10 Years of HTMA Insights for Deep & Lasting Health Recovery

Welcome Back, Friends!

I hope you're all savoring September—my personal favorite month. We're on the cusp of the fall equinox, a beautiful time when daylight and night are perfectly balanced, aligning with Libra season—a time for harmony, balance, and recalibration in our lives and relationships.

We're also entering peak harvest season, where summer produce offers its final burst and fall veggies begin to roll in. I recently picked up my weekly CSA haul—deep green, spicy arugula, and delicata squash were the highlights. These small joys really root me in the present and remind me of the balance we’re all seeking in our health.

Shout-Out

A big thank you to Anna for her kind review on iTunes! She wrote:

*"Lydia is the most knowledgeable nutritional therapy and mineral practitioner I know. Listening to her podcasts as a professional in this space is a treat. Not only has the content enriched my personal health, but it has also helped expand my knowledge base to better serve clients. She has a way of making complex information actionable for anyone listening. In a sea of diet fads, excessive supplements, and health gadgets, Lydia beautifully reminds us of what is truly important—fundamental health foundations, leveraging the gifts of Mother Nature, attuning to healing potential within, and much more. Thanks, Lydia, for your generosity!"*

These words mean so much—thank you, Anna! If you’ve found value in the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a review on iTunes. It really helps others discover the show!

In my latest podcast episode of *A Joy To Be Me*, I'm diving into my 10 year journey with Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA),. Listen here: 10 years of HTMA insights for deep & lasting health recover

The Journey to Lasting Health Recovery

I just got back my **41st HTMA results (hair tissue mineral analysis)**. Yes, you read that right! Over the past 10 years, I've done an HTMA every quarter or season, and this consistent approach has been transformative for both me and my family.

Some may feel overwhelmed by the idea of doing 41 HTMAs, but it's important to understand that the test itself isn't the key—it's about the **long-term commitment to the process of healing**. I’ve stayed the course because deep, lasting health recovery takes time. It’s about creating sustainable wellness, not just achieving quick fixes.

As Alex Soojung-Kim Pang says, *"The reigning assumption is that success is a race against time and obsolescence . . . People who learn to rest deliberately can ultimately get more done, for longer periods of time."*

That philosophy guides my approach to healing—gentle, sustainable, and long-lasting.

Key Lessons from My HTMA Journey

Here are some big themes and lessons I've learned over the past 10 years of working with HTMA that have helped me—and can help you—on the path to lasting recovery:

1: Gentle Detox & Stress Management
Early on, I couldn’t handle aggressive detox protocols. My body was overloaded with toxicity and stress, especially as a single mom. I needed a *gentle* approach to detox and healing. Over time, I found the right pace for me, and that’s the approach I now share with my clients.

Many people are in the same boat—they need a manageable, sustainable plan that considers the whole picture, not just isolated issues. Sure, sometimes we need to put out fires, but if we don’t address the entire system, healing won’t last, and we risk relapsing. My mold exposure only complicated things, and it took time to understand that gentleness and steadiness were the keys to unlocking lasting change.

Once you bring in a steady drip of minerals in a balanced way, your body starts to turn things around. You begin to handle stress better—even if life stressors remain. This is the number one thing clients share: they feel more grounded and able to navigate life with greater ease. Minerals are essential—they support daily function and long-term healing, creating profound, lasting change once you break free from the stress loop.

2: Walking the Talk
As a teacher and practitioner, I believe in living what I teach. My Virgo stellium (Sun, Mercury, Mars) in the 9th house gives me a natural gift for teaching and communicating health and personal growth insights. My practical approach, coupled with a deep desire to serve, allows me to break down complex ideas into clear, actionable steps.

Spending 10 years in the HTMA arena has only deepened my understanding of how to help others integrate the **fundamentals of human health**. This path has taught me that **health is a long game**, and while quick fixes might bring temporary relief, it's the deep foundational work that creates lasting change.

3: Building Strong Health Foundations

My journey isn't just about mineral balancing—it's about addressing toxins, gut health, and the deeper layers of dysfunction that many overlook. Minerals are the foundation, but true healing requires a holistic approach.

When I turned 40, I realized I no longer wanted to live in constant reaction mode. After years of struggling with my health, I knew I needed a sustainable solution. Most health plans fail because they focus on quick fixes and ignore the foundation. It’s like building a house without a strong foundation—you end up constantly making repairs as it falls apart.

True, lasting recovery requires **setting solid foundations**. When built correctly, those foundations support you for life, allowing you to move forward without constantly slipping back into crisis mode. That’s what I’ve woven into my health plan and lifestyle—repeating key habits each season and year, deepening some, and layering in new ones.

4: Root-Bound Plant Metaphor
Think of a plant in a pot—its roots can only grow so far before they become bound, circling the pot and struggling to thrive. If you transplant that plant into the ground, its roots need time to unravel, spread, and push through the soil before they can grow again. We, too, need time to adapt and thrive when we step out of the constrained environments we’ve been living in.

Takeaways: 
- Healing is a daily habit—it requires **time, consistency**, and **patience**.
- HTMA testing has kept me on track, giving me insights and helping me make necessary shifts each season.
- Sustainable change happens when you address the whole system—physical, emotional, and environmental health.

If you’re ready to move from burnout, poor sleep, anxiety, and low energy to sustainable health recovery, I’d love to help you. You can learn more about working with me HERE, and don’t forget to check out more of my podcast episodes for even more support on your journey! 🌿