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Mother’s Day

May 3, 2018/in Uncategorized /by Cindy Aguirre

Mother’s Day

Mom and I

The day we celebrate the person who sacrificed alcohol, cigarettes, Tylenol, hanging clothes on the line (old wives tail) and all around being a “normal” human being for 9 months so she could be a healthy host to us; the perfect little parasite!

Yes, for the majority of us we started out leaching nutrients, wreaking havoc, punching, kicking and growing inside our mother. We kept her up at night, caused her to throw up breakfast for a few months, demanded special food for her to crave at midnight, made her feet swell, her beautiful skin etch with stretch marks, her body to become uncomfortably large, her emotions to go wild and then into sheer panic on how and when the heck we would exit the facility!

That is the easy part of being a mother…

I have a mother and I am a mother.

It is the absolute hardest job in the world. There are no real requirements, degrees, certifications, or graduations to qualify you for this, on both ends of the spectrum, to be a mother or to have one.

First let me explain a bit about this day for my family and I. Mother’s Day has brought many tears to those I have loved. Both of my grandmothers and my mother in law all choose this day to take their Heavenly Journey. While the actual date differs yearly, the “day” still will always be Mother’s Day.

It has taken years to enjoy a Mother’s Day and not have that sadness take over, it still creeps in, but I have learned to make peace with it. Both of my grandmothers were older, in nursing homes and in poor health, but my mother in law was only 60 years old and it took us all by utter shock! I remember the day so vividly. My children had spent the night the evening before with her and their grandfather. We were all going to meet over at their house for lunch. My kids were 5 1/2 and 8 years old. They found her. She had died suddenly that morning and our world was turned upside down. Explaining to my kids how Grandma was now an Angel was almost impossible. One thing that helped, she loved Angels and had them all over her house so this seemed to make sense to two little boys and for that I was grateful. Mother’s Day 1996 was by far one of the saddest days of our lives.

My youngest son with his Angel: Grandma Kaye 1992

Through the years my mom and I would joke about still breathing by midnight-01 and expelled a sigh of relief that we escaped the curse of Mother’s Day for yet another year. We have spent a lot of Mother’s Days together and they become more and more special as she ages into her mid 80’s. This year Mother’s Day brings the impending wait for her heart surgery to be scheduled. We both Thank God that regularly scheduled heart surgeries don’t take place on Sundays! She has asked for a date AFTER May 13th for the surgery just to be safer.

Mom and I Mother’s Day 2017

So having a mom comes with responsibility as well.

As children we worry them, as teenagers we make them angry and worry them, as adults we make them proud if we are lucky and still worry them. Then as time moves on we have to make decisions, medical, financial, caregiving, etc., that are difficult, and knowing “someday” is getting closer and we have to prepare to say good bye and learn to live with them in our hearts…this also worries them.

Not to be too morbid of course, but to also honor a day that for many is filled with fancy dinners and flowers, for others it is a very hard day to get through. There are many among us who have lost our mothers and grandmothers. There are many who have lost children or cannot have a child and this day is extremely difficult. We must remember to be gentle with people, we may not know or understand their story.

To BE a mother is a full bag of stuff as well.

My boys age 8 and 6

I have two boys that are now ages 27 and 30. Shortly after they lost their grandmother my husband and I got divorced. I became a single mom, although I had felt like one since they were babies.

Being a single mom comes with all kinds of difficulty and rewards. As I look back on those times when it was just “us three” I am filled with good memories. I am surprised I managed so many things on my own. I taught them to drive a tractor, use a push mower and a weed-eater. I showed them how to make a fire and keep the wood burning stove going, use a power washer, power tools and more. They also learned to cook, use the washing machine and rescue and rehab dogs. We had so many fun times and so many nights I lay awake terrified I was screwing up.

Mother’s Day 2016 Daniel, Devin and I

Now that my kids are adults, I am thankful we still have each other, we have faced some very difficult times together, “us three”. I know I have messed up some along the way, I know I probably still will. It never stops, being a mom, the worry, the tears, the love…it doesn’t even stop once we are gone.

To quote Elizabeth Stone:

“Making the decision to have a child – it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ”

I also was a stepmom for 9 years, which is a whole different kind of mom, for that you get a warrior badge!

Here is wishing you all a Happy Mother’s Day and I hope you take the time to pat yourself on the back for being a mom and for having one!

Mom and I Mother’s Day 2014

We love having all Mother’s come to Aqua Serene Wellness for pampering anytime of the year. We are located in Carmel Indiana, home of the never ending Round-A-Bout!

Aqua Serene Wellness offers Colon Hydrotherapy, Digestive Support, Holistic Facial Services, Organic Skin Care by Dr. Hauschka, Energy Therapies, Massage, Acupuncture, Functional Medicine, Health and Wellness Coaching, Ionic Foot Detox and Coolsculpting® Services.

Check out our services here

Disclaimer: As always my blog is for educational purposes only. We do not offer medical advice, treat or diagnose. Check with your medical professional before taking any supplements or undergoing any treatments.

What Are You Willing to Do (Give Up) to Be Healthy?

January 25, 2018/in Uncategorized /by Cindy Aguirre

What are you willing to do to be Healthy?

This is a question a friend and I had sat and pondered with last week. We both have been in the wellness industry for many years. She is fitness, nutrition, healthy living and of course you all know my gig; gut health, skin health and supporting body systems with modalities I am trained in so they can do what they are designed to do.

We both have been having some lab work and testing done through the Certified Functional Health/ND that works out of Aqua Serene Wellness. Rather convenient for me after all, she is right down the hall!

Lab results can be a real eye opener! I won’t go into personal detail about the specifics of myself or my friend of course, let’s just say it is full on serious mode over here to deal with it once and for all!

Finding out “you” may have some things out of whack i.e.: overgrowth of a bacteria, chemical exposure, gut lining issues, “friends” that have been stow-aways and not only don’t pay the rent, but steal nutrients from you, food sensitivities, and so on and on can really throw you for a loop. These are just some examples of what lab testing can uncover.

You have to “walk your talk” so to speak and for the most part I do, however having specific information really helps.

It can be overwhelming at first, I mean you have already given up processed foods, conventional produce, inks, dyes and perfumes. Your grocery bill certainly reflects that, and going out to dinner can be such a PITA that by the time you have eliminated 90% of the menu, an over priced salad and H20 are all that is left…Hell with that! I will make a better one at home for half the cost, plus it will be organic!

Organic Salad From Home

The actual joy of going out is replaced by dread and despair. You look around the restaurant and see people eating fried baskets of onion rings, an IPA the size of your kids goldfish bowl, cocktails, wings, pasta, pizza, the house burger topped with gourmet mustard, a side of parmesan encrusted french fries, the food coma memories rush in like an old friend.

I sit there thinking don’t they know that all that grease, processed food and gluten is like a time bomb in their bodies? It is all about knowledge and choice right? Life is short and all those phrases, eat the cake, drink the wine…sure on occasion but not all the time.

So what are you willing to do to be healthy is the million dollar (that I feel like I spent on organic food, skin care and supplements) question?

Supplements

Sit back a second, take a breath, it is all going to be ok. There are people and places and an internet full of ways to help you escape the room you unintentionally locked yourself in!

Let me interject some history here. I was a crunchy mom way before that term ever was invented. I had to order “green” diapers and safe chemical free baby clothes from a catalogue. There was no internet when I was pregnant and a new mom. I went to the only health food store in Indy at the time on the West side of town to buy food, sprouted spelt flour, baby wash and lotion. If they didn’t have it, I had my mom go to the Kent Co-Op in my home town and mail me stuff I couldn’t buy here. I ground up baby food, opted my kids out of most of their vaccines and had about the coolest pediatrician around. I actually threw that whole commentary in my youngest son’s face recently when I saw him light a cigarette! He is 27 now and you can only control what you can control…sigh.

Start with what you can replace given your budget. I don’t mean food, that is a must do and a no brainer. There are the dirty dozen and clean 15 foods list to help. GET EWG FREE GUIDE HERELook at your body wash, perfumes, deodorant, make-up, SPF, haircare, etc. Most of what is on the shelf is filled with petroleum chemicals, preservatives, sudsing agents, and more. Switch to safer organic products. You can check your products out HERE.

What are you cleaning your house with, Chemicals? You can replace almost everything with natural agents like white vinegar, organic cleaners (I use Thieves™ Cleaner) baking soda, etc. This will give you more money in your pocket for Organic food and skin care!

Laundry? Step away from the fabric softener, it is full of all kinds of nasty stuff for you and the groundwater! Use wool balls for the dryer. (Keep them out of reach of your dog though, Nina our Rescue Dane LOVES these)

Look out for synthetic dye filled vitamins, gummy chew probiotics, and sugar filled supplements. READ LABELS

Do you spray tan, use chemically laden nail polish, dye your hair? There are organic options.

The next time you remodel your house look for clay based low VOC paint, it is $$ but doesn’t emit dangerous chemicals long after it is dry either. Carpet and flooring can also be filled with chemicals.

Periodic Table

Do you remember the Periodic Table from chemistry class in high school or college? Relax there isn’t going to be a quiz, I am just mentioning it to jog your memory. It is quiet a useful tool even in novice hands. It tells you a lot about the elements. One of the cool things you can find on it is the Mean Atomic Weight (A.W.) in amu’s (atomic mass units) A.W. =# of Protons + # of Neutrons in Nucleus of an Atom.

Example: Hydrogen has 1 Proton, H is chemical symbol, 1.008 is A.W. this happens to be the lightest element on the Periodic Table.

Oxygen has A.W. of 16, so H2O (water) is 2 Hydrogen atoms attached to an Oxygen atom~ H (2×1)+ (1×16)=18 amu. So the molecular weight of water is 18 amu easy peasy right?

Why on Earth am I telling you all this? Well, anything with an amu of less than 500 can pass through the skin and the blood brain barrier! What is the Blood Brain Barrier? The BBB (abv.) is a wall of capillaries and membranes that separate the passage of blood from nerve tissues of the brain. It prevents or slows the passage of certain substances. The BBB protects the brain from viruses, bacteria, and other disease causing organisms, some drugs and toxins.

So for example lets take Octane (C8H18) which is anywhere from 87% to 93% of your gasoline depending on what your car requires. Octane weighs in at 114, so how often do you get gas on your hands at the pump, let alone breathe in the vapor? How long until it has went from touching your hand to your brain? About 20 to 40 minutes.

Gas

So for fun check out the amu of some of the chemicals you are exposed to. You can google it, no need for a chemistry book now days.

Now that I have done the Nerd thing and explained some basic chemistry stuff it was not meant to startle you. It was to make you aware of the choices you make for you and your family. For example learning about molecular weight can help you better understand why essential oils work so well, they are small amu and make it to your cells quick and can do their thing.

So back to my list of what I am giving up at the moment:

Dairy, but not eggs. Dairy is probably the hardest for me because I love cheese. I don’t drink milk but do like some cream in my coffee. We use coconut creamer now.
Gluten, I also love bread and pasta but there are some good gluten free ones out there.
My favorite mascara, I switched a while back to organic but on occasion I still throw on the one that doesn’t smear all over the place.

I had already switched cleaners, skin care, laundry soaps, refined sugars, deodorants, perfumes a long time ago. We sell Ambre Blends and I use their deodorants and essences every day. We carry a wonderful organic line of skin care here at Aqua Serene Wellness; Dr Hauschka and offer the facial treatments with them as well. Check it out Here

We cannot live in a bubble….but we can be more mindful of what we expose our bodies too. We also have two Health and Wellness Coaches here to help you. Michelle can help you with goals and the overwhelming chore of changing your routines, and food choices to go along with your special concerns. Rita will even come into you home and Meal Prep for you!

Meal Prep Program by Rita Avellar

We are located in Carmel Indiana, home of the Round-A-Bout

We offer Colon Hydrotherapy, Digestive Support, Holistic Facial Services, Organic Skin Care by Dr. Hauschka, Energy Therapies, Massage, Acupuncture, Functional Medicine, Health and Wellness Coaching, Ionic Foot Detox and Coolsculpting® Services.

check out our services here

Vacations and finding the perfect Bathroom!

August 30, 2017/in Colon Hydrotherapy /by Cindy Aguirre

Vacation, that short stint of time many of us work all year long for. We squeeze in sights, beach time, hikes, local food, drinks, and sports and often our cheeks. We pack too many clothes, not enough money, and usually forget something. We end up with a few trinkets to remind us of our time away and then return home to be paid back for leaving in the first place. Strange food, drinks and even stranger bathrooms.

I remember many vacations in my life. I was “lucky” and got to go on one every summer as a kid. My parents packed up the family car, my brother and myself and off we went to spend July 4th in another state. Those trips took us to Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia Beach, West Virginia, and Georgia to name a few.

I was a kid who got car sick, and I still do. My brother made that trip so much more miserable. Not only did he say and do things to further my suffering, he also punched really hard in the innocent game of slug bug. My father would threaten to turn the car around most of the trip and eventually he would have to separate us. I remember begging to stop and pee and my dad making me wait. I threw up on the road side in every state south and east of Ohio. We never really went west…

My mom would make my dad stop at a hotel before dark so we could go swimming. My brother and I shared a full size bed in a Travel Lodge or HoJo’s and he would kick me to the floor, where I ended up with a pillow and the hotel bedspread. I cringe to think what was on either of those now that I am an adult.

My dad would always joke that I had “visited” every restroom in every city we had ever been too. I even had to potty in a minnow bucket under the bow of our boat (my dad’s idea of a cruise vacation). Unless you have done number 2 in a minnow bucket at full throttle under the bow of a boat with nothing more than a Campbells Soup beach towel for privacy then you have not fully committed to the term ” make due”!

make shift toilet

As I grew older the need to “visit” every bathroom (or makeshift bathroom) has never changed. I found out as an adult that I have some extra stuff, 4 renal pelvis(s), 2 sets of ureters, and the smallest bladder in the world! So what this means basically my capacity for filtering and getting rid of fluids is 2-4 times the clip of a normal set of kidneys, and what a joke that I also came equipped with a tiny bladder! Top that off with loosing part of your Large Intestine, that makes me an expert bathroom finder on any given adventure! I am the one who will get up as soon as the seat belt sign shuts off to use the plane bathroom, one of several reasons I am an isle seat girl.

The”Welcome” sign of relief!

To quote my long departed grandmother: “Never skip the opportunity to empty your bladder”

I have been to some fabulous bathrooms in my day and I have also had to improvise. I will only tell you a few stories so as to save you from my embarrassment!

Yet another sign for relief

Some top notch Bathrooms I have visited:

The Princeville Resort, Princeville Hawaii (Kauai) the view was amazing!

View of the Napali Coast from Princeville Resort

The Signature Room Lounge in the John Hancock Building womens restroom, best ever view of Chicago!

View from Ladies room Signature Room Lounge

The town of Kohler Wisconsin, (nuff said)

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on The Big Island (they have an outdoor shower) check out their website here

Sax at Keystone at the Crossing. I always use the bathroom there because that is all I can afford to do in that store!

I won’t make a list of the worst, not much compares to a cramped port-a-pot on a 95 degree day that has not been emptied for the entire weekend! #soccermom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have had to makeshift my way more than a few times. The minnow bucket is one of my earliest memories!

I have hiked up a path in the Red Rocks hoping not to get bitten by a rattle snake.

Several “side of the roads”:

Once along the Blue Ridge Highway and I was walked up upon by some astonished hikers.

In no mans land West Va. We stopped at a gas station that they had either just dressed a deer in the restroom or murdered someone. I was not quite sure, nor was I going to stay around to find out. The side of the road on that rainy fog laden night was a safer choice, McDonalds napkin in hand!

I’ve dropped my drawers in the Painted Desert, and in a cornfield on the back roads of Hendricks County. Handing off the wheel of my truck to my then 12 year old son because I could not sit upright to drive the rest of the way home from a BBQ. I made him swear to never tell because not only was it illegal for him to drive it was highly embarrassing! (It was field corn btw)

I even left my “Vicky’s” behind on a Greyhound bus in Galveston, Texas on the way to the airport due to a drinking binge on the last night of a cruise vacation. There was no TP, Paper towels or fabric to be found.

So ironically I find myself in the “potty” business. It really is funny when you think about it. I have the Cadillac of Toilets (Angel of Water Colonic Machine) and you can do your business fireside in our beautifully designed colonic room, equipped with bluetooth speakers for your personal music or podcast, a fire place and wifi.

Our Serene Colon Hydrotherapy Room Featuring the Angel Of Water

There are many funny bathroom stories in my life and my clients usually have a classic to tell me. So if you are interested in sharing your story I am always up for a good bathroom tale.

Meanwhile we have lowered the price of colon hydrotherapy through the end of 2017 for our “Fourth Quarter Blowout”! Ha! Plus we carry several items to digest your adventurous vacation food choices.

Loomis Digestive Enzymes

For those going south of the border we have Absinthium, (best choice for travelers diarrhea), Intesta Cleanse and let’s not forget Para A for those little friends we may bring home with us often known as parasites!

Marco Pharma Products

Then there is the trusty Enema Bucket. You might want to pack this item in your checked bag. You could get some funny looks if they decide to unload your carry on luggage at the airport!

Enema Bucket Kit

We are located in Carmel Indiana, home of the Round-A-Bout, kinda what I feel I am on when looking for the ladies room in a strange town!

check out our services here

Finally a Grown Up Survey! My Thoughts on Social Media Stuff.

June 13, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Cindy Aguirre

My Brain is on Fried Mode:

Today while browsing Facebook I saw the below survey posted on several of my friends status. I never fill those out, but I always read them and answer in my mind. Another rule of mine is I never “copy/paste this status in your time line for one hour to show support for…….” or this one gets me too: “I know only my true friends will share this…… and so on”. I have trouble following the crowd. I am a rebel. I take the high road as well as the wild weed infested twisted paths though the woods and through life. I have the cuts, bruises and sticker bush scratches to prove it!

As a business owner I am constantly trying to keep up with Social Media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Blogging. I cannot speak about Snap Chat or Musicly (I don’t even know if I am spelling that correctly) because I cannot go there without my head exploding! I still have not mastered the new Instagram version of “Your Story” the first time I tried my camera setting was aimed at my scrawled up facial expression, catching me “Live” trying to figure the specifics out and next thing you know it’s posted and I had an “Oh $hit how do I delete that” moment.

Onto the blog posting part, the art of trying to produce “engaging content” is hard enough but before you post it there are all these perimeters of getting all the dots green on the SEO optimized check list. It is like trying to decipher the codes to the Universe. Then there are Keywords, Focus Keywords, Meta Descriptions, Character Count and so on and on and on…I am not an IT person, I am just a 1960’s girl trying to navigate my way through the 2017 world of SEO, Blog, Social Media, and Marketing one link at a time.

So anyhow, just for fun and a break I thought I would copy the Grown Up Survey from Facebook and answer the questions here. If you are so inclined please share your answers with me or in your head is fine too.

The Grown Up Survey:

(My answers are in all CAPS)

Tired of those surveys made by high school kids? ‘Have you ever kissed someone? Missed someone? Drank alcohol?’
Here are 35 questions for Grown Ups:

1.What bill do you hate paying the most?
TAXES
2.Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
PROBABLY IN CHICAGO AT QUARTINO
3. What do you really want to be?
A PHILANTHROPIST
4. How many colleges did you attend?
ONE COLLEGE & SEVERAL TECH SCHOOLS
5. Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
IT IS PRESENTABLE FOR MY JOB AND IT IS SOFT, NO SCRATCHY TAGS !
6. Thoughts on gas prices?
I WILL DRIVE 5 MILES OUT OF MY WAY TO SAVE TWO CENTS!
7. First thought when the alarm goes off in the morning?
I NEVER SET THE ALARM, I WAKE UP EVERY DAY BEFORE 6:30 AM, I FIGURE SOON IT WILL BE 4:00 AM TO EMPTY THE OVER ACTIVE BLADDER I HEAR I WILL ACQUIRE ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DRUG COMMERCIAL. I AM GIVING MY SELF A FEW YEARS YET.
8. Last thought you have before you go to bed?
THERE IS NO LAST THOUGHT, MY BRAIN SPINS A MILLION TIMES A MINUTE MOSTLY AT BEDTIME!
9. Do you miss being a kid?
I MISS THE FREEDOM OF BEING A KID, EATING JUNK FOOD AND NEVER WORRYING ABOUT WHAT I WAS EATING. WARDROBE CHOICES WERE SO MUCH MORE SIMPLE, IT DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO MATCH!
10. What errand/chore do you despise the most?
CHORE: CLEANING THE FLOORS. ERRAND: GOING TO PICK UP WATER JUGS
11. Up early or sleep in?
UP EARLY
12. Found love ?
THIS IS A VAGUE QUESTION, LIKE “LOVE” IS MISSING OR SOMETHING. I LOVE MY MOM, KIDS, AND BOYFRIEND. I LOVE FOOD, TRAVEL, AND LIVE MUSIC. I LOVE DOGS, NATURE AND THE OCEAN, SO YES I GUESS I HAVE FOUND LOVE.
13. Favorite lunch meat?
NOPE, NOT A FAN, NOT EVEN GOING THERE. HOWEVER I HAVE NIGHTMARES OVER THAT STUFF CALLED PIMENTO LOAF AND SPAM!
14. What do you get at Walmart every time?
A BAD FEELING
15. Beach or lake?
BEACH
16. Is marriage outdated? OUTDATED NO, BUT CHANGED YES, IT SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT OR A TYPE OF LEGAL CONTRACT THAN A HAPPILY EVER AFTER CONCEPT. THE FAIRY TALE SEEMS FORGOTTEN.

17. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
THIS CHANGES PERIODICALLY FOR ME, BUT IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR AN ENLIGHTENING AND/OR ENTERTAINING DIALOGUE WITH DINNER, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO SAY GABRIELLE BERNSTEIN, ANITA MORJANI, GRACE SLICK, AND CARROT TOP, IN THAT ORDER.
18. Ever crashed your vehicle?
YES
20. Strangest place you’ve brushed your teeth?
IN MY CAR
21. Somewhere you’ve never been but want to go?
THIS LIST COULD BE HUGE BUT FOR THE READERS SAKE: BALI
22. At this point in your life would you want to start a new career or relationship?
RELATIONSHIP….WITH MYSELF FINALLY!
23. How old are you?
56
24. Do you have a go to person?
I HAVE SEVERAL DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION. THE ONE I RELIED ON MOST IS NO LONGER HERE ON EARTH.
25. Are you where you want to be in life?
ALWAYS EVOLVING SO NOPE
26. Growing up what were your favorite cartoons?
JOHNNY QUEST, ROAD RUNNER, PINK PANTHER.
27. What about you do you think has changed since you were a young kid? BESIDES MY ENTIRE PHYSICAL BODY, I WOULD SAY
MY SENSE OF ADVENTURE, THE JOY AT JUST BEING IN THE MOMENT AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. THAT PLACE OF BLISSFUL IGNORANCE AND THINKING THE FUTURE WAS GOING TO BE SO FUN.
28. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
NO
29. Are there times you still feel like a kid?
ON VACATION TO THE BEACH, IT MAKES ME FEEL HAPPY
30. Did you have a pager?
YES AND THERE IS A WHOLE SCARY STORY INVOLVING THAT THING YOU CAN READ ABOUT IN MY BLOG HERE
31. Was there a hangout spot when you were a teenager?
WE HUNG OUT AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY ICE ARENA AND THE PIZZA JOINT ON CAMPUS.
32. Were you the type of kid you’d want your children to hang out with?
YES I SUPPOSE, ON THE SCALE OF LOYALTY AS A FRIEND, I GOT YOUR BACK KINDA WAY.
33. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out to you?
IN A GOOD or BAD WAY? GOOD: MR. EILAS MY D.E. TEACHER. BAD: MR. CALCIE HE WAS A JERK.
34. Do you tell stories that start with when I was your age?
HA HA DON’T WE ALL?
35. Are you religious?
NO, I AM SPIRITUAL, BELIEVE IN THE CREATOR, BUT I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE ORGANIZATION OF RELIGION.

In Conclusion:

It can be enlightening to reflect back and see how answers to questions change with time, perspective and experience. I find things that used to be easy, hard and things that used to be hard, easy. I find that there are moments in life I think I have it together and then there are those Holy Crap I can’t figure it out days. Right now I am doing the best I can, which is not enough for some people, probably never will be. When I am frustrated I try to remember and apply this to myself and others in life “if someone is doing the very best they can, even if that does not meet your standards, remember they are giving you their best and that’s the most anybody can do.” So I may not have the website right, the blog optimized (this one for sure there is only one picture!) the social media down pact, the marketing strategy laid out but I am giving it my best try and for now that will have to work.

If you feel inclined to leave a REAL COMMENT and not spam please do so. This Blog was written and published by me, the survey was not, I have to credit Facebook with that one. I am going to plug now for the sake of keywords:

Aqua Serene Wellness Located in Carmel Indiana where we feature (along with a sense of humor) Colon Hydrotherapy, Organic Facial Treatments, Dr, Hauschka Skin Care, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Functional Medicine, Health and Wellness Coaching, and Energy Therapy.

Come see us!

Valentines and Porcelain

February 8, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Cindy Aguirre

It is that time of year again where love is in the air. Hearts, roses, chocolates, and Porcelain… What, did I say Porcelain? Why yes I did and I will circle back to that farther on down the line! Ha! If you know me then you get both of those statements.

Valentine Roses

We all have a few Valentine stories, and I am no exception. It is not a favorite day of mine I will confess. Many years ago I got engaged on Valentine’s Day (1980) That is a story for a glass of wine or something stronger, so I will leave that right there.

Back even further there were the years in school before political correctness that we could give Valentines to whom ever we wanted too, not the whole class. I remember being so upset when a boy I liked in fifth grade didn’t give me one. He turned out to be a class A Jerk so I guess the Universe saved me from future agony. On top of that I learned about rejection and how to deal with it early on so for that I am grateful.

Old School Valentine

In high school you could pay for a candy gram to be delivered in class along with a song and dance. I never got one of those either, partly because my boyfriend went to another school and partly because I was in DE so I went to school part of the day then worked the other, and I guess mostly because I was not in the “in” crowd.

Before that my dad was my best Valentine. He got me a big heart box of candy every year with….a porcelain doll on top, her beautiful satin dress was part of the box covering and her face and finger nails were hand painted…what I would give to have those now. I stored them in a box that was eventually designated to my parents basement which flooded ruining most of my childhood memories.

Valentine Heart Doll

When my kids were small we had to go out and get Valentine cards and sit down and address each one to every kid in the class. Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles were the popular choices, I was room mom so I made cookies and cupcakes. No one learned about rejection….

As the years went by I received my share of roses and chocolates, homemade Valentine cards from my kids and always something from my mom and dad. Now that dad is gone I send my mom chocolate covered strawberries and a card. These past six years without him here on Valentine’s Day I think of those little porcelain dolls and how much I miss him. I cannot imagine how much my mom does too.

My Dad and I

I will never forget my Dad on Valentine’s Day

Three years ago on Valentine’s Day I was at Lowes looking for the perfect Valentine gift for my boyfriend Tony. I was looking for maybe a tool or some manly gift and I spotted a bathroom sink cabinet on sale. I bought it for our half bath. I think I got him a tool too, I cannot remember actually, but the sink was NOT the gift. I was excited for a new little sink to replace the awful one in our circa 1950’s half bath.

My new sink

I dropped the sink off at home and he reluctantly began installing it. I had left to go to the grocery store when I got a phone call from him. It went sort of like this:

Me: Hello?
Tony: Hey can you stop by Lowes and pick up a toilet?
Me: Why? Our toilet is not that old, I am sure it is still OK.
Tony: No it’s not ok, I accidentally broke it installing your sink.
Me: Hmm……OK
Off to Lowes I go for the new toilet to accompany my “On Sale” new sink.

I pick up a good old American Standard and a beeswax ring and bring it home….well it didn’t fit. Yep old houses have a different spacing between the wall and the hole in the floor. So off to the plumbers supply store we head to buy and rather expensive retro toilet to fit our bathroom.

Tony installing toilet

The new porcelain!

A comment I received that day telling a friend the story was “Happy Valentine’s Day, Nothing Says Love Like New Porcelain”

Considering what I do for a living (Colon Hydrotherapist) how appropriate was it to get the gift of a sparkling new retro fit toilet on this day dedicated to hearts and roses!

So Porcelain it was as a small child on a heart shaped box and Porcelain it is still….Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you, I hope you cherish your Valentine memories as much as I do.

We have a contest going until Valentine’s Day. Share this blog on social media, and leave a comment about one of your favorite memories of Valentine’s Day and you will be entered to win a Dr. Hauschka Gift! I posted a video below showing the gift, Click the link. It is on our Facebook Page as well.

valentine special

Come see us at the spa, we are located at: 301 E Carmel Drive Suite C-100 Carmel Indiana

317-564-0930

Tues, Weds, Thurs 10-6:30

Friday and Saturday 10-3:30

We offer Digestive Support, Colon Hydrotherapy, Holistic Skin Care, Raindrop Technique, Jin Shin Jyutsu®, Energy Therapies, Massage, Acupuncture, Functional Medicine, Holistic Nutrition and Weight Loss

My Personal Journey W/ Red Skin Syndrome & Eczema

January 4, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Cindy Aguirre

Red Skin Syndrome, also known as Topical Steroid Addiction and Withdrawal, is a debilitating condition that can arise from the use of topical steroid creams to treat a skin problem such as eczema. (credit: Itsan.org website)

This condition can affect people who use or overuse topical steroids for eczema, rashes, acne and skin treatments after cosmetic procedures. Topical steroids come in creams, ointments, lotions and gels. They can be purchased over the counter or in stronger formulations by prescription. Other names are cortisone, glucocoticosteriords, coticortisteroids.

Not everyone who uses these topical steroids will develop RSS and it is unknown why some people are affected and others are not. Often when prescribed for Atopic Dermatitis it works initially, but when the cream is stopped a rebound will occur, often with even worse symptoms or it can show up elsewhere on the body. Many mistake this for the original problem spreading when often times it is a result of the use of a topical steroid and the withdrawal symptoms.

I have suffered from RSS due to many years of having eczema (atopic dermatits). I have been told there is no cure for my eczema, only treatment. My father had it as well and it is often linked back genetically in families. There was a time in my life when my skin burned, itched, cracked and bled at every knuckle and bend on my palms. Every crease in my legs, between my toes, along my hairline, in my scalp, my ears and the cracks and folds around my nose and mouth. I spent many years covering my skin with over the counter, as well as prescribed creams and lotions. They would relieve it for a little bit then my skin would burn and itch tenfold. I soaked in oatmeal baths, tried coconut oils, shea butters, African Black soaps, apple cider vinegar, and more. I tried to cover the red and cracked areas on my face with makeup, only to have it look worse. The mirror became the enemy, so did my clothes.

Me with a calming mask on my face

My anatomy teacher and mentor in massage school would tell me at times I looked like I had pseudo-icthyosis. It was a play on words for a real condition called Icthyosis. This is also a genetic skin disorder that often appears as fish scales or thickened cracked and peeling skin on portions or all over the body, again, no cure only treatment.

I cannot begin to tell you how miserable it feels to be inside a body that constantly burns and itches, let alone to look in the mirror and see yourself looking like you just survived a fire or chemical spill. Clothes rub and itch, cold weather burns your skin, the sun helps but then there is the conundrum of sun exposure, SPF stings, bug spray burns, perfumes, scented soaps, laundry detergent, make up, the list goes on and that is only topical irritants. Then there are the foods that trigger it; gluten, dairy, sugar, preservatives, dyes, alcohol, spices, etc.

From my own personal experience I will tell you what has helped me over the years. The FIRST thing is stepping away from topical steroids, this took many months (about 20) of rebound and misery. The SECOND was trying to learn the triggers that set off the eczema to begin with. For me it was stress, certain foods, and household and personal care items. I began using only high quality organic skin care products and toiletries. Eliminating chemicals in my home, ie: cleaners, fragrances, pesticides, etc. I wear organic cotton clothes when I can or very soft fibers. I rip out the tags, or buy things without tags.

THIRD and probably most important: Education, it equaled freedom for me! I am not suggesting you go to the extremes I did, the reason I did was to help others as well as myself.

I learned about the gut and how it plays such a huge role in our health and mental health as well. I became certified in the digestive wellness arena; Colon Hydrotherapy, Loomis Digestive Enzyme Specialist and other digestive supplementation workshops. I learned about nutrition, absorption, assimilation, and elimination. What to eat, what not to eat, hydration and so on. This eventually became my career and it helped get my digestion in order, but the skin component was missing. I could not discuss this on a expert level with clients so I decided to go back to school to learn about the skin. I needed to add that missing part to the puzzle of helping myself as well as others.

Eczema reared it’s ugly head again while I was in Esthetics school. Many of my fellow students and now friends can attest to my struggle. They were concerned working on my face or body for fear of hurting me. Anyone who has ever gone to esthetics school can relate on how much stuff they did daily to each other in order to learn as well as “get our hours of hands on in” We were introduced to many professional products some even that had steroids in them for the purpose of reducing the effects of redness and itching after treatments. I drew the line at putting those on my body. There were a few running comments in class; “No Cindy, it is not organic” “Yes, everyone has to get as well as give all the treatments” and from my own mouth “shit that burns, hurts, itches, stings…all the way up to Hell No you’re not putting that on my skin today” I had so many chemicals, petro chemicals, preservatives and acids put on my skin, waxes, dye, make up, micro-derm crystals, desincrustation fluids, galvanic, etc. that you can imagine how bad it felt. It was all in the normal course of learning and I suffered most days with a smile plastered on my face, expletives screaming in my mind and many tears alone in my car as I drove home with my skin on fire. I went in everyday on time with perfect attendance, graduating with the highest GPA of my class, one goal in mind; get my diploma(s) so I could continue on to learn the holistic skin care world and open Aqua Serene Wellness Spa! I went on to become the only certified Dr. Hauschka Holistic Esthetician in Indiana and have not looked back. One of these days I will write a blog about my time in esthetics school, there was much frustration as well as a few comical moments and I made some life long friends along the way.

My Esthetics class

Graduation Day!

The tagline in my business name is “from the skin to within” for a reason. It has taken all these components to battle my daily life as a person with eczema and sensitive skin, let alone the journey of life functioning with part of my large intestine missing!

From what you put in your mouth, on your skin, breath into your lungs and what you eliminate is a key factor in our health and wellness.

I still suffer from bouts of eczema, stress is the one thing I still have to conquer. I am working on that and have implemented services here at the spa to help with relaxation. We offer Massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu® and Acupuncture. We have our Far Infrared SOQI bed and our CellumaPro LED Light panel.

Our Beautiful SOQI Spa room

CellumaPro LED

Celluma LED

We offer two different types of foot Detoxes as well as other energy modalities. I enjoy the times I get to sit in the cozy reception area and visit with clients and friends over herbal teas and laughter. Do not dscount those moments of joining together in conversation and giggles, those are the absolute best stress reducers, and money cannot buy that! I will continue my love of learning, I not only do it for myself but for my clients and family. We have some new things planned for Aqua Serene Wellness Spa in 2017 and as always we have a great team of businesses and practitioners we refer to in house as well as out.

We wish you a wonderful and health filled 2017!

We are Located at 301 E Carmel Dr Suite C-100 Carmel Indiana 317-564-0930

Disclaimer: This blog is for information only, it is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition or disease. Please seek professional medical advice before stopping or starting any medication or treatment. These are just my own personal observations and experiences and not intended to treat or diagnose.

For more information on RSS visit: http://istan.org
For more information on Ichthyosis visit:http://firstskinfoundation.org/about-ichthyosis

Gallery of Aqua Serene Wellness Center

August 18, 2016/in Gallery /by Cindy Aguirre

Here is a look into some of the rooms and event photos of Aqua Serene Wellness Center, located in beautiful Carmel, Indiana.

We are a member of the Hoosier Environmental Council Green Business, Indy Holistic Hub Network, International Association of Colon Hydrotherapist, ABMP, ASCP, and the only active certified Dr. Hauschka Holistic Skin Care Treatment Center in Indiana.

We are excited to serve the greater Indianapolis area with quality products and service, and are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays 10-7, Friday and Saturday 10-3.We also offer online bookings for Colon Hydrotherapy, Dr. Hauscka Skin Care Treatments, SOQI Spa, Ionic Foot Detox, and more. BOOK HERE

We offer additional “by appointment ” options in advance on Sundays and Mondays. Call our office at 317-564-0930 during regular business hours to request an appointment outside of our normal hours and we will do our best to accommodate your request!

Check out our partners section of our website to book an appointment for Massage Therapy and Acupuncture www.aquaserenewellness.com/partners

Check out Our Gallery Below:

The Front of our Building

Event Table at Indy Holistic Hub Wellbeing Fest

Our Serene Colon Hydrotherapy Room Featuring the Angel Of Water Colon Hydrotherapy Device

Holistic Skin Care Treatment Room

Front desk area featuring Refurbished wood fixtures.

Ionic Foot Detox

Relaxing SOQI Spa Room

Acupuncture and Energy Therapy Room

The Skin Has Rhythm

June 1, 2016/2 Comments/in Skin Care /by Cindy Aguirre

The Skin Has Rhythm…

“What! My skin can dance better than I can?” Why yes it can and it does! Coming from a girl growing up in the 60”s and 70’s dancing was something I learned from practicing in front of a black and white console TV in the living room. I watched the weekly episode of American Bandstand, my moves were pretty awkward and goofy! My friends and I danced to 45 and 33RPM records that skipped if we moved too fast on our makeshift stage. We thought we had rhythm anyhow!

Later on in life I like to think the dancing got a bit better. Little did I know back then we all are designed with rhythm. Our breathing, circulation, hormonal functions, digestion, all the biological functions have a rhythm. We are all a part of nature which has it’s own rhythms, Light and Dark, Warmth and Cold, Stillness and Movement. It is the “Dance” of Mother Nature and she dances better than any of us!

Our skin performs a plethora of jobs. First off it keeps our insides…inside! It regulates temperature, absorbs Vitamin D from the sun, protects us from the elements, disease and heals up pretty much all by itself. Although it does all these things by it ‘s own nature we need to pay attention when it is asking for help. Every blemish, rash and wrinkle is a calling out for us to pay attention to what our skin and body needs.

Our skin renews itself every 28 days, this is the Shedding and Renewal Rhythm. It acts different in the daytime then at night when it regenerates, this is our skin’s Daily Rhythm. The Dr. Hauschka products we use here at Aqua Serene Wellness encourage this rhythmic approach. They are even manufactured according to the rhythm of nature. The “mother” tinctures are exposed to Light and Dark, Warmth and Cold, Stillness and Movement. Their products also have the most strict organic certifications in the world!

During the day we suggest the use of day creams and oils to protect the skin and to pamper it, at night removal of makeup and day creams is essential, we discourage oily products, using only water based products designed for night time to let our skin breathe and regenerate.

In our signature Holistic Dr. Hauschka Facial Treatment we go even further into the rhythm communication just below the skin by stimulating the lymph. From head to toe we trigger the balancing stimuli to encourage harmony and vitality. This is yet another dance…that I am actually certified to do!

To find out more about our facials and products contact us at 317-564-0930 or comment below! We love to hear from you! Or come visit us at our center located at 301 E Carmel Drive, Carmel, Indiana.

Lymph Stimulation of the Skin