A Guide to Supporting a Sober Curious Loved One / EP. 44

Welcome to Episode 44 of the Feel Lit Alcohol Free Podcast! Your hosts, Ruby Williams and Coach Susan Larkin, are here to dive deep into the transformational journey of supporting loved ones who are "sober curious."

We'll tackle the insightful question from our listener, Renee, about guiding those on an alcohol-conscious path. What's the real difference between habits and addictions? How can we compassionately break the cycle of dependency and cognitive dissonance? Expect to uncover empathetic strategies and heartfelt advice.

Join us as Ruby and Susan share personal insights, resources, and behavior change strategies that illuminate the path toward understanding and aiding those exploring their relationship with alcohol. Whether you're seeking guidance for yourself or a loved one, this episode will empower you with knowledge and compassion. Remember, transformation begins with readiness and a supportive community. Let's dive in!

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and ask us any questions you have about breaking free from wine or living an alcohol-free lifestyle. Your question could be the highlight of a future episode!

Grab our Feel Lit Weekend Guide!
https://feellitpodcast.com/Guide

Watch Episode on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@FeelLitAlcoholFreePodcast/videos

Websites:
Susan Larkin Coaching https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/
Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Susan: @drinklesswithsusan
Follow Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching

It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice regarding your health before attempting to take a break from alcohol. The creators, hosts, and producers of the The Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, or psychological advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any resource or communication on behalf of the podcast or otherwise to be a substitute for such.

Transcript

Sick and tired of your love-hate relationship with wine?
Welcome to the feel it alcohol free podcast. Hi. I'm coach Ruby Williams. And I'm coach Susan Larkin. We are 2 former wine lovers turned alcohol freedom coaches exposing the lies about alcohol and giving you, our listeners, the tools to break free so you can feel lit. And when you're lit, you'll feel healthier, freer, and more in control of your life. So relax, kick back, and get ready to feel lit alcohol free. And don't forget, grab a copy of our wine free weekend guide after the show.

Coach Susan [00:00:38]:
Hey. Hey. Hey. Good morning. Good morning. We are so glad that you are back with us here at the Feel Lit Alcohol Free Podcast. Hello. Susan and my lovely co host, coach Ruby, and we are thrilled to be here with you today.

Coach Susan [00:00:58]:
Jazz hands. Jazz hands. Yay. So, yeah, you crack me up, Ruby. We have so much fun recording this podcast, and we just love connecting with our listeners too. So we love it when you send us questions or when you just interact with us and say, hey. I listened to this, and I really got a lot out of it. And we are enjoying all the comments.

Coach Susan [00:01:22]:
So keep them coming.

Ruby [00:01:24]:
And can I share a quick story? Yes. Of course. My cousin is listening to our podcast every week, and she texted me when we were listening to coach Tabin on mammograms. And she goes, listening to your podcast, just scheduled my mammogram. Oh my gosh. That's so awesome.

Coach Susan [00:01:44]:
Yeah. Good. Good. That's what we were hoping for. Right? And I had just come from mine. So I got a clean, you know, good good report back, so that's good. Oh, good. Yeah.

Coach Susan [00:01:56]:
Well, so today, we have a question from one of our Facebook group members and one of our listeners. So I am going to read the question, and then we're gonna dive right into the topic today. And the topic today is how can we support and encourage a loved one who is sober curious? So this is our question from Renee. How can I support and encourage loved ones around me who are sober curious, but still have many struggles in their life, and alcohol has taken over many roles because of that? Yeah. So we know that story where all the jobs we've given alcohol and then unraveling that. So, Ruby, what's your story around that?

Ruby [00:02:38]:
Yeah. I would love to share that. Well, first of all, this is so common. Like, I think maybe everyone listening and everyone might know someone who's struggling, and they're in denial. I know I was in denial for years. You know, the average is, like, 7 years that you can, like, be in that stage where you're, like, aware and it's you're you're, like, aware of it. You know it deep down that it's probably the alcohol, but you're like, I can function and I'm going to work. And so other people might see it.

Ruby [00:03:14]:
So what Renee is saying is how, you know, how can she help? Say, I was talking about, like, what if it's like an uncle or, you know, somebody that's struggling, and you can tell that maybe they're they might be drinking more than they should. Or you know? So, you know, what I wanna start with is, like, the difference or let's talk about, like, addiction versus habit. Right? So, in addition, let's start with habit first. Habit is just like a tendency, a usual manner of behavior. It's involuntary, and it's just you do it frequently like brushing your teeth. You know? That's a good habit. It becomes an addiction when it's compulsive, chronic. You have a psychological need for, like, say, a substance, or it could be a habit, like, a behavior, like scrolling on your phone.

Ruby [00:04:11]:
It could be a substance, like alcohol, sugar, another drug. And, really, the difference is if you know it's having, like, a harmful effect. Okay? That's the real big difference. Like so coffee you know, you were joking. Like, I have a coffee addiction. Well, you know, is it really harmful? You know, that's debatable. But, like, if it's not really giving you a harmful, you know, effect, then I wouldn't say that's, like, an addiction addict a true, like, addiction. And the other thing is if you stop taking it that's where coffee might be, an addiction.

Ruby [00:04:45]:
If you stop taking it, you experience withdrawal or some sort of anxiety or irritability. And I think I do have headaches when I stop drinking coffee. So maybe yeah. But back to alcohol. Yeah. So a lot of times, people just are not aware that they need to change. They are not aware of the problem, and they're and it's really important that they have to kinda want to make a change or at least be curious. Right? Yeah.

Ruby [00:05:11]:
So so yeah. What would you share a little of your story, Susan?

Coach Susan [00:05:16]:
Yeah. Sure. What I love about Renee's question is she does say that friends who are sober curious. Right? So they are curious. There's a big difference if somebody is interested or not. Because if somebody's not interest like, it's really hard

Ruby [00:05:31]:
to No. No. No. Not listening. Not listening. Mhmm.

Coach Susan [00:05:35]:
Yeah. But if somebody's worried about it, like, I was right away. I knew I was drinking more than, you know I knew what the weekly amount was 7 drinks a week for women, and I knew I was over that. And I was immediately concerned when I just felt like I needed it. Yeah. I think that's the difference too. Like, when you feel like you need it. And I think when you use alcohol for medicinal purposes, let's say, or for coping with life stress, you start to become dependent on it.

Coach Susan [00:06:05]:
So let's use the word dependent versus addicted. Right? Okay. Do you depend on alcohol to help you de-stress at the end of the day? Do you depend on alcohol to cheer you up when you're in a bad mood and, you know, you go to the pregame because you're going out? Do you depend on alcohol to be there at every event? And if it's not there, you think, well, this is gonna be boring and horrible. You know, just sort of coming up you know, use I like the word depend. You know, just seeing, do you depend on it for something? Are you using the substance to change the way you feel? And then that's part of the question that she shared too that she said, you know, but they still have many struggles in their lives and alcohol's taken over many roles because of that. Then that cues me or clues me into thinking that people that these people that she's sharing about are using alcohol as a coping mechanism. And for me, when I started using alcohol as a coping mechanism, that's when it became problematic because I would start to depend on it. And it becomes more addictive when we're using it as a coping mechanism because we've created this neural pathway of need.

Coach Susan [00:07:22]:
And when we get that dopamine hit, it tells us, oh, do this again. This helps. If it helps you de-stress at the end of the day, do this again. Do this again. Even though our prefrontal cortex, our thinking brain might be like, I think I'm doing this a little too much. Then our subconscious brain is like, oh, no, no, no. But you need this. You need it.

Coach Susan [00:07:43]:
It helps you. So, actually, you think you're helping yourself. Right? Your subconscious thinks it's helping you, and that's where we create cognitive dissonance. And that's exactly what started happening. And you feel the push and pull. You know, like, I shouldn't drink tonight, and that's where we wake up in the morning and go, okay. It's Tuesday. I'm not gonna drink tonight.

Coach Susan [00:08:04]:
You know, I drank too much over the weekend, and then you have a stressful day and I just don't know. Your car is just, like, on autopilot driving to the liquor store on the way home from work or you call your husband or, like, hey. Let's meet at, you know, our local pub and have a couple of drinks before we go home because you feel like your subconscious is sending you messages that, like, you need this to de stress. So, yeah, the first step is just becoming aware of this cycle that's going on. Right? Mhmm.

Ruby [00:08:36]:
Yeah. And, yeah, you just really clearly that's how it happens. Right? You become addicted. The pleasure center of your brain gets overstimulated. Mhmm. And, eventually, your actual subconscious actually starts to think you need it for survival, like, almost at, like, a survival level. Like, I might you know, your subconscious might even be saying I might die if I don't drink alcohol. But your conscious, your prefrontal cortex, when it's online, it's like, no.

Ruby [00:09:07]:
No. No. I said I wasn't gonna drink today. Yeah. So you described it so well, Susan. Thank you. For me, it was about creating rules. Like, the next like, I would create these rules.

Ruby [00:09:19]:
Yeah. And I would be like, okay. I'm only gonna drink, you know, on the weekends, or I'm only gonna have 1 bottle instead of 2 because I was up to, like, 2 bottles. The tolerance just keeps increasing. Wherever you are on this, you know, trajectory, the trajectory only keeps going up, you guys. So whether you're sober curious, you know, in a gray area drinker, a binge drinker, a heavy drinker, like, it just keeps going up because yeah. So I break my promises every day, pretty much every day. And that's like it felt like beating myself up.

Ruby [00:09:51]:
Right? Like, I was that cognitive dissonance and making promises like, okay. Today, I'm not gonna drink, definitely not gonna drink, then I'd have a crazy workday, lots of stress. Okay. I'm just gonna have one glass of wine. That was my thing. One glass of wine. I'll stop again tomorrow. You know, I'll try this again tomorrow.

Ruby [00:10:09]:
But tonight, I need the one glass, which then turned into bottles. Yeah. I just felt stuck. So what I wanna say to Renee and everybody who's listening is that the people that are addicted to whatever addiction, they don't want to be stuck. They don't. I didn't want that. It wasn't fun. You think, oh, people in addiction, oh, they're having fun drinking. I was not having fun in the last many years of my drinking.

Ruby [00:10:39]:
I was actually miserable, Very miserable. Yeah. So, let's just talk about the basic question. Like, what can you do and say to your loved ones? You know? That's the real question. And I wanna start with compassion. Compassion for them, for whoever it is, you know, a friend, a spouse. Maybe it's an adult child. Maybe it's a grandchild.

Ruby [00:11:07]:
Maybe it's you know, there it could be a teacher. It could be anybody. Everybody. Anybody can have an addiction. Anybody. And it can be one thing that can tip you over. You know? Mhmm. One thing in life.

Ruby [00:11:23]:
Maybe you're a normal drinker. You know, we've done episodes on that. But maybe you can handle it, and then something happens in your life, and all of a sudden, you're addicted. You're using it. So kindness, kindness, kindness. The person drinking alcohol and addicted is beating themselves up already. They are. They truly are.

Ruby [00:11:46]:
I remember, every day, I was just beating myself up. I I had that term alcoholic, which we've also done an episode on. But alcoholic, like, I thought that was the only thing, and I didn't wanna admit that to myself, to others. I felt so much like a label. So, honestly, they are doing the best they can with the tools they have, and the tool that they're using to cope with life and stress and whatever is, you know, emotional pain is alcohol, and it's just it's just the drug of choice. Right? It just happens. And then, again, the tolerance increases, and it's not their fault. If I could say anything, you have to have compassion and kindness for them and know that it's not their fault.

Ruby [00:12:29]:
Right. Yeah. Yeah. But there's more.

Coach Susan [00:12:31]:
What do

Ruby [00:12:31]:
you think? There's more.

Coach Susan [00:12:32]:
Well, I think yeah. Just helping them understand that alcohol is an addictive substance. That is again, like you said, it's not your fault. That alcohol creates a thirst for itself. So and and the science, I would just help them dive into the science to say it's not your fault. Actually, your brain is normal. So if you're thinking there's something wrong with you and they have a problem and what does that mean? You know, just explaining that there's nothing wrong with you. Your brain is actually doing what it would do in response to an addictive substance.

Coach Susan [00:13:07]:
I usually use the analogy of tobacco. Like, if you started smoking every day at 5 o'clock, one cigarette even, because it helped you destress, would you be surprised if you became addicted to cigarettes? No. Because we've been taught and we understand that tobacco is an addictive substance. The problem is the awareness and the education around alcohol just isn't there. We've been taught that it's an either or. Either you're a person who already is predisposed and you're an alcoholic or you're normal, and then there's no in between. And so just explaining the gray area of alcohol use disorder or disordered drinking and understanding that that is a normal process if you use alcohol as a coping mechanism. And then, again, yeah, with the compassion that you talked about and just saying, hey, why don't you just learn about alcohol? You know? Learn about what it does in your body.

Coach Susan [00:14:06]:
You know? You when we were talking about this beforehand, you mentioned the Huberman Lab podcast where he goes into depth, but he is also really good at explaining really scientific y Mhmm. Topics in layman's languages. But he goes in-depth about how alcohol affects Yeah. Every part of your body.

Ruby [00:14:23]:
Can I share a little story about that too? Yeah. I started being an alcohol freedom coach and getting alcohol free when my son turned 21. And Oh, wow. I've been talking to him about this stuff. He's, like, 21, 22, 20 now he's 26. But he said to me, what really got his likes, he didn't listen to me because I'm his mom. I mean, he listened a little bit, but it was the Huberman Lab Podcast. So if you have a college age student, someone in college, like, really wanting to learn, I really recommend the Huberman Lab Podcast around alcohol because my son said that was the thing that finally, like, like, you know, the thing that sunk in.

Ruby [00:15:05]:
Yeah.

Coach Susan [00:15:05]:
Yeah. When you learn the science, it just starts to make sense. Then I think it's a great place to start just to create awareness. And you've heard this before in the podcast, but we start with awareness. Mhmm. And just saying, well, just start to be aware of when you wanna drink, why you wanna drink, what effect do you want the alcohol to have. And once people start creating awareness around it and go, oh, yeah, I am using it as a coping mechanism or I am using it in this way or that way.

Coach Susan [00:15:35]:
And as you start to understand how alcohol works in your body and start to learn the science of what it feels like when you're, you know, that alcohol is a stimulant and a depressant. So you learn how it feels when you're that euphoria, when your blood alcohol level is rising, and then you can feel the itchies when it's falling, and you can feel the increase of the dynorphin and the anxiety. That's the itchies. Right? And that's why we want a second glass. Even just noticing, oh, how much time between my first glass and even wanting a second glass. And just, like, you know, getting an experimental mindset and, like, putting on your investigative hat and just, like, I'm gonna learn everything about alcohol that I can and learn about myself in my response to alcohol first. Just create awareness. No judgment, no blame, shame, or rules.

Coach Susan [00:16:27]:
Just kind of ex just takes a couple weeks just like you would do if you were working with a nutritionist, and they said, hey. Here. Do a food, you know, a food diary. Do an alcohol diary. See when do I use it? Why do I use it? How much do I drink? How do I feel when I drink? How do I feel the next day? Just create a ton of awareness around it and learn about the science behind alcohol and how it works in your brain and body. And there's some great resources, books that you can use. Why don't you share some of your favorites with me?

Ruby [00:16:59]:
Well, the obvious favorite is and I just give this book to people all the time, is This Naked Mind by Annie Grace. Yeah. And then the second one is The Alcohol Experiment because it lays out a 30 day break. Yeah. I mean, those are really awesome books to start with. It was a game changer for me and I think for you too, Susan. Like, it was just like the 2 things that I loved about the book, are that I didn't feel alone. I think when you're in addiction, you know, there's that phrase that we use all the time, the opposite of addiction is connection, and to finally not feel alone.

Ruby [00:17:41]:
Like, Annie's first words are, it's 3:33 in the morning, and I'm laying there in bed again, you know, beating myself up. Why did I drink alcohol again? And I thought I was the only one because that was happening to me every single night. I was waking up at the like, 2 or 3 in the morning and beating myself up. So that's like and then, like you said, Take a Break. Right? So the Alcohol Experiment book is great. I also have a take a break program. Susan also has programs, so you can also, you know, reach out to one of us. But what other books are your favorites, Susan? Well, I like William Porter's Alcohol Explained.

Ruby [00:18:18]:
It's  super sciency.

Coach Susan [00:18:21]:
I have it right here. You have it too. People enjoy that one. I think for men too, because a lot of men have loved Annie's story, but it is a woman's story. And so this is written by a man, and it's just really sciency. It's pretty just sticking to the facts, kinda way sometimes men's brains work. And so I think this is a really great book resource. And also a couple clients of mine have really liked Alan's Cars.

Coach Susan [00:18:48]:
Oh, gosh. What's the name of it? The easy way to control alcohol.

Ruby [00:18:52]:
Right. Yeah. You got it.

Coach Susan [00:18:53]:
Yeah. And that when Annie uses this explanation in her from his book and credits him, which is this the idea of the pitcher plant.

Ruby [00:19:03]:
Oh.

Coach Susan [00:19:04]:
Yeah. And, you know, when we're drinking, we're like the little bees buzzing around drinking the nectar of the pitcher plant. But then as we go deeper and deeper, we slide down the pitcher plant until we're in the bottom where we're just stuck. Right? And so it's a really helpful way to think about and understand how this happens. Because a lot of times, I know I was stuck going, how did I get here? What happened? And really blaming myself, like, oh my gosh. I can't believe, you know, that I let this happen to myself. You know what I mean? That I, you know, I was just really blaming myself. And so when you really shift the blame to alcohol because it's an addictive substance and, again, in society, we do not talk about alcohol as being addictive.

Coach Susan [00:19:48]:
It's only addictive for those people. We're starting to. Yeah. It is starting to become more and more mainstream conversation. Because I just remember even having this conversation with my husband. He's like, how come we didn't learn this? Yeah. Listen to this. Oh my gosh.

Coach Susan [00:20:01]:
I have to share this. I almost died. There was a DARE program, like, fundraiser, happy hour. I'm like Oh my gosh. Yeah. Gosh. In our town. And I was just like, are you kidding me? Why in the DARE program, you know, we talk about all these other drugs, and nobody talks about alcohol in the DARE program?

Ruby [00:20:21]:
Wrong o. I mean Oh my gosh, Susan. Yeah. I see these things all over. Oh my gosh. Yeah. You know, yoga and happy hour or whatever. But I wanna make one more point that I forgot that people that may or may not have a problem with alcohol, and if they're in denial, they might be curious.

Ruby [00:20:46]:
But my biggest and, you know, we're back to, like, what can you do is lead by example. Do not preach. I remember if someone was to tell me flat out, like, Ruby, I think you have a problem. I would be mortified. I would deny it. I would, like I said, if you can't see, I'm putting my fingers in my ears. Like, I would not wanna listen. So if you are alcohol free or, you know, you're starting to get alcohol free, you can lead by example.

Ruby [00:21:17]:
I mean, that is, like, probably the biggest thing. Like and just drop in little nuggets. Plant seeds as much as you can. I feel better without alcohol. I'm sleeping better. I lost weight alcohol-free. Look at my skin. You know? Like, little things.

Ruby [00:21:31]:
Maybe you leave the book out, get one of these books we suggested, and, like, just leave it out, you know, for them to do, like or give it to them as a gift. Like and that saying something like this helped me. Like, if it did help you, one of these books. So Yeah. Or any book that you book that

Coach Susan [00:21:48]:
you enjoyed, like listening to somebody else's story or a podcast or just, oh, yeah. This is what helped me or just raised my awareness. Mhmm. Yeah. And starting with an experiment, using the experimental mindset, and I think it's really helpful to say, oh, well, maybe take a break. You wanna take a break with me? Do sober October with me, do dry January with me, and, like, read this book and understand more about alcohol. It's just something we don't really know that much about and see what they say. Yeah.

Coach Susan [00:22:19]:
Yeah. Yeah. Be really light with it. Yeah. Because if somebody doesn't wanna change, you can't change their behavior. And, yeah, being the you know, preaching about it isn't gonna help.

Ruby [00:22:29]:
So They have to be ready for change. You have to believe you can change. You have to be 100% responsible for the change, and the time is now. And I have a little hope. Like, give them hope. That's where being an example can be a good one. Mhmm. Yeah.

Ruby [00:22:50]:
Yeah.

Coach Susan [00:22:50]:
And that they're normal, that they're not abnormal. This is a totally normal thing. Alcohol use disorder is on a spectrum. Right? And they don't have to be in one camp or the other. They can just be, hey. I wanna explore my drinking. That's all it has to be.

Ruby [00:23:09]:
And just listen, ask questions, like, how can I help you? You know, having empathy and compassion, again, and kindness and just listening and knowing knowing they don't want to hurt you. They don't want to hurt themselves. They don't want any of this to be happening, but it's happening. And just kindness, compassion, they are doing the best that they can. I was doing the best that I could. And it's just alcohol that has become a coping tool. Yeah. Oh, this was such a good conversation and so needed.

Ruby [00:23:43]:
Yeah. What a great question. Thank you, Renee. Yeah. You know who you are. Yay.

Coach Susan [00:23:48]:
We love you. Yes. So, yeah, so, Ruby, along the lines of being a good example, what are the things that you do regularly in your life or you're doing lately to feel lit and to, you know, to show how amazing alcohol free life is. Oh.

Ruby [00:24:09]:
Well, you mentioned Sober October. So in my yoga studio, I belong to a yoga studio. Yoga is in Pilates, hot Pilates. They're doing an October challenge where due 26 out of 31 days, you get a free t-shirt. But it's really just, like, it's to get you, Yeah. So 26 times. You could double up. People have doubled up, but 26 times at least in the month of October.

Ruby [00:24:35]:
So, yeah, I am

Coach Susan [00:24:36]:
Oh, that's awesome.

Ruby [00:24:37]:
Doing hot yoga or pop Pilates every single day, and I'm really doing it's been so much fun. I've decided to do it. For me, I didn't have a real transition between work and after work. I mean, I would finish my workday and maybe eat dinner, but as I mentioned in previous episodes, I would watch TV. And I was kind of, like, addicted to TV, to be honest with you. So I thought, okay. What can I do and how can I change it up? So my yoga Pilates time is right after work. I do the 6:30 to 7:30 class, and it's made all the difference like, I'm tired.

Ruby [00:25:17]:
Now I'm eating earlier. And, basically, what does yoga do for me? I call it a moving meditation. All you do is you have to show up at the class, you know, wear your yoga clothes, put your mat out, and just do what the teacher says. Love it. I know. Think. You can totally relax. There's, like, a little bit of breath work in the beginning and a little bit of savasana at the end.

Ruby [00:25:44]:
But in between, you just say put your arms up. She says do downward dog or or he. Sorry. I have both the male and female, you know, yoga instructors or gurus, and you just listen to your body. You get into your body. How else are we into our bodies that much? So I love yoga. I've always loved yoga. I started doing yoga in college.

Ruby [00:26:08]:
It's been something I've done off and on, a major part of my life, and I used to do it probably drunk in the mornings, which is crazy to say. So it's just that I feel so good after yoga. I sweat because it's hot. I'm sweating, sweating, sweating, and it feels like I'm getting rid of those impurities, and then I take a shower. Anyway, do you practice yoga? I think you do. Yeah. Tell me about yoga. Yeah.

Ruby [00:26:33]:
Bit. Mhmm.

Coach Susan [00:26:34]:
I started trying yoga during my alcohol freedom journey, and so I call them yoga snacks. So I started doing yoga with Adrianne, which was online because it was during COVID, so we weren't going to any yoga studios. And I've only gone to, like, a studio yoga class a few times, but I would like to explore that to do longer yoga sessions. The longest yoga session I think I've done is, like, 40 minutes. So I tend to use them more as a way to relax when I'm feeling stressed out or early in the morning to get up and stretch and do a 15 to 20 minute yoga. I was doing 15, 20 minute yoga in the morning and then meditating, and so they were kind of combined. And I felt like the beginning of the movement and the breath helped to center me so then I could just dive right into the meditation. But I noticed that when I don't do it on a regular basis, even 15 minutes, I just need that stretching and need the breath.

Coach Susan [00:27:33]:
It needs relaxation. So I would yeah. I love it, and I would like to do more of it. And but but I just wanna say that even 15 minutes versus a whole hour class is beneficial.

Ruby [00:27:45]:
Yes. So I'm going hardcore. Absolutely, Susan. And start out, you I personally think if you could if you had the choice between 10 minutes a day or an hour class once a week, absolutely do the 10 minutes a day, but then add that hour in. Oh, I'm joking. But, I have a really sore hip and shoulder and, actually, ankle. And I could have had surgeries or different things, but I I thought yoga could heal this. And it really does, but it's the consistency.

Ruby [00:28:15]:
When I I noticed the same thing, Susan. When I don't do my yoga regularly, whether it's 10 minutes or my hour classes, all of a sudden, I'm in my arms, I can't even raise my, you know, I'm stiff. So, yeah, so yoga is, like, so healing for the brain, for the body, for the mind, for spirituality. They always put a little spiritual, like, piece in it. I love the instructors. They're also wise. They, like, put in little nuggets in between, you know, poses about the universe or something or, like, you know, it's just beautiful, and then they end with namaste. Namaste.

Ruby [00:28:53]:
And I love that. It means I think it means I see God in you or something like that. I love namaste. It's just like seeing it in others, the love in others.

Coach Susan [00:29:03]:
Yeah. Yeah.

Ruby [00:29:05]:
So yoga, huge fan for life. Yeah. And it's something you can do for the rest of your life. Like, it could be something you do and if you live to a 100. You know? Like, you can do yoga. You can just do stretching. Yeah.

Coach Susan [00:29:18]:
Yeah. Yeah. It's so great. I love that. Yeah. And it's inspiring me

Ruby [00:29:22]:
to Right.

Coach Susan [00:29:24]:
I have a travel yoga mat that I bring because that's when I feel like I need, but it kinda still is bulky in your suitcase. But because I feel like, you know, when I travel, I want to still get my 5th 10 to 15 minute yoga snack in. Yeah. So it's really hard to do, like, on a towel or something. But Yeah. Yeah. So good.

Ruby [00:29:45]:
Oh, one more thing. Fun fun fun fact. They are having a, what do you call it, a challenge, you know, the challenge. Right? But Yeah. They're gonna give T shirts, and people could submit their T shirt designs. And I submitted 2 designs yesterday. Oh, awesome. I know.

Coach Susan [00:30:02]:
Well, I know you designed our shirts, so you're really good at that. So that's awesome. Love that. Pick yours. That's something. I like

Ruby [00:30:08]:
to know. Yeah. There'll be, like, what do

Coach Susan [00:30:10]:
you call

Ruby [00:30:10]:
it, voting. A vote. I'll let you know. Yeah. Yeah. I'll let the listeners know. I'll even post it on the Facebook group. Don't they pick your group? Pick or I'll just post them too when this is live.

Coach Susan [00:30:22]:
So Yeah. Great. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for joining us. I hope this episode was helpful for you. I know a lot of us struggle with how we can influence others in our life, our loved ones. So, hopefully, this will be helpful, and we hope that you'll hop on over to our Facebook group and join us there if you haven't already. And if you like to see our faces, I'm wearing these crazy glasses today.

Coach Susan [00:30:46]:
I love them because I just need them sometimes. And then if I start wearing them in the morning, I need them. I know it's hard when I take them off, then everything's blurry. So, I'm wearing them. And, yeah, you can see our faces on our YouTube channel if you wanna actually see us and not just listen to us. So that would be great if you hop on over there and check us out. So have a great day. Okay.

Coach Susan [00:31:08]:
Bye bye. Bye.
Thanks so much for listening to the Feel Lit Alcohol Free Podcast. Do you have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? All you need to do is head over to Apple Podcasts and do 2 simple things. Leave a rating and review telling us what you think of the show. And in that review, ask us any questions you have about breaking free from wine or living an alcohol free lifestyle. That's it. Then tune in to hear your question answered live. Don't forget to grab your copy of a wine free weekend at www.feellitpodcast.com
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