Read about the diverse and holistic support that enables my clients to improve the health of their mind, body and spirit. Starting with the relationship they have with themselves, we work from the head down.
The word sabotage comes from the French word saboteur meaning willfully to destroy. Hum, ring any bells? Approximately 90% of people admit to self-sabotage, citing food as their main form of abuse (stands to reason really, food is all around us day in day out). In fact, it would appear hardly anyone hasn’t had a negative relationship with food at some point in their lives.
Tangible side effects of self sabotage using food may include loss of time, energy, money, esteem, and well-being. In addition, a warped perspective of what is a realistic, normal and healthy relationship with food. Sadly, as addicts know to their cost, addiction knows no boundaries, it’s oblivious to class, it happens to regular people like you and me.
Stephen King rationalized his addictions by saying “creative people tend to be prone to addictions”. When I came to coaching several years ago, I didn’t think about specialising in the area of health, let alone supporting clients with eating disorders or recovering from illness. However, the clients came, maybe because of my own experiences with eating disorders, weight issues and depression. What ever their reason, my genuine concern for what constitutes a healthy mind, body and spirit has certainly helped a great many clients and friends.
So how do I spend my day since I became a health coach and practitioner? Well, after taking care of my own bathroom and kitchen routine (which I’ll save for another time as its quite complex but in brief it usually involves Vipassana mediation, enemas, gratitude journaling, jogging, juicing and so on).
I tend to get into my office around 11am having just finished a big green juice or smoothie which I know will keep me going for a few hours. I’ll write articles, interview case studies for my forthcoming book, or do research for my website. By which time I’m ready for lunch which is usually a take on salad. I’m the queen of leftovers so I can knock something nutritious and filling up quite quickly. Now my husband has retired, we tend to have our main meal of the day mid afternoon (although not on the raw path himself, he enjoys his morning juice as it keeps him going like a traditional breakfast never did). In the afternoons, I tend to spend my time on the phone or skype with clients. I rarely work late into the evening any more and no longer work weekends either.
Obviously when I’m running a group workshop or have residential clients sharing my home and life in rural France, my day is quite different. Then I’m usually ready to start around 8am. I probably won’t go into the office much at all during these periods as it’s my responsibility to be available to support guests throughout their stay. All veggie, vegan and raw clients are welcome whether it’s to detox, or simply experience a raw, green living foods life style.
Clients may be attending a Heal Your Life or Living Foods workshop, or they may be here for a tailored 1-2-1 retreat. Regardless, most clients are searching for the optimum ‘diet for life’. They want physically and mentally feel better. Understandably, we all want to be healthier, feel more youthful and get rid of any stress and lethargy that plagues us at home and work. One of my retreats certainly cures that.
For 1-2-1 retreats, we’ll have worked out and agreed in advance what my clients want to achieve so we stick to their programme of choice. This could include any number of support services for instance health coaching, dru yoga, massage, saunas, creative writing, guided meditation, thought field therapy, reiki, nutrition and colon care classes to name but a few.
Most clients are searching for the optimum ‘diet for life’, they want to be healthy and feel youthful. So coaching starts over the breakfast of their choice (usually the juice bar) while exploring what’s stopping them live the life of their dreams, we deal with obstacles and more importantly, plan where they want to be in the short, medium and longer term.
Other typical issues clients want to address include motivation, careers, relationships, spirituality and finances. So, clients are encouraged to spend the morning writing in their journals using various exercises and techniques for rescripting their lives: dealing with past issues, creating visualisations and exploring what it feels like to be, do and have (acting ‘as if’) their desires already achieved. This provides a basis for moving forward and setting smarter goals.
For others, mornings include food prep classes, self sufficiency lessons (growing your own indoor greens) lots of food and equipment based discussions. We explore nutrition, self-sabotage and analyse the impact beliefs around food have on relationships, energy and life generally.
Afternoons are generally spent relaxing with holistic treatments and imagining themselves living the life they desire. In the words of Joseph Campbell (no relation) “We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us”. Many clients enjoy a range of holistic treatments my local therapist provides from La Stone therapy to reflexology and we have a local dru yoga master too. Some client’s enjoy down time to nap, have a sauna, do some exercise or wander around the grounds or through the forests to the medieval city of St Suzanne, the choice is theirs.
Depending on the length of their stay, we have sessions concentrating on reframing beliefs, values and changing habits; healing the child within; developing and maintaining a positive mental attitude; learning to be assertive and the importance of self care.
Towards the end of their stay, we always have a goal-orientated coaching session to set them up to deal with going home to their real world. Having said that’s, some clients just want to be pampered, whatever the scenario everyone leaves well rested, having fed their mind, body and spirit in some form or another. Longer stays usually include a few trips locally to either historical points of interest or to local markets for gifts etc.
Once clients are back in their own home and working environment, I continue to support them with telephone and e-mail coaching so they can effectively integrate what they’ve learnt as well as transition for old habits to new. Working with clients, watching them regain their health both physically and mentally is extremely rewarding and the best things about my role
All veggie, vegan and raw fooders are welcome here whether it’s to detox, learn new habits or chill and relax, what ever their objectives, they always have a great experience. We look forward to welcoming you too when you’re ready.
Dawn