Heart and Soul Healing Reflections

Reflections on research-based healing benefits of yoga, neurofeedback & talk therapy

Prescribing yoga before medication for sleep disorders?

As we age, sleep changes and may become more elusive. And sleep is mission critical for our mind/body health and longevity. Personally, as I have gotten older, I’ve kind of become obsessed with sleep, wanting to make sure that I get enough that includes adequate REM and deep sleep. I recently started to wear the […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Celebrate National Craft Month

March is National Craft Month! National Craft Month was established to encourage creativity and exploration.  Crafting has been shown to relieve stress and boredom.  It can spread passion and identify hidden talents! Crafting includes a broad range of mediums:  paper, fabric, wood, paint, glass, clay, yarn, beads, leather, stone, crystals and metal.  The art of […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Strengthen Our Courage

With the new calendar year comes intentions for change. As we welcomed the Chinese New Year of the Snake on January 29th, the snake encourages all of us to embrace change and growth.  Yet change is scary as it requires us to open our hearts up and take a risk to try something different.  It […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Raise Poverty Awareness

January is Poverty in America Awareness Month! National Poverty in America Awareness Month is observed in the month of January.  I experienced food scarcity as a child, so this topic is close to my heart.  Food scarcity can have a profound and wide-ranging impact on a child’s mental health.  It affects their emotional well-being, cognitive development, and social […]

What new non-drug approaches to treating PTSD are on the horizon?

My husband purchased a virtual reality headset a couple of years ago to enhance his workout routine. I thought whatever supports his efforts to maintain his health and increase his chances of a longer life, go for it! Two years later, he continues to use it, so I’m grateful it was not just another impulse […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Protect Your Identity

National Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month! With a recent burglary and learning that part of my Social Security number was found on “the dark web’ rattling my cage so to speak, I felt compelled to alert others to perhaps raise their awareness as to what they might be able to do to protect themselves.  […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Strengthen Your Kindness Muscles

World Kindness Day was first introduced in 1998 and is observed each year on November 13th.  The World Kindness Movement (WKM) introduced World Kindness Day to promote awareness of global goodwill and offers an opportunity to highlight good deeds in the community.  People around the world are encouraged to perform acts of kindness every day throughout […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas for Expand Awareness of ADHD

October is ADHD Awareness Month! When you hear the acronym PDA, what do you think of?  Up until recently, I would have said ‘public display of affection’.  Well this acronym has more recently taken center stage in the world of neurodiversity as a new symptom of Pathological Demand Avoidance. What is that you might ask?  Well, it […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Bust the Myths of Suicide

Suicide Prevention Month Suicide is a public health crisis that affects millions of people worldwide.  Unfortunately, many misconceptions and myths exist around it, which hinder understanding, empathy, and effective prevention.  September is Suicide Prevention Month to help raise awareness of suicide prevention and of actions that can be taken to promote healing, offer help, and give […]

What is shame and why might it be important to talk about it?

I imagine we all can identify something that we experienced in the past that we feel ashamed of. I know I can. I can also imagine that most of us simply try to ignore any memories of that experience, to avoid the uncomfortable emotions it might bring up for us. Unfortunately, shame is like toxic […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas for Living a Long, Healthy Life!

Since I have been unsuccessful in discovering the fountain of youth, I decided to watch a documentary on blue zones.  It inspired me to share the growing body of evidence that is embodied by the people living in these places.  If you are not familiar with blue zones (and you have Netflix), consider watching Live to 100: Secrets […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas for Self-Certified Foodies

National Culinary Arts Month! Celebrating National Culinary Arts Month can be a delightful experience, whether you’re a food enthusiast, a professional chef, or simply someone who appreciates good food.  Celebrating National Culinary Arts Month is all about indulging your love for food and exploring the rich tapestry of flavors, techniques, and cultures that make up the […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas for Summer Self-Care

Summer is Upon Us! Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional, native approach to physical, mental and emotional health and well-being in India that has been practiced for 5,000 years.  It includes practices such as yoga, meditation, chanting, herbal medicine, and dietary changes.  It is a natural, holistic, preventative approach to illness that is centered around the […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Honor Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Month We have been taught to smile through pain and to simply say “Fine” or “Good” when someone asks us how we are doing.  It has been modeled to us to wear masks and not show anyone what we are truly feeling.  Well, it’s okay to not be okay!  And you are not alone.  […]

As an intervention, what impact might yoga have in the lives of female survivors of intimate partner violence?

I know intimate partner violence (IPV) is not a pleasant or easy topic to think and talk about, yet it is the only way forward. When you think about IPV, I suspect most people first think about physical violence. Yet, did you know that psychological violence is the most common form? IPV, in all of […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Celebrate Diversity

Celebrate Diversity Month! Celebrate Diversity Month takes place each April. It was initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity of the world around us. It is a time to recognize and understand our differences, be it gender, race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation and other factors while honoring the common essence of humanity. By appreciating […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Support Building Trust

If you have difficulty trusting others, you are not alone.  And, it might have more to do with a struggle to trust yourself. Take a moment and think about why you trust someone else.  Did it happen over night?  Did it happen in response to one interaction?  Do you have faith in their abilities?  Do you feel […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas for Individual Growth

Celebrating the Month of Love When we think about the month of February, it often brings up thoughts of Valentine’s Day.  It is also a month to honor American Heart Month and Black History Month.  And this year happens to be a leap year as well! I believe what ties all of these occasions together is an opportunity for individual […]

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Sharpen the Skills of Connection

Happy New Year! Almost a decade ago, when I was contemplating what to name my business, I knew that I wanted the word “connection” in it because of my personal transformation from connecting with my authentic self and then connecting with others.  Making connections, and maintaining the health of those connections, continues to be at […]

Can neurofeedback reduce the effects of another symptom of trauma – gambling?

As I like to quote renowned addiction expert, Dr. Gabor Maté, “Not all traumatized people become addicted, but all addicted people, including those addicted to opioids, were traumatized in some way.” He has also stated “Addiction is only a symptom, it’s not the fundamental problem. The fundamental problem is trauma.” This message is very powerful […]