De-Stress - Add a little Yoga to your day

I was strolling along in the internet this morning and something caught my eye.An article about a group of muscles that may control/contribute to feeling stressed. Here is the link for you to read.

.I first took Yoga classes years ago at a health club. Best choice I ever made. I loved it and I started swallowing up all the classes that I could attend and sampled a vast array of instructors and styles. I hung on their words and integrated all of their instruction.

But, for whatever reason, the habit didn't stick with me. Job change, moving my home, gym closed, hard to replicate at home, lost my favorite instructor.....life happens. Odd when you consider how much I truly enjoyed it. Maybe I just never took the time to stop and really ask myself why I liked it and what I truly liked about it.

So recently, I got back to it. Remembering one of the instructors in particular that I had years and years ago. He had a very simple approach. I need simple in my life since I do have a tendency to make it complicated. And alternatively, if it gets to complicated to get to and do, I stop. So simple is good!

He (I wish I could remember his name) was once telling a story of a great yoga master he studied under (Iyengar for those of you who may be interested). He, of course wanted to know what was the most important flow to do for core power. His wise instructor told him to "go and practice Sun Salutations every day. When you get to 20 every day, you will have what you seek".So of all of the vast array of Yoga posses, I chose to focus on the one flow; Sun Salutations and what a great great great way to greet the day.

To me, this instructor was the best I ever had and I'm going to share some of his other simple instruction words with you

1. Yoga is a practice
2. Don't rush the movement
3. Don't force the posture (see number 1)
4. The pose is made in the transition.

Funny when I look at that now, doesn't that match good advice for living our lives and even running a company (or two)? I think so.

So now that I am back into a regular flow of yoga practice, I am more mindful of why and what for me personally. Those actions translate to my daily activities. Oh, and in case you are wondering, I am up to working on practicing 3. I will let you know once I hit 20 but something tells me it will be obvious to others. :)

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Raw Vegan Gluten Free Tabouli and Skin care!? What do they have in common?

OK I'm gonna share my favorite Raw Vegan food that also has two of my favorite ingredients I use in formulating skin care for Tres Spa. I filmed this last year, in fact I filmed it three different times and sometimes, you just have to let go so here it is folks! I hope you enjoy it.

Here are the ingredients for you to experiment with. I am estimating the measurements since I rarely ever use measuring cups or spoons in the kitchen. I need one creative outlet that allows me to compose with reckless abandon! So when I am in the kitchen, I cook with wild abandon. :)

• 1 cup Hemp Seeds - the taste is heady with warm earthy notes. Super rich in nutrients and excellent source of Omega fatty acids. 
• 1 bun of Parsley chopped. You can use cilantro if there is no parsley around but the end resulting taste is very different. From what I understand they are both excellent to support the liver. For all your liver does for you, you want to support it any way you can!
• Onion - Now I like Spring onions ( I know I said yellow in the video but I was holding a bundle of green onions) and I use a bundle of them since they tend to be mild. Red Onion is also an excellent choice but you would only need a tablespoon or three.  Shallots? Okay if you want. 
• Tomatoes! I use a cup or two - I love love love tomatoes. I always have and I crave them!! I remember when I was first diagnosed with Psoriasis - they told me not to eat them. It wasn't until years later when I was reading research that said dig in and eat tomatoes (as well as others). I was so happy! I had cheated all along, but now I didn't need to hide my obsession. :) 
• 1 Lemon - fresh squeezed and oh so nice. Did you know Lemon juice is a metabolic booster? 
• Pepper to taste - use what pepper you want. There's a few to choose from out there so feel free to experiment. 
• Sherpa Salt - just a little. I like to add a bit of mineral rich salt
• ACV! Okay I use a splash or two - depends. But I love Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar and I try to use it whenever and wherever I can. If you are not used to ACV, then go easy at first.  

This is my favorite salad that is also a condiment. I used it as a dip even. Try spreading it on celery stalks! Yumm!!!!

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Tres Spa turns 7 or is that 8?

Once again, Tres Spa's birthday came and went and I totally blew it! I had no announcement and no celebration. No fan fair no cake with glowing candles. It came and went. I don't think I even tweeted it. It got lost in the shuffle of holidays and the final push to the year end.

But once the dust settled and I had a moment to catch my breath I realized I missed Tres Spa's birthday yet again. Then I stopped to count how many years. Then I had to double count and I still got it messed up! You see, there is the date I filed the Corporation and the date I launched the website, and the date I was officially open and selling product, but even before the product I was doing consulting. So how old is Tres Spa really? 8 But if we want to split hairs and say how old is the Products division, then 7.

So Tres Spa, Personal Care in Harmony with Nature is now 7 years old. What an amazing time it has been and I am wonder struck when I think of where it had started and where it is now. But I did not get here all by my lonesome. As a Solopreneur the responsibility and work all falls squarely on your shoulders, but I didn't do it all on my own. So many people contributed in one way or another that I am wonder struck and deeply moved when I replay the reals of time in my memory.

The best way I can describe it is from a recent trip to the ocean. We were watching the sun set and I just became transfixed on the sand when the waves would pull away. You see there was all this activity going on and the rush of the waves as they demanded attention. Even the sudden surge as the waves pulled away from the shore. But there it was this magnificent glorious dance of light and texture at just the right point of push and pull, give and take and surrender. The water would thin and the sand would roll just enough so the light could show the golden brilliance of this endless dance.

Here, let me just show you.

 Enjoy this bit of Harmony in Nature written by my Roger for Tres Spa. 

Thank you for being part of my endless dance!

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How will you begin?

I believe strongly that how you begin anything in life is extremely important. The impact and effect can be felt many moons later. Think about it and you will see it's true. Our very mannerisms and deepest desires steam from how we came into the world. We are propelled forward from the first steps.

So, how do you plan on starting this year? What intention or theme will you be about this year? No need to get all complicated or extreme, keep it simple.

I managed to finish the past year on a positive and I wanted to start the new year with that same momentum. I wanted to set my intention for the New Year and not waist a moment of it.  So while others slept, I woke early and had a cup of coffee and morning snuggles with Bella and Dakota, our two rescue fur babies. I was amazed that they shared cuddle time since Bella is a new family member and still a bit shy. But they decided the pets were worth being so vulnerable.

I did take care of some business as well by attending a couple of calls and even packing up a New Year order. While it was freezing cold, I decided to don my warmest coat and go for my morning power walk. While I walked I thought about what my intention was for the new year. I have a goal, yes one goal since that is all I really need. But what was going to be the theme of the year.

When faced with such thought provoking and soul searching questions, I usually find it best if I take the question outside into nature. I just walk, think, listen, and look. I was nearing the end of my walk and I looked up at what had first seemed like a massive black bird, but when I got close, I realized there were two. They were huddling close for warmth and one was cleaning the others feathers (I missed getting that shot). But here the two of them were side by side at the highest and most exposed branch they could possibly reach.

The image struck me but the message didn't become clear until later. Thant's how it works sometimes.

Being the CEO and Chief Alchemist aka Solopreneur of a nature based personal care company, it's kind of a given that I create products that nurture. I truly love what I do and what I create and I count my blessings every day. I am always honored and I feel abundant gratitude when others find value in what I have created. But, what I am not so good at is in being vulnerable.

Yikes! Just the mere thought of being exposed and vulnerable shakes me to my core. But this year, I am going to try to be a little more vulnerable by being a little (or a lot) more exposed. For the last 7 years I have dragged my feet and found any number of lovely distractions to avoid that horrible two word phrase "Social Media". Shivers to the bone! I was never popular unless you want to count the times I was the end of some mean joke. Haters surrounded me and I was so outcast, the outcast outcasted me. But I can only do so many in person events where I get to actually see and chat with you one on one, so social media is the only way.  I have dipped my toe in it and I have posted but it's more like I sneak the postings out and hope no one noticed. :) I remember when I saw that one of my videos had 30 or more views. I about panicked.  But I have to get used to it, so here I go out on a limb. Wish me luck!

What is your intention for the year ahead?

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The Pirates light at sunset

In my youth, I spent an entire summer photographing sunsets on lake Huron. It was a time I will always treasure. Every day I would rush out with my camera in hand and watch the setting sun. I would watch through the lens as the sun escaped beyond the horizon.  It still captures me to this day. It's kind of fun, and adds a bit of romance to it,  to call it the Pirates light but I still have not seen the green flash. I keep looking.

Recently, I was on a trip to Biloxi for a "Girls Getaway". One night we had dinner at a restaurant right on the beach with a magnificent view of the gulf and the coastline. While it had been a bit stormy, the skies had cleared just enough to catch the setting sun. Every person in the restaurant (including the staff) stopped and watched as the sun set beyond the horizon. We all shared the moment in silence together. We didn't see the Pirates flash but we all shared a moment of gratitude and appreciation to the ending of a beautiful day.

It all made me think of the last day of December and the cusp of the New Year ahead, that magic stroke of midnight where the baton of the future is handed off. So let's all drink a toast to the passing year and  greet the new with all of the hope and excitement we can muster. Celebrate the gifts that the past year brought us and appreciate how they will help us on our journey in the next year.

And every time to see the sun setting, take note, and remember to celebrate the gifts of the day and greet the new with refreshed joy and excitement of the pure potential it holds.

Happy New Year everyone!

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Got dry itchy skin? I can help you with that. Tres Spa talks about Orga...

What to do with your dry itchy skin?

It's the time of year again when I get loads of questions and comments about dry itchy skin. Some seasons just seem to bring it out in us more than others and Winter is just that time of year. There is good reason. The air tends to be dryer in the cooler weather for starters but we tend to help it along with our getting in and out of heated cars, offices, and homes. All those furnaces tend to zap what little moisture may have been lingering in the air.

Some of us who suffer from dry or itchy skin all year (like psoriasis or eczema)know all too well the discomfort you feel when your skin is itchy. All you can think of is how to get relief and of course itching the skin never results in a favorable outcome. Even the temporary relief you may feel is fleeting and only serves to further irritate.

The best ways to combat dryness is by keeping hydrated. Of course you all know hydration starts on the inside so drink plenty of water. But today I want to focus on one ingredient in skin care that can help create relief. One ingredient that can help is Oatmeal.

Why Oatmeal, well you may know it as a super food for your body and eating oatmeal has shown to lower your cholesterol as well as other benefits.  Turns out that some of the chemicals that make up the oat also benefit your skin care. It makes an excellent exfoliate and it can even sooth irritated skin. I don't think you need me to go into the chemistry of it, the part that matters is that it works!

Here are some ways to add oatmeal into your skin care regime:

•      Use a bar of organic handcrafted soap that has oatmeal as an exfoliate. Ditch that bottle and your skin will love you for it. Très Spa has a few that do contain oatmeal: Invigorate, Renew, Sanctuary, and Naked
•          Add finely ground oatmeal (colloidal) to your warm bath. 1/4 of a cup should work and if you want to add a bit of salt and aroma therapy to your bath, try one of the Très Spa bath fizzles.
•          Try adding some ground up oatmeal to your face mask routine (especially beneficial for acne outbreaks). Add a bit to your TrèsSpa mineral face mask.
•          Have a spot that is particularly problematic, try making a poultice with oatmeal, local organic Honey and using Coconut milk as a wetting agent. Apply the mixture to the spot
•          Body scrub with colloidal oatmeal and .... oh wait, I made that one for you already at Très Spa and it's called Old FashionedCountry scrub.
• 
  

Any way you use it, adding oats to your skin care (especially in the winter) can help you achieve soft supple skin and keep the dry itchy skin under control. 




 Tres Spa products are Vegan Friendly, Cruelty free, and eco-responsibly packaged. Shop our website www.tresspa.com or Amazon 

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A fun and quick way to gift yourself this year.

December is the end of the year, obviously, but do you think of it in terms of finishing a full cycle and on the verge of beginning a new one? Perhaps that is why so many celebrations celebrating abundance come at this time of year. I know I like to celebrate the completion of objectives in my life. In fact, the more celebrations the better if you ask me! It means I am getting things done and moving forward.

With all of the Holiday frenzy going on, I think we miss this subtle little achievement.  Wrapping up one year and getting ready to open the New Year. You should celebrate this and not lose sight of all you have accomplished and all you hope for the future.

Here is a fun and simple idea for you, a gift to give yourself.

Take a moment to be still and quiet. a time and a space for you to reflect for just a few moments. Nothing extreme, you don't have to carve out a full hour of meditation (great if you can) this is something we busy folks can do (no matter how busy).

This whole exercise should take you no more than 10 minutes.

1.  Once you found your time and space, think of 3 things you were able to finish this year.
2. Jot them down on a piece of paper.
3. Think of 3 things you would like to do next year (notice I did not say finish or start - just do)
4. Jot them on a separate piece of paper.

The first list is to recognize, celebrate, and let go of the year and what you have accomplished. The second list is what your hopes and wishes are for the year forward.

So now what do you do? 

Roger and I are celebrating the Holidays at home this year so it's just us and our little cat, Dakota. But, we did decorate and put up the traditional tree (of course we did it for Dakota because he loves the tree). So I took my list from this year and rolled it up with a little bow and put it on the tree and I took my list for the year ahead and put in one of my decoration boxes under the tree. As you can see, Dakota is keeping an eye on it! 

On New Years Eve (my favorite Holiday of all!) we try to have a real fire in a fire pit so I will probably burn both lists.After all, there is no need to hang on to the past and I've already set the intention for the New Year so I wont need to read the list again.  

It may seem silly, but I think it is important to celebrate you're achievements and plant the wishes for your future.

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