Feb

10

Weigh Less, Live More Workshop & Mom

Events

Last Saturday, I gave my first Your Best Self Workshop at Barefoot Studio and have to say I was a little nervous. I wanted the experience to be inspiring, informative and to move people to make changes that help them reach their health goals.

 

I was also a little afraid no one would show….But, thanks to my Mom, who was the first person through the door, 15 minutes early….. with 3 of her friends in tow, there were 8 people at the workshop (there’s nothing better than Motherly Love  :)

So, I poured my heart into the following intentions:

1) To help them understand why diets don’t work - especially in America where we’re bombarded by conflicting, confusing nutrition advice from all kinds of sources – doctors, government, business, celebrities….

2) To help them understand how the body works so we can make more grounded decisions that make sense for our own bodies and lives.

3) To give them a list of 12 things to try that,  if they just added one of them to their life (and didn’t change anything they were currently doing) they would be on the road to reaching their health goals.

My nerves subsided once I got rolling and I could tell the conversation was resonating with a few…there were some tears, some laughs and some honest sharing.

(that's Mom in the pink :)

One woman said she’d never thought of weight loss in the “whole life” way it was presented. It seemed less daunting than her past attempts.

Another said it was helpful to hear how the body worked and didn’t realize how water affected so many areas – digestion, moods, energy, etc.

I loved giving the workshop and can’t wait to give the next one on “Sugar Blues and Understanding Cravings.”  I hope you’ll join me (and my Mom;) Saturday, February 18th.

 

Take care,

Denese

 

 

 

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Jan

29

Spa relief without the expense

Mindset

Next time you’re frustrated, finding yourself making choices that do not make you feel your best… ponder the power of self-healing with this quote from Melody Beattie’s book of daily insights:  Journey to the Heart. Then, go to the spa…the one right outside your door (or in your bathtub).

 “Infuse healing energy into yourself… into your being. For too long we’ve been attracted to things that drain us, exhausting our body, depleting our soul. That time has passed. The world is a spa, a nature retreat, a wealth of healing resources.”

The universe must be telling me to do more of this because this was the book’s December 28th message –  the day my sister gave me this Christmas present – homemade grapefruit bath bombs, made from Epsom salts and Peppermint body scrub.  They  truly are magic!

 

Get outside… really see your surroundings…

Pet a puppy, feel a piece of velvet.. Or, do both from a furry-bean bag ;)

 

Rise early. Watch the sunrise… Really feel the sunrise. Let it energize, invigorate you, fill you with life.

 

Make a list of the little things that ground you, calm you, make you happy. Next time you’re frustrated, try one of them… they’ll magically make it better and may not even cost you a cent!

If you’d like to learn more about the power of self-care and becoming your best self, join my  YOUR BEST SELF WORKSHOPS  at Barefoot Studio, beginning Saturday, February 4th from 2:30 – 4:00. They’re free… and may be just the catalyst you need to make this year your best, healthiest ever.

 

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Jan

21

7 little things that bring big things + a bonus tip

Mindset

Seeing everyone’s New Year’s intentions can be frustrating if you’re not sure where you want to go. I’ve found that focusing on daily activities that ground me always bring me joy, clarity and somehow magically, the big things get resolved.  That’s what I did in 2011 and the year unfolded better than I could have imagined.

I spent time in Australia, Alaska, camped along the California coast, watched my niece dance with the Rockettes in Boston, saw one of Oprah’s last shows,  wrote for an Australian home design magazine, wrote a guest post for designer, Tobi Fairley’s blog, began health counseling school, moved deeper into a loving relationship, moved into (and decorated) a beautiful home and ended the year with a dog (a testament to divine intervention… I had no intention of getting a dog until Bisbee came into my life… and no idea how much I would love him.)

Here are the little things that work for me… what works for you?

  • sitting, meditating for 20 minutes each day… probably the most important on the list… it helps me slow down and enjoy where I am, not get ahead of myself, or struggle so much trying to figure everything out. 

  • read something inspiring, usually a passage from Journey to the Heart

  • write daily, usually 20 minutes of journaling at 750words.com.

  • get outside, go for a walk, look for beauty, take a picture (I had so much fun w/ this last year that I’m taking a photo class. And now I have Bisbee to join me!)

  • practice yoga…moving, new schedules, new careers, a new way of life has rocked my yoga schedule a bit. Missing classes has only made me realize how important it is in my life. 

  • eating real food... lots happened in the food department for me last year. I ate a lot of kale, drank a lot of green juice, explored sweet potatoes and cooked more than I ever have. The result? I feel so much better.  I never think about my weight and I never knew how good veggies could be. I still have chocolate when I want. I over-do at times, but I don’t even think about it, because I know I’m on the right track. I struggle more with making the time to cook, than the food choices to make.

  • take a bath… I had no idea how therapeutic a bath could be. My yoga teacher suggested oil baths and I discovered Epsom salts… Both work magic, no matter what’s going on in my world.

BONUS: when you enjoy the process, everything comes easier….

I’m looking forward to seeing what 2012 brings. What are your little things?

p.s. – I hope you’ll join Barefoot Studio’s 90-Day Transformation Challenge andmy New Year, New You Workshop Series beginning January 28th at Barefoot Studio, Tucson !

 

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