Tag: Connection

Two Peas Wellness with Casey Thomas-Hardesty

Fitness, Nutrition, & Health Designed for You

Maybe it is all the feasting we do around this time of year or the wonderful possibilities of a fresh start in the coming new year, but I always start to rethink my fitness routines and nutrition strategies. For my final local connection blog post of the year, I want to introduce you to my friend Casey Thomas-Hardesty of Two Peas Wellness. Casey possesses a wealth of information about health, nutrition, and fitness. Growing a human is hard work, and Casey helps you feel better both during and after pregnancy, no matter how long it has been.

Casey Thomas-Hardesty is a mom of 3, certified Nutritional Therapy Consultant, Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach, and the owner of Two Peas Wellness, LLC. Her mission is to help you take the stress out of nutrition and fitness, heal your relationship with your body, and gain knowledge to make confident and informed decisions for your health and happiness. She specializes in gut health, core and pelvic floor health, and pregnancy and postpartum nutrition and fitness. 

I asked Casey a few questions to help us get to know her and Two Peas Wellness a little better:

1.      What is your favorite thing about your job? I absolutely love when I see women learning to trust their bodies again. When they aren’t scared to move, can do activities they love but were previously told were out of reach, or when they gain freedom in their food choices. It’s so rewarding to me to watch them grow. 

2.      What do you wish people knew about your business? I wish women knew the importance of having a properly trained coach for their prenatal fitness and postpartum recovery, no matter if they are a high level athlete, weekend warrior, or a mom that just wants to be able to chase after her kids. Research clearly shows that fitness and movement is important during this chapter, but we are learning that HOW you move is much more important than WHAT movement you are doing. The how isn’t taught in any traditional fitness certifications. Having a coach that truly understands the spectrum of considerations that impact pregnant and postpartum women, including core and pelvic floor health, mental health, and delivery method, and can help you translate that to real life can be invaluable to your postpartum recovery and long term health.  That is what I do at Two Peas Wellness!

3.      What is the most stressful thing about your job? Being a full time entrepreneur at Two Peas Wellness is definitely hard. I left a job that was the majority income for our family to pursue my passion. It’s so worth it though to be able to do what I love and help women in the process. 

4.      What is your favorite thing about living in the tri-state area? I love the small town feel, especially for raising my family. We also have a lot to offer with holistic and traditional health services, activities, and entertainment. 

5.      Where can people find you if they want to learn more about your services? On Facebook or Instagram at @twopeaswellness or visit my website at www.TwoPeasWellness.com

Casey not only knows her stuff, but manages to be both very professional and personable at the same time. She knows the stresses and worries of motherhood because she has been there x3. She has specialized training and expertise that so many fitness and nutrition experts are sadly lacking. She is approachable and never makes you feel bad about whatever choices you have made for your nutrition and fitness. You may have a new person in your life, and you may feel all rearranged, but Casey can help you navigate the physical newness too! Contact Casey at Two Peas Wellness to book a consult and learn more, and tell her we sent you.

Meeting You Where You Are: Beacon Breastfeeding Support, LLC

Individualized feeding support now available in your tri-state home.

Today is the last day of World Breastfeeding Week 2019, and I could not let this week finish without highlighting one of the most amazing new resources we have here in the tri-state area. Holly Phillips has worked as a birth professional for the past 8 years, as a DONA certified birth doula, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, and La Leche League leader. Holly has a true passion for helping growing families, and is now branching out in a new business as this area’s only independent international board certified lactation consultant! I have known Holly for close to 6 years, and can tell you that she is fantastically warm and bubbly with an enormous heart for service, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how very INTELLIGENT and savvy she is too. Are you as curious about her new business as I was? Then read on to find out her answers to my top 5 questions:

1. Why are you passionate about helping new families
with breastfeeding? 

My passion for helping families with breastfeeding began with my own
difficulties nursing my first baby. We worked with numerous feeding
specialists in the hospital and once we were discharged. However, my
daughter was never able to breastfeed. I became an exclusive pumper and decided to educate myself so that my next attempts at breastfeeding
might be more successful. As a doula, and later as a La Leche League
leader I had the honor of assisting families with breastfeeding education, but I still wanted to do more. In January 2019, I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant because it allowed me to address
more complex breastfeeding situations, be more hands-on in assessing
and assisting dyads and offer comprehensive support. 

2. How are your services different than a hospital-based IBCLC? 

First of all, I want to clarify that I am extremely grateful for hospital-
based IBCLCs, they are often the first line of support in getting babies to
breastfeed successfully at the start. They work to improve hospital
protocols that impact feeding at their facilities. However, it can be
difficult for them to offer services that extend beyond the newborn
period. Because I have the ability to come to families where they are and where they breastfeed most often, I am able to create a truly
individualized plan of care utilizing the support network they have in
place. I try to look at all pieces of the puzzle when there are breastfeeding difficulties and because I set my own schedule, I can spend as much time as needed to help families work through the often multi-layered issues
that lead to problems with feeding. 

3. Are your services covered by insurance? 

I currently do not accept any insurance. I can provide a superbill for visits which families may utilize to seek reimbursement from their insurance
companies. I cannot guarantee reimbursement. 

4. What is your favorite part about being an independent IBCLC?

Working with families in their own home environment allows me to form a solid professional relationship that accounts for all the variables that
impact the breastfeeding relationship. I create plans based on these
variables and have more flexibility because I get to craft my own protocols for addressing concerns using evidence-based information. 
I get to know families on a more personal level, and there is frequent
follow up so that continuity of care is maintained. 

5. What is the biggest misconception about IBCLCs? 

I think the biggest misconception about IBCLCs is that we do not support mothers who bottlefeed or use formula to supplement babies. While my
goal is to help families provide breastmilk to their babies, I value any
amount of breastmilk babies receive and often work with families on
introducing a bottle safely. Every family deserves respect and compassion around their feeding goals. 

Holly is magnificent, and I sincerely hope that she is a HUGE success, as I know that more support for breastfeeding is a GREAT thing! You can find Holly at:

Bella Terra Organic Spa & Shoppe

I absolutely LOVE to make connections with other like-minded business owners here in the tri-state area, and Japhia just happens to also have previously worked as a doula and labor and delivery nurse in addition to her current role as the program chair for the healthcare specialist and therapeutic massage program at Ivy Tech here in Evansville. Did I mention that she is also a single mom to a gaggle of good looking kids? Japhia lights up the room with her vivacious personality and gentle spirit, and I always feel renewed every time we get to spend time together.

Japhia Burrell
RN, MSN, CMT

First, here is a bit about Japhia’s business: Bella Terra is a boutique organic spa located in Evansville, IN. They offer massage therapy, facial treatments, pedicures/manicures, body scrubs/wraps, and more. Their massage therapists are trained and skilled in techniques ranging from relaxing spa treatments, to prenatal massage, to deep tissue for persistent back, neck, and hip pain. They choose to use only all natural and organic products for their spa services and strive to maintain a practice that is health-conscious, green, and environmentally friendly.

I wanted to know more, so here are the questions I asked Japhia (in bold) and her answers underneath:

1.       What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love that I get to work with people who have become such good friends. Also, coming from being a Registered Nurse for 10 years to working as a massage therapist, it’s an entirely different vibe. I love being able to help people feel better while working in a beautiful, relaxing environment. I also really enjoy when I see my repeat clients month after month. We get to form a relationship and it makes being at work feel like I’m not working at all. It’s especially fun with my prenatal clients, because I get to see their bellies grow and then I love seeing pictures after the baby is here! In general, being a massage therapist is very rewarding. I feel like I get to make a difference in people’s lives, without the stresses I had in my previous career. Although it’s very true that being a business owner has plenty of stresses of its own.   

2.       What do you wish people knew about your business?

I wish people knew that we are the only spa in town that is committed to using only natural and organic products. Also, that our nail polish is seriously the best I have ever used! We get asked sometimes if we do gel nails, but we avoid anything like that. We don’t even use regular nail polish. Studies have shown that metabolites of harmful chemicals such as triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), which is used in many nail polishes, have been found in women’s bodies within hours of painting their nails. We use a nail polish brand that is free of chemicals like TPHP, toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP. Plus, it’s actually awesome polish. It’s extremely durable, hardly has any smell at all, and comes in a ton of colors.

            Other than that, I wish people knew that massage therapy is not a one-and-done type thing. People come in for a massage when they’re hurting the most, and then they don’t come back for another year. Massage is like starting an exercise regimen or taking a vitamin; you wouldn’t do it just once and expect big results. Although getting a massage once or twice a year is better than not at all, the benefits really start to show when you receive it regularly. We recommend every 4-6 weeks for maintenance. If you have a chronic issue that’s causing dysfunction or discomfort, it may take a few sessions before you see a lasting change. Conditions caused by repetitive movement or poor posture didn’t occur overnight and they can’t be cured overnight. Your body has to heal and relearn better movement and posture patterns. Massage can definitely help with that, and regular sessions will help keep you feeling your best. That’s why we offer a discount for clients that book monthly.

3.       What is the most stressful thing about your job?

Honestly, managing other people. If I worked for someone else I wouldn’t have that problem, but I’ve always wanted to own my own business. Taking care of the scheduling, making sure everyone is happy, running the payroll, and really, just delegating anything can be stressful for me. I’m working on that though. Doing all of the administrative stuff, marketing, finances, etc. takes up a lot of time and is really my least favorite part.

4.       What is your favorite thing about living in the tri-state area?

I like how close we are to everything. We are only a 2.5-3 hour drive from about 4 or 5 major cities. I love going to see live music, and even though a lot of my favorite bands don’t necessarily come through Evansville, I can make a day trip pretty much anywhere they stop in the Midwest. I’m from Chicago, and I’ve lived in smaller towns, but I feel like here we have the best of both worlds. We have a small town vibe, with some city amenities.

5.       Where can people find you if they want to learn more about your services?

People can go to our website, www.thebellaterraspa.com, email us at info@thebellaterraspa.com, or call us at 812-598-2835. We’re also on Instagram, @bellaterraspa and Facebook, @thebellaterraspa. Thanks!

All birth doula clients of Doula Group of Evansville will receive a free 30-minute prenatal massage, while these coupons last!

Not everyone loves massage or even likes being touched, but there are so very many benefits to massage for those of us who it helps relax and be more in tune with our bodies. Being in tune with your body and its needs is extremely beneficial especially when preparing for birth!

When was the last time you got a massage?