Mind Body Gem

SummaryIn this episode, Julie North shares her journey of self-discovery and embracing her abilities as a medium. She explains the concept of mediumship and how it allows her to connect with the spirit world. Julie emphasizes the importance of balance in life and how imbalances can lead to physical and emotional dis-ease. She also discusses the role of epigenetics in inherited traits and the impact of past experiences on our present lives. Julie shares her personal experience of overcoming adversity, including her battle with stage four cancer. She highlights the importance of support systems and seeking help when needed. Julie provides insights on how to cultivate peace and balance in life, including practices such as breathwork and mindfulness. She also shares her contact information and offers free resources for those interested in learning more about her work.TakeawaysMediumship is the ability to connect with the spirit world and receive messages from the other sideMaintaining balance in life is crucial for physical and emotional well-being.Epigenetics plays a role in inherited traits and can influence our health and behavior.Overcoming adversity requires a strong support system and the willingness to seek help.Cultivating peace and balance involves practices such as breathwork and mindfulness.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background01:46 Understanding Mediumship06:35 The Importance of Balance09:02 Epigenetics and Inherited Traits11:33 Embracing One's Abilities23:47 Overcoming Adversity32:59 The Importance of Sleep and Hydration37:40 Navigating the Soul's Path39:09 Support Systems and Seeking Help47:57 Cultivating Peace and Balance56:00 Managing Emotions01:03:47 Contact Information and Free Resources01:05:30 Legacy and Closing RemarksWatch us on YouTube: Mind Body Gem Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• Rokki and Asegedech shared their journey of applying and being accepted into Echoing Green.• Applying for the fellowship was a long process that challenged both of them mentally and emotionally.• Rokki had to tell her story authentically, which caused a shift in the way she saw herself and why they began this work.• The two took a break after the application process to volunteer with Reform Alliance in Philadelphia and went to New York and New Hampshire.• While in New Hampshire, they appreciated nature, reconnected, and were reminded of their capability to achieve goals.• They finally got the call from Echoing Green with the news that they made it through the application process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• In this episode of Let Me Get My Life, creative producer Renee Dion discussed her journey of weight loss.•Renee Dion struggled with her weight her whole life and saw herself as always being heavy.•In 2020, Renee decided to focus on herself and her mental health during the pandemic. She started going on daily 45-minute walks to release emotions.•Renee started incorporating at-home workout videos and buying weights to continue her progress. She lost over 80 pounds through this gradual process.•Renee received positive and negative attention after losing weight, including harmful comments about her past weight. She continues to struggle with body dysmorphia but has support from her husband.•Renee wants to become a trainer to help others through their journeys. She believes in a mind, body, and gem approach to health.•Renee's first sessions with her trainer, Rokki, focused on walking, stretching, and talking. Rokki provides a listening ear and helps clients purge emotions.•Rokki believes training is about the whole person, not just the physical. Moving the body can help move negative thoughts out like waste.•Rokki went through her journey with an autoimmune disease and realized the importance of health over aesthetics. She previously did bodybuilding but now focuses on what is healthy for her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mind, Body, Gem – Season 6, Episode 2 Part 2 Dancing With Each Other Demons: Cohost: Rokki and Asegedech are joined by creative Producer Renee Dion continues to share about their relationship. Make sure to check out part one. Unconditional Love:"We can't afford Not to record" Renee join the conversation: Newly single Rokki:Put a bug in your ear: Follow this work at www.fittonavigate.com.Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigatekeywords: fitness, life, culture, motivation, rokki, asegedech, heart work, performance, people, personal growth, family, health, science, opportunity, wisdom, brain, plan, impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mind, Body, Gem – Season 6, Episode 2Dancing With Each Other Demons: Cohost: Rokki and Asegedech are joined by creative procedure Renee Dion sharing insight about the beginning of Rokki and Asegedech's relationship. In this episode, we get in-depth about relationships. What does it mean to Dance with Each other Demons: As Rokki and Asegedech share in relationships, often pain shows up, and past hurt shows up, and how you deal with that is the dance of demons. Rokki shares the importance of an emotionally safe space to share and show that hurt without the risk of the person using the information to use your words against you. To have the emotional intelligence not to match your loved ones' energy when you see them operating out of pain. We can't afford not to record: Renee joins the conversation: Renee asks Rokki and Asegedech to share a mindset when starting their relationships. Rokki shares how they have been in each other lives without physically meeting for many years and how the timing was everything for them to be in a relationship. Rokki recalls how, as early as Asegedech was in middle school and her being in college, they might have had the opportunity to meet. Asegedech would go to college across the street and work next door to her business, but they wouldn't meet in any of those settings. Asegedech would take classes at Rokki gym without ever running into Rokki. Asegedech shares how one year before meeting Rokki, she would attend a fitness event to connect with Rokki's girlfriend and sister but never met Rokki. Newly single Rokki: Rokki shares how she was physically single but wasn't emotionally available when she first met Asegedech. During a Fitness and wellness event, Asegedech decides to try the Rokki group fitness class after a day of taking other people's fitness classes. Rokki would kick Asegedech out of the fitness class, leaving Asegedech upset and needing to approach Rokki about her actions and attitude. Asegedech would go on to give Rokki feedback and ask to connect with her about her fitness profession. The initial conversation would end with a meaningful connection. Later Rokki would invite Asegedech to a fitness event she was putting together. Put a bug in your ear: While I was healing, Rokki would get a DM from Asegedech about connecting with her. Rokk, at the time, had a few people messaging her to spend time with her, but she instead decided to entertain Asegedech's message. Asegedech would use the time to learn more about Rokki's success in the wellness industry. It wasn't till walking to the car and sharing a hug that they felt romantic feelings for each other. Rokki and Asegedech didn't have much in common other than both not being ready for a relationship. Rokki shares how Asegedech tells her she's there to heal her heart. Follow this work at www.fittonavigate.com.Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigatekeywords: fitness, life, culture, motivation, rokki, asegedech, heart work, performance, people, personal growth, family, health, science, opportunity, wisdom, brain, plan, impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mind, Body, Gem – Season 6, Episode 1Asegedech & Rokki - Who are we again? Cohost: Rokki and Asegedech take a moment to share their back story and why they started this podcast. Asegedech and Rokki Bonner discuss their journey from being professional health and wellness professionals to finding themselves inside a women's prions leading wellness programming. People want to knowthat Asegedech and Rokki share their backgrounds, where they come from, and how they ended up on this wellness journey. Asegedech shares how going by her name has become her way of reclaiming her identity and culture. Asegedech shares that she is done making things easier for other people. Rokki shares how her name has nothing to do with fighting, but for this life, she's lived and is grateful that she's had to fight for it. Keeping a soft heart and strong bounders. Rokki shares that you think you can have a soft heart, which means you allow people to do things, run over you, and take advantage of you. The learned lesson of life is that you have to have boundaries, which is a vital form of self-care. Rokki shares in her younger life that, though she had to assimilate and bow to obligatory relationships, she now sees her uniqueness and God-given talents bestowed upon her through God.“I'm here to self actualize, self-realization, but also to heal so I can heal my lineage”=RokkiThe power of choice. Asegedech shares that the power of choice is like taking care of yourself, working out, and doing things that manifest well in this world. How the power of choice led the cofounder to start Fit To Navigate and begin to care for their health. While then, I met you with someone in the professionals caring for your health. At the same time, incorporating mindfulness, the meditation aligned with like-minded women who happened to be in prison. Nothing leads to something. Rokki shares how she didn't have a plan and didn't know what would come from going to prison. How providing programming for people serving longer time wasn't done before. She accredits the woman who is still teaching inside to grow the work. Asegedech shared a stat around the growing recidivism rate for why they decided to stay focused on women. Today Fit to Navigate women have 0% Recidivism and 100% employment rates. Follow this work at www.fittonavigate.com.Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigatekeywords: fitness, life, culture, motivation, rokki, asegedech, heart work, performance, people, personal growth, family, health, science, opportunity, wisdom, brain, plan, impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode NotesMind, Body, Gem – Season 5, Episode 5Alicia Spark - A Fit to Navigate graduate and change warrior Special guest: Alicia Spark – A true champion for change, Alicia has embraced the tenets of the Fit to Navigate and is the embodiment of the FTN goal of developing and inspiring relationship entrepreneurs.In this podcast, Alicia Spark and Rokki Bonner have their second Mind Body Gem discussion, where we learn more about the journey Alicia has taken since graduating from FTN. Alicia has physically, emotionally, and mentally moved leaps and bounds and is thriving as the owner of a kennel for specialized breeds of dogs. Follow your heart After being diagnosed with cancer, Alicia re-evaluated her life and, with the support of her son, Jackson, and her longtime love, moved to Oklahoma and to open a dog breeding business, Tornado Alley Kennels. Resilient navigator and entrepreneur Armed with the tools she learned as a Fit to Navigate graduate, Alicia understands the importance of being not just an entrepreneur but a relationship entrepreneur! As someone who has been justice-involved, Alicia believes it's important to commit to new things that keep you busy, accept what's happened, and accept life on life's terms. Focus on quality Alicia is focused on more than being a breeder. She researches each dog and ensures that her customers get quality and best-in-breed from her dogs. This sets her apart - she loves and cares for the dogs from conception to their forever home. Establish healthy lifestyle habits It's not just about fitness; for Alicia, she stays true to what she learned in the Fit to Navigate program and ensures her whole well-being is the focus. Mental health maintenance is essential, along with enjoying the small things: a beautiful sunset or the beauty of the stars.Follow Alicia's work: Instagram @tornadoalleykennelz; Facebook Tornado Alley Kennels; TikTok #tornadoalley580Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigatekeywords: impact, life, social impact, motivation, rokki, Alicia, Tornado Alley Kennels, Tornadoalley580, Cane Corso, Presa Canario, learning, people, personal growth, family, health, opportunity, wisdom, plan, incarcerated, dog breeding, cancer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode NotesValencia Gundar - The Art of Service Special guest: Valencia Gundar – A champion for service that creates self-determination, she founded Smile Trust, an organization committed to serving unsheltered people in Miami, Atlanta and around the world.Valencia Gundar and Rokki Bonner discuss Valencia's motivation for the creation of Smile Trust and how her life experiences helped shape her approach to service. Valencia's hometown, Miami, is integral to what motivates her - being of service to the many people who make up the diaspora of the city is of vital importance. Stay committed to the people you are serving Valencia stays committed to the people she is serving - those are her people right there, every day. She doesn't do charity work, rather she creates models of self-determination and restores hope. Her goal is not to serve people. Her goal is to provide resources for people so they can serve themselves and then serve others around them. She brings the tools and they serve themselves! Focus on resources and tools to create self-determination Val's goal: When people walk away from an interaction with her, they don't feel guilt. She understands the importance of self-determination in overcoming obstacles. Valencia believes that codependency is not healthy, and that's what many charities do, create codependency so that the people you serve become dependent on a system. It is critical to create a system that teaches people to stand on their own. Look for mentors - observe and learn Valencia surrounds herself with mentors. She takes advantage of the opportunities to sit next to them and watch them work. Valencia has learned that mentors are not a panacea, instead, she takes the good pieces from them that fit, leaves the rest on the table, and goes on to her next challenge. Don't be afraid of your vision A guiding principle for Valencia, is don't be afraid of your vision - do what it takes to get it done. When Smile Trust began, Val was of service every month, even if her resources were low. She understands the importance of being there consistently. No matter how big you grow, always stand in service to others. Today Val has teams, both in Atlanta and Miami. Regardless, you can still see her on a Sunday scooping out rice and working with the Smile Trust team. It's humbling for her to get behind the table and help out. Never forget. Listen to the people you serve Valencia believes strongly in the tenet - listen to the people you serve. Don't build something for yourself, build it for the community you serve and the greater community you live in. No one should feel “less than”. Valencia is all ears any time an unsheltered person wants to have a conversation with her. Valencia's legacy is for communities to become self-determined around food - the organization is on its way; last year, Smile Trust touched 200,000 families with food across 4 countries.Follow Valencia's work on: https://thesmiletrust.orgConnect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigatekeywords: impact, life, social impact, motivation, rokki, Valencia, Smile Trust, learning, people, personal growth, family, health, opportunity, wisdom, plan, unsheltered, homeless, food insecurity, incarcerated Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode NotesMind, Body, Gem – Season 5, Episode 3Anna Gsanger - Meet our Tactical Navigator. Special guest: Anna Gsanger – She is a mother and professional with over ten years of public and private sector experience as a Marketing and communications strategy expert. She is now Fit to Navigate tactical navigator. Learn more about Fit to Navigate at Fittonavigate.com Anna Gsanger and Rokki Bonner discuss Anna share their journey as their friendship grew and evolved into a sisterhood, which now turned into an opportunity to develop the Fit to Navigate social enterprise mission. Doing things from the heart. Anna shares how early in her career, her focus was on access to health care and health policy and creating an impact. Anna was passionate about the possibility of creating access to free health care within the Clinton administration. When National Health Care didn't see a possibility, Anna shared about going back to business school and working for a large pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Left turn, Moving to Columbus. Anna talks about moving to Columbus as not being something she planned or imagined for herself. Anna shares that she moved to Columbus to be with her now husband, Bob. Moving to Columbus for Anna meant “starting from scratch” because she didn't feel she had a connection to the people living here. Says, “Columbus is all about who you know.” Building Relationship. Anna shares how she built relationships in Columbus by attending network events and taking people out to develop her professional network. She would find temporary work that allowed her to be part of an online business and manage a business transition.Balancing Motherhood and having a career. Anna says, unlike most women, she was “lucky” that she could decide that she was going to redshift her career to spend more time with her children. Growing up with a single mother, Anna had to go to many places with her mother, so it felt normal to have her children with her everywhere she had to be. Anna talked about the importance of also having time for herself. FTN Tactical Navigator Anna shares that she joined the team Fit To Navigate because of her inspiration and relationship with cofounder Rokki. Anna talks about the excitement and passion of the work and being part of growing the Fit To Navigate team. Anna shares that the work Fit To Navigate does has the ability to be part of the change in how Society views restorative justice. Anna shares how she has developed her self-care practices and what that means to her. Follow Anna's work on her social media page: Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests, and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate keywords: impact, life, social impact, motivation, rokki, Anna, learning, people, Motherhood, family, health, woman, opportunity, wisdom, mother, plan, restorative justice See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode NotesMind, Body, Gem – Season 5, Episode 2Natalie Legrand - Being a Global Citizen Special guest: Natalie Legrand – She is a multilingual professional with over 10 years of public and private sector experience in various positions. Natalie Legrand and Rokki Bonner discuss Natalie's core values and how they are linked to her upbringing. Natalie shares intimate memories of her earlier life growing up with her as a Honduran and Haitian grandmother. Natalie also shares her personal connection to the war in Ukraine. This is about family for meNatalie shares that her husband is from Ukraine. Natalie shares how her husband's family escaped their homes due to the war. Natalie has never experienced racism in Ukraine, but as a black woman, she feels emotional about racism. Roots: Opportunities and Access Natalie jokes that the only commonality between her mother and father's culture of Honduran and Haitian parents is the cooking. As a child of immigrants, Natalie's parents took pride in their culture while also wanting more for their children. Natalie shares how her parents worked hard to create access opportunities and access for her which links to Natalie's core values. "Navigating Learning Abilities" Natalie shares her experience of learning and growing up with ADHA. Natalie redefines ADHA as her ability to hold multiple ideas and things simultaneously. Natalie thought she would never have the ability to learn Russian as an adult didn't seem possible. Natalie noticed that she could learn different languages once she had the interest and excitement. Natalie says she still works on releasing her self-judgment. Using Corporate experience to create impact. Natalie accredited her ability to take in multiple interests to her transition into finance. Natalie was looking for a way to use her experience to align with her personal values, which is when the opportunity to go to Ukraine presented itself. Ukraine was the odd choice for Natlie, making it the ideal choice for her. Issues are never-endingNatalie is kept up at night, but this belief is that social impact work is never-ending work. Natalie feels until we can change the narrative, people's attention. When so many problems seem to come at once, it can feel like a lack of attention. Natalie shares how fitness and health and how to navigate her well-being. Connecting Natalie's body and mind is how she learns. Natlie shares having sickle cell disease and how she uses fitness to care for her health. Follow Natalie's work on: https://www.natalielegrand.com/about Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigatekeywords: impact, life, social impact, motivation, rokki, Natalie, learning, people, personal growth, family, health, science, opportunity, wisdom, brain, plan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Special guest: Trevor Torrance – former basketball player, founder of 'BMore' Trevor and Rokki Bonner discuss Trevor's journey from being a professional sportsman to becoming a founder of BMore, an organization specialized in performance development. Being at his highs and lows during his athlete career, Trevor came up with handy methods to break blocks and self-made limits in order to achieve more and perform better overall. - Dream of becoming famousBorn and raised in Perth, Australia, Trevor dreamed of becoming famous. At the age of 16, he ended up in a selection process for talented basketball players. More than a decade later, our guest experienced the world of semi-pro and pro athleticism, crossing the globe all around. After that period, he decided it was no longer what he could do. - Going from sport to corporateAfter his basketball career, Trevor found himself in naturopathy. Realizing he has a competitive background and a healer inside of himself, he decided to spread the knowledge in performance development. He started his mission by helping individuals and organizations to get where they want to be. - "I am not good enough."Every person brings this sentence into their life at some point. In these situations, people tend to accuse themselves of something they are not guilty of or responsible about. Trevor finds this issue to be the result of our brain that "likes to know what is going on." If that is not the case, the brain is making up negative stories, creating defeatism within our bodies. At this very moment, we should locate that negative energy, reverse it to our advantage, and create something positive out of it. - Stop overloading your brain, make it simple.The most important thing we should do is to set a clear intention at the beginning of our day. Setting a bright intention helps us to send it right in front of our brain, and it will set us up for success throughout the day. Setting simple and clear plans can free us from stress. - Embrace the sense of freedomTrevor's organization 'BMore' helps people find their inner peace and improve feelings of fulfillment. His team guides people to free themselves through training, such as nature therapy, massages, yoga, long walks, doing exercises, and detoxing from mobile devices. That way, people can reconnect with the essence of being a human and set their goals and plans clearly. Trevor concludes that self-care is the basis from which we can build healthy lives. Follow Trevor's work on: https://bmore.com.au/.Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 5 of the Mind-Body Gem Podcast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

So many flowers in God's gardenSylvia remembers her brother went to prison when she was young. She shares that when a person goes to prison, the whole family goes to prison. After that, she lost her husband when their child was only six months old, soon after two sisters and two brothers. Consequently, she started doing drugs and alcohol, coming to the point where she almost saw herself dying. She decided to go to the hospital and start serious rehab treatment.Starting a clean lifeAfter the rehab, she felt that she should go to church to connect with God and start praying and serving. That was the moment she went to the prison ministry. She faced many people from similar dysfunctional families, all going through life alone. She wrote a letter to a church asking them to send Bibles to prisons, translated from 16th century English to modern. That way, people could understand wise words and feel hope for all of them.Walking in her path. She started the whole mission focused on how people shouldn't be numb and blind to their problems. Church and the Bible are just numerous paths that lead to empathy and love. Wise words already exist, and we just need to understand and use them in everyday life. If I'm not the problem, there is no solution, one of the recovery principles.  Reverend Sylvia shares that anytime I'm looking outside myself for the problem, nothing will get better. Reverend Sylvia  goes on to share the only thing I we can change is ourselves, our thinking and our reactions to others. Live the life that makes the difference.Reverend Sylvia shares that self-care is the most important thing. Only if we are good for ourselves can we be good for the world. God is the increase and she believes the outcome of her work is in Gods hand and she is simply here to water and plant her mission.  Reverend Sylvia believes to change systems we first have to impact people in the system which is her impact in this world. Follow Sylvia's Journey on IG: @Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

 Different lifeLetha was born to a 15-year-old mother in Omaha, Nebraska. She was only a child but already helping her mother a lot and doing many household chores. After college, she realized she wanted to have a different life than her mother. Her strong will to help people grew further through nursing. From that experience, she claims she gained some true qualities like love and care for others and the discipline she still has today.Starting a home care agencyShe opened a home care agency in 2008. After a short time, she made 2 million dollars a year. Even though the business was going great, she and her partners didn't share the same business ideas, which caused the end of the partnership. She realized how important it is to choose the right people to partner with. Overcoming systemic racismLetha describes her emotions during her career as a business owner and how it feels to be a black person in the room. Also, she faces different types of discrimination in the business world, since black people obviously aren't given the same chance to develop their business ideas. She concludes that fighting injustice and making continuous efforts are the only possible way to make it happen.Pandemic vs. service industryAs a result of the global COVID pandemic, anxiety overwhelmed people, especially business owners, who had extra responsibility at the time. With her wife, Letha reoriented to a delivery system and still stays in touch with the customers to keep the Bake me happy business running. As a result of the pandemic, Letha reimages what a successful business looks like, focusing on keeping operations and space small.  Non-stop planningDue to the uncertainty of our world, Letha concludes that we need to keep all the options open. That way, we won't be surprised no matter the difficulty we may encounter in the future. After all, mutual support in the community is essential, and it is the silver lining of our cloud.Follow Letha's Journey on IG: @bakemehappygf.Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Looking at the pastDeja is a mother of five children. She reveals she was not always in harmony with her self-care. What's more, she neglected her needs for a long time, being in abusive relationships, having sex at a young age, etc. Thankfully, she saw the end of that period when she realized she needed to work on self-care.Love is in the air, everywhere.Together with her mother and sister, Deja opened a spa center to benefit both professionally and personally. The professional benefit is, of course, running a successful business, but the personal one is more important. Being together with one's family is the feeling that no money can replace, which drives the success of their business.What is self-care?Deja defines self-care as a healthy relationship with oneself. Due to the modern way of life, which often leads to burnouts, Deja says that authenticity is quite endangered among people today. We all go to work, try to earn more, and climb the career ladder, but we forget we are much more important than the money itself. If we don't remember what actual values are, we will likely get into a deep depression that no money can solve. Self-care means reestablishing valid values in our mind and body. And this results in strengthening our relationship with ourselves.Always find the time for yourself.We live in capitalism, and most people still work for others, not for themselves. Although challenges are always on the path to success, Deja also thinks we should accept new challenges if we are ready for them, and we will be prepared only if we are in love with ourselves. That is why people should change the world from personal to global, and that is why self-care is crucial for all of us.Follow Deja's Journey on IG: @bereplenish.Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Steps into the independenceBorn in Beijing, China, Hoy remembers her early childhood not being so much fun. At the age of 13, she left her family for the first time, going to Singapore. After that, she arrived in Ohio to begin studying Computer Science Engineering at the University of Toledo.Language barriers starting domino effect barriersHoy explains exactly how difficult it was to blend into a new environment without knowing the language. One example that vividly describes this problem was the one where she ate pizza day after day because that was the only food she could point her finger at without needing to say anything else.Searching for acceptanceDescribing her efforts to become a part of the community, she claims she made some wrong decisions that led her to prison. After ending up in such a horrible place, she felt like it was just a bad dream. Unfortunately, reality woke her up in the same, unenviable situation.Not just a numberHoy soon realized that being imprisoned doesn't need to be something necessarily bad, and that she could learn a lot from that experience. Also, she started bringing in different habits into her daily routine, such as working out and strengthening her body, both physically and mentally. That was the time she started thinking that everything in our life happens for a reason.Faith is the keyHoy started to read the Bible, which was her best friend and companion on this undesirable journey. After getting out of prison, she met Rokki and became a member of her sisterhood. With all the mutual care and love, she finds it much easier to make future plans. One of them is to become a trainer and share her positive attitude with others that may be facing troubles.Follow Hoy's Journey on IG: @hoyzhangConnect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate  

Born with artAs a daughter of a high school music teacher, Sheri finds that art influenced her life path, as she has always been searching for the good in people and their work. When she grew up, she moved to Columbus, where she tried to connect with the community. She did it successfully thanks to taking part in a bowling club, and Chicago line dancing where she met many people with similar interests. She also took part in poetry nights, and she traveled a lot, feeling that her new life became meaningful quickly.The leader with rolled-up sleevesSheri is a leader of the Maroon Arts Group (MAG), which uplifts Black creatives. She says that being a woman means pushing rather than waiting for something to happen. Thanks to that attitude, she became a leader, and she doesn't want to change her attitude now. She believes it's not as essential to be a leader as it is to be helpful in your community, playing your role as best as possible.Impact on your communitySheri thinks it's essential to always organize gathering activities in a community since it can only encourage individuals to reach their full potential. Because of that, they created many seasonal events and programs, including young artists hosting their music shows, gallery exhibitions, yoga and fitness classes.No wallsSince people tend to protect themselves from others by building imaginary walls around their personal lives and emotions, they forget to make a strong foundation under their own feet first. Sheri's organization decided to break the barriers between neighbors and the community to build a strong foundation for mutual support. Along with that, they made a lot of garden spaces, where people can connect with nature, as the meta foundation of the world itself.The bright future is near.Rokki and Sheri conclude that the most critical missions will be accomplished. Next generations now have someone to look up to, and they have a healthy and preserved community where Black people's future dreams can come true.Follow Sheri's Journey on IG: @sheri415.Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Ending up at the bottom – three timesJulius remembers ending up imprisoned after getting caught for drug dealing. He did not seem to follow signs for getting back on the right track, so he got imprisoned two more times, now considering his acts ridiculous. Having been jailed for four years, he claims he was not one of the men who were reading the Bible as a hobby to pass the time, throwing it in the trash after getting out. It changed his way of living, spreading his horizons, and understanding the importance of making the right choice.The right things to doWe all have different mindsets, some of which are not the best for us, but there is always the chance to change it and start living the right way. At the end of the day, we are all trainers of our own minds. Healthy minds will make us ready to follow the right path and skilled to answer and overcome all the temptations.Finding the right way, step by stepAfter getting out in 2010, he found himself having nothing – no money, no job, no love. Soon, he got the job for $7.7 per hour and started attending Sunday school. He met his wife there, marrying her not so long after.Oxymoron – planting the Church from the jail.With entrepreneurship in his blood (drug dealing), Julius soon realized that he needs to use this capability and turn his idea into reality. In 2018, with a considerable help from his wife, he started the Church. It turned out to be a great idea, as they soon got lots of people correlating with them, having similar life problems, ideas, and plans for the future.Allow God to lead the changes.Sharing love, trusting in God, believing in yourself, and always searching for a sunbeam – these are only some of Julius’s ideas of the world we should live in. We are having all of these as the everyday to-dos can make one’s life much happier and easier to live a fulfilled life in God.Follow Julius on IG: @iamchurch614.Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Back in prisonJessica remembers ending up imprisoned for the second time. That was the time she realized that she didn’t want to make the same mistake twice. The second time she got out of prison was going to be her starting point toward improving her life habits and professional skills – the beginning of her new life.‘I want to be like you.’One event made a big difference. During Jessica’s class, she was amazed by her instructor’s shape and life habits, so Jessica said that she wanted to be like her. To her surprise, the instructor looked her in the eye and said she believed Jessica would achieve that. Thankful for such strong support from other people, she promised herself never to give up on her dreams, which she had put on hold during incarceration. After that, she did not miss a class, and soon after became a trainer.It was the mother-side that made the decision.Another situation was a vital sign for her. When asked by other women, what was the most important thing in her life, she immediately responded: “My children.” Women just looked at her and disagreed, and Jessica felt deeply offended, but that was the moment she realized that her way of living wasn’t right for her kids. She should be around them and give them support, watching them grow up in a healthy family full of love.Show me who your friends are, and I will tell you what your future isAfter surrounding herself with all those positive people, Jessica continued fighting for every day, for every training, for every moment of her life. She soon found a job in the gym and became the head coach, which was just the natural chain of events for such a strong-willed person.Love is in the airNumerous things led to Jessica’s present situation in life, and one of them was love. Today, she is finally happy with her relationship status and engaged to a man who showed a tremendous amount of respect for her reentering the community and support during the most critical moments in her life.Follow Jessica on IG: @iamjessdoitConnect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Before vs. after pandemicDezi thinks motherhood is always a full-time activity, which is not changing due to pandemic. The only difference is that people, not just mothers, need to learn how to live indoors, without a lot of outdoor activities, and make their time spend indoors more creative. She thinks that now is the great time to (re)connect with our loved ones.It's all about health and wealthDezi is grateful for her family being healthy and she explains why health starts from her garden, cultivating and eating healthy food in order to be physically able to enjoy activities that include mental involvement. As a mother, she is teaching her kids to be good human beings, and she considers it to be a life garden, where we should teach and treat sharing as the priority to grow happier and healthier.Cryptocurrency investingInvesting in cryptocurrencies for Dezi is more like learning patience, not just the way to earn money. She compares and contrasts herself to 'money people' and finds that people tend to give up when the future is not bright. Her attitude is to wait and see how everything turns out. Lessons learned from one particular situation can always be implemented in different contexts in the future and can lead to great improvement in other aspects.TravelingDezi considers traveling to be a way of learning new things and experiencing the unpredictable. Her opinion is that everything we need for traveling is a passport, sometimes not even that. We just need to step out from our comfort zone, travel to the next city, see how things are different. This may not always be a big difference, but it’s still noticeable.Advice for freeing our mindsEven though in the media we see lots of people that have an influence in our society, we should always believe in ourselves – not the president, celebrities, or anyone else. We should also have a free mindset where we don’t have any bosses. Someone will definitely be in charge, but we should not look at him/her as the boss, only as our co-worker. Setting ourselves and our life free is priceless, and we should always do everything we can to achieve that state of mind.Follow Desiree's Journey on IG: @dezispeaks.lifeConnect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Starting in Criminal Justice fieldKysten remembers choosing Criminal Justice major at her university, not being completely sure if it was going to be her field of interest. After getting a master’s degree in Public Policies, she didn’t want to wait for the job, so she started volunteering. She found volunteering as the perfect starting point from where she could develop her skills in the field. Jail vs. prisonIf you convict a crime and you get sentenced for less than 1 year, you will end up in jail. If you are sentenced for more than 1 year, you will go to prison. Even though your sentence is less than a year, jails should start the reentering process with the convicted individual in order to ensure his/her successful return to the community. That's why both the institution and the community are responsible.Relationships are our currenciesRokki and Kysten talk about differences between imprisoned men and women. Kysten claims that there is a huge number of women who ended up imprisoned just by trying to protect their (sometimes even ex) boyfriends. Therefore, Kysten thinks that a large part of them are guilty because they want to be loyal.'First step' idea and conceptKysten is one of the like-minded people who formed 'First Step'. She spreads awareness of their beliefs and actions, helping people reenter their community, take care of their mental health, improve their chances of getting decent jobs, and get all the dots reconnected. First Step shows that no matter how far away the destination is, journey will always start with the first step.Follow Kysten on IG: @alana0817Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate 

Starting Fit to Navigate journeyAsegedech remembers her partner won the opportunity to travel to the Hague, the Netherlands, for a very important summit about entrepreneurship. This gave Asegedech the chance to develop her career and turned out to be extremely important. She quit her corporate job, having nothing but dreams at the moment.Hearing no as potential yesRokki and Asegedech talk about starting their project from scratch, acquiring their knowledge about the business world, and not wanting to give up after being rejected by potential business partners. They have always tried to promote their idea, knowing the uniqueness of the issue they wanted to spread the awareness of (incarceration and prison are not so popular in some parts of the world, like Australia).Meeting people where they areAsegedech reveals she found inspiration in Rokki's philosophy that people we meet already have their history and life path up to the present moment. Therefore, we should not judge others, but only show them opportunities to improve their lives and encourage them to live in a healthy and happy way. Every decision can be life-changingThere are two ways we can live our lives. We can either let it be or we can fight. Just like a single decision can bring a lot of problems into our life, we can also decide to do good things, which will lead to our rebirth and give our life a purpose. Fit to Navigate is there to show that after dark moments in life, there is always a light waiting to shine on us.Follow Asegedech on IG: @Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Best job so farErin remembers the time when she had $22 a month (‘while banana was $1’), happily comparing it to the present and her current job, the best she has ever had. Thanks to her full-time job and getting paid for overtime work, she now has the possibility to save money for her new home, where she plans to spend time with her fiancé and son.Mother-son relationshipWhile in last episode Erin was talking about difficulties of building trust in the relationship with her son, now she has great news. She got full custody of her 14-year-old boy and now they have the possibility to finally strengthen their bonds. Although having a teenager in the house is quite difficult, her fiancé contributes to a healthy family atmosphere which benefits everyone.Facing problems soberErin talks about tons of problems she faced after the prison and how she managed to do so thanks to a strong commitment to herself and staying sober. She constantly deals with overwhelming emotions, but solving problems one after another just makes the next one much easier to solve. She also mentions her hobbies as an important part of living a healthier and relaxed life, including training, yoga, and going shopping.Goals are great, but persistence is betterEven though many people set goals after a tough period in life, a lot of them just want to achieve success, not enjoy the journey. Erin thinks having goals is very important, but we should set them only to improve ourselves. That way, if we sometimes don’t succeed, we will be even more committed to entering the next fight with a stronger armor – experience.Follow Erin Cullums on IG: @erinlee152Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Education as the foundation of a good lifeJanet explains her interests in taking care of people since her childhood. Starting from a stuffed animal hospital in her bedroom, she later became even more interested in becoming a doctor. Although this was not an easy feat, she succeeded through a strong commitment to her studies, and years and years of helping people in her amazing career.Understanding women as human beings facing unenviable decisionsJanet brings up the topic of how young women often have very difficult choices to make. One example is abortion at an early age, when a person is in a sensitive period of life and should decide whether to become a mother or continue education keeping open the door that leads to fulfilling professional dreams.Being human before being a professionalRokki remembers a touching moment when she had health issues and Janet offered her help despite her financial difficulties. Janet goes on to talk about how sometimes the healthcare system can be an obstacle rather than support for ill people.Setting yourself as the top priorityThrough history, women have often tended to put their family needs before themselves. Consequently, women's health was often being neglected. Speaking of health, Janet emphasizes the importance of activities that fulfill women as a person, as individuals who should have some time for themselves. Being burned out professionally and as a mother can result in health problems – from minor to serious.Retirement as a new chapterEven though Janet spent more than 30 years in a very stressful profession, she still has lots of plans for the following years, having various hobbies like fitness, running, and camping with her grandchildren. She claims that setting goals is of vital importance for staying healthy both inside and outside, physically and mentally.Follow Janet Lucas on IG: @Janet7344Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Erin and Rokki Bonner discuss Erin’s getting back on the right path and dealing with a family crisis after prison, successfully putting it behind and starting it right from scratch with happiness and health as priorities.Losing mother-son balance and fighting to win it backAfter getting out of the prison, Erin finds it surprisingly challenging to reconnect with her son, who was growing up without her, only seeing her every so often. Erin describes different phases of establishing strong family bonds, starting from complete strangers living together, through learning how to discover mutual boundaries with respect, to the final phase of getting to ‘learn each other’, living in love and peace.From addiction to jailErin remembers the time she started her addiction when she was just 17. After ending up in jail at 23, she finds herself deeply struggling, trying to find her way to sobriety. She meets Rokki and discovers fitness not only as a way to become fit but also to inspire people.Finding the right pathErin expresses her thankfulness about her life after prison so far. She finds her second chance by working three jobs at the same time, after which she finds one full-time job, with a lot more time to devote to family life. She gets back to fitness, finds a boyfriend, gets a dog, and a cat, all of which makes her new environment perfectly positive and fulfilling. She wants to inspire other people.Wise words to the youthBeing young is not easy because making decisions seems much easier and harmless than it is. In fact, looking from the current perspective, Erin deems that young people should find other ways to express themselves, claiming that "there are better things in life” than doing drugs and going astray. Her advice is to start working out, enjoy life totally, and focus on its bright side.Erin’s plans for the futureNot wanting to focus on the distant future, Erin’s main plan is to live for today and tomorrow. She thinks that being realistic can help one do much more with one’s future, so her plans are modest. She is going step by step and living life to the fullest.Follow Erin Hawkins on IG: @erinlee152Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Special guest: Desiree Riley –COO and first Fellow of Fit to Navigate, single mother, mommapreneur, and certified fitness coach.Dezi and Rokki Bonner discuss Dezi’s incarceration, the sacrifices people make to fit social norms, Dezi's decision to find her own path in the world of fitness, and the importance of being true to oneself.Cruel justice system with a ray of hope.Dezi talks about having been arrested for possession and distribution of marijuana and facing a long prison sentence. She feels frustrated that some groups have been traditionally incarcerated for such offences while others can produce and sell drugs legally. Luckily, this is slowly changing, as selling drugs becomes decriminalized.Getting out of prison and in the new job.Dezi is grateful that her history of a felony doesn’t affect her job interview, as she gets a full-time job. However, shortly afterward, sitting at a desk negatively affects her body and mind, as she gains weight and realizes she isn’t meant to work in an office. In spite of being offered a promotion and various benefits, she doesn’t want to sacrifice her health and quits the job. Life abroad.What follows is a journey full of challenges mostly throughout Central America. Return to fitness and living healthy changes her mindset and life. She chooses her health and her family’s well-being over a stable and profitable corporate job – a difficult decision but the right one for her.Back to the US.Dezi is now fully dedicated to fitness and enjoys helping people. She earns less money than she would if she had stayed in her old company but has the privilege of spending a lot of quality time with her children. She compares the experiences of financially well-off people with her family’s experiences and she feels no regret at all.What does fitness mean to Dezi?Dezi becomes a certified fitness instructor. For her, being part of Fit to Navigate means purpose, a chance to merge her passions, and a way to provide her children with everything they deserve. She reflects on her present life and its benefits and concludes that everything is finally paying off after a long period of struggle.What motivates Dezi?Finally, Dezi sums up by saying that what drives her are her loved ones, family, and community – all the people she loves. She feels she is building a legacy for her children and the children of her loved ones, her clients, and hopefully future generations.Follow Desiree 's Journey on IG: @dezispeaks.lifeConnect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

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Rokki randomness and the process of trying to remain healthy. Toronto Love!

Mind, Body, Gem: Episode 2 Stephanie's Freedom Special Guest: Stephanie Saunders, a graduate of the Fit to Navigate Program, certified personal trainer and yoga instructor. Stephanie has a conversation with Rokki Bonner about her first years of incarceration and how turning to fitness saved her life, helping her integrate back into society and reconnect with her community and family. How the World Changed After 20 Years of Incarceration - Stephanie adjusts to new technology, social media and reconnecting with her son who is now 21 years old. Life in Prison - Stephanie talks about stress, anxiety, poor nutrition, smoking and being out of shape in her early 20s. Reflecting on her mother's battle with cancer, dying at 27 and poor access to health care, Stephanie became self-determined to take care of her own health. Gradual Changes Lead to Fit to Navigate Program - Stephanie shares with listeners how fitness saved her life beginning with small changes, setting goals and becoming a yoga instructor while incarcerated. Staying motivated and maintaining a positive attitude kept her in spiritual and physical alignment. The Fit to Navigate program manifested the opportunity to become a certified personal trainer. How Does Self-Care Contribute to Impacting Others - Connecting with others authentically continues personal growth and helps transform lives of those in Stephanie's class. Follow Stephanie's Journey on IG: @Stephaniesanders_freedom Connect with Mind, Body, Gem guests and upcoming workshops on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

How Fitness Saved My Life, My Journey to Health Hosted by: Rokki Bonner, Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist, Owner of Personal Fitness Navigators in Columbus, Ohio Follow us on IG: @Fit_to_Navigate, Mind, Body, Gem weekly podcast time Rokki takes listeners to the beginning of her health challenges with dental work as a small child and being on the verge of a heart attack at nine years old. Rokki recalls the series of medications and hospital visits through most of her life after being diagnosed with hyperthyroid and a heart condition. Tough Choices: Rokki's unexpected health concerns forced her mother to make tough decisions regarding her treatment including radiation iodine treatment to shrink her thyroid or having her thyroid removed during puberty. Being Active: Physical activity was Rokki's outlet despite her health challenges. She dominated in track, basketball, working out. Her outlets transformed into her professional journey as a certified personal trainer and nutritionist and a professional body builder. Rejuvenated and Regenerated Through Nutrition: Rokki explores nutrition to live a healthy and medication free life, finding that nutrition changes not only the physical body, but is healing for disease and the mind. Nutrition can lead to regeneration of our bodies. Tell us how does fitness changed your life on IG: @Fit_to_navigate

Tea Time w/ Asegedech, Life in Balance and Success Hosted by Rokki Bonner, Certified Personal Trainer/Nutritionist and Owner of Personal Fitness Navigator, Columbus, Ohio with Special Guest Asegedech, Nutrition and Health and Wellness Coach Rokki spills the tea with her life partner Asegedech and how their relationship contributes to their individual success. Through meditation, nutrition, fitness, goal setting and a shared vision, their different perspectives have helped each other evolve spiritually, mentally and physically. The Impact of Practicing Daily Meditation What success looks like as an entrepreneur or working within the corporate structure Leave us a comment on how your relationship has helped you succeed through Mind, Body, Gem @Fit_to_Navigate

Our conversation today is with singer, songwriter, producer *Renee Dion. Renee will share how she takes care of her Mind and Body, that allows her GEM (purpose) to shine. Hear how she handles the real-life struggles of being on the road as an artist for a tour of over 74 shows in 2 months. How did she make it happen? Also, what did she learn from reading someone else's story? Who story did she share besides her own and what Gems can assist you on your journey IG: @ReneeDionMusic

A brief description of Mind-Body Gem Podcast and what will discuss on this series of conversations!