Happy Winter Solstice my friends! Today is the longest, darkest night of the year, and tomorrow the light will begin to return. This is a time for reflection and inner exploration, as we turn the corner on another year and head into the holidays. This time of year can be a complication of emotions, so as you move through these next few weeks, I hope you'll find time for reflection, for generosity, and for your own practice.

2024 has been a year of profound shifts for me. I was able to lean more fully into my work as a leadership coach and somatic practitioner, finding the spaciousness to grow my business while staying grounded in my own practices. Reflecting on all that’s unfolded, I am feeling a great sense of gratitude, excitement for what lies ahead in my own work, and worry and grief for what lies ahead in our world. My practice is to stay open enough to hold it all.

This year I took the big step of reducing the hours of my nonprofit role, in order to create space to deepen and broaden my coaching work. In addition to coaching many amazing and inspiring clients, I had the honor of leading two group somatic coaching programs and a Somatics and Yoga retreat with the University of Richmond, and partnered with leaders through the Emerging Nonprofit Leadership Program and with Floricane. I presented on burnout and nervous system regulation at several conferences and workshops for direct service workers and emerging leaders, and integrated my yoga studies and experience to open my books to private therapeutic yoga sessions. Through it all, I am guided by the transformative power of embodiment work—for individuals, teams, and organizations.

And of course, I learned (and continue to learn) that building a business is hard! All kinds of people have advice to give, and at moments I have tricked myself into thinking there must be some business success secret I just needed access to, some "right" way to do it. But I realized—and work to remind myself—that when I am clear and excited about the work that I do, when I give myself enough time for my own practice, it is visible and available to those who will benefit from that work. Truly, I'm excited about sharing somatic practice because it's the work I need—to learn to listen to my intuition, to lead with discernment, to trust myself.

Thanks for being part of this journey! Your support means the world to me, and I’m excited for what we’ll create together in the year ahead.

Somatic Practice

Centering and reflecting are integral practices to help you work through tough emotions, move through overwhelm, and consider what's most important to you. Give yourself 5-10 minutes (or more) for this practice, which can be an internal reflection or journaling practice.

• Find a quiet place to sit so your spine can be long but not rigid. Pay attention to your breath, not needing to change anything, letting it flow naturally. Imagine roots growing from your seat or your feet, grounding and anchoring you deeply.
• Reflect on the year that's passed. What experiences felt meaningful to you? What strengths or values helped you navigate challenges?
• Place a hand on your chest or your lower belly, reflecting on these strengths, values, or qualities. What value has been most present for you this year? Is there a value you want to center more intentionally in the year ahead?
• Sit up tall again, focusing on your spine and the way you are rooted and grounded, sitting tall like reaching toward the sun. You might bring in some movement, letting your arms reach up toward the sky, or moving side to side and feeling the stability of your body and your roots. What's one intention you want to set for the year ahead? How can this intention align with your values?
• Visualize this intention like a small seed, soaking up nutrients and resting until ready to grow. With each breath, imagine it growing stronger, supported by your roots and your values.
• Take a few more breaths, your center and your roots all connected. When you're ready, open your eyes, and jot down any more notes or reflections so you can revisit them throughout the year.