April 2020

Hi, I hope that you and all of your family and friends are healthy and safe. I want to share some valuable strategies for navigating this different life that we are all living in right now. I hope that they help. XO Heidi

Try to start your day in the same way. Create a schedule for both weekdays and weekends that includes free time as just that, time to do whatever you feel like doing. Engage in informal mindfulness practices: simple activities done for just what they are; doing the dishes to do the dishes, folding laundry to fold the laundry, gardening, drawing, cooking... keeping your mind focused on the task at hand and enjoying the process.

Get outside daily! Walk, run, bike, swim, ski, hike… try to spend time in nature, it promotes wellbeing in so many ways. Fresh air and sunshine help boost the immune system and relieve stress.

Also, Stretching, Yoga & Pilates have many physiological benefits and are great ways to stay strong and flexible & alleviate tension.

Eating healthy, nutritious, balanced meals nourishes our bodies and minds and strengthens our immune systems. Staying as healthy as we can is crucial now. Try to avoid inflammatory foods such as sugar, trans fats, processed foods & alcohol. Try to eat a lot of fresh veggies, fruits, fish, legumes, and whole grains. Immune boosting supplements can also help. A few that I like: Sambucus Elderberry & Echinacea tincture or syrup, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Host Defense Breathe, Goli Apple Cider Vinegar gummies, & Garden of Life pro/pre biotics. Staying hydrated is really important!

Try to get 8 hours of sleep a night. During sleep is when all of our cells repair and our body restores itself.

Daily meditation practice can bring incredible peace of mind and promote overall wellbeing. Try a one minute meditation. Sitting comfortably, closing your eyes, notice your breath and follow it as it comes in through your nose, through your body and then back out through your nose. Feel the peace and relaxation that it brings. Try pausing at the end of each inhale and exhale for just a moment. You can think of a 2 syllable word or sound and repeat it in your mind as you breathe in and out. Sit for a minute and see how you feel. Smile. Try for longer periods of time if you want. When thoughts come in to your head, notice them, like clouds in the sky, and let them drift away. Be compassionate with yourself, and know that you will have thoughts, but try to practice just noticing them and not attaching any emotion to them.

Practicing gratitude is the best way to shift your focus to what is positive, therefor bringing a sense of joy into your life.

Love with all of your heart always...

Doing things for others generates a great sense of happiness. The more we connect and help each other the closer we become in our communities and in the world.