In this week's episode Colette sits down with Valerie Probstfeld, RN, MSN, FNP-BC who is an advocate for moms.

Becoming a mother is a transformative experience, but for Valerie, it was also a profound paradigm shift. In this episode, she shares how her journey into motherhood took an unexpected turn when her first baby had to go to the NICU. Despite preparing and envisioning the motherhood experience, she quickly realized that control was an illusion.

Valerie reflects on the emotional and mental toll of that period, how being referred to as "mom" in the hospital felt both beautiful and identity-altering. She explores the verb "to mom" and how, for her, it became synonymous with love. Through writing and deep reflection, she navigated feelings of trauma, OCD, and the weight of responsibility, eventually finding empowerment in spreading awareness and advocating for other mothers facing similar challenges.

Inspired by her own experiences, Valerie founded To Mom Is to Love (www.tomomistolove.com), a platform dedicated to redefining what it means to be a mother. She emphasizes that mothering is not just a role but an active expression of love, care, and resilience. Through her writing and advocacy, she encourages mothers to embrace both the joys and challenges of motherhood.

As she continues to process her journey, Valerie shares the biggest lesson she learned, while we can't control everything in life, we can always choose love over fear.

Episode Highlights:

03:03 Valerie's Grandmother's smile: the powerful impact it had on her mindset

12:56 Valerie's insight to her performance as a mom and her intentional choice to change generational patterns

18:03 Valerie's to-be-published book: coming together as a community with a growth mindset

22:46 Leading with more love and less fear

Key Takeaways:

- The illusion of control in motherhood and the importance of surrender

- The emotional impact of the NICU experience and identity shifts
- Defining "to mom" as an act of love and resilience
- How advocacy and awareness can help other mothers feel less alone

Connect & Share:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow mom or someone who needs to hear this message. Let's continue the conversation about the emotional journey of motherhood, advocacy, and choosing love over fear.

Get to Know Valerie:

Valerie Probstfeld, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, is a nurse practitioner, writer, flutist, and podcaster. She is the founder of “To Mom is To Love” (tomomistolove.com) a community that encourages mothers to live their verb and promote love as an action. Valerie graduated from Bradley University with degrees in nursing and music. She also received her masters in nursing from Yale University. Valerie has experience in a variety of medical settings including pediatric neurology and primary care.

Website: https://www.tomomistolove.com/

Podcast: https://www.tomomistolove.com/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQhKAdlZP8_tq2-zv3CqhrQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerie_probstfeld/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-probstfeld-23022448/

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

In this powerful episode of Limitless Healing with Colette Brown, Colette welcomes Mariela Dominguez Leandro, a dedicated yoga instructor specializing in yoga for cancer, to explore the profound impact of yoga and breathwork on healing. Having faced her own experience with cancer, she deeply understands the complexities of living with it and is passionate about helping others cultivate strength, resilience, balance, and improved health through yoga. With a deep passion for supporting individuals at every stage of their cancer journey, Mariela shares how mindful movement and conscious breathing can empower the body and mind.

Breathwork plays a crucial role in calming the nervous system, enhancing immune function, and promoting deep relaxation. Mariela explains how specific breathing techniques help reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and increase overall well-being.

Beyond yoga, Mariela is also the heart behind Ostara, a sustainable lifestyle store in St Andrews, Scotland. At Ostara, you’ll find handpicked items that nurture both the body and the planet, all chosen with the same mindfulness Mariela brings to her yoga practice. Her commitment to sustainability and wellness extends beyond the mat, creating a space where people can embrace balance in all aspects of life.

Tune in now to discover the power of yoga, breathwork, and sustainable living for holistic well-being.

Episode Highlights:

02:55 Mariela childhood memories and trajectory of her young adulthood

06:27 Her immersion in Tibetan yoga, Yantra yoga and Tibetan medicine

07:48 Mariela's cancer diagnosis

11:48 Mariela guides us through a breathwork exercise

19:40 Cancer patients feeling disconnected from their bodies

22:07 Kinder gentler fabrics to wear and benefit our worl

26:10 The power of presence and meditation

More about Mariela:

Mariela is the owner of Ostara, an independent shop in St Andrews, Scotland, offering sustainable, ageless fashion and sensory-friendly designs. Originally from Argentina and with Spanish roots, Mariela is also a certified yoga instructor specialising in yoga for cancer and Tibetan yoga. Having faced her own experience with cancer, she deeply understands the complexities of living with it and is passionate about helping others cultivate strength, resilience, balance, and improved health through yoga. As an autistic individual, Mariela brings a unique perspective to wellbeing, promoting inclusivity and mindful living in all that she does. Through her yoga practice and her shop, she is dedicated to creating spaces where people feel empowered, supported, and inspired to embrace life fully.

Mariela's shop website is ostaralife.com - https://ostaralife.com and her yoga website is marielayoga.com -https://marielayoga.com. Please visit both to find out more.

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

In this episode of Limitless Healing, host Colette Brown welcomes Brandon LaGreca, a licensed acupuncturist and expert in traditional Chinese medicine, to share his incredible journey of healing from stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma using an integrative oncology protocol that included immunotherapy.

Brandon dives into the role of environmental toxins, and the emotional factors behind disease, offering practical strategies for detoxification, stress reduction, and strengthening the immune system. He explains how immunotherapy, holistic therapies, and lifestyle changes played a crucial role in his recovery.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking cancer prevention, healing, and optimal wellness.

Episode Highlights:

02:20 Get to know Brandon his exposure to Asian ways and before his cancer diagnosis

06:33 Brandon's diagnosis of non Hodgkin's lymphoma

08:27 Chinese medicine and how everything comes back to being inbalancewith nauture

12:04 Personality types that tend to get cancer

16:35 Stresses if the day carrying over into night making us sick

20:05 Blood sugar regulation steps to balance well being

25:50 The importance of air purification in our world today

27:53 Lifestyle approaches we can all try to be healthier

More about Brandon:

Brandon LaGreca, LAc, MAcOM, grew up on the East Coast of the US and attended
Montclair State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in science with a
minor in religion, summa cum laude. He then moved to the West Coast to fulfill a drea he had from the age of 12 of studying traditional Chinese medicine. He was accepted to the prestigious Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, where he earned a master’s degree in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. His postgraduate work included studying and working at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine in China. After 10 years of private practice, Brandon experienced firsthand the journey of the wounded healer when a series of small bowel obstructions led to hospitalization and diagnosis of stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He achieved remission eight months later following an integrative oncology protocol that included immunotherapy without surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. He now lectures and writes on the epigenetics of cancer and has dedicated his career to empowering patients through and beyond chronic illnesses such as cancer. His latest interests include studying indigenous forms of healing and eco-spirituality.

Publications:

- Cancer and EMF Radiation: How to Protect Yourself From the Silent Carcinogen of Electropollution

- Cancer, Stress & Mindset: Focusing the Mind to Empower Healing and Resilience.

- Cancer, Trauma & Emotions: A Traditional Medicine Path to Spiritual Wholeness

- Empowered Patient Blog

Website: http://BrandonLaGreca.com
Amazon: https://amazon.com/Brandon-LaGreca/e/B07LGB5ZTK
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/brandon-lagre
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18731846.Brandon_LaGreca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpoweredPatientBlog/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brandonlagreca

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette