Category: Conversations

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Sobriety and Healing in the Public Eye – A Conversation with Dancing with the Stars Pro Cheryl Burke

Sobriety and Healing in the Public Eye - A Conversation with Dancing with the Stars Pro Cheryl Burke | CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS

With over twenty-five years of dancing experience and several championship titles under her belt, Emmy nominated professional dancer Cheryl Burke tangoed and sambaed her way into the hearts of millions through the hit ABC television show, “Dancing with the Stars”, becoming champion twice: with Emmitt Smith in season three and Drew Lachey in season two. In addition, she has starred in NBC’s “I Can Do That” in 2016 and became a coach on Lifetime’s “Dance Moms” in 2017. In 2020, Cheryl teamed with Backstreet Boys superstar and former DWTS partner AJ McLean to host the iHeart Radio produced podcast, “Pretty Messed Up”. This past year Cheryl also delved into the fashion world with her loungewear collection with clothing brand Bailey Blue.

This article is an excerpt from Carrie Ann’s March 10th, 2022 Instagram Live conversation with Cheryl Burke. It has been edited for length and clarity.

How many times have you seen a pseudo “wellness tips” Instagram post that implies that all it takes to achieve self-actualization is to drink more water and do some stretches? One of the major themes of the Carrie Ann Conversations: Journey to Wellness series is that healing and achieving wellness takes work. It requires trial and error, and an ongoing commitment to do things that feed into every aspect of our wellbeing – mind, body, and spirit. Cheryl Burke is someone who exemplifies this commitment and doesn’t shy away from sharing her own struggles. She’s an open book, and her conversation with Carrie Ann shed a refreshing light on just what it takes to come to a place of true wellness. We hope you enjoy!

Carrie Ann: So, this show is about wellness, as you know, and giving people the tools to help with their own wellness journey. I know you’ve been very open about your healing process and your whole wellness routine. When did healing become a focus for you?

Cheryl Burke: I would say when my father passed away. That was right when I was engaged, in 2019. And I’ve always been very fascinated with the brain, our intelligence, and how that all works. I’ve been listening to lots of podcasts lately, like, honestly, I don’t even listen to music anymore. I’m really into these yogis, even though I’m not a yogi. I’m not even close. But I love the spiritual world. I was born Catholic, and even though I’m not necessarily religious now, I do believe in in higher power. I think with my sobriety, it forced me to have to believe in that. As I started surrendering to that, then I really started diving in deep.

Carrie Ann: When you say that, you mean like a higher power?

Cheryl Burke: A higher power, God, whatever you want to call it. It’s hard for me to say God, but I know that there is a higher power, higher presence, universe, angels, whatever you want to say.

Carrie Ann: Yeah, I think that’s the beauty of this higher power. I was raised Christian, and so I speak to God all the time. But I’m a little bit more aligned with maybe more Buddhist philosophies.

Cheryl Burke: Yes, same.

Carrie Ann: Or Shintoism, like I believe that everything has a spirit. That’s probably from my Hawaiian background, because we have a very large Japanese population there. I think you and I are both melting pots. What are your nationalities again?

Cheryl Burke: I did 23 and Me less than a year ago, and I didn’t realize that I’m 53% Ashkenazi Jewish. And the rest is Filipina. My dad thought he was Irish and Russian, but he clearly didn’t have any clue.

Carrie Ann: You and I bonded on the fact that we both that we were Asian and Irish. (Laughing) We were like, and we can drink!

Cheryl Burke: (Laughing)Yes! I was proud. I was like, we don’t get red!

Carrie Ann: We can handle it! Cut to now, where I don’t drink. I wouldn’t say I’m completely sober, that I don’t drink at all. I’ll drink on a very, very special occasion. I’ve learned that as you get older, it just wears and tears on your body and it’s not worth it. But you’re sober. How did that happen? I’ve been fascinated with this.

Cheryl Burke: It happened right after my father passed away. So a lot of big life moments. But it was honestly for a vanity reason. I’ve said this before, but it was like as if my subconscious was rejecting poison. I used to be a proud, I would say, functioning alcoholic. Not like I was wasted, but nothing would affect me. I thought the alcohol was what would help me out of my social anxiety. It got me more comfortable. The only time I never had to drink was before I danced. But then I realized the after effects, right? So the after effects of being hungover, or starting to feel really insecure. And I truly believe that alcohol does that to your brain – it really made my thoughts louder and louder. It made me start questioning and made me feel insecure. I’ll never forget Chad Ochocinco’s season. We did a foxtrot, and my thoughts were so loud, saying “you’re going to forget your own choreography”. And I forgot my choreography! I swayed the wrong way and it threw him off completely. And after that moment, I just ended up drinking more to quiet my thoughts.

Then, right before Matt and I got married, I basically broke out into hives. So I tried everything (to keep drinking), believe me. I was like, let me take a shot of fireball. Let me try vodka. Let me try wine. All in one sitting, full out. And my whole face turned red. So I was like, I cannot do that. When I make a decision, I make a decision. And then I quit cold turkey. And I’m not saying that it is right or wrong, and that this is the way for everybody. Because most of the time it’s not, a lot of people go to rehab. It’s one step at a time.

Carrie Ann: Can I ask, do you go to meetings?

Cheryl Burke: Yes. I haven’t lately, so I’m not going to say that I’m religious about it. But I do have a sponsor that I check in with every week, as well as two therapists, and an online course. You know, I’m very excessive. I’m an addict, I will always be an addict. And that is something that I have to work on daily. It’s a daily practice for me.

Carrie Ann: Changing the direction of your focus towards wellness, which is what I’ve also done, makes your life so much better. Then there’s this whole new world! And what I have realized is it actually takes a lot of effort to really find true wellness.

You just mentioned that you have a really big team, right? And I think that’s what I’ve learned through this process – it definitely takes a team. Even if you can’t afford to get a psychotherapist, there’s apps that you can use and so many tangible, accessible ways to get help. Also reaching out to friends, like having one friend that you confess these things to that understands or is further on the journey. So, what kind of team do you have?

Cheryl Burke: Okay, let me go back to what you were saying. So, absolutely, I hear you. And I think the wellness doesn’t ever stop, because I am always a work in progress. I think for me, when I do the up and down roller coaster ride, it’s the down that really is the most important. It’s like the failure is what creates the success, right? So without feeling like crap, without feeling like oh my god, I just want to quit, and realizing that this is a test from the universe. And it’s a test to yourself to see how resilient you are and how we will survive, right? We are stronger than we think we are. I’ve I realized that it’s one minute at a time sometimes. For me, it’s not even just one day at a time, because sometimes that’s overwhelming. It’s one hour at a time. It’s literally just right now, which focuses me to stay present.

As far as my wellness journey goes, I have a therapist, and I’m such a huge advocate for therapy. I understand that not everybody can afford it. But it is important to also not just go to a friend or a family member, you want to go to someone who’s not biased, right? If you’re ready for it. Therapy has been instilled in my body and in my lifestyle because of the time when I got sexually molested as a little girl. My mom made sure I was in therapy right away. And then it was up to me when I moved here to Los Angeles, when I was 22. It was like season four or five that I was like, uh-oh, I definitely need to go and talk to somebody. That was the start of my partying journey. And for me, I love it because I’m a very curious person. Curiosity makes me want to wake up in the morning, because I just really love learning.

There was a moment on “Dancing with the Stars” where I was like, I don’t think I can continue doing this anymore. Because I didn’t feel like I was learning anything, I just felt like I was on autopilot. And there’s nothing worse for me than feeling like I’m stagnant. At the end of the day, I was just craving to learn something. So when we added the Argentine Tango to the show, I went to Argentina, I learned how to tango, and it fed my soul. And now I’m like that with my brain and my intelligence. Just little things, like learning that we’re not our thoughts. I wish I learned that in grade school. There’s a lot of things that I wish we would have learned in school. But anyway, moving to the present moment. It’s fascinating. Continuous growth is what I just yearn for, and I’m so eager to learn.

Carrie Ann: I wonder if it’s because dancers are always in motion, right? We might be more aware when we are feeling stagnant, because we are really tapped into our kinesthetic awareness.

Cheryl Burke: Oh, 100%. Because we feel that we’re very in tune with our bodies, but do we listen to our body? I’m currently doing Somatic Experiencing therapy, and then I’ve got my regular therapist. What Somatic therapy has taught me is to not push through when your body tells you to stop. And that’s what we’re all so good at as dancers – like we sprained an ankle, oh, well. I got another ankle, let’s just keep it moving. Now I’m learning how to feel my feelings. And I know that sounds real basic, but it is basic. And that’s okay. I would rather feel my feelings than not, because I know people that keep their feelings inside. I grew up with an Asian mother, who taught me that vulnerability equaled weakness. It’s not courageous. And it has been definitely an eye opener and scary as shit. It’s been really scary for me to be vulnerable, and to figure out, what does that mean? What does that look like for Cheryl? And trying not to set expectations that are too high, trying not to judge my feelings.

But back to what you were saying about body language. I believe that there’s so many different types of therapy out there – you don’t need to just do talk therapy. You don’t have to sit there in front of a stranger and talk – I understand that some people can’t. A family member of mine, who also got sexually molested by the same man, cannot talk about it. I think there’s animals, there’s movement, and I’m creating a dance program, hopefully launching this year, called Body Language. It combines movement and mental health, which is a real thing that works. I only know from experience, which is why I have a partner who’s a certified therapist that can back it up with science.

Carrie Ann: You know, it’s so true. My first experience of dance was when I was four years old. We ran around in an open air pavilion in Hawaii, and it wasn’t labeled as dance, it was more just expression. Everyone has to move. When you look into the science of it, energy has to move, and our bodies need to express ourselves. I worked with an organization a while ago called Drea’s Dream, and it’s for pediatric cancer movement therapy. It’s really powerful because our body never lies, right? And I think, as a judge, whenever I’m watching, I can learn so much about a person. It informs the critiques that I give to people, because it doesn’t lie. I can tell when somebody’s really tense, I can tell when somebody’s really scared. That’s why I’m always encouraging people to shake it off or to push it far enough that they fall. Once you get past that point, it’s so much easier. Is that a part of the new program that you’re starting with somatic movement?

Cheryl Burke: Yeah, I eventually want all different types or styles of dance. But obviously, I’m an expert in ballroom and I know from firsthand experience that it helped me from when I was sexually abused, to when I was dating abusive men. At the end of the day, the reason why I’m sitting here with you now is because of movement. I cannot discredit that. What I’ve learned so far from Dr. Peter Levine, who started this whole somatic intelligence talk, is that movement helps you shake off trauma. Dr. Levine went to Africa, and long story short, studied the animals and how they shake things off. As it turns out, when they shake it off, they’re actually shaking off trauma so that they don’t continue to keep PTSD in their body. So, Body Language is not going to be about choreography or exercise. It’s literally just bringing out the character of each dance. So we go back and relive that trauma, then we shake it off. And we are intentional about what it is that we want to shake off. For example, if we got into a car accident, and were able to get out of the car and literally shake it off, we would never have to experience the PTSD that most people have experienced. And are still experiencing, myself included.

Carrie Ann: Right, because the muscles contract. I’ve done a little work on this, because I’ve had extreme pain from trauma. When we have traumatic experiences, our body tenses, and then if we don’t release the tension, those neural pathways grow tight. If we start to experience anything similar, or in the range of something similar, we will have the same reaction. So your body will overreact, and that’s the PTSD that you’re talking about. But when you shake it off, you don’t allow those pathways to harden. I think this is going to be so great, it’s going to help a lot of people. People don’t necessarily have to understand with their mind what’s happening. This is another entryway for people who don’t want to talk, right? They don’t want to do talk therapy, they don’t want to use their mind. They just want to absorb it and heal.

(Laughing) They’re not like you and I, who are going to read 97,000 books.

Cheryl Burke: And overanalyze it all and take notes.

Who else is excited to try Cheryl’s somatic movement Therapy class when it’s available? She has come up with such a fun, creative concept that opens the door to new healing modalities. The journey to wellness isn’t one size fits all, and that is why we like to highlight many approaches here at CAC. Healing is personal, and sometimes traditional methods may not work for you. Maybe movement therapy is just the thing you’ve been missing! Let us know what you think in the comments, and if anything in particular from this conversation resonated with you.

To watch Carrie Ann’s full interview with Cheryl, click here.

For more information on Cheryl and her loungewear line, follow the links below:

Instagram: @cherylburke

Twitter: @CherylBurke

Cheryl’s Website

Cheryl’s YouTube channel

Cheryl’s favorite hobby – diamond painting!

Her loungewear collection with Bailey Blue

Cheryl’s book

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How Giving Back Lights Us Up – A Conversation with Torch’d Creator and Fitness Guru Isaac Boots

How Giving Back Lights Us Up - A Conversation with Torch'd Creator and Celebrity Trainer Isaac Boots

Born and raised in Hawaii, Isaac is a celebrity trainer, choreographer and Broadway dancer with a long list of credits to his name. While using his experience crafting routines on the main stages of the pop music world and training artists to sculpt their bodies in preparation for their demanding projects, Isaac created TORCH’D, a sustainable workout that burns fat, builds stamina and achieves visible results. Celebrities such as KELLY RIPA, VANESSA HUDGENS, LISA RINNA, JESSICA CHASTAIN, GWYNETH PALTROW, NAOMI WATTS, FAYE DUNAWAY, and LUCY LIU are just a few longtime devotees of TORCH’D and are never hesitant to give Isaac credit for their superb form and increased energy. In March of 2020, as a result of the pandemic lockdown, Isaac offered his TORCH’D classes everyday for free for the first time on Instagram (@isaacboots) and in just a short time Isaac’s workouts became one of the most followed fitness classes around the world. Not wanting to charge a fee for access to the classes during the pandemic, Isaac instead asked his followers to donate what they could to No Kid Hungry, the charity known for providing millions of meals to kids in need. The request was heartfelt and personal. Isaac, from extremely modest means, grew up on food stamps and was challenged by the stigma associated with it. Astonishingly, after just seven months, Isaac’s effort raised over $1 million for No Kid Hungry, thereby making him the single, largest, individual fundraiser in the organization’s history.

This article is an excerpt from Carrie Ann’s February 24th, 2022 Instagram Live conversation with Isaac Boots. It has been edited for length and clarity.

According to a 2006 study, the National Institutes of Health found that “when people give to charities, it activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a “warm glow” effect”. To put it simply, giving back makes you happy! This phenomena is especially exemplified in our guest Isaac Boots. He radiates warmth and generosity, and uses his platform raise awareness and funds for amazing causes. The butterfly effect was aptly mentioned in this interview, and that’s the perfect way to describe Isaac’s contributions to the world! Take any of his high-energy, crazy-fun workout classes, and you won’t be able resist forking over cash to one of the charities Isaac is so passionate about. Endorphins + giving = pure happiness. In the past two years, Isaac has helped raise $2 million for No Kid Hungry, and it’s easy to see why. We hope you enjoy this interview and getting to know the human butterfly that is Isaac!

Carrie Ann: A lot of people think oh, working out is too much for me to do, I can’t do it. How do we stop the excuses?

Isaac Boots: Everyone has at least a few minutes a day. Period. Do a little bit. What we just did for 10 minutes, it’s not that much, but it’s effective. It works. If you do it every day, you see results and you feel results. That’s why I wanted to create something that had no excuses. You can do it anywhere. And just because I offer a 45 minute workout, that doesn’t mean you have to kill yourself and do the whole thing. Do a little bit. Take a break and come back.

Carrie Ann: You’re at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach doing Torch’d workouts in person. How’s that going? (This interview is from Feb. 24th, 2022. Check Isaac’s website for his updated schedule)

Isaac Boots: It’s going crazy. It’s a really, really beautiful community here. A lot of my people from New York and the Hamptons have a house here – they’re here in the winter. So it’s kind of cool. It’s packed. I just did a collaboration with Michael Kors, who came down and did a fashion show. We raised a lot of money for Childhood USA, which helps stop child sex trafficking. It’s a real problem and a real thing. So, Michael and I raised about 50k for that the other day, and it’s been great.

Carrie Ann: I’m so proud of you. This is what’s so spectacular about you. First of all, I’m a fan. When everybody went into lockdown, and everyone was lost and didn’t know where to go – and this goes back to what you were just saying about being able to do Torch’d anywhere – YOU KEPT GOING. You did Torch’d from Instagram, for free. Which, by the way, for all of you who don’t know, you can do any of these workouts – he’s got millions of them and they’re all fantastic. Not only did you keep going by doing your Torch’d workouts, but you encouraged people to donate to No Kid Hungry. And now you’re raising money for Childhood USA.

Isaac Boots: Yes, it’s cool because it was founded by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, and it’s actually World Childhood Foundation. The US faction is Childhood USA. I don’t know if anybody knows, but the numbers and rates of child sex trafficking have tripled in the past few years in the US. In every neighborhood, even affluent neighborhoods. It’s in your backyard, and it’s children. So in the last few years we’ve raised nearly $2 million for hungry kids, and now I feel I need to protect them. That’s a real issue, and has been a real passion.

Carrie Ann: Where does that passion come from? You’ve raised nearly $2 million for No Kid Hungry and now you’re going to probably raise more for Childhood USA, because I just know how passionate you are. Where does all this passion come from?

Isaac Boots: I think there’s something to be said for growing up in Hawaii. There’s a sense of community, there’s a sense of giving back. There’s a sense of being grateful for what you eat, for what you take, for what you fish. I had a really tough childhood, I grew up really, really poor. My grandmother was a real big source of light, she was like, the most magnificent Hawaiian mama that everybody just loved. She taught me that you have to have gratitude, and the way to really have it is to be aware of the underdog. And there’s nothing more innocent than a child. And particularly with this new initiative, I think it’s uncomfortable for people to talk about. But people need to talk about it, because it’s not happening somewhere else, it’s actually here. So my husband Jeffrey and I are co-chairs of the Childhood USA Gala, which is happening in May. We’re honoring Ricky Martin, actually, because he’s done a lot of work for this. So raising awareness, raising coins, and finding tactics to really fight it. People can also go to childhood-usa.org to learn more.

Carrie Ann: Everybody go check that out! You know, you were talking briefly about Ohana, that spirit from Hawaii that we both have. When you grow up in Hawaii, there’s a sense of community and it’s not separate from yourself. It’s a part of you. We believe that all things are connected. In this series, Carrie Ann Conversations: Journey to Wellness, we often talk about wellness and how the first step is being aware. You were just mentioning awareness about what’s going on in the world, even though some of us want to turn a blind eye because we don’t have time or whatever it is. But we have to be aware of what’s happening in our own backyard in order for us to heal. The world needs healing.

Isaac Boots: Yeah, you know I’m thinking of what’s going on in the Ukraine now every second. You feel a sense of helplessness, like what do I do? How can I help? I just think that it’s the little actions, it’s talking about it, it’s voting, it’s showing up. Making your voice heard. You may feel like you’re powerless, but it’s not true. It’s not true. We all have the capacity to make change, even if it’s in small, small ways. You know, I read something by Ruth Rosenberg, who is my Kabbalah teacher. She posted something on Instagram and all it said was “let someone go in front of you in the line at the grocery store”. I just thought that was so profound. It seems so simple, but it’s those little things. It’s like a butterfly effect for how you treat yourself and how you talk to other people.

Carrie Ann: Because other people in this world are an extension of you, aren’t they? Some people feel that wellness is a luxury for those who have more money, or have more time or freedom. But the truth is, as you so beautifully pointed out, that you can do good in this world just within your little sphere. I think that when you do good like that, you then feel a little bit bigger and brighter. You’re that ripple, and it keeps going. And your ripple, my friend, has been one of the most beautiful things that I’ve experienced during this pandemic. Whenever I felt lost, I want you to know that I watched you. I was just thinking about the time you did the live with Kelly Ripa and she was sliding all over the floor, and she had Mark set up the lights, and it all just went so terribly. Like quote unquote wrong, but it was the most beautiful thing to me! It was so uplifting, and you raised so much money!

Isaac Boots: I think you can attest to this because you’re good friends with her as well, but Kelly Ripa is like the most down to earth, most real girl. Those are the kinds of people that you want to surround yourself with, and encourage other people to be like. Just go with the flow, be vulnerable, be ridiculous, and take time out of your day to do something good. Something outside of yourself. We can all get caught up, especially in this industry. How are my numbers, how can I get more, I need a contract, I need a new deal. Why did he get that and why didn’t I? It’s a mess. It’s noise. It doesn’t matter. You’re going to get what you’re meant to get anyway. So I always say I don’t have competition, and I don’t say that arrogantly. I don’t have competition because I cannot compete, and no one else can be me. There’s room for everyone to succeed. Janet Jackson is a queen. And that didn’t take away from Madonna. And that didn’t take away from Mariah. They were all queens. Rihanna, Gaga, Beyonce, they’re all different and they’re all amazing. So when you get caught up in that, which a lot of people do, it’s all a lie anyway. It’s an illusion.

Carrie Ann: I’ve watched your fame, and your star has grown very quickly and very brightly – which is well deserved. But, I was wondering if you ever feel pressure? How have you dealt with it? Are you able to just have that thought in your head at all times, or do you slip every once in a while? And when you do, how do you pull it back? I think all people slip once in a while.

Isaac Boots: Yeah, that’s a great question. I have a daily practice of reminding myself of what’s important, and what’s really helped me is to always have the main purpose of my day be whatever charitable initiative I’m working on. It is like 100%, it’s in every conversation, in every email. Then it takes it out of just the desire to receive for myself alone, and I actually tend to magnetize more than you can imagine. When I get caught up in the noise of what other people say around me, I catch myself quick, and I just smile. And I say it is what it is. You know, that’s meant for her, that’s meant for him, and that’s amazing. I am where I am for a reason, and I feel lucky and fortunate to be. That’s the real wellness, that self-talk.

Carrie Ann: Yes, during the course of this whole series, not one of my guests has not mentioned self-talk. Negative self-talk is the poison that we must avoid. It can come from so many different directions and it affects the way we think about ourselves. I’m fascinated by the fact that the way that you’re able to help your self-talk stay positive is through the contribution aspect of life. I thought for sure it might be the physical aspect, because I know that you helped a lot of us get into our physical bodies during lockdown. But I love that your motivation is even deeper than that. I do believe that contribution and taking care of others is one of the most important things in life.

Isaac Boots: That’s why I showed up. When I do a workout, I’m putting in the action that hopefully results in someone donating to the link in my bio. That’s 30 minutes of my time, of keeping my body together, that can help a kid. When I was a kid, $5 was a lot. And now thankfully it isn’t. But I remember him.

Carrie Ann: He’s mentioning $5 because when this started he would be telling us all “It’s just $5! It’s a coffee! You can do it!” during the workouts. And you know what? I watched those numbers grow, and I saw people that maybe didn’t think of themselves as somebody who could contribute in that way do it. And in turn, you gave them the gift of the self-esteem that comes along with giving back.

Isaac Boots: And, just to go back to the physical part, as a dancer and a performer…I have to move. So I don’t think of it as working out, it’s just going back to the studio and keeping it tight. But there are so many people that didn’t work out before, or never worked out a day in their life, that started with Torch’d. Maybe they were embarrassed to go to a gym, or embarrassed to go to class. But now they were home and just sort of able to partake and have a laugh. These people have changed their bodies physically too, which to me is a perk. That’s the cherry on top. The real reward is that they’ve changed their self-talk to something more positive.

Carrie Ann: I just want to talk really quickly about your background. There’s so many people that follow you that are from the dance world. I think dancers, as I think most human beings are, are incredible. And they’re not really fully recognized for their beauty and their talent. From your career as a dancer, what is it that you think you learned as a dancer to help you to get to where you are now?

Isaac Boots: Well, first of all, you were a huge inspiration for me as a kid. Madonna, to me as a child, was very important for many reasons. She was the first person to really be a champion for people like me. I was born in ’80, so people were not really talking about being gay. I grew up in a very conservative Catholic home, but Madonna was talking about all these issues, and she was glamorous and fabulous. I couldn’t afford dance class though, so I learned how to dance, really, from watching her videos over and over again. When you did The Girlie Show in ‘93, I was 12 and I remember learning that a fellow Hawaiian was dancing with the queen. I was like, oh my god, this can happen. It was transformative for me, because as you know, being in Hawaii felt very isolating, particularly at that time. Especially if you didn’t have any money, it was like, well, good luck. And to see you up there, it was on HBO I’ll never forget, opening the show, I was like, oh my God, she’s amazing.

How Giving Back Lights Us Up - A Conversation with Torch'd Creator and Celebrity Trainer Isaac Boots | CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS
Carrie Ann with Madonna and dancers from The Girlie Show, 1993. Click here to purchase the full concert video on Amazon.

Carrie Ann: That was an amazing job for me too, because I got to work with my idol. Thank you for saying that, it touches me to know that. It baffles my brain to know that I have had a little bit of an effect on your life. I watch you and I’m so impressed with you all the time. But in the same way maybe this Hawaiian girl gave you a little hope to pursue your dreams, you are giving so many people hope. People of all different classes, colors, creeds, genders. I think you represent so many people, and are inspiring so many people. As a fellow sister from Hawaii, I just want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all that you’ve done. You are a spectacular human being, I love you so much.

For the full interview with Isaac, click here!

We hope that something in this interview resonates with you, and would love to hear about it in the comments below! For everyone who wants to know more about Isaac, you can follow him on Instagram or visit his website. And if you’re in the mood for a sweat session, all of his free Torch’d classes are on Instagram! If you’re in Florida and would like to take a class in person, he’s currently at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach and anyone can sign up for classes! Go to isaacboots.com for more information and to book.

If you want to get involved in his initiative to end child sex trafficking, go to childhood-usa.org.  

For more information on Torch’d and how to get involved in Isaac’s latest charitable project, Childhood USA, follow the links below:

Instagram: @isaacboots

Torch’d

Childhood-usa.org

Torch’d @ The Colony Hotel

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Fran Drescher’s 6 Simple Tips for Detoxing Your Home

Fran Drescher's 6 Simple Tips for Detoxing Your Home | CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS

Fran Drescher has a reputation for passion and commitment. She received two Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal as the lovable “MissFine” on CBS’s hit series,The Nanny, which she both created and executive produced. She also created, executive produced and starred in the groundbreaking TV Land sitcom,Happily Divorced, which was inspired by her real-life relationship with her gay ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson. Fran recently starred in the new NBC sitcom,Indebted, about a Baby Boomer couple who go broke and have to move in with their adult son and his young family. She has worked with many great directors in films such as Rob Reiner’s This is Spinal Tap, to which Fran won Esquire Magazine’s One Minute Oscar, Milos Forman’s Ragtime, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Jack. She also starred in Beautician and the Beast opposite Timothy Dalton. Her famous voice is currently featured in the top-grossing SONY animated feature franchise film,Hotel Transylvania: In her role as Eunice, the wife of Frank Stein. In 2019, Fran starred in two indie films,The Creatress and After Class. She currently serves as the president of SAG-AFTRA.

An accomplished author, Fran received the prestigious NCCS writer’s award for Cancer Schmancer, which, along with Enter Whining, were New York Times Best Sellers. She also penned the celebrated children’s book, Being Wendy. Furthermore, Fran made her Broadway debut as “Madame” in Rodgers +Hammerstein’s Tony-Award winning Cinderella. Fran is a 20+-year cancer survivor and founder of the Cancer Schmancer Movement; dedicated to educating, motivating, and activating patients into medical consumers by connecting lifestyle to disease with her Master Class Health Summit and teen-targeted education video, Be The Change, starring Jamie Foxx.

This article is an excerpt from my Feb. 10th, 2022 Instagram Live conversation with Fran Drescher. The interview has been edited for clarity and format. To watch the full video, click here.

The home is a sanctuary, a place where we feel safe and at peace. Many of us focus solely on the look of our homes, tailoring them to reflect our personalities and energies. It’s helpful to have our living spaces project exactly how we want to feel inside them, but there’s a component missing to that equation. As important as it is to carefully construct a comfortable space, it is equally important to be mindful of the products we use in our homes. Some chemicals found in everyday products can be harmful to us and exacerbate or cause health issues. This is completely in opposition to the idea of creating a safe, peaceful environment to live in. So, how do we know which products are harmful? How can we start becoming more mindful about the products we use? I caught up with self-taught expert and all around wonderful human, Fran Drescher, to give you the answers. Fran is a cancer survivor and has made it her personal mission to not only advocate for safer products, but teach people how they can lead a more natural life. Fran is the definition of walking the walk, and I’m so grateful to her for sharing these tips.

The products mentioned in this article are suggestions from the Carrie Ann Conversations team based on Fran’s advice.

Switch to aluminum free deodorant and limit use of aluminum foil

“It should not have aluminum in it. I have found that people with brain diseases like Alzheimer’s have tremendous amounts of aluminum in their body. I actually don’t use aluminum foil to cook anymore, because it gives off noxious fumes that are not healthy. You have to line it with parchment paper if you need to use it, but I don’t. I grew up with my dad barbecuing and wrapping up big potatoes and corn on the cob in foil. But he has Parkinson’s, and a lot of his friends have dementia. And that’s actually not normal. It’s not something that comes with age, it comes with an environmental exposure”.

Turn off your WiFi and electronics periodically  

“I installed as an on off switch next to my bed. The last thing I do is turn off the WiFi. I can sleep all night without those electromagnetic fields buzzing around my head and discombobulating my natural energy field, which is in perfect harmony with the earth’s energy fields”.

Buy organic

“The food in my house is always organic. I realize that organic can be more expensive, though it’s readily available at Costco or Walmart. But I would rather have an organic chicken once a week and eat vegetarian, stuff like rice and beans, the rest of the week”.

Find non-toxic candles or use essential oil diffusers

“Don’t use anything that has long lasting smells. I see these commercials. I don’t want to name names but they show people spraying the carpet and spraying the couches right next to the family dog. They’re saying this cleans the air and clears the air. That’s BS. It’s full of phthalates, which mask the air. The more you expose yourself to products that have smells to them, the more you’re asking for a lot of problems including bladder cancer. When I’m in an Uber or something and they’ve got that pine thing hanging from the rearview mirror, I ask them to put it in the glove compartment. I can’t even smell it. It’s so horrible. Once you detach yourself, you won’t be able to use things like that, or candles. Or plugin room deodorizers, or sprays for your furniture. You won’t be able to put those things in your laundry that are supposed to make it smell like springtime. It’s all it’s all carcinogens and toxins. It’s eroding your immune system, and aiding and abetting in your getting ill”.

Make your own natural cleaning solution

“We refill plastic bottles that were once filled with Seven Generation – which is eco-friendly – with white vinegar and peppermint essential oil. Peppermint oil is antibacterial. You can also use alcohol with peppermint essential oil. Or do lemon and water. Tea tree oil is good too; it’s anti-bacterial. And baking soda. You can use it for scrubbing if you mix it with a little bit of water and lemon juice. And it’s so much cheaper, that way you can make up for paying a little extra for organic food. You can reduce your expenses by not buying all of this stuff”.

Switch to a natural, non-toxic toothpaste

“If you’re still using a toothpaste that says on the back “do not swallow”, or “call poison control”, you’ve got to walk away from that toothpaste. How counterintuitive is it that I’m brushing my teeth every day, and they’re saying that it has chemicals in it that are toxic? I use a toothpaste that actually has prebiotics in it to help support the microbiome in my mouth. We have to start thinking about that and realizing that the mouth is connected to the whole body. It’s not a separate anomaly. The mouth is the beginning of your digestive system and the gateway to disease”.

Click here for Fran’s favorite toothpaste. You can use code CS2020 for 10% off!

As you can see, Fran has so much knowledge from personal experience and the extensive research she’s done. She is such a bright light in this world and is working to change the way we approach health and wellness. If you would like to take a deeper dive into detoxing your home or learn about the Cancer Schmancer movement, please visit her website! Be kind and stay well.

For more information on Fran Drescher and her work, visit the links below:

Cancer Schmancer Movement

Her book, Cancer Schmancer

Her Instagram, @officalfrandrescher

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What’s the Deal with Intermittent Fasting? Uncovering the Mystery with Personal Trainer Michelle Lovitt

Michelle is the author of Exercise For Your Muscle Type: the Smart Way to Get Fit and creator of Prevention Magazine’s ULTIMATE FLAT BELLY DVD series. She currently runs Lovitfitness, a Beverly Hills based training company that is known for getting clients in remarkable shape. Her background in Exercise Physiology is why her methodology and results reside in heart rate based training. Michelle’s signature training method, Train Smarter Not Harder, gives her clients educational tools that help them understand their bodies, lose body fat, get stronger, stay motivated and enjoy a better quality of life. She has a loyal following and a reputation for getting her clients in remarkable shape.

What is intermittent fasting? Is it safe to do, or another dangerous diet fad? It’s become such a hot topic over the last few years, and the word fasting can intimidate a lot of people. But what does fasting actually mean in this context? As it turns out there are a lot of misconceptions about intermittent fasting and its intensity. I asked my friend and personal trainer Michelle Lovitt for all of the answers, and she delivered! Get the details on intermittent fasting and how to make it work for you and your lifestyle in our conversation below. And of course, please consult your doctor before making changes to your diet or fitness routine.

This is an excerpt from my Instagram Live conversation with Michelle Lovitt on Feb. 3, 2022. It has been edited for length and clarity. For our full conversation, click here.

Carrie Ann: Joining me today is someone who knows a lot about fitness. She’s incredible. She’s a personal trainer to stars like Courtney Cox, Alicia Vikander, Amber Valletta, plus many more. And I’m going to include me in that list, even though I don’t really think of myself as a star. She’s also a nutrition coach, an author, and basically a physical health guru. She is amazing. Okay, Michelle, I’m going to ask you this right off the bat. It’s a hot topic, people are wanting to know about it. What is intermittent fasting and does it work?

Michelle Lovitt: Intermittent fasting has been around forever. It’s what our ancestors used to do when they were out chasing down buffalo and bears. It is basically timed eating, rather than eating throughout the day, having a set time that you eat. Whether it’s 7 to 7, 10 to 6, there are different fasting levels. But fasting is so important and so good for your body because it actually reduces cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone in your body. Because it’s not being fed constant fuel, whether it be carbohydrates, protein, or fat, it’s actually utilizing stored body fat through these random crazy processes. You know me and my big words – gluconeogenesis. This process is breaking down body fat and little amino acids from protein for energy sources. It actually helps clear brain fog, and helps us lose body fat more efficiently, more effectively. There are different apps that keep you timely with it, so that when that buzzer goes off, you know your eating is done until the next period or the next day. So it really helps keep you accountable. And it always reminds you to drink water, which is a huge, huge thing as well. So intermittent fasting and hydration go a long way and they go together, hand in hand.

Carrie Ann: Oh, I love that. You know, I never even thought about intermittent fasting and then making sure that you’re getting enough hydration along the way. And I just want to ask you – can you work out when you’re fasting?

Michelle Lovitt: What you don’t want to do is do like a high intensity interval training type of workout. Because when you are in a fasted state your body is basically out of glucose. Your body can store two and a half hours’ worth of energy coming from glucose, which is called glycogen – that’s what your muscles hold onto. So once that glycogen is gone, your body will go into body fat and muscle tissue. So if you are doing high intensity interval training, or really hard workouts, your body doesn’t have the fuel from sugar, so it’s going to go into breaking down muscle tissue. So if you want to build those big, big, strong muscles, you’re not going to be able to do that. But if you want to lose body fat, you can do more of an aerobic, slower intensity type of workout and get amazing results with that.

Carrie Ann: Oh, that’s amazing.

Michelle Lovitt: You don’t have to get out of breath either, so you can actually talk to your friends. So it’s good.

Carrie Ann: So how long is the time period, I just want to make sure everybody understands what intermittent fasting is. How long of a time period is recommended if you’re going to do it?

Michelle Lovitt: Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. But some people can go with a 20 hour fast and only a 4 hour eating period, which is, it’s insane. It’s crazy for a lot of people. But that works for some people. What I have found in working with my clients, and seeing and reading different researchers’ reports, is that 18 / 6 is usually something that’s doable for people. Or 16 / 8. So if you go 16 hours without eating, and you eat for 8 hours, that’s basically eating from 10 o’clock in the morning until 6 o’clock in the afternoon. And I don’t mean eating, like, oh my god, I only get eight hours to eat, so I’m gonna eat everything. Make healthy choices, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and hydrate. That also helps with the feelings of being hungry and all of that. It’s a quick way to lose body fat, and maintain muscle mass. And it’s not hard to do. Mentally it is, until you’ve done it for a couple of days. And then you’re like, oh, it’s not that bad. I actually feel better. I’m actually thinking clearer. I think everybody should give it a go, give it a try once and see if you like it.

Carrie Ann: You know, I’ve been doing it, and I like it. It’s made a big difference. It was kind of scary when you said 18 / 6. Because I’m like, what does that mean? It sounds very intimidating. But when you start to think about it, or 16 / 8, I actually like that version better, then you can eat during normal hours. And it’s not that intimidating. I think it’s just a scary idea, the word fasting makes it sound intimidating. But it sounds like a great way and it’s been working.

Michelle: My sister tried it, and I gave her an app to follow. And she was like when the app binged I knew I couldn’t have food anymore, but I would get up and still go look in the refrigerator. She said the only difference is that when she opened the refrigerator, she knew she couldn’t take anything out of it. Whereas before it was just mindless, you just take something out and eat it. And your body doesn’t need that many calories, especially if you’re not getting out and being active.

So what do you think? Is intermittent fasting for you? Leave a comment below if you learned something new or want more videos and articles with Michelle! You can view our full conversation on my Instagram pages, @carrieanninaba @carrieannconversations for more on all things fitness and even a live demonstration of some core strengthening moves. Be kind and stay well!

For more information on Michelle and her training techniques, follow the links below:

michellelovitt.com

Instagram Accounts:

@mllovitt

@lovitfitness

Her book

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How to Begin Working Out – A Conversation with Personal Trainer Michelle Lovitt

How to Begin Working Out - A Conversation with Personal Trainer Michelle Lovitt | CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS

Michelle is the author of Exercise For Your Muscle Type: the Smart Way to Get Fit and creator of Prevention Magazine’s ULTIMATE FLAT BELLY DVD series. She currently runs Lovitfitness, a Beverly Hills based training company that is known for getting clients in remarkable shape. Her background in Exercise Physiology is why her methodology and results reside in heart rate based training. Michelle’s signature training method, Train Smarter Not Harder, gives her clients educational tools that help them understand their bodies, lose body fat, get stronger, stay motivated and enjoy a better quality of life. She has a loyal following and a reputation for getting her clients in remarkable shape.

This is an excerpt of my Instagram Live conversation from Feb. 3, 2022 with Michelle Lovitt. It has been edited for length and clarity. For our full conversation, click here.

Starting your physical health journey can be daunting, especially when the fitness industry seems to encourage intense workouts that are not realistic for the beginner. Even for the advanced person, the industry can elicit a cycle of guilt for not doing enough or not pushing past your limits. In this conversation with my personal trainer, Michelle Lovitt, we discuss the right way to start exercising and how to set expectations. We also talk about how Michelle and I worked together to create a fitness routine that helped me transform my body without triggering flare ups of my autoimmune conditions. She has such a wealth of knowledge and I’m so excited to share this conversation with you!

Carrie Ann: So I just want to start talking about your philosophy and your background. You were the first ever female strength and conditioning coach at three different universities – Fresno State, Notre Dame, and USC. So that’s big guns, my friend. How has that shaped your philosophy on fitness and how you train clients today?

Michelle Lovitt: It’s interesting because when I started at 22 – which is kind of scary thing to say that I started in that business 30 years ago – what I knew then to what I know now, there’s such a huge difference. Sports science and nutrition evolve every day. And that’s why I love what I do so much, because it’s always a continual learning process. And hopefully everyone in my field continues with the learning process as well, because no one knows everything about everything. So it’s always fun to learn from other people.

But what I’ve learned working with athletes – and then working with people who have had hip surgery, or somebody that is wanting to get in shape for the first time in their life, they’re going through menopause, they’re 40 and they’ve never done anything – those challenges and educating people have become my passion in life rather than just getting someone to run 100 meters fast. I appreciate the speed. I appreciate athleticism, but for me, it’s all about education and really teaching people that fitness and nutrition are doable. Even if you do it for 3 minutes a day, or you read about different things. Just keep yourself informed on what things could be good for your body, because you’re one person, you’re not like everyone else. And I think that’s really important for people to understand that when they look at those 22 or 52 year old fitness models on magazines, that they’re one person, you’re another person, and you have to work with what you have. And don’t be intimidated by that.

Carrie Ann: We have a question from a viewer – “I’m 62, how can I start working out?”

Michelle Lovitt: Oh, my gosh, I work with 85 year old’s that have never worked out in their life! And they are so fit and so happy because they never thought they could. Their doctor suggested it to them and then they’re like, “oh, maybe I should, what does that mean?”. And I’ve learned more from them then they’ve probably learned from me because they’re the most interesting people I work with. Because of the history and the knowledge base that they have acquired over the years. But 62, come on, 82, 92, and 102. I encourage everyone to work out.

Carrie Ann: Speaking of 62, I’m 54. And when you started working out with me, that was about just a few years ago that we started working out together, I was in a state of really being unable to do anything. I had been in chronic pain, and the pain was pretty much unbearable at the time. I have autoimmune conditions, which meant I was susceptible to flare ups. And every time I would start a workout routine, I would fall back into not being able to work out because I would hurt myself. And then we started working out together. In the beginning we would work out, and then we had to adjust. And adjust again. And after a while we found our way. There’s a lot of people in the 50s out there. So how is working out with someone like me different than working out with an athlete?

Michelle Lovitt: Oh my gosh, they’re similar and they’re very different. Because training an athlete is like fine tuning a Ferrari. But you were an athlete your whole life because you were a dancer. The trick with you versus working with somebody who is coming from a completely non-compromised state, it’s not that I can’t push them a little bit and know that they’re going to be sore, but I can’t cause a flare that sets that person back for three or four days. That’s the difference. I know that muscle soreness, when somebody who is healthy and doesn’t have any autoimmune issues, is okay. What we discovered together is that your soreness was different. Because if we pushed you past a certain level, you would have a flare in one of your joints. You had an injury in your right trap and your right shoulder from when you were dancing that would always cause a flare, and because of that we had to watch everything so closely. And then because you are a dancer and the moves are so beautiful, that was also tough for me at first because I would watch them go “oh, that’s a beautiful squat, that’s a beautiful shoulder fly”. And then go “wait a minute, that’s really going to hurt her because she’s extending her shoulder right out of the joint”. So making modifications with you was a constant, day to day thing. And just really understanding that some things that would cause an issue with you may not cause an issue with somebody else. I went in with kid gloves so we could figure it out, and it took a little while to do it. But we did find out that your body was born to move, it loves to move.

Carrie Ann: My body does love to move. But you know, I really do believe that everyone’s body loves to move but some of us are struggling, right? And then what happens is we get in these places where we’re afraid. We’ve been trained to think, either by society, by our parents, or the voices in our own head that we can’t move. And then we kind of get stuck in this place where we’re frozen and we can’t get started. So I want to ask about motivation. There’s just so many reasons why you could lack motivation. So, for people who are unsure how to get started, what would you say to them?

Michelle Lovitt: Well, the first thing is that you’re right, everybody can move. I think a lot of people have been taught that if you move – I’m going to refer to women in general – you’re going to get bulky, you’re going to get big muscles, you’re not going to be attractive, you’re going to be this, you’re going to be that. Women can’t develop muscle like men, they just can’t. They can get strong and beautiful and lean, but they will never get big and bulky. So get that out of your head to begin with. And then, thinking about the benefits of exercise, if feels good just putting on your shoes and going “okay, I’m going to get out and maybe I’ll walk to the end of the driveway and back because there’s a blizzard on the East Coast. And that’s as far as I can go today”. But you did it. So that’s a huge accomplishment because you did move your body. It’s not about the quantity of exercise, it’s about the quality of exercise. And really understanding how you should start and where you should start is key. That could be just starting with little movements like pulling in your core, for example. Little things make a big difference.

Carrie Ann: This is what was so shocking and so different about you and your approach, and what has helped me so much is that you were open to going slowly. You know, most trainers say “no pain, no gain”, right? But what I’ve learned is these intense mantras can be unhealthy. You have to listen to your body, you have to honor where you are. And yes, there’s a little bit of pushing past your finish line, but that’s for growth, and not to the point where you hurt yourself. And you’ve been so great at helping me understand that. And I thought that was so impressive, it’s really helped me get back to my own physical fitness.

Michelle Lovitt: The one thing that people need to really think about is that this is the only thing that you have going through this earth. You have your body and that’s it. So take care of it and don’t do bad things. I believe everything in moderation and being kind to yourself, and not berating yourself for doing these things that the fitness industry puts out there. Like you need to work out for 60 minutes at 70% or 300%. I think that’s hard to understand. Because this is what I’m supposed to do, this is what they say, I read this magazine. And there’s so much misinformation out there that I think it’s about doing your homework and figuring out what works best for you, not everyone else.

I truly believe that if you’re just starting a fitness program, buy a heart rate monitor. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be $20 at Walmart, Kmart, Amazon, any of those. Wear it and see what your heart does. When you start to walk, if your heart rate shoots straight up and stays elevated for a while, then you don’t want to go a long period of time. You want to do a couple minutes a day and add on. As your heart gets stronger, it doesn’t shoot up as fast. So just knowing what you’re doing for a workout and having a map. You wouldn’t drive to your friend’s house in the suburbs that you’ve never been to with a blindfold on. And that’s what it’s like without knowing what you’re doing for exercise and knowing truly what it means to burn 200 calories when you’re walking on a treadmill. That gives you meaning to your workouts. I think that having something to quantify what you’re doing is everything.

Carrie Ann: That’s huge. You know, in the original episode of Carrie Ann Conversations, we spoke to Dr. Amen, who’s a psychiatrist and brain expert. And he talked about how psychiatrists do a lot of work without actually seeing the brain. So kind of like what you’re saying is a lot of trainers just start training you without heart rate monitors. And they don’t even know what your level of where you’re actually burning fat is. For a beginner, if they buy a heart rate monitor, what range should they try to get into where they’re burning fat?

Michelle Lovitt: You know, it’s tricky because it’s age dependent. But for women to find out what their maximum heart rate is, or find the zone that they should be in, there’s a simple equation. 220 minus your age and then take 50% or 75% of that number. And that’s how high you should get your heart rate. And I’m being very simplistic what that.

Carrie Ann: Can you repeat that?

Michelle Lovitt: Take the number 220, subtract your age from it, and half of that number would be close to where you want to be. But you know, the best check of your heart rate is if you can carry on a conversation.

Carrie Ann: And that means you’re still in a good, safe heart rate.

Michelle Lovitt: If you’re out of breath, you’re working too hard.

Carrie Ann: That’s helpful. We’re all talking to ourselves during the pandemic. So just keep talking to yourself and when you can’t talk to yourself anymore, you’re gone too far past your heartrate.

Michelle Lovitt: I think the funniest thing with some of my clients is that they say getting in shape with Michelle is hysterical, because you just go in there and talk, you’re working out, you don’t even know you’re doing, and then you leave and all of a sudden two weeks later you’re fit.  

To view our full conversation, head over to my Instagram pages @carrieanninaba @carrieannconversations! Michelle has so much information on all things fitness and our live conversation was filled with helpful information. Leave a comment below if you learned something new or want to hear more from Michelle! Be kind and stay well.

For more information on Michelle and her training techniques, follow the links below:

michellelovitt.com

Instagram Accounts:

@mllovitt

@lovitfitness

Her book – Exercise Your Muscle Type

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Getting to the Core of It – Simple Core Exercises with Personal Trainer Michelle Lovitt

Michelle is the author of Exercise For Your Muscle Type: the Smart Way to Get Fit and creator of Prevention Magazine’s ULTIMATE FLAT BELLY DVD series. She currently runs Lovitfitness, a Beverly Hills based training company that is known for getting clients in remarkable shape. Her background in Exercise Physiology is why her methodology and results reside in heart rate based training. Michelle’s signature training method, Train Smarter Not Harder, gives her clients educational tools that help them understand their bodies, lose body fat, get stronger, stay motivated and enjoy a better quality of life. She has a loyal following and a reputation for getting her clients in remarkable shape.

What is your core? Why do fitness gurus everywhere seem to sing the benefits of core exercises? Well, turns out it’s a pretty important part of your body and fitness journey! Your core can affect everything from your posture to your flexibility. Focusing on building back my core transformed my own body, and I want to share everything I learned from my personal trainer, Michelle Lovitt, with you. Find out which muscles comprise the core, why they’re vital to our overall physical fitness, and the at home exercises you can do to build up those muscles. I’ve learned so much from Michelle, and I hope these tips kickstart your own learning process with what works for your body. Without further ado, here’s my conversation with personal trainer to the stars, Michelle Lovitt.

This is an excerpt from my Instagram Live conversation with Michelle Lovitt on Feb. 3, 2022. It has been edited for length and clarity. For our full conversation, click here.

Carrie Ann: One of the greatest things Michelle taught me was to reconnect to my core. As somebody who had been working out her whole life – I was a dancer, I was fit my whole life, and then was not fit – I was trying to find my way back. Working with Michelle these past few years has been tremendously helpful, but we didn’t have a huge breakthrough until we realized I wasn’t using my core properly. But we didn’t really have the huge breakthrough until we rediscovered my core as a dancer.

The way I used my core was so second nature to me that I never had to think about it. But the way I was used my core wasn’t giving me the desired results. So why is the core such an essential thing? Why suddenly did we see such huge breakthroughs with me and my body and my shape (I went from a size 10 to a size 6)?

Michelle Lovitt: Well, I think everything from a dancer’s perspective is about extension. And everything about an athlete’s perspective is about performance and power. If they don’t have a strong base, they can’t bring any power from the ground up – your power starts with your trunk. And the misnomer with core is when you ask what it is, people will say, “oh, it’s my abs”. Wrong! Core is actually your abdominal muscles, your lower back muscles, and your hips in all four directions. If you have a weak core, your ability to stand and be stable is compromised. So if you want to start a workout program, starting from the ground up is the way to go. I would start with your core first, meaning do exercises to engage your abs, your lower back, and all four planes of your hips. And if you only have five minutes, then you do it every day for five minutes, or every other day for five minutes. You’ll start to get a stronger core, you’ll start to feel more centered, more balanced, and more capable of doing a workout.

Carrie Ann: Okay, so let’s show them what you’re talking about!

Michelle Lovitt: I think we should start with a bridge because I think everybody can do it right whether they’re on the ground or they’re in a chair. Let’s show them how to activate their abs by pushing them into the ground. So contract your abs like somebody is going to walk up and drop a medicine ball on your stomach. You have to contract them really hard and push a little back into the mat, and then you can lift and lower as you breathe. Don’t forget to breathe. When you do core, a lot of people like to hold their breath and that’s not good for your heart. So now Carrie Ann is going into her bridge position, which basically you just lay on your backside, and then you tuck your feet back to work your glutes, keep your weight in your heels, and get your butt up off the ground. If you can get your lower back off the ground, great. If it bothers your lower back, then put a block or your hands underneath just to give you some support. But which she is strengthening his her glute muscle, hamstrings, and abdominal muscles. So doing a bridge gets 3 out of the 7 things of core addressed. That’s one of the greatest exercises to do, I love bridge.

Carrie Ann: For everyone at home, is it better to just drop down or roll down?

Michelle Lovitt: When you come down after holding your spine in a fixed position, make sure you go down just as slowly as you go up. You don’t want to go up and jam your way up either. So when you go up, it’s a slow and controlled motion up. Then after you hold it, roll down and then pause for a second. Some people may even need to roll around a little bit just because their low back has been used for that 30 seconds. And then if you want to add your inner thighs to this move, you can grab a ball, a block, or anything, you just squeeze your knees together. You’re bringing in your adductors, or your inner thigh muscles, which are also part of your core. I usually like to hold the bridge for anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute. And I always have my clients do pulses with their knees toward the block or the ball just to get the inner thighs to fire up a little bit. And then when you come down, remove the block first, and then roll down one vertebrae at a time.

And then because you were able to address your glutes, your hamstrings and your inner thigh, I think a really fun one to do would be going into a bird dog. If you want to do a modified version of a bird dog, you can do it against the wall, or you can do it flat on the ground. You don’t have to be in an elevated tabletop position like Carrie Ann. We’re going to start with one foot, and then we’re going to add the opposite limb. So she has her left leg up and her right arm extended. You want to think about one line of energy coming through your fingertips, through the tip of your toes, as you squeeze your abs, lower back, and glutes. You’re already strengthening your core so much in this position. From here, contract your right elbow to your left knee, pulling your bellybutton up into your spine.

To engage the proper muscles, you want to make sure that your hips are level. And as she does this, I should be able to balance a teacup on her back while she’s extending. If she isn’t extending or she’s in a twisted position, the tea cup would fall. And then you want to switch sides. Sometimes these challenge your balance a little bit but if you fall you won’t go very far. So embrace the wobble. Remember everybody is where they are fitness wise until they’re not. It takes a few seconds to just get going and start the journey.

Carrie Ann: Okay, now we’re going to do my favorite exercise. If you guys have a band that you can attach somewhere, you can do this. What are these called, Michelle?

Michelle Lovitt: These are the “whittle the middles”! But first, make sure your band is secure! Carrie Ann is twisting against a band with quite a bit of tension. She’s leading with her hips and following with her arms which engages her lower abdominal muscles, her triceps, and we’re trying to get into the obliques so that we create that hourglass shape where you have that nice little whittled middle.

Carrie Ann: What about this option?

Michelle Lovitt: That’s a great one. To engage that lower part of her abs, Carrie Ann is going to grab the band, and push and pull outwards, starting from the center of her torso. We are creating core stability with this band.

And there you have it! As you can see, even the simplest of moves can help to strengthen and stabilize your core. Core strength is associated with better posture, balance, flexibility, and helps to eliminate back pain. All of these moves can be done at home – no personal trainer needed! If you’re interested in hearing more from Michelle, you can check out articles she has contributed to here. Our full Instagram Live video is up on my instagram pages, @carrieanninaba @carrieannconversations, if you would like to see our full conversation and live demonstration. Be kind and stay well!

For more information on Michelle and her training techniques, follow the links below:

michellelovitt.com

Instagram Accounts:

@mllovitt

@lovitfitness

Her book – Exercise Your Muscle Type

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How I Changed My Brain Health and My Life: A Conversation with Dr. Daniel Amen

How I Changed My Brain Health and My Life: A Conversation with Dr. Daniel Amen | CARRE ANN CONVERSATIONS

Dr. Amen is one of America’s leading psychiatrists and brain health experts. He has authored or coauthored 9 professional book chapters, 85 scientific articles, and more than 40 books, including New York Times mega-bestseller Change Your Brain, Change Your Life. He has appeared on numerous television shows including Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, The Doctors, Today Show, Good Morning America and The View.

Carrie Ann: Welcome to the first ever episode of Carrie Ann Conversations, Journey to Wellness! I’m so excited that you have all joined me here today. If there’s anything that I’ve learned in the past year, it’s that in order to achieve wellness, you have to do the work. That’s why I decided to start this new series, Journey to Wellness, because I wanted to share what I have learned from this experience with you. I have thought leaders, doctors, experts, influencers, and friends. All have helped me on this incredible road to wellness, and the goal is to share it all with you.

I’m kicking things off today with someone that was by my side during my own road to recovery in 2021. He’s a physician, an author, and a brain health specialist who forever changed the way I approach my own health. He has been so important and such a great friend through all of this. Please welcome founder of Amen Clinics and author of the new book, You, Happier: The 7 Neuroscience Secrets of Feeling Good Based on Your Brain Type, Dr. Daniel Amen!

Thank you so much for being my first ever guest on Carrie Ann Conversations Journey to Wellness. And happy 2022! Let’s start with this – what is your goal for 2022?

Dr. Amen: To keep doing what I do. To make a difference in the lives of a lot of people, to love my family, and to live forever. So, to make decisions so that I have clarity and energy.

Carrie Ann: Alright y’all, did you hear that? We are going to get to how we make those things happen in a second. And Dr. Amen, I wish all of that for you. I know you know how to achieve it because you have helped me achieve these goals in my own life as well.

So let’s get started. To get everyone on the same page, I met Dr. Amen last year in May, right when I had taken my hiatus from The Talk because I was very ill. I wasn’t able to go to work and that was the first time in my life that something like that had happened. And when I came to him, I was in the worst flare up of my life. It was terrible. I had been to see all of these specialists, including a craniosacral specialist, gotten 7 MRIs, and did neurological testing, but the pain was still so immense. They were trying to put me on Percocet, and that didn’t even work so I knew I had to make a shift and make a change. Then I remembered a friend of mine who knows Dr. Amen talking about this man who did brain scans. At the time I thought it was so interesting, but I wasn’t in need. But in that moment I remember thinking to myself, I am in need. Because something is wrong, and I’m not okay. So I got your number and I reached out to you, and you were watching Game of Thrones, do you remember?

Dr. Amen: I do, and I was watching it for like the third time so I was like, oh, Carrie Ann Inaba, I’d much rather talk to her.

Carrie Ann: You were so sweet, you took the call and we started talking. And then before we even met, you asked me to go get my brain scan. Which I did, and it’s called a SPECT scan, so let’s start with that. Dr. Amen can you tell everybody about the SPECT scan and why you scan peoples brains?

Dr. Amen: I’m a psychiatrist by training, and most psychiatrists never look at the brain. Which, 30 years ago I thought, well that’s insane because it’s the organ I’m trying to help. So I was introduced to this technology 30 years ago, and now have a database of 200,000 scans of people from 155 countries. And SPECT basically tells us 3 things. Good activity, too little activity, or too much activity. And my job is to balance it. At the time you came to see me you were anxious and you were sad, your life was overwhelmed, and you felt awful. So I wanted to get a look at how your brain worked. You could tell me your symptoms but you couldn’t tell me how your brain was functioning. And we discovered it was hurt. It was really sleepy in activity, and that gave us direction on some of the things we would then do for you.

Carrie Ann: Yeah, I was confused. And I also had COVID brain, and I didn’t know what to do. After we saw my brain scans, I was blown away. I will post them later so you guys can see what we are talking about. You can also watch Dr. Amen’s show, Scan My Brain, which I will be on, and we will be sharing the scans there. So we scanned my brain, and found evidence of a traumatic brain injury – a concussion in the prefrontal cortex. We also found that my frontal lobes, which should look like puffy clouds, looked like little nubs or claws, and that there was not a lot of activity where there should be. Most of my activity was in my limbic brain. So Dr. explain what that means and what you diagnosed me with at that time.

Dr. Amen: The limbic part of your brain is your emotional brain. So it was like the emotional part of your brain was on fire. But your temporal lobes, which control learning, memory, and mood stability, were really low in blood flow and activity. Your frontal lobes were also really low in activity. So then we began to go huh, I wonder if she has ADD? And that actually became very important over time. So you had a concussion, depression, ADD, and COVID brain. And what I’ve seen with COVID brain is it can really fire up your emotional brain. About 20% of the people who have COVID will then develop anxiety or depression, or both. I have before and after scans, before people got COVID and after, and I was shocked that the inflammation actually happens in the emotional part of the brain. So, we had work to do.

Carrie Ann: He’s being kind, we had to pull out the bulldozer and the big guns and get to work! And we did. What you taught me is that the most important thing about what we know as mental health, is actually what you like to call brain health. And focusing on the wellness of your brain. For someone like me and a lot of my followers who have autoimmune conditions – I have Lupus, fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s syndrome, and antiphospholipid syndrome – we tend to try really hard to get well. But we’re going all over the place, we’re reaching for anything that could make us feel better. And what was so powerful is that you helped me to focus all of my efforts in one area. Which was to focus first and foremost on my brain health. In doing that we were able to create a plan to get myself back together, which we can go over because it was so powerful that I want to share it with everybody. It just made it very cohesive for me. And I’m so grateful for that, because I was putting the effort in but was going nowhere. Would you mind sharing how you helped me and the plan you put me on?

Dr. Amen: Well, whenever someone is diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder it tells you what it is, it doesn’t tell you why it is. And I think one of the most important things we did is we got curious about what was happening to you, and not furious. We began to see what triggers it and what settles it down, and for you food was a really big part of what triggers it. I mean obviously all of us during the pandemic were under a lot of stress, but you were in a very stressful time in your life, so it’s not a big surprise that the flare happened. So, our plan was basically 3 things. The first thing was love your brain. So now we could see it, and it’s a concept I call brain envy. Freud was wrong, penis envy is not the cause of anybody’s problems, it’s brain envy! I want you to love your brain. So before you do something, ask yourself, is this good for my brain, or bad for it? Then, you and I spent a lot of time talking about certain things that were not really good for your brain, whether its alcohol, sugar, not sleeping, or believing every negative thought you have. So brain envy was number one. Two was let’s start avoiding anything that hurts our brain, and we talked about that. And then engage in regular brain healthy habits. So looking at what medicines can help, what supplements can help, what’s the right food, the right exercises. For you I think one of the most powerful things we did was go through every year of your life and look at what was stressful, but also what was great, what was awesome. Too often when people do therapy they talk about all the garbage in their life and they end up feeling worse. Well you are so accomplished that it’s critical to not let your mind just go to what’s dark, but also to balance it with the light.

I also figured out that because of the concussion you also had something called Irlen Syndrome, which is a visual processing disorder. We found that certain colors of light would irritate your brain and trigger headaches. And you’re trying to read teleprompters but the lights from the studio were making you miserable. So I sent you to my friend Helen Irlen, and that made a big difference. So as you can see, this is a not well you’re depressed, take an antidepressant approach. It’s like no, no, no, let’s really understand Carrie Ann and get all of these factors working together. With repairing the concussion with hyperbaric oxygen, to treating the depression and the pain, which was really important, to diagnosing and treating Irlen Syndrome. Then you became a master ANT eater, where you learned not to believe every stupid thought that came into your head.

Carrie Ann: Right, and speaking of every stupid thing that came into my head, one of the things you mentioned earlier was making the list of my life. It’s funny because I had mostly focused on the traumas. Which was fascinating to me and I thought that’s what you were looking for, but what you were really trying to teach me was to look at my life in a better, more balanced way, and not be a negative thought queen. I mean Dr. Amen had me name the negative part of my brain, we named her Psycho Sandy. And whenever something came up, I would tend to look for the negative, as a survival instinct, a survival mechanism. I would also be kind of mean to myself when I was talking to myself. So when all of this was happening I was a mess, and when I was considering whether I should go back to The Talk because I was on hiatus when I came to you, we discussed it at great length. I wasn’t treating my brain so I hadn’t been treating the ADD, I hadn’t been doing enough physical exercise to keep my brain balanced, I wasn’t eating well to keep my brain balanced, I wasn’t eating well to keep my inflammation down, and I wasn’t doing anything with discipline for my brain health.

A lot of people have tuned in to find out why I left The Talk, and the reason why I left The Talk was I wanted to focus on my health. I did the math, is there going to be enough hours in the day to focus on what Dr. Amen has taught me to do? Which I had started to do and was having great results with. Could I go back to The Talk in time for the fall season? And I had to decide that I couldn’t. I realized if I wanted to live a great life, the life that we all deserve to live, the life that we all have a right to live, I would have to take the time to focus on my health. With all of your guidance I’ve been able to do that.

And going back to the automatic negative thoughts, I just wanted to ask you something. When I left The Talk one of the automatic negative thoughts that I had, otherwise known as ANTS, was that it was my fault that the show kind of imploded. And you helped me understand that that was a negative thought. And why does our brain do this? It wasn’t my fault. And after all the therapy I’ve been doing with you – by the way he’s been working with me this whole time, he’s my psychiatrist as well. I want you all to know the real relationship here, it’s been amazing and it’s such a blessing. But why does our brain do this? Why do we have these negative thoughts? Why did I do that to myself instead of just seeing it for what it was?

Dr. Amen: You know thoughts come from all sorts of places. They come from our genes, they actually get transmitted through generations. They come from the news we listen to, they come from voices like our mom, our dad, our friends and foes, etc. And when there is early trauma we develop magical thinking. Like I’m so powerful if something good happens it’s because of me and if something bad happens it’s my fault. Even though if you were talking to a friend about the situation, because you’re a very kind loving person, there’s no way you’d go “You’re right! That was your fault!”. You would help walk them through it in a rational way. But you weren’t able to do that with yourself. And that’s one of the most important strategies. Learn how to step out of yourself. Sandy the Psycho actually comes from a technique I use called Give Your Mind a Name. So you can psychologically distance from the noise in your head, so that you don’t have to believe every stupid thing you think.

How to question your negative thinking is just such an important concept that we should actually teach to children. I actually have a book called Captain Snout and the Superpower Questions and it’s a kids book that teaches them how to question those thoughts. But as you can see we’re working on brain health, we’re working on psychology, social connections, and ultimately spiritual connections like “So why am I on the planet? What’s my sense of purpose?”. And I mean doing this is totally at the center of your purpose because you are a healer and you’re sharing your healing journey with other people.

Carrie Ann: Yes, I am definitely sharing my healing journey with other people. Thank you for all that you just said. Dr. Amen put me to work, I just want to tell you guys. Like he put me to work and offered these things that would be helpful and I chose to do it, and it was amazing. One of the first books he asked me to read – well, first of all I suggest reading all of his books. They’re so much fun, and they’re not difficult reading. Simple solutions to complex problems. One of his books is Your Brain Is Always Listening. And he talks about what we just discussed, which are the dragons and how we have ancestral dragons and all of these different ways that lead to negative thoughts. So, Dr. Amen I just want you to share the 5 questions. When somebody is having a negative thought, you taught me these questions that really help you challenge yourself. Because we have to challenge ourselves when we’re being negative. So what are those questions and how can we avoid a negative thought?

Dr. Amen: So, the thought might be “I made things at The Talk worse”, and the first question is “Is that true?”. So you might say yes because you’re believing Psycho Sandy. The second question is “Is it absolutely true with 100% certainty?”. It just makes you really reflect on it and maybe you’re like no, it’s way more complicated than that. And the third question is “How do I feel when I believe the thought?” and you’d say awful. The fourth question is “How would I feel without the thought” and you would say free. And the fifth question is take the original thought, “I created these problems” turn it to the opposite, which is “I didn’t create these problems” and then look for truth in the opposite of the thought that is actually bothering you.

I got these questions from my friend Byron Katie, they’re so powerful. They’re so good. You know I don’t have any tattoos on my body, but if I got one, I’d get a tattoo of these five questions. Because that gives you happiness, that gives you peace when you don’t have to attach. It’s not the thoughts you have that make you suffer, it’s the thoughts you attach to that make you suffer. And if you can learn not to attach to the lies, you’re just going to be a happier human.

Carrie Ann: I want to move on to your newest book that’s coming out on March 1st, You, Happier – The 7 Neuroscience Secrets of Feeling Good Based on Your Brain Type. I just think about this title and it makes me happy. Because I know you’re going to help so many people with this book and everyone I talk to would love to be happier. We have been through such a difficult two years and some of us have been struggling even longer than that. And the tools you have given me have helped so much. So I want to ask you about this book. First of all, what are some of the warning signs that indicate that your brain health needs attention?

Dr. Amen: Well, if you’re unhappy. Happiness is a brain function. If your memory is worse than it was 10 years ago, if you have low energy, if you’re making bad decisions because ultimately it’s the quality of your decisions that determine your health and happiness. Decision making is a brain function. If you’re not sleeping, if you’re snoring loudly at night, all of those things.

Carrie Ann: Wait, why snoring?

Dr. Amen: Because sleep apnea actually triples the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Carrie Ann: Oh wow, so basically you’re saying if you snore a lot you might want to go get that checked.

Dr. Amen: You might want to get it checked, it’s very important.

Carrie Ann: Okay, so what can someone do today to start being happier?

Dr. Amen: In the book I talk about 7 things. The most important of all of them, the foundational secret of happiness that virtually none of the happiness books, because there are a lot of happiness books out there, talk about is brain health. I actually did a study of 500 consecutive patients, and I gave them my Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and I compared the high happiness people with the low happiness people. And the low happiness people had low activity in their frontal lobe. Sort of like you when I first met you. What people don’t realize is if I get my brain better, well, I’m happier. And happiness is a moral obligation. It’s not a nice thing to do. It’s a moral obligation because of how you impact other people. Just ask anybody who was raised by an unhappy parent, or married to an unhappy spouse, whether or not happiness is a moral obligation and I guarantee you they will say yes. This is not about selfishness, it’s about altruism because of how we impact other people.

Carrie Ann: Oh I love that, I so agree with that. When you’re happy, you spread happiness! It’s contagious. If you want to be a good person in this world start with you. Start with you. You’ve really taught me that. I thought I was dealing with me but I think I was making everybody else first in line, and I was actually back of the bus thinking I was taking care of myself. Let’s do a rating thing, on a scale of one to ten, where was my happiness when I first met you, before the work?

Dr. Amen: 2. Yeah, it was pretty bad.

Carrie Ann: Yes, I filled out all the forms and did the happiness challenge which we’ll talk about, and yeah I was about a 2. So where do you think I am now after 8 months of working together?

Dr. Amen: I think you’re an 8. I mean ultimately you should say it, but you know, there’s still ups and downs. But every time there’s a down we investigate it. We’re like detectives on Carrie Ann. You are such a good patient, I mean I adore you for so many reasons, but you do what I ask you to do. And you know that’s what I tell my patients it’s like just do it, because you know I have 40 years of experience so if you do this we’re going to make progress. And you do it, which just makes my work so much easier.

Carrie Ann: Thank you, so what grade level do I get, or on a scale how do you rate me as a patient?

Dr. Amen: Oh you get an A, you’re a 10.

Carrie Ann: Bruno, Len, watch out I got a 10! Thank you for that. And I will tell you that Dr. Amen was incorrect about one thing though. He said I’m about an 8, but the truth is I feel a 10 right now. And that’s because I’m doing this interview with you right now and we’re getting to share all of these amazing things. Ok, I know you’re short on time so we’re going to end with a viewer question. Here it is, from Melanie: “My thought patterns and therefore actions have been described to me by people more than once as all over the place. I’m not sure why I am this way, but I would like to understand it better and fix it”. What do you say to that Dr. Amen?

Dr. Amen: Well, Carrie Ann you understand about having your thoughts all over the place, it’s a common symptom of ADD. So I’d get that checked. And it could also be from a potential head injury. So one of the things you can do, a simple thing, is go to youhappier.com and pre-order the book and get a whole bunch of immediate benefits. Including my wife’s new cookbook, the You, Happier Cookbook. And get enrolled into our 30 day challenge, which you have done Carrie Ann. And I saw one question in the feed, it was “Did you get your brain scanned again?” and the answer was yes, and hopefully you’ll post the before and after, which are amazing. As your brain heals, your mind heals as well.

Carrie Ann: Yes, my brain is so much better you guys and you’ll see the scans right after this. I want to remind everyone that Dr. Amen’s new book comes out in March and is currently available for pre-order. Dr. Amen, I just want to thank you so much. You’ve helped me immensely and I do believe that with this Carrie Ann Conversation today you’ll be helping many more people. And I wish you the best 2022 and thank you so much for all that you’ve done for me, I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

Dr. Amen: You’re so welcome, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Carrie Ann: Dr. Amen is fantastic, don’t you think? I want to thank you all for joining me on my first ever episode of Carrie Ann Conversations Journey to Wellness. This has been an exciting day for me and I really appreciate that you all tuned in. Dr. Amen was fantastic, I hope you all gained something and learned something for your own journey of wellness. And I hope that you will continue the dialogue. I wish you all a wonderful 2022! Stay well, and be kind to yourselves.

You can find Dr. Amen’s social media, resources, books, and more information on his SPECT scans at these links:

Instagram: @doc_amen, @amen_clinics, @brainmdhealth

Website: danielamenmd.com

Amazon bookstore

Pre-order his new book here

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A Conversation With Dr. Joshua Berka About BEMER Technology

The BEMER group first introduced its PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy in 1998 for helping to target and improve users’ circulation, stimulate muscles and increase resilience. It has become known as a leading form of vascular therapy and is distinctive for its ability to target the body’s microcirculation to help users improve their blood flow and increase their performance, recovery and overall wellness.

My experiences with the BEMER Body applicator started when my brother introduced me to it. He’s always looking into innovative technology and he knows I’m fascinated in the intersection of science and wellness. Deep down I’m a tech geek (I have been ever since my dad brought me my first Casio watch from Japan) and finding the bridge between health and technology is always thrilling to me. I was immediately interested in the BEMER Body applicator and started using it right away; soon after I got mine a friend of mine sprained her ankle. We wrapped it in the BEMER pad and when she got up we could see right away that it had already helped. Having that kind of visible evidence of the work that the microcirculation technology can do was very impactful.

I use the BEMER whenever I have an injury to help speed my recovery. The multi-functionality of the BEMER system is truly incredible and its ability to improve the human function of microcirculation is so helpful. I love using my BEMER system; it makes me feel cool and tech savvy while genuinely helping my body function at a higher level.

To get a better idea of what BEMER does and how it can improve users’ lives, we spoke to Dr. Joshua Berka, who has worked as BEMER’s Medical & Scientific Consultant for over a decade. A board certified Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist, Dr. Berka has had years of experience working with PEMF therapy and has seen the life changing results firsthand.

How Does BEMER Work?

Dr. Berka explains that BEMER devices work by targeting tissues with PEMF. “As the PEMF is delivered to the target tissues, the energy emitted by BEMER is converted to micro-electrical currents that stimulate local blood flow within the microcirculation and facilitate muscle performance.” He says that BEMER devices are the most researched PEMF therapy products on the North American market, as well as the only low power, low frequency PEMF device cleared as a Class II medical device by the FDA.

Why does BEMER’s PEMF work? Because it mirrors currents our bodies are used to. BEMER’s patented frequencies imitate those produced by the Earth’s own natural vibrations. He compares it to taking a walk on the beach to ground yourself. BEMER sees results because of the specific information that it transmits to the body, which the body can recognize and respond to. The frequencies emitted by BEMER devices also help to support our natural rhythms, including our circadian rhythms. Dr. Berka says that one of the programs that makes BEMER so unique among PEMF devices is its patented Sleep Program, which is designed to support the user while they sleep. Helping users to glean the full restorative effects of restful sleep is one of the greatest benefits BEMER has to offer.

One particular feature that’s special about BEMER devices is their ability to target the body’s microcirculation. “In a nutshell,” Dr. Berka says, “the microcirculation is the functional part of the circulatory system.” It’s comprised of a system of blood vessels that can get smaller than a human hair and is responsible for circulating the blood we need to survive. “We only have one to one and a half gallons [of blood] in our body at any one time and 2000 to 3000 gallons of blood are circulating every day,” says Dr. Berka. “That is a lot of blood flow. While we believe the heart is pumping all that blood through the body, that is only part of the story.” The microcirculation is responsible for how the blood flows and where it goes by shunting blood to maintain our organs, tissues, and cells. Being able to target this system and increase its efficiency can be incredibly helpful in keeping our bodies working well and recovering quickly.

Who Is BEMER Therapy Good For?

Because the therapy improves blood circulation, it can offer benefits to almost anyone who uses it. By supporting healthy blood flow, it helps to build resiliency in the body over time. Dr Berka explains that BEMER isn’t disease-specific as much as it is people-specific: “It’s designed to support the self-regulatory processes of the human body to improve blood flow, nutrient and oxygen delivery, waste removal, strength, endurance, stamina, energy, muscle conditioning, stress response and help with the user’s quality of sleep.” The positive effects BEMER offers can be useful for anyone seeking balance and more resilience when it comes to their bodies.

How BEMER Can Help With Pandemic Stress

Dr. Berka says this kind of balance has become especially vital in the pandemic. He says BEMER is the perfect tool for offsetting some of the biggest changes that have arisen in this past year. A lot of us have seen our activity levels plummet while we’ve been staying home; this can lead to both muscle atrophy and stagnated blood flow. BEMER can help boost our circulation back up, supporting a better quality of life and all the benefits that come with better flow.

The pandemic has also almost universally increased our stress levels much higher than we’re used to. Stress can impact our health in a number of ways but it can be especially harmful when it affects our ability to get quality sleep. Because the body relies on regular sleep to heal and restore itself, missing out on rest can be a disaster for our health and wellness. BEMER’s special sleep program can be especially helpful now as we work to counteract pandemic stress.

How To Use BEMER

Dr. Berka explains that for best results, users should use the BEMER full body applicator for eight minutes twice a day, followed by a targeted treatment with one of BEMER’s applicators (such as the B.SPOT, B.PAD or B.SIT) to stimulate any specific problem areas. He says one specific tip that many users aren’t aware of is that the therapeutic field of the B.PAD applicator is emitted bi-directionally, so it produces energy from both sides at once. “One may use, for example, the B.PAD in between the legs to simultaneously stimulate both legs rather than just one side,” he says. “This is a great time saver and an efficient way to use this applicator to increase local blood flow in the leg muscles.”

Dr. Berka says that although the BEMER is very safe for many to use, there are a few contraindications for use: “BEMER should not be used by individuals who have had an organ tissue or cell transplant and are simultaneously taking immunosuppressive drugs or therapy. This is because BEMER has been shown to increase blood flow and stimulate the immune system. This is the opposite of what we want to do to avoid organ, tissue or cell rejection. Also,” he says, “If an individual has deep venous thrombosis (DVT), they should not use the BEMER. As for implantable medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, deep brain stimulators, spinal stimulators, et cetera, use of BEMER must be discussed with the proposed user’s doctor to ensure that there will not be an adverse effect.” He says people who have an insulin pump or any other electrical device meant to deliver medications should never use these at the same time as using BEMER therapy.

For more information about BEMER and its products, visit the BEMER website here.

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A Conversation with Discover Lasers’ Kalon Prensky About Cold Laser Therapy

Cold Laser Therapy | CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS

Any technology that relates to shifting or moving our energy around has always fascinated me. As a dancer, I have always felt an intuitive connection to the energy that runs through us all. Dancers can often feel each other without looking at each other, sensing the energy of those around them. Throughout my life I’ve felt especially attuned to these subtle energetic shifts which is what draws me to technology like cold laser therapy. I was first led to laser technology by a healer friend who helped me find my way back to homeostasis while I was a working dancer in my twenties. I found scalar lasers to be powerful at shifting energy; they often would help my injuries heal faster. I’ve also found that using the laser on my chest before bed helps my body calm down after a long day. I never really understood the science behind the technology that’s been so useful for me, so I’m grateful for this opportunity to learn more about these devices.

Cold laser therapy has also been instrumental in the health of my animal companions. All of my pets are rescues, and many of them have had health problems ranging from blindness to intestinal issues to chronic sinus infections. Animals often react well to small shifts of energy and whenever one of my pets is having problems and I don’t know the cause, a session with a laser set seems to relieve their discomfort.

All in all, I’ve been using cold laser therapy for almost thirty years now to help balance, restore and shift my energy as well as invest in the wellness of my animals. I’m so excited to have this opportunity to speak with the founder of Discover Lasers, Kalon Prensky, about his story and this amazing technology.

Carrie Ann: Thank you so much for speaking with us about your product. I love my Scalar Laser; I have been using it for years and have experienced what it can do. Can you explain the science behind the laser, how it works and what the health benefits of using it are?

Kalon: Cold Laser Therapy, or CLT, has been in use for over 50 years. Albert Einstein played a role in creating the first cold laser made from a red ruby in the 1960’s. Since then, thousands of lasers have been created and used consistently throughout the world for humans, animals and even plants.

Red lasers are now known to offer the strongest anti-inflammatory results along with pain relief and stimulation of elastin, and they have strong antiviral properties as well. They penetrate approximately a half inch into the body and are wonderful for all soft tissue issues, skin, wounds, wrinkles, cold sores, gums, mucosal tissues, acne, arthritis and shallow pain.

Near InfraRed (NIR) lasers are the longest wavelength and penetrate up to three inches into the body. They are popular for acute and chronic pain and all musculoskeletal, spine and joint related issues including arthritis, increasing collagen in joints and spine, increasing bone density by stimulating osteoblasts and fibroblasts, reducing inflammation and increasing blood circulation. Cold lasers help to increase the movement of both blood and lymph and they deactivate seven of the nine enzymes that cause inflammation by up to 70%. They are an all-natural analgesic pain reliever.

Carrie Ann: It’s incredible that the laser has such a wide range of benefits. Are there any potential risks in using the laser, i.e. damage to the eyes or other body parts?

Kalon: Cold lasers are extremely safe and many are cleared by the FDA for home use, including the Scalar Wave Laser. Cold lasers biostimulate cells and tissues and cannot make a cell worse, but there are a few contraindications for use. Do not shine in an open eye as damage to the retina is possible with enough close range or direct exposure to the retina. Do not use over the fetus of a pregnant woman and do not use directly over a known cancer as not enough research has been done to clarify the exact parameters of what might cause a cancer to grow or shrink in the presence of CLT. Some medications can cause light sensitivity and some people can be extremely light sensitive, but this is rare.

Carrie Ann: It’s great to know that using this laser is relatively safe as long as it’s used correctly! Does the laser get hot?

Kalon: Cold lasers such as the Scalar Wave Laser do not produce enough heat to cause any damage to cells and tissues.

Carrie Ann: Can you walk us through the best way to use the laser?

Kalon: There are many ways to use a cold laser and there are many different types of cold lasers. The main Scalar Wave Laser (SWL) is a cluster laser consisting of 36 diodes (8 red lasers, 8 IR lasers and 20 blue/violet LEDs). It has 11 unique preset settings that contain special therapeutic Hz frequencies and each one has a name. It also produces a patented Scalar Wave that helps to clear outdated cellular data.

I offer a two page cheat sheet to our customers who purchase the laser through DiscoverLasers.com which summarizes the use and benefits of each setting, along with a large array of specialized treatment protocols for treating hundreds of symptoms and conditions. I love the blood cleanse protocol, the unwinding protocol, the chakra protocol and many of the other protocols that are based on the principles of acupuncture and reflexology.

Carrie Ann: These protocols sound fascinating! From the 11 basic settings, could you describe a generic wellness routine to get new users started?

Kalon: Using the Scalar Wave Laser every day for a month in the following ways can create an incredible reset for the body, glands and nervous system. The blood cleansing protocol is very easy but profound as the bloodstream is the “river of life.” 20 minutes with the laser on the Pleo or Vital Settings (I like to alternate between them each time I use it) will transform the blood from a low energy, low oxygen state into a high energy, high oxygen state. Simply set the timer to 20 minutes, select your setting and place the laser against the skin, three inches below the navel. All the blood in the body passes through this artery every 20 minutes, thus energizing and oxygenating all of the blood in your body, which lasts for about 24 hours. Of course this process does many more beneficial things to the blood and organs as well. I usually do this process when l go to sleep at night, as I find it quite comforting and it is easy to do.

If you have more time, the unwinding protocol is fantastic for resetting the adrenal glands, opening up the energy and information transmission through the spine, resetting the nervous system and the vagus nerve and boosting the immune system. It takes about 25 minutes. There are five points to place the laser for four minutes each. Use the unwind setting on both adrenal glands, sacrum, occipital ridge and then switch to the quantum setting for the last point over the thymus gland, the anti-aging and immune boosting gland, in the center of the chest.

My included training program goes over these and hundreds more protocol options to support optimal health.

Carrie Ann: Thank you for walking us through some of the ways we can use this laser for maximum relief. Does the laser work on arthritis?

Kalon: Yes! The Scalar Wave Laser is an ideal personal laser for treating arthritis. It is FDA cleared for arthritis, pain relief, increasing blood circulation, reducing inflammation and relaxing contracted tissues.

Carrie Ann: A lot of our readers have autoimmune conditions. Is there a laser regimen you would suggest for autoimmune symptoms like lupus rash, joint pain, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, anxiety, or depression?

Kalon: Autoimmune conditions, anxiety and insomnia are often a result of a combination of accumulated stressors in a person’s life such as trauma, accidents, injuries, heavy metals, glyphosate, molds, fungus, yeast and other toxins that build up in the body over time. This leads to high levels of chronic contraction within the cells and tissues, preventing or slowing down proper blood circulation, detoxification and other optimal cellular processes from occurring. A healthy cell will absorb energy and nutrients, and eliminate wastes and toxins. When cells become saturated with unhealthy ingredients, it can lead to hypoxia or cell death, resulting in degeneration and disease.

With cold lasers we work to remove the stress and contraction from the cells, tissues, glands and organs, and feed them with frequencies and photons. Cold laser therapy repolarizes cells so the cell membrane can once again become permeable, allowing wastes and toxins to be released and for photons to be absorbed. Cold lasers deliver a flood of photons that are converted into ATP, the preferred fuel source of all cells in the body. Thus lasers give the body and cells the energy that is needed for healing and repair to occur. Laser therapy supports healing, pain relief, organ and gland balancing, regeneration and rejuvenation on a cellular level, naturally, with zero negative side effects. Cold laser therapy is a perfect natural compliment to a healthy lifestyle to support health and healing in ways that are simply not achievable in any other way.

Carrie Ann: This is good to hear; I’m always looking for health resources that can help with my autoimmune conditions without any additional side effects. Can you explain the laser’s use for animals? What sort of benefits can it have for them?

Kalon: With Cold Laser Therapy there is no placebo effect. It either works or it doesn’t. Animals are often quite sensitive and they tend to be naturally attracted to things that are good for them.

Most dogs, cats and even horses love laser therapy and respond to it very well. It is common to watch old dogs get up after treatment and behave like a puppy with youth and energy that may not have been witnessed for some time. Laser therapy works in the same ways for animals as it does for humans, increasing blood circulation, treating the joints and spine, reducing pain and inflammation, balancing hormones, glands and organs. The laser is used to support the areas of the body that need energy, balancing and unwinding. Laser probes can also be used to quickly and effectively treat the acupuncture points of the animals, which further supports healing and rejuvenation.

Carrie Ann: I’ve definitely seen this effect in my own animals when I’ve used it on them. Can you share any stories of amazing results from people who used the laser?

Kalon: I certainly could but I hardly know where to begin. I have thousands of satisfied customers over nearly 14 years of sharing the Scalar Wave Lasers with both home users and practitioners. I regularly speak with customers after many years of them using the Scalar Wave Laser and in nearly every case there are two common responses: “I love my laser” and “I couldn’t live without my laser, I use it all of the time.” Laser therapy is like oral hygiene; you never want to be without it.

A few years after I had been using the SWL with great success on myself my mom came to visit me. She was walking with a cane because her knees were really bothering her and she was afraid she would have to give up two of her favorite things: long walks and dancing. I said, “You have got to try this laser on your knee, because many of my customers tell me it has made a huge difference in their lives and some folks even cancelled scheduled operations.” In that week while she was visiting I gave her three laser treatments. The day before she left she threw away the cane and we went out dancing. That was about fourteen years ago and guess what? She never had an operation, and instead she got her own laser. She is still cane free and enjoying life.

Carrie Ann: That’s wonderful to hear! Could we get some background on you and how you get involved in laser healing? Do you use the laser yourself for any sort of chronic pain?

Kalon: I got involved in holistic healing, massage, reflexology, Reiki, yoga, acupuncture, diet, nutrition, herbology, chiropractic and naturopathic medicine about 35 years ago. I have personally been using and sharing cold lasers for over 18 years as a means of repairing my body and keeping my cells and systems operating at peak performance. It is an essential part of a well balanced lifestyle: healthy diet, nutritional/herbal supplements, exercise and cold laser therapy. Being able to do cold laser therapy at home on a regular basis has given me a new lease on life. Nothing else compares with it. I have suffered from many health issues including fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative disc disease with ongoing chronic pain in my neck and lumbar spine, rotator cuff inflammation, knee pain, foot pain, hand and wrist pain to name a few.

As a natural health practitioner I have refused to take pharmaceuticals most of the time and I prefer to avoid surgical procedures, with the exception of my right wrist, which was shattered in a skateboarding accident when I was a teenager. Later a car accident resulted in whiplash and the X-ray revealed a degenerating disc in my neck. This was in 2002 before I discovered how effective cold laser therapy can be, and I spent a year doing all kinds of therapy with only temporary relief from the ongoing chronic pain which was ruining my life. In 2003 I was introduced to a Scalar Wave Laser precursor. I used it on my neck every day and it healed my neck after just one month. Next, I used it on my old wrist injury that now had full blown carpal tunnel syndrome along with arthritis in my hand and fingers. I could not make a fist and was frequently in pain. After a week of using the laser on my hand and wrist daily, the carpal tunnel was completely gone. After a month of using it my arthritis was over 30% gone and after 3 months it was 95% gone. The bulging lower back disks also normalized with regular laser use and I literally got my life back.

I lived on a farm at the time and I could finally work the land again and do many challenging physical things that I had feared I might not be able to do again. I was even able to spend the next three years building a beautiful house overlooking the ocean and jungle. Unfortunately, a friend convinced me to use Roundup to kill off a huge patch of cane grass that was taking over parts of the farmland, exposing me to toxic glyphosate which I later learned is much more toxic than was previously believed or promoted. Some years later my wife of 14 years and I filed for divorce. It was a challenging time to say the least and my adrenal glands were maxed out. At this point I had been using the Scalar Wave Laser for a while and I decided to do the unwinding protocol that was taught to me by the inventor of the SWL. We were friends at the time and he had a unique approach to laser therapy that was quite revolutionary. He developed the laser to not only address musculoskeletal issues, but to also support the glandular and organ systems of the body. Through using the laser I found that my adrenal glands responded beautifully to the treatment and my nervous system was able to relax and unwind from the constant contraction of one stressful event after another.

As I continued on my healing journey, I kept using my lasers, using, learning, sharing and practicing laser therapy in many different ways. I found that using the cold lasers and particularly the Scalar Wave Laser on a regular basis supported significant pain relief and overall healing that was not attainable with any other means. Cold lasers are a valuable part of any health and maintenance program to treat fibromyalgia, arthritis, pain and discomforts associated with stress, autoimmunity and inflammation issues. I highly recommend it.

Carrie Ann: Wow, that’s an incredible story. I’m so glad you were able to discover laser therapy to heal your own pain and then use it to help countless others as well. Thank you for sharing your journey and giving us an inside look into how this incredible technology works.

Kalon offers free consultations for anyone interested in learning more about Cold Laser Therapy. He can be reached toll free at 800-575-7963. To learn more or order online, please visit DiscoverLasers.com.

This interview has been edited for length.

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A Conversation with Craig Inaba, Founder of Muscle Hammer

Dancers, athletes, and anyone else who uses their body for a living know the importance of massage. For those of us who incorporate massage and body work into our daily health regimen, going a year without access to these resources as we social distance has threatened our usual routines of wellness. It’s never been more valuable to find an at-home alternative to massage that can provide the same level of relief. My brother Craig Inaba and his amazing company Muscle Hammer have created the perfect muscle massaging device that can help to bridge these gaps when getting a massage is difficult.

There are many personal massagers on the market, but I love the Muscle Hammer for so many reasons. It’s weighted perfectly so that those of us who suffer from carpal tunnel or spinal stenosis (I have both) don’t have to struggle with discomfort in our wrists or forearms to counteract the weight. The Muscle Hammer also comes with so many attachments for different needs, including ones so delicate you can use them near your spine without causing damage.

I’m so excited to share my brother’s work with you; he’s created a truly exceptional product and I couldn’t be happier to talk to him about what makes the Muscle Hammer special.

Carrie Ann: Craig, thanks so much for doing this interview. It’s so cool to get to interview my brother, especially about such an amazing product that I use so much and that has helped me so much with pain management. First off, what made you want to create the Muscle Hammer?

Craig: Two reasons. First, there are too many people suffering from pain caused by muscle tension simply because they cannot afford the massage therapy needed to alleviate their pain. Second, I wanted to help level the playing field for all athletes. Wealthy athletes always have an advantage because they can afford the therapies needed to keep their bodies performing at peak levels and come back from injuries better and faster. The Muscle Hammer gives all athletes access to the kind of body maintenance therapy that in the past was only available to wealthy and elite athletes.

Carrie Ann: It’s so admirable that you want to equalize people’s access to taking good care of their bodies because everyone deserve to feel their best. What makes the Muscle Hammer different from other similar devices on the market?

Craig: Quality of product and quality of service. We are so confident in our product that we offer an industry leading 60 day money back guarantee, free return shipping, and we give a ten dollar Amazon gift card to anyone who returns their device because they are not satisfied. So basically, if someone tries a Muscle Hammer and doesn’t like it and returns it, they actually end up ten dollars ahead! We are not aware of any other company in the world that is willing to pay customers if they don’t like their product. We also guarantee a three day repair turnaround if your device breaks under warranty.

Carrie Ann: It’s great that you offer a guarantee like that! Is there any specific group of people who can benefit more from the Muscle Hammer?

Craig: People in pain caused by chronic muscle tension or any soft tissue inflammation, athletes who want to perform better and recover faster, and people who just love massage.

Carrie Ann: Well, I know I certainly fit into that group. What’s a special move, placement or attachment for the Muscle Hammer that more people should know about?

Craig: With the five attachments that come with a Muscle Hammer, users will always get exactly what they want, from a soothing relaxing massage to an intense deep tissue massage.

Carrie Ann: Is there a muscle that people tend to ignore that they should be covering with the Muscle Hammer?

Craig: Not really; everyone is different. They just need to use it in areas that cause them pain or discomfort or hinder their athletic performance.

Carrie Ann: Should people take care to protect their bones while using the Muscle Hammer and are there practices or attachments you would recommend to help keep them safe?

Craig: We offer one tip that can be used directly on bones if desired – we call it the “Accordion” tip and it is designed to absorb impact. It is great to use on or around bones, and also great for kids, seniors, and thinly muscled individuals who may not be able to handle the hard impact of the other tips. It is so soft, you can even use it for a relaxing face massage.

Carrie Ann: Is there anyone who shouldn’t use the Muscle Hammer?

Craig: If someone is very fragile and is known to have weak bones, we recommend they do not use a Muscle Hammer. It is a very powerful device meant to provide deep tissue therapy.

Carrie Ann: Is there any other advice or knowledge about taking care of the body you’d like to add?

Craig: Your body does not last forever. You need to take care of it. Chronic muscle tension and soft tissue injuries in general can always lead to worse injuries and more pain if not addressed. By owning a Muscle Hammer, you can immediately address muscle tension and injuries as they arise, which will help keep your body healthy and active for longer!

Carrie Ann: Thank you so much again for sharing with us about this incredible product. I love my Muscle Hammer and am so thankful for the relief it’s brought me in the time I’ve been using it.

For more information about specific times to use the Muscle Hammer, Craig suggested this video created by the Muscle Hammer team. It advises that the four best times a day to use Muscle Hammer are first thing in the morning to relieve post-sleep stiffness, before a workout to loosen up and prevent injury, after a workout to optimize recovery, and right before sleep to help your muscles relax.

You can read more about Craig and Muscle Hammer by visiting Muscle Hammer’s website.