 Greetings, Wellness Feast Community!
I'm just back from visiting my dad on his 78th birthday! The drive to and from Richmond, Virginia was gorgeous, and I had my 19-year-old son with me, which made it extra special. Lately, my three teenagers and I have been giddy with thoughts of the holiday season. My husband, ever the steady realist, will say quietly, "Stay in the present, guys." And of course, he's exactly right. That being said, I stand by my special ability to be absolutely mesmerized by the leaves, chunky sweaters and apple cider of fall, while also being super excited for the holidays. The ability to stay present did not come naturally or easily for me. I needed a couple knocks up 'side the head to start really living in the present moment. I still backslide sometimes, and have to start training those present awareness muscles again. This is something many of my clients choose to work on, and I'm right there experiencing it with them. What a gift. What a present. I'm happy to share that I am opening a few more spots in my private coaching schedule this fall. If you could use some support adopting healthier lifestyle habits, getting clear on your goals and the steps needed to get there, or simply abiding more in the present moment, I urge you to reach out sooner rather than later for a consultation. The spots fill up fast, especially in January. And as I posted earlier this week, contrary to popular belief, you do not have to wait until January to adopt healthier habits or take action on those dusty resolutions. In fact, fall's harvest, the cooler temperatures, the beauty of autumn days and that "back to school" feeling all provide an inspiring and motivating backdrop for healthy, creative, intentional living. You have one glorious life ~ make it count!     Dear Wellness Feast community,
I had hoped to do the Food for Others Tysons 5K and Fun Run like we did pre-COVID (check out our pics from 2019), but I’ll be traveling that weekend. But that’s not stopping us ~ we’ve been lifting weights over here, and I have two strapping teenage boys ~ and a strong teenage girl, come to think of it! So we are collecting donations until the end of September, which we’ll deliver to the FFO warehouses in shifts. Please do not bring fresh/perishable foods from the list above, we will take care of the fruits and vegetables. All other items are up for grabs! Reply to this e-mail if you would like to donate, and I will send you our address. For those of you participating in the Wellness Feast 14-Day Health Reboot, you can bring your donations to the Reboot Retreat on September 17th. And here is the Food for Others Amazon wish list if you don't have time to bring something by. Let’s help our neighbors, y’all! It’s been a tough few years for all of us. #giveback #community #serve  The Reboot materials go out a week from today! And let me share a funny story with y’all. Yesterday I pulled up the draft materials on my phone to search for the apple cake recipe. The dangerous combination of my clumsy fingers and lack of reading glasses somehow caused the word “apple” to be deleted everywhere. And it couldn’t be fixed with a click of the “undo” button for some reason. So I got to comb through all 80+ pages looking for all the places where the word apple should appear. Let’s just say it was a lifetime learner moment, as I attempted to turn frustration into meditation. I hope you’ll take this opportunity to “reboot” yourself in a holistic, balanced way. You’ll be well-fed, energized, empowered and excited about the season ahead. Find it HERE.
 I hope you'll join us in September for the next 14-Day Health Reboot. Yes, we'll be upending and rearranging the way we eat, move, rest, etc. ~ all with the goal of forming new and healthier habits, reducing toxins and reconnecting with the way we nourish ourselves. But we're also doing something new this season. It's no accident that the 14 days lead to the Autumnal Equinox: that moment of BALANCE between day and night. Each day on the Reboot, I'll be providing something for you to reflect on . . . all in the theme of BALANCE. Don't miss this opportunity to identify the places in your life that need a little more or a little less. Let's be intentional about moving into the next season. Members, you can RSVP in the Members Area. If you're not a Member yet, you can get the Reboot here (and it comes with a year of Membership). See you soon!
 I have exciting news about the Private Stretch + Flow classes.
The class has been a great success: a small group of us moving our bodies under the trees as the sun sets and the birds & frogs provide background music. Guided by Shannon Callahan, our wonderful certified fitness instructor, we've been able to connect with our bodies and each other. I can't tell you how this has changed the rhythm of my week. Although we'll be celebrating our final session next week, Shannon will be offering the series one more time this spring (she'll take the summer off, but will offer it again in the fall). Here's how it works: If you are interested in hosting the class, find a group of friends to join you, and then reach out to Shannon to schedule a day and work out details. It is free for the host, and the next series is $125 for the other participants (five weekly sessions starting May 23rd, excluding Memorial Day week). Shannon's e-mail address is shannon@moveeatbreathe.com. (Not local? Let Shannon know if you'd like to discuss a virtual option! She has been teaching virtual classes for several years.) This is a fantastic way to connect with friends, your body and nature, all with a personal trainer right there by your side. I hope to see some of you in class!  Photo by Swiss photographer Emmanuel Keller Registration is now CLOSED for the new Wellness Feast Stretch & Flow class! This initial six-series class will be on Mondays at 7pm from April 11th through May 16th. It will be a one-hour class, with 45-50 minutes of exercise (a blend of stretch, flow, pilates & yoga) led by certified fitness instructor Shannon Callahan. I'll then wrap us up (and wind us down) with 10-15 minutes of breath work and/or guided meditation. The series is $150 for six classes, plus you'll have access to a private Facebook group and online workouts to access between classes. And our last class will be followed by a special closing celebration. Wouldn't this be an amazing way to start each week this spring? This class is SOLD OUT, but watch this space for future movement and mindfulness opportunities ~ Namaste!
 Greetings, Wonderful Community!
Did you think I had forgotten about that survey I sent out last November? Well, I'm pleased to announce we got through Omicron and winter, and we're ready to MOVE! Wellness Feast is now offering a private yoga/flow class en plein air on Monday evenings starting April 11th with certified fitness instructor Shannon Callahan. This six-class series will be held outdoors at my home in Northern Virginia (we'll move to the sunroom on rainy days). We are keeping this class small, so please let me know if you are interested, and I'll send you details, pricing information and a registration form. AND Shannon has generously offered to prepare a few online sessions for the Members Area in advance! (Not a Member yet? Get it here!). I'm super excited about this ~ let's welcome spring together. Namaste! Visualization is a word the "wellness industry" likes to throw around a lot. But it was an important element in my own life long before it was a buzzword. When I was very young, my father started teaching me about it regularly. I was so young, in fact, that I can't tell you the words he used. It has been a consistent message, almost like he was watering a plant. And it's not "visualize what you want and you'll get it." The closest thing I can compare it to is one of Dr. Wayne Dyer's principles of inner peace, treating yourself as if you're already who you want to be. But that's not quite it either. It's a focused visual exercise, nearly a mental rehearsal, where you experience it with all your senses, and there's a knowing involved. Several years ago, I found a guided visualization meditation that was profoundly useful to me ~ I have long since forgotten the source of the meditation, but I return to the exercise regularly. It is a deeply personal exercise, and I won't bore you with mine ~ I suspect it's a bit like telling people in great detail what your dream was the night before, and they stand there waiting to pour their coffee, nodding and smiling politely, hoping it wraps up soon. What I will tell you is that it works. And it doesn't mean you won't have hardships or things in your life that you certainly did not visualize, but I am learning to see my way through those moments, too. Because it's not about control, but about clarity, detail, intention, attention and a healthy dose of allowing God/the Universe/your inner guide/Spirit (the label does not matter) to give you what is right . . . at the exact right time. I encourage you to give it a try, as awkward as it may feel the first few times. And if you're having trouble or don't know where to start, shoot me a message and I can point you to some resources (not least of which is the Spring Wellness Retreat). For now, I am visualizing so much light and love connecting us all, a light that cannot be extinguished or divided. Wouldn't it be amazing and powerful if we all tapped into that together?
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Photo: Lynn Cates
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