In Order to Heal You Must Feel

May 31, 2020 Stephanie Epps

Sickness, Job loss, Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Stress, Uncertainty--Do these words resonate with you? Friend, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. As a wife, mom, healthcare provider, and wellness + personal growth advocate, I have experienced these emotions as well.

With the murder of George Floyd, men and women around the world have a heightened sense of anger, disappointment, and fear. People are responding by protesting and rioting.

Friend we have a choice to come together as one for humanity. We must use our voices to uplift each other, transform as individuals, and as a nation. Transformation starts inside.

Are you ready to drop what you know and step into possibility? In order to heal we must feel. Healing begins with self and spreads outwardly to family, friends, and communities.

Beginning Monday, June 1, 2020 I am hosting a free virtual event for 30 days of transformation. 30 days of transformation is designed to set a foundation for clarity, peace, stamina, and strength. These life practices are needed so that you can move forward into healing and into your destiny.

My hope is that the clarity and strength that you find in the next 30 days, not only helps you individually, but translates into your relationship with friends and colleagues, and moreover into your community.

Now you may be asking, “What is 30 days of transformation?” Friend, 30 days of transformation is an opportunity to delve deep within yourself and works towards becoming the best person you can be.

30 days of transformation is a journey of movement, meditation, and reflection. I will offer you a daily topic to reflect or journal on, a 5-minute meditation, and 5 sun salutations. If yoga isn’t your jam you can complete any other type of physical activity (walking, running, cycling, swimming, golf, etc).

During these 30 days, you will set a goal or a dream that will help fuel your desire to complete this journey of transformation. Write down your goal and look back over it during this next month.

You will not be alone over the next 30 days. I will be here to support you. Our community of transformation participants will be supporting you and holding you accountable for moving forward into a place of possibility, peace, and prosperity.

I will be sharing the daily topic for reflection and meditation on my Facebook Page (Professor Epps) and on my Instagram (Professor Epps). If you have any questions don't hesitate to send me a message or you can email me directly at stephanie@professorepps.com .

If you know anyone who would benefit from this journey of transformation, share this blog post with them.

With Gratitude,

Stephanie

30 days (1).png — Start your 30 days of transformation

30 Days of Transformation

Demystifying Yoga

March 27, 2020 Stephanie Epps

Do you practice self-care? I thought I did until I found myself in a sad place.

December 19, 2019 Stephanie Epps

Do You Practice Self-Care?

Self-care, what does that mean? The terminology self-care and self-love are used frequently. Self-care has become a mainstream topic in wellness and healthcare. Self-care as defined by Merriam-Webster is “care for oneself.” Webster also states self-care is “health care provided by oneself often without the consultation of a medical professional.” Do you have any self-care practices that you weave into your daily activities?
I am a medical professional as well as a wellness advocate but unfortunately, I have found myself running on empty (queue Big Sean’s I Know). I have been pouring from an empty cup. I always tell my patients, my nursing students, and yoga students how important it is to take care of themselves. I always ask what they are doing to destress, to relax, and find some peace of their mind, body, and soul. Somehow, I stopped taking my own advice.
2019 has been a hard year for me. A lot of crappy stuff happened. I usually cope well, but this year not so much. My journaling slowed, my asana and meditation practice slowed, and my cardiovascular routine slowed. I went on a yoga retreat in November, hoping to bounce back but on the way there I received a telephone call with more bad news. I was thinking man when it rains it freaking pours. While I was internally dealing with all of these jacked up things, I didn’t talk about it and didn’t work through it in my usual ways. Instead I continued to do all the things as if nothing was wrong; I finished my doctorate, worked my full time and part-time job, taught 7-10 yoga classes a week, and managed my studio.
In doing all the things and internalizing my problems, I seem to have lost my self-care in the process. I somehow found myself in a place of sadness. I found myself judging myself, being less forgiving of myself, and overall having poor self-worth and self-care. Have you every fallen prey to negative thoughts? Have you ever wanted to inspire and help people but internally you were at a loss for inspiration?
I am now in a place where I must tell myself “Stephanie it’s your time, Steph you are only given one life and you have to live it.” “Steph you are worthy, you are enough, and you deserve all the good things that are to come.” As I repeat my affirmations, I reflect on the small changes I have incorporated now rather than waiting for 2020. If I desire to love me, to choose me, then today is the day to start. One month ago, I joined Orange Theory Fitness, I’ve returned to journaling, meditating, and asana. I’m slowly getting back to me. I’m navigating my way to health and happiness through self-care.
If you struggle with self-worth and self-care below are a **15-self-care practices** you can incorporate into your life.
1. Affirmations/Mantras
2. Daily walk without music/cell phone
3. Meditation
4. Take a long bath/shower
5. Therapy/counseling
6. Yoga/meditation
7. Massage
8. Journal
9. Take your full lunch break at work
10. Use your vacation days (even if you are staying home)
11. Practice a full day of rest
12. Embrace stillness and quiet
13. Learn something new
14. Unplug from technology and social media for a day
15. Sleep

Asheville Yoga Festival 2019

July 30, 2019 Stephanie Epps

I attended the Asheville Yoga Festival (AYF) for the first time this past weekend. I traveled up to Asheville, NC on Thursday July 25, 2019. I attended 3 days of festival activities 7/26-2/28. This weekend, I was held, supported, and empowered. I gleaned more knowledge as an instructor and as a student. I attended the festival solo….by myself…without friends…alone. Have you ever gone to an event alone? I have, and at first it may feel odd, but if you open your mind and heart to the possibility of new experiences, growing individually, and meeting new people you will feel calm and at peace with being alone.

I must say, I initially had hoped that some of my yoga sisters would have been able to attend but unfortunately their schedules did not allow for them to make it. Although I physically attended the festival alone, I was not truly alone or lonely. Yogis from across the world came together in the spirit of community and unification. I met several students and studio owners from the southeast that I was able to connect with, exchange contact information, discuss opportunities to visit and collaborate on ventures that support each other’s mission.

Classes were taught by a number of amazing teachers. I was led in this practice by Chelsea Jackson Rogers, Tracee Stanley, Octavia Raheem, J Miles, Guillermo Gomez, MC Yogi & DJ Drez, Rosie Green Mulford, Adam Whiting, and Tara Eschenroeder. In ten years of yoga practice, I have only taken one yoga class with a male. It was an amazing experience to be able to take 4 different classes with a diverse group of men. Inversions with J Miles, Vinyasa with Mc Yogi, Aikido with Guillermo, and Yin with Adam were the bomb. They taught from physical and spiritual backgrounds that were energizing and enlightening. The men and women leading classes gave insight from different world experiences, which gave me the ability to receive and feel their classes on a deeper level. Chelsea, Tracee, and Octavia spoke to my spirit during their classes. I was guided in flow, rest, and meditation. Their words, teaching style, and ability to share empowered me while permitting me to relax, restore, and heal my soul. I felt strong and free in Rosie and Tara’s classes. I took my physical practice to new heights; which overflows into my practice of yoga off the mat. The Bhagavad Gita says, “Yoga is a journey of the self, to the self, and through the self.” I must say over the last 10 years I have steadily evolved; experienced highs and lows of practice and remain steadfast in this journey.

The Asheville Yoga Festival had teachers from around the world, vendors from California to New York, community yoga with donations to support a local non-profit, and opportunities to go out in nature and practice yoga. There was SUP yoga, hiking, meditation in salt caves, and more. The next time I attend this festival I will definitely choose to do more. If you have not visited Asheville or attended the yoga festival, I recommend that you do. Choose to go somewhere new, experience change, and allow your mind and spirit to be open.

I am still in Asheville; I am staying several more days and will hike, cycle, ride down the river, explore and connect with mother earth. I get to experience the sun rising, the lush green of the mountains, the cool streams, the sounds of the birds, and I revel in it. I am thankful for this time to ground, to be rooted and connected with self. It allows me to realize my why; why I do this work, why I serve, and why I am on this yogic journey. What is your why?

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