health

Tyger Mat Review

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I absolutely love teaching TRX. It goes along with my grit and grace personality perfectly. The grit is the strength required as your body weight produces the power, and the grace is the cardio and core moves I throw in to get your heart rate sky high.

My classes are no joke. Ask my Saturday morning regulars & they will tell you how much my TRX Fusion class kicks their…each week.

My biggest gripe with TRX is that the set-up can be confusing to a beginner as the concept of vector angles and anchor points are foreign to most.

My main cues are: “Move your feet in!” and “Move your feet out!”

They want to know “How can I make this easier?” and “How can I make this harder?”

Enter the Tyger Mat, created by James Curley an educator, personal trainer, and CSCS coach.

What is the Tyger Mat?

The Tyger Mat is 72 inches long, 26.7 inches wide and has 17 lines, 3 inches apart. The lines are etched into the mat, so nothing will remove them. The Tyger Mat grips the floor, so you can use it with any modality and it will. not. move. Alignment dots are on each line, so you can position your feet and hands accordingly.

Isn’t this mat incredible? Look at the lines and alignment notches. Notice my sweat, too.

I brought the mat into the studio for a client who would benefit from the visual cues the Tyger Mat offers. She purchased the Tyger Mat right after the class; she couldn’t believe how me telling her “Move up/down a line” made a difference; she could visually see and track her progress in the upcoming weeks. (I wrote down the exercise and what line she performed the exercise at so she doesn’t have to play around with her positioning the next class.)

The Tyger Mat is gold for TRX, yoga, and any body weight exercises you incorporate into your routine. After class I had my clients take some pictures of me using the mat (what you see on the mat is SWEAT). The visual cue the Tyger Mat provides is unparalleled to other exercise mats on the market.

I am having a come to Jesus moment here. Look at the sweat on that mat!

If you have clients that don’t know where to put their feet to grade the difficulty of the exercise, or if you want to note your progress and intensity from week to week, the Tyger Mat is for you. I also love how body alignment is considered with the alignment dots.

I have used this on my concrete floor in my garage, and on the hard wood floors in the studio with no issue. You clean your Tyger Mat with a little dish soap and a small, non-abrasive sponge. Let it dry. Once it does, put it in the fancy Tyger Mat carry bag.

Purchase the Tyger Mat through my affiliate link, and save 10% using code realmofvibes!

Be sure to visit Tyger Mat on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You all know my integrity is everything. The Tyger Mat was gifted, but all opinions within are my own. And remember, the Booty Kicker is still $20 off and comes with a FREE Bender Ball through my affiliate link. Let me help get you in shape!

Booty Kicker Review

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I am obsessed with barre workouts. I became an instructor through Barre Above, and started teaching in local studios and gyms near my home. When I was rehearsing my new choreography at home, I was using a STOOL. It made it nearly impossible to do anything involving my body weight since a stool would not be able to safely hold my body weight. 

[Affiliate links below.]

Enter the Booty Kicker.

The Booty Kicker

The Booty Kicker is an authentic, portable, foldable barre that costs $80 when you purchase through my referral link.

The Booty Kicker is made of steel with nickel plated accents, and a hinge design for folding flat. (All you have to do is remove the metal bars, and it folds flat to be stored under a bed.)

The Booty Kicker holds 3 sets of weights, has rolling wheels, and gripping feet for both hardwood and carpet floors.

The articulating Ipad holder is sold separately, but a must have if you view your barre workouts on an electronic device. (I love mine!)

My Review

The Booty Kicker took my husband one hour to assemble. The directions are clear and concise. Neither of us got frustrated or wanted to kill each other during the set-up process, so that always gives the Booty Kicker an added bonus! (Nothing is more frustrating than struggling when assembling something!)

Booty Kicker Review

The Booty Kicker is STURDY. I can do barre push ups. I can do reverse chair pose. I can put my entire body weight on the Booty Kicker and this does not move a centimeter. It doesn’t take up a lot of space. For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my stories where I show you my very humble, small home. The Booty Kicker doesn’t take up a lot of space and can fold to fit in a closet should I need it to. Otherwise, I pull out the Booty Kicker from the wall, do my workout, and push it back. Perfection! It also has storage for my hand weights (awesome…they are no longer hidden in my a closet).

The final assembled size of the Booty Kicker is approximately 38″ tall, 38″ wide, and 34″ deep. When folded, it is 34″ deep, 38″ wide and 5″ tall with weight rack (3″ tall without weight rack). The wooden barre is 36″ off the floor.

Booty Kicker

I like the Ipad holder so I can adjust the arms and position my electronic device to exactly where I need it to be to perform my workouts effortlessly. You can purchase the Booty Kicker and tablet holder together here.

It is only $80 when you use my referral link, so it is really not that expensive, especially if you are an avid barre student or instructor!

I am thrilled with the Booty Kicker. It allows me to create an authentic barre workout at home that I can bring into the studio.

Do you have a Booty Kicker? Are you in the market for an at home barre? Drop a comment below and make sure you are following me on Instagram!

Namaste.

Danielle

Booty Kicker Review

Be You CBD Review & Giveaway

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One thing I didn’t try to manage my ailments was CBD oil. CBD products are everywhere in NJ. I could count on two hands the number of shops that have just opened up in neighboring towns. CBD is definitely the new big thing.

I didn’t try CBD for several reasons. The first was the stigma attached to the products. Edibles? Cookies? Gummies? What am I, back in high school and college? Rub this CBD stuff WHERE, exactly? What will it do to me?

Other reasons:

  1. the purity of the product
  2. side effects (you SAY I won’t hallucinate, but WILL I?)

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I was skeptical. I did my research. I asked Be You CBD if they needed a product reviewer because I was curious and wanted to try their products. I also wanted to promote the founders, Heidi and Jen, two California women boss babes. (For those of you that have followed Realm of Vibes, you know I love promoting women in business.)

What I wanted to relieve:

  1. stress and anxiety
  2. chronic fatigue
  3. right knee pain (on & off, chronic)
  4. neck pain (chronic for 10 years this January)
  5. rosacea
  6. postpartum hair loss 18 months later
  7. sleeping (not enough, waking up and staying up)
  8. strengthen my general immunity

When I chatted with Heidi, I shared with her some of my trials and tribulations. Guys, I am often not a peach. If you follow me on Instagram, you see in my bio alone that I don’t stop. I work almost full-time hours as an occupational therapist in geriatrics and pediatrics. I teach two barre classes a week. I have a husband who is a homicide detective and depending on the week, is rarely home. I have an almost 19-month-old daughter that is extremely active. I have two rescue dogs that also need my time and attention. I am counting down the minutes until my daughter wakes up from her nap and then this blog post will be over. I need to RELAX. I need to de-stress. I need my neck to stop feeling so much tension. I need my mind to turn off for 30 seconds. Do you feel me, readers?

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So, Be You CBD stepped in. Be You CBD partnered with a boutique farm in central Oregon that grows organic, non-GMO, pesticide-free cannabis that is non-psychoactive. (This alleviated #1 in the reasons why I didn’t to try CBD section).

Now let me review the Be You CBD products. 

Holy Grail Tincture

Holy. Moly. The active ingredients in Holy Grail Tincture include 1000 mg full spectrum Hemp CBD Oil and MCT Oil. Natural Terpenes & Phytocannabinoids swarm inside this tincture.

Holy Grail Tincture can be used to improve health and vitality. As stated on their website, Be You CBD‘s customers report they often use our tincture to help reduce inflammation, find greater relaxation and give the immune system a boost.

You start using Holy Grail Tincture by dropping 1/4 of the dropper full under your tongue. You can increase as you see fit.

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Earthy is a beautiful way to describe this tincture. Let’s be honest, it’s like liquid marijuana under your tongue, and it is absolutely delightful. What the heck was I waiting for? The smell alone puts me in a better mood!

I have been taking this for a week before bed. I would say within 15-25 minutes, I just feel a sense of calm. I. Am. Just. More. Chill. I feel a little bit lighter. I feel like I can just go to sleep without 1037937 thoughts coming into my brain.

I will definitely keep using Holy Grail Tincture.

Down Under Rub

Down Under Rub is Be You CBD‘s formula designed for muscle aches and body tension.

I love the smell of the Down Under Rub. It has very subtle hints of vanilla, and I love how it contains arnica extract and the essential oil blend, which are all great for healing.

Ingredients: Shea Budder, CocoBudder, Coconut Oil, Almond Oil, Amyris Wood Oil, Vanilla Extract, Arnica Extract,  Helichrysum Oil, Bergamot Oil, and Eucalyptus Oil.  Contains: 500mg (1 oz jar) or 850mg (1.7 oz jar) Full Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil.

Down Under Rub is what I rubbed on my right knee and on my neck. Before teaching barre class, I would rub my right knee with a generous amount of creme. It is yellow and reminds me of ghee. My knee pain has dissipated and my neck pain has definitely lessened. I think consistency is knee when using CBD products, and I will definitely be implementing Down Under Rub when I feel signs of strain or tension.

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Grumpy B*tch Balm

Period cramps are THE WORST. PMS is definitely the worst time of the month. I hate feeling like a bloated pig with an attitude problem.

Grumpy B*tch Balm contains the ingredients of the Down Under Rub, except for Eucalyptus oil.

I rubbed Grumpy B*tch Balm on my abdomen for cramps, my neck, my knee, and my temples to relieve a nasty headache I had from one of my daughter’s tantrums.

Again, love the smell and texture of Grumpy B*tch Balm and Down Under Rub. I will definitely continue to use these products on my journey of health and wellness.

Be You CBD also sells Be You Face Serum to help combat fine lines, skin irritations, rosacea, acne, and dry skin. Be You Face Serum can be worn under your makeup and for moisturizing overnight.

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Bottom Line

Since using Be You CBD, my knee pain has dissipated,  and my neck pain has lessened.

I am definitely more zen.

I feel less anxious and that I can go to sleep with a lighter mind.

PLEASE USE CODE “Powerful!” at checkout on Be You CBD to let Heidi and Jen know I sent you! And now…

The GIVEAWAY!

Win a Grumpy B*tch Balm and Down Under Rub from Be You CBD!

  1. Follow ME and Be You CBD on Instagram.
  2. Save the initial giveaway post.
  3. Tag a friend in the comments. Each tag gives you an additional entry.
  4. BONUS: Share the initial post to your stories. You can do this once every 24 hours to gain an extra entry. Don’t forget to tag @realmofvibes and @beyoucbd for your bonus entry to count.

Rules: All entries must occur from the date and time of the initial giveaway post until 11:59AM on January 15, 2020. Winner will be announced in the comments section, via IG Story, and informed via direct message. One winner only. The winner has 24 hours to respond with full name and address or another winner will be chosen. USA residents only. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram. 

Products from Be You CBD were received complimentary for testing and review purposes. All opinions within are my own.

doTERRA Products During Pregnancy

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Disclaimer: This post is MY personal experience and not to be taken as medical advice. I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be one, so make sure you seek professional medical advice before using any products or supplements, pregnant or not. Post contains affiliate and referral links. Thanks for supporting my blog. 

Secret’s Out. I’m pregnant with my first child. I’ve come to realize in the 23 weeks I’ve been carrying this cherub that anything negative that I say about pregnancy will be followed by bulging eyeballs and a comment like, “It’ll all be worth it.” I hope so!

I give props to the woman who had an uncomplicated, happy pregnancy. I suffered from all day sickness from Week 5, Day 1 to Week 17, Day 5. Without the help of my husband, an informative, helpful holistic book, and my doTERRA products, I’m not sure if I would have made it through the storm. But I did, and I’m here to help you!

Let’s begin with what products have helped me:

Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies by Stephanie Fritz

Note: This is not a doTERRA product or sold by doTERRA. I can’t begin to tell you how helpful this book is throughout your pregnancy. Stephanie is a midwife who uses essential oils for anything you might (well, hopefully not) endure. She helped guide my holistic pregnancy plan, below.

Ginger and Peppermint Essential Oils

Another disclaimer: *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

I had food aversion pretty early on in my pregnancy. I was so nauseous and would vomit for hours during the night. I would be heaving so hard my head would start to pound. I thanked God many times that my bathroom is only 5 steps away from my bed and that my husband was on cue for bringing me my water glass.

doTERRA’s Ginger and Peppermint essential oils are lifesavers for me. I would add one drop of Ginger to a cup of hot water and sip on it throughout the day. Ginger may help with nausea, soothe digestion and may help to reduce gas, bloating, or cramping.* Ginger seemed to calm my stomach when nothing else worked.

Ginger

Peppermint also can be great for digestion and relief from stomach upset. Whenever my head would start to hurt, I would inhale peppermint (and diffuse it in my Petal diffuser), and apply with Fractionated Coconut Oil to the back of my neck. If I needed something refreshing, I would add one drop to a glass of ice water. Peppermint was everywhere I was – my nightstand, my bag, my car…it quickly became my go-to oil.

Peppermint

PB Assist+ & DigestZen Terrazyme 

Gut health is super important, especially when your little cherub is causing you to eat things you don’t normally ingest. Before I was pregnant, I’d try to adhere to the Whole 30 principles (lean meat and fish, vegetables and fruits). My body reacts poorly to dairy, gluten, and soy. Throughout my 13 weeks of hell, I was meat averse and didn’t care for vegetables. So what was I eating? Carbs and dairy. Bread, bagel with cream cheese, pizza, rice and pasta with butter. Some days, it was all I could keep down.

Terrazyme and PB Assist+

PB Assist+ is a pro and pre-biotic, offering 6 billion CFUs of active probiotic cultures and soluble pre-biotic FOS (fructooligosaccharides) that encourage healthy bacterial growth within your body. It intends to support healthy digestive and immune system function. The pills are like no other – you can actually see through the Veggie Cap at a green and clear substance, looking similar to a gelatinous oil. I’m obsessed with my PB Assist+, and have taken them religiously for months. I would take 1 a day, after a meal.

DigestZen Terrazyme are digestive enzymes that help to support a healthy digestion of enzyme deficient, processed foods.* Unfortunately, I was eating things that weren’t the healthiest choices for my dietary intolerances. I would take 1-3 pills a day, depending on how much and what I was eating. DigestZen Terrazyme helps with food tolerance, and I strongly recommend these to anyone needing digestive help.

DigestZen TerraZyme by doTERRA

Isn’t my vitamin holder adorable?

These are my top product recommendations that I have used consistently during the first (and into the second) trimester. I always use Lavender to sleep, Melaleuca for my face wipes, and On Guard when I need immune support. I take the Lifelong Vitality Pack as my prenatal vitamin. I can’t reiterate enough how reading Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies by Stephanie Fritz helped me to safely integrate essential oils and products into my safe, effective pregnancy.

Where do I buy?

Let me help you get started. I am a Wellness Advocate for doTERRA and want nothing more to guide you on your health and wellness journey. (Whatever you do, please do not purchase your oils at the supermarket! doTERRA’s are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oils, ensuring your safety when using them topically, internally and aromatically).

Start by browsing my shop, here. If you want to become a wholesale member, click JOIN. If you want to purchase retail, click SHOP.

You have two options to become a wholesale member:

  1. Pay $35 and have a wholesale membership for a year. It will auto-renew and you will get a free 15mL bottle of peppermint as you enter your second year.
  2. Select an enrollment kit and your membership is FREE. I started with the AromaTouch Diffused Kit and also purchased the Home Essentials Kit.

Add your kit and/or products, and voila! Checkout and you will receive your products via mail within a few days.

Have questions?

Contact me. realmofvibesdg@gmail.com

Namaste,

Danielle

bake bread

Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

DIY Time for Bed Linen Spray

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I have a few quirks I’d like to address:

  1. I always go to bed with a clean face; I use my Homemade Face Wipes. My face is cleansed and feels squeaky clean.
  2. I like sleeping on a clean pillow case.
  3. I won’t use vodka in my homemade cleaning products. I’m too cheap!

Now that I settled those issues, let’s get to the post. I have been using my DIY Linen spray to give my sheets a refresher before bedtime. Not only do they smell relaxing (hello, lavender!) but they appear cleaner by using rubbing alcohol or witch hazel.

If your sheets could use freshening up, here is what you need:

(Affiliate links below.)

  1. 16 ounce Glass Spray Bottle (I used these from Amazon)
  2. 1 1/2 cups distilled/filtered/purified water
  3. 2 tablespoons of Thayers Alcohol-free Unscented Witch Hazel Toner
    1. Now – I prefer witch hazel over rubbing alcohol. No matter how much I shook the bottle, I feel that the rubbing alcohol still overpowered the essential oils (even when I added an excessive amount of essential oils). However, I felt that my sheets seemed more sterile when I used the rubbing alcohol. Each his or her own; use what you have!
  4. 50 drops doTERRA essential oils
    1. 25 drops Lavender, 25 drops Cedarwood
    2. 25 drops Lavender, 25 drops Vetiver
    3. 25 drops Lavender, 25 drops Bergamot
    4. 20 Serenity, 20 Cedarwood, 10 Vetiver

Combine any of the above (1-4) to create terrific sleep blends!

DIY Time for Bed Linen Spray Using Essential Oils

Directions

  • Add the water, witch hazel, and doTERRA’s essential oils to the glass spray bottle and SHAKE.
  • Before the first use, let everything combine for a few hours. (Make sure you shake before each use.)
  • Spray about 8 inches away from your bed linens a few minutes before bedtime.
  • Let dry, hop into bed, and enjoy the calming scent.

Note: I have not had any problems with spraying essential oils on my sheets. If you are concerned about staining, please spot test. 

doTERRA has Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils. These are the only oils I trust to apply topically, ingest, and diffuse. If you need to purchase doTERRA essential oils, please click HERE. I would love to help you select your oils. E-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com to get started.

Be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Namaste.

DIY Time For Bed Linen Spray with Essential Oils

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