Mindfulness

Mindfulness and Writing

Have you ever noticed that you feel pretty zen after writing? When you write, it’s like you’re in the “zone” layering the elements of a scene into your story. Dialogue, characters, setting and theme are all being poured onto the page in front of you. You’re so focused on what you’re creating that the worries of real life aren’t able to pester you. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to focus on writing through all of the chatter going on in our minds.

Mindfulness, simply put, is the practice of purposefully paying attention without judgment. By immersing yourself in the present, you can quiet your mind and learn quite a bit about your own habits and thoughts. Here’s how practicing mindfulness can help you focus, release your fears and write. Continue reading “Mindfulness and Writing” →

Alternative Medicine

Essential Oils for Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common health issues that everyone faces. With triggers like stress, allergies, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, poor diet, and poor posture, it’s hardly surprising that no one can really say they’ve never experienced some kind of headache. Pain killers are relatively inexpensive and most of us don’t think twice about taking Advil or Ibuprofen to get through the day, but what we don’t often think about is the negative side effects from frequently taking these pain killers such as kidney and liver damage. Continue reading “Essential Oils for Headaches” →

Alternative Medicine

So, What Is Acupuncture?

Around 10% of the world’s population has a fear of needles. Being a member of that 10%, I have to admit the idea of acupuncture seemed like some kind of twisted joke to me. Who would want to be stuck with more than one of those awful needles? And people enjoy this? Turns out, most of what I knew about acupuncture was made up of common misconceptions of the practice. Turns out, the needles used for acupuncture are incredibly small and the benefits are huge. Continue reading “So, What Is Acupuncture?” →

Yoga

Ten Yoga Stretches for the Workplace

 

It’s no surprise that sitting at a desk for eight hours a day isn’t healthy. We try to get up and walk around the office every few hours or set our computer monitors up on books to decrease neck strain, but in most cases we still suffer from the aches and pains that come with desk jobs. If you’re struggling with issues such as back and shoulder pain, tight hips or “tech neck” check out these 10 awesome yoga poses you can do at your desk. Continue reading “Ten Yoga Stretches for the Workplace” →

Yoga

Go Deep With Yin Yoga

Meditation is all about being still, but that can be tough if you find the seated pose uncomfortable. If you’re having trouble sitting comfortably for the length of your meditation, you might want to check out Yin Yoga. This style of yoga is designed to help you sit longer and more comfortably when you’re meditating. It is made up of deep, passive stretches that are held for longer periods of time. Continue reading “Go Deep With Yin Yoga” →

Yoga

Wonderfully Wacky Yoga

Since yoga came to the western world, it has seen hundreds of different styles and modifications. While a basic Hatha yoga class will never fail in helping you get healthy and calming your mind, sometimes it’s even more beneficial to switch things up. This might mean trying out a different instructor’s class, jumping from Hatha to a Vinyasa class, or maybe something a little more…out there. If you’re looking to break out of your routine, would you give any of these wacky yoga classes a try? Continue reading “Wonderfully Wacky Yoga” →

Alternative Medicine, Beauty, Healthy Eating

The Benefits of Using Coconut Oil

It seems like we can’t talk about any sort of health or home issue without hearing how coconut oil can fix it. From squeaky doors and rust covered tools to teeth whitening and acne scars, everything has some sort of “cure” to be found in coconut oil. So, are the benefits of coconut oil really as awesome as everyone says? Or is this another case of “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is?” Continue reading “The Benefits of Using Coconut Oil” →