happiness Archives - Page 3 of 5

Healthy Chicks in the Community Week 2: Bre the Yoga Queen

2 Comments / Healthy Chicks in the Community / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

I am super excited to announce this week’s star of Healthy Chicks in the Community. Bre is one of those all around cool gals, who I always enjoy catching up with (especially over gourmet coffee). I truly admire her positive attitude towards life, love and all those good things! I’ll let Bre take it away from here…

NAME/AGE: Bre, 26

TWITTER: @brenourse

FACEBOOK: Bre Nourse Yoga

CURRENT CITY: Boston (North End)

‬‪WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: I teach yoga, dip my toe in the design and photography pool and from time to time I sling $100 yoga pants at that big yoga clothing store we all know and love.

‬‪NUMBER ONE PASSION: Teaching people to connect with their bodies through movement and meditation.

‬‪I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM: Being kind to my body, fueling myself with foods that make me feel good and doing the work during my meditation. Its not just about the physical body, without a healthy mind we’d have nothing.

‬‪BUT I AM ALSO A REAL GIRL & SOMETIMES:
I like to eat dessert for breakfast and watch all the shows in my dvr!

‬‪TOP THREE KITCHEN STAPLES:
Olive Oil, Pepper and my potato … Read More!

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Letting Go of Negative Energy

6 Comments / Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

I’m a firm believer in horoscopes, karma, fortunes and having faith in general. That’s why I get giddy every time I unwrap a yogi tea bag before brewing. If you’re not familiar with yogi tea, each and every tea bag has some words of wisdom, a fortune if you will.

And this morning my fortune read: Empty yourself and let the universe fill you.

I must admit, I had to think about this one for a bit to see what this message truly meant for me, for my lifestyle. Empty myself and let the universe fill me?

For me, it means to empty yourself from all those negative thoughts that hold you back and bring you down, and let the universe fill you up with positive, feel-good energy. After all, if you put good energy out there, the universe will be on your side.

I think a lot of us struggle with negative, glass-is-half-empty thoughts every now and then. One way to “shush” these thoughts is by practicing positive affirmations on a daily basis, something I try to instill in my clients during my health coaching program.

The practice of positive affirmations is simply telling yourself positive, pick-me-up things, … Read More!

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7 Cost-Free Ways to Lead a Happier, Simpler Lifestyle

2 Comments / Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

Every day, there’s usually something that stresses you out, be it the kids, money or your monotonous job. During the holiday season, it seems this stress goes completely haywire, creating Scrooges and Grinches left and right.

Yesterday, while having lunch at the Prudential Center, I noticed hundreds of businessmen, mothers, and sales clerks running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off.

What is going on?

At a time where money, family and stress tend to get the best of us, let’s all take a step back and remember what the holiday season is all about. Here are 7 simply ways you can lead a happier, simpler lifestyle right now and get this…they are absolutely free (or at least cost less than your Starbuck’s latte).

1. Skip the workout you’re totally dreading, and instead go on a winter stroll with a loved one. Along the way, you can window shop, browse some new restaurants in the neighborhood and spend some quality time together. You’ll sweat it out, get some fresh air and simply feel better overall.

2. Save some money, and make homemade gifts for friends and family this year. Not only will your wallet be happier, … Read More!

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Life Talk: On Money, Hating Your Job & Bartering

Leave a Comment / Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

This morning, I was catching up with an old friend about life. When we started talking about our careers, I told her how I’m juggling a good amount of jobs right now to make some extra money/pay the bills while I build my business.

“Money sucks, doesn’t it?” she asked. “I wish we could all just barter.”

“I know, sometimes I wish it didn’t matter,” I replied. “We’d all do what we love and the world would be a much happier place.”

That got me thinking about money, the history of currency, and what reality has come to. In this day and age, hundreds of people “do what they gotta do” to pay those bills, even if it means sacrificing their own happiness.

Business executives work 60, 70, even 80 hours a week to support their families, young woman pass on their “dream job” in order to take something more “safe” (i.e. higher salary) and hundreds suffer from stress, anger, and even depression all over one thing: M-O-N-E-Y.

Imagine if we lived in a world where money wasn’t a thing, where everyone simply did what they loved and bartered their way through life. Mind you, that may be living … Read More!

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3 All Natural Mood Boosters

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

You’re fighting with your boyfriend. Your PMS level is off the charts. Work is unbearable. Your kids are driving you insane. You’re simply in a funk. Sound familiar? We all have those weeks where we’d much rather crawl in a cave and hideout, but unfortunately that’s now how it works. So, instead, why not make the best of a less-than-perfect day with these all-natural mood boosters that can help turn your day around.

1. Infuse Your Mood Tea*: While many of us drink tea to unwind after a long day or settle our stomach, it can also be used to infuse your mood – literally. Sun Chlorella USA recently came out with their newest “Infuse Your Mood” tea to balance the mind, body and spirit. Made with 100% natural Eleutherococcus senticosus leaf, the tea is crafted to create a natural state of comfort during our far too common hectic lifestyles. As an adaptogen, Infuse Your Mood is meant to reduce stress and improve mental altertness. Enjoy a fresh cup of this earthy-tasting tea anytime you’re feeling sluggish for an instant mood boost.

2. De-Clutter: Every once in a while, all we need is a big dose of de-cluttering. … Read More!

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Be Imperfect: Stop, Slow Down & Breathe

3 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

You know when you get so caught up in life that you forget to just pause and breathe? Well, I was having one of those weeks. In between training for a half marathon, working, starting my own business, planning for my event tonight and MOVING (tomorrow!) things got a little crazy, needless to say.

So yesterday I decided to break my perfect go-go-go routine and simply be, imperfect that is.

Instead of forcing myself to go a training run when my body was saying “please, no!”I packed. A lot. I cleaned the entire kitchen, put stuff into storage and got my room ready for the move out. Cleaning and packing felt surprisingly refreshing.

Instead of working another three hours on blog/business stuff, I treated myself to a massage from Exhale Spa. I don’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed. I literally melted into the massage table.

Instead of rehearsing for my event (even when I know I do best when I act naturally and don’t plan), I decided to be BAD and go shopping for a dress for a friend’s wedding this weekend. I got the most adorable purple dress that I feel like a Pretty Princess … Read More!

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A Year’s Reflection on my Experience at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition

8 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

This week, I received a special package in the mail: my certificate from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners that states that I’ve met the requirements to be a Certified Health Practitioner. Yes, I am finally officially official, and boy does it feel good. It seems like just yesterday that I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to begin my journey to become a health coach, and now I’m finally there.

Here are some highlights from the year:

September 2011: I began my classes at IIN, and became amazed by the weekly lectures. I also attended IIN’s Fall conference, where I met a group of like-minded students and inspiring speakers like Deepak Chopra and founder Joshua Rosenthal himself. I also shared my first “I love you” with The Boy, something neither of us had ever said to anyone before.

October 2011: I completed my second half marathon in Newport, RI, which I will also be taking part in this year. I felt strong, powerful and inspired, and also broke my PR by five minutes!

November 2011: I celebrated one year with The Boy in the lovely Waterville Valley, NH. Everything was perfect, and I couldn’t be more … Read More!

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A Discussion on Happiness, Faith and Positive Thinking

1 Comment / Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

Yesterday afternoon I met with some fellow Institute for Integrative Nutrition graduates to talk about our business goals, achievements, concerns and inspirations. On my way to the meeting, a little old man stopped me in my path. He said, “Hey! You’re going to make it.” I replied back with a confused look and a “huh?” Then he said, “Wherever you’re going, you are going to make it.”

That right there gave me the chills, as I took it as he meant that I’d make it in life, in love, in my business. I couldn’t help but think he was sent to tell me that, like an angel of sorts.

When I brought up my story at the meeting, all of the ladies agreed that an angel was sent to deliver that message, that I am going to make it, that in fact I already am making it and may not even realize that now.

After a couple hours of chatting, snacking and discussing our dreams and goals, we ended the meeting with some Law of Attraction cards and my favorite part: a meditation. Anne, the woman who guided the meditation, had us breathe out all of those doubts/fears/setbacks and … Read More!

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21 Itty Bitty Summer Pick Me-Ups to Boost Your Mood

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

It’s summertime and the sunshine is beaming, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re feeling so sun-shiny inside. Even the cheeriest of us have those days where we could use a little extra boost. Here are 21 little ways to brighten up your mood this summer. Feel free to add your own in the comments section!

Squeezing in a little extra time with those friends that make you extra cheery
Reading booklets, magazines and articles packed with inspirational quotes like the one above which is from an IIN magazine
Escaping to the beach for a sun-kissed afternoon
Getting out of the house/apartment & going for a long walk
Shutting down all sources of technology (yes, that includes your iPhone!)
Avoiding Facebook & twitter stalking for a day, and living your life rather than comparing it to others (think: I’m so jealous all my friends are at this party except me! I can’t believe she’s engaged! Her job is my dream job! Life is so unfair!) Try to remember there’s always another side to every person’s story…
Reading a steamy summer romance novel
Signing up for a 5K, 10K or half marathon in your area like the UnitedHealthcare Half in the beautiful

How to Make it Happen (and Get What You Want in Life)

3 Comments / Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

[Now is the time to stand up on your two feet and make things happen]

Good aftenoon chickies! Sorry I haven’t posted in quite some time, but I’ve been super busy living the life, which is what it’s all about after all right? From working (and attending) some pretty amazing events like the Top Chef Tour of Boston and the Boston Organics Food Festival (recap on the blog coming soon!) to writing and publishing my little heart away, growing my business and planning my first workshop, I’ve been one busy lady.

Now that summer is just around the corner, I’m dedicating these next few months to making it happen. More specifically, that is putting my “wants”, “needs” and dreams into effect.

Last night while at the Dave Mathews Band concert with The Boy, the lyrics to one of their new songs Gaucho really struck a chord with me:

“We gotta do much more than believe if we really wanna change things
We gotta do much more than believe if we wanna see the world change…