Hello!
 
Happy (almost) New Year! 
 
The New Year is an opportunity to choose to reset. A time to realign with our heart, gut, and mind and focus our way forward.
 
I believe it is first important to look back at 2023 and take some time to review what you’ve been through – whether it was things you struggled with, achieved, received, or new insights and ways of living that emerged for you.
 
I recommend taking 10-15 minutes to jot down a few bullet points of some of the things that unfolded for you in 2023.
 
For me, when I look back I realize I finally manifested my dream of getting my own dog. This was on my dream list for years. Back in 2017 I lived up in the arctic for a year, and the cost of living there is even higher than major cities like Vancouver or Toronto. So, I chose to live with a roommate to save money, and the reason I chose my roommate was they had a dog. I’ve always loved dogs but that first dog Jake that I lived with – a half retriever half Australian Shepeherd who I often took on walks even in -26 degrees weather solidified my desire for my own dog.
 
But it wasn’t as simple as wanting a dog. I needed to have certain things in place – like a home that would let you have a dog!
 
I returned to BC in 2018 and for years I could only find places to live that did NOT allow pets.
 
Then, last year, I decided I wanted to move slightly south from where I was living on Vancouver Island, and my one stipulation was I would ONLY go through the hassle of moving if I found a place that would let me have a dog. I was pretty relentless in my search. It’s a tight market on Vancouver Island, and after a place fell through that I thought was mine, I felt into my disappointment and then kept my search going. I basically drove down to the new town every weekend searching for a place. Then, finally, I found one that allowed dogs and where I got the call that my application was approved. I signed the agreement and was set to move!
 
I originally thought I would need some time to settle in to my new town and surroundings before getting my dream dog. I figured by Fall or Winter (it was a summer move) I’d be ready.
 
Instead, within a few weeks of moving I found myself searching for dogs.I searched via multiple avenues and via  multiple lanes of counsel.
 
I looked at several rescue organizations, drove down to my local SPCA, went to visit some breeders nearby and looked at ads ok Kijiji.
 
One ad struck me – a mistake litter. A rough collie escaped and met up with a lab, and the rest was history. I spoke with the owner and had a good feeling about her especially after meeting with several breeders nearby where my instinct just didn’t have a good feeling.
 
My dream dog was a collie lab or collie retriever mix Although I was thinking more about Border Collies and Australian Shepherds, when I saw the Rough Collie lab mix there was one specific pup that really caught my eye. The owner said he was mine if I wanted it.
 
This pup was all the way up North of Kamloops in a town called Barrier that I’d never heard of. A friend said to me that if I really wanted the dog he’d go pick it up for me, as driving that long distance felt outside of my capacity.
 
I decided to say YES to the dog even though I did not have an opportunity to meet him first.

Then deeper serendipity unfolded:

Somebody I had dog-sat for before who I deeply respected because of how wonderful his dog was; I felt he has done an incredible job at training his dog. So I sent him a message asking for advice. He was generous in his counsel and then asked me, "When do you get your pup?" I replied, "Well, I am still trying to figure it out," and explained how the pup was up north of Kamloops.
 
Then he told me that he was heading that way and offered to pick the pup up for me! The timing and offer was unreal.

These are the magical moments I call total synchronicity/serendipity.

These are the moments I am so grateful for that are the unexpected magic that help us in our manifestations.
 
And then, on July 11th I  got my puppy, who I named Magic :) 
 
He’s now just over 8 months and I have been in constant training as I trained him. I’ve taken classes, read books, watched YouTube videos and received counsel from experienced dog owners.
 
Having my own puppy is so different than living or caring for another’s pup. The canine bond is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced (It’s amazing!). I’ve also been met with challenges I never knew I would have to figure out. However, with each challenge, I experiment with several techniques and have always figured it out. Essentially, it is all about building the relationship and learning to communicate with another being. ….Not all that different than figuring out our fellow humans – building a relationship and discovering their communication style 😉 …Ok, it might be a bit different with a dog, but not by much!
 
That whole story was to share how sometimes our goals and wishes can take years to manifest, but if you are clear and focused on the goal, and if the goal is unwavering – it will manifest. And sometimes a dose of synchronicity will swoop in to help make things happen. 
 
Manifesting this dream was a combination of intention, action, and good fortune (synchronicity and magic) 
 
I've already learned so much - not just in dog training lessons but life lessons...Here's a quick five:

1. Energy matters.
2. Energy is powerful and can direct outcomes.
3. Relationships build with time and learning each others communication style (yes, even with a dog!)
4. Recognizing things are not personal (Especially with a dog, they are just being a dog, but in life, this is a great lesson too.)
5. Be in the moment, enjoy the simple things, and play!!
 
So back to the start of this message, now is a chance to reflect on your life and the past year:
 
Look back at your 2023:

• What are some of the things you manifested?
• What are some of the things you released?
• What are some things you have overcome?
• What things are you still struggling with but want to release/overcome?
• What things are you still hoping to achieve/manifest?

 
By taking 10-15 minutes to write out and think through this, it will help clarify how you want to direct 2024.
 
So much of life is uncertain and out of our control. However, we can still have focus and direction. We can have an aim, goal, direction, desire, and place our energetic manifestation and action in that direction. We may not know exactly how the outcome will unfold and it may not always come as fast as we want, but taking time to clarify what we want to focus on is powerful and creates the energy to shift things. 

I'm taking a bet if you look at your own life you will likely see you have already manifested so many things you've hoped for.
 
So instead of a New Year's resolution, I vote for setting intentions, focus, and direction.
 
What is your intention(s) for 2024?
What do you want to see more of in your life?
What do you want to see less of in your life?
What would be a wish come true for 2024?

Take 10-20 minutes to daydream and journal the above prompts and anything else coming up for you for your hopes for 2024.
 
Then, take a bit more time to focus in on the things your really want to make happen by prioritizing them, and see if you can map a few steps forward. 

This is the path of turning a wish in your mind to form in your life. 
 
I wish you a wonderful 2024.
 
Also – if you live or visit the Comox Valley, on Vancouver Island BC, Canada, I’m teaching a gentle yoga class on Fridays. Come check it out.
 
If you want one on one support for private coaching to clarify and take action on your goals, intentions and dreams – book a session with me, and let’s move forward together 😊
 
Love Tova

For many years I brushed New Years aside. The rebel in me didn’t want to succumb to an arbitrary date being my mandate to make a resolution. Then I changed my mind. The date may be arbitrary, but it holds meaning in our culture – even if that meaning is a new tax year ;) 

I now see a New Year on the calendar as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to look back and look forward, while staying present on the ride.
 
Let’s break this down – my hope is that after reading this article you will be inspired by all you DID accomplish in 2022, and look forward for what some of your hopes and dreams are for 2023.

Here are 3 simple steps:
 
1.Look back to one year ago: What are the major things that happened in the first 3 months or so? Then look back at late last spring and early summer, and then the fall as you moved into winter. Write down some of the things that happened. It could be an external thing such as getting a raise, or having a baby, or being impacted by a death. Maybe it was an internal thing: working with your inner boundaries, new self-awareness, self-confidence of self-trust. Give yourself a few minutes to write out what comes to mind.
 
Sometimes this exercise helps you see the progress you did make in your inner life and outer life, especially if you felt like not much happened over the last year. And, there is always a dose of luck/magic/grace to life, some of good things that come our way isn’t always from our own clear effort, lucky breaks do happen. I was once told that “You have to be good to get lucky.”
 
2.Look Forward. There are a few ways to do this. You might want to get out a piece of paper and divide it into 12 squares with the month written in each square and write down a few things you hope for each month. Or, you might journal about a few key dreams, intentions or goals you want to work towards. Some people like to use imagery and either draw, paint, or cut out photos of things that inspire them (also known as a vision board) And for some people, it might just be sitting on your bed, or the couch and giving yourself the grace and space of thinking-time. Let your mind wander as you think about what you’d like to see unfold over the coming year. You can’t do this wrong. Do what inspires you as you think through your intentions.
 
You might leave it there. There is potency in the seed of intention.

There is also strength in defining a plan. I recommend doing monthly check-ins to check in with yourself and reassess your goals and intentions and to give yourself the space to see if there is something you want to do differently.

Remember, there is a time to do. Some call it work, grind or hustle. And there is a time to be. Some call it surrender, pausing, meditating, trusting.

Both are important. We live in a culture that tends to honour the GO and dismisses the PAUSE, but the pause is just as important. It’s often in the pause that luck/magic/grace can enter.

3.Be Present. This takes us to the final step – whatever your goals are, take the time to be present.  The practice of pausing and taking a few deep breaths to tune in to our body in this moment is one way to return to presence. There is also making the most of life right now while it is happening. Sometimes we need to stop striving and simply enjoy where we are. Presence is also part of the power of being, the space of grace, and what some might call magic or luck.
 
I wish you a very happy new year :)
 
 

Thank you for coming to this page. I have 2 things to share: 

1. A simple meditation how-to video and  2. If you keep scrolling I share 5 more tips on ways to actively destress and reduce overwhelm.

One of these is meditation. As you scroll down below you'll also see I'm sharing direct access to the mini e-book called Learn to Meditate. I hope these tools and resources are helpful for you :) 

 If you're reading this you might be looking for ways to shed some stress from your life and find some tools to help release stress once it hits.
​
After all, stress is something we all experience to varying degrees, often on a daily basis. It could be a simple stressful moment when we can't find our keys and we're already 5 minutes late to leave. It could be the stress of an unexpected flat tire, an insurmountable number of projects at work with an inbox that keeps overflowing. It could be the stress that inevitably comes with relationships or other's expectations of us. 

Whatever is causing stress in our environment, the moment that we can become aware of it is the moment we can begin to shift our state. This is important so that our stress doesn't get so out of balance that it leads to a panic attack or a full on shut down.

Learning to respond to stress is important if we want to live happier, more productive and sane lives!

We cannot turn off the chaos around us. We can make some choices about how to create an environment that supports our wellness. Even then, external circumstances will test us, and specifically our nervous system.

Stress is a broad term that has a wide range of meanings for different people. What is stressful for me can be a breeze for somebody else, and what's a walk in the park for me can wreck havoc for somebody else. This is why it is important to take some time for self-reflection to determine for ourselves—what are the indicators that let you know you're stressed?

For too many people, the first signs of stress can get bypassed as we keep plunging forward at a go-go pace.

Often we won't recognize stress until our nervous system has already peaked past it's healthy threshold and we may find ourselves acting out of character, experiencing physical symptoms such as a stomachache or headache or neck pain or where we find ourselves in a state of total collapse, also known as shut down.

In a way this is our nervous system protecting us. However it can really take a toll on our mental wellness and wellbeing.

Here are 5 simple tools to help you destress:

1. Start to become aware of the first signs of stress. For the next 3 days start a journal, or, if it's simpler use a note-function in your phone where you note down the signals and situations that cause you stress. Begin to pay attention to the signals that you're feeling stress. Hint: stress will usually show up in the body as a physiological response. Therefore, start paying attention to your body. It might be noticing when your shoulders are hunches, your forehead scrunched or your breathing being held. It might be a headache, or even a sense of wanting to hide or feeling like you'll collapse. The moment you start to notice the signs that stress has emerged write it down. In time you will notice the signs even faster.

2. Begin to take 5-10 deep breaths. You might begin a new habit by adding breathing into your morning routine. It might be a note you place on your computer to remind you to breathe (Especially in a moment where your head is beginning to spin and you're feeling overwhelmed). Although a simple tool it can be difficult to practice. I recommend that you do something that will help you remember to breathe. Whether it's placing a note on your wall, or setting an alarm on your phone. Whenever we begin a new habit, we often need supports around us to keep on track until the new habit becomes automated. (Duhigg 2012)

3. Get a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left, write out your priorities. On the right, write out how you're spending your time. You might want to keep this as an active-list where you chart it for a few days. You might notice that other people's urgencies are taking over your time, causing your priorities to take a backseat. You might find yourself procrastinating and doing other things. Since everything in life has a payoff, and if you find you are procrastinating or allowing urgencies to overtake your priorities, take some time to self-reflect and ask yourself why. See if there is a payoff in where your time goes (often unconscious until we self-reflect and become conscious). If we can become aware of what is taking our time and energy, and we recognize that some of these things are creating overwhelm, we can make choices to do less of the things that are not actually helping us move our priorities forward and shift our focus towards completing our priorities. Often unconscious self-sabotage can be riding shotgun and stopping our best intentions. In the process we can become overwhelmed and stressed out. 

4. Get outside and get moving. Getting outside and in nature, or as close to nature as possible has healing benefits. Exercise is a simple way to release stress hormones and increase feel-good neurochemicals. Therefore, if you can exercise outside - whether a walk, run, hike, paddle, bike ride or anything else - it's healthy and supportive of your whole system and once of the best ways to shake off the stress.

5. Begin or continue to meditate. Meditation has so many proven benefits. However, all science aside - it's only through your direct experience that you can determine for yourself the benefits of integrating a meditation practice into your life. Whether you begin with 5 minutes, or have a longer practice of 15-20 minutes, setting an intention to make this a daily habit will have immense benefits which include focus, an ability to calm, increased awareness that spills into daily life, enhanced productivity (a byproduct of focus and calm) increased creativity and more. I've written more about this and share 4 step-by-step meditations in this e-book which I am sharing with you free. Click here to download it.

Bonus Tip: A Dose of Humour and Laughter. Whether you watch a standup comedy video (or in real life!), some other comedy, or simply find humour in the simple things in everyday life - laughter truly is strong medicine for the spirit and a great way to relive stress :)

​
Once again, here's the link to the meditation video: youtu.be/EZczwzlF8Jo

Remember there are many ways to meditate. Whether in silence, or listening to a guided meditation - by taking the time out of your day to be present with yourself and to stop doing, and start being - our life begins to shift. Our awareness increases, helping us be more conscious, alive, and awake so that we are better equipped to notice stress when it first starts, and quickly ground ourselves and do something to actively shake off the stress and release the cortisol (stress hormones) before our whole system goes out of balance.

​I hope this was helpful and will love to hear your insights in the comments.


​References:

Duhigg, Charles, author. (2014). The power of habit : why we do what we do in life and business. New York :Random House Trade Paperbacks,

https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/mas/news/regular-exercise-benefits-both-mind-and-body-a-psychiatrist-explains-1903986​

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061837/ 

https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress


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As I begin to wrap up the first course at VCC on Theories of Adult Education, I've been inspired by something I've learned in one of the theories of Adult Education, which primarily comes from the Experiential Learning Model, and this is the power of reflection.

Reflection papers aren't just an opportunity to journal thoughts. Rather they serve the purpose to deepen and integrate the learning.

Like many people I grew up in a classroom that was likely based on the behaviourism model: An expert teacher lectures and the student listens. This model continued through University and even other career colleges I attended. However this type of instruction is limited in such that it does not allow for the depth of integration that other learning models invite.

The process of active conscious reflection creates space for a learner to absorb and retain information at a higher level, and within that there is often a changed behaviour or an inspired action that transpires.

At VCC they use the ORID model for reflection papers which begins with an objective—the thing you are learning about, then to reflect on it (your emotional response) then to interpret it by doing further research to reflect at a deeper level your thoughts on the information, and then to close with a decisional statement - which is based on the new learning, and what action you intend to integrate. This model allows one to truly integrate a piece of knowledge at a deep level and it invites a change through inspired action.

I am inspired to share this model at a deeper level with students in the future as it is a very helpful way to support the integration of education.


All Rights Reserved 2022

This blog post is the third in a series of talking about trends in both the field and in adult education based on my recent new studies at VCC.

I connected with my learning partner who's in the field of Nursing and I found our conversation quite fascinating and eye opening.  I'm particularly fascinated and grateful to have a learning partner in the field of Nursing because at one point, I went back to school for a second degree in Nursing. I was astonished by the scope and depth a Nurse needs to learn and understand, and I also began to see the reality of the role. At the time, I made the choice to leave Nursing—though that experience forever changed my perception of the Nursing profession - leaving me with a high respect for the gravity of work and responsibility a Nurse endures.

So, in speaking to my learning partner - I saw this at an escalated rate, especially with the recent events of Covid and the toll that has taken on Nurses, and the trends she reported in the field of Nursing.

The main trends have been major burnout and quitting en mass. Many people are leaving the profession after forced overtime, forced increase in patient load, and forced to be in different units than one is trained for. For example an OR Nurse being forced into ICU who is not equipped to dispense drugs or the duties of ICU but due to nursing shortages would be forced to the ICU when the need was great during Covid. This created more work for the charge nurses and regular ICU nurses who now had to also train these nurses while also taking care of an overload of patients.  This paints a picture that is just the tip of the iceberg of the gravity of stress placed upon Nurses during Covid.

Additionally, the overabundance of sick and dying people in the ICU took a toll on mental and emotional health. After all—although Nurses are overworked beyond human capacity, they are humans and not robots. With that comes emotional heartache when seeing so much death around you - more than is typical to see which is what Covid brought into the experience of the lives of Nurses.

As explained by my learning partner: What became clear is that Canada's Health Care System is broken and Nurses feel it is clear that the BC Health Authority does not care about nurses. They don't care about the individuals, they simply see nurses as bodies to do the job. This is devastating. No wonder there is a trend to mass exodus in the Nursing Profession.

Additionally, as BC sees this problem emerging, they are opening more seats in the Nursing Programs at Colleges and Universities. However the problem is a shortage of Nursing Instructors due to the overall sense of burnout.

Despite the burnout, my learning partner said something along the lines of "At the heart of it, I still care about the nursing profession, and I'd like to teach the new nurses about the core values of empathy and the humanistic side to Nursing." The unfortunate problem rests in the government's lack of support to ensure nurses are supported. 

On another note, in speaking with my learning partner we also spoke about the trends in adult education, and we both saw a trend towards an increase of online learning, along with an increase in the trend of hybrid education. For example, in Nursing this means the theoretical concepts are taught online while the hands-on application happens in the classroom. This hybrid model is also used in Spa Therapy programs at the College I teach for, and I can see it being a helpful learning approach across many modalities.



All Rights Reserved 2022

According to a recent blog post written by Bernard Marr at Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2022/02/18/the-five-biggest-education-and-training-technology-trends-in-2022/?sh=2be843a32f4d the trends in adult education show a heightened increase in online education. This is certainly a trend catapulted by Covid 19 where even Universities and Colleges were forced online.

However this was already an emerging trend, it's simply that covid catalyzed the rate by which this was occurring.

The 5 main takeaways from the Forbes articles are:

1. An increase of education moving online. I've already witnessed this at the College I work for. Before Covid this was a completely on-ground educational institution. Covid shifted the landscape of the school where the entire curriculum went online, even subjects that at one point seemed they could only be held in person. This required innovative thinking, creative leadership, openness, and adaptability from instructors and students.

​2. Learning is extending beyond high school and college. Although for our grandparents generation and even likely our parent generation most education happened pretty early in life, today, the rate by which technology changes, ongoing trainings and education is required in order to keep up, and learning is really a lifelong process. 

Additionally, I find many people enrol in education programs for their own personal development and not always just to get a job. In the field of mind body wellness, I believe this is an advantage, as it shows that people care about enhancing their lives.

3. There are new immersive intelligence trainings that simulate environments to support the training process such as with surgeons and firefighters (Forbes, 2022). I think this is brilliant and an effective way to strengthen the learning process. I think if this was brought into the various fields of mind-body wellness, that it would serve students-in-training in their confidence as they build their skill in working with individuals and groups in their chosen area of expertise.

4. An emerging trend of artificial intelligence includes an ability for things such as grading papers. This I find a bit unnerving as I don't feel any robot can have the human connection that cares when grading a student's paper. It seems to take the soul out of it. I guess it does depend a bit on the subject matter. I am not really a fan of this trend. However I can see how it helps logistically when it comes to time, especially as teachers are rarely compensated for the time they put into grading.

5. Another emerging trend is called nano-learning - learning in bite sized chunks. I can see the benefit here of clear focused learning. And, I can see this playing into the epidemic of increasing low-attention spans and expectation of instant gratification. I am not sure if this is effective in the long run, however I might be biased coming from a time where it was expected to read whole textbooks for every course. 

Overall, the implications of these trends in the coming years, and the preparation required will be an overall sense of adaptability and willingness to remain open and learn. Already with the move to online education it has required swift adaptability to learn zoom classroom, online learning platforms such as Moodle to post course content, assignments, and tests, as well as learning online softwares for grading.  As the field and technology continues to develop it will require instructors to remain adaptable to learning new and emerging technologies and online platforms that may enhance the overall learning experience for learners.

​
Reference:
Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2022/02/18/the-five-biggest-education-and-training-technology-trends-in-2022/?sh=2be843a32f4d 
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​all rights reserved 2022

Today's blog, inspired by my new studies at VCC  [You can learn more on their facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/VCCSchoolOfInstructorEducation/] —I'll be talking about some of the trends I've discovered in the field of Mind-Body Wellness.

The field of mind-body wellness can encapsulate a wide range of modalities. Based on my experience I am speaking of the areas of psychology, holistic nutrition, yoga, mindfulness, life coaching, and the intersection of spirituality and science. 

In an article by  Margo Badzioch, a Market Research Lead  [Source: https://www.mindbodyonline.com/business/education/blog/wi/7-wellness-trends-watch-2022]
She shares that "Mental health was ranked the most important dimension of wellness by the greatest number of Americans."

When I hear that, I am happy that mental health is seen as increasingly important. I believe taking care of our mental fitness is as important as taking care of our physical fitness.

Furthermore, more people are talking about trauma-informed practices being integrated in all aspects of wellness from trauma informed yoga, to teaching in a trauma-informed manner (https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/health-and-wellness-trends)

I've noticed in the College I work at, classes are taught from a trauma-informed lens, and both life coaching and counselling are taught through a trauma-informed lens. When I teach yoga, I teach from a trauma-informed lens. This can even mean giving options, and giving permission, and recognizing that some things may not feel safe for somebody that has experienced trauma or somebody that may have PTSD or c-PTSD, thus by being trauma informed and approaching wellness through the lens allows for a more inviting and inclusive environment for all, with the hope to create more safety and a sense of space, freedom, and acceptance.

Another unfortunate trend in the field of mental health/wellness is that since covid 19 there has been higher rates in adolescents facing mental health issues. The school closures and constant changes took a toll, and there is a need to address the mental health of youth https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2021-0078  Although there is a lot of opposing views on whether lockdowns and mandates were appropriate, we cannot negate the damaging mental-health effects it caused, and it is important to give space time and care to meet the mental health needs of those affected, particularly youth 

Additionally, another trend in mental-health is that more services are being offered online at an increased rate since Covid began, and according to The American Psychological Association - this trend is here to stay (https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/01/trends-online-therapy)

Although the regulated profession of psychology has more privacy rules than unregulated professions such as coaching, it used to be an emerging trend to see clients online. I used to see clients on Skype before Zoom became popular! However in the last few years, I have found from my experience too that the trend to go online became more and more accepted, which in my mind allows for more freedom and flexibility in how people get the support they are looking for.

Overall, the trends of increased interest in importance of mental health is a step in a positive direction. I am inspired to be part of creating more learning and support in the field of mind-body wellness and learning more in the years to come. Additionally, the trend towards trauma informed is a positive one that I hope continues to spread across other industries, and the trend towards online is something I am prepared for, as I enjoy being able to work remotely.

This blog was written as part of a class assignment for VCC, in this journey of returning to the classroom.

A recap of Sources used in this blog:
https://www.mindbodyonline.com/business/education/blog/wi/7-wellness-trends-watch-2022
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/health-and-wellness-trends
https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2021-0078
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/01/trends-online-therapy

All Rights Reserved 2022

It's been some time since I've been back in the classroom, and now I find myself enrolled at VCC for the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program where we are asked to blog, beginning with a short autobiography.

I feel I have a long history of being at school - from starting University at 17, to going back to a career college for a diploma in natural nutrition, to studying yoga, and many other informal courses and apprentice-style learning such as mentoring with an executive coach that followed for several years.

In 2011 I even did a short stint going back for a second university degree in Nursing - a degree I decided to step away from - one of the first times I did not complete an educational training, which was a learning curve in it's own right. As somebody who believed quitting is not an option - that experience taught me that sometimes quitting is the right option. Then for years after that I dove right back into my entrepreneurial endeavours - which included writing and publishing my first paperback that focused on a body-mind-spirit approach to health and wellness with a focus on the 8 pillars of nutrition.

At around that time, I started to dedicate myself to learning business. I took an online course and obsessively read books, and for good measure was an avid watcher of Shark Tank ;) By 2014 an opportunity to teach business at the Nutrition School I had once attended became available to me. I took a short Instructors Course, and was already quite familiar with teaching as I had been teaching Yoga for nearly a decade by that point and had lead yoga teacher trainings. However teaching in an academic classroom was very different than teaching on a mat or the informal style of a yoga teacher training. Nevertheless, certain qualities of holding space for students and managing classroom dynamics, and using all your senses to teach the class and not the content came in handy. I still find this to be an important balance - to teach the people in front of you versus being rigid on a plan.

Teaching was fulfilling, and at times draining, as I've always been one to feel a lot of energy from others. I was also running around town at the time teaching at various colleges on top of teaching yoga classes. So when an opportunity presented itself to be a Facilitator in the Northwest Territories I figured - how could I pass this up?

Never in my life did I ever expect to travel North of 60, let alone live there, so I gave up my comforts of Vancouver including the many lucrative instructor positions I had amassed over the years to leap into the unknown.

My time up North presented an education like no other. I saw a part of Canada that was unlike anywhere else I've seen in Canada. I had an opportunity to go to some small northern communities that had reminded me of times I travelled in Central America back in my early 20s. I also learned that after braving -50, there was no weather that could stop me from being outside, as outside is my favourite place to be.

After my year up North I returned to Vancouver and enrolled at Rhodes Wellness College. Although my background had been in Psychology I felt my counselling knowledge was out of date, and I was looking for a refresher, along with a time-out to figure out my next move along my career journey. Rhodes had an experiential style of learning and openness that was something I had only experienced back at my yoga teacher training back in 2006, and I did not realize a College would have such an open hearted learning environment. I enjoyed and appreciated it and although I had an education in health coaching and had apprenticed with a coach and had worked as a coach, I decided to take another semester to obtain my official Life Coaching Certification. In a way I was using this time to figure out my next move, as I was certainly in a place of life-transition at the time.

I left Rhodes and decided it was time to get out of the city and found my way to island. I wasn't completely sure what my next step would be, but I'd always been an entrepreneur in the health and wellness realm, and stepping into the unknown was something I'd done many times before.

Just as I was preparing to leave Rhodes a new President came to the College, and in a meeting with him I was granted a short contract to develop some new programming. The new President saw my background, the fact I had a published a book and took a bet on me to work on some new course developments. Well that initial short contract turned into a bigger contract and now over 2 years later I am still with the college on a part time basis working remotely from the island, while still involved with my entrepreneurial pursuits as a Life Coach, Writer, and  building my vision of Ecotherapy Adventures - the healing path of nature's wisdom as teacher.

Being involved in curriculum development I was presented with the opportunity to take the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program at VCC - and so now, here I am - back in the classroom - an unexpected yet deeply appreciated opportunity.

Although I do not know the full scope of where this will lead, I am embracing the practice of being present, and doing my best to show up fully while juggling multiple projects. A quote that's been coming to me lately has been

​ "The Tao does nothing but leaves nothing undone" -Lao Tzu
- The Tao is the way, the flow of life. I find when I remember to flow, that all things will fall into place and this is certainly a lesson that is coming up for me now as I do my best to flow with the range of work and educational opportunities that are are with me now.

​
Copyright Tova Payne 2022.

Happy February! I hope this month has started off well. For many of us we are still right in the depths of winter, and it's still not that far from the start of a new year - a time we often set new goals and think about what we want to create in the year ahead.

Having a goal is part of the process. Sometimes even taking time to clarify what goal we want can take some inner reflection. Once we clarify our goal, the next step is to commit to it so that we have the drive to create.

Conscious commitment is a powerful force and can drive us when times get tough.

As we walk off the edge of the start of 2022, but still in the freshness of the start of a new year my questions to you, if you are so inspired for some inner reflection & creation are:

1. What are you inspired to bring into your life?
2. What is something you are willing to commit to?
3. What will your commitment look like? (These are the boundaries around commitment, for example committing to a yoga practice for a minimum of two times a week for the next 8 weeks is an example of a clear commitment
4. What do you hope to create? (Creation can be building a desk, writing an article, starting a side business, or building a state of mind and wellness - not all creation is in physical form, some is a state of mind. Using the yoga example - the commitment might be with the goal to create space for inner relaxation and inner connection)

This is the simple version of the power of Commit & Create.

Commit & Create is also the name of the new program I am launching:

It's a personalized 4-week coaching series where one week at a time we go from clarity, to commitment, to creation to maintenance plan. To Learn More—CLICK HERE

To learn more about this program - either click here, or you can reply to this message - we can either book a quick discovery call if you have some questions and want to make sure this is the right fit, or if you're familiar with my work, we can simply launch right into Commit & Create!

And for those of you not looking for personalized support - carving out the time to reflect, clarify, commit and create - are, I hope powerful core ideas that will help launch your dream for this month (or year) into reality :)

What’s the relationship between decluttering and manifesting abundance? Well, Aristotle’s quote sums it up. Just as nature abhors a vacuum, so does our life. However, if our lives are filled with clutter there is no space for something new to enter.
 
This is why as we declutter and create space – physically, mentally and emotionally, we give space for the new to manifest.
Everything comes from space – and although throwing things away can feel scary – sometimes we are attached to things we don’t even like or use, yet think “Well one day I may need this” — It actually blocks new things from entering.
 
Here are 5 simple ways to declutter today:
 
1. Declutter your closet

There might be one item, there might be a carload of items, but if there are items in your closet that you don’t love, or use – it is time to let it go. If this feels difficult – you can place a boundary around it and tell yourself you will let go of 5 items. Every item makes a difference. Not only will this free up space physically, it frees up space energetically and you are helping somebody else out in the process. Whether you give these items to a friend, a shelter, or other organization – there are other people who can really benefit from the items you no longer love or use.
 
2. Declutter you finances
 
Have you putting off organizing or looking at your finances? Whether it’s reviewing your accounts, paying bills, getting taxes in order or if you’re a business owner taking some time to review you last quarter or make new financial goals – taking the time to consciously organize your finances is important. Not only will you feel better, energetically as you clean up, organize, and set goals, it helps your subconscious mind expand into greater financial possibilities and opportunities.  Schedule 1-2 hours to clean up, throw away, organize your paperwork, and pay off your bills. Whether you are able to pay it all off, or even a small amount – every bit helps.
 
3. Declutter your electronics/time with technology
 
This can mean deleting old files taking up space on your computer, your inbox, or apps on your phone. This can also mean taking a conscious digital detox. It might be a digital detox from a specific platform or scheduling a full day or week where you step away from technology and allow your mind the space and freedom to calm down, quiet down and expand. When our mind has space we are able to hear our intuition, and in that we are able to access new insights and creative idea.
 
4. Declutter your relationships
 
There might be someone specific who every time you hang around them you feel worse than before you interacted with them. This is also known as a toxic relationship. Sometimes, this calls for releasing the relationship completely, or minimizing contact. Whether decluttering means consciously letting go of people in your life that feel heavy or simply being more mindful with the amount of time and energy you give to individuals who weigh you down – decluttering your relationship space is vital to your mental and emotional wellness. In this – you will free up energy for new relationships to flow in and have more joy and abundance in your life.
 
5. Declutter your pantry
 
Decluttering your pantry can mean several things. It might mean looking through for expired items and tossing what’s past due. It might also mean looking through the items you don’t eat and can give away to a food bank. It can also mean consciously cleaning up what you eat. You don’t need to go on a radical cleanse to detoxify and declutter your body. You can choose to delete refined high-sugar foods and add in more nutrient-dense foods. You can do a pantry clean and make more conscious decisions of choosing more whole foods the next time you are at the grocery store. For a simple basic guide on core nutrition basics – check out my first paperback- I wrote this back in 2013 – but these evergreen principles still hold true today. Click here to get your copy.
 
Whether you choose one area of your life to declutter or 5 or more – every little thing adds up.
 
Declutter one thing today, one thing tomorrow, and feel for yourself the spaciousness and clarity that comes with it.
It’s in the space and clarity that we are able to be energized and take conscious action to manifesting the goals we truly desire.
 
If you’re looking for personal support to declutter your life and manifest your goals – schedule a personalized coaching session with me—click here