May 20, 2025 • 23 mins
What begins as tragedy can sometimes forge an unexpected path to healing and purpose. For Lydia Cecilia, losing her father to a sudden heart attack while he danced with her mother on Valentine's Day became the first step in a profound journey toward holistic wellness and self-discovery.
Lydia's story is remarkable not just for its challenges—surviving two different cancer diagnoses within a year—but for the wisdom she extracted from these experiences. At 24, she faced Hodgkin's lymphoma, followed by AML leukemia exactly one year after completing her first cancer treatment. These back-to-back health crises opened her eyes to the intimate connection between emotional and physical wellbeing. "I believe that the emotional hurts that we carry through life, that we bury, that we suppress, that we deny, eventually find a way of coming to the surface," Lydia explains, noting how her unresolved grief manifested in her physical body.
What makes Lydia's approach uniquely powerful is her balanced perspective. She embraces conventional medicine while incorporating complementary practices like reflexology, Reiki, and yoga—a combination that addresses both symptoms and root causes. Her yoga instruction focuses not on physical achievement but on self-acceptance: "I can't even touch my toes without bending my knees, and I've been a yoga instructor since 2011," she shares with disarming honesty. For Lydia, yoga creates "a sacred space where you make time for you," grounding practitioners in their authentic selves rather than external judgments.
Now a certified health and wellness coach, Lydia helps others bridge what she calls "the gap between knowing better and doing better," empowering them to take proactive steps toward holistic wellbeing before crisis forces their hand. Her message resonates with profound simplicity: "Just love yourself... once you have self-love, you don't have to attach your worth to anything outside of you." Connect with Lydia at www.lydiacecilia.ca to learn more about her global coaching services or look for her complete story in the upcoming Business Divas that Care book releasing this fall.
For more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Love Talks Radio of you that have just tuned in for
the very first time.
We've been doing this show nowfor over seven years, eight
years almost and this year we'veactually added in seven more
hosts.
So we now have a total of eighthosts and we're going to be
adding two more before the endof the year.
We're now a network, so we'rereally excited that you have
(00:39):
tuned in today and we hope thatyou tune in to all of our other
divas at DivasAtCarecom.
Well, let's get started, ladies.
I'm so excited.
Today's guest is Lydia Cecilia,and we're going to be learning
about her.
As I said, she's a brand newdiva to our family and I'm
really excited to get to knowher better.
So welcome to the show, lydia.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Thank you so much for having me.
This is quite the honor.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well, lydia, I am so excited.
You and I have had a chance totalk a few times here and I'm
really excited.
You have such an amazing storyand I think our ladies, our
divas out there, are reallygoing to love it.
You have definitely a lot tooffer, so we're going to start
now.
I'm going to ask you to share alittle bit about yourself.
Tell us who you are, whereyou're from and what you do.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Well, as you said, my name is Lydia Cecilia.
I'm 45 years old.
I was born and raised inToronto, ontario, and I live
with my family currently inBradford, ontario, which is
about an hour north of the maincity, toronto.
I'm a mom to two kids Alessia,who just turned 12 at the end of
(01:48):
May, and my son, luchano, willbe 10 in July.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Wow, and you are a health and wellness coach,
correct?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I am.
I am a certified health andwellness coach.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
yes, how did you get involved with that?
What was your aha moment to getinvolved to be a health and
wellness coach?
Yes, how did you get involvedwith that?
What was your aha moment to getinvolved to be a health and
wellness coach?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Well, candice, that's a long story that we don't have
time to delve into today, butjust to give you a quick idea of
where it started, I would sayit was a week after my 24th
birthday.
Idea of where it started, Iwould say was a week after my
24th birthday.
My dad had a massive heartattack and passed away at a
Valentine's Day dance, whiledancing with my mom on the dance
(02:32):
floor.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Oh, my goodness, that would have been heart-wrenching
.
I am so sorry about that.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yes, it was life-changing.
I felt like my world had fallenbeneath me and it really put
life into a differentperspective for me, and it
really was the beginning of ajourney that has taken me, you
know, 21 years later, tobecoming a health and wellness
(03:03):
coach.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Well, tell us more about that.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
At the time of my dad's death, like I mentioned, I
was 24, and I was verydevastated by what had happened,
as many people would be.
It definitely left me feelingmany emotions and it left me
feeling stressed and I was indenial.
(03:32):
I wasn't accepting of his death, even though, logically and
rationally, I knew that he hadpassed.
So it began to take a toll onmy health and I started to
explore what was happening withthat, which again is another
little piece to the puzzle as towhat led me here.
I was diagnosed with my firstcancer in 2001, and it was
(03:59):
Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
And that's kind of how you got started.
I know that you and I havetalked a lot about your journey
and, if you're okay with it,let's talk a little bit more
about that, because I think it'simportant to tell our listeners
and share with them why it isthat you've really delved and
why it was important for you tobecome a wellness holistic coach
, because a lot of individualshave different journeys and
(04:27):
yours has been one of a.
You know a lot of ups and downsthrough yours, and I think it's
important that we kind of sharea little bit more about that
and then talk about what kind ofmodalities, too, that you
you've incorporated into yourhealth practice because of what
you've learned through the years.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Okay, I'm happy to share that.
So I mean, what started thejourney for me was my dad's
death.
What led to me discovering andlearning about different
modalities was going through myhealth experience.
I did choose to use Westernmedicine as my therapy to be put
into remission.
(05:07):
And it wasn't until aftergetting a clean bill of health
that I really started toquestion if there were other
ways that I could haveconsidered to look after my
health.
And what I started to recognizewas there were a lot of
emotional hurts, you know, and adeath Like that was my first
(05:29):
experience to losing a parent,and it was at a really pivotal
time in my life.
You know when you are cominginto your own, and so the death
of my dad really left me feelinglike I didn't belong.
I didn't really know where myroots were.
I was always seeking outside ofme, feeling like I didn't
belong.
I didn't really know where myroots were.
(05:50):
I was always seeking outside ofme, you know, whether it was
acceptance, approval.
So I started to make theseconnections while I was in my
recovery.
So it was looking back inhindsight that I started to
realize that for me, in myopinion, I believe that the
emotional hurts that we carrythrough life, that we bury, that
(06:12):
we suppress, that we deny,eventually find a way of coming
to the surface.
And unfortunately, I find thatus, as humans, tend to wait
until it's too late.
Sometimes you know where itcomes into your physical health
or ailments, that you have noother choice but to start to
deal with it.
And not everyone chooses todeal with their emotional pain
(06:34):
because it's really difficult.
So I found for me that I wantedto start exploring who.
I was.
Am I really who I was raised tobe?
There's this conflict with that?
What is real for me?
What are my beliefs, outside ofwhat I've been conditioned to
(06:55):
believe, be it through family,be it through culture, be it
through society?
And this is when I discoveredthings like foot reflexology and
making the connection that allour parts, organs and glands are
reflective on our feet as theyare in our body.
(07:17):
So that was pretty mind-blowingbecause I would only knew things
like Western medicine andmaking connections to our health
and well-being.
Now I discovered something thatwas completely different than
what I had chosen for myself tolook after in my health.
From reflexology, I would saythat, you know, there were a lot
(07:44):
of other things going on in mylife at the time.
Emotionally, I had just beendiagnosed, actually with my
second cancer shortly after Iwas certified for a foot
reflexology and actuallyyesterday was June 5th, correct
yes.
Yesterday was my anniversary.
(08:05):
It was a very significant daybecause June 5, 2002, I had
finished my chemotherapytreatments for Hodgkin's
lymphoma.
Right after the treatment, theyscan you and, you know, check
to see if I needed any radiation, which.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
I did.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I had to do that one month of radiation.
So from that one month ofradiation you know you get
checked and you're goingfollow-ups every three months.
So again, this is now in 2002,going into 2003.
Sars was out in 2003.
So my nine-month follow-upappointment got postponed.
As a result of that.
I went in on May 28th, got myblood work done like I normally
(08:47):
did.
I was asked to come backbecause the blood work didn't
look right.
I went in on June 5th 2003,which is now a year after the
day that I finished my chemo forHodgkin's lymphoma and that's
when I got diagnosed with AMLleukemia.
So you're talking a year apart,two different cancers.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Here we are yesterday , again June 5th, now 2018.
And I just got my certificationfor level two Reiki, which
makes me a Reiki practitioner,which, for me, really makes this
a full circle, and not becauseof the cancer, but because of
what it opened my mind, my eyesand my heart to and it really
(09:36):
helped me find myself in waysthat I would never have been
open to had I not done thatfirst course in foot reflexology
.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Isn't that amazing?
And congratulations on that,because I know a lot of amazing
individuals that have takenthose courses and they're
absolutely fantastic and youknow it's a big step and I think
that's great.
So congratulations on that.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Thank you.
So I believe there's a reallyand I'm not anti-Western
medicine.
However, I do believe thatthere's ways that we can support
ourselves on a regular basis inmaintenance if we have the
awareness and the tools to do so.
I don't like to take medicationfor things if I can help to
(10:35):
make it better for myself, andan example that I like to use is
a few months ago, I was havingsome issues with my digestive
system and I could feel likethese pains when I would eat,
and it was on the right sideunder my ribs.
So this is my thought processand maybe this is a little
insight into really who I am,how my life and health
(10:55):
experience has affected andimpacted me in such a way that
I've completely, you know, takenon a new belief system and
approach to my health.
So when I was getting thesepains, I absolutely went to my
doctor and asked to be scannedand, to you know, to have blood
work done, because I always wantto be proactive.
I've been through cancer twiceand I really don't ever want to
(11:16):
go down that path again, so I dostill work with western
medicine.
However, I start to questionwhat's going on in my life
emotionally that could beaffecting these organs.
What do these organs that arespecific on the right side under
the ribs, which are thegallbladder and the liver, what
(11:36):
do they hold and what do theyrepresent, not medically, but
more emotionally, energetically?
So I know, because I've learned, through people like Louise Hay
and you know, learning aboutthe human energy system, which
is known as chakras, that inthese organs, emotionally, we
(11:56):
hold and energetically we holdanger and resentment.
Well, there were situations andthings happening in my life
that made sense to me as to whyI was feeling this pain because,
all of my blood work came backclear.
All of my scans came back clearultrasound and x-ray so if it's
(12:17):
not something physically goingon that they cannot see.
But yet this physical pain ishere.
Why is it here, when I have theunderstanding of where it's
coming from?
For me, it puts me at peace.
When I am at peace, my immunesystem is not suppressed.
It is actually able to flowproperly, and energetically and
(12:39):
emotionally I get stronger inmyself because I have more
awareness and I have moreinsight and I am in tune with my
body to understand that whenI'm feeling things, it's not
always what you assume it to be.
There could be something thatis an underlying issue and it
(12:59):
doesn't always mean it's medical.
Maybe this is an opportunitywhere we have that chance to
bridge the gap between knowingbetter and doing better, where
we can actually be empowered andproactive to make the changes
necessary to actually live alife of health and well-being.
I don't know if that's helpful,but that's how.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I break it down, it is you know what.
I love that and I love howyou're explaining it because I
think it's really important.
A lot of people that listen tothe show, I think, have that
same philosophy in a lot of ways, because there is that
connection.
We know that there's more tolife than I would say, than what
meets the eye and our emotions.
They are so in tune with ourbodies and if we can figure
(13:42):
things out too, we're able tofix a lot of it.
And I think a lot of ourlisteners they're big into
meditation and yoga and you're ayoga professional also and you
do teach yoga and I think thathaving that whole round wellness
background, I think, is goingto be very helpful.
And talk a little bit aboutthat, because I know that in
(14:03):
your practice that you'restarting up and you're getting
going, that's something that'sreally important to you also.
So can we talk a little bitabout your yoga and how you're
wanting to bring that into yourpractice too?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Absolutely.
Yoga for me was a saving grace.
Yoga for me was an opportunityto really learn about myself and
find a practice of self-loveand, like most things that we
don't want to do, those areusually the things that are the
most necessary for us to do.
They bring the most opportunityfor growth and healing.
So the way that I like to useyoga is not so much about you
(14:39):
know how do you get into yourpostures and can you hold it,
because I can't even touch mytoes without bending my knees,
and I've been a yoga instructorsince 2011.
What yoga means to me really isit's a practice of looking
inward, of making theseconnections, of accepting
yourself on that mat and lettinggo of whatever you hear in your
head, that is, your own voice,of negative internal dialogue or
(15:03):
other people's voices.
It is a sacred space where youmake that time.
For you, it is a practice ofself-love.
So for me, that's why yoga isso important, because it helps
to keep me grounded.
Love.
So for me, that's why yoga isso important because it helps to
keep me grounded.
It helps to keep me in theenergy and space of me seeing
myself through my own eyes andnot through the eyes of the
world, because sometimes we canget distorted by listening to
(15:24):
other people's opinions.
You know there's not a lot ofpeople out there like you,
candice, that are willing tolift others.
It's unfortunate that majorityof us have to experience, you
know being stepped on so otherpeople feel better about
themselves, and this is whatyoga means to me.
It's about saying I reallydon't care what you on the
outside think.
I'm good with me.
(15:46):
I'm good with me, I have a pureheart, I see myself for who I
am and I can only be in thepresent moment.
And that's what yoga does forme, and I hope that it does the
same for my students and clientsthat use any of my modalities
be it yoga, be it footreflexology, be it Reiki, be it
my holistic approach to lifecoaching.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Oh, and I love it because I think it's important,
and what you're doing, too, isthat you're showing empowerment,
you're teaching empowerment,and I think that's what we need,
especially in today's society.
You're right, we're overwhelmedwith a lot of negativity and I
think when we have that beliefin ourselves, anything can
happen.
And if we have that supportnetwork of individuals that are
going to stand by us and help usthrough that because there are
(16:32):
a lot of ups and there are a lotof downs they're going to stand
by us and help us through that,because there are a lot of ups
and there are a lot of downs.
But having those individualsand knowing that we're not alone
and we can do it I think that'sthe key.
And I think what you're talkingabout is yoga is a really good
modality in order to get almostthat relaxation, that internal
(16:53):
release that we need especiallyin our society when we're very
overwhelmed with stress, nomatter what you find out there,
we all need some sort of way torelease.
You know there's been a lot ofindividuals on our show that
have talked about color therapyand how they sit down and then
they color because it helps themrelease.
That is a way to get out ofyour head.
(17:13):
Yoga is a way to do that too,and there's a lot of different
things and I think it'simportant to really stress that.
You know, when we can find thatthing that works for us, we
should definitely use it andmake sure we use it on a
continual basis.
It's not just a one-time thing.
We can't just say, oh, I didyoga once and we're done.
You know that.
(17:41):
That, as an instructor, it'slike no, you have to continue it
.
Just like anything else that youfind out there, find something
that works for you, continuewith it, and it's going to make
such a big difference in yourlife.
So, cecilia Lydia, I want totalk about one thing.
Like for any of the individuals, I want to talk about your
practice.
Now Is there a way forindividuals, because we do have
listeners all over the world now.
Do you work with people just inyour community or do you work
with people on a global scale?
Speaker 2 (18:02):
In terms of coaching, I can work with people on a
global scale.
We have great technology thesedays where you can be, live, you
know in person, where you meet,you see them, you know with
things like Skype and Zoom andwhat have you.
In terms of yoga, my intentionis to start getting some videos
up on YouTube.
I do have a YouTube channel.
However, I've just been workingon getting my website and
(18:27):
getting all my social mediaplatforms in order, so there
will be a subscription toparticipating classes that I'm
going to have on YouTube.
But reflexology, I mean I couldsend information to people, but
locally in Ontario and in mysurrounding areas easier,
because I do offer workshops.
(18:47):
Meditation is something, again,you know it can be done through
live streaming, but I think itis something that is better done
without the technology you know, so that you can tune out from
that.
And hopefully in the future Iwill have some podcasts going so
(19:08):
that there could be morediscussions.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
You know what, and I think that would be a great
thing and we're going to.
When you have that up, we'regoing to be posting that on our
website for sure, lydia, if,since you don't have your
website up and about and for anyof our listeners today, is
there a way that they can get ahold of you and in touch so that
they can make sure they'reeither connected to you through
email or anything like that, incase you have, like a newsletter
(19:32):
coming out, they, they want tobe involved with that.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
I actually do have a website.
It's a.
It's a soft launch, so it's.
It's up, it's available, it'spublished.
It's wwwlydiasaciliaca.
They can reach me by email atinfo at lydiasaciliaca.
I'm also available by mobile.
You can call me directly.
(19:57):
I will get back to you at myearliest convenience at
416-931-9309.
And I do plan to do a firmlaunch of my website in the next
couple of months.
I've been working with abranding photographer and I also
want to start to implement someof my media that I've had in
interviews up on the website aswell, so I am happy to also
(20:22):
share this on my website.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Well we're excited about that and thank you.
So last minute.
Lydia, do you have any tips ortools for our divas today?
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Just love yourself.
Just do whatever it means tolove yourself wherever you find
joy and peace and really, onceyou have self-love, you don't
have to attach your worth toanything outside of you.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Perfect.
I love that and, ladies, forany of you that would love to
learn more about Lydia's story,we're really pleased to announce
that Lydia is going to be inour next Business Divas that
Care book that is going to becoming out this fall.
So make sure that you go andcheck that out and read her
story, because it is a beautiful, amazing story of what she's
(21:14):
done and her journey and, oh mygoodness, I love it.
So, lydia, thank you so muchfor being our guest today.
Thank you for everything thatyou shared and I hope that you
come back on again in the future.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
I look forward to it.
Candice, I wish you and yourlisteners so many blessings of
good health, self-love andhappiness for today and all of
your tomorrows.
It's really been an honor.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Thank you, oh thank you so much and to thank you to
all of our listeners today.
I know there's quite a few ofyou that are listening today and
we appreciate each and everyone of you.
There's quite a few of you thatare listening today and we
appreciate each and every one ofyou.
For all of you that have nothad the opportunity, our shows
are recorded, so I hope thatyou're able to listen to this
recording and also to send itout all to your family and
friends.
(21:54):
Lydia is doing some amazingthings.
Her story is fantastic.
It's a beautiful testimonialand I hope that you're able to
really get in touch with her,get to know her, follow her on
social media and perhaps workwith her in the future.
So until next time, ladies,make sure that you go out there
and do something great forsomebody else.
(22:14):
And again, I'm going to let youknow about our website at
wwwdivasatcarecom.
That is where we host all ofour shows and you can check out
our other divas there.
So until next time, ladies,have an amazing day and we will
talk to you soon.
Bye-bye, everybody.
Thank you.
(23:07):
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Love Talks Radio of you that have just tuned in for
the very first time.
We've been doing this show nowfor over seven years, eight
years almost and this year we'veactually added in seven more
hosts.
So we now have a total of eighthosts and we're going to be
adding two more before the endof the year.
We're now a network, so we'rereally excited that you have
(00:39):
tuned in today and we hope thatyou tune in to all of our other
divas at DivasAtCarecom.
Well, let's get started, ladies.
I'm so excited.
Today's guest is Lydia Cecilia,and we're going to be learning
about her.
As I said, she's a brand newdiva to our family and I'm
really excited to get to knowher better.
So welcome to the show, lydia.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Thank you so much for having me.
This is quite the honor.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well, lydia, I am so excited.
You and I have had a chance totalk a few times here and I'm
really excited.
You have such an amazing storyand I think our ladies, our
divas out there, are reallygoing to love it.
You have definitely a lot tooffer, so we're going to start
now.
I'm going to ask you to share alittle bit about yourself.
Tell us who you are, whereyou're from and what you do.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Well, as you said, my name is Lydia Cecilia.
I'm 45 years old.
I was born and raised inToronto, ontario, and I live
with my family currently inBradford, ontario, which is
about an hour north of the maincity, toronto.
I'm a mom to two kids Alessia,who just turned 12 at the end of
(01:48):
May, and my son, luchano, willbe 10 in July.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Wow, and you are a health and wellness coach,
correct?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I am.
I am a certified health andwellness coach.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
yes, how did you get involved with that?
What was your aha moment to getinvolved to be a health and
wellness coach?
Yes, how did you get involvedwith that?
What was your aha moment to getinvolved to be a health and
wellness coach?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Well, candice, that's a long story that we don't have
time to delve into today, butjust to give you a quick idea of
where it started, I would sayit was a week after my 24th
birthday.
Idea of where it started, Iwould say was a week after my
24th birthday.
My dad had a massive heartattack and passed away at a
Valentine's Day dance, whiledancing with my mom on the dance
(02:32):
floor.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Oh, my goodness, that would have been heart-wrenching
.
I am so sorry about that.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yes, it was life-changing.
I felt like my world had fallenbeneath me and it really put
life into a differentperspective for me, and it
really was the beginning of ajourney that has taken me, you
know, 21 years later, tobecoming a health and wellness
(03:03):
coach.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Well, tell us more about that.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
At the time of my dad's death, like I mentioned, I
was 24, and I was verydevastated by what had happened,
as many people would be.
It definitely left me feelingmany emotions and it left me
feeling stressed and I was indenial.
(03:32):
I wasn't accepting of his death, even though, logically and
rationally, I knew that he hadpassed.
So it began to take a toll onmy health and I started to
explore what was happening withthat, which again is another
little piece to the puzzle as towhat led me here.
I was diagnosed with my firstcancer in 2001, and it was
(03:59):
Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
And that's kind of how you got started.
I know that you and I havetalked a lot about your journey
and, if you're okay with it,let's talk a little bit more
about that, because I think it'simportant to tell our listeners
and share with them why it isthat you've really delved and
why it was important for you tobecome a wellness holistic coach
, because a lot of individualshave different journeys and
(04:27):
yours has been one of a.
You know a lot of ups and downsthrough yours, and I think it's
important that we kind of sharea little bit more about that
and then talk about what kind ofmodalities, too, that you
you've incorporated into yourhealth practice because of what
you've learned through the years.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Okay, I'm happy to share that.
So I mean, what started thejourney for me was my dad's
death.
What led to me discovering andlearning about different
modalities was going through myhealth experience.
I did choose to use Westernmedicine as my therapy to be put
into remission.
(05:07):
And it wasn't until aftergetting a clean bill of health
that I really started toquestion if there were other
ways that I could haveconsidered to look after my
health.
And what I started to recognizewas there were a lot of
emotional hurts, you know, and adeath Like that was my first
(05:29):
experience to losing a parent,and it was at a really pivotal
time in my life.
You know when you are cominginto your own, and so the death
of my dad really left me feelinglike I didn't belong.
I didn't really know where myroots were.
I was always seeking outside ofme, feeling like I didn't
belong.
I didn't really know where myroots were.
(05:50):
I was always seeking outside ofme, you know, whether it was
acceptance, approval.
So I started to make theseconnections while I was in my
recovery.
So it was looking back inhindsight that I started to
realize that for me, in myopinion, I believe that the
emotional hurts that we carrythrough life, that we bury, that
(06:12):
we suppress, that we deny,eventually find a way of coming
to the surface.
And unfortunately, I find thatus, as humans, tend to wait
until it's too late.
Sometimes you know where itcomes into your physical health
or ailments, that you have noother choice but to start to
deal with it.
And not everyone chooses todeal with their emotional pain
(06:34):
because it's really difficult.
So I found for me that I wantedto start exploring who.
I was.
Am I really who I was raised tobe?
There's this conflict with that?
What is real for me?
What are my beliefs, outside ofwhat I've been conditioned to
(06:55):
believe, be it through family,be it through culture, be it
through society?
And this is when I discoveredthings like foot reflexology and
making the connection that allour parts, organs and glands are
reflective on our feet as theyare in our body.
(07:17):
So that was pretty mind-blowingbecause I would only knew things
like Western medicine andmaking connections to our health
and well-being.
Now I discovered something thatwas completely different than
what I had chosen for myself tolook after in my health.
From reflexology, I would saythat, you know, there were a lot
(07:44):
of other things going on in mylife at the time.
Emotionally, I had just beendiagnosed, actually with my
second cancer shortly after Iwas certified for a foot
reflexology and actuallyyesterday was June 5th, correct
yes.
Yesterday was my anniversary.
(08:05):
It was a very significant daybecause June 5, 2002, I had
finished my chemotherapytreatments for Hodgkin's
lymphoma.
Right after the treatment, theyscan you and, you know, check
to see if I needed any radiation, which.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
I did.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I had to do that one month of radiation.
So from that one month ofradiation you know you get
checked and you're goingfollow-ups every three months.
So again, this is now in 2002,going into 2003.
Sars was out in 2003.
So my nine-month follow-upappointment got postponed.
As a result of that.
I went in on May 28th, got myblood work done like I normally
(08:47):
did.
I was asked to come backbecause the blood work didn't
look right.
I went in on June 5th 2003,which is now a year after the
day that I finished my chemo forHodgkin's lymphoma and that's
when I got diagnosed with AMLleukemia.
So you're talking a year apart,two different cancers.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Here we are yesterday , again June 5th, now 2018.
And I just got my certificationfor level two Reiki, which
makes me a Reiki practitioner,which, for me, really makes this
a full circle, and not becauseof the cancer, but because of
what it opened my mind, my eyesand my heart to and it really
(09:36):
helped me find myself in waysthat I would never have been
open to had I not done thatfirst course in foot reflexology
.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Isn't that amazing?
And congratulations on that,because I know a lot of amazing
individuals that have takenthose courses and they're
absolutely fantastic and youknow it's a big step and I think
that's great.
So congratulations on that.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Thank you.
So I believe there's a reallyand I'm not anti-Western
medicine.
However, I do believe thatthere's ways that we can support
ourselves on a regular basis inmaintenance if we have the
awareness and the tools to do so.
I don't like to take medicationfor things if I can help to
(10:35):
make it better for myself, andan example that I like to use is
a few months ago, I was havingsome issues with my digestive
system and I could feel likethese pains when I would eat,
and it was on the right sideunder my ribs.
So this is my thought processand maybe this is a little
insight into really who I am,how my life and health
(10:55):
experience has affected andimpacted me in such a way that
I've completely, you know, takenon a new belief system and
approach to my health.
So when I was getting thesepains, I absolutely went to my
doctor and asked to be scannedand, to you know, to have blood
work done, because I always wantto be proactive.
I've been through cancer twiceand I really don't ever want to
(11:16):
go down that path again, so I dostill work with western
medicine.
However, I start to questionwhat's going on in my life
emotionally that could beaffecting these organs.
What do these organs that arespecific on the right side under
the ribs, which are thegallbladder and the liver, what
(11:36):
do they hold and what do theyrepresent, not medically, but
more emotionally, energetically?
So I know, because I've learned, through people like Louise Hay
and you know, learning aboutthe human energy system, which
is known as chakras, that inthese organs, emotionally, we
(11:56):
hold and energetically we holdanger and resentment.
Well, there were situations andthings happening in my life
that made sense to me as to whyI was feeling this pain because,
all of my blood work came backclear.
All of my scans came back clearultrasound and x-ray so if it's
(12:17):
not something physically goingon that they cannot see.
But yet this physical pain ishere.
Why is it here, when I have theunderstanding of where it's
coming from?
For me, it puts me at peace.
When I am at peace, my immunesystem is not suppressed.
It is actually able to flowproperly, and energetically and
(12:39):
emotionally I get stronger inmyself because I have more
awareness and I have moreinsight and I am in tune with my
body to understand that whenI'm feeling things, it's not
always what you assume it to be.
There could be something thatis an underlying issue and it
(12:59):
doesn't always mean it's medical.
Maybe this is an opportunitywhere we have that chance to
bridge the gap between knowingbetter and doing better, where
we can actually be empowered andproactive to make the changes
necessary to actually live alife of health and well-being.
I don't know if that's helpful,but that's how.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I break it down, it is you know what.
I love that and I love howyou're explaining it because I
think it's really important.
A lot of people that listen tothe show, I think, have that
same philosophy in a lot of ways, because there is that
connection.
We know that there's more tolife than I would say, than what
meets the eye and our emotions.
They are so in tune with ourbodies and if we can figure
(13:42):
things out too, we're able tofix a lot of it.
And I think a lot of ourlisteners they're big into
meditation and yoga and you're ayoga professional also and you
do teach yoga and I think thathaving that whole round wellness
background, I think, is goingto be very helpful.
And talk a little bit aboutthat, because I know that in
(14:03):
your practice that you'restarting up and you're getting
going, that's something that'sreally important to you also.
So can we talk a little bitabout your yoga and how you're
wanting to bring that into yourpractice too?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Absolutely.
Yoga for me was a saving grace.
Yoga for me was an opportunityto really learn about myself and
find a practice of self-loveand, like most things that we
don't want to do, those areusually the things that are the
most necessary for us to do.
They bring the most opportunityfor growth and healing.
So the way that I like to useyoga is not so much about you
(14:39):
know how do you get into yourpostures and can you hold it,
because I can't even touch mytoes without bending my knees,
and I've been a yoga instructorsince 2011.
What yoga means to me really isit's a practice of looking
inward, of making theseconnections, of accepting
yourself on that mat and lettinggo of whatever you hear in your
head, that is, your own voice,of negative internal dialogue or
(15:03):
other people's voices.
It is a sacred space where youmake that time.
For you, it is a practice ofself-love.
So for me, that's why yoga isso important, because it helps
to keep me grounded.
Love.
So for me, that's why yoga isso important because it helps to
keep me grounded.
It helps to keep me in theenergy and space of me seeing
myself through my own eyes andnot through the eyes of the
world, because sometimes we canget distorted by listening to
(15:24):
other people's opinions.
You know there's not a lot ofpeople out there like you,
candice, that are willing tolift others.
It's unfortunate that majorityof us have to experience, you
know being stepped on so otherpeople feel better about
themselves, and this is whatyoga means to me.
It's about saying I reallydon't care what you on the
outside think.
I'm good with me.
(15:46):
I'm good with me, I have a pureheart, I see myself for who I
am and I can only be in thepresent moment.
And that's what yoga does forme, and I hope that it does the
same for my students and clientsthat use any of my modalities
be it yoga, be it footreflexology, be it Reiki, be it
my holistic approach to lifecoaching.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Oh, and I love it because I think it's important,
and what you're doing, too, isthat you're showing empowerment,
you're teaching empowerment,and I think that's what we need,
especially in today's society.
You're right, we're overwhelmedwith a lot of negativity and I
think when we have that beliefin ourselves, anything can
happen.
And if we have that supportnetwork of individuals that are
going to stand by us and help usthrough that because there are
(16:32):
a lot of ups and there are a lotof downs they're going to stand
by us and help us through that,because there are a lot of ups
and there are a lot of downs.
But having those individualsand knowing that we're not alone
and we can do it I think that'sthe key.
And I think what you're talkingabout is yoga is a really good
modality in order to get almostthat relaxation, that internal
(16:53):
release that we need especiallyin our society when we're very
overwhelmed with stress, nomatter what you find out there,
we all need some sort of way torelease.
You know there's been a lot ofindividuals on our show that
have talked about color therapyand how they sit down and then
they color because it helps themrelease.
That is a way to get out ofyour head.
(17:13):
Yoga is a way to do that too,and there's a lot of different
things and I think it'simportant to really stress that.
You know, when we can find thatthing that works for us, we
should definitely use it andmake sure we use it on a
continual basis.
It's not just a one-time thing.
We can't just say, oh, I didyoga once and we're done.
You know that.
(17:41):
That, as an instructor, it'slike no, you have to continue it
.
Just like anything else that youfind out there, find something
that works for you, continuewith it, and it's going to make
such a big difference in yourlife.
So, cecilia Lydia, I want totalk about one thing.
Like for any of the individuals, I want to talk about your
practice.
Now Is there a way forindividuals, because we do have
listeners all over the world now.
Do you work with people just inyour community or do you work
with people on a global scale?
Speaker 2 (18:02):
In terms of coaching, I can work with people on a
global scale.
We have great technology thesedays where you can be, live, you
know in person, where you meet,you see them, you know with
things like Skype and Zoom andwhat have you.
In terms of yoga, my intentionis to start getting some videos
up on YouTube.
I do have a YouTube channel.
However, I've just been workingon getting my website and
(18:27):
getting all my social mediaplatforms in order, so there
will be a subscription toparticipating classes that I'm
going to have on YouTube.
But reflexology, I mean I couldsend information to people, but
locally in Ontario and in mysurrounding areas easier,
because I do offer workshops.
(18:47):
Meditation is something, again,you know it can be done through
live streaming, but I think itis something that is better done
without the technology you know, so that you can tune out from
that.
And hopefully in the future Iwill have some podcasts going so
(19:08):
that there could be morediscussions.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
You know what, and I think that would be a great
thing and we're going to.
When you have that up, we'regoing to be posting that on our
website for sure, lydia, if,since you don't have your
website up and about and for anyof our listeners today, is
there a way that they can get ahold of you and in touch so that
they can make sure they'reeither connected to you through
email or anything like that, incase you have, like a newsletter
(19:32):
coming out, they, they want tobe involved with that.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
I actually do have a website.
It's a.
It's a soft launch, so it's.
It's up, it's available, it'spublished.
It's wwwlydiasaciliaca.
They can reach me by email atinfo at lydiasaciliaca.
I'm also available by mobile.
You can call me directly.
(19:57):
I will get back to you at myearliest convenience at
416-931-9309.
And I do plan to do a firmlaunch of my website in the next
couple of months.
I've been working with abranding photographer and I also
want to start to implement someof my media that I've had in
interviews up on the website aswell, so I am happy to also
(20:22):
share this on my website.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Well we're excited about that and thank you.
So last minute.
Lydia, do you have any tips ortools for our divas today?
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Just love yourself.
Just do whatever it means tolove yourself wherever you find
joy and peace and really, onceyou have self-love, you don't
have to attach your worth toanything outside of you.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Perfect.
I love that and, ladies, forany of you that would love to
learn more about Lydia's story,we're really pleased to announce
that Lydia is going to be inour next Business Divas that
Care book that is going to becoming out this fall.
So make sure that you go andcheck that out and read her
story, because it is a beautiful, amazing story of what she's
(21:14):
done and her journey and, oh mygoodness, I love it.
So, lydia, thank you so muchfor being our guest today.
Thank you for everything thatyou shared and I hope that you
come back on again in the future.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
I look forward to it.
Candice, I wish you and yourlisteners so many blessings of
good health, self-love andhappiness for today and all of
your tomorrows.
It's really been an honor.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Thank you, oh thank you so much and to thank you to
all of our listeners today.
I know there's quite a few ofyou that are listening today and
we appreciate each and everyone of you.
There's quite a few of you thatare listening today and we
appreciate each and every one ofyou.
For all of you that have nothad the opportunity, our shows
are recorded, so I hope thatyou're able to listen to this
recording and also to send itout all to your family and
friends.
(21:54):
Lydia is doing some amazingthings.
Her story is fantastic.
It's a beautiful testimonialand I hope that you're able to
really get in touch with her,get to know her, follow her on
social media and perhaps workwith her in the future.
So until next time, ladies,make sure that you go out there
and do something great forsomebody else.
(22:14):
And again, I'm going to let youknow about our website at
wwwdivasatcarecom.
That is where we host all ofour shows and you can check out
our other divas there.
So until next time, ladies,have an amazing day and we will
talk to you soon.
Bye-bye, everybody.
Thank you.
(23:07):
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