In Honor of Earth Day
in Santa Barbara Sunken Gardens
by SARAH GARNEY of SYNERGISTIC HEALING ARTS

SLEEP IN THE DARK: According to T.S. Wiley’s book, LIGHTS OUT, staying up after dark with artificial light is a significant cause of the decline of our health. Taking a cue from nature’s other non-nocturnal creatures, go to sleep just after sundown and rise at dawn. For optimal health benefits, sleep 9-10 hours in a pitch dark room. Eco friendly conservation of electricity from turning off all of those lights.

WATER IS YOUR FRIEND: drink plenty of purified water in eco-friendly packaging, a glass or a reusable water bottle, keep a gallon of water in the car for refills. Only about 10% of disposable plastic bottles get recycled so let’s stop using them. Send love and blessings to your water and all water. Our planet is 70% water, our bodies are 70% water, water is the main source of energy in the body, chronic dehydration causes aging and illness.
Books: Water, You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty, by F. Batmanghelidj
The Hidden Messages in Water, by Dr. Maseru Emoto.

GOT SOL? Make it a practice to eat Seasonal, Organic and Local. Shop for local, organic produce at the farmer’s markets. Grow your own in your backyard or community garden. No back yard? An amazing amount of produce can be grown in containers & window boxes. Eating SOL, reduces transportation costs. Eating SOL is VERY healthy & eco-friendly.

GET BACK TO NATURE: ditch the gym and do your workout in nature. Walk, hike or run trails and beaches, do yoga out of doors, ride your beach cruiser, swim or kayak in the big blue ocean, stop and meditate in front of a waterfall on a trail in the mountains….. Being in nature fulfills and rejuvenates the body-mind-spirit in a myriad of wonderful ways. Please remember to leave no trace behind. Conserves electrical energy, reduces stress, and it’s free!

SLOW DOWN & BREATHE: Our modern culture’s fast pace is out of touch with our very real human needs. Take a leisurely pause and breathe back into the moment. Breathing carries life energy or chi that enlivens every cell, controls our mental state & impacts how we feel emotionally. Conscious slow deep breathing reduces stress and tension, increases energy and endurance, & facilitates emotional mastery. Try breathing slowly & rhythmically in and out. Inhale deeply, allowing your belly, ribs, back and upper chest to expand, pause and now exhale slowly letting your belly relax. Breathe slowly, deeply and rhythmically for several minutes until you feel calm, relaxed and energized. Repeat throughout the day. Eco positive!

TUNE IN: journal daily on recycled paper, natch! Daily journaling is a wonderful practice from Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. The idea is to write stream of consciousness for 3 pages in long hand first thing in the morning, everyday. Once you get the mental clutter out, real creativity can begin to flow into your writing, your life, your work and your relationships. It is a fabulous practice for getting in touch with your self. Too often, we feel lost and confused looking outside ourselves for the answers to our biggest questions when so much wisdom lies within. See www.artistsway.com Tuning in is eco positive.

EVOLVE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS: seems like life here on the planet is all about relationships so learning skills to create the highest, most loving and harmonious relationships possible makes sense. The Conscious Heart is a wonderful book by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks, a compelling core of the book is what they call the 7 soul commitments which form a wonderful template for creating conscious communication and relationship. Also highly recommended is Marshall Rosenberg’s book Non-Violent Communication www.marshallrosenberg.com Eco impact: very positive

CREATE PEACE WITHIN: Deepak Chopra recently wrote an insightful essay on peacemaking called, “On Consciousness, War and Peace.” He writes: ‘Mahatma Gandhi spoke the truth when he said "You must be the change you want to see in the world." We are units of consciousness, and the world is our projection. If there are enough units of peace consciousness and they connected with each other to reach critical mass, we could heal the world by healing ourselves.’ Cultivating a meditation practice is a wonderful way to begin creating peace within. Peace we might share with the world. Peace is Eco Positive.

HEALTHY TOUCH: receive holistic massage for health, well-being, a renewed sense of harmony and wholeness. Massage facilitates deep relaxation and integration. Integration is unity, cohesive-ness, harmony, connection….Relaxing holistic massage allows a deep letting go that can be very healing allowing the body to repair and rejuvenate, releasing stress, discomfort and pain….uplifting and inviting in calmness, peace, well-being and renewed energy for life. Health and ease is eco positive

HEAL YOURSELF, HEAL THE PLANET: healing is about wholeness and connection…being in right relationship with your self, others and the planet. Tending to, addressing, resolving and healing old negative patterns, limitations and other issues unlocks the vibrancy and love within bringing more peace, joy, harmony and meaning into your life and relationships. Work with a qualified healer or other holistic practitioner to overcome negative blocks and vibrate with renewed energy and healthy, life affirming consciousness. Together, we make a difference, we can heal the planet—tending to, resolving, protecting and healing our environment, our one and only beautiful planet. Infinitely eco positive.

HAPPY EARTH DAY SANTA BARBARA!

For more info: Sarah Garney, Synergistic Healing Arts Holistic Massage & Synergistic Healing© www.sarahgarney.com © 2008 Sarah Garney all rights reserved.