The pelvic floor is not talked about nearly as much as it should be — especially when you consider how much it can actually impact our overall health and well-being. So today I’d like to change that by empowering you with some important knowledge about this vital part of your body.
You might have heard people on podcasts or Instagram talking about the vagus nerve recently. For some reason it seems to have popped up on the radar of many people in the health and wellness world. It’s something I’ve been talking about for a long time now - in fact in my last book, ‘The Power Source’, I talked about the vagus nerve a lot. Anyway now that it’s trending so much I thought it would be a great time to give you all a bit more information on what the vagus nerve is all about - and more importantly, how to reset it. Because unlike the city of the same name (although different spelling), what happens in the vagus doesn’t have to stay in the vagus!
Do you ever get the feeling that your body could use a good reset? Whether it stems from a stressful schedule, eating too many processed foods, lack of movement, or all of the above, it’s entirely possible to start over — and it can take just 21 days with my go-to Detox Flush Protocol.
Inside our bodies, there is an innate intelligence and natural recovery response that unwinds tension, restores balance, and reboots our resilience. It’s called the nervous system. And with the hustle and bustle of everyday life this important system can really take a hit, especially with the sheer level of stress we are all exposed to these days!
The topic of fascia has become a buzzword in the wellness industry in recent years. This is mainly down to studies and scientific research that has shown a direct correlation between the health of our fascia and our physical wellbeing and mental health.
February is a super exciting month for the Aligned Life Studio and our community as we are introducing several new ways to get aligned and flowing. This month, the amazing Charlie Morgan joins the Aligned Life Studio with classes in yoga, meditation, and breathwork.
I am so thrilled to welcome Charlie to the Studio as she not only is a fantastic world-class yoga instructor with a beautiful personality that I know you are all going to love, but she is also trained in one of my loves, myofascial release. Charlie incorporates fascia-focused techniques into her yoga practice, so her teaching perfectly complements the existing workouts in the Aligned Life Studio. Plus, I loooove yoga and have practiced it for years (as well as having some basic yoga training).
Cheers to all the new in 22! And here we are in mid January already and it looks as if this year is shaping up to be another crazy ride! The pandemic continues to disrupt many aspects of our lives and if you’re feeling overwhelmed or finding it hard to be positive, don’t worry – you are not alone. and through this discomfort comes growth and evolution.
It goes without saying that the metabolism is an essential function of your body - after all it is how we process food and create energy. So obviously it can also have a profound impact on how we look and feel within. No matter where you are with your wellness routine, giving the metabolism a little extra love and attention can enhance your overall health and give your body a delicious reset.
All too often we’re told that to get the body (and life!) of your dreams we need to beat ourselves up doing all sorts of crazy cardio or intense gym workouts and deprive ourselves to within a calorie of our lives. I’m here to tell you that is just not the way the body works. Attaining the body and life of your dreams might seem like a far-fetched fairytale, but I have developed a holistic and joyful approach to health, fitness and well-being that emphasises balance and a holistic approach that really works. It’s based on what I call the 4 Pillars - Move, Nourish, Cleanse and Connect.
Are you looking to create some healthy, grounding practices so that you can start each day with positivity, intention and a feeling of well-being? That first half hour after you wake up is a key time of day and I’m a huge fan of developing a grounding, empowering morning routine that incorporates movement medicine, nourishing food and positive affirmations. If you’re needing a little inspiration to get develop your own morning routine then please check out my blog for my favorite morning rituals that keep me glowing all day long. But for now let’s dive deeper into affirmations.
It sure isn’t easy to stick to your healthy eating habits during vacations and Holiday season - and let’s face it, after a year like these past ones, we all deserve a little indulgence. But, September is a great time to start looking at our goals and think about prioritizing rituals like self care. It’s ‘back to school’ and when our planners actually begin. This is the time to take charge and get inspired. So if you are looking to shed a little bit of that extra weight, banish your bloat, and wake up feeling lighter and rejuvenated, I have seven simple tips that will leave you with a flatter stomach!
Summer is here (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) and as always I am SO ready to get my glow on. For a Cali girl, ‘tis the season: a healthy tan, sparkling skin and salty hair from hours spent swimming in the water and soaking up the sun. But summer can take a toll and with the vital importance of looking after our skin, this is a great time to restock your beauty cabinet with a new body oil or lotion so you can keep your skin glowing.
As we are now starting to immerse back into this new world, staying on top of our mental health game is more important than ever. We all need to focus on taking time to nourish the mind, even if it’s just for a few minutes every day. If you are looking to boost your meditation and relaxation regime, look no further because today I am sharing one of my favorite self-care rituals, which helps me sweat out toxins AND get my daily dose of meditation.
Are you feeling overwhelmed about what to eat every day to stay healthy, nourished, and energized? Exercise is SO important, but it’s only part of the equation because as I always say “you can’t exercise your way out of unhealthy eating”. A healthy diet is essential for glowing skin, weight loss, and a nourished mind, body and soul. So if you are looking to step up your kitchen game and implement a healthy eating schedule and menu into your 2021 regime, I have a meal guide for you! Just keep scrolling for a few of my favorite tricks and tools for creating a schedule and menu filled with colorful, nourishing foods that help me feel strong and satiated.
Are you searching for the secret to deep, restful, sleep? A good night’s sleep is incredibly powerful - it can be the key to glowing skin, a positive mood and even maintaining a healthy weight. But it’s not always easy to turn off the “monkey mind” and sleep well. If you have been lying awake at night, unable to relax, unwind from your day, and fall asleep, I have the solution for you: magnesium - or as I like to call it, the miracle mineral.
You know I’m all about flushing toxins out of the body, whether it's through a workout, a detoxifying ingredient in a meal, or a foam rolling sequence. But detoxifying the body isn’t just about what we put inside our bodies - it’s also important to pay attention to what we put on our body’s surface: in other words, what you put onto your beautiful skin.
Have you ever been in a workout class, or maybe you are sweating it out on a pilates reformer or a yoga mat, and your instructor is constantly reminding you to breathe? You might find that you were actually holding your breath and clenching your body as you completed the workout, but what’s the big deal? We naturally breathe whenever we need - I mean, it’s a survival instinct, right? So why do fitness instructors and wellness experts constantly remind people to breathe during a workout? I know I am always tell our Aligned Tribe community to keep breathing whenever I am filming new content for the Aligned Life Studio, and you are probably wondering why.
It’s the start of a New Year - and for many of us, that means revamping our diet, workout regime and mental health routine so we can start the year off healthy and glowing. Many people prioritize their bodies during this time with a new fitness plan, but it is SO important to make sure you are also nourishing your mind and soul - and a beautiful way to take a breath, clear your mind, and set intentions is to try practicing meditation.
I’ve recently shared a lot about my Clearlight infrared sauna -- the newest addition to our backyard and a veritable mini wellness sanctuary where I can rest, rejuvenate, and detoxify my body. The intense heat the infrared sauna produces is fabulous for the body, and just a few minutes in the sauna can give you a GLOW from the inside out and ease the worries of the day (or year - I’m talking to you 2020!) But beyond the incredibly calming and relaxing benefits of the infrared sauna, the heat can also tighten the skin, ease muscle and joint pain, aid with weight loss and cellulite and even boost the immune system - and these days who doesn’t want a little immune boost?
Trying to eat clean and even sustainably on a tight budget? I know - it sometimes seems like an oxymoron, right? You know I love healthy, fresh, organic foods - I support my local farmer’s as often as possible, and my favorite recipes are filled with leafy greens and fresh fruit. But let’s be real, buying farm fresh, organic produce is NOT cheap. If you want to keep your diet healthy, fresh, and delicious on a budget, I have the solution for you. Check out my two essential lists for shopping organic: The Dirty Dozen (these are foods, that if you have the choice, you should really invest in the organic or Non GMO option) and the Clean 15 (this is produce that is safe enough to buy conventionally grown).
Oh the power of denim - they feel like sunshine or an old friend! They can be so many things: sexy, flattering, edgy, comfy, long lasting, hardworking, and even get better with age and wear. Our jeans truly take on the spirit of the body that wears them.
One of my absolute favorite ways to clear the residue of the day, unwind and detoxify physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically is to do a session in my Clearlight infrared sauna. We’ve made our home into a wellness sanctuary and I highly recommend doing it. I love infrared saunas because they use infrared panels to heat up the body’s core at a cellular level where the toxins are stored, meaning they are more efficient at mobilizing those toxins so you can sweat them out. But the benefits of the deep penetrating heat that the infrared sauna produces goes well beyond just detoxifying. It boosts circulation, oxygenates the tissues, eases muscle and joint pain and even tightens the skin. Plus, it’s so deeply relaxing that it eases any anxiety and tension and feels so incredibly healing and calming that I’ve never slept better than when I take a sauna before bed.
Looking for an eco-friendly way to care for your swimwear? It’s summertime, and one of my absolute favorite things to do during the summer is throw on a suit and cover up and head to the beach, soak up the earth's energy, take a dip in the salty water and bask in vitamin D. I’ve always loved being active in the water - in my 20’s I was a collegiate swimmer and water polo player - and I think summertime is the best time to go outside, be active, get sweaty, and dive into the ocean and wash my system clean.
Practicing daily self care rituals helps you check in with your goals and priorities. And while massages, dry brushing and salt baths offer up some major R&R for the body, conscious language can work wonders for the mind and ego. Our daily communication with others and our own self-talk has a huge impact on our daily realities and can leave a negative or positive stamp, depending on the route we choose to take. Becoming conscious of the way we communicate and the language we use helps us get to the root of what is blocking us from our own authentic joy. And when we become more aware of how we speak about ourselves on a daily basis, we become more aware, present, and empowered to focus on making true long-lasting change from the inside out. The best part? You don’t need to squeeze this ritual in between your daily to-do’s. It all comes down to awareness!