food & nutrition

Mindful Self-care

It is a misguided belief that self-care is self-indulgent or being selfish. It is simply caring for yourself. A necessary source of support for various areas of your life that play an important role in your health and wellbeing. Self-care promotes your ability to be the best version of you in all the areas of your life.

Most self-care is sabotaged by STRESS… too much or not enough of something.  

Self-care can fall into any of the following categories which play a role in creating or calming stress for everyone:

  • Nutrition and Hydration

  • Physical Activity 

  • Managing Stress and Emotions 

  • Rest 

  • Relationships

  • Physical Hygiene, Medical and Dental

  • Environment

  • Fun

  • Self-Compassion

  • Finances

What if we considered and prioritized self-care as a small daily goal?

Hello! I'm Rebecca.

What support can I offer you?

I am a Licensed Massage Therapist - I am familiar with the aging body and the chronic pain associated with it, I understand the limitations this causes in physical activity.

I am a Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher -I don’t teach headstands or other intense yoga poses, I teach moving mindfully and create mobility where stiff achiness generally resides.

I am a Wellness Consultant -I aware of the impact that too much or not enough of certain things cause imbalance in our bodies and ultimately our health.

I am an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach- I have studied 100s of different dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods. I recognize and appreciate, one size does not fit all when it comes to making healthy choices. I practice a “whole person” approach to healthy habits by embracing your current preferences and guiding you through alternatives.

I have been a successful participant with losing and managing weight-loss -I have personally experienced the Mind over Matter struggles with changing habits.

I am familiar with depression, anxiety and their associated mood and health effects -I understand that everyone is unique and requires a different type of support.

I am familiar with Diabetes, Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Eldercare -I am intimately aware of the challenges life brings at times, and am able to provide approaches to managing self care.

I am a wife, mom, stepmom, gramme, daughter, caregiver, friend, introvert, excellent listener with the ability to ask thoughtful questions and provide empathy, feedback and make connections between choices, habits and identifying the impacts on one’s health.

It is your journey

There is always time to change the path you are on.

Maybe a conversation, with a Health Coach familiar with numerous diet approaches could assist you. Perhaps a Massage Therapist who has specialized in helping clients manage chronic pain for over 15years would have a suggestion or two on how to address some of your concerns of aging and the accompanying daily aches. Could a Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher potentially guide you through some mindfulness, gentle movement activities to safely become more active and in better physical shape all while restoring some balance to your life?

What are you waiting for? Yesterday you said tomorrow… lets get started, the choice is yours.

Healthy Self - Heal Thy Self

When you start taking care of yourself, you start getting healthier, you start feeling better, you start seeing yourself better, you start attracting better.

What are you drawn to?

We Could All Use A Health Coach

The following is an article published by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition -

Why work with a Health Coach?

It seems as though the health care industry is finally getting it – Jane Brody, longtime personal health columnist for the New York Times, said what Health Coaches have been shouting from the rooftops all along: "We could all use a Health Coach!"

Thirty years ago, the term and profession of Health Coach was unheard of. Today that is rapidly changing as public health in the United States and around the globe has declined due to:

  • Increased prevalence of preventable lifestyle diseases

  • Increased sedentary behavior and lifestyles

  • Increased cost of healthcare

Brody outlined why someone would want or need to work with a Health Coach:

  • You’re suffering from a chronic condition. (Nearly 150 million Americans currently suffer from at least one chronic condition.)

  • You want to better understand how to manage your chronic condition through diet and lifestyle.

  • You need support carrying out your doctor’s recommendations.

  • You want to optimize your health and focus on prevention.

Whatever your reason, a Health Coach can guide you in making important changes that can ripple out into other areas of your life as well as the lives of other people!

Consider this: At your annual physical, your doctor notes that your weight and blood pressure have increased, and you need to focus on bringing them back down. You’ve also shared that you’re often fatigued and don’t have energy to spend with family and friends. Your doctor recommends modifying your diet, reducing stress, and incorporating more physical activity into your daily routine. In about 15 minutes, your visit is over and you leave with a list of to-dos but no blueprint for success.

Enter a Health Coach, whose primary goal is to empower clients to take a leading role in their health by providing knowledge, accountability, and motivation to inspire change. In the above scenario, a Health Coach would work with you to make changes to your diet that are achievable for the long haul.

They would also support you in exploring aspects of your life that could be impacting your health, such as identifying stressors and how to manage them better and figuring out how to overcome resistance to exercise. After working with a coach for several months, you might find yourself with more energy, less stress, and even healthier relationships with your loved ones – in addition to improved health biomarkers.

is water really that important?

Did you know that you make numerous investments in your health every single day? 

If you are going to the gym, taking a yoga class, seeing a chiropractor or getting a massage... you are making an investment in yourself and your health. 

Protect your investment

What is the most effective way for you to protect these investments?

Water.  Seriously.  Water.  

Drinking water before and after strenuous physical activity increases the body's ability to fully benefit from the experience and significantly reduce the likelihood of injury.   Does it make sense to spend this precious time and energy and only receive partial benefit?  

When a chiropractor is providing treatment to someone who is not properly hydrated, it is like working with a completely dried out stiff sponge... Do you think that adjustment is going to  be smooth and hold for long?  Visualize it.. the answer is No.  Drink a reasonable amount of water the day before, of and after a chiropractic appointment.

Many seek massage therapy for pain or stress relief.  Massage focuses on releasing toxins, tensions and restrictions in soft tissue, muscles and tendons.  Massage increases the flow of blood, which consist of about 82% water.  Imagine a new can of play dough.  Until the play dough is warmed, moist and worked through it is stiff and difficult to bend and mold.  Add water... and wow, what a difference!  Protect your massage therapy investment and hydrate... your massage with be more effective and the benefits will last significantly longer!

How much water?  Ideally, 1/2 your body weight in ounces daily. 

What is best for you?

If they were all the perfect option -why would we need the options at all... wouldn't everyone already be healthy, in great shape and living their best life?

Each of us have choices to make regarding our own health and well-being. Lately we are overwhelmed with numerous diet and exercise options and choices on how to get healthy, lose weight and live our best life. And everyone one of the options claims to be the one YOU need.

How do you decide?

An Ongoing Natural Process

Your body makes new cells from what you eat. During sleep, your body works to repair muscle, organs, and other cells. Additionally, chemicals are produced through the metabolism of the nutrients you consume that strengthen your immune system and are in full force of circulation through your system during your sleep.

You are what you eat and your body rebuilds while you’re asleep.

No matter how much it gets abused, the body can restore itself. The first step in to stop interfering with nature. -Deepak Chopra

Allow the time for change

Life is a delicate balance of holding on and letting go.

During this season of turning inward, seeking warmth and comfort, looking for change, uncertain of what direction to go or what are the best personal choices to make; the secret is in knowing …

What to hold on to, and what to let go…

  • Let go, once the lesson is learned.

  • Hold on to what is adding value.

  • Let go of beliefs that no longer serve you.

  • Hold on to what energizes you.

Letting go

- Holding on

When to stand your ground, or when to walk in someone else's shoes. When to hold yourself accountable, and when to forgive. When to remember and when to forget. When to accept and when to change. What to hold on to, and what to let go. The list goes on and on.

All of it comes down to choice. The choice is a personal one. A choice we each own. We can be influenced by those around us, although it still comes down to each of our choices.