Direct experience: Yoga
Truthfully, I would have never done yoga if not for my sister. She pushed it off and on through my life. She is one of the many women that embarked on her self healing journey before me and helped show me the way. I had been introduced to the idea that the body holds onto stress and can cause tension and other such problems - It's that or my calves were just tight because I was inactive, yeah it was probably that. I later came to know this physical practice as asana, only one limb of traditional yoga.
Before I started learning about the 8 limbs of yoga, I started to connect my breath to my movements. Breathing in as I extend my posture, stopping and holding my breath at the apex of each stretch - when my body reached the point that was not yet painful but lengthened to the point that it was uncomfortable. Holding my breath and the pose. Finally breathing out while allowing my muscles to relax into the pose. It was here that I found the importance and mechanics of release. I have found release to be an integral part not just of my yoga practice but also how I navigate life. I found this to be akin to meditation for me. Even if that’s too out there for you there are tangible benefits of asana as well.
Take for instance flexibility, balance and of course strength. Working on flexibility helps your overall joint health according to a variety of body work specialists across many fields. You don’t have to take my word for anything, ever. Balance is only important if you want to walk upright and not fall. You need strength to support balance and flexibility. Wait, Mau, how are these life lessons - these are just the physical benefits of stretching and strength training.
I have found in my healing journey that these things are even more beneficial when one integrates them in their everyday life. Beyond the physical practice. That is to say flexibility of mind has been one of the singular most beneficial practices I have adopted. The ability to change one’s mind with the introduction of new information is an admirable and all too lacking trait in Western Society - from my own personal and lived experience. When one subscribes to one thought or idea so heavily that it becomes cemented in their psyche it is a hindrance to growth. We can see examples of people that lack flexibility in thought during any election cycle on both sides of the political spectrum. Ever notice how during an election year people you love are spouting harmful rhetoric with an inability to see any other perspective? I know, because when I was subscribed to Pentecostalism I possessed zero flexibility of thought on my own. I even once publicly posted “All lives matter”. That is until people I loved and respected sat me down and explained the nuance of what I was saying. I didn’t realize at the time that I was speaking in a way that was harmful - until someone took the time to educate me on why we were seeing “Black Lives Matter”. I am forever thankful for the people that take the time to educate me when I am ignorant. This wouldn’t have been possible if I had remained so dedicated to my identity as a Pentacostal - God-Fearing - Conservative woman. This single interaction put me on a path to reassessing the structures that I was accustomed to.
Balance of mind came much later for me. I was living a fearful and reactive life - this is in part my fundamentalist christian-adjacent upbringing and later my adult choice. Studies have been done that concluded religious folk are often operating out of the fear center of the brain. Again, you never have to take my word for anything. The proof is always readily available to anyone who wishes to find it. It was my experience that authority figures were not well balanced - incapable of seeing more than their own perspective. So firm in their perception of reality that they sought to destroy all opposing views instead of seeking to understand and find truth in them. It takes an individual that is well balanced to be able to hear an opposing view without getting angry and without blindly accepting the other perspective as gospel. Balance of mind allows us to see another perspective and honor our own experience.
To be well balanced requires strength. Strength of mind is the ability to sit with the darkest parts of one’s self and unflinchingly discard the thoughts, ideas and beliefs that are holding them back. I started my journey by getting angry at myself. By sitting alone, in the darkest parts of my depression, anxiety and my own bullshit. The parts of myself that I didn’t like. A lot of the parts of me that I didn’t like were actually by-products of the C-PTSD. Complex childhood trauma is tricky because you don’t always know that it is even a factor. It takes strength to examine your reality and figure out where you are contributing to the negativity. It takes even more strength to shed what doesn't serve you - over and over and over again. Until you can find how you are repeating the negative bullshit in your life things won’t get better. That takes strength. So if that is where you are on your healing journey, you are not alone. You are a fighter. You got this. Let’s keep going.
With Compassion,
Mia Marie
Direct Experience: Transition into Wellness Coaching
Hello, wonderful readers!
I’m Mia Marie, and I’m thrilled to share a significant milestone in my journey of helping others: my transition to wellness coaching. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of assisting many individuals in various capacities. People have often come back to me, sharing how my support has positively impacted their lives. This feedback inspired me to formalize my approach and delve deeper into wellness coaching.
A Natural Transition
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about helping people. Whether it’s offering a fresh perspective, words of encouragement, or simply holding space for someone, I find immense fulfillment in being a source of support. Transitioning to wellness coaching felt like a natural progression—a way to enhance and structure the help I provide.
Real-Life Impact
The stories people share with me are diverse and heartwarming. Sometimes, it’s the small things—a shift in perspective or a few encouraging words—that make the biggest difference. Other times, my support has involved more tangible help, such as:
Setting Healthy Boundaries: Guiding friends to establish and maintain personal boundaries that protect their mental and emotional well-being.
Creating Budgets: Assisting individuals in developing and sticking to budgets that alleviate financial stress and promote financial health.
Tackling Persistent Issues: Helping people create actionable plans to address ongoing challenges in their lives, providing them with the tools to navigate and overcome these obstacles.
Why Wellness Coaching?
Wellness coaching allows me to bring all these elements together into a cohesive practice. It provides a structured framework through which I can offer more comprehensive and effective support. Here’s why I believe in the power of wellness coaching:
Holistic Approach: Wellness coaching addresses various aspects of a person’s life, including physical health, mental clarity, emotional stability, and spiritual fulfillment.
Personalized Plans: Each person’s journey is unique, and wellness coaching allows for tailored plans that meet individual needs and goals.
Empowerment: The goal of wellness coaching is to empower individuals to take control of their own health and well-being, fostering a sense of self-efficacy and confidence.
My Passion for Helping People
At the heart of my transition to wellness coaching is a deep-seated passion for helping others. There’s nothing more rewarding than witnessing someone transform their life, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals. As a wellness coach, I strive to be a catalyst for positive change, providing the guidance and support needed to navigate life’s complexities.
Looking Forward
I’m excited about this new chapter and the opportunities it brings to connect with and help more people. Through Practicing Love LLC, I aim to create a supportive community where individuals can explore various wellness modalities, receive personalized coaching, and embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and healing.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to sharing more insights, stories, and practical advice with you as we navigate the path to wellness together.
With love and compassion,
Mia Marie
Direct Experience: Tarot
I started reading about the history of Tarot when I was probably 12 or 13 though I didn’t get my first deck until I was 17. Before I got my first deck, I used playing cards. I read about how to read the face cards, the suits and different number meanings. When I was 17 and got my first real -starter- deck I gave readings to anyone that would let me. One staff member was kind enough to accept a reading from me. It was just a general reading and she didn’t voice any questions to me. I believe I did a Celtic Cross spread as it has always been my favorite for diving in. I remember her coming back to me about a month later confirming what the reading said. From there I gave readings to friends that would ask me to - usually helping them make sense of their situation. I prefer to interact with Tarot in an introspective way more than a form of divination.
In my own search for answers I often found that a disturbing amount of folks in the tarot community are out here telling folks what they want to hear or worse using fear to manipulate their clients and keep them confused. This of course isn’t the only case of abuse of power within the spiritual community, but that’s a conversation for another day. I have found ethical readers and they are appreciated. When searching for a tarot reader I have found its important to find one that can help empower you even when they are giving a “bad message”. Things are almost never as dire as they first appear. Use your discernment when wading into the waters of all spiritual practitioners.
Some practitioners will warn you away from buying your own deck - they will tell you it has to be a gift. This is leftover sentiment from before the internet existed and if you wanted to learn you had to learn from a Master of the craft thus allowing them to control how many readers were in an area. If you want that deck, if you feel called to do tarot - DO IT. However, that being said, all of my best decks were gifts. I received one at Christmas this last year and fell in love with it. It’s the Labyrinth - which if you know me, you know it is one of my favorite movies of all time. At the beginning of THIS year I lost two decks in a nasty car accident that threw my belongings all over the snow. Yes, there was a message in the 3 cards found sticking straight up in the snow beside my totaled car. No, I won’t share that here, but it gave me strength and courage to keep moving forward. Since then I have offered a few readings to my friends as a means to help sort through the noise that life can throw our way.
That being said, I don't want to be seen as a Tarot reader. I want to be seen as someone who can help you cut through the noise - take a shortcut to untangling how you feel. I won’t answer questions about medical health, pregnancy, or if that human is your twin flame. Go to the doctor, there are far too many threads of possibility, they are not your twin flame. I am available to book for all other life situations if you are having trouble sorting through and getting to the heart of it.
With Love,
Mia Marie
