Rumi
A New Year, A New You
There is something magical about the first day of the first month. The beginning of a new year brings with it a new start, the opportunity to turn on a new page, a fresh start, endless possibilities or so that’s what we’ve been told.
We start the new year with a long list packed with resolutions and a heart full of hope. We are determined to make changes, to be our best version. We resolve to end our bad habits and the things that didn’t work out; quitting drinking coffee or alcohol, going on a diet, exercising more, being healthier, etc.
We are sure this will be the year of changes, because we are determined to be our best version!
What else could we need? What could go wrong?
As the months roll by… January and life begins to happen, February we skip a few steps, March is here and before we know it, the excitement of the new years is gone and we find ourselves back where we were.
Change takes practice
Incorporating wellness into your life could open the door to a healthier lifestyle.
Changes don’t happen all at once, but we succeed when we create small changes over a period of time and we are consistent, we build habits. Yes, slowly adding up changes and healthy habits leads you to a more balanced life.
As cliche as it might sound, remember that life itself is a journey, so try to enjoy it, have fun along the way and make the best out of it.
Find a life coach…
If change and a healthy lifestyle is on your mind, but the thought of actually starting is overwhelming, you don’t know where to start or just can’t simply stay on track, please know that you are not alone!
At some point in our journey we inevitably find ourselves at the intersection of change and procrastination.
Working with the right coach is a game changer!
Imagine finding that special person who can help you along and teach you the tools to succeed. One who takes the time to understand who you are, where you want to be, and guides you through your progress.
If you are curious about working with me, contact me for a chat and take it from there. Make today, the first day of your journey!
In the meantime, here’s a few tips on how to take your first wellness steps to get you to where you want to be.
Keep up that hydration!
I’ve always been a tea lover, so turning tea drinking into a habit was an easy first step towards a healthier lifestyle, but it that’s not your cup of tea now would be a good time to start each morning with a warm cup of water instead. Maybe after a few days you will be ready to spice it up with a few drops of lemon or you might give that cup of tea a chance.
I’ve been on a chaga tea kick lately, but I like variety. Sometimes it’s white tea, other times it’s earl grey, and my favorite a chai tea with almond milk.
Morning tea would help you transition from a passive state throughout the night to a more active state in the morning. It gets your digestive system going and is a good step to keep your body hydrated through the day and a big step toward a healthier you.
Your body is up to 60% water, your heart and brain are 73% water, your lungs about 83%, your skin contains 64%, your muscles and kidneys about 79% and your bones about 31% water. Every organ, joint, tissue, and cell in your body needs water to function, so keep the tea and water coming!
So, this all sound nice and dandy, but how can you make this a reality?
• Downloading an app to remind you to drink water during your day could be a great idea. I use Drink Water Reminder N Tracker.
• Buying a nice water bottle and/or thermos. I know this sounds silly, but having something new that you like can motivate you to actually use it.
• Keep the good work and remember that it takes 21 days to build a habit, so if you fall out of the wagon don’t be so harsh on yourself, get up and try again.
It’s yoga time!
Yoga is much more than physical poses. It is a way of life that encompasses taking care of your body through asana (yoga practice), breathwork (breathing techniques), and your mind through mindfulness (being present) and of course meditation. My goal has been to bring yoga into every aspect of my life and share it with the people around me.
Every person is different, everybody has different needs, all you have to do is to get in tune with your body and listen to what is telling you. You can start the day with light stretches and sometimes Surya Namaskar (full or half Sun Salutations) because this is a great way to engage the whole body. Even if you only do 2 or 3 series, you will notice a difference in your body and energy levels, because if you don’t use it, you lose it.
Balancing your yoga practice is important. In the West, we place a lot of emphasis to the Yang part of Yoga (the active style of practice). Some examples of this are Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Iyengar. A way to creating balance is by incorporating the Yin part of Yoga (the passive style of the practice). Some examples are Yin Yoga, Restorative, Meditation and Breathwork.
While we may not have a lot of time to go to multiple classes during the week, practicing one Vinyasa class and one Yin class a week at home or at a studio can help keep that balance going.
Expert Tip: Private yoga sessions help speed up the learning process and build a stronger habit.
There is nothing like adding the right amount of Yin to your Yang!
Meditation, keep it Mindful!
Meditation can be a very intimidating word. We usually associate it with highly devoted Buddhist Monks that can do amazing things with the power of their mind.
The truth is, everyone can benefit from a meditation practice. I started mine by researching meditation and discovered that you don’t need to be sitting on a pillow to reach Nirvana (a state of enlightenment).
There are different types of meditation, anything from walking meditation, to guided meditation, eating meditation, to Samatha Meditation and more…., find the right one for you.
Remember that everyday is different and that’s the beauty of life.
Some helpful tips:
• Mindfulness; the art of being present and aware to the present moment. I like to sit down in my little meditation corner with one of my cats on my lap. Just petting him with soft and long strokes facilitates meditation, slowing down my thoughts and allowing myself to be present in the moment and feeling it.
You don’t need a meditation corner, but just find a comfortable and pleasant place in your house, a place where you feel relax, sitting in a comfortable position help, but you always have the option to lay down (Important tip: try not to fall asleep!), slow down your thoughts as your watch them rise and subside.
• Download an App. Want to learn meditation? There’s an app for that. There are three good ones that I’ve tried: Insight Timer, HeadSpace, and Calm.
After a long, hard day when I’m ready to unwind and get to bed, I lie down, get comfortable, and launch one session of meditation depending on my needs. Meditation can help you de-stress, fall sleep, manage pain, or relax in general.
• Create a consistent time in the morning and/or at night to practice meditation even if it’s just for a few minutes. Remember to start slow maybe 5 minutes and eventually incrementing the time.
Using a timer can help so you won’t have to check the clock constantly. Keeping a little journal recording you dates and time can be an encouraging way to keep track. Make it as creative and fun as possible, maybe adding stickers or notes.
I hope these tips might help you in your own journey.
Life is a balance!