Exercise with the Seasons

Exercising with the Seasons

As a fitness enthusiast, thankfully I enjoy to 'work out'. However, the term has gotten more loose and  playful over the years. In my earlier days, the athlete in me had a competitive nature and although, it still exists, my perspective and goals are different.

Physically, I'm in a different place not bad, good just different.  I honor the changes, ebb and flows and cycles, not only during the year but within the quarters, solstices and moon cycles (the literal moon and the feminine moon cycles too).  Just like a plant that blooms certain times of year, we all have seasons in which we shine bright and feel more energized, strong, motivated and fit. Life would be boring if we did the same thing every day. Change up your fitness routine and stimulate the body and mind like cycling the foods you eat, driving a different route, traveling to a new place (physically or in your minds eye) and more!


We are approaching the summer, hot summer days so balance the hard core exercises with slower paced ones too to cool the body down!  During the woman's moon days, take time to honor the body, rest, reflect, be one with nature. Typically, we will not perform at the same level of intensity or vigor during this time.  Many people choose to ignore this concept, wonder why they don't have as much energy and then get disappointed with themselves instead of embracing the changes. Think of the signs the body shares with you leading up to the menses, so wouldn't you think other aspects would be affected too? Additionally, if you are going through times of stress (doesn't always have to be bad stress), it is helpful to use exercise to release stress or anxiety, however, sometimes too much hard intense exercise may be too much and counterproductive if you are in a weakened state. So, exercise is good but a lower intensity workout may be more beneficial.

Cross training, incorporating strength and flexibility and getting the heart rate up is a good, well rounded regime.  This could be a power walk on the beach or walking your dog to swimming, cycling, plyometrics (for example jump squats) and much more. Each is a different approach and not all exercises are appropriate for every body!  Also, although I am a Personal Trainer and Pilates instructor and I'm not using this as a sales pitch, I do highly recommend working privately with a professional or in a small group, at some point, so you can get individualized attention and direction on the proper exercises for your body and techniques.  Nothing worse then performing exercises incorrectly and injuring yourself.  If you ignore the body's communication, you may end up with chronic pain.  If you address any discomfort by ice, rest, massage or physical therapy from the beginning, you will recover faster. It could be something very simple!  Please listen to your body! When your car makes a funny noise, do you ignore it?


In your workouts, challenge yourself but understand the limits for longevity. I continually am evolving and finding various ways to exercise. Sometimes, I focus more on cardiovascular and make sure to add in a day or two of strength training and other times it's visa versa always with flexibility and rest days too.  I am fortunate to have access to the Pilates Equipment and Aerial Swings and although I like to exercise without always using an 'apparatus', I will admit, I am thankful and enjoy the challenges they have to offer.  Both modalities help me to incorporate flexibility training which used to be on my back burner.  Using hand weights and bands is another good challenge for strength and may also be incorporated for flexibility too (done properly).  I can't stress enough the importance of staying flexible so your body and mind can work efficiently and with ease (a tight body lead may lead to tight and restricted mind) and the strength for everyday functional tasks. Be open to trying to things and even taking a new class! You never know what doors may open or friends you may meet.

I encourage you to balance with cardiovascular exercise, strength, balance and core training along with flexibility. Some exercise modalities combine a few of these such as Pilates and Yoga which, in addition to strengthening the body, also strengthens the mind. Stay creative, change and challenge your body and mind in various ways throughout the year. Keep yourself stimulated and make sure you're having some fun such as working out with a friend or family member, at a club, go out dancing, or look into vacations including hiking, water sports, bike riding etc.

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Using the 5 Senses Seasonally

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Using the 5 Senses Seasonally

Happy Spring! 
Do you use the 5 senses to 'sense' the seasons: Hear, See, Touch, Smell, Taste. Probably yes and you may not realize it!  Recently, I've been hearing birds chirp loudly and hear other people comment about them tweeting too (old school 'tweeting')!  I've seen birds, along with many people, enjoy the great outdoors in springtime. The greens, fruits and fresh vegetables this season are tasting crisp and delicious!  This time of year, I like to touch different plants. You can pick up on the energy from  feeling and smelling (woodsy, floral). This is a great time of year for gardening whether it's herbs, vegetables, flowers, succulents. We have many great gardening events in the Tampa Bay area and coming up on Arbor Day is the Green Thumb Festival in St Pete, FL and many Earth Day Celebrations! Gardening is an organic way to use your senses. 

As fate would have it, naturally, we honor the season with our senses. In Chinese Medicine, the 5 Elements including fire, wood, earth, water and metal, relate to seasons, color, sounds, emotions, organs and more.  Read more for information on Chinese Medicine.  Spring is about cleaning (for example 'spring cleaning' your home, workplace or body) and rejuvenating your body, mind, garden and/or life. Spring brings a tasteful crop of fresh fruits and vegetables. In Florida, we're going strawberry crazy and greens and more greens!  Spring relates to the color green and wood element. This is also a good time to add the lemon to water to help cleanse the liver.

Cleansing the mind includes meditation, breath and other activities that get your mind out of your head or get your mind out of the way. At Kapok Pilates and Wellness, we offer guided meditation, gong bath meditation and other ways to quiet the mind and recharge including Healing Sessions and various workshops. There are various ways to meditate including a walk on the beach or hike in the mountains or forest. Create more space and time within your mind. 

Many ways to cleanse the body include feeling the salt and spring water and minerals, eating seasonal foods, drinks and more!  Eat your greens and drink herbal tea such as milk thistle and dandelion. You may also 'tighten up' on food choices and intake to 'tighten and tone' the body for beach and summer weather. You may be sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Cleansing inside and out is important. Ways to detoxify the skin include dry brushing off dead skin cells, exfoliating and exercise (sweat, stretch) to declutter the body of tight muscles.  We are offering our seasonal fun Spa Event Wednesday April 6th 7:45pm at Kapok to create a spring batch of handcrafted Spa Products for your skin tailored with your own herbs, oils and essential oils. Products including body scrubs with dead sea salts, clay masks to dry out toxins from the skin and facial toners. 

I enjoy each season and continue to learn the significance, depth and beauty of each one.  It's fascinating to see which seasons resonates within each of us, ways to support our spirit, what color and food presents itself at the proper time and more. When we cleanse the clutter inside the head and on the body you will function more optimally. Hopefully, you will be inspired to start your own cleansing program!



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Ceremony and Rituals

Recently,  I had the pleasure of attending the Florida Herbal Conference in Lake Whales, FL. It was a fun, inspiring weekend of herbal information and being one with nature and friends of like mind. Many classes I gravitated to related herbs to the body, mind and spirit.  This is the direction of my passion.  There also was a common theme of ceremony and ritual and various ways and levels to incorporate and honor. 

Closing Circle at the Florida Herbal Conference

Rituals
I invite you think about rituals you currently have such as your morning routine, going to a 'church' on a weekly or regular basis, your fitness schedule or meditation.  You may have a ritual with friends or family on a regular basis. Rituals can be something you do daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly. There is no right or wrong. Honor this special time or union within yourself or with others instead of just going through the motion.

Ceremonies
At the Herbal Conference, we had a Fire Circle! I've participated in the past but this one seemed to have more significance to me. Mz Imani led the Fire Circle and earlier in the day, I attended a class about building the fire circle and the significance. We walked around the circle and set the intention, viewed the circle from a far and visualized the evening events. People participated in the 'circle' in ways that felt right for them.  Some stood around the outside of the circle and 'took it all in', others danced around the circle feeling the vibration of the drums (me, me, me!) and others created the drum beat and music - all played an important and special role.  We also do the 'shaking and drumming'  in Qi Gong which I learned with Shifu Orlando of the Sadana Center.  This shaking and drumming was stimulating Mother Earth in a positive way.  She could feel the love, joy and gratitude.  Individually, we were all benefiting from the ceremony and ritual by releasing things into the fire and taking what we needed.  Collectively, we were giving thanks to Mother Earth raising the vibration.  How often do you go out in nature including the beach, park and mountains and give thanks!  We need to do this and take care of the planet for generations to come. I could literally feel Mother Earth smiling down on us. I thank everyone across the world, events, festivals that create ceremony to continue these kinds of traditions passed down from our ancestors.

Equinox's
A few times a year, we honor the change of the season such as the Spring and Fall Equinox, Summer and Winter Solstice just to name a few. These are good times to check in with yourself. They each contain their own rituals. The upcoming Spring equinox is a rebirth good for cleansing and planting (sounds like things you may do naturally).

Moon Cycles
The New Moon and Full Moon are times when people have ceremonies or rituals, individually and  collectively. Pay attention to your own rhythms and you'll be amazed such as emotions, physical changes including headaches or pain, chaos, goal setting and intention, cleansing and, for women, the menses.

Mother Earth gives us these ongoing gifts to create ceremony to honor ourselves, others and 'her'. Continue to be good to yourself and create special ways to celebrate and give thanks!  See and feel how exponential this is beginning with yourself, your sacred circle, community, state, country, continent and world. Make a positive impact.



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Using The Power of the Mind Overcoming Dis-Ease

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February 2016

Using The Power of the Mind Overcoming Dis-Ease

This is a story about courage, perseverance, fear, sadness, inspiration and much more. I knew my mom was a special lady, but didn't know just how strong and determined she was. I'm not sure she had ever been tested this much to know the depths of these traits. When the sh?!*t hits the fan, how would you react?

In the summer and fall of 2014, my Mom, Jill, had been ill off and on. Didn't seem too out of the ordinary based on the roles she was juggling and wearing herself out (giving much of her time caring for others as her own health was being compromised). In the fall of 2014, she felt more tired and as she was recovering from a heavy cold, her voice seemed different. Jill has always had laryngitis whenever she got sick or worn down, but this was different. Her voice became slurred and the speech was slow, with a deeper tone. She started going to various doctors. There was no signs of a stroke. As her speech continued to deteriorate, her mother (my grandmother, who my Aunt and Mom were caring for) passed away. Without much time to grieve, we were going to multiple doctors including neurologists, ear nose and throat doctors and practitioners learning about their approaches. We ruled certain things out, but there was still was a lot unknown. She would get some relief with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs along with one western medicine for Myasthenia Gravis.

This time last year we could still understand her slowed speech. While still going for various opinions without answers, speech therapy was put on hold until we had a diagnosis. Early May, one of the testing showed a cancerous nodule on one of her lungs. The doctor indicated by removing it, this may be a ticket to her speech based on the possibility of Lambert–Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome. So, she underwent lung surgery and it was removed successfully. However, to our dismay it didn’t help the speech and at this point she was mainly writing to communicate. In some opinions, they are thankful through these various tests that they found and removed the nodule. In my personal opinion, I believe with time and ways we were working on getting her well, the nodule would have shrunk and gone away.  But….the fear of the unknown rushed the decision.

Over a decade ago, I began my own journey of health and wellness overcoming an auto-immune disease.  After being highly medicated and told I’d be on medication for the rest of my life, my GI doctor recommended to have part of my colon removed. Thankfully, those suggestions were an inspiration to my awakening to ‘alternative’ health care. After many months of weaning off medication and not agreeing to the surgery, I took matters in my own hands. I began to learn about so many ways we can heal the body, remember there is a divine purpose and continue to have gratitude. Sometimes easier said than done. There are times I get sad thinking of my Mom suffering, but I let it go knowing this is her journey. She is riding this wave like a champ, experiencing and learning what she is supposed to.

Thankfully, as a family, we are all working together to support each other in many ways. Mom, Dad, my sisters and their families, her twin sister and others close to her are having a relationship in a different way- not necessarily good or bad, but just different. Along with Mom, we are all experiencing interesting and profound new things in life that have presented themselves under these circumstances. My sister’s and their families live out of town, so facetime is invaluable.  We’re learning additional video chat ways so they can see each other and my Mom can still type to communicate with them or else she writes on her ‘board’ and holds it up to the camera.  In an Ipad application, she types words and the application speaks them out.  So if, for example, we are in the car together, we can still carry on a conversation. Without the Ipad, she also uses a Boogie Board to write and erase with a touch of a button. (the kids love it!) She misses being able to speak with her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. They all have been amazing in making her feel loved and included. It’s not easy for some people to know how to communicate with her and direct questions and conversation to those of us with her. Our best advice is to speak to her not around her.  Give her time to write and respond.  It’s hard when the conversations move quickly and she’s unable to participate.

Mom has seen top neurological specialists in the Tampa Bay Area, as well as the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The neurologist in Tampa suggested to get her affairs together with no hope and little direction.  They said there was a 5% chance of her turning this condition around. With that, dazed and confused, my parents and I walked out of there hand and hand saying, “We will be that 5%.” The Mayo Clinic diagnosed it as a motor neuron disease called Pseudobulbar Palsy said to, “Enjoy and live life.” I was dumbfounded. Still no direction was offered from these highly regarded doctors. Although we choose not to identify my Mom with a specific title/diagnosis so she doesn't 'own' it, it  has helped to release some fear, provide us direction on certain modalities to explore and ways to explain to practitioners.

This experience made me more confident in what I'm doing today with Kapok Pilates and Wellness exposing people to many ways of healing and living well while strengthening our own body and mind. We can make a major impact and contribution on our own health and wellness by being aware of our minds and ways to use this incredible tool.  I was more determined and confident to continue down the ‘alternative’ approaches we were already doing.

At this point, she stopped taking the western medicine but stayed on the Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture with Bob Linde of Acupuncture and Herbal Therapies and ear acupuncture with Patrick Purdue, Acupuncture Physician of Purdue and Nielsen Wellness Center. My parents attend gong meditation with Travis Lacey, guided meditation with Shifu Orlando and crystal bowls meditation with Alex Nadeau at Kapok Pilates and Wellness. This is something they had never done before. Mom also listens to weekly inspirational calls from Alison J Kay.

Mom has regular treatments of Reiki and Energy Healing from Dr. Alison J Kay. She receives Cranial Sacral Therapy and Energy Healing from Elasa Tiernan of solTERRA. These ladies have not only done unquantified ways to maintain Mom’s health, but have given us hope in priceless ways and raising her awareness and vibration.  This “voodoo stuff” to some people is hokey pokey, but her special wellness team is doing everything they can to get her in balance for the motor neurons to function again.

Thankfully she is determined! The energy work helps to clear blockages, balance, raise her vibration (vibrating high is a good thing, remember the Beach Boys….Good Vibrations) and more on a deeper level. During her sessions, she sees colors and sometimes has visions. Mom is trusting her intuition more than ever and making decisions in her highest good, instead of putting others before herself all the time.  She is working with Dr. Julie Hunt of Mayer Chiropractic, who specializes in Orthospinology, Upper Cervical Care.  Mom has done an extensive amount of testing at St. Pete Health and Wellness with Dr. Cole where he put together a protocol of nutrients and supplements to build the cells and overall wellness for the motor neurons to function optimally.  My parents also worked with Sharon Kistler, a Life Coach, helping to find better ways to communicate and live together during this change.  

The tongue has many responsibilities we don’t realize and take for granted. It is very challenging to get food from the front of the mouth to the back without the function of the tongue, therefore, swallowing saliva and food is very hard and timely. She carries a hand towel to help control the saliva.  Simply drinking from a cup or a straw without the tongue is almost impossible. On a positive note, Mom continues to do things she enjoys such as traveling to visit her grandchildren, cook (especially since she is on a specific Paleo diet making sure she keeps weight on), garden, play tennis and exercise and spend time with family and friends.  

 

My Mom is continuing to try new approaches but also takes time to be in the moment as the observer. This experience has certainly touched our lives in many ways and reminds us to be grateful. She's learned to use the chakras, the energy centers of the body, and as she visualizes symbols, colors, uses stones and crystals to support the body. She is beginning to add more sounds. I do Reiki on my Mom and Dad. My two sisters live out of town but keep her spirits lifted (and sometimes visa versa!) and continually supports her in creative, positive, amazing and powerful ways. Her twin sister, Judy, and soul sister, Sharyn, give her massages in their incredibly healing way. My Dad has been unbelievably supportive during the hardest challenge in his life (and they have three girls!). We all call the home phone to hear her on the phone message.  Sometimes speaking to her twin sister, my Aunt, enables me to ‘feel her voice’.

 

We all have a life purpose and our experiences, young or old, are teaching us lessons and also inspiring and helping others. I share this, with my mom's permission, so if you or someone you know, is faced with the unknown, don't give up. Dig deep. Believe! I have a passion, more than ever, about what more is out there and my personal belief system on how powerful and amazing our body and mind are. I've learned more to trust my intuition, that gut feeling, and be more open to receive guidance and pay attention to the signs.

I'm so proud of Mom for being strong and determined, without ‘fighting’ this but accepting where she is today. She is ready, open and willing to sing loudly. We've had an amazing amount of support from family and friends which helps in tremendous ways that words can't express, unquantifiable. We are becoming more involved with a non-profit organization, Embracing Life Through Love which supports people and families of motor neuron disease.

I write for a few reasons: If you or someone you know has a story or symptoms to this and we can help each other, please share. Keep believing. With the power of her mind, determination and support of her family and wellness team, we are confident she will tell speak her story. She has already inspired others! We also want to reiterate the importance of surrounding yourself with positive influences. In reality, we are energy.
Body and Mind Enrichment. A unique way of exercising your body and mind!

The Many Benefits of Shea Butter

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Our Precious Skin
Most people appreciate having nice, soft, young looking skin. Our skin is our largest organ. It's our first line of immunity. The skin provides protection from the external environment and acts as a barrier as well as a filter.

If you are someone who puts lotion, creme, oil or lip balm on your skin repeatedly on a daily basis, you may want to look hard at what your putting on your skin. These products, high quality or rancid and toxic quality, will get into your skin on a cellular level. The idea is for these products to nourish from a cellular level!

Shea Butter
The first time I felt pure raw shea butter about a decade ago is when my love affair began! Now, I use it in most of the  B Me Organic Products. Shea Butter is the fruit that comes from the Karite Tree, native to Africa and has also been called the Tree of Life.

You may purchase it raw and unrefined or refined shea butter. The raw unrefined shea butter contains more beneficial properties and has an earthy scent. Unrefined has more processing and doesn't have much scent. Shea butter varies in color from off white to yellow. As the shea butter is extracted, it is put into a gourd such as below. 

Shea butter has an unbelievable amount of benefits.  It is often compared to cocoa butter and in some opinions exceeds the healing quality.  It contains Vit. A, E, and F and is very good for skin balance. It penetrates into the skin, moisturizes, gives back elasticity, softens and much more. Shea butter is good for:

-Dry skin                   -Skin rash                    -Sun burns                    -Wrinkles                   -Itchy skin         -After shave bumps                  -Skin wounds                 -Skin cracks                      -Tough or rough skin                              -Weather changes such as dry lips, cold weather, frost bites               -Stretch marks            - Insect bites                          -Muscle fatigue, aches and tension                -Before & after strenuous exercise         

-Skin allergies such as poison ivy          -Eczema       - Dermatitis      

                  -Skin damage from heat including radiation        -Sun protection  

Additionally, it has beneficial properties to the scalp and hair to condition your hair's natural shine, revitalize split ends, protect from the sun and hard treatments such as perms or hair dyes, deep conditions and strengthens brittle hair.  Shea butter may also be used on babies for diaper rashes.  As you can see, there are so many benefits to using shea butter!

Shea butter will melt at and on our bodies temperature. Get that? You will feel it literally melt on your skin. That's awesome!!  Typically in its raw form, it will be semi-medium hard and will soften when it's applied. A product of nature! 

These are a Few of My Favorite Things!

I make a variety of organic herbal products and use shea butter in many of them. You may use the shea butter in its raw form or add it with other oils and butters. I love the feel, texture and medicinal benefits it adds.  How do I use the shea butter?  I begin the products with herb infused oil that I set outside with shells, stones, sunshine and shake it for at least 2 weeks. The herbs infused depends upon the nature of the product.  Herbs to soften and heal such as lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, neem are used in the Body and Belly Butter and Sweet Orange and Lavender Healing Creme, Herbal Salve and Lip Balms, and Body and Belly Oil and Argon Hair and Body Oil.  Therapeutic herbs for aches, pains, inflammation, arthritis, sprains and more include herbs such as arnica, St. John's Wort, horsetail, rosemary, cayenne, catnip, neem in the Therapeutic Salve and Therapeutic Foot and Body Lotion.  Herbs to repel bugs include lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, catnip, rose geranium, and neem are in the Bug Off Mister products.  

     

After a few weeks, I strain the herbs and mix the herb infused oil, organic shea butter and maybe other goodies such as organic coconut oil, beeswax, and organic cocoa butter on a double boiler.

Shea Butter, cocoa 'wafers', beeswax squares

Melted butters, oil, and wax with a fun stirrer! 

  Then I add my love and intention to create this product in its highest good!  I pour, package, label and hope these delicious products make you feel fabulous and happy!

Body and Mind Enrichment. A unique way of exercising your body and mind!

Raise the Flag

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The Beach
I am so thankful to live near the beach. I grew up around the beach, love to travel to other beaches and am enamored by the beauty and energy from the beach, birds, wildlife and water.  It gets very crazy around Clearwater Beach and the surrounding beaches especially during spring break.  I put my patient hat on and am thankful that so many people are enjoying this beautiful treasure!

Recently, I went south to Indian Rocks Beach, home of the original Crabby Bill's restaurant.  Throughout many of the beaches, we now have bright yellow flags on each side of the street to hold while crossing Gulf Blvd.  Although I thought it was for my entertainment purposes to be able to wave a flag, it's so the out of towners, spring breakers, and locals can see clearly when someone is crossing the street.  You never know who may get caught up watching a half naked person (I'm talking about people in bathing suits!) walk on the side of the road and cause a wreck.

Wave the Flag Proud and Strong
It's not every day you get to wave a flag. In fact, it's not every month either. I thought it was a treat and felt somewhat freeing! Try it! Just visualize waving a flag.  I also see it as an exercise, like I do many things in everyday life.  As you're waving the flag, if you hold your arm higher (as if you are raising your hand confidently to answer a question in class) it will be more challenging.  A larger flag will be harder. Wave your flag like a crazy eight.  While doing the crazy eight motion engage the core, feel the rotation, internal and external, from the shoulder (keep the shoulder blades down, please), use the triceps, back and chest.  Look both ways and cross the street, confidently while waving your flag. I bet everyone else will want to try it! Make sure to use the other arm when you cross back!

Take these precious times in life to pay attention to your strengths (from left to right side, front/back, top/bottom), strengthen your body and play with yourself.  The next time you get the opportunity to wave a flag, go for it!


Body and Mind Enrichment. A unique way of exercising your body and mind!

Homemade Beauty Treatments, Intuitively Speaking

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Skin and Body
Certain times of year, you may feel your body and skin responding to the seasonal change. Your body may just looove a certain time of year and flourishes (hair, skin, etc) and other times struggles (dryness, oiliness, patches etc.).  This may also change due to stress, environment, diet and other factors too!

Horse Playing with Your Food
I am a big advocate of playing with your food. We've got to make it fun, right?!  I also enjoy eating for the seasons.  We are lucky to have strawberries in season here in FL!  I made a delicious Strawberry Simple Syrup with raw honey, cinnamon, lemon balm and lime. I like to keep some version of this on hand to add sweetness to drinks, yoghurt and other tasty treats.

Strawberry Simple Syrup

On another note, I took Rosemary, mashed it lovingly with my fingers, put it in an empty bottle and added olive oil to cover it.  This rosemary olive oil is used to flavor food but you may also drizzle a little in your palm and condition your hair.

Rosemary Infused Olive Oil

A week later, I roasted butternut squashed and drizzled the rosemary infused olive oil, yum!

Roasted Butternut Squash with Rosemary

One evening, I decided it was time to give myself a nourishing mask. I wanted/needed something to assist with the little bit of dryness I was experiencing, mainly due to the weather this time of year in FL, cool and dry. Since I had some butternut squash leftover and the simple syrup, I was drawn to combine them for the perfect deluxe moisturizing (in-home) facial.

Honey, Strawberry, cinnamon, lemon balm, butternut squash, rosemary, olive oil

 I took a little of each and mashed them together in a 1/1 ratio.  Check out the vibrant colors!  Honey is a great antibacterial and has many benefits for the skin, hair and body! Rosemary is good for circulation. Lemon Balm has antiviral properties. Strawberries aids in ridding the skin of dead cells. The orange color of butternut squash is a good indicator that it contains beta carotene, Vit. A, which helps to fight wrinkles and balance the ph of your skin and cells. Lime is a natural preservative.  Eating these foods are important, however, if you have some leftovers and are feeling a bit sassy, feel free to give it a try and see how your body and/or face feels.  My skin is pretty neutral so I'm okay using herbs and foods that may be slightly drying or oily although I was using the butternut squash in this creation to nourish the face in a moisturizing way. The rosemary is often used for dry skin and lime, lemon balm and strawberries for oilier skin. But in this situation, I was comfortable with a little of everything!

Look at the pretty heart! This happened organically!

After applying it to my face around the eyes, neck and hands, I relaxed with a cup of tea and enjoyed the moisturizing and tightening experience over the next 20 or so minutes. I suggest relaxing and feeling what's going on as it changes during the duration while these organic foods and herbs set into your skin on a cellular level. I love feeling this and the energetic movement around the face.  

Chillin' with my facial, tea and amethyst & rose quartz necklace

Then, I rinsed with lightly warm water, pat dry and felt fabulous! Seeeeee?

Fabulous feeling skin and a happy camper!

Maybe you will find some serendipitous goodies in your fridge or pantry to blend together. Sometimes I'll sneak a quick facial in while I'm making some food such as smashing avocado on my face when making guacamole.  So, although I enjoy the zen time and feeling and guiding the inner workings of the natural products, I know we get caught up in our busy worlds, and any way to sneak it in is just perfect!  

Cheers to happy, healthy and radiant skin! 

Body and Mind Enrichment. A unique way of exercising your body and mind!