Healer Series

I am kicking off this Holistic Skin+Body roadmap to getting your glow on a cellular level with the NERVOUS SYSTEM! This little Healer Series will highlight information on How to get your glow on a cellular level and tips and tricks I share with my clients. My hope is that I can simply explain how everything affects our body and you can take tips home to enhance your glow. I have been practicing these tips and tricks for YEARS and they seem to work. One thing to remember is that healing the body on any level is a process and and takes time. I value each persons journey.

Here we go.

Every cell in your body has a nucleus that has DNA in it. Im pretty sure. LOL. The Nervous System communicates to each cell and has the opportunity to affect it in a good way vs a bad way. The Nervous System is comprised of the Brain and the Spinal cord and all the nerves that spread out to ALL the organs and tissue to the whole body. Skin has nerve cells in the Dermis which are an extensive network of sensory nerve. The spinal cord that runs down your back has nerves sprouting from both sides that connect and control all the organs in the body including the heart, lungs, kidneys, adrenals, etc.

The Nervous System controls: Everything.

The Adrenals which if stressed sends cortisol into the blood causing tissues to get inflamed .

Inflammation in the body looks like PAIN + Redness… possible depression, fatigue etc.

Over stressed Adrenals also stimulate secondary sex hormones and increase testosterone and oil production thus possibly increasing acne and hair growth on face. This is WAY more complicated then it seems and my point is that STRESS to the body can cause disharmony in your hormones BECAUSE… your ENDOCRINE SYSTEM is controlled by the NERVOUS SYSTEM. The Endocrine system are your organs that produce hormones that can be in balance or not. The endocrine system is something to read about … a great book i love is Holistic Anatomy by Pip Waller.

There is something called the HPA axis and it is feedback loop that is meant to help us in Fight or Flight. Stress is going to happen and a little stress is good for the ol’ body sometimes.

When we receive signals via our senses to our brain in any stressful moment it goes to the Hypothalamus, this is the big girl in the brain, it is CONNECTED via blood and nerves to the pituitary gland, this girl controls ALL GLANDS WHICH CONTROL HORMONES….. the stress glands called the ADRENALS and our bodies are set up so that if we experience stress it can help us survive instantly via electricity and blood communication in our body… The adrenals also control salt in our kidneys. SALT IS AN ion/ENERGY CONDUCTOR…. when you are stressed and need to run fast you need salt to conduct energy. Chronic stimulation of adrenals causes puffiness which is a result of salt retention and not using the energy that was meant for fight or flight it also causes fatigue. Adrenal stimulation from stress also makes it so you can see farther, speeds up heart rate so more blood is pumped to muscles. A Sped up heart rate is good for short term but not long term. Long term the constriction or squeezing of arterial walls make blood pressure go up, causing stress on blood flow and the heart. DIGESTION in fight or flight is slowed down on purpose so your energy isn’t used for non necessary functions.

Because our nervous system is stimulated via senses Im going to go over the senses and how to” stimulate “ relaxation or what the body may recognize as relaxation thus changing chemical reactions for the better allowing your inner glow to happen.

HEARING- Sound is vibration, and can change matter chemically. watch Dr. Emoto video on You Tube.. then practice exploring sound in your healing life. When I get my tap water i say a lovely thought giving my water extra life. Once you watch Dr. Emoto you’ll see.

I love Silvia Nakkach and she teaches sound healing at CIIS in SF she is also on Pandora, i listen to her in my treatments and find her very healing.

TOUCH- Receiving healing touch in facials and massages is more than just feeling good which has amazing benefits. It creates blood flow , which removes metabolic waist and feeds tissue the nutrients blood has to offer all cells of the body. It literally metabolizes the tissue. Touch slows down the breath thus expanding capillaries allowing nutrients to flow to skin. It also relaxes muscles around the abdomen allowing for better digestion. Better digestion is huge for you glow.. you want great healthy digestion. It also lowers cortisol and inflammation as the body recognizes the breath as relaxing. You take a breath because your nervous system tells you to0 AND YOU can control it. Its controlled by a MIXED nerve.

SMELL- aromatherapy has direct accès to your brain through the nose and neuropathway stimulating your limbic System. The act of smelling a beautiful aroma also slows down heart rate, allows you to be present, relaxes constriction of arterial walls. BTW arteries have a tiny muscle layer around them that is meant to constrict and dilate. Chronic one or the other isn’t good… blood pressure needs to be balanced. Ways to bring aroma into your life:

Get an oil diffuser and diffuse your favorite aroma.

add a couple drops of high quality oil to your jojoba or sunflower or grapeseed oil and apply to body.

I love soy candles

I also love Copal which is an incense from Mexico. ITS SO GOOD!

Do not put raw essential oils on your skin or face.

If you suffer from Asthma using aromatherapy may not be advised because it stresses the cilia in the lungs.

Cooking is another way to use smell as a healing tool. Not only do ingredients have aroma, such as ginger, parsley,garlic etc. The smells activate enzymes in your mouth preparing your body for great digestion.

SIGHT- We don’t always get to be surrounded by beauty:) Be conscious of your breath when you see things you don’t like. When you see things you don’t like say a lovely mantra so the negative impact of what you saw doesn’t imprint into your cells. I like to send a loving wish to the Universe or give myself a positive vibe mantra like “ Believe in Yourself” Thought is very important to our health it carries emotion and it carries an energy. This is one place that has had a huge impact on my self care on a cellular level. Its so easy, but I need a high vibe mantra on repeat.

I hope this has helped someone with understanding how the Nervous System affects your well being.

xx christy

Healing

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