Restorative/Yin Yoga at Fitness Junction

Yoga is one of my favourite self-care activities. I always find myself leaving more relaxed in both mind and body. So when Jana at Fitness Junction told be about their Restorative/Yin class designed to help release tension and help sleep I knew I had to try it out for you! 

Last night, after tricking my baby into bed a few minutes early, I headed out to the Fitness Junction. I arrived to a softly lit room, and relaxed on my mat supported by blocks and bolsters, under a nice blanket! Renee led the class gently through a series of gentle postures to stretch and relax the body. Even though I had missed the earlier classes in the series, Renee walked me through postures that were new to me without making me feel like I was slowing everyone else down.

When the class ended I could hardly believe it had been a whole hour! I headed home and had a great sleep (although that may have had something to do with my daughter having a pretty good night too). Even though I just popped into one class, one of the other participants told me that the classes really build on each other and she was noticing big changes in her sleep and dreams. If this sounds like something you'd like to try out you can book you class here. 

Wishing you great sleep,

Dr. Katie

Taking the Hurrying out of the Holidays

Holidays can be stressful! All the hustle and bustle. Travel. Family Obligations. It's easy to get overwhelmed in the shoulds and musts of the season and end up back to work in January feeling like you need a holiday from your holiday! But the holiday season can be restful. Here are my top 5 tips for creating some calm this holiday season.

#5 Do Less

Seriously. Just say no to some things. Set aside days where you have nothing planned. This creates space to sit and have a cup of hot chocolate or go for a skate and enjoy the season in an unstructured way.  

#4 Focus On Things You Enjoy

What gives you energy? I don't know many people who enjoy cooking AND baking AND home decorating AND letter writing AND iceskating AND whatever other holiday activity it seems like everyone on Pinterest is doing. Pick the activities that give you joy and energy and let the ones you don't enjoy go. 

#3 Set Your Boundaries

How much of your holiday time is spent pleasing other people? It's wonderful to spend time with loved ones but when time and traditions become dreaded obligations its time to reconsider what's best for you and set appropriate boundaries. 

#2 Keep Up Your Routine

What do you do on a day to day or week to week basis that keeps you on track? It might be meal planning, going to the gym, or just pouring yourself a cup of tea and taking a few minutes to yourself in the evening. Often the holidays have so much going on our routines fall by the wayside in times when we need them the most!

#1 Know What YOU Need

Take some time to reflect. What was good about last year? What wasn't so great? Think about your favourite holidays and ask yourself WHY they were enjoyable.

Feeling like this is easier said than done? Come on out to one of my live holiday workshops in Guelph and get some guidance working through the details. I'm hosting an Advent focused event at Dublin Street United Church and a secular holiday talk at Goodness Me. Did I mention they are free? Hope to see you there!

Live: Spend Less Time Worrying and More Time Living Your Passions

If you are reading this blog than I'm away from my office right now. That's right, vacation, I'm in my first year being self employed and I'm away right now, catching up on beach time, book reading, playing with the neiphlings and probably sampling some county wine.  So why am I telling you this? Because planning to take vacation, and then actually taking the vacation is, how I want to live. 

Just liking guiding people through stressful life periods is a passion of mine, I'm also passionate about spending time with my family. By getting to know myself and connect with my higher self and what I want from life it lets me create almost like a mission statement. When you are connected with your passion you can live your life with purpose and design your life around living your dreams. 

I'll share another secret with you today. I'm not writing this post from the beach. In fact, I wrote it 2 weeks ago from my office. Why? So I could be in the moment right now when I'm away from work. For my life, work/life harmony means being where I am and practice being present in what I'm doing. This mindfulness practice increases productivity and lets you focus on where you are while breaking the worry cycle of thinking about places you aren't and things you can't deal with in the moment. 

So what's with all the honesty today? Why share so much? Because expressing what's going on for me, acknowledging emotions, brings me piece of mind. Being able to speak your truth, wether literally through tea with a friend or written into a journal, or figuratively by creating or appreciating art or music, sets those emotions free.

Follow your passion. Live in the moment. Speak your Truth. 

Love, Dr. Katie 

New Program for Stress, Anxiety and Insomnia

It's here! You may or may not know but behind the scenes I've been working hard to curate the best resources in naturopathic stress and anxiety management. What's it's become is an exciting clinical program that puts you in the drivers seat of your own mental health and wellbeing. Tranquil Minds is about getting to know yourself on a deeper level. It's about finding a sense of purpose in life. It's about taking care of your self mentally and physically. It's about providing you with the information you need to make yourself feel better.

Designed by Evan Woolfery

This program is my passion and I LOVE to talk about it. So if you're in the Guelph area and you want to find out if this is the right fit for you call me @ 519 827-0902 or email info@norfolkwellness.com to book a free 15 minute chat about whether Tranquil Minds is a good fit for you.