Chi-Elements

Halloween’s roots trace back to ancient Celtic, Roman, and early Christian traditions, blending elements from pagan rituals and religious practices. The origin of Halloween is closely linked to Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”), a festival celebrated by the ancient Celts over 2,000 years ago, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Celebrated on October 31st to November 1st, Samhain was seen as a time when the boundary between the physical world and the spirit world was thin. This allowed spirits of the dead to return to the earth for one night, along with other supernatural beings, such as fairies and deities.
 
Well, wether we believe this or not, there is a profound shift during this season - from summer to fall, fall to winter. Light to dark. I’ll be the first to admit that I never used to appreciate this shift in season very much - longing for my warm, bright, summer days. However, as I’ve learned more over the years, I’m able to appreciate the deeper meaning of this change in seasons. It’s an opportunity for deepening of intuition and a clearer connection to the spiritual realm. It’s as if the veil between the worlds opens a gateway to understanding our true potential and the magic that we carry within us every day. This season challenges us to step into the unknown, inviting us to imagine new possibilities in our abilities and the mysteries of the universe. It’s a forced invitation to look inwards, and nourish the deeper self.

From Agatha - September 2024 Newsletter

Functional Wellness Monthly September 2024 Hello everyone! I hope you all had a fun, restful summer and got to enjoy some family time. I'm doubly excited: 1) because I'm keen to start classes again 2) because I'm finally restarting my newsletter after many years hiatus. My goal with this monthly newsletter is to keep you in the loop of what....

I’m back teaching at Convent Bio in Lagoa on Monday, January 8th. Two classes to choose from and both run for 10 weeks. Pilates at 9:30am & Kundalini at 10:45am.
Hope to see you there!

It is with great honor that I hosted our second women’s circle this month. Women’s circles are much more than just women getting together to chat. As Jean Shinoda Bolen, author of “The Millionth Circle: How to change ourselves and the world,” puts it:

“In more ways than one, women talk in circles: conversation takes a spiral shape in its subjective exploration of every subject. Listening, witnessing, role modelling, reacting, deepening, mirroring, laughing, crying, grieving, drawing upon experience, and sharing the wisdom of experience, women in circles support each other and discover themselves, through talk.

The more circles there are, the easier it is for new circles to form; this is how morphic fields work. Women’s circles form one at a time. Each circle expands the experience of being in one to more women. Each woman in every circle who is changed by it takes this experience into her world of relationships. Until, on one fine day, a new circle will form, and it will be “the millionth circle” - the one that tips the scales - and brings us into the post-patriarchal human era.”

I am proud to be contributing to this concept of the “millionth circle” in the hopes that one day there are enough circles to tips the scales and reignite the feminine values into society - allowing us to live in a more intuitive, compassionate, relationship focused and nurturing way (both to ourselves and those around us).

In celebration of women’s month I’m so excited to be hosting my very first women’s circle 🙌 Sitting in circle is an ancient technology and sitting in circle with other women is medicine for the soul. Come together with other women on the new moon for some cycle awareness, restorative yoga practices, laughter, sharing, support and community.

This is free of charge, but you are asked to bring a healthy snack to share.

Reservation is mandatory as spaces are limited.

Changes, while necessary, aren’t always easy - but they definitely make us more adaptable. We arrived in Portugal mid-August 2022 and between then and now we moved houses 4 different times and to completely different parts of the Algarve. I jokingly said we were living like Nomads - but it’s true! I had to fit teaching my virtual classes in whichever space I could find. That’s the beauty of technology though - no matter where I go I can stay connected with my longtime clients & I’m so grateful for that ❤️

Hello all! Yes, I’ve been missing in action for a little while, I know. But…as you may or may not know we’ve made a big change in our lives this summer - making the decision to move our family from Canada (after living there for the last 7 years) back to Europe. I’m often asked why, why did we decide to come back to Europe? The reasons are many, but here are a few of the highlights:
- I wanted to be closer to my mom and brothers
- We wanted our kids to be back in Europe and immerse themselves in more culture, history, languages
- We wanted to buy a place with land, where we could be self sufficient
- Being Brazilian, I just can’t shake my need for sun and warmth :-)
- We were not liking the political climate in Canada

So where did we end up? We are now living in the South of Portugal and loving every minute of it. My inner voice had been screaming for a long time to make the change. Timing was right, circumstances were right, and we just made the leap. When you know you know.

The winds of change set sail. From the darkest night of the year, now the days will get a little bit brighter. While winter is one of the hardest seasons for me to embrace, I am welcoming this opportunity to turn inwards, nourish myself, get plenty of rest and be ready for the lighter days. Happy Winter Solstice ❄️

New moon, new beginnings ☺️

I’ve been quiet for a while, but that’s because we have been planning a big move! After 7 years in Canada we are off to Europe for our next adventure. Once I’m settled I will post more so stay tuned!

p.s: this picture was taken last night of Vancouver sending us off with fireworks and all!

It’s on! 2 week detox focused on the liver & gallbladder. We are on Day 1. Not too late if you still want to join - link in bio. Morning nourishment included:
- 16oz (600ml) of lemon water - fresh carrot juice - fresh apple juice - rice flakes porridge with almond milk, cinnamon & pumpkin seeds

I can’t stress enough how important it is to ensure your core works correctly and is being properly activated. It really is at the center of all movement and a critical component of injury prevention and keeping you moving well for life.

Restorative yoga poses are a great way to rejuvenate the mind and body. When done consistently, in as little as 5 mins a day, you can heal the effects of stress. Give one of these a try

Pose 1: Legs Up The wall pose: helps circulation and calms the nervous system. 3-5 mins

Pose 2: Supported seated-angle pose: calms the organs of digestion and elimination. Can be a very soothing pose but make sure to use enough props so you don’t strain your lower back. 3-5mins

Pose 3 - Basic relaxation pose with elevated legs: releases the lower back, allows the body to sink into a deep relaxation especially when you add the sand bags over the legs and eyes. 5-20mins.

What is your honest reaction when you read this? For a long time for me I would say: “absolutely not.” I have too many things to do, too many people counting on me - and I’ll focus on me when I have time (which was never). Well, when we don’t prioritize ourselves our bodies will make sure we do - and not always in the most pleasant ways. This week I want to focus on self-care. But first, I want to know how do you feel when you read this? Comment below 💕.

So much gratitude for our many blessings and opportunities. Today we are officially Canadians! 😁🙌

This certification has been 3 yrs in the making - so excited! Nutrition has been a passion of mine ever since my teen years when I used to geek out on nutrition books 😁 Curious to know what nutrition counseling can do for you? Book a free 30min session to learn more (link in bio)

“Celebrate endings - for they precede new beginnings.” Jonathan Lockwood Huie Happy 2022 everyone! Art by my talented dad .degasperi

Sending everyone so much 🥰

Ok, let’s be honest. Winter just isn’t my favorite season. My Brazilian blood just isn’t feeling the lack of light, warmth and color. However, the years have given me some wisdom and appreciation for the seasons and what each period is trying to bring us. The time for inner work, silence, introspection is just as important as the doing - one might argue that it’s even more important as it feeds and shapes the quality of the doing. So here’s to some Inner Quiet 💕Happy Winter Solstice.

Morning routine

Research has shown that the most successful people in the world have some sort of morning routine they follow in order to set them up for success that day.

As a busy mom, I’ve often neglected myself and put my own self care last. Over the years I’ve learned that if I don’t prioritize myself, then when I go down everyone goes down with me.

In comes my prioritization of a morning routine (aka prioritizing my own self care!).

Here’s a glimpse of what that looks like:

- Wake up +/-5am (yes, it’s doable & blissful because the house is quiet & I have time to myself)
- Drink 2 full glasses of water (we are so dehydrated when we wake up & this will do wonders for your cells, brain & digestive system)
- 1-3min cold shower
- Do 45mins-1hr of Yoga/Meditation practice
- Positive affirmations/prayer
- Learn something (listen to a lecture, read a couple of minutes, watch a course, whatever I have time for)
- Set my intentions for the day

By 7am I feel like no matter what happens that day, I’ve already won.

Not sure where to start? Try to wake up just 10mins earlier than you normally do and decide on something you can do just for you.

If you already have some winning morning routines, I’d love to see your tips in the comments!❤️😘

What does it mean to be living your best story? For me it means living authentically, true to myself, standing for what I believe - even if it’s not the popular choice. It’s about walking the talk! What about you? Are you living your best story?

I’m celebrating 45 years on this beautiful planet today, and man - what a ride! Sometimes if feels like I’ve lived many lifetimes already, with unending adventures and plenty of opportunities for growth & learnings along the way. On this special day, I wanted to share what have been some of my biggest lessons so far:

1. Don’t take things personally: nothing anyone does is ever because of you - it’s their perception, their filters. It’s not about you! This comes from the teachings of Miguel Ruiz in his book “The Four Agreements” - which I read back in my early twenties but has taken me this long to actually feel like I can put it into practice.
2.  “Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Benjamin Franklin was right! This has been my style for as long as I can remember and it has served me well.
3. Don’t let fear stop you from taking action: one of my personal favorites. Had I let fear stop me, I wouldn’t have done half the things I’ve done in my life. All of which have contributed to my knowledge, growth, and adventures.
4. Be generous: I’m a strong believer that when you are generous you get it back 10 fold.
5. Do more of what lights you up: have fun for crying out loud! Life is too short - what are you waiting for?! Plus, happiness breeds happiness.
6. Food is indeed medicine! What you put into your body will most definitely be what you get out of it & that goes for your brain too. Build your longevity & resilience through proper nourishment.

So much love & appreciation for all the friends & family in my life. Have a wonderful day 💕

Turmeric Latte (aka Golden Milk) is are one of my favourite ways to warm up as the cold weather approaches with the added benefit of boosting my immune system! Turmeric in general is a great healer, known to have the following benefits:

- Powerful anti-inflammatory
- Rich in essential minerals: magnesium, potassium, and calcium
- Good source of zinc & vitamin C

Start by making your turmeric paste by heating up all the ingredients on low/medium heat. It will form a paste and you can store it in a jar in your fridge for up to 2 weeks. Then I blend 1 tablespoon of the turmeric paste in a cup of warm plant based milk (usually almond or coconut milk), I sweeten with a small amount of natural sweetener (maple syrup, honey, monk fruit sugar) and sprinkle it with some cinnamon. Delicious!

Are you a fan of turmeric? What are your favorite ways to consume it?