Yoga, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, dance and voice lessons… all of these practices are beneficial for the improvement of bodily awareness, proper breathing, flexibility and movement. Personally, I like to refer to all of these practices as ‘physical mindfulness’ practices. When done correctly, all of these activities require an immense amount of focus; they require the ability to change what our body is doing habitually; and they all require patience. Mindful repetition, patiently practiced daily, will allow the brain to re-wire itself, thus allowing for more flexibility, both mentality and physically.
All of the practices mentioned above also require for the student to become more self-aware of his or her own body. In meditation, we become more aware of our surroundings and of the present moment. Similarly, when practicing physical mindfulness, we must be in the present moment to really be aware of how our body is working and reacting at the very moment that we are trying something new.
This seems obvious, but it really is amazing how much the human brain will wander off track, when it is not trained to be mindful. Without the intense focus on the present moment, similar to that of meditation, how would an opera singer be able to memorize and sing properly the florid musical passages such as are found in the music of Handel or Mozart? How would the ballet dancer be able to remember the steps of a footwork sequence in a modern ballet show? It is a focus without the distraction of nuisances from earlier in the day. It is a complete devotion to what one is engaged in at the present moment.
The study of ‘mindfulness’ has recently taken the world by storm. Everyone seems to be talking about the benefits of mindfulness for the brain. Yet, not only can one practice mindfulness through silent meditation, a wonderful exercise that helps the brain maintain its elasticity, but one can also practice mindfulness in a very physical sense, to improve everything from our posture and our way of movement, to our vocal production. When the brain is ready and open for change and new ideas, and when the brain is ready to be challenged by a lack of habitual patterns, then we are open to become physically mindful of our own bodies. We can then learn to breathe, to sing, to walk, and to carry our bodies more efficiently, maximizing our potentials.
Filled with antioxidant benefits and vitamin E, coconut oil is not only a healthy cooking oil, it is an extraordinary moisturizer. Coconut oil has been a huge fad in recent years, and once you understand the benefits and multiple uses of this incredible natural oil, it’s not difficult to understand why so many people have embraced the oil as their staple moisturizer, cleanser, and even hair conditioner.
For the hair, coconut oil is extremely conditioning and illuminating. To test out this miraculous organic beauty secret on your own - and to get really beautiful hair - try the following routine:
Saturate your hair with coconut oil, keeping in mind that below 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the oil solidifies; you may have to rub the oil between your palms for a few seconds. The oil melts easily through the warmth of your skin. Run your oiled hands through your hair thoroughly and gently roll up your hair in a loose bun (loose to prevent breaking your hair). You may optionally cover your head with a shower cap, if you are worried you will rub your head against anything. Leave this treatment in your hair from 1 to 6 hours. Then, shower and shampoo / condition as usual, being extra careful to thoroughly shampoo your hair to wash out the excess oil. When your hair is dried, you should notice that your mane is extra fluffy, soft, luminous and possibly even more voluminous (results vary for everyone).
Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!
Most women in America spend hundreds of dollars per year on facial creams, hoping to stall the inevitable process of aging. While many factory-produced creams are clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and all the other goodies that come with age, studies show that many natural oils - applied to face in their pure, natural, unaltered form - deliver just as good, if not better, results. Many people are discouraged with using natural oils because they try either the wrong oil, which is not suitable for their particular complexion; or, they use too much oil per application, which can cause break-outs. With most oils, 3 to 5 drops of oil are enough to cover the entire face.
Ideally, you want the oil to absorb quickly, so you do not want to over indulge in the application. If your face feels very oily after about 5 minutes, you have probably used too much oil. If you have very dry skin, sometimes a "treatment" for the face is helpful, where you would use a little too much oil, every few days. However, if you have oily skin, then you have to be careful, and use the oils sparingly, to avoid breakouts.
Some of the most popular oils to try if you have dry to very dry skin are olive oil, avocado oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, almond oil and jojoba oil.
Some well-rated oils to try if you have normal to oily skin are argan oil, coconut oil, maracuja oil, almond oil and jojoba oil.
You can get most oils on Amazon or even at your local grocery store. The key is to purchase oils that are organic (so that the plants and seeds from which they are extracted are not treated with toxic pesticides) and I also believe it’s our responsibility to purchase from eco-friendly brands that promote fair trade and humane, animal-friendly practices.
The best way to choose which oil is the right one for you (I personally use several different oils and I enjoy switching it up to reap the benefits of each of my favorite oils), is to study the particular benefits of the oils available.
Here is a wonderful website that describes the uses of many carrier oils, including notes on what skin types the oils are appropriate for:
http://www.gardenofwisdom.com/carrieroils.html
This company also lets you buy a set of three sample oils to try, so you can purchase a small amount of oil to test out before committing to a larger bottle. Keep in mind, when buying facial oil, a 1-ounce bottle will last a very long time, since only 3 to 5 drops are used per facial application!
Please leave comments below to start a discussion on your favorite facial oils. Follow this blog to keep up to date with various natural beauty and healthy lifestyle tips and reviews. This blog is meant to be a helpful tool for people who are looking to switch to natural cosmetics, but who don't know where to start. I post reviews and articles about products that have worked well for me personally. Hopefully these articles are helpful to my readers, in helping them choose makeup and skincare that are toxin-free and all-natural!
