Where The Lotus Grows

Toxic positivity can be hard not to encounter and sometimes we're all guilty of urging others and even ourselves to "look on the bright side" instead of sitting with discomfort.  At what point do "positive vibe" platitudes become toxic and how can we avoid falling into the toxic positivity trap? Kim and Tonya have a few ideas. 

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Last time we caught up with Kim, she had great news -  as her scans were all clear, BUT the next part of her journey had just begun.  In todays episode, the ladies discuss Kim's upcoming surgery as a preventative measure and the new drug therapy regime that they're asking her to take.  Spoiler - the list of pros and cons are lengthy and uncover a lot of discussion about being your own best advocate. Enjoy! 

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Since her cancer diagnosis, Kim has learned a lot more about the medical marijuana industry and the use of cannabis in cancer care.  The ladies dive deep into all of the new things she's learned from working with cannabis coaches and nurses specializing in the field, and Tonya shares her recent experience touring a Colorado growing facility. 

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In the light of the SCOTUS  decision over turning Roe V. Wade, the WTLG  wanted to turn our  grief into something that is (hopefully)  constructive for the couragitarians.  It was certainly cathartic for us. This episode contains fun facts about the progress women have made in the last 50 years,  personal abortion stories, facts, statistics and above all support for the RADICAL notion that women, as humans,  have the right to full body autonomy.  

Warning: this episode discusses sexual assault, abusive relationships, traumatic experiences, and sex 

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Kim shares the good news and LOTS of thoughts about what happens next and how the health care system could be improved.  A vital episode if you've been following Kim's Journey - Enjoy!

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We are so excited to share our conversation with Dr. Gail Parker! 

Gail Parker, Ph.D. CIAYT, E-RYT 500 is an author, psychologist, educator, certified yoga therapist and a lifelong practitioner of yoga. She became president of the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance (BYTA) Board of Directors in 2020. Dr. Parker is well known for her pioneering efforts to blend psychology, yoga, and meditation as effective self-care strategies that can enhance emotional balance, and contribute to the overall health and well-being of practitioners.

Dr. Parker has appeared as a psychologist expert on local and nationally 

syndicated talk shows, including numerous appearances on the Oprah Show.

Her first book, Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma, offers self-care strategies and invites everyone, not just those directly impacted, to explore the intersection of yoga, race and ethnicity, and to consider the psychological impact of race-based stress and trauma on all of us. The companion book, Transforming Ethnic and Race-Based Traumatic Stress With Yoga invites us to reimagine and engage in healing strategies for ethnic and racial stress and trauma that lead to post traumatic growth. 

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The ladies discuss the idea of achieving "perfect heath," the marketing and capitalizing of health and wellness as an industry, and the dangers of health and wellness myths and stereotypes. They further discuss what ideal health now means to them in light of ongoing health issues. 

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Kim shares her experience starting physical therapy, the pros and cons of being on the flip side of movement education, and the value of difficult teachers. 

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Tonya and Kim talk about the practice of intentional grounding, why it should be a part of your  regular self care routine and how, once practiced regularly, it can become a powerful tool in a variety of situations.  Bonus: Kim shares an Intentional Grounding Meditation on social media and on our Patreon.  

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Let's fact it, stressful situations are a regular part of our day to day lives, and often the choices that we make regarding our own physical and mental health maintenance determine our overall state.  What happens when we experience additional prolonged stressful situations such as a medical diagnosis, the care of a sick family member, that throw a wrench in our usual stress-management routine?  Today the ladies talk about the difficulty of maintaining a healthy routine when facing additional stressors and how to work in healthy practices when we're hit with stressful situations that could throw us off track.  

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