Taking Care of You

One of the most important things you can do for those you love is to take care of you. There are many naturally healthy ways to accomplish this goal and it is up to you to decide if the effort in adapting any of the natural resources, techniques, or tools I share in this post are worth it to you. It is my hope that they are.

The Essentials for Your Health

• Eat Right – The most important thing you can to take better care of you is to eat healthy balanced meals that include plenty of organic fruit and vegetables. The majority of them should be consumed raw to receive the optimum benefits of their nutritional value. There are many ways to achieve adding more raw foods to your diet like making green smoothies, having an apple instead of a chocolate bar as a snack, eating a nice big live salad for lunch instead of a dead beef burger, or cutting up fresh veggies on the side of your cooked meal. Your body thrives on live food and live food is raw food. So try more raw!

• Get Out – Getting fresh air and sun is also a very good way to care for you. Its a common misconception that our main source of vitamin D is milk. However, we get most of our vitamin D from the sun’s rays. Twenty extra minutes of sun per day is a good way to get your daily dose of ‘D’ in your system and a good energy booster as well.

• H2O – Drinking plenty of water is another necessity. Health professionals recommend 8 to 10 glasses per day but that amount is based on a person weighing between 118 and 160 pounds. A person who weighs more than that will need to drink more to avoid even slight dehydration. The proper formula for calculating how much water you should drink is one-half (in ounces) of your body weight. So a person weighing 200 lbs should drink 100 ounces of water.

Take Your Health a Step Further

• Au Naturale – Try to use products on your body that have only certified organic ingredients and no toxic chemicals. What you put on your body can be as hazardous as what you put in it. Do some research and discover what is and is not good for your body. Even your home should include all natural pure organic products for cleaning and everything your home needs. Even though natural products may seem more costly, the benefit of the added expense is better health and fewer sick days or trips to the doctor.

• Exercise – Even if its just a brisk 15 minute walk around your block or some vigorous “spring cleaning” around the house, its important to keep moving. As our world becomes more technologically advanced, our lifestyles become more sedentary and both our physical and emotional health will suffer.

Taking care of you needs to be a priority. Don’t think of it as being selfish. Think of it as being generous, giving those around you the gift of YOU….at your best.

Catch Sacred Glo LIVE tomorrow

Sacred Glo is going to be on live TV tomorrow! Indie Shopping TV, that is!

Indie Shopping TV is the first live video chat e-shopping portal designed especially for Indie products and the people who love them. And Sacred Glo is one of the very first lines to be featured.

Join me and other Sacred Glo lovers LIVE at IndieShopping.TV tomorrow, December 12, when we’ll be demonstrating our fabulous “Stress Less Gift Set” which will be specially priced just for live viewers.

There will be a live product demonstration by the show’s host, plus a live chat so you can talk with me directly. We’ll also be joined by other Sacred Glo lotion candle product junkies live, from the convenience of your computer. It’s going to be a blast!

Special pricing will apply during the LIVE show so mark your calendar, set your alarm, auto-email yourself or whatever you have to do to catch this exciting show. I can’t wait to see you there as Sacred Glo helps bring you the best of the holiday season in a live show format. It’s cutting edge, it’s so easy and most of all, FUN!

Date: December 12, 2008
Time: 12:15pm EST (our segment starts at 12:55 so you can join in early and see other great stuff!)

See you then!!

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a general term that refers to any of the different traditions that make use of essential oils, sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual beliefs. Popular uses of these products include massaging products, medicine, or any topical application that incorporates the use of essential oils to their products. The term “aromatherapy” is more of a Western concept as there are many medical treatments involving aromatic compounds that exist outside of the West, but may or may not be included in the term ‘aromatherapy’.

Essential oils excite the powerful sense of smell. It is known that odors we detect have a significant impact on how we feel. We have the capability to distinguish between 10,000 different smells, so can you imagine a world without the ability to experience this sense? In dealing with patients who have lost the sense of smell, doctors have found that a life without fragrance can lead to high incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression.

A few of the wonderful essential oils that we can use for aromatherapy purposes include:

• Basil - used in aromatherapy for sharpening concentration, for its uplifting effect on depression, and to relieve headaches and migraines. Basil oil has many chemotypes and some are known to be emmenagogues and should be avoided during pregnancy.

• Jasmine, Rose, Sandalwood, and Ylang-ylang can all be used as aphrodisiacs.

• Lavender – used to calm and relax, and to soothe headaches and migraines.

• Lemon oil – may enhance one’s mood, and help with relaxation.

Aromatherapy is particularly effective for stress, anxiety, and psychosomatic induced problems, muscular and rheumatic pains, digestive disorders and female problems, such as PMS, menopausal complaints and postnatal depression. There is considerable evidence that exists regarding fragrant compounds and aromatherapy that have a profound effect on our mind and behavior.

Before indulging in aromatherapy make sure that you consult a natural health professional who knows the ins, outs, benefits and dangers of using essential oils.

Tips for Naturally Beautiful Skin

There are all sorts of products and treatments available to help improve the quality of your skin. However, only a small percentage of these are natural. Most beauty products contain harsh, damaging chemicals and treatments, like chemical peels and Botox, can be scary. On top of it all, we really have no idea what most of these treatments and chemicals will do to our skin 20 years down the road. There is a way to have great looking skin without the use of toxic skin care products, dangerous chemicals or procedures.

Here are a few great tips to keep your skin looking fabulous the natural way:

• Drink your water. All cells need water to function properly. If your skin cells aren’t properly hydrated, waste products build up in your cells and keep them from working right and looking their best. Also, if you don’t drink enough water, your cells will retain as much as they can and you’ll end up looking puffy and bloated. The best formula for knowing how much water your body really needs is to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water. For example if you are 140 pounds, then you need to drink 70 ounces of water per day.

• Improve your circulation. To function properly, our cells need to get plenty of oxygen. If you spend your days sitting at a desk or remaining mostly immobile, your circulation probably isn’t as good as it could be. You can increase your circulation by getting more exercise, stretching, or getting regular massages from your masseuse or partner. You can also use a dry brush to exfoliate your skin which improves circulation while removing old, dead cells. Not only will this give your skin a better overall look, it can also reduce the appearance of unsightly cellulite.

• Use certified organic all natural skin products. It’s more beneficial to use natural products if you want to look your best and stay healthy. Just be sure to check labels because many products will claim they’re natural or organic and only contain one natural or organic ingredient. You also want to be wary of ingredients you can’t pronounce and take care to look for certification seals to be sure you’re getting what you pay for.

With a little time, patience, and work, you can have fabulous looking skin in no time.

Creating an At-Home Spa Experience

The day spa industry is doing well. People all over the country are finding solace in the care of those who work at helping one to refresh and renew. Visiting a spa is a wonderful way to rejuvenate you. However, the costs of spa treatments can be pretty high, and not everyone can afford it or will justify the expense.

So the next best thing would be to create a home spa experience. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to do–all you need is a bathtub and a few other necessities.

To start you want to set time aside where you will not be interrupted. Light a candle or two. I would be remiss if I did not mention that Sacred Glo 3-in-one candle for a healthier spa experience. The beauty of these aromatic candles is that they can be used to enhance your at-home spa experience with the massage or body lotions created to heal and soothe your body.

Fill the bathtub with tolerably hot water and add your favorite bath gel or salts or essential oils. A few essential oils you may enjoy for your spa time include:

• Neroli – with a sweet, intense aroma, neroli has long been a classic remedy for stress. It helps to combat depression, relax the mind, and soothe the nervous system.

• Lavender – this oil has a distinct and wonderful floral scent. It eases stress, while the antiseptic properties help with cold, flu, and other ailments.

• Frankincense – this oil has a wonderfully calming effect on the mind and helps to create inner peace, while helping to soothe the respiratory and urinary tract and relieve pain associated with rheumatism and muscular aches.

• Peppermint – refreshing and cooling, this oil is a highly effective mental stimulant. It also reduces skin redness and calms skin irritation and itchiness.

Before you get into the tub take care of maintenance – pluck, bleach, remove fingernail polish, etc. and then apply a facial mask. Just before you hop in the tub for a relaxing time, dry brush your entire body to exfoliate then rub an exfoliating gel all over body.

Be sure to have a washcloth, nylon puff, and body wash is easily accessible from the tub. You don’t want to spoil the moment by having to get out to retrieve these items. Relax in the tub for about 20 minutes with an inflatable terrycloth pillow as your head rest. You can practice relaxation techniques for 10 minutes by taking a few deep, cleansing breaths, clearing the mind of all outside thoughts and concerns, and mindfully telling the muscles to relax. Start with the face, move on to the neck, shoulders, and finish with the toes.

Rinse off, get out of the tub, pat dry, and gently apply a moisturizing body lotion. This is where the Sacred Glo Lotion candle comes in very handy. Just grab a bit from the candle (be sure to extinguish the candle first) and rub it all over your body for a wonderfully healing experience. Apply a moisturizing face cream, shape and polish nails, and finally, put something comfortable on, lie down on a bed, and listen to some relaxing music.

You can have an at home spa experience that you will love without the added expense of visiting a salon or spa.