#articlesilove

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Healing with the Super Moon

Some people ask me why I place so much emphasis on the cycles of the moon.  As an emotional woman who lives life guided by intuition (which by the way took me many years and a lot of deep work to get back to), the moon plays an important role in my life, that of a guru or teacher.  She illuminates aspects of my heart that I may have in the past felt afraid to release.  Things that I may have not been ready to face and I have come to learn to trust that these things will surface when the time is right so that I can become stronger within.

New Moon

Each month, I harness the energy of the new moon by focusing on one or more things that I wish to manifest.  As the moon grows, so do my ideas and intentions around what I hope to manifest.  This almost feels like a birthing process.  

Full Moon

On the day/night of the full moon, I usually bring my awareness to something that is no longer serving me, something which sits heavy on my heart and I practice the meditation below to help in the release of this.

For those of you who are new to these kinds of ideas but they seem to resonate with you for some reason, perhaps take a moment or two to write down something that you wish to release with tonight's full moon. If you do not wish to participate in the meditation, perhaps create another ritual for yourself, something powerful, like burning the paper and truly letting that burden go.

Waning Moon

As the moon fades, I notice that life brings me many lessons that test if I have actually let go of what I was intending to on the full moon.  During these days, I have the opportunity to really set my intentions in motion and re-learn, how to respond to situations rather than repeating old ways of behaviour.

Zain's SuperMoon Releasing Meditation

Tonight's supermoon is one of 3 supermoons in 2013 but what makes this one so special is that it is the moon that is closest to the earth's orbit, making it's gravitational pull that much stronger.  This moon is also in Capricorn, which usually tests your discipline and personal endurance.  You may feel super tired or super creative.

For those of us carrying fears, anxieties or feelings of self-doubt that are hindering you in some way, this is your opportunity to release and set yourself free.

1. Find a place, preferably under the moonlight or somewhere you consider to be sacred in your home or outside. Sit tall, spine erect, eyes closed and begin to focus on your breath. 

2. As you breathe, experience the cooling energy at the base of your spine.  As you breathe,  Allow that cool, lunar, feminine energy to rise with each inhale as it begins to spread into all of the energetic regions of your body.  

3. Bring to mind something you are working to overcome.  This could be anything that you are battling against, a fear, a worry, a circumstance.  Place this ‘thing’ upon your third eye chakra (in the center of your forehead between your eyebrows) and notice the light all around it.  Now breathe the cool energy up from your spine, through your chakras and allow it to bathe whatever you have placed on your third eye.

4. Feel the power of the moonlight also bathe your third eye and support you in transforming whatever you have placed on your third eye into light energy.

5. Allow the light to circulate through you as you breathe, awakening all of your chakras and core energies.  Breathe out everything you wish to release and allow it to be carried away by the light energy out of your body and energetic body.

6. Take a few moments to rest and integrate before opening your eyes.

*If you have any questions about this please feel free to shoot me a message.  

Happy Super Moon!

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Zain's Top 10 VEGAN Fat BUUURRRNING Foods

Working on getting lean?  Add these delicious & natural vegan foods to your diet for a little extra fat burn just in time for summer!

Spinach

Grapefruit

Ginger

Chili Pepper

Avocado

Pomegranate

Blueberries

Almonds

Peanut Butter

Green Tea

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Love Your Body Now Meditation

Learning to love your body right now, in this very moment is a major challenge for some of us.  We feel that we must DO certain things in order for us to get to a place where we can truly love our bodies. 

I understand this feeling intimately as I always felt the need to get to a certain weight or fit into a certain sized pair of jeans before I could really accept my body.  My obsession to control my body as opposed to love and accept the way that it changed through different phases of my life robbed me of the precious time that I could have had celebrating life with my family and friends and feeling GRATEFUL for the fact that I was strong and healthy.

As a coach, I encounter this way of thinking and feeling a lot.  Many of the women that come to me for coaching have already rejected their bodies and feel that they need to change something.  They usually look at the changes as something physical that they need to do ie. exercise and healthy eating and while those aspects are critical without question to looking and feeling your best, LASTING change will never occur without developing true love for yourself now. 

Life brings so many changes: stress, illness, pregnancy, trauma to name a few and the body responds to these changes in its own way.  Sure there will be imperfections, we all have them but to focus on these things rather than feeling gratitude for what is will not serve you in any way.

SELF-LOVE IS THE MISSING INGREDIENT IN MOST DIET PLANS WHICH IS WHY THE RESULTS DO NOT LAST

In the midst of 'doing' we forget the perfection that we already are.  

Here is a special meditation to help us access and cultivate self-love:

Find a peaceful, space either outdoors or one well lit with natural light.

Sit in an upright position with your spine long, place your hands upon your heart and begin to breath deeply into your belly.

When you have connected to your deep, belly breath bring your attention to your third-chakra (solar plexus chakra located between your navel and diaphragm) 

As you inhale, notice any energetic blockages in the way of tightness or intensity in this area and as you exhale breathe this out of your body. The colour of this chakra is yellow.  Notice your chakra, is it bright and vibrant or dull and washed out? As you breathe, continue to brighten the yellow colour making it more vibrant with every breath

Next, bring your awareness to your heart chakra (the space at the center of your chest between your breasts) and feel the love in your heart as you breathe. Bring to mind the beautiful, perfect child that you were and as you breathe, feel love for that child, for her body, her arms and legs, hands and feet, abdomen and back, chest and thighs. Take a few breaths here inhaling love and gratitude and exhaling fear, control and any destructive feelings you have toward your body

Now as you inhale, draw in a white light into your body, washing away any last thoughts and feelings of inadequacy or comparison to others. Feel love encapsulate your entire body and feel your heart glow with love for the child that was once you.  Bring your hands into prayer at your heart center and bow your chin to your chest in honour of your higher self

Feel yourself completely surrendering mind, body, heart and spirit to the constant flow of love that exists within you.  Every time you address yourself, make a choice or decision in your day to care for yourself with nourishing, compassionate thoughts and healthy choices, remember the love that you feel in this moment

If you find yourself focusing on the negative at any point in time during your day or if you are dwelling on a certain body part or certain feeling, place your hands on your third-chakra and feel the love and acceptance that you have cultivated

**NOTE: This practice is something to incorporate regularly if self-love is something you need to work on

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Why It's Important to SWITCH UP Your Workouts

Busting your butt in the gym day in and day out for months but not getting the results you think you should be? 

My first advice is to take a really close look at what you are eating, like literally write it all out in a food journal.  

If that checks out ok, take a good long look at your training program and be honest, how long have you been doing those same old exercises?

SWITCH UP YOUR WORKOUTS EVERY 4-6 WEEKS HERES WHY:

It keeps things fresh and motivation levels high

Breaks you out of a plateau woot woot!

Helps you make new muscle gains 

It prevents overuse of muscle tissue and injury

Changes the muscle's path of motion

Challenges your body and brain

Burns more fat/calories as your body tries to get used to the new movement

Prevents degeneration of unused muscle tissue

It's a great feeling to watch your body strengthen at certain exercises at the end of the 4-6 week period

You want to change your workouts as YOU change! With new strength gains, fat loss etc, there are new parts of your body that will standout or that you may want to shape, also you may have weaker muscles that require more attention

The biggest difference for me aside from BREAKING THROUGH old beliefs that I needed to eat less to be lean and actually EATING ENOUGH CALORIES to sustain my body and build lean muscle was SWITCHING UP MY WORKOUTS EVERY 4-6 WEEKS, actually, I switch it up every 4 weeks because of the fact that I have been training for years now and my body adapts very quickly.  Listen to your body and see what works best for you!

(image: google)

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Zain's Top 20 Reasons To Drink More Water

Still not drinking enough water?  Here's what you're missing...

1. Water Creates New Blood Cells

2. Water Creates New Bone Cells 

3. Water Cleanses Your Lymphatic System

4. Water Reduces Inflammation

5. Water Lubricates and Protects Your Joints

6. Water Regulates Your Metabolism and Aids In Weight Loss

7. Water Improves Cellular Function and Communication

8. Water Alleviates Dehydration And Cellular Dehydration

9. Water Improves Brain And Nerve Function

10. Most Beverages Are Diuretic In Nature So It's Important to Drink Water To Balance 

11. Water Neutralizes The Body's PH Levels

12. Water Increases Your Energy

13. Water Aids In Digestion, The Secretion Of Digestive Fluids And Regulates Bowls

14. Water Promotes Circulation And Blood Flow To Organs

15. Water Regulates Body Temperature And The Body's Natural Cooling System

16. Water Eliminates Toxins From The Body

17. Water Strengthens The Body And Immunity Leaving You Less Prone To Disease

18. Water Nourishes And Detoxifies The Skin

19. Water Helps To Control Cravings And Keeps You Fuller Longer

20. Water Feeds Muscle Tissue Helping It To Repair And Strengthen.

  *I hope that gives you enough reasons to grab your water bottle and keep it filled!

**If you have trouble remembering to drink water, set an alarm on your phone or get a water accountability partner to keep you motivated!!

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Zain's **No More CELLULITE** Game Plan

Not sure if its something in the air this week but I have received several messages on social media asking about tips on how to deal with cellulite.

As the warmer season approaches and we start bearing more skin, we women become super conscious about the little fat pockets that like to park right up on our thighs and hips.  

Before I started living the way I live and eating the way I eat, I too dreaded the 'cottage cheese-like' lumpy skin around the tops of my legs but I can honestly say that now, due to my lifestyle, it is nowhere to be found.  

Cellulite is simply fluid retained in fat cells that increase as weight/body fat increases and due to a lack of oxygen in the area, they get squished together creating the dimply look.  Free-radicals, age, diet and lifestyle have a lot to do with it but let me tell you, clean eating is a major game changer.  I had more cellulite at 25 than I have at 33 and that is a fact.

So here's what I do to keep cellulite at bay:

1. Diet

Choose foods that oxygenate the blood and help release fluid retention

beet root

radish

parsley

asparagus

lemon

salmon and other fatty fish

flax seeds

spinach

kelp

cucumber

berries

dill weed

anise

fennel

*drink at least 3 liters of water per day, every day as well as lots of herbal tea

*my PURIFY VITAMIN WATER works wonders for fluid retention so sipping on this all day will benefit you big time in the cellulite department

*coconut water works wonders 

*enjoy foods packed with healthy fats and oils as they will help your body let go of the fat it is holding onto.  I recommend fatty fish such as salmon or black cod as well as coconut oil, walnuts, avocado and chia seeds

*avoid highly acidic foods and stick to alkaline foods, to find out more about what this means click here.

*avoid sugar, salt, alcohol and caffeine (including chocolate, not raw cacao) as these things SUCK the oxygen right out of your blood stream.

2. Training

A regular weight training and cardio program will do wonders for you.  Weight training, transforms fat cells, which hold 25% water, into muscle cells which hold 75% water.  The magic ingredient in water is....you got it....oxygen.

Here are some of my favourite cellulite-fighting training activities.  Try to incorporate these activities into your life at 4-5 days per week.

HIIT sprints

full-body weight training

functional training

yoga

barre classes

hiking

running

3. Secret Tips & Tricks

Being the complete tomboy that I was growing up, I was fortunate to have a sister who was really in the know about all things beauty related. Her natural talents for creating amazing skin and body care recipes as a kid ultimately led her to becoming the founder of an incredible skincare line sold and used at some of the top spas around the world. Her stuff is the only product I will use on my skin and body and its made with organic indigenous ingredients such as kelp, clay, oils and herbs.  

*That said, you should look for a product line that is all-natural, that suits your particular body.  Don't buy into all the humbo jumbo magic creams.

*My sister also swears by something called dry-brushing.  For those of you unfamiliar with this, you use a dry loofah brush in a circular motion on your 'cellulitey' areas and this helps to break up the fat and increase circulation.  To see a demonstration of how to perform dry brushing technique, click here.

Here is a little recipe for a masque that my sister would make for cellulite.  This should be applied directly to your trouble areas to help oxygenate, tighten and relieve fluid retention.

AntiCellulite DIY Masque -

Combine 1 avocado, 1 beaten egg, 1 tsp of kelp powder, 10 drops of sweet orange oil, 5 drops of fennel oil, 1 tbsp coconut oil and 1 tbsp raw honey.  Mix together and store in a mason jar in the fridge.  

Start by dry-brushing the area then apply this masque to your trouble areas 2-3 times per week allowing the masque to sit until it dries, then wash off with cool water. 

Remember, cellulite will not vanish overnight but if you remain committed to a clean diet with lots of antioxidant fighting foods, train regularly and practice dry-brushing, you will start to notice your body transform and your cellulite will become a thing of the past!

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Curious about how much water you should be drinking daily?  Check out this awesome chart to give you an idea of where you stand.

(source: fullspike.com, via sunwarrior)

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Make Exercise YOUR Secret Weapon!

Exercise resistance. I have it. You have it. We all have it.  But what if I told you that it is actually possible not to have that resistance at all.  Would you believe me?

Lately, I have been working deeply with how and why this resistance develops and it occurred to me that, like everything else, resistance is a choice that stems from repeated thinking attached to action. 

Seems very Pavlovian right?  Well it is, kinda (I mean, you can introduce a whistle if you want to ;)

The key lies in reprogramming the brain to create new neuropathways where exercise is concerned.

Here's how:

1. Plan your workout at a time in the day when you feel most energized. Are you a morning person?  Do you like to train during the afternoon or at night?  Listen to your what your internal bio-rhythms are telling you, YOUR BODY KNOWS BEST.

2. Let go of PERFECTIONISM when it comes to exercise.  Yes, its important to follow a structure but that structure must work for you and be created around you and how you feel.  Don't force yourself into a program that doesn't feel right. So you can't do 20 push-ups so what? Do 10 and then do 10 more on your knees until you can.  Be your own coach and supporter rather than cutting yourself down.

3. You know that amazing post-exercise GLOW that you feel?  Visualize and feel that glow whenever you think about exercise at all. By doing this, you will begin to reprogram your brain and create new neuropathways.

4. Make exercise your SECRET WEAPON!!! - Aside from your regular structured training, turn to movement and moderate exercise when you need to take a break from life or during times of stress.  Work getting challenging? Schedule a power walk on your break. Having a disagreement with your friend or partner? Why not hit up a yoga or barre classe?  

It's that easy.