FitSugar

Having Trouble Sleeping? Try Feng Shui

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:30:00 -0800

Do you have a hard time falling or staying asleep? Do you wake up in the morning feeling uneasy or irritated? It may have to do with the Feng Shui in your bedroom. Feng Shui, which literally means "wind and water," is the ancient Chinese art of placement. The goal is to enhance the flow of "chi" (energy) and to create a harmonious environment that supports health and happiness.

Here are some basic Feng Shui tips to hep you get a better night's sleep:

Shut out the outside world by removing the TV, computer, and exercise equipment. The bedroom is your place of serenity, where you need to get away from the stresses of life, so if your desk or office must be in the bedroom, separate the space with a curtain or folding screen.
Use calm and friendly earth tones such as copper, cream, tan and chocolate to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Light blue, mint green and lavender will give a tranquil feeling and invite healing energy. Vibrant colors such as red and bright orange stimulate the mind, so this may not be the best color for your bedroom.
Your bed should be in the commanding position. This means it should be far away from the door, but you should still be able to see the entrance. This will give you a sense of safety and protection. You also don't want the foot of your bed to be pointing towards the door. In traditional Chinese culture, this is called the "Death Position," and thought to drain life force energy since the deceased were carried out feet first.
There should be room on either side of the bed so it is approachable from both sides and energy can flow around you freely.

Want to hear more about your bed? Then read more

Try not to put your bed under a slanted ceiling, heavy beam or ceiling fan. This position is thought to contain depressing energy that literally pushes down on you while you sleep. If you can't avoid this position, hang tapestries or other fabric above the bed.
Also avoid positioning your bed directly under a window. A solid wall symbolically can support and protect you, while glass allows energy to flow in and out of the window, which may cause restless sleep. Solid headboards are great since they'll provide even more protection and support while you sleep. Footboards on the other hand block forward progress in life and are only recommended if your bed has to point towards the door.
Reduce clutter in your bedroom, under your bed, in your closet, and on your night stand. Clutter represents unfinished business, which can disturb your sleep.
Cover windows with curtains so that you can have a cocoon-like feeling at night, and they'll keep the sunlight out in the morning. Being exposed to sunlight first thing in the morning is said to influence your serotonin levels and affect you for the rest of the day. Once you're ready to wake up, you can easily pull the curtains open and flood your room with natural light.
Make sure not to hang a mirror next to or opposite the bed as this is thought to bounce too much energy around the room and prevent restful sleep.
Hang up art that exudes happiness and calm energy.

You obviously don't have to do all these things, but as long as you can walk into your bedroom and feel relaxed and comforted, then you're on your way to a good night's sleep.

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How to Eat Mindfully

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

As someone who loves food but wants to eat healthy, I'm always looking for ways to savor the process of eating - from chewing my food more to making meals last at least 20 minutes. If you also like to think what you eat, then you'll appreciate this recent Huffington Post column in which Pavel Somov, author of Eating the Moment, offers some pointers on eating mindfully.

From the way you eat to the way your table looks, many factors affect how mindful you consume your food. So in the interest of not scarfing it all down, check out Somov's tips when you read more.

When sitting down to a meal, suggests Somov, take a page from the feng shui philosophy to create a sense of calm. First thing's first, turn off the TV. Here's what he recommends:

Clear the table so it's free of reading material and other distractions. As Somov points out, "The less there is on the table not directly related to your eating, the more room there is for your mind to focus on the food."
To create even fewer distractions, create a place setting that uses minimalist tableware, possibly something Asian-inspired.
If you want to get really extreme, create a separate eating space in a spare room. With just a table and chair, try dining all alone with nothing else to focus on.

I am definitely guilty of reading while eating, but when I really take the time to focus on my food, I appreciate it more. How about you?

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Trouble Sleeping? Think in Color

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

When I'm having trouble sleeping, I'll try just about anything to get some ZZZs. I've heard about all kinds of shuteye strategies, like improving your bedroom's feng shui, changing your sleep position, and writing down your worries. When I can't sleep, it's often because I'm thinking about something too much, and if I distract myself, I can nod off in no time. Recently, I learned a great way to stop my mind from racing: Think in color.

Here's how it works: Pick a color, any color. Then, start visualizing all the things you can think of that are that color. So, if you are thinking green, you might start with lettuce and celery and move to your new green shoes and the green beer bottles in your fridge. Really, it can be anything. The important thing is not to think about it too much; just to let the images come, flowing slowly into the next. It works because it doesn't require any problem solving or counting - just watching the mental images float by.

I've tried this method several times lately, and it really works like a charm. How about you? Have you tried this and, if so, did it work?

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