a closer look at lymph

with the upcoming colder months we want to do our best to keep our immune system functioning as best as possible.

one of the most important parts of our immune system is our lymphatic system. unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system doesn't have a pump like the heart to move lymph around. so our body relies on us to get our lymph moving.

lymph is the fluid that contains hormones and other chemicals from the various glands to the rest of your body. lymph is also rich in white blood cells, which as you well know, is vital for your immune system and helps remove toxins from the tissues in your body.

here are a few simple things you can do to help get your lymph moving:

• dry brushing before showering (i've wrote about this here)

• see a massage therapist

• do a simple self massage daily or every other day - this doesn't have to be anything major - just rubbing on your lotion helps move lymph around
  

• exercise - get moving

• yoga - twists and inversions are great for moving lymph

wishing you a happy and healthy autumn & winter season! hugs!!

image credit ici

trouble sleeping?

we all know that good sleeping habits are essential for our health. but sometimes when things get crazy in our lives, our sleep is what pays the price. thus, meaning, that we end up paying the price. when our sleep takes a hit, we are not at our best.

so let's talk about a few things that might improve your sleep and thus improve your life.

~ take a warm shower or bath
~ massage the soles of your feet with warm sesame or coconut oil
~ don't eat for 2-3 hours before sleeping
~ turn off the lights (keeping lights on tricks your brain into thinking it's daytime)
~ rest quietly for 10-20 minutes before going to sleep (use this time to pray, repeat your mantra, count your blessings, or meditate)

~ or when all else fails try a milk nightcap (milk contains an amino acid called tryptophan, which helps sleep occur more easily and naturally)

milk nightcap:
1/2 cups organic milk (non homogenized is best)
1/2 cup water
cook until milk foams, then turn off heat.

add while warm:
1/2 tsp. raw honey* or sucanat
1 tsp. maple syrup
2 pinches of nutmeg
1 pinch of cinnamon
*be sure to let the milk cool to about 100 degrees before adding honey*

enjoy while sipping slowly and sweet dreams!

image credit ici et ici

sisal wash cloth

i am grateful that i have received such wonderful comments regarding the skin brushing post. thank you to all who commented! comments still make my day :)

and since i'm on the subject of skin care i wanted to share with you my favorite sisal wash cloth from the body shop. i absolutely love it! ever since i found this handy little item i haven't been able to use a regular washcloth. with the combination of my skin brush and the sisal washcloth it has made a world of difference on how supple and smooth my skin now feels.

photo credit ici

hook for my skin brush

our skin is our largest organ but we seem to pay the least attention to it. studies have shown that our skin is responsible for eliminating 10-15% of toxins. (it's sometimes referred to as our third kidney). so how do you take care of your skin? besides using the best creams, lotions & potions we need to dry brush our skin before we shower.

naturally jules wrote about this here back in february. she listed several reasons of why we should use a dry skin brush so i'm not going to repeat them. i had trouble remembering to use my skin brush before getting into the shower. so i was on the lookout for a pretty hook so i could put it right beside the shower - that way it was visible and i would remember. i found my pretty little hook at pier 1 for the low, low price of $2. now that i can afford!

i have noticed that my skin feels much softer since i started using my skin brush. do you guys use a dry skin brush? if so, what differences have you noticed in your skin since you've been using it?

plan b part quatre

part quatre of plan b is a future goal of mine. it's something that has been swirling around in my head ever since i decided to make my dream of becoming a massage therapist and yoga instructor a reality. once i get those things established and figure out exactly where i want to live, i want to open up a wellness center. a place where you can come in, relax, do yoga, get a massage, talk to a nutritionist, get advice from an ayurveda practitioner (hopefully that will be me as well, ayurveda has always been an interest of mine), have a cup of tea, and relax with friends. a great example of that is bliss bliss bliss here in morgantown and of course tranquil space in dc. both elizabeth (owner of bliss bliss bliss) and kimberly wilson have served as such an inspiration for me.

photo credit ici

acupuncture

thursday evening i had my first ever acupuncture experience. let me just say it was great. you can read about all the details on my morgantown musings.

can't wait to go back for more!

Clean Well

with all these germs floating around this year i am trying to keep from getting sick, yet again. it seems to be worse this year for some reason. i'm not a huge fan of purell for many reasons but i knew it did the job. a friend recommended i try clean well, a green hand sanitizer. i am a changed woman. i love this stuff! it's an all-natural hand sanitizer made with ingenium. it's alcohol free, cruelty free, with no harsh or toxic chemicals. 'nuff said!

you can check them out at http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/, i can't wait to try all their products. i heart green products!!

let me know if you've tried clean well and if so what your thougths are and any other favorite green products you currently use or want to try.