Look Out For Latex
Even some of the most popular brands of yoga mats, such as Lulu Lemon, contain latex. Latex can cause bad reactions in some people, with symptoms ranging from itchy skin, blisters, watery eyes, and a runny nose, all the way to life-threatening shock. Best to steer clear I say!


Give Me The Green Light!

It's time to buy a yoga mat- which one will you choose? Read ahead to find out about some of the sustainable and safe mats on the market. There are pros and cons for each, and finding the best mat for you may come down to a matter of personal preference, but the following are my personal top five-

1. Jade Yoga Mats

Made from natural rubber, Jade yoga mats are highly durable and of course, sustainable  They come in a variety of sizes, colour, and thicknesses. For me the 5mm mat is the minimum thickness to protect my knees, anything less is a bit too thin.
Jade yoga even donates 5 dollars for each mat sold to a variety of charities!

​Buy  Jade Yoga Mats Here

If only studying stopped in high school. But the reality is that once we start school, we never really quit studying whether it’s college, grad school or preparing for a presentation at work.
If you have an intense study session coming up for school or work, you might be tempted to make yourself a big pot of coffee. The amount of caffeine in it does make the drink a stimulant; therefore, it can definitely help you to stay awake. The flip side of the coin is coffee also has side effects (especially if you drink more than a couple of cups a day) including irritability, jitteriness and the inability to concentrate—none of the things that you need when you’re trying to learn and retain information.
The better alternative would be to take a few all-natural supplements—ones that are proven to help you to focus without the side of effects of caffeine. Below are five of our absolute favorite ones along with why they top the list.

Bacopa: Basically, Bacopa is a plant that is found in tropical and subtropical regions everywhere. What makes this supplement so special is it has a way of helping the body easily adapt to new or surprising stressful situations. It does this by helping to regenerate brain tissue as it also stabilizes your blood pressure and fights off free radicals. When your brain and immune system are strong, that’s the foundation for focusing easier and better
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GABA: This is an acronym for Gamma-Aminobutyric acid which is a long word for a type of neurotransmitter that sends messages to your brain. People with a low amount of GABA in their system sometimes have mood disorders and even chronic pain. Adding GABA to your diet can improve your moods, relieve anxiety and, if you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, it can help to treat that too (it also improves your quality of sleep). Foods that have GABA in them include almonds, bananas, broccoli and brown rice, so eat up!        

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​Buy GABA Here
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L-Tyrosine: Word on the street (and by that we mean medical journals) is that if you take this particular amino acid on an empty stomach, it will increase the norepinephrine and dopamine levels in your brain so that you’ll be able to get into a great mood and have more energy. L-Tyrosine also helps your working memory to increase while lowering your body’s stress levels.

             
​  Buy L-Tyrosine Here

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Huperzine-A: This is an alkaloid extracted from club moss; it is used in Chinese medicine to treat ailments like bodily inflammation and even schizophrenia. It inhibits an enzyme called acetylcholine esterase (ACHE). That’s a fancy way of saying that it supports the brain. So much in fact, that some Alzheimer’s patients are given it because the effects are potent minus the side effects of many prescription drugs. Some patients who’ve had a brain or spinal injury (or even individuals who battle with addiction) use it too. Huperzine-A can take your study sessions to another level because it improves the levels of acetylcholine in your brain. That’s great because that is literally where your “learning transmitter” is located. It also can keep your brain healthy and strong in the process.

             Buy Huperzine-A Here

Citicoline (CDP Choline): If it’s been years since you’ve been in a classroom and you can’t even remember the last time you stayed up all night cramming for a test only to stay up all day in order to take it (ah, the college life!), no worries. Try some Citicoline. This supplement (one that has very few side effects, by the way) can boost your memory levels while increasing your mental energy, making it so much easier to learn more. Some physicians attribute it to speeding up memory recall. Sounds like a winner to us!

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Where can I get these all in one place???
​I'm glad you asked. There are a variety of these nootropic supplements on the market, but to buy all of these, let alone consume them would be enough to deter anyone. One supplement I can personally recommend is Ajna Wellbeing'[s FOCUS. Like the name implies, it gives you all the benefits of the aforementioned ingredients and then some! You'll notice better concentration and memory, as well as being in better mood. I enjoy taking this just as much on non-study days for a bit of extra spark!
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​Buy FOCUS Here

The importance of getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis is often overlooked. Some people view sleeping as the most unproductive activity of their day and will go to great lengths to stay up all night to get more work done, especially when deadlines have to be met. 
While this strategy may provide more time to complete the presentation, the negative effects of sleep deprivation such as drowsiness, irritable mood, headaches and concentration problems are likely to affect their performance during the following days. Sleep is an essential part of our lives and a remarkably productive activity that rejuvenates both the brain and body.

It is recommended that you get 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Why is sleep so important?

Sleep Controls Weight Gain
Studies have shown that there is a strong link between weight gain and lack of sleep. Sleep deprived children and adults tend to weigh more than those who get enough sleep. As a matter of fact, inadequate sleep is considered a strong risk factor for becoming overweight or obese. It is believed that inadequate sleep reduces the motivation to exercise and affects the release of hormones that control weight. Therefore, if you are trying to lose weight, ensure that you are getting enough sleep on a daily basis.

Boost Concentration and Productivity
Poor sleep affects the productivity, performance, cognition and concentration of your brain. In fact, research has shown that not getting enough sleep impairs certain brain functions to a similar extent as alcohol intoxication. On the other hand, good sleep improves memory, performance and problem solving skills, thus making you more productive.

Reduce the Risk of accidents
Sleep deprivation increases the chances of causing road accidents. Being tired behind the wheel is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Operating heavy machinery at work after a night of inadequate sleep puts you and others at risk of injury. By getting enough sleep every night, you highly reduce the chances of causing accidents. 

Lower Your Risk of Developing Heart Disease
Those who suffer from sleeping disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, stroke and heart attack. A study published by the European Heart Journal points out that people who have problems staying asleep, falling asleep and who wake up feeling tired have a higher chance of developing heart failure over an 11 year period. If you suffer from a sleeping disorder, getting help can help restore your sleep cycle and lower your risk of developing heart diseases.

Beat Depression
A common complain amongst patients with depression is poor sleep quality. Sleep cycle undergoes fives stages. The fifth stage, REM (Rapid Eye Movement), in particular is essential as it is in this stage that people dream and mentally process the events of the previous day. In most cases, people who suffer from sleeping disorders are also found to suffer from depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses. Getting adequate sleep is crucial if you are to treat depression successfully.

Sleep Boosts your Immune System
Even a few hours of lost sleep are enough to impair your immune function. A two week study carried out to find out the effects of sleep on the immune system showed that candidates that slept less than 7 hours were three times more likely to develop a common cold compared to those who slept for at least 8 hours. If you find yourself battling a cold every now and then, getting a good night’s sleep regularly might be the answer.
Now that we know the benefits of sleep and the damage that sleep deprivation does to our bodies let’s look at some natural hacks that can help you sleep better.

Supplements
Not getting enough nutrients from the foods we consume can be the cause of poor sleep. Just as nutrition affects our overall health it also affects sleep. In today’s fast paced world, more and more people are opting for fast foods that offer little nutrition value. When fruits and vegetables are picked from the farm before they are ripe, so that they can be shipped, the amount of vitamins and healthy nutrients we get from eating them is reduced.
For this reason, rather than going for sleeping pills, it is helpful to take supplements such as DREAM that supply your body with key nutrients needed for healthy sleep. DREAM consists of a number of natural ingredients:

• Vitamin B6 - helps promote better mood, pain and sleep tolerance and improves the awakening cortisol levels.
• Goji Berries - help fight depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. They also create general feelings of well-being.
• Chamomile - is a mild, relaxing sleeping aid and muscle relaxant that has been used for centuries to treat insomnia.

Other essential ingredients include: L-taurine, lemon balm, valerian, GABA, melatonin and Ashwagandha, just to name a few.

This one, DREAM, is my personal favorite and contains nearly all of the above mentioned ingredients. As all ingredients of DREAM are natural, no side effects are suffered from the daily usage of this supplement!
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Establish a Daily Routine
Our brains are quite good at picking up habits. Waking up and going to bed at the same time every day trains your mind to switch on and off at particular times of the day. This is why it's possible for some people to wake up at almost exactly the same time every morning even without the help of an alarm clock. Giving up certain habits especially before bed could be you answer to getting better sleep.
Bad habits include watching TV in bed or spending hours on social media while you should be asleep. Coffee and other drugs such as alcohol should also be avoided hours before bed time as they are known to affect sleeping patterns.
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Check your room temperature and Lighting
Keeping your bedroom completely dark boosts the production of melatonin which is a potent antioxidant that promotes optimal sleep and regulates sleep cycles. Even a little amount of ambient light from your Smartphone is enough to disrupt melatonin production.
Keeping your bedroom at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit is considered conducive for sleep. Getting the perfect balance between your pajamas, air conditioner and bed covers can help you get to sleep faster and turn you into a sleeping beauty.

Coconut oil is growing in popularity, and for good reason. Some call coconut oil a superfood, and others say that coconut oil is one of the healthiest foods on the planet! Healthy fats are its nutritional highlight. Over half of the oils that make up these healthy fats are called medium chain fatty acids,which are easy to digest and a perfect source of immediate energy. The oil is a heart-healthy saturated fat that may help balance cholesterol and supports immune system function. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, a proven antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal agent that’s easily digested and absorbed. It helps the body eliminate toxins as well as improving digestion and assists with the absorption of beneficial nutrients from our food.

Benefits On The Body
Coconut oil has so many benefits for our health and may help in preventing many modern health conditions including; Alzheimer's, heart disease, high blood pressure, urinary tract infection, kidney infection, inflammation, arthritis. Coconut oil helps with weight loss, immunity, memory and brain function, energy and endurance, digestion and nutrient absorption. It's also great for protecting hair from sun damage, dandruff, moisturising and clearing up any inflammation or irritation of the scalp.
I often use it to gently remove eye makeup. It works a treat on waterproof mascara!

How To Add Coconut Oil To Your Diet
When buying coconut oil, aways look for one that’s extra-virgin, cold pressed and unrefined as this has the greatest coconut oil benefits. Coconut oil is a wonderful oil to use for cooking as it has a high smoke point. I use it for any frying, cooking our scrambled eggs and omelettes for breakfast, I add coconut oil to my smoothies, coconut flakes to my smoothies and coconut milk to soak my oats overnight. Blend it into your coffee or herbal teas (a great ketogenic diet alternative!) or simply eat it with a spoon. It has a mild taste which I love, but it's nothing too difficult to tolerate if you're not a coconut fan, especially considering the fantastic boost of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals it’s nourishing your body with. Sounds like a winner to me! Start adding a teaspoon and move up to two teaspoons every day. If you have any health conditions it is always best to speak to your medical professional to ensure it is a wise choice for you and your body.

Oil Pulling: Does It Work?
Coconut oil pulling sounds rather an odd thing to do, but it really is a thing. It has been around for thousands of years in various traditional medicine practices, including Ayurvedic medicine in India. This practice involves swishing one to two tablespoons of coconut oil around in your mouth for approximately twenty minutes first thing in the morning before you brush your teeth or eat any food. You shouldn’t swallow any of the oil, although if you do, it won’t do you any harm. After swilling, spit out into your bin (not your drain as it will clog up your pipes). You can rinse your mouth with warm water for a final clean and then brush your teeth. The wonders of coconut oil pulling may include; removing bacteria, cavities and whitening of your teeth, boosting your immune system, improving gum health, eliminating bad breath and curing tooth decay.

One thing for sure, you will always find extra-virgin coconut oil in my kitchen!