Fresh for Fall

Happy first day of fall! While summer still looms in the air, now is a great time to get together your fall beauty routine before the new season fully hits. In honor of the new harvest, why not try some fall inspired beauty products with some DIY recipes?  A DIY Pumpkin Facial mask rich in vitamin A and C is easy to make and can brighten up your skin after all of the sun damage from the summer. Other DIY recipes include this list of Thanksgiving inspired beauty products which features a butternut squash enzyme mask. Craving apples? Apple cider vinegar can be used in some beauty product recipes listed here.

Enjoy the new season and keep visiting The Center for more news and updates.

Reducing Allergies using Holistic Techniques

Post-labor day begins everyone's least favorite time of the year. No, it's not back to school. September brings with it the sneezing and coughing of allergy season due to the increases in airborne pollen. With that, CNN special correspondent Dr. Robert Reinhardt shared that combined with the allergens children are exposed to from returning to school, September has the highest incidents of hospitalization due to allergen-induced asthma attacks. Besides avoiding allergens and taking antihistamines, allergies can be treated through more holistic techniques. Maria of Maria's Farm Country Kitchen  suggests treating the inflammation caused by allergies through a healthy diet and by reducing external stress. The Mother Nature Network blog also suggests changing your external environment to lower susceptibility to allergens. Some of these suggestions include removing shoes before you walk into your house or apartment and showering before bed. Women's Day magazine contributes that acupuncture and homeopathic treatments such as those provided at The Center can help alleviate allergy symptoms. 

For more information and helpful tips from The Center for Integrative Practices, check out our website and facebook page. 

Welcome Allegra Parks to The Center!

The Center of Integrative Practices would like to welcome our newest practitioner, Allegra Parks! Allegra is a state licensed psychotherapist who received Masters Degrees in both social work and early adolescent education. In her practice, Allegra focuses on helping adults and adolescents deal with trauma, health issues, anxiety, conflict and other related issues. For more information, check out Allegra Parks on The Center's website. Keep checking back with us for more updates and upcoming events!

Mindfulness Can Lead to Happiness

This past January, mindfulness expert Andy Puddicome gave a great TED talk about the importance of being mindful and present. This video gives an overview of his methods and the importance of meditating for 10 minutes a day in order to take care of your brain. Meditation, according to Andy, can be any activity that allows you to focus your brain so that you are not juggling your thoughts but are focused on the present moment. Whether you achieve this through deep breathing excercizes, physical exercise, or any one of our meditative services at The Center is up to you. Take the time to reward your brain for it's hard work and watch Andy's video (it's worth the effort!)

Remember the Sun

I'm sure you have all noticed that it's been getting colder in the city! Stay healthy and remember sunnier days with some of our favorite green smoothie recipes:

Strawberry + Banana + Romaine
This recipe is a twist on the classic strawberry/ banana. Add a little romaine for extra hydration. 1 cup strawberries, 2 bananas, 6-7 leaves of romaine, 2 cups water, blend.

Peach + Spinach
Sure to blast you right back to summer. 6 peaches, 2 handfuls of spinach leaves, 2 cups of water, blend.

Mango + Weeds
Sending you mentally to the tropics with a kick! 2 Mangos and 1 handful of weeds (lambsquarters, stinging nettles, purslane etc.), blend and enjoy.

Recipes from The Copperhead Resort and Spa courtesy of Dr. Amanda Baten.

Detox with Dr. Amanda Baten

Detox December is underway! For the next couple of weeks,  Dr. Amanda Baten will be blogging  her knowledge and advice on detoxing.

And now, our guest blogger  Dr. Amanda Baten on the first steps to detoxification:

Cleansing can happen in several ways; fasting, juicing, or eliminating foods and drinks that build up in the system.  We recommend all three, but done in steps and supported by your physician or health practitioner.

Let’s start this week with an elimination diet:

1. Avoid the following: sugar, caffeine, wheat, gluten, dairy, alcohol, drugs
2. Transform to a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables, with a significant reduction in the intake of processed foods.
3. Start the day with warm water and lemon.  Then have glass of filtered water with 1 tbsp of psyllium husks and a ½ tsp of chlorophyll.
4. Use a body brush (you can purchase this at whole foods) every morning for 10 mins.  Brush towards the trunk and up. This creates detoxification through the lymph nodes.  Remember that skin is an organ of elimination.
5. Switch to organic products.
6. Alter your animal intake. Try leaner meats that are organic, free range, and without hormones or antibiotics.
7. Reduce fish intake and avoid the big fish like tuna, large mackerel, swordfish, and shark.
8. Read labels carefully.  Avoid processed food, dyes, and chemicals.

Here are a list of foods that will promote the elimination diet and support cleansing:

1.     Beets – an excellent source of betaine, which supports detoxification in the intestines, blood, and liver. It is also a great anti-oxidant.

2.   Lemon and Orange Peels – these aid the liver in neutralizing carcinogens 

3.    Chicory, Endive, Radicchio – these greens promote discharge into the GI tract of bile,  a substance that assists in carrying away toxins. 

4.    Cruciferous Vegetables – cauliflower, broccoli, and brussel sprouts help the liver detoxify chemicals, drugs, pollutants. 

5.    Raisins – lessen the burden on the liver by stimulating the kidneys and clearing out poisons in the gut. 

6.    Oatmeal, Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Peas, and Beans – provide soluble fiber to soak up toxins in the intestines and escort them out of the body. 

7.    Asparagus, Avocados, Potatoes (boiled in their skins), Raw Spinach, Okra, Walnuts, and Chicken –  aid in the removal of fat soluble toxins. 

What are the outcomes of a detox diet? You will feel revitalized!  Expect radiance, vitality, and energy, as well as clear skin and better sleep.  Equally as important is increased immunity, better focus and concentration, decreased depression and anxiety, greater self regard by nuturing and taking care of yourself! The other benefits are combating depression, which is affected by a sluggish liver. Our body, mind, and emotions are all influenced by the foods we eat and the toxins that we take into our bodies.

Many, Many Thanks

Hey there friends of The Center! We just wanted to first thank everyone who came to the art opening and meet-and-greet last Saturday. What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The combination of the peaceful atmosphere at The Center, the good company, the beautiful art and the sample services provided by Shelley Poovey, Michael Grego and Dr. Noam Sadovnik made for a wonderful event. We had a great time, Thank you!

On the subject of thanks, this happens to be the week for it. After a long week of family and food, it's time to take a moment to relax. Life is hectic, but the holidays shouldn't have to be. Take some tips from our practitioners who shared what they like to do to relax: 

Maya Carlet stays likes to stay active through yoga, outdoor recreation and dance but also loves to cook. "Finding time to create healthy and nourishing meals is extremely important way for me to de-stress and to support my own health and wellbeing."

Dr. Jada Turco chooses exercise as her stress relief activity. "Any kind of exercise first thing in the morning, walking, yoga, going for a hike, especially in the fall."

Shelley Poovey recommends meditation. "I love to meditate. I spend at least a half an hour a day or more meditating. I have a technique for breathing into my heart that cultivates an overall sense of peace and gratitude. I use it when I run and work out as well. I find that working this way keeps my stress levels low and a positive outlook more available to me throughout the day."

Whatever happened this Thanksgiving, take a little time for yourself, and you'll be better able to appreciate your friends and family. Hope you had a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! 

From Acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine, craniosacral and trigger point therapy, to myofascial release and chinese therapeutic massage, Maya Carlet does it all. In her new interview featured on The Center for Integrative Practice's website, Maya shares how she treats pain, dermatological issues, stress, sleep and digestive disorders. "The body and all of it’s systems are programmed to return to a state of balance and health, and when we address the whole person we can help the body return to its natural state of health. " 

Want to learn more about Maya's work? Check out this article on the New York Times website that explains how Acupuncture can assist in relieving pain.

For more information on The Center for Integrative please visit our website or like us on Facebook. More events and updates coming soon!

Holistic Medicine with Dr. Jada Turco

Dr. Jada Turco truly epitomizes holistic medicine with her multi faceted practice. Dr. Turco combines traditional and holistic approaches while practicing psychiatry and neurology. Dr. Turco explains her practice in her new interview on The Center for Integrative Practice's website: “My focus is on nutrition, diet, nutraceuticals and the use of supplements and other complementary approaches in lieu of or combined with traditional psychotropic medications and treatments. I also offer psychotherapy which is influenced by my training in psychoanalysis, attachment theory, mind-body medicine, interpersonal neurobiology and metaphysics.” For more information and to read the full interview Visit Dr. Turco's page on The Center's website. 

The Center welcomes Jennifer Warner

A warm welcome to our newest practitioner,  clinical social worker and psychotherapist Jennifer Warner! Jennifer has a unique approach to health and wellness that fits with the center's mission. Jennifer explains, “My approach is insight-oriented, practical, and holistic: assist clients to heal both their minds and bodies through the understanding of the impact of life experience on behavior, and building the skills to effect real change in their own physical, nutritional, and mental health.” For more information on Jennifer Warner, check out her new page on The Center's website and her full interview here.

Fall is Delicious

It's hard to remember that New York City is part of a state abound with farms, but it is, and fortunately all city dwellers can take advantage of it. Right now happens to be the best time of the year to do just that as the fall harvest reveals some of the healthiest and most versatile produce of the year:  beans, squash, apples, herbs, tomatoes, beets and greens. As the weather get's colder, as it inevitably does in New York, it is easy to start eating more comforting and less healthy foods. Fortunately, fall foods are so versatile, they can become your comfort food. Squash is a great example of this. Squash contains essential vitamins and minerals that maintain cellular structure to keep your bones and ligaments healthy. It also happens to be delicious baked with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and some rosemary. Take advantage of these foods while they are in season. The Center for Integrative Practices encourages everyone to find there local famers markets for the freshest produce  in New York City. There are markets all over Manhattan that you can find here.

Next week, we will be featuring our newest practitioner, Social worker and Psychotherapist Jennifer Warner. Have a happy and healthy week and stay tuned!

Make Your Week Stress Free

Relaxation is an important part of keeping your body and mind healthy. It can be hard to remember to take the time to relax, especially in the city that never sleeps. At The Center for Integrative Practices, our practitioners support a healthy amount of relaxation everyday. For some relaxation tips, we asked our practitioners what they do to unwind. Micheal  Grego said: 

'Confucius said, "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I get the best stress relief by doing what I love, helping people with massage and other techniques that help restore them to their maximum potential. After that I enjoy being outdoors, meditation and contemplation.' 

It can be difficult to find  meditative spaces in New York City, so here are a list of five public spaces that we find relaxing in Manhattan:

1) Sheep Meadow in Central Park 

2) Bryant Park and The New York Public Library

3) Riverside Park

4) Stuyvesant Cove

5) Battery Park 

For more information on The Center for Integrative Practices, check out our website or facebook page. 

Have a stress-free week!

Interview with Michael Grego

More website updates! Michael Grego, LMT, Massage, Manual and Neuromuscular therapist at The Center for Integrative Practices talks about the versatility of his practice and what inspired him to get into integrative health in this new interview featured on The Center for Integrative Practices' website: 

"Michael’s empathy gives him a unique approach to therapy and he understands that a patient needs more than a massage to get back on their feet. His practice is two-fold: 'Traditional massage is the best choice for stress relief or to get more from your Chiropractic adjustment.  For those that have pain, structural or functional problems and want results as fast as possible, patients have the option of an Integrative Manual Therapy approach.'" Read more here

Look for more interviews from our other practitioners coming soon!

Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog for The Center for Integrative Practices! We are an integrative wellness and holistic health center located in the heart of Manhattan at 1201 Broadway. Our practitioners work together to provide individualized care to each visitor to The Center. Here we will share all of our latest news, updates to our website, events and things we think you should know about. For more information on The Center, please check out our website or follow us on facebook.