Krystal Ryan - Well-being mentor
Tell us your story… (how you got into holistic health and well being)
I was raised to be and have always been very holistic minded, wellbeing has always been one of my highest values. Growing up, I didn’t have microwaves, my mum was a yoga teacher, we ate a very home-made plant-based diet, we surrounded the car with rainbows and light whenever we drove anywhere and things like gratitudes were a daily practice. Starting university I very much lost this connection. I lost it to drinking, gymming, spending my days working and studying, chasing this ever illusive dangling carrot of “success”. A lot of this stemmed from my inner child and the beliefs I had created for myself growing up that I needed to be more and do more in order to receive love. Comparison, restriction, over working and under listening to my body became my new daily practices. I developed a deep sense of disconnect within my self. I would find myself easily triggered and was constantly my own worst critic. I developed some unhealthy eating habits and saw movement as a way to burn off my food. Finishing university I lost myself even further, consumed with the stress and pressure to be in a career aligned with my study in order to meet societies expectations. This continued stress took its toll on my spiritual being by feeling like I wasn’t ever really present or here, my emotional body by never feeling enough and my physical body through numerous injuries, which I continued to ignore (classic) until it eventually manifested as ulcerated colitis and Crohns (an inflammatory bowel disease). Over the years it has taken a lot of deep inner work, getting comfortable with the uncomfortable emotions, unlearning past beliefs and literally just discovering who I am at my core without all the masks and endeavours to please others, to get to a place where I feel confident in my authentic expression. To feel aware of when my body is speaking to me and know how to act with my higher self in mind. To feel this beautiful reconnection to self.
What is holistic health??
For so long I thought holistic health meant ab workouts, kale, beetroot juice and mung beans. And for a long time I followed this method. I thought it meant restriction, being lean and training 6 days a week. But every day I’m learning more and more about what holistic health actually is. Now, I know holistic health looks different on everybody. From the words we say to ourselves, to the thoughts we think, to our ability to process our emotions, to our environment both physical and energetic, to what we think about ourselves, to how aware of our guidance systems we are, to how we mediate stress, to our relationships, to how we move our bodies, to our relationship with rest, to our fuel, to our relationship with how we fuel ourselves and I could go on. I believe holistic health boils down to how connected to ourselves we feel. Being able to tune in and listen to the messages from the body, interpret them and take action for what our body needs, rather than what we “should” be doing. For example, for so many years I ate to look a certain way and tick societies box of “healthy”, and now I am eating to fuel myself. Yeah maybe that means gaining weight, not being as toned, but maybe my bodies definition of holistic health is different to others.
What is ‘the practice of self all about? and your reasons/inspiration behind starting it??
Eeek. Yes, The Practice of Self. Again this relates back to feeling that beautiful sense of connection to oneself. If we think about it, every day we are practicing thoughts, practicing emotions, practicing interacting with the world. Often in the navigation of life, we get so caught up in the practice of trying to fit into a mould or follow what we “should” be doing, we forget the most important practice, The Practice of Self. And when we get so used to trying to be more, do more, be less or do less, we actually lose sight of what The Practice of Self even looks like and feels like for us personally, which is different to every single person on this planet. In the pursuit of all of this, our beautiful life force energy leaves our body, and remains either in the past, holding onto what we “should” have done or they “should” have done, or in the future worrying and stressing about what we “should” do or who we “should” be. Leaving no energy for ourselves in the present moment, creating a sense of feeling lost, frustrated and confused, struggling to make decisions, always seeking validation from others, placing weighting on others opinions and just feeling like we’re coming up against brick wall after brick wall. Everyone says “just be yourself” but what if you don’t know who that is? The Practice of Self was created because both Caroline and I had lived very parallel journeys going through this, experiencing it and feeling very alone in it all. Mentors were a large part of how we got to be where we are now (which we are so grateful for), so we wanted to create experiences for ladies to gain awareness, rewire old patterns and empower them to move closer to their higher self within a community of everyone on their own journey.
What do you cover in your 8 week Aligned program?
Ah Aligned. Aligned was created with the intention of helping you shift from feeling lost, disconnected and lacking your zest for life, to feeling fulfilled, certain of yourself and feeling like you’re in alignment… Connected to yourself. We believe 8 weeks is a beautiful time for transformation, and when held accountable in a container, anything is possible. There are 8 Chapters in our Aligned programme, so each week we guide you to discover, learn and unlearn new things about yourself through a combination of workbooks, calls and community. We spend the first week diving deep, uncovering and processing past events that have shaped you to recall your energy from residing in the past. We empower you to become aware of your thoughts and belief patterns and how to become the master of your mind. We then guide you to discover what truly lights you up at your core, your values, to remove the blockages from your life. Discovering your intuitive wisdom is Chapter 4, where we help you learn the signs of your inner guidance system and how to decipher between fear/anxiety and intuitive voice. You are then guided how to tap into being the creator of your desired reality through the law of attraction and manifestation. We then focus on our abundance mentality and our money mindset. And the last 2 Chapters are integration focused, the first being around strengthening the mind body connection through exploring the chakras. And the last Chapter is all about incorporating all the cooperative components into habits that will continue long past the 8 weeks we spend together. As you can listen to the podcast and read the book, but nothing changes unless you integrate. Our intention is to hold space, rewire, reconnect and empower you !
What’s your morning routine?
Cool question! I take my temperature first thing (I came off contraception in March so tracking my cycle), then as I am getting out of bed I mentally list my gratitudes and positive affirmations (our brain is most impressionable upon first waking/right before bed when our brain waves are slower) and then I brush my teeth (rid the toxins that have built up over night to be released) and drink some warm water. Then I check in with what my body needs, is it a yoga flow? Is it a sunrise beach walk? Is it a meditation? (In my ideal morning routine when I have time abundance I would do all 3!). Then I tuck into a delish breaky of beans, rice, poached eggs and pumpkin/carrots (on a protocol to heal my digestion). Depending on what day it is, I will check in with my “I get to” list and plan out my day.
What are some wellness practices you consciously implement into your day-day??
Throughout my day I always tune back in with my breath. Slow controlled breathing is such an easy, readily accessible tool that has changed my life. Whenever I find myself feeling overwhelmed, stressed or no longer in my body (focused on either the past or future), I can always access the present by focusing back on my breath. Asking myself the questions not asking other people. When it comes to decision making, I try to ask myself what is the right choice, rather than seeking external validation. This also looks like tuning back in and asking things like “Why has what this person has said made me feel this way? What am I feeling?”. Specifically with my body too, “What does this pain in my body mean? What is the message?”. Gosh so many, one more main one has been meditation. Sitting with myself, exploring, understanding, becoming familiar.
What’s one of your goals you’re working towards this year?
Currently I have 2 main goals I am working on. The first one is to un-do the damage I did to myself by living in the fight or flight stress response for all too long, which now means healing my digestion. And my other goal is to be an agent of change in the way ladies feel about themselves and within themselves. Allowing them to feel a deeper connection to themselves and know their worth. Oh and while we’re at it, long term goal this year is to run a wellness retreat - hehe how fun !!
How can people find out more and get in touch with you!
Best place of contact is on my Instagram @krystal.health ! Connection is one of my highest values so definitely flick me a message to chat - I love love meeting new people.
And lastly what’s your favourite maverick swim bikini?!
Oh they are all so beautiful, you have done such an amazing job ! I remember only a year or so ago listening to you dream about creating this whilst on a beach walk. But I love the Indy style !
Krystal wears the Indy top - Pink palm and Ava Bottoms - Onyx
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