Feature: Sacha Jones from Stiggly Holistics

Stiggly Holistics NYC is an East Village, New York City based wellness company, specializing in wellness and nutrition counseling and cleansing, using a holistic approach.  I met Sacha Jones, the founder, a few years ago when we were both core members of the Stanton Street CSA.  (she’s still a core member!)

Sacha describes “holistic” as “looking at your wellness in the context of your whole life.  We look at what you eat but it’s so much more than that.  By looking at your whole lifestyle, we get down to the nitty-gritty of what’s really going on.  We start talking about kale and smoothies, but end up moving on to relationships with their mother.  It’s actually very interesting and deep, meaningful work for me.” 

So, what is this funny word “Stiggly?" The name “Stiggly” comes from a children’s book called “Stig of the Dump” by Clive King.  This book is about a cave boy named Stig, who lives in a dump, and makes things out of garbage.  Sacha adored this book growing up and was impressed with Stig being “such a recycler and up-cycler”. Later on she discovered that “Stig” means “path” in Scandinavian languages.  Sacha explains, “I love the idea of getting people on the wellness path. It had been a silly name that bounced around for years, and at some point I wanted to add it to my business.”

Sacha has always had an interest in natural remedies.  As a child she made perfume from rose petals and washed her face with morning dew.  At 15, she began studying herbs and at 17 became a vegetarian.  Then 10 years ago, Sacha became ill with colitis, which inspired her to start seriously studying nutrition.  She did not want to use drugs, so she focused on a high probiotic and gluten-free diet.

Similar to how the feng shui of your home can represent blocks in your life, Sacha says she “began to realize how much of her illness was emotional and how it can really be representative of what’s going on in your life." With her lifestyle changes, Sacha has truly healed her body and has not had any flare-up in 8-1/2 years.

Besides private wellness counseling, natural body products (from Stiggly Lab) and workshops, one major focus of Stiggly Holistics are guided group cleanses.  Sacha provides a shopping list, recipes, and guidance throughout the entire cleanse. 

There is a secret, private Facebook group that really acts as “glue” for the group.  Sacha explains how “everybody gathers together and cheers each other along which is such a big part of the cleanse.”  Although it is for a focused period of time, Sacha describes her cleanses as “a springboard into wellness forever, it’s not like the master cleanse, too intense, or too soft, which is not very sustainable over time. My cleanses look at eating clean and overall nourishment.  Many people just don’t know how to do that, so a cleanse can help people make permanent changes to move forward.”

In fact, Sacha is organizing a Spring Cleanse this week! The official cleanse starts on Monday June 3rd and ends on June 17th.  If you miss this one, she holds them at least once every season.  She welcomes participants at ALL levels and it's international!

Be sure to check out Sacha’s fabulous super-cleansing recipe for Fire Water that she so kindly shared.  I’m making it tomorrow! 

by Anjie Cho

Sacha Jones, founder and director of Stiggly Holistics, is a Certified Holistic Wellness Counselor (American Association of Drugless Practioners) - a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.  

Sacha grew up in Wales & England, and has always been passionate about plants & natural healing.  Professionally, Sacha was drawn to work in the healing arts after working through some of her own serious health issues, and loves helping others get on their personal path to being their best self.  She believes there are many ways of looking at wellness - that a truly holistic approach is necessary for optimal healing. 

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How to Create a Relaxing Space: A Color Guide for Homes

featured today on Streeteasy.com

In New York City, we all lead hectic lives, full of traffic, crowds and congestion, so it’s important to create relaxing environments in our apartments and homes. Using color is a great way to create a peaceful feel in your space, but it’s important to understand how wall color and decorative accent color can affect the atmosphere of your home. 

Color can be used to harmonize and create your sought-after atmosphere and ambiance.  In feng shui, color is one of the 9 ways that you can shift your space and life.  People are overwhelmingly affected by what they see, so the appropriate use of color can truly help create a relaxing space.  Below are some color suggestions for creating a restful, healing and organic home.

I suggest you use color, not just with paint on your walls, but also with furniture and/or accents such as rugs, drapes, and art.  Be conscious of the quantity of colors that you use, especially for small spaces. Use one or two colors as an accent, rather than a smattering of bold colors.  It is a good idea to avoid loud patterns, especially sharp angular geometric shapes.  Stick with solids or subtle organically shaped designs.

The easiest way to approach the idea of relaxing colors, is to think of the natural world.  For instance, beach colors or forest colors.  Beach colors are muted and soft tones.  Forest colors are deeper tones, yet balancing and calming.  In both cases, cooler and warmer colors both work.  Below is my color guide for recommended soothing colors, and stimulating colors to avoid. 

Relaxing Colors:

The key is to use harmonious colors together rather than contrasting ones.  The colors below all work well together for a tranquil environment.

Dark or Pale Blues:  Think the pale sky or the deep blue ocean.  Blues give a quiet and settling feeling.  It creates a meditative feeling of exhaling, relaxing tensions and refreshing the body. They say that humans see cobalt blue in the womb, therefore blue can provide a sense of security and calm.

Try: Benjamin Moore, Province Blue 2135-40 or Benjamin Moore, Gossamer Blue 2123-40

Deep and Pale Greens:  Greens can represent tranquility and healthy supportive energy.  It’s a balancing color, and the color of nature and plants.  In feng shui, green represents life and renewing energy.  Greens can be extremely restorative.  Avoid bright fluorescent greens, which can be too stimulating.

Try: Farrow & Ball, Green Blue 84 or Benjamin Moore, Lush AF-475

Pale Browns and Neutral Tones:  Earthy tones of sand and soil are soothing hues, representing stability and the nurturing of mother earth.  Brown can be elegant and also symbolize the quiet steadiness of a tree.  Stay on the light end, but away from the flesh tones and yellow colors.

Try:  Benjamin Moore, Harmony AF-90 or Farrow & Ball, Dove Tale 267

Pale and Deep Violets:  Violets can be calming and balancing.  It’s the combination of fiery red with relaxing blue.  Therefore, this color can harmonize and create inner balance and peace. 

Try: Farrow & Ball, Brassica 271 or Farrow & Ball, Pelt 254

Colors to Avoid:

These colors are safe to use in small amounts, but best to avoid them if you can.

Red: Red is very stimulating.  Try to steer clear of too much of it.  It can be very active and while appropriate for many applications, it’s not suitable for relaxing environments.

Gray and Blacks: These colors are considered depressing and isolating.  Although Black can be contemplative, it can generate a dark look.  Gray is thought of as an ambiguous color, the “gray area."  Note: Grayish hues are okay for soothing spaces, just use them in combination with some of the suggested relaxing colors.

Yellow: Try to avoid yellow, especially bright yellow as it can be very hard on the eyes.  It puts pressure on people and is not appropriate for a relaxing environment.  It says “caution,” rather then “relax."  Also yellowish whites hold a murky and aged feeling that should be avoided.

White: White is great as a base, but avoid rooms that are entirely white.  White can be sharp and harsh on the eyes.  Imagine walking in a field of snow, it’s blinding and exhausting.  Choose off whites, and add in some of the relaxing colors to soften things up.  

Try:  Benjamin Moore, White Dove OC-17 or Benjamin Moore, Soft Chamois OC-13 

by Anjie Cho

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Using Feng Shui to Create a Harmonious Living Space

featured in "Sales In The City" by Kelly Kreth in  
Residency New York this month

Anjie Cho, a Feng Shui consultant and licensed architect who is also at work on a book to be called "108 Ways to Create Holistic Space:  Feng Shui and Green Design for Healing and Organic Homes," suggests:

• "Because most New Yorkers are so career-oriented and short on space, look at the clutter on your desk.  If it is in the left-hand corner, you might have stuck energy in financial aspects of your life; if it is in the middle top, your reputation may be suffering and if it is the top-right corner, you need to open up your relationships."  Bottom line: clear that clutter--everywhere!
• She continues, "not only is it important to keep your door and entrance tidy, but I once lived in a NYC apartment with a broken buzzer.  In feng shui your entry symbolizes opportunities to find you.  How will an amazing project find you if your door cannot be found?"  Greeting guests with a new doormat would also assist in inviting in energy.
• Storage space is in high demand in NYC.  But in feng shui most things should not be stored under your bed.  Cho warns, "This can represent subconscious blocks in your relationships.  You spend many hours in a passive "yin" state while sleeping.  What is underneath you affects you.  If there is a box of old love letters lurking it may be the reason you are single. Store only soft items related to sleeping such as sheets or pillows."
• Never work out of the bedroom; it should only be a place for rest and relaxation.

...read full article

by Anjie Cho

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