A quick guide for exploring Let Your Life Bloom while I'm on a blog hiatus during my spiritual nourishment adventure is now available below for your viewing pleasure.

At the start of the year, I decided to write 5 days a week, each day being a different health oriented theme. More about that here. Each theme, in addition to the general categories that I write about - health, intuition, and coaching - gives you a strong foundation of health and clarity. When you have this, you can truly let your life bloom.

Here's the snapshot:

Movin' On Mondays - All about movement and the body.

Tasty Tuesdays - Food, farms, fantasies, and more.

Wisdom Wednesdays - From dreams to nature to animals, tap into the inherent wisdom of life.

Talk to Me Thursdays - All about community, communication, relationships.

Fabulously Fun Fridays - Whatever I wanted to post, which makes it fun for me and you!

Health - Always focused on the holistic side of well-being and healing.

Intuition - Learn to listen & follow it, distinguish it from fear, and let it be the main voice guiding your world.

Coaching - Ask new questions, create the life you love, develop a new relationship with yourself, set goals, and more good stuff. 

Ask Coach Vanessa - Questions ranging from employee to entrepreneur, procrastination, balance and the answers to life's most basic inquiries.

See why health, intuition, and coaching are key in letting your life bloom.

Let Your Life Bloom teleseries - Free 9 month series with 27 guests chatting about the four keys to letting your life bloom, Energy & Intuition, Holistic Health & Sustainability, Leadership & Legacy, & Integrative Coaching. All set to a different backdrop of health, rotating monthly.

Turning a New Leaf coaching program - Become more clear and effective at achieving whatever goals you set for yourself by creating a strong foundation of health. 1 on 1 coaching currently available, or groups opening again in 2010.

Get Clear energy & intuition classes - Learn the language of energy and become crystal clear when it comes to your intuition.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter with a featured health and wisdom article, a tasty treats food section, and a community corner filled with great finds I come across. Do so in the top right corner of this blog.

Know the 7 basics of health.

The philosophy behind Integrative Wellness Works.

Friend me on Facebook (make sure to send a note).

Read my personal and professional stories.

Become a Facebook fan.

Chat me up on Twitter.

Get princess wisdom.

In the Spotlight.

 Eating habits & cravings.

Office politics.

Thanks for visiting. Keep in touch and let me know the beautiful ways in which your life is blooming.

Hello blog world and readers of Let Your Life Bloom,

I hope you're doing well, enjoying the season change, and up to whatever fulfills you.

If you've read any of my posts on intuition, or have attended my Get Clear series, you know that I first and foremost trust my inner guidance. In doing so, it sometimes directs me in different ways than what my ego wants or expects. In learning to go with the flow of my own natural rhythm, it's become clear that for right now, it's time to step back from posting while other seeds are germinating.

Last week was the first time I didn't post 5 days a week since the beginning of this year. I love writing and sharing information and stories with you. Which means I'm looking forward to when it's time to start up again. I may post sporadically, because I just can't help myself! ✿

Thinking about you and looking forward to returning when the time is right...In the meantime, chat me up on Twitter and Facebook. 

Wishing you good things,

Coach Vanessa

Many of you may know I feel this way since I tend to pimp out this delicious, healthy, flavorful ice cream to whoever I come across. When I stumbled upon this contest by Luna & Larry of Coconut Bliss, I couldn't resist creating an entry. Here it is:

*Posts will be short & sweet this week with a focus on sharing a resource or two, as I'm up in Oregon for a family reunion and other unexpected adventures...Thanks again for reading!"

Have you heard of Nia? It's a combination of martial arts, dance, and the healing arts. The philosophy of it is - "Through movement we find health." At the end of the week I'll be in Portland, Oregon, home to Nia founders and a mecca of fun and healing movement. Attending a class there is an opportunity I can't pass up. To find a Nia class in your area, click here.

The theme of this week has definitely been one of healing and clearing out the old no longer working stuck stuff. We all go through versions of this. It seems to take on more intensity at the changing of the seasons.

I first heard this song in a Kundalini Yoga class. It's been one of my favorites for being loving, mellow, and affirming. Hope you enjoy listening, as well as the beautiful images that go along with it.

There are certain phrases and quotes that when you hear them, you automatically take a deep breath. You also feel better and more relaxed, like you can finally let go of whatever was making you feel stuck - at least in that moment, if not for good.

Acceptance has been a huge learning for me. It still is. See, I like to be happy. To feel such intense appreciation for life that the hair stands up on my arms and I get goosebumps (my truth-o-meter) when I think about the things I'm grateful for. When I get into stuck places, or old stuff comes bubbling up, it is incredibly easy to go into resistance (judgment, fear, you name it). Saying this to myself helps me feel more peace in the moment.

When I first read a variation of this affirmation somewhere else, boy o boy I really didn't like it. Then, I said it to myself, and my body felt like it melted into a big pile of relaxation. Intellectually, it makes sense. If I take credit for the good juju, why not take a look at how I'm playing a role in the things that I don't like as much. Always liberating, sometimes challenging.

This phrase was passed to me from a former coach of mine. It comes from A Course in Miracles. I had to massage this one out for awhile before it became second nature. My first thought was "Of course I love myself." Then I realized, that wasn't always true. Little did my conscious awareness know, I had a long list of grievances against myself, and sure enough, they were tying me up. It takes up a lot of energy and well-being to hold on to stuff. Time to let it go.

Speaking of time, I used to get so caught up (OK, sometimes I still do) in "creating my reality" that I would push, push, push myself to do things even when it didn't feel right. I was so attached to a certain outcome happening...on my watch. I have repeatedly learned and gotten the clear message that things happen if they're meant to, when they're supposed to, and when you're ready for it.

How often have you taken the path of the worst possible outcome? Fear spins stories that can grip even the most grounded person. Train yourself to say this phrase and not only will your focus shift onto what's (positively) possible, you'll feel better and find it easier to take action toward what you want.

***

And on a humorous note, as I shared the title of this post with my husband, @GreenSmith, he shared his key phrases:

"Chihuahuas are my friend." "I am a potato pancake." He added a "Ping" at the end of each phrase to indicate a magic wand being waved. Then followed with, "Are you adding this to your article?!"

Yes!

What key phrases help you heal and restore health?

When's the last time you gave yourself the freedom to follow your nose, intuition, and natural rhythm? How often do you complain about not having the time to do what you really want to do? What would your days look like if you had full authority to set it up how it bests works for you?

It can be easy to forget that you have a choice in life. To think that someone else is pulling the strings and directing the show. Yet, we are all given the gift of discerning the most supportive and fulfilling path for ourselves. 

Whenever I meet someone who is struggling with health issues, it's inevitable that our conversation turns to a place of their regrets or wishes. A desire for change and longing to live one's truth. And, without fail, as they made a choice in the direction of their heart - whether small or large - health is restored.

Ever since I volunteered at Mountain Bounty last season, I became much more aware of this whole other world where following the natural rhythm rules the day. It's inherent in us as much as it is in the earth and the seasons. Pay attention to what you're being called to do. Step up to the plate. It's time to take that path.

Eating food is a sensual experience. The taste, texture, smell. The feeling of being nourished. The sharing of a meal. How often do you eat your food in this way, for pure pleasure?

Chances are, not often. Like body language, we get into ruts or habits around our food. Which way of eating is most like you?

Eating as a chore - "I know I need to eat. Not really hungry. Nothing sounds good. Whatever."

Eating as a pastime - "There's nothing else to do. I'm bored."

Eating as an emotional cover up - "I can't deal, where's the chocolate?"

Eating as an energy boost - The car ran out of gas. You'll take anything, fast food to vending machines, to spike that energy back up, just shove it in there.

Eating as a multi-tasking activity - You're driving, talking on your cell, making a note to yourself at the stoplight, and shoving half a sandwich in your face.

Eating as a meditation - Setting an intentional space, calm and without distraction, taking a deep breath before your first bite, chewing slowly, being grateful for the meal.

Eating for pleasure - Overcome with compliments for the food, indulging your mind in food fantasies as you eat, enjoying the combination of flavors.

Eating for health - Being conscious about what you feed yourself, mostly whole foods, organic, nutrient dense and superfoods, helpful food combining, listening to your intuition around what would be best for you.

All of the above ways are ones I'm personally familiar with. The more I come to care for my overall health, the easier I find it to eat from the bottom 3 categories. It feels much better and I appreciate the whole experience even more.

Which way do you eat? I challenge you to try out the bottom 3 categories of eating this week. Leave a comment and let me know how it went.

Have you ever noticed how people change their physical shape depending on what they're talking about? We use our bodies to emphasize a point, to convince ourselves and others that we are speaking the truth. Often times we do this unconsciously, and even out of defense. The most typical stance is crossing our arms in front of the chest when we are trying to make our case about something (which is more about being scared to be "wrong" or vulnerable). There's also the hunched shoulders, the leg tapping, the elaborate hand gestures.

These are usually thought of as tics or bad habits to break. I disagree.

Body language gives us clues as to where the person is coming from. There are so many different ways that we can communicate with language. Have you ever found yourself feeling reactionary to what someone has said? Or noticed someone being reactionary to you? Paying attention to and being curious about the body language someone is using can help you let go of the judgment, and become more compassionate. To be able to listen openly.

What if we drop down underneath the physical movement to see what motivates us to change our shape? From here, you'll find that ultimately, we all want the same things. We want to be believed, supported, acknowledged, related to, and understood.

How often have you taken a deep breath, got yourself good and grounded, and stood up tall before you spoke? Doing so gives you a minute to collect yourself and get clear on what you really want to express. Even if you're not the one speaking at the moment, when you do this, the other person in the conversation will match your physical stance without even realizing it. This match will open the door to a deeper understanding of each other, and alignment with your own truth. 

Notice your body the next time you speak. Make a conscious choice to breathe, ground, and stand tall as you continue talking. Feel the difference.

For your fun Friday enjoyment...