Blessings of Light on this Winter Solstice…
The time at which the sun is at its southernmost point in the sky, thus the shortest day, the longest night, and the darkest time of the year. Humans have been observing, experiencing, erecting monuments to, and performing rituals around this cycle of light since the very beginning of us walking upright. This is an inward time when we go within and find our deepest self, a time of deep relaxation.
Hidden away in our cozy warm homes, so many of us are painfully disconnected to any form of ritual unless it involves shopping and organized religious practices, much which have lost meaning. It would be better for our health to slow down, stop and take a moment to relax.
The Winter Solstice is a time to honor the magical, miraculous planet we inhabit through lighting of candles, being in joyous celebration with others, acknowledging that all is well, and that the light is indeed returning. We remember the light of the sun that sustains us, as we turn and begin our journey of returning back to the light.
Winter on the Central Coast
We may not have snow, but these frosty mornings and chilly days we’ve had lately make you want to put on your down jacket and hat to keep warm. We are indeed so fortunate to live on the California Central Coast, where the weather is usually mild and the landscape, and seascape, are naturally beautiful. Even in the winter, we are able to have outdoor activities all year round. It has been a little chilly this fall, but we usually still have clear and warm afternoons to get outside and take off our jackets. It is not unusual this time of year to even see people in shorts and t-shirts, jogging along West Cliff Drive or sitting in the sunshine at an outdoor café. Santa Cruz and the Central Coast have moderate temperatures and such exquisite scenery, that it is no wonder that people come visit in the winter from icy places such as Washington, Michigan and Vermont.
Enjoy Our New Saunas….
Deep sweating allows the epidermal layer to be cleansed of bacteria, and flushes away the dead skin cells, leaving your skin with a clear and natural healthy glow. They say that the minerals and nutrients in sweat actually plump up our tiny wrinkles and maintain the collagen structure of our skin. Sweating is a way of energizing the skin, much like exercising is to the muscles of our body. It is cleansing the skin from the inside out, not just topical cleansing. Flushing the body wastes from the pores through sweating on a regular basis, eventually brings vitality and tone back to your skin.• Garimo’s Real Soap — Lemongrass, Lavender and Tea Tree Spearmint
‘The Well’ Spotlight…
Our New M
assage Therapist, Crystal May….
I began my studies in massage at the University of California, Santa Cruz. I then went to receive a 700-hour massage training at the Sedona School of Massage in Sedona, Arizona. During that time, I was trained in Shiatsu, Deep tissue massage, Cranio-sacral, Orthobionomy, Polarity Therapy, Swedish massage, and Assisted Isolated Stretching. I also taught a Swedish massage class during my time working at the Way Inn, which is a tourist destination neighboring Huaraz, Peru. I trained under the Kundalini Yoga instructor, Samson Burke, with the teachings of Yogi Bhajan. During my experience, I noticed a sense of mental and physical clarity that I had never witnessed before. I later went on to study for a year at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, where I was able to integrate Oriental Medicine into my work, through utilizing meridian and point-based acupressure. I appreciate working at the Well Within because of the wonderful location and staff. I have worked at several different locations over the years and the massage space is a wonderful environment to work in, as well as the saunas and tubs, which promote both healing and relaxation.