Do Just What You Need

Being self-sacrificing is not noble, it is wasteful.
In time, you will waste away to someone you do not even realize.
You will forget who you were, what you like, what you did…
before you started giving everything to everyone else!

Am I saying you should do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it?
No.
I'm saying, you must tune in to you, and do just what you need.

You do not need to spend money on frivolous things. You need to listen.

Simple, healthy, happy 

If there is one thing yoga has taught me, it is to listen, to myself and also to others.
When you first start listening to yourself, you might hear a lot of noise.
If you do, it's probably because you haven't listened to yourself in a long while!

When all of that is sifted out, you will hear what you really need.
It's probably not what you think.
I really, truly, and willing to bet you will be surprised.

Wanna  know what my soul needed today?
It's not a winning lottery ticket, or a vacation, or a new house…

It's hot water with an orange slice in an attractive mug.
Yep, kid you not!

So guess what? I took five minutes to make that.
Is it decadent? No.
Does it feel like a treat? Yes.
Do I deserve it? Absolutely!
Do I need it? Actually, yes! We all need more water.

If I hadn't really listened - I would have gone for chocolate, or something more decadent.
Maybe I would have thought I needed more clothes, or more music… or something.
But I know I need nice water. And a happy slice of citrus - I'd like my hydration with some sunshine, please.

What do you need? What will soothe your soul? What makes you feel nourished, loved, and cared for?
Listen carefully.

Turquois in the Middle of Winter White

It's been a long winter, hasn't it? My gosh. I don't mind the cold, normally. But waking up to negative temperatures day after day has been... well, negative. This past week, I've found myself resenting winter so much, I'm silently vowing to never wear white during the spring and summer seasons. Clearly, who wants to wear white after they've spent three or four months living in an oasis of it? The blahs abound. I find myself frequently writing posts for Namaste about Ayurvedic ways to reclaim energy in this season that seems to freeze us into total stillness. The inspiration is purely environmental!

A new "environmental inspiration" came via my mailbox today. My friend Jessica, who owns this exciting shop called Nouriche Boutique, sent me a special treat to try! I had never heard of t.s.pink Bath Whip before, but I am now quite grateful to my friend for having made the introduction!

As I study Ayurveda, I've gained interest in abhyanga, which is a method of oil massage that is used to bathe the skin, encourage circulation and bring a general sense of balance to the body and mind. I use a light sesame oil before I shower, and though I cannot claim to spend the full, recommended 20 minutes pre-shower, I do make sure I hit the most Sahara-esque areas (heels, knees, elbows and hands!) and it really does help! My hands are not as dry as they have been in previous winters, and we all know this is a harder winter than we have had in a while!

Still, the Vata that I am will always deal with dry skin. My thoughtful husband gave me a jar of O'Keffs Working Hands Hand Cream, from his store, and it is helping too. But the thing my practical man doesn't quite understand is that I love when a product brings you an experience. You know what I mean, right? The color, the texture, the scent... all cause your endless stream of thoughts to suspend for a little while as you take it all in.

THAT's what happened when I tried Turquoise Bath Whip! Whew! This is an experience! It has a wonderful scent that had me thinking of warm weather, water and a mineral spa. The texture is light and smooth, the color serene. The ingredients list begins as this: "Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Almond Oil, Organic Aloe Juice..." There is nothing in the list I cannot define. That is really cool! Plus, the oils bring me back to my original intent in studying abhyanga: protecting my skin instead of stripping it as soap does.

The directions for use are as follows: "Scoop just a few small fingerfuls of your nutrient-rich Bathing Cream™ and go crazy. Work yourself up into a later and then cream yourself clean." In short, massage! So I did. The more you work this product into your skin, the more luxurious the lather becomes. SO, this actually accomplishes another goal of abhyanga, right in the shower. Being a multi-tasking mama, this has serious appeal.

No tight skin post shower either! I hope you can try this product. I owe Jessica a great big Thank You for introducing me!