Lifestyle

Cookbook Author Erika Schlick Helps you Find Your Perfect Diet

Published

5 years ago

February 17, 2021

Society has created a set of specific beauty standards every woman should live by. You are supposed to weigh a specific number, wear your hair a certain way, do your makeup following the latest trends, and so on. But the truth is those terms and conditions we did not sign up for can be significantly harmful to our bodies, minds, and souls. That is why many advocates have raised their voices and spoken up about this issue. They are the ones trying to motivate individuals to take care of themselves both mentally and physically.

One way women are being encouraged to dive into self-care is by choosing diets that adapt to their health needs, goals, and lifestyles. However, finding the perfect diet can be a challenging process. One of the reasons for this is that there are one too many options out there for you to choose from. But you might also be dealing with dietary restrictions that limit your options. Whatever the case may be, Cookbook Author Erika Schlick offers insight on how to find the perfect diet for your body.

A few years back, Schlick was diagnosed with Lyme disease and other autoimmune conditions, including Alopecia, Celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, and Psoriasis. Because she did not want to be on antibiotics and deal with side effects, she took a more organic route that involved changing her diet completely. This journey led her to write her cookbook: Wandering Palate: 28 Days of Meals Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Paleo.

Her personal experience pushed Erika Schlick to become a Health Coach who works with individuals who are struggling like she was. One of the things she coaches them on—and which she has discussed on her blog, The Trail to Health—is how to find your perfect diet. According to Ms. Schlick, there are six different ways in which an individual can find a diet that works for them.

Elimination Diet: “An elimination diet is a process of removing certain food groups from your diet at a time. After 2-3 weeks of elimination, you reintroduce the food to see how your body reacts. If you experience allergies like bloating, nausea, headaches, or fatigue, it’s likely you are allergic to this food group.”
Micronutrient Testing: “Micronutrient testing analyzes your levels of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants to discover what’s missing. With these results, you can create a nutritional plan to ensure you’re getting all the vital nutrients your body needs to operate optimally.”
Ixcela Gut Test: “Ixcela is a super easy and effective at-home microbiome test kit that tests all the metabolites in the gut. The test is a simple pin-prick that analyzes the microbiome and creates personalized nutrition and wellness plans to improve your health and quality of life.”
Viome Gut Test: “The Viome gut test helps you discover exactly what your body needs to function its best. This test gives you scores, as well as a nutritional roadmap to guide you toward your perfect diet, based on your body’s individual needs.”
Genoplate DNA Test: “The Genopalate DNA test dives into your specific DNA and customizes a nutritional plan based on your genetics. The goal is to ‘eat for your genes,’ because each of us has biochemical activity rooted in our family genealogy.”
Everlywell Food Sensitivity Test: “It’s not just about knowing what foods make us feel good, but also what foods make us feel really, really bad. Connecting the dots between symptoms and food allergies is an exhausting process to do on your own. That’s why I recommend the Everlywell home test, which tests you for food sensitivities. It analyzes your body’s immune response to almost 100 common food allergens. Once you receive your results, you can see which foods to eliminate from your diet.”

If you are struggling to figure out which diet would work best for you, it might be time to try one of Erika Schlick’s suggestions. Every piece of advice given by her comes from her personal experience with dietary restrictions and changes and her professional journey. As a Cookbook Author, she has a better understanding of food and how it affects or benefits our body. It might be time you take a closer look at your diet and decide what is best for you.

Lifestyle

The Future of Social Dancing: How Latin Dance is Adapting to a New Generation

Published

4 days ago

August 21, 2025

Michelle Langton

Latin dance thrives on connection. The music, the partner, and the crowd all feed one another.

Today, that connection is shaped by a younger, digitally fluent generation, and few understand the shift better than Damian Guzman, founder of Bachata Sensual America (BSA). From prize-winning festivals to late-night socials, Guzman and BSA show how the scene is evolving without losing its roots.

Streaming steps, viral beats

A decade ago, beginners to Latin dance hunted for grainy DVD tutorials; now they unlock entire combinations on their phones. TikTok loops, YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels have compressed learning into snack-sized bursts.

Many of the artists signed on with Bachata Sensual America meet dancers where they scroll, posting slow-motion breakdowns and “follow-along” drills that rack up thousands of views. This approach addresses two key Gen Z demands: instant access and a clear path from screen to floor.

By allowing newcomers to practice at home before facing a packed room, the online channel lowers the fear barrier while seeding a desire for in-person connection.

Festivals as entry points, not finish lines

Digital discovery is only the first act. For many people, their real baptism happens at multi-day events where practice hours blur into sunrise socials.

BSA’s flagship Houston Bachata Sensual Festival returned on May 2^nd, 2025, with a follow-up week slated for Bachata Sensual Festival Chicago, September 4^th-9^th, 2025. Both weekends pair technique labs with mental-wellness talks and DJs specializing in bachata, mirroring the playlists in dancers’ earbuds.

That balance of skills and community is why independent reviewers named BSA one of the “Top Latin Dance Festivals in the United States” for 2025. Yet, for Damian, awards matter less than the message: a festival can feel world-class without pricing out college students. He keeps passes tiered, encourages volunteer shifts that offset costs, and prepares bootcamps for absolute beginners, ensuring the dance floor reflects the same diversity he sees online.

Teaching culture, not just choreography

Bachata’s recent boom owes much to its European reinvention. Damian experienced that surge firsthand while earning one of the first U.S. instructor certifications in the Bachata Sensual style. He returned determined to give American dancers the same blend of precision and musicality he had experienced abroad.

BSA classes devote equal time to connection cues, body mechanics, and the genre’s Dominican roots. That trifecta resonates with younger students who want authenticity, not just a viral dip.

“In class I tell people, ‘Technique is how you respect your partner; musicality is how you respect the song,’” Guzman said during a recent podcast. The line distills his mission: elevate standards while keeping the dance welcoming.

Building inclusive, mindful spaces

Generation Z brings new expectations around consent, identity, and mental health. BSA’s code of conduct spells out everything from appropriate touch to gender-neutral role selection. Security staff mediate conflicts quickly, and workshop leaders open sessions with grounding exercises to calm nerves. These actions might sound small, yet they remove friction that once pushed many newcomers away.

Damian argues that such policies go beyond ethics; they future-proof the scene. Normalizing role fluidity in Latin dance widens its talent pool and invites richer musical interpretations. By acknowledging anxiety and overstimulation — common concerns for digital natives — events can retain dancers who might otherwise retreat after their first crowded social.

Latin dance has never stood still, and its next evolution is already spinning under disco lights from Houston to Helsinki. With a phone in every pocket and a festival on every calendar, the gap between discovery and mastery keeps shrinking.

Damian Guzman and Bachata Sensual America illustrate what happens when tradition listens, adapts, and leads with purpose. The result is a scene ready for whatever beat the next generation drops — and a future where social dancing feels more connected, inclusive, and alive than ever.