Personal Recommendations
Qigong
I am constantly encouraging friends, clients, and students to invest in their longterm wellbeing by creating a qigong practice. Qigong is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that combines movement, breath, and meditation (similar to tai chi) that is incredibly healthy despite being very low-impact. Great for supporting lymphatic drainage, strengthening balance, and increasing flexibility. Ba Duan Jin (or the Eight Brocades) is one of my favorite forms and is a great place to start.
Paige is a fantastic sexological bodyworker and pelvic health specialist (with a huge heart). She is trained in scar tissue remediation and GAPS nutrition, offering a wide range of modalities.
Mugwort Bath Pouches
Mugwort is a beautiful warming herb that aids in boosting circulation, relieving muscle tension and cramping, and calming the nervous system. I love adding mugwort to my baths as well as hand and foot soaks.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is great for lymphatic support and skin exfoliation. I especially love Iris Hantverk’s dry brushes, which are handcrafted with horsehair. They have an an array of body brushes to choose from as well as this face brush crafted from softer hairs to support delicate facial skin.
The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin
My favorite edition of my favorite Le Guin essay, with a fabulous forward from Donna Haraway. Cosmogenesis also carries a number of other books I have greatly enjoyed.
Epsom salt’s bigger, badder, and more bioavailable big brother! I love magnesium soaks for promoting muscle recovery, reducing stress, and improving sleep.
Trager Mentastics: Movement as a Way to Agelessness by Milton Trager
A beautiful, poetic book with images that encourages specific simple, playful movement exercises to increase health and vitality.
Lance is incredible massage therapist located in Lockhart, TX (though you can occasionally catch them in LA if you’re lucky). Trained in Esalen massage, Lance is a deeply thoughtful and skilled practitioner.
The Pavilion of Dreams - Harold Budd
One of my favorite albums, often in rotation in the treatment room.
I have tried most of the chapsticks and lip balms on the market and have found that Lanolips outperforms them all. Naturally occurring, one ingredient, very gentle and very versatile. The perfect lip balm, cuticle cream, and salve for dry spots.
Sandra Lanshin creates some of the best gua sha education as well as some of the best TCM tools! Her gua sha tools are incredibly high quality and the Lanshin Massager is an absolute dream for both client and personal use.