A Simple Way to Help Your Body Remember Sleep One of the things I love about the body is that it's always listening. Every experience... Every habit... Every moment of slowing down... Your nervous system is constantly gathering information and asking one simple question: "Am I safe?" When the answer is yes, your body naturally begins shifting toward rest, repair, digestion, healing... and sleep. When the answer feels uncertain, your body does exactly what it was designed to do—it stays alert. Many people think they've forgotten how to sleep. I don't believe that's true. I think the body simply gets really good at practicing wakefulness. The wonderful thing is... Whatever the body has practiced, it can practice something new. This week I'd like you to try something that I've used with many people over the years. The 7-Day Sleep Challenge About an hour before you're ready to fall asleep, complete your entire bedtime routine first. Brush your teeth. Wash your face. Turn off the lights. Get comfortable. Do everything you normally do before getting into bed. Then—and only then—begin this massage technique. Just behind each earlobe is a small indentation. Using one or two fingers, gently massage that spot in slow (or fast), comfortable circles. Do about 100–200 circles on both sides at the same time. There is no need to rush. In fact, you'll probably find that slower feels better. As your fingers continue those gentle circles, you might begin noticing little things changing... Maybe your jaw softens. Maybe your breathing becomes a little deeper without you trying. Perhaps your shoulders settle. Some people notice their eyes beginning to feel heavier. Others simply experience a quiet sense that their body is becoming less interested in staying awake. You don't have to make any of those things happen. Your only job is to notice whatever your body chooses to do. What's interesting is that many people become sleepy while doing this. That's exactly why I recommend doing your bedtime routine before the massage.

Protect Your Energy I had a conversation recently with a client who just returned from a vacation. She commented that where she was, everyone was busy, "Go, go, go, all the time". She said she remembers that is how it was when she lived there and that visiting felt exhausting. She was grateful for the slower life she has now. One of the biggest misconceptions about healing is that it only depends on what you add. People focus on supplements, nutrition, exercise, or the next protocol. While those things can absolutely help, many overlook something just as important: Healing requires energy. Every cell in your body depends on available energy to repair, regulate, detoxify, and restore balance. When your physical, mental, and emotional energy is constantly being spent on things that aren't necessary, there's simply less available for healing. Sometimes the most powerful step isn't adding another healthy habit—it's removing unnecessary drains. Ask yourself: - Are you saying yes to too many commitments? - Are you constantly checking the news or social media, leaving your nervous system in a state of alert? - Are you trying to do five things at once instead of being fully present with one? - Are you carrying responsibilities that don't truly belong to you? These may seem like normal parts of modern life, but they quietly tax your nervous system day after day. Your body doesn't always distinguish between physical stress and emotional stress. Both require energy to manage. When you're continually "on," your body often shifts into survival mode, making it much harder to prioritize repair and restoration. Protecting your energy isn't selfish, laziness, or giving up. It's creating the conditions where healing can happen. This week, instead of asking, "What else should I do for my health?" try asking: "What can I stop doing that is draining the energy my body needs to heal?" Sometimes the greatest act of self-care is creating margin or saying, "No." What's one thing that consistently drains your energy—and one small boundary or change you could make this week to protect it? I'd love to hear your thoughts and encourage one another.

Well, this post will be a little different. Let me share my vacation with you! We have walked, canoed, and rested! Celebrated our youngest’s 34th birthday. And taking a break from the move of the office for a few days. There is a great blue heron in one of the pics. Hard to see but we were right there in the canoe watching him. Here are some pics (yes I ate some cookie cake. Get healthy and you can too!). Share your vacations with us when you go!

Hello fellow health travelers! As many of you know, ALHH has been growing and changing over the past several months. You might have noticed the picture change, price changes, etc. As that vision continues to unfold, we're excited to share that we're settling into a new home. Beginning in July, Alabama Holistic Health and Nechama Spiritual Center will be serving from our new location in Hazel Green, where we'll continue expanding the vision to "Life Restoration Pathways"—a place where physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing come together. For those of you in this community, not much will change. We'll still be meeting here each week, learning together, growing together, and walking this journey side by side. But behind the scenes, this new space gives us room to continue building classes, gatherings, workshops, and new opportunities to serve you even better. Thank you for being part of this journey. Many of you have been here through every season, and I'm grateful to be walking this path with you. More updates (and an open house later this summer!) will be coming soon (I'll try to get some videos thrown in, too.) Travel Well in your Health Journey! Christie Alabama Holistic Health

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