Angel Ianakiev

When life feels overwhelming, sometimes one of the simplest things we can do for ourselves is step outside and take in nature. There are many reasons why they call it ‘the great outdoors’. The idea of intentionally spending time in nature has a name in Japan: shinrin-yoku, commonly translated as “forest bathing.” Forest bathing simply means immersing yourself in the atmosphere of a forest and experiencing it through your senses. The term was introduced in Japan in the 1980s as a way to...

It’s August which means backpacks, number 2 pencils and bus stops. Back-to-school season is here and it can bring a lot of emotions. There’s excitement about new teachers, fresh school supplies and seeing friends again but there can also be anxiety, exhaustion, uncertainty and overwhelm. And it’s not just kids who feel it. Parents, caregivers, teachers and school staff are adjusting to new schedules, earlier mornings, packed calendars and changing expectations too. To help with this season,...

As the calendar flips into the second half of the year, many of us are thinking the same thing: “How is it already July?” The excitement of New Year’s resolutions has faded. Summer schedules are busy. Work deadlines continue, kids are home from school, vacations come and go, and before we know it, we’re already closer to the holidays than we are to January. While we often pause mid-year to review budgets, business goals, or fitness progress, we rarely stop to ask one of the most important...