Exercise, is it good or bad for sleep? Whatcha think? Today we dig deep into this topic because it can be very confusing for some of us.

Especially if you suffer from a chronic illness!

We know the positive benefits right? Improvement in brain function increased well-being, and it'll raise your energy levels! Who doesn't want all of that and more!

When you suffer from a chronic illness, you must be aware of a few red flags along the way, such as overtraining, fatigued adrenals, increased inflammation, and even leaky gut!

If you suffer from long recovery time or muscle soreness/pain is a red flag that you might be overtraining.

If your performance in declining even though you continue to work out or your muscle strength is decreasing --  watch out!  

That's a red flag as well.

 

 

Lyena is an inspirational speaker, storyteller, and coach committed to change the way we relate to change, challenge, and adversity.

What qualifies Lyena to be an expert in this area? 

When a hiking accident left her paralyzed at the age of 33, Lyena a life-long dancer was faced with incredible challenges. It didn’t take her long to see her so-called tragedy improve every aspect of her life. She witnessed positive changes in her mental health to her personal relationships and her career. 

Maybe you saw her feature in the docuseries RISE on CNN, or read her piece in the goo, Dancing at the Shame Prom, or perform in her one-woman show, “Caterpillar Soup” which won many awards including an honor by VSA arts, an affiliate of the JFK Center for the Performing Arts.

I guarantee if you listen to Lyena you will experience immediate change.

Lyena’s story is one of the most moving and powerful interviews I’ve ever done. It left me in tears. I know you will love her as much as I do! 

What Happens With Sleep Deprivation?

After a few sleepless nights, it doesn’t take long to cross over into a chronic sleep problem. Over time you don’t even realize how tired you are… you tend to run on empty. We become impaired and don’t even know it. There are subtle signs or red flags that clue you into when you’ve crossed over to the chronic sleep category. Be aware!

Signs You Have A chronic Sleep Problem.

• You're moody. This is a tough one because who isn’t moody from time to time? But this is different – now your fuse is really short. It’s the little things that are getting to you.

• You find yourself sick all more often. It seems like you just got over one illness and boom! you're sick again. Losing sleep weakens your immune system. A recent study found that people who get 5 hours of sleep or less are four times as likely to catch a cold than someone who slept 6 hours.

• Munchies! Do you find yourself eating more? Well, there's a reason for that. Short sleep cycles lower the level of leptin your body makes (the hormone that decreases your appetite!)

• How’s your libido? The last thing you want to think about let alone do when you crawl into bed is sex. The only thing you want to do is sleep.

• You can’t make a decision to save your life. When you're low on rest, the frontal cortex of your brain is impacted negatively, and there goes your decision-making process.

Sleep is incredibly essential for your health, vitality, and safety. We need it for all our bodily functions including repairing damaged skin cells to flushing out the toxins that build up in your brain.
Hopefully, listening to this episode of Graceful Healing helps to shed some light on tips and strategies to combat sleep deprivation.

Join our Facebook group and have fun with our sleep challenge! Follow along, and you may be the lucky winner of a cool prize! You can find us at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dr. Annette Stephenson is a board-certified audiologist in the Cayman Islands. She has the only audiology clinic on the island and has been open for over a decade.   Outside of audiology, Annette is also fiercely committed to guiding women who feel guilty for doing what matters to them instead of doing what is expected.  Her mission is for women to hear their truth – to own the fact that saying yes to themselves doesn’t mean that life will stop, and to be empowered to make themselves a priority. What lights her up about her work is knowing that she can provide the gift of healing and compassion to women who are at any stage of an uncertain situation, struggling to find a solution so that they can flourish fearlessly.   After a second trimester miscarriage and losing her triplet daughters, Annette is advocating to increase the awareness of pregnancy loss and stillbirth. She hosts healing and transformational retreats for women and she has started a non-profit foundation to champion for those whose lives have been affected by the heartbreaking loss of a baby through pregnancy loss or stillbirth.

Today Michele turned the tables on me and asked me a ton of questions! My journey begins as a teacher and flows to today as a chronic health advocate. It was a ton of fun and I hope you enjoy my story.

 

In this episode I share:

• Why I walked away from teaching the year after the Aurora movie theater shooting.
• The tools I use to heal from both hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease.
• The one mindset tool I use daily to track my progress
• How sleep with impact your health and healing.

Lissette LaRue is a bilingual (English/Spanish) psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, energy medicine practitioner, and intuitive.

Lissette has worked with thousands of clients, in-person and online, who are weighed down by trauma, addiction, relationships, fears of being seen, struggles with life transitions, and connecting with the inner child.

Lissette is also a Certified Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Teacher and has trained in a variety of healing practices with Gabrielle Bernstein, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Belinda Davidson, and Dr. Brian Weiss.

 

 

Michele was such a delight to interview. Not only is she a life long dear friend but she is a health coach and energy healer. She considers herself a life long closet intuitive as well!

Her story is important for many reasons but for me, it resonates so deeply.

Michele talks about her experience with Reiki, which is an ancient Japanese method of healing that uses energy to balance the body and mind. One aspect of Reiki that I didn't realize is there are positive benefits to both the practitioner and the client!

Shamballa is an extension of Reiki and is used for hands-on healing, and long distance healing. It's energy in which Chi is channeled into someone or something living to help them balance and heal. It raises one's energy vibration and helps a person to expand their consciousness. Like Reiki, Shamballa is the energy of unconditional love.

Dr. Stephanie Gray is a functional medicine provider who helps men and women build sustainable and optimal health and longevity so that they can focus on what matters most to them!

Her expertise lies within integrative, anti-aging, and functional medicine. She is arguably one of the Midwest's’ most credentialed female healthcare providers combining many certifications and pieces of training.

But, I was able to tap into her expertise about fatigue.

Something that hits all of us hard – right?

Dr. Gray shares for very interesting insights about fatigue – the causes and possible solutions!

Bio-integration and your personal history

In simple words, Kole explains that your personal history gets stored inside your body.

 

"Your body is a personal diary and it’s the only part of you that’s ever in the present moment."

 

So basically stressors you experience throughout your life will get trapped in your body. 

 

And stay there. 

 

Over time manifesting itself via stress and illness.

Now her thirst for information became urgent. Kole studied quantum physics, epigenetics and how your subconscious thoughts become physical manifestations.

 

Kole explains, through her tragic past experiences, just how her body was communicating with her. 

 

Luckily with time, she listened.

 

From a drug overdose at 17 years old to now --Kole’s story is one of inspiration and admiration. 

 

Learn how she became the warrior she is now by FEELing her way into a flow.

 

Talking to Michele is like talking to a long -time friend.  Michele is so easygoing, approachable and knowledgeable. Since our chat, Michele has been working intensely in the field of neuro-transformation with amazing results. If you need any help with shedding sabotaging habits, Michele is your person.

Life Happens While Shedding Sabotaging Habits

But life wasn’t always easy for Michele and her family.

Only five years ago, Michele and her husband lost their business and home. Instead of getting stuck in a difficult situation, it opened up an opportunity for reinvention and the unique trajectory they are now on.

It was during this time that Michele felt a bigger calling to follow her passions into the world of health, wellness, & mindset.

On Writing a Book...

Not only did she end up writing a book about that tumultuous time in her life she also created her coaching business, Michele Laine. It's here where she works with clients to transform them beyond limiting beliefs.

Michele also helps people improve their health, and reduce stress to increase their quality of life; mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Michele is a best-selling author of “Stronger Than The Storm: Proven Strategies to Conquer Fear, Discover Strength, and Overcome the Unexpected.”

Michele also helps women shed sabotaging habits, transform their inner world, and create the life they want.

Michele is the real deal! I'm so honored to have her as my guest.

She lives in beautiful Northern California with her hubby and two amazing daughters, Sami and Jenna.