Photo by Skip Armstrong
The Spark
It all started around a kitchen bartop with two steaming mugs of tea and a reunion of dear friends.
Amber had recently moved to Hood River, Oregon, and we were finally able to spend time together visiting in my Carbondale, Colorado home. We shared stories of our separate businesses in the healthcare world, updates on our relationships with our partners, stories from our latest adventures, and our secret desires for future endeavors. We both had a stirring deep within, right from the gut, that we each had something more to offer, outside of our respective medical practices.
We were beginning to realize that the most important work of our lives would be to help women thrive more in their bodies, minds, and relationships- so that women everywhere will have the health they need in order to make their own unique and valuable contribution to the world.
Amber’s powerfully combined skill set of a medical degree with comprehensive clinical research in integrative medicine had been helping her patients make significant gains in their wellness goals. But something was still missing. Cara had dedicated the last decade of her counseling career to in-depth study and clinical practice in helping women manage their stress, understand themselves better, experience nourishing relationships, and learn how to really make changes toward a life they love. She’d witnessed how these key intra- and inter-personal tools were having profound impacts on her client’s physical health as well as in their personal lives.
We knew then that a progressive, unmatched, high level, and comprehensive mind-body medicine curriculum for women was the missing link in the health and wellness industries. And we were uniquely positioned to create it.
After a few minutes, like I was shyly asking Amber to go out on a date with me, I asked her: “Would you want to collaborate with me?” Wide eyed and with a beaming smile she said, “Oh my gosh, yes! Would you want to collaborate with me?? We have something really powerful to offer the world- together.”
And Luminary was born.
Tending the Fire
I wanted to create Luminary as a vital resource for preventative healthcare. I found myself teaching the same key ingredients to all of my patients in my counseling office and thought, ‘Why can’t EVERYONE get this information BEFORE they find themselves needing individualized care?’ – Cara Maiolo, LPC
People everywhere are waking up. To themselves. To their dreams. To their desire for a more meaningful life. And to the role they have to play in bringing about a better world. This is BIG work. And we all need vibrant health and ample support in order to do it. The only thing stopping us is often deep within ourselves. Challenges in our physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, and confidence get in the way of making our most important contributions.
Friend, we want you to know that Luminary is your lighthouse. It’s a community of support, inspiration and top-notch education to help you live into your most health-filled and rewarding life.
I co-created Luminary to embolden more people to turn their inspiration into action. I want everyone to have access to the most transformative, evidence-based strategies for wellness and personal growth–alongside the tools they need to actually make it all happen. And with a community of powerful like-minded people behind them.
– Amber Valenti Armstrong, PA-C
We believe that now, more than ever, the world needs people who are thriving in their bodies, empowered to make change, doing inspired work, and living on purpose. We need this for ourselves. And also for each other.
We’re here for you friend, to help you shine your brightest.
Want access to our transformative Be Luminary mind-body medicine curriculum? We’d love to offer a customized Luminary Workshop to your group, team or organization. Or join us in the Cultivate Change online course. Or look into joining us for one of our public Workshops or Retreats.
With love,
Cara + Amber
