Get Rid of Cellulite or Die Trying

There are thousands of anti-cellulite creams on the market and hundreds more are launched every year.

The availability of so many brands claiming anti-cellulite capabilities only confirms one thing: there is no quick fix and no magic cure for cellulite.

Cellulite is a lifestyle problem and therefore making certain changes to your lifestyle is the most effective way to get rid of it.

Toxic chemicals are the biggest offenders; contained in many commercial anti-cellulite creams, they only add to the problem, as your body needs to flush toxins to get rid of the orange peel appearance of cellulite.

Ready made creams have made us lazy, but it’s time to get back in the driving seat. Continue reading →

Nov 23 2011

Delicious Recipe for Almond Milk

Photo by HealthAliciousNess

Sick of regular dairy products, have lactose intolerance or just fancy a change?

Almond milk made from organic raw almonds makes a delicious and healthy milk alternative.

The recipe below is great for cereals, tea and coffee, baking and anything you’d use milk for.

I love adding it to Earl Grey tea, using it as a base for my favourite banana and kale smoothie, and adding it to porridge with cinnamon and maple syrup to make it really creamy! Continue reading →

Nov 22 2011

Why Do We Sleep?

Photo by Tambako the Jaguar on flickr

We all do it; birds do it; bees do it, and as the song goes, even fleas do it….

Although we spend over a third or more of our lives sleeping, we still have no concrete idea as to why.

Scientists have spent countless decades investigating the effects of sleep deprivation, sleeping disorders and cures for these disorders, such as insomnia, however the question of why we sleep is still one of the greatest mysteries. Continue reading →

Nov 11 2011

Turned On Women Will Change the World

Nicole Daedone Slow Sex Orgasm Meditation

Photo ©Timothy Archibald

Described by Vanity Fair as “the latest in a long line of female pioneers who’ve helped America shake its reputation as the Land of the Repressed,” Nicole Daedone is making waves in all the right places.

Founder of Onetaste, Orgasm Meditation (also known as “OMing”), and author of Slow Sex: The Art and Craft of the Female Orgasm, Nicole is taking on the onerous task of liberating our orgasm, for within it lies a fuller experience of life, deeper connection with our parters, and the key to changing the world – a notion supported by none other than the Dalai Lama.

A slow and meditative practice where a man strokes a woman on the upper left quadrant of her clitoris for 15 minutes, Tim Ferris has dubbed it “required education for every man on the planet.” Recently invited to speak at TED, Nicole’s work is hitting the mainstream. While feedback is polarised, it’s the negative feedback that shows how far, as a society, we have to go in even discussing female orgasm. (You can view the TED video at the end of this post).

I caught up with her earlier in the year, when Onetaste were preparing for the opening of the NYC hub. She shared some insight on the practice of OM and how it feels to be in the driving seat of sexual liberation. Continue reading →

Nov 9 2011

Look After Those Marvellous Feet!

Stephanie Holland Musings of an Aromastrategist

Photo supplied by Sunpower Yoga

Proper alignment of the feet is needed for strong energetic grounding, balancing and agility.

But, aside from the odd pedicure, how do you really look after your feet?

Good alignment is heavily reliant on excellent foot health, both structurally AND cosmetically.

By including your feet in your daily cleansing ritual and using essential oils to keep them looking, feeling and smelling great, you can reconnect with HAPPY and HEALTHY feet.

Your feet are important for movement, body health and in life in general; so it’s time to pay homage to the foundation of your temple! Continue reading →

Sep 12 2011

Laugh In the Face of Stretch Marks

Essential oils for stretch marks during pregnancy

Photo by Thomas Pompernigg

It’s one of those things that expectant mothers consider frequently: how to avoid stretch marks.

Belly, bum, breasts and thighs, oh my!

A concern for expecting mothers of any age, some women get them and some women don’t. The thing is, you won’t know till after your first pregnancy, so it’s hard to know whether you need to take preventative measures.

Either way, it’s good to keep your delicate belly skin nourished, and give baby a mini massage to boot, so treat yourself to a beautiful combination of essential oils and carrier oils to keep your belly, breasts and thighs hydrated and moisturised. Continue reading →

Sep 6 2011

Essential Oils for a Happy, Balanced Thyroid

Essential oil of black pepper for an underactive thyroid

I have not a shadow of a doubt in my mind that you know someone with some kind of thyroid issue.

Whether under or over active, symptoms can be quite severe and make day to day life difficult to adjust to in the initial days and weeks. 3 close friends of mine likened their experience of it prior to diagnosis to absolute madness. While they each chose to follow conventional allopathic treatments, I, ever the optimistic aromatherapist, want to let you know that a combination of carefully selected essential oils can be extremely effective for helping to treat the physical symptoms of thyroid disorders.

If that were all I was about to share with you, I don’t think I would have become an aromatherapist in the first place! Their real USP (unique selling point) is their ability to create a positive state of mind and relieve stress. Yup, that’s just one reason to explore this sensory healing experience.

In this post I’ve selected 5 effective essential oils that can be used for treating an under-active thyroid to give you an idea of how they can help (FYI there are dozens more out of the 300-odd we use in aromatherapy).

Continue reading →

Jun 20 2011

More than Exercise: The Meaning of Yoga

For us in the west, yoga has developed into a dedicated form of exercise to sculpt a lean and lithe body, however the tradition of yoga has an altogether different goal: the union of body and mind.

Over-subscribed classes in which we do repetitive sequences regardless of how we feel on the day can leave us prone to more injuries and the general feeling that we are not being nourished by our yoga practice. However this is counterintuitive to the tradition of yoga, which rests on giving the student the understanding to cultivate a practice that is right for them. Your personal yoga practice is centred around your own body, mind and breath.

Continue reading →

Jun 17 2011

Book Review: The YSM Body Bible for your best body

YSM Body Bible: A Mum’s guide to health, fitness and positive living

To describe this book as “a mum’s guide to health, fitness and positive living” simply does not do it justice.

ANYONE could benefit from the practical tips and advice for achieving your best body.

Jodie’s pithy and conversational style inspires the perceptual shift needed to empower all aspects of your life, and create new & sustainable lifestyle; in the way that your best friend would.

Compassionate and assertive at once, this is a no excuses guide to creating the life that you want.

First step?

Taking care of YOU.

Distilling research, case studies, how-to guides and action points in the three areas of nutrition, fitness and mind-body-spirit, Jodie simultaneously deconstructs the psychology behind the blocks to achieving your goals, and uses the knowledge as a building block for change.

As a spring board for action, the book also contains menu planners, shopping lists and more to get you started immediately.

An interactive textbook, journal and workbook rolled into one, you don’t have to be a mum to benefit; any woman could use this no-nonsense approach to achieve optimal mind-body health.

Looking for a life coach? Invest in the YSM Body Bible.

Click here for more info and to buy: YSM Body Bible: A Mum’s guide to health, fitness and positive living

Jun 8 2011

5 Essential Steps to Strong, Healthy, Happy YOGI FEET

Photo supplied by Sun Power Yoga

Healthy feet are the foundation of a strong yoga practice. Keep them nourished, nurtured and happy.

Yoga poses require proper alignment of the feet for strong energetic grounding, balancing and agility. No surprises there!

What may be less obvious is that good alignment is heavily reliant on excellent foot health, both structurally and cosmetically.

By including your feet in your daily cleansing ritual and using essential oils to keep them looking, feeling and smelling great, you can reconnect with happy, healthy feet. Not only that, you can prevent and treat a number of common conditions from calluses and cracked heels to athlete’s foot and verrucae.

Your feet are important for yoga and in life in general; it’s time to pay homage to the foundation of your temple!

Continue reading →

Dec 13 2010

Recipe for an Energising Body Blend

Lemon essential oil energises body and mind. Photo by André Karwath

First thing in the morning it can be hard to get yourself going, so it’s really handy to have a body blend that gives you an energising kick start as well as moisturising and hydrating your skin.

Some essential oils can energise you as they stimulate your vital processes like blood flow and the flow of lymph, thereby helping your circulation and detoxifying at the same time. Essential oils of lemon, fennel, juniper and lemongrass do just that so using them in the mornings before a full and busy day can give you the kick start you need.

Continue reading →