[The Yogi’s Guide] to Stuff Your Should have at Home

By Cate Stillman

My publicist passes questions to me everyday from national publications. We particularly liked this one:

What are the Top 10 things that I use everyday that most people don’t? I made the list of stuff I rely on every day to have a day packed with thrive. It’s not that I couldn’t live without this stuff. Everyday is better with these particular amazing things in my life.

Drumroll, please….

The Top 10 Things I use everyday, in order of appearance:

* Note: #1 isn’t better than #10. I simply use it earlier in the day.

1. Plant-based Vitamin C powder

Right when I wake up, I hydrate to detox the main channel. Yogis of yore named the great eating, digesting and pooping channel the maha vaha srota. Literally, that means “the great carrying channel.” What that channel carries is more obvious than some channels.

In any case, I use vitamin c powder as a minor laxative. I also use CALM the night before, a magnesium supplement, whenever I’m traveling or stressed out. Most mornings I dilute 1 tsp. of Plant-based Vitamin C powder in a pint of water. Then, I drink another pint of water. Then, I poop. Which leads to #2:

2. A potty stool

The squatty potty recently made famous by the unicorn pooping ice-cream youtube video (insert link) is my potty stool of choice. I’m not a born squatter, so squatting on the toilet rim for an aligned, complete bowel movement isn’t going to happen. However, in a pinch, any stool or little bathroom trash can turned on it’s side will do. I love being a pooping champion with 18” eliminations before kicking my day into high gear.

3. Dry brush

While many of these tools are common, few people actually use them. I’m a religious dry brusher. I’ve used abrasive cloths, dry brush and in a pinch my bare hands. Energetically scrub your exterior, awaken your skin and get your lymph humming. This simple detox move gets you sparky and kicks off a day of anti-stagnation.

4. Hydroponic Grow Tower or garden

I grow food year round, indoors or outdoors. We use a Tower Garden during the winter in Mexico. In Idaho, we plant growboxes, a greenhouse and a few beds. I like eating close to home.

5. Counter-top sprouter + High Speed Blender

Most of this tribe has a blender. But a sprouter? Blend your sprouts. Now we’re cooking with gas. Before I can think I blend my nutrients for the day into a green smoothie. My typical smoothie includes: alfalfa or clover sprouts, leafy greens, water, fresh juicy sweet fruits, superfoods or superweeds. Start the day with nutrients and you’ll crave deep nourishment all day long.

5. Kettlebells and Indian Clubs

Adding weights to my yoga practice opened another level of strength and phsycial intergrity. Plus, now I have a six pack. I prefer the swinging motion of kettlebells and indian clubs (use links). I use a 15 lb. kettlebell and a 2 lb. indian club, though never at the same time. If you want to add them to your yoga practice, make sure you understand body alignment first. I studied Anusara yoga and use that alignment system. Poses like Warrior 2 and lunge get exciting with weights.

6. Stand Up Paddle board

As far as I can figure out we are all better off with a play toy that brings us joy. In the old days when you watched children play there was a lot of movement involved. Sometimes a ball or a stick. Even playing house involves some movement. Obviously, we’re officially in a sedentary, seated, stagnant culture. What is your play toy of choice? Mine is a paddle board. Actually, mine is a quiver of paddle boards and bicycles.

7. Compost bin

As we connect to the full lifecycle of our food we connect to our ecosystem. Compost food waste and watch it miraculously turn into the bedrock of the next crop of kale. Your spirit will be renewed and your body nutrified as you tap into the cycle of life. Cut your garbage in 1/3 just by adding a compost bin to your backyard. Even urbanites with a balcony can compost now.

8. Foam roller

Many people have a foam roller, but how many people use them? I do. Foam rolling is a great way to end the day. Foam rolling is the thrifty woman’s massage tool – the most effecitve at-home practice for self-myofascial release. This is a fancy way of saying, roll out your yoga mat, and get on the floor with a foam roller. You’ll loosen tight connective tissue which frees your flexibiity and mobiliity, releasing lactic acid, increases blood flow, and preventing injuries. Get down with your foam roller before bed.

10. 30 essential oils in medicine cabinet

If you’re like the rest of the holistic wellness tribe, your medicine cabinet has more herbs, supplements and essential oils than OTC pharm-factory drugs. Good for you! Good for us! Good for our planet! Every night I use essential oils. WIth my daughter, we use them before bed on her feet or in a diffuser. Sometimes we use them in a sprizter so that the mosquites don’t attack her. (include hyperlink resource). Her favorites are lavender, ylang ylang and peppermint. I like the ethics of Rocky Mountain Essential Oils, and their starter kit is a great way to start.