Feel Good Chemicals

15F/-9C 🥶 Dopamine! ☀️

I was chatting with my oldest last night (via voice memos of course) 😅. We are both big into physical, mental, emotional health. We were on the topic of dopamine… (feel-good hormone). Our chat inspired me to get out for a walk this morning!

This time of year I tend to abandon my outside walks. I sleep more, which is great & probably a natural response of circadian rhythms.

I often do “dry” winter months (no alcohol) because when I was younger, the tendency was to drink more with the boredom of winter and Christmas festivities and surely for that dopamine hit! The problem was always feeling super icky by the end of December. I couldn’t wait for Christmas to end and to go clean for January! Now I just skip that part and give my body what it needs to have long lasting feel good hormones.

So, today I braved the cold for 15 min 😆☀️😍🧊🥶🥳💃🏼🥳🎉

You can get that long lasting, feel good, inside glow from sunlight, good sleep, exercise, solid nutrition, creativity and expression, conscious breath, dealing with unresolved conflict, heart connections with people, laughter - things that bring you joy of course!

Scientific evidence shows what Yogis have always known - systemic relaxation gives a dramatic increase in long lasting dopamine! (Yoga Nidra). Out of everything I listed, it has the most dramatic effect on dopamine levels, and it’s easy and enjoyable - just chill out for 20 min and put headphones on!!

This is exactly why I create energy journeys (meditations) and the Breathe & Feel live events.

Around 2012, I pulled the plug on antidepressants, anxiety meds, bipolar meds and ADHD meds. When you go off these meds, it is very, verrry, hard to function at all. Your brain chemicals are all screwed up!

I stumbled across research about extensive healing from serious disease through systematic full body relaxation. I listened to various recordings every day. I had to recharge my chemical batteries constantly in order to get up and get dressed and do one little thing, before returning to bed with my trusty headphones.

Since it was so miraculous for me, I started teaching yoga classes geared towards this head to toe body connection & relaxation.

It was a source of joy, peace and hope for me and others. My body rebuilt and healed from many issues that were said to be permanent.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take prescription drugs, but I do know, for a fact, there is another option to explore to support your mind and your body.

It’s been well over a decade since I touched a prescription medication and I’m simply amazed to this day. There’s just no longer any big, dark, hard struggles inside. Some days I feel more motivated and joyful than others, but I never thought feeling the way I do was possible. That’s why every day is a gift, regardless of what I’m doing, or what the surface of my life looks like. There is no substitute for feeling good on the inside! 🥰♥️

If this resonates with you at all, I encourage you to look at how you can increase your long-term feel good chemicals and enjoy life more and more and more. ♥️ Lots of love!