Happy Friday friends! I am off to Charleston w/ my parents for 3 nights a little later today! So excited to flee this cold weather for a few days and get a little sunshine. I don’t know what is happening but this week was truly weird, weather-wise. Snow, rain, extreme cold… we saw it all!
I digress. We have a bunch of things to talk about this week!
Palo Santo. Is anyone else obsessed? As far as fragrances go it is one of my all time favorite smells. Tata Harper sent me a few pieces in a Christmas gift this year – that was the first time I had ever burnt it in my home. It was a funny, nostalgic feeling as I lit it – I quickly realized how familiar the scent is because a) they burn it in so many yoga + meditation classes and b) it is in so many of my favorite beauty products. Seriously, so many…. and products I’ve been using for YEARS! It’s in my favorite natural shower gel, my favorite natural deodorant, and probably most prominently: the best (also natural) body oil ever. I have a hard time describing the scent. It’s really clean + slightly minty and just smells good. The sticks on their own smell amazing (I keep mine in my lingerie drawer) and when you burn them they smell so good.
Burning Palo Santo can help to cleanse the energy of a space, so if I’ve had a bad day or am feeling stressed I will light a stick… or if something bad happens (a breakup, a work crisis) I will burn it to reset. Who knows if it actually does anything but it’s a nice little ritual! The best way to burn them is to light a candle, then light the stick using the candle… allow it to burn with the flame for 30 seconds or so, and then blow it out and let it smoke. I was buying the sticks at a crystal store in Williamsburg but then Joanna alerted me to the fact that you can buy them in bulk on Etsy which is so much less expensive!
Kundalini Yoga. OMG have you guys tried it? This was my something new this week and I am laughing out loud as I write this because I took a class yesterday (Thursday) morning and was in for a massive surprise. I took the class at my usual studio and didn’t really pay attention as all of their classes are usually the same. This was not what I am used to. So much chanting, several different meditations… it was really weird and probably a bit too woo woo for me. We did this meditation/chant where we waved our arms above our heads to clear out our energy/aura and I was absolutely MISERABLE doing it. Like, I actually felt slightly angry which is soooo not the point of the class. What had I signed up for? But you know what? As miserable as I was during the class (and also annoyed as it was not a workout), I felt amazing afterward. So whatever we did, it worked. I was in a good mood all day and much less stressed out. Not sure if I’d go back as a “work out” but maybe I’d swap it in for meditation?
Social Media free weekends. Okay this is definitely not realistic for EVERY weekend, but I have been trying to take at least one weekend off a month from social media, or at least from Instagram. I’m hoping to do that this weekend while I’m in Charleston. It makes such a difference and I always feel so much more recharged and free of brain fog when I log back in the following Monday.
Being nicer – to myself. I have a friend staying with me this week and he remarked over how self-critical I can be. Yikes. This happens a lot – whether talking about myself, or my work. It made me more cognizant of the behavior. I say nasty stuff about myself all the time without even realizing it!!! So I’m trying to be more mindful of my words and stop that. I like the idea of setting an intention every week and this week’s intention is going to be to be a little nicer and forgiving with myself, to be better at accepting compliments and to try my best to silence the inner critic.
This Week’s Workouts!
Friday – rest
Saturday – 90 min Get up and Flow class at Equinox
Sunday – rest
Monday – Sky Ting Yoga
Tuesday – 30 min treadmill workout + long stretch.
Wednesday – 45 minute treadmill workout + long stretch after.
Thursday – Kundalini Yoga at Sky Ting (so not a workout but c’est la vie).
This Week’s Healthy Links!
- These smoothies sound so healthy and yummy… and also look really beautiful. Maybe I’ll start serving mine in stemless wine glasses!
- Yike s – this natural sugar substitute actually isn’t very good for you!
- I can’t wait to make this healthy salmon recipe… yum!
- I suffer decision fatigue big time but didn’t know it was even a “thing” til I read this post. Here’s how to manage it!
- Planning to read this over the weekend: a map to total wellness.
I know what you mean about being too self-critical. I am too! It’s great that your friends have told you that and brought it to your attention. You deserve to go easy on yourself! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Thanks Charmaine! Happy Friday!
These are some of my favorite posts! I am also palo santo obsessed, and this was a great reminder to crack it back out again. 🙂 Have a great weekend in Charleston! I was just there at the beginning of the month and had such a nice time.
xo,
Em
http://www.organicallyemily.com
Thanks Em! Have a great weekend!!
Love this type of post! I can also be very critical of myself and need to calm tfd and love myself!
Maria Eugenia ☀
http://www.thegirlonanisland.com
https://www.thegirlonanisland.com/2018/04/the-gingham-dress.html
Thanks Maria! Have a great weekend and yes, calm tfd! 😉 xoxo
You just reminded me how much I love palo santo—that Etsy listing you linked is such a good deal! 🙂 And yes, kundalini is definitely more spiritual rather than a workout. A while ago, I remember trying kundalini chanting at home and it felt super weird and I couldn’t help wondering if my neighbors could hear. They probably thought I had joined a cult or was hosting some sort of seance. But it did feel really good afterward so no regrets! Haha.
briana | youngsophisticate.com
Hahahaha that is hilarious! Yes the chanting was a lot but I felt great after!
My five year old is obsessed with Palo Santo after smelling it at our neighbor’s house. She want to buy it for me for Mother’s Day and can I please get her some soap that smells like it “because I’m too little for fire” Thanks for the inexpensive etsy link – if you have a source for preschooler-priced Palo Santo soap, please share!
Have a great trip!
That is both adorable and hilarious!!!! I will let you know if I find anything 😉
I’m not even sure if I’ve ever smelled Palo Santo before..I’m sure I must have at some point along the way. Great job on keeping up with your workouts and practicing self-kindness. I often feel like I struggle with that, myself. This week, I tried Pure Barre because I’m testing out Class Pass. I know that place has a cult following, but I absolutely hated it. Definitely a good, toning workout, but if you have any sort of joint problems, this is not the class for you. That being said, I felt really good afterwards and I’m definitely sore from holding and pulsing on certain poses. Will probably not return, though.
Pure Barre is TOUGH!!!! Gets really great results but not at all enjoyable – in my opinion!
Haha dying over what you said about Kundalini. I kind of had that reaction too after my first Kundalini at Sky Ting. Although in LA i’ve taken it a few times at Nine Treasures with Tej and it is DEFINITELY an experience. I’m still undecided but I want to try again because I’ve heard it can take a few sessions to reap the full benefits. Impressed with your meditation/ exercise routine regardless! x
Thank you so much 🙂
I have practiced kundalini yoga for over 10yrs. You can get quite a work out depending on which Kriya you practice. A Kriya is a series of postures, breath, & mantras that wirk toward a specific outcome. Some kriyas are more meditative; others are very active with posture that maybe held for 3-5 minutes or longer. Try doing 54 leg raises, frog’s 54 times, or squats. I find it very healing. If you Google Kriya/3HO Foundation you will find there are hundreds of kriyas/meditations addressing various mental, physical, spiritual issue.
Sat nam!
Thanks Fannie! Have a great weekend.
Kundalini yoga…too funny, when I saw that in your heading I laughed and immediately scrolled down to see what you wrote! The front desk person couldn’t really describe what I was getting into but I was game. So the class that I took didn’t have as much chanting but the first pose we did was down dog and we remained in down dog and walked around the perimeter of the room and from there everything was, let’s just say, different! It was hard but I felt so amazing afterward!
Oh my god that sounds soooo hard!
Tried an old Maya Fiennes Kundalini DVD. Chanting moving I was energized for days. I consider it meditation in motion. It seems to be “rewiring” me. In a good way.
That’s a great way to look at it!
Tried an old Maya Fiennes Kundalini DVD. Chanting moving I was energized for days. I consider it meditation in motion. It seems to be “rewiring” me. In a good way.
With all due respect I would like to simply point out that yoga of ANY type was never meant as a physical workout for staying in shape. Whether it’s Hatha Yoga or Kundalini yoga that came from Yogi Bhajan, the purpose of the asanas is energetic and spiritual purification of ones own body. Woo woo? Mantras is a form to fill yoga. Meditation another yoga. There are different yogas.
Kundalini Yoga is the best! I dare you to try 5 more classes. Keep up!
Great article!
Thank you!