The tip of the iceberg 🧊

Growing up in Scotland, I often wore three sweaters at the same time to keep warm in the summer (no joke!) so when I moved to Miami, Florida in my 20’s I was pretty sure life could not get any better! Aside from the warm weather, I loved my job and I threw myself into Miami’s social scene—by all appearances my life was really good!

So why was I feeling a sense of emptiness, a flatness, a feeling that there must be something more to life?

Was I missing something?

Like an iceberg floating in the sea, I was only aware of what was visible to me from the surface, in this case, my physical outer reality.

By chance, I attended a weekend seminar and one of the processes was a breathing meditation. That experience was truly life changing. During the session, my breath led me to my inner universe. I was feeling and seeing for the first time what I had missed before, the submerged part of the iceberg! The empty feeling vanished. What I found instead was a new sense of wholeness, peace and utter contentment.

It was only then that I realized that something had been missing; that what I had been doing by living it up in Miami (namely partying, shopping and comfort eating) was attempting to get rid of my empty feeling. I did succeed with those activities in the moment but soon after I would be left with that empty feeling again. In truth, our inner universe is always there, like the underbelly of the iceberg; it's just a question of whether we’re in tune with it.

As I discovered that fateful weekend, the breath has the magical ability to lead the way to your inner universe, where peace, tranquility and a sense of “place” await. Breathwork is now both my passion and purpose. Each week I share this experience with others by facilitating weekly Virtual Breathwork Circles.

After each VBC, I invite participants to share a word that describes how they felt during the breathwork or immediately following the session. Here is a sample of what they shared recently:

Peace | Grounded | Awake | Replenished | Calm | Quiet

I can see the smile  on the faces of those of you who come regularly to the VBC’s, because these may be your words. And sometimes there are no words, and yet I know you know the “filled up” feeling.

Whether it’s your first VBC or your 40th, all are welcome to experience breathwork meditation first hand by joining a virtual breathwork circle.

When things are broken

For 18 years and counting Sarah and I have been gardening buddies. We take it turnabout, working one week in my garden, the next in her's. It’s a ton of fun. Things that may otherwise feel overwhelming to tackle, together, as a team, we conquer!

Sarah, my gardening buddy of 18 years, at work on a spliced irrigation line.

Recently, we encountered a break in her irrigation line. So, we donned our gloves and got down and dirty fixing the line.

We humans are systems too so it makes sense that we also need a “repair” from time to time.

When things are broken, it’s important to make time to fix them.

Unlike the simple fix for the irrigation line, our ‘“breaks” can be far more complex than a spliced pipe in the garden. We are multidimensional beings after all!

Breaks may manifest in various forms, including:

• back pain

• digestive issues

• anxiety

• lack of energy

• allergies

• you name it

Whatever it is that has your attention, Energy Kinesiology addresses it in four different ways; physically, nutritionally, emotionally, and energetically with the goal of finding and removing the root of the often layered issue.

Fixed!

Imagine the repercussions for the garden if Sarah and I hadn’t taken the time to fix the irrigation system?

What about you? What’s going to be your end result if you choose to ignore what’s grabbing and nagging at your attention?

Is it time to remove your root, readying the way for a clear path for the new and next in your life?

Start with a complimentary consultation to see if Energy Kinesiology might be the answer for you.

Spring savings 🌳

Book an Energy Kinesiology session now and receive a complimentary
Virtual Breathwork Circle 🗣💨💫

That’s a $50 value!

Offer expires May 15th.

HEAR FROM OTHER PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU…

“Saci, Thank you SO much for yesterday’s very powerful session. And for sending the report and encouragement. I am still orienting myself feeling tender and a bit emotional, strong changes afoot. YOU are BRILLIANT. Thank you for your TLC sharing your fabulous skills with me and creating dynamic change for better living and loving!”

— Bev B., Mill Valley, Calif.

Hay Fever (aka Seasonal Allergy) Relief

While spring offers the opportunity to marvel at the wondrous renewal of our planet Earth, my client, Erin, reminded me that spring is not universally welcomed by all!

She shared that seeing the acacia tree in bloom used to cause intense anxiety for her as spring pollen also brings out her hay fever.

Erin’s story: How to Overcome Allergies

"I suffered for most of my life with terrible seasonal allergies every spring. My symptoms—swollen eyes, constant runny nose, fatigue, and brain fog—meant spring was miserable for me. Grass pollen was my nemesis. I tried EVERYTHING—prescription medication, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, various diets, neti-pots, hypnosis….you name it, I probably tried it! But nothing provided lasting relief. The symptoms always came back. One physician suggested I move to the desert to escape the grass pollen! Nevertheless I persisted. I knew the answer was out there.

"After just one virtual session with Saci, l was able to be in a grassy field with no reaction, I was amazed! After a particularly stressful event two months after my session, all my symptoms came back. I did another session with Saci and I was happy to discover my body wanted to let this trapped energy go. Following that second session, my symptoms vanished too.

"That was 10 months ago. Between the daily home program that she provided following the Energy Kinesiology session and continuing the Virtual Breathwork Circles with her, I can enjoy life without the fear that my hay fever symptoms will flare up and leave me feeling miserable again.” - Erin N., Petaluma, Calif.

If Erin's story sounds familiar, you are not alone! It’s estimated that allergies affect a little more than one third of the adult population.

Energy Kinesiology uses a four pronged approach to clearing allergies, whether they’re seasonal, food, animal or dust related.

If you’ve tried other methods and they haven’t been successful or if you “bandaid” by taking daily allergy medicine, I encourage you to give Energy Kinesiology a chance.

Start by taking advantage of a complimentary consultation to learn more.

Sustain-my-ability 🌳

Sustainability is all the buzz these days. Most of the narrative consists of a macro view of the health of planet earth. We know that generations past and present have been thoughtless towards the ecosystem of the planet, resulting in severe damage…and now it’s time for us to step up, tread lightly and do our part to create a sustainable world.

Micro-me
We are ecosystems that need to be sustained too!

Like the planet we inhabit, we are living, breathing organisms. We may take it for granted but breathing is not only fundamental to our survival, it’s also a critical component of our health and well being.

With that well-being in mind, I invite you to join a Virtual Breathwork Circle this month, a restorative practice that sustains-your-ability through your magical breath.

Once we can fully sustain ourselves, we immediately have more bandwidth to turn our attention to the macro and help to sustain and restore our beautiful planet earth. 

Mind Candy

Words are powerful.
Once they’ve been thought or said, a feeling arises in the body that matches the word—either eliciting a good feeling or a bad feeling.

Mind candy.
While breathwork is an incredibly powerful tool for healing, it can feel challenging to keep the mind focused on the business of breathing during a VBC. One way to overcome this is to introduce “mind candy.” (And unlike the real thing, it’s readily available to you any time and it’s calorie-free!)

Mind candy in action.
While you’re practicing breathwork, if your mind is dwelling on negative thoughts, rather than trying to stop the thoughts, use mind candy instead.

Here’s an example, as you inhale, silently in your mind's eye, think “YES,” or “CALM” and on the exhale think, “ALLOW” or “RELAXATION.”

If there is negativity, it has now been quelled by a positive-feeling word. The once distracting thought is replaced by a positive affirmation.

Just as there are loads of varieties of candy to choose from (I grew up on Cadbury’s so that’s my personal favorite), likewise there are many positive, uplifting words available to you. If my selections don’t resonate, I encourage you to choose what feels supportive and relevant to you.

Taking it a step further into your everyday life:
January is the perfect time to choose your word for the year. I’ve chosen the word “focus.” I’ve written it on a piece of paper and put it in my purse. It’s stuck on the mirror in the bathroom and on my computer. Just seeing it makes me feel good, calm, confident and like I can accomplish whatever I set out to do. Yummy!

What word are you choosing (or have already chosen) to be your go-to for 2022?

Taking it another step further, action required:
Bring your word with you into a Virtual Breathwork Circle! If you share it with me, I’ll be sure to mention it when you’re in the Circle.

I look forward to seeing you on the inside,

Saci

One in Four

I wear two hats: Breathwork facilitator and Energy Kinesiology practitioner. While they both offer you a natural path to healing, Energy Kinesiology is laser sharp at pinpointing and clearing an issue.

It has been stirring in me to share my experience on the sensitive subject of miscarriage and stillbirth. Please know that if you are a sufferer, you’re not alone.

Miscarriage or stillbirth affects an estimated one in four women. While miscarriage is common, unfortunately, it's often a private experience.

“[if] I were to start a file on things nobody tells you about until you’re right in the thick of them, I might begin with miscarriages. A miscarriage is lonely, painful, and demoralizing almost on a cellular level. When you have one, you will likely mistake it for a personal failure, which it is not.”

— Michelle Obama

In my Energy Kinesiology practice, it’s very common for women to come to see me for some seemingly unrelated pain or issue in their body and during the session the experience of a past miscarriage resurfaces.

When I ask “when you think about your miscarriage, how stressful is it NOW?”, they consistently report that the distress they feel is still very high even though months or years have gone by. In one case it was 30 years later, and yet she still thought about it every single day. They often tell me that they don’t share their “secret” with others; their sense is to keep quiet about it and move on…and yet they can’t. This is not surprising because as Michelle says, it IS stuck at a cellular level in their body.

Each time I hear a woman's story, there’s always a rawness—I’m aware of my visceral response to it. I’m flooded with feelings of their pain and at the same time a sense of calm—because I know they’re in the right place. I’ve seen it time and time again, the body knows how to pinpoint and integrate deep tender healing around a miscarriage and I can help to make that possible for them.

“Saci is extremely skilled at what she does and I highly recommend using her. Thanks to her I have been able to heal after each one of my three miscarriages. She helped me process my emotions and come to peace with what has happened. Without her, I would still be hurting and blaming myself. All three of my babies will forever be in my heart. Whenever I think of them, I’m grateful to Saci as I am filled with love instead of pain and sadness.”

— Alissa Sinkler, Denver, CO

“Wow. Thank you so much for the [virtual] session yesterday. I feel transformed, light, energized and deeply encouraged. I also said hello to my lovely orb and gave her a name. I woke up with my back feeling not so sore, not perfect, but not scary, like before. You have a remarkable talent. I feel so lucky to have walked into this space with you.”

— Natalia Kaminski, Oakland, CA

If it’s you who’s had the personal experience, please reach out to me. Together, we’ll work toward healing and recovery.

If it’s a family member, another loved one, or even your OB/GYN whose patients could benefit, please forward them this post. It’s never too late to initiate healing.

The rule of threes ✨

In survival, the “rule of threes” outlines the priorities human beings need in order to sustain life. We can go:

• three weeks without food 🥗

• three days without water 🚰

• three minutes without oxygen 🌫️

That’s right, we can only survive three minutes without life giving breath, and yet there is relatively little focus on cultivating the breath in our culture.

In contrast, a recent survey investigated the cooking habits of people living in the United States. It found that 50 percent of the respondents were happy to spend between 30 and 60 minutes per day cooking dinner.

I would be hard pressed to find a study that can tell me the number of people who spend that amount of time a day in breathwork practice.

Conscious breathing or breathwork has immense healing powers and yet it is rare that we acknowledge its abundance and ability to heal us, especially in comparison to how much thought and time we devote to food.

Imagine the widespread benefits if we gave breathwork as much attention as we do preparing our daily meals?

Why is conscious breathing and breathwork beneficial?

It soothes our nervous system and boosts our immune system, and connects us to deeper heart-self.⁣ The more we practice conscious breathing, the more calm and heart-centered we become. ⁣

Virtual Breathwork Circles

Why not devote an hour to cultivating this life giving breath we often take for granted? Breathwork is a healthy habit that will keep you living your best life.

Join a Virtual Breathwork Circle this month!

Wednesdays at 4pm
1st & 3rd Sundays at 5pm 
All other Sundays at 10am
All times are PST and subject to change 

If it's your first Virtual Breathwork Circle, click here. (Be sure to enter coupon code: FIRSTTIME for a special discount).

If you're in the middle of a package and ready to schedule your next Circle: click here.

Seasoned circler: purchase another package click here.

From Corks to Clouds

Did you know that having many hobbies is actually good for your health?

A study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine found that spending regular time on a hobby or leisure activity has a positive impact on your overall health, can improve your daily function, and lead to a longer life. The benefits grew for study participants who were involved in several leisure activities compared to those with only a few.

While this study wasn’t a revelation to me, it did scientifically confirm what I have observed through the years. Case in point, my own father. My dad has more hobbies than most people I know. Happily retired now and living in Perth, Scotland, he will tell you that he has no idea how he ever had time to work! His hobbies keep him quite busy in a healthy, supportive way.

Here’s a quick rundown of Dad’s favorite pastimes:

• He’s a member of many clubs (including the unusual 🌥️ Cloud Appreciation Society)

• Each day he solves the daily code word puzzle (he even⌛ times himself.)

• He measures rainfall 🪣 (that’s a daily occurrence in Scotland)!

• He’s famed for making things out of corks. Crafting characters in activity mode, like: golfing, curling, gardening, snooker, and yes, as you probably guessed, these are also his hobbies.

Recently he made a chair (maybe inspired by the pandemic, all that sitting around?) and true to his attentive nature, he kept count of the number of corks used in the construction of this chair.

In care you are wondering ‘where does he get all those corks?’ Local restaurants and his many friends collect them and share with him!

Fun Facts About Breathwork

It doesn’t care about the weather!
It doesn’t ruminate in the past
It has no opinion
It doesn’t judge you or anyone else
Because it’s pure.

It doesn’t need to be right
It has no shame
It doesn’t have a favourite colour
It has no hate
Because it’s pure.

It’s not greedy
It can’t be bought, bribed or blackmailed!
It’s not a people pleaser
It doesn’t feel superior
Because it’s pure.

It’s not looking for an identity
It doesn’t have a favourite ice cream, or TV show
It’s religion-less
It’s not trying to look good
Because it’s pure.

It’s not a victim
It doesn’t prefer one skin colour over another
It’s not trying to fit in
It doesn’t need to win
Because it’s pure.

It doesn’t prefer one political party over another
It doesn’t make demands or ultimatums
It doesn’t feel inferior
It’s not jealous
Because it’s pure.

It doesn’t get sick
It has no self doubt
It doesn’t argue
It’s not looking for approval
Because it’s pure.

It doesn’t get tired
It doesn't lack confidence
It doesn’t care how you look
It doesn’t have a sexual preference
Because it’s pure.

It doesn’t dream of the future
It’s not self righteous
It doesn’t lack integrity
It has no self confusion
Because it’s pure.

It’s the common denominator for all human beings
It’s your lifeline
It’s with you from your first moment to last moment on planet earth.
It’s abundant and free
It loves life
It’s always doing it’s best for you
It knows everything about you
It’s your connection to source energy
It knows how to heal you and can’t wait to be given the opportunity to do so.
It knows how to find home in your heart.
Because it’s pure.

Now take a full deep breath and know it’s pure...

-Saci McDonald 
 

Virtual Breathwork Circles

Join a Virtual Breathwork Circle

Wednesdays at 4pm
1st & 3rd Sundays at 5pm 
All other Sundays at 10am
All times are PST and subject to change