Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner

Healing Through Yoga & Pilates | Learning to Love Myself, Let Go & Move Forward

Good afternoon, everyone. 🌿

Today, I spent some time doing a quick yoga and Pilates session with weights, and honestly, I’m sitting here afterward feeling really emotional — but in a good way.

Lately, these quiet little moments have become such an important part of my life. Not because they’re perfect or because I suddenly have everything figured out, but because they remind me that I’m trying. They remind me that I’m moving forward. And sometimes, when life feels overwhelming, simply moving forward is already enough.

As I was recording today, I caught myself looking through the camera and thinking, “Wow, Jess… you’re actually doing it.”

Not perfectly.
Not professionally.
Not in the polished influencer way.

But authentically.

And honestly, I think that’s what makes this journey so meaningful to me.

I’m not a certified yoga instructor. I’ve never attended fancy Pilates classes. Most of what I’m doing comes from listening to my body, trying things slowly, stretching, breathing deeply, and allowing myself to exist in these moments without judgment.

And somehow, through all of that, I’ve started reconnecting with myself again.

I’ve started getting to know my body.
My mind.
My emotions.
My limits.
My strengths.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m finally seeing myself clearly.

Not just as a nurse practitioner.
Not just as someone constantly taking care of other people.
But as a human being.

A creative human being.
A vulnerable human being.
A person who also deserves healing, softness, rest, and self-expression.

I think one of the reasons content creation has become so healing for me is because it allows me to reconnect with parts of myself that I ignored for so long. For years, I was focused on survival, responsibilities, work, stress, expectations, and constantly trying to hold everything together.

But now, I’m finally allowing myself to explore my artistic side.

These videos might seem simple to some people, but to me, they mean so much more than just recording yoga sessions. They’re little pieces of my healing journey. They’re proof that I’m learning how to show up for myself.

And honestly, that’s a really big deal for someone like me.

Especially as an introvert.

For most of my life, I kept so much inside. I convinced myself that being introverted meant staying quiet, staying hidden, and never fully expressing who I was. I thought vulnerability was something to be ashamed of.

But lately, I’ve been realizing that vulnerability can actually be beautiful.

There’s something incredibly freeing about saying:
“This is me.”
“This is where I’m at.”
“This is what I’m struggling with.”
“And this is how I’m trying to heal.”

Because the truth is… I still struggle.

I still experience anxiety.
I still overthink.
I still panic sometimes.
I still carry stress in my body and in my mind.

And I want to be honest about that because healing isn’t linear.

There are good days.
There are difficult days.
There are moments where I feel strong and grounded, and there are moments where my thoughts completely overwhelm me.

But one thing I’m slowly learning is that the more time I spend holding onto heavy thoughts, the heavier life becomes.

Today, while holding a 3-pound weight during my workout, I realized how similar it felt to anxiety.

At first, 3 pounds doesn’t seem heavy.

But the longer you hold it without letting go, the more your muscles begin to shake, the weaker your arm becomes, and suddenly something small starts to feel unbearable.

That’s exactly what overthinking feels like to me.

The more I focus on my worries, stressors, “what ifs,” and things I can’t control, the heavier they become. The darker everything feels. The more anxious I become.

And lately, I’ve been trying to teach myself how to let go.

Not ignore my feelings.
Not suppress my emotions.
But stop carrying every thought like it’s something I need to solve immediately.

I’ve been learning how to acknowledge my worries without allowing them to consume me.

And honestly… life feels lighter when I do that.

There was a time in my life — probably two or three years ago — when I was in one of the darkest mental spaces I’ve ever experienced. I was carrying heartbreak, stress, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion all at once.

At the time, I honestly didn’t know how I was going to get through it.

But somehow, I did.

And now when I look back at that version of myself, I feel compassion instead of shame.

Because she survived.

And so did I.

That realization alone has changed so much for me.

It’s taught me that difficult seasons don’t last forever. It’s taught me that healing can happen slowly and quietly. And it’s taught me that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply continue moving forward.

Lately, I’ve also been prioritizing my physical health more intentionally.

A few months ago, I was in the 170s, and now I’m around 145 pounds. I still have goals for myself, but I’m genuinely proud of how far I’ve come already.

I’ve been open about using GLP-1 medication because I think there’s too much shame surrounding it, and honestly, I don’t want to hide that part of my journey. As a healthcare provider, I’ve seen how beneficial these medications can be not only for weight management but also for overall health.

And personally, it’s helped me feel healthier, more energized, and more motivated to continue taking care of myself.

I’ve also discovered that some of the symptoms I’ve been struggling with — like brain fog, low energy, and mood changes — were connected to vitamin deficiencies, anxiety, lack of sleep, and stress.

And honestly, learning those things reminded me how interconnected mental and physical health really are.

That’s why these yoga and Pilates sessions have become so important to me.

They’re not just workouts.

They’re moments where I reconnect with myself. Moments where I breathe deeply enough to quiet my thoughts for a little while. Moments where I remind myself that I’m capable of growth.

Because lately, I am seeing growth.

Not just physically.
But emotionally.
Mentally.
Spiritually.

I’m becoming softer with myself.
Kinder to myself.
More accepting of myself.

And honestly, that feels beautiful.

One of the biggest lessons I’m learning through this journey is that you do not have to be perfect to begin healing.

You don’t need to know every yoga pose.
You don’t need to have the perfect body.
You don’t need to have everything figured out.

You just have to start.

Even if you feel awkward.
Even if you fail sometimes.
Even if you’re scared.

Because trying is already growth.

And that’s one of the biggest reasons I created this channel in the first place. I wanted people to see that being authentic is enough. That being vulnerable is enough. That being human is enough.

You are allowed to exist imperfectly.
You are allowed to heal slowly.
You are allowed to take up space exactly as you are.

And honestly… realizing that has been one of the most liberating feelings of my life.

So thank you for being here with me through all of this.

Thank you for supporting me, listening to me, and allowing me to share these deeply personal parts of my healing journey with you.

I hope these videos remind you to choose yourself too. To slow down. To breathe deeply. To move your body. To let go of the thoughts that are too heavy to carry forever.

And most importantly, I hope you remember this:

You do not have to become someone else to deserve peace.

You are already worthy of it.

Sending you healing, peace, softness, and love today. 🌿

Namaste.