Going Back To The Root

Owning and operating a small business is not an easy task on a regular day.  It has become increasingly difficult recently with the COVID-19 virus, and it is evident that there will be many more challenges to come.

I want to thank all of those who have reached out with words of encouragement over the past weeks. I’m not going to lie.  It has been chaotic and unsettling. The unknown is convoluted and has caused tremendous trepidation in the movement of everyone around us.  And like a virus, the reaction is contagious and as far as I am concerned, it's as lethal as we allow it to be.

In times like these, people react differently based on their current state-of-affairs.  Some fight.  Others flee or freeze.  Personally, I experienced my own personal metamorphosis through all those reactions in the past weeks.  So yesterday, I made a conscious decision to quiet my mind, go back to the basics and rise like the Phoenix represented in The Steppingstone Haven logo.  

As I moved my mind and body through prayer, meditation, yoga I was reminded of the primary purpose for starting Steppingstone Yoga & Wellness Haven. I founded this business from a heart centered place which activated a sense of peace enabling me to rise above the chaos of real life sh#%.  This venture was fueled by my desire to give back to my community.

But over the past month of starting a business, I rapidly retreated to my old self and caused me to lose grip of what I worked so hard for – MY AUTHENTIC SELF!  

Until the pattern was interrupted with COVID-19 and I was forced to pivot.  I am grateful for the people who have generously offered their assistance, expertise and service over the past week that enabled me to be more grounded. Through their generosity, I have been able to find my way back to the safe haven of mind and body alignment with prayer, yoga and meditation. 

Steppingstone Yoga & Wellness Haven understands that this is a difficult time for all and wants to go back to the root of its existence.

Steppingstone Yoga & Wellness Haven is launching complimentary access to:

“THE VIRTUAL HAVEN” - where you can find LIVE and recorded yoga, meditation and mini-group life coach sessions until April 12th.   

Here is what all you do in order to find your path back to your own safe haven of mind and body alignment.

• "Like" this post or send us a DM
• You will be invited to a private Facebook group called "The Virtual Haven"
•  

 
SIGN UP for LIVE yoga and meditation classes and group life coaching chats via ZOOM.  
 

“The Virtual Haven”

You will find your complimentary passes in the pricing options under “Virtual Classes”.  There is also an opportunity to Donate A Virtual Pass

This pass will support others who are seeking mind and body relief at this time, along with our dedicated instructors June, Kim, Maria, Carolina and Karla, who will be instructing the virtual classes.

I want to express my gratitude for the passion and dedication of the Steppingstone Haven instructors and clients. They have demonstrated true grit and allowed their light to shine during a dark time. 

Thank you also to my fellow life coaches, Dezi, Jen and Nicole and many of my CLC Coach Colleagues, the Steppingstone Haven clients, my corporate colleagues and everyday acquaintances and alliances.

Please accept this gift through April 12th.  In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy and always remember #embracewhatsgood!

Meditate for Moms

It’s no joke. 

It is real. 💯 

Some people label it

Then enroll in it 

And use it as a crutch. 

Has ANXIETY become a ‘story’ ingrained in you, or in your child? 📚 

These days, between the most recent threat of the Coronavirus, terminal illness, shootings, cutting, bullying, drug-addiction and so much more, anxiety is more prominent than ever amongst our youth and their families. 

Do you allow these exterior forces or influences take you or or child’s power to the point of debilitation?  🏥 

If so, what are you all reaping from this pattern of emotional disturbance?  How does it serve you?

And what can you do to get off the roller coaster of subscribing to your anxiety or the anxiety of others? 🎢 

Are you willing to take your power back? 

If so, read more here: 💪🏻 

Most succumb to the belief that it can only be controlled by medication.  💊 

But what if there are other ways to alleviate and even cure anxiety?

Have you ever considered yoga, meditation or a life coach?  🧘‍♂️ 

There are many physical and emotional benefits through the practice of breath work, meditation and combined with life coaching. 

Are you willing to give it a try?  If so, 

Steppingstone Yoga & Wellness Haven will be hosting a fundraising class. 

“Meditate for The Moms”

All proceeds will go to “Let There Be Moms”

When:  Every Friday at 6:15 pm in April

We’ll donate $5 per parent and teen who attend Steppingstone Haven’s Friday night Chakra Meditation. 

DM @thehavenyoga for more information to learn more about the benefits of yoga, meditation and life coaching. 

Namaste 🙏

The Struggle Is Real

It won’t happen overnight. 🌙

It may not even happen in a month. 📆

Easing anxiety is a process, and the process is a “practice”.

Be patient with yourself...

I’ve lived it. I see it, and I constantly hear people talk about their inability to escape the stress of:

Work
School 🏫
Relationships 💕 💔
Children 👶🏻
Finances 💴 💰
Illness 🏥
Loss of loved ones

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Since I’ve opened Steppingstone Haven Yoga & Wellness, I hear it daily. And that’s why we’re offering meditation classes. 🧘‍♀️

Here are some Scientifically Proven Benefits of Meditation...

1. Reduces Stress.
Stress reduction is one of the most common reasons people try meditation. ...

2. Controls Anxiety.
Less stress translates to less anxiety. ...

3. Promotes Emotional Health. ...

4. Enhances Self-Awareness. ...

5. Lengthens Attention Span. ...

6. May Reduce Age-Related Memory Loss. ...

7. Can Generate Kindness. ...

8. May Help Fight Addictions.

What’s it going to take to BREAK THE CYCLE?

Join us every Friday night for Hot Flow from 5-6 pm and/or Chakra Meditation with Tibetan bowls at 6:15-7:15 pm.

BRING A FRIEND to Steppingstone Haven and earn a complimentary yoga class between 3/8- 3/13.

Sign up at the MindBody app at get.mndbdy.ly or call 399-4428 for more information.

Namaste 🙏

HOW NUTRITIOUS ARE YOUR APPLES? 🍏🍏

WARNING: This post is about nutrition for the SOUL...

I’m always refreshed when I grocery shop on Sundays. Feeling hopeful as I enter the produce department of the grocery store with a new start to the week and how I get to choose from a healthy selection of fruits 🍉 and vegetables 🍅.

9 times out of 10, I find myself with quality choices. But every now and then I’ll get home and take a bite out of a mealy apple or a flavorless orange.  I don’t eat it.  It’s a difficult choice because I just paid for it, but I’m forced to throw it away or take it back.

This weekend I had that “A-HA” moment recognizing that despite the occasional disappointment in the “pieces of fruit” around me, I have similar choices with whom I surround myself.  

Whether I eat healthy or not, or choose to toss the apple, either choice has long lasting effects. 

I am on an upward trajectory towards between my media/marketing career, the launch of Steppingstone Haven Yoga & Wellness Studio, and the progress I’ve been making on the simultaneous clean-up of the residual mess of co-dependent relationships, marriage, children, divorce, bankruptcy, and the loss of loved ones.

Since making a personal and conscious decision to re-ignite a long-time, dormant desire of opening my yoga and wellness studio, I’m under the microscope with some and have fielded some pretty harsh judgement lately. 

Things like…Why are you doing this? Who are you to do this? How do you expect to make money doing this?  What do I know about yoga and meditation, life coaching and spiritual breath work and healing?

On the flip side, I have also received incredible support and understanding from others after spending a week of “eating” clean, and here are the answers I’ve come up with ...

Why wouldn’t I do this?

Who am I not to do this?

I have a business plan that reflects the opportunity to make money.  I also understand that I am investing in myself and my beliefs.

And what do I know about yoga and meditation, life coaching and breath work????

I know that it saved me from a very recent and turbulent two years of my life. I know the effects of practicing. I know the growth that I’ve achieved from it. Why not share my experience with my community, and the opportunity to do the same?

Over the past week I am re-ignited by my recent nutritional choices. And I don’t mean food. I mean the people I encounter who fuel my soul.  Who fuels your soul?

“From Another Angle”...A Bird’s Eye View

Before starting my early morning routine, I let the dogs out leaving the back door cracked open so they could let themselves in and out while I worked. I was soon interrupted by a rustling noise outside my office. Since I didn’t hear the dogs barking, I assumed it was Yegge (my boyfriend) in the kitchen.  I went out to say good morning but to my surprise, I was greeted by two birds circling between my kitchen, living room, hallway and study.  The dogs just sat there aloof, patiently awaiting their treats and not even phased by the fact that there were two birds taking flight throughout the house. 

Needless to say, between the chaos of the birds’ flights and them crapping all over my house, I screamed for Yegge to help me corral the birds, open the doors, and herd the dogs in order to encourage our little visitors’ flight back in that brave new world we all live in.  After the birds’ ordeal was over, and they flew free, Yegge cuddled with the pups and said…

“Bentley, what’s up with you?  You’re a cockapoo!  A cocker spaniel is supposed to be a “bird-dog!”

Thought bubble over Bentley’s head (or anyone who is told what they are “supposed to be”): 

“Oh okay, then I suck - but damn it, I am going to try as hard as I can to be what you want me to be in order to get your approval.”

But here is the truth…Bentley nor YOU will never be what anyone wants them to be! And until people forfeit the angles of expectations, identify who, they themselves really want to be and embrace who they are, they will spin in circles of dissatisfaction trying to live up to others views.  It happens every day! 

Cue in Steppingstone Haven’s weekly topic of “authenticity” …

The focus has been on “being true to oneself”.  In my last blog, “This Is Me”, I highlighted some of the “phrases” that society, family, and friends impose upon us along with the various interpretations that people have.  It usually occurs in our informative years, become embedded into our subconscious minds and follows us into our adult lives as limited beliefs - ultimately affecting our quality of life. But remember, with Awareness – Exploration – Knowledge AND Action…

ANYONE (yes ANYONE) can become EVERYTHING

THEY want to be

AND They can do ANYTHING they put their minds to in order to activate the powers within!   The sky is the limit.

NOW GO FLY!    

This Is ME!

Some become paralyzed by change.  Others plow through it.  When circumstances change, we choose to reject and remain “stuck” or accept and “activate” the “Wonder Woman” or “Superman” powers within. 

I recently took the BIG step of attending the first of 2 three-day trainings towards a Master Life Coaching certification.  For some, they may say “What’s the big deal?”  For me, it was terrifying. I made every excuse in the book related to not having enough time, money and energy.  I made excuses because I was “stuck” in fear - Fear of rejection.  Fear of not being worthy.  Fear of failing.  But I figured it out this weekend with a little help from some friends in the same arena and my dog, Bentley. 😊

How many of you heard or said the following in your lifetime?  What was/is your personal translation?

“Be careful what you say”  

 My personal TRANSLATION: “Conform”

“Don’t offend anyone”  

 My personal TRANSLATION: “Don’t speak up”

“Do the right thing”                                     

My personal TRANSLATION: “Be compliant”

And the most recent one for me?

“Know your audience”                                

My personal TRANSLATION: “Don’t be your authentic self”

Sound familiar?  How many of you translate them as they are above?  Or have you even thought about it until now?  I’m not a psychiatrist, nor do I play one on T.V., but I am going to venture to guess that the expectations society has placed upon us are interpreted similarly often.  The subconscious mind makes up around 95% of your brain.  Every time you have an idea, or an emotion, a memory or an image from the past, it is the subconscious mind which communicates to the conscious mind.  For me, there are triggers for a limited belief system which I like to refer to my “belief pool”.  When it’s limited, there’s no reason to even bring a bathing suit.  There’s no water in the well, and a big sign that saying, “NO DIVING!”

Like Bentley’s (the therapy dog) issue with the disruptive arrival and relationship with his sister Sadie, we all have experienced some life tilts at one point or another.  Whether we are facing a gut-wrenching divorce, a job relocation, job loss, a career change or financial ruin, the “belief pool” needs to be full! 

So maybe look at how you can not only respond differently but how you can FEEL towards these common restraints that we are often faced with, and turn them around. 

“Be careful what you say”           

My personal RESPONSE: “If I don’t ask questions, what can I learn?”

“Don’t offend anyone”                

My personal RESPONSE: “I’ll say what I think nicely.”

“Do the right thing”

 My personal RESPONSE: “How do you know this is the right for me?”

Change is inevitable.  Our reaction is fateful.  So, toss out the bathing suit and go skinny dipping! But whatever you do?  Know this!  There are no two people alike, and each travel different journeys in life.  What we see from where we each stand is a different view from where the other is so...

“Know your audience” and just BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF!

And you will attract like-minded people, or those around you will adjust.  And if they don’t?  Well then…SO BE IT!

#perfectlyflawed #embracewhatsgood

Shut Down,Turn Off, or Burn? You Decide or Your Employer May Decide For You

Seven years ago, I made a conscious decision to pay strict attention to my work-life balance. I had been pushed to the ledge at my last job. Around that time, I had attended a parent meeting for the travel abroad program that my daughter was scheduled to go on when she was in high school. As I was sitting there asking questions, I noticed that the countries they were visiting included Italy...The one country I never got to go to in my 10 months abroad back in 1990. I traveled to many places but Italy was one I forfeited because my best friend came over to visit and I spent most of my graduation money.  So I informed my daughter that I would like to go on her trip too. I promised I wouldn’t cramp her style. After a little bit of coaxing and some bribery, she conceded.  

I mention that story because it was the first vacation I had taken where I didn’t have access to my computer.  And after experiencing a complete shut down, turned off mode, and being present in every moment, I made the commitment to making my vacations that way moving forward.

I took a whole week off last week. It was prompted by the craziness of gearing up for 2020 planning, and all of the coverage I’ve been seeing about physician burnout lately. According to HealthLeaders and Bluepoint Leadership Development, “Studies show that professional coaching may reduce physician burnout by 20%.

I decided that I didn’t need to be a physician nor did I need to play one on TV to be burnt out. I confidently met all of the criteria for being sizzled.  In fact, my colleagues would likely describe my state of mind over the past month as “up in flames”.  So I decided to not only take a week off. I also signed up to work with a life/business coach!

This past week, I turned off my notifications, spent time with my family and a good friend during my last minute ”staycation”.  And guess what?  I didn’t spontaneously combust, and neither did my business...thanks to my colleagues covering for me. 

Now I’m ready for a productive week. I’m grateful for my awareness of needing an attitude adjustment, but I’m most appreciative to be working for an employer who understands the importance of preserving its peeps. 

Check in with yourself...

Are you able to identify when you need a break?  And how supportive is your employer?