Episode 5 - Embracing the Body Healing Itself with Heather Dillard

By Jessica Garrison

This week, Heather Dillard joins Melissa in talking about her journey, particularly with her body. She shares her experiences with holistic wellness practices as well as owning a bakery that specializes in gluten-free and dairy-free products. She has seen the effects of her actions and wants to spread the wealth of knowledge she has learned along the way.

Being a holistic coach, Heather is very aware of her body and enjoys participating in physical self-care. She was given false information when she was younger about her body, and it took a toll on her. Not taking care of her body had consequences that changed Heather’s life, and two years passed before she could feel at home in her body again.

A lot of Heather’s boundaries come from her dietary restrictions, and although people are more open about gluten-free and vegan diets in today’s world, there are still times she has to stand up for herself and set a firm boundary. I’ve seen it myself with people who are gluten-free, and there can be a lot of peer pressure when it comes to a person’s diet. However, seeing the benefits of sticking to her boundaries with both her mind and body has made it easier over the years.

While discussing her mental and physical health, Heather shared how she was a foster mom of 3 children. She discovered just how necessary it is to listen to your body, which essentially is the boss of all else. She also worked in a school system and was able to understand the children on a different level because she understood the connection between the body and the mind.

When asked how she supports women in living unapologetically, Heather showcased just how compassionate and understanding she is. Everyone has a story, and being gentle with one another is sometimes all you need. I appreciate the kindness that she displays; the world would be a much better place if more people like Heather existed.

Heather’s current values include her physical health being a priority and making it a point to keep herself recharged. She says that when you know what your values are, it makes decision-making a lot easier, and I agree with her completely. Living out of her own expectations is a difficult process for Heather, but she credits her values with helping her move in the right direction. This ties into her boundaries since she’s a people pleaser, and defying people’s expectations of you can be demanding but also quite rewarding.

Over the years, Heather has learned to accept her body’s capacity and create a balance between her body and spirit. Heather offers great advice that helped her accept the layered aspects of herself, and I think everyone has something to learn from this segment of the podcast.

We get energy from those around us, and Heather speaks to how F.E.E.L affects the relationships she has. During this segment, Heather shares her many talents, and she offers many ways that people can heal themselves, both physically and mentally. When others see her doing these and putting in the effort, they want to as well.

Heather’s resources will be listed on our website at embracinglayers.com if you’re interested in learning more about her, booking an appointment with her for holistic coaching, or if you’re hungry for a sweet treat from her bakery. Let us know what you thought of Heather’s episode and if you loved it as much as I did!

Ways to Engage: Have you seen the effects that food has, not only on your body, but on your mental health as well? What are some patterns you see? Do you keep track of what you eat and the ingredients in the food? Why or why not? After listening to Heather’s episode, it might be helpful to reevaluate your diet to see what is working and what is not for all aspects of your health.