Health Coaching ... the big picture

I mentioned some time ago I was enrolling in Health Coaching, and some of you indicated a wish to know more ... well, let your wishes be fulfilled!

This was prompted partly by a number of dietary restrictions I have, and a few other health concerns.  But mostly by opportunity - one of the lovely ladies with whom I belly Dance just happens to be a certified Health Coach, and gives a free initial consultation to other dancers at the same studio.  After an incredibly frustrating visit with a Hospital Dietician, I took her up on her offer, and ended up signing up for 6 months of coaching.

I meet with my coach every 2 weeks.  While the primary focus is on diet and nutrition, she takes a holistic approach to looking at the client's life, and addresses small, realistic changes that can be made.  While there is education in notrition and other things, a lot of it is about learning to listen to and read the cues your own body is giving you.  The coach realizes that what works for her may not work for everyone.  Her body is happiest on a vegan diet; we are pretty sure mine would not be.  And that's OK.

We have had some good, informative sessions on food, but lately we have been talking more about my exhaustion, my need to please others, and where that stems from.  I was happy today to be able to report to my coach that I have seriously scaled back my Legion commitments to 3 days or so a month (unless they need me for a special event) and am going back to doing some things that nurture my soul - movement (belly dance, martial arts, the gym). music, and crafts, as well as just some long overdue down time.

We also talked about my issues with my mom, and I processed some things that happened this weekend past.  I am pretty sure I am going to spend Christmas with Sebastian at his place, instead of going to my parents, which will be a very big thing, but I think is the best for me.

One of the things she has recommended to me is "Early Morning Pages", based on an activity in The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path To Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron.  In short, it is a commitment to get up in the morning and write two stream of conciousness pages, on anything, before your mind has been "cluttered" with e-mails, phone calls, news, or other distractions.  We'll see how that goes.  You may be seeing some of the reults on these pages!

My other "homework" from this session is to start setting some boundaries in my interactions with others: in reality to become pro-active about situations instead of reactive.

I'll keep y'all posted on that one, too.