No Shame In Living Vibrantly

I was the kid at the camp lunch table who could be heard saying, “Is anyone going to eat those stringed beans?” (…meaning the entire bowl!) I loved eating clean food.  I was also the kid who climbed up on my dad’s workshop stool to reach for his needle-nose pliers so I could use it to meticulously navigate and then remove the dried up “gunk” from the Elmer’s Glue orange nozzle. I had a knack for clearing out clogged up spaces! In grade school, I remember loving the fragrance of “Love’s Baby Soft” as it would float through the air when classmate Kim Vileno walked by on any given day. I had a nose for scents! This introspection validates my belief that we all have moments in our childhood that point to the professional path we may take later on in life.

I am vegan. 

I am a Certified Colon Hydrotherapist. 

I teach and empower others how to use Essential Oils for daily living. Ka-Pow!

My childhood was truly awesome! I grew up with a super-cool brother and awesome parents who have been married for over fifty years. But in light of the fact that my dad could easily have been a stand-up comedian, he started suffering with severe manic depression in his 40’s. He suffered for decades while trying a variety of options that didn’t hold water and his quality of life and career were severely impacted. The nurturer in me wanted to discover a better solution.

My professional career started out in advertising but a chance colon hydrotherapy treatment in my early twenties helped place my health back in my own hands and changed my career path forever! Colon Hydrotherapy provided me with many personal game-changing health transformations and right before I turned thirty, an opportunity to change my profession and share the benefits of this work with others fell in my lap. Colon hydrotherapy had liberated me from infirmity and chronic health conditions (ear, nose, throat infections, poor complexion, allergic reactions, weight management, herniated disc, etc.) so I was compelled to share with others how easy it was to reclaim THEIR health and liberate themselves from illness naturally, too!

Over the years, I used Essential Oils (solely for the scent) but once I took a certification course in 2015, the science behind the scent completely revolutionized my knowledge of them and has truly benefitted my practice. Now that I have implemented doTERRA Essential Oils to my personal life and with my clients at The Springs, I can honestly say that the thought of working without them feels like I’d be wearing handcuffs! 

Personally, I will share that I had three adverse life-changing experiences occur one right after the other: 1. I closed my NYC practice of seven years and separated from my business partner in doing so. 2. My husband, who I was with for fourteen years and I decided to end our marriage (amicably but still…) 3. I decided to move from New York (where I lived my entire life) to LA and begin a new life and take on a role at a brand new business. My physical health was in tact but emotionally, you can guess, I needed some radical support! Essential Oils rescued and comforted me through the most challenging times of my life; they allowed me to remain competent in the face of adversity while I trained new therapists and helped birth a division of a new company! For the sake of brevity and intrigue, come to a FREE class to learn more about how they work in this way! Or stay tuned to Brandi’s blog for our future classes and specifically the one we will offer on Emotions and Essential Oils! 

As a health practitioner, my approach with my clients is “the guru is you.” My goal is to provide them with safe, effective, affordable, and easy-to-use tools that they can implement in their everyday lives – in the absence of harmful side effects. Working with essential oils allows me to do exactly that – share powerful and beautifully aromatic plant-based medicinals that they can resort to outside of their colon hydrotherapy sessions when unexpected issues may pop-up! These oils provide results - whether we are trouble-shooting a physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional issue – there’s an oil for that! 

Beyond the importance of purity of the oils, much like I am sure many of you have some personal non-negotiables, I love knowing that the companies I align myself with are passionate about their mission, uphold a strong ethical code, and seek to extend their impact beyond just their product or brand to impact the globe. I found two! The Springs and doTERRA! doTERRA’s heart-centered mission to “Place a Healer In Every Home” is the reason why I now teach ongoing classes here (and around the world) …to help empower others and build our community. Learning how to use these pure plant extracts is revolutionizing the way we mange self care. For many, the oils have even created residual income, which helps lift them and their families out of financial dept so they can be luminaries and help inspire others to do the same. Their unique Co-Impact Farming model nurtures century old botanical traditions and creates sustainability of newly developing nations, allowing them to use their own natural resources to life themselves out of poverty. Their humanitarian organization, Healing Hands Foundation, gives 100% of it’s contributions to build birthing centers, schools, water lines, hospitals, and even educate and dispel stigma around young girls menstrual cycles so they can stay in school and graduate to go on and lead more productive lives and live out their dreams! When we use these oils, we are all contributing to these bounties! I love making a difference!

I feel so lucky to be able to share these gifts from the earth with those I may come into contact with on a daily basis (ok, yeah, maybe Uber driver’s love me). They are a joy to share with my clients – some of whom have found me that reside in other countries that I’ve never even traveled to! The oils are a new and powerful modality for me that I love to teach to others so they can transform on all levels, too! When all of our bodily systems are nourished equally, joy, freedom, and bliss will always be ours to share – drop by precious drop!

Me, Myself, and I... Empowering My Conception

Is Shame Getting The Best Of Your Fertility? Are you worried about getting pregnant? Do you think all your eggs have gone bad? Are you mad at yourself or your partner for waiting too long to try for a baby?Did someone tell you that you are too old to get pregnant naturally?  These are the types of worries I hear about day in and day out in my clinic.  And, I wish it weren't the case, but it is: women are dealing with a tremendous amount of shame surrounding their age and their ability to get pregnant.  

As a women's health and fertility expert who got pregnant naturally at the age of 40 (after only a few months of trying!) I am here to quell your fears.  I have been helping women optimize their health and fertility for over a decade and what I see over and over again is that your ability to get pregnant has less to do with your age and more to do with your overall health.  You see, pregnancy is a physiological luxury—one that all women, up until their mid to late 40's—should be able to enjoy if they are in optimal health.  As I always say, when a women's body is in optimal health, getting pregnant comes naturally because that is what the female body is primed to do. However, when the body is under duress or is malnourished or sleep deprived or depressed it does not have the reserves to procreate.  Rather, it is in survival mode and creating another life and nourishing and nurturing it for ten months it is out of the question.  Think about it, how can a body that is barely surviving itself get pregnant?

On top of that, the hard data does not support the fact that fertility declines dramatically with age. Yes, fertility declines as we get older, but not nearly to the extent we are led to believe.  Most information out there on age and fertility tells us that one in three women (about 33%) over the age of 35 will NOT get pregnant naturally after one year of trying.  Yet, the science says something different: a women's odds of conceiving within one year of trying from age 35 to 40 is only about 7% to 8% less than that of a women aged 27 to 30 (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/how-long-can-you-wait-to-have-a-baby/309374/).  Furthermore, there is emerging scientific research that supports the fact that physiological age (meaning how old our cells are) plays a much greater role in fertility (and health) than does chronological age (how many years old we are) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3857638/)

What does all this mean to you?  Bottom line: you can shift your health and improve your fertility.  Yes, you can!  Even if you've been told you have low ovarian reserve, you can still improve the quality of the eggs you do have left.  You can always improve the quality of your overall health and it is from a place of abundant and flourishing health that life can be created.  My advice: focus less on your age and more on your health. 

herSELF

Christy. Writer, Mother, and creator of the blog, BonjourAva..

I knew something was wrong when I woke up one morning with tears flooding my eyes. I looked at Josh as Ava was in the middle of us jumping on the bed, I grabbed his hand and softly said ” I can’t do this today.”

Josh, confused by what I said, saw how distraught I looked, he and I both thought I would feel different later on or even the next day. But I felt worse the next day, I woke up, made Ava breakfast put her in front of the television, kicked Josh out of the bedroom and went under the covers, not to go back to sleep, but to cry. I just didn’t want to be a mother in that moment, I just didn’t feel like interacting with her in anyway.
I was so focused on keeping everything together I wasn’t taking care of myself. And you know what? I didn’t care that I hadn’t showered in days, and that’s when I knew something was up.

I was diagnosed with postpartum depression after I gave birth to Ava, I thought the way I felt was only supposed to last for a few months, but was it possible for my Postpartum to lead into some other depression? I didn’t have suicidal thoughts, but I just had no desire to be apart of everyday life. It was more than motherhood that was keeping me in a emotional place, Josh and I were, and still are going through so many unsettling areas in our partnership, both trying to figure out what will make all three of us happy. For years my depression was noticeable, but it was ignored. It’s a topic that isn’t discussed much in the black community. It wasn’t a real thing to some, it was a bump in the road as I was told growing up. But it wasn’t, the more and more I and my family ignored it, the more severe it became, and it has made it’s way through my journey of motherhood. So Josh and I found it very necessary, not only as a woman, but a black woman to get the attention and help that I needed once and for all.
Mothers have the most important jobs in the world and so many want to do their best. For months I kept calling my own mother over so she could be present and to just take her outside, because I didn’t even want the sunlight to touch me. I was lacking normal interaction with Ava, not singing our usual songs, not playing pretend or reading.

I felt like screaming every night around the same after dinner, anxious for bedtime. I was ready to scream, and I did. One night I left Ava and Josh watching television and I broke down, I laid on the bathroom floor held myself and cried. I realized I couldn’t go on the way I was without outside help. I didn’t want my depression to affect her. I became lethargic, miserable and nothing could amuse me. I felt so low. It scared me. I didn’t wanna to push it away and sit around in hopes of it not returning, I couldn’t push it away. I had to face it. I’m someone’s mother, I didn’t want to end up in a vicious violent space as I did when I was a teenager and my early 20’s, pre Ava.
Mothers who experience depression and other forms of mental illness, listen we can’t help what’s going on with us, We love every ounce of our children but are afraid to be honest about our emotions, afraid of what others might think of us. So many women suffer in silence and I was one of them. I thought I could just get over it, and that it would go away. I was so wrong. I’m grateful for the push from Josh to have me connect with a doctor, sign me up for classes that teach natural ways to eliminate all the toxic feels that I had.

My child deserves a mother that is attentive and a mother who takes care of herSELF!
I see you and I support you, you are not alone. It’s ok to ask for help when you know something doesn’t feel right, when you see a specific behavior has become a part of your everyday life, affecting your family. Be the brave woman you are, and seek help. Find out the best route to tackle your depression. It will be the greatest gift you give yourself and your child.
Peace & love
Christy

WEARING MOTHERHOOD

NSPP- About you…..Please share a little background about yourself. 

JG- By nature, I’m an intense person. I think beyond what’s offered, question everything and explore all areas of the human condition. I accept discomfort until I find what feeds and nurtures me and it is here where I’m then able to discover my authentic self. While my career began as a Stylist/Visual Merchandiser in the corporate fashion world for 10+ years, I longed to do something with greater purpose that satiated my passion for emotional health and wellness. I thought this meant a complete departure from the industry which landed me in pursuit of a Master’s degree in Social Work at NYU. I’ve always been interested in becoming a therapist. I didn’t complete the degree, but started to make sense about my love of fashion which was more about individual style, authenticity and self-expression rather than trends or what was popular amongst the masses. The education rounded out my belief that style can be used with purpose as a vehicle of empowerment and esteem-building. Your Soul Style was born soon after, combining my skills of supporting women as they take a deeper dive into the self with how they express themselves through dress. Today I am personal styling, consulting and building this brand. Your Soul Style is a platform where style meets mindfulness, and my focus is on guiding women on how to align their inner and outer self. Most recently I’ve been working with women during the pre/postnatal transitions since this vulnerable time can often require support. I empower my clientsto find their own rhythm, become their own stylemakers and be the most beautiful version of themselves no matter what phase of life they are going through. I always knew deep down that figuring out who I was, and finding a way to express that was critical to becoming an empowered, confident and self-assured woman. Now it’s what I help others achieve through Your Soul Style. My business motto is ‘Style From The Inside Out’. 

NSPP- How old is your little one? How is #MomLife? 

JG- Vida will be 8 months on March 19th which is pretty insane since this time has felt surreal, and dreamlike. I work hard at staying present so that I can absorb each moment, but regardless of how tight I grasp, it continues to move fast. And life can get in the way as I navigate towards finding semblance and a sense of normalcy again. Plus, the exhaustion. Oh - the exhaustion. That all said, being Vida’s mama is hands down the greatest thing I’ve ever done. Motherhood for me is an organic experience. It takes work in the emotional, physical and mental sense, but the very idea of being a Mother feels right and comfortable. Like it was meant to be. Even when it’s hard (which it is sometimes!), I’m at peace with this role. I never wish things were different. I’m in awe that we can create life, and have never felt more alive than when I look into Vida’s eyes and connect with her on that profound and primal level. Simply put, she is my heart. 

NSPP- How do you wear Motherhood (describe your personal style)?

JG- We all have uniforms dependent on our life phase. It shifts and changes all the time. So for me, motherhood (and pregnancy) presented challenges that pushed me to refine my ‘uniform’. While time for self-care (which includes getting dressed) quickly went out the window, as I tell my clients, style is something to be mindful about, even when it’s hard, time-consuming and feels defeating. There are key strategies that make it all doable. I make sure I’m pulled together with looks that are easy, practical, comfortable, stylish and maintain my authentic self-expression. This keeps me feeling empowered (and grounded) which is critical since energy and vibrations are being absorbed by another human life. I organized a capsule collection for these postpartum life transitions because 75% of my wardrobe doesn't fit yet and I’m also exclusively breastfeeding (hi giant boobs!). For me, this collection includes jumpsuits/overalls, oversized boyfriend jeans, elevated sweatshirts, hats and comfortable shoes. I wear a variation of these pieces on repeat. 

NSPP- What are some basics that you suggest every woman have in their closet for early postpartum? 

JG-

• Nursing-friendly pieces from Loyal Hana. 
• Boyfriend jeans because they are roomy and super stylish too. 
• A good blazer which continues to fit as your body shifts 
• Joggers or elastic waist pants, but don’t fall into the funk of wearing leggings everyday
• That said, faux leather leggings are a must because while they are comfy, they elevate any look
• Items without a defined waist like overalls allow for +/- a few lbs. 
• Hats are key because time spent on hair has been significantly reduced 
• Sneakers, also key and very stylish 
• If breastfeeding, nursing bras and nursing tanks for layering. I also recommend tank tops with large arm holes to easily pull aside for boob access like this one. 
• And scarves to cover up when nursing if you choose to do so

NSPP- Team nursing bra? Or team free the nip?

JG- I’m team nursing bra, although wish I could be on team “free the nip”. I’d love to be able to go bra-less since my free spirited personality more closely aligns with that sensibility. That said, I have big boobs that need support, especially while breastfeeding. I will say however that after 8 months, I don’t really care who sees my boobs. I feed Vida wherever, whenever and don’t cover up. That has been super liberating!

NSPP- If you were trapped on an island, what 3-5 must have items would you have in your bag? 

JG- coconut oil, a hat, bikini, my iphone, and a copy of ‘The Road Less Traveled’ by M. Scott Peck which is essentially my bible 

NSPP- Have you always possessed a positive body image? Has it been a journey? 

JG- It’s still a journey. I’ve come to appreciate the power of my body, especially since pregnancy and giving birth, but still have moments where I need to remind myself about embracing what’s been given to me. Having a positive self-image is critical since the amount of information we have access to and consume can trip us up. But it must start at the core and foundation. How we see ourselves is directly related to how our parents see themselves so the building blocks begin the minute we enter the world. We are products of the people that raise us and children look to their parents first and foremost for validation in who they are. So if your parent(s) has a compromised self-esteem, a child will see that in themselves. I am so super mindful with Vida, especially since she’s a girl and societal pressures run deep. Her foundation needs to be rock solid so when the branches of life start swinging at her, she has the tools to hold steady. Think of it like this: my hair is naturally curly but for a time I was blowing it straight. I decided to stop because although it seems harmless, if Vida has curly hair and Mama doesn’t like her own hair curly, how will she internalize that? She may start to have a negative association with her naturalness. It’s important for me to embrace myself as I am so that Vida will learn to do the same. Through her lens, she is an extension of me so my demonstration of self-love, empowerment and self-esteem is fundamental to secure her own development. 

NSPP- How do you take time to breathe in your own oxygen and self care? 

JG- Honestly, for a long time I didn’t. Up until now , I gave every inch of myself to Vida. And still the majority of me is hers. She has my mind, my heart, but also as a breastfeeding mama, she has my body too. That said, I recently got back to therapy and practicing yoga again. It’s awakening a part of me that was dormant for some time, and I’m really excited to continue the emotional and physical stretching that come from both. 

NSPP- What is your idea of an amazing Friday night now that you are a Mom? 

JG- I’m not really sure right now. Me and my wife have only gone out on 1 date night since Vida’s arrival and it was lovely to connect and focus on one another without distraction. I know that it’s crucial to our relationship to have that time - I get it. Dinner and a few drinks goes a long way. I look forward to more of that. 

NSPP- Any closing advice for new mamas embracing their postpartum body? 

JG- Take care of yourself emotionally, physically and mentally. Give yourself 1 full year to recover on all fronts. I’m still in the middle of it, but finally starting to inch towards the new normal. I’m 36 so expecting to bounce back quickly is aggressive (although a girl can hope). I work hard at being gentle on myself in the interim which is a mindful practice. Having a baby is a huge transition on all levels so it will take the appropriate amount of time and patience for the pendulum to find its way back to center. Eventually though, you get there. 

Pregnancy... On... Fleek

I was born to make babies. I have always loved children and have been actively involved in my nieces and nephews growing up, and currently I help run the children’s ministries at my church. So naturally I feel ultra prepped for having babies/children of my own. 

I have been married to the love of my life for 4 years and he did not feel as ready as I was for babies. But that magical day came, on a warm day in August, my husband said he was ready. I knew I was ovulating, based on the signs that I had learned from “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” I had read the book years ago to prevent pregnancy naturally which worked for me. (Side Note I wish this book was required reading for all women)

That day my husband and I had a glorious, magical, steamy session! It was fantastic! I woke up the next morning and I am not sure if it was the Lord or my sub-conscience but I heard the small voice tell me that I am with child. And sure enough 2 weeks later that little pregnancy test from the dollar store confirmed what I had heard that day. 

Now I am happily 8 months pregnant with just 8 more weeks to go. And just like with so many things in life there really is no way of knowing what pregnancy would be like until you yourself are pregnant. I had heard about all the pain at the end while birthing your baby. But I had not heard about all the aches, pains and annoyances along the way to that special day when I get to meet my little guy. 

It started in the first trimester: 

My boobs! Growing so big (awesome! it’s like a free boob job), but then they hurt so much. Even if my husband would just look at them I would wince at the thought of the pain if he were to actually touch them.

Exhaustion, many days I would get home from work so exhausted! It felt as though I could not sleep enough. 

Mood swings, I could go from happy to depressed on a moments notice. So I decided to stay home and binge watch Netflix rather than socialize and make a fool out of myself.

Cravings, I normally abstain from carbs but now carbs were are all I wanted. Chips and noodles all day, every day. 

Pain, sex was painful the whole first trimester. My hips getting wider hurt. My back hurts. Sleeping on my side is uncomfortable. Bending down is hard. Standing too much hurts my feet. 

Many of these symptoms were only temporary, some have left for good while others have made come backs. 

What helps me feeling my best are the typical things, like eating right and exercising (I love running). And then there are other things: 

Tummy butter which I owe my lack of stretch marks to and refusing to itch helps too. (I wish I had known about the effects of stretch mark prevention creams during my growth spurts in high school!)

Belly support band helps support my back during my workouts and short runs. 

Icon undies help me stay dry and comfortable all day. My birth canal just seems to get more moist everyday as I inch toward delivery, and then there is the fear of peeing my pants from my sweet baby playing with my bladder. I haven’t had an accident like that yet but wearing my icon undies is like having an insurance policy, I am insured that if I do have an accident that only I will know.

It’s the little things in life like not feeling itchy, having less back pain and being dry down there that is helping me get through this season of being awkwardly big and uncomfortable.

I also like to speak positively to my discomforts: 

Thank you leaking boobs, for you will make incredible food for my baby boy. Thank you aching hips for getting wide enough to birth this big baby boy. Thank you discharge for getting amped up to help my baby slip out. And thank you son for kicking and punching to tell me that you are alive and doing well. Mommy loves you so much already.