Spring 2017, I was living with a very dark cloud inside of me.
I had recently experienced a breakup. It was the right decision but sometimes you have to make painful right decisions.
I felt like my emotional health was at an all time low. I didn’t know where the trajectory of my life was going to go. It’s amazing how much the state of your health and heart makes all the difference in your life.
I felt like I needed to do something to get myself from out of the “underworld.” I didn’t really know what I was searching for to help me get up again. So I started my search in Google with – “health places in Portage la Prairie.”
Among my searches was a place called “Heartland Family Wellness Centre”. I didn’t know how a naturopathic doctor could help me. However, I decided to just call them on a whim and make an appointment.
When I showed up for my first appointment, I came into this “office.” It really wasn’t your regular type of health office.
Instead of the usual smell of weird chemicals, it smelled of essential oils. There was also some ambient music going on in the background. I sat in the “Dr’s Office” and waited for this mysterious person to show up.
After some waiting… and more waiting – she busted in the door with an insane amount of energy. At first, it was too much for me – but it was something I would eventually grow to love.
Her name was Dr. Lisa Graham – the naturopathic doctor.
It’s been a few years now since this first visit so my memory isn’t exactly clear. Essentially, I told her I was experiencing a lot of emotional pain and spiritual pain. This was a lot different than what you would share with a “regular doctor.”
She told me – “Right now you are in a cocoon. But you have to be in a mushy dark place first before transforming into the beautiful butterfly. In relationships sometimes letting someone fly away is the most loving thing you can do.”
These words brought me such relief.
Even with my initial reservations of this plan she proposed to me to join her – I decided to say yes. To which she said, “LETS GO HIT THE GONG”. Hitting the gong at Heartland means a patient experienced a breakthrough or decided to join the cult (or family). 😉
I started my hydrotherapy appointments and acupuncture – neither of which I experienced prior to Heartland. I would explain hydrotherapy as a warm cuddling hug with a side of “take a deep breath.”
The feeling afterward is as if you charged your positive energy and detoxed any negative energy out of your system. Acupuncture as you can imagine is plunking needles in certain areas of your body corresponding to “meridians” in your body. The ancient practice is to get the chi flowing through your body again.
The best part, is the life guidance you get from Dr. Lisa while she is poking you with needles. And the feeling afterward has more to do with the main emotion you were needing to release that day. Sometimes I feel tired afterward and sometimes I feel relief.
One of the biggest highlights of Heartland is Dr. Lisa’s loving words, the amazing staff, and the sauna chats. These chats can be the most profound and healing part of the Heartland experience.
This is where you get to meet all of the beautiful souls who come to Heartland. You have the honour of growing the deepest relationships with people you have ever had in your life. These people are also to blame for my heart being changed. 😉
Why is this? It’s because we all realize that it doesn’t matter where you come from, we all need to heal.
Essentially, it’s because we as humans are all vulnerable. Heartland is a place where women and men can share these vulnerabilities without judgement. It’s almost as if Heartland has this protective bubble around it. It doesn’t matter what kind of day you have when you walk in. You always leave feeling a lot stronger to face everyday life.
Below is a small snippet of hilarious quotes that Dr. Lisa has shared with me (and others) over the years:
1) “You can’t orgasm all day” – in response to me asking why we have to feel so much negative emotion
2) “You already have the wedding dress on, SLOW IT DOWN.” In response to me getting way too excited about a guy I am currently dating
3) “Your body was made to heal”
4) “It doesn’t matter what area of the world you travel, if you don’t have your health you can’t enjoy it.”
5) “Can you imagine how God sees you? Not how you see you?”
6) “I have a lot of issues with pride in my family, I think your family might struggle with that too”
7) “The birth process is something so fascinating and amazing, but yet we still don’t quite understand how it works”
8) “Happiness is not found through social media”
9) “That is why I call this place Heartland – because I am here to help heal hearts.”
10) “All it takes is one person to heal themselves, and that has an effect on everyone you are connected to in your life.”
11) “Have you been doing your mirror work?”
12) “Life can be like a song, you are present in every moment – all the highs and the lows, you aren’t really wishing for it to be over”
13) “I meet people where they are at. I love on them when needed, but also kick them in the butt when needed.”
14) “GAME ON”
15) “We are not living in the now, we are always worried – when is he going to propose? when is the first baby coming? when are the kids going to grow up? now that the kids are gone what do I do now? – we are always chasing horizons – and we never arrive.”
These are only a few of the words of wisdom Dr. Lisa has shared while I was going through life’s lessons. One thing I will say is I’m starting to think she doesn’t call us “patients” because we are health patients.
She calls us that because we have to develop the virtue of “patience” while waiting for your natural health treatment and pep talk. The concept of time does not exist at Heartland, but would I want change that? – not a chance.
The reason she takes her time is because she spends every moment, she needs to with each of us – and it’s worth it.
The most important thing Heartland and Dr. Lisa have taught me has not been just about health – but it has caused me to open my heart. This place has given me the tools to rid myself of any anger, sadness and fear a little more every day.
She teaches everyone about focusing more on the PROCESS of healing, not quick fixes. To me this way of healing is much more rewarding, and long lasting than anything I’ve experienced.
And that’s exactly what Heartland is – an experience.
This post was inspired by:
Heartland Family Wellness Centre
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