Getting Back to You: A Summer of Less Noise, More Presence

Somewhere along the way, the buzz of life became literal. Notifications replaced stillness. Scrolls replaced silence. We’re constantly reachable—but often not truly reached.

This summer, let’s begin a quiet return. Not to something old, but to something essential: you.

Need a digital detox? Or maybe you just need better guardrails, ways to make technology work for you, not against you.

We live in a world where presence must be practiced and attention protected. The average person touches their phone thousands of times a day. No wonder our minds feel fragmented and our bodies dysregulated. This is something I feel in my own life, too.

But this isn’t about abandoning technology altogether.

I live and work internationally. I have two teen daughters. Social media and digital platforms allow me to stay connected—to clients, to loved ones, and to a global community of health professionals, healers, and friends. For that, I’m deeply grateful.

And still, I feel the noise. The overstimulation. The subtle (and not-so-subtle) pressure to keep up, tune in, and be available to everyone but ourselves.

I see it in my work too: the comparison, the confusion, the endless cycling of “shoulds” and “musts” from influencers, friends, and even well-meaning wellness professionals. We lose track of what actually supports us.

Here’s the truth: maybe you don’t need more input. You need discernment. You need support rooted in your story—not someone else’s highlight reel.

This is why Whole Living exists.

One of the simplest ways I return to myself is through food. Not just eating, but connecting—with seasons, with memory, and with intention.

And this recipe? It calls me back every summer.

Provence Sun Honey Cake with Figs

This cake reminds me of slow mornings in France, where the wild fig tree just behind our property would offer its fruit right on time. These days, I’ve come to love the green varietals we find here in Portugal too—once mistaken for unripe, now one of my favorite sweet surprises of the season.

We use lavender honey from our caretaker’s hives or from the local market. The aroma as it bakes? It smells like sunshine. Every bite feels like a return—to place, to rhythm, to self.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups spelt flour

• ½ cup olive oil or ghee

• ¾ cup lavender honey (or your favorite local honey)

• 1–2 tsp lemon zest

• ½ tsp sea salt

• ¾ cup almond milk

• 1 egg (or egg alternative)

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 4–6 fresh black or green figs, halved

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

• Whisk wet ingredients and zest. In another bowl, mix dry ingredients.

• Combine and pour into a greased round pan. Press figs gently into the top.

• Bake 40 minutes or until firm and golden brown. Serve with extra honey and fresh herbs like thyme or mint.

This is just one of the seasonal, soul-supporting recipes inside the Whole Living Summer Recipe Pack, available with our Summer Vitality Membership. Because presence isn’t only found on the mat—it’s also found in the kitchen, the ritual, the nourishment.

Whole Living Summer Memberships

As a teacher and practitioner, I guide people toward deeper self-trust—on the mat, in the kitchen, and in their everyday rhythms. We anchor in science and intuition, not imitation. Structure that supports, not stresses. Tools that enhance, not control.

And when it comes to tech? It’s about guardrails, not guilt. Used wisely, digital tools can become a bridge back to balance.

That’s the heart behind the Whole Living Summer Memberships—two seasonal offerings for July and August designed to help you stay connected to what nourishes you.

Summer Movement Membership

A grounding option for those seeking consistent movement and mindful flexibility through the season.

Includes:

• 1x Weekly Livestream Yoga Class

• Access to an Extensive Library of Yoga & Meditation Recordings

SUMMER MOVEMENT

Looking for tools that go beyond the mat?

Summer Vitality Membership

A deeper invitation into intentional living—designed to help you soften the noise, reconnect with what nourishes you, and move through summer with clarity and care.

Includes:

• 1x Weekly Livestream Yoga Class

• Access to an Extensive Library of Yoga & Meditation Recordings

• 1:1 Intention-Setting Session

• Digital Meal Planner

• Whole Living Summer Recipe Pack

• Online Journal + Live Chat Access

SUMMER VITALITY

Whether you’re easing into presence or craving full-spectrum support, both paths are designed to gently guide you back to yourself.

Looking Ahead: Quiet Spaces, Deep Roots

As Whole Living continues to grow, we’re carrying this same ethos into our retreats—like the sold-out ReCode Portugal 2025, created in partnership with Amanda Archibald of The Genomic Kitchen.

These offerings are about deep nourishment and meaningful recalibration, from your daily rhythms down to the cellular level.

Want to be the first to know about future retreats? Use the link below to register your interest in upcoming ReCode retreats.

RECODE RETREATS

But for now, your season of presence begins right where you are.

In your kitchen. On your mat. In your breath.

So ask yourself gently:

What would it feel like to be truly nourished this summer?

To move with clarity, not urgency?

To come back—not to a routine, but to yourself?

Let this be your season of return.

In Thrive,

Shannon