Oh the days trickle down to a precious few...

 

Fall is almost with us.  I chuckle as I say this, as it is almost 90 degrees outside as I write this afternoon, the dog days of summer.  However, there are signs in NJ and NY that autumn is coming, that cannot be denied.  The sun rises later and sets sooner.  I measure these things by the trek to work, with that rising sun hitting me in the eyes, and just a bit darker as I walk to my car in the early evening to make the drive home.  My drive is about 20 miles, so the change in rote is very noticeable to me. 

I smell the freshness and coolness in the air in the early morning as my dogs make their first run outside.  The earth smells differently than it does in the heat of summer.  Plants are beginning to change, getting ready to move back into themselves, away from the huge explosion of growth through late spring and summer.

I try to embrace every season, but it is hard to keep my thoughts away from school, from cooler darker days.  I work at a college and it is always a joy to meet our new students.  They are ready for a fresh start, full of expectation, sometimes nervousness, as well as bravado to hide the nervousness.

Meanwhile, I'll try to get ready for the cooler weather, the need for a sweater, a coat, even a hat.  Are you ready?

Welcome Spring!

Hello and blessings for a wonderful Spring!  I am so glad that Spring is finally upon us in northern New Jersey.  The snow finally melted and the daffodils are up and in full bloom.  Yay!  As soon as I smell the spring air, my spirit is lifted and my dreams soar.  What are your fondest wishes for Spring? 

Make Positive Changes Now! Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Relaxation Response Series in HoHoKus

There is no time like the present to make positive changes that an affect your entire lifetime!  Contact Mary Beth at mbdelbalzo@gmail.com or register at http://tinyurl.com/p934cvw
 
On Friday evenings this winter from 6-7:30 pm, join Mary Beth Del Balzo, LSCW, CHt, Psychotherapist and Certified Hypnotherapist for group mindfulness based relaxation response for decreased stress, better focus, health, confidence and peace. You will learn techniques that you can use in everyday life to defuse the effects of stress on your body, mind, emotions and spirit. You will experience increased peace and vitality, decreased aggravation and better rest. Cost is $25 per class or $175 for all 8 classes in advance.  On January 24 and 31, Mary Beth will be joined by Nutritionist Jess Cording, MS, RD, CDN.
 
If you have already taken a class with Mary Beth, these techniques may be familiar but there are also new materials and additional techniques to enhance or reinforce your practice.  Individual classes can be taken, but it is encouraged to participate in all for maximum positive benefit.
 
Dates include:
Fridays 6-7:30pm
 
January 24, 31 - Learning Mindfulness and Eating for the Season part 1 and 2, with guest Nutritionist Jess Cording, MS, RD, CDN (see additional information below) 
 
February 7 - Getting Better Sleep Using Mindfulness and Creating Clean a Sleep Routine
 
Feb 14 - Mindfulness for Relationships, Communication and Compassion
 
Feb 21 Mindfulness for Better Health and Exercise
 
Feb 28 Mindfulness for Pain Management through Mindfulness
 
March 7, 14 Creating Your Own Practice of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Relaxation Response Parts 1 and 2
 
Did you know that 60-90% of doctor visits are due to stress related illness? Mary Beth draws on techniques including self-hypnosis, meditation, the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn (Professor of Medicine Emeritus and founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School), Herbert Benson (Founder of the Benson Henry Institute at Harvard Medical Center and author of The Relaxation Response) and others.
 
Everyone feels stress. You will learn the tools needed to diffuse, cope with, and avoid it, through this workshop series. Channel energy otherwise spent on stress into positive energy in order to achieve abundance, happiness, and health. Benefits include immune system support, pain management, stress relief, relief from anxiety and depression.
 
On January 24 and January 31 we will be joined by Nutritionist Jess Cording, MS, RD, CDN, who will coach us on healthy eating habits, seasonal eating and combining a healthy lifestyle.  We will combine her techniques and suggestions with our mindfulness training for maximum positive effect. You can read more about Ms Cording on her website; jessicacordingnutrition.com  

Happy New Year

May countless blessings and Joy be yours in the coming year, and may you always have an overflowing stocking of gifts! 

Gratitude is always the first word that comes to mind when I think of the many people who have crossed my path over the years.  Some are fleeting and some long term and deep.  I am grateful for you all.

The second word that comes to mind is compassion.  I am not perfect, and I hope that I will have compassion for all others, and for myself as well.  Please consider compassion for your own self, as well as others.

See you in 2014!

Peace and Wellness - the gift that heals - Small Business Saturday

While I am not a big fan of manufactured holidays, Small Business Saturday, this Saturday, November 30, created by American Express, is a great way to support small businesses.  They are offering "eligible" cardholders the opportunity to get $10 back when you spend $10 or more with your eligible card.

I own a small business, Hypnosis for Health, through which I practice both hypnotherapy and psychotherapy.  I love what I do, and decided to have my own Small Business Saturday opportunity, and extend it through the end of December. 

Now through the end of December, you may purchase for yourself or as a gift certificate, an introductory session for relaxation, peace and meditation instruction for $75 for a 45 minute session.  I have been an hypnotherapist and instructor of meditation and mindfulness based practice since 1995, and look forward to the opportunity to spread some peace and wellness.  My normal session charge is $180, so this is a substantial savings, and an opportunity to give a gift  that heals to yourself or someone you love.  This session can be conducted face to face in my HoHoKus, NJ office, via Skype or Zoom, or over the phone.

The certificates themselves are good through next June 30, 2014.

I became certified as a hypnotherapist almost 20 years ago, after seeking out peace and well being for myself, back in the early '90s.  I was so profoundly moved by the work and my progress as an individual, that I decided to study, open my own practice and let others experience the same level of lightness and discovery.  In 2008, after many years of additional education and training, I became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist, to complement my existing practice.  The past 20 years have been a great joy to assist others in their journeys of wellness. 

The certificate can be sent to you electronically, at no additional charge, or wrapped and mailed to you for an additional $3.00, or may be expedited for an additional charge in time for holiday gift giving.  Please contact me directly at mbdelbalzo@gmail.com. 

Winter Solstice Celebration in HoHoKus NJ on December 21

Winter Solstice Celebration

Saturday, December 21 from 2-4pm

at Mary Beth Del Balzo’s office,
18 Sycamore Ave, 2^nd Floor, HoHoKus, NJ  07423

For many, the Winter Solstice is a time of rebirth, positive change, and the setting of good intentions for ourselves, our loved ones, all others on the Earth and beyond.  

Please join Mary Beth Del Balzo, Paul Lamb and Sharon Rothman as we welcome Winter in transformation and celebration!

2013 is a year of karmic activation, when ‘old stuff ‘rises more easily to the surface to be cleansed. As we gather together at the end of the old cycle and the beginning of the new, we will gently ease through transition in ourselves and know that together we are creating an amazing opportunity of connection and dreaming the new world for all of humanity and for all the Earth.  This is not a religion-based celebration, and is intended to bolster our spirits and come together in celebration of the changing of seasons and our connectedness to each other.

No fee will be charged but you may bring a goodwill offering that we will donate to Table To Table, a community-based food rescue program that collects prepared and perishable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it to organizations that serve the hungry in Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Passaic counties.

For questions, contact Mary Beth at mbdelbalzo@gmail.com.  You may register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-solstice-celebration-december-21-tickets-9490567543

Mary Beth Del Balzo, CHt, LCSW, Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist, helps people seek and find the joy that eludes them, helping to empower individuals through talk therapy and integrated holistic modalities.

Paul Lamb- Energy Medicine Practitioner, NJ licensed Massage Therapist, Certified instructor of Tai Chi and Qigong, Reiki Master.

Sharon Rothman is a certified Feng Shui consultant and 9-Star Ki astrologer, much sought after for the remarkable results she achieves for both residential and commercial clients.

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-solstice-celebration-december-21-tickets-9490567543

 

Turn over a new leaf – make friends with yourself!

from PinWords and crookedstripes.wordpress.com

Recently, and, actually, quite often, my clients come wanting to improve relationships with others. Good relationships often elude us. With many of us, it is often apparent that the relationship most in need of mending was relationship with self. How do we make friends with ourselves?  Also, why bother?

The Untouchables

There are often people in your life who I call untouchables, meaning people with whom you forgive all and almost always employ understanding.  The upside to this type of behavior is that you already know how to forgive, to let go. Try pretending that you are one of those people. After a while, if something is for your benefit, the result could very well be lasting.   The downside of this behavior is that we sometimes stuff down feelings rather than feeling them, coming to terms with them and then letting go.  You will know which you are doing by your feelings. If you feel good, you have let go.  If you do not feel good, you are probably stuffing.

Let go – it’s a good idea 

Why is letting go a good idea?  Sometimes we are conditioned to want retribution, or understanding, love, compassion or an apology. You might never receive these from some others. They just might not be capable, or, they don't understand that they have wronged you.  More good news - you are capable of understanding, of forgiving and loving yourself. You know how you feel. Practice compassion.  Begin with yourself.

Why Bother?

What happens when we do not let go?  It gets stuck – stuck in our heads, stuck in our hearts and feelings, and ultimately, stuck in our bodies.  By letting go, we allow ourselves to also let go of the feelings and symptoms that result when we hold on.  Our bodies get loud when we hang on by manifesting symptoms that can build up over time.  By letting go we give ourselves a chance to heal.

Just say it - I love myself

Try saying this short phrase: "even though I (whatever is upsetting you about yourself), I completely forgive and unconditionally love myself at this moment in time".   If you want to, you can put your hands over your heart as you say it, or even hug yourself.

The answer is yes

You don't need to sustain the feeling - just say it. At first it may be foreign or feel like a lie, but keep it up every day for 21 days. Many studies say that it takes about three weeks to break a habit and start a new habit.  Maybe it will take you a bit longer, but hang in there.    Won't it be worth it?  Just in case you are not sure, the answer is yes!