Issue #21

The Embodied Way Connection

A Beautiful Space for You

I have been bringing in small pockets of lightness to my nervous system since it has been registering ‘dark’. That is what a treatment at The Embodied Way is also designed for. To support your nervous system so it is fully resourced to respond to life in a more artful, creative, and wholesome way.

Before I stepped deeply into the world of Post-trauma growth and nervous system regulation, I had no idea how important being able to name what we are sensing is to the healing person. When an experience is described and noticed, it is one of the best ways to regulate a nervous system.

Noticing what I am sensing is a whole new language for me- as it is for many people (I think we have this language intuitively, but if we don’t practice it, we lose it). Since it feels so new to many people, I recommend to my clients to go slowly and work on their sensing in ways that are low risk. In other words, doing things which feel good and getting a read on what that is like before jumping into anything heavy.

Hard and heavy right off the bat will tend to make me panic a little which takes me out of the embodied place I want to be in. It’s much easier to be with my experience when I have practiced in a safe and nurturing place first, and in a way that feels lovely.

Which is why a facial is such a wonderful, sensorial experience. We move seamlessly between warm, coolness, tingles, bubbles, smoothness, being wrapped, holding, and stretching, all while you are in a supportive, cozy environment and receiving care.

Everyone’s nervous system can benefit from a facial. Not only can you regulate and resource your nervous system but you can also broaden your expression of yourself and your experiences in life. This makes you much more present and happy too- something I know I need daily!

---

Notes from Glenda

I have been reflecting a great deal about what it means to live life not only artfully, but in an embodied way- where there is space for all of life’s experience. The temptation is to want a magic pill to help me not be in the dark ever again and only have the light. But, I know that is not true. Here’s what I do know:

• There will be dark days to experience. It is a given
• Often I want to rush through the darkness- to make it pass as fast as possible but this only makes me bump into things- making my journey more challenging
• Light dispels darkness

I have been asking myself, ‘What if I slow down while I am here and simply be with it? What if I take small moments to invite in some gentle nourishment in the midst of it all, not expecting to dispel all the dark, but simply to let the dark know I am taking care of it? What if I let go of the push and grind which has been the hallmark of my life since I was small?

I can intentionally build in moments of light, and the intentionality of this is resourcing in itself, like the soft glow of a slow, snowy sunrise. Metaphorically, I could let the swirling whiteness of the wintery air clear the stagnation.

Doing this, I can gently unfurl from my dark corner and re-engage at a pace my nervous system can handle. I did this last night and today by taking a walk in the fresh snow. There is always a shift of some kind after a walk. It is a wonderful way to remind myself to live and keep things simple. When I get back to the coziness of my home, there is a sense of accomplishment as well.

Listening to what I need, how fast, how much and how soon, I wonder if this is what it means to be more artful, more embodied? As I sketch, erase, layer, and make mistakes. I use shape, shade, colour, and symbols, and then wait for things to dry before adding the next piece. There is no rush in art. It is something that slowly takes shape over time.

What are the things that will nourish the artful, embodied process? They are the simple, healthy, non-addictive, wholesome pleasures of life which we find in colour, sound, texture, nature, true connection, movement, rest, presence, and in the rhythm of our breath. Mostly, it is permission to be.

As the snow is falling, see what it is like to follow one snowflake on its descent. Or notice how it sits on the trees, or the sound of softness that there is as it lands on the ground.

---

Product of the Month

Excellence Glow by Laboratoire Dr. Renaud. This is a lovely improvement on an old favourite! Both preventative and corrective in nature, its light and airy fragrance, key ingredients, and silky texture will make your skin look and feel wonderful.

What is one of those key ingredients? It’s a new super plant I am sure you will see more of in other products in the future- Buah Merah Oil. This plant grows in the mineral-rich soils of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and has 2x more anti-oxidant power than goji berries and 7x more than bilberry. Buah Merah Oil (also known as red fruit) protects and revitalizes, deeply nourishes and moisturizes (offering lasting hydration), reduces any inflammation, promotes cell renewal and brightens the complexion.

​If you’d like more information you can download the technical sheet here. This cream is best suited to those between the ages of 30 and 50- depending on your skin needs and condition, but can be used and enjoyed by those older too…

Did I mention that this is a vegan product, free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, and alcohol? Laboratoire Dr. Renaud products are never tested on animals. Furthermore, Laboratoire Dr. Renaud is formulated and manufactured in Canada. It’s always been important to me to support Canadian products. At The Embodied Way, I strive to bring you ethical, organic, high-quality products which are Canadian or supported by Canadians.

​Excellence Glow was just launched on February 3rd. You can order it online today at ldrenaud.com or you can pick some up in person at the studio in the second half of the month when my new order of Laboratoire Dr. Renaud Products comes in.

While one skin care product is not going to solve the world’s problems, when I feel good on the outside and I affirm that I am taking care of myself, it affects how I feel on the inside- strengthening me to deal with the world’s problems- one day at a time.

---

Monthly Specials

This first quarter’s specials are about feeling connected, confident and cherished.

As a coach and as an esthetician I help you:

🌟Feel more connected to yourself, to others, and to life in general

🌟Feel more confident in your abilities, your wisdom, and your body so that you can take the actions you want to live the kind of life you desire

🌟Feel cherished in a world where it can be hard to feel understood, valued, respected, appreciated and loved.

Whether we are coaching together, or whether you are enjoying an esthetic treatment, the goal is to bring more of each of these things in an environment of serenity. When you feel connected, confident and cherished, your nervous system can regulate - melting away symptoms of stress and ushering healing and movement towards more lightness.

Here are the specials for you:

​Coaching Specials:​

​Embodied Esthetic Specials:​

---

Quote

• “It’s a good idea always to do something relaxing prior to making an important decision in your life.” —Paulo Coelho

---

Endnotes

I have space to rent for other practitioners, the rooms are ideally suited to other body-mind practitioners or a lash tech. If you know anyone, please put them in contact with me. Thank you!

Project 'Create a Substack' is well on its way. I am practicing the slow and steady method here too- so that when it is ready to be launched- I will know what I am doing. LOL. In the meantime, I may just continue to publish specific Embodied Way news right here...

Enjoy the month and may you feel some warmth in your heart as we move through mid-winter. Those crocuses will be popping up soon, heralding the new beauty of spring. 🙌🏼

---