Gwyneth Paltrow has been catching a lot of flack lately for her lifestyle blog Goop, which seeks to “nourish the inner aspect.” I guess that because 1) she’s an actress, not a health expert, and 2) a lot of her suggestions involve alternative healing, people assume that’s she’s kooky and doesn’t know what she’s talking about, especially when she discusses her various detoxes. Granted, she has always had a sort of ice-queen, holier-than-thou unapproachability, so I guess now that she’s reaching out to the masses people aren’t willing to take her seriously. But actually, I like a lot of her advice and suggestions, and I think she’s her own billboard. I love this picture of her. She’s natural, fresh-faced, toned and glowing, with shiny, fantastic hair. And if her celebrity manages to clue in more people to the power of alternative health methods, then all the better. Goop on, Gwyneth.
As I continue on my journey toward better holistic health and wellness, I have been implementing small changes. Here are some of the recent steps I have taken:
- Quitting my high-stress job: I just resigned from a job that was making me miserable. It’s scary to quit a job in this economy, but the minimal pay and benefits paired with the intense workload were just too much. I’m now on the hunt for a low-stress part-time job that will leave me enough free time to pursue my real interests and passions, so that I can really live my life instead of just working through it.
- Working toward becoming a certified yoga instructor: I have an appointment next week with a studio that offers Yoga Alliance certified teacher training. Once I have the part-time job to pay the bills, I can use the spare time to pursue my dream of becoming a yoga instructor. Most studios have very regimented schedules for teacher training, so I’m grateful to have found one that is both flexible and offers a lot of one-on-one training.
- New vitamins: In addition to the doctor recommended Vitamin D supplement that I take, I have also started taking two new vitamins. Both are from Garden of Life’s Vitamin Code Line; one is a multivitamin for women, and the other is a B-12 supplement. I like this particular line because it is vegan, raw(!), and gluten-free. I just started taking them, so it will probably be a few months before I can tell how well they work.
- No prescription medication: After several years, I am finally off all prescription medications. This means that there are no antibiotics or hormones messing with my system. I’m all-natural!
- Rebounding: I finally invested in my One Lucky Duck rebounder! Rebounding is one of the most fun forms of exercise, and it elevates your heart rate really quickly. It’s also good for you on a cellular level. According to One Lucky Duck, “By combining the forces of acceleration and deceleration, body cells are tricked into believing they are being subjected to increased gravity, which challenges your body’s cells to strengthen.”
- Meditation: Meditation has never come easily to me, but it’s my goal to develop a twice daily meditation routine. Ideally I would like to do it first thing in the morning and right before bed at night. In order to facilitate this, I’ve requested a couple of meditation CDs from the library; I’m hoping to use these guided meditations as a jumping off point to self practice.
- Reading: As I prepare to have more free time on my hands, I’m stocking up on a variety of health books. Right now I’m working on Kathy Freston’s Quantum Wellness and Quantum Wellness Cleanse, as well as Alejandro Junger’s Clean.
- Saving up for detox processes: I don’t have a lot of disposable income at the moment, but I’m hoping that once I start working again I’ll be able to set aside some money each month for massages and colonics, both of which are useful detox tools. Massages always make me feel great, and are a nice way to release toxins. Colonics usually make me feel pretty crummy, which is a sign that a lot of toxicity has been released. I don’t enjoy feeling bad, but I do enjoy the idea that I’m cleansing myself on a deep, internal level.
As I’m sure you know, I’m a fan of natural body care. The skin is the body’s biggest organ, so whatever you put on your outside eventually gets absorbed inside. With that in mind, I try to avoid coating myself in chemicals: parabens, glycols, sulfates, etc. On the flip side, I love the spa-like feeling you get from body lotions and oils, bubble baths, face masks and more. So I’m always on the hunt for organic, natural products. Here are three that I’m into right now.
- RMS Beauty Lip and Skin balm. I just purchased this in the vanilla flavor, and so far I really like it. It hydrates and smoothes, and can help erase fine lines when used on the skin. It also smells and tastes yummy.
- RMS Beauty Living Luminizer. I haven’t tried this yet (it’s been sold out!), but I like the description: “Instantly ads life to the face, a must have product. This formula is the ultimate illuminator to create a healthy, sheer, glowing look to the skin. Best of all, it enhances the skins natural youthfulness without being sticky, greasy or glittery.” It’s definitely on my must-try list.
- Frangipani Organic Bronze Shimmering Oil. Delicious tropical scent? Check. Hydrating oil that gives you a sexy, bronze glow? Check. On sale? Check. Count me in.
One Lucky Duck raw chocolate crispies + a sprinkling of raw cacao nibs + rice milk = yummiest vegan breakfast ever. It’s probably even tastier if you replace the rice milk with raw vanilla hemp milk. Yum!
I’ve mentioned Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe before. Based in a suburb of Atlanta, it’s a primarily online company that offers all things vegan: beaked goods, shoes, purses, shirts, vitamins, jerky, soap, shampoo…it’s a pretty good one-stop-shop if you like your products to be cruelty-free.
The fun doesn’t stop there. In addition to being socially-conscious, the products are also completely adorable. I have my eye on three things: two stickers and a shirt. Check out the cuteness:
Want.