BE... Here Now: Choose to breath consciously.

When someone says to you “Be Here Now,” what does that mean to you and how often do you give yourself permission to be fully present anywhere. I'm going to guess very little, if at all. My question to you is if we know it helps us, why don't we choose to commit to it? Some may blame time— or lack thereof— but I know that time is an excuse. If we really want to do something, we commit to it. Is the problem that we’re in such a stressed and distracted culture that we don’t know how to disconnect anymore? Should we learn how to silence our phones, set boundaries for ourselves, and get outside more? I would say so.

I’ve been a certified and avid practitioner of yoga, breath-work and meditation for years, in the recent 5 years I found myself truly and fully committing— to delving deeper into myself and my practice. Consistent and committed. Let's face it, even when we think we’ve met ourselves at our deepest layer, if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we can always go one step deeper. There’s more available to us than we often realize, and it's a true choice whether or not we show up to experience it.

By being present and setting habits in your life, you end up being more connected to yourself, and to others too. As I sit down to reflect on my journey with yoga, breathwork, and meditation, I'm reminded of the transformative power these practices hold. Some of the greatest epiphanies have come from being present in the moment to my breath. We take about 25,000 breaths a day but most of those are unconscious and we hold our breath. Breathing has so many benefits, mainly it reduces stress.

Did you know 60-90% of all Drs appointments are stress related. Yikes. The body detoxes 70% of the bodies toxins through the lungs. Our breath. Hence, my journey to finding Breathwork Detox with Kurtis Less Thomas. It has been a path filled with self-discovery, overcoming fears, and ultimately finding a profound sense of inner peace and balance. I am eternally grateful for this program and the learnings it has brought me.

This week, I find myself on the brink of an exciting new adventure which has allowed me to once again address my fear. This is the first big goal to complete of 2024. I committed being certified in Breathwork Detox with my guest of the Opportunity Knocks podcast, Kurtis Lee Thomas. This was something I signed up for two years ago, but had to cancel. I was hesitant to follow through at first as I knew it would require me to step even deeper into myself. I knew it wasn't merely about the curriculum but truly showing up 100%. which I do well but it IS scary addressing one's fear head on. I knew it would require me to face more of myself, my dark shadows, tackling old trauma, and being uncomfortable— things we aren't always eager to say yes to, do or feel. That’s where the fear came in, and I was tempted to take the easy way out, to run, and to avoid the hard thing— I definitely had plenty of valid excuses to! But then I got honest with myself. I reflected on where this fear was coming from, and how avoiding facing it would only keep me more stagnant. And then I reminded myself that the important thing is to move towards whatever it is that scares me, because that’s where the growth happens. When I am making a decision I always realign with my values as I encourage you to do? It guides my motivation and choice. And I asked myself, how I would feel if I didn't accomplish this goal? and how would I feel when I had accomplished it? I also asked how this Breathwork Detox certification served my higher good and those who surround me. Only with these key questions and much deliberation did I decid to commit and to take the plunge. And I know that when I’m done, I will be so happy to be able facilitate this deep enriching experience for you. It's next level. I knew the value I gain in the process will not only be an immense gift for me, but for you my clients.

This journey is is an opportunity to train myself with more state of the art tools and insights to better serve my clients on their own paths to healing and self-discovery. And as we wrap up the first quarter of the year, and collectively step into Spring, I invite you all to do the same— to equip yourself with the tools you need to dig deeper, and discover another layer of you.

Again, fear is not something to be avoided, but to be embraced. It's a natural part of the human experience, signaling areas where we can grow and evolve. By acknowledging our fears and facing them with courage, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and opportunities for growth. Having the right tools to help you address these fears is crucial— so that you may tune-in, find alignment, and reflect on the importance of what it is you'd like to create.

In my practice, I strive to create a space where my clients can explore these practices and discover the transformative power within themselves. Whether it's through a weekly yoga class, a one-on-one coaching session, or a corporate wellness retreat, my goal is always the same—to empower others to embrace their fears, unlock their potential, and live lives filled with purpose and meaning.

I’ve always said I like to model the behavior to my clients that you too can step deeper into your knowing and owning of yourself. Not facing our fears is a disservice to ones ultimate growth. Today I’m here to remind you when we learn to use our breath, we can learn to heal ourselves, and eventually, the world. As I embark on this new chapter of my journey, I invite you to join me in embracing the power of yoga, meditation, and breath-work.

Together, let's cultivate a deeper sense of awareness and purpose together, in order to dream big and live our fullest lives. I look forward to taking this healing together and taking this journey with you, and I invite you to join me in finding fulfillment, alignment, and BEING HERE NOW. Let's choose to focus on this moment as it is the only one we are guaranteed to have. Sigh! Breath it out!

Be well. Do well.

All my best,

Episode 69: Kurtis Lee Thomas- Founder of Breathwork Detox

Kurtis Lee Thomas is a renowned keynote speaker and a leading Corporate Mindfulness Trainer. He’s spoken at some of the largest consciousness expositions in the world and has shared the stage with speakers such as Deepak Chopra and top Tony Robbins trainers. Kurtis has dedicated his career to awakening the best in people by quantifiably enhancing creativity, productivity, and connection within the workplace.