Integrating holistic health and nurse coaching with Taylor Byrer
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“I think the biggest thing that we can do for ourselves is just start listening to our bodies. And because our bodies are amazing, amazing living beings, I mean, it's it's amazing what the body can do to heal itself.”
Taylor Byrer
Transcript
Taylor Byrer Transcript
Ericka Thomas 0:00
My guest today is Taylor Byrer. Taylor is a holistic nurse coach and owner of buyer integrative wellness. She's a former ICU nurse who after suffering from burnout for years shifted to travel nursing and finally had to leave the ICU to be a post surgical recovery nurse in an attempt to try to escape the chronic stress and physical dysfunction in her body. She was forced to take a step back from nursing and truly listen to those messages that her body was giving her and during the process of healing herself through many different modalities. Taylor discovered integrative wellness coaching her background and experience as an ICU nurse journey of self healing and her passion for serving others has given her a unique perspective and mission is advocacy for clients, helping them become their own best advocate. And I wanted to speak with Taylor because she is another amazing story of real world resilience about how, you know, sometimes we move into these amazing careers. And sometimes they don't feel as amazing as we think they're going to be. So let's start our work in today with Taylor Byrer. Welcome, Taylor. Thanks for joining me.
Taylor Byrer 1:28
Thank you Erica. I'm so happy to be here
Ericka Thomas 1:31
as well. Let's get started right away. So I'd really like for you to kind of tell us a little bit more about yourself, and maybe start with like, what was it that drew you to nursing in the first place?
Taylor Byrer 1:48
Yeah, so my story's a little unique in that way, because I didn't grow up being like I wouldn't be a nurse. You know, I was born with a rare liver disease. So I was in and out of the hospital with doctor's appointments. And I just, I didn't want to be in a hospital setting. I just was like, you know, because every time I went to the hospital or doctor's office, I associated that with my liver disease. So nursing was never something that I wanted to do. I wanted to be an occupational therapist. But then after years of trying to be an occupational therapist, I figured, hey, you know, why not try nursing? All my family and friends are like you need to be a nurse. And I do recall like, the times that I did have to go to the doctor and stuff. The nurses were my favorite people there. And so once I sat back and kind of thought of that, and I'm just like, you know, I could be I could be that for somebody else. So I went to nursing school and immediately knew that that's where I needed to be. And I loved it. I've I have loved that. A little rocky road but
Ericka Thomas 2:59
yeah, I would say it's Yeah, yeah. So let's talk about that. Because you started off as an ICU nurse. That seems like the highest stress place. Yes,
Taylor Byrer 3:13
very much. So. Yeah. So yeah, new grads straight. Into the ICU. I had experience on intermediate floor when I was in nursing school, and that's kind of where I thought I would go. But the day of the interviews, I couldn't make it to the intermediate interviews. It was the critical care interviews. And then they offered me a job in the ICU. And I was not expecting that. But I was like, Yeah, let's do
Ericka Thomas 3:40
it. Yes. So. So tell me about the stress levels there in the ICU. Can you kind of like give us an example like what would it day look like?
Taylor Byrer 3:51
Yeah, so I worked three twelves. I would go and get report at 7am. We only had two patients very critically ill obviously I get report from the nurse we go in and make sure that all of the medications aligned and everything and we would track make sure everything was running appropriately. Double check on all the medications. And then it was doing assessments, passing meds, giving meds and then going over to see my other patient and then it was just constant. We had the, you know, multiple tubes and drains and the ventilator you know, learning all about that. And, you know, it was a very, very busy very stressful day. I wrote everything on paper and I would be lost if my brain was not with me with just that sheet of paper for the day.
Ericka Thomas 4:44
Sure. Sure. So how did that kind of stress show up in you?
Taylor Byrer 4:52
So in the beginning, I didn't really notice is affecting me outside of outside of work, because I'm very much a person that I love the ICU I started February of 19. And I thought I'd be in the ICU until I was retiring as a nurse you know, I thought I'd be there the whole time. And it wasn't until COVID Hit that the demands and then you know you expect a loss in the ICU, but it was just tenfold and with COVID and that's when I started to see the signs of stress. And it was I could just tell that my body my nervous system was never relaxed. I was constantly in that fight or flight mode. And after a while after years, you know it just totally wore on me. I would get skin rashes. I developed this dry happy cough that was associated with anxiety. And my lover took the toll basically I started to become yellow My eyes were I was getting more jaundice, my sclera and my urine was getting a lot darker and everything so it was just I was noticing a lot of signs with my liver. And then my liver enzymes went like four to five times higher than they've ever been in my life. And that that was in November of 21. And that made me just sit down and be like What is different? You know, and and I correlated at all to working in that high stress environment. And, you know, and then working night shift a lot of the time and then with COVID Everybody brought I mean we had endless supply of any kind of snack food junk food, pizza, pop anything that you could want. We had it because people would donate it to us. And so I was eating that stuff in the middle of the night. So it was like my weight increase which doesn't help my liver. And so yeah, it was just those that I would even like towards the end I guess it was January of 21 I started to have like extreme joint pain. And to the point where I got up and we were like to use the restroom and I almost fell down because my right hip just was like not working I would get stressed fevers, I mean, anything and everything. Wow. was happening. So
Ericka Thomas 7:35
so this was all before you moved out of the ICU. Right. So what was it that finally you know, was the tipping point for you? Where you said I need to look for a different line of work or a different way to be a nurse.
Taylor Byrer 7:55
It was definitely after you know all of that and just like it was in November is when I really started to journal different things that were happening. And I would kind of track like when the onset happened. how stressed I was. And then like if it went away if something new came up, and then that was just kept getting bigger and bigger and nothing was really resolving more it was just happening. And so I was finally in January, and I was traveling at that time as an ICU nurse. So I was that winter I was in Pennsylvania. But that summer prior I was in Washington State and I was out there by myself with just me and my dog. I think my husband's back here and my family. And so yeah, it was after all of that, that I was like I need to stop traveling. And I need to do something different because this isn't working. So that's kind of when I was asked me around and trying to figure out an area of nursing that would be similar to ICU where I wouldn't get bored, necessarily like I would still have that critical thinking piece. And that's when I went into the post surgical recovery unit. So
Ericka Thomas 9:18
And how long were you there? I was there for about a year and a half. Okay, you're and would you say that was a significant improvement in its in your stress levels at that point?
Taylor Byrer 9:31
Yes, it did help tremendously with most of my symptoms. And then what I realized, actually, basically all of them except for my liver enzymes were still higher than I wanted them and higher than they've ever been. But it was more so. And in that unit that I just realized how much I didn't align with Western medicine and with what healthcare is today.
Ericka Thomas 10:00
Interesting. So we're going to talk more about that. So, so let's talk about where How did you discover this this idea of integrative wellness coaching?
Taylor Byrer 10:16
So I never really heard of it. Really at all. I've never really even been exposed to coaching until last summer, summer 2002 My husband and I hired a fitness coach. And I was like, wow, like I I was like you could have a coach as an adult just like not on a sports team like and it worked tremendously like him and I both had tremendous success. And that was kind of one of the things that I was like this is something that I can control. I can control what I eat and how much I move my body and ultimately that's gonna help my liver. And I even asked my fitness coach last summer I was like, you know, I just am not happy in nursing like, Do you think there's coaching or something for me and he was like, I mean, yeah, there's all this like health coaching and life coaching and stuff. So I kind of thought about it then. But it wasn't until December, where I had just totally had enough on my I was traveling up to Columbus and my travel assignment was finished in the summer. And I told my husband I was like I'm done with nursing. Like I didn't want to go back and and then I found this nurse coaching program. I was like here it is.
Ericka Thomas 11:35
Yeah. Yeah, that's amazing. Okay, so let's talk about that. That piece that nurse coaching because I feel like it's a real bridge for people. You know, maybe a lot of our listeners are health coaches or they've have experience at with health coaches or personal trainers, maybe life coaching, but that nursing piece added in there really could add quite a bit of depth and create this bridge between what we know of as medicine and health care today. So can you explain a little bit about what it means to be a health coach, nurse? What makes that different than your typical health coach?
Taylor Byrer 12:40
Yeah, absolutely. So I think the biggest thing for me is, you know, obviously I have the education in the background. I have a bachelor's in nursing, and now that's required to be a nurse coach. And so, but with that story that I just shared, I have all of that education and that knowledge that real life experience in the hospital setting, dealing with extremely sick patients. I know how the body is supposed to function, and when it's not functioning properly. And and I know the steps that can be taken to prevent those things. Not saying that health coaches don't. It's just that extra level of education and skills and knowledge and everything that I've had the last four years as a nurse and then so, Nurse coaching as well is more taking it as like the going as approach from the person as a whole and healing the whole person rather than focusing on disease and finding a cure. So figuring out what the root cause of so many signs or symptoms is and then if somebody were to approach me and say, hey, you know, I just went to the doctor, I have these labs, can you help me understand these more? I have that knowledge in that skill to say, Yes, I can help you with that because I know what all of those labs mean, and kind of what they do the body because of my nursing background.
Ericka Thomas 14:23
Yeah, but I think that more and more, we're seeing a lot of people kind of come out of our western, quote unquote, healthcare, which isn't really health care, but more like the medical world with a lot of confusion, you know, and they're not really sure what to do to make themselves healthier, outside of, you know, the pills and and the surgeries basically, which is what our modern medicine offers.
Taylor Byrer 15:01
Exactly. And another thing too is like, the nurse has been the most trusted profession. Top ranked for 20 years straight. So it's like that speaks a lot to because we are extremely trusted and most times like I know for me as a patient. I don't go to my doctor for most questions. I go to my nurse because the nurse is the one that spends the most time with the patient and and we do know, you know what I mean? So we're very trusted and knowledgeable.
Ericka Thomas 15:41
Yeah, that's true. I mean, think about it. When you call the doctor's office, you don't you rarely get to talk to the doctor. If you have a question to the nurse that is going to answer that. For the most part so yeah, yeah, I love it. So what are some Okay, so let's back up a little bit here. So what were some of the issues that you saw in the health care system that made you want to leave that traditional nursing? To, you know, to move into this more integrative health coach world?
Taylor Byrer 16:19
Yeah. So there were there were a lot and it's interesting because like I said, I have that patient background plus as a nurse and I have a year of ICU before COVID. And I think a lot of these issues, were definitely still there before COVID. But COVID just helped amplify them basically, but mainly just the lack of time that we spend with patients. The demands on all healthcare professionals is so high that they don't have time for patients. I feel like the patients are not the center of everything we do. And that is what everybody preaches on. But I saw that so many times, all across the country. And so and then and then with that the patient's desires and wishes and needs were not being met because they didn't have the health care professionals didn't have the time to sit down and listen and truly get to like, what do you want, like, what do you want out of this? And they just kind of left the patient to the wayside. So I think that was a big thing for me. Also, I've felt that it just become more of more of like a business rather than a hospital and caring for the patients. I feel like hospital administrative or even just healthcare administration altogether, is more focused on the revenue of the facility. And how can we save money by not paying our workers what they need to be paid, buying the cheapest possible health care products and supplies and not really paying attention to what the patient's wanted? So those were big things for me. And then also to just with that time, I heard a lot of nurses say make comments about you know how they didn't have time to educate patients properly and like, especially in the surgical world. Everybody gets the every patient gets the same printout basically, like if you go in for a tonsillectomy, you all get this exact same sheet for tonsillectomy. And it's like, they're so like, everybody is so different. And that's such a broad thing and then we just briefly go through it. Okay. Do you have any questions as they're coming out of anesthesia, just like how's that? You can't you think then somebody's understanding of that. So I think those are the biggest things for me. And, and then when I found out more about this integrative health, I was like, you know, it truly is taking the time to listen to the patient and making sure that they understand.
Ericka Thomas 19:35
Yeah, so let's talk a little bit more about this idea of integrative health, integrative medicine, because I do hear more and more about that, and it's to me it's something that I would look for if I were looking for a doctor, I would want someone who is who have that approach. But what exactly does that mean and how is it different than what how we typically think of health care? today?
Taylor Byrer 20:05
Yeah. So I think it just encompasses the person as a whole. And when we think of that, we think okay, like, all the systems in the body, but it's more than that. It's it's your relationships with others. It's your work life balance. It's your health responsibilities, like, do you go and get checkups regularly for dental I you know, physicals, all of that kind of stuff. Your spirituality your mental health. Environmental is huge. That To be honest, I didn't really think about before I got into this integrative nursing world. I didn't really think of environmental but the more I think about it, that has a huge effect on our daily lives.
Ericka Thomas 21:01
So when you when you say the environmental piece, what exactly are you talking? Are you talking about? Just like the town you live in? Or like what exactly does that mean for people listening?
Taylor Byrer 21:12
Yeah. So it could be your geographical location, your career, your work environment? Do you work in a factory Do you are you a mechanic? Are you a nail technician? Are you exposed to all these different chemicals day in and day out? You know, the sun actually extra I mean, there's so many things but yeah, just like, where you live, and then the things and even like, going as deep as like the products you use on your hair and your skin and your toothpaste and
Ericka Thomas 21:53
yeah yeah, so that's a lot. That's, that's a lot when you're when you say one word like integrative that really means absolutely everything about you. That's a lot. A lot for one doctor, right? A lot for one health care professional to address in what a 15 minute visit. So like if somebody were to try to make an appointment with an integrative medical professional, is that something where you see like a team of doctors for people or is it is it just kind of what we've been talking about more of an awareness and just a general focus on the whole person rather than just the symptoms that they walk in? Yeah, that's a
Taylor Byrer 22:49
good question. So I know personally, I have gone to a naturopath and she was a single, holistic doctor and she I just saw her but it was multiple appointments. And that's the thing that is hard sometimes for people is because they're used to the quick fix where it's not. It's not that you have to go multiple times and try different things and just really listening to your body. So
Ericka Thomas 23:27
yeah, yeah, that's good. I'm glad you brought that up about the quick fix, because I think that's that's something that is sort of promoted in our current healthcare system in western healthcare system. I mean, all you have to do is watch television for 10 minutes. And you'll see five or six different pharmaceuticals, which are really unclear about what they're supposed to do. But go ask your doctor about this latest thing because it might fix you for one thing or another, right? And so we get really used to it. It's almost like this cultural programming now for what health is and as in, well, maybe that cultural programming is telling us that health is no pain, no illness, but that's not really that's not really health. I don't think I don't know. I mean, it's just it's totally different. And I just want to say before we continue because there may be some ranting coming, that there is definitely place for medical care. And you should definitely go to your doctor for medical care. We're not We're not advocating for you know, just completely off the deep end never seeing a physician for anything. But you know, so many times we show up to the doctor and they're looking for something that they can do. They're looking for the pill they can give you quickly or the medicine they can give you quickly. There's not enough time to your point earlier, there's not enough time to discuss all of your eating patterns and what could be going on there that might affect that that type two diabetes, there's there's just not and and so it there's a lot of push to just you know, here's the here's the prescription, or if not that, then there may be a procedure we can do for you. And if there isn't a procedure, well then we can't help you then what is the answer then if there's no procedure if there's no pill? Now what I'm pretty sure there's no code for that on the insurance, right? Like no code for that. Yeah, for sure. All right. So what do you see Taylor, from your vast experience, both in the medical world and now you know, out of that through your own experience, what would you say are the most important piece pieces that people should focus on? To truly get? We really want to kind of step towards that. You know, vague word, because who knows what exactly it means, right?
Taylor Byrer 26:28
That's a great question. And as we were just discussing just a second ago, what coming what kept coming to my mind was, if we figure out in listen to our bodies, what is really happening with the pain or the inflammation, and we can journal about it or just take a note, then then you can take that to your doctor and say, Hey, I know we don't have much time. But this is what's been happening over however long time. Can you help me? Or you know, just try to figure it out a little bit and just being your own self advocate. But I think to answer that question, I think the biggest thing that we can do for ourselves is just start listening to our bodies. And because our bodies are amazing, amazing living beings, I mean, it's it's amazing what the body can do to heal itself. But if we just keep pushing things off, like those silent whispers, if we keep ignoring those, then something bigger is gonna happen. And it does take a long time. And I know that because I had to sit there and journal and I have had to, and it's been almost two years that I have just like, and I don't journal every single day with how I'm feeling but if something comes up, I write it down. Just in my planner or in my phone. And then I just say, Okay, this is how I'm feeling. I write down if I did anything for it. If I drink more water, or if I took a nap or took a medication, whatever. And then to just listening to your body and just trying to learn what you need, because it'll tell you
Ericka Thomas 28:26
Yeah, and that's really I mean, that sounds like such a simple piece for people and like, oh, well, yeah, but exactly. I mean, I've had people in my yoga classes ask me what that means, because it's a cue that a lot of instructors will use, just listen to your body, but most people don't exactly know and they spend most of their life overriding all of the physical sensations that come up in their body because why? Because we are programmed from an early age. Maybe that's a strong word, but like we're just taught like, get over it like second up, brush, brush it off. You're fine, you're fine, you're fine. And I think especially for women, we are going to just, you know, just suck it up. You know, you can you can muscle through. So overcoming that just that mental piece like oh, yeah, it's like it's like we've been taught to gaslight ourself from birth, and where you're not really sure what exactly you're feeling. And if you override it enough, your your body stops telling you anything. Like she's not gonna listen anyway. So we're gonna say, and so you know that, that suggestion about journaling, and really pausing in the moment when you have these physical sensations come up. Because people forget right? Forget what you just felt. And like you said, the body is an amazing piece of machinery and it will suppress a lot of stuff for you so that you can make it through and and to your point that you made in your early you know, in your in your story, you know, like living in that high stress state really does that. I mean the body is designed to do that to like suppress all any pain sensations, anything. That's what the nervous system does, so that you can get away from the lion or the tiger, right? Except these days we don't have those. We just have you know, we have our job. We have our relationship we have, you know, financial issues, whatever those things are and so they don't go away. You can't run away from those. So, so what do you what do you suggest when someone says, Well, you know, I am I'm not really sure what, what I'm feeling in that moment. Like, that's just you know, that's something I've been living with my whole life. That's just my normal, right? This is my normal feeling. So if it's normal for me, what do you do? What do you do with that? Yeah, that's
Taylor Byrer 31:21
a good question. And it's kind of a tough one to answer to be honest. So I said, like that one piece is just like listening to your body. And then you said, you know, like, that can be hard for somebody. And that in your right is it takes a lot of time and it takes a lot of inner work that a lot of people have never been exposed to or don't even know how to. So my suggestion then is just be open minded to trying something new. Because many times when I'm in conversation with people and they'll be like, so how did you cope with your stress and anxiety and I'm like, oh, a trade pureed. They're like, what is that, like? Trauma release exercise, or I went and did a cranial sacral massage and I tried yoga and meditation and then they look at me, like, Why can't do that? Like, why is there just so close minded to even having that be an option for them?
Ericka Thomas 32:27
Isn't that interesting? Yeah, I love this. I love this piece, this open minded piece because really, if you're not open minded, then all you have is what the medical community will offer you. And if none of that is working for you, then what do you have? So, let's talk about some of those other modalities. Okay, because we've been we've been talking about the whole integrative medicine and holistic health nurse, health nursing. So when when we hear those words integrative and holistic, what kinds of modalities are we talking about? What what falls under that category, a
Taylor Byrer 33:17
lot of different ones, honestly, acupuncture and athletes and integrative modalities and I'm trying a new one coming up called Bowen therapy.
Ericka Thomas 33:39
Oh, Bowen, and yes, I've heard of that. Yeah,
Taylor Byrer 33:41
just like Reiki with the energy piece and and Just Dance expressing like what we kinds of music on and you're just moving to whatever feels good. So yeah, there's just an endless supply of options to all these different modalities. I've always been sedentaryI don't know unless I try. Yeah. And every single one that I've tried learn about your body and about yourself. That's like, wow, I didn't know I can do this o that.
Ericka Thomas 34:43
So that is actually a really good note. Because really, that's what we need more self awareness. And that that those steps that you take actually ended up helping with listening to your body. Right but that that inner awareness I mean, our interior and exterior awareness of your body. There's a lot going on that we don't have to pay attention to our skin. But boy when we do, amazing things can happen and and it gives you as a coach. A huge toolbox of things to offer your clients when you as a coach are really open minded to these different modalities. If you have a lot of experience with a lot of different things to be able to encourage your clients to to try something and also you I'm sure like when you're talking to people, you're in the back of your mind. You're like I know something that could help you. You should try this or you should try this. Have you ever done this or heard about that? Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, so let's proceed with some of those. Okay, so along those same lines with those modalities, like what would you be the most excited to share with your clients based on your experience? Like what are some of the things that you want to help them with?
Taylor Byrer 36:28
I think the biggest thing is just walking through that journey of self awareness and self discovery. That leads them to self healing, I think would be the biggest joy for me because I know how much it's helped me and to be able to be that person to just listen and ask challenging questions to ultimately lead them to their own self discovery, because I'm not. I'm not there to tell them what to do. I'm not there to. I can offer suggestions if they want but I think more so just having other people like realize, wow, I can I have the power to do this. And it's all me and and it's ultimately leading to healing rather than that disease. And cure that the traditional health care is dealing with right now.
Ericka Thomas 37:36
Yeah, and so let's let's talk a little bit about about that piece before we go too much farther. I mean, we did touch a little bit on some of the time restrictions in the medical side. But I know what people are thinking when they hear like, oh, integrative medicine or holistic health coach that's that's like a nice thing to have, but my insurance isn't going to cover it. Or it's too woowoo for me, like this is just just hippie dippie stuff and it doesn't, it isn't going to do anything and why should I when I've got this, you know, pile of pills or whatever. But let's let's talk about the the that the real path to healing, right? I mean, so many times you go into, to, to traditional medicine to allopathic medicine, and what you are sharing with them is all symptoms of something. And so where is the where is the guidance to get to the bottom of this, you know, the reason why those symptoms are showing up
Taylor Byrer 38:58
I think the guidance is through just questions, open ended questions and really digging deep into someone's history because our bodies remember everything from birth on. We can't just think of now or the last couple of months are the last year we have to think about our entire life up to this point. And what have we done, what habits have we created? That could be you know, they just built on each other. And now this is what's happening. But more often than not, it's because of something that has developed years prior. And I think that for me, at least when when you first asked about how stressful the ice was to go into, and I was like yeah, it was but I wasn't really stressed until COVID. Well, I was I just I didn't realize it.
Ericka Thomas 40:01
It hadn't risen to the surface of your awareness. Yes, right. Yeah. Because those years
Taylor Byrer 40:07
you know, that was your one, but then three year two three, and four is just like, yeah, no, very much. So that very first year was almost as stressful if not worse, because I'd never been exposed to any of that. And so, I think the guidance and yeah, it's just in the questioning and just truly figuring out going back to figure out what that root causes. And sometimes it takes a very long time but but when you can realize that and then you're like wow, and then you start to make slight changes to feel better. That really is quite empowering. And then I know for me, that just helped me be more of as an advocate for myself. With my doctors, at least,
Ericka Thomas 40:57
yeah, so talk a little bit about that about I think that's really one of the hardest things for people is to stand up for themselves in the doctor's office, because first of all you probably there because you don't feel very good. And I told I mean, who nobody wants to be there. There's always that Yeah, but but so what can you what can you share about that process of of becoming a better advocate for yourself for your own health?
Taylor Byrer 41:26
Yeah, I would say it definitely has been a work in progress, like you said, because when I was little, just as simple as like, you know, I get frequent blood draws and people always try to get it out of my arm and I'm like, No, my hand is the best place and it's to the point now where I won't even let them touch my arm because I'm like, it will not work I know. But it's taken years like I said to stick up to that. But even more so now with with all this stress and anxiety and how I feel like it's affected my liver. You know, my doctors will be like, well, this is happening. Your labs are showing this and I'm like, yes they are. But I've looked back on my life. And from the day I was diagnosed until November, you know, basically started in the ICU. My labs and everything were really, really good. The only thing that had changed in that time between then and now is the amount of stress that I was under at work and I'm like, I've never been an anxious person. Now I am. And like, yes, everybody has stressed but mine was so high that I couldn't get to that relaxed state. And so as I keep saying it, and then they'll mentioned my labs, but then I kind of in with my education. I'm like, Well, yeah, my labs show this but then this one shows this, which also shows the same thing, but just in a slightly different way they've started to, I can tell in their body language and stuff that they've started to. To believe me basically. But it is it is very hard to be you just have to, you know, we have that gut instinct. And if you have a gut instinct that something is not right. Speak up because you know yourself more than they do. And if they suggest something you're like knowing I'm like that's it. You just have to stand up because if you don't, then ultimately it's only hurting you, not them. So it's just learning to have that voice and just stand firm with what you believe in what you want.
Ericka Thomas 43:47
Yeah. Yeah, I love I love that story. Yeah, thanks for sharing that because I think I think many people need to hear that. You know, it's it's difficult when you're in a situation especially if you're not feeling well and and or come from a certain generation as we know, we've both had clients who are, you know, a little bit older and they just do whatever the doctor says, No. Can you explain that a little bit more? Is there any other way there's no, it's just this way, or no way. Right? Right. Yes. So Taylor, let's talk about one of the modalities that you have used in the past to your student of trauma release. That's how you and I met. And I would love for you to share your experience with that because I feel like some of these other modalities we've mentioned, maybe people have heard of those, you know, acupuncture, pretty popular. And trauma release, not so much you don't hear so much about it. So, tell me what kind of state you were in when you came across this idea of trauma release exercise. And then and then we can go in a little bit and into your experience with it. How you were doing with it?
Taylor Byrer 45:12
Absolutely. I'm so excited to share this story because it's one that yes, I've tried multiple modalities, but this is the one that I've tried most recently and, and I see the most. I've seen the most changes and I've seen the the longest effects because I can continue to do it. But basically, I had heard about you from I heard about, Yeah, I heard about you from Overland springs, and I looked up the website and then I saw that you did yoga and I was like well, I may go to her yoga class and then I kept reading. It said trauma release and I was like, What is this so then I just got so curious. And I you know, I read about tre from like what you had shared. And I immediately just clicked the discovery call. I was like I just got to talk to her about this. And at first sight and I think I even told you this on the Discovery call. I was like I don't know if this is for me. Because you know with you being a fitness professional, I thought it was geared towards more of like working with your students and your clients and stuff. So I even told you I don't know if this is for me, but it just sounds like it would really help out. And it was amazing because I've never, and so up to that point. I think it was April. Up to that point. I definitely was more relaxed, but I could still tell that there were that my nervous system was not completely balance and wasn't completely regulated yet. I had made leaps and bounds like I said, but I just was like something else is missing. I need something else to focus on in another tool that I can use. And so when I went to the first class, I was Oh my gosh. It was amazing. So it's been great.
Ericka Thomas 47:12
Yeah, so I do remember that first our our conversation on the phone and then our first session together. And do you mind if I share a little bit about that? So So one of the things that you came in with was that cough which you had mentioned before, and it just it sounded so painful, it was like I don't know if it is painful, but it just sounded so painful and here in my Yogi mind and thinking oh, that's all fifth chakra. I mentioned that to you too. We're gonna do a little side thing with the yoga chakras. Anyway. But that was one of the first things that I noticed changing like over the couple of weeks that we were working together. Was that the same for you? Yes, yes, definitely. Yeah. And that is a very visible, audibly visible sign of stress that that kind of cough or when people all of a sudden, like your throat is like a gift. Like, I can't talk like that is like one of that those first things. First parts of that sympathetic stress response. So, so interesting. That something like the tremor for the whole body can can switch that over to the parasympathetic. So yeah, that's
Taylor Byrer 48:43
for sure. And what was also interesting through that first session with you, I mean, I knew about the vagus nerve, obviously, as a nurse, but I didn't realize how much of effective in you saying, you know, mentioning my vagus nerve and all this and then I just went into this rabbit hole of like, figuring out the vagus nerve. And like that's why we get that gut instinct and that gut feeling is because of the vagus nerve and, and so my, and I could tell every time I cough that it was still just that much out of balance because my vagus nerve and it was just like, anytime that I tried to talk about anything, it was just this cough and it just did not stop so that was another thing that opened that you helped me realize was like, learn more about the vagus nerve and like what it does to your body. So that's been very helpful for me too. And as as long as well with my coaching is just like having people be more mindful of that. And what that can affect.
Ericka Thomas 49:51
Yeah, it's just another another piece to the puzzle. Right? And the more pieces you have, the closer you get to that full picture. Definitely. So so how are things different for you now? Taylor.
Taylor Byrer 50:12
They're different in such a good way because I think I mentioned to as I've gotten older and like moved around and everything I've I've truly found like, my peaceful place at my new house, but it's about an hour from from home. And I've realized that you know, a lot from my past I I didn't use my voice very much. I was very much a people pleaser. People used to say I was a doormat. And I was essentially people just walk all over me because I was afraid to say no to anybody. And so when I would go home, I would get really nervous and anxious. And, and I would cough. But since I've learned about theory and gone through that whole session with you, and now I'm able to do it at home. I am very mindful about those areas of my life that make me more anxious and so I will practice theory, like the day the night before the morning of like, you know, all around that stressful event. And then I'm like completely calm. And it just like helps regulate myself. And sometimes I forget because sometimes they don't do it right before but then when I get home I will so it's always like, you know I always correlate my theory with with a stressful event in any way. And that has helped tremendously and and I do it just whenever I feel like it as well. It doesn't have to be something stressful. But I have noticed that that has helped so much when I'm really dealing with something that's like, who this brings up a lot. And so it's been it's been very helpful in that way.
Ericka Thomas 52:11
Awesome. That's awesome. I love hearing that. I love hearing that because that's I think the purpose. When David Briselli developed those exercises and put this together I think that was his purpose to be able to give give people something that they could take with them and use in their real life in their real world. moments of tension where it would be completely accessible, but that is truly an accessible modality for people a tool and because you can always call your therapist right i mean and as we know as you are, you know you are a great example of stress can get stuck in the body and then doesn't matter how many how many words you say or what you know, the therapist says if it's stuck in the body, it's stuck there. So yeah, so thank you so much for sharing that. That's great. That's a great yeah, and
Taylor Byrer 53:13
something else just came up. When you were mentioning like some people may think that all of these modalities may be a little woowoo or her Oh, like to holistic or hippie. My husband is one of those. And it's been interesting because every time I mentioned something new he's very like oh, here we go again, another like hippie modality but it's interesting as he's seen me over the last several years, especially with all my liver stuff and how I jot everything down and how he can see the changes in me. He is like he hasn't said it, but I know that he's a believer of all of this because he just he sees that you know, and he's seen me before at my absolute worst. And then he seen me now and he was like well obviously like and and I didn't want to take another medication. That's why That's why I've sought out all of this all of these modalities because I don't want to take another medication. I'm taking medication my entire life for my liver. And like I don't want that nor is it gonna be good for my liver. So I can work through this and and he's watched that whole thing unfold and so it's pretty cool to see that change in him as well.
Ericka Thomas 54:39
Yeah, that's awesome. Leading by example. Yes, it sounds good. Wonderful. All right. So Taylor, we are coming to the end of our time together. Can you share with our audience what your work in is?
Taylor Byrer 54:56
So I have a few. I've always been a morning person. But I here recently have really just implemented this routine of waking up between 530 and 630 Every morning I go make my coffee. I usually have a cup on my front porch. So I get the nice day like get some fresh air first thing in the morning. Just sit out there listen to nature, it's so peaceful. Then I have some breakfast and then I do like a morning movement. Whatever that looks like it's different every day. And then my favorite all time organ and it's been since I was like six months old. I mean since I you know obviously that was the time for size in an airplane but it's just flying. I love I love flying I love being in the air. That is where I find the most peace and calm. And now that I'm a student pilot and I'm able to sell the airplane by myself, it's so awesome. myself that's so cool.
Ericka Thomas 56:05
That's so cool. So, so you are a pilot you're still training for to get your pilot's license. Where are you in that process? Yeah,
Taylor Byrer 56:15
so I'm a student pilot still. I just calculated this morning after my flight. I have a little over 70 hours. And then I just have to do another cross country and then take the written exam and then the play portion with an examiner.
Ericka Thomas 56:33
That is so that's so cool. I love it. I love hearing these things from people. Some of my people talk about jumping out of airplanes, so I'm happy that you are flying that
Taylor Byrer 56:49
as well and that was amazing. I definitely want to again oh funny I also enjoy so cool.
Ericka Thomas 56:59
So cool. All right, Taylor so if people want to get in touch with you if they want to work with you, how can we find you?
Taylor Byrer 57:08
Yeah, so I just recently started Facebook and Instagram page Byrer integrative wellness for Facebook and then Instagram will be Byrer dot integrative dot wellness or Taylor Byrer is my name on there too. So and yeah,
Ericka Thomas 57:32
and do you have anything coming up that that maybe people want to meet you for?
Taylor Byrer 57:39
I have a sleep session. I'm going to be discussing three ways to improve sleep. And it's going to be here at the loft. so gracious to share your space with me. It's on August 3 and on Main Street here in Spring Valley, and it's from six to 7pm
Ericka Thomas 58:05
Awesome. Oh great. All of the links to all those things are going to be in our show notes. So the easiest way for people to find out would be to go to savage Grace coaching.com forward slash the work in and find Taylor's episode and go ahead and click on all those links. I like to put them at the top of the show notes so people don't have to hunt them down. But those will be there so you're feel free to follow and like and share all of Taylor's information on social media and sign up for that. Free sleep workshop because as we know sleep is a key a key component of a healthy lifestyle. So thank you so much Taylor for being here today. You are a wonderful guest and I cannot wait to see what you accomplish.
Taylor Byrer 59:03
Thank you so much for having me Ericka. I appreciate it.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Hey there!
I’m your host Ericka Thomas. I'm a resilience coach and fit-preneur offering an authentic, actionable realistic approach to personal and professional balance for coaches in any format.
Savage Grace Coaching is all about bringing resilience and burnout recovery. Especially for overwhelmed entrepreneurs, creators and coaches in the fitness industry.
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