Blissful Babe: A simple meditation ritual to reduce stress, anxiety & overwhelm

“It’s not selfish to take care of yourself. It’s the best way to take care of everyone else who counts on you.”

Life can be such a rollercoaster, right? Especially as a mom, sometimes it feels like things are going well and you finally get things down and then bam. All of a sudden, you’re anxious, worried, stressed over something else. And now, just as quickly as celebrity tabloids, all of your focus goes to the next thing.

This is why things on my blog have changed so much, I love sharing what I learn as I move through the realities of navigating life as a mom, business owner, creative, podcaster, etc. It is incredibly draining to have a full life. A few months ago, I began obsessively reading about health and wellness from my favorite guru, Kimberly Snyder. In her book, The Beauty Detox Power, I learned a lot about why so much of us hold on to fat, attract disease and sickness, etc. It’s that a lot of our daily habits in life cause our bodies cortisol levels to spike and tell our body to hold onto fat & other bad stuff.

HABITS THAT SPIKE YOUR CORTISOL:

Not getting enough sleep

Scrolling through social media

Societal comparison

Clutter in your home, purse, office, car

Toxic relationships

Lack of clarity on desires

There are so many everyday habits that are stressors in our lives and affect our overall wellbeing in a very negative way. The last thing we want is for our cortisol to spike. (Hint: even something small like putting flowers on your desk or eating on a gorgeous plate can help to lower your cortisol and keep you zen)

In the book, Kimberly teaches how you can regain the power and control over our health and wellness by focusing on your inner energy centers aka our Chakras. These seven inner energy centers receive, process and express your vital life energy. So, when your chakras are out of balance and alignment, its easier for our everyday stressors & toxic habits to take us out and launch us into moments of anxiety, overwhelm, depression, etc. All the things we are working so hard to get out of our lives. P.S. If you are trying to lose weight, don’t begin with a stressful diet and harsh exercise regimen, focus on lowering your stress, calming your mind and balancing your chakras. Then naturally, weight will fall off more easily when you do apply a healthy eating approach and exercise routine.

I began working on my chakras years ago but when I learned all the facets of chakra balancing and how to incorporate it with meditation, it really made such a shift in my life. So much so, that I created an entire jewelry collection dedicated to chakras and meditation. Each bracelet has a specific affirmation and stone that I use to meditate with. The affirmations help to remind me to stay calm, stay balanced and mindful. So when my mind begins running and creating 437329 scenarios…I can easily let them go, feel calm and get present. It especially helps to keep you centered when anxiety, doubt and worry begins to creep in. I wear them everyday so I have a constant reminder of the calm I want to create for my wellbeing.

A BREAK DOWN OF YOUR CHAKRAS

Take a look at this chart so you can see perhaps which chakras are blocked or unbalanced.

If you want to focus more on a specific chakra, get clear on what you need to let go of or what you need to implement, wear the crystals that coordinate with the chakra energy and repeat the affirmation/mantra that goes along with that specific chakra. On days when I really need it, I just work on all of them from Root to Crown.
Here is what the CHAKRA GLAMOUR collection looks like all together.

AN EASY TO DO CALMING, GROUNDING and CENTERING CHAKRA MEDITATION:

Okay, so here is how you do it. Side note, with a little one, meditation is always something I have to really focus on working in. So I have found this to really work with my active mom lifestyle.

1. I put on each bracelet, starting at the root chakra because this one is at the base of your spine. Imagine the color of each individual chakra ( I use the bracelets as reference ) and just imagine the light filling me up from within.

2. I say the affirmation for that specific chakra, over and over until I can feel that expression as my inner truth.

3. If this brings you to tears or you feel a resistance, it’s a sign that you need to slow down, accept your feelings. Being present with your feelings and not making yourself wrong for feeling them is all you need to do to achieve balance. Keep focusing on each chakra until you get up to the crown.

4. After doing this everyday for about a week, things should begin to change. You’ll have more confidence, be more at peace and probably have way lower cortisol levels. You will also become more in alignment with your life and start manifesting some really cool stuff.

Have you ever meditated? Do you have any tips or tricks? Feel free to share them with me in the comments below. I love learning more.
You’ll definitely have to stay tuned on the podcast, Bliss Vibes Only because I will be sharing more like this.

Blissful Babe: 7 day detox formula and why you should try it

“Big life changes can crack open our heart and unleash higher levels of growth and love, if we open ourselves up to it” - Kimberly Snyder

One thing I know for sure… when you make the decision to elevate your life and reach for your highest potential, it requires you to shed a layer of your self, let go of old ways of doing things. In order to see big changes, we must be willing to make bigger changes. A new, stronger, more empowered version of you will arise as you release old, out dated habits.

During my recent life reinvention, I noticed I was feeling a little disconnected from my self and my intuitive senses. I needed some clarity in several different areas. While I usually feel very capable of making confident decisions, something just felt off. When I’m feeling disconnected from myself and the world around me, I always know that a sluggish system is likely the culprit so a wellness cleanse is a must. So, I instantly felt like “I need a whole body cleanse, stat!” It’s like a re-boot to your whole life system and something that can actually be more fulfilling and nurturing than a shopping spree or weekend getaway with the girls. If you are feeling the need for a pick me up or just a shift, a good week detox is your ticket.

I’m a big Kimberly Snyder fan and I love her approach to wellness, health and spirituality. “A week long detox is an effective and highly efficient way to cleanse our systems of toxins, practice self-care from the inside out, and de-clutter our lives from all of the habits that weigh us down”. This is about progress, not perfection. It’s about slowing down, paying attention to exactly what we are putting into our bodies and observing how it makes us feel so that we can reconnect with ourselves. So, if you are feeling disconnected from yourself, others or the world around you, I highly suggest de-cluttering and detoxing your system, it will help to not only release any pent up emotions but it will also give you a lighter sense of self and bring you clarity where you really need it.

As a mama, I am always trying to fill our home with healthy, nutrient rich foods that satisfy and make our bodies feel good. So a detox is a good way to step it up and help give your kitchen a good de-cluttering and cleanse it of all heavy, dense energy. When you curate a kitchen of beautiful foods, a beautiful feeling body will follow. I try not to focus on what is eliminated but on getting creative with how I can fill up my body with beautiful, fresh, nourishing foods.

In our home, we are slowly trying to cut way back on sugar. Not only because its incredibly bad for you but also because we want to make sure we feed our baby fresh, healthy foods and all natural sugars only. It’s too bad most everything you find at a grocery store has an obscene amount of sugar. Forget calories, sugar is a killer. Make sure you pay attention to everything and I mean everything (even siracha).

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BENEFITS of a 7-DAY DETOX

• Improved skin and complexion

• Clear mind for less stress and more peaceful thinking

• Reduces inflammation in the body and its triggers

• Increased energy levels

• Improved Mental and Emotional Health

• Lessen allergic reactions like eczema, psoriasis, etc.

• Speeds up metabolism and flushes out digestion system

• Increases happiness

• Resolved headaches, muscle aches and fatigue

• Increases the bodies absorption of vitamins and nutrients

• Increases fertility

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HOW TO DETOX PROPERLY:

On the days when I detox, I really like to do intermittent fasting. Which is basically giving your digestion system a break for a long period of time. I allow myself to eat between the hours of 11am-8pm and thats it. You can do what works best for you. However, sometimes I am hungry when I first wake up, especially if I am not having coffee, so a healthy breakfast is required. P.S. I highly suggest grabbing yourself some beautiful dishes like these pink bowls to eat on, it makes eating mindfully easy, fun and glamorous.

BREAKFAST IDEAS:
– Green smoothie (banana, spinach, almond milk, fresh nut butter, strawberries)
– Berries on Greek Yogurt and granola
– Gluten-free steel cut oats with blueberries and cinnamon
– Avocado toast on grain-free crackers
– Avocado and tomato salad with balsamic vinegar
– Breakfast bowl (smoothie topped with unseated coconut flakes, hemp seeds, fresh fruit)
– Macrobiotic rice cereal breakfast (did you know brown rice for breakfast is a fat burner?)

LUNCH/DINNER IDEAS:
– Steamed veggies over brown rice
– Hummus and vegetables
– Baked sweet potato
– Roasted cauliflower (bite sized pieces, toss with olive oil + sea salt, roast 30 min on 375
– Veggie stir fry
– Tomatoes and avocado and black beans
– Mixed green salad with avocado. (tofu, chickpeas or other beans are great addition for protein)
– Pho soup with tofu & veggies

SNACK IDEAS:
– Vegan protein shake
– Veggie chips and hummus
– Apple and peanut butter

HABITS & RITUALS:

– Journal every morning and/or night. Reflect and check in with how you are feeling.
– Find an accountability partner to check in with, it’s so helpful to do this with someone else.
– Create a Pinterest board with healthy recipes and ideas to inspire your wellness week.
– Do hair masks, face masks and take all of your vitamins.
– Dry brush your skin & take warm baths with epsom salt soaks.
– Meditate and rest.
– Get moving. Exercise and do workouts at home.
– Hydrate yourself by drinking over 64 oz of water a day.

A SIMPLE REMINDER.

In addition to filling up your body with nourishing foods, I want to remind you how important it is to nourish your mind at the same time. The relationship with have with ourselves and the way that we eat stems from our emotional state. The more we give grace to ourselves and love our body as it is, the easier the detox will be for you. Remember that you are wonderful, beautiful, special and deserving of a luxurious detox experience. Treat yourself like you are at a 5 star resort. Take your time to prepare foods so that the experience of eating feels like an Italian adventure. Eat slowly and connect with your food. Treat yourself by spending the extra money on organic, fresh foods. When you tell your body and the universe that you are worthy of the best, you become it. You begin to feed yourself with foods that enhance and uplift your life, not weigh you down.

Speak to yourself in beautiful words. Here are a few affirmations I suggest you say during your detox (especially when you’re feeling the need for cheese or wine) :

I am smart and capable of doing incredible things.
Life is a wonderful playground filled with opportunities.

I have clarity and know exactly what I want.
I love taking care of my body.
Money is fun and easy.
I can do hard things, I am made for this.
My future is bigger than my past.
I am rising to my full potential.
Each day is amazing.
It’s okay to fail.
I love learning and growing.

PREPARATION FOR A BLISSFUL 7-DAY DETOX:

1. Remove any and all temptations from your fridge or pantry. We removed cereals and chips.

2. Prepare for your Detox week by meal planning and shopping: brown rice, fresh and/or frozen veggies (especially kale, spinach, avocados, sweet potato, cauliflower, zucchini, frozen fruit, black beans, lemon, herbal tea, mixed raw nuts, veggie stock for soups, apples, nut butters, gluten-free whole grains, hummus.) I also like to keep apple cider vinegar, a Master Cleanse mix (lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup mixed in water) and Braggs aminos for flavoring up all of your veggies.

3. Plan for a coffee replacement. I am addicted to coffee, so I need a bit of energy so I keep my morning pink drink on hand. I also keep an endless supply of LaCroix or Topo Chico on hand.

4. Upgrade your blender to ensure you can make as many meals as possible. Green smoothies and juices are so helpful. You will want to make sure all of your means include vegetables and/or lots of the color green.

5. To help curb cravings, keep nuts and nut butters readily available.

6. Schedule your self-care: journal, tongue scraper, bath supplies, facial routine, dry skin brush, exercise, massage.

7. Prepare to hydrate yourself. I have become obsessed with my hydroflask. It is always full and ready to go.

8. Make sure your baths and showers are very hot to help release toxins from the body. Just be sure to hydrate.

9. See if you can find a friend to do it with you, its’s always more fun with a partner.

10. Wash your sheets and make your bedroom cozy. You will need to get plenty of sleep.

Be sure to download the PDF below so you can have a quick reference to your Detox Formula.

Good luck, beauty! Love, Ashlina