Well, I don’t know how the weather has been in your parts, but over here in sunny LA, it has been nothing short of gorgeous! I just had my first official beach day of the spring-into-summer season and you know what that means…beach days= swimsuits and cute summer clothes ( or sexy summer clothes for my fellas out there). Now, granted, swimsuit season is NOT the only reason to pay attention to what we are eating and how much we are working out, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it makes us all a little more conscious of the two.

If you have been slacking on the two or just feel that your body is need of a little reboot, then doing a safe and effective detox could be just what you need to get you and your body into that summer frame of mind. There is nothing like spring and summer weather and seasonal cuisine to create the perfect atmosphere for detox. The weather gets you moving and eager to be outdoors and the seasonal harvest of greens, veggies, and tons of fresh and delicious fruit is just what the body needs for a pleasurable detox.

But how do you safely and effectively detox without depravation or struggle? Lucky for you guys, I’m here to help you! I have 2 very exciting events coming up geared around getting your body and mind detoxed, lifted, and more than ready to enjoy your best summer yet!

The first event is my “Spring Into Summer Detox Workshop- Safe, easy, and effective detox strategies so you can say goodbye to the belly bloat and hello to a fantastic summer body from the inside out!”
I am thrilled to be giving this workshop at Yogis Anonymous, my favorite yoga studio in the heart of Santa Monica. If you are a local, I’d love for you to come out and attend. The event will be taking place on Sunday, May 22nd at 12 p.m. I will be giving you guys more info soon but for now, mark your calendars and tell your friends! It’s going to be lots of fun and very informative, and just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the official kickoff of summer! Come for the workshop and stay for an butt-kicking yet full of fun yoga class with the lovely and talented Ally Hamilton, perfect for setting your detox off right!

The second event is my first teleseminar/webinar series on detox called the “Summer Stunner Detox Program: 21 Days to a Happier, Healthier, Trimmer, Balanced YOU!” For this event, it doesn’t matter where you live! Isn’t technology great? We’ll spend 3 weeks together via weekly teleseminars while I guide you through a safe and effective detox for the body and the spirit. You’ll come out lighter, happier, and healthier from the inside out. Can’t make the calls? Don’t worry! When you register, you will be given a link that will allow you to listen to the recorded calls at your connivence. Besides the calls, I will fully support you with recipes, handouts, and email tips to keep you on track and fully equipped to get the results you are looking for. I will be giving you all the details very soon but for now, mark your calendars for June 1st and tell a friend!

If you’ve been needing a little extra motivation to get started on your path to wellness, these events might just be the answer! Let’s commit to doing something beneficial for our health, spirit, and get our confidence back in action. Nothing pairs better with your summer attire than some inner and outer swagger!

As I told you guys last week, I’ve been going through a bit of personal struggles, mainly at my Kindergarten teaching job. I can’t deny that it has taken a toll on me. But as a Holistic Health Counselor, I know that if one part of your life is out of whack, then all the others will be affected too. In the same respect, if one part of your life is out of whack, there are other parts that, when properly attended to, can help to realign you and get you back on track.

At the Institute of Integrative Nutrition where I became certified in Holistic Health Counseling/Coaching, founder Joshua Rosenthal calls the parts that really feed your soul your Primary Foods. Those are the things like your relationships, career (as in meaningful work), spirituality, and physical fitness. All of these aspects pay a huge factor into the quality of your life and feed you in a way that food alone can’t. This really is the key way that Holistic Health Counseling is so different from standard nutritional counseling- it challenges you to look at so much more than your diet, which in turn will help your whole life be happier and healthier.

I decided to reach for one of favorite Primary Foods, relationships, to help get me feeling like me again. There all kinds of relationships in my life that are important to me and one of the most important ones are my friendships. That’s why I was thrilled beyond belief when one of my closest and oldest friends, Blamoh, told me she was going to be in town and wanted to do brunch, catch up, and meet my main man. As if that wasn’t awesome enough, she also told me that our other college friend, Kari, would be coming too! Just thinking about how those 2 girls always made me laugh and made me feel understood was like an instant blanket on my soul.

Well, I have to say the reunion was even better in reality! Although we have seen each other separately over the years, it had been 10 years since we had all been together like that. Laughing, reminiscing, and catching up over a tasty brunch at Real Food Daily in Santa Monica was just what I had been needing. Instantly, I was reminded what was really important (people you love!) and brought me back to my roots (a simple girl with a big heart who’s not afraid to get silly..and work hard!). So even though our lives have all changed and gotten a bit more complex since our days in the UCLA college dorms, it was great to be reminded off all that existed before our careers and be reconnected to my true spirit, to a more innocent part of myself. Mostly, I just felt so much love and happiness, which can pay huge dividends to all the parts of my life.

Taking time to nurture your friendships can truly feed your soul. Most people just want to be heard, to feel understood. Supportive, loving, and truly caring friends can help make that happen. I think there is also something extra special about reconnecting with your older friends who have seen you evolve over the years. It is truly powerful when, after all those years, you still can relate to each other, still give each other positivity. Those friendships are rare and should be treasured. I have to say I am blessed with amazing friends, old and new!

After brunch was over, I was filled with joy in my heart. I felt like a got a little bit of the old me back. It was laughter therapy at its finest. I’m not sure what took us so long to all get together at the same time, but we all decided to not let so much time pass again before the next reunion. Sure, the vegan/gluten free pancakes were yum, but they were a mere second to the fantastic company!

How do your friendships feed your soul? Do your oldest friends help you reconnect to your roots and how?

Well, I feel loved. Got a few phone calls and messages asking where my usual Monday and Tuesday posts were. The flat out plain truth is I needed some off time. Last week was my birthday, but it also was a pretty awful week at the J-O-B (aka my other hat as a Kinder teacher, for which the powers that be have pink slipped me yet again…good old budget cuts!). Combining that with a mountain sized “to-do” list, I felt my stress levels go through the roof, which in turn brought on a cold, and well, I knew I needed to cut something from somewhere, at least for a couple of days.

I spoke to you guys once before about the power and downright necessity of taking a day off to rest and recharge but I think it’s equally important to look at your plate and see when it is becoming too full, period. For me, that happened in the last few days and I had to see what I could eliminate, even if it was just for the week, to keep my sanity, get more balanced, and as a result, be of best service to my clients, my friends, students, family, man, and of course, to myself! Is your plate becoming a little too full? Are you afraid to say no or un-commit yourself to something or someone somewhere? Believe me, it’s far better to say no than to say yes and do yourself in! For me, I write and create each of these posts with love, time, and deep consideration as to how I can give each of you useful and important info that can add value to your life. I just felt like I couldn’t do that this week when I had so many other things going on and my vibe was off.

What I also want each of you to take away from this post is that Health Counselors are people too. Just cause you love health doesn’t mean you can’t fall into some of the same pitfalls as everybody else, that you will never have a crap day again, or that chocolate frosting no longer looks delish. Reality check: health counselors still are susceptible to the same earthly delights, temptations, and range of emotions as everyone else. This is the same for every sort of “guru”. Whether it be your yoga teacher, your wise college professor, or any other public figure that you look up to for advice and guidance, you must know that we are all human and go through similar struggles. No pedestals allowed! This is part of the reason that I created the “BYOG- Be Your Own Guru” motto as part of my business name. I think that once you see any one person or one way as the end all, be all or you expect someone to be perfect, you will undoublty become disappointed and maybe even resentful to them. In the end, you must take what works for you and apply it to your own life in a way that works for you, whether that be a dietary theory or a spiritual philosophy. You must be the captain of your own ship and see others as lighthouses guiding you on your way. In the end, you hold the anchor. Plant yourself where and how you need to!

So you see, I am not perfect. Far from it. This past weekend was my birthday and I had a cold, I stayed out too late, had a little too much to drink (2 lemon drops), and even ate..GASP!…real sugar in my vegan, gluten-free cake. BTW, this only makes your cold worse! But it was worth it. I had a great time with friends, enjoyed my special day, and in the end, my idea of being “bad” really isn’t that bad at all. This is the good part about loving and being devoted to health…you will always return to what is right for your body and health because you are devoted to it. (The next day after my birthday party, I was craving greens and lemon water.) I was glad I let off some steam because frankly, it made coming back to my full plate much easier. I think me just keeping it real and telling you guys the truth makes me the kinda health counselor that my clients can relate to all the more….at least I hope so!

Next week, I will be back to my regular post schedule, and I can’t wait to keep sharing great content with each of you! In the meantime, I want to ask you: Is your plate too full? What can you cut out/down on, even if it is just for a short amount of time?

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE me some yoga, so much so that I became a certified kids yoga instructor. I get emails all the time from folks asking if I know any good yoga studios and/or yoga videos for an at home practice. In both cases, I can sum up my answer in two words: Yogis Anonymous! Hands down, this is THE studio to practice at. Founded by the beautiful and talented (and FUNNY!) Ally Hamilton and her equally talented husband, Dorian Cheah, Yogis Anonymous is a thriving vinyasa flow/power yoga based studio where the quality of classes is high and the attitude is chill and unpretentious. If you are looking for a studio where beginners and advanced yogis alike can find a fit, look no further!

But what if you don’t live anywhere near Santa Monica,CA or you’re too tired to trek to the studio for a live class? Are you a beginner who has never done yoga before and feels intimated to take a studio class? Fear not! Part of what makes Yogis Anonymous SO fantastic is that they have a one-of-a-kind on-line yoga class library. It’s simple to use and mad affordable. I love having this option available to me because with my busy schedule, I can’t always make it into the studio. When I am traveling or visiting the fam for days at a time, I can still get my yoga on by simply hopping onto their website. This wipes away any excuses to not get my mat time in!

Using their on-line yoga library is easy to do. Simply go to www.YogisAnonymous.com and click on LIVE! From there, you will see that there are some FREE classes for you to try (how super generous!!). If you want to sample the other classes, you can either buy a 24 hour on-line “pass” for $5, a 7-day pass for $10, or a monthly pass for $15. With any of these options, you can view and practice as many classes as your little heart desires within the time period you paid for. There are over 150 classes to choose from, with more being added every week! You can either pick by teacher from their drop down menu if there is a particular teacher you like, or you can simply read the class description below each class to find the right fit for your desired level, style, or energy level for the day. As a monthly member to the actual studio, I get on-line classes included with my monthly membership, so I can practice in the studio or at home! Love this!

The on-line option really is an invaluable resource. Whether you are short on time, traveling, or simply are a beginner who doesn’t feel ready to hop on in to an actual studio class yet,the Yogis Anonymous On-Line Yoga Library can meet your needs and give you a nice, sweaty yoga practice. Best of all, you will never get bored by doing the same class over and over again like you would with a yoga dvd. The library has so many classes available, your practice will stay fresh and relevant to your particular needs and abilities.

Curious about Yogis Anonymous? Hop on to their website and take a look see. And while you are there, go to the Live! section and take a class from the comfort of your own home. I promise you will love it! Want to come into the studio for a live class!? Even better! And stay tuned…I plan on doing a post very soon at the actual studio so you can see for yourself what an amazing studio this is, full of love, friendship,community, and wickedly fantastic yoga.

Ready to try a class on-line? Let me know what you thought!