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The Holi Life

Weekly interviews with experts in the areas of holistic health in mind, body and soul, and current events affecting those things. Sunit and her guests talk about ways to live your absolute best, empowered and most aligned, holi life.
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Now displaying: February, 2017
Feb 28, 2017

Diana is a mom of two girls who lost her best friend to suicide. Her friend suffered from PPD and Diana also ended up with PPD. Diana talks about how her friend’s death shaped her own experience with PPD and her journey over the last 7 months.

 

Diana says that her friend struggled as a new mom whose baby had health issues, but she didn’t really talk about it much. She ended up becoming addicted to prescription medication. Diana was 8 months pregnant when her friend died. It kick started her own struggle with PPD once her baby was born.


Diana gets very raw about feeling suicidal and knowing where her husband kept his gun. She attempted suicide despite being in therapy and was immediately referred to a specialist. She had another attack after which she ended up in the Psych ward. That was a turning point for her to share her story with the world.

 

She shares that she recently quit her job and has decided to pursue launching her own podcast called “Always with Me”. She says that today-7 months later, she feels empowered. She has a purpose. She didn’t lose herself when she became a mom, because she hasn’t even found herself yet. Now she feels that she can really follow her life’s purpose which is to help other women.

 

Sunit talks about what the “self” really means and how that’s why this is important to connect with BEFORE your baby comes. Diana confirms that she was still searching for her SELF before becoming a mom and she feels that if she would have built a foundation before-hand she may not have been as likely to succumb to the overwhelm.

 

Sunit asks Diana why she didn’t reach out for help-even when she was living with her inlaws. Diana says she didn’t want to be a burden and even though people offered help she didn’t think they meant it. It took her time to realize that when people offer help, they really mean it.

She tells a story about a time when she needed help and went to facebook to ask for help.

 

Sunit asks if there is something Diana thinks she could have done differently to prevent the overwhelm. Diana says expect the unexpected. She couldn’t have controlled Sabrina’s death but she didn’t prepare for an unexpected c-section and all that came with it. Sunit agrees that although being prepared is the best way to avoid overwhelm and that’s what modern mommy prepschool is all about, there is still something to be said for knowing that things beyond your control can happen.  Joining communities and mommy groups now so that you have a place to go for support. The idea of a “village” is so foreign and we are all so isolated, so purposely setting that up before hand can really add a lot to your life as a mom. Sunit encourages women to start a community if they can’t find one.

 

Sunit asks if there is one woman listening right now who is in the depths of despair-what would Diana tell her? Diana says “you matter”. Diana wants women to know that they are not alone. Diana gets emotional and wants that woman to know she has a purpose.

 

Both Diana and Sunit encourage this woman to get help. Diana says that when you are in the moment and you are desperate-call the suicide hotline. You will feel heard in the moment.

 

Sunit asks Diana what she does for her SELF and how she maintains it. Diana says she loves to craft and has an etsy shop where she sells her stuff. She told her husband she needs time to craft and he supports her so she can do that. Babies are time consuming but find time to do what you love to do. Sunit says that even though some people are averse to the term “sleep training” she feels that having a reliable sleep schedule allows you time to look forward to doing these things you love.

 

Diana’s Etsy shop is “this RAD cottage”-you can find baby accessories and nursery décor and mens tshirts.

Her podcast and website is www.alwayswithme.com. Her podcast will be a place for women to come and know they are not alone. A place to be inspired and feel comforted. The struggles and the joys of motherhood-a place to feel like you can relate.

Facebook group: “Always with me”.

 

Sunit ends by saying “sharing is caring”-you could save a life by sharing this episode. If you are someone who doesn’t understand PPD-open your eyes wider, pay more attention to new moms and reach out. Diana says that yes, sometimes you don’t need to physically have someone there, you just need to be heard. Sunit encourages moms like her who haven’t experienced PPD to reach out to those who might be. She encourages pregnant moms to surround themselves with community and prepare well, and women who might be going through PPD-please reach out for help.

Feb 21, 2017

Lesley Yadon is a coach for new moms who are struggling with their motherhood journey. She believes that every mother already has and already is exactly what she needs, to be to mother her baby. She has a Masters degree in Counselling and helps mothers create a more confident motherhood journey.

 

Sunit says she really wants to help women be more in tune with themselves so they don’t end up losing themselves so she really thinks they are aligned.

 

Lesley says the birth of her son was the catalyst for the journey she would go on. She struggled with motherhood and tried to use her education and knowledge to help her through this place.

 

She decided that moms should not have to do this anymore. She started the Momma’s transforming journey which is a 6 session journey where she works with clients on the mind body connection and how to harness that and channel it to motherhood. She also talks about the spirit and creating rituals.

 

She describes a little bit about how she works with women from start to finish.

 

Lesley talks about how sometimes women just need a good cry. She says that our tears actually contain hormones. Our body is physically eliminating hormones that are making us feel threatened and scared.

 

Lesley is not a therapist but her work is really aligned with those that may be struggling with PPD or anxiety and may be needing the help of a professional.

 

Sunit says sometimes we lose touch with ourselves when we become moms, even though you have had this innate mothering capacity your whole life. Sunit talks about how she found herself relying on books so much sometimes and she had to stop herself and remind herself to go with your gut. She asks Lesley to speak to this intuition that we have and what happens to it when we get pregnant. Why do we lose that? Why don’t we trust ourselves that we are as wise as we are? How can we get it back and be more confident as moms?

 

Lesley speaks to the fact that there is an unspoken message coming from society. She thinks we are hearing society say “we are not rational as we are” so we need help from all sorts of experts, including pediatricians, mother in laws, neighbors etc,,.. We are told “you must be PMS ing, women are emotional” etc. It makes you question yourself. We also have a natural tendency to look at others and wonder… Why do they look like they have it all figured out? It is especially hard when our baby is crying and we are sleep deprived.

 

Sunit agrees that we are receiving all these messages often even before we are pregnant. People telling you when you should start having kids, then how to be when you’re pregnant, and on and on. Sunit also says that the comparing to others is so easy with social media. Our parents didn’t seem to care what other people were doing with their kids. It’s ocmpleetely different today and its detrimental to us and our parenting. Lesley says it is also disconnecting. In our parents’ day and age our moms could help each other raise their kids. These days we don’t even know our neighbours’ names. We are getting more and more isolated in our parenting. Sunit says it is “less about community and more about competition”, there is so much judging and comparing. It doesn’t feel like a village anymore, it seems like it would be healthy not only for the mom but for also the kids.

 

Sunit asks Lesley about blessingways. Lesley says a blessingway is like a baby shower but it’s more about the mom. It’s a shower for the mom’s soul. It’s a place where you intentionally bring a small tribe of women together to help you transition emotionally and spiritually into motherhood. She references the book “Mother Rising” by Yann Cortlund Barb Lucke, Donna Miller Watelet. This is something that you would ask someone to plan for you, a one-time event. The mom only needs to show up and open her heart. Lesley lays out all the different components of the event, there is a ritual and a feasting. This is a place to talk about your fears and allow other women to support you. These women eventually become your tribe who will support you through the hard times that may come.

 

Sunit talks to Lesley about the fact that she struggled to get pregnant and that she lost touch with the fact that not everyone has the same joyful experience when they first find out they are pregnant. She asks Lesley what she would say to the woman who is listening and might not be elated.

 

Lesley says everyone is on their own journey. There is so much out there that says that being a a mom is supposed to be so joyful and it can be tough. She reminds women that it is ok to have the emotions you are having if they don’t line up with what you think you should be feeling. The sadness you may be feeling can fade, as you give it time to be there. Allow it to be there. Don’t look at others and ask “why can’t I be enjoying this experience”. This is punishing yourself. Don’t compare. Sunit says move through the pain instead of trying to push it aside. Feel the emotions you need to feel to get through them. Lesley uses the word “fierce” to describe how she had to be to get through what you need to get through.

 

Lesley hopes we can support each other as women and know that all our journeys look different.

 

Sunit asks Lesley for one piece of advice for a new or expecting mom. Lesley says her advice centers around connection. She encourages women to be intentional about connecting to their own heart, their own desires and dreams and always return to that core knowing. The other part of connection is having people you can connect with who will support you. Build your tribe. People who you love and trust. Sunit reminds everyone that being in touch with yourself is a big part of not losing yourself once you have kids. Connect with your heart and connect with yourself.

 

Sunit asks Lesley to share something about herself that she has held onto or reconnected with after becoming a mom. Lesley says her creativity. She loves writing and loves expressing herself through poetry.

 

You can find Lesley at www.lesleyyadon.com

 

She is “Lesley Yadon Coaching” on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

 

 

Lesley created a special FREE guide for our listeners on how to create a Blessingway, available here:

 

https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/138592?v=6

Feb 14, 2017

Lilah is a branding designer and business mentor. Her and her husband have a business where they coach creative people to turn hobbies into businesses. Lilah married her hubby early in life and had kids early on as well. Motherhood was not what she expected. She always wanted to have something on the side and to be able to make money with her art skills.

 

She was a talented artist and her dad ran his own business so she had all the tools to go in the direction of graphic design. She started as a graphic designer but has now moved into the business of teaching others how to monetize their hobbies and passions-in the area of crafts.

 

Sunit asks Lilah to talk more about “wake to make” and how her and her husband coach people to make what they love and make money. Lilah says that with a little coaching, most people just take it and run with it. Sunit asks if Etsy is the way to monetize your craft but Lilah says there are other ways too. Online courses, you tube channels and tutorials, teaching people to do what you do is a huge market. You are not providing a product, you are teaching them how to make what you make. Moms are monetizing all sorts of things that they are good at that would provide value to someone else ie meal plans etc.

 

Lilah says you have to think about how you can monetize what you are innately good at and how you can sell it or teach it.

 

Lilah says that when something comes naturally to you, you don’t realize how valuable it is because you think everyone can do it. Sunit agrees that everyone has a special gift that others would pay to have or learn or to be walked through.

 

Sunit asks Lilah how she managed to level up even with kids. Lilah says she actually didn’t uplevel as quickly as she would have liked early on but she committed to just doing one thing every day to move her business forward. It cannot move as quickly as you want it to, but it will move if you are patient. And persistent. They talk about the communities and mentors that have inspired them, including Dana Malstaff and the Boss Mom group. Sunit talks about Marie Forleo and B School, and getting clear on and honing in on your ideal client and your brand. Figure out your target market and then take it one day at a time.

 

Sunit asks Lilah why it’s important to have a business and babies and has she thought about throwing in the towel and letting her husband take over. Lilah jokes that she has considered sending her children to boarding school, the business is the easy part. She loves her business and she loves helping people and their testimonials keep her going on tough days. She saves them and looks at them when she’s having a bad day. They talk about the beauty of having your own business and that if you really don’t feel like “businessing” you can take a day off.

 

Lilah gives tips for women who want to do something but are scared to. She mentions the book- “Loving the Little Years:Motherhood in the Trenches”  by Rachel Jankovic. She talks about life on a Scale of 1 to 10. New things are always at a 10. 10 being unachievable. 1 is very achievable. So when you are a new mom, it feels like a 10. Once you start to get comfortable you move to a 1. But it’s always changing. It’s the same in business. You can do whatever you think you can’t do. It will go from a 10 to a 1 eventually.

 

Sunit asks Lilah, what is the first thing you should do if you have an idea for something. Or if you want to spur an idea for a side hustle or a business. If you want to do something but don’t know where to start –ask yourself what comes naturally to you that others say you are good at. Something you would love to do day in and day out. THAT is your ideal business. Then figure out how to monetize it and what your why is. Ask yourself why you want to help them, and why you want to do this. Your why will keep you going and continue to move you forward.

Sunit says her why is to create a new generation of moms who feel like they are better prepared and so solid in themselves that they don’t lose that.  Happy moms raise happy kids and that’s the goal.  Lilah says she has a passion for design and pretty things and an eye for making things better or more beautiful and she is passionate about doing that.  She feels purposeless when she is not hustling. She feels called to pursue something outside of her children.

 

Sunit says if you are listening and motivated by this, EVERYBODY has a special gift in this world. Sunit says even the moms who live for their kids and love being with them 24/7 get lit up by having another purpose. She hopes the listeners walk away feeling inspired to find that. Lilah says you don’t have to be limited to motherhood. Let yourself dream, and it’s ok to want something else that is just yours and brings you joy. Think about your selfish why and your why that pulls at your heart and makes you want to make change. It doesn’t always have to be about making income if that’s not important to you.

 

They talk about how it’s great that their kids see them reaching for the stars and chasing their dreams.

 

Sunit asks Lilah for one piece of advice for a woman who wants to do more-Lilah says give yourself grace. You are in an emotional and hard time in your life-you are going to grow and change. Give yourself grace in this next season of your life. Sunit says it doesn’t have to be horrible, it’s going to be different-no matter how prepared you are, life will be different, but it can be, and is, an amazing thing. You will do things you never thought you could be capable of.

 

Lilah said whenever she feels like she can’t move forward she reminds herself of what she went through when she gave birth. It’s the hardest thing you can do. Sunit says women are strong creatures, and don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do as a mom. You can do anything as a mom.

 

Sunit asks Lilah what she held onto from her pre-baby life that’s all about her and how she did it. Lilah said she has always been an artist and she was able to continually weave that into her life. Lilah says she kept motherhood very simple in the beginning. She didn’t have a ton of toys and baby equipment and clothes and excess so she didn’t have as much to clean or do as maybe others would. Her son was a good sleeper so she took that time to nurture the artist side of herself. She also had a big support system. It’s ok to put the baby down to do something for yourself. You can find Lilah and her hubby at

 

www.thehigginscreative.com

 

They also have a podcast! (checkout the website for more info!)

Search the “Wake to Make Tribe” on Facebook. It is for makers, artists, online business owners-anyone with a creative calling in their life.

Feb 7, 2017

Shelly is a Health and Performance Coach who believes moms can thrive in all areas of their life.

 

Focuses on moms who are juggling babies AND businesses. Has found that Health and performance are interrelated and takes a wholistic approach to health and covers everything when working with moms and moms to be including, mindset, self-care, and the big picture.

 

Newborn to elementary days are the most challenging times and those are typically the moms that need balance in their life.

 

Science proves that if you don’t take care of yourself, the way you show up for your kids will suffer. It’s important to model that for them. Sunit talks about her recent eye injury and how it reminded her that if you aren’t at 100% you can’t properly show up for your family. (you can’t pour from an empty cup).

 

Shelly says that the key to long term success with your health is to have automated habits which means you should adopt them as soon as possible (ie before babies come). It’s valuable to also model your health for your kids. Sunit asks about nutrition, fitness and well-being and how they all fit together. Shelly says the most important thing to do FIRST is to address your self-care and how you think about your body. It shouldn’t be about the number on the scale, it should be about making decisions on a strong foundation of how you think about yourself.

 

It’s a domino effect when you start to take better care of yourself, you are set up to take better care of everyone around you. Sunit asks for tips on “self care” and Shelly and Sunit both agree that the term self care is overused. It’s not all about bubble baths and trips to the spa. Shelly says you have to be anchored in what lights you up. Find what you love and DO THAT. THAT is self care and nail it down BEFORE you have babies. She often asks new moms what they love to do and they will say “I have no idea…. I’m in survival mode”.

 

Constantly celebrate yourself and each success you have. The small wins and one foot in front of the other is what leads to transformation.

 

Sunit reminds everyone that taking care of your SELF means finding your passion NOW. She asks Shelly to give tips to expecting moms that will help them get some solid habits in place NOW to anchor them after baby comes. Shelly says it’s all about baby steps so she doesn’t recommend making any sweeping changes. Everyone knows what they could do a little better. Pick the low hanging fruit, one thing you know you could get a quick win with, and do that. Once you master it, move on to the next area of your health. One thing at a time. Coaching is all about teasing out what people intuitively know already. You already know what you need.

 

Sunit reiterates that we have all the answers already even as new moms. We already know what kind of mom we want to be and what kinds of kids we want to raise, It sometimes helps for someone else to just ask the right questions.

She asks Shelly about the fad diets and women wanting to lose baby weight quickly. Shelly discourages anyone from doing cleanses and diets for the purpose of losing weight. Instead she would like to see women setting themselves up for a healthy lifestyle. You are perfect the way you are and as long as you are anchored and feeling whole as you are, you will settle back into the right weight when you are ready. Sunit also brings up the fact that fad diets could be depriving your body of the proper nutrients and calories for breastfeeding.

Ultimately, getting good habits going BEFORE you have a baby will make it easier for you to have something to stick to. Getting your partner involved in your desires for your health and making it a lifestyle for both of you, will allow him to help you hold on to the things you want to hold on to. Be anchored in your relationship. Have your partner on board and he will help you be more successful.

 

Sunit and Shelly talk about how as coaches they are not successful telling people WHAT to do. They want to encourage women to dig deep and figure out what motivates you and where you want to end up and then help you get there.

 

Sunit asks Shelly about one piece of advice to give to women for whom motherhood is in the near future. Shelly says “to love yourself healthy”. Everything you do for your health-do it out of love for your SELF. It will get you quicker results.

 

She asks Shelly something about her SELF that she has held onto and how she did it. Shelly says she has always been physically active and this was important to her to keep. She did get away from it for a bit but she has been able to reconnect with it. She also loves that her kids see her making activity a priority. Sunit asks how she makes time for this. Shelly said she always asks herself “what’s it going to cost me if I don’t do this”. She is reminded that it will affect her mood and how she shows up for her family. Then, she makes sure that it’s scheduled into her day like any other appointment. She makes it a priority. Sunit and Shelly talk about the fact that you don’t need too much time or equipment to make physical activity a priority.  Shelly says that an accountability buddy can help you stay on top of things you want to stay on top of.

 

You can learn more at her blog at www.shellyrobinson.com

 

You can also join her FB community

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HealthyMamaHustle/, and surround yourself with like-minded moms.

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