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In 2014 I became a [Reiki Practitioner](https://tezoona.com/therapeutic-massage/reiki/). I went to Vero beach for a two day course for Reiki 1 and Reiki 2. It was a tremendous experience which never would have happened without my twin sister Amy. Amy was the inspiration behind my becoming a Reiki Practitioner. She was living in Peru with cancer and told me this was something that really helped her and that the person giving her the Reiki didn't need to be in the same room with her.

I was feeling so helpless that I couldn't do anything for her, and I wouldn't be able to travel back and forth to Peru. Learning how I could help her from across the world was a true gift. Once attuned Amy and I spent every Monday evening together in an energy world while I channeled Reiki her way. And when she came to the States we would share this in person. This is where my journey with Reiki energy healing began and now it is a part of me.

Amy no longer is on this earth with me, but I still feel her energy and spirit. Since her passing I have become a certified Reiki Teacher and have found great ways to use this energy therapy. I started volunteering regularly at Equestrian Inc., a [horse rescue ranch](https://youtu.be/CEneilOO3Zc) working with these amazing creatures who guide me on what to do. I also volunteered at Gulfside Hospice which has contributed to my own healing. I introduced Reiki to both these places.  I continue to grow with Reiki teaching, and integrating it into coaching or sessions, , on its own, as well as sharing with animals at rescues.

The Gift of Reiki

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As a kid I remember parsley being this little green sprig I picked off my food before eating.  The one exception was during Passover (a Jewish holiday commemorating the escape from slavery), when large plates were heaped with this twig, passed around the table to dip in salt water, and then eaten.  I loved it.  That was pretty much my relationship with this lovely little green.  I didn’t even like Tabouli, whose main ingredient is parsley, though I think that was more about the bulgur wheat which didn’t appeal to me.

So what is Tabouli anyway?  If you are from New York City you probably have heard of Rays Pizza, or Original Rays Pizza, or Rays Original Pizza.  They all claim to be THE original pizza source.  Looking at Tabouli recipes you will find the same types of claims of originality hailing from throughout the Middle East and Turkey.  They all have variations in the recipes as well as how the name of the dish is spelled – Tabbouleh, Tabouli, Tabouleh.  All will agree that parsley reigns dominant in this salad yet some recipes are more timid about this than others.  

Parsley is an amazing green and is what makes this a superbly rich dish; not only in flavor but in nutrients.  Related to celery and carrots, parsley supports our digestive health from ingestion to excretion.   Rich in anti-oxidants and volatile oils, it cleans the blood, helps the body detoxify, is high in fiber, and is a natural diuretic when drunk as a tea.  For more of my thoughts on parsley watch [Green Morning Mocktails](https://youtu.be/7QMtjiRWdeM).

In my version of Tabouli, with more than three cups, parsley is the real star and forms the base for this salad.  The remaining ingredients - mint, tomatoes, and cucumber, dressed in rich olive oil and fresh lemon juice - are the accents and don’t stray from my understanding of their authenticity.  Where I have taken liberties is with the grain.  Traditionally, so they say, Tabouli is made with bulgur wheat or often substituted with the less hardy couscous.  I am gluten-free and like a variety of options to use as replacements. These include French green or black lentils, millet, sorghum (to emulate the larger-grain Israeli couscous), and quinoa (shown here).    When all the ingredients are fused together they become a refreshingly delectable and nourishing salad to have for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any time in between.

**RECIPE
Ingredients**
* ½ cup dry quinoa – or any of the above mentioned replacements
* 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
* Juice from 2 lemons
* 2 cloves garlic chopped
* Salt (I prefer sea or Himalayan) and ground black pepper to taste
* 3 big bunches of flat parsley with bottom stems trimmed (about 3 to 31/2 cups chopped)
* 1 Persian cucumber diced
* 2 very firm Roma tomatoes
* 2 thinly sliced scallions
* ½ cup fresh chopped mint

**Preparations**
1. Cook quinoa according to package directions
2. While the quinoa is cooking, in a large serving bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic
3. Mix the cooked quinoa into the lemon dressing
4. Coarsely chop the parsley and add to the quinoa. If you only have a small cutting board do this in batches.  You may be tempted to use a food processor to chop the parsley.  While cutting by hand takes more time (not a lot) the leaves won’t get too small and mushy – not the effect you want for this salad.
5. Add in the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and mix well
6. Cover and refrigerate until ready to eat

Serving suggestion – Make a Tabouli wrap using a mustard, romaine, other dark lettuce leaf, and put in a couple of spoonful’s of the salad.  Then fold over two sides and roll up for a great alternative to eating with a spoon or fork.



©2021 Jo Bakal | Tezoona Wellness,  LLC | Parvelicious

Parsley Powered Tabouli

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I prepared the meal shown in the photo for a friend who is elderly, sick, and frail. It gave me tremendous joy to hit upon what she would truly enjoy eating as well as to help restore her health and strength.  It got me thinking about how thoughtful I am when I cook food for myself.

I've noticed that when I cook for others I put more thought into what I prepare to make sure it's what they can have and enjoy. I seek out their allergies and other restrictions and tastes and do what I can to provide a delicious meal with these things in mind. I do this without compromising my values so everything remains plant-based, free of refined sugar and gluten.  Other than that - it's all about who is sitting at my table.

In the natural food chef school I attended one of the most important things we learned is always keeping in mind who we are cooking for. Not just thinking about the dietary needs of what they can or cannot have. Rather, how to prepare a meal that supports their physical health while making it a gastronomic delight.

What if we took these principles and applied them to ourselves? Pretend you are the friend you are preparing the meal for. Pull together ingredients that support your well-being while also titillating your palate. I think this could add a new layer to eating mindfully.

*©2023 Jo Bakal | Tezoona Wellness, LLC | Parvelicious*

Cooking for a Friend: You!

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I was taking a walk with my dog Lyla the other day when I came across the soothing smell of leaves burning.  This brought me back to Cusco Peru spending time with my twin sister Amy taking hikes with the smell of burning eucalyptus leaves surrounding us.  This made me feel, all at once, joy, nostalgia, and longing.
Smell, our oldest most visceral (or innate) sense, is processed by the olfactory bulb at the center of our limbic system.  One of the things this system is responsible for is our emotions and memories connected to them.  The limbic system can evoke many kinds of memories that were created from smell.  These range from many experiences both wonderful, ordinary, and not so pleasant.  Two, from my own life, are from my childhood.  I lived across the street from a Hungarian bakery that wafted the most amazing smells making my mouth water for the delicious morning pastries – chocolate Danish in particular. In contrast, on the ground level of my building was a fish monger making vats of gefilte fish – a Jewish delicacy, that nauseated me.  I remember covering my nose and running past it as quickly as possible.  I still can’t pass a fish store without this sensation!
There are so many times that I will catch a smell of something such as the sea on a breezy rainy day taking me back to many great times in Fire Island – as a child, and then with my children.  Or a waft of a particular cologne will remind me of a terrible date from years ago,  leaving me feeling very turned off.  
These scented memories, stimulate our emotions bringing up the feelings and state of being experienced at the time of having the smell.  Emotions from joy to sadness to fear to anger, for example, surface along with the smell.  Many animals use their sense of smell for survival, sniffing the air to ensure safety, to hunt detected prey, or retreat.  Bacteria even have a sense of smell used to distinguish between harmful chemicals or not.  In our civilized world, while of course we use this sense, we don’t necessarily appreciate what it does for us.
Aromatherapy’s foundation is built on leveraging the limbic system using our sense of smell combined with essential oils, made from real plants, to bring about a state of being relaxed, energized, or some other mode of well-being.  The application of these essential oils can be from inhaling them directly, from massage using essential oils, diffusers, burning candles, and rubbing the oils in your hands and then holding them over your face, for a few ideas.
Aromatherapy, as we know about it was invented in 1935 by the French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1935. However, using aroma therapeutically has been around for thousands of years in many cultures.   While essential oils are what are commonly linked to aromatherapy, this isn’t the only way to achieve the good feelings and sense of well-being that an aromatherapy session can promote.  You can seek out environments that you know will contain smells that will bring out a desired state:
Keeping things simple you can enjoy smelling flowers you see in a park or along the street.  You may take a trip to the seaside.  Or you might cook a meal that brings good memories filling your house with the aroma.  These are just a few examples.
There are scents used ceremonially like burning sage, incense, and Palo Santo.  In our home, every Saturday night we say Havdalah – a Jewish set of prayers to end Shabbat (the Sabbath).  One of the prayers – besamim – is to smell and savor a spice mix which can include cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and cloves as a way of extending the sweetness of the Sabbath into our week.  So, aromatherapy can be as simple as opening up a container filled with your favorite spices and taking a deep slow whiff or as luxurious as going to a spa for a complete aromatherapy session and massage, with many choices in between.
*Please note if you have animals and you use essential oils at home – not all are safe for them such as lavender etc. If you burn something like sage – also do this away from them or outside as this can be hard on their respiratory system.*



*©2023 Jo Bakal | Tezoona Wellness, LLC | Parvelicious*

These Scented Memories

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Here is some food for thought...
FORGET DIETS

Instead just eat real food. NOTHING processed. Yes, things like whole grains, legumes, whole grain pastas, and some other choice items will still come in a box, bag, or can. What's important is to look and understand the ingredients.  Just look what else is coming along for the ride - the hidden ingredients,  and what's been done to the packaged food you are selecting.   This is true even when shopping at the health food store.

Aim for better quality foods that have a small footprint.  Make the largest portion of your shop from the produce section.  Better still, go to a farmer's market. 🥝🥭🫐🍎🍅🍆🥬🥒🥕🥔🥗Minimizing the processed stuff will helpthe environment and your wallet too. Whatever floats your boat as long as it is real. food! 

*©2023 Jo Bakal | Tezoona Wellness, LLC | Parvelicious*

Eat Real Food

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Last night I went out for dinner and all our dishes looked beautiful with a specific plate for each entree.  It felt like a real celebration.

While cooking tonight I thought to myself why don’t we put this same care into our home cooked meals.  We forget that eating involves more than just our sense of taste.  All five senses participate.

Each Friday we celebrate Shabbat with a festive meal but why not other meals with ceremony?  Let’s make meal times an occasion not just a time to scarf down our food without noticing it.  I had all the elements, my family, some friends and the meal which didn’t take much time to cook.

With little effort I was able to dress up the meal.  It is just a matter of how you arrange the food on the plate and some garnishing. You can clip some parsley or cilantro, or use a condiment and swirl a design on the plate.  And then you get the response of your diners going “Ooh, this looks so pretty, why so fancy?” Even if the dinner turns out to only last 15 minutes it really does feel more special.  Aren’t we worth it?

*©2020 Jo Bakal | Tezoona Wellness, LLC | Parvelicious*


Celebrating an Everyday Meal

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Experience the transformative Clarity & Vision: Wellness Blueprint Session with Jo, your partner in promoting active and healthy aging. Together, we'll embark on a journey of rediscovery, helping you reconnect and truly wake up to yourself. In this time you will take the lead with me as your sounding board to discover the areas and behaviors you want to change whether this involves nourishing your mind and body, eating better, creating work/life balance, or just putting you first. Through our creative and empowering collaboration, you'll gain clarity, set intentions, and evolve a plan to unleash your true potential. Remember, we're never too old to be bold. By the end, you'll not only have a clear vision but also a newfound appreciation for who you are.
1 90 minute define the wellness vision consultation
1 Email follow up

Jo has a mission to bring kindness & compassion to the world by serving women over 40 with a growing tapestry of wellness services. These are used to enhance your ability to live the life you envision. She helps those who juggle life's demands allowing them to see the value of being number one, living healthy, liking whom they see in the mirror, & releasing their past so that their true potential can emerge. Jo recognizes the uniqueness of each person and that no single solution works for everyone. TRANSFORMATION is one of the ways that Jo helps her clients. 
TRANSFORMING self-image, behaviors & habits one at a time, life transitions, or your relationship with food
Jo has the expertise, experience, compassion, & empathy to support you along your wellness journey.
Jo is a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach and Cancer Coach, Natural Foods Chef, author, licensed massage therapist, Qigong & Reiki Instructor. 

In 90 minutes, experience a transformative session, with me, your partner in promoting active and healthy aging. Together, we'll embark on a journey of rediscovery, helping you reconnect and truly wake up to yourself. In this time you will take the lead with me as your sounding board to discover the areas and behaviors you want to change whether this involves nourishing your mind, creating work/life balance, or just putting you first. Through our creative and empowering collaboration, you'll gain clarity, set intentions, and evolve a plan to unleash your true potential. Remember, we're never too old to be bold. By the end, you'll not only have a clear vision but also a newfound appreciation for who you are.

90 minute Wellness Blueprint

Health Coaching Session To Build Your Wellness Blueprint to Wake Up To Yourself and Like Who You See

CLARITY & VISION: WELLNESS BLUEPRINT HEALTH COACHING SESSION

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Reiki is a gentle energy therapy that helps recipients lower stress levels and promotes relaxation.  In this state our bodies and minds are more equipped to heal; whether it is a physical, mental or emotional challenge.  Reiki can help even the most healthy person stay in balance.  Reiki is a complimentary therapy to medicine or other healing modalities and can facilitate the bodies innate ability to heal allowing prescribed treatments to potentially work better.
Reiki can be spiritually satisfying though it is not a religion and in no way conflicts or contradicts anyone’s beliefs. It is energy drawn from the universe similar to the warmth we receive from the sun.
BENEFITS
 - Reduces Stress
 - Promotes Relaxations
 - Alleviates Aches and Pains
 - Works on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level
 - Can assist with anxiety and depression
 - Can improve quality of life
 - Facilitates the bodies innate ability to heal
 - Never causes harm
 - Works with other treatments

 
 In these three sessions we can spend a few minutes explore goals, obstacles, and define an affirmation as the intention for your session. Then receive Reiki energy for the balance of the session.  The aim is to help the mind to reframe, reduce overall stress, and feel clearer.

 In these three sessions we can spend a few minutes explore goals, obstacles, and define an affirmation as the intention for your session. Then receive Reiki energy for the balance of the session.  The aim is to help the mind to reframe, reduce overall stress, and feel clearer.

Session 1 of 3

Session 2 of 3

Session 3 of 3

REIKI 3-PACK ENERGY BOOSTER

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Reiki is a gentle energy therapy that helps recipients lower stress levels and promotes relaxation.  In this state our bodies and minds are more equipped to heal; whether it is a physical, mental or emotional challenge.  Reiki can help even the most healthy person stay in balance.  Reiki is a complimentary therapy to medicine or other healing modalities and can facilitate the bodies innate ability to heal allowing prescribed treatments to potentially work better.
Reiki can be spiritually satisfying though it is not a religion and in no way conflicts or contradicts anyone’s beliefs. It is energy drawn from the universe similar to the warmth we receive from the sun.
BENEFITS
 - Reduces Stress
 - Promotes Relaxations
 - Alleviates Aches and Pains
 - Works on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level
 - Can assist with anxiety and depression
 - Can improve quality of life
 - Facilitates the bodies innate ability to heal
 - Never causes harm
 - Works with other treatments

Reiki is a gentle energy therapy that helps recipients lower stress levels and promotes relaxation. In this state our bodies and minds are more equipped to heal; whether it is a physical, mental, or emotional challenge. Reiki can help even the most healthy person stay in balance. Reiki is a complementary therapy to medicine or other healing modalities and can facilitate the body’s innate ability to heal allowing prescribed treatments to potentially work better.
During the session, the Reiki energy – known as life force or universal energy – will flow from the practitioner's hands into the client’s body and energy field.  During a session, the client may feel warmth,  a deep relaxed sensation, and a general sense of well-being.  How the Reiki moves is actually up to the receiver as the Reiki practitioner is purely a conduit of the energy between the source and the receiver.
Distance Reiki is shared remotely and is received by the client from the comfort of their own location.   The client finds a comfortable, quiet place to sit or lie down.  If desired play soft background music.   We will start the session with a brief discussion and then once again at the end to recap. 

60 Minute Distance Reiki Session

30 minute Reiki Energizing Healing Session

REIKI ENERGY SESSION

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This single focused session you'll address a specific challenge with support and collaboration. Together, we'll engage in a constructive brainstorming process to untangle complexities and outline actionable steps for your path forward. By the end of the session, you'll have gained clarity, motivation, and a confident direction aligned with your intentions.

With a crystal clear focus, we will create a realistic achievable plan with a mode to track progress.

In this 60-minute session, we'll home in on a specific wellness vision, identify goals, and the steps to help you get there.  We'll spend the time to clarify your intrinsic motivation, discover your strengths and how to move obstacles out of your way, and create a realistic achievable plan with a mode to track progress. One step at a time will lead you to the success you are looking for while building confidence to reach your goal and move on to the next.

Focus Session

In this single-focused session you'll address a specific challenge with support and collaboration. Together, we'll engage in a constructive brainstorming process to untangle complexities and outline actionable steps for your path forward. By the end of the session, you'll have gained clarity, motivation, and a confident direction aligned with your intentions.

Health and Wellness Coaching session to home in on a specific intention/challenge.

CLARITY BOOSTER - HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING SESSION

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Join me for a transformative experience as your partner in promoting active and healthy aging. Together, we'll embark on a journey of rediscovery, helping you reconnect and truly wake up to yourself. Throughout our collaborative sessions, you'll take the lead as we explore the areas and behaviors you want to change, whether it involves nourishing your mind, creating work/life balance, or just putting yourself first. Through our creative and empowering collaboration, you'll gain clarity, set intentions, and evolve a plan to unleash your true potential. Remember, we're never too old to be bold. By the end of the sessions, you'll not only have a clear vision but also a newfound appreciation for who you are.
* Develop your wellness blueprint
* Identify intentions to support your vision
* Explore your strengths and how to move obstacles out of your way 
* Create your realistic action plan
* Develop sustainable and lasting change
* Empower and build self-trust and self-efficacy
* Feel better in mind and body.

This 6 month package includes:
* One 90-minute define clarity and vision session
* 12 biweekly 45-minute sessions
* Two 30-minute virtual private qigong lessons
* Two 30-minute remote Reiki sessions
* Email support for the duration of the program

Together, we'll embark on a journey of rediscovery, helping you reconnect and truly wake up to yourself. In this time you will take the lead with me as your sounding board to discover the areas and behaviors you want to change whether this involves nourishing your mind, creating work/life balance, or just putting you first. Through our creative and empowering collaboration, you'll gain clarity, set intentions, and evolve a plan to unleash your true potential. Remember, we're never too old to be bold. By the end, you'll not only have a clear vision but also a newfound appreciation for who you are.

Build Wellness Blueprint - 90 minutes

We'll continue to clarify your wellness vision, identify the intentions and steps to move forward, and create your sustainable plan.  We'll then identify your obstacles and which strengths and supports to keep your wellness journey path clear.

Meeting 1 - Clarifying

We'll continue to clarify your wellness vision, identify the intentions and steps to move forward, and create your sustainable plan.  We'll then identify your obstacles and which strengths and supports to keep your wellness journey path clear. We will check in on how you're progressing, check in on what's working, and what needs to be adjusted to fit better with your intentions.

Meeting 2 - Clarifying

Meeting 3 - Clarifying

Building on our previous weeks, we will track progress, celebrate accomplishments, and work on building confidence and momentum while reviewing what is working and making adjustments as needed.

Meeting 4 - Momentum & Sustainability

Meeting 5 - Momentum & Sustainability

Meeting 6 - Momentum & Sustainability

Meeting 7 - Momentum & Sustainability

Meeting 8 - Momentum & Sustainability

In this 50-minute session, building on our previous weeks, we will track progress, celebrate accomplishments, and work on building confidence and momentum while reviewing what is working and making adjustments as needed.

Meeting 9 - Momentum & Sustainability

Meeting 10 - Momentum & Sustainability

Meeting 11 - Momentum & Sustainability

In this final session, we will track progress, celebrate accomplishments, reflecting on and recognizing your successes.  We will review lessons learned and what works best for you as a guide for coping with what life brings you. Will discuss what's next including what supports you will have in place to maintain and sustain your new habits and lifestyle changes.  

Meeting 12 - Moving Forward

Join me on a transformative journey, promoting active aging as you reconnect & wake up to yourself.

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