Meet Natasha, a Costa Mesa mom who decided to follow the pull to live a more heart-rooted life by leaving an unfulfilling career in pursuit of her love of health, wellness and family.
Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in San Diego.
How long have you lived in Costa Mesa? How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have lived in Costa Mesa for a total of 10 years. I have two kids, a 12-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl.
What are your favorite things to do with your kids in general or in town?
I love going to the Farmer’s Market with the kids on Saturday mornings. We go to the big one at Mariner’s Church because we love the variety of fruits and vegetables and all the other fun and unique foods there.
We also enjoy going on bike rides around Eastside Costa Mesa. Most times we end with a treat at House of Yogurt.
This year we started a new tradition of getting into our pajamas, grabbing hot cocoa, and driving around looking at Christmas Lights.
Name 3 things in town you can’t live without.
The beach
The Farmer’s Market
All of the beautiful hiking trails
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? Why?
We live in such a food-rich culture here in Newport-Mesa that it’s so hard to choose a favorite. We just discovered Oak & Coal on 17th. The kids and I love Japanese food and it’s a super fun place to dine.
What is your favorite kid-friendly recipe?
Especially this time of year, I love making a Colombian soup called Ajiaco. It’s super simple and easy to make and the kids love it because it’s mostly just chicken and potatoes. There is a secret ingredient though: you have to include a unique herb called Guascas.
What is your local go-to store for children’s clothes? Yourself? Furniture?
The kids like shopping at Target, Tilly’s and Zara. I love Anthropologie myself. If I’m shopping for furniture, I usually check out Crate & Barrel and West Elm.
What are your favorite events in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach?
We just enjoyed watching the Newport Beach boat parade. During the summer we have fun going to the OC Fair. One year we got tickets to the Motorhome Demolition Derby at the Fair and could not stop laughing when we saw a toilet flying out of a motorhome.
Do you have a favorite destination for family trips? Why?
We love taking road trips to the mountains or anywhere where we can be in nature. I love living in the city, but every once in a while, we need to reconnect with nature. There is something about being surrounded by nature that refreshes my heart and soul.
Name a favorite book or podcast? What’s it about?
My top 3 books are:
The Untethered Soul opened my mind. It helped me understand that I am not my rational, thinking mind. I am the one behind that mind. I am the observer.
Then I was introduced to The Energy Codes. The Energy Codes are tools and practices to slow down the thinking mind so that we can access our inner wisdom. I’ve learned tools to feel grounded, centered, and empowered. I feel like I have come home to myself, and my soul feels free. This work resonated with me so deeply, I had to teach it to others. I have created workshops and a masterclass to teach this work.
Most recently I came across The Mastery of Love. It opened my heart and helped me better understand the love that comes from within. So many of us feel empty and wounded because we look to others for love, when all along we have everything inside of us. We just have to access the love inside.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time?
I’d have to say the most difficult age was in that 2-3 range. You’ve given so much of yourself and don’t expect or know how to cope with their new behaviors and quest for independence. Once I learned several methods for being kind but firm and not “feeding the weed” from a parenting course I took, the unruly behavior was no longer a challenge.
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms?
It’s all about the relationship you create with your kids. It’s about mutual respect and it’s about the way you communicate with your kids. Also remember that your kids are always observing your behaviors and habits and how you interact with others, so it’s best to model the behavior you would like to see in them. I also have learned that if you model self-love and self-care, your children will do the same for themselves as they grow.
What do you most value in your friends?
I love that my friends are authentic and I feel comfortable being myself around them. There is an incredible amount of support and empowerment that comes from being able to be yourself and not feeling like you have to wear a mask or act a certain way around your friends.
What was your career before having children? If it’s the same, how do you balance career & motherhood?
Up until a year and a half ago, I was in sales, and looking back, I traveled way too much for a mom. I came to a breaking point where it just wasn’t worth it anymore. I needed to be more available for my kids. So, I decided to leave the corporate world and started on a beautiful journey of figuring out how I could help and be of service to people while still being available to my kids. It took my passion for health & nutrition and my curiosity to understand why some people heal more quickly than others, to discover that everything that is happening on a physical level is happening on an energetic level first. I now teach tools and practices to reactivate the body’s self-healing system through the flow of energy. I currently teach workshops and classes to moms in our community and I will be opening up a treatment practice late spring of 2020.
Any #momgoals?
Constantly working on that balance between giving to my children and taking care of myself.
How do you relax and unwind?
I relax and unwind with my breath. I escape to a quiet place, and just breathe. If I get a good amount of time to myself, I drive to the beach and put my feet in the sand. It’s my happy place. And if I physically can’t make it to the beach in that moment, I go there with my imagination.
I was introduced to Bikram Yoga (hot yoga) a year ago and it has opened up the door to feeling grounded and balanced in my life. It’s a killer workout – it’s strengthening for the mind, body, and soul.
Hobbies? 
I recently discovered photography. I realized that as you are looking through a lens, you feel inspired to capture beautiful moments, people, things, whatever. It helps you take a step back and want to look at life with a beautiful perspective. It stokes the fire of appreciation and gratitude inside me.
Thank you Natasha.
You can connect with Natasha or learn more about her upcoming workshops and treatment practice at heartrootedhealth.com or by email at [email protected].
**This post contains sponsored content. Photos by Nick Davies.