Cultivate Your Wellness » Wellness http://cultivateyourwellness.com A Travel Journal of A Path to Wellness Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:52:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 The Price of Wellness http://cultivateyourwellness.com/2010/08/23/the-price-of-wellness/ http://cultivateyourwellness.com/2010/08/23/the-price-of-wellness/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:52:32 +0000 Laura http://cultivateyourwellness.com/?p=2833 My new obsession is healthier beauty products. I’m becoming more and more aware of the dangers of the chemical toxins found in so many of my used-to-be favorite brands, and as I march steadily down the path of wellness, I’m continuing to realize that health is a whole package. I can’t go all organic with my veggies, then spray toxic chemicals on my hair and think it’s okay. Nor can I use an all organic moisturizer, then wash it off at night with a harsh cleanser. Of course, it’s not completely all or nothing. I balance my efforts as best I can and every step in the right direction is a positive one.

So back to the cost of wellness. It’s not always cheap, and I certainly don’t have tons of funds to spend on expensive all-natural products. So instead of cutting corners, I do my homework and look for ways cut costs. Yesterday, I spent most of my Sunday switching back and forth between two websites: The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, a fabulous website that I’ve mentioned before,

Skin Deep

and VitaCost.com, another great website offering cheaper prices on vitamins, supplements, bath and beauty supplies, etc.

vitacost

After all was said and done I ended up choosing the Aubrey Organics Natural Vegecol line and saved about 20%. This line scores 2/10 on Skin Deep’s hazard scale. I can live with that. I also ordered Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen for 15% less than the retail value. This sunscreen scored a 1/10 on Skin Deep’s sunscreen database. Woohoo!

Three cheers for safe sun protection and the slightly cheaper price of wellness.

What are your favorite natural bath and beauty products?

The Price of Wellness]]> http://cultivateyourwellness.com/2010/08/23/the-price-of-wellness/feed/ 0 The First Step of Wellness http://cultivateyourwellness.com/2009/09/10/the-first-step-of-wellness/ http://cultivateyourwellness.com/2009/09/10/the-first-step-of-wellness/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:38:48 +0000 Laura http://cultivateyourwellness.com/?p=5 I began my journey on the path of wellness as a young child. I always had an inner sense that there was more to my health than doctor visits and prescription pads. As I grew, I learned to listen to my body. If I felt sick, I knew that there was a greater reason than just, “I have a cold.” My symptoms were my body trying to tell me something. Maybe I needed more rest or wasn’t eating right. Perhaps there was too much dust in my room or I was stressed about something. By learning to listen and understand my body’s cries for change, I was able to prevent and overcome my minor maladies without ever stepping foot in a doctor’s office. Of course there was the occasional case of strep throat that required an antibiotic, but most of the time it was just a clear cut case of the body being “run down.”

In order to better educate myself in the art of health and wellness, I obtained an M.S. in Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, CA. There, with the help of 3000 year old traditions, I learned that the body is a garden and I must constantly tend to this garden if I want it to flourish. Today I have chosen to dedicate much of my time each day, not only to the cultivation of my own “body-garden” but to the education of others so that we may all live happier and healthier lives.

The intent of this blog is to share with you in the insight and tools that I have obtained along my journey. Please feel free to contribute your knowledge and to challenge anything you may disagree with. Visit often and contact me with any questions you may have. I am constantly expanding my knowledge and looking for new stories to share with you as we travel together on the path of wellness.

Be Well and Namaste,

Laura Metzdorff, L.Ac

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