One of the first holidays after losing my boyfriend and mom, I was Christmas shopping at the mall.

There I was, riding down the escalator with my hands full of bags when "Little Drummer Boy" began to play on the loud speaker.

It was one of my mom's favourite Christmas songs and it set me off something fierce. 

The tears bubbled up and bursted out of me. And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. 

My arms were laden with bags so wiping my eyes wasn't an option. And, there was nowhere to run (I so wanted to run). 

I felt totally exposed and like everyone was looking at me. 

I wish I had this tool with me then. 

It would have helped me ride the wave with much more grace and ease. 

Thats why I made you this short and sweet video where I share a simple tool for calming your nerves anytime (anywhere) without looking silly. In fact, no one will even know you're doing it. 

So the next time a wave a grief comes up, you'll have a...

I made a short and sweet little video for you. 

Let's face it, the holidays can be hard - especially when you're grieving. 

People can be insensitive. 

Songs and smells can trigger memories.

It can feel like you're the only one not enjoying yourself.

That's why I'm giving you this super simple tool that you can use anytime (anywhere) to calm your nerves so that you can get through the holidays with more ease. 

If you liked this, be sure to check out my free course How to Get Through the Holidays with Grace - Even Though You're Grieving

With so much love, 

A made a short and sweet little video for you. 

I wanted to give you 7 simple ideas for honoring your loved one this holiday season so that you can presence them in your heart in beautiful and loving way.

And, so that you don't have to go through the holidays feeling like they've been forgotten by everyone but you...

If you liked this, be sure to check out my free course How to Get Through the Holidays with Grace - Even Though You're Grieving

All my love, 

The body is a deep well of wisdom. When you allow yourself to listen, she'll guide you towards your most profound healing. 

I invite you to get still and scan your body for any discomfort. Do this with a sense of compassionate curiosity (not judgement). 

Lovingly note the areas of discomfort and ask yourself the following questions... 

What is your body telling you? 

• Discomfort in the feet, legs:  Is there anywhere in your life that you feel rigid or stuck? Where are you at in terms of stability?
• Discomfort in the hips:  Do you have creativity that needs to be expressed?
• Discomfort in the belly: Is there anywhere in your life that your feel powerless? Or too powerful?
• Discomfort in the heart/arms: Is there anywhere in your life you can bring in more love, compassion or forgiveness?
• Discomfort in the back: Is there something in your life that you feel the need to put behind you? Do you feel supported by life?
• Discomfort in the...

A while back, I was talking to a friend about how to let go of the need to control life which is often easier said then done - especially when we are dealing with stress. And perhaps even more so when dealing with the stress of loss. 

We want to hang on to our lives as they once were, and at the same time, control what will happen next. This is a stress reaction from our 'reptile brain' - that old-school part of our brain that thinks it is responsible for keeping us safe. Back when we were cavewomen on the constant brink of death for any number of reasons, change often equated to death. 

Thankfully, it isn't like that anymore.

But our reptile brain hasn't learned that yet.  In our contemporary world, the "fight, flight, or freeze" auto-response leaves us trying to trying to control life. 

The problem with this is (as you know) change is the only constant and therefore impossible to control. So as we try to control our life (and fail) we only add more stress. And,...

When you are grieving, sleep is often a big problem. 

Today I'm going to share with you the one practice that I do (almost) everyday before bed. Even on days where my posture practice or my meditation practice go out the window, this one sticks because it's SO simple. And, it works. 

Right before I go to bed, I take 2 minutes to massage my feet with oil. I usually just use coconut oil (because it's there) but I sometimes add in other essential oils as well. 

This simple practice, ends my day with a small pause, a dose of self love, and a deep sense of grounding. It helps bring my energy out of my busy mind, so I can set myself up for a good night's sleep. 

I invite you to give it a try. If it feels right, try it for at least 21 days to set it up as a new healthy habit. 

Sweet dreams and LOVE, 

Because so much of your life (including how you grieve) is determined by your unconscious mind, it is imperative that you get it on board with your healing.

In this gentle and nurturing class, I lovingly use repetitive mantra to support the unconscious mind in relaxing.

When practiced regularly, you will experience a deeper feeling of inner peace across all aspects of your life - because when you relax yourself, you heal yourself.

I'm here to show you how. 

You'll find this brand new Yoga for Grief class in the link below. 

It's free! 

https://www.nickycjones.com/p/freebies

With LOVE, 

We made it home after an epic trip that involved a two-year-old meltdown that shut down the airport security line and a bathroom escape that had me abandon our luggage and run through the airport with my pants down; but, we’re here, and it feels good to settle back in to our Santa Barbara home. I took a little time to manage the big transition and I thank you for your patience.

When I was back on Vancouver Island, I filmed several more videos including a full Yoga for Grief Program for DoYogaWithMe.com. More on that later…

But for now, I’d like to share a helpful tip from the Yoga for Grief program.

Grief healing is a tricky beast and there is no real ‘cure’ other than moving through it and integrating as you go, but there are things you can do to help. Which brings me to...

The 4 A’s of Grief Healing:

1. Awareness: This means bringing in an awareness of your grief. It means noticing where and how it is affecting you - and doing so with a...

Chances are, if you’re grieving, you’ve heard the saying “you’ve got to feel it to heal it.” The problem is, feeling it can be terrifying.

Last night in my free Facebook group Healing Grief Holistically, I led a meditation class called Relax your Emotional Body that addressed this head on.

We focussed on becoming aware of and allowing our uncomfortable emotions so we could invite in healing.

And, even though I prefaced the meditation by saying it would be a loving and safe experience, participants were still scared. They said things like, “I’m afraid to allow my emotions. I’m afraid if I do, they’ll consume me or cannibalize me.”

I get it. I’ve been there and allowing your emotions can definitely feel scary. Which is why this is even more important.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Carl Jung. It says, “what we resist persists.”  In this context, it means that when we resist...

Hi from Canada - eh! ;)

About a month ago we made a semi-spontaneous decision to spend the summer in my hometown on Vancouver Island. I've been homesick pretty much the entire time we've lived in Santa Barbara and a series of things came together to make it possible, so we just decided to go for it.

I'm beyond happy to be here and settle in for while.

That said, all the change has left me feeling a little overwhelmed and being 'home' has stirred some grief up to the surface.

Cue the grounding exercises.

When I notice myself feeling anxious, overwhelmed or unsettled, my go-to practice is grounding. With this, I’m always amazed at how simple it can be to bring myself back to center.

A few simple things to ground your energy:

• Place your bare feet on the earth. I prefer the grass or sand but in a pinch, even the floor will do (as long as it’s done with intention). 
• Go for a walk in nature. Pay particular attention to your feet as you take each step.
• Take in...