35. Spiritual Awakening with Jennifer Pilates
Jan 22, 2025
ON THIS EPISODE
Hello, and welcome to another episode of the High Vibe Heather Podcast. Today, I am joined by guest Jennifer Pilates. And Jennifer, go ahead and introduce yourself, because you have so many descriptions behind your name that I wouldn't even know where to begin to fully give you that recognition.
Oh my goodness, hi Heather. Thank you so much for having me here. I'm so excited.
We've been looking forward to this for so long getting together. So I am Jennifer Pilates. I have been known as a celebrity trainer, intuitive spiritual guide, intuitive medium channeler, spiritual thought leader, author, podcaster, all the things.
And I always say, I'm not just one thing. And for years and years and years, I tried to go with what I was told in society and fit into a box. And the truth is, that is far from who I am.
There are so many wonderful, exciting tools in my toolbox that I'm this all-encompassing spiritual thought leader who wants to help other people on their journey. Because I know what it's like. There isn't just a book that you can go to and be like, oh my god, this is happening.
What does this mean? You know, I've really had to stumble along the way on my spiritual journey and spiritual awakenings. And so to be able to put sessions together that are all-encompassing for people, that's always been part of my mission and journey to help people along the way.
So I do all the things. And I'm very, very proud for her baby mama, which is so important.
That's awesome. So because you do so many things, I'm sure there was like an evolution of that, a progression along your journey, where you were like, and now this, and now this. So where did that first begin for you?
Oh my goodness. Well, I mean, honestly, if you go back to when I was like 13, I started working in retail. My mom would take me into where she was working.
And so I would be learning how to do end caps and all the stuff. And so I did retail for a really long time. And I loved it.
I loved the creativity. And I always wanted to have my own clothing line, which later in life I did. But through that, I ended up in the senior living industry.
And the senior living industry, interestingly enough, I went to pick up a friend at work and I met the boss and he was like, oh, you know, well, I've got a job for you. I'm like, no, no, no, I don't need a job. And he was like, why?
And I'm like, I don't like old people. I had had an experience that was not great. And I was like, I am not having this.
And he was like, you're hired. And I was like, no, I don't want. So anywho, for over 20, maybe 30 some years, I actually was in the senior living industry and specialized in Alzheimer's disease.
So that was an evolution in itself, really looking at insecurities and fears. And through all of that, it really helped to open my heart and expand my heart in ways that might not necessarily been happening on the home front. So I was always surrounded by all these people who felt like extended grandparents, and you're getting all this love, which was wonderful and amazing.
And I learned a lot of things. I learned specializing in Alzheimer's disease and being a health advocate and how important that is, and the dynamics within families when a loved one is passing and so on and so forth. And through that dynamic, I was in a traumatic car accident.
I had started in New England, working in the senior living industry, and I had transferred out west. I was in Boulder, Colorado, which is the Mecca of holistic and health and wellness, or at that time, it was. I don't really know if it is anymore.
I hope it is. And so I always say as a country bumpkin from Cape Cod, I'm in this accident and couldn't go to work now, couldn't do anything, was in and out of doctor's offices eight hours a day. The blessing being in Boulder was that I experienced all of these holistic practices that I would have never heard of or gotten the opportunity to.
So it was really at that point that the universe was like, we're really guiding her down this path because I was on this corporate path of, you're going to do this and this and at this age, I'll be married and I'll have a kid and I'll have a house and my 401k and my health insurance. And I wasn't having fun when all my other friends were in their 20s having fun. This accident happened in my late 20s.
You know, I was just on this trajectory, this ego, which I now know I didn't know that then, trajectory of this is what I'm supposed to do. This is what I'm doing versus what do I want to do? What makes me happy?
And so it was through that accident that I met a woman who specialized in rehabilitative care through Pilates. And so I rehabbed for a year among the other doctors that I was seeing. And at the end of the year, I had a little bit of a car settlement.
And back in the day, you got a little something, something. And no coincidence, it was just enough money to be able to go to the Pilates Center, which is right there in Boulder. Again, no coincidence.
And it wasn't on my radar. And all the instructors that I had met, they just said, you know, Jen, this is, you should really lean into this.
You should do this.
And I thought, okay. And I did. And so I would say at that point, that was really is what, that was such a spiritual awakening through that car accident and looking back, that got me connected to my spiritual side, that got me connected in to understanding the body and mind spirit, and allowed me to lean into something that I had no idea, which was the universe and faith at that point.
And so when I went through the school, my mission was to come out and if I could help one person not be in pain and feel what I felt. And now, you know, two decades later, and many other spiritual awakenings and my business having evolved way past Pilates at this point, you know, it's just been such a wild ride because Pilates turned into specializing with seniors, specializing with rehabilitative care, specializing with athletes, specializing with celebrities, specializing with healing that was coming through because the more that I practiced, the more that all my gifts and understanding that I was an empath were opening. So people weren't just ever getting Pilates.
They were getting intuitive guidance. They were getting and receiving healing. And so all of this has continued to evolve as it will being an entrepreneur or reinventing yourself.
And I would say I never had a problem over all the years that I had reinvented myself here, there and everywhere until most recently. And so my front was always celebrity trainer, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And the world behind me that everyone didn't really know was how in-depth my healing sessions were, how in-depth and how much my coaching was really intuitive medium readings and channeling and all of this.
And so recently, I've really the last few years, well, probably a handful of years, I've been guided to continue to pivot and pivot and pivot to now where that is the forefront of my business. And movement is so important and Pilates has turned into somatic Pilates. It has turned into Reiki-lates, Yoga-lates.”
So that has evolved too. But it was all, that part has been very interesting for me, you know, and again, it goes back to fears and insecurities and triggers and needing to work past them and understanding your path and your mission. And so that really was always the path and the mission to be the beacon to help other spiritual people to understand who they are, why they're here, and that it's okay to embrace the superpowers that you have.
It's not a bad thing. And it's been a journey to get here. It really has, you know, it's really been quite the journey.
Yeah, it sounds like it. Reiki-lates. I love that.
Never heard that combination before. That is quite the journey. I can't believe you were just like called into so many of these things that you weren't even looking for.
They just came to you and life was intervening all along, directing your path, very purposefully, intentionally saying like, no, we're going to orchestrate these circumstances. We're going to put you in front of these people and you're going to go down this path because this is what you're meant to do. During that time, that just makes me wonder, like, were you ever, like, what is going on?
Why is, why am I being directed down this path? And how did I end up here? And what does this all mean?
I mean, I know those would be the questions that would be going through my mind.
I would say throughout the whole journey of the car accident, never, right? I wasn't coherent. I was in fight or flight.
So it wasn't through that. Like, for whatever reason, that just seemed like the next logical step. Like, you go through the school.
Well, then I had never even heard the word entrepreneur. All I knew was that I was opening Pilates studios, which at this point I've had seven across the United States. And I say, I'm good.
But I am a serial entrepreneur, so don't hold me to that. But I would say, most recently, the last seven, eight years, there have been a lot of deep conversations with God and the universe. Like, I mean, really, God?
Like I can't tell you how many times I've said that. And some really tough, dark situations. And there are a lot of spiritual work going on, a lot of shadow work going on, a lot of WTF.
Like, are you kidding me? How many? Like, I thought we only had to go through like one phoenix rising in our lives.
I didn't know it was gonna be every other year. And that's really what it felt like the last eight years for me. So it was definitely, trying isn't quite the right word.
It was, some moments were hell. And then there were jubilation. And then it was just like, are you kidding me?
It was really moments of, I don't get it. And for me, when I work with my guides and God and Spirit and Source, I'm the person that's going to demand. I need light.
I need to see how this is ending. I need hope. I need something because in the midst of this, I don't know.
And there were definitely some moments that I questioned like, where is this going? Where am I going? Because I'm not happy.
Definitely through some moments of depression, and I don't use that word lightly. And it was always, and I know this sounds so cliche, it's always in your darkest moments that then out of nowhere, there's the ha. And you're like, oh my God, this is amazing.
And tears of joy. And then you go through and then all of a sudden, there's a knock at the door and you're like, oh shit. There's another lesson, damn it.
I thought it was good. So, you know, it's, for me, it's always been my, it's my faith. A hundred percent, whether I knew 20 years ago or specifically the last eight to 10 years, it's a hundred percent of faith. And I have learned to work with that and grow.
It's a muscle. You have to grow that trust and grow that relationship like anything else. And now I actually like to test it.
Like now I like to have fun with it. I'm like, oh, really? And I'll give you an example just because people are going to be like, she's crazy.
And it's okay. I'm good with that if you want to call me that. So I'm in a rental that's temporary and for the winter that I was trying out in a new geographical area and just being like, oh, I can have winter.
I haven't had winter in 15 years. Let's try it. So of course I get in and of course I fall in love with the little area.
And there's no coincidences when I get here, how everything lined up, the people that I'm meeting, I literally am living out my own Hallmark movie. I mean, it is no joke. It's amazing.
Every day, I just had a neighbor knock on my door and go, are you the nice girl that's always walking through the neighborhood and you wave at me in my window? And I'm like, yeah, she's like, here's some cookies. Merry Christmas.
Hi. I mean, that's how Hallmark this is. I digress.
So I said to God and the angels, and this is something that I employ people to practice, whether you are happy with something or you are not happy. God, it's this or something better. Now, some days when you say it, it's not going to be so nice, and other days you'll be like, God, it's this or something better, and so on and so forth.
So I'm in this amazing place, tears of joy, two blocks from the ocean, just amazing place. Honestly, I've wanted to live where I'm at right now for over 30 years. Since I was like 16, I had wanted to live here, and here I am.
And I was saying at first, I was like, God, I don't dare say it's this or something better. Like, how could you top this? I can see the ocean.
I can hear it. This is amazing. And then I went one day and I said, well, you know, God, it doesn't have air conditioning, and it could have some more natural light.
And so I'm just saying, I would like to stay here. I'm really happy here. I would be happy putting down roots here.
Sister needs air conditioning. And you know, I'm nine years in Arizona.
I need light. I need light. God said, hold my Bible. I was out walking the other day.
There was an open house. I walk into this little cottage. It had air conditioning.
It had more light than I would know what to do with. Among all, oh, it had an upgraded bathroom that I didn't even know I needed until I saw it. You know, there's always going to be something more than what you're even asking for.
And so I left there and I said, I started chuckling and I said, okay, God, I said, you want up me. You showed me it's possible. It doesn't mean it's that place.
Doesn't mean it's that person, that job, that relationship. To me, that was a preview and said, hey, it is potential. And now some people would be saying, well, why wouldn't they have air conditioning?
It's a whole story, but in this area, it's very exclusive and these are built in the 80s and you have to, it's just difficult. So I didn't think any of them had air conditioners. So yeah, like God was like, you know what?
I'm gonna let you know what's possible. Not telling you you're gonna stay there, but I'm letting you know. They have them.
That, I love that.
Like this is like my new day to day life now. I'm like, hmm, I'd like, and I want people to know that whether you believe in the word God or source or universe or Oprah or Dalai Lama, that doesn't matter to me. And I just want you to connect with something that's larger and I want you to have that relationship and develop it and lean into it and know how empowered you are.
You know, there are plenty of people that just I work with that are crying along their spiritual journey. And it's not to say I didn't do a lot of crying in the last eight years because I have. But the resilience and the persistency is key in taking action and continuing to move forward and going, oh hell no, I'm not going down like this.
Not today, devil. That's the key. That's the key.
Wow. I love that so much. The whole concept of this or something better.
And acknowledging that we really are co-creators. Totally are co-creators.
And I think that that's something that, I mean, I would have never understood that 30, 40 years ago, I would have been like, huh? Like, it just wouldn't have resonated with me. But again, there was nothing like there is now.
There aren't people speaking out and talking about their journeys and speaking about being empaths and highly sensitive people. And there's so many of us in this world. It's important to talk about, it's important to know that you're not alone on this journey.
So when did you first recognize that you were somebody who was empathic? And what did that look like for you as you were like, there's something different about me. I know that maybe I feel more sensitive than other people.
Like, was it something that somebody pointed out to you or that you just kind of resonated with?
Well, I'll tell you, I love the people that have those wonderful stories where they're like, I knew since I was one. No, that was not me. I can tell you now, looking back in my childhood, it all makes so much sense to me now.
I had what I will refer to as angels visiting me. I'll never forget that night I was living in my grandmother's house with my mom, and I think some uncles lived there at the time too. We were upstairs.”
And that was back in the day in the 70s, people were people smoked in the homes. And I remember being frozen in bed looking up and seeing these lights, these three shadows of lights, and they were greenish and just being frozen. Like I couldn't move and like yelling for my mom.
And the only explanation that I received from everyone was, there must have been like the smoke from the cigarettes coming up and light must have hit it and I'm like, and turned it green. So that was one of my first moments. I don't remember a lot about my childhood because it was pretty tumultuous growing up, the way things transpired.
Living in my grandmother's house was a true blessing in disguise to have both my mother and my grandmother. That was quite a blessing to have. But that was an instant when I was younger that always stayed with me.
And in looking back, I feel that it was just as afraid as I was, it was beings letting me know that I was okay and I was safe because that was a very traumatic time. I was maybe four or five. My parents had gotten divorced.
We moved from one state to another. I was in a house I didn't know. I was with family I maybe saw once a year.
So there was a lot, there was a lot going on. Suddenly my mom's not around, she has to work. And so there was a lot of stuff.
And then I would say through growing up, I just always knew things, but I didn't understand why if I told someone something, they didn't believe me. And so you begin to not say anything because now no one believes you, but you're saying this stuff. So your dynamic changes, right?
You don't really have self-worth, you have self-doubt, you have insecurities because you're telling people things, but they're not believing you. I always had stomach aches around certain people growing up. I never felt good.
I never could eat, like going out to restaurants or things like that. My stomach was also upset all the time. And I was as an empath, as a little one taking on energies of other people.
You know, when your body is uncomfortable and physically revolting, when you're around certain people, well, your nervous system is letting you know, hi, danger, danger, danger, whatever that may be. And so that was majority of my life growing up. I experimented with astrology and tarot and oracle cards.
And I eventually became... I was a good tarot reader, but I really was drawn to oracle cards because of the channeling that was coming through. I couldn't have told you that's what it was.
So that was like high school years into college years at that point. And even again, I just knew things. I used to get in trouble for talking all the time.
I had so much to say and no one ever listened. And I always laugh and I say, you know, if people would really listen to me, there'd be a lot less divorces. That's all I'm going to say and I'm going to leave it at that.
You know, it's kind of this funny thing that you go, isn't it interesting how all my life I was berated for talking too much. I was berated for trying to show love and happiness and compassion around all these people and fast forward. And here I am later on a podcast helping to be a beacon of light for people around the world who are listening to me and realize, you know, I know some stuff, you know.
So throughout the years, it just, there wasn't. Like, I met other, I mean, that was back in the day where you only knew, like, psychics and witches, right? In New England, like at Salem.
And I just knew that I resonated with white light. I did not play with the dark light. I knew what it was.
I wanted nothing to do with it. I didn't fear it. I just, just didn't, didn't
I would say the further I got into my spiritual education, the more I began to fear what I didn't know that I should fear, but not necessarily fear. So it was interesting. And then I would say, when you fast forward 20 some years later, it wasn't until I was living out in Scottsdale, Arizona.
And this is mind you, I had already been doing intuitive readings for years. I had already been doing healing work for years, all the stuff. But I would have said I was life coaching because I didn't quite know what to call it, and I didn't like the word psychic and I still don't.
It just doesn't resonate with me personally. And so in Scottsdale, Arizona, there's a lot of psychics. There's a lot of intuitive people and healers and all the stuff.
And there's a whole story as to how I got guided there. When I was there one day and I was sitting around with all of all of the spiritual people and I'm like in tears. I'm like, how are you guys not as upset as I am?
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I would say the guru of the group, the elder, looked at me and said, well, darling, you are the master empath. You feel everything.
Like plain as day like that. It was like I was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. And it's ironic because I do call this woman my fairy godmother.
And I was like, empath, like, what is that? You feel everything. You're going to be fine.
And so that's how I got a title. That's how I got that. But there nobody had ever said anything to me before that.
But I will tell you in that instance, and within that next year, my whole past of my life finally made sense. I would go and fly from wherever I was. I've traveled and lived all over, always going to Florida.
My family was always down there for periods of time. I would be dead. I would need to just be left alone for two solid days after I showed up.
I would have the worst motion sickness, the worst anxiety. I just couldn't settle down. And you look at it now and you're like, well, it completely makes sense.
90% of my anxiety that I was feeling all these years getting on a plane wasn't even me. It was everyone around me. And it was exponential because you've got however many hundreds of people in an airplane.
So I was always on the floor praying for Xanax. You know, and everyone else is just drinking away, you know. So it's all these things that you have to learn and stumble along.
And again, it goes back to, and I'm sure you do the same thing, Heather. I just want to help people not have to go through what I went through. Be that a car accident or be that how I've stumbled through being an empath.
I mean, I wouldn't change anything because it's made me who I am today. At the same time, I don't feel that somebody else needs to necessarily stumble along as much as I have. You know, it's a lot.”
It is an incredible honor. Don't fall off your chairs, everyone, to be an empath. It is such a huge honor and gift that you have been bestowed with.
Now, if someone said that to me 10 years ago, I would have come back with a few colorful words, which I'm sure some of you are thinking right now. Once you are able to truly align and understand and feel that empowerment, no one and nothing can stop you and your entire world will change.
What are some ways that people can begin to recognize these characteristics within themselves to help self-identify if they're questioning like, am I empathic? Am I highly sensitive? And is there a difference between those two terms?
You know, I think that there is, for sure. Highly sensitive people are just that. They're highly sensitive to noises, to people, to taste, to smells, to absolutely everything.
I would say the main difference between a highly sensitive person and an empath, and it's not to say that an empath isn't a highly sensitive person, right? Because we've got that overlap is when you are empathic, you have some gifts, and it may not just be one, it could be five, it could be ten. You may have just one.
It just depends on who you are and where you're at on your spiritual journey, because, and this is something else that I never knew, is your gifts will change and evolve over time. Some will go away, new ones may come in. You may keep what you have, but it may just continue to evolve.
And so, whether you think you're highly sensitive or whether you're questioning being an empath, it really, I would say, is slightly simple. When you're with one person or a group of people and you leave, are you exhausted and you're like, I'm done peopling, like, I'm done. Right there is usually a dead sign, like, you're pretty much on, you're definitely probably one of us.
Welcome to the group. I would say, do you have issues going to large crowded events? Be it a concert, even say it's your child's Christmas play, any of the things, maybe it's standing in line at the DMV, like you want to jump out of your skin, you're probably a highly sensitive person or an empath.
Absolutely. You know, do you, it's really that easy. And when so many people resonate with this, you should probably know that truly about 80% of our population in the world are highly sensitive people and empaths.
Interesting.
Here's the, and here's the difference, right? So there were for years, remember go back that I didn't know what I was. I just knew I knew stuff.
There were also years that I numbed out. Now I didn't, I, at the time, I would think looking back like I was in my 20s, I was in my 30s, I was in my heyday. But when I really look back at it, it's pretty obvious that I just was escaping and numbing out everything that I was feeling.
I knew the truth about so much and just drank it away. You know, that's what you do in your 20s and 30s, right? You're like, oh, it's Friday.
Like, let's go out and pretend the world doesn't exist. And I'm, you know, gonna pretend that that boyfriend isn't cheating on me or that, you know, my home life isn't, you know, all that in a bag of chips or most empaths, I will say, that I have worked with personally, only based off of the ones that I have worked with, have gone through some sort of numbing out, whether that was with food, alcohol, maybe drugs, retail therapy, wink, wink, something. They have, at some point, used something to numb out all the stuff because they didn't understand all the stuff.
And that's okay. You don't, you're normal and you're beautifully blessed with a superpower at the same time that you don't know that you have. And I always say this, you don't know what you don't know until you know.
When you know better, you better do better. So when you know that you're an empath and you know there's a concert coming up and you're only going because all your friends are going, do better, make better decisions. Whether that's learning how to protect yourself energetically because you still want to go, or whether you just say, you know what, let me meet you after, or I don't need those front row seats.
I prefer to be in the back. Just do what's best for you. And that's okay.
Yeah, you make such a good point. I was just this past weekend at a marketing conference, and it was like a thousand people in attendance. And they have the spotlights and the smoke go in, and the loud music.
And I was just like, oh my God, by the end of every day, get me out of here. Like, I am exhausted. I am, like you said, peopled out.
And the fact you said 80% of the population actually does experience that as overstimulating, overwhelming, but we're not acknowledging that, because do you feel like most people aren't really connected to the sensations going on in their body? They've learned to kind of divorce the somatic experience from like, well, you know, this is just normal. You know, I want to make the most of this.
So I'm just going to, you know, go for it and ignore all these feelings inside of me. Do you think that that's a pretty common?
I feel like it is, particularly for a certain group of us and the certain group of us, I would say it's like the 70s, 80s group of us, 60s, 50s. You were just like, don't cry, you'll be fine, move along. It's sunny, go outside and play.
You were seen, you were not heard. Doesn't make it right, you know, maybe makes it wrong, but whatever. That was a generational thing at that point in time.”
People just did what they knew. And so I would say there are a group of us out there who just don't get it or don't want to make time for it or don't feel that they are worthy of making time for it. And I would say one of the number one things when I'm working with my clients is that they don't know who they are.
And I say that from a experience, you've already heard me talk about it in my 20s. I didn't know who I was. I was just doing what I thought I should be doing based on society.
So when people come to me, one of the first few things that we look at is who they truly are. We look at their astrology. We look at their numerology.
We look at all the things. We see what's not in alignment to find what is in alignment and to easily say, this is really your life path. This is really why you're here.
Does this resonate at all with what's going on in your life? Is this resonate in what you're resisting? And nine times out of ten, it's like, oh my gosh, yes, yes, you know.
And then we take it a further step and we look at the personal year that they're in. And so there's nine personal years, it's a cycle. And depending on where you are depends really on what you should or maybe shouldn't be doing for that year.
And one of my mentors used to say, it's the theme, right? It's your party theme for that year. So you want to make sure you're at the right party or things may not go so well.
And it's true. Like, I can't tell you how many clients would come to me banging their heads against the wall, being like, I don't understand the relationships, the business, this, the that. And I'm like, we look up everything and I'm like, well, you're in a number nine personal year.
You're not supposed to be doing any of this, right? So it's about finding alignment. Everything that I work with people on, it's so important to find that alignment with your body, your mind and your soul, your spirit.
Like, it's just crucial. When you're in alignment, things flow. When you're not in alignment, you're cranky, things feel off, nothing's going your way, you drop everything, no door opens, because people will say, well, what does it feel like not to be in alignment?
I'm like, oh, you probably know it very well. Like, most people recognize that before because they take advantage of the moments where you're in alignment. Alignment is you pull up to target and you're so excited because there's a front row parking spot and you walk in and, oh, my God, that shirt you've wanted for weeks is on sale.
Holy shit, so are the shoes. But one thing that's being in flow and the universe is like, here you go, here you go, here you go. And then the question is, is have you been, you know, are you grateful for that?
You know, when we live in gratitude, that's when more things are brought to us, not just materialistic, but energetic wise, that's when things become in alignment, people, places, things. And it's a beautiful, beautiful thing to watch. And I would say the hardest thing for people, and I'm sure Heather, that you've experienced this, before you know who you are and what's really going on in your life, you're fighting for every relationship that's shit, every job that you hate.
Like, why are people leaving my life? Why are friends so crap? Why?
Because when you are upgrading, so to speak, your vibrational energy, not everybody's meant to go with you because it's your journey. And when you can start to look at those moments a little bit more with excitement, because like all of a sudden, like that last friend who was also the narcissist that maybe you were never going to admit that they were, finally closes out, you hear bells and you're like, I've done it. That was the last piece to that puzzle.
And then all of a sudden, you know, when new friends come in and job opportunities and all the things. And so I would say in a little bit of everything that in the last few minutes, I've said, I would hope someone would resonate with a piece of it. So they get the importance of when we talk about why it's crucial to find your alignment of body, mind and spirit.
Doesn't mean you're going to keep it for every moment of the day. But when you work with it, you really understand what it feels like not to be in it. So, you spend more time in it and it's, it is, it's work, you know, it's work to do that.
Just like if you're developing your intuitive skills, it's work to trust yourself in the messages you're delivering. There are plenty of times where I've been like, what did I just say? Doesn't need to make sense to me.
As long as it makes sense to Heather, that's awesome. I can be perplexed as long as I want. So, it really is a journey and it really is a marathon and it's not something that everyone's going to perfect overnight.
But it is really wanting to perfect yourself. And when I say perfect, I mean perfect like the relationship with yourself, your inner child, your today self, your future self, to be the best that you can be for each one of those selves, to help integrate them.
So, a lot of people I know for myself in particular, before I realized was introduced to the term empath, or intuitive, or highly sensitive. Like I didn't even know that language, but I was having this experience of like, holy shit, everything's overwhelming and I'm feeling all of this stuff and I take it for granted. I just assume that this is everyone's experience.
So then once I hear that these are actual like things that are separate, that are different from what other people are experiencing, then for a while I saw it as kind of a challenge to overcome. Like oh man, there's like this deficiency in me because I feel so overwhelmed by all of this. And it took me a long time to then learn how to see the benefits in these particular ways of being.
So is there something that you have to share with people to help them find the strengths, find the benefits, find the positive aspects of what it means to be an empathic person, to have these intuitive gifts because it can feel kind of like not a gift.
Oh, absolutely. I mean, the old saying is, is it a blessing or is it a curse? And once you get to the other side, you're like, oh, it's my superpower, get back off, buddy.
Like it's just you get to that place. But there were many years where I was like, oh, like crystals from head to toe in my bra everywhere. And again, it goes back to understanding.
And for me, this may sound interesting to people. There's certain things I don't like. I don't like the word psychic.
I don't like the word woo woo. I actually don't like when people are over the top spiritual. And I know it's going to sound so weird based on our conversation, but I'll tell you why.
I'm still a human being, right? Like I'm a spiritual person here experiencing a human being experience in the school of Earth. I still desire A plus B equals C.
And I think that that is one of the things that people appreciate about me. Like, yes, do I joke about unicorns and lollipops and rainbows? Yes, because guess what?
That's not been my spiritual experience at all. But I will joke about that. With that said, you know, you've got to have your sword some days.
You've got to ante up. But most importantly is you've got to know who you are. You have to admit this is what you are.
And then I want you to get excited. I know even on my website, and I bet Heather, you have some stuff. I have blogs that will be like, here's the 10 questions to ask yourself if you're an empath.
And then here are the different, let's call them superpowers or gifts that you may have just by asking, answering a couple of simple questions. And then maybe that's just enough and you leave that alone for today. And that's all you need, a bite size.
And then maybe a week later, you go back and go, oh, I'm clairvoyant. What the hell does that mean? I'm intuitive.
Okay, great. What does that mean? I'm an intuitive medium.
How is that different than an intuitive, right? Like, there's so much. And again, I don't want people to get caught up in all that.
I want people to get caught up in what does your heart say? Do you take time to just be with your heart? Is that a Reiki meditation?
Is that a walk in nature? Meditations are different for everyone. My morning meditation is a morning walk, as is my evening when I'm not in a wintery place.
I also have a midday, truly just, it's a musical Reiki meditation healing that I do with one of my fur babies. And each one is different. I'm not a traditional, I'm gonna sit down and om and out girl.
It's not for me, but it might be for you. What works for you where you feel grounded afterwards and clear headed and ah, and you know what that feels like. What is that?
For right now, honestly, is it a bowl of ice cream? Then I want you to have the bowl of ice cream. Because I just want you to get connected with yourself and feel okay within yourself.
And I want you to think about, and this is my personal opinion. And when you find out you're an empath, it's like finding out you're a piece of Swiss cheese. There's all these little holes, right?
In Swiss cheese. And you're like, well, I don't even know. Now that I think about it, how did the holes get there?
But Swiss cheese is pretty popular and those holes are actually what sets it apart. Right? Those holes are its superpower, are what makes it unique in characteristics.
Now, how do those holes, what do they do with an empath? Well, as an empath, generally speaking, majority of empaths become empaths because of some sort of event that happened at a very young age. Generally, it's traumatic and that is what sets off a sensitive cycle within your nervous system and thus, you are now an empath.
Some people are born into being empaths. Most empaths I personally come across and have worked with, it's because of something traumatic that's happened in their life. And then that is what has what set them up.
And I say that because it's important to know, getting back to the holes in the cheese, the holes within ourselves are our duty to fill. So the holes are something, and some people don't like this word, but there's something called shadow work. Shadow work on, it used to scare me by the way.
Like it was another word. I was like, I don't want to hear.
I don't know what it is. It sounds scary. It sounds dark.
I want nothing to do with it. Do you know how much shadow I've worked, I've done and I didn't even know I was doing it. Craziness.
Working on your insecurities, working on self-worth, self-lack, self-love, working on yourself is going to ultimately bring up and out why there are these little holes there. And here's something that's going to blow your mind as an empath. So you should sit down.
The more that you heal, the more that you come into alignment with, the more those holes fill up, the less sensitive you become over time, the more empowered you become because now you are in control of how you feel, whom you're around, your environment, all the stuff. So finding out you're an empath is an opportunity to put yourself back together in the most powerful, aligned ability that you can. I mean, it's such an, again, it goes back to being an honor.
And I really want to drive that home. As much as, yeah, it's, I mean, there are some times I'm like, I just can't. It's okay.
Don't. The I just can't is your body's nervous system of a way of saying, it's not for you. That's okay.
That's okay. Most empaths are either recovering or current people pleasers. That's a lot of little holes in that cheese that we need to work on.”
And you will over time. And there will be triggers, little lessons and things that pop up over time. The universe will say, are you sure you're over this?
I don't know. Are you sure? You know, and then you're...
And sometimes you'll be like, yeah, I'm good. And then other times, you know, you throw everything up in the air and be like, what the hell? And then in those moments, good or bad, I like to say, okay, hold on a minute.
What's the lesson here? What's the blessing here? How is this happening for me, right?
What am I supposed to be getting at this? What am I supposed to be learning from this? And the moment you take that mindset shift, again, everything shifts in that moment.
You're empowering yourself as the special gifted person that you are.
So are there any special tools or practices, any tips you can give to people to help them start to orient to the strengths and do this healing work so that they can shift from this place of feeling, this overwhelm and this struggle, instead feel more empowered?
Sure. I would suggest first movement, because when we have any sort of pain or dis-ease or inflammation in the body, that is a blockage of energy, that which is at a cellular level, a block of emotion that we have pushed down in some way, shape, or form, whether it was conscious or subconscious. So movement is important.
Of course, I'm going to suggest Pilates or Reiki Lattes or Yoga Lattes or, you know, but again, yoga, walking, just movement, move every day. It also helps to flush your lymphatic system, again, where blockages can occur. So movement, some sort of movement is important.
If music is your thing and meditation is your thing, absolutely having some sort of wonderful music that you can listen to and meditate to. Journaling is, I love journaling. Journaling is so great.
For those that don't like to write, I came up with a way where I actually even use these little earpods. I will dictate into my phone. I literally have gone out for a walk and wrote a book dictating and didn't even know it.
I came home and it was so channeled, I didn't realize. And so those little practices, hydrating. Hydration is important.
Your body is majority of water. Water flushes. When you can flush at a cellular level, you're also, again, you're moving energy.
Think why they say after a massage or acupuncture. You want to flush. You want to drink water because you're flushing things out of your system.
Again, massage is also great for you. Acupuncture is great for you. Finding a mentor, someone who's walked the walk, right?
Find somebody who's been there, who's like you, right? Like you don't want to go find a therapist who knows nothing about whatever you've got going on. You want to go to one who's experienced in it, and ideally is walked the walk.
I would say that's super important. Also being discerning, what resonates with you and what doesn't? If 10% of this resonated with you, then 10% of this was for you.
Not everything is for you. So those are the things. Start to pay attention to who comes into your life and why, you know, what is being said to you, what is what's happening.
The other day, I was out as an example. I was in a store looking for a Christmas sweater. And this random, lovely older woman came up to me and she goes, I think this would be perfect with you.
It was a little sweater. It had like a bow or something and she began to describe how it would look with my eyes and all. And I just stopped.
And generally I would have been like, whatever, you know, because it really wasn't my thing. But I looked at it and I was like, oh my gosh, my grandmother was literally just here in that moment. That was my grandmother coming through that woman in that moment.
And so when you can pause and not rush through life, you'll find the alignment, you'll find the miracles, you'll find the magic. It's in those little moments where so much magic happens. Like when I mentioned about the neighbor that randomly tracked me down and brought me homemade goods today.
Where does that ever happen? Well, it certainly does happen here. Who's the girl that loves her Hallmark movies who just for years and years and years, everything I've been searching for is literally like it's just all around me now.
I can't ignore it. And so it's paying attention to the little things and paying attention to what feels good to you. Don't do something that doesn't feel good.
Don't do something you don't want to do. Now, if you're procrastinating, that's entirely different. But be kind with yourself and be like, why aren't I doing this?
I did this earlier today. I was like, okay, you've been procrastinating on A, B and C for a week. Why is this?
Because I don't know what to do and it's too technical and I don't want to deal with it. Spirit was like, hold my computer. Sat me down and I started doing it.
You know, but it's just being open and being aware, not being scared, leaning in, you know. And if there is someone out there who is, you know, a little insecure or has fear around what's going on with them, I want you to know that that's okay too. That too shall pass.
And hopefully something out of today's message brings you to that other spot to realize that you're not alone. We've all been in that spot and look at how far we've come on that other spot, you know, through all of that, so that you can come to that place of empowerment. Because it's there.
All you have to do is really want to get there. And sometimes you just need a hand to hold, right? You just need a hand to hold to say, it's okay, I got you.
You're not alone.
So just having that intention, that goal in mind of like, I trust that this process is taking me somewhere that's beneficial for me, and I will move through it and will be enough to get you there.
Yeah. Again, in the good times and the bad times, everything is working out for my highest and best good. If you repeat that in the good or in the bad, everything shifts.
Yeah. Because you're shifting from that victim consciousness to that more of empowered, like not really, I am the co-creator. I get to create what I want.
Right. It's all in the little bits, right? It's all in the little stuff.
It's never the big, huge stuff. It's the little stuff that stacks up, that makes it into the most magical experience. And honestly, that's what you're here for.
You know, this is a school. You have chosen to come here, whether you believe it or not. I always say someone got me drunk and then had me sign something.
I don't know what it was. I always say that. And to this day, I believe it.
But you know, I want people to know this too. This is Earth School. This is the hardest place to choose to come.
And you chose, whether you remember it or not, you chose to come here. Not only did you choose to come here, you chose to come in the most incredible, bat shit, crazy time. You were like, sign me up.
Sign me up. I'm going. So you are very powerful.
And it is time to step into your power because you are here for a reason and we need you.
What a beautiful note to end on. Jennifer, is there anything that we didn't touch on that you really want to share with the audience?
I would say one thing that I just want everyone to know, if you haven't already gotten this message, is I really want you to be kind with yourself. This is a process. You're a spiritual being having a crazy wild, someday's magical life experience here.
And just be kind with yourself, have grace with yourself, and have grace with those around you. But also know healthy boundaries are the most empowering things that you can have.
Amen to that. If people are interested in seeking you out, connecting with you, working with you, how can they find you?
Sure. They can absolutely hop over to jenniferpilates.com. Everything is there.
Ways to work with me from readings to coachings to mentoring to the podcast, all the good stuff, the on-demand wellness studio. If you're looking for baby steps into movement, somatic Pilates, the Reiki Lotties, the yoga Lotties, the meditation, it's all there for you. Really trying to build a great encompassing full circle place that you can come and feel safe and know that you're not alone.
And go from feeling maybe a little insecure to you being able to live an empowered life from within.
Awesome. I will link all of that in the show notes and sounds like you have a wealth of information, a treasure trove of opportunities for people to work with you. So I am sure they will take advantage of that.
Thank you so much for your time today. It was such a privilege to get to talk to you and hear your journey and share that with my audience. So thank you again for your time.
Oh, thank you so much, Heather. I'm so grateful to be here today.
From High Vibe Heather: 35. Spiritual Awakening with Jennifer Pilates, Jan 22, 2025
KEY POINTS COVERED
- Signs you may be an empath
- How to protect your energy
- Tips for trusting your journey
CONNECT WITH Jennifer Pilates
- Follow her on Instagram @thejenniferpilates
- Visit her website: https://jenniferpilates.com/
- Tune into her podcast: Empowered Within
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
If you have questions or feedback, I'd love to hear from you. You can DM me on Instagram @high.vibe.heather.
