Written by Tetyana Didenko, Body Language Analyst | Executive Coach ICF Tetyana Didenko is a recognized expert in body language and nonverbal communication. As a body language analyst, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of a book on nonverbal communication in business, she has spent the past decade helping professionals harness body language to excel in negotiations, sales, presentations, and leadership. There’s a quiet pressure many women feel once they step into leadership. Be strong. Be decisive. Be taken seriously. Very often, this gets interpreted rigidly, tighten everything, control everything, remove softness. Over time, this creates a constant state of internal pressure, and that comes at a cost. This is where many women start losing not only their natural presence but also their energy. Femininity is not weakness, it’s control over state Femininity in leadership is not about being soft or agreeable. It’s about having range. A strong leader is not someone who stays in one state all day. It’s someone who can shift, from focus to calm, from structure to fluidity, from intensity to ease. The problem starts when there is no shift at all, when the body remains in a state of tension from morning to evening. That’s not strength. That’s chronic stress. What I see in my work In my work with clients, I often look beyond formal leadership moments. I worked with a client, a senior executive, who was highly competent, respected, and results driven. On paper, everything was strong, but she constantly felt exhausted by the end of the day. When we looked at her non-verbal patterns, the issue was not in her communication during key conversations. It was in everything else. Even while answering emails, organising documents, or walking between meetings, her body remained in the same state, tense shoulders, rapid movements, a controlled facial expression, and no real pauses. There was no moment when her system could reset. We didn’t change her leadership style or adjust her words. We only worked on how she moved and held herself during routine moments. A slightly slower pace. Softer, more controlled gestures. Less tension in her hands. A more natural rhythm when walking. After some time, she said something very simple, “I feel like I have more energy at the end of the day.” That shift didn’t come from doing less. It came from using her body differently. The hidden cost of constant “power mode” When a woman stays in a constant state of control and pressure, the body reacts. Women’s hormonal systems are more sensitive to prolonged stress. When the body remains in a state of continuous alert, cortisol, the main stress hormone, is elevated. Over time, this affects energy, concentration, and overall well-being. Instead of feeling strong, the body starts to feel depleted. This is one of the reasons why burnout is so common among high-performing women. It’s not only about workload but also the state the body stays in throughout the day. Where the shift happens Not every moment at work requires the same level of intensity. There are moments that require precision, structure, and clear direction. That’s where focus and control are necessary. But there are also neutral moments, walking through the office, sitting at your desk, having coffee, sorting through emails. These moments are usually overlooked, but they are exactly where recovery should happen. The power of micro-moments The way you move in these simple situations shapes both how others see you and how your body feels. When movements are rushed and sharp, the body stays in a stress pattern. When movements are smoother and more controlled, the nervous system begins to settle. This is not about performance. It’s about physiology. Simple actions like holding a cup, organising papers, or walking through the office can either maintain tension or release it. How femininity works in practice Femininity shows up through small physical details: Movements that are smooth instead of abrupt A slightly slower, more controlled pace Hands that move with intention, not tension A face that is relaxed, not fixed Nothing exaggerated. Just less unnecessary pressure in the body. This doesn’t reduce authority. It removes excess strain. What this changes When the body is not locked in constant tension, energy is used more efficiently. There is greater clarity in important moments because energy is not wasted on neutral ones. Decisions feel cleaner. Communication becomes more grounded. From the outside, it looks like effortless confidence, while on the inside, it feels like stability rather than fatigue. What to watch for A few signals that tension is becoming constant: Fast, restless movements, even when nothing is urgent Tight shoulders, jaw, or hands throughout the day The need to always look serious or controlled These patterns are subtle, but they accumulate. Simple adjustments Start with small corrections: Slow down routine movements Remove sharp, unnecessary gestures Walk with awareness instead of rushing automatically Allow short pauses during simple tasks These are simple starting points you can apply on your own and already notice a difference. At the same time, non-verbal patterns are always individual. The way tension shows up in the body, the way movements are structured, and even facial habits are very personal. General recommendations can raise awareness, but real, lasting change usually comes from working more closely with your own patterns, and that’s where guidance from a body language expert can make a clear difference. A different view on leadership Leadership is not about staying in one mode all day. It’s about knowing when to apply effort and when to release it. Femininity, in this sense, is not separate from professionalism. It is what allows the body to reset and maintain long-term capacity. Final thought You don’t lose authority by softening your presence in the right moments. You maintain your energy, clarity, and consistency. That’s what allows you to stay effective, not just for a short period of time but long term. Follow me on  Facebook  and  Instagram  for more info! Read more from Tetyana Didenko Tetyana Didenko, Body Language Analyst | Executive Coach ICF Tetyana Didenko is a globally recognized body language analyst and expert in nonverbal communication with over a decade of experience working with executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals worldwide. She is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of a book on nonverbal communication in the business world. With a background as a CEO and Director of Project Development, combined with advanced training in behavioral analysis, Tetyana helps clients strengthen their presence, persuasion, and leadership through the strategic use of body language. She is regularly invited as an expert, including appearances on podcasts and television.

Wr itten by Ayan’fe Rosano, Spiritual Technician Ayan’fe Rosano walks the sacred bridge between heaven and humanity, guiding others to awaken their inner frequency and support others in recalibrating their energy and rise into divine alignment. What if the stone you’re drawn to has less to do with what you need and more to do with who you are? This article challenges the idea of universal stones and invites a more honest, personal understanding of resonance. Not every stone is for every person. I know slightly inconvenient. Especially if you were hoping one good crystal purchase was going to reorganize your entire life. If only it worked like that. Stones are not prescriptions. They are not assigned based on popularity, marketing, or how many Instagram posts have declared them life-changing. They are relationships. And relationships, as most of us have learned, do not form because something is generally considered “good.” They form because something is specifically coherent with you. I remember sitting in a class where we were being introduced to different types of crystals. As part of the exercise, small bags were passed around the room, each containing a different type of stone. We were invited to choose one from each to take home. Five bags. Five opportunities for connection. When the bag of rose quartz reached me, I remember feeling turned off. Not dramatically. I didn’t recoil. No one had to call for assistance. Just a quiet, internal “no thank you.” My body had already made its decision. And yet, I still reached into the bag and took one. Not because I felt drawn to it. Not because there was recognition. But because it was rose quartz, and rose quartz, I had been told, was important. It was the stone of love. The one everyone is supposed to connect with. So I chose one. And it meant nothing to me. Because apparently, we don’t just ignore our bodies, we override them politely. That moment stayed with me. Not because rose quartz had done anything wrong, but because it had done nothing at all. It simply remained itself. It did not try to become more appealing. It did not adjust to earn my approval. It did not perform. It was coherent within itself. And the absence of connection was not a flaw in the stone. It was information about me. Over time, in the realm of stones that aided in the playground of love, I discovered that I connected deeply with Kunzite. It did not need an introduction or a reputation to stand on. When I held it, there was an immediate sense of familiarity. Not excitement. Not spectacle. Just recognition. One year, at a large gem and mineral fair, that recognition tested my intelligence. Vendors had come from all over, each booth filled with extraordinary pieces. At one particular booth, there was a section marked 50% off. And in that section, there it was a piece of Kunzite. Substantial, clean, with a color so precise it almost didn’t feel real. I picked it up and immediately felt the connection. The sticker said $200, which meant $100 after the discount. Even at that price, it was a remarkable piece. And yet, it was the first day of the fair. The first booth. And suddenly, I became responsible. I told myself I should walk around first. See what else was out there. Make an informed decision. So I put it down. I spent the rest of the day walking through the fair, seeing hundreds of other stones. Some were beautiful. Some were rare. Some were significantly more expensive. But none of them were that Kunzite. When I got home, I showed a photo of it to a mentor of mine. She took one look at it and, without ceremony, informed me that not buying it was a mistake. Not only was it an exceptional piece, but it was also severely underpriced. A stone of that size and color should have easily been in the thousand-dollar range. In other words, I hadn’t just hesitated. I had hesitated in the presence of alignment. Which is a very refined way of saying I almost fumbled something that was clearly for me. The next day, I went back. Not expecting it to still be there. With that many people moving through the fair, many far more experienced than I was, I assumed someone else would have recognized it immediately. But as I approached the booth and looked through the section, there it was. Exactly where I had left it. Sitting quietly in its box. Not competing. Not persuading. Not trying to become more appealing. Just there. Not waiting for me specifically. Just available for whoever was able to recognize it. This time, I didn’t negotiate with myself. I picked it up and let them know I was ready to purchase it. They remembered me from the day before and, without prompting, reduced the price even further. The stone had not chased me. It had simply remained coherent within itself long enough for me to stop arguing with my own recognition. This is where the illusion of universality begins to fall apart. Connection does not happen at the category level. It happens at the level of the individual. Not every Kunzite is for me. I have held pieces that felt alive in my hands, and others that felt like exactly what they were, a stone, existing peacefully, entirely uninterested in forming a relationship with me. This is not rejection. It is precision. The same is true with Rhodochrosite. I connect deeply with Argentinian Rhodochrosite. Peruvian Rhodochrosite, while equally beautiful, does not create the same internal coherence for me. We understand this easily in human relationships. You can meet two people with identical qualities on paper and feel drawn to one while feeling absolutely nothing toward the other. No amount of logic can manufacture resonance. It either exists. Or it doesn’t. Stones operate the same way. They do not respond to your expectations. They do not adjust themselves to meet your preferences. They remain exactly what they are, which, if we’re being honest, is more than most people can say. And your nervous system responds accordingly. When a stone is coherent with you, there is often a subtle shift. Sometimes it feels like exhaling without realizing you were holding your breath. Sometimes it feels quiet. Sometimes it feels like nothing at all. Except for the absence of internal resistance. And equally important, when there is no connection, your body knows that too. This is where many people override their own intelligence. Not because they don’t have it, but because they’ve been taught not to trust it. So they choose based on what they think they should connect with, rather than what they actually do. But stones do not require your agreement to remain what they are. They are not offended if you do not choose them. They do not attempt to earn your approval. They do not adjust themselves to fit your expectations. They simply remain in their structural integrity. And in doing so, they offer you an opportunity to practice the same. Not every stone is for every person. And the ones that are will not require persuasion, effort, or explanation. There will simply be recognition. Quiet. Immediate. Undeniable. And if you’re paying attention. You may begin to notice that the same recognition has been trying to guide you in more places than just stones. Not every stone is meant for you. And the ones that are will not require persuasion, effort, or explanation. There will simply be recognition. And that recognition tells you more about yourself than the stone ever will. Follow me on Facebook ,  Instagram , and visit my  LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Ayan’fe Rosano Ayan’fe Rosano, Spiritual Technician Ayan’fe Rosano is a Spiritual Technician and Energy Alchemist who believes Love is the highest frequency, and he’s here to help people tune to it. A Reiki Master, crystal whisperer, and sound healer, he weaves intuitive insight, sacred sound, and crystalline technology to help others realign their energy and remember their light. As part of Dr. Iyanla Vanzant’s team, Ayan’fe bridges spirituality and structure where healing gets holy, and energy gets organized.

Written by Marya Firdausi Kazmi, Transformational Leadership & Identity Coach Marya Kazmi is a Transformational Leadership Coach and educator who helps individuals and organizations to examine identity, unlearn limiting patterns, and build values-aligned leadership using reflective frameworks and community-centered practices. What if the biggest problem in your workplace isn’t strategy, but silence? I once sat in a meeting where everything looked right. The numbers were strong. The team was delivering. Leadership was smiling. And yet, something in the room felt, off. No one disagreed. No one challenged an idea. No one asked the question that was clearly sitting on everyone’s chest. So I did what I have learned to do in rooms like that. I told the truth, gently but directly. And you could feel it immediately. The shift. The discomfort. The silence that followed. Not because I was wrong, but because I had said out loud what the culture had quietly trained everyone to hold in. That moment stayed with me. It revealed something we don’t talk about enough in organizational culture: You can have high performance and still be deeply disconnected. You can have “alignment” and still be avoiding truth. You can have values, and not live a single one of them. And that’s when I realized, "The problem isn’t strategy." It’s that we are building workplaces with the same unexamined patterns we carry in our personal lives. This is where RETURN comes in What I once understood as a personal framework for healing has revealed itself as something much bigger, a way to build leaders, teams, and cultures that do not require people to disconnect from themselves to belong. In this article, I’ll walk you through six essential leadership shifts, expanded into practical insights you can begin applying immediately to build a culture rooted in truth, alignment, and humanity. You’ll learn how to: Identify where performance is masking disconnection Recognize the hidden patterns shaping your workplace culture Shift from reactive leadership to regulated, intentional decision-making Unlearn the professional conditioning that drives burnout Reclaim humanity as a leadership strength, not a liability Build systems that sustain culture, not just talk about it Because culture does not shift through intention alone. It shifts through awareness, practice, and the courage to return. Why organizational culture cannot shift until we do Workplaces don’t break because of bad strategy. They fracture because of unexamined identity. We promote leaders who have never examined power. We build systems that mirror our own conditioning. We reward over-functioning and call it dedication. We silence truth and call it professionalism. And then we wonder why people are burned out, disconnected, and leaving. If my own life has taught me anything, it is this, "You cannot transform what you refuse to examine." And organizations are no different. I have spoken about return as a personal framework for healing, a way back to self after rupture, loss, and disconnection. But what I have come to understand is that return is not just personal. It is organizational. It is cultural. It is the leadership model we were never taught, but desperately need. The problem with most work cultures Most organizations attempt culture change by focusing on behaviors: New policies New initiatives New language New values statements But behavior without self-awareness becomes performance. And performance without truth creates a culture that looks aligned, but feels unsafe. You cannot build a healthy organization on unexamined foundations. Because culture is not created by what you say. It is created by what you normalize. RETURN as a leadership framework RETURN offers a different path, one that centers humanity as the foundation of leadership, not an afterthought. It is not a checklist. It is a way of being that informs how leaders show up, how decisions are made, and how systems are built. It is a cycle. A practice. A process that anchors and sustains change. R – Remember E – Examine T – Transform U – Unlearn R – Reclaim N – Nurture 1. Remember: Reclaiming organizational truth In personal healing, remembering is about coming home to who you are. In organizations, it is about telling the truth about who you’ve been. Every workplace has a story: The origin The growth The beliefs The harm The silence But many organizations skip this step. They rush toward the future without acknowledging the past. Unexamined history shows up as: Burnout normalized as commitment Power hoarding disguised as leadership Silence mistaken for alignment Diversity statements without lived inclusion Before strategy, there must be truth. Because you cannot build a future that your past is quietly undermining. 2. Examine: Making the invisible visible Every organization operates within unspoken rules: Who gets heard Who gets promoted What behaviors are rewarded What emotions are acceptable Examination requires courage. It asks leaders to look at: Power dynamics Bias in decision-making Emotional labor distribution Patterns of exclusion Psychological safety does not begin with trust falls or team-building exercises. It begins with honoring humanity and truth-telling. 3. Transform: From reaction to regulation Leadership is not just about decision-making. It is about emotional regulation. A dysregulated leader creates: Fear-based environments Reactive policies Inconsistent expectations Cultures of anxiety A regulated leader creates: Stability Clarity Accountability without shame Space for repair Transformation happens when leaders shift from reacting to responding. You cannot create safety externally if you have not cultivated it internally. 4. Unlearn: Releasing professional conditioning Workplaces train us, often unconsciously, to: Tie our worth to productivity Avoid conflict Overextend in the name of commitment Perform strength instead of embodying it Unlearning is the most disruptive, and necessary, part of culture work. It asks organizations to challenge deeply held beliefs: That urgency equals importance That exhaustion equals success That silence equals professionalism That hierarchy equals value To unlearn is to question everything we have been rewarded for, and choose differently. 5. Reclaim: Restoring humanity at work Somewhere along the way, professionalism became synonymous with disconnection. We were taught to leave parts of ourselves at the door. But the cost of that separation is high: Disengagement Lack of innovation Emotional exhaustion High turnover Reclaiming humanity means recognizing that you are not just your role. You are not just your output. You are not just your title. It looks like: Leaders acknowledging limitations Relationships that foster trust and risk-taking Teams co-creating boundaries Organizations prioritizing sustainability over optics When people feel seen as whole humans, they show up differently. And so does the work. 6. Nurture: Building sustainable culture Many organizations invest in change, but not in maintenance. They host workshops. They launch initiatives. They check boxes. But they do not nurture. Culture is not a one-time intervention. It is a continuous practice. Nurture requires: Ongoing reflection Feedback loops Accountability structures Leadership coaching Systems for repair Intentional mentorship Without nurture, even the best intentions fade. With it, culture becomes something that grows, rather than something that is enforced. Why this matters now We are in a moment where employees are no longer willing to sacrifice themselves for systems that do not see them. They are asking harder questions: Does this workplace honor my humanity? Am I evolving with innovation or stagnating in compliance? Is leadership aligned, or just performative? Is the mission laminated or embodied? Organizations that cannot answer these questions honestly will continue to struggle with retention, engagement, and trust. Because people are no longer looking for just a paycheck. They are looking for alignment. A new way forward Return is not about perfection. It is about practice. It is about building leaders who are self-aware enough to examine their impact. Organizations brave enough to acknowledge harm and tell the truth. Cultures strong enough to hold both accountability and compassion. This is not “soft” work. It is foundational work. Because when people no longer have to fracture themselves to belong, something powerful happens: They don’t just stay. They innovate. They foster community. They lead. They transform the very systems they are part of. Are you ready for transformational change? If this resonates, don’t just agree with it, examine where it shows up in your leadership and your organization. Where are you performing alignment instead of living in truth? What have you normalized that is quietly costing your people? This is the work. If you are ready to build cultures that don’t require people to disconnect from themselves to belong, I invite you to continue this conversation with me. Follow along for more insights on leadership, healing, and cultural transformation. Or reach out directly to explore how return can be integrated into your organization. Because transformation doesn’t start with strategy. It starts with the courage to return. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Marya Firdausi Kazmi Marya Firdausi Kazmi, Transformational Leadership & Identity Coach Marya Kazmi is a Transformational Leadership & Identity Coach and educator who helps individuals and organizations examine identity and cultivate values- aligned leadership. Her work is shaped by lived experience and years of professional practice, informing the reflective tools she created to support healing, clarity, and growth. She is the creator of the RETURN framework, which guides people through a process of unlearning, reconnection, and coming home to themselves. Marya is also the executive producer and host of Pain to Power, a talk show exploring leadership, healing, and human-centered change. Her work bridges lived insight with practical strategies, inviting others into a healing evolution rooted in self-trust, belonging, and purpose.

Frisco, Texas – March 28, 2026 – Shawnee Harkins, founder of The Harkins Method™: Neural Network of Change and visionary behind The Harkins Project, VRx™, has been selected as a co-author in the highly anticipated 2026 release of Think Like a Champion, led by legendary tennis coach Rick Macci. Macci, renowned for coaching elite athletes including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, and Jennifer Capriati, curated this book to highlight leaders who embody championship thinking across life, performance, and business. In announcing her inclusion, Macci shared on LinkedIn: “Introducing my newest co-author, Shawnee Harkins, joining my book, Think Like a Champion. After overcoming multiple traumatic brain injuries, Shawnee didn’t just recover… she rebuilt. Now she’s turning that journey into a powerful perspective on mindset, resilience, and the true meaning of strength. Looking forward to sharing your story! This is what a champion looks like. Real stories. Real transformation. Real impact.” Harkins’ chapter, titled “Think and Heal Like a Champion,” explores the neuroscience behind resilience, identity transformation, and elite mindset development. Drawing from her lived experience and professional expertise, Harkins bridges neuroplasticity, performance psychology, and human potential to demonstrate how championship thinking reshapes biology and destiny. “I didn’t study neuroplasticity first, I lived it,” said Harkins. “After multiple traumatic brain injuries, I had to rebuild my brain, my body, and my identity from the inside out. What I learned is this, the story you attach to adversity determines whether it becomes trauma or transformation. Diagnosis is information, not destiny. One new thought becomes one new neural pathway. Healing begins the moment we change the sentence in our mind.” Through her chapter, Harkins introduces readers to The Harkins Method™, a neuroscience-backed, drug-free system designed to accelerate neuroplasticity by training the mind, rewiring the brain, and restoring the body. Her work emphasizes that healing and performance share the same neurological principles. “Today, I train the mind to rewire the brain so the body can restore function,” Harkins continued. “When movement is limited, we train the brain, but we always begin with the mind. You must see yourself whole before your body follows.” As founder of The Harkins Project, VRx™, Harkins is pioneering scalable neuro-rehabilitation through immersive AI-, AR-, and VR-driven therapies, delivering brain health prevention and neurological recovery at scale for individuals impacted by traumatic brain injury, concussion, stroke, and PTSD. Her inclusion in Think Like a Champion reflects a powerful alignment between elite athletic performance and neurological transformation. Inspired by Macci’s legacy of training world champions, Harkins expands championship thinking beyond the court into recovery, leadership, and life mastery. “Championship thinking is not confined to sport,” said Harkins. “It transforms recovery, elevates performance, builds businesses, and reshapes lives. When the brain changes, life changes, and if the brain can change, your future can change. I am honored to stand alongside Rick Macci and share what it truly means to think and heal like a champion.” Think Like a Champion is scheduled for release in 2026 and will feature insights from visionary leaders who exemplify excellence, resilience, and transformational leadership. About Shawnee Harkins Shawnee Harkins is a neuroscience innovator, neuro fitness trainer, and founder of The Harkins Method™ and The Harkins Project, VRx™, an AI, AR, and VR medical extended reality platform delivering neuroplasticity-driven therapies at scale. A multiple traumatic brain injury survivor, Harkins has dedicated her career to advancing brain health prevention and neuro rehabilitation through an integrated mind-brain-body framework that empowers individuals to rebuild identity, restore function, and unlock their highest potential. About think like a champion Led by legendary coach Rick Macci, Think Like a Champion brings together elite performers, thought leaders, and innovators who embody a championship mindset in athletics, business, and life performance. The book is slated for release in 2026. Media contact Shawnee Harkins Founder & CEO The Harkins Method™ | The Harkins Project, VRx™ Phone: 310-951-6664 Email Website

Written by Claire Buttrum, Somatic Trauma-Informed Coach Claire Buttrum is one of the first Somatic Trauma-Informed Coaches in the world, combining somatic coaching techniques with parts work and nervous system regulation. She is the founder of Somatic Harmony Healing, supporting women globally to get better at feeling and trusting the wisdom of their bodies. When it comes to healing trauma, parts work (like IFS – Internal Family Systems) is a gold standard approach. In parts work, we talked about our inner critics, our wounded inner children, or our fierce protectors as if they were distinct characters in a play. But these parts aren't just metaphors or sub-personalities. They also exist as physiological states. If you’ve ever felt that sensation of a lump in your throat when you’re upset, or a tightness in your chest when you feel judged, you weren't just experiencing a symptom of stress or anxiety. You were experiencing a part of you communicating somatically through your body. To hear what these parts are saying, we need to be able to listen into the body. Those cues that tell us how we’re feeling and what we’re experiencing. This is called Interoception. What is interoception? Interoception is often called our eighth sense. We have our usual five senses, smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing, plus we have proprioception, which is where our body is in space, and neuroception, the signals we pick up on from our environment and other people. Interoception is the ability to perceive the internal state of the body. This includes sensing your heart rate, hunger, breath, and the subtleties of your emotions like sadness, happiness and anger. For many who have experienced trauma or are neurodivergent, interoception can be either muted, where you don’t feel anything until it’s a crisis, or over-tuned, where it feels like everything is intensely overwhelming. Some of your cues may be muted and some may be over-tuned. And it may change over time. For example, I have clients who don’t feel hunger cues until they are over the hill and falling down into hangry-town. Or they don’t understand the rage they feel is actually anxiety. Honing your sense of interoception is the bridge between being activated by a part and gaining insight from it. Sensing where a part lives In Parts Work, the first step to unblending from a difficult emotion is to locate it in the body. When you are hit with a wave of anxiety, instead of saying "I am anxious," we instead describe the sensation we are experiencing without labelling it, "I feel a buzzing in my solar plexus." By locating the sensation, you achieve three things: Distance: You realise the sensation has a boundary. It is in you, but it is not all of you. Personification: You can begin to treat that buzzing as a part with its own story. Validation: You move from the abstract ("I'm stressed") to the somatically concrete ("My jaw is clenched"). This provides immediate evidence to your brain that your internal experience is real and valid. Understanding the need behind the sensation Once you have located a part through interoceptive awareness, you can begin a somatic dialogue. Every physical activation is an attempt by your body to identify and meet a need: The tight throat: Might be a Protector Part trying to keep you safe by preventing you from saying something risky that may be judged by others. The heavy limbs: Might be a part trying to force you to rest because it senses you are nearing burnout or is afraid you may return to burnout. The racing heart: Might be an Exiled Part that is terrified of being seen. By staying with not in the physical sensation, not trying to relax it away, we can witness the story of our somatic parts. Sometimes they begin to speak to us. This may come as words, memory, images, or a spontaneous understanding of the wisdom your body already holds. Moving toward regulation Regulation doesn't mean making the sensation go away or always feeling calm and centred. We are meant to be in different states in our nervous system that is what unites us with other mammals. What emotional regulation really means is becoming self-led. When you truly tune into the interoceptive cues your body is offering you, spending a moment hearing that part of you, it is often the first time that part has ever felt seen or heard. This can be a huge comfort to a part of you that is used to be ignored or pushed away. The Somatic Shift: Notice what happens to the sensation when you simply acknowledge it. Often, a tightness will soften or a buzzing will slow down just because you paid attention to it without judgement. Sometimes the opposite is true and you’ll get an increase in sensation. But this is also just information. And if you keep listening to it, chances are it will pass naturally. This is the essence of Self-Leadership. You are no longer at the mercy of your activated parts, you are an insightful observer who can negotiate with your parts, providing them with the safety they’ve been trying to create for you in their own, sometimes painful, ways. Practice: The interoceptive scan The next time you feel triggered or out of sorts, try this: Stop the story in your head - those negative words or thoughts that crowd you Scan the midline of your body (throat, chest, stomach) Ask: "Where do I feel this most?" Breathe into that space and say: "I see you there." This Interoceptive Body Map is a starting point for translating your somatic sensations into the language of Parts Work. Use this as a place to begin, then as you develop greater awareness and knowledge of your parts and how they show up for you, you will begin to expand on this simple map and make it more relevant to you and your own personal experience. These are not universal rules. Every internal system is unique. Your clenched jaw might be a protector, while for someone else it is an exile. Use this map with curiosity, always asking the part itself what its role is. And just go with whatever your first impressions are. Midline map: The emotional core Physical Sensation Common Part/Inner Role What the Part might be trying to Say/Do Lump in the Throat The Finisher/Silencer (A Protector) "Don't speak. It’s too risky. If we say what we really think, we’ll be rejected." Tightness/Constriction in the Chest The Guardian of the Heart (A Protector) "I’m not letting anyone else in. This space is fortified because the pain of heartbreak is too much." Buzzing/Churning Solar Plexus (High Stomach) The Hyper-Vigilant One (An Anxious Part) "Scan the room! Something is wrong. We need to be ready to run or fight." Hollow/Empty Feeling in the Deep Belly The Exiled Child (A Wounded Part) "I am totally alone. No one is coming for me. Is this emptiness all there is?"   Peripheral map: Action and bracing Physical Sensation Common Part/Inner Role What the Part might be trying to Say/Do Clenched Jaw/Tension in the Face The Masker (A Manager) "Maintain control. We must look calm and normal, no matter how chaotic we feel inside." Heavy shoulders/"Weight of the World." The Over-Responsible One (A Manager) "I have to carry this entire burden. If I let go, everything will collapse." Urge to Fidget, Sway, or Rock (Neurodivergent) The Regulator (A Self-Soothing Part) "This is too much input! We need rhythmic sensory feedback to survive this overwhelm." Tension in the Thighs/Legs (Feeling Braced) The Ready-to-Runner (A Flight Part) "We are trapped. I am preparing to escape at the first opportunity." Tight Fists/Clenched Knuckles The Defender (A Fight Part) "This is unfair. I am ready to push back and fight for our boundaries." Dissociative map: Blurring and freezing Physical Sensation Common Part/Inner Role What the Part might be trying to Say/Do Brain Fog/Floaty/Disconnected from the Ground The Detacher (A Dissociative Part) "This reality is too painful. We are leaving now. Safety is found at home." Sudden, Overwhelming Fatigue/Sleepiness The Shut Down(A Freeze Part) "System error. Too much threat detected. We must go offline immediately to conserve energy." How to use this body map with parts work Acknowledge the sensation: buzzing in my solar plexus. Unblend: Step back slightly from the buzz. Notice the sensation has edges and is only felt in one part of the body. Use the Map as a warning tool: Say, "I’m feeling a buzzing, which sometimes means a part is hyper-vigilant and is scanning for trouble." Check with the Part: Directly ask the sensation: "Is that true? Buzzing part, are you scanned for trouble? What are you worried will happen if you stop buzzing?" Listen to the answer: The part might agree, or it might say, "No, I’m not worried, I’m just really excited." Insight: Trust the sensation over the map. The map is just a starting prompt to begin the conversation with your own body’s unique language. If you are interested in finding out more about how your wounds show up and feel within your body using your interoceptive cues, you can book a free consultation with Claire here . Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Claire Buttrum Claire Buttrum, Somatic Trauma-Informed Coach Claire Buttrum is a Somatic Trauma-Informed Coach and the founder of Somatic Harmony Healing, a service focused on nourishing the body and mind. Claire is one of the first level 7 qualified somatic trauma-informed coaches in the world. Her approach is centred on nervous system regulation and deep self-connection, tailored to the individual needs of her clients who are primarily women. She integrates various modalities, including parts work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and emotional freedom technique. She holds specialised certifications in ADHD and menopause coaching. Claire's practice aims to help women become their own advocates and cheerleaders to achieve profound healing and growth.

Written by Sarah Frustié, Ecotherapist, Forest Guide, Nature Retreat Facilitator and Holistic Counsellor Sarah Frustié is an ecotherapist, forest guide, nature retreat facilitator and holistic counsellor working between Australia and France. Through nature-based practices, she supports people in caring professions navigate burnout, ease chronic stress, and reconnect with the Earth. Burnout. Anxiety. Chronic Stress. Disconnection. We try to navigate them with more thinking, more doing, more control. But what if healing doesn’t begin in the mind but in our body, and in our relationship with the living world? This is exactly where ecotherapy begins. What is ecotherapy? Definition and origins Ecotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that takes place in relation to nature. It is based on ecopsychology, a field that explores the relationship between human well-being and the natural world. Put simply: Ecopsychology is the theory Ecotherapy is the practice It is not about escaping life. It is about returning to our roots, our life, more fully, more slowly, more truthfully. What is ecopsychology? Origins and meaning The word “eco” comes from the Greek ‘oikos’, which means ‘home.’ Ecopsychology, ecology, and ecotherapy all point toward the same idea, a return home. The roots of ecopsychology can be traced back to Arne Naess, who introduced the concept of deep ecology in 1973, inviting us to see humans as part of a larger living system rather than separate from it. Later, Theodore Roszak formally coined the term ecopsychology in 1992. He described it as “the study of the relationship between environmental destruction and the mental health of human beings. It assumes that human psychology has been profoundly shaped by our relationship to the environment and that many of our psychological problems are directly related to the ways in which we have become disconnected from the natural world”.[1] Eco-philosopher Joanna Macy further explored this connection, particularly through the lens of ecological grief, collective healing, activism and our deep emotional bond with the planet. At its core, ecopsychology reminds us of something simple, yet often forgotten, our mental, emotional, and physical well-being is deeply intertwined with the health of the Earth. What does ecotherapy look like in practice? Ecotherapy can take many forms, depending on the practitioner, the environment and the client. Ecotherapy can include: Forest bathing (a Japanese practice of slow, sensory immersion in nature) Walk-and-talk therapy sessions outdoors Mindfulness and grounding practices in natural settings Therapeutic horticulture and gardening Animal-assisted therapy Wilderness and adventure therapy Nature-based rituals, reflection, and journaling Green exercise (such as walking, running, or other outdoor movements). Ecotherapy is not about performance or achievement. It is about presence. It’s about being in the now. In my work, I often see how quickly the nervous system begins to settle once we step outside. Within a few minutes, my clients slow down and breathe better when they step into the forest. The body softens. The breath deepens. Something begins to shift without forcing anything. This is what I call coming back to the wilder, the more natural self. Why ecotherapy matters today? We are living in a world of constant stimulation. Screens, notifications, information, pressure, social media. We are more connected than ever yet increasingly disconnected from ourselves, from each other, and from the Earth. We have to move fast. Think fast. Live fast. This is not sustainable. This is not what we are meant to be doing. As if we have forgotten something essential, we are human beings, not human doings. Ecotherapy invites us to slow down. Reconnecting with the Earth is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Because disconnection from nature is not just an environmental issue. It is a psychological one. It’s mental, physical and spiritual well-being. A personal perspective: Ecotherapy as remembering Before I had the words for it, I was already practising ecotherapy. As a child, exploring, following ants, playing with sticks, and being curious. Each time I paused to feel the sun on my skin, to watch the clouds, to listen to the wind. And the truth is, you probably have too. Ecotherapy is not something entirely new. It is something we remember. It is found in simple moments like: Smelling a flower Touching the grass Looking at the clouds in the sky Walking in the forest without your phone These moments are not insignificant. They are the beginning of reconnection. They are the bridge to belonging. My definition of ecotherapy Ecotherapy goes beyond a method or a technique. It is: An attitude An ongoing practice A way of relating to the world. For me, ecotherapy is a return home. Not just the Earth as a place, but the Earth as a relationship. A relationship that reminds us how to slow down, how to feel, how to belong. It is a space where we can: Reconnect with our bodies Explore our inner world Process grief and emotions Rediscover a sense of meaning and connection Ecotherapy is not linear. It is a process. A natural, ancient, and deep process. Gentle. Cyclical. Alive. A return home We often search far and wide for healing. Yet the invitation is simple. Step outside. Breathe again. Notice your body’s sensations. Slow down. Listen. Feel. The Earth is not separate from us. It is where we come from and where we return. You are nature. Ecotherapy is not about becoming someone new. It is about coming back to who you already are. If you feel the call to reconnect, I would be honoured to walk alongside you on this path. Sarah Frustié is a bilingual ecotherapist, holistic counsellor, and forest guide, working between the Adelaide Hills, Australia, and France, Europe. She supports people, especially those in caring professions, experiencing burnout, chronic stress, and emotional exhaustion. Through ecotherapy, walk-and-talk sessions, and nature-based retreats, she helps clients slow down and reconnect with themselves and the living world. With a background in humanitarian work and mental health across Europe, Asia, and Australia, Sarah brings a compassionate, inclusive, whole-person and trauma-informed approach to her work. Her mission is simple, to guide people back to themselves, through nature, in ways that are nourishing, sustainable, safe, sacred, slow, and deeply transformative. If you’re ready to slow down, reconnect with your wild self, and explore the healing power of nature, Sarah offers a free 20-minute phone call to start your path or email her at: sarahfrustietherapy@gmail.com Follow me on Facebook ,   Instagram , and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Sarah Frustié Sarah Frustié, Ecotherapist, Forest Guide, Nature Retreat Facilitator and Holistic Counsellor Sarah Frustié is a bilingual ecotherapist, holistic counsellor, and forest guide based in the Adelaide Hills and France. She supports people in caring professions to navigate burnout, release chronic stress and anxiety, and reconnect with themselves through nature-based practices, forest bathing, and guided nature and meditation retreats. With a deep belief in the healing power of the natural world, Sarah blends mindfulness, eco-psychology, trauma-informed and whole-person approaches to create safe and sacred experiences. She is the founder of Sarah Frustié Therapy, where every session is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and connect with the living world. Reference: [1] (Theodore Roszak, The Voice of the Earth, 1992)

Written by Carla Madeleine Kupe, Executive Leadership Advisor Carla Madeleine is an attorney, executive leader, and advisor who guides executives in integrating unexamined inner aspects so their leadership becomes examined rather than reactive. Her work bridges authority, authenticity, and inner transformation, particularly during moments of personal and organizational transition. Avoidance in leadership is rarely loud or obvious. It doesn’t announce itself through dramatic failures or missed deadlines. More often, it looks like professionalism. It may be described as or look like patience. It gets justified as “timing,” “strategy,” or “being thoughtful.” But underneath it, something else is moving. Avoidance is not the absence of leadership. It is a form of leadership. And when left unexamined, it quietly becomes a force shaping your team, your culture, and your decisions. What is avoidance in leadership? At its core, avoidance is the decision, conscious or not, to not face something that requires your attention. A conversation that needs to happen. A tension that needs to be named. A decision that requires clarity. A truth that disrupts comfort. Avoidance is not always inaction. In fact, many leaders remain highly productive while avoiding what matters most. They schedule more meetings. They request more feedback. They craft more protocols. All while the core issue remains untouched. How avoidance shows up Avoidance rarely looks like avoidance. It actually looks like competence: Over-collaboration instead of decision-making. Polished communication that says very little. Delaying difficult conversations. Addressing symptoms instead of root issues. Maintaining harmony at the expense of honesty. For example, a leader may sense growing tension between two team members but chooses to “monitor the situation” rather than address it directly. Meetings remain cordial. Deliverables continue. But beneath the surface, alignment erodes, side conversations increase, and trust begins to thin, not just in the immediate circle of the tension but spreading through the rest of the staff. Over time, teams don’t just notice what isn’t being said, they organize themselves around it. Why leaders (including highly capable ones) avoid Avoidance is not a failure of competence. It is a response to pressure, identity, and perceived risk. Identity protection: Leaders carry internal narratives about who they are, fair, capable, respected, in control. Certain truths threaten that identity. So they remain unspoken, actually admitting and facing them is highly uncomfortable. Relational risk: Naming what is real can disrupt relationships, especially when power, history, or proximity are involved. Avoidance can feel like preservation. In reality, it is often slow, but certain, erosion. Emotional capacity: Many leaders are not resourced to stay present in discomfort: Conflict Disappointment Uncertainty, and often Unacknowledged grief A small note about grief here. Grief is not limited to personal loss. It shows up in quieter ways, shifts in expectations, changes in relationships, or the realization that something is no longer what it once was. When this layer goes unacknowledged, leaders don’t just avoid conversations. They avoid the emotional reality shaping those conversations. So instead of engaging directly, they move around it. The cost of avoidance Avoidance doesn’t remove tension. It redistributes it. And the cost compounds over time: Slower, less effective decisions. Cultural drift and misalignment. Unspoken resentment within teams. Increased emotional labor carried by others. Erosion of trust in leadership. What is avoided doesn’t disappear. It becomes embedded, first as a pattern, then as culture. Three reflections to alchemize avoidance Shifting avoidance is not about becoming more forceful. It is about increasing your capacity to face what is already present, without performance, without delay. What am I aware of, but not addressing? Not what is unclear, what is already known, but unspoken. What feels at risk if I name this directly? Be honest. Your image, a relationship, your sense of control. Clarity here disrupts unconscious decision-making. What would it look like to name this with steadiness, not force? Not sharper. Not louder. Just clear and grounded enough to hold the response. Closing thought Leadership is not defined by how much you can carry. It is defined by what you are willing to face. Because in the absence of that willingness, avoidance will lead, quietly, but decisively. If you are recognizing yourself in this, not in theory, but in something specific you have been circling, you are already at a threshold. The question is not whether you are aware. It is whether you are willing to move. I work with leaders and teams navigating these exact moments, where what has been avoided can no longer be managed, and something more honest is required. If this is the kind of work you are stepping into, you can explore more here . Follow me on  LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Carla Madeleine Kupe Carla Madeleine Kupe , Executive Leadership Advisor Carla Madeleine is an attorney, executive leader, and trusted advisor who works with leaders navigating power, responsibility, and transition. With a background in law, executive leadership, and organizational change, she helps individuals identify and integrate unexamined inner patterns that quietly shape decision-making, authority, and trust, particularly during periods of uncertainty, contraction, and reimagination. Carla writes at the intersection of leadership, inner work, and change, offering grounded insight for those shaping the future.

Bonphotage has built its reputation on a distinct approach to wedding photography that prioritizes emotion, atmosphere, and authenticity over trend-driven perfection. Known for its film-forward aesthetic and refined storytelling, the brand creates imagery that feels both elevated and deeply personal, capturing how each wedding looks and feels in the moment. In an industry shaped by digital immediacy, Bonphotage remains grounded in a more intentional process. Film photography is central to that philosophy, bringing texture, depth, and a sense of permanence that gives each image emotional weight. The result is work that feels timeless without being overly curated, and artful without losing its connection to real experience. Behind the brand is Lynzie Hazan, whose transition from corporate law to photography shaped the discipline and perspective that define Bonphotage today. In this Q&A, Hazan of Bonphotage shares the philosophy behind the organization’s work, the role of film in modern wedding photography, and how the company continues to evolve while staying rooted in what matters most. How did you first get into photography? Lynzie Hazan of Bonphotage: Before Bonphotage, I was on a very different path, practicing corporate law in a world built on logic, deadlines, and structure. Underneath all of that, I felt pulled toward something more creative and lasting. Following that instinct meant taking a leap, and I found myself embracing lens-based media. My passion for visual arts is rooted in film and, by extension, photography. I fell in love with the way film renders a moment with so much depth, texture, and emotion. It felt honest to me, intentional and authentic. Film was romantic without trying too hard, and it taught me to slow down, to trust my eye, and to chase feeling over perfection. The experience of photographing that way felt deeply aligned with who I was, and over time, it became impossible to ignore. Bonphotage grew from the decision to fully pursue the work I loved most. Even now, that same love for film and heartfelt storytelling is central to everything we create. Each wedding day is an opportunity to create new art, and I still get the same excitement in my stomach every wedding morning. How does Bonphotage keep its work fresh while staying true to its identity? Lynzie Hazan of Bonphotage: Bonphotage keeps its work fresh by staying rooted in emotion, artistry, and honesty. Our style has always focused on creating imagery that feels timeless, intentional, and deeply felt. Such a foundation gives us room to grow naturally without losing who we are. Film is a huge part of our craft, and it keeps us disciplined. Film asks us to slow down, pay attention, and photograph with purpose. There is an honesty to film that still feels unmatched. The texture, the imperfection, the way it holds light and skin and atmosphere, it all brings an emotional realism that keeps the work grounded. Trends will forever shift, but film continues to pull us back to what is real. At the same time, we are very aware of how couples, especially Gen Z couples, are redefining what beauty looks like in wedding imagery. There has been a clear shift away from overly polished, overly posed perfection and toward something more personal and authentic. Couples want images that feel like them. Sure, they want style, but they also want presence. They are drawn to work that feels lived in rather than manufactured, and that evolution is in step with how we have always approached storytelling at Bonphotage. We keep our work fresh by listening closely, observing how people want to be seen, and allowing each story to breathe in its own way. In some facets, the industry is moving toward authenticity, and that feels less like a departure for us. Bonphotage stays true to its style by staying true to real feeling, and film helps anchor that. How does Bonphotage balance creativity with the fast pace of weddings and events? Lynzie Hazan of Bonphotage: Wedding photography is absolutely in a category of its own, and Bonphotage balances creativity with the fast pace of weddings and events. For us, preparation is the quiet engine behind the art. After photographing over 900 weddings, we know the rhythm of a day well enough to anticipate the unscripted moments before they happen. Our approach merges editorial direction with documentary awareness, so we move quickly when the timeline demands it, but we are always looking for the light, the gesture, the in-between glance, the piece of movement that makes an image feel alive. Film has shaped that perspective deeply and taught us to slow down internally, even when the day is moving quickly. We endeavor to create with intention and recognize that creativity comes when we are calm, observant, and ready for the shot. Weddings are fast, emotional, beautifully unpredictable events unlike any other. Our job is to bring enough experience to guide the day and preserve honesty. What advice would you give your younger self? Lynzie Hazan of Bonphotage: I would tell my younger self to trust the pull toward creativity sooner. Before founding Bonphotage, I was practicing law, and while that chapter taught me discipline and how to handle pressure, my heart was always moving toward something more visual and emotionally alive. I would tell her that following your passion is not reckless when it is paired with a strong work ethic. It is brave, and clarifying, and sometimes, the thing that feels like a creative detour is the road you were meant to be on all along. I would tell younger me to protect the way she sees the world. In wedding photography, especially luxury wedding photography, it can be tempting to chase trends, algorithms, or whatever everyone else is doing. But the images that last are rarely the loudest. At Bonphotage, we work to capture the images that let people return to a moment and remember who they were inside it. My love for film shaped so much of Bonphotage. Film reminds you that beauty is often found in imperfection, movement, grain, light leaks, and the tiny unscripted seconds between the obvious ones. So my advice would be to follow the work that makes you feel most alive. Build slowly. Stay curious. Take the risk. What kind of experience does Bonphotage want clients to have? Lynzie Hazan of Bonphotage: At Bonphotage, we believe the client experience should feel as elevated as the images themselves. The real luxury in wedding photography lies in how our clients feel throughout the process. Service is our cornerstone, from the first conversation to the final gallery, and we aim to create a process that feels calm, seamless, and deeply personal. Our clients have full lives and high expectations, so we are intentional about our flexibility and responsiveness. Luxury service requires adjusting to our clients' needs so that they are served, understood, and kept at ease. On a wedding day, that means being highly prepared and quietly present. We guide when needed and step back when a real moment is unfolding. Our job is to keep the energy steady as timelines shift, so our clients feel fully present in their day. Ultimately, we want every client to feel their wedding was documented with artistry and care. The images matter deeply, and our hope at Bonphotage is that clients leave feeling that they were genuinely supported and seen throughout the entire process. What skills have been most important in building Bonphotage? Lynzie Hazan of Bonphotage: A wedding day is emotional, fast-moving, and deeply personal, so it demands that unique blend of technical skill, artistic instinct, emotional intelligence, and calm leadership. We consider ourselves part photographer, part director, part problem-solver, part steady presence. We consider one of the most important skills to be anticipation. Often, the most meaningful images happen in the in-between moments, and that requires observing carefully enough to be ready before they unfold. Technical mastery is essential in every aspect from understanding light and motion to adapting instantly across environments where there are no second chances. Equally as important is the ability to make people feel comfortable, and when clients feel at ease, the images become more natural and honest. A strong artistic point of view matters, particularly in luxury wedding photography, where couples are drawn to w elevated, emotional, timeless images. Wedding photography requires professionalism under pressure. Timelines are in flux and conditions change, making emotions run high, but the work still has to feel effortless. The strongest wedding photographers are observers and storytellers, serving as a calm presences on one of the most important days in a couple’s life. Why is film photography such a big part of Bonphotage’s work ? Lynzie Hazan of Bonphotage: Film photography is central to our work at Bonphotage because it reflects timelessness and intentionality, and incorporates the emotion we want in each image. Instant, overly polished imagery is everywhere, but film brings depth, softness, texture, and honesty, allowing a wedding day to breathe. We utilize film as a way of seeing that requires patience and intention. As the photographer, you have to slow down, understand light, and be fully present in the moment. We approach our shoots with this in mind at all times. Film preserves atmosphere in a way that feels tactile and real. The grain, movement, and subtle imperfections carry the mood and in-between moments that make a wedding personal. That’s why it is key to our work and allows us to create images that feel elevated and artful. Sterile, forced imagery isn’t representative of the day. Ultimately, film reminds us to chase feeling over flawlessness and to create images that grow more meaningful over time Follow Bonphotage’s Journey Bonphotage on LinkedIn Bonphotage on X Bonphotage Blog Bonphotage on Instagram Who is Bonphotage? Bonphotage is built on the philosophy that meaningful photography comes from presence, intention, and emotional awareness rather than perfection. The brand has remained grounded in honesty, artistry, and human connection, qualities that endure through changing trends in the space. The company’s consistency, shaped by Lynzie Hazan’s vision, has allowed Bonphotage to grow and shift while maintaining its identity. The result is work that preserves a lasting experience, creating images that hold meaning long after the wedding day concludes.

IV therapy has become a more visible part of the evolving wellness landscape, with clinics offering hydration and nutrient infusions in clinic and mobile settings. Prana IV Therapy, a leading Scottsdale-based wellness clinic, shares insights on how IV therapy is becoming a more established part of modern wellness and how it supports hydration, recovery, energy levels, and more. How does IV therapy support hydration and recovery differently from oral fluids alone? IV therapy can be much more efficient at rehydration than oral fluids alone. Oral fluids are absorbed through the digestive system, which slows down hydration and results in some fluid loss. Oral fluids are also typically not balanced with electrolytes, so the body must pull minerals out of storage and into the fluid to optimize absorption. IV fluids go directly into the bloodstream, where they can be utilized in seconds, and are balanced with electrolytes to ensure optimal hydration. What types of clients typically benefit most from IV therapy treatments? We offer a range of IV therapy options, so there really is something for everyone! We see really great results with clients needing an energy boost, or dealing with chronic health issues and weak immune systems – symptoms like brain fog and fatigue can often be helped with deep hydration and vitamin replenishment. Can you walk us through what a typical IV therapy session looks like from start to finish? Your first session at Prana begins with a brief visit with an on-staff nurse practitioner, who reviews your intake, discusses your goals, and approves the appropriate therapy. This step is only required once per year unless your needs change. You’ll then relax in a heated recliner while a nurse takes your vitals and starts your personalized IV drip. The session typically lasts 30-45 minutes, during which you can rest, read, or use your phone. Once complete, the IV is removed, and you can check out, removing the bandage after about 20 minutes. What safety protocols are in place to ensure treatments are administered properly in both clinic and mobile settings? At Prana, we only hire experienced Registered Nurses with more than 2 years of experience working in an Emergency Room setting. They are all fantastic at placing IVs, which eliminates most issues. They are experienced with triage and critical situations, and are trained to spot and respond to any issues that may crop up. Our nurses monitor vital signs before and after each treatment, as well as during if indicated. Both our clinic and mobile teams are also fully equipped at all times with nasal oxygen and medications that can be used for rare allergic reactions. How do you tailor treatments for clients with specific wellness goals, such as immunity, energy, or recovery? We offer a variety of drips specifically designed to address common issues like immunity and energy, and our menu makes it easy to figure out what we offer that might fit your needs. All of our IV drips are custom-made, so many of the supplements can be adjusted if needed – our nurse practitioner always takes your goals into account when she’s creating your order. What are some common misconceptions people have about IV therapy, and how would you clarify them? Many people know about IV therapy because of its early reputation as a hangover treatment. Don’t get me wrong - IV therapy can be really helpful in fixing those hangovers, and we’ve saved many a wedding - but that’s not even close to the whole story! We have helped so many clients with issues like migraines, POTS, anemia, chronic fatigue, brain fog, acute infections… the impact of proper hydration and rebalancing the body’s vitamin and mineral stores is amazing. We are more than just a quick hangover fix! How has the demand for mobile IV therapy changed the way patients approach hydration and recovery care? Mobile IV therapy has really led the way in bringing healthcare into the 21st century. Being able to have an RN bring their expertise right to your door, have a telehealth visit with our Nurse Practitioner, and get an IV treatment in the comfort of your own home when you’re suffering from a migraine or food poisoning is absolutely revolutionary from the patient perspective. No more sitting in a waiting room, no more driving to urgent care and back. Our clients love the convenience of having their healthcare delivered truly on-demand. About Prana IV Therapy Prana IV Therapy is a wellness clinic based in Scottsdale, Arizona. They deliver advanced IV therapy services across the Phoenix Valley. From immune support and migraine relief to athletic performance and NAD+ IV therapy, Prana IV Therapy combines medical expertise with a patient-centered approach, offering both in-clinic and mobile IV services designed to restore energy and optimize wellness.

Camberley, Surrey, UK, The Hands on Health, Family Chiropractic clinic is proud to announce its continued recognition for outstanding patient care, having been awarded the prestigious Patient Partnership Quality Mark (PPQM) by the Royal College of Chiropractors for the period 2026-2028. The clinic has held the award continuously since 2011. Led by Principal Chiropractor Lara Cawthra, a Fellow and former Chair of the Pregnancy and Pediatrics Specialist Faculty of the Royal College of Chiropractors, the clinic has built a reputation for delivering exceptional, patient-centred care to families across the region. The PPQM is a highly regarded accolade, awarded only to clinics that demonstrate excellence in key areas such as accessibility, cleanliness, safety, and patient communication. Uniquely, the award is determined by a panel of patients and members of the public from the Royal College of Chiropractors’ Patients Committee, ensuring that recognition reflects real patient experience and trust. Lara Cawthra offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to support family health and well-being, including well-child care, posture and nutritional guidance, neurological assessment, and primitive reflex integration. “This recognition reflects our commitment to putting patients at the heart of everything we do,” said Lara. “We are passionate about supporting families with high-quality, holistic chiropractic care.” Lara is pictured receiving the award at a ceremony in London on 4th February from Mr Hew Helps, Chair of the Royal College’s Patients Committee. With a strong focus on clinical excellence and compassionate care, The Hands on Health, Family Chiropractic continues to set the standard for family chiropractic services in Camberley and beyond. As a well-rounded Holistic Health Care Professional, Lara is able to put the elements of posture, nutrition, and neurology together so that a tailor-made programme can be designed for your child. Helping your child to reach their full potential. Join the discussion with Lara at the free  Rebalance - Holistic Health Community

Written by Charles W. Gragg, Healthcare Innovator, Strategist, and Speaker Charles Gragg is a professional speaker and strategist who helps C-suite executives and benefits advisors navigate corporate health insurance solutions into sustainable, cost-effective health plans that attract and retain top talent. With deep industry experience, Charles turns insurance challenges into clear, actionable opportunities for growth. Over the past decade, employer-sponsored health plans have faced relentless cost pressure, with annual increases consistently outpacing inflation and wage growth. Traditional fully insured PPO models, long considered the default, have struggled to contain this trend, leaving employers searching for sustainable alternatives. What has emerged instead is a quiet but powerful shift, a growing number of employers are adopting cost-containment strategies that fundamentally change how healthcare is purchased. The results are no longer theoretical, they are measurable, repeatable, and increasingly difficult to ignore. A decade of data, measurable savings across plan designs Across multiple industries and employer sizes, data from the past 10 to 15 years shows that targeted interventions can significantly reduce healthcare spend. Organizations implementing reference-based pricing, a model that ties reimbursement to a multiple of Medicare rather than negotiated PPO rates, have reported some of the most dramatic savings. For example, CalPERS achieved 17 to 18% reductions in orthopedic procedure costs within two years, while also generating millions in direct savings. Similarly, the Montana State Employee Health Plan reported $47.8 million in savings over a three-year period after implementing Medicare-based hospital pricing. Even at the employer level, results are compelling. Safeway reduced lab and imaging costs by 13 to 32% through reference pricing and transparency initiatives, demonstrating how consumer behavior shifts when pricing becomes visible. Beyond pricing, the rise of integrated cost strategies While pricing reform is a key driver, the most successful employers are not relying on a single tactic. Instead, they are layering multiple strategies to reshape utilization and access. Employers transitioning to self-funded plans gain the flexibility to implement: Advanced primary care and onsite clinics Pharmacy benefit carve-outs Predictive analytics for high-cost claimants Navigation tools that steer employees to high-value providers These combined approaches typically yield 8 to 15% savings from self-funding alone, with total reductions reaching 20 to 30% or more when integrated with pricing and care management strategies. A shift in the cost curve Perhaps the most compelling evidence lies in long-term trend data. Traditional PPO-based plans have experienced annual cost increases of 6 to 9%, resulting in nearly double the cost over a 10-year period. In contrast, employers implementing cost-containment strategies have reduced trend lines to 2 to 4% annually, cutting long-term cost growth nearly in half. This divergence represents more than incremental improvement. It signals a structural shift in how healthcare is financed. The takeaway, control, transparency, and accountability The past decade has made one point clear. Employers that actively manage how care is purchased consistently outperform those that rely on traditional carrier-driven models. Cost containment is no longer about minor plan tweaks or shifting costs to employees. It is about reengineering the economics of healthcare purchasing, introducing transparency, aligning incentives, and demanding accountability from providers. For employers willing to embrace this shift, the payoff is substantial. A 15 to 40% total cost reduction and a sustainable path forward in an otherwise inflationary system. Employers, benefit advisors, and event planners who want to know more, contact me at my website, cwgragg.com. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Charles W. Gragg Charles W. Gragg, Healthcare Innovator, Strategist, and Speaker Charles Gragg is a recognized healthcare strategist with a mission to help organizations break free from the "healthcare hamster wheel". Drawing on years of experience navigating the inefficiencies of today's healthcare economy, Charles reveals why the current model is failing and how companies can achieve better outcomes at lower cost. Known for delivering provocative, eye-opening keynotes, Charles equips executive, HR leaders, and benefits advisors with the tools to reposition healthcare as a sustainable corporate asset. His message challenges conventional thinking and empowers leaders to make bold, outcomes-driven changes.

Written by Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro, Mentor & Healer Womb medicine doctor, spiritual mentor, and creator of Radiance the Podcast, Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis, helps women awaken the magic in their bodies and embody the sacred through cyclical living, Chinese medicine, and feminine alchemy. For years, talk therapy has been one of the main approaches to healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. It has helped many people gain awareness, understand their patterns, and process their experiences. But there is something I often see in my clinical practice, people who have been in therapy for years, who understand their stories, who can explain exactly why they are the way they are, and yet, they are still living the same patterns. They are still not fulfilled, still not connected, and still not living the life they know is possible. This is where we need to be honest, talk therapy is not wrong, but it is incomplete. Most people are not broken, they are disconnected People do not come to therapy because something is fundamentally wrong with them. They come because something feels off. They feel unfulfilled in their lives, there must be more than just their 9–5 routine, and they feel disconnected from themselves, from their purpose, and from their relationships. They feel lost. In my experience as a Western-trained medical doctor, Chinese medicine practitioner, and somatic guide, I see this clearly, most people are not broken, they are disconnected. They are disconnected from their bodies, their inner knowing, and the deeper parts of themselves that hold meaning, direction, and truth. The limitation of the analytical mind Talk therapy primarily works with the analytical mind, the part of us that thinks, explains, analyzes, and tries to fix. This part of the mind is important, it helps us understand our story and creates awareness. But understanding is not the same as transformation. You can understand your trauma and still be living it. You can explain your patterns and still repeat them. Because the nervous system, the body, and the unconscious do not reorganize simply because you have a new explanation. Real transformation requires more than insight, it requires experience. We are more than one mind One of the main limitations of talk therapy is that it focuses on only one aspect of our intelligence. But as human beings, we are not just analytical. We operate through multiple layers: The analytical mind, which creates meaning and structure. The unconscious or symbolic mind, which communicates through dreams, imagery, and archetypes. The body, which holds sensation, instinct, and lived experience. Your unconscious does not speak in logic, it speaks in symbols. Your body does not speak in words, it speaks in sensation. If these parts are not included in the healing process, transformation remains partial. The body: The missing piece We do not only store our life experiences as thoughts. We store them in our bodies, in our breath, in our tension, and in our nervous system responses. The body reacts before the mind. It contracts, expands, tightens, and opens. These are not random sensations, they are information. Yet, most people have never been taught how to listen to their body. In fact, we are often conditioned to override it. We bypass symptoms with medication, override fatigue to stay productive, and disconnect from our natural rhythms and cycles because they are “inconvenient.” The body becomes something we manage, rather than something we relate to. Why we become fragmented This disconnection is not a failure, it is an adaptation. When we experience overwhelming or stressful events, the body goes into survival mode. We enter fight, flight, or freeze. In those moments, we disconnect from sensation, emotion, or parts of our experience so that we can cope. This is intelligent, it is necessary. But if we do not return to process and integrate those experiences, that fragmentation remains, and over time, it becomes the way we live. We learned to fragment to survive, but we were never meant to stay fragmented. Why talk therapy alone can only go so far When healing stays at the level of analysis, it can become repetitive. You tell the same story. You understand it more deeply. But your experience of life does not change because the transformation has not reached the body, the emotional field, or the unconscious. Real change happens when the experience itself shifts. This is why approaches that include the body, the unconscious, and the nervous system often create deeper and faster results, not because they are extraordinary, but because they are more complete. The power of working with the unconscious The unconscious mind holds everything that has not been fully processed. It holds memories, beliefs, emotional imprints, and patterns that were shaped through family, culture, and early experiences. Many of these operate automatically, outside of awareness. If we do not access them, we continue to live from them. Working with the unconscious is like entering a hidden landscape within yourself. Yes, it can feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar, but it is also where the deepest insights, and the greatest transformations, live. The role of the body in transformation The body is not separate from the mind. It is the vessel through which transformation happens. When we bring awareness into sensation, emotion, and the nervous system, we allow experiences to move, integrate, and reorganize. This is where real change begins, not just in how we think, but in how we feel, how we respond, and how we live. The spiritual dimension of healing When the analytical mind softens, something else becomes available, a sense of presence, a sense of connection, a sense of meaning. This is where healing naturally begins to open into something deeper, not as a concept, but as a lived experience. A remembering of who we are beyond our patterns. A reconnection to what I would call our true nature. From disconnection to integration In my work, I use a Body-Mind Reconnection approach. This means working not only with the analytical mind, but also with: The unconscious The emotional body The physical body and nervous system When these parts come together, something shifts. Clients often tell me they experience more change in a few months than they did in years of traditional therapy. This does not surprise me because, for the first time, they are working with their whole system. The true goal of therapy Therapy is not just about coping. It is not just about managing symptoms. The deeper goal is to: Feel more alive Live with purpose and meaning Experience joy and connection Reclaim inner authority Return to a unified experience of self Because ultimately, the answers are not outside of you, they are already within you. You simply need the right way to access them. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram ,  LinkedIn ,  and my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro, Mentor & Healer Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, ontogonic hypnotherapist, and creator of Radiance: The Podcast. Known as a spiritual hacker embodied in feminine wisdom, she guides women through womb healing, tantric and shamanic arts, and cyclical embodiment. Irene's online programs blend Chinese medicine, somatic therapy, and sacred sexuality to help women reclaim their pleasure, power, and purpose. Her mission is to awaken the body as a sacred portal for soul remembrance and feminine leadership.