I tried out sleep massages for 4-weeks and here's what happened when I got into bed

Fair warning: I'm about to give you grounds to hate a stranger.

As part of my job, I tested Zeel's sleep massage for a month, pegged to Sleep Awareness Week, which runs through Saturday.  For those not familiar, the company allows customers to schedule massage appointments where convenient, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Prices vary by location, but start at $87. 

"Sleep massage": Quite possibly two of the best words in the world put together. It's supposed to help you get a better night's sleep and help combat insomnia. You pick from 60-, 75- and 90-minute sessions that incorporate reflexology, scalp, face and neck and back massages, Swedish massage and gentle rocking. 

"There is a release of serotonin during a massage, which is essential for the production of melatonin," says Eva Carey, Zeel's national director of massage therapy. "We developed the sleep massage to promote rest and relaxation and aid in a restorative, healing night’s sleep."

"Because Zeel comes to you," she adds, "once the massage is over you don’t need to drive home, you can roll right into bed."

In full disclosure, I had never had a massage. That makes you hate me a little less, right? Also, I rarely have trouble falling asleep, but on most mornings I wake up still feeling tired. It's like catching quality Zs is another feat beyond my athletic ability. So, I was very excited to see if my weekly, hour-long sleep massages could give me a better-quality snooze. 

Prep work

I downloaded the Zeel app to schedule my first sleep massage. I thought I'd feel more comfortable with a female therapist, so I selected the "female only" option. You can specify the gender you prefer, or select "either" if you're inclined. You can add anything you want your therapist to know in the notes field. A tip can be added to the price of the massage, making it all one transaction.

Zeel massage therapists come with their own portable massage tables, but customers are asked to clear an area measuring 6 feet by 10 feet to accommodate the table and to provide two sheets and a pillow case to cover it.

Week 1 

My first massage brings about some nerves. Thoughts about what I should wear whiz through my mind: Is it appropriate to greet her in only a robe and what's the minimum amount of clothing I should be wearing underneath? I take my questions to the all-knowing Google and find Zeel's blog about "What to Expect During your First Massage." I'm feeling more relaxed already. 

Much like I would for any person coming to my apartment, I clean ... the parts that she will see, anyway. I put out a fresh hand towel in the bathroom and light my favorite candle.

My excitement about the massage outweighs any hesitation, and I feel comforted by the fact Zeel says its therapists are vetted, licensed and insured. I also might be less modest than the average person, a result of stumbling upon a program about a nudist colony while channel-surfing in the fifth grade, I suppose. 

The massage therapist texts me before our appointment and informs me she'll arrive 15 minutes early, which I appreciate. When she arrives, her presence is warm, calming and professional. She sets up the table and exits the room to wash her hands and so I can disrobe. Using a cream liberally, she begins massaging away 30 years of tightness and stress as tranquil music plays in the background. I haven't been running marathons or even working out on a regular basis, but falling asleep on the couch while watching The Middle has got to take its toll. She uses what feels like all of her upper-body strength to knead my back, but also has a gentle touch when she tends to the area around my spine.

Mere minutes into our session, I wonder how people could be so low-key about massages? Were they just trying to spare my feelings as I had never had one before?

After the session, I drift to sleep and wake ahead of my alarm set for 3:45 a.m. I feel so rejuvenated that I hit the gym (in a shirt that said  "Believe in Miracles," natch). Throughout the day, I feel energized. 

Week 2

Sadly, not all massages are created equal.

My second massage therapist, who says she is less experienced with providing sleep massages, uses far less lotion during our session. This creates an unpleasant feeling of friction. My back, which previously felt like a Slip’N Slide, feels as hydrated as a face wipe left out overnight.

I realize how pivotal lubrication is to the experience. Without it, the massage therapist isn't able to glide across my body as easily, though she does give a fantastic scalp massage. Overall, our session appeals less to my senses. I don't return to the blissful state I long to be in,  nor do  I sink into a state of relaxation as deeply as the first time.

I fall asleep about two hours after my massage ends and wake without my alarm at 4:35 a.m. While I feel like I entered a deeper sleep than normal, I'm not inclined to go to the gym.

In an effort to see my original therapist in the future, I utilize Zeel's "prioritize" option so she will be given preference when I schedule my next massage.

Week 3

Success! I am reunited with my original massage therapist. I let out a deep exhale when I feel her hands move seemingly effortlessly down my back, across my shoulder blades and down my arms and legs. I try to make a conscious effort to stay in the moment and absorb how magnificent her touch feels, without letting my mind do a massage countdown of sorts, as I'm familiar with my therapist's routine.

I'm not even bothered by the fact that she's having technical difficulties with her phone, which she uses to play calming music, because I'm so relaxed. And, when I say relaxed, I mean it feels that my person is now in liquid form, and I have just enough wherewithal to make it to the couch when the session ends. 

I do not wake up early to go to the gym the next morning, however, because I feel a migraine coming on, but once again I rise feeling mentally restored.

Week 4

What a bittersweet night it is getting my last sleep massage. I look forward to unwinding at the hands of my soul massage therapist, but I'm sad that it will be our last time together.

She has a big task ahead of her. I went to bed at 3 a.m. Monday morning after covering the Oscars.  Since I need to resume my 6:30 a.m. work call time Tuesday, I want to be able to fall asleep quickly Monday night. I'm not stressed from the awards shows, but I am concerned about being able to transition back to my significantly earlier bedtime. Thankfully, my massage therapist serves up exactly what I need: another consistent effort, which also helps with soreness from really giving it my all at a cycling class featuring music by Calvin Harris, Kanye West and Taylor Swift, and then falling on my butt in front of everyone immediately after.

I start yawning shortly after the massage ends and experience a noticeably higher quality of sleep compared with the night before.

Final thoughts 

Do not sleep on Zeel's sleep massages. While it might take some maneuvering to work the cost into your budget and some time to find the therapist that lulls you into a deep sleep, I highly recommend trying one.

I knew I loved sleep before this trial, but I didn't understand how deep and delicious sleep could be and the impact a restorative night's rest could have on waking hours.

Learn how to Get rid of a bloated stomach in 60 seconds with Sassy Water recipe

There’s an easy way to reduce that big belly size of yours, this is the Sassy Water.

Named after its inventor Cynthia Sass who came up with it for the “Flat Belly Diet”, this recipe transforms ordinary water into a wonder drink that can do wonders for your health. It contains almost no calories and can even help improve your digestion.

Sassy Water is a key element in the Flat Belly Diet program. And there’s a good reason for it. You see while drinking eight glasses of water might meet your body’s requirement for hydration there are a few things that you need to be concerned about: your body’s fluid (electrolyte) balance and water retention.

The eight glasses of water a day is a generic rule. Your personal needs may vary based on your genetics and your physical activity. But don’t get it wrong, eight is a good number.

Drinking Sassy Water can help facilitate good digestion and its ingredients are there just for the kicks so to speak. Ginger, cucumber, lemon and spearmint can improve your well being in more ways than you can imagine.
Take note of the ingredients of Sassy Water courtesy of our friends from Prevention.

2 liters water (about 8½ c)
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 med cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1 med lemon, thinly sliced
12 sm spearmint leaves

If that’s not enough, watch the video below:

Best Lemon Water Alternatives Good for Cleansing and Diet

Drinking a glass of lemon water, especially in the morning, can help you stay healthy. Lemon water is rich in vitamin C, which supports hydrochloric acid production in the gut. The mentioned acid is critical to the stomach, so that it can digest and get rid of waste effectively.

Natural lemon water though can be difficult to make, particularly if you are a student or a busy person who may not have enough time to squeeze lemons in the morning. Plus, lemons are not exactly cheap in some places, so for those who are on a budget, here are the alternatives to lemon water:

1. Water with Fruits and Herbs: Add some fresh berries and cucumber to water, along with some herbs, such as basil and mint, to have a refreshing drink in the morning. You can prepare this the night before and just put it in the fridge, so you can drink it before you go to school or work. You can experiment with any fruits and herbs to find the best drink for you.

2. Coconut Water: During the summer, coconut water is one of the most refreshing drinks you can try. After a workout, you can drink this to replenish the lost electrolytes when you sweat. Plus, this drink has a lot more potassium compared to a sports drink. One more advantage is that it has lower calories because there are no additives and sugar.

3. Iced Tea: Teas are beneficial to your health, but they are much better when prepared at home. Go for a homemade chilled tea by using natural ingredients, such as herbs and raw honey. You can also add a squeeze of lemon if you like. It is not advisable for you to go for the store-bought products as they have plenty of sugars as well as artificial ingredients that do not give you nutritional benefits.

4. Fresh Fruit Juices: You can start juicing using your favorite fruits. This alternative to lemon water can give you the energy boost you need to get through the day. The living enzymes in the juice help your stomach digest what you have eaten, while providing you with a healthy glowing skin. Just like lemon water, fresh juices can increase your immunity.

Lemon water is a healthy alternative to plain old water. It is natural and truly beneficial for the body. However, if you want to switch to another drink for a while, you can choose from the four lemon water substitutes listed above.

How to Naturally Remove Corns and Calluses

Corns and calluses can make you uncomfortable. A callus is a thickened area of the skin that has become dry and tough because of recurrent friction. Sometimes, it is caused by irritation. It can appear on your hands and feet, but mostly found on the feet especially if you walk most of the time. Corns also appear on the feet, usually between your toes or on top of them. Oftentimes, corns appear because you wear ill-fitting shoes.

How to Know if You Have Corns or Calluses

It is actually quite easy to tell if you have a corn or callus. Simply look at your feet or your hands. If you see that there is a hard, thick, and dry skin that appears yellowish or grayish, you have a corn. Sometimes, there are corns that are quite sensitive to the touch when compared to the surrounding skin. There are two types of corn: soft and hard. The soft corn appears as if it is an open sore, while a hard corn is thick and firm with a yellow ring and a grayish center.

While corns and calluses are there to help protect your damage-prone areas, their existence is not really welcome. They cause aggravation and sometimes pain, so you may want to remove them as quickly as possible. You don’t need to use commercially available products to treat them because here is one remedy that has been proven to remove corns and calluses.

The Treatment

You only need houseleeks and one Band-Aid to eliminate the nuisance on your feet or hands. Houseleeks are found on walls or rocks. Some people actually grow them in their homes, welcoming them in pots right at the roof of their houses. Once you have located houseleeks, do the following steps:

1. Prepare one slip of houseleek.

2. Get rid of the thin skin around it. You can easily do this with just one hand.

3. Once the skin is off, put the houseleek slip directly to your corn.

4. Secure the houseleek in place with a Band-Aid.

5. It is recommended that you do this in the morning, so that when the evening comes, you can replace the houseleek with a new one. Don’t remove until the next day.

Continue with the treatment for a few days. When done correctly you will notice that at least three corns will be removed along with the roots. This treatment has been proven to be effective and best of all, it is safe and very cheap.

Orange Peels For Beauty Tips--for Acne, Skin Whitening and Toner

Are you one of those who toss orange peels in the garbage without a second thought? But, did you know that orange peels contain a powerhouse of nutrients which can help to make your skin bright, beautiful and glowing.

Orange peels contain phytonutrients and nutrients which are very beneficial to the skin. In fact, orange peel extracts is an ingredient in most beauty products today. This is because of its effectiveness in reducing acne and brightening skin.

1. Orange Peel for Acne

Oranges are delicious fruits to eat but their peels, which are often thrown away are more useful to your skin, than you have ever thought possible.

Both the orange peels and the juice can help with skin issues. This is because the peel contains more Vitamin C than the actual pulp of the orange.

Orange is also an AHA or Alpha Hydroxy Acid, therefore it helps exfoliate your skin. Orange peels on the other hand, helps to clean out your skin by extracting dirt from deep inside the pores.

How to Use Orange Peels for Acne:
1. Remove a peel from an orange and wash away dirt and debris. Then gently rub over your acne.
2. You can also use the whole orange by squeezing a bit of juice out.Then apply the fresh orange juice to each spot, using a cotton swab.

OR

1. Alternatively, you can make the orange peels into a base for your face masks. Take the peel of an orange and put it under direct sunlight for at least 2 days.
2. This will allow the orange peel to dry.
3. Put the peel in the blender to make a fine powder.
4.You can add this orange peel powder as a homemade acne treatment for your DIY mask.

2. Orange Peel for Skin Whitening

Do you have dark spots or blemishes on your skin? Orange peels work as a natural bleach, whichcan help in lightening dark blotches and removing them with time.

Also, orange peels help to deflect harmful UV rays and lighten suntans.

Remember to dilute the orange peel paste when making a face mask. You do not want to burn your skin, as the peels contain lots of citric acid.

How to Use Orange Peels for Skin Whitening:
1. Combine orange peel powder with water to form a paste.
2. Scrub the paste onto one arm.
3. After 2 minutes, rinse it off.
4. Compare this arm with the other. The hand you applied orange peel to will be whiter, brighter and glowing compared to the other one.
5. Apply the same for your face to make it appear whiter and brighter.

3. Orange Peel as Skin Toner

The abundant anti-oxidants and vitamin C in orange peels help in preventing your skin from getting too dry or oily. When applied to skin, these orange peels work as a toner, by removing dirt, dead cells and tightening pores.

Additionally, the calcium in orange peels contributes to anti-oxidant production, which makes dull skin healthy and glowing.

How to Use Orange Peels for Radiant Skin:
1. Place some fresh orange peels in a stainless steel bowl.
2. Pour hot water on it. Then keep it as it is for at least 1 day.
3. On the next day, filter this liquid in a bottle and refrigerate.
4. Wipe your face using a cotton pad with the solution.
5. Leave on your skin to dry.

Why You Should Be Consuming Chaga Tea

Are you always on the hunt for a new herbal tea to try? If so, continue reading. This article will get you introduced to chaga tea, something that is prized for its impressive healing properties. And once you’re through checking out the many benefits it’s known to offer, share this online to get your tea-loving family and friends introduced to it, too!

Simply put, chaga tea is made by brewing bits of a unique-looking and hard-to-find mushroom called chaga. It is unique looking because it doesn’t look like a typical mushroom that sports a stem and cap. Rather, it’s like a burnt chunk of charcoal with a rust-colored interior. Actually, scientists are unsure if it should be classified as a mushroom or not.

Additionally, it can be quite uncommon because it only grows on the trunks of birch trees found in Siberia and various other cold regions of the planet such as Northern Canada and Alaska.

The reason why chaga grows exclusive on birch tress is this: they obtain the nutrients they need to proliferate from them. However, don’t consider chaga as a parasitic organism. Actually, it returns the favor by keeping birch trees that it grows on healthy. In fact, chaga is said to help revive sick birch trees!

If chaga is capable of making birch tress bounce back from sickness, just imagine what it can do to you! For so many years now, people who live in areas where birch trees are found abundantly are taking advantage of chaga’s impressive benefits by turning it into tea. They harvest and grate chaga, and then boil it in water. But sometimes chaga is also pulverized and added to soups and stews to enhance their taste and make them super nutritious.

Going back to chaga tea, you can expect its taste to be woody because of where it thrives. Not a fan of such taste? Then simply add a teaspoon of honey or lemon juice to a cup of it.

Fret not if you do not live where there are birch trees nearby because it’s still possible for you to get your hands on chaga tea from health food stores in your area. Commonly, you can come across chaga in the form of dried bits. However, it is also commonly sold in capsules and tincture form which also offers the same benefits as its tea counterpart.

Now let’s take a look at some of the reasons for you to have a cup of chaga tea on a regular basis:

It helps control stress

Chaga tea is considered as an adaptogen drink, which means that it helps your body to adjust more effectively to stress, thereby reducing its harmful effects.

It manages inflammation

The anti-inflammatory properties of this herbal beverage is said to help in dealing with health problems that are linked to chronic inflammation such as heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

It lowers heart disease risk

Speaking of which, chaga tea is scientifically proven to lower bad cholesterol, and this helps in keeping heart disease from striking.

It also reduces risk of cancer

Chaga tea is loaded with antioxidants and anti-cancer compounds, and that is why its regular consumption may help lower a person’s risk of having deadly cancer.

It promotes young-looking skin

Thanks to antioxidants present abundantly in every cup of chaga tea, you can keep your skin from being damaged by harmful free radicals.

It boosts digestion

Consuming chaga tea helps your body to benefit from the nutrients in the food you eat because this tea made from a unique-looking type of mushroom can improve the process of digestion.

CAUTION: When using chaga tea or any other herbal drink or preparation for therapeutic reasons, do so with the help of a trained herbalist. It’s a good idea to let your doctor know about your plan if you are pregnant of breastfeeding, or diagnosed with a medical condition and taking drugs for it.

Do you have family members and friends who love consuming herbal teas? Then get this article reposted on your various social media sites to have them introduced to the amazing chaga tea as well!

13 Easiest Ways Not To Have Cancer

Cancer is a terrible disease and it can kill you. In fact, there were 8.2 million deaths due to cancer in just 2012. According to experts, the number of people who are afflicted with the disease would increase by 70% in the future. This is devastating, but the truth is 1/3 of common cancers can be avoided. To begin your fight against cancer, here are 13 very simple ways on how you can live a cancer-free life:

1. Stop drinking sugary drinks. You may think sugary drinks are the culprits behind diabetes and obesity, but they also cause some cancers, including endometrial cancer. These beverages increase your cancer risk by up to 87% mainly because they contribute to weight gain.

2. Be more active. To prevent cancer, stand more and sit less. Sitting all day increases your chances of acquiring colon and endometrial cancer up to 24%. If watching TV is your hobby, it’s time to lessen it; otherwise, your risk increases to 54% the more you sit in front of your TV. Get up and walk around even just for a few minutes every hour to lower your cancer risk.

3. Have a healthy weight. Being obese is not only unattractive, but also dangerous to your health. You should only have a BMI of 20 to 25 to be considered healthy.

4. Eat healthy. When you eat more fruits and vegetables, you reduce your risk of having colon cancer. Add whole grains to the list and these three groups of food that are rich in fiber can help prevent cancer.

5. Stop eating red meat as much as possible. Red meat is tasty, but this only increases your cancer risk. Lean meats are still the best and it always helps if you marinate your meat, especially when you plan to grill it.

6. Avoid drinking alcohol. Throat and mouth cancers can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption. While you don’t have to stay away from alcohol 100%, drinking less can help reduce your risk of developing such cancers.

7. Reduce your sodium intake. Salt content in staple foods, such as meat, bread, and spreads could be high and they could help cancer attack you. Also be mindful of the hidden salt content in some products.

8. Breastfeeding is not only good for your baby, but for you as well. Mothers should breastfeed their newborns to reduce cancer risk.

9. Don’t take supplements. To prevent cancer, you should just eat food and avoid taking supplements. Talk to your doctor if you think you need the supplement.

10. Get your daily dose of vitamin D. The sun is the best source for vitamin D, so go out and have at least 15 minutes of sun every day to combat cancer.

11. Stop tobacco use. It is no secret that tobacco causes cancer, so it is time for you to quit smoking if you truly want to avoid developing cancer.

12. Reduce your light exposure at night. Having a dark bedroom can lower your risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer.

13. Some vaccines prevent cancer. Contact your local vaccination authorities to help prevent cancer by vaccine against HPV and other infections that cause cancer.

Cancers do not just appear overnight. Eating healthy, being active, and other lifestyle changes can help you reduce your cancer risk.

A Miraculous Smoothie Recommended For Kidneys and Act As a Detox Water to have a Flat Stomach!

Our kidney functions daily without break and filters 200 liters of blood. When a person is is dehydrated this put a great strain on their kidneys. As a result, there are lots of people with kidney or bladder problems. So its advisable to drink 2 liters of water daily and you can also try some healthy delicious smoothie.

Smoothie for the kidney:

Ingredients:

1 banana
1 peeled kiwi
½ peeled lime or lemon
½ cup almonds
½ tbsp chopped parsley
1 cup water

Blend all the ingredients then enjoy the healthy smoothie.

Tips: You can add more water and use other kind of nuts or if you have allergic reaction to nuts just don’t put any.

So from then on start taking care of your body by drinking lots of water and natural juice to help you flatten those tummy. Clean your system and refresh yourself with these natural drinks. Stop using different bottled water with so-called added nutrients like those commercials do. They do have nutrients but mostly have artificial sweeteners to get those delicious flavors and may harm your body instead.

Detox Water, Ideal to Flatten Tummy

Ingredients:

8 cups / 65 ounce /2 liter water
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1 medium-sized cucumber
1 lemon
12 mint leaves

Choose 100% organic ingredients and do not peel of to retain its healthy nutrients. First cut the cucumber and lemon into slices, then add to mason jar. Mixed the other ingredients and add water. Store in the fridge and let it rest for eight hours and stir it once in awhile.

Those ingredients have positive benefits for our body especially to our digestive system for stimulating digestion and preventing toxic buildup.

Lemons are high in vitamin C content which is good for detoxification and hydration of body cells.

Cucumber contains mostly water that helps in stimulating the releasing of substances needed in detoxification.

Ginger have lots of benefits for the digestive system; maintaining the glycemic index, relieving cramps and body aches.

Mint, a refreshing scent that also helps in fat burning. It also helps in the elimination of toxins, maintaining digestive system and for abdominal pain.

The 7 Best Effective Ways to Rewire Your Brain

Science has found that affirmations work, that our brains are malleable and can be rewired by our thoughts. Fortunately for us, with practice, we can control our thoughts. Using positive affirmations is a quick and effective way to change our thought patterns and, subsequently, our brain activity, to move toward our goals. Here are seven ways to rewire your brain with affirmations.

1. Subliminals – What You Can’t Hear Can Help You

Subliminal recordings may be the key for many of us who do not have the time to devote to a stand-alone affirmations practice. Perfect for multi-taskers, positive self-talk is one of the few personal development practices that can be done while at work, driving, working out or surfing the Internet. Research has shown that subliminal messages make their way into our brains without our being conscious of them. Now you can listen to soothing, unobtrusive music while absorbing the positive affirmations recorded just below the level of auditory perception.

2. The Power of the Pen

Practicing affirmations does not need to be complicated – pen and paper are easy, effective tools to start your journey. Written affirmations may even work better because writing something down has more permanence than thoughts or spoken words. Written declarations tend to wield more power than spoken ones, so try jotting your affirmation ten (or more) times every day.

3. Get Personal

A simple Google search will produce thousands of websites with generic affirmations that can and do work. But consider taking the time to reflect upon your unique desires, and craft your own heartfelt and heart-centered affirmations. The form does not need to be a short, declarative sentence – many people, particularly creative types, prefer intricately personalized forms of self-communication such as songs, poems and prayers. This practice offers the dual benefits of activating your creativity while imprinting affirmations into your mind.

4. If You Believe It, You Will Receive It

A study conducted by The Lerner Research Institute found that mental training significantly enhances a higher activation level in muscles and increases strength. Elite athletes and prominent public figures use visualization techniques, which are considered a form of affirmation. Visualize the desired outcome in your mind. Repeat the visualization dozens or even hundreds of times. This practice will reconfigure the “neural net” in your brain and create new, stronger thought pathways, and your desired result will manifest sooner than you think.

5. Tap an App

We are fortunate that technology is available to help us obtain our personal development goals! There are hundreds of smart phone apps to enhance spiritual practice. Our favorite, of course, is “Unique Daily Affirmations” which you can program to set phone alerts or send email reminders.

6. Take Advantage of Technology

Another way to harness technology for your spiritual practice is to use the tools already installed on your smartphone.

• Once you have developed a personalized affirmation, record it using the voice memo feature. Listen to you affirmation several times throughout the day.
• Set a reminder that will appear regularly on your iPhone screen.
• Set a notification to sound every hour, and repeat your affirmation when you hear the ring.

7. Out of the Mouths of Babes 

If all else fails, start your day like Jessica!