The Heaviness Behind Weight

I've never been skinny. I've been fit and strong, but never skinny. I've covered a range of sizes and weights in my adult life. The smallest I've been as an adult is a size 6. The largest is a size 16, which is what I wear right now. I feel puffy and bloated, my ankles hurt when I get up from the bed in the morning, and I wobble like a penguin (not to be confused with doing the Wobble Line Dance!).

I know what's behind the 25 pounds that I've put on over the last couple of years: grief over family loss. First my mom passed away, which sent me into a downward emotional spiral. Then I found my sister two days after she had passed away, and two months later, my dad died unexpectedly in car wreck.

After losing my family members, I became an emotional wreck, and my body reflected that.With many days of depression, my thyroid became weak, my pulse rate became too slow, my metabolism slowed down, and my joints got used to not moving much and ached when I did move.

Exercise? Ha!

Says the woman who once rode her bike 350 miles over 4 days for the AIDSRide; walked 20 miles a day for 3 days for the Breast Cancer Walk; and coached women in weightlifting at a boot camp. I used to pride myself on physical endurance.

These past couple of years, I wouldn't have gotten out of bed if it weren't for my son and taking responsibility for feeding him and getting him to school on time. Thank God for that!

That's just my recent story of health and weight. I've always been challenged with health and weight, though. I remember, as a little girl, watching my mom and sister try diet after diet, seeking to improve their weight and body image. I absorbed that into my own consciousness and played it out to varying degrees. Many factors contribute to the heaviness behind my weight.

I've sought help from many and various healers and therapies over the years, including talk therapy, energy healing, bodywork, and psychic readings. All from wonderful healers, and all therapies have helped tremendously. I continue a combination of these therapies week after week, and I feel better and better all the time!

Today, my consciousness is being drawn to hypnosis with Mary Ann Walker to help me lose weight and feel optimum health. My understanding of hypnosis is that it gets down to the core of issues and helps change beliefs and behavioral patterns.

I don't look for any one of the therapies that I use to be the end-all cure; I use them in tandem, combining them as I feel drawn to them. I expect the hypnosis to work for me as I continue to walk around the track at PH, continue to increase my consumption of juiced greens, continue to journal, continue talk therapy, continue to line dance, and continue all the other goodies helping me along my path.

That's my story, and I know you have a story too. I encourage you to check out our services and practitioners here at Luxuria Holistic Center and see what you feel drawn to. I invite you to lighten your life with me!

Many Blessings,
Amy Jo

Who Will Be My Next Boyfriend?

Anyone who's known me for awhile knows that I've had a couple of boyfriends throughout my life. Okay, more than a couple. One wonderful boyfriend became my husband of 10 years. There were so many great days during our marriage, and then it was time to take a new path. I've had a few more boyfriends since, including the man who helped me create my beautiful son, Kendryek. Along with these relationships have come the heightened awareness about exactly what and whom I'm attracting into my life.

Someone reading the list of traits and pictures of my ideal boyfriend/partner that I've written on my vision board might say, "Gosh you expect a lot!" Well, yes. Yes I do.

I don't remember when I first created a vision board towards my ideal romantic partner, but I've been updating and tweaking my board ever since. Each time I've updated my vision board, I emphasize what I like about an ideal partner and relationship based on what I've recently experienced in a relationship. And each time I enter a new relationship, I get about 95% of what I ask for!

I'm not kidding! A wonderful man walks into my life, and I think, "Wow. He has the traits that are on my vision board!" And when the relationship has ended, I think, "Okay, I need to add ___________ (fill in the blank) to my board for the next relationship."

What is a vision board? A vision board is a board (poster board, canvas, construction paper, etc) on which you place images and words of the what or who you desire to manifest in your life. I have a vision board for career, health, finances, family, home, vacation, etc. You cut out images from magazines, write words in magic marker, add anything you want. The point is the process of immersing yourself in the idea of what you desire, putting feeling into it, imagining, believing, and being open to receiving.

So what's on my vision board?

Come to this Saturday's Vision Board Playshop to find out! And create your own vision board, whether you're currently in a romantic relationship and the relationship needs a lift; or you've been in a relationship for decades and want to redefine your relationship; or you are looking for someone new to complement your life.

For men and women alike!

Keeping with this month's theme of Surrounding Yourself With Love, our playshop is called

Passion Vision-boarding: Piece Together the Relationship You Desire
$42 includes light organic snack
February 23rd, from 1:30 - 4:00pm

Certified Dreambuilder Coach, Alexandria Pederson, and I will guide you with taking the steps to manifest the partner and relationship of your dreams. Once you become immersed in this vision board activity, you're on your way to matching the frequency of your life to the images and words that you choose.

All you have to do after that is receive your new relationship!

Click the "Buy Now" button below to register by Friday, February 22nd, or call 540/685-2975:

Vision Board Playshops

1 Playshop $42.00 USD 3 Playshops $125.00 USD 6 Playshops $240.00 USD

A New Direction

So for years, since junior high school, I've been walking or jogging around the Patrick Henry High School track in Roanoke, VA. In high school, I'd jog daily at 6am. After moving away from home, when I'd come home to visit, I'd jog or walk. The track is set into the woods, and I love listening to the birds sing, feel the warmth of the sun on my face, gaze at the mountain skyline in the distance, and express gratitude for each part of my body, helping me complete another lap. And lately, I've been practicing what I preach by visualizing outstanding health while I walk: what outstanding health feels like, what outstanding health looks like, what outstanding health sounds like, etc.

I've always walked or run in the same direction. UNTIL YESTERDAY! As I approached the track, I saw a woman jogging in the OPPOSITE direction! I watched her for a moment and thought, "WHY have I never thought to do that?" And it occurred to me how easily I get into a routine. Which serves me well, and may serve you well too! But something inside me was craving a switch in routine, so I did something radical and started walking, for the first time ever, in the opposite direction, against the grain! I smiled and mentally thanked the woman for opening a new door for me to spice things up a bit!

So starting yesterday, I'm walking in a new direction...which has inspired me to choose the movie, "Groundhog Day," with Bill Murray (remember this funny movie?) for our March movie discussion and exotic tasting! "Groundhog Day" is about doing the same thing over and over and over until you make a change towards positive growth. How sometimes it takes doing the same thing over and over and over for us to realize that we're even in a rut, and that the slightest change can get us out and in a new direction.

I encourage you to also find a way, large or small, to make a change in your life towards positive growth. Even if it's to take a slightly different route on your way to work, the store, or picking up your kid from school.

And mark your calendars for Sunday, March 10th, from 2:00 - 4:30pm, at Valley Community Church to enjoy exotic organic treats while you watch clips from "Groundhog Day" and discuss some of its messages.

Don't forget this Sunday's showing of "Chocolat," including discussion and a chocolate feast! Register by Friday the 8th in the blog below.

Have a fantastic new day!

Watch "Chocolat" and Enjoy a Chocolate feast!

What better way to celebrate the love of Valentine's Day than with a
CHOCOLATE FEAST!? 

Grab a friend and come enjoy chocolate treats that are

exotic

savory

unique

organic

prepared by Local Roots, S&W Cafe, and Luxuria's own Holistic Health Coach, Karen Scott.

A sampling of our exotic menu:
` Chocolate goat cheese log
` Dried apricots dipped in chocolate
` and more!

Watch clips of the movie, "Chocolat," and join in the discussion about the movie's messages of celebrating differences, self-approval, forgiveness of self and others, and enjoying life's simple pleasures.

Be good to yourself! 

Sunday, February 10th

2-4:30pm

Valley Community Church (behind Oak Grove Plaza on 419). 

$20 per person; $35 per couple.

Reserve your seat in advance by February 8th by clicking the "Buy Now" button below. 

Chocolate Feast for 1

Chocolate Feast for 2 

Surround Yourself with LOVE

The month of February is always filled with the talk of love, acknowledging the ones you love, and celebrating those relationships. But an even more important love is self love, not the selfish kind, but the kind that serves to honor the beautiful inner and outer soul which make us whole beings. That process of loving oneself, accepting that there is much to be grateful for within, is key to living a happy and fulfilled life.

This month at Luxuria Holistic Center, we are honoring the feeling of LOVE. Our "Playshops" and events have been designed for individuals, couples and families who want to experience love in new ways. Our practitioners who are leading each event are focused on sharing their knowledge and passion for the topic of LOVE. It is our desire to take this special time of celebration to delve into the concept of LOVE, the experience of LOVE, the diverse feelings of LOVE and the idea of LOVE, and how it can change our world.

Visit our Playshops page for all the details. If you would like to give the gift of love, consider a gift certificate (available on the right of this page) or customized package. Call for more details, 540.685.2975 or email luxuriouspampering@gmail.com. We want to know what your love experience is so share with us on our Facebook Page or on Twitter @feelluxurious.

Take the steps toward 2013 success

This week is the first full week of 2013. There is nothing that cannot be accomplished! The day is open to all the possibilities the world can provide. But, if there are emotions stopping forward progress, inner mind chatter that puts obstacles in the path to success, there is an answer.

I, too, had to overcome some serious obstacles to get to where I am today, as a mom, a business owner, and a professional in my field. It wasn't the easiest to road to walk, feeling alone most of the time, and wanting it to be simple. There are still some days it is difficult, facing challenges as a single parent, trying to make the right choices for my son. There are many days it is difficult as a business owner, juggling schedules, making decisions about people and finances, and facing the results of those decisions.

What has made life much easier is to get clear on what blocks I put up for myself and stop the limiting beliefs from my past. It has made all the difference in my progress. Taking these steps lightens my load, and has allowed me to move past the negative memories and emotions, into a more positive space. It is what allowed me to think past a vision for being a holistic practitioner, into the vision for having a holistic center where more people can benefit from luxurious health!

In 2012, I began to provide Bio-Turn Therapy to clients who wanted to take a new approach to their lives. This Friday evening, I'll be hosting the first Playshop at Luxuria Holistic Center that introduces the benefits of looking at life through a fresh lens. Consider joining me on this journey, going from where you are today, into the life of your dreams!

• Clear Blocks and Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back from Loving Your Life!
• When: Friday, Jan. 11, 7-8:30pm
• Who: Instructor, Amy Jo Wheeler
• Cost: $25, register by Jan. 8

There is no better time. When you get to December 31, 2013, will you have accomplished what you desired this year? Will you look back and marvel at your level of happiness, success, loving relationships and true prosperity? You can, and you will, when you take the next step...

January invites new beginnings

The new year opens so many doors to explore. It provides a fresh start for choosing a new path, having a new attitude, taking a new approach to mind, body and spiritual issues. At Luxuria, we're exploring all the new possibilities the new year provides. We're inviting you to join us on the path with our classes or "Playshops", nutritional counseling sessions, Reiki and Reflexology treatments, Bio-Turn Therapy and massage therapy, all available in our peaceful and luxurious setting. It is not a coincidence that we are connected. It is for the greater good.

In 2013, we are experiencing a new consciousness. After passing through the "Shift" in December, 2012, many people are feeling physically and spiritually that we are in a new time of connectedness. Are you feeling it, too? Becoming aware of energy, patterns and disruptions, can be comforting and sometimes disconcerting. Are you more conscious of your personal energy and the energy of those around you? Do you feel the struggle of energy when faced with difficult situations or people?

Carrying old patterns and energy flows can feel heavy and even bring on mental depression and physical pain. Releasing the negative emotions associated with the old patterns or triggers can provide relief and allow positive energy to flow again. At Luxuria, Bio-Turn Therapy sessions are available to anyone wanting to explore the release and relief associated with negative emotions and old patterns of behavior. People who have experienced Bio-Turn Therapy have felt a definite change in their physical and mental states, allowing new beginnings in a positive way.

I created Luxuria Holistic Center in 2012 to provide a beautiful, inviting space for practitioners to share their gifts and people to experience luxurious health and well being. My vision for the people and the space continues to grow in 2013. If you have questions, or desire to learn more, please send us an email luxuriouspampering@gmail.com or call 540.685.2975.