Healing Breaks!

This was my first trip to Yosemite National Park!  I ALWAYS love a good vacation, always.  just a disclaimer i had a very sore thumb in the beginning of this trip and was praying it healed with a little time off and it did!   This is MIRROR LAKE and we walked a pretty flat trail to get here.... its a good first day walk.   I iced my thumb about 5 times in the icey waters here in the canyon on this walk, each time for about 5 minutes.  I must say it totally took my thumb pain away. I ice at home all the time but the plunge is what really healed it.  Besides the vast beauty of this area and soaking up all the  smoke from the fire and walking back and forth to the bathrooms in the freezing am.... I remembered i need to have a routine of self healing.  When you are in pain there is nothing else you can think about  besides healing that pain.  The magic of our skin and bodies is that our cells are meant to regenerate and renew and HEAL.  ITS TRUE!!  

 MOVING FORWARD DAY 2 was the big hike of my life! I have no pics because my phone died.  We hiked to Nevada falls.  4 miles up a 2500ft elevation. Its like walking UP stairs for 4 MILES!! like straight up.  I think the whole trip took us 5 hours... i don't remember.  Then 4 miles down.  whoa.  That night we went here:

The YOSEMITE BUG .... this hot tub overlooks a huge valley and the fresh air and local waterfall is in the background.  They have a sauna as well and a cold shower.  I received a massage from a man named Bryce, and this was the day of my big hike.  During the  hike my lower traps were starting to hurt ( thats mid- lower back) connected to hips and arms and ribs...  here is what i looked like after that massage.

I was beyond tired, the Yosemite Bugs tent cabins had THE most comfortable beds Ive ever slept in.   I woke up and took an am yoga class there.  The Oakland edge was dissipating from my body. If you know what i mean.  

This is day 3 a hike to Inspiration Point. This hike was like 4 miles round trip but still high elevation.  It was pancakes after the Nevada Falls hike.   If you ever guess "Hey should I go on that trip?" try and go, if you can't go,  have a staycation and make yourself happy do whatever you want.  It can be expensive,  but sharing costs when you travel is a good way to save.  I try  not to do to much on my vacations... but I did come up with a wellness plan for myself.  i MUST go to Kabuki once a month to sauna and cold plunge.  Cold plunges for me heal my whole body.  What they do for you is like  super warp healing.   Luckily I'm from Alaska and have had practice slowing my breath... in cold weather and water.   

Enjoy every moment wherever you are!

xo Christy

Aloeswood + Agarwood+ Aloe

I have a lot of people ask me where I came up with the name Aloeswood and how I even began this journey.  I am going to give the short version, ( which will be long) because my healing and travels and learning is all a part of how I got here . I worked at Sweetcheeks Skincare owned by Lindsay Flint which was suddenly closing, business was booming ..NEXT... I have always wanted my own place and everyone I have ever talked to knew this:)  I tried looking for a place in the area,  EVERYONE wanted crazy$$ and I felt defeated.  I had emailed the people at Macarthur Annex, with no response so I thought they MUST be rented.  On my way to work I stopped by them and planted a  seashell  under the building and said a prayer to the universe....  ( something like: hey if this is a good match please hook me up)  after that I go around the corner and instantly meet the owner of the building .  CRAZY.  That day i agreed that when the stars aligned ( Mercury was out of retrograde)

I would sign the lease.  I had 2 weeks to pull my shit together.  It was unexpected and a dream come true.  Lindsay helped me organize what i needed logistically/legally.  I was working  3 ten hour days teaching Anatomy/physiology, prepping and facilitating an international test,  closing Sweetcheeks and now opening a business. It felt like my eyes were bleeding.  I needed a NAME fast for all my documents.  I made a list of names like Skyrocket Skincare, Rainbow Star Light etc... a huge list of resonating names that sucked.    

NEXT:  In Fiore one of my cult favorite San Francisco SKIN+ BODY  lines has a dictionary of all the ingredients they use in their products... ITs RAD.  I get to OUD oil.... This is a smell I had bought in a mans cologne before, I look it up another name for it is AGARWOOD and ALOESWOOD...

. " The Wood of the Gods" 

GET THIS - 

This oil is made from a mould infecting the heartwood of the tree to make a rare, beautiful oil that is renown since ancient times!!!!   I loved it, I love that something irritating can produce a sacred oil. 

 I picked ALOESWOOD.  Since then unbeknownst to me at the time even though it has nothing to do with the tree, ALOE is the main ingredient in almost every product I USE!  

Aloe has ALSO been used since ancient times.  Its properties are very healing to the skin... to be put simply.   My business is built with respect and gratitude for what Mother Nature has provided since ancient times and the lineage of education that has somehow reached me through ALL my teachers in the last 20 years, from Alaska, Oregon, Fiji, New York, Panama, Costa Rica..San Francisco and beyond.   Looking back it all brought me here!!

Much Love, 

Christy

c o n n e c t i o n + a l i g n m e n t

Im back from my beautiful trip to Costa Rica and I always think "this will do me for a while"  but I always want another adventure !  This picture was taken at Tabacon Hot Springs after 3 hours in the healing waters, bopping around from beautiful jungle pool to the next.  This place was on my personal bucket list and it was everything I imagined.  They serve a 4 course meal during your visit and it was delicious  as well.   Spoiled.  The day before we went on a hike to Cerro Chato ....and I had to stop the hike due to my extreme nervousness of the deep bush jungle.   We saw and heard NO one for 2 hours as we trekked deeper into the jungle.... we were told the trail was closed but my Austrian Hiking BF was going regardless.   It was like a glorious scary movie.   We were .5 miles from the secret lake, and we hit deep mud, THEN we hit a huge enormous pond of water on the trail and i had to put the kabosh on it:/   That was my limit.  Deep muddy water.  Our shoes were ruined for the rest of our trip.  No running.  It rained almost the whole time we were there and it was a bit chilly.  I did not pack for chilly.  A little side note:  When I bought my land in Puerto Viejo, 2006 I ran into my old boss/friend Denise  after 7 years of not seeing her.  She told me to follow my dream of someday building a healing place on my land and teaching locals the gifts I have been taught.   So I bought it. PURE BUSH JUNGLE.   We stayed at her beautiful little studio apartment she built this trip and most days we just had all the windows and doors open staring into the beautiful jungle and river on her property.  It was JUST what I needed.    We hiked up to my land with the help of William a wonderful man who is a neighbor...... every step, every breath I took on my land I became present with my life and realized more of who I am.   I am a dreamer.  I dream until my dream comes true.   

C O N N E C T I O N + A L I G N M E N T   

My next step is to create a way to support more people on their healing journey AND  create holistic lifestyle management  classes.   I can feel something brewing .  Wishing all you souls freedom to believe anything is possible.

Christy

l i f e + l o v e

Im writing on a Saturday night.  I have been inclined  to share my little slice of existence over here in O A K L A N D + B E Y O N D.   It can be a roller coaster owning a business and I have to keep myself in check when it comes to self care.  I have been doing sensory depravation floats since May and it has really helped with staying present and balanced.   Sometimes life can be uncomfortable and it feels difficult to navigate. What I have learned after 43 years on the planet is this..... it really doesn't matter!!!  Life will point you in the right direction for your maximum growth. Relaxation around this takes practice, and I am glad i believe in it. Self care for me looked like getting a Thai massage and going into the sauna last month at SUCHADA.  It was amazing!  I think my right leg was put back in its socket.   As I get older I find taking  good care of myself makes me and my body feel the best.  Thats why I offer a monthly membership.  I think doing something for yourself once a month can transform you.  I aim for my treatments to transform you with crystals, Palo Santo, beautiful music, powerful ingredients, healing elixirs, and creating a magical space for you to enjoy your facials and massages.  If you want it manifest it.  Dream about it, and don't let it go. Wishing all of you the space to create the life you want. 

breathing light in and out,

Christy