Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Martinez.
Nancy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, the very beginning starts with my journey to earth. I was born with Bladder exstrophy. Bladder exstrophy is a rare birth defect in which the bladder has not formed correctly at birth. It’s a rare disorder that happens in about 1 in 30,000 babies. It is more likely in boys than girls. (https://www.bladderexstrophy.com/ for more information)
I’ve had about 10 surgeries before the age of 10. The majority for reconstruction of the bladder as I grew up. I spent most of my childhood at the hospital. At one point, I recall being homeschooled at the hospital. I spent a Christmas at the hospital once and I still have the gift that Santa gave me then. I also learned how to play the piano there (but sadly, I didn’t keep it up and don’t remember how to play as an adult, but maybe one day).
Because I was sheltered growing up and more concerned whether or not I was going to have another surgery or not, I was naive to a lot of things around me, mostly to listen to myself and intuition. I was teased in elementary school when a boy found out about what I was born with started telling everyone. That followed me for several years and I went “inside” and did whatever I could to “go with the herd” and be unnoticed so I wouldn’t go through that again. That leads to a lot of painful relationships, self-doubt, insecurities and eventually depression and anxiety in my early 20’s.
In 2008, I started working for Tony Robbins and one of my coworkers (and now friend and manager), planted a seed in me (so to speak) and told me I didn’t have to be on so many medications, that I could heal myself with food. He gave me my first book on how to be a vegetarian and helped guide me to learn about my body, myself and take control of my health and well being. He even took me out during our lunch to go out in the grass (barefoot) and exercise and move mindfully. I recall one day, in particular, that I was feeling very anxious and wasn’t sure if I could go through the whole thing, he took me out in the grass (this was the first time) and I remember feeling completely renewed after. It felt amazing. I felt refreshed and renewed. I KNEW at that point that I could do this!
With the guidance of my physician, I started to wean off of the 5-6 medications I had taken for over 10 years. Some of the medications were for high blood pressure and cholesterol as well. Getting off of the antidepressants and anxiety medications was the most challenging! I remember, keeping my medicine bottles and hiding them behind my cabinet, “just in case” I needed them again. I also recall flushing them down the toilet so that I could permanently free myself from them. In a matter of a few months, I was medication free and my physician deleted all my old diagnosis!
Almost a year later, I relapsed and had an anxiety attack again. The person I was dating at the time was a big support during this time which leads me to learn about meditation. At first, I found it very challenging. I would fall asleep, almost every time (listening to guided meditations), then I looked for other forms of mediation and found that Qi-gong helped me to feel calm and present. I found a gym in Mission Beach (The Wave House at the time) that had Qi-gong classes and decided to join. I tried out all the morning classes to see which I liked best and which would best fit with my schedule at the time. I attended a class that was about resistance stretching called Dynamic Contraction Technique (DCT see http://dynamiccontractiontechnique.com/). I looked around and it was a class full of seniors. I stayed and thought it was going to be an easy class. While doing some floor stretches, a bead of sweat ran down my neck and I said to myself “why am I sweating? This wasn’t as easy as I thought.” Another great moment towards the end of class that came to me was my own voice saying “This is was I want to do.” It was very clear and I couldn’t believe it. After class, the instructor Jim O’Meara said that I did really well for my first time and that I should consider being a practitioner. My first thought was, how did he know that’s what came up in my head? I took the card of the founder, Nic Bartolotta and saw him a few days later. That was in 2012. Little did I realize that Jim was also recruiting me to take over his class. I eventually did and taught for another year before the gym was shut down.
In 2013, I was taking online courses with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) based in New York.
The fall of 2014, I took my first 200 hour Yoga Teacher training at Happy U Namaste Yoga Center in Ocean Beach. In January of 2015, I took a second certification yoga course with the Prison Yoga Project. My goal at that time was to teach for free in the community that I grew up in. I did! I taught for almost a year and a half. Most of the equipment for the class was donated by good friends. The summer of that same year, I took my Reiki level I and II certifications.
I’ve been able to blend all my practices when teaching my yoga classes. I think that my foundation of DCT has helped me and new students connect with their bodies better and helped them see that they, in fact, CAN do yoga without feeling intimidated. Of course, the “cherry on top” is giving Reiki at the end of class, which is such a great way to end each class.
After about 10 years, I’m working with Tony Robbins again and will soon be taking another 300 hour Yoga Teacher training until January of 2019. I’m currently working with a group of pretty amazing women who want to help empower and connect with other women who are entrepreneurs. I’ll be teaching yoga during a retreat in Portugal! This is where I am now!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t believe there’s ever a smooth road for anyone. It’s those bumps along the way that help guide us, build us and connect us to ourselves if we stop to listen.
My journey started out with medical challenges. The scars that the surgeries left were a lot more predominant to me than anyone else. You couldn’t tell I had anything wrong with me, with clothes on but for me, I wore those scars all over my body. I made them bigger than they are. I believed and trusted others over myself. How could have I trusted myself when my entire life, others always knew what was best for me? How could I trust myself when everyone else around me didn’t let me express my true self? When I was always told I was wrong anyway.
These small “practices” are carried along the years and help to shape those limiting beliefs we have about ourselves as we mature. I did that for too long and had to chip away and still work on every day to ensure that I don’t go to that place, ever!
It’s been a lot of hard work, mostly on myself. You think you start working on your outer world, but it’s always a journey that guides you to go within. To learn about yourself. TO LOVE YOURSELF unconditionally. To listen to your own intuition that’s always guided you, that’s were meditation comes and helps us listen to the whisper. The whisper in our hearts and soft words that the soul sings to us when we decide to quiet the mind.
My advice would be to start where you are. Learn to listen to that voice of wisdom within. Surround yourself with people who are not only honest with you but that help builds you up, encourage you and listen to your dreams. In the end, we only have ourselves, that’s why the journey within is so important. It helps us uncover so much about ourselves, helps us connect to others, helps us grow further into our purpose.
And if you need someone to simply listen, hold space or tell you that you matter, send me a message and I’m happy to tell you that I TRULY DO BELIEVE IN YOU!
what should we know about Empowered Self Empowered Health? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I work as a Business Coordinator for Tony Robbins full time.
I’m a yoga teacher that infuses DCT and reiki in all my classes. The resistance stretching is unique in it’self and not everyone is aware of how beneficial it can be. I do private Reiki sessions or long distance (which means I don’t have to be in the room to send you the healing energy). What sets me apart is that connection that we first have when I meet my clients, whether on the phone or in person. I TRULY care and want to make this world a better place, one connection at a time.
I came up with the name Empowered Self Empowered Health because when we empower ourselves within, then we empower our health and overall well being.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Learn to listen to that inner wisdom and intuition. It’s ALWAYS about the inner health. I like to call it the “spirit muscle” Just like we need to work out our physical bodies so many times week and eat healthy foods most of the week as well, the spirit muscle needs to be worked on every moment. I know that sounds like a lot but it’s as simple as learning how to get out of your head, getting out of your own way, not believing every naysayer, truly loving and believing in yourself worth!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 619-717-0066
- Email: NancyMartinezHC@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dctyogareiki/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpoweredSelfEmpoweredHealth/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-martinez-7a2b81165/
Image Credit:
Allison McClintic, Juca Favela, Eva Austin
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