"When you see yourself clearly, with eyes full of love and acceptance, you hold space for others to meet you at your highest self"

This quote has been on my heart today. I know I'm all about self love, women empowerment and positive self talk. I've created a business around it because women need a constant reminder (daily) that it's okay to love themselves. And that means loving yourself when you're in the best shape of your life, when your 10 lbs heavier, when you workout, when you don't workout....always. Through this pregnancy I have had to lean on lot's of different people and get this friendly reminder from them on more than one occasion. 

I found this quote today when I was fed up of talking negatively to my body. I was working out and going through the typical "poor me I can't do anything" talk when I decided enough was enough.  I saw it, it hit a soft spot on my heart and now it's on repeat on my mind. Showing up for myself, means I allow others to show up for themselves. If I can love my body, 6 months pregnant, and completely different than it was half a year ago, than I show others it's okay to do the same.

As women, it is easy for us to get in this crappy, negative cycle of being mean to ourselves and most of the time we don't even realize it. I think sometimes we find comfort in it. We think it makes us feel better. But in reality, that's all B.S.

So here's my reminder, your reminder, and just a reminder for all women in general. I don't care where you are right now on your wellness journey. I don't care if you've skipped a month of workouts, I don't care if you've gained weight, I don't care if you're not where you want to be yet. Love and accept your body right where it is today. Know that you're human and allow yourself to be that. But also give yourself the opportunity see what an amazing human being you are.  Give yourself permission to be frustrated and upset at times. But also allow yourself permission to be thankful for where you are in this life and all the good you bring in to it. 

I've noticed lately I've been pretty tough on myself and my body (hello i'm growing a human!). I see it in a lot of others around me too. So, today, I want you to do something really nice for your body as a thank you. Book a massage, go get your nails done, get cozy and read a book. Do something just for you. I booked a nail appointment for myself and plan on having some cozy book reading time tonight after my class.

Keep working hard on your wellness journey ladies. You are right where you need to be!

xx
Hanna

It has been a long while since I sat down and took the time to blog. It is one of my absolute favorite things to do, and when I make the time, is one of the best ways I can communicate. These last six months have been a roller coaster of crazy and surprisingly I've loved (just about) every minute of this crazy ride. In May my husband and I found out we were expecting our first baby. Pregnancy has been an insane ride that I don't think I could have ever prepared myself for.  The first three months were full of sickness (all day) and feeling like I got my butt kicked day in and day out. The body changes, the emotional roller coasters and the food aversions, made me swear up and down we were only having one kid the rest of our lives. We are at the stage now where my energy is back, the baby is kicking like crazy and every night I get to lay down and watch my belly get pushed around by the little guy in there. I'm sure by month 8 I'll be back to insisting on letting Jackson be an only child, but for now, i'm going to enjoy every second of it. 

I've been thinking a lot about the studio and where I want it to go, especially when Jackson makes his appearance and our lives get turned upside down (in the best way possible). I've had so many thoughts and ideas in the past year and they have all seemed too big for me to conquer, which is exactly how I got inspired to write this post. Before I opened iamwell, I was doing personal training around Redding. I would rent gyms out, go to parks, use our garage, whatever I had to do at the time to help people in the only way that I knew how. I remember on a road trip my (now husband) and I talked for 3 hours about my dreams of this studio. I couldn't quite explain what I wanted it to be, but I knew it was more than fitness. My heart was pulled towards helping women love themselves. I wanted self care, encouragement, wellness, love and a whole 'lotta support in this studio. I didn't know what that meant or how it would be done but two years ago we decided why the heck not and pulled the trigger on opening iamwell. I wasn't ready, I had no idea how to run a business and I had to put a lot of free hours of work in (and when I say a lot, I mean a lot), but here we are coming up on our two year anniversary of business and it's the best decision I ever made. 

About a year ago I thought becoming a Registered Dietitian would be a great addition to the studio. I began school for it and during my first class every single part of me kept saying no. I was forcing it. It wasn't right in my heart but on paper it seemed to make sense. Needless to say I dropped the class two weeks later and didn't look back. I was trying to make something work just because it made sense in the business world but not one part of it aligned with what my gut was telling me.  About two months ago I started a graduate program to become a Marriage and Family Therapist and I cannot explain how right it feels. It makes zero sense starting a graduate program while 6 months pregnant. It makes zero sense cutting my studio time in half so I can go sit in a classroom and it makes absolutely zero sense to do this when I have no idea how it is going to blend with the studio. All I know is that it's right. I am excited to go sit in a class room for 5 hours and talk about helping people. I'm excited when I get to tell my husband everything we're learning. For the most part, I'm just excited because I know it's right. I have some really huge ideas for iamwell and what I want it to turn into in the next five years and although I can't explain it, I know we're on the right path.

If I've learned anything at all, it's to listen to your gut and than go do the damn thing. For so long I thought I had to wait until I was ready. What I've learned though, is 99% of the time we are never going to feel ready to do that big scary thing that doesn't make a whole lot of sense but just feels really right. So why don't we just take the baby steps (or big giant leaps) and make. it. happen? My challenge for you is to start dreaming. Grab a cup of tea, get out your journal and start writing about the biggest, scariest dream you have. Tomorrow, I want you to do something that is going to help you get there (make sure it's something that you can feel in your heart). Remember, if you're scared and not sure if you're ready to take the leap, chances are, it's time to make it happen!

xx
​Hanna