Like you may also have experienced in this crazy human world we live in, I spent a large chunk of my life trying to cope with high stress. I found myself totally stressed out and consumed by it, to the point that I could not fully function in life as needed.

It was devastating to go from finding out during pregnancy that my son had Down syndrome and needed open-heart surgery, to losing my parents from cancer just two years after his birth. Looking back now, I see I did the best that I could in those stressful times. I began eating healthier, which led me on a five-year journey with raw food and nutrition. I never fully processed the stress and grief that I held in my body, and this led to intense consequences years later, after the results of stress had time to compound.

When I was diagnosed with a vestibular disorder called Menieres, I was then literally confined to my bed for almost two years. My body was trying to communicate with me, and my sensations were trying to get my attention. I did not listen until it was screaming at me. Oops!

Even though the last thing I wanted to do at the time was move my body, it ended up playing a huge role in my healing. I needed movement and flow to process the stress. I began an embodied healing journey, even though I had no idea what that was. I just knew that MOVING helped me feel better.

By studying yoga and somatics as a way to connect with my body, I started to heal. Learning about somatics and stress has been truly fascinating to me. All along there was a better way to deal with the hurt, pain, and stress. I just didn’t know it. I’m really grateful to be able to share this with you both in this journal and beyond!