One of the reasons so many people love the holiday season is all of the traditions that come with it. The merriest celebrants are those who already know what day they’ll take off to go shopping, where they’ll get their Christmas tree and hang the stockings, or whose party they’ll be at when ringing in the new year.

Mindful Movement is the Most…

Satisfying

Beneficial

Calming

We think mindful movement is simply the best.

Do you ever feel as though you are sleepwalking through life? Driving on autopilot and going through the routine motions of your day – brushing your teeth, fixing a salad for lunch, zoning out watching television in the evenings?

Some of the greatest gifts in life don’t come in boxes and aren’t to be found under the Christmas tree. This December, as the year is rapidly coming to a close and the mad dash to the mall and online shopping descend, I want to give you permission to slow down and take care of yourself. Self-love is essential, and I encourage you to give yourself the gift of well-being as 2022 comes to a close.

According to the Autoimmune Association, 50 million Americans - or 1 in every 5 - have one or more of the 100+ autoimmune diseases in existence. These include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and so many others. Perhaps even more startling is that approximately 75 percent of those affected are women.

We’ve been talking a lot about the link between a healthy gut and balanced hormones. If you haven’t been reading along this month, the short version is that our digestive system – or gut – plays a critical role in hormonal health. Levels of serotonin, thyroid, cholesterol and so many other hormones we need to regulate our mental and physical health are dependent on a happy microbiome.

Our bodies are incredibly complex and our systems are interconnected. What happens in one part of the body can have a major impact on what goes on in other parts of the body or even, as we’ve discussed previously, our brain. Nowhere is that truer than in our gut. And its impact on our hormone balance – or imbalance – is undeniable.

Have you ever been so worried about something that you just couldn’t eat? Have you felt fluttery in your stomach when you were nervous about a test result or a performance review at work? These are two small examples of the connection between your brain and ‘second brain’, your gut.

What health problems can be traced back to our gut? It would be quicker to list the conditions that are NOT related to gut health. From digestive issues (which may seem obvious) to our mood and mental health, allergies, fatigue, and even autoimmune conditions, a healthy body and mind rely on a healthy gut. That’s why it’s good to take a step back once in a while for a literal ‘gut check.’ All of our biological systems are impacted by the 100 million neurons inside what some people refer to as our ‘second brain’.

It’s ok to feel your feelings, they are yours and they are real. As a society, we have not always done the best job of attending to our emotional intelligence. For some, it seems to come naturally that they are always in tune with what they feel. Others are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to understanding the emotions they experience or that their loved ones experience. It can create a real barrier between you and the people you love if you cannot authentically share your emotions.

When we’re pregnant we are constantly preparing for the baby, but the baby isn’t the only thing we should focus on. I have yet to meet a woman who stops to think about “what do I need?” and when we miss this step, we begin to tumble down a rabbit hole. Once we hit the postpartum stage, our entire focus is on this beautiful little human we carried in our womb for nine months and we just naturally allow ourselves to fade.

Your body speaks a different language than you do. Your body responds to a stressful situation through a flight or fight response, which is essentially a quick release of hormones. Your body completes the stress cycle by – literally – working it out. Run, bike, swim, or dance. Any kind of physical activity that makes you move and deepens your breathing will signal to your brain that the threat has passed. Try it for 20-60 minutes a day, every day if possible. After all, most humans experience stress on a daily basis.

When imbalances occur in your body, like chronic pain or disease, it can be the result of many factors. Genetics clearly play a role, as can lifestyle choices like inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, or overindulging in alcohol. Yet, there is a third factor that is less obvious and potentially far more impactful: stress.

As many as one in ten women are affected by endometriosis. It causes pelvic pain – often severe – and discomfort and can impact sexual activity and fertility. Unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to finding relief for endometriosis symptoms is that, all too often, it goes undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or mistreated.

Self love is so important and something that we should always be working on.

One way to show ourselves self love is through movement.

Movement is about observing and listening to your body.

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. It is the time when we get together with family and friends. We spend quality time enjoying each others’ company and eating some great food and (hopefully) some rest and relaxation!

Hydrotherapy over the Holidays… and all Winter long.

The use of water therapy (hydrotherapy) for healing has been used by people for centuries. It became revitalized during the nature cure movement in Germany in the 19th century, which nature cure has 5 pillars to health: living a balanced lifestyle, herbal medicine, exercise, nutrition, and hydrotherapy. The nature cure movement sparked the creation of naturopathic medicine, and it’s principles including hydrotherapy are still being taught in naturopathic colleges today.

Welcome FALL, but don’t fall behind in your activity and exercise goals!

As we put away our beach toys, bikes, and summer gear, there naturally is a shift towards slowing down, indoor activities and a more sedentary lifestyle. Like all things, this is all good and fine, but let’s keep it in moderation! With the cooler weather looming and the fall days upon us, it’s easy to lose motivation and FALL off the exercise train.

Have you ever had a sore back, hip pain or pelvic girdle pain the day after you have been strength training, running or participating in an activity? But you feel like you have a great movement pattern and great technique. Have you experienced incontinence, prolapse or rectus diastasis that did not rehab fully post-partum? What you may not be activating or utilizing properly is your Inner Core!

I hate using the "F word" but fall is in the air. The leaves have started to change color, the days are shorter, and the mornings are cool. The kids are back to school and the chaos of summer is a distant memory.

Fall is my favorite season, I feel like it’s a natural time to reset & reintroduce routines. If you are a control freak like me you love routines, to do lists, and schedules.