Essentially Savvy

Life is one big surrender experiment

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:14:57 -0800

This is the first winter in a while that I've spent in a 4 season climate & I'm just now feeling the percolating of fresh energy and growth below the surface when Spring is on the way. Can you feel it brewing? Hello March!

As I reflect on 2025 and the couple years prior, it's eye opening to see how much has shifted. Not only did I hop coasts and return back east after almost a decade on the west coast, but every area of life has required a major dose of surrender. I know I'm not alone in this!

Funny enough, in the midest of change about a year ago, my soul nudged me to return to the woods of Alachua, Florida, where I spent time on the grounds of The Temple of the Universe. The story of how this temple was built is shared in one of my favorite books, The Surrender Experiment. The woods and hiking trails were a comfort & support as I navigated next steps. Nature has always been my favorite dose of medicine. The trees are in constant surrender, yet remain steady.

Surrender is a concept we hear about more frequently these days, but living a life of true surrender takes courage, faith and trust. We're all students of life, living in one big surrender experiment. It's become clear now more than ever, that whatever surrender phase you're currently moving through, we're being asked to look within and navigate life with our own internal compass: to trust our own hearts over the external noise. So how do we actually do this, especially considering the very noisy world we live in today? Here are a few practices that have supported me:

Meditation: This term gets tossed around often, but the real benefits come with consistency. Good news! A study was done & resutls showed that a single 13 minute meditation session for 8 weeks measureabley improves memory and focus.

Where...Read More

5 lessons from a week in an island ashram

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:19:48 -0700

It's been more than a decade since immersing myself in ashram culture, and upon the passing of my beloved dog, Gus, the idea to visit the Sivananda ashram in the Bahamas (which I heard about many years ago, and always wanted to visit) kept popping into my mind. A welcome change from winter weather in the mountains, I booked my trip for late February.
My heart sunk into relaxation as I glimpsed the turqouse waters from the plane. After spending a week immersed in this little paradise, I was reminded of a few things:
1) Ritual and routine help to Recallibrate the body, and the nervous system.
The ashram's daily routine of meditation, yoga, satsang (community gathering), and community meals, provided routine and structure, allowing me to relax into giving my mind & body space to breathe, rest and simly be.
2) Breathwork is a gateway to calm
Every yoga class at the ashram incorporated breathwork, which is such a simple, yet powerful way to engage the relaxation response in the body: providing a gateway to calming. My favorite breathwork technique (that I first learned in my early ashram days) is called alternate nostril breathing.
To practice alternate nostril breathing:
Sit in a comfortable position with legs crossed.
Place left hand on left knee.
Lift right hand up toward nose.
In recent years, CBD oil has gained immense popularity, offering diverse benefits such as pain relief, anxiety reduction, enhanced sleep, anti-seizure effects, inflammation control, cancer symptom management, acne alleviation, potential heart health improvements and aiding in substance abuse treatment. However, there are also some challenges and luckily in nature, chemistry duplicates, meaning that similar alternatives are always available. Let’s explore one of those – Copaiba.

Copaiba essential oil is derived from the resin of the copaiba tree which can grow upwards of more than 100 feet and can be found in tropical South America. Since the 16th century, Copaiba essential oil has been utilised in traditional health practices by the locals of north and northeastern Brazil. It is now available through doTERRA in various forms that allow topical, aromatic and internal use.

To understand how both Copaiba and CBD Oil work it is essential to understand the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Within the body it plays a fundamental role in managing many modern and prevalent concerns, including mood, inflammation, appetite and relaxation. The ECS is found throughout the central and peripheral nervous system and acts to maintain internal balance in a world that is constantly changing.

Within the ECS, there are two receptors, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). The brain and spinal cord contain CB1 receptors, whereas CB2 receptors are predominately found in our immune system. Due to residing in different parts of the body, activation of these receptors can have very different effects. For instance, CB2 activation supports healthy nervous and immune system function, while activating its counterpart (CB1) receptors can modulate mood, memory or even...Read More

Seasonal Summer SuperFoods

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:13:45 -0700

Summer Superfoods
Summer’s harvest is loaded with cooling fruits and veggies that act as antidotes to the dry, hot season. Enjoy!
Early
Summer Superfoods
Baby kale
Chard
Cilantro
Dandelion
Parsley
Salad greens
Some berries and cherries
Spinach
Mid-Summer Superfoods
Asparagus
Basil
Berries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Coconut and coconut oil
Cucumbers
Ghee
Green peppers
Kale
Leafy greens
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10 things ~

Thu, 11 May 2023 15:33:11 -0700

1) As a child, my dream job was a vet. As I got older and learned more about the job I decided I'd become a dancer, teacher or artist instead.

2) Palm trees and sunshine bring instant happiness. Mountains make me feel at home.

3) I worked as a barista at a coffee bar in college, and a drink I created made it onto the menu: Iced Mint Mocha Dana was my claim to fame ;)

4) Potatoes are my favorite food - all of them - baked, fried, mashed, etc! Did you know they can help you feel more grounded?

5) I taught public school for 6 years. I call this time period of life Soul Bootcamp ;) I am grateful for the challenges and growth I experienced. Hug your teachers!

6) My first yoga teacher told me about a 10 day silent meditation, and I felt the call to sign up. I had no idea how intense sitting in meditation for 10 hours/ day was going to be, but it was also one of the most transformative experiences in my life.

7) As a child, I always dreamed of going to Australia. My dream came true when I studied abroad at Flinders Uni in Adelaide.

8.) I never dreamt of traveling to India. But I got a strong pull to sign up for a Spiritual journey to this...Read More

Frequency medicine

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 15:38:11 -0700

It’s no coincidence that time in nature typically brings more feelings of calm, peace & joy. There is a measurable frequency that plants, flowers & trees carry.

The earth itself behaves like a gigantic electric circuit with a measurable electromagnetic field , referred to as that #schumannresonance
As humans, when we sync up with frequency of nature, we feel better overall.

#naturalfrequencies aid and support the body’s immunity & emotional stability.
Time in nature, getting enough sleep & reducing stress are simple ways to get in sync w #earthresonance

Essential oils, as natures essence in its purest form, (bottled up for our convenience) is another way to bring the #frequency of nature to our lives, and boost emotions & wellness. This is not an assumption, but a branch of Science that continues to be studied & measuared.
For example:
174 Hertz reduces pain
285 Hertz influences the energy field
396 Hertz supports in liberating fear or guilt
You can see how suppotive that the essential oils, which all have their own unique and measurable frequencies can be so supportive. Of course it is important to use an oil in it's pure form, without adulteration or added chemical components.
Some of the highest frequency essentail oils are rose, lavender, and frankincense. Have you tried diffusing or applying these oils and noticed a shift in your energy or mood?

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New You Reflections

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 12:51:53 -0800

As we sink deeper into the new year, and winter season, no matter the weather where you live, the feeling of new beginnings and the collective reset can be felt. Rather than making a list of goals and intentions (which is also a powerful exercise, in the new year, and any time!), I've been tuning into a few questions to vision and feel into the New Year I'd love to create. Feel free to use these questions as journal prompts to activate your miraculous year ahead:

1) Do you have any regrets from the past year? If so, LET THEM GO! It's time to clear the slate, and move on. I know this can be easier said then done, so if you find you're having a hard time with this, close your eyes and begin watching your breath. Now notice the situation you'd like to let go of, and imagine a Steel door closing, completing the past. As you open your eyes, you can claim and say yes to a new beginning. If any feelings linger, write yourself (or another) a forgiveness letter, then burn it (or use a paper shredder) to complete the letting go. And a follow up questions: What did you learn from these lessons? How have they changed you?
2) What would you do if money were not part of the equation? Take out a journal and write everything down that comes to mind. Obviously money IS still part of the equation (for most people) but really play with the the idea, and ponder: how would you spend your time? How can you incorporate these activities/ advetures/ ideas into 2023, even in small ways.
For example, if you'd travel the world, could you choose one of your top choice location and plan a trip? If you'd spend your time on a hobby such as golf or art, could you create space to include these activities from time to time? The more you can incorporate your passions and things that bring you joy in life, the more it will ignite your energy in ALL areas!
3) This one is my...Read More

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 10:45:58 -0800

Ingredients
2 very ripe bananas
1.5 cups oatmeal I used 1/2 cup rolled oats and 1 cup quick oats
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
The AromaTouch Technique^® is the application of essential oil to the back and feet. This technique combines the unique benefits of human touch with the power of essential oils to create an overall wellness experience. The essential oils used in the AromaTouch Technique were chosen for their individual and combined aromatic properties. The technique powerfully supports:
*Boosting immunity
*Reducing inflmatation
*Easing joint and muscle aches
*Homeostasis and stress relief
With the new Aromatouch technique kit, you now receive a free training from Dr Hill, so that you can bring this treatment to your family at home, or share it in your wellness practice! Here are some personal shares of the power of this restorative treatment:
Tammy's story: I did my FIRST AT outside of the Certification Class on a semi-pro football player - the linebacker sized kind. The guy was about 350# of solid muscle. He had been in a rollover truck accident with his family a week before. (They all came out of...Read More

Marrakesh Express Soup

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 21:52:24 -0700

Marrakesh Express Red Lentil Soup (Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn)
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
1 onion, chopped (1 cup)
4 ribs celery, chopped (1cup)
Water for sautéing
1 bay leaf
1-2 Tablespoons freshginger, chopped or grated
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground turmeric
6 cups low sodium vegetablebroth (I prefer Pacific brand)
4 fresh plum tomatoes,chopped
1 cup red lentils (rinsedtill foam disappears)
1 15-ounce can chickpeas(garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed till foam disappears)
2 Tablespoons fresh squeezedlemon juice (1/2 lemon)
1 bunch of cilantro (orparsley), chopped
Stir-fry onion and celery ina little bit of water in a large soup pot until tender.
Add bay leaf, ginger,cinnamon, turmeric, vegetable broth, tomatoes, lentils and chickpeas.
Bring to a boil. Then lowerheat, and simmer covered for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Right before serving, addcilantro and lemon juice to pot. so
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Essentially Savvy

Life is one big surrender experiment

5 lessons from a week in an island ashram

Seasonal Summer SuperFoods

Summer Superfoods

Early

Mid-Summer Superfoods

10 things ~

Frequency medicine

New You Reflections

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies

Marrakesh Express Soup