When I made the decision to become a mother, my entire life changed. All of my thoughts revolved around the incredible being growing inside of me. It was at that moment, that I made the vow to always do my best to take care of my mind and my body, for the betterment of not only myself, but for my developing baby.  I began transforming my diet, my exercise regime, and my lifestyle, so I could nourish the two of us, as well as be a good role model in the future.



Having had all my life been interested in nutrition and fitness, this switch was not hard. I had never been more motivated in my life. However, for some, who haven’t had the exposure or who just “can’t find the time”, this process is a lot harder. That being said, it is not impossible. In fact, it is incredibly do-able. Most of us just need the extra “push” or the resources to learn “how to”. Which is why I created Shakti Health to support women, men, and their families in the quest towards a optimal health. As parents our number one job is to give our children the healthiest, happiest lives we can within our means. The best ways to do this, is to start with yourself, so give yourself the happiest, healthiest life within you can first, and let the rest trickle down.



When trying to teach your kids anything in life, the best way to do it, is to lead by example. Children have an astonishing capacity for learning and taking in their surroundings. Their observations give them their first insight into how the world works and what their part in it is, and it is we, the parents, that they are watching the closest. They want our approval and support, so they try to be just like us (well until they hit Junior high school that is), but they are still, even then, watching every move we make.  This being the case, if you want your kids to eat healthy, you need to eat healthy. I could never sit on the couch, eating a bag of chips, and not expect my little one to not want to do the same, so I don’t do it.  I eat healthy and create healthy meals for her as well. When she sees her strong, healthy mom eating her veggies and fruits, she wants to do the same.

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As part of my daily routine, I have made it a habit to get moving. Whether it is hitting the gym, practicing yoga, or going for a run in the valley, I get out there. If my daughter is not with me, I make sure to let her know, that is what I am up to. I always encourage her to exercise as well. In fact, every Sunday while I am at yoga, she has her own yoga class scheduled at the same time. We go for family walks, or play in the park together. We go swimming, and run around in the backyard together. All the while teaching her how truly important it is to be active, and reminding her how well we both feel when we are.  Today at school when her teacher asked her what she loves doing with her family; she said all of the above. Now THAT made me one proud mom. By partaking in activities both individually and together, it enforces the idea and the pattern of exercise and good health for everyone.



One of the factors that I have found to be the hardest on my journey with my daughter is creating a healthy, confident self-image. We’ve all heard that we should never talk about our weight or scrutinize our bodies in front of our children, because they see and hear it and think that they need to do the same to themselves. This is one of the biggest issues that lead to eating disorders, for both boys and girls. When I took part in a bodybuilding show back in October of 2011, I would do turns in the mirror, picking and prodding at ever bit of “fat” on my body. I would take weekly photos and judge every aspect of them. With my mind on the stage, I forgot about the vulnerability of my daughter, and the repercussions these actions had. Even worse, was post-competition. As my body was transforming back to its normal, healthy body weight, it was a real challenge mentally to allow this to happen. Again I was scrutinizing and complaining about my body, right in front of her. This was a real eye opener for me. In my attempt to create a healthier body, what I ended up doing was hurting my mind, and teaching my daughter that to “love” herself she needed to be super lean, have a six pack, and strut around in 6 inch heels. This was NOT the lesson I intended to teach her. After making this realization, I have been working extra hard to ensure that I only talk about my body, and other bodies in a positive way. We never say foods will make you “fat”, we say they will make you sick, or on the contrary good foods will make you strong and energetic. Rather then squeezing at fat, we flex our “muscles” after we eat our nutritious meals. Knowing that what we are putting in, allows us to have the fun that we have together, and ultimately creates a healthy body, mind, and spirit. 



I encourage everyone, to be the best you can be always. Your best will change from one moment to the next, whether you are under the weather or at the top of your game, whether you are stressed, or calm, whether you are miserable or happy. Just do your best. By doing your absolute best, you will be a good role model to your children, your family, and the rest of the world.