How To Detox Your Home

Man in living room

You know what they say: your home is your castle. So why allow bad energy to cluster and crowd in your sacred space? Chemicals can be found in air freshener, plastics, furniture and other foreign substances that pollute the air in our homes. Though air purifiers are an effective option, sometimes the best route is a holistic one. Here are some options to help naturally detoxify your home:

Bamboo

When bamboo is baked at very high temperatures, it transforms into a charcoal-like substance. Charcoal is excellent at absorbing not only odours, but also potentially hazardous chemicals like ammonia. These are called ‘bamboo briquettes’ and are an excellent environmentally friendly option that has been used throughout Asia for hundreds of years.

Plants

In addition to adding a lovely burst of green to your home, plants also help to clean the air in your house – sometimes in as little as a day! Houseplants are capable of removing tricky toxins such as cigarette smoke and even carbon monoxide. In fact, NASA scientists conducted a study to demonstrate the incredible power of plants in the detoxification of air. Wondering what the top three plants were? English ivy, golden pothos and boston fern!

Beeswax

100% real beeswax candles clean the air while they burn. As the candles burn, they create negative ions, which neutralize positive ions (allergens and airborne toxins) and produce a similar cleansing effect to houseplants. Remember, only 100% beeswax candles will work (most candles actually add to the toxicity of the air in your home).

Himalayan Salt Lamp

These lamps are exactly what they sound like – large chunks of Himalayan salt with a small light bulb placed inside. As the light bulb heats up the salt and gently releases salt particles, the salt particles neutralize toxins in the air and eliminate unpleasant odours. Additionally, many find the warm, glowing light of the salt lamp to be very therapeutic.

Preventative Measures

  • Remove shoes when entering the home
  • Use green/eco-friendly cleaners
  • Filter your water
  • Be conscious of purchasing synthetic materials throughout the home

 

Do you have helpful tips for detoxifying the home? Feel free to share them with us on our Facebook page!

5 Tranquil Places To Inspire Zen

A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes a picture is also enough to inspire none. Sometimes the mere glance at a tranquil space, a calm pond, or a lush forest is enough to quiet the mind. In saying that, we’d like to share 5 tranquil places that we feel will inspire an inner state of Zen.

  1. The sun setting on a beachy paradise

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  1. Mossy rocks embedded in a beautiful glassy ocean

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  1. A cotton candy sky nirvana

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  1. A sleepy mountain in the background of a lake of glass

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  1. A sailboat slowly adrift into the setting sun

869d36ca297931af6cda57ea9474dc7f     Do you have a favorite tranquil image? Share it with us! To learn more about the benefits of QRay on your well-being, click here.

How To Balance Your Chakras

According to ancient Buddhist beliefs, chakras are considered to be energy sources within the body. The word ‘chakra’is Sanskrit and literally means‘wheel’or ‘disk’. Chakras are said to be centres in our body through which energy flow. They are located at the base of the spine and go all the way up to the crown of the head. Each chakra is a motor and relates to a different area of our life, personality and wellbeing. For each of the 7 chakras, there is a delicate balance to maintain in order to ensure both happiness and satisfaction. Should you find any one of these chakras imbalanced, try these rebalancing techniques:

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Root Chakra

Located in the base of your spine, the root chakra is associated with the feeling of comfort. It encompasses the first three vertebrae as well as the bladder and the colon. When this chakra is open, you feel safe and calm. If you find this chakra imbalanced, surround yourself with the color red to rebalance it. Try the stones of garnet and hematite or the aromas of cinnamon, patchouli, nutmeg and ginger.

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Sacral Chakra

The sacral chakra is located below the navel and above the pubic bone. This chakra correlates with feelings and intimacy. If you find yourself hypersensitive or overemotional, this may mean your chakra is overactive. Conversely, if you have issues with attachment, intimacy and expressing emotion, it may be underactive. Under activity may also be expressed through depression, eating disorders and asthma. If you find this chakra to be imbalanced, surround yourself with the color orange. Try the stones carnelian and orange calcite and the aromas of sandalwood, orange and geranium.

Detailed and colorful image of carnelian mineral

Naval Chakra

The naval chakra is located just above the belly button at the lower abdomen. This chakra corresponds to self-confidence and ego. If you find yourself to be an aggressive and rather domineering personality type, it is likely that your naval chakra is overactive. Ulcers, extreme anxiety, as well as digestive issues are all indicators of an imbalanced naval chakra. Should you find this chakra to be imbalanced, try the following: surround yourself with the colour yellow with the stones of yellow jasper and citrine and the aromas of myrrh, frankincense and lemon.

Gold Frankincense and Myrrh

Heart Chakra

The heart chakra is located exactly where you’d imagine – in the center of one’s chest. This chakra pertains kindness, affection and love. When open, you are compassionate and effective at creating and maintaining relationships. When closed, one tends to be distant and cold. If you believe this chakra to be imbalanced, surround yourself with the following with the colour green, such as the stones of rose quartz and jade as well as the aromas of rosemary, peppermint and tea tree.

Fresh herbs

Throat Chakra

The throat chakra, located in the throat, deals with communication and self-expression. When open, you have no issues with self-expression and effectively communicate and listen with peers. If closed, you may have issues expressing yourself and opening up. Should you find this chakra to become imbalanced, surround yourself with the following: the colour blue, such as the stones of turquoise and blue calcite as well as the aromas of lavender, geranium and chamomile.

blue calcite

Third Eye Chakra

The third eye chakra, located between the eyebrows, deals with inner wisdom, insight and the ability to connect with the outer universe. While open you are able to connect with your intuition and imagination. When your third eye chakra is closed, you may rely heavily on others and suffer from great confusion. If you believe this chakra has become imbalanced, surround yourself with shades of indigo, the stone azurite and the aromas of vanilla, orange or lemon.

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Crown Chakra

The seventh and final chakra, the crown chakra, also known as the ‘thousand petal lotus’, is located at the very top of the head. This chakra regards enlightenment and connection with our higher self as well as the divine. If this chakra has become imbalanced, surround yourself with the colour violet, the stones of amethyst or white topaz and the scents of ylang-ylang and jasmine.

Minerals and crystals - Amethyst

Do you have your own remedies to balance your chakras? Share them with us on our Facebook page!

5 Calming Guided Meditations

The stress of the day can sometimes overwhelm and cloud the mind. In order to declutter our thoughts, it is sometimes in our best interest to take a moment to decompress. Many have found guided meditation to be a useful tool to help quiet the mind and achieve renewed calm. Here are 5 guided meditations to help you restore calmness, relax, and find your center. Click the images to link to the mediations.

 

  1. Breathing Guided Imagery Meditation iStock_000028035706_Small

 

  1. OmHarmonics – Balance

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3. Chakra Meditations: Guided by Deepak Chopra

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4. Guided Meditation For Anxiety & Stress

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5. 10 Minute Guided Meditation to ease Anxiety, Worry, and Urgency

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Do you have a favorite guided meditation? Be sure to share it with us on our Facebook page!