Lori Coombs Ames shares her discovery of "real" food having a life force

Lori Coombs Ames daily meditation practice.

Wow!  What a wonderful ride Lori Coombs Ames gave us last month at our Women’s Circle.  Lori confessed that she wasn’t always a “health-nut”, in fact she grew up eating out of boxes and cans….. among these were Top Ramen, boxed cereal, sweets and fast food.  What??  Our Lori??  She also confessed that she had never been challenged with a weight problem and was blessed with a high metabolism so she never worried about what she ate or being athletic.   She shared that her first marriage had some real challenges for her to overcome; she was told she was overweight at 88 pounds and as she felt judged she began to judge others on their body image.  She had to deal with an alcoholic husband as well as managing a high stress job.  Through this journey she met her spiritual mentor, Vicki Clough and attended her Inner Child retreat where she learned that she was lovable and how to let go of her limiting beliefs.  Lori’s journey led her to an exercise program in weight lifting and then yoga, where she felt a connection with Spirit through exercise.  Then when she took a Pilates class, it was love at first class.  She told us it was like weight lifting with the spirituality of yoga.  Her pilates class became her respite from her stressful work environment and a year later she became an instructor. 

Lori’s passion is to connect women with their bodies and empower them.  As Lori’s passion for exercise grew so did her passion to put good things into her body as part of her new diligence to self-care and self-love.  She found a deeper connection to source as she learned more and more about nutrition.   This journey led her to a delicious “green lemonade” which she enjoys almost daily, spiritual Kabucha and even trying raw food diet for a while.  Through this exploration she learned that conscious eating was the best answer for her.  She found that real food contains a “life-force” and it becomes a part of who we are.  She now grows most of her own food and prepares it with the intent that it will heal, nourish and have a loving relationship with her.  Lori loves being a vegetarian.

Through this whole journey, Lori admits, she would not give up her sugar and that she was very defiant about this fact.  She realized she had an addiction to sugar and that most of us may have the same addiction because it is a socially acceptable addiction and it doesn’t have the same stigma that an alcohol or drug addiction has.  When she finally got “real” with herself and this addiction, she started to cut out the sugar and find alternatives.  This was once again a choice to love herself.  Her favorite substitutes are raw honey, maple syrup and dates.   On a very important note, Lori also says she chooses to spend time with friends and family which may include food she wouldn’t normally choose but she has learned to always do her best, whatever that looks like and not get upset when it isn’t what would be her idea of a perfectly organic meal. 

Lori now listens to women in our world and hears what her own negative self talk used to be.  She says she is saddened by the huge emphasis that is put on body image and not enough emphasis on who we really are.  It has become her passion to assist women to overcome this negativity and see the powerful beauty in who they truly are as a women.  I share this same passion for empowering women with Lori. 

Lori also shared the 5 Tibetan Rites with our group, which are exercises for healing, rejuvenation and longevity.   Lori enjoys this as a moving meditation, as she was challenged by sitting still in the beginning of her meditation practice.  In the book, The Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth, written by Peter Kelder, he describes this exercise program used by Tibetan monks to live long, vibrant and healthy lives.  These exercises are a program for “youthing” instead of “aging” and Lori gave us the movements as well as alternative moves to work our way up to the original Rite. 

Lori’s wonderful journey through her life has brought her a profound sense of well-being and her next step is becoming a certified nutrition coach.   Lori currently teaches Pilates, the MELT method and Yamuna Foot Fitness.  You can find her at Core Connection Pilates, 801-560-4645, 1393 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City, UT

She also recommended her favorite blogs for delicious and healthy food choices.  Her recommendations are:

www.Mywholefoodlife.com
100daysofrealfood.com
Livesimply.com
Eatgood4life.com

If you are interested in knowing what is really in the products/foods on the market check out Foodbabe.com

Lori gave us some “Food for Thought” which I posted on our Facebook Page in our Women’s Circle, feel free to check it out and you will learn even more about what Lori calls conscious eating. 

Also, there was a request for the prayer that Lori says at the end of the 5 Rites, it is:

Hands at the 3rd eye-May I have eyes to see and ears to hear. May I be open to the signs and guidance of the Universe, my guides and angels and my own intuition.

Hands at the heart center-May I go into the world today with a kind and loving heart. May I treat all those I come in contact with love and compassion, including myself.

Hands at the root chakra (fingers down)- May I connect to Mother Earth, the Universe and all that is, on this plane and others.

We are one. Namaste'

I want to thank Lori for the amazing night she shared with us and the passion she has to be the change in the world.  Her journey has blessed her as well as so many around her that she influences.  We look forward to hearing more about her coaching business soon and all the new things on her horizon.  We love you Lori!!!