Author: RachelBeckWellness

Be an Ageless Beauty Part 1

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

We need to find a balance between accepting that our bodies are changing and investing in our radiance. I offer that we can take a both/and approach: 80% of “aging” can be side stepped through health supporting choices and 20% needs to be graciously embraced.

 

Be an Ageless Beauty Part 1

Hello Beautiful,

Right now, we have more options than ever about how we age. Plastic surgery, injectables, lasers, and high tech treatments are changing the way we look at what aging has to be. Now that we have so many choices, some people find themselves overwhelmed with the expectations for using all of these options.

You might feel torn between wanting to try some of these but hesitant because of the expense, the potential that they go poorly, or that they might be bad for your health.

Some people just long for the good old days when, it was expected that your face and body would change predictably and you could just relax into the last half of your life without as much concern for keeping up appearances and enjoy not caring so much.

All of these thoughts are understandable. It can be complicated to navigate the many issues that have arisen. The great expense of these interventions and “upkeep” are prohibitive for many people. Others recoil at the time and energy required to keep trying to look 35 years old indefinitely. And, more and more research suggest that there are health concerns associated with implants and injectables.

So, what to do….

As I have considered these things for myself, coached clients around these issues, and continued to study things from various angles, I have found a both/and approach that might be helpful for your consideration.

Firstly, health is the root of true beauty, and it is worthy of our prioritizing at any age. It takes more time and energy with each decade to protect and optimize your nutritional needs, your fitness needs, your rest & recovery, and your grooming.

It just does. And the alternative isn’t doing nothing and saving time. The alternative is spending the same (or likely more) time dealing with the consequences of not making healthy habits a priority.

In the second half of life, most of the population spends close to half their time dealing with chronic health issues and the effects of reduced energy. So, unless you are spending 5-6 hours each day working out, juicing, and in the sauna, you are winning, time wise!

We flourish when we choose to prioritize daily habits and choices that will help us flourish. In many ways, health is earned, and so is illness. Our habits, our thoughts, our schedules, our diets, our sleep patterns, and the things we put on (and into) our bodies have consequences.

And, unfortunately, these choices matter more than ever because the air/water/soil pollution we are exposed to isn’t possible to eliminate, only to mitigate.

Beyond the acceptance that giving daily priority to excellent nutrition, exercise/leading an active lifestyle, rest and recovery, purpose and community, and helping the body recover from chemical exposures, what else is worth your time and energy?

In part 2, I will be sharing many amazingly effective tools for being an Ageless Beauty. But, before I do, I want to address a key point. We need to find a balance between accepting that our bodies are changing and investing in our radiance.

I offer that we can take a both/and approach: 80% of “aging” can be side stepped through vitality promoting choices and 20% needs to be graciously embraced.

Beauty is present in a 2 year old, a 12 year old, a 32 year old, a 52 year old and an 82 year old. It looks different—not more or less— in each stage.

We need to broaden our definition of a beauty, so it includes the full spectrum of life.

While we aren’t looking to eliminate all changes, we are looking to age beautifully. We want to remain radiant, energetic, fit, and healthy throughout our lives.

It would be ridiculous to resist the change of the seasons in nature. Likewise, we are foolish to presume that we (as a part of nature) will not change.

How we change and how we relate to that change is up to us.

I invite you to embrace the truth of wherever your body is right now, and to lovingly and devotedly nurture it to it’s full potential at any age. I look forward to sharing my favorite ways to do that in the next blog.

Cheering you on,
Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

Wonderful Winter

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

Winter is a time to build wisdom, to listen, to discern the path forward, and to make a practical strategies to implement the plans in our heart.

 

Wonderful Winter

Hello Beautiful,

I hope your year is finishing up well and you have enjoyed time with family and friends over the holidays. I especially hope that you make the time to get extra rest and quietly ponder what you most desire for 2025. I would like to share some of my favorite ways to prepare for and enter the new year (and thrive this Winter)….

Replenish

Winter is a time for rest. Many animals hibernate. We make extra melatonin in the darker months and this encourages us to go to sleep earlier, to sleep more….and to heal! Rather than just pushing through use this season to downshift your pace and rest more. I find, I need 60-90 min more sleep in winter than in summer to feel my best. I embrace this rather than resent it. I see this time as a chance to do deep healing on every level, to quiet my soul, and to replenish.

Nurture

While I love salads and smoothies, in the colder months, I offer warmer foods as my fare. I savor teas, stir fry’s, soups, and warm veggie bowls. I enjoy healing baths or infrared saunas most days. I dress to be cozy. I light candles when the sun hasn’t risen or set. In short, I am making life a little extra warm and nurturing. When we treat our body with tenderness and intentionally foster an environment of healing, we calm our nervous system and open our hearts.

Listen

Winter is a time to build wisdom, to listen, to discern the path forward, and to make a practical strategies to implement the plans in our heart. Spring is a better time to begin rigorous endeavors and projects. The first part of the year is about building up our energy through conscious rest and discerning, refining, and creating an actionable plan.

Inspiration

This is a perfect season to begin a new course, book, or artistic endeavor. We are partnering with the Divine design in building the magic “underground.” We can also edit our goals into categories. I like to find 3 words/phrases that encapsulate areas I want to grow in/embody and then I organize daily/weekly/monthly actions in each category.

Strategy

Every year I choose three words (themes) to help focus my growth. “Simplicity” was one of my 3 words last year. Each month, I create habits or take actions to support growth in those three annual points of focus. With daily embodiment practices, a year can provide significant opportunities for growth and change.

A monthly action I took to embody Simplicity was to de-clutter and re-organize a room each month. A weekly action was to spend 30 minutes on Saturdays going through saved notes/journals/cards/papers and decide what to keep and what to toss. A daily action was to reduce my to-do’s to a shorter list (building an hour of unscheduled time so I could have more leeway and free time.

By taking my area of desired growth (Simplicity) and building daily, weekly, and monthly actions, I made fantastic progress in simplifying my environment and time management. This is a great tool you can use to transform your goals into actual change.

I hope these strategies help you create a “Wonderful Winter” of your own. Doing less, resting more, and gaining mental & spiritual clarity are some of the gifts we can draw out of this season. Wishing you a wonderful 2025!

Cheering you on,

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

A Brownie Recipe that was Decades in the Making

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

For My Recent 50th Birthday, I celebrated with these. With their chewy, fudgy, indulgent taste and texture, they were the perfect choice. I hope you love them as much as I do. Enjoy!

 

A Brownie Recipe that was Decades in the Making

Rachel’s 50th Birthday Brownie Recipe

Super-food enriched, chewy, fudgy brownies

Ingredients:

4 large eggs

1 cup coconut sugar

⅓ cup super fine almond flour

3 T. organic baking cocoa powder

2T. chocolate flavored protein powder ( I used Welleco’s Super Kids one)

2 T. Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat flour (by Big Bold Health)-feel free to sub other flours

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Pinch of pink salt

1 ¼ cup chocolate chips divided into 3/4c and 1/2c. (Note: I like to do 50% Lakanato/monk fruit sweetened chocolate chips and 1/2 63% chocolate chips by Ghirardelli or Guittard)

10 tablespoons refined coconut oil (½ cup + 2 T)

2/3 cup chopped walnuts ( I love WildlyOrganic.com for these)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line an 8×11 pan with parchment paper on the bottom.

3. In  stand mixer:

Beat eggs and coconut sugar on medium high for 5 min. until stiff and increased in volume. It should be thick. While it’s mixing….

4. On stovetop:

Combine coconut oil and 3/4c chocolate chips in pan and melt on low heat stirring frequently and removing quickly to prevent burning the chocolate. Set aside and let cool a few minutes.

5.To the egg/sugar mix add….the almond flour, buckwheat flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until incorporated.

6. As mixer continues to run on low, slowly drizzle in the melted oil/chocolate until incorporated.

7. Add nuts and 1/2 c. Chocolate chips and blend briefly until incorporated.

8. Pour batter into the pan. Gently spread the batter over the bottom of the pan evenly. It will be thinly covering the bottom of the pan.

9. Place in the preheated oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. About 30 min. It will look glossy/wet on the surface.

10. Let cool. Cut. Store refrigerated. Enjoy with the drink of your choice, with ice cream, or in it’s simple perfection. Shout out to my Sister in Law who likes to have it with a cup of coffee…

Note: I included brands because, often, the final result varies according to the specific ingredients. Feel free to substitute.

Cheering you on,

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

The Key Parenting Skill Few Are Aware Of and How to Develop It

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

Without this skill you are behaving unconsciously, numbing yourself to life with whatever distractions you prefer and modeling that for your children.

 

The Key Parenting Skill Few Are Aware Of and How to Develop It

Hello Beautiful,

After a wonderful Summer break, I am returning to the blog. Recently, I was conversing with a kind woman in a local shop —and when she discovered I had 6 sons, she was flabbergasted.

She asked me what parenting advice, not commonly offered, would I like to share with her for raising her children. This is the point I shared with her and wanted to offer you as well….

A key skill the modern child isn’t being taught is —how to feel their feelings. Rather than deal with the challenges of helping a child navigate fear/disappointment/anger/rejection/boredom/etc. most parents offer a distraction. Our world is full of easy distractions….most often in the form of a screen.

Most parents who want a quiet meal at a restaurant, hand their child an iPad or a phone. It’s easier than teaching a child the art of conversation, proper manners, how to relate politely to waitstaff and fellow diners, and how to engage in conversation.

Most parents who need some time to recharge after a long day, are all too happy to have everyone go into their own world listening to and watching different things on their devices to wind down.

The pain relief sought from having to feel and grow through uncomfortable parts of our day extends beyond screens to food rewards, change of location, change of topic, and myriad more distractions.

Unfortunately, parents are doing the same. Not just with screens (8 hrs a day is the new norm—in addition to work/school use), but with alcohol to relax, smoking something to chill out, or food addiction.

Our modern existence offers us so many ways to “escape” the overwhelm of a life of unprocessed emotions and experiences. A moment of relief quickly snowballs to a lifetime of denial and generalized angst about all the unprocessed things that are waiting in the wings.

We all need outlets to unplug, relax, and set down the burdens of life. Downtime is key for our health (mentally and physically). However, daily emotional processing, weekly trend review, and monthly support are minimums to keep growing healthily into wholeness and maturity.

Sadly, few of us have also learned how to know when it’s time to get up and do the energy intensive work of self reflection and of processing what we are feeling and why.

If we don’t face the myriad of things we have buried under the rug, we will eventually find there is no where left to hide.

Parenting is like the rest of life: if you put in strategic effort on the front end. Over time you can help build the qualities that make the little human you have been entrusted with an emotionally resilient person.

Your child will learn to be reflective, understand the implications of their choices, and create more and more constructive patterns. They will be kind, compassionate, and you will genuinely enjoy their presence. And so will others!

But, if you are too often putting off the work of parenting with presence and strategy, it will feel more and more necessary to escape in your own ways, and to direct them to the same.

Since, few adults have learned to feel their own feelings and process them intentionally and constructively, they really don’t know how to model or how to teach this skill to their children.

Most parents feel overworked, under rested, and in need of more logistic and community support than they have access to. The economy, the political rancor, and the challenges of life that seem to grow at an unmitigated rate of scope and depth….it’s a lot for us all to deal with.

So, what are we to do? Since our problems will not go away; we must change our way of life if we want a change.

As a parent, you will need to take an unfiltered look at how you are spending your time and energy.

How can you create more rest and reflection for yourself so that you have the energy to parent at a different level?

And how can you learn to re-parent yourself (learn as an adult, what you are trying to model for/teach your children) around emotional awareness, processing your feelings, and facing alternatives with courage?

Without this skill you are behaving as an addict. You are numbing yourself to life with whatever distractions you prefer and you are modeling that for your children. You are not offering them the skills they need to not drown in the sea of emotions they will face in a lifetime.

It takes courage to face these hard truths. It takes resolve to make the necessary changes. It helps if you have a mentor in your own journey so that you can break the unhealthy patterns you inherited and the unconscious habits you have taken on.  I would love to help you through this process.

Our future and freedoms depend on reviving our ability to not run away and distract ourselves when we feel overwhelmed. Everyone can learn how to do this if they persist with resolve, humility, curiosity, and faith.

Cheering you on,

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

Communication Habits that Build Trust

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

We build trust when we demonstrate that we are paying attention—and extending a lens of goodwill—towards others.

 

Communication Habits that Build Trust

Hello Beautiful,

Creating a secure and positive relational dynamic starts with a trust building communication style. When we communicate conscientiously and in a consistently uplifting way, it makes understanding, ease, and quick resolutions the norm in our relationships. And that makes life infinitely easier!

We also enjoy deeper connections, more collaboration, and loyalty. This comes from a climate of safety and understanding. All of this contributes to our doing our best work with colleagues, building intimate family connections, and truer friendships. With so many benefits, it’s worth adding these habits to your default settings.

Spread Good Gossip

When you observe something positive about someone, be sure to spread the word. By committing to focus on the positive about those not present, we build trust with those who are present. We show that we are invested in the success and happiness of others. We want them to win and to be celebrated for those wins.

We want to draw out the best in others. And, to build support and goodwill between others as well. We are showing that we truly celebrate their success and want everyone to feel seen and celebrated. Speaking highly of those not present is a great way to build trust with those that are present.

Look for Solutions not Credit

While we may enjoy being the person to save the day with our ideas, sometimes, that can get in the way of the best solutions. We all need to invite others to contribute to solutions. By drawing out others ideas and opinions, we gain buy in for the solutions and trust in our leadership.

A leader is most powerful when acting as a catalyst for the best solutions. These are usually found by integrating a variety of points of view and ideas. No one “brilliant” idea is as good a what is arrived at by a group of people working together to solve a problem. Set aside ego and invite others to share in the solution.

Lead with Acknowledgement

Begin as many interactions, whether playful or resolution oriented, with acknowledging the progress, good intentions, and helpful actions of the other. We build trust when we demonstrate that we are paying attention—and extending a lens of goodwill—towards others. When we lay a foundation of attention and appreciation, everything else that needs to be said or done has a firmer foundation to rest on.

Building trust in relationships is one of the keys to living life well. The trust, stability, harmony, and intimacy that are created smooth the way for dealing with challenges and amplify the joys of leisure and celebration.

The quality of our lives and of our relationships are deeply intertwined. I hope you find inspiration for deepening your own connections with these insights.

Cheering you on,

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

How to Stress Less

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.

– Mark Twain

 

How to Stress Less

Hello Beautiful,

All of our lives are a mix of the delightful and the challenging. We are always working to shift the balance in favor of the delightful!

Many of our challenges can be lessened (and prevented) by living with attention to detail, good communication, responsible and preventative action, and not letting the speed of life persuade us to turn a blind eye to what our intuition is signaling we should take action on.

But, even with the most skillful living, we cannot avoid all challenges, illness, injury, and loss.

These difficulties are part of all of our lives from start to finish. The question remains, how do we lessen the suffering, speed the recovery, and minimize the pain? I want to offer some insights that aim to do just that for you. Here we go!

Slow Down

Multi-tasking and over scheduling make it difficult to see what is happening and respond early.

When we are living with too much on our plate, we simply don’t have the bandwidth to notice or take action on things when they are small….and so problems grow in size and implication until we finally make space to address them.

Addressing bumps early, lets us minimize the size and scope of a problem by arresting it’s advancement.

Aim to create enough attention and available energy to address things that come up early to reduce the drama in your life

Have Courage

Addressing problems takes courage. Whether it’s a difficult conversation, knowing the exact numbers of your assets and liabilities, or getting a comprehensive blood panel—we can be tempted to delay the discomfort of walking into something that may deliver bad news or tension.

As uncomfortable as facing bad news in any area is, when we summon the courage to face the truth, we are half way to a resolution.

Take Daily Action

Hiding from the problem is also hiding from the possible solutions.

Regularly initiate check-ins for all key areas of your life (health, finance, relationships, and the care of top assets). Resolve to take some action towards the resolution of problems daily. Pick the biggest elephant in the room and commit to befriending it each day.

Daily action (of any size) will gradually reduce the problem and help you regain your footing in that area.

Only Carry What is Yours

For those with empathy and soft hearts, the feelings of others can become an unhealthy weight on your soul. It is not your responsibility to make sure no one is ever disappointed. It is not your responsibility to fix all of others problems —and rarely can you fix what you didn’t break.

Be kind. Be considerate. Be thoughtful. Be generous. Be supportive.

But, know that everyone has their own battles to fight. We must learn to differentiate between our hopes for others and our ability to override their own learning process.

The learning curve for all of us can be rough. But, just like helping a butterfly out of its chrysalis robs it of developing the strength needed to survive, we must respect others ability to create their own resolutions.

If the problem can be solved, why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, why worry?

-Santideva

Stress and worry suck the life out of our being. We cannot afford to throw away our energy by not respecting the natural order of cause and effect, sowing and reaping.

Each moment, we are invited to become more and more skilled at taking responsibility for our lives, while encouraging others to do so as well.

And… sometimes we get the joy of being a God-send to another Soul in travail! Every day we can set a good example and cheer them on in running their own race.

Cheering you on,

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

A Real “Glow Up” For Spring

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

When you feel your best, you are freed from self conscious thoughts. You are more able to be in the moment, connect deeply with others, and to make your biggest contribution.

 

A Real “Glow Up” For Spring

Hello Beautiful,

This time of year, many of us are ready to shed the old and welcome the new. Whether its dry winter skin, clothes that feel like they don’t suit us, or a few extra pounds that kept us warm this winter….we crave letting go of the old and starting fresh.

When you look your best, it helps you to feel your best. When you feel your best, you are freed of nagging, self conscious thoughts. You are more able to be in the moment, connect deeply with others, and to make your biggest contribution.

Looking your best doesn’t have an expiration date. You can be 30, 50, or 70 and feel your best yet. Health is beautiful. Kindness is beautiful. Creativity creates and embodies beauty.

Many smart and virtuous women feel annoyed by the culture’s emphasis on beauty (and especially on sexuality selling everything) and they want to hide all traces of their feminine form.

Because beauty and seduction that are “performed” for the manipulation of others might feel so far from their heart, they shy away from the whole category of beauty, sensuality, and femininity.

What speaks to my soul, is a different approach. When a woman embodies her version of beauty, her version of femininity, and sensuality…. in an elegant, appropriate, and subtle way….she is true to herself.

She is not performing for male (or female) attention. She is not hiding her light as a defensive reaction. She is in non-referential living. She is not “the opposite” of those she deems “too” this or that. She is very much her own “best”.

Her best is the next level of her own development. It has nothing to do with her friends, a celebrity, or her social group. She is simply living her inner vision of beauty. The way she dresses, the way she moves, and the way she styles her hair (and does or doesn’t do her makeup) is all a reflection of what makes her feel radiant.

This necessarily changes over time. One year, you might be drawn to longer hair worn wavy and boho dresses. The next year, a sleek blowout and pencil skirt with kitten heels may feel like the “new you”. The good news is that you get to explore all kinds of “flavors” and enjoy the feelings they fill you with.

Maybe feeling free, makes you feel gorgeous and you want to dress for action…a woman ready for an adventure. Perhaps, you long for the luxurious feeling of a long silk dress and the feeling reveling in the moment in a luxurious, feline like way, it reinforces in you.

There is value in exploring these different expressions of yourself. Personality is quite fluid. It is the repetition of ways of feeling, thinking, and acting that becomes so effortless, we think its just who we are. It’s really more true that it is just what we have practiced.

The thing is, we can think different thoughts, spend more time in a different emotional zip code, and take different actions…..and find we are quite different over time. “Practice it until you become it” can be your motto.

It’s like going on vacation for a while to a different culture and experiencing such different stimulus, that we actually shift our way of being for a time. That can be a good thing when chosen intentionally! Different external cues (where you are, how you dress, who you are with) all can influence how we show up as a person.

So, this Spring, let your “glow up” be something more that a haircut, manicure, and new outfit.

What are several words you want to embody in a feeling sense? What style of clothing would feel good to explore? What new habits or changed life pacing would feel especially congruent with becoming the woman you want to become?

And, by all means, go out and refresh your style as well.

Just know that you are craving more than a new fashion direction or beauty enhancing appointment.

You are craving the new expression of you. You want a style that reflects the inner work you are doing and the places you are growing into.

It feels good when your inside and your outside are aligned. Taking the time to explore new expressions of beauty and style that feel like the manifestation of the woman you are becoming is not a waste of time. It’s a great investment to align the two and be something on purpose.

When we choose our style, it’s a non verbal communication of our current state of being. We are choosing to be seen….and maybe to draw to us those who appreciate what we do.

Connecting with ourselves, with others, and with creativity is no shallow aim. It takes clarity, courage, and creativity. Be intentional. Be seen. And shine!

Cheering you on,

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

3 Ways to Change “The Story” of Your Life According to Marcus Aurelius

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

Here is the rule to remember in the future, When anything tempts you to be bitter: not, ‘This is a misfortune’ but ‘To bear this worthily is good fortune. 

Marcus Aurelius

 

3 Ways to Change “The Story” of Your Life According to Marcus Aurelius

Hello Beautiful,

Have you ever heard someone say, “And that’s the story of my life….?” Have you ever noticed that it usually is connected to a negative storyline? We all can tell multiple stories about our lives.

Some are sob stories that connect one injustice or struggle to the next. We can also tell the story that we are unstoppable, resilient, and growing in the midst of trials. Today, I would like to explore how you can create a story worth celebrating.

Acknowledge the Trials

You can honor the struggles without letting them be the defining narrative. Tragedy and injustice are real. But they don’t have to be the most powerful part of your story. They can serve as facts you acknowledge, without being the all powerful limiting factors of your story. Instead, you can focus on how you became resourceful and determined to rise above them.

“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy” -Marcus Aurelius

Transcend the Trials

You may have heard the phrase, “You can’t keep a good (wo)man down.” We gain strength and honor by rising above our circumstances. Indeed, the greatest honor is to use difficulties to become unstoppable.

“Here is the rule to remember in the future, When anything tempts you to be bitter: not, ‘This is a misfortune’ but ‘To bear this worthily is good fortune.”- Marcus Aurelius

Savor the Challenge

We can choose to look for the way to turn our “misfortune” on its head and let it become our opportunity. Yes, we may need to grieve it for a while. Yes, we may need to pause and catch our breath for a time. But, after a little while we need to decide what to do with what just happened.

We can choose to let it define us as the victim of the story or as the heroine of the story. This is where our Spiritual life is key. It is only with a view big enough to encompass design, purpose, and redemption that we can really do the heavy lifting needed to alchemize our story into something inspiring (literally “filled with Spirit”).

“Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack” -Marcus Aurelius

These are intense times we live in. Challenges abound. It’s up to us to find how we are going to move through this time in our lives and in the world.

We can “leak” our focus out into discouragement and endless grief or we can acknowledge the challenge, rise above the victim narrative, and become the leader we are being asked to become.

For all of our sakes, I am praying you will find the strength to embrace the ache and turn that goo you are rolling around in, into the body of the butterfly you can become!

Cheering you on,

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

Aging is Like Interest—Are you adding value or adding debt?

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

I like to show people how to make their lifestyle choices create value over time rather than create a burden.

 

Aging is Like Interest—Are you adding value or adding debt?

Hello Beautiful,

One of my favorite topics to coach people around is their mindset on aging. We all get to decide whether to age accidentally or intentionally.

Aging doesn’t “happen” to us. It is the aggregation of our own choices. That compounding effect is like interest. It can work for you in an investment or against you in debt.

Many people expect to have less energy, reduced range of motion, diminished vitality, and entrenched health restrictions accruing over the coming decades.

Most people live into that expectation. Because they feel it is inevitable, they don’t take the actions they could to prevent or reverse this reality.

Our responsiveness to the changes in our body, over time, can create a deep and useful dialogue at every age about what is working well, what needs attention, and new options for resolving health challenges.

With age, we do need to refine our approach to fitness, to nutrition, recovery, and supplementation. Those changes are dialed in on a personal level, so you find what serves your unique constitution best. With skilled guidance and intuitive shifts in habits, you can alter your approach to meet your body’s changing needs.

Aging wisely, beautifully, and healthily is a core value in my life and in my work with women who want to find greater clarity and renewed vitality. When we set the expectation that our prime is always ahead of us (rather than in the past), we start to take more motivated actions to live into that expectation.

Our beliefs about aging, and the consequent choices we make, are potent factors in creating our lived experience.

I want to encourage you to find role models for the decades to come. Look for people who have the beauty, the radiance, the fitness, the vitality, the sparkle in their eye, that you would dream of for your own future. Try to learn how they created those outcomes.

Experiment and modify your own choices to be more in alignment with those habits. Listen to your body, do your research, and most of all, set a higher hope for yourself…and choose to live into it!

If you would like my help on your journey to aging optimally, please reach out or browse my courses.

Cheering you on,

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details

 

4 Keys to Being Your Best in 2024

Posted on by RachelBeckWellness

No one will keep you healthy but you. You have to prioritize and habitualize what serves your long term interest. Every habit you uplevel is a gift to your future self. Love Her. Give Her a healthy and beautiful body to live in.

 

4 Keys to being your best in 2024

Hello Beautiful,

I am often asked which habits make the biggest difference in aging well. While there is no magic lever (it’s more of a large dashboard of levers to adjust skillfully over time), several habits have exponential value in increasing your vitality over the long run. Here are a few of the most essential habits:

#1 Getting a Lot of Greens

I aim for 36oz of green liquid per day. It’s usually 12oz of water/greens superfood powder first thing in the morning, then a midmorning ceremonial grade (ultra high anti-oxidant) matcha tea (Nekohama brand), and a mid afternoon green juice. I also average a small salad at lunch and a mixed vegetable soup or stir-fry at dinner.

Eating a lot of greens is key to aging slowly for several reasons.The Chlorophyll in green foods is a blood purifier. The minerals in the vegetables aid in optimal function of all organs and tissues. The alkalinity of the greens helps balance the body’s chemistry to reduce inflammation.

The fiber improves gut health and elimination. And the high water content of the vegetables gets hydration into the cells efficiently, which helps you *glow*.

#2 Quieting the Mind

Our thoughts are the main source of stress in our life. Not our circumstances, but our thoughts. Our mind is always telling us a story about our experience. Research shows that for the average person 80% of our thoughts are negative!

If we have 80% negative (frustrated, powerless, critical, and angry thoughts) thoughts, we are flooding our body with cortisol and other inflammatory chemicals. We are seeing the world through a lens that isn’t constructive. We may need to set boundaries, change circumstances, or alter relationship patterns to improve our life.

In order to do that, we need to see clearly what our options are and what changes we are responsible to make. If we are stuck in the same thought patterns, we will not be able to see our options. Learning to quiet the mind allows us to get out of our habituated perceptions and reactions.

We can then see more clearly, hear Divine guidance, and begin to reprogram our mind towards constructive thoughts, rather than a negativity bias. The fountain of youth is likely situated between your ears….it’s where change begins.

#3 Jumping and Agility Training

Sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) is the first sign of aging. We especially tend to loose more Type 2 muscle fibers with each year in midlife and beyond. These fibers are responsible for acceleration and deceleration. When we jump, we access this explosive power and preserve these muscle fibers.

I do jump squats, lateral jumping exercises, and use my rebounder often. When we add a co-ordination component (aka Agility training) we engage our proprioception (knowing and controlling where we are in space), our co-ordination, and our ability to recover from being off balance and regain stability.

In combination, these skills will give us a solid foundation to reduce the risk of falls (and the associated risk of injury/hospitalization) as we age. They also build bone density and help us move with more assurance and grace.

#4 Jade Egg Pelvic Floor Training

Few people experience notable improvement to their pelvic floor with Kegel exercises. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, it’s common for people to do them incorrectly, bearing down rather than drawing up with the contractions. Secondly, squeezing and releasing a muscle set is a very limited way to build strength anywhere in your body. Lastly, without adding weight and a tool to build proprioception (your accurate sense of muscle use and co-ordination), you won’t change any muscles in your body very much.

The use of the Jade Egg at first, is to build co-ordination of the muscles in the pelvic floor and build a baseline of strength. And then, we use the jade egg with weights added (to increase strength, build muscle, increase blood flow, and regenerate tissue).

If you want to do jumping and agility training, you may need to do this step first! All women should be able to run and jump without leaking urine, lubricate well from within (even at midlife and beyond), and avoid or rehabilitate pelvic organ prolapse. If you want instruction on this practice, please look into my course Sensuous Strength.

No one will keep you healthy but you. You have to prioritize and habitualize what serves your long term interest. Every habit you up level is a gift to your future self. Love Her. Give Her a healthy and beautiful body to live in.

Invest in your future body like you do in your retirement investment account. Creating wonderful habits builds “health capital” for your future. There is no time like the present to begin again or to take your health to the next level.

If you want support in your journey, try one of my courses or work with me personally. I would love to help you break through to the next level of awesome!

Cheering You On!

Rachel

ps. If you would like to work with me to help you reach your goals, get more information here: Click here for details