Holistic Life Navigation

"As of today it will henceforth be official policy of the United States Government that there are only two genders, male and female." - Donald Trump

Luis explores how this policy effects transgender, transsexual, non-binary and intersex folks. He discusses the fluidity of gender,  whereas sex is biology assigned at birth. Luis reads this policy as a statement of two sexes, which Nature assigns.  A lot of confusion enters the discussion at large when sex and gender are confused for each other.  Gender is flowing and we choose how we identify. He notes that there has been a movement to make the fringe trendy and commodify it, but in so doing the deep culture of the fringe is lost. Have a listen and tell us how you feel about this new policy, and lets discuss it in the comments below. 

[Bonus Episode] Navigating Dysphoria

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

Let's explore the often ignored connection between nutrition and trauma. Luis breaks foods down into three categories: stimulants, depressants, and balancers. 

When we eat sugar there is a spike in blood sugar levels, triggering a spike in insulin, leading to a drop in glucose, resulting in an adrenaline spike. You heard that? Your body is having a stress response, and you haven't even heard today's news yet! You've only eaten breakfast. Luis offers suggestions on how to leverage the balancers to still enjoy the stimulants and depressants. We may not be able to reduce the external stressors, but we can reduce the inner stressors.  

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

Luis shares part of his family story before weaving rich voices and interviews to explore the use and meaning of the phrase People of Color, or POC. Many questions and facets are explored: Do we take on ideas to belong? Does the phrase POC other specific groups in a condescending way? What is the story, meaning, or belief we have about the label POC?  Does 'marginalized' mean oppressed? What are the somatics of group identity? How can we uncouple negative associations with the term POC? Lastly, what story do I tell about you, and does that story make you equal, lower or better than me?

In the spirit of Maya Angelou, Marika reminds us to learn about people rather than learning to label them. May we be curious and allow people to show us who they are. After all, race is a fake construct, and identity is less connecting than place. 

You can watch the extended interviews clips here: Maya Angelou, Morgan Freeman, Raven-Symoné, and Africa Brooke.


You can also listen to podcasts with Africa and Camille below:

[Ep. 193] Getting Sober Helped Me Stop Self-Censoring w/ Africa Brooke

[Ep. 219] Not Everything Is A Microaggression: Is This The New DEI? w/ Camille Leak

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

Luis shares part of his intersex journey as he explores the idea of misgendering as progress. Join him as he discusses the difference between sex and gender, harm and difference in the context of free speech. He believes we all have a responsibility to orient to, and find safety in, ourselves. The more comfortable Luis is in himself, the less offend-able he has become. Feel free to be part of the discussion by leaving a comment below. 

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

Thanks to a listener request, Camille and Luis discuss cognitive dissonance through the lens of somatics and parts work. Cognitive dissonance, the friction between held and opposing beliefs, can result in an uncomfortable tension. The discomfort caused by this tension is usually avoided, or even "erased".

Alternatively, leaning in to the tension can be an opportunity for growth, or, an indicator of boundaries. Luis uses the example of the cognitive dissonance he experienced around being vegan, and how leaning in to the messy and painful process often results in transformation. 

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

Join Luis as he explores the effects of sugar, starch and refined carbohydrates on the body. Journey from the first bite to blood glucose levels spiking, all the way to the body's resulting stress response. Learn the balancing nutritional recommendations to employ before eating sugar, starch and refined carbohydrates to help mitigate the effects of adrenaline in the body. 

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

On today's episode Luis is joined by Kai Cheng Thom: somatic therapist, depth psychologist, and author. Back in August, Luis put up a post on social media sharing both his personal experiences and opinions about gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, and youth in the trans community. The post received a lot of attention, and started a conversation with Kai that continues here.

They discuss:

• relating through difference
• the relationship between the body and ideology
• our projections of a person vs. their authentic self
• the importance and impact of language
• the importance of self-reflection, flexibility, and compassion

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

Luis teaches us about his latest obsession: postprandial bloodflow. He talks about what it is, how affects it, and why it matters. He explains how it relates to comfort foods, emotional eating, and binge eating. The video ends with a somatic practice to explore how we related to food and comfort.

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

On today's episode Luis welcomes Ryan Abramowitz, author and artist of the book "Elegy For An Elephant", and Melissa McConnell, who introduced Ryan's book to Luis, to have a group discussion about the grief of losing a loved one to suicide, and how powerful artistic expression can be.

Ryan discusses the process of creating and releasing the book, and how the way it has shifted things for him in his process. He talks about making new relationships with the trauma and grief, practicing releasing lingering guilt, the timelessness of love, and the value in connecting with nature.

You can read more about the book, and order it, here: www.narrativesofnature.com 18% of profits from books sold are donated to Lifeline, Movember and Support after Suicide Services.

You can visit Melissa's website here: www.thehoneybeetemple.com 
She is currently working on a book about the expressive arts and somatics.

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]

On today's episode, Luis shares his reflections on his ancestry, and the experience of his ancestors juxtaposed against his present experience. He discusses the differences between cultures, and the practice of understanding and accepting ancestors. Luis speaks about how intergenerational wisdom and intergenerational trauma are both accessible to us, and how the relationship of movement, activity, and hard work can act as a salve to stress, stagnation, and overthinking. The episode ends with a guided somatic practice.

You can read more about, and register for, the Navigating Weight & Body Image With Somatics webinar here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/weight-and-body-image-webinar

You can register for November's Community Somatics here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/events/community-somatics-november

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You can learn more on the website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/

You can follow Luis on Instagram @holistic.life.navigation

Questions? You can email us at [email protected]