Wellness Wednesday: Want Better Balance? Then Get Rubbing
Anna Forrest
The theme for me this week has definitely been about Balance. Balance in my body, in my work and private life, and in my gluten free diet. Seems like a lot to take on, right? If you ask me, I think it can be be nothing short of a pain in the butt. But in actuality, it’s just a process, like anything else I endeavor to do. For me, when I am exercising on a regular basis, everything else falls into place. My eating habits improve, and in order to carve out the time to work out, I have to plan my days down to the minute. So this week’s wellness post is inspired by maintaining balance while we are on our path to achieving balance in other areas of our lives.
Exercising increases my energy levels, stimulates alkalinity in my body, and decrease my stress levels and I find all of these benefits lifesavers. I practice power yoga four days a week and do cardio the other three and my muscles have been getting pretty sore. As we all full well know by now, exercise is a fantastic way to detoxify the body, but as we do so, lactic acid can build up in the muscles, causing soreness and adding strain to the joints, making me walk like I have a hitch in my giddy-up. I mean when one side of my body is sore and the other isn’t, I’m out of balance. So rather than throw in the towel and give up what is making me feel better in the long run, I just make sure I stock my medicine cabinet with a few all natural liniments so the short term is more bearable.
Blackbird’s weekly wellness expert, Laura Farb of Jade Lotus Wellness recommends having these sore muscle savers on hand at all times, so you can recover faster hop back onto your mat without toppling over.
1. Epsom Salt: Epsom salt isn’t actually salt at all! It’s a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate and it’s name comes from a saline spring just outside of Surrey, England. Add 2-3 cups of epsom salt to a nice hot bath for instant relief without the bone chilling commonly associated with analgesic creams. According to Salt Works,
“Studies have shown that magnesium and sulfate are both readily absorbed through the skin, making Epsom salt baths an easy and ideal way to enjoy the amazing health benefits. Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function and helping to prevent artery hardening. Sulfates help improve the absorption of nutrients, flush toxins and help ease migraine headaches…Some of the countless health benefits include relaxing the nervous system, curing skin problems, soothing back pain and aching limbs, easing muscle strain, healing cuts, treating cold and congestion, and drawing toxins from the body.”
My first yoga instructor told me to try an Epsom salt bath after a particularly difficult yoga class over 8 years ago and I now take an Epsom infused bath twice a week just because it makes me feel so darn good. Try it, you just might like it! And you don’t even need to know a guy named Mikey to do it. Plus, it is 100% gluten free, so you got the green light.
Shiva Rae
2. Tiger Balm Tiger Balm has been curing sore muscles and other things that ail you since the 1870′s. “With over 100 years of proven success in over 100 countries, Tiger Balm’s world renowned ointment, is being customized into a range of formulations that suit your specific needs, be it headaches and cold, rheumatic or arthritic pains, or muscle strains and pains.” Clearly, Tiger Balm’s effectiveness has stood the test of time, so I’d grab a jar of this over Tussy cream any day of the weak. Plus, wouldn’t you want a tiger staring back at you or greeting that new house guest that is looking through your bathroom cabinet, rather than a jar that says TUSSY? Man or woman, that is just embarrassing. 100% gluten free.
3. Zheng Gu Shui Analgesic Liniment or “the bone setting solution” is used primarily to treat fractures, dislocation, sprains, strains, arthritis
Zheng Gu Shui Analgesic Liniment assists healing by promoting blood circulation and regenerating the bone tissue. Laura recommends using this before or after exercise to treat soreness and strengthen tendons. It’s an amazing balm but not recommended before intercourse. 100% gluten free.
4. White Flower Analgesic Balm Natural herbal remedy is another handy pal to have around. Also great for temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with simple backache, arthritis, sprains, bruises, strains. White Flower goes on a lot ‘hotter’ than the other recommendations, but also can make you feel a little chilly after, so keep this in mind. 100% gluten free.
Sri Dharma Mittra
