Surviving & Thriving with ME-TIME

On October 30th, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams office hosted the Surviving & Thriving Day of Empowerment to support survivors of Domestic Violence. Our Corporate Wellness team collaborated with BuddhaBooth to give attendees the opportunity to take a time out for themselves.

How to describe this ME-TIME experience? 

I shared relaxation techniques and provided therapeutic Young Living essential oils to help women enhance their experience inside the private meditation space.

As pictured, she put a drop of Lavender onto her palm, then rubbed her hands together. The strong scent has the power to soothe emotional stress. She placed her hands near her face and inhaled. Finally, it was time to enter the BuddhaBooth -- her five minutes of calm in a peaceful and quiet space. She took a big breath and sat inside, allowing her breath to settle, and her body to get still. Her mind started to wander, as all of her thoughts resurfaced. She took another big breath and her heartbeat slowed down. She was finally able to feel it: that sense of ultimate relaxation it can be so difficult to achieve.

Francine Steadman Krulak, founder and CEO of BuddhaBooth, participated in a panel discussion alongside other thriving women in business offering insight about her healing journey, on what it means to make a choice to be a thriving survivor, not a "victim" and that the first step is learning to love yourself from your own point of view, not that of another.  The discussion topics included the current headlines of mass sexual harassment in the workplace and why it's so prevalent, combined with strategies to combat domestic violence and sexual harassment.


BuddhaBooth is committed to partnering with and supporting programs that benefit survivors of domestic violence, women’s health research, prison reform and autism-related resources. Our Coaching team is launching the Sponsor-a-Sister Initiative to enable at-risk women to attend our monthly New Moon Circles without cost being an issue.

Domestic violence survivors face each and every day ongoing and challenging effects of the abuse they have suffered. Problems don’t end when victims escape the nightmare. However, although difficult and painful, recovery from abuse is possible. What we did on that day was give them a chance to escape from their situation for a while, feel safe and alive again. This was one of the moments when you realize your hard work and efforts have paid off. Sometimes it takes so little to help someone; and we were very glad to have been part of this incredible and inspiring event.

Why You Need Rituals in Your Life

What Are You Ready to Release?

November, 2017 marks one year that I've been leading New Moon Circles!

Over this past year, I've learned so much -- about myself, and also about the significance of rituals. Rituals enable us to consciously recognize pivotal moments in our lives, and notice the synergy with the ebb and flow of Nature and the world around us.

What rituals do you include in your daily / weekly / monthly / quarterly routine? Do you have a Circle or tribe of women that supports you in your rituals?

I've recently learned that this period of late October / early November is called Samhain, in Celtic tradition.  You may be more familiar with it as Halloween as it's typically celebrated in the US.

It's a ripe time to take the opportunity to reflect on your year and note what you've manifested, and note what you're ready to release.

If you'd like to try out a Samhain ritual to assist you with this release, click HERE.

Full Moon Ritual

Good news -- the Taurus Full Moon is all about abundance!

So, this is a good time (after you've released what no longer serves you), to be conscious about what abundance you'd like to call into your life. Remember that abundance is more than just about financial overflow.

In what other areas of your life would you like to manifest abundance? Click HERE for a ritual to help you set conscious intentions for abundance over the next few days.

Slow Down to Speed Up: Sustainable Living Talk at Green Festival

While we're working on editing the video, here's a peek at the slides from my Slow Down to Speed Up! talk on Slideshare from the Green Festival Expo in DC. It was exciting to be speaking about the intersection of wellness and sustainability on three levels: personal, collective, and environmental.


And, here's a very brief (unedited) video clip from the Q&A portion after my presentation -- graciously shared by one of the participants.



The full talk was filmed, and we're working on editing the video for you to view -- coming soon! I wanted to share this info now so you have some sense of what a fantastic experience it was to participate in the event.

Find Your Inner Sanctuary: NEW Guided Meditation

Do you long for a sense of inner peace and stability? You can begin to transform your mental state using my NEW 10-minute guided meditation, so you can improve your relationships, achieve your goals, and be your BEST self!

Want to know WHY I've decided to create this transformational audio series? Then, read on ...

In 2006, when I received my certification in the Coping with Work & Family Stress program, I was given a CD with a series of guided meditations as part of our trainers' toolkit. I found listening to them to be helpful in maintaining my own meditation practice. Back then, I'd never have considered professionally recording the meditations in my own voice and style. Yet, when I would teach stress management seminars for clients or give public talks, instead of playing the pre-recorded CD, I would lead the meditations myself -- revising the content to match the audience and program focus. Often, people would approach me at the end of the sessions and remark that they found my renditions to be relaxing and peaceful.

In response to that feedback, I've decided to embark on a journey to record a transformational audio series of guided meditations. Loosely based on the meditations I received, they will include my own inspiration and insight. I'm also seeking out inspirational music partners to create flowing tracks that help to create a sense of calm and delight.

I'm excited to announce the release of the FIRST guided meditation in the series called Inner Sanctuary Meditation.

I hope you will take the time to listen (sample is available on the website) and then download this 10-minute meditation. If you do listen or download, please let me know what you experience as a result! And, if you feel called to share this resource with others in your world, that would be fantastic! As always, I'm committed to improving your health and success, namaste'.

Coach Colette Says Relax on August 15

Did you know that August 15 is National Relaxation Day? What will YOU do to calm and quiet your mind? 

To ease your anxiety and release your tension, why not join me for a (free) Guided Meditation session?! I'll be guiding you based on meditation principles I learned from my training in Coping with Work & Family Stress. 

With all of the emails, IM's, FB posts, texts, tweets, voice-mails -- don't you deserve some ME-time to relax, unwind, and re-group? 

You probably don't need much convincing of the benefits of relaxing and reducing your stress. Just in case, though, here are three health-related reasons:

1. Your stress is aging you faster -- by damaging critical DNA in your cells
2. Your stress increases your risk of a heart attack -- by nearly 70% for women
3. Meditation can ease your stress -- by changing your brain to delay aging and improve health

This Guided Meditation session is my gift to you. Will you accept and sign up today? 

Know that I'm rooting for you and support your intention to relax so that you can achieve your biggest dreams and create the fulfilled, joyful, and purposeful life you want to live! 

I look forward to "seeing" you next Wednesday, August 15 ... meet me in the gap.

Be Mindful to Beat Your Stress

Have you been wondering how to manage your stress and anxiety in today's fast-paced world, where it seems there aren't enough hours to get everything done? Or, how to balance multiple roles and responsibilities while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle?

Good news! You CAN incorporate healthy habits into your routine to achieve a healthy mind and well-being! Your thoughts are just that ... thoughts -- they don't have to control you.

Don't let the dark clouds of avoidance, anxiety, procrastination, or worry overshadow you today. Tune in for easy, practical stress-busting techniques you can use right away from my recent appearance on Turtle Shell Health Radio.

Plus, you'll learn why I've personally decided to help people like you to better manage your stress -- particularly those of you who are coping with or are at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke. This keeps me passionate about sharing relevant tips and to exploring new ways we can track, monitor, and manage our stress for better overall health ... maybe an app for that??

Listen to the recording in the widget below, and let me know what ideas were most helpful for you. Feel free to share your comments and stress-related questions here, or tweet me so we can keep the conversation going!

Listen to internet radio with Turtle Shell Health on Blog Talk Radio

NEW Podcast: Meditation-Your Secret to Success in the New Normal

Can meditation change your brain? That's a question that neuroscientists have been seeking to answer for decades - and there appears to be some evidence that it can, in a positive way. In today's New Normal, the pressure to perform can be overwhelming. The good news is that you CAN find tools to relax and release your tension and anxiety. Meditation is one of those stress-releasing tools. And one, I'd suggest, that could become your [peaceful] "secret weapon" to overcome personal or professional hurdles and challenges you may be facing.

This summer, I completed a 21-day meditation "challenge" led by the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. I've been meditating nearly every day since then (even while I was out of the country). I've found that it helps me because I'm more easily able to access a mantra or positive phrase to flip my script when things get stressful.

With my newly-regained interest in meditation, I thought it would be great to create a podcast that would help others learn more about the benefits of regular meditation. And, so my latest podcast is my conversation with Stacey Shipman, creator of the audio CD Let it Flow: Short Guided Meditations and author of Experience Less Stress, More Success: Networking for Business. It was great to chat with Stacey again because she really makes it easy for people to learn how to relieve their stress and boost their personal confidence.

In the podcast, Stacey and I talk about the different types of meditation, and how easy it can be to begin meditating using the type you most enjoy. We share tips to remove distractions (internal thoughts and external things) that can get in your way, and discuss how you can build meditation into your daily schedule to help you focus on your true priorities.

So, you know I'm a curious coach! After you've listened to the podcast, let me know what you think; and share your successes (or challenges) with meditation. Where is the best place, and when is best time for you to meditate? Feel free to share your comments here, or tweet me on Twitter. Until we next connect, Namaste!

It's Day 12 & I Feel Empowered

Today is Day 12, and I'm proud to have made it this far. To where? For what? It's Day 12 of the Chopra Center 21-Day Meditation Challenge. This has been a series of guided meditations (audio & video) led by davidji to help promote a daily meditation practice.

While I've recognized the benefits of meditation, I hadn't yet committed to a daily practice. As you know, I've committed to my daily affirmations and review of my vision board. My approach was more of a "just-in-time" meditation practice -- using it when I specifically wanted (or needed) to relax and regroup. Two things from the meditation experience have struck me personally, so far:

1. davidji's concept of "RPM" -- "rise, p**, meditate" which means you basically meditate FIRST before any other brain-related activity. I'll admit that I didn't start the challenge that way; but have been pretty diligent about doing so for the past 5 days or so. This morning I felt like I had to remind myself to start the meditation first -- only then did I realize that I'm still formulating it as a habit [also possibly because I hadn't followed the RPM concept last Monday??].
2. Today's focus for the meditation was Ego & Limiting Beliefs: neither of these concepts are new to me. What did strike me was the suggestion to "be kind to your ego." Perhaps it's because one of my 3 Words for 2010 is also kind. I think it was a good reminder to allow and accept all aspects of the self -- to witness/observe without judgment -- so that true transformation can be possible.

The additional guidance and breathing mantras around limiting beliefs also were very powerful for me today. The suggestion to "breathe in possibilities, and breathe out limitations," for example, really resonated and made me feel empowered. [yes, even the coach needs reinforcement and reminders!] I did feel lighter at the end of the meditation as if loads had been lifted from my shoulders.

That's all for now ... I may revisit this later as the meditation experience continues. Feel free to share your meditation experiences with me here or you can always tweet me on Twitter. Namaste!