This week’s practice is a 7-minute vagus nerve reset using gentle self-massage, designed to help your nervous system shift into a calmer state. The vagus nerve is the long “wandering” nerve that runs through the whole body, and stimulating it signals to your nervous system that it’s safe to relax. You do this one seated, starting with light tapping and sliding across the forehead and temples. From there you massage the jaw, stretch and rub the ears, and move down the neck, sh

It was close to midnight, and I was at my stove heating up a vegan sausage. I had spent the afternoon and evening in Talparo at an event where one of the sessions explored the history of agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago. A question from the audience led to a conversation about just how much of the food we eat here is imported. A visiting American student shared that a professor had told them that imported food accounts for 90% of the population’s diet. I knew the number was

This week’s practice is a simple 5 minute breathwork session designed to regulate the nervous system and calm anxiety. The technique is straightforward — inhale through the nose and exhale very slowly through pursed lips, as if blowing through a straw. The extended exhale is what does the work, signalling to the nervous system that it’s safe to slow down. You move through two rounds of breathing, each followed by a 30 second breath hold. Led by Sandy of Breathe With Sandy, th

This week's practice is a quick 5 minute lymphatic and fascia flow by Move with Erin — 12 movements, full body, and designed to leave you feeling more awake and energised. The lymphatic system plays an important role in moving fluid and waste through the body but unlike the circulatory system it doesn't have a pump — it relies on movement. This flow uses bouncing, swinging, tapping, twisting and dynamic movement to get things flowing and shake off that foggy, sluggish feeling

This week's practice is a Qigong Basic Acupressure routine — a simple, seated practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine that you can do anywhere, including at your desk. Acupressure works by applying pressure to specific points on the body to support health and wellbeing. This practice takes you through three points on the hands and wrists, each with a different benefit: Center of Palm (PC8) — strengthens the internal organs Connection between Thumb and Index Finger (LI

I knew right away what I wanted to do when we got our final assignment for my visual anthropology class. My flat mates were an interesting group. We were all from different countries, and only one of us, at the time, was residing in the UK. We were from Turkey, Syria, South Korea, China, USA/Palestine, India, and me, from Trinidad and Tobago. We each had our own bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms off a main corridor, so the only room we shared was the kitchen. It was well appoin

In my visual anthropology class, our final assignment was to write a production report and make a film (or another visual document). I chose to focus my research on one of my flatmates. He was from India, and since coming to university in London, he had taken up cooking. He had never cooked before in his life, and now he was trying to recreate some of his favourite dishes from back home. He cooked every day, and I was so impressed that instead of starting with simple dishes,

For my 2025 calendar, I reflected on my journey thus far. By that point I had created 13 calendars, so for the 14th edition I shared 12 photographs, one from each of my first 12 calendars, taking the audience on a journey from 2012 to 2023. Along with the details of the calendar each photograph came from, I included wellness prompts. Each caption was paired with an inspiring activity or thought designed to help you pause, reflect, and engage with each month in a meaningful wa

It's a full moon tonight! This one is the Harvest Moon (also known as the Corn Moon) — the name given to the full moon that falls closest to the autumn equinox. I always marvel at the moon. I make a point to go outside and see it, especially when it's full, but I love watching the different phases too. I also love when it's positioned just right so I can see it through my bedroom window while lying in bed. The full moon has traditionally been linked to farming, planting, and

These photographs are some of the temples I've photographed in Trinidad. Two of them I've visited a couple of times, and the one I've only been to once is the only one where I attended a full ceremony. I hope to grow this section of my archives, photographing many more in the future. If you know of one I should see and document, please let me know. Reform Village, Gasparillo, Trinidad | Shiva Mandir I visited this temple a couple of times, though that was many years ago. On o

I was alone. I'd come to meet my friend and her family, who had already been there for a while. They needed to get lunch, so after liming with me for a bit, they left. I lay back on one of the beach chairs they'd rented and had a snooze. I got up, a bit hot, and decided it was time for a swim. I submerged. I floated. I felt refreshed. I returned to the seat. Time seemed to pass slowly that afternoon. I had nowhere to be, so I had another snooze. Sitting up to have some water,

This week's practice is Breath of Joy — a breathwork technique that uses three consecutive inhales followed by an audible exhale to awaken the whole system, increase oxygen supply and shift your mood. It takes you into an activated state and then brings you back down into a calm, balanced one. So you get the energy boost and the calm. All from your breath. The practice starts with a simple warm-up before moving into three minutes of Breath of Joy. No props needed — just yours

In my wellness toolbox, I hope I always continue to include meditation and movement. These are practices I try to do every day, but more than that, I hope I keep reaching for them in moments when I feel overwhelmed and need to ground myself. It always makes me feel better in the end. This evening I felt out of sorts. I had a meeting coming up in an hour, so I decided to get up from my desk, roll out my mat, and follow a yoga routine. Afterward, I spent some time stretching, u

I've wanted to offer my photography prints for sale for a long time. I want to build a shop where my work is displayed in small collections, available in different sizes, framed or unframed. I've sold pieces over the years — mostly to people I know, friends of friends, through my greeting card line, or through group exhibitions. Now I want to make something more formal, where I can offer my work to more people. I did some research and made a list of things I need to do to get

Check out the highlights from my adventure to Caroni Swamp as part of a JAVA homework assignment for my godson in the video above. And if you missed it, check out my previous post where I shared the full story from this trip! Found on the west coast of Trinidad, Caroni Swamp is the largest mangrove forest in Trinidad and Tobago — home to the Scarlet Ibis, our national bird, along with caimans, herons, flamingos, and more. Join us as we cruise through the mangroves on a 2-and-

St. James, Trinidad | 17th July 2024 Big Tadjah Night, one of the key events of the Hosay Commemoration. I've been coming to St. James to witness Hosay since I was very young — flag night, Big Hosay Night, and the procession on the final day as the tadjahs are carried to the sea. In recent years, I've been lucky enough to be invited by a friend whose family takes part in the commemoration — building their tadjah, praying, and fasting in the lead-up to Hosay. I usually visit t

“Oooh look the scarlet ibis!” “Where?” “Ah so many wow!” “Whereeeee?” We were cruising down one of the tributaries of the Caroni Swamp in the afternoon tour boat. My godson’s July August Vacation (JAVA) creative writing homework had brought us to the swamp as he needed to write reports and make a PowerPoint presentation featuring natural, historical and heritage sites. I happily said yes when asked to take him, as not only was his mom going to be away, but also, this is rig

Whenever I'm in Tobago, I make a point to watch the sunset every evening, and the three photographs chosen for this series were all taken on the same beach. Every sunset has a totally different vibe. Different colours show up. Some days are more vibrant than others. Some days the colours shift quicker, deepening and growing more dramatic by the minute. Regardless, I enjoy the show, and I usually clap loudly before I leave my viewing spot. I've been staying at the hotel on thi

This week's practice is a 5 minute breathwork session led by Sandy of Breathe With Sandy — and it is a surprisingly powerful one. The session focuses on strong inhales to energise the mind, body and spirit. You move through three rounds of powerful inhales with relaxed exhales, each followed by a breath hold. No equipment, no experience needed — just your breath. Perfect for that mid-afternoon slump when you need a boost without reaching for another coffee. Try the full pract

Who likes coffee? Who likes ice cream? I enthusiastically shout "me!" to both. But make them vegan. My friend Jeunesse (see her work) and I had a coffee corner in our magazine, and I shot the photograph above for one of the issues. Staring at it now, I really want this exact treat right now. This affogato used a local coffee brand for the espresso shot and a locally made dairy-free ice cream — made with chocolate from a chocolate house that sources its cocoa right here in Tri