Blog posts

• March 04, 2017 Intro to Ayurveda
  

  Ayurveda: the knowledge of life

  It is a health system that takes physical constitution into consideration. It is the belief that we are made up of 3 energies, also known as: pitta, kapha, vata. I've created a breakdown of each dosha here: 

   

  PITTA 

  Dominated by the fire element, people who resonate with this dosha most are usually strong, intense and irritable. 

  Physically, pitta is associated with medium, muscular builds. They often have freckled skin which is easily reddened. They are super strong willed and good at choosing what the right thing to do is. Work and play is intense and competitive. 

  They are natural leaders and quick learners. Being impatient is nothing new, especially with those who do not learn as quickly. They have an iron stomach and big appetites. This also leads to a higher probability of "hangry" occurring. It is common to suffer from inflammation, rashes, acne and loose stools. 

  In order to balance this dosha, you must manage the fiery tendencies. To do this, you have to channel them in productive ways and learn to recognize their destructive power. 

   

  KAPHA

  Influenced by earth and water, kapha types are usually athletic and have strong frames. The influence of the elements cause them to be stable, compassionate, and loyal. They appreciate order and organization. 

  When unbalanced, they can become stubborn, unmotivated, and complacent ; no matter if change is necessary or not. Their metabolism is slow and the appetite not as strong has pitta or vata. The benefit from exposing themselves to new atmospheres and people (occasional fasting)

   

  VATA

  Influenced by the air element, their build tends to be tall and lanky. They are very mentally and physically active. They love enjoying new endeavours, meeting new people and travelling to new places. 

  When balanced, Vata's are flexible, imaginative and are original thinkers. When imbalanced, they can get anxious, ungrounded and give off the impression they are flaky about sticking to routines or plans. 

  They tend to run cold and dry, and enjoy warm weather. It is quite common for Vata's to experience poor circulation (cold hands & feet), constipation, dry hands and rough joints.

  Their energy, appetite and mood fluctuate constantly.  Because of this, Vata types tend to have poor eating habits, irregular sleep patterns, swings from heavy foods to stimulants. Imsomnia and low immune system is quite common. 

• February 20, 2017 Anxiety: No one's best friend
  

  It's awkward and 99% of the time unwelcome, but it happens. It can happen for a reason or none at all. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, although a lot of the symptoms are quite similar. 

  How to tell if you have anxiety: 

  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Sense of Panic
  • Upset Stomach 
  • Racing heartbeat
  • Inability to think logically 
  • Fear of Impending Doom 
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Sleep problems
  • Feeling like you're going crazy
  • Chest pain / heavy chest 

  I ,by no means, am a doctor. If you are finding that you experience all of these symptoms on a regular basis, I would recommend visiting your family doctor for more information! 

  I've come up with a few little tips to help you with managing your anxiety: 

  1. Try and pinpoint the cause. Did something happen recently or is there something you're actively worrying about? Anxiety 9 times out of 10 can be caused by stress. 
  2. Aromatherapy - I will always suggest this. Try to stay away from strong fragrances and stick with more natural essences. This will help keep you grounded. I usually light some incense or use a mist.
  3. Ground yourself with this exercise

  • Sit comfortably in a chair or on the couch
  • Take 3 deep breaths: in through your nose, out through your mouth
  • Point out 3 things that you can see in the area around you. You can say it out loud or in your head. Be descriptive (for example; a furry beige rug)
  • Point out 3 things that you can hear. Again be descriptive.
  • Point out 3 things you can touch. Describe what it feels like. 
  • Take one last look around you and remind yourself you are safe. 

  You don't have to do this in order - I would try the grounding exercise first especially if you feel an attack coming on. It might feel funny or silly at first, but the more and more you practice it - the easier it becomes. You'll find that you'll start to pick up on it naturally as a reflex in a situation. 

  Feel free to comment below with some other tips that work for you. Share the love <3

  
  

   

• February 17, 2017 How to De-stress Yo-self
  

  Being able to remain calm is literally a superpower. I, myself, have yet to perfect this and I probably never will (monks have this shit on lock). Stress can have a HUGE impact on your health. There is so much more to it than just that constant headache that never seems to go away. It affects how we think, how we speak, how we eat/drink and how we act towards others. It plays into your mind/body/spirit and can actually affect all three! 

  The first step is recognizing that " hey, I feel off or shitty or exhausted ". From there it's now up to you on whether or not you want to change it. 

  So let's start here. I've put together a list just for you to help you find your calm and re-center yourself. Give it a shot! 

  • Yoga - This is always going to be my go-to. I swear if you don't feel a difference, you can personally call me out. Here's a great video.

  • Savasana often! This pose consists of you laying flat on your back, arms by your side and palms facing up. The focus here is on your breathing. Thoughts will come and go. We don't want to focus on these thoughts, we want to feel them, know they're there and let them pass. You'll want to remain completely still, preferably in a quiet spot for about 5-10 minutes. Trust me, you may be so relaxed that you'll want to fall asleep. To stop yourself from that happening, start counting your breath. Inhale is 1, Exhale is 2, Inhale is 3 and so on. Count up to 10 only and restart back at 1. By doing this we are keeping the mind awake!

  • Aromatherapy - Lavender is amazing for this. Now some of you might not be a huge fan of lavender and that's totally cool. Some others you could try are chamomile, ylang ylang, bergamot and jasmine.

  • Legs up against the wall. This can be used similar to how Savasana's work. 

  • A nice hot bath..light some candles..play some music. 

  • BREATHE. Good gosh I can't stress this one enough (hehe see what I did there). In through your nose and out through your mouth. Give yourself at least 3 deep breaths or more! 

  • Change into some comfy clothes, make some tea, grab a blanket, turn off your phone and curl up with a good book or catch up on Netflix.

  • Listen to your favourite songs. Music is proven to be good for the soul (proven by me). It's seriously amazing how much of a difference it makes. I connect my emotions with music ALL the time. It can make me mad, sad, happy, pumped or just plain feel good. 

  • Color - yaaas. I do this with music in the background and tea in hand. Puzzles are awesome for this as well

  • Turn off your phone. Oh my lanta this is so so important. Social media is definitely not medicine for your soul. 

  • Go for a walk! Your mind loves fresh air. When you do this, make sure you're aware and actively observing everything that is around you. Appreciate it. 

  That's what I got for now. Give that a go and feel free to comment below with some of the ways you de-stress. 

   

• February 04, 2017 Self Care: WTF does that mean?!
  

  I mean it says it all in the words itself, but really what is Self Care? And what does it mean to practice Self Care? 

  Amongst the craziness of our busy lives, we forget the most important part: taking care of ourself. This can range anywhere between remembering to take off your makeup at night or nourishing your mind with a good book. Essentially it is all the things that lift us up and make us feel normal again. Self Care is one step closer to Self Love. I've put together a list of ideas that you can use to create a Self Care Plan. Remember to set aside at least an hour each day to practice! You're on the right way to becoming closer with yourself.