Knobby Knees and All

by

This morning I cried while doing yoga.

I put off doing yoga for three days because I was a bit afraid of this sequence (which was tough and included half moon, elbow balance, headstand, camel, and bow). However, I conquered elbow balance and headstand, celebrated in child’s pose, and then flowed into downward dog. That’s when I noticed my knees.

I figure everyone has some part of their body that they hate irrationally and for no reason. For me it is my knees. First of all, they are fat. I mean look at all that skin. Second, I fell down when I was 12 and very badly skinned them. (I was chasing after a boy at the ballpark who was trying to get away from me.) So they are scarred from that. Third, I tore my ACL in 2005 and had to have it repaired, which means that I now have scars from the surgery as well. Truly awful.

For some reason, there in downward facing dog, staring at my knees, I recalled all of the emotion from that day in the ballpark. All of the desperation to be liked, all of the insecurity that lead to the desperation, all of the stubbornness that lead me to keep chasing him even though he was not worth my time. And I sank into hero and cried.

After the tears were released, I finished the sequence and only one mantra played over and over in my head. “I am safe, calm, and secure. I am safe, calm, and secure.” It sounded like the beat of the loudest drum.

Getting over the pain from the past can be tough.

But I choose to release the trauma behind the emotions of stubbornness, insecurity, and desperation. I choose success. I choose flexibility. I choose dignity. Words, especially when combined with essential oils, can be powerful at unlocking the very pain that prevents us from seeing ourselves as clearly as possible. The pain that keeps us from the awakening that is in all of us.

The knees are a symbol of flexibility. (Imagine your legs without knees? We would all be boards from our hips to our feet, unable to sit, only squat or lie down). Pain or disorder in the knees may result when there is too much ego, stubbornness, or pride, when we do not want to bend to authority or are simply inflexible. 

The legs are what propel us forward, and troubles with the legs can indicate a fear of moving forward. This is so me. People have called me stubborn for years. I was told during an interview once that someone found me rigid and inflexible. I had too much pride and just went skiing without any lessons and tore my ACL. And, oh, the ego. The words on the school bus still scream loud in my ear “When I say Lindsey, you say know-it-all. Lindsey! Know-it-all! Lindsey! Know-it-all!”

Thank God for these knees, all fat and scarred. Without them, what would I be? I’m grateful that I have (with age and courage) dismantled some of my bad habits of stubbornness, have traveled far too much to remain rigid and inflexible, and have gained the consciousness that ego is merely a facade for insecurity.

I choose success. I choose flexibility. I choose dignity.

I share my heart with you here in the hopes that you too can learn to appreciate exactly who you are and give away any desire to change what is unique and special about you. Even if the guys at the ballpark can’t see it, you are fully equipped to be the absolute highest and most powerful version of yourself there is. Choose to release the trauma and choose to embrace the bit of magic that is just on the other side.

To follow my journey and for some great education, DIYs, and more,

Winter Skin Hydration Mask

by

Yesterday the skin on my face was so annoying: it was itchy, peeling and kept distracting me from my work. I asked you what you thought I should do. Based on your advice, I created this hydration mask recipe: so simple!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons honey

2 drops rose essential oil (come on it’s Valentine’s Day after all)

2 drops manuka essential oil (the tea tree oil of New Zealand)

2 drops neroli essential oil (all the best things I love about orange blossom)

2 drops frankincense essential oil (because if I make a treatment for my skin, there is a 99.9% chance that it has frankincense)

Surprises abounded

After first thinking that I would never be able to get it into a mix, the moment I got in the bath it liquefied so much that I wondered if I would be able to spread it on my skin. Very surprisingly not oily. I mean, it had some grease to it, but not like I would think. Very surprisingly not sticky. Like at all. It seemed to multiply as I used it. Ended up spreading on my entire face, neck, arms, and knees.

Then I got worried because it was so thin that it would get in my eyes or mouth, I gave up caring when I tasted how delicious it was when it did happen to get in my mouth. Eyebrows did their job and kept it out of my eyes too. I wiped it off with a warm wash cloth, and (possibly most surprising of all) did not wash with soap afterward. Like, wait, what? You heard me, I just left the glorious feeling on my skin and got out of the tub.

My skin now feels like it has a fighting chance against Old Man Winter, thanks to this hydration mask. A lot less itchy and a very gentle exfoliation took care of the peeling skin before the mask.

What are your favorite tips for winter skin revival?

For more winter pampering check out this bubble bath! While you’re at it,

Love the Shape You Are, I’ll Do it Too

by

When I first saw this picture, I hated it.

Look at how fat my belly looks, ugh, couldn’t I have stood up a little straighter? Pulled my navel to my spine a little bit better? But after staring at it a while, I got over myself and saw the joy in the photo. All of us, no matter what age, race or gender, are so pressured to look a certain way. And the worst part is we expect ourselves to look that same glamorous, amazing way from sun up to sun down day after day.

As we are bombarded with media images of perfect figures, flawless skin, amazing locations, and expensive purses, it can be hard to remember the reality: not only is the model’s hair, makeup, outfit, pose, and look styled by a team of professionals, but he or she is likely so airbrushed, digitized, and photoshopped that it creates an absolute false sense of reality.

I was in a class the other day and the instructor said something inspiring to me.  She said “Everyone tuck your chin just a little bit until you have a double chin. Everyone has one no matter how skinny you are.”

I have a round face just like my grandmother, and throughout my entire life I have thought double chins are the worst.  My great grandmother use to tap under her chin daily to get rid of the double chin. My mom grabbed mine once when I was in 4th grade and I was mortified (as if putting on weight before growing more than 6 inches in one year isn’t normal). I have, for years, hated at least half of the pictures taken of me because I perceive a double chin (even though likely no one else notices).

We are so hard on ourselves and our inner voice can be so cruel.

But do not be deterred, you exist as you are and that is enough.

Love the shape you are in, and you will always be just the right size.

Yep, love that double chin, that round belly, those flabby arms, and total lack of thigh gap. And who cares if you aren’t posed just right for the photo, or if you have acne? Find the joy in the present moment and the people you are blessed to spend it with. Here is the other thing, no one notices your flaws like you do. To you they are glaring and slapping you in the face; to others they are nonexistent.

Let’s all support one another with body positivity. Men and women come in all shapes and sizes and there is health to be found in people of almost every size. There is no perfect, there only is. So the next time you find yourself hating a photo of you, or taking the 30th selfie to make sure it is just right, stop and remind yourself that you are enough just as you exist. I will do the same… but I may still use that Snapchat pretty filter cause it is the bomb diggity.

Girl can’t be perfect. . .

For more body positivity, check out my blog post titled Knobby Knees and All!

If you’re looking for loads of health and wellness and essential oil education and more,

Inulin for a Healthy Gut

by

Can’t find your favorite probiotic? Consider adding inulin to your regimen.

Why Add Inulin?

There are multiple foods that feed good bacteria in the gut, and many of them have one thing in common: inulin. This fibrous oligosaccharide is similar to a prebiotic (food for good bacteria). It has a mildly sweet flavor, and is found in high concentrations in Jerusalem artichokes, dandelion roots, asparagus, leeks and onion, bananas, plantains, sprouted wheat, garlic, artichokes, fresh herbs, yams, burdock, camas root, jicama and yacon root.

Though used by plants as food, human enzymes do not break down inulin. Therefore, it passes through the digestive tract without providing nutrition or calories. It does feed the good bacteria in the gut and helps ensure a thriving microbiome. Studies have shown that inulin can feed good bacteria including Bifidobacterium and Lactobaccilli. There are 10s of 1000s of good bacteria in the gut, all of which need to be fed. Good bacteria in the gut can help ward off bad bacteria, fortify the body’s immunity, and prevent the overgrowth of yeasts in the gut.

In addition to feeding good bacteria, inulin also supports healthy weight management.

Inulin is a fructan fiber, and after ingestion it combines with water and forms a gel-like substance that takes up a lot of room in the stomach. This helps you feel fuller longer. Additionally, since it is fiber in combination with a lot of water, as it travels through the colon it helps form healthier bowel movements. Studies have examined this particular fiber for both how it can support normal blood sugar and support healthy weight. Inulin may also be helpful in absorbing calcium from foods.

So, if you can’t find a probiotic, or if you just want to add something new to support your gut, consider adding inulin to the routine.

For more natural health and wellness education,

X