Sun set on the Big Island of Hawaii

Throughout time philosophers, healers, and regular people have searched for the secrets of true happiness and purpose.  In their search for these answers the shaman of Hawaii have developed seven sacred shamanic principles.  These principles are at the heart of Hawaiian Shamanic beliefs and also from the basis of traditional Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage.

The Fourth Principle: MANAWA (ma-NAV-a): Now Is The Moment Of Power

Some Eastern beliefs attribute your current circumstances to Karma. What you did in your past life is creating your circumstances today and you are powerless to help it. Some Western views attribute your present circumstances, attitudes, and beliefs to your heredity or social upbringing.  Hawaiian Shamanic beliefs, however, are in stark contrast to both of these views.

The shaman contend that it is your beliefs, your decisions, and your actions that form who you are today. Your circumstances at the moment are the result of your own actions, not your upbringing or past life. There is no one to blame and no one to praise for how your life is going at this moment. It is you that created this life, and you that perpetuates its existence in its current form.

Always remember that the past is over. All of our scientific advances and increases in our understanding of the universe have not shown any way to reverse the flow of time. Your life always starts now. Now is the moment of power. Now is the time you can control. The rest of your life starts now.

You need to be in the here and now to have power over your life. You can change the physical future by acting now, and you can change your feelings or body memory (your Ku) of past events that affect you. By acting now to view past, present, and future the way you want to view them (IKE – Is the glass half full or empty…), by removing self imposed limits (KALA) and by focusing your attention and energy on the right things (MAKIA) you have the power to act, now.

For additional information read The Urban Shaman by Serge Kahili King (ISBN 0-671-68307-1).

More Information:

• Lomi Lomi Massage
• Other Hawaiian Principles

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Melissa Douglas, of Gilbert AZ found the hidden gift card on 10/10/09 after over turning lots of rocks in Scottsdale.  Keep watching our blog or better yet, subscribe to our email club, and you will be notified when the fun contest starts.  More information on Melissa’s find is also posted on Examiner.com.

Melissa has a great story as to how she found the gift card:

When I first read about this contest, I got all excited. I love a good challenge! I told my husband about it, who also loves a good puzzle, and he was hooked, too. We anxiously awaited the first clue: it’s plastic. Come on guys, throw us a bone! But, we figured it would take awhile until we started getting some REAL clues. I think the clue that really spoke to us was the distance. We went to Googlemaps and narrowed it down to McDowell Sonoran Preserve. And then, it was as if the planets aligned…the only day I could go out hunting (cough) hiking was early Saturday morning while my husband was home to watch our 2 little girls. So, I got on my sneaks and headed up to the Preserve.

I had my husband send me the picture of the rock to my cell phone, but that only really helped once I found the right combination of tree, distance from the trail, and the view of Camelback. I started out at the Lost Dog Wash trailhead heading East. If you haven’t been there, there are rocks EVERYWHERE! I started to think this was not going to be an easy task. I came to maybe the 5th tree on the left and saw a rock that resembled the one in the clue. Could it be this easy? I picked it up and no, it was not that easy. I continued up the trail, but as the trail started to curve around the mountain, I realized that I could no longer see Camelback and knew that this trail was not where I needed to be. So, I turned off at the Anasazi Spur, which looped back around towards the trailhead. This trail was a lot more rocky on the path, but not a whole lot of trees to shade them. I soon ran out of trees altogether and found an access path back to the Lost Dog Wash
 trail, but it actually dumped me back out on the road into the parking lot. I decide to head back to the trailhead and start over.

I then remember that the trail goes off to the left, too. Hmmm. I head that way, which follows the edge of the parking lot. The conditions are perfect. There’s Camelback. Nice big shady trees and rocks just hanging out under them. I look for the rock in the picture. I glance back at a tree on my left and notice a rock that looks like the little rock in the picture. But, the rock next to it looks much bigger than the one in the picture. Maybe it’s just a different angle? I get up close and move the smaller rock and see cobwebs and gunk in between. No, this rock hasn’t been moved in a long time. I then try to nudge it a little, but it’s pretty heavy. I decide to keep moving on. But, curiousitygot the better of me and I had to go back. I looked at the picture again and dang if everything else in the picture doesn’t line up, too. OK, I have to move that rock. I grabbed it with both hands and there, like Charlie Bucket’s golden ticket was the bright blue sky
 on the gift card sitting there in the dirt. I did quite the little happy dance right there, all by myself.

This was SO much fun. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the prize (and can’t wait to use it!), but if you want to hide a paperclip and post clues, I’d be on board!

Thanks so much!
Melissa

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Yes, it is true.  Someone actually found the gift card with the clues posted so far.  We will post more information on the winner and how she found the card shortly.

Lost Dog Wash Just Off Parking Lot

Earlier we posted a picture of the rock covering the gift card.  This particular rock is under a tree.

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Tight Scalelne Muscles are a Major cause of Hand Tingling

Many people experience tingling sensations in one or both hands.  The tingling may only be in part of the hand or the entire hand and may occur sporadically or be present most of the time.  Often the tingling is a concern to people who think there is a neurological cause to the condition.  While this is possible the cause is much more likely to be from something simpler – tight neck muscles.

Your brachial plexus is the nerve bundle that travels from your cervical (neck) vertebrae to your arms. When these nerves, which provide motor and sensory function to your arms, leave your spinal cord they pass though your neck and chest on their way to their destination.  At the beginning of this journey your brachial plexus passes very close to your scalene muscles.  The scalenes are muscles are that elevate your upper ribs during respiration and assist in neck movement.

When your scalene muscles are hypertonic (tight) they can exert pressure on the brachial plexus causing sensations in the hands, including tingling.  The treatment for this condition is simple – medical massage therapy.  By releasing the hypertonic scalenes, pressure on the nerves going to the arms is alleviated and often the tingling will stop, for good.

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The gift card is about 1.5 miles from the spa (as the crow flies)

The card is only one or two steps off of a trail.

We took this picture from within a few feet of where we hid the card.

Did you know that new clients get 10% off in October?  See our Specials Page for details.

Exercise is essential to muscle health

Achieving a healthy state in your body requires more than massage; it also requires regular exercise good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.  Your massage therapist can relieve muscle tension and trigger points, but if you do not stay fit your muscle disorder is much more likely to return. 

Definition of being physically fit
One definition of physical fitness is as follows: “Being physically fit is having the energy to perform your daily duties alertly and with vigor, while also maintaining adequate energy for leisure activities.”  Over a series of articles this simple statement will be dissected and additional components will be filled in to provide readers with an understanding of what their goal really is when they say they want to be physically fit.

Definition Component #1 – “having the energy”
First, being physically fit is “having the energy…” Energy is the capacity to do work.  You must first have a reserve of energy before you can do any work.  An airplane receives its energy from its stores of gasoline while our body receives it energy from our stores of glucose (sugar) and fats which are produced by the foods we eat. 

In order to use the energy, however, we must have an efficient system of converting the energy to work.  The potential energy in a tank of gasoline may be very significant, however, if the engine has mechanical problems we may not even be able to get started in the morning, let alone make it through the entire day with vigor and alertness.  Additionally, if an airplane has more potential energy then it has the capacity of using, the energy is just extra weight and is not useful.  Similarly, an obese person has an enormous amount of potential energy in his body.  Each pound of fat can produce about 3,500 calories of energy, however, carrying all of that extra energy is inefficient and actually detrimental.  Unlike a polar bear that has to accumulate vast quantities of stored fat so he can live off it during hibernation, it is not healthy for humans to have significant fat stores.

Therefore, one of the first goals of getting fit is to eliminate the excess fat.  By converting fat to muscle we take extra and unproductive weight fat mass and convert to a useful muscle mass.  Unlike fat, muscle has the useful ability to use energy so it can sustain itself and can help carry an extra load such as the load you put on it each day while working and playing.  Carrying an extra 20 pounds of fat is like carrying 20 pounds of groceries on your back.  It is a reserve of energy that is unnecessary and unproductive.

Hawaiian Experience Spa is more than a fluff and buff day spa.  We provide a complete range of services from exotic and relaxing spa treatments to serious medical level massage.  The spa is great for special occasions, regular “every month” massages, and injury and pain treatment.

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When retreiving the gift card don’t be surprised if you see horses.  Another picture will be posted tomorrow.

MEMBERSHIP PRICES ARE GOING UP – If you want to join the spa, now is the time, as prices are going up on Sunday 10/11/09 for new members.  Join now and still get the old rates.  Visit our membership page for full details.