There was so much that happened in November, and now I’m staring at a blank page wondering how to wrap it all up in one blog post. The old part of me just wants to dive in and capture the details, but the part of me that has been rebirthed this year is a lot slower to write, and sits in contemplation. 

I’ll start with transformation. I entered into Effiji Breathwork this year and finished my weekend intensive requirements this month. Over the past 9 months, I’ve learned what I feel like, how to operate as my best self and how to accept every part of me, even the parts I’m used to judging. As every teacher has said, this work is a journey, and a new lesson is offered at every milestone met. 

I’m spending my time and energy now in becoming a facilitator of this work and will shift a lot of my focus in 2019 toward offering breath classes. I hope you join me in accessing this incredible tool for your journey. 

My passion for being a business owner in Louisville is to make a positive impact on this community. The 2017 Festival of Faiths about compassion lit my fire, but it took a tragedy in my neighborhood last month to fuel it. The Louisville Salt Cave is a small business member of the Louisville Urban League and because of that, I learned just a picture of the amazing things they’re doing in our community. 

In the past year they’ve achieved:

• 350 job placements with an increase of $2 million in wages
  • The average placement earned $15/HR
  • 31 of these were senior job placements
  • 50 of these were in the construction industry
• Saved $325,000 in court fees through the Reily Reentry Program that served 1,925 cases
• Registered 471 voters, 112 of which were in High School
• Completed home ownership for 105 families
  • While helping them secure $2,000 in savings and a 640 credit score in the process
  • Prevented 63 foreclosures

If you think that’s as awesome as I did, I’d encourage you to become a member and get more involved. 

​This month also included our 3rd Speaker Series: Greeting Your Sacred Center. Two of my favorite teachers and I shared information on how to connect and center before the holidays. 

Maria Whitley with Shine provided techniques for grounding through the 5 senses, 5 sensations and 7 chakras. When considering self-awareness, she offered nurture, desire, balance, commitment and boundary as places to check in. 

Jacque Saltsman shared a lot around perspective, and we discussed how we have multiple choices in all decisions. Her four gates of information include the mind (thinking), emotions (feeling), body (sensing) and gut (intuiting).

I shared my story, and led a grounding meditation before we took inventory of our lives. This proved to be quite the writing project, but as you can see, it’s my favorite form of creativity.

Each one of these subjects deserve their own blog post, and I encourage you to contact me if you have any feedback or want to see more around particular topics. 

I ask for your support by showing up at the Cave, doing the work on yourself, and standing up when you feel the slightest resistance that you’re used to squashing for ease of the moment. 

I love you. Thank you for giving me a place to play out my soul’s purpose. 

WHAT: Wellness Series: Greeting Your Sacred Center
WHERE: Louisville Salt Cave retail area
COST: Free
WHEN: Nov. 1, Nov. 8, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.
WHY: To provide tools for personal centering and grounding in preparation of a busy season


LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville Salt Cave announced that it is launching a free three-part Wellness Series: Greeting Your Sacred Center, beginning November 1, that will unite mind, body, spirit experts with community members to discuss awareness techniques for staying true to self during a stressful time. 

“Health prevention requires consideration of the whole body. Maria and Jacque bring a beautiful combination of movement and stillness for understanding who you are and how to love yourself. I’m so honored to stand beside them on a topic of my heart.” said Nicole Bartlett, owner of the Louisville Salt Cave.

Maria Whitley, who kicks off the series on Nov. 1, has been teaching music and movement to children and adults for over 18 years. Maria opened Shine 10 years ago to create a place where people of all ages could come to connect with themselves through music and movement. She recently received her 1st Degree Black Belt in the Nia Technique and is honored to share some simple grounding techniques at the Louisville Salt Cave. 

On Nov. 8, Jacque Saltsman, certified professional coach and speaker, will share how living in self-love and self-knowledge creates a more authentic, peaceful and powerful life. Her passion is working with soulful women who want to change the world and live with more intention and love.

“It's hard to stand in our power and let our light shine if we don't know who we are. It's hard to know who we truly are without taking the time to slow down and discover.” said Saltsman. 

The third workshop in the Sacred Center series will be led on Nov. 15 by Louisville Salt Cave owner Nicole Bartlett. Nicole’s transition from executive to entrepreneur was led by 10 years in prevention education, and the quest for peace in raising her 3 young children. Her topic, Moving Parts: a soul centered lifestyle, will cover techniques to aid in decision making.  

In addition to sharing valuable information, each speaker will also hold a question and answer session for anyone curious about personal experiences. Each of the workshops will be held in the retail area of the Louisville Salt Cave and are open to the public. To register, please visit https://www.louisvillesaltcave.com/visit.html, click on Schedule Now, scroll down, click on Speaker Series, click the date or dates you would like to attend and enter your information. Or call 502-996-7000 to register. Everyone is welcome to attend any or all of the sessions.

Lately, it feels like all I can do is breathe. 

I was headed to a networking event in New Albany last week, exhausted from previous weeks of multiple breath sessions, social overload, school starting and transitions at the Cave, when I pulled off 64 and drove straight to a park instead. 

I sat on that park bench, inhaling the people that passed by. I was too stimulated to connect with my eyes, I needed a quiet and meditative environment, and each person that passed me blessed me with a part of themselves that I never would have picked up on had I not been so desperate for stillness. Their scent was my stimulus, strange and new and intimate. 

Change is hard. And so is waking up. 

Recently a friend who’s a nutritionist by trade and I were discussing how one of the toughest parts of our jobs is working with people that aren’t ready to do the work. Fear prevents us from living our fullest lives. But in truth, what is there to be fearful of?  

I’ve struggled lately, and my work is accepting the complete undoing for rebirth to occur. I’m on the cusp of something amazing. This knowing led me to this place, and my struggle comes when my head wants to compete with my heart. I pray daily for clarity, for doubtless confirmation that I’m making the right decisions. I know I’m on the right path and that when I slow down enough to squeeze God into the equation, she shows me the way.

This Labor Day, I’m grateful for a break in the busyness of life. I’m excited to get away with my family, to the water and woods of Kentucky, and to breathe again. To breathe in beauty. ​

I’d like to welcome you to the Cave for a regular session this September. While transition has occurred, the rebirth of her space is palpable, and she feels really good.

Well, aside from the obvious, I’d like to share my experience with breath work and why I’ve dedicated myself to learning this practice to the point of being able to lead it. 

I wanted to learn breath work because of it’s ability to help those with PTSD, trauma and addiction. It’s powerful! Breath work has been used for centuries to maximize performance in martial arts and yogic practices; it truly is the difference in one’s ability to control execution. It became more of a spiritual practice in the 70s with holotropic breath, and has made a comeback in today’s culture with leaders in the work such as Elijah Nisenboim, Wim Hof and Dan Brule. 

I was fortunate enough to meet Sarah Charmoli in my early stages of learning about this work, and as soon as I tried the practice of Effiji, I was hooked! My work with her began intensively, breathing twice a month for a period of 3 months. The transformation that occurred during this time was like time-warp speed, and I realize I was catching up from years of not acting from a place of personal well-being. 

When she and Elijah decided to hold an Effiji Facilitator Training Course here in Louisville, I had to be a part of it. I have an awesome support network through John, and the women at the Cave, that fill in when I take these weekend intensives. I’m the only student with a young family and business and I couldn't do this without them!

The goal of this blog was to share with you the unbelievable experience of the work, but it is so difficult to put into words. In summary, breath work leads us to experience our souls. Through the work, we uncover more and more about our true selves, and how we’re meant to be living this life. 

It is sometimes painful. It creates an incredible high. It clears away the walls we’ve built over a lifetime of pain and suffering, to allow us to reach the depths of our being. It is the most transformational and profound healing work I’ve ever experienced. 

This work is not for those looking for a zen and relaxing experience, that’s what the Cave is for, and I highly recommend building in time for reflection around your breath experience. Breath work is for those that are fed up. 

I was so tired of my own bullshit by the time I found Sarah. This work called me on it. I also chose to work with a coach to help me navigate the intense emotions it stirs up. Journaling, meditating and energy movement practices assist me in the intensity of the weekend trainings.

Sarah and Elijah provide a much more in-depth explanation around the work that’s being offered here in Louisville on their websites. I’m so grateful to be a part of building awareness around this work and look forward to breathing with you at the Cave. 

Gratitude is one of the highest emotional frequencies that one can enjoy, and yesterday, dusting the greeting card holder at the Cave on a slow day, I wanted to find a way to send one to each one of you. So here I am.  ​

If you’re reading this, you are my why. This blog is my creative outlet, and where I hope to inspire others and affect change. Thank you for listening.

Thank you for courageously making time to discover yourself, caring enough to read this and for giving back to our community. You make a positive difference in my world. 

My friend Dixie, the creator of Free Spirit Delicacies mala bracelets, shares a lot of wisdom during celestial events. This full moon she reminds us we’re meant to be here, we have a purpose, and in order to celebrate it, we must be present. 

To be present to the natural events of my past few days, has been a rollercoaster. My energy ebbs and flows with Nature, and I feel like Tuesday’s tornado was a climax of the new beginnings I’ve been offered this year. 

Yesterday, I was very quiet, as if the cloudy day was a death of what has previously served me. It felt that way, which is why I chose to focus on gratitude. Then today, I woke up to our world covered in fog, and chose to slow down, not do all I’d planned for the morning. I have been showered in gifts that may seem small but have fueled my heart and soul. 

That's how this works. It is all about the small things, my friends.  

The excitement of Spring, the Summer Solstice, the new growth, is at an end. I heard a Bernheim guide say Spring begins in February and ends when the cicadas stop singing in August, and it rings so true.
​
As we enter this season of dying off so that we can be still and present to all that has stirred within us for the last 6 months, take time to enjoy the small things. 

Thank you for allowing me to put my gratitude for you in writing. I hope it will inspire you to be grateful for the little gifts you receive today. 

May love and light shower you in the smallest of blessings and may you relish in these gifts.

It doesn't take medical training to understand the benefits of prevention. After many years working with immune function, and with one hell of a drive to keep my family healthy, I've learned to heal the mind, body, and spirit as one unit. I don’t believe physiology is the only explanation for any condition. 

Both of my boys had ear tubes before the age of 3 because I couldn’t keep them out of daycare long enough to allow them to heal on their own. They would go through multiple rounds of antibiotics to reverse the infections that always showed back up. We opened the Cave when baby girl was 8 months old and I think she’s had a total of 2 ear infections in her 3.5 year life. 

I want to share what took me a long time to adapt for the baby years, and what I’ve learned since then regarding my own health and healing. I hope you find it useful. 

1. Time - We all need time to heal and getting sick, or having sick kids, is never convenient. The best solution to prevent illness is to build in daily breaks. 20 minutes a day of sitting still without distraction does wonders for prevention - 2 minutes helps if you can’t make 20 work. Start somewhere.
2. Saline - If you can’t get your kid to the Cave during Kid’s Play, flush them! I can’t count how many times we dragged our kids to the pediatrician only to be told to use saline. Salt has been used as a natural preservative (antimicrobial) for years.
3. Lavender and Frankincense EO baths - Mix a few drops (2-3 each) in milk to emulsify the fats and allow for better absorption through the skin. Our oils are therapeutic grade and should be respected as drugs and only used as needed. It can minimize the sickness and serves as a fantastic sleep aid. 
4. Fluids - This is hands down the best solution to lessening illness. Herbal teas offer a number of benefits, you can pick up The Green Pharmacy at the Cave if you want an easy at-home reference. Avoid sugary drinks as they cause inflammation which worsens symptoms.
5. Self-Care - Solutions are difficult to see during times of stress and suffering. Unconditional love and nurturing does so much for the spirit and our innate ability to heal is magnificent! 
6. Belief - Did you know the placebo effect is 60% effective? I loved Dr. Joe Dispenza’s book, You are the Placebo. If you don’t believe there’s a solution, if you don’t believe there’s a chance, there won’t be. So often there is a lesson to learn in illness, and slowing down enough, being accepting of what is being shown to us, oftentimes provides the answer we’re seeking.
7. Some additional things I want to include are: Good vitamins, we use Juice Plus because it’s straight forward fruits and vegetables and we see results. Contact me for more info. Non-antibacterial hand soap and diligent hand washing - why can’t we all just get along? Salt Lamps - good vibes, clean air, better sleep - testimonials say it all!

I remember sitting at Tidballs (a reference for you WKU alum) around 2002 talking to some big-wigs from the waste management business about making a difference in the world. I was studying agriculture with the goal of working in the alternative fuel industry one day. I made the vow that I wouldn’t let money drive the work I did, so my endless search for the right job proved to serve the environment and nearly starve me.

Since then, I’ve faced one challenge (or opportunity) after another in my career path. When leaving that first job out of college, I was in my office on my way out telling a friend who thought I was crazy to leave without anything lined up that sometimes one door has to close in order for the right one to open. 

Ignorant, or unknowingly wise, I’ve always followed my heart.

Later, working for a big agriculture company and making a lot of money, I had the fortune of running into Rainbow Blossom’s marketing coordinator at a networking event. When I told her what I did for a living, she scoffed at me and said, “I couldn’t imagine doing anything that wasn’t truly in line with my values”. I remember noticing the size of the diamond on her wedding ring and thinking it must be easy to live that way with an engagement of that measure. 

Judgmental and naive as I was, her words hit hard. Shortly after, I took our middle child for an ear tube consult. The doctor told me that women’s rights were the cause for antibiotic resistance and drove his work. No shit, he said that. I’d spent the last 10 years in agriculture managing products that worked with the gut to reverse antibiotic resistance in livestock and here this guy was telling me I was the cause. While I left seeing red, I gained a greater appreciation for family values and made a commitment to figure out a better way to balance work/life. Sometimes those that move you to extreme discomfort provide you a great service. 

One thing that has remained consistent has been my ability to recognize and act when something isn’t in line with my divine purpose. I am working toward trusting myself sooner so that I can bring more grace to major decisions. 

So in the spirit of spirituality and the upcoming Festival of Faiths, I wanted to share my story about gut/heart based decision making. Last month we featured nutrition, and how it can impact the mind and body, but there is so much of this that is related to our spirit.

In Gut: The Inside Story of our Body’s Most Underrated Organ, Dr. Giulia Enders discusses why these gut feelings might be more than just digestive upset. As our most metabolically active organ, it is comparable to the function of the brain. We carry the book at the Cave if you’re interested.

My favorite subject is when science meets spirituality. Recently, John told me that when science confirms spirituality, faith in God is no longer needed. That really makes me put the brakes on my drive behind justifying my beliefs with science, despite a societal demand for evidence. Maybe faith is sometimes delivered in the form of a wrenched gut or broken heart. 

I pulled this fortune recently and thought it was a fine fit for this month’s blog. I hope you too enjoy the little gifts of each day. 

“Most spend their lives reading the menu instead of enjoying the banquet”