Understanding Stress & The Vagus Nerve Emotional and Physical wellbeing are intimately linked. If we are in chronic pain, it can be hard to be joyful, happy, and interested in connecting with others. Conversely, if we are well-rested, well-fed, and in good physical shape, we feel good and want to be socially active. It …
Read More10 Practices To Cultivate Hope We are entering a space between stories. A space where it is important to practice cultivating hope. Something hurts in there. Can you feel it? We are one earth, one tribe, one people, and we are all in this together. We all go through times in life that challenge …
Read More4 Practices To Create Calm During The Coronavirus Pandemic We are being forced to hit the “pause” button as the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic is unfolding. The situation is inconvenient, and it is scary. Uncertainty about finances and health is causing stress levels to rise. In the long run, the unknown can take a toll on …
Read MoreAs the world’s scientists and leaders work to contain this new Coronavirus strain, develop a vaccine, and discover other treatments and measures, the Coronavirus outbreak is likely to continue to spread. There is a lot that is unknown at this point. More people are feeling unsafe and experiencing a heightened stress level. As a health …
Read MoreYoga is about being present in the moment and being part of all that is. Being in nature helps us to make that connection. The benefits of practicing yoga outdoors are many. Whether in the mountains, at the beach, or even your backyard, the benefits of practicing yoga outdoors include bringing new elements and …
Read MoreI just finished this video testimonial from the last Awakening Hope Retreat! Listening to Yolanda talk about her experience brought tears and a deep knowing of why I created this journey. I didn’t know until Yolanda and I sat down to film her journey in her words that she had never been hiking before – ever!
Read MoreIn my last journal post (link to post), we covered how to cultivate positivity and gain more resilience in our lives. Now let us turn our attention on how to counteract negativity. We know that we cannot entirely escape negativity in our lives. We also know from the research that “faking it” is just as bad (if not worse) than negativity. So what can we do to counteract negativity?
Read MoreIt is no secret that people who are more positive are also more resilient – they can “bounce back” more quickly when bad things do happen. But there are proven ways you can take action to cultivate positivity and counter a downward spiral? The answer is “Yes!”,according to Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D. and, author of the book Positivity.
Read MoreI was awakened in the early spring of 2009 by a sharp pain in my right breast. As I shifted around trying to relieve the pain, I had a piercing thought seemingly out of nowhere: “could this be breast cancer”?
Read MoreYoga is a science that has been around for thousands of years. It consists of observations and principles about the mind and body connection. The science of yoga is now being proven through modern scientific study. Research is being conducted by many healthcare providers, including MD Anderson, to look at the health benefits of yoga for those dealing with cancer.
Read MoreA coach will help you define your vision for wellness and then use that vision to co-create a completely personalized action plan based on your goals and aligned with your values. Your personalized program will prioritize your health and wellness, enhance your well-being, and move you toward where you want to be.
Read MoreWe are becoming more and more overstressed as a society as the pressures of our modern life keep mounting. How can yoga help balance your body’s stress response and help you find serenity?
Read MoreSequencing a practice can stop many from practicing at home. Knowing how to sequence can help relieve stress associated with developing a home practice.
A home practice is an integral part of a continuing, committed yoga practice, but concern about how to sequence stops many.
A good friend recently lost her mother to a sudden and massive heart attack. While working her way through the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, she told me she felt like her body was “weighed down with stones.” Physical symptoms like this can occur at any time in the grief process. It’s scary, but natural. If you are going through the loss of a loved one, a job, a pet, or an emotional life change, here are some symptoms to look for, and some tools to help you heal.
Read MoreLife happens. An opportunity may fall through, or grief and tragedy strikes when you least expect it.
When your direction shifts, it’s easy to feel lost. What can you do when you feel like you’re foundering? Here are three steps to help you work through your feelings and find your way back to yourself.
Read MoreWhen our body is out of sync, the autonomic nervous system, hormonal system, and the immune system are not working in a synchronized manner.
We can re-synchronize our body systems by creating a state of coherence and thus improving our mental focus, emotional stability, physical resilience, and improved cognitive function. This allows us to operate in a more efficient manner in all areas of life.
Read MoreBeing continuously stressed caused me to develop a pattern of shallow breathing, which exacerbated my stress levels even further.
Through my yoga practice, I was able to become aware of my altered breathing patterns and relearn how to breathe deeply and easefully.
Read MoreMany emotions erupted as I sat in my office, confused and wondering. What just happened? Who was the person that wrote such an on-point, heartfelt account of her journey of healing? And more importantly, where was she now?
Read MoreDid you know that if you’re a woman over 40, you might disappear? I recently read this article from Beauty Redefined, a non-profit dedicated to promoting positive body images to women. Among the many eye-opening statistics was this one: “A whopping 62 percent of the female population of the U.S. is over 40. But get this: Older men appear as much as 10 times more frequently than older women in media.”
Read MoreWe can all use a 5 minute reboot to reset the day and our positivity index! This 5 minute breathing practice will help you get connected to yourself and to your heart creating more spaciousness and allowing a release of stress and tension in your body and mind. Take a 5 minute break in the morning upon awakening, during the day when you feel disconnected, stressed, or in the need of a “reboot”, or at night before bed.
Read More