February 2022

Cold showers, intermittent fasting, running, nootropics, music, surfing, dancing to EDM, high-intensity sports, creative outlets such as painting or starting new companies, kittens, funny movies, having fun with my kids, weekend getaways with my husband, laughing with family and friends, girls’ weekends and Marie Kondo-like organizing the heck out of my office and home. What? You don’t consider cold showers to be a turn-on? Perhaps I should clarify what I meant by that. I was referring to things that turn on my flow state. Now that you understand what I meant with the title of this article, what are your turn-ons? In other words, what puts you into a flow state? Maybe you’re asking yourself something along the lines of “why would I even want to pursue this?” Perhaps it is because of what might be possible:• Feeling that you are at your best physically, mentally, and spiritually• Feeling a sense of purpose in life• Having a genuine passion for everything you do• Loving, supportive, and deeply connected relationships• Prosperity and financial abundance• Acceptance of what is and stronger love of self• Experiencing a deeper connection to source, spirit, God, and your higher self• Clarity regarding what you want and where you are going in life• Feeling like you make a positive impact on the world If you want any or all of the above, tapping into your flow state will get you there. In this article, I’d like to share some strategies for getting you into the flow state (also known as “the zone”) and keeping you there. Some of these may be obvious, or activities in which you already engage, but other might be entirely new for you and could potentially be your new “turn-on”. Where to start if you are unsure. The turn-ons for flow state are similar to the sexual context of turnon in that they are different for everyone. Some people enter a flow state while engaging in group activities, while other people enter “the zone” by sitting in silence. Where do you fall within this range? If you aren’t sure, the folks at the Flow Genome Project may be able to help you. This company, founded by a group of peak performers, is dedicated to assisting people in reaching their peak potential. They have created a simple 10-question survey to determine how you enter the flow state and offer different training and educational programs. It might be worth checking out as a place to start: www.flowgenomeproject.com. Variety. Remember the first time you had coffee, espresso, tea, or something caffeinated? What a buzz, huh? Then, over time, you became immune to the effects of caffeine and needed more of it to achieve the buzz. Flow state inducing activities are similar in that we need to mix them up in order to sustain our peak performance. Otherwise, we can build up immunities to the same routines and activities. As with caffeine, we can find that over time we will either need to add more intensity to our activity or an entirely new actively altogether. Therefore, this strategy is two-fold: (1) Make sure to mix it up and engage in a variety of activities; and (2) try new things. Every mentor I’ve had throughout my life has encouraged me to try something new at least once per year and make sure that something new scares the crap out of me. That’s because they understand that by doing so, I have an opportunity to expand myself through a new flow state activity. Are you engaging in the same flow state activities, over and over? Is it time to try something new? Some activities and strategies that could put you into a flow state: BREATHWORK There are so many breathing techniques and methods out there. Here are a few that I’ve come across and tried for myself: Wim Hof Method Box Breathing Holotropic Breathwork Shamanic Breathwork Pranayama Rebirthing Pineal Gland Activation by Joe Dispenza Transformational Breathwork You can experiment with most of these methods by searching for them on YouTube, where the creators offer guided samples of their techniques. A few, like rebirthing and shamanic breathwork, require a coach. I’ve tried all of the above methods and found them helpful during different periods of my life. The many benefits of breathwork are varied and far-reaching. They include reduced blood pressure, stress management, strengthening of intestinal and abdominal muscles, pain reduction, improved sleep, improved circulation, and assistance with thebody’s detoxification process. Lately, my favorite is the Wim Hof Method. I was especially intrigued by his technique when I read abouta study conducted in 2014 in which twelve participants injected with botulism experienced zero adverse reactions after performing the Wim Hof breathing method, meditation, and exposure to cold (2014, Kox et al.) If breathwork can fight off botulism in your body, imagine what other beneficial physiological effects it can have. The key with breathwork is to find which one works best for you atthis time in your life and make sure to include it in your self-care routine. COLD SHOWERS AND ICE BATHS Trust me. I am a baby when it comes to cold. I downright can’t stand it. However, after reading the many benefits of cold showers, andthe Wim Hof research results, I tried it for myself. I have to say that I honestly have a surge of energy for at least 4 hours after ending my hot shower with a cold shower. Ben Greenfield has a great YouTube video where he provides instructions on how to take a cold shower. It’s one of his most watched videos. With the following benefits of cold showers/ice baths, perhaps it’s worth a try: Increased circulation, detoxification, improved exercise recovery, improved sex drive, improved stress response, reduced muscle inflammation, boosted happiness levels – sign me up! NOOTROPICS This morning I had a big ole cup of nootropics. Yup, coffee. Coffee is considered a nootropic because it can enhance brain function. However, coffee is just the tip of a huge and growing iceberg

According to one of my favorite thought leaders, Brené Brown, people with strong boundaries are the most compassionate. What do you think of that statement? Does it seem counterintuitive to you? It often seems to me as though many of us lack solid boundaries because we don’t want to disappoint our patients or hurt their feelings. However, aren’t we actually hurting our patients, and ourselves, by not having solid and clear boundaries? I’d like to begin by sharing something that came to my mind as I contemplated the question: “How important are boundaries in private practice?” My neighbor grows plumerias in his yard. He literally has over 300 plumeria plants, each one carefully planted within its own large pot. Many of his prized plumerias are rare and exotic with values over $1,000 each. He keeps telling me he is going to give me a clipping from one of the plumerias. I’m eagerly waiting… but that’s not the part about boundaries. This is:Let’s say he gives me a clipping from one of the prized plumerias and I place the clipping on my driveway with some dirt around the exposed roots. How well do you think that little plant will do? Not very well, I can tell you that. Wind, rain, and the elements will damage this little plant and most likely send it down the street in the gutter with the other leaves and landscaping discharge. This little clipping needs a container within which to grow and thrive. A thick plastic or ceramic pot filled with good soil would give it a much better chance. Isn’t that the same for our patients? They need a container in which to grow, heal, and ultimately thrive. Having boundaries with ourpatients is just like having a solid container or planter for growing a plant. If we use a weak container, water, soil and nutrients can leak out. We can also look at how important boundaries are in raising children. Solid boundaries give children a sense of safety and security. Can’t we say the same for our patients? Giving them clear boundaries within our practice will give them a sense of safety and security. Furthermore, could we also say that having solid boundaries in our practice, and holding to thoseboundaries will also give us a sense of safety and security as well? “Boundaries are essential to a successful practice and enjoyable career” Let’s face it. People-pleasing (in other words not holding up your boundaries) isn’t sustainable. Sooner or later a people-pleaser will find themselves feeling taken advantage of, burned out, resentful and angry! Sound familiar? How about any of these common scenarios:• You don’t like working on weekends or evenings, but you keep saying yes to that one patient because you feel bad for them.• You don’t want to raise your prices because you feel bad for your patients, but you feel resentful because you can’t afford somethingyou really want and now you are thinking to yourself “maybe I chose the wrong profession”.• Your patient cancels last minute again, and you are so frustrated because you turned away other patients for that appointment slot and now, because you don’t have a cancellation policy, you are not going to receive anticipated income.• Your coworker left the room a mess again and now you are hustling to clean it up before your first patient arrives. The stress and resentment this causes you leaves you flustered during the session with your patient rather than grounded and present.• Your patient shows up 20 minutes late, which will now push out all your appointments for the day and ruin your whole workflow. Let’s move on to the many benefits of having strong boundaries. After that, I’d like to offer strategies on setting some boundaries in your practice so that you can increase your level of compassion and feelings of inner peace and joy. Benefits to having strongboundaries:• You won’t feel taken advantage of• Eliminate burnout• Feelings of safety and security foryou and your patients• Equal exchange of energies• Feeling respected• Your needs are met• Greater sense of joy since you aresaying “no” to things that depleteyour energy• Less conflict• Eliminate stress and/or anxiety SIX STRATEGIES FOR CREATING & MAINTAINING SOLID BOUNDARIES Communicate your boundaries. Don’t keep your boundaries in your head where they can’t serve you. You’ve got to communicate them to your patients and any prospective patients. Clearly state your practice policies on your:• Website• New patient paperwork• Intake forms• Signs in your waiting room• Newsletters to patients• Welcome emails and appointment and confirmation emails• Social media posts• Promotional materials like postcards and brochures The practice policies that you want to make sure you clearly state include:• Hours of operation• Your service offerings• Prices for your services• Cancellation policies and fees associated• Package cancellation policies and fees If you once offered massage but hate doing massage, stop offering it and take it off your services page. No exceptions. Otherwise, you will find yourself doing massage again! On my intake/new patient form I clearly state prices for my services and that if for any reason they cancel their appointment with less than 24 hours’ notice, their credit card will be charged the full amount for the service for which they booked. In addition, for facial rejuvenation package patients I clearly state that if they decide to cancel the program/package at any time, theywill be reimbursed according to my single-session price and not by prorating how many sessions they have used out of their package. Stay true to yourself. If you don’t like to work weekends–don’t. If you don’t like working late at night–don’t. If you like having yourdog at the office instead at home, bring your dog. When you start making exceptions for certain people you start to weaken your boundaries. Over time you will become resentful. In addition, you will not be fully present during your treatment sessions because all you will be thinking about is either “I hate working on weekends”, “I hate working late at night”