TRANSITIONING TO A MORE HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE
By Kayla Moses-David
There is a way of living that promotes health & wellness naturally, we call this way ‘holistic living’. According to an article by ‘Vitality Link’, holistic living recognizes what is needed for healthy, vital expression of the body, mind and spirit. There are 7 principles that support wellness, which are: whole food, pure water, fresh air, exercise, rest, sunshine & harmonious relationships. I would also like to add spiritual grounding and creative expression. When we begin the journey towards living a holistic lifestyle we must look carefully at these areas in our lives and examine where we can improve and where we are more balanced. Here are a some simple tips for transitioning that should make it easy & painless!
Keep A Food Journal: It is best to keep a log of what you are actually eating and putting in your body so that you can see clearly where you need to make changes. This is a lifestyle change so you will be developing a more mindful relationship with your body and nutrition. When it comes to whole food, we are talking about unprocessed, unpackaged, organic, non-gmo foods that grow in nature and come in all colors of the spectrum! The plant kingdom is very colorful and the richness of these colors tells us what phytochemical are in these plants.
According to a lecture by a professor of the American College of Nutrition the colored pigments in plants have antioxidants, phytochemicals & localize in a specific part of the body. For example, beta carotene from the orange spectrum works with the ovulation system. Lutein from the red spectrum works with the vision system and anthocyanins from the purple spectrum work with the brain/cognition system. Therefore, when you create your food log, look at the colors you are consuming and on your next shopping trip, make an effort to pick up more colorful, organic, whole foods.
Take a Look at your Daily Schedule: Find opportunities and openings in your time to get at least 15 minutes of sunlight & fresh air, at least thirty minutes of exercise and drink at least half your body weight in ounces throughout the day! In regards to rest, the goal is to get the required amount of time for adults which is seven to nine hours, according to the National Sleep Foundation. From my experience, when you incorporate meditation, eat vital, electric foods and fast periodically, I have noticed that my body functions just as well with less hours of rest. I say that to say, if you are not able to get the seven to nine hours of sleep required, then work to get the minimum consistently which is five and a half hours. Also, consider a moment in your day when you may be able to take a nap or meditate. Sleep in the pitch dark because artificial light affects our ability to get proper sleep.
To conclude, let me remind you that this is a lifestyle change and so there will be difficulty and challenges as you work toward a happier, more holistic you. Of course, these are some humble suggestions in my effort to guide you, but inevitably, you will find what works best for you as you make these changes. Be sure to also incorporate spiritual grounding practices such as yoga, meditation, journaling, and prayer. Share in harmonious relationships and find avenues to express your God given talents and creativity. I conclude with this affirmation,
“my body and all my organs are in complete working order. I love and care for my body, mind and spirit everyday.”
Kayla Moses-David is a Professional Dancer/Choreographer, Economic Empowerment Educator, Sacred Woman Practitioner, Kemetic Womb Yoga Dance Therapist and Co-Founder of Golden Beetle Body Culture; an emerging lifestyle Brand Out of Atlanta GA.
AFIYA Magazine looks to enhance the awareness and knowledge of wellness issues important to African-American women while providing a platform for us to grow, expand, and develop within our personal and professional lives.