Arguably, one of the greatest tortures of modern times is sleep deprivation. And though the techniques below can be tremendously helpful, I have found that nothing works better than mind-over-matter. What I mean is that controlling your breath and your thoughts is the best way to win the war with sleep deprivation. Ultimately, our thoughts [...]
My dear friend, confidant, former business partner, sister-friend, surrogate big sister and sometimes mother-figure, Ruth Dunn, aka Ruth Sinclair, made her transition to the realm of the ancestors on Friday, August 27th. I had spoken to her just days before she went into the hospital, and she seemed quite fine. She was there exactly [...]
Life is filled with beauty, love, adventure, exhilaration…and loss. Sometimes life can turn on a dime, upending your entire reality. You could lose a parent, a child, a friend, your job, spouse, status, your image of who you thought you were, your health, or your lifestyle, just to name a few mega-impact events and [...]
A few years ago, I had labels made for a cleansing spritzer because I knew I wanted to make such a product, but I could never seem to get around to creating the formulation…until the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. Then I made the spritzer and began using it, giving several away as gifts [...]
My dear friend, Shannon Ayers Holden, former owner of Turning Heads Salon in Harlem, relocated with her husband, James Holden, to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) more than a decade ago. Shannon insisted that if I wanted her to host me in the UAE in 2017, I needed to come quickly, as [...]
One of the important aspects of physical mobility is the ability to balance. Balancing is not a static thing; it is in constant flux, and if we’re smart, we are constantly seeking balance in all aspects of life. In many yoga practices, several standing poses require balance and strengthen a practitioner’s ability to balance [...]
What’s old is new again. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but antique and vintage Japanese kimonos have become a fashion statement in these contemporary times. I find kimonos very alluring, so when I met the lovely Laura Jackson of Adorn Me Treasures -- on Instagram, @adornmetreasures -- I was compelled to purchase a [...]
Strong knees and the ability to squat with ease are a reflection of our strength, agility, and vitality. I know from friends that many people are not doing the particular exercise that would be most beneficial in strengthening their knees. Many resist even trying to squat, not only because of pain, but mostly because [...]
The promise of spring with its renewal, softening, and awakening of the earth, the blossoming of the trees and flowers, ushers in a most exhilarating season. With spring comes spring cleaning: clearing out the old, stagnant energy, opening windows and bringing in the breeze of this season of hope. It is the perfect time, [...]
The sap rises with spring, and that isn’t just the sap of trees. Our vital energy also rises with spring. Considering that March is Women’s History Month, I thought I would summon the courage to have this conversation with you, my sisters and brothers. It is believed that typically, only single women are not [...]
