This is really a fill-in-the blank kind of offering. Sometimes food is the thing. In fact, A LOT of the time food is the thing - just because it is so acceptable and accessible. But it could just as easily be drinking alcohol or gossiping or sleeping too much or sleeping too little. It is that thing you are using to avoid you, while desperately wanting a closer, deeper and more obvious relationship with that same you. The question of "How do I get to me, while avoiding me?" is both the dilemma for all ages, and completely impossible, at the very same time. Deliberately and routinely refraining from eating, or any habitual practice, in order to see your Self more clearly, is a powerful and creative way to advance yourself in this game of life. Refraining brings things up and moves things out with a kind of efficiency that can only come from a Supreme Creator. And if you have already begun to notice some inner resistance to refraining - to being present with your life in this way - the notice of this feeling is a great the first step. This is how spiritual information and opportunity often presents itself; with refusal or resistance. Why not meet it with a plan? Get a copy of The New FastGirls and read what it is like to deny some part of your pattern in order to grow so much more of your Self. I have lived in this practice for nearly two decades, including everything from food and alcohol to speaking and over engaging the internet. And what I now know and Am, has been of more benefit to me than those things (or anything) ever could have.

Waist Beads, or African Waist Beads from Alaiyo are more than pretty pieces of jewelry. These handmade beaded strands are a waist bead technology that help the wearer develop self awareness, including mindfulness of actions and thinking. Alaiyo Waist Beads also support the manifestation of intentions, whatever they might be for each person. Every Alaiyo waist bead strand is created using an insightful yet studied knowledge of the energy of chakras - particularly as they correspond to color. Alaiyo Waist Bead technology is a tool to empower each wearer on their journey to embody a grounded confidence and inner strength. Each color represents a particular energy and the purpose of this blog post is to answer the top 10 questions that Alaiyo waist bead wearers and potential waist bead wearers are asking. Question 1: What are Waist Beads and what purpose do they serve? Waist beads are a conventional piece of African jewelry made of tiny glass seed beads. Beads are strung onto various types of string or wire and worn around the waist or hips. Waist beads - or sometimes referred to as African Belly Beads - can be found in various colors and shapes and might also consist of decorative stones, crystals, or charms. Waist beads have been worn for centuries by women in West African cultures and in more recent years they have acquired appeal amongst people in the West; particularly women. They are sometimes described as stubborn belly beads, waistline beads, or beaded waist chains. In Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and other West African countries, waist beads are a sign of womanhood, fertility, sensuality, and spiritual wellness. Today, in both Africa and the United States, women and men use waist beads for visual and practical functions. Alaiyo waist beads are crafted with non-stretch material. This means that over time they will not become misshapen or change length. Alaiyo waist beads are also tied permanently onto the body until the wearer decides to cut them. As a result, strand(s) will fall lower on the hips when the wearer loses weight and rise up the belly if the wearer gains weight. In addition to the weight tracking benefits of wearing waist beads, people who wear them report feeling sexier and more empowered in their bodies. Question 2: What do waist beads do and how do waist beads work? Waist Bead strands are used for several purposes including adornment, attraction (partner, resource, energy), weight management, body/posture awareness and correction and energetic shift, using the practice of focused intention and attention. Waist Bead wearing at Alaiyo is an ancient practice revived for the modern person. Alaiyo Waist Beads are more than just jewelry for the body.They are both a tool and technology used in order to practice mindfulness. When wearing Alaiyo Waist Beads you will get immediate, real time signals from your body. And If you have ever wanted a way to know when you are losing or gaining weight, this adornment offers immediate feedback which allows you to adjust your choices and behaviors accordingly. When you purchase one or more strands of waist beads from Alaiyo they will serve the purpose of bringing your attention inward. The mindfulness created by wearing this waist bead technology will help you gain clarity, courage and momentum for whatever your intentions are because you are reminded of and supported in them daily. Question 3: How long can I wear waist beads? At Alaiyo, all waist bead strands are permanently tied on. This means you wear them 7 days a week, 365 days per year. In the event that you want to remove them they would have to be cut off. Alaiyo Waist Bead Technology is a great way to stay continually present in your body and maintain mindfulness around both weight and energy. Question 4: How do I practice mindful eating by wearing waist beads and lose weight? If you are practicing mindful waist bead wearing in order to lose weight you will want to tie at least one strand 1 - 2 inches above the navel. This is the placement that will give you the fastest feedback signal in terms of how full your body is becoming while eating. Once you have successfully tied your waist beads you will notice that the strands drop lower on your body when you begin to lose weight and rise higher if you begin to gain weight. Because being full happens faster in your belly than your brain, you will get a much more timely and beneficial response when waist beads are present and placed properly. Question 5: What size waist beads should I get? Alaiyo Waist Beads are custom made for each order. To determine the correct size for your waist use a tape measure to measure at or slightly above the navel. If you are not using them for purposes of tracking weight you can measure wherever you would like the waist beads to live. If you choose more than one strand you can provide a different length for each. This will allow for a layered look on your belly. Waistbeads can be ordered in any length at Alaiyo. Lengths 0-45 are considered standard while 45+ comes with a slightly added cost. Question 6: How to tie waist beads? We have created a video as well as written instructions which will help you tie your new strands with as much ease as possible. Before you begin, make sure that your hands are clean and dry. You will also need scissors that are sharp and a container to put any extra beads that you may have after your strand is tied. Placement Instructions: Pull the waist bead from its packaging and have it in hand. Take one end of the strand in each hand (notice that each end has a white fixed anchor bead. DON’T CUT ANY ANCHOR BEADS UNTIL YOU FINISH TYING THE STRAND IN PLACE) Bring the strand around your body from the back as if you are putting on a belt. Pull on (BUT DO NOT UNTIE) both white anchor beads until they loosen the slipknot which will make room for the beads to loosen (with the anchor bead in place, the beads will not slide off). Make sure the anchor bead it not inside the loop when you pull it. Place the strand at the preferred location on your waist or hips. Make sure all of the beads are pushed back from anchor beads so that the strand has no gaps Cross the two strands - as in the beginning of tying a knot - to close the waist bead around your body. Fold the top strand under and through in order to tie the first knot (remaining beads should fall toward the anchor bead) Tie 6-8 knots in order to ensure a secure fit Cut the excess string just below the group of knots and allow and remaining beads to fall into your container Please refer to the video below for a visual demo. Question 7: How to Wear Waist Beads? You can wear waist beads over or underneath your clothing. This choice is completely personal and left up to each individual. Question 8: How to use waist beads? Alaiyo encourages all wearers of waist beads and those who are considering it, to use them as a technology which allows you to be more present in your body. In nearly every country and community around the globe, it is easier than ever before to become so involved in and overwhelmed by the events and people around us that we often neglect ourselves and attend poorly to our most basic needs. As a remedy, waist bead wearing has become a radical act of self care that your body will thank you for every day. You will grow in confidence, clarity, and understanding of yourself and the world around you. Question 9: Where can I buy waist beads/Where to get African waist beads/Where to buy waist beads? You can purchase waist beads here at alaiyo.net. click this link to shop our collection of Waist Beads strands whose colors and designs will help support you in setting and then realizing your specific intentions. Whether you are looking for peace, clarity, abundance, love or any number of other things, please visit our color map and browse our waist bead collection to find the colors and designs that match your intentions. Question 10: What are waist beads color meaning? Particular colors call forth and support particular energies. Our color map can serve as a guide and help you understand how colors vibrate related to particular energies. Taking time to read through the color chart will also help you select the waist bead strands that are right for you. The strand designs that you will find in our catalog are all pieces that come from our Chief Designer’s own inspired creative energy and express animal, vegetable, mineral and cosmic qualities that the wearer can embody to acquire self-confidence and strength at their center. You can delve deeper into the significance of each color by visiting our Alaiyo Color Map then browse the waist bead strands that match those colors and intentions. Here at Alaiyo our focus is on the beads as another tool and technology for mindfulness. They act as a reminder to be present, which is a tremendous convenience and support. We began to make waist bead strands because the process presented itself as therapeutic and we enjoy supporting women as they begin to gain a more heightened awareness and engage in greater levels of self care.

One of the most important tools in the process of awakening is the ability to speak life and shift into yourself and circumstance. The words you say matter. The way you use breath and sound to create experience, matters. And while it might sound easy to do, if you have lived longer than a few years or have ever had the privilege of someone mirroring back to you your speech, you know that to speak the thing you want to be true, as supposed to the thing that seems to be true - or the thing that is programmed as true - is as difficult as letting go and giving in to birth. Not only is it a tough negotiation, it can also be painful and so many unexpected kinds of frightening. But The Word is life. The things we choose to say (understanding that every single word is a choice) are the building blocks we use to construct our days, relationships and dreams. The ability to master our words and frame our story is not something that can be relegated to a time and space where we feel good, or healthy or passionate or fearless. The regulation of our speech must happen precisely in the middle of our storms because it in the exact magic we need in order to navigate through. “Free to” is an opening. It is wide and wondrous. It has opportunity sewn into its seams. “Free to” prepares our wings for flight and trains our eyes in the direction of the horizon. This is the thing we say when we know we can win, when we know we have already won. It sits lightly in our bellies and alights in the way that all freedom signals do when it is time for us to make beneficial moves. “Free To” is a power perspective with the ability to create, support rest, lift spirits and facilitate growth. “Free from” catapults us backward. It makes us remember times, things, people and even our own behaviors which may have wrung us out or flung us into the depths. The words themselves make us walk backwards and give just a bit more energy to things we would do well to let fade. So the choice seems simple even as the movement takes mindfulness; to say ONLY the things we wish to see, experience, make. To give language and voice and power only to the versions of ourselves and others that we want to experience. While never ignoring reality, we can use speech to manifest versions of this life like nothing we have ever seen. In love + magic, Jasai

Alaiyo is looking for an experienced designer. Are you qualified? Apply today! GRAPHIC DESIGNER WANTED About Us Alaiyo Waistbeads is an African waistbead retailer operating out of Los Angeles, California. An age-old holistic adornment, the waistbead is a bit of ancient technology which acts all at once as lingerie, a scale, waist and weight management as well as a mindfulness tool. Alaiyo Waistbeads are made by hand using high-quality glass seed beads and a proprietary non- elastic braided nylon. They are available for purchase online, at the Alaiyo Studio in Southern California, and at various pop-up shops across the nation. The Position The ideal candidate will have strong graphic design skills, 2-5 years experience working with numerous digital and print design platforms, proficiency in Wix, a portfolio of work which demonstrates their expertise in illustrative design and typography, previous experience with small business collaborations, and an open schedule to take on multiple projects a month and update existing media. Alaiyo may encounter changes to event dates, vendors, brand identifiers and services offered. The ideal candidate will respond to each project on a case-by-case basis, and be available to make any changes needed in a timely manner, across multiple platforms. Responsibilities Frequently manage and update the official Alaiyo Waistbeads website Design informative and visually pleasing email campaigns Collaborate with the team to ensure consistency in designs across various media outlets Create compelling, on-brand and effective logos, designs, print and digital media Respond quickly to presented projects and revisions Maintain awareness of design and technology standards, the vision and brand of Alaiyo, and the community that Alaiyo serves Manage all media pertaining to Alaiyo in an organized fashion Qualifications Proficient in Wix website builder, email campaign, e-commerce, and event platform 2-5 years of experience of recent experience collaborating with business leaders on design ideas for all social media and print platforms Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite Strong communication, conceptual thinking, typography skills and design skills Grasp of culture surrounding African waist beads and holistic medicine To view exsiting Alaiyo related designs and media, visit www.alaiyo.net , or www.instagram.com/alaiyowaistbeads . If you qualify for this position, send an email to dijaouija@gmail.com to present your experience and portfolio. Alaiyo is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, size, or physical ability. All are welcome to apply!

Blue Strands Blue strands support the energy of the throat chakra - the filter of expression . To learn more about the throat chakra, visit the chakra map by clicking the button below: THROAT CHAKRA CLICK TO VIEW MORE COLORS Filter by Category All New Arrivals Chakra Balancing Strands Charms "I Do" Collection Infinity Collection Price $18 $265 Sort by Quick View New Arrival Eke - The Python Price $265.00 Quick View New Arrival Reina Price $30.00 Quick View New Arrival The God Quarry / Anklet Price $65.00 Quick View New Arrival Her Majesty, The King / Anklet Price $65.00 Quick View Bundle & Save Chakra Balancing Bundle (7 strands) Price $100.00 Quick View New Arrival Her Majesty, The King Price $260.00 Quick View New Arrival Sunrise Price $30.00 Quick View New Arrival Groundwork | Hapa Na Sasa Price $260.00 Quick View New Arrival Cosmic Keys Price $30.00 Quick View New Arrival Light Work Price $111.00 Quick View New Arrival Sea Creature Price $30.00 Quick View New Arrival I Create As I Speak Price $30.00 Quick View New Arrival Balance Beam Price $111.00 Quick View New Arrival Fruit Of The Vine Price $65.00 Quick View New Arrival Minted Price $24.00 Quick View New Arrival Autumn & Evening Price $24.00 Quick View Seedling Price $40.00 Quick View New Arrival Song of Solomon Price $111.00

Yellow Strands Yellow strands support the energy of the solar plexus chakra - the location of our personal power, projection, and joy. To learn more about the solar plexus chakra, visit the chakra map by clicking the button below: SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA CLICK TO VIEW MORE COLORS Filter by Category All New Arrivals Chakra Balancing Strands Charms Mama Africa Collection Price $18 $260 Sort by Quick View New Arrival Reina Price $30.00 Quick View Bundle & Save Chakra Balancing Bundle (7 strands) Price $100.00 Quick View New Arrival First Light Price $30.00 Quick View New Arrival Cosmic Keys Price $30.00 Quick View New Arrival The God Quarry Price $260.00 Quick View New Arrival Light Work Price $111.00 Quick View New Arrival As The Wild Things Are Price $24.00 Quick View Seedling Price $40.00 Quick View Colors added Field of Malachite Price $30.00 Quick View Kente Collection Price $30.00 Quick View New Colors Added Single Color Strands Price $18.00 Quick View Self Discovery Price $27.00 Quick View New Arrival Homage to Gelede Price $65.00 Quick View Colors added Buried Treasure Price $30.00 Quick View The Life Price $35.00 Quick View New Arrival Dream Catcher Price $98.00 Quick View Perfect For Balancing Energy Sankofa: The Village Strand Price $24.00 Quick View Labyrinth Price $30.00