Blog Posts

Jessica Goyke 12/9/24 Jessica Goyke 12/9/24

Rewire Your Response

"Tension is who you think you should be, relaxation is who you are."

The quote above is one of my favorite Chinese proverbs. The first time I heard this I stopped in my tracks. It resonated so deeply, as I could feel the areas in my life that contributed to my tension and the areas of life where I was feeling free and relaxed to be me.

As we enter our last month of this year, one that can be packed full of to do's, stretchy obligations, an abundance of marketing emails, I am returning to it.

In order to preserve this precious season's opportunities to slow down and appreciate the magic and beauty around us, I am not just pulling out Christmas decor, but also feel as if I am pulling this old quote out of a storage box to place in my eyesight and as a guide within my body as I navigate this season.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to explore:

💜 What this quote means to you
💜 What tension & relaxation feel like in your body
💜 How you might use this to return to your relaxed and powerful center

With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica

Jessica Goyke 11/18/24 Jessica Goyke 11/18/24

The Root of It All

You know that tension you carry—the kind that settles at the top of your shoulders, month after month? Maybe for you, it’s in your neck, your jaw, or your low back.

Wherever it shows up, it’s more than just tight muscles. That tension holds layers of stories, patterns, and energy. The good news? Those layers can be explored, softened, and healed—right down to the root.

The roots of your current reality exist in:

Your physical body,
Your nervous system’s response to life,
And your energetic patterns.

It’s natural to notice the tension first—the sore muscles asking for release. But if that tightness keeps returning, it’s a sign there’s more to discover.

Peeling Back the Layers

The Physical Root: These tension patterns can arise as a response to stress. They change the way you breathe, move, and even how your blood flows—keeping your body in a loop of “fight or flight.”
The Nervous System Root: Stress, whether it’s small and persistent or large and unresolved, activates your sympathetic nervous system. This creates cycles that keep tension alive.
The Energetic Root: Beyond the body and nervous system lie the energetic imprints—belief systems, childhood conditioning, cultural norms, and even ancestral patterns.
- Maybe you feel the weight of others’ burdens on your shoulders.
- Perhaps you guard yourself from hurt by holding tension in your upper back.
- Or maybe control and safety challenges manifest in your neck or lower back.

Healing the Roots

True transformation happens when we address all three layers:

Connecting with your physical tension to release what’s stuck.
Easing your nervous system to interrupt the stress loop.
Shifting the energetic roots to align with harmony, safety, and growth.

Take a deep breath with me. Place your hand on the area where tension calls your attention.

What patterns are no longer serving me?
How might my body, my nervous system, and my energy all play a part?

The answers you seek aren’t far away—they’re within you, waiting to be explored, acknowledged, and transformed.

Jessica Goyke 11/18/24 Jessica Goyke 11/18/24

Come home to yourself,

One of our participants in Journey to Optimal shared that she had been trying to release a knot of tension between her shoulders for weeks, and that after one touch on the table it melted away.

Now, this wasn't because I found some magic button... this is what's possible when you are in a safe space, you have enough spaciousness to slow down, you are willing and open to connect with the deeper messages of your body, and we match the tone of what's stored there.

The combination is powerful and it's a chance to peel back the layers and come home to yourself.

Closing your eyes, & placing your attention on your heart, ask yourself: how can I come home to myself this week?
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Journey to Optimal is coming around again in January!

So, if you're ready to shed doubt, anxiety, and to really address the missing piece in your healing journey - this space is for you. This last round went deep into their nervous system re-patterning and had fun doing it! They walked away feeling lighter, a knowing that they can continue to create this new slow space for themselves, and a coming home to optimal (a true version of optimal for them, not anyone else). Even current clients shared they're getting next level integration from their sessions with this new awareness.

If you know you want to be a part of the next transformation, save your spot by registering below.

Date:
Saturday, 1/11, 1-4:30pm

Save your spot here.
There will be just 4 spots available to keep this event intimate.
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With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica

Jessica Goyke 10/29/24 Jessica Goyke 10/29/24

From habit to healing ritual - creating rituals of relaxation

The definition of ritual is a ceremonial act or action or an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner.

I like to think of rituals as intentional habits. Certain habits can be rather unintentional, like hitting snooze instead of getting up for your meditation. Whereas rituals are a choice to nurture an aspect of yourself, support, or a need.

If you were to look at your life... what rituals do you have?
What simple acts or actions do you return to regularly?

If you don't have many rituals, or feel you could be more intentional, start with this question:
What are one or more needs that I have, that I feel are not being met?

Some common ones that I hear from folks:

Connection/friendship
Support
Touch
Purpose
Relaxation

Now, to get curious and creative!
What's the most simple thing I can think of to get this need met?
Here are a few examples:

Book an appt with my therapist
Schedule a massage
Read a book about purpose
Take a walk in nature

Now, comb through and refine any answers towards something that feels nurturing for yourself.
What would be possible if I chose just one of these needs to be met consistently, by setting up a ritual?

What would be different in me, if instead of meeting this need once it feels urgent, making it a ritual and a steady anchor to return to?

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With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica

Jessica Goyke 10/15/24 Jessica Goyke 10/15/24

7 years of connection - a heartfelt thank you!

I am writing to you this morning in appreciation for a crisp and bright fall day, a season that invites me to slow down and to reflect. The heart of my reflection is that this week marks year 7 of serving our Central Oregon community through Heart of Life.

It has been a beautiful journey, with peaks and valleys, and worth every bit because of those of you that I get the chance to connect with and to see your lives enhance over time.

This process of nurturing community through business has been reflective of our cells journey, the expansion and contraction, the liminal space, the upgrades, and the regeneration that happens over time, the entirety of that process completing roughly every 7 years.

Heart of Life, myself, you, are all examples of what's possible when you commit to yourself, to discovering what's beneath the surface, to tending to your parts, to feeling, healing, and making it a part of your life to care for your nervous system.

With this level of devotion to your well being, you're an entirely different person in 7 years time, a little closer to your heart, a little more authentic, whole, happy.

If anything, I hope to continue to inspire you to journey onwards, to get back up even after a hard day, or week, or year. To be curious, and open, and to always welcome you into our healing sanctuary for grounding, presence, love, and care.

I am excited to walk Heart of Life into it's next 7 year cycle, steady, grounded, and ripe with possibility.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for your support, commitment to self, and trust in your process.

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One spot remains for Journey to Optimal - is it yours?
This intimate, small-group experience, A Journey to Optimal, will take you from frustrated, & spiraling, to centered, aware, and cup full <3

This is unlike any workshop you've done before, time will be carved out to be slow and experience a new landscape within your mind, body and spirit. We’ll deep dive into moving beyond familiar, reactive patterns into optimal states where you truly thrive. Over the course of a half-day together, you’ll gain tools and insights to create deeper alignment in your life and foster a profound sense of safety within.

Details:

Date: Saturday, 10/26

Time: 2-5pm
Format: In-person at Heart of Life
What: Transformative bodywork to connect more deeply with your nervous system will be combined with insightful teachings. Be prepared for a full immersive experience of body, mind, and community connection.

Important – Limited Spots:
To ensure a deeply personalized experience, this group is limited to just 4 participants.

How to Enroll:

Click HERE to claim your spot (1 remaining)
*registration closes Friday*

(If you are a current client, please reply here and I'll send you a code for a 15% discount!)

I can't wait to guide you through this transformational journey. Let's break free from the familiar and step into a more aligned, thriving state!

See you there

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With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica

Jessica Goyke 10/7/24 Jessica Goyke 10/7/24

Ready for a change? This is the key!

The first step to change,

Awareness. The key element in transformation is bringing awareness towards the moving parts in your life. The way you talk to yourself, how you move your body, the parent you are, etc.

The longer you've lived the more likely that much of your life is run on autopilot, but the moment you bring your awareness, your conscious attention, and intention to the different aspects of your life you have choice.

Awareness opens the door, making new choices, consistently over time is what re-patterns your nervous system.

This week, I invite you to bring awareness to the following areas in your life: physical health & fitness, mental & emotional wellbeing, relationships & love, vocation, spiritual, intellectual, contribution to society & planet, financial, fun & social.

Bring awareness by asking yourself: what feels good, and what's working well? Also, bring awareness to what challenges am I facing here, what could use improvement?

Begin making new choices by identifying: what's one thing I could do differently that would make a positive difference in this aspect of my life?

Start re-patterning your system by making one new choice each day!

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Ready to deep dive into rewiring your nervous system for optimal?
Please join us for this intimate, small-group experience, A Journey to Optimal
This is the last week for early bird pricing (you have through 10/6 to receive early bird pricing above!)

We’ll explore how to move beyond familiar, reactive patterns into optimal states where you can truly thrive. Over the course of a half-day together, you’ll gain tools and insights to create deeper alignment in your life and foster a profound sense of safety within.

Details:

Date: Saturday, 10/26

Important – Limited Spots:
To ensure a deeply personalized experience, this group is limited to just 4 participants.

How to Enroll:
Spaces are expected to fill, so if you're ready to dive deep into your nervous system and break repeating patterns, click the link below to reserve your spot.

Click HERE to claim your spot (1 remaining)

This is for both folks brand new to this work, refreshing, and for deepening with current clients. (If you are a current client, please reply here and I'll send you a code for a 15% discount!) I can't wait to guide you through this transformational journey. Let's break free from the familiar and step into a more aligned, thriving state!

See you there

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Free October Community Walk:
Friday, October 18th, 4-5pm
Theme: supporting and soothing our nervous systems through seasonal change :)
Come to receive some supportive tips and to share your own, while filling your cup in community!
Meet at Heart of Life and walk downtown to the river and back with us.
All welcome.

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With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica

Jessica Goyke 9/30/24 Jessica Goyke 9/30/24

The first step to change,

Details:

Date: Saturday, 10/26

Important – Limited Spots:
To ensure a deeply personalized experience, this group is limited to just 4 participants.

How to Enroll:
Spaces are expected to fill, so if you're ready to dive deep into your nervous system and break repeating patterns, click the link below to reserve your spot.

Click HERE to claim your spot (2 remaining)

See you there

___________________________________

With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica

Jessica Goyke 9/23/24 Jessica Goyke 9/23/24

It’s Here: Your Journey from Familiar to Optimal Starts Now!

Ready to shift?

I've been working on something exciting for the past several weeks and it's here!
You're journey from familiar to optimal starts now!

A Journey to Optimal

In this intimate, small-group experience, we’ll explore how to move beyond familiar, reactive patterns into optimal states where you can truly thrive. Over the course of a half-day together, you’ll gain tools and insights to create deeper alignment in your life and foster a profound sense of safety within.

Details:

Date: Saturday, 10/26

Important – Limited Spots:
To ensure a deeply personalized experience, this group is limited to just 4 participants.

How to Enroll:
Spaces are expected to fill, so if you're ready to dive deep into your nervous system and break repeating patterns, click the link below to reserve your spot.

Click HERE to claim your spot (3 remaining)
(Note: Early bird pricing is available until 10/6, or until all spots are filled.)

See you there

___________________________________

With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica

Jessica Goyke 9/16/24 Jessica Goyke 9/16/24

Something special is around the corner,

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to fall into familiar patterns, even when they don't serve your highest good?

Our nervous system craves safety, even in the comfort of the known.

But what if you could move from those familiar states to something optimal, something that truly aligns with your most expansive, vibrant life?

Next week, I’m excited to share a new intimate group experience that will help you tap into your body’s natural ability to shift and thrive. Together, we'll explore tools and practices to rewire your nervous system and move from reactive patterns to empowered, grounded responses, and an optimal life.

If you want to be the first to know, reply now and I'll add you to my waitlist to get the details first!
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With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica

Jessica Goyke 9/10/24 Jessica Goyke 9/10/24

What’s sparking joy

Hi Heart of Life friends & family,

This week, I’m switching things up! Instead of the usual helpful tips for supporting your nervous system, I wanted to share something a little more personal. Lately, I’ve been finding inspiration in unexpected places, and I thought it might resonate with you too. Sometimes, the best way to nurture ourselves is by exploring what lights us up, and I hope these reflections bring a spark to your week as well.

What's on my bookshelf:

Playing Big - by Tara Mohr. This book is specifically written for women who want to speak up, lead, and create. I highly recommend to my fellow business owners and creative women. However, the key messages on identifying your inner critic and building a relationship with your inner mentor are highly valuable lessons everyone should learn!

I've also spent this year re-reading the Harry Potter series. I've just started the 7th book. Reading fiction reminds me that life is not so serious, it helps me prioritize joy and pleasure. I prefer to read fiction before bed, and the simple motion of eyes gazing from left to right across a page is a helpful way to calm the nervous system readying you for bed.

Movement I'm inspired by:

Qi gong with Brea Fisher - her gentle feminine approach to this healing movement art is really nourishing! I love how she brings in the seasons, and animal spirits. It is the perfect way to wind down at the end of the day or gentle movement when I'm in the latter part of my cycle.

I'm really enjoying this powerful yoga flow that takes all of my presence and leaves me feeling strong and aligned called Flow FIXXation with Schuyler Grant on Commune. You can try this and the entire library at Commune free for 7 days. To redeem your 7 day free trial, be sure to include my name here: https://www.onecommune.com/memberpass

Projects I am up to:

This summer we updated our backyard, put in drip systems on our garden beds, removed old sod and made a fun gathering area outside. Our outdoor space is my favorite space in the house, and I'm so grateful we had the courage to take on this project and learn some new skills along the way. Doing "hard" things is an important way to cultivate resiliency.

I've got an on-going acrylic nature scene painting in my garage, I'm enjoying coming to it when I feel inspired. I have a due date of the end of the year, so I imagine once the smoke season comes to an end I'll open the garage door and get to finishing it. Creative projects inspire me and stretch me to learn new skills.

On my kitchen list for fall:

My favorite caffeine free chai recipe, found here, is definitely getting restocked! This mix of spices warms you from the inside out, and is anti-inflammatory.

I also love soups, stews, and broths to support my body in adapting to cooler temps outside!
Here's a simple favorite I've come back to year after year:
Black bean and butternut squash chili
Ingredients:
2 cups chopped onions
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 cups chopped ( 1/2 inch pieces) butternut squash
4 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 3 (15 ounce) cans low-sodium or no-salt-added black beans, drained
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 1/2 cups low-sodium or no-salt-added vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups no-salt-added diced tomatoes
1 bunch Swiss chard, tough stems removed, chopped
Directions:
Add all ingredients except Swiss chard to a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until squash is tender, about 20 minutes.
Stir in Swiss chard; simmer until chard is tender, about 4 minutes longer.

I hope you enjoyed these Fall favorites!
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With love & gratitude,

Dr. Jessica