You know what I love? A rainy day. To me they are the ultimate day of relaxation and perfect opportunity for self care. Being self employed and a single mom I rarely get a chance to partake in a lazy rainy day... but when the opportunity arises I dive in.

Sleep in

You know what’s delicious? Lounging in your warm comfy sheets listening to the rain fall outside the window, it’s one of life’s simplest and delicious pleasures.

Sip a healing tea cocktail

I like to maximize my tea time by “cocktailing” my cup. Hibiscus tea for cardiovascular health, ginger tea for digestion, and milk thistle for detoxing. There are so many combos just open your tea drawer and mix and match.

Journal

I can’t turn my brain off... it’s a Gemini trait. I’m always thinking, creating, deciding and having an ever going conversation with myself. It can obviously be mentally draining. I find writing down what I’m thinking can take it out of my head space and take it off my mental plate. I keep a journal of dreams I’ve had, poetry lines I’ve crafted for that book I’ll some day write, wellness ideas recipes and rituals for that other book I’ll someday write filled with all my thoughts. It’s said when you think of something it’s divine interaction, don’t down play that... thoughts come to us for a reason, capture them.

Pray

To whom ever is your God, your goddess, your creator. Mines is The Lord. What better time to take a moment and open your heart and let it all out. A good soul purge can leave you feeling light. When the rain comes to wash away the outside let its cleaning energy with the same magic on your inside. It’s a mindset. Find it.

Dance 

Turn on music that moves you and move your body. Take in the energy of The Universe and sway like the wind that pushes at the rain. It doesn’t have to be a cardio- pump session, it can be slow ,sensual rock. Wanna up the ante? Not scared to get a little wet, take it outside, with out the umbrella, barefoot. Feel your toes connect to the wet grass or pavement. Ground yourself to the earth and allow the rain to cleanse all things that are weighing you down. Let that heavy energy wash into the earth, sway and shake it off. Allow this simple moment of pleasure reset your spirit and your body. Breath in the clean wet air, let it fill you up, set the intention that at that moment you reset your day, your week , your life.

A Return To Autumn

My all time favorite season is Autumn. I love when the days get shorter and the nights get cooler. I can often be found snuggled up in bed ready for an early nights sleep as the evening approaches. One thing I dislike about Autumn is the inevitable slow down that my body has as it arrives. Once I start seeing pumpkins arriving in the markets I know it's bulk up season. Which, isn't going to work for me. How am I planning on maintaining myself for these next few cold months.

Here are some of my plans

- Cut back on carbs. This is a tough one because in all honesty I'm a carbophile. But smart swaps can help. Zoodles instead of pasta. Butter lettuce leaves instead of bread for burgers and sandwiches.

- Go meatless one - two nights a week. I love my slow cooker this time of year but I plan on opting in for a few meatless salads and veggie heavy meals this season.

- More greens less fruit for my smoothies.

- Hot lemon water... Mix in a little bit of almond milk, cinnamon and skip those PSL's 

- Move my butt! The time to recommit to myself is now. Pump up the cardio, get a few more miles in as possible a week, challenge myself.

- Eggs they are eggcellent. I love making a frittata loaded with veggies on Sunday evening this gives me an easy lunch option during the week.

- Green juice. Mix a batch in the morning and stay sipping all day. Favorites to add

Sweet greens

Ginger 

Cucumber

Peppers

Lemon

Paprika 

That right there is a recipe for sweet success.

Self Care

September is one of my favorite months. September is the time that I always mentally reset. It's a time of new beginnings and routines. It's also the perfect time to recommit to self care. 

One of my favorite things to do to care for myself is unplug and have a regular bedtime. Your body and skin need sleep. I'm a firm believer in Gabrielle Bernstein's idea that sleep is also a spiritual practice. When you are running on a low frequency from lack of steady sleep and other energetic disturbances it really will start to show in your appearance. Unplug and get some zzz's. 

The Holidays are here and most of us are partying like it's 1999. But hey friends think about it. In 1999 not a lot of people were concerned with their wellness. It's a new day and a new way. That being said we are all still collectively living life and boozing up a bit too much this time of year. If you are making the holiday party circuit this weekend here are some great acupressure potent points that will get you on the road to mending that much faster. The names of these acupressure points may sound silly to you, but hey, they work. You gotta love traditional Chinese medicine.

I included acupressure points and names so you can do a little more research if  you need it.
Let's start with my favorite point of all time

The Great Eliminator (LI4) . Please note, this point is forbidden for you to use if you are pregnant. Also please use with caution while laboring at the end of your pregnancy. The great eliminator can stimulate contractions in the uterus.

The great eliminator is located in the webbing between your thumb and index finger. You'll want to search for and locate the highest point on the hand and press with intention down into and up towards your heart. Feel that little bump? That's the great eliminator. Not only is the great eliminator great to help cure a hang over its a great point to know and use for almost every aliment. Head aches, cramps, bloating, tension and pain. I use this point often in my massage and skin care practice and also at home.

                                                     ( Acupressure Potent Points
                                                         Michael Reed Gach )

                                                   
                                                            ( Acupressure  Potent Points

                                                         Michael Reed Gach ) 

The Gate of Consciousness. (GB20)  Located below the base of your skull. Feel for the hollows of your skull. They are located between your two major neck muscles. Feel for the hollows. Press with your thumbs or index fingers up into your skull, with intent. Hold this point for a few moments. This point is great for eye pain, dizziness and that irritation we all have after a long night of too much fun.

The Heavenly Pillar (B10) When looking for the heavenly pillar you'll want to spread your fingers out about a half inch from the base of your skull. Feel for the ropey muscles, outwards of the spine. Press with intent and hold for several minutes. If the muscles feel extra ropey not only are you hung over but you are in need of body work and should schedule a session with a trained professional. The heavenly pillar is a great point for exhaustion, burn out, eye strain and overall head heaviness.

Wind Mansion ( GV16) How to find it? Search with index finger for the large hollow in the center of the back of your head. This is a tricky one to locate. I suggest holding your head straight looking forward. You may need your index and middle finger to locate. Once you find it press with intention into the point. This point is deeper so press with a firm finger but don't over do it.

                                                           ( Acupressure  Potent Points

                                                         Michael Reed Gach )

Bigger Rushing (Lv3) There is a valley between your big toe and middle toe on the top of your foot. Say hello to  Bigger Rushing. Great go to point for every day life and also hangovers. To find bigger rushing walk your index finger just a smidgen to find the valley. Once found, press down then up toward the heart with intention and hold for a few minutes.


Maybe you're like what? What exactly am I feeling for? Well, Acupressure points are often tender little spots on your body. Sometimes they feel like bumps.  These points connect all of the meridians through out our bodies allowing energy or chi flow to circulate. A great reason to use acupressure not only when you are  hung over but in every day life is that often stimulation of one point will send a surge of chi ( energy) to another point in your body. It's a great self care practice and I highly recommend it.

Don't forget, drink plenty of water after a night of drinking. Alcohol dehydrates you. Feeling a little bloated after a party night, try and skip as many carbs as possible. Eat protein and drink water.

Happy Holidays and party on!

Self Care... It's An On Going Thing

Here we are, October 1. I really loved September and all of the reminders to care for yourself. 

I decided to continue on and create another little calendar to give some more inspirations on how to and when you can carve out time for self care. I truly and fully believe in the caring of yourself. You can never invest too much time on you. 

Take some time and plan out when you will make the all important date with yourself and make this time an on going ritual. There are 91 days left in 2014. Recommit and reinvest in you. 

Serenity - A Practice

photo card Reiki Techniques 

How fitting right? I was going through my reiki cards today looking letting my fingers guide me to the work I need today. Low and behold Serenity. I tell ya there's magick in the air. This Reiki Technique is called -

Hado Meiso Ho

Say what? It's a breathing technique to improve the functioning of your immune system. It also helps detoxify your blood and tissues. This technique can also help you to come into a deep meditation.

How do you Hado Meiso Ho?
Well here's the skinny on this serenity breathing.

Sit down with your eyes closed. reach your hands up towards the sky in a funnel shape. Once you begin to fill the energy fill your hands, fan you arms out to the side of your body until they are parallel with the ground. Have your palms face downward. Bend each elbow with your hands moving in towards your body finger tips touching.Palms still facing the ground. On your out breath release a haa and push your hands down toward the ground.On the in breath fan your hands out to the side of your body and up in a circular motion. your hands should meet at your forehead fingertips touching palms facing your body.  Next move your hands slowly down the front of your body as far as you can go. all the while breathing out the haa sound. Repeat 5-6 times.

While you are breathing out picture your haa breath washing over you while you let go of resentment, anger and other awful ideas that cloud our egos and congest us with negativity. On your in breath, breath in goodness, benevolence, and joy.

Mermaid Life

I just love me a bubble bath. Slipping into hot scented bubbles turning down the lights and turning on some mellow tunes, is the life I'm all about. The Mermaid Life,
 I like to call it. My life is busy. I'm a parent, a business owner, a daughter, sister, and  a friend. Often my own self care gets pushed to the way side. This is an issue I am always trying to remedy. Of all of the activities that fill my work and personal calendar, I am always sure to keep one appointment on the books. My Sunday night bubble bath. It's become my ritual. I love rituals they fill my life with whimsy, balance and a little bit of magic.

I don't just soak in a bubble bath to pamper myself, although if I'm being honest that is reason enough. I take bubble baths because they are good for you.

Bubble baths can:

Soften your skin
Induce relaxation
Provide relief for sore muscles
Increase blood flow
Help to induce a peaceful nights sleep.

I add a little bit of everything to my bath. From essential oils, sea salts, and also homemade bath teas. I like to think of my appointment with myself as bubble bath extravaganza.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes.

Mommy Needs Some Beauty Sleep Bath -
has it been a long day, week, month? maybe this time change has you wrecked? This is the bath for you.

a handful of dried lavendar or chamomile flowers
10 drops of lavendar essential oil
10 drops of rose essential oil
5 drops of peru balsam essential oil

Achy Breaky Body Bath -
too many downward dogs, one too many miles on the track, or your feet are killing you from power shopping... soak this up.

 2 handfuls of epsom salts
 10 drops of camphor essential oil
 10 drops of geranium essential oil
 5 drops of ginger essential oil

* this bath is very effective after a  work out or after you receive body work. when you work out or get body work your muscles get toned. this toning will release lactic acid that can leave you feeling achy for a few days. i find this bath very effective in helping with the process of flushing your body free of the lactic acid. wanna step that flush up? drink a large glass of ice cold water with lemon while in the tub.

Time To Be Queen Bath
because you know you are.

5 cups of  Vitamin D milk
1/3 cup of honey
5 drops of patchouli essential oil
5 drops of sandalwood essential oil
4 drops ylang ylang

*milk baths are great to soften your skin because of the lactic acid in milk.make sure you soak and rinse. do not clean yourself with the milk as its not soap.

Bliss Tox Bath
because sometimes we go overboard on the weekend.

one handful of epsom salts
one half cup of baking soda
5 drops of peppermint essential oil
2 drops lavendar essential oil
2 drops ginger essential oil

Date Night Bubble Bath
soften and scent your skin for a good old time, a roll in the hay? well that's totally up to you.

2 teaspoons of avacado oil
5 drops clove essential oil
5 drops rose essential oil
3 drops jasmine essential oil

Aromatherapy!

The term “aromatherapy massage” refers to a popular method of relaxation and healing following a set of effective massage techniques.  Tracing back time, ancient peoples made use of different types of natural oils extracted from the plants and herbs they believed assisted in healing.   It is well known today that this method promotes mental, physical, and emotional relief. The secret to the effectiveness of aromatherapy massage is due to the aroma of the different essential oils used.   While each essential oil has different healing properties, the oils used in aromatherapy massage activate the nerve endings in the nose and which in turn deliver the impulses to the brain, stimulating memories and emotions. Many common aromatherapy oils, like lavender, have a soothing and calming effect which aids in relaxation

.Some documented benefits of aromatherapy massage are:

 Aids in fighting off the symptoms   of illnesses.

 Relieves stress.

 Tones down attacks of depression.

 Promotes sound sleeping. 

 Helps discomfort in pregnant women. 

 Helps fight off colds. 

 Contributes to a person's alertness. 

 Alleviates pain.

I use aromatherapy in my every day life. In practice and in my home aromatherapy  relieves muscle aches, head aches, it helps to induce sleep on a little person that won't agree to bed time. I very rarely reach for an aspirin. If I have a headache or pain anywhere in my body I reach for my collection of essential oils and use natural remedies to heal my body. 

Stretch, It's Important

Stretching is important. Many of us live sedentary lives. Commuting, sitting at a desk all day and then another long commute. By the time we get home many of us are feel achy just from a day on the job. Even if you don't work out or your not an athlete, stretching can still help you feel better. Stretching helps improve your flexibility, improve your blood flow and even improve your posture by lengthening  your muscles.  Stretching will keep your muscles and tendons healthy. We often overlook it but stretching can make a real difference in how you feel each and everyday. 

A  stretching routine will help you improve range of motion and as said before improve your flexibility. Take a few moments and look up some stretches on line, download a stretching app on your smart phone or take a look at my facebook page where I post a stretch of the day. Set a timer for once an hour and take a few minutes to do some basic stretching. If you sit at a desk all day get up and move around as much as possible. Take a walk around your office space and  do a few lunges.Your muscles will love you for it.