Healthy Habit

Have you ever felt revived and fresh after brushing your teeth? There's something refreshing about having a clean mouth. Additionally, our gum health is linked to our heart health, so it's important to take care of our teeth and gums.

Something New for your Morning Routine: Oil Pulling

Simply put, oil pulling is swishing oil around in your mouth. Here's an example morning dental hygiene routine so you can see where oil pulling would fit in:

• Wake up
• Scrape tongue
• Floss
• Brush teeth
• Oil pulling for 2 to 20 minutes (spit oil in trash can or outside in dirt; DO NOT swallow oil)

Example oils to use: Daily Swish from Banyan Botanicals - mint or cinnamon (I've been enjoying cinnamon); organic sesame oil; or virgin coconut oil (unrefined).

Some Benefits of Oil Pulling

• Reduces Harmful Bacteria since swishing oil in the mouth can help draw out and dissolve harmful bacteria
• Decreases Plaque Buildup since swishing and the oil's viscous properties may help inhibit the accumulation of plaque on the teeth and gums
• Soothes Gum Inflammation because oil reduces the bacteria and plaque that cause inflammation
• Reduces Bad Breath often caused by bacteria in the mouth
• Alleviates Dry Mouth since oil helps moisturize the mouth and may help stimulate saliva production

“You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ​ ~ C.S. Lewis  In my Ayurveda course, we learned about introjects. Introjects are "internalized mental representations, beliefs, or voices from significant people (like parents or authority figures) that an individual unconsciously adopts as their own, often feeling like "foreign" elements within their psyche, influencing self-image and behavior, and can be positive but are frequently negative (like shame or self-criticism)." Examples One childhood example could be an adult seeing a young woman wearing a short skirt and saying something like, "Look at that slut." Hearing this statement as a child may then affect how someone could perceive women who dress a certain way OR may affect how someone dresses themselves. In my case, my main caretaker often spoke about how bad men were and they couldn't be trusted. These seeds were planted in my brain as a child and affected how I allowed men to show up in my life when I became an adult. So What Can You Do Today? Take some time and think about any introjects that were planted in your mind when you were a child. Were they positive or negative introjects? Are those introjects affecting how you show up in life today and/or how you treat other people or yourself? Once you're aware of your introjects, you can decide how you want to deal with them. For me, I recognize when an introject is happening by consciously calling it out in my mind and then deciding that it was someone else's opinion and I'm not going to let it affect how I live my life.

Breathwork Technique: Kapalabhati (aka skull shining breath or breath of fire)

It's currently cold outside in Idaho and kapalabhati is a great way to stoke your internal fire and warm up! Kapalabhati also comes in handy when you're experiencing an afternoon slump; try practicing this breath instead of reaching for your afternoon caffeine fix. You'll feel invigorated afterwards AND won't be messing with your night's sleep.

NOTE: Do NOT practice this breath if you're experiencing anxiety, trauma, or any other emotion that has you operating in your sympathetic nervous system. Try Ujjayi breath instead; you'll get similar benefits without further frazzling your nervous system.

How to Practice: Check out this short "How To" Video

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Benefits of Kapalabhati (these are just a few)

• Build your core strength
• Wake up your sluggish digestive system
• Bring alertness, lightness, and consciousness to your body
• Remove sensory distractions from your mind and provide vigor + vitality to your brain
• Improve immunity by working your solar plexus

Cautions and Contraindications

Do not practice Kapalabhati if you are dealing with the following conditions: unmedicated high blood pressure, recent abdominal surgery, any hernia types, glaucoma, detached retina, menstrual cycle, or pregnancy.

Book of the Month!

Come as You Are was enthusiastically recommended to me by a friend as we were sharing our different pleasure learnings. Knowledge is POWER and there are so many women who don't know about their bodies and/or think something is wrong with them if they're not feeling or doing what society expects of them sexually. "We're all made of the same parts, organized in different ways. There's nothing wrong with you," context, accelerators and brakes are some of the many things you will learn from this book. Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski

Join Me at my Upcoming Events!

Moon Cycles + You: How to Live in Sacred Cyclical Attunement 4-part workshop series @ True North: Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26 (5:30-6:30pm) - $99, includes unlimited yoga pass for duration of series (sign-up link)

Each week we'll visit a phase in the female menstrual cycle OR moon cycle (if you no longer menstruate). I'll share what's happening in your body (in the sky) and ways to practice self-care for your body and mind.

Hackfort 2026, March 27 or 28: I found out last night that my proposal to present at this year's Hackfort was accepted - woot woot! My topic will be: "Ignite to Innovate: Launching Ideas into Products." More details to come as the Hackfort schedule is finalized.​​

See you next month!

Angela

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FIG Bites' intention is to "Feed your body and mind so you are a fully nourished and joyful person able to fully embrace life" whether you're at work or home.