Women Gone Vibrant| Ayurveda for midlife & menopause
Ayurveda for Midlife & Menopause
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Episode #55: The boon of setting boundaries
04/29/2019
Episode #55: The boon of setting boundaries
Have you ever said Yes to an event you really wanted to say No to and then ended up dragging your feet there? I have. Do you tend to take on work although it is not really your job and you don’t get paid extra for it either?…. yep, know that one. Do you keep babysitting for your friend although you really wanted a day off? … I learnt not to. Many of us struggle setting boundaries. Yet setting boundaries skillfully is an integral part to a healthy and happy life. Creating mutually beneficial relationships is based on having explicit ground rules between one another. Being able to say No when we mean No, and being able to say Yes when we mean Yes will let another know where they stand and how much they can ask of you. Boundaries will protect you from burn out, resentment, anger and frustration. So then…I ask..…If setting boundaries is so important why do so many of us struggle to set them? And how can we learn to set them skillfully? Lael Peterson, long time therapist and coach, and I shine some light on the issue. What you get from tuning in: What purpose do boundaries serve? The negative impact of NOT setting boundaries Why women have such a hard time with saying No Understanding fear and how we misinterpret it How we get caught on the heroine’s journey 3 exercises and tools to help you set boundaries in your life Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #54: Change your life by changing the way you think
04/13/2019
Episode #54: Change your life by changing the way you think
Whatever you think and feel has a vibration. Whatever vibration you carry is what you attract. You are probably familiar with the ‘law of attraction’: a law states that “like attracts like” which means whatever you think you attract. This is not wowoo or esoteric. Thoughts are simply energetic patterns that can manifest into reality. In other words our reality is manifested thoughts, our reality is thoughts densified. Taking that as our premise Kelly Mishell and I shoot shine light on how to work with thoughts and emotions to create the life you want and desire. What you get from tuning in: How to create what you want using your mind Tools to change thoughts and emotions to create a better life The Shri exercise to create beauty and positivity in your life Why simply making a choice is powerful in itself. The trigger and perk up list …and why you want to have one “The Wouldn’t it be nice if…..”exercise Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #53: Holistic strategies to reverse osteoporosis
03/28/2019
Episode #53: Holistic strategies to reverse osteoporosis
Bone loss and bone weakening is a major concern for many women especially when getting older. The diagnoses of osteopenia and osteoporosis are dreaded ones not alone because it makes many of us feeling helpless. A year ago, Jackie Prete had been diagnosed with osteoporosis (bone loss) after a bike accident. This was on the heels of dealing with osteopenia (reduced bone mass) for a number of years prior to that. The numbers were very high and the doctors pressured her intently to take drugs. She refused. Jackie shares with us her approach on how she reversed her diagnosis using diet, lifestyle, exercise, Ayurveda and yoga; and how she dealt with the pressures from the medical community. What you get from tuning in: The difference between building quantity vs quality bone Why digestion is crucially important to healthy bones Holistic strategies to navigate and potentially reverse your diagnosis Jackie’s 20 min routine to keep her bones healthy and reverse bone loss The role of the mind in bone loss One crucial mind practice to strengthen the bones The mathematical equation of osteoporosis explained How to be your own best doctor Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #52: Solving the pelvic floor mystery
03/14/2019
Episode #52: Solving the pelvic floor mystery
As if pregnancy, childbirth and menopause wasn’t enough fun for women, there are a whole set of challenges associated with our female parts. 1 in 3 women experience some form of pelvic floor disorder. That’s a significant 33%. Think uterine and bladder prolapse, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, yoni flatulence or rectal incontinence. In a study from 2007 with close to 9,000 women it was shown that ….. 25% of women experience rectal incontinence 15% stress incontinence of the bladder 29% had multiple surgeries because of pelvic floor disorders 38% farting/flatus out of the yoni 6% pelvic organ prolapse Pelvic floor disorders aren’t discussed much in our society and many women have to suffer in silence. Imagine not being able to have sex due to pain. Or having to wear diapers because of leaking. Or the deep embarrassment that comes with leaking stool. Leslie Stager shares her insight and experience as a holistic pelvic floor specialist. Pelvic floor work is not sexual, sensual, clinical or painful. It is a therapeutic approach to bring attention and healing into the private parts of our body. What you get from tuning in: Sexy & feminine names for your vagina What is pelvic floor work Conditions pelvic floor work can help you heal Specific dance & movement exercises to free the pelvic floor Kegel exercises: helpful for not? Daily self-care practices to heal your pelvic floor Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #51: The 7 alchemical stages of menopause
02/28/2019
Episode #51: The 7 alchemical stages of menopause
Menopause is a birthing process that, when embraced consciously, will help us transform into the powerful, authentic wise elders that our society needs so badly. In other words, menopause is an opportunity for women to transform into wise crones. Many women dread menopause. They dread the hot flashes, night sweats, gaining weight, mood swings, hormonal changes, getting old and whatever else comes with the menopausal transition. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right tools, menopause can be the doorway into wisdom, insight and intuition. Menopause is a metamorphosis and can be a wonderful unfolding process into a beautiful butterfly. Cathy Skipper works with the spiritual transformation of midlife using the process outlined by Carl Jung. As an aromatherapist she also works with essential oils to make the journey more graceful and easeful. What you get from tuning in: The 7 alchemical stages of menopause Strategies to work with the stages gracefully Making friends with our inner masculine Healing the feminine ancestral line Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #50: Thriving as a childless woman: How to find happiness without babies
02/14/2019
Episode #50: Thriving as a childless woman: How to find happiness without babies
In the US, 1 in 5 women of childbearing age do not have children. That is a significant 20%. Given the historic role as women as mothers and the fact that a woman’s body is designed to create life, it is still tough for many women to swallow being childless. Emotions may go wild. Grief takes over. Going to blessing ways becomes an agony. Kathleen Woods and I talk our way from what it means to be a childless woman, to how to deal with our emotions, and arrive at plan B. What you get from tuning in: Understanding and compassion for being a childless woman how to let go of plan A and live plan B How to navigate emotions that commonly arise when being childless What to do with invitations to friend’s blessing ways How to view the thought “If I don’t have children, I am not a real woman” Ancestral DNA, karma and the shame of being a childless woman 52 nudges to arrive and live plan B Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #49: Unravel your sexuality, clear what trips you up
01/31/2019
Episode #49: Unravel your sexuality, clear what trips you up
Our sexuality, creativity, vital life force energy and the way we digest trauma are intrinsically interlinked. Krista Woroschuk and I shoot the breathe on how we can arrive in our bodies, unravel our sexuality and unleash our creative potential. What you get from tuning in: The link between trauma, vital life force energy and sexuality 5 Strategies to drop into the body to release trauma and access your sexuality and vital life force energy Debunking the myth about women becoming less sexually desirable after 40 What is trauma and when are we most impressionable to it How holding on to stories prevents us from healing our emotions The relationships between emotions, sexuality and water element The women’s movement of marrying yourself Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #48: Proven strategies to overcome emotional eating & food addictions
01/16/2019
Episode #48: Proven strategies to overcome emotional eating & food addictions
Emotional eating, eating disorders and body image issues are an inter-generational phenomena. It starts with children, spans across teenagers and young adults and can go way into old age. What is it about food that has such an attraction that so many of us use it like a drug or refrain from using it at all? Carolyn Ross MD shares her personal story around healing from a severe diagnosed disease and what lessons she has learnt. She now applies those lessons and her knowledge from integrative medicine with her patients who suffer from food addiction and eating disorders. What you get from tuning in: What attracts or repels us so much about food The pleasure loop How Dr. Carolyn overcame chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia holistically The cause and commonality in all types of food disorders The link between black and white thinking and food disorders Early warning signs of food disorders Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #47: How to heal childhood trauma without drugs
01/03/2019
Episode #47: How to heal childhood trauma without drugs
is the personal story of Saeeda Hafiz and a true page-turner. Saeeda is an African American woman who grew up in impoverished conditions and an abusive family. Her idea out of misery was to uplevel herself into the middle class. While having been successful career wise in most people’s perception, she yearned for more. A cooking class opened her eyes to more than just the normal sense of success. She started exploring natural healing methods, in particular food as medicine and yoga as a pathway to more happiness. Saeeda discovered that being truly happy is not only about having more money and a better career but that releasing undigested thoughts, feelings and traumas from the past are a crucial component to being joyful at the core. Yoga and her food choices led the way. What you get from tuning in: The real life story of how Saeeda transformed her life from trauma to happiness Inspiration on how food is a powerful medicine to shift you out of trauma Sugar – the ally that keeps you stuck Yoga as the pathway to shifting out of unhealthy relationship patterns 3 top qualities for transforming bad experiences into acceptance The gem of the present moment Purchase the book on Amazon here. It’s a great read. Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #46: The forgotten power of the solstice
12/21/2018
Episode #46: The forgotten power of the solstice
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It is one of the yearly invitations to tune into the rhythms of nature. Some peoples say that at the winter solstice the moon gives birth to the sun. It is the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new one. The dark gives way to the light. The word solstice is a combination of the latin word sol, which means sun. It also refers to the sun god. The second part of the word, sistere, means to stand still. Thus, during the solstice, the sun appears to stand still in the sky as seen from the earth. Another way to look at it is, that the solstice celebrates the end of a gigantic six month exhale and the beginning of a massive six month inhale. And with every breath there is a bit of a pause at the end, a waiting period. The end of the gigantic exhale is an invitation from nature to go inward, regenerate and renew. It is a beautiful opportunity to self reflect and enjoy the beauty of darkness. Yet, in an effort to turn inward, society and culture gives us an outward pull. Think parties, get togethers, gift buying, celebrations. Annie and I discuss what the winter solstice means to us in general and how to deal with the outward pull of society. What you get from tuning in: A deeper connection to the cycles of nature Why you should care about the year’s massive inhale and exhale cycle The Yin-Yang cycle of the year…and how it affects your choices The four corners of the year What questions to ask yourself on the solstice to set yourself up for a healthy and happy new year Strategies on how to tackle society’s outward vs nature’s inward pull. Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #45: Simple, everyday Ayurvedic cooking for a peaceful mind
12/06/2018
Episode #45: Simple, everyday Ayurvedic cooking for a peaceful mind
If you are like most people eating healthy and well is high on your new year’s resolution list. Is it? That’s not surprising. After all, good food is a foundational piece to lasting health and happiness. With bad food we feel blah, bloaty, uninspired. Who wants that? With good food we feel uplifted and inspired. I attest to it. Well, I hate to break the news to you, but if you want to feed yourself well, home cooked food is essential for a peaceful and harmonious mind … and a vibrant body of course. Are you cringing? Does cooking at home sound like a whole lot of work? Hold your horses and read on … If you are a person who eats out a lot you have very little control about what goes into your body (and mind). Restaurants typically get their ingredients from big suppliers who give a d&*% about where they source their food from. The main goal is to keep costs down so you can eat affordably. It’s likely that you eat artificial ingredients, hormone fed beef and unorganic lettuce. Those ingredients ain’t creating ease and peace. When eating out, you also have no control over the emotions that go into your food. Yep that’s right? The emotions of the cook go right into your food. And having worked in restaurants, I know what a stressful environment kitchens are. How is that creating a peaceful mind for the eater? When cooking at home you have way more control over what goes into your body. Now, if you are anything like me you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. I am way into simple, easy and delicious. That’s why I talked to Kate O’Donnell who has written two Ayurvedic cookbooks. They are filled with simple recipes that take less than 30 min to prep, are nourishing and tasty. Yahoo Kate. Well done. I chat with Kate about the ins and out of everyday cooking and how it impacts our minds. What you get from tuning in: The 3 states of the mind The types of food that create harmony in the mind Why seasonal eating makes sense The impact of cookies and holiday treats on the mind Inspiration that cooking can be simple and time saving How to overcome food cravings … using the fire boys Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #44: Four satisfying winter holiday recovery recipes … for more lightness and loose fitting pants
11/18/2018
Episode #44: Four satisfying winter holiday recovery recipes … for more lightness and loose fitting pants
This is a practical episode about food to help you stay on the bandwagon of healthy eating during the winter holidays. For most of us, winter holidays mean lots of cookies, home-baked goods, many parties and lots of alcohol. And with it comes what? You guessed it, tight fitting pants and a sluggish, heavy digestion. In the last episode we talked about the 3 phase holiday feasting strategy. If you have not listened to that episode, . Then tune in here to get four satisfying recipes to PREP FOR and RECOVER from the feast. What you get from tuning in: 4 recipes to recover from winter holiday parties The digest-ability scale and why you need to care The eat light, eat simple, eat veg principle How to find healthy feasting recipes Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #43: The 3 obvious holiday feasting phases to avoid feeling like a stuffed turkey
11/07/2018
Episode #43: The 3 obvious holiday feasting phases to avoid feeling like a stuffed turkey
Holidays and celebrations feed our soul. They are a way for us to honor the abundance of earth and connect with friends and family. On the downside, the holidays present us with tons of temptations. Think cookies, home baked sweets, elaborate feasts. Can you already feel your pants getting tighter just thinking about it? And on top of it, you may be wondering if you should make another hole in your belt to accommodate all those goodies. As soul feeding and nourishing as the holidays may be, feeling heavy, sluggish and bogged down by all the goodies is no fun. Proper feasting takes some skill and awareness. In this podcast, I share with you how I approach the holidays and feasting in general. You can apply the principles I am sharing to any feast really…..may it be your birthday celebration, your 20th wedding anniversary or your nieces wedding…you get the idea. What you get from tuning in: The 3 phases of feasting The 80/20 rule and how to apply it to the holidays The pre- and post holiday meal schedule 5 simple strategies to feast right This is to loose fitting pants and lightness of being. Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #42: Traumatic Accidents & Surgery. Recover the wise woman way.
10/25/2018
Episode #42: Traumatic Accidents & Surgery. Recover the wise woman way.
This is the story of how Jackie Prete healed herself from a traumatic accident and how you can too. She found herself in excruciating pain and motionless in a hospital bed after being run over on her bike. The prospect was dire. Her shattered leg may leave her unable to walk, teach yoga, being potentially deformed for life and/ or permanently on crutches. Not a sunny outlook for anyone but especially dire for someone whose livelihood depends on teaching yoga and movement. A four hour surgery put her body back together. Her resilience and strong belief that she will heal carried her through mentally and emotionally. Simple and down to earth practices from Yoga and Ayurveda, diet & lifestyle practices were integral to her healing as well. Today Jackie travels worldwide again to share the power of yoga asana, diet and lifestyle practices. What you get from tuning in: 5 simple strategies to work with the body and mind after an accident How to use yogic practices to heal more quickly from a severe accident The role of chanting & mantra in the healing process (if you don’t know what that is you definitely want to find out about it in this podcast) The big lesson of receiving The role of rest, love and space in recovery What Jackie most needed from helpers during recovery (you might need that too) Yoga postures during the recovery process The countless blessings of a traumatic accident The power of community Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #41: Soul Style Dress: Dress yourself for more confidence & self love
10/10/2018
Episode #41: Soul Style Dress: Dress yourself for more confidence & self love
We are talking about clothes of all things. What me? Yes. That’s right. Clothes and everything that comes with it, shoes, accessories, jewelry is important to many women. Period. And clothes are something that in the world of yogis, with whom I have been hanging out, has often been suppressed and shunned. After all the development of the soul is more important, right?…..and what do clothes have to do with that? Well, truth be told, a lot. The way you dress reflects a level of self confidence, self worth and self love. Clothes reflect your identity and who you are as a person. Clothes also express what you want to experience at any moment in time. Remember a day when you were in pyjamas all day? You were probably going for comfort and snuggle time. Now imagine a day where you dressed up, in a beautiful and carefully chosen dress, adorned with jewelry and maybe high heels (likely not me, but you get the point). Were you going on a date? You probably felt immediately more powerful, worthy and self confident. And what is more, dressing right can make you be seen and heard as who you are. Authentically. If you want to be heard and seen (even though part of you is resistant) you need to listen to this conversation. What you get from tuning in: How your clothes impacts your self-confidence, self-worth and self-love The interrelationship between appearance/dress, habits and identity The wrong pieces of clothes take away from you The impact of color on your energy And some joyful laughter…. Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #40: The 3 biggest reasons why we don’t invest in ourselves
09/26/2018
Episode #40: The 3 biggest reasons why we don’t invest in ourselves
Most of us have no concept around what it means to invest in ourselves. You may have invested in your career or maybe in a house but have you truly invested in yourself? I venture to say that most people SPEND on themselves but not INVEST. Hahh? What’s the difference? You will find out in this podcast and way more on what is holding you back from creating more happiness and joy in your life. You can read more on this on my blog “The 3 biggest reasons why we don’t invest in ourselves & how we can” What you get from tuning in: The difference between investing and spending on yourself What you get from investing in yourself The 3 biggest reasons that is holding you back from investing in yourself The Hell Yes concept The top tool I use to decide what to invest in Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #39: Getting unmarried: How to thrive as a woman after divorce
09/13/2018
Episode #39: Getting unmarried: How to thrive as a woman after divorce
Divorce suck but life doesn’t have to. Getting divorced is not a failure. Getting divorced can be a massive opportunity for growth. There are no mistakes in life. There is only lessons learnt. But truth be told a relationship death can also be tremendously heartbreaking. Using the language of “getting un-married” versus “getting divorced” is one way of signaling that you are ready to empower yourself as a woman. Blooming after marriage is a skill than can be learnt. Daniella, psychotherapist and transformational coach, shares her journey through her own divorce, what feminine empowerment means to her and how to cultivate it. What you get from tuning in: The lessons one can learn from divorce How to move from ‘once married’ to ‘empowered’ The power of receiving without guilt What it means to be a woman in her feminine energy Danielle’s top strategies to deal with grief caused by divorce How to step into your inner queen How to attract a high quality partner How to untangle co-dependent relationships Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #38: Superager. Optimize your vibrancy and longevity
08/30/2018
Episode #38: Superager. Optimize your vibrancy and longevity
Elise makes bold claims on the front flap of her book . She says: You can look younger, have more energy, a better memory, and live a long and healthy life. First of all, what in the world is a superager? And how come she feels so confident about claiming that we can all be one? Elise is answering all those questions plus she shares inspiring stories of wise elders. We also talk about how aging has changed over time and what it means to age today. You can be a wild, wise, vibrant one too at age 70, 80, 90 and beyond. There is many things you can do for that. “ According to those born on Okinawa, the island with the most centenarians in the world, our Ikigai is the reason we get up in the morning. Our Ikigai is hidden deep inside each of us, and finding it requires a patient search.” Elise Marie Collins What you get from tuning in: What the heck is a Superager? The inspiring story of May Musk and other women How has aging changed over time and what does it mean for us today The role of Ikigai as you age (and what is Ikigai anyway? And why should you care?) Creative solutions to aging in your own space “If there is a will, there’s a way”. In 2015, at age 99, Doreetha Daniels graduated from college with an associate degree in Social Sciences. She suffered several health setbacks along the way, but she never gave up. Doreetha is a living testament to the saying “if there is a will, there is a way”. From book Superager, pg 206. Getting older is inevitable. Aging is optional! Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #37: Embracing your feminine, stepping into flow
08/16/2018
Episode #37: Embracing your feminine, stepping into flow
Finding your feminine essence in a masculine world is not an easy feat. It’s a discovery, it’s a curiosity. As women, regardless of sexual orientation, we carry a watery nature, an essence, a juiciness and creativity that has been given to us by nature. We can create and birth a human being. Menstruation is one way the body expresses that power. Amenorrhea, or the absence of menses, during a time in our lives when we are expected to have it aka when we are not postmenopausal, is a sign of imbalance. A sign, that points toward something undiscovered. Kristen so thoughtfully shares how she is peeling away the layers to find her feminine essence; how she willingly sets her PhD-achiever-self aside and embraces the softness and flow of the feminine. Your feminine essence is already there. You just need to find it. What you get from tuning in: What living in your feminine feels like How to tap into your watery, unctuous, feminine nature Why menstruating is divine and important even if you don’t want to have children Practices to step into your feminine essence The “Art of Pause Meditation” by Maya Tiwari Stop deciding how to move your body. Instead ask your body “how do you want to be moved”? Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #36: Cracking the anxiety code
08/02/2018
Episode #36: Cracking the anxiety code
18% of the US population suffers from generalized anxiety. That’s almost 1/5 of the population. That’s huge. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet less than 40% of those suffering receive treatment. Hand in hand with anxiety often comes depression. Yikes. I had severe anxiety in my early to mid 20s, too. So did Jamie. We have walked the path and came out the other end way more grounded and self confident. Jamie used to be on anti- depressants and was frequently so anxious she would cancel a yoga class she was scheduled to teach last minute. Looking at Jamie today, you see a firm and empowered woman across the table. Yoga and Ayurveda offer simple, low cost and no-side-effect tools. We share with you what worked and still works for us. “If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” , What you get from tuning in: The difference between constructive vs. crippling anxiety The mental attitude you need to adopt to emerge from your anxiety How Jamie weaned off her anti-anxiety medication and how you might be able to do it too The vortex of healing vs the vortex of disease The role of Yoga and Ayurveda in generalized anxiety The traits of anxiety Vulnerability as a pathway out Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #35: Healing Autoimmune Disease & Cancer, part 2
07/18/2018
Episode #35: Healing Autoimmune Disease & Cancer, part 2
This is part 2 or my heartwarming and inspiring conversation with Sam Norman about her lifelong healing crisis with autoimmune disease and thyroid cancer. She has shifted from rock bottom to a place of peace, acceptance and deep inner healing. At the expense of repeating myself, here is what Sam’s journey is about: When you look at Sam Norman today you would never guess that she has endured over 30 years of chronic health crisis. Since the first year of her life, she has been in constant companionship of doctors. At age 1, she was diagnosed with severe digestive challenges. Hashimoto’s disease was diagnosed at age 13, a vascular autoimmune diagnosis came at age 27, thyroid cancer at 31. She has had seven surgeries throughout her life including a brain surgery at age 9. She was convinced several times that she was going to die. Her case was so interesting, the doctors asked her to be a “case study”. She agreed but started feeling like a number. Growing up in a loving family of medical practitioners, with her parents being an MD and a nurse, her treatment plan included all but Western medical protocols until the age of 21. Western medicine saved her life yet she was far from being healed. When she got the cancer diagnosis at age 31 she hit rock bottom. And the only place to go when you sink that low is to rise up. Cancer led her to seek out other avenues for support, other healing methods, a different viewpoint. What she yearned for was to been seen, to be asked “How is Sam?” Tune in to hear Sam’s heartwarming, and incredible story of healing. If Sam can heal, so can you! What you get from tuning in: How a Western Doctor healed his severely mentally diseased patients with a traditional Hawaiian practice Aligning with life vs disease The difference between treating a disease vs. healing it How to know you have been healed The power of following your deep inner guidance vs the order of your doctor The mental record of “you could do better’ and the role of self love The vibratory levels of emotions The necessity of embracing your emotions Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #34: Healing Autoimmune Disease & Cancer, part 1
07/05/2018
Episode #34: Healing Autoimmune Disease & Cancer, part 1
When you look at Sam Norman today you would never guess that she has endured over 30 years of chronic health crisis. Since the first year of her life she has been in constant companionship of doctors. At age 1, she was diagnosed with severe digestive challenges. Hashimoto’s disease was diagnosed at age 13, a vascular autoimmune diagnosis came at age 27, thyroid cancer at 31. She has had seven surgeries throughout her life including a brain surgery at age 9. She was convinced several times that she was going to die. Her case was so interesting, the doctors asked her to be a “case study”. She agreed but started feeling like a number. Growing up in a loving family of medical practitioners, with her parents being an MD and a nurse, her treatment plan included all but Western medical protocols until the age of 21. Western medicine saved her life yet she was far from being healed. When she got the cancer diagnosis at age 31 she hit rock bottom. And the only place to go when you sink that low is to rise up. Cancer led her to seek out other avenues for support, other healing methods, a different viewpoint. What she yearned for was to been seen, to be asked “How is Sam?” Tune in to hear Sam’s heartwarming, and incredible story of healing. What you get from listening in: How Yoga and Ayurveda shifted her outlook on health and healing The happy marriage of Western Medicine and Eastern medicine The importance of knowing different healing modalities so you can make wise choices for your body The power of attitude and shifting your focus from “this is as good as it will get” to “What is right for me today?” The origin of disease The danger of positivity. Yes, that’s right!! the danger of positivity The use of breath, mantra and affirmations not only as a lifeline and anchor of hope, but as a deep healing tool The practice of Ho’oponopono and how it changed Sam’s life Visit my Join my private Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #33: What is Health? No really, what is it? …part 3
06/20/2018
Episode #33: What is Health? No really, what is it? …part 3
Before you dive into this episode listen to and . Yahoo, we continue our conversation around What Is Health. Today, we talk all about the 5 layers of our being. Yep, that’s right we consist of five distinct layers not just one. You have, of course heard about the body-mind-spirit approach. Dah, right? But what does that mean exactly? It’s a bit of an aloof concept if you ask me. It sounds good, but without breaking it down to what it exactly is, it holds little juice. I will get practical with you about how to feed each of those layers. You feed your physical body, don’t you? Think food, exercise, sleep. Maybe you get a massage once in a while. Well, the other 4 layers need to be fed too. But how do you do that? Listen in and find out. Because you need to feed each of those layers abundantly to create the YOU that is alive, vibrant and irresistibly beautiful. What you get from tuning in: The 5 layers of our body The food & medicine to keep your five layers healthy Visit my Join me on Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #32: Fearless Self Love: Mentoring your younger self
06/06/2018
Episode #32: Fearless Self Love: Mentoring your younger self
Loving oneself is not an easy task. Many of us have to cultivate it. Trauma, experiences and belief systems are in the way to truly tap into the heart felt warmth for ourselves that we may already feel for others. How much do YOU love yourself? Andrea made the choice of leaving a promising career behind in favor of taking care of herself and her Self. Today she bathes in an abundance of self love. She shares with us her trials and tribulations and the top three strategies that allowed her to embrace herself the way she is. What you get from tuning in: The reassurance that self love can be cultivated How to use your older Self to mentor yourself today Using inter-generational friends as inspiration to grow and thrive External approval and affirmation can be helpful but are ultimately crutches to achieving self love guru = teacher, heaviness, heavy with wisdom Judgement kills self love the link between romantic love and loving yourself Self love is a choice What self love, self worth and money intersect How to cultivate self love Visit my Join me on Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #31: What is Health? No really, what is it? …part 2
05/26/2018
Episode #31: What is Health? No really, what is it? …part 2
Health is hard to define. It is many layered. Just as we humans are complex so is the definition of health. Every medical profession has their own definition. In part 1 of “what is health” we discussed the allopathic definition of health and the 6 stages of disease manifestation. In this episode, we look at the Ayurvedic definition of health. Ayurveda looks to the Sanskrit word svastha to define health. Svastha means ;to be established in the Self”. It leaves us with a philosophical debate on what health entails. Another way to describe health comes from one of the ancient Ayurvedic texts called Sushruta Samhita. The definition goes like this. sama doṣāh samāgniś ca sama dhātu mala kriyaḥ prasannātmendriya manāḥ svastha ityabidhīyate Sushruta Samhita, 15.38 One who is established in Self, who has balanced doshas (of Vata, Pitta and Kapha), balanced agni (digestive fire), properly formed dhātus (tissues), proper elimination of malas (waste products), well functioning bodily processes, and whose mind, soul, and senses are full of bliss, is called a healthy person. To find out what this exactly means, listen to this episode. Health is wealth Two Ayurvedic definitions of health The complexity of what it means to be healthy Svastha = to be established in the Self The capital S self = our higher Self, our undying self; the place where we have access to our power The small S self = our lower self, it’s our ego self Visit my Join me on Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #30: What is Health? No really, what is it? …part 1
05/09/2018
Episode #30: What is Health? No really, what is it? …part 1
What is health. No really, what is it? We throw around the term all the time. You probably wish for abundant health at major junctions in your live. At birthdays, new year, whenever someone asks you. But do you ever stop to think what it really means to be well and what it all entails? Pause right now and think: What does health mean to YOU? What words would YOU choose to describe it. The definition of health from the Western medicine perspective is “the absence of symptoms” or “the absence of disease”. Kind of a dry perspective if you ask me. And the question arises what kind of symptoms we are talking about? Those symptoms that jump right at your face? Those that cause me so much pain, they are hard to ignore? And do we include those that are so subtle we hardly notice them? And what about symptoms in the mind? Are they included? Many questions, I know. I attempt to answer them by outlining to you the 6 stages of disease as they are taught in Ayurveda. Knowing these six stages helped me a lot to place where I am at on my healing journey and what measures I needed to take to get me back to balance. There are degrees or levels of feeling well. Have you noticed? What you get from tuning in: The definition of health from the Western medical perspective The 6 stages of disease What symptoms are related to each of the six stages When to plug into those stagest to create health How long it takes to reverse the disease process Visit my Join me on Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #29: Managing Depression skillfully with Or Sahar
04/26/2018
Episode #29: Managing Depression skillfully with Or Sahar
Five percent of the world’s population suffers from depression. It is common after giving birth aka postpartum depression and when transitioning through menopause. Then there is seasonal affective disorder where depression rises with the lack of sunlight. Followed by severe depression in the form of bipolar disorders and manic depressive illness. Depression is a common human experience. Getting out of depression depends a lot on what choice we make. Are we choosing the light or the darkness. This sounds overly simplistic, but ultimately what it comes down to according to Or Sahar’s experience. What thoughts, words and actions are you choosing to align yourself with? Having gone through periods of depression myself, I know that while in the darkness it is incredibly hard to make a choice but I also know it is possible. And I also know that there are tools and practices we can do to clear ourselves of those negative emotions. Or Sahar shares her trials and tribulations through depression. At one point she admitted herself to mental hospital as she felt dangerous to herself. But through the tools and practices of yoga she built herself a stable foundation to navigate dark times by herself and with the tools in her toolbag. Interestingly, her name Or Sahar means “the light of the dawn”. What you get from listening: The role of yoga in navigating depression Changing your outlook = liberation = reduces depression The diagnosis of bipolar disorder does not have to be a life sentence The power of watching, embracing and changing your thoughts Curing vs. healing What does practicing mean? Non-violence as a pathway to navigate depression How toxic speech harms our mental well-being Practice as an invitation not an obligation Visit my Join me on Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience. Create a clean, clear and clutterfree body
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Episode #28: Your food, your mindset, your reality
04/13/2018
Episode #28: Your food, your mindset, your reality
Food is about more than just taste. Food is nourishment for the five layers of our being. It impacts not only your physical body, but our minds, emotions and spirit as well. Many factors play a role: the prana or lifeforce in the food, the quality of the soil, the attitude of the cook and the mindset with which we eat our food. Shifting your attention away from solely tasting food to asking yourself “how does my body want to be nourished today” and “how does earth intent to nourish me today” provides for a completely different approach and culinary experience. Food can either facilitate connection or it can hinder it. Food can make us feel deeply connected, nourished and loved. It can either make us feel alive or dead. As Dr. Seuss said: “If we eat dead food, we feel deadened”. I add: “If we eat alive food, we feel alivened”. Alec and I rap around the idea of food facilitating an experience of life. And who better to talk to than Alec, who is not only a culinary artist but also a yogi who is tapped into the subtler realms of existence. What you get from tuning in: How to choose food for it’s resonance rather than solely for its taste How to satisfy cravings The 5 sheaths of our existence and how we can feed them How the attitude and attention of the cook impacts your food and body How mindset about eating food impacts your level of nourishment 3 simple practices to make food more wholesome When IM-balanced, we crave what keeps us OUT of balance. When IN balance, we crave what keeps us IN balance. What do you need to feel nourished? Visit my Join me on Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #27: Lessons from a premature menopause
03/30/2018
Episode #27: Lessons from a premature menopause
The average age of menopause is 51 in the US. Entering menopause before 40 is considered premature and brings with it a higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Brodie Welch, herself an accomplished Chinese Medical practitioner, Yoga Health Coach and carrier of wisdom entered menopause prematurely at the age of 35. She shares her story. And she shares the advice she gives to herself and the wisdom she passes on to her patients. “The body gives us interesting puzzles to figure out” Brodie Welch What you get from tuning in: The cycle of 7 Reasons why the hormonal well and juice gets drained The jet plane vs. the helicopter version of menopause Menopause as a lower gear metabolism The monthly yin and yang cycle of a woman The answer to “What does being empowered about your health mean?” “Menopause is not enough coolant in your system to hold the rising heat” Brodie Welch Visit my Join me on Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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Episode #26: The 4 Stages of Life
03/15/2018
Episode #26: The 4 Stages of Life
The four stages of life describe our focus, aim and role in life over a 100 year time span. They were outlined in ancient Indian texts. Being able to verbalize the four stages and what they are about helps us become more conscious and choose our orientation, engagement, actions and attitude in a certain phase. In a way, knowing them gives us permission to be who we are and focus on what is present in the particular stage we find ourselves in. The four stages are: Brahmacharya or student/bachelor Grihasta or householder Vanaprastha or forest dweller Sannyasa or renunciation Each stage comes with a certain focus or aim. What You get from tuning in: An understanding the 4 stages of life and how it shapes your role How the stages influence your actions, attitudes and orientation Permission to be who you are in each phase The transition from material focus to spiritual focus Visit my Join me on Watch the free video series Upgrade your body experience.
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