Healing with Ashlee

Do you believe in the power of unity and transformation? Join me on a journey that intertwines yoga, spirituality, and some of life's most intriguing superstitions – from Dusk to Witches and the mystique of Friday the 13th. As a child, I was held captive by fears and superstitions. Dusk, bridges, black cats, and the ominous aura of Friday the 13th loomed large in my imagination. Yet, as I grew, so did my rebellious spirit. I dared to challenge these fears - embracing black cats, crossing bridges with gusto, and even invoking "Bloody Mary" in the mirror. These acts were my first steps towards mastering my anxieties and reclaiming my power.  Yoga became my sanctuary. It's more than just physical postures; it's a philosophy of unity. This ancient practice guided me to harmonize my mind, body, and spirit, fostering a deep connection with the world. As a devoted yogi, I've found tranquility and strength, overcoming the root causes of my anxieties. The heart of the ...

One thing you can always count on living in the southern Nevada desert is that you can never rely on the weather forecaster. If it says 0% chance of rain, you can bet there will be a flash flood somewhere in the dead of summer. With this in mind, you should also know following the "planting norms" of the rest of the country is out of the question. It is an entire different ball game in the Southern Nevada Desert.  There are few general gardening guidelines if you want a thriving garden, but for the most part, tend to the soil, adjust your watering frequency with the weather, and let the plants do their own thing. The expectation that you plant a seed in the dirt during the "season" the packet, google, farmer's almanac, or your grandma says to plant it in, and you get fresh fruit or veggies in their growing season is a setup for dissatisfaction and or garden failure in this desert. I mention this because I frequently get asked how or why I have certain fruits or ...

Let’s face it; we usually wait until a symptom occurs before we visit the doctor. For many individuals, it takes multiple symptoms to arise before we think we have a big enough issue to see a physician. Upon making the appointment to see the doctor, we spend weeks sitting on the diagnosis from doctor google, who gives us the belief we are going to die. On the day of your appointment, you are anxious, stressed out, and tired. You inform the physician that you are sure you have said google diagnosis; they complete their assessment and send you off for blood work to assure you that you are fine. The physician then prescribes a medication that will treat your most prominent symptom, with a reminder to schedule your follow-up appointment to renew your prescription in 6 weeks. Your physician has fulfilled your request to manage your symptoms, yet you still feel anxious, stressed, and tired. You have new symptoms, and you’re left confused and feeling unheard. Does any of that sound familiar t...

         It is within a Physicians' scope of practice to diagnose and treat symptoms. They are trained to recognize symptoms that can be assigned to a diagnosis and which pharmaceuticals to prescribe to treat the symptoms of your diagnosis.              Functional Nutrition focuses on healing the human body as a whole. Finding the root cause of your symptoms, healing your body from the root. Just like a garden, you will never get fruit if you don't take care of the soil. You must provide the soil with the proper nutrients to support the health of the plant's roots.         It is within a Functional Nutrition Counselors' scope of practice to assess your current diet and lifestyle and recommend modifications that are specific to your individual body, to heal the root cause of your symptoms for sustainable resolution.  I am passionate about filling this gap, wor...

 So I found out that my 9-5 will be eliminating my remote position very soon. For most, this could be tragic. For me, I feel this has lit the fire within me, to go out into the world and share my passion with others and work for myself. It is not in my wheelhouse to go into the office. I declined my 40hr work from home life to be interrupted and to put my toddler in child care. Who will tend to my garden, cook all of my meals, and keep up on the housework, while I am confined to a small corner of a shared office with views of the park, twiddling my thumbs throughout the day?  I reject turning my 40hr work week into a 50hr work week where 10hrs are on your own time, with the daily commute in Traffic Hell, just to get to the office.  I am done doing work that isn't enriching for my soul,  I am moving on with my life. Opportunistically, timing is everything and I am moving into a position to practice Functional Nutrition. My 9-5 has helped me grow while inadvertently pr...

        Growing up my family lived the yoyo diet lifestyle of the '90s; Slim Fast, The Atkins Diet, Weight Watchers; Richard Simmons, Denise Austin, and Tae Bo with Billy Blanks, just to name a few. When my Aunt Wannie would find a new diet, my mom would always try it with her and if mom was on a diet, we were all on a diet.      Mom started nursing school when I was in middle school. She was always studying or in class, so we started eating fast food almost daily. I remember the summer before I started high school, we tried the 6-week body makeover, a diet and exercise program that was supposed to be tailored to your body type. I lost about 30 lbs that summer and tried to always use what I had learned as a guideline for how I should eat.    My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer a month before my 16th birthday. I spent that summer driving him to and from chemo and radiation appointments, eating whatever snacks were around. I a...

I recently had someone ask what I could recommend for someone that hates taking bipolar Pharmaceuticals. My 1st suggestion to anyone experiencing struggles with mental health is always to start with meditation or Yoga or BOTH! Meditate every morning; We need to check in with ourselves before starting the day. I do at least 10 min (Typically 20-30 min) yoga with a meditation every morning. The days I skip it, the entire house and probably the neighbors, all know. My days are complete shit when I don't check in with myself before I just go about my day.  Starting my day by stretching my muscles and moving my body in ways that feel good to me makes me ready for anything that comes my way. I always use the example that you wouldn't run a marathon without stretching first, and I don't know about you, but for me, most days feel like a marathon.   I started my day today with a 20-minute power yoga session and meditation, followed by watering the garden, and standing in my drivew...