In this episode of Modern Latina in Midlife, I'm sharing why I don't jump into "New Year energy" in January and why slowing down during this season has been one of the most supportive practices for my body, mind, and nervous system.

For years, I noticed a clear pattern: after the holidays, my energy drops and my system naturally wants rest, reflection, and simplicity. I used to think this was just personal or tied to my March birthday. Recently, I've learned this rhythm aligns with a concept called wintering, popularized by Wintering.

In this episode, we cover:

• What "wintering" means and why it's a natural human cycle
• Why January is often the hardest time to force change
• The biological and nervous system reasons winter feels slower
• Why most New Year's resolutions don't stick
• How winter supports rest, reflection, and maintenance
• Why I plan my year in late February instead of January
• Practical ways to winter well without falling behind

If you've been feeling tired, unmotivated, or out of sync with New Year expectations, this episode will help you understand why and offer a more realistic way forward.

As always, thank you for being here. If this episode resonated, I'd love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review, it helps more women find these conversations.

NEW YEAR OFFER: I'm opening 3 spots to work with me through the entire year of 2026 for just $5,000. A deal I may never run again!

This is for the woman who is ready to make a complete change in life, whether it's career, business, lifestyle, energy, relationships, or is ready to finally create the life that is in alignment with her dreams. Is that you? If it is, book a complimentary consultation here.

Imagine what one year from now can look like for you…Now I'm here to tell you, that is possible for you.

Resources:

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

This episode is made possible by The Adult Chair: Get Unstuck, Claim Your Power, and Transform Your Life. A book by Michelle Chalfant. Get your copy at bluechakrastudio.com/adultchairbook

Where To Find Me:

Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife

Email: sonia@soniasdesk.com
Website: https://www.bluechakrastudio.com/

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3G50aQC

In this guided meditation episode, I lead you through a deep energy clearing and chakra balancing practice to help release negative and stagnant energy from the past year and gently welcome 2026. I begin with extended grounding to calm the nervous system and clear your energy field, then guide you through each chakra, explaining how it affects areas of life such as safety, emotions, confidence, relationships, communication, intuition, and perspective. This meditation is designed to support reflection and energetic reset during the winter season, without pressure to set goals or force momentum, so you can enter the new calendar year feeling more grounded, clear, and emotionally steady.

NEW YEAR OFFER: I'm opening 3 spots to work with me through the entire year of 2026 for just $5,000. A deal I may never run again!

This is for the woman who is ready to make a complete change in life, whether it's career, business, lifestyle, energy, relationships, or is ready to finally create the life that is in alignment with her dreams. Is that you? If it is, get in touch with me at sonia@soniasdesk.com. Imagine what one year from now can look like for you…Now I'm here to tell you, that is possible for you.

Resources:

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

This episode is made possible by The Adult Chair: Get Unstuck, Claim Your Power, and Transform Your Life. A book by Michelle Chalfant. Get your copy at bluechakrastudio.com/adultchairbook

Where To Find Me:

Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife http://instagram.com/modernlatinainmidlife

Email: sonia@soniasdesk.com
Website: https://www.bluechakrastudio.com/

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3G50aQC

Something powerful is happening.
And it's being led by women.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what it really looks like to be a woman in business in 2025—the growth, the resilience, the truth behind the numbers, and the inner work no one talks about. Women now own nearly 4 in 10 U.S. businesses, with Women of Color leading one of the fastest-growing entrepreneurial movements in history. And still… the journey isn't easy. Funding gaps. Burnout. Self-doubt. The pressure to do it "right."

I share the stats that matter and then I go deeper.
Into what I've learned from 10 years in business.
The lessons you don't get from Instagram quotes.
The mindset shifts. The energetic work. The uncomfortable growth that actually changes everything.

For women who are building—or ready to build—this episode focuses on real action steps, decision-making, and the mindset shifts that separate long-term success from short-term hustle.

Episode Highlights

• Why women are driving nearly half of all new businesses—and what that means for the future
• The real reasons businesses close (and why women still show strong survival rates)
• Why starting before you feel ready is non-negotiable
• How clarity only comes from action (messy action counts)
• The truth about discomfort and why it's a sign you're growing
• Why the women who succeed are usually the ones who simply didn't quit
• How to stop copying what works for others and build what works for you
• Pricing from self-worth
• Why intuition, inner work, and energy matter more than strategy alone
• What it really means to "act as if" and embody the version of you who already has the results

Resources:
This episode is made possible by The Adult Chair: Get Unstuck, Claim Your Power, and Transform Your Life. A book by Michelle Chalfant. Get your copy at bluechakrastudio.com/adultchairbook

NEW YEAR OFFER: I'm opening 3 spots to work with me through the entire year of 2026 for just $5,000. A deal I will never run again!

This is for the woman who is ready to make a complete change in life, whether it's career, business, lifestyle, energy, relationships, or is ready to finally create the life that is in alignment with her dreams. Is that you? If it is, get in touch with me at sonia@soniasdesk.com. Imagine what one year from now can look like for you…Now I'm here to tell you, that is possible for you.

Where To Find Me:

Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife http://instagram.com/modernlatinainmidlife

Email: sonia@soniasdesk.com
Website: https://www.bluechakrastudio.com/

This week on Modern Latina in Midlife, I'm pulling back the curtain in a way I honestly haven't before. I hit record in the middle of a really emotional moment — no filters, no perfect lighting, no polished script — just me, feeling everything.

And in sharing it, my hope is that you remember you don't have to hold it all together either. Inside this episode, I walk you through how I moved from overwhelm to clarity, from "why is this happening?" to "oh… this is what it's trying to teach me." These are the tools that have changed my life over the last decade, and I'm handing them to you with an open heart.

Episode Highlights

• A real look at what processing emotions actually looks like in the moment
• Why giving yourself permission to feel is the most healing thing you can do
• How everyday moments — washing dishes, walking, vacuuming — offer us opportunities to process
• The emotional storm that hit: mom-heart worries, grief, flight delays, and intuition
• The 3 steps I use to move through deep emotions without spiraling
• How speaking or journaling it out clears the noise inside your body
• The magic question that always reveals the deeper meaning: Why is this happening for me?

Steps to Process Your Emotions:

1- Allow yourself to feel the emotions run through your body without abandon. Let them rip. Research shows that it only takes about 90 seconds for emotions to fully process through your body. So let them move because it is not a good thing to let them get stuck. It later manifests in more emotional issues, and eventually into physical problems

2- Share it to get it off your body. Whether you share it with someone, in a journal or on a podcast episode! Oftentimes just getting it off your body, speaking it out loud or journaling, will help the processing.

3- Ask yourself "Why is this happening for me?" There is always a reason for this. For me, journaling helped me unpack this in the beginning. I am now more easily able to coach myself, to talk myself through this to get to the bottom of it. But journaling is your own personal on-demand therapist. There is a lesson in everything we experience. Get curious as to what that is for you. Be open to receive the message.

4- Then take the appropriate, next, inspired action. And be open to that being doing nothing.

Resources:
This episode is made possible by The Adult Chair: Get Unstuck, Claim Your Power, and Transform Your Life. A book by Michelle Chalfant. Get your copy at bluechakrastudio.com/adultchairbook

OFFER: I'm opening 3 spots to work with me through the entirety of the year for 2026. This is for the woman who is ready to make a complete change in life, whether it's career, lifestyle, energy, relationships, or is ready to finally create the life that is in alignment with her dreams. Is that you? If it is, get in touch with me at sonia@soniasdesk.com. Imagine what one year from now can look like for you…Now I'm here to tell you, that is possible for you.

Where To Find Me:

Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife

Email: sonia@soniasdesk.com
Website: https://www.bluechakrastudio.com/

In today's episode, I'm sharing a simple little moment that completely shifted my energy in under 10 minutes. On the morning of 11/11 — a day all about alignment and intention — I woke up tired, foggy, and fully ready to stay in my PJs all day. But during my journaling and meditation, I received one clear nudge: go for a walk as the version of me who already has what I'm manifesting.

So I listened.
I got dressed.
I stepped outside.
And everything changed.

In this short episode, I walk you through how one inspired action raised my frequency, reconnected me to gratitude, reminded me of what I've already manifested… and completely transformed the trajectory of my day. If you've been feeling stuck, slow, or heavy, this episode is your reminder that the smallest shift can create the biggest ripple.

Come listen, and then try your own 10-minute reset. You might surprise yourself.

Resources:
This episode is made possible by The Adult Chair: Get Unstuck, Claim Your Power, and Transform Your Life. A book by Michelle Chalfant. Get your copy at bluechakrastudio.com/adultchairbook

Where To Find Me:

Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife http://instagram.com/modernlatinainmidlife

Email: sonia@soniasdesk.com
Website: https://www.bluechakrastudio.com/

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3G50aQC

If you've had that little whisper telling you it might be time to start a podcast… this episode is your confirmation. Today, I'm breaking down the exact 3 steps you need to build the foundation for a soul-led podcast, one that feels aligned, intentional, and totally doable (because it is). Think of this as your cozy, encouraging pep talk to finally stop overthinking and start sharing the message that's been tugging at your heart. Whether you're craving deeper connection with your audience, dreaming of bigger impact, or simply wanting a creative outlet that feels like you… this episode has your back.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• The real reason so many people feel stuck before they ever hit record
• Why podcasting builds trust faster than any social platform (yep, even that one)
• How to clarify your message so you never feel lost on what to talk about
• How to define the listener you're actually speaking to (and why it matters)
• What goes into choosing a podcast name that's both memorable and searchable
• The surprisingly low cost of starting a podcast (it's way easier than you think)
• A guided visioning moment to help you see yourself as the podcaster you're becoming

Grab the free Podcast Power Hour Workbook to go along with this episode (+ watch the free masterclass) here: bluechakrastudio.com/podcastpowerhour

Where To Find Me:

Instagram: @bluechakrastudio

Email: sonia@soniasdesk.com

Website: https://www.bluechakrastudio.com/

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3G50aQC

In this Champagne Charlas episode of Modern Latina in Midlife, I'm sitting down with my dear friend and intuitive healer, Kimberly Katherine, to talk honestly about what it's really like to become an empty nester. We're only a few weeks in, week five & six, and already it's brought up waves of unexpected grief, pride, identity shifts, and those "out of nowhere" tears that feel a lot like loss. We share how we're navigating quiet houses, kids getting sick far away from home, and that helpless feeling of not being able to swoop in and fix it like we used to, whether they're off at university or in the Navy.

We also talk about the practical and spiritual side of this transition: grocery bills and gas going down, rearranging rooms, the urge to move (or not move), and how we're using this season to turn inward. You'll hear how we're leaning on journaling, meditation, nervous system regulation, spirit guides, and deep inner work to rediscover who we are beyond motherhood. If you're an empty nester, or you know it's coming, this conversation will make you feel seen, less alone, and hopefully a little more supported as you write your next chapter, too.

So grab your favorite bubbly or tea, get comfy, and join us for this honest girlfriend conversation.

Where to Find Kimberly Katherine

Discount for a session code LIGHT for 20% off a single session good until 12/31/25.

Website: TheKimberlyKatherine.com https://www.thekimberlykatherine.com/
Instagram: @Kimberly.Katherine.Spirits https://www.instagram.com/kimberly.katherine.spirits/
Pod: The Lightkeeper's Path https://www.thekimberlykatherine.com/podcast

Where To Find Me:

Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife

Email: sonia@soniasdesk.com

https://www.bluechakrastudio.com/

Note: the connection was poor, so the sound suffered a little.

In this episode, I sit down with herbalist, author, and modern-day curandera Josie Castañeda Morales to discuss the world of ancestral healing—exploring how herbalism, ceremony, and connecting with your heart can help you return to your roots and bring more balance, intuition, and peace into your modern life.

Josie shares her journey from the fast-paced fashion world in NYC to becoming a yerbera (herbalist) and healer in Miami—blending traditional curanderismo with modern wellness. We talk about sun and moon energies, the role of ritual, and why meditation and listening to the heart are essential in a world that often pulls us away from ourselves.

If you're curious about herbalism, decolonizing your wellness practice, or simply longing to reconnect with your roots, this conversation will invite you to slow down, listen inward, and honor the wisdom of your lineage.

Episode Highlights:

• Josie's path from fashion designer to healer—and choosing a "spiral life" over a "linear life"
• Meditation as the gateway to intuition, clarity, and daily alignment
• What curanderismo and modern Latine herbalism look like today
• Heart connection, boundaries, and trusting our inner knowing
• Sun vs. Moon energy: supporting digestion (Sun) and the nervous system (Moon)
• Rituals as a bridge between the physical and subtle body
• Decolonizing wellness by honoring abuela wisdom and family recipes
• Gentle first steps to reconnect with your ancestral healing
• Following your heart to leave an unfulfilling job and create a purpose-driven business or healing practice
  
  

Books Mentioned in the Episode:

• Josie's book: Latin Herbalism: A Beginner's Guide to Modern Curanderismo, Healing Plants, and Folk Traditions of the Americas
  
  
• CURANDERO HISPANIC ETHNO-PSYCHOTHERAPY & CURANDERISMO: TREATING HISPANIC MENTAL HEALTH IN THE 21ST CENTURY by Antonio Noe Zavaleta Ph.D
  

Connect with Josie:

Website: https://www.curanderaremedies.com/

And @curanderaremedies on Instagram

Call to Action:
If this episode resonated, share it with a sister, your mom, or an amiga who's craving a deeper connection to her roots. And let me know your favorite takeaway—I love hearing how these conversations land for you.

Enroll Now or Join the Waitlist:
Start a Soulful Business: a 90 Day Coaching Experience to Build a Heart-Centered Business Aligned with Your Purpose

Where To Find Me:

Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife

Email: sonia@soniasdesk.com

bluechakrastudio.com