Category: Fit & Health

Fit & Health

Benefits of Tomatillos & Salsa Recipe

August 20, 2024

I am slightly obsessed with tomatillos. Yes. Tomatillos, those small “green” tomatoes you often overlook because they look weird. The past few weeks, I have been using them in everything from salsa to salads just to switch things up. After a bit of research, I learned tomatillos are also great for overall health and can lead to healthy hair. Benefits of Tomatillos for Healthy Hair & Body These small tomatoes are filled with minerals such as magnesium, copper, and potassium. They also contain a substantial amount of vitamin C and K and fiber. According to Organic Facts, “Tomatillos contain unique antioxidant phytochemicals called withanolides, which have been directly linked to anti-cancer and antibacterial functions.” Tomatillos are great for eye health, weight-loss and even boost the health of your immune system, which is all ideal for healthy hair from the inside out. Lazy & Easy Tomatillos Salsa 2 handfuls of tomatillos 5 grape tomatoes or 1 small red tomato 1/3 stalk of cilantro 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of black pepper Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse until desired consistency. Once you made this salsa, add it to this quick and easy vegetarian rice bowl. I am obsessed with making simple “bowl” meals. Check out one of my favorite ones that only need a few ingredients. Quick Vegetarian Rice Bowl Rice & Quinoa: Cook equal parts of quinoa and rice in rice cooker with equal parts of water Mushrooms: Sauté mushrooms in a pan with coconut oil on med-high heat. Once tender add 2-3 tablespoon of coconut amino and lower heat to simmer for 2-4 mins. Avocado: Cut and remove seed of avocado. Add to bowl. Add juice of one small lime on top of an avocado and slightly smash together. Add everything together in a bowl and enjoy!

What I Eat In A Day to Lose 30 Pounds

July 17, 2019

Within two months, I lost almost 30 pounds. Yep. that’s a crazy amount of weight to lose and no I didn’t do anything crazy to get the weight off. No detox pills or crazy deprivation methods. I gave up and adjusted only three things in my life which were sleep, stress and sugar. You can find out more about how I ended up there by reviewing “How I lost 30 pounds in 2 months.” But obviously, the one thing everyone wanted to know is what did I eat or not eat for two months. I made it simple for me because remember my main focus was reducing/giving up stress so that included how I consumed my food. Everything listed has a link to purchase and or more information about the item. In general, I used meal prep services where my meals were already made for me. I didn’t have time even to cook and didn’t want to think about anything. Again less stress. Other areas, I tried to adjust and keep sugar to the low-low. What I Eat In A Day to Lose 30 Pounds Awake & PreWorkout I try to wake up at the same time. As part of my weight loss, sleep was/is critical, and thus, I make it a top priority over everything. After sleeping a full 8-10 hours, my body needs some significant hydration. I try to drink 12+ ounces with lemon or lime juice in the morning. Sometimes it’s more or less; it just depends on how I feel each day. Since I workout in the morning, I work out with either some form of electrolyte or pre-workout mix. These mostly come from UCAN as they are clean and sugar-free and ensure I won’t have a “sugar” crash once working out. UCAN is excellent for those who are diabetic and or concerned with for blood and “sugar” levels. Not to go into details about it but, it contains SuperStarch®, which a slow-release complex carb that steadies your blood sugar. I like it because I can take pretty much one product before or after working out. Simple. Easy. Not complicated. You can find the items or try them on Amazon or grab this package on their website. Breakfast After working out, it’s time to have breakfast officially. I am rushing and always on the move from either running or cross-training so, I keep breakfast stress-free with a shake. I would like to make smoothies, but it can be costly and not as possible. I like Garden of Life Raw Meal Protein as it contains greens, a significant amount of protein and everything honestly I need for the morning day. I take two scoops in the morning and add to a shaker. Once completed, I actually “eat” and have some toast. Ezekiel bread can taste weird if you aren’t used to it, but it’s low in sugar, contains reasonable amounts of protein and the “real” bread. Garden of Life Raw Meal Protein Garden of Life Fit Shakes Ezekiel Bread: Raisin, Regular and Sesame Daily Hydration Once I get to work or on my way. I use this time to consumer more liquids cause I am on the move and working away. I often am hydrating mostly before and after lunchtime the following items. Tea: Black with stevia and cream, half and half or milk. I allow myself this option because I love teas. I usually have one cup of black tea around 10-11ish and then again around 2-3. Sometimes I would get a red or green drink, but I love black tea. Alkaline Water: I like Alkaline 88 because it’s a bit more affordable, fresh and has salt (mineral) included in it and I need every bit I can take. I try to take in 40 ounces of alkaline water a day; thus, I don’t have to drink that much water in general. Green Juice: When I would feel sick or tired or needed some kick, I would get a green juice. The green juices I pick contain virtually no fruits so they can be a bit yucky to those who aren’t used to them. If I can’t find one without any fruit my other choice is to read the ingredients and select one with an apple as the fruit because it has the lower sugar containment. This wasn’t a regular thing, but I do drink them here and there. I don’t often because I opt to have Garden of Life Superfood – Greens as this contains all the greens I needed in a fraction of the cost. Lunch & Dinner Meals This is the most natural part of everything for me because I use Snap Kitchen each week and don’t think about what I am going to eat. I eat one of there vegetarian meals for lunch and dinner. Snap has updated their menu, so I am listing the meals I ate then plus the meal I like now. New Meals (July): Lentil, Veggie burger, Taco hash, Umami grain bowl, sweet potato veggie Benedict Previous Meals: Black bean burger, Taco hash, grilled kale hoping John, roasted veggies with cucumber than spicy dan noodles Salads: Greek and house salads are my favorites. I purchased two and split them in half and consume half with each meal. I keep salads simple with mixed greens, three toppings (ex: blue cheese, carrots, and roasted tomatoes) and switching out the dressings. My favorite dressings are by Wholefoods and Tessemae’s. I buy toppings based on whatever is on sale if I am making them. Save on Snap Kitchen: I used this same coupon to grab a week’s worth of meal for super less than $30 bucks. You can also try a few meals for cheap and on the low-low. Save that eating out money and decrease ya grocery bill. Additional Protein For Meals If I am hungry and need a bit more calories and or protein, I will cook a week’s worth of black bean burgers, Beyond

Turmeric For Runners – Golden Milk

January 13, 2019

Every week, I have been making this tea called Golden Milk. If you didn’t now basically golden milk is a tea that is a golden color because it’s made with/from turmeric, which is yellowish. It can be made with a variety of spices such as pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Most people make it with regular turmeric but lately I have been using turmeric supplements instead as they are of higher quality and a quick way to ingest the supplements without taking a pill. I have dubbed this “Super Charged Golden Milk Tea.”

Weight Loss for Runners | What I Eat In a Day – Morning Edition

May 10, 2018

Training for the 2018 Boston Marathon, I ended up losing some weight. Actually, I lost more inches than anything. Don’t believe me?!! Look at this before my training and during me during my Boston training?! Whoa!! Right?! When I posted this side-by-side while ago on my Instagram, I was flooded with questions of how I lost weight, what my training was like and much more. A post shared by Alexandria Williams (@alexandriawill) on Apr 15, 2018 at 6:33pm PDT I was to busy and focused mainly on Boston to answer everything, to be honest. But I made it through the Boston craziness sooooo now, I am back at it and am doing a series where I answer your questions about running and weight loss. Focus on Your Morning Time Breakfast and your first few hours of the day are vital to your overall health and well being. If you start with proper fuel it will help you stay on track for the day. This was critical for me so I wanted to start with a few videos on the importance of morning. In this video, I break down the importance of fueling my morning and what I eat from the time I wake up to about midday. Weight Loss for Runners | What I Eat In a Day – Morning Edition List of Foods & Supplements I Mention – Download the Meal Plan Sheet for Free – http://bit.ly/mealpreplist – Alkaline Water: Santevia Kit – https://amzn.to/2Iuhz9P – Sprouts Hummus: Everything – Genuine Health Products https://amzn.to/2rAdBlA – Yerba Mate: https://amzn.to/2KSqu2Z – Harney & Sons Black Tea https://amzn.to/2rzebAQ – Milton’s Crackers https://amzn.to/2Iac5S7 Proper Foundations Helps Me Achieve My Goals! Want more details? Truly everything I discuss is really in my book. I wrote the book and seriously applied all the principles and foundations in it finally!! Having the proper foundation allowed for me to achieved being a sub-3 hour half-marathon finally lose 3 dress sizes trained for the Boston Marathon battled my on-going fight with depression. Yep! It’s the foundation that matters! Don’t start tomorrow or on Monday, start now! Check it out for more details on how to have the proper foundation and healthy hair and body from the inside out. Grab your copy right now!

ELDERBERRY 101 | DIY Daily Tonic

January 15, 2018

Everyone is sick and or has the flu. With training, I cannot afford to have a single day dedicated to being sick. With my close family all having the flu, I had to quickly take action and boost up my immune system with my favorite daily elderberry tonic. Benefits of Elderberries Elderberry is a powerful antioxidant used for years to help fight diseases such as a cold and flu. Elderberry is known for its ability to boost the body’s immune system and is also a rich source of vitamins A and C, which are crucial in helping the body maintain optimal health. Elderberry may help treat cold and flu symptoms by reducing congestion and possibly making you sweat more. One study suggested that using a standardized elderberry extract, Sambucol, could shorten the duration of flu by about 3 days. It was also said to help treat the Panama flu epidemic in the 90s. Benefits of Echinacea & Goldenseal Echinacea used to be called a “blood purifier” and is considered one of the most effective for infections such as strep throat, infected wounds, cold and flu, bronchitis, and much more. Goldenseal is also known as a natural antibiotic, helps ease stomach issues, kill bacteria. It is often combined with echinacea and promoted as strengthening the immune system. Recommended Elderberries Products Below are a list of products I am using and or recommended. These are pretty good sources and brands that have been around for awhile. Sprouts Elderberry Syrup – Purchase locally at sprouts stores Gaia Elderberry Syrup http://amzn.to/2FFRa4m Source Naturals – Wellness Herb Resistance http://amzn.to/2EH5DMs Quantum Elderberry Liquid Extract http://amzn.to/2D4xYfa Gaia Echinacea Goldenseal http://amzn.to/2DcoWku DIY Elderberry Plus Syrup with Echinacea Goldenseal Here is my DIY Elderberry Plus Syrup with Echinacea Goldenseal. For my tonic, I use a 5:1 ratio of Elderberry to Echinacea Goldenseal. 5 drops per day x 5 days = 25 Drops of Elderberry 1 drop per day x 5 days = 5 Drops of Echinacea goldenseal I consume it when drinking daily a hot cup of tea or a glass of kombucha. Really simple and easy.

Chickpea Mason Jar Salad

December 21, 2017

I am often asked what I eat for training for Marathon or on any given day. To be honest, it. varies but one thing that doesn’t change is my need to get some greens in my system each day. Every week, I try to end my day by eating a salad every day. It’s pretty easy to do and readily available anywhere but it can be very expensive if I am eating out and or time-consuming to make. This is why I am obsessed with making salads in a mason jar. It not only helps saves me time and also are very healthy and affordable. So, I figured it’s a great time to share one of my simple and easy recipes using chickpeas for a mason jar salad. Benefits of Chickpeas for Healthy Hair Chickpeas are a great source of protein and other vitamins and nutritions, which aid in strengthening your hair from the inside out. From hummus to salads, chickpeas are both cheap and a very versatile protein rich source. Additionally, chickpeas also help Control Hunger Reduce Cholesterol Helps Protect Against Heart Disease and Cancer Great Source of Fiber and much more! Directions for Chickpea Salads in Mason Jar Now that you know a bit more about chickpeas, here is one of my favorite vegetarian protein-rich salads complete with cooked chickpeas, veggies and a simple Italian dressing. It’s super affordable so feel free to get creative and use roasted vegetables, brown rice, quinoa, eggs and literally anything else. The possibilities are endless! I love making mason jar salads as part of my weekly meal prep. So here is a quick and easy way to make your own mason jar salads within a few simple steps. Drain, season and cook two cans of chickpeas. While chickpeas are cooking, add dressing to the bottom of the mason jar and prep veggies. Start adding ingredients to your mason jar in this order After the dressing, add the chickpeas, shredded veggies, tomatoes and then any herbs and additional seasonings or nuts you may want (hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.) Secure each lid and store in the fridge. Shake up the salad once you’re ready to eat, or you can dump/pour it into a large bowl if you prefer. You can add on a bed of mixed greens, massaged kale, Arugula or ditch the greens and eat as is. I prefer my mason jar salads not to have the greens in them. Mainly because it’s super easy to carry my Kale Queen mason jars in my pursue/bag and the greens stay fresher when not in the jar. That’s it folks! Let me know if you are excited to try it or obsessed with mason jars too?! Click For This Free E-Guide For More…. Want More? Signup For Your Free E-Book

Affordable Supplements | Genuine Health

September 29, 2017

I am always on the hunt for new protein and supplements to use. Ther are so many to choose from and I know it can be overwhelming, thus, I will try to sort through all the crappy ones and only show you the ones that are worthwhile and while. I have written about probiotics and guy health before in my book “FitHair Foundations and also is one of my top five vitamins and supplements for healthy hair and body from the inside out. I am passionate about gut health so much that I dedicated an entire chapter of my book to breaking down this point. Gut health is the foundation for overall health and thus good gut health will help your body produce healthier hair. Probiotics help improve intestinal flora balance, inhibit harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, and increase resistance to infection. Fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, and miso are some options fo natural probiotics. – Alexandria Williams Since everyone is on a vegan kick thanks to “What the Health” documentary, I figured I would showcase a few vegan products that will aid in healthy hair and body from the inside out. Today I wanted to highlight a brand and product most folks haven’t heard of, Genuine Health. I have been using their probiotics and proteins for a little bit and really like them. I think they are a great option for many who are looking for an affordable vegan supplements line. About Genuine Health Genuine Health is a proudly certified B Corporation that develops researched-based natural health supplements to help nourish your body. The flagship product, Greens+, has been keeping people healthy and alkaline for over 20 years! The company believes everyone deserves a healthy, vibrant life – and a lean, well-nourished body is the best way to get there. The Founder and CEO Stewart Brown says; “Health gives you the ultimate freedom – freedom to live your life to the fullest.” Genuine Health started over 15 years ago in Canada with greens+, the original, research-proven superfood formulated by Sam Graci for energy & well-being. The company has several different products such as probiotics, multivitamin, and omegas to say the least. Today, Genuine Health has over 170 products and is sold in both Canada and the U.S.Most of their products are vegan and or leave out soy and wheat for those of you looking to reduces or are allergic to those ingredients. Take a look at the other products. Genuine Probiotics Advance Gut Health Genuine Health probiotics contain 15 strains carefully selected for their abilities to repair and restore. The strains are treated with the utmost care – in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment, they are cleaned to remove toxins and weak cells, ensuring that only the strongest and fittest remain. A vegan, delayed-release capsule with a fermented prebiotic ensures that strains pass through the stomach acid, taking 45 minutes to reach the g Probiotics & The Body I have already discussed having probiotics daily via food source or supplemental is vital to your hair but also your overall body. Here are a few ways how your gut health can be affected a variety of factors. Psychological factors, like stress, and sleep problems, have been found to reduce microflora. New research has found that just as we have sleep rhythms, so do our bacteria. Drug addiction and lack of physical activity have been found to alter gut microflora – less movement equals less diversity of bacteria in the gut! Antibiotics in prescriptions and in the food supply not only knock out select bacteria – once these bacteria have died, so do the others that were dependent on them. Environmental toxins, alcohol and tobacco have been found to alter the ratio of good to bad bacteria, causing what is known as dysbiosis, which translates to “life in distress.” Diet creates changes in the microbiome. Certain foods feed the good bacteria in our gut while others do not. What’s for certain is that we are eating too much of the not so good stuff and not enough of the good. Additionally, what I do like about them the most is that the probiotics are not a large size pill. This is major win for me!! Fermented Vegan Proteins+ The other product I wanted to highlight is the protein called fermented vegan proteins+. The protein is packed with a lot of guy health but also hair healthy foods that will help keep you healthy from the inside out. The fermented protein+ contains a variety of healthy ingredients but also is a great source of protein. It also doesn’t taste bad as I pair the chocolate with my homemade walnut milk recipes you guys know I love. Some of the benefits of the fermented vegan proteins+ are No bloating 40% more absorption to the body Strengthens gut health Contains 15g protein Non-GMO and gluten-free Contains essential amino acids If you want to know what I look for when picking out the right protein supplement, check out my post “3 tips for picking out the right protein supplement.” for a quick overview. Ingredients matter, so I always make sure to look and read my labels. If I can’t understand the products or ingredients then I am less likely to purchase. I love and fully understand the ingredients used in the protein. Cost of Products The cost of this the protein is $34.99 and the probiotics are $19.99. Both are very affordable for a supplement line that contains both soy and gluten free products as well as non-gmo ingredients. This is a Win-Win for me. You can purchase the product locally at Sprouts or online direct. Also, they are available at Vitacost, Iherb.com, Vitamin Shoppe and other locations. FTC: This post is not sponsored

Brandless Not Worth The Hype?!

August 23, 2017

Brandless is a website that has one big mission. with one little $3 price. It’s a site that basically had brandless aka generic/store brand products for one flat price $3. It focuses on the essential products for the kitchen and home. Every single item in the store is $3. YES. You heard and read it right. Literally every single thing on the site is $3. From can openers to organic granola, it has a little bit for everyone all within a few clicks of a button. Most of the products is non-geo, organic or free or crazy additives and chemicals. This sounds to good to be true to me. Brandless has gotten a lot of press and crazy fans of the web since launching just a few months ago. As a frugal shopper, I knew this would be the site for me to help keep me right with my budget and on the healthy track. I was super excited and even reached out to the company regarding my upcoming purchase. So I decided to do a review of my first thoughts of what I ordered and much more. Is Brandless Worth the Hype? First Impressions & Unboxing What did I get for $3? Or the Grand Total of 34.50 bucks + Shipping I ordered a few items that were both good for the belly, body, and household from Brandless — and the whole thing was only $34.50. At first, my order was well over $50 bucks, which is part of the problem. Everything is $3, so you feel like you can go HAM on things you think you want and or need. I had to cut out a lot and only got essential items I needed or could use up should I not like them. Here is the list of items I purchased. Multi-Surface Cleaner Dish Soap – wasted and opened Peppermint Mouthwash Can Opener – scratches on it Organic Oats & Honey Granola Organic English Breakfast Black Tea Fig & Thyme Crisps – can get locally for same price but good Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips (2 bags for $3) Organic Brown Basmati Rice Gochujang Korean Sweet & Spicy Cooking Sauce Organic Poppy Seed Dressing Organic Light Brown Sugar There area few items that are not $3 such as canned beans and chips. They offer those as a certain amount for $3. In this case, the bag of chips were 2 for $3. The items in bold are the ones I like and say are winners. The ones italicized I liked but were questionable as I noted about them in my video. Shipping, Discounts & Membership Shipping is where things get iffy. It is $9 via FedEx, which comes in about 2-3 days. Not too bad. If you want free shipping, you have to spend $72, so that’s roughly purchasing 24 products at one time. They have a membership called B-Program, which cost $36 bucks a year. It allows you free shipping at $48 instead of the $72 price tag. Additionally, you get a sneak peak at new releases early and access to special events. You can learn more about their B-Program here. Meh…. A post shared by Alexandria – FitHair Expert (@alexandriawill) on Aug 22, 2017 at 7:05am PDT For first time orders you get shipping at $3 after that it’s $9. I was so excited when I opened the package but unfortunately it turned into disappointment. It was packaged nicely, but most of my items had some issue with them. From scratches on the can opener to chips and ships and crackers being broken. I think they need to rethink the shipping part especially if I order again and am paying $9. Thanks to shipping issues and most my products looking like they went through hell to get here, I say this is a major FAIL for me. Additionally, by paying $9 for shipping for a little bit over ten products means my items were almost $4 with no way for a refund thanks to the damages. Overall Brandless is a No For Me With Amazon (Prime, Now and Grocery), Trader Joes , Sprouts and Costco all sitting within my finger tips or backyard, I don’t find the need for Brandless. Most of the household items I honestly can purchase at the same price or less even online for name brand products or other ones I trust. Most items that are $3 honestly looked like they were worth $3. I like the packaging of things but most of my items were broken upon arrival or opened and damaged. This is a major fail for me. It get’s a no for me. Save ya coins. ALTERNATIVES FOR BRANDLESS & GREEN CLEANING If you are looking for a site that does have a cool membership and great healthy products for the house. I really love The Grove Collaborative. They have some of the best natural products at great prices, delivered right to your door. It’s my favorite online site to shop for organic, eco-friendly and sustainable items like Dr. Bronner’s, Meyer’s and Seventh Generation. On my first order, I grabbed a special filled with 4 free products – mak ing this FREE 99 for products. Check out why toxic chemicals can affect you hair and my shift to all natural products. Additionally, you can grab $10 bucks to shop on the Grove Collaborative by clicking here. Disclaimer: I wasn’t contacts nor sponsored for this post or to review Brandless. Paid for everything out of my pocket.

How To Make Homemade Raw Walnut Milk

June 22, 2017

Walnuts are one of the best nuts to consume. They are an excellent source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids, rich in antioxidants. Additionally, they are a great source of manganese and copper and biotin. They are one of the best nuts to consume for healthy hair from the inside out. So if you have hard time-consuming walnuts, why not try drinking it in the form of milk. See how I make my own homemade walnut milk. Items Needed to Make Homemade Walnut Milk 1 cup Walnuts 2- 32oz of Alkaline or spring water 1/4 tsp. Sea Salt Elle’s Best Nut Milk Bag (see below on how to save on this) High-Speed Blender Bonus: You can add a sweetener of your choice if you want your milk sweeter or add a little flair with some cinnamon or vanilla. How to Make Homemade Raw Walnut Milk It is so easy to make your own nut milk and taste so much better than most store-bought and premade milks. Check out this video where I show you how I make the homemade raw walnut milk. Instructions on Making Walnut Milk Soak walnuts for about 4-6 hours or overnight Drain and rinse walnuts in strainer Place all ingredients into blender and blend for about 60 seconds Strain milk through nut milk bag into mason jar Store for up to 3-5 days The Key to Homemade Milk: The Nut Bag Elle’s Best Nut Milk Bag is a large 12″ X 12″ commercial grade nut milk bag made of fine mesh nylon cheesecloth. It is reusable and functions perfectly as an all-purpose strainer and cold brew coffee filter. You can us the bag for many different things such as milk, juice tea, and cold brew coffee. I absolutely love this nut milk bag. I have had a few other ones as I indicated in my pumpkin milk video and they have not lasted as long as this one. Having a quality nutmilk bags actually, saves you in the longer term by providing more product and a much creamier milk. Discount on Ellie’s Best Nut Milk Bag The folks at Elle’s Best offering you a discount on your purchase plus some freebies. You will get a free e-book Ellie’s Best free e-book filled with recipes and how-to videos. Use Product Code: Alexandria to save and with your order. (Note: This discount and special is only for their website and not Amazon or any other sites you may find the bag on.) Now that you got the big secret to it all I know you are wondering… What To Do With The Left Over Pulp? Now that the milk is removed you can store the remaining bag contents in the refrigerator and use in a variety of dishes such as cookies, pancakes, muffins and much more. I add it to my oatmeal to make it creamy and add extra protein. Likewise, you can just discard it. No shame in that!

The Importance of Meditation

May 4, 2017

So often our brains are overloaded with various messages, emails, to-do-list, events and more that it hardly has times to rest and slow down. It is important to unplug, shut off and relax the mind. Mediation is critical in shutting off as it helps get rid of unnecessary feelings and thoughts and to reflect. It also helps to improve health, sleep, mentality, reduce stress, and improve concentration. Monday, I was so grateful to relax and take a break with a few local fitness and slow down on Monday with my Dallas Fitness Ambassadors crew. We met at the gorgeous Alexan apartments in Downtown Dallas and had a great platter of healthy foods and low-calorie drinks from Sprouts. Sprouts, by the way, is one of my favorite grocery stores to shop at so it was great to learn more about their cater services and new products. Additionally, we had chair massages from Spa Kneads, DIY essential oils demo from Aura cacia, and amazing homemade tea from Restore Simply. After being pampered and relaxed for a bit, I took my first official meditation class, which was soo needed!!! I have always struggled with meditation and during those last few minutes of yoga in the class, I am always going through my to-do list. As I started to deal with depression and listening to my internal struggles, I realized the importance of meditation and having a little bit of time in my life. Now it’s a regular part of my healthy lifestyle and can actually see the benefits of meditation such as reducing stress, sleeping better and much more. Meditation Apps There are tons of youtube videos that have meditation tips or practices, which is great. Sometimes the videos are removed or slow to buffer so instead I prefer meditation apps or audio that can aid in meditation, mindfulness and easy to use. With most of the apps, you can choose the time and then sit or lay down for the instructions of what to do. It’s that easy! Don’t worry, these apps are for both android and iTunes users and don’t cost anything to use at first. Calm Headspace Mindfulness App Simply Being Dr. Wayne Dyer (Spotify) Three Easy Tips To Start Meditation Establish a Daily Practice: Mediation doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s important to have a set location, time and routine. Start with taking two to three minutes a day and then work your way up. I highly recommend starting your day off with meditation too! Proper Posture: Posture is important in any activity so whether you are laying down or standing up, make sure you are keeping yourself aligned. Choose a position Here are a few tips on my Pinterest board of postures, setting up a meditation space, movements and more. Breathe & Release: It is important to know our mind is going to have a lot of thoughts popping in randomly. Continue to take deep breathes, acknowledge the thoughts and release them. Hopefully, these tips will help you think about meditation a bit different or plant the seed in your journey. Special thanks to DFA and Sprouts for reminding me the importance of being mindful!