The Significance event for Women, was a wonderful evening of connecting and teaching some great stress management skills. Kimberli and I were pleased with the evening even though I have been told that June is traditionally a bad month to plan an event.

In comprising my notes for the evening, I narrowed down my coaching life balance wheel to be more succinct, and added a few tips from each of the categories.

In doing this, and after the most recent proposal I did for a large NPO here in Jacksonville, I have developed a packaged program called Care4U-Preventive Incentive _TM.
It covers 6 courses on the most impacting areas that we all search for balance and peace in our life, with a proactive self-care activity contest to make it more fun. I am excited about introducing this program to some of the wonderful companies we have already connected with.

We will be comprising it into an Care4U E-book and a Care4U workshop, for those that need a smaller initiative.

You can email me for more info at sophiadare (at) lifesjourneywellness (dot) com.

What is it that causes some individuals to become so consumed with their painful circumstances that they just decide to check out?

I just heard of another executive tragedy in our area, and altho taking our own life may seem unfathomable to the average person, those of us who have walked through seriously grievous situations may have stood at the edge of that precipice before.

Sometimes checking out of marriage or even of life itself may look like the easier option, than dealing with the hopelessness and despair of the moment. There have been times when I thought it looked pretty tempting myself.

I also know what are the few factors in our life (my husband and I) that held us together and kept us from throwing in the towel.

Our most tragic family season was 7 years ago, and it has been a walk of faith for us to press on and find the purpose for these experiences.

Now in 2010, while offering wellness initiatives to the community, my friend, Kimberli, and I are seeing how desperately others are needing to be educated and encouraged to take care of themselves, learn how to manage stress, learn to invest in themselves and their own health. It is so important that we feed our mind, spirit and soul with the right stuff, so that when we (inevitably) will be facing an unsurmountable challenge, maybe even standing on the edge of that precipice, we will choose to hope. and choose to stay.

and press on through another season.

Everything is that…just a season.

So we are passionately sharing our hearts and our skills on the 24th of June for a night of Significance.

We are expecting great things on that Thursday night. It will be a night of closer relationships in the community, encouragement in each guest’s gifts and significance, and valuable teaching on self-care.

I hope you will checkout the information on this incredible evening, and pass along to all that you think may really enjoy it, and even need it, in their life.

Some of the things we will be teaching on:

-Longevity tips we learn from centenarians (you may be surprised at some of these)

-Office Yoga, stretching and breathing exercises we can do right there in our office!

- Stress management tips on staying balanced thru ANY season

- and of course, as our name suggests, encouragement in your own Significant value, gifts, and all you have to offer. It will be a great night for developing new and meaningful connections with others in our community.

Did I mention all the food, desserts and gift raffle??

We are looking forward to a sweet night….

We have had some inquiries about the upcoming Significance event for the Business Women of Clay County. I just want to clarify  that this is NOT a vendor fair or Health Fair.  Significance started last December, as an evening set aside to honor, encourage and empower women. We want to honor all of the “wellness-oriented” businesses in clay county and hopefully recognize the significant role that all attendees play in the lives of others.

I have been speaking to women for over six years, and am now being invited into the corporate setting to mostly help with stress management. What I am seeing is epidemic. We are facing serious issues, degenerative diseases, emotional breakdowns, and just plain “burnout”, and the majority of these can be repaired, rectified and prevented through lifestyle choices and habits. We are a STRESSED out society.

Why do I feel passionate about this area? Well, it has to do with my own personal battles with this enemy.

Some who have heard my story over the past few years knew we were special needs parents. We knew what it was like to have on-going stressful issues that we felt powerless to change. We had joy and blessings, and many years of that “fight or flight” chemistry going on in our bodies. After losing our son, we also saw how very physical stress can become.

Women today are finding they are caught between caring for their elderly parents, their young children, or adult children with issues of their own. We are carrying the responsibility of keeping peace in the home, while also helping with the income, as the economy becomes more uncertain. Women are nurturers and we place so many others in our life above ourselves. I want to spend an evening sharing with these women how very important it is that they take care of themselves through all of this. Self-care is so key, for us to be around to care for others.

We will have some chair massage going on for those that really need a break, while the rest of us enjoy a brief message on life balance, dealing with stress, and awesome, uplifting encouragement. Each guest will have time to briefly spotlight who they are and what they represent to others, and then we can connect and enjoy valued relationships in our community.

The chocolate, hors d’ouevres and goodybags will help too.

So whether you want to

• get one ticket to just sit and bask in a relaxed evening, or
• promote your business by donating a gift basket for the raffle or goodybags or
• buy a table of 8 for your staff to get out together and learn,

come join us and become more empowered in your life balance and connections in the community!

Call 276-3116 to reserve a spot.

So much is happening lately! I have teamed up with Life’s Journey Yoga and Wellness and we have finally put a date on our next annual Significance event. It is a sweet,  encouraging evening for the Business women of Clay county FL. You can read all about it here. We are speaking and teaching on Wellness and the importance of  Self-care. So if you are in the N Fl area and would like to join us, call the contact info on the link. I am hoping it will be a great night to connect and develop friendships.

The more that I am out meeting new friends and connections, the more I am convinced of the magnanimous purpose and importance of what I am sharing. I have loved the training on wellness and balanced living, and it has made such an impact on my own personal life but I am just overwhelmed by the needs that I am seeing fulfilled and answered by the training and programs that I am sharing.

For about 5 years I was speaking and teaching on grief recovery, giving our testimony. Since it was ministry-related, I had so many people coming up to me for guidance and couseling, which I knew I was not equipped to offer. But at the same time, so many just need an ear, a friend, an encouraging word. So that is what I could offer.

What I found was that in addition to dealing with spiritual and emotional issues of living with stress, grief or loss, so many did not even have the basic knowledge of nutrition and how to proactively take care of themselves. We are dealing with some serious epidemic issues that can be easily remedied with mere diet and lifestyle changes.

Because of my history with a child with special needs (a rare genetic difference), I have more knowledge in that area than most want to hear. I spent 8 years in conversations with specialists, seeking the most researched, the most natural, the most clinically proven avenues to possibly show improved absorption at the cell level. When your child is small and not thriving, you are all about absorption. It is so KEY for people to understand that we are not “what we eat” .

“We are what we absorb”.

Right now the industry is totally unregulated. The organization Natural Products Foundation (formed by some of the leaders in the nutritional industry) is making great strides to self-police and test and report their findings. This is helping to get rid of the “bottom-feeder” companies that do not have the science, the validity, the efficacy of their claims. It is amazing how many products they find on the shelf that do not even contain the ingredient listed!!

After we walked through our own physical challenges, stemming from stress and grief, I sat in conferences for the past 5 years listening to some of the most advanced biochemists and researchers in the area of anti-aging and nutrition. It has been such an empowering experience for us personally, that I decided to continue to share it more with my talks and career.

One of the most recent findings is from Dr. Layman, who won the 2009 National Leadership award for nutrition and metabolism research. This means he is the GO-TO guy for metabolism in this country. He has over 90 peer-reviewed articles, and 22 years of clinical trials to test a weight loss program. Using sedentary women, over age 60, he PROVED, with the right combination of proteins and a macrobalanced (portioned controlled) diet, we CAN raise our metabolism back to our 20s and burn fat, EVEN WITHOUT EXERCISE.

This is causing the fitness experts to have a fit. Of course he recommends 30 minutes a day of walking, yoga or pilates. Of course he recommends they get up to 60 minutes a day, for optimal performance. But for those who are disabled or injured or working in a sedentary environment,  it is still possible to lose an average of 5 lbs per month.

I am seeing medical doctors, once they understand this program and Dr. Layman’s findings, they are getting very excited.

So along with my Optimum Weight Support Group, I am scheduling as many group trainings and informational sessions as possible. For those who are proactive and want to TAKE CHARGE of their own health and future, this is great stuff. The  choice really is ours!

But those who were enjoying blaming their situation on heredity (35%) or their doctors or their upbringing…well,not so good.

They are going to have a hard time watching the rest of us get skinny.

During my 21 day fasting period in January, I was on a restricted and healthy Daniel diet,  with my last week consisting of liquids only. I tried a few hi cardio cycling classes that I am normally used to, but I was so focused on peace and self-reflection, I decided to try Penny’s offer for a FREE yoga class. I have been in yoga periodically, when I feel I need a good stretching and breathing, but this was truly a unique experience.

Penny was awesome. Her class is very much focused on something we all take for granted…breathing. While we were in some great relaxation poses, she pauses to read a few lines of reflective poetry. Several times during the session she came around and applied healing touch to help with a pose or move.

Near the end, we melted our bodies to the floor, and she covered me with thick blankets. Then she got out the lavendar oil and proceeded to give me a shoulder and neck massage, while I still melted even further into the floor. I could have stayed there, at one with their floor, the rest of the morning, but alas,

life calls.

I was feeling really spoiled and asked her if she does this for everyone. She said she takes the time to go around the room and do this for each person.

In some of my wellness classes we discuss the benefits of breathing, relaxation, self-care, and she embodies them all in one class. That is why I am so fortunate that they are allowing me to teach my classes in their facility. It is a great fit.

I highly recommend you call her and schedule a free class.

You will be hooked.

Life’s Journey Yoga and Wellness

634 Kingsley Ave.

Orange park FL 32073

904-276-3116