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!
Are you looking to remove toxins from your body, your energy and your immunity? If so I want to highlight a simple, effective ritual that will help you say goodbye not just to toxins, but also to cellulite, and dull skin. It’s called ‘dry body brushing’!
The morning is such an important time because it sets the tone for the entire day. When we practice morning routines that get us grounded, inspired and glowing, we’re set up for a beautiful and successful day. So, I’m going to share with you the morning rituals that get me going and help me start my day off rejuvenated and radiant.
All of us feel the need to reset and reboot at times, whether it's after a vacation, a particularly busy or stressful time in life, too many glasses of wine or maybe after the summer holidays. And while it is normal and happens to everyone, it's important to try and approach this feeling or need to reset in a healthy and positive way. I've found that being kind to yourself and moving forward with positivity is the best and most impactful way to start fresh.
If you frequent yoga classes you’ve probably heard your teacher use the term “vibration” – and you might have wondered “what do they really mean by vibration?” It sounds pretty ‘woo woo’ right, but it’s actually all about quantum physics. The thing is everything in the universe is made up of tiny particles of energy vibrating at different frequencies. What’s crazy is that even things that look solid - like your house, car, pets, and even yourself - have vibrational energy fields at the quantum level. So when your teacher talks about “vibration” they are really refering to your overall current state of being.
The old saying “you are what you eat” is SO true. Research shows that the foods we eat not only have a huge impact on the health of ourinternal bodies and digestive systems, but that they can also have a massive impact on the health of our connective tissue - and even ourexternal bodies, specifically our skin, nails and nair. That’s why eating a healthy diet filled with what I like to call “Fascia Foods” is a really important part of my lifestyle - and I hope you can make it a part of yours.
Our physical form is not just a direct result of what we put into our bodies and the exercise we do - it is also affected by our thoughts and beliefs and the tension we carry both energetically and physically on a day-to-day basis. While we might be hyper-focused on trying to work on so-called “problem areas” like the belly, why is it that often we don’t see the results we want? The reason belly fat can be so hard to lose is because it requires a shift in focus from the usual routine of starving yourself and doing crunches or planks to a more evolved version of the mind-body connection that helps us shed stress and emotional baggage, release toxins, and cleanse and rejuvenate the body from the inside out.
When I created the Taller Slimmer Younger Transformation program I built it around four pillars, MOVE, NOURISH, CLEANSE and CONNECT. Together these pillars make up the holistic methodology that lies at the core of my approach to wellness and fitness (you can read more about the 4 pillars in this blog post ).
Based on my Best Selling TSY book of the same name, the empowering Taller Slimmer Younger Transformation program is a virtual video workout course with a fascia foods nourishing meal plan also with my go-to detoxifying and self care rituals. The challenge is a time we come together as a community to connect and go through this journey together and support each other. It’s delivered over ten weeks and each week is progressive and builds on the last week. I designed this program as a holistic process and a system that will balance and optimize both the structure, shape and function of your entire body and the miraculous energy it holds over the course of 10 weeks. Don’t just take it from me, check out our Transformation article with so many beautiful success stories!
Right now, a major transformation is happening all around us in real time. As we all stay at home and turn our focus to our health and family, Mother Nature is going through a transformation of her own - a transformation that starts with restoration. And we can certainly learn a thing for two from her journey as we set out on another awesome Taller Slimmer Younger (TSY) `Transformation Challenge!
With many of us feeling called to nourish, cleanse, heal and strengthen our bodies and a desire to realign during this uncertain time, we are blessed to have had many new souls grace our Aligned Tribe community over the last few weeks. I am super excited to welcome you all and honor your desire to deepen your awareness and become more empowered and connected to your miraculous body! So I’d love to go deep with you, introduce myself and share my story. I’d also love to hear your stories and what inspires you!
Do you ever have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night? Unfortunately, having trouble sleeping deep is such a common problem and lack of a good slumber affects so many areas of our health. Sleep plays such an important role in everything from our skin health, to our mood and weight. If you don't get enough sleep each night, chances are you don't feel like your best self–no matter what you eat or how you exercise
Even though every day is Earth Day around here, I’m super excited to celebrate the official Earth Day this Wednesday, April 22nd. The earth provides us with so much nourishment, beauty, healing and also helps wash our spirits clean so it’s only appropriate we take a day to celebrate her. And my favorite ways to do that are “earthing” and “forest bathing”.
With the effects of the Coronavirus now starting to take hold almost everywhere in the world, a recurring question I am being asked is “what do you do to boost your and your families immune system?”
It’s no secret that one of the keys to living an aligned, happy, healthy and joyful life is having meaningful and authentic connection. That’s why I made “Connect” one of the four pillars of the Taller, Slimmer, Younger Transformation Program – because when you have true connection in your life and a tribe to honor and support you, that’s when true transformation can happen.
The reason I created this program with four pillars is to create a holistic transformation from the inside out. This system is structure and a purpose that is easy to follow and you simply cannot have a complete transformation of one without the other.
Remember when you were young and science fiction films were set in the far distant year of 2020. Well here we are already! Cue every cliché about life speeding up and time accelerating (although we still don’t seem to have those jetpacks we were promised).