March 2023 Newsletter
Happy March friends! Hopefully spring is around the corner! It has been a long winter and I am ready for sunshine and warmer weather. I am so grateful for each one of you and the connections with you through my hikes, classes, and retreats. 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. 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:
This month I have been learning more about our bodies amazing ability to heal, as we provide the conditions that allow for that to occur. I have been seeing a NAET practitioner to help me with my allergies. Throughout my life, I have had many sensitivities that have affected my ability to enjoy certain foods, animals, and to be comfortable in different environments. I have learned that allergies can have a physical, chemical, and emotional component and each area needs to be addressed to fully resolve the allergy. I am loving being able to eat more foods and enjoying my surrounding without adverse reactions. I am so grateful for knowledgeable practitioners who can treat allergies noninvasively. Our bodies are so amazing! I love learning more about our bodies and ways we can heal. What is something you have learned that fascinates you about our bodies?
What I am offering:
My 10-day online masterclass “Foundations for a Mindful Life” is available online. It is a self-paced course that can be enrolled in at any time. In this course you will learn simple foundational practices that will invite you to begin living in a more mindful way.
My online course “A Mindful Life Method” is a more in-depth self-paced online course that will lead you on a journey of reconnection with yourself. You will learn tools to reduce stress and anxiety in your life and practices that will help you live a more balanced, joyful life. Registration is available on an ongoing basis and group coaching calls will be every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 pm.
Every Tuesday evening at 8:00 pm MST, I have an amazing group of ladies that join me for a yoga class with breathwork and guided meditation. We have built a beautiful community of women and I look forward to teaching them each week. This is an online class and we always love when new friends join. First class is free and the cost is $5 each class after. Please join our group app by scanning the QR code below if you are interested in joining us.
Once a month I host a free women’s hiking group for ladies in my local area of Southern Utah. Our next outing will be on March 11th at 10 am. We are planning to hike the Snow Canyon Overlook, which is a 4.9-mile moderate hike with absolutely amazing views. Stay tuned for updates or changes due to weather. I look forward to seeing you all on the trail! If you are interested in joining us for a hike, scan the QR below and join our group hiking app.
I am also selling homemade herbal salves on my website now. Choose from Calendula, Pine, Rosemary, or Calendula mixed with Rosemary. The calendula and rosemary 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 for more information at joyfulbalancedhealth@gmail.com.
What I am reading:
I have been reading “Women, Food and Hormones” by Dr Sara Gottfried. Over the last year I have been working with my doctor to regulate my hormones as I continue through menopause. It has been challenging to find the right balance and find relief from many of the symptoms of menopause I am experiencing. I have been searching for more information and ways to manage some of my more stubborn symptoms and was excited to read this highly recommended book. I loved several things about this book: 1. The way Dr Gottfried explained about each of the major hormones and their effects in a simple and easy to digest way. 2. I appreciated that she says there is no “one size fits all” approach 3. I loved that her recommendations are based on science, with a personal touch added by sharing her own journey to balancing her hormones. Overall, I found this book informative and helpful in understanding more about hormones and menopause, however, there were a few things that make recommending this book difficult for me personally: 1. Though she states clearly this is not a diet but a science-based approach to health for women, it feels very much like a diet the further into the book you read 2. With my background in nutrition and having worked with clients with disordered eating, I am concerned by the daily weigh ins, the measuring of macronutrients, and restriction of foods she recommends 3. Using a BMI as a measurement is also challenging for me, as I personally do not feel it is an accurate indicator of health and wellbeing. As an example, athletes with extremely low body fat can have a high BMI due to increased weight of muscle mass. I would love to hear feedback from any of you who have read this book. Would you recommend it? Are there any other books or resources that you would recommend on this subject?
What I am loving:
I am loving starting my seeds in my greenhouse and planning my garden for this year. As I have poured over the seed catalogs the last few weeks, I have had growing excitement for getting my hands in the soil, eating fresh food from my garden, and learning more about growing food year round in our greenhouse. I am so excited to try some new heirloom varieties in our garden this year and to share new fresh foods with you at my retreats. Do you love to garden? What is your favorite homegrown fruit or vegetable? How do you plan and prepare for your garden each year?
Sending you all love and light,
❤Jessica
