The Alimond Show

Lauren Koch - Integrative Well-Being Practitioner & Intuitive Artist

• Alimond Studio

Share episode

Ever wondered how holistic practices can transform your physical and spiritual well-being? Lauren G Koch, an integrative well-being practitioner and intuitive artist, joins us to share her extraordinary journey from homeschooling and developing early passions in herbalism and art, to becoming a classically trained musician and fine arts student. In this episode, Lauren also opens up about her personal battle with severe scoliosis, which led her to embrace holistic practices like reflexology and Reiki. Discover how these ancient techniques are used at Catoctin Mountain Massage and Wellness Center in Maryland to promote healing and overall wellness, and hear about Lauren’s significant improvements despite ongoing challenges.

Lauren's story doesn’t stop there. We take a closer look at how she transitioned from running a graphic design business and being a social media influencer to supporting non-profits and focusing on authentic self-care. Learn about various marketing strategies, the importance of maintaining authenticity, and how her teaching and pedagogy training have been adapted to her diverse roles, including yoga instruction. Lauren discusses the significance of trusting one’s inner knowing and developing intuition, offering invaluable lessons on self-awareness and resilience. This episode promises to inspire and enlighten, providing you with actionable insights to trust your instincts and embrace a holistic lifestyle.

Speaker 1:

I'm Lauren G Koch. I'm an integrative well-being practitioner and intuitive artist. I serve clients in a variety of ways, from doing Reiki and reflexology, herbalism, consults to doing like art, therapy type things, and I also serve as a music minister and ordained minister in the pagan community.

Speaker 2:

Oh, that's awesome. And how did you get into this field?

Speaker 1:

It's been a long path Sounds like you have a lot of different hats.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's been sort of a couple of different puzzle pieces that have sort of started over time. I was actually homeschooled K through 12 back in grade school, k through 12 back in grade school and it gave me a lot of time to sort of like hone and really deep dive into certain hobbies that I had, which was herbalism, art I'm a classically trained musician, so it just sort of everything compiled together and then just started coming out during the midst of grad school when I moved to Maryland.

Speaker 2:

Okay, and what do you find most rewarding about like these different categories?

Speaker 1:

The community mostly like the availability to sort of like shape shift, I guess a move between different needs in the community, as well as just like follow my passions in life.

Speaker 2:

Okay, tell me a little bit about the practice that you're working on now.

Speaker 1:

So I am in sort of an umbrella type clinic it's Catoctin Mountain Massage and Wellness Center in Thurmont, and so other practitioners can come in, build their own business and everything there, and so that's where I have my client-based business and small apothecary.

Speaker 2:

Okay, and what specifically do you offer those clients within your practice?

Speaker 1:

That is predominantly the reflexology Reiki mobility practice. We have a small classroom and everything, so I teach herbalism classes, creative mindfulness classes, as well as yoga there. And then we do verbal consults and everything.

Speaker 2:

And what is exactly reflexology? And what was the second thing? You referred to Reiki? What are those?

Speaker 1:

So reflexology works along the body's meridians, especially like in the hands, the ears, the feet, and it's a gentle massage that sort of activates certain pressure points, sort of like acupressure or acupuncture. It works along those same things. It's actually ancient Egyptian practices. They found it in hieroglyphs, on the walls of some of the pyramids and stuff, and so it goes way, way back and you can find some things from Ayurvedic practices as well as Chinese medicine that go along with those, so that I sort of like weave all the different things together. And Reiki is actually a Japanese practice, but I found it to be very similar to the practice of laying hands. I grew up in a Pentecostal Christian sort of environment and we would speak in tongues, we would do laying of hands, basically faith healing, so to speak.

Speaker 1:

But the Reiki itself actually works within the body to sort of activate the relaxation, not hormone, but basically it just relaxes you and it activates the body's ability to start healing itself, and it works along the chi, which is the energy centers of the body, and so we help clear the energy field and stuff like that, and so it just sort of gives you a nice refresher and balances your whole entire body.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, a nice little balance. Yeah, how did you get into that? How did you learn about reflexology and stuff? Was it something you studied in school.

Speaker 1:

It was not In school predominantly. I was classical music and art throughout undergrad and then, when I moved to Maryland, I was fine arts, so it's all studio practices. I've been an iron caster and blacksmith since I was like 13 and all kinds of things, so like I have all of these different sort of genres right genres toolboxes to pull from.

Speaker 1:

But in grad school 2018, I found myself to the point where I couldn't even. I was immobilized, basically like I was no longer able to teach my classes. I was practically laying in the floor every 15 minutes just to relax my body. Come to find out, I have severe scoliosis in my lower hips and spine area, and so that took me down the path of doing more yoga, one-on-one. I had always practiced it at home, by myself and stuff like that like that, but I knew, like the chiropractor and all the other people, they're like you just need to identify this as your new reality. I felt within my body that it was more of a mobility issue and I started trusting myself. I was like I don't want shots, I don't want surgery, I won't, and so that took me down even more of the holistic path, and then at that point in time, I had really come to like a dark crisis in my own personal life, because my spirituality had kind of just taken a deep dive.

Speaker 1:

World religions and spiritual practices through yoga really helped me move more toward energy healing and learning more about the spiritual or metaphysical realm of things, and that, along with the herbalism, really sort of brought me to this path. So I graduated 2020 in the midst of COVID. We got thrown out of the art department Like go figure out your grad thesis, and all of that pretty much by yourself. So I ended up installing in my partner's garage, successfully doing the thesis and everything like that, and then I immediately started an energy healing course in Gettysburg and it was a two-year process of learning about the chakras and how you are a multidimensional being in a human body, and are these supplements?

Speaker 1:

when you say chakras, Chakras, those are the energy centers of the body that the Reiki sort of clears and moves through. That the Reiki sort of clears and moves through, Like you might have heard, the root, the sacral, the solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye and the crown chakra.

Speaker 2:

Those are really that's sort of that Ayurvedic practice coming in, and how are you feeling today after going through those medical issues and taking a more holistic route? How are you?

Speaker 1:

feeling today I have improved quite a bit. I wouldn't say I'm 100%, but I'm back to being able to do the things that I want to in a more well-paced way. That was my hardest thing was learning how to slow down.

Speaker 2:

Sure, we all have trouble with that right. And what services so your patients that come in? What specific services are you offering them? And do you have any stories that were rewarding to you about you know someone that came in that just was getting the wrong information from everybody, and somebody that you were able to help?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, A lot of times and that's one of the biggest things in my practice is I want to make sure that people know that this is a supplement to medical field stuff, like we're not a replacement, so like having a therapist or your primary care practitioner and stuff are still highly important. But I come in to sort of help you navigate when you're not feeling completely connected to or in alignment with what the doctors have said, and so that's where we start bringing in the more holistic, whether it's mobility, whether it's slowing down, having a mindfulness practice and just being able to like downshift your nervous system.

Speaker 1:

Because that was a lot of my part, that was a lot of my part of my issue was not only was I navigating neurodivergency with no guidance at all, but I was also navigating a lot of chronic pain and a lot it masks itself a lot, so you're not able to see the actual physical impact, like people were like well, you were fine yesterday, why can't you walk today? That kind of thing.

Speaker 1:

Because, it would hit you that quickly, right, and inflammation is very much like that. So that's what I kind of step in to do is help people realize that it's not their fault and actually provide a space that they can be heard and understood, because a lot of times, especially with the people that I work with, they have very similar paths or they've provide a space that they can be heard and understood, because a lot of times, especially with the people that I work with, they have very similar paths or they've experienced similar trauma. So I'm able to, especially as a ordained minister, I provide that spiritual counseling and open space to where they can feel safe. And so then we do like deep dives, maybe unpack some, you know, inner child issues and then so, like you were, asking the things they're holding in Right?

Speaker 1:

So people that haven't you know, like they weren't, once were artists or something like that and then they had kids. I have a lot of empty nesters that come through.

Speaker 2:

They're like I don't know what to do, Right.

Speaker 1:

And so they'll have so much trauma like blockages in the throat, in their root chakra from childhood trauma or something like that, and they've just resigned themselves to being people pleasers and that's what makes them feel safe. And then it's building that new foundation and authenticity and self-worth that really helps them, and it's all them doing the path. I just give them the tools to do it and then we work on downshifting the nervous system and so you know, they might. It might not be immediate, but you know, a couple months down the road.

Speaker 1:

You'll never guess what. I painted a painting and you know they'll bring it in and be so happy, and so those shifts are what I really like as people getting back to who they were or finding the real person they are inside and enjoying each of those stages of life.

Speaker 2:

It's amazing how much we hold on to and that affects our nervous system and how that portrays in our health and our well-being and how we interact with people, and tell me a little bit about your art therapy. He said you're so excited when they come in and they like, finally, like unlocked something and they're able to paint a painting. What's?

Speaker 1:

that like it's really, really interesting because everybody processes things differently and and for me it was while some of the art and especially music that was sort of the root of some of my deepest trauma, it was a way to alchemize some of the emotions and so, by showing them, like you don't have to stick to, you know, drawing things verbatim, realistic you can actually just close your eyes, center yourself and then pick whatever color comes up and just make a mark, because often making that first mark is what scares everybody.

Speaker 2:

Kind of like taking the first step.

Speaker 1:

Right, exactly so. It's that process of like they're very tentative to begin with and then, you know, after a session or a couple of sessions they end up building more and more confidence. It's the same in a regular art studio when I'm teaching sculpture or something like that. You give them a little bit here and there and then by the end it all comes together and they're coming full bloom.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and they have a beautiful masterpiece to show. Yeah, yeah. What are you doing these days for marketing and advertising? What's working for you, what's not working for you?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Well, that was a funny bit of my path was right out of school. I immediately started like a design business because I had a lot of graphic design and printmaking background and I went full social media influencer at that point in time and was starting to teach other people. But it wasn't my passion, like I knew that the authenticity and being able to actually feel you know, worthy of all of the things that are coming to you, all the doors that are opening, was the most important thing, and so I started shifting to follow my energy and taking all those tools I'd learned along the way, supporting non-profits and stuff like that. So I'm doing a lot of online social media stuff. I have a podcast which is taking a small break, but you know, just following your energy is so huge, especially in this room. You have to take care of yourself.

Speaker 1:

But doing a lot of networking, collaborating with other businesses, that's how I tend to build my business. I don't have a brick and mortar. I do vending events and stuff like that, so it's mostly all on social media doing a Patreon YouTube channel, different things like that, but you know, whether it's designing postcards to hand out at vending events or whatever, that's kind of my focus in networking and marketing, but I'm moving more toward doing articles and writing for other publications and stuff as well.

Speaker 2:

Wow, you really do have a lot of different things going.

Speaker 1:

Lots of hats.

Speaker 2:

How are your different hats and your different positions. How do they kind of intertwine with each other, and what skills can you take from some of your past experience and apply it to your business now?

Speaker 1:

My pedagogy training early on, like I started teaching piano when I was 15 and I applied that, everything that I learned during that, and then also all of the um, like working with people as a music minister and stuff like that all of that has kind of come into holding that same space and every time I start getting like a little bit nervous or anxious about, oh, you haven't taught yoga in this style yet. I just recenter and I come, you know, into my own power and I identify. It's the same as teaching anything. Whether you're teaching art, whether you're teaching music, you're creating the container and so it's just applying those same tools and just plugging in new language, basically to better serve the community in the way that they need.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, tell me about the yoga.

Speaker 1:

So that's basically what saved my life, I feel like, along with the art and everything but mobility practice was huge for me. Learning about how to adjust for hypermobility, because a lot of times with yoga you tend to sort of like just rest in the pose and as a hypermobile person you kind of have to learn how to support with the smaller muscles and being like a weightlifter and stuff like that had taught me to do mostly the big muscles. So not only did it slow me down, it also brought me back into my body so that because especially with neurodivergency we have a tendency to disassociate and almost and same with trauma, if you have dealt with a lot of trauma, you tend to sort of become separated or outside of your body, so disconnected from it, right.

Speaker 1:

So the not only did the movement practice help me and I've been through many, many rounds of physical therapy to to sort of like connect with that but the yoga just kept drawing me back, not only for community, but for that stillness. And if I get off my path, you know, if I start rushing, rushing, rushing, I always have to come back to that stillness, and sometimes it's, you know, not even moving at all, maybe it's, you know, just sitting in one pose and meditating. So there's, you know, yoga can be as strength training as you want it to be, or it can be a still.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you started saying about how sometimes in yoga positions you tend to kind of get almost too relaxed. What's the importance of really kind of keeping that? I guess it depends on the day.

Speaker 1:

Sometimes and you know other people with different mobility availability to them have a lot more strength in certain areas, so they tend to be able to do that resting or they get that full stretch.

Speaker 1:

So they tend to be able to do that resting or they get that full stretch. But with hypermobility you might have to remind, just by placing a hand on a certain joint or muscle group, remind it to fire off, because sometimes things don't connect for us, and so that's one of the small adjustments that you can make. Other things can be props, so using bolsters and pillows and blankets to give you the support so you're not just like hanging there. I'm picturing in my brain like a frog pose or a butterfly pose where my hips are opening out, and so if we keep stretching that inner psoas, it'll just basically start ripping almost, and so ligament damage and stuff is something that's very much a problem when you're hypermobile, and so by providing that extra support or stability through the muscles, like just placing a hand on the inner thigh or on the knee or providing support underneath can help activate those small bits of support you need.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, as far as your ministry job. How does that play into all the other things that you're doing too?

Speaker 1:

I was a music minister for five, six years in undergrad and so that was part of it and I was always in and out of different community spaces playing music and stuff like that.

Speaker 1:

And when I moved up here I really lost all that and, like I said, I had lost my spirituality pretty much. And it's been a journey for sure, like navigating through the triggers of very fundamentalist Christian communities and stuff like that and then finding what was true and what I knew to be the knowing inside. And so my biggest problem is having enough time and providing enough space for myself, because I'm always constantly going, going, whether it's through teaching, whether it's through helping with the singers at F Cups or something like that. It's a constant, there's never a respite, and so it's like I'm always thinking up new ways to really connect with different community members and providing that safe space, really connect with different community members and providing that safe space. And within, especially the pagan community, we don't have like a pay scale or anything like that. It's usually donation based only. So having a business and having you know your minister, your clerical sort of service is often separate, but also the same.

Speaker 2:

Sure If that makes sense, and it's still kind of a business on that end as well yeah, where do you see your business going from?

Speaker 1:

here Wherever it leads. Really I'm just trusting at this point, because every time I've tried to force things or do my own agenda it kind of derails or goes off the train track almost. So it's really about sort of like just following my passions and what fills me up and finding that balance of being able to separate life from all of these passions, Because all of the therapy type things that I do are also my work. So learning how to navigate that's really been vital for me and how do you navigate that?

Speaker 2:

how do you manage your schedule?

Speaker 1:

I have online things like Trello. I have analog multiple day planners that I use, as well as like habit trackers and stuff like that. But it's a immense amount of like organization and then also just having people in my life like my partner and other you know that care about me and are like, okay, you're, you're putting a little bit too much on yourself, You're doing too much pressure. So having that to remind me also helps a lot. Who is your support system? That would be my partner, his mom, my family unit both my aunt and uncle who raised me, and my parents, so it was sort of like a village raising the child, because I was the only child and the F Cups community, for sure, as well as larger.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and the F Cups community, for sure, as well as larger rings.

Speaker 2:

And what is the F Cups?

Speaker 1:

community, that's the Frederick Congregation of Unitarian, universalist Pagans.

Speaker 2:

Oh, interesting. Yeah, yeah. So you've got support from all different areas. Are there any last parting words you'd like to leave us with? It could be life advice, business advice, maybe a mantra that you live by.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's a great question. The main thing is learning to trust yourself. You have to be able to find and navigate your own sort of like shadow self as well as light self.

Speaker 1:

A lot of people try to separate, like you need to be positive all the time, but we experienced negative things in our life to sort of move us forward and keep us going. Otherwise we sort of come, become complacent. So being able to just sit in the discomfort and learn from that, what is the lesson, what is the cycle that I'm trying to break, whether it's generational or within your own life, being able to identify your role in your own struggles is vital. And then also being able to trust that inner knowing, being able to know that intuition and sort of develop it so that you can actually know when, like your, your neck hairs raise up with dangers close, or if it's just you know like you're in the fight or fight or flight, yeah, fight, fight or fun, yeah yeah, um, being able to navigate that you know, just coming back into self so you can trust the inner, knowing.

Speaker 2:

Trust yourself. Yeah, I loved how you said that I often try to work on you know, with my kids too, like it's okay to have a bad day. Just recognize it and just move on and tomorrow will be better.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, knowing how and when to like stop yourself, you catch yourself. You can still have that experience, just learning how to move past it, past it.

Speaker 2:

Well, thank you for coming in today, lauren, thank you for sharing your story with us.

Speaker 1:

Thank, you for having me.

Speaker 2:

It was a pleasure to have you.