Her Secret Ingredient

By Lucy M. Pritchett

Deborah Dykes Wathen, 38, glows with good health. She makes sure to take care of mind, body, and spirit every day. As owner of Union With Health, a personal health mentoring service, she offers clients customized private yoga lessons, Thai massage, and natural food and skin care consultations. She is also a yoga instructor at Yoga East and a massage therapist and aesthetician with Joseph's Salon & Spa. She doesn’t mind sharing three things that work for her. Maybe we can capture some of her radiance.

Dr. Bonner’s Coconut Oil 
I use this in some form every day. It is great as an eye makeup remover and as a body moisturizer. Especially in winter when the air is so dry, I sometimes mix a little with my facial moisturizer (Aveda’s Tourmaline Hydrating Creme). The night before I am going to wash my hair, I rub a small amount — maybe a tablespoon — on my hair and use a paddle brush to spread it from my scalp to the ends of my hair. I leave it on all night and wash it out in the morning. It keeps my hair shiny and healthy. Coconut oil is wonderful for sensitive skin. It is antibacterial and antifungal.

Blendtec blender
I have had this blender for eight years, and the blades are still sharp. It is high-quality, strong, and sturdy. You could make a smoothie with a broomstick and it wouldn’t hurt it. I use it to make an elixir every morning with Tulsi Sweet Rose tea, chia seeds, raw local honey, coconut oil, goji berries, non-sweet cocoa, vegan protein powder, and reishi powder extract. This blender makes the smoothest hummus and baba ganoush. In the winter, I use it to make butternut squash soup and split pea soup. The blender was expensive, but it is such a good investment.

Mandara yoga mat
I have had this thick mat for six years and use it daily. I am up at 4:30 or 5 in the morning, and the first thing I do is go to my mat and do my yoga practice. Doing my practice every morning keeps me disciplined, and yoga helps with flexibility, strength, stamina, and mental clarity. I admit that some days I just want to sleep in, but I get up and go to the mat. Some mornings I might struggle with some of the poses, but I get through them. And then, I know I can get through the rest of the day because I have already had my struggle for that day. I feel good, and it makes me feel happy.