What's my Secret? Yoga

A week ago Friday, was International Yoga Day. I was too busy living my yoga to write about it then. Last Sunday I was a sub teacher for a yin yoga class at 5pm at Beloved Yoga Studio in Reston, Va and thought I would share a few thoughts.

Yoga is a philosophy. It's a roadmap for healthy living that includes rules for living, exercises to enable a closer relationship with self, and prepare you for meditation. I often share with my clients how the body follows the mind and the mind follows the breath. Due to early conditioning, most of us don't know how to fully breathe to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, (PNS). Through deep belly breathing, we can teach our bodies that it is safe to rest and repair, rest and digest, and mate and ovulate. This is the yin within the yin and the yang.

There is a yoga for everyone. You are never too sick or never too old to learn, or to begin. Even if you've been practicing on and off for decades as I have, it's important to always have a beginners mind. I believe this is true in business and in life too. In keeping a beginners mind, you cultivate discernment. You can practice moving from fear to curiosity. Notice when you feel challenged, breathe into the pose and relax. Notice any automatic negative thoughts or self limiting beliefs arising. Practice compassion and self love for your current limitations. Notice where you are holding tension. Visualize and breathe healing oxygen into the space.  With practice your body will begin to change. Your mind, your body and your spirit will open up.  One of my students in my Wednesday morning Carpe Diem Dance class (movement to music with yoga and breathwork) told me this week that before coming to the class she hadn't raised her hands over her head for decades! She risked stretching her comfort zone and is pleased with her results.

Speaking of stretching...It's easy to overstretch muscles and to pull a tendon or a ligament when moving mindlessly or too fast. The more you try to force a stretch, the tighter your ligaments and tendons work to protect you. This is an innate, self loving response. Remember the body is self loving, self healing, and self repairing. The way to stretch and nourish tendons and ligaments is through deep relaxation. Yin is a way to move into a pose just to the point of resistance and then to practice relaxing and letting go. This may seem counter intuitive. For those of us who are action oriented, this can be a challenge. Practice quieting your mind when it starts to breed old negative thoughts that no longer serve you.

This practice is not about what you look like or how far you can go into the pose. It's about connecting to how you feel. In this respect, it is a more advanced practice. It's a practice in discernment over effort and ease. It's a practice in self care. How challenging you make it is up to you. You choose whether you want to practice yin or relaxation, within every pose. Discover how each moment allows you the opportunity for choice and discernment.

This is how we cultivate the ability to find calm in the midst of chaos. 

You can easily see the value of taking these lessons off the mat and into your consciousness.
Modern living stress our nervous system. It's easy to stay stuck in the sympathetic nervous system. Yoga can teach you to use your breath, your body, and your mind to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system necessary for optimal health.

Currently, I am teaching a beginners yoga 7:30am Wednesday mornings at Rise Wellbeing Center in Reston. If that is too early for you, then join us at 10am for a yoga dance class @ Rise.

There are many styles of yoga now being offered. Explore this rich diversity and find a class that speaks to you. Better yet, see if you can add some diversity in your exercise routine for balance.  Better balance equates to overall peace.

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

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

Importance of Play & Community: An Invitation on Halloween

I love Halloween. It gives me an excuse to dress up and pretend I'm a kid again. I can so easily get bogged down in the seriousness of life... in the data. I can forget to smell the roses. There's a reason that children and grandchildren keep us young. They can keep us in the moment. They can be pure joy. We forget how important it is to play. Even working dogs, like rescue dogs, can only work 2 hours before they need a break and need to run and fetch a ball for fun.

This is why I love and teach Carpe Diem Dance. It is movement to music that keeps you in the moment. It's playful, fun and joyful. Sometimes I throw in an invitation to explore your emotional and spiritual self along with your physical body.  Otherwise, it's too easy to get stuck in our mental body. When you play, your body emits powerful endorphins of pleasure. This tells your body that it is safe to rest and relax, to rest and repair, and/or to mate and ovulate (depending on your goals).

It's also easy to get stuck in social inertia. If you are self employed or work at a desk on a computer every day, you can easily feel some social isolation. This is a common root cause of dis-ease that is becoming increasingly more common.

You cannot underestimate the power of both play and community. Sometimes our community can keep us stuck too. If you are wanting to create change in your life, your family and friends may be resistant. Especially when it comes to food and alcohol. Food is emotional and it takes courage to be different. This is why it is especially important to create your own community for support as we are doing with the IF Kickstart starting this week.

In yoga, we call habitual patterns, samskara's. These habitual patterns become so ingrained that they can become addictions. These can become our modern day "Ghosts"

So whaddya gonna do about it? Call Ghostbusters!

Please join me on Wednesday morning at 7:30am to dance and play to fun Halloween music. Can you think of a better way to start your day? You can bring a costume or just bring yourself in whatever attire is best for the day.  I'll be teaching my Carpe Diem Dance class at Rise Wellbeing Center. If you've been meaning to check out this beautiful new center then come this week. If it's your first time, the class will be free. Consider joining this community of like minded souls to nourish your mind, body and spirit.

When you surround yourself with healthy people, your health improves. Do you have a community that supports your samskara's or that allows you freedom to choose healthy, food, thoughts and actions?

What ghosts do you need help busting? What do you do for fun? Is there a super power you want to emulate this week?  Happy Halloween!

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

Grow Hope

I continue to be graced with awe and hope. Last night I was at a women's Goddess Gathering hosted by my good friend Rosalie Grazzini where she shared wisdom from her recent trip to the Himalayan Institute. She shared,

The main sources of motivation are  "Power, Pleasure, and Survival" all constitutes of the mind.  

In order to hear the healing motivations from the heart and soul, we have to quiet the mind and find a tranquil state. "The voice of the Divine, comes to us in a whisper." The tools of yoga and meditation, allow us time and space to hear this inner voice of wisdom.

Most of us spend so much time consumed with seeking personal power, pleasure and survival that we are disconnected from this powerful source of healing energy.

This week I sat down with Deanna Won who shared her journey from being a hospice patient with 1 month to live, to being a vibrant healthy and sought after speaker and health coach. When she was in her deepest moment, she prayed and then listened. She heard, "Ask to see the cytology report".  She didn't even know what a cytology report was. This wisdom, ended up giving her an opportunity to save her life.

Dr. Eben Alexander,  a highly trained neurosurgeon explained his own experience of meeting the Divine when he was in a coma. He explained it as feeling like he was stuck deep in the mud and then seeing and following the light.

This is similar to a baby in the womb, or the seed for this beautiful daffodil, and the lotus flower. All need time to incubate. All of us have the seed within us to become the full expression of ourselves.

This can be the gift of disease. This can be a wake up call and an opportunity to slow down. Like a snow day. A totally unexpectant deep wet blanket reminding us of the power of nature. One of my clients said, "Snow days make me feel like I'm in a safe cocoon."

We have a choice every minute of every day on how we not only spend our time, but how we react to the stressors presented.

Deanna also shared with me how, as a scientist, she looked at her diagnosis with curiosity. Why did she contract ovarian cancer? This is so important for two major reasons. First, it turns fear into curiosity. Fear keeps us stuck in "fight or flight" the sympathetic nervous system which is counterproductive to healing.

Second, it allows you to be the witness (and realize that you are not just your physical body) and to take personal responsibility for your healing. This is empowering! 

How do you get to this point? Here's a three part strategy:

1. Take time everyday for simple movement to music. Breathe and move into any areas of tension felt in the body. Emotions are just energy in motion and easily get stuck in the body. Do you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders? Could this contribute to your headaches or digestive issues? Get in touch with the deep wisdom within your body. Start with your feet and work your way up.
2. After you've removed physical tension, sit quietly and develop a relationship with self. Start with a simple 5 minute meditation focusing on the breath. You may want to download a 20 minute guided meditation.
3. For 3 days, spend 20 minutes writing a narrative journal written in the third person. Describe the beginning of the dis-ease, the middle and the end. This is important for you to write, commit and visualize where you want to go. Otherwise, it's too easy to stay stuck in the mud. As an example, I might write about life for Lisa before hypertension and autoimmune disease, what it's like in the middle of the scariest times where Lisa realizes how close to a stroke or heart attack she was and what that would mean, then committing to and prioritizing self, and how Lisa becomes a stronger, healthier version.

To commit to yourself takes practice and it takes courage. 

Most of all, you must have hope. Hope and belief that you have the innate ability to heal from within.  Daffodils and Springtime is a great reminder of the cycle of life. When we forget that we are one with each other and with nature, we suffer.

Also this week, a dear friend and loved one described the passing of her soulmate, best friend and husband. As painful as it was for her, the ability to sit and be with him through his passing was both "beautiful and magical".  We all suffer, we all have pain. Remember and trust that beyond the pain is a light that is also beautiful and magical. The pain allows us to fully appreciate the love and joy that also surrounds us. 

May you find connection to self and others, nourishment, peace, joy, and love this holiday season. 

With Love,

Lisa

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

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition and function medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals to heal from within.

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."

Oscar Night Musings & Power of Play

I've been invited to a Red Carpet Oscar Night Party and pulled out an old green sequined evening gown to wear tonight. I've only seen one movie this year that's up for award, Victoria and Abdul. Turns out it was for makeup and hairstyling not even for best picture. No wonder I've been accused, "Oh Mom, you are soooo pop culture illiterate!"

 Nevertheless, in preparation for the party, I asked my husband to rent an Oscar nominated movie Friday night to watch. As usual, I found interesting musings.

First, I'm reminded of the power of personal connection, passion and play. The widowed Queen Victoria was "imprisoned" by pomp and circumstance. An Indian servant looks her in the eye (which was forbidden), then kisses her feet, which sparks a connection. His passion for everything from rugs to poetry and religion is contagious. Soon he is quoting Rumi and the Qu'ran and teaching her about India's rich culture. In spite of the cultural and political divide, they become friends. He encourages her to sing, dance and play. She feels happy and to her physician's delight, things begin to move (literally).

Second, "Isolation breeds Ignorance." She was "Empress of India, yet ignorant to the people, customs, rich history or politics." Through personal connection, she begins to cross this divide.

Third, I'm reminded of the power of play in my own life. When I was first studying integrative nutrition and health coaching, my coach asked me, "What do you do for fun?"

This question literally made me cry. The only thing I did for myself was to sweat for 90 minutes in a 110-degree room. This gave me discipline, helped me physically, and maybe increased some endorphins, but it wasn't what I call fun! 

This started my quest to find a workout for myself that was fun and good for my heart, mind, body and soul. The result is what I am now teaching at Rise Wellbeing Center on Wednesday mornings @ 7:30 am called Carpe Diem Dance. It's movement to music that allows you to sing, dance and play. We mix in a taste of yoga, dance, breathwork and meditation. Come join me to see what moves in your life.

May you also find personal connection and a fun, joyful, physical, practice in your life.

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

PS. Let me know what movie(s) you recommend watching?

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

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition and function medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals to heal from within.

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."

Ready to Rise?

This Thursday is the ribbon cutting ceremony for a new unique concept, Rise Wellbeing Center in Reston, Virginia. The space is beautiful, relaxing, rejuvenating and welcoming.

I will be teaching Carpe Diem Dance this Saturday morning at 9am and Wednesday mornings @ 7:30am.  Carpe Diem Dance is a movement to music class that is fun, and is good for the heart, the brain and the soul. I will also teach yoga and breathwork this Friday evening and Wednesday mornings too.

You don't want to miss Saturday night's Sound Healing event with Woven Green 

Click Here for the Grand Opening Events.

nature. balance. peace.

Dedicated to cultivating wholeness through nature, mindful movement, and stillness

Come join us!

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

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition and function medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals to heal from within.

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, speaking or advocating reform, 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."

2017 Lessons Learned & New Year's Resolutions

This has been a year of intense grief and sorrow, and as my beautiful daughter so elegantly expressed, coexisting with periods of joy.

 https://www.facebook.com/existdetroit/videos/2083596808535202/ We started with the one year celebration of our grandson followed two weeks later by the passing of our son in law. I’ve struggled on how to support both my daughter and clients during times of loss. One client who lost her husband after 50 years together and another client in Houston during Hurricane Harvey. What do you do when you are at a loss for words? I read Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Option B but that didn’t resonate with me like Maria Sirois, PsyD book, A Short Course in Happiness After Loss (and other Dark, Difficult Times).  Here I am struggling on what to do to help my daughter, and she went and did it herself. Which by the way, is the only way for transformation, growth or change to occur. She took her grief and started the Forced Joy Project to find some joy, meaning and purpose amongst her immense sorrow. As a health coach I’ve learned this very valuable lesson. No one fixes you. You are not broken. You are a perfectly-imperfect, human being, with your own journey on this planet. We can share our experiences, we can be guides through difficult times, but the body, mind, spirit and soul are self-healing and self-repairing. You have the ability to heal from within. The practice of yoga can help release tension, pent up feelings and emotions, as well as help cultivate awareness and focus leading to physical, mental and emotional growth and peace. Dana again, beautifully shows us how. 

https://youtu.be/Tu9Opp6JfTU

I’ve written about the pancha maya model of yoga and how the body follows the mind and the mind follows the breath. I’ve had clients overcome anxiety and fear through dedicated breath work practice. The only thing we know for sure is that all of us will die. Some like Bradford Frost,

my son in law, far too soon. Others like Simba (who woke me up one morning bouncing up the stairs, took his normal one mile walk, in seemingly perfect shape) without any warning.

 As adults, what we do have control over is how we choose to live our lives. One dear client of mine shared this analogy. We are like flower pots. We can decide what soil we put in the pot, what we want to plant, how we feed and nourish ourselves. What can we do to live awesome full lives NOW? What little changes can we make in 2018 to feel our best? According to one of the largest health studies, the Framingham nurses study, the number one factor for overall health and cancer prevention, is diversity in the diet. Yet most of us eat the same 4 foods day in and day out consisting of wheat, corn, soy and dairy. Foods that have been subsidized and adulterated. This monoculture that has led us to the current epidemic in chronic disease. With so much abundance of food, our choices are often lacking in essential phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. To fight fatigue, we resort to caffeine and succumb to sugar cravings that keep us on a mental, physical, and emotional roller coaster. My pledge this year is:

1.  To expand my Kick-Start recipes to add more diversity. The best way to add diversity is to eat seasonally. Here’s what I had for breakfast at the Detroit Parks & Rec Diner:

 

Fisherman’s Board of citrus smoked salmon, dill crème fraiche, local radish, soft boiled duck egg, picked vegetables that included garlic scape and cranberries. Delicious!

2. Follow my daughter’s lead and find more joy. I’m going to start teaching Carpe Diem Dance (my joyful movement to music incorporating breathwork, meditation and yoga) Wednesday mornings at Rise Wellbeing Center in Reston, Virginia Wednesday mornings in January. 
3. Continue to grow my business being mindful to include boundaries and schedule in time to celebrate a new Granddaughter, family vacation, and to prioritize self-care. 

To keep me on track and at my best, I've started My Life Plan and just renewed my contract with my own coach and mentors.

What are your plans for the New Year? How will you choose to live your best life? I would love to hear from you!

Lisa

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

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and coach, with a mission to inspire 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.

Ancient Wisdom from the Celts: Samhain (sah-ween) preceded Halloween

Happy Halloween! Do you know where our Halloween tradition comes from? Samhain, pronounced Sahween was a Celtic tradition. The Celtics believed the veil between the living and the dead was the thinnest today. The idea was that if you put out treats you might be able to attract the energy and wisdom of our passed loved ones. They believed we could learn from, and therefore grow, from lessons from our beloved ancestors. 

In celebration of Halloween, I will be giving a Karma (free) class at the Great Falls Beloved Yoga Studio. It will include halloween music and maybe allow you to open up our energy to a more spiritual side.  Who knows what ancient wisdom you might glean from this experience!

Speaking of wisdom, how apropos is this poem?
(poem by: R. A. Melos )

A Witch's Words To Her Familiar On Samhain

Still your mind, 
and still your soul,
heed the words that make you grow,
listen to the winds of the sages,
learn the wisdom of the mages,
handed down to us from the ages.

Time is ours,
but only fleeting,
hear the wings of eternity beating,
soon enough we'll all be meeting,
and each of us merrily greeting.

The moon will be full,
and round,
and bright. 
And we'll be wisked away,
in the dead of night.
To the place we are meant to be,
to learn and grow,
and maybe see,
a spectre of what we should be.

Time is ours, 
frozen, but brief,
allowing us to release our grief,
to open our hearts and minds once more,
and step through the sacred door,
of time and space, and futures past,
to teach us the spells to cast.
So we may once again be free,
to live and love and blessed be.

So still your mind,
and still your soul,
and open your heart,
and set yourself free,
on this Samhain, I challenge thee.
Learn the truth from mages old,
the truth which was foretold.
The time is right, the night is new,
we can learn what not to do.

Warnings from the great beyond,
we'll heed them or all cry,
for lies can no longer be told,
when you look me in the eye. 
I've learned a lesson, bold and true,
and now there are but a few,
who understand the depth of change,
and how we all must rearrange,
our thinking and goals,
for times anew,
if the world is to survive,
for me and you.

We've got our work cut out for us,
my friend.
And we must not fail,
before the end,
or all will be lost,
and fate will be no more,
and finally the great beyond,
will close the door.

Time and space will exist no more,
my friend, 
my familiar,
we must work to prevent war.
Peace must prevail for ten thousand years,
and we must make sure it does.
Our souls eternal bond will hold,
as our bodies grow old.
Fear not the great beyond,
my friend,
for it is a beginning,
not an end.

Our work will continue for eternity,
until everlasting peace shall set us free.

Happy Halloween and Carpe Diem,

Lisa

About Lisa

Lisa is a yoga teacher, author, inspirational speaker, and a functional medicine coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age.

Lisa's book 

Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step system 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.

Motivational Mondays: Join me Monday to Celebrate YOU!

Monday is back to school for Fairfax County Public Schools. For busy Mothers, it is often a time to celebrate time to refocus on yourself. I've had a wonderful rejuvenating summer with family and friends and am ready to offer a class in my home studio on Monday mornings.

Please RSVP to join me Monday at 8:30am in my home studio for a sample class and a celebratory green juice. Cost $25.00 InfraRed Sauna and showers available.

We will work on creating more joy and flexibility. The practice of yoga and movement to music provides the union of all of your layers: physical body, breath body, mental/emotional body, intuitive, and spiritual bodies. It helps you move out of your head and into your body to deepen your most important relationship, with you.

It is an excellent way to start off the week and to prioritize the most important person, YOU!

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

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

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


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

Lisa is founder of the Wellness Inspired Network and Carpe Diem Wellness and part of the Functional Forum and Evolution of Medicine, and the New Self Health Movement. 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.

Love Your Body Day & PEMF Demo Events

Consider spending a day learning how to love your body next Sunday at Reston Town Center in Reston, Virginia. I will be sharing a booth with Documenting Hope,  bringing treats and a raffle for my book, and giving a sample Carpe Diem Dance class at 3pm in the Bhakti Tent. There will be yoga classes in the pavilion from different studios all over the area, children's tents, multiple wellness vendor tents, and something for everyone. 

Jessica Claire Haney of MindfulHealthyLife.com is a new member of the Wellness Inspired Network. She wrote a blog post that provides a great overview of Love Your Body. She's got links in the post to her recaps of the past three years of Love Your Body. Share the post on social media and tag Carpe Diem Wellness & Wellness Inspired Network if you like! 

http://www.mindfulhealthylife.com/love-your-body-yoga-festival-june-11/

Also,

Next Saturday, there will be a demo on Swiss Bionic Solutions PEMF Seminar (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) 3-5pm Sheraton Suites 801 N. Saint Asaph Street Old Town Alexandria.  

Presented by the President of Swiss Bionic Solutions, USA:

Dr. Greg Musser

Hosted by Janice Johnson, Polarity Therapy Practitioner and LifeStyle Consultant of Swiss Bionic Solutions

Learn how this resonating magnetic field application can assist you with: 

•    pain management

•    increased circulation

•    improved blood viscosity 

•    increased vitality by increasing ATP production

•    relaxed muscles

•    stimulates healthier cell production

•    reduces anxiety and depression for increased well being

•    assists to regenerate bone health

•    improve your sleep

Enter the raffle to win…..The Omnium 1 for a free 60 day trial in your home or office!

For more information contact Janice Johnson @ 302-265-8140 or email her at iamgr8ful4u@yahoo.com

Next week I'll be back with a regular blogpost on Important clues in your blood work that your doctor often misses. 

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

Magical Moments

Monday morning I received a text "Please call me." then another,  "It's important to me please, it was about yoga."

What was so urgent? She wanted me to explain why she felt sooooo good after coming to my class on Sunday. What did I do that made her feel like she was floating and then sleep so well Sunday night! She said it was magical. What was the spell?

For starters I had to tell her what she did, not me. She gave herself this gift of 90 minutes to get out of her head and into her body. We started by relaxing on her mat and just feeling and noticing the body, then the mental mind, then the breath.

We practiced first breathwork to stimulate the parasympathetic (rest and repair) nervous system, then we did some energizing breaths to prepare for the practice.

We did simple movements to music in order to open up stuck energy systems in the body. We opened up the spine in all directions. We played. We smiled. We laughed. We danced and we even sang without fear of feeling judged. We didn't worry about how we looked, we concentrated on how we wanted to feel. Some of the songs were aerobic, some worked on developing balance and concentration, some were meditative, some touched our hearts.

We finished our practice in savasana, lying on our mats for a guided meditation so we could really assimilate all of the good work and energy we gave ourselves. We had one final breath exercise and then shared some healthy juice. We wove in some positive psychology with ancient yogic wisdom.

Yoga is a philosophy and a framework for optimal health.  Music touches part of the brain, the soul and our emotions. Coming together in a community is also comforting and healing.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share my practice with you! Next class will be Sunday April 9th @ 4pm  Please RSVP HERE

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

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

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

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.

Help Me to Help You

Sometimes life (sh*t) happens and we get off track. Last month I outlined Simple Solutions for a Successful 2017 and shared with you some of my goals. It's already the middle of February and I haven't moved forward. You know why, I needed to prioritize my own self care and support my family this month.

This is when we most often need self compassion, a coach, some tools, as well as a "tribe", a community to help us stay on track. As a reminder, here is another picture from my book:

I have to remind myself the importance of being vulnerable and that it is OK to ask for help. You may have heard me say before that we weren't meant to be on this earth alone. If we could meet all our goals by ourselves we would have done so already! We are all bright super men and women but we are NOT Superwoman! (Although I had a manicurist once tell me that I had the biggest case of "superwoman complex" she had ever seen). I think she was a savvy therapist on the side...

So won't you please help me to help you by filing out this SHORT SURVEY for me? Please let me know if you have any questions or special requests.

Next week, I promise I'll be back in the saddle with more simple solutions and strategies on how you can heal from within and how to look and feel your best at any age.

Carpe Diem.

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

My Favorite Things! Black Friday Shopping

Happy Thanksgiving! I am so very grateful for all of you interested in optimal health and healing from within. Here's a secret... I really hate to shop, unless it's Black Friday with my daughters. We were crazy enough to get up at and drive from Virginia to New York City and back.

This year I want calm. This year I want peace. There is no need to drive our adrenals to the ground over the holiday season. After all, we now have Cyber Monday!

So here are my favorite things that I can offer you from my website:

PRODUCTS:

How to look and feel your best at any age?
Use non-toxic skin care and deodorant that really works
Health Food for the Skin :

Free Shipping on orders over $50.00

Here's my custom Chakra Mala Beads that I had designed and handmade for you by a beautiful custom jeweler in Laguna Beach, CA:

Amethyst is a quartz crystal said to increase spirituality, enhance intuition, promote peacefulness, happiness and contentment. It is also said to bring emotional stability and inner strength. 

Lapis is said to open up and calm the mind, clear the chakras and stimulate dreams. It’s a universal symbol for wisdom and truth.  

Adventurine is associated  with the heart chakra, said to bring wealth and abundance, to relieve anxiety and to help with sleep. Good for entrepreneurs and leaders.

How about an Eco Friendly Custom Yoga Mat? I can't tell you how many times I've left and lost yoga mats at studios. This one can't be confused with someone else's and it has great lines to use in your yoga practice:

Or consider essential oil from my Daughters website: https://www.mydoterra.com/margobracken/#/

SERVICES: 

GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS

Health & Wellness Assessment

Savvy Secrets Book

Workbook & Recipes

$300

Private CarpeDiem Dance or Vinyasa Yoga class  $150 90 -min

Book Now your January Kick Start to Wellness Program

21 Day online group program  $227

Winter VIP Day

Play Dance Dream Feel

Juice & Smoothies, Gourmet Lunch, Yoga Dance, Vision Board, 

Customized Weekend Warrior Wellness Discussion $495

Happy Shopping!

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500

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

She is also the 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.