It’s been a year of so much change……..The term pivot has become our daily norm.
We’re all feelin’ it!
And as a parent with a young child, it’s been quite an interesting time of navigating my own murky waters of uncertainty, while supporting my girl through hers.
I’m sure you can relate.
Even though we’re all having our own unique experiences, one common thread is that “We are not in complete control.”
So much surrender……. It’s a daily practice. Surrender, determination, and ultimately resilience.
But in the interest of time (and my own personal bandwidth), I’m going to keep this short and sweet. We’ve all got other things to do.
So here are a few tips you can put into action right away to support your children through times of tremendous change.
Create Rhythms & Routines
When life feels uprooted, we gotta be more intentional about putting down some roots.
Daily routines can support feeling more stable and grounded. We don’t have to create a whole new game plan. Rather, we can practice simple things again and again that cultivate a feeling of security & stability.
In yoga, this would be related to the root chakra. We “put down roots” to support the foundation of our wellbeing.
Identify Emotions
We can help kids identify HOW they are feeling, and validate that it’s OK to feel that way.
As a someone who has a tendency to want to “fix things",” this can be really hard for me at times. I want to make it better. I want to promise that everything will be OK. I want to shelter from some of the harsh realities. I want to promise that one day “Yes, you will be able to have a birthday party with all your friends.”
But I’m humbly learning that this is not what’s needed. Fixing things is not only NOT validating, but it’s also not always possible.
The opportunity here is for us to support our children in learning emotional intelligence. Simply helping our children to learn how to identify what they’re feeling is a skill that will support them through the rest of their lives.
Self Soothe/ Self Care
Finally, learning to self soothe & practice intentional self care is key to daily mind/body/soul wellness.
Self care can (and should) be tied into daily rhythms and routines. I really try not to use the word should, because nobody wants to be “should-on.”
But when we embrace self care as a daily non-negotiable practice, the heaviness of the “should” is lifted. It’s like brushing our teeth - something we do everyday.
Self care routines are the foundation for wellness. And then we can support that with self soothing when get out-of-balance, triggered, and needing extra support.
HERE ARE 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR DAILY FAMILY WELLNESS
Morning Routine
Diffuse for Mood Support
Evening Routine
Kids Kit for Extra Support As Needed
This meditation is to help you awaken the senses.
Attuning to our 5 senses is a simple way to bring all of your attention to the hear and now.
Find a comfortable space and settle in for this 12 minute guided meditation to awaken your senses and come home to presence.
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It’s time to begin again - with each new year, each new day, and each & every breath.
Here’s a quick 6 minute guided meditation to practice embracing the energy of a new beginning.
Namaste.
Savasana is the art of doing nothing, complete surrender, letting go, resting, releasing, renewing.
We all need this- kids and grown-ups alike. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You can simply lie down and close your eyes, breathe, and be. The longer you stay, the deeper the rest. But I’m also a big fan of the mini-power savasanas (like in between Zoom calls, phone calls, and transitioning from work to family life).
2020 has been a year of adapting, being resourceful, and finding creative ways to live. And through this time, I’ve continued to use my essential oils in new ways - to save money, save time, have fun, and most definitely to stay well.
Here are some simple ways to use dōTERRA essential oils to add flavor to your favorite foods + help you clean up afterward!
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Essential oils & aromatherapy can be an amazing support for mental & emotional wellness.
In this Essential Oil Study Session I chat with my good friend Jerrilee Fischer-Garza about simple ways to infuse essential oils into your day to feel more balanced, uplifted, focused and rested.
Read MoreDuring this unique time of social distancing, self quarantine, and doing our best to stay healthy and safe (mind, body, and soul), we have the opportunity (and necessity) to deepen our self care practices.
Join me with my amazing friend and EFT Coach Sarah Rogers Nesper for a dose of stress relief with aromatherapy, mindfulness and EFT tapping.
I’ve worked with Sarah for years and she’s helped me tremendously through times of stress, worry, anxiety, and clearing old painful emotions. Sarah is a certified professional coach & therapist with over 20 years experience. She uses a focus-forward approach to help clients break down personal barriers allowing them to live their best lives.
"Retreat: A place and time for you to get reaquainted with you; the ebb in the ebb and flow; a solitary sanctuary for renewal; a safe haven; a snug den; a refuge." - Corrie Woods
Each time I come home from a yoga retreat I'm reminded of the magic that happens when we step away from everyday life, and immerse ourselves in healthy practices for body, mind and soul. I am reminded WHY I love to do this, how lucky I am to do this kind of work, how much we ALL need to retreat every once and awhile (myself included).
Retreats are an opportunity for us to be remember how we want to live our lives.
Here are 7 ways to bring that retreat feeling into your daily life:
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You know that feeling you get when you have so much to do (or want to do), but not enough time? It can manifest as racing thoughts, or jittery energy in the body. Sometimes it can turn into a headache, or neck and shoulder pain. Or even shortness of breath or tightness in your belly. Once in a awhile, it's OK and totally natural for this to happen. But we can get into trouble when this feeling of "not-enough-time" gets stuck on overdrive.
But the good thing is there are some proactive things we can do about it. We may not always be in control of how much we need to attend to, or the amount of time allotted for our to-dos, but we do have some power in shifting our relationship to time. Here are some simple ways you can practice slowing down your sense of time.
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Popsicles are fantastic for:
But we've found that it's incredibly hard (or impossible) to find popsicles at the store that don't have a lot of sugar and other additives.
And so, we are making our own. You may been doing this awhile, but they're a new addition in our family. And there's no turning back now!
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Here's a mini guided meditation to help you pause and reset.
Whether it's been a long day, or you just need a break between activities, or maybe you're at the beginning of your day and are wanting to create the foundation of mindfulness, this practice is for you.
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Yoga breathing for kids and grown-ups alike. Smell the flower + blow out the candle. Enjoy!
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This meditation is to help you remember + re-connect with the feeling of gratitude. Enjoy!
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Here's a little somethin' to get grounded, open and allow for life to flow more freely. Find a quiet spot, get comfy, and settle in for 10 minutes of peace. Enjoy!
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Recently I had an "Oh S*&#@!" moment. You know the kind where time seems to stop. And then you think, did that really happen????" And then you realize, "Yes, it did." And it's like a complete, harsh awakening to the present moment.
Yep. Those moments can really give you a wake up call, or rather an awakening of sorts.
3 Quick Tips to bring more mindfulness, peace and breathing room to your holiday season.
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December and I have a complicated relationship. Being raised with both Christmas and Hanukah traditions, having my birthday right before Christmas, and not to mention multiple holiday parties and New Year’s Eve, being busy during December is an understatement. Phew!
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Enjoy a few minutes of guided meditation for a mid-day break, post yoga session, or before you go to sleep. Namaste
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“If I could only just roll out my yoga mat and practice on my own everyday, that would be great.….. But I don’t know what to do or how to start.” I often hear this from my students, and I know this feeling well myself! I too used to be mystified by the idea of doing yoga on my own at home. And when I did occasionally practice on my own, it never felt as good as going to class. But life gave me opportunities to get on my mat and develop a sweet relationship with myself while doing my own thing.
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