Ajna Acupressure Mat

I received an awesome gift recently from my nephew and his wife and feel the need to share.  In these times of “social distancing", many of us are missing touch in the form of massage and acupuncture.  These are two modalities that I have used continually in my life until a few months ago. So this gift arrived at the perfect moment! 

The Tapping Solution

Living through the stress of  COVID-19 has us feeling, anxious, depressed, fearful and uncertain about what the future will bring.  These are unprecedented times and no one has an answer as to when all this will come to a end.  The barrage of constant negative information that we hear from the media has us all in “fight or flight” syndrome.  I have recently become enraptured with Tapping, also known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques).  It is a powerful holistic healing technique that has been proven to effectively resolve a range of issues, including stress, anxiety, phobias, emotional disorders, chronic pain, addiction and binge eating, just to name a few.

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Yes - the new buzzword is collagen! What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant building block in our bodies and makes up about 30% of the proteins in our bodies. It is the protein that is in charge of the elasticity and rejuvenation of all the connective tissues – this includes bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, blood vessels, the digestive system, and, you guessed it, skin. Any time you move, whether it is in Pilates class or sprinting to catch the bus, that’s thanks to collagen. It is basically the glue that holds your body together. Put simply, we require collagen to function. 

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I visited the North Fork of Long Island this weekend and stumbled across the amazing lavender farm at Lavender by the Bay in East Marion.  Definitely worth the trip to pick your own lavender but, if you cannot get there, you can also order products online from them at:  https://lavenderbythebay.com/

I would like to share some of the knowledge that I learned there with you because I think it is so fascinating...................

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Meet my new magic bullet:  the Rollga.   This cross-directional foam roller is designed to stabilize the hips, align the back, and increase range-of-motion. It is ideal for muscle recovery, fascial health, and functional restoration of movement.  It is uniquely crafted to nurture the nooks and crannies of your body.   The groves are designed and contoured to fit your body and reach trigger points that are difficult to reach with an ordinary roller. Trust me – this little baby gets into all of them. 

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Boxing has seen a boost in popularity and has overtaken yoga as the latest fitness craze this year.  With world class supermodels Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Adriana Lima and Gisele all wild about the sport, this has become the hottest way for women to get fit.  Boxing glove sales are up 130% and I bought mine a few months ago when I began boxing and now I am obsessed.

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Himalayan Salt Lamp Benefits: 
Do Salt Lamps Really Work?

I recently saw these lamps at the place where I regularly go for Acupuncture and Massage.  They are becoming increasingly popular in homes and in the workplace.  The practitioner said he felt it really made a difference in the energy and the vibe of the room.  Here’s a little information about what a Himalayan salt lamp is and how it works, etc. and whether you feel you would like to purchase one.  I did and have been enjoying it for a few weeks now:)

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So I recently felt rather stuck in my own body.  My whole right side had shifted and I was getting medial pain in my right knee.  I tried all the usual fixes:  ball release, foam rolling, massage, acupuncture.  It just seemed to be expanding into a greater network in my body encompassing more and more real estate.  I can laugh about that sentence now but it wasn’t funny when it was happening. Like most of you who make fitness a priority in your lives, we  feel out of control when our body is not working to the point of perfection.  Some of us are worse than others  - I put myself at the top of that list. 

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I recently came across some information on magnesium which is a natural sleep aid. Even if you don’t have sleep problems, you will find magnesium therapy very interesting and useful.  I know that many of you do complain about sleep problems so that is why I am sharing this with you. 

Magnesium and calcium are fundamental nutrients that need to be in balance with each other in order for you to fully experience good health. Their importance on a cellular level is critical. Calcium and magnesium are like opposite sides of a coin. Calcium excites nerves, while magnesium calms them down. Calcium makes muscles contract. Magnesium is necessary for muscles to relax. Calcium is needed for blood clotting, but magnesium keeps the blood flowing freely.

Magnesium enables your body to work, effectively.  As the enabler of muscle relaxation, magnesium helps prevent and alleviate many health complaints such as headaches, constipation, cramps, and more. Equally important, magnesium helps restore cellular balance as a result of the body’s stress response. Magnesium plays a key role in reducing the risk and health complaints associated with stress.  Magnesium helps your muscles and nerves function properly; it keeps your heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system and also assists in keeping your bones strong. This essential mineral helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure and is required for producing and storing energy. It’s easy to see why many researchers say that no single dietary factor is as critical as magnesium.

Do You Have a Healthy Magnesium Level?

Most people don’t get enough magnesium, including many who already take magnesium. There are two reasons for this: the amount of magnesium required by the body is greater than people think and some forms of magnesium are poorly absorbed by the body.  Based on this and the fact that magnesium calms and relaxes the body you can see why it is important for a good night’s sleep.   It should always be taken right before you turn in for the night. 

Magnesium can be taken in different forms:  lotions, gels, supplements, etc.  Magnesium CALM is a powder that you can mix with water, hot or cold, juices or other beverages.  One tablespoon in liquid before you go to bed would be the perfect solution to a good and restful night’s sleep.  I have gotten into the habit of doing this almost every night.  I prefer the Original unflavored and then I add my own flavoring (even though I think it tastes fine all by itself).  Do start slowly,  little by little,  because it does have laxative properties.

Sweet Dreams!

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Use a beautyblender® Like a Pro Makeup Artist

Stroll backstage at fashion shows or sneak onto a Hollywood set, and there’s one thing you’ll see in almost every makeup artist’s hand: the beautyblender® signature pink sponge. Created nine years ago by Rea Ann Silva, who’s painted the faces of Kerry Washington and Alicia Silverstone among others, the egg-shaped makeup applicator has become an industry phenomenon, spawning copycats left and right. Why? Because it’s pretty much the best tool ever for applying foundation. But that’s not all it can do. You can use your beautyblender® to apply your favorite moisturizers, serums, and primers, too  (seriously, what can’t this thing do?). If you saturate the sponge before use, it won't absorb your products—no wasting that pricey anti-aging concentrate. Plus, it couldn't be gentler on skin. Here are some useful tricks for how to use the beautyblender®:

What I'm Loving Now - Tame my frizz please

Help!  I have turned into an African-American woman.  Just my hair, that is.  This did not start yesterday.  I realized a few years ago that my hair texture was slowly but surely changing.  Symptoms?  Not holding the color: 6 weeks turned into 5 turned into 4.  My hair was dry and frizzy from the roots and uncontrollable.  My whole life I never had problematic hair but I did now!!!

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I stumbled across this Mini Blast Travel Ionic Blow Dryer in a magazine and I must share!  This Sephora brand gem is less than 6 inches long and 3 inches wide plus it is light as a feather.  This powerful mini dryer has dual-voltage technology so you can use it anywhere in the world. It boasts a powerful DC motor of 1200 watts and emits negative ions into the hair to eliminate frizz and leave hair shiny and silky-smooth sealing the hair cuticles.  Two settings allow hair to dry in a flash and it also includes a concentrator nozzle and a mini-diffuser as accessories.  

It is rated 5 stars and sells for $26.  This is a must-have for summer travel and should be in your suitcase along with your spiky ball and resistance band!  I’m ready:)

Best wishes for a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

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Origins makes a product called Peace of Mind® which provides on-the-spot relief for the stress in your life.  When the world is closing in on you and your head feels a size too small, apply just two dabs and you'll feel a tingling sensation as pressure, tension and tightness begin to melt away.  It is good for so many things including muscle tension, headaches, migraines, anxiety, menopausal hot flashes, sleep issues, aches and pains from allergies, meditation, etc.  The main ingredient in Peace of Mind® is peppermint and it also contains eucalyptus.  Both of these essential oils help lift the spirits, open your passageways and allow more breathe to enter your nostrils.  Areas to apply would be the cheekbones, under the nostrils, over and under the brows, back of the neck, forehead, behind the ears, etc.   Placing it on the temples really helps those who suffer from allergies and headaches or migraines.  It cuts right to the chase.

I especially love using it for those days when I need to get to the gym and my energy is lagging 5 steps behind me LOL.  It really seems to perk me up and then once I get going the rest is easy!  Try a little Peace of Mind® - it is a great natural stress fighter.

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My FB friend, Jamie Dreyer, turned me on to the Squatty Potty® in his recent post.  It is the most convenient and effective way to improve your bathroom posture.  Most people don’t realize that the optimal elimination posture is a relaxed position as close as possible to a natural squat.

Squatty Potty® toilet stools create a healthy toilet posture to relieve and prevent constipation in the following ways:

• In the squatting position, gravity does most of the work. The weight of the torso presses against the thighs and naturally compresses the colon. Gentle pressure from the diaphragm supplements the force of gravity.

• Squatting relaxes the puborectalis muscle, allowing the anorectal angle to straighten and the bowel to empty completely.

• Squatting lifts the sigmoid colon to unlock the "kink" at the entrance to the rectum. This kink also helps prevent incontinence, by taking some of the pressure off the puborectalis muscle.

• The colon is equipped with an inlet valve (the ileocecal valve) and an outlet valve (the puborectalis muscle). Squatting simultaneously closes the inlet valve, to keep the small intestine clean, and opens the outlet valve, to allow wastes to pass freely. The sitting position defeats the purpose of both valves, making elimination difficult and incomplete, and soiling the small intestine.

What does all this mean?  Quite simply your sitting posture on the toilet bowel produces a kinked colon; whereas your Squatty Potty ® posture provides an open colon.  The Squatty Potty® can be stored under your toilet. While sitting, you pull the Squatty Potty® out to a comfortable distance and place your feet on the foot rests. The more you simulate a natural squat position, the better.  

Eliminating completely and often helps maintain good colon health. Many studies point to fecal buildup in the colon as a cause of diseases including colon cancer. And when there is buildup in the colon, our bodies can’t absorb all the nutrients from the food we eat, leaving us without the energy we could enjoy if our colons were healthy.  Urinary flow is usually stronger and easier when women squat to urinate. The bladder is emptied more completely when squatting rather than sitting or “hovering”. Squatting can help reduce episodes of urinary tract infections in both frequency and intensity.

The Squatty Potty® may feel different at first, but the body quickly adjusts and the new healthy way of eliminating quickly becomes second nature. For most people, the difference is immediate while for some it takes about a week to adjust, relax and get things moving.

Check out the Squatty Potty ® website:  http://www.squattypotty.com

You can purchase from Amazon with free shipping.  I got mine at Harmon’s Discount: $24.99 and then I had a $5.00 coupon! Quite a bargain for 20 bucks:)

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Kale  Sprouts

                

Unlike most people, I do love Brussels sprouts.  So kale sprouts were not a big departure for me.  The kale sprout is a cross between the two.  They are often referred to by their other name, lollipop kale – downplaying the Brussels sprouts side altogether. They grow off the sides of long, vertical stalks – exactly like Brussels sprouts.

Your Next Cleanse

Of course, you have heard of all types of cleanses to eliminate toxins and reduce stress.  How about one that you can do in just a few minutes that does not involve something horrible to eat or drink LOL?  It is the 4 – 7 – 8 Breathing Technique and it will do the same thing.  This is how it is done:

-  Sit upright in a comfortable seated position

-  Inhale for 4 counts

-  Hold your breath for 7 counts

-  Gently exhale through the mouth for 8 counts

Repeat this cycle 4 more times or as many times as you feel you need.  This is a great stress reliever while you are at work, on the train, driving (keep your eyes open!) or walking.  Enjoy! 

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I am sure you have been hearing about all the great things that Coconut Oil can do for you.  I am really amazed at the myriad of uses for this special oil.  Here are just a few.............

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The Stealth Align is one of the best foam rollers that you can buy. This “new design concept” of a foam roller initially transpired when Michael Palizzi (one of the founders of MuuvSport) was stretching his lower back on a roller and he realized that it just could not give him the stretching range and motional flexibility he was looking for.  After researching various products and seeing that a real need for a better roller, Michael teamed up with Ernest Peralta to develop a product that could take rollers to the next level.  As a result, MuuvSport™ was created based on the necessity to develop something more robust than the standard rollers on the market.  Out of this desire to improve a good idea and build a better product, a ground-breaking patent pending design called the Stealth Align™ was born.    

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If you don’t have one of these little tools in your box of tricks you need to get one.  The Relaxing Microwaveable Comfort Wrap is just what you want to have on hand when you overdo it just a little bit (and we all do that!).  It can be used hot or cold for the treatment of pain caused by muscle strain.  The one I have is filled with rice and a special stress-relieving, aroma-therapeutic blend of lavender and chamomile. 

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I have been searching all my life for a product that actually works for hands that crack and split and this one does!