People of color and marginalized communities, who face a disproportionate amount of societal stress and burden, are often the ones who need self-nurture the most. But because of the economy around self-care, it is inaccessible to them, let alone enough time for themselves to think about how they can care for and nurture themselves.

That is why, today, I asked Elena Velez, founder and director of Community Restorative Training, to be here with us today to speak on this very important mission she is on — to educate and bring accessibility of self-nurture to marginalized communities.

How often do we feel that we are not in control when it comes to our hormonal health, and that we are unfortunate victims when it comes to menstruation and menopause? In this episode, I speak with Yvette Racines, founder of Vital Living Wellness, an Ayurveda inspired bodycare brand, on simple self-care and self-nurture practices that can aid us throughout our hormonal transitions, especially the transition into menopause. 

Listen IN to our conversation on self-care principles based in Ayurveda for a more easeful perimenopausal period. Even if you are not yet in that stage in your life, or past that, Yvette's tips are timeless and foundational for all, even non-menstruating folks.

This short and sweet yoga nidra / guided relaxation practice is suitable for when you are in a pinch with time, yet feel the need to nurture yourself. Embrace rest with these little moments of self-soothing to help regulate your nervous system throughout the day. The yoga nidra guides you through the contemplation that, when you tend to your body, your body will tend to you in return.

In this episode, Elaine explores our relationship with rest and the resistance many of us have towards it. She shares her own journey of learning to embrace rest and the importance of balancing busyness with rest. Elaine encourages listeners to have an honest conversation about their relationship with rest and to reframe the idea of deserving rest. She emphasizes that rest is the foundation for success and caring for oneself and others. The episode concludes with a reminder to constantly listen to our bodies and adapt our forms of rest as our circumstances change.