Fitness From The Ego To The Heart

I’ve been sharing insights and teachings about holistic health and fitness for 20 years. What I’m seeing now is a resurgence of people who are really excited to learn how to get healthy. This is exciting to me because there’s a new energy to it. It feels curious and childlike.

In the past we’d will ourselves to exercise and punish ourselves if we ate something we deemed bad or feel guity if we didn’t work it off in the gym.

Now I’m seeing that mentality fad away…

and more people are gravitating towards a healthier mindset as it relates to their fitness and nutrition. A more balanced mindset. They’re being led from their heart instead of their ego and I think thats so beautiful.

Much of my work over the years has been helping people find the joy in their fitness routine and witness how miraculous their body really is. That’s what my book, Finally Thriving is all about.

I’ve always loved sharing natural ways to get healthy. Holistic health principles that support your body in healing and regeneration. Tools that are accessible and simple.

Today’s no different.

As I’ve gone through my own personal hormonal changes during menopause…

I’ve had lots of women ask me what I’m doing and how they can support their body through this phase in their life.

They share with me that they’re frustrated because all they’re seeing about menopause is related to hormonal therapy. As if that’s our only option. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do hormonal therapy but so many women are craving an alternative.

Mostly what’s talked about is how to combat hormonal changes physiologically (which is important) but what’s not talked about as much is the emotional rite of passage we go through during this time. I’ve noticed women who tend to suppress their emotions over the years have more physical symptoms generally.

Why are we suppressing our emotions?

We’ve missed the boat on feeling our emotions because so often we’re directed to figure out our emotions. This turns an emotion into a thought which keeps it on the mental plane. Emotions are meant to be felt not intellectualized because they’re stored in the body not the brain so the solution is to be with them so that your emotions can move through.

We

I’ve had my challenges personally with menopause too and what I want to share with you is there’s always something you can do to support your body. It’s a matter of patience and attention. So going through menopause has taught me to go deeper into my own self care and value me.

To explore what I’m feeling and lean into a deeper state of self acceptance.

Taking care of yourself on a deeper level…

teaches you to be present with your body and directs your focus continually to what matters most. I don’t know about you but menopause really made me pay attention to what my body needed even more. It wasn’t a signal I could bypass even if I wanted to.

So how do we do this? First, do your best NOT to fight it. I know hot flashes are uncomfortable and sometimes they come at the most inappropriate times but it’s an energy that is moving through your body and like emotions if you try to suppress your symptoms they will amplify.

What we want to do…

is be present with our body and respond proactively by supporting our body with what it needs. Be there for your body unconditionally.

This will also teach you how to love yourself because you’re practicing presence with your body and with yourself. This is a really big deal. To be able to support your body with the right nutrition, rest, hydration, movement and emotional regulation and honesty.

I go into these hormonal changes in my latest Youtube video, Menopause Doesn't Have To Suck. I share that when you make the switch from estradiol to estrone. Estrogen stops getting produced in your ovaries and now it’s being produced in your adrenals and adipose tissue (fat cells).

What does this mean? You’re way more sensitive to stress now. So that’s why it’s so important to tune into your body and support it smarter not harder.

Check out my video below!

https://youtu.be/ouLWR9Vc3Hg?si=GMLXoztqtmXnwN6z

In health and happiness,

Allison Pelot

Get Better Sleep

Getting enough sleep is a big deal. Restful deep sleep is essential for restoring the physical and mental body.  Any excess physical, mental or emotional stress you experience gets repaired when you sleep at night.  If you’re not able to get enough sleep to restore your body, your body responds with stress hormones, pushing you into a continual state of inflammation.  Indicating to your body that it’s detrimental to your survival to stay up and be wired.

Here's what you can do to get better sleep.

Get to bed to early

Getting to bed no later than 10:00 pm will help you reap the full benefits of your restorative time for both the body and the mind. Your physical repair time occurs from 10:00 pm – 2:00 am and your mental repair time occurs from 2:00 am – 6:00 am.

If you’re getting to bed too late, start by going to bed 15 minutes earlier every night until you’re going to bed at 10:00 pm on a regular basis.  This allows your body can gradually adjust to the change.

Get Rid of All Distractions Before Bed

Assess your nightly routine.  If you’re getting any screen time before bed this can negatively effect your ability to wind down and get to sleep at night. The light that you get from a computer screen or TV can create a cortisol response which could keep you from getting into a restful sleep for at least two hours afterward.

I suggest shutting down your computer two hours before you begin winding down and turning down the lights.  Shut down your computer after dinner or come up with a time that works for you.  If you shut it down you’re less likely to go through the trouble of turning it back on.

Turn down the light

Start turning down the lights at dusk.  As the day comes to a close train your body to wind down by giving it less stimulation with your lighting.  Bright lighting at night can trick your body into thinking it’s day time.  I recommend using a salt rock lamp which emits a softer soothing light or use candles.

Become aware of the value you get from sleep

Most likely you feel better. Consider this a value and a priority. You can only repair your body with enough sleep.  Just remember anything you feel like you miss out on during the night by staying up late you end up missing out on the next two days or more depending on how often you stay up late. Your sleep deficit builds up the more sleep you miss out on. This will negatively effect your concentration, focus and energy in the days following.

Take a Hot Bath

An epsom salt bath is wonderful for winding down at night.  The magnesium is great for relaxing your muscles and nervous system.  Try adding lavender essential oil which is a great for calming your nervous system along with candles and some soothing music.

Stretch Your Body

Stretching can be most beneficial right before bed.  Since you’ll be laying down in a relaxed position for about 8 hours your body will most likely hold the stretch better.  Stretching also calms and relaxes the body naturally.

I get on the floor every night and pick out three stretches.  Sitting on the floor motivates me to move around and stretch, whereas if I were on the sofa I’d be way more comfortable and less likely to want to move.  I also recommend Feldenkris movements or Qi gong before bed.  These help to calm the nerves and connects you to your breathing for better sleep.