Travel & Transformation

Midlife isn't about becoming smaller, it’s about getting stronger.It's the point where you're finally invited to take up more space, become stronger, and step into a different kind of power.In Episode 195 of Travel & Transformation, I’m talking with Bronwyn Ayla Lac, a clinician and teacher whose work brings together acupuncture, Rosen Method, Dagara divination, seasonal medicine, and Reiki.We talk about what happens when we start listening to the body differently, how our bodies can reveal patterns we aren't consciously aware of, and why having more tools isn't necessarily the answer.We also go much deeper into what midlife can mean for women. Bronwyn sees menopause as an initiation into a new stage of life rather than a decline, and we talk about the cultural messages that have taught women to become smaller, quieter, and less visible as they age.But reclaiming your power isn't only about changing what you do on the outside.It's also about becoming willing to look at the unconscious patterns that may still be shaping your choices, relationships, and the life you're creating.We explore what happens when one part of you says you want something different while another part is still trying to keep you safe. Sometimes what looks like resistance may actually be protecting something you haven't fully understood yet.And we talk about the uncomfortable place of being “half in and half out” of the life you say you want.If you're in a season of midlife transition, questioning who you've been, or feeling called to become more fully yourself, this conversation offers a different way of looking at what's possible.In This Episode• How the body can reveal patterns that we're not consciously aware of• What Rosen Method teaches us about listening to the body instead of forcing change• Bronwyn's work with Dagara divination and ancestral connection• Why finding the “perfect” healing tool can become a distraction• Menopause and midlife as an initiation into a new kind of power• Why women don't need to become smaller as they get older• The unconscious scripts that can conflict with what we consciously want• How hidden benefits can keep us attached to patterns we say we want to change• Why readiness matters when we're doing deeper inner work• What it means to be “half in and half out” of your own life• Why transformation requires more than simply deciding you want something differentBest Moments“Don't try to get smaller. Get stronger.”“The most painful part, the most painful place is being half in and half out.”“It's much easier once you fully commit.”About Our GuestBronwyn Ayla, L.Ac., is an acupuncturist, dancer, author, and teacher who works at the meeting point of medicine and transformation. For nearly three decades, she has brought Chinese medicine, embodied practice, energy work, and deep attention to questions of healing, change, and awakening.Website | www.bronwynayla.com GET SOULMATE READYI’d love to invite you to join my Get Soulmate Ready four-week cohort.We’re going to spend four weeks unraveling the things that may be keeping you single and looking at the patterns that can get in the way of the love you’re looking for.This is for high-achieving women who are doing well in so many areas of life but find that love feels like the one area that isn't working the way they want it to.You’ll also be surrounded by other women who are navigating some of the same questions and experiences, because sometimes it helps to realize you’re not the only one going through it.If this sounds interesting to you, send me a DM @createlifeyourway on Instagram or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you and have you in the program.Connect With MeWebsite | www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754 LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-elcock-b1941b5/

Sometimes being the “good girl” can show up in dating in ways we don't even notice.You make him your focus. You put your own needs aside. You give more than you're receiving. You take over the planning because you're capable. Or you hold back from showing interest because you don't want to seem too eager or risk rejection.In Episode 194 of Travel & Transformation, I’m talking about 3 “Good Girl” Patterns That Could Be Keeping You Single.We’ll look at people-pleasing, over-giving, taking on too much of the effort, putting your life on hold, and becoming emotionally invested before you've even decided whether you actually like the person.I also share a client story about how past trauma shaped her dating patterns and how rewriting the story helped her approach dating differently.You can begin by asking yourself:Am I enjoying getting to know this person, or am I already trying to secure the relationship?Have I given him a chance to show me what effort looks like?Am I living my life, or keeping myself available just in case?I also share details about my new four-week Get Soulmate Ready cohort for high-achieving women who are successful in many areas of life but struggling when it comes to love.You don't have to stop being a caring woman. You may simply need to let the good girl rest.In This Episode• How people-pleasing can create unbalanced relationships• Putting a new partner's needs ahead of your own• Giving gifts and over-giving too early in dating• Taking on all the planning and initiative• Giving someone the opportunity to show you their level of effort• Putting your own life on hold while waiting for someone to call• The difference between expressing interest and chasing• Acting like someone's girlfriend before you've decided whether you actually like him• How past trauma can influence dating patterns• Using journaling and reflection to recognize patterns• Rewriting the story you're carrying into your relationships• My new four-week Get Soulmate Ready cohortBest Moments“You can rewrite the story and live into the future in the new story, being the heroine of that story.”“You don't have to chase, but you also don't have to sit back and wait to be chosen.”“You have to give somebody the opportunity to show you what their effort looks like.”GET SOULMATE READYI’d love to invite you to join my Get Soulmate Ready four-week cohort.We’re going to spend four weeks unraveling the things that may be keeping you single and looking at the patterns that can get in the way of the love you’re looking for.This is for high-achieving women who are doing well in so many areas of life but find that love feels like the one area that isn't working the way they want it to.You’ll also be surrounded by other women who are navigating some of the same questions and experiences, because sometimes it helps to realize you’re not the only one going through it.If this sounds interesting to you, send me a DM @createlifeyourway on Instagram or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you and have you in the program.Connect With MeWebsite | www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754 LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-elcock-b1941b5/

What if changing your life begins with changing the story you’ve been living?In this episode of Travel & Transformation, I’m talking with Amber Bailey about healing, identity, travel, relationships, and the different ways we can create a new experience for ourselves.Amber’s work spans two very different worlds. She is helping develop My Own Care, a platform designed to create personalized, holistic journeys for people living with chronic pain. The approach brings together medical care, behavioral health, nutrition, acupuncture, chiropractic care, meditation, affirmations, and ongoing support, with the goal of supporting the whole person rather than treating isolated symptoms.We also talk about Amber’s work with astrocartography and the platform she is developing to help people explore the energetic themes associated with different places. She shares stories from her travels and how those experiences have connected with career, love, abundance, creativity, and personal transformation.But underneath both parts of her work is a bigger question: What happens when we stop seeing ourselves through an old story and become open to a different version of who we can be?We explore identity, subconscious patterns, healing, relationships, and the possibility of breaking the agreements that may be keeping us stuck. Amber also shares what she learned from a relationship that didn't work out but opened her heart to a kind of love she hadn't experienced before.For me, this conversation brings together so much of what Travel & Transformation is about: healing, self-discovery, changing perspective, and giving ourselves permission to imagine a different chapter.In This EpisodeRethinking how we approach chronic pain and healingIdentity, story, and subconscious patternsAmber's work with My Own CareAstrocartography and intentional travelHow changing your environment can shift your perspectiveExploring different versions of yourselfLove, relationships, and personal transformationRecognizing beliefs that may be holding you backMemorable Quotes“Let’s create an environment that heals instead of just taking away the symptoms.”“Open up your heart to a love that you didn’t even know existed.”“You can break the agreement.”Connect With Our GuestAlchemy Chamber | www.alchemychamber.comConnect With MeIf you're ready for more than just hoping you'll meet the right person, I'd love to help you Get Soulmate Ready.I'm opening a small four-week group for 10 courageous women who are ready to look at what's been holding them back, get clear about what they truly want, and take action toward creating space for a healthy relationship.If you're curious, send me a DM @createlifeyourway on Instagram and I'll send you the details.Website | www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754 LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-elcock-b1941b5/

What if there is more to our inner world than what we can see, explain, or understand with our minds?In this episode of Travel & Transformation, I’m joined by Isabelle Zimmerman, an Ascension teacher who helps people explore consciousness, shift perspectives, and connect more deeply with different aspects of their inner world.Isabelle and I talk about what it means to “drop into your heart,” why moving away from the heart can leave us feeling disconnected or stuck, and how becoming calmer and more present can open us to different perspectives.We also explore past-life regression, reincarnation, spirit guides, fear, trauma, and the possibility that some of the patterns we experience in this life may connect to something deeper.One of my favorite parts of the conversation was actually experiencing Isabelle’s process myself. We take a few moments during the episode to connect with the heart’s energy and notice what happens when we move out of our heads and into a different state of awareness.Later, I share my own experience with past-life regression and what came up for me this time. As I always say, there are many different beliefs around these subjects, and I think we can be curious about them without needing everyone to believe the same thing.In This EpisodeWhat an Ascension teacher actually doesExploring consciousness and different perspectivesWhat it means to “drop into your heart”Moving beyond fear and resistanceIsabelle’s journey from childhood trauma toward her spiritual pathHow our inner world can influence the way we experience our outer worldA guided heart-energy experience you can follow along withMy experience with past-life regressionReincarnation, soul lessons, and repeating or breaking patternsWhy sometimes you may not get what you want, but you get what you needThe importance of staying curious about beliefs that may be different from your ownBest Moments“You may not get what you want, but you get what you need.”“When you move away from the heart, you feel this emptiness and loneliness.”“I focus on your inner world so that your outer world can be fun.”A Final ThoughtYou don't have to share the same beliefs as Isabelle or me to explore this conversation. You can simply be curious.What if there are parts of yourself you haven't yet discovered? What might change if you stopped trying to figure everything out from your head and allowed yourself to listen a little more deeply?Thank you for being here and exploring this journey of Travel & Transformation with me.Connect With Our GuestIsabelle Zimmerman: Attracting WisdomWebsite | www.attractingwisdom.com Facebook | www.facebook.com/attractingwisdom Instagram | @AttractingWisdomLinkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-zimmerman-85bb4347/ Connect With MeIf you're ready for more than just hoping you'll meet the right person, I'd love to help you Get Soulmate Ready.I'm opening a small four-week group for 10 courageous women who are ready to look at what's been holding them back, get clear about what they truly want, and take action toward creating space for a healthy relationship.If you're curious, send me a DM @createlifeyourway on Instagram and I'll send you the details.Website | www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754 LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-elcock-b1941b5/ 

You want a relationship. You want to meet someone. You want to share your life with a partner. But what if a part of you is also doing everything it can to protect the life you already have?I've been talking with several single women who deeply want a relationship, yet they're carrying beliefs like I'm too old, I'm not good enough, or I'm not sure I'm worthy of a healthy relationship. And sometimes the story goes even deeper. Maybe you love your freedom. Maybe you don't want your peace disrupted. Maybe you've created a life you genuinely enjoy and aren't sure how another person would fit into it.So how do you know whether you're truly ready for the relationship you're asking for?In this episode, I explore the hidden reasons we can want something consciously while another part of us may be protecting us from having it. I also share some of the personal work I've done around this and what I've noticed changing as I've become more available and willing to take action. And if you've ever wondered whether you're not finding the right person or whether there's something within you that needs to shift first, I think this conversation will give you something to think about.Because sometimes the question isn't "Why haven't I found my person?" It's "Am I actually making room for the relationship I say I want?"In This EpisodeWhy wanting a relationship doesn't always mean we're ready to have oneThe hidden "secondary gains" that can keep us from getting what we say we wantHow protecting your peace and freedom can affect your openness to a relationshipWhy the right relationship doesn't have to mean giving up the freedom you've createdHow fear and safety can influence the changes we say we wantWhy creating a healthy relationship may require stepping into a new identityThe importance of getting clear about what you actually want in a relationshipWhat changed for me when I became more available and willing to take actionAn introduction to my four-week Get Soulmate Ready programBest Moments“There is a reason underneath why we’re not getting what we say we want, because we might not really want it.”“With the right person, they can contribute to your peace. They don't have to disturb your peace.”“We start with actual awareness, because if things are in your blind spot, you can't see them. And what you can't see, you can't solve for.”Connect With MeIf you're ready for more than just hoping you'll meet the right person, I'd love to help you Get Soulmate Ready.I'm opening a small four-week group for 10 courageous women who are ready to look at what's been holding them back, get clear about what they truly want, and take action toward creating space for a healthy relationship.If you're curious, send me a DM @createlifeyourway in Instagram and I'll send you the details.Website | www.thereikihealingcoach.comInstagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

I don't think you have to identify as an alcoholic to question your relationship with alcohol.In this episode, I sit down with Kate Bee, founder of The Sober School, to talk about gray-zone drinking and the hidden ways alcohol can affect women in midlife. Kate shares her own journey with alcohol and why she created The Sober School for women who know their drinking is causing problems but don't identify with the traditional picture of alcoholism or recovery. We talk about the emotional reasons behind drinking, the signs that your relationship with alcohol may be changing, and why you don't need to reach rock bottom before deciding to take a break.We Discussed:#1 What is gray-zone drinking?I asked Kate to explain what she means by "gray-zone drinking." We talked about the space between "normal" drinking and the stereotypical image of alcoholism, where alcohol can be causing problems even when someone still appears highly functional.#2 Why we drinkWe explored why drinking often makes sense in the moment. For many women, alcohol becomes a way to decompress, escape, manage stress, or cope with difficult emotions.#3 The signs I shouldn't ignoreKate shared some important clues that something may not be right, including worrying about my drinking, waking up with regret, repeatedly promising myself I won't drink, hiding drinks, or drinking in ways I wouldn't want other people to see.#4 Alcohol and perimenopauseWe talked about how alcohol can affect sleep, anxiety, hot flushes, and weight during perimenopause. We also discussed why drinking can become especially appealing during a stage of life when women are carrying so many responsibilities.#5 Do I have to hit rock bottom?Kate explained why I don't need a dramatic wake-up call before making a change. Sometimes realizing that I'm repeatedly breaking promises I've made to myself can be enough information to pay attention.#6 The six-week breakKate shared why she uses a six-week alcohol-free period in her core program. The goal isn't to force women to decide they'll never drink again. It's about giving themselves the space to learn, experiment with new coping mechanisms, and make a more informed decision about what they want long term.#7 Why human connection mattersWe also talked about coaching, accountability, compassion, and the importance of finding the right people to support us when we're trying to make meaningful changes.BEST MOMENTS:"Your drinking always makes sense.""Behind every craving for alcohol, there's some kind of unmet need or pain that's not being resolved."Download the Free Guide: How To Survive Wine O’Clock Tonight - take a break from alcohol tonight and wake up feeling happy, healthy, and hangover-free tomorrowhttps://thesoberschool.com/how-to-survive-wine-oclock-tonight-ga-ukAbout Kate BeeKate Bee is the founder of The Sober School, an online coaching platform that helps women stop drinking without shame, labels, or deprivation. Her flagship program, Getting Unstuck, has supported more than 4,000 women. You can learn more about Kate and The Sober School at thesoberschool.com.Connect with SophiaWebsite | www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

You catch yourself avoiding the mirror. Your body doesn't look or feel like it used to, and nobody warned you this was coming, or told you what to actually do about it.I sat down with Lisa Rhyne, performance health coach and founder of a body-confidence coaching practice built from her own recovery from body dysmorphia and disordered eating as a professional dancer. Lisa breaks down why the all-or-nothing fitness culture keeps women stuck, how to start strength training without fear (yes, even with just body weight), and why your relationship with food has nothing to do with "good" or "bad" foods and everything to do with guilt.If you've stopped liking what you see in the mirror, feel like your body changed and nobody handed you the manual, or think working out means six days a week or nothing, this one's for you.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Why body image work starts with experimenting, not overhauling everything at onceThe two to three times a week strength blueprint for women in perimenopause and beyondStarting with 10 pounds (not 20) and why that's not a compromiseWhy recovery days aren't laziness, especially post-40Building an at-home workout that removes every excuseLongevity care: training for grandkids, groceries, and getting off the floorEnding the good food/bad food mindset (and what "clean" actually means)The five-minute Sunday meal plan that kills decision fatigueTraveling without losing your routine, and why walking still countsAbout Our Guest:Lisa Rhyne is a Certified Performance Health Coach, professional dancer, and founder of Balanced, where she helps dancers, athletes, and active women improve how they perform in everyday life through movement, nutrition, recovery, and intentional lifestyle choices. Drawing from her experience as both a performer and coach, Lisa empowers clients to build healthier relationships with their bodies and minds while focusing on longevity health.BEST MOMENTS:"To love yourself externally, you have to love yourself internally.""There is no good or bad food, healthy or unhealthy food. There are simply cleaner options.""You've followed the plan. But it gives you the freedom that you can eat what you enjoy.""The earlier you can start any type of longevity care, not only are you going to live longer, but you're going to live better."Connect with Lisa Rhyne on YouTube | www.youtube.com/@balancedwithlisaInstagram | www.instagram.com/balancedwithlisaConnect with SophiaWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

You think there's a cutoff age for solo travel. Jeaninne Escallier Kato is here to prove there isn't one.I sat down with Jeaninne, a retired educator of 36 years, author, and host of the podcast Staging the Third Act, who's been traveling solo by choice since she was 19. She's 72 now, still booking solo trips to Mexico on her own, and she's not slowing down. Jeaninne walks me through what solo travel taught her decade after decade, how a single book pulled her toward her own ancestry later in life, and why she refuses to let age, or anyone else's timeline, decide what she's still capable of.If you've ever assumed solo travel is a young person's game, or you're wondering what adventure looks like on the other side of 40, 50, or 70, this one's for you.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Why she started solo traveling at 19, and why she never stoppedWhat four decades of solo travel taught her about herselfThe book that sent her chasing her ancestry through Mexico in her 40sLearning Spanish later in life and finding a second homeStaying safe and confident traveling solo in Mexico City at 72How grief led her to start a podcast, and a new chapter, later in lifeWhy she's still planning her next solo tripBEST MOMENTS:"When you can find a place where you're helping people, that's where you find your gift, and that's where you find your purpose.""I'm 72. I'm looking down the mountain, not up the mountain."Connect with on Podcast | Staging the Third ActLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/jeaninne-escallier-kato-56033b34Books | www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DKDCM7CRConnect with SophiaWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock