A Quest for Well-Being

— "When you love yourself, magic happens, and the world responds." Valeria Teles interviews Heather Kokx — a Happiness Expert, Energy Healer, Enneagram Coach, Writer, And Speaker In her 20s, Heather Kokx had depression, no passion in her life, and didn't believe she really mattered. Struggling to find some purpose in her life, Heather went to massage school. This is where her healing journey began. And this is where her journey as a healer began. In massage school, Heather experienced self-discovery that led her toward more self-awareness and self-love. She also discovered her intuition and sensitivity to energy. After massage school, Heather mentored with an Energy Healing. She learned to use her intuition to help others remove negative beliefs and patterns from their energy field so that they could move forward with a clear view. She also learned meditation starting a lifelong love for this powerful practice that was accessible to everyone. For 20 years, Heather Kokx practiced massage and energy healing, helping her clients find healing and happiness, while at the same time continuing her own journey of healing. Wanting to move away from massage, Heather became a certified yoga instructor. Her intuition and sensitivity to energy helped her hold the room for her students and guide them to be more grounded, centered, and mindful. Heather believes that happiness is possible for everyone, regardless of anything someone may think is holding them back. Heather says, "You are not broken. Everything you need to find happiness is within you right now. It is just covered with all the gunk life throws at us. It is our job to uncover that gunk and let our light shine out for everyone to see. We are all unique. We were all put on this earth to share our unique and special light with others. The world needs you. Find your happiness and let your light shine." To learn more about Heather Kokx and her work, please visit: https://www.heatherkokx.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— A strong commitment stokes the inner fire like nothing else. We stop pretending that our true desire doesn't matter, and we devote ourselves entirely to it. If your true desire is to be free of the suffering that unworthiness brings to your life, then commit to finding your way through in any moment. When we commit, we close the door to the known and step into endless possibilities. We shift from going through the motions like an automaton to intelligence, wisdom, and alignment. Valeria Teles interviews Gail Brenner — the author of "Suffering Is Optional: A Spiritual Guide to Freedom from Self-Judgment and Feelings of Inadequacy." Gail Brenner, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, speaker, and author—and a lover of truth with a fire that burns brightly. For over 20 years, she has met with individuals and groups, bringing laser-like clarity and loving care to the confusion of common problems, such as reactive emotions, feelings of inadequacy, and relationship struggles. She is passionate about awakened living, inviting people to untangle personal identities that are the source of suffering, revealing the possibility of being present, fully alive, and in harmony with all of life. Gail has special expertise working with older adults and their families and brings clear seeing and compassion to the transitions of aging, death, and dying. She is the author of the award-winning The End of Self-Help: Discovering Peace and Happiness Right at the Heart of Your Messy, Scary, Brilliant Life and Suffering Is Optional: A Spiritual Guide to Freedom from Self-Judgment and Feelings of Inadequacy. To learn more about Gail Brenner and her work, please visit: https://www.gailbrenner.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— By slowing down and listening to our spirit, we will understand better what is needed. We may feel grief, sorrow, sadness, and despair. Yet, in quiet moments, we can also hear a soft voice reminding us: "It's Okay. Breathe. Cry. Ask for help." The space within each of us is expansive enough to hold and cradle the various emotions we experience. When we let the emotions flow through unobstructed, brief moments of peace can eventually enter. Life's surface activities may still swirl about us like choppy waves on the water. However, by delving deeper we discover how to be in the world—without being overwhelmed by it. Take a step back from a troubling situation. Allow your spirit a calm respite. Pause. Breath in peace. Breathe out calm. Be present in this moment. Our inner journeywork is waiting. As unbelievable as it may sound, vast starlit galaxies will be there to greet us and support us when we venture into the deeper Spirit realm of our being." Valeria Teles interviews Diana J. Ensign — the author of "A Moment of Calm: Meditative and Reflective Readings for Inner Peace." Diana J. Ensign, JD, is an Award-Winning Author who writes about spirituality, mindfulness, grief, and healing. For over two decades, she has explored spiritual teachings and wisdom traditions from a variety of sources. Her other books include HEART GUIDE: True Stories of Grief and Healing; THE FREEDOM TO BE: Stories from Transgender Youth, Adults, and Their families; and TRAVELING SPIRIT: Daily Tools for Your Life's Journey. HEART GUIDE and THE FREEDOM TO BE are IPPY Gold Medal Winners! She also writes the popular "Spirituality for Daily Living" blog found on her website. To learn more about Diana J. Ensign and her work, please visit: https://www.dianaensign.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— No one likes challenging emotions and physical pain. But what if they're actually invitations to permanently heal old traumas, and deepen your spiritual awakening? This is the surprising truth revealed by the Healing Invocation, The AstroShaman's Masterclass. Valeria Teles interviews Benjamin Bernstein — an Astrologer, Shamanic Healer, Awakening Activator, Life Coach, Podcaster, And Speaker "AstroShaman" Benjamin Bernstein hosts "This Week in Astrology," a Top 10 Astrology Podcast. He is a 3-time Best Astrologer Winner in Western North Carolina's premier reader survey. A professionally certified Astrologer, and has done over 9000 Astrology, Shamanic Healing and Life Coaching sessions with a global clientele. Benjamin runs the "Awakening Plus" online spiritual support membership. He posts video astrology forecasts and other content on his popular YouTube channel. Benjamin has lectured or taught at five national Astrology conferences and retreats. He wrote the Shamanic Astrology chapter in the book Transpersonal Astrology: Explorations at the Frontier. He is also a Shamanic Healer, Awakening Activator, and Life Coach. He consistently facilitates powerful healings and spiritual awakenings in his individual and group sessions, and has devoted himself to over 40 years of spiritual practice. Benjamin's greatest joy is helping others access or deepen their spiritual awakenings with his simple, effective invocations for healing and awakening. His spiritual path has included Kriya Yoga, Vipassana Buddhism, Peruvian shamanism, ayahuasca and San Pedro plant spirit medicine, and his invocations. To learn more about Benjamin Bernstein and his work, please visit: https://www.astroshaman.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— As a therapist, Jennifer Bordner encourages self-care to the children and families she works with almost daily. Jennifer says that families function best when everyone is intentionally taking care of themselves by addressing their personal needs. This could be an hour before work for dad to exercise or an hour after work where mom practices yoga while a child engages in time outside exploring. Whatever self-care looks like for us, we need to intentionally take the time to recharge our mind, body and soul's. Each day, the sun will rise again, and we will begin again and it's up to us to start that day recharged or continue to engage in tiring and unhealthy patterns that lead us feeling overtired and overworked. Taking care of ourselves is different for everyone as well as necessary especially when it comes to mental health. When it comes to dealing with daily mood swings or overwhelming anxiety, our self-care becomes a part of our personal journey of getting through the day. Engaging in taking care of ourselves enables us to be able to cope with life's daily stressors or unexpected curve balls. With the evolution of self-care, Jennifer finds there is more pride in having 'me time' rather than the typical picture of a parent stretching themselves so thin we don't know which direction is up. It's important to remember that self-care isn't selfish in fact it ensures you are able to show up for the people around you as the best version of yourself rather than the run down and irritable self you would otherwise present as. Valeria Teles interviews Jennifer Bordner — She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board-Certified Life Coach, Parent Advocate, And Youth Mental Health Therapist. Jennifer is the founder of Focus to Flourish, a thriving therapy practice focused on serving children and families in their emotional health. She assists families in fostering healthy communication, increasing self-awareness, and fostering connections to create a more positive mindset. To learn more about Jennifer Bordner and her work, please visit: https://focustoflourish.org/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Dancing Jaguar's Spirit Camp was created to help children connect to their inner world. By doing that, children start learning at an incredibly young age that, as human beings, we are made up of mind, body, and spirit. And all three of those aspects need to be nurtured and cared for so we can grow up to become healthy adults. By doing this work with children, Eva Goulette feels that there will be a shift in child development. This is an element of child development that we have not seen that much because there is so much focus on children's minds and bodies, and until very recently, not much focus on nurturing the essence of who they are. It's amazing to see the incredible impact Spirit Camp has on the lives on children. All of a sudden, they are learning that there is a whole world inside of them that they can connect with and help keep themselves healthy and whole. Eva feels hopeful that we are creating a global movement that is empowering children with a knowledge that has not typically been shared with them. It is our hope that they will grow into adults who possess a level of self-awareness that will bring in a new level of compassion and respect for themselves, their families, the communities, and the world. The world is ready, and the children are waiting. Valeria Teles interviews Eva Goulette — the author of "Soul Mission: Leaders Ushering in the New Earth." Eva Goulette is the founder of Dancing Jaguar's Spirit Camp, a program created to teach children the importance of balance between mind, body, and spirit. To reach as many children as possible, Eva shares her specialized Spirit Camp curriculum with adults through her Spirit Camp Teacher Training Program. Her mission is to empower and inspire the children of today so they can create the world of tomorrow, a world where all of us will thrive. She loves seeing children connect to their inner wisdom, as they discover they're connected to All That Is. Her love of children and spiritual modalities combine to empower children with hands-on training to become peaceful warriors raising the vibration and consciousness of our planet. Eva believes the children are the ones ushering in the new Earth ~ she is simply providing the roadmap that enables them to discover their authentic self and to let their spirits soar. To learn more about Eva Goulette and her work, please visit: https://www.dancingjaguarinspirations.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Laurie James spent most of her life wondering what it means to belong; loneliness dictated the choices she made. She rarely shared this secret with others, however; it was always hidden behind a carefree and can-do attitude. When she's in her mid-forties, Laurie's mother has a heart attack and her husband's lawyer delivers some shocking news. She suddenly finds herself sandwiched between caring for her parents, managing unruly caregivers, raising four teenage daughters, and trying to understand the choices of the husband she thought she knew. Laurie's story is about one woman's struggle to "do it all" while facing the reality that the "ideal life" and "perfect family" she believed could save her was slowly crumbling beneath her. Laurie tries everything to keep her family together―seeks therapy, practices yoga, rediscovers nature, develops strong female friends, and begins writing―but as she explores the layers of her life and heals her past, she realizes that she's the only one who can create the life she wants and deserves. Her work is about what it means to let go of the life you planned in order to find the life you belong to. Valeria Teles interviews Laurie James — the author of "Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go." Laurie James is an author and transformative coach. She has successfully launched four daughters, has been the primary caretaker for her elderly parents, and is the founder of a unique program in Manhattan Beach, California, that helps women through pivotal transitions in life. An active community volunteer, she co-chairs a youth program for high school students, exposing them to a variety of career paths before they apply to college. Laurie graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a BS in business and was a corporate recruiter before she stayed home to raise her four daughters. She lives in Manhattan Beach and enjoys yoga, hiking, skiing, sailing, and adventure travel. This is her first book. She lives in Manhattan Beach, CA. To learn more about Laurie James and her work, please visit: https://www.laurieejames.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— It only takes one small shift in awareness to create a big healing change. What we think, how we feel, and what we do have significant impact on our immunity and whole health. It is the small things we do consistently that have the greatest impact on our life. What we value directly affects how we move and take care of our bodies. Therefore, the first area of foundational exploration is our personal thought processes and then how that translates into physical action. We will peer into ourselves to get clarity on what we want and need, observing our habitual patterns and then applying new, helpful ones based on science and yogic sense. Clarity on what is needed, as well as where the challenges lie, are key for this successful journey. Clarity on what you want to cultivate and what you need to clear creates a synergy with positive results." Valeria Teles interviews Melanie Salvatore-August — the author of "Yoga to Support Immunity: Mind, Body, Breathing Guide to Whole Heal." Former comedy writer, veteran yoga/meditation teacher trainer, Reiki Master, mama of three and also author of Fierce Kindness, Be a Positive Force For Change; Kitchen Yoga: Simple Home Practices to Transform Mind, Body & Life. Born in Pittsburgh PA of an Italian-American family. Her voice is warm, inclusive, practical and filled with joy for life. With her early years as a classically trained actor, comedy/theatre writer-producer and teacher, she creates offerings that cultivate joy, personal growth and freedom elevating everyday challenges, humor and spirit into one. She is the founder of the Fierce Kindness Organization, MelWell Classroom and can join Mel daily on the acclaimed YogaWorks-at-Home platform. To learn more about Melanie Salvatore-August and her work, please visit: https://www.melaniesalvatoreaugust.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— You suffered a loss, the loss of a child. It is a terrible place to be. I am so sorry that you are here. I am sorry that you are going through this. Your child may have recently passed away or it may have been years ago. The loss of a child is as deep as it gets. Grief is deep and aching when they are no longer with us. You may feel there is no consolation, not even believing that you will see them again removes the pain that your child is gone. I understand. I have been through all of this and more. Valeria Teles interviews Peggy Green — the author of "Life After Child Loss: The Mother's Survival Guide to Cope and Find Joy." Peggy Green is a mother, teacher, survivor, speaker, and leader who has overcome the odds. She is an Amazon bestselling author who has experienced the loss of not just one child but two. Her first child by accident in 1991 and her son by suicide in 2018. Her mission is to make an impact and help others grieving the loss of their child. Her book, Life After Child Loss: The Mother's Survival Guide to Cope and Find Joy alongside her Thursday Thought's publication, has helped hundreds of readers in their grief journey. She has experienced significant challenges in her life resulting in the creation and development of her Hope & Healing After Loss program. For the past 14 years she has been coaching in fitness, nutrition, and grief. She could be found on the training floor challenging clients to do better, in a consultation teaching the correlation between health and nutrition or showing compassion to a mother who lost a child. Her passion is to share her Hope & Healing After Loss program where she helps grieving moms move through their loss. She shows how she overcame her own challenges and offers realistic and applicable practices that helps others to heal. She is inspiring and a true example that there is hope. Peggy has donated blood almost 100 times, because it is the right thing to do. Although she is a Colorado native, she does not ski. She prefers warm weather activities such as hiking, biking, camping, and playing pickleball. She lives in Highlands Ranch, close to her two grown girls and grandchildren. Peggy Green holds bachelor's degrees in Business Marketing and Exercise Science. To learn more about Peggy Green and her work, please visit: https://theegriefspecialist.com/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Nowadays, people are younger and have more spiritual and existential questions. There was a need in Shehnaaz's life for comprehensive spiritual and sensible information, yet that was difficult to find. Her work is about the moral and spiritual dilemmas in modern society, that we're facing with integration of religions, cultures and spirituality. Among other themes, she writes about the difference between religion and spirituality, the difference between spirituality and practical spirituality and the difference between exercising practical spirituality and its effect on your being. Valeria Teles interviews Shehnaaz — the author of "Touch Beyond Religious Madness." Shehnaaz grew up in the Netherlands, West Europe. As she grew up, she was always interested in holistic treatments and spirituality. First, Shehnaaz found that the connection between the mental and emotional aspect of a human being is important, and later she found that the actual connection between the physical and the mental aspect of a human being actually matters and mostly the mental aspect influences the physical symptoms. Some psychological symptoms can influence the physical health and some physical condition can also influence the way we think if we want to recover from a trauma. So, Shehnaaz felt that a holistic way of looking at mental and emotional trauma or difficulties fits better with her idea of healing, health, and recovery. She wanted to combine more therapies together so she could apply holistic treatments for different life issues. As she grew older, her interests broadened in the direction of spirituality and relationships. She gained more knowledge about healthy sexuality, spiritual practices, and healthy lifestyle. The real need to create the art that she makes is because she feels that there is this double standard around expression. Shehnaaz feels that in the religion she grew up in, as a woman she didn't get to express her true feelings. Also, the way she was raised, she wasn't even allowed to show a picture. So, the whole feeling of being stuck became quite stressful, and people didn't seem to understand how her life was being closed. The closed-up culture and religion made Shehnaaz want to break through the box, because she felt it wasn't fair anymore. She felt that much needed to change according to the idea of love, relationships, and single life. Shehnaaz is a Holistic Counsellor, Bodyworker/Esthetician because she had her own experiences in life, and she felt it is important to have a place to feel soothed and relaxed and to work on your own physical health and care. To learn more about Shehnaaz and her work, please visit: https://www.iluminavida.ca/ — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.