NATURAL WINTER CREATURE COMFORTS

Now that we’re spending more time indoors due to the winter season and on top of that, in our own homes rather than to-ing and fro-ing from work to extracurricular activities, we’re thinking about a new way of living and what we can do or bring into our homes to make it that much more comfortable. We’re taking into consideration that these items are in the same space as us full-time — affecting our 5 senses, the energy of our surroundings, as well as the inner air quality which we take in to our bodies hour after hour, day after day. If we’re upgrading our space, why not bring in more nature?

YOGA MATS

Since being pregnant, and adapting the way I move my body as well as being even more aware of what I put in and on my body, I’ve been really drawn to trying yoga mats made of natural materials. Cork yoga blocks are a familiar sight in yoga studios along with the styrofoam ones, but have you tried a cork mat? Wonderfully soft and warm underfoot, it doesn’t pretend to hold its looks as long as a wipe-clean rubber or synthetic one, but it does get more beautiful with age — and it will go back to the earth more gracefully too. Cork is next level sustainable since it uses the natural shedding outer layer of the cork trees and therefore is totally renewable. I’ve really enjoyed using this one in my bedroom since I have a no shoes policy upstairs (no point downstairs when the dogs don’t know the difference 😂) so I don’t have to worry about constantly cleaning it. I also don’t do sweaty yoga and I keep it unrolled, which suits it since the curl does tend to stay in it. Having said that, it is nice and lightweight should you want to travel with it in the hopefully near future when we can go back to our local studios — and a good one to pop on top of shared mats.

I’ve also really enjoyed the grass and woven one by Earthen Living — just unwrapping it and reading the tale of its origins, the person who wove it and feeling its criss crossed texture underfoot, inhaling the scent of nature (I have a thing for dried grass and reeds — I love the smell of my woven sisal placemats for this reason!) in my house makes me gravitate towards the mat. Even if it’s just to sit down on the mat and rock my hips and hum (my favourite way to quickly decompress, breathe deeper and get out of my head!). The textured surface brings a totally different feel, dictating a different way of using your feet as opposed to rubber mats that make gripping too easy — you’re required to get much more in tune with your body when using this one for an asana flow Check out the lifestyle page in my shop for more ideas.

SCENTS 

Speaking of smells, another thing to think about when bringing nature into the home is the way we scent it — I wrote a blog post on natural ways to scent the air as well as a DIY version. Use different essential oils throughout the day to nurture different moods and try aromatherapy diffusers or the reeds route to keep the air as pure as possible.

IN THE KITCHEN

Then there’s what we clean our home with. My favourite find in the last 12 months  is a doughnut scourer made from coconut husk — a skeptical purchase but one that's still working for me a year in (it especially works to clean my cast iron pans which I don’t use washing liquid on in order to preserve their natural non-stick coating). Reusable bamboo kitchen roll is another great example of an initial investment into a more natural and more permanent product that's worked out great for me. Some houseplants, like snake plants and peace lilies, purify the air beautifully, while also looking really pretty in your space. Vastu shastra has lots more wisdom about the plants that will bring good things to your home.

I also always opt for wooden implements in the kitchen versus their plastic equivalents — think spoons, chopping boards, etc. Not only are they beautiful to work with (more so as they age) and naturally antibacterial, but they’re better for you too. Think of the wear and tear of a plastic chopping board over time, as it becomes weaker and starts to get cut into, those little plastic particles can end up in your food. Nobody wants that! Check out the kitchen page in my shop page for lots more natural cooking essentials.

BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE

As for everyday needs like toothbrushes, I like to go for a bamboo version. Tip: hang your wooden toothbrush, or lie it horizontally across a cup, or put a little tissue in the bottom of a cup like I do to catch and evaporate the draining water once you’ve rinsed your toothbrush so that the wooden end doesn’t sit in it. I’ve also just discovered these metal toothbrushes with replaceable bamboo heads — a clever way of avoiding having to buy a full new brush every time. The handle is an initial investment but then each biodegradable head costs the same as the average toothbrush. Another tip is don’t brush hard! Bristles will last waaaay longer if they aren’t splayed under pressure — also gentle exfoliation using the tips of the brush is better for gums and tooth enamel and more effective for cleaning.

When it comes to beauty, replace disposable cotton pads (OK, they are cotton and compostable — although some are synthetic mixes or have synthetic coatings — but how many of these are making their way to the compost bins?) with reusable bamboo face pads. I only use these when I need to refresh my skin with toner or micellar water, as most of the time I’ll cleanse my face using a cleansing balm/oil, hot water and a muslin cloth or just splash with water on days when I haven’t worn makeup and just need a quick rinse. A wooden body brush and a silk glove are great for taking care of your body and work out cheaper than salt scrubs and are often less harsh as they offer light exfoliation but maximum circulation of the lymphatic system.   

I’m loving crystal gua sha tools — a practical and simple way to incorporate crystals into your everyday. I adopted the beauty ritual during the first few months of lockdown number 1, then dropped it when I got nauseous and couldn’t do or think about anything in early pregnancy. I’ve taken it up again as I’ve definitely noticed a difference since I stopped! Jade is great at any time of day and rose quartz is said to be best used in the morning as this crystal has enlivening properties — the cool feel of both and noting their energetic properties is another way of being connected to nature, as well as their fragility and price! We’re so used to plastic this and that and being able to throw things away when they look dirty or worn, so these investments are a great reminder about beautiful things that work and that we should take care of as much as they are designed to take care of us. Having said that, be careful about using them in the shower in case you drop them! Check out the beauty shop page for my eco-conscious beauty favourites. 

AROUND THE HOME

I use a salt lamp for lighting — which is said to help cleanse the air, enhance your mood and help you sleep. I’m trying one out for the first time to very dimly light the underside of my cot attachment with an orange glow (blue light and bright light can disturb melatonin production, waking you up at the wrong time) so that I can see baby in the night without having to have full lights on. I’ve heard that they can break easily, plus, there are lots of fake ones out there so I put in some research and TBC!

I also like to fill my home with beautiful air-purifying plants that bring nature into the home in a big way, while also lending good energy to the place. I avoid anything too spiky like cacti as these are believed to bring negative energy when used inside the home (on the outside or outskirts they are said to be protective), and instead opt for succulents and round leaved plants for abundance and positivity, jade plants for prosperity, and air-purifying plants like snake plants and spider plants. Check out my green home shop page for more suggestions.

IN YOUR EVERYDAY

“Biophilia” is the theory that humans have an innate connection with nature and all natural things. Many studies have confirmed what Ayurveda (and our intuition) has always known: proximity to nature, i.e. biophilia, improves our general wellbeing, as well as productivity and speed of learning, while reducing stress and the intensity of pain. It has benefits for our physical, mental and spiritual health that have been proven time and time again. It can be as simple as going for a 10 minute barefoot walk around your garden or immersing yourself in the sounds of the natural world. Bringing nature into your home, as well as your everyday, is an incredibly powerful tool that we all have at our disposal in some shape or form!