Essential Oils to Improve Mood

March 12, 2014

I began getting into essential oils last summer, when my mom, who is really interested in alternative therapies, suggested I check them out. I did a lot of research, and found that essential oils are 100% natural, and therefore cannot be patented. For this reason, drug companies won't be spending money conducting any studies on them, and therefore mainstream doctors won't be suggesting we use them due to lack of scientific evidence. However, essential oils have been used for thousands of years and while there aren't many studies out there due to lack of funding, there are a few that attest to their benefits.

How to Make Your Own Ghee

March 6, 2014

The first time I heard about ghee was during yoga teacher training when my teacher mentioned going to an Ayurveda institute where he joked that they believed ghee to be the cure for everything and he heard of people drinking a whole bunch of it in the name of health. Anyway, ever since then I've steered clear of it, haunted by images of boiling hot oil being poured down my throat, but in reading the GAPS book to learn more about the diet I'm following to heal my stomach, I realized it had a ton of benefits (though one should probably avoid drinking a ton of it- ha!).

Pin it! 3 yoga poses to combat PMS.Wearing: Teeki northern lights pants, f21 tank, f21 crop top (similar). Using: Manduka travel mat. — Pin it! 3 yoga poses to combat PMS.
Wearing: Teeki northern lights pants, f21 tank, f21 crop top (similar). Using: Manduka travel mat.

3 Yoga Poses for PMS

March 5, 2014

If you ask three different yoga instructors what they think about doing yoga while having your period, you'll get three different answers. In my opinion, there's no universally correct answer - do what feels right for your body. For me personally? I like taking it easy by doing a restorative practice or, ya know, curling up on the couch with some chocolate and an old funny movie. Sometimes the body just needs a break, you know?

Anyway, if you're inclined to practice, here are three yoga poses that may help combat all the joys of that week like headaches, cramps and irritability. :)

How to make Coconut Milk and Coconut Flour

February 3, 2014

We made our own coconut milk and coconut flour the other day and the process was so easy that I had to share. I couldn't believe how much money I had spent in years past on store-bought coconut milk ( and even the "all natural" kind has carageenan in it- check the label!!), and don't even get me started on the coconut flour. It costs almost 10 bucks for a small bag here! Well, now for just under $2.00 I can make both coconut milk and flour. Yeah!

In order to make these, you will need...

GAPS Tomato Soup

January 22, 2014

Monday was one of those perpetually grey, drizzly days that are perfect for a homemade soup. I was craving tomato soup so I picked up the tomatoes, along with celery and carrots and hoped for the best. The only thing I would've changed is the amount of carrots I used- I think one less would've made it perfect. For a garnish I used our homemade sour cream. Sour cream is ridiculously easy to make, is a healthy, healing probiotic food and an essential component to the GAPS diet. You can get the recipe in my eBook (along with a bunch of others, yoga sequences and meditation prompts) for free when you sign up for the YogaByCandace newsletter.

Eastern Carrot Kale Juice

January 20, 2014

One of the benefit of spending time away from the US is experiencing food I don't normally see at home. In Dubai, I saw strange looking squashes. In Thailand, I saw all sorts of sea animals I'd never seen elsewhere. And the other day in Germany, I picked up eastern carrots.