Birch Trees & Your Skin

December 18, 2014

SKIN CARE for the WINTER!!!

I'm fresh off the trail from my now - since a foot of snow has fallen this week - daily x-country ski workout. On the trail today, as I was cutting new tracks in the soft, dry fresh snow, I thought about my skin….and yours!! So please enjoy my midday musings and some seasonal health tips for caring for your skin in the cold of Winter.

What do birch trees and your skin have in common?

At first thought probably nothing…
Today I skied past a beautiful old silver birch tree. It was tall and graceful and majestic….and healthy.
I marveled in awe as my path crossed beneath its arching boughs. The outer, older layers of bark curled back onto themselves revealing newer, thinner, more tender bark below. It reminded me of skin.

And I thought, THIS would make a great blog topic!!!

So here goes:
Your skin has seven layers - each connects energetically to one of the seven types of tissues in your body (blood, plasma, muscle, fat, bone, nerve, reproductive). As new skin is formed in the deeper layers, the older, superficial skin - aged by exposure to sun, wind, cold, lotions, creams and even the fabric of your clothes - sloughs, peels, cracks and finally falls off.

We want this natural process of natural regeneration to progress in an unimpeded manner.

BUT this does not always happen. In fact, the way many of us conduct our modern lives, we block the regeneration process rather than enhance it. Eat the wrong foods for your body type, or eat for reasons other than hunger, or eat at the wrong times will age your skin. Applying copious amounts of chemicals in lotions & creams to your skin or chapstick to your lips several times a day, will clog your skin, from the deepest most formative layer (new bark) to the superficial layer (old peeling bark).

What does this imply?
When the foods we consume are processed and the lotions we rub on are commercial ("natural" skin products with any type of preservative falls into this category), the quality of the new skin will be diminished…less supple, less porous, less healthy….because the essential elements were not of the highest possible quality.

We know that skin is a barrier from the harsh elements…and it is! But skin is also a major player in your respiratory system. It is the largest organ in your body. Skin directly conveys the external environment to the internal organs. Ever see someone who made your skin crawl or your hair stand up or made you shiver? You get my drift.

But more importantly,  skin is a huge conductor for universal consciousness. When skin is clogged you'll pick up less of earth's electromagnetic frequencies and you'll feel even more disconnected from nature, from your surroundings, from your beloved peeps and from life in general.
Just like when you have a cold (and I can teach you how to avoid colds & flu in my Cold Buster online course) and are all clogged up, when you use skin care products that are not of the highest organic quality, there will definitely be a down side.


All this wisdom from a birch tree!!
Yes, indeed. When I go outside into nature, I know that I will receive a piece of valuable information or hear some intrinsic wisdom…because I am clear and open. Not just open-minded and open-hearted, but because my skin is clear and clean! Every pour of your skin takes in information and gives off energy.

To optimize protection for your skin, toss out ALL of store bought lotions, creams, salves and buy organic unrefined, unpasteurized oils. Sesame avocado oil or ghee is good for thin, cool body types, coconut or sunflower oil is great for hot-blooded active body types and olive or almond oil is great for heavy-set, lethargic body types.

Every morning this Winter - before you go outside - rub copious amounts of oil on to your skin - into every nook & crevice, behind and in your ears and nostrils, on your feet. Allow the oils soak in for 10 minutes (while you meditate - which is supremely excellent for your skin. By reducing stress - your skin will look younger) and then shower and dress. If you have very dry or flakey skin, repeat again at night, before you bathe or shower. There are wonderful Ayurvedic body oils for each body type.
Call me and I will help you find the right one.

When you take deeper care of your skin, you, too, might hear what the birch tress have to say. Perhaps you'l think more about the relationship between your daily habits, the toxicity levels in the environment, and make the connections that I am suggesting here. l hope you'll be inspired to make positive changes.
Imagine a world without toxic chemicals. Imagine your skin glowing, supple and young looking because you stopped using commercial lotions, creams and balms.

Now that's valuable information and great wisdom.
Thank you birch tree.

Want more valuable information on how to feel fantastic, energized, connected and loved?
~ Contact me for a free 15 minutes consult.
 I'll give you one tip to begin your journey today. click here.
~ Check out 2014 iLEAP Wellness Program: click here.
This course will give you all the basics to make the changes you dream of making.

LIES, LIES, LIES…

December 6, 2013

Here's my latest rant!!

I was driving east on route 9  earlier this week and noticed a new billboard for Panera Bread Co.
Pictured front and center is a big meat sandwich (ham or turkey or other). The caption reads (and this is not an exact quote, but when I drive by it again, I will edit this to the exact quote):

"PROTEIN & WHOLE GRAINS 
TO BOOST YOUR ENERGY."

And to this I say: Lies, lies, lies….

Why?




According to Ayurveda, the oldest continuous medical system in the world, dating back over 6,000 years ago, each food has a particular type of energy based on one of the five elements (or combination).
The energy of meat and grains is primarily "earth" energy. This means that when you eat meat and grains these foods provide your body, mind and soul with a condense, grounding energy.

The exact OPPOSITE kind of energy that Panera suggests in this advertisement!!!

Meats and grains take a lot longer to digest than fruits and vegetables, approximately up to six hours if you have slow digestive fire (agni) and up to four hours if you have strong digestive fire. Whether your digestive fire is slow or fast depends on both your constitution (genetics, karma, ancestry) and your condition (lifestyle, diet and exercise) among other things.

In order to feel the boost that Panera brags about, you'll need to drink a big mug of coffee!!

Meats come laden with fat, which is good, because we NEED FATS to live. It is SUGAR that makes you FAT, not fats. Your liver stores excess carbohydrates (grains) as fat, and reconverts them later when you need energy. Many grains contain gluten. Most sandwich bread is made from wheat. When you grind wheat berries into flour and add water - you get dough or batter or paste…depending on the amounts you mix. Flour and water essentially create "glue" in the bowl…and later glue in your gut!!  There is a reason that goo, glue and gluten sound so similar: that which sticks together, sticks together.

If you want to feel LIGHT& ENERGIZED, you''ll want to minimize gluey foods…or avoid them in certain seasons depending on your body type (dosha). There are three classic body types in Ayurveda and they are made from different combinations of the five elements.

Kapha body type is categorized as grounded, rooted and centered when in balance. Heavy, lethargic, dull, static when in excess. Think of the days when you are so tired that you feel "glued to the couch or bed". No energy to get up and do anything. Think of the post thanksgiving period - turkey and stuffing haze, when everyone either lays down for a nap or guzzles more coffee or sugar to feel that buzz.

Think you'll get energy from eating a turkey, ham, beef sandwich…think again!!
The sugars from wheat bread will put you into a mental stupor, and may cause "wheat belly" - inflammation of the small intestine. The lengthy digestive time pulls blood away from your extremities and into the stomach, spleen and intestines. You may want to curl up and have a nap.

So what do I eat when I want to feel energized without caffeine, or sugar or wheat or meat…
fruits, vegetables, fermented foods like miso or sauerkraut….or a great big green drink or smoothie…full of vitamins and minerals…and easy to digest.

So there you have it Panera!!
Take down your billboard and give folks the straight talk!!

If YOU want to THRIVE : Contact Me

If you're READY to make a few small changes in your life, so that you can feel amazing, click here:
iLEAP: Into Life Empowered & Present  Read all about my 2014 iLEAP wellness program.

In just four months, you'll feel younger,
look better and have more energy than ever.
I'll give you the straight talk.
I promise!

Hugs, Lynne