Tag: health

I hear the term “self care” thrown out there a LOT. In fact, I use the words “self care” frequently myself! Self care has the potential to help us sustain our health and our relationship to ourselves. But what is “self care” really – and how do we practice it?

I want to take a moment and unpack the concept of “self care” as I have come to experience and understand it in my life, in my practice and in my work.

There is more to self care than the “treat yourself nice” type of care. Consumer self care (spa days, pedicures, afternoons at the beach) can be yummy and nourishing, but by itself it only provides a quick fix from the stresses of life.

What form of self-care is deeper?

Deep Self Care

Deep self care is about having your own back and attending to yourself much like a parent would a child. It means getting real and making clear choices for your long-term wellness. This is capital S-elf care.

Sometimes self care is pretty and smells good. But sometimes this kind of consumer self care only scratches the surface of what we really, deeply need. While it may be pleasant to spend a your day at the spa, we may found ourselves replaying out habitual stress patterns the very next day. When we look at our lives more holistically, maybe a better form of true self care would be to create a spreadsheet for your monthly budget or dig into that relationship that isn’t really serving you anymore… get my drift?

Self care is care provided “for you, by you”. It’s about identifying your own needs and taking steps to meet them. While it may involve a spa day, it is also about taking the time to do the activities that nurture you and support your priorities. And it is so much more. It is practicing your ability to survive and thrive and by building your intuitiveness and resilience.

Take some time to connect to yourself and get clear on your true self care needs. At times, this may lead you to delight in simplicity without having to buy, consume or add anything. At other times, you may be guided to a specific food, a practitioner, a city, a task (that budget, for example), a class or a massage.

Sacred Ritual

Self Care is a sacred ritual.

Any action that you take that has meaning and effects beyond its surface appearance. Health and happiness are not things that comes ready made; they arise from your own actions: your intentional, mindful and powerful actions. The choice is always yours.

If you’d like to learn more about creating your personal deep self-care strategy, I’m offering complimentary 30-minute sessions through September 30 in Vancouver or via Skype. It’s an opportunity to get clear, define your deeper needs, and set your priorities for a sustainable fall and winter.

Book a free 30-minute session.

Swedish death cleaning:

döstädning: cleaning and de-cluttering before you die

My friend was moving across the country. In preparation for her move, she was sorting her possession into two piles: what would be moved, and what would be sacrificed to the Salvation Army gods. She sighed and blew her hair out of her face as she placed an armful of clothing into the Sally Ann pile, “I am embracing the Swedish death clean,” she declared.

“Pardon, the what?”

“The Swedish death clean,” she said, “it’s when you declutter your life before you die so your heirs don’t have to deal with your crap. But, you know, I am going to embrace it now. I want to get ride of it all!” She looked at her piles, then moved a pair of jeans back in her “keep” box. “Well…most of it.”

Generally speaking, we humans don’t deal well with change. We don’t like letting go. Whether we’re giving up the teddy bear from fourth grade (“I can’t possibly throw Mr. Fuzzy out!”),  moving cities, changing jobs, or ending a relationship, we hate the idea of dissolution.

“Death is hard, even for the wise.” – The Yoga Sutra

When I moved from New York City to Vancouver, I was completely disoriented. All the pillars that I had used to identify myself (“I’m an actor,” “I’m a New Yorker,” “I’m an American,”) were gone. Those anchors had made me feel safe, grounded, and relevant, dammit. Rather than realizing that I was still “me” (no matter where I was or what I was doing), I kept scrambling to try to fix my problem and find something else to hold onto.

The external stuff that we cling to (whether it’s a physical object or a mental idea about who we are) feels very comforting, but it also keeps us stuck in an idea about who we are “supposed” to be.

• “I’m a doctor.”
• “I’m a mom.”
• “I’m a yoga teacher.”

Even worse, you may get stuck in someone else’s idea of who you are supposed be. Uh-oh. And – newsflash – the nature of the world is to change. Trying to keep the external world from changing is a recipe for suffering.

Ignorance is mistaking the impermanent for the permanent. – The Yoga Sutra

Ironically – scrambling to “stay safe” will also keep you from realizing that you are already okay.

It’s like rock climbing. Imagine for a moment that you’re halfway up the rock face and fighting hard to hold onto your climbing rope. You’re terrified of falling and you’re starting to slip. And yet when you are forced to let go, you discover that you were strapped in a safety harness the whole time. Ta-da! But until you dared release your grip, you couldn’t see that everything was fine.

When we let go of our external labels, we discover that we are already whole, safe, and free.

Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found. – Pema Chodron

Here’s the invitation: Swedish death clean your life.

Do a literal Swedish death clean, and get rid of that box of comics from the 80’s or collection of teaspoons from childhood. Or you could death clean your  habits or relationships. Challenge your comfortable routines.

Shake up your firm and steady ground. Enjoy the free fall. And let your true nature arise.

Have you ever wondered what will improve your sport performance or prevent sport-related injuries?

Doing more of our desired activity may seem like the obvious answer. For example, if we want to improve performance in swimming or running, then to do more swimming or running would improve our performance in both respectively.

However, while that may be true, if all we did was the same activity we would hit a certain plateau where we are no longer making advances in skill and performance development. Also, by routinely engaging strictly in the same activity and the same movement patterns, we subject ourselves to more wear and tear on the same muscles and joints. Not only can this lead to injury, it can also cause a disengaging level of boredom and loss of enjoyment. If we infuse a variety of exercise and movement with an activity such as yoga, however, we capture the benefits of cross-training.

Cross-training

Cross-training is designed to elevate an athlete’s performance. It is a strategic combination of exercise variety to enhance skill and performance. For the weekend warrior or recreational sport enthusiast, cross training can assist in total body fitness and help prevent injury. If we are inclined to engage in a variety of exercise modalities, we are also more likely to adhere to an exercise program or routine which makes exercise fun and enjoyable. A regular yoga practice with elements such as Asana, Pranayama and meditation can be a wonderful addition to our routine to improve our fitness level and establish a connection of spirit mind and body.

Asana, a Sanskrit word referring to poses, provides an opportunity to observe our movement. We notice the body’s cues, strengths and weaknesses, especially when practicing at a slower pace. Yoga is about the journey rather than the destination and provides a beneficial opportunity to notice our movement rather than just achieve a specific pose expression.

Develop Movements, Not Muscles

The theory of developing movements rather than muscles is more recognized in sport-specific or high-performance trainings. Have you ever looked closely at movement into and out of a yoga pose? Did you notice that Tree pose (vrksasana) and Warrior 2 (virabhadrasana 2) are a part of a baseball pitcher’s wind up? Have you observed the execution of Warrior 3 (virabhadrasana 3) and how it mimics that of a single-leg deadlift?  A regular yoga practice can encourage safe and effective movement patterns that directly transfer to sport performance. For example, chair pose (utkatasana) or any of the forward folds will enhance the mechanics of hip-hinging. Hinging at the hips is paramount for a safe and effective deadlift. The key is to choose poses that resemble your desired sport or activity to refine movement and further develop skill and performance. It is equally (if not more important) to choose poses that are opposite to your desired sport or activity. Working the opposing muscles assists to avoid postural dysfunctions or repetitive-use injuries. 

Breath Awareness

In yoga, breathing practice is referred to as Pranayama or controlled (mindful) breathing. While there are many Pranayama techniques with unique benefits, the first objective is to become aware, through mindfulness, of our breath pattern and control. This heightened awareness slows breathing down, which can increase its effectiveness. Most of us chest breathe, which means we inhale and exhale up in the chest space using only 20% of our lung capacity. Belly breathing, however, is when the diaphragm expands down into the belly, which helps bring breath into the lower lobes of the lungs. A pranayama technique called diaphragmatic breathing, or 3-part breathing, teaches us to fill the lungs from the bottom to the top to expand the belly, then the ribs and then the chest. We follow that with an exhale, releasing the chest then the ribs and then the belly. This 3-part, full diaphragmatic breathing (or yogi breathing) is a great foundation to acquire the skills of other Pranayama techniques. Controlled breathing promotes optimal cellular exchange, reduces stress levels and wards off stress-related illness such as Cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

Another aspect of the body strongly affected by controlled breathing is our nervous system. A lot of life demands a sympathetic nervous system response: fight or flight. Our overtaxed nervous system comes from always being on the go, operating with many things on our plate or even overtraining. Slow, deep breathing allows access to the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), where the body has the ability to rest, destress and heal. It is also when we make training adaptations such as strength gains, increased lean muscle mass, power, speed and even weight loss. Even 3-5 minutes of pranayama placed at the beginning or at the end of your workout will improve your focus and create synchronicity with your breath and movement. Over the long term, deeper breathing will come more naturally and overall breath and body awareness will improve performance and skill development.

Meditation

Mindful breathing opens the door to meditation, a practice dating back centuries and has profound benefits that interface with all aspects of life, even our workouts. It is also profoundly effective in training the mind. Regular mediation alters brain function, improving our ability to focus and concentrate. By helping us to develop the effective pause between stimulus and response, we become less reactive and more conscious of our actions. A regular meditation practice helps to reduce stress and fear and also helps replace negative-pattern thinking with positive. It promotes better sleep patterns, builds our immune system, improves our mood and allows us the capacity to program our body to perform with precision. With improved focus and a heightened mind-body awareness, we are more equipped to meet our training goals. We are also equipped with better sleep patterns and a high-functioning immune system to give us strength against illness and injury or to heal and repair should either occur.

Conclusion

A regular practice will produce noticeable results. Asana practice 2-3 times per week will yield benefits in how we move and how we feel. Pranayama and meditation may be built into our day beginning with as little as 5-10 minutes and expanding as desired and shift the way we think and perceive the world around us. Because of its multifaceted practice and holistic benefits, yoga addresses training for spirit, mind and body. Yoga, though not necessarily the first cross-training activity we think of, is a surprisingly excellent choice.

My client Julia called me yesterday in despair.

“I promised to make big changes in my life this year. I was so excited and motivated on January 1 ! Now only 2 weeks later I’ve basically thrown them all out the window.”

In the past year, Julia had been under a lot of stress and let her bad habits take over. Her company downsized and even though she didn’t lose her job, she was doing the work of three people and being underpaid. Then for months she didn’t put much effort into finding that great relationship she wanted so badly and had shied away from many social plans.

“I don’t have the time or the energy and I feel so blah. I just want to go home and hide.”

Julia didn’t feel confident and hadn’t been motivated to do anything consistently about it. She kept putting it all off and didn’t feel good physically or mentally about herself or her body.

“Once I feel more confident and better about myself I’ll be motivated to do it all. Once things slow down I’ll really focus on myself.” Julia realized that an entire year had passed and she was still stuck in the same place, making the same promises to herself and not following through.

She then asked the magic question,

“What’s wrong with me? Why do I keep doing this to myself?”

I answered with one of my favourite quotes from A Course in Miracles: “Do you not see that all your misery comes from the strange belief that you are powerless?” Then I asked her, “Do you want to be suffering over the same issues a year from now?”

Julia had been doing what so many of us do:

• She had been afraid of stepping into her greatness and going for all of her dreams.
• She had been unwilling to push through discomfort.
• She had gotten stuck in a pattern of settling, tolerating and holding onto safety.
• She was playing small to stay under the radar rather than taking the powerful actions to be that woman she dreamed of being.

But…I could hear in her voice: she was tired of listening to herself complain.

“I see that I keep procrastinating and so much time is going by. I’m missing out on so much in life.”

Julia decided to make a commitment to herself. It was time to pour on the self-love and self-care she had been missing! She was ready to let go of all the justifications and bad inner dialog she had entertained and believed for so long.

Does anything about Julia’s situation seem familiar?  Are you ready for your own dose of self-love and self-care? It will help you change anything!

Here’s my suggestion:

Sign up for my 6-week course, The Illuminated Woman. I teach this 6-week coaching course with Dana James (a triple certified nutritionist who is also trained in cognitive behavioural therapy). Specially designed for women, this course will help you undo self-defeating patterns, radically shift your relationship with food, and set up healthy mental and physical habits for self-nourishment and self-love.

Details:

• Starts Tuesday, February 13
• Runs for 6 consecutive weeks
• All calls are recorded in case you can’t make the phone call live!

 WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Seven-day meal plans for each week – these are plant-rich plans that can be adjusted for a vegan diet.
• 70-minute calls for 6 consecutive weeks.
• Your own 45-minute private coaching call with me to tackle specific concerns.
• Emails to troubleshoot and remind you that you’re supported on this journey.
• Commitment to each other and ourselves to stay motivated focused and nourished over this 6-week program.

BONUS GIFTS:

• 1lb raw, organic Beauti-fuel protein powder developed by Dana James.
• My 7-day Brain & Body Boot Camp program, featuring fitness guru Amanda Russell with streaming video and mind exercises.

PRICING:

• $699 USD for 6-week program.
• $625: early bird discounted price for sign-up by Friday, February 2.

It’s time for self-love!

The journey to work starts the moment you step out of bed. I’m not going to tell you to do a 5-10 min “wake up” workout. I know that is a not a sustainable practice for most people who work full time. It is a far better idea to begin with small activities that will produce incremental gains.

Once you have incorporated these six fitness exercises into your daily work schedule, then you can concentrate on making substantial and long-lasting improvement!

1) Active Teeth Brushing

It may sound strange, but the time you spend brushing your teeth in the morning and evening could be used simultaneously to help you warm up and cool down during the day.

If you spend two minutes brushing your teeth, that means you are standing over the sink for a whole two minutes when you could start activating and mobilize your body. Side/kick back is a great way to activate your glutes and increase circulation in your lower body. Add a few squats and lunges and you will feel a massive difference. It is surprising how such brief exercise can get you energized for the day.

2) Skip One Bus Stop

When I arrived in London I was shocked to find how many bus stops you have here! It prevents you from walking. Getting off one stop early and walking the rest of the distance is going to be very beneficial. Movement promotes healthy living.

Often the next bus stop may only be a few hundred metres away. Trust me, it is worth walking those extra steps. After a couple of weeks these steps accumulate and without realizing you’ve covered miles and miles more than you would have if you had got the bus right to your door.

Skipping one bus stop is the way to go!

3) Take the Stairs

Another great way to train your legs without making your working day any longer is to use stairs. Instead of using escalators or elevators I try to quickly climb stairs, it is often a faster way to get around tube and train stations. Climbing stairs works your core muscles, thighs and glutes.

It is a great exercise to tone your bum and you can do it daily with no gym membership needed!

4) Ride Your Bike to Work

Save money and get fit at the same time. Commuting around big cities can be a nightmare and sometimes you can get stuck and packed into a bus or train. Start riding a bike to work or at least try and ride halfway.

There is no excuse anymore either! I have noticed that more and more, public bikes are available on practically every other street corner in London. It means you do not have to even buy a bike or worry about storage. The health benefits are limitless!

5) Stand

Standing on the way to work on the bus or train is going to make you more secure in your body and strengthen your muscles. If standing for 20-30 minutes is tiring, you need to take a closer look at your physical health. When you stand in public transport you can’t do any elaborate squats or do kick backs but you can activate your glutes and your thighs.

Connect with your body, contract and release your muscles, feel that extra blood circulation.

6) Get a Foldable Commuting Scooter

If owning a bike creates storage issues getting a foldable commuting scooter can be a great solution. It makes you move and it’s a great way to get more active on the way to work. If you don’t have time to get off one stop earlier and walk, a scooter can get you where you need to go much faster. It is easy to carry on the train or a bus and when you get to work you can store it under your desk.

Get Started Today!

Hopefully with a bit of hard work you can kickstart your journey towards being fit and active. Making these small changes can have a big impact and may be the foundation from which you can launch yourself into a healthier and more active lifestyle.

This is for all the desk jockeys out there. You know who you are. Your days are spent in front of a computer – you’ve likely got tight hips, a sore low back, rounded shoulders, neck pain, wrist pain, overall poor posture, and soreness – and you know that your posture is taking a hit. You can feel the effects that your non-physical job is having on your physical body, and you know that you need to take action in order to feel better.

You have likely heard the saying that sitting is the new smoking. When those words first rang through my ears, I had to pause and really thing about them. Could it be true? No. I mean, maybe? Hmm. While being sedentary isn’t quite as harmful as inhaling carcinogenic chemicals, sitting can wreak havoc on your body.

According to Dr. Alice Chen in this Huffington Post video, the average American is sitting for 7.7 hours per day! As we sit there are many physical and physiological effects on the body.

Side effects of sitting include:

• Sore and tight muscles due to reduced circulation;
• Low back pain due to compression of the spine;
• Compression of your ribs, lungs, and digestive organs;
• Over-stretching of the rhomboids and upper back muscles;
• Neck strain;
• Brain fog, also due to lack of circulation and getting oxygen to the brain.

Now that we know some of the nasty side effects that can happen from too much sitting, let’s talk about some yoga poses that you can do to help lessen the side effects.

Hold on a second, my timer just went off, which is my reminder to get up and move. So, how about if you close your eyes and take 5 deep breaths? This will give you a moment to connect to your breath, and will also give me time to stand and stretch.

Thanks! Ok, I’m back. Experts recommend that we take a break from sitting and get up and move. In this TODAY article, Keith Diaz – a lead author at Columbia University Medical Center – suggests movement every 30 minutes, even if it is just for 60 seconds. You can set a timer or your phone to remind you to get up and move. You might take a lap around your office, fill up your water glass, or just stand and fold over your legs, which will also help your spine to decompress.

Here are 5 yoga poses that will help counter the effects of sitting. It won’t take you long to get through all of these, so no more excuses, get moving. NOW!

1. Cow/Cat

These two poses help to bring movement into the spine, open up the chest, and unite movement and breath.

• Come to a tabletop position, with your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Your toes can be tucked (as shown) or untucked.
• As you inhale, soften your belly towards the earth. Widen your collar bones as you pull your heart through your shoulders and look up. Let your sitting bones widen apart and point up towards the space behind you.
• As you exhale, push the earth away from you. With the movement initiating from your tailbone, round through your spine as you look towards your thighs. Squeeze your belly button towards your spine as you empty the air from your lungs. Spread your shoulder blades apart. Keep your neck muscles relaxed. Create a lot of space between your chest and the earth.
• Continue for 5 cycles of breath.

*For an added stretch through the forearms, turn your hands so your fingers are pointing towards your knees, with the heels of your hands flat on the earth. You might need to bring your hands closer to your knees. If you don’t feel a stretch, start to slowly move your hips towards your heels until you find the desired stretch.

2. Downward Facing Dog

This pose helps to lengthen the spine, strengthen the wrists and arms, decompress
the low back, and stretch the legs.

• Start in a tabletop position with your hands placed outer shoulder-width apart. Walk your hands one hand’s length forward. Align your middle fingers to point straight ahead while spreading the fingers wide.
• Connect the base of each finger to the ground and then press down through the fingertips and heel of the hand. Be sure to keep the outside edges of your index fingers pressing into the earth and not peeling away from it.
• Tuck your toes, lift your knees and draw your sitting bones towards the space behind you. Bring length into your spine until you are in the shape of an upside-down letter “V”. Look at your feet to be sure they are placed hip-width apart (about two fists-width between the inner edges of your feet).
• Spin your inner elbows slightly up towards the sky until you feel your upper arm bones externally rotate and your collar bones widen. Feel the arm bones plug into your body as the shoulders draw away from your ears.
• Keep length in the spine and feel the torso lengthen as the hips pull back. Soften the space behind the knees and reach the heels towards the ground.
• Look forward and check to see that your hands are still connected to the earth. Keep your ears in line with your biceps and the muscles of your neck relaxed. Feel your side body muscles of your upper and mid back engage, which will help stabilize you and bring length to the spine. Strengthening these muscles helps alleviate strain on the wrists and you’ll create a sustainable Downward Dog.
• Hold for 5 breaths.

3. Standing Backbend

This pose helps to open the chest and strengthen the upper back body.

• With your feet hip-distance apart, take the heels of your hands onto the backs of the hips (like you were placing your hands into pant pockets) with your fingertips pointing towards the ground.
• Lengthen your tailbone towards the earth as your belly draws up and in.
• Draw your inner elbows together and bring your shoulder blades closer together. This will help lift the back of the heart towards the front of the chest.
• Draw your chin towards your throat and then lift your heart up towards the sky. Let your eyes look towards the space behind you.
• Root through your heels and keep your hips stacked on top of your knees (so they don’t press too far forward).
• Use your inhale breath to find expansion through your collar bones and exhale as you draw your shoulder blades closer together and open through your chest.
• Hold for 5 breaths.
• Use your inhale breath to slowly rise back up.

4. Supported Bridge

This pose helps relax the hip flexors (which are often tight from sitting) as well as open
up the chest.

• Lie down on your back with your knees bent, your feet hip-width apart, and your arms by your sides.
• Press your heels into the ground and lift your hips up towards the sky.
• Keep the space that you have created underneath your hips, place a block (or two) underneath your sacrum (base of your spine), and then lower your hips down to the block.
• Hold for 5 breaths.
• Press down through your heels, lift your hips, remove the blocks, and gently lower your hips to the ground.

5. Twist

Twists are great for overall spine health and also act as a way to naturally detoxify the
body.

• Lie down on your back with your knees bent and your feet hip-width apart. Reach your arms out wide.
• Press down through your heels to lift your hips and slide them a few inches to your left, then set your hips down.
• Let your knees gently fall to the right, bringing them towards the ground.
• If there is space between your knees, you can place a block in between the knees or underneath the right knee.
• Turn your head to the left as long as there is no discomfort in your neck.
• If the twist feels too intense, press your feet away from you, which will take the knees away from the chest.
• If you want to make the twist more intense, draw your knees closer towards your chest.
• Hold for 5-8 breaths, longer if you like.
• Bring your gaze back to centre, and then bring your knees and hips back to centre.
• Repeat on the left side.

Sometimes, it is the smallest changes that can lead us to different, healthier habits. Begin to notice how your body feels when you return back to the office. As your brain and body start to communicate more effectively, you might find that your posture at work starts to improve. You might notice that your body is a bit less stiff than it used to be. Help reduce office fatigue by choosing to get up and move throughout the day, and add these simple stretches into your daily routine. Desk jockey, you’ve got this!

Health-conscious readers, check it out!

Skin products – makeup, body care, sunscreen – can be a sneaky source of toxins and chemicals. And here we are, applying them directly on our skin! In a nutshell, the US only bans 30 toxic chemicals from skin products; Beautycounter bans 1500. One of my long time friends Ashley Wilson recently got involved with BeautyCounter. Since she’s a nurse, a smarty pants, and super conscious about her household products, I wanted to share her discoveries with you.

Just in time for your New Years Resolution.

Rachel: So, tell my readers a little about you?

Ashley: I am a Vancouverite, a Registered Nurse (RN) at Canuck Place Hospice and a mom of two awesome, energetic children, 4.5 year old girl and a 1 year old boy. I have traveled extensively and have recently been focused on my kiddos.

Rachel: What got you interested in the quality of household products? 

Ashley: Many years ago now,  I read an article about Respiratory Therapists (RTs) in the hospital getting pulmonary diseases and it was traced to the nebulized medications they were giving. When you administer medications as a mist, you are frequently standing around the person and many times holding the mask on the person. I did this with countless of my paediatric patients. The study was of RTs, but RNs also give these medications. I became concerned about the chemicals I was being exposed to and inhaling. That which helps sick lungs could damage healthy ones. It was then that I noticed that as I was liberally spraying Windex in my bathroom that I could taste the chemicals.

Rachel: Ew.

Ashley: Yeah! I started thinking about how much I must be inhaling in this small room. This got me thinking about all the chemicals I use in my home and how much I am inhaling, absorbing or inadvertently eating. I started putting my toothbrush away while I sprayed the mirror. I wondered about when I  scrubbed my tub with chemicals, how much is rinsed away and how much is added to my next bath. I did a little research and easily found alternatives for cleaning. I switched to vinegar and baking soda and have never looked back. However, when it came to beauty care products and detergents, I found that more difficult.

Rachel: Why?

Ashley: There is a list of the dirty dozen that you have to make sure are not in your products. I  found it hard to remember what I should avoid and even harder to find the list of  ingredients on many of the products. On top of that, my daughter wants to play with makeup and I can’t bring myself to put anything on her. 

Rachel: How did you get involved in Beauty Counter?

Ashley: I was introduced to Beautycounter from my friend Jen Steidl. She lives in Seattle and also a nurse and we have known each other a long time and had many adventures. Her two friends – a Chiropractor a Naturopath – got her involved. Jen told me about the founder and CEO Gregg Renfrew. Gregg (a woman) went through a similar process as myself of wanted to rid her home of chemicals. Her awareness was sparked after watching the documentary,  The Inconvenient Truth. This led her to being appalled by what was happening in the beauty industry.  

Rachel: Why, what’s going on in the beauty industry?

Ashley: In the United States, only 30 toxic chemicals have been banned. The last time legislation was changed was in 1938 when a woman went blind from an eyelash thickening treatment!  Canada is better: 600 toxic chemicals have been banned. The United Kingdom bans 1400. But Beautycounter bans 1500, and these 1500 chemicals comprises Beautycounter’s Never List. This list continues to grow.

Rachel: Whoa. That’s insane!  Are these chemicals really that bad?

Ashley: They are hormone disruptors, and some are connected to infertility and cause cancer. Even with chemicals banned, regulating the companies is minimal. The governments don’t have the manpower. In addition, there are many loopholes companies can get around the regulations, such as listing fragrance. This is a big warning sign on any label. Fragrance can encompassed anything and not be monitored (it is seen as their secret recipe). Complaints can be made and not have to be reported to the government agency.

Rachel: Yikes. So you joined their team?

Ashley: I want to be with a company that is making a change and that is being a disruptor. I also want a side hustle that I believe in. 🙂 

Rachel: Why do you like Beautycounter?

Beautycounter considers people, planet and profits equally. They are not just leading the way by making safer beauty care; they want to change the laws. They are going to DC and Ottawa and working on getting legislations changed. They want transparency and are being leaders. They are making a difference. They recently joined with Tuft University to support independent research.

Rachel: Okay, that sounds good. 

Ashley: I love the mission. The number one goal of Beautycounter is to educate. Also, it’s easy. I can order from my home. And if I don’t like it, I can return what I bought and I have 60 days to do so.

Rachel: What are your fave products?

Ashley: I love the products!! I love the cleansing balm, I love the body scrub and I love the dew skin foundation. What really got me interested was the sunscreen. It is great and fantastic for my kids.  Beautycounter is always coming out with new eye shadow palettes and lip gloss colours. Christy Coleman is a celebrity makeup artist that is on the team to bring in expert knowledge and gives awesome tips. There is a skincare regime for everyone. And make up… All the make up you would ever need.

Rachel: Okay, give us the skinny. What should people do to find out more?

Ashley: Check them out online. There is a ton of information on their website. You can be a client, hold a social, become a member, or partner with me.  I would love to be your consultant. You pay $25 USD per year to be a member, and you get free shipping after $100 USD and 15% product credit and special offers. A social is where you invite a few friends to your home or coffee shop and I can tell them about Beautycounter and our mission. As the host, you are eligible for free gifts and 50% of products depending on how much your group buys. Contact me anytime!

Rachel: Awesome.