Self Care

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I am sure many of you have heard that we write or pursue things that are difficult for us. Yes, self care and nurturing myself is really hard for me. Like many people, especially women, I put others needs first before tending to mine. And guess what happens after some time…. You find a crabby version of me because without my bucket being full, I will eventually fall apart and = family and child being crabby as well. So, you can see that it is not the least helpful.

I am working on ways to nurture me. Here are some of the things that fill my bucket and I use Essential Oils to support me through that.

  1. Meditation: It is such an important grounding tool for me. I find such solace in sitting in empty space. These days, even if I don’t have time to sit, I find moments in my day to do that.
    mediateBlog Frankincense EO has been used for centuries to support mediation practices. Frank, as we affectionately call it is by far my favorite essential oils. It is so calming and yet rejuvenating. Before sitting for meditation, apply a couple of drops to your temples, brain stem and wrists.And even if you don’t have a meditation practice, I will invite you to find a few minutes in your day to sit and just focus on breathing and use Frank as a way to support you. Being with your thoughts and feelings even if difficult can serve in the long run.
  2. Mindfulness Practice : Becoming aware of my thoughts and feelings is an integral part of my day. I guess that is where my therapy training and experience for over two decades comes in handy. When I give words to what and why I am feeling the way I am, it somehow eases everything that is happening.The oil that I use to support me through is Surrender. As I become aware of what is happening, I consciously surrender that to the divine, to the universe or the elements or whatever resonates in that moment.
    SurrenderEOBlog Surrender EO is a soothing blend of seven EO’s designed to release stress and become emotionally balanced. It also facilitates surrendering of things which we can’t control (which is everything right?) I jokingly call myself a ‘recovering control freak’. I like controlling everything and often fall flat on my face as there are so many things outside my control. Surrender often helps me remember that especially when I am struggling with life.

    Again, you don’t need to be an expert in any of these practices. My invitation to you is to just pay attention when you are triggered by something and send some loving kindness to the parts of you that are triggered and gently inquire ‘what is happening right now?’ Use Surrender to help get clarity and release it.

  3. Reading and Journaling: The most favorite spot in my house is my bedroom. It is always so inviting, safe and comfortable, eases any tension that I have. It is my sacred space. At the end of the day, my favorite task is to spend a few minutes reading ( I still like reading real books, it is lovely feeling paper in my hand) and / or journaling. It helps unwind from the day. It also helps me see what was going on in the day, any changes I need to make in my life, it is basically a time for self reflection.
    journaling blog
    We often diffuse calming oils like Lavender, Stress Away etc to unwind from the day. It is also a time for my husband and I to reflect on our day and to connect. These days, our lives are so full with so many things that it has been hard for us to connect. So, I am grateful even if we can get a few minutes to connect and reflect.
    Long winded way of saying, make sure you have time to reflect on your day.
  4. Gratitude: When I am feeling unhappy or feel bad about things, I lean on Gratitude. Having gratitude almost instantaneously snaps me out of ‘misery’. It is a beautiful way to be thankful and grateful for what life has given. When we focus on gratitude, we open ourselves to receiving more of life’s gifts and things flow better when our heart and mind are open.
    And of course, Gary Young has formulated an oil for that. I am so grateful that he has done that. Gratitude It is sweet blend of eight different oils formulated to foster gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation.

    There is so much more that I can say about Self Care, but I will leave you with these last words for now….My hope for any of your reading this is that you will look at any difficult circumstance or people in your life as messengers who are here to help you look at yourself so you can be the best human that you can possible be.

    Please share in the comments below how you do practice self care so that others can learn from that.

    Love and Blessings to all of you.

Immune System Boosters

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So, Fall is here and Winter is fast approaching. In our household, that means time to make sure that our check list of Immune Boosters are checked off when the time comes to use them. So, here are some of the things that I keep handy at all times.

  1. Elderberry Syrup : It is known for its immune boosting properties. I like to make my own using this recipe but if you don’t have time or are not inclined to make it, you can buy it from Gaia Herbs.
  2. Fire Cider: I first heard of this from my midwife friend Kara Schamel. She offered it to me once and I loved it. So, I started making my own following this recipe. Though, I do modify it a little as I can’t tolerate jalapenos. Instead, I add lots of peppercorns. I made the current batch that I am using in the beginning of Spring this year. Now, I have it all wonderfully infused.
  3. Vit D: Most people are deficient in Vit D. For my family, I make sure that we get our dose of Vit D everyday especially in the winter months. I like Natural Health Vit D Drops. And I also like Biotics Research. (I don’t make any profit by linking it to Amazon, these are just brands that I have used and liked)
  4. Essential Oils: There are a number of EO that help with boosting the immune system but there are a few that are my go to. I make an Immune Boosting Roll on using Thieves EO, Purification EO and Lemon EO. I just add 10 drops of each with 20 drops of sweet almond oil in a glass roll on bottle. It is totally portable

Immune Booster Roll on 5. Chiropractic Work: People usually think of Chiropractic work only for muscular skeletal related issues. The low impact of Axial Stability Method is a wonderful way to support the body’s natural ability to heal. I often visit my chiropractor when I am starting to come down with something and it nips it in the bud.

6. Vit C: Good quality Vit C can be highly beneficial in the winter months to boost immunity. I like the company Pure Synergy. Again, I don’t paid for sharing these products, I just want to have some leads for anyone reading this blog.

7. Rest and Water:  Rest and drinking water can help anyone recover. Never underestimate the power of rest. I often do some visualization of complete health and wellbeing and send gratitude to my body for functioning so efficiently. I feel that when someone falls sick, it is the body and mind’s way of saying slow down.

So, equip your home with these supportive items and be at peace during the winter months.

Fall

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When I stepped out of the house today to drop my son off at school, I could smell Fall in the air. Having grown up in India and having spent most of my adult life in San Francisco, I never experienced the different seasons till we moved to New England. I have learned to appreciate the four seasons here, with each feeling like the beginning of a new chapter.

Fall, to me represents an internal slowing down amidst the business of life. Most people get very busy in the Fall with school, work etc. It is also a time for reflection, not like the deep reflection that happens in Winter, but the kind where you start to look at your goals, what you want to do your life. At least that is what I am currently doing.

Personally, I love Fall. It is so beautiful, it is cool after the hot summer. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE summer, but there is something magical about Fall. I am excited to share this Fall with my son. Last year he was too young. I can’t wait to show him the leaves as they turn color. There is so much happening and yet there is the beginnings of stillness simultaneously as we approach winter.

This Fall, I am excited to try this recipe that I found. I am planning on making this for the participants at the  ‘Make & Take ‘ Class that I am hosting next week. Pumpkin-Creamer

 

It has all the flavors that symbolize Fall for me.  Cinnamon Bark is one of those yummy smelling oils & it is so good for you. It supports the circulatory system, boosts immunity, muscular skeletal system, oral health and much more.

Everyone knows about Clove. Clove EO is a wonderful support of oral health, builds immunity and has a high antioxidant component to it.  Love the smell of Clove.

Ginger and Indian probably go hand in hand. Ginger EO is often used for soothing, comforting and balancing the digestive system.

If you do happen to try this recipe before I do, please do tell me about your experience….Happy Fall where ever you are.

Gathering

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As my quest to form a community and connect people of similar interests towards health and wellbeing continues, I have been teaching at least one or two classes a month. This week, I taught a class on Monday night for an organization that I belong to called Holistic Moms Network.

One common theme I heard from most of the participants in my classes is how they often don’t feel like they have choices when dealing with supporting the wellbeing of their families. Having EO’s and oil infused products gives people that very option.

Sitting with the small group of moms made me think about how isolated we are, especially as parents. It made me long for a sisterhood of moms and a place where we can share our joys, frustration, concerns and most importantly, lean on each other for support and wisdom.

Teaching these classes has given me a great venue for doing just that. I love bringing people together where we can share our wisdom, support each other through difficulties and celebrate our successes specifically in the realm of healing and feeling empowered. Gathering a tribe of like minded people who can support each other is fun.

It reminds me of this wonderful blend that YL makes called “Gathering”. It is a blend of Galbanum, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Geranium, Cinnamon Bark, Rose Otto, Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Spruce. It is very soothing for the chaos and stress that we deal with everyday. It helps gather our emotional and spiritual forces so that we can achieve a greater unity of purpose. It creates harmony in the body, mind and soul by releasing negative patterns and bringing in new ones.

Gathering EO

I apply Gathering on my wrists every day setting an intention of gathering my emotional and spiritual selves to be in alignment to focus it towards my higher purpose.

I love sharing my love of oils with people to support them on this path to optimal wellness. I feel very grateful for the women who attended and shared in my class on Monday night. Blessings to you all in your journey to wellness and joy.

Giving & Gratitude

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I did not think I would write another blog today, but feel moved to do so. This blog actually has nothing to do with Essential Oils. This is about the crisis happening in Syria. We went to a candle light vigil hosted by our local Facebook mom’s group to honor Syrian Refugee Children. It was moving and touching to see so many families gathering there to support our fellow humans.

Vigil4Syria

It is times like these that breaks my heart. As a parent, I can’t help but imagine how these parents might be feeling. I want to do anything and everything to protect my child and I am sure those parents might have tried doing that too. This time on Earth is calling for all of us to take a stand in doing our part to end violence and poverty, in protecting the innocent – whether they are children, animals, other fellow humans or our environment.

It is easy to get caught in the despair that we are all probably collectively feeling. But it is also important to remember that there are so many people working to make a change, to make a difference right at this very moment that you are reading this. So, please have your voice heard even if it feels tiny. These tiny drops fill the ocean. Please contribute generously to whatever cause you believe in.

If you feel moved by what is happening in Syria, please contribute to Donations can be made to the Karam Foundation, http://www.karamfoundation.org/donate/

Please also sign the petition to resettle Syrian refugees in the US: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/authorize-and-resettle-syrian-refugees-us

Lastly, I wanted to write about Gratitude. Gratitude is heart opening. It brings in Divine Grace. I am grateful for Julia Prange Wallerce for organizing this event today. I am grateful for have this bubble of safety for my child and my family. I invite you to take a moment and pick one thing that you are grateful for. And if you can, please do send a blessing to all those who have not been so fortunate.

Sending blessings and peace to those whose basic needs are not being met at this time. #Vigil4Syrians