The clock has moved 1 hour forward here in Maryland and the flowers are starting to bud! Well… at least my tulips, Destiny's Child, are starting to make their debut. Yonce for sure has taken the main stage, while Kelly and Michelle are still warming up lol. Plants are my muse at the moment, inspiring me to add another layer of intentions to my healthier habits. 

Sculpt:

As mentioned in Metaphorically Speaking, I’m currently a full-time Esthetician, and for those who know, I love Gua Sha massage! What is Gua Sha Massage? It is a traditional Chinese medicine massage technique that is designed to drain the lymphatic system, stimulate collagen production, reduce puffiness, and much more. Basically, it can act as a mini face lift, sculpting and toning the face and/or body. When it comes down to lymphatic drainage massage for the body, there is a particular certification that some states require a nurse or beauty professional to have in order to perform on clients because of the potential risks to contraindicated people (those who are pregnant, someone who is currently undergoing cancer treatments, blood clotting disorders, etc).

But, you can do this yourself at home. Always consult with your doctor as a precaution if any contraindication applies to you. I love doing gua sha massage because of how relaxing it is. It feels good for my clients and it's a form of active mediation for myself as I study my clients. I used to do Guided Gua Sha on Instagram Live on my @Mambey.Beauty page on Tuesdays, where I led my audience through a self administered Gua Sha massage, demonstrating techniques with various tools and benefits. The videos are still available. Now that we are establishing Healthier Habits, I will be bringing it back but on Youtube, and here on the BGS site. Be sure to subscribe so you can be notified when new videos are released. 

Smooth:

As I choose to sculpt and tone my body while working out, I will be sculpting my face by doing Gua Sha Massage because my chin is looking a little too relaxed these days, lol. Only I can say that about myself though! Sometimes I wish I could suck in my chin the same way I can suck in my belly for a selfie😂🤷🏽‍♀️. The goal is to perform Gua Sha massage on myself 3x a week for at least 5 minutes total (or longer if I'm feeling ambitious). Based on my experience, the results from consistent gua sha massage is noticeable within 2-3 weeks minimum. I welcome you to try it out for yourself; I don't expect you to do it as frequently as I am but once a week at bedtime is just enough😊. 

Gua Sha massage before bedtime is a great way to wind down after a long and/or stressful day. One key thing to keep in mind is that you do not have to apply forceful pressure during the massage. The best type of massage medium to use would be something oil based that will allow your chosen tool, or hands, to glide along your face and neck. 

Each stroke should be effortlessly smooth. It is best to work on one entire side of the face at a time, starting on the back of the neck, gradually make your way forward under the ear, then jawline, upper lip, cheekbone, under eye, eyebrow, forehead, and always drain down the neck under the ear. If you feel the need to swallow while performing this massage on yourself, know that you are doing it correctly! Actual drainage is happening😆. Gua Sha massage can be done at any time of the day at any time of the year. Allergy season and cocktail recovery are even better times to sculpt yourself back to a smoother look…along with electrolytes.

Shine:

Keeping up with reducing puffiness, I am incorporating some anti-inflammatory foods in my diet this week. Sidebar: OMG! I spent under my grocery budget for this week🥳. YAAYYY! LOL. Inspired by Bali, I picked up a Dragon Fruit! One thing I noticed is that Dragon Fruit here in America (at least where I’ve found it) has white flesh, and the fruit in Bali is a beautiful pink flesh. Regardless of the color, it is packed with lots of fiber, vitamin c, and antioxidants that is fantastic for my internal health, and will help my skin shine even more. My new glow will be ELITE✨! Dragon Fruit can be your friend if you are trying to lower “bad” cholesterol and regulate blood sugar levels (white flesh = less sweet, pink/red flesh = sweeter). It is rich in magnesium which is very on brand for my heart health goals. Want to know a secret 👀? I add a little agave to make it sweeter🤭. Just a little more than the serving amount.

Another anti-inflammatory food I'll have this week will be Butternut Squash. This is one of my favorite staples because of how versatile it is since it can be made sweet or savory, and it is great for heart health. Butternut Squash is packed with vitamin A (aka, natural retinol = smoother skin), aids in weight management since it's full of fiber, and also low in calories. My favorite way to have this for breakfast is savory with bell peppers and sausage, and a smoothie or grapes on the side. Personally, I do not eat eggs but if you do, that would be a great addition for a lower calorie diet. 

It's easy to apply retinol or vitamin c on your skin (but never at the same time) to help with slowing the aging process, and it can also be hit or miss finding products that are compatible with your skin. What's stopping you from incorporating more vitamins a,e, and c in your diet for longer lasting results?

Wellness Water:

Last week, I incorporated more chia seeds in my routine. Chia seed water has been really trendy lately, so I gave it a try and I can confirm that that stuff works! For those who do not have regular bowel movements or just feeling a little bloated, I highly recommend drinking chia seed water. The safest way to consume it is to add up to 3 tablespoons of chia seeds to 16 ounces of water, or more, and let it soak for a minimum of 30 minutes before consuming. Why wait? Chia seeds swell and get slightly gelatinous once introduced to a liquid and if consumed too early, it could become a choking hazard and/or cause digestive issues as would swell in the esophagus. Always shake or stir before drinking. I personally added lemon to the water for additional vitamin c and digestion support. 

I’m curious to know more about you. Share your healthier habits in the comments below! It's never too late to try something new. Tell a friend to jump in the comments too so we can all learn from each other. TTYL✌🏽

Peace,

Mykira🌷