women's empowerment Archives

Posted on September 12, 2018October 10, 2018 by Keisha D

Rubberband: #lifestyle

Now I’m fairly certain you read the title and thought to yourself rubberband, lifestyle, where is she going with this one? Well everywhere and nowhere which is exactly how life flows when you live a rubberband lifestyle.

Let’s look at the physical characteristics of a rubberband. It is flexible, and has various uses. The strength of each rubberband is not always innately obvious but becomes clear once pressure is applied. It can handle being pulled in several directions at once and generally will respond with the desired result.

Wonderful right! As people we are all that and more, flexible, strong, and equipped to handle various types and amounts of pressure. So if you’re anything like me you are bout that rubberband #lifestyle. Overall its pretty awesome, but it can also be pretty dangerous. Here’s how:

1. Being pulled in multiple directions

This could equate to multi tasking or stress but either way it is no bueno. Research has shown that multi tasking actually decreases your brain ability to function over time. Stress well it messed up everything.

2. Being flexible

Flexibility is great, as long as it isn’t coming at your own expense. The rubberbands fatal flaw is its inability to commit to self care. It just gets used and abused until it finally snaps. Generally the damage is irreparable. Even if you tie it back together its never quite the same.

3. Strength

Strength is often a misnomer. We like to define the strength of others based on how they react to the pressure. While it may seem like you are holding it all together very well, few people will notice the cracks that will lead to the eventual break.

Now I know living a rubberband #lifestyle just went from being the shit to being shit. But you can still get all the love and joy from being everything that encompasses. Step one be okay with saying no. Step two be okay with taking care of yourself. Step three be okay with always taking the time to #justbe

Posted on May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 by Keisha D

Rihanna and Savage X Fenty – Yassssss

So unless you prefer to live life in black and white and a lovely back woods or mountain cave, you know like I do that women have been fighting for the rights to love ourselves just the way we are for umpteen amount of years. Mass media’s paid programming however, because you know why should we think for ourselves, keeps telling us to do it there way and like it. They roll through our body types in an exclusive fashion turning us from people into trends. Fast forward from magazines at the front of the store to the inter dwellings of the world wide web and you have a perfect storm of self doubt and depression.

I personally have found myself on the emotional internet trollercoaster on more occasions than I would like to admit. I’m always a little bit too much of something and not enough of something else. I have subjected myself to an all to common naked mirror based deconstruction that ended with self doubt. I even once subjected myself to a quite successful transfer of fat from my abdomen to my all to flaccid post nursing mom boobs which after having unexpectedly nursed another child ten years later are right back in the same state, lol.

Now granted we all have self esteem that we are responsible for through the art of self care. In fact I could swear I’ve recounted some of these feelings somewhere in this blog before………#JustBe. Even with your best everyday effort it can be increasingly difficult to maintain a positive outlook on yourself when whether you want to see them or not, the imagery around you says you aren’t enough.

They fad us and pit us against one another, one year skinny women are in, another the bigger women (and bigger is subjective as well). If your a minority throw your skin tone in there because they figured out a way to make that shit a fad too(insert angry emojis here). All the while our bodies are picked apart and turned into assets and attributes or liabilities and inadequacies.

In step Rihanna and her new line of lingerie Savage X fenty…… Biiiiihhh! She just gave me my whole life back. My insecure self just started a fire and my unapologetically sexy self climbed out the ashes. I just killed every bad thought and scrapped every contrary image of myself from the corners of my heart. I haven’t even been able to buy it yet but already I feel like a better version of myself. These women look like me and people I know, and they are all stunning.

Rihanna is known for keeping it real and championing women in general and she just proved once again that she loves us just as much as she loves herself. The promotional pictures and videos she has released are only a taste but not one of them didn’t make me love myself and other women with a deep abiding passion that only exists in blood and fairy tales. There is something for every body chile. I know you’re thinking me too?! Answer 1 question, do you have a body? Welp than you too girl, you too.

I have yet to see too many companies make a concise effort to provide sexy, and mean SEXY lingerie to women across the board. Some of the more popular brands are more interested in keeping their tired old secrets and recycling the same basic looking designs (insert eye roll here). Savage X is more than just savage, it show cases Rihanna and her genius eye for fashion and marketing once again. Just like her Fenty make up line was so unnecessarily amazing, not sure how they keep it in stock, Savage x has me chomping at the bit for its launch May 11th. Did I whip you all up into a frenzy too? Here a some images from @savagexfenty to satiate your curisoity. I am sure you’ll love it just as much as I do. i can’t wait to get me some and #JUSTBE

Posted on March 20, 2018March 27, 2018 by Keisha D

The Main Squeeze: The what and why of Kegels and 10 quick tips to get you started

For every woman who has ever wondered what and why, when it comes to kegel exercises here are some quick answers to your questions as well as some easy tips to get started.

What are Kegels exercises?

Kegels are named for Dr. Arnold Kegel. In 1942 he published a study based on 18 years of research on the pc(pubococcygeal ) muscles also commonly referred to as the pelvic floor. This muscle group in particular support the organs in your pelvic area as well as the urethra, and your bowels. Kegel exercises are designed to strengthen the pc muscle group.

Why Kegel?

Kegels can help with two things of greater importance to women. The first is Urinary incontinence which is any unintentional loss of urine due to laughter, jumping, urgency or other factors. In cruder terms peeing on yourself. Many things can lead to incontinence the two most common are child birth and ageing. For women who received an episiotomy during childbirth and the subsequent ‘Husband stitch’ are more likely to have issues with weak pc muscles as this incision can cause permanent nerve damage. Amazingly Dr. Kegel noted that women who practiced the exercises consistently started to see some relief and change in symptoms after about 2 weeks.

The second is the one women get most excited about, increased sexual enjoyment and Orgasms!! Stronger pc muscles increase your ability to achieve an orgasm and bonus they can also increase the intensity. They also increase the overall satisfaction of your sexual encounters. If you were unlucky enough to have received an episiotomy during childbirth the subsequent inability or difficulty in achieving orgasm can also be positively affected by kegels.

Great! Where do I get started?

As always with any new routine it never hurts to discuss it with your healthcare professional, especially if you have any specific health concerns.

If you are not certain how to kegel or where your pc muscles (pubococcygeus) are, the next time you urinate stop the flow midstream. These are the muscles you need to engage. Please note this not where or how you want to exercise these muscles this is ONLY to orient you to their action. If you try to exercise your muscles regularly while urinating you can cause yourself some serious health problems so don’t so it!!
Start your new kegel regimen with around ten reps, twice a day. Squeeze as you inhale and relax as you exhale.
‬If you are new to kegels the best position to start in is on your back with your knees bent. This helps prevent you from over strengthening the portion of the muscles that control the bowels and can lead to constipation.
Kegel balls can be helpful in developing and maintaining the pc muscles. It is best to purchase a set that varies in size. always start with the biggest ball and work your way down.
Yoni eggs just as kegel balls can provide some resistance while training your muscles. They vary in size and as with the balls start with the larger one and work your way down.
If you choose to use yoni eggs make sure they have a hole drilled so that you can thread unwaxed dental floss to assist with removal. With Kegel balls look for some that have a strap for removal as well.
Weighted Kegel Balls can also help build and maintain pc strength, Make sure to start with the lightest one.
There are several apps that can help you create and maintain a kegel routine ‪
A fun way to use your kegel weights or balls is to incorporate them into masturbation.
Stronger pc muscles can also decrease the occurrence of urinary incontinence which becomes more common as women age.

Tried these tips before and still not making the progress you’d like ask your doctor if you may be a good candidate for physical therapy. A physical therapist can better guide you through the process of correct muscle activation and accurately assess your progress.