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© 2025 by FLOW WITH ERIKA

That Pilates life. 🙃

#flowwitherika #pilates #reformer #fitnwise #fitnwisedecatur

That Pilates life. 🙃

#flowwitherika #pilates #reformer #fitnwise #fitnwisedecatur

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted on this account, but a lot has changed over here! I welcomed my baby girl into the world in December, and my life has become blissfully consumed by her. 💕 My body has changed, and so my practice has changed. It is spontaneous and fleeting when it used to hold a regular place in my routine. Also, strangely, yoga has not been the best kind of movement for me as of late. I’ve found myself in need of the nuance and stability that is offered from Pilates instead of what I used to experience in my yoga practice. So I’ve adjusted my movement choices accordingly to best accommodate my postpartum body. I even bought a Pilates reformer (!) and I plan to share more content with that soon. I have also not rushed back into teaching. At the moment, I don’t feel a great desire to teach - probably because I am so wrapped up in caring for my daughter. I think I’d like to get back to teaching eventually, but I’m in no hurry. For now, just taking things slow and staying present in the moment with my little family. 🤍 Any other teachers out there take a nice long break from teaching after having a baby?

#postpartum #postnatalyoga #postnatalpilates #flowwitherika

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted on this account, but a lot has changed over here! I welcomed my baby girl into the world in December, and my life has become blissfully consumed by her. 💕 My body has changed, and so my practice has changed. It is spontaneous and fleeting when it used to hold a regular place in my routine. Also, strangely, yoga has not been the best kind of movement for me as of late. I’ve found myself in need of the nuance and stability that is offered from Pilates instead of what I used to experience in my yoga practice. So I’ve adjusted my movement choices accordingly to best accommodate my postpartum body. I even bought a Pilates reformer (!) and I plan to share more content with that soon. I have also not rushed back into teaching. At the moment, I don’t feel a great desire to teach - probably because I am so wrapped up in caring for my daughter. I think I’d like to get back to teaching eventually, but I’m in no hurry. For now, just taking things slow and staying present in the moment with my little family. 🤍 Any other teachers out there take a nice long break from teaching after having a baby?

#postpartum #postnatalyoga #postnatalpilates #flowwitherika

I’m sure I’ll miss the belly, but I’m forgetting what it’s like to not be pregnant. 🥴 This pic is a few weeks old, and I’ve had no motivation or interest in moving my body. For now just trying to embrace a slower, quieter time before baby girl arrives. 😴

I’m sure I’ll miss the belly, but I’m forgetting what it’s like to not be pregnant. 🥴 This pic is a few weeks old, and I’ve had no motivation or interest in moving my body. For now just trying to embrace a slower, quieter time before baby girl arrives. 😴

Super honored to be the featured yogi in @letstalkyin / @yogi_nancy’s artwork on the stomach meridian! ✨ Also happy to include the bump. ☺️ Follow @letstalkyin for all the yinspiration! 🤍

#flowwitherika #letstalkyin #stomachmeridian #yinyoga #swanpose

Super honored to be the featured yogi in @letstalkyin / @yogi_nancy’s artwork on the stomach meridian! ✨ Also happy to include the bump. ☺️ Follow @letstalkyin for all the yinspiration! 🤍

#flowwitherika #letstalkyin #stomachmeridian #yinyoga #swanpose

Today was the final day of my prenatal yoga & doula training! 🧘🏼‍♀️✨ September was a busy month as I dedicated almost every weekend to this training and expanding my scope as a yoga teacher. I’m exhausted but excited for the new things on the horizon. Who here wishes they took prenatal yoga classes and/or received more birth education during their pregnancy? 🙋🏼

Training: @awakenedspirityoga & @doulaschool ✨

Photo inspo: @yogi_nancy 🤩 always comin’ in hot with those fancy yoga pics!

#flowwitherika #prenatalyoga #birthdoula #RPYT

Today was the final day of my prenatal yoga & doula training! 🧘🏼‍♀️✨ September was a busy month as I dedicated almost every weekend to this training and expanding my scope as a yoga teacher. I’m exhausted but excited for the new things on the horizon. Who here wishes they took prenatal yoga classes and/or received more birth education during their pregnancy? 🙋🏼

Training: @awakenedspirityoga & @doulaschool ✨

Photo inspo: @yogi_nancy 🤩 always comin’ in hot with those fancy yoga pics!

#flowwitherika #prenatalyoga #birthdoula #RPYT

I’ve had a special interest in Women’s Health for some time now, especially since 2018 when I was diagnosed with PCOS. Since then I’ve been educating myself on the various therapeutic methodologies for optimizing women’s health including yoga, Pilates, pelvic physical therapy, acupressure, traditional Chinese medicine, and more. I’m super excited to continue my education with a training offered by @awakenedspirityoga. It’s a Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training and Doula Certification program. ✨ I’m looking forward to learning more about supporting pregnant people in yoga practices and in their pregnancy and birthing journeys. 💜

#PYTT #RPYT #doula

I’ve had a special interest in Women’s Health for some time now, especially since 2018 when I was diagnosed with PCOS. Since then I’ve been educating myself on the various therapeutic methodologies for optimizing women’s health including yoga, Pilates, pelvic physical therapy, acupressure, traditional Chinese medicine, and more. I’m super excited to continue my education with a training offered by @awakenedspirityoga. It’s a Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training and Doula Certification program. ✨ I’m looking forward to learning more about supporting pregnant people in yoga practices and in their pregnancy and birthing journeys. 💜

#PYTT #RPYT #doula

Yoga on a rainy day is 🤌🏻✨🌧

#yoga #flowwitherika #rainydayvibes

Yoga on a rainy day is 🤌🏻✨🌧

#yoga #flowwitherika #rainydayvibes

Our Summer Solstice Yoga Retreat at @texasponderosa last weekend was an absolute dream! Best food, best people, best place. I’m so thankful that @weskamp.yoga asked me to co-host with her and that I was able to return back to The Ponderosa for retreat #2! Stay tuned, folks. There will be many more to come. 🌻✨☀️💛

#flowwitherika #ssyr #yogaretreat #texasponderosa

Our Summer Solstice Yoga Retreat at @texasponderosa last weekend was an absolute dream! Best food, best people, best place. I’m so thankful that @weskamp.yoga asked me to co-host with her and that I was able to return back to The Ponderosa for retreat #2! Stay tuned, folks. There will be many more to come. 🌻✨☀️💛

#flowwitherika #ssyr #yogaretreat #texasponderosa

Delighted to share that me and @weskamp.yoga are co-hosting a yoga retreat during this year’s summer solstice at @texasponderosa!

☀️June 18-20, 2021

☀️Celebrate the summer solstice with a lighthearted weekend of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Retreat includes 2 nights accommodations, daily yoga practices, chef-prepared meals, and additional retreat activities including SUP yoga, fireside s’mores, hiking trails, and more!

☀️DM me to book your spot. Registration closes May 31st - space is limited!

#yogaretreat #summersolstice #flowwitherika #texasponderosa

Delighted to share that me and @weskamp.yoga are co-hosting a yoga retreat during this year’s summer solstice at @texasponderosa!

☀️June 18-20, 2021

☀️Celebrate the summer solstice with a lighthearted weekend of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Retreat includes 2 nights accommodations, daily yoga practices, chef-prepared meals, and additional retreat activities including SUP yoga, fireside s’mores, hiking trails, and more!

☀️DM me to book your spot. Registration closes May 31st - space is limited!

#yogaretreat #summersolstice #flowwitherika #texasponderosa

Stability Chair training complete! Working my way through all of the Pilates equipment so that I can offer the best training within my community (get ready, @fitnwiseofficial!). Thanks, @twistedbodies and @twistedcarissa, for another great weekend of learning! 🤓📚

#flowwitherika #pilates #stabilitychair #stottpilates

Stability Chair training complete! Working my way through all of the Pilates equipment so that I can offer the best training within my community (get ready, @fitnwiseofficial!). Thanks, @twistedbodies and @twistedcarissa, for another great weekend of learning! 🤓📚

#flowwitherika #pilates #stabilitychair #stottpilates

bring the sun over my heart.
i want to bloom.🌻

- @alexandravasiliuwriter

#flowwitherika #yoga #bloom

bring the sun over my heart.
i want to bloom.🌻

- @alexandravasiliuwriter

#flowwitherika #yoga #bloom

just hangin’ out! 🙃
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#flowwitherika #yoga #fitnwise #fitnwisedecatur

just hangin’ out! 🙃
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#flowwitherika #yoga #fitnwise #fitnwisedecatur

It was 72 degrees today, and tomorrow’s my birthday, so basically I’m vibing. 😎 Pisces season is the best. 🐚🌊🧜🏼‍♀️
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#flowwitherika #piscesseason #vibing

It was 72 degrees today, and tomorrow’s my birthday, so basically I’m vibing. 😎 Pisces season is the best. 🐚🌊🧜🏼‍♀️
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#flowwitherika #piscesseason #vibing

As we approach the anniversary of the beginning of the pandemic, I have realized that as of a few days ago, it’s been one year since I taught my last class at @inspireyogadenton. I never knew it would be my last class. I fully expected to return the following week and see my Wednesday night regulars. But the studio had to close for an extended amount of time. I also lost my main job over the summer, which was ultimately the thing that kept me tied to Denton even 4 years after I moved out of the city. When yoga studios finally began to open back up, I couldn’t justify a 1 hour commute each direction for a single yoga class. So for months I had what felt like a slow fade away from my yoga home.

I taught my first classes as a yoga teacher to the Inspire community, and I was there when the studio opened its Denton location in 2015. I have felt deeply connected to IYD from the beginning, so naturally, I had a hard time letting it go, even months after it was already gone from my life.

I didn’t get to say goodbye. But I want to say thank you to the Inspire community - to the teachers who trained me, to the instructors who taught beside me, and to the students who chose to practice with me. Inspire Yoga will always be a part of my heart and my story. Thank you for helping me live my dream. 🙏🏻

As we approach the anniversary of the beginning of the pandemic, I have realized that as of a few days ago, it’s been one year since I taught my last class at @inspireyogadenton. I never knew it would be my last class. I fully expected to return the following week and see my Wednesday night regulars. But the studio had to close for an extended amount of time. I also lost my main job over the summer, which was ultimately the thing that kept me tied to Denton even 4 years after I moved out of the city. When yoga studios finally began to open back up, I couldn’t justify a 1 hour commute each direction for a single yoga class. So for months I had what felt like a slow fade away from my yoga home.

I taught my first classes as a yoga teacher to the Inspire community, and I was there when the studio opened its Denton location in 2015. I have felt deeply connected to IYD from the beginning, so naturally, I had a hard time letting it go, even months after it was already gone from my life.

I didn’t get to say goodbye. But I want to say thank you to the Inspire community - to the teachers who trained me, to the instructors who taught beside me, and to the students who chose to practice with me. Inspire Yoga will always be a part of my heart and my story. Thank you for helping me live my dream. 🙏🏻

take up s p a c e

#flowwitherika #yoga #expand

take up s p a c e

#flowwitherika #yoga #expand

Raise your leg🦵if you’re ready for warmer temps, wildflowers, and sunshine! ☀️🌸🪴 Texas, we’re ready for spring now, ok?
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#flowwitherika #texas #yoga

Raise your leg🦵if you’re ready for warmer temps, wildflowers, and sunshine! ☀️🌸🪴 Texas, we’re ready for spring now, ok?
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#flowwitherika #texas #yoga

Teaching yoga during COVID be like... 😷🥴

Strange times, my friends. My inspiration to keep showing up comes and goes. Lately I’m just making it through one day, one class, and one breath at a time. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Teaching yoga during COVID be like... 😷🥴

Strange times, my friends. My inspiration to keep showing up comes and goes. Lately I’m just making it through one day, one class, and one breath at a time. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve officially completed one of my favorite (& I think one of the most significant) trainings I’ve ever done. 🤓📚 I have always held an interest in women’s health, and this training really brought the topic together with my other love, yoga! 🧘🏼‍♀️Thank you, @yoga_medicine and @tiffanycruikshank for this quality training program. I can’t wait to begin implementing this into my classes and services. ♀
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#flowwitherika #yogamedicine #YM500 #womenshealth #yoga #♀️

I’ve officially completed one of my favorite (& I think one of the most significant) trainings I’ve ever done. �🤓📚 I have always held an interest in women’s health, and this training really brought the topic together with my other love, yoga! 🧘🏼‍♀️Thank you, @yoga_medicine and @tiffanycruikshank for this quality training program. I can’t wait to begin implementing this into my classes and services. ♀
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#flowwitherika #yogamedicine #YM500 #womenshealth #yoga #♀️

If you’ve been following my stories, you’ve seen some snapshots of the Women’s Health training I’m doing through @yoga_medicine and instructed by @tiffanycruikshank. It’s so good! I’m still in the middle of it because 1) I’m taking my time to really absorb the information, and 2) I’m timing the 4 phases of the learning material with my own cycle. 🌕🌗🌑

I wanted to attend the in-person version of this training in December of 2018, right after I got diagnosed with PCOS, but it didn’t work out with my schedule. Since then, I have been searching endlessly for a comparable yoga training to attend that focuses on women’s health. You can imagine my excitement when I found out this program would be offered 100% online! 👩🏼‍💻

I am so excited for the implications this training will have on what I offer as a yoga teacher and movement educator, especially as I have been keyed in to teaching within medical communities over the past 3 years. I feel like I have finally found my “thing” because it is so intertwined with my interests and personal experience. So stay tuned as I continue to hone in on this aspect of yoga for women’s health and vitality. More exciting things are coming very soon! 🤗✨

Bonus info for reading this far! In this image, I’m doing a combo lateral stretch and seated pigeon pose, which targets the side body, but more specifically, the gallbladder meridian. Both nourishing and activating this meridian helps with clarity in decision making, judgment, and courage. It additionally represents a turning point for new stages of life, which is where I feel like I am now. 🌅 I love how meridians provide a framework for understanding bodily functions and energetic patterns. It gives me so much to dive into with students!
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#flowwitherika #tcm #yoga #yogamedicine #YM500 #PCOS #womenshealth

If you’ve been following my stories, you’ve seen some snapshots of the Women’s Health training I’m doing through @yoga_medicine and instructed by @tiffanycruikshank. It’s so good! I’m still in the middle of it because 1) I’m taking my time to really absorb the information, and 2) I’m timing the 4 phases of the learning material with my own cycle. 🌕🌗🌑

I wanted to attend the in-person version of this training in December of 2018, right after I got diagnosed with PCOS, but it didn’t work out with my schedule. Since then, I have been searching endlessly for a comparable yoga training to attend that focuses on women’s health. You can imagine my excitement when I found out this program would be offered 100% online! 👩🏼‍💻

I am so excited for the implications this training will have on what I offer as a yoga teacher and movement educator, especially as I have been keyed in to teaching within medical communities over the past 3 years. I feel like I have finally found my “thing” because it is so intertwined with my interests and personal experience. So stay tuned as I continue to hone in on this aspect of yoga for women’s health and vitality. More exciting things are coming very soon! 🤗✨

Bonus info for reading this far! In this image, I’m doing a combo lateral stretch and seated pigeon pose, which targets the side body, but more specifically, the gallbladder meridian. Both nourishing and activating this meridian helps with clarity in decision making, judgment, and courage. It additionally represents a turning point for new stages of life, which is where I feel like I am now. 🌅 I love how meridians provide a framework for understanding bodily functions and energetic patterns. It gives me so much to dive into with students!
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#flowwitherika #tcm #yoga #yogamedicine #YM500 #PCOS #womenshealth

Today I saw a billboard advertising a weight loss program, and it showed a woman’s body with the words “flatten your curve.” I am disgusted by companies that are shaming not only women’s bodies but anyone’s body for weight gain in light of the collective stress we have all endured because of the pandemic. It’s 1000% okay to have gained (or lost!) some weight this year. The stress we have experienced was unprecedented and unimaginable. And no one deserves to feel shame about their curves, pandemic or not. Do yourself a favor, and unfollow any account or business that utilizes shame as a marketing tactic. You don’t need that. And advertisers, do better.
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#flowwitherika #unfollow #pcos #dobetter

Today I saw a billboard advertising a weight loss program, and it showed a woman’s body with the words “flatten your curve.” I am disgusted by companies that are shaming not only women’s bodies but anyone’s body for weight gain in light of the collective stress we have all endured because of the pandemic. It’s 1000% okay to have gained (or lost!) some weight this year. The stress we have experienced was unprecedented and unimaginable. And no one deserves to feel shame about their curves, pandemic or not. Do yourself a favor, and unfollow any account or business that utilizes shame as a marketing tactic. You don’t need that. And advertisers, do better.
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#flowwitherika #unfollow #pcos #dobetter

I wasn’t going to post this because I didn’t like how my body looked and then I remembered that the only reason I feel that way is because my body image is entirely fucked up because of unrealistic standards of women’s bodies portrayed in media and social media and also from the damaging words I’ve overheard beautiful women say about their own bodies. I further realized that sharing this video of my body breathing, moving, and holding me in the state it’s in is more important than not sharing it at all. So here you go. I have a distorted body image, and it’s an internal battle I fight every single moment of every day. I’m working to heal that too. 🤍
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#flowwitherika #pcos #bodyimage #lovethyself #yoga

I wasn’t going to post this because I didn’t like how my body looked and then I remembered that the only reason I feel that way is because my body image is entirely fucked up because of unrealistic standards of women’s bodies portrayed in media and social media and also from the damaging words I’ve overheard beautiful women say about their own bodies. I further realized that sharing this video of my body breathing, moving, and holding me in the state it’s in is more important than not sharing it at all. So here you go. I have a distorted body image, and it’s an internal battle I fight every single moment of every day. I’m working to heal that too. 🤍
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#flowwitherika #pcos #bodyimage #lovethyself #yoga

Is it worth your energy to do that thing? Is it really, though? 🤔
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My continual healing process includes eating better, moving my body, maintaining health checkups, but also asking myself this question regularly. If you’re like me and prone to people-pleasing and overworking, you’ve probably been stuck in a project or commitment at some point that was not beneficial to your mental, physical, and/or emotional health. These can be silent killers, pumping cortisol through our bodies and causing us to be overly stressed. 👎🏻 And guess what - IT’S NOT WORTH IT.
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Along with cleaning up my diet for PCOS, I also needed to clean up how I spent my time. I got really good at saying “NO” to things that didn’t feel worth it. Saying “no” is a practice, and what you practice grows stronger (thx @megannicoleadams 😉). By saying “no” to things that aren’t worth my energy (and more importantly, my health), I have more time for practices and projects that nourish me.
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A note on privilege: I acknowledge that speak on this as a white, CIS, able-bodied person of privilege and that so many people don’t have the same opportunity to say “no” to things based on one or several factors. If you identify as such and have experience/tips/ideas for practicing this type of self-care, please add it in the comments! 🤍
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#flowwitherika #pcos #pcoshealing #healing #selfcare

Is it worth your energy to do that thing? Is it really, though? 🤔
.
My continual healing process includes eating better, moving my body, maintaining health checkups, but also asking myself this question regularly. If you’re like me and prone to people-pleasing and overworking, you’ve probably been stuck in a project or commitment at some point that was not beneficial to your mental, physical, and/or emotional health. These can be silent killers, pumping cortisol through our bodies and causing us to be overly stressed. 👎🏻 And guess what - IT’S NOT WORTH IT.
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Along with cleaning up my diet for PCOS, I also needed to clean up how I spent my time. I got really good at saying “NO” to things that didn’t feel worth it. Saying “no” is a practice, and what you practice grows stronger (thx @megannicoleadams 😉). By saying “no” to things that aren’t worth my energy (and more importantly, my health), I have more time for practices and projects that nourish me.
.
A note on privilege: I acknowledge that speak on this as a white, CIS, able-bodied person of privilege and that so many people don’t have the same opportunity to say “no” to things based on one or several factors. If you identify as such and have experience/tips/ideas for practicing this type of self-care, please add it in the comments! 🤍
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#flowwitherika #pcos #pcoshealing #healing #selfcare

Occasionally I’ll catch myself take a really deep breath, and I’ll realize that I haven’t been breathing in a full enough capacity for quite some time. This usually happens when I am overly stressed or anxious, and it happens all too often.
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Over the years, I’ve learned a lot from teaching and practicing yoga. One of my top 5 favorite things I’ve learned is diaphragmatic breathing (sometimes called “belly breath”). To do this breath, rather than using your neck, back, or chest muscles to breathe, you allow the breath to expand low into the belly. This kind of breath can regulate our nervous system by taking us out of the sympathetic nervous system (our fight-or-flight response) and into the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). By voluntarily regulating our breathing and nervous system, we can reap benefits such as lowering the heart rate, regulating blood pressure, and decreasing how much cortisol (stress hormone!) is released into our bodies. And if you’re stressed, your immune system can’t function properly. If you have PCOS, this breathing exercise is excellent for combating cortisol and increasing proper immune function!
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I love to practice this breath on my belly because I can feel my center expand against the earth as I send the breath into my lower lungs. It doesn’t take long for my nervous system to begin to shift into a more restful place. Try it out, and let me know how you feel! 🌬
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#flowwitherika #diaphragmaticbreathing #parasympatheticnervoussystem #pcos #reducestress #yoga #pranayama

Occasionally I’ll catch myself take a really deep breath, and I’ll realize that I haven’t been breathing in a full enough capacity for quite some time. This usually happens when I am overly stressed or anxious, and it happens all too often.
.
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot from teaching and practicing yoga. One of my top 5 favorite things I’ve learned is diaphragmatic breathing (sometimes called “belly breath”). To do this breath, rather than using your neck, back, or chest muscles to breathe, you allow the breath to expand low into the belly. This kind of breath can regulate our nervous system by taking us out of the sympathetic nervous system (our fight-or-flight response) and into the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). By voluntarily regulating our breathing and nervous system, we can reap benefits such as lowering the heart rate, regulating blood pressure, and decreasing how much cortisol (stress hormone!) is released into our bodies. And if you’re stressed, your immune system can’t function properly. If you have PCOS, this breathing exercise is excellent for combating cortisol and increasing proper immune function!
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I love to practice this breath on my belly because I can feel my center expand against the earth as I send the breath into my lower lungs. It doesn’t take long for my nervous system to begin to shift into a more restful place. Try it out, and let me know how you feel! 🌬
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#flowwitherika #diaphragmaticbreathing #parasympatheticnervoussystem #pcos #reducestress #yoga #pranayama

Are you familiar with the common symptoms of PCOS? Not all of these are present in people with PCOS, but it is likely to have a combination of several of them.

- Weight gain
- Acne
- Polycystic ovaries
- Insulin resistance
- Inflammation
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Pelvic pain
- High androgens
- Irregular periods
- Hirsutism (excess hair growth)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Infertility
- Male pattern hair loss
- Trouble sleeping
- And more…

The thing that tipped me and my doctor off 2 years ago was my irregular cycle. I had been bleeding for 30+ days, and my doctor ordered bloodwork and a sonogram. But looking back, my symptoms started to appear when I got off hormonal birth control in 2017, one year before my diagnosis. Prior to 2017, I was on hormonal birth control for 12 years. Little did I know the birth control I was on was masking my PCOS symptoms for over a decade. In fact, the whole reason I was prescribed birth control was because I had irregular periods as a teenager (remember, this is one of many PCOS symptoms!), and the doctor wanted to see if birth control would regulate my cycle. I just wonder if I had known more about PCOS back then or if my medical team had been more thorough if I would have suffered as much with these symptoms as an adult. What if I could have started managing my PCOS 15 years ago?

Education and awareness is key. Talk to your daughters about women’s health. Don’t hesitate to speak up to your medical team about your symptoms. Ask questions. And be discriminating about the information you consume.

#pcos #polycysticovarysyndrome #pcosawarenessmonth #pcoslifestyle #pcoscyster #flowwitherika #menstrualcycle #period

Are you familiar with the common symptoms of PCOS? Not all of these are present in people with PCOS, but it is likely to have a combination of several of them.

- Weight gain
- Acne
- Polycystic ovaries
- Insulin resistance
- Inflammation
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Pelvic pain
- High androgens
- Irregular periods
- Hirsutism (excess hair growth)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Infertility
- Male pattern hair loss
- Trouble sleeping
- And more…

The thing that tipped me and my doctor off 2 years ago was my irregular cycle. I had been bleeding for 30+ days, and my doctor ordered bloodwork and a sonogram. But looking back, my symptoms started to appear when I got off hormonal birth control in 2017, one year before my diagnosis. Prior to 2017, I was on hormonal birth control for 12 years. Little did I know the birth control I was on was masking my PCOS symptoms for over a decade. In fact, the whole reason I was prescribed birth control was because I had irregular periods as a teenager (remember, this is one of many PCOS symptoms!), and the doctor wanted to see if birth control would regulate my cycle. I just wonder if I had known more about PCOS back then or if my medical team had been more thorough if I would have suffered as much with these symptoms as an adult. What if I could have started managing my PCOS 15 years ago?

Education and awareness is key. Talk to your daughters about women’s health. Don’t hesitate to speak up to your medical team about your symptoms. Ask questions. And be discriminating about the information you consume.

#pcos #polycysticovarysyndrome #pcosawarenessmonth #pcoslifestyle #pcoscyster #flowwitherika #menstrualcycle #period

Throughout COVID quarantine, I’ve had a lot of time to really think about where my path is leading me. I’m a loyal person by heart, so I tend to stick to patterns, careers, locations, and people sometimes longer than I should. I resist change. But when coronavirus literally stripped away access to my attachments, I was forced to peel back some layers within myself and think about what my purpose and worth is if it’s not attached to a career or institution or location. I have been working on this and meditating on it for a long time now, and I realized that rather than aligning myself to an external motivation (like a job title or a salary number or some random person’s definition of success), I need to align myself with an internal purpose. When we align with our authentic purpose and story, everything begins to flow freely. For me, as challenging as this time has been with all of the changes I didn’t want, I am seeing doors and possibilities open that I never would have considered before, and I am actually excited! I’m not afraid. I feel free. 🕊
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If this sounds vague, that’s because it is. It’s still forming and coming together. But the main point I’m trying to get across here is that living in a way that fulfills external motivations is actually quite masculine in nature and unsustainable. There’s a deep need within me to come back home and nurture my feminine side and deep creativity. I love how @tamilynnkent writes about this in her book, Wild Feminine:
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“The absence of the feminine and the domination of a distorted masculine is both destructive and unsustainable, manifesting many structures that are harmful to the earth and our very existence. As we restore our connection to the feminine, we will witness the rise of a vibrant masculine. Working with the root of our bodies, we can realign and redefine these physical and energetic patterns that otherwise restrict the energy flow in our bodies and lives. Changing our core patterns, we clarify the filter through which we experience our womanhood and transform the way that we receive energy or give life to our creations.” 🌊
.
.
.
#pcos #pcoscyster #flow #flowwitherika #wildfeminine

Throughout COVID quarantine, I’ve had a lot of time to really think about where my path is leading me. I’m a loyal person by heart, so I tend to stick to patterns, careers, locations, and people sometimes longer than I should. I resist change. But when coronavirus literally stripped away access to my attachments, I was forced to peel back some layers within myself and think about what my purpose and worth is if it’s not attached to a career or institution or location. I have been working on this and meditating on it for a long time now, and I realized that rather than aligning myself to an external motivation (like a job title or a salary number or some random person’s definition of success), I need to align myself with an internal purpose. When we align with our authentic purpose and story, everything begins to flow freely. For me, as challenging as this time has been with all of the changes I didn’t want, I am seeing doors and possibilities open that I never would have considered before, and I am actually excited! I’m not afraid. I feel free. 🕊
.
If this sounds vague, that’s because it is. It’s still forming and coming together. But the main point I’m trying to get across here is that living in a way that fulfills external motivations is actually quite masculine in nature and unsustainable. There’s a deep need within me to come back home and nurture my feminine side and deep creativity. I love how @tamilynnkent writes about this in her book, Wild Feminine:
.
“The absence of the feminine and the domination of a distorted masculine is both destructive and unsustainable, manifesting many structures that are harmful to the earth and our very existence. As we restore our connection to the feminine, we will witness the rise of a vibrant masculine. Working with the root of our bodies, we can realign and redefine these physical and energetic patterns that otherwise restrict the energy flow in our bodies and lives. Changing our core patterns, we clarify the filter through which we experience our womanhood and transform the way that we receive energy or give life to our creations.” 🌊
.
.
.
#pcos #pcoscyster #flow #flowwitherika #wildfeminine

This is a story I’ve considered sharing so many times over the past few years, but I always second-guessed myself. I was worried about opening up too much, posting incorrect information, and/or exposing myself to unsolicited advice. But over the past year (and more specifically the last few months), I have felt a wave of courage within me, and I finally feel ready to share this important aspect of my life that is framing my next business endeavor. It is my hope that doing so will ultimately help more womxn.
.
In 2018, I was officially diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS for short). PCOS is a complex metabolic reproductive disorder that affects up to 15% of womxn. This diagnosis came after YEARS of painful and confusing symptoms. But to be specific, I had been bleeding for over 30 days.🩸 After extensive bloodwork and a sonogram, I received my official PCOS diagnosis. I left that appointment with a single trifold pamphlet and a million questions. I was also in shock. I felt like my body was betraying me.
.
I cried for about a week after my diagnosis. I was grieving the loss of my perceived health and the burden of potential complications down the line: infertility, diabetes, heart disease, depression, endometriosis, cancer, thyroid dysfunction etc. There seemed to be so much to worry about all of the sudden.
.
I eventually picked myself up and developed a personal plan for healing. I did @whole30, intuitive eating, kept a food/mood/cycle journal, reduced my workload, went for daily walks, practiced setting healthy boundaries, and committed to taking my prescribed medications and supplements. 3 months later and 30 pounds lighter, I felt like a new woman!✨
.
Since my diagnosis, I have learned SO much about PCOS, and I’m glad I waited until now to share. I needed some time to wrestle with it. You can still get pregnant with PCOS, and you can reverse many of your symptoms with lifestyle shifts and proper nutrition. Yes, PCOS sucks, BUT, you can still thrive. Hope is not gone. 🤍
.
[continued in comments]

This is a story I’ve considered sharing so many times over the past few years, but I always second-guessed myself. I was worried about opening up too much, posting incorrect information, and/or exposing myself to unsolicited advice. But over the past year (and more specifically the last few months), I have felt a wave of courage within me, and I finally feel ready to share this important aspect of my life that is framing my next business endeavor. It is my hope that doing so will ultimately help more womxn.
.
In 2018, I was officially diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS for short). PCOS is a complex metabolic reproductive disorder that affects up to 15% of womxn. This diagnosis came after YEARS of painful and confusing symptoms. But to be specific, I had been bleeding for over 30 days.🩸 After extensive bloodwork and a sonogram, I received my official PCOS diagnosis. I left that appointment with a single trifold pamphlet and a million questions. I was also in shock. I felt like my body was betraying me.
.
I cried for about a week after my diagnosis. I was grieving the loss of my perceived health and the burden of potential complications down the line: infertility, diabetes, heart disease, depression, endometriosis, cancer, thyroid dysfunction etc. There seemed to be so much to worry about all of the sudden.
.
I eventually picked myself up and developed a personal plan for healing. I did @whole30, intuitive eating, kept a food/mood/cycle journal, reduced my workload, went for daily walks, practiced setting healthy boundaries, and committed to taking my prescribed medications and supplements. 3 months later and 30 pounds lighter, I felt like a new woman!✨
.
Since my diagnosis, I have learned SO much about PCOS, and I’m glad I waited until now to share. I needed some time to wrestle with it. You can still get pregnant with PCOS, and you can reverse many of your symptoms with lifestyle shifts and proper nutrition. Yes, PCOS sucks, BUT, you can still thrive. Hope is not gone. 🤍
.
[continued in comments]

evolve or remain. 🌊
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#flowwitherika #evolve #changeiscoming

evolve or remain. 🌊
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#flowwitherika #evolve #changeiscoming

evolve or remain. 🌊
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#flowwitherika #evolve #changeiscoming

evolve or remain. 🌊
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#flowwitherika #evolve #changeiscoming

evolve or remain. 🌊
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#flowwitherika #evolve #changeiscoming

evolve or remain. 🌊
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#flowwitherika #evolve #changeiscoming

Feels good to have this in hand after a year and a half of training! Officially RYT® 500 today. 🍾

Feels good to have this in hand after a year and a half of training! Officially RYT® 500 today. 🍾

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