Hi, I’m annie kostyk.
Over the course of my life, I have endured many traumatic events. I was neglected, abused, and abandoned as both a child and an adult. I had low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and a list of symptoms longer than the length of both of your arms that went undiagnosed for over thirty years of my life. I was considered a sick child and then a sick adult. I was in two major car accidents. Most of my relationships were toxic. I was dismissed by dozens of doctors in the US and Canada. I spent over $30,000 out of pocket trying to get help and relief. I was a hot mess. I had reactions to everything I ate until I was only able to eat 9 foods that I had to rotate. I was sensitive or had reactions to everything I put on my body or was in my environment. I wasn’t living a life anyone would want.
What helped me turn the corner? Meditation, gratitude, journaling, and sound healing. These practices helped me so much, that I wanted to learn more to be able to bring this peace and calm to others. Meditation, sound healing, nadi shodhana pranayama (alternate nostril breathing) and other vagus nerve work helped me the most. I did brain retraining. Then I did a major diet overhaul and started adding supplements back into my routine because I was so malnourished.
I started this website and coaching business to help others learn what has helped me become 95-100% well. I am no longer a “sick person”. I’ll share my journey with you. It constantly changes. We do the work, continue to change, and need to adapt. We need to listen to our bodies. We become better. We may need different things as we heal and grow.
Through this work I will help you to heal your mind, body, and spirit regardless of what autoimmune or other disease you may be dealing with or perhaps you might just want to become healthier. It will all be here for you. Mind. Body. Spirit.
I’m looking forward to helping you heal and grow.
Peace, love, and healing light.
Namaste (“the divine spark in me bows to the divine in you.”)
Annie Kostyk
Why Elephant on Lotus?
In Hinduism and the Indian culture, Elephants are a symbol of intellectual strength.
The lotus flower is a symbol of divine beauty that grows from the mud into a beautiful flower. A lotus flower also represents the purity of body, speech, and mind in Buddhism.
Ganesha, the Hindu elephant god, clears the obstacles and paves the way for us to move forward in life. Perfect for your healing journey.
Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist spiritual leader said, "No mud, no lotus." In other words, without suffering through the mud, you cannot find the happiness and beauty of the lotus. Meditation is one of the things that will help you get there. I also believe in the healing energy of sound, journaling, affirmations, finding your tribe, getting out in nature, moving your body, and integrating Eastern and Western medicine. You must find what works best for you. It’s not just one thing but a culmination of many things. We are complex organisms, and we are all different.
My goal at Elephant on Lotus is to help bring you out of the mud and allow you to become the strong and sturdy elephant in mind, body, and spirit that becomes a lotus flower.