MAD LOVE MONDAY | Kendra Adachi - Health Coach, Plantbased Chef + Cannabis Educator

MEET KENDRA

HEALTH COACH, PLANTBASED CHEF & CANNABIS EDUCATOR

My name is Kendra Adachi. I’m a certified Integrative Health Coach, Plant-based Chef, Cannabis Consultant and life long student of personal development. I’m often asked what exactly does this all mean and what do I “do”?

Well, I work with people who acknowledge that their current circumstances are not desirable. They’re aware that their habits and behaviours are subtracting rather than adding to a life of optimal health and vitality. They could use a revamp in order to become the person they desire to be.

Together we emphasize on mindset, food for mood and establishing proactive tools to support their journey of self empowerment. I do this via one on one coaching online, speaking, immersive workshops and co-hosting retreats.

Whether it be feeling comfortable in their skin, feeling stuck and bored in a career and routine or simply needing a someone in their corner to hold them accountable in order to achieve desires and goals they have for themselves and their life. That’s where I come in.

I get to know where they hold themselves back, why and where they wish to be. Through addressing lifestyle and behaviours we create heightened awareness of self, new habits and ultimately an existence they honor and are genuinely grateful for that is unique to them and their needs.

I get what it’s like to feel frustrated knowing the choices I make hinder optimal physical health, career satisfaction, relationship healing and overall performance in life at my greatest capacity.

The frustration of getting in our own way. This is why it’s beneficial to have an outside perspective that will support and hold accountable to the changes that you say you’re going to make yet never seem to accomplish. This is because they have a different perspective and can see what you choose not to.

I do what I do now because of my own needs of healing. I was diagnosed with severe depression in my late teens and as a result, I had the opportunity to take a serious look at my lifestyle habits that were subtracting my growth and my quality of life opposed to healing and adding to my life’s experience. During my mental health journey (which is ongoing because I’m human) I experienced the traumatic loss of my first love, Alex, to suicide. This, was a catalyst to step boldly into the world of serving and supporting others who may find themselves in a place where they feel heaviness and alone. I’ve had the opportunity to be on both sides: being depressed, witnessing depression and losing someone to depression.

As I began to address my lifestyle habits I became quickly aware how nutrition, movement and mindset played critical roles toward my energy and understanding myself in a compassionate and unconditionally loving way. I started to honor myself and created proactive habits that blossomed into an expertise of sorts. After becoming an Integrative Health Coach I understood that the underlying force was to Honor by Health. I live by this motto daily.

What does it mean to honor?: Adhering to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct; to regard with great respect.

Being half Japanese I was raised with the importance of honor and what it means to live with honor. I started to realize that we can’t truly honor our loved ones, our relationships or purpose if we do not honor ourselves first. To honor by health is to honor others. To show respect for others.

It’s my variation of Jim Rohn’s quote: “I will take care of me for you, if you take care of you for me”.

Along with coaching, I have aspirations to collaborate with like minds in creating non-judgmental spaces gathering a global community that fosters enthusiastic play and compassionate awareness for ourselves, the planet and thus for others.

My most recent and upcoming retreat with my dear friend Aly Paws is this July 11-17, 2019 in Casperia, Italy called The Love Affair in Italy! We speak about this in greater detail on social media such as instagram and facebook.

I have a goal to create in person immersive experiences that will run globally bringing together women and men to encourage authentic connection and expression cultivating the embodiment of what it is to feel acceptance of our unique amazing selves, whole and enough.

Doing this work has empowered me to honor my personal needs and desires. I used to fight against my innate calling of becoming an entrepreneur as I didn’t feel I had what it takes or that I could ever accomplish the dreams that I had for myself.

The more I grow into my business, I grow into myself. The experiences I’ve had of working in jobs that weren’t completely soul nourishing were opportunities for me to discover what lights me up and what holds me back. Being on this path as an entrepreneur has been spontaneous, exciting, liberating, terrifying and incredibly rewarding. There are moments where I fall back into my limiting beliefs of not being able to ‘succeed’. However, when these feelings show up I always voice them into the world, share with my personal coaches and people who’s feedback I value and respect who remind me that the work I’m doing has a profound purpose.

We all have a profound purpose and our work matters. People need what I do, people need what you do. It  matters. Coming back to this knowing helps me get out of my own way and continue to serve. There are greater matters at hand.

When I find myself in these states I often share my human experience on social media which are instagram and facebook as well as by newsletter for those who subscribe to my website. I do this as catharsis (writing as therapy) as well as a form of connecting with others because I know that I’m not the only one who feels these emotions. I encourage everyone to share and show their humanness. You just never know who may need to read or hear your words that can shift their mindset and create healing.

We are all connected and we can forget this when we remain silent.

Work life balance is an ongoing process for me. The thing is that I love what I do so it doesn’t feel like ‘work’. However, what I have come to know to be true is how this can affect close relationships. The key to this is radical honesty and great communication.

I also encourage establishing non negotiables such as a morning and nightly routine that is solely for self-care practices. Set up boundaries for what your needs are and honor them. By doing this we teach others how we wish to be treated, they will witness and may establish a ritual for themself.

In sharing all of this I have hopes to create connections within the YEG Boss Babe community and beyond in order to give and receive support, create friendships and impactful memories with the purpose of doing good in this world. I believe tribe, community and sisterhood are vital toward an empowered and thriving life.

Website: www.adachikendra.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adachikendra/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kendra.adachi.3

MAD LOVE MONDAY | Lorna Mutegyeki - Msichana Inc.

To be honest I didn’t set out to be a fashion designer. In fact, when I first moved to Canada, it was to study molecular genetics at the U of A. And while in school, I began working in finance which eventually led to me becoming a CPA. But even with a good career, I really felt that I needed to do more, so I decided to make a change.

Fashion is a natural form of communication for me; I’m very passionate about women and this industry impacts so many (everyone, really!) I wanted to make the most significant, meaningful and lasting impact I possibly could.

One thing I love about being an entrepreneur is that I get to pursue the mission /priorities that are most important to me and perfectly aligned with my values.

One of my favorite moments in the day is the moment a client tries on a bespoke piece for the first time- there is something so empowering about looking at yourself and knowing that a piece perfectly fits your body- and I see it that confidence in their eyes.

Model | Sonia @bsocialcomm

Photo | @TasyNicole

Model | Marnie @glowjuicery

I also love the connection formed between the women creating the clothing and the women who wear it. With each bespoke piece, our clients receive a video where they can watch their garment being created and meet the women behind it. People don’t always think about how their clothing was made, but with Msichana the process is something that we are very proud of.

Running my own business has not been without challenges. The hustle is real, but I have never felt more satisfied. When times get really tough and I’m tempted to give up, I think of the people whose lives Msichana is impacting, and how many more there will be, and that encourages me to keep going.

Currently, I am working on the next collection for Msichana and improving the program for our team in Uganda. I am incredibly proud of the work that they have accomplished as seamstresses and we are now focusing on the business aspect so that these ladies can be successful entrepreneurs themselves. By giving women the skills they need to grow past Msichana I hope to create a community and a network of professional women who will support each other and be the proof that others may need to believe in their own power.

I am glad to be a part of the YEG Boss Babes community. I love connecting with women who experience similar challenges and who I can celebrate successes with.

MAD LOVE MONDAY | Ashley Prince - More Fun! Gourmet Sweets

I am Ashley Prince the owner and baker behind More Fun! Gourmet Sweets. More Fun! Is all about taking classic sweets and transforming them with healthful and gourmet ingredients. Each baked good is made with a combination of Sprouted Spelt flour and unbleached flour, organic produce, eggs and dairy and natural flavors and colors. Everyone is trying to consume less processed foods and more natural ingredients but everyone still craves sweets like cakes and cupcakes! So I set out to make better sweets, ones that you can feel good about serving yourself and your family.

More Fun! Came to fruition from one comment on my personal Facebook page. My sister had asked me to make her wedding cupcakes and I was practicing my piping skills and posting them to Facebook. Someone commented and asked “how much for an order?” At this time I was practicing with a bran muffin and store bought icing, so the thought that someone was interested in ordering was hilarious. But, I knew I could put together something absolutely delicious for this person, so I began to brain storm. And that folks, is how it all began.

When I created more fun! I had just been laid off, and I ended up being out of work for 8 months. The creation of my business allowed me to focus on something other than being out of work and that was huge for me. Fast forward nearly 2 years and I am embarking on the biggest challenge yet. I am crowdfunding in the month of February 2019 in hopes of gathering the remaining funds to move into a storefront in Leduc!

In this blog post, I wanted to touch on something I feel is relevant to me right now but also for many women going through the entrepreneur journey. I want you to have the confidence to “try”. Whatever that may mean for you- the next step in your business, the realization of an idea you have been mulling over for some time- find the confidence to try it. Because that’s how my journey began, I wanted to give this baking thing a try.

As my journey continued, I began to notice a change in myself that has truly been eye opening. I have realized my tenacity and instincts are more powerful than I have ever allowed them to be in the past. I attribute that evolution to allowing myself to become an entrepreneur. Yes I say “allow” because 3 years ago I would never have had the notion of starting a business from scratch. I allowed myself to run with an idea. To dream and create something without the fear of rejection. At the time, my bakery was just an idea that no one knew about but me. Slowly the idea grew stronger to the point I shared it and started to find ways to bring my products to the people to see what they thought. And do you know what? They loved it! And when I was told “these are the best cupcakes I have ever had”, that’s when I knew I couldn’t stop and I had to work towards bringing my baked goods to the masses. And this happened all because I found the confidence to try.

I decided late in 2018 that I was going to take a BIG step and launch a crowdfunding campaign to help raise the remaining funds to open my storefront. I knew it was time for the next big “try”. To take a calculated risk in hopes of furthering my business. I am preparing myself for the emotional rollercoaster ride that will follow with this crowdfunding campaign. I encourage you to follow me on social media, as I post about the highs and lows of this next chapter of my business. Perhaps my journey will give you the inspiration to try.

If you would like to contribute to my campaign you can visit my Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, website or visit atbboostr.ca. Every contribution receives a reward, so I urge you to check it out! Campaign runs from Feb 1- 28th.