Rooted & Rising Wellness
A nature-inspired wellness podcast that explores authentic healing journeys through intimate conversations with real people making real changes. Hosted by Kaitlyn from Into The Woods Wellness, each episode dives deep into the root causes of health challenges and celebrates the wild, often unexpected paths to vitality.
Rooted & Rising Wellness
The Mind-Body Reset: Movement as Medicine
What does it look like to support & move your body with intention instead of obligation?
In this episode, we're exploring physical wellness through a holistic lens—one that honors the profound connection between one's physical health/body, movement, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing. Special guest Kelly Hall, our COO and owner of Onyx Yoga, joins the conversation to share her journey to intentional living and how she's brought that philosophy to Into the Woods Wellness.
This isn't about hitting the gym harder or tracking every step. It's about understanding how movement acts as medicine for your entire system—boosting immune function, improving sleep, supporting hormone balance, and even slowing cellular aging. It's about being present in your body and giving yourself permission to adapt based on your energy, your needs, and your life circumstances.
As we head into the holiday season, this episode also offers practical strategies for staying well without the pressure of perfection. Explore ways to shift mindsets around physical health and exercise, and more.
For more wellness pathway support:
🌲 Visit www.intothewoodsjourney.com
📞 Call 920-904-8128
📍 1424 Lynn Ave, Fond du Lac, WI
✉️ info@intothewoodsjourney.com
For more wellness pathway support:
🌲 Visit www.intothewoodsjourney.com
📞 Call 920-904-8128
📍 1424 Lynn Ave, Fond du Lac, WI
✉️ info@intothewoodsjourney.com
Follow us on social media @intothewoodswellnessfdl for daily inspiration, wellness tips, and community stories.
In this episode, we explore physical wellness through the Into the Woods lens with special guest Kelly Hall, discovering how movement truly is medicine for the whole person, mind, body, and soul. Welcome to Rooted in Rising, a podcast by Into the Woods Wellness. I'm Caitlin Keneally, coming to you from our nature-inspired sanctuary in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Grab your tea, get comfortable, and let's dive into real talk that empowers your healing journey. We're back. Welcome back. I am Caitlin Keneally, and I have the privilege of being with Jenny and our COO, Kelly. Woo! Welcome, Kelly. Thank you. This is her first podcast, Jenny. Oh, we got another newbie.
SPEAKER_00:Yes.
SPEAKER_02:All right. Yeah, they're all a little nervous, but I think they're in good company.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, yeah. This is a this is a piece of cake.
SPEAKER_02:Just a conversation. Just a combo.
SPEAKER_00:It happens to be recorded.
SPEAKER_02:I'm super excited to talk today because we're going to be focusing on the physical component of our full wheel of wellness. So some mindfulness, movement, different things. And it's really important. And I think part of what sets us apart into the woods is that we have that full wheel. We're kind of that one-stop shop. And the physical component is a key part of that. So I'm glad we're discussing it today.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And I'm super excited to dive in because I think, you know, society just puts so much on us, the culture around, or the mindset perhaps, maybe around physical wellness, right? And what that means or what it takes to be physically fit, right? Right. And in bunny quotes, perhaps. So I'm excited to hear the into the woods lens around that. But before we jump into that, what does a COO do, chief operating officer, for those that are listening? What does that mean?
SPEAKER_01:So, well, I do all of the things. So I you will see me sometimes at the front desk or answering phones, but overall I support every employee at Into the Woods. Um, I help break down structures and really dig into the operations piece of things. Also looking at overall financial pictures and all of the things is how I can explain a chief operating officer.
SPEAKER_02:All right, whatever it takes, it sounds like. Yeah. Well, I get to focus on the vision and the strategy and different things. So it's it's definitely a nice compliment, I would say. Um, the pieces that I can't get to, right? Because I also have that, but then I also have the mental health department and still am a psychotherapist that is actively seeing people. So it feels like a good compliment to have Kelly to be able to fill those roles and to work with each other on that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:So a bit more of the business side, but what I love, and Kelly, we're just starting to get to know each other a bit, but looking at your bio, I don't feel like you fit the typical business mold. Yoga instructor, right, Reiki, mindfulness, meaning life coaching. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_01:Life coaching, yeah, you name it, I do it. So C-O-O slash mindful living coach. I literally do all the things. Yeah, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_00:Well, we're gonna dive a little bit more into you, but before we do that, let's do a little bit of a warm-up. If that wasn't a warm-up enough, okay. This is episode three, but we've been having a little bit, a little bit of fun with a wellness, this or that. And in my mind, it's a good opportunity for the listeners to kind of check in with themselves too. We we want you answering these questions right along with us, right? What feels right to you? So morning workout or evening movement? Morning, morning workout. Yeah, I'm the same.
SPEAKER_02:Solo sweat or workout buddy. Workout buddy. I always need that body double.
SPEAKER_01:I'm a solo sweat workout in the morning, get it done. However, I do have accountability partners. There's some Snapchat, some besties in the morning saying I completed my workout.
SPEAKER_02:Love it. She has a whole room to herself in her house. Yes. I've been there, and you could eat off her um floor. I said that advise that. Yeah. Well, Mrs. Gadlin and I'm I feel fine, even in their garage. Like, I'm not even joking. I thought I felt dirty when I left.
SPEAKER_01:I was like, We hung her down before she came in the house.
SPEAKER_02:I was like, uh yikes. Moving along. Don't come to my house, but I'm not even having them over. I was like, they'll be judging, they'll be like dust everywhere. We talked about how we'll do our work Christmas, but we're gonna do it in January. And I was like, Oh, we can do it in my basement. I was like, we'll be able to eat off the floor, everybody. We'll clean up after you as you're there.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's great. All right, structured fitness plan or intuitive movement.
SPEAKER_01:Structured.
SPEAKER_00:I like I like to go YOLO on that, whatever I want to do. Yeah, that's perfect. I feel like I'm a bit of both. I need some structure or a plan.
SPEAKER_01:I like plan.
SPEAKER_00:And then before, well, actually, I was just talking to my brother about this during the rest break. Then if there's a good tuna, I'll go a little bit intuitive movement and just do whatever. But yeah, it depends.
SPEAKER_02:Sometimes I just want to lay on the floor on my yoga mat.
SPEAKER_01:That works, which by the way, counts as yoga. Good shavasana.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, there you go.
SPEAKER_01:I'm just gonna lay here.
SPEAKER_00:Love it. Indoor sauna session or outdoor cold plunge? Sauna. Well, neither, but I that's right. I forgot.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, but so if I had to, I guess, and I can't swim, so you know, I'd probably have to do the sauna if I have to pick one.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. You know, I've done the sauna, I've done a cold plunge once, but I feel like I'd do a cold plunge again getting into the season of snow. Like that would like just running and jumping into a snow bank would be a hell of a cold plunge, too.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and I I hear it gives you good benefits, but there's no way it sounds like torture to me.
SPEAKER_00:I have to play with it more, but yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Well, for those of you that like it, feel free to comment and tell us about what you get out of it.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, we'll maybe learn more about that. All right, tracking steps or metrics or listening to your body. Listening to my body. Listening. Perfect. Rest day. Is it a complete rest or a gentle stretch?
SPEAKER_01:A stretch? Either or. Some days I just take a break and some days I need to stretch it out, and that's that's why I have a rest, you know, the day after leg day.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, there you go. We need it. Holiday season. Obviously, it's coming up. Do you want to maintain your routine or do you go with the flow and just see how you feel?
SPEAKER_01:Maintain. Especially during the holidays.
SPEAKER_00:Probably see how I feel. I'm the same.
SPEAKER_01:Sometimes I love food and I know I have to offset that with my I probably should maintain routine.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. I can help with that.
SPEAKER_02:I take a few breaks.
SPEAKER_00:We need some accountability, Kelly. I can help with that. Awesome. All right. Well, that was that fun. Let's dive into a little bit more about Kelly, just because this is your first podcast and your first time on the Rooted and Rising Wellness Podcast. So, what brought you to into the woods? I know you've got a background in a little bit more of the workplace corporate setting, banking, retail, but what was your path here?
SPEAKER_01:25 plus years of leadership, but also my quote unquote yoga journey we'll call it a self-development phase that began over 15 years ago. So you do your first yoga class and then you get hooked. Well, you either love it or you don't. So I loved it. I got hooked, and it takes you down a rabbit hole of wellness. So started with the yoga, then did yoga teacher training, then taught yoga classes, then owned a studio here in Fond du Lac with a few other of my friends, which then I was able to absorb into into the woods wellness. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:She just didn't want to leave me. Yeah, so that's really what it was.
SPEAKER_01:Throughout the journey, we did we did collaborate on a few things. We, you know, started to uh encompass the whole body person again with mental health and physical and we started to bring in the nutrition piece. And Katie and I had actually talked once a couple episodes ago. She talked about her dream. So I was brought into the dream and we did talk. It's been years in the making on how do we collaborate and make this happen. And everything happens for a reason. So I think the universe kind of took it slow for all of us. So, you know, introducing Katie into my life and then Caitlin into my life, and then just somehow we all came together to create the big dream.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Yeah. We just have to trust the process sometimes, even though the the timeline might not be exact we're gonna hope for or the exact pathway, right? Yeah, love it. So I think it's in your bio, but I'm not quite sure. This idea of intentional living. Tell the listeners a little bit about that. Well, tell me a little bit more about that, because I don't I need to know more. I mean, I get the idea of intentionality, right? Being intentional, but what does that mean to you?
SPEAKER_01:So throughout my journey, I realized that you know, humans automatically in life wake up, do their routine, go to sleep, wake up, do their routine. It's like we're on autopilot. Yeah. And you don't see that until you gain a little bit of awareness. So again, starting yoga, connecting the mind, the body, the breath. It opens windows to seeing things that you didn't see before. It makes you become present. And I think you suddenly, oh, I have feelings, and oh, other people have feelings. And what am I doing in my life besides waking up, working, eating dinner, and going to sleep? You know, so just all these different windows and doors start to open. So intentional living to me is waking up, having a purpose, and my purpose and drive in my whole life, I feel like, but you know, you don't know until you start cracking windows, has been helping people, making them feel better physically, mentally, emotionally, all of those things. So it came into play with leadership over the years. Leadership is a learned experience. This is not something that you can be taught and then just jump into it. It's difficult, it's very true. Learn as you go. You learn as you go, you fall, you hurt, you cry, you go through all of these crazy things and leadership and being intentional and really connecting with people makes leadership more rewarding, I think. And that was something that helped me develop those skills with that intentional living peace.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And I think there's so many ways we can lead, right? We don't have to be talking just the typical workplace setting, right? We lead our families, we lead in you know our various community circle and friend circles, right?
SPEAKER_02:And I would be your best friend. There you go. Yeah. I mean, it is that's a skill set that I don't have, but yeah, yeah, definitely.
SPEAKER_00:And I love that idea that you're I mean, it's so fitting into the into the woods mindset and approach that, but how you speak to intentional living, it's yeah, uh open that window, it's a breath of fresh air.
SPEAKER_01:Right, right. And that it's interesting that you said that about parenting, like you're stressed in life. You don't realize how much you carry around, and then your emotions react, and then you don't, I don't know, looking back, me personally, like you don't parent the best that you could have. Had I had I parented then, like with what I know now, I probably would have been different. But really creating that awareness and starting to look into things like therapy, reading books that are self-help books and developing yourself, all those things help with that intentionality, gives you little tips and tricks to take away and put into life.
SPEAKER_02:Love it. Kelly got to read my second book. Ooh, I'm slacking. I haven't had a chance to that's all right. I will. Yeah, but I think the that intentional piece too, obviously, from a clinical perspective, using cognitive behavioral therapy or or DBT, so dialectical behavioral therapy is about mindfulness and being present, right? And as a trauma therapist, it's very hard for people to connect to the body, it doesn't feel safe, right?
SPEAKER_03:Right.
SPEAKER_02:And so uh and I still think, and again, you guys can say yes or no, but that people think that like breath work or mindfulness is still has like a stigma attached, yeah, yeah, hokey. I don't know what how I don't know what the right word is. Woo woo. I feel like yeah, all right, that's that's good. But truthfully, we know that the trends are changing, but we need to wrap our head around that it's all important, right? And if we can, you know, that emotional regulation piece, because that's what it is. And so, especially from a trauma lens, when you can learn how to regulate yourself, then you can start to do those other things, right? Being mindful, intentional. And it starts with breathing, and it's like, oh, did I breathe today? Like sometimes I have to ask myself that, right? Because I very much get on autopilot, like go.
SPEAKER_00:Well, and you're breathing, but I think that again, that intentionality into are your breaths shallow and short, or are you like really taking deep breathing breaths? Breathing in, feeling your lungs, like oh, it feels different.
SPEAKER_01:When Caitlin and I actually started our little journey together, I took a training in trauma-informed yoga, and that's another thing with intentionality. So you go through all these things in life, and it could be traumas, and trauma is anything from something emotionally damaging to something catastrophic.
SPEAKER_02:Trauma is anything that dysregulates your nervous system. That's what my whole second book is also about.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, selfless plug. Well, selfless sure, sure. But as you guys started talking about it, I feel like some people might think, oh, I don't have trauma, right? Right. I mean, I used to be there too. I I used to not talk a lot about just things that I've experienced, whether it's present or past, because it's like, well, you know, it's not that big of a deal, right? But we all carry things, right?
SPEAKER_01:Our bodies especially carry and it creates how you react to things in the world. And those are autopilot reactions that might not come off as good to other people. You might come off as hurtful or my favorite thing was I was very sassy and I would say things to people that were just mean, and I would think, Oh, I'm just kidding, when actually it was hurtful. So, I mean, not only does it create your reactions to things in life, but it also you store it in your body. So those traumas are trapped sometimes in your hips and you know, wherever you're holding it, and it can create your shoulders, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. Yeah, I mean, not just tension and pain, but absolutely chronic conditions, yeah. Chronic sarcasm. Yeah, which isn't always good.
SPEAKER_02:That's fair, it happens, it happens for sure.
SPEAKER_00:Awareness, right? Right. Awesome. Well, this is a perfect transition into the core of what we wanted to talk about, which is that mind-body connection as it pertains to physical wellness and really how physical movement, right, whether it's yoga, going for a walk, can be medicine for your mental health and beyond, right? There's a lot of science about it, and I'm not a scientist by any means. I'm the creative, right-brained person. But because I was curious, and I know this, but for those of you listening that might be a bit skeptical, there's solid statistics out there. And I I went to my trustee friend Google, and there are legitimate, you know, studies, yeah, right, that say people who exercise, and let's I I feel like we need to come around to this word exercise. People who move regularly fall asleep 55% faster and sleep eight percent longer. I feel like there's probably a quality of sleep tied to that too, right? Just one 20-minute walk can boost immune function for several hours and improve cognitive function for two hours. Regular movement can slow cellular aging. Regular movement reduces chronic disease, and there's percentages and studies behind that. I'm not gonna dive into that. And even physical activity movement improves gut biome diversity as well. There's so many benefits. Not only are there these benefits, but it feels good too. Right.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I mean, that's the whole point of prevention, right? And we and our current healthcare system, I'll get on my soapbox here. They they want to compartmentalize and put each one into a box when in truth it's a circle and it's all of it. And you don't have to be perfect at all of it, right? But you can start with what feels good. So for some people, it might be therapy because that's like the they might be up here, but then it's going to transition into something else and something else. And so that's been the cool thing, at least for me as a clinician, coming on board and then watching my patients assimilate or find a pathway here and really incorporate that full wheel because it is all connected, it's not just one or the other. So yeah, I I feel like we're up against astronomical odds when it comes to that. But the more conversations we have around it, the more we move towards prevention, the healthier we would be.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. And when you think about our pillars, one of them being movement, it creates endorphins, right? So that's like the mood boosting feel-good chemical. It can declutter your mind, reduce anxiety, reduce stress. So movement being one of those pillars is incredibly important. But that being said, I don't like running, right? So if I'm not a runner, well, then I have to find something that I do enjoy because move it or lose it, right? So, like you have to keep moving. So if you think about that, uh obviously yoga is offered here. We also have some other movement classes. I am certified too in something called foundation training. Okay. That's more of a spine health, like if you suffer from chronic back pain, sure can help you out of it, or you can utilize it to become preventative so that your core is strong and you can stay upright and walk well into your 80s and 90s, you know, cane-free, wheelchair-free. But that's where I say move it or lose it. So maybe it is a brisk walk to clear your mind, or even sitting in a chair and stretching, you know, lengthening out the spine, taking those full breaths instead of the shallow breaths that you mentioned earlier. Weight training, resistance bands. I mean, you name it, there is so much out there, but you have to explore it and decide what do I enjoy?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. And I think it can be very overwhelming to think about some of those pieces and then having to hold yourself accountable, right? And it's very similar again to the therapy process as well, just a different avenue. But I think it can be overwhelming because there is a perception of what it's supposed to be, yeah. Instead of listening to yourself, and what do you want that to be and what feels good to you? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:What's supporting your body, but also not torture, right? Like movement doesn't have to be torture, exercise, whatever. So just redefining that for yourself.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. I think there's still this big thing around the physical appearance, right? But that doesn't have to be. It's what if you feel good about yourself, heck yeah, right? But how can you incorporate some of these things to make you healthier, live longer, have more energy? You know, I like to frame it in that context to try to make it not so overwhelming for people.
SPEAKER_00:Understanding the why is important, yeah. And yeah, it can be the both and like obviously having more energy, right? The longevity. Yeah. And and if people are looking for the physical that usually will follow in some form.
SPEAKER_02:Which is why I think again, what we do here is amazing.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, the integrated. Yep. Right. Yep.
SPEAKER_02:And you get to pick your path, and we just kind of get to be along for the journey, obviously, giving recommendations. Here's this, we've seen this, right? But you know, we really focus on what the client wants and then help them along that pathway. So that's something I'm very proud of that we've been doing.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. I know in I think it's episode one, Katie did say obviously there was a lot with the nutrition and the physical support around the personalized wellness programs. A huge piece of bringing Caitlin on board was because people were struggling with that emotional piece. You know, once you start getting into just your patterns, your habits, kind of breaking down that autopilot, right? Like there are reasons why we think and feel the what we're feeling. It's again all correlated, it's all connected. So, what else might you highlight about that mind-body connection before we move on?
SPEAKER_01:Well, I think we touched on some of it. Let's break it down. So there's this or that, right? So you're, and these are the extremes. So you're either sitting on your couch, eating unhealthy foods, staring at the TV from the time you get home from work, let's say, until you go to bed. Do that and write down how do I feel? What's stiff? So physically, mentally, and emotionally, how do I feel? Let's go to the next extreme. So, like, let's say you get up and work out in the morning, go to work, eat healthy foods all day, come home, have a nice healthy meal with your family, and then you go for a walk after dinner, and then you come home and you stretch out while you watch your show, and then you go to bed, and then journal how do you feel? Those are the two extremes, and there is an in-between there. Absolutely. So it's not this or that, but you know, just for discussion's sake, creating that awareness around how you feel. Did I move? Did I feel myself in a positive way? How does that impact me physically, mentally, emotionally?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. And I also think that even just like if with therapy alone, you typically don't reach out until it gets bad, right? Whether it's our nursing department, maybe something's going on, you know what I mean, when it's physical. So if we can reframe and understand how it is all connected, that it is one wheel, right? No matter where you start, whatever your entry point is, that's okay. But that it is all connected. And the more we can move in that direction and highlight that, the better it will be for future generations as well, so that we can model some of those things. So that's what I would say is that it really is all connected and don't wait until it gets too bad. Or if it is bad, don't then reach out.
unknown:Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:So knowing how we started the episode with the this or that and the last one around holidays, and knowing that holidays can be wonderful, but they can also be stressful. Yep. Lots of different gatherings, that just the the stress of hosting or shopping or whatever. And and even if you don't have that, the routines change, right? There's food, there's drink, there's all of the merry things. Grief. And there's yeah, and there's the emotional stuff that that whether past, present, you know, future, whatever, like that that brings a lot into the picture. So there's a lot that can impact the holidays. So, what might be some realistic strategies for supporting mind-body into the holiday season?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. I think a lot about resilience, right? And listening to yourself. Having escape plans, as I like to say, right? Escape plans? Tell me more. Um, you're you're going in and you're gonna be there for an hour or it's two hours. You have those boundaries set into place. You've already given yourself. So if you still have that need to go. So a lot of times, I mean, the holidays are probably my biggest time of year of working with people. So, really, again, a lot of those DBT skills, CBT skills, bringing it present moments, and that we don't have to engage in everything, right? It's okay to kind of have some of those boundaries.
SPEAKER_00:FOMO is real and maybe let explore flipping it. I've done this. What is um is it Jomo? Joy Joy of Missing Out. Oh, have you heard of that one? It's harder.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, but you know, yeah, uh just flipping it, flipping the script and seeing, you know, and I think you just have to be more aware of the stress because it's financial stress too for people. It's this, it's that family triggers, yes, you know, it's everything under the sun. Yeah. So the more you can take care of yourself and know what those are going into it. I mean, that's my best advice for on the holidays.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I think going back to that autopilot thing. So every year we as humans typically tend to have traditions. Like every year we go to mom's house on this day, and the same people are there and it's the food. And I think you get an autopilot. So think about the hosts of the holiday. Like, I have to buy all this and get all this ready and clean and prep. And so they're an autopilot, automatic stress mode, right? So thinking intentionally about what you're doing in the holidays, make a list, but also pencil in okay, I'm gonna go to the grocery store and get all this stuff, but I'm gonna mindfully grocery shop. So, like, I'm gonna slow it down. Maybe I see people I know and I allow myself a second to chat. You know, that speed shopping stressor is is like what kicks it off. Then you're in the kitchen and you're frantically doing things. I know I used to chop the crap out of my vegetables and I wouldn't even be thinking about it because everything had to be fast. But mindfully preparing those meals, so thinking about it, maybe saying, Oh, I what does this smell like as I'm cutting it, or what's my you know, bringing mindfulness into everything and then fast forward to the day. So everybody's there. Well, I know when I in the past hosted, I was worried about preparing, cooking, cleaning. And when everyone was there, I was in the behind the scenes thing and I wasn't even joining in on the holiday spirit of things. I was cleaning up after things and making sure everything was perfect. So again, a whole nother episode. Like I said, you could eat off her floor and maybe maybe that's still an issue.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, let's not let's not allow it.
SPEAKER_00:Caitlin and Kelly are gonna schedule a session after this.
SPEAKER_02:We can do a live podcast session. Yeah, fair. I'll teach her uh some skills right on the spot.
SPEAKER_01:So yeah, bringing intentionality into the whole thing and being okay with taking a break and what thinking about movement during the holiday season. So in Wisconsin, where we are, it's cold, right? So it's hard to get outside. But saying, okay, I'm gonna go for a hike. If we happen to have snow this holiday season, snowshoeing, skiing, a workout can be taking the kids or the grandkids. Let's walk up a sledding hill and sled back down. Like that's movement. So again, movement doesn't have to be torturous exercise, it can also involve some fun. Absolutely. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00:Love that. And I I appreciate how break down mindfulness in the everyday things, whether you're prepping for hosting or making yourself breakfast, right? It's just that kind of coming back to your senses. What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you taste?
SPEAKER_01:And that's all that's mindfulness. Like we do mindfulness meditations all the time where you do stop and you observe all of those senses, and it it really just brings you back to your body, brings you back into the present moment, slows down.
SPEAKER_02:And give yourself grace. And I just feel like grace and gratitude are are the biggest pieces. People get very excited. And I have a patient um that is like, I know I have this expectation that it's gonna be this, but the reality is it always turns this way. So why don't we focus on the reality, right? And be mindful and present and find those moments instead of a expectation of a hallmark movie. So that piece, and then just also being grateful, right? That maybe you can afford those things and that you do get this time to be with your family, whether it's good, bad, or ugly, you know, whatever that looks like. But so I think that those are important too. Yeah, and yeah, it give yourself grace to know that it's a lot of dynamics that happen around the holidays. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Is there anything such as perfect? I don't know, I don't think so. No, we live in this, you know, sometimes illusion of of in pursuit of that. Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Well, that's what I think happens with the physical piece too. Yeah, that's that that's where I think people halt themselves instead of just realizing it could just be three days a week that you go for a little walk or you run around your house, or whatever that looks like.
SPEAKER_01:You don't have to be a marathon runner or uh champion bodybuilder, correct?
SPEAKER_02:That's so I Think that that's what stops people, right? And I think that that's the same when it comes to mental health or nutrition, you know what I mean? All or nothing. Get rid of that mentality, it doesn't have to be that way. And it's difficult, but healing is in the gray, and that's the piece that's leaning into that uncomfortableness.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. Awesome. So if someone is looking for additional support, whether it's through the holidays or otherwise, to support that mind-body connection, what would you highlight?
SPEAKER_01:We can support all those things. We can do mindfulness coaching, we can do health coaching. Uh we have group classes available, private yoga lessons, private foundation training sessions are available. Caitlin. Mental health.
SPEAKER_02:We have our nutrition program. So I just feel if you're again, if you're curious, right? There we always have that discovery call. That's a free 15 to 20 minute in-person or over-the-phone consultation and see which pathway would be good for you because we have the full wheel. Right. And so our food prep initiative too is new. So we are, you know, taking our values and our mission and we're living it. And so that's been really cool to see the feedback and providing that healthy, nutritious meal for people so that that takes some of that that those time constraints off their plate. Stress.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Grocery shopping and cooking.
SPEAKER_02:And yeah, yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. We can assist with personal grocery.
SPEAKER_01:I mean, we recipe.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, it's really, we have a ton of things. Stop in for a tour while telling all.
SPEAKER_00:There's so much that into the woods offers. And I think too, part of it, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can look at it as a menu, right? And it maybe it feels good to start with a sauna session, right? And just see the benefit. It's getting cold outside, right? If you want to just warm up inside and out, essentially, experience other the health benefits that come with that. Or maybe it is a massage, right? Self-care. There's self-care in that, but there's also so much more beyond again that mind-body connection and benefit of that.
SPEAKER_02:And that's why the different pathways, whether it's a la carte services, whether it's memberships, whether it's in our program, has that full wheel in it. And so as the holidays are coming up and we know it's a stressful time, giving yourself that grace and being like, I might need this. I think it's worthy to explore us.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. So let's just do a quick recap and use this as an opportunity for listeners to check in with themselves too, right? It's getting into the busy season, getting into the hustle and bustle of things from what you know or from what you just heard. What's the takeaway? What's the commitment? I think I've thought about this in the past. We we make so many promises to ourselves. I'm gonna do this now, right? And then something happens, or you screw up once and like uh mess that up. Yeah, I'm just gonna quit, right? Well, it doesn't have to be that again. Lose the all or nothing mentality, have grace, have compassion for self. But what would you both share? And I'll think about it as well, as far as that takeaway going into the holiday season. What do you what do you want to focus on?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I mean, uh, yes, today we talked more about our physical component and the other pieces that we have here and a little bit about ourselves. But again, I think wellness means so many different things to different people, and it still has a stigma attached to it, which again, I I won't go on the soapbox so that this thing won't last for two hours. But because we're aware and we're conscious that these time frames within our culture are strenuous, do something about it. Let's work towards prevention, be proactive, exactly. Yeah, change the pattern. Exactly. And that's what I mean. And if it's not us, that's okay, right? Maybe your journey is with somebody else. Fully support that. But we have an opportunity to have it all inclusive and figure out what might work for you or help you find somebody that might be better for you, too. So I think we're aware of it. And if you're ready to take those steps, I hope the takeaway is whether it's with us or with somebody else, that you're worth it. Um, and from a healing perspective, the only way out is through. Yeah. And so a lot of times with patients, I'll say, Well, we're gonna have to pick our hard. It's hard not to do it, and it's hard to do it. Where do you want to go? Yeah. And so I just need to know because I'll support you either way, right? But here would be the benefits of actually doing something about it. And so, with the craziness in the world and all the things going on, why not focus on self? You get one body, you have one life, right? This is your one vessel to do what feels good to you, and we might be able to support that.
SPEAKER_01:Love it and start small, start somewhere. Every day is a new day. Yeah, with the awareness and the mindfulness piece. Life sucks you in, and you fall asleep again, and you just start on that autopilot. So every day you have to start with okay, what's today gonna look like? And you, you know, you allow yourself grace, allow yourself the reset, and just every day take it a little bit at a time, and you're worth it, absolutely worth it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and once you start, whether that's very small, you don't want to stop. You're like, this feels good.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you might get too derailed, yep, but get right back on it. Get back on it, yeah. Don't give up. Yep.
SPEAKER_02:Self-love is important, and that's where our one of our on the wheel is mentoring. So that's what we're here for, you know? It's not just a health coach, it's a health mentor and someone that you can rely on. It's not just a life coach, right? It's someone that you can rely on, and or the mental health piece.
SPEAKER_00:Last episode was all about that support system, right? And that's a huge piece of it. Not this, do this, do that. It's yeah, we're gonna make recommendations. Absolutely, and you can tell us nope, not gonna work. Or I tried that, it didn't feel good. Yeah, and we'll keep keep exploring.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I just tell everybody, let's just have honest conversations. That's it. You know, I'm gonna bring in all the clinical pieces, the CBT, the DBT, the EMDR, all of that. But really, I just believe in having honest conversations and get out of this what you put into it, and I'm here for it. And I think that that is a philosophy that we have here.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Well, this is great. For me, I feel like going into I mean, really every day, but holiday especially. It's so easy to get caught up in scrolling on your phones, and you know, I I personally struggle with being present because I'm always like, okay, what's next? Right? Like, what's that one thing that you know I can get excited about? Yeah. I think coming back to self and and being present and knowing like we've been saying this whole episode, once you start something, holding on to that feeling of for me, just movement in the morning, because sometimes just dancing around, being silly, and I feel more energized, more confident, right? Happier, more joyful. It's just it's at my fingertips versus something I have to dig for. And I think looking at the holidays as stepping into that that merriment, that joy more than the stress of it. That that is a choice. Yep. Not always the easy choice, it's sometimes a hard choice, but it is still a choice. Absolutely. So which hard do you want to pick? Which hard? Awesome. All right. Well, as we step into the wrap-up, there's a lot more coming. It's the end of the year, but not the end of the journey. There's a lot to look forward to at Into the Woods. There's going to be the holiday open house coming up.
SPEAKER_02:Yep. We're also planning for November an alumni meetup, which will be really cool to connect with people that have been through the program, you know, re-engage audiences and love learn about all our new stuff.
SPEAKER_00:And there'll be an episode coming up on bioidentical hormone therapy, which I mean is huge for women in perimenopause, menopause. Yeah. And men. Yeah. Aging adults. Thank you for calling that out. It's a natural part of aging that our hormones are changing, declining, all the things. So excited to learn more about that. Well, movement is medicine. Mental health is so much a crucial part of that.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And as we've said many, many times, and we're gonna keep saying it, there is no one right way. So we hope that you just continue to explore your path. Until next time, be well, be still, become. Thanks for listening to the Rooted in Rising Wellness Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us. We'd also love to connect with you. Reach out at info at into the woodsjourney.com or visit our website at www.intothewoodsjourney.com to explore your path to wellness. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for listening.
