5 Ways to Treat Yourself Better Update

Here I am, a couple weeks in to my journey of self love, and happy to report I am willfully trying!  

I am not doing Zen yoga, and to be frank, few parts of my life, outside of the 10 minutes of "Abayanga-like moisturizing" I do daily, are zen like.  I love to hike though.  I am, in fact, the co-founder of a women's hiking group on Facebook.  I know that doesn't count on my pedometer.  We just share our intel, gear, and experience, and hopefully empower other women to get out and hike too.  You might call it "Free the Tata's" meets "Free Life Coaching".  Feel free to send an invite and I can add you to the group.  It's called "Women of The Dirt".. and you dont even have to join the hike.

Here's a link:  Women of the Dirt Facebook Group

Not hiking much in the winter in Idaho though, you say.  At least I have Zumba!  I love to go to my local Zumba class.  The class is free, because a couple of nice ladies organize it for the community.  You just can't object to dancing like nobody's watching on the church gym floor.  "If you build it, they will come," is really working here.  

I use this yoga mat cleaner recipe to clean my equipment, door handles, and the like.

DIY Yoga Mat Cleaner 

Winter Sports Injuries Series - Knees

Lets talk about our knees. Living in a snow sports paradise, I see a lot of knee injuries, probably the most common injury I hear about. If you are plagued with knee arthritis, massage therapy has been shown to help.   

The knees are pretty bony, and bony areas tend to have less blood flow. Even light massage will increase the blood flow in any given area, and this is especially important when you are trying to facilitate the repair of any injury. Blood carries in it the construction workers that can remodel your broken parts. Here's a video with a few massage techniques to use before you head out on your daily adventures.

Knee Massage Techniques Video - Click HERE

A study conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami showed a significant improvement in knee function in women who got massage for 6 weeks. They reported 3 months later that they still felt better too. Maybe they continued with self massage after the study ended.

If you have any ligament or tendon damage, I suggest adding some lemongrass, wintergreen, and marjoram essential oils to your massage too. AromaTouch smells better than those oils and has marjoram, cypress, and peppermint in it too. If you can only afford one oil, I'd get this one. If you are looking to really target your knee injury or the arthritis from it, read the testimonial in this link. There's an easy recipe for an essential oil blend to induce healing. You can get all of the oils in my DoTERRA shop. Find the link at the top of the page!

Getting Relief From a Torn Meniscus

5 Ways to Treat Yourself in 2016

5 Ways to Treat Yourself Better in 2016

I read this blog a year ago and thought it was a good idea.  I put my spin on it for 2016 and I'm sharing it with you this year.  Maybe you will give it a try too:

Number 1:  Practice Abayanga  

That means I give myself a massage... okay.  This is easy!  Later this week I'm going to share a body butter recipe I'm using.

Number 2:  Take a YIN YOGA class

Well, my spin on that is much more yang.  I can do yin at home, to a video, thanks, but no thanks.  I do like a nice walk, even a long hike! I love my local Zumba class though.  That's more my speed.  

Number 3:  Put on a Face Mask and Chill....

...by all means. This is kind of easy too.  Watch for my recommendations for the best facial products!  Later this month!

Number 4:Go to Bed Early and Read.  

If I don't go to bed early to read it wouldn't happen.  Check back in February to see what I'm reading and if I recommend you read it!

Number 5:  Grab a Cookbook, and make a healthy meal.

I'd like to take this a bit further and try to make something, using a technique, or ingredients I have never used.  Maybe it means we should learn something new; how to play golf or do the NYT Sunday Crossword.  Or, a harmonica, perhaps.  Stay tuned!

Here's the article, written a year ago.

5 Ways to Treat Yourself Better