A Quest for Well-Being

— Ayurveda may be the world's oldest continuously practiced health system, dating up to five thousand years ago Ayurveda can be loosely translated as the “science of life.” The word comes from combining "Ayur," meaning life, and "Veda,” meaning knowledge. So Ayurveda literally means "the knowledge of life" —  how to  live in the best possible way.

Ayurveda is a very basic, simple, natural approach to living. It is a beautiful combination of oral and written instruction, spirituality, philosophy, mythology, AND  SCIENTIFIC knowledge that has been around for over 5000 years.

It is rooted in the oldest spiritual texts of India called the Vedas. These texts (some of which date back to 450-1500 BCE.) are widely considered to be the most ancient  science and address ALL aspects of healing and well-being for both body  and mind.

Ayurveda, even though it originated in India, gained traction  and prestige in Sri Lanka, China, Tibet, and Nepal, influencing these  various philosophies and healing traditions. There was a point when Western medicine denounced Ayurveda as inferior when India was  colonized. However, it continued to be practiced under the radar of  colonists in rural areas and monasteries.

Ayurveda is making a huge  comeback in India, North America, and other Western countries. We are  now looking to combine the science and technology of traditional Western  medicine with Ayurveda's holistic, preventative healing art. With the  emphasis on prevention and empowering people to have more control over  their health via the choices they make in their everyday lives, Ayurveda  has become a holistic wellness system that is infiltrating the  mainstream, unbeknownst to many. For instance, Kaizer Permanente is  displaying billboards around LA referencing circadian rhythms - how  crazy fantastic is that? Costco did a 2-page layout last summer on  Ayurveda and holistic health. And yes.....they called it by its real name!

 Ayurveda and Self-Care go hand and hand!  

Valeria interviews Paula Pister  — She is an Ayurvedic Health and Life Coach, Yoga teacher, and busy mom.

Her journey began as a young model and actress, where she struggled with self-worth and body image issues. In her 20s, becoming a certified yoga teacher helped Paula appreciate and love her body more, leading her to explore Ayurveda, yoga's sister science.

Now, Paula teaches midlife women simple daily and seasonal self-care tools rooted in ancient wisdom and modern habit change science. She is a strong advocate for self-care, aiming to help women overcome the belief that prioritizing themselves is selfish or to feel “guilty about."

In Ayurveda, our energy reserves are called “Ojas." Paula emphasizes that without replenishment, this energy depletes, leaving women vulnerable to mental, emotional, and physical imbalances. Having experienced burnout herself, she understands the challenges faced by busy women juggling multiple responsibilities.

Growing up without positive self-care role models, Paula learned its importance later in life. Now in her 50s, she is committed to being an exemplary model for her children and helping other midlife women reshape outdated beliefs about self-care, listening to their intuition and reclaiming control of habits that are life-depleting not life-enhancing. Because self-care does NOT come in a one-size-fits all box, a bottle or from Amazon. It takes committing to yourself and deeper desires, being gentle and kind with yourself and understanding that this a journey. Every step along the path is an opportunity for growth, deeper insight and a chance to connect with your inner wisdom (which is ALWAYS guiding you.)

Paula stresses that self-care starts with self-worth, setting boundaries, and learning to say “No” (nicely and guilt-free). She believes this approach is not selfish but essential, as a healthy, vibrant, and happy individual better equipped to care for others and show up in the world as your best and most vibrant self. 

To learn more about Paula Pister and her work, please visit:

https://www.mindbodybright.com/

To learn about the 21-Day Fall Reset and receive a 20% discount use the code: QUEST20

https://www.mindbodybright.com/fallcleanse

— Susan Keller wrote Mostly Sober: A Love Story and a Road Trip to help readers find peace with reduced alcohol consumption. And, to show them how they can moderate, or even eliminate, cravings for alcohol. Reduced cravings lead to a lot less drinking and improved health for our minds and bodies. “Mostly Sober” takes place in 1983. This was a time when there was little help available to the person who wanted to change their drinking. It was AA or not much else. But not all of us who drink are candidates for AA. We can learn to drink moderately or minimally. Today, there is a lot of help to do that. Susan’s intention is that readers find common ground with her protagonist and her journey to accept herself, resolve her own misplaced guilt, and understand that the trauma she experienced as a child was not her fault.

Valeria interviews Susan Keller — She is the author of  “Mostly Sober: A Love Story and a Road Trip” and “Blood Brother: A Memoir.” 

After earning a degree in Public Health and Immunology, Susan enjoyed a 30-year career as an award-winning medical writer. Additionally, her poetry won prizes in regional and national contests. This background in science and poetry gives her writing credibility as well as lyricism.

Susan’s experience overcoming a rare and frequently fatal lymphoma inspired her to write Blood Brother: A Memoir. The subhead: Johnny’s bone marrow could save my life, but he’d vanished 30 years ago.

Her second book Mostly Sober: A Love Story and a Road Trip, is a genre-blend of romance and self-help. It is a deeply human narrative centered around the sober-curious movement and will help and resonate with the millions of Americans determined to moderate or minimize alcohol consumption.

Susan lives in the Bay Area with her husband, Daniel. She and Daniel have both reduced their alcohol consumption from 60 drinks a month to 6 or 8. Her mission is to help all of her readers find peace and improved physical and mental health with reduced alcohol consumption.

To learn more about Susan Keller and her work, please visit: https://susankeller.com/

— As a therapist, Colleen Grenz helps people gain insight about themselves, while learning new tools to improve and heal their symptoms. She also practices what she preaches to her clients and inspires other mental health practitioners to understand the importance of living the values and doing the work they ask of their clients. This applies to every area of life. Colleen’s clients' struggles are a constant reminder of areas she too need to practice skills like calm parenting and discipline, mindful awareness, radical self and body acceptance, doing the hard work: exercise, eating well, and using assertive communication. Colleen often challenge her client's thinking and beliefs and have been practicing challenging her own limited thinking and beliefs, which helps her understand how hard what she is asking of them really is.

Valeria interviews Colleen Grenz  — She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Jamestown, North Dakota. 

She is originally from Portland, Oregon and ended up in North Dakota after a multi-state and overseas journey that also saw her evolve from a career as a Botanist to her present career as a therapist.  She graduated from the University of Jamestown in 2019 with a Master of Science in Clinical Counseling.  She counseled clients at James River Correctional Center, South Central Human Service Center's crisis team, and Prairie Recovery Center before fulfilling a lifelong dream of opening a private practice in 2021.  Her modality is grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy, while integrating a trauma lens, mindfulness, and existential/spiritual concepts.  She is passionate about creating a safe space for clients who may feel on the margins of society.  She loves time with her family and friends, cats, nature, reading and jogging slowly for a long time. 

To learn more about Colleen Grenz and her work, please visit: https://grenzcounseling.clientsecure.me/

— In holistic care, a person' physical, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual needs are considered, as well as their response to an illness and the effects of illness on their ability to care for themselves. There a variety of long-term services and supports, as well as natural supports to cope with their emotional, social and other needs. Thus, they require a coordinated and integrated approach in order to improve the outcomes. A holistic approach to healing can maximize a person’s quality of life as a main outcome.

Valeria interviews Amber McKinney-Morgan practices clinical social work in California with experience in individual and couples therapy. 

Amber is certified in both Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Gottman Couples Therapy. In addition, Amber is an EMDRIA-approved Consultant-in-Training (CIT) providing consultation to other EMDR clinicians looking to be certified. She’s penned articles for EMDRIA’s Go With That Magazine on incorporating EMDR, IFS and SE when working with clients and has spoken on the popular television show, Fatal Attraction, which is anticipated to be available for audience consumption in Fall of 2024.

Amber has received training in various interventions and therapeutic modalities through their respective institutes and includes but is not limited to: The Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sex Therapy, Hypnosis, Somatic Experiencing (SE), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and more.

Amber’s passion for the behavioral health field got put into play over 10 years ago, as a “child counselor” at residential group homes. Since then, she’s amassed experience working with individuals ages 4 and up coping with a range of life circumstances including trauma, homelessness and more.

If you find yourself reading this and have more questions about how therapy can support you in your life, please feel free to reach out and schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Amber appreciates you taking the time to explore your needs thus far to access the care you deserve. 

To learn more about Amber McKinney-Morgan and her work, please visit: https://www.ambermckinney.com

— Be prepared for an amazing health transformation! Through Valentina’s breakthrough programs, you can resolve lingering issues, while you can achieve optimal wellness through my personalized, integrative approach.

By eliminating underlying imbalances, you'll feel healthy, energized, balanced, and mentally clear in no time.

It is all about identifying the causes, map out a plan, and create positive change. Besides innovative modalities for releasing stuck emotions, the system offers fascinating insights into your DNA and nutrition, as well as customized lifestyle upgrades.

The DNA Blueprint or digital transformational guides will deliver results, whether you dive right in or start from scratch. Valentina’s uses a comprehensive, science-based approach to identify the source of health imbalances so you can optimize your unique blueprint. You'll feel rejuvenated, vital, and a sense of wellbeing when you take advantage of this treatment.

This is the beginning of the journey. It's time to uncover the root causes of your pain, heal them holistically, and transform your health in ways that will make you excited about life again!

Valeria interviews Valentina Bain — She is a Certified Somatic Practitioner, Geonomics (Epigenetics) Coach, Holistic Nutrition Coach, EFT Master Practitioner, CranioSacral Therapist, Reiki Master, Neuromuscular Therapist, Sports Therapist, Labor Doula, and NLP mindset coach.

With over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the wellness industry and natural-minded mom to 4, Valentina has trained extensively to help clients get to the root of chronic issues.

As a somatic therapist and epigenetic coach, Valentina shares the ultimate secret to elevating holistic healing, vitality, prevention, and longevity - your unique DNA blueprint and custom protocols. She provides breakthrough blueprints using DNA, HTMA, and other functional tests to help you unlock wellness on a whole new level.

Valentina explains how genetic variation informs the customized diet, lifestyle, and solutions that will lead each individual to their best self. By understanding how your body handles chemical processes, you can go right to the root of health issues. She partners with clients as a trained practitioner to determine which insights are most relevant today, since gene expression evolves over time.

To learn more about how you can connect the dots to feel your healthiest, happiest self with a lifetime blueprint for optimization, please visit: https://valentinabain.com/

Check our The DNA Blueprint Package here: https://valentinabain.thrivecart.com/breakthrough-blueprint/

— Train your body to become stronger, healthier, and leaner! The importance of strength training in an overall fitness program cannot be overstated. This episode explores the benefits of strength training and how to begin.

Is it your goal to lose body fat, increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more effectively? It's time for strength training! Strength training contributes significantly to a person's overall health and fitness. According to a new study, women who do strength training exercises two or three times a week are likely to live longer and are less likely to die from heart disease. A strong body is also a healthy body, including bones, joints, a healthy mood, and a healthy metabolism. Moreover, at a time when many women ignore weight training in favor of aerobic activity, these findings support the notion that both types of exercise can be beneficial. The findings are part of a larger study, published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which evaluated the differences in the effects of exercise between men and women.

Valeria interviews Angela Beyer — She is a renowned coach and health expert.

Angela isn't just about aesthetics; she empowers women to build muscle, cultivate healthy habits, and achieve lasting well-being. Sculpting bodies and shaping lives.

From overcoming personal challenges to bodybuilding triumph and celebrity training, Angela's journey fuels her passion for guiding others towards physical and mental empowerment.

Miss Universe titleholder, author, and media mentioned (All Star Magazine Germany, Flex Magazine), podcast guest on award winning podcasts. Angela's proven methods and inspiring success stories make her a sought-after expert in the transformation arena.

To learn more about Angela Beyer and her work, please visit: https://houseofshape.com and Instagram: @healthcoachangela

— When you are afraid of death, you can lose sight of what is important in life and live a less fulfilling existence. Through Karmic Astrology & Past Life Regression, you can stop focusing on death and focus on transforming your experience of self and reality by honoring your spiritual journey. As a result of this transformative awareness, you are able to see how your soul or consciousness may have been transferred from one body to another. Although the answers you receive from a session may be reassuring, it helps if you believe that death has a spiritual element, but even if you have no idea what happens after you die, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Valeria interviews Maggie Donovan — She is a certified Clinical and Transpersonal Hypnotherapist.

She received 500 hours of training from the Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy. A state-licensed school with the highest ethical standards, and in compliance with federal and state education standards. Maggie also possesses additional learning credits from the Past Life Awakening Institute and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of New Orleans. After rounding out a chapter as an educator of history, she was guided back to her calling as a hypnotherapist to aid in cultivating a healthier attitude toward one's spiritual journey and becoming acquainted with their soul's true nature.

Maggie’s mission is to facilitate a personal discovery of each individual's spiritual journey. These private revelations bring people closer to the higher power within themselves and bring clarity to their unique life's purpose. Maggie strives to combat the fear of death, by offering insight into the nature of each soul and its spiritual home. Through carefully crafted sessions, using karmic astrology, past life regression, and traditional hypnotherapy methods, she works meticulously to ensure that each of her clients leaves with a better understanding of themselves and their spiritual journey.

To learn more about Maggie Donovan and her work, please visit: https://www.thehypnoticniche.com/

— “Breadcrumb Legacy is about being intentional in each moment. Every day is an opportunity to leave an impact; even if it’s not immediately apparent, small actions will accumulate into a legacy that others will remember.”

Valeria interviews Jann E. Freed  — She is the author of  “BREADCRUMB LEGACY: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering.”

Dr. Ruth is one of her sheroes.  

Dr. Ruth, sex therapist, professor, author, professor, was talking about sex in the 80s, a taboo subject, when no one wanted to talk about it. Dr. Jann wants to talk about retirement when people don’t want to talk about it and are scared to even think about it!

At 94, Dr. Ruth is still writing and speaking and Jann plans to do the same.

As a former professor for decades, Dr. Jann decided to practice what she was teaching and preaching.  She says she is out to retire the word “retirement.” We are not retiring from life, but moving onto something else. Jann believes it takes time and intentional thought to successfully move on to what’s next in life.

This awakening led her on a research journey that resulted in her book Leading with Wisdom: Sage Advice from 100 Experts. One chapter that really resonated was “Leaders Live Their Legacy.” So Dr. Jann did a deep dive on legacy work and set out to interview gurus. From this work, she created the concept of Breadcrumb Legacy™ and it became her latest book Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering.

Dr. Jann also hosts the “Becoming a Sage Podcast” where she interviews thought leaders on the wisdom of life and work. She also writes the “Leading Edge” column for Training Magazine which is published in print and online.

Dr. Jann’s mission is to be a seeker and learner who leaves a Breadcrumb Legacy for herself and others.

She lives in Des Moines, Iowa with her husband and her dog, Grover. She is proud of her three adult sons who are thriving in this ever-changing world.

To learn more about Jann E. Freed and her work, please visit: https://jannfreed.com/

— “In surrender, imagine how you might feel as you effortlessly slip deeper into the enveloping embrace of compassion. Perhaps we will open to the nature of life itself as the incomparable, dynamic, and bewildering ongoing play of compassion. Imagine every disappointment, every celebration, every completion or incompletion, every obstacle, every triumph or failure, every emotion, every beautiful and painful moment of this life is and has only ever been the play compassion, of love making itself known in the form of joy and sadness.  We could include every loss as well. Every life is the play of compassion in the world.

At the end of seeking, there are no more topics to put under a microscope of reason, no more controversies to debate, no more conclusions to be carefully wrapped and tied up in a bow. There are no further antidotes to layer upon ego or that even make sense. To continue indulging in such things is an avoidance of the truth. To surrender is to approach this quality of knowing. We were born in compassion. We live by compassion alone. And one day we will be swept away into compassion.”

Valeria interviews Gary Horvitz — He is a retired medical professional. He has been a climate activist, a nomad, a travel blogger, a poet and author.

He has contributed to online publications on the issues of spirituality, activism, the global energy transition and climate and has just completed facilitating a year-long course, One Year to Live. He is a grandfather, a Masters swimmer for four decades and one of Bayo Akomolafe's Mountain Dancers, which means we are zig-zagging our way into the future in a four-dimensional dance because that's the only way everything and everyone can become One.

To learn more about Gary Horvitz and his work, please visit: https://substack.com/@garyhorvitz, https://spontaneouspresence.net/ and Just Passing Through

— “Growing in faith requires us to take our eyes off ourselves and place them fully on the character of God. So often when we say we want to grow in our faith, we make an effort to do something that displays a godly character. But living in a godly way should be a by-product of our knowledge of the true nature of God and the result of our being connected to Jesus by the Holy Spirit. When we believe God’s Word over what other people say is right or true, then we will be set free to walk in holiness and victory. “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).” — Writes Sue Corl in Broken, But Undefeated: Journeying Through the Hall of Faith.

Valeria interviews Sue Corl  — She is the author of  “Crown of Beauty, A Twelve Week Women's Bible Study: Renewed in His Intimate Love and Delight, Broken, But Undefeated: Journeying Through the Hall of Faith, For Such a Time as This: Walking Through Crisis and many other titles.

Sue Corl is an international women’s conference speaker, author, mentor, Bible teacher, missionary, founder and Executive Director of Crown of Beauty International, and His Heartbeat Podcast host. Her greatest joy is being a wife and mother of two adult children. She has a passion to see women set free to live in the powerful truths of who they are in Christ and the love of God. She served as a missionary for twenty-five years in Asia. Currently, she travels to minister to women throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the U.S. She has a Master’s of Education from the University of Hawaii and a Master’s of Christian Counseling from Philadelphia Biblical University. She is the author of several books including Crown of Beauty Twelve Week Bible Study, For Such a Time as This, and Broken but Undefeated.

To learn more about Sue Corl and her work, please visit: https://www.crownofbeautyinternational.com/ and https://www.sue-corl.com/