Best. Deo. Ever.

aromaco2

I used to rely on aerosol deos, I thought it was unnatural how much I sweat..  Over recent years or so there has been publicity about the connection between breast cancer and the lymph nodes (detoxing glands) are under your arm pits; it therefore seems counter intuitive to put something on to such a sensitive place which contains hazardous chemicals (i.e. many mainstream deos).  I tried crystal deos, natural roll ons, making my own, you name it I tried it, but I still had to wash 3-4 times a day to stop smelling like the pits!..  Then, a good friend had visited Lush before a dance party, she gave me one of the new samples she had..

Aromaco, by Lush.  Every time I wear this with no perfume, I get compliments on smelling nice!  Patchouli soft fragrance, easy on the skin but works all day against smell.  I have a very active life, this deo has been spot on even since I first tried it.

A Lot easier on the skin than a previous home made version (bicarb of soda wasn’t the best for my sensitive skin ‘sigh’).  I’ve been using aromaco for over a year and it’s great!  Lush Aromaco

aromaco1

Technicalities

A bit more below about sweating, and why this deo works for me, without feeling compelled to block up my underarm pours with antiperspirants anymore..

How much you sweat depends on a couple of different factors, sweat, or perspiration (as some would rather call it), is the bodies natural way of cooling when one gets hot, heat from exercise, hormone fluctuations (as happens to most women each month), and stress or anxiety levels and the body being in fight or flight mode (sometimes can be a long term issue). I used to sweat a lot; fortunately these days it has dramatically reduced; I put this down to mediation practices intertwined with yoga, which have helped to lower my stress and anxiety levels dramatically.  I would be sweating profusely, literally sweat dripping from under my arms (especially if in contact with certain people, even just eye contact) and yet my arms would be ice cold!  These days, I can actually wear tops with sleeves and not worry about staining the under arms within 2 minutes!

If your body is hot, i.e. if it’s going through a lot of energy and you’re doing some physical exercise (i.e. running), or fighting off some disease or bacteria, or, if you feel very anxious (then your body is constantly making lots of energy readily available to be able to flight or fight as a response to stresses being felt; imagined stresses through worry, mental stresses trying to meet deadlines or immediate physical threats).  Your body is working harder to pump sweat out so that it can cool down as the sweat evaporates from your skin and take some of your excess heat with it.  This is one branch of homeostasis, and is regulated by the hypothalamus in your brain.

Your body needs to be able to keep it’s baseline temperature, despite all this energy and heat (usually produced as a byproduct); so that it can continue to work optimally.  Enzymes which catalyse reactions in our cells all function at preferred temperatures, if this temperature is too high, it can not only inhibit functioning of certain enzymes and reactions but it can destroy (denature) them too.  You see, anyone with a high enough temperature get’s pretty quick medical assistance, your body has to work even harder to keep doing it’s job in extreme conditions (hot or cold) – hence why we sweat when hot and shiver when cold (among many other homeostatic processes)..

On to smell..  How your sweat smells also has different potential causes, of course, the most common reason is due to natural bacteria under your arms, feeding on the sweat and giving off odor as their byproduct, thus is the type which is generally avoidable (yay) by washing or using certain products which have an antibacterial effect.  Also, for some of the population it can be affected by what you eat.  I happen to be in the minority of the bodies who metabolise foods in such a way that my sweat can take on smells from foods such as garlic, literally, even straight out of the shower, my armpits will have a certain strong odor!  Fortunately I’m happy to leave garlic out except for special occasions and the Aromaco deo seems to keep the underarm bacteria in check so this issue doesn’t stand for me.  However, one must wash ones pits at least once a day – deo cannot be used to simply mask a smell which is already there.

Thanks and InJoy! 🙂

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspiration

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-07-20/health/ct-met-heat-science-20110720_1_extreme-heat-heat-stress-heat-exhaustion

Candle Meditation

candelmed

One of the most enLightening (excuse the pun) meditations, for me, is the Candle meditation.  Couldn’t be simpler and yet neither more beautiful and effective to calm the mind and bring you into the present.

Set yourself a timer, if you’re new to meditation make it 5 minutes only, if you  have more experience and feel able to give more time then set longer, up to 30 minutes, but be modest so you put the time aside without worry.

Light a candle, one with an open, naked flame (probably better a pillar or stick candle, but tea light also works).

Sit about 1 or 2 foot away from your candle  and start your timer.

Setting a timer means you can let go of the mind thinking it needs to be busy or controlling the situation, thus easing into the time you’ve set aside.  Make sure you’re alert and not hungry or thirsty when you start to help you to stay still.

If you get distracted by thinking or trying to do something else, remind yourself it’s only for a few minutes and go back to watching the flame; see it dance and change and flow with every moment..  If you keep getting distracted, then notice where your distractions take you, if needs be pause the timer and write down what came up but get right back to the candle!

The hardest thing is starting the timer, if you can get to that point you’re winning.  Let me know how you get on!

Love

Mother Ayahuasca, round 5

plant medicine b

Coming back to the subject of ceremony with medicine, I’ve heard of a few cases of whimsical usage of the medicine and thus some perspectives to be tainted.  Of course, it’s not going to be for everyone and it’s important that you must know your Shaman is someone you can trust – word of mouth generally offers a good recommendation..

I wrote in my previous plant medicine blog about my first retreat drinking the sacred vine, as known as Ayahuasca (along with it’s counter part the Chacruna leaf), to induce a healing from the inside out.  This healing is usually accompanied by a felt sense (felt differently for each individual) of el madre, or ‘the mother’ which is one of the effects of the medicine going to work on your physical, emotional, spiritual, and or other bodies of your existence.

This most recent experience again has served me kindly and gently, after 4 cups (usually 1 or 2 is enough..) of the not so pleasant tasting medicine, I found myself once again on a journey, a journey of my body.  It’s never hit me with explosive vomiting or toileting as means of the releasing; my purging again this time being based on movement and laughter..  Having been guided by the shaman, who was new to me, my depth of appreciation for this +2000 year old ceremony has once again grown..

I could feel the medicine working in my stomach and intestines; for the whole duration I felt nauseous, perhaps sometimes before one is ready to purge one’s bowels the medicine and moment has to be right..  As told by the shaman that it’s probably only a matter time, perhaps more work needs to be undone on my path before the medicine is ready to help me release my gastro associated workings.. The geometric patterns, stars on the ceiling and overwhelming sense that in every moment ANYTHING is possible; the squirming, leg shaking, finger twisting, skull exploring motions that again wouldn’t let my body sit still like most other internally journeying participants..  All for my interpretation pointing to the fact I’m in exactly the right field of work, with a need to further explore the physical!  But there’s something in my guts still not budging..

Makes sense if I’m 100% honest with myself, I am still exploring an interesting relationship around eating (having my Crohn’s mostly under wraps)  an oral persona to play out..  I thought I could get away with once again denying to myself and others that I still have work to do here, but the medicine, the mother, knows..  I am the kind of person who craves an authentic life and the medicine has helped me to once again, shine a light on the parts of me which were being disingenuous to this treasured trait.  The joy and sometimes the woe of Ayahuasca, it gives you just what you need, which may be the furthest point away from what you think you need!

May the integration of lessons continue, the real journey starts now ceremony is over!..

New Year, What U Starting..?!

IMG_0696

New moons, new seasons, new year and new Paradigms…  EVERYTHING energetically and cosmically is giving us constant opportunities to grab a hold of our lives the way we see fit to live them, and go for it!

The highs and the lows being a part of life but choosing in which direction being our right..  The coming few months being the fruition point to turn things around even more to our liking..

What is it again which you choose to take on in this life?  How do you want to kick start this new year into action to work for YOU, self-empowering into feeling great about who YOU are and what YOU want..   Thus if we fulfill ourselves from our hearts and with love, this surely is to run over into empowering others and allowing others to fill up themselves – a time for connection both inside and out.

SHARE THE LOVE.

I have my own to do list to complete over the next few days, yes, it’s a bit scary going into the unknown, not knowing if efforts seem futile but trusting in the process.  If it’s not done now, then when?!..

Love x

WTF Can I do?..?

IMG_0580

WTF can I do?..

When I see her less than 20 dressed in dominatrix and pulling off a solvent for kicks..

Him so scared that he bullies the old man by-standing, playing out previous abuses that still traumatise him..

Her now not with us, at 14 gang raped and led to a life doomed by her druggy escape..

Him defecating and throwing it all over his room, I have no idea the emotional or physical disturbances to him that’s been done..

 

How can we shine a light on this?

Because really our children growing up like this takes more than the piss!

But the truth is it doesn’t start with the kids, it might have been their family man who endured a similar kind of kicks..

Kicks of another, playing out the poison they too were made to endure..

 

Cycles coming into fruition.  To do SOMETHING I make it my mission.

But how?

I can’t be a bystander and watch,

Imagine it was you or me at the hand of an evil touch..

 

Wouldn’t you want someone to help?

Help in breaking the cycles from an in humane hell..

Winter Solstice New Moon in Capricorn – Ground and Create!

wintersolstice

Today, 21st December marks not only the New moon but also, Winter Solstice, the start of our Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the shortest day of the year..  Time to turn attentions once again to whatever it is that we are currently dreaming or driving in life; new moon (and the Sun) in Capricorn, an Earth sign, thus move from a grounded place.  Take some time today, set your intentions, ground into your self and the Earth, take action, manifest.

Tune into the Earth, listen to your heart; find that something which may make both sing and maybe already welling up inside you, trust your instincts..  The sign of Capricorn being organised, wise and diligent, a leader up the mountain (mountain goat!); this energy is with us for the taking; how could you use this Earthy, strong driving force right now?

Honor all parts of you, take action on what’s important; if you’re not feeling the pull of something new, if you’re not experiencing this shifting and opening then listen to your heart if, there is another way you’d like to live..  Take some time to consider and meditate on what it is you want out of life and run with it, what’s the worst that could happen, really?  Discriminate any fears & move forwards..  Combining winter winds and cooler climates to clear the head; if there’s ever a time to press on with integrity, now is it, focus and create..

What is it you prefer?  How is it you intend to move forwards with our global family movement?  Share.  Inspire.  Love.

My intentions:

  • See into and through my own shadow, using a loving gaze rather than fear of that which maybe darker in me, challenge all of my preconceived ideas with love.
  • Build the classes, share my version of happy body, mind and soul like I am being asked for, rather than hiding behind the fear of rejection..
  • Global awareness, environmental cleanliness, supporting those which also support our planet, actively building this in community.

 

 

Refs I Love:

http://www.mysticmamma.com/new-moon-in-capricorn-and-solstice-december-21st-2014/

http://newparadigmastrology.com/

Yoga being the seed for creation

yogaga

Truth be told, although yoga IS a way of life, a way of living, breathing and being in the world, which I much admire; I haven’t made the time or felt I’ve had the stamina to self-practice in the physical sense (or even go to another’s class!) for months, probably as long as my blog writing has been waning too..  Coming into full time self-employment has been more time and energy consuming than I realised (although I am still in utter gratitude for my path in life here!)..

..This morning something shifted..

I’m not sure if it was familial visits, talking with good friends, taking naps, a new multivitamin or all of the above but today, I had the energy for Asana practice; and the world is a much brighter place again for it.  Despite having numerous classes to prepare for and beyond today being totally packed with other things to do, I feel really amazing and able to deal with life again.  My physical yoga practice being to thank for this.  It’s a shame I had to leave it for so long; but sometimes you need the space from something beautiful to miss it and realise what it is you’ve been blessed with..

Suddenly, again, I can prep for all my yoga, Pilates and meditation classes with ease, flow and purpose.  The worries of tomorrow don’t seem so close and I can again BREATHE EASY..  Almost a tear jerker in realising how much I have missed this spaciousness, for so long..  Re-igniting the flame of my creative capacity..

Thus, if you’ve also fallen off the self-love, self-mastery, self-energising wagon and have a feeling of it’s all too much.. Find your discipline and use it in your favour.  If you’re not sure what I’m writing about, then perhaps it’s time you stumbled into a yoga or meditation class of your own.  This stuff is better than any drug or drink on the open or black markets!

Namaste, breathe bright and everything’s again alright xx

Those people you really want to remove from your life..

deleted

What is it with those rude, arrogant, miserable, selfish, ignorant people who just need to do one?!  Do you know anyone like that?  Or perhaps someone who really irritates you but you’re not sure why yet?..

I used to know a LOT of these people, frustrated the hell out of me but fortunately that circle for me is ever dwindling; it’s more the occasionally rude or mean ones who are left.

How did I get them out of my life?  Did I throw them under a bus or move town?  No, resisting the urge proved to be beneficial, as always, violence or avoidance aren’t resolutions but remedial stalling mechanisms.  What I did was face up to the real reason these people would get under my skin.

If someone hits your nerve, they can only do it because there is a part of them already inside you, a part of you.  If they were not a part of you then their traits wouldn’t bother you and you could just brush it off without a care.  Truth is, we’re all reflections, of the good, bad, and the ugly of each other; just as you see beauty because you too are a part of that beauty; you see ignorance or stupidity it’s because you’re being stupid in that moment too.

Next time you get irritated, hurt or pained by someone, take a moment to self-study – Svadhyaya, one of the niyamas in Ashtanga yoga; it’s likely you can remedy yourself without so much blaming the other..

Namaste x

The “L” Vitamin

loveee

Researching about depression for my Nutritional diploma and I came across this.  Wouldn’t you agree?  If not, I prescribe upping your dose and reassess:

Vitamin L (The Love Vitamin)

“..as coined by humanologist, Bethany ArgIsle.  One of the most important nutrients for optimum health is a daily dose (or more) of Love.  This vital human emotion/expression/ experience is necessary for the optimal functioning of people and all of their cells tissues, and organs.  It is found in most of nature – in foods, domestic animals, friends, and family – and is used to heal a wide variety of diseases.  There are no toxic effects, but deficiency can cause a wide range of ailments.. .

.. ..This vitamin acts as the ‘Universal’ vitalizing energy.. ..is particularly important to heart function and the circulation of warmth and joy.  Digestion is very dependent on appropriate doses of vitamin L, as is the function of the nervous system.  Adrenaline, the brain endorphins (natural tranquilizers and energizers), and other hormones are enhanced by vitamin L as well.”

 

Quoting from Staying Healthy with Nutrition, E. M. Haas, M.D. pg149

Flow

kyotoriver

There’s something I feel is repressing,

Something trying to limit my expressing..

But in yoga my words can flow, like there’s no limits above or below;

When I try to structure my sentence for basic instruction,

That’s where I meet with my ugly obstruction..

 

I love to dance with the rhythm of each sound,

Finding it can be quite profound..

To express ones own uniqueness, showing of ourselves simply our best;

Rather than working to always be so concise,

My brain bores quickly trying make speech overly precise..

 

I live in colour,

What’s the point in anything other?..

Everything in my world seems more bright, each time I give up this outward internal fight..

If one could simply express without fear or feeling disturbed,

Perhaps my communications would be less perturbed?..