I came to the world of Ayurveda, Qigong, Reiki, herbs, plants, and more holistic ways of healing and living, in a roundabout way. Taking unintended detours, veering off course, and always landing back at square one: my love of, and longing for, dirt and all things earthy and grounded:)

I grew up in Seattle WA (USA), in an Irish Catholic, working class family. My introduction to Mother Nature, and all she has to offer, came about when I was very young. Though we weren’t gardeners or farmers, we did have some beautiful rose bushes in our yard, which my Dad tended. At five years of age, I was already a budding Naturalist. I gathered some rose petals, shoved them into my Mom’s old perfume bottles, added water and went door to door selling my ‘rose perfume’. I have no memory if I actually sold anything, or if my parents were aware of what I was up to! But this is my first vivid memory of wanting to make and create, to touch the soil and play with plants and herbs, and be an active participant in Nature.

In my early 20’s, I was determined to live ‘off the grid’. My husband and I bought an acre of land, put a $2800 used mobile home on it, and took a log cabin building class, which we were going to build on our acre. Meanwhile I was grinding my own grains, and attempting to garden and grow our own food. The log cabin never happened, I stopped grinding grains and planting gardens, and we divorced a few years later. I forgot all about holistic living, and lived a life unexamined for several years. But seeds had been planted…

During this time, I experienced my first of many taichi classes. I practiced off and on, not really committing (to anything, really…), until my mid-30’s, when I decided to take a qigong class (qigong means energy exercise, and taichi is a martial art form of qigong). I loved it and started formal training and teaching, which I continue to do to this day, 30 years later. During this time I also studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, which led to a renewed love of plants and herbs.

At age 50, I started an organic skincare line, which was moderately successful for a time. During this period, I became a certified herbalist through Rosemary Gladstar’s school, Sage Mountain. I really learned a lot through this course, and Rosemary is considered one of the Grandmothers of modern herbalism – a title well earned.

Along the way, I became interested in energy healing, and became a Reiki Master and holistic healer. I trained with Natalie Namaste (formerly Natalie Glass), an incredible teacher living in Nicaragua.

I’ve dealt with anxiety, panic attacks and depression throughout various stages of my life. This worsened at around age 55, as I began to go through menopause. Along with heightened anxiety, panic attacks and depression, I was also dealing with heart palpitations, foggy brain, weight loss, you name it! Western medicine wasn’t helping, and I also wasn’t finding relief from acupuncture, or other holistic means. I happened upon a video by Myra Lewin (head of Hale Pule School of Ayurveda and Yoga), and I was hooked. I immediately scheduled a session with her, and I could already feel the really thick clouds starting to part. I learned that all of those symptoms I was experiencing were unnecessary, and were due to doshic (vata, pitta, kapha) imbalance from improper lifestyle and diet (there can be other factors, but diet and lifestyle are almost always at play).

Change didn’t happen overnight, but I could feel it, and knew this is how I could heal, and how I could assist others. Ayurveda showed me another path, my true path to sustainable and lifelong health and healing. I joined the school as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor student, graduated, and I continue to mentor with, and have my own sessions with Myra. Always a student, always a desire to learn more.

Ayurveda, along with Reiki & Qigong, have all changed my life in so many positive ways. They are complimentary practices, and have all enhanced, grounded and deepened my understanding of each.

It is my hope that these holistic practices may be of service to you, as you walk your own, unique path of radiant health and well-being.

Namaste,

Karen