Behind the Curtain at Theatre RN

March 2021

Happy March Reader!

I hope this March is full of new beginnings after a long year of the Pandemic.

Word of the Month: Balance

As we all slowly creep back toward life that involves live performance, the word that comes up the most with clients is balance. We all recognize that the crazy lives some of us lived before the pandemic had us taking on too much, feeling like we had to say yes to everything, and running on empty all the time. While the subject of balance came up with clients in the last year, lives were still in pandemic mode where creating balance was a little easier to work on. As theatres open up and more opportunities for performances become available, falling back into the same crazy lifestyle is something every person recognizes needs to change. Working on Balance is hard. It requires advanced planning and really focusing on what is important to your own life vision for yourself. This is where most of the work of health & wellness coaching is. What do you need to let go of? What do you need to have more of in your daily routine? Health coaching isn't all about eating more Broccoli. It's about managing all the parts of your wheel of life that impact eating broccoli. If you want to create more balance, let's talk.

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What is on my mind:

Equality and Inclusion is always on my mind. This quote from Hairspray resonated with me this week as I process LGBTQIA and the latest violence against Asians & Pacific Islanders in the news.

I chose to rock out to equality and inclusion. I always hope that I am a safe space for everyone.

"Thelma, Isn't this where it's headed anyway?

You can fight it or you can rock out to it! "

-Corny Collins, Hairpray

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What am I cooking and eating:

It's March so I do like a some Irish Soda Bread and some corned beef. Last month I finished up a course that focused on Nutrition and Cancer. What does Cancer have to do with health in the arts? Well....everything. The same foods that are good for preventing cancers are the same foods that improve gut health, brain health and regulate hormones. I am focusing on getting more Cruciferous and Brassica veggies; Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and Kale to name a few. The great part is that Broccoli and Cauliflower are really cost effective vegetables. They are also on the Clean Fifteen list of most clean veggies from pesticides. So if Organic is not in your budget, regular Broccoli and Cauliflower really give you the money bank for your buck. Hate Broccoli and Cauliflower? I get it. I frankly don't love them either. However, I have found that the trick is to find how you like them prepared. I like them best roasted in the oven with some healthy fat and seasonings. Maybe you like them raw with a dip. Maybe you prefer them steamed. Play with your veggies and see what version works best fo you.

What I am Reading:

Much of what I read is through the lens of helping better serve my clients on their wellness journey. I started out reading this book with the intention of opening up a discussion about how so many adult activities revolve around or include alcohol. Addictions and use of alcohol are a common way for many people in the arts industry to try to manage stress, self esteem, and rejection. Quit Like a Woman has some great facts about alcohol particularly in relation to women. It also opens up the discussion about how not everyone's story around alcohol can be treated the same. One of the hallmark aspects of health coaching is that every single person has different needs for their unique body and experiences. No two clients have the same journey and thing that lead them to success. So the idea that not everyone will respond to a particular program resonates with me as a coach. I love the concept of getting back to activities we loved before drinking became part of the mix.

Alcohol affects so many things that are crucial to life in the arts industry; stress, sleep, hormones, anxiety, energy. The list goes on. So it's always worth considering how decreasing alcohol might improve life in a demanding arts profession. Does it make you a bad person for liking a good glass of wine? No. I like a glass of wine. However understanding how alcohol effects your body and your performance is key to your own wellness.

What am I watching:

It's a Sin on HBO Max.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic and the LGBTQIA has always been close to my heart. My community nursing rotation was HIV/AIDS patients in Baltimore city in the early 1990s. It also is a reminder that with every new virus there is so much we don't know in the beginning. Treating people with love and equality is always a core value.

What am I diffusing:

March is the month of blooming in the Mid-Atlantic. So for respiratory support, I diffuse Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint Essential Oils regularly.

I recommend quality therapeutic essential oils like Young Living Essential oils. Cheap grocery store oils will not give a therapeutic effect. I put 5 drops of Lemon, 5 drops of Lavender and 1 drop Peppermint in the diffuser.

Luck of the Irish Health Coaching offer:

50% off all 1:1 sessions if book your first session in March. Contact me for a free Intro session.

Share with all your friends in the arts industry. Together we can build a healthier, thriving Arts Community.

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Health and Happiness,

Nicole, Theatre RN

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