What is a Himalayan Salt Lamp, and does they really have health benefits?

It’s become a wellness cliche for a reason: the Himalayan salt lamp is a beautiful and functional natural addition to home or office décor, and even offers health benefits. It’s no secret that I love these popular decorations—my home is full of them. I mean, I’m a sucker for anything pink, and these magical pieces of nature are lovely to look at. But it’s exciting that they can potentially make us feel better, too!

Himalayan Salt Lamps are formed from pink salt crystals, and are mined from the edge of the Himalayan Mountains in Pakistan. They’re typically carved out in the center to make space for a light bulb for use as a light source and decoration. These beautiful rocks range in color from light pink to dark pink with an orange hue, depending on their mineral concentration.

Himalayan salt lamps can add an element of beauty and nature to any space. But aside from just being beautiful, these rocks also offer some powerful proven health benefits! And by proven, I mean actually backed by science. There are a few popular claims that haven’t been supported, but plenty that surprisingly have! So let’s dive in.

Here’s the first thing to know:

Himalayan Salt Lamps emit negative ions into the air.

Salt is pretty cool—it’s a hygroscopic substance, which means it has a net positive ionic charge. In other words, due to its specific electric charge, it attracts water molecules from the surrounding environment and leaves behind more negative ions (versus positive ions) in the air. Wtf is an ion? Well, technically, it’s an atom with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Sorry to get all Science class on you—basically, just know that the air is comprised of tiny little parts we can ions that have a charge, either positive or negative. Energy is VERY real. And the state of the air can create an affect when the air ions interact with the atoms in your body.

The main debate is how effectively Himalayan salt rocks emit negative ions. Negative ions are most often emitted by running water, like waterfalls and oceans. A little motion tends to help. But Himalayan salt lamps also release negative ions into the air—we’re just not sure how much. And even if it’s a small amount, the more negative ions you have in your home, the better! I mean it really can’t hurt.

Plus I have a theory that placing your rock near a fan or by your AC vent can help get some of those ions circulating.

But we probably can’t say that Himalayan Salt Lamps “purify” the air.

Read any major wellness publication and you’ll see that Himalayan salt lamps are often said to be effective air purifiers.

The idea is that pollutants/toxins hanging out with the water molecules in the air are drawn to the salt rock like a microscopic vacuum, where they stick. Voila, cleaner air! This may be true, or not—unfortunately there haven’t been any studies done on this to either prove or disprove the air quality benefits. So it’s all theory at the moment.

While that hasn’t really been researched yet, the salt rock can’t hurt the air quality, and at best it does help! Plus there IS an exciting benefit to Himalayan salt lamps and their negative ions that actually HAS been backed by science:

Negative ions can help ease depression.

As someone who has lived with depression for a lot of my life, I’ll do just about anything to boost my mood naturally. And all you have to do is put a pretty salt rock lamp in your room? I’m in!

Even though it sounds backwards, negative ions make us feel good, while positive ions in the air make us feel bad. This has been proven by science—check this study from the U.S. National Library of Medicine that concluded “meta-analysis results showed that negative ionization, overall, was significantly associated with lower depression ratings.” They make it clear that the ions didn’t help with anxiety, sleep, mood, or relaxation, but they showed markedly strong results for depression.

I don’t know about you, but this kind of stuff makes me so hyped. Nature’s medicine in action!

A great way to get a huge dose of depression-fighting negative ions is to get to a large body of running water. The ocean is ideal—I’ve found being by it has healed me tremendously (there’s a reason I’ve chosen to live in San Diego after experiencing life on Oahu), as well as waterfalls. But if you’re like most people and can’t get to the water on the daily, it just might help to bring a piece of the negative ion benefits into your home with a Himalayan Salt Lamp.

Himalayan salt rock lamps have been shown to be proven effective in the treatment of seasonal depression. And in a 2010 study, animals exposed to a salt lamp for 14 weeks showed improved tryptophan and serotonin production, leading to an antidepressant effect. (The chemicals tryptophan and serotonin help regulate mood in the body.)

The negative ions from the salt rocks could improve your mood, increase your energy, and improve stress-relief, naturally. And you know that anything that helps the health of your mind is also improving the health of your body. Win-win.

Himalayan Salt Rock Lamps can also reduce Allergy & Asthma Symptoms!

In addition to emiting negative ions, salt is known to be helpful for those with allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). And obviously, since it’s COVID times, anything that can potentially help you breathe is a good thing in my book!

One study from the National Library of Medicine looked at 124 patients with various respiratory diseases, and found that spending an hour in a room transformed into an indoor natural salt cave helped ease most of their symptoms. Salt rooms have also been shown to have some beneficial effects in mild asthmatic children!

Why? Breathing in tiny salt particles helps clear your airways and break down mucus. You can actually use a Himalayan salt inhaler for help with respiratory symptoms, which is cute and fascinating. You’ve probably also heard of a Neti Pot, which literally rinses your nasal passages with salt water.

While these studies were done in a large salt room, there’s clearly benefits to having salt in the air, even if it is on a smaller scale. I grew up in the arid desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and lived for a couple years on humid, salty Oahu. I have struggled for a long time with seasonal allergies (I’ve shared my favorite tools to help here), and I can attest that I breathed my absolute best on Oahu. The salt air really helps.

So while one single Himalayan Salt Lamp might not be enough to totally transform your airways, it’s a good way to help.

My favorite benefit is that they help you wind down for better sleep.

Himalayan salt rock lamps, when turned on, emit a soothing pink glow that is really calming, and the perfect color tone of light to help signal to your brain when it’s time to wind down.

You’ve probably heard that Blue Light can disrupt your circadian rhythm and trick your brain into thinking it’s daytime and to be more awake, since it’s the same wavelength as the light from the sun. (psst… I’ve rounded up my favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses here)

Well, Red Light is on the other side of the spectrum and helps your brain settle into nighttime and slow down for a good night’s sleep. I use these incredible Himalayan Salt Lamp night lights; they’re the perfect size to plug in around your bedroom while you get ready for bed to help set the tone.

Plus, Himalayan Salt Rock Lamps are just plain relaxing. They create a more balanced and mindful space thanks to their attractive and organic appearance. They’re grounding—it’s an element of Earth that you bring into your home, apartment, or office, and being in nature is essential for finding peace.

An important tip you won’t often hear but is critical: you need to turn on the light often!

I rarely see this brought up in articles about Himalayan salt lamps, but it’s so important: the role of the lightbulb is not just to make the rock a pretty light source. It’s important to turn on the light frequently because the bulb inside the lamp heats up the rock, which is what helps activate the ionization process. If you don’t heat it, it’s not bad, it’s just not offering the same potential benefits.

The more you can light it up, the better the chances are of it interacting with the air to produce those negative ions for all the mental and physical health boosts.

There’s more benefits that Himalayan Salt Rock Lamps are said to offer, from improving skin quality to reducing static electricity in the air. And all of that may be true, but make sure to light your lamp to help it along! If your rock has a hole but didn’t come with a lightbulb, you can get the right kind of lightbulb here.

Which Himalayan Salt Lamps to Buy:

Here are some of my favorites!

• Large 9″ lamp
• Small 6″ lamp
• Rose-shaped lamp
• Modern rectangular lamp
• Sphere-shaped lamp
• Diamond-shaped tea light candle holders
• Salt lamp bowl with crystal chunks
• Night lights

The verdict is clear—salt rock lamps are worth the purchase!

So feel free to embrace your love of Himalayan salt rocks, and go crazy decorating with them. Just because there haven’t been a ton of scientific studies done on the Himalayan salt lamp benefits doesn’t doesn’t mean you won’t experience positive effects—the work that has been done is clearly pro-salt.

A couple last notes: make sure you purchase an authentic Himalayan salt lamp. There are some lamps out there that look like the rocks but aren’t actually real. True Himalayan salt mostly comes from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan.

Also—Too much salt can be toxic to many kinds of animals, like cats and dogs, so keep your lamp out of reach if you find your pet enjoys licking it! (My girl Peach, pictured here, thankfully has no interest in them except to sit by and absorb the negative ions.) Mmm, salty…

» Song Vibes «

What do you love most about Himalayan salt rock lamps? Do you have some favorites to recommend? Share with me in the Comments in the Disqus section below!

xo,

Amy

This post is not sponsored, but it does contain affiliate links. I truly love these products and know you will, too. Thanks for supporting the blog!

Face masks for working out that won’t make you feel like you’re inhaling sweat and fabric with each gasping breath? They do exist.

It’s hard to believe that it’s officially been a year since the coronavirus upended all our lives. And now that the end is sort of in sight with widespread vaccinations, the shift to reopening is happening slowly, with new rules. In California, indoor gyms are now open (btw: you can find a master list of current Outdoor Workouts in Los Angeles here), but many still require masks to be worn during the workout. So what are the best face masks for working out available now in 2021?

I did some digging (and guinea-pig testing) and found the 5 Best Face Masks to wear during a workout that avoid all the usual issues. Most masks get soaked and soggy from your sweat and heavy breathing, and the result is—disgusting. You inhale your own spit. IYKYK. I’m not still traumatized by it or anything.

Another problem with most masks is they don’t wick away or absorb moisture while you’re working out, and that trapped moisture then frequently leads to maskne (aka acne caused by your mask on your cheeks, nose, and chin). Speaking of, you can find more info in this article on maskne from Shape Magazine.

Masks need to stay mostly dry while you sweat.

Let’s talk about some other musts. A good mask for working out must be:

• Sweat-wicking (stays mostly dry)
• Breathable
• Adjustable
• Comfortable

A note on wearing face masks while working out: the way you breathe matters.

I get that wearing a mask while sweating can be uncomfortable. Oftentimes people find the sensation suffocating, so I want to remind you to try to relax and try to focus on controlling your breathing. Try to relax—anxiety will just make it more difficult. Wearing a mask is actually a great mild challenge to strengthen your lungs and breath capacity. Once you start breathing deeper, you’ll find it a lot easier to tolerate breathing through the mask.

Skeptical? Well, if you’ve ever taken a spin class, you know what an intense cardio workout it is. But I’m happy to report that you can totally do it in a mask. I have! It is slightly more challenging only because it requires you to be more mindful of how you breathe. But this is a good thing, because it will help you improve your overall fitness performance whether you’re wearing a mask or not.

Here’s how to breathe better:

Aim to take slow, deep breaths in the lowest part of your belly.

If you’ve taken my online Meditation course about Breathing techniques (Shortcut to Calm, a great way to improve your breathing and mindfulness), you’ve learned how to do this deep breathing during your meditation practice. Think of inflating your ribs like a balloon. Focus on the airflow coming from the lower parts of your lungs and diaphragm, and not on how the air is coming in and out of your nose. Relax your face, mouth, and throat. Try to breathe in a steady rhythm.

If you’re struggling, back off on your workout. This goes for whether you’re wearing a mask or not–you always want to be able to breathe steadily during your workout, especially cardio. If you’re ever pushing yourself to the point of being red-faced and gasping, you’re over-activating your body’s stress response, which can actually make your workout work against you and cause more inflammation than good.

One last thing about wearing masks—

It’s all about how you choose to look at the situation (like every situation we face). For me, it’s a clear and easy way to protect others and myself, and to demonstrate that I care about the health of those around me, vaccinated or not. And if you have the right mask, it’s really not uncomfortable either. Dare I say I sometimes… enjoy wearing one?

My top mask of choice to stay comfortable while working out is number one on the list below. Remember that choosing to wear reusable face masks helps both you and the environment (but don’t worry, I do you have you covered on a top-rated disposable option as well!). They can all be machine washed with warm water, and I hang mine dry to keep them lasting longer. And they’re really the best of the best when it comes to handling a workout.

Let’s get into it!

The 5 Best Face Masks For Working Out in 2021

1. Onzie Mindful Masks

Onzie is one of my favorite activewear brands, and they now make my favorite mask to workout in (it’s what I’m wearing in the photos on this page)! One of the first companies to react to the coronavirus by pivoting to create and sell masks, Onzie had the right idea from the start: why not take up-cycled activewear performance material and use it to create masks? The result is the unisex Mindful Mask that is comfortable, breathable, cool (in temperature and style), sweat-wicking, flexible, and sustainable. The definition of a top mask to work out in.

You can currently choose a random assorted 2-pack for the masks, or select specific colors and styles in pre-made bundles. The masks are created with “a multi-layer fabric made of Full Flex Spandex technology for the exterior with a high performance inner lining and soft touch spandex straps.” Onzie also makes a line of Mindful Masks for Kids!

Even better: During their Mindful Mask initiative, Onzie donated thousands of masks to local hospitals, as well as a portion of proceeds to healthcare workers across America through the Center For Disaster Philanthropy. Gotta love a company that makes good products with a good cause.

Buy: Mindful Masks, $24 (pack of 2) via Onzie

2. Adidas Face Covers

Adidas Face Covers are sporty, chic, and unisex. The flexible material and stretch bands around the ears provide full coverage, comfort, and ease of use. They’re made with two layers of fabric that are soft, breathable, and ready for your workout.

These masks are very similar to Reebok Face Covers (btw: they’re owned by the same parent company, and Reebok’s masks also come highly recommended), but I prefer Adidas’ because they’re made out of Primegreen, a high-performance recycled material. Always bonus points for sustainability.

Adidas Face Covers come in two sizes (XS/S or M/L), so you can get a fit that’s better suited to your face. They also have different color pack options, so be sure to explore their options to fit your look!

Buy: Face Covers, $20 (pack of 3) via Adidas—Choose XS/S or M/L

3. Athleta Activate Face Mask

As I embarked on my research for this post, I asked my Instagram followers and fellow Facebook Group members about their favorite face masks to wear for working out, and time and time again Athleta came highly recommended. Like Onzie, Athleta makes their Activate Face Masks out of the same material as their activewear—in this case, their performance-driven, comfortable TurboDry™ fabric. They dry sweat as quickly as it comes, and stay feeling light and airy against your skin through long usages.

These soft and breathable masks are were designed specifically with your active lifestyle in mind, and are perfect for yoga, spin, and beyond. They have adjustable, soft knit ear loops for all-day comfort and a moldable nose piece. The masks have even been proven to have an average 90.3% particle-blocking performance to keep you safe both in the gym and on the street. Athleta also makes a line of similar Made to Move face masks designed for kids.

Buy: Activate Face Mask, $30 or 2 via Athleta

4. Under Armor Sportsmask

This is for all my serious athletes, or those who just want the best of the best. Introducing the Mercedes of the workout face mask collection: the Under Armor Sportsmask. This unisex face mask truly is the perfect face mask for athletes. As their website says: “It’s got the airflow you need, a cool feel, and the best fit for running or training.”

Specifically designed to be worn for those participating in serious sports, the Sportsmask is really everything you could want in a workout mask. Made with high-performance UA materials, the mask has a structured design that sits up off the face and lips. It has three layers: the outer layer made with light air pockets, an open cell foam to reduce moisture, and an iso-chill fabric interior that is actually designed to stay cool against your skin and features an anti-microbial treatment.

The Under Armor Sportsmask comes in five different sizes, from XS to XXL. It has a less “sleek” look, but it’s all about function, anyway. The best part? It has built-in UPF 50+ sun protection (you know I’m a big fan of sun protection). Safe to say this mask puts in the work—so you can, too.

Buy: Sportsmask, $30 or 2 for $40 via Under Armor

5. Sudilo Disposable Face Masks

If you’re looking for a disposable option, look no further than Sudilo Disposable Face Masks from Amazon. They’re the perfect option for a workout because they’re super light and breathable, don’t get soggy, and are this chic black color. They have 3 filter layers for protection, an adjustable nose piece, comfortable elastic ear pieces, and they’re highly affordable.

I know, because I put one of these face masks through the TEST. My cousin had a small outdoor wedding a few weeks ago for family, and we had a dance floor. I initially was wearing a super cute fancy silk face mask in rose gold that was the same shade as my dress—it was a 2021 Inauguration monochrome vibe, but that mask was definitely more pretty than functional. Once I started dancing, the fabric pulled into my mouth with every breath and I was actually gasping.

Luckily, I’d brought one of these Sudilo Disposable Face Masks as a backup. I pulled it out of my jacket pocket, swapped it out, and it stayed put, sturdy, dry, and breathable as I proceeded to dance for 2 hours straight. Safe to say, it passed the test.

Buy: Sudilo Disposable Face Masks, $11 (pack of 50) via Amazon

A note on disposable masks: please cut the strings when you throw them away! This will help protect marine and wildlife that may encounter the mask as trash in the future. Otherwise, they can get potentially caught and strangled in the mask strings.

(Photo credit: Mary Joe Weichel for Carbon38—get 15% off with code AMYBAA15, btw—at Elevate Training)

Enjoy being in WORKOUT CLASSES again, everyone! It feels so good to be together again, even if we do have to wear masks. It’s been a long pandemic, but we’ll be out of it soon. Stay safe and socially distanced out there, and have fun reconnecting with other people again! A big lesson of this whole experience has definitely been that we all need each other, sometimes more than we remember.

» Song Vibes «

Do you know of any other good face masks for working out in 2021? Let me know—drop a Comment in the Disqus section below!

xo,

Amy

This post is not sponsored, but it does contain a few affiliate links. I truly love these products and know you will, too. Thanks for supporting the blog!

Let’s talk about the BEST Blue Light Blocking Glasses of 2021.

Americans spend an average of 8 hours a day looking at screens—which is why having a good pair of Blue Light Glasses is super important.

That is, my friends, a third of your life.

Since today’s New Year’s Eve in 2020, I think it’s the perfect time to launch into the New Year of 2021 with improved eye health and cute glasses!

And honestly right now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that screen time number has to be even higher. Most businesses and activities have turned virtual, including school. Kids and teens especially are spending way more time on computers, and our eyes aren’t meant to absorb so much intense light for so long.

All those Zoom calls start to take a big toll on your eyes, your sleep, and your overall wellbeing.

Are blue light blocking glasses really that important? What do they do?

YES. They really are necessary to have in today’s technology-driven world.

Here’s the deal: too much screen-staring causes us a handful of health problems. Screens are a source of artificial light, and they contain Blue Light waves, which is the big enemy.

The first main issue Blue Light causes is Digital Eye Strain, which currently affects about 60% of Americans. This can create headaches, dry eyes, eye fatigue, and blurred vision. It can also increase the risk of macular degeneration (a thinning of part of your retina), as well as other long-term vision complications.

Blue Light also really Fs with your sleep. The Blue Light mimics sunlight, which tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daylight out while you scroll Twitter late at night. This throws off your circadian rhythm, which means your body stops producing the correct hormones to make you tired enough to go to bed, and then wake up feeling alert and well-rested the next morning. This includes a halt in your body’s production of melatonin, which can lead to trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

Blue Light is, basically, not the best.

Thankfully, Blue Light-blocking glasses do exactly what they say and block the Blue Light from getting to your eyes, filtering out the harmful rays from your screen.

The benefits of using Blue Light Blocking Glasses include:

• Improved sleep
• Increased energy
• Improved eye health
• Prevention of vision degeneration
• Better mental focus (cognition)

Everyone I know who has tried blue light blocking glasses agrees—they’re a necessary game-changer. Obviously, the less time you can spend in front of screens in general, the better. But when it’s a necessary part of your life, it’s important to protect your health along the way.

I like to wear mine for most of the day. I start off without them, since the Blue Light can be okay in the morning to help your body wake up. Then I can usually feel my eyes get tired after a couple hours of screen time, around noon, and that’s when I’ll switch to my glasses. If your main concern is sleep, wear the glasses when the sun goes down/you get home from work, and use them to watch TV and look at your phone, as well as use the computer.

By the way, if you want help on breaking your phone addiction, read this. But since screens are a mostly inescapable part of life, you might as well get the best Blue Light blocking glasses out there!

So which ones should you buy? Let’s get into it…

Top 5 BEST Blue Light Blocking Glasses of 2021

1 » Felix Gray

Felix Gray is at the top of my list because they’re the ones I personally own, after doing lots of research! They specialize in making clear Blue Light glasses, and have gender-neutral styles for both adults and kids. They’re also available in prescription, reading, and even sunglasses. They also have a Sleep line that targets the specific range of deeper Blue Light that impacts melatonin secretion (440-500 nm wavelengths) to help improve the quality of your sleep.

Buy: Felix Gray, starting at $95 (pictured style: Nash, which is what I have)

2 » Warby Parker

You may know Warby Parker as the go-to brand for affordable glasses, but you may not know you can add blue-light-filtering lenses to any pair of glasses for just $50, with or without a prescription. They have a genius concept to shop for new frames in the comfort and safety of your home, while giving you an option to try on different frame styles to find one that best fits your face. They mail you your choice of 5 different frames to choose from, so you can try them on before you commit.

Buy: Warby Parker, starting at $95 (pictured style: Simon, silver)

3 » FLOWER Drew Barrymore Collection at Walmart

Beloved actress and certified business mogul Drew Barrymore created a line of highly affordable and super cute Blue Light blocking glasses for Walmart! For only $20 a pair (currently on sale!), they’re a perfect option if you want a budget-friendly option, or tend to lose/break your glasses frequently! The only downside is that their lenses do have a yellow tint to them (part of what keeps the cost down) but still look great on and keep your eyes protected from both Blue Light AND UV rays.

Buy: FLOWER, $20-29 (pictured style: Violet Frame, Onyx Black)

4 » Baxter Blue Glasses

Like Felix Gray, Baxter Blue specializes in making unisex adult and kids Blue Light blocking glasses. Their lenses eliminate glare, block UV rays, and virtually clear, with the option to get them with reading lenses. They’re also a company with heart—for every pair of glasses purchased, they provide a pair of reading glasses to someone in need with the charity organization Restoring Vision. After looking them up to write this post, I’ve kind of fallen in love with Baxter (it’s the pink frames for me).

Buy: Baxter Blue, starting at $89 (pictured style: Georgie Pink Crystal)

5 » TIJN Blue Light Blocking Glasses on Amazon

Another budget-friendly winner are these cute frames from brand TIJN on Amazon. They have a kind of cult following—these pictured frames have over 43,000 ratings and all their frames have 4 stars or more. They also have kids’ glasses. These also have a slight yellow tint, though not as apparent in the photos. You can save even more with one of their 2 packs!

Buy: TIJN, $17-20 (pictured style: Square Nerd, transparent)

Here’s to better eyesight, fewer headaches, and a happier work life!

» Song Vibes «

What are your favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses for 2021? Share with the class—drop a note in the Disqus Comments section below!

xo,

Amy

This post is not sponsored, but it does contain affiliate links. I truly love these products and know you will, too. Thanks for supporting the blog!

Ear seeds help promote stress-relief and healing in the body. And they look cute, too!

You may have seen someone wearing ear seeds lately, especially if you live here in LA where they’ve become a popular wellness trend. But they’re far from new, and have been used for a long time in acupuncture to promote healing and wellbeing.

I was first introduced to ear seeds at an acupuncturist’s clinic in San Diego almost 2 years ago. He offered to put some on me before I left after a treatment. I’d never heard of them before, but they stayed on for a week and I really liked how they felt. It’s soothing to press on them and get a little micro ear massage.

Then I began seeing them on more and more people around town, which made me wonder—

What exactly are ear seeds?

According to traditional Chinese medicine, specific points on our ears correspond to different organs and systems in our body. If you apply stimulation to those points, you can help balance the body and heal those parts that are ailing.

This method of treatment is also called auriculotherapy, or “ear therapy”—acupressure or acupuncture that focuses on ears.

Ear seeds, which have been used for over 2500 years, promote overall healing by regulating your nervous system to keep it in the Parasympathetic (what I call the Rest + Restore) state, instead of the stressed-out Sympathetic mode. This is where healing can occur.

Using ear seeds can help with stress, anxiety, pain, headaches, sleep disorders, digestive disorders, and hormonal imbalances.

How do the ear seeds work?

From Vie Healing, an acupuncturist clinic and wellness center in LA:

When pressure points are stimulated on nerves, they send signals through to the reflex centers of the brain. Once the reflex centers are stimulated, endorphins which are the body’s natural opiates are released.

When endorphin activity is stimulated – individuals experience relief of pain and sensations of improved well-being. Importantly, in the reward cascade, endorphin release inhibits the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, and consequently dopamine is also released.

By applying ear seeds to different points on the ear, you increase blood flow and help drive your nervous system’s awareness to that space. It’s like adding little highway signs to your injury points so your systems know where to direct their healing energy.

Your body’s really good at healing itself. It just sometimes needs to be pointed in the right direction with some attention.

What are all these special points? Well, to get specific:

» via Vie Healing «

These points on your ear are traditionally stimulated in acupuncture with needles—which I’ve done and is awesome! It put me into a deep, relaxed sleep.

But when you’re at home or don’t have access to acupuncture, what’s a gal to do?

Stick on some ear seeds, of course!

There isn’t really any scientific research on the effectiveness of ear seeds. But in the very least, rubbing the seeds gives you an ear massage, which we do know has relaxing effects. I say try they’re worth trying.

You should think of ear seeds as a tune-up tool; you don’t need to use them all the time. Using them once in a while or whenever you’re feeling off balance is great, unless you find they really help you!

Ear seeds are, traditionally, literal seeds. But I’m a big fan of these pretty gold ones.

Ear seeds are traditionally made either from seeds from the vaccaria plant, or metal.

These gold ones take it a step further and are so pretty, like jewelry. They’re  from Vie Healing (I’m genuinely a fan, not sponsored). You can buy them here on Amazon with free shipping!

Traditional ear seeds are effective but …not cute. Like, they look like what they are: little seeds stuck on with mini band-aids all over your ear. Trust me when I say that these are a MAJOR upgrade.

Ear seeds stay in place up to 5 days, and you can wear them while you sleep, shower, sweat, and swim. So their benefits are long-lasting!

Where can you get them?

It’s always a good idea to have a professional put them on for you, especially if it’s your first time in the acupressure world. (By the way, if you want to explore more tools, I highly recommend this acupressure mat and these sandals!)

Start by asking your local acupuncturists if they offer ear seeds. There are also more and more wellness spas offering them as a service, so do a quick Google for places in your area that might be able to apply them, too.

You can also put them on yourself. And if you have someone to help, even better. It’s totally something you can easily do at home!

You can buy your ear seeds on Amazon, or tons of other online stores. I’m also guessing Whole Foods or other natural stores will carry them, too. Here’s the link to my 24k gold ones!

If you’re more budget-minded, these are the best deal on well-rated ear seeds I could find.

How to apply your ear seeds:

Step one: get a mirror! And a pair of tweezers. Like I mentioned above, this is also easier to have a friend do for you, so enlist help if you can.

I want to note that you do not want to put the seeds inside your ear canals. These are only to be used along the outside of the ears. They should not cause any redness or irritation (and if they do, take them off).

Begin by wiping your ear clean with rubbing alcohol (I use a cotton pad).

Using your tweezers, peel an ear seed off the backing of its packaging. Hover the seed over the area you want to apply it. Then press it down onto your skin with a finger. Keep going on one ear and apply all the seeds you want, then switch ears.

According to Vie Healing, you want to apply to these points:

The following five basic points you want to get are the ones shown on the left, in what Vie Healing calls the Foundation Protocol. You can add as many ear seeds as you want! Feel free to progress to the middle and right stages, especially if you’re feeling sick or in pain.

• 1 – SHEN MEN: grounds the body, calms the spirit, increases receptivity
• 2 – POINT ZERO: resets the nervous system; brings balanced energy while calming anxiety and relaxing muscles
• 3 – HEART: regulates blood flow, balances emotions
• 4 – BRAIN: balances brain chemistry; controls pain perception, movement, and proper function of all organs
• 5 – ENDOCRINE: regulates endocrine glands and hormones, maintaining homeostasis and regulating metabolism

Once they’re on, apply pressure by rubbing them in a circular motion for a few minutes! This will produce the calming benefits as well as ensure they stick in place.

The ear seeds will stay put for up to 5 days, and you can wear them while you sleep, shower, sweat, and swim.

They’ll naturally fall out on their own over time. If you want to remove them early, the easiest way is with a pair of tweezers.

Check out this video for more on how to use them:

@infinite.embersHave you tried ear seeds? ✨ ##TikTokWellness ##LearnOnTikTok ##TikTokTaughtMe♬ YOU’RE THE ONE – KAYTRANADA

I want to see your ear seeds if you decide to give them a try—post a photo to Instagram and tag me!

I hope they help you feel your best!

» Song Vibes «

Have you tried ear seeds? I’d love to hear what you think in the Comments below!

xo,

Amy

This post is not sponsored, but it does contain affiliate links. I truly love these products and know you will, too. Thanks for supporting the blog!

Photos by Matthew Hanley, edits by me

Comfortable thong underwear that also delivers on its promise to fix camel toe?

Unbelievable—until you try JIV Athletics thongs for yourself. (btw, this post is pure love, not sponsored) Now, I personally have never been that bothered by camel toe, my own or otherwise. I embrace that all bodies are bodies, so it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

It’s so important for us to love ourselves and the bodies that house us.

If you tend to get camel toe—it’s okay. It’s normal and natural. Getting it depends on anatomy and what you’re wearing. But it’s also clearly not cool if it makes you feel self-conscious or uncomfortable.

Sometimes it’s just gotta go.

What’s camel toe?

It’s what happens when your leggings/shorts/etc ride up in your crotch, around the labia. So it sort of outlines the genitalia, giving the appearance of a camel’s foot, which is a cloven hoof. It’s also called a vagina wedgie. To get specific.

As a full-time yoga instructor, I wear leggings all day long as my uniform. And I wear them most of the time when I’m not teaching too, to be honest. They’re they most comfortable clothes I have! Some of my leggings do tend to give me camel toe, and I want to keep things professional.

Unfortunately, the glaring truth is that as womxn, you know it can be important to not draw in unwanted attention. (If it’s wanted, then great and more power to you!) But I feel safer knowing I’m not going to draw people’s eyes down. When you fix camel toe, you eliminate that distraction.

We all want to feel as comfortable as possible—especially while exercising.

When you feel confident in how you look, that confidence translates into the quality of your focus. This means you’ll get a better workout/dive deeper inward during your yoga flow. You want to be able to focus on yourself, and how the movement feels in your body—not worrying about how you look.

So what you’re wearing is pretty important. If you feel like you’re constantly quickly tugging down the ol’ camel toe creep-up, you’re not going to get as in the zone as you would otherwise during this time.

Luckily, there’s now a super easy solution to fix camel toe.

The secret’s in the underwear!

JIV Athletics is a female-owned small business that was created specifically with the active user in mind. Their thong underwear is designed to be worn with leggings, both low and high rise. But they’re honestly so comfortable, I wear them all the time.

JIV first came onto my radar because they’re based in San Diego. Nika Cleaver, the Co-Founder, did a pop-up sale at PURE Indoor Cycling, where I used to teach spin. I loved the idea and the product right away!

Nika is an elegant, warm, and inspiring entrepreneur who, in partnership with her mother, took an idea and made it a reality. She has a fashion degree from FIDM and a business degree from Pepperdine University, as well as the hustle to go out and pass out advertisement cards at yoga festivals. So I have a feeling her business will do very well.

I love Nika and JIV Athletic’s mission, which is to empower all womxn to feel confident in their athletic-wear.

JIV is a Hindi word that means a “living being” and “an entity instilled with life force.” It also means to “breathe” and “be alive.” So beautiful!

Their underwear have a higher price point than the average thong (averaging ~$30 a pair), though they definitely feel 100% work the price. I waited a little until I had enough extra change for the splurge for this set, their High Rise Thong and Athletic Bra, which is limited edition but now one of my favorite bras.

They’re both so comfortable. I know I keep using that word to describe them, but it’s the way the fabric slide so smoothly across your skin. They are luxury underwear for sure, and are comfortable enough to even work out in.

And yes! They really work and get rid of camel toe completely.

(Click to zoom in. You can see on the left photo that the center line seam on my leggings is starting to go up and IN. To be honest, I chose the mildest photo I got of my camel toe to share here, because after a little movement it got way worse and it felt a little X rated lol. In the photo on the right, with the thong on, my leggings lay nice and smooth!)

How do they work?

JIV Athletics makes their thongs with three layers (which creates a light padding). First, there’s the smooth outer shell fabric—it’s breathable, moisture wicking, tag-less, and roll-proof.

The real magic is in their patent-pending middle layer insert, a 3D tech spacer. From their website:

This cutting edge fabric is the key to looking flawless in your tightest leggings. A full coverage gusset to smooth out unsightly silhouettes and the perfect placement to protect you from the most embarrising front wedige……#saynotocameltoe

Lastly, the inside liner is made from soft cotton, which is the safest fabric for your V.

Also, I’m so excited because JIV gave me a special promo code to share with you all, if you’d like to buy online:

Use the Promo Code INFINITE20 for 20% OFF your purchase from JIV Athletics!

Doesn’t get better than that! I love their products so much, and I know you will, too.

I hope they help empower you to feel even more confident in your form-fitting looks.

That’s the ultimate goal: for you to feel your best! Confidence has such a big impact on your mental health, and thus your happiness. It helps you form self-love.

If your camel toe’s been bothering you, you can buy JIV Athletics online (with free domestic shipping) or in select stores. They currently offer three styles of their Athletic Thong: Low Rise, Mid Rise, and High Rise. This is so they correspond to your leggings so they stay invisible and seamless while you move.

Over my eight years of teaching, I’ve seen every form of camel toe (and worse) you can think of. At the end of the day, we’re all human.

But if you can be a more confident, legging-rocking human who does not have to think about camel toe when you go into downward facing dog and can focus on connecting your mind-body-spirit instead… then even better!

» Song Vibes «

Do you have any other tips to fix camel toe? Have you tried out JIV Athletics? Let’s talk in the Disqus Comments section below!

xo,

Amy