The Self-Love Challenge - Celebrate February in a New Way!

Ahhh February... the month of lurve. I've always had a fun and light-hearted approach to this month, because for most of my life I've been single, and had single girlfriends by my side to celebrate with. I think that's so beautiful, but I'm ready to take this whole love business to the next level - I'm ready to celebrate myself all month long. Yes, you heard me. I'm going to be celebrating the love I have for myself all February long, and I want you to join me!

If you're reading this, you're probably already aware that self-love is one of the most powerful goals you could ever have. Rather than being some egocentric ploy to spend more time thinking about yourself, making self-love a priority is one of the biggest ways you can serve the world. A person who loves themselves is kind to others, always thinking about how they can best serve the world, and is in a near constant state of joy, which energetically permeates whatever space they're in.

Self-love is a journey. We don't get there overnight. But by inviting subtle processes to mark our intention to love ourselves, we make the big shifts. (I'm pulling wisdom from Gabrielle Bernstein in here)

Therefore, for the month of February, I will be posting small but profound ways that we can create lasting self-love. I'll be posting 7 ideas, once a week. You don't have to do all of the activities I post, they're simply meant to be inspiration for ways you can bring your own self-love practice into being. You can choose to do one self-loving activity a week, or like I'm suggesting, one self-loving activity a day. Feel free to switch it up and add your own ideas into the mix. After all, it's about you!

W E E K   1   -   T H E   M O N T H    O F   S E L F - L  O V E


Day 1 - Practice Yoga at Home

Most of us only do yoga when we go out to a class, but I've recently discovered how incredible it is to practice in your own home. You can do it for as little as or as long as you want (Today I did about 25 minutes), you can do all of your favourite poses, and you have the awareness that you're not doing it because of anyone else. There is no instructor to keep you going, it's just the love you have for yourself and your body that keeps you on the mat. I like to go through some vinyasas and cat curls, and then see what else my body is feeling. If you're not familiar with yoga poses yet, check out Yoga Journal's free online sets or sign up for a free 15 day trial of YogaGlo for full online classes!

Day 2 - Clear Your Home With Incense

Natural Incense has potent medicinal + spiritual qualities if directed with intention. Go out and get yourself some good quality incense that you love the smell of. Then light it in your office, bedroom or bathroom and say aloud "Thank you Incense for clearing my home, and charging it with loving vibrations. May the spirit of this tradition permeate my home, and cause love to fill every corner of my space". 

Day 3 - Treat Yourself to a Sunset

Everyone knows sunsets are beautiful, but few of us realize the true implications that a sunset can have. The colours, which tend to be orange, red, pink, and purple-ish, relax and give power to our lower chakras. This helps to ground you, allows you to feel more sensual and open, and prepares you for a relaxing night's sleep. Make sure to get outside (no windows!) for sunset, to reap the maximum benefit. If you want to go even further with this, meditate with Doreen Virtue and her 'Sunset Inner Peace Meditation'.

Day 4 - Buy Yourself the Perfect Crystal

Crystals are magical. Anytime I even look at mine I feel a sense of love and mystical connection that helps me to feel grounded and joyful. Today, go to your local crystal / new age store and say this prayer  "Inner guide, please clear my field and help to find the perfect crystal for me. Specifically I am looking for a crystal that helps me to feel more love for myself. Thank you!" - Choose the first one you touch. If you need some more guidance, please read my post on 'How to Choose the Perfect Crystal.'

Day 5 - Start Your Day Off With a Smoothie

Many of us tend to start our days with coffee, which although not bad in and of itself, can have negative effects over time. (Coffee is acidic, stresses the adrenals, dehydrates us, and can cause anxiety) Instead, substitue your usual morning elixer with a superfood smoothie! Depending on what you put in yours, smoothies can be packed with anti-oxidants, fibre, protein, and easy to digest energy that will help to fuel you all day long. To get some ideas for yours, check out Young and Raw's smoothie recipes. (Also, how fun is it to say smoothie? Smoooooothie smewwwwwwwtheeeee)

Day 6 - Have a Colour Therapy Bath

Colour Therapy means to use the vibration of colour to affect your mood or overall disposition. When used frequently (for example, eating green foods because your body tells you to, or wearing purple because it feels right) colour therapy can have a significant effect on your life.

Today, try having a pink colour therapy bath. Simply add a Tbsp or so of beet powder and about a cup of sea salt, and get soaking! Pink corresponds to the heart chakra, and a feeling of overall radiance. Notice how it makes you feel to soak in it :)

Day 7 - Go To Your Favourite Store

It's such a treat for me to go to my favourite crystal + book stores. I go not just to buy, but to soak up the environment of the healing products around me. I can spend hours, literally, going through books, pulling tarot cards, and playing with crystals. I've also met some pretty amazing people this way.

What's your favourite shop? Perhaps a vintage boutique or a cupcake store? Maybe an outdoor adventure spot or a cozy cafe with books for sale? Today, visit it just because! Enjoy your time there and make an experience of it.

Are you ready for your self-loving month? Please comment below if you have any other ideas or questions on how to luuuuuurv yourself completely!

Why I Cried in Yoga Class

Recently I've been on a yoga kick. I've been going to classes almost every day, and for the first time in my life, am completely STOKED on exercising daily.

I'm not surprised that yoga was the activity to do it for me. Yoga is a practice that is much more spiritual + energetic in nature than it first lets on - anybody who's been to a few classes knows this well.

In yoga, we are asked to focus all our attention + breath in the present moment, intending our inhales and exhales to be deep, and permeate our whole being, not just our lungs. We're routinely instructed to "breathe into it" and "follow our breath" while in class.

But what's really happening is we are breathing in life force, and focusing it throughout our physical and energetic bodies; bringing much needed prana to move stagnant, old, energy up and out of our bodies.

This gently, yet firmly, encourages our energetic pathways (nadis) and chakras to open. At first, we may feel resistance, as before we get to the space of openness, we must go through the walls we've built up around that openness. Limiting thoughts, beliefs, even our hopes and dreams, are stored within the place just before our freedom. And, like I said, in order to reach that space of freedom, we must traverse the so called darkness that we've stored around it.

And that's why I cried in yoga. 

The other night, about 15 minutes before the end of practice, emotion overwhelmed me, and all of a sudden, tears were pouring down my face. It felt amazing. Highly emotional, yes, but a complete release. I was in that wall of limitations, releasing it, breath by breath, tear by tear. On the outside, it had to do with my boyfriend, and letting go of attachment - but that was just the trigger. It went so much deeper. I was on my way to a place of freedom and creative expression, and I had yoga to thank.

So next time you go to a class, remember, that whenever you experience a moment of resistance or pain, be it physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, you are really tapping onto something so much greater and deeper. The resistance means you are touching a wall, a wall of suppression that if you can get through, will lead you to freedom.

Ask yourself -

Can I breathe through it, and allow it to be healed? 
Can I just relax my heart, and let it go?

Freedom is on the other side.

And believe me, you want freedom more than you want attention, cute clothes, or that guy. 

You want it with every cell of your being. So get breathing!


Namaste lovers!
xo Beth

Top Detox Tips for a Rejuvinating New Year

The holidays were awesome this year. No doubt about that. Family gatherings, snowy walks, flights to the ocean, dinners out with the fam, and lots of wonderful presents made for a rather enjoyable two weeks.

But if your holidays were anything like mine, you may feel a teensy bit depleted after all that activity and heavy food.

Chlorella is a powerful detoxifier. 

I'm used to eating all organic, meditating daily, and getting at least 15 minutes of exercise in every day. This routine keeps me healthy and feeling centred. When you’re visiting family, however, it’s not exactly possible to have full control over the menu and the day's activities. Inevitably I had to relinquish control and just go with the flow - I ended up eating processed sugar, missing my daily meditations, and having a fair dose of non-organic food. The result? Many pimples, low energy, lower moods than usual, and a not so subtle message from the body that sounds something like this: “OMG.. detox.. now.. DETOX!”

So now that it's January 2nd, and the last of the holiday feasts are over, it's time to detox. And I’m STOKED! I am such a huge fan of taking care of myself. It is the best feeling ever to feel clear, grounded, centred, inspired, and full of energy.

For those who are joining me on this health fiesta, I'm sharing my top detox tips.

My Top Detox Tips:

Oil Pulling

Oil puling is the act of swishing high quality oil (sunflower and sesame are recommended) in your mouth, first thing in the morning, for 20 minutes. The process draws out toxins from your body, through your mouth, and can help with a variety of health conditions. I started oil pulling before the holidays, and noticed my skin cleared up after just a few days. To read a full article on the how-tos and benefits, please click here.

Yoga & Exercise

There is no doubt about it - exercise is an absolutely necessary component of any detox regime. It serves to move and unblock any stagnant energy in your system, while releasing any excess energy. Yoga is especially great for this, as it was designed to unblock and stimulate the energy meridians in your body, leaving you with a clear head, and a detoxed physique.

Lemon Water

Hydration is incredibly important for the detox process. Adding in some lemon to the mix will boost it's effectiveness. Lemon is a natural detoxifier (remember your mom making hot honey and lemon water when you were sick?) and it also is extremely alkalizing when it enters the body. Having a slightly alkaline pH of the blood is key to maintaing health, and preventing a host of diseases, like cancer. To read up on Kris Carr's version of the alkaline/acid balance, click here.

Chlorella

Chlorella is a green algae that can be taken in powder or pill form. It's a powerful blood purifier, detoxifier, energy booster, and is extremely high in chlorophyll, which among other things, has a profound anti-aging effect. If you buy the pill form, just eat it straight. If you go for the powder, you can add it to your smoothies, or simply in a glass of water. Chlorella is available at most heath food stores - When you're buying, look for an organic brand with a cracked cell wall (which heightens your bodies ability to absorb the nutrients). To read more about chlorella, click here.

Salt Water Baths 

Salt Water baths are extremely detoxing, not to mention relaxing, and completely all about self-love. Pour in a cup of epsom or himalayan salts into your bath, and get soaking! You can also add a large piece of quartz at the end of the bathtub, to help draw away any toxins from your energetic body. I suggest having one at least 2x a week while you're detoxing.

Clean Sources of Protein

In all likelihood, you had your fair share of meat over the holidays. If you're a meat-eater, try switching up your sources of protein over the next few weeks. Most nutritionists are in agreement that meat isn't the healthiest form of protein  -  it's highly acidic, and animal protein is not easily accessible for your body to break down. For your detox, try unconventional protein sources like hemp hearts, organic almonds, bee pollen, goji berries, maca, or sprouts. 

Additional Advice:

I only included the ‘add-ins’ as the traditional detox usually includes getting rid of processed sugar, dairy, meat, alcohol, and caffeine. I also recommend getting rid of pesticides and any unnecessary pharmaceuticals.

If you’re going to engage in a detox, avoid the mentality of “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t” every time a piece of food or drink comes your way. It’s not about feeling restricted, it’s about feeling liberated. What you’re really doing is adding in so much good stuff, that there isn’t any room for the bad stuff. It also helps to have organic, sugar free treats around for when you want a sweet but can’t have the leftover holiday baking.

As Young and Raw says: "Instead of focusing on all the things to eliminate from your diet, focus on what you're adding in." 

Happy detoxing, and let me know how you’re doing through my facebook page, or through the comments below.