Episode 9
Breathe, Laugh, and Nourish: The Secrets to Stress-Free Dinners
Summary:
Get ready to transform your mealtime chaos into a moment of connection and calm!
Today, I’m thrilled to chat with Amy Lewis, a health coach who shares her insights on how to shift the energy around family dinners from stress to serenity.
We talk about the importance of understanding our bodies, the gut-brain connection, and how something as simple as mindful breathing can enhance our overall well-being—especially at the dinner table.
Amy’s personal journey, from battling Crohn’s disease to discovering the life-changing benefits of block therapy, adds a layer of authenticity that resonates with anyone juggling the demands of family life. Join us as we explore practical strategies to reclaim your mealtime magic, embrace imperfections, and foster genuine connections with your loved ones!
Show Notes:
Amy Lewis joins Tricia in a heartfelt discussion about transforming the often stressful experience of family meals into a time of connection and joy. They delve into the idea that family dinners don't need to be Pinterest-perfect; rather, they can be a space where the magic truly lies in the chaos.
Tricia sets the tone by sharing her belief that family meals should be about laughter and connection, not perfection. With Amy's expertise in health coaching, they explore how simple, sustainable habits can enhance not only our physical health but our emotional well-being as well.
Central to their conversation is the importance of mindful practices during mealtime. Amy emphasizes that creating a calm environment starts before the meal is even prepared. By engaging in mindful breathing and establishing a transition period, families can set a positive tone that encourages connection rather than chaos.
They discuss the gut-brain connection, illustrating how stress can affect digestion and overall well-being. The episode is rich with personal anecdotes, making it relatable for listeners who may feel overwhelmed by the demands of family life.
Amy's insights into block therapy and fascial realignment offer innovative approaches to managing stress and promoting wellness, both at the dinner table and beyond.
Tricia and Amy’s discussion encourages listeners to reflect on their own mealtime dynamics and consider how they might create more intentional and joyful experiences. They challenge families to let go of perfection and embrace the messiness of life, with the understanding that the real magic happens when families come together, share their stories, and support one another through the challenges of everyday life.
For anyone looking to transform their family meals from a source of stress into a celebration of connection, this episode is a must-listen!
Takeaways:
- Family dinners are rarely perfect; instead, embrace the chaos and laughter that comes with them.
- Creating simple, sustainable habits around mealtime can transform your family's connection.
- Mindful breathing before meals can help reduce stress and set a positive tone.
- It's essential to meet your family where they are, respecting their dietary needs and preferences.
- Engaging your kids in meal preparation fosters a sense of responsibility and teamwork.
- Finding joy in cooking can turn it from a chore into a cherished opportunity for connection.
Transcript
Hey there, and welcome to Mealtime Magic and Mayhem, the podcast that's all about embracing the crazy, messy, and downright chaotic side of family dinners.
Tricia:I'm Tricia, your mealtime mentor and kitchen witch.
Tricia:And let's get one thing straight.
Tricia:This is not your typical how to have a perfect family dinner kind of show.
Tricia:Because honestly, family dinners are rarely perfect.
Tricia:They're loud, they're messy, and half the time someone's crying.
Tricia:And it's not always the kids.
Tricia:But you know what?
Tricia:That's exactly where the magic lives.
Tricia:It's in the burnt toast, the last minute detail, takeout, and the nights when you're eating cereal off paper plates.
Tricia:Because it's just life.
Tricia:It's not chasing some Pinterest worthy mealtime fantasy.
Tricia:It's about reclaiming the table for what it really is.
Tricia:A chance to connect, laugh, and maybe spill a little wine along the way.
Tricia:In each episode, we're diving into the nitty gritty of what it means to juggle all the things dinner, kids, work, maybe your own business, and trying not to lose your damn mind.
Tricia:We'll be talking about turning those daily struggles into connection points and finding joy in the mayhem.
Tricia:You'll hear from some badass guests, moms, coaches, experts who know what it's like to be in the thick of it.
Tricia:And they're not afraid to spill their own tea on mealtime disasters.
Tricia:And I'll be right there sharing my truth, my snark, my sarcasm, and probably an embarrassing kitchen story or two.
Tricia:So whether you're hiding in the pantry for a minute of peace, trying to figure out what's for dinner, or just here for a little company, you're in the right place.
Tricia:Let's laugh at the chaos, find the magic, and remind ourselves that mealtime doesn't have to be perfect to be special.
Tricia:Welcome to Mealtime Magic and Mayhem, where the mess is part of the magic and every meal is a new chance to connect or at least survive with your sanity intact.
Host:Welcome to another episode of Mealtime Magic and Mayhem.
Host:Today, I'm thrilled to have Amy Lewis joining us.
Host:She's a master health coach and block therapy instructor with nearly three decades of experience in the health and wellness space.
Host:She's all about helping people create simple, sustainable habits that last a lifetime.
Host:Which fits right in my wheelhouse with creating simple, sustainable habits when it comes to mealtime.
Host:Because when we feel good, we do good, and when we do good, we show it better for ourselves and for our families.
Host:Her expertise covers a broad range from gut health and mental wellness to something called facial realignment, which I can't wait to dive into today.
Host:Her work is focused on guiding clients through holistic transformations of body, mind, and spirit.
Host:And she really focuses on meeting you exactly where you're at and helps you make one, one small step change at a time.
Host:She's also a huge advocate of using practices like mindful breathing to enhance health and wellbeing, including at the dinner table.
Host:What's really exciting is how well Amy's approach aligns with our mission here at Mealtime Magic in Mayhem.
Host:Like I already said, she's passionate about making health practical and accessible, even for busy families.
Host:And today we are going to look at how her methods can help shift the energy around mealtime from chaos to calm and turn it into a chance to reconnect with your people.
Host:So, Amy, you say hello.
Amy Lewis:First of all, thank you so much for having me on today.
Amy Lewis:I loved listening to the introduction, and it really is such a seamless match.
Amy Lewis:So thank you for inviting me to chat today.
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Host:I'm excited, listeners.
Host:We jokingly say we're going to try to keep it to 30 minutes, but if we go over, listen to it in pieces, listen to it when you can, we're just going to have a great casual conversation about her experience and how we can relate that to mealtime and give you some actionable strategies.
Host:So you've been in the health and wellness space for nearly 30 years.
Host:Share a little bit about what drew you to this field and kind of how it's evolved over time.
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Amy Lewis:Thank you so much.
Amy Lewis:I got into, as many of us do, get into our line of work when we take it into entrepreneurship.
Amy Lewis:I got into health and wellness from my own experience.
Amy Lewis:I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which in this day and age is really well known.
Amy Lewis: But in: Amy Lewis:And that led me on a journey of really learning what worked and what didn't.
Amy Lewis:And for me, the medications didn't work.
Amy Lewis:The traditional Western Schliemann route did not work for me.
Amy Lewis:And I then began to research.
Amy Lewis:And, you know, as I got older, not when I was 12, I had a very great experience when I was 12 that my doctor and I think this is really important for parents and adults out there with kids.
Amy Lewis:The doctor spoke directly to me and said, yep, you got this disease, and you can say tough shit and go live your life, or you can stay hungry to get a stomachache because you will get stomach aches.
Amy Lewis:And it was really one of the biggest gifts that I could have been given in a time where it really, you know, stoked the feeling like something's wrong with you when you already do feel like everything's wrong with you at 12, 13.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Host:For sure.
Amy Lewis:So that was really.
Amy Lewis:That was the impetus and was really like, okay, I don't want a colostomy bag.
Amy Lewis:I don't want to keep having surgeries.
Amy Lewis:What are the alternatives?
Amy Lewis:And as I began to heal with the guidance of others, that really took me down the nutritional path.
Amy Lewis:I was already doing the fitness stuff as many young girls and women.
Amy Lewis:I was initially interested in the aesthetics, to be completely transparent.
Amy Lewis:But I got incredible results in my mental health and in my digestive health.
Amy Lewis:And that really was like, wow, there's something here.
Amy Lewis:So that was what initially got me in.
Amy Lewis:And then, like many of us, my dad, unfortunately passed away young, in his.
Amy Lewis:In his mid-50s.
Amy Lewis:Heart disease, cancer, diabetes.
Amy Lewis:And from what I have learned, I.
Amy Lewis:Other than the.
Amy Lewis:Again, mental health and depression, was also part of his journey.
Amy Lewis:The.
Amy Lewis:The dis.
Amy Lewis:Ease.
Amy Lewis:Parts of the physical body, from what I've learned, can be treated.
Amy Lewis:So that's really, you know, my own experiences, my family's experiences.
Amy Lewis:And just seeing for people that are looking for an alternative, for people who are looking for another way, there is.
Amy Lewis:So it's just.
Amy Lewis:And that fits into meeting people where they are.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:Not everybody wants to give up foods, and not everybody wants to do that.
Amy Lewis:But for those who I say, I know what I put in my body matters, that's really, you know, that's what I learned over my experience and then my education.
Host:That's, wow, what an interesting journey you've had.
Host:And I just can't even imagine at 12 and dealing with that.
Host:I mean, one, you've dealt with it your whole life, But I think of all of the teenagers that could be struggling with it now, and I know a lot more is known, but that's not something you want to talk about in your teenage years in the height of everything embarrassing, you.
Amy Lewis:Me too.
Host:Not to mention just, yeah, just being 12 and hormonal and like you said, miserable with everything, pretty much.
Amy Lewis:And that's right.
Amy Lewis:That was a big thing.
Amy Lewis:My parents were very much.
Amy Lewis:They honored me.
Amy Lewis:I didn't want anyone to know I had a disease.
Amy Lewis:And like I said, it wasn't like it was.
Amy Lewis:People knew what Crohn's disease was like.
Amy Lewis:They had no clue.
Amy Lewis:I did have a cousin, interestingly enough, who is now in her 80s, 90s maybe, that had Crohn's disease, but she had it before it was even a named disease.
Amy Lewis:So she grew up sick and in and out of the hospital.
Amy Lewis:And my mom would tell me these stories.
Amy Lewis:And her.
Amy Lewis:Her Crohn's eventually was managed with medication.
Amy Lewis:Ryan was not.
Amy Lewis:So it was very interesting that she's so much older or whatever.
Amy Lewis:So I'm.
Amy Lewis:I'm 54.
Amy Lewis:She's probably 30 or 40 years older than I am.
Amy Lewis:And she had.
Amy Lewis:Had that as well.
Amy Lewis:But at 12.
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Amy Lewis:I didn't want anyone to know, and my parents didn't tell anyone.
Amy Lewis:And they.
Amy Lewis:I'll tell you, what they did was if you're familiar with steroids.
Amy Lewis:I was on prednisone, and my whole face blew up.
Amy Lewis:My rest of my body stayed, but my whole face blew up.
Amy Lewis:And people were, like, contacting my parents, saying, there's something wrong with Amy and my parents, you know, because they were seeing this and they thought my parents just didn't know because they saw me every day.
Amy Lewis:And they finally were like, can we please tell, you know, these close family friends?
Amy Lewis:So, you know, you do.
Amy Lewis:To meet those of you that are 12, 13, in your teens, in any young adult age, people care.
Amy Lewis:And so I just, you know, as an adult, I can look back and see that as a child, when I finally said yes, it was to people that were very close to the family.
Amy Lewis:And so just know that as embarrassed as you feel, everyone has a human body.
Amy Lewis:Everyone's had diarrhea before, and it sucks to talk about it.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:And to have to go to school and to find the bathrooms.
Amy Lewis:And that's exactly why I do what I do.
Amy Lewis:You know, I'm not going to say that I don't still have habits of being like, okay, is there a private bathroom?
Amy Lewis:But I don't need it, the way I'm bored.
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Host:It's almost like once you have chronic digestive issues, you're just sort of trained to know where they are as soon as you go in.
Host:Like, it's really sad, actually.
Amy Lewis:But wait a minute.
Amy Lewis:Is there something private?
Amy Lewis:Is the rest of me to happen?
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:But at the same time, just know that there is hope no matter what path you do choose.
Amy Lewis:And there's a lot, as you said, between, you know, 12, 13, that's a lot of stress in our lives.
Amy Lewis:That mental stress can wreak havoc on the gut as well.
Host:So we're talking to busy families.
Host:So if you have kids in that age range that are having, whether it's Crohn's or chronic digestive issues, like, keep that conversation open so that they know it's okay to have those conversations.
Host:Right.
Host:You know, because you know, I know a lot of adults that don't want to talk about those subjects either.
Host:But the more we can keep that communication line open the better as well as really teaching them.
Host:And I'm sure we'll get into some of this in our further conversation but really helping them understand I'm not going to use the words good or bad but what foods are in alignment with the way their brought their body processes and which ones aren't pay attention to how they feel the day after they've eaten something.
Host:Right.
Amy Lewis:Like that is important.
Amy Lewis:Phenomenal.
Amy Lewis:And everyone's going to be different.
Amy Lewis:So I know sometimes parents get frustrated because they don't want to be a short order cook and I totally get that.
Amy Lewis:And different bodies handle different foods differently.
Amy Lewis:So there might be something that looks like a really healthy meal but that person's biology won't handle it right.
Amy Lewis:So you really when the other thing that works with teenagers that I often forget and then I'm reminded of when there's some blowout is email or text.
Amy Lewis:Kids are embarrassed.
Amy Lewis:It's hard to talk about these things.
Amy Lewis:They are emotional.
Amy Lewis:You can text them and say hey I noticed you're not feeling well or it seems like you're in the bathroom a lot.
Amy Lewis:I don't want to embarrass you but is there any way I can help?
Amy Lewis:You know so if you're not just saying it to them.
Amy Lewis:I know and you Trisha and I were just talking before this about a little situation.
Amy Lewis:I'm like I probably should have texted that instead of asking and that was more right to her face.
Amy Lewis:You know again I mean that's even my old like I'm in my 50s, my brother's in her in his 40s.
Amy Lewis:We will still text with my mom about difficult things because we're healed.
Amy Lewis:So I just want to throw that strategy out there.
Amy Lewis:We forget we're so busy.
Amy Lewis:It's we say thing in something in the moment.
Amy Lewis:It might since we're busy and rushed it might come off in a way that we don't mean.
Host:Yeah.
Amy Lewis:So if it's really.
Amy Lewis:If you're finding that a topic is really difficult to discuss.
Amy Lewis:I found that that works really well with all ages and most of us have suicidal release.
Host:So your focus on gut health and mental wellness is so relevant to busy families struggling with stress and overwhelm and we know that stress contributes to all of these issues.
Host:Can you explain how you know how these aspects affect our overwhelming especially when it comes to creating like a family meal time and we've touched on it a little bit already, but yeah, absolutely.
Amy Lewis:Well, first of all, we're all so busy, right?
Amy Lewis:And we're coming back together to reconnect, but we're still bringing those stressors in from our day.
Amy Lewis:And then if there's stressors at home, if there's been any sort of arguments or maybe there's a big project or maybe there's, you know, even going on a great family vacation, there's still a lot of preparation.
Amy Lewis:So a lot of us don't.
Amy Lewis:So this is going to be complete.
Amy Lewis:You're going to be like, this has nothing to do with mealtime.
Amy Lewis:It's really setting yourself up for success.
Amy Lewis:So this might seem extraneous, but what I highly recommend and I always encourage my own family to do, is to honor your transition time.
Amy Lewis:We will do that.
Amy Lewis:When kids are toddlers, right?
Amy Lewis:We will give them time because they need transition time.
Amy Lewis:Well, a lot of times we do as adults, just sort of let go intentionally.
Amy Lewis:The office or, you know, I work from home, but this office, right.
Amy Lewis:So that now my full attention is with my family.
Amy Lewis:So if you are coming home from the grocery store, even if you do have young kids and you're like the parents maybe are, if you just take a few moments to do that deep breathing, even just three strong deep breaths, first of all, the kids are going to see you doing it and they're going to start to mimic you.
Amy Lewis:They do.
Amy Lewis:But that's going to help to bring your stress hormones down, right?
Amy Lewis:We get elevated, elevated, elevated all day long.
Amy Lewis:All of this stuff coming at us now we're trying to create a meal, and maybe we have sports and we have homework and maybe the adults have projects.
Amy Lewis:So it's.
Amy Lewis:Again, and this isn't going to happen overnight, but how can you be intentional?
Amy Lewis:How can you say, you know, can you get together with your family?
Amy Lewis:And you, depending on your kids, ages, oftentimes you definitely need to lead.
Amy Lewis:But can you make some parameters of your meal time?
Amy Lewis:Can you recruit your family to help?
Amy Lewis:I.
Amy Lewis:When I work with clients, that's a lot, especially around family mealtime.
Amy Lewis:And it's exciting to watch people come in and their kids aren't helping at all and they're overwhelmed because they're doing all the meal prep and they're doing all the cleanup and they're packing all the lunches and they're.
Amy Lewis:The mom is doing everything and it just, it typically is the mom.
Amy Lewis:I'm not trying to be sexist.
Host:No, there typically is.
Host:I mean, you could be talking about a dad Right now too.
Amy Lewis:Yeah, right, exactly.
Host:Either way, it's a lot.
Amy Lewis:It's a lot.
Amy Lewis:And so when we take that responsibility on, we take the weight of the world and we.
Amy Lewis:What we're doing is we're stressing ourselves out and we're disempowering our family members.
Amy Lewis:So it's.
Amy Lewis:That's a lose, lose.
Amy Lewis:So what we want to do is make this a win, win.
Amy Lewis:So what do we want at family time?
Amy Lewis:We want it to be calm.
Amy Lewis:We want to be.
Amy Lewis:We have this idea, right.
Amy Lewis:We want to be able to connect, but we know someone's gonna be probably in not such a good mood.
Amy Lewis:So you can't deal with these things when that's happening, Right.
Amy Lewis:If someone's really can't start being like, well, how can we make mealtime really nice?
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:So that's not the time to do it.
Amy Lewis:But maybe again, it could be that email or that text and say, you know, we wanna make mealtime fun.
Amy Lewis:What ideas do you have?
Amy Lewis:The kids come up with, really, even as teenagers and young adults, they come up with really great things.
Amy Lewis:So I know I'm not giving you a specific thing.
Amy Lewis:Number one, I am.
Amy Lewis:Honor your transition times and even just take three strong deep breaths, fill all the way up and exhale all the way out.
Amy Lewis:You cannot hold on to your stress when you're focused on your breath.
Amy Lewis:Those stress hormones are going to wreak havoc in your gut.
Amy Lewis:It just ends up triggering the bad bacteria.
Amy Lewis:You can have stomach pain, you don't feel like eating, or you want to eat crap because now you're in fight or flight.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:So those three strong breaths are going to be my number one tool for you no matter where you are.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:Especially if you have younger kids and you are just strapped to the max.
Amy Lewis:So that's going to be the first thing.
Amy Lewis:And then the next thing would be to do you want to take time to engage your family or do you want to sort of silently start changing the energy of meal time?
Amy Lewis:And I'm going to pause there because I feel like I've said a lot of things and I really want to simplify for people.
Amy Lewis:And so the three breaths are going to be really, really important.
Amy Lewis:And then let's go from there.
Host:Yeah, I love that.
Host:Because you know that all of my work is about shifting the energy of mealtime.
Host:Right.
Amy Lewis:And.
Host:And I do.
Host:I mean, what you said has everything to do with mealtime, quite honestly, because there is that transition time and I work with my clients a lot on what does that look like for you?
Host:Is it three deep breaths.
Host:Is it.
Host:Are you tired and you need to be energized and you need to find a playlist that lifts you up or are you all angsty?
Host:You need a playlist that calms you down.
Host:Is it the three deep breaths?
Host:Is it having somebody come into the kitchen while you take that transition time?
Host:Can you ask your husband, your spouse, your partner, your children, here's what we're cooking tonight.
Host:Can you just get everything out for me and on the counter while I take five minutes?
Host:And we really do have to lead by example because the energy that we bring to the table is the energy they read and they receive.
Host:So we want to change the energy.
Amy Lewis:It has to start with us a hundred percent.
Amy Lewis:And I used to be so mad.
Amy Lewis:Like, I remember being like, why does my mood need to dictate everything?
Amy Lewis:And then it's, it's actually empowering and keeps you in check.
Amy Lewis:Now that does not mean I don't lose it.
Amy Lewis:It doesn't mean I'm not in a bad mood and have something happen.
Amy Lewis:But it does mean that we bring awareness to that pain and say, okay, I do get to create what I want and I'm only in control of me.
Amy Lewis:And so it's.
Amy Lewis:I love that you're saying, what is it?
Amy Lewis:You know, the breathing is going to come into play.
Amy Lewis:But it might not be your first go to.
Amy Lewis:Because if you're amped up, taking three strong deep breaths, if you're not practiced in that, if that's not something that's part of you, you're going to feel really resistant to it.
Amy Lewis:So the playlist is a great idea.
Amy Lewis:Maybe you want to dance it out when you're.
Host:Then all of a sudden you remember to breathe, right?
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Host:The trigger to.
Host:Or it could be like, now I'm calm.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Host:Like it, it all, all that works together.
Host:The other thing I'm going to say about the energy that we bring, if you're cooking with stressed, angsty, tapped out energy, I'm going to tell you the food is not going to taste as good and they will be able to taste it and feel it.
Host:As crazy as that sounds, everything is energy.
Amy Lewis:Everything is energy.
Amy Lewis:And I love that you brought that into it because it is true.
Amy Lewis:Have you ever noticed somebody in a really.
Amy Lewis:It's a.
Amy Lewis:This year's a really interesting one.
Amy Lewis:My father passed away.
Amy Lewis:My mother was never a great cook, but after my father passed away, it was like, bad.
Amy Lewis:She was so miserable and so sad and it was like she had to eat to survive.
Amy Lewis:And then my Son was born, and boy did the food change.
Amy Lewis:All over the moon with the first grandchild, and everything was delicious.
Amy Lewis:She was bringing us food.
Amy Lewis:I mean, she had never been a better cook, right?
Amy Lewis:But she.
Amy Lewis:The joy in her heart and the joy.
Amy Lewis:And I have goosebumps now even talking about it.
Amy Lewis:The joy that was brought back to her life by.
Amy Lewis:And this wasn't a Ben outside of her.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:But she.
Amy Lewis:You could really taste that in the food.
Host:So if you don't believe us, I want you to pick a dish, and I want you to cook it on a really shitty day when you don't take the deep breaths, right?
Host:And I want you to pay attention to how much did you burn?
Host:What did you forget to put in it?
Host:What did it taste like?
Host:And what was the conversation like around the table?
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Host:And then I want you, the next time to take the three deep breaths, the playlist, whatever it is, cook the same dish.
Host:After you've taken that breath and thought, instead of, I have to feed these people, I want you to think I have an opportunity to nourish and connect with my people.
Amy Lewis:Such a shame.
Host:What's different?
Amy Lewis:Yeah, it's so.
Amy Lewis:And it feels so different.
Amy Lewis:And remember, you know, it's not.
Amy Lewis:If you're not in these habits, it's okay.
Amy Lewis:You're gonna take a step forward and two or three back, right?
Amy Lewis:And then you're sort of retraining your family as well.
Amy Lewis:If they're used to us being uptight and stressed out, then they're feeling that and acting on that.
Amy Lewis:The other gift we're giving to our families is showing our families that even though life can be stressful and there can be challenges all the time, we can still have this respite around the table where everything else melts away.
Amy Lewis:Because.
Amy Lewis:So what's really been on my mind, and I do want to do a post about this because I have spent, unfortunately, a lot of time in cemeteries lately.
Amy Lewis:And what I have noticed.
Amy Lewis:But this is really relevant.
Amy Lewis:I have.
Amy Lewis:What I have noticed is all it says is a name, dates, maybe loving son or husband or whatever, or, you know, for women, something different.
Amy Lewis:Nowhere does it say how much money you made, what your job was, how your relationship is with your kids or your spouse or your parents or your siblings or your community.
Amy Lewis:And so what the epiphany for me, which I've known, but it just really, like, that being in the cemetery, like, that was like, oh, my gosh, like, it really is up to me, and it really is like, no one else is responsible for my Experience besides me.
Amy Lewis:And when it's all over, no one's going to know what that was except for me.
Amy Lewis:So I want to give you that gift.
Amy Lewis:Not to be morbid, but to remind you that life is brutally short.
Amy Lewis:And so to find the joy because your experience around the table, in the kitchen.
Amy Lewis:And then as that seeps, you know, when you're better people, better world, when we.
Amy Lewis:When we feel good, we do good.
Amy Lewis:And you will ripple out and make this a better world because you took the time to find joy and love within your heart.
Amy Lewis:And when you realize that nothing else matters.
Amy Lewis:And it's taken me a long time, so please don't take it.
Amy Lewis:Like, it's not that.
Amy Lewis:It's just.
Amy Lewis:It's such a gift when you can have those moments.
Amy Lewis:So it's.
Amy Lewis:Again, like you said, Trisha, you get to nourish these people.
Amy Lewis:You get to love on them.
Amy Lewis:And you could just say, I'm really freaking tired today and I can't do it.
Amy Lewis:Can you help me?
Amy Lewis:Or you know what?
Amy Lewis:I can't do it.
Amy Lewis:Can we order out or there's leftovers or, you know, be.
Amy Lewis:So that you're.
Amy Lewis:You're honoring yourself but also giving your family members the gift of.
Amy Lewis:The example of them being able to honor themselves.
Amy Lewis:Yes.
Amy Lewis:If that makes sense.
Host:And I will tell you, like, even when you do have these habits ingrained and this is more of your lifestyle, you're still gonna screw it up.
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Host:And you're not gonna get it.
Host:Right.
Host:Because we all have really shitty days where we just can't do it and we forget to do the things until in hindsight, you're like, wow, that was an unsatisfying meal in every way.
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Host:Right.
Host:Like, we.
Host:We're still gonna have those moments.
Host:The other thing I wanna point out, as we talk about the kitchen and the table, please remember that that can be proverbial.
Host:Right.
Host: d the table like we're in the: Host:Like, that is so not my jam.
Host:But do we try to sit at the table once a week?
Host:Yes.
Host:Do we sit at the.
Host:Do we even sit on the couch and watch TV together while we're eating dinner?
Host:Yes.
Host:Watching a show that we bond over and talk about.
Host:Or that is something that has been interesting to my kids.
Host:Right.
Host:Like it's the table's whatever you make it.
Host: the coulds, the shoulds, the: Host:I don't know many June Cleavers that exist.
Amy Lewis:I love that you brought that up because I was brought up like my mother was.
Amy Lewis: You know, she was born in the: Amy Lewis: I was born in: Amy Lewis:And we did have a dinner every single night at the table.
Amy Lewis:My mother was very regimented and my husband did not grow up that way.
Amy Lewis:And so it took me a long time to be okay with sitting on the couch and eating dinner in front of the television, because that did not go over my house.
Amy Lewis:There was no.
Host:And all the health gurus say, don't eat in front of the tv.
Host:I think the point is don't mindlessly eat in front of the tv.
Amy Lewis:I agree with you.
Amy Lewis:That's, you know, when I say I do tell people about raising an entire bag of chips if you're not, if you're not being mindful.
Amy Lewis:So really being intentional is a, is the theme that I'm hearing in our conversation is let's be intentional about, you know, what are we creating at home?
Amy Lewis:How do we meet the needs of, you know, different people?
Amy Lewis:Do you.
Amy Lewis:There are families that say, oh, you have.
Amy Lewis:Somebody has celiacs.
Amy Lewis:Everybody's gluten free.
Amy Lewis:But there are other families that say, okay, how can we best support, support this person and not other people?
Amy Lewis:Because it can backfire.
Amy Lewis:If you make your entire family go gluten free when, although I do believe it is the best for people's bodies, some people can tolerate it.
Amy Lewis:And if I make you not have it, you're likely going to go nuts on it, which will be very unhealthy.
Amy Lewis:So it's again, what's right for your family, which can be really frustrating when you're listening to a podcast that's like, but tell me what to do.
Amy Lewis:And really it's honoring yourself, your family, and then what's the intention?
Amy Lewis:I always want to lead with love.
Amy Lewis:I want to find joy.
Amy Lewis:Do I do it?
Amy Lewis:Do I find it all the time?
Amy Lewis:No.
Amy Lewis:But again, what is your intention?
Amy Lewis:What's right for your family?
Amy Lewis:Is there a way to say, okay, so you're not short order cooking, like, that's really hard and busy families.
Amy Lewis:But you, if you know, you have a gluten free person or dairy free person, in this day and age, it's usually pretty simple to find things, right.
Amy Lewis:That at that end, the stuff doesn't taste like crap anymore.
Amy Lewis:It's not like cardboard anymore.
Amy Lewis:So a lot of times my family will be like, wow, that's gluten free.
Amy Lewis:Wow, that's healthy.
Amy Lewis:Like, I just don't tell them.
Amy Lewis:And Right.
Amy Lewis:I think if I don't tell them.
Amy Lewis:If I tell them that, they get an attitude in their mind already.
Amy Lewis:But when I don't tell them, you know, nothing, they, they don't know.
Amy Lewis:And then if they're like, this is great, I'm like, yeah, it's gluten free.
Amy Lewis:So I love that.
Host:And also remember that now you have resources.
Host:Right?
Host:So one of my favorite things to do is help create routines and process and solutions for people who do have dietary restrictions.
Host:And how can we make it so that it's easy to feed your whole family and not be a short order cook?
Host:Like, there's lots of creative ways to do that.
Host:And it doesn't, like you said, it doesn't have to be where everybody's eating gluten free and it doesn't have to be where you're cooking multiple meals.
Host:Like, there is a middle ground that can be really fun and delicious.
Host:And I know that it can be a real adjustment, right?
Host:Like, it's a real adjustment to figure out how to cut out those things, Especially if you're used to cooking a certain way or raised cooking a certain way.
Host:There are challenges there.
Host:So as we talk about that, let's talk about how do we balance that nutrition, that wellness, and those realistic expectations, like, what advice do you have for them when it comes to setting those realistic health goals as they're transitioning into that or discovering that it's an issue.
Host:Right.
Amy Lewis:I think the number one thing is to really identify and it's again, this, this being intentional.
Amy Lewis:What is your goal?
Amy Lewis:Like, why do you even care?
Amy Lewis:Why are you changing in real time?
Amy Lewis:Why does something need to change?
Amy Lewis:Why are you listening to this podcast?
Amy Lewis:Why did you reach out to Trisha?
Amy Lewis:You know, why are you like, huh?
Amy Lewis:What does Amy have to say?
Amy Lewis:So number one is why.
Amy Lewis:Why is it even important to you?
Amy Lewis:Are, you know, so you want to go and see?
Amy Lewis:Well, maybe your kids are, you know, having reactions, or maybe it's just like, it's mayhem and I can't take this anymore.
Amy Lewis:It's chaos and it's just not healthy for anyone.
Amy Lewis:Right?
Amy Lewis:So whatever it is, there's no right or wrong.
Amy Lewis:But as you hear with anything, whether it's your, your health, whether it's your fitness goals, whether it's your financial goals, your education goals, you've got to be rooted in.
Amy Lewis:Why is this important to you?
Amy Lewis:Because it will be challenging.
Amy Lewis:And when things are challenging as humans, it's nothing wrong with you, it's just human beings.
Amy Lewis:You're like, ah, it's too hard.
Amy Lewis:Throw in the towel.
Amy Lewis:And if you don't have a strong why, and if you don't get sick every single time you eat gluten or dairy like I do, you are not going to do those things if you're not really rooted.
Amy Lewis:And believe me, even after I was diagnosed at 12, I'm 54, almost daily I am looking at something and going, don't eat that.
Amy Lewis:You're gonna feel like fap, your stomach's gonna hurt.
Amy Lewis:You gonna be in the bathroom the rest of the night.
Amy Lewis:So even though I know this, I still have those conversations and need to be intentional.
Amy Lewis:And I know what bothers me more than other things.
Amy Lewis:So that's.
Amy Lewis:Number one is why.
Amy Lewis:Number two for yourself, as you said earlier, Trisha, start to pay attention to how you're feeling.
Amy Lewis:And so if you're listening to this, whether you're an adult or you are a not quite there yet as an adult, you're a, you know, young person, school age, coming into maybe tween, and then teen and young adulthood.
Amy Lewis:This do empower yourself.
Amy Lewis:How do you want to feel?
Amy Lewis:Maybe you never even thought about that, right?
Amy Lewis:Why do we even eat?
Amy Lewis:So number one is why.
Amy Lewis:Why are you trying to change your meal time?
Amy Lewis:What.
Amy Lewis:What is it like?
Amy Lewis:And then not only why, right?
Amy Lewis:When we look at why do we want to change it, we're usually looking at the problem, which is very important.
Amy Lewis:And with you, in an ideal world, if I could wave a magic wand, what do you want your meal times to look like now?
Amy Lewis:It doesn't have to, right?
Amy Lewis:Like, if you're like, I would love to in Cleveland, I want those.
Amy Lewis:So how can you work that in and then also meet your family?
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:I've been saying to my family, I'd really like to sit down at the table.
Amy Lewis:Like when the kids come home for dinner, I like once in a while, they're not here ever anymore.
Amy Lewis:So I personally would like to sit at a table without the TV on because I want to connect with them.
Amy Lewis:They're just not.
Amy Lewis:They don't really live here.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:So it's, it's.
Amy Lewis:That's important to me when it's like, oh, we're just going to break bread together and enjoy the meal together and talk about.
Amy Lewis:We're connecting about what's, Whatever's on the television.
Amy Lewis:It's a different.
Amy Lewis:It's just different experience.
Amy Lewis:Right?
Amy Lewis:So number one is why.
Amy Lewis:Why are you changing meal times at all?
Amy Lewis:In a perfect world, what would that look like for you and your family?
Amy Lewis:And then we can look at.
Amy Lewis:All right.
Amy Lewis:How do we make that happen, right?
Amy Lewis:Like you said, you meet people where you.
Amy Lewis:Where they are.
Amy Lewis:I do the same thing.
Amy Lewis:I don't say you have to change everything today.
Host:That would be like, yeah, here's your meal plan.
Host:Oh, that's like the fastest way to failure for me is to tell me what to do and exactly how to do it.
Amy Lewis:Isn't it funny?
Amy Lewis:Because there are so.
Amy Lewis:It's really interesting.
Amy Lewis:I had a fitness studio for years, and then I've been online and I've been in the business for almost 30 years.
Amy Lewis:And I find a lot of people will ask for the opposite of the way they actually work.
Amy Lewis:They'll be like, I want a meal plan and I want to.
Amy Lewis:And then they're like, but I can't do this.
Amy Lewis:And then we go back to that really flexible, like, okay, you know, you need to get some greens in.
Amy Lewis:And again, you know, there's things that are just.
Amy Lewis:It's re.
Amy Lewis:Educating ourselves.
Amy Lewis:When the kids were growing up, I had a book called, like, how to get your kid to eat but not too much.
Amy Lewis:I don't know if you've heard of that book.
Amy Lewis:It's really, really good because, you know, we have.
Amy Lewis:When I grew up, it was like three meals a day.
Amy Lewis:And then when I was first in fitness, it was like every two to three hours.
Amy Lewis:Everyone's body is different and every day is different.
Amy Lewis:So it's really, you know, setting that intention that why, what do you want to change?
Amy Lewis:Why do you want to change it?
Amy Lewis:In an ideal world, what does that look like for you?
Amy Lewis:And then just looking at, you know, what could you imagine doing, right?
Amy Lewis:A lot of people quit before they start because they think they have to work out three times a week and drink eight glasses of water and I have to eat both foods.
Amy Lewis:Like, but since we're talking about mealtime and you get in one green vegetable at dinner time, right?
Amy Lewis:I don't care if you have pizza.
Amy Lewis:Can you get.
Amy Lewis:And I'm not saying pizza's bad.
Amy Lewis:I like pizza too.
Amy Lewis:Like, you know, can you.
Amy Lewis:And I do gluten and dairy free.
Amy Lewis:Because I'm, you know, I do.
Amy Lewis:Can you do something green, right?
Amy Lewis:So it's again, what.
Amy Lewis:Why are you doing it?
Amy Lewis:Why do you want to change?
Amy Lewis:What do you want things to look like?
Amy Lewis:And then what's one thing that you could imagine either adding in, right?
Amy Lewis:Or one thing that you're like, this has got to stop.
Amy Lewis:It could be that you really feel like crap and you're having a glass of wine every night.
Amy Lewis:And if you're Honest with yourself, it's making you depressed, and you wake up in the morning and you don't feel good, and maybe you're like, screw you, Amy.
Amy Lewis:I drink a glass of wine every night and I feel fine.
Amy Lewis:So that's fine.
Amy Lewis:I'm not telling.
Host:For somebody else, it might not.
Host:Right, Right.
Amy Lewis:But if you are honest with yourself and you know that something's not making you feel good, are you willing?
Amy Lewis:Are you ready?
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:There's no.
Amy Lewis:Are you ready to give yourself the gift of saying, you know what?
Amy Lewis:I don't want to feel that way.
Amy Lewis:You know?
Amy Lewis:You know, it's.
Amy Lewis:Again, why, why?
Amy Lewis:Why do you want to change anything anyway?
Amy Lewis:Something's got to give.
Amy Lewis:Why?
Amy Lewis:What do you want it to look like?
Amy Lewis:And then what's one thing that you can do that, you know, either add or take away?
Host:I love that our styles are very similar, and I love that I'm sitting here listening to you going, did you already listen to one of my podcasts?
Host:That's so funny.
Host:So one of the things and then in our conversations previously that I was totally blown away by, and we've talked about Crohn's and chronic digestive issues and, like, you know, and even if it's not chronic digestive issues, but everybody, I would venture to say almost everybody has at least one food intolerance.
Host:Right.
Host:Foods that don't make us feel good.
Host:Gut.
Host:We know that the gut to brain connection is incredibly important.
Host:And you were talking to me about something called block therapy and facial realignment, and that's not something I've ever heard of, and you sort of blew my mind with it.
Host:So tell us a little bit about what that is and how those techniques can help with common, I'm going to say, meal time or food complaints like stress, bloating, discomfort.
Amy Lewis:Absolutely.
Amy Lewis:So block therapy is the missing link.
Amy Lewis:And it is really interesting because the creators of block therapy and you can see these boxes behind me with their logo on it, and I do have blocks.
Amy Lewis:I'll pull out for you in just a moment.
Amy Lewis:The.
Amy Lewis:I was gonna say something about the woman who created it, but I don't remember what I was like, so I'll come back to that.
Host:Happens all the time.
Amy Lewis:Oh, but she says that.
Amy Lewis:So before I even knew that, it said, you know, block therapy, the missing link within Alfred Mons.
Amy Lewis:That's.
Amy Lewis:I.
Amy Lewis:Having been in the industry for so many years, I discovered block therapy probably about two years ago, maybe a little bit more.
Amy Lewis:It's been around for about as long as I've been in health and Wellness.
Amy Lewis:Really exciting to hear.
Amy Lewis:And the greatest thing about block therapy is you literally lie around on this block and you get sick.
Amy Lewis:Now, I know what you're thinking, like.
Host:Oh, that sounds crazy.
Amy Lewis:Sounds crazy.
Amy Lewis:But what happens is.
Amy Lewis:And I'm just gonna grab my block buddy.
Amy Lewis:What happens is we have a fascial sheath over the entire body, and it actually connects to every cell in our body.
Amy Lewis:So we are getting information.
Amy Lewis:The fascia is getting information from every cell in the body.
Amy Lewis:And what happens is we're living.
Amy Lewis:Right, we're living life and we're fighting gravity and we're aging and we begin to spiral forward and we begin to compress.
Amy Lewis:So if you've ever been tight in your chest or you notice maybe bloating and.
Amy Lewis:Yeah, right.
Amy Lewis:And the rib cage, I'm sometimes think, I don't know why is my stomach sticking out.
Amy Lewis:And it's simply the ribs are compressing and pushing the organs down and there's nowhere for them to go.
Amy Lewis:So now our belly's floated now, is it?
Amy Lewis:I am not diagnosing, obviously, but I do need to say that for those of you listening, that's very, very common.
Amy Lewis:And the fascia, we're adhered to bone with an up to 2,000 pound per square inch force.
Amy Lewis:So what that means is the fascia's adhering to the bone and then pulling the body out of alignment.
Amy Lewis:So what block therapy does it is it creates space and it allows your body not to not only realign the fascia, but to realign the entire body on a cellular level.
Amy Lewis:So if you imagine like a.
Amy Lewis:Maybe like a crushed.
Amy Lewis:Like maybe there's like a.
Amy Lewis:If you ever saw those Pilates small balls.
Amy Lewis:And when you lie.
Host:Yeah.
Host:Or like the.
Host:One of the micro.
Host:Their.
Host:Their facial.
Host:Little facial.
Host:But like I even have the little ones that your toes and.
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Amy Lewis:So you cringe.
Amy Lewis:You.
Amy Lewis:Those people are like, isn't it like a foam roller?
Amy Lewis:Is it.
Amy Lewis:So those are all fascia release tools for sure.
Amy Lewis:What makes this different?
Amy Lewis:And I'm like, it really has changed my life.
Amy Lewis:I got into block therapy because a colleague and friend of mine told me about it.
Amy Lewis:And we.
Amy Lewis:We do this to each other for decades.
Amy Lewis:And she'll.
Amy Lewis:That's how I introduced the TRX and suspension training to her years and years ago.
Amy Lewis:We then got certified together.
Amy Lewis:She told me about block therapy.
Amy Lewis:We always are sort of eye rolling and then like, all right, tell me the other.
Amy Lewis:We know, like, we get it.
Amy Lewis:We really do our research.
Amy Lewis:So when I first started there's.
Amy Lewis:Which I shared with you the sampler program.
Amy Lewis:There's a sampler program that you can use a roll towel as your tool.
Amy Lewis:When you start getting incredible results, you start to feel like, well, can I use a yoga block?
Amy Lewis:You can, but you really can't.
Amy Lewis:This is the block.
Amy Lewis:And you can see, you probably can't tell because we're on zoom.
Amy Lewis:It's a little smaller than a yoga block.
Amy Lewis:It has rounded edges.
Amy Lewis:Yeah, we fit, right.
Amy Lewis:You use it for your whole body.
Amy Lewis:But we start right on the belly button, and we start with diaphragmatic breathing.
Amy Lewis:So you had asked about the gut brain production.
Amy Lewis:When we are stressed and then we're eating junk, our gut is getting gunked up, we can't absorb nutrients.
Amy Lewis:And now the vagus nerve, which is responsible for communicating the gut and the brain is not able to get those signals back and forth.
Amy Lewis:So that can create just a feeling of just being overwhelmed.
Amy Lewis:It can create sadness, it can create a lot of things.
Amy Lewis:It can create just serious mental issues.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:With depression.
Amy Lewis:What block therapy can do, and what I love about black therapy is if you ever wanted to be able to lay around and get fit.
Amy Lewis:And I am not telling people not to do other activities or move their bodies, but this is a wonderful way to start you, because what will happen is you start to create the space.
Amy Lewis:Now the organs go back where they belong.
Amy Lewis:The cells rehydrate.
Amy Lewis:Instead of being crushed, now they boom.
Amy Lewis:They balloon right back into that circular, really buoyant state.
Amy Lewis:Your whole body starts to feel lighter and you start to open up.
Amy Lewis:So how does that affect gut health?
Amy Lewis:Because now you've got the oxygen growing, you've got the blood flowing now you've opened up the nerve pathways around.
Amy Lewis:Since you talk about energetics, you're opening up the meridians so your energy can flow.
Amy Lewis:And it's.
Host:I would also imagine, like, with all of that, you naturally have more energy.
Host:You're naturally just feeling better.
Host:Right.
Host:More comfortable even.
Host:Which then is going to help you with that motivation to do the other exercise that you don't have when you feel like shit.
Amy Lewis:Exactly.
Amy Lewis:And it's a great place to start.
Amy Lewis:So when you are in the mode of not like, I'm hitting snooze, I'm rolling over, I'm so stressed after work, and I'm not even going for that walk.
Amy Lewis:When you start with this, and I tell clients, start with three minutes a day, start with three minutes a day,.
Amy Lewis:Just in the belly position.
Amy Lewis:And the belly position is literally right on your belly button, it's more unleashed.
Amy Lewis:This is a ski Sweatshirt from For my kids.
Amy Lewis:We're in this unleashed program, but it's really a good message.
Amy Lewis:But this is right below my ribs, above my pelvic bone.
Amy Lewis:I am the size of a 10 year old.
Amy Lewis:So just letting you know, never for although we're in more space than I do or we start there and there.
Amy Lewis:It's very, you know, it's not confusing, it's very, very simple.
Amy Lewis:And that's why I try to just distill it down to creating space, realigning on a cellular level.
Amy Lewis:And when we do those things, you're calmer right now your cortisol levels are not those, your stress hormones are not through the roof.
Amy Lewis:Now you can begin to make these decisions from a more grounded place simply from really being able to break up what's going on in the gut.
Amy Lewis:It's really, and it sounds like crazy, right?
Amy Lewis:How can that, you know, realign the body?
Amy Lewis:But it's really, again, it's a whole practice.
Amy Lewis:So it's, it is, it will blow your mind.
Amy Lewis:I have a very small group here at Local Reach about like, literally I can fit five people in the streets.
Amy Lewis:But it's a two and a half hour like intro discussion and it's people leave or they, they message me saying they can't believe how amazing they feel.
Amy Lewis:So for those of you listening, if you're like, what are you talking about?
Amy Lewis:Pro, I would be, I would love, I'm obsessed with this and this is a big piece.
Amy Lewis:When I do personal plans for people, I do have a long term plan, but then we start somewhere, right?
Amy Lewis:So as practitioners we can sort of see that 30,000 foot view.
Amy Lewis:But then we share with you the next step so you're not overwhelmed.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:If we piled all the food on a table that you were going to eat today, you'd probably be overwhelmed.
Amy Lewis:But we give it to you a little bit at a time.
Amy Lewis:So that's the way.
Amy Lewis:This, what I'd like to gift you is a sampler program so you can get little bites at a time and use a rolled towel at home.
Amy Lewis:And you will start to feel amazing and you're going to be like, Amy, what the heck is this?
Host:I need blocks.
Amy Lewis:I need blocks.
Amy Lewis:And I, you know, I do run things online as well.
Amy Lewis:My distance is online.
Amy Lewis:I just also like to connect in my little Vermont.
Amy Lewis:Hang on, no people.
Host:I love that.
Host:Thank you so much for offering that really generous gift.
Host:I love the idea that they can try it out and you know, see what, see what it's all about.
Host:When it sounds a Little bit crazy, but if it's three minutes a day and I have a towel, like, why not try it?
Amy Lewis:And I do want to clarify that the lessons in.
Amy Lewis:So what.
Amy Lewis:What happens is you get connected to block therapy, which is amazing.
Amy Lewis:And I do personally know Deanna and Quinn, who are in the videos.
Amy Lewis:They are, like, incredible people.
Amy Lewis:They are into the energetics that they are.
Amy Lewis:You know, Deanna was a bodyworker, and she noticed the spiraling, the Fibonacci sequences in the body.
Amy Lewis:It's a.
Amy Lewis:I'm.
Amy Lewis:I'm definitely.
Amy Lewis:This is something I'm very passionate about, so I'm controlling myself.
Amy Lewis:Really an amazing practice.
Amy Lewis:What got me into it were two things.
Amy Lewis: I broke my back in: Amy Lewis:I was grateful that I could walk.
Amy Lewis:I was grateful that I could participate in life.
Amy Lewis:I was not getting into a bike park again.
Amy Lewis:I was 50 years old when it happened.
Amy Lewis:I was following my son.
Amy Lewis:I was on a trail I'd been on a million times, but I was showing off.
Amy Lewis:Never show off for your teenage son.
Amy Lewis:And I ended up just in a.
Amy Lewis:It was.
Amy Lewis:It was totally rider error.
Amy Lewis:I thought I would have back pain forever, which was a small price to pay, right?
Amy Lewis:Because I had freaking four different braces in my back, like, couldn't walk.
Amy Lewis:It was terrible.
Amy Lewis:When I started this practice, the two things that sold me were my back pain went away.
Amy Lewis:No more back pain.
Host:It's amazing.
Amy Lewis:And then my digestion improved, and I was like, I couldn't.
Amy Lewis:My digestion is pretty good, like, with all these years in the field, but it was amazing.
Amy Lewis:And then my reverse testimonial, Trisha, was that I was in Florida for a couple months with my mom, and I didn't.
Amy Lewis:I was not intentional with my block therapy.
Amy Lewis:And you can imagine it was very stressful.
Amy Lewis:She was very ill.
Amy Lewis:And so everything started to compress again.
Amy Lewis:I noticed, wow.
Amy Lewis:Get on that block.
Amy Lewis:Do what you tell your clients to do.
Amy Lewis:And then with my nephew, I had it in the hospital.
Amy Lewis:I was like, I'm not making that mistake again.
Amy Lewis:So, you know, it's a really amazing, simple practice.
Amy Lewis:You can do it on the couch.
Amy Lewis:You can follow the lessons or not, But I am happy, you know, to answer any questions because it does sound nuts.
Amy Lewis:But it's.
Amy Lewis:It's a really incredible scientific approach.
Amy Lewis:So thank you.
Host:I can't wait to get started on mine.
Host:We got mine yesterday, so.
Host:All right.
Host:So as we wrap up, and I have a feeling I know what it's going to be, but if you had one key message, you want our Listeners.
Host:To take away from today's conversation, what would it be?
Amy Lewis:Oh, one key thing.
Amy Lewis:I Meet yourself where you are.
Amy Lewis:Stop being so hard on yourself.
Amy Lewis:Meet yourself where you are and know that all you need to do is take the one next step.
Amy Lewis:Like, what's the best next step?
Amy Lewis:I'm like, I'm wondering what she thought I was going to say.
Amy Lewis:But that's, that's really what's coming through.
Amy Lewis:And I have learned also to really listen and allow those messages to come through.
Amy Lewis:So just meet yourself where you are.
Amy Lewis:You're doing amazing.
Amy Lewis:Right?
Amy Lewis:Notice that, celebrate that, and then let's take that one next step.
Amy Lewis:You know me, I, I, I strongly believe in breathing, but it's hard to remember that sometimes.
Amy Lewis:So what's the best?
Amy Lewis:You know, it might be the best, worst choice?
Amy Lewis:Because sometimes that's right.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:So that's what I would say.
Host:We don't do enough, we don't do a good enough job of meeting ourselves where we're at.
Host:We would never talk to someone else the way we talk to ourselves.
Amy Lewis:So what I tell people, and I will I just share this with you really quickly when I do teach yoga also and when we do like a full body stretch and we hug, this is I watching these.
Amy Lewis:I'm going to be totally trans I watching these Instagram videos just because they, like, are so heartwarming of.
Amy Lewis:Do you ever see those videos where the person surprised, like they came home from the military or they haven't seen the other person in forever.
Amy Lewis:It's like parents or spouses or, and the other person, like, they run to each other and we just like, are you can see the love and the intensity.
Amy Lewis:And so what I want to invite you to do is give yourself that love, be that person for you and try again in each moment.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:We're so used to not thinking we're good enough.
Amy Lewis:So please watch those videos on Instagram.
Amy Lewis:But I want to encourage you to mindlessly scroll.
Amy Lewis:But I'll tell you, they are heartwarming.
Amy Lewis:And if you can be that person for yourself because you are the only one you're guaranteed to be with forever, you are going to be way ahead of the game.
Host:So, so true.
Host:And will improve all your other relationships.
Host:It really will.
Host:It really will.
Host:So is there anything else you want us to know about your business programs, offers and where everybody can connect with you?
Amy Lewis:Yeah.
Amy Lewis:So you can find me.
Amy Lewis:I have, you know, very simple.
Amy Lewis:I've simplified over the years.
Amy Lewis:I have some very simple ways that you can get started.
Amy Lewis:Like I said, I'm happy to give you the sampler program.
Amy Lewis:I do have a mindful breathing guide, which is incredible.
Amy Lewis:Also a free gift for you.
Amy Lewis:And when you're ready to get started, you know, I go step by step, Write a simple 10 day detox and then we step up if you're ready for a just the comprehensive audit.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:When I do audits, I want to see and showcase and shine that light on what you're doing.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:So when I do a comprehensive health, nutrition and lifestyle audit, the first thing I do is point out what you're doing well and keep doing these things.
Amy Lewis:And then we look at what can you add.
Amy Lewis:Right.
Amy Lewis:Once we create that for our and then of course the block therapy.
Amy Lewis:So, you know, I would say I don't want to overwhelm you.
Amy Lewis:Grab the sampler program.
Amy Lewis:I have to do it in a little bit of a different way.
Amy Lewis:So I'm going to say to reach out to me, you can either email me and I'll share that with you, Amy at Fusion Fitness Vt as in Vermont.
Amy Lewis:Com and you can find me on social media.
Amy Lewis:And I'm laughing because I just changed my apples.
Amy Lewis:I don't remember on my Instagram.
Amy Lewis:I think I'm like Amy Ruis, master health coach.
Amy Lewis:But we can list those.
Amy Lewis:Tricia.
Host:Yeah, we're going to drop all the links in the show notes and it's so fun talking to you.
Amy Lewis:Yeah, it's so great talking to you.
Amy Lewis:And you know, you can even drop questions here and.
Host:Absolutely.
Amy Lewis:So, you know, put you first.
Amy Lewis:Please love on yourself.
Amy Lewis:When we love ourselves, we do so much better and better people, better world.
Amy Lewis:I truly, truly believe that.
Amy Lewis:So thank you so much.
Amy Lewis:I know there's more to come for us.
Host:Yeah, I think so.
Host:I think so.
Host:It's been so fun and I'm so fascinated.
Host:I love your story and I'm just so fascinated and I can't wait to learn more about block therapy.
Host:We would love to know what you think about the episode.
Host:If you have any questions for either one of us, please drop them here, wherever you're listening or watching and I'll see you in the next episode.
Amy Lewis:Take care.
Tricia:And that's a wrap on today's episode of Mealtime Magic and Mayhem.
Tricia:I hope you're feeling a little more ready to tackle the dinner chaos and find some magic in the everyday.
Tricia:If you've enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you could take a quick minute to leave a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening.
Tricia:Your feedback helps this show reach more amazing women just like you.
Tricia:It totally makes my day to hear what's resonating with you.
Tricia:Until next time, keep finding those sparks of joy around the table.
Tricia:Thanks for listening, and I'll catch you in the next episode.
