I love using acupressure. It is a great way to stimulate the flow of qi (energy) that has been blocked or stagnated in an area because of stress. Some of my favorite points are Pericardium 8, Kidney 1, or directly on the area that is causing discomfort. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is believed that acupuncture points work by regulating the qi (energy) of the body to create balance and health. When there is a blockage, there is a disruption of qi (pronounced chee) and disharmony in

Shawngela Pierce, owner of Seek Within You, was a guest on the radio show Living with Hope with Host Trudy Thomas. She appeared on January 24, 2014 at 12pm EST. The radio interview was 45 minutes in duration and was filled with insights on topics such as the benefits of meditation, the importance of a regular meditation practice, meditation for stress relief, Sedona energy vortexes, the mind-body connection and how a beginner can get started. Shawngela also discussed her Meditation for Health Program, which she offers to help

Sedona, Arizona is located 125 miles north of Phoenix in beautiful Red Rock Country.  Sedona is world-famous for its energy vortexes and is considered one of the strongest energetic places in the world.  Thousands of people travel to Sedona every year to experience the energy of the healing vortices. Now having said that, what is a Sedona Vortex?

A Sedona vortex is believed to be a place of high spiraling spiritual energy where the conditions are perfect for facilitating healing, meditation and prayer. They are also believed to

Take a Break! You deserve it.

Make yourself important in your life and take a break to do something for you. There are many options for taking a break. This is why I love the picture below, which shows 50 ways to take a break. I am sure you can find at least one that you can do on a regular basis to relax. Alternatively, if you like variety, switch it up. I personally like to keep 3 "go-to" methods that I use on a regular basis.

If you are questioning why you should meditate or are curious about the benefits of meditation, take a look at this infographic and maybe you will find the answer that you seek. As you can see, meditation decreases anxiety, stress and depression as well as a whole hosts of other benefits.

Let's face it, when you are having an anxiety attack, there is an explosion of thoughts going on in your head, making it very hard to focus on anything else. A great way to feel your way back from an anxiety attack is to do a grounding exercise. Keep in mind that in the beginning, it may be difficult to remember to do this but as you continue to practice this meditation, it will become easier and easier to ground and root yourself.

You see grounding is

All-Inclusive Meditation Retreat

7-day/6-night Retreat in Sedona, AZ

September 7-13, 2014
"A life transforming event"

This meditation retreat is designed to re-energize, rejuvenate and to have a life transforming affect on your life. This meditation retreat is for you if you are someone who:

• Wants to learn to relieve stress and anxiety with meditation and other holistic techniques
• Wants to get meditation and lifestyle coaching
• Wants to improve your physical health from a chronic disease
• Wants continued support and guidance in their meditation practice
• Wants to incorporate meditation

Many traditions have a form of prayer bead. Christians utilize rosaries, dhikr are used in Islam, and malas are used by Buddhists and Hindus. The word “mala” is Sanskrit and means “garland.” Malas often contain 108 beads, as 108 is often seen as a sacred number. There are many reasons for this, from the Buddhist belief in 108 feelings to the Hindu belief in the 108 Mukhya Shivaganas. Malas are made out of seeds, wood, glass, and gemstone.

In some forms of meditation, it is helpful to

A meditation affirmation is a great way to relieve anxiety and stress. It focuses your attention in the present moment and releases your mind from a borage of stressful and/or anxious thoughts. When you do this, you calm your mind and can relax.

For today's meditation, we will do a quick 5-minute breath meditation with affirmation. The affirmation for today is I RELEASE and - I ALLOW JOY". Start the cycle with a silent inhalation. Then upon exhalation, say the words "I RELEASE and". Say the

Using music during meditation for stress and anxiety is a personal choice. I personally find that using music during meditation can be very soothing and calming. It can even help to focus me at times. There are times, however, that I choose to meditate without music. Sometimes, I feel that the music is a distraction. It really depends on my level of consciousness at the time I go to meditate.

The type of music that I use is also different depending on my current vibrational level, i.e.

Shawngela Pierce, owner of Seek Within You, will be a guest on Hollis Chapman Radio Show at 12pm EST on January 3, 2014. Shawngela will be discussing the Meditation for Health Program she teaches at her company, Seek Within You. The Meditation for Health Program is a step-by-step holistic lifestyle program with meditation used as the foundation. The program is designed to teach students how to heal from the emotional and physical effects of stress and anxiety. Student learn stress management and anxiety relief techniques. They learn

Quick Meditation Tip

Meditation can occur anywhere. For instance, you can meditate while washing dishes. You can be so focused on feeling the hand sensations that occur while washing dishes that you are actually practicing a form of mindfulness meditation. Typically when people are asking this question though, they usually have a vision of a quiet, secluded space in which to do a seated meditation. For some people, this may be the best way to start a formal meditation practice. If this is the case for you, then

Mindset can be defined as a set of beliefs or a way of thinking that determine a person's behavior and outlook.  I would say in a lot of cases, people already have the mindset to meditate. As meditation is becoming more popular in this country, many people are beginning to come to the belief that meditation is very beneficial for things such as relieving stress and anxiety, improving your mental function, improving your concentration, etc. They are familiar with studies that are helping them to make the transition

Counting Breaths

Meditation for anxiety and stress can be a simple activity to do. I think that a counting breaths meditation can be "counted" as one of those in that category of simple forms of meditation. Simply, relax, find a comfortable position, close your eyes and start counting your breaths. That is all there is to it. Just count your breaths. If you notice that your mind has wondered, that is fine. Just acknowledge it without judgment and return to counting your breaths. You can return either to

Relieve Stress and Anxiety in the Shower

Do you tend to bring your worries and stress to the shower with you? Are you thinking about conversations that happened in the past or have yet to happen? Are you checking off your to-do list while in the shower? If you answered yes, to any one of these questions or know that you are not fully present in the shower, then consider incorporating a mindful shower meditation into your routine.

Being entirely in your head as you shower exacerbates

Stand grounded in yourself and release attachments. 

Attachment can take on many forms. You can be attached to an object, you can be attached to an emotion, you can be attached to other people's expectation, you can be attached to a person, etc. It is these attachments that cause stress and anxiety in your life. The anxiety and stress come from either worrying about how long you can hold on to whatever positive sensations these attachments bring to you or dreading or being worried about the

Are you looking for tips and techniques for holiday stress and depression? Do you want to feel better during the holidays? Do the holidays make you feel more sad, depressed, stressed or anxious? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, then download our Free 7-page guide. Mindfulness meditation and other holistic lifestyle changes are some of the techniques offered in a quick and easy to use format. The free guide, includes links to videos and other resources to help you feel more relaxed and

If you are in need of guidance in whatever stage of development you are in, find a good teacher. A good teacher will lead you to the door but will ask you to walk through it. Now what does that mean in practical terms? As a meditation instructor, I can give you the tools for learning to meditate but I cannot tell you what you will experience for I have learned and truly believe that everyone's experience will be different. This is what makes meditation seem like

If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse. Jim Rohn

This may be cliche, however, if you really want to do it, you will do it. Life is about choices. Now having said this, let me give you a hand with making the choice to meditate. When making decisions, you have to consider the pros and cons of it. Well, meditation has many pros. Meditation relieves stress and anxiety, helps to clear your mind, makes you

Featured Artist

The winding path by Joe Stevenson

Listen to this relaxing and captivating song by Joe Stevenson taken from the album, Zen and the Art of Relaxation. It is a perfect time to take a break, relax and just let go. Anytime you find that your mind has wandered, breath, relax and return your attention to the melodic sound of the music.