HEART OF THE MATTER

     Valentine's Day is almost here - so what better time to nurture a healthy, open and loving heart? From a purely physical standpoint, heart disease is a huge problem in Canada, but the good news is that 80% of cardiovascular disease is caused by risk factors we can control. From a "love" perspective, just tune into popular culture or the news these days and it is clear that our perceptions of love are complex and distorted. This may surprise you, but a heart healthy lifestyle includes making wise food choices, exercising regularly and nurturing emotional and spiritual wellness. That's right - your doctor may not have told you that you've gotta let your love light shine if you want to prevent a heart attack.  Let's get to the heart of the matter and look at some of the ways we can cultivate a holistic heart healthy lifestyle.

HEART HEALTHY EATING
     A lot of misinformation has been circulating about what constitutes a healthy diet - especially when it comes to heart disease. If you are still afraid of saturated fats and cholesterol and are avoiding foods containing these things you will deprive your body of vital nutrients. The cholesterol that our bodies produce and which we consume from whole, healthy, unprocessed traditional foods, does not cause heart disease. Rather, the popular substitutes that are consumed instead of saturated fats contain many components that have been associated with increased rates of heart disease - such as polyunsaturated oils (soybean, corn & sunflower), trans fatty acids (hydrogenated oil, shortening & margarine), and refined sugar. A form of cholesterol that is dangerous to consume is that which has been oxidized or is rancid - which occurs in powdered eggs and milk which are found in processed foods. Keep an eye out for powdered milk which is more often than not added to yogurt these days. Opt for organic, un-homogenized, and preferably raw milk yogurt with no added thickeners or powdered milk. Or better yet, make your own. Powdered milk is also often added to low-fat milk to give it more body. Choose full fat and un-homogenized milk - also preferably raw.

BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
     A healthy immune system is a vitally important for heart health. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses have been associated with the development of coronary heart disease. When a weak immune system is unable to deal with these pathogens, they cause havoc on your heart. A healthy immune system depends on many nutrients, including Vitamin A, C and minerals which play an antioxidant role. Animal fats carry Vitamin A and palmitoleic acid, which has strong anti-microbial properties. Butter and coconut oil also contain similar properties and thus are an important part of a heart healthy diet.
     A heart healthy diet requires that you avoid all processed foods labeled "low-fat" and which contain white flour and additives. Consume high-quality animal products including wild seafood and milk, butter, cheese, eggs, meat, fats and organ meat from animals raised on green pasture. Consume many fresh and organically grown vegetables and fruits. Optimize mineral intake by using whole dairy products, mineral rich bone broths, and whole grains/legumes and nuts that have been properly prepared (soaked or sprouted) to reduce phytic acid and other factors that block mineral absorption.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR HEART HEALTH
     Instead of taking synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements, consider including in your diet  foods rich in protective factors such as cod liver oil (Vitamins A & D), wheat germ oil (Vitamin E), flax oil (omega 3 fatty acids), kelp (iodine), brewer's yeast (B vitamins), desiccated liver (Vitamin B12), rose hip or acerola powder (vitamin C), and coconut oil (antimicrobial fatty acids). Obtaining your nutrients from whole foods instead of vitamin pills increase your likelihood of absorption and assimilation.

PASS THE SALT
     High quality, unrefined salt is essential to life, and is a major component of your blood, lymph, and other vital bodily fluids. Salt carries nutrients in and out of your cells. It maintains and regulates blood pressure. YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT. The idea that salt is bad for you and contributes to heart disease has been scientifically proven wrong for many years, yet the myth still persists in our culture. What you should focus on is the quality of your salt - opt for mineral rich, unrefined sea or Himalayan salt instead of the highly processed and additive laden iodized table salt.

SMOKING
     Smoking cigarettes increases your likelihood of coronary heart disease. Every time you take a puff you are inhaling dangerous chemicals and free radicals which promote the growth of atherosclerotic plaques which cause heart disease. Chronic carbon monoxide intoxication from smoking limits the heart's ability to use oxygen, which as you can imagine is not a good thing. The hazards of smoking are compounded by the fact that the modern processed diet does not contain the nutrients required protect us from the negative effects of cigarettes.

MOVE IT
     Regular physical activity is a key element to a heart healthy lifestyle. Doesn't matter what kind of exercise, just make sure you move your body at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. When you exercise, the heart beats more rapidly, the arteries widen to provide more oxygen and arterial blood flow improves. Exercise also improves mood and decreases stress which makes for a happier (and you guessed it) more loving person which is great for heart health.

STRESS
     No discussion of heart health is complete until stress is mentioned. Stress affects behaviours and factors that increase heart disease risk like high blood pressure, drinking, smoking, physical inactivity and overeating. Many of these are coping mechanisms people use to "manage" their stress, but unfortunately don't fix the problem and actually cause more harm.
     Many doctors have noticed that heart attacks often occur just after severe emotional trauma and periods of high stress such as loss of a spouse or close friend, bankruptcy, layoff or dissapointment. Years of malnourishment, unhealthy lifestyle, and improper diet create a system so fragile that in times of crisis we lack the resilience to deal with extreme stress.

FINDING BALANCE - THE HEART CHAKRA
     Your heart centre, or heart chakra, is related to all things love. It is the bridge between the lower body (physical self), and the upper body (the inner, intuitive, spiritual self).  Our heart allows us to feel compassion, empathy, sensitivity, and gives us the ability to love deeply. Our emotional energy comes from the heart centre, and if we have blocked energy in this area of the body we are unhappy, unbalanced, sad and depressed. When our hearts are open and balanced we can have a deep sense of peace, happiness, and an overall sense of well being. No one wants to feel isolated and sad - we are designed to enjoy our lives and be happy. Achieving and maintaining an open and balanced heart centre should be our number one priority for health and well being.  
     The Sanskrit word for the fourth chakra is Anahata, which means "unstruck" or "unhurt". The name implies that beneath the pain of our experiences lies a pure and spiritual place where no hurt exists. It is impossible to avoid situations where someone may try to hurt you, but it is possible to choose what to do with that hurt. I often say to my children "Two wrongs don't make a right." That is the essence of anahata. When you inflict pain on others your are living from a place of fear, ignorance or hatred, which contribute to a closed heart centre. Love is a choice, not a consequence or stroke of luck. Choose love in every moment for heart health.

KUNDALINI YOGA MEDITATION FOR A CALM HEART

FRIED GOODNESS

     It doesn't matter what you call them - schnitzel, cutlets, or even fingers - breaded and fried meat is tasty. It doesn't matter what meat you use either - this recipe works for chicken, pork, turkey and fish. Your kids will love it. You can even adapt it for gluten free diets. Its a win win situation any way you look at it. So make some. Soon. Everyone will be glad you did.

A traditional way of preparing pork is to marinate it in an acidic medium. This preparation technique can inhibit the growth of bacteria, kills parasites and prevents the inflammatory and blood clotting effects that are observed when un-marinated pork is consumed. So, I recommend you marinate your cutlets before breading and frying them!

PORK CUTLETS

4 pastured and organic pork loin cutlets

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup sprouted or gluten-free flour

2 tsp sea salt 

fresh black pepper

2 eggs

2 cups sourdough or gluten-free breadcrumbs

lard, coconut, or avocado oil for frying

Method: One at a time, place a cutlet in a plastic bag and flatten with a heavy object such as a small cast iron pan. Marinate the cutlets in the vinegar for at least 12 hours or overnight in the fridge.

     Remove from vinegar - rinsing is optional. Dry with a towel.

     Heat your oven to 200*F and place a tray inside.

     Place the flour, 1 tsp salt and some pepper on a plate and stir to combine. On another plate, whisk to combine the breadcrumbs and the rest of the salt. In a small mixing bowl, whisk the eggs.

     Take one of the cutlets and dredge in the seasoned flour, making sure you shake off the excess. Then dip it into the eggs, and then finally into the breadcrumbs, patting so the entire cutlet is lightly coated. Place the finished cutlet onto a plate or baking sheet while you prepare the rest.

     Heat 1/4" of melted lard or coconut oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat until nice and hot. In batches, cook the cutlets until golden brown on each side. Transfer to the pan in the oven to keep warm while you cook the rest. Serve with freshly squeezed lemon.

      

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REAL FOOD ON A BUDGET

     You are not alone if you go into sticker shock every time you look at the price of high quality real foods. It often makes people give up in frustration before they’ve even begun to incorporate better food choices into their diet. Well, I’m here to tell you it can be done and that you have options. You may need to make some compromises sometimes so give yourself a little grace.
     There are two components to eating real food on a budget. One is learning what foods to prioritize sourcing well, and the other is learning how to manage your kitchen properly to stretch those dollars.

How to Prioritize Food Choices

Here are some suggestions on how to prioritize spending your grocery money - they are listed from highest to lowest priority:

1. High Quality Meats, Fish, & Eggs
2. Raw or Fermented Dairy From Grass-Fed Animals
3. High Quality Fats & Oils
4. Buying Organic Fruits, Veggies, Grains & Beans

General Tips on How to Manage Your Kitchen

1. Prepare your own meals – eating out is a luxury.
2. Don’t buy packaged foods.
3. Buy in bulk, and directly from local farmers.
4. Eat fewer animal products (and more veggies).
5. Make meat only a part of the meal, rather than the centrepiece.
6. Don’t waste food.
7. Make your own convenience foods – breads, salsas, salad dressings, condiments.
8. Avoid doubling up on expensive animal proteins in any given meal (ie cheese melted on an omelette).
9. Eat in season & locally
   
   
   Interested in discovering how you can make the switch to real food diet?  Sign up for my e-course!
   
   
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     New year, new goal of keeping better tabs on the grocery budget. So today I had $100 in my pocket for food this week and here is what I bought from the farmer's market and grocery store:

• dulse seaweed
• flour
• coconut milk
• tahini
• bananas
• carrots
• sweet potatoes
• cilantro
• ginger
• wild shrimp
• ground beef
• navy beans
• mushrooms
• cabbage
• bread
• avocados
• apples, pears and lemons
• potatoes
• salad greens
• sardines

     Fortunately, we keep chickens and so have lots of fresh eggs in the fridge. Our freezer is also stocked with lamb and goat from this fall's slaughter, or this week's groceries wouldn't go very far. I will use that flour to make loaves of sourdough bread, pancakes and other baked goods.  The sardines are nutrient powerhouses and cheap, and my 4 year old is addicted to them lately. I'm not complaining. Navy beans are a great source of (cheap) protein, and make awesome baked beans. Admittedly the bread was a bit of a splurge because I make great bread at home, but nothing compares to this stuff from the local french bakery. Local Grass Fed Ground beef is a thrifty form of beef that I actually really love eating any way at all. Totally versatile and delicious. Cabbage is local, seasonal, and incredibly useful in so many recipes. Dulse is another nutrient powerhouse, chock full of minerals, and my kids love to snack on it - while I prefer it in salads and sprinkled on pretty much everything. We never have enough fruit in the house so I always load up on local apples and pears, and of course, bananas. While those mini little shrimp are not my favourite variety of this blessed sea creature, the kids prefer it over larger shrimp, and the bonus is they are a sustainably wild harvested from the Atlantic, which makes it a healthy seafood selection. Now, I make homemade almond milk a few times a week, but my husband seems to enjoy this stuff in his coffee so that's why I buy it - and I am super glad they stopped adding carrageenan to this product. Carrots are just a kitchen essential, as are ginger, mushrooms and potatoes of any kind. Phew! That was a long justification for my purchases!

     I tend to shop in many different places because I like variety and in order to get the best selection and prices for everything, you have to shop around. So, my shopping route for the rest of the month may also include the health food store, my neighbourhood farmer, and Costco.  I love Costco! They have a great selection of organic and real foods for really good prices. Here's what I buy at Costco:

• organic coffee
• wild haddock
• organic red peppers
• organic carrots
• organic broccolini
• organic frozen berries
• organic salmon
• organic chicken (sometimes - when we run out of local)
• organic beef (sometimes)
• organic bread (if we're out and I'm feeling uninspired to bake that week)
• organic cheese ravioli (as a treat - not for tight budgets)
• organic potstickers (as a treat - not for tight budgets!)
• organic empanadas (as a treat - not for tight budgets!)
• almond butter
• organic maple syrup
• natural Siracha sauce
• garlic stuffed olives
• organic tomato sauce and canned tomatoes
• organic raisins/figs/apricots/dates
• almonds- raw and roasted with sea salt
• macadamia nuts (not for tight budgets!)
• organic pine nuts (not for tight budgets!)
• organic quinoa
• organic almond flour (not for tight budgets!)
• hemp seeds
• organic coconut oil
• organic olive oil
• avocado oil
• organic steel cut oats
• organic pasta

     Whatever your reasons for needing to be thrifty at the grocery store, rest assured there are options other than buying highly processed convenience foods that will cost your health in the long run. Bon appetit!   

CHICKEN MISO SOUP with Butternut Squash, Sage & Apple

     Our chicken population was getting out of control. We were going through a bag of chicken feed every week and so it was definitely time to cull the flock. Although these lovely birds of ours aren't great for roasting, they do make great stock. If I remember to pick the meat off early enough, then I have a some nice tender meat to make sandwiches and soups with too.
     When it comes time to make soup, I often ask myself the same question; is there any way I can make chicken soup a little more exciting? Here was yesterdays chicken soup redo with a batch of the sourdough biscuits my family loves so much slathered with salty butter...

CHICKEN MISO SOUP with Butternut Squash, Sage & Apple

2 pounds leftover cooked chicken meat

2 onions, chopped

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil

3 cups, peeled and cubed butternut squash

1 cup peeled and diced parsnip

1 1/2 cups apple cider

2 cups mineral rich chicken stock

2 cups peeled and chopped apple

2 Tbsp chopped fresh sage, or 2 tsp dried

1 Tbsp peeled and grated ginger root

2 tsp sea salt, or more to taste

fresh black pepper

1/2 Tbsp white miso per bowl of soup

Method: Heat a large soup pot over medium heat, drizzle with oil, and saute onions until soft. Add the vegetables, apple, chicken, stock and cider. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer until squash is tender. Place 1/2 Tbsp miso in each bowl, dilute with some stock, and then fill with soup. Stir and serve.

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SOURDOUGH BISCUITS

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 Tbsp coconut sugar

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup butter

2 cups sourdough culture

Method: In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter until it looks like coarse crumbs. Add the sourdough culture, stirring with a fork. Add more flour as necessary to prevent the dough from being to sticky and wet. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead very briefly until the dough is soft and barely sticky. Add more flour as needed. 

Using your hands form the dough into a rectangle about 2 inches thick. Using a large knife cut into 8 biscuits. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let rest at room temperature for 2 hours. Bake in a preheated 375*F oven for about 20 minutes or until golden. Serve hot.

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WINTER RITUALS

     Growing up in Canada means long, cold and snowy winters. Ice skating and sledding. And hot chocolate. Just the mere thought of a hot cup of cocoa makes me nostalgic. Good memories of mom showing us how to make it from scratch, our cheeks red and rosy from all that fresh winter air. It's so simple to make your own hot chocolate, I have a hard time understanding why there's even a market for instant. The best part too is that you can use ingredients that make this chocolatey treat a little bit healthier than usual.

HOT CHOCOLATE

1 1/2 cups milk (almond, coconut or cow)

1 Tbsp cocoa powder

1 Tbsp raw honey

optional: cinnamon, Dandies brand marshmallows, whipped cream

Method: Heat the milk in a small saucepan until hot. Meanwhile, put the cocoa powder and honey in your mug. Add a bit of warm milk and stir into a moistened paste. Pour in hot milk and stir. Top with optional ingredients and enjoy!

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     Now, I limit the amount of refined sugar the kids eat, but ever since a non-GMO marshmallow hit the market they are hooked, and it's hard to say no to s'mores on the campfire and ooey gooey melted marshmallows in their hot chocolate. A rare, but fun treat for sure.

     Every Friday my youngest son and I are home alone while my eldest is at school. This winter I've decided that Fridays will be a special baking day for the two of us. Today we baked up some yummy (and addictive) Chewy Chocolate Chip & Oatmeal Cookies. Tasty little tidbits I can't seem to stop eating.

CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP & OATMEAL COOKIES

(Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Egg Free)

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

6 Tbsp nut butter of choice (I used almond)

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy-Life brand because they are non-GMO)

pinch of sea salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method: Preheat oven to 350*F. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and then drop by the spoonful onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes.

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THIS YEAR, DITCH THE DIET

     Happy New Year! If you're like most people, you probably spent the weekend reviewing and reflecting on the past year’s events and engaged in some form of strategic planning for the upcoming year. The popular word for this sort of transformative action is "resolution" which is a word which implies "a firm decision to do or not do something." This sort of rigid approach to change allows for no fluidity or flexibility. When we make declarations and commitments like “never” or “forever,” we are more likely to fall short of our goals and expectations. This leaves no room for balance and flexibility.
     What I am trying to say is resolutions do not work because more often than not, they include making changes to behaviour and objects that exist outside of us. Until we change what’s on the inside, we cannot change what’s on the outside. Eventually, we will go back to making the same choices, whether consciously or unconsciously. When we lovingly embrace and accept ourselves, focus our attention on what we want instead of what we don’t want, and set fluid intentions for the New Year, we are more likely to naturally flow toward choices that are aligned with our goals and achieve our desired results. 

My favourite path to creating real and lasting change in my life includes 8 steps:

8 Steps To Create Real and Lasting Change

1. Love and accept yourself.

2. Practice self-awareness 

3. Change old, negative beliefs into new, empowering beliefs.

4. Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want. 

5. Practice gratitude.

6. Set realistic, achievable goals and take actionable steps.

7. Never say never.

8. Meditate and visualize.

     If you're one of the many people who want to lose some weight this year, the same principles apply. The typical scenario goes something like this: you hear about this wonderful diet that will guarantee weight-loss, so you try it, only to gain even more weight back once you’ve lost it. Don't worry, you are not alone. Just because a diet works for one person, does not mean that it will work for you.  

Here are the top 5 reasons that diets are doomed to fail:

1. People choose to use a diet to achieve a short-term goal. That goal is usually to lose weight before an upcoming event. Diets are perceived from the onset as a temporary action used to obtain an immediate result. Once that result is achieved, the diet is stopped and old eating habits return. 

2.  The yo-yo diet or weight cycling. As mentioned, many people go on diets, lose weight, and then gain weight, often more than they lost. And, for some reason, the cycle is repeated. To quote Albert Einstein:  “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” This repeated failure can have negative effects on a person’s mental health and could result in an eating disorder.

3.  Many diets are based on the premise of counting calories using a formula meant for the general population as opposed to the individual. Everybody processes calories differently. This formula supports that caloric expenditure exceeds caloric intake and will therefore promote weight loss. It has become clear that this premise is no longer true. Every calorie is not created equal. Calories consumed from spinach or sweet potatoes are much more nutrient-dense than calories consumed from a processed, low-fat muffin. In addition, if you were to consume too few calories, your body goes into survival mode, slowing down the metabolism. You run the risk of your metabolism remaining sluggish once you start consuming more calories.

4.  Before even starting a diet, people believe that they will be depriving themselves of foods they love. Entering into a program with this mindset clearly does not support success. This constant experience of deprivation will bring on food cravings that will be difficult to ignore.  If you're trying to give up the things you love and enjoy, you're just punishing yourself. Why give up entirely the things you enjoy and bring you pleasure if it’s not harmful to yourself or others? Moderation and flexibility is key.

5. This brings me to the last reason why diets do not work. They do not address food cravings and how to handle them. Everyone has cravings. Having the tools to help navigate through those cravings and reach for healthy food alternatives will help to eliminate them.

    

     Unfortunately for many individuals, diets only offer a quick fix to a larger problem.  Weight loss isn’t just about the food on our plate or the hours we log at the gym. It’s about creating a well-rounded life that is feeding and nourishing us in a number of ways. My job, my PASSION, is helping you create that kind of holistic life, where you are addressing all the various influences that are affecting your health and weight.

If you’re sick of the dieting roller coaster…

If you’re sick of meal plans that don’t work…

If you’re fed up with the cardboard low-cal frozen dinners…

I’ve got a solution for you.

I’m talking long-term, sustainable weight loss.

This is not something you will find in a book or on the back of a Lean Cuisine box. This is a revolutionary way of living and eating that will change your life and rock your world.

Are you ready for it?

REVITALIZE 2016 - 28 Days of Yoga & Real Foods is a 4-week course you can do online or live (if you live in Nova Scotia) that will help you lose weight, feel great, and look amazing. 

You will:

• Learn to eat the foods that are right for you and your unique body

• Learn how to plan meals, even if you are busy and have no time

• Put yourself first (and not feel guilty about it. Whoa!)

• Practice Kundalini & Hatha Yoga to strengthen commitment, de-stress, strengthen and tone

• Find exercise that fits your unique body and lifestyle

• Take the exact steps, week by week, that will help you achieve long-lasting results

• Give you daily assignments over a 28-day period that will empower you to make lifelong changes

And so much more!

     If you’re ready to ditch the diet and finally lose weight (FOR GOOD!), join me for this life-changing program.

     Wishing you much success for a happy, healthy, and prosperous transformation in the New Year!

COMING OFF THE PILL AND INTO YOUR BODY

     While there is no doubt that hormonal contraception is convenient and effective, there are serious (and valid) concerns about the side affects and dangers associated with chemically altering natural and normal bodily processes. Sexual autonomy and reproductive rights are a complex issue and there are many factors to consider, but what I would like to address is the value and importance of natural fertility awareness as an effective and safer alternative to hormonal birth control.   

     Our bodies work in order to facilitate life. Whether you are in the phase of your life where you want (or do not want) to bring a new life into this world, the best way is to not fear the process, but to understand and respect sexuality and fertility. In this way we can be fertile beings with coherence and awareness.
     In general our society avoids the topic of fertility and most women do not understand how their bodies work. When it comes to women’s health, there’s a cultural barrier. Even a menstrual period is only discussed in terms of inconvenience, cramps and pain. When women are young and not ready for children, they are only taught how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Fertility education needs to address fertility awareness and preventing infertility as well. Youth need to be given the proper language to describe their body parts. Many of the myths surrounding fertility need to be dispelled, such as teaching women exactly when they can get pregnant. Women need to know there are alternatives to hormonal birth control and understand that it is important (and ok) to be comfortable with the inconsistencies and unpredictable nature of their bodies. Fertility and health education should also include healthy eating strategies that support hormonal balance and relieve many of the symptoms associated with the shifts in the menstrual cycle.
     Fertility awareness could provide girls with the information which will empower them and help them to become confident young women who are in control of their lives, their health and their reproductive destiny. Through fertility awareness girls learn how to identify fertility signs that aid them in understanding what their individual body is doing. Fertility awareness empowers girls to understand, watch, observe and be a part of their ever changing bodies and thus provide a priceless sense of bodily confidence, insight and self-esteem.

     For those of us who have already gone through puberty and may be on our way towards menopause, there is still value in charting the menstrual cycle and practicing fertility awareness. Unfortunately, something that should be so simple - "reading" our body - is made complicated by many factors. There are layers of healing - both physical and emotional, which occur along the way. Often, there is much learning and unlearning to accomplish along this path.

What Exactly is Fertility Awareness?
In general, natural fertility awareness includes:

• Consideration of the combined fertility of the man and woman

• Observation, understanding, and charting of 3 primary signs of fertility: cervical fluid, basal body temperature, and position of the cervix (optional)

• Abstinence or additional barrier methods are required during the fertile phase of the cycle, approximately 7 days
     Fertility Awareness is the opportunity to connect intimately with your body – trusting it and following it, rather than looking outside for guidance. It is way of being connected to your body, fertility, sexuality, and health that stems from a daily practice of paying attention to and tracking the changes we as women go through on a cyclical basis. The practice of fertility awareness is valuable for all women, from puberty through menopause. It offers a clear understanding of the “window of fertility” and the confidence to then know how to use this information to make informed choices about when and if you want to become pregnant. It is especially useful for women who are having difficulty conceiving.
     On an emotional and spiritual level, it is an expansive practice that offers the potential for transformation and empowerment. On a physical level, it is a way to know when you are fertile, when you are not, and how well your hormones are doing at orchestrating the ebbs and flows of your cycle. Fertility awareness is an important and essential practice for women whether or not it is used as a method of birth control. 

     To learn more about how you can experience exceptional hormonal health and well-being check out my online course The Hormonal Bliss Project for Painless PMS & Menopause.

If you are interested in learning more about holistic fertility, sexuality and contraceptive solutions check out the Red Tent Sisters.