Living with an autoimmune disease can be a challenge. When a flare up decides to wreak havoc in your body, even the simple things can be very difficult. These conditions – where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, encompass a wide range of disorders such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and Psoriasis. Individuals diagnosed with autoimmune diseases often face symptoms that impact various aspects of their lives, from physical well-being to emotional and social aspects. In this article, we’ll explore ways to manage autoimmune diseases through a comprehensive approach to health and wellness.
Understanding Autoimmune Diseases:
Autoimmune diseases attack healthy cells and tissues. The exact cause of these conditions remains complex and can involve genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, like most other diseases. Managing autoimmune diseases requires a thorough understanding of the specific condition and its triggers, as each disorder can present with varying symptoms and challenges.
1. Education and Communication:
Empowerment begins with knowledge. Understanding the fundamentals of your autoimmune condition, its symptoms, triggers, and treatment options is crucial. Regular communication with healthcare professionals, including specialists, can help you make informed decisions about your health. Establishing a strong patient-doctor relationship fosters open dialogue, allowing you to work together in creating a personalized treatment plan.
2. Diet and Nutrition:
A balanced diet plays a pivotal role in managing autoimmune diseases. Certain foods can either exacerbate inflammation or promote healing. Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods, lean proteins, healthy fats, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Some individuals may benefit from eliminating specific trigger foods, such as gluten or dairy, while others might find relief from incorporating anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, ginger, and fatty fish.
3. Physical Activity:
Regular exercise offers numerous benefits for individuals with autoimmune diseases. Engaging in low-impact activities like yoga, swimming, or walking can help improve joint mobility, reduce inflammation, and boost mood. It’s important to find an exercise routine that aligns with your condition’s limitations and your personal preferences. Consulting a physical therapist or trainer experienced in working with autoimmune patients can help design a safe and effective exercise plan.
4. Stress Management:
Stress has been linked to exacerbating autoimmune symptoms. Incorporating stress management techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, mindfulness, and progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce the impact of stress on the immune system. Prioritizing self-care and finding activities that bring joy and relaxation are essential components of managing autoimmune diseases. For more on this, please read my next article: My Favorite Apps for Autoimmune Warriors.
5. Sleep Hygiene:
Quality sleep is crucial for overall health, especially for those with autoimmune conditions. Poor sleep can negatively affect the immune system, exacerbate inflammation, and amplify symptoms. Establish a consistent sleep routine, create a comfortable sleep environment, and practice relaxation techniques before bedtime to improve sleep quality.
6. Social and Emotional Support:
The support of friends and family is so important when you live with chronic illness. But, living with an autoimmune disease can sometimes feel isolating. So, connecting with others who share similar experiences can help you feel less alone in your journey. It’s healthy to find your tribe and create a sense of community to help in navigating the challenges that come with these conditions. There are facebook groups, and there are other #AIWarriors who share theirs stories on social media, so if you need a little understanding but can’t get out of bed, it’s easy to access. Also, seeking support from in person support groups, or therapists can provide emotional relief and help in finding tools to manage every day life.
7. Medication and Treatment:
In collaboration with healthcare professionals, individuals with autoimmune diseases may require medication to manage symptoms and slow disease progression. Adhering to prescribed treatment plans and attending regular medical appointments are essential for optimal health outcomes. It is also important for you to communicate clearly with your health care professionals about what you are taking, including supplements to make sure the medications are being optimized specifically for you.
Conclusion:
Autoimmune diseases require a comprehensive approach to health and wellness that encompasses physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors. By educating yourself, communicating effectively with healthcare professionals, adopting a nourishing diet, staying active, managing stress, prioritizing sleep, seeking support, and adhering to treatment plans, you can take proactive steps towards managing your condition and enhancing your overall well-being. Remember, every individual’s journey is unique, so crafting a personalized approach that suits your needs is key to achieving a fulfilling life despite the challenges posed by autoimmune diseases.
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“It’s helpful to remember that it is not about you, but rather the moment shared between you and the person you are communicating with.”
Carrie Ann Inaba
What does finding your voice mean? It can mean living life according to your values, acting in a way that reflects your truest self, taking a stand for what you believe in, or the process of finding who you are at your core. With so many distractions around us at all times, it can be difficult to discover your voice through all of the noise. Even when you have a clear understanding of your convictions, it’s only human to falter or second guess yourself at times.
I found my voice at an early age. When I was only 10 years old, I had to find the courage to speak up to prevent my father from killing a mouse. The mouse had been eating my father’s possessions and he was very upset. I was just a little girl, but I loved all animals and have always believed they have the right to be here just as much as we do. So, despite the incredible fear I felt, I stood up for myself and told my father “No!”. Everyone was stunned, including my father, but I gathered all the courage in the world that a little girl could and released the mouse. That was the first time I found my voice. But for me, finding my voice was associated with survival. It has taken me a long time to separate the two. Speaking up for yourself doesn’t always have to be a confrontation. It can be done in a loving way. We need to shift the paradigm around “speaking up” and “sharing your truth”.
We all live in separate universes, and our own perceptions of the world shape how we view everything. So, communication is key. It is the bridge between all humans. We all have different life experiences, and those experiences will give meaning to what is happening in our lives. The meaning we each give to something is slightly different, so often misunderstandings happen. I believe that in order to connect with people and to create harmony in any situation, we need understanding. In order to truly understand each other, we must communicate.
We also have to think about understanding the different intensities of our voices, or the “volume” so to speak. Sometimes you can say things passionately and no one will listen. Sometimes you say things in a quiet manner and everyone stands at attention. Finding the courage to speak up is important, but so is fine tuning what you are putting into the universe. It’s helpful to remember that it is not about you, but rather the moment shared between you and the person you are communicating with.
So, my advice is this: When you think of “finding your voice”, instead of thinking that you have to stand up for yourself, and that it’s life or death, a more peaceful and effective way to communicate is to think of it as bridging the gap between yourself and the other person’s “self”. Think of it as trying to create understanding. You try to understand them, and help them to understand you.
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Manifestation is the process of writing down, visualizing, and putting your goals into action. It seems like every few years manifestation has a resurgence in popularity, with new gurus touting its benefits and promising their methods will make your dreams come true overnight. Even TikTok has caught on – the 3-6-9 manifestation method hashtag has been viewed 89.3 billion times as of July 2022.
So, is manifestation a practice really worth trying, or too good to be true? While not backed by science, it seems there is no big harm in giving it a whirl, and it can actually help you put your goals into action. That is, if you do it the right way. Some of the most successful people in the world swear by manifestation (Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra, Lady Gaga, and more!), but they didn’t just write down a wish and win the lottery the next day.
HOW TO START
Before you run out to buy a manifestation journal, it’s important to get an understanding of what the process is. There are so many different ways to go about it, but there are a few rules that connect all of the methods out there:
Ask for exactly what you want, and be specific. Nebulous goals aren’t helpful!
Write it down or create a vision board. Simple visualization during meditation works as well.
Take small steps to achieve what you want. If your ultimate goal is to write a novel, start by reading a book on creative writing. Or make a commitment to write creatively at least once a week. Slow and steady wins the race!
Know that manifestation isn’t for everyone. What works for one person may not work for you!
Don’t fall for quick fixes. Despite popular belief, manifestation is not something that doesn’t involve action. You can’t magically get what you want overnight. As Jim Carrey once said, “you can’t just visualize and then go eat a sandwich”.
In order to start manifesting the life you want, there a few guidelines to stick to. Oprah is one of it’s most well-known cheerleaders, but is also clear that it takes a certain amount of fortitude and willingness to move towards a goal. Here are a few of her many tips on how to use manifestation to your fullest advantage.
You can’t be scared
In a press interview in 2017, Oprah explained that “in order to draw the thing to you that you want to come, you can’t want it so much that you fear that you won’t get it. You have to do it, and then prepare yourself to be there and ready when it shows up”.
Don’t hang on to it too tightly
Another great piece of advice from the queen of manifestation is to let go of what you want to a certain degree after you’ve written them down or visualized them. Oprah said in the same 2017 interview that getting what you dream of is about “letting it go but moving in the direction of it”. Taking small steps toward your goal without obsessing over it is key.
Manifesting is about putting your truest self out into the world
In one of her Super Soul Conversations, Oprah explained that she views manifestation as a way to live your fullest, truest life. According to her, “unless you are finding a way for what you believe to be true about yourself to express and manifest itself into the world, you are not living your fullest life”. If you view manifestation as the act of you trying to live to your fullest potential, it becomes an easier concept to grasp.
ADVICE FROM CARRIE ANN TO GET YOU STARTED
“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.” – Gautama Buddha
What we think, we become…. Our lives are our own creation. I know that’s hard to believe when life is giving you lemons. But, it’s true. Our mind, our perception, and our thoughts shape what we experience. So, if we realized that we are always manifesting with every thought, we can focus on the things we want to experience and let go of the things that do not serve us. But we can’t trick ourselves. We have to believe it.
And one little reminder: we are given the power to manifest anything we want. So be careful. Sometimes we can manifest things before we are ready for them. Wanting money without knowing how to save, invest, or take care of that money doesn’t get you where you want to go. Wanting good health without being ready to make the changes you need to live a life that nourishes your mind, body, and soul won’t work either. Manifesting isn’t just wanting. It’s about aligning with your true destiny and self. When that alignment happens, things will just flow. It’s simple, but in our complicated worlds, finding the simplicity can be a challenge. Calm the mind, listen to your soul, and then manifest.
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Today I am having a conversation with the Content Producer and Senior Writer of Carrie Ann Conversations, Ellyn Sinicropi. We met while working together at “Dancing with the Stars”, and then I asked her to come and work for me at CAC! She started as the Judges Production Assistant, and will be returning this year as an Associate Producer. People that are talented, intuitive, creative, sensitive, honest and have a good work ethic are not easy to find these days. But Ellyn checks all of the boxes, and on top of that, our sensibilities are in alignment. And that has been key to the way we work together.
So, I wanted to introduce all of you to Ellyn before we both go back to work on DWTS 31 on Disney+ this fall!
Without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a warm welcome to Ellyn Sinicropi (applause – I can’t help it, I’m from live TV)!
Carrie Ann: So Ellyn, first of all, let me say this: You have been working so hard and I’m extremely grateful for all of the passion and hard work you have put into Carrie Ann Conversations – not only the website, but the social media and the digital series we did in the Spring.
Ellyn: Thank you so much!! I love working for CAC and seeing it grow. It’s been so fun to be on the ground floor of something that I think has amazing potential. I love the creative process and working alongside you!
Carrie Ann: Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, and what brought you to LA?
Ellyn: I grew up in Houston, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. I was a double major in public relations and film/tv, but always knew that working in the entertainment industry was my ultimate goal. Growing up I loved acting and writing, and was a voracious reader. I was pretty determined to have a career in some kind of storytelling from a young age.
Carrie Ann: What is your cultural background?
Ellyn: My last name is Italian so I definitely have a bit of that in my blood (if my love of carbs and gelato is any indication). I’m also Norwegian, Polish, English, and Irish. If I had to guess I’d say that I am mostly Italian and Norwegian.
Carrie Ann: What is your age?
Ellyn: I’m 26!
Carrie Ann: What are your aspirations?
Ellyn: Right now I would love to continue growing in my career and use storytelling to connect in a meaningful way with others.
Carrie Ann: Hobbies?
Ellyn: I love reading fiction, listening to podcasts and music, spending time with friends, and am really into fashion and beauty.
Carrie Ann: When writing for Carrie Ann Conversations, what is your main goal? And how do you choose the topics of your articles?
Ellyn: I want to make sure that people feel understood and seen through my writing. I also hope that people take away something helpful from each article, or look at something in a new way. But honestly, having someone feel less alone because of something I wrote is more than enough for me!
When it comes to choosing article topics, I always try to keep the bigger picture in mind. What is going on in the world right now? What are we collectively experiencing? What trends, good or bad, have I been seeing on the internet? I kind of start from that point and then narrow it down. The goal of CAC is to help people so I approach ideas from that angle. And then sometimes I just feel like writing about skincare products because I have a Sephora addiction.
Carrie Ann: What are you hoping to give to our audience?
Ellyn: I hope to give them a greater sense of self confidence, and the knowledge that they are not alone in their struggles. We are all in it together!
Carrie Ann: What have you learned along the way?
Ellyn: I’ve learned so much! However, I think the greatest lesson I have learned is to be more honest and vulnerable in my writing. CAC is about embracing our flaws, and I hope that my writing is a reflection of that. There is no benefit to acting like you’ve got things figured out. Where’s the fun in that? I don’t trust people who claim to not have problems.
Carrie Ann: What was the most personal article you have written? Why was it important for you to share what you shared?
Ellyn: The most personal article I have written was on my experience with acne. Just about everyone has gone through a bout of acne, but it hits some of us harder than others and can be a source of low self-esteem. That’s also why I felt like it was important to share my experience with it. I never want people to feel like they’re alone! We need to normalize skin conditions and I wanted to do my part in that process. My hope is that the beauty industry eventually catches up and shows people with unretouched, real skin. I don’t want future generations of kids growing up thinking that their skin is supposed to look photoshopped.
Carrie Ann: Carrie Ann Conversations started as something I wanted to do to help people in need. As I was being challenged with my own health, I felt helpless. I went from being a very active and physical person, working intensely all day and then dancing or working out at night or doing other projects I loved, suddenly, I was in bed four days out of the week. And it was a hard adjustment. And I needed something to be creative and productive. It actually feeds my soul to create and be productive.
While in bed, I started to research for answers and to understand what was happening to my body. The Sjögren’s syndrome,and other autoimmune diseases were not as well known then, and I really had to dig for information. I found these very specific facebook groups that addressed a lot of what I was going through. One in particular helped me a lot, that was the Sjögren’s sisters group on Facebook. You have to ask permission to join because we share our real struggles with each other. I found answers the doctors couldn’t give me there, from people who actually knew what it was like. I could cry, complain, and also ask for support or advice in a way that allowed me and everyone else in the group the full freedom of expression. And that was healing.
And that is why I started Carrie Ann Conversations. In an effort to help people have a safe place to share their struggles. My goal has always been to build a community of ordinary- but also extraordinary people going through this journey of life, helping each other by way of sharing compassionately and honestly.
So, for me it was not easy to find the right people who could help me build this out and continue on the days I couldn’t. Which is a part of my life I accept and respect now. I have learned that the team is everything and you have been incredible that way.
What stands out to me is is that you have been able to combine a warmth and intelligence and added a dimension of a younger mindset, while keeping the torch going – all the while with an elegance that puts a smile in people’s hearts.
How do you approach your writing? What is your process for any young writer out there?
Ellyn: Thank you! It means a lot to hear that coming from you. When I write, I want the reader to feel like a friend is talking to them, and provide useful information at the same time. I’m figuring things out just like they are!
For young writers out there, I would say don’t be afraid to inject your own unique style and voice into your work. That’s what makes for an interesting read. Don’t try to write like anyone else, because your voice is what makes you special! This is the same advice I have to remind myself of.
Carrie Ann: When you joined CAC, I noticed you were incredibly self motivated and proactive. You continue to always be on top of things. How do you stay motivated in a world that seems to be a bit lost at the present moment?
Ellyn: I 100% go through periods of lack of motivation just like everyone else. Especially with everything going on in the world. But, I know deep down that giving up isn’t going to serve me or anyone else. Plus, I run on the anxious side so letting things slide will result in a worry spiral at 2am. I’ve found that I’m at my most energized and creative when I’m taking care of myself. If I’m not socializing, exercising, or resting enough, that is a recipe for lack of motivation. I am still working on creating a better balance for myself, but that’s why writing about wellness is so great. I am constantly writing about something that reminds me to get back on track.
Carrie Ann: We’ve been through some tough times these past few years…What are your biggest concerns about the future in general?
Ellyn: I have many. I try not to dwell on those things though, and instead focus on what I can control. I can only control my actions and what I put out into the world. It’s easy to get swept up in what’s happening right now and be in a constant state of worry or rage. I have vacillated between the two but always end up in the same place. I can only control my actions.
Carrie Ann: And what about your own personal future?
Ellyn: I think I have many of the same worries as any other 20-something. Am I doing enough? Am I on the right path? Will I ever be able to afford a house in LA?
Carrie Ann: Ellyn, in my humble opinion, you are doing your part and I know that whatever path you step on, you will bring a lot of light to it. And I’m sure you will be able to afford a house in LA! But maybe you should wait until the prices come down a bit, haha.
So, what excites you about the future? For me, it’s technology. It has grown to help make our lives simpler, which for people with disabilities is extra helpful. Apps like Instacart, Amazon, and Postmates have helped many of us survive these past few years, especially those of us who have unique immune systems and have to be extra careful.
Ellyn: I’m also excited to see where technology takes us. Especially in terms of how it can help us in clean and renewable energy. I’d love a world where we no longer need to put gas in our cars! I’m also excited to see how female leadership grows in our country. Hopefully we get a female president sooner rather than later.
Carrie Ann: Amen. Let’s talk about your self care:
What’s something you do for your mind?
Ellyn: Reading!
Carrie Ann: Your career?
Ellyn: I have read self / career development books and enjoy talking to other people about how they got to where they are. The last book I read is called “The Path Made Clear” by Oprah Winfrey. It’s a collection of quotes and passages from successful people on how they found their purpose.
Carrie Ann: Your body?
Ellyn: I like to exercise and have been working on making it more present in my life. I take different exercise classes through Classpass, and have recently got into spin! It is very difficult but I always feel so accomplished when I walk out.
Carrie Ann: Your skin?
Ellyn: I have a skincare routine that I follow and never miss a day! Here’s an article I wrote about crafting your own routine!
Carrie Ann: Your sleep?
Ellyn: I try to shut off at a decent time and have a similar routine every night. Easier said than done though!
Carrie Ann: Your spirit?
Ellyn: I like taking long walks while listening to music and find that it helps clear my mind. I usually do 3-4 miles while listening to Harry Styles’s new album on repeat.
Carrie Ann: Your heart?
Ellyn: Spending time with family and friends is really important to me!
Carrie Ann: Your hope?
Ellyn: I think that the combination of taking all of these self-care steps lifts my spirits and gives me hope.
Carrie Ann: It gives me hope to hear of other people’s hope, so thank you for sharing that. Just a few more questions…
What has surprised you in all the research you have done and how has working with CAC affected your own personal wellness?
Ellyn: I have learned that wellness is very personal and not one size fits all. It’s all about trial and error. I’ve also learned to be more open to different wellness modalities. If something works for you, it doesn’t really matter what it is or where it came from. This has definitely affected my own wellness and made me a lot more aware of how I need to take care of myself.
Carrie Ann: What do you wish for CAC in the future?
Ellyn: I hope that it continues to grow! I would love for it to expand because I believe in its mission, and that anything that helps people understand themselves and others better is worthwhile.
Carrie Ann: Final question – we have to at least do one about “Dancing with the Stars”! What has been your favorite dance on DWTS?
Ellyn: My all-time favorite was Iman & Daniella’s horror night contemporary to the “Us” theme! It was such an inventive and unique routine. I think everyone in the room was wowed. I went home after the show and watched it again because it was that good! I’m so happy Daniella was nominated for an Emmy for her choreography.
Carrie Ann: I agree, that was one of my favorites as well. And now the final question – must ask, who is your favorite judge? Lol
Ellyn: You of course!!
Carrie Ann: Thank you so much Ellyn, and thank you for all of your contributions to CAC. I look forward to all that is to come.
Stay tuned for more conversations, and check out Carrie Ann’s previous interviews here!
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Summer is here, and with the much needed warm weather comes something that many women dread: bathing suit season. As women we have been inundated with messaging, whether that be through social media, magazines, or our own family and friends, that perpetuates the idea that we must get our bodies ‘bikini ready’. That there is only one standard for a bikini body, and it’s a flat stomach and cellulite free thighs. It seems that only in the last few years has there been any kind of shift in our culture to dispel this narrative. And while more companies are using size inclusive models, there is still work to be done to undo the damage that lives in our heads. So where do we begin? As it turns out, body positivity isn’t something that you can turn on with the flip of the switch. It takes work to rewire your thought processes, but it’s the first step towards reclaiming the confidence we all deserve! Keep reading for tips on how to have your best “hot girl summer” yet.
Reframe how you think of your body
Instead of thinking of your body in terms of how it looks, or how you want it to look, try to view it as the vehicle through which you have done amazing things. For example, the Cleveland Clinic recommends appreciating “that your strong arms allow you to carry your child and the diaper bag and the groceries up the stairs in one trip. Or that your skilled hands prepared an amazing dinner”. Your body allows you to do so many wonderful things that we all often take for granted. When we push looks aside and focus on the functionality of our bodies, it’s hard not to be thankful.
Self-talk is everything, so next time you catch yourself looking in the mirror and thinking “I wish my thighs were thinner”, stop for a moment. Think of what your thighs allow you to do every day, even if it’s as simple as picking up your child. Or speeding through the grocery store to feed yourself and your family. Another great way to shift your thoughts into the positive is to turn this moment into a meditation with intentional touch. Touch your legs, and thank them for getting you where you need to go. Touch your stomach, and thank it for digesting your food and bringing nutrients to your body. Touch your hips, and thank them for holding you up even when you’re tired. If you practice this enough times, you can train your brain to make these healthier, happier thoughts the first thing you say to yourself when looking in a mirror.
Keep a list of what you love about yourself handy – that doesn’t include physical aspects
Looks aren’t everything, and even though many of us know this logically, we live in a culture where unfortunately certain looks are valued and praised over others. It’s hard not to compare yourself when you hop on Instagram and see a photoshopped fashion advertisement for the thousandth time that day. Even though it’s clear the photo has been tinkered with, those types of images can bleed into our subconscious and affect our own ideas of beauty. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, one way to combat this is to keep a list of everything you love about yourself handy. A list that does not include any physical aspects. Read it whenever you need to, and keep adding to it. You have a limited number of body parts, but an endless amount of strengths to appreciate and keep building upon.
Reframe how you think of exercise
Every Spring, like clockwork, magazines and health gurus go on campaigns to push new “beach body” workouts or cleanses. It’s a race to get rid of those extra few pounds you may have put on in the winter, and it further perpetuates the notion that we constantly need to be “fixing” or “improving” our bodies. If you’re already not a fan of exercise, this can make the idea of it too daunting to conquer. And we can’t wait for companies and our culture in general to reframe why exercise is so important. We have to start with ourselves. We have to start seeing physical fitness as a lifelong activity that we don’t do to reach a certain goal weight, but to boost our moods and keep our bodies running smoothly. According to Medical News Today, researchers have found that “people who exercise for functional reasons, such as for fitness, tend to have a more positive body image. Those who exercise to improve their appearance feel less positive about their bodies”. Simply switching your thinking around why you are exercising might help you to start rebuilding your relationship with your body.
Realize that the word “healthy” is somewhat relative
You can’t rely solely on a scale, workout guide, or new cleanse to tell you how healthy you are, because everyone is different. The National Eating Disorders Association has emphasized that “your “ideal” body weight is the weight that allows you to feel strong and energetic and lets you lead a healthy, normal life. For example, when your body is healthy and at its ideal body weight, you are not too tired and you have the energy to interact with friends and family, participate in sports, and concentrate on school or work”. In other words, you can pursue your dreams wholeheartedly. Using the measurement of your quality of life over the number on a scale is a much better way to gauge where you are at.
Cleanse your social feeds
Sometimes the best way to cleanse negative thoughts is to cleanse your feeds. Social media is meant to be fun and add connection to your life, not detract from it. If there are accounts that make you feel less than, or trigger body image issues, hit unfollow. Maybe some accounts don’t bother you personally, but they contribute to problems with inclusivity in the fashion and entertainment industries. That’s also a great reason to unfollow. Change isn’t going to happen unless we raise our voices.
We hope these tips have given you the confidence to start loving yourself a little bit more. You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s worth repeating: anyone with a body has a bikini body. You are bikini ready just the way you are. There’s a reason women made the phrase “hot girl summer” a thing. It’s because it’s a state of mind! Your hot girl summer is happening right now so get out there and reclaim your body image. The power is in your hands.
If you’ve tried these tips to no avail, or find yourself obsessing over your body to the point of extreme weight loss or social isolation, there is help out there. You don’t need to suffer in silence. Visit nationaleatingdisorders.org for more information.
Ready for a book that’ll make you think? Look no further! With the influx of self-help gurus and thought leaders creating followings on social media, it can be difficult to discern who to trust, and who has the research to back up their ideas. All of the authors listed are professionals who research and teach for a living, and are super-stars in their respective fields. If you’ve exhausted Malcolm Gladwell’s catalogue, or are eager to learn something new, I guarantee you’ll love one of these picks.
1. Emotional Agility – Susan David, Phd.
Susan David is a Harvard Medical School psychologist. In “Emotional Agility” she dives into how we can better understand our thoughts, emotions, and patterns in order to “get unstuck, embrace change, and thrive in work and life” (susandavid.com). If you’re curious, David also has an active instagram account where she breaks down the ideas in her book in a digestible way. She’s also been a guest on Brené Brown’s podcast, as well as Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert.
2. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari
Yuval Noah Harari is a historian and philosopher. If you’ve ever wondered about the origin of the human species and how we evolved, this book is for you. It is an entertaining and extensive look into the journey of mankind. Look at it like a crash course in anthropologie, filled with tidbits you can keep in your back pocket for dinner parties.
3. Think Again – The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know – Adam Grant
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist and professor. He studies “the science of motivation, generosity, original thinking, and rethinking” (adamgrant.net). “Think Again” examines the importance of the ability to unlearn and relearn, and the possibilities that come from keeping an open mind. Grant also utilizes social media and podcasts to get his ideas out – if you love the book, check out his own podcast, WorkLife with Adam Grant.
4. The Power of Regret – How Looking Back Moves Us Forward – Daniel Pink
Daniel Pink is a New York Times Bestselling Author and former chief speech writer for Vice President Al Gore. His latest book, “The Power of Regret”, dives into the psychology and research behind how “we can transform our regrets in a positive force for working smarter and living better” (danpink.com). Pink takes a daunting topic that many people wouldn’t want to touch, and transforms it into a useful tool. If regret is something you’ve been struggling with, this might be the book for you!
5. Dopamine Nation – Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence – Dr. Anna Lembke
Dr. Anna Lembke is a psychiatrist and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicinal Dual Diagnosis Clinic. In her New York Times best-seller, Lembke explores “why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain. Most important, she tells readers how to find the delicate balance between the two” (annalembke.com). Addiction surrounds us, and may be affecting your life more than you think. From social media to sugar, addiction takes many forms and Lembke has put the work in to figure out how to lead a more balanced life.
6. Atlas of the Heart – Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience – Brené Brown
Brené Brown is a professor and researcher of emotions, shame, empathy, courage, and vulnerability. Her latest book, “Atlas of the Heart”, explores emotions that define the human experience, and how to make meaningful connections. If you can’t get enough of this book or want the movie version instead, check out Brown’s HBO Max series of the same name. It’s like a 5 episode Ted Talk.
If you’re human, it’s likely that you’ve experienced acne at some point in your life. It’s almost impossible to escape high school and beyond without the clutches of acne grabbing ahold of your skin and self-esteem. Acne is by far the most common skin condition, affecting “up to 50 million Americans annually”, yet is something that can make you feel incredibly isolated (American Academy of Dermatology). It’s also a condition that many of us falsely equivocate solely with adolescence, even though acne can affect people into their 50s. I for one bought into this notion, and held onto the hope that once I hit my early 20s, my skin woes would be on the decline. I wasn’t expecting a miracle, but from everything I had heard there was no reason to believe that things wouldn’t improve. What I didn’t expect, however, was for my acne to get much worse.
Due to the myth that acne is simply a side effect of being a teenager, I felt the isolation that so many of us do when my breakouts became worse with age. I had already spent much of my youth agonizing over my skin and making frequent trips to the dermatologist. My main concern then was rosacea, a condition that causes the skin to flush and look red and inflamed. And of course, acne isn’t going to help with that. I started wearing foundation at twelve years old because my skin had become so red that kids at school would ask why I was so sunburned. Through all of this, I couldn’t wait for the day that adulthood would bring some relief.
It sounds so trivial, but studies have proven time and again that acne has psychological effects. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “researchers have found in study after study that people with acne can also develop depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, decreased quality of life, and a feeling of being all alone”. These psychological effects have consequences in the real world, beyond the obvious decreased quality of life that they bring acne sufferers. Each year, lost productivity due to the inherent debilitating effects of acne amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars. Clearly, the narrative that acne is an adolescent problem is just plain wrong.
By the time I hit 25, my acne had turned cystic and was the worst it had ever been. At that point, I had tried just about everything. Prescription creams, antibiotics, retinoids, diet changes, stripping down my skincare routine to the basics, you name it. Some of it worked for short periods of time, or at least kept the worst of it at bay. But as soon as I thought the problem was under control, it would return with a vengeance.
I had hit my breaking point, and that’s when my dermatologist suggested it was time for isotretinoin, otherwise known as its former brand name, Accutane. I had never considered it as an option. Despite dealing with breakouts since my early teens, my impression with Accutane was that it was for only the most severe forms of acne. However, my doctor explained that since my acne was cystic and I had failed all other alternatives, it was actually a realistic option for me. I’d like to say that I was cautious and took my time in deciding to go on a powerful drug with heavy side effects, but I jumped at the opportunity. At that point, I was willing to try anything.
ACCUTANE – NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
Accutane is a derivative of vitamin A that can cure acne by shrinking the oil glands in the skin. These sebaceous glands can get clogged and attract acne causing bacteria. For many people, it is a cure. Some may have to do a couple 4-6 month rounds of the drug, but generally, it is extremely effective in putting almost a complete stop to acne. There are a number of risks that come with taking Accutane, which are important to discuss with your doctor before starting the medication.
The Basics
For women, or females that can bear children, isotretinoin can cause severe birth defects. Due to this, it is mandatory that women use two forms of birth control and take monthly pregnancy tests. Before you even start your prescription, you have to have 2 negative pregnancy tests one month apart. So, don’t expect to get on the medication the day it’s prescribed. There’s no way around this 30 day waiting period.
In order to get your prescriptions each month, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops:
Schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Get bloodwork panel done (this is for your pregnancy test and to monitor your cholesterol, which can be affected by Accutane).
Take the iPledge online quiz after your appointment. iPledge is the pregnancy prevention program for Accutane. Both doctors, patients, and pharmacies are required to use it. Each month, after your doctor inputs your negative pregnancy test, you will have to take a short quiz that basically proves that you know the risks.
Pick up your prescription within a 7 day window. If you miss this window, you will have to take another pregnancy test.
The Side Effects
Accutane comes with a multitude of side effects that can range from pesky to downright debilitating. Of course, if your symptoms veer towards the latter, it’s important to check in with your doctor.
Common Side Effects (Mayo Clinic):
Bone or joint pain
Burning, redness, itching, or other signs of eye inflammation
Difficulty with moving
Nosebleeds
Scaling, redness, burning, pain, or other signs of inflammation of the lips
Skin infection or rash
Crusting of the skin
Difficulty in wearing contact lenses (may continue after medicine is stopped)
Dryness of the eyes (may continue after treatment is stopped)
Dryness of the mouth or nose
Dryness or itching of the skin
Headache (mild)
Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
Peeling of the skin on palms of the hands or soles of the feet
Stomach upset
Thinning of the hair (may continue after treatment is stopped)
The Essentials
Moisturizer. The most common side effect of Accutane is extreme dryness. This was definitely true for me. Using a gentle, thick moisturizer on my face and body daily was essential, and did help to keep flakiness at bay. This is the moisturizer I swore by while on the medication – and let me tell you, it works. I got comments from people that it didn’t even look like I was on Accutane because my skin didn’t look flaky. I put it down to this wonderful cream.
Aquaphor. Sometimes thick creams just didn’t cut it, especially in the winter. I had patches of eczema pop up on my hands and arms at times when the weather was particularly cold and dry. Aquaphor was a saving grace for not only that, but my frequent nose bleeds. Yes, you read that correctly. I had to moisturize the insides of my nostrils daily, as well as use a humidifier.
Heavy duty balm / mask for your lips. Mine were constantly peeling and cracking, so I was constantly reapplying lip balms. Your average Chapstick isn’t going to cut it here. I used this one on the regular, and sometimes even layered them.
Dealing with these uncomfortable side effects was an easy trade off for me, and I’d do it again. It’s important to consider how Accutane will work with your daily life and routine before taking it. Since I had already exhausted all other resources, choosing to take the medication despite its risks was a no brainer. After I started seeing major results at around month four, I knew I had made the right decision. By the end of my 6 month treatment, I had experienced two months completely breakout free. I couldn’t remember the last time that had happened – it had certainly been well over a decade.
For me, Accutane was a miracle drug. I’m feeling more confident about my skin than ever, and am already wearing much less makeup. The mental burden of worrying and feeling “other” because of adult acne is real and shouldn’t be downplayed or ignored. Talk to your dermatologist if nothing has been working for you. You deserve to feel beautiful and confident in your own skin.
What do you do when you’ve lost yourself? When you can no longer see the end of you and the beginning of someone else? When you’ve finally seen through the fog of exhaustion and turmoil and can’t recognize who you are? You know you have to break the cycle, but you have no clue where to start. It’s an incredibly scary and isolating thought, not knowing how to free yourself from the grip of someone you once thought you loved. However, there’s a path in front of you leading you out of the storm, and all you have to do is take the first step.
THE WARNING SIGNS
You know something is wrong. You don’t recognize the person you once used to be. It is painful to think that you’ve fallen into someone else’s trap. You question yourself, and that’s understandable. So how do you know with certainty that it was someone else chipping away at your sense of self all along?
You’ve lost sight of your own personal goals
You feel emotionally numb
Your partner makes you feel crazy when you try to address problems, leading you to believe the problem is your fault (otherwise known as gaslighting)
You have lost touch with friends and other loved ones
You jump to meet your partner’s needs at the expense of your own
You walk on eggshells around your partner, and do anything to keep the peace
Your partner makes you question every decision you make
You are highly controlling of every other aspect of your life (even other people), because you have zero control of your personal life
You sacrifice opportunities that would lead to your own personal or professional growth
You often feel guilty about anything you say or do
Your partner withholds affection or disappears for periods of time
Your partner uses passive aggressive tactics to retaliate against perceived slights
Your relationship progressed very quickly, and went from one extreme (such as over the top expressions of love) to the other
HOW TO HEAL
Ask for professional help
Leaving an emotionally or physically abusive relationship is hard enough, and dealing with the aftershocks can be just as difficult. These types of relationships can lead to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, uncertainty, and an overall sense of fear (Psych Central). A therapist or psychiatrist can guide you through the process of recovery and provide support every step of the way.
Make a plan
Having a plan in place to handle triggers and possible unsafe situations can help to boost your sense of confidence and control over your recovery. A professional can aid in setting up a concrete plan for various problems that you may face.
Utilize your support system
It’s not uncommon for emotional or narcissistic abusers to alienate you from friends and family. In order to heal, it is important to reconnect with these people and lean on them for support (Verywellmind).
Show yourself love and prioritize self-care
Self-care and self-compassion are essential components of life in general, but particularly integral to putting the pieces of your sense of self back together. Take time to do things you love, have fun, and above all, rest.
Work diligently on your self-talk – it is NOT your fault
Emotional and narcissistic abusers are known for distorting reality, gaslighting, and eroding your self-confidence. You may have gotten into a pattern of guilt and harsh self-judgment, and it’s important to take that belief system apart. Reframing your self-talk is the first step to doing so.
Learn how to trust yourself and others again
Abusers can do a number on your radar for warning signs, which can lead to distrust of others (Cleveland Clinic). It will take time, but through therapy and educating yourself on the signs of manipulation, it is possible to trust again. Not only trust in future partners, but trust in yourself.
Finding yourself again after living in a manipulated reality is difficult, but worth the journey. Reach out, because there will be someone to grab your hand. Whether you know it or not, there are people in your life who love you and are waiting in the wings. Take that first step, and they’ll be there to pick you up until you’re strong enough to do it yourself.
In the past year, my health has become so much more stable than it has been in the past five years or more. Many people have asked me, how did I do it? Well, the truth is, I didn’t do it alone. I worked hard and gathered an incredible team to help me make the best choices, and teach me ways to take better care of my health and chronic illnesses in a holistic way. Up until that point, I had been mostly managing pain, managing symptoms, and just trying to be well enough to get to my job and be my best for everyone else who depends on me. Over the course of the break I took last year to focus on my overall wellness, I learned the great value of having a supportive team. When most of us think of wellness, we think of our doctors. And if you’re a little more forward thinking, or were not raised on Western medicine, you may have an acupuncturist, chiropractor, or a masseuse on your team. But as we’ve discussed in our previous articles, there’s also another layer – our mental wellness and focusing on our dreams.
Coaches can be a great addition to your team, and I myself work with an ADHD coach who has taught me so much about the way my brain works. And that has lessened the stress that caused my autoimmune flare ups. I can’t say that it’s going to happen for everyone, but I will say it was a missing link in my puzzle. Also, working with the incredible Dr. Amen has helped me tremendously, as he was very consistent in my life and very proactive in every decision I made. He has met with me regularly since I called him that one night while he was watching Game of Thrones, and I was unsure if I was going to make it to the next day. Then there’s the Medical Medium, Anthony William, who has been my friend but has also been helping me with his incredible advice. He showed me which recipes and protocols from his books that I should follow, and helped me to realized that it was Epstein Barr syndrome that was wreaking havoc on my system. Then I have a person who works with me on my physical activity, my trainer, Michelle Lovitt. She also helps me manage the muscle tightness that comes along with my fibromyalgia, lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, scoliosis, and spinal stenosis.
What’s important when you’re dealing with health or mystery illness, even if it’s just getting older, is to find the answers that make sense for you and give you lasting results. I thought that if you have an autoimmune condition, you go to a rheumatologist. You do everything they say, and that’s it. Then you go to a pain doctor and do everything they say. And then you go to the orthopedic surgeon and you get their advice. The truth is, it’s a combination of both and it takes an incredible amount of energy, focus, and note taking to come back from a mystery illness. This could even be long haul COVID or whatever you want to call it. Health has a lot to do with your own energy blueprint. I think it’s fascinating to approach my own health that way. And because of that new approach, my homeostasis in a much better place now. I’m eternally grateful for that and to all the people that are a part of my team.
So if you’re struggling with chronic or mystery illnesses, I suggest gathering a team. You need the support. You need their information, you need their years of studying, so that they can help you find the answers that work specifically for you. But they also need you to be proactive. You are the leader of the team, not the doctors. My wish for everyone is to have a life that feels good, and a life that is fulfilling. If you’re in constant pain, feel incredible lethargy, can’t focus, can’t sleep, are having unexplained panic attacks, or are so overwhelmed that you can’t keep your job, it’s time to start building your wellness team.
Here’s a list of my own personal wellness team, the types of people on it, and what I go to them for:
Rheumatologist – A rheumatologist is “an internist or pediatrician who received further training in the diagnosis (detection), and treatment of diseases that affect the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons” (rheumatology.org). My rheumatologist helps me with my autoimmune conditions and he is the one who orders the blood tests to help me diagnose what is going on.
Functional Medicine Doctor – “Functional medicine doctors use specialized training and techniques to find the root causes of complex illnesses. They may investigate multiple factors causing a condition, or they may look into multiple conditions causing one symptom” (webmd.com). My functional medicine Doctor helps me think about my body as a whole, and what could be causing some of the symptoms, like Lyme Disease and other areas that the rheumatologist doesn’t cover.
Body Workers – Bodywork is “any therapeutic or personal development technique that involves working with the human body in a form involving manipulative therapy (like massage), breathwork, or energy medicine” (wikipedia.org). If you can afford to get some body work with a massage therapist, that is helpful to keep things moving. They can help alleviate pain and keep things flowing.
Pain Management Doctor – I believe in pain management. When you are in immense pain, it is difficult to be your own health advocate. In order to manage and heal from autoimmune issues, it takes a lot of work and concentration. I work with a pain management doctor, which is a specialist that “treats patients experiencing chronic, sometimes disabling, pain” (health.usnews.com).
Psychiatrist – Psychiatry “is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders” (psychiatry.org). I work with Dr. Daniel Amen, who has helped me immensely ( see our conversation here) by using brain imaging. Seeing what is going on with my brain helps me to understand how to approach my own mental health. We look at it as brain health, and if we make the brain healthy, the rest will follow.
ADHD Coach – I work with an ADHD coach who helps me keep my stress levels down so that I don’t overwhelm my body and cause a flare up. She helps me find solutions for some of the problems I struggle with in life. ADHD coaches “work collaboratively with their clients who have ADHD or ADHD-like symptoms to address specific needs and personal goals” (chadd.org).
Reiki Healer – I work with a lot of energy workers. For me, it helps. “Energy medicine aims to help the flow of energy and remove blocks in a similar way to acupuncture or acupressure. Reiki practitioners believe that improving the flow of energy around the body can enable relaxation, relieve pain, speed healing, and reduce other symptoms of illness” (medicalnewstoday.com). As a dancer I am tuned in to my body’s energy so these types of healers have been helpful. But it doesn’t work for everyone.
Acupuncturist – I work with an acupuncturist as well. I have used acupuncture my whole adult life to help with injuries and keep my system running well. Acupuncture is “a system of integrative medicine that involves pricking the skin or tissues with needles, used to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions” (Oxford Dictionary). If you don’t like needles, this may not be for you. If not, you could use acupressure as an alternative.
My friends and family – This is the support group that we all need. Having friends that will listen or understand that sometimes you need extra help is wonderful. The unconditional love of family and friends is so important. Make sure you let them know how grateful you are… and how much you appreciate them. It’s not easy for people to understand what it’s like to live with autoimmune disease or chronic illness.
Online support groups – Sometimes you just need people who understand what it’s like to have the illness or condition you have. They can help give honest feedback about medications and side effects, and how it feels emotionally to have certain conditions. I am a member of the Sjogrens Sisters group and a Lupus and Fibromyalgia group. I can discuss openly some questions I have and get responses from other people who have the same symptoms I have. I have found these groups to be very helpful. Just remember that they are not experts in the field, but they are people who live with it. So do not follow any advice unless you clear it with your own doctor as well.
It’s also important to note that finding a good doctor might take some trial and error. Be persistent. A doctor should be empathetic, a good listener, and willing to be collaborative. If you don’t feel comfortable with a doctor or feel that they are dismissing any of your symptoms, try someone else. You should not have to fight to prove to a medical professional that you are experiencing pain or discomfort. You deserve perfect wellness, and don’t settle for anything less!
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 forhis 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.
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.
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:
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