April 2024 Newsletter
Happy Spring! I hope you are all enjoying the blossoming trees, the tulips and daffodils, and the warmer and brighter days. Thank you for reading my newsletter where each month I will continue to share with you more of my personal journey and things I have been learning, teaching, reading, and loving. My hope is that you will find something that speaks to your heart and leads you toward healing and happiness in your own life. I also hope that these newsletters will encourage deeper connection with yourself, as you contemplate your thoughts and questions. Please know I always love reading your responses and insights if you are willing to share. In the spirit of sharing, please feel free to share this email with any friends or family who you feel may benefit from it as well.
What I am learning:
For 2 ½ weeks in February and March, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a psychosomatic practitioner training at the beautiful Heaven and Earth Sanctuary in Costa Rica, under the direction of Carole Friesen. When you go through something deeply transformational and try to explain the experience to others, words seem to fall flat. How do you convey the depth of change that occurred in your mind and heart or the deep connection you feel to people who were complete strangers when you met? Though I wish I could formulate the right words to share about all I learned and experienced, everything I attempt feels lacking. So, I will simply share that this experience has had a profound effect on me. I will forever hold in gratitude the love, the learning, and the experiences I shared with some incredible souls in the most beautiful place.
One personal takeaway in the training for me, came as I learned about my own body posture and what that was reflecting. I understood I was inhibiting one of the things I desire most, which is deep authentic connection. My posture reflected fear and insecurity, with my rounded shoulders and my head and upper body leaning back. My arms and hands were often tucked in trying to protect and keep me safe and small. My quiet, timid voice enhanced these perceptions. These significant misalignments in my posture were speaking volumes to those who interacted with me, without me saying a word, and were either keeping people away or making others feel as if I needed to be protected. As we explored our posture and the reflections we gained from this and began learning how to walk and stand in alignment, I could feel a shift in how I felt internally as well. My voice was able to articulate with more clarity and resonance and I observed those around me began relating with me in a deeper, more authentic manner. I learned how valuable alignment and understanding how our body speaks to us can be; not only in our interactions with others, but in how we see ourselves, our confidence, our health, and in how we show up in our lives.
What I am offering:
NEW OFFERINGS:
My training in Costa Rica taught me some valuable new tools that I am excited to share. I am in need of some volunteers who will be willing to allow me to practice my new skills for a reduced cost. I am looking for clients willing to have a face reading, a hand reading, a foot reading, a full body analysis, lifestyle consultation, and emotional release trigger point therapy. See detailed explanations of each of these offerings attached at the end of this newsletter.
YOGA and RETREATS:
Join us every Tuesday at 8pm MST on zoom for 60 min of yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Join our Facebook group here to stay up to date on any changes to the schedule: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1997436973946383/?ref=share_group_link. First class is always free and $10 per class after.
I am offering private, in-home (or online) yoga lessons for those looking for more personalized attention. I also am happy to do private retreats tailored to you and your groups’ needs. These offerings are not on my website currently so please reach out via email if a personalized yoga session or retreat is of interest to you.
HIKING:
This month we will be hiking the Eagle Crags Trail. It is approx. 4 miles and rated as hard. Come challenge yourself and be rewarded with amazing views, great conversations, new friends, and a sense of accomplishment. Stay tuned for updates or other changes due to weather. I look forward to seeing you all on the trail! If you are interested in joining us for a hike, please join our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/384391280768422/?ref=share_group_link
SALVES:
I am also selling homemade herbal salves on my website. Choose from Calendula, Pine, Rosemary, Calendula mixed with Rosemary, or a NEW OFFERING of Yarrow. The calendula, rosemary, and yarrow salves are made from homegrown organic herbs and the pine salve is carefully harvested from Pinion pines in the Southern Utah area. These salves have many beneficial properties and are a great addition to your home first aid kit.
If any of these offerings are of interest to you, please reach out to me at joyfulbalancedhealth@gmail.com
What I am reading:
I have been reading and studying the manuals from my course in Psychosomatic Therapy and am so excited to share more about this process in the coming months. I love this simple explanation of the language of Body-Mind Communication from the founder, Hermann Muller. He says “The language of the Body-Mind communication is universal. It is the soul communicating its experience of what it is like to be in a human body. This ‘language’, through body chemistry, recognizes no nationality or doctrine. It only seeks to impart love, compassion, and understanding to be experienced as a good healthy life. Every word we speak and every feeling or thought we have is a voice within us trying to tell us something. We need to learn to listen to these messages of communication within our own body-mind to understand ourselves.”
What I am loving:
I am loving the opportunity I have had to go through the “Fundamentals of Intuitive Coaching and Healing” course again with Christy Carter. She is an exceptional teacher, mentor, and friend and I love learning from her. On one of our recent calls, we discussed the power of a question and how it can offer a chance for self-reflection. A powerful question was asked that I would love to pose to you (and as always would love to receive your responses). How are you a brand-new person today or from the last time I interacted with you?
Sending you all love and light,
♥️Jessica