Finding the True Harmony within you

Belly Dance Fusion at Yasmine's 15th Annual Swapmeet

2009-12-23T17:34:21-07:00

Join Sherry Fragosa at Yasmina's 15th Annual Swapmeet January 23, 2010.

Sherry will be sharing the art of:

BellyDance Fusion at its Finest
with Sherry of True Harmony - 10:30 - 11:30 p.m.

...a little shimmy, slow and slithery, isolations, and fluidity - combine the elements together and you have Fusion! Learn the control and technique to begin your mastery of this style, plus take home a mini choreography to help you practice. Wear a coin belt to accent your shimmies in this class.

workshop is one hour - $5

About the instructor:
Sherry Fragosa (previously VanGoethem ) is an experience Valley bellydancer and choreographer currently teaching at the True Harmony studio in Mesa. She specializes in Modern Bellydance Fusion, blending belly with hiphop and other forms of dance. She is also a renowned Bhangra Dance instructor in the valley. She is known for having and creating high energy, high intensity, fun and fabulous classes and choreographies.

Swampmeet information:

Mark your calendars for Saturday January 23, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Yasmina's 15th annual swap meet.

Enjoy a day of shopping, workshops, networking with other dancers and having fun.

The event will be held at the Women's Club of Mesa - 200 N. Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201 (cross streets - University & Center) --

To reserve your vending and/or workshop spots please contact Yasmina - 480/962-6303 – yasmina@joyofbellydancing.com

Herbs aren't just for Taste. Here are some of the other benefits!

2009-12-17T11:36:05-07:00

Did you know that culinary herbs were originally used in cooking for their medicinal benefits? The use of food as medicine can be documented back to ancient times.

Garlic – modern research indicates that garlic has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic properties. These benefits are also found in historical documents. Garlic was originally added to food to prevent infection from tainted meat and vegetables and to improve/stimulate digestion.

Rosemary – Rosemary was used historically as a preservative of meats and other foods. Modern research has supported this by finding Rosemary to be a potent antioxidant with antibacterial and antifungal affects. Rosemary stimulates digestion and increases bile production from the liver.

Oregano – Oregano is commonly used in Mediterranean food, and was used as a food preservative. Research has shown that Oregano is particularly effective against Listeria monocytogenes, a food-borne pathogen. Oregano also works at preventing gas and bloating, improving stomach function, and increasing appetite.

Bay Leaves – also known as Bay Laurel. Bay leaves were added to meat and vegetable dishes to kill bacteria and fungus. Bay Laurel helps with the digestion of meats.

Basil – Basil was used as a cure for stomach aches before it was so readily used in Italian cooking. Basil is a good source of iron, calcium, potassium and Vitamin C.

Fennel - Another common Mediterranean herb, prevents flatulence, indigestion, colic and gastro-intestinal spasms. Fennel may also stimulate bowel movements and improve constipation.

Dr Denise Grobe is the Naturopathic Physician at The Center for True Harmony in Mesa, AZ. She believes that a healthy gut is extremely important to the overall health of a person. To discover more about gut health and what you can do to improve your own, schedule an appointment at 480-539-6646.

Sleeping Soundly in Pregnancy

2009-12-10T17:08:03-07:00

Pregnancy and sleeping soundly are not too terms that usually go together. Below is one way a patient solved her sleepless nights during pregnancy problem.

"I gave birth to my first and only child in April 2009. I am, also, a fully committed stomach sleeper, lying on my stomach was the only way I have been able to soothe myself into sleep. Since childhood, I have been falling asleep lying on my stomach and waking lying on my back, so pregnancy posed an interesting obstacle for my sleep. I was able to sleep on my stomach until the 5^th month of my pregnancy, after that my belly was just too big! I started waking several times a night finding myself either on my stomach or on my back – these positions were now uncomfortable, which was why I was waking up. I ended up having to lay on my side and place a body pillow between my legs and under my belly and another pillow behind my back so even if I tried to roll onto my back or stomach, the pillows would keep me on my side. This worked out very well for me. The pillows were comfortable and made me feel secure and supported. As soon as I got home from the hospital I went to sleep on my stomach."

Any other good tips on sleeping soundly during pregnancy?

Get your Abs in Shape by Practicing this BellyDance Move with Sherry from True Harmony!

2009-12-05T08:03:25-07:00

The Pelvic Tuck and Drop

1. Stand with your Legs just slightly apart
2. Bend your knees, and tuck your pelvis to a neutral position. This we will call 'Neutral'
3. Now Tuck your pelvis even further into a full tilt, tucking and sliding your tailbone underneath you by activating and contracting your very lowest abdominal muscles. This we will call 'Tuck'
4. Now release the pelvic back into the neutral position, and keep your whole abdominal core activated and contracted (so if you were to push on it, you would feel resistance from your core abdominal muscles).
5. Now release the pelvis all the way back by contracting the very lowest muscles in your back. This we call a 'Pelvic Drop' or just 'Drop'
6. Repeat the Tuck and Drop. Its most fun to do it to music. Try doing it to one entire song (3-4minutes long). Alternate from doing it slow - Tuck for 4 counts, then Drop for 4 counts and repeat during the first verse of a song. Then do your exercises faster. Tuck for just one count, then Drop for one count, Tuck for one count, and Drop for one count. Do this during the chorus.

Keep changing it up, keep the control in your movement. This is a fabulously fun exercise to strengthen the lower abs, it helps to relieve congested and stuck lower back pain, plus it will work you towards flattening that belly!

Written by Sherry Fragosa, Dance Instructor for Center for True Harmony Wellness and Medicine. Sherry teaches Bellydance Drills for Beginners and Intermediate dance students in Mesa AZ. She also teach a Dance Workout Class that incorporates Bhangra, West African Fusion and Bellydance! You can contact her directly at True Harmony: sherry@trueharmonywellness.com or 480-539-6646.

The Best Holiday Gift for a Woman this year

2009-12-03T13:34:24-07:00

The best holiday gift for a woman this year? That's easy... the gift of femininity. Giving your woman a group of BellyDance classes will open a whole new experience for her!

Basic BellyDance brings out every Woman's Femininity.... How?

Woman...curves, soft, sensual. Full of hormones, caring, creativity. Busy, responsible, too consumed to pay attention to herself.

Every woman can relate to these descriptions. Dancing, especially bellydancing, brings out the positive feminine aspects of everyone. Many women have trouble relating to all the positive aspects of being woman. Examples are feeling lovable, feeling sensual and flirty, feeling gently powerful, feeling graceful, feeling creative, feeling musicality, feeling rhythm, feeling sexiness, feeling empowerment, feeling luscious, feeling beautiful, feeling like a queen, feeling gentle while simultaneously feeling strong.

When a woman learns to bellydance, she learns a new body posture and she is taught muscle control. This means she learns a different way to hold herself. She is taught how to be aware of her muscles all over body, muscles she may not know that even exist! The small muscles in her arms and shoulders, the many different muscles holding her hips and waist, the team of muscles in her legs, ankles and feet. Learning about these muscles and finding new ways to 'hold' them and multiple ways to train them allows every woman the power to change her body! The shape of her body, the way it flows and moves with every step, the way it rests. Changing her posture, a woman carries herself differently. She can exude confidence and power with grace and softness. When exuding these new ways, she will feel them within her more too. All of these things working together, the physical with the emotional/mental, a woman can completely change her life simply by learning the basics of bellydance.

Asking any bellydancer, young or old, novice or professional, a woman will find that every dancer will answer in detail how bellydance has changed her life: improving her relationships, improving her job and work life, improving the way she feels about herself.

No rhythm is needed to learn to bellydance. No dance experience is needed to learn to bellydance. Every woman can learn to bellydance. She just needs to give herself the chance.

By Sherry Fragosa, Dance Instructor for the Center for True Harmony Wellness and Medicine inMesa AZ. www.trueharmonywellness.com. Bellydance and World Fusion Dance lessons are available lunch andevenings hours every day of the week at the Center for True Harmony and at private businesses and residences. Contact Sherry at sherry@trueharmonywellness.com or 480-539-6646.

Ladies Tea Party at True Harmony!!

2009-12-03T10:04:00-07:00

Ladies, mark your calendar for December 6th. Join us from 12:30-3:30 for a Ladies Tea Party. Drinks will be served with light lunch. Learn about make-up, ingredients that are safe and one that can cause allergic reactions, different styles and colors for different skin types and even get a "makeover" if you are interested in that! This is going to be a wonderful, educational time with the Arbonne make-up ladies and Lorri,one of our fabulous aestheticians here at True Harmony! We hope to see you there! RSVP today! Space is limited. There is no cost for this event!!

For more information or to RSVP please contact True Harmony at 480-539-6646.

Foot Facts and Toe Tiblets- Reflexology for Men's Health

2009-12-01T16:52:00-07:00

Reflexology for Men's Health

In today’s stressful work environment men can benefit from the relaxation effects of a Reflexology session. Reflexologists actually work therapeutically, much like an Acupuncturist would. By stimulating points within the reflex maps the Reflexologist is encouraging the body to find a balance for itself. The whole map is stimulated and therefore the entire body gets attention, while only the feet are being worked on.

Male Reproductive and Urologic Health

The male reproductive organs can suffer from a variety of conditions including but not limited to:

· Infertility – male factor infertility can account for up to 40% of all conception problems and can range from genetic to physiological to hormonal and sperm abnormalities.

· Urologic diseases and disorders – prostate cancer, hematospermia (blood in the semen), incontinence, and enlarged prostate.

· Sexual disorders – dysfunctions including premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction

Reflexology is the practice of massaging, squeezing, or applying pressure on parts of the feet, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, to relieve stress, cleanse the body of toxins, increase circulation and improve general health. Reflexology was introduced into the United States in 1913 by William H. Fitzgerald, M.D.

Toe Reading is based on the theory that your body records the story of your life. The position and shape of the toes say a lot about their owner. By observing someone's toes you will know a great deal about their past and the experiences they have lived through. For example, the right foot will share your story on how you show up in the world, or relate to an outside relationship, whereas the left foot relates to your relationship with yourself and Spirit. Rarely are the right and left side stories the same.

Traci Fors is a licensed massage therapist, specializing in Reflexology, Toe Reading, Cranial Unwinding, and Swedish massage at the Center for True Harmony Wellness and Medicine. You can reach her at 480-539-6646 or info@trueharmonywellness.com.

Baby Botanical! All Natural Skin Care for Infants and Children

2009-11-28T13:45:00-07:00

“Soft as a baby’s bottom” We’ve all heard the saying before, and most of us have been able to experience the feel of a baby’s skin, smooth, soft, and untainted! To help keep your baby’s skin that way, True Harmony has created it’s very own natural skin care line just for babies, Baby Botanical!

Baby Botanical is a handmade, all natural skin care product line created by The Center for True Harmony’s licensed aesthetician and botanical skin care expert, Jacqueline Gillam. Baby Botanical is gentle enough for your baby’s delicate skin and is 100% free of parabens, dyes, and synthetic fragrances.

Jacqueline is a licensed aesthetician and graduate from the Southwest Institute of Natural Aesthetics in Tempe, AZ. She is an advocate for holistic skin care. She understands that your skin reflects what is happening internally in your body and she is dedicated to helping you improve your skin from the inside out.

For more information on Baby Botanical, The Center for True Harmony Wellness & Medicine^TM PC, or to book a facial with Jacqueline, please give us a call at 480-539-6646 or check out our website at www.trueharmonywellness.com.

Foot Facts and Toe Tidbits by Traci Fors of True Harmony

2009-11-26T13:41:00-07:00

Try a Reflexology session

Unsure about having a full body massage, not sure you want to undress, just not comfortable with people touching your body. Reflexology is your answer. Receive the same benefits from a full body massage while only having your feet worked on.

How Reflexology Can Support the Menopause Experience

Regular reflexology treatments can support a menopausal woman physically, mentally and emotionally. It can help a woman tune into her body’s needs, highlighting imbalances and areas which need attention. It can provide a safe space in which to relax, receive and be self-focused. Having an empathic reflexologist who understands the physical changes behind menopausal symptoms and takes her problems seriously can, in itself, relieve stress.

Reflexology for Men's Health

The male reproductive organs can suffer from a variety of conditions including but not limited to:

· Infertility – male factor infertility can account for up to 40% of all conception problems and can range from genetic to physiological to hormonal and sperm abnormalities.

· Urologic diseases and disorders – prostate cancer, hematospermia (blood in the semen), incontinence, and enlarged prostate.

· Sexual disorders – dysfunctions including premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction

Sherry is Married!

2009-11-24T17:43:44-07:00

Office Manager of True Harmony, formaly known as Sherry VanGoethem, has recently tied the knot and is now Mrs. Sherry Fragosa! The wedding took place Saturday November 21st 2009 and was filled with friends, family, laughter, and good times. Picutres are coming soon!!

Congrats and Well Wishes Sherry!