Believe the Universe is benevolent and looking out for your greater good. Start each day by asking and answering this question. What are the top ten things I am grateful for today?

Here is my list:

1. The power of creativity.

2. The feeling of tropical breezes blowing on my face.

3. The love of family.

4. The inspiration of friends.

5. The waves in the ocean.

6. The opportunity of free enterprise.

7. The ability to walk.

8. The air I breathe.

9. The scintillation of nighttime stars.

10. The harmony of children’s voices.

About the Author:: Alison Miller is a mind-body wellness expert and Hawaii-based healer who strategically coaches and consults individuals to create the health, relationships and career to which they aspire.  Check out Alison’s blog, Live Inspired, to receive the best information about holistic wellness. To schedule an office, phone or Skype session visit Alison Miller Consulting & Coaching.

1) Avoid eating white food- that means white sugar, white bread, white potatoes or white milk from a black and white cow.
2) Bye Bye Booze. Perhaps a glass of wine 2-3 times a month.
3) Sleeeeeeeeeep. All you have to do is lie down and do nothing for 8 hours.
4) Vitamin C: Vitamin C keeps the skin elasticy and unwrinkled. Also helps us manage stress.
5) Get loads of sunshine! Stay hidden during highest heat but I let that sunshine in!
6) Cut back on toxins on the skin. Look for non-toxic cream, moisturizer, makeup, or suncreeen. 100% edible products are ideal.
7) H20:  Hydration keeps the cells from turning into prune-like wrinkled sacs.
8) Eat what you need, not always what you want, most of the time. The more nutrient packed your meals, the less you eat in the volume- the better for your bod!
9) Breathe Deep. The deeper and longer and slower you breathe the less you age
10) Laugh Often: Laughing lifts stress!
11) Kick the caffeine! Cut back on sucking back those coffees and sodas.

About the Author:: Summer Peters lives on Maui and offers services in Yoga, Massage, Surf Lessons, and Nutrition.  For information visit Summer’s Green Smoothies.  Also, follow Summer’s blog as she travels, hosts seasonal cleanses and shares healthy vitality recipes.

These links are…..www.summersgreensmoothies.com
and the blog is….http://surfyogamaui.wordpress.com

Are you ready to transform your life? Release pain and suffering? Are you ready for joy? It’s easier than you might think. Even the most difficult of life traumas and challenges can be healed through the power of happiness meditations. The antidotes to unhappiness are compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, and humility. Grow these qualities through meditation practice while revitalizing and restoring your natural connection to your own happiness, health, and healing. Make a minute to be mindful every hour of each day to focus on happiness. It’s who you are. A rose is always a rose no matter its condition. Happiness is who you are, no matter your current state of mind or situation. A rose flourishes with attention, nutrition, and care. Grow your happiness with the care of forgiveness, nutrition of compassion, and the care of humility.

About the Author:: Alison Miller is a mind-body wellness expert and Hawaii-based healer who strategically coaches and consults individuals to create the health, relationships and career to which they aspire.  Check out Alison’s blog, Live Inspired, to receive the best information about holistic wellness. To schedule an office, phone or Skype session visit Alison Miller Consulting & Coaching.

 7 Ways to Add Whole Foods to Your Diet

The more we learn about nutrition, the more it seems we need to eat the way people did a hundred years ago. Recent research seems to be pointing us in the direction of eating mostly “whole foods” – that is, foods that are as close to their natural form as possible.

Many health experts believe that eating more whole foods is our best bet for improving health and preventing disease.

1. The easiest and most delicious way is to start drinking Green Smoothies daily.  You can learn how to get started and get recipes here.
2. Choose products with 100% whole grains whenever possible.
3. Replace half the white flour called for in your recipes with whole-wheat flour.
4. Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. Try to include them in almost every meal and snack.
5. Include beans in your meals and snacks more often. They are a great source of plant protein, fiber, phytochemicals, and other nutrients.
6. Eat fewer convenience and processed foods. They’re often loaded with added fat, sugar, salt, and additives.
7. Go for options such as water, mineral water, fresh fruit juice, coconut water, and kombucha.

About the Author:: Summer Peters lives on Maui and offers services in Yoga, Massage, Surf Lessons, and Nutrition.  For information visit Summer’s Green Smoothies.  Also, follow Summer’s blog as she travels, hosts seasonal cleanses and shares healthy vitality recipes.

These links are…..www.summersgreensmoothies.com
and the blog is….http://surfyogamaui.wordpress.com

Make a Fresh Start: Choose Flexibility

Flexibility is like the fountain of youth. It is crucial to your fitness and health foundation. Without flexibility all your motions become limited, stress accumulates, and tension builds. Take a minute to be mindful of your flexibility. Here is a simple to stretch you can implement morning, midday, and evening. Whether you are just waking up, working through a busy day or ending your evening this hamstring stretch can help you to relieve low back tension and stress.

Standing Hamstring Stretch
Instructions: To start, choose a wall, back of a chair, or railing to support your forward fold. Next, step your feet hip distance apart. Keeping your back straight fold forward at the hips. Place your hands shoulder distance apart on the wall in front of you. Keep your hands at the same height as your shoulders. Press your palms into the wall. Keep the legs strong by contracting front upper thigh muscles lifting the kneecap up towards the hips. If this is stressful on your back bend your knees slightly until you feel relief.

About the Author:: Alison Miller is a mind-body wellness expert and Hawaii-based healer who strategically coaches and consults individuals to create the health, relationships and career to which they aspire.  Check out Alison’s blog, Live Inspired, to receive the best information about holistic wellness. To schedule an office, phone or Skype session visit Alison Miller Consulting & Coaching.

Tips To Stop Overeating At Dinner

I spend more time than the average eater daydreaming about food. I love to look at recipe books, make new recipes, and talk about recipes.  Dinner is my favorite meal of the day. It’s a time to relax and unwind, forget the worries of the workday and spend some quality time with my husband. Unfortunately, it’s also the time during the day that I love pigging out!

There are many reasons people overeat, some of these being that the food in front of them is delicious, or they had a bad day, or they are procrastinating getting up from the table and ending an enjoyable meal time.  This is where I get stuck!

Here are three tricks I use to help me move on from the dinner table, and not look at the end of dinner as the end of the best part of the evening.

Cup of Tea. Sometimes I choose an end-of-meal signal to enjoy such as an herbal tea like chamomile or peppermint.
Minty Fresh. There’s nothing like the taste of mint in your mouth to destroy the urge to stuff that serving of seconds in there.  Keep a pack of mints of gum handy!
Get Outside.  A lovely evening stroll can help break your focus on food.  Get up and get moving!

Also, make sure you start your day with a healthy breakfast, consume small and regular meals through your day, and avoid emotional eating or eating to cope with stress.

About the Author:: Summer Peters lives on Maui and offers services in Yoga, Massage, Surf Lessons, and Nutrition.  For information visit Summer’s Green Smoothies.  Also, follow Summer’s blog as she travels, hosts seasonal cleanses and shares healthy vitality recipes.

These links are…..www.summersgreensmoothies.com
and the blog is….http://surfyogamaui.wordpress.com

Three Tips to Improve Your Daily Wellness

1.  Start the morning with activities that nourish you.  Devote time first thing in the morning to do routines, which will help you set a positive tone for the whole day.  Feed your mind, body, and spirit with exercise, meditation, yoga, and a healthy breakfast.

2.  Take stretch breaks.  Stretching does a body good.  Make a habit of getting out of your office chair, out from behind the computer, and onto your feet for regular stretching throughout the day.  Your body (and mind) will thank-you!  Studies show individuals who take regular movement breaks are more productive than those who push through the day without breaks. As well, stretching helps you to increase blood flow, relieve muscular tension, and dissipate stress.

3.  Eat healthy.  Go for the green!  Please your palate and your health with delicious greens.  Make green juices, eat green side dishes, or make green the focus of your entire meal.  Kales, collards, spinach, broccoli, string beans, Brussels sprouts, peas, asparagus… the list goes on.  Make a point of eating at least one green thing a day.

About the Author:: Alison Miller is a mind-body wellness expert and Hawaii-based healer who strategically coaches and consults individuals to create the health, relationships and career to which they aspire.  Check out Alison’s blog, Live Inspired(http://alisonimiller.com/), to receive the best information about holistic wellness. To schedule an office, phone or Skype session visit Alison Miller Consulting & Coaching(http://alisonimiller.com/holistic-life-coaching/).

I am inspired by a woman who has been named, “The Queen of Green,” Renée Loux. Not only does this inspiring raw diva have a prominent voice in the media for Organics, Green Living and Sustainability, she’s also well known for her incredible raw food recipes.  On her website she lists 10 simple, approachable steps people can take to start Living Green.

Here is what she suggests as 10 steps to a Green Home.

1. Use Green Cleaning Products
2. Install a Water Filter
3. Use Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
4. Use Recycled Paper Products (Unbleached or Naturally Bleached Recycled paper just makes sense.)
5. Purify Air with Houseplants!
6. Go for Natural Natural Lawn Care — Stop Using Pesticides & Synthetic Fertilizers
7. Choose “Green Energy” Options through your Electric Utility
8. Favor Cloth over Paper
9. Be Wise with Laundry
USE BIODEGRADABLE DETERGENT AND OXYGEN BLEACH
WASH CLOTHES ON COLD
WASH FULL LOADS, BUT DON’T OVERFILL
HANG DRY WHAT YOU CAN
CLEAN THE LINT SCREEN EVERY TIME
BUY AN ENERGY EFFICIENT WASHER AND DRYER WHEN THE TIME COMES
10. Get Off Junk Mail Lists/ Recycle Paper

There’s so much we can do to make a difference.
Each of us is responsible for assessing our own actions and being accountable to ourselves. We’ve got to keep evolving toward a more conscious way of life. It’s the only way things will really change. Our planet is worth it!

About the Author:: Summer Peters lives on Maui and offers services in Yoga, Massage, Surf Lessons, and Nutrition.  For information visit Summer’s Green Smoothies.  Also, follow Summer’s blog as she travels, hosts seasonal cleanses and shares healthy vitality recipes.

These links are…..www.summersgreensmoothies.com
and the blog is….http://surfyogamaui.wordpress.com

Your Healthiest Holidays Ever

Now that November is here, the mad rush of the holidays will soon be upon us.  Give yourself the gift of planning, in advance, by designing a holiday self-care plan.  Your plan will help you have your healthiest holidays ever!

Holidays don’t have to mean food overindulgence, weight gain, and sleep deprivation.  Instead, end the calendar year with a wellness bang.  Here’s how.

Tip Number One: Establish your wellness goals for the remaining weeks of the year.  How do you want to look and feel at year’s end? Do you want to fit into your favorite red Christmas dress or be limber enough to touch your toes at your holiday yoga class?

Once you have created your goals, look at what daily and weekly actions you need to put in place to help you achieve them.

Tip Number Two: Next, conspire to inspire your friends, family, and community to join in the gift of wellness together. Create a holiday wellness revolution. You can even invoke new wellness traditions by planning holiday celebrations around your group wellness activities.

Tip Number Three: Fashion a new holiday menu, which focuses on organic foods, fresh veggies, and healthy desserts.

Be a trendsetter by keeping your health front and center during your holiday season. You can do it.

About the Author:: Alison Miller is a mind-body wellness expert and Hawaii-based healer who strategically coaches and consults individuals to create the health, relationships and career to which they aspire.  Check out Alison’s blog, Live Inspired(http://alisonimiller.com/), to receive the best information about holistic wellness. To schedule an office, phone or Skype session visit Alison Miller Consulting & Coaching(http://alisonimiller.com/holistic-life-coaching/).

Lighten Your Load

Familial, personal, professional, and health related demands can become increasingly difficult to cope with and juggle.  One way you can honor your self during any transition is to practice yoga.

Here are 5 reasons why you should continue to and/or begin practicing yoga!

1.      Boost Those Energy Levels: Practicing yoga increases blood flow and this stimulates energy.

2.      Reduce Stress: Yoga practice combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditatio,, which all assist with stress management.

3.      Decrease Anxiety And Depression: Headaches, muscle tension, dizziness, nausea, sleeping problems, fidgeting, helplessness, loneliness, lack of focus, irritability, and increased blood pressure are just a few on this list of examples! The physical postures yoga will reduce your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and increase your mood. The breathing techniques in yoga will help you to slow down your thoughts.

4.      Improve Sleep Patterns: Sleep patterns are often disturbed with an overactive mind.  This problem can be eliminated if you practice yogic breathing techniques.  Meditation is also a fantastic way to get your mind into a calm and relaxed state, especially before bed.

5.      Tone Your Body: When you establish a regular yoga practice you will strengthen your body and increase your flexibility.

About the Author:: Summer Peters lives on Maui and offers services in Yoga, Massage, Surf Lessons, and Nutrition.  For information visit Summer’s Green Smoothies.  Also, follow Summer’s blog as she travels, hosts seasonal cleanses and shares healthy vitality recipes.

These links are…..www.summersgreensmoothies.com
and the blog is….http://surfyogamaui.wordpress.com