Blog
HAPPINESS & MINDFULNESS
My goal is to educate and empower midlife women on how to approach these wonderful years despite being ignored and dismissed. In America’s youth oriented society, respect and appreciation for us and UNDERSTANDING of our unique needs is lacking.
My goal is to educate and empower midlife women on how to approach these wonderful years despite being ignored and dismissed. In America’s youth oriented society, respect and appreciation for us and UNDERSTANDING of our unique needs is lacking.
I’ve worked in health and wellness over 30 years. I’ve grown up with the industry, its methodology, solutions and marketing; I’ve learned what works and doesn’t. I’m especially attuned to what doesn’t work for midlife women because I am one.
Being blunt, the health and wellness industry is not serving us at all—in fact, it’s creating barriers to well-being.
Many feel the pain and suffering of those impacted by war in Ukraine. Navigating difficult emotions that arise is challenging. You may feel sadness, grief, anger, helplessness, frustration and even guilt. Many emotions can contribute to overwhelm.
Mindfulness is the way of living and being in the world—paying attention in the present moment.
When you concentrate, your attention focuses on a particular thing.
This is why mindfulness and concentration go hand-in-hand.
By freeing yourself from negative, undesirable and unwanted thoughts and digging into your deepest feelings and desires, you will find it easier to release the feelings and emotions associated with them.
It also allows you to organize your thoughts so you can recognize cause and effect. It helps you to distance yourself from your experiences for a better shot at understanding them and gaining insights.
Your breath is your gateway to your nervous system.
If you ever feel stressed, overwhelmed, or not at ease, you are likely in fight-or-flight.
An easy technique that will bring you out of fight-or-flight and into a sense of calm is slow-paced breathing.
BEAUTY & STYLE
When you wake up in the morning and look into the mirror, do you grin with delight or cringe with disappointment? Somewhere in-between? Or does it vary from day to day?
The secret to true beauty is loving yourself and embracing every nook, cranny and every uniquely perfect imperfection. Keep in mind that no amount of self-improvement can make up for a lack of self-acceptance.
Have you ever seen a social media post of an attractive person in revealing clothes and a provocative pose and thought, “I wish I looked like that” and then felt badly about your own body’s appearance? I know I have.
Mindfulness can be a helpful tool in coping with the onslaught of “perfect body” imagery that we’re exposed to daily.
In my 30 years of working as a fitness/wellness pro, many clients ask me how they can have a body like a particular celebrity or look like they did 25 years ago. Here’s my answer.
Who doesn’t love beautiful skin? Read more for simple natural tips to create glowing, radiant skin.
You want to look your best for all those holiday gatherings. But, perhaps you’re concerned with what you’ve heard about toxins in self-care products.
Learn how you can benefit from a stretching 'power pause' to create good posture and to relieve tension.
FOOD & HOME
You may think of ginger and pumpkin as the season’s primary flavors for coffee drinks or dessert. However, for cold and flu season, these power-packed foods have wonderful healing properties.
New insight into the power of circadian rhythms reveals several helpful ways to improve sleep and wakefulness. Use these simple adjustments to feel better, have more energy, be more productive and improve quantity and quality of sleep—all great ways to live happier.
Your circadian rhythm refers to your innate 24-hour body clock. You function best when this body clock is stable. Due to our connection with nature, light is one of the most powerful regulators of this clock. Use light exposure in positive ways and manage stimulants.
You may have had the experience where you’re preparing for a trip by eating healthier so you can fit into all the beautiful clothes you want to wear while you’re traveling, yet you are also super excited to try all the exciting new food at your destination.
It is possible to maintain healthy eating habits while also enjoying yourself! All it takes is some preparation and mindfulness. Here’s how.
Did you know that “endocrine disruptors” are a common ingredient in many household and frequently used products? An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that disrupts your endocrine system, which is responsible for hormones that regulate your reproduction, immune system, brain, development and more.
A common misconception about nutrition is that there is one “perfect diet” that works for every person.
Not only is this false from a scientific perspective, but also it’s false from a practical point of view—not all people are going to want to eat or have access to the same foods.
Learn how to determine what your ideal diet should be.
Here are 9 tips on how to create a meditation space at home. Mindfully setting up your space increases your success. Check out this integrative and holistic approach that also naturally boosts your health.
HEALTH & FITNESS
The strength and flexibility benefits of yoga are well known, but did you know yoga helps your brain and immune system too? And did you know those two—your brain and immune system—are actually one?
While water fitness was once the domain of older adults, now participants of all ages and ability levels are benefiting from aquatic workouts.
Did you know that the sensory-rich pool environment—soothing and simultaneously challenging—is an ideal setting for mindful movement and a welcome respite from digital stress?
Sleep researchers have identified the best exercises to help you sleep better. Good quality and quantity sleep is essential to a strong immune system and good health and while all physical activity helps sleep, some are better than others.
Proper breathing mechanics are essential for optimal function, good posture and core stability. During ideal breathing, the diaphragm descends symmetrically on inhalation; the lower rib cage moves proportionately to the front, back and sides; and the abdominal wall expands. At the end of each inhale, the breastbone moves forward and ribs expand. These internal movements allow the belly to expand on the inhale and contract on the exhale.
Breathing practices, around since ancient times, have recently grabbed international attention and popularity among health and fitness enthusiasts to improve health and boost athletic performance.
Have you ever set a New Year's resolution to lose weight in the past, but didn't meet your goal? You're not alone!
What I’ve found is that typically, people will set wellness goals that are focused on the outcome, not the process. It’s difficult to resolve to have a result. When you resolve to focus on behaviors, then you’ll get the result that comes from the actions you’ve been taking.
The images and messages we see with typical fitness marketing can often do more harm than good to us, both physically and mentally.
What I see are images of young men and women, with “perfect” bodies (very little body fat) that promise that “you, too, can look like this!”
That’s an unrealistic claim for a few reasons.
MINDFULNESS & SELF-CARE DURING COVID
Have you been feeling a little bit more agitated or frustrated than usual? Or perhaps snapping at people when you really wish you would provide a kinder response?
If so, you’re not alone. There’s still a lot of stress in the air.
Anxiety, fear and stress can be contagious. Pausing for a few minutes of presence can quiet and clear your mind.
Here are 8 tips on how to set intentions for an authentic life. Consider what it means to live an authentic life and how mindfulness helps.
Are you feeling Pandemic fatigue? I am. Here are 10 tips to lift you up based on my integrative, holistic approach to living well. Tips come from research on and interviews with people who know how to thrive in crisis—former Navy SEAL commanders, successful CEOs, Harvard business faculty, Stanford health professionals, and more.
During stress, connecting with your body through meditation helps you connect with the present moment and your ability to handle what comes your way.
Meditating during the coronavirus pandemic can help to calm and settle anxiety and fears. Pausing for a few minutes of presence can quiet and clear your mind and help to create optimal mental health. Read more here!
MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS
I’ve worked in health and wellness over 30 years. I’ve grown up with the industry, its methodology, solutions and marketing; I’ve learned what works and doesn’t. I’m especially attuned to what doesn’t work for midlife women because I am one.
Being blunt, the health and wellness industry is not serving us at all—in fact, it’s creating barriers to well-being.
You can be more mindful throughout your day to increase present moment awareness.
Learn 4 benefits of practicing breath awareness and why it helps you to feel better and to enjoy more calm.
Writing a letter “shifts our attention” so that our focus is on positive emotions. Expressing gratitude boosts happiness and health and develops a growth mindset.
Meditating during the coronavirus pandemic can help to calm and settle anxiety and fears. Pausing for a few minutes of presence can quiet and clear your mind and help to create optimal mental health. Read more here!
Start feeling calmer and more centered today with 10 simple meditation tips for beginners.
You can’t enjoy meditating if your back hurts or your leg and foot are asleep. Here are 5 practical tips to answer your questions about how to sit.
Being mindful is not concentrating on something; it's about being open to what's happening now.
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your journey to optimal health and wellness.
Have you been feeling a little bit more agitated or frustrated than usual? Or perhaps snapping at people when you really wish you would provide a kinder response?
If so, you’re not alone. There’s still a lot of stress in the air.