Allow me to introduce you (or re-introduce if you’re already aware of the magic of what this is) to shinrin-yoku. Say it out loud, it even feels relaxing rolling off of the tongue. (Shin-rin yo-koo). Shinrin Yoku is a centuries old Japanese modality that involves being present-minded in nature, noticing the colors, sights, sounds, and energy around you when you’re in the forest. It’s been proven to improve your sleep-wake cycle, reduce stress, strengthen the immune system, and improve cardiovascular, and respiratory functioning. In fact, forest bathing is prescribed in Japan as a preventative measure, by doctors. I’ve had the…
Hey y’all! I hope you all are still staying safe, and mindfully practicing social distancing. It’s so important for us to try and keep each other safe during this time, and right now, the best practice for that is to keep our distance, lovingly. In the mean time, while we’re at home or experiencing nature in a safe way, one thing we can do while at home is to strengthen our immunity through a health diet, and movement. Part of my health regimen is Ayurvedic, and ancient herbs. I’d love to share some of my favorites here with you. Please,…
During times like these, it’s so important to create space for ourselves. Whether that’s mental space, or physical space, it’s important to create a sanctuary. We all need a place where we can retreat to when things get rough, or a place where we can create routines, and rituals in. That’s why I designed my “zarea,” or zen area, in the basement of my home. Using a few purchases from Amazon, but mostly repurposing decor that I had in my bachelorette pad, I created a space where I can meditate, do my Bible studies, and study for wellness coaching. Create…
The weather is heating up pretty much everywhere, and while our cabin fever is at full FOMO because of the stay at home orders all across the country, there is a way to bring a little bit of outside in. Have you ever thought about starting an indoor plant jungle? While this may seem like the hobby you remember your aunties, and grandmas engaging in when you were little — just know they were definitely on to something. Taking care of an indoor plant could be the most mindful thing you do. While caring for them, you’re compelled to be…
My therapist once told me, “If you talked to your friends like you talk to yourself, you wouldn’t have any.” It stuck with me so much at the time, because I couldn’t help but to engage in negative self-talk. You see, I used to be a type-A perfectionist. I mean, from making a mistake in an assignment for work, to forgetting to water some plants, feeling “too” “emotional” about seemingly superfluous things, the smallest things, my thoughts would be, “so stupid, why did you do that, get it together Angel, WTF,” and worst. My therapist, let’s call her Ms. L…
It seems like social media has a new buzzy word every time you look up, right? From “yolo,” to “on fleek,” to “vibez,” we’re always catching on to something, and spreading it faster than wild fire. One buzz I’m happy to see is here, and I hope doesn’t go anywhere? The trend of committing to “self-care.” While indulgent baths, and quiet-time have been around for literally centuries, the idea of lounging, being helpfully introspective, and mindful have thankfully finally crept in the American psyche. Because you see, a mentor from India once told me, that countries internationally are so quick…
Looking for a place (when outside opens up), that can indulge your every wellness, and self-care need, nestled in a town that’s dedicated to that as well? This place is bliss. And while we can’t travel anywhere for the foreseeable future, we can dream, right? Take a tour of this gorgeous oasis of wellness, and nature. My husband and I spent a few nights here during our amazing, wellness-filled, honeymoon in Bali. This place, is the literal embodiment of vacation dreams. Garden of Eden. Heaven. Nestled in Indonesia’s island of Bali is the Hanging Gardens Ubud. A gorgeous 38…
My husband and I went to Bali “The Island of the Gods”, Indonesia for our honeymoon. It was a glorious vacation, full of wellness, immense natural beauty, and life lessons. The Balinese people are deeply spiritual. The majority religion is Hindu, and there are about 26,000 temples on the island. They take the time to honor their ancestors, and their Gods in everything they do, every part of their culture harkens back to the love and sovereignty in their religion. One such amazingly kind, spiritual, and wonderful person that we met was our travel guide, Arta Wayan. He exuded positive,…
By this time, we’ve all been socially distancing for a month, more for some (I’m a low key germaphobe so, I’ve been in since I got back from my honeymoon at the end of February). We’ve all been doing our best to stay busy, stay fit, and hopefully, stay mindful. And while we all have so much gratitude for this present moment, the ability to slow down, bask in the energy of our family and pets, practice a little self-care, sometimes, we all have those moments where we just need some extra peace, a little escapism. Let me help you.…
Welcome to 420 folks! I’m sure y’all didn’t anticipate celebrating this “holiday” inside, but is there a more safe place to consume than home? While cannabis has long been stigmatized as a drug that creates unnecessary laziness, slothfulness, and gateway to depravity (lol), that characterization is dropping about as fast as states can legalize the flower. To me? It’s from the earth, and as long as it’s responsibly, and legally consumed, I see no reason to denigrate people who enjoy it’s wellness properties. Imagine, such a beautifully grown (yet unfortunately and lately oft commodified) plant that when consumed, can offer medicinal…
Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring, Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d, Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me, Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined, The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer.…
In times like these, when the world is justifiably full of angst, anger, anxiety, and confusion over the Covid-19 pandemic, a bit of peace is needed. The truth is, the virus is either coming to where you live, or it’s there. All we can do is follow the CDC’s recommended guidelines for trying to mitigate this disaster, and keep it from effecting you, and those you love. The BEST away to avoid getting sick is — you guessed, to avoid being exposed to the virus in the first place, and come on guys, wash your hands. And while it’s a…
When I just up and moved to Illinois, a lot of people had a lot of questions about my choices. While my base for quite some time was D.C. and Maryland, after my mom passed away in August 2015, it no longer felt like home. Everything reminded me of her and the experiences we’d had, and while that may seem comforting to some, if you’ve ever lost your mom you know that it’s necessary to escape those memories for awhile, because they hurt you in a place you can’t reach. Realizing her laugh, warmth, wisdom and comfort are no longer…
It’s been a loooong time since I’ve written here, and in between, life has done a 360 for me. I got engaged, and married to the love of my life, I suffered through a bout of panic attacks, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I got through the former with wellness, I went back to school for wellness — and decided to craft a new journalism career based off of this. Whew! run-on sentence but you know, I wanted to visually express the mouthful that my life has been since I last posted here. I honestly contemplated whether writing and journalism was…
Do you ever feel like crap when you hop off of a flight? All that energy you mustered to get your shit together that morning (or evening) went out the window like that? Ever feel like you’ve been licking cotton balls and have sand for spit once you land? What about feeling all stiff and cramped once you finally stretch to disembark? Yeah, that’s jetlag, muscle cramping, and the dehydration that flying inevitably causes. Thanks to my mama’s constitution and bodily composition, unless something all-natural is happening to me, my body is pretty much high maintenance. I can hike, and…
Rolling up to it, I was almost afraid, it’s iconic beauty blazing in the southwest sun. I timidly rolled down my window, nervous with excitement, and took in the sweet, sweet smell of clay earth that surrounded me. Wild horses, amber red terra firma, indigenous Navajo people buzzing about, riding horses at full gallop beside Route 64. This was a childhood dream of mine, seeing this alien landscape. I was here, it was my birthday, and this, was Monument Valley. Formed millions of years ago by rushing water meandering and carving the rocks along this portion of the Colorado Plateau,…
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or have purposefully decided to ignore the political and social upheaval that our current administration has caused by creating some terribly questionable enforcement of their zero tolerance immigration policy, then you don’t know that the Trump’s U.S. Immigration Policy is resulting in the separation of immigrant children from their parents at the U.S./Mexico border. These sweet, innocent babies who’ve been wrenched from the hands of those parents, who obviously risked bringing them to the United States for the chance of a better life and upward mobility, are being put in what pretty much…
Oh Canada, we Americans have yet another reason to be jealous of you – besides your great healthcare, level headed-leader, and poutine fries. But the beautiful, bucolic, hundreds of thousands of hiking trails you have are awe inspiring, and take the cake. Lucky for us yankees, at least we’re on the same continent as you. For this edition of Take the Hike, I present to you – the Bay of Fundy. The trail, located in New Brunswick, Canada takes you through primordial forests, wet lands, heights 820 feet above sea level and of course through the gorgeous Bay of Fundy. You’ll be…
Summer is here, which means sundresses, flip flops, and boozy day parties. But are you tired of the same old neighborhood bars and stuffed up after-work happy hours? Those day parties at the same old spots can get, well, old. It’s 2018, why not take your happy hour international, and grab some libations from one of these bucolic bars around the world. If turquoise seas and white sand doesn’t inspire your wanderlust, I’m sure exotic cocktails unique to these locals will. Check them out. Rick’s Cafe – Negril, Jamaica Drinks, a magical, incandescent sunset, and the best cliff diving in…
Honestly, I’ve been wanderlusting after a trip to New Zealand, ever since I became a hiking obsessed, part-time granola, which has been, pretty much, forever. My lust reached a fever pitch just now, when I happened to be looking for hotels for a little island getaway, and Pounamu Apartments in Queenstown dipped across my screen. Imagine, apartments that you can rent, that are spacious, with floor to ceiling windows, overlooking New Zealand’s bucolic majesty, with a fully stocked and loaded kitchen that you can cook in (the cooking part might not sound like a vacation to some, but for meeee?…
