Gillian Francis, better known as Minka Luv to her friends and family, is a self-professed “Jill of all trades.” Born and raised in Jamaica, she’s cultivated many interests over the years: fashion and jewelry design, songwriting, and, most notably, herbal healing. Ever since Francis was a little girl, she felt it was her calling. “I always spoke to plants and they’ve always spoken back to […]
Look and Feel Young Forever, Jamaican-Style
If you ask Ramsey—former gardener to James Bond author Ian Fleming—it’s easy to live a long and healthy life. After all, he’s managed to maintain a young mind, body and spirit into his 70s. By the looks of his devilish grin, we think Ramsey might be on to something. Here are a few of Ramsey’s tips to looking (and feeling) young forever: Don’t eat much […]
A Rasta’s Guide to Living Well
Q: “Are you a rich man?” A: “When you say rich, what do you mean?” Q: “Do you have a lot of possessions? Do you have a lot of money in the bank?” A: “Possessions make you rich? I don’t have that kind of richness. My richness is life, forever.” This quote is from the now-famous “60 Minutes” interview with Bob Marley, and the quote […]
Jamaica’s Natural Home Remedies
Walk through an open-air market in Jamaica, and you’re likely to hear Jamaicans shouting out unsolicited solutions to all of your health problems, real and imagined. We aren’t talking pills: It’s all about the natural remedies here, people! When Island Outpost yoga instructor and spa director Sienna Creasy moved to Jamaica ten years ago, she was struck by this. “Jamaicans are so quick to offer […]