10 Aug
Fitness

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

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5 REASONS TO TAKE YOUR FITNESS OUTSIDE!

Name a gym that’s always open and always free… It’s called outside! Gyms are great because they have equipment that can enhance workouts, some provide luxury spas and access to personal trainers, and overall they’re a great place to connect with people who have similar goals.

With that being said, when gyms shut down this past year it made me realize two things. ONE: I was over dependent on having access to a gym and TWO: I under appreciated the benefits of working out outside. Once I realized that I was taking having access to a “free gym” for granted, I became committed to including outside workouts into my routine. Keep reading to see my top 5 reasons for embracing outdoor fitness!

1. IT’S FREE

We all know how expensive a gym membership can be. Add on extra items like classes or studio passes and you can end up spending anywhere from $40-150 a month! I’m not saying it’s not worth it, but if you’re budgeting and looking to cut costs just remember an outdoor workout has no fees!

2. SPACE

I know the gym is a place for all, but I would be lying if I said I like to share my space with others when I’m working out. I can’t stand a crowded gym, especially now that social distancing is so important. An outdoor workout eliminates that problem. There is no limit on space. You find a space and it’s yours!

3. SCENERY

Have you ever wondered why a treadmill minute is so long? Or why they have to add TV’s to cardio equipment? It’s because it’s boring!! If you’re a visual person like me, you need something to look at to keep your mind occupied while doling dreadful cardio. Scenery provides that visual. Whether it’s trees, a beach, or city streets there’s nothing like the beauty of nature to keep you focused during your routine.

4. CREATIVITY

Okay, so I realize the gym will always be more beneficial when it comes to access to fitness equipment, BUT when you’re outdoors it forces you get creative. Using stairs and benches for strength training, turning trails and sidewalks into your treadmill. Just remember creativity = fun and fun = a more enjoyable workout.

5. CONVENIENCE

We can all find reasons to not workout. “There isn’t enough time”, “I don’t feel like driving through traffic”, “The gym isn’t open during the hours I have available to workout.” When your gym is right outside your door, there are no excuses! You have no other choice but to get it done!

Take advantage of your surroundings! It’s summertime and after being cooped up the last year, we have no excuse not to get outside and get moving! Join me in appreciating outdoor fitness! I will be posting an outdoor jump rope workout on my Youtube and a beach body weight workout on my Pinterest page this week!

06 Aug
Lifestyle

THE ART OF THE STAYCATION

In 2009 the term Staycation was added to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. A combination of the words stay and vacation, they defined it as “a vacation spent at home or nearby.” With travel coming to a halt during the pandemic, staycations were a saving grace for travelers across the world, including myself. I was used to taking a trip whether small or large at least once every three to four months. Unable to board a plane, and stationed in a country 7,000 miles away from my family I began to feel stuck and claustrophobic. So I started to experiment with staycationing. A little over a year later, I now consider myself to be an avid staycationer and I’ve found that there’s definitely a technique to having a successful holistay! Keep reading to see my approach to a successful staycation!

STEP 1: IDENTIFY YOUR WHY.

We all have our own reasons for needing or wanting to take a trip. Knowing what that reason is prior to traveling gives us the opportunity to tailor our experience to our specific needs. Ask yourself why would going on a staycation be beneficial and what is your intention?

I decided to go on my last staycation because I needed a gratitude refresher. I was getting bored and overwhelmed with my daily routine and things that would normally bring me joy were no longer having the same effect. Taking a staycation allowed me to push the pause button on my day-to-day, recharge my battery and come back refreshed able to once again appreciate the small things.

STEP 2: SELECT YOUR DESTINATION WISELY.

The “stay” in Staycation does not mean you have to stay at home, but you also don’t have to leave home. There is flexibility in the term. The idea is to find a location that offers you vibes, convenience, scenery, food selection, access to activities or whatever it is that you deem important during your time off.

For this particular trip I only had two days to unplug and relax, so I focused on finding a place with upscale lodging that didn’t require extensive travel time. I chose the Wyndham Grand because it was a 10 min Uber ride from my flat, and the luxurious rooms offered a view that could set and maintain the vibe I was looking for.

STEP 3: JUST DO IT.

Once you arrive at your destination, the first thing you should do is revisit your reason for taking this staycation. Write down your intentions, take a few minutes to mediate and feel/establish the energy of a different space. After that in the words of Nike “JUST DO IT. ” Whatever it is that you came to do, do that and do it unhindered.

My “JUST DO IT” moment began with putting on my robe! Robes in hotels symbolize relaxation, so I walked into the room, put my robe on and I was immediately in an unplug mindset. I spent the rest of the weekend reading, resting, and eating!

STEP 4: ASK YOURSELF DO YOU FEEL FULFILLED?

So, I think by now you can see the trend of checking in with your intentions. It might seem repetitive, but if you go on a trip for a reason and the trip ends without getting what you needed, then what was the point? When you stay true to your why, then you’re able to accomplish the goal you initially set out to complete, meaning the trip was worthwhile. That is the last step, asking yourself if you feel fulfilled.

Although things are starting to open back up and vacations no longer have to be on hold, I believe staycations are here to stay! Vacations are a form of self-care and so are staycations. Not to mention they require less funds, less time, and less travel. If you have a staycay coming up, try my approach and let me know how it goes!

23 Mar
Lifestyle

Prana Mat

I’m stubborn when it comes to seeking out professional help for pain, which is ironic because I’m a dentist. I really think it’s more about the inconvenience. I hate having to make an appointment, take time out of my busy schedule, wait in a doctors office, etc. But last June, I hurt myself pretty bad. I strained muscles in my shoulder, back, and neck. I workout 5-6 days a week, and while i consider going to the gym and yoga as an investment in my health, those activities also take a toll on the body. My fitness routine had yang and no yin, which is what i believe ultimately led to my injuries. 

Once i was injured all I wanted was to be 100% healthy again, so I began to seek out ways to expedite my healing process. I tried acupuncture, dry needling, massage therapy, cupping, and acupressure. While I can talk about all of these methods, and probably will highlight them at some point on the blog, right now I just want to focus on acupressure. 

Being in the field of dentistry I am all about evidence based medicine and the literature. With that being said I am notclosed minded when it comes to alternative medicine. Sometimes there’s a lack of literature but not a lack of personal experience to support the efficacy of the therapy. To be clear… currently evidence says acupressure MAY be beneficial in the management of a variety of symptoms. I’m not here to support the evidence, my goal is to share my experience.

•WHAT IS ACUPRESSURE? Is a form of complementary and alternative medicine therapy with origins in China. A short explanation is that points across the meridians are activated which results in pain reduction. It is a form of acupuncture with similar reflexology concepts. Overall activation of these points leads to the release of muscular tension and other therapeutic effects.

•WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? Management of pain (chronic pain, back pain, trauma, dysmenorrhea, etc), nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy and chemotherapy, dyspnea, fatigue and insomnia reduction. The list is extensive.

•EZ EXPERIENCE. When I first laid on the mat, it felt like I just laid on a bed of porcupines. It was UNCOMFORTABLE, but that feeling did not last, and I actually found it to be beneficial. After about 1-2 mins the prickly feeling goes away and as long as you stay still, the pricking turns into more of an overall soothing. Being forced to stay still allowed for both my mind and my body to settle.I chose to lay on the mat for about 15 minutes. When I was done, any parts of my body that came in contact with the mat were red and had indentations from the pressure contact points. I wasn’t worried about that, the indentations were gone within 30 minutes. What i noticed is that I felt better overall. I could tell my body had released tension, and I felt relaxed. After laying on the mat a couple more times over the span of a month, I noticed that my pain had gone away entirely. To be fair, I do think time and rest played a large part in my healing as well, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the @pranamat aided in my recovery.

•EZ TAKEAWAY. @pranaMat and acupressure mats in general are a great alternative for pain management because they allow you to take control of your self-care. You can do it on your own time, the mats are small enough that they can be travel friendly, and you don’t have to depend on anyone to aid in your therapy. There are several mats on the market, some can even be purchased on @amazon. In general the prices range from $20-300. I chose @pranaMat because I saw an ad on Instagram, and when I looked into the people using it, they seemed to be really happy with their results. In addition, the company is centered on holistic well-being and they focus a lot of their effort on producing mats with integrity. Sometimes I lay on the mat and meditate, sometimes I choose to read a book, but the fact of the matter is that I always leave the mat feeling better than I did when I got on it. 

References: Contemporary Acupressure Therapy J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Apr; 7(2): 251–263.Published online 2016 Jul 22. The efficacy of acupressure for symptom management: A systematic review. J Pain and Symptom Management. 42(4). 589-603. April 2011

04 Feb
Lifestyle

CapeTown Vibez

Have you ever been to a place that you immediately fall in love with because of its energy? Well that’s the effect CapeTown, South Africa had for me.

•Brief History: CapeTown is a port city on the southwest coast of Africa. It’s multicultural with tourist attractions such as Table Mountain, V & A waterfront, and Boulders beach. It’s also the location of Robben Island the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 27 years. A bronze statue of him can be found at the city hall, the place where he delivered a historic apartheid speech briefly after his release from prison. It is clear that CapeTown history is complex and rich. A place where a struggle for freedom has heavily shaped the culture.

In 2020, as people have become hyper aware and cautious with self care, phrases such as protect your energy and positive vibes have become common mottos. My trip to Cape Town embodied these mottos! The city’s powerful energy infused positivity into my own energy. The weather, the friendly people, the beautiful landscape just made me want to vibrate higher. I wanted my energy to match the energy of my surroundings.

•The Workout: My airbnb was located in the hills a couple of blocks up from the waterfront. Running uphill wouldn’t normally be my choice of cardio, but during just one Uber ride I saw several people outside strolling, jogging, and biking. The people seemed very fit conscious and the beautiful terrain seemed to be the ideal place to get a workout in. 
So i created a track inspired HIIT workout dependent only on the hill and stairs outside of my Airbnb. 
-Circuit 1: Uphill Sprints followed by static lunges. 10 sets, 10 reps on each leg for lunges, 1 min rest in between sets. -Circuit 2: Stair sprint followed by 10 burpees. 10 sets, 1 min rest between sets.

•The Outfit: For my first trip to Africa, i wanted fitness gear inspired by the culture. I chose to wear the Raha sports bra and leggings from @zawadicollections kente collection. Kente cloth is a woven material native to the Akan ethnic group of Ghana. Characterized by bold colors and patterns, this cloth is rich in symbolism and history. @zawadicollections created this collection for the “cultured, confident, and captivating woman.” I paired the outfit with an @Nike track and field inspired crop and the sneakers to match.

I firmly believe that traveling is a form of therapy. Post travel i like to feel enriched whether it’s because of knowledge I’ve gained, or much needed R& R. CapeTown was good for my soul. I fed off it’s vibes and ultimately left with a higher sense of self.

22 Jan
Nutrition

energySPARK

•BLUF: Energy is the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity. It is never created nor destroyed, but merely transformed from one type to another. So why is it, the older I get, the less energy i feel I have?

Between workdays and workouts, a boost of energy is essential to my quality of life. Unfortunately, overdosing on caffeine isn’t the healthiest option. 

•Some years back, one of my best friends @steph.beauchamp introduced me to a product called Spark. We were in college, attending classes during the week, working and partying on the weekends, and we had just decided to take our workouts up a notch. I was feeling low on energy so Steph fixed me an ice cold glass of Mango Spark. Within 20 minutes I had forgotten that i was feeling tired in the first place. It’s not that feeling you get when you take preworkout. You don’t itch, your heart doesn’t race, you simply feel boosted as though you just woke up from 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Now i like to take mine midday right before i begin to feel exhaustion kick in.

•I’ve listed a few of the ingredients below and highlighted some of their benefits.

Vitamin A, C, E Thiamine-enables the body to use carbohydrates as energy. Riboflavin – helps break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s energy supply. Vitamins B6, B12, pantothenic acid (B5), – B vitamins have a direct impact on energy levels, brain function, and cell metabolism. Caffeine – 120 mg ( a little more than 1 cup ofCoffee). Inositol

•Honestly, I think the key to increasing energy is changing your diet. Nutrition is everything, but it’s an uphill battle and in the meantime a healthy supplement is what I’ve chosen to help me get through. @Advocare’s Spark product has been my go to for years now. My favorite flavors are grape and fruit punch. 
Spark is largely sold through advocare distributors. I’ll leave my link at the bottom of the blog. But if you’re looking for an easier way to obtain it’s sold on Amazon!! 

Everyone could use a little Spark! 😏 WWW.ADVOCARE.COM

23 Nov
Lifestyle

FIRSTS

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•When is the last time you did something for the first time?
2019 has been a year of firsts for me. I started my first business, i moved overseas for the first time, and most recently I decided to take a trip by myself. 
Traveling has always been a way for me to find solace and peace. My everyday life is busy and stressful, so in order to stay grounded and balanced, i like to take a trip every couple of months. Taking a pause from my day to day, to experience something new allows me to recenter, return to the present, and remember all that I have to be grateful for.

•In August, I moved from Washington D.C. to Manama, Bahrain right after completing a 2 year residency. So by the time November rolled around, to say I was burnt out would be an understatement. I knew i needed a vacation, but I didn’t have anyone to go with. As a single, black female in the Middle East, traveling by yourself is obviously not the most ideal situation, but like I said, i was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. I had to make a choice between my fear or my wellness…… So I ended up in Muscat, Oman. 🤷🏾‍♀️

•Oman is a high income middle eastern country found between the UAE and Yemen. It is unique in that its terrain includes , mountains, deserts and beaches, and it’s borders merge into the Arabian Sea. So, basically it’s majestic. Stepping off the plane into Muscat (the Capital and largest city) was both literally and figuratively like taking a breath of fresh air. 
A lot of times during my trips I focus on fitness, and while i did workout on this trip, it took a backseat to my mental and emotional wellness. 
My solo vacation was exactly what i needed . Here’s what I learned.

•EZ solo vacay takeaways.
–Set an intention. A solo trip is almost like a meditative experience. You don’t have any distractions so you really have the time and ability to breath and focus. When you set an intention for your trip, you provide a framework for whatever it is you want to accomplish during your time off. My intention was overcoming fear.
–Talk to yourself. The first day, I literally did not speak a word. I said nothing to no one. At first i was extremely disturbed by it, but then i realized i had been having conversations the entire day, the conversation was just with myself. That may seem weird, but when you think about it, if you’re everyday life is consumed by interactions and conversations with other people, when do you have time to communicate with yourself?
–Explore. I could have done more of this, and will probably have to go back to truly see what Muscat has to offer, but… I did go hiking in the mountains next to my hotel. I didn’t want to go too far since i was alone, but i had so much fun! Climbing, sightseeing, watching the sunset from the rocks. It was exhilarating. I created a moment that i will always remember. Exploring helps you to make memories of your trip.
•Indulge. Eat good, sleep good, and get a massage! Spend a little money on yourself, because you deserve it. If you don’t spoil yourself, who will?

•Vacationing solo is about self-love and self-care. Push the fears and stigmas to the side, book a ticket and hop on a plane, train, or bus to your self retreat!

05 Nov
Lifestyle

/ˈwʌnzi/

BLUF: The onesie is ideal for the minimalistic fitness enthusiast! You can attain comfort, fashion, and functionality in one item of clothing.

•I want to start off by saying I am not a minimalist. In fact, I’m the furthest thing from it, but it’s really because I don’t know how to be one. So what does minimalism have to do with an active wear bodysuit … well the Onesie is the optimal minimalistic gym and athleisure ensemble.

On a hot day this summer, I had plans to go to the navy yard to do some sight seeing, fit in a quick yoga flow, and attend a good bye brunch. I needed something that would allow me to move athletically but that could also serve as a leisurely day outfit.

A couple of weeks prior, i stepped outside of my comfort zone and decided to purchase the @freepeople side-to-side performance onsie. It had just been sitting in my closet for all the obvious reasons. I mean babies wear onesies, not adults… and it was one small piece of clothing that i wasn’t going to be able to wear underwear with! I just knew it was going to stick to every curve i had. What if it wasn’t flattering?

At the end of the day, i had already spent the money, so i decided to give it a try. I paired it with an @freepeople elevate tunic … AND…. i freaking loved it! 💛💛💛

EZ Pros:

•Functional. Everyone hates when you’re in the middle of a workout and your leggings start to bunch up or even worse slide down. This onsie stays put! The moderate compression keeps it from sliding or slipping. I was able to complete a power vinyasa class with ease.

•Comfortable. The material is soft and light. Feels like you just put on a second layer of skin. 

•Simple. I like to match when i go to the gym. With the onsie the only thing i had to match was my onsie to my sneakers.

•Cost Effective. Eliminates the need for sports bra, panties, and a top. It’s 1 item instead of 4.

•Multipurpose. Can be used as a layering item underneath skirts, dresses, sweats, scrubs,etc.

•Fashionable. This onsie is sexy. The lines accentuate all curves, the open back gives a peak of skin while still keeping it classy, and the crop gives those calves a pop!😂

EZ Cons:
•Bathrooms. When you have to pee, the whole thing has to come down.

•Form Fitting. The entire piece is fitted. While it’s comfortable, that may not be the look you’re going for, but you can offset it by throwing anything over it! Literally anything.

•The color. As soon as i started sweating you could see it. But they have a 10 different colors.

EZ Final impression. This onsie is the athletic bodycon. I think it’s every woman’s dream to be sexy and comfortable simultaneously. On top of that it’s a minimalistic, cost effective, functional piece of clothing. It’s an investment is what it is. Personally, i plan on investing in a couple of more colors!

06 Oct
Fitness

INFIT360

BLUF: INFIT360 isn’t just a workout. It’s a MOOD, it’s a VIBE, it’s an INCLUSIVE innovative lifestyle for the modern woman.

THE MISSION. Infit = inclusive fitness. While everyone deserves the opportunity to become part of a fitness group that encourages wellness and self-care, that opportunity is not always accessible due to cost, target audience, etc. INFIT360 is committed to creating access where it doesn’t exist.

EZ EXPERIENCE. An optimal group fitness class is all about the atmosphere and the vibe. When i attended my first INFIT360 class, I didn’t feel like I was in a gym or a studio. I felt like I was in a fitness lounge. Between the lights, the candles and the combination of ratchet, neo-soul, and pop music i was able to push through the intensity of the workout. I left sweating, but it was like that good sweat you have after you’ve gone to the club and danced your life away. The INFIT360 workout left me in a sexy powerful mood and the next day I was sore in all the right places. It is definitely my go to workout for sculpting and defining my curves.

THE STUDIO. Classes are held in NE Washington, D.C. at fitnessnobstudio which is like an airbnb for fitness classes. When you walk in the building it has a very clean minimalistic aura. There are modern lockers, bathrooms, and showers just in case you need to transition from fitness to leisure or business.

The actual room where classes take place is large size with beautiful hardwood floors, surrounded by floor to ceiling mirrors on one half and large windows on the other. It’s a studio, but it has lounge vibes. The room is slightly heated at about 78 degrees, the lights are kept on low w/ a sexy pink hue, and @infit360 balances it off with beautiful candles in the front just to make sure the mood is right.

THE WORKOUT. INFIT360 offers an intense 45-50 minute no impact full body workout. There are 15 movements, each movement is performed for 90 seconds. 1min 30 seconds sounds like a short period of time, but when you add a heated room and 3 pound weights, that’s where the intensity kicks in. Starting in a standing position then working your way down to the mat you will perform compound movements that increase in complexity as you move through the workout. An example would be starting in downward dog, transitioning into three legged dog, shifting into a plank and then into a glute raise. The movements are cardio, yoga, and kick-boxing inspired, with each movement being a prep to the next. You do the same sequence for 4-7 days and then the sequence will change as you condition your body and evolve into a stronger and better version of yourself.

EQUIPMENT & ATTIRE. Yoga mats and 3 pound ankle and wrist weights will be provided. You will need a water bottle, minimalistic clothing that you can easily move and flow in, and a towel because you will SWEAT! 💦💦💦

THE OWNER. Austin Hicks is the beautiful owner, creator, and principal instructor of Infit 360. I met Austin through a mutual friend who is also heavily involved in the fitness industry. I knew she was dope because she had a captivating spirit and aura. So when I found out she was launching a fitness studio, I made it my mission to check her out and see what kind of vibes she was introducing into the world of fitness. And of course she did not disappoint! Keep reading to learn more about Austin’s fitness insight.

What inspired you to create Infit360? “Professionally, I’ve worked in a service driven industry and I come from a service driven family. I’ve always been into fitness, so I decided to get certified. I want people to be able to meet on the mat, be exposed to not only a fitness workout but also a fitness mentorship.

Who is your target audience? “I’m targeting professional women who are or who want to be socially and healthy conscious.”

Why did you choose the name InFit? “Well it’s a play on words, instead of in shape I chose in fit because it also represents inclusive fitness.”

I’ve noticed that blush colors dominate your fitness wardrobe, why is that? “I think blush tones embody the mood of InFit. When I think of nudes, I think of the female body and how they accentuate and compliment our physiques.”

EZ TAKEAWAY: My definition of an INFIT woman, is a woman whose physique matches her spirit, her aura, and her vibes. When I think about the female physique, I think about strength and power wrapped up into this curvy silhouette of femininity. Austin is a building a tribe of INFIT women and I certainly plan on being one of them. Are you trying to join me? If the answer is yes, head over to www.infit360.com and follow on IG @infit360.

30 Aug
Lifestyle

French Riviera Flow

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•BLUF: It’s hard to stay motivated to workout while traveling, don’t let limited access to gym facilities stop your routine. The world 🌎 is your gym!

•I always find it hard to keep up my workout routine while traveling, especially international travel. Between the long flights, the adventure packed days, and the lack of access to gym facilities my motivation tends to wane during my trips. The thing is, it doesn’t make sense to workout super hard to look good for the trip, then get to your destination and waste all your hard work.

“So the question is how do you stay motivated while traveling? “
– I get my inspiration from my surroundings.

Grenoble France
Jamaica vs. Brazil

•THE TRIP: This past June I traveled with friends to the South of France to see @chinyeluasher play for Jamaica’s women’s national football team in FIFA’s Women’s World Cup. Through a combination of planes and trains we made our way from Paris to Grenoble, Nice and Reims watching these beautifully strong, freakishly talented women play soccer.
The first match was in a stadium in the mountains of Grenoble. I’ve never been to a professional soccer match before, so sitting in this beautiful stadium surrounded by the French Alpines, watching these girls display crazy skill, endurance and speed, had me beyond motivated to get up and workout, but I didn’t have access to a gym. At least that’s what i thought until i laid my eyes on the Promenade des Anglais 😍!

•THE GYM: In between the Grenoble and Reims matches, we took a 3 day diversion to Nice. The Promenade des Anglais is a 7 km walkway sandwiched between southern France shops, bars, and restaurants, and the Mediterranean Sea. It’s prime real estate for running, swimming, volleyball and really any other other activity that only requires open space and award winning views.

THE WORKOUT: The promenade immediately gave me track vibes. With 7km of well paved sidewalk surrounded by rails, benches, and stairs we were able to put together a HIIT circuit. 
-Warm up- Stair climbs 5 mins

-100 m sprints, on the way back to the starting line lateral squat jumps, high knee taps using the rails, and elevated bench pushups. 30 second rest repeat 5x
Jump rope & elevated plank holds (30 sec) 3x

-Cool down- stretching on the rocky beach. (The rocks weren’t really conducive to stretching but the view was 🤷🏾‍♀️)

•EZ TAKEAWAY: The French Riviera did not disappoint as far as unique ways to get a workout in. In addition to working out on the promenade, we walked it’s full span experiencing restaurants and clubs along the way. Castle Hill is an old military citadel just off the promenade. We climbed it’s 92 meters of stairs which led us to the best panorama views Nice had to offer, and since we were feeling daring we traversed the rocky beach to enjoy the refreshingly icy waves of the Mediterranean Sea. There were also several courts hosting spontaneous volleyball matches along the beach. The fact of the matter is that I was limiting myself by being stuck inside the box of needing a facility to workout in. The gym doesn’t have to be an actual “gym”. Wherever you are can be your gym. Step outside your comfort zone and be limitless on vacation!

16 Aug
Lifestyle

rise &SHINE

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•BLUF: Self Care is the Best Care. It’s no longer minority mental health month, but mental health should still be at the top of Your priority list! The SHINE app offers insightful, motivational, and relaxing meditations that give you the extra Shine you need to push through your day.

•I am no stranger to stress or anxiety. The way my life is set up these days if there’s no stress it’s abnormal, but the introduction of anxiety was a new thing for me. I’m a goal driven person, so i was zoned in on a certain goal, which I reached (🙌🏾), but as soon as I reached it, it was like all the stress i had been ducking just hit me right in the chest, in the form of ANXIETY!
At first i thought i could just deal with the anxiety by not dealing with it. The alternative would’ve been to seek help, but for some reason there is such a stigma about going to therapy that I just didn’t even consider it. So i didn’t address it, and guess what? My symptoms got worse, smh. I couldn’t ignore my mental health because it started to effect my physical health and i thought maybe i should just work on my spiritual health, but my mental wasn’t allowing me to focus on that either.
So I started looking for a therapist which ended up in frustration and almost halted my entire process. I felt like I needed someone immediately, but it takes time to find the right person to help you through whatever it is your going through. Then, when I thought I found the one that i liked, their hours didn’t match my schedule. THEN, on top of all of that, i realized seeing a therapist would have to be incorporated into my budget financially, because it is EXPENSIVE (it’s crazy how something so vital to life can cost so much).
As you can see, it was a struggle. I started to realize and understand why so many people get deterred from seeking help and decide to just neglect their mental wellness. Even though i was discouraged, i knew that neglect was not a solution nor was it an option, and that’s when i stumbled upon the Shine app.
I’ve been using the Shine app for about three months now. For me it’s like going to the gym, to workout my mind. The shine app is an award winning Self Care program developed to offer support and guidance in mental and emotional wellness. It is extensive with its options and avenues for self-care but simple to navigate. Keep reading to get a quick synopsis of some of its categories with links to some of my favorite topics!

Daily Shine

•Daily Shine: I love these daily shines because they’re like self care snap shot news briefs. It’s always an intriguing relatable topic, but they also find ways to incorporate what’s going on around the world which makes it easier to connect with what they’re saying.
Fulfilled Like Lizzo was my very first shine! 
It hooked me because I’m an emotional person and it talked about being kind to myself through tough emotions. It showed me that I should embrace my emotions and be honest about them at the exact time that i was in a period of emotional avoidance. Sometimes the daily shines come through with a message that seems like it’s perfectly tailored for you!

  • Articles

•Articles: There will definitely be times where you can’t actually put headphones on but you would like to spend some time on self-care. Shine offers articles that you can read, if listening isn’t your thing or isn’t an option.
A great article that they shared is the 5X5 rule. This article gave me a way to worry constructively.

Daily Rituals

• Daily Rituals: Being mindful doesn’t have to be limited to sitting on a meditation cushion in a quiet room. The Daily rituals offers guided meditations that can be incorporated with your daily routines.
My personal favorite is “Waiting”. I have the tendency to be on my cell phone more often than not, especially if I’m waiting for something or someone. The “Waiting” daily ritual helps me to put the phone down and focus on intention and purpose in static periods.

•These are just a few examples of the topics and ways that shine can help with Self Care. They also have guided meditations that incorporate breathing practices, self-care challenges to keep your wellness routine spicy, and they offer advice chat rooms where you can correspond with someone and log your feelings.

•EZ Takeaway: Taking care of your self is like using a three component balancing scale ⚖️. You’re the beam and each of the three pans is occupied by either the mind, the body, or the spirit. We all know that if one becomes heavier or lighter than the other, the scales will fall and the beam will no longer be balanced.
It’s very easy to solely focus on the body, and neglect your mental and spiritual health. Yet, each entity is just as important as the other. I think everyone has heard the phrase “Never skip leg day”, well let’s edit that phrase and say “Never skip a Mental Health day”.
The key to overall well-being is finding balance. I’ve found that @Shine app offers an easily accessible way to take time out for self care. It is something that can be done alone, but it can also be used for group meditation and initiating meaningful dialogue. It doesn’t require a bunch of money to be spent, it doesn’t even require face to face interaction. All you need is a little bit of time and a cellphone.
I can sincerely say that @Shine has helped me to be more proactive when it comes to my mental wellness. Don’t take my word for it, just give it a try. SHOW UP and SHOW OUT for yourself, because YOU deserve it!

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