Staring at the screen here, part of me could write an entire soliliquey about turning 40- the lessons learned, the things I might change if offered the chance for a “do-over,” and ways in which my face and body are changing that I have no control.

I grew up in a home that was far from ordinary. My friends jokingly referred to it as Willy Wonka’s factory on crack. My mailbox was shaped like a big pink heart; there was purple trim around the outside of the house; every post on the walkway to my front door and every cabinet in the kitchen was a different pastel color.

This morning I taught a vinyasa class and one of my favorite students asked me to teach an intense arm balance. Immediately the room became uncomfortable- some sighing in annoyance, and others saying “Oh Crap” under their breath.

It’s interesting how people have ingrained feelings toward things they think they can’t achieve- yet how facing the reality of what their body is actually capable of on the mat is a huge gateway for them to challenge themselves outside the studio.

As women, we have so much on our plate. We hold down jobs, careers, take care of our children, our husbands, our household and once in a while, ourselves.

And isn’t it so, that the way you feel upon waking or the first few hours following, can really dictate our day! This beautiful and natural way of helping our mental health and wellness is all that we ask for. Every fight with a parent, every mean word from a teacher, changes who we are and moves us out of balance.

For many people, losing weight and keeping it off can be a major struggle.

But, today I want to share with you an insight that I have gained from having been on my own weight loss healing journey.

It was this one simple distinction, which really helped me to change how I felt about my disempowering and struggling relationship with my weight.

My journey to self love began from a place of self loathing, apathy and despair.  

I had just had a physical break down, I was 60 pounds overweight and I was totally disconnected from what I really wanted from my life. 

This place of discomfort, as gut wrenching as it was, was my starting point....