What does Wellness mean to you!?

“We don’t realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme Self who is eternally at peace.” – Eat, Pray, Love.

1. Forgiveness: Does forgiving seem cliché? That’s because it works!

   Who hasn't been hurt by the actions or words of another? Perhaps a parent constantly criticized you growing up, a colleague sabotaged a project or your partner had an affair. Or maybe you've had a traumatic experience, such as being physically or emotionally abused by someone close to you. These wounds can leave you with lasting feelings of anger and bitterness — even vengeance.

   But if you don't practice forgiveness, you might be the one who pays most dearly. By embracing forgiveness, you can also embrace peace, hope, gratitude and joy. Consider how forgiveness can lead you down the path of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

   When I decided to forgive myself and others, all of a sudden I was going to the gym multiple times a week, making better food choices, and nurturing my spiritual side with yoga and meditation.

2. Relax a little: Relaxing might seem counterproductive, but it’s not! I didn’t say be lazy. What I mean is indulge in your yin practices just as much as you do in the yang. Through all of the yang (The active, masculine, hot, solar, fluid energy), you will be introducing into your already full life, the balance of the yin (The cool, passive, intuitive, lunar, still energy.) Unwind with self-care through a salt bath, massage, or perhaps turn off your electronics for an hour. Take time to just meditate.

3. Meditate: I get a lot of bristling when I mention the term “meditate” in classes. Why is that? Well, meditation can seem scary, maybe even daunting, to sit still when we are so used to moving all of the time. I felt so relieved the first time I heard that it was OK to be still, and not only OK, but it that it is our birthright to be still. Just as it is our birthright to dance, sing, and connect with one another. This comes back to balance.
   Meditation is “Inner-listening.” In essence, we are tuning our instrument for our beautiful contribution to the symphony of life for that day. The good news is you don’t need to find a cave in the Himalayas to do meditation. Nor do you need to be a monk or holy man/woman. You have everything you need right here, right now.

4. Nutrition:  Nutrition is a key wellness lifestyle tip that is essential in creating a happier, healthier you. Don’t think of it as a diet. The word diet has gotten notoriety for being something that one chooses to do  when in fact, a diet is simply what we eat. Know that your body is a jeweled temple and that you have thousands of cells that rely on your decisions over their well-being every day. They work to ensure that you can thrive in every moment of every day, but they work best when they are being fueled by the highest quality of nutrients. When in doubt, choose fruits, vegetables, high quality grains, and lean high quality proteins or vegan proteins. You will notice a difference immediately. Remember, the slip ups are your greatest asset. Through eating healthy, you will notably feel on the top of your game.

5. Exercise: Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. Find something that excites you. Explore a little. I have found that yoga, functional movement with free-weights, paddle boarding, and hiking are fun and I enjoy doing them. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring and arduous. Yes, there will be those days when you really need to harness your Jedi powers to get yourself moving, but ultimately once you start moving, you should enjoy what you are doing. It feels good to get the blood circulating, heart pumping, joints loosened, and it’s proven to boost serotonin receptors. Who doesn’t love a happy boost?