Asaya Journey in Thailand

Alternative treatments helped me simultaneously work on my mental and physical health

Intentionally designed walkways encourage mindfulness as you take in various herbal scents

Asaya Culture

Asaya in sanskrit signifies understanding your past journey in order to navigate your path to self-acceptance.  I was able to fully immerse in this concept during recent travels to Thailand. In our experiences throughout the country, we encountered a deeply spiritual culture that seemed to speak to the importance of self-discovery. It all came together in culmination when visiting the wellness program at the Rosewood in Phuket, where I learned the meaning of this word. 

The Asaya wellness programming, allowed me to comfortably dip my toe into alternative/eastern medicine. I had read articles, listened to podcasts and talked to friends dozens of times about the benefits of treatments like acupuncture, reiki and forms of energy healing, but had never tried it out for myself IRL. The Rosewood Asaya wellness program that started with the Phuket location in 2017 and is expanding in 2018, makes eastern healing convenient and approachable for first timers like myself. 

The Treatments

Wellness Consultation 

Prior to any treatments with the Asaya program, I met with the in house wellness practitioner, Steve. Rather than him explaining the treatments, he started by having me explain my needs, then suggested treatments that would help. As western culture conditions us to do, I separately detailed my physical health and mental health, including chronic issues and what I felt like that day. I had previously considered them totally unrelated so I was shocked at Steve's reaction that both of my concerns were tied together. To think that maybe fixing one could help fix the other and that I needed a new approach to acknowledging both was a huge aha moment that somehow gave me a sense of comfort. He continued to explain that this is a common pair of distress and we could start working through it immediately. He advised to proceed with Reiki, Chi Nei Tsang and Sound Therapy.

Experiences are customized including both treatments and products using local herbs and spices

Treatments are focused on detoxification and relaxation from the inside out

Reiki

I was definitely intrigued but skeptical about the power of Reiki. Nonetheless, I went in with an open mind. If you are not familiar with Reiki, this is a treatment where a practitioner uses their hands and light touch to send and receive energy from various body parts in order to promote healing. You are fully clothed for this treatment and lying on a bed. Steve started with my head and stayed there for a little while then worked his way down. Apparently he was planning on having me turn over and reiki all over, but was guided by my energy to spend most of the time in my lower abdomen. This is my biggest area of need, as I am a chronic sufferer of digestive issues. For the first 40 minutes I felt absolutely nothing. I relished in the relaxation of a quiet room with peaceful music and gentle touch, but that was it. After that, when Steve was still drawn towards my lower stomach, I began uncontrollably laughing. I literally could do nothing to stop it and anxiously tried to get ahold of myself, feeling terrible that he probably thought I was mocking him. Instead it grew more intense and I was now uncontrollably laughing so hard I was crying. Right when I started crying after the laughter subsided, I felt a notable shift in energy. I can't remember if I really felt "happy" then "sad" or just intense emotion during all of it that I labeled as "happy" since I was laughing and "sad" because I was crying. When I apologized when the treatment was over, Steve smiled and explained that this is actually a common reaction and he was expecting me to have this very behavior based on what I explained. He said when I started laughing he was waiting for it to switch to tears. It seemed that this was how the energy he was healing manifested itself in the treatment.

Chi Nei Tsang

When I posted about this in stories, like me, most of you had never heard of this before. This detoxifying organ massage is supposed to release blockages of the body and mind. Steve recommended it based on my digestive issues. I typically ask therapists to avoid my stomach when I get a massage, but decided it was worth giving this one a try. I have to say that this was not a particularly relaxing experience. If you decide to do this, I would really view it as an intentional and purposeful treatment, not a chance to unwind like most massages. The therapist explained that it was key for me to relax my abdomen and focus on my breath. I could feel her touching each organ as if she was inside my body. It was weird to feel where each body part lives and for once not think of that area as "my stomach" but rather as the distinctive anatomy it truly is. I felt uncomfortable and familiar sensations while she worked. I could feel where it was coming from when I get different stomach aches and pinpoint the areas I often feel as she was working on them. It is hard to say if I felt detoxed after because there was such much happening in my body with the travel. I do think it may have contributed to my overall reaction which I will detail below.

Sound Therapy

The last treatment that I received was the Tibetan singing bowl sound therapy. I got this in conjunction with a massage. Various bowls were placed at different chakra points of my body. As the bowls were struck, I could feel a prolonged vibration throughout my body starting at that point coupled with a distinct and relaxing sound. At times the bowls were moved around so that the sounds were more and less intense to me. I was shocked how calming this was. I felt the tension release from each part of my body and an overwhelming sense of peace and tranquility. 

I didn't realize how overwhelmingly sound could effect my physical and mental state

The Effect 

Okay, so you may have been wondering while I explained the treatments- so DO THEY WORK?! And the answer is: it's complicated. Like most wellness practices, it is hard to draw a direct cause and effect, but mindful observation can lead to some conclusions about benefits. As I explained above, Steve suggested that my physical (digestive issues) are connected to my mental (self-consciousness/control/perfection/anxiety/body image issues). It was really hard to notice any changes during our travel because I was so overstimulated constantly, so it was when I got home that I noticed the change. My usual mental issues described above have decreased dramatically. A few of the symptoms I was struggling with currently seem almost non-existent. My overall energy has completely shifted and I feel like a lot of mental clutter and fog has dissipated. 

It is impossible to know if these changes are from the treatments, but I think if not completely from them, it may be from absorbing the Thai culture while traveling and the treatments in combination. While I was there, I also read a book written by a monk on mindfulness and also learned a lot about mindfulness and karma from the people we met. Steve also shared wisdom with me about how our internal narrative does not change the reality of the past, present or future in conjunction with some of what I was working through in the treatments. I am now trying to navigate how to incorporate some of this in to my at home routine. I would love to hear your experiences and suggestions in the comments, through social media or email!

Individualized Diets are the New "Diets"

My journey of testing endless recommended diets and finally finding relief from an elimination diet and listening to my own body.

I was told to avoid cauliflower and many other of my good foods as part of a Low FODMOP diet (find this cauliflower in my recipes!)

The Struggle.

Diet. I hate that word. It has such a negative connotation for many to mean a restrictive meal plan of misery. In reality, diet just describes how and what we eat and can be such a positive and empowering part of life when the right diet is discovered. 

I was never able to find a certain diet that made me feel best. I have spent most of my life suffering from IBS, asthma, eczema and allergies, all which can be improved and managed (to some extent) with diet. However, after trying out several different recommended diets, nothing seemed to help. 

At first I avoided dairy because that was the obvious trigger, but there was something still bothering me. My doctors recommended following a Low FODMOP diet, saying that was the only way to guarantee managing my IBS through diet. I could not find complete relief from that either. I have spent spells being plant based, gluten free and many other recommended diets, but none have been completely right for me.

New Hope.

Finally, I was recommended to do a blood test that would enable me to find out which foods agreed with me and which didn't. I was skeptical because it sounded too easy and good to be true. I was right. While the test does exist, it required commitment to a lengthy elimination diet to test which foods truly react best with your system. 

The test is called the MRT Food Sensitivity Test, which is given in conjunction with the LEAP ImmunoCalm Dietary Management Plan. Essentially, you find out which foods have are reactive, moderately reactive or non-reactive with your blood. The non-reactive foods are the ones you should stick to eating to feel your best. The moderately reactive foods should be avoided, especially in combination, which can exacerbate their negative health effects. The reactive foods should be strictly avoided.

The Journey.

When I got my results, some were obvious, while others took me by surprise. My only reactive food way soy. I had already been trying to avoid processed soy which is added to endless processed foods, so I knew strictly avoiding it at all times including while dining out and traveling would be a true challenge. Dairy was moderately reactive, which surprised me that there was something worse, since this was the only food I had ever been able to pinpoint, Common foods and spices like onions, cayenne pepper, mustard and chicken were all moderately reactive. Finally it all made sense to me- I have probably always been having some sneaky soy in my diet and in addition have been combining tons of moderately reactive foods into every meal.

The elimination diet instructs you to test the non-reactives and avoid the moderately reactives. I decided to notice how I felt eating the non-reactives that I usually eat and then proceed to test them if I did not feel okay. I felt okay with all of the non-reactives so I decided to test the moderately reactives to see which ones I needed to avoid more than others. This process has helped me to understand which foods I personally need to avoid and which ones help me feel best. At home I cook with only non-reactive foods, which is impossible to do out of the house. However, I know which foods to avoid at all costs and how to ensure I am not eating too many of my moderately reactive foods together and exacerbating their effects. 

The Takeaway.

The takeaway is- the diet I was told to follow by doctors- Low FODMOP instructs not to eat garlic, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower and many other of my most non-reactive foods that I have found to help me feel best. While this blood test is not for everyone and can also be expensive, I hope others consider doing some form of an elimination diet rather than blindly following trending diets. 

The answers are not always obvious or what the media/organizations portray as the most healthy, but they have helped me feel my most healthy. For example, I used to avoid red meat and ate white meat if I ate meat. I discovered that lamb and beef are two of my least reactive foods in comparison to other meats, many types of fish and vegetables. I now may eat a big juicy steak and fries (white potatoes are my least reactive compared to sweets) while dining out to feel my best. Obviously it would not be healthy to eat this every night, but in moderation and with its reactiveness to my body, this can be the right choice for me. I have finally, after a long journey found some relief. While I do not always feel perfect, I feel good knowing that I am in control and not a helpless bystander to how food affects my body. 

I used to feel sick after eating most desserts- even if they were vegan and gluten free probably because of the soy in most chocolates. Now I can find or bake my own soy free cookies in order to indulge and feel good. (find these cookies in my recipes!)

Clean Eating Reset

What is the clean eating reset? I like to pick a window of time when I will be home and have time to cook and shop to do anywhere from a 3-10 day reset, eliminating foods that tend to make me feel bad and adding in the ones that help me feel great. The meals here can be mixed and matched for any number of days. I prefer to choose meals with similar ingredients that I can easily meal prep for a week (click to read more about meal prep). 

I do not believe in restrictive diets, especially based on physical goals (unless being necessary for health and being implemented with an expert). We already have enough pressure on women in society to make us feel like we need to look a certain way that is usually unrealistic or even unhealthy. This reset is meant to help boost immunity, digestion, and vitality which in turn will help you feel and look your best from the inside out!

Check out some sample recipes and meal ideas below. Make sure to listen to your body and eat when you are hungry, always! Also, drink plenty of water- something I always need to remind myself, which really helps when trying to detox and improve digestion. Adapt based on any of your own dietary restrictions and comment below with your own ideas!

Strawberry Avocado Smoothie Bowl

Morning

Start your day with a mug of hot water with lemon. Drink tea before or after breakfast. My favorites for digestion are turmeric/ginger or peppermint. For an overall detox tea I like Aether, Republic of Tea and Sakara Life detox teas. For matcha I like Panatea instant matcha, or if you have more time, try putting the matcha latte listed below under midday. 

Breakfast:

• Blueberry Cauliflower Smoothie Bowl

• Chocolatey Avocado Breakfast Mousse

• Strawberry Avocado Smoothie Bowl

• Thick rolled oats cooked in nut milk and topped with cacao nibs, berries, cinnamon and walnuts

• Overnight cold oats and chia seeds soaked with nut milk and vanilla extract and topped with peaches, blueberries, flax seeds and cinnamon

• Toast of choice with Basil Avocado Cream

Adaptogenic Matcha Latte (recipe below) - a good afternoon pick me up

Midday

These lunches are pretty light. I usually have a green juice or matcha latte a little later when I have a lighter lunch. I do not believe in juicing as a meal substitution but like to include an 8 oz glass of green juice a day when I am trying to detox. Look for or make your favorite combo juice including  ginger, lemon and/or burdock root which all help digestion and detoxification. You can also do the juice in the morning and try making an adaptogenic matcha latte to sneak in some more superfoods, which is also a little more filling. 

Lunch:

• Fruit Based Salad (sub grapefruit for peaches if not in season)

• Coconutty Corn Salad

• Stem to Root Carrot Salad

• Pesto Millet Bowl

• Herb Roasted Veggie and Goat Cheese Frittata (Sub goat for almond milk cheese for DF version)

Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

Evening

When I get home from work I am always hungry and have to snack before or while preparing dinner.  Hummus is a great way to sneak in extra protein and veggies are a great way to make sure you are staying hydrated in addition to drinking plenty of water! Try cutting up veggies in advance and making a big batch of my Turmeric Carrot White Bean Hummus or Spring Thyme Hummus to enjoy all week. I like Mary's Gone Super Seed or Luke's Chia Seed crackers with hummus too. 

Dinner:

• Perfect Plant Based Pizza

• Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower Salad

• Hemp Med Bowl

• Sesame Soba Bowl (Sub coconut aminos for tamari/fava beans for edamame to make it soy free)

• The Not So Nicoise

• Lemony Asparagus Salad

Coconut/cashew thickener free yogurt from LIFEbar

Dessert:

• A couple of dates stuffed with almond butter

• Some coconut yogurt and fruit

• Some clean chocolate like Addictive Wellness raw superherb sugar free chocolate with cashew butter

• Some banana nice cream (frozen bananas blended until they form an ice cream texture) topped with cacao nibs

Sakara Life- Is it Worth it?

Read below about my amazing experience with Sakara Life, an expertly chef created "organic meal delivery program based on the science behind a plant-rich, gluten-free, superfood diet." Follow my special link for $50.00 off your first order! 💚

This was mine and my husband's first week, but we will definitely be ordering again!

Sakara Life meals are all Plant-Based and packed with protein

I forget how I first heard about Sakara Life, but I think it was right when they began delivering to DC. I was so tempted to try the Plant-Based, Vegan, Gluten-free meal delivery service. I was shocked that food that met all of those strict dietary standards could look and sound so incredibly delicious. At the time, I felt it wasn't worth it because living in DuPont Cicle, I had tons of equally delicious and healthy counter restaurants that had pick up and deliver. 

Now, living in Louisville, we have less options for healthy and quick meals. That was part of my motivation. The other parts were that I wanted some ideas and inspiration for plant-based eating and I also wanted a break from cooking 3 meals a day every week for a while. 

I will detail the Sakara Life meals' pros and cons. I recommend it for anyone who is trying to learn how to or try to eat plant-based meals, food snobs who want to try healthy food that is actually beautiful and delicious, and those who do not have time to make or local businesses that create on the go healthy meals. 

The Earth Bowl and The Med Bowl- two of our favorite meals from the week

Love the Botanical Bodies campaign. I am always trying to improve my digestive health.

The Pros:

• Everything came packaged perfectly. All items were intact and cold when they were delivered. The containers kept parts of the meal separate to ensure freshness.

• It came with morning rose and mineral, as well as night chlorella water. It also was a special promo that came with Sakara Life probiotics. There were packets of two detox teas for each day, which I absolutely loved and want to re-order.

• I thought I would have to supplement the meals a lot more than I did. I kept some fresh, raw fruits and veggies to snack on or add to some of the meals, but was always satiated and happy with how they came.

• The meals are probably enough food for most men as well. My husband who runs 7 miles and goes to Crossfit every day did it with me. He likes having eggs for breakfast so he stuck with that and had his breakfast pastries/granola as desserts after dinner. I thought I would have to add extra protein to his meals for him, but he didn't need it. I think he is the exception since he burns so many calories, but most men could probably stick with the breakfast as is.

• The meals were all beautiful, colorful and tasty. A couple of them surprised me. I saw them in the package and wasn't sure how they would taste, but once I put everything together it all made sense.

• The dressings are what really make it taste so good. Their homemade dressings taste like they should be bad for you but are quite healthy for the most part.

• Community support is another great aspect of joining Sakara Life meal delivery. I posted many of the meals on social media and received supportive comments from others doing the program and the founders themselves.

• I like how it indicates which meals taste better heated. I rearranged the meals based on which ones I would be able to heat in a toaster or not (not necessary to heat though).

• Each item tells some interesting fact or quote that has to do with whatever superfood is in the meal.

• The food was all creative and really different. Instead of avocado toast there was a cool turmeric and beet toast. Instead of plain almond milk for the granola, there was green spirulina mylk.

The meals came packed perfectly, organized and intact with plenty of reusable ice packs

This meal was the most creative (Asparagus/Turmeric/Beet toast) and surprisingly delicious

By far my favorite breakfast. Both the spirulina mylk and the goji berry granola were awesome.

The Cons:

• Some meals needed slight supplements (not necessary though). I added fresh berries to each breakfast and cucumbers/tomatoes to a couple of the salads. For people like my husband, you may have to add more protein to your breakfast.

• Some of the dressings had added sugar. I can only recall one or two that had straight up sugar and a couple that had more natural forms like maple syrup. I usually make my own dressings and do not add sugar to them. It can make them taste better, but I don think it's necessary if you add enough other flavors.

Overall, I would say that Sakara Life was totally worth it! The meals were great and packed with superfoods and nutrients. They were easy to take on the go, and saved so much time not having to "meal prep" or cook breakfast/dinner that week. It was fun doing it as a household with my husband, so we could both still eat the same dinner and reap the benefits of having some extra time! We will probably try to do Sakara meals once a month or so when we have a really busy week. 

The breakfasts were great, but I needed to add fresh berries to mine for it to be complete.

My husband loved Sakara Life and only had to supplement the breakfast meals

Clean on the Inside, Clean on the Outside

The skin is the largest organ of the body. In order to truly detoxify and treat your body in a clean and natural way, you apparently cannot slather toxins on your body. That's what I was told a few years ago when my beauty blogging pals at Tall Short Blog gasped as I dabbed, drizzled and doused myself in parabans as a nightly ritual. 

After a thorough explanation of the damage I was not only doing to the outside, but also inside of my body by using these chemicals on a regular basis, I began to slowly but surely take their advice on clean beauty products and venture into the rabbit hole of green beauty. 

A couple of years later, I am still playing around with what my favorite products are but have many favorites that I have tried and tested. I have tried a range of prices and compared them to other less green products that I have used in the past and still occasionally use. 

The green beauty Mecca, Credo, recently opened a gorgeous location in SoHo. Many of the products below have been purchased from there and can be found on their, or the product company's website.

Face: 

Cleanser- After testing a few face oils and washes One Love Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil is by far my favorite. In the past I used the Boscia one from Sephora, and have recently tried the coveted Marie Veronique Daily Exfoliating Cleanser. While I liked her cleanser, I could not get it to lather the way that was demonstrated at Credo. I also thought the oil felt a little thicker than the OLO one and was harder to rinse off. I learned from Elizabeth at Credo that it is key to really give any of these oils time to break down makeup. Giving yourself an extensive face massage will do just that. 

Exfoliator- I do not use a scrub on my face because my skin is so sensitive, however still need to exfoliate. The best product that I have found that is gentle and exfoliates for cheap is the OLO Cleansing Sponge.  It is a much less harsh and more affordable alternative to the clarion if, which I used to use religiously until I realized it was too harsh for my skin, and getting way too expensive. According to Credo, massage your face with it once a day in conjunction with your cleansing oil and rinse and ring it out. It should last up to 3 months with  proper care. I tried the Herbivore Blue Tansy Mask to decongest my pores. It felt really great on my skin, however I did not see any improvement. I love exfoliating my lips with this local Moss Hill Sugar Lip Scrub. 

Hydrating- I use a prescription retinol at night, though I would like to eventually switch to one with more natural ingredients. Therefore I need my other products to be very gentle. I love OLO's Vitamin C facial serum. It is quite pricey though, so combining it with tea tree or jojoba oil makes it last longer. I used to use a retinol eye cream with lots of scary ingredients because I didn't believe that an all natural one could really work as anti-aging. Elizabeth at Credo explained the benefits of each ingredient in Skin Owl Eye Plus and more importantly suggested how to use it. She recommended storing it in the fridge and applying it with a depuffing eye massage. After I gently dab it on with my ring finger, I carefully and gently roll my finger from one side to the other until I have covered the entire area. My eye puffiness is completely gone and the coloring has improved drastically. Andalou Naturals has a nice quick rose water moisturizing mask that feels and smells great. My go mask is simply Greek yogurt and raw honey though. 

Spotlight on: Affordable "Drugstore Products" These can all be purchased at organic groceries.

Body:

Wash- I sometimes shower multiple times a day, but know how bad it is to strip the oils from your skin and hair, so I like using olive oil soap to avoid this. I also sometimes use the Acure Clarifying Body Wash. I am obsessed with Acure's products and have tried and tested them against many more expensive organic products. They work great, are affordable, have great ingredients, and are convenient since they are sold in most organic grocery stores. When I am on the go and don't have time to shower after a workout, I absolutely love Yuni Instant Shower Sheets. They leave my skin feeling clean, soft and smelling good with no scary ingredients. 

Moisturizer- I am addicted to the OLO Antioxidant Body Serum. I got it as a treat for myself before my wedding to get my skin really glowing and hydrated and got hooked. It's splurge worthy and lasts a while since it's a spray bottle. I like to finish hydrating with Acure moisturizers. I used to be hooked on Aveeno moisturizer, but the Acure Cocoa Butter one is unscented and feels even better (plus is all natural). Los Poblanos Lavender Salve is the best all natural substitute for Vaseline. I keep it next to my bed and put it on my hands and lips every night. 

Deodorant- I tried this calming lavender deodorant, which smells amazing, but have to go back to  the Dove one I have always used until I find a more effective alternative. It could not last the day, especially through workouts. 

Hair:

Shower Products- After thorough research on organic shampoo and conditioner, I settled on testing the most popular inexpensive versus expensive product. I used the Rahua products for a while, then Acure products. I noticed no difference and the Acure products are way cheaper and easy to purchase locally. I like all of their shampoo and conditioners, just depends on your hair type (I use the volume one).

Post-Shower Products- I am addicted to the Oribe Detangling Primer, so attempted to trade in for the Acure equivalent. They are just not the same! The Oribe is still my very favorite. I use the Oribe when I am about to heat style my hair and the Acure otherwise on a regular basis. I was sent OLO's dry shampoo as a gift when I made my last purchase, but have yet to try it.

📷 taken in Credo Beauty SoHo. How everyone should feel about what they put on the inside and outside of their body.

Next I need to take the plunge into all natural makeup products. Please comment with organic beauty product favorites!