When I take my dog for a walk, I’m absorbed in all of my “to do’s” when suddenly, my dog, Karma tugs on the leash. As I’m awakened from my trance, I see that Karma is absorbed in every scent and sound, oozing with pure joy. It is in these moments that I feel and see the beauty that he is drawn too.
As I teach yoga, I feel I’m a vessel carrying the same message, to be present in your body and take in everything about the moment. Again, I too am reminded that pure joy exists when we let go of thought and use all of our senses to take in the present moment. Thank you, Karma. ~Sara Holliday MFT, CPT, HHP

If you’re human and over the age of twenty, then it’s likely that you have an abundance of “to do lists”. To-do lists result in crowding your mind with thought leaving your shoulders, back, and head tied up in knots. When your mind is engulfed with thought, it makes it challenging to enjoy the special moments with your family and friends. Quieting your mind takes practice, but once you learn how to do it you’ll experience multiple benefits. You will be more focused with your tasks and finish them faster, and you will be more present and joyful with those you love most. Use the 5 tips below to quiet your mind.

1.Take in Nature. Go for a short walk to calm your mind. Become fully aware of your surroundings by taking in everything surrounding you such as the sounds, animals, plants and breeze.

2. Nourish Your Body. If you are hungry honor your body and give it fuel. Our brains function much better when we have proper nourishment.

3. Breathe. A simple deep breath brings oxygen to your entire body. Breathing fully releases stress and quiets the mind.

4. Rest. When you feel overwhelmed and tired give yourself permission to rest. A short rest can do wonders for clearing out unwanted thoughts.

5. Sit Quietly. Take a few minutes each day to sit quietly. Notice the thoughts that are in your mind. Take deep breaths while imagining that your exhale clears out any unnecessary thoughts. ~Sara Holliday MFT, CPT, HHP

In this You Tube video, “Super Simple Weight Loss Tip, Part 2″ I share a weight loss tip that’s so simple you won’t even believe it! I talk about the importance of keeping our bodies hydrated so we don’t mistake thirst for hunger. Many of clients followed this simple tip and were amazed at how quickly they lost weight.

Often our bodies aren’t hydrated so we think we are hungry when we are actually thirsty. The best way to stay hydrated is to drink plenty of water. Being a Mom, I’m often on the go so I bring a stainless steel water container with me. This type of container keeps my water at a good tempature, and it’s always around me so I never forget to drink it. The more you drink water, the more you’ll notice that your body craves it. If you wait until you’re really thirsty, then you’ve waited too long, and your body is already dehydrated. The recommended amount of water is 6-8 glasses of water per day, or more if you are active. I refill my 16 ounce thermos twice a day. By staying hydrated you’ll notice that you’ll no longer mistake thirst for hunger and you’ll eat less which will result in weight loss. ~Sara Holliday MFT, CPT, HHP

On today’s YouTube video, “Improve Your Digestion & Decrease Bloating“, I shared that I considered myself to have good digestion, eventhough I oftened experienced bloating and discomfort prior to getting my period. I was so bloated one time that I looked pregnant, and was actually afraid that I was! Shortly after I was introduced to a probiotic, which really helped me. Probiotics are healthy bacteria which helps restore balance to the digestive system. Shortly after taking the probiotic, I noticed that especially around my menstrual cycle, I no longer experienced bloating. In fact, I felt surprisingly good! I felt so good, that I shared the positive effects with my Mom who had struggled with digestive discomfort for many years. After a short time she too felt a positive difference and called the probiotic “magic pills”. I then introduced the probiotic to my good friend, and she too noticed a significant difference in how she felt, especially prior to getting her period. She told me, “I even was able to wear my skinny jeans!” My husband’s parents who are nearly 80 also said they felt better than they have in a long time after taking the probiotics.

The difference between the probiotics I use and the ones you’ll find over the counter is they are patented with a coating so they don’t dissolve until they arrive in your intestinal tract. Most others are dissolved by the acids in your stomach, so they never make it to your intestines.

You can find more information about the probiotic I use (and am so excited about) by clicking here: PROBIOTIC –Sara Holliday MFT, CPT, HHP