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Exercise: Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

September 25, 2016 · Leave a Comment

If you go to a Yoga studio, you may have seen or used Yoga Blocks and straps before. If you are trying Yoga or Pilates or some simple stretching exercises at home by yourself or with an instructional DVD for the first time, a block and a strap are a worthwhile investment for keeping proper form and reducing the risk of injury. Using at-home exercise tutorial videos at great but it is easy to unknowingly develop bad form. Recently I tried a Cielo Yoga Block and Strap that help me retain good posture.

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

WHAT IT DOES
The Cielo Yoga Block and Strap is an excellent set to modify poses, provide support, stability or balance during yoga and pilates. If you can’t reach far enough or you have difficulty holding form or retaining balance, a block or strap can help. Cielo blocks and straps are made from waterproof and eco-friendly materials.

WHO IT IS FOR
They are ideal for:

Beginners
Those with weak posture or alignment, weak core strength
Those with an injury
Those with balancing problems
Those undertaking a challenging new pose and want to make sure to retain proper form and alignment
Women at all stages of a pregnancy and post pregnancy as the body needs more support, and the center of balance is constantly changing.
Those with hypermobility who have difficulty getting a good stretch

THE CIELO YOGA BLOCK

QUALITY
Two issues concern me when selecting a yoga block: sizing of the block and the whether the material is suitable for comfortable, yet grounded use.

SIZING: The block is 9x6x4 inches. By positioning the block, there are three height options for customized support. Laying flat on the thinner side I find useful for sitting on, placed upright lengthwise gives support to the hands when stretching from above, and I want to retain the ability to balance.

COMFORTABLE GROUNDING: My ideal yoga block is comfortable enough to use but not so soft that it has too much give to be stable. This Cielo Yoga block is durable non-slip, hard foam material that has some cushion without being too soft. Gentle on the hands, it is comfortable to use to bear weight upon with just the right amount of give to be comfortable for the wrist when grounding down yet hard enough to still maintaining proper positioning.

USE
The Cielo block is helpful to sit on during exercises that typically one sits on their feet. I find the block gives me a better alignment. I like to use the block between my knees or thighs to hold proper alignment of my legs for Wheel or Bridge pose. The Cielo block stayed steady and provided some lengthening balance for my lowered hand on the block during Revolved Triangle; it creates the longer line of the intended triangle shape and gives better opening when I can hold the pose longer.

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

THE CIELO YOGA STRAP

QUALITY
It is well made and durable, no wear and tear from my pulling, tugging or bearing weight on it. It is comfortable and easy to grasp. It is long enough to use for arms or legs or to wrap around the core and shoulders to maintain posture, especially for beginners or after sustaining an injury.

USE
The 1.5” x 8-foot strap is a very useful tool for keeping the core in place or ensuring proper form for beginner poses or difficult poses. If you are working on improving posture, this strap is very helpful. For beginners or those with posture issues, the wrapping the strap around the waist and shoulders provides a reminder of keeping proper alignment.

I find the strap particularly helpful in my stretches when I am very tight as well as when attempting new poses and positions, or when I just can’t reach far enough for stretches like Cow Face Pose. The strap helps me keep even posture, form, and alignment. I get a deeper stretch in my hamstrings and back and keep better form when I use the strap during a forward bend. If you are unsure of your posture and alignment during a Downward Dog pose, a strap is very helpful. And a Hammock Pose can be enhanced with the use of a strap to keep the tension out of a stretch. My favorite stretch with a strap is the Legs Up in the Air Pose, after a long day this releases tension in the back after just a few minutes. I like to do that one before bed for better sleep at night.

I also find the strap useful to wear while sitting at the computer in my home office; I tend to slump and this helps me keep proper posture when sitting.

Cielo Yoga Block and Strap

CONCLUSION: Straps and blocks are not just for Yoga newbies, they can help make your body feel better and maintain form longer. Cielo Yoga straps and blocks are eco-friendly, waterproof material with comfortable give that is still firm enough to ground down and maintain stability, the block and strap provide stability and balance to aid my alignment for deeper poses and stretches.

Lift Care Essential Wet/Dry Callus Remover

July 1, 2016 · 6 Comments

Lift Care Essential Wet/Dry Callus Remover

This Lift Care Essential Wet/Dry Callus Remover is a rechargeable device with a rotating head that fits two different size callus remover rollers. A cool feature that it charges with a USB charger, which is convenient and fast.

My big toes and heels tend to get pretty rough over the winter, so before summer my feet generally are in need of a foot makeover. I have used manual callus removers in the past that get the job done, but it requires some elbow grease and a few sessions to get the dead skin off. The Lift Care remover exfoliates dry skin easily while I watch TV or read, it is fast to use, and it is an easier cleanup. I find it works better wet getting off the initial layer of dead skin, and dry works best for fine buffing to smooth the skin of remaining flakes.

TIP: The best way use is this to move the device slowly on the surface of the skin, only allowing it to stay in one place for 2-3 seconds at a time. If the unit stops, you are pressing too hard. It took a bit of practice for me to get used to this since I am used to applying a fair amount of pressure when using a manual callus remover. That pressure is not needed with this device. You only need to glide it over your skin to exfoliate.

It comes with a cleaning brush, and it cleans up easily in running water because it is waterproof. The two rollers heads are for working on larger or smaller areas, such as the large one for the heel and the smaller roller for calluses on the toes.

The callus remover comes partial charged but does require a full charge before use.

CONCLUSION: a very useful device that makes quick work of getting feet ready for showing off during sandal season. Charges quickly, sturdy materials, easy to clean.

Lift Care Essential Wet/Dry Callus Remover

I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

Primiracle Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash

June 6, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Summer is already here, and it is time to go into skin-softening overdrive for skin that has been covered up all winter such as arms, shoulders and legs. With the hot air and moisture-robbing air conditioning, and the sun, sand, and pool water, the skin on my legs can use all the help they can get. I like to switch to a gentle hydrating body wash in the summer to maximize my moisturizing efforts. If that is a natural product, all the better.

Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash is a hydrating cleanser that lathers enough to provide a good base for shaving my legs without excessively stripping moisture. I like that the cleansing ingredients are strong enough to clean and remove bacteria, sunscreen lotions or oils, yet there are plenty of gentle ingredients so that it can be used for even sensitive skin conditions such as eczema.

USE
The bottle recommends using the wash with use a loofah, washcloth or your hands. I also found it worked well with my Clarisonic Body Brush Head or a gentle sponge. Only a small amount of wash is needed, about the size of a quarter, and if I am also shaving my legs about a half dollar total. There is a sudsy lather, and it washes away cleanly without a residue.

SCENT
A fresh but very light scent of Tea Tree, Aloe Vera, and lemons while in use, it dries down to a not-detectible scent that does not conflict with any perfumes. The lemon scent is decidedly closer to a limoncello than an artificial Lemon Pledge. I wouldn’t mind if this scent lasted on the skin afterward but I really can’t smell it on myself after use.

INGREDIENTS
Aloe Vera: Did you have an Aloe Vera Plant in your home growing up? We did, and every time someone got a sunburn, out came a cutting of an Aloe leaf and the sticky goo from inside the leaf to soothe it. Aloe Vera hydrates the skin without making it greasy, and when combined with other ingredients, it does not leave the sticky feeling associated with a direct application. Aloe Vera increases the water content of the skin, moisturizing and plumping the skin with hydration. What I find particularly interesting about Aloe Vera is how it is useful for all skin types: it treats acne, it soothes and de-inflames eczema, it tones oily skin, it hydrates dry skin. Multi-purpose Aloe Vera has Gibberellin, which stimulates the growth of new cells. It also keeps flaky, dry skin at bay. A soothing moisturizer that keeps skin hydrated during cleansing, Aloe is a great addition to a body cleanser.

Lemons are an antioxidant cleansing agent rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C assists with collagen production. Lemons also serve as a toner for the skin. Over time, they lighten dark areas such as elbows and knees and make skin appear clear and bright.

Tea Tree Oil has multiple skin care benefits including antibacterial and anti-fungal properties which provide protection against a whole host of infections.

Eucalyptus Oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, so it heals irritation and insect bites. It also soothes and treats acne and inflammation. It has an invigorating sensation when used within a skin wash.

Lavendin Oil is an invigorating form of lavender that repels mosquitos and soothes tired, aching muscles and reduces inflammation. Unlike the lavender variant that causes one to feel sleepy, this stimulating ingredient makes for a great morning pick-me-up in the shower.

RESULTS
I like that this body wash is all natural yet still leaves my skin clean and moisturized. The fine line between a body wash that is overly harsh on the skin and one that is not robust enough to remove toxins and dirt from the beach or being outside is a delicate balance. The proper ingredients in a body wash are essential, or else you negate all your diligent moisturizing efforts. I like the combination of ingredients to both clean, protect, moisturize and invigorate, and I love the lemon scent. It is powerful enough to remove residual bug sprays and sunscreen from an outdoor picnic outing yet gentle enough not to deplete skin of natural oils. A small amount goes a long way towards soft, clean skin.

Primiracle Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash

Smoothly Shea UnRefined Shea Butter: A Certified Premium Grade A Shea Butter

April 7, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Do you know what a lab Certified Grade A Shea Butter is? I didnt but once I learned, I threw away all but one of my existing Shea Butter products. From now on, I am not putting ANYTHING on my skin that isnt “Grade A” Shea Butter.

I don’t want any to use any Shea Butter that does not meet this high-grade standard once I understood what it means: a poor grade Shea is not just less effective, it could be moldy, rancid, or contaminated.

I found that out when doing research about Smoothly Shea UnRefined Shea Butter, which is a very high-quality unrefined Shea Butter suitable for use on skin, hair, and for homemade Shea Butter items such as lip balms and soaps. Unrefined Shea Butter has the important bioactive nutrients that refined Shea Butter lacks. If your Shea Butter experience has been just okay, consider a quality grade unrefined Shea.

The Shea refining process removes potential contaminants but also removes most of the bioactive and moisturizing agents of Shea Butter

I WAS RELUCTANT TO USE AN UNREFINED SHEA: HOW DO I KNOW IF IT IS ANY GOOD OR EVEN SAFE?

I was leery about using unrefined Shea Butter not knowing if it is fresh, pure or even safe, so I did research. There is no governmental requirement to test Shea Butter, so some poor quality Shea, even rancid Shea, is indeed available for sale. So how does one go about finding a trustworthy unrefined Shea Butter?

This article addresses two topics: How to find a safe, pure Unrefined Shea Butter and a product review of a Grade A Premium Shea: the Smoothly Shea Unrefined Shea Butter.

IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY: Independent Shea Butter Vendors can get their Unrefined Shea Butter tested and certified for quality, freshness, purity, potential contaminants and overall safety. Smoothly Shea brand voluntarily submits their Shea Butter batches for testing and sells that which is certified with Premium Grade A.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU CAN TRUST AN UNREFINED SHEA BUTTER

How do you know if a Shea Butter is old, contaminated, moldy, or if it has gone rancid or worse? Researching unrefined Shea Butters leads to the Shea Institute, an organization that tests and grades unrefined Shea Butter.

Shea Institute gives independent Shea Butter vendors the ability to voluntarily test each batch and get a letter grade rating of the Shea quality based on these lab results. This means vendors can assure their customers that they sell only pure, fresh, quality unrefined Shea Butter free of preservatives and consumers can purchase pure unrefined Shea they trust that is a safe product. It is a WIN-WIN for independent vendors and consumers.

This is a big contrast to many commercial products with Shea Butter in it. Because if a Shea Butter has gone rancid, the Shea Institute will assign it a grade D but that Shea can still be sold and used in product manufacturing. Few Shea Butters earn a Grade A certification.

I have probably unknowingly bought some rancid Shea Butter products over the years, the rancidity masked by added fragrances such as lavender oil. One clue that a Shea Butter may be very old or even rancid if it causes acne breakouts, because an unrefined Grade A Shea actually TREATS acne. So I was impressed by what level of freshness and quality is entailed by qualifying to be aGrade A Shea Butter that from now on Grade A Shea Butter is the only kind I am going to buy.

WHAT EXACTLY IS INVOLVED IN UNREFINED SHEA BUTTER LAB TESTING?

According to the Shea Institute website, the analysis includes:

Physical Assessment of Shea
Chemical Assessment of Shea
Moisture Content
Toxin, Metal, and Containment Testing
Microbiological Analysis
Peroxide Values
Fatty Acid Profile
Rancidity Values
Shelf-Life Studies

This testing also includes testing for Lead, Mercury, Mold, Yeast, Products of rancidity, Coliform bacteria (Shigella, E.Coli, Salmonella, etc.) and unsanitary products.

This addressed my concerns of how do I know I am getting a quality unrefined Shea that is safe for use on skin and is both pure and fresh. I didn’t even think about before now that Shea Butter COULD contain some of those things. Yuck.

Smoothly Shea Unrefined Shea Butter is Certified Grade A and Certified Organic by the American Shea Butter Institute (ASBI).

ABOUT THE SMOOTHLY SHEA UNREFINED SHEA BUTTER

As a Certified Grade A Shea Butter, Smoothly Shea has not only passed freshness, purity and safety tests but surpasses levels testing for higher and better bioactive nutrients counts. With superior bioactive fraction counts, this leads to a more powerful Shea Butter to address issues like wrinkles, sunburns, scalp itchiness, acne, stretch marks, and insect bites. It can also be used as a shaving cream, for frost bite, and for cracked skin on the feet.

The protective barrier nature of Shea butter can be used for soothing chemotherapy burns. In this case, it is especially important to use an only a high grade, uncontaminated Shea. Other protective barrier uses include soothing psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.

Shea Butter also soothes sore joints and is useful to apply before exercising and useful for those with arthritis. Shea is also used to moisturize hair and treat scalp disorders and is recommended for hair loss due to scalp conditions.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH USING SMOOTHLY SHEA UNREFINED SHEA BUTTER

Only small amounts are needed to rub between the palms to melt it (like coconut oil) and apply. It smells slightly nutty. As seen in the video, it takes a bit longer than lotion to apply, but less time than commercial product butter I have gotten at the mall. The color of Premium Shea is different than I expected, a golden-ivory, and the feel is completely different, it is not a hard waxy feel that is difficult to rub onto the skin, it melts on contact and is soothing when applied.

MY SHEA TEST CASE: My feet are dry and cracked after a long hard winter, and it only took only a tiny amount to cover my feet AND hands. I have only used it a few times, but my dry cracked hands and feet look younger and feel much softer. It dries down to a non-greasy protective layer that you can feel and it visually leaves the skin appearing dewy but not fake-looking, just healthy. It lasted through several hand-washings during the day and my hands were still soft, which is unusual for me. There is a slightly remaining nutty scent that is a bit more fragrance than I tend to wear, but I think it would be acceptable for a scent-free office.

Want to see the testing results for yourself? Smoothly Shea will make their ASBI premium “Grade-A” certification lab testing reports findings available upon request.

THE PRODUCT SIZE

I expected unrefined Shea to come in some large, messy plastic tubs where the Shea seems to have a waxy, lumpy cream cheese type consistency because that is what I have seen available for sale. So at first, I was surprised at an 8-ounce jar for the price. While it is an unrefined butter, it is firm, dense, and solid. This is not whipped or combined with any other ingredients. There are no additives or fillers, it is just the Shea. This is better to me than the larger tubs since I have no means of removing the impurities that come in these larger unrefined Shea tubs, I am happy to find a product from a vendor that removes all the gunk for me and sells me only the pure product: it is like a refined unrefined Shea all the goodness of the bioactives in the unrefined with none of the unwanted risks.

CONCLUSION:

Most commercially available products from well-known brands such as LâOccitane and Sephora will use refined Shea. When I used these products, my skin and hair were softer but nothing special, not the fuss one hears about online about pure unrefined Shea Butter. And some Shea Butter products have given me acne and all my Shea Butters felt waxy after application, this one does not, it is soft and there no absolutely no waxy feel.

Even with daily use, This jar will last me a while, but I would not hesitate to re-order it and I only plan on buying Shea Butter that displays a Grade A certification from now on. It is a smaller container than some Shea Butters which come in a larger vat but Smoothly Shea is pure and a little bit goes a long way. I prefer knowing it is the safety of a regulated product with all the goodness and quality of a natural and pure Shea.

I am very pleased to have found this product and to know I should be selective in future my Shea purchases.