Blog Posts
Something special is around the corner,
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to fall into familiar patterns, even when they don't serve your highest good?
Our nervous system craves safety, even in the comfort of the known.
But what if you could move from those familiar states to something optimal, something that truly aligns with your most expansive, vibrant life?
Next week, I’m excited to share a new intimate group experience that will help you tap into your body’s natural ability to shift and thrive. Together, we'll explore tools and practices to rewire your nervous system and move from reactive patterns to empowered, grounded responses, and an optimal life.
If you want to be the first to know, reply now and I'll add you to my waitlist to get the details first!
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With love & gratitude,
Dr. Jessica
What’s sparking joy
Hi Heart of Life friends & family,
This week, I’m switching things up! Instead of the usual helpful tips for supporting your nervous system, I wanted to share something a little more personal. Lately, I’ve been finding inspiration in unexpected places, and I thought it might resonate with you too. Sometimes, the best way to nurture ourselves is by exploring what lights us up, and I hope these reflections bring a spark to your week as well.
What's on my bookshelf:
Playing Big - by Tara Mohr. This book is specifically written for women who want to speak up, lead, and create. I highly recommend to my fellow business owners and creative women. However, the key messages on identifying your inner critic and building a relationship with your inner mentor are highly valuable lessons everyone should learn!
I've also spent this year re-reading the Harry Potter series. I've just started the 7th book. Reading fiction reminds me that life is not so serious, it helps me prioritize joy and pleasure. I prefer to read fiction before bed, and the simple motion of eyes gazing from left to right across a page is a helpful way to calm the nervous system readying you for bed.
Movement I'm inspired by:
Qi gong with Brea Fisher - her gentle feminine approach to this healing movement art is really nourishing! I love how she brings in the seasons, and animal spirits. It is the perfect way to wind down at the end of the day or gentle movement when I'm in the latter part of my cycle.
I'm really enjoying this powerful yoga flow that takes all of my presence and leaves me feeling strong and aligned called Flow FIXXation with Schuyler Grant on Commune. You can try this and the entire library at Commune free for 7 days. To redeem your 7 day free trial, be sure to include my name here: https://www.onecommune.com/memberpass
Projects I am up to:
This summer we updated our backyard, put in drip systems on our garden beds, removed old sod and made a fun gathering area outside. Our outdoor space is my favorite space in the house, and I'm so grateful we had the courage to take on this project and learn some new skills along the way. Doing "hard" things is an important way to cultivate resiliency.
I've got an on-going acrylic nature scene painting in my garage, I'm enjoying coming to it when I feel inspired. I have a due date of the end of the year, so I imagine once the smoke season comes to an end I'll open the garage door and get to finishing it. Creative projects inspire me and stretch me to learn new skills.
On my kitchen list for fall:
My favorite caffeine free chai recipe, found here, is definitely getting restocked! This mix of spices warms you from the inside out, and is anti-inflammatory.
I also love soups, stews, and broths to support my body in adapting to cooler temps outside!
Here's a simple favorite I've come back to year after year:
Black bean and butternut squash chili
Ingredients:
2 cups chopped onions
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 cups chopped ( 1/2 inch pieces) butternut squash
4 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 3 (15 ounce) cans low-sodium or no-salt-added black beans, drained
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 1/2 cups low-sodium or no-salt-added vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups no-salt-added diced tomatoes
1 bunch Swiss chard, tough stems removed, chopped
Directions:
Add all ingredients except Swiss chard to a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until squash is tender, about 20 minutes.
Stir in Swiss chard; simmer until chard is tender, about 4 minutes longer.
I hope you enjoyed these Fall favorites!
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With love & gratitude,
Dr. Jessica
Beyond Limits
Where your attention goes, possibilities flow,
The world of quantum physics discovered 30+ years ago that everything in our reality is in fact composed of the same small particles that organize into the world around you. Your chair, a squirrel, and the brilliant you are unique based on the organization of energy and matter.
A living plant's energy is organized at a higher level than the energy of a something that is not living, for example the concrete on a sidewalk.
The higher the vibration of energy the more space between your cells, and the more possibility available. A higher vibrational expression of you has more space between your cells, feels more open to possibilities, and expresses higher levels of homeostasis (internal balance & adaptability).
How well you process life, what you focus on, and the lifestyle choices you make will either increase or decrease your vibration.
The life you experience in front of you, walking in the park, conversations in the grocery store, your bank account, is evidence of this organization of energy.
It is very common (not optimal) to live life in reaction to what you see around you or even at a lower state than what you experience around you. For example, if you are living at a lower state than what's around you your thoughts may sound like, "the town is really going downhill," "the clerk at the grocery store is a wreck," and "my bank account is always dwindling."
Living day in and day out in this way, decreases your vibration, which makes it harder to see new possibilities in life. A life lived like this will eventually be full of tissue and life issues.
Instead, living beyond your present reality opens your perception system. This could sound like "I am so grateful I get to walk through the park today, and I'm even going to pick up someone else's trash because it's even more beautiful untouched," "I send love to the grocery store clerk and I know my positive energy is contagious," or " I am open to new ways to grow my bank account."
Thinking these thoughts, plus experiencing with your senses an elevated experience of your world, and finally embodying this as a way of living opens your perception system beyond your present reality. This is where life becomes limitless, we heal our life and tissue issues, and we transcend our blocks!
Here a few tips to live beyond your present personal reality
💜 What would a full expression of your life look like (in your career, relationships, spirituality, family, etc)? What would it feel like to live here (check in with all of your senses)?
💜 Notice whether the people you surround yourself with increase or decrease your emotional wellbeing?
While we cannot change others, we can focus on personal discovery and opt to spend time with those that uplift and inspire us. Can you consciously choose to express your most vital self despite what's going on around you?
💜 What inspires you to live for more than just yourself? What causes, people, organizations, activities spark life in you? What are your unique values and gifts? How can you bring more of this energy into your everyday life? Being the most inspired and connected you has a massive impact on the world around you.
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October weekend immersion
If you're ready to embrace living beyond your present reality - you may wish to be a part of our weekend immersion where I will take four wonderful folks through an intimate group experience.
Inside we will dive deep into rewiring patterns that no longer serve us and equip you with a series of integration sessions to deepen the unwiring of the old self & rewiring of an authentic and optimal you!
In this workshop, I'll equip you with the tools to keep choosing presence, and the new you, until it's your reality.
Because there will be a very limited availability of space for this opportunity, hit reply if you're interested and I'll add you to the waitlist so you'll be the first to know when seats open!
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In gratitude & good health,
Dr. Jessica
Embrace the shift,
Whether you are embracing a change of seasons, change in routines and schedules, or getting to know a new you in this season of life, learning to gracefully embrace change with presence can make a big difference in your experience.
If your perception system is tied up in regrets of the past, the good old days, losing what was... or if it is tied up in the business of what's ahead, or the fear of making a mistake, you are missing the gift of this present moment.
It's in the present moment that you have a chance to access the parasympathetic system, the rest and digest system. Because not only do you digest your food, but it is in this relaxed and perceptive state that you digest your life. Building your resources to be in this state more of the time increases your bandwidth for presence and for the flexibility to embrace the changes that are life.
Here a few tips to embrace changes gracefully:
💜 As nature changes over the coming weeks, begin to notice the crisp feeling to the air in the mornings and evenings, the sun setting a few moments earlier each day. I invite you to notice the changes with eyes of observation and curiosity, rather than judgement. What other senses can you engage?
💜 If you are starting new routines: ask yourself how do I want to feel? Does this routine help me get closer to this feeling? If no, what might be more optimal at this time?
💜 If you are embracing changes within yourself, ask yourself who am I? Who am I no longer? What do I value? What makes my presence unique?
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October weekend immersion
If you're embracing a new you - you may wish to be a part of our weekend immersion where I will take four wonderful folks through an intimate group experience.
Inside we will dive into rewiring patterns that no longer serve us and equip you with a series of integration sessions to deepen the unwiring of the old self and rewiring of an authentic and optimal you.
In this workshop, I'll equip you with the tools to keep choosing presence, and the new you, until it's your reality.
Because there will be a very limited availability of space for this opportunity, hit reply if you're interested and I'll add you to the waitlist so you'll be the first to know when seats open!
______________________
In gratitude & good health,
Dr. Jessica
How to shift your nervous system from familiar habits to optimal living
Rewire your response,
Ever noticed that you can drive a familiar route without much effort, your thoughts could be miles away on what happened during your day, while you arrive safely at your destination?
Your nervous system fires and wires to save energy. Taking the same route day after day takes less energy. These familiar responses happen in physical movements, mental/emotional responses, and perceptions. The familiar patterns can be called "autopilot," or reactions, patterns, habits, or even your personality.
Your familiar pattern for driving, how to communicate, walk and more are incredibly valuable. It saves us time and energy that we do not need to relearn these skills when we need to use them.
Familiar patterns can represent our "bad habits," reactions that are not serving us, patterns that keep us spiraling in low vibrational emotions, or personality quirks that were not so fond of in ourselves. This is where it can be helpful to take the journey from familiar to optimal.
Here a few steps to stop repeating less than optimal "familiar" patterns & start creating optimal ones:
When you notice the old patterns coming on, create a PAUSE. This could be a breath, a walk, space in a difficult conversation to come back to, or even bodywork. It may be helpful to tell yourself "it's safe to take a pause & revisit this," or to "it's ok to slow down."
Resource yourself: list what you already have that is supporting you (people, places, breath, a strong body, etc). List what you'll need to overcome the familiar and to step into optimal (a steady routine, support from my loved ones, help from a professional, etc).
Journal about your old patterns, or automatic behaviors. Then journal about what an optimal response would be instead using all of your senses.
Open up your heart and mind to new possibility, through new experiences, meditations, bodywork, etc.
I just had the pleasure of recording a short podcast about familiar to optimal with a dear friend, I will share it with you when it is available! (I first heard the term familiar to optimal from a mentor, Sarah Tacy, whom has a beautiful podcast you may be inspired to tune into for more nervous system support!)
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October weekend immersion
If this concept of familiar to optimal intrigues you - you may wish to be a part of my plan to take four wonderful folks through an intimate group experience where we will dive more into rewiring our response for optimal as well as equip you with the internal work (integration sessions, yes a series of them in the same day, to deepen the unwiring of familiar and rewiring of optimal) and the tools to keep choosing optimal in your life until it's your reality.
Because there will be a very limited availability of space for this opportunity, hit reply if you're interested and I'll add you to the waitlist so you'll be the first to know when seats open!
______________________
In gratitude & good health,
Dr. Jessica
The secret to seeing challenges as opportunities
Are you a participant in life?
Maybe you realize it or maybe you've never thought about it.
You are a participant in life. Everyday you experience the incredible world around you, and how you respond, react, internalize or how you refrain from is how your system is participating in life.
Some of these interactions are intentional and conscious, while others operate subconsciously or beneath the surface, meaning they are automatic responses of the mind, body and psyche.
When you lay on our table at Heart of Life your body is participating by sensing, making new connections, and integrating the layers of the past.
Here are several steps to being an intentional participant in your life:
Shift the belief from life is happening to me, to life is happening FOR me.
Take moments to pause and integrate (deep breathing supports this).
Journal about your old patterns, or automatic behaviors. Then journal about what you would like those responses to be instead.
Open up your heart and mind to new possibility, through new experiences, meditations, bodywork, etc.
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Community Walk
Our next walk will be Monday, 8/19, from 8:30-9:30am. We'll meet at Shevlin Park, near the bathrooms.
Calling in a group to share space, attune to nature, connect, and empower. We'll circle up and briefly introduce ourselves and share our intention for joining today. Then we'll walk, connect, and enjoy nature together. All are welcome, and you are enough exactly where you are at that day.
Dogs & kids are always welcome :)
Pls RSVP to 541-414-3699 (if smoke levels are unhealthy, we will postpone)
______________________
In gratitude & good health,
Dr. Jessica
Ever wonder if I’m tuning into energy or structure? Let’s dive into the magic behind my touch!
One of the most common questions I get when someone steps into my office and has their first experience of nervous system integration-based chiropractic care is "what are you feeling for?"
As well as, "is this physical or energetic?"
If you've been into Heart of Life yourself you've probably heard me describe tension and tone in various ways, as well as how the bio-energetics of the nervous system influences it's structure and function.
I full-heartedly believe that understanding is the basis for growth and change, to expand your understanding I wanted to share a resource with you from one of my late mentors, Sue Brown. Whom was the creator of bio-geometric integration, one of the most influential modalities on the care I provide today.
In this 2-page article, Sue answers these common questions. I think you'll really enjoy this brief read and have a new perspective on our care!
I would love to hear what your takeaways are.
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Thank you so much for your participation in the first Community Walk
As of now, our walks will be set for every other week, meaning out next walk falls on Monday, 8/5, from 8:30-9:30am. For this walk we'll meet again at Sawyer Park, in front of the bridge.
Calling in a small group to share space, attune to nature, connect, and empower. This group will adapt to what each participant needs in the moment, some walks may be structured and some simply a time to connect.
Dogs & kids are welcome to join :)
Pls RSVP to 541-414-3699 (if smoke levels are unhealthy, we will postpone)
______________________
In gratitude & good health,
Dr. Jessica
Breathe easy,
Last year, I recorded a special coherence meditation for you: Finding Calm in the Haze (a 30-minute healing meditation) to help support you through the smoke season. My intention is for this to be a helpful resource to find calm within, to process emotions surrounding, and to help you return to a harmonious state in mind & body. It can also be used to create coherence in the face of challenge.
Download it above, listen at your own convenience, and revisit as often as you like.
From a harmonious state, we can calm inflammation, we can think clearly, and we can act with alignment.
Please feel free to pass along to any one in need of support.
Other tips for smoke season:
Drink lots of water (helps the kidneys and liver to remove toxins, aim for half of your body weight in ounces of water daily!).
Keep a HEPA air filter running, especially where you sleep.
Check the AQI on an app like Purple Air to decide whether or not it's appropriate to be outside.
Shower before bed.
Epsom salt baths at night, help to calm nerves, and support detoxification.
Simmer herbs on the stove top like culinary sage and rosemary to support lungs and help remove contaminants from the air.
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Thank you so much for your feedback about the Community Walk 💜
Our first get together will be this coming Monday, 7/22, from 8:30-9:30am. We'll meet at Sawyer Park, in front of the bridge.
Pls RSVP to 541-414-3699 (that way I can contact you if we decide to postpone due to smokey conditions)
Calling in a small group to share space, attune to nature, connect, empower.
Dogs & kids are welcome :)
______________________
In gratitude & good health,
Dr. Jessica
Is energy contagious?
To start, let's recap on energy...
As you go about your day, you are constantly processing and adapting to the energy around you. This is the job of your brilliant nervous system, your information processor. Quantum physics shares that every experience has a unique frequency - be that physical (movement, stagnancy, injuries), mental (the conversation in your head), emotional (how you feel, around different people, in different spaces, etc), or chemical (food, environment, technology).
When you process an experience you integrate it, and become more energy than particle. You are lighter!
When you do not process something in the moment, you carry that unprocessed information around as tension, these patterns of tension make you more dense in body, mind, & spirit.
So what happens with your nervous system when you are around others?
You, I, all people are a reflection of their integrated energy - their lightness, and their unintegrated frequencies, their density.
So when we come together based upon how those two magnetize or repell each other can influence how we experience another person, without any words being said at all!
You can probably think of one person in your life that you just feel so connected to, and perhaps someone else that you wish to have nothing to do with.
Quantum physics debunks the idea that we can "catch" other's negative energy.
What's actually happening is that there is some unprocessed information within you that has a similar frequency to what's active in another person.
I like to reframe this as an opportunity. you are not a victim to the world around you. This is an opportunity for you to heal and process your own stuff and become a more clear, connected expression of you!
In our community healing sessions:
💜 An intentional space is created to support integrating your experiences as well as the expanded field that is created when we come together in community.
💜 There are more frequencies present, hence more available information shows up in your body, due to the field being expanded. The opportunities are abundant which allow you to go deeper in your healing.
💜 Integration sessions can help you to become less sensitive in your life. The more we process and integrate the more adaptability we have to process life real time.
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Speaking of community, I've been feeling called to host a free Community Walk
Where we can connect and share from an empowered place.
Calling in a small group to share space, attune to nature, connect, empower.
Next Friday, 7/19 3:30-4:30pm
Sawyer Park
Pls text 541-414-3699 or email reply to confirm your attendance!
In gratitude & good health,
Dr. Jessica
Wake up & stop stressing 💜
What's the first thing you do in the morning?
For most folks, it's something habitual, checking their phone, the news, etc.
Whenever we move from habitual, we are reinforcing the past. We remind ourselves who we were yesterday, and the day before. We essentially recreate the past in the present.
For most of us that means we're recreating the aspects we complain about, do not wish to experience more of, or are trying to avoid.
How do you break the loop? Create a new pattern? Call in the future you want?
I recently enjoyed watching the new documentary, Source, with Joe Dispenza's latest research on coherence meditation. (If you haven't checked out any of his work, I highly recommend reading his books, as he goes into depth about this.)
From the moment you wake up, you must break the loop of yesterday and choose to anchor into a new reality.
In your senses, your choices, your emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
In this choice to break the loop we create space from who you have been and call in who you are becoming.
Coherence meditation is a way to work with the subconsicous to bring awareness, to create harmony in your nervous system from which you can create pattern interrupt to the habitual ways of the past and call in the new feelings and sensations of your future.
💜 Here is a recording of a creating coherence audio meditation designed to help you break the loop and create coherence, around the themes of overcoming victimhood and transcending the pain body.
💜 This is a 45-minute audio. If possible find a quiet space in which you can move and sit or lay down comfortably during the meditation. The first 16 minutes is an introduction & nervous system regulating practices that ground you to receive. The final 30 minutes is the guided coherence meditation. Enjoy!
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Nervous system based chiropractic care continues to be one of the most powerful resets I have seen and experienced. By slowing down the old patterns, and helping your system update to have bandwidth for the present day, for healing, and for changing the trajectory of your life.
In need of a reset? Our summer drop-in special runs through Friday, check it out below!
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In gratitude & good health,
Dr. Jessica