Essential Oils and Exercise

Exercise is a wonderful thing, but along with it comes some not so wonderful stuff.  Sweat, stinkiness, injuries, pain, soreness, fatigue (with too much exercise), etc...  The list could go on.   I have been using essential oils for all kinds of health concerns for a while now, but it took me a while to really start digging into them to help with my issues with fitness.  I am a runner and I also do as much strength training as I can fit in.  I teach a group fitness Cardio-Core Blast class as well.  There are some days that I squeeze in 3 workouts a day.  You can imagine the soreness and burnout I get from this.  I wanted to share with you some of the essential oils I've used to help my body cope with my fitness issues.

First and foremost, I recommend that all athletes take a multivitamin.  Yes even if you jog, you are an athlete.  You are exerting effort when you don't have to...in my mind, you qualify!  I not only recommend a multivitamin, but a whole food multivite!  You don't need all the synthetics that come along with the vitamins and nutrients that typically come in your most popular OTC multivitamins.  My favorite multi that I personally take is doTERRA's Lifelong Vitality Pack.  This pack comes with a cellular complex, a food and nutrient complex, and an omega 3.  The three of these combined give your body everything it needs in a completely bio available recipe.  There are no ingredients in them that don't come from the land or the sea.  LOVE THEM!!!!

If you still find that you need more energy, I love doTERRA's Mito2Max.  It's a cellular energy complex that gives your body, down to the cellular level, a little boost of natural energy.  Having two kids, working a full time job, and teaching classes at the gym, I really benefit from the Mito2Max.  It helps me get through those tough days when I have my own workout to do, decide to go for a jog, and still have a class to teach.  Once again...LOVE IT!

So BEFORE you go workout, if you have a little trouble getting off the couch like me, I like to inhale one or more citrus oils to elevate my mood a little.  It makes me a little happier and my attitude for getting up all of sudden turns a corner.  Two of may favorite oil blends to get me out of a pre-workout slump/funk are Elevation-the Joyful Blend and Citrus Bliss-the Invigorating Blend.  They just make me happy.  I also like to put a couple drops of wild orange and peppermint in my GLASS water bottle before my workout too.  I start sipping about a half hour before I have to get at it.  If you do your workout in the morning, peppermint can really help wake your mind as well as your body.

If you are one of those people who get to the gym or starts out on a run like they competing in the Olympics and then all of a sudden about half way through, you feel as if you're digging your grave and just wanna get back to the couch, I love using the Breathe blend on my chest.  It really opens up my airways and allows me to get more oxygen to my muscles, thus increasing my stamina to last a little longer.  Another little trick I like to do is get a damp towel (some gyms offer these) and put a drop or two of wild orange and peppermint on it.  This is wonderful during those terrible DREADMILL workouts when you just want to give up.  Peppermint helps to cool your body down so it's able to give it's energy back to it's muscles and doesn't have to try as hard to cool itself off.  :)  I will also do this in the summer and put the cold damp towel around the back of my neck to help me stay cool.

I also take my water bottle to the gym with me with a citrus oil in it, such as lemon, wild orange, or lime.  Some people like grapefruit...I'm not a huge fan, but that is an option if you do like it.

Then there's those issues that you get after a tough workout.  Sore muscles, fatigue, maybe even a little pain, but hopefully not because you injured yourself.  :)

So for those AFTER a workout problems, Deep Blue is probably one of my faves.  It's amazing for joint pain and sore muscles.  Another oil blend that I'm absolutely in love with is AromaTouch.  Because Deep Blue is so awesome, sometimes AromaTouch gets left behind.  Personally, I like AT better for soreness and DB better for pain and aches.  AT really helps with circulation so be sure to use it if you've built up a lot of lactic acid in your body accompanied with some citrus oil in your water to help flush out the acid internally.  For pain, I really like the combination of marjoram and frankincense either applied topically to the site or taken internally (ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR doTERRA CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) ESSENTIAL OILS)!!

I hope this helps many of you with any workout or fitness problems you may have.  If you are note currently using essential oils and are interested, let me know.  I'd be happy to talk with you about them and what they can do for you.   You can contact me by email.  I'd love to hear from you.

Vitamins

So I don't know about you, but my eldest child hates to take vitamins.  Unless of course, it's Flintstone vitamins, which in my opinion are about as good as gummy bears from the candy shop.  Just my opinion.  Vivian on the other hand will take them.  She takes just about anything I give her that she thinks is food.

I give my girls doTERRA's A2Z multivitamin for kids.  It's strawberry flavor and I will say in Lila's defense, it doesn't taste like candy.  So now I've found a new way to get her to take her vitamins without even knowing it.  :)

It's funny how great it makes you feel when you have successfully tricked your kids into something like this.

Mom win!

Sunburn Remedy

Well, it's summer!  To many people that mean being in the sun a lot more than usual.  I am blessed with skin that doesn't burn really bad, but I know there are many out there who are not so lucky.  Of course, sunscreen is absolutely recommended (after you get your daily dose of vitamin D, which is about 15 min of strong sun a day), but if you still happen to get a sunburn even after applying sunscreen, I have something AMAZING that will help.

Take a small spray bottle, glass is preferred, but since there are no citrus oils in this recipe, plastic is acceptable.

doTERRA Sunburn Spray

• 1 small spray bottle
• Melaleuca
• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Fractionated coconut oil (or another carrier oil)

1. Fill the spray bottle with FCO.
2. Put 5 drops each of lavender, melaleuca, and peppermint in bottle.
3. Swirl around to mix it well.
4. Spray on sunburn and rub in to skin.

A friend of mine used this on her fair skinned daughter who has always struggled with sunburns.  She was amazed at how well this worked...so was I!

If you have questions on how to purchase these oils, email me!  I'd love for you to benefit from the goodness of these oils as well!

It's Giveaway Time!

It's almost time for my vacation and start things off  right, I'm giving away a doTERRA Essential Oils Intro Kit!  The contest starts tomorrow and goes through May 31st.  Follow the instructions at the end of this post to enter!

The doTERRA Essential Oils Intro Kit contains three of my most favorite essential oils, Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint.  These oils are amazing at so many things, individually...put them together and you have an all natural "Allergy Bomb".  Are you suffering from seasonal allergies?  This kit is for you.  

Here are some of the uses for each essential oil in the kit.

Lemon is known as a powerful aromatic, topical, and internal cleanser that can be used to complement many other oils. Diffusing lemon in a room can cleanse the air and uplift mood. It can also be used on surfaces throughout the home as a non-toxic cleaning booster. 

Lemon is naturally antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, diuretic, and a disinfectant.  It can be used to help fight cold and flu season, disinfect living area, and as an insect repellent.  

Some common health concerns in which you could use lemon essential oil are:

• Allergies

• Asthma

• Cold and Flu

• Constipation

• Fever

• Hypertension

• Sore Throat

• Stomach Ache

• Stress

• Throat Infections

Lavender is one of the most popular oils.  It has been cherished for its unmistakable aroma and its therapeutic properties for thousands of years. Lavender is widely used and accepted for its calming and relaxing qualities.  

Lavender is naturally analgesic, antibiotic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, disinfectant, and sedative.  It is little known for its powerful capability as a natural antihistamine.  It can be used to calm and help relieve stress, fight cold and flu, as an emergency salve/spray, and is very popular in skin care.  

Some common health concerns in which you could use lavender oil are:

• Acne

• Allergies

• Arthritic Pain

• Asthma

• Bronchitis

• Burns

• Colds and Flu

• Cuts and Wounds

• Depression

• Dermatitis

• Diarrhea

• Earache

• Headaches

• Herpes

• Hypertension

• Indigestion

• Insect Bites

• Insomnia

• Migraines

• Muscle Pain

• Nausea

• Psoriasis

• Skin Disorders

• Sore Throat

• Stomach Ache

• Stress

• Throat Infections

Just to name a few...  :)

Last but not least is one of my favorites, Peppermint.  Peppermint is popular in countless forms, from toothpaste to chewing gum. As an essential oil, it is useful to ease breathing and as a digestive aid.

It is naturally analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, expectorant, and a stimulant.  Peppermint helps with mental acuity, is an insect repellent, and is great for cold and flu season.

Some common health concerns in which you could use peppermint oil are:

• Allergies

• Asthma

• Bronchitis

• Colds and Flu

• Colic

• Congestion

• Dermatitis

• Diarrhea

• Fever

• Headaches

• Indigestion

• Insect Bites

• Menstrual Problems

• Migraines

• Motion Sickness

• Nausea

• Skin Disorders

• Stomach Ache

• Stress

• Toothache

Go to my Facebook page Growing Naturally , "LIKE" my page, and click the "Giveaways" tab to enter!

DIY Baby Wipes

(picture courtesy of Neil Atkins)

(I asked him to send me a picture of my DIY creation with a decent background, since he was at home and I was not...I think he did pretty good!)

I have been "pinning" DIY baby wipes for months now!  I have read blogs and blogs trying to find the right combination of ingredients that worked for me (and my baby's sweet little butt).  I finally put several recipes together and came up with this.

Ingredients

• Large glass jar (I got mine from Walmart)
• Paper Towels (good quality)
• Jojoba Oil (or any kind of carrier oil)
• Aloe Vera gel
• Essential Oils of you choice

Instructions

1. Cut your roll of paper towels in half
2. Put one half of the paper towels roll in the jar or container
3. Mix 2 cups of warm water, 3-5 drops of the essential oil (I used 5 drops of lavender and 5 drops of melaleuca.  You can probably stick with 3 each and be fine.), and the aloe vera gel.
4. pour the mixture over the paper towels in the jar and let it soak in.
5. Turn the jar upside down to let the mixture get to the other end of the paper towels.
6. Let sit for about 30 min to make sure they are good and saturated.
7. Pull the brown insert out of the middle of the paper towel roll and pull the wipes from the middle of the roll.

That's it!  It's so easy.  My daughter had a yeasty diaper rash when I first started using them.  I was able to use the wipes, coconut oil, and the most natural barrier cream I could find at Walmart last minute within a couple days.

Melaleuca is a natural antifungal and Lavender is calming and healing to cuts, scrapes, burns, and rashes.

The Importance of Cross Training

As a runner, sometimes that's all I want to do.  I was never a huge fan of yoga, or biking, or the elliptical, until the past few years.  Running can really tear down your body if you don't complement it with other things.  It's great for your cardiovascular health, and great for toning leg muscles and core muscles, but there are ways that you can strengthen your body to help with the grinding that comes with running.

Several years ago, I was the in the best shape of my life.  I was running, doing Pilates, and doing ab work.  I could run pain free and faster than I had since my early high school years.  For some reason, I got away from that, I can't for the life of me figure out why.  Then I just ran.  I ran and got hurt.  I trained slow, struggling to get anything done.  Last year I started teaching Pilates and spin class.  I felt great again. Even though strength training was on the back burner, I was still getting stronger and leaner.

After I had my second baby last spring, I started with the running again.  Running is what's important to me, it's what I love.  Not to mention, it was the only thing I had time for.  If I got to squeeze a workout in, it was definitely going to be running.

I started back teaching Pilates and Yogalates this winter.  It's the best thing that could've happened to me.  After taking some time off from running because of the busy life of being a mom, I decided I had to make time to exercise.  I wanted to set a good example for my kids.  Now after having two babies and being almost 30 years old, I'm running faster than I have since high school.  I'm feeling great.  I'm honestly shocked most days when I hit one mile, two miles, three miles and hear my splits.  I can't believe it.

I run 3-4 days a week, do Pilates and Yogalates, and try to XT as much as possible.  I've also been taking doTERRA's Lifelong Vitality Pack.  These multivitamins are the bomb diggity.  These are the only things that I have changed in my life and it's obviously working!  They give me the energy I need to do anything!

So remember the next time that you're training for some kind of running race, remember to get on the elliptical, go to spin class, swim laps, go to yoga or Pilates, or go for a hike.  Do anything to switch it up for your body.  It will benefit more than you can ever imagine!

~Serenity~

Oil Pulling...HUH????

I tried something new this morning.  Oil pulling.  Raise your hand if you have heard of this!

I first heard about oil pulling about 4 months ago.  I got up the nerve to try it 2 months ago.  The first time I tried it, I gagged immediately and spit the oil out.  So a few days later, I tried it again.  I gagged AGAIN.  It was awful.  It wasn't the taste, that was fine.  It was the chunky consistency of the coconut oil.

This morning, I tried it with a teaspoon of coconut oil and again, I gagged, but I pushed through.  When the oil finally melted into its liquid state, it was fine.  I did it for about 10 minutes which is pretty good for your first run and especially good for me considering what happened the first two times I did it.

Oil pulling is pretty cool when you learn how beneficial it is for your mouth and body as a whole.  You can use a variety of oils to try oil pulling.  I used Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.  You can also you sunflower oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil.  Just make sure that the oil is safe to be ingested, even though you're not going to swallow.  You can even add a couple drops of Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) doTERRA Essential Oils such as peppermint, OnGuard, Lemon, or Wild Orange.

 


So, you might be asking, what exactly does oil pulling do?

• Improve oral health by detoxifying teeth and gums
• Whitens teeth
• Relief from congestion in the sinus cavities and throat
• Helps improve skin conditions
• Helps arthritis
• Helps asthma
• Can help to relieve headaches, infections, liver problems
• Helps with hormonal imbalances

How does it do all this???
Oil pulling helps to pull out toxins in the body, particularly your mouth and stomach, and get rid of those toxins when you spit out the oil.  Your parents may have told you this when you were younger, but your mouth is one of the dirtiest parts of your body.  There is so much bacteria living in the dark, wet, closed environment you call your mouth.  It's pretty gross when you think of it.

Who came up with oil pulling???
It has been around for centuries.  It was first documented as a practice in Ayurvedic text which is native to the Indian subcontinent.  You, know, these people really had something going here.  We "modern people" have a good man named Dr. F. Karach to thank for "bringing healthy back".  :)  He realized the importance of this ancient tradition when thinking of how easy things, good or bad, can enter our bloodstream through our mouth.  I even read something that said this is how Native Americans used to "brush" their teeth.

So swish the oil around for 20 minutes.  When you're done, be sure to spit it out in the trash can since coconut oil solidify when cooled.  You don't want to clog your drain!

I challenge you to give this a try.  Don't give up if you gag the first couple of times.  For me, the third time really was a charm.  Once you get past the chunkiness of the oil, it's actually pretty easy.

If you try this, please comment below and let me know what you think!!

Another Half Marathon

The time has come.  Another baby, another race.  Today is the day I start training for a half marathon.  I'm training for the IronMom Half that is the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend.  I haven't run a big race since Lila was about 18 months old.  I am slowing working my way back up to a marathon, but scheduling and free time right now are limiting me to a half, which I'm completely ok with.  :)

I'm going to be stocking up on a few of my favorite oils for exercise!

Deep Blue - Great for muscle aches/pain, tension, joint pain, inflammation, arthritis, back pain...ALL of which I get at some point when training for halves and fulls!

AromaTouch - Great for anxiety, muscles/aches pain, relaxation, tension, muscle cramps (charley horses).

Elevation - Dab a little on you temples, your neck, your forehead before your run for an energizing, stress-free, uplifting run!

Peppermint - Mix with a little coconut oil and rub into your legs before a run to help with keeping your body cool and helping keep you alert and focused on your run.

OnGuard - Last but not least, take a few drops of OnGuard daily or even rub into your hands before having to head up to the gym on those freezing days when you can't get outside to run.  OnGuard helps protect you from airborne pathogens and helps your body stay healthy while you're running yourself into the ground training!  :)

If you would like more information on these oil or others, let me know!  I'd love to talk with you about them.

XOXO