The Only Thing Constant is Change!

Hello, friends!

Wow, it's been a while since I sent out a newsletter, and there's quite a bit to catch you up on. Life has been full of learning, growing, dreaming up new projects, and finding more ways to help women feel good in their bodies and lives. So grab your favorite cozy drink, settle in, and let me fill you in!

     It's amazing how quickly things change sometimes. It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming a beautiful baby boy into our lives, and this September we sent him off to college!

I know Vander is meant for big things, and the world is a better place with him in it. My mom heart misses him deeply. The brightness of his light is no longer shining from his side of the house, but I know that it was time for him to leave the nest to shine his light in a new place.

He is at UC Santa Barbara, and though we are only 4 hours away, it feels like the invisible chord that connects us is being stretched so taut; too far for my liking.

He wants to talk only once a week. I want to see his face and know that he is okay every day like before. I want to be his shoulder, reassuring voice, and I know that this is as much a transition for me as it surely is for him...maybe more.

I know that learning to embrace these changes and lean into this new chapter is important, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Sometimes it's downright confusing. For the last 18 years, so much of my identity has been wrapped up in being Mom. 

Now I'm learning that letting go doesn't mean loving less. It means making room...for him to grow, and for me to discover who I'm becoming in this next chapter of my life.

And maybe that's what change asks of all of us: to honor what has been, even as we make space for what comes next.

Here's to learning to let go, grow, and find joy in the unexpected!

As I've been navigating this new chapter, I've been thinking about how many women reach midlife and realize it's time to make space for themselves again. That's one of the reasons I'm so excited to share something we've created…

A Retreat for Midlife Women

Ready for Your Next Chapter? Introducing Evolve U Retreats!

As I navigate this new chapter of motherhood and midlife, I'm reminded how important it is to make space for ourselves, too. Not just for everyone who depends on us, but for the women we are becoming.

That's one of the reasons I'm SO excited to share that I have partnered with other incredibly talented women to help women to evolve into their next stage of their lives in the healthiest, happiest, most joyful way. We even named it Evolve U Retreats  and it open for registration!

Join us in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, for a transformative midlife retreat from January 14–18, 2027.

This is for you if: you have been wondering what happened to the woman you used to be.

Or if you have felt that little nudge inside telling you there's more to discover about yourself.

This retreat is an opportunity to pause, reconnect with yourself, explore what you want your next chapter to look like, and surround yourself with women who are also ready to grow.

We're bringing together experiences that nourish the body, mind, and spirit, including whole-food, plant-based nourishment, practical lifestyle strategies, relaxation, gentle yoga, supplement education, gua sha and lymphatic drainage, playful improv experiences, and EFT tapping to explore emotional patterns and limiting beliefs.

Think of it as time to step away from your everyday responsibilities, try something new, connect with other women, and give yourself the space and permission to imagine what's next. More than anything, it's a time to find yourself again - who are you now, and who you want to be going forward.

🎁 Early Bird Bonus — Don't Miss Out!

The standard rate is Canadian $2,890 per person (approximately US$2,022 at the time of writing).

Register by November 7, 2026, to receive:

• C$400 off the standard retreat rate. (approximately US$280)

• Two private, one-hour coaching sessions with your choice of Evolve U Retreats facilitators, valued at C$300. (approximately US$210) You can arrange these sessions before or after the retreat.

That's an opportunity to save on your retreat experience while receiving additional personalized support!

Ready to invest in yourself and explore your next chapter?

CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE THE RETREAT & REGISTER!

I would love to see you there. 💚

Because your next chapter deserves some attention, too. You deserve to take some time and rediscover yourself!

Contact me by replying to this email if you have any questions.

Fall Challenge

As the days get shorter and the weather cools, fall is the time to revisit the little habits that help us feel our best.

Rather than trying to overhaul your entire routine, start with simple shifts:

• Nourish yourself with the season. As soon as the weather cools down, enjoy warming soups, roasted vegetables, squash, sweet potatoes, and other colorful, fiber-rich foods.

• Protect your sleep. Keep a consistent bedtime and create a relaxing evening routine that doesn't include a phone for the last hour to help your body wind down.

• Make room for natural daylight. A walk outdoors can help you get natural light, move your body, and take a mental break. This can do wonders for your circadian rhythms, mental health, and your sleep.

Wellness doesn't have to be complicated. Small, consistent habits make a big difference over time.

Your fall challenge: Choose just ONE habit to focus on this week. What would make you feel a little more energized, grounded, or nourished? Notice how that habit changes how you sleep and feel.

2 New Ways to Work With Me:

✨EFT Tapping ✨

In addition to Health Coaching and being a Lifestyle practitioner, I'm excited to share that I'm now offering sessions as an EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner, and I'm currently accepting clients!

Have you ever noticed that you keep getting stuck in the same emotional patterns? Maybe a past experience still affects how you feel today, a limiting belief keeps you from moving forward, or your inner critic seems to have a mind of its own.

EFT tapping combines focused attention on emotions with gentle tapping on specific points on the body. Some people find it helpful for managing stress, exploring difficult feelings, and working toward a different relationship with persistent beliefs or experiences.

In our sessions, we'll work together to explore what's coming up for you in a supportive, personalized setting.

You don't have to figure everything out on your own.

If there's an emotional pattern, past experience, or belief you'd like support working through, let's talk.

Simply reply to this email to ask about sessions or schedule a conversation.

✨Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - Bioidentical Hormones ✨

🌸 Is Menopause Making You Feel Like a Stranger in Your Own Body?

Hot flashes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, mood changes, brain fog, low energy, and changes in libido… Menopause can affect so much more than our periods!

If you've been wondering why you don't feel quite like yourself anymore, you're not alone. And you don't have to accept that feeling miserable is part of getting older.

I'm expanding my work with women in midlife to include support around perimenopause and menopause symptoms (which can start at age ~35-40) and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). My goal is to help women better understand their changing bodies, explore appropriate options, and find an individualized approach to feeling their best.

Bioidentical hormones are designed to have the same molecular structure as hormones naturally produced by our bodies. For many women, hormone therapy can help relieve bothersome menopausal symptoms. (Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain, anxiety, and other mood issues, to name a few).

Bioidentical hormones increase:

-brain health

-balanced mood

-healthy weight

-libido

-muscle strength

-bone strength

-skin health and collagen

-vaginal health

-energy

-immune function

-sleep health

You deserve to feel heard, supported, and informed as you navigate this stage of life.

If you're struggling with perimenopause/menopause symptoms or want to learn more about your options, I'd love to connect and discuss how I may be able to support you.

Let's make this next chapter one where you feel more like yourself again! 💜

Reply to this email to get in touch.

Upcoming Events

Calling Teachers: Participate in My PhD Research

Another important part of my life right now is my PhD research, which focuses on the workplace experiences of teachers living with epilepsy that isn't fully controlled by medication.

I'm looking to recruit teachers who have experience navigating the challenges of teaching while living with medication-resistant epilepsy. I'm interested in hearing their stories, understanding their experiences, and learning more about what working in education is like for them.

If you are a teacher living with medication-resistant epilepsy — or know someone who might be interested — I'd love to connect.

Participation would involve a research interview, subject to the study's approved eligibility criteria and procedures.

Please contact me to learn more or to ask about eligibility. I would also appreciate you sharing this invitation with anyone who may be interested.

Thank you for helping bring more attention to an experience that deserves to be understood.

Connect with Me

Website: www.Joyfulhealthyconnections.com

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleykatz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091970497110

Email: joyfulhealthyconnections@gmail.com