Be Confident. Be Happy. Believe!

This guest post was provided by Norm Goodyear. Norm and his wife of 42 years, Helena, live in San Antonio, TX. Norm is a licensed Commercial Pilot for Federal Express. He and his wife began using Young Living essential oils in 2001 as a means of maintaining their health. Now, over 10 years later, Norm and Helena Goodyear use essential oils a their primary medicine for illnesses. Norm says his favorite Young Living products are NingXia Red, Valor, Believe, Deep Relief, and Pan Away essential oils, and True Source Vitamins and supplements.

“There can be miracles when you believe,” Mariah Carey sang in DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt. And that’s how I feel about the Young Living Essential Oil blend aptly named Believe. Believe is a blend of Idaho Balsam Fir, Rosewood and Frankincense essential oils, and is one essential oil blend that I never leave home without.

I don’t know about you, but my world seems to be getting more and more stressful every day. I’m a pilot by profession and as you can imagine there are many stressful moments in my day. To prepare I use Believe every morning. I put a couple drops on the bottoms of my feet and follow up with a couple more on my ears and neck. The Idaho Balsam Fir gives Believe a fragrant “woodsy” scent that I prefer to any men’s cologne.

Here’s how Young Living describes Believe: Believe is an uplifting blend of essential oils that has a steadying, balancing effect on emotions, helping you to overcome feelings of despair and move beyond them to a higher level of awareness. It helps release the unlimited potential everyone possesses, making it possible to experience health, happiness, and vitality more fully. Believe can also provide feelings of strength and faith.

When you look at the properties of the individual oils in Believe, you see why this oil can promote these feelings described by Young Living. Idaho Balsam Fir opens emotional blocks and recharges vital energy.  It gives a feeling of strength and inner peace. Rosewood has a relaxing and empowering effect. It is very grounding and stabilizes emotional stress. Frankincense stimulates the limbic part of the brain, elevating the mind and helping to overcome stress and despair.

Believe essential oil blend by Young Living is definitely one of my favorites. And while I’m not promising miracles, if you would benefit from feelings of strength, peace, and empowerment, then you will really enjoy Believe.

 

 

Maximize Your Nutrition With These Winter Fruits and Veggies

The Flexible Spending Account: Health, Happiness, & Financial Peace Of Mind

Budgeting, saving, and investing are essential pieces to our financial puzzle, but could you be missing out on important programs designed to help you save and be healthier? Employer-provided benefits such as the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) are a prime example of expense-saving programs that often go unused. Flexible Spending Accounts are one of the most valuable benefits provided in the workplace for medical and dependent care expenses. Because we understand the benefit of a healthy lifestyle and the burden of high medical costs, we want to answer some common questions about the FSA.

What is a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?

A Flexible Spending Account is a tax-advantaged account, set up through your employer, that allows you to set aside a certain amount of your earnings to pay for qualified expenses. Contributions you make to your FSA are deducted from your check before taxes are calculated. The purpose of the FSA is to help cover out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses such as health insurance co-pays, uninsured treatments, or even over-the-counter drug purchases.

How does a Flexible Spending Account work?

At the beginning of the plan year (usually January 1st), your employer will ask how much you want to contribute for the year. Each month, the amount of money that you have pre-determined will be deducted from your paycheck and put into an account for your use during that same year. There is a limit of how much can be deposited into an FSA account, so check with your employer on the limit.

You can access the funds in your FSA account two ways:

• You may pay out-of-pocket then submit a copy of the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or the provider’s invoice and proof of payment to the plan administrator. A reimbursement check will be issued to you as long as the expenses are approved.
• Some employers offer an FSA debit card that can be used at the point of purchase. Please note that unlike other debit cards, FSA debit cards are not accepted at every merchant that accepts Visa or MasterCard. The merchant must be coded as an approved business. Ex: You visit a spa to make an approved purchase for prescription cream for Rosacea but the FSA debit card doesn’t process. Even though it’s an approved purchase, the card doesn’t recognize the business as a medical facility. In the case that your card is declined at the point of purchase, you must pay out-of-pocket and submit the appropriate paperwork for reimbursement as described previously.

What are the benefits of a Flexible Spending Account?

An FSA saves you money by reducing your income taxes and your out-of-pocket medical expenses. The contributions you make to a Flexible Spending Account are deducted from your pay before your Federal, State, or Social Security Taxes are calculated and are never reported to the IRS. You decrease your taxable income and increase your spendable income. A Flexible Spending Account, when utilized to its fullest potential, can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

What expenses are eligible for reimbursement?

Any expense that is considered a deductible medical expense by the IRS and is not reimbursed through your insurance can be reimbursed through the Flexible Spending Account. Here are a few examples:

• Laboratory fees
• Acupuncture treatments
• Fees in excess of amounts allowed by your insurance
• Birth Control Pills
• Co-payments on covered expenses
• Deductibles
• Meals, transportation and lodging
• Nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, etc. can only be included if they are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition diagnosed by a physician, according to the IRS website.

A complete list of eligible medical expenses and explanations can be found on the IRS website.

What is the difference between a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

The most important commonality between the two accounts is that you are allowed to set aside the money before you pay income taxes on it. The FSA is a spending account, which indicates that you are expected to spend the money that you have set aside within that year. The HSA is a savings account, meaning, you may save that money until you need it, even if you don’t need it until many years later.

Bethany Cox To Highlight Essential Oils In A Series Of Blog Posts

At Seasons Wellness Clinic and Seasons – The Spa, we use essential oils on a daily basis. I am often asked what essential oils are and why we use them. In short, essential oils are the natural, aromatic liquids found in shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds. In order to provide the most benefit to the body, Seasons only uses 100% pure therapeutic grade Young Living oils. And because we believe that essential oils should play a role in everyday life, we offer these oils for purchase to our clients.

In my massage practice at Seasons – The Spa, I use Young Living essential oils and lotions every day. These essential oils have many therapeutic benefits such as helping to calm and soothe muscle tension with blends of peppermint, coconut oil, lemongrass, oregano and sweet almond oil. I have had advanced training in Young Living essential oils and techniques using the oils and would be happy to answer any questions you may have by leaving a comment on this post.

In the next few months, I will be writing a series of blog posts to highlight different essential oils and their benefits. My first blog post will highlight orange. Orange, as a pure essential oil, not only relaxes the mind with its sweet citrus scent, but it is also great for the immune system. To read more about this essential oils and to find out how you can receive a FREE orange Young Living essential oil, click here.

Featured Essential Oil: Orange

Orange, as a pure essential oil, not only relaxes the mind with its sweet citrus scent, but it is also great for the immune system. It aids as an anti-inflammatory, relieving inflammation caused by infection, fever and toxins. For both ladies and gentlemen, orange can promote good hormones and enzymes along with keeping your metabolism running smoothly.

Orange essential oils offer a magnitude of health benefits and therapeutic properties, including:

• Anti-depressant. Well-known for its uplifting properties, orange essential oil is soothing to the mind and helps to relieve stress. It is refreshing and relaxing and commonly used for the treatment of anxiety.
• Anti-inflammatory. It provides relief from both internal and external inflammation caused by infections. It is helpful in treating swollen tissue by stimulating blood circulation.
• Anti-septic. It inhibits microbial growth and can help ease a sore throat if used in a gargle. It also helps to heal mouth ulcers when used in a mouth wash.
• Improves Digestion. It is known to promote digestion, ease constipation and increase the absorption of vitamin C. Use as a massage oil in the abdominal area.
• Anti-Cancer. D-limonene is a super-nutrient that occurs in Orange essential oil. It has been studied extensively for its ability to prevent cellular mutations and combat cancer tumor growth.
• Encourages Detoxification. Orange essential oil encourages detoxification by acting as a diuretic. It also stimulates the lymphatic system, the bladder and kidneys. Increased urination assists in the elimination of toxins like uric acid, bile and excess salts and helps relieve fluid retention. Detox and cleansing properties help breakdown and eliminate cellulite.
• Skin Treatment. Orange essential oil is shown to promote the production of collagen as well as increase the blood flow to the skin. It is helpful at soothing dry, irritated skin as well as acne-prone skin. It is excellent for rubbing on calluses on the feet.

 

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Bethany Cox, LMT & Facial Reflexologist
A graduate of Cedar Creek School, Centenary College of LA (Health and Exercise Science) and Natural Health Institute in Nashville, TN (Massage Therapy), Bethany has many talents! Besides being a smartie (she has always made great grades) and a fabulous massage therapist, she is an accomplished pianist and golfer. She even played golf in college. Bethany enjoys setting goals for herself and achieving them. Her favorite moment? A hole-in-one! Her favorite way to decompress after a long day? Scrapbooking, exercising, and practicing deep breathing for relaxation.

New Beauty Magazine Names Guinot’s Masque Hydra Sensitive “Top Product”

Guinot’s Masque Hydra Sensitive was recently named one of the “Top 100 Best Products of The Year” by New Beauty Magazine. Masque Hydra Sensitive relieves and calms your skin with an in-depth treatment that works instantly to help your skin boost its own natural defenses.

Guinot’s Masque Hydra Sensitive helps to:

• Soothe irritations.
• Reinforce the protection of the epidermis and the skins natural defenses.
• Visibly calm redness.

The Masque Hydra Sensitive’s formula includes activators that work on the surface to protect and reinforce sensitive skin. “With sensitive skin, you need to be extra gentle. And if you want gorgeous skin, you’ve got to baby it, and this product does both,” said Seasons Aesthetician Lisa Best. The natural ingredients in Masque Hydra Sensitive like Vitamin E restore, reinforce, and protect lipids from damage caused by free radicals. Chamomile extract and oak sooth irritations deep within your skin while Centellas asiatica extract help revitalize it.

Say goodbye to redness! Sensitive skin is vulnerable and needs extra protection from brutal environmental elements such as temperature variations and pollution. This sensitivity can manifest in the appearance of redness, friction or an itching sensation. “After using Masque Hydra Sensitive, the skin’s natural barrier of defense is reinforced and redness is visibly reduced, leaving the skin feeling comfortable, soothed and moisturized,” said Best.

“At Seasons – The Spa, we use Masque Hydra Sensitive in many of our treatments. Our clients love the way their skin looks and feels,” said Best. Want more good news? This product is also available for purchase at Seasons – The Spa so you can enjoy beautiful skin any time. For an at-home treatment once or twice a week, apply a thick layer to clean face and neck. Leave on for 10 minutes. Remove with water and apply toner.

For more information about spa treatments featuring Guinot’s Masque Hydra Sensitive or to purchase Masque Hydra Sensitive, contact our Spa Concierge at (318)255-1155.

 

American Spa Magazine Features the Aromatic Facial

Guinot’s Aromatic Facial is featured in the October 2011 issue of American Spa Magazine. The Aromatic Facial offered at Seasons – The Spa is an all natural facial using essential oils and plant extracts. Great even during pregnancy, this “green facial” provides the “glow” without the chemicals that your body doesn’t need during this important time.

The treatment takes relaxation to a new level with the use of gentle effleurage movements and one of five Aromatic Essential Oils-Balance, Energy, Nourishing, Serenity, and Vitality-that is chosen based on the client’s particular skin type. A pressure-point massage ensures that the skin absorbs the rich plant actives, which help to hydrate, balance, and energize the skin. A custom-blended peel-offmask, also rich with plant concentrates, helps calm the skin and leave it glowing.

For more information about the Aromatic Facial, contact our Spa Concierge at 318.255.1155.

Seasons Patient, Kathy Burns: “It is a whole new me!”

“My mother has osteoarthritis. When I began to hurt and swell, I just thought it had to be genetics – thanks, mom! I sought treatment for my pain so I went to a General Practitioner. As the pain progressed, I went to a Rheumatologist. The pain continued to grow and so did the amount of prescription pain medication I was taking. I was on my way to getting hooked on pain medicine, and I knew there had to be another way.”

“I asked my physical therapist about alternative ways to treat my pain. That’s when she told me that she was a patient of Dr. Nathan Goodyear at Seasons Wellness Clinic and referred me to him. I made an appointment with Dr. Goodyear and I’ll be honest, I was pleasantly surprised. Dr. Goodyear never herded me in and out like cattle. I would come in his office and we would talk, actually discuss things going on with my health. I could tell that he genuinely cared.”

“Dr. Goodyear designed a custom plan to get my health back on track. Throughout my visits we did blood work, testing, detoxification, and I had B vitamins through IV. Along with seeing Dr. Goodyear, I also saw Valerie Costanza, the Dietitian at Seasons. She taught me what and how to eat. And she taught me what would agree with my body. And as I began to follow what she was telling me, I saw almost immediate results. The swelling in my hands began to go down and my knees stopped aching. My shoulders and my lower back are almost pain-free. It is amazing what the right nutrition can do for you. And as an added plus, I lost weight!”

“I have been feeling better for 8 months now and it is just wonderful. It is a whole new me and a whole new way of life! I wanted to share my story because I know there are others out there that hurt just like I did. There are middle-aged women out there that think their pain is just a part of growing old. But you don’t have to put up with it. You don’t have to take pain medication to feel good. There is another way!” – Kathy Burns

 

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Our goal is to restore our patients’ health by offering a more holistic approach along with cutting edge advancements in traditional medicine all in a comfortable environment. We are dedicated to providing individualized treatment and improving our patient’s quality of life by providing the best complementary and integrative medical treatment available. Our mission is to transform lives, one patient at a time. For more information about becoming a patient at Seasons Wellness Clinic, visit our New Patient Page or contact our Patient Relations Specialists at 318-255-3223.

Tips To Help Fight A Cold Or The Flu

Staying well during cold and flu season is hard to do but with a little nutrition know-how, fighting a cold or the flu is a little easier.

There are several important things to remember when you are trying to prevent a cold. First of all, sugar suppresses the immune system and hinders your ability to fight off the sickness. It is good practice to avoid sugar as a prevention and especially during a cold. A good multivitamin is a must to take every day for prevention of colds. And last, if not restricted by medicine, grapefruit is perfect for providing vitamin C and detoxifying the liver to keep you well.

If you currently have a cold and are in dire need of relief, remember these points to help your body fight the cold faster:

• Drink plenty of fluids. Water and a small amount of fresh fruit juice are best.
• Avoid dairy which has been shown to increase congestion.
• Avoid diuretics such as coffee and tea.
• Avoid alcohol which depletes stores of vitamin C.
• Eat light with focus on easily digestible foods such as broths, vegetable soups, salads, fish and chicken.
• Chicken soup actually does work! Researchers say that the cold-fighting powers are from the vegetables that are part of the stock and that it helps relieve symptoms especially congestion. Make a batch of chicken vegetable soup and freeze to thaw when you are fighting a cold.

Grandma’s Chicken Soup Recipe

Ingredients :

• 1 young (3-4 lb.) chicken
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 2 qts. water
• 2 med. onions, whole
• 4 med. potatoes, sliced
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 4 carrots, scraped or diced
• 3 stalks celery, cut in 2 inch pieces
• 1 parsley sprig
• 1 parsnip, pared, if desired

Preparation :

1. Clean chicken and cut into serving pieces. Place chicken in pot, cover with water and cover pot. Bring to full boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add whole onion and simmer 30 minutes more. Add salt and pepper and simmer 15 minutes more.
2. Meanwhile, wash vegetables and cut into bite size pieces. Add in 15 minute intervals in this order: carrots, celery, parsley and parsnip. Cook until chicken is tender.
3. Before serving let soup cool, then skim off fat. If allowed to chill several hours, fat will rise to top and solidify for easy removal. Strain soup, if clear broth is desired, discarding any vegetables you do not like. Return chicken to soup or serve separately.

Note: If a creamier soup is desired, mash potatoes and then add to soup, also discarded vegetables can be pureed until smooth and returned to broth.

Click here for more information.

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This Nutrition Update is brought to you by Valerie Costanza and Seasons Wellness Clinic. For a personalized nutrition consultation with Valerie Costanza, call Seasons at 255-3223 and schedule an appointment.

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge 2012

Need inspiration? Information? Accountability? Join some of North Louisiana’s top physicians, nutritionists and personal trainers for the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge. Each FREE session offers you the opportunity to accomplish your nutrition and fitness goals for the new year. The reward? A healthier you, goodies, door prizes, and much more! This year we have added a 30 minutes workout to the end of each session. So bring your water bottles and let’s get going!

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge Session #1

The first session of the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge will be held on Tuesday, January 10th from 5:30pm – 6:30 pm at the Lincoln Parish Library Community Room. We will be conducting optional weigh-ins and measurements at the end of each session so please come prepared to exercise and dress comfortably.

Our first session will include:

• Meal plans
• Strength workouts
• Recipes
• Time Management | Making time for yourself
• Prepping for our 5k run with Maryanne Smith
• Optional weigh-in and measurements (5 – 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 – 7 p.m.)

To register, you must first join our Healthy Woman program and then click the link to RSVP. Please note: you must RSVP for each session after you have joined.

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge Session #2

Join us for the second session of the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge on Tuesday January 24, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 at the Lincoln Parish Library Community Room. Don’t forget we will be exercising and doing weigh-ins at the end of this session. So, come prepared to workout and dress comfortably. You can still attend this event even if you are not participating in the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge.

The focus for this session will be:

• “Knees, Knees, Knees!” | Orthopaedic Surgeon, Major Blair, M.D., will discuss ways to avoid injury while exercising.
• “Getting down to the basics: Nutrition” | Registered Dietician, Jessica Hood, RD, LDN, will give nutrition advice and tips on staying on track with your diet.

You must be a member of the Healthy Woman program to participate in this event. If you have not joined already, click here. Membership is free, and the benefits last a lifetime. You must RSVP for each session of the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge that you would like to attend.

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge Session #3

Our 3rd session of the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge will take place on Tuesday February 7, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 at the Lincoln Parish Library Community Room. Don’t forget, we will be working out and breaking a sweat for the last 30 minutes of the session. We will also be doing weigh-ins and measurements. So, dress comfortable!

The focus for this session will be:

• “Hello, dont forget about your heart!” | Interventional Cardiologist, Michael Langiulli, M.D.
• Heart Health Recipe Fun

To join Healthy Woman or RSVP to this event, click here. Membership is free, and the benefits last a lifetime.

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge Session #4

Session #4 will be our final session of the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge. This session will take place on Tuesday February 21, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 6:30  at the Lincoln Parish Library Community Room. 

Our focus for this session will be:

• Staying on track… You CAN do it!
• Accountability = Stability

To RSVP for this session or to Join Healthy Woman, click here.

For more information about the sponsors of the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge, please visit their websites.

• Northern Louisiana Medical Center 
• Body Back by Maryanne Smith  or on Facebook
• Seasons Wellness Clinic and Seasons – The Spa or on Facebook and Twitter
• Sharon Jackson’s Personal Training Services or on Facebook

Click here to see out photos from a previous Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge 5K!

 

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