As you may or may not know, my husband and I are in the process of cleansing our bodies in preparation for our first baby. It isn’t a concept that is unfamiliar to me, I’ve been helping my clients do this for quite some time now and I am so thrilled that this practice of conscious conception is finally gaining more popularity with both couples struggling with infertility as well as first time parents who aren’t yet trying to conceive like my husband and I.  And while I strongly, passionately and fully believe with every cell of my being that what we eat before we conceive has a dramatic effect on our future children, so does what we eat during pregnancy.

But what about when it is time to birth this beautiful being into the world? A time of empowerment for the mother, a time of beauty and a rite of passage. A large part of me almost dreads this moment. Fear from movies and TV shows like ‘One Born Every Minute’, ‘A Baby Story’, ‘Bringing Home Baby’ and even ‘Didn’t Know I was Pregnant’ bring fear of the birthing process into my heart and the hearts of other women like me. I don’t want my baby forced out of my body via suction or taken from me before I get to hold him or her for the first time missing out on that time of connection and love. I don’t want to be wearing a hospital gown as if I am sick because that’s ridiculous! You aren’t sick, you are pregnant – if anything being pregnant is the most glorious, empowering time in a woman’s life -a time when we are at our strongest to ensure the health of the baby growing inside of us, no?

‘The Business of Being Born’ was the catalyst for my growth as a woman. It opened my eyes and woke some primal piece of me deep within, that is very hard to explain. I’ve seen the movie probably a handful of times now and each time I come away better, more equipped, more passionate about sharing this information with other women and their partners. It is about awareness, understanding of our female bodies, our strength. It helped  me to discern what is right for me and although I don’t have it all figured out – I have an idea now of what direction looks best for my husband and I as we take this next step together.

Watch the trailer above and tell me what you think. You can also view the entire movie on YOUtube or Netflix- please do and let’s discuss. I fully believe it is time to take our power back and research choices perfect for each of our unique situations. I’ll be sharing so much more here about my journey. I will be bringing midwives, doctors and doulas in to participate in this conversation over the coming months as well. Join me on Twitter to continue the conversation!

Much Love & Conscious Conception!! xoxo

Step 1: Create a Big Picture Goal - This step is crucial for the success of your DREAMS to become real. We all need a big, juicy, fun dream that upon reflection, makes us feel excited and ready to take action or serves a purpose far bigger than ourselves. A great example would be wanting to create a healthier lifestyle to feel your best and also be a role model for your kids rather than losing weight to find a partner or starting your own business to share your gift or a great passion with others rather than starting a business to make millions. Don’t get me wrong we all want to feel sexy or have money in the bank but it’s important that your big picture goal will keep you going for the long haul rather than a quick fix. Having a big dream will ensure that you do all of the little things necessary everyday to create long term dream achievement.

Step 2: Map out a Plan- With your big dream/goal in mind what little steps can you take daily to come closer and closer to achieving success? What steps are absolutely necessary for you to take action on? Do you need to create a grocery list, go through your pantry and get rid of foods that will sabotage your weight loss efforts? Do you need to invest in a mini trampoline or exercise equipment so even if you don’t have a chance to go to the gym you have the opportunity to do so at home? Or, do you need to go back to school in order to secure that big job opportunity? Make a list of small steps that will ultimately help you reach success of your dreams.

Step 3: Ask for Help – Change takes time, effort and accountability. You not only need to take action to achieve your dreams, you also need support from your family or a ‘buddy’ to reach out to in times of anxiety or ‘can I do this’ negativity. Change takes time and attention. I’ve always thought if we are great enough to dream it, you are great enough to achieve it. Who in your life can you share your dream with? How can they support you? Whether it is a neighbor to babysit the kids,  hiring a cleaning service once per week or emailing a friend to help you stay on track – asking for help and someone to share in your success will greatly affect your dream success.

So, what’s your big dream? Are you on track to achieving it? Where do you need help or support? We can strategize together to see these dreams into reality! xoxo

It got me thinking about my own life and about you! We are certainly all on this journey together. How about answering some of these questions for yourself.

–What would it take for you to be fully on your path? What does that path look like?

–Do you know your purpose, the thing that lights you up and gets your heart pumping with excitement and bliss? If so, what is it?

–Who would you spend your time with? Your partner? Children? Family? Friends? Colleagues? Pets?

–In a perfect world what would you look like? How would you look, act or be different if you could at all? Lose 10 pounds? Clearer skin? More confidence?

–If you had all of the money in the world, really think about it. Feel this in your bones. If you were set, carefree and financially free what would that feel like to you? Would you change jobs? Would you buy a house in France? Would you stock the fridge full of delicious foods or better yet, get a personal chef? This isn’t about being ‘greedy’ this is about claiming your place in this world… How does it manifest itself in your dream of all dreams?

I love these questions. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day negativity. ‘The grind’ of daily life. Try creating a list of questions like these and journal about them. If you don’t think about your dreams how can they come true?

How Does Self Sabotage Appear for You?

I think this is a great time to get you thinking about what is holding you back? I’ll be honest, I know alot of women, myself included who have a happiness cap. There is a certain amount of happiness we allow ourselves to feel, to experience and to allow to flow into our lives. Self sabotage sucks! We are going along great, full speed ahead. Our love life is great, we are getting along with our husband and BAM ‘out of the blue’ we get an unexpected bill in the mail that brings us back down to Earth. You didn’t think you deserved the love on some level – you are now back where you ‘belong’. This is just one example of a million and it doesn’t need to be like this.

Self Love Isn’t Stupid or Hokey. We All Desire and Need Love…

Here is the beautiful reality from my trusty friend A Course in Miracles:

Only love is real. Everything else is an illusion.

Whether I am working with a 12 year old or a 45 year old and the topic of self love comes up it gets uncomfortable. We find it so hard to love ourselves. We find reasons for others to NOT love us. We criticize and blame. Judge and ridicule. (All other forms of self sabotage) If you look in the mirror and your vision is clouded by what is wrong with you, what could be firmer or thinner – how is there room in that mirror to see who is really looking back at you? You probably are a woman who really is beautiful, loving, smart, courageous, interesting, fun and who makes others feel amazing.

Action Step: Look in the mirror today, tonight or tomorrow morning. Look into your own eyes. Really search for the truth. Who is this woman looking back at you. What does she like? What makes her feel beautiful? When was the last time you gave yourself a  nice compliment? Maybe looking deeply into her eyes you will find the truth. That you are perfect. That looking outside of ourselves for the answers, beating ourselves up and judging ourselves holds us back from living a life of true joy. Can you even imagine what bliss feels like? Give her a hug and see where it takes you. Write about it. Blog about it. Tell you friends about who you want to be like she has already arrived in spite of being unsure what way she will appear in.
I have so much love in my heart for the women of the world. I feel so lucky to be teaching, exploring, and caring for myself in a big way so that I can care for you too. Let’s create change in our lives. Let’s step up, stand up and share our stories of where we have been to where we want to go. If you feel inspired leave a comment or share on Facebook or Twitter. I’d love that.

Huge Hugs to YOU!

P.S. – You really are a rock star!!

BRACE YOURSELF. If you do nothing else to prepare for the coming of 2011 promise me right now that you’ll read EVERY WORD of this article.

Promise me that you’ll read it like your life depends on it; because IT DOES! And here’s my promise to you: If you read every word, and take the advice I’m going to give you and actually DO IT, …this ONE piece of advice has the potential to change your entire life… FOREVER.  Period.  No lie. (I know that sounds like a TALL order, but trust me, this “advice” completely changed my life and I know it can do the same for you.  SO KEEP READING!!)

If you’ve been reading my newsletters, you know how much pleasure I get from sharing with you the very best information I can possibly get my hands on. As a Health Coach, being able to share all the insider information I get is the part of my job I love the most and I feel truly blessed that I get to do it every day. From sharing the “missing piece” to your weight loss puzzle that finally gets you to lose those last stubborn 10 pounds, to shedding some light on WHY you’re so low on energy and HOW you can kick your coffee habit, to top secret recipes that will WOW your friends and family….

If there’s a good tip I find, you know I’m right here waiting to share it!

Sooo….

Why I’m Not Joking That This Is The Most “SHOCKING” Advice for 2011!

Yes, this is going to be incredible advice, but here’s what’s even better… The advice you’re about to read isn’t just my opinion.  In fact this article is the result of several highly talented Health Coaches who came together recently (myself included!) to “brainstorm” our best recommendations for 2011. And amongst all the brilliant ideas thrown into the ring, the one you’ll read today came out as the “winner”.  The top dog.  The #1 recommendation we’d all make to our clients for 2011!

Here’s the reason why….

The Rapid “Decline” In Society We’re Witnessing

We knew the recommendation we needed to make had to be MASSIVE. It needed to be a suggestion that could create change for you on an unprecedented scale.  Something that would really “rock your world”. Why so “BIG”, you ask? Because the truth of the matter is, our country in the midst of a major health care CRISIS.

More and more clients are coming to us for reasons like these, without a clue how to help themselves:

•             Overweight or obese

•             Suffering from low energy and constant fatigue

•             Craving sugar and sweets

•             Having difficulty sleeping

•             Feeling depressed

•             Experiencing anxiety, irritability or other mood swings

•             Stressed out all the time

•             Being poisoned by toxic relationships

•             Living beyond their financial means or just “never having enough”

•             Just don’t have enough time for the life they want to live

•             Having difficulty making decisions and staying focused

•             Procrastinating on anything and everything

•             Not knowing how to figure out what they really want in life

•             And the list goes on…

And as we all brainstormed, we knew at the root of so many of these problems that we, as a society, are experiencing these days is ONE GIANT CAUSE… (It’s like the big pink elephant in the corner that no one talks about– especially not your average dietitian or nutritionist….) ….but we, as Health Coaches, are well-versed in this concept.

Drum roll please…..

Lack of “Primary Food” As A Major Factor For Decline

As you may know, I’m a graduate from the largest nutrition school in the world, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  As part of my education, I studied every MAJOR dietary theory in the world, from modern Macrobiotics to ancient theories such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. But one major theory that’s unique to my school is the concept of:

“Primary Food vs. Secondary Food”

Allow me to explain…

You see, Secondary Foods, are the things you find on your plate… your breakfast, lunch and dinner.  But Primary Foods are the things that “feed” us that aren’t food. You could call it nourishment for the soul– they are all the things we need to feel happy and satisfied from life. As an example, I know that spending time with my friends and family makes my life more enjoyable.  I know that the work I do provides me with a deep satisfaction knowing that I get to help people lead happier and healthier lives every day. So what are your Primary Foods? What are the things that make your life more satisfying and worthwhile?  Is it the creativity you feel when you have a paintbrush in your hand? Is it your morning yoga class?  The community group you lead? Or maybe you’re passionate about health and wellness too! At this point, you may wondering how Primary Food relates to health crisis this country is in and how you can tap into it this concept to better yourself….

Keep reading!  I’m about to unveil the big “a-ha” and the shocking advice….

How Primary Food Contributes To Health and Happiness

I want you to think back on a time when you were deeply involved in an exciting project. Did time just fly by for you?  Isn’t it amazing how the hours can simply slip away when you’re deeply stimulated and satisfied by the work you’re engaged in? You might stay up late into the night working or forget to eat lunch because you’re so filled with passion for the task at hand. Or remember your childhood and imagine a day when you were out playing after school. Your mom would call you to dinner but you weren’t hungry at all.  You were so filled with joy that playtime was all you could think of. These experiences show us how we receive nourishment from all areas of life. We hunger for excitement and adventure, fun and play, success and achievement, love and romance, intimacy and connection, and feeling connected to something larger than ourselves. The critical point to understand about this concept is that when our primary food is lacking or out of balance, oftentimes many of us will reach for secondary food to alleviate or suppress our hunger for primary food. As a consequence, we begin to see weight gain and other diet related health conditions. Clearly this substitution simply does not work. When our lives lack something larger and more meaningful, we’ll never be able to “eat” enough to give us the comfort we’re seeking or satisfy our hunger for primary food.

More so, this imbalance can spill over into all areas of our lives leading us to feel “out of synch”, constantly struggling, unsatisfied with life, or like we’re always searching for what will truly make us feel happy.

The One BIG Piece of Primary Food That’s Most Missing

As Health Coaches we often marvel at the sheer numbers of men and women who come to us for dietary advice, yet at the root of their problem, we immediately recognize a primary food imbalance.  More importantly, there’s one SPECIFIC area of primary food imbalance that simply tops the charts: Career choice. In today’s day and age, the average American spends more time at work then with their own friends, family and loved ones.  There’s an old adage that says, “How you spend your hours becomes how you spend you days, and how you spend your days becomes how you spend your years….” Many people are recognizing that their hearts are simply not in their jobs anymore. Or worse, there are many who actually loath going in to work day after day.  They find themselves needing more and more coffee to drag themselves out of bed every morning to face the prospect of another day at the “daily grind”. So ask yourself now, do you feel like your living your life’s purpose when you show up to work every day?  Or do you feel there’s something greater you’re supposed to be tapped into that you just haven’t found yet? How happy are you REALLY with the work you do every day?

The “SHOCKING” Advice for 2011

For those of us that contributed to this article, there was a definite and distinct turning point in our lives.  We knew we were passionate about food, health and happiness.  We also knew we had a greater gift to contribute to the world.  We knew we were meant to help others. If you’re a reader of my newsletter than chances are, you’re also passionate about health and wellness.  So my question for you is, could you see yourself in my shoes, passionately spreading the world about what keeps us healthy and happy? Is my shocking advice to go out and quit your job so you can follow your heart? For some of you … YES!  It may just be the thing you need to start living to your fullest potential and really see the MASSIVE change that leads you toward the fulfillment you desire. But more specifically, for all of you, there is ONE recommendation that I can make that trumps all others. This was the greatest recommendation I have ever received and nothing has changed my life in a more positive and meaningful way:

Please explore the possibility of becoming a Health Coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

A Seriously LIFE-CHANGING Experience

I can tell you from personal experience, when you find a job that nourishes your soul, it’s like never again working a day in your life…. I’m sure you’ve heard people say this before, but when it begins happening to you, you’ll never feel happier knowing such sweet satisfaction. The education I received from Integrative Nutrition opened many new and exciting opportunities to me.   And now my days are GREAT because I get to:

•             Be my own boss, make my own hours and build a business I’m really passionate about

•             Earn an exceptional income in a career that’s really meaningful

•             Transform the lives of others by helping my clients achieve true health and happiness

Do yourself a huge favor…. give yourself the gift of a lifetime. This is more than an education–this is a passport to an entirely new way of living and being.

Here’s The Inside “Scoop”

It’s easy to learn more about the program by visiting my school’s website: www.integrativenutrition.com but I want to give you a little “insider advice”.

Here’s the inside scoop:  My friend Julia works in the enrollment department. She’s absolutely the BEST person to talk to in order to see if the program is right for you.  (Plus if there’s a special offer for enrolling when you call her, she’ll totally be able to hook you up!) Plus, she’ll be straight with you and not just give you a ‘sales spiel’.

ACTION STEP #1: Check out the website where you can see the coursecurriculum, download a brochure or even attend an information session:

www.integrativenutrition.com. You’re going to love what you see!

ACTION STEP #2: Email my friend Julia coachjulia@integrativenutrition.com. She’ll answer all your questions and give you the “skinny”.

Next, tell her Eliza Hammesfahr Ceci sent you (that’s moi) and you will be eligible for the super awesome $500 tuition scholarship! Who doesn’t love to save a bit of cash!

So what are you waiting for?  Here’s to your new life in 2011! May you find all the happiness you’ve ever desired this year. I love you so much and support you to be healthy, happy, joyous and abundant! xoxox

This article was the collaborative effort of Eliza Hammesfahr Ceci and many other talented Health Coach graduates of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

We tend to take quick, short and shallow breaths when we are under stress and it keeps us… stressed! When we are overwhelmed, anxious, rushed or overly busy, physical tension can build up in our chests which causes the muscles to contract – the result – we breathe faster and more shallow.

The problem with shallow breathing is that it deprives our cells of much needed oxygen. But what if you could calm digestive issues without medication, release anxiety by calming your racing heart or naturally lower your blood pressure? Different breathing techniques can do all of these things and more.

I have begun talking about cleansing the bodies cells and a great way to do this is with the Kapalabhati breathing technique. It is a simple detox tool that will help cleanse the cells of the body by releasing emotional and physical toxins! This technique is amazing at clearing the nasal passages (mucus anyone?) with the force of the breath. If you are experiencing mucus in your nasal passages or feel tightness or tension in your chest  this is a great tool to help alleviate your symptoms. It consists of a series of forceful exhalations followed by passive inhalations.

OK, enough suspense here is how to safely perform the Kapalabhati* techhnique:

1.) Sit comfortably making sure your spine is straight with shoulders gently back, rest your hands on your lower belly.

2.) Take two normal breaths. Inhale. Now exhale, pulling in your abdomen. Repeat twenty times, keeping a steady rhythm and emphasizing the exhalation each time.

3.) Then inhale and exhale completely, inhale fully and hold your breath for as long as you comfortably can. Slowly exhale.

*Please note: do not practice Kapalabhati if you are pregnant.

**Here is a great video to get you started. Cleansing Breath Video

How do you feel now? You may feel more relaxed, energized, grounded or safe? Again, this is an awesome exercise for releasing toxins in your body. It’s one of my favorites. It does take some time get the hang of but it is well worth it to keep you feeling your best. It would be a great benefit to your your cells to try adding this to your weekly routine for added health and healing! Let me know what you think after you give it a try!