Who Are We? What Do We Do?

Our mottos:  Be Curious.  Live.  Love.  Laugh.  Learn.  Share.  Be Present.

We are glad you’re here, and the Self Care Connections team enjoys sharing some Self-Care “Tools for Your Toolbox of Life.”  Let’s connect to our playful centers as we do some Intentional Laughter/Laughter Yoga, stretch and breathe with Gentle Yoga or Tai Chi, or become a part of a Qigong (pronounced chee gong) practice, a gentle, moving meditation. 

These tools might be just the ticket for slowing down for a few minutes and allowing our minds, bodies, spirits, and souls to pause, rest, and renew.  Perhaps we can bring some more smiles and peace to ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world.  

We’d love to connect.  All ages are welcome to join us, from children to teens to middlers to elders.  No experience necessary.  Let’s explore together.   We hope to see you soon!

Meet Judi of Self Care Connections

Hello.  I’m Judi, and you might be wondering, “What’s with that hat?”   We all wear many “hats” as we move about our lives.  After my first “daughter hat,” where I learned from my parents, my brothers, and my extended family members,  I began wearing an “official student”  hat, which continued my love of learning.  This led me to wearing a “teacher hat” as I taught high school business and computers.  Later I began wearing my “spouse” hat!  Just as your life does, sometimes my life got crazy busy, and my curiosity led me to explore stress reduction and “take care of ourselves” tools like gentle yoga, laughter, meditative walking, mindful eating, basket making, qigong . . . and more!

Now I “wear the hats” of qigong practice group leader and trainer, gentle yoga teacher, and laughter yoga/intentional laughter leader . . . and more!  What a gift to share what I learn.  I have a special place in my heart for teachers; your lives are busy, and I thank you for the work you do. 

I am curious, and I love to “Explore Our World.” What fun to visit (and also revisit!) places in our community and in our world . . . and what fun to quietly pause and explore our “inner world,” too.    Join me as we explore together!

Judi

Much gratitude to UW-Stevens Point students, TJ and Anthony, and their professors, Tim Krause and Tomi Heimonen, for sharing your web planning and design talents.   Thank you to Kurt of Ness Web Solutions for your help in creating this website, too.  Thank you, also, to Molly of MS Graphics, for our logo design.  I am also blessed by my photographers and videographers, too.  And much gratitude to Lois for sharing her grandmother’s hat! 

Meet Sarah of Self Care Connections

Sarah is a certified Spring Forest Qigong (SFQ) practice group leader and Level 1 trainer.  I have learned first-hand that with unconditional love, you can heal your emotions, body, mind, spirit, and soul.

I am so excited to share the Qi-love through my online practice group, Marrvelous Qi-Circle, and Spring Forest Qigong classes.  I look forward to meeting and hearing more about your SFQ journey.

I love to support others in experiencing the wonderful Qi-love goodness.  Click on the Free Explorations page here at selfcareconnections.com or visit www.marrvelouslife.com for a link to my practice group, classes and for more information about me.

I love the outdoors, and I am passionate about organic gardening, walking on the beach with my husband, bird watching and spending time with my wonderful, large and growing family. 

https://marrvelouslife.com/

Photo of Sarah in a pirate hat
Photo Suzann in garden hat

Meet Suzann of Self Care Connections

Suzann is a Certified Spring Forest Qigong (SFQ) trainer and Certified Practice Group Leader, and she is a Certified Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader . . . and she loves gardening!   She considers herself a lifelong learner.  

Suzann started her journey as an RN with a BSN from UW-Oshkosh, and then became a Healing Touch practitioner and Massage Therapist in the 1990’s.  Suzann has studied many forms of Mind-Body medicine including classes with Jon Kabot-Zinn, Herbert Benson and Andrew Weil.  She has studied the healing arts of Yoga, Medical Qigong, Tai Chi, and Chakra studies.  In 1995, she started a business to share her healing energies and knowledge with her community.  She currently offers in person practices and trainings in Wisconsin and Florida, as well as online.  

As a person in the Healing Arts, SFQ’s vision of “A healer in every home and a world without pain and suffering” really resonates with Suzann.  SFQ has brought much needed calm and groundedness to what had become a very hectic life as she tried to balance work, family, running a business, teaching, and more.  After studying many forms of mind-body medicine for years, Suzann knew what she was supposed to do psychologically and academically to achieve balance in life, but it was not always working.

Suzann has learned how to bring Joy, Balance, and Healing to her life, and she loves sharing this knowledge with others.  Join her to become a LOVE RADIATOR!

Meet Joan of Self Care Connections

Hello.  I’m Joan, and I’ve been “wearing the hat” of Laughter Yoga leader since being certified in 2010.  I have attended follow-up trainings and workshops with many wonderful laughter professionals, including several online sessions with Laughter Yoga founder Dr. Madan Kataria.  I enjoy routinely practicing intentional laughter with other leaders and their groups, too.  It still amazes me that choosing to take a few minutes to simply laugh can really make a difference in everyday life.

I’m honored to be a part of Self Care Connections!  I often participate in our community’s various practices and hope you enjoy experiencing them all, too.  During JoyFull Laughers sessions, we endeavor to stay mindfully present and to breathe deeply as we use imaginative, playful exercises to encourage genuine laughter (though benefits have been scientifically proven whether laughs remain intentional or become real!).  Sometimes, we’ll simply breathe and laugh for minutes at a time without imaginative play, and we’ll always spend at least one minute laughing for world peace as Dr. Kataria has requested.

Please consider joining me via Zoom weekday mornings at 10 am Central Time to laugh for about 10 minutes.  Click on the Free Explorations page for the link.  Feel free to arrive about five minutes early, and you’re also welcome to stay to chat for a short time afterwards.  By the way, this is truly come as you are; come early, come late, leave early, stay as long as you’d like, participate as often and as much or as little as you choose, your camera and microphone can be on or off . . . all aways your choice.

My desire is that our laughter practice will help us all foster a deep sense of joy that will carry through into all the other moments of our days, and I’m confident our joy will benefit those around us as well.  All are welcome.  No prior experience necessary.  I hope to meet with you soon!,

Words From Regulars

Check out what some of the people who have been a part of Judi’s groups have said. More down below!

Maureen smiling

Maureen

"I have been a student of Judi's for about two years. Her Qigong classes are highlights in my week. She has such a wonderful way of connecting with each person as well as with the group, our Qi team, as she calls us. Her spirit shines out to brighten us all. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow; her words comforting and uplifting. She is a treasure.”

richard smiling

Richard

"Judi has a natural teaching ability embellished by soothing dialog. Her verbal charm and guidance is what makes all the difference. By the end of class I feel refreshed and can't help but believe: 'Now that was worthwhile!'”

karolee smiling

Karolee

"Judi loves to combine modalities to give her students a diverse, fun-filled and energetic experience. It's rare to find such an experienced, loving and compassionate teacher”

Cathy

"I have experienced the joys of having Judi Olson lead me in Qigong and Laughter Yoga over the past few years. Judi can always bring a smile to my face no matter how my day has been. She has the teaching gift to calm us, remind us what is important in our life and health, and send us off after a practice with a renewed feeling of energy and peace combined. She once volunteered to lead Yoga with a group of children in an after school program at our church. She had some very active students who at the end were totally relaxed on the floor listening carefully to her voice after a fun Yoga Session. I also had the unique experience to have Judi lead Qigong with a small group of travelers during a sunrise in Kruger National Park in South Africa. One of my best memories of Qigong. I thank Judi for introducing me to Qigong and appreciate her teaching and leading gifts."

Sue

"I was depressed and anxious during the pandemic. Many of my coping tools had been taken away. Judi, a childhood friend, had re-entered my life, and she introduced me to Spring Forest Qigong. I’ll admit that I was skeptical, at first. I love that qigong is about the mind, body and spirit. Judi always stresses “good, better, best.” I don’t ever feel like I am doing any of the techniques “wrong.” Judi has an amazing energy, which comes through in her teaching. She lets all emotions be present. Our Zoom qigong group is a team and a family, because of Judi’s teaching style. We are all accepted for who we are. Qigong breathing, movement and healing were my coping tools these past eight months and will be into the future."

Lynn

"In July of 2015, my frightening ordeal began. In less than 24 hours I went from a healthy 64-year old to a woman on death’s doorstep. My blood pressure dropped dangerously low, and for 12 days the ICU was my home. A culture indicated a blood infection caused by bacteria from a mammal’s mouth. The lack of circulation resulted in blisters forming on my hands and legs/feet which then turned into black eschar. The eschar could not be removed as the pain of doing so would have been unbearable. The wound care I received was exceptionally good, but there was permanent damage to parts of my fingers and to all of my toes. They were amputated in October. After 124 days of hospitalization and 20 days at a rehab facility, at the end of November I finally came home. The most important components of my healing were: my attitude, the prayers of so many, and the laughter. My husband visited daily, despite the 70 mile one-way commute, and my brother-in-law and his wife came at least five days of every week. The four of us had a marvelous time with laughter ringing out of the room every time. We were occasionally asked to “tone it down” but whenever the nurses needed a “breather” they would join us for a moment or two. All my health care people, the other patients, and my friends and family called me the amazing patient because I stayed so “up." I know it was because of the laughter, it truly does heal! More power to you, Judi, for bringing laughter to so many and instructing us all to “laugh for health!""