Jenna Cady (above) is one of our primary guinea pigs. She is an auxiliary customer for beauty and wellness in the goop, so many of the products we carry go through her house and mailbox. The first thing people usually notice about Jenna is her grace. Why is she calm and radiant? Unfortunately, a cold ocean drop may be involved.
FIRST, SLEEP
I love the ecological mission of Avocado. The vegan mattress is made of organic latex and organic cotton, and does not use toxic fire retardants. It is of the highest quality and so comfortable. Investing in your dream makes sense to me because it is such a big part of our lives and well-being. I am a person who went to bed early and I enjoy my relaxing time when I crawl into a comfortable bed.
TONING
In the morning before work I do an online pilates or barre course. I love Bala bracelets because of the little added intensity and weight movements. I did a lot of Pilates on the reformer – a Pilates machine with wheels and springs – and I played on it and taught myself some traditional Pilates movements. I have been a yoga person for a long time, but I find that Pilates gives me even more balance and alignment, as well as strength and toning. When I’m not on the machine, I work a Melissa Wood mat training with bracelets on the wrists or ankles.
MOVE
When I want extra strength training, I use the Bala ring for a few more creative exercises. It is a cold weight in the form of a ten-pound wheel made of silicone-coated stainless steel. It is soft and easy to hold and move from hand to hand. I do twists for oblique training. You can keep it by making strides. I Bala has training videos using a ring and bracelets. I haven’t used the ring while dancing yet, but that sounds fun.
WELDING
I take supplements in the morning with breakfast. I have been taking probiotics for years to help with some stomach upsets. The seeds are different from other products I have taken because they also contain a prebiotic. The prebiotic is in the outer capsule, and the probiotics are protected in the inner capsule. I also like the higher the dose and the higher the number of probiotic strains. I have been using the seeds for a month and have noticed a difference in overall digestion from the beginning. *
INTERNAL SOLUTION
I take vitamin D not only because of the winter, but also because it is good for immunity. I am open and usually spend a lot of time in the sun – camping, hiking, running. But I’m not out as much as I’d like to be these days, so I don’t have a lot of sun you need to make your own vitamin D. I think the supplement is a good supplement to my diet and lifestyle right now. *
CHILL
I like to do cold slopes. I live in Encinitas, San Diego, and my house is close to the beach. During lunch breaks, I sometimes go to the beach and jump into the ocean. The water was pretty chilly this winter, but it’s so refreshing. It relaxes me and changes my attitude.
LOOSEN
My neck tightens because I’m at my desk all day, so sometimes during the day, even during a meeting when I’m just listening, I massage a little vagus oil into my neck. Relaxing these muscles immediately feels good. I like the idea that this is for relieving stress and maintaining your parasympathetic nervous system and vagus nerve. I think the combination of aromatherapy and movement makes me slow down and breathe. The oil smells really good, kind of earthy. It contains bergamot, juniper berry, chamomile and lavender based on jojoba seeds.
DOWNTIME
The acupressure mat and pillow have a bunch of small protrusions for acupressure treatment, but they are surprisingly comfortable. I try to meditate as often as I can, usually before bed and sometimes before work. I feel like I’m getting two for one when I meditate on an acupressure mat. Using a mat – the size of your back – forces me to sit or lie on the floor, and I feel more down to earth and as if my muscles are encouraged to relax during meditation. I usually lie still on the mat, but sometimes I walk on it to massage and stimulate my feet. I got Dad for Christmas and he’s obsessed with it. He will sit or lie on it while watching television.
SCORE
I just started using the Oura Ring, which monitors activities and sleep quality. It is easy to use. And that holds me accountable. Last night a reminder to get back into shape gave me the thrust needed for meditation. I strictly looked at the screen before bed for thirty minutes to an hour. I notice a huge difference in sleep if I look at the screen before bed. I’m more restless. And I feel like alcohol and stress are affecting my sleep. I want to use an Oura ring to help me track how screen usage time and other habits affect sleep quality and deep sleep and REM sleep time. It will help me figure out the best routine for me and stick to it.
* The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. To the extent that this article contains the advice of a physician or physicians, the views expressed are those of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of the goop.
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