As the seasons shift and leaves change, many of us can feel the urge to slow down, turn inward, and realign with what truly supports our well-being. For the following month, C’est La Vie Wellness invites you to do just that through October OM — a daily program designed to help cultivate sustainable mindfulness through guided meditation, movement, breathwork, and more.
Led by Mental Health Counsellor and Co-Clinic Director Danika Desforges-Bell, the inspiration for October OM came from noticing how often people feel uncertain about what mindfulness and its related practices really are, or whether or not they could help support them. “I was noticing a lot of clients and patients at C’est La Vie feeling confused by what meditation was actually about,” she explains. “There’s such a misconception that someone needs to quote/unquote learn how to do it. They might think, ‘I can’t do it,’ or, ‘I don’t know how to do it,’ or there’s also this misconception that it’s ‘woo woo’ and that there’s nothing to it.”
October OM is designed to help bridge that gap, making it ideal for beginners looking to get started, and experienced participants seeking a guided refresh alike. Instead of presenting mindfulness as something to perfect, Danika and the team of practitioners at the Oakville, Ontario-based well-being clinic C’est La Vie Wellness have created an accessible daily anchor by way of this program; over the course of 31 days, a series of short, simple practices will be delivered via email that recipients can fold into the rhythms of their daily life.
Drawing on her extensive background across psychoeducation, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness, and integrating well-being modalities found within their Bronte Village clinic, Danika — MSc. Ps.ed. — has structured October OM’s curriculum to vary in length and style, with sessions including not only guided meditations, but also mindful movement, breathwork, compassion practices, reflective journaling, creative exercises, and more. The daily online format is designed to help attendees of all ages, stages of mindfulness, and backgrounds stay consistent even during busy weeks, while receiving effective practices they can weave into their daily life well beyond the month.
Danika will be joined by a team of practitioners, who all offer their services at C’est La Vie Wellness as well, each bringing different perspectives on mindfulness. Gwyneth Hodgins, a social worker and psychotherapist, guides from a somatic and trauma-informed lens; Louise Brans Fitzgibbon, a certified breathwork coach, brings the science and practice of functional breathing; and Liz, a yoga teacher at C’est La Vie Wellness, offers mindful movement.
Why mindfulness? The science is increasingly demonstrative: not only can it be highly effective as a supportive modality around many mental and emotional well-being concerns, but the benefits can extend well into supporting physical concerns as well. Regular practice can help improve sleep, support emotional regulation, increase focus, support physical health, deepen self-awareness, and more.
Most importantly, however, it serves as a daily way to access self-care in a restorative, meaningful way. “If you’re really committed to doing it intentionally, it’s creating an opportunity for you to ground yourself in your body,” Danika explains. “We’re so focused on the external world that we rarely check in with our internal world. That check-in is actually what’s going to allow you to be more authentic and more regulated, and that’s going to create more contentment and ease in your life.”
Whether someone is brand-new to mindfulness or revisiting a practice that could be served with a refresh, October OM creates a supportive, structured way to bring presence into everyday life — one breath, one moment, one day at a time.
October OM: A 31-Day Mindfulness Journey
What: Daily mindfulness practices delivered to your inbox, including guided meditation, movement, breathwork, and much more
When: Daily emails delivered October 1st – 31st to complete at your own timing; an introductory Zoom will be hosted for all participants Wednesday, October 1st at 12:00pm EST
Where: Online
Why: For participants of all stages of mindfulness experience to approach the new month with a guided reset towards supporting well-being, rest, and contentment
How: Pricing is $50 + HST and registrations can be completed through C’est La Vie Wellness via Jane
For more information and to register, visit C’est La Vie Wellness
Danika Desforges-Bell, MSc. Ps.ed., is a Mental Health Counsellor and Co-Clinic Director at C’est La Vie Wellness, located in the heart of Bronte Village, Oakville, Ontario. For more information, see their full feature here on Methods of Care or visit their website directly at CestLaVieWellness.ca
The content shared here is for informational or educational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Please always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your care plan.
