What a Military Veteran and Neuroscientist Knows About Exploring Discomfort and Avoiding Burnout

This week's conversation is a special one because I'm sitting down with someone who knows me better than almost anyone, my best friend, Sara Salehi. Sara is a veteran, neuroscientist, acupuncturist, yoga teacher, and someone who has dedicated her life to understanding the connection between the brain, body, and nervous system. If you're a listener of CEO Sales Sessions, chances are you're obsessed with business growth and scaling, but beneath it all, none of it matters if your body can’t keep up. This conversation with Sara is an honest look at how our bodies communicate with us long before we notice and why taking care of yourself isn't separate from building a successful business.

Keep listening as Sara and I discuss:

• What Sara learned serving in the military that now shapes how she leads, serves, and supports women through healing
• Why your nervous system has a direct impact on your visibility, confidence, and ability to show up consistently in your business
• Why embracing yourself as you are and not who you think you should be is the most powerful foundation for sustainable success
• How slowing down can actually accelerate your growth and help you make better decisions as a CEO
• The hidden signs of burnout that entrepreneurs often ignore and how to know if your body is signalling to pivot
• The connection between building a sustainable businesses and protecting your energy as you scale

Never forget that your inner journey matters. The stronger your relationship with yourself, the stronger your leadership and success becomes. Please pass along this episode to a woman you know who’s scaling her life. I’ll see you in the next episode! 

Connect with Sara:

Website
Instagram

Gazzy’s Links:
Website: https://www.authenticgazzy.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authenticgazzy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authenticgazzy
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AuthenticGazzy
Podcast Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GazzyAmin
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authenticgazzy

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:08

Welcome to CEO Sales Sessions. I'm Gazzi, your host, former political staffer, turned entrepreneur, and founder of Sales Beyond Scripts, where I build CEOs whose sales feel effortless and profit becomes inevitable. I've spent years in the highest pressure rooms, both in politics and business, and I'm bringing you everything I learned straight to this site. No fluff, no filler, just actionable steps, tough love, and big thinking alongside some of the sharpest CEOs in the game. Let's get to work. Go for our nature walks, talk on the phone. And so this is really just a behind-the-scenes conversation at um two girlfriends having a really good conversation and the intersection between really taking care of yourself and how that shows up in business and how we take care of ourselves. So it is my pleasure to welcome today's guests, my best friend for life, Sarah Salehi. Welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_00 1:34

Hi, Gazzy. I'm so happy to be here.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

And also I feel like this is just so us because if you're listening to this, I want you to know that we have a box of delicious charcuterie beside us, which is basically what Sarah and I bond over is our love for food.

SPEAKER_00 1:49

So Yeah, I was telling Megan, I'm like, we're going to have a talk, and you know I can't show up without food. So we are nourishing ourselves so that we can access our regulated selves and have a deep conversation. That's it. That's it.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

So um I don't want to introduce you. Actually, I'll introduce you from the bestie side and then you introduce, and then you can introduce yourself. Um, because I know your story is really interesting. And I don't want to just talk about the bio. You have certifications, you smart as hell. Like the board if you go to your clinic, all the boards are there. What I see you as is like Sarah's, this is what I know. You're a neuroscientist. So you know all about the brain and how the brain and body work and what that means. You also have been in the military, so you're a veteran, you've served as something with a C. Is it corporal? I was a corporal, yeah. Okay. That was one of my ranks. Yes. Sarah's boss bitch. People are scared of her. Uh, even though now she's also now a yogi, a Thai massage therapist and acupuncturist, which I love because she brings really this balance of like, uh, she could kill you if she wanted to, because hello, veteran, but also this soft, gentle soul who hosts yin classes and sings and likes to frolic in the sun. So that is that is my description of who you are. What would you say about that? Did I miss anything that you want to share?

SPEAKER_00 3:11

No, that's pretty apt and wraps me up pretty well. I'm a child of nature. I'm a curious student. I love learning. Um, I love the marriage of Western, uh kind of like brainy science and eastern wisdom and knowledge of energy, um, and all of this new stuff that's uh kind of unfolding. And as you know, we are students of vipassana. Um, I think that like all of my really close friends are all students of vipassana. So that's definitely a part of my idea.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

Okay, so I guess we have to start there because this was not on our freaking questions that we spoke about. But yeah, you're right. I think that's a big part. I'd love that you explain yourself as that. What is vipassana? For those that are listening and have absolutely no idea what this word is, what the hell is that?

SPEAKER_00 4:01

Okay, the most um concise way that I can explain it without giving much away is that it is an um experiential technique that is taught in a very unique way that's been passed down um through multiple generations. And in order to learn this technique, you must abstain from speaking for about a period of 10 days. And when you stop speaking, it takes away a lot of your energy that you've been expelling outwards. Um, and it uh teaches you this technique to turn inwards and unite your attention and your focus with your physical sensations, which is like such a powerful tool and technique that then enables you to know yourself at another deeper, um, more information-based, more tactical, more uh connected way. That's what I'll say.

SPEAKER_01 5:07

In summary, when I did Vapassana, it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but also the most rewarding experience to sit with yourself for 10 days. Most people can't even sit silently for 10 minutes, let alone 10 days. And not just not talking, the no eye contact, that was also tough for me because I'm like, I love you and I'm making eye contact with you right now, right? It's like it's how we connect. No human connection that way. And then all of the stuff that comes up in those silence, like I love that you introduced yourself with that. I think it's a big part of your identity. You did it how many times? And also once when you were pregnant with Scar Scarlet or Stewie?

SPEAKER_00 5:43

Stuart. Um, so the experience started when a friend was like just talking about like somebody had quit smoking after struggling with it for a long time. And they'd done vipassana, and this technique kind of enabled them to see what the addiction was, and they quit smoking. And so I thought that that was like really sounded like voodoo-y. And so I was like, I want to know what this is. So actually, Sean, who at the time we were dating, um, did it first in winter of 2026. Crazy. And yeah, and he came back and he was like so calm and he was so like in tune with his emotions. And for the first time, like I was like, oh my God, there's something meaningful shift, like angry, uh road ragey Sean shifting from that into um someone more connected. It was like, okay, maybe the technique has some uh like there's some valence, there's some efficacy behind it, you know.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

And it's like I love when you explain it, it's like, you know, it sounds like this big thing, but at the end of the day, like the most simple way is just like observing the breath move in and out of the body and then feeling it in the body. And it sounds obviously much easier said than done, which is why you need 10 days. Like I was shocked that the first four days were just like feeling the sensation around the nose and the lip. Like, is it hot? Is it cold? Is it tingly? Is it and I was like, oh, like what is it? What is it, you know? And I guess that's why it takes 10 days to really learn the technique and sit with it. And the fact that you did it while you were pregnant, no, that blows my mind because I thought I was gonna lose it and I was hungry because you don't eat dinner there. What the hell? Like, I'm a foodie, I want like real dinner. And I just think, I guess, but that's the whole military thing. You're resilient as fuck, you've done harder things.

SPEAKER_00 7:29

Well, that's I think it's such an important thing because right now it's this, you're what you're talking about is the skill of sitting with discomfort. And I think that it's a it's a superpower, you know. So it needs to be honed. And that's what you're talking about is you were uncomfortable because all of these things you were relying on, like first of all, you don't have your phone. Yeah. Second, you're not supposed to read anything or write anything. And when you withdraw and abstain from all of these tools, um, it really kind of uh can make you claustrophobic. But if you actually understand why they're asking you to abstain from this, um, it makes sense. But that's why it's a technique. It's meant to be practice, it's not meant to be perfected. That's right. You know, it's just like exactly what the yoga is meant to be. It's like learning through the breathing and the movement and the connection, not the perfection of the handstand. Yeah. Anyway, that's what I'll say for that.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

Well, you know, I think it's even worth mentioning that I actually met you through yoga. So I was a young woman in grade 10 volunteering at the yoga studio, and you were one of the first teachers that I practiced with. And there was something about your, I'm gonna call it like weird self-energy, where you were just yourself and you're a weird person and you weren't shy about it. So, you know, you talk about poo, pee, like all these things that most people don't talk about, and you wouldn't wear a bra and you were comfortable with your body, and it just felt like such new things that I wasn't used to. And that was when I fell in love with you when I was in grade 10, and then you know, been best friends for so many years. I've seen your kids grow up, your family. And so I know how incredible you are. And I think one of the things I want to go to, because yes, I know now you're helping women understand their body and these sorts of things, but I want to pull back because I think one of the things that makes your story epic is that you served in the military. And I know, you know, Zaina was on the episode before you, and she was like, that's what she always says, like, oh my God, she's in the freaking military. Like, I want to, like, let's talk to Sarah more about this because a male-dominated space, not at all what you're doing right now. What did the military teach you, or serving in that capacity, teach you that you're using now as a business owner, but also as a human? Like, what were some lessons that came from that experience?

SPEAKER_00 9:40

Okay, so this question can be answered at so many layers. So I'm just gonna give like a little bit of a background before we jump into what I learned, because um, like you have to understand, I came to Canada at like 13 years old. I was living between California and Tehran growing up. And so, like, I was exposed to the West and I was like really, really exposed to the oppression of the East. And so, you know, um, as soon as I like started to grow boobs, like all of the boys in the neighborhood, like they didn't want to hang out with me anymore. Like they didn't want to like play soccer or volleyball. And that was like really weird to me. So there was this like repressed energy of like, I like being active. And like you know me, I'm like always in the woods, like I like being outdoors. And so when I came to Canada at that age, I was like, oh my God, I've like kind of been gifted this like second chance of like doing whatever the fuck I want. And so I started out at like at in grade nine, I came in and I swooped in and like I started doing drama and like started like joining the badminton team and the soccer team and the um, you know, water sports team and all that sort of stuff. And like in my first two years, two years in Canada, like grade nine and grade 10, like I was like ROPSA champion in badminton. And so I had like gained all this um kind of like confidence that I was like waiting to like step into myself. And I think like now when I think about it, um, this physical exercise was my way of like getting out of dissociation, getting out of that free state that like I was in oppressed Iran and like even the trip between Iran and California, like that's not easy for a young kid, right? And so um just coming back to like when I was thinking about in grade 10, like how am I gonna learn how to drive? Like, I have a single mom and like how am I gonna like get my license? Like, I want I would like focus on like, you know, how am I gonna get things? And then one of my friends was in the cadets, and she's like, Oh, you know, like it's like paid camping in the military. So I go like Sarah's love language.

SPEAKER_01 11:50

She's like, wait, I get to like play outside of the money.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

I was like, I go to my mom and she's like, okay, you want to work team hortos or retail? I'm like, I'm not working any of those things, okay? My career lies elsewhere, woman. So I took her and I was like, mommy, sign here, sign here, sign here. And she was like, okay. And like, I'm a I'm a child of the military. My grandpa was in the military, my grandma was in the military. My mom was in like cadets in the Iran, like, so I'm from that lineage, and like I really needed that discipline as a kid here that I wasn't getting in high school, you know? It was kind of like my father figure. And what's really fascinating to me is like, wait, what's the age, by the way? Okay, I was like 16 when I went in. And then it was like grade 11. And then I did all of my basic training um through grade 12. And in the summer of grade 12 before I went to university, um, I went away to Meaford, Ontario, and I lived in Tent City, which is basically like 3,000 soldiers, mostly between like 17 and like let's say 60, that are doing all of their courses. And so there's these training areas, and we're learning like how to dig trenches. So doing defense, like old school uh World War II style. I could just see you being so good at that. I'm so fucking good at these things. And like the thing is that you know me, I love tests and I love like being a student. So in the military, if you like learn what they're teaching you, you excel. It just is like a no-brainer. So I was good at that, and like it was like so good. When you're good at something, like the radio in the military is one of the most obscure and complex pieces of machinery. Okay, there's like so many memes about it. Okay, so it's like it's like you may know the radio. Yeah, like I learned the radio, I was like, oh, this goes here and then this button, and then I was- of course you did. This girl's A plus and everything, bro.

SPEAKER_01 13:48

Come on.

SPEAKER_00 13:48

So I was like, I was like, oh, the the language of the radio is if you want to call somebody, okay. So I was like, I want to call you, right? Okay, it's like Gazzy, this is Sarah. Yeah. Send sit rep. Like you say the person you want to talk to, you say who you are, and then you make known your intention. And then you say over because means you're waiting for them to say something. And then they just start the conversation. It's like, Gazzy, you say yourself, and then blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. That's right. You follow the like, you know, the order of what's going on, and then you say over because you didn't start the conversation. And like the these little nuances, like, you know, we're Persian, like we pay attention. Yeah, and you love systems, the mind's working with order. If you started the conversation, you out the conversation. Okay. Out means like it's over. Like it's nuanced. Yeah. Yeah. So I was really good at that stuff. And so I excelled in that. And over time, those skills led to learning, like, oh, um, a battle procedure that you learn. Like, if this is the battle on let's say this podcast is the day of the battle, we're working backwards. Like, I'm gonna put in the order for the charcuterie, like a week before some media had. Exactly. Project management in the real world in that civilian terminology. So I think those were really valuable skills. And, you know, I'm gonna just drop this in. When you're young, the way that your mind works is that the exposure you have, those memories take up a lot of space in your memory um archives. Right. And so, like, I remember growing up with my grandma, and my grandma saying something along the lines of, I remember details of like the dress I wore the first time I went out with your grandfather, but I don't remember what I just ate an hour ago, you know? So, like those memories and youth, like, so these are like my memories and youth is like blowing shit up and like leading men and like being confident and like people respecting me because I was good at being uh useful, you know, and good at communicating. And like if in the morning we woke up and I was the gunner, yes, okay, and like the commander is going away for orders, which was usually Sean. We worked really well together. That's my husband, you know, and the driver had mandatory sleep time. Like, I would like sieve through all of the pouches of like coffee and like creamer that I'd saved up. And like I'd fire up the um uh the Coleman stove and like make a really balm, like I don't know, mix hot chocolate and sugar and like make like a really sweet bevy that morale would go from like 5% to like 15%, you know, just a little bit better with this warm bevy. Yes. And I remember like I've told you stories of like, you know, um seeing my buddies get frostbite and like dealing with that. And like you always look at me like, I don't know why. No, what is that name of that thing again? The winter what? Winter warfare.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

No, I would like sign off then and there, like just out me right then and there. The man had frostbites and then they all warmed him up skin to skin. No, that's actually, but I guess that's where you build resilience. Okay, I have a question about this before I want to move away from like the military time. My my thought is so what kind of a leader were you? Because a lot of women, they're like, oh, like um, you know, uh women in male-dominated spaces, like that's a pretty heavy male-dominated space. So, yes, you were good at what you did and you were a good student, which I think that's part of how you earned your respect. But what kind of a leader were you when you had to get the groups together? How would you lead? What was your way? Were you the scary type? Were you the make the bevy type, a mix of both? Like, what kind of leadership would you describe that you had?

SPEAKER_00 17:55

Um, I mean, I wouldn't ask my soldiers to do things that I wasn't willing to do myself. And we've had discussions about this at depth. It's like you lead by example, and there's this whole like leadership kind of like list that in the military they teach you as you go through your, you know, um the ranks. And like, you know, at the beginning of my career, I might have started in tanks and going into like, you know, information ops and talking through the different layers of the military, and then at the end, ending up in a medical field and becoming a medic and then becoming a medical officer and organizing these things. Basically, the only leadership way that I knew was to be there in the field with my soldiers, doing the thing that I'm asking them to do. So one of the things that like is really I I suppose even at like run the world, the post-mortis, like what you guys called, you know, like the after actions review in the military is like one of the most painful things to go through. You know, and like nobody wants to sit through feedback. But like one of the things that I think helped me a lot um grow in my yoga career was that in the military, receiving feedback and sitting through somebody just like tearing the fucking you saw. You didn't do this before you just like sit and take it. And then when it comes time for you to discern how to lead your men or your women or whoever is under your command, you just basically have to delegate and work with everybody's zone of genius. It's not that different from like what I'm doing here, is like I know Nika's so good at keeping me organized, you know, and that's that's her zone of genius. And so, like, I respect her and her way of operating and what she asks of me. Of course, I torture her. That's just like a part of language, but but I like I just don't ever use our hierarchy to get what I want, you know, because that's not something that lasts beyond the borders of the military. And, you know, after my military career, um, I was hired as a civilian, as like a liaison, they call it, right? So because I know military jargon, I could work with the civilian side of civilians in battle space doing virtual training for soldiers deploying overseas. And this is like um British soldiers, American soldiers, like Canadian soldiers, and they're coordinating these like multi-virtual things, right? And like I'm like a field director. And you know this from doing your work in the politics is like that coordination of events at that level is like diarrhea in settings.

SPEAKER_01 20:46

It's fieldwork, national fieldwork.

SPEAKER_00 20:47

And if you don't have um the ability to uh be with yourself present in the moment, like even though that was what pertained to leadership, what I do remember is like going to like the Afghan elders that were playing like the roles of the village leaders there and having a moment and like sharing a cup of tea with Zaffron and Cardamom and like being funny with that. That's right. You know, Sarah Charms. Yeah, like just a moment of human connection before asking them, like, can you do these talking terms so that we can assess this leader and see if he can go overseas or if he's gonna like get his head chopped up, you know? Yeah. So it's like the human element never goes away, right? The charcuterie goes a long way. Like your eyes literally lit up when I showed up here. Like you literally looked at me and Zaina hadn't even left it. And you're like, Did you bring the charcuterie?

SPEAKER_01 21:43

Because it looked like we just because you told me and then I didn't see it in the bag.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

And I was always like, I was like presenting the outfit. I got it. I got it, I got it, I got it. So on that note, is like I um love when people when women ask me, like, how was your experience in the military as a woman? And the thing is. Is that um I didn't really discern whether I was a woman or a man or whatever. I was just a soldier and I've had a role, and my role was responsible for X, Y, and Z. And you've got it stuck. Like that was the story, right? And like once I did my yoga teacher training and had like an aha moment, I was like, oh, I've learned the things I needed to in the path of protection. And now I can come out of the military corporate and like invest in the path of service.

SPEAKER_01 22:35

Yeah. Which is such a cool transition. So it's like you go from this experience where you see shit, there's trauma, then you come out of it, of course, with a lover, Sean's in the picture now, shifting focus, path of service, yoga, vipassana, teacher trainings of different sorts, time massage, acupuncture. So now, like if I'm if I'm coming to today, how I see you help women and what we're doing as we're building businesses. Now you're supporting humans in pain and helping them understand how to take better care of themselves so that their body can be supported in what they're doing. Now, what I also know, because we share a lot of the same community members and we're having conversations with women, a lot of the people you're working with, I'll say women, but it could even be more general, people you're working with are coming to you when they've reached a point of burnout. Or that's what entrepreneurs are worried about because it's a lot on the body. Um, it's not as easy as clocking out at nine to five. And so you're really pouring your heart and soul into it. And then on top of that, you might be a parent, you might be taking care of your elderly parents. And so there's a lot of a lot on our plates. You're a founder, you have these other roles, there's a lot going on. So obviously, burnout doesn't happen overnight. There's places and things that happen throughout that gets there. But women only notice it when it's too late. Like for me, when I met you, I was also, when our friendship started deepening, I also had a lot of pain in my body. So I want to go there of like, what are the signs of early burnout that if you're listening to this, you can identify like, not when I'm burnt out, I need to see Sarah, but at least maybe six months in advance, a few weeks in advance, you're noticing these things. And what can we do to take care of ourselves there? But let's start with what are they noticing in their bodies, the clients that you're working with?

SPEAKER_00 24:27

Okay, so a lot of people, um, when they first walk through the door with me, um, are in a they have a lot of sleep disturbance. Um, their digestive system is not functioning well. A lot of people have pain. Now the pain could be in hips, it could be in the neck, it could be in the feet. Um, and uh, you know, these are kind of like the gateways. And then once I'm probing in a little bit more, we start to see like, you know, it's a young person and they um are in between uh jobs and they're like really unhappy that, you know, like when I met you, you had hip pain, and your hip pain was kind of like a manifestation of the fact that up until that point you had followed what you thought was the path that you must follow that your parents have set forth for you in politics. And like at that point, you didn't know that there's any alternative, right? And so your hips were like, you can't move forward from here. And like even me myself saying something like that, it doesn't make sense in in a in a scientific way, but energetically it makes sense, and scientifically it makes sense that if your mind is disturbed and have a you know, overthought that your digestion is gonna be disturbed. And when your digestion is disturbed, your your whole bowel system has gas or it has pain, and your gas and your pain affects the width and the muscles around your hips. So, like in a physical way, it is like causing inflammation. Yeah, and that inflammation comes out in pain.

SPEAKER_01 26:12

Yeah, right. And remember, like nobody could tell me what was really going on because I did, I even did MRI scans and it was like nothing was happening. They couldn't really tell what it was. I couldn't tell what it was. It was the sense of hopelessness of like, what's going on? And it wasn't in that moment that I realized it was the work thing. It's when we traveled to Costa Rica and then I got time away. And I really was out of that environment and wondered, wait, why don't why don't my hips hurt anymore? Why is it when I'm not in those environments that I feel okay? So was I creating that pain? Was the environment that I was in not right? And was my body now what makes me feel good? It's like my body was trying to tell me something. And I was trying to find the answers from doctors or whoever, and it was way, way deeper than that.

SPEAKER_00 27:03

Yeah. Yeah, I think like um one of the great things about Western medicine is that like, you know, if you're you have a messed up cough and you need antibiotics, like it is gonna give you that and you're gonna be well again, you know? Um, but when your hip is hurting and you need to do some like vision quests and sit with your soul in quiet, it it a doctor is not gonna help you with that, really, you know. So you you are right, you did have to go a lot deeper. And like when you were in Costrica, um, you I remember you were like one of the apprentices on the retreat, and I was pregnant with Scarlet, right? And like I remember that year. Um, you were doing pretty much like similar to things and tasks that you were doing in politics, but because the environment was safe, and like let's face it, you were like in the bosom of Mother Nature. Yeah, yeah, you were thriving and flourishing, and you like saw yourself in that area where you could thrive and not be in politics. And so I think it opened up like this whole new way of like, do I have the courage to move forward through this?

SPEAKER_01 28:17

That's you know, and I think um Okay, but even before courage, I feel like there was a different step because before I even had courage, I was unconscious to what was even happening. So there was like I feel like this sense of what really helped me was when I wasn't around my family or lived in that same house and I traveled, all of the outside noise quiet down. So when the outside noise quiet down, finally for once there was enough time to even hear my own thoughts, right? When we're on day-to-day, you're working, you're on your phone, like you're disconnected. And then when I got to travel and like truly slow down, it's like those, I'm air quoting, those nudges, those thoughts, those, those even started to come to the surface versus before when I was on autopilot. Like there wasn't time for that. Right. And I was having this convo with Zaina earlier. It's like she doesn't even sit down to have some time. So most of us are like that. We're again busy entrepreneurs. Some are moms taking care of parents, this and that, camp, this swimming class, just so much going on that even if the body was trying to tell us something, we're not even giving her time to tell us because we're keeping ourselves so busy in that autopilot. And so when I traveled for the first time ever, it was this sense of like, holy shit, there's someone outside of what I experienced of myself. Like that version that is me at work is me, but that's only a part of me. But because I was stuck in that, I actually didn't know who I was. This was like 22, 23. And so before even courage came this like, let's call it like slowing down to become aware or be curious and notice like, what is what is what is it that I want? What is my body trying to tell me? Oh, if if that's not wrong with the hip, what could it be? But I feel like that step was courageous to even give myself that time to think of not even think of, to just maybe be silent to see what is meant to come up. Similar vipassana juris, but this time it was just on travel. So I think that came before the courage. And then you're right, the courage to like you know, step into myself as a woman, which was a big step for me, then that allowed for all of this. But when you're in that doing, and I guess maybe this is what is happening with the clients, like they slow down when they come see you. And that's the first time that that's happened for many of them in maybe ever. And when that happens, all of these things that were under the surface start to come to the surface. Is that what you're seeing?

SPEAKER_00 31:06

Yeah, absolutely. And I know you love numerical things, so here we go. So, first there's this nuanced nudge, right? Whether it's in the form of pain, a thought, a feeling, like a red flag, like intuition, whatever it is, like even like a coppery taste in the mouth type of deal, right? And then it might like start to get a little bit more um serious and a little bit louder. And then second comes this time of like, do I turn inwards? And do I have the skills to turn inwards? So you were learning, you were in yoga classes, learning the language of sensation. Then you went away on retreat and you really retreated in the jungle. You nurtured yourself in nature and you did things like like we ziplined, we had so much fun, like lots of endorphins, like not a lot of responsibility, but also you were really healing through the movements and the breathing practices and the um tension and trauma release that we were doing. All of these tools that you were giving yourself were ways that you were communicating with your body. Like, I'm ready to go deeper. Like, give me the safe. I can do this. And I can I have the ability to handle what you get next. I'm equipping myself with tools. So I think like that's really important for me is when my clients come in, it's like, let's understand what's going on, let's give you some tools to deal with it. And then next, do we have the courage to go deeper? And then later, as changes coming, these frequent repetition of these behavior-breaking, like habit-breaking behaviors, like we talked about, like not adding more to your list, but actually uh taking those breaks to give yourself the ability to be in the present moment with yourself. And like, you know, there's nothing truly more powerful than breath work to do that. And so when people come into my clinic disconnected and dissociated, and we're doing mechanical body work, and you've seen my intake form, it's like annoyingly detailed and long because sometimes people come in and they're like, I've never thought about those questions. Like, you know, I want to know about poo quality, I want to know about frequency of peeing. Like, these are all signals from the body. That's right. And if someone doesn't know they have to drink water when they're thirsty, how are we even gonna go um into anything deeper?

SPEAKER_01 33:35

You know, let's go there because that's a simple thing, but something you touched on when you spoke at Money Move Summit, where you're like, when's the last time you peed? When's the last time you had water? Which sounds like simple questions that you might uh need to ask your daughter. I mean, even she's smarter than that, she would ask you. But what do you what do you like? I'm almost like, wait, do people not know this? Do we know how to take care of ourselves? Are we doing that?

SPEAKER_00 34:00

Um, the short answer is not really. And um, the the the thing is that the priority is this like rushed life of like what is the next thing? This anticipation and expectation of forward thinking and then lamenting the past. So you're always being disconnected from the present moment. And like the magic is happening here, right? It's happening here. Like I'm like trying best to sit in a way that I can feel my feet connected, and like it's like, oh, I know Nika told me don't put your water bottle close to you because it's not good for the aesthetics, but like mama could use some Wawa, you know? Like it's like tending to your needs and understanding, like, oh, I need water to speak better. Yes, or I need to pee to be able to think and be more productive. Like the amount of people I've told you this, like one of my clients came in and told me, I have this irritability in the morning, and I just cannot handle anybody. And she works with people, and I was like, I think you are hungry. Like the next time you feel like that, I want you to eat something, like an egg. Next time she came to see me, she was like, You were right. That's right. Yeah. So like, no, we don't know about even our inner state.

SPEAKER_01 35:18

Yeah, you know, yeah. And I want to talk about that because I think starting small, like in our in my mind, at least, when I think of taking care of myself, or or even what I see on social, it's like, go to this fancy clinic, get the new lymphatic drainage massage, which of course we love to do, like wear massage hose, but like doing all of these other things that are like go on a vacation, buy yourself this thing. And I really love the simplicity that you bring, which is like water, food, like your basic needs. Are you nurturing yourself? Are you needing, like, are you clear on what you need in the moment? And I think as women, we need that reminder because it's not in this like one-hour morning meditation that we're talking about, or in these big, oh, take two weeks off or 10 days off to go sit in silence to see what comes up, but rather the more practical ways. Can you talk about? I mean, I know we've touched on it right now, but practical ways of taking care of ourselves, maybe throughout the day, if you've got a busy schedule, what are some things that are really like your go-to?

SPEAKER_00 36:27

Okay, so one of the most important things is like this body was selected for and thrives in nature and needs sunlight. So, in any type of weather, dress for the weather and go outside as much as you can, you know this, to expose yourself to sunlight and whether you can get a walk-in, that's really gonna affect the way that you sleep and set like the hormonal frequency, the neurotransmitter frequency, which is like the circadian rhythm of your body, just kind of helps really augment that. And then the other thing is like, you know, a lot of people are like, do this and don't do that. But what I'm gonna say is do stuff knowing how it's gonna fuck you up. Like, if you're gonna drink Hong Kong style coffee with me with condensed milk at four o'clock in the evening, like you know you're not gonna sleep well, just go in drinking it, enjoying that mindful sip of exquisite taste, knowing that later you will suffer. So that, like, you know, you're there with this mindset of I'm supporting myself with agency. I'm there for myself, you know. So I think that's more realistic than saying, like, I'm not gonna drink mine, I'm not gonna do this, I'm not gonna do that.

SPEAKER_01 37:46

Okay, but let's talk about food because I know you like you and I, we have a healthy relationship around food. We talk about this trying to be intentional when young kids are around us, not body shaming, creating safe spaces for bodies. We've talked about this generationally around my family, your family, how we're trying to raise kids and cousins and all of that stuff. And I think one of the things that, you know, I've like, we've cried and had healing conversations in the ocean together and all those things is around like how, as women, we're taught to like not eat or eat with shame or rush eating or like, I don't know, it makes me sad. You know, we all grew up like dieting was such a such a thing in my family, even all of them now, everyone's always dieting. And it's like you're not helping yourself in that moment, you're not being kind to yourself in that moment. So, from your perspective, can you tell me what's going on when you're not tending to your need to eat and you're having inner talks about your double chin or your belly? Like, what's what's going on? What are you what's happening from a neuroscience and body perspective?

SPEAKER_00 38:46

Like you're dropping this bomb on me here. Yeah, yeah. I think I think because I think women need to hear it. Okay, I'm just gonna go like I'm just gonna go right into it because otherwise I'm not gonna talk about it. Okay, so the idea is that I feel there's so much magic that is our body, and this false, superficial, vain understanding of like culturally seeing each other as containers and being like, oh my god, your nose looks big, oh my god, your chin looks the same, oh my god, you gain weight, oh my god, this this like there's like a joke, you know. Like, I do my mom's voice, yeah. All versions like that knows. Yeah, all like not even that. It's just saying, like, oh, you you look like it's so skinny, so fat, so this. Yeah, I hate it. It's like, why are you first of all, giving yourself permission to even fucking make comments about that? Like, how about how are you feeling? Like, have you seen the state of the world? You know, so anyway, so in that sense, I feel like we really, as women especially, do ourselves such a disservice by being in the superficial, and then don't even get me started on this idea of augmenting your looks by injecting shit that your body sees as toxicity.

SPEAKER_01 40:13

So there's like oh wait, wait, wait, you have to say what happens with the lips. Wait, remember what you told Lisa and I at the dinner? Wait, wait, that's crazy because Brit was there, Lisa was there. We didn't know this. I told Nika, I was like, girl, you can't be getting Botox and filler anymore. What's happening from a cellular, smart neuroscience thing when that's going in?

SPEAKER_00 40:36

So, um, a few years ago, like let's say 10 years ago, the owner of this yoga studio looked at me and was like, What are your thoughts on Botox? And I was like, Bitch, don't fucking get Botox, don't inject shit into your body because that shit is going to make you depressed. Okay. So that's a pretty bold statement. So fast she went there. 10 years. Okay. So now we have this understanding that when you get botuleum toxin, which is a horse tranquilizer injected into your fucking tissue at the neural level, what happens is those neurons stop functioning. They stop releasing little neurotransmitters that are meant to make your face contract. Okay. So have you ever looked at a baby and you look at their face and they're like going like that or sleeping? Okay. So they're perfecting their facial expressions. Okay. Like gaseisms are making little connections. Yes. And your face has so much real estate in your body that when you um make facial expressions, it actually informs your brain about the state of your health and well-being.

SPEAKER_01 41:48

Like, for example, like you're saying, like smiling or like.

SPEAKER_00 41:51

Yeah, like that's that's why, like, when you want to make a good impression, you smile. You know, when you're running a social event, you're not gonna be like, oh my god, you want to smile. You know, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:02

So like we know training to give like expression and social cues.

SPEAKER_00 42:06

And then whenever I pass by people and I smile, like it totally changes things. But anyway, going back to this botulin toxin. So now think about your body is all of your life training to make these muscles exactly as Gazzy would smile. Okay. So now you've disconnected the ability of the brain to connect and make these muscles work. So your body is gonna make more and more neuronal innervations happen onto that muscle. So then when the bousulium toxin wears away, after the muscle gets a full contraction from like, let's say it had originally 10 neurons, now it has a thousand, it's gonna go like and even deeper grooves are gonna formulate there. Not to just mention that all of that stuff in the body creates so much toxicity at a cellular, molecular level, but what is the message we're sending ourselves? Yeah, you know, when we do plastic surgery and cut the tissue, the interstitium, and knock with a hammer onto a bone saying that I don't look good and I don't like like the way I look at that level, like that really fucks a person up. Recovering from these kinds of surgeries where they put liposuction-y things under, like that is just I mean, it's so fucking sad and depressing. And like, I wish if you really want to get deep work done on your face to look youthful, fucking get a massage that will bring the tissue and the fascia more hydration instead of creating more like discrepancy in your container. To cut the tissue, it just kills me.

SPEAKER_01 44:03

Yeah. Yeah, I'm like, I mean, to each their own, but if you ever hear that, like you never I never want that anymore. I never want that. And someone pointed out, like, oh, you need Botox now. And I was just like, all I thought was what you had told me that my body is like freaking out that there's other things and it's freezing it when it wants to express. And I'm like, I don't think freezing what wants to be expressed, even that idea at a level, like, what am I, what am I saying? And also, what are we showing the next generation that you're not good enough, that this is the standard, that the lips have to be a certain way? Like it just, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:40

I'm just gonna go a level deeper than that and say that if you are telling me you're founder and that you're authentic and that you are telling your body that you're safe and you're like doing the meditation and wearing the lululem and then and then you're going into a fucking clinic where a woman is telling you with a thing is drawing on your face, saying, here, here, here, here, here. Not good, not good. Work, work, work. And like those two things, you know, those two things are not on the same level. So then when you're thinking, there's confusion, there's friction. People buying my product. Why aren't people jiving with me? It's like that is why. Because the actions and the habits that you're taking are not in there's a lot of they're they're incongruent. They're not like, you know, jive jiving with the thing you're trying to do. That is right. Yeah, I feel that a hundred percent. And like I was telling you, like it's a it's uh imperative that we teach the next generations about the fascinating, miraculous, like wondrous universe that is our body. You know, let's explore with, let's try to augment with our superpowers instead of going against it. That's right, you know, and another, like this is like the conspiracy of women looking better by getting this fucking shit done, and then thinking why they're depressed and getting like diseases is like, oh my god, can we just like stop hurting ourselves already?

SPEAKER_01 46:14

Yeah, stop hurting ourselves, loving ourselves as we are. Yeah, and I think to your point, like what how well, how does that relate to business? It's like if you truly feel safe in your body and you accept yourself and love yourself, and this is why I love being in your energy and being your friend and you know, raising families together and being in each other's environment is you always make me feel safe and everyone feels safe being around you. And it's not because you do anything other than be yourself and you don't judge people and you allow yourself to be who you are. Like I'll never forget what you massage your belly, like you take your belly out and you massage it, and that makes people feel uncomfortable because most people are like so self-conscious around like this F-A-T word, like fat, like, oh my god, don't let people see, suck it in, do this and that. And you're just the opposite of that. And I think that's why your body has so much trust with you, and you can do those hard things because you have trust with your body, and your body also knows that you're on its side, and so like you're working with that superpower.

SPEAKER_00 47:09

Honestly, Gazzy, and you know this, like the world is such a beautiful place when you make friends with yourself and you're curious, and you have mental flexibility, and you don't suffer because of expectations that are dumb. Like, you have experiences where you're present, and you know, like this is probably gonna go down as like a core memory for both of us in this moment because it's just so special. Like, um, when I first started and you were first starting your business, you were kind of like, let's go into this doing like like if you do this, then it I'm like, no, Gazzy, like that's just not how I function because like what I'm trying to teach requires someone to really step in to discomfort facing their pain and change. And that's just not some people's cup of tea.

SPEAKER_01 48:09

I love that we both use cup of tea, of course. Of course. Okay, before we wrap up, I want to talk a little bit. Actually, no, I have two more questions. This has been such a good episode of the conversation. Literally, we need like apart two or three for this, but I want to talk about you with your family because I see you in work, I see you with clients, and that's incredible. But truly, what makes our friendship live on is that our families are now friends. You know, my husband is an uncle to your kids. I've was there the day Scarlett was born. Like, we're really just we know each other on that level. And one of the things I always admire is how you show up as a partner and how you show up as a mom. And so I want to know like how are you so present? Because I know with, and we talked about this because we were at the beach on the weekend, where it's like the kids are there and you're present and you're doing your thing. And I don't see that with a lot of moms because they're worried, stressed, or or even like fighting or not there, or when they're there, they're scrolling. But when I'm with your family, I could tell everyone's really present. How are you so present with them? And how does that ripple into everything else?

SPEAKER_00 49:17

Okay, so like disclaimer, like we also have our problems and all of our, you know, we obviously there's like all of that, but I think to your point, um I just don't really uh take for granted that I get this opportunity to be a part, like again, it's a leadership role to be a parent, but it's such a privilege to be like learning from the kids, learning with the kids, being curious with them, you know? So like I was telling you this morning, Scarlett set the table and Stewie sat where Scarlett wanted to sit, and she was like really upset and did the chin wobbling like hair forward. And I was like, you know, I was like, okay, um what do you think, like, do you think the food's gonna taste different if you sit there, you know? And so like we've even talked about this. Like in the morning, I myself have anxiety, okay? And when I have to make the kids this food and prepare breakfast and parent and get myself ready for work and then then the then, it can give me a lot of like, which is why I wake up so early, right? So I have time to go walk with myself, be in the early morning present, um, spend time with myself as a person before I have to be a mom. So that I could be present to say to Scarlett, like, you know, Scarlett, sometimes when we have expectations, that leads to suffering. Like you wanted to sit there, but then the reality was that Stewie's feelings got in the way and he had, you know, he had a say in what was gonna happen. And like that made you suffer, made you feel bad. And she was like, What's suffer? And so, like, we talked about that. And so I think it's these moments where we're kind of talking and learning together that you know you realize like, oh my fucking god, these guys are little human beings that are going to remember these moments, and you get to be a part of that, and like that that makes you be present, you know?

SPEAKER_01 51:23

Yeah, yeah. You're not in the past, you're not in the future, you're just right there enjoying that moment.

SPEAKER_00 51:28

But but but I think it's more than like there's let's also come to terms with the fact that like there there is also an element of grief in the present moment, you know, because it's never gonna happen again. Like they're never gonna be this little anitja. You know what I mean? Anitja. And so like coming to terms with that grief, being with the discomfort of that, and like letting things happen as it is, not as you want it to be, not as you thought it was gonna be, as it is, you know, as it is.

SPEAKER_01 51:58

I love that because we started talking about some of our learnings from Bhapasana and ending it off there. For the woman who's listening, I want to leave something for her. The question I had written down is for the woman listening right now who thinks she cannot afford to slow down, what would you tell her?

SPEAKER_00 52:17

Um, that if the thought occurred that she could not afford to slow down, then the slowing down is the signal. Like the knowing that she's even the thought itself is the signal.

SPEAKER_01 52:30

I love that. I love that. And if this was the signal, but someone needed support or tools, what's the best way for people to connect with you?

SPEAKER_00 52:38

Um, folks could connect with me through my website at somaticwellness.ca. They could connect with me on Instagram at Salahijan, and they could connect with me on my Jane website. And I guess like all of the links will be somewhere here. That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 52:54

We'll have all of the links in the show note. I'm just so grateful for our time. I love you. I love you more. Let's eat. And that's it for today's episode. I hope you enjoyed it and got something, your aha moment, your signal to slow down. I'd love to hear your takeaways. Connect with me over Instagram. You can catch me over in the DM, send me a voice note. I would love to hear your takeaways. I'll see you next Tuesday. Well, that brings us to the end of today's episode. Thank you for sharing your time with me. I know as a CEO that time is your most valuable asset. So let's make it worth it. What's one thing that you're gonna implement or embody today? Because listening without action is just entertainment. So DM me your takeaway on Instagram at authenticgazzy. I want to hear it, and I promise you I will hold you accountable. And if this episode resonated, share it with a woman in your circle who needs to hear this. And if you haven't already, follow and subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday. I'll see you next week.