Self Care During the Holidays

How to we practice self care, especially over the holidays? How do we show up for ourselves when you want to show up for everyone else? How do I walk the walk?

Typically, the holidays revolve around my family. This Thanksgiving however, my husband and I decided to spend the holiday alone instead of with our family. We had the choice to drive 12 hours in the snow to Northern Michigan to visit my two daughters and grandchildren or go to sunny Cancun. We decided the latter. We were exhausted, my husband has had unprecedented stress with his business, and we realized we needed time for ourselves and each other.

But this decision didn’t come easily. It felt sacrilegious and selfish. I felt guilty at the idea of missing out on quality time with my quickly growing grandchildren. But one thing I’ve learned is the more we give, the more self care we need. You cannot give from an empty bucket and my bucket was close to empty.
So we chose Cancun.

Each day my daughters sent messages of what I was missing: Zydeco dancing with a live band! Making mini snowmen with my grandson! Hiking, cooking together, holiday music! This was a lot to miss.

But by choosing to miss out on these beautiful family memories, I was able to take the time for myself to recharge. To bask in the sun and do yoga on the beach. To reconnect with my husband, I even did a little Christmas shopping online. Now refreshed, I can truly enjoy the holidays without the stress and migraines I routinely had this time of the year.

By choosing my own self care, I am now ready to fully engage and be present with my family this Christmas and New Year’s. By showing up for myself and honoring my own needs, I can now show up for everyone else.

How are you showing up for yourself this holiday season? What small acts of self care can you give yourself?

For more self care, come see me Wednesday mornings at the Rise Well-Being Center, or stay tuned and plan to join us for our newest Intermittent Fasting Kickstart in January.

Carpe Diem and Happy Holidays!

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, AFMC

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition, and functional medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals and corporations to achieve optimal health.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive is a self-health book offering her Seven Steps to Optimal Health.

When she is not coaching, or speaking, you can find Lisa joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance or playing with her two grandchildren. She is the mother of four adult children and believes, "Optimal health should not be a secret."

Choose Clarity on Columbus Day

This morning I woke up to my husband's snoring at 3:45 am. I used to have a lot of insomnia. Now, not so much. When I do wake up before "I should", I don't panic. Instead, I practice looking at life with more curiosity and less fear. I ask myself, "What is my body telling me? What is it that I'm needing and wanting?"

I worked 7 days this week and although I love what I do, I realized that I was needing time for me. This morning, I went outside, I danced in the moonlight, looked up, and saw a shooting star. A reminder that it was time to explore my own vast inner world. Time to exercise, to meditate and to write. It felt deeply nourishing.

Today is Columbus Day; a day to celebrate freedom. More than one of my clients have said, "I feel like a prisoner to my disease."  There are more than 68,000 diagnosis codes in the ICD-10 International Classifications of Diseases that our modern medicine relies on for insurance reimbursement. That is a lot of labels of what's wrong with us. That's a lot of negative news. It's enough to make you anxious. Add in the radio and television ads like, "Do you have Gastric Esophageal Reflux Disease?" Translated to, are you eating fake food that is irritating your stomach? Or do you have so much stress that your body thinks it should be running away instead of digesting food?  You can see how easy it is to get trapped in the "What's wrong with me?" mindset.

What if all these labels and signs and symptoms were merely a loving message from within signaling a need for change?  A nudge to point to a new direction? Imagine what your life might look like if you used your inner compass for direction instead of fearful labels. Focus on where you want to go. Use the dis-ease as a buoy so you don't shipwreck your body. Use your dreams and desires as a lighthouse to sail towards.

When you are locked into labels, it is hard to see clearly. I find it fascinating that autoimmune disease is growing at an epidemic rate. This by definition, is failure to recognize self. It's a cry and reminder to pay attention to self. If you believe that the world is flat, then it's easy to fear going too far and falling off the end of the earth. Please do not become victim to self limiting beliefs and labels.  Don't become so locked into your disease that you are covered in fog and cannot see the lighthouse.

If you know and believe that your body is self healing and self repairing then you are empowered to move in new directions. You are free to play and experiment with different choices. This can be the gift of the dis-ease, if you are open to new possibilities. 

We hear a lot about "finding balance." Balance is not a static end point. It's more like a dance with a rhythm. Some days you may need a vinyasa practice or aerobic exercise, to run, punch a bag, or to dance. Other times your body may need deep rest and a meditative practice.  We can get so locked in our "shoulds" that we lose touch with ourselves. See if you can find fluidity in your physical practice. See if you can practice self compassion on days when your body is needing deep rest. Don't worry, you won't sleep forever and you won't fall into the deep abyss, if you follow your heart.

Where do you practice freedom? Are you free to fully express yourself in your deepest relationships? Can you honor your unique thoughts, needs and desires enough to speak your truth? Being true to self takes courage in a world focused on conformity.

Free yourself from food myths and marketing. Food can be medicine or the same food can be another man's poison. We are all unique. Honor your unique body's needs and rhythms. Our genes have been adapting for as long as our existence, based on your stressors. What stress do you need to remove in order to fully digest and assimilate nutrition?

Diversity in the diet is the #1 practice you can do for longevity. Try a new food or recipe this week. Focus on feeling good without the need for addictive food or substances. Self medication is only sustainable for so long. Freedom may come by doing something radically different. Spend time fasting to give your gastrointestinal tract time to heal and repair. Or join us on October 25th to learn about and commit to an Intermittent Fasting KickStart. This is a great pre-holiday kickstart that is sustainable with supplemental juices, nut mylks, MCT shots, and soups to be delivered on November 1st, just after Halloween.

Take time today to enjoy nature, return to self and dare to explore the vast inner world of your unique body, mind and spirit. Focus on where you want to go and explore new ways to get there.  Ask yourself what limiting belief is holding you back from obtaining your goals. No amount of medication or supplementation can compare to the power of practicing self love, compassion and self care. Go where no man has gone before. Dare to explore the vast world of infinite possibility within you.

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, AFMC

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition, and functional medicine trained, health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to inspire, educate and empower individuals and corporations to achieve optimal health.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive is a self-health book offering her Seven Steps to Optimal Health.

When she is not coaching, or speaking, you can find Lisa joyfully sharing yoga and Carpe Diem Dance or playing with her two grandchildren. She is the mother of four adult children and believes, "Optimal health should not be a secret."

Squirrel!

My mantra used to be "There's never enough time." And I wondered why I suffered from hypertension until I heard Dr. Deepak Chopra speak who said,

"The fastest way to a heart attack is thinking there's never enough time."

No, Duh! The lightbulb went off. Yet, I love ideas, I love the potentiality in all things, I love action. I love creating new thoughts, ideas and opportunities.

The problem lies in the execution.  It's easy to get distracted like the cartoon dog...squirrel!

For some reason, this is especially true for the things I love the most as well as for self care. We've been conditioned with our "to do lists" and culture to do what we "should do" or "need to do" first. We applaud hard work and our "no pain, no gain" mentality.  We often idolize the martyr and self-sacrificing. 

I'm going to be sacrilegious and suggest that we have this ass backwards. 

Personally speaking, when I get up and do my yoga and self care first then the rest of the day moves more freely. My thoughts flow. My writing is more authentic and comes with ease. I'm more stable and more present with my clients, family and friends. I work from a sense of strength and fullness, rather than one of fear and lack or resentment. 

Self-care and self-love is the most loving gift you can give to your family, friends, and business. 

To serve my clients, I must first serve myself. My job has become self-care. It's fun, it's energizing, and gratifying. 

I used to be very judgemental about "selfish people."  This was my shadow side. The side of me I denied. I was so busy caring for others that I became selfless. When I went through my first coaching program and my coach asked me what I did for fun....I cried. I didn't really do anything for fun. I was so busy working the only thing I did for myself was sweat in 110 degree room doing Bikram yoga. This fed my "Pitta fire" and I felt better afterwards...well sometimes. Until I didn't. Then I knew it was time for change. 

So how to improve execution for what is really important? 

1. First, take enough time for self, for contemplation, to get out of your head and into your heart and soul to discover your priorities. Schedule in vacations, before other priorities takeover.
2. Second, practice tools of focus. Commit to small steps toward bigger goals. Complete each step before moving on to the next. Resist chasing every squirrel. ( I know, but they are so much fun!)
3. Get support. Acknowledge your strengths and hire someone to help you with the rest.

Here's to your best year ever!

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P, AFMC

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and coach, with a mission to inspire, educate and empower others to feel and look their best at any age. 

 

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational. 

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.

Love Heals

Last night my beloved husband took me to see "Les Miserables" at National Theatre as my Christmas present. The last line Jean Valjean sings:

"To love another person is to see the face of God." It was magnificent. Needless to say, there were tears. 

Love Heals. Unconditional love, healed Jean Valjean. After working closely with people for the past 38 years, I can confidently say John Lennon is right... "All you need is Love".

Many of us find this love as parents and/or through service to others. But how do we give unconditional love to ourselves? We can spend so much time giving to others that we can struggle with our own self care.

This is especially true for healthcare practitioners and caregivers.

The body is self-healing and self-repairing. It responds to messages given. In order to heal from within, the love needs to come from within. The body is always listening to our self talk and our actions.

Yesterday, I received a card in the mail written to me, by me during my functional medicine retreat this past Fall. I'm going to be vulnerable and share the message that I wrote to myself after a few days on retreat.

My Dearest Lisa,

You are loved just the way you are. Remember to be yourself. Cherish and love yourself so that you can be fully present to love and cherish others. 

When your small scared self tries to control you, just remember this. You are loved, you are safe. There is nothing to fear. Use fear to guide you. Have courage to lean in to your soul's calling. Be the joy you wish to see in others. Give yourself permission, so that you can show and guide loved ones to do the same. For in the end, there is no judgement. There is only love. 

Love, 

Lisa

What letter can you write to yourself as you think of the New Year and the New Life that you would like to create?

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P, AFMC

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and coach, with a mission to inspire, educate and empower others to feel and look their best at any age. 

 

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational. 

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.

Morning rituals, yoga classes and workshops

Someone walked away with my "Gold Plated" blender. Several years ago I invested in a Blendtec blender. I had seen a Costco demonstration making both soup and ice-cream, and I was sold.  I bought one with a friend and we called it "Gold Plated" because it was so darn expensive. It sat in my kitchen, virtually unused, until after my daughter was diagnosed with cancer when food really did become our medicine. Since then, I've literally made thousands of smoothies. The Blendtec actually keeps track and records the number on the blender.

Like most things in life, I didn't realize how much I missed it until it was gone. Fortunately, my dear friend replaced my beloved blender which I joyfully used this morning. 

The beautiful thing about smoothies is it gives me an opportunity to play and explore every morning with different ingredients. My body needs lots of healthy fat and protein to keep me satisfied until lunch time. This morning's smoothie consisted of spinach, hemp milk, avocado, blueberries, raw cacao and maca powder.

My most important morning ritual is my yoga practice. Everything goes more smoothly when I've given myself time to stretch, play and meditate. A stressed out health coach is not only not good for me, but definitely not good for my clients. You deserve more. You deserve the best, and so do I. 

I'm home now, renewed, and so excited to share my beautiful space with you. Last weekend we supported Beloved's teacher training here where I shared anti-aging and cancer prevention strategies.  You can download them on my website. 

Please let me know if you are curious about the tools of yoga and how to integrate them into your life. I'd like to offer a few classes and workshops here during the next 6 weeks.  If you are interested in joining me, please respond with the following:

Are you most interested in experiencing a traditional vinyasa yoga or a movement to music class? What days and times work best for you? Private or group session? 

Would you be interested in a weekend wellness workshop? If so, what topics and activities would you like to be included? 

Carpe Diem and enjoy this beautiful weekend!

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and a coach with a mission to inspire, educate, and empower, clients towards optimal wellbeing.  

She is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.

The Fifth Yama (or external discipline towards optimal health) is called Aparighara- Nonpossessiveness

I once read a book by Gary Zukov titled, Spiritual Partnernship. The message was that having a spiritual partnership means to be so committed to being authentic to who you are, to be so honest with yourself and your partner, that you will risk losing the relationship.

In other words, to be willing to risk disappointing another, by being true to yourself. It’s having faith and trust in the relationship that there is enough respect, unconditional love and acceptance to support one another for who each one of you are, and where each one is in this journey called life.

Yes, this takes courage and a commitment to self.

I’m reminded of the movie, “City Slickers” where Billy Crystal is having a midlife crisis and his wife supports his trip to a dude ranch to find himself.

How do we reduce suffering? We learn to let go of our attachments, to greed, clinging, coveting. In doing so, we find freedom within our self and within our relationships.

When we practice Bramacharya and Aparighara, we discover how to live in the present moment where we nourish our relationships and ourselves. It is learning to accept things the way they are in each moment; to let go of our expectations and criticisms so that we can fully absorb each experience without fear, without judgments.

It is the first part of the serenity prayer: 
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, 
Courage to change the things I can, 
And wisdom to know the difference.” 

How do we create more peace in our lives? We let go of our need to control the outcome. We learn to trust our self and others.

Like the song we sang at my high school graduation:

“Rivers belong where they can ramble, Eagles belong where they can fly. I’ve got to be where my spirit can run, free, Gotta find my corner of the Sky!”

Can you practice letting go of unhealthy attachments and expectations? 

This does not mean not caring; it is just the opposite. This means trusting and loving enough to allow for individual freedom and respect. To seize the day so you can truly be present for any situation.

In both my personal life and in my practice, I’ve learned that I have to let go of my need to “fix others”. First this denotes that they are somehow broken (and this is inaccurate), and second it creates stress for both my family, patients, clients and myself.

Often the more material things we accumulate, the more stress we have in maintaining them. How can we find more peace and balance? We can let go of our attachments to things and practice non-excess and non possessiveness. This is Aparighara.

Notice what gives you pleasure and what feels like bondage. How can you lighten your load to experience the freedom to fly like an eagle?

The Yamas are referred to as external disciplines, giving us guidance on how to communicate with the world around us. The Niyamas are referred to as internal disciplines. Stay tuned for next week when I start to share the 5 Niyamas with you.

Carpe Diem & Namaste,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker, and coach with a mission to inspire and empower others to feel their best at any age. She is also Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.  

Her book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive outlines seven steps that are fun and transforming. Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement, the International Health Coach Association and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance at every opportunity.

Savvy Secret for Peace and Joy on Mothers Day

We all know the saying, “A happy Mother makes a happy family” or “A happy wife makes a happy marriage.” 

It’s so true! It takes a happy, healthy person to have a happy healthy relationship.

Today I want to give thanks to Mothers.

How do we find more peace and joy amidst life's chaos?

Close your eyes and put you hand over your heart and remember the first time you fell in love, if you are a mother, with your child or your baby. For some it was instantaneous after birth, for others it may take a while, but the love a Mother feels for a child is simply indescribable.  I recently felt that same love when my grandson was born. It catches you off guard, this total infatuated love, which again, is indescribable. 

I never knew that my heart would swell with such pride!

I often share in my yoga classes that a heart in love is physiologically different than a heart that is fearful, angry or in pain.  It sends out different chemicals throughout the body.  The reality is, with free will, we have the choice at every moment to choose to love or to choose fear and worry. 

It is easy to forget this when you become a mother. It is easy to become overwhelmed with all the roles and responsibilities we take on, wife, mother, friend, employee or employer.  The more roles we take on, the more challenging it becomes to remember the choice we have to prioritize self-love and self-care. 

The most loving thing we can do for others is to love ourselves. For when we are balanced and full of love, that love spills over and there are no boundaries.

Someone recently asked me, “Who do you love more, your children or your grandson.” I laughed and said, “That’s like what my daughter used to always ask me if I loved her or her siblings more.”  Before my Grandson was born, my daughter shared her fear she would not love her child as much as she loves her puppy. The minute he was born, she laughed and said, “OK I get it!”

Today let’s celebrate this boundless, undeniably contagious, unconditional love, called Motherhood. Let’s remember not only the mother that brought us into this world but all of “the village” that is needed to raise us. Let’s celebrate all of the feminine creative energy that sustains us!

Click Here experience this peace and joy for yourself!

Thank you, Mom for giving me life, two beautiful sisters, and unconditional love until I was able to love myself.  Thank you for loving me even when I didn’t love myself. Thank you for always being there, if not physically in spirit. Thank you my dear sisters, aunts, my health coach and all of my female friends for your love, guidance and support to me and my family. Love is indeed, the most powerful tool we have to heal from within.

Carpe Diem with Love & Gratitude!

Lisa



ABOUT LISA JACKSON, RN, CHC, RYT

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker, and coach with a mission to inspire and empower others to feel their best at any age. Her book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive outlines seven steps that are fun and transforming. Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement, the International Health Coach Association and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance at every opportunity.

More on Love from Mexico & Weekend Workshop Announcements

I woke up early in Mexico while on vacation with my husband; I couldn’t sleep due to the sunburn I earned the first day here. Yes, you think I should know better than to fall asleep in the sun with my pale white skin. But it felt so good to sleep in the warm sun!  Yes, even old health coaches are human.

Yes, and even health coaches find it challenging to be in an all-inclusive resort and not be tempted by the #1 ingredient…sugar!

Let’s face it. Our culture (particularly if you are from the United States) thrives on sugar, alcohol and empty carbohydrates from government subsidized GMO (genetically modified organism, i.e. injecting foreign bacteria into DNA) grains. We are all addicted from a very young age. Even our most popular infant formulas and baby foods are full of questionable products that encourage diabetes, obesity and cancers.

Do your own research; once you get through the marketing hype, see what’s in infant formula and notice the synthetic chemicals and GMO’s versus real nutrition. Here’s the top ingredients in the “sensitive formula” of one of the top baby food formulas:

“Corn Syrup, milk protein isolate, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Sugar, Soy Oil,”

Need I say more? One source said corn syrup (GMO) was 42.6%! As this mother said, “No wonder my baby slept through the night at 3 months old, she was chalked full of corn syrup, one of the hardest and most processed ingredients to digest.” This is the #1 formula for sensitive tummies. It’s not difficult to see how this predisposes the child to future health challenges.

Other shocking facts is that baby formula cans are lined with BPA and now almost all formulas include a synthetic additive form of DHA that may have been extracted with hexane gas in the process (a known neurotoxin which has been banned in Europe but not here in the USA). No wonder we spend more than any other country in healthcare only to be at the bottom of the list for health. As a new grandmother, this is unacceptable!

I woke up burned, dry and dehydrated, thinking how simple the solution for my sunburn. Hydrate with clean water, lemon or lime, eat lots of vegetables and a little fruit full of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Eat cucumber with silicon is also so very hydrating and guacamole for the essential fatty acids, and jicama or (non-GMO) corn chips with sea salt for the minerals. Admittedly, I have a hard time saying no to the fruity drinks, desserts and coffee after over stuffing myself. Fortunately, every restaurant now has gluten free options and don’t get me wrong, the food here is literally “to die for.”  There are also lots of decadent options to “live for” too!

So how do we manage to remain healthy and self-loving when temptation is all around? What’s the Savvy Secret? When going to the all you can eat buffet, simply ask yourself before choosing,

“Is this (real food) going to give me life affirming energy and help me feel good or 

will I feel like a beached whale afterwards?” 

The good news is that our loving bodies will let us know pretty quickly the answer. It is up to us to be conscious enough to listen.

Water with lime never tasted so good! Ceviche, guacamole, and a cornucopia of greens, sprouts, tapenade and papaya…..Yes I am in heaven here… eating, sleeping, and sometimes over indulging.

(See below for a workshop on why spring cleanse is a good idea.)

Carpe Diem!

PS I'm back tonight. Come Join Us Tomorrow for a Free Yoga Workshop!

Asana Clinic: Bring all your Questions about Yoga..from Meditation to Asana 

Sat, April 9 , 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Great Falls Studio

1, Free Workshop ~ sign up for free ~  http://www.belovedyoga.com/events/workshops/

2. Sunday Join my colleage and friend Lauren @ her workshop:  http://livewellva.net/liver-gallbladder-spring-detox/

3. Our friends at Neck Back & Beyond Wellness Center is having an OPEN HOUSE! April 10 (Sunday) from noon – 5 pm. Get your fill of free classes, health assessments, and so much more!

http://www.neckbackandbeyond.com/eventsa.shtml

4. This evening and tomorrow Dr Deborah Norris is giving a workshop on science based Mind-Body for Cancer 6:30-9:30pm today and 9-5pm on Saturday http://www.themindfulnesscenter.org 301-986-1090 Free if you've been diagnosed with cancer. 

ABOUT LISA JACKSON, RN, CHC, RYT

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker, retired RN, certified health coach, and yoga teacher.

Her book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive: Seven Steps to Optimal Health is a self health book to enable healing from within. Her goal is to inspire wellness and to help others look and feel their best at any age.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement, the International Health Coach Association and the Wellness Inspired Network. She is the mother of four adult children, a Grandmother, and believes that optimal health should not be a secret! When she is not coaching, speaking and writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance at every opportunity.