I am STOKED to bring you a three-part mini series on wellness as we enter this season of giving. I implore you to take a little time each day to give to yourself! I have put together a short mini series of information on personal health that I compiled and condensed from my MH Wellness Class.
Almost immediately after I began working with moms, it became evident that many moms have not only lost track of who they are as individuals, but many have never really had the time, or taken the time, to actually know who they are.
If you think about it, most personal growth occurs in one’s late 20s or early 30s. If that is when you are busy caring for young children, or building a career, it is natural that self-discovery comes last.
As I help moms dive into self-awareness, I have realized that most have a very limited understanding of who they are and how they work.
As I continued to coach moms, I began my search for more ways that I could help them heal or strengthen all areas of their wellness…mind, body and spirit, so that they could be strong, effective, healthy parents to then enable themselves to give their best in the raising of their children, interpersonal relationships, their own goals and dreams, and ultimately simply feeling whole and healthy.
I have spent the last six months studying for my certification in Health Education with the Chopra Center. The Chopra Health Program was developed by Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon. They have integrated the principals of modern science with the ancient healing wisdom of Ayurveda. Chopra Health takes these time-tested principles and tools and helps us apply them to modern life. One of the reasons I was able to “buy into” this promise of whole health is because everything they teach is backed by scientific evidence that this 5000 year old healing system works.
Ayurveda originated in ancient India and means “the science of life.” It offers practical tools for leading a long and healthy life, helping you return to a natural state of health, balance, and wholeness. In short, Ayurveda teaches us how to link our mind, body, and spirit together as a cohesive unit, working together for optimal health by relying on nature.
The moment we shift the focus of our attention, new possibilities for health, happiness, and spiritual growth become available to us. What you pay attention to grows and the choices you make about your experiences change your body. This includes your choices about food, personal relationships, sensory experiences, work, sleep, social interactions, and your daily routine. As you shift your experiences, your biology shifts.
One of the things that I love the most about Ayurveda, is that it is not a one-size fits all approach. This is not a “diet,” or 30-day wellness plan. This is a deep understanding of YOU as an individual and what makes YOU healthy. Every health-related measure is based on an individual’s mind-body type, called your Dosha, and the individual needs of your Dosha.
Take this quick quiz to find out your Dosha type.
Each Dosha has dominant elements. In learning about Ayurveda, you will learn how to balance your natural Dosha. It blew my mind to learn some of the easy and powerful ways to do this. By honing in on your individual needs in each of the six pillars of health (sleep, meditation, movement/physical activity, healthy emotions, nutrition, and self-care) you are able to bring your mind/body/spirit into balance.
95% of disease-related gene mutations increase your risk factor for disease, but they don’t predict the disease. So, just because you carry the genetic mutation that predisposes you to heart disease, you’re not destined to develop it. Only 5% of disease-related gene mutations are fully penetrant, which means that the gene directly causes the disorder.
This means that your daily lifestyle choices can optimize how your genes behave. This includes genes for Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and many types of cancer. Again, this has been scientifically proven. And one reason is that two of the main underlying causes to those diseases are stress and inflammation.
Once you know your Dosha type, you can make tweaks to your lifestyle to connect with nature and feel lighter and more in balance.
You owe it to yourself and to your family to be in your healthiest state so that you can give your best. Again, this is not merely physical health. You must take care of your mental health and your spirit as well. YOU are a unique and beautiful soul that deserves your own dreams and path to fulfillment.
There is way too much awesome information to spell out here, but here are a few quick tips to get you started:
The five senses for balancing doshaas.pdf is a cheat sheet to help you support your Dosha.
I will be throwing some great tips into my IG for the next couple of weeks, so if you want some good stuff, check it out!
All my LOVE,
MH
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