SPF measures only protection from the burn caused by UVB light not from UVA rays which penetrate deeper than UVB, causing skin cancer and wrinkles. To protect you from both UVB and UVA rays, look for an all natural mineral sunscreen made with a concentration of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, or a combination of the two. Mineral sunscreens physically block and reflect sunlight. Be sure to apply every two hours because no sunscreen is truly waterproof and none last all day!

Non-mineral sunscreens contain active chemical ingredients including oxybenzone, octisalate, and octinoxate. These chemicals raise many health concerns and none block the harmful UVA rays. Oxybenzone, which the body easily absorbs, has been linked to low birth weight babies and altered hormone levels.

Please read the labels on all your sunscreen products before covering your body with them! Remember, hats, clothing and shade are still the most reliable sun protection. Find that beautiful shade tree in your yard that Mother Nature has so graciously provided, sit down, rest and enjoy the summer weather!

Linda Blackburn

Linda is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio and has been a massage therapist since July 2002. She acquired her esthetician license in November 2007. Her specialties include Swedish massage, organic facials, reflexology, hot stone massage, chakra balancing, reiki master, and certified practitioner for massage cupping. She also has had additional training in body treatments, including lomi lomi, body wraps, sugar scrubs, and herbal wraps.

The therapist begins the treatment with an intention of Ho’oponopono and the massage is offered with a sense of reverence and respect. It is a choreographed massage, somewhat like a dance, on the therapist’s part, that touches on most every part of the body, including the abdomen and bottoms of the toes. The massage is a beautiful mixture of long flowing strokes and broad round strokes to create a kind of rocking in the client’s body, as if they are being gently soothed by the waves of the ocean. Passive body movements created by the therapist gently repositioning and stretching the body, encourages greater passivity and letting go in the body and mind. Hot stones, made of basalt or lava, are incorporated for further indulgence, encouragement of surrender and making right with self in our depths. To bring you back to earth; a delicious invigorating foot scrub completes the massage.

“Ho’oponopono” is defined in the Hawaiian Dictionary as “mental cleansing: family conferences in which relationships were set right through prayer, discussion, confession, repentance, and mutual restitution and forgiveness.”

“It is my privilege to share this treatment with you”….Laurie Trick

Laurie is a 1997 graduate of Massage Away School of Therapy (now known as the American Institute of Alternative Medicine) in Westerville, Ohio. She is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio and has been practicing since 1998. Her training includes pre and postnatal massage, LaStone, facilitated stretching, reiki and traditional Hawaiian massage called lomi lomi.

To experience a Lomi Lomi massage with Laurie, call Harmony Farm at 937-667-8311.

Call 937-667-8311 for a Raindrop Therapy appointment today and experience the balancing, relaxing effects of the raindrop technique that combines aromatherapy, Vitaflex, reflexology and massage.

Renee says, “It’s not fancy folks! Just me talking to the camera in the library! I wasn’t planning on this being on television, it was private for my parents. It is first take and unedited. So if you like hearing esoteric stories, enjoy!”

If you’d like to make an appointment with Renee for Thai Yoga Massage or table massage, call her at 937-620-0907 or call Harmony Farm at 937-667-8311.

This workshop will be focused on finding the love and compassion to embrace and accept those disowned, judged and rejected aspects of ourselves. Many of us have struggled to eliminate, ‘fix” or otherwise get rid of the sense of insecurity and inadequacy or unworthiness that often remain regardless of outer success or accomplishment. We may often believe that if we apply the right spiritual or psychological techniques, if we just “do it right”, that somehow we can create some imagined or more acceptable version of who we are. When that doesn’t happen we are often left feeling lacking or somehow having failed again. This workshop will focus on opening our hearts to all of who we are, especially those places within us that we least want to be there. To move toward that which we may instinctively want to distance ourselves from. The paradox is that when we love ourselves as we are, the changes often happen on their own.

We will use as our basic orientation the development of compassion, acceptance and friendliness to all of who we are. We will use meditation, guided imagery, music and most especially the opportunity to to share and engage our common human concerns. The heart of our time together will be to reclaim those aspects of ourselves which we may have spent so much time and energy attempting to disown. To create an increased awareness of the beauty and value and the contribution made by all of who we are, especially those aspects that my feel broken and of lesser value. The goal of the workshop is to be able to honor and share, in a safe environment, our basic humanness, not as something to improve or overcome, but something of value exactly as it is.

The workshop will be led by Don Kramer, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist. Don has had many years of clinical experience and has led workshops focused on using meditation, guided imagery, and sharing of group energy to support self acceptance and the embracing of what is rather than what we believe should be.

The workshop will be from 10am to 5pm with a 90 minute break for lunch. The fee for the workshop is $75.00. For additional information contact Harmony Farm at 937.667.8311.

Want to exercise without the effort? Does your body need to stretch?
Try the ancient healing art of Thai Yoga Massage!

Thai Yoga Massage is typically practiced on the floor, on a padded mat. Practitioner and receiver are fully dressed in loose and comfortable clothes- no oils or lotions are used. The Massage Therapist moves you slowly and gently into yoga like stretches. Also incorporated are flowing rhythmic compressions using the palms, fingers, feet, knees, forearms and elbows. You will be in various positions: sitting, lying on your back, on your stomach or side.

Thai Yoga Bodywork not only balances the body’s need for movement and stretching, it also produces powerful feelings of well-being and happiness. How does it do all this? In one word: “Metta”, which is Sanskrit for “loving kindness”. Thai Yoga Massage is a moving meditation. The therapist uses rhythmic rocking motions to keep a “dance” of meditation which benefits the giver and receiver.

This delicious offering of Thai Yoga Massage is over 2,500 years old. The founding father of Thai Massage, Jivaka Kumarbhaccha, was a celebrated yogi and a doctor in the ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda. His unusual skill as a physician and surgeon was so well known that he was called upon to treat kings and princes. Jivaka’s most distinguished patient was the Buddha.

Thai Yoga Massage developed over centuries within the environment of the Buddhist temples. The Thai temple, or ‘wat’, also operates as a center for the health care of the common people. The first Western commentary regarding Thai Medicine was made in 1690 by Simon de la Loube’re, a French diplomat, who observed: “When any person is sick at Siam he begins with causing his whole body to be molded by one who is skillful herein, who gets upon the body of the sick person and tramples him under his feet.” Even today people go to a Thai Yoga Massage Therapist in the same way as we in the West go to our General Practitioner Medical Doctor. The ‘Wats’, temples/monasteries have always provided for the health needs of the people.

The most famous monastery is What Pho in Bangkok. It dates back to the sixteenth century. In 1832 King Rama III wanted to preserve the art of Thai Massage and had etched in stone 60 carved epigraphs depicting the “sen”, the body’s 72,000 energy lines. They are still there today. Also, outside the temple is a collection of stone statues that show various poses of the classical Thai Massage techniques. Wat Pho is the national center for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine.

The theoretical roots of most Eastern healing art traditions derive from the philosophy that all forms of life in the universe are animated by an essential life force. The Chinese call this energy “qi” and the Indians call it “prana”, an invisible, silent force that is present in all creation. Prana is extracted from the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe- and a spiritual energy we are born with. It also circulates along a pathway of 72,000 lines in and around the body, forming a network of vital life force that is essential to the human system or our “kosha” bodies. The koshas are extensions of the physical body and have five forms or sheaths. The first is the physical body, known as the “annamaya kosha.” The second, the energy body or “pranamaya kosha,” is a layer of life force just above the skin. “Manamaya kosha”, the third layer is the mental body, where thoughts and doubts are experienced. The fourth is the intellectual body, or “vijnanamaya  kosha “, which provides one’s identity and sense of self. The fifth is the “anadamaya kosha”, the blissful body that allows one to connect with the metaphysical. . Sometimes there are obstructions to the free flow of energy which results in an insufficient supply of prana. This could lead to mental, physical, and spiritual imbalances, which may be manifested in the form of disease, discomfort, or emotional problems.

I had my first Thai Yoga Massage in 2006. It was like no other massage! I was used to doing yoga, yet I was stretched in ways I couldn’t do on my own. At the same time it was so relaxing! Afterwards I was left with a knowing that this form of massage had a depth of healing the spiritual and physical body that I had never felt with any other style. I had to learn it!

Anyone can benefit from Thai Yoga Massage! You do not have to be flexible. It can be adapted to any level. It is common to hear during a session, “I need to have this done every week!” Thai Massage can also be done on a massage table, with the client in loose comfortable clothing. I actually climb on the table with the client. So if you want bodywork that will exercise you, relax you, and heal on a spiritual and physical level… give Thai Yoga Massage a try…

Renee was trained in traditional Swedish massage at SHI. She is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio, is a Reiki Master, and has certificates in Thai Yoga Massage, NCBTMB, and Small Animal Massage. She is a psychic/medium and employs her love of Astrology into her work, and also loves to do Dream Interpretation if you want to talk about them! Renee volunteers at Hospice, has done public speaking about massage for Family Services and Dayton City Schools, and filmed a Thai Yoga Massage segment for DATV. She also filmed a Spiritual segment for DATV. It was of a vision that Renee had of her step mother getting ill and passing before she was told about it. The film gives hope to people that there is life after death.

To experience Thai Yoga Massage with Renee, call Harmony Farm at 937-667-8311.

You are all invited to the ongoing meditation group at Harmony Farm that meets the first and third Thursday evenings of each month from 7 to 8pm. The group has been meeting for the past three years and is open to everyone. No previous meditation experience is required and people can come as often or as infrequently as their schedule permits. It is a very friendly group of individuals and new attendees usually find it a very comfortable group to join. The meditation is guided for the first 10 minutes or so which most of the participants find helpful, especially if they have not had much experience with the process. There is also a time at the end for people to share their experiences, ask questions, or bring up any concerns or difficulties they may have in their meditation practice.

Individuals who attend either for the first time or who are ongoing attendees typically report that meditating in a group is a much easier experience than they anticipated and is often much easier than meditating on their own. When we gather together with a shared purpose and intent to quiet and open to the deeper energies within ourselves, the power of our shared energy seems to create a stillness and openness that makes the transition from our surface consciousness to deeper levels of our being come more easily and with less effort. In addition it creates a sense of community and a realization that we are all in the same boat when it comes to the desire for a deeper connection with Source and the inevitable difficulties and resistances that often come with that. Doing things with others whether meditating, exercising or any activity is more enjoyable and of course it is always good to bring a friend. Also Harmony Farm has a special energy that seems to make the experience richer and deeper and with the longer daylight we have the chance to walk the labyrinth when we are finished with the meditation which is always a wonderful way to end the evening. The group is led by Don Kramer, Ph.D. who has been leading the group since its beginning.

Are you finding there’s always something left to do on your “to do” list? So when can you take a vacation? Now’s the time of year when you’re either enjoying, or planning some time off, or you’re envying those who do. You may avoid taking time off, because you’re not sure what you’ll find when you get back. Maybe you can’t recognize the benefits of balance, quiet, and relaxation for the rejuvenation that will ultimately make you more productive.

Several years ago, my eye doctor gave me two sobering diagnoses: The first that my near-sightedness had gotten so bad I was going to need to wear glasses over my contacts. But the second piece of information was the most revealing: there was nothing medically or physically wrong with my eyes? I had just trained them not to look out as far as I needed to truly see long distance objects clearly.

Where in your business planning are you being “near sighted”? Thoreau said “Look beyond what seems to be to expand your awareness of the possible.” The question is not what indicators you look at but what you see?

Are you operating your business so that its success relies solely upon you? Where are you not delegating? Do you believe “I’m the only one who can get it right so I’d better do it myself?” Havelock Ellis said “The art of living is a fine mingling of letting go and hanging on”. Where could you begin to develop your staff to handle more responsibility? Have you made your expectations and priorities so clear that others will know what to do when you’re not there?

Begin to trust that by taking care of yourself, you are ultimately going to be more valuable to your employees, customers and vendors.

Vacations can take many forms, from luxury cruises to a minute of quiet reflection. I have a client, Nancy Crego, who intentionally set up her AdWest Consulting practice around her lifestyle. She works from her home in the mountains and schedules her day around time outdoors, exercise classes, and 12 weeks off per year. She not only exudes health and positive energy, but her business is thriving and she has time to serve on several non-profit boards.

So what’s possible for you? Einstein said “Out of clutter find simplicity, from discord, find harmony; in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

If you can’t possibly find the time or the resources to leave the office, then take a Vacation of the Mind. Part of the joy of going to a new place is to see new sights, taste new foods and meet new people. You can also do that by living in the present moment, right here, right now. When you can let go of the regrets of the past or the worries of the future, you can live fully in the present moment, (which is really the only moment there is any way!)

When your mind is free from the clutter, you can truly listen with an open heart to the person sitting right in front of you, have a new appreciation for the beauty outside your window, and fully live the precious moments with loved ones.

Marla Riegel, founder of The Inspired Business Center, comes from an extensive business background, with over 30 years of experience in seven different industries. She has been training and mentoring business people all over the world for more than 20 years as a business, personal and spiritual coach.

For more information on The Inspired Business Center and Marla go to www.TheInspiredBusiness.com