Aloeswood + Agarwood+ Aloe

IMG_2242.JPG

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

IMG_1837.jpg

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

IMG_1500.JPG

The Cacao Miracle

I am fascinated with Organic Raw Cacao ever since I have been using it in my facials and see my beautiful clients GLOW! Theobroma Cacao is its genus name and means "food of the gods"  The internal medicinal benefits seem to be just as riveting as the topical benefits.  It is a fruit and yields  20-30 seeds/beans per pod.  It's history dates back to 1900-900 BC and evidence of cacao was found in ceramic vessels found off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico. It is considered medicine and has the highest dose of anti- oxidants on the ORAC   ( this measures daily doses allowed ) Its higher than blueberries by a lot!  I want to write about the superpowers of this anti-oxidant powerhouse.  Cacao helps protect cells from oxidation and aging.  Oxidation is a process in which chemical substances change because of the loss of electrons due to being oxidized.  Think of fruit and how it changes when its left out too long OR the rusting of metal. Our skin has similar reactions.  In skin care we call it free radical damage and it is caused by many things.   What happens in free radical damage is our cells which are normally stable get an electron taken from their outer shell from environmental conditions like sunburn and pollution etc.  This causes the cell to act erratic and causes a chain reaction damaging other cells around it. The reason I am explaining this is because skincare is created to support the skin cells in this battle . Cacao has iron, selenium, manganese, omega 6 fatty acids, and  vitamin C.   Cacao improves vascular health triggering nutrient delivery and supports the skins natural healing ability.  Its a potent anti- inflammatory.  Inflammation is our bodies protection from damage, but chronic inflammation isn't good. It's taxing on the cells and weakens them, making it hard for them to function with integrity.  Calming and treating inflamed skin with Cacao helps deliver healing nutrients to the skin.  I also specialize in Nutritional Therapy with a focus on acne and stress which is super helpful when dealing with inflammation.  Cacao protects and blocks harmful free radicals.   I never knew going into the skincare industry would be so fascinating and allow me to continually learn especially about plants!   I use a few different organic luxury Cacao products in my facials and everyone experiences the magic of cacao.  It is good for all skin types in my facial.   People always ask me if I would ever make my own products. I always say NO, I leave it to the experts like Dr.Alkaitis and Josh Rosebrook the TOP leaders in Organic Skincare. After my short schooling (6 months) attending the Cinta Aveda Institute I was super lucky to join the Esthetician team at International Orange in SF which I worked for 8 years previous as a massage therapist.  I consider those estheticians the Black ops of Skincare and I mean that as the highest compliment.  In EVERY SINGLE facial I perform I see glowing skin, resonating life and beauty and health after.  Its like a miracle happens with Cacao, I do a little magic to it and add crazy ingredients like asparagus and brussels sprouts and adaptogens to name a FEW organic ingredients. I am so thrilled to have found the medicine of cacao and look forward to finding more ways internally to celebrate its magic.  Come get a facial!!!! Its amazing! Be kind to yourself, Christy  

I am fascinated with Organic Raw Cacao ever since I have been using it in my facials and see my beautiful clients GLOW!

Theobroma Cacao is its genus name and means "food of the gods"  The internal medicinal benefits seem to be just as riveting as the topical benefits.  It is a fruit and yields  20-30 seeds/beans per pod.  It's history dates back to 1900-900 BC and evidence of cacao was found in ceramic vessels found off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico. It is considered medicine and has the highest dose of anti- oxidants on the ORAC   ( this measures daily doses allowed ) Its higher than blueberries by a lot!

 I want to write about the superpowers of this anti-oxidant powerhouse.  Cacao helps protect cells from oxidation and aging.  Oxidation is a process in which chemical substances change because of the loss of electrons due to being oxidized.  Think of fruit and how it changes when its left out too long OR the rusting of metal. Our skin has similar reactions.  In skin care we call it free radical damage and it is caused by many things.   What happens in free radical damage is our cells which are normally stable get an electron taken from their outer shell from environmental conditions like sunburn and pollution etc.  This causes the cell to act erratic and causes a chain reaction damaging other cells around it. The reason I am explaining this is because skincare is created to support the skin cells in this battle . Cacao has iron, selenium, manganese, omega 6 fatty acids, and  vitamin C.  

Cacao improves vascular health triggering nutrient delivery and supports the skins natural healing ability.  Its a potent anti- inflammatory.  Inflammation is our bodies protection from damage, but chronic inflammation isn't good. It's taxing on the cells and weakens them, making it hard for them to function with integrity.  Calming and treating inflamed skin with Cacao helps deliver healing nutrients to the skin.  I also specialize in Nutritional Therapy with a focus on acne and stress which is super helpful when dealing with inflammation.  Cacao protects and blocks harmful free radicals.   I never knew going into the skincare industry would be so fascinating and allow me to continually learn especially about plants!   I use a few different organic luxury Cacao products in my facials and everyone experiences the magic of cacao.  It is good for all skin types in my facial.   People always ask me if I would ever make my own products. I always say NO, I leave it to the experts like Dr.Alkaitis and Josh Rosebrook the TOP leaders in Organic Skincare. After my short schooling (6 months) attending the Cinta Aveda Institute I was super lucky to join the Esthetician team at International Orange in SF which I worked for 8 years previous as a massage therapist.  I consider those estheticians the Black ops of Skincare and I mean that as the highest compliment.  In EVERY SINGLE facial I perform I see glowing skin, resonating life and beauty and health after.  Its like a miracle happens with Cacao, I do a little magic to it and add crazy ingredients like asparagus and brussels sprouts and adaptogens to name a FEW organic ingredients. I am so thrilled to have found the medicine of cacao and look forward to finding more ways internally to celebrate its magic.  Come get a facial!!!! Its amazing!

Be kind to yourself,

Christy