Rising Lotus Health & Wellness

02/05/2024

01/19/2023

Are you having a hard time getting up in the morning?

Here are some tips to help you get the family on the go:

Make Small Changes
Save yourself from making those morning demands by slowly setting your alarm to wake up earlier each morning (as well as going to bed each evening earlier). Try these small, 10-minute increments until you reach the optimal bedtime and wake-up times.

Prepare the Night Before
Prep as much as you can the night before. Have lunches planned and clothes picked out.

Limit Gadgets
Have a pre-bed cutoff for electronics as the blue screen can affect sleep. Try at least an hour before bedtime.

Stay Consistent
We all want to sleep in a little on the weekends, but allowing the extra sleep time can derail you for the week. Best to stay on a schedule.

What is the hardest part of getting up in the morning?

01/18/2023

While we all can’t go running to the spa every time we could use a little self-care, there are some treatments you can do at home to give you the feeling of being at the spa, but without the price tag.

Try one or all of these relaxing “spa” treatments:

Lemon Water
Make yourself a pitcher of lemon water with fresh mint to treat your senses.

Music
Put on your favorite tunes. This might be something calm and relaxing, or it might be that album from high school that you secretly love.

Candles
Candles! Why not? Light a few in your bathroom for your bath. The light of candles is naturally calming.

Foot Soak
A calming foot soak is great before that mani/pedi. And it is as easy as pouring warm water into a bowl with Epsom salt, olive oil, and your favorite essential oil.

Mani/Pedi
Pamper yourself with a fresh coat of polish on your fingers and toes! Plan ahead and buy yourself a new color.

Mask
Create a natural DIY mask to smooth and soften your skin. Here are some wonderful recipes to try: https://wellnessmama.com/12200/face-mask-recipes/

How do you relax at home?

01/17/2023

Cinnamon is a flavor or scent often associated with desserts or the holiday season. It has an intensely warm aroma that prompts cravings for coffee cake, hot cocoa, and any number of rum-infused drinks, but did you know that cinnamon gives off more than just a desire for a cozy spot by the fire?

This powerhouse spice is a super antioxidant that packs all of this in just one tablespoon:
-4 grams of fiber
-68 percent daily value manganese
-4 percent daily value iron
-3 percent daily value vitamin K

01/16/2023

With many of our lives on the go, we have learned the habits of living a fast life, even down to how we eat.

But did you know that eating slowly has some great benefits?

Aside from forcing yourself to slow down to actually enjoy your food, chewing slowly promotes digestion, as well as weight loss, as you will be better able to listen to fullness cues. Plus, you can reduce stress because you are practicing more mindfulness and paying closer attention to how you feel.

Try to slow down by chewing each bite at least 10 times, or try putting your fork down between each bite to enjoy the food in your mouth.

Do you have a tendency to eat quickly?

01/13/2023

Did you know that there are opportunities to improve your skin right in the grocery store?

Sound too good to be true?

Well, give one of these treatments a try to see for yourself:

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a wrinkle buster. Put a slice of orange over each eye, lay back for 10 minutes, and let the orange work its magic!

Almond Oil
Almond oil is vitamin E rich, which is great for giving your skin a lift. Massage a small amount of almond oil into your skin for 10 minutes a day, and start seeing results.

Honey
Honey is a great skin firmer. Add honey to a bit of plain yogurt and rub it on your face for 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water and enjoy a fresh face!

Do you have any homemade skin care routines that work for you?

01/12/2023

In the time of Instagram, a big plate makes food look more photo-worthy, but when you are trying to drop a few pounds before that class reunion, or that beach trip, a big plate is a bad idea.

Here’s why:

Placing your portion sizes on a larger plate makes your portions look smaller which can cause you to feel unsatiated, whereas placing the same amounts on a smaller plate gives the appearance of abundance.

Give this trick a try and see how you feel.

01/11/2023

When many of us think of cauliflower, we think of a bland and boring addition to a crudité platter, but cauliflower is a powerful, hormone balancing food packed with vitamins C and K. Believe it or not, there are many ways to incorporate it into your diet.

Here are just a few:

Cauliflower Rice
Cut cauliflower into florets and pulse in a food processor until it is the size of rice. Saute with a little oil. Use this to replace rice in your next dish!

Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
Steam cauliflower florets and then blend with milk or stock until creamy. Try this low-fat version of a classic!

Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Speaking of classics, try this crust on your next pizza night: http://www.halfyourplate.ca/recipe/cauliflower-pizza-crust/

How do you get your cauliflower in?

01/10/2023

Did you know that children with irregular bedtimes are more likely to have behavioral problems? Studies have shown that lack of quality sleep puts your child at risk for being in a constant state of tiredness, likened to the feeling of jetlag.

Here are some ways to promote better sleeping habits:

Consistency
As a parent, you know the importance of follow-through. If you set a bedtime, be sure to adhere to it. This includes a wake-up time as well.

Involvement
Make bedtime a positive experience. Create a checklist with your child for all the steps to bed from pajamas, toothbrushing, to picking out a nighttime book.

Stick to It
Anticipate the requests for water, another story, and extra hugs and kisses by giving the option of one out of three. Stick to this rule, and it will eventually become your routine.

What are some successful ways you have found to keep your child in bed at night?