The Power of your Womb
There is nothing that builds self esteem and goddess worthy self realization than walking courageously into the depths of our own experiences and feelings. And these experiences and feelings include acknowledging, making peace with, and celebrating our womb and monthly cycle. I am SO tired of the female menstrual cycle being shunned upon, being made to feel gross and moody that time of the month when we shed, bleed, and our hormones make a giant shift.
Something I am realizing personally through my work with Ayurveda + moon + female cycle is how the seat of female power lies in the womb. The home of our creative energies. Our creation makes babies, births social activism projects, produces art, makes amazingly delicious food, starts businesses... and the list goes on. The womb can also house our destructive powers as well. We bleed, feel pain, and release a layer of who we are and what we consume each month. However, the destruction we feel is needed for creating a new each month. Here are some additional thoughts to consider as you work through your connection and potential healing of your relationship with your womb...
Something I am realizing personally through my work with Ayurveda + moon + female cycle is how the seat of female power lies in the womb. The home of our creative energies. Our creation makes babies, births social activism projects, produces art, makes amazingly delicious food, starts businesses... and the list goes on. The womb can also house our destructive powers as well. We bleed, feel pain, and release a layer of who we are and what we consume each month. However, the destruction we feel is needed for creating a new each month. Here are some additional thoughts to consider as you work through your connection and potential healing of your relationship with your womb...
- The seat of the female power lies within the womb. This is the dark fleshy home of our creative energies.
- Our creation makes babies, births social activism projects, produces art, bakes bread, and starts businesses!
- The womb is also the seat of our destructive powers. In this sacred female womb, we bleed, feel pain and slough off a layer of who we are each months. This destruction is necessary for creating new.
- The womb is also the seat of our deepest emotional mystery, pulling us down and out each month, asking us to deeply feel the truth of what we didn't process the month prior. This center is the home of our unconscious lust, and in it dwells our secret desires, hopes and longings.
- If this center is blocked or numb, we may feel disconnected from our creativity and sexuality.
- By honoring your natural female cycles, you can begin to align yourself with the greater cycles of the moon, tides and seasons.
- Through honoring the pain that may be present in the womb at various times of the month or of your life, you can build a relationship to all aspects of who you are. This relationship to the womb asks us to not avoid the pain by running toward quick external fixes that block the flow of sensations and experiences.
- YOU are a living miracle once a month! An ancient Indian philosopher said "bronze gets cleaned with acid, river gets cleaned but its own forceful flow, and a women is purified with menstruation"
Tips for optimal hormonal balance & pelvic health
- Consciously plan to rest, be still, and go inward during your bleeding time.
- Diet: eat a low-glycemic-index diet to stabilize hormone levels. A nutrient-rich, whole-food diet that balances insulin and glucagon and also decreases the production of inflammatory chemicals is the backbone for treatment of cramps and many other health problems. The diet should consist mostly of fresh veggies and fruits along with lean protein such as chicken, fish, eggs, and legumes. Specifically, cruciferous veggies such as kale, collard greens, mustard greens, broccoli, cabbage, and turnips have been shown to modulate estrogen levels (also helpful for endometriosis and fibroid s). Consider stopping dairy foods.
- Nutritional Supplements and Herbal Support: Consider taking a multivitamin-mineral supplement daily, all month long. Choose a comprehensive supplement righ in B complex, zinc, selenium, vitamin E, and magnesium. - you need about 50-100 mg of each of the B vitamins and 300-800 mg of magnesium.
- on a side note, a MD in London reported a 98% improvement in endometriosis symptoms when taking the following supplements; thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (B2), and pyridoxine (B6), 100 mg each, zinc citrate, 20 mg, and magnesium aminochelate, 300 mg.
- Vitamin E is particularly good for cramps as it prevents excess clotting and helps maintain a more normal menstrual flow.
- Get enough iodine (12.5 mg)
- Take essential fatty acids (omega 3 fatty acids)
- Take black cohosh, or "cramp bark" as a preventative.
- Try menastil, a very effective roll-on product made from calendula oil, for cramps.
- Re-establish cyclic emotional flow: Allow yourself a full range of emotional responses to the events in your life. It is well known that the menstrual cycle is affected by the cyclic waxing and waxing of the moon. Keep track of the tides. Simply paying attention to environmental cues including the light, the moon, and the tides may regulate your menstrual cycle and fertility.
- Re-establish cyclical ovulatory flow: It has increasingly become harder to hear the ticking of our bodies internal clock. With small changes, however, you can help reset your genetic clock and get your body back in sync so you have more energy, get more sleep, and allow your life to flow more smoothly.
- Go for regular walks outside during the day
- get up at the same time each day, no matter what time you go to bed the night before (I know this is not easy for you now but this is the goal!)
- create an "electronic sundown" every night around 10 pm
- Make your bedroom completely dark
- Allow mealtime to follow your bodies natural rhythms
- Energy Medicine: try traditional Chinese medicine which includes both herbs and acupuncture.
- Stress reduction: Realize that inner work is a vital part of any plan to promote pelvic health because while any one of the components of this plan will help, none is likely to completely cure pelvic problems if you do not also address the energetic cause and release the energy blockages in the pelvis.
- Meditate (even if for 5 minutes a day)
- Do some inner work. Ask yourself the following questions and answer honestly:
- What are my emotional needs?
- What would I like to see happen in my job or my life that would nourish me fully?
- Am I getting enough rest?
- Do I believe that I have the power to change the conditions of my life?
- Detoxification: Do something every day to work up a sweat. Use a dry brush on skin regularly to help shed old skin and stimulate lymph flow.
- Banyan Botanical has a great detox herb that I recommend (link below).
- Abhyanga Massage is a traditional Ayurvedic healing modality which uses warm oil on the body and massages with circular motions from the scalp all the way to the feet. This massage technique reduces stress, helps with circulation, reduces inflammation, and calms the central nervous system. It is the most grounding, dreamy experience.
Links to resources from above post:
Here is a great Omega 3 supplement that is algae based which means no heavy metals from fish!
This is Needed (click here)
This is Needed (click here)
The Smart Way to Save on Healthy Food. Thrive Market.
Have you heard of Thrive Market yet? If you haven't, you are missing out! Based in Southern California; Think Costco meets Whole Foods. Thrive Market is a revolutionary online marketplace on a mission to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone. They offer something for anyone and everyone who want to eat healthier and live well. Thrive has a really nice, curated mix of products to choose from that are the best-in-class or organic, non-GMO, vegan, raw, paleo and gluten free. However you like to shop, you can find exactly what you're looking for. Like Costco or other warehouse clubs, Thrive Market is membership based. Thrive members purchase a membership for $59.95 per year. That is just $5.00 per month if you break it down. With a Thrive Market membership comes access to more than 3,000 of the top organic, non-GMO, healthy products. You can simply browse the website, fill your cart with whatever products you like, and have your order shipped directly to your home (oh and did I mention it's FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $49.00).
If a membership feels like a big commitment, never fear. Everyone can try out Thrive Market with a free one-month trial before you start paying the annual fee. The membership model is a key part of the business model. There is strength in numbers - in other words Thrive Market's buying power, and ability to get great deals increases as memberships increase.
But your Thrive Market membership fee has an even more important function. For every paying member who joins, Thrive Market will donate one free membership to a family in need. This social mission fits into Thrive Markets larger goal - making healthy food accessible for everyone.
Low-income families are most likely to eat unhealthy diets and suffer the long term health consequences of those choices. Thrive Market is on a mission to make access to healthier choices easier - especially for those that have very little discretionary income, and are often forced to buy the cheapest food that isn't always the most nutritious. I would much rather support a socially conscious company than an enormous corporation :: wouldn't you?
Interested in doing good for the environment at the same time as doing good for your body?
All packaging, boxes and inserts are made from recycled paper and are recyclable. We feel this is a critical part of our commitment to sustainability. Thrive Market is 100% carbon neutral through carbonfund.org, our certification covers national shipping, packaging materials, warehouse utilities, even the work commutes of our team!
Check out the Thrive Market web site via the link below! You'll be amazed as how quickly the savings add up! I sure was :)
Also, link below to a really cool interview with the founders of Thrive Market on CBS.
Such an inspiring, progressive, radical company doing so much good for the people and planet. I know I am inspired; how about you?
Gluten Free; Vegan peanut butter cookies. Your doing your body a favor by eating these.
I am pretty proud of this recipe. I actually think that I have just about perfected these amazing little nuggets. I mean, you can actually feel GREAT about eating these, they are so healthy :)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of organic peanut butter
6 oz organic; unsweetened apple sauce (I use the Santa Cruz brand)
*really important that the apple sauce is organic because Apples are on the dirty dozen list*
1/4 cup local, organic honey
*make sure it's local so you get the anti allergy benefits!*
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon unsweetened vanilla
3/4 cup of organic gluten free rolled oatmeal
3 pinches of Himalayan pink salt
Optional:
1/4 - 1/2 cup of flax meal
organic dark chocolate squares (at least 70% cacao)
Instructions:
+ preheat oven to 350 degrees
+ combine all above ingredients
+ if dough is to gooey for your liking, add additional oatmeal or flax meal to thicken it up
+ oil cookie sheet lightly (I use organic sunflower oil)
+ spoon dough balls onto cookie sheet
+ sprinkle some additional Himalayan pink salt onto the tops of each cookie
Optional
+ place 1-3 dark chocolate squares on top of each cookie (I actually like them better without the chocolate and JP is like no way, he needs dark chocolate on everything. So we do half with chocolate and half without...compromise)
+ bake in the oven for 9-12 minutes (we cook for 9 minutes, and if you want them a little more "well done" leave in for up to 12 minutes)
+ enjoy :)
1/4 - 1/2 cup of flax meal
organic dark chocolate squares (at least 70% cacao)
Instructions:
+ preheat oven to 350 degrees
+ combine all above ingredients
+ if dough is to gooey for your liking, add additional oatmeal or flax meal to thicken it up
+ oil cookie sheet lightly (I use organic sunflower oil)
+ spoon dough balls onto cookie sheet
+ sprinkle some additional Himalayan pink salt onto the tops of each cookie
Optional
+ place 1-3 dark chocolate squares on top of each cookie (I actually like them better without the chocolate and JP is like no way, he needs dark chocolate on everything. So we do half with chocolate and half without...compromise)
+ bake in the oven for 9-12 minutes (we cook for 9 minutes, and if you want them a little more "well done" leave in for up to 12 minutes)
+ enjoy :)
Dirty Dozen
4.5.16
Dylan just hit the 6 month milestone. As I start to make him baby food, I was reminded of the importance of organic fruits and veggies.
I try to buy 100% organic, and if not, use this as your reference to where you have leniency. Avoid non-organic on the dirty dozen!
Dylan just hit the 6 month milestone. As I start to make him baby food, I was reminded of the importance of organic fruits and veggies.
I try to buy 100% organic, and if not, use this as your reference to where you have leniency. Avoid non-organic on the dirty dozen!
Farmers Market bliss.
For those of you that know me, you know how much I LOVE local farmers markets. I feel so fortunate to live in a community where local farm markets are super accessible; I mean 7 days a week accessible. When I am at the market I feel so happy. Happy to support these incredible local farmers + snatch up so many yummy organic fruits and veggies for JP, Dylan and I. Of course I am starting to play around with making Dylan baby food with these organic fruits and veggies, but that is another day and another post :)
For those of you that need help finding your local farm market AND those of you (like me) who travel and still want your local farm market experience where ever you go..... This app is for you.
Download the Farmstand app ASAP. You are guaranteed to find the farm market local to you; wherever you might be in your travels or homestead community.
Cloudy days call for homemade Chai.
You don't have many cloudy days living in Santa Barbara. When they come around, I cherish them. It is such a refreshing change of scenery and climate. It feeds my soul. I have had all the ingredients to make homemade Chai tea for months now; and today is the perfect day for this yummy, cozy, hot beverage. Here is a super easy, vegan, decaf recipe to share....
*serves 2
Ingredients:
3 cups of water
2 cinnamon sticks
6 cloves
1 inch of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
8 pods cardamom
9 whole peppercorns
1 bag peppermint tea
*Note that if you want your tea super spicy (YUM) add more peppercorns, like double the amount above)
+ combine all above ingredients in a pot and place on the stove over high heat.
+ bring to a boil, then turn down and simmer for about 20 minutes (simmer longer if you want the flavor more potent).
+ strain into mugs.
+ serve very hot with almond or cashew milk (I don't heat up the milk and you can if you choose).
Some of my favorite healthy living sites.
I absolutely LOVE Wellness Mama. I have learned so much from this site. In particular I am most excited about the arm pit detox I am about to embark on.... HA!
Lee From America is the place to go to get the best healthy, super food recipes! She is local in LA. Her Instagram page is awesome!
The Minimalist Baker is full of super simple, healthy recipes. I have used several and they are super yummy! Lot's of gluten free and vegan options which I love. Dana also has a shop to purchase cook books and cooking accessories; oh and did I mention that she also leads a food photography school?!?! #goals