In Episode 21, our guest Heather Grzych concluded that if there was one thing she wished everyone could do for their own self-nurture, it would be to spend a few minutes of quiet contemplation or meditation as we watch the sun rise. In this episode, I've included a simple guided contemplation that I learned 14 years ago, and still use till this day, to start my mornings. Listen and practice along with this recording the first few times, then take it with you in your quiet mornings. 

Fertility is an issue that usually doesn’t cross a birthing person’s mind until they are thinking about getting pregnant or having trouble getting pregnant. But fertility actually starts with a good foundation of not only healthy tissues, but also a healthy connection with one’s body and oneself. Even though becoming pregnant is a very natural occurrence, the way we live our lives today is anything but natural, which can affect the health of our reproductive tissues, our hormonal balances, and the levels of toxins within our bodies, just to name a few. Caring for our reproductive health is, after all, self-nurture.

Today, I’m speaking with a friend of mine, and also someone I look up to, Heather Grzych, on the topic of fertility through Ayurveda lens. If you’re not familiar with Ayurveda, it’s a sister science of yoga, and we will be discussing it briefly during the episode, though it doesn’t do it justice to the complex system of art and science that it is.

People of color and marginalized communities, who face a disproportionate amount of societal stress and burden, are often the ones who need self-nurture the most. But because of the economy around self-care, it is inaccessible to them, let alone enough time for themselves to think about how they can care for and nurture themselves.

That is why, today, I asked Elena Velez, founder and director of Community Restorative Training, to be here with us today to speak on this very important mission she is on — to educate and bring accessibility of self-nurture to marginalized communities.

Abhyganga, or Ayurvedic self-massage, applies warmed oil (oftentimes infused with herbs for unique bodily constitutions) to our entire body from head (including scalp) to toes. This ancient and traditional practice helps with regulating the nervous system, nourishing the skin, and relieving tension from muscles and tendons. 

Yvette guides us into a simplified practice of Abhyanga that you can easily fit into your busy schedule!

How often do we feel that we are not in control when it comes to our hormonal health, and that we are unfortunate victims when it comes to menstruation and menopause? In this episode, I speak with Yvette Racines, founder of Vital Living Wellness, an Ayurveda inspired bodycare brand, on simple self-care and self-nurture practices that can aid us throughout our hormonal transitions, especially the transition into menopause. 

Listen IN to our conversation on self-care principles based in Ayurveda for a more easeful perimenopausal period. Even if you are not yet in that stage in your life, or past that, Yvette's tips are timeless and foundational for all, even non-menstruating folks.

Many of us are oblivious to the knowledge and awareness that how we care for our menstrual cycles can greatly impact our energy, mood, sleep, PMS symptoms, and more. Furthermore, when we choose to ignore, alter, and/or suppress the natural rhythms of our menstrual cycles, our entire bodily functions can be thrown off course, resulting in hormonal-related health issues.

Listen in to my conversation with Nicole Tillotson, founder of Season and Cycle, on menstrual health, cycle syncing, and how we can actually revitalize our health when we lean into the little known secret superpowers of our menstrual cycles! We discuss the different inner “seasons” of the menstrual cycle and self-care practices appropriate for each “season” for ultimate self-nurture.

This short and sweet yoga nidra / guided relaxation practice is suitable for when you are in a pinch with time, yet feel the need to nurture yourself. Embrace rest with these little moments of self-soothing to help regulate your nervous system throughout the day. The yoga nidra guides you through the contemplation that, when you tend to your body, your body will tend to you in return.

In this episode, Elaine explores our relationship with rest and the resistance many of us have towards it. She shares her own journey of learning to embrace rest and the importance of balancing busyness with rest. Elaine encourages listeners to have an honest conversation about their relationship with rest and to reframe the idea of deserving rest. She emphasizes that rest is the foundation for success and caring for oneself and others. The episode concludes with a reminder to constantly listen to our bodies and adapt our forms of rest as our circumstances change.