About Michelle:
It Starts With You Wellness® started off as an idea over 10 years ago, before our family moved down to Florida. The initial thought was to create a yoga website, focusing on the gentle side of yoga, with the addition of other wellness practices. Since a gentle practice of yoga was the basis of helping my anxiety, it was my "go-to" practice.
So, there I was, creating videos of different styles of practices, but always coming back to..."but what if someone has anxiety, how would they need to do this pose.." I know this, since I lived it.
My first yoga class was a gentle class. I was totally inflexible, where I could barely reach down past my knees. I remember being told to close my eyes, which was great, so I didn't feel the pressure or carry thoughts of people looking at me. I lacked the self-confidence in myself, and was nervous just being there, since I didn't know what to expect. Luckily, I was in a very safe space, where there were low numbers of students in the class. I can't imagine having the same experience if I went to a big yoga studio with 20 or more people in the class. I would have spent more time looking around and being distracted than concentrating on what I needed to do. But then we are told, that IS the practice...to let go of the ego and get to a place where you only care about what's going on with you. That's great...on paper...or if someone says it to you.. but depending on the depth of anxiety, it may not help, and may even worsen the problem.
It is said, and I say this quite often.. "Yoga isn't about what you look like...it's about how you feel". If you FEEL good when you are doing it, then you are doing it correctly. There may be some certain alignments you may need to be aware of, but overall, you really can't do it wrong. It's all about following your body, and honoring where your body is, whether you are a beginner, or more advanced.
But over time, I realized yoga alone wasn't going to be enough to end my battle with anxiety. Why? Because eventually, my mind would keep getting in the way. It was EXTREMELY helpful...but wasn't the end all. So, I pushed forward, delving deeper into more specific tools and techniques, to tap into the inner mind.
This is when it all started to come together. It's about training the mind, not the body, and using the body to train the mind. This is where the true results were found. I realized how affective the process really is, after testing this on myself. I also learned over time, how helpful, even for those who have had anxiety for many years. It's all about training the MIND!
It is also refreshing to understand that EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! We all learn differently, and our bodies will absorb information differently as well. We all DON'T need the same thing, and our needs can change over time. We need to feel what WE feel is right at the time...for us individually.
We also are made up differently. Our bodies are not all created equal. So, especially in yoga, I feel that more teachers need to learn to step back and allow students to create each pose as it shows up for them, instead of dictating what it "should" look like. Some people have longer bones, or are naturally more internally rotated, or externally rotated, so that some poses may not be fully accessible, even after years of studying yoga. It doesn't mean anything but, we are all different, and should be catered that way.
So, why this site? It has become important for me to share the knowledge I've learned over the years. I understand the struggles that accompany stress and anxiety, and I don't like the thought of anyone suffering as I did. There is such a need for people to feel good about themselves, to love their bodies and feel good about who they are. I strongly feel that when we can love and accept ourselves for who we are, we can move mountains in life!
When working on ourselves, keeping a positive mind is key! With this in mind, I developed my Managing Anxiety Program, as I wanted to reach more people with the successes that many of my students were having. But, just because the word "positive" is in the title, doesn't mean that we walk around with a fake smile on our faces all day, and portray a fake reality. No. It means digging deep within to FEEL who we are inside, and feeling the positivity as it emerges. The techniques help people draw out feelings of inner strength, confidence and courage within. I've just created simple tools to help people find their way. The results are that people are finding themselves more happy, and accepting of life. We ALL struggle, we ALL face disappointment, anger, and resentment at points in our lives. It's not about ignoring these issues, its about ACCEPTING these issues, in order to move on. Once we can accept, we can move forward.
The key importance is to start off slow, and allow the changes of the lifestyle to occur as they need to...and be patient with yourself...
Do you believe you can make anxiety a thing of the past? If you do...then you will!
I have since broadened the site and created an online app that has expanded into healing emotional, physical and nutritional health. I have since broadened my own expertise and am now welcoming other wellness specialists into the mix to give you the best resources for yourself. I hope the app can give you all you need to support all your wellness needs.
Feel free to contact me at: [email protected] with any questions..
When I changed my lifestyle to encourage less anxiety, stopped playing the victim, allowed for more love of myself...everything changed...and it can change for you too.
-Namaste
So, there I was, creating videos of different styles of practices, but always coming back to..."but what if someone has anxiety, how would they need to do this pose.." I know this, since I lived it.
My first yoga class was a gentle class. I was totally inflexible, where I could barely reach down past my knees. I remember being told to close my eyes, which was great, so I didn't feel the pressure or carry thoughts of people looking at me. I lacked the self-confidence in myself, and was nervous just being there, since I didn't know what to expect. Luckily, I was in a very safe space, where there were low numbers of students in the class. I can't imagine having the same experience if I went to a big yoga studio with 20 or more people in the class. I would have spent more time looking around and being distracted than concentrating on what I needed to do. But then we are told, that IS the practice...to let go of the ego and get to a place where you only care about what's going on with you. That's great...on paper...or if someone says it to you.. but depending on the depth of anxiety, it may not help, and may even worsen the problem.
It is said, and I say this quite often.. "Yoga isn't about what you look like...it's about how you feel". If you FEEL good when you are doing it, then you are doing it correctly. There may be some certain alignments you may need to be aware of, but overall, you really can't do it wrong. It's all about following your body, and honoring where your body is, whether you are a beginner, or more advanced.
But over time, I realized yoga alone wasn't going to be enough to end my battle with anxiety. Why? Because eventually, my mind would keep getting in the way. It was EXTREMELY helpful...but wasn't the end all. So, I pushed forward, delving deeper into more specific tools and techniques, to tap into the inner mind.
This is when it all started to come together. It's about training the mind, not the body, and using the body to train the mind. This is where the true results were found. I realized how affective the process really is, after testing this on myself. I also learned over time, how helpful, even for those who have had anxiety for many years. It's all about training the MIND!
It is also refreshing to understand that EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! We all learn differently, and our bodies will absorb information differently as well. We all DON'T need the same thing, and our needs can change over time. We need to feel what WE feel is right at the time...for us individually.
We also are made up differently. Our bodies are not all created equal. So, especially in yoga, I feel that more teachers need to learn to step back and allow students to create each pose as it shows up for them, instead of dictating what it "should" look like. Some people have longer bones, or are naturally more internally rotated, or externally rotated, so that some poses may not be fully accessible, even after years of studying yoga. It doesn't mean anything but, we are all different, and should be catered that way.
So, why this site? It has become important for me to share the knowledge I've learned over the years. I understand the struggles that accompany stress and anxiety, and I don't like the thought of anyone suffering as I did. There is such a need for people to feel good about themselves, to love their bodies and feel good about who they are. I strongly feel that when we can love and accept ourselves for who we are, we can move mountains in life!
When working on ourselves, keeping a positive mind is key! With this in mind, I developed my Managing Anxiety Program, as I wanted to reach more people with the successes that many of my students were having. But, just because the word "positive" is in the title, doesn't mean that we walk around with a fake smile on our faces all day, and portray a fake reality. No. It means digging deep within to FEEL who we are inside, and feeling the positivity as it emerges. The techniques help people draw out feelings of inner strength, confidence and courage within. I've just created simple tools to help people find their way. The results are that people are finding themselves more happy, and accepting of life. We ALL struggle, we ALL face disappointment, anger, and resentment at points in our lives. It's not about ignoring these issues, its about ACCEPTING these issues, in order to move on. Once we can accept, we can move forward.
The key importance is to start off slow, and allow the changes of the lifestyle to occur as they need to...and be patient with yourself...
Do you believe you can make anxiety a thing of the past? If you do...then you will!
I have since broadened the site and created an online app that has expanded into healing emotional, physical and nutritional health. I have since broadened my own expertise and am now welcoming other wellness specialists into the mix to give you the best resources for yourself. I hope the app can give you all you need to support all your wellness needs.
Feel free to contact me at: [email protected] with any questions..
When I changed my lifestyle to encourage less anxiety, stopped playing the victim, allowed for more love of myself...everything changed...and it can change for you too.
-Namaste
Michelle is an Anxiety and Self-Discipline Coach who has the following credentials: BS, E-RYT, YACEP, CHN, CLYL, Y12SRL.
(Bachelor of Science, Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider for Releasing Tension, Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, and a Yoga 12-Step Recovery Leader)
Michelle draws her knowledge and expertise from a combination of her own personal experience with anxiety and panic, and methods from each of the certifications above, for a well rounded approach to managing anxiety and panic.
(Bachelor of Science, Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider for Releasing Tension, Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, and a Yoga 12-Step Recovery Leader)
Michelle draws her knowledge and expertise from a combination of her own personal experience with anxiety and panic, and methods from each of the certifications above, for a well rounded approach to managing anxiety and panic.