Five Quick Tips for Using Essential Oils in your Fitness Routine

Essential oils are beneficial in so many areas. Why not incorporate them into your fitness routine, as well? It doesn't matter which brand you use as long as they are reputable and you trust that the oils are quality oils. With that said, here are five quick tips for using oils before, during and after your workouts: 

TIP 1:  To help get you in the mood to exercise, use a bright, uplifting or energizing essential oil such as lemon, sweet orange or sweet basil. Diffuse it or, for a quick burst, simply open a bottle and breathe in the aroma.

TIP 2:  For a mid-workout boost when you’re sagging, try a whiff of refreshing peppermint oil or spritz peppermint blend mist into your airspace.

TIP 3:  To freshen and cleanse your hard-worked feet, combine six drops of tea tree oil in one to three ounces (2 to 6 tbsp.) of water, and spray on. 

TIP 4:  For reducing gym bag odors, apply 5 drops each of lemon, lime, and sweet orange essential oil on a cotton pad and toss it in your bag. < I use this solution for my camping gear!

TIP 5:  To soothe and relax those well-used muscles, massage them with clary sage mixed in a carrier oil, such as jojoba, sweet almond or grapeseed oil (6 drops clary sage to 2 tbsp. carrier oil). Black Pepper is also a great essential oil for this purpose.

Essentials oils are a natural way to slide into your routine! 

Be well, 

--Kim

Clarifying Your Hair the Natural Way!

Wow...it's been a while since I have written a blog post but I just haven't been doing any blending that is out of the ordinary until today. A few weeks ago I was getting my hair cut/colored and one of the ladies in the salon had just ordered clarifying shampoo because she said she put product in her hair every day and needed a good clarifying shampoo. Well, I'm in the "straight mode" right now so I use a product that gives me "lazer straight" hair. I have straight hair with a little wave so this product really gives me that sleek, really straight look. 

I have been noticing lately that my hair was starting to look just straight and flat with no real volume on my "hair off days". What I mean by that is that I wash my hair and let it air dry to keep from using heat on it every day. Since I work from home, I can put it in a ponytail the next day and I'm still good. This helps me keep my hair healthy. 

Since we have all heard that it is a good thing to switch up shampoos or that it is good to use a clarifying shampoo I was thinking that the purpose of clarifying is to not use anything that is chemical on my hair to clarify it. Even the clarifying shampoos probably have something in them. 

So, I searched online and found a great recipe for both the "wash" and the "rinse" part of my hair routine. I found a wonderful recipe and an equally wonderful website from my search. The site is called MindBodyGreen.com. Here is the recipe for DIY shampoo and rinse...inexpensive and easy to use!!! 

DIY Baking Soda Shampoo

I also followed the vinegar rinse recipe. I used 1/2 cup of white vinegar to 2 cups of water. Now here is where my added touch comes into play. I blended rosemary, lavender and peppermint together to add to the vinegar rinse and oh, it was so refreshing and amazing!!! 

Here is my recipe blend: 

20 drops Rosemary
12 drops Lavender
8   drops Peppermint

I added it to the vinegar/water mixture and rinsed my hair with it. The writer of this blog indicates she uses them but I didn't read that part until after I started writing the blog, I just read that she uses essential oils

I remember when I was studying for my aromatherapy certificate that rosemary is supposed to be good for thinning hair and it is widely used in hair care. Lavender is a given, it's good for EVERYTHING (in my book). I chose peppermint as the final oil to blend for several reasons, the smell, it's good for headaches and it left my scalp feeling very tingly and my hair still smells so fresh! 

Anyway, I am very pleased with the results. I have full, thick looking hair again! This will be added to my one a week hair routine now. 

Be well, 
--Kim