You can find essential oils everywhere nowadays, but not all essential oils are created equal. Young Living, founded by Gary Young, came from humble beginnings but is now a multibillion dollar company with farms and distilleries all over the world.

They are the epitome of high quality essential oils. Today’s guest, Dr. Cole Woolley worked as an analytical chemist on many projects for Young Living and he joins us to share what his role entailed, and the many factors that make Young Living products unique.

For those who don’t know, essential oils are the substances that plants use to heal themselves and to communicate with the outside world. When they are harvested and distilled into liquid form, they have benefits to humans that range from physical to emotional to spiritual. Tune in today to hear about the incredible properties of essential oils!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Cole explains where his journey with Young Living began. 
• Examples that highlight the relationship that Young Living has with their partner farms, and the role that he played in establishing these relationships.
• Problems with many essential oil supply chains.
• How to harvest frankincense.
• Cole shares a description of what essential oils are.
• The process to get essential oils out of a plant.
• Examples of the benefits of essential oils to humans.
• The challenge of measuring the frequency of essential oils.
• An explanation of the concepts of handedness chemistry. 
• Factors that made the work that Cole did at Young Living so unique. 
• Natural variations that exist within the chemistry profile of plants.
• The value in communicating with your plants. 
• Young Living’s approach to weeding. 
• An ode to the founder of Young Living, Gary Young.

Tweetables:

“Every essential oil that Young Living has is so precious and has a story behind it.” — @amy_cassels [0:10:51]

“Plants send out essential oil chemicals. Those chemicals are a way to heal the plant or communicate with the outside world.” — Dr. Cole Woolley [0:19:04]

“If you smell lavender flowers or lavender essential oils, you will relax.” — Dr. Cole Woolley [0:20:29]

“We brought really good science into the exploration of the quality of essential oils.” — Dr. Cole Woolley [0:25:57]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Cole Woolley on LinkedIn

Exploring Essential Oils

Young Living Essential Oils

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust

In today’s episode of According to The Cassels, we are joined by Bill Schiel Sr. and Billy Schiel Jr. Bill has been in agriculture and horticulture for over 50 years and, after retiring, is now an elder at his church.

Billy started his journey in ministry at a young age, studying at Bible College, and is now in vocational ministry and local-church planning. The father and son duo talk to us about how we can flourish as humans through Christ. Bill shares how we can use gardening to unlock our spiritual gifts while Billy gives us the Biblical reasons why being in a community is essential. We learn that God designed nature to help us better understand ourselves as humans and that it is important to remain in constant prayer with our Creator.

Tune in for this incredible episode and find out more about how Billy is using house-churches to grow Christ’s community and deepen faiths!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A brief look at Bill’s professional background in agriculture and Billy’s early roots in ministry. 
• How we can flourish as humans through Christ. 
• Using your God-given given gifts to bless others. 
• God’s design for human-flourishing and how gardening ties in with us using our gifts. 
• Being exiles on Earth. 
• Why we need to be beneficial to the community we live in. 
• How Bill’s gift for gardening has blessed him and the lives of those around him. 
• Organic gardening as a Biblical example of not wanting to take the easy way out.
• Bill’s tips for starting your own home garden: it’s all about the soil. 
• Gardening as a tool for unlocking spiritual gifts.
• How God designed nature to help us understand our anatomy as humans. 
• Pulling the weeds out of our lives, spiritually. 
• Maintaining spiritual growth even through the isolation of a global pandemic. 
• The importance of disciplining ourselves to remain in the Biblical community. 
• House-churches as spaces for cultivating relationships and deepening your faith. 
• Prayer as the primary way in which we participate with God in the world. 
• How house-churches have helped people who are new in their faith. 
• The undeniable Grace of God. 
• Why it is important to be spiritually healthy. 

Tweetables:

“I think the idea of humans flourishing was God’s plan from the beginning.” —Billy Schiel Jr.[0:03:12]

“We’re just exiles here. This still isn’t our eternal home. America is not what we’re living for. Another nation is not what we’re living for. We’re living for the Kingdom of God.” —Billy Schiel Jr.[0:06:08]

“I learned a lot from trial and error, which is what you do in gardening.” —Bill Schiel Sr. [0:09:43]

“Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak, so it’s a fight daily to say, ‘I’m going to pull the weeds out of my life, spiritually, by being in the Word, being in prayer, being in Biblical community.’” —Billy Schiel Jr. [0:17:13]

“You belong before you believe. You have a community before you’ve even crossed over the line of faith.” —Billy Shiel Jr. [0:30:05]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust

Welcome to a new episode of According to the Cassels! Today, we welcome philanthropist and inspirational ultramarathon runner, Mike Rouse! With a prison yard being the starting block of Mike’s running journey, he has carried on this race for 35 years. Going from having a successful business career to being in jail for cocaine possession and use, Mike explores the ups and downs of his life, the heartbreaking stories and tragedies of loss, and how he has taken these and succeeded at turning running into an act of active meditation. While finding our why, our purpose, and finding something positive to shift our mindset,

Mike helps us understand the beauty and power of allowing our hardships and difficulties to fuel our passions. From running 961 miles in May for Military Awareness Month to a hotdog being his go-to race food, Mike shares his running tips and tricks and explains why the Military is so close to his heart. Mike’s story is sure to leave you inspired!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A welcome back to Tray Cassels!
• An introduction to Mike Rouse and his astonishing 261 marathon career.
• Mike Rouse’s birthday run of 70 miles.
• Mike’s broad experience of working with different running-based companies, in all areas of the business. 
• How Mike found his way into running. 
• Looking at Mike’s relationship with golf, his divorce, and how he found himself intertwined with drugs and alcohol.
• Mike’s arrest for possession of cocaine, and his 14-month jail stay on a 5-year sentence. 
• The 31-31-31 run and the beginning of Joggin For Frogman.
• Where Mike got his nickname “Pops”.
• How to sponsor Mike's miles (campaigns that support military veterans).
• How to take your passions and use them to help others.
• The preparation that Mike takes to keep his body running fit. 
• Mike’s favorite recovery food: how he swears by the hotdog. 
• The spiritual and emotional impact of running on Mike.

Tweetables:

“My long-term goal was to someday own my own running store.” — @runningrousey [0:07:56]

“A lot of people are not physically imprisoned but imprisoned in their mind.” — @amy_cassels [0:11:37]

“Everybody has somebody whose life has been affected in a way that we didn’t ask for, it just happens.” — @runningrousey [0:23:58]

“That is my goal in life now, to be a giver and not a taker.”— @runningrousey [0:24:43]

“God saved my life. But running gave me something I had never had before. It gave me positivity and it let me be free.”— @runningrousey [0:35:19] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mike Rouse

Mike Rouse on Twitter

Mike Rouse on LinkedIn

Mike Rouse on Instagram

Mike Rouse on Facebook

Mike Rouse on Strava

Zero to 60

Joggin For Frogmen Email

Zoot Sports

K-Swiss

Mizuno

On

Karhu

Boots 4 Troops

Boot Campaign

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust

Welcome to a new episode of According to The Cassels! Today, we are chatting about small, simple steps to good health as well as chatting to our daughter, Averi, about her recent mission trip to Alaska.

We discuss seven lifestyle habits that help us improve our lives while getting input from Averi, as well as learning about her perspective on our parenting! From sitting down and eating meals together to creating meaningful relationships, practicing self-care, improving our hygiene, and incorporating movement into our lives, we discuss how these simple things help get us out of our old ways of thinking and into a new and improved lifestyle.

Plus, Averi tells us about her experience in Alaska, how she managed to raise enough money to go, her new perspectives, and the biggest takeaways from her trip. We hope you can join us!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to Averi.
• People’s standard approaches to a healthy lifestyle.
• Discussing Amy’s guide to small and simple steps to health.
• 1: Sitting down and eating meals, family connecting time. 
• Starting with vegetables is the key to a healthy meal.
• Looking at the meals Amy made for her children.
• Carrying an eco-friendly water bottle: the key to increasing your water intake.
• Expressing gratitude for your food. 
• 2: Relationships, making meaningful connections, and strengthening your connections.
• The importance of intentionally listening to someone else and asking open-ended questions.
• The power of sharing your day.
• How to lend a hand and help everyone around you. 
• 3: Self-care.
• Looking at how a person needs 8 or more hours of sleep and beauty rest.
• 4: Improving your hygiene.
• The importance of your oral health, flossing, and having a good dentist.
• Improving your circulation. 
• 5: Mindset, changing “should” to “could”.
• 6: Movement.
• Standing up every 30-60 minutes, getting 10 000 steps a day, and intentional walking.
• 7: Home practices. 
• Making your bed, keeping houseplants, turning off your technology early at night. 
• Discussing Averi’s mission trip to Alaska, how she raised money to go, and her biggest takeaways.

Tweetables:

“Your belief about the food that you’re going to eat determines how that food will digest in your body.” — @amy_cassels [0:07:52]

“It is healing for you to speak.”— @amy_cassels [0:11:41]

“Your oral health is a direct reflection of your overall health.”— @amy_cassels [0:16:45]

“Don’t ‘should’ on yourself.”— @amy_cassels [0:20:00]

“The kids may not know it, but they impacted us as we impacted them.” — Averi Cassels [0:35:02]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Reach 907

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Linktree

Amy Cassels on Twitter

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

Sparkle Dust

NingxiaRed

Did you know that whatever position your body is in right now is considered a yoga pose? Welcome to a new episode of According to The Cassels, where we are discussing all things yoga. We begin to understand Amy’s passion behind yoga while she gives us a sneak peek into her movement history, from practicing body flow for 12 years to moving her practice to pure and Holy Yoga flow. She delves into the power of her breath, how she roots her faith within her practice, and her never-ending desire to learn and grow. We also start to understand where Tray fits into all of this, his personal experiences of restorative yoga, and watching and supporting Amy on her yoga journey. We look at the history of yoga, the misconceptions around its origin, and how it is unable to be bound by any religion. We hope that from this episode, you begin to understand that, no matter your religious beliefs, yoga is a practice of prayer, a time of faith, and a form of meditation.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• Today’s topic is yoga!
• The history behind Amy’s 12-year body flow practice. 
• The importance of using your breath, and not music, within your yoga practice.
• How Amy became a certified yoga instructor. 
• How Tray began his yoga journey with restorative yoga.
• The known and unknown history of yoga.
• Discussing how and why Hinduism is connected to the growth of yoga.
• Amy’s experience of deepening her practice by practicing and training in Holy Yoga.
• The importance of correct body alignment while holding yoga positions.
• The significance of the mentioning of ‘unity’ within scripture. 
• Scientific studies that prove the benefits of yoga (and its systems) on our bodies and minds.
• The 8 areas/steps of classic yoga.
• The ways that Amy and Tray incorporated their love for Christ within their faith-based yoga.
• Amy and Tray’s recommendations for those who want to begin their own yoga practice.
• How we can combat our daily struggles, stress, and physiological issues using yoga.
• The importance of proper yoga clothing and mat.

Tweetables:

“Restorative yoga is basically a yoga nap.” — @amy_cassels [0:05:36] 

“There is a common misconception that yoga is rooted in Hinduism. But, on the contrary, Hinduism religious structures evolved much later, and incorporated some physical practices of yoga way later on.” — @amy_cassels [0:06:44]

“There is not a single position that you can get into, with your body, that is not considered a yoga pose.” — @amy_cassels [0:07:09]

“You have the ability to use yoga as your time of prayer, your time of faith, as your time of meditation.” — @amy_cassels [0:08:20]

“Yoga is the movement and the breath. And you can incorporate that movement and breath into a religion.” — Tray Cassels [0:12:01]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Yoga for Dummies

Yoga with Adriene

Yoga with Adriene on YouTube

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

Amy Cassels on Instagram

Amy Cassels on LinkTree

Amy Cassels on YouTube

ONE Way Life

According to the Cassels Podcast

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust

Just breathe! Today we revisit a couple past episodes from According to the Cassels, creating a compiled lesson on breath-work and meditation.

First we will hear from Laura Hernandez, a mental health and spiritual life coach, with a focus on meditation, mindfulness, stress management, self-awareness, and more! In this episode, Laura shares some insights into ThetaHealing and HeartMath techniques and explains in-depth how a coherent heart allows for a coherent brain, and ultimately, overall rejuvenation and vitality.

Then we will hear from special guests Marcus and Melanie Luttrell as they add in to the topic of meditation. They will discuss breath work and getting over the awkward feelings when you first start to implement meditation in your daily routine. We also discover how your breathing can determine your mood. This is not a conversation you want to miss. It reveals practical tips and techniques for the average Joe to reach higher levels of meditation.

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust

Tray and Amy are back for another riveting conversation! In today’s episode of According to The Cassels, we are discussing all things ‘hope’. Firstly, Amy takes us through the 12 ‘primary foods for life’: spirituality, creativity, finances, career, education, health, physical activity, home-cooking, home environment, relationships, social life, and joy or happiness.

We then pay closer attention to spirituality, before Tray gives us a heartwarming account of his journey of faith and hope during difficult times at work. Amy closes the conversation off with a captivating testimony of how her faith and hope manifested in a vision that led her to mentor a distraught young woman, Kayleigh. We get to see how Amy and Tray, through their faith, inspired Kayleigh to once again believe, and hope. Join us for an emotional journey that teaches us the undeniable value of hope!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some thoughts on the safety of (Mexican) border towns and the Cassels’ day trip to Progresso, Mexico.
• Amy’s newfound passion for decorating their home according to her tastes. 
• The 12 ‘primary foods for life’. 
• How a home-cooked meal is good for the soul. 
• The nutritional value of a home-cooked meal. 
• How complete balance, across the board, is unattainable. 
• Ways to differentiate which category you need to pay more attention to, and when. 
• The fact that everyone handles their daily stresses differently. 
• Honing in on spirituality and more specifically: hope. 
• Finding hope to get healthy.
• Hear Tray’s spiritual testimony, and how hope can turn into a deeper faith. 
• How breathing can help facilitate a deeper spiritual connection with God. 
• Amy’s vision that led her to Amanda, who then led them to Kayleigh. 
• How Amy and Tray brought Kayleigh closer to God, through hope.
• The importance of helping someone in need.

Tweetables:

“There’s a whole other area that is much more important than just fitness and nutrition. If there are other things that are out of whack/out of balance, does it really matter how fit and healthy your body is?” — @amy_cassels [0:04:32]

“It’s a lie that we’re going to have balance across the board. It’s just not going to happen. We have different seasons of life.” — @amy_cassels [0:08:49]

“It’s uncanny what your brain can go to in dark places, unless you have some sort of stability of faith.” — Tray Cassels [0:14:37]

“Foundationally and fundamentally, without God and without our faith, hope doesn’t exist.” — Tray Cassels [0:17:07]

“You can’t be somebody else’s hope, but you can show them where to find hope.” — @amy_cassels [0:32:28]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust

Sleep is absolutely essential for your day-to-day functioning. As Amy says, your day begins with sleep! In today’s episode of According to The Cassels, we are discussing the importance of sleep.

Firstly, we talk about some reasons you may not be sleeping well, ranging from stress to consuming too much processed sugar. We then discuss some things that may help you get better sleep, such as a sleep schedule and even removing electromagnetic fields from your sleep space.

Lastly, we go through some supplements and ‘sleep aids’ that will help you better your sleep. Join us to get some helpful tips to improve your sleep so that you can thrive and not just survive!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some thoughts on the school shootings that have occurred recently.
• Introducing today’s topic: sleep. 
• The changes Tray has made to his diet and lifestyle that have improved his sleep. 
• The importance of sleep. 
• Some reasons you may not be able to sleep well. 
• One: emotional, physical, and psychological stress. 
• Two: being overtired. 
• Three: having caffeine past a certain time. 
• Four: sugar. 
• Five: too much stimulation especially from screens.
• Six: electromagnetic fields from wifi. 
• Seven: alcohol.
• Eight: hormone production. 
• Nine: sleep apnea. 
• Some solutions to sleep problems you may be experiencing. 
• One: establish a sleep schedule with specific times you wake up and go to bed.
• Two: create a routine. 
• Three: make your bedroom a retreat and a sanctuary and how you can do that.
• Four: eat clean and avoid heavy fats, sugars, and caffeine right before bed.
• Five: keep your bedroom dark. 
• Six: ensure that the temperature of your room is 68 degrees or below. 
• Some supplements and sleep aids that can help you.

Tweetables:

“Processed sugar lights up the brain just like cocaine does.” — @amy_cassels [0:12:16]

“If you’re working in your room and work can be stressful – that energy and emotion is emitted into your room.” — @amy_cassels [0:27:13]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Beth Cook

Dr. Willie Villarreal

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust

Tray is back on According To The Cassels and today we are discussing nutrition! Amy recently visited sports nutritionist Dr. Chase Banks for a body composition assessment. She shares what that appointment consisted of with us today.

Amy explains the importance of knowing what calories you are consuming rather than only focusing on being in a calorie deficit. Next, she tells us what Dr. Banks believes is the best way to achieve optimal fat burning. We also discuss the differences Amy can see when she eats before her workout vs. when she fasts and how best to replenish your body afterward.

Finally, we discuss how important it is to find the correct combination of macro-nutrients your body needs before talking about the importance of eating breakfast. Tune in to find out more about nutrition and body composition assessments!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Catching up with Tray after his hiatus from the show. 
• Amy’s body composition assessment with Dr. Chase Banks. 
• Discussing the difference between gaining weight and retaining water. 
• What Amy’s assessment with Dr. Banks consisted of.
• The importance of considering where your calories come from.
• How to achieve optimal fat burning. 
• Eating before workouts vs. fasting and replenishing afterward. 
• Figuring out what combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats your body needs.
• The importance of eating breakfast. 
• What Amy is eating post-workout. 

Tweetables:

“I want to empower myself to learn how to make the meal plans myself.” — @amy_cassels [0:13:51]

“If I find something that I know is healthy and it works – I’ll eat that every day.” — Tray Cassels [0:16:50]

“If you want to have optimal fat burning, you don’t want to combine carbs and fats in your meals.” — @amy_cassels [0:17:27]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Chase Banks on Linkedln

My Fitness Pal

Weight Watchers

Whole 30

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

Sparkle Dust

NingxiaRed

Finding time in your busy schedule to unwind and reflect is becoming increasingly difficult in today’s fast-paced society. People must find alternatives to attain inner calm to live a happy and healthy life. In today’s show, Amy discusses float therapy with special guest Melody Fraser.

Melody is the owner of Blissful Waters Float Center, which provides float therapy sessions in a relaxing spa environment and specializes in using sensory deprivation methods. Melody suffered from anxiety and stress but found inner calm and focus by using float therapy and aims to share the benefits of floating with as many people as possible. In today’s show we find out more about the benefits of using float therapy, the role of brainwaves during therapy, the advantages of using sensory deprivation, the different healing needs of clients, and the emotional release people feel during float therapy.

We also learn how float therapy can benefit your spiritual health and what first-time clients can expect at Blissful Waters Float Center. Stay tuned to find out how you can get rid of the stress and anxiety in your life with special guest, Melody Fraser!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introduction to today’s guest and her business, Blissful Waters Float Center.
• Outline of the different therapies available at Blissful Waters.
• Examples of the different genres of music used during therapy sessions.
• What Blissful Waters specializes in: sensory deprivation therapy.
• Amy shares a funny story about her recent experience at Blissful Waters.
• Melody shares a tip for first-time clients on how to completely relax.
• Benefits that people can gain from using float therapy and the ultimate goal of it.
• We find out why Epsom salt is used for therapy sessions.
• What finding your inner calm will teach you for everyday life.
• The overall physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of using float therapy.
• Amy shares a profound experience she had by being able to find her inner calm.
• How frequently people use the services at Blissful Waters.
• Melody gives a brief rundown of the different healing needs of her clients.
• What is the most profound experience that Melody has experienced while floating.
• Examples of the emotional release that people have while using float therapy.
• Amy suggests an easy way for people to make float therapy a habit.
• The type of brainwaves that are involved with float therapy and how to find your alpha state.
• Examples of the different approaches for staying healthy for different brainwaves.
• Why people should avoid caffeine to help align your brainwaves and energy.
• The age that Melody recommends people can start float therapy.
• The mental and emotional approach needed to lose weight and be healthy.
• Amy outlines what people can expect at Blissful Waters.
• What the post-float lounge is and why you should use it.

Tweetables:

“I always say, 'When you get into the float tank, the float tank knows what you need.' Sometimes it's a good stretch.” — Melody Fraser [0:11:41]

“It does bring up things from your subconscious.” — Melody Fraser [0:13:25]

“I have to meditate. I have to float. I have to do all things daily to stay in the spot where my body and my brain are equal.” — Melody Fraser [0:19:54]

“I love that floating gives yourself the opportunity to think through those things and to slow down.” — @amy_cassels [0:20:25]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Melody Fraser on LinkedIn

Blissful Waters Float Center

Blissful Waters Float Center on LinkedIn

Blissful Waters Float Center on Facebook

Blissful Waters Float Center on Instagram

Blissful Waters Float Center Call: (282) 978-4037

Blissful Waters Float Center Email

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust