Nina Impala

NINA IMPALA is a highly intuitive multifaceted individual. This she combines with professional education in the End-of-Life Field. Certified by The American Academy of Bereavement for Spiritual Facilitation for the Terminally Ill, Nina also holds a BA in Human Services, is a graduate of Mueller College of Holistic Studies, Author of Dearly Departed What I Learned About Living From the Dying, and a Reiki Master Teacher. Currently she is the Bereavement Coordinator and Counselor for Gentiva Hospice in San Diego, California. For well over 19 years Nina has worked passionately in the hospice field using her gifts visiting the dying and educating families. In addition to working with hospice patients and their families Nina has also assisted families through tragic deaths. Nina works passionately helping them to understand that as much as we would like to have all the answer to the big questions accepting that we don't can be a big hurdle. Nina feels,finding peace in these situations is the greatest gift you can give to another human being. Nina lives in the San Diego area and can be reached at tutoringforthespirit@gmail.com

Articles:

Where Do I Belong Now? After Both Parents Die

After Both Parents Die Dad died suddenly in my early fifties. At the funeral, I will never forget the feeling of being 6 years old in a 50-something-year-old body. Mom died just a few short years later; I was strong until the end with her as she battled breast cancer. My years in hospice made me acutely aware of how quickly she would be leaving us. At her funeral the same feeling took over; as the pall bearers walked past me with my mother, I became a child inside. A lady once said to me many, many years ago, I […]

How Massage Heals Grief

How Massage Heals Grief When you’re sad and someone hugs you — a heartfelt-lingering-hug that says, I care about you, I know your’re hurting — it feels comforting. Like a cup of the best hot chocolate on a cold rainy day, it makes life a little more tolerable. I was a massage therapist and Reiki practitioner for 17 years, then went back to school and coupled my massage practice with grief counseling. It was magic. In this technological world, we are losing the power of touch and the healing effects it has on the human spirit especially with grief. That […]

Avoiding the ‘Holiday Rabbit Hole’

The Holiday Rabbit Hole The other night I was just feeling down thinking of sad things, missing my mom and dad. Being a senior now in my 60’s, death seems to present itself more often than I would like. An older family member recently passed in her 90’s, she lived a long life. She let us know she was ready to be with her husband and her son. It’s easy to go down the Holiday Rabbit Hole. In my family, there is only one left from that generation, the next generation is in line, and I don’t really want to […]

Longing for Normal Holiday Season

Longing for Normal Recently, I was reading a book about longing, and it stirred up a lot of feelings. What does longing mean to you? At this time of year when we are headed straight for the holiday season, there is so much I long for. I long to see my mom and dad sitting at the table with us. I long for Mom’s amazing holiday food, cooking together, her laughter, her sharing time with my granddaughter. Mom, I wish you could see her, get hugs and kisses from my little angel. Longing is a quiet sadness that we feel, […]

Is Suffering Necessary?

I have been thinking a lot about suffering, how much we suffer in a lifetime. There seems to be no way of escaping it. The short version for this? We are human. Looking back on my life and observing others’ lives, we suffer from the time we are born. The mother suffering during childbirth, the baby suffers as well, (although quickly forgotten for both). Birth has a happy ending and the suffering is quickly replaced by plenty of love. Being human is not an easy thing, I have learned from my work that although I am not ready to die, […]

Angels, Lights, Birdies and Butterflies: Is it Really Them?

When are loved ones leave us sometimes we will have profound dreams of them. Those dreams can be alarming or bring peace. In the early stages of grief, we want to know they made it safety to heaven. After all, it is a journey. Are you looking for signs from your loved ones? I know I did. I had so many dreams about my mom in the beginning. It will be 9 years and I so WISH to dream of her all the time because I want to SEE her. At this stage though 9 years later, I feel her […]

Difficult Grief: Three Steps to Compassion for Yourself and Others

Overall humans can be pretty hard on themselves. It seems like I am always telling my clients not be to be so hard on themselves. Watch the self-talk. Imagine yourself as child you love so dearly; would you talk to them that way if they were going through a difficult time? When I have compassion for others, it is because I can feel another’s anger, sadness and/or pain. I don’t take it on, but I can feel it. I hold that space with them and bring in an energy of loving kindness for the pain they are experiencing. Working in […]

The Breath of Life is a Touch from Heaven

Our hearts continue beating no matter the sadness and visceral pain we experience when a love one dies. What else can our breathing do? Let me invite you to the space of the breath and only the breath. I know what you’re thinking: People say to you to just breathe, take a deep breath, and in the depths of grief, this sounds like it is no help at all. Yet, if we break it down and think of it as a connection to heaven, a prayer, a moment of grace, something much deeper is felt. Tapping into a wisdom […]

Safety in the Silence

Silence can be a very safe and sacred place when one is grieving. Recently, I spoke with a woman who had a very tragic sudden death in her life. She could barely speak as she tried to explain to me the things that people were saying to her. She was hurt and angry about the comments. These people are not trying to be mean; they just have no idea how you feel or what you are going through. When we see someone suffering, we want to fix it. We want that person happy again, back to their old self, living […]

Lessons From One Who Has Helped Many Pass Away

Let’s talk about the mysteries of death, because in death there always seems to be so many unanswered questions. I know with my own mom, who has been gone eight years now, the one question still remains: Why did she have to die? Breast cancer took her life. She was too young, a vibrant, good-hearted woman. It still is a mystery to me. People often ask me questions about whether their loved one is OK, whether they can see us, feel us, suffer or be scared. They want to know: How long does it take to reach heaven? Was someone there […]

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