Last month on our blog, we talked about traditional Chinese medicine and its popular treatment, acupuncture. In acupuncture treatments, specific ‘acupoints’ along the body are penetrated through thin needles in order to correct imbalances through channels called meridians. So, what exactly are meridian points and how do they work?

Our meridians act as pathways through which our positive energy known as “qi” flows. They are completely invisible to the human eye, but experienced practitioners can feel these pathways with their hands. We are of optimal health when our energy is flowing freely. However, when we are stressed and tired, the energy flow is interrupted. Chinese doctors developed acupuncture in an effort to help us rebalance our “qi”.

We have 12 main acupuncture meridians (also known as acupoints). Each one is named after the organ that they distribute energy to:

1. Lung Meridian
2. Large Intestine Meridian
3. Stomach Meridian
4. Spleen Meridian
5. Heart Meridian
6. Bladder Meridian
7. Kidney Meridian
8. Liver Meridian
9. Gall Bladder Meridian
10. Thyroid Meridian
11. Pericardium Meridian
12. Small Intestine Meridian

(Note: Remember, QRay bracelets are worn on the wrist over a meridian and function similar to an acupuncture needle, where one end serves as a ‘ground’ and the other end is a ‘regulator’. Our wellness bracelets support naturopathic treatments to help the body optimize its positive energy)

During an acupuncture treatment, the thin needles are inserted into these points to help rebalance your qi and restore your health. It can look painful, but it is essentially painless. The needles used are as thin as a human hair, so once the needles are inserted, all you may feel is a dull tingling or numbness.

If you think you need your energy restored, acupuncture may be the right treatment for you!

1. Eat and drink often: Keep yourself hydrated and bring lots of snacks
2. Be organized: Being unorganized causes stress. Maintain a clean workspace and use a calendar to manage your deadlines
3. Change your work environment: If possible, work from different areas of the office to change your surroundings
4. Create a support system of colleagues: Have a few people that you can turn to throughout the day when you’re feeling stressed, discouraged, or simply need a break
5. Reward yourself: Got a huge project done? Reward yourself with a sweet treat
6. Take breaks: Feeling a little frustrated? Get up, take a short walk or go talk to a friend and then come back to your work.
7. Focus on the positive: Because why would you ever want to focus on the negative?
8. Get enough sleep: This is an obvious one. Without enough sleep, you’ll be tired and unmotivated
9. Wear bright colours: That bright yellow shirt in your closet? Wear it. You’ll be surprised how it will keep you in a happy mood throughout the day
10. Redecorate your space – Move things around and add some decoration. If you have room, add a vase of flowers. They help to reduce anxiety and negativity.

Do you have any tips to ensure a happy workday? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter, and help Q the Positive!

This month, we’d like to feature the product that has become the face of the QRay brand – the Silver Deluxe bracelet. For over 15 years, these bracelets have been our best seller, as it offers style, function, and durability. Sometimes you just need that extra pick-me-up, but that doesn’t mean you should have to compromise your style. The bracelet was designed to be simple, elegant, and functional. It can match with whatever you’re wearing to allow you to look and feel good at all times! Although the product is made with a surgical stainless steel band, it is still extremely flexible for a custom fit and easy removal. No wonder it has been worn by athletes all over the world, including Michael Jordan!

Have you been searching for a way to help yourself feel better? Perhaps you’re an energy drink fan. What happens when the energy boost from your drink wears off? Not only does a QRay bracelet work to restore your wellness, but it’s also a long-term investment! Wouldn’t you rather invest in a QRay than consistently pay to replace your energy drinks?

As always, your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Ever bought something you weren’t happy with, but there were no refund options available? We don’t believe in that. We realize QRay isn’t a one-size fits all solution for everybody, so you have 30 days to test it out and see if it’s right for you! Read some of our benefits and testimonials, and if you feel ready to Q the Positive, order your Silver Deluxe bracelet today!

Yoga has become a popular form of exercise over the last few years. With yoga studios beginning to pop up everywhere, it is easier and more convenient than ever to practice it. We believe it’s a great way to relax and connect with our mind, body and spirit. Aside from this, yoga also helps to:

• Increase your flexibility
• Reduce stress
• Improve your breathing
• Increase your concentration
• Improve your posture

It is certainly a great and natural way to relax and find peace within yourself. Many of those who practice yoga like to attend classes early before work and/or late after work, in order to start and end their day on a positive note. Did you know? Using the term ‘yoga’ is actually a very general term, as there are actually many different styles.

Thinking about trying one? Here’s an explanation of the four most popular types:

1. Bikram (also known as hot yoga): The name says it all. This increasingly popular form of yoga is practiced in extreme heat and humidity. It is very important that you bring a bottle of water (or two!) and a face towel with you in order to keep hydrated and dry
2. Vinyasa (also commonly called ‘flow’): This style of yoga requires you to move and flow from one position to the next
3. Ashtanga: This form of yoga is very demanding and requires high energy
4. Hatha: Looking to relax and wind down in the evening? This style of yoga is for you as it includes slow and gentle movements

Feeling inspired and want to get started? Be sure to check out our yoga Pinterest boards for some inspiration. Namaste!

Drinking a cup of coffee in the morning has become as commonplace as brushing our teeth or taking a shower. Each morning, the lines in Starbucks and other coffee shops wrap around the store as people queue up to get their much needed caffeine fix to get them through their morning. Without the familiar feeling of a coffee cup in our hand, we feel lost, disoriented and most importantly, sleepy.

There’s no denying the jolt in energy that coffee can provide, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy for us. There are a number of side effects from coffee consumption, including:

-          Increase in gray hair and hair loss

-          Tightening of muscles, dilated pupils, increased pulse rate and   constricted blood vessels

-          Acid reflux and heartburn

-          Inability to sleep, resulting in sleepiness the next day

If you’d like to try a more natural, healthier alternative to give yourself an energy boost, here are some suggestions:

1. Chewing gum – It increases your heart rate
2. Green Tea – It still contains caffeine, but a more modest amount
3. Change your lighting – If your office lighting is dim, try to change to bright lighting to help increase your concentration
4. Get a QRay Bracelet – It works in tandem with a healthy diet and regular sleep schedule to give you a natural energy boost

We all need a pick-me-up, especially on those dreadful Monday mornings, but you should ensure that the method you choose is good for your body. There are a number of benefits to living a natural life, so if you’re ready to live life more naturally (and positively!), there’s no better time to make a change than right now.

We’ve all heard the saying many times – seeing is believing. But are you aware of how true this saying actually is?

We all have dreams and goals for ourselves, but it is not until we can picture it, that we can believe that it is possible for them to come true. Visualizing is an extremely powerful tool, as it creates a temporary reality before our goal can be physically manifested.

By sitting down and visualizing what we want for ourselves, we are able to experience events before they actually happen. When you can see what you want for yourself, it will keep you positive and motivated until the day comes when your goals come to life.

According to Jack Canfield, visualizing your goals and desires allows you to accomplish four important things:

1. It activates your creative subconscious
2. It programs your brain to recognize the resources you need to achieve your dreams
3. It activates the law of attraction – people and resources that you need to achieve your dreams will come into your life
4. It builds your internal motivation to take all necessary actions to achieve your dreams

So, how can you get start visualizing your dreams? Here are a few ideas:

1. Pinterest: This popular platform is an excellent way to gather inspiration for your goals. Have ideas for your dream wedding? You can create a variety of boards to collect your favourite images of décor, dresses, etc.
2. Create a collage: Prefer to have something you can stick on your wall? No problem. Gather images from newspapers and magazines and start cutting and pasting to create a beautiful collage you can keep in your room
3. Write down your goals: The simple act of writing them down will instantly inspire you to start working towards them. Write them in a journal or on a piece of paper you can stick on a wall where you can see them often.

Whatever method you choose to visualize, once you’ve completed it, you should start acting and dressing like you’ve already succeeded. Have a job that you’re dreaming of? Begin to dress for the job you want, not have. By telling yourself that you’ve already succeeded, you’ll be more motivated each day to actually make it a reality. Of course, there will be those days when you may lose a little motivation and you may not feel so positive. Don’t forget that QRay bracelets can be a great (and natural!) positivity boost. We want to help you achieve your goals. There’s nothing like the power of positive thinking and doing!

It’s very easy for us to get caught up in the demands of everyday life. We live in a society that’s always working and always connected to technology. It can be very hard to get a break where you can take some time for yourself in order to relax and rejuvenate. Although it often seems like there are not enough hours in the day, you should try to find a hobby that you can use as a form of relaxation. Whether it’s for 20 minutes or 2 hours, the point is to disconnect yourself from your everyday demands and do something that helps to restore your physical and mental wellbeing.

The possibilities are endless! From reading to gardening to collecting stamps, there are a variety of activities available that are sure to suit anyone’s interests. Aside from the opportunity to take a break, here are six other reasons why finding a hobby is beneficial:

1. It reduces stress: It takes your mind off of whatever stress you may have in your life
2. You may have the opportunity to meet new people
3. It increases your self-esteem: For example, if you choose a sport as your hobby and you witness yourself getting increasingly better at it, you’ll feel good about yourself
4. You’ll be happier: No stress and you’ll feel good about yourself? You’ll have no reason not to be happy
5. There are physical health benefits
6. You’ll sleep better: Physical activity will tire you out, allowing you to fall asleep faster at night

What’s your hobby? We’d love to hear what you do to take a break! Tweet us or let us know on our Facebook page.

Over the last few years, the term FOMO has become popular, particularly among the millennial generation. In case you’re out of the loop, FOMO (otherwise known as Fear Of Missing Out) is the acronym used by those who feel like everyone else is happier and engaging in more fun than they are. With all the social media platforms that we have available to us, we’re constantly bombarded by all the things that our friends and acquaintances are doing. If they’re currently travelling the world and you’re just sitting at home, it can be hard not to feel a little jealous that you’re not in their shoes. The thing is, when we can consistently see what everybody else is up to, it can cause feelings of anxiety, sadness and negativity.

Of course, here at QRay, we’re all about positivity, so here are some tips on how to fight against the FOMO epidemic

1. Remember that social media can be misleading

Before people post a status on Facebook, tweet, or upload a photo to Instagram, a lot of thought is put into it. Everything is carefully curated and filtered to make the experience seem 100 times better than it actually is.

2. Stop using social media…temporarily

If you consistently feel inadequate compared to the lives that your friends are living, then maybe that’s a sign that you need to take a break from social media in order to appreciate the goodness in your own life

In response to the emergence of FOMO, two years ago blogger Anil Dash coined the term JOMO, or Joy of Missing Out. This is essentially the opposite of FOMO, and encourages people to embrace time alone. Society tends to favour people who are extroverts, but sometimes it’s nice to sit at home by yourself and watch television or read a book. When you spend time on your own, you often end up daydreaming, which can encourage you to come up with new and creative ideas. Overall, a little time alone is good for your wellbeing.

So, the next time you’re scrolling through your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram feed, remember that there is enjoyment in spending time with yourself. Don’t let the lives of others reduce your positive spirit. Positivity is key to a happy life!