Cultivate Balance

A few sweet moments from the Ayurvedic postpartum caregiver retreat with ♥️

Do you find yourself being drawn to the sour taste in moments of anxiousness?

Ayurveda may be able to explain why.

Read my latest article for to learn more! How to Soothe Anxiousness with the Sour Taste 🍋

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*** Last chance for workshops and classes with Molly in Sacramento! ***



ABOUT MOLLY

Molly McConnell is on a mission to build individual and collective resilience. As a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, emergent strategist, and yoga teacher/student of many years, Molly believes that a more compassionate world is possible, and that we have an opportunity to co-create alternative solutions together.

Guided by curiosity, embodied listening, and the rhythms of nature, she strategizes with clients to reconnect to what the body is calling for and uncover ways in which radical self care plays into collective wellness.

Molly is humbled to share this ancient wisdom as it intersects with more contemporary themes of feminism, liberation, and justice.

“Loving ourselves and each other deepens our disruption of the dominant systems.“

➡️ swipe for upcoming opportunities to heal, connect and love yourself with Ayurveda + Yoga

🌿✨♥️

*NEW WORKSHOP* coming to Iowa City!

If you didn’t know, I grew up in Iowa City! It’s where I began my yoga journey as a teenager and where I boarded the flight that would begin my first journey to India, which ultimately set me on the Ayurvedic path.

I’m thrilled to be partnering with my dear friends at Downward Dog Yoga to bring a special workshop to this community.

YOGA, TEA & AYURVEDA

If you’re local to the Iowa City area and are curious about how to find balance *off* the yoga mat.. learning more about your Ayurvedic dosha may be the answer.

I’ll guide you through a short embodied yoga flow, followed by a deep dive into each of the three Ayurvedic mind body types.

We’ll sip herbal tea as you learn how to identify your dominant dosha(s) and gain insight into your personal constitution.

You’ll discover practical strategies for balancing and harnessing your unique constitution through foods, herbs and daily practices.

Whether you’re new to Ayurveda or familiar with some of the concepts, this workshop is a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of yourself and enhance your well-being.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1
3:00 - 5:00 PM

Sign up via ‘Upcoming Events’ in bio!

“Nature herself is the manifest form of the deity* …all things in nature are forms of the sacred.”

Dr. David Frawley, From the River to the Heaven

*deity = goddess/god

Happy Earth Day ((today and everyday)) 🌞

35mm film by the one and only

As we settle into spring and new life is sprouting up around us, allow your body to experience resilience like never before by making small shifts to adapt to the changing season with Ayurveda.

If you are struggling with brain fog, low energy, congestion, heaviness, allergies, depression, cystic acne, sugar cravings, or digestive discomforts this spring — you are not alone. In fact, these wellness challenges are all too common during the kapha season (spring). Fortunately, Ayurveda has the wisdom to help us feel reinvigorated as we emerge from winter!

Join Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner Molly McConnell to explore common wellness chalks related that arise during this seasonal transition and gain simple tools ensure you remain light, bright and clear this spring.

The workshop will begin with a short embodied yoga flow to relieve stagnation. Then, you’ll get to sip a handcrafted springtime herbal tea blend as you discover essential rituals and remedies for holistic seasonal care.

Handouts will be provided. Please bring a mug for tea, a journal for notes, and a yoga mat.

📍LOOMIS, CA
Thursday, April 4 | 6:30-8 pm


📍SACRAMENTO, CA
Saturday, April 6 | 1-3 pm


See ‘Upcoming Events’ link in bio for more info!



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It’s all too often that we hear our friends and new clients expressing frustration about uncomfortable digestion. 😖

The reality is, most of us (especially in America) weren’t taught as children to tend to our digestive fire. Many of us grew up learning to eat things like pop tarts for breakfast, mac and cheese for lunch, and meat-heavy dinners. Dairy was a staple, and spices rarely used.

For many, this has resulted digestion that feels heavy, slow, or even painful… even into adulthood. This might still be the case even though you are eating things you’ve been told are good for you… like salad full of raw vegetables. 🫢

If you can relate — we’re here to tell you that you don’t have to live with that discomfort anymore!

Here’s what’s actually possible for you…

🚫 NO discomfort (gas, bloating, pain, burping…) as your food digests.

🚫NO intense cravings for foods that you know don’t actually feel good in your body.

🚫NO thick white, yellow or brown coating on your tongue.

✔️Pleasant hunger for 2-3 meals each day, at regular times.

✔️Satisfying elimination at the same time every day!

✔️The ability to sleep soundly at night and wake up with enthusiasm.

✔️Feeling light, clear and energized throughout each day.

We promise this is possible with just a few digestive system life-hacks.

Check out the resources in our bio to learn how — and remember to register for the next Reset for Resilience before April 8!

Hi friends! 👋🏽 We’re Sierra and Molly, two NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Practitioners and the founders of Cultivate Balance.

Every spring and fall we guide a soulful and embodied Ayurvedic cleanse called The Reset for Resilience.

What we love about The Reset is that it is **NOT** about depriving or controlling your body.

Instead, it is an opportunity to care for youself deeply by giving your digestive system a break, enjoying simple nourishing meals, and creating meaningful space for rest + reflection.

The Reset is about cultivating a more intentional way of being in relationship with your body, the foods that you eat, and even how your spend your time.

We created this program because it is the reset that we were so deeply craving for years.. and nothing like it existed.

We are so grateful to have guided hundreds of people through The Reset for Resilience over the past few years and look forward to meeting those of you who decide to join us this spring!

See the link in bio for sign up info, or send us a quick dm 💌

Over the weekend, we received a really sweet email that said,

“Thanks for sending this reminder! It always seems to come at the perfect time... excited for the Reset this Spring!”

These are the kinds of notes that bring us so much joy because we are reminded that many of you look forward to the opportunity to cleanse and rejuvenate with us each Spring and Fall.

As we go into our sixth Reset (!!), we are so inspired by how many of you have integrated this Ayurvedic practice into the cadence of your life.

That means, if you haven’t joined us yet — it’s TIME!! It is truly never too late, or too early, to start taking some time for yourself — to rest, cleanse, and renew your mind and body— seasonally. This is the best way to ensure you go into Spring and Summer with a clear mind and strong body.

Don’t miss early bird pricing, or the opportunity to save by inviting friends!

Register Early to SAVE $50! Use the coupon code EARLYBIRD until March 10.

OR, enrolled with a group of four to save $79 each!

✨dm us if we have any questions or email [email protected]

I had the sweetest time catching up Ayurveda friends in Colorado 💕

and I went to a talk on the power of ceremony with Dr. Michael Yellow Bird. The talk focused on neurodecolonization and indigenous mindfulness — it was amazing.

is an incredible sound healer and restorative yogi! If you’re in the Denver area, check out the events that she has coming up.

I also got to connect with my babe - who I studied at Alandi Ashram with. We chatted a lot about how our doshas play into the way we practice and share Ayurveda.

And — I shared a meal with my dear friend and genius Vedic Astrologer, Renay Oshop. Renay is doing veryyy interesting scientific research on astrological patterns— stay tuned 💫

📆 Mark your calendar — SPRING RESET DATES ARE HERE

Easy Preparation | April 8-16

Ayurvedic Cleanse | April 17-21

Mindful Reintegration | April 22-28

Joyful Rejuvenation |
April 29-May 5

* * *
The Reset for Resilience is a 28-day program, centered around a five-day rejuvenative detox, that is designed to improve digestion, enhance immunity and promote clarity.

The best part? You can join us from wherever you are.

📆 Mark your calendar — SPRING RESET DATES ARE HERE

Easy Preparation | April 8-16

Ayurvedic Cleanse | April 17-21

Mindful Reintegration | April 22-28

Joyful Rejuvenation |
April 29-May 5

* * *
The Reset for Resilience is a 28-day program, centered around a five-day rejuvenative detox, that is designed to improve digestion, enhance immunity and promote clarity.

Looking around, it seems we need — now more than ever — systems of care that are centered on collective wellbeing and the Earth’s wisdom. Since we know that what happens on the personal level sets the pattern for the whole, we are big believers that weaving more Ayurveda into our lives is a small but mighty catalyst for global healing.

With that in mind, we have just made our 10-hour Ayurveda Training available to you online so you can access the wisdom from the comfort of home and at your own pace.

Our NEW online course Design Your Life with Ayurveda is filled with 10 hours of video content — plus key links and handouts — so you can effortlessly weave this ancient wisdom into your life in 2024.

Dive in with us to learn how to...

✔️ Access a deeper understanding of yourself through the doshas
✔️ Experience greater clarity and levity with guidelines for healthy digestion
✔️ Understand proper selection and combination of foods
✔️ Tap into more lifeforce energy with ojas, tejas, and prana
✔️ Bring ancient rituals for spiritual self care into your life
✔️ Cultivate a daily routine that optimizes for elevated mood, sharp focus and deep sleep
✔️ Strengthen your immune system naturally
✔️ Glow from the inside out with clear, radiant skin
✔️ Look and feel your best with easy everyday remedies
✔️ Design a lifestyle that aligns with the monthly and seasonal cycle

When it comes to incredible energy, digestion, sleep and radiance — there is no more enjoyable way to ensure you feel your best.

✨LINK IN BIO TO REGISTER and dive right in!

urvedalife

I’m in Colorado this week and am excited to be back at to offer a wellness talk on Ayurvedic Practices for Energy and Clarity!

here are the deets —

Boulder, CO |

Thursday, February 22
1:15 - 2:00 pm

Tap into your natural state of energy and clarity with easy-to-implement Ayurvedic practices.

The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda offers us powerful and effective tools for navigating modern challenges of stress, brain fog, fatigue, burnout, anxiousness and so much more.

If you want to learn where to begin in cultivating the capacity and resilience that will allow you to show up as your best, join us on Thursday 2/22.

In this 45-minute wellness talk, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner Molly McConnell will guide you through three core practices to steadily support inspiration, motivation, focus, and energy in everyday life.

dm us if you have an question!

This is your ongoing reminder that the practices of love, care and cultivating resilience are intrinsically linked, and that they are political.

If you’re looking for an action that supports these intersecting themes, we recommend reading and reflecting on the work of adrienne maree brown — someone whose wisdom and vision for the future has greatly shaped our approach to Ayurveda.

Our favorite book of hers is Emergent Strategy, though the quote above is from Pleasure Activism, which is a great starting point. If you’re looking for something that you can quickly flip through to land on exactly what you need, try Fables and Spells.

♥️

Image description — a brown graphic with a large white circle. Inside the circle, a quote by adrienne maree brown reads: “We need to learn how to practice love such that care—for ourselves and others—is understood as political resistance and cultivating resilience.”

Sweet moments from India in December 💕

I came back feeling reinspired, reinvigorated, rested and overwhelming grateful for everything this magical place continues to teach me about resilience, trust and possibility.

Thank you to all the teachers who I met along the way.

IN PERSON AYURVEDA WORKSHOP
(This weekend!)

Join Molly on February 4th for an introduction into the fascinating world of Ayurvedic doshas — the primary energies that govern your Mind Body Type.

In this workshop, you'll gain in depth insight into each of the three doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – and how they influence your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Molly will guide you through a short embodied yoga flow, followed by a comprehensive and intriguing overview of each of the three Mind Body Types.

You'll learn how to identify your dominant dosha(s) and gain insight into your personal constitution, tendencies, challenges, and even cravings!

From there, you'll discover practical strategies for balancing and harnessing your unique constitution through foods, herbs and daily practices.

Whether you're new to Ayurveda or familiar with some of the concepts, this workshop is a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of yourself and enhance your well-being.

Loomis, CA /

link in bio

Happy Birthday Molly!! ✨The world is truly a better place because of your bright light, steadfast wisdom, dedication to justice, and unwavering friendship to so many. Thank you for showing up with your whole self to your relationships, your work and this world. We love you endlessly!!

📸:

Want to know something quite cool? It IS possible to create intentional systems and routines that truly bolster what you’re up to in life. And, it’s REALLY fun and satisfying to do so!

Here’s the reality — if you are feeling unendingly tired, scattered, overwhelmed, anxious, irritable, or lacking presence and motivation — you know it’s REALLY TIME to create some boundaries, and implement some new practices into your life.

That’s why, just through the end of the year, I am offering FREE 30-minute 1:1 Burnout Strategy Sessions in which I invite you to share how you’re doing with work/life balance. I’ll then offer quick Ayurvedic tips you can implement right away to save time, optimize energy, and enhance focus...while calming your nervous system and improving your overall health.

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about how you want to live in 2024. LET’S TALK so you can start the new year off equipped with some strategies that will support you to THRIVE!

LINK IN BIO to reserve your spot *for free*.

Did you know that there are different elemental energies present throughout each sun cycle, and when you align your day with them, it's kind of like having super powers? 🚀 When you schedule your activities at the right time of day, you leverage these ever-present cosmic energies and everything is easier AND more effective.

✨HERE'S AN EXAMPLE✨

6 am - 10 am // EARTH 🌱: Get in your exercise for maximum muscle tone
10 am - 2 pm // FIRE 🔥: Focus your brainpower for optimal productivity
2 pm - 6 pm // ETHER 🌀: Prioritize creative or playful endeavors
6 pm - 10 pm // WATER 💧: Drop into connection with loved ones

This is just a rough sketch of *one way* Ayurveda can help optimize your life for quality work and lasting wellness...resulting in increased impact!

For the next 2 weeks ONLY, I (Sierra) am offering FREE 1:1 30-minute Burnout Strategy Sessions in which I invite you to share how you're doing with work/life balance, and then I'll offer quick tips you can implement right away to save time, optimize energy, and enhance productivity...while improving your overall health. I'd love to explain how it works, and share more with you!!

🔗LINK IN BIO TO SCHEDULE!

Implementing a few simple practices in your life will likely lead to more income and more impact. Why? Because these shifts will increase your clarity, creativity, and productivity*, while protecting your precious health so you can actually enjoy what you create.

Note: We don’t always love to use the word “productivity” because we don’t view humans as instruments of production inside of capitalism. We want to avoid the idea that production equals value. Often, we use the word “generativity” instead because this speaks to our innate capacity to generate creative new ideas and important contributions. Try it out!

Optimize Your Life For Work + Wellness — Cultivate Balance If you are feeling exhausted, scattered, anxious or overwhelmed, it's time to start thinking about preventing burnout. When burnout hits, it can result in lower creativity and productivity, which may result in lessened impact, income and joy. Here are 10 actionable burnout prevention hacks you can i

Are you a gal on a mission in life, but wondering if you might be at risk of burnout?

👋🏼Sierra here. I have been there, and *I want to talk* about your experience with you.

Here’s the thing — burnout is REAL.

Physical and emotional exhaustion isn’t just hard on the body… it actually prevents us from having the creativity, focus and energy we need to continue running the show.

You know you’re approaching burnout when…

😒 you easily become weepy, frustrated or sick.

😒 no matter how much sleep you get, you wake up tired.

😒 small decisions or tasks feel insurmountable.

😒 your favorite music no longer sounds good to you.

😒 your enthusiasm for your work is waning.

If you recognize yourself in any of this, I invite you to book a FREE 30 minute chat with me.

In this quick call, I’d love for you to share with me how you are doing in life and business. This is a place for you to express your fears, frustrations and challenges around balancing it all…and why it matters to you. I am particularly interested in talking to you if you run your own business or organization.

✨👆🏼BOOK WITH ME NOW FOR FREE now via the “Burnout Chat” link in our bio!

My goal is to listen to you, because I am in the early stages of developing a program to support my fellow female entrepreneurs and leaders to avoid, or recover from, burnout. I would be so grateful for your time and insight, as it will help me to create the most impactful and transformational program possible — so we can all keep shining!!

I look forward to connecting with YOU in the coming days.

xoxo
Sierra

The Reset for Resilience is a 28-day deep dive into healing with Ayurveda — it is a community-supported online program that focuses on honing simple, sustainable shifts to diet and lifestyle so that you feel, look and show up as your best.

Ayurveda is a life science that is intuitive and grounded in self love, and you'll feel the benefits in your body, mind, relationships and work.

It works by igniting your inner healing mechanisms by clearing toxins, balancing doshas and prioritizing rejuvenation is how we address discomfort and disease at the root cause.

The result is that you feel your best, so you’re able to show up as your best.

What could be more important than that?

So let’s do this! If you're in, you can sign up here. Registration closes in 48 hours, and we begin with easy preparation in just 2 days — on Monday, October 9! You can participate from wherever you are.

And of course if you have any questions about how The Reset will work for you, feel free to ask us! DM us to chat about where you're at and what you're seeking.

🍂The Reset for Resilience, our seasonal Ayurvedic cleanse and rejuvenation program, begins in MONDAY! Join us from wherever you are to slow down, release and nourish yourself on purpose so that you are bolstered in the coming Winter months. 🔗 LINK IN BIO TO SAVE YOUR SPOT!

Burn out can sneak up on you. 🥵

You think you’re handling it all, but really, you’re running on fumes.

A day comes when you are stopped in your tracks because you’re so exhausted. You find yourself lacking patience, motivation, inspiration or the ability to find joy in simple things. That’s when you know — you’ve burned through your ojas. You’re depleted.

Trust us, it happens all the time.

We live in a culture that is both vata and pitta provoked — with all of us running around doing everything at warp speed, hyper-focused on perfection and accomplishment.

The capitalist expectation to produce is socialized into us…. but humans aren’t built for this kind of constant out-put, and it takes a toll.

We’re here to remind you that you can give yourself permission to REST. To rest before the burnout strikes. To rest because you are worthy of it, because it is your divine right to live for pleasure and play.

As part of our community container throughout The Reset for Resilience, we support and encourage each other to slow down, say no to anything that is unnecessary, and embrace more time nurturing ourselves.

Because our ability to keep showing up depends entirely on our ability to take breaks.

If you’d like to be gently encouraged among new friends who are also committed to rest, join us for the Fall reset. Experience a month of weaving simple Ayurvedic practices into your life, and bring yourself home to your body.

We begin with easy preparation in just 4 days — on Monday, October 9!

Simply register, and join us LIVE on zoom Monday evening to begin, from wherever you are. You don’t need to do anything else before then!

To chat with one of us about how The Reset fits in your life, simply DM us— we’re here!

🍂The Reset for Resilience, our seasonal Ayurvedic cleanse and rejuvenation program, begins October 9! Join us from wherever you are to slow down, release and nourish yourself on purpose so that you are bolstered in the coming Winter months. 🔗 LINK IN BIO TO SAVE YOUR SPOT!

📸: featuring an eye pillow by

Have you ever stopped to consider what it’s costing you to not feel your best? In your relationships. In your work. With your children?

What would actually become possible if you more consistently…

✔️slept soundly through the night?
✔️woke up feeling refreshed?
✔️felt energized after you ate?
✔️easily found a focused flow in your day?

✨Perhaps you would have a creative breakthrough in the problem you’re trying to solve.
✨Perhaps you would find ease in relationships where there has been tension. ✨Perhaps you’d have more bandwidth and patience.
✨Perhaps more brain power and ability to connect would even result in more money in your pocket — through a raise or an innovation in how your support yourself.

These are all REAL possibilities when you take the time to care for yourself.

The Reset for Resilience is your opportunity to do just that — to slow down for a moment, and to learn small sustainable shifts you can implement in your life to make real change. Swipe to learn more 👉🏼

We begin with easy preparation in just 6 days — on Monday, October 9!

Simply register, and join us LIVE on zoom that evening to begin, from wherever you are. You don’t need to do anything else before then!

If you’d like to chat with one of us about how The Reset fits in your life, simply respond to this email — we’re here! We can’t wait to work with you, and to hear about all of your wild successes when you are on TOP of your game.

🍂The Reset for Resilience, our seasonal Ayurvedic cleanse and rejuvenation program, begins October 9! Join us from wherever you are to slow down, release and nourish yourself on purpose so that you are bolstered in the coming Winter months. 🔗 LINK IN BIO TO SAVE YOUR SPOT!

🍂Fall is officially here! Ayurvedically speaking, early Fall is a time when pitta dosha peaks. 🔥

We all love Summer — it’s a time of activation, expansion and joy. Yet with all that Summer sun, heat builds up in our bodies, and if we don’t tend to it, we can start to feel a bit burnt out and irritable. Can you relate?

As the seasons change and the weather cools off, the channels of our bodies begin to constrict — so it’s important to release all that heat before it gets trapped there all Winter, destabilizing our systems.

That’s why traditional Ayurveda recommends that we cleanse at each major seasonal juncture. It’s a vital moment for clearing excess doshas and toxins so that we function optimally — with clarity and comfort — throughout the year.

So… right now is an important moment to check in with yourself. Tune in to listen for a build up of doshas and/or toxins in your body and mind so that you can do something about it.

Notice if recently you have been:
✔️Experiencing stress, anxiety, irritability or burnout.
✔️Feeling held back by fatigue, brain fog or low immunity.
✔️Suffering from frequent digestive discomfort.
✔️Struggling with breakouts, rashes or dull skin.
✔️Experiencing sleepless nights or groggy mornings.
✔️Having a hard time finding a sense of inspiration and motivation.
✔️Seeing a thick coating on your tongue.

If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms, it’s time to schedule your Fall RESET!

We are here to guide you through. Click the link in our bio to learn more!