´t heard of it before, it means Tender Loving Care. During my personal journey I have learnt that it is super important to give yourself TLC everyday! Many of us are taught that taking time for ourselves is selfish, that we need to think of others first. But you can't pour from an empty cup! I have tried it so many times and it just doesn't work! You NEED to take care of yourself first.

Welcome to Newsletter #2!

I hope you are enjoying the Holiday Season! The New Year is all about new beginnings and new expectations in each and every individual's life. It is one of the best days wherein you can show your love, affection, and care towards yourself, your friends and family members.

Welcome to my very first Newsletter #1!

The Christmas Holidays are just around the corner! 2016 have been a very intense year for many of us. It is time to let go of everything that has been, and open up for whatever is coming 2017. Let´s begin already today!

I am truly excited to release my very first newsletter. Newsletter #1! 2017, here I come!

Mother and Daughter's Retreat!

When: May 6-8, 2016

Where: Santa Cruz Mountains, California

Why: For You and Your daughter to Relax, Reflect and Recharge!

This Retreat is now SOLD OUT!

Escape the hustle bustle of daily life, and join me on this rejuvenating getaway! Camp Salamander is a quiet and private Retreat located deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California.

New Energy Women's Retreat!

When: March 18-20, 2016

Where: Santa Cruz Mountains, California

Why: For You to Relax, Reflect and Recharge!

THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT!

Camp Salamander is a quiet and private retreat located deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California. I'll be hosting a small group of wonderful women at this beautiful isolated place, where you will be offered plenty of time for relaxation, personal reflection and to soak in the peaceful surrounding nature.

Mother and Daughter's Retreat!

When: Friday October 9, 2015 at 6:00 pm - Sunday October 11, 2015 at 12:00 pm

Where: Santa Cruz, California

Why: For You to Relax, Reflect and Recharge!

This Retreat is now SOLD OUT!

Escape the hustle bustle of daily life, and join me on this rejuvenating getaway! You will wake up to the smell of salty air as the fog drifts among the pine and eucalyptus trees and fall asleep to the crash of the waves. The stunning beach house where I am hosting this Retreat is brand new and the view from the upper deck is amazing.

The raspberry in my hand feels cold, is dark red and smells wonderful. Before I put it in my mouth I just give the raspberry my full attention for a few seconds using my senses to really appreciate it. When I put it in my mouth I can hear how my teeth breaks it down into smaller pieces as I enjoy the lovely taste. Mindfulness! That is what life is about, to really enjoy, every single part. It is when we allow ourselves to just be, and not always do, that we really understand and appreciate what life is all about.

New Energy Women's Retreat!

When: May 8-10, 2015

Where: Santa Cruz Mountains, California

Why: For You to Relax, Reflect and Recharge!

THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT!

Camp Salamander is a quiet and private retreat located deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California. I'll be hosting a small group of wonderful women at this beautiful isolated place, where you will be offered plenty of time for relaxation, personal reflection and to soak in the peaceful surrounding nature.

Soon it will be time to say Happy New Year and spend a few minutes summing up the year that has been and fantasizing about how next year can be much better or at least as good... It's time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions, if you believe in them...

But first I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the year that has been. Many people have visited my website and read what I have written and I am very happy about that! The following 3 articles have been the most popular in 2014:

I think Christmas is the best holiday of the year! I love Christmas! I am NOT going spend my time online in front of Facebook or reading emails on Christmas Eve itself. I'm going to spend time with my husband, my kids and my niece. I'm hoping for the perfect Christmas ham, sunshine and lots of quality time together. There will be homemade food, classic games such as yatzy, cards and monopoly and of course Donald Duck. I need to see Ferdinand smelling his flowers before Santa arrives. Because Santa is important and I really hope he finds his way here because only good children live here!

The biological evolution is going on all the time, albeit at a very slow pace. We humans, like all other living things, change over time by natural selection whether we like it or not.

Another type of evolution that is more evident in today's society is the cultural one, how we learn new things and how we use our bodies and interact with each other based on learned information. This is also a type of evolution that affects us greatly.

The 6 basic principles, initiated by Paul Chek, are based on creating a balance between yin and yang. The yin principles consist of diet, hydration and sleep, while the yang principles consist of breathing techniques, positive thinking and movement. The 6 basic principles for a healthy lifestyle are described in more detail in my previous blog series: Introduction, Diet and Fluid Balance, Sleep, Positive thinking, Movement and Breathing Techniques and Discussion.

This is part 6 of 6 in my blog series on the 6 basic principles of a healthy lifestyle - the following articles are also included in the series: Introduction (1/6), Diet and Hydration (2/6), Sleep (3/6), Positive thinking (4/6) and Movement and Breathing Techniques (5/6).

The 6 basic principles work very well when building your health from within. To find the balance between yin and yang, you need to work as much on the basic yin principles: diet, hydration and sleep as on the basic yang principles: breathing techniques, positive thinking and movement. Of course, this is easier to do in theory than in practice. As I wrote earlier, it's easiest to start by making sustainable changes where you feel your resistance is easiest to overcome and then keep working from there. And again, don't make too many changes at once, let it take time!

This is part 5 of 6 in my blog series on the 6 basic principles of a healthy lifestyle - the following articles are also included in the series: Introduction (1/6), Diet and Hydration (2/6), Sleep (3/6), Positive thinking (4/6) and Discussion (6/6).

Life is movement. Your body is made for movement. When you move, your muscles work, moving water, blood and oxygen around your body. If you don't move, these vital substances can't be transported around your body and waste products can't be effectively removed from your body.

This is part 4 of 6 in my blog series on the 6 basic principles for a healthy lifestyle - the following articles are also included in the series: Introduction (1/6), Diet and Hydration (2/6), Sleep (3/6), Movement and Breathing Techniques (5/6) and Discussion (6/6).

We all have our own set of values that we live by, even if we are not always good at describing them clearly. Values represent the needs we have that must be met in order to live a meaningful life - they define how we want to live our lives. It is only when our lifestyle is in line with our values that we can be truly happy. So take the time and opportunity to question whether you are living your life in a way that makes you happy.

This is part 3 of 6 in my blog series on the 6 basic principles for a healthy lifestyle - the following articles are also included in the series: Introduction (1/6), Diet and Hydration (2/6), Positive thinking (4/6), Movement and Breathing Techniques (5/6) and Discussion (6/6).

Through evolution, our bodies have been designed to follow natural rhythms. For example, the movement of the sun, moon and earth affects our hormonal rhythms. When the sun rises, it triggers hormones in our bodies that make us wake up in the morning and when the sun sets, it triggers hormones that affect our recovery function during the night.

This is part 2 of 6 in my blog series on the 6 basic principles for a healthy lifestyle - the following articles are also included in the series: Introduction (1/6), Sleep (3/6), Positive thinking (4/6), Movement and Breathing Techniques (5/6) and Discussion (6/6).

Diet and hydration can dramatically affect your energy levels and biochemical composition, which in turn affects your emotional and mental reality. When our diet is deficient, there is simply not enough energy or focused thought activity to initiate or sustain the changes needed for us to take good care of ourselves. My recommendations based on my own experiences are to vary and rotate the diet, to use only "real" food and to make it as simple as possible so that it works in real life, to eat 5 times a day and to always eat as much as you need.

This is part 1 of 6 in my blog series on the 6 basic principles for a healthy lifestyle - the following articles are also included in the series: Diet and Hydration (2/6), Sleep (3/6), Positive thinking (4/6), Movement and Breathing Techniques (5/6) and Discussion (6/6).

It's not difficult to be healthy, vital and productive - it's just an active choice you need to make! Once you've made your choice, you need to know what to do to feel better, because there are so many different ways, ideas and pathways to choose from. I know from personal experience that you can do a lot for yourself and your health by following the 6 basic principles that I will describe over the next few days. They are easy to understand and best of all, they work!